Harry Potter is not mine.
Serena watched the hotel silently, she had been watching the building for a couple of days now. Each time she'd come back as a different animal. As far as Serena knew the occupants of the building were unaware that they were being watched. Finally on the fifth day Serena stalked up to the hotel cloaked in black. Without a word the Slytherin heir stuck the note to the door and then apparated back to Hogwarts. She ignored the looks of her roommates as she walked into the dorm and fell asleep right away in her bed, clothes and all.
"Rena, get up!" Hermione shouted the next day. Serena groaned, not wanting to go to class.
Eventually Hermione was able to get Serena out of bed and the two met their bonds downstairs for breakfast. Cedric wrapped his arms around Serena, he could see what going after Bellatrix was doing to his bond and it worried him. He saw how she barely ate and only slept a couple hours each night. Cedric had tried talking to Serena about it but all she did was deny it. Serena kept up with her studies but it seemed like she had reverted physically back to the girl she was before.
"Lady De Luca, are you even paying attention to what I'm saying?" Professor Flitwick asked in a gentle tone. They were in charms with the Ravenclaws, Serena had been thinking about the night before and hadn't been paying attention to the lesson.
"Sorry sir." Serena apologized, Flitwick sighed and continued on with his lesson. Serena tried for the rest of the day to pay attention in all of her classes but it was difficult. She knew that the others were worried about her but she didn't care. Everything that had been going on was slowly eating away at her and to be so close to finally putting her demons to rest was driving Serena almost insane. It was all she could think about.
"This just came for you, one of the elves delivered it." Hermione gave it to Serena, deciding it was best if she let the girl deal with things herself.
Serena looked at the note, the sloppy handwriting and misspelled words told the Slytherin heir the location that this would all end. Serena went up to the girl's dorm and changed into a pair of black pants, gray shirt, and her family robe. She made sure that her extra wand was hidden and couldn't be taken from her, just to be sure Serena hid her dagger in her boot. Quickly, the young girl shut off her link to the others and wrote out notes for each of them. Serena apologized for everything she put her friends through, how she wish she could change things, and how much she loved them. Once that was done she put timers on them with a spell she and Hermione had been working on that would send the letters to each of them at a certain time. With that Serena apparated to the location that would decide her fate…
(I really thought about stopping here but I'm not that mean.)
Harry paced in front of the fireplace with worry while Hermione watched from her seat, they couldn't remember how long since it had been since the elves had brought her back but it seemed like forever. Hermione could remember seeing her pale skin looking an ashen gray, Hermione had to hide her face in Harry's shoulder because it hurt so much to see the girl who had become so much like a younger sister to her in such a state. She could still remember seeing the cuts on her face, the blood that ran and mixed with her long black hair. Streaks of crimson running through ink black, it was something that Hermione didn't think she'd forget.
Harry didn't think he'd ever seen her look so broken, she looked like a china doll that fell from a high shelf. He could remember the look on Madame Pomfrey's face, the look of horror and the smallest look of doubt in herself. The portrait swung open, the two heirs turned quickly to see the boy who behaved as if he carried the world on his shoulders. His hair was a mess, his clothes rumpled, and he looked as if he had been crying.
"Serena will be okay." Cedric said, his voice filled with relief. "Some of her cuts and other injuries will have to heal on their own, without the help of magic because of how dark Bellatrix's own magic was that she used against her."
Hermione and Harry sighed in relief, then rushed up to hug their friend. It had been a long night for all of them but the toughest part was over.
"Does Madame Pomfrey know when she'll wake?" Hermione asked. She was anxious to see Serena, of course she'd wait until the young girl was healthy to yell at her.
"She's not really sure. Serena's body has seemed to shut down to give itself time to heal, she isn't in danger anymore but now it's up to Serena." Cedric paused, there was more that he wanted to say but after all the information he'd been given and it was hard to process.
"Cedric, what's wrong?" Harry pressed, he could tell that something was bothering him. Cedric let out a deep sigh and walked over to the couch. Hermione and Harry followed, each sitting next to their friend. "Madame Pomfrey suggested that Serena see a mind healer, she said that with everything that she's been through Madame Pomfrey's surprised Rena didn't seek Bellatrix out sooner. This was bound to happen. She said that Serena shows some signs of what non-magical people call PTSD."
Hermione couldn't help but smile briefly at how Cedric referred to non-magical people, Serena certainly did have an effect on him even if he didn't know it.
"I've read about it." Hermione spoke up. "It makes sense after how much she's gone through, but will she go to St. Mungo's?"
Cedric shook his head. "I talked to Antonio, he said that Italy has a much better way of treating people than just using magic. It's a combination of non-magic treatment and magic plus Concetta would really like it if Rena was close to her while she got better."
"Does that mean Rena is going back to Italy?" Harry asked. He could feel the sadness through the bond he shared with Hermione and see the tears well up in her eyes, he wanted to wrap his arms around her but she was on the other side of Cedric. Instead he sent comfort and love through their bond.
