By the time Serena and Ron were ready to go with Lupin and Tonks to go get Harry, they were exhausted. They had spent all morning cleaning up the rest of the house, sweeping and dusting. Serena sneezed every so often because of all the dust in the rooms. Moody handed Serena his broom.

"How is you're flying skills?" he asked.

"They're all right, I used to play Quidditch when I was at Beauxbatons, was chaser on my house team in my fourth year, but then I decided to quit. Wanted to focus more on school work," she said.

"You never told me that," Ron said.

"Well, I didn't think it was too important." She said.

"Maybe you can tryout for the team this year? Fred said he's already decided on a new captain, but he won't say who it is," he said.

"I don't know, with N.E.W.T's we'll be pretty busy," she said.

"At least think about it," he said.

"I'll think about it," she said smiling.

The four of them went outside, mounted their brooms, and looked around to make sure no muggles were out.

"Ready? Let's go,"

Lupin kicked off from the ground, and the other's followed. Serena hadn't ridden a broom since her fourth year, and she had forgotten how wonderful it was to feel the wind in her hair. It was also a slight pain to brush after every game, even if she did wear it in a ponytail. Serena groaned as her hair now whipped violently in her face. She should have remembered to pull it back. She looked over at Ron, who looked like he was enjoying himself as well. Tonks was in front of him, and Lupin was flying in front of her, his robes flying wildly behind him.

A while later, after many close calls of muggle sightings, they arrived in a place called Surrey. As they landed, Lupin reached into his pocket and retrieved some sort of magic device. He clicked it, and the lights from the streetlamps went out on by one. Serena followed the others as they headed over to Number 4. They placed their broomsticks beside the wall of the house.

"Did you see to telling the Muggles?" Lupin asked Tonks.

"Yes, they know we're coming, didn't sound too pleased though," she said as they knocked at the door. Serena heard heavy footsteps and watched as the door swung open, revealing a very plump man looking very irritated. He eyed the four of them and then another muggle appeared, this one was skinner and wore a pink and yellow apron.

"We're here to pick up Harry," Lupin said. The man just nodded and turned around.

Harry had grown a little since the last time she saw him. His hair was as messy as ever, his scar still clear across his forehead.

"I didn't know you two were coming," he said smiling and walking towards them with his trunk and Firebolt.

"They insisted on coming," Tonks said taking his trunk from him. As soon as they left the doorway the door was shut in their faces.

"Wow, Harry I expected more of a fight from them," Lupin said.

"They won't bother with me now that I can do magic outside of school," he said.

"Ready?" Tonks said as she handed everyone their broomstick.

"Is that yours, Serena?" he asked pointing to Moody's broomstick.

"No, I borrowed it," she said.

"Harry, did you know she used to play Quidditch? Maybe she could be on the team," Ron said. Serena was starting to wonder why Ron was being so persistent about being on the Quidditch Team.

"We can talk about this later, we need to hurry," Lupin clicked the Put Outer once again and the lights returned just as they left Privet Drive.

Serena could tell Harry was glad to be out of his aunt and uncles place. He was whirling in and out of clouds, laughing and smiling. He then pulled up between Ron and Serena and they began to talk about their summer.

"So you two haven't heard from Hermione either?" he asked.

"No, we think maybe they don't have owls over in America, they could communicate differently over there or something," Ron said.

"There's no telling, maybe she's just having too much fun," Ron said looking down at the ground below them. Serena sighed as she tried not to think about Ron and Hermione. Maybe he would finally just give up on her this year.

They arrived back at Grimmauld Place and she could tell by the look on his face that Harry was reluctant to go in. He eyed the door sadly and waited until everyone else had come in to follow. "Harry dear! So glad to see you!" Mrs. Weasley's voice was louder than usual.

"Are you mad?" Lupin said whispering.

"Oh, if you mean that portrait, Alastor and Kingsley finally got it down while you were away. We're not exactly sure how, but at least we won't have to tip-toe around the place anymore. That woman was awful," she said. Serena, slightly confused, ignored the subject to help Harry take his things up to Ron's room.

"Are you staying here again tonight, Ron?" Serena asked.

"I thought about it," he said.

"It would be nice to talk again," Harry said looking at him hopefully.

"I will, I will," he said laughing.

Ron turned and walked out of the room to go tell his mum that he would be staying another night.

"Up for a game of Chess?" Harry asked pulling his board from his trunk.

"Sure," she said.

"I'll just go get my pieces," she said walking over to her room and grabbing the chess pieces Ron had given to her for Christmas the previous year. She came back to see Ron sitting on the bed.

"I'm staying," he said.

"All right, now I can finally beat you at Chess," she said.

"Yeah, like that will happen," he said sarcastically.

Serena, Ron and Harry each played each other a few games, and then Ginny came upstairs and wanted to play as well. Ginny beat Harry, which surprised him.

"How?" he said looking at the board.

"I'm good at this game, Serena want to play me?" she asked.

"I think I'm going to bed," she said yawning.

"Yeah, it is getting pretty late, at least we don't have to clean up anymore," Ron said.

"Glad I missed it," Harry said putting the game away.

"Goodnight," Serena said as she and Ginny left the room and went next door to their own.

