Chapter Seven: New Professors at Hogwarts

Amy Mizuno grabbed her bag and rushed from her dormitory to the Great Hall. She was already late, and didn't need to be any later for breakfast. It was Snape's turn to hand out tardy slips, and the last thing that she needed was one from him.

As a last thought, she grabbed her henshin pen, just in case. Three students, all from Gryffindor were missing. The professors seemed to just ignore the empty seats in class and continue on. No search parties were formed and no ransom letters were received. Ami was getting worried about her best friend. Serena had been missing for a week. Sure, she had been kidnapped by Diamond last year, and taken as a prisoner of war twice over the last two years by the ongoing war between the Moon Kingdom and Mercury, but this was serious. Voldemort had her, and Harry and Hermione for that matter. She could only imagine what he would do with her as she hurried to breakfast.

Raye Hino walked down the grand staircase to breakfast. She was a Slytherin, so being late really didn't matter to her. It was her head of house that was on duty. Had it been McGonagall, she would have rushed. She saw Amy hurrying toward the Great Hall, and watched as Snape wrote her a tardy and told her to make it up in detention that night.

"Amy!" she called, hoping that her friend would hear her.

Amy turned around and ran to Raye. "I'm so glad to see you," she said, hugging her friend.

"Any more news on Serena?" asked Raye in an undertone.

Snape turned his head toward the whispering girls. He heard Serena's name mentioned once or twice and 'It's Voldemort' whispered more than once. Raye's face lit up in shock and the two continued on to breakfast.

'So,' thought Snape. 'They know of the princess and her kidnapping. I'll have to find out how to eliminate them, especially if they are the rest of the Sailor Scouts.'

Amy and Raye found Mina, Lita, Amara, Michelle, Trista, Hotaru, and Rini. The nine of them stood in a corner and whispered furiously. Dumbledore looked their way once, and Ami mouthed 'It's about Serena' and he turned back to his meal.

"So Voldemort has her?" asked Amara.

"Yeah," answered Amy.

"Then we've got to save her!" said Mina.

"We don't even know where she is," pointed out Lita.

"I want my mom," said Rini.

"We'll find her, Rini," said Hotaru, hugging her friend. "The third years are leaving. I'd better go," she said, noticing the third year Ravenclaws.

"All right," sniffed Rini.

"Come on," said Michelle, taking the eleven-year-old girl by the hand. "I'll take you back to your table. Melanie can help you with the work you missed."

Michelle gently led Rini back to the Gryffindor table.

"I've got an idea," said Trista. "Find Draco Malfoy, and you'll find out where Serena is," she said.

"Trista, what are you, Amara, and Michelle still doing here? Didn't you guys graduate last year?" asked Raye.

"Yeah," replied Amara. "We did. Dumbledore asked us to stay on as student teachers. I'm a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Michelle's a Potions teacher, and Trista's a Transfiguration teacher."

"I feel bad for Michelle," said Lita.

"Actually, Snape likes her. She's always been one of his favorites," said Trista.

"What are we going to do about Serena?" asked Amy.

"Find Draco Malfoy. Michelle and Raye can do that," said Mina. "I'll try, but I don't have double anything with the Slytherins."

"Okay. He'll know," said Raye.

The scouts went their separate ways and headed off towards their classes.

Amy went with Hermione and Ron to Potions with Snape and the Slytherins.

"Won't this be fun?" she asked sarcastically.

"I'm going to pretend to be interested in Malfoy to get stuff out of him. Just follow my lead," said Hermione.

"Hermione, you can't be serious!" said Ron.

"I am. Now let me do it."

The three walked in and Amy and Ron took a seat behind Seamus and Neville. Hermione sat next to Draco.

"What do you want, Mudblood?" he asked.

"Nothing. There was nowhere else to sit," she replied.

"I know what you want. You want to know where your little friend is, don't you?" he drawled.

"Possibly. Would you tell me if I asked?"

"Yeah right. I can't be telling mudbloods where my master has hidden their little friends. He wouldn't like that."

"What do you want in return for telling me?"

"Well, there's this little thing about Serena…"

"Oh yeah. I forgot. Absolutely not," said Hermione, knowing that he wanted her for a slave.

