MAELSTROM

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE-JENNA'S MEMORY RETURNS

CARRIE.

We weren't in a room but a forbidden corridor on the third floor. We were looking straight into the eyes of a monstrous dog that filled the whole space between the ceiling and floor. It had three heads. Three pairs of mad brown eyes; noses, which were twitching and quivering in our direction; three drooling snouts and saliva hanging in slippery ropes from their bottoms jaws and yellowish canines.

Jenna was smiling at the dog though.

It was standing quite still, all six eyes were staring at us and I knew the only reason why we weren't dead yet was that our sudden appearance had taken it by surprise…but it was quickly getting over that and now loud, rumbling growls began emitting from the three throats.

I began groping for the doorknob.

I twisted the door knob and we fell backward. I slammed the door shut and we flew back down the corridor. Luckily, filch was still chasing after Remus and Mrs. Norris. We reached the Gryffindor common room and almost fell onto the couch.

I began laughing hysterically as I thought of Remus chasing Mrs. Norris down the corridor.

"What on earth are you laughing about?" Harry asked bemused but he was grinning.

"The wolf chasing Mrs. Norris!" I laughed harder. "I bet she'll be coughing up hairballs for a week!"

He laughed too.

"Are you okay?" I said as the laughter stopped short and I checked Jenna over. "Why on earth did you leave the girls' dorm?"

"I saw him and the dog," Jenna said shrugging. "Wanted to take a walk with them."

She had gestured to Harry.

Hermione burst out from the girls' dorm.

"OH MY GOD! I'm so glad you found her! I was getting worried!" she said looking upset. "I should've kept a better eye on her."

"It's not your fault," I said kindly. "She's my daughter. I'm the one to blame."

Hermione nodded but was biting her bottom lip.

"What do they think, keeping something like that locked up in a school?" Harry said finally. "If any dog needs exercise, that one does."

We quickly explained what happened to Hermione.

Suddenly, I remembered something.

"Did you see what it was standing on?"

"I was too busy with all three heads," Harry said shivering.

"No," I said shaking my head. "It was standing on a trap door. It's obviously guarding something."

"I think it's bed time," Harry said yawning and stretching. "Night Mrs. Lupin. Night Hermione."

He left. Hermione took Jenna back to the girl's dorm with her. I waited up for Remus.

Shortly after one, I had laid down on my back on the couch and dozed off when I felt something cold and wet stuck against my face. I woke up abruptly. It was Remus in wolf form.

He was standing over me.

"Had a good time I gather?" I asked grinning up at him.

The wolf barked and sat on his haunches on my stomach.

I cringed.

"Remus, you aren't exactly light," I said. "You weigh a ton!"

The wolf lowered his head. His nose inches from mine.

Those haunting jaundice eyes seemed to pierce me.

"Although, I had to admit the sight of you chasing a cat is pretty funny," I said grinning.

The wolf stretched out his front legs on my chest and laid down on top of me. His paws were inches from my chin. He then rested his head in-between them.

I tried to gently push him off of me, but he resisted.

He let out a whine and went right back to the position.

"Fine. Stay," I muttered.

I stared up at the ceiling deep in thought.

Just then, Remus' head popped up. His ears perked forward. Someone was coming.

Oddly though, he didn't start growling.

I twisted my neck around to see who it was.

Jenna.

"Mom?" Jenna asked as she cautiously approached me.

Remus kept his eyes on her the entire time.

"Yes?" I asked, hoping that was a sign that she remembered…or started to remember.

"Where'd that dog come from?"

Nope. She didn't remember. My hopes fell slightly.

"He's ours," I said softly.

Jenna kept her eyes on the wolf as she continued to slowly approach. Remus made no attempt to move, bite or anything. He kept perfectly still.

Jenna slowly reached out and touched Remus' shoulder. She began stroking the soft gray and white fur.

Jenna moved her hand up to Remus head. She began scratching an ear. Remus' eyes closed blissfully.

"Silly," Jenna giggled.

Suddenly, Jenna collapsed.

"JENNA!" I yelled.

