ROTRUFIN

CHAPTER NINE-MISSING

I wasn't sure I was hearing correctly. I felt my body shaking badly.

"What do you mean he's gone?" James demanded.

"Something grabbed him and it attacked me!" Lily cried shaking.

"Alright," James said. "I'm taking you to Madam Elkins. Emma, when Sirius finishes changing Ellie's diaper, fill him in. Meet us at Professor Dumbledore's office."

I nodded biting my bottom lip.

James and Lily left.

LILY.

Flashes of what happened kept repeating across my eyes:

FLASHBACK: A FEW MOMENTS AGO

Remus and I had decided to take a walk, leaving Emma, James and Sirius in the common room.

I had wanted to talk to him about Emma.

"So why haven't you told Emma how you feel?" I asked as we turned the corner where the greenhouses were.

"Because I'm not sure how she feels toward me," he replied.

"You've got to take a chance, Moony, otherwise you'll just keep wondering and nothing will get done," I said softly putting a hand on his arm.

He smiled at me.

Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes.

"Sssh," he said grabbing onto my arm.

We stopped walking, and listened.

"What is it?" I whispered.

"I'm not sure," he whispered back.

His wolf senses were heightened now I could tell.

Suddenly, something huge brushed past my leg and felt teeth sink into my leg. I screamed and from the force I landed on my rear end. Blood began staining my knee high socks.

"Lily!" I heard Remus cry.

He bent down beside me and went to tend to me but the same creature that attacked me, jumped on Moony causing him to fall sideways and crack his head on a rock.

"REMUS!" I screamed.

Whatever it was was staying close to the shadows and bushes. I saw something clamp its jaws around the hem of Moony's robe and began dragging him off toward the darkness.

I snapped back out of my memory and realized we were now in Professor Dumbledore's office. I was in such a state of shock, that I didn't even remember Madam Elkin tending to my leg.

I shakily began explaining what happened to Dumbledore.

"You didn't see what it was?" Dumbledore asked scratching his beard.

"No," I said as tears formed in my eyes.

"We'll find him," Dumbledore said.

I sank into the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk.

I hugged myself. My stomach began churning.

EMMA.

I told Sirius what had happened. We decided to leave Ellie with Madam Elkin before rushing to Dumbledore's office.

Lily was hugging herself and she looked pale.

James was sitting beside her on the chair with his arm around her. Dumbledore conjured up two more chairs and Sirius and I sat down.

Lily leaned forward, her hair falling over her face and she ended up vomiting.

"Oh dear," Dumbledore said quietly.

He conjured up a smoking goblet.

"Drink that," Dumbledore said gently and softly. "It's a Muggle remedy called Ginger Ale."

James reached forward for the goblet and helped Lily drink. After a few moments, she seemed to feel better but she was still pale.

Dumbledore cleaned the area where she had gotten sick. I had to admit, my stomach was starting to churn as well.

I probably could use some of that Ginger Ale.

Luckily, as if reading my mind, James handed me the goblet. I gratefully took a few sips and handed it back to him. Soon, my stomach began feeling better as well.

Sirius kept his arm around me as well. I slumped against him.

"Did you hear anything unusual?" Dumbledore gently prodded Lily.

"Just a rustling in the bushes and that's when this 'thing' appeared. It seemed to keep to the bushes," Lily said her voice cracking.

Dumbledore nodded.

"Once again, I'll alert the Ministry," he said.

"What is going on?" James demanded angrily. "First Peter disappears and then re-appears to take Emma's baby. Students were attacked by this huge werewolf that escaped and now Remus is missing?"

Suddenly fear crept into Sirius' voice when he spoke.

"Prongs, you don't think it was a werewolf that attacked Lily…do you?"

James met Sirius' eyes. I could see the fear creeping into them.

Lily was shivering even though Dumbledore's office was nice and toasty warm.

"Lily, I'm going to have to check the wound okay?" Dumbledore said.

Lily nodded.

