Love and Trust
By: Apolla
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story except for Serena and her entire family. Oh, and any other unfamiliar names of random friends and characters I might choose to throw in here.
Setting: Except for the Prologue and Epilogue, the entire story takes place in what we'll call "Marauder time" – when Sirius, James, Lily, and the rest attended Hogwarts.
Note: This takes place after OotP, using some of the info we learn in THBP, and as this was written before TDH, nothing in that book pertains to this story (although I did love the 7th book).
Pairings: Mainly Sirus/OC with a little James/Lily on the side.
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Al moved to stand in front of Serena protectively. One of the masked figures aimed directly at Al. "Avada – " a woman's voice started the killing curse, but Al deflected it with a Shielding Charm.
Dumbledore, Al, and Serena started dodging and deflecting the killing curses being hurled at them, shooting Confundus, Shielding, and Disarming Charms at the Death Eaters as well as various jinxes and hexes. "Serena, get out of here," Al shouted over the din.
"I'm not leaving you," she yelled back, shouting "Expelliarmus!" and disarming the wizard who was standing behind Al and about to curse him.
"Thanks," he called. "But leave!"
"Serena, we'll cover you," Dumbledore said. "Disapparate now."
"But Professor – "
"Now, Serena!" Dumbledore shouted.
Serena had never heard him raise his voice before, or use that tone with anyone. "All right," she said, remembering their agreement.
Al and Dumbledore closed in around her, protecting her so that she could Disapparate. She was about to do it when Al suddenly fell to the floor. "Al!" Serena cried, rushing to her brother's aid.
She and Dumbledore blocked the Death Eaters from getting to Al, who was lying unconscious on the ground. Dumbledore suddenly shouted a spell Serena had never heard before, and there a golden light surrounded Al, Serena, and Dumbledore.
The Death Eaters stared for a moment. No curses could get through, and when one reached out a hand to reach through the golden light, he pulled it back with a yelp of pain. The hooded figures muttered to each other, then Disapparated one by one. "You haven't seen the last of us!" the lone remaining figure, a man, shouted before he, too, Disapparated.
Dumbledore muttered another incantation, and the golden light disappeared. Serena was already on the floor, bending over Al's motionless body. "What's happened? Will he be okay?" Serena asked Dumbledore.
"He'll be fine," Dumbledore said.
He pointed his wand at Al, said, "Enervate", and Al's eyes flew open.
"Serena," he said immediately.
Serena grabbed her brother's hand. "I'm right here," she said, gripping it tightly.
He sat up. "What happened?"
"They left," Dumbledore said simply.
"I'm sorry, Al," Serena said.
"It's not your fault," Al said firmly.
"Yes it is. I should have – "
"That's enough, Miss Ashby," Dumbledore said. "It's not your fault. You can never blame yourself for Voldemort's evil intentions."
"Yes, Professor," Serena said softly.
He turned to Al. "Your sister and I will return to Hogwarts," he said. "I suggest you go to Alastor's. You can't stay here – they may come back."
"I know."
Al gave Serena a hug. "Be safe," he said to her.
Serena hugged him back tightly. "You too."
Dumbledore was lighting the fire as brother and sister looked at each other. Suddenly Al's gaze traveled downward. "Is that a hickey on your neck?" he asked quietly so that Dumbledore wouldn't hear.
Damn it, Sirius! Serena thought angrily as she shook her head and did her best to look innocent. "I don't know what you're talking about," Serena said to her brother, trying her best to inconspicuously readjust her robes to hide her neck.
Al looked at her reprovingly and opened his mouth to say something when Dumbledore came back over to them. "Ready to go, Miss Ashby?" he asked.
"Yes," Serena said, glad for an excuse to escape her brother's questioning.
She gave her brother another hug. "Take care of yourself, Al."
"You too. And no more hickeys," he whispered in her ear.
Serena glared at her brother, then stepped into the fireplace and shouted, "Hogwarts!"
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Sirius was scowling fiercely as he made his way back to the common room. Sure, being with Serena had been great. Comforting her, kissing her, feeling her pressed up against him – it had all been great.
