Call On Me

Prologue

"Hey, Remus? Can you pass me the Chocolate Frogs?" asked my best friend James Potter, extending his hand out to Remus.

I passed him the chocolate frogs and I shook my head.

"If you eat too many of them you're bound to get hyper," said my other best friend, Caitlin Andrews.

"Hey Caitlin, chill out," said my other best friend Sirius Black rolling his hazel eyes. "You sound like my mother."

She snorted.

"At least someone does," She shot back. "I'm just thinking of his health."

"There is such a thing as 'over' worrying," Sirius replied smirking.

She was about to retort when I held up my hand.

"Knock it off you two," I said. "Caitlin is just a concerned person. It's just her nature. I have to admit though," I looked at James. "Eating too much chocolate isn't healthy."

James nodded and stuffed the rest of the chocolate frogs into his backpack.

"I'll save them for later," he whispered to Sirius and the two of them giggled silently.

"I heard that," I said.

Just then, Lily Evans and Peter Pettigrew entered the Gryffindor common room.

Caitlin sat with her arms folded over her chest and scowled at James.

"Let me guess," Lily said looking from me to James. "Sirius is giving Caitlin a hard time,"

"You're psychic!" Sirius exclaimed pretending to be shocked and awed.

"No, you're always giving Caitlin a hard time. It's nothing new," Lily smirked at Sirius.

Caitlin gave Sirius a smug look.

"I've noticed," I said raising an eyebrow at Sirius.

Sirius raised his hands defensively.

"I'm innocent here," he said. "It's Caitlin who's the one who's coming on to me."

She let out a disgusted cry and jumped to her feet.

"If you were the last guy on the earth I wouldn't even think of you," Caitlin snapped. "Since you're so high on yourself!"

Immediately, Caitlin saw my expression. My eyes were locked on her and my lip twitched.

"If you and Sirius were the last people on earth, I seriously doubt Sirius would even notice you. He'd be too busy staring into his reflection in broken mirrors," I said deadpan.

"Hey!" Sirius cried affronted. "Why the sudden gang up?"

"Because you're always on Caitlin's case that's why," James said suddenly. "Lay off."

"It's probably because he likes her," Lily said grinning and she winked at Caitlin.

She let out another disgusted cry and spun around on the heels of her feet and stormed out of the common room.

My name is Remus Lupin. I'm 16 years old with short, wavy thick dark brown hair and blue eyes. We were all in our 7th year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Caitlin, Sirius Black, James Potter and Lily Evans were my best friends. Sirius seemed to be acting a bit differently, more than usual to say the least. It was December. Christmas time was just around the corner…about 3 weeks away actually.

Thick blankets covered the ground and stuck on the window ledges. I decided to follow Caitlin.

I found her leaning against the window sill on one of the outside bridges that connected one side of the castle to the next. It was opened so she had bundled herself up with her robe but our breaths came out in puffs of steam.

She sighed.

"Thinking about how to stifle Sirius?" I said behind her.

She turned around.

I smiled. I was also the Gryffindor Prefect so my badge was pinned on my robe just above the Hogwarts crest on the robe.

My prefects badge shone in the gray light. I stood next to her and leaned against the window sill as well.

"Yeah," she muttered. "Have any ideas?"

I chuckled.

"We could always threaten to fix him,"

"We could do that anyway. Just give me a pair of scissors," Caitlin said darkly.

I chuckled again but then turned serious.

"Sirius doesn't mean anything buy it though," I said. "He and James may seem arrogant and high on themselves, but they've got good hearts and they are good people."

She nodded.

"I know," She said.

"Plus," I continued. "I know they care about you a lot."

Caitlin smiled.

"I know," she said and lightly punched me on the arm. "Thanks Moony."

I offered her a smile. We stared at each other for a bit before someone came running up to us. It was Lily.

"James and Sirius just got into a really big fight," she said nervously.

Immediately, I tore off down the corridor again and Lily and Caitlin followed.

We entered the Gryffindor common room. James and Sirius were inches apart from each other, their faces nearly touching.

