TOY SOLDIERS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN-ON OUR OWN

REMUS.

I still felt a bit guilty for attacking Hillary even though I knew it really wasn't me who was doing it…I was being controlled I guess you could say. The Mogador was making me do it.

I guess it wanted Hillary to die by the hands…well, paws of someone she loved…namely me.

It would've killed me if Hillary hated me.

I visited her for the entire four days she was in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Even though my mum and dad assured me that they didn't blame me either. Neither did Lily or Sirius.

On the last day that Hillary was to stay, she and I were sitting in the room alone. Lily, Sirius and my mum and dad had gone for some food in the cafeteria.

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my thighs and clasped my hands.

"Remus," Hillary began. "I want to make sure that you are okay now. I don't blame you one bit for what happened."

I smiled. "I know. Yes, I'm okay now. I'm just glad that you are okay and alive. Most people don't survive that kind of attack,"

Hillary grinned broadly.

"You're stuck with me now,"

I grinned back.

She leaned forward and gave me a kiss softly and gently on the lips. I kissed her back just as softly and gently.

I pulled back still tasting her lips on mine.

"Listen, can I ask you something? I know it's way too early and we only have one year left to school, but…" my voice trailed off.

"Go ahead," she replied watching me intently.

"When we graduate from Hogwarts, will you marry me?" I asked swallowing nervously.

Hillary's expression lit up.

"Oh Remus!" she cried happily. "Sure!"

I felt immense relief and happiness wash over me. I threw my arms around her and hugged her. She hugged me back.

"I hope we're not interrupting anything," a voice said behind us with a teasing tone.

We pulled apart and turned to look at the entrance to the room.

Sirius, Lily and Mum and Dad were standing there grinning goofily.

"No," I said casually clearing my throat.

"Remus asked me to marry him when we graduate!" Hillary gushed.

Lily squealed and rushed over to her.

Sirius grinned and slapped me on the back.

Mum and Dad pulled me aside.

"Remus, are you sure this is what you want?" Mum asked softly.

"Yes," I replied. "I love her more than life."

"Okay. Does she mind having a werewolf for a husband?" Dad asked.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Dad, she's one herself now. I doubt very much that is an issue now,"

Dad blushed. "Right, sorry,"

"Well, I'm so happy for you," Mum gushed as she gave me a hug. Then Dad did.

"She's a nice girl. You deserve someone nice," Dad said releasing me.

I grinned and turned back to Lily and Sirius, who was humming "Here Comes the Bride".

I playfully smacked him.

HILLARY.

I was so happy and shocked when Remus asked me. I had almost completely forgotten that the Mogador was after me.

Later on that evening, I was released. We then headed to the Lupin's residence.

The house was a two story colonial type house with a wrap around porch. It had small rose bushes that hugged the front of the house on either sides of the small stoop that led to the porch. A driveway was to the left of it. Mr. Lupin pulled into the driveway and then shut off the engine of the 1980 BMW sedan.

We climbed out and headed up the front steps.

"What a lovely home," I said taking in all the house details outside.

"Oh," Mrs. Lupin said beaming. "Thank you."

Mr. Lupin led us into the house. It had a nice, warm inviting feeling to it. The living room had all dark mahogany furniture and a grandfather clock chimed in the hallway.

To the left was the living room, dinning room and straight ahead was the kitchen. To the right was a staircase that led upstairs.

"There are three extra bedrooms upstairs," Mr. Lupin explained. "One for Lily and Hillary to share if that's okay…"

Lily and I nodded.

"And then the third one is for you, Sirius. It's right across from Remus'."

"If you'd like, go upstairs and change into something more comfortable," Mrs. Lupin said. "When you come down we'll have dinner."

The four of us headed upstairs. Lily and I's luggage was already there set at the foot of two beds. Lily changed into a pair of red shorts and a blue tank top. I changed into a pair of gray jogging pants and a white tank top. We headed back downstairs. Sirius must still be changing and Remus. Mr. and Mrs. Lupin were now in robes. Mrs. Lupin was in the living room sitting on the couch watching TV.

"Ah, that's more like it huh?" Mrs. Lupin grinned.

I nodded and took a seat beside her. Lily plopped down on a comfy chair opposite the couch. Mr. Lupin was in the kitchen. A delicious aroma floated in from the kitchen.

