Blast to the Past

Chapter Five: News of a Ball

By Kitty Malfoy (KM)

KM: Hey Everyone! Guess what?! I've got a new story for all of you! It is entirely H.P. based. Just a note: I used the name and description of the main character on Sailor Moon. Don't hurt me, but she is not used as a SM char in this story. I just like the name, and I think the description fits the name perfectly. NO NASTY REVIEWS ABOUT THIS!!

P.S. Peter Pettigrew is not in here because I don't want him in mah story. He'll stink it all up with his foul stench! Icky-Icky-ICKY!!! He's so…so…so…DIRTY!

Please read on…….

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The rest of the day passed by rather uneventfully; except for the fact that the student body applauded and whistled as she entered the Hall for dinner - wearing her bright clothing - and her robes flung over her arm, and then they proceeded to talk, excitedly, about her classes.

Serenity had finished up her treacle tart and was getting ready to leave when Dumbledore stood to speak. 'Student, professors. In honor of this festive holiday, we will once again be holding a Halloween Ball."

Noise of surprise and excitement bubbled up in the Great Hall, and it took a moment for Dumbledore to regain the silence. "This year there are a few differences. This year we will be having a Masquerade Ball, and students will wear costumes and masks. Half way through the celebration you will unmask your current partner, and see if you had guessed correctly. You are dismissed.

.::Serenity!::. Lily called out into her mind.

.::What?::.

.::I think Sirius is going to ask you to go with him!::.

.::Really?!::.

Lily raised an eyebrow.:: Maybe you would prefer the password, 'Sirius is Sexy'……::.

Serenity blushed a deep pink, and stood up to join the rush of students madly racing out of the Great Hall.

.::He wants you to meet him in our room - without talking to anyone else::.

It was true, several boys were trying to make their way to her, and her guess was to ask her to the ball.

.::Ok, I'll go 'Invisible Girl', and slip out::.

Ducking down into a crouching position within the crowd, Serenity concentrated on not being seen - and 'vanished'.

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"Fizzing Whizzbees" Serenity recited, out of breath. The Fat Lady nodded, and the door swung open and she raced up to her room, taking the old, spiral stair two at a time.

"Silver Moons."

A small clicking noise was heard indicating that the door was opening a fraction of a second before the door swung inward. Hurrying in, she was about to close the door when a strong hand grabbed the door and pushed it back open, scaring Serenity. She lost her concentration and invisibility as she fell backwards onto the hard tile floor.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-Flashback-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"Let me in damnit!"

A small girl, of no more than eight years, backed away from the splintering door, trembling and shaking her head spastically as if that would make the man stop.

The heavy dresser that she had pushed in front of the door was slowly being forced back, inch by inch. Her back hit the far wall - she had nowhere left to run. Sliding to the ground she pulled her knees to her pale face, her long golden hair spilling around her like a curtain - blocking her from the outside world. She willed the tears to come, but they would not. Someone with a family such as hers did not cry - it showed a weakness just waiting to be exploited.

The man's voice could be clearly heard through the widening crack between the door and its frame. "You little bitch! How dare you defy Lord Voldemort! You will be broken! You will become what your brother rejected!" Maniacal laughter resounded out in the hall and echoed into the small dreary room.

"Please don't be angry, father…"

The man that was her father let out a huge string of curses, and the girl buried her head deeper into her arms. She sat there, unmoving, only the dull thud of the door being forced open as her company.

"You will become one of us, Serenity!"

"But mother-"

"Your mother was stupid. She was blind to the Dark Lord's power"

"Liar…"

The door stopped moving and he laughed again. "Your mother didn't die in that car wreck……I KILLED HER!"

Serenity's head snapped up.

"--she begged for mercy! It was all really pathetic, she groveled at my feet like the dog that she is--"

Serenity's breathing was ragged and coming in sharp, jagged bursts. She raised her wand.

"NO!"

