Listen To Your Heart
Chapter Two-Night Meeting 1
I awoke in complete darkness. I sat bolt upright in bed feeling my white tee shirt sticking to my back and chest. My hair was damp as well. My breathing was rapid and my heart pounded in my chest.
I raised a hand to my chest and stared into the warm darkness.
Just then, the light was switched on. James was sitting upright in bed staring across at me with concern.
"You alright, mate? I heard you yell 'No'," he asked concerned.
I opened my mouth to speak when my stomach lurched and I ended up vomiting over the side of the bed.
"Whoa boy," James said.
He grabbed his pillow and smacked Sirius with it in Sirius' own bed beside James'.
"Wake up," James said urgently. "Sam is sick."
James threw off his covers and fled from the boys' dorm. Sirius moaned and sat up. His hair stood on end.
"Huh?" Sirius asked groggily. "Sam's sick?"
He blinked a few times clearing his vision.
"Yikes," he said as he got up and came over to me.
I was leaning over the side of the bed, feeling my stomach heaving again.
GILLIAN.
I heard a lot of commotion in the common room. I woke up and tossed off the covers. I was in a pink tank top and gray sweat pants. I had pulled my dark auburn hair up into a sloppy ponytail and some of the strands had come loose.
Lily had also woken up, hearing James' voice outside. We looked at each other with concern and headed into the common room.
There was Sam, with his head over a pail and retching.
Professor McGonagall was standing there talking to James. Sirius was sitting on Sam's left.
"What on earth happened?" I cried as I went over to Sam and sat down on his right side.
"Go back to bed, Miss Ross. Mr. Hairston is just ill," Professor McGonagall said gently.
"I'll say," I said putting an arm around Sam's shoulders. Sam actually looked like the Muggle actor, Freddie Prinze Jr. In Fact, he could pass as his twin.
"You need you rest, Miss Ross," Professor McGonagall continued in the gentle tone. "Someone in your condition should get all the rest she needs."
It felt as if ice flowed through me.
"Someone in my condition?" I asked slowly raising my head. My voice came out several pitches higher than normal.
"Mr. Potter explained everything to me as he was worried that you would be woken up by all the commotion out here," she said kindly.
Sam was clutching the edge of the pail.
I slowly took my arm off of Sam as Lily took my seat at this point. I went over to James. He had a guilty expression on his face.
"Gil, I had to," he said. "You need help. You can't handle this by yourself."
I slapped him.
"Miss Ross!" Professor McGonagall said stunned.
"I should've never trusted you," I snarled. "Don't expect to be on my Christmas list this year."
With that, I turned and stormed back to the girls' dorm.
SAM.
My stomach finally stopped heaving.
"Now, Mr. Hairston, what happened?" Professor McGonagall asked coming toward me. James had a hurt and guilty expression on his face as he looked after Gillian.
"I had this horrible dream about Gillian getting into an accident," I said lowering the pail and wiping the corner of my mouth with the sleeve of my robe.
"Oh," she said softly. "It was just a dream. I want all of you back to sleep in ten minutes. Here's a Longei Potion for your stomach."
She conjured up a smoking goblet filled with light pink bubbly fluid. I took a sip and it tasted like watermelon.
She left the common room.
I sat, leaning forward with my elbows resting on my thighs and my hands clasped. I pressed my forehead against my hands.
"Sam, it was just a dream," Lily said kindly putting an arm around me.
I told her exactly what happened in it.
"That would make me upset too," Lily said gently. "But nothings going to happen alright? And if you told her parents in real life, I think she'd understand."
"No she wouldn't," I said miserably. "She really is scared to tell them. I would never betray her trust."
I glared at James when I said this. He really didn't have to tell McGonagall. I mean I knew he meant well. He cares about Gillian…hell, we all do. But unless Gillian was in some kind of REAL danger, I didn't see any reason to tell the teachers just yet.
James just shook his head and left. Lily gave me a hug before she too, followed Gillian into the girls' dorm. Sirius plopped down beside me.
"I know that look," he said grinning. "You're in love with Gillian…aren't you?"
I looked at him.
"Yeah,"
Sirius snorted.
"So is Remus," Sirius said. "This is really going to be some love triangle."
