Disclaimer: I do not own SM or HP. Thanks Mae-E for the chapter title ideas!
Hogwarts Secret Scandal 10
An Unlikely Discovery
Darien folded the letter and wrote, "Professor Dumbledore" upon it.
"Professor Dumbledore would understand if I didn't want to speak to him in person," he sighed, setting the letter in the middle of his desk.
He knew he was doing the right thing. He didn't want to be a teacher anyway. None of his lessons were thought up on his own. All the credit went to his old Head of House. He wouldn't have come up with a book list. It was better this way. He thought he would at least last nearly as long as the other Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. It had only been what, a month and a half and he was already leaving? He felt so pathetic. How could he be so irrational, falling for one of his students? What if someone found out?
Deciding to summon the rest of his belongings later, Darien pulled on his traveling cloak and hung his briefcase over his shoulder.
"Nice going, Darien," he muttered to himself, "didn't even make it through the first term."
The young professor took one last look his office and walked out, heaving a heavy sigh. He did try hard, didn't he? He did his best. He probably didn't choose the books himself but he tried teaching the students the best way he knew how. He really did want them to succeed. He just never expected him to have feelings for one of his students.
All teachers should care about their student's well-being and education, but this was more delicate. All he could think about was her. He wanted her with him and crossed lines just so he could have her in detention. Why did he give her detention over a stupid paper ball? He knew that she didn't mean to hit anybody. Why did he act so concerned for her safety at the Quidditch Match? She wasn't knocked out unconscious. It was just a bump on the shoulder. She even continued playing. Why did he run down to field to check on her? It was clear that she didn't care for his concern. He sensed that he made her uncomfortable and he couldn't blame her. He wanted to stay, really, he did, but if he stayed, he was not sure what he would do. How could he act like a teacher when he did not feel like one whenever she was around?
Mumbling to himself, he left the castle and walked toward the gates. He was staring at the ground.
"Well, at least I'll get to start my Auror career," he groaned, trying to look on the bright side. "That's what I wanted to be. Maybe Dumbledore will find a replacement soon. Since he knows Snape wants the Dark Arts job so bad, he'll give it to him."
Upon approaching the gate, he didn't notice a girl flying over his head. He was still feeling sorry for himself, staring at the ground. An album fell from her backpack and hit Darien in the head.
"Ouch!" he grumbled. "What the?"
"My album!" Serena gasped, slowing down.
Darien bent down to pick up the dropped item. "How in the world?"
He looked up and saw Serena flying down. Serena couldn't believe she had hit Darien in the head again. Why did he always seem to show up whenever she was in trouble?
"Hey, you give that back!" she shouted.
"What'd I tell you about throwing things, Miss White?" he demanded, rubbing his sore head.
"I didn't throw it!" Serena retorted once she landed. "It fell out of my bag. Now give it back!"
"What are you doing out here anyway?" he asked, staring at her in surprise.
"Nothing, what are you doing out here?"
"I asked you first."
"Well, it's none of your business what I do!" Serena snapped, reaching for her picture album.
"I'm your teacher," he said, pulling his hand back. "I have a right to know where my students are for your own safety. Does your Head of House know you're outside? Or any of your housemates?"
"I don't know," Serena muttered, "and I don't care."
His eyes lingered on her backpack. "You're running away, aren't you?"
Serena laughed and brandished her Shooting Star broomstick. "Running? No, I'm flying. There's a difference."
"So, you are leaving," he said softly.
"Maybe I am," Serena said crossly. "So give my picture album."
Knowing she wouldn't leave without her album, he put in his pocket. Serena gasped.
"Hey, what are you doing?" she demanded. "That's mine!"
"You can't leave Hogwarts, Serena," he said, "what about your education?"
"I'm not dropping out!" Serena said hotly. "I'm going back to my old school where I belong! I've got friends there!"
"You have friends here, don't you?" he asked.
"It's not the same," Serena muttered, "Hogwarts is not my school and Britain is not my home. I'm going back home and you can't stop me!"
"Yes I can!" Darien exclaimed, grabbing her bruised shoulder. She winced and he quickly released her. "Sorry. You should have that looked at, you know."
"I can take care of myself!" Serena hissed, stepping back.
"If you really want to leave Hogwarts," said Darien, now taking her by the wrist, "we'll go to McGonagall and maybe she'll expel you."
Ron and Hermione were still trying to cheer Harry up when they heard a girl scream. Everyone jumped to their feet.