"Fine. Then I won't tell you where Voldemort has his little hideaway."

"Fine. The Sailor Scouts will figure it out for themselves."

"You're working with the Sailor Scouts?"

"What's it to you?"

"Voldemort is very interested in them."

"I'll bet he is."

"Silence!" yelled Snape. "Miss Granger, five points for talking," he added as an afterthought.

"And what about Malfoy?" asked Amy.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Mizuno."

"That's not fair," protested Harry.

"Life isn't fair, Mr. Potter."

The Gryffindors argued and a few stood up to leave muttering "This is berserk," and "He totally favors his own house."

"Sit down," he commanded. "And if the Gryffindors have any more outbursts, it will be 100 points from each person here."

The Gryffindors sat down and quieted. Amy looked at Raye and Michelle. Michelle shot her a sad smile and went back to grading papers. Raye had a look of fury in her eyes and could be seen cursing underneath her breath.

"Is there something that you'd like to share with us, Miss Hino?" asked Snape, an evil glint in his eyes.

"No," she muttered, adding "Professor," sarcastically as an afterthought.

"Detention, Miss Hino. I'm taking a ten-minute break. Professor Kaioh, take over."

Michelle stood up and grabbed the lesson plan. "Okay. Since we can't seem to listen to Professor Snape, turn in your spell books to page three hundred and ninety seven.

The class groaned and Draco smirked, happy that the Gryffindors had lost more points, putting Slytherin in the lead for the house cup, again. He stared at the ceiling, daydreaming about what would happen once he had Serena. He could always put the imperious curse on her, or force her into loving him, or wait- maybe she already did…that got his brain going.

"Mr. Malfoy!" rang out Michelle's voice. "Please read the next paragraph."

Draco scanned the page and looked for a familiar word. He thought that he had heard the word 'potions', but that was in every paragraph.

"We're on page four hundred and one, first paragraph. Please join us," interrupted Michelle.

Ami and Rei smiled at Michelle, grateful that she had embarrassed Draco, for once. The Gryffindors all smirked and laughed as Draco turned red and loudly began to read, stumbling over words from his embarrassment.

At that time, the Gryffindors controlled themselves as Snape walked back in and took a seat in the back of the class, looking a little less tense.

After the class had finished the section, there were twenty minutes left of the class.

"What you are to do with the rest of the period is create the potion that we just read about, without your books. You should have been taking notes. Five points to Miss Granger and Miss Mizuno for taking notes. Miss Hino, let me see your notes," she said, walking over to Raye."

"That new professor is an idiot. She's giving away points left and right," Malfoy said to Crabbe.

"Something that you'd like to share with us?" asked Michelle to Malfoy.

"No, only that you're an idiotic professor who doesn't deserve to teach here," he boldly said.

"Fifteen points from Slytherin," said Michelle.

"That isn't fair!" said Pansy, backing him up.

"And detention, for the both of you," she added. "How's that for 'fair' Miss Parkinson?"

Pansy slumped in her seat and continued to aimlessly add ingredients to her potion.

On the other side of the room, Neville's potion was beginning to smoke. Michelle walked over to him and asked what ingredients he had used.

"Um, boomslang skin and some wormwood," he replied.

"Okay. What you needed to add was boomslang skin and rootwood, plus some rat hair," she said. "It's easy to fix now, just add some Mandrake Root and your potion will be fixed," she said calmly.

"Thanks," he said, mixing up a Mandrake Root and adding it to his potion. It turned a shade of lime green and he added it to his container to save for tomorrow.

The bell rang, and Professor Snape stood up and said, "Professor Kaioh, can I see you in my office?"

"Sure," she replied and followed him across the hall.

"Why, may I ask did you help Longbottom?" he asked.

"Because. Someone needs to. He needs to learn. He's too afraid to try for himself, and he can't rely on Hermione for the rest of his life."

"Okay. And why did you take points from Mr. Malfoy and Miss Parkinson?"

"Sir, even though Malfoy is your favorite student, and his father may be one of your friends, the boy needs some discipline. He's allowed to run amok at home and can get away with a lot here. You don't let the Gryffindors get away with as much as he does, so why favor students?"