"Don't you dare say anything," I scolded angrily. "I will personally fix you the next time we change."
Sirius laughed and held up his hands defensively.
"Relax mate," he said in a serious tone. "I promise."
I nodded.
"Everything will be fine…don't worry," Sirius said as he gave my shoulder a playful slap before he got up and headed into the boys' dorm.
I curled up on the couch and before I knew it, I was out cold.
The next morning, Gillian was completely ignoring James. We filled Remus in on what I dreamed.
Gillian politely asked me to pass her a goblet of pumpkin juice. As our fingers touched, I got a bit nervous and ended up dumping it on her lap.
"I'm so sorry," I apologized immediately as I grabbed napkins.
"It's fine," Gillian said as she looked down at her lap. She chuckled. "It looks like I wet myself anyway. That's an improvement."
We all laughed.
"Today's Charms," Peter said. "I wonder what we're going to learn?"
"Probably how to Conjure Sam a brain," Sirius teased winking at me.
Gillian moaned.
"Don't start picking on Sam now," she said sighing.
"I wasn't going to," Sirius said giving her an innocent look.
We laughed again.
GILLIAN.
Sam still seemed very upset over something even though he was joining in on the laughter.
I could see it.
When everyone began talking to one another, I turned to Sam.
"What's really bothering you?" I asked softly helping myself to some toast.
Sam kept his eyes on his food.
"I had a horrible dream last night," he began slowly and quietly. So quietly that I had to lean close to him just to hear him. We were sitting right next to each other. Across from us were Lily and Remus, on Remus' left were James, Peter and Sirius.
"I dreamed that you and I got into a fight and you got into a taxi and took off and a car slammed into your taxi," he continued.
"Oh," I said gently. "It was only a dream, Sam."
Sam looked at me.
"Trust me," I beamed.
He seemed a great deal more relaxed after that.
I looked up and saw Remus' eyes on me. I gave him a grin and he grinned back also.
After breakfast we headed off to class. The first class of the day was Transfiguration. I knew that Sam, James, Sirius and Peter would do well in this class since they changed every month to help Remus when he changes into a wolf.
"Today, we'll be studying how to transfigure a kitten into a cat," Professor McGonagall said.
Excited talk began surfacing.
"When do we learn about human transfiguration?" a 7th year Slytherin named Katie Helm asked.
Professor McGonagall looked at Katie.
"Human transfiguration takes years of practice. This is something that you would have to learn from your fifth year. It takes about 3 years to perfect it," Professor McGonagall said.
"It took two for me," I heard Sam mutter under his breath. He turned around and gave James and Sirius a private wink.
They grinned back at him.
The lesson began and I was busy deep in thought about the baby and if it was going to be a boy or girl.
I jumped a mile when I heard my name being called beside me.
"Pssst! Gillian!"
I turned and looked to my left. It was a Slytherin named Eric Malone. He was really handsome with wavy, thick dark blond hair and brown eyes. He was in the Slytherin uniform and robe. His green and silver tie was perfectly straight and his entire uniform and robe was perfect. He was handing me a piece of folded up parchment.
"What?" I asked coldly.
The Gryffindors and Slytherins really didn't hang out or speak to each other much. This was a bit odd.
"Just read it," he replied, his hand still extended.
I slowly reached for it and opened it up.
It read:
Gillian,
I was wondering if you could meet me at 9 o'clock outside the Transfiguration classroom tonight? I have to ask you something.
Eric
I raised my eyes from the piece of parchment and looked at Eric.
"Why?" I asked shrewdly raising an eyebrow.
"Trust me…it's nothing bad," Eric whispered. "Yes or no?"
I hesitated then finally answered.
"Yes,"
Eric nodded and turned his attention back to Professor McGonagall.
Sam turned to me.
"Whatcha got there?" he asked, pointing to Eric's note with the tip of his quill.
"Eric wants me to meet him at nine for a question he has to ask me," I said taking down the notes that McGonagall wrote on the board.
"A Slytherin wants to meet you?" Sam's tone suddenly changed. "Knowing the Slytherins it can't be good and Eric's a bit of a jerk."
I looked at him.
"Just because he gave you and Remus trouble, doesn't mean he's like that with everyone," I snapped.
