Listen To Your Heart
Chapter 8-The War Begins…
The morning came. Madam Elkin came in to check on Remus.
"He's still not out of the woods just yet," she said gravely. "He's still dehydrated and suffering from exposure."
"Please make it," Lily said her voice cracking as she gently reached over and touched Remus on the arm. "We're here for you, Moony."
Sirius was more so angry at Voldemort and wanted to go after him for doing this.
"Right," I said turning to him. "And what do you suppose we do? Slap him on the wrist? Sirius, he's ten times more powerful than any of us…we'd be killed for sure!"
"I don't care," Sirius spat. "LOOK WHAT HE EFFING DID TO MOONY!"
"Sirius please," Lily said rounding on him. "Keep your voice down!"
"Guys," Madam Elkin scolded. "Stop the shouting. Remus needs peace and quiet to relax."
Sirius swore again and stormed from the hospital wing. James got up and gave my shoulder a squeeze before following Sirius out.
Sam was sitting beside me.
"He'll be fine," Sam said quietly. "You'll see."
I just slumped against Sam and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt my eyes filling with tears at the thought of possibly losing Remus.
"What if we lose him, Sam?" I asked my voice shaking violently. "What then?"
I heard Sam exhale loudly and he slipped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. I pressed my face into his chest and began sobbing.
"I'm going to make sure that James and Sirius are alright," Lily said suddenly as she gave Remus gentle pat on his leg before leaving the hospital wing. Sam and I were alone at this point with Remus.
"We're not going to lose him alright?" Sam said quietly. "He's going to be just fine."
Madam Elkin continued to give him some fluids, but each time Remus drank less and less. Madam Elkin was starting to get concerned about him at this point.
"He's not drinking," she commented gravely as we all stood in the hospital wing later that afternoon after classes. She had called us from class and now Professor Dumbledore was standing with us as well. "So, my other alternative is to give him an IV with the fluid."
She got a small butterfly needle, and set it up. Soon, a clear bag filled with a water substance hung from a pole beside the cot and dripped into a long plastic tube that ran from the bag to the needle in Remus' hand.
"This will get fluid into his system a lot faster," she explained. "If he doesn't improve soon, I'm afraid that he isn't going to."
Lily was sobbing into James' shoulder. Peter was looking just as awful. Sam kept his arm around my shoulders.
"I think the best thing we can do for Remus is keep hope up," Professor Dumbledore said quietly.
I refused to sleep in the dorm room, so I stayed with Remus. I had dozed off for a good half an hour, not realizing that Dumbledore had come back into the hospital wing before I had woken up.
"Gillian?"
I slowly raised my head. Remus was looking at me. He was awake!
"Remus!" I cried happily as I burst into happy tears. I leaned over him. My hair hung down over his face. "You had us scared there!"
He smiled and looked up at me.
"I have to tell you something," he said.
"What is it?" I asked happily.
"I love you," he said.
His voice was rough and cracked, hoarse almost.
"I love you too," I said softly.
Remus slowly sat up. Our faces were inches apart. My heart pounded loudly in my chest. Remus extended his right arm and placed his hand on the side of my face. I smiled at him. He smiled back. Then, he moved his face closer.
I closed my eyes and felt his lips gently touching mine. He kissed me softly and gently. I returned the kiss the same way.
Once the kiss ended, Remus slumped against me
"Remus? If you're tired pal lye back," I said.
He didn't respond.
"Remy?" I asked as I gently grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back against the cot. His eyes were closed.
"Remy?" I demanded again.
Still no response and sheer panic began filling my chest.
"Remus!" I said shrilly.
He wasn't breathing and I felt for a pulse. Nothing.
"REMUS!" I screamed. "REMUS!"
I grabbed a handful of Remus' robes and began lightly shaking him.
"REMUS!"
Just then, James entered the hospital wing.
"Gillian?" James asked concerned.
"REMUS ISN'T RESPONDING!" I screamed turning to James.
James sprang into action and flew over. He checked Remus over.
"He's gone," James said quietly collapsing into a nearby chair.
"NO!" I shrieked.
Pretty soon, Madam Elkin arrived.
"Oh no," she said quietly and sadly.
