Return To Innocence

Chapter 1-The Break Up

"Hey, Maddie? Did you hear? Alex Carter just got an award for bravery from the Ministry of Magic! He faced 3 Death Eaters and got away by using the Stunning Spell!" gushed my best friend, Lily Evans as she jogged up to me as I was walking down the opened corridor that was outside. It connected one part of the castle to another. There was also a covered bridge that led from the 3rd floor of one part to the matching floor on another. Opened archways lined the corridor and bright sunlight streaked in through them creating bars of orange light on the leaf scattered floor.

"Big deal," I scoffed rolling my eyes. "I'm guessing he's going around gloating?"

Lily snorted. "And what else would you expect?"

I sighed. "At least Eric isn't like him,"

Eric Faster was my boyfriend. My name is Maddie Weston. I'm 17 years old with shoulder length wavy dark blond hair and chocolate brown eyes. Both Lily and I were dressed in the Gryffindor uniform and robe. The uniform consisted of: a grey pleated skirt, a grey V-necked sweater vest with the maroon/gold stitching along the neckline, a white winged shirt under the sweater vest, a maroon/gold striped tie that was tucked into the sweater and a black hooded robe with the Gryffindor crest embroided on it. It was December so the air took on a chill and the sky was pink, threatening snow shortly. Lily had her hood pulled up so only her shoulder length light auburn hair was visible over each shoulder. Lily was about to reply when a group of people, mostly girls, who followed a guy I recognized as Alex, approached us.

"Aw shit," Lily muttered. "We're going to have to endure hearing about the heroic details of Arrogant Boy."

I snickered.

Alex stood in front of Lily and I. He was the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He was tall, athletic and totally handsome with sharp, well chiseled features. He had short, thick blond hair and blue eyes. He was wearing the robe and uniform, except boys wore black slacks instead of skirts. The group of girls surrounding him were a mix of houses and years. Alex flashed us a big grin.

"Why hello girls," he purred. "How are you?"

"I'm just fine," Lily replied in a forced polite tone.

Alex didn't acknowledge her, but kept his eyes on me.

"Maddie, would you like to go to the Winter Dance with me? I know its in two weeks, but I'd like to make reservations early, incase a dozen other girls want to go with me,"

God, he's so full of himself! I thought irritably.

He put an arm around my shoulders. The other girls looked at me enviously. I disgustedly lifted his arm off my shoulders and stepped closer to Lily.

"Sorry, Alex I have a boyfriend. You should know that already. You keep asking me out and I keep turning you down. When are you going to get the gist?" I demanded.

"When you come to your senses and realize that Eric is a loser," he crooned in an oily tone.

"Eric isn't a loser," I said angrily. "He's certainly not arrogant, which is more than what I can say for you."

With that, I grabbed Lily's arm and we brushed past Alex, continuing down the corridor. Lily pulled down her hood and burst out laughing once we were out of range.

"He's like a love sick puppy! He doesn't give up!" she roared with laughter.

"He's also a pompous jerk," I added firmly.

Lily and I entered the main part of the castle and headed up to the library where we found our 3rd best friend, Remus Lupin studying at a table near an opened window. A cold gust of wind blew in, ruffling the pages of the opened textbook that lay flat open in front of him, and ruffled some strands of his light brown hair. His Prefects badge caught the light. His robe was opened exposing the grey sweater vest and tie. The badge was pinned above the Gryffindor crest on the robe. He was pouring over the book and didn't look up as we entered and went over to him. I took a seat next to him.

"Geeze Remus, it's like a barn in here!" Lily scolded as she closed the window and took a seat across from us.

Remus raised his blue eyes to meet hers. "I don't feel the cold remember?"

"Yeah, but the rest of us don't have that 'super' power," she said meaningfully.

Remus raised an eyebrow at her before he turned his eyes onto mine.

"What's wrong, Mads?" he asked in a soft tone.

He was the only one I allowed to call me 'Mads'. His light brown hair was the same color as wheat.

"Alex," I muttered. "Being arrogant and pompous as usual."

"I'm guessing you heard about the bravery award," Remus said as his lip twitched.

Lily and I rolled our eyes. "The whole school heard," I replied sarcastically.

"He asked Maddie out to the dance," Lily informed Remus.

"He doesn't give up, does he?" Remus chuckled.

"Ooh, he gets under my skin," I shivered.

"Hey guys listen, I've gotta meet James. I'll see you two later," Lily said giving me an odd wink a she got up and left the library. I looked after her with a puzzled expression on my face, but then turned to Remus.

