Return To Innocence

Chapter 4-Unnerving Evidence

It's been 3 weeks since I'd gotten thew news of my father. It was now January 20th. Christmas had been great. We'd all exchanged gifts and I got some really wonderful things from Lily, James, Sirius, Peter and Remus. I was feeling a bit better about everything.

That afternoon, Remus and I were able to spend some more time together. Lily and James announced that they were going steady and Sirius cracked that he and Peter were going to be dating shortly. We burst out laughing.

We walked onto the courtyard. We'd gotten the snow storm just before Christmas and blankets of snow still covered the ground.

Today was Saturday so we were dressed in Muggle clothing. I was dressed in jeans, a white sweater under the black leather jacket, black Jodpur boots, a multi-colored scarf around my neck and a black news boy cap on my head slightly tilted to the left. My hair hung over my shoulders in gentle waves and fluttered with the gusts of wind. Remus was dressed in jeans, a red long sleeved shirt and a tan leather jacket over that. We approached the stone benches in front of the fountain which the water was frozen.

Remus took out his wand and aimed the tip at the snow covering the top of the bench. Immediately, it melted away and we took a seat.

I leaned against him, wrapping my arm around his and pressing my cheek against his shoulder.

"This is really nice," I said softly. "It's so peaceful looking."

"Yeah it is," he agreed suddenly becoming nervous. I knew he only got nervous when he had to ask me a question either pertaining to our relationship or…sex.

"Maddie? C-Can I talk to you about something?" he stammered nervously.

"Of course! Remy, you can talk to me about anything alright? I'm not going to bite you. We're a couple now. We can talk about anything that needs to be addressed."

I raised my head and looked up into his green eyes.

He looked so 'hot' dressed that way. His wheat colored brown hair shone in the sunlight making it almost look golden.

"Well," he began slowly. "We've been going out for about two month's right?"

I nodded.

"Lily and James have taken their relationship to the next 'level," he said keeping his eyes on mine but I could see he was nervous. "I-I was wondering if you would ever consider doing the same…or do you want to wait?"

"Lily and James have been going out for 2 years. It was only a matter of time before they did that," I explained.

Remus nodded. "I understand. You want to wait then?"

"Yes," I said earnestly.

"It's okay. I totally understand. I wasn't going to pressure you into doing anything if you weren't comfortable," Remus said sincerely.

He was such a great guy. I only wished I'd gone out with him sooner than gone out with Eric. I could've spared myself hurt…but who knew what would happen? I can't change the past.

I snuggled up against him again.

"I definitely want to take the next step," I said shutting my eyes and just enjoyed being alone with him. "Just not yet."

"Gotcha," he said. "I feel the same way. I only would've if you wanted to."

I smiled and squeezed his arm affectionately.

Suddenly, someone dressed in a black hooded cloak brought something heavy down on Remus' head. Remus fell forward and landed face down in the snow unconscious. The snow surrounding his head turned ruby.

The figure took off toward the castle. I dropped to my hands and knees beside him and felt sheer panic filling my chest. I screamed for help at the top of my lungs.

Shortly, Peter came running.

"GO GET PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE!" I screamed at him.

He nodded and took off toward the castle.

Remus was taken to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey checked him over and he had a mild concussion. He woke up and was bright and alert.

I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. He hugged me back.

"I thought the worst!" I sobbed into his shoulder.

Remus' arms tightened around me. "I'm okay, Mads but my head feels like a rock was dropped on it."

I reluctantly pulled back from the embrace and turned to Peter. Lily, James and Sirius had been called as well.

"Thanks Peter! I owe you!" I said hugging him too. He awkwardly patted me on the back.

"How'd you get there so fast?" Sirius asked Peter curiously.

"I was by the Herbology green houses," Peter replied, oddly avoiding eye contact. "I heard her screaming for help."

"What were you doing there?" Sirius pressed.

"It doesn't matter now," Lily scolded. "The point is he was able to help Remus and he's okay."

Sirius muttered something.

"Madam Pomfrey says your noggin is okay but we're still debating," James cracked.

"Did you see the attacker?" Professor Dumbledore asked Remus and I.

