OMINIX

CHAPTER NINE-INFECTION

"Laura," Remus said as he scrambled up off me.

I also got to my feet and joined Remus.

He was crouching down in front of Laura. He gently took a hold of her arms.

"What happened?" he demanded keeping his eyes on her face.

Laura couldn't move. Droplets of blood clung to her cheeks.

"Laura?" I asked also crouching down.

"L-Lavender threw up," Laura finally choked out.

"What's with all the blood?" Remus demanded.

"Her b-blood. She threw it up," Laura stammered.

"I'll go check on her," I suggested.

Remus nodded as he looked up at me. "Just be careful okay?"

I smiled and nodded and then headed into the girls' dorm.

Mostly all of the girls were sitting upright in bed. I paused by the entranceway.

They were coughing and vomiting.

"What's going on? Lavender? Parvati?" I asked scanning the room.

"We don't know. We all woke up like this," Parvati said weakly.

"I'm going to get Dumbledore," I said as I began slowly backing out of the room.

The only one that didn't seem to be affected was Brittany. She was sound asleep in her bed.

I completely backed out of the dorm and returned to Remus and Laura.

"Laura," I said now urgently. "Did any of Lavender's blood get into your mouth or any cuts on your body? Especially the wounds on your arm?"

Laura shook her head.

"Why? What's going on?" Remus asked as alarm crept into his voice.

"Some kind of infection I know that," I said. "Guess who's the only one sound asleep?"

Realization dawned on Remus' face.

"Brittany," he replied slowly.

I nodded.

"When I see her later, I want the full story," Remus said narrowing his eyes. "I have a feeling that this has nothing to do with werewolves."

"She has to get out of those clothes. If the germ is in the blood, it could get into Laura's system," I said.

"Take off her pajamas," Remus said.

I helped take off Laura's Pj's but not before Remus returned with a pair of jeans and a shirt for Laura to put on. He turned around as I helped Laura take off the Pj's.

The clothes were a little big on her but they were clean. I threw the Pj's into the fireplace.

"Let's go," Remus said taking Laura's hand and I took the other hand. We left the common room.

Lily and Sirius met up with us in the corridor.

"What's going on?" Sirius asked looking from me, to Remus to Laura.

"Something's going on in the girls' dorm. They're all coughing and vomiting up blood. It's some kind of infection," I replied. "And why are you two up so late? Where were you?"

"Well, mum," Sirius began jokingly. "I couldn't sleep so I went to the library. I found Lily there."

"I couldn't sleep either," Lily admitted. "Something is bugging me."

"Right now, we've got to get to Dumbledore," I said urgently.

We heard someone coming up the corridor. We froze and turned around. Laura kept close to Remus.

It was Lavender.

"Lave? Are you okay? How are you feeling?" I asked worriedly.

Lavender didn't reply. She was walking funny too, like stiff and drunk and her head was hanging down, her hair covering her face.

"Lavender?" Sirius called.

Lavender stopped walking and raised her head.

"Holy shit," Remus said grabbing Laura tighter against him.

"My God," Lily breathed as tears formed in her eyes.

Lavender's eyes were red and bloodshot. Her whole face seemed dead and expressionless. Blood was around Lavender's mouth and we saw why. It looked like she had taken a bite of her own arm. A large wound was on Lavender's left arm. Laura pressed her face deeper into Remus' stomach.

"Okay...what the fuck is going on here?" Sirius asked slowly taking a hold of Lily's arm.

"I don't know, but it's not good," I said as I too, began backing away.

Lavender let out some kind of strangled cry and began stumbling toward us.

We took off running down the corridor and didn't stop until we hit Professor Dumbledore's office.

We all burst into his office at the same time and closed the door behind us.

He looked up from his desk.

"What's going on? Why are all of you out of bed?" he asked alarmed.

"Something wrong is going on in the girls' dorm," I explained out of breath. "Lavender isn't herself anymore."

Laura began explaining in detail what had happened and we got a clearer picture of what had happened before Lavender threw up on Laura.

