Summery: It's just another year at Hogwarts with nothing out of the ordinary. Unless you count the new girl Serena Moon, a pale skinned and very timid girl, who goes out of her way to avoid making friends.

Warning: The Truth is told. Now I don't know a whole lot about this kind of thing. But I wrote it how I think things should happen. I hope you don't mind.

Information: This in the sixth year, so I am recreating that year into my own molding. I may add the other girls and I may not. Depending if whether I can or not. There are no scouts, no talking cats, as far as I know, but a lot of drama, so beware.

Things are going to be picking up from here on out. I have a lot that needs to happen in the next several chapters, so Enjoy!

-Now Onto The Story-

Chapter eleven:
A Well Kept Secret

The ceiling above showed a dark night sky lacking any light. The stars were gone and the moon nonexistent. It was a nigh; Serena definitely didn't want to live to see. A night where nothing existed, a night that only seemed to exist within her heart.

Staring down at her dinner feast, she tried not to think about the miles and miles of snow that stretched across the Hogwarts' grounds, or the darkness that hovered above her head like an ill omen of her future.

Serena pushed the food on her plate around with her fork, wishing she could have an appetite. But the thought of food made her nauseous and her stomach curdled at the smell of it.

With a small sigh, she shoved her plate forward and moved to stand. "Finished already," Remus inquired, his expression filled with concern. It was Christmas Eve and the feast was as grand as the feast they shared on the first day of school.

The conversations in the Great Hall dimmed as people, teachers, and her classmates turned to look at her. "I'm just tired," she said quietly, her chin falling to her chest. "Good night."

Serena fled from the Great Hall, feeling an overwhelming tightness building in her chest. I'm sorry Remus, she said to herself sadly. Tears burned the back of her eyes, as she climbed the Hogwarts stairs and followed the many corridors it took to reach her room.

Like before, she tapped the bricks in a certain order and the familiar door materialized in front of her. Knocking once, she begged, "Can I please come in?"

The door clicked and she shoved it open. Closing the door soundlessly behind her, she fell back against it. I'm sorry I'm not strong enough, she said to the room voicelessly. But I can't change who I am.

I can't change what I am.

----

Harry woke late the next morning. Feeling groggy, but well slept, he sat up in bed. The room was empty since everyone in his dorm had gone home for the holidays.

Yawning lazily, he stretched his arms above his head and curled his toes. Slowly, but surely his body woke up, and dragged itself out of bed. Tripping over something, Harry stumbled forward, but caught himself.

Cursing beneath his breath, he turned to see what he had kicked with his toe. There, lying next to his bed was a hefty looking package, wrapped neatly. Oh, he said with a flush. His eyes then took in the other discarded boxes. It's Christmas.

Harry eyed the box again and looked at the small tag on top. Raising both of his eyebrows at the name, he chose to walk around the box and eye it carefully.

Seeing that nothing appeared off about it, he crouched down and untied the bow. Nothing happened, so he carefully tore into the wrapping. His body tensed for some kind of explosion. A simple box greeted him then, so he finished by opening it as well. Confetti and tissue greeted him.

Frowning now, Harry dug in, searching for what lay inside. His hand grabbed onto something solid, so he carefully pulled it free. Harry felt his eyes widen at the object that had been so carefully wrapped.

It was a very well crafted bowl.

The inside was deep, the walls quite thick and it wasn't very light. On the outside, intricate detail made the antique lovely.

Harry looked back towards the box, hoping to find an explanation. Barely peaking, the corner of a card stuck out as if asking to be read. Harry grabbed it, tore the envelope and read what lay inside.

Merry Christmas,
Here is a bowl for you to store your troubled thoughts. It can be a place where you can visit them only when you wish to and on your own terms.
 I know what its like to be interrupted by a memory you wish you could forget. Maybe now you can.

Serena Moon

Harry couldn't believe what he was reading. Looking back towards the bowl, he frowned. Why would she get him something? It was quite clear she wanted nothing to do with him. But then he remembered that day in Defense Against the Dark Arts. When she had thanked him for helping her.

Setting the letter aside, he turned his gaze to his abandoned trunk near the end of his bed. To the item he knew that lay inside. I think I will, he told himself, making up his mind.

----

It was Christmas and despite the joyous day, spent in the company of friends, Harry felt lost. Remus had left some time last night without so much as a word. But for once in his life, he understood. Tonight was the Full Moon. But what worried Harry most was the fact that Serena was also missing.

----

It was still early. Not quite sunset, but it was drawing near. The cold of the shrieking shack felt bitter against her skin, which was flushed with a fever.

Panting, her muscles spasmed, causing her to kick out at one of the bars that held her captive. She moaned, her head rolling to the side as her breath came in short gasps. It'll be over soon. Very soon, she thought with relief.

The illness would fade, the pain would diminish and once again, she would count the days left till it started all over again. A sharp pain shot through her abdomen and tears sprung to her eyes.

She was shaking, her body quivering as each sharp pain shot through her, growing stronger each minute that passed by.

As she laid there too weak to even move, or even try and touch the food Dumbledore had brought up for her, she thought about the gift she had given Harry. It had been a last minute decision, one she was still unsure if she had even done it. When she had gone shopping at Hogsmaede for Luna and Artemis's gift, she'd stumbled upon the item. It had seemed so right. And so she'd bought it, thinking of Harry the whole time.

A tear slipped passed her closed eyes, as she tried to see Harry's reaction to the gift. She was sure that it must have surprised him. She hadn't been very nice to him all year.