"What smells so good?" Lily asked inhaling deeply.

"Roast beef, potatoes, carrots, and gravy," she replied.

"Yum," Lily said pretending to drool.

We laughed.

Remus and Sirius then bounded down the stairs laughing about something. Sirius was also in sweat pants and a yellow tee shirt. Remus had changed into navy sweat pants and a white tee shirt. He looked so cute.

Remus entered the living room with Sirius.

"Whoa," Sirius said looking at me. "You clean up nicely!"

"Shut up," Lily said rolling her eyes. "Too bad we can't say the same for you."

Remus grinned and sat down beside me.

I leaned against him and just enjoyed the moment.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot across my abdomen. I cried out and slid off the couch. I landed on my hands and knees and stared at the carpet.

"Hillary?" Lily demanded shrilly.

"It's the transformation…it's beginning," Remus said dropping to his knees beside her and he put a hand on her back.

"But there's no full moon out," Lily said watching me nervously.

"I know," Remus said. "The body goes through certain changes first before the complete transformation begins."

It felt like fire spreading throughout my body. My ears seemed clogged for a moment then it cleared and I could hear everyone's heart beating and then my sense of smell sharpened so I was able to smell and sense their blood and what they were feeling. Finally, after a few moments, the pain stopped.

"Hillary?" Mrs. Lupin asked tentatively. "Are you okay dear?"

I nodded and slowly got to my feet.

I shook my head and then took a seat back on the couch. Remus sat next to me as well. Sirius was eyeing me too.

"How do you feel?" Mr. Lupin asked.

I grinned. "With my hands, but really good,"

Sirius snorted with laughter. "She's fine,"

They all seemed relieved.

Remus leaned close.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded. "Positive,"

He nodded.

We all headed off to bed later on.

Lily climbed into her bed and was fast asleep. Me, however, I stayed awake in bed. Something was wrong outside. There was something out there watching the house. I got up and went over to the window.

There, sitting on its haunches with gold eyes reflecting the moonlight, was the Mogador. I growled.

"Lily," I called. "The Mogador's outside the house."

With that, I heard glass breaking downstairs in the living room.

Lily snapped awake.

"It's in the house," she choked out in terror.

"Let's get the boys," I replied and grabbed her hand. We tore from my room and into Sirius'. Remus was already up and in Sirius' room. They were pacing.

"It's in the house," I replied.

"I know," Remus said. "I sensed it."

"Be careful," Sirius warned. "It might cause the transformation again."

Remus and I looked at each other then outside. There was a full moon out now.

"I think we don't have to worry about that," Remus said as he dropped to his hands and knees and changed into the gray wolf.

Sirius decided to change into the black dog.

LILY.

Sirius changed into the black dog, Remus changed into the gray wolf and then Hillary expressed some wolfish appearances. Her eyes changed into the jaundice colored eyes, her canines and incisors grew a bit and her nails were long and deadly.

"Let's go meet our guest," Hillary said grinning.

Remus howled and so did Sirius. We took off down stairs.

The Mogador was sitting in the living room. Mr. and Mrs. Lupin lay dead on the floor. Blood stained much of the carpet and furniture.

"NOOO!" I screamed.

The Mogador hissed.

I chanced looking at the gray wolf. His sides were expanding rapidly as I knew he was breathing heavily in anger. I heard a low, rumbling growl escaping his throat. Sirius was also snarling.

Suddenly, the Mogador turned toward Hillary and changed into a woman. Hillary's expression turned to shock.

"Mom?" she asked uncertainly.

"Yes," the woman replied. "It was me all along."

"Why?" Hillary asked. "You're the Mogador?"

"Yes and because you got all your fathers attention," she sneered. "Why do you think I turned to drugs and everything? FOR ATTENTION!"

"YOU KILLED JAMES AND REMUS' PARENTS!" Hillary screamed angrily.

"I had to get them out of the way too," the woman said. "They gave you all of their attention too…they liked you."

"YOU'RE SICK!" Hillary screamed.

"No, just lonely," the woman snickered. "Now, I want you to join me."

"NEVER!" Hillary screamed.

"Then I will have to kill your remaining friends,"

The woman was gone and the Mogador returned. She turned her eyes onto me. They were yellow with vertical slits for pupils. The cat hissed and arched her back preparing to leap onto me. The gray wolf sprang to action. They began snarling and fighting. Sirius joined in too.

