Call On Me

Chapter Eight-Cured?

I picked at my breakfast and realized my appetite was gone. Remus was unusually quiet now as he ate his breakfast.

I decided to go for a walk and I excused myself from the table and stood up. Lily decided to come along with me.

JAMES.

Lily and Caitlin had left to go for a walk. Caitlin didn't seem to have much of an appetite.

Remus was really quiet as he ate.

"Moony? What's wrong mate?" I asked softly turning to him. "You're too quiet."

He didn't answer right away.

"She loves him doesn't she?" he whispered.

"Who? Caitlin? Loves who?" I asked confused.

"She loves Sirius…doesn't she?" Remus asked raising his eyes to mine.

I looked at him for a moment before what he was saying registered.

"You love Caitlin…don't you?" I asked quietly and gently.

Remus lowered his eyes to his plate but didn't reply.

"Moony, you can tell me pal," I said. "I'm not going to say anything I promise. Not unless you want me to."

Remus took a deep breath. "Yeah,"

"So why don't you tell her how you feel?" I asked softly.

"Because she loves Sirius," Remus replied a trace of irritation in his voice. "And why not? Sirius is a great guy. Handsome, witty, and charming."

"Remus…" I began but he irritably tossed his napkin onto the table and stood up.

"I'm going back to the common room," he announced. "Just tell them that I wasn't feeling well."

With that, he turned and left the Hall.

A few minutes later, Caitlin and Lily returned from their walk.

Caitlin sat down beside me.

"Where's Remus?" she asked.

"Not feeling well," I said.

Immediately, concern filled her expression.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked sounding fearful.

"He just said he wasn't feeling well," I said shrugging. "He went back to the common room."

Lily looked at Caitlin.

"I'm sure it's just all the stress," she said reassuringly to her. "It's probably nothing to worry about."

But I could see the concern still in her expressions.

"Are you worried about Sirius?" I asked, hoping to see if she'd give me a hint as to what her feelings were.

"Of course," Caitlin said. "But I'm also worried about Remus now too."

Hmm…not much of a hint. I'm just going to have to come out and ask her.

"Caitlin? Do you love Sirius?" I asked curiously, trying to make it seem like a casual question.

She looked at me.

"Yeah," she said softly.

Okay, so Remus was right. Poor guy. I wonder what he's going to do now?

"Why are you asking?" she asked curiously.

"Just wondering," I grinned.

She ate a few bites of her pancakes and then we headed to classes.

REMUS.

I was lying on my back on the couch with a cold compress across my forehead. I had a headache and the cool rag was helping. I shut my eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet of the common room.

I knew Caitlin loved Sirius. I could sense it. My heart felt like it was ripped out and stomped on. He always gets the girl. He's so handsome, charming, witty and dashing. Any girl would love him.

And then there was me. Good 'ol Remus. Dependable, plain and ordinary…a rule follower and a goody-two shoe…not to mention a werewolf.

I wasn't angry at them or anything. I was angry more with myself. No girl would want to go out with a werewolf. We have been labeled evil, tricksters and vile.

I shut my eyes and tried to take a nap.

I heard the portrait opening a while later and then I heard James, Caitlin and Lily's voices as they entered.

"Moony, how are you feeling mate?" James' voice asked concerned.

"Fine," I grumbled.

"What's wrong?" Caitlin asked next.

"Headache,"

I heard her breathe a sigh of relief.

"We thought you were feeling sick," she said emphasizing the word 'sick'.

"No, I just have a headache,"

With that, I pulled off the cold rag and pulled myself up into a sitting position. Caitlin was watching me anxiously.

"I'm fine okay?" I said throwing the rag onto the table. "If you'll excuse me, I need to look up something in the library."

I got up and abruptly left the common room.

JAMES.

Caitlin looked at me startled.

"Um, Lily? Why don't you go and join Moony? I want to talk to Caitlin for a moment," I suggested.

