'I'm leaving.' Was the only thing going through Serenity's mind.

It was scary that after all these years dreaming of an escape, she felt sort of sad leaving Applebury Springs behind.

She slapped herself. 'Ahh! I did not just think that.'

"Hey Serenity? You mind hurrying it up? Please?" Ron's voice called up the stairs of the modern townhouse.

In the middle of the afternoon, there was only so much time. She was getting her stuff while Rita was out.

"Yeah, sure." Serenity said in return.

She grabbed the knapsack with her food in it and filled it with more bread, fruit, and Oreos from the cupboard and jogged out the front door. Applebury springs was a small suburb outside southern London. Not only was it tiny, it was unnoticed. No one besides Rita's car and their neighbor, Mr.McNair's, pacing figure went up and down this street. Rita always said that no one came down it because no one could find it. The area was completely surrounded by trees.

'And now,' Serenity thought, 'to get out, we have to go through them.'

It was true, she wasn't afraid of the dark, but going and camping through these endless trees scared her a bit.

"So we have to go through these forests?" asked Ron, also scared.

"Yep. Only way to get out. Rita works at home, but there's a small store up the way that she spends time in to get away. In fact, that's probably where she is now." Serenity replied quietly.

"Well I did pack a tent, thankfully." Harry mumbled gratefully.

"Why are you always so prepared?" Serenity asked curiously.

"Because you never know what could happen." He said with a wink.

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "Okay come on Curious George. You ask too many questions. We need to get going."

"Curious George?" Ron asked, clueless.

"Never mind Ron." Hermione sighed.

"Alright gang, lets go." Harry said, leading the way.

Ron and Serenity hung back.

"Are you as scared as I am?" Ron asked softly, a slight smile crossing his face.

"Yes, but we have to go. Lets face it now." Serenity whispered. Ron smiled bigger.

"You really remind me of Harry. Just as brave, just as stubborn, just as determined."

"Now lets go you two!" Hermione shouted.

"Yeah, yeah." Serenity murmured.

And they marched. After a couple of hours, they stopped to make camp.

"This is where we're sleeping!?" Serenity shouted.

Harry chuckled. "Yes. What, afraid of the dark?"

"Well…yeah, a bit." She blushed.

"Ha. You are not going to like this." Harry laughed out.

"Yes, that's good, Harry. Be blunt about it." Serenity giggled.

"Oh knock it off Serenity. You're bunking with Ron." Hermione said strictly.

"Great, we can share our fear." After this, Serenity was silent.

But, as she was walking off, Hermione could have sworn she heard the girl mutter, "Fun sucker…"

Serenity had been gone for hours. She had been wandering aimlessly. He knew her way back, of course, but she wouldn't ever be able to find this spot again. Meanwhile, the trio had been looking everywhere. The sky was slowly getting darker as they searched. Serenity was leaning against a tree, singing to a squirrel that was looking at her with interest.

"Every day is so wonderful
And suddenly, it's hard to breathe
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the fame, I'm so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring me down
So don't you bring me down today."

She almost sang the second verse when she saw Hermione.

"Hi." Hermione said, indulged in the song.

"You've got a really beautiful voice, you know." She said, embarrassed to be listening.

"Yeah, sure. Why are you here?" Serenity asked, obviously not used to being complimented.

"We were all looking for you. It's been hours since you left, and with Harry, there's always time to be paranoid. So here you are. I'm going back. Can you find your way?" Hermione seemed nervous.

"Yes. Bye-bye." Serenity was apparently mad for Hermione popping up.

"Good-bye."

"Hey Hermione?" Serenity asked.

"Yeah?" Hermione said, turning.

"Why don't you like me?" Serenity questioned.

Hermione looked surprised, but answered, "What makes you think that?"

Serenity rolled her eyes and replied, "Oh, I don't know! Maybe the fact that you'll always snap at the others anytime I'm having a good time with them! Or maybe that you don't trust me? AT ALL? Or could it possibly be that you are always yelling at me for talking to Ron? Why, Hermione? Why? That's all I want to know here." Serenity burst out. She herself looked surprised to say it.

'Virataserum talking I guess.' Hermione thought before answering. "I guess because I feel like…I used to like Ron, okay? And when I see you with him, it just reminds me what I could have had. I mean he obviously likes you." Hermione said softly. "Pchah. Yeah right." Serenity said, rolling her eyes (yet again). "No, I mean it. What's there not to like? You're smart, funny, cute, you're fucking Remus Lupin's daughter! I'm sorry. It's just that…you're perfect. And I'm not." At this Serenity heard Hermione sob, and run off.

AN: Review plz! Song by Christina Aguilera, 'Beautiful'