All her anguish was released in that one word. Pain and sorrow etched her face, and her fingers that clutched her wand were white with anger. A huge golden burst shot from her wand. It shook violently in her hand and she needed both hands to keep it from veering off target. The golden light shot through the crack, and her father's anguished cry caused the walls to vibrate. The light engulfed the door, and smoke assailed her nostrils. When the energy finally dispersed Serenity stared in surprise - her anger drifting away.

The door and the wall couldn't be told apart - they were melted together. The large dresser was now a puddle of goo, fused to the door. The sound of shattering glass, put her back on the defensive as she whirled around; wand outstretched.

"Are you sure you know how to use that?" a voice drawled in an amused sort of way.

A pale blond man, around eighteen years old, hovered outside Serenity's window on top of a Firebolt broomstick. Serenity's eyes widened and she lowered her arm, running to him.

"You came for me!"

The man chuckled and pulled her on to the back of his broom.

"I couldn't just leave my bestest little sister, all alone with the Big Bad Wolf, now could I?"

Serenity laughed and punched his arm. "I'm your ONLY little sister."

"Ah, you caught me."

"You know……he was going to---"

"Shh, I know. That's partly why I came. I bringing you to Hogwarts."

-_-_-_-_-_-_End Flashback-_-_-_-_-_-_

Sirius pulled the now visibly shaking girl to her feet. Serenity was slightly shaking and her face was whiter than chalk.

"Are you okay, Ren? I didn't mean to scare you like that."

"You gave me a bloody fright!"

"What's on you mind? You seem a bit preoccupied…."

"Memories." She replied automatically, and knew it was a mistake. She bit her lip and turned her head away.

Sirius' hands were still holding hers and he squeezed them, sympathetically. "You probably miss your family don't you?'

"I have no family." Her stony tone caught him off-guard. Her hands had turned to ice, and her eyes were cold and forbidding shells of what they normally were. As quickly as this strange behavior had come it was gone, and she sat down casually on her bed.

"I'm sorry, what did you want to talk to me about?"

Sirius recovered from his shock and sat down next to her. "Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the Halloween Ball with me?"

Serenity smiled.

"Well, since you're the first to ask…why not!"

"Oh, well okay. I understand…." He said sadly. "--Wait a minute! Did you just say yes?!"

Serenity grinned and rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I said I would go with you."

Sirius' smile reached his ears as he gave her a hug. "Thanks, Ren."

"Ok - can I talk to other people now?" She asked, jokingly. Sirius appeared to think about it - his finger tapping his chin, and his brows knitted together in concentration.

"Weeeeeeeeeeeelllllll - I guess so."

"Thanks for your permission!" She replied sarcastically, "What are you my MOTHER?"

Ok she thought to herself, grimly That one hurt

Sirius stood to leave and she walked him to the door. "No, I'm your date." He said, huskily, and leaned down catching her lips with his. Finally breaking form the kiss he turned and walked down to the common room with a wink and a wave. Serenity followed after - a little dazed.

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Sirius flopped down on the couch next to James, grinning like a madman. "What's up with you?" asked James, curiously.

"Oh, nothing I just got my date for the ball….."

James looked completely dumbstruck and flabbergasted, but Lily had a knowing smile on her face. 'What?!" James hollered. "Already?! It's only been like, 20 MINUTES! You can't be serious…."

"ACTUALLY, I am Sirius, but yeah, I've already got a date, and a kiss."

"WHO?!"

"Me."

Everyone looked up to see Serenity, leaning over the balcony. She grinned and waved. James' jaw dropped open, but Lily winked and gave her a 'thumbs up' sign from behind the boys. Serenity turned her gaze to Remus. His expression was distant and unreadable. He caught her gaze, and held it in those sad gray eyes, before standing and retreating to the dorms.

She looked at Lily - puzzled, but her friend shook her head, sadly.

.::Uh, Sere?::.

.::What's wrong with Remus?"