Dumbledore came around his desk and crouched down in front of Lily. He gently undid the bandaging that Madam Elkin did and exposed the wound.

It was a deep puncture wound, but already with the salve, it was looking better.

"It looks like a puncture wound," Dumbledore said quietly.

"From a canine tooth?" Sirius asked quietly.

"I'm afraid so," Dumbledore said. "But we really don't know what attacked her. It could've been a wolf or a werewolf. Unfortunately, we're going to have to wait and see what happens. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's all we can do now. As for Remus, I will alert the Ministry now. We'll get him back just like we got Ellie back. For now have Madam Elkin give her a Lurgriv Potion. That will slow any trace of the werewolf blood in her system."

We stood up. Sirius kept a hold on me. James kept his arms around Lily.

"For now, I want you four to sit tight and not worry too much. I know that's hard because Remus is your best friend and you all care about him…but I don't want you guys making yourselves sick either. That won't help the situation," Dumbledore said kindly.

Nodding, we left the office and headed to Madam Elkins.

She gave Lily the potion. We headed back to the common room.

Lily decided to take a nap so she headed to the girls' dorm. James, Sirius and I stayed in the common room.

"I can't believe this is happening," I said hugging myself.

"I know," James said quietly. "I hope Moony's okay."

"So do I," Sirius added quietly.

We sat for a bit not really talking until it was time to go to bed.

A week went by…nothing regarding Remus came through.

It was now Friday night and there was a full moon out. James and Sirius decided to change, even though they didn't have to. I guess it was their way of keeping their mind off Remus.

I stayed in the common room, just staring at the roaring fire. James and Sirius didn't go to the Shrieking Shack this time. They changed in the common room with me.

The black dog jumped up onto the couch beside me and curled up against me, resting his head on my thigh.

The stag was a light tan color with a white patch on his forehead. The antlers curled upward and outwards. He had a little tuft tail and large brown eyes.

The stag folded his legs and settled down on the rug in front of the fire.

He watched me intently.

I drew my legs up to my chest and wrapped my arms around then.

I burst into tears.

"I just want Remus back," I sobbed into my thighs.

I felt Sirius frantically licking my hands and the next thing I knew, the stag was on his feet standing beside me and he gently nuzzled my cheek.

Ellie was lying in a bassinette beside the couch. The stag lowered his head into it and gently nuzzled Ellie.

I hugged the black dog and buried my face into his soft fur in his neck. I sobbed long and hard and ended up dozing off shortly.

In the morning, I was sleeping against Sirius on the couch. James was sitting on the chair. I woke up.

"Hey sleepy head," Sirius said softly smiling.

"What happened?" I asked groggily as I yawned and stretched.

"You hugged the stuffing out of me last night and you ended up falling asleep," Sirius said.

He was looking concerned.

"Are you alright?" James asked.

"No," I said. "I miss Remus!"

"We all do," James said affectionately as he swallowed. I saw tears forming in his eyes. "But I know Dumbledore will find him."

Sirius hugged me again.

Lily emerged from the girls' dorm. She looked a little bit better.

"How are you feeling?" James asked looking up at her.

"Okay I guess," Lily said. "I still can't get that image of Remus out of my head."

Her voice began cracking.

"I know," Sirius said softly and gently. "Let's head down to breakfast."

I picked up Ellie and we headed down to the Great Hall.

We ate our breakfast in silence. News of Remus' disappearance was announced that morning. The Gryffindors were subdued and asked Lily all sorts of questions out of concern.

Naturally, most of them she couldn't answer.

Suddenly, the doors to the front Hall burst opened. All heads turned.

Moony was standing there propping himself up against the doorframe.

"REMUS!" Lily screamed.

We all rushed forward to greet him.

His robes were muddy and torn and he was drenched. It had begun to rain heavily outside. Thunder and Lightning boomed outside. He had a patch of mud smudged on his cheek and his hair was matted to his forehead.

James and Sirius got under each of his arms and helped him.

Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Madam Elkin jumped up from their seats at the Head table and rushed over as well.

We all headed to the hospital wing.

Madam Elkin checked him over.

"Nothing wrong with him medically it seems," she said. "He's just suffering from exposure and dehydration."

"What happened Remus?" Sirius asked worriedly. "Lily told us what happened."

"I just went for a walk," Remus said shrugging. "Nothing big."

We all looked at each other with shocked expressions on our faces.

"Remus, you were missing for a whole week…don't you remember?" Lily asked astonished.

"No," Remus said shaking his head.

Madam Elkin checked him over again.

"Nothing. There's been no memory charm or anything," she said. "Keep an eye on him alright? But there is a small wound on his temple…did he hit his head or anything?

Lily suddenly cried out.

"Yeah, he cracked his head on a rock,"

"That could account for the mild amnesia…remember, keep a close eye on him,"

We nodded.

"What attacked you?" I asked.

"Some big dog," Remus said frowning. "I don't really remember too well."

"So he's alright?" Dumbledore asked.

"Other than the mild amnesia? Yes," Madam Elkin said.

"Good," McGonagall said relieved. "Take him back to the common room to rest."

We got up again and left. James was holding Ellie for me.

Once inside the common room, Lily sat on the floor and played with Ellie.

Sirius sat on the chair. Remus and I were sitting on the couch next to each other.

James was on the floor also playing with Ellie.

"Are you feeling okay?" I asked Remus.

He turned toward me. There was something in his eyes that set off alarm bells in my head. They seemed dull and lifeless.

"I'm fine," he replied. "Why is everyone asking me that?"

His tone was short and stiff.

"Well because you were missing for a week, buddy," Sirius said taking his eyes off Lily and James and moving them onto Remus. "We were very worried about you."

"Well I can't remember what happened," Remus said shortly. "Please leave me alone and let it go."

"Sure," James said looking at Sirius and I with a look of concern.

"So would you like to lye down before dinner? Or go to classes?" I asked forcing cheerfulness into my voice.

"I think we should go to class," Remus said.

James picked up Ellie and she began crying.

"Oh boy," James said. "Here Remus. She likes you."

He handed Ellie to Remus.

Remus took Ellie. Instead of calming down, she only screamed louder.

"What on earth…?" Lily mused standing up. "She normally calms down immediately once Remus holds her."

Remus quickly handed Ellie to Sirius as if she had some kind of disease.

"Ugh," Remus said frowning. "Maybe she'll calm down with you. I'm heading to Potions."

With that, he left the common room.

"That's really bizarre," James said slowly.

"Yeah," Sirius said as Ellie finally began calming down in his arms. "I'm getting a feeling that something is wrong with him."

"But Madam Elkin said nothing was wrong," I said.

"It doesn't matter," Sirius said. "We've known Moony for years and he's never acted that way."

"Right," James said nodding.

I had to admit, they were right.

"But what could it be?"

"Not sure," Sirius said. "But the best thing to do is to keep an eye on Moony…but for more reasons than one."

We headed to class. Remus was sitting next to me. Behind us were James and Lily and then Sirius.

Professor Anicks was teaching us the Matranol Potion, which was used to cure muscle cramps.

I had to admit I was getting a weird vibe off of Remus, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Once again, we had left Ellie with Madam Elkin. Sirius thought it would be best to keep her away from Moony, until we figure out what was going on with him.

We began adding the ingredients into our potions. I went to add my Aerptryx wing to the potion when my elbow accidentally hit the glass jar of bat wings and I knocked it over, the contents spilling onto Remus' lap.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I cried frantically.

"Watch what you're doing," Remus snapped irritably. "Clumsy whore."

Those words stung and I froze.

He dabbed at his robe and Professor Anicks began coming around to check on the potions.

She deducted five points from Remus' because of the lack of bat wings.

"Yeah thanks to you," Remus muttered.

I kept my eyes on my potion and felt a lump rising in the back of my throat.