DAMASCUS GATE

CHAPTER TEN-LILY'S MISHAP

We left Dumbledore's office once he assured us that he was okay.

I carefully led Kelly out of the office.

"This sucks," Kelly moaned. "I hope my eyesight returns soon."

"Either way," Sirius said firmly. "We still care about you a lot."

"Exactly," Lily said firmly as well.

"Yep," I chimed in lastly.

"Look on the bright side," Sirius said deadpan. "At least you won't have to worry about seeing any of us nude."

We all moaned and continued on the way.

KELLY.

I clutched Remus' arm tightly as he led me down the corridor.

"What do we do now?" Lily asked.

"We take it easy and keep our eyes peeled," Sirius said.

"That sounds like a good idea," Remus said.

"Unfortunately, my eyes won't be peeled," I said.

There was a silence.

"Guys, I'm joking okay? Lighten up," I said chuckling.

I heard a chuckle from Remus and Sirius.

"We're in the common room now," Remus whispered close to my ear. I felt a tingle running down my spine.

"Thanks," I said gratefully.

He carefully set me down on the couch and I felt him sit next to me.

"I'm really curious as to see who's doing all of this," Lily mused.

"Dunno, but it's someone that obviously wants to hurt us," Sirius said seriously.

"Or hurt Remus," I added gravely.

I felt Remus' eyes on me.

"Well," he said finally. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt either of you."

"I'm pooped," Lily said yawning. "I'm heading to bed."

"Me too," Sirius said. "Are you coming Moony?"

"In a moment," Remus said.

I heard the others leaving the common room.

REMUS.

Sirius and Lily had left the common room, leaving Kelly and I alone.

Kelly was staring straight a head. Her hands were clasped in her lap.

"I sense you wanted to talk to me," Kelly said softly. "Is that why you decided to stay?"

"Yeah," I said as I turned to her. I tucked one leg underneath me and rested my arm on the back of the couch behind her.

"Well, what is it?" Kelly asked.

I gently reached over and turned her face toward me. Her eyes stared at me but I knew she couldn't see me.

"I want to make sure you're alright," I said searching her face.

"Oh yeah," she said smiling. "I'm fine."

"Really?"

"Really," she said nodding feverishly.

"I'm here if you ever want to talk, okay?" I said gently.

"Sure," Kelly beamed.

To my surprise, she leaned forward. Our faces were inches apart. My heart began pounding in my chest.

"Can I give you a kiss as a 'thanks'?" she asked.

"Sure I guess."

"Great. You're going to have to help me here," Kelly said grinning.

"Right," I said.

I gently took her chin and directed her. I felt her lips gently touch mine as she kissed me lightly and gently before pulling back.

"'Night," she said as she got up.

"Need help to find your way to the girls' dorm?" I asked still tasting her lips on mine.

"Nope," Kelly said as she began carefully feeling her way to the dorm. Once she disappeared from sight, I flopped back down on the couch with a huge grin on my face.

Shortly, I too, headed to bed.

The next morning, we all met down at the Great Hall for breakfast.

Sirius was helping Kelly with her breakfast.

I took a seat in front of Kelly and next to Lily. Kelly and Sirius were sitting across from us.

"Morning," I said brightly.

Neither of them replied.

"What's wrong?" I demanded automatically looking from Kelly, to Sirius to Lily.

"Kelly had another nightmare," Lily said gravely.

"Oh no," I said concerned. "What happened in it?"

"Lily fell down stairs and she was killed," Kelly choked out.

"It was just…"

"A dream? Remus, the past two dreams have terrified me! Something is causing me to have them! There's a reason!" Kelly said interrupting me.

"But the other two didn't come true," I said reasonably reaching across the table and putting my hand over hers.

"Yet," Kelly said darkly. "There's no proof to say that they won't."

"Don't worry alright? We won't let Lily go down stairs or have her out of our sight at all. Okay?" Sirius said softly.

"Thanks," Kelly said as she looked a bit more relieved.

I helped myself to some pancakes and sausage and poured syrup over the pancakes.

I began eating.

"If I'm not going down stairs," Lily said frowning. "How do you suggest I get down to Potions? Fly?"

"Sure," Sirius said grinning. "You've got a broom why not?"

"What are you insinuating?" Lily demanded.

"Can't call you a witch 'cause you already are one," Sirius cracked.

Lily rolled her eyes scornfully.

"I'm sure it's nothing though," she said. "It was just a nightmare and Kelly said it herself…the others haven't come true yet."

"Yet," Kelly emphasized.

Lily just rolled her eyes again and got up from the table after finishing her breakfast.

"I'm going to the library," she announced. "I will meet you all for Charms."

With that, she got up and left the Great Hall.

Kelly exhaled loudly.

"I'm not saying that it may not come true," she replied. "I'm saying there's still a chance."

"I mean not to take sides or anything," I said slowly. "But what makes you sure that the first ones are going to come true now? Wouldn't they have already?"

Kelly turned her head slightly and her eyes narrowed.

"Because I'm getting a feeling alright? Something worse is going to happen…I can feel it,"

I studied her. She seemed genuinely spooked for some reason.

"Okay," I said quietly and softly. "We'll keep a close eye on Lily alright?"

Kelly nodded and Sirius continued to help her eat her breakfast.

I had really hoped her eyesight would return, not that I cared of course. I would still love her either way.

I had hoped she knew that.

After breakfast, we headed to the library. Lily was standing in front of a bookshelf, scanning the spines of books.

"Looking for anything in particular?" Sirius asked as we stepped closer.

"Yeah," Lily retorted. "I'm looking for a book on how to rid the school of Jerkus Hanis."

