Serena looked at Sirius with uneasy, wide eyes as she took the letter from him. She wasn't sure why the Ministry had sent her a letter, and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out. Part of her was tempted to burn the letter, and not even open it. But she knew better then that.

The moment her fingers ripped open the letter there was a flash of light in front of her eyes and chill crawled up her spine. She wasn't sure if she wanted to have another vision that day. But as her eyelids closed over her eyes, she prayed that someone would catch her.

She was sitting in a crowded dark, dungeon like room. She was sitting between to smart looking witches dressed in black robes. Looking around, Serena thought she was in some kind of court room. The seats wrapped around the room in a U shape, and in the cent of the room was a single chair with chains on it. Serena's eyebrows raised when she saw Harry sitting in the chair looking up at the witches and wizards in front of him with anxious eyes.

"Harry James Potter, you are called to court today for Underage Sorcery," said Fudge's voice. Serena looked over at him and glared.

When she opened her eyes she was in her Father's arms.

"Serena?" he said surprised to see her awake so soon. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she whispered standing up straight. "I'm fine…"

"What did you see?" asked Remus.

"I was in a court room," she whispered. "A dungeon court room…and Harry was on trail."

"What?" Sirius and Remus said together.

"He was on trail for underage sorcery," said Serena with a shrug. "I don't really understand it…"

"You must have had it because it has to do with the Ministry," said Sirius pulling her letter out of the envelope. "And underage sorcery. You have a warning from the Ministry about it…when did you use magic?"

He held the letter out to Serena who took it and read it quickly.

Dear Miss Belle,

We received intelligence that you performed a Disarming Charming at three forty one this morning at the Leaky Caldron in London.

As this is your first breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, we will not be pressing charges against you. This is a warning; any breaches from this point on will result in more disciplinary actions and possible expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hope you have a pleasant summer,

Sincerely yours,

Mafalda Hopkirk

IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE

Ministry of Magic

"Last night," said Serena. "Oh, and today…against Page." She looked around at her Father and Remus with concern. "It was in self defense. Tonks will be able to back me up if they don't take your word or Parrish's."

"And today?" Parrish asked. "There was no one in the alley but you and I. I doubt they'd take my word as I am underage as well."

"They'd better take your word," said Sirius harshly. He rubbed his face. "Alright. We'll talk with Tonks tonight. Don't worry about it Serena, we'll take care of it."

"How can you tell me not to worry about it? In an hour's time I'll be getting a letter because I performed a Disarming Charm again."

"They can't expel you for defending yourself against a Death Eater," said Sirius gripping her shoulder and looking her in the eye. "I told you not to worry about it. We'll take care of it."

She nodded her head.

"Why don't you guys go get ready for dinner and met us downstairs?" suggested Sirius.

"Alright," said Serena. She began to walk up the stairs and Parrish followed her, carrying his boxes.

"Serena," he said to her before she disappeared into her bedroom. She stopped and looked at him.

"Yea?"

"Can you come here for a second?" he asked disappearing into the bedroom. Serena thought about it. This could be a misleading thing, she thought. Despite her better judgment she followed Parrish into his bedroom.

The room was just as plan as hers. Parrish had thrown his robes on the floor in their boxes and was lying down on his bed. He put his arms behind his head and Serena bit her lip not to smile at his attractiveness.

"What's up?" she finally whispered.

"I was wondering," he said not looking at her, but at the ceiling. "What did you see when we were in the robe shop?" He rolled onto his side and looked at her from the bed. "You can sit down you know."

Serena would have liked to sit down, but the vision she had in the robe shop was flashing in her mind, and as enjoyable as it looked she didn't want to be involved with Parrish that deeply. It meant that she would hurt him, or get hurt and she didn't want that. She was going to give up the chance to love him for his life and her own.

"Serena?"

"Oh," she said wrapping her arms around herself. "I saw us…"

"Us?" Parrish raised his eyebrows. "Us…doing what?"

Before she answered she debated telling him the truth. How would he react? She decided that she didn't want to find out. The reason why she had the vision was to warn her that she might have sex with him, and to avoid it. She bit her bottom lip before she spoke.

