The fire was flickering in the grate, casting shadows around the common room that was slowly emptying. Serena was tapping her quill impatiently on the books in front of her as she leaned on her other arm. She was nervous about Sirius coming into the fire tonight…what if someone had intercepted Hedwig and read the letter?

"Serena," said Hermione putting her hand down on Serena's quill. "Relax."

"I can't," Serena said throwing down her quill. "What if—"

"—it wasn't," Harry said before she could say her thoughts out loud.

"Well, what if he—"

"—he won't go back to Azkaban."

Serena looked at Harry with a soft glare.

"Since when did you become so optimistic about the situation?"

"We don't have a choice but to be," Harry said looking at her.

"Serena," said a new voice.

Serena looked up and saw Kendra, who had just walked up.

"What's up?" Serena asked. She bit her bottom lip, she hadn't told Kendra or Amber that Sirius would be in the fire tonight. She wasn't sure if she wanted to call that much attention to their secret meeting.

"Parrish is out in the corridor," she said rolling her eyes. "He asked me to tell you that he was out there. He wants to talk to you. I wasn't going to say anything but I figured you'd kill me if you found out. I don't think you should go out there, but that's completely up to you. He's a git and should have his balls—"

Serena raised her hands in the air to stop Kendra from talking.

"Thanks Kendra."

"Sure," Kendra said with a shrug. She turned and walked off to where her friends were sitting playing Wizarding chess.

Hermione was eyeing Serena and she sighed.

"What?" she said to Hermione.

"Nothing," Hermione said.

Serena put down her quill and stood up.

"I'll be back," she said.

She walked out of the common room and found Parrish leaning against the wall of the corridor facing away from the picture of the Fat Lady. The portrait swung close and he stood up straight, turning to Serena. He smiled.

"Hey," he said.

"Hi," Serena said putting her hands in her pockets and crossing her legs as she stood. "What's up?"

"Just heard that you broke your sister's nose today," he said. His eyes fell on her cheek. "And she got you too?"

"Yea," Serena said touching the bandage on her cheek.

"Do you want me to heal for you?"

Serena shook her head.

"That's okay," she whispered. "I've thought about it and I want it to scar. I think it will look sexy."

Parrish smiled.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" he asked.

Serena sighed. Yes, she did.

"I can't be out long," she whispered. "I have a lot of homework." She stopped herself from biting her lip but felt Parrish's eyes burning into hers.

"That's cool," he finally said. "It's close to curfew anyways…just a short one."

"Is something wrong?"

"Does something have to be wrong for me to talk to you, Serena?" he asked as they began to walk down the corridor. "I mean, we are friends."

Serena nodded her head.

"Yea," she said. "How are things with you?"

"Good," he said. "I'm really excited about these defense lessons from Harry. You think Umbridge knows about our meeting in the Hog's Head?"

"She must some how," Serena shrugged. "It would be too much of a coincidence for her to make up this decree the same weekend we decided to do something deviant."

"Yea," Parrish agreed. "It feels good to be breaking the rules."

Serena looked at him oddly.

"That sounds kind of weird coming from you."

Parrish shrugged.

"Marietta isn't as thrilled about the idea of still meeting," Parrish said. "But Cho and I are pushing her to come still."

Serena's throat tightened.

"She seems a little uptight," she muttered. "No offense."

"Her Mother works at the Ministry and she doesn't want Umbridge to have her fired if we're caught."

"We won't be," Serena said. "Hermione's not going to leave that paper lying around."

"I know," Parrish said. "And I've told her that."

"Why are you with her?" Serena asked abruptly. Parrish looked at her with raised eyebrows and put his hands in his pockets.

"You suddenly care who I date?" he asked.

"No…I was just…wondering."

Serena cringed and bit her lip. Parrish rolled his eyes.

"I wish you'd stop lying," he said. "You're the most confusing girl I think I've ever met."

"If I'm so confusing why do you like spending time with me then?"

"Maybe I'm hoping I'll figure you out," he said. "I wouldn't mind be the only person who understood you."

Serena frowned and looked at the ground.

"No one will understand me," she whispered. "Not even you Parrish."

"Well you won't let anyone understand you," he said. "So it's your own fault."

"Maybe I like it that way."

Parrish laughed.