"What was that?" Ron demanded.
"It sounded like Parvarti," said Hermione, staring at the staircase. Parvarti and Lavender came rushing into the common room.
"Serena's been kidnapped!" Lavender exclaimed.
"What?" Harry gasped.
"She's gone," said Parvarti nervously. "A Death Eater must've taken her."
"But what would You-Know-Who want with Serena?" Ron wondered. "He doesn't even know who she is!"
Hermione rushed up the chairs to check the seventh year girls' dormitory. There was nothing broken or no other sign of a struggle. Hermione walked to Serena's bed and though her trunk was still at the foot of her bed, her bag and broomstick was missing. Feeling a draft, she turned to the window and looked outside.
"Serena was never happy about Hogwarts," she said slowly, "so did she…?" she gasped and hurried back down the common room.
"There's no sign of a struggle," she told the other Gryffindors. "Her bag and broomstick are gone!"
"You mean—she took off?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Hermione said, "that's got to be it"
"Are you sure?" Ron asked skeptically.
"What else could it be Ron?" Hermione said gruffly. "If she was attacked we would've heard her scream. The window was wide open and everything. She was always complaining about Hogwarts and saying how much she missed home. I guess the match was too much."
"But it's not her fault we lost!" Harry exclaimed.
"We've go to tell Professor McGonnagall!" Hermione yelled. "Come on!"
The three Gryffindors rushed to their head of house to deliver the news.
Darien started leading Serena back to school. Serena looked at his bags and grinned. "Well, you're one to talk. You're running away from Hogwarts too, aren't you Professor?"
"My situation is different," Darien said coolly, still walking on.
"Oh yeah?" Serena demanded. "What do you mean? You're afraid you'll die or get sacked at the end the year?"
"No," he muttered, "it's not like that at all."
"So why are you leaving?" she asked, jerking her arm from his grasp. "Hogwarts won't be affected if I leave but if you leave Dumbledore might not find a replacement. Don't you know how jinxed that job is? And someone has to teach us how Defense Against the Dark Arts, especially now that You-Know-Who is back! You're abandoning your students!"
"I am not," Darien said awkwardly. "Dumbledore will find a new teacher. I wasn't teaching well enough anyway."
"You're leaving because you think you're a lousy teacher?" Serena asked in surprise.
"Well, yes," Darien admitted, "I'm an Auror, not a teacher. I've just got my certificate. It's not enough to be a teacher. I didn't even write the booklist. That was Professor Snape."
"Wait a minute!" Serena gasped, "you mean—you haven't been really teaching us—but Snape has? He told you what to teach and everything?"
"Mostly," Darien admitted, "I've tried making the lessons my own by giving assignments and things but I wouldn't have come up with a booklist on my own. Professor Snape has been a big help. He can teach you when I'm gone. He'll do a better job."
"No way!" Serena exclaimed. "You can't have Professor Snape teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, he's a horrible teacher!"
"He knows his stuff," Darien said, "and he's my Head of House. I respect him a lot."
"So what?" Serena demanded. "Your lessons were all right."
"But they weren't really mine," Darien insisted. "I had the help from Professor Snape."
"He gave you guidance but you were the one who read with us, and gave us those questions and things," Serena said. "I like your lessons."
Darien raised an eyebrow. "You do?"
"Yes," Serena nodded, "even if Professor Snape did write the booklist. I think your lessons were okay. I didn't realize how important it would be to learn about a dark witch's mind. My Defense Against Teacher never talked about that. I don't think you're a lousy teacher."
Darien slowly smiled. "You really think that?"
"Of course," Serena said, smiling back. She felt strange again but it felt good too.
"Well, thank you," said Darien, "I'm glad to know that someone thinks so."
"Hey, I'm not the only one who thinks you're a good teacher," Serena said quickly. "A lot of people do."
"Yeah, I guess so," Darien sighed.
"So you've got to go back."
"No, I can't," he said, "I'm sorry."
Serena frowned and looked down. Darien still felt torn. If Serena did end up getting expelled from Hogwarts he could still teach. But he didn't want that to happen either. There would be a chance her old school might not let her back. She was right. Hogwarts would need someone to teach the students how to defend themselves from the Dark Arts. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if Serena had left school and something did happen to her and lacked the knowledge to protect herself. What could he do? He still felt like an inadequate teacher. If it weren't for his Head of House he wouldn't know what to teach. But even though it was Snape that gave him ideas, Darien acted like he really cared for the students and Snape didn't. No one would want Professor Snape to teach them against the Dark Arts, no matter how much he knew about it.
