Return To Innocence
Chapter 3-The Accident
"Wonderful yes…but cold, blind and ruthless. My older sister Anne, works for the Ministry. My parents are totally obsessed with the Ministry too. They work in the Magical Law Enforcement remember? All they and Anne talk about is work, witches and wizards who break the law and new punishments that the Ministry should pass. My younger brother, Scott, gets most of the attention now because he wants to be an Auror and is in Ravenclaws Quidditch team as Captain. Me? I'm the only one who landed in Gryffindor. My parents and siblings all landed in Ravenclaw. Plus, I still don't have any ambition to work for the Ministry. I want to get married, to have a family and find Mr. Right…naturally reverse that. But all my family cares about is succeeding. I've been pushed aside many-a-time. That's why I always stay here for the Holidays because I can't stand going home and getting swept under the rug."
Remus exhaled loudly and his breath came out in puffs of steam. "Christmas is in 3 days. Don't they send you gifts?"
I turned to face him. "Oh yeah. Usually socks, a new toothbrush or a pair of underwear. Nothing special or fancy. Now my siblings got new brooms last year. AeroBolt 9000s."
Remus looked abashed.
"That's not all. Anne got a new Muggle car and Scott got a flat screen TV last year. Me? I got a pair of old hand-me-down shirts that were Anne's."
Remus' abashed expression deepened and disbelief filled it as well.
"How could people be like that?" Remus mused "And especially to their own flesh and blood? It's cruel and horrible."
I nodded. "I know but that's the way they are."
"My adoptive parents were good," Remus said warmly. "They always listened to me. At first they were a bit apprehensive about my 'hairy situation' but once they understood it, they tried to help me but naturally there's no cure…but the fact is they tried to help."
"That's wonderful," I said earnestly and sincerely.
Another gust of wind blew my hair back and there was another awkward silence.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked staring into his green eyes.
"Absolutely,"
"D-Did you feel this way about me all this time or is recent?"
Remus was silent before he replied. "I've always felt like this. I've always loved you. I was a bit jealous when Eric had asked you out but I couldn't tell you because I had a fear that you would laugh at someone like me asking you out."
I felt my heart flutter then melt. "Oh boy. Mooney, I would've never laughed at you! Why on earth would you think that?"
Remus just shrugged. "You're beautiful. Girls like you don't normally go out with bookworms like me,"
"Girls like me?" I demanded curiously as I folded my arms over my breasts.
Remus immediately flushed with color. "Beautiful, smart and classy,"
I lowered my arms. "That's so sweet,"
I stepped closer to him and slipped my arms around his midsection. I drew him closer and rested my cheek against his shoulder.
"I really had a wonderful time," I said shutting my eyes and just enjoyed the embrace. Remus slowly encircled his arms around me and hugged me tightly. His chin rested on top of my head.
"Me too," he whispered.
We just held each other for a bit before Remus stepped back and took my face in his hands, his palms cupping my jaw. I stared up into his eyes. Remus nervously moved his face closer to mine. I shut my eyes. I suddenly felt his forehead bump into mine. I opened my eyes. Remus was chuckling.
"Sorry," he apologized.
"It's okay. Let's try again," I said gently with a grin.
Remus nodded and moved his face closer again and I shut my eyes. Soon, I felt Remus' lips gently pressing against mine. He kissed me softly and gently. I returned the kisses the same way. After a few minutes, we pulled apart. I could taste Remus' lips on mine.
"Let's go back to the common room," he suggested pink with shyness and pleasure. We headed back.
That night was a full moon. James, Sirius, Peter, Remus and I headed out to the Whomping Willow. I usually went along as a visual aide to make sure that no one saw us.
As we walked across the grounds, Remus had his arm around my shoulders. He seemed a lot more relaxed around me now. We reached the Whomping Willow and Peter changed into the rat to touch the small knot at the base of the tree. I glanced up at the sky. The clouds parted revealing the full moon.
Remus cried out and dropped to his hands and knees. Peter and James were already inside the entrance to the Shrieking Shack. The Whomping Willow was over the secret entrance. I froze. Sirius quickly changed into the black dog. He looked like a black Husky. Sirius stood in front of me, snarling and warily watching Remus who begun to change:
Remus' back lengthened and broadened along with his chest; his uniform and robe ripped in half and fell away in halves; grey and white hair grew all over his body; his feet lengthened and dark nails grew where his toenails were; his hands held the same deadly nails; his ears grew and tapered into points with tufts of hair on the tips; his nose and mouth pulled forward into a snout. White canines and incisors slid down under purple lips. His bottom jaw held the same teeth. His legs bent into haunches and his eyes were now a jaundice/amber color. A tail grew just above his backside and it slightly curled upward. Remus was gone and all that remained now was the wolf.
