Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Harry Potter. Lydia, Lucky and Madame Indigo are my characters.

Alcyone: Yes, Lydia will get one of the positions. Try and guess which one. Yes, Dactliyomancy is real. I found out about it on this site:

http/www(dot)occultopedia(dot)com(dot)occult

Harry Potter and the Moon Crystal 14

Ron's Queen

Defense Against the Dark Arts didn't go well. Hermione didn't agree with Slinkhard's book and Harry was punished with another week's detention when he made a comment about Quirrel. This made Angelina Johnson absolutely furious and to add to Harry's detention, McGonagall took five points from Gryffindor.

Their first period was transfiguration and Umbridge was there to inquire. Sitting upon McGonagall's desk was not McGonagall in her cat form, but Lucky. Lydia stared at her cat.

"Lucky, what are you doing here?" she mouthed.

But all Lucky did was wink. Lydia exchanged glances with Serena. "Is he helping McGonagall with our lesson or something?"

"I don't know," Serena said with a slight grin, "but I kind of have a good feeling about this."

McGonagall strode in. "That will do," she said and there was silence. "Mr. Finnegan, kindly come here and hand back the homework. Once you've done that, please take your seat."

"Yes, Professor," said Seamus and he did as she did. When he handed Lydia's homework to her, he bowed and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Lydia, isn't that your cat on Professor McGonagall's desk?"

"Aye," Lydia replied.

"What is he--?"

"Mr. Finnegan, do not chat during class," McGonagall said, "you'll have time to talk to Miss MacGreggor later."

Seamus moved on to hand the homework back.

"Hem, hem," said Umbridge and McGonagall ignored her.

"We will still continue Vanishing Spells," McGonagall stated, "but for today we will do something different. I will show you how to change---,"

"Hem, hem," said Umbridge a little louder.

"Yes?" McGonagall turned to Umbridge.

"I was just wondering, professor," Umbridge said in her sugar coated voice, "if you have received my note telling you of the date and time of your inspect—"

"Obviously I have received it, or I would've asked what you were doing in my classroom," McGonagall muttered, turning her back on Umbridge. "Now, as I was saying, we will learn to change animals into humans."

She nodded to Lucky, who winked. Everyone exchanged glances with each other. Lydia held her graded paper by her mouth to hiss at Lucky.

"You're going to get Professor McGonagall sacked!"

"Hem, hem."

"I wonder," said McGonagall coldly turning back to Professor Umbridge, "how you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? Yu see, I do not generally permit pole to talk when I am talking."

"Usual?" Harry murmured to Ron, "this isn't usual!"

"Now then," McGonagall continued briskly, "I shall demonstrate with a cat. I expect you all to take notes for they will come in handy when we discuss animagi."

The students looked really nervous but watched their Head of House do her thing. McGonagall turned to Lucky and he leapt off her desk. She shook her wand three times and muttered her spell.

"Verto Humano!"

Lucky's furry body lengthened and the fur shrank. Then in mid transformation, there was a slight pause where he still had a furry face, slit eyes and pointed teeth but he was on two legs like a man. He looked right at Umbridge and hissed. Umbridge yelped in fright, hid behind her clipboard and continued to make her notes. The students grinned. McGonagall was taking a risk with this lesson, but they enjoyed it.

"Something the matter, Delores?" McGonagall asked.

"Oh no," Umbridge whispered.

"Don't you like cats?"

"Love them."

Then the transformation completed with all the fur and catness gone. Lucky had long thick orange hair tied back with a green ribbon. He had a great deal of arm and chest hair as well with the rest of his body. The students recognized him as the stranger she was dancing with at the Yule Ball. Seamus turned to Lydia.

"Lydia, I didn't know your cat can change into a human! He's that same guy she met at the Yule Ball last Christmas!"

"Yeah, interesting, isn't it?" Lydia murmured.

After the lesson, McGonagall answered Umbridge's questions and she asked her to leave so she could prepare for her next lesson. Once the room was empty, McGonagall laughed, sat behind her desk and scratched Lucky behind the ears. Lucky purred and changed into the good-looking short man.

"That was fun," Lucky grinned, "Can we do it again?"

"No," McGonagall said sternly, "this was risky enough."

Lucky laughed. "Did you see that woman's face when I hissed at her?"

"I think that was too much."

