LMOM#26: The Invasion
Title: The Invasion Rating: PG-13 Pairing: Remus/Bill/Neville Kink(s): Kissing Challenge: Lusty Month of May Word Count: 1556 Notes: Continuation of The Nature Of The Pack Series, begins here
The Invasion
Remus and Bill walked around the corner and peered at the building that housed the flat where Neville resided. Bill pressed his hand to the stones and closed his eyes, concentrating on the magic flowing through the wards on the bricks.
"Well?"
"He's in there," Bill said softly. "Four flats, and he's the only wizard in residence that I can tell. In fact, I don't think there is anyone else at home right now."
Remus nodded. "That makes it all the more easier if we've to break down the door."
Bill arched an eyebrow. "You aren't really considering breaking down the door, are you?"
Remus just smiled as he pressed the buzzer to gain entrance to the building.
Bill chuckled and shook his head. "I forget sometimes that you really did run with the Marauders."
Remus's smile widened. "Someone had to be the brains."
No one answered the intercom and Remus pressed it again, waiting once more for the return buzz to unlock the doors. He tugged on the door handle and received a jolt for his troubles. He growled softly and looked up at the building, rubbing his hand. "Damn, I'd forgotten Neville had taken defence lessons from Harry. Smart little bugger, I'll give him that much. Must be set to go off if an unwanted wizard touches it, he couldn't get away with endangering a Muggle like that. Ta ever so for the warning, Harry."
Bill shook his head and arched an eyebrow. "Shall I try?"
Remus looked around then nodded. He took a step back and eyed the windows, shaking his head as he saw the drapes move in one of the portals. "Yes, but carefully. I'm certain Neville already knows we're here and it's obvious he doesn't want to see us."
Bill rubbed his hands together and glanced up the street before drawing his wand from his cloak. "Quite all right, been a while since I had a challenge like this and I do love me a puzzle." He grinned as he began to unravel the wards and charms on the outside of the building. "Especially when there is a glorious treasure on the inside."
Remus chuckled and drew his wand, casting a Notice-Me-Not Charm on them while he waited for Bill to work his own special magic.
~*~
Neville's heart clenched when his wards notified him that Remus and Bill were at the security entrance door to his building. He wasn't ready to see them just yet.
He'd hoped Harry would have just let him be after he'd sent his assistant to the Burrow for Ginny's wedding. He should have known better, the meddling bastard, he wasn't certain if he wanted to hex or kiss Harry.
A tiny chime rang out through his flat and Neville looked up at the clock. It had taken Bill fifteen minutes to break the charms he'd placed on the doors. Damn! He'd known Bill was an excellent cursebreaker but it should have taken him longer than that. Harry'd helped him with those wards! He took a deep breath and waited. There were still a few more 'traps' he'd laid to prevent unwanted wizards from disturbing him. Maybe that would make them think twice about bothering him.
Neville placed his hands over his face and wished they would just leave him be as he'd done for them. He wasn't certain he could listen to any excuses they had to offer him.
~*~
"Alohomora!" Bill muttered and the door opened. He turned and grinned at Remus, pulling the door open wider with a small bow and a wave of his arm. "We're in."
Remus grinned and nodded, entering the building then held the door for Bill. "Which flat is Neville's?"
"Third floor. I'm sorry to say he'll know we're coming so be prepared for anything." Bill answered as he swept through the door, tucking his wand away. Remus nodded and followed after Bill.
"I'm good, but I couldn't stop him from knowing that I unravelled his wards. One of the last charms I broke was a notifica-AH!"
Remus stopped and stared as Bill was pulled into the air and suspended upside down by his ankle. He crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at him. "You were saying?"
Bill glared at him. "Get me down."
Remus nodded, flicking his wand at Bill. "Liberacorpus!"
The spell didn't work and Bill remained suspended in the air. Remus looked around and spotted the shimmering golden mist floating along the baseboards. "You'll have to trust your feet. Close your eyes and take a step. It's the Gravity Charm."