"No," he said. "You want someone to understand you. You just like watching people squirm under your control…I'm telling you now Serena, I'm going to understand you someday, whether I have to break down all your walls on my way there or not, I will understand you…someday."

Flashes of the visions Serena had of Parrish and her together entered Serena's mind and she closed her eyes tight to prevent from falling over. She opened them and frowned slightly, rubbing her head.

"Keep thinking that Parrish," she finally said.

"Why do you block off people so often?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Serena said with a sigh. "Amber and Kendra can read me just fine…not to mention Hermione—even you can when I don't want you too!"

"I barely can," he said. "I try to and half the time I don't know if you're being serious with me, and what you're telling me is how you really feel, or if you're just making it up to cover up for something else."

Serena had a feeling that everything he was talking about had to do with her reasons for not wanting to be with him. She didn't want to argue with Parrish and tried to change the subject.

"Has the Ravenclaw Quidditch team been reformed? Gryffindor's hasn't," Serena sighed. "Harry and Ron are really upset."

"Yea," Parrish said picking up that Serena didn't want to talk about the walls she put up, blocking in all of her feelings. "It's been reformed. Umbridge thought about it for about half the day before she approved them though. She's a real witch that woman."

"I agree," Serena said. She looked at her hand where she could still see 'My Father is a notorious mass murder' carved into her skin. The flesh was white and scarring. She frowned and looked up at Parrish who was also looking at her hand.

She glanced at her watch. It was almost ten o clock.

"Parrish," she said. "I should get back. You're allowed out after ten…but I'm not. And like I said I've got a lot of homework."

Parrish looked at Serena.

"Everything's okay, right?" he asked with concern.

"No," she said. "No not really. Hedwig was intercepted today and she had a letter from my Dad with her. I'm just worried about him…"

Parrish nodded his head.

"I'm sure he'll be fine Serena," he said walking back towards the Gryffindor corridor. Serena nodded her head. "He's a smart man, and he's escaped from the law before."

"I know," she sighed. "I'm just worried that something bad is going to happen. I don't want I would do if he got caught again. And I don't think they would just chuck him into Azkaban. They'd probably kiss him and I can't handle that."

"Serena," he said taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. "I promise that it will be okay. No matter what. I'm always here for you."

Serena pulled her hand out of his and smiled at him.

"I know," she said. "I don't think Marietta likes it that much though. I'll see you later Parrish."

They had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. Parrish said nothing about Serena's comment regarding Marietta. As Serena looked at him she wondered what he was thinking, did he even like Marietta?

"Let me know about those lessons," he said. "Have a good night."

"I will," she said with a nod. "Night."

Parrish looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn't. He smiled and turned down the corridor, leaving Serena in front of the Fat Lady. She looked up at the portrait.

"Out late with your boyfriend?" she inquired. "I must say he is a fine looking young man—"

"He's not my boyfriend," Serena said sternly. "Mimbulus mimbletonia."

"Well sweetie he obviously wants to be your boyfriend," the Fat Lady said and then swung forward allowing Serena to enter. Serena rolled her eyes. The last thing she needed was the portrait of the Fat Lady telling her that Parrish wanted her.

The common room was nearly empty when she entered. Ron, Harry and Hermione were still sitting in their chairs. Hermione was now knitting instead of doing her homework, while the other two were attempting to work on their homework.

"What did Parrish want?" Hermione asked as Serena sat down.

"Just to talk," said Serena with a shrug.

"That git," Harry said.

Serena looked over at him with wide eyes.

"Excuse me?" she said.

"He's a git," Harry repeated. "I just don't like him."

"You've never seemed to like him very much," Serena said. "Nor has he really liked you, to be honest, but he's supported you and believed you through everything that's happened so you could at least be polite to him."

"He's dating another girl to spite you," Hermione said. "At least that's how Harry feels. Frankly, I don't think it matters because you told Parrish you just wanted to be friends."

"Exactly," Serena said. "And I don't think it's much of your business Harry."

Harry frowned and shrugged.

"I know that you—" He began but Ron sat up straight from his slumped, half asleep position and interrupted him.

"Sirius!"

Harry, Hermione and Serena all turned the fire place and climbed out of their chairs to sit in front of the fire. Sirius's head was floating in the middle of the flames, beaming up at them.