"No sir," Remus replied as I hugged him again, this time I didn't let go. Remus chuckled slightly as he tried to talk to Dumbledore. "He had a black hooded cape. The hood was pulled up covering his face so we couldn't see it."

I pressed my cheek against Remus' chest. Remus wrapped one arm around me.

"Why attack Mooney?" James mused. "He's one of the most well liked in school. Hardly any enemies."

"I think he has one now," Sirius said dryly.

We headed back to the common room. Everyone went off and did their own thing. Peter vanished, stating that he wanted to go back to the greenhouses. Remus and I were alone in the common room. I laid down on the couch. I'd taken off my cap and tossed it onto the coffee table in front of the couch. I'd also taken off my boots. I let my legs dangle over the arm of the chair. Remus sat down on the couch and I rested my head on his thigh. He had taken off his jacket and laid it over the back of the chair. He also had rolled the sleeves up to his elbows. My hair was fluffed over his right thigh.

"I was so scared," I whispered. "I seriously thought something had happened to you."

Remus looked down at me.

"I'm okay…really," he said earnestly.

He went to put his hand on my arm, but it accidentally touched my right breast.

I saw him flush furiously and he went to take his hand off, but I grabbed it and kept it there.

"Remus, you can touch me you know," I grinned up at him. "You don't have to apologize for touching me okay?"

He nodded and I let his hand go.

REMUS.

Maddie was lying on the couch with her head on my thigh. Her blond hair was fluffed around her head covering my thigh. When I touched her breast, I felt immediately embarrassed and nervous, thinking that maybe she didn't want me touching her like that. But she was fine with it. So after she released my hand, I gently put my hand on her arm, the first target.

"I just didn't want you to think I was…molesting you or something," I said.

"Trust me. You weren't," Maddie said shutting her eyes for a moment.

When I had touched her breast, I'd felt the familiar tightness in my groin which I hoped Maddie couldn't pick up. I cleared my throat and decided to tell her that I loved her.

"I love you so much," I said softly.

Maddie pulled herself into a sitting position beside me and faced me. Her hair was slightly tousled but she stared deep into my eyes. The tightness started to diminish. The orange glow of the firelight reflected off of her body, almost making her glow.

She smiled. "I love you too,"

I was so happy. Nothing could change my happiness or ruin it.

She snuggled up against me again and I draped my arm over her shoulders. We just stayed like that until it was dinner time. The tightness was completely gone now and I relaxed.

That evening we were lounging around the common room. Lily and James had gone into the boys' dorm for some 'tutoring' but we all knew what they were doing.

"You'd think by now the whole school would know what they were doing," Sirius said with a scowl. "Every night they've been at it."

Sirius and Peter were playing a game of Wizards' Chess. Maddie and I were on the hearth rug in front of the fireplace.

"I still can't believe someone actually attacked Remus," Maddie said shaking her head. "Did you pick up any scent?"

She turned to me.

"Actually, I did," I mused. "It was male definitely."

"I can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt you," Maddie said.

"Perhaps it was a warning?" Peter squeaked suddenly.

"A warning? For what? Not to lick himself on full moons?" Sirius asked deadpan.

I rested my head against Maddie's shoulder.

"You-Know-Who," Peter whispered.

"If the Dark Lord ever tried to get me to join him, I'd rather die then join him," I said vehemently.

"What if it meant killing a loved one? Or a loved one being killed?" Peter asked.

His questions were getting unnerving now.

"What's with all the questions?" Sirius demanded. "Why are you asking Mooney?"

Peter shrugged. "Curiosity,"

"If the Dark Lord threatened anyone I loved I would still insist he kill me and if I had to kill someone I truly loved? I'd rather throw myself off Gryffindor tower," I replied firmly.

Peter nodded and went back to the game. I suddenly picked up a scent coming from the boys' dorm. I felt my body tense up.

"What is it?" Maddie asked looking at me.

"I picked up a scent from the boys' dorm," I replied.

Realization dawned on her face. "Lily and James," she whispered.

I shook my head. "No, not that…something else,"

Around 10 o'clock, we all headed off to bed. Lily had emerged about an hour ago her uniform all tousled and ruffled. No one said anything.

