Listen To Your Heart

Chapter 30-The New War Begins…

Maddie didn't reply to Draco's comment.

I bristled but said nothing more. I wasn't about to say anything in front of Professor Snape. I had to admit, it was really creepy being in the Slytherin common room alone with the two people whom I absolutely loathed.

"Sir, what exactly is going to happen to Maddie now?" I asked gently.

Professor Snape sat down beside Maddie on her right side. I was sitting on her left.

Professor Snape's dark eyes glittered maliciously at me.

"It's really none of your business, Potter," he sneered.

"Sir," Maddie said her voice shaking. "You can tell Harry. It's okay."

She still seemed in shock but the full blunt of what had just happened didn't hit her right away…just yet.

Snape's eyes softened a bit when he looked at her before returning onto mine.

"Her mother asked me to keep an eye on her when she's not in your presence," Snape sneered. "I must say being around you might very well rub off on her and we'd have two of your kind around."

Again, I bristled.

"What's that supposed to mean, sir?" I demanded angrily feeling my temper rising.

"It means two people that disregard the rules and put other people's safety at stake!" Snape spat viciously. "Just like your father did."

I narrowed my eyes.

"What are you talking about?"

Snape smirked.

"That's right," he said oily. "You don't know that your father's love for pranks nearly cost someone I loved their life."

I felt ice sliding through my body. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the rest, but I had to.

"See," Snape said as he continued to smirk. "Your father decided to play a prank on me back when we went to school. Roselyn heard about it and tried to put a stop to it. The Whomping Willow smacked her across the abdomen. Luckily, she didn't lose her life. I never forgave your father for that."

I sat, completely stunned.

Roselyn? Oh my God…Mrs. Lupin! So Snape does have a crush on her! Even when they went to school together! I thought.

Malfoy was just sitting, listening to the conversation and keeping his eyes on Maddie.

I saw him send a smirk toward me and shake his head before returning his eyes on Maddie.

"You're lying," I said in a low voice.

"How dare you call me a liar, Potter," Snape snarled angrily. "10 points from Gryffindor."

Malfoy snickered behind Snape's back.

My temper was rising.

Just then, before I could retort, Maddie burst into hysterical tears.

"I've lost both of my parents," she sobbed hysterically burying her face into her hands. "I am an orphan!"

Malfoy looked at her with sympathy and put a hand on her shoulders as she cried. Snape looked unsure of what to do when Maddie slumped against him, pressing her face into his arm.

He awkwardly pat her on the head.

"No, Miss Lupin is not an orphan," I heard Professor Dumbledore's voice say from the Slytherin entranceway.

We looked up. There stood Mr. Lupin looking completely sick to his stomach and utterly confused.

"Mr. Lupin?" Professor Snape asked incredulously. "What on earth…?"

"What's happening?" Mr. Lupin asked groggily. "Where am I?"

REMUS.

I stood, completely confused as to where I was. I recognized my daughter and Severus and Professor Dumbledore. I began understanding that I was at Hogwarts now but I had no recollection of getting there.

"Maddie?" I asked stumbling toward her, but to my surprise, she backed away and snuggled closer to Severus.

"I think you should sit, Mr. Lupin," Professor Dumbledore said in a grave tone.

I flopped onto the couch still in a bit of a daze.

"I have something very hard to tell you," Professor Dumbledore.

I saw him swallow.

"You murdered your wife," he said. "There were witnesses."

I looked at him with a look of utmost shock and revulsion.

"T-That's impossible," I said shivering. "I woke up in St. Mungo's 2 minutes ago. When you found me in the castle. That's where I was coming from."

Dumbledore looked at me.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"I'm going to clear it with St. Mungo's," Professor Dumbledore said. "Severus, keep him in your sight till I get back."

Dumbledore vanished.

Severus took his wand out and aimed it at my chest.

"Don't you come any closer," he sneered narrowing his eyes at me.

"I would never harm Roselyn!" I shouted. "Where is she? Is this some kind of sick joke?"