And then Eric had arrived. Sirius didn't think that Eric had guessed what was going on – he was pretty slow, apparently – but Serena had looked awfully guilty when Eric had come in. Was she going to stay with Eric? She better not, Sirius thought.
He didn't care about the rules about dating a friend anymore. He wanted to be with Serena, and she would just have to get used to the idea.
"Where's Serena?" Peter asked Sirius as he came back to the common room.
Peter, James, Remus, Lily, Madison, Alice, Isabelle, and Rosie were sitting together at a table in the common room. Sirius looked around. "She's not back yet?"
"Where'd she go?" Lily asked.
"To see Dumbledore."
He didn't explain why, and his friends knew him well enough not to ask. Sirius sat there silently as his friends talked, watching the portrait hole for Serena. It was getting late, and Isabelle, Rosie, and Alice said good night and went up to bed. The Marauders, Lily, and Madison, although they didn't say it out loud, were waiting up for Serena.
Finally, when they were the only ones left in the common room, Serena entered. Her friends rushed over to her right away. "Where were you?" Lily asked.
"Is everything all right?" Madison added.
"What happened?" James put in.
"What did Dumbledore say?" Sirius asked.
Serena gave them a smile. "You guys didn't have to wait up for me," she said, looking tired and disheveled.
"We wanted to make sure you were all right," Lily said, shooting Sirius a look. "Sirius wouldn't tell us what was going on."
Serena sighed, sinking down onto a couch. "I'm fine. I – "
She was interrupted by Frank, Alice, Isabelle, and Rosie. "You're back!" Alice said. "Thank goodness. We were getting worried about you."
The four of them sat down to join the others. "What's going on?" Isabelle asked.
"Um – you know how I gave all of you my address?" Serena said.
They nodded. "Well, you won't be needing it. My house was attacked, and we're moving again."
"How do you know your house was attacked already?" Sirius asked with a frown.
"Professor Dumbledore and I went to my house to warn Al, and we were attacked by Death Eaters."
"What?" Remus exclaimed.
Her friends listening attentively, Serena told them the whole story. "I can't believe you got to fight off five Death Eaters with Dumbledore," James said enviously.
"What were you thinking? You could have been hurt!" Sirius told her, scowling.
"Is Al okay?" Lily asked, concerned.
"Why do you care?" James snapped at Lily.
"James, that's a horrible thing to say!" Alice admonished him.
"Are you sure Snape was the one who told You-Know-Who your address?" Peter asked.
"Of course. Who else could it be?" Serena asked, brushing off Peter's question as ridiculous.
Sirius frowned. "Who else, indeed."
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The next day Serena barely woke up in time to get to class. She didn't have time to get breakfast, and barely made it to Potions on time. She raced to class, only to find that the only available seat was next to Sirius. She sat down beside him and as she listened to Professor Slughorn drone on and on, Serena's mind wandered to what had happened in the owlery yesterday; it was the first time she had the chance to think about it.
What happened? Serena asked herself. Sirius definitely kissed me. He initiated it. And what a kiss! If Eric hadn't interrupted us……well, who knows what might have happened.
Serena sighed as she thought of Eric. I definitely need to talk to him. I can't see him anymore – it wouldn't be fair. I think I might have more than a crush on Sirius – I think I might really like him.
But what if he doesn't like me? I mean, sure, he kissed me, but……that doesn't mean that it meant anything to him. This is Sirius, after all. He kisses girls all the time.
Serena frowned at the thought. Was she just another girl to him? She hoped not.
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Sirius was distracted. Serena had sat down next to him, and now all he could think about was her. They hadn't had a chance to talk last night, and he wondered what she was thinking about what had happened yesterday.
I wonder if she broke up with Eric. Okay, so she probably didn't have time to talk to him. But I want her to be with me. Me. Not him.
Serena let loose with a sigh next to him, and Sirius wondered what she was thinking about. Probably about her brother. I can't believe she went to her house last night. I can't believe Dumbledore let her go, actually. Five Death Eaters! She could have gotten hurt – or killed.
Why is Voldemort after Serena and her brother? What could they possibly have done?
