MAELSTROM

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE-BACK TO HOGWARTS

CARRIE.

Remus and I were just relaxing watching TV when Lex, Jenna's owl, flew in the opened window.

"Hey," I said as he landed gracefully on my shoulder. "Jenna's sent us a letter."

I untied it from Lex's leg and gave him a treat. He remained on my shoulder.

"Snape's picking on her and Harry it seems," I said scanning the letter again.

"He was always a strange kid remember?" Remus said. "But there should be no reason to pick on Harry or Jenna."

Just as I was about to reply, another owl arrived carrying a letter stamped with the Hogwarts seal.

This time, Remus got it.

The owl rested on the arm of the couch.

"Uh oh," Remus said suddenly looking up from the letter. I raised my eyes to his.

From the look on his face, I could tell it wasn't good.

"What's wrong?" I demanded.

"Jenna's had an accident," he said slowly. "She can't remember who she is."

I fainted.

"Carrie?" I heard Remus' voice.

I opened my eyes.

Remus' face appeared above mine. I was lying on my back on the floor.

He had a concerned expression on his face.

"I'm okay," I said getting up into a sitting position. "What happened with Jenna?"

Panic began filling my chest.

"Apparently, she fell down the stairs and hit her head. Now she doesn't remember anyone or who she is," Remus said gravely. "Dumbledore sent this."

He showed me the letter.

"He wants us to go back to Hogwarts,"

"Let's go," I said firmly.

I got to my feet and turned to face him.

We quickly packed our things.

"How are we getting there?" I asked.

"The train," Remus replied. A small smile formed on his face. "It will be just like old times."

I smiled back.

We arrived at Kings Cross station and leaned against the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. We smoothly passed through. Sure enough, the Hogwarts Express was in the station. It was a bit eerie since there were no others boarding. Remus and I found a compartment toward the front of the passenger car and sat down. Shortly, the train began pulling out of the station.

"This certainly does bring back memories," I said scanning the compartment.

"Yeah," Remus said softly.

We fell silent for the rest of the trip.

The train pulled into the station and the castle loomed in the background.

We disembarked from the train. Professor McGonagall met us at the station with carriages pulled by Threstrals.

"It's so good to see you two again!" she gushed as she hugged me.

I hugged her back.

"Same here," I said as she released me and turned to Remus.

"What have you been up to?" she asked him giving him a hug.

"Got my teaching license," Remus said grinning.

"Come on," Professor McGonagall said as she ushered us into the carriages. Soon we were off to the castle.

We entered the castle. It looked exactly the same.

For a moment, I was flooded with emotion and memories.

Remus put a hand on my shoulder as McGonagall led us up to the hospital wing.

Jenna was sitting up right in bed drinking from a smoking goblet. Harry was sitting beside her on the cot looking upset…and another girl with bushy brown hair was sitting on the other side of Jenna's cot.

Harry looked up and saw us.

His expression brightened somewhat.

I went over to him and sat down beside him.

"She went to send you a letter," he said swallowing. "When she didn't come back I should've went after her."

"No," Remus said in a fatherly tone. "It was just an accident."

Harry looked a bit relieved now.

"I'm Hermione Granger," the girl said softly.

"Ah yes," I said grinning. "I go to your dad. Dr. Mike Granger right?"

Hermione nodded and grinned too.

"Good dentist," I winked.

She beamed.

"Who are you?" Jenna asked, looking from me to Remus.

"We're your parents," I said gently.

It was killing me to see her this way.

"Oh," Jenna said nodding.

"I've asked you two to come back because I'm getting a shrewd idea that things might start up again," Professor Dumbledore said appearing in the hospital wing entranceway.

I broke into a relieved grin.

Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon spectacles.

"How are you doing?" he asked softly coming over.

"We're good," Remus grinned.

"How would it start up again?" I asked.

"We checked the stairs where Jenna supposedly fell. There was nothing on the steps that suggested anything slippery. Either she lost her balance on her own or someone put something there, and then took it away. Jenna was more than likely unconscious and wouldn't hear anyone," Dumbledore said reasonably.

Just then, Snape entered the hospital wing.

"One big happy family, I see," he said softly but there was his usual sneer.

"Hi Severus," Remus said forcing his tone to be polite.

Snape walked forward.

"So," he said slowly. "You're the parents of Jenna?"

"Yes," I said indignantly. "Is there a problem?"

"She's got the human side from you I gather," Severus smirked at me.

Remus growled and went to lunge for him, but I grabbed him around the waist and held him back.

"I'm beginning to think I did the right thing in letting James annoy you," Remus spat.

"Calm down," I whispered to Remus, but he was still struggling against my grip. I knew had I let him go he would've leaped for Severus and probably beat the shit out of him…much to what he deserves.

"I'm sure you had fun wolfing down every moment James harassed me," Severus said emphasizing the word 'wolfing'.

Remus struggled even more. This time, he did break lose of my grip and lunged for Snape.

I thought for sure he was going to pound him to a pulp, but all he did was pull out his wand and press the tip against Snape's throat.

"Stop harassing my daughter and her friends, Snivellus," Remus hissed. "Hate me but leave my daughter and her friends alone…got it?"

"That's enough," Dumbledore said in a tone that meant business.

Remus released Snape and turned back to Jenna, who was watching curiously from her cot. Harry had a shocked expression on his face.

"Will her memory come back?" I asked Dumbledore as I sat down beside Jenna and began stroking her hair.

"It should yes," he said. "Madam Pomfrey will be giving her a Froynil Potion every hour. It helps with memory."

Jenna beamed at me.

