Crying Siren, Singing Wolf
************************************************************************
Serena meant to go outside of the Whomping Willow, but she only made it downstairs before she began shaking
"So did you kill anyone?" came a sardonic voice. Serena looked around Felicity came out of the shadows with a smug look on her face.
"No Felicity I did not kill anyone."
"Oh," she was disappointed
"Severus got clobbered though."
"Good he's such a jerk."
"Felicity."
"Alright, Alright already. Don't have a Hippogriff." Serena sank down to lean against the bottom stair, "You're shaking," Felicity rarely reveled her true nature. Now was one of those times.
"I am."
"What happened in there?"
"Sirus Black. Tried to kill Scabbers, Peter, dragged him and Ron in here."
"That's not why you've shaking." She prompted gently
"No it was something Severus said. Felicity, am I attracted to only evil creatures?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well there was Nealan and he was working for Voldemort (author's note: that's Professor Quirrell I'm talking about) Then Remus and he's a werewolf, Sirens and Werewolves have always been at war."
"Serena, love does not care. It can strike at any moment. It can strike anyone. Besides Neal did not start out as a Voldemort supporter. And Remus is a wonderful person. Who cares what he is. You don't. I don't. He doesn't care what you are. Besides, isn't there a really old Siren ledgand about a half siren and werewolf?"
"Then why does Severus care? I refuse to believe it's because of a grudge."
"He's trying to protect you. He saw what happened when you put your trust in Nealan. He was so scared when the coma hit. Then you fell into another coma when you were with Remus. He doesn't know that you lost your spark."
"Felicity why are you only that comforting when I'm this shaken?"
"Because," Felicity, the motherly concern gone "If I was this warm always you'd go soft." Serena got up, cradling the Siamese cat "So there."
"So there yourself," a door opened up stairs and Sirius, Lupin, Peter, Ron, Snape, Harry, Dan, Cameron, and Hermione came down stairs led by Crookshanks. Serena fell into place next to Lupin.
"Well?" he asked, "Feeling better?"
"Much." she looked at Peter and Ron who where shackled together along with Lupin "Is Sirius going to be cleared then?"
"He is."
"I'm so glad, Sirius is such a nice man."
"You say that about everyone."
"No," she said firmly, "Not once have I ever said that about Severus."
"You're just upset. And although you have a reason to be that's all it is."
"All what is?"
"It's your anger talking."
"Oh," they where just outside the
Whomping Willow. Serena was grinning If I keep feeling like this I may begin
to sing. I do believe it is a new moon phase. A light breeze ruffled
Serena's hair and she looked up, the
clouds that had so recently obscured the moon were beginning to shift. A strong
thought whipped around Serena's head.
I've just been to your
office Lupin. You had forgotten to take your potion tonight… Serena stopped
"What's wrong?" asked Sirius
"The moon…. His potion… Run." Lupin had also stopped. His limbs began to shake. Serena stepped away from him. Sirius had transformed and was poised to strike. Serena heard Hermione yell something, and Dan yelling at Cameron to keep his eyes shut because there was a full moon. Then she heard someone, probably Cameron, hit the ground hard. In the moonlight Serena could see he had fallen to the ground and was curled up with his head completely covered with his hands, probably to make sure he didn't accidentally glance up.
"Serena you may want to run. In your current state he could kill you."
"I won't run Felicity," Strange, she thought, how my voice sounds so calm when I'm completely terrified inside. Sirius and Lupin were locked in a death struggle. Suddenly Lupin took off for the woods.
"Felicity stay here."
"Where the," (she said a word that made Hermione gasp) "Are you going?"
"After him," Serena took off at a run. She was a fast runner, but it was apparent that she wouldn't be able to catch up with a rampaging werewolf. She sank to her knees on the soft forest floor, and ransacked her brain for someway, anyway to catch up with him. Suddenly it hit her. She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled 3 short blasts. Darkmoon was there in an instant.
You're out late, she commented But I don't care as long as we can ride.
"We'll ride, no flying, we have to catch up to a werewolf." Serena replied, swinging herself up on Darkmoon's back. The pegicorn reared and took off at a gallop. There was a long pause.