.::Umm, well. I think he was going to ask you too……::.

Serenity's eyes widened in surprise.

.::But….I don't like him. Well I like him, but he's like another brother to me::.

Lily's head snapped up, and she stared into Serenity's frightened eyes.

.::What do you mean ANOTHER brother, I thought you had no fam--::.

Lily was hit with a mental push so suddenly, she staggered backwards slightly. She tried to 'talk' again, but a large wall blocked her every try. Lily tried to catch her friends glance, but Serenity was pointedly avoiding eye contact.

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Serenity walked back from lunch, and into the portrait hole. Her friends were in the common room playing a game of Exploding Snap. Serenity walked over to James and placed her hands on her hips. "Have you asked Lily, yet?"

James jumped to his feet, and struck a heroic pose. "Yes, ma' am. I have completed my quest, and return with a fair damsel!" He pulled Lily into his arms and dipped her down dramatically.

A loud bang startled James, and he dropped Lily on her butt, causing her to squeak as she landed with a smack, and they coughed as they tried to clear the smoke by waving their hands.

The cards had completely exploded in Sirius' face. His normally tame hair, was as wild as James' and his bright, blinking brown eyes stood out against he black, ash covered face.

James burst out laughing, and Lily had her hand in front of her face as she tried not giggle. Remus was putting out the flaming cards - but his face was red with the effort to hold back a laugh. Serenity had a pillow in front of her face and she was shaking with silent laughter.

Sirius scowled at them, "Oh go ahead! Let it all out - it's not the first time I've been laughed at!" They immediately obliged, dissolving into laughter.

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Serenity lay on her back, half off the couch, while Lily sat on the floor - resting her back on James' chair.

"What're we gonna do?" Serenity whined. She focused on turning each of her limbs invisible, separately - just to be doing something. Remus occupied himself by creating small bursts of light out of his ring. He looked up and grinned, slyly at Sirius, "How 'bout another game of 'Exploding Snap'?"

Everyone burst into laughter, and Sirius laughed too, chucking a pillow at Remus. That began the inevitable --- ANOTHER pillow fight.

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Roughly an hour and a half later, they decided to call it quits and dragged themselves up to their respective rooms. Serenity lay down on her bed, but did not close her eyes. Almost immediately Lily's ragged, tired breathing slowed down and evened out.

Using extra caution she slid off her bed and out her door, wearing only a short, yellow nighty. She moved stealthily down the winding and out into the common room. Serenity moved to kneel in front of the fire and cringed as a loose floorboard creaked under her weight. She looked frantically between the two sets of stairs and when she had assured herself that no one had heard she kneeled in front of the fire.

Unknown to her a pair of blue-gray eyes studied her with curiosity, from the shadows at the top of the stairwell.

Remus' wolf senses had picked up the creaking of the floorboard, and awoken him. Now he watched curiously as Serenity stared into the fire for a moment before pulling her wand out and waving it in the shape of a triangle. Pointing her wand at herself she muttered the words to a spell.

All Remus could make out was 'Mir- --ek.' But it was enough to know that she was using the Seeking Charm. A dim white glow enveloped the girl, and when it disappeared he had to fight back the scream that threatened to escape his lips.

Even in the dim firelight the trails of yellow-black bruises were visible. They seemed to cover every inch of her body.

What the hell happened to you? Remus thought frantically.

Serenity looked up startled. She had heard a thought brush her own. As if someone was thinking at her without meaning to. It had been too weak to make out the words, but a deep current of concern had been surrounding it. Looking around again, she turned back to her body. Examining she let out a string of curses, "Damn you father, damn you!"

Before he could stop himself, he was at her side speaking in a voice barely above a whisper, "Your father did this to you?"

Serenity whirled around and stared at him - open-mouthed. She mumbled [Disaparrys] and scrambled to her feet. "You-you can't tell anyone!" She hissed. Remus stared at her dumbly and didn't appear to have heard a word she just said.

