Fatal Affair

Chapter 9: Drunken Mistakes

Later that night, Nova was drinking alone in her bedroom, trying to forget the events of the day. She had already finished an entire bottle of wine, which lay empty next to her on her bed. She was halfway through her second bottle when she decided to walk around the manor. 

She made her way into one of the many living rooms. This room had three identical beige sofas, two of them smaller than the main one. A low, wooden coffee table sat in the middle over an old-looking rug. This room was smaller than most, and she took pleasure in its coziness compared to the rest of the house. 

Lucius was sitting on one the sofas, reading a newspaper. He looked up when she entered. His eyes darted down to the bottle of wine in her hand. 

"Looks like you're having a good night," Lucius commented. 

Nova sat beside him and took a long sip from her bottle. She held out the bottle to him, hoping he would drink with her. 

"No thank you," Lucius pushed the bottle back to her. "Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer drinking from a glass." 

"Your loss," Nova slurred her words. 

"How much have you drank?" 

Nova took another sip, ignoring his question. Lucius folded up his paper and set it on the coffee table. 

"Narcissa is giving me the silent treatment," Lucius said, watching Nova for a reaction. 

Nova took another sip and examined the label on the wine bottle with increased interest. 

"She won't even allow me to explain," Lucius went on. 

"You shouldn't have fucked up," Nova offered. 

"I suppose not." 

"What are you going to do?" Nova turned to look at Lucius, who appeared unbothered by anything he was saying. 

"Nothing," he answered truthfully. "She'll forget soon enough." 

Lucius stretched out his arm across the back of the couch. Nova's head slightly rested against his arm. 

"Why did you come here tonight? To this room, completely intoxicated?" Lucius wondered.

"Why do you think I came here?" Nova asked. 

Lucius bent his head lower so their faces were inches from each other. "I think you came here to get me in more trouble." 

"How so?" Nova whispered. 

"You are completely intoxicated, for one." Lucius moved his other hand and rested it on Nova's thigh, moving his thumb in concentric circles. "Secondly, you are wearing a very revealing top." Lucius's eyes flashed downwards towards Nova's cleavage. Her eyes followed, knowing full-well that she had picked out this top specifically to get his attention. She looked at her cleavage, on full display then looked back up to Lucius, his eyes lingering a moment longer on her breasts. "How am I supposed to resist this?" 

Nova pulled at the tips of his hair, feeling the texture between her fingers. "Don't resist it," she said.  

His hand carefully made their way up her waist, gently grazing her breast, and finally cupping one side of her face, bringing her lips to his. As soon as Nova closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss, the room started spinning. She clutched onto the front of Lucius's shirt to ground herself, however he took this as being eager and kissed her harder. 

Nova broke away from the kiss. "Lucius." 

"What is it, love?" he said in a husky voice.

Nova tried to stand, but quickly lost her balance and fell back onto the sofa. She tried standing again, and Lucius pulled her down onto his lap. 

"Are you alright?" he asked, brushing her cheek with his thumb. 

"Just really dizzy," Nova said, trying to focus on his features with difficulty. 

"Then stop trying to move," Lucius suggested. "You drank too much, love." He grabbed the wine bottle that Nova had been holding this entire time and set it on the end table. "Are you feeling ill?" 

"I'm not sure." Nova closed her eyes tightly, trying to push through the dizziness. 

"Why don't I take you to your room?" Lucius grabbed her waist tightly. 

"I'll take her, Lucius." A deep voice said. To Nova, it sounded miles away, muffled, as if underwater. 

Nova opened her eyes and saw Severus standing near her. He crouched down to look at her at eye-level, brows furrowed. 

"Jesus, Lucius," Severus said. "What did you do to her?" 

"You have zero faith in me, Severus." Lucius's thumb started brushing the side of her thigh. "She did this to herself." 

"Come," Severus said, holding out his hand for her to take. 

"I'm fine, Severus," Nova said weakly, brushing his hand away. 

"I can keep an eye on her for the night," Lucius suggested. 

"Nova," Severus said threateningly, "you will take my hand and I will take you to bed. Do you understand?" 

Nova sighed but was too out of it to argue. She took Severus's hand and he quickly lifted her out of Lucius's lap. He steadied her by holding her waist. "Can you walk?" 

"Yes, I can walk," Nova said, annoyed. 

 Nova took a step forward and almost lost her balance. Severus caught her quickly, lifting her in his arms. She rested her head against his chest, ready to pass out. 

"Unbelievable," Severus muttered.

Before Nova knew it, she was being deposited into her bed. 

"Severus," she called out before he reached the door. 

"What is it?" he answered back.

"Can you stay?" 

Severus hesitated for a moment, glaring at her. "Just get some sleep, Nova." 

Nova sat up to look at him, room spinning. Severus looked back at her and sighed. He walked over to remove her shoes, one at a time. Nova collapsed onto her back.

"You want everyone to think you're such a grump," Nova said, eyes closed. "But you're a good person, Severus." 

Severus placed her shoes on the ground without saying a word, then looked at her for a moment. "I'm not a good person, Nova." 

"I don't believe you." 

Severus walked to her door. "Nova," he said, looking over his shoulder at the drunken girl. 

"Hm?" Nova said, trying to stay awake but failing miserably.

"Stay away from Lucius, OK?" 

Before he managed to open the door, Nova fell into a deep sleep.