Lily nodded and she too, hurried off after Moony.

"What's wrong with him?" she asked. "Why is he so upset?"

"He knows you love Sirius," I said softly.

Caitlin paused for a moment.

"Oh God no!" she said shaking her head. "Not that way! I love him like a brother!"

I looked at her stunned.

"But when I asked you if you loved him…"

"I thought you meant otherwise!" Caitlin said.

I smiled.

"I think you'd best go and talk to him. Send Lily back okay?"

She nodded and flew out of the common room.

CAITLIN.

I entered the library a few minutes later and found Lily and Remus sitting at the table talking.

"Hi," I said walking up to them. I looked at Lily. "James said to head back."

Lily smiled and got up leaving the library.

I took her seat across from Remus. He was intently studying a book.

"Whatcha reading?" I asked curiously gently turning the cover up so I could see what was written on the cover.

"Something on werewolves," he muttered as I returned the cover to lying flat on the table.

"Listen," I said taking a deep breath. "I love Sirius, but like a brother okay?"

He didn't take his eyes off the book.

I put a hand on his.

"So there's still a shot for Mr. Right out there,"

I gave his hand a squeeze. He still kept his eyes on the book and didn't reply.

I got up and left.

I headed back to the common room. A half an hour later, Remus returned.

"Hey," James said to him. "Find what you're looking for?"

"Yeah," Remus said nodding.

He seemed a bit more cheerful now.

3 WEEKS LATER.

Professor Dumbledore had called on us Tuesday to tell us that the Vocis Potion was complete and it was time to give it to Sirius.

We all eagerly headed down to the dungeon and Dumbledore opened the door to the room. I stayed next to Remus and watched.

Sirius was still lying in the fetal position. The elves had been bringing him food and water. The room smelled of old food and not to mention Sirius hadn't showered in 3 weeks.

Dumbledore approached Sirius and even though Sirius had been eating, he almost seemed weak. Dumbledore gently tilted the small glass tube against Sirius' lips and poured the light pink liquid down his throat.

After the liquid was gone, Dumbledore stepped back and we watched.

Sirius' body twitched for a bit violently before finally relaxing.

"Sirius?" Dumbledore asked in a gentle tone.

Sirius pulled himself into a sitting position and looked up at us.

"What's going on?" he asked confused. "Why was I locked up in here?"

Dumbledore began explaining everything to him.

"Are you okay?" James asked tentatively.

Sirius looked down at himself and sniffed at his clothes.

"Oof," he winced. "I smell like I'd been rolling in manure!"

"He's fine!" Lily said ecstatically.

Laughing, Lily and Caitlin hugged each other happily.

James stepped forward and punched Sirius hard on the arm.

"Ow," Sirius cried rubbing his arm. "What was that for?"

"Just wanted to make sure," James said grinning. "Welcome back mate."

Sirius grinned too.

Lily and Caitlin rushed forward and hugged Sirius, and then I did too.

Sirius was back to normal. We were so happy as we sat around the fireplace that night laughing and talking with Sirius.

"Why couldn't the Vocis potion been given to Sam?" Caitlin asked.

"Maybe because it was too far gone?" James suggested. "I don't know. It affected him differently and not so differently."

"Yeah I remember that," Caitlin said shivering.

"At least he's back to normal," Lily cracked tossing a pillow at Sirius. "Or somewhat normal. He was never normal to begin with."

Sirius laughed and playfully tossed the pillow back at Lily.

That resulted in a pillow fight. I just sat, watching everyone have fun, not joining in.

We all headed to bed that night feeling that finally the nightmare was over with.

The next morning, we sat down at the Gryffindor table eagerly eating breakfast now.

We headed to Charms class next.

Professor Anicks was sitting behind the desk as we entered the classroom.

Caitlin and I were sitting next to each other. Behind us were Lily and James and then Sirius and a fellow Gryffindor named Ellie Hanson.

