Crying Siren, Singing Wolf
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It was Christmas break before Serena woke up. She was surprised to be in the hospital wing. On the table next to her were a vase of flowers and a stack of cards. Her glasses had been removed revealing the dark circles that remained even though she had been asleep since the end of November. She had sat up when Madam Pomfrey came in.
"Finally you've woken up! Your lucky you're not a student."
"How long-"
"It's the holiday vacation"
"Oy"
"Oy yourself"
"Who sent-"
"The students sent the cards there's some from some of the staff too. The flowers are from that nice Professor Lupin he sent something else too but I've been holding on to it in case one of the students broke it or something. There's been quit a few in and out of here of course Lupin came every chance he could and your brother's been in here a couple of times," she handed Serena a box, taped to the box was a note.
Get better soon lady siren.
~Remus
Inside the box was a black opal ring. Serena already had a ring on her ring finger.
But maybe this is fates way of telling me to get over Quirrell. She thought. Hm. I think Remus fancies me. Well he's only 10 years older…That's not much.
"-Think he fancies you" Madam Pomfrey was saying, Serena shook her head viciously as she tugged her engagement ring off her finger. It was a little stuck. Finally with a sharp yank that made her gasp she got it off.
"What?"
"I said I think Professor Lupin fancies you."
"Oh." Serena was putting the new ring on. "Though you're probably incurring the wrath of Professor Snape if you do anything about it." Serena got up.
"Yeah probably, where are my glasses?"
"That's another thing. Haven't you been sleeping?"
"Not really. Well ok not at all. And my appetite has dwindled to a bare minimum"
"But you've never been fond of eating in the first place."
"Yea well. I guess its nerves, I had a fight with Severus"
"What about?"
"Well he was mad that I hired Remus, A) because he wants the job and B) he went to school with him and they really didn't care for each other. So he insulted my teaching creds and my judge of character, brought up Quirrell the moron. Then we had another fight the first day of school and I called him a –uh-maybe I shouldn't repeat it but you know what the worst thing a siren can call someone is?"
"No,"
"Well its what I called him. It doesn't make any sense but-"
"What did you call him?"
"Oh right, sorry- called him a pink rascal slut. And we haven't spoken since."
"Does he know what that phase means?"
"Sorta, he knows I only use it when I'm completely infuriated," Serena squeaked out a wiry grin "I called Professor Lockheart that once. He didn't have a clue what I meant. Oh I'm so glad it's the holidays. I can catch up while most of the students are gone. Can you get someone to take the cards and flowers up to my room? I really need to find Professor Lupin"
"Yeah alright."
"Thanks ever so," Serena walked out. Felicity, Jade, and a multitude of other pets met Serena outside the hospital ward. She recognized Harry's Snowy Owl, Hedwig, and Dan's Barn Owl Merlin. Even Fang had managed to get in there.
"Thanks for your warm greeting," Serena said petting as many as she could "I like it very much, it really means a lot to me. But I think your owners will get worried if you stray for too long." All of them left with thoughts of happiness ringing in Serena's mind.
Fang refused to go "But what if Hagrid gets worried?" Fang replied that Hagrid was gone somewhere and didn't know he wasn't home, "That's not a polite thing to do," Serena sighed, "Come on then. I have to see Professor Lupin."
"Professor?" Serena knocked on his door, "Hello? Felicity?"
"He's in there," she pressed an ear to the door and stifled a un-cat like giggle, "Sounds like he's asleep."
"Hmp, good time to go to sleep," she opened the door; sure enough Professor Lupin was slumped over his desk, fast asleep.
"I don't want to wake him," she whispered "I'll leave him a note" she seized a piece of parchment
Thanks for the ring…. I appreciate your concern…There's something I didn't tell you….
-Serena
She rolled up the parchment and wrapped Lupin's hand around it.
"Jade, Felicity, Fang, c'mon we've got work to do." Lupin caught up to them just as the reached the doors near the Great Hall. Serena turned around just before he threw his arms around her neck.
"Professor!" Serena dislodged herself blushing, "this is very un-like you. You've always been so calm," Lupin gave her a vague smile.
"I'm just glad you're awake, finally, and in the afternoon."
"Ahhh. Full moon tonight?" Lupin shuddered
"Yeah" Serena linked her arm through his and petted his arm
"Would you like me to stay with you? Um you did drink that potion right?"