Why are we chasing a werewolf? She finally asked
"We're going to help him. I didn't know how to before but I think I do now."
What do you mean we're helping a werewolf? Why?
"Because," Serena paused and thought with an alarming degree of surprise. Why am I am I helping him? Werewolves and Sirens… Have never gotten along. So why do I care so much now? Could it be that I… I… Love him? She smiled I do. She was suddenly blinded by silver light. The moment it cleared she knew that she had regained her spark.
Because… Darkmoon prompted.
"Because I love him," she could hear him up ahead, "When I say so you're going to stop."
Stop?!
"Yes stop, I'm going to try and tackle him."
Well what if you miss?
"I'll probably get hurt. But that's not important. No matter what happens you must not intervene, all right?"
All right but I wont like it… They where on Lupin's tail. Serena half stood up half crouched on Darkmoon's back. She was poised, ready to spring.
"NOW!" Darkmoon screamed to a halt, at the same time Serena leapt onto Lupin's back. Unfortunately he seemed to know what she was doing and threw her off. Looking back on that moment, Serena couldn't remember what was worse: the sound of all the bones in her right arm from her wrist to her elbow shattering or the actual feeling that all the bones from her wrist to her elbow shattered. Lupin pounced and would've smashed her head if she hadn't rolled. Lupin reached out and grabbed her arm. Serena brought up a bubble of defensive power just before she hit the tree. She slid down the trunk, blood dripping from the scratches on her arm and the wound on her head. She thought she blacked out for when she opened her eyes Lupin had her about the throat. Lupin howled when she lashed out with raw energy. He knocked her over and placed two paws on her shoulders. Suddenly Serena knew what to do. Ignoring the pain in her arm she reached up and clasped his face in her hands. "I don't know/ what words I can say/ the wind has a way/ to talk to me/" she sang softly "Flowers send/ a gentle lullaby/ I pray for reply/ I'm ready/ quiet days calm me/ oh serenity/ someone/ please tell me. Oh what is it they say/ maybe I'll know one day." She could feel him change. She repeated her song until he was human again.
"Hey," she whispered.
************************************************************************
Lupin looked at the girl underneath him disbelievingly. Where had she gotten so much power? The spell she had used was complex .He could tell by the way she was breathing. The spell itself wasn't even what worried him. It was the sheer intensity of the power behind the spell. The power that was coursing through him was as frightening as it was comforting. Where was this coming from? How could it be possible that this girl who said that the smallest use of Siren magic would kill her could force all that power into him? His eyes traveled up to her forehead and rested on the small upside down bisected triangle there. Suddenly he understood.
"Hey yourself" he replied. Serena smiled as she let her hands fall to the ground.
"Nice night."
"Very."
"Could you get off of me? I need to go to the hospitol wing."
"Oh? Did you trip?"
"Funny," he stood up and swung the siren into his arms, "Ooo Fluffy's trying to be all suave."
"Is it working?"
"Maybe…"
************************************************************************
They had just reached the hospitol floor when they heard several irate voices. Serena motioned for Lupin to put her down as they kreapt closer to the door.
"We really shouldn't be evesdropping," Lupin whispered, Serena raised an eyesbrow at him.
"You really shouldn't talk…Mooney," he put up two hands in surrender.
"THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!" that was Severus's voice.
"My goodness, he does sound angry," Serena said, amused, "I wounder what could be the matter."
"You are a horrible person."
"Thank you."
"—DON'T KNOW POTTER!!!" Snape continued, "HE DID IT I KNOW HE DID IT—"
"That will do Severus," Serena had to really strain to hear Dumbledore, "Unless you are suggesting that Harry and Hermione are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubleing them further," there was silence in the room when suddenly Snape came storming out and crashed into Serena. The young woman landed on her bad arm and squeaked in pain. Lupin helped her up, murmering words of concern the entire time.
"Are you happy Serena?" Snape spat, "You got what you wanted, Black got away, your boyfriend is safe and Potter is released from all blame yet again."