Her voice shook. "Please go and get Mr. Black, Miss Evans, Mr. Hairston, and Mr. Pettigrew and Professor Dumbledore."
James took off.
I was still shrieking and I was still holding a handful of Remus' robes.
Shortly Sirius, Lily, Sam, Peter and Professor Dumbledore filled the hospital wing.
"I'm afraid Mr. Lupin is gone," Madam Elkin said quietly.
Lily burst into tears as James threw his arms around her. He pressed his face into Lily's hair and he began sobbing as well. Peter was absolutely pale. Sirius pinched the bridge of his nose, but I knew he was crying as well. Professor Dumbledore came over to me.
"Come on, Miss Ross," he said kindly and quietly. "Please come with me."
"NO!" I screamed refusing to let go of Remus.
Professor Dumbledore had to literally pry my fingers off of Remus' robes. He was strong for an elderly wizard. He wrapped his arms around me and began dragging me from the hospital wing.
"LET ME GO!" I screamed struggling to break free of Dumbledore's grasp.
A group of 4th year Slytherins was passing us in the corridor and had concerned expressions on their faces as they saw us.
Professor Dumbledore dragged me all the way, thrashing and everything, to his office.
He sat me down in a chair in front of his desk.
"Sit," he said.
"LET ME GO!" I screamed at Dumbledore.
"Please sit for a moment," Dumbledore said in a firm tone.
I wasn't going to sit still until Dumbledore hit me with an Arciton Charm. It forced the person to remain still.
I sat glaring at him.
My hair was wild and standing on end.
Dumbledore didn't say a word as he went over to a small box on top of a bookshelf behind him. He picked up the box and then came over to me. He handed it to me.
"Mr. Lupin wanted you to have this," Dumbledore said quietly.
"LET ME GO!" I insisted struggling against the charm.
"Please listen to me," Dumbledore said in a tone I've never heard him use before. "Open the box."
He took the charm off of me and I was able to move again. I opened the box.
Inside it was Remus' Prefects badge, his wand and a small little locket necklace.
"I came in the hospital wing just before you woke up," Professor Dumbledore said quietly. "He had woken up and gave me this stuff. He somehow sensed something."
At this, I burst into hysterical tears and slipped off the seat. I was now kneeling down, hugging myself, rocking back and forth. The tears just streamed down my cheeks.
Professor Dumbledore sank to his knees in front of me and put his hands on my shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Ross," he said quietly.
I just sobbed hysterically and slumped forward, pressing my face into Dumbledore's emerald green robes. He seemed a bit shy but slowly his arms encircled me, embracing me. I cried into his robes.
After what seemed like hours, I felt as though I could not cry anymore. Professor Dumbledore released me.
"I'm excusing everyone from classes from now on," he said quietly. "Go on and be with your friends."
I got up as though a robot and headed back to the hospital wing. Remus wasn't there. But the minute Sirius, Sam, Lily, James and Peter saw me Sirius rushed forward and threw his arms around me. Lily was still crying hysterically into James' robes. Peter was subdued, but not sobbing. James had his face pressed into Lily's robe as well. Sam was crying softly, trying not to let anyone see him, but it was no use.
I rested my chin on top of Sirius' shoulders and glared at Peter. Why wasn't he as upset and devastated as the rest of us were?
Angry tears formed in my eyes now and I wrenched free of Sirius' grasp.
He seemed stunned for the moment. I marched right over to Peter.
"Why aren't you crying, Peter?" I demanded in a high pitched tone.
At this, Sam, Lily and James looked up.
Peter avoided my glare.
"Why aren't you upset?" I repeated angrily as the tears began forming all over again.
Sirius and Sam came up behind me.
"Yeah that is odd," James said his voice shaky. "Why Peter?"
"Answer us," Sam said his voice shaky but firm.
Suddenly, Peter reached out and grabbed my arm, twisting it back.
I cried out in pain.
"Because I did what I was supposed to do for my master," Peter replied swiftly. "Regardless of who was pushed out of the way. And now, I have finally finished my second task."
"What are you talking about?" Sirius demanded.
"Lord Voldemort!" Peter squeaked out with a renewed passion that we've never seen in him before. It was really alarming and shocking. "That's where I've been going every night, Potter! I know you were watching me!"
