MAELSTROM

CHAPTER TEN-WINTER BLUES

You know I never meant to see you again but I only pass by as a friend

All this time, I stayed out of sight, I started wondering why.

Now I , ooh yes I wish it would rain down...down on me.

Ooh yes I wish it would rain, rain down on me now

ooh yes I wish it would rain down...down on me.

You said you didn't need me in your life

I guess you were right.

I never meant to cause you no pain

but it looks like I did it again.

Now I, now I wish it would rain down...down on me

ooh yes I wish it would rain down...down on me.

Ooh yes I wish it would rain...rain down on me.

Though your hurt is gone

mines hanging on inside

I'm just waiting on your side.

CARRIE.

"SIRIUS!" I screamed.

Sirius fell forward on the grass and didn't move.

It took a moment for James, Remus, Lily, Molly and Arthur to recover before they aimed their wands at the figure.

"STUPEFY!" all five shouted.

This time, the figure couldn't dodge four jets of blue. All four hit him/her directly in the chest and abdomen.

The figure went down immediately.

Breathing hard, James turned to Molly.

"Go get Professor Dumbledore!" he shouted.

Molly didn't need to be told twice. She shoved her wand back into her robe and tore off toward the castle.

"Sirius," I said, dropping to my knees beside Sirius' lifeless body.

Lily began sobbing hysterically also.

James threw his arms around Lily and began comforting her. He too, had tears in his eyes. Remus was staring at his feet, not moving. Arthur dropped to his knees beside me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close into a hug.

I pressed my face into his chest and began sobbing too.

Molly returned with Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.

After, she broke down also. Remus comforted her as well.

"Oh dear," Professor Dumbledore said quietly. "I want you six to come with me. Professor McGonagall will take care of Sirius...I promise and bring that hooded figure to the hospital wing. I want to see who it is."

The boys led us sobbing girls into the castle after Professor Dumbledore.

He escorted us up to his office.

We sat down in front of his desk. He surveyed us through his half moon spectacles. He had a look of grief and sadness on his face as well.

Molly had her face buried into Remus' shoulder. Lily had her face buried into her hands.

James had his arms around her. I had my face still buried into Arthur's chest.

"I'm very sorry," Professor Dumbledore said quietly.

"He saved Carrie," Remus said quietly.

I pulled my face away from Arthur and stood up.

"That's right!" I cried as fresh, hot tears streamed down my cheeks. "It's my fault he's dead! BLAME ME IF YOU WANT!"

James, Remus and Arthur had looks of shock and sympathy on their faces.

"No," James said firmly. "It's not your fault, Carrie."

"God no," Arthur said watching me closely.

"Sirius cared about you a lot...we all do. Any one of us would've done the same thing," Remus said.

They all nodded except Lily.

She raised her head and glared at me through her tears.

"You're right, Carrie," she said in hoarse whisper. "It is your fault! The minute we became friends with you people started dying."

Lily stood up and came over to me so we were face to face.

Professor Dumbledore was watching intently and closely.

"First Peter dies mysteriously...and now Sirius died to save your ass," Lily spat. "Plus, Molly gets thrown down the stairs and Remus gets hit with a dart with the Aggression Inducer. Horrible things happen around you. Alex was right...you are a freak."

There was stunned silence in the room.

"Lily..." James began in scolding tone but Lily ignored him.

"I bet you didn't have a vision of this," Lily said as she turned around and slapped me. "Didn't see that coming did you?"

I raised a hand to my left cheek.. It stung slightly.

Then, Lily grabbed my shoulders and tackled me to the floor. She began pulling my hair and hitting me.

"Stupefy" I heard Professor Dumbledore shout.

Lily froze and fell off me.

"I'm sorry," he apologized sadly. "I had to."

"It's fine," Arthur said as he came over to help me and so did Remus.

"She'll probably need a Calming Draught," Professor Dumbledore said. "James? Could you please take Lily down to the hospital wing? And then un-freeze her okay?"

James nodded and gently picked Lily up. They left the office.

"She's wrong, Carrie," Remus said looking at me.

"She's just upset," Molly said looking upset herself.

"No," I said miserably. "She's absolutely right."

They all looked at me stunned.

"I think its best if you all stay away from me for a while," I continued.

Arthur stood up and took several steps toward me, but I backed away.

"Carrie please," Arthur pleaded. "We don't blame you for any of this."

Molly and Remus shook their heads.

"James doesn't either," Remus said. "Lily is just devastated. She didn't mean any of that."

"Listen to your friends," Professor Dumbledore said kindly as he got up and came over to me. He put a hand on my shoulder.

"But if they stick around, they might get hurt too!" I cried.

Professor Dumbledore looked at me with a fatherly expression.

"Carrie," he said. "I don't think they care about that. They only care about you."

"But I don't want to see them get hurt!" I protested.

I dropped to my knees and hugged myself, rocking back and forth. I burst into tears again.

Molly rushed over to me and dropped to her knees in front of me. She put her arms around me and pulled me close. I pressed my cheek against her shoulder and cried uncontrollably.

Arthur and Remus came over and also kneeled down beside Molly and I. I felt Remus rubbing my back comfortingly. Arthur was just watching me solemnly.

"Besides," Professor Dumbledore said gently as he bent down, putting his face close to mine. "I think we have the person that was terrorizing you in the hospital wing."

