By mid-October the whether had chilled to the point that Serena was sure it was going to start snowing any day. The leaves were all gone from the trees, and to her sad eyes autumn was running out of days. Serena didn't want the snow to come—she hated the cold of it—and with snow and winter came Christmas. She wasn't sure if she wanted to celebrate the holiday sense her Father was dead.

Serena tried not to think of the things that were bothering her like her Father, school, Adhara and her lack of premonitions, and the whether as she went to Hogsmeade with the other three on a chilly Saturday. It was hard to forget about her Father though when they ran into Mundungus Fletcher in the square, trying to sell pieces of silver from Grimmauld Place. The scene had been slightly frightening—Harry had attacked Mundungus full on, flattening him against a wall and making him turn purple. Tonks arrived on the scene just after Mundungus had Disapparated, and Harry was in a right state.

"He's nicked Sirius's stuff! Nicked it!"

"Yes, but still," said Tonks who seemed unbothered by the whole ordeal. "You should get out of the cold."

"It's not Sirius's stuff anymore," Serena said softly. "It's yours."

Harry hadn't heard her, but Hermione had. Serena rubbed the back of her neck and thought perhaps it was best that Harry hadn't heard it. Tonks ushered them into the Three Broomsticks and then Harry burst out.

"He was nicking Sirius's stuff!"

"I know, Harry," said Hermione. "Please don't shout, people are staring. Go sit down, Serena and I will go get drinks."

When they returned with the drinks he was still fuming. Serena wanted to slap him and tell him to shut up about it…why did he care if the stuff got stolen? He wasn't going to use it, and Sirius probably would have wanted to get rid of it. She wouldn't have been surprised if he had been letting Mundungus take it out of the house all last year too.

"Ron, what are you staring at?" Hermione asked pulling Serena back to reality.

"Nothing," Ron said after blinking.

Serena and Hermione looked over their shoulders at the bar and saw the Three Broomsticks owner Madame Rosmerta going into the backroom of the pub.

"I expect 'nothing' is in the back room getting more firewhisky," Hermione said taking a long swig of her butterbeer. Serena smiled a little and took a drink quickly as Ron glared at Hermione.

"Speaking of nothing's, where's Parrish?" asked Harry still in a grumpy tone. Serena put down her bottle and glared at him.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," she whispered with a harsh tone. She was upset about how Harry had referred to Parrish. "What is your problem with Parrish?"

"I don't have a problem—"

"Don't lie to me," Serena said sharply. "I know you have a problem with him, and you know what, I don't really care what it is. I don't care if you don't like him, I really don't because I love him and that's all that matters." Serena's voice was stern, and as she continued to talk it grew a little softer. She was speaking to Harry with desperate eyes because she wanted nothing more then for her and Harry to be okay, and Harry and Parrish to be civil. "But, I want you to stop giving me a hard time about it. I'm not leaving him and he's not leaving me. I need you to get along with him for the sake of our friendship, Harry. I don't care if you don't like him. I'm not asking you to like him. I'm asking you to be civil with him and to lay off giving me a hard time about him."

Harry was silent for a few moments with his mouth hanging open slightly.

"Alright," he whispered finally. "I'll let it go."

"Thank you," Serena sighed. She pushed her hair behind her ears. "Thank you."

Harry nodded.

"Yea," he said. "I just…I get a weird vibe from him Serena. And I'm sorry…I just don't trust him."

"Trust that I trust him, Harry," Serena said.

There was another silence around the table and Hermione finished her drink.

"Well, do you think we should head back up to the castle?" she asked looking at her watch.

"Yea," the two boys said.

"I'm meeting Parrish for lunch," Serena said. "I'll see you guys back up at the castle."

She watched as they left behind Katie Belle and her friend Leanne.

"Hey Beautiful," said someone's voice behind her. She felt tender lips press against her neck and turned to look over her shoulder at Parrish. He smiled at her and sat down in the seat Hermione had been in.

"Hi Parrish," she said with a smile.

"You look grim."

"Just tired," she whispered. "Harry says he'll be civil with you."

Parrish nodded his head slowly.

"You talked to him?"

Serena nodded.

"And he apologized and said he'd be civil," she whispered finishing off her butterbeer.

"Well, that's good…I won't have to knock any sense into his head."

Serena smiled lightly and kissed Parrish's fingers.

"I know you'd win."

Parrish laughed just as a horrible scream erupted from outside.

"What the—?" Parrish whispered as Serena stood up. "Serena, where are you—"

"The others were out there," Serena said moving off quickly as she pulled on her cloak. "It could be Hermione!"

Serena raced out into the windy court and saw a shocking sight. She stopped dead outside of the Three Broomsticks, and Parrish ran into her.