"Oh come on!" Lucky chuckled. "It was brilliant!"

--

Inspection at Care of Magical Creatures went fairly well. Lydia accepted a interrogation and told her how much she loved Care of Magical Creatures, especially when Hagrid taught it. Though she spent about fifteen to thirty minutes about Hagrid's prestige of a teacher and how her grandfather was in the magical trade business, it still did not convince Umbridge. Harry landed himself in detention again when he told the truth about how Malfoy got hurt.

?Serena groaned and shook her head.

"So much for sticking up for Hagrid," Lydia sighed.

"I think it was good of you to do that," Serena said, "I wish Hagrid would come back—he shouldn't take this long—should he?"

"Shh!" Lydia hissed, nudging her as Draco Malfoy was watching them.

"Oh," Serena closed her mouth and tried to pay attention to Professor Grubbly-Plank

--

At dinner, Ron scanned the Ravenclaw table for Ami. It was her birthday and after much brainstorming in the Prefect's bathroom he finally came up with the perfect present. Ami wasn't sitting anywhere on the table. The whole day, she wasn't at meals.

"Hey," he said in a hushed voice to Serena and Lydia, "where's Ami? I haven't seen her all day."

Serena shrugged. "Beats me. Probably in the library."

"The library?" he gasped, looking at Hermione. "She spends about as much time in the library as you do!"

"Maybe for different reasons," Hermione muttered.

Ron got to his feet and went to the library. Ami was not there. He started asking every person at the tables if they knew Ami Mizuno, then he saw Anthony Goldstein in the back.

"Anthony!" he shouted.

"Shh!" Anthony hissed. "This is the library, you idiot!"

"Sorry," Ron lowered his voice and came to sit with him. "I didn't see Ami at dinner. Do you know where she is?"

"Sometimes she studies alone in the prefects' break room," Anthony replied.

"The prefects' break room!" Ron breathed, "of course!"

"You got a present for her then?" Anthony asked. "What'd you get?"

"Not telling," said Ron and he hurried out of the library. Just as Anthony had said, Ami was sitting in the prefects' break room eating a sandwich and studying alone. The prefects' break room had a table with chairs. By the wall were some more comfy looking chairs. Ami looked up when the door opened.

"Hi, Ron," she said.

"Hey," Ron said, "Anthony told me about your new studying spot."

"Yes," Ami glanced around the room. "It's quieter and I study better on my own."

"Ami, I've got something for you," Ron said, trying to keep from stammering. He sat across from her, reached in his pocket and handed her a small paper made item. "Happy Birthday."

Ami stared open mouthed at the item in her hand. She slowly looked at Ron. "You shouldn't have!"

"Oh, I couldn't let your birthday go by without getting you anything!" Ron grinned.

Ami smiled and looked at her present. "What is it?"

"It's um, well, it's supposed to be a chess piece I made out of paper," Ron said awkwardly. "It's the queen."

"Origami?" Ami gasped in surprised. "You mean, you did this all by yourself?"

"Yeah," said Ron with a slight grin. "You like it?"

"It's very original," Ami smiled. "How did you learn how to make origami chess pieces?"

"I made them before I learned chess on my grandfather's set," Ron explained. "I could make you the rest if you want. I wanted to give you the queen because—they're the most important pieces on the board—and—you're like—a—well—a—what I mean is—well—um—Happy Birthday, Ami."

"Oh," Ami mumbled, "well, thank you, Ron."

Ron sat there, feeling foolish and wishing he had the guts to say more. He sighed and got to his feet. He didn't want to push Ami away. She was always so shy and after coming back from Japan she seemed even more withdrawn. He looked over his shoulder as he left the prefects' break room and Ami returned to studying.

Ron turned into the bathroom and started banging his head on the wall. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"

Banging his head did nothing but give him a headache. Groaning, he pulled his back and looked at himself in the mirror.

"Nice move, Weasley," Ron muttered to his reflection. "What gave me the idea to make a queen chess piece anyway?"

A toilet flushed and a second year Slytherin came out of one of the stalls. "Talking to yourself?"

"Hey, don't sneak up on people like that!" Ron shouted. "Five points from Slytherin!"

"What?"

Scowling, Ron walked out of the bathroom to the common room. He needed something to get his mind of what he just did. Lydia had already finished his homework and he had another task for her to do. "Lydia, would you be a dear and rub my feet for me?"

