Damascus Gate

Chapter Four-Back In Time

I had gone into shock.

Professor Dumbledore led us up to his office.

Lily sobbed uncontrollably and James put his arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

Sirius was also in shock.

"I'm so sorry about Remus," Professor Dumbledore said quietly. "I assure you though, that Mr. Hanes will be dealt with severely. As unfortunately, Mr. Potter will be."

"What's going to happen?" Lily sobbed raising her eyes to Professor Dumbledore.

"I'm afraid that both Mr. Potter and Mr. Hanes will be sent to Azkaban," he said gravely and solemnly. "They both used The Unforgivable Curses at the same time. They knew the consequences of what would happen if they used them."

"We're engaged!" Lily sobbed. "There has to be something you can do!"

Professor Dumbledore scratched his beard thoughtfully.

"I can speak to the Ministry about possibly lightening his sentence…he may only have to serve 6 months as apposed to life. I will see what I can do,"

Lily only sobbed harder.

"It's my fault," James said his voice shaking. "I used the Crucio curse, Lil. I have to be punished."

"So did Derek! He aimed his wand at Remus and openly used the Killing curse!" Sirius yelled snapping out of the shock.

"He aimed it at me!" I screamed also snapping to life. "REMUS DIED TO SAVE ME!"

They raised their eyes to meet mine.

"IT'S MY FAULT HE'S DEAD!" I screamed.

"Will you three please excuse us?" Dumbledore said quietly. "I wish to speak to Miss Richards alone. Mr. Potter, please wait downstairs. Tell Professor McGonagall to wait with you. The Ministry should be arriving shortly."

Sirius, James and Lily left the office. I began pacing Dumbledore's office.

"Miss Richards," Dumbledore began softly. "I'm sure Remus knew what he was doing. He saved you."

"HE STILL DIED!" I screamed. "I INSTIGATED DEREK! IF I HAD NOT, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN INCLINED TO START THE DUEL!"

"He might've anyway," Dumbledore said reasonably. "We don't know that."

"I MISS HIM SO MUCH!" I cried breaking down. I dropped to my knees and hugged myself, rocking back and forth. My hair fell over my face.

Professor Dumbledore got up from behind his desk and crouched down in front of me.

He moved his hand in front of me and opened the palm of his hand. I slowly raised my eyes.

In the palm of his hand, was a small hour-glass necklace.

A Time-Turner.

"Go back and save Remus," Dumbledore said quietly. "You know the rules of time travel."

Shocked, I slowly reached for it.

"One turn should be suffice," Dumbledore said as he got up and took his seat again behind the desk.

I swung it around my neck and turned it once.

Immediately, Dumbledore's office blended away and it felt like I was being sucked into a whirl pool.

Finally, my surroundings came back into focus. I was in Dumbledore's office again, but he wasn't there.

Quickly, I tucked the Time-Turner into my robe and tore from the office. I checked my watch. James would be leaving the Great Hall in a matter of 3 minutes. I entered the corridor where the 'battle' would take place and I found a closet. I pulled out my wand and opened the door a crack.

Sure enough, James was walking into view.

Then, I saw Remus and I walking behind him.

"Why are you following me?" James asked turning around.

"We're full as well," Remus said quickly. "We're just taking a walk to walk off all that extra weight we just put on."

I saw myself nod.

I felt a lump of tears rising in my throat when I saw Remus.

Just then, Derek began walking toward Remus, James and myself. It was a bit creepy seeing yourself like this.

"Hey," Derek said smirking. "Where are the Gryffindorks going?"

"Shut up," James snapped folding his arms over his chest.

"And look," Derek said moving his eyes onto me. "The Mutt."

"I'm warning you," James said threateningly. "Shut your pie hole."

"Or what, Potter?" Derek said challengingly back to him. "You'll do what?"

James pulled out his wand and aimed it at Derek.

"I'll curse you into oblivion," James snarled narrowing his hazel blue eyes behind his glasses.

"James," Remus said in a low warning tone.

But James ignored him.

"You have such a big head," Derek continued. "Just because you're the star of Gryffindor doesn't mean you can break rules."

"And you're the most self conceited, arrogant twit I've ever met that loves to torment others because by your standards aren't measuring up to what you think is a witch or wizard," I saw myself say angrily, my eyes flashing dangerously.

Derek pulled out his wand and aimed it at me standing next to Remus.

Remus immediately pulled out his wand and aimed it at Derek.

"Don't start," Remus said threateningly.

"And the perfect Prefect," Derek smirked at Remus. "You're such a goody-goody."

Derek turned his eyes back onto me.

"Too bad your parents could care less about you," Derek said. "I guess that's what they get for marrying each other. They bring a Mutt into the world that to everyone that matters is basically vapor…a waste of breathing space."

Those words stung tremendously still after I heard them again.

This is it. I thought.

I slipped my wand through the crack and whispered, "Stupefy!" at the same time I heard and saw James say "Crucio!"

I saw Derek go down.

James looked confused as he stood over Derek.

"Someone stunned him," James said awed. "But we didn't hear or see anyone else."

"Weird," Remus said slipping his wand back into his pocket.

I saw myself crouch down beside Derek.

"James, you still used one of the Unforgivable Curses," I said to him. "That means you will get sent to Azkaban."

"What will Lily think?" Remus asked.

Not waiting around, I turned the Time-Turner again and was immediately spun from the spot. I arrived back in Dumbledore's office. He was sitting patiently behind his desk.

"Is the task complete?" he asked, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half moon spectacles.

I nodded.

"James will still be sent to Azkaban, but for a short while because you used the Stupefy charm but as no one else heard you only James, I'm sure that the Ministry will be somewhat lenient to him," Dumbledore said gently.

