MAELSTROM

CHAPTER FIFTEEN-THE TRUTH

REMUS.

I was so angry and guilt ridden that what Arthur had said didn't register yet. I stopped pacing and looked at him.

"What?" I asked.

I couldn't even look at Carrie. It was killing me inside to think I killed her. I was completely devastated.

"Yes," Molly added as tears rolled down her cheeks as well. "I think we should tell them the truth."

James looked up now. His eyes were red and puffy.

He looked from me, to Lily, to Arthur, to Molly and then to Professor Dumbledore.

Professor Dumbledore sighed.

"Yes," he said finally. "I think it is best to tell them everything."

"Please sit down," Molly said to me.

She went to gently put a hand on my shoulder, but I yanked away from her. I obediently sat down though.

I still couldn't bring myself to look at Carrie.

James was listening intently too. He was watching Molly.

Molly sat down on the edge of the bed next to James.

She took a deep breath.

"You see, we're really not from this time," she said slowly. "We're really from the future. We went here several years ago. We used a Time Turner to go back into the past, now, because Peter Pettigrew, Luke Warner, Holly and Sam Tyson were all part of Lord Voldemort's plan to kill James and Lily to keep them from having a son. Your son," Molly said gesturing to Lily and James. "Will be able to destroy him. There will be a prophecy made."

She stopped, letting this all sink in. I was completely stunned and shocked myself…but not as shocked as James and Lily.

"What does this have to do with Carrie?" I demanded.

"Carrie was a weapon as well. She would be able to see how to destroy Voldemort and then tell their son," Arthur said softly. "What happens is that Carrie was killed in the second war. She had become and Auror because of her powers. The Ministry found her a useful tool to capturing Death Eaters. Voldemort found out about her powers and ordered her life to be terminated."

I swallowed.

This was really hard to believe…James and Lily were just as shocked.

"Actually," Molly continued looking at me. Her expression softened even more. "You and Carrie were married."

I felt as if my heart was being ripped out and set on fire.

There was silence now.

"I've got a Time Turner with me now," Molly continued. "That's how we did it."

"Luke, Holly, Sam and Peter were part of Voldemort's 'Elite team' to try and kill Carrie, James and Lily. They are working with him. The plan was to come back to Hogwarts, make friends with you lot and keep our eyes peeled for anything unusual. If you noticed, we hadn't arrived until later remember? We had to make friends with Carrie like I did because it would throw Peter off." Arthur said.

"So it was all fake? Your feelings for me?" I demanded glaring at Molly.

"I'm afraid so," she said swallowing. "I mean we are good friends in the future so it wasn't totally fake."

She looked upset too.

"If Carrie heard that she's punch the shit out of you," I snarled to Arthur.

Arthur swallowed. "I really do care about her though,"

"Well, what good is that now? Voldemort succeeded," I rasped. "Carrie's dead."

Molly, Arthur and Professor Dumbledore looked at each other.

"Actually," Dumbledore began slowly. "I think we can change that."

Lily, James and I looked at each other.

Molly reached down the front of her robe and pulled out a small hour glass necklace. She pulled it off her neck and stood up, walking toward me. She placed it into my palm.

"Go back," she said as tears formed. "Go back and save her."

I looked at Dumbledore.

He nodded.

"I'm going with you," Lily said firmly.

"No," Arthur said softly. "He has to do it alone."

I swung the necklace around my neck.

"One turn," Dumbledore explained.

I turned it once. Immediately, the hospital wing before me began vanishing. Then, I landed in the hospital wing again…but it was dark this time. Arthur, Lily and Molly weren't in the wing, but James was still on the cot.

I quickly stuffed the Time Turner down the front of my robes and tore from the hospital wing. I knew enough not to let myself see me…well, it was weird and complicated…not to mention creepy.

I entered the common room. Carrie was sitting on the couch. The wolf, me, was no where to be seen. I exhaled loudly in relief.