Immediately, Remus leapt off my stomach and hovered above Jenna.

"HERMIONE!" I shouted.

Hermione appeared, but then got one look at Remus and froze in fear.

"Go and get Madam Pomfrey," I said urgently. "Jenna's collapsed."

Remus stood over Jenna protectively and began emitting low growls. Hermione scurried out the door frightened of Remus.

"Remus knock it off," I scolded.

Remus' canines and incisors were bared.

He wasn't even letting me near Jenna.

"Remus, enough!" I said angrily now. "It's me dammit!"

Madam Pomfrey arrived shortly.

Finally, I just grabbed Remus around the neck and pulled him off of Jenna. This got me a nice bite on my hand.

Madam Pomfrey magicked Jenna onto a stretcher and they headed off to the hospital wing. Hermione stood by the portrait entrance.

"Go with Jenna," I said clutching my hand.

Four puncture wounds were on it just behind the pinkie finger.

"I'll be right there."

Hermione nodded and fled out the entrance.

Remus was now sitting on his haunches with his head low and his ears drooping.

"Thanks a lot," I hissed at him. "You've bitten me. Now I'm a wolf too."

This comment got a whine and he lowered his head even more.

"What was your problem? You know it was me! Why'd you go berserk?" I snarled. "I'm going to the hospital wing. Now I've got to tell Dumbledore about me. He already knows about you."

With that, I left the common room.

I told Dumbledore after Madam Pomfrey patched up my hand.

"It's fine," he said softly. "You can still remain here."

I sighed relieved.

The sun began coming up. I was now in the hospital wing. Hermione was dozing off in a chair. I was really pissed at Remus now. I sat, staring at Jenna with my arms folded over my chest.

Remus and Harry burst into the hospital wing.

"What happened?" Harry asked worriedly sitting beside Hermione, who nodded off, her head landing on Harry's shoulder…but Harry made no attempt to push her off.

"She collapsed," I said biting my bottom lip.

I turned and glared at Remus.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" I said coldly.

Without waiting for an answer, I got up, grabbed Remus by the ear and pulled him out of the hospital wing.

"Ow," he cringed as I finally released him outside the door.

"What is your problem?" I snarled. "You've bitten me you pompous moron!"

I showed him my hand.

Immense guilt flooded over his face.

"Oh. My. God," he said quietly.

"Answer me! Why'd you go berserk? You'd better tell me you were under the Imperius Charm," I hissed.

"I'm so sorry," he said quietly. "I was just protecting Jenna."

"THE DOG BLOODY WELL KNEW IT WAS ME!" I shouted now not caring who heard. Of course I was going to be careful what I said.

"I'm sorry!" he said, his voice rising too. "He just wanted to protect Jenna!"

"WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS THAT THE DOG KNEW IT WAS ME AND HE KNEW NO ONE IN THAT COMMON ROOM WOULD'VE HURT HER!"

This seemed to stump Remus momentarily.

"I LOVE JENNA OKAY? MORE THAN LIFE. THE DOG WOULD NOT HAVE REALLY HURT ANYONE! IT WAS JUST A WARNING!"

"A WARNING FOR WHAT? YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING OF NEUTERING THAT DOG!" I snarled jabbing a finger into Remus' chest. "MAYBE CUTTING OFF BALLS WILL MELLOW HIM OUT!"

"For now," I said my voice finally dropping. "You can sleep in the boys' dorm."

"Carrie," Remus said his voice shaking. "I'm really sorry I bit you."

"You should've though of that before snapping your jaws at my hand," I said coldly and stormed back into the hospital wing.

REMUS.

I stood out side the door, listening to Carrie softly explain to Harry and Hermione that the dog was my idea to bring. It was 'supposedly' for Jenna.

I knew as angry as she was at me, she would never tell on me…and now, I've gone and bit her making her exactly like me.

I slumped off to the library. I entered the library and flopped down into a seat. I crossed my arms on top of the table and rested my chin on them. I was filled with immense guilt now.

"Where's your wife?" a voice asked from the library entrance.

I looked up. It was Severus.