"You, you told Sirius that you didn't have a family…"

Serenity racked away the nonexistent tears away from her eyes, violently, and looked at him in fear, her eyes wide with terror and her face as pale as a ghost. Her bottom lip quivered as she whispered - almost pleadingly.

"I don't…"

She looked as if she would cry, but to his surprise she didn't , she just turned and fled - seeking the sanctuary of her own room.

Remus stayed there a moment longer - rooted to the spot in shock, before turning to head up to his own room. Turning back he looked at the stairs to the girls' dormitories and shook his head sadly, whispering quietly to the empty common room.

"I wish you could trust us to tell us what they did to you………"

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A gentle shaking startled Serenity into wake-fullness. Lily was leaning over her, her curly red hair falling off her shoulders. Serenity groaned and rubbed her eyes.

"Is it time for breakfast already?"

Lily laughed, and pulled off Serenity's covers. "Breakfast?! It's practically lunchtime."

Serenity groaned again, and covered her eyes with her hands. "PRACTICALLY - keyword there. Wake me up when it IS lunchtime."

"Sirius is waiting for you…" Serenity spread her fingers, slightly and looked at Lily with a half-lidded eye. Lily stared back at her expectantly. Serenity sighed, and rolled herself out of bed. "I hate you…" she mumbled and half - stumbled, half-crawled to her bathroom.

"I know…..that's why we're best friends."

Half an hour later she was back - one towel wrapped around her hair, in a turban, and another around her body.

"Ok, Lily, one little hint…..I'M NOT A MORNING PERSON!……in case you hadn't noticed." Lily laughed, and sat down at the vanity. Serenity quickly changed into a lavender, 3/4-length shirt, a denim skirt with her silver chain belt, and white flip-flops.

Leaning over Lily's shoulder she dabbed on a little blush and lathered on her green apple lip-gloss. Lily looked up at her and quirked an eyebrow. "So when do you think Sirius is gonna kiss ya?" Lily asked slyly.

Serenity almost dropped her lip-gloss, and Lily thought it wasn't JUST the blush turning her cheeks pink.

"Who said anything about kissing?" She asked nervously and began applying more lip-gloss. Lily laughed again.

"Oh, nobody, but I couldn't help but notice that that's your tenth layer of lip-gloss…"

Serenity looked down at the lip-gloss in her hand and smiled sheepishly. "….Well maybe I just like to have extra glossy lips…."

Lily just gave her a look, and got ready to leave. Yesterday, Lily had confessed that she hated robes as well, and had taken to leaving them unbuttoned to show off her 'Muggle' clothing - except, of course, in Potions. Professor Ballard would take away a large sum of house points for such 'undignified actions'. Today she was wearing jean Capri's, slip on sneakers, and a pale yellow T-shirt.

Grabbing two robes she tossed the light blue one at Serenity, and threw her black one over her arm. Serenity snatched the offending article that flew at her head. Pulling out her wand she dried her golden hair and set it in shiny, gold ringlets, and followed Lily out of their room.

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Serenity pushed Remus and Sirius apart and sat down in between them, ignoring the meaningful look Remus shot at her. Lily sat down across the table, next to James.

Sirius grinned, and threw his arm over her shoulder, "Mornin' Sleeping Beauty….." he teased.

"Hey! I don't need that from you. You don't want to go to the ball with an ugly hag, do you?" Sirius laughed.

"You missed breakfast…" Remus said quietly. Serenity turned to him and grinned, "A fact I totally intend to make up for! Will you pass the spaghetti?" Remus chuckled too, his sandy blond hair falling in his eyes as he pulled over the steaming bowl of noodles.

"Thanks very much!" She immediately began shoveling food onto her plate.

Sirius looked at the mountain of food on her plate in shock, "I don't want to go with a FAT witch either!"

Serenity growled and moved to swat him, but he caught her hand easily and planted a kiss on the back of her palm. She giggled and withdrew her hand slowly.

