Don't start expecting there to always be new chapters out so fast, they are now only because it's March/Spring Break for me and I have a lot of time on my hands.

Oh yeah, Mina's my favorite Inner Senshi, just like Hotaru's my favorite Outer Senshi. And I DO NOT consider Serena or Rini an Inner or Outer Senshi, they are their own group.

Rei, Ami and Lita don't believe the name of Serena's new school is Hogwarts.

Mild, MILD Yuri Slash in this chapter, which means F/F Slash.

Flames are laughed at, by the way, and used to melt chocolate.

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~December 18, Tokyo~

Ami stared out the window, remembering when Serena was late for a Senshi meeting, that had been the final straw and they'd yelled at Serena. But who cared? Serena was always late, that was the way she was and that was the way she'd always be, like it or not. Ami had scanned for the school 'Hogwarts' but no record showed, so they assumed Hogwarts wasn't real. 'And now it's too late for us to say that we're sorry. Because she's gone. And what if we never see her, Rini, Hotaru, Hope, Melanie, Luna, Artemis and Diana again?'

Lita kicked the wooden dummy as hard as she could, trying to take out her frusterations at not standing up for her Princess out on the rather defenseless dummy. 'What if she never comes back? We need their help. Badly. But it's not only that, I miss Serena and the others themselves. I've cooked so much food in the past few days, it's just piling up without anyone to eat it. Why did Serena lie to us about the name of her school?'

Rei knelt in front of the Great Fire, making signs with her hands. "Oh Great Fire, show me where Serenity is!" She pushed her hands outward, and there was a rush of wind as the fire shot upwards, then settled back to normal. But nothing showed. Disappointment filled Rei's body and tears pricked her eyes. She hadn't cried for a long time. "Oh Serena, I'm sorry, you aren't a Meatball Head, you were my Princess, and I miss you! I wish I knew what the REAL name of your school is!"

Mina slurped on her milkshake. 'Somehow, it's just not the same without Sere.' She thought, gazing at the row of arcade games. She didn't even feel like playing, not even with a bunch of kids standing near fawning over the new Sailor V game. "I sleep later without Artemis too." She murmured, more to herself then anyone else. "I wasn't even there for that fight before we knew about Hogwarts, the one a few weeks ago. I was home sick."

"Hey Mina." A warm voice said to her left. Mina turned her head and saw Andrew standing there. "Hi." "Something wrong?" "Not really... well, yes. I miss Serena." "Oh. Well, she's just away at boarding school, right? So just call her." "Hmm..." But Mina knew that wouldn't work. Someone signaled for Andrew and he stood up. "Don't worry, she'll be home soon for Christmas." "Sure." Mina buried her head in her arms, and stayed that way until someone tapped her shoulder.

She lifted her head, surprised, and looked up. "Amara!" She exclaimed, surprised. "Michelle, Trista! What are you doing here?" "What, you mean we can't come to the arcade without your permission anymore?" Amara teased her. Mina blushed. "Stop teasing her, Amara." Michelle scolded. "We got a letter from Serena, Mina." Mina sat up straight so fast she nearly fell off her chair. "Really?! Where?!" Trista laughed and handed it to her.

Mina read the letter in 3.5 seconds, and then read it again slower. And then a third time against slower before she looked up. "We're going to see Serena for Christmas?" She asked, delight creeping into her voice. "But why doesn't she just come here?" "She's afraid that if she comes here, she and the others won't want to leave again." Michelle explained to her. Mina nodded slowly. "Makes sense, I guess."

"So, when do we leave?" "We leave on the 21 [AN: December 21st is my B- day!] and we come back on January fourth." "Sounds great." Mina said. Her excitement was fast building at the kowledge she'd get to see Serena again. "I can't wait!" The Outers smiled. "We thought you could tell the others about going and see if they want to...?" Amara trailed off. Mina stood up, eyes flashing determinedly. "They're coming even if I have to drag them there kicking and screaming!" She said, bouncing out the door.

~Hogwarts~

Rini watched Serena watching Harry, unaware she was being watched and her conversation, all conversations of the Gryffindor table, was being listened to as the head table tried to get Harry Potter's on. They, they being she and Hotaru, were seated at the Gryffindor table again, because they didn't much care for the Slytherins and were more welcome there then anywhere else. "Odango." Said Hotaru softly, squeezing her hand softly. "Is there something wrong?" Rini sighed and leaned her head against Hotaru's shoulder. "Nothing much, Taru-chan, it's just Serena really likes Harry..." "Is there something wrong with that?" Hotaru picked up a pastry and began to feed it to her pink-haired girl-friend.