"It's ultimately up to her but that's really what her family wants." Cedric explained. "If she does, I'll be going with her. I already talked to Antonio and Concetta, they said they'd be happy to let me stay at with them. Once Rena decides what she wants to do then I'll talk with my dad, honestly there isn't much he can say since I'm an adult but I would at least like for him to be okay with it."
Harry put a comforting hand on Cedric's shoulder. "Your dad loves Rena, everybody does mate, and I have no doubt that he'll be okay with you going with her."
"We'll visit as often as we can." Hermione said with a sad smile. "Maybe we can even vacation in Italy during the breaks that way the only time we won't get to see you guys is during school."
"I'm sure Sirius can make more of those mirrors he gave me." Harry added, thinking of the charmed mirror he used to talk to his godfather.
"That would be great." Cedric smiled slightly.
The three spent the rest of what little night there was talking on the couch, they knew it would be pointless to try and sleep when it was so close to morning. When it was finally a decent hour, Harry and the others went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The last thing on their minds was food but it would at least be a distraction until they could go visit their friend.
"Hey Harry." The voice broke Harry's concentration. He realized he had been staring at a fork full of eggs but had yet to actually put them in his mouth. Harry looked up to see Neville staring at him with a concerned look on his face, Luna was sitting next to him with her usual dreamy stare but underneath Harry could see the concern. "Are you alright? You've been holding that forkful of eggs for quite a while."
"Sorry, I guess my mind was somewhere else." Harry put the fork down, not interested in finishing his food.
"Is there any update on Rena?" Luna asked, Hermione had made sure that Neville and Luna had known what happened to Serena. The two had been constantly updated through the night as they waited on the verdict of the Slytherin heir's fate.
"Just the same, she hasn't woken and they don't know when she will." Hermione sighed, wishing there was something that there was something she could do. "Cedric skipped breakfast and is waiting outside the infirmary's door until Madame Pomfrey will let him in."
"Hopefully she'll have pity on the poor guy." Neville chuckled slightly.
The group sat in silence, all of them thinking about the girl who touched their lives in the small amount of time she had been at school. Once they were done, though really it was only Neville and Luna who were actually eating, the four raced down to see their friend. The doors to the infirmary were open and Harry could see Cedric sitting beside one of the beds. He was also surprised to see James, Serena's parents, and Professor McGonagall in the infirmary as well.
"Harry, Hermione!" Cedric shouted, he smiled as he got up. Once he moved it was clear that Serena was now awake and sitting up in her bed. "Luna, Neville, we were just about to get you guys. Rena's awake!"
Hugs were exchanged as relief seemed to be palpable throughout the room. Hermione was finally able to get a good look at her best friend. There was a long piece of gauze that covered her right cheek, her left eye was completely covered with a bandage, Serena's hair was shorter than Hermione remembered, and there were many other injuries that seemed to have to heal on their own.
"Is your eye going to be alright?" Luna asked. Serena nodded, her hand clasped tightly with Cedric's.
"It'll heal, eventually I'll gain back some of my sight but Madame Pomfrey's thinking I may only get eighty-five or so percent back." Serena's voice seemed resigned, her whole body language looked defeated.
"Rena, we wanted to ask you if you wanted to stay here at Hogwarts or come back to Italy with us." Antonio asked. Serena looked at him with confusion evident on her face. "Madame Pomfrey suggested that you see a mind healer and I feel that it would be better if you saw one back home."
"If you do go back I'll go with you." Cedric said before Serena could speak. "I'll follow you anywhere."
"I don't want to leave Hogwarts." Serena began, she held up her hand to indicate that she wasn't finished. "I realize now that I need help and feel like going back home is the best option for me at the moment. Harry and Hermione can always visit Cedric and me during breaks, Neville and Luna as well."
The other three heirs smiled, having had the same thought. Antonio and Concetta left with McGonagall to discuss things further, James went with them and left the group of friends alone. They talked for hours, trying to get in as much as they could since they didn't know when Serena and Cedric would be leaving. Serena promised her friends she would start taking better care of herself, laughing at each of their attempts to threaten her. They meant it with love and finally she was starting to accept it. Madame Pomfrey eventually kicked them out but Serena held Cedric back, wanting to talk to him alone for just a little bit.
"Are you nervous?" Serena asked as she clasped her hand in his once again. Cedric thought about it and then kissed his bond on the forehead.
"No because I'll be with you and it'll be a new adventure." Cedric smiled as Serena yawned. "Go to sleep Rena, I love you."
"I love you too." Serena whispered as she carefully laid on her cot, Cedric helped her and then placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "I'm excited for our next adventure."
Okay I'm feeling pretty bittersweet about this. It's the last chapter (unless I add an epilogue) of The Founder's Children. This was one of my first stories so I have a sentimental attachment to this story. I think that I will be posting a sequel to The Founder's Children, maybe even a series of one-shots that go along with this story. I would like to hear from you guys and what you want to read first. So let me know! I've enjoyed this journey with you guys. Also the sequel would probably focus more on Harry and Hermione.