"It's no joke," Severus said coldly. "Maddie saw you with her own eyes. You thrusted your wand into Roselyn's chest!"

My stomach flipped and I felt bile rising in the back of my throat.

Maddie pressed her face into Severus' robe.

"I-never did such a thing," my voice shook violently.

Severus just kept his eyes narrowed at me.

Dumbledore returned.

"He's telling the truth," Dumbledore said. "It wasn't him that killed Roselyn."

"But Headmaster," Severus said not lowering his wand. "We all saw him!"

"Someone that looked like him," Dumbledore said patiently. "A clone."

"Clone?" a boy said tilting his head. He looked exactly like James. "You mean someone copied him?"

"Shut it boy," Severus snapped at the boy.

"He's right," Dumbledore said. "Apparently, Remus had gone into cardiac arrest. He was dead for 10 minutes. That must've been when Roselyn had visited him. But when she left, the Healers were able to bring him around again. Roselyn had no idea what had happened. I think Lord Voldemort had a spy inside the hospital. They used the Copinus Charm and bingo…a clone of Remus to do what Voldemort wanted-he wanted to kill someone close to Remus."

"But why?" I asked.

"Because he's just evil and vile," Dumbledore answered gently. "He's planning on something I know that."

Severus finally lowered his wand.

"Maddie, that wasn't your Dad you saw hurt your Mum," Dumbledore said kindly turning to her. "It was basically an evil twin."

Maddie slowly unburied her face from Severus robes.

"Dad?" she asked tentatively.

I nodded.

She burst into tears and rushed forward into my arms. I threw my arms around her and held her tightly, bursting into hysterical tears as I pressed my face into her auburn hair. She reminded me so much of Roselyn. Everything was hitting me now, including the fact that I had lost my wife.

I sobbed into Maddie's robe.

"I'm sure they've got a lot of catching up to do," Dumbledore said gently as he ushered Severus and the boy out of the common room.

"I'm just going to…leave," another boy with blond hair said before disappearing down a corridor.

I continued to hold Maddie as I cried.

"Dad I miss Mum," she sobbed.

"So do I," I sobbed.

After a good 5 minutes, we finally managed to stop crying.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hands.

"You got put into Slytherin?" I asked managing a smile.

Maddie nodded.

"Mum told me everything," she said. "Everything."

I realized Roselyn must've told her about being adopted.

"Oh sweetie," I said quietly. "I'm sorry we lied, but we just didn't know how to tell you and we weren't sure if you would love us."

Maddie looked at me shocked.

"That's bonkers," she said. "I would've felt the same way. You're my parents!"

We hugged again.

After that, I told her that I wasn't thinking of my own safety the night the wolf attacked us. We still had no idea who that was or where it came from. It was definitely a werewolf though.

Dumbledore allowed me to stay in the Slytherin dungeon. It was weird being as I was in Gryffindor, but it was for Maddie so I didn't mind.

Over the next few weeks, I realized that the boy that was here was James and Lily's son Harry. Maddie introduced us.

It really couldn't' believe it…he looked exactly like James.

Maddie started her classes and I was allowed to stay in them. Harry, Ron Weasley and a Hermione Granger seemed to be plotting something. I could see the suspicious way they were eyeing Severus.

I had decided to ask Harry why they were eyeing Severus so suspiciously. Plus, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher stuttered a lot when he taught. Harry told me that they think Snape is after the Sorcerer's Stone.

I told them that it was ridiculous because Snape would never do something like that. I knew naturally they didn't believe me.

Maddie even thought the idea was far fetched.

They spent most of their time in the library reading books. Now ordinarily I wouldn't think much of it, but as I grew to know those three, I began to find it a bit unnerving really.

Toward the end of the year, I realized what they were up to.

They were going to follow Snape down the trap door where this huge three headed dog named Fluffy was guarding to catch Snape in the act.

I told Maddie to stay in the common room that night. Luckily for me, it was a full moon out so I changed into a wolf.

THE WOLF.

The harp was playing music as I entered the room. Fluffy was still sound asleep and I saw the trap door opened. I cautiously stepped over to the edge and peered down. Nothing but darkness.

