MAELSTROM

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR-LOST

REMUS.

I recognized Carrie's expression immediately.

"Carrie?" I asked leaning close.

Harry and Malfoy got into an argument.

Finally, Carrie's eyes slid back into focus and she shook herself.

"There's definitely danger here at the castle," she whispered moving her eyes onto Harry.

"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" a hard faced Slytherin girl said. "Never thought you'd like fat little cry-babies, Parvati."

"Look!" Malfoy said as he darted forward and snatching something out of the grass. "It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."

The Remembrall glittered in the sun as he held it up.

"Give that here, Malfoy," Harry said quietly.

"Danger?" I whispered. "Here in the castle? What did the vision show?"

"I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find—how about –up a tree?" Malfoy smirked.

"Someone here isn't who they seem," Carrie whispered.

"Give it here!" Harry yelled, but Malfoy had leapt onto his broomstick and taken off. He certainly could fly. Hovering level with the topmost branches of an oak, he called, "Come and get it, Potter!"

Harry grabbed his broom.

"No!" shouted Hermione. "Madam Hooch told us not to move—you'll get us all into trouble."

Harry ignored her.

"Harry," I said. "Don't."

Harry ignored me and mounted his broomstick. His robes whipped out behind him as he rose higher and higher.

Malfoy looked stunned.

"Give it here," Harry called. "Or I'll knock you off that broom!"

"Oh yeah?" Malfoy said trying to sneer, but he looked worried.

"No Crabbe and Goyle up here to save your neck, Malfoy," Harry called.

Realization formed on Malfoy's face.

"Catch it if you can, then!" he shouted and threw the glass ball high into the air and streaked back down toward the ground.

Harry dove for the ball.

About a foot from the ground he caught the ball. Carrie grabbed onto my arm in fear as Harry toppled gently onto the grass with the Remembrall clutched safely in his fist.

"HARRY POTTER!"

We turned around as Professor McGonagall came running toward us. Harry got to his feet, shaking.

"Never—in all my time at Hogwarts…"

She was almost speechless with shock and her glasses flashed furiously, "—how dare you—might have broken your neck…"

"It wasn't his fault, Professor…"

"Be quiet, Miss Patil…"

"Professor, Malfoy…" Carrie began.

"Just because you are no longer my students doesn't mean you can interrupt me," McGonagall said. "Potter, Lupin, follow me, now."

Harry and I looked at each other before following McGonagall but not before we caught the triumphant faces on Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.

We entered the castle and were marched along corridors. Harry looked miserable.

Professor McGonagall stopped outside a classroom. She opened the door and poked her head inside.

"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a moment?"

A boy in his 5th year came out of the classroom, looking confused.

"Follow me, you three," Professor McGonagall said and we marched on up the corridor. Wood was looking curiously at Harry and I.

"In here,"

She pointed us to a classroom that was empty except for Peeves who was busy writing rude words on the blackboard.

Harry and I caught each others eyes. Despite the tension, we managed a chuckle at Peeves.

"Out, Peeves!" McGonagall barked.

Peeves threw the chalk into a bin and swooped out cursing.

Professor McGonagall slammed the door behind him and faced us.

"Potter, this is Oliver Wood. Wood—I've found you a Seeker,"

Immediately, I began realizing what was going on. I felt a grin forming on my face.

Wood's expression changed to delight.

Harry was looking at me, wondering why on earth I was grinning for.

"Are you serious, Professor?"

"Absolutely," Professor McGonagall said crisply. "The boy's a natural. I've never seen anything like it."

She leaned close to me.

"Except with James Potter," she whispered.

I nodded.

She stood straight up again and looked at Harry.

"Was that your first time on a broomstick, Potter?"

Harry nodded silently.

"He caught that thing in his hand after a fifty-foot dive," Professor McGonagall continued. "Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it."

Wood was looking as if all his dreams had come true.

"Ever seen a game of Quidditch, Potter?" he asked excitedly.

"Wood's captain of the Gryffindor team," McGonagall explained.

"He's just the build for a Seeker, too," Wood said walking around Harry and sizing him up. "Light—speedy—we'll have to get him a decent broom, Professor—a Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven, I'd say."

"I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can't bend the first-year rule. Heaven knows, we need a better team than last year. Flattened in the last match by Slytherin, I couldn't look at Severus Snape in the face for weeks…."

McGonagall peered sternly over her glasses at Harry.

"I want to hear you're training hard, Potter or I may change my mind about punishing you,"

Then she smiled at Harry and I.

"Your father would've been proud," she said. "He was an excellent Quidditch player himself."

Dinner time rolled around. I told Harry that McGonagall was right. James had been an excellent player.

"I'm glad," Carrie said relieved. "That she decided to put him on the team."

"And that I'm not expelled," Harry said as he shoved pie into his mouth. He was particularly hungry after what happened.

"Exactly," Carrie said.

Jenna was sitting next to Carrie eating. She looked up and gave me a bright smile that melted my heart.

"Any progress with Jenna?" I whispered, leaning forward.

"Nothing yet," Carrie said swallowing. "But Madam Pomfrey thinks she'll come around soon. She's getting the potion every hour so hopefully something will click."

Jenna returned to her meal.

"She'll be fine," Hermione said giving Jenna a huge grin.

Jenna grinned back.

Just then, Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle turned up.

"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?"

"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you," Harry said coolly.

"I'd take you on anytime on my own," Malfoy said. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only—no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"

"Of course he has," I said firmly. "I'm his second…yours?"

"Crabbe…Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."

When Malfoy left, Harry and I looked at each other.

"Mr. Lupin? What is a wizard's duel?" Harry asked sheepishly. "And what do you mean you're my second?"

I grinned.

"Well, a second's there to take over if you die," I said.

