Severus woke the next day with a back ache. He looked around confused, why was he in Albus's office?
"Ah Good Morning Severus" Albus had just sat down in his chair. "I hope you are feeling better today." Minerva came in a moment later floating a tea set.
"Perhaps next time you could wait till you reach your quarters to drink an entire vial of Dreamless sleep Severus." Minerva said with a smirk. Severus could only nod his head curtly thinking if they had not traumatized him he could have waited.
"Last night after we went to bed Albus and I."
"Gods I really don't want to know what his little wizard was up to last night." Albus chuckled and Severus swore he heard him mumble Up it was up it was. He needed a new job.
"Oh do grow up Severus. You have known for 15 years Albus and I were together did you think never had sex?"
"I did until last night thank you for that by the way." This time Albus outright laughed.
"As I was saying we discussed this and we think for now you should continue to spy for Voldemort. We want you to help her train. I cannot stress enough that she must protected at all cost." Severus wondered what it was Albus wasn't telling him.
"I have already agreed to take the girl on as potions apprentice." At their incredulous looks he said. "She is far beyond the level of the dunderheads I normally teach."
"There is an order meeting tonight to discuss this Cosmos character. She is an unknown and that is not good in these dark times. All right my boy down to breakfast you guy." Severus scowled and headed towards the door.
"Severus, thank you for offering Ms. Moon a room in your quarters" Severus paled and practically ran from the room. Damn Albus too many names Dumbledore to the bowels of Hells. Just how did he know that was there anything that old coot didn't know?
In the infirmary Serena argued with Madam Pomphrey.
"Madam Pomphrey please I need to go back to class I'll fall behind."
"Then your friends will bring you the work. Not only have you been in here twice already this week but you left without permission and come back in need of three blood replenishers three!" She shouted "Not to mention your core was nearly depleted."
"Madam Pomphrey please just check my core its fine I promise." She put on her cutest puppy dog face the one that always worked on Haruka. Madam Pomphrey huffed but she did the spell to check her core.
"How is this possible? You should be here for at least a week. What is going on?"
"I heal much faster than most people, that's why you never see me in here. I can heal most wounds unless I'm exhausted and even exhaustion doesn't last as long for me." Madam Pomphrey looked unsure but reluctantly agreed to let Serena leave if she promised to come right back if she felt bad. Serena promised and ran to the dungeon excited to escape the infirmary at last.
She ran into Professor Snape in the dungeon.
"Ms. Moon, please have a seat. Before we speak I need you to promise me you will sit and listen to everything I have to say. You will not rush out of here guns blazing to murder our students ok." Serena raised her eyebrow both at his choice of words and the thought that she would rush out to murder anyone. Her temper was not that bad. She nodded her acceptance.
"Draco Malfoy has written to his father about a bridal contract with you. Unfortunately the Dark Lord was present and he has decided that you will make him a suitable bride." Severus waited knowing the girls short temper.
"Are you shitting me?"
"No Ms. Moon I am not shitting you. The Dark Lord seems to think you are a descendent of some long lost queen and that you hold some kind of power that will help him. He wishes that I spy on you. Give him information about you then deliver you to him along with Armortentia and a blood spell binding you to him."
"I told you that stuff was vile. It should be banned legalized rape. If the noseless wonder comes near me with that stuff I'm going to cut off his other snake. Fucking Malfoy that little butt monkey, your telling me this I am assuming because beating the balls off Malfoy is out, am I correct?"
"Your choice of words never ceases to amaze me. Yes harming the Malfoy brat is out of the question, tempting but out of the question. Albus wants me to train you and I do still need an apprentice to help with the Wolfsbane potion."
"Fine I won't hurt the pale face bastard yet anyways."
Serena spent the rest of the day avoiding everyone. Now that they knew she wasn't a Death Eater and that to hex her would start a war, everyone wanted to be her friend. She knew she would forgive them just not yet. It had hurt when the whole school turned on her. During Herbology Draco slipped her a note begging her to meet him after class.
"What do you want Draco?"
