Call On Me

Chapter Twenty-Danielle's Confession

"What?" Remus asked shocked.

"She's pregnant," Madam Elkin said beaming. "Congratulations."

It took a minute for it to register and then Remus and I were absolutely ecstatic. He threw his arms around me and hugged me tightly.

"I'll tell Dumbledore," Madam Elkin continued. "I'm sure he'll have you working less. Maybe even cancel Charms for the next 9 months."

She grinned and headed over to Danielle.

"And Miss Morgan is doing much better," Madam Elkin said brightly. "I think she'll be alright to head to class tomorrow."

Once she left, Remus and I talked excitedly. Lily came in to visit and saw us grinning like goons.

"What are you two so happy about?" Lily asked warily as she sat down beside Remus on the cot.

"We're going to be parents!" I burst out excitedly.

Lily looked at us for a moment.

"Are you serious?" she asked slowly.

I nodded and beamed.

"Congrats," Lily said.

But she didn't seem all that excited or happy.

"What's wrong?" Remus asked concerned.

"I'm happy you guys," Lily said offering a smile. "Don't get me wrong…I just wish James was here as well. I would've loved to have started a family."

I gave her a sympathetic hug.

"I know," I said kindly.

I released her and Remus put his arm around her shoulders.

"But I am really happy!" she said brightening a bit. "What are you going to name the baby?"

"We don't know!" I said excitedly. "If it's a girl, I always liked either Gillian or Haylie."

"Both pretty names," Lily said. "What if it's a boy?"

Remus and I looked at each other.

"Maybe Sam or James," Remus said looking at Lily.

I knew why he had said that and I saw the gratitude and emotion on Lily's face.

Tears began forming in her emerald green eyes. Remus wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug. Lily hugged him back tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcomed," Remus whispered back squeezing her tightly.

When Remus released her, I told her about Kelly and Danielle.
Lily got that conspiratorial look in her eye.

"What are you up to?" I asked shrewdly.

She didn't answer and went over to Madam Elkin's desk where she kept a chart on each student that came in. She put their blood types, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment on each chart. Danielle was sound asleep. Lily scanned the desk until she found one and then picked it up. I saw Morgan, Danielle written on the edge.

Lily scanned the chart and I saw all the color draining from her face.

Remus and I looked at each other, then back at Lily.

Lily put the chart down and came over to us. We were just about to ask her what she saw when the doors opened and Professor Dumbledore entered, followed by Professor McGonagall and Madam Elkin.

"Madam Elkin has just informed me of the wonderful news," Professor Dumbledore said gently. "Naturally, I will cancel Charms class for the next semester. You are to rest completely."

"Thank you," I said softly. "I appreciate it."

"Or you could return home," Professor Dumbledore suggested.

"No its okay," I said shaking my head. "I'll stay."

"Good," he beamed and placed a hand on my shoulder. "You are free to head back to the common room."

Danielle was now awake and looking much better.

"Miss Morgan as well," he said kindly.

As they left, Danielle pulled the curtain around her cot and from the silhouette we could see her getting dressed.

Once she was dressed, she came over to me.

"How are you feeling, Professor Andrews?" she asked brightly and concerned.

"Fine," I said watching her.

I didn't want to give of any signals of me being onto her, so I just played cool and calm. "You?"

"Much better," she grinned. "Madam Elkin is a miracle worker. I'll see you in class?"

"No," Remus said. "Charms is canceled for the semester. Maybe even a bit into the next one."

"Why?" Danielle asked curiously.

"Professor Andrews is going to have a baby," Lily said. "She's pregnant."

"Oh my God wow!" Danielle gushed excitedly. "I'm so happy for you! Well, I'd best get going to Potions class. You know how Severus hates students being late."

With that, she bounced out of the hospital wing.

"Notice how she didn't even ask who the father was?" I asked curiously to Remus and Lily.

"Yeah," Remus said rubbing the back of his neck. "Odd indeed."

"Well, maybe not that odd," Lily said suddenly.

We turned to look at her.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Lily hesitated.

"Danielle isn't what she seems," Lily said slowly.

"Elaborate please," Remus said.

Lily took a deep breath.

"I saw the blood work Madam Elkin did on her. There's something odd with her blood. Normally, there's the red blood cells and white right?"

We nodded wondering what she was about to say.

"Well, Danielle has red, white, and green cells."

We looked at Lily stunned.

"What on earth does that mean?" Remus asked.

Lily took another breath.

"It means I don't think she's human,"

"What are you saying? Danielle is some sort of alien?" I asked stunned.

Lily shook her head.

"No," she said. "But I'm thinking she's a Tricroux."

"Are you serious?" I asked.

Lily nodded.

"Based on what you said about seeing Kelly in the shower, and then having a vision and seeing Danielle in it, I'm thinking Danielle can change her appearance…so that only leave the Tricroux's."

"Mmkay," I said. "But how does that explain her sickness? Or why she was sick?"

Lily looked at me gravely.

"Because I saw more of the blood work on the chart…she had the parasite,"

"But she never acted violently like Sirius did," Remus said frowning. "How is that possible?"

"Maybe because she isn't human," Lily continued. "Their immune systems are more complex than ours. So maybe getting the parasite in her body caused the body to attack it."

"Meaning that her immune system is ten times stronger than regular humans?"

Lily nodded.

"They might have the ability to fight this parasite. See, with us, we can't fight it off so naturally the parasite attaches itself to the spine and that's why we all act like that…but with the Tricroux's, they can fight foreign bodies easier than we can."

"Shit," Remus said looking awed. "How on earth did you come up with that whole theory?"

Lily blushed.

"Been doing some reading in the library," she said pleased. "Plus, James and I read about Tricroux's last year. We did it for extra credit."