"Whatcha reading?" I asked curiously and intrigued.

"A book on Lycanthropy," he replied keeping his eyes on the text book.

"Ah," I said wisely.

I was best friends with a group of great people. Lily, Remus, James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. Lily was kind, caring, and thoughtful. She stood up for what she believed in. James was the arrogant one, at times, but nothing like Alex. James had untidy black hair and blue eyes which were behind a pair of black, thin rimmed glasses. He was the Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Sirius was the handsome flirt that all the girls had a crush on. He had wavy, thick black hair and hazel eyes. His features were also sharp and well defined. Peter was chubby and short with dark brown hair and watery, beady brown eyes. Finally, Remus was tall and lean with the light brown hair the color of wheat and blue eyes. He was the Prefect again this year. Remus was more of a bookworm but he was a generous person that didn't hesitate to help anyone in need of assistance. Sirius and James were the practical jokers. They always played pranks on the younger years. Peter adored Sirius and worshipped him and James. Me? I was a free thinker and spoke my mind. Of course, I would never tell anyone the secret that we all shared. Remus was a werewolf and James, Sirius and Peter were un-registered Animagi's to keep Remus in line when he changed once a month.

Sirius was a black dog, James, a stag and Peter a rat.

I thought Remus was handsome, but for some reason, he turned down all the girls' that had asked him out.

Just then, Eric entered the library. He spied me but had a grave expression on his face. I felt a bit uneasy and I turned to Remus.

"There's Eric. I'll talk to him and be right back okay?" I said softly as I put a hand on his arm. I got up and went over to Eric.

REMUS.

Maddie got up and headed over to Eric. When she touched my arm, I felt a tingly sensation run through my body. I raised my eyes, abandoning the Lycanthropy book and just watched Eric and Maddie interact.

I felt a twinge of jealousy. Over the past two years, I'd fallen in love with Maddie. We've known her since our first year and we had become extremely close. The only one that knew my true feelings was Lily. Maddie was beautiful. Besides Eric being a Slytherin, there was something about him that I didn't like. Even James and Sirius had picked up on it and agreed. We tried to explain to Mads our feelings, but she blew up at us stating that we were judging him because he was a Slytherin and we hated them. That was part of the reason, but not the whole thing.

I watched as Eric said something and Maddie's expression turned serious. I was the only one she had allowed to call her Mads. I now listened intently as their voices got loud and clear but only when Mads voice hardened that I became fully alert.

"What are you getting at?" Maddie was saying folding her arms over her chest.

"I'm saying that I want to break up. I found someone else," Eric was saying.

I felt my fingers dig into the edge of the table and I felt a low growl forming in my throat.

What a jerk! How could he DO this to her? She doesn't deserve it! I thought angrily.

"What's her name?" Maddie demanded.

"Ellie Fisher,"

"One of my best friends!" Maddie exploded. "How could you Eric? I thought you cared about me!"

"I do!" Eric replied. "But Ellie's willing to put out more. I have needs but you weren't filling them."

At that, Maddie slapped him. "Just because I won't have sex with you, you're going to dump me? Screw you!"

Maddie's chocolate brown eyes were filled with tears. Eric went to take a step toward her as though to hit her, but in a flash I was out of my seat standing protectively next to her. I narrowed my eyes at Eric and folded my arms over my chest.

He backed away as soon as I appeared. I think he was shocked that I had reacted so fast. He gave Mads a smirk before turning around and heading out of the library. I lowered my arms and turned to Maddie, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"You okay?" I asked worriedly.

Maddie didn't answer. Instead she turned into me and slumped against me, pressing her face into my chest. She wrapped her arms around me and began sobbing. I couldn't bring myself to hug her back out of total shyness. I cleared my throat and felt the heat rising in my cheeks.

"I can't believe what a prick he was!" Maddie sobbed into my chest. "After all, I loved him and he goes and does this?"

"Were you in love with him?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Maddie sniffled and pulled back from the one way embrace. She still remained close to me though. Her cheeks were tear stained and her eyes were red and puffy as she looked at me.

"N-No," she replied finally and truthfully. "I don't know. Maybe I expected it."

She sighed.

I looked at her. "That is no excuse! You don't deserve that kind of treatment! Nor does Eric deserve someone like you."

Maddie managed a smile. "You're so sweet. Why can't I find a guy like you?" she said softly.

If you only knew how I really felt about you. I thought.

"Come on," Maddie said wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. "The group of misfits are probably wondering where we are."