"We were in the alley," she lied. "It was so short I didn't know what it meant until after Page attacked us in the alley…I saw us running in the alley."

Parrish nodded.

"Why didn't you say that?"

"I was confused," she whispered. "I was trying to work it out in my head."

"Serena," he said. "Come here."

She looked at him oddly and put her hands on her hips.

"Why?" she asked.

He smiled the most charming smile she had ever seen on his lips and motioned for her to come over to him. She sighed and moved forward, sitting down next to him as she bit her lip.

"Did you know," he said slowly. "That when you lie you bit your bottom lip?"

Serena felt her cheeks turn red and she released her lip from her teeth. Parrish smiled slightly, and looking at his eyes Serena could tell that he wanted to touch her, hold her hand, caress her cheek, brush her hair, anything. She could see that it was driving him wild that he wasn't touching her and she felt the same way.

"No I don't," she whispered.

"Serena."

"Yes?"

"Why don't you want to tell me?"

"Because I don't feel I need to," she said back. "Just know that it was about us and that nothing bad happened."

Parrish nodded his head slowly.

"If nothing bad happened what is there to be embarrassed about?"

Serena smiled.

"Will you please stop asking me these questions," she said. "I don't want to tell you because I'm embarrassed by it."

He studied her for a few moments then nodded his head. Serena sighed with relief but as she looked at Parrish she wondered if he knew. Could he see through her that easily? Was she that see through?

"We should get downstairs," he said. "Are you going to change?"

"No," she whispered. "I just came up here to humor him."

Parrish smiled and stood up from the bed.

"By the way," he said opening a trunk his bag of money from Gringotts. He pulled out a small velvet box, made for a ring. "I want you to have this…Happy Birthday." He held it out to her.

Serena was surprised by the notion. She had completely forgotten that today was her birthday—July 15th. Parrish was the first person to wish her a happy birthday today. Not even her sisters remembered—hell she had forgotten.

The velvet was soft in her hands, and Serena wondered what beauty lie in the box. Part of her was afraid that it might be something too beautiful for her, or something to luxurious that she wouldn't be able to accept. She opened the smooth box and smiled at a small gold ring with a round ruby on it. On the left of the ruby was a curvy R engraved on the metal, and on the right a P. Serena looked up at Parrish.

"It was Rebecca's?"

He nodded as he put his hands in her pockets.

"She was born in July too," he whispered. "Ruby is the birthstone…I know it will be too small for your fingers but I thought you could wear it on one of the chains around your neck."

Serena nodded and carefully removed the ring from the box. She looked at it closely and then looked up at Parrish.

"Thank you," she whispered. "It's beautiful."

She took off the gold chain she wore around her neck, bearing the Page family crest, and put the gold ring on it. She put the necklace back on as Parrish began to speak again.

"I wouldn't worry about that letter from the Ministry either," he said. "You're not going to get expelled."

Serena shrugged.

"Like Daddy said, they can't expel me for defending myself."

"And Tonks was there," he whispered. "She works for the Ministry."

Serena looked up at Parrish. He was standing in front of her, looking down at her, and smiling with a calm all knowing look. The way he looked at her, made her antsy. She wasn't sure if she liked the shivers he sent up her spine, or if they were really annoying. Part of her wanted him to stop looking at her like that so she could catch her breath.

"I'd be upset if you didn't come back to school," he whispered reaching out and touching her cheek.

Serena smiled into his palm and looked at him.

"Why is that?"

"Well…I wouldn't have anyone to stare at in the Great Hall during meals," he said smiling. He was leaning down, and Serena was sure that he would kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her, despite her promise that she would get involved with him. She wanted him to know that she did really care about him, and she didn't go to the Leaky Caldron just to have a swing at Page—she wanted him.

Before Parrish's lips could touch Serena's though there was a harsh tapping on the window pain, making them both jump. Parrish stood up straight and Serena stood up off the bed, away from him.

"It's just an owl," Parrish said going to the window and opening it. The bird held out its leg for him to take the letter off. He removed it and the owl sailed away into the darkening sky. "It's for you…"

Serena's cheeks were red as he handed her the letter. She felt like she had just been caught snogging Parrish by her Father and not some dumb owl. He was smiling at her though, and it melted her heart, pushing her embarrassment away.

