Crying Siren, Singing Wolf
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"Remus, umm, aren't you supposed to, like, be somewhere right about now?"
"I don't know, am I?" Serena wrote something down on a little piece of parchment, crumpled it up and chucked it at Lupin's head. After reading it he looked up in surprise, he had forgotten presumably.
"Would you like to come? I'm sure Harry would appreciate it" Serena looked from Lupin to her book and back again, made a face and nodded
"What are you reading?" he asked as they headed toward the history of magic classroom.
"The works of William Shakespeare, I just finished Macbeth which Cameron let me borrow, and I'm now reading Julius Caesar."
"You really enjoy Willem Shakespeare plays don't you?"
"Oh yes," they reached the classroom 5 minutes after 8. Harry had lit all the lamps when Serena and Lupin walked in. Serena nodded to Harry and took a seat behind Professor Binns desk. Lupin heaved the packing case containing a boggart onto the desk. Lupin raised and eyebrow
"You're not going to help?" Serena looked up from her book.
"I am helping. I'm Harry's moral support. Yay Harry, you can do it! See?" she returned to her book. She could hear Harry trying not to laugh. She began watching the m over the top of her book.
"What's that?" Harry asked. Lupin explained that it was a boggart, which would turn into Dementors there for providing a suitable practice subject for Harry's Patronus. Then Lupin explained the spell. Serena herself had used it once. Her Patronus had taken the shape of a true Siren. She used it without fully learning it. Serena still didn't get that one Maybe, she thought, Just maybe my need to save Severus pulled it out… Oh! Harry's gonna try! Yay Harry! Beat that Dementor down! Serena briefly considered touching minds with Harry but decided against it. To her, people she was linked too were colors in her mind. Harry had always been a bright green, like his eyes. Lately a new color had moved in. Light gray. The color of her eyes. She had a sneaking thought that it was Lupin. And if she tried to touch minds when he was around he'd know. Serena lowered her book to watch with interest as Harry pointed his wand at the boggart repeated the words "Expecto Partaum" as the Dementor Boggart made its approach. Within minutes Harry had passed out. Instinctively Serena touched minds with him. He was confused and she let her mind warp around his like a security blanket.
"Serena" Lupin said sharply "Get out of his mind before you hurt yourself"
"Sorry" she said sheepishly, returning to her book. Harry did better then Serena expected, but not as well as she would have liked. Although he got better and at the Quidditch match he actually created a good one in order to win. Serena and Lupin made their way through the throng of people to get to Harry.
"That was some Patronus" he told Harry, Harry turned his beaming face towards them
"The Dementors didn't affect me at all!" Lupin looked a little uncomfortable
"That's because they er weren't Dementors. Follow me" Serena and Harry followed Lupin to 4 struggling bodies. Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Marcus Flint were lying in a heap of black hooded cloaks. Professor McGonagall was severely telling them off
"You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright," Lupin told him
"An unworthy trick!" she was screaming "A low and cowardly attack on the Gryffindor Seeker!"
Something tugged on Serena's awareness. She looked towards the edge of the field, There. She thought, Oo he would be here. Oh I can't believe he'd take such a risk. Oh he's so naughty… She would have known him anywhere. She edged her way to the enormous shaggy dog.
"You have to be more careful. I can't keep covering for you. I thought we agreed about this when I got you in here." The dog cocked his head. he was laughing at her, gently, but laughing all the same, then told her that he knew what he was doing and besides no one knew that he wasn't a dog besides her and didn't she say she usually talked to animals?
"You may think your clever Sirius Black," she whispered, plopping down next to him, "But if your caught we'll both rot in Azkaban," Sirius gave a snort, I'm not going to get caught he told her. So stop worrying.
"Men! You're all the alike. You think you're invincible."
As true as this is, he said Can we talk about other things? Serena gave him a slight glare.
"Like what?"
Recent events, he replied, what's been going on. Serena sighed heavily then got up.
"Come on then. Everyone's used to large animals following me around." he wanted to know where they were going.
"My office I can lock the door."
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"So what do you want to know?" Sirius transformed into a person the moment Serena had the door locked.
"Everything. Your steamy love affair with my best friend."
"I could kill you."
"Tell me and I'll give you a cookie," Serena tilted her head, considering.
"Better be a big cookie…. Remus is doing well. Been taking a potion the Potion Master cooked up. Becomes harmless every full moon. Harry's doing well. And Dan Tomas also, I haven't been able to get Peter for you though, Ron holds him close because of the cat. Did you see Harry's broom? He got the Firebolt you gave him back." Sirius was surprised
"How did you-"
"I just know. Are you doing ok? Getting the food I send you?"
