Call On Me

Chapter Five-Jealousy

REMUS.

I heard everything behind me.

Sirius had asked Caitlin to the upcoming Christmas dance next week. I had been writing the instructions down from the board but now my quill had stopped at one spot, black ink pooling on the parchment.

"We don't have to dance or anything," Sirius continued. "I know you're probably not ready for that just yet."

"Remus? You okay?" Lily whispered beside me.

"Huh? Oh yeah," I said coming out of the stupor I had gone into. I glanced down at the parchment.

"Oh no," I said without emotion. "Lily? Do you have another parchment? This was my last piece. I've got to go back to the dorm later and get some more."

"Sure," Lily said eyeing me warily as she handed me two more pieces of parchment.

I continued to write the instructions, not really paying much attention to it.

Throughout the rest of the day, I had a hard time concentrating on my work and it showed as in Charms, I had accidentally set the bottom of Professor Aris' robe on fire resulting in him sending me to Dumbledore.

I trudged up to Dumbledore's office.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in," he called and I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door, stepping into his office.

"What can I do for you?" Professor Dumbledore asked, his blue eyes sparkling behind his half moon spectacles.

"Professor Aris sent me here because I accidentally set the bottom of his robes on fire," I muttered plopping down in a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk.

Dumbledore's lip twitched.

"That doesn't sound like you, Remus. What's going on?"

"I don't know," I grumbled.

"Something is obviously bothering you," Dumbledore said kindly. "You have never had any problems with school work before."

I paused.

"Is it what happened to Caitlin?" he asked softly and quietly. "Because Madam Elkin said she is just fine and she's going to be okay. Thanks to your quick action, Sam couldn't have hurt her more than what he did thank God."

"It has to do with Caitlin, yes," I said quietly. "You see, I overhead Sirius asking her to the Christmas dance next week."

"Ah," Dumbledore said wisely. "And you're feeling a bit jealous, right?"

I looked at him.

"Is that what I'm feeling?"

Dumbledore smiled.

"Listen," he said kindly. "I may be old but I certainly know when someone cares very much for their best friend."

I fell silent, thinking about what Dumbledore had said and he was right. I guess I was feeling jealous.

"You want to go with Caitlin…don't you?" Dumbledore asked gently.

I nodded.

"So talk to Sirius," he continued. "Tell him."

I didn't respond and kept silent.

"As for setting Professor Aris' robe on fire, try not to do it again," Dumbledore winked.

I gave him a halfhearted smile before leaving his office.

CAITLIN.

Charms was over and we were now sitting in the library just enjoying the peace and quiet and talking about Remus.

Poor Remus had set Professor Aris' robe on fire and he got sent to Dumbledore's office.

"He's been acting funny all day," James said worriedly. "I hope he's alright."

"Maybe he's got a parasite," Peter said in a squeaky, nervous tone.

"No," I said shaking my head. "This is something completely different. He seems…sad almost."

"Poor guy," Sirius said. "Maybe all this work load is getting to him now."

At that moment, Remus entered the library.

"Hey," Lily said brightly. "What did Dumbledore say?"

"Try not to let it happen again," Remus said his lip twitching as he took a seat next to James.

"Bless him," Sirius said with mock emotions. "Bless his little heart."

Peter giggled as Lily smacked Sirius up the back of the head.

"Are you alright? You seem upset or something?" I asked studying him.

"I'm fine," Remus said. "But Sirius? Can we talk?"

He turned serious as he looked at Sirius.

"Sure mate," Sirius said as he and Remus got up from the table and went to the back of the library, clear out of earshot.

"Hmm," James mused. "Wonder what that's all about?"

"Dunno," I said shrugging.

After a few minutes, Remus and Sirius returned.

"Everything okay?" Lily asked.

"Yup," Sirius said nodding.

Sirius turned to me.

"Caitlin? Change of plans babe for the Christmas dance,"

"Why?" I asked.

"I can't go…just remembered I had to be somewhere," he said.

"Oh," I said my heart sinking. "Okay. No problem."

"But Remus is taking my place," Sirius continued. "You are still going."

I brightened a bit.

"Ellie huh? When did you corner her?" James asked grinning slapping Sirius on the back.

"I just can't go alright?" Sirius said shortly and got up, leaving the table and heading out of the library.

"What's gotten into him?" Lily mused.

Remus avoided eye contact with me.

"What did you and Sirius talk about?" I asked intrigued.

"Nothing much really," Remus said shiftily.

"Spit it out mate," James said.

"I asked Sirius if it would be alright if I took Caitlin to the dance instead," Remus muttered.

"Remus," Lily said in a scolding tone. "Sirius was originally going with her. Why'd you ask him?"

I watched Remus' expression. He seemed totally embarrassed and put on the spot.

"It doesn't matter, Lily," I said interjecting. "As long as I'm going it doesn't matter to me who I go with."

Remus threw me a grateful look.

Lily and James then gathered their things and got up.

"We're off to Potions," Lily said. "You coming?"

"I'll be there in a moment," I said.

Lily nodded and then she and James left. I too, gathered my things up and swung my bag onto my shoulder.

"You're not angry with me…are you?" Remus asked quietly also standing up.

