Call On Me

Chapter Sixteen-Defensive Actions

I immediately rushed forward.

"Kelly? What on earth---?" I began alarmed as Remus and I rushed to her side.

"I don't know!" Kelly said as tears began forming in her eyes. "I went to bed and woke up like this! I was just about to get a drink of water and I saw this."

Remus touched the liquid and looked at me gravely.

"It's blood," he said. "But not human."

I looked at him startled.

"How on earth did this get in here?" I demanded looking around at the other Gryffindor girls now wide awake watching.

"Did any of you see what happened?" Remus demanded.

"We saw the portrait entrance open but no one came in," a fifth year named Amy Danson replied.

Remus and I looked at each other again.

"That sounds like it could be an invisibility cloak," he said.

I nodded in agreement.

Kelly was sobbing in fear. Most of the other Gryffindors were also a bit scared too. They were mostly looking upset toward Kelly…imagining what it must've been like to wake up and have this red liquid on you and not know where it came from.

"Okay," I said calmly. "Calm down Kelly. Come on. I'll help you get washed up."

Kelly slowly swung her legs over the side of the bed and got to her feet. I took her hand in mine. She looked at Remus and began blushing furiously. Remus put a hand on top of her head as I led her past him. He went over to Kelly's bed and stripped the bed of the sheeting.

I took Kelly into the bathroom and helped her wash off the blood.

Once she was all clean and dried, I led her back to the common room. She hesitated outside the common room.

"I really don't want to go back there," she said shaking her head.

"You have to," I said gently. "Where else are you going to sleep?"

"I'll sleep in the common room, but not in the dorm," she said. "I'm scared. I don't know who got into the dorm."

I had to admit, I would be scared as well. I looked out the window. A full moon hung in an almost midnight sky. Stars twinkled merrily and there wasn't a cloud in the sky to be seen.

"I understand…how about if I stay with you?" I suggested.

Kelly looked at me.

"Really?"

I nodded.

She nodded as well and we entered the common room. Remus was doubled over in pain against the couch.

"Is Professor Lupin alright?" Kelly demanded anxiously.

"Yes," I said. "Don't worry."

Kelly curled up on the couch still eyeing Remus. I took Remus by the hand and led him out of the common room.

Just as we left the common room, the transformation began. The portrait swung closed thankfully, blocking Kelly's view from him changing.

I made sure the hallway was empty and Remus changed.

Shortly, his human form was gone and the gray wolf stood in his place.

He barked at me.

"Okay," I said.

We entered the common room again. Kelly was out cold on the couch. I gently draped the blanket over her as she slept. Remus jumped up on the couch beside her and curled up against her, tucking his hind legs underneath him and resting his jaws on Kelly's calf. His amber/gold eyes kept a close watch on the entire common room.

I curled up on a chair and shortly dozed off as well.

Around midnight, I awoke to the sound of Remus barking madly and tugging on the sleeve of my robe.

I snapped awake and looked at him. His jaws were clamped on the sleeve of my robe and he was tugging frantically, almost pulling me off the chair.

"What?" I demanded now fully alert.

He was acting oddly and it was starting to scare me.

He frantically tugged me over to where Kelly was sleeping. As I approached Kelly, I noticed she was violently jerking and twitching. I rushed over to her and realized she was having a seizure.

Remus automatically let go of my robe as I held Kelly down with all my strength. Remus reared up on his hind legs and placed his front paws on Kelly's thigh. He kept his amber/gold eyes locked on her the entire time.

Finally, she stopped and looked up at me.

"P-Professor Andrews? What happened?" she asked groggily.

"You were having some sort of seizure," I replied concerned. "Are you alright?"

"Oh," Kelly said as I easily released her and she sat up right, got a glimpse of Remus and scooted away from him, drawing her legs up to her chest.

He kept his front paws on the edge of the couch.

"It's okay," I said earnestly. "He won't hurt you."

She still looked at him warily.

"What was happening?" I asked curiously putting my face close to hers.

"I have Epilepsy," Kelly said rubbing her eyes. "And Dyslexia."

"Ouch," I said sadly.

"I had forgotten to take my medication tonight. That's why I had gotten up for the water," she said.

She looked at Remus.

"Is that wolf?" she asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "Don't worry…he actually saved your life."

"How?" Kelly asked still wary.

"He woke me up tugging on my sleeve," I said. "Had I not woken up your seizure could've been worse."

I saw her watching Remus and right away knew why she was wary.

"Oh don't worry," I said reassuringly. "This wolf is gentle. He hasn't harmed anyone in years."

She slowly extended her hand out to Remus. Remus' cold, wet, black nose touched her hand. He gently pushed his head forward, forcing Kelly's hand to slide up his snout and onto his head.

She began gently stroking his head.

"Yeah he is," she admitted softly.

She yawned and then fell asleep again.

"Nice job," I whispered to Remus, rubbing his neck. I plated a kiss on his snout.

Shortly, we all fell asleep.

In the morning, I sensed someone standing over me. It was Remus in human form dressed in dark green robes.

"Morning, sunshine," he grinned at me.

"Morning," I said yawning and stretching. I glanced over at Kelly. She was still asleep.

"I was just about to wake her," he said gently as he went over and gently shook her.

She woke up automatically and gave Remus a big smile.

"Professor Lupin? How are you feeling?" she asked self consciously running a hand through her hair and over her Pj's.

"Feeling?" he asked puzzled looking at me. I raised an eyebrow at him hoping he got the gist. "Oh," he said nodding. "I'm feeling much better. Thank you. Did you remember to take your medication?"

It was Kelly's turn to look puzzled. "Medication? For what?"

"The Epilepsy," Remus replied looking concerned.

"I didn't tell you I had it," Kelly said.

"I told him early this morning," I replied quickly. "So he knows too."