"Look Rina, I'm really sorry. I didn't tell the Slytherins to hex but I am sorry. I just was so angry."
"I am promised because I chose to be. You can't force me to be with you, Draco don't you understand."
"I love you I really do. I know you don't believe me but I love you. Father wrote to me he's mad I am supposed to stay away from you. I'm so sorry now the Dark Lord wants you and it's all my fault. "Serena was furious with the boy but she couldn't stay mad at him. She hugged him tightly.
"Let me help you winter break is coming don't go home come with me." Before he could answer Millicent strode towards them and yanked Draco from her grasp.
"She forgave you?" She asked him
"Yes…"
"I haven't" with that Millicent punched him in the nose. Serena was pretty sure it was broken
"Now I forgive don't let it happen again." Millicent strode away as quickly as she came. Serena had to laugh.
"It's not funny I think she broke my nose."
"You deserved it but I will fix it anyways come here you big baby." She pinched his nose and yanked it back into place.
"GAHHH" Serena smiled a little she could have healed it broken and it would have set itself but where was the fun in that. Draco wasn't the only one to apologize Lavender and Padma had come to apologize as well as half the Gryffindor's but Harry Ron and Hermione avoided her like the plague. She didn't know if it was because they were ashamed or angry honestly she didn't care betrayal was betrayal.
That night in her first extra potions class Serena huffed in frustration for third time.
"Is there something you wish to discuss Ms. Moon?"
"Serena."
"Excuse me."
"My name is Serena if it's just us can't you call me by my name? I am living with you, we should be on first name basis."
"Were not living together."
"I have a bedroom in your quarters."
"Yes but…"
So were living together. It's fine you're not the first man I've lived with not really."
"What! Is it that blond haired Casanova that came with the Japanese Minister? You must be careful you are very beautiful and there are men out there that will take advantage of you."
"Blond haired Casanova oh Goddess, I can't wait to tell Rita that." Serena laughed till her sides hurt.
"I fail to see the humor in this."
"If you knew Andrew you wouldn't. Andrew is like my big brother he's known me forever. He's also married. I lived with an old boyfriend for a while when my parents died. It was no big deal."
"Is that where you go in the summers?" He asked because he was concerned not jealous. He didn't care that she lived with some man. A man that had his own apartment she was only fifteen how old was this guy.
"No we broke up and then he passed away."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"I'm sorry he died but not that we broke up he was an asshat." He shook his head.
"So I wanted to try something for the Wolfsbane but I wasn't sure how to add it or when, how do you know how to add an ingredient if it's better crushed or chopped and if you stir clockwise or not. I mean I can make the potions I know how the ingredients interact with each other and why but I still haven't figured out the stirring."
"To figure that out you would use arithmancy to find out the ingredients algorithm. For example Phoenix tears equals + 62 so you stir 62 times clockwise."
"I hate math" she muttered
"What did you want to try?"
"Well the Moon Orchid. It blooms once every 20 years near a cave on Mount Latmus. It only blooms under the full moon."
"How what huh?"
"Aren't you supposed to be the eloquent one?" She asked with a smile. "There's a sacred cave near the top of the mountain supposedly the cave where Endymion sleeps after Selene put him in an eternal sleep so she could kiss him while he slept, as if. The truth is I mean she the legend is that moon princess loved Earth so much she used to sneak down to Earth. There was a cave that she rest in and she planted some flowers that bloomed on the moon. They grew but the soil on Earth changed them. They would bloom only every twenty years when the moon was full or when the princess came back to visit. It is said you can tell when the princess has come because the flowers take over half the mountain and bloom for seven days."
"I've heard the myth I even had some of my suppliers try and get me one. The demand is so high that they want 12000 galleons for a single flower. Even if we could get one and it worked it would be impossible to brew the potion in the quantity that we need."
"Actually I have some flowers here in my bag and I have some for Professor Sprout we're going to plant them in greenhouse D by the lake. If we can get them to grow well have a supply."