"In the hospital wing. Jenna collapsed," I muttered. "I'm not in the mood right now."

Snape sat down across from me. His greasy shoulder length hair was framing his coal black eyes and a strange expression on his face. It looked like concern. His black robes fell around his feet.

"Is she okay?" he asked.

"I don't know," I said miserably.

It was a bit weird to see this side of Snape, but I had to admit, a welcomed change then his cold, manipulative manner as normal.

"What happened with Carrie? I heard you two fighting in the corridor,"

"What business is it of yours?" I snapped raising my head.

"Well," Snape said coldly. "If the dog bit Carrie, she's going to need a potion isn't she?"

He knew what we were talking about.

"Why are you willing to help her? You've never given us the time of day when we went to school," I asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not doing it for her. I'm doing it for my students," he said smirking. "I don't want you two near them. I have to admit, I'm also doing it for Jenna."

"Why Jenna?"

"Because three in-humans at Hogwarts are bound to cause alarm with parents," Snape said coldly. "You and Carrie could always leave…but Jenna's stuck here."

He was so self involved…worried only about himself and his own Slytherin students.

"Right," I snarled. "You could care less what happens to Jenna or Carrie as long as your precious Slytherins are safe."

"Then why would I offer to help Jenna?" Snape asked stiffly. "You are way off, Remus. Might I suggest obedience training for that dog. He can't go around biting people."

With that, he got up in a flurry of robes and stalked out of the library.

I angrily pounded on the table and followed him.

"Seriously," I shouted after him. "Why are you helping Jenna?"

Severus turned to face me halfway down the corridor.

"I do care about all of my students…leave it at that," he said before continuing down the corridor.

Just then, Hermione showed up in the corridor. She had a joyful expression on her face.

"What is it?" I asked walking over to her.

"Jenna's memory returned,"

I happily followed her back to the hospital wing.

Jenna was sitting upright, grinning as Hermione and I entered.

"Dad!" she squealed happily.

She opened her arms for a hug, but I hesitated.

I looked at Carrie.

"Dad," Jenna repeated looking from me to Carrie, her arms still opened.

"Go ahead," Carrie replied. "Just don't bite her."

I didn't hug Jenna. Jenna slowly lowered her arms.

"What's going on you two?" she demanded.

"I think we'll leave you three alone," Harry said shyly as he and Hermione backed out of the hospital wing.

Once Harry and Hermione were gone, Carrie showed Jenna her hand.

"What happened?" she cried looking concerned.

"Your father," Carrie muttered.

Jenna's eyes moved onto me.

"You bit Mum?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"Yeah," I said miserably keeping my eyes low.

"And Mum you're mad at Dad…am I right?" Jenna asked.

"Yeah," Carrie said folding her arms over her chest.

"You aren't going to get separated…are you?" Jenna asked suddenly.

Carrie and I looked at each other.

She sighed.

"I have to admit, being married to a werewolf is starting to take its toll…and now I'm one,"

I felt a lump rising in my throat.

"I'm also tired of your father changing and then going berserk for no reason."

"No reason?" I said angrily. "I was just trying to protect Jenna! I know I don't always keep my mind when I change. But for the most part I do and I remember everything."

"You were protecting me?" Jenna interrupted.

"Yeah," I said as I sat down on the cot opposite her.

"But your father also knew no one in that room would've hurt you," Carrie pointed out. "And he still snarled and wouldn't leave you alone. I had to pull him away."

"Maybe Dad sensed someone else in the room that we couldn't see," Jenna said reasonably.

Carrie looked at her.

"Like who?"

"I'm not sure," Jenna said as she fell silent.

"Thanks, Jen," I said softly.

She tried to stick up for me.

"So what are we going to do here?" Carrie asked standing up and stretching.

I stood up also.

I looked at Jenna.

She had tears in her eyes.

I would feel horrible if I ever did something to her as well.

"Maybe its best if we do separate," I muttered quietly.

Carrie's expression went from anger to shock. All the color drained from her face.

"Remus…" Carrie began.

I didn't reply and just turned and left the hospital wing.