Apparently, when Laura climbed into bed, Brittany had suggested that they take a piece of gum that she had. They all chewed it and about 10 minutes later, that's when Lavender threw up on Laura's Pj's. Brittany was fast asleep.

"So you think some kind of infection or germ was in the gum?" Professor Dumbledore said slowly.

"We're beginning to think a lot of things," Remus said gravely.

He launched into the whole story about Brittany.

"...So I seriously doubt this has anything to do with werewolves," Remus concluded.

Professor Dumbledore frowned.

"Actually, I think it has a lot to do with werewolves," he said softly. "It hasn't affected Brittany at all? Nor has it hit you or Hillary yet?"

We shook our heads.

"But we don't know how the germ or whatever it is can spread. Maybe it's only confined to those that chewed the gum," Sirius said thoughtfully.

Professor Dumbledore nodded.

"The girls' dorm is quarantined. Laura and Lily will sleep in the boys' for now. Sirius, I want you in dog form to keep an eye on them okay? It will be easier," Professor Dumbledore said. "I really should quarantine the entire Gryffindor tower though."

"We should see if it hit the boys'," Remus said.

"Alright. I want Sirius to go in dog form to check out the boys' dorm and then report back," Professor Dumbledore replied.

Sirius nodded and dropped to all fours. He quickly changed into the black dog and took off out of the office.

SIRIUS.

I galloped down the corridor my paws lightly touching the floor. Lavender was still stumbling up the corridor. I paused and stood still expecting her to turn to me...but instead she just stumbled past me and continued on her way. There was an odd smell about her too...like death and decay.

I continued to lope to the boys dorm.

I sneaked into the dorm effortlessly. The boys were still sleeping.

Odd...they should be up by now, I thought coming to a stop by Neville's bed.

I heard someone hungrily chewing on something. I slinked along the beds and saw one of the girls, Parvati hungrily chewing on Dean's arm as he slept.

I felt my stomach heave.

I knew if I had been a cat at that moment I would've coughed up a hairball.

Then, I realized why the boys' weren't awake yet. All the girls had gotten into the boys' dorm and had someway or another bit the boys. I began backing out slowly. The boys were awake and in the same way the girls were. We now had a small army of students that were infected.

I turned around sharply and saw Neville with his legs slightly spread. I galloped full speed and easily slid through his legs. I tore from the dorm and down the corridor.

I reached Dumbledore's office and once the door was locked behind me, I vomited.

LAURA.

Poor Sirius vomited right there on Hillary's shoes. I kneeled down and Sirius came over to me when he was done vomiting. He pressed his head against my chest. I gave him a hug before he turned back into a human.

"It spread to the guys," Sirius said in a shaky voice. "The girl's bit the guys...that's how it spread."

"My God," Hillary breathed.

"That's it," Professor Dumbledore said standing up behind his desk.. "I want everyone including the teachers in the Great Hall. I will put a shield around the Hall until we can figure out what to do. Be careful heading down there. Sirius, change into the dog and protect them."

We nodded. Once again Sirius changed and led us safely down to the Great Hall.

I clung to Remus like glue.

Sirius was walking a head of us slowly, watching everything in the corridors that didn't look natural.

"I'm scared," I whispered to Remus.

"We won't let anything happen to you," Remus said reassuringly.

"Absolutely," Hillary said firmly.

Sirius turned his head and barked at me.

"Sirius says not to worry too," Lily said smiling.

We continued on.

Once we hit the Great Hall, we found all the teachers, along with the students from Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.

We were the only ones from Gryffindor.

"Okay, does anyone else find this incredibly creepy?" Lily whispered as Sirius jumped up onto the seat beside me and put a paw on my thigh.

I grinned and scratched an ear.

Sirius panted and licked my hand. I was sitting in-between Hillary and Lily.

The rest of the students were watching us curiously and warily.

"Where'd that dog come from?" a Slytherin called across the Hall.

"He's mine," I said quickly. "Therapy."

The Slytherins snorted but didn't say anymore.

"Nice work," Remus whispered winking at me.

I grinned and blushed keeping my eyes on Sirius.

The dog's big brown eyes were locked on mine. I rubbed his neck and his hind leg started to go.