"What?" Lydia looked horror struck to the redheaded boy as he removed his shoes and shocks and wiggled his toes expectantly.

"Rub my feet, please," he said, "they really hurt."

"Are you kidding me?" Lydia demanded. "I'm not touching your feet!"

"The week's not over, you know," Ron reminded her, wriggling his toes. "You're supposed to do my homework and do what I say."

"Oooh!"

"Hey, it was your idea," Ron said with a grin. "You shouldn't have given me so many good luck charms."

"Y—y—ye know," Lydia sputtered in rage as she stomped over to Ron, "sooner or later yer luck's going ot run out!"

"Hopefully it won't be at the Quidditch match against Slytherin," said Ron.

Lydia picked up Ron's feet, sat down and dropped them on her lap. He howled.

"What?"

"They're sensitive!"

"And you want me to rub them—why?" Lydia asked.

"Thought they'd feel better after a foot rub," Ron shrugged. "They did when Ami rubbed them."

Lydia rolled her eyes and began rubbing his feet. They were dry and rough , not to mention they didn't have a nice odor to them either.

"So," Lydia muttered, "did you find Ami?"

"Yeah."

"Did you give her your present?"

"Yeah."

"What was it?" Lydia asked.

"A little…something," Ron groaned.

"She didn't like it, did she?" Lydia grinned.

"Of course she did!"

"Okay."

After rubbing Ron's feet for ten minutes, Hermione came in holding a bowl of some yellow liquid and stared at the two. "Lydia, what're you doing?"

"Rubbing Ron's feet," Lydia muttered, "what does it look like?"

"Why?" she looked at Ron in that you're-supposed-to-be-a-prefect way.

"Because they hurt," Ron said simply. "Lydia was nice enough to rub them for me."

"Ron," Hermione placed the bowl of whatever down. "Just because you're prefect doesn't give you the right to boss people around!"

"I didn't boss Lydia!"

"You're acting like Malfoy!" Hermione accused. "Using your badge to bully others around!"

"No I'm not! He'd make first years give him a pedicure; I just wanted a foot rub!"

Lydia laughed and squeezed Ron's foot too hard.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry," Lydia mumbled, "I just pictured Malfoy with pink toenails!"

Feeling that there was something more to this story, Hermione remained staring. Lydia released Ron's feet.

"Is that better Ron?" she asked.

"Yeah, thanks," said Ron.

Lydia rose up and hurried up to the girls dormitory and awkwardly opened the door with her inner elbow. "Don't ever make a bet with Ronald Wesley!" she called to her dorm mates. "I had to rub his feet!"

"Do you have to start calling him Won-Won?" Lavender teased and Parvarti laughed.

"It's not funny," Lydia growled, "How'd you like to touch his feet? You want to smell, come on, here!"

Lydia walked over to Lavender and tried shoving her hands under her face. Lavender shrieked and jumped back. Lydia turned around to Serena.

"Serena, can you hit my hands with a scouring charm?" she asked, cringing as she held her hands out. "I'm afraid to touch anything!"

"Sure, Lydia," Serena stood up and pointed her wand at Lydia's hands. "Scourgify!"

In an instant, Lydia's hands were free of Ron's dead skin cells and whatever else Lydia contracted from his feet.

"Thanks."

"No problem," said Serena, "has Harry returned yet?"

Lydia shook her head. "I wonder how long Umbridge is going to keep him tonight. Just how deep can that cut get?"

"What cut?" Parvarti inquired.

Before Lydia could reply, Serena started telling Parvarti and Lavender about Harry's detention. "Umbridge is making Harry cut words into his hand!"

"She can't do that," said Parvarti with a shake of her head. "Dumbledore wouldn't stand for it. She ought to know which penalties to give and which not to."

"Then you'll need to get a good look at his hand after tonight," Serena said, "because exactly what Harry's doing in all those detentions!"

"But Harry keeps getting in trouble again," said Lavender.

"Yeah," Serena sighed, "he's got to keep his temper under control or he'll get another scar!"

"Don't you have detention with Umbridge after Harry?" Parvarti questioned.

"I do," Serena replied, "one week and I'm pretty certain I'll have the same kind of detention."

"If Umbridge is making Harry do this," Parvarti mumbled, "why doesn't he do something?"