Darien looked from the gate leading to Hogsmeade and back at Hogwarts. He came up with a possible solution and hoped that it would work.
"Miss White?" he said, still looking at Hogwarts.
"Yes, Professor?" Serena raised her head.
"If I go back to Hogwarts," he began, turning his face to hers, "will you go back?"
A smile spread across her face. "It's a deal!"
Then without thinking, she put out her hand. Darien sat down his briefcase and shook hands with her.
"Deal, come on, let's go."
"Right."
As they approached McGonagall's office, they could hear Ron, Hermione and Harry talking really fast.
"The window was wide open!"
"We thought she was kidnapped!"
"Professor, what do we do?"
"What if she's halfway to America by now?"
"Calm down!" McGonagall shouted. "I will alert the other teachers and—then—Professor Shields!"
Professor McGonagall stood up from her desk. The trio turned right around.
"Serena!" Harry gasped. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah," Serena mumbled.
"I've found Miss White, Professor," Darien stated. "I know that running away was irresponsible but I don't think she deserves expulsion."
"Professor," said McGonagall but Darien went on. The thought of Serena actually leaving scared him and he had to do his best to talk McGonagall out of it.
"She was just missing her old school, that's all."
"Shields."
"This isn't a sign of disobedience but a cry for help," Darien explained. Serena looked at him in shock.
"What?" she gasped.
"Shields."
"Please don't expel her, Professor," said Darien, "just write to her family instead or—"
"SHIELDS!" McGonagall shouted. "I'm not going to expel White."
"I didn't think you would but—ohh—right," Darien cleared his throat. "Yes, all right, Professor."
"Thank you for bringing her here, Professor Shields," Professor McGonagall said softly. "You may go now, and you three may return to your dormitories." She looked at Harry and the others.
"We'll take your stuff back, Serena," Harry offered.
"Oh, thanks," Serena handed him her broomstick and backpack. The trio stepped out of the classroom with Darien.
"Professor Shields," said Ron, "how did you find Serena?"
"What?" Darien mumbled.
"We just found out she was missing," Hermione stated, "Professor McGonagall was about to tell the other teachers."
"Oh, that was just," Darien lied, "Auror's intuition."
"Wow, when are you going to teach us that in class?" Ron asked with a grin. "Harry and I want to be Aurors."
"Well, you'll have to wait until Auror training for that," Darien stated, "now go back to your dormitories. It has been a long day, for all of us."
Darien turned around back to his office and the trio returned to Gryffindor tower.
"I wonder what kind of punishment McGonagall is going to give Serena," said Harry.
Serena remained standing, staring at her Head of House. She felt so stupid for trying to run away. She should have just come to talk to Professor McGonagall first or something.
"I'm sorry I ran away, Professor McGonagall," Serena apologized, "really. I shouldn't have done that."
"Sit," McGonagall told Serena. "Have a biscuit."
"Huh?" Serena mumbled.
"Have a biscuit," McGonagall repeated, removing the tray from a tin of biscuits. Serena seized a chocolate biscuit and sat across Professor McGonagall. She looked at it for a while before taking a bite out of it.
"You're really not going to expel me?" Serena asked after swallowing her first bite.
"No," said McGonagall, "not for something like this."
"But you're still going to punish me?" Serena asked nervously.
"Perhaps not in the way you think, Miss White," McGonagall answered. "Now, I understand that you've been having difficulty adapting to Hogwarts."
"Yes," Serena whispered, "I've been trying hard, honest. Just so many subjects, and I've had to do a lot of detention, and Quidditch Practice. You know, maybe I should quit the team."
"I wouldn't recommend it," McGonagall stated.
"Well, there's no point in me staying on, is there?" Serena said with a half smile. "Gryffindor lost."
"Yes, I know," Professor McGonagall glanced at the silver Quidditch Cup, "but there is still a chance Gryffindor can win if they're ahead in the four house championship."
"Maybe," Serena mumbled, nibbling on her biscuit.
"Miss White," Professor McGonagall said, "you've had to serve enough detention since you came to Hogwarts. I know that you are a good hardworking student. I've heard many good things about you from your teachers at Salem Witches Institute."
"Well, I'm not that great, Professor," Serena frowned.
