ROTRUFIN

CHAPTER 19-MURDERED

I stood in the corridor and stared out the window. Tears slid down my cheeks.

"Gillian?" a voice said softly behind me.

I turned. It was Remus.

"What did the letter say?"

"It basically said that they're pawning me off on Uncle Albus for a bit more," I said bitterly as fresh tears slid down my cheeks. "You see my older brother plays for the Chudley Cannons. My parents always favored him. I was basically just an extra mouth to feed."

Remus stood next to me and lowered his head slightly so we were eye level.

"I don't believe that," he said searching my face.

I snorted. "Then you obviously led a sheltered life. Remus, there are mean people out there and my parents are two of them,"

He was silent. It was so quiet that I could hear him breathing.

"I'm fine though," I said bitterly. "I'm used to being shoved aside like a piece of furniture."

REMUS.

I stared at Gillian. Of course, my alarm bells went off as I remembered Chelsea and how she lied.

Not wanting to seem like I disbelieved her, I decided to play it cool.

"Where's the letter now?" I asked gently.

"Sirius has it I think," she muttered. "I crumpled it up and tossed it at him."

"Stay here," I said.

I headed back into the Great Hall. Sure enough, Sirius was reading it.

"God," he said raising his eyes to mine. "Her parents sure are wacked."

"Yeah," Lily said peering over and reading the letter. "They don't really seem to be too concerned about Gillian."

Okay…she is telling me the truth.

"I'll go get her," I said turning and I headed back out of the Hall.

We calmed Gillian down.

Gillian quickly became my best friend. We were all having a good time that is until I got a letter from St. Mungo's Hospital. Chelsea had been killed mysteriously in her room.

The Ministry of Magic's Law Enforcement suspected her roommate, but they questioned Amanda and didn't find any reason to suspect her.

I was sitting outside in the courtyard just staring at the ground.

Gillian came over to me.

"I'm sorry about Chelsea," she said gently and softly.

"Thanks," I muttered.

"Hey," she said putting her arm around my shoulders. "Come on back to the common room. I think Sirius and them are planning something for your b-day."

I brightened a little. Tomorrow was my birthday. I wasn't as excited as I should be. I couldn't believe Chelsea was gone.

We headed into the common room. Immediately, the Gryffindors threw confetti at us and cheered.

"Happy birthday, mate!" James cried happily.

"My b-day isn't until tomorrow," I said amazed.

"Yeah well, we decided to throw a party now," Lily grinned.

I still couldn't get Chelsea out of my mind though. She was a werewolf…the only way someone would've been able to kill her was by silver.

I just slumped onto the couch and watched everyone else have fun.

A 7th year Gryffindor boy named Ryan Manners went up to Gillian and they began talking.

Sighing I turned my attention onto Lily and James, who were kissing in a corner. Sirius was even talking to a girl in our year as well and Emma was talking to a guy.

I seemed to be the only one without a girlfriend. Emma saw me and turned back to the guy she was talking to.

She headed over to me.

She flopped down beside me.

"Why the long face?" she asked softly.

"It's nothing," I muttered. "It's stupid."

"Nothing is stupid…spit it out," Emma said playfully poking me.

"I'm the only one who doesn't have a girlfriend," I said quietly.

"Well, I don't either," Emma teased.

"You know what I mean,"

Emma smiled.

"Relax," she said softly. "You'll find the right girl. Trust me."

I just snorted.

Emma gave me a squeeze before getting up again and heading back over to the guy she was talking to.

Once the party was over, we all headed to bed.

Over the next month or two, Gillian and Ryan were going out. Gillian was completely into this guy. She became even closer to me, James, Sirius and Lily as best friends. I really cared about her.

A month after that, I noticed Gillian wasn't at breakfast.

"I'm going to find her," I said as I got up from the table in the Great Hall and began walking out of the Hall.

I searched all over the school and couldn't find her. Finally, I found her in the courtyard staring at the stone fountain.