"I don't know," Serena groaned, "He's being stubborn. I'm going down to see if he's come yet."

"Well, if this is true," Parvarti said to Lavender as Lydia and Serena walked out. "I'd better be careful not to get on Professor Umbridge's bad side."

When Lydia and Serena returned to the common room to wait for Harry to return. Lucky and Luna followed them. Hermione stopped arguing with Ron about his poor prefect problem.

"Hey, Hermione," Serena said, nodding to the bowl on the table, "what's that?"

"Essence of murtlap tentacles," she replied.

"Ew," said Serena. "What's it doing in here?"
"I got it for Harry," Hermione explained, gazing down on it.

"He doesn't have to drink it, does he?" Serena demanded in shock.

Hermione shook her head, half laughing. "No, Harry just has to soak his hand in it."

"Oh, good," Serena breathed.

"We've got to do something about Umbridge," said Hermione.

"How about poison?" Ron said quickly.

"Ron!" Hermione gasped.

"I can give her a nice unlucky thirteen days with a good beating," Lydia said as she leaned back.

"Yeah!" Ron said excitedly. "You should. I'd love to see what her next thirteen days would be like, after seeing what happened to Snape!"

"No, that's not what I mean," Hermione muttered, "about how dreadful she is and we're not going to learn anything in her class."

"Yeah," Serena sighed, "but what?"

Harry walked in with blood dripping off his hand and onto the carpet. Serena sprang to her feet when he entered and threw her arms around him.

"Harry!" she cried. "Are you all right? Did your scar hurt this time?"

"No," Harry replied. "Just my hand."

Serena looked down on it, gasped and pulled him closer to the table. "Hermione brought something to soak your hand in, here."

She pushed his bleeding hand into the bowl of murtlap essence and sat him down. She remained standing next to him, looking at him in concern and for some reason—she was stroking his hair. Harry breathed deeply. It seemed like he had someone stroke his hair a lot—a long, long time ago. While his mind was about to take him somewhere, Ron told him he had complain about what Umbridge was doing to him.

Harry opened eyes in an instant. "No."

"McGonagall would go nuts if she knew—"

"Yeah, she probably would," said Harry. "And how long d'you reckon it'd take Umbridge to pass another Decree saying anyone who complains about the High Inquisitor gets sacked immediately."

"I'd like to shove those decrees up her--," Lydia began and Hermione gave her a warning look.

"Harry, we've got to do something," Serena said, "we were just talking about that before you came in."

"I was just thinking," said Hermione, "maybe the time's come when we should just do it ourselves."

"You mean learn Defense Against the Dark Arts on our own?" Serena questioned. "I don't want to do more homework!"

"True, Serena, you already behind enough," Luna reminded her.

"But this is much more important than homework!" said Hermione

"I didn't think there was anything in the universe more important than homework," Ron muttered.

"Don't be silly, of course there is!" Hermione exclaimed. She looked so excited, like she wanted to go take on the whole world or something. "It's about preparing ourselves, like Harry said in Umbridge's first lesson, for what's waiting out there. It's about making sure we can really defend ourselves. If we don't learn anything for a whole year—"

"We can't do much by ourselves," Ron groaned. "I mean, all right, we can go and look jinxes up in the library and try and practice them, I suppose—"

"No, I agree, we've gone past the stage where we can just learn things out of books," Hermione stated. "We need a teacher, a proper one, who can show us how to use the spells and correct us if we're going wrong."

"If you're talking about Lupin…" Harry began.

"No, no, I'm not talking about Lupin," Hermione said. "He's too busy with the Order and anyway, the most we could see him is during Hogsmeade weekends and that's not nearly often enough."

"Who, then?" Harry frowned.

Hermione sighed deeply. "Isn't it obvious? I'm talking about you, Harry."

Serena stepped back from behind Harry and looked at him. "Hey, Hermione's right."

"What?" Harry grunted

"You can teach us Defense Against thte Dark Arts," said Hermione.

Harry stared. They couldn't be serious. "Me? But I'm not a teacher."

"Who says you have to be a teacher?" Lydia demanded.

"But I can't do it," Harry insisted.

"Harry, of course you should be the one to do it!" Serena said. "Since you came to Hogwarts you did all those brave things!"

"Yeah," Ron said, "getting the Stone from You-Know-Who."