"Even if they take to the soil they won't bloom for 20 years unless you have a moon princess in that bag to." Serena who had taken a sip of her tea began to choke. She was saved from replying by Sirius Black who had burst in the room followed by an out of Breath Remus Lupin
"I told Dumbledore you couldn't be trusted but he didn't listen to me. Serena I am ashamed of you I thought you were Harry's friend. Whatever Snape did."
"What are you doing here" Snape snarled.
"I came to stop you from whatever you're doing. I know you hate Harry and that you recruited his friend and turned her against him. What was it Snivellus is she under the imperious. Voldemort has you recruiting little girls. What else are you having her do Snivellus? Dumbledore has you playing with little girls" All hell broke loose Severus punched Sirius in the face and while Serena had kicked him in the balls then jumped on his back pulling his hair.
"Ball sucking son of a whore monkey don't you talk to him like that." She yelled from his back. Remus struggled to pull her off and Snape kept throwing punches Sirius was trying desperately to keep Serena from yanking his hair out and Snape from killing him. He threw a punch but it hit Remus.
"What on Earth is going on here?" A voice yelled that had Serena sliding down Sirius's back.
"Minnie, Snivellus is torturing Harry and has"
"Professor McGonagall, Snape punched Sirius"
"Minerva, He came in unannounced and said the most vile"
"Harukachan, That rat bastard" everyone started speaking at once
"Enough! Separate corners all of you. Ms. Moon kindly refrain from kicking Mr. Black." Serena stomped on his foot before going to the corner next to Snape.
"Now Ms. Moon what happened?" Sirius started to protest but at Minerva's look quieted.
"That stupid Dicktit came in here and started calling me and Professor Snape Death Eaters then he accused him of putting me under the Imperious and…" Serena couldn't finish. With the memory of Diamond so fresh in her mind she couldn't bring herself to continue.
"Sirius how could you say such a thing."
"She was supposed to be with Harry. He loves her then this greasy git comes in and now she's a Death Eater what do you expect me to believe. He tortured Harry in Potions class did he tell you that." Sirius started towards Severus wand raised. Serena stood in front of him blocking Severus from Sirius.
Severus could only gape. That girl stood in front of him. She defended him and was willing to stand in front of a wand for him. Granted she reached chest level so Sirius could still hit him but that was beside the point.
"Harry pulled a wand on a professor or did he forget to tell you that. Professor Snape hung Harry by the ankle and yelled at him. I would have hexed his balls off in his position Harry's lucky. Furthermore I am not supposed to be with anyone." Serena yelled still refusing to budge from her position in front of Snape. Severus tried to move her bodily out of the way but couldn't little minx had put a sticking charm on her feet.
"We should just discuss this calmly." Remus tried but was silenced by Sirius
"We should just give her Armortentia it will be safer for her with Harry. He can turn her from the Death Eaters." Snape moved toward Sirius with the intent of strangling the bastard to death when Serena raised her hand and Sirius and Remus were held to the ceiling their faces red as if an invisible hand was choking them.
"I will never be forced again! Do you hear me? I will kill anyone that tries. Never will another man lay his hands on me against my will." They fell to the floor coughing and wheezing. "You are nothing but a coward and a bully. You spent years picking on a boy because he was poor and little now your own nephew is in the same position. Yet you stand there and pretend to be good. I see you Sirius Black scared little boy afraid James wouldn't like you anymore so you followed his lead and took it further. It is your fault he became a Death Eater in the first place, you and the rest of the Marauders and even Lilly, if you had showed him kindness rather than disdain, him and many others would never have joined Voldemort. Severus Snape is ten times the man you are. He never threatened have me raped for the greater good." She smacked him then walked into Severus's waiting arms unable to stop the trembling.
"You call me a monster. She was helping me to improve the Wolfsbane potion for you Remus and if any of you ignoramuses ever picked up a paper you would know that not only is she not a Death Eater she recruited the Japanese Ministry to help us fight against Voldemort. They have 300 aurors that are coming to help us. Minerva I need to get her some calming draught she won's shaking." Minerva only nodded her head. She sat heavily in Snape's chair. Now she knew what memories kitten had that she would rather die than relive. She put her face in her hands and cried.