"I know that you are excellent in transfiguration," Professor McGonagall reminded her.
"Yeah, my favorite subject," Serena sighed.
"I understand that you are not adapting to Hogwarts' schedule," said Professor McGonagall, "so therefore I am giving you Monday off."
Serena bit her finger as she brought the biscuit to her mouth. "Ouch—what?" She dropped her biscuit to the floor and it shattered. "Oh, sorry about that, Professor McGonagall."
"It's all right," said McGonagall and she cleaned the mess up immediately. "You may have another."
"What'd you say?" Serena asked, taking a second biscuit but she paused before taking a bite. "You want me to have Monday off?"
"I think it'll be good for you," Professor McGonagall answered. "You can have the whole day to catch up on your sleep and yoru studies. Go for a walk or a broom ride."
"Are you serious?" Serena questioned, leaning forward.
"Yes," said McGonagall, "unless you'd rather have a real detention. I can ask Mr. Filch what needs to be done."
"Oh, I've had enough detention," Serena muttered, taking a bite of her biscuit. "I'll just take Monday off."
"Good," said McGonagall.
Serena finished her biscuit and looked at her Head of House.
"Are you going to tell my parents about this?" she asked nervously.
"You didn't break any rules," she said, "so I don't see a reason too."
"Thanks, Professor. Oh, and…thank you for not expelling me or giving me detention."
"Quite all right," Professor McGonagall stated, "you may return to Gryffindor Tower."
"Okay."
Serena got up and pointed at the tin of biscuits. "Can…I have another biscuit?"
"Of course."
"Thanks, Professor," Serena grinned, taking a biscuit from the tin. "Hey…can I give you a hug?"
Professor McGonagall looked confused. "What?"
"Can I give you a hug?" Serena asked. "I just want to thank you for not giving me detention or expelling me."
"Oh, all right," Professor McGonagall said, still rather surprised.
Serena walked around the desk and hugged Professor McGonagall. "Thanks, Professor, for everything. You know, I was kinda scared of you at first but you're pretty cool for an old lady."
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, which was Serena's cue to leave. Serena ate her biscuit as she headed out of the classroom.
"What luck!" Serena said to herself. "I didn't get expelled or detention! All Monday off. Wow, this is going to be cool!"
As Darien returned to his desk, he tore the note he had left for Dumbledore apart and threw it away. He couldn't let anyone know he had feelings for a student. He'd learn how to see Serena as just a student. If he wanted to keep his job, he had to. He couldn't let his feelings get out of control.
Serena was running away. If he hadn't found her when he did, she could be halfway to her home, or she may have disaparted by the time she got out of Hogsmeade. He came so close to never seeing her again.
Darien sat down and he felt something heavy in his pocket. "Huh?" he reached in and pulled out Serena's album.
"Serena's album," he mumbled, getting to his feet. "I'd better give this back to her."
He caught Serena as she got to the sixth floor. "Serena! I mean—Miss White!
'Now what does he want?' Serena wondered as she looked over her shoulder. "Yeah?"
"I think this belongs to you," he called, waving the album above his head.
"My picture album!" she gasped.
He slowed dowand stopped beside her. "Here."
"Thank you, Professor," she said, taking her album and looking through it. "I guess I forgot to ask for it."
"So," Darien said awkwardly, "what did Professor McGonagall say? Did you give detention?"
"Not really," Serena said, closing her album and walking toward Gryffindor tower. Darien followed.
"What do you mean?" he inquired
"She just gave me Monday off," she replied.
"She did?"
"Yeah," Serena said, "she said I can use the time to catch up on my homework and write to my friends back in Salem."
"Well, that's good," Darien said.
"I know," Serena smiled slightly. "I was really surprised. I thought she was going to give me detention for a week or something."
"You know, S—Miss White—you're welcome to come speak to me anytime," he said.
"Uh, well, thanks, Professor," Serena murmured.
Darien moaned. Why did he say that? He knew she didn't like him. He made her nervous and he knew that. She was a student. A student.
"I know this is difficult for you and everything," Darien went on, "but it'll get better soon."
"Yeah, I hope so," Serena scratched her head.
'Why is he still following me?' she thought, looking at him through the corner of her eye.
"Don't forget our deal," he said.
"What?" Serena asked.
"I mean, don't run away from Hogwarts again," he said.
"Oh, I won't," Serena said, "I probably won't get a day off again next time. Professor McGonagall would give me detention for sure."