"Hi," Sirius said grinning.

"Hi," they all said back in unison.

"How're things?" he asked.

"Not good," Harry said. "The Ministry's forced through another decree, which means were not allowed to have Quidditch teams—"

"—or secret Defense Against the Dark Arts groups?" Sirius finished for Harry.

There was a short pause where all four of them looked at each other.

"How did you know about that?" Harry demanded.

"You want to choose your meeting places more carefully," said Sirius, grinning more broadly. "The Hog's Head, I ask you…"

"Well, it was better then the Three Broomsticks!" said Hermione defending her reasons for meeting at the Hog's Head. "That's always packed with people—"

"—which means you'd have been harder to overhear," said Sirius. "You've got a lot to learn, Hermione."

"Leave her alone Dad," said Serena with a smile. "She had good intentions."

"A good many people have died because they had 'good intentions' Serena," said Sirius very seriously. "How've you been my dear?"

"Just fine," she whispered.

"Any weird dreams lately?"

"Only the one where a man falls through the veil." Her voice was quiet as she spoke about her visions. "And I've had a few about Parrish…but I think those are actually dreams, not premonitions."

"What are they about?" Sirius asked with raised eyebrows. He shook his head and frowned. "Never mind," he said quickly. "I don't want to know, unless you think I should."

Serena felt very awkward suddenly and her cheeks turned pink a little.

"There are some things a Father should never ask his daughter, and that was one of those things."

"They're not those kinds of dreams Dad!" Serena said scandalized.

"Who overheard us at the Hog's Head?" Harry demanded, changing the subject. Sirius looked at him.

"Mundungus, of course," said Sirius. The four of them looked at each other with raised eyebrows and Sirius laughed. "He was the witch under the veil."

"That was Mundungus?" Harry said. "What was he doing there?"

"What do you think he was doing?" Sirius asked impatiently. "Keeping an eye on you and Serena, of course."

"I'm still being followed."

"Yea, you are," said Sirius. "and just as well, isn't it, if the first thing you're going to do on your weekend off is organize an illegal defense group."

He looked neither angry nor concerned. And as Serena watched her Father look at Harry she felt a pain in her heart. He was looking at Harry with a distinct pride that Serena had never seen before. She took a long sigh and tucked her hair behind her ear, trying not to think about it.

"Why was Dung hiding from us?" asked Ron disappointed. "We would have liked to see him."

"He was banned from the Hog's Head twenty years ago," said Sirius. "and the barman's got a long memory. We lost Moody's spare Invisibility Cloak when Sturgis was arrested, so Dung's been dressing as a witch a lot lately…anyway, Ron, I've sworn to pass a message on from you Mother."

"Yea?" Ron said sounding a little nervous.

"She says on no account what-so-ever are you to take part in an illegal secret Defense Against the Dark Arts group. She says you'll be expelled for sure and your future will be ruined. She says there will be plenty of time to learn how to defend yourself later and that you are too young to worry about that kind of thing right now. She also," Sirius looked at Hermione and Harry. "Advises Harry and Hermione not to proceed with the group, though she accepts that she has no authority over either of them and simply begs them to remember she has their best interest at heart. She would have written all of this to you, but if the owl was intercepted you'd all have been in real trouble, and she can't say if for herself because she's on duty tonight."

"On duty doing what?" Ron asked quickly.

"Never you mind," Sirius said. "Just stuff for the Order. So it's fallen to me to be the messenger and make sure you tell her I passed it on because I don't think she trusts me to."

There was a silence again as Crookshanks tried to paw at Sirius's head in the fire.

"So, you want me to say I'm not going to take part in the defense group?" Ron muttered.

"Me? Certainly not!" said Sirius looking surprised. "I think it's an excellent idea!"

"You do?" Harry said quickly and Serena smiled at her Father.

"Of course I do! Do you think your Father and I would've lain down and taken orders from an old hag like Umbridge?"

"But—last term all you did was tell me to be careful and not take risks—"

"Last year all evidence said that someone inside Hogwarts was trying to kill you, Harry!" Sirius sounded impatiently with his godson as he talked. "This year we know there's someone outside Hogwarts who'd like to kill us all, so I think learning to defend yourselves properly is a very good idea!"

"And if we do get expelled?" Hermione said.