"It's from the Ministry," she said ripping it open.

The letter that was inside the envelope was much like the one she had just read. Although, this letter did not expel her from Hogwarts like she feared it had. It simply stated that her use of magic was going to be monitored regularly, and if she even made something explode out of anger she would find herself out of Hogwarts.

"Well?" Parrish asked with a frown. "What's happened?"

"I'm not going to be expelled, if that's what you're concerned about," she said walking towards the door. "You'll still have someone to stare at across the dinning hall."

She smiled at him and disappeared out of the room. Parrish grinned and shook his head, then followed her down the stairs, heading for the kitchen.

"See you were worrying over nothing," he said when they reached the first floor landing.

"I wasn't that worried," she said still holding the letter. She planned to tell Sirius that everything was fine and she wasn't going to be expelled, but when she walked into the kitchen there was an explosion of music and singing.

"Happy birthday to you!" everyone finished.

Serena's eye widened. The kitchen was decorated with balloons and streamers. There was a dinner of chicken and rice on the table, and large white birthday cake in the center of the table. Amber, Kendra and Sirius were all standing near chairs, glowing, and Remus was sitting smiling.

"Happy Birthday Serena!" Kendra giggled. "Do you like your surprise?"

Parrish took Serena's arms and pushed her forward easily.

"What, what is all of this?"

"A surprise, you idiot," Amber said as everyone sat down. "We made you dinner and what not for you birthday. Remus and Parrish agreed to get you out of the house so we could fix it all up for you in secret."

"Got me out of the house alright," Serena said. "Almost got me killed that's what you did."

"What are you talking about?" Kendra asked as dinner began.

"Page attacked us in Diagon Alley," Serena said.

There was an odd silence around the table and Parrish looked at her.

"Your letter," he said softly.

"My letter?" she questioned. "Oh! Father, this just arrived upstairs before we came down." She handed her letter from the Ministry across the table. "I won't be expelled from school, and there's no point to talk to Tonks."

Sirius smiled as he read over the letter.

"Well that's good," he said. "Now you just have to be more careful. No magic outside of school."

Serena nodded her head.

"Yes, of course," she grinned.

She ate some of her chicken and looked around the kitchen. This is what it was like to have a family, she thought. Spending time together and simply smiling, having fun and feeling loved. Serena only wished that her Mother could have been there, then everything would have been perfect.

She looked at Parrish suddenly.

"You were in on this?" she questioned.

He smiled.

"It was talked about this morning at breakfast," he said. "Before we woke you up."

"Oh I see," she said looking around the table at her family. "This was a whole plot…did you get me anything?"

There was laughter around the room.

"No," said Kendra flatly. "Nothing. We planned all of this for nothing."

"Well honestly," said Serena. "I wouldn't blame you. I mean, I forget that it was my own birthday today until Parrish gave me his gift upstairs."

"What'd he get you?" asked Kendra with a glowing smile.

"A ring," said Serena.

"It was my sister's," Parrish said. "She was born in July also. I thought that Serena might like it. She's always had some kind of relationship with her…it's hard to explain."

"I wish I had known her," Serena said giving Parrish's hand a squeeze. "She was such a beautiful girl."

Parrish smiled and nodded his head.

"You would have liked her," he whispered. "She could anyone smile…no matter what. She warmed your heart….and drove you completely crazy at the same time…kind of like you."

Serena smiled as Parrish watched her and then looked away.

"Well," said Kendra getting up from the table. "I lied, we did get you gifts."

She picked up a small pile of boxes from the corner of the dark room and placed them on the table in front of Serena.

"That one there is from me and Amber," she said point to a fair size box. "The big one is from Dad, and the small one from Remus. Oh, and the fourth one is from Grandmama and Grandpapa. They sent it along today with their letters."

Serena beamed.

"Thank you guys," she said. "Should I open them now?"

"Yes," said Amber. "Definitely. You made a stink about getting them to beginning with, you should open them."