A look of horror crossed Harry's face.

"But most only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy'll be able to do is send sparks at each other. Neither of you know enough magic to do any real damage."

"See," Carrie began. "If Remus and I dueled, we'd cause some real damage."

Harry nodded.

"What happens if I wave my wand and nothing happens?"

"Throw it away and punch him in the nose," Carrie grinned.

"Don't egg this on," Hermione moaned. "He really shouldn't go wandering around the school at night. Think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught and you're bound to be. It's really selfish of you."

"Right," Harry said. "And I suppose you'd rather just let Malfoy taunt you?"

"Don't worry," I said reassuringly. "I'll be with him."

I gave Carrie a meaningful look.

She nodded.

"Just be careful okay?"

I nodded.

Hermione continued to protest until I reassured her that I wouldn't let Harry get caught.

HARRY.

About a half past eleven, I entered the common room. Mr. Lupin told me to meet him there at 11:30.

I waited.

Just then, I heard toenails clicking on the floor, like a dog walking across linoleum.

There are no dogs here at Hogwarts except Fang, I thought curiously.

Just then, a large gray wolf appeared.

Nor wolves!

I froze, completely terrified.

The wolf had to weigh about 200 pounds. He had gray and white fur mixed. His jaundice eyes were locked on me.

I didn't move. The wolf came right up to me and sat on its haunches. It looked up at me.

"Where'd you come from?" I choked out.

It took me a moment to realize the wolf had a piece of paper in its mouth with my name written neatly in script:

Harry Potter

With a shaky hand, I reached for the letter. The wolf opened its jaws, releasing the letter. I opened it up and began reading:

Dear Harry,

I'm sorry I won't be able to meet you. But this dog will go with you. He'll keep a look out for anyone, mainly teachers. He's friendly, but don't get him angry. I will see you in the morning and good-luck. Remember, be careful.

Mr. Lupin

I folded the letter up and stuffed it into my robe.

"Okay then," I said. "Let's go."

The wolf immediately got up and began trotting alongside me.

"You aren't a dog," I said softly. "I know you're a wolf."

The wolf just looked up at me and continued to trot.

As we were leaving the common room, Neville rushed in and almost fell over the wolf.

"Thank goodness! I had forgotten the password. I've been out here for hours!"

He suddenly looked down at the wolf.

"What's that?" he asked in a nervous voice.

"Erm," I said thinking quickly. "Hagrid's Husky…a dog. He asked me to keep an eye on him for the moment. I was just bringing him back."

Neville nodded and hurried off to the boys' dorm.

Breathing a sigh of relief, we continued.

The corridors were dark except the lighting from the torches creating orange bars on the floor.

We entered the trophy room. Malfoy and Crabbe weren't here yet.

"Maybe they chickened out?" I asked, looking down at the wolf, who was sitting on his haunches now leaning against my leg.

The wolf looked back up at me.

The minutes crept by. Suddenly, I heard someone speak…but it wasn't Malfoy.

"Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner,"

It was Filch speaking to Mrs. Norris.

I felt panic swelling in my chest. The wolf began growling.

I scurried silently toward the door, away from Filch's voice. I just whipped my robes around the corner when Filch entered the room.

"WHAT IS THIS?" Filch roared, seeing the wolf.

I heard the wolf bark and Mrs. Norris meow.

I easily peered around the corner. The wolf took off after the cat, almost knocking filch off his feet. Mrs. Norris was yowling as she took off, her tail stuck high in the air.

"LEAVE MY POOPSIE ALONE YOU ANIMAL!" Filch roared angrily as he too, took off after them.

I easily slipped out of the common room and quickly made it back to Gryffindor tower. In the common room, I found Mrs. Lupin sitting up, wringing her hands and looking worried.

"Harry," she said seeing me and jumping to her feet. "Where's the wolf that was with you?"

"I knew it was a wolf," I said softly. "He took off after Mrs. Norris. Filch almost caught us."

But then, I saw her expression. She was worried and anxious about something.

"What's wrong?" I demanded.

She burst into tears and threw her arms around me. I shyly patted her on her back.

"Jenna's missing! I don't know where she went!"

Mrs. Lupin released me. Her pretty face was contorted with fear and worry.

"How'd she get out?" I demanded clearing my throat.

"She must've saw you and the wolf and decided to follow you!"

"That means…" my voice trailed off.

"Filch,"

"Let's go!" I said.

Mrs. Lupin and I left the common room and re-traced my steps back.

Peeves was floating in front of Jenna.

"Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut, Naughty, naught, you'll get caughty," Peeves sang.

"Peeves," Mrs. Lupin said pleadingly. "She doesn't remember how to get back to the common room."

"Should tell Filch, I should," Peeves said in a saintly voice but his eyes glittered wickedly. "It's for your own good, you know."

"Get out of the way," I said taking a swipe at him but this was a huge mistake.

"STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeves bellowed. "STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"

At that, footsteps, plus the barking of the wolf and meowing of the cat. Mrs. Norris came tearing around the corner, followed closely at the heels by the wolf…and then Filch.

Mrs. Lupin grabbed me and Jenna and she tapped a lock on a door and whispered, "Alohomora," She pulled me inside and pressed our ears against the door.

The barking and meowing floated by, followed by Filch, cursing at the wolf, but he stopped Peeves.

"Which way did they go? Quick tell me,"

"Say please,"

"Don't mess with me, Peeves, now where did they go?"

"Shan't say nothing if you don't say please," in an annoying sing song voice.

"Alright…Please,"

"NOTHING! Ha haaaa!"

Filch cursed and Peeves left with a whoosh.

Mrs. Lupin turned around and clutched Jenna tightly to her. I turned around and my face drained of all color.