Listen To Your Heart

Chapter Nine-Trapped!

Everyone sat against the walls of the tunnel facing each other so a thin small aisle was formed down the entire center.

Sam was sitting cross-legged with the first year girl sitting across his lap. Sirius was sitting across from him with the first year sitting next to him, clinging to his arm.

I was sitting next to Lily. We could hear snarls of the werewolves above us.

"I can't believe this is happening," Lily said in a shaky voice. "I can't believe it."

The teachers were trying to keep the first years quiet as they were trembling with fear. The 2nd years and above were also trying to keep them calm. Some of the Slytherins were comforting the Gryffindors, and the Hufflepuffs comforted the Ravenclaws.

I spied a fellow Gryffindor named Roselyn Rourke. Her dark auburn hair was standing on end and her eyes were wide with terror.

I waved her over to sit with us.

She shakily got up and sat down across from us next to Sirius.

"Are you alright?" I demanded noticing a large bleeding gash on her temple.

"Yeah," she said. "We were sleeping when the doors were broken down by one of the werewolves. We ran screaming from the dorm. One of the wolves had accidentally knocked me into the mantle piece. I hit my head on there."

Sirius tore a piece of his robe and wrapped it around Roselyn's head like a bandanna.

"Thanks," she said gratefully.

"What happened to the rest of the students?" Sirius asked. "This is only like half."

"I hope they're alright," Roselyn said her voice shaking. "My best friend was in Slytherin…she's not here."

Sirius wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

We could hear shouting and yelling above us.

The first years clung to their house heads and let out little squeals.

"Sssh," Lily called soothingly.

The two Ravenclaw first years would still not let Sam or Sirius go.

"I think they're attached to you," I said trying to lighten the mood, even though I myself was completely terrified.

The first year next to Sirius suddenly gasped and stared down toward the end of the tunnel. We followed her gaze. Everyone was completely silent as we stared at the object walking toward us.

It was a beautiful gray wolf, but there was a slight glow about it. It walked slowly toward Sirius, Sam, Lily and I up the narrow center aisle.

I felt Lily's hand closing around mine.

It was Remus.

The wolf stopped and tucked his hind quarters into a sitting position. He stared at us.

"Moony?" Sirius whispered in disbelief.

The wolf turned his eyes onto Sirius and then onto me. I stared back at him, almost in a trance.

SAM.

Gillian was staring back at the wolf.

"He wants me to go up there and fight," Gillian said slowly.

"NO WAY," Sam snapped. "You're not going up there at ALL."

The wolf turned to him.

"He says that he won't let anything happen to me," Gillian continued.

"I don't care," Sam said sharply. "We lost him we're not about to lose you either."

"Dumbledore is in trouble," Gillian continued as if reading a cue card. "I have to help Dumbledore."

"Gillian, no," Sirius said.

But Gillian didn't listen. She slowly rose to her feet as the wolf got up and led her toward the entrance.

"GILLIAN NO!" Lily hissed fearfully. "STAY!"

Gillian and the wolf slipped easily out of the tunnel and vanished.

GILLIAN.

The wolf was walking slowly beside me and the warm glow seemed to move onto me as well. Death Eaters were still flooding the castle. I saw a group of 5th year Hufflepuffs running for their lives, only to be hit with the Killing Curse in their backs.

The wolves were also running around, terrorizing some 2nd year Slytherins. The wolf seemed to know exactly where he was going.

I felt spells nearly miss my head by inches and whiz past me. Finally, the wolf led me to a long corridor, on the 2nd floor. Professor Dumbledore was standing in front of a group of students from Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and 2 from Hufflepuff. He had his wand aimed at a wolf that had them pinned. It was a large black wolf.

Professor Dumbledore's eyes moved over the wolf onto me.

"Miss Ross!" he said shocked. "What are you doing? Go back!"

The students all huddled closer together behind him. The wolf's head snapped around and saw me. It pulled back the top lip exposing white canines and incisors at me.

It turned and went to charge me but Remus charged as well. I pulled out my wand and aimed it at the black wolf. Remus passed right through the black wolf and came to a skidding halt in front of Dumbledore.

"Miss Ross!" Dumbledore cried in fear.

I narrowed my eyes at the wolf.

"Avada Kedavra!" I shouted.

The jet of green hit the wolf right in the chest.

It fell to the side dead.

"Come on!" I called to Dumbledore.

He quickly ushered the group of students behind him forward and we hurried back to the tunnel.

Just as the last student was in, I turned to Dumbledore.

"Where is Voldemort?" I demanded.

"Miss Ross, get in," Dumbledore said. "I will take care of Voldemort."

I shook my head.

"This is something I have to do," I said firmly. "For Remus."

"I don't think Mr. Hairston, Miss Evans or Mr. Black would like to see another one of their friends dead," Dumbledore continued. "And neither would Mr. Lupin."

He added the last part quietly.

"I'm sorry, sir," I said making up my mind. "I have to pay him back."

With that, I turned and left, dodging spells and curses.

SAM.

Another group of students had been ushered in.

Professor Dumbledore poked his head in.

"I'm going after Voldemort," he said. "Miss Ross already is searching him out."

"Oh no," Lily said bursting into tears.

"Everyone stay quiet," Dumbledore said.

The entranceway closed.

The first year that was on my lap decided to sit next to me. She still kept her arms around my waist tightly and pressed her face into my ribs.

I glanced down at her and wrapped an arm around her.

"I hope Gillian will be alright," Roselyn said nervously as tears formed in her blue eyes.

Sirius leaned close, putting his face close to hers.

"I'm sure she will be," he said earnestly.