"No," I said softly. "I just want to know the real reason why you asked to switch."

Remus hesitated.

"I can't tell you just yet," he said.

"That's fine," I said. "Come on. We're going to be late."

With that, we headed out of the library.

In Potions, I was sitting next to James. Behind me was Remus and Lily and behind them Sirius and Peter.

"I tried to see what the real reason was but he said that he couldn't tell me just yet," I whispered to James.

"He'll tell you when he's good and ready," James replied adding a Troeng to the potion.

About an hour into the lesson, Sirius suddenly cried out.

Immediately, we whirled around to look at him with concern.

"Sirius? What's wrong mate?" James demanded anxiously.

"My stomach," Sirius moaned. "I feel sick."

"Get to the hospital wing," Professor Ryken said.

Sirius got up and then so did Remus.

"I'll take him," Remus offered as he and Sirius left the classroom.

I was worried about Sirius now.

"Probably ate too much at breakfast," James suggested. "He wash shoveling down those sausages."

"With our luck he'd fart and that would be the end of Hogwarts as we know it," Lily said.

I had to laugh and so did James.

But I was still concerned for him.

REMUS.

I led Sirius down the corridor to the hospital wing.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly.

"My stomach hurts," Sirius cringed as I helped him.

I was silent for a bit before I asked him something I had hoped the answer was 'no' to.

"Do you like Caitlin?" I asked quietly.

Sirius didn't reply right away.

He exhaled loudly before replying.

"Yes, I do," he said softly. "But I see that you also like her as well."

"We're best friends," I said.

Sirius looked at me smug.

"I'm not blind," he said. "I see the way you look at her. Moony, it's fine okay? I don't mind not going to the dance with her okay?"

I was stunned. I didn't know how to reply.

"S-sure," I stammered out finally.

We arrived at the hospital wing and Madam Elkin gave him a Trubinlo potion for his stomach. Shortly after that, he seemed much better.

We headed back to the classroom.

Sirius sat back down at his desk and picked up the lesson from where he left off. I took my seat and began thinking.

So, Sirius did like Caitlin. How could I have not seen it myself? Sirius said it was okay that I went with her to the dance, but for some reason I still picked up his sadness. What am I going to do?

I sighed.

Caitlin turned around in her seat to look at me.

"Are you okay, Moony? You seem distracted," she asked concerned.

Her honey brown eyes were locked on me.

"I'm fine," I lied. "Just worried about Sirius. He seems better now though."

"Good," Caitlin said winking at me before turning around back in her seat.

After class, we headed to dinner and then sat around the common room for a bit.

Caitlin was laughing and joking around with James and Lily. Sirius was watched her with a wistful expression on his face.

I knew what I had to do.

"Sirius? Can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked suddenly, standing up.

"Sure," he said.

I pulled him aside.

"Listen," I said dropping my voice down to a whisper. "I know and can see how much you like Caitlin. Why don't you go to the dance with her then? I don't want to make you upset or sad."

Sirius smiled.

"Relax, Moony," he said softly. "I want you to go with her."

"No," I said shaking my head. "I shouldn't've asked you to trade places. I had no idea you liked her but I'm backing off. You go."

"NO," Sirius said firmly. "You are going and that's it."

"Sirius, I can't let you do that," I said just as firmly. "You go with her."

"NO,"

"Yes,"

"No,"

"Yes,"

"NO!" Sirius shouted. "Dammit Moony! Just go alright? I'm fine. Don't worry about me okay?"

With that, he brushed past me and headed into the boys' dorm.

Lily, James and Caitlin had looked up to see what the problem was.

"Everything okay?" James asked softly and concerned.

"Yeah," I muttered.

"Are you sure? We could hear you arguing from over here," Caitlin said, her lip twitching. "Something about taking me to the dance?"

I went over to her and sat down next to her on the couch.

"Yeah," I said quietly. "Sirius likes you and I should not have asked him to trade places. But I had no idea that he did. I want him to go since that was the original plan."

Caitlin was silent.

"I'm not anyone's property, Remus," she began. "He never said anything to me about liking me, so I'm not exactly 'committed' if you will."

I nodded.

"Stop worrying okay? We're going to have a good time," she beamed.

I had to smile back.

"He never made a move yet," James added. "So you really had no proof. Relax. Sirius will be fine."

I began feeling much better now.

Then we all headed to bed.

I climbed into bed, feeling a bit better about the whole situation.

Around midnight, I sensed someone standing over me. I groggily opened my eyes and switched on the light.

It was Sirius.

"Padfoot? What are you doing?" I asked, my voice coming out dry and cracked from sleep.

Sirius didn't reply.

He suddenly lashed out and grabbed me around the throat and began squeezing tightly.

I began wheezing.

"Sirius," I croaked out as his grip tightened even more on my throat.

I was having a hard time breathing and I began wheezing badly.

I struggled to break his grip but it was no use. It was almost inhuman.

I thrashed around, hoping to knock something on the floor. Sure enough, I knocked over the glass pitcher of water. It shattered on the floor and water spilled.

By now, I was lightheaded.

"SIRIUS!" I heard James' cry from somewhere in the darkness.

At that moment, I passed out.