He looked at Serena out of the corner of his eye and saw that she was frowning. What was she frowning about? Was she thinking about breaking up with Eric?
You really need to get some help, Sirius told himself.
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Serena fingered her pendant nervously. Professor Slughorn had finished his lecture, and now everyone was moving around and talking as they began making their potions. She set her ingredients out, wondering how long she and Sirius could go before one of them started talking. "Oh damn," Serena said out loud, looking at her assembled ingredients.
"What?" Sirius asked, setting out his own ingredients.
"I forgot to buy more gillyweed."
She walked over to the school supply cabinet, hoping to find some in there. She rummaged around looking for the gillyweed when she heard someone behind her. Serena froze, then turned around to find Bellatrix Black standing there.
"I heard about what happened last night," Bellatrix said, quietly so that no one else could hear. "You were lucky once. It won't happen again."
Serena straightened her spine. "Are you threatening me, Bellatrix?"
Bellatrix cackled. "And they said you weren't smart," she said snidely.
Serena felt her fury growing and was about to reach for her wand when Sirius came over and stood slightly in front of Serena. "How's being evil these days, Bella?" he asked his cousin.
She glared at him. "How's being stupid these days, cousin?" she asked. "You're choosing the wrong side, you know. Your mother – "
"Don't mention her to me," Sirius said. "She's not my mother."
"Oh, that's right. Living with the Potters now, are we?" Bellatrix mocked.
She included Serena in her gaze when she continued. "You can both try and hide," she said. "But the Dark Lord will find you."
Her eyes lingered on Serena. "Your brother's luck will run out. And then the Dark Lord will come after you."
James, Lily, and Isabelle came over to their friends. "What's going on?" Lily asked, crossing her arms and looking coldly at Bellatrix.
"Nothing that concerns you, Mudblood," Bellatrix snapped.
James growled with anger, his hand going towards his wand and taking a step forward, but Lily laid a hand on his arm in restraint. "What's going on over here?" Professor Slughorn said, coming over to the group of students.
"Nothing," Bellatrix said quickly, glaring at the Gryffindors.
"I was just looking for some gillyweed, Professor," Serena added, showing him the plant in her fist.
Professor Slughorn looked at them all suspiciously. "Get back to your cauldrons," he commanded them.
"Yes, Professor," Lily said.
They all went back to their tables. "Are you okay?" Sirius asked in an undertone as they went back to brewing their potions.
"I'm fine," she said, pulling her hair back in a ponytail so that it wouldn't be in the way as she worked. "It's nothing I haven't heard before."
But Sirius didn't appear to be listening. "What?" Serena asked self-consciously, as he continued staring at her.
To her surprise, he gave her an arrogant grin. "Nice hickey."
Serena glared, trying to adjust her robes so that her neck would be covered. "Who says it's from you?" she asked innocently, willing to say anything to erase that annoyingly arrogant grin from his face.
His eyes narrowed and his mouth hardened. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.
Serena felt a moment of surprise. Did Sirius care? Had that really upset him? "Nothing," she replied. "I wasn't being serious. I mean – " she gave him a smile, trying to lighten the mood " – you certainly know who put it there."
Sirius didn't say anything and began stirring his cauldron. Serena followed suit, until Sirius finally spoke. "Did you break up with Eric?" he asked.
"I told you, he isn't my boyfriend," Serena said, stalling.
Sirius let out an annoyed sigh. "Fine. Are you still 'seeing Eric casually'?"
"Well – I haven't exactly had a chance to talk to him," Serena replied, staring into her cauldron.
She snuck a look at Sirius, who was avoiding looking at her. "Besides, you're with Emma, aren't you?"
"No," Sirius said shortly.
Serena felt a stab of surprise. "You're not?" she couldn't help herself from asking. "Since when?"
Sirius shrugged. "I broke up with her this morning."
Just then, Professor Slughorn dismissed the class. As their friends headed towards them, Serena leaned in towards Sirius. "We need to talk. Let's try tonight, okay?"
He nodded as James, Lily, and Isabelle came over and started asking Serena about what Bellatrix had said.