Maddie and I left the library and headed to the Gryffindor common room. As soon as we entered, Lily must've sensed something was wrong because she pulled me aside. Maddie sat down on the couch and James, Sirius and Peter crowded around her as she explained to them what happened.

"What happened?" Lily whispered to me.

"Eric dumped her for Ellie stating that Mads didn't put out enough," I explained.

"What a bastard," Lily sighed.

I nodded. "Mads hugged me but I couldn't bring myself to hug her back,"

Lily grinned. "You were shy huh? Mooney, she turned to you for comfort. She WANTED to he held."

"She probably thinks I'm cold," I groaned.

"I doubt it," Lily said firmly. "She knows you. She would never think that."

"Then she said "Why can't I find a guy like you?" after I told her that Eric didn't deserve her,"

"See? She was telling you that you're a great guy…but we know that already,"

"Sure, but I'm no Alex Carter either," I rolled my eyes.

Lily looked at me stunned. "Remus you are a good looking guy. If I wasn't dating James I'd go out with you in a heart beat. But why did you turn down those girls that asked you out?"

I just muttered something incoherent. Lily smiled.

"You were hoping for Maddie weren't you?"

Again I muttered.

"Well, now's your chance. Eric broke up with her. Give her some time then ask her out," Lily said.

"No," I said firmly. "Just forget it okay?"

I turned and sat down on the couch next to Maddie, but she had gotten up and headed into the girls' dorm. Lily sat beside me. James, Sirius and Peter all headed to the boys' dorm.

"Maddie's beautiful," I said quietly. "She deserves a handsome guy like Alex and someone who'll treat her like a queen. What could I possibly offer her?"

Lily's eyes were briefly filled with annoyance. "Maddie hates Alex and anyone like that! Secondly, you'd have plenty to offer her! You're unselfish, caring, gentle, funny, kind-Need I go on?"

"I'm a werewolf," I said raising an eyebrow at her.

"She doesn't care, Mooney! Go talk to her-oh wait. I'll send her out," Lily said and before I could protest, she got up and headed into the girls' dorm. A few minutes later, Maddie stepped into the common room. She was dressed in a pair of blue navy flannel plaid pajama bottoms and a white tank top with spaghetti shoulder straps. Her blond hair was pulled into a sloppy tucked ponytail and several short strands hung down against her shoulders. She took a seat next to me and tucked one leg under her, facing me. The orange glow from the fire reflected off her, making her look even more beautiful. The tank top was tight and clung to her upper body nicely.

"Lily said you wanted to ask me something?" she asked.

I could see the ordeal with Eric really hurt her and bothered her. I didn't blame her. I wanted to kill him myself.

MADDIE.

I curiously watched Remus. I was a bit more cheerful after hearing that Sirius wanted to tear Eric a new A-Hole and that on some level, Alex was right about Eric being a loser.

I began thinking of Remus. I've known him for 6 years along with the others. Remus and I just seemed to 'click' and I could go to him for any problem (naturally girl related I went to Lily) I began feeling bad about blowing up at Remus and James when they tried to tell me their feelings about Eric. Remus was always there for me when I needed him.

"I'm such an ass," I said. "Remus, you tried to warn me about Eric and I blew up at you. I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Remus said rubbing the back of his neck. "We were just looking out for you."

"I appreciated it," I said earnestly. "But I still shouldn't've blown up at you and James like that."

Remus smiled. "It's okay, really,"

"It's not," I insisted. "You guys were just being protective. I should have known Eric was a loser beforehand."

Remus shook his head. "Forget it alright? It's over with."

"Deal," I said. "You going to the dance?"

The winter dance was next week, just before Christmas.

"Probably not," Remus replied. "A-I've got no one to go with and B-I've got a load of work to finish."

"Oh," I said disappointed. "Cause I was wondering if you'd like to go with me as friends but you're too busy."

REMUS.

Maddie looked disappointed, but I was too nervous to actually accept. Naturally, it was a lie about having a lot of work, but the shyness took over. I felt my heart melt but I couldn't bring myself to say 'yes'. I finally managed to spit out an apology.

"I-I'm sorry, Mads," I stammered.

Maddie raised her eyes. "It's okay. I hope someone would like to take me,"

"Oh someone definitely will," I said quickly and earnestly. "You're great. Why not?"

Mads smiled and put a hand over mine before she got up.

"Night," she said.

"Night,"

Shortly, I too, headed off to bed wishing the shyness would go away.