Listen To Your Heart

Chapter Three-Payback

THE COLLIE.

Gillian had tripped down the stairs in panic from trying to get away from Argus Filch. She rolled down the steps and cracked her head on the last one. She was lying on her back with one arm draped over her stomach and the other arm stretched out resting against the step. I saw a small pool of blood collecting around the base of her head, sticking to her blond hair.

Immediately, I trotted down the stairs and went over to her. I stood over her and frantically nudged her with my snout.

No response. Then I frantically began licking her face.

At this point, Argus had found us and came down the stairs followed by his calico cat.

"I've caught one," he sneered.

I stood over Gillian protectively and flattened my ears out sideways even though one ear still flopped over. I retracted my upper lips and exposed my white canines and incisors at Argus. I began growling and I swung my tail back and forth in menace.

Argus stepped closer. I lowered my body against Gillian's and continued to snarl.

"She needs medical attention," Argus continued seeing the small pool of blood that had pooled. "I'll go and fetch Madam Elkin."

He turned and headed back up the stairs. I stopped growling. Just then, Sirius appeared and hurried down the stairs.

"Oh man," he said looking pale. "What happened?"

I changed back into my human form and kneeled down beside Gillian.

"She tripped you moron," I said glaring at Sirius. "She was so worried about Argus catching us that when she hurried down the steps, she tripped and fell. Where were you anyway?"

Guilt came across Sirius' face.

"I had kept on going," he said quietly.

"So you didn't even care," I said stiffly.

Sirius was about to respond when Professor Dumbledore and Madam Elkin arrived.

"Take her to the hospital wing," Professor Dumbledore said kindly.

Madam Elkin magicked Gillian onto an invisible stretcher and we headed to the hospital wing.

James, Lily, Remus and Peter were contacted and they soon filled into the hospital wing.

"What happened?"

"Is she going to be alright?"

"Does she have any head trauma?"

"Is it serious?"

They bombarded Madam Elkin with questions.

She held up her hand.

"Firstly, Mr. Hairston explained to me that Miss Ross tripped down the stairs and she hit her head on the last step. Second, she is going to be just fine…both of them are. No, Mr. Lupin, no head trauma and no, Mr. Pettigrew, it's nothing serious."

"Both of them?" Professor Dumbledore asked curiously.

"Miss Ross is pregnant," Madam Elkin said to him. "Didn't this lot tell you?"

Professor Dumbledore looked at us.

"No they didn't,"

His tone wasn't angry or anything. It was filled with concern.

Lily and Peter began filling in Professor Dumbledore while James sat down beside Gillian on the cot and he put a hand on her shin.

"What was she doing out of bed at that hour?" Argus asked shrewdly. He seemed to be enjoying the fact that Gillian had gotten caught.

"Mr. Malone had asked her to meet him in front of the classroom," Sirius said turning to Argus angrily. "But he was out as well. Why isn't he in trouble?"

"I didn't see Mr. Malone," Argus continued. "Just her."

"Yeah I bet that's what Eric told you to say," Sirius snarled his hazel eyes flashing.

Professor Dumbledore held up his hand.

"Enough," he said in a firm tone. We all fell silent. "I really had wished you lot told me about Gillian. However, she will be allowed to take it easy during the classes. I want to be kept up on her condition. Understand?"

We nodded.

"She will not be punished," Professor Dumbledore went on. Argus looked outraged.

"But Professor! She was out of bounds!" Argus said shocked.

Professor Dumbledore turned to him.

"And apparently so was Mr. Malone. I shall speak with him as well."

Professor Dumbledore gently put a hand on Gillian's arm before leaving the hospital wing. Argus glared at us before he followed.

Madam Elkin headed into her office.

"You just left us," I snapped to Sirius. "I can't believe you did that."

"I didn't mean it!" Sirius argued back. "I would've never just left her if I had known!"

"What exactly happened?" Remus asked turning to Sirius and I.

"Sirius kept running like a coward and didn't even bother to check to make sure Gillian was alright," I said not taking my eyes off of Sirius.

"I said I didn't mean it," Sirius snapped stepping up to me and getting right in my face. "Back off."

"Although, I should've expected that from you," I continued stiffly. "You just keep running. You really should've chosen a chicken to change into."

At that, Sirius balled up his fist and punched me in the jaw.

REMUS.

Sirius punched Sam and the two of them ended up getting into a fight.

"GUYS!" I snapped.

I was also the Gryffindor prefect. James and I quickly pulled them off of each other and kept them apart.

"Stop it," Lily said.

Sirius angrily shrugged off James' arms and stormed from the hospital wing. Sam had a cut and bleeding lip.

He wiped his lip with the cuff of his robe and took a seat in a chair beside Gillian's cot.

"What on earth was that about?" I demanded.

"Sirius kept on running and didn't bother to even check to see if Gillian was behind him," Sam explained irritably.

"Did you ever think that maybe he didn't know?" I asked raising an eyebrow. "Because I'm sure had he known, he certainly would've stopped and helped her. He cares about her a lot just as any of us."

Sam just lowered his eyes to the floor.

Immediately, I picked up something from Sam. I sensed he was in love with Gillian. Why on earth didn't I see it before?

I felt a twinge of jealousy as well. Truthfully, I was in love with her also. But Sam was a handsome guy. He was tall, thin and his features were sharp. He was extremely patient, gentle, caring, kind, funny and shy at times. Me? According to Lily, I was handsome too, but I really didn't think so. I mean I know I've got a great personality and everything, but secretly compared to Sam, I felt like I didn't have a shot with Gillian.

She was a beautiful girl…to me anyway.

"Look," James said turning to us. "It doesn't matter. Sam? I'm sure had Sirius known he would've helped her. Let's just move on okay?"

