Call On Me

Chapter Six-The Christmas Dance

CAITLIN.

I heard commotion in the common room. I switched on my light and tossed off the covers. Lily was also awake.

"What on earth is going on out there?" Lily mused.

"Let's go see," I suggested.

We hurried as quietly as we could out of the girls' dorm.

We stepped into the common room and I grabbed Lily's arm, frozen in shock.

Remus was lying unconscious on the couch and James was talking to Sirius, who was crying. He was sitting on a chair.

"What happened?" I cried wide-eyed.

Professor McGonagall was standing beside Sirius on the chair.

"Miss Andrews? Head on back to bed," she said softly. "Everything is okay."

"Like hell it is," I replied. "What's going on? Why is Remus unconscious?"

Lily headed over to Sirius and James while I crouched down beside Moony on the couch. He had red marks around his throat.

"Sirius attacked Moony," James said swallowing. "He doesn't even remember doing it."

"What?" I cried.

"He was choking him," James continued. "He doesn't even know why he was doing it."

I turned to Remus and gently shook him.

After a few moments, he awoke.

He coughed and was wheezing slightly.

"How'd I get out here?" he croaked.

"James carried you out," Sirius said swallowing as tears slid down his cheeks. "I don't even know why I attacked you."

Remus rubbed his throat tenderly and swung his feet off the couch, pulling himself into a sitting position.

I gingerly sat down beside him.

"Could you have been sleep walking?" Lily suggested.

"I don't think so," Sirius replied shakily. "Because I remember everything and I know what happened afterwards."

"You okay?" I asked Moony concerned.

"My throat," he croaked out. "I can barely talk."

His voice went out for a bit and he cleared his throat.

"I want everyone to go back to their dorms," Professor McGonagall said. "I will deal with Mr. Black now. Please come with me."

Sirius gave Remus a guilty look and I knew he was upset as he followed Professor McGonagall out of the common room.

Suddenly, a thought entered my mind.

"Does anyone realize that this is similar to Sam?" I asked quietly.

Lily, James and Remus were silent.

"You mean the sudden random acts of violence?" James asked.

I nodded.

"Yes," I said. "Both Sirius and Sam had stomach problems and then they acted out violently."

"My God," Lily said wide-eyed, her emerald green eyes filled with fear. "You're right!"

"Hold on," James said. "Sam may have been a time bomb waiting to go off. But Sirius would never intentionally hurt Remus or anyone. He might've very well been sleep walking, but a lighter form."

"How is there a lighter form?" I asked. "Either your sleep walking or awake?"

"Trance," James said simply.

We were silent.

Realization dawned on us.

"Right," I said. "Okay that's a possible explanation. But who would want to put him into a trance and hurt Moony?"

"Dunno," James said. "But it is a reasonable explanation."

We nodded.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lily asked Remus.

He nodded.

"Okay. I'm heading back to bed," she said and gave James a kiss before getting up and leaving the common room.

"Coming mate?" James asked him.

"In a few," he said.

James nodded and gave me a wink before heading back to the boys' dorm.

"I have a theory on why Sirius attacked me," Remus said quietly.

"Why?" I asked leaning close to him so I could hear him easily.

"Because of you," he whispered. "I know it."

"Remus," I said sighing. "Let it go okay? I've known Sirius for nearly 7 years now…the same as I've known you, Lily, James and Peter. Sirius isn't the jealous or violent type. He would never do anything like that. You should know that in your heart."

"But he seemed upset," Remus continued. "Like I'd stabbed him in the back or something."

"Remus," I said softly, putting my face close to his. "Like I said earlier. He made no gesture that he likes me. You had no idea either. So how would you have known?"

He looked at me. His blue eyes were locked on mine.

"Stop worrying about it okay?"

He offered me a weak smile.

"How about I try and talk to him?" I suggested brightly hoping that Remus would stop worrying about it.

Remus smiled now in a genuine way.

"No, it's okay. Your right. I'm okay now,"

"Good," I said grinning. "'Cause the Christmas dance is next week."

I gently pressed my forehead against his and continued to smile.

"Try going back to sleep," I said.

I gave his hand a squeeze before getting up and heading back into the girls' dorm.

REMUS.

Caitlin had pressed her forehead against mine. Our faces were extremely close at that point so that my heart had been pounding.

I too, decided to head to bed next to try and go back to sleep.

The next morning, Sirius was sitting at the Gryffindor table with James and Peter.

Lily and Caitlin were talking to each other. I took a seat next to Caitlin.

"Morning, Moony," Sirius ventured in a hopeful tone.

"Morning," I said in a polite tone. "How'd everyone sleep last night?"

"Well," Lily said. "What happened with McGonagall?"

"She reckoned I was sleep walking so I got detention for the next week and lines,"

There was a silence.

"Hey Moony," Sirius said in a bright tone. "At lunch, why don't we all go under the oak tree and just take a breather?"

"Sure," I said nodding. "That sounds good."

I knew Sirius was trying to act like everything was normal, but in reality it wasn't.

My trust had been shaken slightly for him.

So during lunch we headed outside. The snow was sticking in several spots creating pockets of white on the ground. I didn't feel the cold, so I left my robe opened.

"Brrr," Lily said hugging her robe against her. "Aren't you cold?"

I shook my head.

"I don't feel the cold like you think,"

Lily and Caitlin got into talking about their dresses they had bought from home for the Christmas dance. Professor Dumbledore had allowed everyone to dress in Muggle dresses and suits for the dance.

James, Peter and Sirius began talking as well. I stood beside Lily and Caitlin, just listening to their conversations.

Finally, it was time to go in and head to the rest of the classes. I had no idea things would get worse.

THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

CAITLIN.

