True Fear

Chapter One-Settling In

REMUS.

I watched Elizabeth leave. I completely agreed with her.

"What's got her panties in a bunch?" Sirius asked watching her leave.

"You know damn well what's bothering her," I said angrily, narrowing my blue eyes at him.

James looked at me.

At that moment, Ron, Harry and Hermione walked out of the common room.

"Is everything okay?" Harry asked looking from me, to James to Sirius. "Where's Elizabeth?"

I looked at them.

James broke into a grin.

"We didn't use the Farnundis Charm on them," he explained. "We asked them about the school itself."

"One of the tunnels leading from the witch with the hump leads to Hogsmeade," Harry said breaking into a small grin.

"No spy would know that," Sirius said shaking his head. "Unless they followed us every night to the shack and these three just appeared now. They weren't with us before so they would have no idea what we were talking about."

I broke into a grin too.

"Well, I think you'd best go and explain that to Elizabeth," I said. "She's pretty miffed at you."

James offered to fetch Elizabeth and explain it to her.

I turned to Hermione, Harry and Ron.

"How did you know about that tunnel?" I asked curiously.

"This," Harry said reaching into his robe and pulling out a piece of parchment. On the top along the edge read:

Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

Presents

The Marauders Map

Instantly, the entire school was outlined showing every student, teacher and outside areas of the castle.

"Where'd you get that?" Sirius asked coming over.

"You guys did this," Harry said.

"That's really bloody brilliant," Sirius said gleefully scanning it. "We came up with this?"

They nodded.

I noticed Hermione seemed a bit upset.

"Hermione? Can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked her.

Her cheeks flushed with color quickly as I pulled her aside, leaving Sirius, Ron, and Harry looking over the map.

I gently took Hermione's arm and pulled her a few inches away from where the others were standing.

"Are you alright? You seem on edge," I asked scrutinizing her.

"Well, P-Professor," she stammered. "I'm just nervous as to the real reason we were transported back."

I looked at her quizzically.

"Professor? Why'd you call me that?"

Her cheeks flushed even more.

"Well, see you taught at Hogwarts in our third year," she said meekly.

I looked at her.

"Wow," I said then realized she probably felt funny calling me by my first name. "Why don't you just call me Mr. Lupin if calling me Remus makes you feel weird."

I grinned.

She nodded and cleared her throat.

"Now why are you nervous about the real reason for being transported back?" I continued with concern. "It was just a potions accident right?"

"Well, when Snape…Professor Snape leaned over Harry's potion, something silver fell out and landed in the cauldron. That's when it happened," she said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

I frowned.

"So Severus is teaching at Hogwarts as well?" I mused.

She nodded again.

I felt my lip twitch.

"Are you thinking that maybe it wasn't an accident?" I continued.

She just shrugged.

"I don't know," she said quietly. "But this nagging feeling won't go away that we were purposely transported back."

At that moment, James and Elizabeth came walking back up the corridor. I put a hand on Hermione's shoulder and turned to them.

"Everything okay now?" I asked.

Elizabeth muttered something then smacked James up the back of the head.

"You really are a retard," she said glaring at him. "Thanks for scaring the poop out of me you crazy wok."

James grinned and playfully gave Elizabeth a squeeze before joining Sirius, Ron and Harry. Immediately, they fawned over the map. Elizabeth stayed with us.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked Elizabeth with concern. "I saw how upset you were when you thought James used the Farnundis charm on us."

Elizabeth folded her arms over her chest.

"My parents had that charm used on them by the Death Eaters," she explained quietly. "Only the spell has a horrible side effect. It damaged their memories and they have no idea who I am. It's sort of like the Cruciatus Curse."

Remorse filled Hermione's expression.

"They're just like Neville Longbottom's parents,"

"Frank Longbottom?" I asked.

Hermione nodded.

"What happened to Frank?" I asked curiously.

"They were tortured to insanity by the Death Eaters as well. They don't even recognize their own son," Hermione swallowed.

There was a silence.

"If its okay, could you take me to Professor Dumbledore? I would feel a lot better knowing he knows what happened," Hermione continued. "And I'm sorry about your parents."

"Sure," Elizabeth offered. "I'll take you. Come on. Thanks."

Elizabeth and Hermione headed off down the corridor.

I headed back over to the others.

Harry had looked up.

"Where's Hermione going?" he asked with concern.

"To Professor Dumbledore. She has a feeling that you guys were transported back for a reason," I said.

Ron snorted.

"Leave it to Hermione to think the world is after her,"

Harry turned to Ron.

"How many times has Hermione been wrong?" he demanded.

Ron's ears turned pink.

"Zero,"

"Exactly," Harry said nodding. "If Hermione feels there's a reason why we were sent back, then there's a reason. I'd like to see Dumbledore as well."

"Lily's still asleep on the chair," James said. "I say we all to Dumbledore."

So the whole group of us headed off to the Headmasters office.

ELIZABETH.

Hermione explained everything to Professor Dumbledore. He listened intently and rubbed his chin.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Professor Dumbledore called.

I turned around.

Remus, James, Sirius, Ron and Harry entered the office. Peter had mysteriously vanished again.

Professor Dumbledore smiled at Harry and Ron as they entered. Remus immediately came over to me and stood close beside me.

We were almost touching.

"Miss Granger was just explaining to me what happened," Dumbledore said to Ron and Harry. "Do you think it was done on purpose? This is very important."