"Yeah. How are you doing?"
"Still cant sing. Don't know why. Well I kinda do. Its because I lost my spark. But Remus is helping."
"That's your steamy love affair?" Serena blushed brightly, "Invite me to the wedding ok?"
"Ha, Ha, how very funny I don't think." There was a knock on the door.
"Serena?" it was Lupin, "Who are you talking to?" She turned back to Sirius who had transformed back into the black dog. Serena opened the door to let Lupin in.
"I found a new friend" she said "Found him in Hogsmeade. I've been keeping him in here,"
"I've never seen him."
"He's shy."
"Oh" Serena hoped he believed her. Lupin held out a hand and Sirius sniffed it, giving his tail a good wag. Pleasse, don't reconise him, please don't recognize him, Serena repeated inside her mind.
"Remus is there something you need?"
"Oh no, I was just passing by when I heard you talking. I was just curious. I'll let you two finish your conversation," he left. Serena sank down to the floor with a sigh. Sirius gave her a comforting headbutt.
"That was close. Sirius you need to do what you came here to do, you need to get Peter tonight."
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That night Serena was woken up by her Chihuahua. Jade said there was someone to see her. A big black non-dog, she said, he's in the forest. And also the whole school is looking for Sirius Black. He was in Gryffindor tower.
"I know Jade that dog is Sirius Black. But he's not-awww forget it I'll explain later." She raced out of her room wearing a tank top and flannel boxers. She bumped into Lupin on the way to Gryffindor Tower.
"Nice pajamas."
"Oh shut up, I was asleep for once and stupid Sirius Black gives cause for Jade to wake me up," she said it jokingly but grumpily all the same. The search for Sirius ended much like Serena expected. He wasn't found. Around dawn Serena snuck into the forest. Sirius was pacing.
"He wasn't there," Serena nodded
"I gathered as much," there was a rustling sound. Sirius became the dog quickly, and Serena whipped out her wand. She breathed a sigh of relief a moment later. It was only Darkmoon. Darkmoon was a Pegicorn; Serena had saved from a Werewolf in her 1st year at Hogwarts. She was orphaned so Serena had been taking care of her every since. Her mother had been a white Unicorn and her father was a rare Thestral Winged Horse, The extremely buetiful creature had a midnight black body and wings, and a white mane and tail.
"Hello Darkmoon" the creature nuzzled her affectionately
"What in the world?"
"This is Darkmoon. My Pegicorn,"
Darkmoon asked why Serena hadn't come to ride her, "Well I've been busy. I sorry Darkmoon. I'll come to visit you real soon. Ok? Ok?" Darkmoon agreed but sullenly before galloping out of sight.
"She's beautiful.
"And miffed. I haven't been visiting her. Busy looking for you,"
"Of course."
"Look if I were you I'd lay low at Shrieking Shack for a while. If you need to you can go to my house," Sirius once again changed into the dog, nodded and ran off. ************************************************************************
The next weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend. Serena thought about going but Lupin asked her to keep him company while he graded some homework. So that's where Serena spent her day, Lupin kept trying to make her laugh or sing but it really wasn't working. She was deeply engrossed in Lewis Carroll's 'Through the Looking Class' (Alice in Wonderland: sequel) when her brother's voice shot out of the fireplace.
"Lupin!" Serena jumped "I want a word!"
"Can I go? I wanna see what shoved a chocolate up his-"
"Serena."
"Sorry, so can I go?"
"Come on" they stepped into the fire, spun really fast then found themselves in Snape's office where he was glaring at a piece of parchment. Lupin dusted off his robes and Serena gave a vicious shake of her hair, trying to get most of the soot off.
"You called Severus?" he asked lightly. Snape looked up and sneered at Serena who crossed her eyes at him.
"I certainly did" He looks really mad, Serena noted, "I have just asked Potter to empty his pockets" Serena now noticed a very dirty and sweaty Harry Potter and gave him a cheerful grin, he nervously grinned back, "He was carrying this" he gestured to the parchment. Lupin looked at it, but Serena couldn't see she picked it up and read it, aloud.
"Mr. Mooney presents his compliments to Professor Snape and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other peoples business. Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Mooney and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git. Mr. Padfoot would register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a Professor. Mr. Sharpsnout sends his greetings to Professor Snape and wonders how his family puts up the moronic prat. Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape a good day and advises him to wash his hair the slimeball…" Serena put down the parchment as she did she also did something she hadn't done in over a year. The sides of her mouth turned up and she burst into hysterical laughter. Snape was livid. Lupin raised an eyebrow.