"Your really afraid of me aren't you?" Serena shook her head
"I'm not afraid of you you, just you're werewolf you. Every werewolf I've ever met has tried to kill me. Well there was your nephew that time when I found him but that was only because A) it wasn't a full moon, and B) he's a half as well," Lupin nodded, "But besides that, something goes on in their little (no offense) brain that says 'eat the half breed, eat the half breed!,' I've never understood it."
"Yeah I probably would've tried to eat you if I hadn't had the Wolfsbane potion."
"I should learn how to make that," she said "I bet its just killing Severus to brew it for you," she paused considering "Then again…. Maybe it'll be good for his ego."
"Serena" Lupin was suddenly serious, "you said there was something you didn't tell me. And you never finished the story of when we met."
"Oh that," she said uncomfortably, "Well. It's a long story," They where outside. Snow was gently falling. Serena plopped down on an exposed root and motioned for Lupin to do the same. Serena sighed and hugged her knees reminding Lupin very much of a child waiting for a bedtime stroy.
"I met him when I was a first year. We met when we were getting fitted for robes. We were fast friends. We naturally assumed we'd be in the same house, but I was in Gryffindor and he was in Slytherin. Do you know what the others called us?" Lupin shook his head and Serena let out a short bitter laugh, "We where inseparable so we were called the Romeo and Juliet of Hogwarts. Have you ever read Romeo and Juliet?"
Lupin shook his head again, "Oh all 6th years that take muggle studies have to read it. A muggle named William Shakespeare wrote it,"
"I believe Cameron's reading something by him, if I remember correctly its called Macbeth,"
"Cameron has read Shakespeare?" Lupin nodded
"He's been reading it since the end of the summer and I believe he's almost finished with it."
"Some reason that really doesn't surprise me, well Romeo and Juliet's different then Macbeth, the only thing they really have in common is their both tragedy's. It's about two star-crossed lovers. Romeo's family and Juliet's family are in a deadly feud. Sort of like the feud between Gryffindor and Slytherin. My Romeo and I were always together every chance we got. Even when we graduated we were still attached. Then one summer Severus separated us. That was the summer he proposed on my 21st birthday. But that was also the summer he met Lord… Lord… O_o this is painful…"
"Try. Fear of the name only makes your fear of the person worse."
"I'm not afraid of him. The whole story is painfull. Anyways, that was the year Voldemort wanted the Sorcerers Stone. Most of the teachers plus Hagrid and I, had some sort of protection for it. Mine was a door that could only be opened by someone very strong, or-"
"Someone with Siren's blood."
"Precisely. Guess which one my dear fiancée used?" She showed him the two scars, one on each wrist, "Siren blood…litraly. Well he died. I thought I could get over it, one good cry and a change of scenery and I'd be fine. Well halfway through last year's school year I stopped singing. I didn't even notice, I was too concerned about the undoing the damage Professor Lockheart was causing. Then this past summer I stopped eating and sleeping. That's when it dawned on me; I've lost my spark. I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to worry anyone so I called it nerves. Told everyone that I wasn't sleeping cause I was searching for the new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher. Then I started wearing these glasses. I told people I was off color and that's why my marking faded. So far it's working. You're the only one who knows," suddenly she was worried, "You wont tell anyone will you?" Lupin hugged her about the shoulders
"No. And I'll do something else too"
"What?"
"I'm going to help you regain your spark." Serena looked up
"Wha- you are?"
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Serena was glad to get back to classes. The students were glad to see her back too. Or at least most of them where.
"What's the matter Assistant Professor Snape, did you faint for the scary Dementors too?" Draco Malfoy sneered at the beginning of his Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Serena smiled sweetly.
"Fifty points from Slytherin. I am still a teacher Mr. Malfoy." He acquired a pink tinge. The class of 3rd year Gryffindors were extremely glad to see her, but angry too.
"What's wrong?"
"When you were out and Professor Lupin was out, Professor Snape filled in. Again."
"He did? What happened?" the whole class burst into a furious tirade.
"He was mad that we didn't have to do the Werewolf essay"
"He made us do it in class!"
"Four rolls of Parchment!" Shouted Ron Weasley
"We still don't know anything about werewolves!" Dan Tomas shouted
"Four rolls of parchment!"
"Can't you keep him on a leash or something?" asked Lavender
"Four rolls of parchment!"
"He was only a fill in" added Hermione
"Four rolls of parchment!"
"See what I put up with?" Lupin said mildly "Well when your not here"
"I do" she smiled warmly "I will talk to him but-"
"But?!" several people cried
"But we're currently not speaking to each other, so it may not do any good, but I will try."