"That was SO romantic……" she cooed in a sickeningly sweet voice. She felt quite giddy, but she was a Marauder now, and she couldn't deny the expecting looks her friends were giving her.

She pretended to be really embarrassed, which wasn't too hard, and seemed to become totally interested in the designs on the spaghetti bowl. She picked it up as if to pour more onto her plate, but turned back to Sirius with a contemplating look on her face.

"Ya know, I don't want to be seen at the ball with a bruised and beaten date, but….I still, need to punish you for calling me FAT! So this will have to do!" In one quick movement she had heaved the bowl up and dumped it on top of his well-groomed, raven locks.

Sirius gasped in horror at his ruined hair, which only caused the Marauders to laugh even harder. Lily and James were leaning on each other for support and Remus was pounding his fist on the table. Sirius glared at them all from beneath the rim of the bowl, but laughed as well at the simple hilarity of it.

Serenity was doubled over with laughter and clutching her stomach when a lazy voice drawled from above her.

"Well, black. I must say that is an improvement. Maybe now you can sucker some stupid first year to go to the ball with you." Severus Snape drawled.

Sirius would have totally decked him right then and there id it wasn't so hilarious. In fact he laughed right in Snape's face.

,First year…..yeah right! I get a Tenth Year!

.::Don't get physical……::.

Sirius looked out of the corner of his eyes to see that Serenity had gone invisible.

.::Yeah, I'm 'Invisible Girl'. Now I want you to pretend that I'm sitting right in front of you. THINK your thoughts at me - but don't do it too loudly, Lily made that mistake, and gave me a major headache::.

.::How's this?::. He 'asked'.

.::Perfect. Now if Snape draws his wand I can take points, but I can also take points from Gryffindor if you pull your wand. So don't do anything stupid::.

"Whatever, Sev. Who did you have to put under the 'Imperious Curse' to go with a slimy git like you?" Sirius asked casually.

Snape's beady, black eyes glittered with malice and he sneered down at the quartet. 'If you must know, I was ASKED to go by Miss Serenity."

Serenity couldn't hold it in any longer, and burst out laughing, but her rippling soprano was drowned out by Sirius' rich baritone.

"How dare you laugh at me! None of the teachers are here yet, Black. Non one to hid behind, like the coward that you are…." Snape hissed - Sirius growled back at him. Sirius immediately saw Snape's hand clench on something in his pocket. Reflexively his fingers curled around his own wand. Suddenly, Serenity squeezed his wrist causing him to drop his wand.

.::WAIT!::. She hissed.

The second Snape had pulled his wand out of his pocket, Serenity reappeared next to Sirius.

"Oh hello, Sevy, " She said, fluttering her eyelashes, "You don't mind id I interrupt this amazing show of testosterone to make a little announcement, do you?"

The shocked Slytherin struggled to reply, but Serenity answered her own question. "Of course you don't' mind."

Standing on top of her bench she hopped daintily into the middle of the Gryffindor table where the spaghetti had previously been. "Can I have everyone's attention?"

Amused faces turned to peer at the spectacle.

"Thank you. I would like to set the rumors straight. I am going to the Halloween Ball with the handsome Sirius Black. I am not and never will be going with Severus Snake…."

Everyone burst into laughter - even the Slytherins. Serenity blinked innocently. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I meant to say Snape, really I did!" She gushed.

"Second of all, it is against Hogwarts rules to draw your wand against another student with intent to use it - Rule Number 107, Section 2, Paragraphs 'C' and 'D'.

Severus stared at her. He had never gotten caught before. "But-but Professor….."

Serenity's eyes glittered dangerously, and she raised a silencing finger, "25 points from Slytherin, and detention will McGonagall after the ball. You get to help her clean up our mess."

"But-but---"

"And if you continue to argue, it will be another 15 points!" This shut him up.

She blew Sirius a kiss and walked out, leaving a stunned Great Hall behind her.