"Gillian?" I asked coming up behind her. "What's wrong? Why aren't you at breakfast?"

She turned around. There were tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I demanded worriedly.

"Ryan broke up with me," she sobbed. "I found him kissing Kate Winters. I yelled at him and called him a prick, but he told me that he didn't like me anymore and that Kate was prettier."

My heart sank.

"What a scuzzbag," I said shaking my head. "But you're a beautiful girl…the prettiest girl I know."

Gillian offered me a faint smile.

"Thanks,"

"Come on inside…you need some food," I said.

She nodded and followed me back into the castle.

During the first half of the semester, Gillian dated a lot of guys, all whom broke up with her. She was getting frustrated and angry now.

Emma was dating someone named Eric Larsen. Both she and Eric were crazy about each other.

Sirius was even dating. He was dating a girl named Jennifer Harbor.

I too, ended up dating a few girls, but again, it all ended.

Emma, Eric, James, Lily, Sirius and Jennifer were all sitting outside on the grounds enjoying the evening fall weather. I stayed in the library reading. Gillian entered the library. I was standing in front of a bookshelf, skimming through the book.

I looked up.

Gillian was crying again.

"Not again," I said closing the book and returning it to the shelf.

"What's wrong with me?" Gillian asked angrily as tears slid down her cheeks. "Am I not likeable or something?"

I sighed and stepped over to her.

"No," I said firmly. "There's nothing wrong with you and you're very likable…you probably haven't met the right guy yet. It could take some time."

"What about you? You've had trouble too," Gillian said as fresh tears slid down her cheeks.

I shrugged. "Same with me…I haven't met the right girl yet,"

"You're a great guy," Gillian said. "I don't understand it."

I took a step closer to her.

"We just haven't found the right people yet," I said softly and earnestly.

We stared into each others eyes for a bit. I slowly raised my hand and gently brushed the tears from her cheeks.

I took another step closer to her and lowered my head. She closed her eyes as my lips gently met hers.

I kissed her. She kissed me back just as soft and gentle.

She began pushing me back into the castle and up to the common room.

Once inside the common room, she gently pushed me onto my back on the heart rug in front of the fireplace and straddled me.

She pulled off my vest and shirt/tie and tossed it onto the floor. Then she began undoing my belt buckle. She unzipped my slacks.

I slipped her underwear off and she pressed her hips against mine. She was still straddling me…..

In the morning, I awoke. Gillian wasn't lying beside me. I quickly got dressed. I was just finishing my tie when Gillian appeared from the girls' dorm.

"Hey," I said. "Morning."

"Morning," Gillian said.

She seemed to be a little nervous.

"Does this seem awkward to you?" I asked suddenly.

"Yeah," Gillian said looking relieved that I brought the subject up first. "We really need to talk about last night."

"I agree," I said and went to open my mouth, but Gillian beat me to it.

"It was a big mistake," Gillian said pacing slightly. "I mean we're best friends and all. Now this might change things between us. We just got caught up in the moment."

I closed my mouth and listened to her.

I felt hurt that she felt that way so I forced myself to agree.

"Yeah," I said quietly.

"I mean you're a great guy and my best friend," Gillian continued. "Now it might change things…it's not going to be like it used to be between us."

"We're still friends though?" I asked.

"Of course!" Gillian said coming over to me. "We'll always be best friends. Nothing will change that."

She exhaled loudly and brightened a bit.

"Well, I feel better now," she said brightly. "See you down at breakfast."

With that, she turned and left the common room.

Hurt, I slumped onto the couch.

Lily entered the common room.

"Hey," she said brightly. "What's wrong?"

Immediately, her face filled with concern.

"Something happened between Gillian and I last night," I muttered.

It only took Lily a second to realize.

"Oooh," she said slowly.

"Gillian said it was a big mistake and that we got caught up in the moment," I said.

"I gather you don't feel that way huh?" Lily said softly and affectionately. "I can see the way you look at her. I'm not dumb."