Sam still had an unconvincing expression on his face.
We did the lesson and finally, the bell rang ending class. Eric caught my eye and gave me a wink before leaving the classroom.
"I don't think you should go, Gil," Sam said slowly as I gathered my things up and put them in my bag.
"Go where?" Remus asked coming up behind me.
"Eric Malone asked Gillian to meet him at nine for some reason," Sam relayed to Remus.
"He's a jerkoff," James said. "Remember what he did to Moony in our first year? He told him that Annabelle Raymond had a crush on him and wanted to meet him at the Quidditch pitch. When Moony got there and asked Annabelle why she wanted to meet him there and if she really had a crush on him. Annabelle laughed in his face and called him a 'freak' and said that the only way she'd ever have a crush on him was if hell froze over."
Remus cringed.
"That wasn't exactly pleasant," Remus said quietly. "It was completely humiliating. Thanks for bringing that up again."
I did remember that. Poor Remus had been completely humiliated and was nervous to even approach girls after that. Luckily, we had gotten him over that.
"Then why did he want me to meet him then?" I asked stubbornly.
"I don't know, Gil," Lily said, "But I suggest you take someone along in case."
"Like who?" I demanded putting my hands on my hips. "He'd know I possibly suspect something if James, Remus, Sam or Peter went along with me."
"Not if he didn't recognize us," James said grinning mischievously.
We looked at him and immediately we cottoned on.
So around 8:30, I had changed out of my robe and uniform and pulled on a pair of pink jogging pants, a white tank top and I pulled my hair into a ponytail. Around my neck was a small diamond pendant and in my ears were the matching stud earrings. Beside me, were a black and white Border Collie and a black dog. Sam and Sirius had changed and decided to accompany me.
The Border Collie was actually a bit larger than the black dog. The collie had one ear that flopped over and a black patch over one eye. He had two blue eyes as well.
The black dog looked like a black German Shepard. However, the black dog was a bit more powerful than the collie.
I reached the classroom and waiting outside.
The Border collie sat on his haunches next to my leg and wrapped his tail around his hind leg. He had long fur that looked almost like hair. The black dog sat on his haunches against my right leg in the same position as if two guards guarding a precious jewel.
I patiently waited outside the room.
About twenty minutes passed. Finally, I saw Eric coming up the corridor. I heard Sirius beginning to growl.
"Hush," I scolded him lightly tapping him on the snout.
Sam just sat and watched Eric with his blue eyes and the ear flopped over almost covering one eye.
"Sorry I'm late. I had to…" his voice trailed off when he spied the collie and black dog. "What are they doing here?"
"Oh," I said brightly. "It's okay. Dumbledore knows about them."
Eric still eyed the dogs warily.
"So what did you want to meet me here for?" I continued dismissively.
"Oh," Eric said. "I wanted to know if you could help me with the Grugno Charm? I'm having a bit of trouble with it."
"Oh," I said feeling my heart sink a bit. I was hoping that maybe he liked me but I guess not. I mean I wouldn't have gone out with him but it would've been nice to know that I'm liked. "Sure. I can help you."
"Awesome," Eric said grinning. "I'll be right back I forgot my wand in the dorm. Don't go anywhere."
Eric put a hand on my shoulder and then quickly jogged back down the corridor.
I heard the black dog growling after him.
I looked down at Sirius.
"Will you stop," I snapped. "He just wants me to help him. No harm done."
I felt the collie nudge my hand with his cold, wet black nose. I turned to Sam and scratched his floppy ear. "And you…you are so quiet. What's the matter?"
The dog just continued to enjoy me scratching his floppy ear.
Suddenly, I heard an angry voice floating up the corridor.
"A student out of bounds at this hour Miss Dainty? Wait till I tell the Headmaster!"
It was Argus Filch, the caretaker and his cat, Miss Dainty. I suddenly froze.
Immediately, the black dog changed back into Sirius.
"You see? I told you he was no good!" Sirius hissed in my ear. "Let's go!"
Sam remained in collie form as we took off running down the corridor. The collie was galloping right at my right side with Sirius in human form on my left. I suddenly tripped when I was running down the stairs and I felt my body rolling down the steps. My head hit the last step and blackness swallowed me up.