I chuckled, but quickly turned the chuckle into a cough.

Kelly leaned on me. I wrapped an arm around her waist for support.

"I'm touched," Sirius said mockingly placing a hand over his chest.

"So you admit you're a Jerkus Hanis?" Kelly asked grinning broadly. "You just insulted yourself, you fruit cake."

At that, we all laughed.

"Listen," I said checking my watch. "We still have about 15 minutes before class begins. Why don't we just wait here with you and head to Charms together?"

"Good idea," Lily said nodding.

I helped Kelly over to a table and we sat down. Sirius went over to the Herbology section and just scanned the book spines.

Lily was still looking for a particular book.

"I wonder what she's looking for?" Kelly mused.

"Dunno," I said shrugging my shoulder. "Can I tell you something?"

"Sure! Anything," Kelly said beaming.

I placed one of my hands over hers and our fingers interlocked.

"Even if your eyesight doesn't come back, I will still love you no matter what,"

"Oh Remus," Kelly said softly. "I know. I love you too…very much."

She gently slumped against me and I pressed my face into the top of her head. I then gently tilted her face up toward me and gave her a kiss. She kissed me back just as gently and softly.

Just as we pulled back from the kiss, Lily let out a scream. Immediately, Sirius and I's heads snapped toward her.

The bookshelf tilted forward dangerously and landed on top of her. Books spilled all over.

"LILY!" I cried.

"What? What's happening?" Kelly demanded alarmed looking around in panic.

I tore out of my seat and dropped to my knees beside the bookshelf, skidding a few inches on the polished floor.

Sirius was next to arrive.

Lily was lying on her stomach. The edge of the bookshelf was on top of her abdomen.

"Get help!" I said to Sirius.

Sirius scrambled to his feet and took off. Madam Pince had stepped out of the library for a moment.

A few minutes later, Sirius arrived with Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore.

I felt Lily's wrist. She had a pulse, but it was faint.

"She's got a pulse, but it's weak," I said swallowing.

"WHAT'S GOING ON?" Kelly shouted slowly standing up.

"Tend to Miss Richards," Professor Dumbledore said kindly.

I reluctantly left Lily and went over to Kelly. I put both hands on Kelly's shoulders. She placed her hands on mine.

"Remus? What happened?" Kelly demanded.

"A bookcase fell on top of Lily," I said swallowing a lump of tears.

"Oh. My. God," Kelly breathed shocked.

Kelly began sobbing as I drew her into a hug. She pressed her face into my chest and cried.

Professor Dumbledore magicked the bookcase off of Lily and Professor McGonagall magicked her onto a stretcher. They headed to the hospital wing.

We followed close behind.

In the hospital wing, Madam Elkin gave her the drops for her eyes and Kelly was sitting on a cot. I was sitting down next to her.

Sirius was pacing the hospital wing.

"What on earth cause that shelf to fall over?" Professor McGonagall mused.

"It looked like it was pushed," I said blandly. "That's exactly what it looked like…right Sirius?"

Sirius nodded.

"But there was no one in the library except us," Sirius said wide-eyed.

Madam Elkin checked over Lily.

"Well," Madam Elkin said slowly. "She'll be alright…she's got a few broken ribs, a crushed left arm, some minor internal bleeding, but all fixable."

We breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank God," Sirius said flopping down on the cot next to Kelly on her left side.

Kelly slumped against me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

"You three are excused from classes for today," Professor Dumbledore said softly.

Madam Elkin ushered us out of the hospital wing and promised we can come and see Lily later on.

As we were walking back to the common room, Kelly suddenly cried out and dropped to her knees. Her eyes were shut.

"Kel?" I demanded crouching down in front of her.

"My eyes are burning!" she cried.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes.

"My eyesight came back!" she cried gleefully.

"Alright!" Sirius cheered.

Laughing happily, I pulled her to her feet and gave her a big hug. She jumped into my arms with her legs wrapping around my waist. I hugged her tightly.

I set her down.

"Thank Heavens I can see again!" Kelly cried happily.

KELLY.

I was so glad to be able to see again.

Remus was grinning broadly.

"Sirius won't have to help you eat now huh?" Remus said, turning to Sirius.

"The main thing is she can see," Sirius said. "She can also see my beautiful hiney."

He slapped himself on the rear-end.

"Aw man," I moaned. "I'm wishing I stayed blind!"

We laughed heartily.

"Listen, I'm going for a walk on the grounds," Sirius said. "It's cold yes, but I could use some cold air."

"Fine," Remus said nodding. "We'll meet you in the common room at 4 and then head to the hospital wing to check on Lily."

Sirius nodded and gave me a quick hug before taking off outside.

Remus and I headed to the common room, which was quiet since everyone was in their classes now.

The fire crackled softly and omitted a warm glow.

I sat down on the hearth rug in front of the fireplace and crossed my legs. Remus said down beside me, drawing his legs up to his chest and he rested his arms on top of his knees.

"I don't understand what happened in the library," he said slowly staring at the fire. "It certainly looked like someone pushed it. Those shelves just don't fall over by themselves. They're heavy."

"I know," I said quietly. "I just want Lily to be okay."

"She will be," Remus said reassuringly.

I laid back on the rug and folded my hand behind my head.

"What is going on here?" I mused staring up at the ceiling.

At that moment, Remus rolled over on top of me.

"I don't know," he said staring into my eyes. "But we will find out…I promise."

I smiled up at him.

He leaned down and kissed me. I kissed him back.

I began unbuckling the belt around his waist. He began slowly undressing me.

We were both completely naked. He pressed his hips against mine.

He moved so gently….