"Hey," she said looking up at me. "What are you doing there? I thought you were in the dorm getting ready to change?"

"Erm, I was, but I decided to go for a walk," I said quickly. "Can you come with me for a moment?"

"I must've dozed off and didn't see you walk past me…but sure," she said as she got up and came over to me. We left the common room.

We stood outside. She faced me.

I felt a lump rising in my throat as I looked at her. The full moonlight cast a silvery glow over her face. She looked so beautiful.

"Do me a favor okay?" I asked taking her shoulders.

"Sure,"

"Stay in the library until I change back into a human okay?" I demanded.

"Why?" she asked searching my face.

"Please just trust me okay?" I said. "I have…a bad feeling."

Carrie nodded.

"Sure. You got it,"

She began heading off to the library.

Immediately, I turned the Time Turner again and the corridor began fading…then, I was standing in the same corridor, but the right time.

I tore off to the hospital wing.

I burst into the hospital wing. James had woken up. Arthur and Molly were there. I forced myself to look at the cot near the wall where Carrie had been lying.

She wasn't there.

"The library!" I said eagerly.

I turned around and flew down the corridor and turned left, almost losing my balance. I entered the library.

I scanned it, my heart pounding in my chest.

I finally saw her. She was sitting at a table toward the back with her arms crossed on the table and her head was buried in them. She was sound asleep.

I looked out the window. The sun was starting to come up. The orange light began rolling over Carrie like a small wave. Her blond hair shone in the sunlight.

My heart swelled with emotion at the sight of her. I shook my head and headed over to her. I hefted the pants legs of my slacks up slightly and crouched down beside her.

"Carrie? Wake up," I said gently.

CARRIE.

I slowly raised my head off my arms and looked down at Remus. He was crouched down beside me, looking up at me.

"Morning," he said softly. His eyes were locked on mine.

"Morning," I said yawning. "Please explain to me why I slept in the library?"

I stood up and stretched. Remus stood up as well.

I raised my arms above my head and stretched. I was aware that the hem of my vest began riding up, exposing my abdomen and it had become taut across my chest.

Remus however, had his eyes still locked on mine.

I lowered my arms and pulled at the hem of the vest.

Remus just studied me.

I waved a hand in front of his face energetically.

"Earth to Remus?" I said grinning.

The next thing I knew, Remus stepped closer to me until we were like two inches apart. Our eyes were locked on one another's. He took my face in his hands, tilted his head slightly and brought his face closer until our lips met. He kissed me. I began gently kissing him back just as passionately.

When we pulled apart, he kept his hands on the side of my jaw and our breathing was in unison and sawing in and out.

"What was that for?" I asked grinning.

"I love you," he said.

I looked at him.

"I love you too," I said softly.

His face lit up.

"Come with me. There's something you need to hear," he said as he took my hand and began leading me from the library.

He led me into the hospital wing. James, Molly, Lily and Arthur, as well as Professor Dumbledore, were there. James was awake. All their eyes began swelling with tears at the sight of me.

Lily rushed over to me and threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly…then, when she released me, Molly came over and hugged me. Arthur did next, although I was still pissed at him. I went over and sat beside James. I leaned down and gave him a hug too. He gave me a kiss on the cheek.

Remus sat down next to me on the bed with James.

"Why is everyone looking at me like I'm some sort of alien?" I asked frowning.

"You'd best tell her," Molly said to Remus.

Remus turned to me.

He began telling me something that I couldn't believe.

When he was done, I turned to Arthur.

"So you're feelings toward me were fake?" I said slowly.

"Not really," Arthur said quietly. "I do care about you."

I turned to Molly.

"So you are from the future? Both of you?" I asked.

Arthur and Molly nodded.

"Voldemort wants to kill James and Lily because of the son they are going to have that can destroy him?"

Again, they nodded.

"And me because of my abilities?"

"Yep," Molly said.

"I feel so loved," I said.

They all laughed.

"So you believe us?" Molly asked hopefully.