"So you're me Mum," she said slowly. I nodded. Then, she turned to Remus. "And you're me Dad."

Remus nodded, swallowing. I could see how deeply this was bothering him.

"And who are you two?" she asked turning to Harry and Hermione.

"We're your best friends," Harry said. "I'm Harry."

"And I'm Hermione,"

"It's best if you keep introducing yourselves," Madam Pomfrey said coming into the hospital wing. "This way, something might click."

Again we nodded.

"I've taken the liberty of setting up a spare room for you two on the third floor," Dumbledore said. "For you to sleep. I think its best if you two remain the year with her or until her memory comes back."

"Come this way," Severus said with a bow.

We knew he was mocking us. Remus kept his eyes narrowed.

Remus and I gave Jenna a hug before following Severus out of the hospital wing.

Once out in the corridor, Snape turned to us.

"I do hope Jenna's memory comes back," he said quietly.

The sudden change in his tone momentarily stunned us.

"Huh?" I asked shocked.

"I'm sorry I harassed Jenna and Potter," he said.

We waited a bit but he offered nothing more. Remus and I looked at each other bewildered.

The room was cozy. There was a bed set up, as well as other things.

"This should be just fine," I said pleasantly, wanting to show Severus that I could be the bigger person here.

"Have a good-night," Severus said. "You know the routine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I believe Dumbledore has allowed you to go to class with Jenna as well."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Remus and I alone.

"This is unbelievable," I said flopping down on the bed. "Could Jenna have really just lost her balance?"

Remus hefted the legs of his jeans up and crouched down in front of me. He put his hands on my knees.

"It is possible," he said softly staring up into my eyes. "But normally Dumbledore's feelings turn out to be right. Plus, you haven't had a vision yet have you?"

I shook my head.

"Well, I'm sure if it's anything to worry about, you would've," he said simply.

I began feeling much better now.

I gave him a hug.

Jenna was released from the hospital wing under strict observation and she wasn't allowed to leave our sight for one moment. Either me or Hermione escorted her to the girls' bathroom. The rest of the time, she was surrounded by me, Remus, Harry and Hermione.

Harry and Hermione were wonderful. They didn't mind one bit to help Jenna.

After dinner and the rest of the classes, we headed to bed.

The next morning, we met everyone at the Gryffindor table.

Apparently, flying lessons were starting on Thursday…and Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning together.

"Typical," Harry said darkly. "Just what I always wanted…to make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy."

"Ah yes," Remus said wisely. "Malfoys."

"You don't know that," I said kindly. "I'm sure you'll be just fine."

Harry blushed and turned his attention back to his crumpets.

Hermione and Remus began chatting.

I leaned forward.

"Your father was an amazing Seeker for Gryffindor," I said kindly and gently. "Knowing him, you've got his trait."

Again, Harry blushed.

Owl post arrived. Neville Longbottom's owl brought him a package.

Neville opened it excitedly and withdrew a glass ball the size of a marble filled with white smoke.

"It's a Remembrall!" he explained. "Gran knows I forget things…this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red…oh…" his face fell because the Remembrall suddenly glowed scarlet. "…you've forgotten something…"

Poor Neville was trying to remember what he'd forgotten when a boy with blond hair and blue eyes, who was passing the Gryffindor table, snatched the Remembrall out of his hand.

Harry and I jumped to our feet.

Seeing Remus and I, adults at the Gryffindor table, he quickly dropped the ball back onto the table.

"Just looking," he said sulkily as he and two other boys sloped away.

I picked up the ball and placed it into Neville's hands.

"Keep this on you at all times," I whispered to him. "I don't trust that kid one bit."

Neville shoved the ball into his robes.

"That was Draco Malfoy followed by Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle…his faithful lumps," Harry muttered.

Remus chuckled at Harry's last comment.

We headed out onto the grounds after breakfast that Thursday. It was time for flying lessons.

We explained to Madam Hooch, who taught the class, that Jenna won't be able to learn today.

So, we watched on the sidelines as Hermione and Harry stood by their brooms.

"Stick your right hand over the broom and say, 'Up'," Madam Hooch explained.

A chorus of the word "Up!" echoed over the grounds.

Harry's immediately lifted off the ground. Hermione's just seemed to roll over.

Madam Hooch showed them how to mount their brooms.

"How when I blow the whistle, I want you to kick off the ground as hard as you can," she said. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down. Ready? One…two…three."

But Neville, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips.

"Come back, boy!" she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle. Twelve feet…twenty feet.

We could see his scared white face look down at the ground falling away from him…saw him gasp, slip sideways off the broom and…

WHAM…a thud and a nasty crack and Neville lay face down on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising.

Remus and I rushed over to him and so did Madam Hooch.

Her face was white as well.

"Broken wrist," she muttered. "Come on boy…let's get you to Madam Pomfrey."

She surveyed the rest of the class.

"None of you move while I take this boy to the hospital wing. You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch'."

Neville, tear streaked in the face, and clutching his wrist, hobbled off with Madam Hooch.

No sooner were they out of ear shot when the boy named Draco Malfoy burst into laughter.

"Did you see his face, the great lump?"

The other Slytherins joined in the laughter.

I angrily folded my arms over my chest.

"And I suppose seeing someone get hurt is funny to you?" I asked coldly.

"Shut up, Malfoy," a girl snapped.

"Very," Malfoy replied glaring at me. "Who are you?"

"I'm Carrie Lupin and this is my husband, Remus," I answered back icily.

"So you're the parents of Jenna?" Malfoy said his eyes glittering.

"Watch it," Harry snapped.

Just then, my eyes slid out of focus and I went rigid.