"But that was luck, that wasn't skill--,"

"Second year," Ron interrupted, "you killed the basilisk and destroyed Riddle."

"Yeah, but if Fawkes hadn't turned up I—"

"Third year," Ron continued, raising his voice, "you fought off about a hundred dementors at once--,"

"You know that was a fluke, if the Time-Turner hadn't--,"

"And last year, you fought off You-Know-Who again."

"Listen to me!" Harry shouted, looking a tad furious. Hermione and Ron were smirking but Lydia and Serena weren't. Serena thought Harry was being a little selfish by not taking any credit for what he did. Lydia, for being the scout of luck herself, thought that Harry was more than just lucky.

"Just listen to me, all right? It sounds great when you say it like that, but all that stuff was luck."

"Stop it, Harry," Lydia said coolly. "Maybe luck did have something to do with it, but why did you go do those things if you thought you couldn't do them?"

"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded.

"Well, when Quirrel let that troll in and you knew Hermione didn't know," said Serena, "why did you guys go find her instead of telling Percy or someone else?"

"I—er—because Percy was taking us back to the Common Room."

Ron laughed and Harry glared at him.

"Well, she's got a point," Ron said, "I'd rather tell Percy instead of trying to find Hermione myself."

"Oh?" Hermione muttered.

"What about when you knew the Stone was going to be taken?" Serena asked before Hermione started arguing with Ron. "You all went after it instead of telling someone else."

"We did try telling someone!" Harry shouted. "We told McGonagall but she didn't' believe us!"

"Well, all right then, your second year," Serena said firmly. "You and Ron were trying to figure out who the heir of Slytherin was and everything. You went into the Chamber of Secrets yourself without telling a teacher or Percy. He was a prefect and Ginny's brother too."

"We told Lockhart but he was useless!" Harry exclaimed. "He was the worst Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Hogwarts had!"

"Except maybe Umbridge," said Ron, "at least Lockhart had a sense of humor."

"Oh be quiet!"

"You could've told McGonagall," Serena said, "and yes, I understand that you had to go after Sirius yourself to save him but Harry, you did all of that. Even if it was luck, it worked out! How many second year students kill a basilisk with just a sword?"

"I was able to do it because Fawkes blinded the basilisk!" Harry yelled.

"It still could've had you for lunch!" Serena shouted back. "Stop being so selfish!"

"Selfish?"

"Harry, now that Voldemort is back we've got to do something," Serena told him. "Someone has to help us prepare and we can't get a teacher to do it. It'd be better if it was another student. But who in Hogwarts would do a better job than you?"

"We can ask," said Harry, "I'm just a fifth year and there are more qualified people than me."

"They might have been in school longer," Serena said, "but you've been in situations they haven't and don't go saying it was luck! You can tell them things that they can't learn in books or classes. You can tell us what it's like knowing being in danger, having someone after you! You have been in a fight against the Dark Arts every year of school when everyone else was sleeping or studying or eating." Serena drew a breath and waited for Harry to reply.

Harry just stared. "Serena—you've been in stuff like that too."

"Oh, what can I do?" Serena demanded. "Teach them how to make speeches? I'm not even a good fighter!"

"Serena, come on!" Harry cried. "You came to save me last year!"

"I did it because I'm a sailor scout! I didn't choose this!"

"I didn't either!"

"Oh come Harry, you went to save the Stone when you were just a first year and went to the Chamber of Secrets when you didn't have to!" Serena spat. "I fight because I'm Sailor Moon, but do you think I like it? My fate is more difficult than yours."

Harry paused. "How do you mean?"

"I never wanted to be Sailor Moon in the first place," Serena said with her eyes brimming with tears. "I didn't want to fight for love and justice. I didn't want to save the world. I just wanted to be a normal teenager. Watch movies and stuff like that, but then I find Luna and my world changes! You just have to stop one person—even Dumbledore can stop him. But the Sailor Scouts and I are responsible for the whole universe! You think we have it easy?"

"I—Serena—I—well—" Harry stammered.

"All we're asking you to do is teach a couple of people what you know," Serena said, "this time, Harry, you're not the only person in danger. You're the best one out of this school that can teach us and if you won't do it—especially with Umbridge as a teacher—then a lot of people are going to get hurt."

Serena walked up the stairs without another word. The others looked at Harry.