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Sirius was eating lunch with Peter when he saw Severus Snape enter the Great Hall. He felt both anger and surprise upon seeing the greasy fifth year. Why was he here? Hadn't Dumbledore punished him? Serena could have been killed thanks to Snape sending those Death Eaters to her home.
All of the sudden he came up with the perfect idea for revenge. He went to the owlery, wrote a note and sent it by school owl. Somebody had to teach Snape a lesson.
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"Hey Remus," Serena said, coming into the hospital wing to visit her friend.
She looked around. "No Madison?"
"No, she had to work on an Ancient Runes essay," Remus said with a smile.
His expression turned serious with his next words. "I heard about what happened in Potions."
"Wow, do you spies everywhere?" Serena teased.
Remus couldn't help but smile. "Come on, Serena, this is serious. Bellatrix is nuts. You need to be careful."
"I will, Dad. Don't worry."
Serena was determined not to take this seriously, and Remus had no choice but to follow her lead.
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"James!" Peter said breathlessly.
He had run up to James, who was sitting with Serena and Lily in the Gryffindor common room, and was out of breath. "What's going on?"
"Sirius has done something stupid."
James looked resigned, but Serena looked worried. "What has he done?" she asked.
Peter winced. "Snape has always wondered where Remus disappears to every month," he said. "And earlier today – Sirius sent Snape a note, telling him where to go tonight if he wants to find out."
Lily put a hand over her mouth. "But Remus will be a werewolf tonight!" she said, horrified. "If Snape runs into him – "
"We've got to stop him," James said, getting to his feet.
James, Peter, Lily, and Serena followed James out of the castle. "How, exactly, are we supposed to help Snape?" Serena asked as they ran. "Besides, it's just Snape."
"Serena, look, I know you don't like him, but Remus would never get over it if he hurt someone while he was a werewolf! And Sirius knows that," Lily said with a frown.
They stopped in front of the Whomping Willow. "What? Why are we stopping?" Serena questioned.
"Okay, after this – then you definitely know all of our secrets," James said.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you," Lily added.
"Couldn't tell me what?" Serena asked.
Then, before her eyes, Peter transformed into a gray rat and James turned into a silver stag. "What – " Serena began as Peter froze the tree and he and James ran into the passage.
"They learned how to transform so they could be with Remus in his werewolf form," Lily explained quickly. "That way he can't hurt them, and they go on their little adventures every month."
"Lily, maybe you should go get Dumbledore," she said.
Lily nodded. "That's a good idea, but – I don't want to leave you here alone. What if Remus comes out, and they can't stop him?"
"Okay, Lily, after this – well, you'll know almost all of my secrets. Just promise me you'll go and get Dumbledore."
"Okay, Serena, but what – "
Lily broke off as Serena transformed into a gray cat. She stared at Lily until Lily turned and headed back towards the castle. Lily looked over her shoulder and saw the cat scamper off down the passageway. "Why are all of my friends also animals?" Lily asked herself as she ran to Dumbledore's office.
Meanwhile, Serena – in cat form – ran and caught up with Peter and James, who were also both in animal form. She had no way to communicate with them, so she followed a little way behind. Catching sight of Snape, James transformed back into human form and went up to him. "Snape, you've got to get out of here right now," James said.
Serena looked further ahead and saw a big black dog standing in front of the door where howling could be heard. That's got to be Sirius, Serena thought. And Remus is behind that door. Oh, what are we going to do?
"I'm not leaving," Snape said stubbornly.
"Listen to me," James said urgently. "If you don't stop, you're going to come face-to-face with a werewolf. We've got to leave. Now."
James began pulling Snape out of the passageway as Remus broke through the door. Peter, who was still in rat form, ran in front of James and Snape in order to freeze the Whomping Willow. Sirius was fighting with Remus, who had scented humans and was trying to go after them.
Serena remembered something that she had read when she was looking up information on werewolves. Werewolves didn't like cats – they were afraid to come too close to them. Serena couldn't remember why, at the moment, but it didn't matter. She had to do what she could to help Sirius.
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"Where's Serena?" James asked Lily.