Serena bit her lip to hold back a cry, when another spasm shook her form. The pain was nearly unbearable. Why Snape refused to give her the potion, she couldn't be sure. She only knew that if she didn't get some soon, she just might die from the pain before she turned of age.

Artemis had told her once, during her change when she was younger that the pain was this bad, because she was fighting it. If she'd just accept it and allow it to happen, it wouldn't hurt so much and for so long.

But how could she not fight it? It was an abomination, a monster. How could she accept something like that? And after what she'd already done, attacking her own friend. It was out of the question.

Serena allowed herself to breathe, when the pain subsided. It was a dull stabbing ache now, now that her body was adjusting to its monthly ritual. From now till it was time, it would just be an annoyance. And then the real pain would begin.

"Bloody hell," someone whispered.

Serena's eyes flew open by the unexpected voice. Sure she'd heard the Shrieking shack was haunted, but this was no ghost. "H-Harry," she breathed, her voice hoarse from her muffled screams and all the crying she'd done for the past two days.

"W-what are you doing here?" she asked. She struggled to sit up, but the pain in her belly was too much to deal with. "Who did this to you," he yelled, rushing towards the cage she'd locked herself in.

At seeing the lock, he pulled out his wand. "NO!" she screamed, her hand flying through the bars to grab his arm.

Startled, he looked down at where she grabbed his wand hand tightly. And then he lifted his gaze to look at her. "What's wrong Serena," he asked. Him saying her name held her for a moment, before she shook her head to clear it. "Why are you locked up in a cage," he demanded. He sounded very upset.

"You need to leave," she whispered. It was almost unbearable to speak. It wasn't long before she wouldn't be able to speak at all. "It's not safe."

He shook his head and the notion frustrated her. "Harry I don't have a whole lot of time, you need to go," the end came out as a growl. And much to her horror, she saw the nails on the hand that held his, lengthened. Pulling her hand back, she pressed herself to the back of the cage.

"Please leave Harry," she begged, tears escaping her eyes, as the pain started anew. Only worse. "I don't want you to see me like thi-." She'd barely finished, when a scream tore through her throat. Oh god it hurts, she cried inside. Her voice was gone, leaving the pale skinned Serena alone to her agonizing thoughts, as she was swallowed whole by something evil and dark.

Harry had just pulled away from the cage, when she screamed. He moved forward, his hands grabbing the bars, he jerked hard on them. "Serena!" he shouted into the cage, trying, and wanting so badly to help her.

She screamed again and his heart lurched in his chest. Her face contorted into pain, but then she began to change.

Pulling back, Harry felt himself thrown back into his third year, back at the shrieking shack, when the Full Moon emerged from behind the clouds.

Harry sat transfixed, as the girl he thought he knew, changed into something he didn't. Gone was the pale skin girl, who hardly ate, and kept to herself. Her clothes shredded on her skin, as her body lengthened. He could only imaged the pain she was going through, as bones crack, and broke, only to settle into a new form. Skin stretched, and darkened, as hair ripped across it. But unlike Remus, the hair was blonde, not black. This caused confusion, but it was brief.

When the transformation was complete, Serena howled, her back arching as if she was to praise the moon that wasn't there. Then getting on all fours, Serena turned her blue eyes on him and growled low in her throat.

Harry stiffened, unsure what he should do. Leaving seemed the most logical idea, but it didn't sit right with him to leave her alone like that. He was startled from his thoughts, when Serena threw herself against the bars, trying to break free. He pulled back in fear, but didn't run away.

Realizing, that she had to be hungry, Harry looked about the open room. There, on the floor near the cage was a plate full of food. Pretending he was interested with something at his right, he waited, till she turned to look as well.

With one quick movement, he snatched the plate away, only to be growled at by Serena for being tricked. This so had not been what he'd planned to do for Christmas.

"I bet your hungry," he said out of his own nervousness. Taking a slice of meat from the plate, he tossed it at her. It made it through the bars and she caught it with her teeth. "Good girl," he said, only to be growled at again.

Sighing, Harry carefully fed her the rest of the plate, piece by piece. When it was empty, she looked at him expectantly. "Still," he inquired. When she just growled, he nodded in defeat. "All right, all right. Just wait right there, I'll get you some more."

Climbing to his feet, he turned to leave. Serena growled from her cage. Looking at her from his shoulder, he lifted a brow in questioning. "I'll be right back," he said to reassure her.

And with that he left the shrieking shack. As he made his way outside, beneath the Whomping Willow, he could have sworn he heard her howl once more.

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Just to clear things up. This is a Harry/Serena. Sorry you Draco/Serena fans. If it makes you happy, I'll tell you that I have two stories with Draco/Serena couple coming very soon.

I want to just say THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! THANK YOU! I loved reading them. All of your guys and girls questions and speculations were great. I will admit, all will be explained in the NEXT TWO CHAPTERS. BE PREPAPRED!

And I also want to say. I AM SO SORRY for such a long wait. I know I know there is no excuse. It was just plain laziness. I keep telling myself you need to run home and update LP, you better now before its too late. And well I finally did it. SO REALLY REALLY SORRY guys and gals. Next chap, promise to not wait as long for the next chap, since you all will be waiting to see how things shape up for Serena. I promise!

Well enjoy the rest of your day.

Night Games: They are two different people, from two different worlds. When their paths collide, will they find the chance at life within each other? Or will the people who are after them, stop them first? D/S

The Sunday Morning After: At a party thrown by a mutual friend, Draco and Serena meet for the very first time. Drunk and aroused, the two slip off to his place, only to wake with no recollection of the night before. D/S

LP