Parrish met Serena in the entrance hall after breakfast on the Saturday of the next Hogsmeade visit. Serena had dressed warmly, in a red sweater, jeans, her Fathers cloak, and black gloves and scarf. Parrish beamed at her and kissed her forehead in greeting.

"You look lovely," he said.

She smiled up at him.

"Thanks," she kissed his cheek. "You ready?"

Parrish nodded.

"What about Harry, Ron and Hermione?"

"Ron and Hermione are going to practice their Apparation," she said lightly as they walked outside into the glowing sun. The snow on the grounds was beginning to melt but it was still rather chilly. Parrish wrapped his arm around Serena as they walked down the path with other students, heading for Hogsmeade. "And Harry wanted to stay behind today…"

"For what?" Parrish asked with raised eyebrows.

"He's tracking Malfoy," Serena said very quietly. "He's been having Kreacher and Dobby track him, and they reported that he goes to the seventh floor with different people and spends time up in the Room of Requirement."

Parrish nodded slowly.

"Wonder what he's up to."

"That's what Harry's trying to find out. He's been trying to get into the room but can't, so he thought he'd take advantage of today when everyone is out of the castle to work on it."

"What do you think he's up to?"

"Honestly?" Serena whispered. "I think he's trying to kill Dumbledore."

"What?" Parrish looked at her very seriously.

"Adhara said last time I saw her that Dumbledore has known for sometime that someone has been trying to kill him. That necklace that sent Katie Belle to St. Mungo's and the poison in the mead were meant for someone. Slughorn said he had forgotten to give the mead to Dumbledore. Someone has been trying to kill Dumbledore, and we all know that Voldemort would want him dead."

"But why Malfoy?"

They had reached Hogsmeade and were walking through the snow and woods towards the Shrieking Shack. There was no one about them, and Serena felt safer talking to Parrish this way. She didn't want to be over heard or seen talking about Malfoy.

"For one thing," Serena said softly. "His Father messed up; maybe Voldemort wants him to redeem his family."

Parrish nodded in agreement as Serena lowered her voice and sat down on a large rock. Parrish stood in front of her and stroked her cheek, then pushed her long brown locks behind her ear.

"Secondly, he's been acting so strange," Serena said. "Missing Quidditch matches, not going on Hogsmeade visits, and disappearing off the map."

"The map?"

"Harry's magical map that my Dad and his friends made when they were in school."

Parrish nodded.

"The person who sent the necklace and the mead didn't exactly do the best job thinking them through, and Malfoy is kind of a daft Prick. And we over heard Amelia and him fighting about telling Adhara something. What if Amelia told Adhara about Malfoy's plan? Adhara said that Dumbledore knew someone was trying to kill him, not only is Dumbledore smart enough to know when someone is trying to kill him, but Adhara probably told him what Amelia told her."

"Then why wouldn't Malfoy give up, if Dumbledore knows its Malfoy trying to kill him?" Parrish asked crossing his arms over his chest.

Serena was silent for a moment as she thought the question over.

"Maybe he's trying to plan something else," she whispered. "He obviously can't do it himself, maybe he's trying to get help."

"Get help from who? Death Eaters? They could never get into the school."

Serena frowned and agreed.

"Then I don't know," she whispered. "But we both agree that he's up to something."

"Definitely."

"Maybe I should try to force a vision off of him or Amelia," she whispered.

"But will you see what you want to?"

Serena shrugged.

"I could probably use Legilimency on them," she said. "Adhara has begun to teach me it. I penetrated her mind once already."

Parrish raised his eyebrows.

"Good for you. What'd you see?"

"A blond boy hugging her," she whispered. "She was only seven maybe, but she shoved him away. She realized I was in her mind and pushed me out before I saw anymore."

Parrish sat down next to her and kissed her neck softly.

"You're coming along nicely then," he said.

"Yes," she nodded. "Considering I've only been studying for about a month now…yes I am doing nicely."

"Good," Parrish said. "You're mentally strong. Maybe next Adhara will start physical training with you."

"For what?"

"Self defense."

"Do you think I need it?"

Parrish shrugged.

"You do it pretty well already," he said with a smile. "It's really hot watching you kick a guy's ass."

"You don't like protecting me."

"Of course I do," he said seriously. "But it's a comfort to know that you can take care of yourself when I'm not around. Especially in this day in age."

Serena nodded in understanding.

"How are Amber, George and Galen?"