Serena opened the gift from Amber and Kendra first and was not surprised to see a book about Dark Wizard hunting under the brown paper. She looked up at them with a glowing smile.

"We thought it would help you nab Page," said Amber.

"Don't think we're not going to help," added Kendra. "Just we know that you want to be an Auror."

Serena flipped over her book and looked at the back cover.

"I haven't really thought about," said Serena as she glanced at the back cover that was black with a picture of a white silhouetted Auror bearing his wand in his left hand.

"Well you would be good at it," Kendra stressed.

"You should start thinking about it Serena," Parrish said softly. "Fifth year is when you have career advice so you can take the proper classes for N.E.W.T.S and aim for the right scores on your O.W.L.S."

"I don't want to think about school right now," Serena sighed rubbing her head but smiling. "But you guys think that I'll be a good Auror?" She looked at her sisters who nodded.

"You're already on your way," said Remus crossing his arms. "And with your power of premonition…well you could be right along side Moody."

"You're just saying that because you have to be nice to me," said Serena with a smile.

"I don't have to be nice to you kid," Remus said pinching her cheek. "Go on and open the rest of your gifts."

Serena beamed and pulled the small gift from Remus forward. She unwrapped the brown paper quickly and smiled down at a small blue colored top. She looked up at Remus.

"It's a Sneakoscope, right?" she said.

"Yes," he said nodding his head. "You never know who you can trust these days…thought you would like it and it'd be a little useful."

Serena nodded and hugged him.

"Thank you," she put the Sneakoscope down next to her and pulled the bigger box from Sirius towards her. She was surprised by how heavy it was. Standing up, she unwrapped a cardboard box and opened the top of it. "Oh!"

"What is it?" Amber said standing up.

"Parrish can you help me," Serena said. "I can't lift it."

Parrish stood up and lifted a white marble basin out of the box. Serena was looking at it in wonder. As Parrish placed it on the table Serena glided her fingers along the ancient symbols that decorated the edge of the basin. She looked up at her Father, who was sitting quietly in his chair, with one elbow resting on the arm of the chair, and his fingers at his lips.

"Is it a Pensieve?" Serena asked with wonder.

He nodded his head slowly with a smile.

"I've never seen one in white before," Amber said.

"It was your Mother's," said Sirius. "I found it in a box in the top of my closet."

"There's nothing in it," Serena said.

"No," said Sirius. "It was empty. I suppose I should say that it was going to be your Mother's. I never got the chance to give it to her…I was going to give it to her so she could kept her visions in it, and protect them from preying minds. I figured it would serve you the same purpose."

"It's beautiful," Serena said with a gapping mouth. "Thank you Father. I can't…It's wonderful."

The idea of keeping her visions in a Pensieve and not in her head was enthralling. Perhaps she'd be able to concentrate on other things better, and she wouldn't have to remember the murders she witnessed. She could keep Rebecca's, and her Mother's death safely in it, so she wouldn't have to relive the pain over at night. Her Father's words echoed in her ears…protect them from preying minds. She looked at him again with raised eyebrows.

"Preying minds?" she asked. "What do you mean?"

Sirius frowned slightly.

"Some wizards are capable of entering another's mind and, what Muggles would call, reading it. If your memories are stored in the Pensieve they can't reach them, unless the fall into the Pensieve and witness them. I thought it would be an extremely useful gift for you. Every time you have a vision Serena, you should put it into the Pensieve…just to be safe."

Serena nodded her head slowly.

"Occlumency?" Amber questioned.

Sirius nodded his head slowly.

"It's a very difficult branch of magic," said Remus slowly. "The only person I know who can do it is Dumbledore."

Sirius nodded his head.

"I'm sure there are others," he said. "Voldemort is capable of it…he uses it to torture his victims. If you can prey on someone's memories you can prey on their fears, or even use their past to blackmail them. It is very useful for Voldemort."

There was a soft silence in the kitchen and Serena bit her finger. She wanted to learn Occlumency. She wondered if she'd be able to talk to Dumbledore and ask him to teach her.

"Serena open your last gift," said Kendra breaking the silence. "I want some cake."