"Yeah…"
"Well," Serena said, walking faster, "I've got to get to Gryffindor Tower."
"Sure."
Serena sprinted down the hall to her dormitory. Darien groaned and turned back aground. He let his feelings for her get in the way again. Why didn't he just give her album back and leave?
"Keep it together, Shields," he muttered to himself as he walked back to his office.
Serena entered the common room an was pleased to see Harry and the others waiting for her.
"Did McGonagall give you detention?" Ron asked.
"No," Serena replied, "she gave me Monday off."
"She did what?" Ron gasped. "The whole day?"
"Yeah," Serena grinned.
"I wish she'd give us a three day weekend sometimes!" Ron exclaimed.
"I know," Harry agreed, "what're you going to do all day?"
Serena shrugged as she sat down by the fire with them. "Write to my friends back home, catch up on my homework."
"That's good," said Hermione, "we got a lot this week."
"Ohh, don't' remind me!" Serena groaned, shaking her head. "I'm never going to finish that essay for Potions! You know, he's only doing this because I almost broke his back."
"I know how you feel," Harry told her.
Hermione stretched and got up. "Glad you're back, Serena. I'm going to go to bed. All your stuff is upstairs."
"Thanks, Hermione," said Serena.
Hermione looked at Ron. "Ron, you ought to go to bed too."
"Why?" Ron demanded.
"Just go!" Hermione hissed.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Ah, goodnight then, Serena."
"Yeah, goodnight, Ron."
Once Hermione and Ron left the common room, Harry looked at Serena.
"Hey, Serena, I hope you didn't run away because of the game tonight," he said, "It's not your fault we lost. I'm the one who didn't catch the Snitch in time."
"I know," Serena mumbled, "but I still did horrible."
"You did all right for your first Quidditch match," he insisted.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks, Harry," Serena smiled.
Harry cleared his throat. "Um, you know—about the Masquerade Ball next week—er—you want to go?"
"What?" Serena asked.
Harry took a deep breath and leaned so forward in his chair he about fell over. "You want to go to the ball with me next week?"
"Oh, the Masquerade Ball," Serena gasped, "that's next week?"
"Yeah," Harry said.
"I totally forgot," Serena mumbled, "well, I knew it was coming."
Harry tapped his fingers on the arms of his chair. "So, er, you want to go with me then?"
"Oh, yeah, sure!" Serena laughed, rubbing her head. "Of course I would, Harry!"
The pressure left Harry and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Brilliant."
"You've got a costume picked out?" Serena asked.
"Well, no, not really," Harry admitted, "I was just talking to Ron and Hermione about that. We were going to go as chess pieces but I think Ron's the only one that's willing to do that."
"Chess pieces?" Serena asked.
"Long story," Harry told her.
"Oh, wait," Serena said, "I remember Mina telling me about that. You guys had to play on a big chess set, right?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded, "I played bishop, Hermione was the castle and Ron played a knight. I think knights are his favorite men to move."
"That's pretty cool."
"Yeah, it was."
Serena gasped. "Oh, Harry, I just thought of something!"
"What?"
Serena stood up and came over to him. "I've got an idea for your costume!"
"Brillaint, what is it?" he asked.
Grinning wildly, Serena started explaining the costume idea. "I think it'll look really cool on you! A black and red cape, and a tuxedo!"
"A tuxedo?"
"Yeah!" Serena cried. "Oh, and a top had, a cane and a mask!"
The first image of him wearing a top hat came to him again like he had when McGonagall told him he had to find a partner for the Yule Ball. "A top hat?"
"Cool, isn't it?"
Harry added the tuxedo, cape, cane and mask to the image of him in a top hat. It looked about all right. It sounded better than going as a chess piece.
"But where am I going t get this costume?" Harry asked her. "Last Hogsmeade visit was last weekend. I didn't pick anything up then."
"Oh, don't worry," Serena told him excitedly. "You can transfigure your robes into what you need!"
"Never been that great in transfiguration," Harry admitted, "not like my dad."
"No problem," Serena stated, "I'm excellent at it. It's my best and favorite subject! I can transfigure about everything."
"Really?"
Serena nodded. "Your black school robes would make a perfect cape. Just sever the hood, trim the robe bit and charm off the Gryffindor badge."
"Hmm, yeah, that'll be kinda easy to do."
"You can transfigure your Gryffindor tie into a bow tie," Serena said, "and use one of your school hats for a top hat!"