"I don't favor students. Potter gets enough attention as it is. Someone needs to make his head a bit smaller."

"His head is fine," she said firmly.

Snape's eyes lit up. "I understand now, Sailor Neptune," he said sarcastically. "Raye Hino and Amy Mizuno are Sailor Soldiers as well. That's why you favor them."

"No, Amy's brains would help as a sailor, but they aren't. I can tell you that. And I don't favor them; I gave points to Amy because she and Granger were the only two who had taken notes, like I had asked. If you'll excuse me, Professor, I have a class to teach," she said, hearing the bell ring, and she left the office.

The sailors met after their classes and decided on one thing; leave now and save Serena.

"Hermione couldn't get anything out of Malfoy," said Amy.

"It's okay. Let's go," said Mina.

"Okay!" agreed the group.

"Mercury Crystal Power!"

"Mars Crystal Power!"

"Jupiter Crystal Power!"

"Venus Crystal Power!"

"Saturn Crystal Power!"

"Uranus Crystal Power!"

"Pluto Crystal Power!"

"Crisis Make Up!"

The scouts transformed and were joined by Sailor Neptune, running from the dungeons. "Let's go!" she called, and the scouts teleported into the forbidden forest.

"I've found his warp path," said Sailor Mercury. "It's through the Shrieking Shack."

"And to get there, we have to go through the Whomping Willow," said Sailor Mars.

Sailor Mini Moon dashed forward and pressed the knot on the tree, freezing the branches. The scouts hurried through the pathway and through the passage. Once inside the Shrieking Shack, Sailor Mercury did a scan and found the portkey.

"It's the sink in the bathroom," she triumphantly said, leading the scouts into the bathroom. They all gently touched the portkey and were yanked from the place they were standing to the dungeon at Voldemort's hideout.

"Welcome, Sailor Scouts. I have been expecting you," he sneered.

"Where's Serenity?" demanded Sailor Uranus.

"With me, of course." He snapped his fingers and she appeared at his side. Her eyes lit up when she saw them, but Raye shot her a look and she said nothing.

"Dearest, tell them about our news," he said.

She stood silently, refusing to speak.

"Well, since she doesn't seem to want to tell you, I will. I've promised to free her brother on one condition: she marries me and hands over her powers. She has agreed, so here, he's yours," he said, opening the cell door and using his power to thrust Harry toward the scouts. Amara rushed forward and caught him, then helped him to his feet.

Serena looked at them, tears in her eyes.

"Serenity," said Sailor Neptune. "Is this true?"

She nodded, and burst into tears and fled from the room.

"Look what you've done to her," said Sailor Pluto.

"I want my mommy!" yelled Rini, running after Serena, watching her shadow and flying pigtails. Voldemort ignored her, not noticing her running after Serena as Raye started to make death threats.

"Hand over Serenity," she said menacingly.

"It's her choice. I have used no mind control on her or forced her into it."

"You call threatening to kill Harry if she doesn't do what you say not forcing her?" asked Sailor Pluto.

"She could have said no, and allowed her brother to be killed."

"But she didn't, and you knew that she wouldn't. You used her weakness to your advantage," pointed out Lita.

"So? That's what I do to my enemies. Now if you'll excuse me- Lucius, lock them up," he commanded.

"Crucio," said a dark voice from the corner. The scouts dropped to the floor, unable to control their writhing bodies from the curse. Lucius muttered a curse and their bodies floated from the floor into a cell, and locked the door. He then removed the curse.

"Well done. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go make wedding preparations for tomorrow," said Voldemort, leaving.

Serena buried her face in one of the fluffy pillows. She cried until no more tears would come. She sat up, wiping her eyes and saw a streak of pink flash past her and jump into her lap.

"Mommy!" yelled Rini, hugging Serena.

"Rini, how did you get here?"

"I came with the scouts. Raye started making death threats, so Voldemort was distracted and I ran after you. You didn't even know that I was here, did you?"

"No. But it's great to see you! I'll have to find out if…after I'm married," she said sadly. "You can come and live with me. I'm going to be lonely, I can already tell."

"The scouts will have saved you by then," Rini said reassuringly.