"Good god," he said behind her in a low voice.

Katie Belle's body was floating in the air, and she looked horribly grey and sick. There were clouds of grey mist swirling around her and sudden she collapsed to the ground, not moving. Serena watched in horror, and Harry tore past her looking for help. Serena looked around the court frantically, there had to be someone around—the culprit behind the curse—somewhere.

Serena's hunting eyes fell on the pale, blonde haired figure of her twin sister, standing on the other side of the court on the edge of a building, in the opening of an alley. Amelia's pale blue eyes were glaring with hatred at Katie Belle, and a fire rose in Serena. Serena glared and Amelia caught her glance, turned and raced down the alley.

"Serena!" Parrish called as Serena ran off. Parrish made to follow her, but was cut off by Hagrid's barging footsteps and large body.

Serena didn't hear Parrish's yell, nor did she care. She was going to catch Amelia and get the truth out of her. And it wasn't too hard. She turned into the alley and saw Amelia tapping her wand against a locked door. The door handle wouldn't budge despite Amelia's spells and the blonde girl screamed as Serena jumped at her.

"Get off of me you brat!" Amelia yelled loudly as Serena grabbed her robes. Amelia fought off her cloak and Serena lost her grip on her twin.

"Come here Amelia!" Serena yelled harshly as her twin raced towards the opening of the alley for the court. Serena waved her wand and Amelia's ankle lifted straight up into the air. She was getting pretty good at the silent spells.

"You little bitch!" Amelia yelled as her wand fell out of her hand and onto the ground. "Let me down! I swear I'll tell Snape you've been abusing your powers, I swear I will!"

"Shut your mouth," Serena snapped. "Why were you peaking at Katie's collapsed body from all the way over here? Enjoying the show?"

"What are you talking about?" Amelia snapped. "I heard her scream while I was in the shop and was watching the sight from the corner."

"Why did you run then?"

"Everyone runs from you, Serena, you're a freak!"

"Maybe," Serena whispered. She moved forward slowly, curiosity catching her.

"What are you doing?" Amelia asked in fear as Serena approached.

"Nothing," Serena said grabbing Amelia's right wrist and pushing up her sleeve. "Oh, stop your whining."

Serena frowned, there was no mark there. She pushed up Amelia's other sleeve and frowned again. No Dark Mark. Amelia wasn't a Death Eater.

"I don't bare his brand like you do," Amelia spat.

"You wish you did," Serena said back walking to the end of the alley. "See you around Amelia…"

"Serena!" Amelia yelled at the top of her voice. "You come back here and let me down! SERENA!"

Serena turned and waved her wand at Amelia who fell to the ground in a pile of cloak and robes. Serena smiled a little and turned around running straight into Parrish's chest.

"You shouldn't have done that," he said grabbing her wrist and leading her across the court to the Three Broomsticks. They disappeared inside with the crowd and sat down at an empty table. "If someone saw you attack her you'll probably get detentions until Christmas."

Serena shrugged.

"She attacked Katie no doubt."

"If you had stuck around long enough you would have seen that Katie touched a curse necklace," Parrish said. "Someone gave it to her to pass onto someone else in Hogwarts and her friend was arguing with her. The package ripped open and Katie touched the necklace."

Serena frowned and thought about the situation Parrish had described to her for a moment.

"So Amelia gave her the package."

Parrish raised his eyebrow.

"It's possible," he said. "But why?"

"She wants to kill someone at Hogwarts?"

"It wasn't a very well thought out plan," Parrish said crossing his arms over his chest. "The thing wouldn't have gotten past Flich's sensors."

"Well Amelia isn't the brightest bulb of the bunch is she? She's doesn't even light up when you put her in a socket."

Katie was moved to St. Mungo's the next day, and by that time the whole school seemed to have heard the story about her attack. As Serena heard from Harry though, they were the only ones who knew that the cursed necklace hadn't been meant for Katie at all.

"When you say 'we', exactly who do you mean?" Serena asked as they walked down the corridor towards Transfiguration.

"You, me, Hermione, Ron, Parrish, Leanne and of course Malfoy because he's the one who planted it."

"You're still on your theory that Malfoy is a Death-Eater?"

"I'm more then confident," Harry nodded.

"Well, I checked Amelia when I pinned her in the alley…she doesn't have the Dark Mark, she's not a Death Eater."

Harry shrugged.

"She had to have delivered it to Katie because Malfoy was in detention," Harry said. "She'd do anything for him."

Serena agreed.