I cried out in pain again as Peter pulled me against him and held his wand to my throat.
"I told Eric about the plan to tape record his confession! Voldemort wanted me to scope out Hogwarts to see where the weakest link was," he said and pressed his face into my hair. "And now I have it."
"Why did you have to kill Remus?" Lily sobbed.
"I didn't kill him," Peter said. "My master decided it would be fun to torture him every day with the Crucio charm and then I brought him back to you."
"YOU SLIMY LITTLE SHIT!" Sirius bellowed angrily taking a step forward but Peter pressed the tip of his wand against my throat even more, causing me to cry out in pain.
"One more step and I swear I'll tell Voldemort to kill her," Peter said.
My eyes landed on Sam. He had a look of murder on his face as well as fear for me.
"The war is starting and there's nothing you can do about it," Peter continued. "All I have to do is send three red sparks out the window and into the air and the whole thing begins."
"Don't do it, Peter," James said. "We cared about you."
Peter hesitated before removing his wand from my throat and aiming it at the window. He had one arm under my throat at this point.
"Peter…please," James pleaded.
"I have to obey my master," Peter squeaked out and shut his eyes. Three red sparks shot out from the tip of his wand and sailed out the opened window of the hospital wing.
There was complete silence then, long howls rose up from the Forbidden Forest…wolf howls.
Everyone stood listening in fear.
Peter released me and shoved me into Sam. Sam caught me and quickly pushed me behind him.
Sirius, James and Sam stood protectively in front of Lily and I.
We heard a loud 'bang' from somewhere downstairs and then startled screams.
"It begins," Peter said before tearing out of the hospital wing.
"What the fuck did that little piece of shit do?" Sirius demanded angrily cautiously peering out into the hallway.
Just then, Sirius yanked his head back in time as the hospital wing doors were busted down. A large, black wolf with silver along its back had jumped onto the doors. Sirius was knocked to the ground with the door planks on top of him. He was trapped underneath it.
Lily screamed.
The wolf arched his head around, snapping his jaws. Thick clear saliva dripped from the bottom jaw.
It was a werewolf.
James pulled out his wand and aimed it at the wolf.
"STUPEFY!" James yelled.
A jet of blue shot out from the tip of the wand and hit the wolf in the chest.
It fell to the side stunned.
Sam grabbed my hand, as James grabbed Lily's. Sirius led us out into the corridor.
People wearing the half skeleton masks appeared with their wands out. Two little first year Ravenclaw girls came running toward us, screaming in fear.
The Death Eaters saw and heard them. They moved their wands onto them but Sirius and Sam beat them to it.
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Sam and Sirius yelled in unison.
The double jets of yellow shot toward the Death Eaters. They tried to get out of the way, but the spell hit them right in the chests. James and Sam scooped up the first years in their arms.
"Let's go!" Sirius yelled as the First year clung to Sirius for dear life. Her arms were wrapped around his neck. Sam was carrying the second first year the same way.
"Where can we go?" I cried terrified.
"We've got to get to the teachers," Sirius said as we tore down the stairs next. The girl he was carrying pressed her face into his neck.
We bumped into Professor Dumbledore and Professor Anicks.
"Good Lord!" Professor Anicks cried reaching out to take the first year girl from Sirius, but she wouldn't let go of him. Neither would the girl Sam was holding onto.
"Leave them," Professor Dumbledore said as Professor Anicks tried prying the girls off, but they screamed in protest and clung tighter. "Right now we've got to get this lot out of here as well as the rest of the students."
"But where can we go?" Professor Anicks asked fearfully.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"The tunnel below that leads to the Shrieking Shack," he said at last. "It's big enough and long enough to house all 1500 students. I seriously doubt they'd think to look down there. GO."
Professor Anicks took off.
Shortly, Professor Dawes, Professor Harris, Professor McGonagall and Professor Anicks came running toward us with a small group of Slytherins, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and Gryffindors.
It looked like at least half of the 1500 were there.
Sirius led everyone down to the tunnel while the teachers went and fought.. James demanded to stay and fight against Dumbledore's protests. Dumbledore reluctantly let him stay. Sam, Lily, Sirius and I stared at James as the entrance to the tunnel closed. James winked.