I quickly smothered a snort.

Lily and Hillary were giggling too.

Then, Professor Dumbledore entered the Hall.

Everyone quieted down.

"Alright. As of now, the Hall has a shield around it. And as far as we know, some kind of infection has taken over the Gryffindor tower. We will be safe here as long as the shield isn't penetrated," Professor Dumbledore was saying.

Murmurs began floating around.

"We don't know exactly how the infection started, but we will have to monitor everyone closely. The minute you feel sick, tell us," Dumbledore continued.

Everyone nodded. The air inside the Hall was solemn, and scared.

People huddled close and they were watching one another closely like they were time bombs.

Suddenly, one of the first year Ravenclaws began hyperventilating.

"She's infected!" a Slytherin cried.

"NO! She has asthma," the first year's best friend said irritably. "Sheesh."

Professor Dumbledore went over to the first year and waved his wand under the girl's nose. A thin, light blue mist floated into the girls nostrils.

After a few seconds, the girl's breathing became normal again.

"The Gryffindors will fill everyone in on what they saw," Professor Dumbledore said. "They've seen the infection first hand."

Remus, Lily and Hillary looked at me. I really did see the beginning stages of it firsthand.

I took a deep breath and began telling everyone what I saw.

They all relaxed a bit.

"It was like hysteria started to settle in," Remus whispered leaning forward and lowering his voice. "That poor first year Ravenclaw would've been burned at the stake if it hadn't been for her friend."

"I know," Lily said softly. "People now know what to look for. The minute one of them vomits they will be taken away...providing the infection isn't airborne now."

"I don't think so," Hillary said shaking her head. "It seemed to spread by bite remember what Sirius said?"

We all nodded.

That night, Professor Dumbledore majicked sleeping bags for everyone.

We all stayed close together. Sirius curled up against me and we fell asleep shortly.

Around midnight, there was a scream that cut across the Hall. We all jumped awake. Sirius barked.

We looked around. Candles were immediately lit and the lights came back on. We saw Neville fighting with a 5th year Hufflepuff boy. Neville let out a snarl before biting the boy on the arm.

"He's infected now!" a girl screamed hysterically.

Professor Dumbledore waved his wand at Neville and the boy. They vanished.

"I see that we are not safe here anymore," Professor Dumbledore said loudly over the loud and frightened talking. "The main thing is that it hasn't spread to the Muggle world yet so I would suggest moving to a building outside Hogwarts."

"Where?" Lily mused. "There's at least 300 students!"

"I have connections in the Muggle world. I wouldn't worry too much," Professor Dumbledore said.

He quickly sent an owl and it took off gracefully out the window.

About 40 minutes later, the owl came back with a letter tied to its leg.

Professor Dumbledore untied the letter and began reading it aloud for everyone to hear.

"My friend has lent us a school just outside London. It will hold up to 500 students. He has put a charm on it so that the Muggles won't be able to penetrate the surrounding barrier. It's a bit smaller than Hogwarts though, but it will be safe until we can decide what to do," Professor Dumbledore said folding the letter and putting it into his robe.

"How will we get there?" a 7th year Slytherin asked.

"By train," Professor Dumbledore said simply. "But when we get to Kings Cross, you will be split up into groups with the teachers. We will all meet at the school at different times because we don't want to alarm the Muggles with so many going to one place at the same time."

"That makes sense," Remus said nodding as he glanced down at Sirius.

Sirius looked up at Remus with his big brown eyes. I giggled.

"I want the rest of you to try and get some sleep. We will be keeping guard," Professor Dumbledore said.

Settling back down again, I layed awake staring up at the enchanted ceiling. Sirius curled up against me, resting his chin on my stomach. I smiled and began stroking his head.

"Has anyone seen Brittany?" Remus asked suddenly.

"Come to think of it, no," Lily said sounding suspicious. "Where is she? Still sleeping in the girls' dorm? By now she would be infected!"

"I don't know where she is," Remus said. "But I have an idea that she wasn't telling us the whole truth."

"I agree," Lily admitted.

So, we finally fell into a restless sleep.