Snape stared at the Hall doors, seething. The students were either staring at him or each other in total silence. Clutching his wand tighter he stormed out of the Hall, Black's laughter ringing in his ears.

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Serenity had been lying on her bed trying to think of what she could use as a costume, when her eyes had landed on a weathered book lying on her desk. Her eyes lit up, and she snatched the book up with a grin and pelted back down to the Great Hall.

Flinging the door open she skidded into the Great Hall, and flopped into a seat next to Lily, breathless. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was in total disarray, but she clutched a large, beaten book to her chest. "It's--perfect!" She exclaimed.

"What?"

"I've found costumes for all of us!" She squealed, giddily. Now of course she had their attention and they eagerly leaned in. "We could all go as Greek Gods and Goddesses!" Their faces took on looks of interest, and she smacked the large volume down in front of them. Flipping to a page she had dog-eared she moved it so that they all could see it. The double-page showed pictures of the 12 major Gods and Goddesses and little descriptions of each.

"Hmm….Let's see. Lily--you would definitely be Athena…" Lily moved behind Serenity and read over her shoulder. "Athena is fierce and brave in battle, but only fights in defense and protection. She is the model of wisdom, reason and purity. The owl is her bird, and she----oh my…."

Serenity laughed and continued reading were she had broken off. "And she is a virgin goddess. She, totally you Lils." James laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Hmm….James would most likely be Zeus, the supreme ruler of the gods. His weapon is a thunderbolt, which he hurls at those who displease him - sounds like your verbal abuse - He is also known to punish those that lie or break oaths."

'And we all know James hates people who lie…" Sirius added. "Let's see who you and Remus fit….Remmy would definitely be Apollo. The god of light - ooh! Matches his ring - The god of truth who cannot speak a lie. Perfect. Now for you, my dear Serenity…" Serenity groaned and moved to take the book, but he snatched it up and moved out of her reach.

"Oh yes, love. Found yours." His warm chocolate brown eyes grinned mischievously at her over the book, "You have to go as Aphrodite!" Serenity blushed, but he continued reading. "Goddess of love, desire, and beauty. The dove, the swan, and the sparrow are her birds. - Oh, you blond haired, blue-head, sex goddess you…." Serenity groaned again and managed to grab her book back

"Oh yeah…let's see who'd you fit, Mr.-High 'n Mighty - Hey you! Get off of my cloud! She grinned after a moment, and spun the book around, waving it in his face. "Ares - God of War. He is considered murderous and bloodstained but, is also a coward. Caught making love---uh ::coughcough:: - we'll skip this part…."

Sirius shook his head and snatched the book back. "Was caught making love to Aphrodite in Zeus' throne room." He grinned and Serenity buried her red face in her hands. "His animal is the dog….man this thing is GOOD!"

Lily examined the book again. "Ooh! We could get Molly Parker and Arthur Weasley involved too! Did you know they're an item now?" They shook their heads. "Let's see Arty could be Hermes. Fastest of the gods he wears winged sandals and hat and carries a magic wand. Hmph! Isn't that a good one, anyway it's perfect he is so thin and bloody fast!"

"I agree," Remus said. Looking down at the book he trailed his finger down it searchingly. "How about Hestia?"

James looked down where Remus was pointing, and read out loud, "Another virgin goddess. Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol for the house around which a child is born. Yeah that's Mol, all right. Everyone's always saying what a perfect mother she'll make."

Serenity checked her watch. "We have 10 minutes until the Hogsmeade trip. Just enough time to get ready. We'll meet up in the common room then."

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The group of Gryffindors moved out of the Greek Costumes section of Madame Malkin's robes and bought their purchases. In their haste to get to Zonko's no one noticed Snape enter the Greek section after them.

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Didja like? Ok so this chapter kind of dragged on, but the next one will have the entire ball scene. R & R!!!! Pweze!

Kitty Malfoy

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