Bill groaned. "I hate that charm; I always end up on my arse."
Remus shrugged and kissed him. "Next time, I suppose you'll pay more attention to your own advice then won't you?"
Bill gave him a two fingered salute then closed his eyes and took a deep breath, He jerked his foot forward and his body flipped, landing him in a heap on the floor.
Remus offered him a hand up. "Keep your wand out. Neville's damned clever and we've apparently pissed him off."
Bill brushed his arse off and nodded. "Not me, you did that all on your own."
Remus glared at Bill then sighed. "Fine, I'll accept that. I'm still breaking down the door when we get up there so he'll listen to reason."
Bill grinned. "I can't wait to see that."
They made it to the end of the hall without another incident. Once at the lifts, Bill stopped Remus. "Think we should take the stairs?"
"I don't know. I don't think he'd try to mess with the lifts as it's hard to get a permit to charm Muggle items. Plus magic doesn't mix well with electricity."
Bill nodded. "Then the lift it is."
Remus pressed the button and the light promptly went out as a clanging, grinding metal noise echoed in the hallway. The hum of the lift stopped and buzzing began to issue forth from the closed doors.
"Oh, that doesn't sound good."
Remus glared at Bill. "You think so?"
Bill chuckled. "Aren't we in a good mood today?"
Remus growled at Bill then turned toward the stairwell. "Three bloody flights of stairs. He'd damn well better be up there."
"He is. I felt him in the wards."
Halfway up the stairs, Remus stopped on the second floor landing as he felt magic tingling on the railing. "Brace yourself." And that was all the warning he gave as he and Bill took the next step.
The stairs flattened out and they slid all the way back down to the first floor landing in a pile on top of one another. Remus untangled himself from Bill and they looked at one another.
"Glisseo?"
Bill nodded. "At least he put a Cushioning Charm at the bottom."
Remus rolled his eyes. "How do we get past it?"
Bill shrugged. "I have a feeling this princess doesn't want to be rescued. Maybe we should let him be."
Remus sighed. "No, I'm not ready to give up just yet. He's made me angry. It's personal now." Getting to his feet, Remus eyed the stairs for a moment then turned to Bill. "When you took down the wards were there any Anti-Apparition charms weaved into the foundation?"
Bill grinned. "No, you do realize that's rather rude."
Remus chuckled. "I'm not saying we appear in his parlour and besides, he knows we're coming. So I think we've announced ourselves well in advance."
Sighing, Bill shrugged. "It's worth a shot, but if we get splinched, it's not Neville I'm coming after."
Remus shook his head. "I'll take that one on as well." He held his arm out to Bill. "Let's go together."
Bill took Remus's arm and looked up the stairwell, focusing on the third floor landing. He felt he squeezing sensation then heard the crack and was immediately on the ground once more, sitting on top of Remus. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Remus's trouser clad arse. "Are you all right?"
"Fuck!" Remus shoved Bill off him. "I'm going to kill him!"
Bill laughed out loud as he rubbed his head. "Imperturbable charm. Bloody brilliant, Neville! Merlin, I love this man!"
Remus flicked his wand at Bill. "Mobilicorpus!"
Bill yelped as he rose into the air, arms and legs splayed out in all directions. "Oh! Just you wait, Moony! Once I'm on the ground your arse is mine."
"I'm counting on that."
Remus gently lowered Bill to the top of the landing on the second floor then waited to see if Bill would slide down the stairs.
Bill carefully stood then straightened his jumper. He leaned over the railing and smiled down at Remus, chuckling evilly. "Ready?"
Remus nodded and braced himself.
"Mobilicorpus!"
Bill levitated Remus up to the second floor. "I'm going to keep going," he murmured then continued to float Remus up to the third floor landing. Depositing him on the floor, Bill watched as Remus stood. "Any mishaps?"
"No. He must have given up." Remus flicked his wand at Bill, bringing him up to the third floor.
"I seriously doubt that." Bill shook his head and turned toward the door of Neville's flat.