I changed into a pair of grey sweat pants and a white tee shirt and climbed into bed. Sirius was already out cold, snoring loudly. So was Peter. James however, was awake.

"Enjoying being a couple with Maddie?" James asked brightly.

I nodded. "I truly love her more than life,"

James smiled. "I know. I'm glad for you, mate. She deserves someone like you. She's a great girl. I'm curious…why haven't you slept with her yet?"

I looked at James. "I haven't slept with her yet because I don't want to force her. She said she's not ready yet and I have to admit, neither am I,"

James smirked. "But I can almost cut the sexual tension between you two with a knife! I know you're wondering what it would be like…am I right?"

"Of course!" I said. "But I have respect for Maddie. If she's not ready, I'm not going to push her into something that she maybe isn't ready for or can handle."

"Trust me…she can handle it," James said wisely.

"How do you know?" I demanded. "You aren't Maddie."

"Girls say they aren't ready for it, but really they want it," James said. "Deep down of course."

"Look," I snapped. "I'm not going to sleep with her just because you and Lily are doing it now. What's good for you two may not be good for us."

James nodded. "Sorry, mate,"

I froze again. I had picked up that scent again.

"I got that scent again," I mused as I tossed off the covers and stood up. James did the same and I began slowly and quietly walking the length of the boys' dorm, sniffing at the air. When I came by Peter's bed, the scent was strongest, but it was coming from below the bed itself. I dropped silently to my hands and knees and peered under the bed.

A solid, black object was lying under there. I reached under and pulled it out, putting it into the light. It was a small, heavy mallet and a dried red liquid was caked on the head of the mallet…blood…my blood.

"It's my blood," I said stunned as I held the mallet in my hand.

James quickly woke up Sirius and we showed him the mallet.

"Shit," he swore. "Where'd you find that?"

"Under Peter's bed," I replied gravely and grimly.

Sirius didn't wait around and he flew over to Peter's bed.

"WAKE UP YOU SCUMBAG!" Sirius shouted as he roughly shook Peter awake. Peter was wide awake and looking from James, to me to Sirius.

Sirius grabbed the mallet from my hand and shoved it under Peter's nose.

"Where did this come from?" he demanded.

"The kitchens," Peter replied.

"Don't think so," I said folding my arms over my chest. "That's my blood. I can smell it. YOU attacked me!"

There was a heavy silence in the air before Peter went to make a dash to get out of bed, but James grabbed him and pinned him before he could escape.

"I can't BELIEVE you attacked Remus! Your best friend!" Sirius cried enraged.

"I did it because the Dark Lord has plans!" Peter hissed, now looking terrifying and we were actually a bit scared of him now. "And the Dark Lord WILL succeed."

Peter wrenched himself out of James' grasp and fled the dorm.

A few minutes later, we heard a scream coming from the girls' dorm.

James, Sirius and I tore out of the boys' dorm.

MADDIE.

I had woken up to a weight on my bed. When I opened my eyes, it was Peter holding a knife above my chest. When I screamed, he had changed into a rat and fled. Lights were flicked on immediately. The knife had dropped harmlessly to the floor. The dorm door burst open and James, Sirius and Remus barged in.

"What happened?" James cried.

I was sitting bolt upright in bed, shaking violently. "P-Peter tried to stab me in the chest," I sobbed.

Remus flew over to me and put his arms around me. I slumped against him and he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"Peter tried to kill you?" Sirius asked incredulously.

I nodded and pressed my face into Remus' shoulder.

"I'm going to KILL him," Remus growled.

Lily had woken up and come over as well. I had both her and Remus comforting me. James had gone and got Professor Dumbledore.

I told Professor Dumbledore what happened. Remus was so angry. Lily took a turn and comforted me as Remus paced the room.

"I'll tear him apart," Remus growled.

"Mooney, calm down pal," Sirius said alarmed and concerned.

I pressed my face into Lily's shoulder and sobbed.

"I can't calm down! One of our best friends turns on us and attacks me then tries to stab Maddie in the chest? That's clear he had intent on trying to kill her!" Remus shouted.

"Mooney…" James began also concerned, but Remus was too angry and stormed from the dorm and Gryffindor tower, no doubt taking a walk on the grounds to cool off.