"YOU REALLY NEED TO CHILL OUT," James was shouting at Sirius.

"AND YOU REALLY ARE WHIPPED," Sirius replied back.

"What's going on here?" I asked looking from James to Sirius.

"Sirius was saying that he was going to take Caitlin to the upcoming Christmas dance and James said that he was dreaming that he'd better come back to reality and that's what set them off. I told Sirius that he was going to have to ask Caitlin first that he couldn't just assume he was taking her. James agreed and that's what set them off," Lily said quietly.

"You really are a scum bag," Caitlin said narrowing her eyes at Sirius disgustedly. "How dare you insinuate that you were taking me! I wouldn't go with you now even if I couldn't get a date!"

Sirius stepped away from James and came over to her.

I watched apprehensively.

Sirius got into her face.

"What's your problem, babe? Not good enough for you?" he asked.

"It's your whole attitude that sucks," she retorted.

Sirius grabbed her arm.

"Let me go," she said trying to wrench it from his grasp.

"Sirius," I growled sounding a bit like the wolf. I was also a werewolf. I came up beside Sirius and kept my eyes on him. Caitlin glanced at me before returning her eyes onto Sirius.

"I'm too good for you anyway," Sirius replied smirking. "You don't deserve me or anyone."

With that, he let go of her arm and stormed out of the common room.

She rubbed her arm.

"You okay?" I asked nervously and worriedly.

She nodded.

"Yes," she said. "What got into him? He never acted like this! This isn't him!"

"I'm not sure," James said shaking his head. "Totally weird. I'll go and follow him."

He too left the common room.

Lily, Caitlin and I sat down on the couch.

"What he said is wrong, Caitlin," Lily said gently. "You deserve someone sweet, kind, caring and understanding. You know that right?"

She sighed.

"Yeah I know that," she said softly. "The problem is no guy has asked me out yet. I'm beginning to doubt that."

"Don't think like that," I scolded. "You're a pretty girl. There's someone out there for you you'll see."

She gave me a halfhearted smile.

"It's time for Charms," I said. "Let's go."

We got up and left the common room, heading to classes.

We entered Charms class and took our seats. Caitlin and I were sitting next to each other and behind us were Lily and James. Behind them was another Gryffindor named Ellie Hanson. She was the prettiest girl in our house. I heard the door opening to the classroom. We turned around in our seats and Sirius entered. He took a seat next to Ellie and muttered a quick apology to Professor Anicks. Caitlin turned around in her seat and looked at Sirius and Ellie.

She continued to watch Sirius. He and Ellie began whispering to one another. She giggled flirtatiously.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

He caught her eye and gave her a wink before returning to Ellie. She had long auburn hair and green eyes.

Caitlin rolled her eyes and turned around quickly in her seat and returned her attention back to the lesson.

When the lesson was over, she quickly gathered my things up and stuffed them into my bag.

Caitlin, Lily, James and I waited for Sirius but he continued to flirt with Ellie.

"How long before Ellie finds out that he's a real dog?" Caitlin said, emphasizing the word 'dog'.

At that, Sirius looked up and glared at us.

"'Scuse me babe," he said to Ellie.

Ellie got up and left the classroom.

Sirius came up to Caitlin and got in her face again.

I let out a low warning growl at Sirius, as if warning him not to start.

"Shut up, wolf boy," Sirius snapped at me.

Lily and James were shocked at Sirius' tone. Lily stayed close to James.

"You've got a really big mouth, girl," Sirius smirked his hazel eyes flashing. "And you need to learn to keep it shut."

"What's going on with you?" Caitlin asked, totally unafraid of him. "You're acting so nasty."

Sirius shrugged.

"Just feel like it I guess," he smiled.

"Well, I feel like putting my foot up your ass," Caitlin retorted. "Knock off the attitude."

At that, Sirius grabbed her and lifted her off the ground. He flung her.

She crashed onto several desks and breaking them in half before rolling off them and landing on her back. One arm was draped across her stomach and her right wrist was resting by her ear. She had a thin ribbon of blood flowing from the corner of her mouth. She wasn't moving.