"What about the mask though?" Harry asked, pulling off his glasses.
"Oh, of course!" Serena laughed, taking her wand from her pocket. She tapped Harry's glassed. "Verto Peillis!"
Harry's black glasses changed into a fancy white eye mask. He looked them a bit.
"Go ahead, put it on," Serena prompted.
Harry put the white mask on his face and he could still see as if they were still his glasses. "Whoa!" he took it off and looked at it again. "That's brilliant!"
"You can still see, right?" Serena asked.
"Yeah!" he replied. "Thanks Serena."
"We're going to have the coolest costumes there," Serena grinned, "I'm sure of it."
Harry grinned. "Yeah…I guess it would be pretty cool to wear a cape."
They laughed and talked for a while until they parted for bed. Serena was glad Professor Shields stopped her from fleeing Hogwarts. She and Harry were going to be the spotlight at that party. She just knew it.
The three-day weekend was just what Serena needed. She had a lie in and then caught up on her homework. Hermione helped her on most of it and she was glad to have a smart friend when Marvin was all the way in America. With her homework done, she wrote letters to all her friends back home. It was good to finally write a letter to them about all she did.
Serena used some free time to work on her flying. One thing she liked about Hogwarts was the size of its grounds. It was much larger than the property at her old school. As she came onto the field, she was surprised to see someone already there.
"Hey," she called, "what are you doing out of class?"
The flyer laughed. "I left Hogwarts ages ago, so I don't have any classes to worry about. What about you?"
"My Head of House gave me the day off," Serena said.
"Really?" the flyer came down to land. He was tall, with short black parted hair and the bangs spaced out across his forehead. He had dark blue eyes and wearing red robes. "Who's that?"
"Professor McGonagall," she replied, "Head of Gryffindor House."
He looked shocked. "McGonagall gave you the day off! I wish she'd give me a day off once in a while!"
"Was she your head of house too?" Serena asked.
He nodded.
"What are you doing here?" Serena questioned.
The boy gasped and jumped back. "You don't know who I am?"
"If I did," Serena said, "I probably would've said so."
He pointed at himself. "I'm Steven Star!"
"And?" Serena raised an eyebrow.
"I'm the lead singer of only the greatest wizard singing group!" he exclaimed.
"Oh," Serena said, catching on. "You're going to provide the music for our Masquerade Ball this Saturday!"
"That's right, now you know!" said Steven.
"What're you doing here today?" Serena asked. "The ball isn't until this Saturday."
"We wanted to practice in Hogsmeade," Steven replied.
"Hey, Steven!" shouted a tall young man. He had brown hair and glasses. "Quit flirting with the fans."
"But she's not a fan—not yet—can you believe this girl has never heard about us?" Steven demanded.
"So give her an autograph and let's go," said a young man that looked like he was related to Draco Malfoy. "We've got to practice."
"Oh, all right," Steven groaned, seizing Serena's broomstick.
"Hey!" Serena shouted. "Give that back!"
"Is this a Shooting Star?" he questioned.
"Yeah," Serena retorted.
"Perfect," said Steven, conjuring a parchment and a quill. "What position do you play?"
"Chaser," Serena replied, "Why?"
He didn't reply but instead wrote on the parchment. Once he finished the autograph, he used a Permanent Sticking Charm to adhere it to her broom handle.
"Now a star's autographed your Shooting Star!" he laughed, handing back her broomstick.
"Thanks," Serena grumbled.
"See you at the party, princess!" Steven said, waving to her.
"Princess?" Serena gasped.
Steven ran off to catch up with is brothers. "Hey, Nate, Tyler, I just thought of a new name! Let's change to Shooting Stars instead! What do you think?"
Serena looked at the autograph Steven put on Serena's broomstick. It said:
You'll always know me now. Think of me when you score a goal, or just riding through the wind. I'll be with you wherever you go, princess.
Steven Star.
Serena was flattered but also a little peeved. She didn't ask for an autograph to be stuck to her broomstick! Serena put her hand on the parchment and attempted to pull it off.
"Oh no! Did he use a Permanent Sticking Charm?" she grunted. "I can't get it off!"
The girl student body was jealous that Serena was the first to get an autograph from one of the Star Brothers. What more, they were shocked that she didn't want to keep it. The whole week girls tried to sneak into Hogsmeade to check on their practices. Sometimes they played music in the Hogs Head.
"Serena," said Parvarti, "you know how much money people would give you for it?"