"Oh," Kelly said. "I'd best go take it then."

She got up and headed out of the common room.

"Whew, nice save," Remus said coming over to me and placing his hands on my hips and drew me close.

"Yeah well," I said pretending to think. "I could just tell her."

He grinned and I grinned back. He gave me a quick kiss as we heard the students waking up and talking loudly in their dorms.

"When are we going to be able to have time to ourselves?" I asked frowning.

"This weekend," he said. "Right now I think we'd best find Lily. I'm starting to get worried about her."

But our question was answered when Lily entered the common room a bit drunk.

"Where were you?" I demanded automatically putting my hands on my hips.

"Where vash I?" Lily asked in a dunk tone, slightly swaying on her feet. "I vash in Hogshmeade with Professhor Dawes. We were in the Three Broomshticks."

"She's bloody lit," I said throwing my hand up in the air.

Remus chuckled and quickly turned it into a cough.

"I don't think that's what we have to worry about right now," he said deadpan. "She spent at least 2 days with Professor Dawes and where'd they stay in Hogsmeade?"

Lily staggered toward us and almost fell if Remus hadn't caught her. She dropped face down onto the couch and within minutes was snoring away.

"She's going to have one hell of a hangover when she wakes up," I said shaking my head. "And in need of a Doric Potion."

"Let her sleep it out," Remus said. "I've got to head to class. Let Kelly know it will be okay if she's late."

Remus gave me a quick kiss before leaving the common room.

Kelly came out of the girls' dorm shortly, followed by other third years.

"Professor Lupin said if you're late to class it would be okay," I relayed to her.

Kelly nodded and beamed.

"Today we're visiting Hogsmeade, right?" she asked excitedly.

I nodded, then a bright light went off before my eyes and there sitting on the couch were James and Sirius.

"It's starting again," Sirius said. "Lily's in danger."

The light vanished and I blinked. Sirius and James were gone. Kelly was watching me anxiously though.

"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. "You kind of look like me before I feel a seizure coming on."

I shook my head.

"I'm fine. Go on to breakfast,"

Kelly nodded and left the common room with the girls.

I exhaled and ran a hand through my hair before heading down to the Great Hall.

At the Head table, I told Remus what had happened.

"Again?" he asked. "What did they say this time?"

"They said that Lily was in danger," I said helping myself to some porridge and crumpets.

"Hmm," Remus said thoughtfully. "I'm sure its nothing but when the third years go to Hogsmeade, I think we should go with them…scope out the Three Broomsticks. If Lily did drink something like last year, we need to put a stop to it before what happens to Sirius happens to her."

"I can't lose her, Moony," I said looking at him.

"We won't," he said firmly. "Don't worry."

"I don't understand this," I said shaking my head. "How could this be starting again?"

"I don't know," Remus said gravely. "But we're going to have to keep a look out."

I nodded.

After breakfast, Remus headed to his class while I decided to take a nice walk on the grounds.

REMUS.

I entered the DATDA classroom and walked up the center aisle between the Slytherins and the Gryffindors.

I turned and faced the class.

"Morning," I said. "I trust you all did the scroll I had asked for?"

Everyone nodded, including Kelly.

I gave her a private wink before turning my attention back to the class.

"On a much heavier note, I want to ask anyone with information on the following. Kelly Smith woke up this morning covered in blood,"

"Maybe it was her time of the month," a Slytherin cracked.

Kelly's face flushed furiously and there were embarrassed tears in her eyes.

I folded my arms over my chest and glared at the Slytherin.

"Care to explain to Professor Dumbledore why I am going to give you 5 months detention as a result of that outburst?" I demanded angrily.

The class let out 'Ooh's'.

The Slytherin boy named David Hess just shifted his weight in the seat.

"I want to know if anyone knows about this incident. She was covered in head to toe in it and it wasn't human," I demanded scanning and eyeing the entire class.

One of the Slytherin girls named Annabelle Downing slowly raised her hand.

"Miss Downing?" I asked.

"It was David's idea," she said meekly. "He dared me to sneak in using his Invisibility cloak and dump the bucket of rat blood on her."

My anger hit the boiling point at this time. I was about ready to explode.

"Care to elaborate, Mr. Hess?" I said glaring at him.

He looked at me and then Kelly.

"She's a retard," he said simply. "I just wanted to make her feel welcome."

"BY DUMPING RAT BLOOD ON HER?" I burst out.

Kelly had crossed her arms on top of her desk and rested her chin on top of them just listening to what a fellow student had to say about her.

David didn't reply.

"That has got to be the cruelest, inhuman thing I've ever heard," I continued angrily. "You've got the 5 months detention and I'm speaking to Professor Snape and Dumbledore about this."

David raised an eyebrow.

"Funny you should use the word 'inhuman', Professor," he said coolly.

I froze.

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"Professor Snape told me all about you," David continued smirking. "All about you."

Curse Severus! I'm going to have to have a talk with him…I thought angrily. I'm so glad I didn't stop James and Sirius from tormenting him those times.

"Well," I said indifferently. "You're still getting the detention, David. That was a really cruel thing you did."

I turned to Miss Downing. "As for you, you'll receive 2 weeks detention,"

She nodded and kept silent.

"Why does she get less?" David asked.

"You've got to be kidding me, Mr. Hess," I said. "It was your idea right? YOU were the one who decided to torment Miss Smith. Miss Downing was the unfortunate result of pressure. I don't want to talk about this anymore. Punishment was given. Enough."

I didn't see David pulling his wand out until I heard Kelly's scream of protest.

I turned around and saw a jet of teal shooting out from the tip of David's wand, aimed straight for my chest.

The next thing I knew, Kelly jumped up from her seat and stood in front of me, the spell hitting her directly in the back.