"Well," Serena said. "They've been working on finishing the inside of the country house and staying at the Burrow a lot. Amber said that Molly and Arthur sleep better at night knowing that Amber and Galen are safe at their house when George isn't around."

"Amber could take care of Galen."

"Still, it's better to not be alone," Serena shrugged. "At least if she's at the Burrow one or two people are around while the others are working for the Order."

"So the house is almost done?"

"Yes," Serena smiled. "I'll be able to buy Amber's share after my next birthday. I will be of age you know."

Parrish nodded.

"So should I sell my flat?"

Serena looked at him.

"Why?"

Parrish smiled at her.

"We spend so much time together, we live together anyways. Why should we both own a place?"

Serena looked out at the snow with a small smile on her face.

"Well," she whispered. "If that's what you want…I wouldn't mind you living at the house."

"That is what I want. I want to live with you," he said taking her hand and squeezing it. They smiled at each other and kissed slowly. "I'll sell the flat then."

Serena couldn't help but smile.

"Alright," she whispered. She kissed him very slowly on the lips. "Kendra will be staying with us too you know."

"I don't mind her," Parrish said still smiling.

Serena nodded.

"We're safer together Serena," he said squeezing her hand. "And I'd have it no other way."

"Me too," she whispered resting her head on his shoulder. "You do need protection."

"Me?" he said.

"Well yea, you do have a tendency to be kidnapped, or nearly killed," Serena said. "You wouldn't be alive if it weren't for me."

He smiled at her.

"I suppose you're right."

"Of course I am," she said with a firm nod of her head. Parrish turned her chin to him and leaned in to kiss her very gently. But as his lips touched her skin the familiar tingle of an oncoming vision trickled down Serena's spine. She closed her eyes and pulled away from Parrish's lips, but he caught her and let her body rest against his, her head on his shoulder.

Serena was asleep for at least fifteen minutes. Parrish began to get concerned, and nudged her chin up so he could look at her. He remembered at the beginning of the school year when Serena had the vision getting off the train and nearly died from it. He bit his bottom lip with concern and watched, holding his breath, waiting for her to wake.

She did. Parrish released his breath and helped her sit up as she gasped and coughed, like she had been under water for a long time and had just come up to the surface.

"Are you alright?" he whispered. "I'm sorry my touch…"

"It's alright," she said. "I'm fine."

"What'd you see?"

Serena didn't speak at once. She looked down at the snow in front of her feet and kicked at it slightly.

"Serena?"

She looked at Parrish with slight fear in her eyes.

"I saw Snape kill Dumbledore," she whispered. "He killed Dumbledore for Malfoy."

Parrish looked at her very seriously.

"You're sure?" he whispered.

"Of course I'm sure!"

Parrish nodded and stood up. He took Serena's hand and pulled her up off the rock.

"Come on, you have to go tell him—"

"Parrish I can't!"

"Why?" he stopped and looked at her with wide eyes.

"He wouldn't believe me," she said. "He trusts Snape. He always has. He's not going to believe me."

"You have to warn him, Serena," Parrish said. "What he does with that warning is completely up to him, but you need to warn him none the less."

Serena frowned and nodded, then together they ran back through the village and up the path to the castle. As they were racing up the front steps of the castle, Professor McGonagall stopped them.

"Why are you two running?" she questioned looking between the two of them with raised eyebrows.

"We have to see Professor Dumbledore," Parrish said. "It's an emergency."

"Professor Dumbledore is away right now," she said.

Serena frowned and glanced at Parrish.

"What is it that you have to tell him?"

Parrish looked at Serena this time.

"Nothing Professor," Serena said. "Don't worry about it."

"I thought you said it was an emergency," McGonagall's lips were thin.

"It can wait until the Headmaster returns," Serena assured McGonagall. "Thank you Professor."

She took Parrish's hand and headed for the Great Hall.

"I'll just wait until he gets back to talk to him."

Parrish nodded.

"Don't avoid it," he said.

"I won't," she snipped back.

He nodded and kissed her forehead.

"I'll see you later, after dinner?"

She nodded.

"Bye," she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts three days later. Serena only knew this because she saw him at breakfast on Wednesday and as she was leaving the Great Hall with Ron and Harry, Parrish came over to her to point it out.

"I know," she said.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I have to talk to Dumbledore," Serena said softly. She looked over at Parrish. "I know Parrish, I was actually on my way up there."