Harry and Serena didn't get to talk much more about the subject over the next few weeks because of the approaching Quidditch match. It was going to be the first of the season, and Harry had the team practicing extra long for it. Serena often joined Hermione in the stands to watch the team practice, and by the way the practices were going, Serena was rather concerned about the Gryffindor team.

The morning of the game, Serena and Hermione made their way down to breakfast late. Hermione was avoiding Ron because of his horribly aggressive and touchy attitude. Ginny had told Hermione and Serena both about the argument she had with him about snogging and ever sense he had been a complete prat. Serena thought the whole situation rather funny, and as she walked by the Gryffindor tale on the opposite side of Hermione she wondered if Ron would be able to use his aggression in a positive way, like pounding the Slytherians at a game of Quidditch.

"How are you both feeling?" Hermione asked looking at the back of Ron's head with some concern. Serena sat down next to Harry as he handed Ron a glass of pumpkin juice and asked if he'd pour her one.

"Fine," Harry said brightly to Hermione, and nodded his head to Serena.

"Ron, don't drink that," Hermione said quickly.

Harry, Ron and Serena looked up at Hermione who was still standing.

"Why not?" Ron asked.

"You just put something in that drink," Hermione said to Harry with a scandalized look. Serena looked at Harry and saw him push his hand into his pocket quickly. She looked up at the goblet that Ron was still holding.

"Excuse me?" said Harry.

"You heard me. I saw you. You just tipped something into Ron's drink. You've got the bottle in your hand!"

Harry held up both of his hands.

"Nothing here Hermione," he said easily.

"Ron, I warn you, don't drink it!" Hermione said quickly to him.

"Stop bossing me around Hermione," Ron said gulping down the pumpkin juice. He smacked his lips and smiled. Serena didn't hear what Hermione hissed at Harry, but soon after he whispered something back she stormed down the table and sat with Ginny.

Serena looked at Harry with raised eyebrows and Harry smiled at her, taking a bite of his toast.

"Sleep well, Serena?" he asked.

"Fine," she said. "Thanks…"

"It's about time Ron," said Harry looking at his watch. "Let's get going."

"See you on the pitch," Serena said to the boys. "Good luck."

"Thanks Serena," Harry said squeezing her shoulder. "I think we'll be lucky today…"

Serena looked at him quickly as he walked off. His use of words was not a coincidence. He had used the word 'lucky' on purpose. Serena frowned. Had Harry used the Felix Felicis, his prize from their first potions lesson, on Ron so they would win the game?

Gryffindor won the game, and as Hermione and Serena made their way to the changing rooms, Serena was sure that Hermione was going to explode.

"I can't believe he did that," she hissed as they reached the changing room. She stopped in front of the door and took a long breath, then wrenched the door open. "I want a word with you Harry."

Serena looked around the changing room. The boys, her and Hermione were the only ones in it. She frowned a little and put her hands in her pockets, rocking back on her heels as Harry, Ron and Hermione argued about the lucky potion. Harry revealed that he hadn't actually put the potion in Ron's pumpkin juice and Hermione grew even more frustrated.

"I never said you couldn't save a goal yourself, Ron—you thought you'd been given it too!"

But Ron had strode past her already, and as Serena watched him, marched out the door with his broomstick over his shoulder. Serena glared at him. Once the door shut behind him there was a horrible silence around the room.

"Er…should we go up to the party?" Harry asked rubbing the back of his neck and looking at the ground.

"You go!" Hermione said sharply with small tears in her eyes. "I'm sick of Ron at the moment, I don't know what I'm supposed to have done…"

Serena stepped forward and took Hermione's hand, she pulled her around and wrapped her arm around her waist.

"Come on," she whispered. "Let's go."

She looked over her shoulder at Harry with sad sullen eyes. The two girls left the changing rooms, Hermione slamming the door behind them, and sobbing. Serena patted her back as they walked up the hill to the castle.

"It's alright Hermione, they're both idiots."

"No," Hermione hiccupped. "It's just Ron…Harry didn't know…he doesn't know…"

"Still doesn't stop him from being an idiot," Serena shrugged.

"I just don't know what else Ron would expect me to do? I get condemned for being upset about the potion and then when it turns out it wasn't even real I get condemned for not believing in him," Hermione was wiping off her cheeks as they reached the common room.

They entered and the celebration was in full swing, but Hermione stopped dead in the crowd of people and took a long sobbing breath.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Serena asked as Hermione turned on her heel and headed back for the porthole. Serena looked around and her eyes fell on Hermione's distress. Ron was pressed against Lavender Brown in such a way that it should have been illegal. They were snogging like crazy, and Serena wanted to gag slightly. She turned quickly and followed Hermione.

