MAELSTROM

CHAPTER SIX-MOLLY'S ACCIDENT

Lily and I followed shortly behind James, Sirius and Remus.

"She'll be fine," Lily assured me softly as she put a hand on my shoulder.

I smiled.

We entered the hospital wing. Carrie was lying on a stretcher on her back. Her head was turned toward me. One arm was draped over her stomach. The other lay at her side.

Her eyes were closed.

Madam Elkin examined Carrie.

She looked up at us.

"What on earth happened to her?" she asked.

"One of the sleigh decorations fell on her," James said swallowing.

"Will she be alright?" Remus demanded next.

"I'm not going to lie to you," Madam Elkin said quietly. "She's bad...real bad...but with extensive potions and remedies, I'm pretty sure she'll be okay."

"Pretty sure?" Remus asked, his voice coming out several tones higher than normal.

"I deal with magical injuries and injuries that aren't this extensive," Madam Elkin explained patiently. "She's basically one broom short to a strip to St. Mungo's."

"She saved my life," Lily said hugging herself.

There were tears in her eyes.

Then, Lily looked at me.

"What happened?"

All eyes were on me now.

"She had a vision," I said slowly. "Her eyes slid out of focus and she went rigid in her seat. Then she snapped out of it and asked where you were. Then she dove and shoved you out of the way."

"A vision?" Remus asked. "I thought she had psychic dreams."

"Psychic's can have visions even when they're awake," I said patiently and calmly. "They don't have to be asleep."

"And you didn't stop her?" Remus demanded as anger filled his expression.

"Stop her? How could I have stopped her?" I asked. "I wasn't even sure what the vision was about otherwise should've I just let it alone and let Lily get hurt also?"

Remus looked murderous and he just stalked out of the hospital wing, jostling me on the way out.

"Don't worry, Arthur," Sirius said softly. "He'll come around. We know you didn't mean anything. There was no way you could've known what was going to happen. Otherwise you would've stopped it no?"

His expression was serious, but it was meant to be light.

"I'll go and talk to him," Lily offered as she looked at Carrie lying motionless on the cot and she gave my shoulder a squeeze before leaving the hospital wing after Remus.

MOLLY.

Poor Arthur. He looked so guilty and upset.

Sirius and James sat down beside Carrie on the cot.

I went over to Arthur.

"Everything will be okay," I said softly.

But truthfully, I was worried about Carrie. The sleigh weighed about as much as Hippogriff. Dumbledore didn't skimp on decorations. Everything was genuine.

Arthur gave me a weak smile before joining Sirius and James.

"Listen," I said softly. "I'm going to head back to the common room for a moment. I'll be right back.."

"Okay," Sirius said, looking up. "Be careful okay?"

I nodded and turned to leave the hospital wing.

I began walking back to the common room. The Dance had been canceled immediately and the Hall returned to its normal way again. Dumbledore was walking toward me coming in the opposite direction.

"Miss Prewett," he said gently and softly. "How is Miss Owens doing?"

He stopped. I stopped walking also and faced him. His blue eyes were filled with concerned behind his half moon spectacles.

"Madam Elkin said she was bad," I said quietly. "But she thinks she should be fine."

"I certainly hope so," he said looking concerned. "Where are you off to?"

"The common room," I said. "I need to get something."

He nodded. As he passed me he gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze and then continued on his way.

I headed down the stairs to the common room.

I found my bag and found what I was looking for. It was a small gold dragon charm that I always used as a good-luck charm. I decided to give it to Carrie. I turned and headed out of the common room.

I headed back up to the hospital wing, but as I was walking up the stairs, I sensed someone behind me.

There was a figure dressed in a black hooded cloak with heavily lidded eyes. I felt my feet going out from under me and I was falling backward, back down the stairs. I bounced over each step and finally landed on my right side at the end of the stair case. I moaned and shakily got to my hands and knees. I looked up. There was no one there.

I felt a cut on my lip that was bleeding and a small cut on my temple which was also bleeding.

My sides hurt. Limping, I made my way carefully up the steps again.

ARTHUR.

Molly entered the common room again. Professor Dumbledore was talking with James. She had a cut on her temple and a cut lip. Both were bleeding. She was limping and clutching her right side.

"Molly," I said alarmed. "What happened?"