After a few moments, Molly released me and we all stood up.

Arthur kept his arm around me and Remus put his arm around Molly.

"Let's go," Remus said.

Professor Dumbledore led us to the hospital ward.

We entered the hospital wing. On a cot toward the back, was a body covered in a white sheet.

Sirius.

Lying on a cot was the hooded figure. Lily was sitting up on a cot. James was sitting on the edge of the cot talking to her in a hushed tone.

"Who is this?" Madam Elkin said gesturing to the hooded figure.

"We're not sure," Dumbledore said. "It's about time to find out."

He went over to the hooded figure and pulled off the hood.

We all stared, horrified and shocked.

It was Peter.

"How on earth..." Molly began clearly speechless.

"We'll never know why," Dumbledore said gravely. "But at least its over for now."

Lily glanced over at Peter.

"I don't believe it," she said as she jumped up from the cot. "It was Peter all along?"

"Why?" James mused as he too, came over to us.

"Hey guys?" Molly said in a strange voice. "There's a note in his pocket."

Immediately Remus grabbed it out of Peter's pocket and began reading:

Dear Ty,

I've succeeded in pushing Molly down the stairs...plus, I was wearing and Invisibility Cloak in the common room when Remus changes. I shot a dart at him that was dipped in the Jarimut potion. He was almost going to attack Carrie, but stupid James pulled the dart out.

Of course, I faked my own death in the beginning...stupid blokes thought someone had killed me...fools.

So that's how I was able to carry out our 'plan'. I am going to surprise attack them on the grounds when they least expect it. They don't even realize its me. I used a Disguise Charm for my voice...so they wouldn't be able to tell it was me or recognize my voice.

They all need to be punished for treating you like that before. Especially Sirius. He was the main reason why you got into trouble.

And Carrie...spreading lies about you like that. She's the next to go.

Well, I hope you get this letter. If not, you'll know something has happened and its time you took over for the plan.

Peter.

We all looked at each other stunned.

"Bloody hell," James mused.

"I don't believe it," Molly said weakly. "And who's Ty?"

"I'm not sure," Remus mused as he handed Professor Dumbledore the letter.

"Does this mean that its not over yet?" I asked terrified.

"I'm not sure but it certainly sounds that way," Professor Dumbledore said gravely. "If you all notice anyone else sneaking around the castle, I want to be informed immediately."

We nodded.

Madam Elkin covered up Peter's body with a sheet. We all left the hospital wing.

Lily turned to me.

"I still can't be around you," she said her voice shaking.

With that, she quickly strode off.

"Give her time, Carrie," James said softly as he put a hand on my shoulder. "She's in shock more than anything. Okay? None of us feel the way she does."

I gave James a wan smile.

James gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek.

I began feeling a bit better.

We all trooped to the common room.

Lily refused to come within 6 feet of me and avoided me at all costs. It stung, but I remembered what James had said.

The rest of the semester went fairly slow but okay. There were no more accidents or anything and the visions had stopped completely too.

Remus and Molly had grown closer as Arthur and I did.

This was the last semester before we entered our seventh year. I was excited, but sad. I would miss Hogwarts after we graduated.

None of us really spoke much about Sirius. I think that was part of the problem. Mainly Lily didn't bring it up.

Whenever we started talking about him, she would glare at me with such hate and then tear from the room.

Sirius was really brave to do what he did. I missed him so much already. He didn't hesitate to throw himself in front of me when Peter aimed his wand at me and shouted the Killing Curse.

I knew the others would've done the same thing he did, but looking at Lily, I began doubting she would. From how she feels now, I can be pretty sure she would've let Peter kill me. Even though this wasn't normally like her. She would never act this way. But it's what James said...she's in shock and denial right now. I guess if it helps her to blame me then fine.

Whatever helps her get through it.

That night there was a full moon. James was the only now to keep Remus in line. I was sitting on the couch. Remus had changed into the wolf and he was curled up beside me with his head on my thigh. I was absentmindedly scratching his ear. I closed my eyes and felt a lump rising in the back of my throat. I began sobbing softly. I missed Sirius so much. I opened my eyes and the tears slid down my cheeks as I stared at the ceiling.

I heard Remus let out a whine. He pulled himself into a sitting position and put a paw on my shoulder.

I looked down at him.

"You miss him too, huh?" I asked.

He began frantically licking my face.

I wiped the sticky saliva off my cheek.

"I don't know why I feel so guilty," I continued rubbing his neck..

Remus growled at me and barked as if to say, "Stop it,".

I smiled.

"Okay,"

I threw my arms around him and hugged him, burying my face into his soft fur. I held him close to me.

I ended up falling asleep on the couch with him beside me.

In the morning, I awoke to find Remus had changed back into his normal form. He was sitting next to me with his arms crossed over the front of his robe and uniform. He was looking at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Stop blaming yourself okay?" he said. "Don't let Lily bother you. She's just not herself right now."

"I know," I said softly and quietly.

Remus put his arm around me and pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back.

"Things will be fine from now on," he whispered in my ear. "You'll see."

I hugged him back tightly.

I had hoped he was right...but he was wrong. Things would not be okay.

The rest of the semester went by fast. We all got top marks on our N.E.W.T.s. Arthur and I are now seriously dating. So are Remus and Molly.

I had no idea that when we returned for the last year, that would be our last year for some of us...life wise.