The wolf arched his head up, parting his jaws and let out a howl. When he finished, the wolf stood easily up on two legs. It walked on the balls of its feet and stood about 7 feet tall towering over me. I stood, completely frozen in my spot. The moonlight reflected off its pelt and back. I finally went to take a step back when the wolfs head snapped around and it lifted the upper lip of its snout and lowered the bottom lip exposing the four canines and the incisors as it snarled. Then it backhanded me with such force, I felt myself flying backward and my back slammed into the Whomping Willow's trunk. I saw Sirius charge the wolf as I fell forward and blackness swallowed me up.
JAMES.
Peter and I were already in the Shrieking shack. We hadn't changed yet. Suddenly a black dog came in backwards, his jaws clamped on clothing as if he was dragging something. Realization dawned on me as I saw it was Sirius dragging Maddie's body into the shack.
"Holy shit!" I cried rushing over. "What the hell happened?"
Sirius pulled Maddie further and whined. I dropped to my hands and knees beside her. Sirius shot back out of the shack, only to return snapping at Remus' heels in wolf form. Remus' ear tips nearly touched the ceiling. From the full moonlight that broke through the old wood boards that covered the broken windows, the light fell across his face catching his jaundice eyes and illuminated them like gold coins. The rest of his body was shrouded in darkness. The wolf was quiet.
Sirius changed back into his human form and dropped to his hands and knees beside me.
"Remus backhanded her. She hit the Whomping Willow's trunk pretty hard," he said gravely as he swallowed.
Maddie's body jerked slightly as her head turned toward us and she coughed but a thin ribbon of blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.
"She's bleeding internally," I said urgently. "We need to get her back to the castle!"
We could hear her gurgling as another ribbon flowed.
"How? I can't drag her!" Sirius cried.
I sighed. "We're going to have to trust Mooney to carry her. We have no choice,"
Sirius swore as he turned to the wolf and changed back into the dog. The dog barked at the wolf urgently.
The wolf stepped over and bent down, lifting Maddie up. One arm was under her back and her hair dangled over Remus' gray/white furry arm. The other arm was behind Maddie's knee caps and her legs bent over the arm. We quickly rushed out of the shack with Sirius keeping the wolf in line.
We hit the castle and Remus gently laid Maddie down. Peter took off to get help. Maddie continued to gurgle and cough up blood.
"Stay with us," I whispered to her.
A short while later, Professor's Dumbledore, McGonagall and Dawes came running.
"What happened?" McGonagall cried as she and Professor Dawes stopped dead in their tracks after catching sight of Remus. Immediately, they pulled out their wands and magicked Maddie onto an invisible stretcher. Remus just stood there, oddly not moving.
Sirius remained with the wolf as we hurried up to the hospital wing.
MADDIE.
I groaned and began emerging from the blackness.
"She's coming around," a soft female said from somewhere in the grayness.
"Thank God," a male voice said relieved.
"Will she be alright, Madam Pomfrey?" another male voice squeaked.
"It was a close shave, but yes. She needs plenty of bed rest," a second female voice said.
I blinked and totally came out of the grayness. My vision cleared and I spied Lily, James and Peter standing beside my cot. I was in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was there as well as Professor's Dumbledore, McGonagall and Dawes. I went to prop myself up onto my elbows but searing pain shot through my body causing me to cry out and fall back against the cot.
"What happened? I feel like a dragon sat on me," I groaned.
"Remus backhanded you," James said gravely and meaningfully. "He wasn't feeling himself."
He slightly emphasized 'himself' and I knew what he meant.
"Oh," I said.
"You had some internal bleeding which we were able to stop. You have a broken rib, a bruised spin and a fractured femur. I have been giving you a Munit Potion every hour. Its all healing though," Madam Pomfrey said softly.
"Thank God," Peter exhaled loudly.
"Where are Remus and Sirius now?" I asked.
"Sirius is making sure Remus stays out of trouble," Lily said gravely.
I knew what she meant.