Once she was in the corridor she saw Hermione disappearing into an unlocked classroom. Serena entered the room and sat down next to Hermione at one of the desks. She rubbed Hermione's knees and forced a smile as Hermione made gold birds appear from her wand in the air.

"That's a cool spell," she whispered.

"I've been practicing," Hermione said back. "I—" Her words caught in her throat as the door opened again and Harry entered. Serena and Hermione both frowned. Serena watched Harry with her dark intense blue eyes as he approached the desk they were sitting at, and Hermione avoided his eye.

"Ron seems to be enjoying the celebrations," Hermione said in a high pitched voice.

"Er…does he?" Harry said with his hands deep in his pockets.

"Don't pretend you didn't see him," said Hermione. "He wasn't exactly hiding it, was—?"

The door burst open again and to Serena's horror, Ron and Lavender came barging in, hand in hand, giggling and kissing. Serena clapped her hand to her forehead and sighed.

"Oh," he said stopping dead that the sight of Harry, Hermione and Serena.

"Oops!" Lavender giggled. She backed out of the room and left the four alone, swinging the door shut behind her.

There was a horrible silence around the room in which Hermione looked at Ron, with blank eyes and he avoided hers, looking around the room.

"Oh, hi Harry. I wondered where you had gotten to," Ron said awkwardly.

Serena shook her head and sighed. It was the worse thing he could have possibly said. Hermione slid off the desk and Serena stood up to let her pass. The little golden birds she had conjured were orbiting around her head and Serena watched as she walked by Ron.

"You should get back to Lavender," she said as she walked by. "She'll wonder what you've gotten to…"

She walked very slowly to the door and Serena moved after her.

"Oppugno!" Hermione bellowed from the doorway with a swift wave of her wand. Serena dived out of the way just in time as the golden little birds dive bombed at Ron and began to peak at his head and face. He threw his arms up around his head, batting the birds away, and Serena couldn't help but smile. Hermione disappeared out of the doorway with a sob and Serena made to follow her.

"Gerremoffme!" Ron yelled waving his arms frantically.

"You're lucky that's all she did," Serena yelled so he could hear. "I would have done much worse…"

She disappeared out of the room and found Hermione in the hallway heading back for Gryffindor Tower. It was no surprise that as soon as she got there, Hermione went straight to bed with nothing to say to anyone.

Hermione and Ron stopped talking for sometime, leaving Harry and Serena caught between them again. Despite Harry being Ron's best friend though, he had to admit that he was growing sick of the Ron-Lavender combo…it seemed that whenever Ron was around Lavender was too and there was no time to really talk to Ron. The three spent time together in the library, because Hermione refused to be in the common room if Ron was there, and chatted softly in low whispers.

As the snow began to fall more frequently and Christmas approached, Serena also spent more time with Parrish. He made a point to kiss her every day, which she didn't complain about, but tried not to do it when Hermione was around.

"You'll be staying with me?" Serena asked as they walked down the corridors towards the Great Hall for the last dinner of term.

"Yes," he said holding her hand tightly.

"I received a letter from Amber yesterday that the house is complete. And it looks just like the last one…same design and everything…but nothing will bring back all that stuff."

Parrish kissed Serena's fingers delicately.

"It's okay Peaches," he said. Serena smiled at what he called her. It was cute. "Are you alright?"

"No," she said honestly. "I haven't been alright in awhile."

"Why is that?"

"Parrish," she whispered sadly. "I still miss him. Everyday."

Parrish stopped her in the corridor and looked at her, tilting her chin up.

"It's okay to miss him Serena," he said very softly. Serena nodded and continued to walk down to the marble stairs. "What else is bothering you?"

"I haven't had a vision sense that day in September," she whispered. "The day of the Gryffindor team try outs."

"Not even in your sleep?"

"No," she said. "I hope I haven't lost my power somehow…"

"I doubt that," Parrish said. "I'm a little surprised that you'd say such a thing."

Serena smiled a little.

"Yea," she said. "Me too…I just feel that this gift is the only way I'm going to get to know or see Adhara…and I want to see her. I need to know who she is."

"Do you still think she's your Aunt?"

"No," Serena shook her head. "My gut says she's something else."

"Like what?"

"A cousin," Serena whispered. "I think she's Bellatrix and Narcissa's sister…she's my second cousin."

Parrish nodded his head slowly.

"It's possible."

They had reached the bottom of the marble stairs and Serena looked at Parrish.

"Parrish," she said very seriously.

"Yes?"

"I love you," she said before they entered the Great Hall.

"I love you too," he said squeezing her hand. "I'll see you in the morning, for the train."

Serena nodded.

"Of course."

"Don't let those things on your mind bring you down Serena," he said pinching her cheek. "It's Christmas Holiday…at least try to be happy."