"Yeah…why not?" I shrugged. "I doubt you'd lie with Dumbledore here."

"They are indeed telling the truth," Dumbledore said gently. "But the question is, why did Remus attack Carrie?"

"Attack me?" I asked confused. "I spent the night in the library."

I turned to Remus.

He had gone pale now.

"What happened?" I demanded.

"You see," he began slowly. "Just before I came into the common room, I was in the boys' dorm. I changed and then I attacked you. I ended up killing you. I used the Time Turner to go back and save you."

My jaw dropped.

"I felt completely awful," he continued even lower. "I was devastated beyond words."

"Look," I said. "At least I'm okay now…don't even think about it anymore. It's done with."

"But aren't you angry that I killed you?"

I shook my head.

"I know you didn't mean it…it was probably Sam or Holly with some kind of charm to make you turn against me. I know you would never do that deliberately,"

Remus looked relieved.

"No," he said firmly. "I'd rather hurt myself then hurt you."

"Okay," James said. "Now that we've got everything out in the open what are we going to do about Sam and Holly?"

"For now, it's best to keep quiet as if nothing happened," Dumbledore said. "I will think of a plan and let you all know. But please just act normally. Don't let them know what's really going on."

We nodded.

Madam Elkin assured us that James was fit to leave the ward. We headed out of the hospital wing and headed back to the common room.

"I'm too tired to even go to class," Lily said yawning.

"I think we can skip class for today," James said nodding.

Arthur and Molly nodded and headed into the girls' and boys' dorm.

Lily and James followed leaving Remus and I alone.

I sat down on the hearth rug in front of the fireplace. Outside, it had begun snowing. Blankets of white covered the ground now.

Remus joined me beside the fireplace.

"I really felt sick when I realized what I had done," he said quietly staring into the fire.

I put a hand over his.

"I know," I said softly. "But I'm okay. Forget it."

"That's just it," he said even quieter. "I can't."

This time, I put my hands on either side of his face and turned it toward me.

"I love you so much," he continued. "When I thought Arthur liked you, I was so jealous."

I smiled.

"And when I thought Molly liked you, I was jealous too,"

We smiled and stared into each others' eyes for a moment.

Then, Remus kissed me.

I kissed him back. He gently took my shoulders and pushed me backward, so I was lying on my back on the hearth rug.

He was on top of me. I felt his hips lightly pressing against mine.

He pulled off my robe and gray vest. We continued to kiss.

Then, I pulled off his robe and vest so we were in white shirts and ties.

Then, he went to un-button my shirt. He un-buttoned it, and left it open. He kissed me and then moved down my throat.

I shut my eyes. Flashes of Luke began crossing my mind.

I saw Luke punching me in the face, grabbing my arm so hard that his finger impressions were on the skin.

I saw the time when Luke threw me down the stairs…or when he 'accidentally' burned me with the Myrol Potion in Potions…

The situation with Remus was starting to get even more intense as he began to un-do my skirt.

I felt a slight panic rising in my chest.

My eyes snapped open. I sat up abruptly. Remus immediately stopped.

"I'm sorry," he apologized automatically.

"It's not you," I said as I quickly began pulling my clothes back on. "I'm so sorry."

With that, I got to my feet and tore into the girls' dorm.

REMUS.

Carrie tore into the girls' dorm. I had wanted to make love to her so badly, but something obviously was bothering her. I decided not to push it.

I got up and I headed into the boys' dorm.

"Hey," James said looking up from his bed. He was lying on his stomach just relaxing. "What's up?"

I didn't reply and sat down on the bed next to him.

"I tried to make love to Carrie," I began quietly.

"Excellent!" James grinned.

"But she suddenly stopped and flew into the girls' dorm," I finished.

"One word," James said. "Luke."

Realization dawned on me.

"Oh," I said quietly.

"Give her time," James said. "She'll be okay."

I glanced over at Sam. He was wearing a smirk.