Around 9 AM, everyone left. I managed to doze off slightly and when I woke up, I found Remus sitting beside my cot in a chair. He looked absolutely guilty and nearly sick to his stomach.
Before he could even reply, I put a hand up.
"It's okay. It was an accident. I'm not pressing charges," I said with a smile.
Remus was silent then he replied quietly.
"I feel so horrible about backhanding you. I never meant to hurt you. That would be the last thing I EVER wanted to do."
"Remus relax," I said softly. "I know you didn't mean it okay?"
Remus still looked absolutely horrible.
Remus scooted closer to my cot and reached over to take my hand in his and our fingers intertwined. Just then, my barn owl, Sonny flew into the opened window. She flew over to me and landed easily on the edge of the cot. A letter was tied to her ankle. I gently removed it and gave her an affectionate stroke before she took off again. I opened the letter and began reading.
"It's from my mother," I said as my voice began shaking and my eyes filled with tears.
"Mads, what's wrong?" Remus demanded.
"M-my Dad…he's been killed by Death Eaters," I said in shock.
I let the letter fall to my lap before I burst into tears. Remus had gotten up and was now sitting beside me on the cot. He opened his arms and I pulled myself into a sitting position not caring about the searing pain. I slumped into his arms and wrapped my arms around his midsection. I pressed my face into his chest and sobbed uncontrollably. I felt his arms encircle me, drawing me tighter against his body.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered quietly.
I just sobbed into his chest. After a few moments, Remus pulled back from the embrace.
"If you need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here," he said gently.
I gave him a weak smile. He took my face in his hands and he gently and lightly kissed me again.
About a week later, I was released from the hospital wing. James, Sirius, Lily and Peter found out about my father and totally were sympathetic.
"I'm so sorry, Maddie," Sirius said solemnly. "We're here for you okay?"
I gave him a weak smile. I'd cried many a nights after that night in the hospital wing that I wasn't sure if I had any more tears left. I knew I couldn't cry and more.
"Did your mother say exactly what happened?" Lily asked tentatively.
James threw her a reproving look.
"What?" she asked defensively. "I'm sure Maddie would like to know exactly what happened."
"Her father was killed…that should be enough," James argued and the two of them got into a fight.
"Guys stop it," Remus shouted firmly and sternly.
"It's okay," I said softly and quietly. "Apparently my Father was with some Auror's at the house of Chris the 'Crucio' Davis. Chris somehow managed to avoid capture while the Auror's were invading his house. He snuck around to the back and there was my Dad standing with the rest of the Auror's. And, well you can guess what happened."
"Geeze. He's really horrible," Sirius said seriously. "He's known all over to 'Crucio' people to death…literally."
"SIRIUS," Remus barked. "We know! Thanks for giving unwanted details!"
Sirius immediately realized what he said and looked abashed and upset.
"Oh sorry, Maddie," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to…"
His voice trailed off.
"It's okay. I know you didn't mean anything by it," I said softly. "So basically Chris escaped and is still now on the run from the Ministry. He could be hiding anywhere. He's known to head to Scotland and Finland."
"That far?" Lily asked curiously. "Finland I mean."
"He's from Finland actually," Remus said not taking his eyes off me in case I began getting upset again. "So that would be the perfect hiding place…his own home turf."
"Sheesh. I really don't understand people's logics…why become fugitives?" Sirius said shaking his head sadly.
"I don't know," Lily said. "But don't worry. He won't go unpunished. Trust me."
I smiled at them. They all gave me hugs before heading to their separate dorms leaving Remus and I alone in the common room.
Remus came over to me.
"How are you?" he asked quietly.
"That's a stupid question," I snapped, but immediately regretted it. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."
"It's fine," he said gently. I was staring at his chest, not raising my eyes to meet his. He stood over me slightly.
"I just can't believe that my Dad is gone," I said hugging myself. "Sure he was cold, uncaring, selfish, ruthless and…well, you know…but I still didn't want anything to happen to him you know? Does that sound ironic or what?"
Remus shook his head.
"No. You're blessed with a kind, caring heart. You cared about him…deep down I'm sure,"
I finally raised my eyes to meet his. His green eyes caught the orange glow reflecting from the fire that crackled in the fireplace.
I nodded and exhaled loudly.
"Let's hit the sack huh?" I said.
I saw him blush furiously.
"Separate beds," I said grinning at him.
He grinned back.
I entered the girls' dorm and climbed into bed. Soon, I dozed off.