"Okay," I said narrowing my eyes. "But that doesn't explain why Danielle decided to arbitrarily come into the shower and stab me."

"I think I know," Lily went on. "It was a short outburst before her body fully attacked the parasite."

"So she didn't know what she was doing?" I asked slowly.

"Maybe not," Lily said. "I think the best thing to do is confront her and ask her flat out."

We left the hospital wing. I was feeling a bit nauseous so I leaned on Remus as we headed back to the common room. Lily had gone to use the ladies room.

Danielle, Mario, William, Nick and Jessica were sitting on the couch.

"Hey," Mario said brightly looking up at us, but then his expression changed to concerned when he saw me. "Is everything alright?"

"Can we speak to Danielle alone?" Remus asked.

"Sure Professor Lupin," Jessica said as she, Nick and William got up and headed to their separate dorms.

"Is everything okay?" Mario asked slowly getting up from the couch.

"Yes," I said softly. "We just need to ask Danielle a few questions. Don't worry she's not in trouble."

Mario looked relieved and he headed off to the boys' dorm.

Remus sat down on the couch next to Danielle while Lily and I took a seat across from her on the loveseat.

"What's going on?" Danielle asked, looking from Remus, to me, to Lily.

"Are you a Tricroux?" I asked flatly.

Danielle's face drained of all color.

"What?" she asked slowly.

"Are you a Tricroux?" Remus repeated.

Danielle didn't reply, but slowly stood up from the couch and her head was low; her hair covering her face.

"I thought I'd succeeded," she said her voice changing and becoming rougher. "I guess I'm just going to have to try again."

For a moment, we weren't sure what we were hearing, but then, Danielle raised her head and reached into the pocket of her robe, pulling out a long knife, longer than the last one. She raised it above her head.

Remus immediately sprang into action. He stood in front of me protectively.

"Why? Why did you stab Caitlin?" he demanded keeping his eyes locked on Danielle.

"Because I knew she was screwing you," Danielle grinned. "I had to try and put a stop to it naturally. So, yes, I am a Tricroux and tried to put the blame on that little wimp Kelly. I almost had you."

Remus continued to stand in front of me.

"So, I've got to finish what I started," Danielle continued stepping forward.

"You're going to have to get through me first," Remus growled, sounding a lot like the wolf now.

Danielle hesitated, and then she spoke.

"That can be arranged," she grinned and lunged forward.

Remus pushed me aside. I landed on my side in front of the fireplace. Remus easily dodged Danielle. Danielle skidded a bit before she regained traction and lunged for Remus again.

Just then, the portrait opened and Lily stepped in.

Lily's face reflected her disbelief as Danielle, not knowing Lily had come in, lunged for Remus a third time, narrowly missing his shoulder.

"She's trying to kill us!" I screamed at Lily.

Danielle whirled around and her chest was pressed right against the tip of Lily's wand. Lily had taken her wand out immediately and aimed it at Danielle like a sword.

"Get away from my friends, bitch," Lily snarled her emerald green eyes flashing dangerously.

Remus quickly headed over to me and helped me to my feet.

Danielle smirked.

"I'm sure you've got a thing for Remus as well," she snickered. "Am I right? Just one big happy family."

"Leave my friends alone," Lily continued ignoring Danielle's comment. "Or you will be so sorry."

Danielle laughed.

"Honestly," she said mockingly. "I don't think you have the B A double sticks for that."

"Try me," Lily said narrowing her eyes.

Danielle shrugged and went to lunge for me again, but Lily moved her wand onto Danielle.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Lily said.

The jet of blue light shot out from the tip of Lily's wand and hit Danielle right in the back.

Danielle stood, completely frozen before she dropped to her knees and fell face down on the floor.

Remus and I were huddled against the couch. Lily dropped to her knees and hugged herself.

Remus helped me to my feet before we rushed over to her.

"Are you okay?" Remus demanded anxiously.

"I petrified a little girl," she said in disbelief.

"She wasn't human, Lily," Remus said. "Plus, she was trying to kill Caitlin. You did it out of defense."

Lily vomited right there on the hearth rug.

Remus ran out of the common room. I wrapped my arm around Lily's shoulders and comforted her. Remus returned shortly with Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, and Professor McGonagall.

Lily was hugging herself and shaking.

"What on earth happened?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Danielle was a Tricroux," Remus explained kneeling down beside Lily on her other side. "She was the one who stabbed Caitlin in the shower and she tried to kill her again just now."

"Lily saved me," I said.

"She petrified a second year?" Professor Snape asked in disbelief.

"She was protecting us," Remus said looking at Professor Snape.

Professor Dumbledore came over to us and crouched down in front of Lily.

"Miss Evans? Is it true you used the Petrificus Totalus charm out of protection for Miss Andrews and Mr. Lupin?"

Lily gave a weak nod.

"Very well," Professor Dumbledore said gently. He conjured a smoking goblet and handed it to Lily. "This is the Ryzer potion. It will help your stomach."

"She should be expelled!" Professor Snape said.

"She used it out of defense for her friends," Professor McGonagall said firmly. "There's no reason why she should be expelled. She's been punished enough."

After a while, Lily seemed much better and calmer. Danielle's frozen form was sent to the hospital wing. A few days later, we learned that Danielle was sent to the Ministry of Magic and more tests were run as to why she was in such an aggressive behavior. It turned out that the parasite was still in her system…Lily's theory was slightly wrong. What alarmed us was the fact that it took several days for the parasite to 'work' and for her to express aggressive behavior. This time, the parasite was more adaptable to our bodies and thus not showing signs of the aggression until several days later. We were worried now because we had no idea who has the parasite now and who doesn't.