I eagerly got into my dress. It was a silver color with spaghetti shoulder straps and a little bit of embroidery along the hemline.

Lily had pinned my hair up into a side pony-tail and curled the hair. It hung over my right shoulder in gentle curls. She had applied light blue eye shadow and clear lip-gloss on me. In my ears were small gold hoops with a little diamond charm hanging from them. Around my neck was a pearl necklace.

"You look H.O.T," Lily smirked squealing.

She showed me a pocket sized mirror. I looked into it. I had to admit, I did look pretty nice.

I grinned.

Lily was dressed in a royal blue dress that hung off her shoulders slightly. Her auburn hair was pulled into a pony tail. Around her neck was a diamond pendant. In her ears were pearl earrings.

"Let's go make the guys drool," she grinned.

I grinned back.

We left the girls' dorm and entered the common room where the guys were meeting their dates.

The guys were all in suits and ties.

"There's my girl!" James cried happily as he spied Lily. "Hot, hot hot! And Caitlin! Whoo girl!"

Remus' eyes landed on me as I approached him.

"You look nice," he said softly.

"Why thank you," I said linking arms with him.

Sirius smiled at me. He and Peter were the only ones not dressed in suits and ties.

"You're not going?" Lily asked Peter and Sirius.

"Couldn't get a date," Peter squeaked out looking embarrassed.

"Well, the girls don't know what they're missing," I said kindly. "What about you Sirius?"

"Naw, I just didn't feel like going," he shrugged one shoulder. "I've got a lot of work to finish anyway. Peter and I were heading to the library. See you guys later and have fun."

With that, he and Peter left the common room.

"Let's go," James said as we left the common room and headed to the Great Hall.

We entered the Great Hall. It was completely transformed into a winter wonderland almost.

Warm snow fluttered from the ceiling and Christmas decorations filled every wall. Tables were set up. Couples were already sitting talking happily and laughing. We found a table and sat down.

"This is really nice," Lily said softly, snuggling up to James.

"Yeah," Remus admitted.

Professor Dumbledore had gotten a band called "Magic Wishes". They were really good.

The couples began dancing now to the slow music. Lily pulled a protesting James to his feet and led him onto the dance floor that had been cleared in the center of the Hall.

"Um," Remus said looking nervous. "Do…I mean, would…"

"Are you asking me to dance?" I asked, grinning and I raised an eyebrow.

Remus nodded.

"I'd love to sure," I said.

Relief spread over his face and he extended his hand out. I took and we walked onto the dance floor.

We faced each other. I took his left hand in my right and he placed his right hand on my hip. My left arm draped over his shoulder. We began slowly rotating on the spot.

Remus cleared his throat about 10 minutes later.

"Are you having a nice time?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said softly.

He looked pleased.

"I thought maybe you'd have a lousy time,"

I stopped dancing and looked at him startled.

"Why on earth would you think that?" I demanded.

Remus shrugged.

"I just thought you'd imagine dancing with the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team or someone handsome,"

I looked at him completely shocked.

"Remus," I said. "I'm having a lovely time okay? And just for the record, you are handsome, smart, caring, gentle, and a great person. I can't understand why you didn't ask a girl before hand."

"I kind of wanted to go with you," he said quietly. "No one else."

I smiled.

"Well, you got your wish,"

He looked at me.

I then stepped closer to him and threw my arms around his neck. I drew him close and just rested my chin on his shoulder. I felt his arms slowly wrapping around me as we continued to rotate on the spot.

I closed my eyes, just enjoying his embrace and the overall atmosphere. I wasn't afraid anymore either…after what Sam had done. I trusted Remus and knew he wouldn't hurt me.

REMUS.

Caitlin didn't flinch at all. Maybe she was okay now. I knew she would never be her normal self again, but she'd be somewhat normal. I had my arms wrapped around Caitlin as well. My chin was resting on her shoulder. I could smell the shampoo in her hair and the faint scent of perfume. I lightly squeezed her. She responded by snuggling up against me more. I had briefly shut my eyes and when I opened them, I saw Lily and James smirking at me.

When the dancing was over, the food appeared.

We just looked down at our plates and said what we had wanted. We began talking and laughing and I was really enjoying myself. We were laughing over some of the pranks that James and Sirius had done in our 3rd year. Sirius had glued a 1st years rear-end to a toilet seat and James had dressed up like a girl and tried to get into the girls' bathroom in an emergency since the boys' bathroom had been flooded for the few hours by Peeves.

Caitlin really looked lovely. I felt a poke in my ribs and turned. It was James.

"I saw you two dancing," he whispered, his hazel eyes twinkling behind his glasses.

"So?" I asked slowly.

"I'm not blind," James whispered. "I see the way you two are together."

"We're just best friends," I insisted, but even then, I began realizing new feelings toward Caitlin.

"Mmmhmm," James mused slyly.

I just rolled my eyes and continued to eat my spaghetti and meatballs.

Just then, there was a yell coming from the entranceway.

"HELP ME!" a voice cried.

Immediately silence fell across the Great Hall as all heads turned toward the double doors.

Someone staggered in.

"Peter," James said as his voice became filled with alarm and panic.

Peter staggered in like he was drunk. Blood was staining his shirt. He spied us and staggered over to us. He momentarily collapsed in Caitlin's lap before getting up and collapsing in Lily's.

Some of the blood had gotten onto Caitlin's dress. Peter didn't get up again.

Caitlin raised both hands to her mouth in horror.

James gently pulled Peter off of Lily's lap and laid him on the floor on his back.

"He's been stabbed," James said shocked.

Lily began sobbing and hugging herself.

Caitlin jumped to her feet and I could see her shaking badly. I went over to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"By whom?" I asked.

We raised our eyes. Standing in the entranceway, holding a letter opener, was Sirius.