"Um – "
Lily didn't know whether Serena wanted James and Peter to know. She had gotten Professor Dumbledore, explained what was going on, and they had just reached the Whomping Willow when James and Snape had emerged. Lily hadn't seen Peter; she assumed he had gone behind a tree or something to transform where Dumbledore wouldn't see.
Dumbledore was in his office talking to Snape at the moment. James and Lily were waiting outside so that they could tell Dumbledore their versions of what had happened.
"She went to help Sirius," Lily finally said.
"What? But Remus was there! Is she crazy?"
"No. It turns out that Serena has another little secret. She's an Animagus, too."
"What?" James asked, sounding shocked. "That's impossible. There are no recent registered Animagi."
"Well, are you registered?" Lily asked.
"No, but – "
"Look, Serena didn't tell me the whole story," Lily said. "She told me to get Dumbledore, then changed into a gray cat right in front of me."
James shook his head. "I wonder how many Animagi are really running around the wizarding world."
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Once Remus was safely back in the Shrieking Shack, Sirius came out of the passageway, still in dog form and still accompanied by the mysterious gray cat. Once out of reach of the Whomping Willow, he changed back into human form. He was leaning down to pat the cat's head when suddenly Serena was standing next to him.
Sirius jumped back. "What the f – "
"Don't freak out," Serena said, cutting him off.
"But you – how did you – "
"I could ask you the same question," Serena said. "Illegal Animagus, are we?"
"Yes," Sirius admitted. "But so are you."
"Yes, I am," Serena said.
They started making their way back to the castle. "My brother and I both learned, because – well, for the same reason I learned how to Apparate."
"So that you could escape Voldemort if you needed to," Sirius reasoned for her.
Serena nodded. He slung an arm around her shoulders. "James, Lily, and Snape are in with Dumbledore already," Serena said. "Peter managed to disappear somewhere. I don't know what's going to happen."
"I couldn't let him get away with it," Sirius told her, his eyes searching as he looked at her.
Serena gave him a small smile. "I know."
"I wasn't going to let Remus get to him, either. Just scare him."
Serena wrapped her arm around Sirius' waist. "I know."
The two made their way up to Dumbledore's office. James and Lily were sitting outside. "Sirius, Serena!" Lily exclaimed, getting up and coming towards them.
James quickly followed, and Sirius and Serena let go of each other as they approached. "What's going on?" Serena asked.
"Dumbledore's talking to Snape right now," Lily said.
She smacked Sirius. "What were you thinking?"
"I – "
"You sent Snape to confront a werewolf, Sirius!"
"I – "
"Remus is going to be so upset when he finds out!" she continued.
"I – "
"How could you do that to him?"
"I – "
"I can't believe you did that," James put in.
"Stop!" Sirius exclaimed, holding up a hand to keep Lily from speaking again – or hitting him again.
Lily put her hands on her hips. "Explain yourself, Black," she snapped at him.
"I – I wasn't really going to let Snape see Remus," Sirius said defensively. "I was there. I just wanted to scare him."
"Why?" James asked. "Didn't you think about how mad Remus was going to get? And you know what he's like when he's mad."
"No, I – I guess I didn't really think about that," Sirius admitted.
"What happens when Remus gets really mad?" Serena wanted to know.
James, Sirius, and Lily exchanged a look. "It's not good," James finally replied. "You'll see. Because he'll definitely be furious with Sirius."
"James – Snape is the one who told Voldemort Serena's address," Sirius said. "What would you have done? And besides, no one was hurt."
James sighed, but Lily spoke up before James could agree with what Sirius had done. "It doesn't matter, Sirius. You never think about what could happen, the risks of your little schemes! What if Remus had gotten to Snape? Then what would you have done?"
"Celebrated?" Serena suggested.
Sirius grinned, James covered a smile, and Lily glared. Just then Snape came out of Dumbledore's office, avoided looking at the four Gryffindors, and slammed the door angrily behind him.
Professor Dumbledore stood in the doorway of his office, looking serious. "I'd like to speak with you three," Professor Dumbledore said, gesturing towards Serena, Lily, and James. "Mr. Black, please wait out here."
Shooting Sirius a last look, Serena, James, and Lily made their way into Dumbledore's office.
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Author's Note: Don't forget to review!