"Serena if you cant control yourself I'll have to ask you to wait outside," Serena straightened up, and wiped away tears of laughter.
"You're absolutely right. I'm sorry. I'll be serious." That lasted about 5 seconds before she doubled over in laughter again.
"I don't find it funny" said Snape in his most dangerous voice. Serena looked at him, momentarily ceasing in her laughter before snorting "Slimeball!" and dissolving into giggles again. Lupin pointed to the door. Serena and left almost bumping into Ron Weasley, Dan Tomas, and Cameron Lupin who all looked out of breath, but where looking at her oddly.
"What's so funny?"
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"Your brother," Lupin began when he re-entered his office, "Is very upset with you," Serena looked up from her book, eyes shinning like they hadn't been for a while.
"Oh you've just figured that out?" she closed the book, "I called him a pink rascal slut back in September and he's been peeved ever since."
"You called him a what?"
"Pink Rascal slut. It's the worst insult a siren can use. Very upset was I."
"Oh. OK" Serena smiled, she was still feeling giddy."
"You don't happen to have that parchment do you?"
"Its not- ok, ok, ok let me explain. It's a map. If anyone tried to get its secrete it insulted them."
"A map?"
"Yes. A remarkably useful map. It shows where everyone is on the Hogwarts grounds." He tapped it with his wand "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Serena whistled.
"Handy" she said, "Hey how do you-"
"I helped make it. I'm Mooney." Serena snorted. Apparently remembering the map's earlier comments.
"Mooney, how appropriate. Who were the other's then?"
"Peter Pettigrew was Wormtail, Sirius Black was Padfoot, James Potter was Prongs, and Maxwell Tomas was Sharpsnout. They were Animagus. Unregistered. They er made my transformations easier."
"Made your trans- oh. Oh! Because the Wolfsbane potion is a recent discovery. Oh!" suddenly she gasped, "That's why the Whomping Willow was planted over the entrance to the Shack."
"You know about that?" Serena snorted
"Figured it out in my 3rd year. Well not what it was used for but the fact that there was a tunnel under the damn tree." She gazed back at the map "I wonder where in the world Harry came across that."
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Serena walked to the Quidditch final's alone, well almost Sirius, Crookshanks, Felicity, and Jade were on her heels. Their plan was to stay hidden.
"I can't believe you're being so reckless" she told Sirius.
I want to see my godson beat the pants off of those Slytherins.
"Well, so do I" Felicity hissed "but if you two get caught…."
We won't get caught because Serena and Sirius know what they are doing. Jade informed her.
"So there" Serena said giving Felicity's tail a tug. "I wish we could watch though"
In order to stay alive we need to stay hid. Crookshanks replied
"I guess you right. I suppose its good luck that Lee Jordan has a voice that could drown out a jet."
"Welcome to the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup Final!" Lee was saying "and here comes the Gryffindors! Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team at Hogwarts has seen a good few years." There was a large amount of booing. Serena had a feeling it was the Slytherins. "And here comes the Slytherin team lead by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather then skill." More booing. Suddenly Serena got up.
"You guys stay here"
"Where are you going?" demanded Felicity
"I'm going to go ride Darkmoon. I already know how the match is going to turn out." She didn't know why she didn't want to watch, but her mind made up she left to go find Darkmoon. She didn't find the Pegicorn, so she stretched out on the grass in one of the forest's clearings, looking at the cloudless sky and feeling very content.
"Hello is this a private gathering or can anyone come?" Serena looked up and behind her at Professor Lupin.
"Why aren't you watching the Quidditch Final?"
"I could ask the same thing," he said lying down next to her. Serena adjusted her position, moving so she was lying perpendicular to Lupin with her head on his chest. He was mildly surprised.
"You make a good pillow" she told him innocently. She felt rather then heard him laugh.
"So" he said, "How goes the search for your spark?" it was a question he was asking her daily. As if her spark was a set of lost keys.
"As well as can be expected. You've been making me eat, I actually slept for 2 hours but since that incident in Severus's office I haven't laughed. I certainly haven't been singing. This is getting depressing. Can we talk about something else?"
"Sure like what?"
"Like these exams. Have you found another Boggart?"
"Not yet"
"Good Because I found one stuck in the S-pipe of Moaning Myrtle's toilet."
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