"I'd pay for someone to take the autograph if I could just get it off!" Serena muttered. "He used a sticking charm on my broomstick!"
"Well, sell the broomstick too," said Lavender.
"No way!" Serena gasped. "I had that with me since I started school!"
Lavender grinned. "Oh come on…admit it…you did like him."
"Well, yes…but I didn't want an autograph, I never even heard of him! He was just acting out because he couldn't believe that there was someone out there that never heard of the Star Brothers."
It was Saturday and the Masquerade Ball was going to begin in a few minutes. All the girls were in their dormitories getting ready. Serena took in a deep breath as she tried to pull up her dress.
"Oooh!" she grumbled. "Can someone help me with my dress?"
Hermione came up behind her and buttoned up her dress for her. "There."
"Thanks," Serena said, "okay, I've got my dress and makeup…what am I missing."
"Your hair," Parvarti stated, "it's supposed to be up in those pigtails, right?"
"Oh yeah, those meatball things," Serena mumbled, sectioning off her hair. "How am I supposed to do this? That girl could've written down directions! I've never worn my hair like this in my life!"
She tried wrapping it up in the front and it fell. "Oooh!"
Parvarti, Lavender and Hermione helped Serena with her hair, using charms to keep it up and wrap easily. Lavender was putting pearls around each bun as Parvarti picked up her mask.
"Finishing touch!" said Parvarti. "The witch at Gladrag's said this went with it. Can you believe our luck?"
Serena shrugged as Parvarti handed her the mask. She put it on her nose and it immediately stuck on without having to use a band. The three girls gasped.
"What?" Serena demanded. "Did it change my whole face? The thing was hexed, wasn't it?"
"No," Hermione said, "it's great. You've got look at yourself!"
Serena walked to the mirror and she gasped herself. She was wearing a beautiful pearly white gown made out of silk and lace. Her hair was up in buns and streaming down to her knees. There was a crescent moon out of gold paint on her forehead. Her mask was white lace with a few pearls.
"Wow," Serena whispered, turning around, gazing at herself in the mirror. "Not only do I look like a princess, but I feel like one too!"
Serena wasn't the only one checking out her reflection. Down in the Slytherin dormitories, Mina was admiring every square inch of her body. The short skirt complimented her nice legs. She felt for sure she wore this kind of outfit all the time.
"No wizard will be able to resist me in this outfit!" she chuckled, turning to one side. "Oh, I hope Draco won't be jealous!"
In Durmstrang, Lavra was wearing a long hunter green dress with a mask to match. "This is going to be the best party ever!" she said to her reflection. "What do you think?"
She looked to Martina, who was wearing white and red outfit. It looked something like a school uniform, but with a shorter skirt. The shirt ended in a V and there were shoulder guards connected to her collar. Her jewelry had the symbol of Mars on it. Though her outfit looked unique and pretty, she didn't look too happy.
"I can't believe I'm going with Constantine!" she muttered.
Lavra laughed and shook her head. Martina glared.
Aimee cautiously approached the mirror in her dormitory of Beaxbatons. She was wearing a long sleeved whit shirt connected to a blue collar with white stripes and shoulder pads. Her blue costume had an empire waist with buttons and the skirt was shorter than anything she had ever wore.
"I think I made the skirt too short," she said, blushing slightly.
There were things that were waiting for the girls that nothing could prepare them for, one of them being their destiny.
TO BE CONTINUED
Haha! Another cliffy!
I know Seiya calls Serena "dumpling" like Darien calls her "Meatball Head." But he calls her that because of the way she has her hair. Remember in this fanfic she doesn't have her hair like that (she will eventually have it in her trademark style. Don't worry!). I thought that Seiya just calls a lot of girls "dumpling" you know, as a petname and I was going to have Steven/Seiya call her "dumpling" but I had him call her princess instead. Oh, and also, the Star Brothers are NOT the Starlights! Just "Earthling look-alikes" and imagine that their ponytails have been cut off because the Star Brother's do not have long hair. It is the same style, but they do not have ponytails, just to make them more different. And they don't have moon earrings and stuff like that either.
Oh, the outfits for Martina/Raye and Aimee are the scouts' early original manga fukus. They were all unique and different! I decided not to do Jupiter's because it looked kind of funny and hard to explain, so I gave her a green dress instead. You can check the pics out here!
http/soul-hunter(dot)com/sailormoon/fashion(dot)php