"Minerva I'm sorry I didn't think…"
"Of course you didn't think you never do. You owe them both an apology. Voldemort is after her, he wants to use the Armortentia on her as well to force her to marry him so he could use her powers. You suggested drugging and legalized rape of a 15 year old girl. She's right how are you any different than Voldemort? Leave just leave go see Albus I can't right now I just can't." Remus pulled Sirius from the room they walked heads down towards the headmaster. Ashamed of what they had done and knowing that Minerva and Serena were both right.
"Ms. Moon, Ms. Moon Serena please look at me its professor Snape, your fine no one will hurt you. I promise." Serena blinked at him the tears had stopped but she still trembled.
"I will leave Severus I would rather die than have them use that awful stuff on me."
"I will keep you safe I give you my word."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." She whispered to him
"I have to keep my promise how else will I get the Moon Orchid?" He told her smiling. She laughed as he intended.
"Accio calming draught, here drink this it will help. Get some sleep." He started to walk towards her door but was stopped by her hand.
"Stay please I don't want to be alone." She looked at him with pleading eyes and he had no choice but to go back he sat on the edge of her bed.
"Wuthering Heights?" he asked.
"No, something happy something where the good guys are really good and the bad guys die and the prince marries the princess and they live happily ever after."
"I don't think I have anything like that."
"Then make it up." He rolled his eyes but started. "Once upon a time there was a princess from the moon and she fell in love with a shepherd named Endymion."
"No I hate that story that's not how it happened he was a prince and a tit bag."
"Who's telling the story here" He asked exasperated.
"You have to tell it right, she thought she was in love with the handsome prince but he was vain and selfish so she fell in love with the humble scholar." She snuggled into his side.
"Fine the moon princess thought she was in love with Prince Endymion but he proved to be vain and selfish. He spent all his time practicing swordsmanship and wooing the ladies of the court and the poor princess was often left alone. She met a scholar and he taught her Earth Magic. They spent many hours together learning and inventing new magic. One day the princess realized she had fallen in love with her friend the scholar but the evil prince was jealous he wanted the princess for himself. So the prince and the scholar fought and the scholar was wounded. The princess used the magic the scholar taught her to banish Endymion. He was no longer a prince now nothing more than a shepherd and she married the scholar and they lived happily ever after." He looked over and saw she was asleep. He tried to leave but she had his robed clutched in her little hands. He tried again but she started to stir. He transfigured the bed bigger and leaned back fully intending to leave once she let go. It was a small thing to stay with her and keep her nightmares away. She who had defended him more fiercely than anyone ever had, no it was no trouble at all…
Serena woke some hours later to warmth on her side. She snuggled deeper with a sigh, Serena felt more at peace in those last hours than she had in many lifetimes. She jumped a little when she realized her pillow moved. Cracking one eye open she saw Severus was sitting on the edge of her bed fast asleep. She still had his robes in her hands. Smiling softly she realized love wasn't a lightning strike like most people believed it was a soft breeze. It started small with friendship and trust. Love was a choice. Even fated lovers could be torn from each other. You had to work for love and it wasn't always shiny and pretty. Love came in those moments that were ugly and dirty. When you cried for a loss and someone held you. When you were sick and they took care of you. When you were bleeding and they wiped your face. Being with Darien made her realize it was those little moments that proved love. Not grand gestured for an eager audience. It was holding your hair back when you drank too much and were sick. Seeing you with a snotty nose and still giving you a kiss. All those things that she never had with him that's what she craved. Saving her and not accepting a boon. Reading to her at night for those reasons alone Serena knew that even if Severus Snape never accepted her she would love him always.
This one is a little short but I am experiencing writers block. I had an outline on how this story was supposed to go and it just kind went wherever it wanted to (much like my children) so now I'm here like well shit now what, but never fear I shall persevere. Thank you for the adds it gives me smiles in my soul. Thanks to moon kitty 87 and Puffgirl1952 the 2cd