Serena slept very uneasily that night. She felt so uncomfortable in her bed; it was almost as if someone didn't want her to go to sleep. She would wake up in cold sweats and find her blanket on the floor, and would toss and turn so much that she would end up turned completely around. Finally she gave up and decided to go downstairs and get some cold water. Pulling her feet from the blanket she stood up and took a moment to get used to the dark. She then grabbed her wand and muttered "Lumos," hurrying quietly out of the room so she wouldn't wake up Ginny. The stairs creaked loudly as she walked down them. She had no idea what time it was, and wished she would have checked the grandfather clock in her room before coming down.

Filling a silver goblet of water she took a drink and sat down at the table. She found a candle and lit it, muttering "Nox" so the wand light would go out. The whole house seemed to creak around her, and she wondered how old the place really was. She knew it belonged to Sirius Black, and wondered who the portrait woman was that Mrs. Weasley had referred to. The stairs began to creak and she turned her head quickly, her heart quickening. She gazed into the darkness and soon Harry appeared in the doorway.

"You scared me," she said putting down the goblet.

"Sorry, I just can't sleep, too many memories here," he said sitting down opposite her.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this," she said.

"It's all right, I would have had to come back to this place eventually," he said.

"Why do you say that?" she asked. "Because Sirius left it to me, in his will," he said.

"Oh, I see," she looked over at the candle flame and sighed.

"I see Ron's doing well, has he gotten over Hermione yet?" Harry asked suddenly.

"How did you know about that?" she asked.

"He told me, figured I could help him or something," he said.

"Same with me," she said sighing.

"I'm guessing he hasn't then," he said. There was a silence between them that was interrupted by a cat hissing outside.

"What was that?" Harry said standing to his feet. Suddenly the front door opened and Serena watched as two dark figures hurried into the room.

"Who's there?" Serena said loudly, holding out her wand. When they didn't answer Harry lit his wand as well as Serena, pointing at them, trying to see who was there.

Hermione stood there, tears running down her face. In her arms was her cat, Crookshanks. Beside her was a tall man wearing muggle clothing.

"..S...Serena, Harry, it's just me," she said softly.

"Hermione! What are you doing here? What's going on?" Harry said walking towards her.

"Please, we can discuss it in the morning," the man said placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Mum…my mum, they killed her," she said sobbing loudly.

"What?!" Harry and Serena both exclaimed. There was a commotion upstairs and soon Lupin was at the top of the stairs looking down at them and holding his wand as well.

"Hermione? What are you doing here so late?" he asked coming down to meet them.

Hermione just turned and sobbed into Harry's chest. He looked rather surprised and tried to comfort her.

"My wife, she was attacked, by people dressed in black cloaks. We were taken by surprise when we were in America, last night, Hermione insisted this was the best place to be," the man said, looking on the verge of tears as well.

"We can discuss it in here, Harry can you get Hermione some cold water?" Lupin lead him into the kitchen.

"I've got it," Serena said grabbing the goblet from the table and handing it to her. She sipped it then sniffled.

"I don't understand, why us?" she said breathlessly.

"Maybe You-Know-Who has a plan," Serena said.

"A plan to kill my mother! What the hell kind of plan is that?!" she looked angry now.

"Hermione? Is that you?" Ron was awake now.

"Yes, it's me," she said crying again.

"What happened? What are you doing here so early?" he hurried down the stairs towards them.

"Some Death-Eaters attacked them in America, they killed her mum," Serena said in a low whisper. She heard Hermione's cries become louder as she buried herself once again in Harry's chest.

"You need to get some rest," Ron said. Hermione didn't say a word, as Harry and Ron helped her up the stairs into Serena's room. Ginny was sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Hermione!" she got up quickly as Hermione sat down on Serena's bed.

"We'll explain in a minute," Serena said looking at Ginny, who looked concerned. Hermione curled up in a ball in the bed and began sobbing silently into a pillow. They all four turned and left the room, letting her deal with her loss. They went down to the kitchen to listen to Mr. Granger speak about what happened to his wife in America.

"They came into our hotel, we couldn't go anywhere, they had wands and shot strange green lights in our direction, one hit my wife, I knew right away she was dead," he paused to collect himself.

"Hermione insisted we come here, she said it would be the safest place. It took us all day to get here," he said.

"It's late, and you need you're rest, we can deal with this matter in the morning," Lupin said standing up.

"How's Hermione?" he asked.

"She's upstairs in my bed lying down," Serena said.

"Good, now Mr. Granger you can stay in my room tonight, I can sleep downstairs," he said.

"Oh I don't want to be any trouble,"

"Just use my room," he said. Mr. Granger didn't complain further he just walked up the steps.

"Fourth door on the right," he called up to him. He nodded and continued up the stairs and down to the room.

"I'm guessing I'll be sleeping down here as well," Serena sighed.

"There's a couch in the other room if you want to sleep in there," he said.

"Where will you sleep?" she asked.

"I think Moody's got a spare bed in his room," Ron said.

"Oh, yes, I forgot, no one wanted to stay with him because he would constantly wake up thinking someone would get him, rather noisy," he said walking up the stairs.

"Goodnight, Serena," Harry said.

"Goodnight," she said to the three of them. Ron and Ginny said goodnight as well and headed up the stairs to their rooms. Serena headed off to find the couch and was happy to see it had a quilt lying across the back. Pulling it over her she nuzzled herself into the worn out couch and feel fast asleep, wondering how Hermione would be feeling in the morning.