Hermione was watching Harry and Ron's expressions.

Ron shook his head while Harry hesitated.

"You saw that object fall from Professor Snape's robes and it landed in the cauldron," Hermione insisted. "I know you did…both of you."

"But Hermione," Ron began. "Why on earth would Snape send us back in time? Why would he do that deliberately?"

"I don't know!" Hermione said heatedly. "But there has to be a good reason! Why didn't the others' potions send them back in time huh? Why just ours?"

I had to admit, she had a good point.

"And we all know Neville's potion was wrong," Hermione continued angrily. "Why isn't he standing here with us now?"

There was silence.

"I believe Hermione," Harry said at last. "She's never been wrong about things like this."

"There's always a first time," Ron muttered. "She's not psychic."

Hermione was going to explode for sure.

Just before Hermione was about to explode, Dumbledore raised his hand.

"Either way," he said in a firm no-nonsense tone, "I think you three should be very careful. As I don't know Severus the way I do in the future, I can't be sure of his actions or intentions right now. But I'm putting you three in charge of them."

Dumbledore gestured to James, Sirius and Remus.

"Just tell everyone they're cousins," Dumbledore continued. "If anyone gets suspicious. Since you are already apparently in Gryffindor, you're to stay with them. Understood?"

Harry nodded.

Ron and Hermione were glaring at each other furiously.

"Dismissed,"

We all left the office and as soon as we left Dumbledore's office, Hermione exploded.

"I DON'T BELEVE YOU, RONALD! YOU'VE KNOWN ME FOR WHAT? SEVEN YEARS? HAVE I EVER BEEN WRONG?" Hermione roared.

James and Sirius coughed as we walked. I guess they felt funny being in the middle of an argument. Normally, they like instigate play fights, but never involved with real ones.

"I just don't see what Snape's motive would've been," Ron argued back turning beet red. "I mean we all know he despises us, but why send us back in time to Harry's parents' time?"

"Because obviously he has attained some sort of plan," Hermione said angrily. "We just don't know what that is yet."

Ron and Hermione kept at it. Finally, I rounded on the both of them.

"Will you two KNOCK IT OFF? Ron, if you've known Hermione for seven years, and she's never been wrong, there's a pretty good chance she isn't…and Hermione…I'm not siding with Ron, but what would Snape's motive be? Just realize that both of you could be wrong as well."

They immediately fell silent.

"Well, son," James said grinning. "I think it's about time we hit the sack."

Harry grinned.

"I'm exhausted as well," Sirius said yawning and stretching as we entered the common room 4 minutes later. Lily was awake.

"Oh hey," she said. "Where'd you guys go?"

We quickly filled her in on where we had gone.

"Good idea," she said nodding. "Going to Dumbledore."

"I'm pooped," Sirius said. "Good night all."

"'Night," we chorused.

Sirius headed into the boys' dorm. James followed shortly behind him with Ron and Harry. Then Lily and Hermione headed off leaving Remus and I alone in the common room.

I plopped down on the couch and sighed.

"What a day huh?" I asked smiling as he took a seat beside me. "Crazy."

"Yeah," Remus said nodding in agreement. "I think we'd best head to bed."

Immediately, his cheeks flushed with color.

"I-I mean not together…in the separate dorms,"

I grinned.

"Suuuure," I said teasingly.

He blushed even more.

"Yeah goodnight," I grinned as I got up and headed to the girls' dorm.

I climbed into bed and shortly fell asleep.

The next morning, I found everyone at the Gryffindor table helping themselves to breakfast except Remus.

"Where's Moony?" I asked concerned.

"You know how he gets every month," Sirius said. "He gets sick one day a month."

"We know he's a werewolf," Harry said softly. "Don't worry. We won't tell anyone."

I nodded and took my seat next to Hermione.

I began helping myself to some crumpets.

Hermione turned to me and leaned close. The others began talking about the future with Ron and Harry. I heard Sirius letting out low whistles every once and a while.

"I see that Mr. Lupin is very attached to you," she said as a bit of color rose to her cheeks.

"Mr. Lupin? You mean Remus? We're just really close," I said softly. "When that happened to my parents, he was the first person I trusted and told."

Hermione smiled.

"I liked him immediately, of course, I had a bit of trouble trusting him later on though. I thought he was helping a fugitive,"

I looked at her startled.

"A fugitive?"

Hermione paused. I could see her mind working.

"Yeah," she said slowly. "I'm not sure if I should say anymore. It might alter things."

I nodded, understanding what she meant.

"I understand," I said softly. "Just know that Remus would never betray us."

Hermione nodded and smiled.

Truthfully, I began having feelings toward Remus that were more than a best friend. I just never told anyone. I was worried about Remus. I know how weak and sick he gets before a full moon every month.

After breakfast the bell rang, and it was time to head to class. Hermione, Harry and Ron headed off with James, Sirius and Lily. I noticed Sirius was staying a bit close to Hermione and occasionally, Harry would throw them strange looks. Ron stayed with Lily and James. When they headed off, I headed up to Gryffindor tower to see how Remus was doing.

I entered the common room. Remus was sitting on the couch. He looked pale and sweaty.

"Remus? You okay?" I asked concerned.

Just then, Remus turned his eyes onto me, stood up and pulled out his wand aiming it at my chest. I froze and a lump rose in my throat.

"Remus?"