"They can't. Voldemort locked them up. That cell is unbreakable, and absorbs their attacks so that he can use them for his own. Plus, the wedding is tomorrow."

"They'll be there, I'm sure of it."

They heard footsteps approaching and Serena quickly said, "Rini, get in the closet. He's coming."

Sailor Mini Moon jumped off of the bed and ran to the closet. She opened the door and got inside. Serena locked it with a wave of her wand and quickly hid it under her bed.

The door opened, revealing Draco.

"Draco," she said, looking him coldly in the eye. "I have absolutely no time for your stupid games now."

"If you really want to know, I can stop the wedding. I can also free your friends," he said sincerely.

"What's the catch?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you know what I really want, but truthfully, there isn't one. You look horrible," he said, and she looked in the mirror and saw her bedraggled appearance. Her hair was coming undone, her face was red and puffy from crying and her makeup was running down her cheeks.

"Thanks for the compliment," she said sarcastically.

"No problem. Serena, if you let yourself be set up through this wedding, you've pretty much ruined your life. You can be a great witch, you know. You've got confidence, and it takes a lot of that to stand up to Snape." He stopped talking and sat on the end of Serena's bed. She hugged her knees to her chest and rested her head on them.

"Plus, you're a princess and a Sailor Scout. You've got a great future ahead, and it can't be ruined by an obsessive idiot like Voldemort."

"Wow. I thought that you totally wanted to be the next him," she admitted.

"I don't. I really don't want to be a Death Eater. It's my father who wants me to."

The door swung open and an angry Voldemort stormed in. "Avada Kedavra!" he yelled, aiming right for Draco.

Draco expertly dodged the blow and bolted for the door. Voldemort stuck his head out the door and yelled at Draco's retreating back, "You can run, but you can't hide, boy. I know exactly where you're headed."

"Hogwarts is a big place. Good luck finding me," Draco retorted, and apparated off.

"And now to deal with you, my wife," he said, closing the door and inching closer to Serena.

"I'm not your wife yet," she retorted, and threw a pillow at him.

He resumed his form as Tom Riddle and walked over and sat down on the bed. "Draco was right, you have the potential to be a great witch. Let me finish your training as your husband, and you and I could be the leaders of the Death Eaters. Join my side, Serena. It's the winning side."

"You wish," she snapped. "I'd never abandon my friends."

"What friends? After you left, they abandoned you."

"They'd never abandon me. I know they're here. But while we're on the subject of my friends, after we're…married," she sighed, "Do you think that my daughter could come and live with me? I'm sure that I'm going to be lonely without my friends, and those Death Eaters don't seem very friendly."

"Daughter? What daughter?"

"My daughter from the future. In the future, my former fiancé, Darien had a child. Her name is Rini, and she's here in the past with us, train- I mean growing up normally."

"Is she a Sailor Scout too?"

"No, of course not. She's way too young."

"Well, invite her for the wedding! Alert me when she gets here." He left the room.

"Alohomora," said Serena, unlocking the door. Rini came dashing out.

"You heard everything, right?"

"Yep. I'm glad I get to be with you though. I just don't want Voldemort to adopt me." She grimaced.

"I agree," smiled Serena. She got off the bed and redid her hair. She then changed into a long lavender gown with puffy short sleeves and silver trim, with a silver bow trailing at the back. She added lavender shoes and silver bows to her hair, and then added earrings. "De-transform and come on. Voldemort wants to meet you, and we have to find you something nice to wear."

The two went down the hall to Voldemort's study and Serena gently knocked on the door. It magically swung open, revealing Voldemort still as Tom and sitting at his desk working on papers.

"This is your daughter, I take it?" he asked.

"Yes. Rini, this is Tom."

"Tom? I thought his name was Voldemort."

"Tom is his real name."

"Oh."

"Sere, I'll have a servant bring up two dresses for her, one for tonight and one for tomorrow. I'll see you at dinner in an hour." Serena winced at the nickname, but nodded and escorted Rini back to her room.

"I take it that you don't like him very much."

"You're right."

"I think that you like that Draco guy."

"I don't!" protested Serena, turning red.

"Aha! I knew you did…" said Rini triumphantly.