Parrish nodded. He pinched her cheek affectionately and kissed her forehead.

"Alright," he said. "I'll see you later. Bye guys."

Harry and Ron waved to him politely as he walked away.

"What's he on your case about?" Harry asked once Parrish was out of ear shot.

"He just knows me well enough to know that I would put off talking to Dumbledore as long as possible," Serena shrugged.

"What do you have to talk to him about?" Ron asked.

Serena frowned and glanced at her two friends. She bit her bottom lip.

"I just had a vision and I want to talk to him about it."

"A vision of what?"

"The one about my Father again," she lied. "I'm sure that he knows what is going on with my Father…and I want to know if he's alive or not. So I'm going to talk to him about it."

Harry nodded his head slowly as he studied Serena. She was frowning slightly, and avoiding his eye. Ron didn't seem to notice her look though, and continued down the corridor talking.

"You should asked him about it," said Ron. "Dumbledore knows everything, especially everything to do with the Order."

"He probably won't tell you," Harry whispered. "Even if he does know."

"Yea, yea, for my safety," Serena said.

"Not just your safety," Harry said looking at her seriously. "But Sirius's. I imagine if he's alive he hasn't been talking to us for a reason—he's undercover, Dumbledore doesn't want anyone to know he's alive…something like that."

Serena frowned and nodded her head slowly.

"Well I'm going to go to Dumbledore's office," Serena said looking in the opposite direction. Harry nodded.

"See you in class."

"Yep," Serena said awkwardly. "Bye."

"Bye," Ron said with a wave as the two boys walked off.

She felt Harry's eyes on her as she walked down the corridor towards Dumbledore's office. A part of her felt that he knew something else was the matter. When she arrived at the eagle standing in front of the spiraling staircase leading to Dumbledore's office she felt a pull in her stomach. She didn't know the password to get up there. But to her shocking surprise the eagle's head turned to her, making her jump back, and spoke.

"The Headmaster is expecting you," he said.

Serena swallowed and stood up straight.

"How do you know it's me he's expecting?"

"Are you not Serena Belle?"

"Yea," she said. "But if I wasn't—"

"Then I wouldn't have told you that the Headmaster was expecting you."

The eagle's head turned back and he bounced out of the way of the staircase. Serena stepped onto it as the eagle jumped back to his protective position and the stairs began to spiral up. When Serena reached the office door, she knocked lightly.

"Enter," said Dumbledore's calm voice.

Serena pushed the door open and saw Dumbledore sitting behind his desk leaning over a pile of papers.

"Ah, Miss Belle, I was—"

"—expecting me," Serena finished with a nod. She took a seat across from Dumbledore and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You don't look to happy to see me, for someone who came up here willingly," he said softly.

"Why were you expecting me?"

Dumbledore simply smiled.

"I've noticed for the last few weeks Serena that you have been having rather unpleasant dreams," he said after Serena didn't speak. "Your eyes is a give away, but Professor McGonagall has expressed some concern because you seem more tired then usual in her class."

"I'm always tired," Serena said. "It's not her class, and it's nothing unusual."

"What have you been dreaming about that makes your eyes silver?"

"Funny you should ask."

"That's what you came up here to talk to me about?"

Serena nodded her head but did not speak. Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and put his finger tips together in front of his mouth.

"Your Aunt mentioned last week that you've seen your Father numerous times," he whispered. "Is this the vision that drains your eyes of their color?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Every morning I wake up sick and with a splitting head ache, and these Occlumency lessons aren't helping those head aches. It's always the same dream Professor."

"You haven't had any other type of premonition?"

"Well," she paused. "I have. Only three and they're very recent. First, I saw Snape and Harry dueling on the school grounds, then I saw Harry racing down a corridor in Hogwarts where many people were fighting; professors, some members of the DA, guards from the Order, and as they're fighting Harry comes sprinting through them, he trips over Neville, and then rams shoulders with my Father. Professor, I saw my Father here at Hogwarts. That vision only makes me believe more that he is alive."

"Continue with your other vision."

"I'll get to that one in a moment," she whispered. "I want to talk about my Father."

Dumbledore was silent for a few moments. He pulled his wand from his sleeve and flicked it in the air. A pot of tea appeared on the desk, along with two cups and a plate of cookies.

"Have some tea, Serena," he said pouring both the cups. Serena didn't move.

"No thank you, Sir," she said.