Hillary turned to me. Her wolf eyes were filled with pain.

"I had no idea," she said as tears formed.

"It's okay," I said watching the two canines and feline fight.

The Mogador threw the black dog off of it and the dog sailed into the kitchen, hitting its back on the bottom cabinets. It didn't move. The gray wolf was badly bitten in several areas and the blood matted the fur.

With one swipe, the Mogador knocked the gray wolf unconscious.

"It's up to me," Hillary whispered.

The Mogador leaped onto Hillary. They also began fighting. Then Hillary clamped her teeth onto the Mogador's neck and bit down hard. Blood began flowing from the neck wound. The cat fell to its side and didn't move.

Hillary had blood flowing down her chin. She seemed stunned at what she did.

The cat's form vanished and the woman's replaced it. The woman was dead.

"What have I done?" Hillary said shaking violently. "I've killed my own mother."

I rushed over to her and wrapped my arms around her pulling her close.

Before long, Sirius changed back into his human form and rubbed his lower back.

"Ow," he winced.

Remus changed back also.

He had bite marks on his shoulder, arm and scratch marks on his face.

"It's over," I said still holding Hillary.

"What happened?" Sirius asked staring in horror at Mr. and Mrs. Lupin's bodies.

I launched into the whole story.

HILLARY.

I felt sick to my stomach.

I pulled from Lily's grip and bent over vomiting near the entertainment center.

Remus was stunned and shocked. He slumped onto the couch. Sirius sat beside him and wrapped his arm around Remus' shoulders comfortingly.

I decided to call the Ministry to come and get the bodies.

Once I was done vomiting, I wiped the corner of my mouth with my hand.

I turned to Sirius and Remus. Lily sat down also.

"You saved us," Sirius said.

"It was my own mother," I said still shocked.

"Listen, it's over now," Lily said soothingly. "No more running in fear from this thing."

"Poor Remus though," Sirius said.

I dropped to my knees in front of Remus.

"I'm so sorry," I said as tears formed in my eyes.

He smiled and just wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. I hugged him.

"I know you saved us," Remus whispered in my ear. "My parents would've been grateful."

A few hours later, the Ministry officials came and took the bodies. We told them what attacked Mr. and Mrs. Lupin.

My mother's body was also taken.

Professor Dumbledore called us back to school.

We sat in his office. Remus was still upset about the fact that his parents were gone. Who could blame him?

"I want you to know that I'm deeply sorry for what happened," Professor Dumbledore said. "I really should've told you all sooner."

"It's okay," Sirius said. "We're just relieved that it's over."

Professor Dumbledore nodded and then turned his eyes onto me.

"Your father was contacted," he said. "He knows all about what happened on the train."

"Professor," I said swallowing. "What I don't understand is how my mother could've been the Mogador?"

Professor Dumbledore sighed.

"She was attacked several months ago by some kind of beast. It wasn't like a werewolf though but it did have similar tendencies only werewolves can't shape shift into another thing other than a wolf. This beast was able to manipulate people and it had a special power to force evil out of people. That's why Remus changed on the train and attacked Miss Willis. She wanted Remus to kill you and she was the one sending the threatening letters earlier. She wanted to get you scared enough to leave Hogwarts into a more vulnerable area…mainly the Lupin's."

His voice dropped. "I should've realized that it was a setup to begin with. I should've never sent you to the Lupin's residence. Because of that Remus is parentless."

"It's okay Professor," Remus said softly and quietly. "It wasn't your fault."

"If you'd like, you can stay in Diagon Alley. There's a small flat there above Zonko's that I've taken the liberty of reserving for you to stay until you graduate and start your own life." Professor Dumbledore said.

"Thank you," Remus said nodding and swallowing.

His eyes were bloodshot and puffy from crying.

"If you need anything, please ask," Dumbledore said. "You can go. Stay for the rest of the school term."

We nodded and left his office.

I turned to Remus and threw my arms around him hugging him.

"We can be on our own now," I said burying my face into his shoulder.

Remus just held me.

At least the horror was over with.

THE END

END MUSIC: LOVE SPIT LOVE-How Soon Is Now?

LIONEL RICHIE-Just For You