"Hermione, this whole thing was your idea!" Harry said.

"I know it was," she said. "I was just wondering what Sirius thought."

"Well, better expelled and able to defend yourselves then sitting safely in a school without a clue," said Sirius. He looked at Serena. "You have to join," he said with a joking smile. "No option for you."

Serena smiled.

"Are you kidding?" she said. "I'm already there. Have been from the beginning."

"That's my girl," said Sirius with a wink. "So, how are you organizing the group? Where are you meeting?"

"That's been a bit of a problem," said Harry. "We don't know where we'll all fit."

"How about the Shrieking Shack?"

"We've thought of that already," said Serena. "There's too many of us. Thirty people in that tiny shack trying to practice defensive spells? I think that's a really bad accident just waiting to happen."

Sirius nodded his head.

"Fair point," he said. "I'm sure you'll come up with somewhere…there used to be a pretty roomy secret passageway behind that big mirror on the fourth floor."

"Fred and George told me it was blocked off," said Harry. "Caved in or something…"

"Oh," said Sirius frowning. "Well, I'll have a think and get back—"

He broke off. His face was suddenly tensed and alarmed. His head turned sideways, apparently looking into the solid brick wall of the fireplace.

"Daddy?" Serena said with some concern.

But Sirius's head vanished from the fire. Harry gaped at the flames for a moment, then turned to the others.

"Why did he—?"

Hermione gave a horrified gasp and jumped to feet, still staring at the fire.

A hand had appeared amongst the flames, and was groping around frantically as thought trying to catch a hold of something. Serena's mouth fell open when she saw the pudgy, stubby hand covered in ugly old-fashion rings.

The four of them all jumped up and ran for their dormitories, not stopping to look back until they were at the doors. Hermione and Serena looked down at the fire place with nervous shock.

"That was close," Hermione muttered disappearing into the dormitory and rubbing her head. "There's no doubt about it now. Umbridge has been reading Harry's mail."

Serena frowned.

"Let's not talk about it here," Serena said looking around at the other sleeping fifth year girls. "We don't know who could be listening."

The next morning in Charms Hermione expressed her concern to Harry, who found it very difficult to believe that Umbridge was reading his mail. But Hermione assured him that Umbridge had to be.

"I wonder if she knows how close it was," Harry said breathlessly as he jabbed at his fat bullfrog with his wand.

"If she had caught Snuffles…" Hermione sighed.

"He'd be back in Azkaban by this morning," Harry finished for her.

The day seemed to brighten a little when Angelina told Harry and Ron that the Gryffindor Quidditch team had been reformed, and despite the nasty weather they had practice. It wasn't until the next morning that Serena realized what a good day it had been for Harry. He had found that evening a place to hold the Defense Against the Dark Arts group meetings.

"The Room of Requirement?" Serena said with raised eyebrows. "And Dobby, the house elf told you about it?"

"Yea," said Harry as they walked down to breakfast. "It will be perfect Serena. Dumbledore even told me about in passing last year at the Yule Ball."

Serena nodded her head.

"Hermione and Ron know?"

"I'm going to tell them now," he said. "And spread the word to the others; Eight o'clock, seventh floor opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by the trolls."

Serena nodded her head.

"Alright," she beamed. "You know I'll be there. I'll go tell Parrish now."

"Right," said Harry. "See you in a few minutes."

Serena nodded as they reached the Great Hall. Harry made his way over to the Gryffindor table and Serena walked to the Ravenclaw table. She found Parrish quickly, he was sitting with Marietta, near the center of the table, with some of their other friends.

"Hi Parrish," she said when she had approached him.

Parrish looked up from his breakfast and beamed at Serena.

"Hey Serena," he said. Marietta looked at Serena with icy eyes and said nothing, turning around and continuing to eat her breakfast. Parrish glanced between the two for a moment, but said nothing.

"We've found a place for the meeting tonight," said Serena. "Eight o'clock on the seventh floor across from the statue of Barnabas the Barmy being beat up by those trolls."

Parrish nodded his head.

"Cool," he said. "We'll be there."

"Right," Serena said with a smile. "See you later. Pass it along if you can."

"Bye," he said with a small wave. Serena felt his eyes on her as she walked away. She rolled her eyes about Marietta. Part of her wanted to slap the girl in the face, the snot.