I felt a lump rising in my throat. If anything should happen to Gillian, I don't know what I would do.

"She'll be fine," I said reassuringly to Lily, although I didn't believe my own words.

A few minutes later, there was a bang outside the entranceway. All the girls screamed in fear as it opened. James slipped in, badly cut and wounded, but otherwise alright.

The entrance closed behind him as he came over to Lily. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Thank God!" she sobbed, pressing her face into his shoulder.

He took a seat next to her cringing.

"Where's Gillian?" he demanded automatically.

"Out there with Dumbledore and the teachers fighting," Sirius said gravely.

"Aw man! Why'd you let her go?" James demanded angrily.

"No one made her go, mate!" I argued. "She just left with Moony!"

"Moony?" James asked confused.

Lily told him what had happened.

James frantically left again, much to Lily's protesting.

"She'll be fine," I said earnestly. "I know it."

After what seemed like hours and hours, things finally seemed to get quieter up there.

ROSELYN.

I scooted closer to Sirius, who kept his arm around my shoulders.

"Is it over?" I asked quietly and fearfully, keeping my eyes on the entranceway.

"I'm not sure," Sam said.

We heard 'thuds' and shouts still coming, but soon, everything got really quiet.

The entranceway opened again, and Professor Dumbledore stepped in.

"It's over," he said relieved. "Come on out."

Cheering loudly, everyone scurried out of the tunnel. I didn't see Gillian with him which caused me to panic even more.

Everyone still remained huddled together, afraid to separate.

I stayed close to Sirius as well.

There were several students lying on the floor. They had been killed.

I sobbed and turned my face into Sirius' shoulder. He slowly wrapped his arms around me comfortingly.

Shortly, 3 of the teachers arrived…Professor McGonagall, Professor Anicks and Professor Harris.

"Get them into the Hall," Dumbledore said quickly.

They hastened to obey but Dumbledore had us remain behind.

"Professor Dawes is dead," Dumbledore said sadly. "He was trying to save some 6th years but both he and the 6th years were hit with the Killing Curse."

Lily sobbed even more.

"Where is Gillian?" Sam demanded automatically.

"I'm afraid she's…" Dumbledore's voice trailed off.

"NO!" Sam howled.

"Why are you howling?" a voice asked behind us.

We whirled around.

Gillian stood with a confused look on her face.

James let out a whoop and Lily rushed forward to hug her.

"Ow easy," Gillian cringed. "My shoulder."

Sam burst into tears and hugged her as well.

"Injured," Dumbledore finished smiling. "You didn't let me finish."

"Sorry," Sam said sheepishly. "We automatically thought the worst."

"It's understandable," Dumbledore said kindly. "Voldemort isn't defeated. For some reason he retreated. I'm not sure why."

"Do you think he'll return?" Sam asked meekly.

Dumbledore sighed.

"That I'm not sure of, Mr. Hairston," he said quietly. "Unfortunately, we're going to just have to wait and see."

He winked at us.

Everyone entered the Great Hall. Sirius was staying close to Roselyn and I couldn't help but grin at him.

He looked back innocently at me as if to say "What?"

I nudged James and he caught on grinning as well.

Sam and Gillian stayed close to one another also.

At least 50 students were killed as well as Professor Dawes. He was considered a hero for protecting the other students even though it was futile.

Ravenclaw suffered the worst loss, and then it was Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Gryffindor behind it.

Tons of owls were sent out to everyone's parents explaining what happened. Roselyn's best friend from Slytherin didn't make it.

We were sitting at the Gryffindor table. She was sobbing and Sirius had his arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

"I'm so sorry," Gillian said quietly.

Her shoulder and arm was bandaged in a sling. She had several cuts on her cheeks as well.

"Thanks," Roselyn sobbed.

Sirius wrapped his arm around her tighter. She rested her head against his shoulder as she cried.

"I just can't believe the castle was infiltrated," James said shaking his head. "How on earth did they even get in, in the first place?"

"Sounds like they just 'charged'," Sam said gravely looking at Gillian before moving his eyes onto James.

"I'm betting that 'bang' we heard was the doors," I said sadly. "They just took charge…they were waiting in the Forbidden Forest for Peter's signal."

"I swear when I find him I'm gonna kill him," Sirius swore and pounded the table with his fist making the silverware rattle. "Traitor!"

"Why on earth would he even consider joining You-Know-Who?" Gillian asked. "What made him think he'd be better off with him?"

"Maybe because with him he'd be somebody," James finished. "If he hangs around us he sees that he might not get anywhere? Could that be it?"

"Possible," Sam said nodding.

"He's a git," Gillian said vehemently. "I hope he gets what's coming to him."

Tears began forming in her eyes.

"He caused Remus to…" her voice trailed off as she burst into tears.

Sam wrapped his arm around her and drew her close.

She pressed her face into his shoulder and continued crying.

"I miss Moony so much," I added quietly as well.

Tears began forming in my eyes as well.

The Hall was silent. Murmurs went around but no one was really making any civilized conversation.

Even more so was the Ravenclaw table very subdued. I guess no one really expected something like this to happen. Hogwarts was considered very safe…and to have something like this happen was shocking.

I knew now that extra precautions were going to take place now for next year…even though we weren't going to be here and that only added to my sadness. I really was going to miss Hogwarts. It became like my second home.

Suddenly, Gillian cried out.

"Gillian?" Sam asked alarmed.

"My head," she cried, digging the heels of her palms into her temples.

"What's wrong?" Sirius demanded looking scared and worried. Gillian stood up, still digging the heels of her palms into her forehead before she just collapsed sideways.