"But look what happened," I argued. "Now it's going to be awkward around her because she doesn't feel the same way I do about her."

Lily put her face close to mine.

"Moony, how do you know that for sure? She might be just as scared and confused as you are right now. Would it help if I talked to her for you?"

I sighed.

"Yeah thanks,"

"No problem. Come on…before Sirius eats the entire breakfast,"

She pulled me to my feet and dragged me out of the common room.

Down at breakfast, Lily made me sit with her. James and Sirius were talking to Emma and Gillian. The girls were laughing at something James had said.

"I don't understand what happened to Chelsea," I said quietly, pushing my food around on my plate. "Something doesn't add up with me."

"I agree," Lily said helping herself to some crumpets.

"Plus, how did the person know she was a werewolf?" I mused.

"Well, anyone in that hospital could've done it. They knew her right? They knew she was a werewolf," Lily said reasonably.

"That's true," I said thoughtfully. "But why kill her? She didn't do anything."

Lily shrugged.

"That I don't know…hey," she said suddenly. "Would it help if we went back to the hospital to do some investigating?"

I looked at her in surprise.

"This is the beginning of the term," I said shocked. "I don't think we'll be welcomed leaving right now."

Lily's emerald green eyes flashed mischievously.

"Riiight," she said slowly. "But we have a secret weapon."

With that, she stared in the direction of Gillian, who was laughing so hard she was crying. I followed her gaze.

"I see," I said grinning at her. "You're evil."

Lily grinned back.

After breakfast, we pulled Gillian aside and told her to talk to Dumbledore for us.

She nodded and hurried off to Dumbledore's office after casting a glance back at me.

We waited in the corridor for her to return.

"Something's going on between you and Gillian," Sirius said shrewdly looking from me to the direction Gillian went.

"Nothing's going on, Padfoot," Lily said firmly.

"You know too," Sirius said frowning. "You're covering up something."

"Let it go," Lily snapped angrily now.

"Leave it, Padfoot. If Lily says there's nothing going on, stop hounding her," James said.

I felt a rush of relief and gratitude toward Lily. I privately gave her a wink. She winked back.

Gillian came hurrying back.

"Uncle Albus said it's okay to go," she said breathlessly. "But we're going to have to sneak out of the castle and use our brooms. He told me of a park not far from London where we can land and stash the brooms until we're ready to return. He said just be careful not to be seen."

"Let's do it tonight," James said nodding.

That night, we snuck out of the castle with our brooms in hand.

Gillian was using her own. It was a newer model that what I had. I had a Cleansweep 294. Gillian's was a Cleansweep 300. We all mounted our brooms.

"Ready?" Gillian whispered.

We nodded.

We pulled the hoods up over our heads from our cloaks and kicked off the ground. All that could be seen was Gillian's hair blowing back from under the hood. We rose into the air and kept in a tight pack. We began flying toward London.

Oddly, once I was on my broom, all my worries and thoughts seemed to melt away.

Shortly, we landed in the park Gillian had told us about and we stashed the brooms behind a huge rock.

"Okay," Gillian said. "All we have to do is hitch a ride into town."

"You sound like those Muggle hillbillies," James said laughing.

Gillian gave James a smirk.

"Want me to give you the words biggest wedgie? Ma would enjoy seeing that," she said in a mock hillbilly tone.

Sirius and James laughed. Only Lily and I didn't find it funny.

"Right," Gillian said clearing her throat. "Come on."

We walked along the road. We had made sure we had changed into Muggle clothes and not our school uniforms.

Just then, a SUV pulled up along side us with the headlights on full beam.

"You kids look lost," a woman said looking concerned. She was in her 30's.

"Yeah," Gillian said. "Our car broke down and we need a ride into London."

"Well come on," the woman said. "I'm heading into London myself."

We all piled into the SUV and the woman continued driving.

We hit London and immediately headed to St. Mungo's. I looked at Lily. I kept getting this bad feeling that something wasn't right.