"What?" he demanded.

"She's right," said Lydia, "look Harry, you're the only student here—well—besides the scouts anyway, that saw Voldemort come back. Since you've learned his story you call him by his name when everyone else is too afraid to even think it. Dumbledore is probably the only person who's brave enough to do it. We're not asking you to go and save the world, Harry, we just want to be prepared for what's going to happen."

When the Common Room was empty, Harry sat back down and thought over what the others said. Maybe he was being selfish. Maybe they were right. Even if all of that stuff happened was luck, it still happened. If someone else had been in his place they probably wouldn't have survived this far or even been brave enough to chance it. He knew time was running out. Voldemort might have been taking his sweet time right now but it won't be long until he started killing again. Voldemort was after something, a weapon and once he got it all hell would break loose. Harry knew deep inside he had to stop him—that he was the only person that could—and he had to try and keep other people alive. He never could get that picture of Cedric Diggory die in front of him. Who would be next? If there was something Harry could do to protect his schoolmates, anything at all, he had to do it. He didn't want anyone else to die because of him. There had been too many deaths already.

Harry groaned. "What should I do?"

--

For the next couple of days Harry thought of what the others had told him. Hermione wanted Harry to think about it without being asked so she told Serena and Lydia not to ask him. Serena agreed but just hoped Harry would make the right choice. Lydia's week of being Ron's slave was finally over and she promised herself not to make a bet with him again.

When Harry's detention with Umbridge finished it was Serena's turn. Serena dreaded it but just like Harry, she put on a brave front. She wasn't going to let Umbridge get the best of her either.

"Well," Serena moaned, "it's about five o'clock. I guess I'd better get going."

"Good luck," Lydia wished.

"Thanks," Serena sighed, getting up from her seat. She walked out of the Great Hall with Harry watching. He sat there thinking and finally, made up his mind. He got up quickly and bolted after her.

"Serena, wait!"

"What?" she asked without stopping. "Harry, if I'm late—"

Harry caught up with her, grabbing her by the hand.

"I'll do it," he said.

"Huh?"

"I'll teach you guys Defense Against the Dark Arts," he said hurriedly.

Serena smiled faintly. "Really?"

"Yeah," Harry moaned, "you're right. I'm the only one that can do it."

"I'm glad you agree, Harry," Serena whispered.

"I'll go tell Hermione," said Harry, "see you in the Common Room."

"You don't have to wait for me," Serena insisted.

"No, I want to," Harry said firmly. "Good luck with Umbridge."

Serena nodded and Harry went back to the Great Hall to finish dinner and tell Hermione his decision. Serena felt a little happier now that Harry was going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Detention with Umbridge didn't seem to bother her much. Serena walked into the classroom and she wasn't all that surprised to see Umbridge's quill on a desk with sheets of parchment.

"Evening, Professor," Serena said, walking to the desk with the parchment and quill on it. "I guess I am writing lines then?"

"Correct," Umbridge said, "you will write 'I must not insult the ministry.' With this quill."

"Why not my quill?" Serena asked. "I really don't mind using my own."

Umbridge smiled her fake sweet smile. "Oh, I don't think your quill will make as much as an impact, my dear."

"Impact," Serena muttered under her breath, "whatever."

"Excuse me?" Umbridge inquired.

"Nothing, Professor," Serena seized the black quill, took a breath and wrote the first line. She braced herself for the pain that would soon come. It came and left quickly. Serena looked at the quill and her hand.

"You know, Professor," Serena scowled, "you did this to Harry too."

"I did."

"What you are doing is wrong," Serena stated.

"Miss Tsukino, please continue your lines," Umbridge told her.

"I thought you said our lessons were going to be risk free," Serena continued, her eyes narrowing. She wasn't going to take this. "And here you are, making students cut their hands open for your sadistic pleasure!"

"This is detention, not class," Umbridge said, "I have to do what is necessary to discipline you."

"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Serena demanded. "Watching students suffer?"

"No, you've brought this on yourself, dear."

Serena got to her feet. "You might be the Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, but Professor Dumbledore is the Headmaster of this school and I doubt he will stand for this. Harry Potter might have kept what you did to him quiet but I will go to Dumbledore about this, mark my words."

"Oh, go and tell the Headmaster if you wish," Umbridge said softly. "He would like to know how his students are misbehaving and the lengths I have to do to make you obey the rules."