"No, of course not." Rini said through a mouthful of raspberry. "But I'm worried she might do something, you know..." "Dumb?" "Yeah, something dumb to make Harry happier." "Like what?" "Like placing herself at risk to capture Peter Pettigrew." "I wouldn't worry. Serena can handle herself, Odango." "Hmm." Rini looked up at the sky-light and the falling snow.

Melanie glanced at her pink and violet-haired friends, and then looked up at the sky-light herself. She rested her elbows on the table. "What's the matter, Momo-chan?" "Oh, nothing much, Diana. Just about life in general." "That's a big subject." Diana hopped off her head and onto the table, bell jingling. "Want to narrow it down some?" "Nah." Melanie tilted her head to the side and looked at her cat-girl-friend., ignoring the odd stares people were giving her. "Diana, I love you." The kitten looked surprised, but purred. "I love you too, Momo-chan."

Diana snatched some fish of Melanie's plate and cocked her head as she chewed. "Are you sure nothing's bothing you?" "Yeah. Just mid-winter blahs, I guess." "Alright." Diana said in an I'm-not-convinced-but-I'll-let-it-go- this-time tone. Melanie smiled at her.

~Head Table~

"What are you doing, Albus?" Minerva questioned as they listened to first Rini and Hotaru's conversation, then Melanie and Diana's. Needless to say, they were quite to hear a cat talking, but this was the least of their worries, so it seemed.

"I am trying to over-hear Haarry Potter's conversation, Minerva. We need to know if he is planning romps on the grounds, which will be dangerous for everyone, with Voldemort back and getting nearer all the time." Dumbledore explained to her. He looked as if he disliked such methods, but had no choice. Then, the spell picked up a new one conversation, this time Luna and Artemis, who were currently perched on the table, stealing food from Serena's plate, and after that, Hope's thoughts.

~Gryffindor Table~

"Luna?" Artemis tried to catch the black cat's eye. "Did you get anything on our newest enemy?" Luna looked frusterated. "No, but I have the feeling Serena knows more then she's telling." "Well, she is the one who should know, it always comes down to her fighting the enemy, after all." "Yes Artemis, but I'm just worried. However grown-up Serena gets, she will still need her friends. I don't want her to forget that." "She won't Luna."

Artemis tried to lighten up. "Besides, Serena's grown-up a lot. She's no longer a cry-baby, and she no longer runs from an enemy that attacks unless she has to. She's Serenity now, not Serena." "I know Artemis, I know. She's grown up in front of our eyes. All of the Senshi have." They watched Serena gulp down a plate of food in about 5 seconds and sweat-dropped. "But some things never change!"

Hope swept her gaze around from her position on her mother's lap and her large blue eyes landed on the skylight. 'I wonder how Mom's connections with the newest enemy will affect her fight. After all, he is her uncle, and somewhere deep inside, I know she does love him, very much. They had to spend some time together in the Silver Millennium, before Dominos showed his true colors.'

She sqiurmed slightly, re-adjusting her position before settling back against Serena. 'This fight is getting complicated. As Momma gains new allies, so does the Negaverse. And even after Dominos, there's still Chaos to deal with. It's not fair we've got to fight all the time. I have to wonder, will we EVER have peace for longer then two weeks?'

Hermione sighed, fidgeting around slightly in her seat. She had a book propped up in front of her, but she wasn't reading it, considering it was upside down. She was loosely holding Ron's hand, and from the way he was looking, he was thinking the same thing she was. 'Life isn't fair.'

Serena pulled her gaze away from Harry and looked around at the faces of her worried friends and family and sighed. Beside her, Harry glanced at her and then took her hand. "Serena, don't worry. Everything will be fine." "I hope so Harry, I really hope so." "What's got you so tense?" "Well, it's just the knowledge that there's evil out there that could come threaten us at any second, or launch a surprise attack at any second." "Like they did on Crystal Tokyo?" "Yeah."

Harry turned more fully towards her and smiled. "Serena, Hogwarts is protected fully by the strongest protections there is. Nothing can get in or out without pretty much all of us knowing." "Yeah, that's what Crystal Tokyo thought." Harry frowned and opened his mouth to say something, but Serena interrupted him. "Harry, listen. All the charms, spells and MAGIC in the world can keep the Evil away. Sooner or later, probably sooner, they'll find a way in. So I want you to promise me you'll stay off the grounds, unless someone's with you, and that you won't go wandering around at night, Invisibility Cloak or not." "But-" "Promise me, Harry." Serena caught and held his gaze until finally, he nodded. Serena smiled and leaned forward, careful of Hope, and kissed him. "Thank-you." She murmured against his lips.

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R&R, good-bye, I am exhausted because it's three in the morning.





ChibiSailor