Serena blinked and smiled. She ripped the paper off the box from her Grandparents and shook her smiling face at a red sweater. Her Grandmother always made her sweaters.

"Alright," she said looking at Kendra. "I've opened them…go on have some cake."

"You have to cut it," said Amber handing a knife across the table.

Serena rolled her eyes and took the knife from her older sister. She began to cut the large cake just as there was a sharp knock from upstairs. Sirius stood up slowly in the soft silence of the kitchen.

"Go on," he said. "It's probably just Tonks or Bill."

Serena nodded and continued to cut the cake as Sirius disappeared upstairs. Remus helped her cake to the others. They had just finished placing the last piece on a plate when Sirius reappeared in the kitchen followed by Tonks with long blonde hair today. Her eyes darted to Remus for a moment, and they greeted each other.

"Hi Tonks!" said Kendra.

"Hello, hello," said Tonks taking a seat next to Amber.

"Would you like some cake?" Serena offered.

"I'd love some. Who's birthday is it?"

"Mine."

"Happy Birthday. How old are you?"

"Fifteen," said Serena with a frank smile.

"Congrats congrats," Tonks kicked back and began to eat her cake. "Where is everyone else for this meeting?"

"They'll be along soon," said Remus. "We planned the meeting later so we could have dinner with Serena."

Tonks nodded her head.

"Mmm this is good cake."

"Thanks," said Amber.

"When you guys are done eating I want you to go up to bed," said Sirius.

"Who's coming to the meeting?" Amber asked.

"Members of the Order," said Remus.

It seemed that all four of the teenagers took as much time as possible to eat their cake. And when they were done, Serena and Parrish offered to help the other two clean up. Sirius was eyeing them suspiciously and Serena couldn't help but smile. But when the kitchen was cleaned up, the extra food put away, and a few more members of the Order in the kitchen, Sirius told them all good night. He kissed each of his daughters' foreheads and wished them all sweet dreams.

"Thanks again Daddy," said Serena hugging him. He hugged her back.

"Happy Birthday Surry," he said softly. "I just wish I could have told Amelia the same thing."

Serena stood up straight.

"I don't know if she would have liked it very much, to be honest," Serena said.

"Serena, do you want me to take this?" Parrish asked pointing at the box the Pensieve was in. Serena nodded and smiled.

"Thanks," she said. Parrish nodded and picked it up.

"Good night Sir," he said with a nod to Sirius.

"Night Parrish."

"Night Daddy," said Serena. "Good night Remus, Tonks."

"Night Serena," they said back. Tonks waved as Serena mounted the stairs, carrying her others birthday gifts. The four walked up the stairs in calm silence. It wasn't until they reached their landing that Amber said something.

"Do you think we could sneak back down and listen?"

"Are you kidding?" Kendra said. "The house creeks too much for that…and can you imagine what Dad would do to us if we did over hear them?"

"Skin us alive," said Serena with a giggle. She stopped in her doorway and smiled at her sisters. "Thanks for dinner," she said. "And the book…you guys are the best."

"Night Serena," said Amber with a wave. She disappeared into her room.

"Happy birthday," Kendra said following Amber's lead.

Parrish looked at Serena.

"This thing is kind of heavy," he said.

"Oh!" Serena stepped out of the way of the door and let him pass.

She followed him into the bedroom and lit the lamp on the table next to the bed. The light flickered at just the right angle, making Parrish look mysterious, attractive and dangerous as he set down the Pensieve on Serena's trunk. He stood up straight and walked to the door, where he leaned in the frame.

"So," he said with his hands in his pockets. "This is good night?"

"Yea," said Serena putting down her other gifts. "Good night Parrish. Sleep well and sweet dreams."

"Only of you," he whispered and left the door frame.

Serena couldn't help but smile as she closed the bedroom door. She pressed her body against the door and frowned. The frustration that her relationship with Parrish was creating was starting to become unbearable. It seemed that as soon as she had made her promise not to be involved with him that their chemistry built. It was the fact that she couldn't have him now that made him even more enticing.

She banged the back of her head against the door softly as a tear leaked from her eye and rolled down her cheek. She was going to have to tell Parrish to leave her be. They could only be friends.