"We are not misbehaving," Serena muttered.

"You are wasting time arguing with me," Umbridge said, "continue with your lines."

"No matter how long you make me do this," Serena hissed, her hands balled into fists, "even if the message sinks deep into my bone, you will not be able to change my mind about the ministry. I am not afraid of you."

"Good dear, because you really shouldn't be afraid," Umbridge smiled rather wickedly, "I'm doing this for your own good."

Serena laughed. "How would you know what's best for me? You don't' know anything about me!"

"I do know this," said Umbridge, "you speak too much. Now then, please start on those lines. They're not going to write themselves."

Serena let out a groan and went on writing her lines. The stinging in her hand came back every time she finished the phrase. She tried hard not to wince or let any sound of pain. After several long hours, Umbridge let Serena go.

"Until tomorrow then," said Umbridge.

Serena stepped out of the classroom and looked down the hall. She wondered whether to go tell Dumbledore right away, or to McGonagall. She looked at her hand. The message wasn't etched there yet. Her hand just felt irritated. Serena would do her week's detention and show Dumbledore as a battle scar of what she had to go through. She wanted real proof before going to Dumbledore. It might do more to get Umbridge sacked than just telling Dumbledore what happened.

"You can wait, Serena," she told herself, "just don't turn one week into two."

Serena hiked onward to the Gryffindor tower. Just as Harry had promised, he was in the Common Room waiting for her. He stood up and without a word, walked up to embrace her.

Serena sighed and reached her hands up on his back. His hug made her feel ten times better after what she had to go through. Harry released her and picked up her hand.

"She made you do lines too?" he asked.

"Yes."

"I'm so sorry, Serena," he groaned.

"It's not your fault."

"Yes it is," he muttered as he walked over to the sofa. "If I hadn't lost my temper with her, you wouldn't have said something too."

"Hey, none of us could keep out mouths shut in her class," Serena stated. "It's okay, Harry. I've been through worse pain than this, much, much worse."

She joined him on the sofa and started stroking his hair. Serena's statement bothered him. What kind of pain did she have to go through?

"When are you going to tell Dumbledore?" Harry asked.

"When my detention is finished," Serena replied, "I'll show him the scar."

"What did you have to write?"

"I will not insult the ministry," Serena restated, "but I still think they need a new minister, and an undersecretary and about everything else."

"I know," Harry agreed, "well, if we don't get a new minister, we can still protect ourselves."

"Yeah," Serena nodded, "we've still got each other, right?"

"Right."

They sat there in silence for a moment. Harry wanted to kiss her. Serena wanted him too. It had been so long since she's been kissed and her mind was less and less on Darien as the days went by. Harry didn't even want her to think of Darien. Harry didn't know who he was, except some bloke in the way of them getting closer. But he wasn't here to stop them now, was he? Harry leaned forward. Serena sat motionless and slowly closed her eyes. This was it. It was finally going to happen.

Then someone entered the room, clearing their throat. "Oh, pardon me."

Harry and Serena pulled back, looking red in the face with embarrassment. Why did they keep getting interrupted?

"Ron!" Harry shouted. "What are you doing?"

Smirking, Ron lifted the water jug. "Water jug's empty. I was just on my way to get more. Wondering if I could use your cloak."

"You could've done a water charm, you know!"

"Oh…right," Ron mumbled.

"You know what," Serena got to her feet. "I'm going to go to bed."

"Now?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Serena said. After being interrupted she lost the feeling. She'd have to wait for another moment. "Goodnight."

Harry stood up. "Goodnight, Serena."

Serena nodded and went up to the stairs. When Serena was out of sight, Harry never before wanted to hex his best friend so badly.

"You walked in at the very worst possible time, you know!" Harry snapped.

"If you really wanted to snog her, Harry," Ron grinned, "you could've done that with me in the room."

"But—you—you distracted me!" Harry groaned. "If you wanted to kiss Ami, I wouldn't interrupt you, would I?"

"Well, I already did," Ron said, "but it was on the cheek but I think she's too shy about that stuff, poor thing. I totally made a fool of myself when I gave her the present I got her for her birthday."

Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Oh, I'm going to bed."

"Maybe you'll be successful kissing Serena there," Ron joked, "in your dreams!"

"Shut up, Ron!"

To Be Continued