A strange feeling began coming over me at that moment.

I turned around in my seat to look at Sirius and Ellie. He had begun flirting with her.

"Mr. Lupin, please turn around," Professor Anicks said.

I turned back around, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.

I wasn't able to concentrate on the lesson much. The horrible flashbacks of that 'dream' I had kept interrupting me.

Professor Anicks gave us a 5 minute break as she left the classroom. Beside me, Caitlin turned around in her seat. Sirius was still flirting with Ellie.

"That is really disgusting," Caitlin muttered narrowing her eyes.

Sirius whispered something to Ellie and she giggled flirtatiously.

Caitlin rolled her eyes and turned around in her seat again.

I was gripping the edges of my desk.

"Remus? You okay?" she asked concerned leaning close to me.

I kept my eyes shut and prayed that this didn't turn into what I had seen.

Professor Anicks came back in and the lesson picked up from where we left off.

When class was over, we waited for Sirius, but he continued to flirt with Ellie.

Caitlin folded her arms across her chest as we waited for Sirius to stop flirting.

"Does she know who he is?" she asked scowling. "He flirts with every pretty girl in the school. What a dog."

Sirius heard the last comment and turned to Ellie.

"'Scuse me babe," he said as he began walking up to us.

Here it comes…oh God no…please no…

Sirius got in Caitlin's face.

I let out a warning growl to Sirius, warning him not to start.

"Shut up, wolf boy," Sirius smirked and returned his eyes onto Caitlin.

Lily and James were stunned and Lily kept close to James.

"That was really disgusting, flirting with her like that," Caitlin said. "You've flirted with every pretty girl in the house. What's next? Ravenclaw? Hufflepuff? Or Slytherin?"

"You've got a big mouth, girl and you'd better learn to keep it shut," Sirius said as he reached out and grabbed a handful of her hair. He jerked her head to the side.

"Chill out," he said.

He released her hair and brushed past us, leaving the classroom.

My heart was pounding as I turned to Caitlin.

"You alright?" I demanded.

"Yeah," Caitlin said flipping her hair over her shoulder. "He's turned into a real prick."

"Let's head to Transfiguration," James suggested clearing his throat.

We headed off to the class.

That evening, after dinner, James had gotten a hold of chocolate frogs and eaten at least 6 of them.

"Remus? Pass me the chocolate frog next to you," James asked holding out his hand to me.

I paused. Another flashback went off before my eyes.

I hesitated.

"Moony?" James asked. "Pass me the froggie."

Again, I hesitated.

"James, you've eaten 6 of them so far! You're bound to get hyper and sick!" Caitlin cried disbelievingly.

"Chill out Caitlin," Sirius said rolling his eyes. "You sound like his mother."

Caitlin glared at Sirius.

"Eating too much of that will make you sick," she said coldly. "I'm just thinking of his health."

I felt like I couldn't breathe. This was it. It was coming true.

"There's a thing as 'over' worrying too," Sirius commented.

"It's okay," James said uncertainly looking from Sirius to Caitlin. "I've had enough."

But Sirius wasn't done.

"You're such a worrywart," Sirius continued to Caitlin. "Learn to live a little. You're acting like a stick in the mud."

"I just happen to care about my friends," Caitlin retorted her honey brown eyes narrowed. "If that's a crime then sue me."

"You're also acting like a real bitch," Sirius grinned. "A 'Miss Perfect'. You should've been made a Prefect along with wolf boy over here."

He jerked his thumb toward my direction.

Caitlin got up and smacked Sirius.

"Don't ever call me that name again," she said her eyes flashing. "And leave Remus out of it."

With that, Sirius grabbed Caitlin and flung her against the fireplace. Her back hit the brick section and her body jerked backward for the moment before she landed on her side awfully close to the fire.

One arm was draped over her side while the other was stretched out.

"CAITLIN!" Lily screamed.

The fire began inching close to Caitlin's robe.