Dumbledore glanced at her with a tired, aged look. She didn't realize it until that moment that Dumbledore was old. He was a frail, old man and certainly running out on life. She frowned slightly thinking of the vision she had of Snape killing Dumbledore. Did Dumbledore perhaps know that his time was almost up?

"Serena," Dumbledore said very quietly. "I can not tell you whether your Father is alive or not."

"Sir," Serena said frankly. "That answer tells me yes, he is alive. You just don't want to say it."

Dumbledore smiled as he put two sugar cubes into his tea.

"You, Serena, are a great deal like your Aunt."

Serena frowned at this.

"May I suggest," Dumbledore continued. "That if you wish to find out if your Father is dead or alive you use the skills your Aunt has been teaching you?"

Serena frowned more deeply.

"I'm not going to play anymore games," she said harshly. "From the start you didn't want me to know who Adhara was, you lied to me about her—Remus and Amber lied to me about her! I'm tired of being lied to like I'm a little girl."

"People keep secrets to hide them out of embarrassment or love," Dumbledore said calmly but sternly. "The person who hides them out of embarrassment is nothing but a selfish fool afraid of standing up to their past, the person who hides them out of love is compassionate and thinking of the people that their secret would effect. When your family did not tell you of Adhara it was not because you are a little girl who can not handle the truth, Serena, they didn't tell you for your safety."

"Parrish almost died because he didn't know who Adhara was," Serena said crossly. "Knowing nothing doesn't help protect us either."

"Page would have killed his son whether he knew about Adhara or not," Dumbledore said. "Now, what was your third vision?"

"I saw Snape murder you," she said in a bitter tone.

Dumbledore was very silent, and by the look in his eyes not surprised. Serena frowned. His look confirmed what she had thought earlier—Dumbledore knew he was going to die. Now she was beginning to think that he knew Snape was going to kill him too.

"When did you see this?"

"Last Saturday," she whispered.

"How was it triggered?"

"Parrish touched me," she said.

Dumbledore nodded.

"Thank you very much for your warning," he said. "If you don't go soon you'll be late to class, and I'm sure Professor Snape would not like that."

"Sir," Serena said softly. "How can I sit in his class and look at him as if I don't know he's a killer?"

Dumbledore looked up at Serena.

"Part of keeping secrets is knowing how to hide them well," he whispered. "I trust that you know that Serena. You, after all, kept a very dangerous secret from your friends for a long time, and you continue to keep it from your peers."

"They know I'm a Seer," she said. It was the first time she had ever called herself a Seer. "My darling sister Amelia is to thank for that."

Dumbledore gave her a tired smile and nodded his head.

"Amelia," he whispered softly. But he said nothing else and Serena frowned, standing up. She eyed Dumbledore oddly as she went to the door. "Close the door tightly behind you, Serena, if you would."

"Of course Professor," she said.

She left the office with a bit of an odd feeling. But as she reached the empty corridor a new spark entered her system. Dumbledore had basically told her that Sirius Black was alive; she just had to go about finding him.

"What did Dumbledore say?" Harry asked the moment Serena took a seat next to him in Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"He said he couldn't tell me if Father was dead or alive."

"Makes it sound like he is," Harry said.

Serena nodded in agreement.

"Then he told me to use Legilimency and Occlumency to find out if Father was dead or not," she said quickly pulling out her books and completed homework. "The problem is, who do I use them on?"

"Adhara," said Hermione. Harry, Serena and Ron looked at her. "Well, she's the one in your visions with your Father, isn't she? I'd say she's your best bet."

"She's told me he's dead already."

"And you believe her?" Harry said sharply.

"Why not?" Ron said. "Other then your visions, you have no reason to doubt her."

"She a very convincing woman," Hermione said.

Ron nodded in agreement.

"She could tell anyone that the sky was purple and they would believe her."

"You mean she could tell you the sky was purple and you'd believe her," Hermione said.

"Naturally," Ron shrugged. "She's intimating—"

"You fancy her," said Harry.

"Please," Serena raised her hand. "Stop. That's sick."

She, Harry and Hermione smiled and laughed as Ron's ears turned red. The classroom door slammed shut at that moment and all four looked up to see Snape gliding across the front of the room to his desk. He looked rather irritated and as Serena looked at him she couldn't help but glare. In her eyes he was nothing but a killer, a liar, and worse a Death Eater. She wasn't sure how long she'd be able to pretend she didn't know those things.