We nodded in agreement.

Gillian woke upand immediately looked for Sam once James explained what had happened and where she was.

Sam got up and sat down on the edge of her cot. She threw her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close. She rested her chin on top of his left shoulder and pressed her face into his neck.

Sam held her as well.

Feeling disgusted and angry with myself, I turned and left. James picked up on it and followed me out of the hospital wing.

"What's wrong Moony?" James asked pulling me aside in the corridor.

I turned to him.

"How would you feel if the person you loved didn't love you back?" I demanded.

He looked at me startled.

"You love Gillian…don't you?" he asked softly.

"Yeah," I muttered. "But she doesn't love me back."

"Says who?" James asked. "Do you even know how she feels?"

"I don't have to. I can see the way she looks at Sam," I said. "I'm not blind."

James sighed and went to say something, but I cut him off.

"Look," I said shortly. "Just forget it alright? Don't tell Gil how I feel. I'll see you guys in the common room."

With that, I turned and headed off down the corridor.

GILLIAN.

I held onto Sam tightly. After a few minutes, I released him.

"I was so worried about you," Sam said looking embarrassed. "I thought you were seriously injured."

"Naw," I said grinning. "I'm fine. That knock on the head will probably improve me."

Sam chuckled.

I turned to Lily and Peter.

"Where'd James go?" I asked.

"Out with Remus in the hall," Peter said.

I nodded.

I've never told anyone, not even Lily, that I loved Sam. I fell in love with him last year. He's just so kind, patient, gentle and caring person. He's also got a great personality.

Just then, James entered the hospital wing without Remus.

"Where's Moony?" Peter asked curiously.

"Um," James said slowly. "He went back to the common room."

I nodded but sensed that there was something more but I didn't push it.

I was released a few hours later. We now had Charms class to head to.

We found Sirius and Remus already in the Charms classroom.

"Hey," I said brightly to them. "How'd you two get here so fast?"

"I flew," Sirius joked. "How are you feeling?"

His expression turned serious in the blink of an eye.

"I'm okay," I said softly. "Madam Elkin healed the wound. It was just an opened gash."

Sirius nodded.

"Believe me had I known you'd fallen, I would've went to help,"

I knew he had directed that toward Sam as well as myself.

"Relax," I said. "I know. Let's just move on okay?"

Sirius nodded and seemed a great deal more cheerful.

Today, I was sitting next to Remus.

"Hey," I said cheerfully. "Why the long face?"

He just muttered something and pulled out his book, quill and parchment and ink bottle and prepared to take notes.

"Remus?" I prodded. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Remus said smiling. "I'm alright. Just tired."

"Ah," I said nodding wisely

Professor Aris began the lesson.

After Charms we had a 45 minute break then History of Magic and Ancient Runes.

Sirius was fuming at Eric.

"He ratted us out I know it," Sirius hissed pacing the Gryffindor common room. "How else would Argus have known where Gillian, Sam and I were?"

"But there's one problem," Lily pointed out. "We don't have any proof."

"Shit," Sirius said as he continued to pace. "How can we get him to confess?"

"I could play along as though nothing happened?" I offered.

Sirius looked as though Christmas had come early.

"Bloody brilliant!" he said grinning broadly.

He came over and threw his arms around me and kissed me. He released me and I got all flustered.

"That is really stupid," Lily commented. "Plus not to mention dangerous!"

"I agree," Remus said quietly. "That isn't such a great idea."

"Same here," Sam chimed in.

"Suppose she gets caught?" Peter asked nervously.

Sirius and I looked at James and waited.

So were Lily and Remus. It was up to James now.

James bit his bottom lip.

"I agree," he said quietly. "It is dangerous…"

Sirius and I threw up our hands.

"However," James continued. "We need to find out if he did rat. This way we can tell Dumbledore and he'll be the one in trouble for a change."

Lily and Remus' jaws dropped.

"Excellent!" Sirius said his eyes twinkling evilly. "What's the plan?"

Seeing Lily, Remus and Sam's scowls, James spoke.

"Relax you three," he said. "I'll put a Kortric Charm on her. The minute she feels as though she can't handle it, the charm will be put in effect and she'll suddenly have to use the bathroom. She'll come back here."

They still didn't look convinced.

So we got to talking about the plan. I'd find Eric and act as though nothing had happened and see when we could meet again.

When we do meet, I'll find out if he told Argus about us being out of bounds.

That night we headed off to bed.

The next morning in History Of Magic, I saw Eric and waved to him merrily. I told him how I'd like to meet him again tomorrow evening. He seemed shocked, but agreed nonetheless.

When we were leaving History of Magic, Remus pulled me aside.

"This is a really bad idea," he said quietly as the others began heading down the corridor to Potions.

"Remus," I said softly. "Relax. James'll put the Kortric Charm on me. Nothing will happen okay? You know that charm detects panic and it kicks in. I'll be perfectly fine."

I put a hand on his arm before following the others down to the dungeons.

SAM.

I left the classroom and found Remus standing in the hallway, staring after Gillian.

"Everything okay?" I asked him.

"I have a really bad feeling about this," Remus said quietly. "Do me a favor?"

"Sure mate," I said keeping my eyes on him. "What is it?"

"Follow her," Remus said firmly and began heading off down the corridor as well.

I had to admit, I was having a bad feeling as well.

But I knew why he had asked me to follow her. A gray wolf prowling around the castle would certainly bring more attention than a black and white Border Collie.

Sighing, I too followed Remus to the dungeons.

We entered the classroom and I took a seat next to Gillian.

She flashed me a big grin before taking out her books and supplies. Professor Anicks began teaching about the Drumit Potion. I grinned back.

If anything had happened to her, I didn't know what I would do. I only hoped James' plan worked.