James, Sirius, and Professor Dumbledore looked up also alarmed.

"I fell down the stairs," she replied coming over to me. "Actually, someone tripped me."

Madam Elkin quickly helped Molly.

"Someone tripped you?" Professor Dumbledore asked staring directly at Molly. "Who was it?"

"I'm not sure," Molly said frowning. "There eyes were heavily lidded. They were in a black hooded cloak."

"Someone's inside Hogwarts," Dumbledore said looking grave. "The curfew is still in effect. I'm going to have to sweep the inside of the castle."

He made sure Molly was okay finally before leaving the wing.

Sirius put an arm around Molly.

REMUS.

I entered the common room and angrily began pacing it. I really wasn't mad at Arthur. In fact, I felt guilty that I lashed out at him.

Lily entered the common room shortly.

"Remus," she said quietly. "What's going on with you?"

She studied me with those amazing emerald eyes.

"I don't know," I muttered, still pacing.

"Is this part of your werewolf trait?" she asked. "If it is, we'll definitely give you privacy."

"No," I said. "It's not."

"Then what?"

I exhaled.

"I'm confused," I admitted, finally understanding my feelings. "About Carrie and Arthur."

"I hope you don't have feelings toward Arthur," Lily said, her lip twitching. "That might cause a problem."

I looked at her and then smiled, shaking my head. "No. I mean I'm having feelings for Carrie, and Molly. Plus, I'm not sure how Carrie feels about Arthur, or Molly about me for that matter. It's like a whole big mess,"

Lily smiled. "Sit,"

I sat down on the couch. Lily sat beside me and faced me.

"Look," she said in a calm and patient tone. "I know definitely that Carrie cares about you...and I know damn well you know that too. Arthur and Molly are good people, Remus. Molly is a sweet girl and Arthur is a good guy. Give it time okay? Let nature take its course."

"I just want Carrie to be happy," I muttered.

"I know," Lily said as she threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug. I hugged her back. I began feeling a bit better now after talking with her.

"Let's head back shall we?" Lily said after she released me.

I nodded.

We headed back to the hospital wing.

James and Sirius told us what happened with Molly.

"Are you okay?" I demanded worriedly.

She nodded and smiled.

ARTHUR.

Molly had placed a little gold dragon charm in Carrie's palm. She said it was her good-luck charm.

Remus put an arm around Molly's shoulders.

Very reluctantly, we headed to the rest of our classes.

The next morning, we checked on Carrie.

She was getting better little by little. Madam Elkin estimated that by next week, Carrie should be okay.

Remus apologized to me for lashing out like that. I forgave him.

I really had begun to like Carrie even more. Dumbledore had swept the castle but found nothing. That was really odd. Remus, James, Sirius, Molly and I all agreed that something strange and evil was going on. Someone was out to get us.

The next week rolled around. We were all sitting in the Gryffindor common room. Suddenly, the portrait entrance opened. We all looked up.

Carrie stood, beaming.

CARRIE.

The look of pure joy was on everyone's faces.

"CARRIE!" Lily cried as she leaped up from the couch and flew over to me. She hugged me tightly.

Everyone got up and came over to me.

After Lily hugged me and released me, next it was James, then Sirius, then Molly, then Remus and lastly but shyly, Arthur.

"How do you feel?" Remus asked.

"Like my old self," I beamed. "But if Sirius farts, I'm going to have to put my wand up his but to cork it."

They all laughed.

We all sat down again. I was sitting in-between Arthur and Sirius. Molly and Lily were sitting across from us on chairs. James and Remus were sitting on the floor.

"What exactly happened in the vision?" Arthur asked looking at me.

"I saw the sleigh breaking away and landing on Lily," I said. "I had to stop it."

"You really scared us," Remus said quietly. "We were certain you were going to die. Madam Elkin said you were a broom short of going to St. Mungo's."

Their faces suddenly filled with sadness and solemness.

"I'm okay though," I said. "I couldn't let that happen. I would do the same for all of you. You're all my good friends."

Arthur shyly put his arm around my shoulders.

"Well, you're our best friend too," he said.

They all nodded. I snuggled up against Arthur. I saw Remus give Molly a wink. She blushed scarlet.

"So has anyone figured out what's going on here?" I asked.