I quickly jumped and landed in something soft as I felt a snake like object winding around my legs and paws. I snarled and began biting at it.

Finally it let go and I was released.

I trotted down the corridor.

There was a large chess board. I realized the lot of them must've already passed through here. Sure enough, I spied Hermione crouched down next to Ron, who was unconscious.

I trotted over to them.

Hermione looked up terrified.

"Go-go away," she stammered scooting closer to Ron. "Leave us alone!"

I only gently nudged Ron. He moaned and didn't stir. I picked up Harry's scent. I barked at Hermione before continuing on the way.

I entered a room where a mirror was erected. I spied Harry and the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I tilted my head and walked up to Harry.

I nudged his hand with my nose.

He looked down and jumped a mile from being startled but the teacher was talking to Harry-and not stuttering at all.

I tucked my hind quarters into a sitting position beside Harry and watched the teacher.

"Come here, boy," a husky, rough voice came from the teachers' direction.

When the teacher turned around, spying me, he laughed.

"That mutt isn't going to help you at all," he chortled.

I flattened my ears back and snarled in response.

"COME HERE," the rough, husky voice snapped.

Harry glanced down at me uncertainly before stepping toward the teacher.

He had Harry stand in front of the mirror.

"What do you see?"

"I-I see myself winning the Quidditch cup," Harry responded.

"He lies!" the same voice snarled.

I snarled and bared my canines and incisors at the teacher.

He began unwrapping this turban that he always wore around his head. Once it was fully off, I let out a whelp of surprise. It was Lord Voldemort's face.

As the shock wore off, rage began filling my chest. This man caused me to lose my wife, and friends whom I cared a lot about deeply.

I began snarling viciously.

I saw Harry feel his pocket. Then, reach into it pulling out an amethyst colored rock.

"GET IT!" Lord Voldemort rasped and the teacher lunged for Harry.

I quickly dodged under the teacher's legs, tripping him.

He landed on his hands and knees and I took off after Harry.

A wall of flames shot up around us as we tried to escape.

I growled menacingly at the teacher/Lord Voldemort.

The teacher managed to grab Harry and placed his hands on Harry's. A hissing noise erupted and the teacher howled in pain.

Harry then placed both hands on the teacher's face. He was howling in pain. I finally charged the teacher, knocking him off of Harry. He had pinned him on the steps and tried to choke him.

I stood over Harry protectively and snarled as the teachers' body began disintegrating into a powder.

Harry went to get up but then a cloud of smoke that resembled Lord Voldemort crashed through him, causing him to fall backward and hit the back of his head on the step. He was knocked unconscious.

I clamped my jaws on Harry's sweater and began pulling him back the way I came. A bit of the flames licked at my right paw, but I didn't care.

Shortly, Dumbledore, Severus and Professor McGonagall spied us and grabbed Harry, bringing him to the hospital wing.

MADDIE.

Dumbledore had wanted me to go to the hospital wing for some reason. When I arrived there, a gray wolf was lying with his hind legs tucked under him and his front legs stretched out, but one of the paws was red and badly burned.

Madam Pomfrey went to go near him, but he snarled and flattened his ears out sideways.

"Perhaps you can help," Dumbledore said gently.

Madam Pomfrey handed me the salve and a bandage.

"Dumbledore says he's your dog," she replied. "See what you can do with him."

She hurried over to where Ron and Hermione were standing over an unconscious Harry on the cot.

I approached the wolf. I knew it was Dad.

"Easy Dad," I said gently. "This stuff is to help."

The wolf just kept his amber/jaundice eyes on me as I gently began applying the salve and wrapped his paw with it. He licked me.

Ron and Hermione were ushered out and then Dad changed back into a human being.

"It's not over," he said gravely. "Lord Voldemort will be back."

Dumbledore looked at him.

"Then a new war will probably begin," he said turning to look at Harry. "And he's the whole key."

To Be Continued….

End music: Roxette-Listen To Your Heart.