"CAITLIN!" Lily screamed.

James immediately rushed over to Caitlin. Lily followed him.

James crouched down beside Caitlin and I saw him feel her neck for a pulse.

"Is she okay?" I demanded swallowing, my Adams apple moving up and down.

James slowly raised his head and from the tears in his blue eyes, I knew she wasn't okay. Just then, Sirius took a swing at me. His fist connected with my abdomen. I was doubled over, gasping for breath.

Lily fled from the classroom, obviously going for some help.

James was staying with Caitlin as if protecting her.

I tackled Sirius and he landed on his back, me straddling him.

I gave him a good punch in the side of the face before Sirius, with what seemed like inhuman strength, pushed me off of him. I landed on my rear-end and looked up in time to see Sirius change into the black dog and his ears were pinned back. His canines and incisors were bared as he charged at me.

I scrambled to my feet and leaped out of the way. The dogs' paws skidded on the floor as it regained traction and continued to come at me.

"WHAT'S GOING ON?" James cried stunned.

"I don't know!" I cried, pre-occupied with keeping Sirius' jaws from clamping on me.

The big dog stood over me and tried to get his jaws around my throat. I put my hands on either side of the dogs' neck and tried to keep him away, but it was strange. The dog seemed ten times stronger than me, but I used all of my werewolf strength in me.

The dogs' jaws snapped, sending clear saliva all over the front of my uniform.

I cringed, struggling to keep Sirius from biting me or tearing my throat out.

"JAMES HELP!" I cried wincing.

James immediately rushed over to help and went to wrap his arms around Sirius' mid-section to lift him off of me, but the dog arched his neck around and clamped his jaws on James' wrist.

The teeth sank into the skin.

James let out a cry as blood began flowing.

He fell backward clutching his wrist. The dog turned his eyes onto me next. The normally gentle and kind brown eyes had a maniacal look to them. James scooted away from us still clutching his wrist. If the wound wasn't healed soon, he would certainly bleed to death and already he was looking pale. The dog continued to try and get at me.

Just then, someone burst into the classroom. It was Lily, followed by Professor Dumbledore, Professor Dawes and Professor Anicks.

The dog turned his head around and saw Professor Dumbledore and charged at him. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. The dogs' paws hit the ground in rhythm as I galloped toward him, the eyes locked on Dumbledore and the teeth still bared.

Dumbledore pulled out his wand and aimed it at the dog.

The dog continued to gallop toward him.

Lily screamed and rushed over to James. She dropped to her knees beside him and cradled his head against her chest. She was sobbing hysterically.

I propped myself up onto my elbows. Lily was shrieking hysterically that James was gone. I scrambled over to him and felt his neck. There was no pulse and an extremely large pool of blood was by his thigh from his wrist.

I raised my eyes to Professor Dumbledore. The dog was inches from him now.

"Avada Kedavra!" Professor Dumbledore said.

A jet of green shot out from the tip of Dumbledore's wand and hit the dog directly in the chest. It froze in mid-stride and then fell to its side dead.

Lily screamed and sobbed even more hysterically. I was even in shock and felt my body trembling. Professor Dawes came over to Lily and began comforting her. I got to my feet and went over to Caitlin. I hovered above her and put a hand under her head. Her eyes were closed and there was a thin ribbon of blood flowing from the corner of her mouth. I gently pulled Caitlin's body against mine and cradled her. I buried my face into her hair and sobbed uncontrollably myself.

I pressed my face deep into her hair, inhaling the scent of raspberry from the shampoo she used. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I held her tighter against me.

"It wasn't Sirius," Dumbledore's voice said quietly and softly.

"What do you mean? It was him! I saw him!" Lily shrieked.

"I mean it wasn't him really," Dumbledore said.

I didn't raise my head for anything. All that mattered was Caitlin, James and Sirius was dead.

Professor Dawes gently but firmly pulled Lily out of the classroom with much protesting.

I heard Dumbledore exhale loudly and then a bright flash went off before my eyes.