"We think someone's out to get us," James said seriously. "Someone made Molly fall down the stairs. He or she was right behind her on the stairs."

"Okay," Sirius said. "Do we know anyone that would want to hurt us? We're well liked!"

Lily rolled her eyes.

"Oh yes," she said scornfully. "The first years you bullied several months ago...you shoved them head first into the toilet and flushed. I'm sure they love you."

Molly looked appalled, yet amused.

Suddenly, I remembered something.

"Molly," I said as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the gold dragon charm. I got up and stood in front of her, opening my palm.

"I think this is yours," I said grinning. "Thank you."

"Keep it," Molly said softly.

I leaned down and gave her a big hug. She hugged me back. I turned and sat back down next to Arthur.

"Okay," James said looking around at everyone. "Back on the subject...who would be out to get us? Anyone with a grudge."

We all sat, deep in thought.

Suddenly, a terrible thought entered my mind.

"Hey," I said quietly. "Who are we forgetting?"

Everyone had puzzled expressions on their faces.

"There's only one wizard that is evil enough," I said meaningfully.

All their faces now drained of color.

"You-Know-Who," Lily whispered raising a hand to her mouth.

"Okay," James said. "But why?"

"That I'm not sure of yet," I said. "But there's no one else I could think of that would be cunning enough to throw Molly down the stairs or drop a sleigh onto Lily."

"Actually, drop a sleigh onto you," Sirius said with a deadpan look. But I knew he was serious.

"And who killed Peter?" Remus mused.

We were all silent.

We headed down to breakfast and then to our classes.

Professor McGonagall awarded Gryffindor 50 points because I was okay. That caused Gryffindor to throw a party after dinner that night.

Sirius and James took care of the decorations and food.

The entire Gryffindor house was having a blast.

We were all laughing and talking merrily in the common room. I checked my watch. It was 9:00 at night.

I also looked out the window. A full moon hung in the almost midnight sky. There were a few stars that twinkled.

"Carrie? What's wrong?" Arthur asked worriedly, searching my face.

"Erm, Remus doesn't look too good," I said quickly. "I'd better go talk to him."

"Oh," Arthur said with a touch of sadness in his voice.

I realized that I might've hurt him.

"Hey," I said softly putting my face close to his. "Remus and I are best friends...okay?"

He still looked a little crestfallen so I leaned even closer until our lips met. I gave him a quick kiss before I got up and headed over to Remus.

ARTHUR.

I sat, completely in shock after Carrie had given me a quick kiss. I could still taste her lips on mine. Lily had been watching. She got up and came over to me. She plopped down in Carrie's seat.

"So," Lily said in a teasing tone. "Carrie likes you back huh?"

I felt the heat rising in my cheeks.

"Do you think so?"

"Oh yeah," Lily said firmly nodding. "She doesn't just go around kissing guys for nothing. Especially after Luke."

I looked at her quizzically.

"Who's Luke?"

Lily's expression fell.

"Luke was her boyfriend in our 4th year. 6 months into the relationship, he became abusive toward Carrie. He hit Carrie so bad that she ended up getting a black eye and several bruises. Sirius hit the roof and went after him. He beat the snot out of Luke. He was almost going to be expelled, Sirius, but Carrie pleaded with the Headmaster and Professor Dumbledore. Sirius was able to stay but was punished, but Luke oddly transferred out 2 months later,"

The news hit me like a ton of bricks. I swallowed and raised my eyes to Carrie, who was talking with Remus, James and Sirius now. She glanced over at me and winked, then returned to talking with them.

"I can't believe someone would be like that toward her," I said quietly looking back at Lily.

"This is the first time I've seen her happy in a while," Lily continued softly. "She must really like you and trust you. Two things that Carrie is very careful about with guys."

"I would never hurt her," I said firmly. "Or any girl like that."

"I know," Lily said softly. "We know you're a good guy. Don't worry."

Lily gave me a squeeze before she got up and went back over to James. Sirius came over next.

"So I see Carrie likes you huh?" he asked grinning.

"I think so," I said.

"And you like her?"

"Very much,"

"If you hurt her, I'll personally stick your head in the toilet," Sirius said, his tone changing.

"SIRIUS!" I heard Carrie snap suddenly.

Neither of us realized she had been standing close and was able to hear us.

"Uh oh," we heard James and Lily mutter.