Disclaimer: I only own Serena

Chapter Plot: While spending the day in Hogsmeade, Lily befriends Serena.

Chapter Eleven: Out On The Town

"This is exactly what you need!" James patted Sirius on the back as the two stared at the Hogsmeade trip announcements. The closest outing was the following day, Saturday.

Although Sirius had planned to sleep all weekend since he'd been spending all his nights studying and practices potions and charms of all sorts, a trip outside of Hogwarts was just too good to be passed up. He shrugged in response. "Couldn't hurt to try."

"That's the spirit!" James smiled. "And don't worry, mate. I doubt she'll be coming."

With emphasize on "she'll" that James had given it, Sirius sighed. All hope had completely drained from him. Serena wasn't coming back to help him, ever again. And no matter how much Sirius tried to tell himself over and over that she was nothing but a mere tutor to keep his grades up, he knew that wasn't true.

Sirius had never exactly cared about anything other than his pals and goofing off at school and he had no expectations or general interests. But Serena was such a hard teacher that her expectations of him soon become his own. When she anticipated that he would finish an assignment, he did too. And with this new found light in him to keep up with his studies, he'd actually done his homework.

But now that light was gone. As was Serena.

The air was slightly chilly as the students of Hogwarts rushed from store to store while enjoying their weekend in Hogsmeade. There was only a little over a month before holiday vacations came, and nearly everyone was dashing every which way to buy presents for friends and family.

All except for two.

James and Sirius weren't shopping at the time, nor were they indoors. Instead, the pair of best friends' were sitting outside of The Three Broomsticks in the nippy autumn air. Their winter coats and scarves were wrapped tightly around their bodies and they stared intensely at Honeydukes from across the street.

"W-What are we staring at?" Sirius stammered with the force of the coldness.

James shivered before answering. "S-See that girl b-by the ch-ch-chocolate frog display?"

Sirius strained his eyes to see the blonde James was referring to. "Yeah. What a-about her?"

A smile instantly came onto James' face. "I'm going to ask her to the Y-Yule B-Ball."

Sirius furrowed his eyebrows together. "The Yule Ball? And w-when exactly is th-that?"

"R-Right before Christmas break."

"Th-that's in December!" Sirius announced.

James nodded. "I know, but I w-want to get a h-head start on my selection of w-women."

Smiling, Sirius shook his head.

Rosemerta wasn't much older than seventeen year old Lily and yet she already was an assistant to The Three Broomsticks. The bubbly twenty year old grinned as she handed her favorite redhead and her friends their order of Butterbeer.

"Thanks Rosemerta." Lily smiled as she took a sip of her drink and felt the warmth reach down to her toes.

The blonde smiled and hurried to make the other orders for quivering customers.

While her friends chattered on about school assignments and the frosty weather, Lily scanned the small area she was in. She could see Professors McGonagall and Slughorn discussing school related subjects. Arthur Weasley stood by the window with Alvin Stanfraud. Hagrid was exiting the little restaurant, nearly knocking a chair over on the way.

"Blimey, sorry Serena." The hairy monster of a man caught the chair before it landed on Serena's delicate foot.

Lily blinked and furrowed her eyebrows. How could she not have seen Serena sitting by the door when she walked in?

Serena smiled, "It's alright Mr. Hagrid." She then returned to the book she'd been reading.

Though Sirius was a friend of hers, and not like she'd ever intentionally tried to hurt Serena, Lily still felt like she was just as a part of the problem as the others were. Quickly, she picked up her drink and made her way towards Serena's table.

"Mind if I join you?" Lily asked.

Serena looked up from her book. "Oh. Uhm…not at all."

Lily gave the girl a smile and sat in the seat across from Serena's. The two were silent for a brief moment before Lily broke it. "Serena, I want to apologize."

Hiding behind her book, Serena looked over the pages. "What did you do?"

"I," Lily sighed. "Feel like part of the problem between you and Sirius is my fault as well."

Serena felt her cheeks blush red and she pulled the book up more to cover her face. "Don't bother apologizing. He did this on his own."

Frowning, Lily gently reached over and pulled the book down to see Serena's face. "Is there any possible way the two of you could work it out?"

Serena shook her head. "No."

"Are you?" Lily bit her bottom lip. "Are you afraid of him?"

Serena cast her eyes down and nodded. "Yes." She whispered. "I really am."

Lily's mouth parted in amazement. "Oh no…"

A/N: Fear? Oh my. I apologize for this one being so short, but writers block gets the best of me!