He got up from behind his desk and stood beside me.

An overwhelming sensation came over me. I threw my arms around Dumbledore's midsection and hugged him.

He momentarily seemed stunned and shy, but patted me on the back nonetheless.

"Go and see your friends," Dumbledore whispered.

Grinning, I released him and tore from his office.

REMUS.

I had gone to the common room and sat down in front of the fireplace. I stared into the warm crackling fire.

James was being spoken to by Professor Dumbledore after using the Crucio curse. Lily was with him because of the engagement. The Ministry had arrived a short while ago. They were all in Dumbledore's office.

Sirius went to the library to study. No doubt he spied a pretty girl in there and wanted to hit on her. Because studying was the last thing Sirius did unless there was a 'good' reason.

At that moment, Kelly entered the common room.

I looked up.

"Hey, Kel," I said.

Kelly remained standing. She was staring at me.

"Where'd you go after Derek was stunned in the corridor? You just took off for some reason," I said standing up and walking over to her.

She didn't reply, but she continued to stare at me.

I stood in front of her. Because I was a bit taller, I had to lower my head a bit so we were eye level.

"Are you alright?" I asked concerned.

I saw a glistening of tears in her green eyes.

"I'm fine," she said offering me a smile. "I'm just worried about James and what will happen to him. What on earth possessed him to use one of those curses?"

We turned around and headed back over to the couch. I sat down and tucked one leg beneath me. I draped my arm over the back of the couch and faced Kelly.

"He was just sticking up for you," I said. "But he really should've been more careful about the spell. He knows what happens if anyone uses those dreadful curses."

"But now what about Lily and James' engagement? He'll be in Azkaban…the Dementors will suck the happiness from him," Kelly said worriedly.

"I think the Ministry will put him in a different ward," I said thoughtfully. "There are two wards…one for the really hard criminals…and then a ward for the 'petty' criminals where those that use the Unforgivable Curses go. The Dementors normally patrol the hard criminals…those that killed someone."

"That's probably where Derek would've ended up," I heard Kelly mutter under her breath.

"What?" I asked leaning close.

"N-nothing," Kelly said shaking her head.

I put a hand on hers as the portrait entrance opened.

KELLY.

Remus' hand was on top of mine. Warm and solid…alive.

Remus' blue eyes moved onto who was coming into the common room. I too, raised my eyes. It was Lily and Sirius.

"The Ministry's taken him," Lily said in a monotone. "He'll be sent to Azkaban for 6 months."

"Tis better than life," Sirius said. "He'll be out in June of next year."

"We've postponed our wedding until then," Lily continued flopping down on a chair. Sirius sat down next to her.

"That was the best Dumbledore could negotiate with the Ministry," Sirius continued. "He'll be alright Lily."

Sirius put a hand on her shoulder.

Lily sighed and began sobbing softly. Sirius put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze.

Remus glanced at me and kept his hand over mine.

We all headed to bed.

Oddly and thankfully, I didn't have another dream.

I awoke feeling a bit refreshed than I did yesterday, knowing that was all behind me now. Remus was alive now.

I sat down at Gryffindor table next to Sirius. Lily and Remus sat across from us.

"Morning," I said.

"Morning," Remus said. "No more nightmares?"

You have no idea what nightmare I was able to erase yesterday I thought to myself.

"No," I said forcing a grin.

That still very much upset me, even though I fixed it.

Remus raised an eyebrow and studied me.

"I'm sorry," Lily apologized. "I don't have much of an appetite."

She got up and left the Hall.

"Keep an eye on her," Remus said to Sirius.

Sirius nodded, grabbed several breakfast rolls and took off after her, stuffing one roll into his mouth as he went.

Remus turned his blue eyes onto me.

"Something's bothering you," he ventured softly. "Please tell me."

I picked up my fork and speared a sausage. I dropped it onto my plate.

"Okay," I said giving in. "But please don't tell Sirius or Lily. It would only upset her more."

Remus nodded.

"I promise," he said holding up a hand.

I launched into the whole story.

He didn't interrupt me while I was talking which, I was grateful for. When I was done, he was silent.

"So Derek was about to use the Killing Curse on you but I shoved you out of the way?" he asked slowly taking it all in.

"Yes," I said chewing on my French toast.

"Kelly," Remus said. "I would do the same thing again. I care about my best friends."

I let my fork drop with a clatter onto my plate.

"Yeah fine," I said. "But what about me? Do you know how much I missed you after that? I went AWOL in Dumbledore's office!"

Remus had a shocked expression on his face.

"I was only thinking of your welfare…" he began but I cut him off.

"I know that," I said abruptly getting up from the table. Several other Gryffindors glanced up from their breakfast and was watching.

"But I've lost my parents in a way," I continued. "How do you think I would feel if I lost someone else I care about?"

Remus slowly stood up.

"Kelly…"

Without waiting I turned and abruptly left the Hall.

I took a walk outside. Snow began falling now. It stuck in my hair and onto my robe. A gust of wind blew my hair around my face.

I leaned against the castle and just stared into space.

Why was I acting like this? Could it be that I'm starting to have feelings for Remus now? As more than a best friend? I mean, I would be just as upset if it had been Sirius or James, or Lily.

I began realizing that I did start to have feelings toward Remus. I sensed someone coming up behind me. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I quickly turned around. It was Remus.

Without saying a word, I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him against me. My chin was resting on his shoulder. His arms encircled me as well tightly. His chin rested on my shoulder.

He held me tightly as well.

"Hey," he whispered. "I'm not going anywhere okay? I promise."

I just squeezed him tighter.

"We'll get through this mess," he whispered softly in my ear. "Don't worry. Things'll be alright."

We held each other for a bit before we released each other and headed back into the castle.