"You are such a jerk Severus," she was clenching her hands, ignoring the pain and blood that dripped down her right arm.
"You should get that fixed," he retorted, "It looks painful," Serena took a step back, he actually sounded pleased that she had gotten hurt, "But what could you expect from dealings with werewolves? Such a relationship won't last long, either you will kill him or he you. Werewolves and sirens fight on for a rea—" Serena flew forward and struck him in the eye, hard, with her hurt arm too. He staggered back, hand over his eye.
"You should get that fixed Severus dear," she told him, "It looks painful," Lupin led her into the hospitol ward, badly hiding his grin.
************************************************************************
Serena awoke around noon the next day feeling more rested then she had felt all year. Somewhere between the forest and the hospital ward she lost her dark glasses but it didn't matter because the dark circles under her light gray eyes had disappeared. The first thing she did when she awoke was change. Her jacket was shredded, that was ok, she could always get a new one. So she wasn't wearing anything over her roll neck sweater that came down to the middle of her ribs and long pants. The sweater was sleeveless so many scratches on her arms were visibleas was the bandage that covered most of her arm, she hadn't healed it completly. She had just finished when she noticed a note which said,
This is in case you wake up after I leave, what happened last night cant happen again. I could have killed you or one of the students, so I'm resigning. Don't be sad it's not your fault. I'll miss you.
-Remus
Serena finished reading and let the note fall to the floor before running out of the room. She skidded to a halt outside of Lupin's office or at least she tried to skid to a halt. What actually happened was that she slipped and slid down the hall into a suit of armor. Jumping up she exclaimed "Sorry!" before running to the office doorway; Professor Dumbledore and Harry were in there.
"Is he gone? Did I miss him?" she asked breathlessly. Dumbledore smiled.
"He just left. If you hurry you might catch him before he reaches his carriage," Serena took off. She saw him just before he reached his carriage.
"Remus!" he turned around and put down the things he was holding seconds before Serena plowed into him, throwing her arms around his neck. He overbalanced and the both almost fell over, except Serena pulled him back upright without letting go.
"Serena……"
"Don't leave."
"Serena your brother told everyone what I am. Letters will be pouring in soon."
"So? Who cares what anyone thinks?"
"Serena if I stay parents will take their children out of school and we'll all be unemployed." Serena buried her head in his neck. He took a hold of her arms and pushing her back a little spread them wide. "See what I can do?" he asked "If you hadn't regained your spark I would have killed you."
"But the potion-"
"Severus refuses to make it."
"Then I'll learn," Lupin brushed a strand of silver hair off Serena's face and kissed her gently.
"Serena my mind's made up."
"Where will you go?"
"I don't know yet."
"Then go to my house. In Hogsmeade. Cameron can stay too." Lupin looked down at his feet
"What?" Serena asked "What is it?"
"I sent an owl earlier to Max Tomas, Dan's father," Serena gave him a 'duh' face, "Explaining the situation. He deserved the right to know what really happened to our group. what happened to our friends. I also told him of our old friend Severus accidentally exposing me as a werewolf. And knowing what was and is going to happen, he and Patty invited Cameron to live with them and Dan during the summers. And I agreed." Lupin looked upset by this.
"Did you tell him yet?" Lupin nodded "How is he with the idea?"
"Well let's just say, Cameron may like the idea of visiting his friends during the summer, but I really don't think he's keen staying away from home for the entire summer."
"Where will you go afterwards?"
"I've always wanted to travel. You could come with me."
"You don't want a flighty half siren tagging along."
"You never seemed flighty to me"
"Stick around get to know me."
"Serena…"
"Alright I know your minds made up. I'm making it harder then necessary aren't I?"
"You are," Serena sniffed wetly, Lupin put a grip on the back of her neck. "Don't cry. Don't loose your spark over me. I'm not worth it. And besides its not like we're never going to see each other again. Just do me a favor?"
"What?" she asked as Lupin picked up his suitcase and Grindylow tank.
"Make up with your brother, I bet he's willing," he kissed her again before getting into the carriage. She waved goodbye as it pulled out of Hogwarts grounds.
"What do you see in people Serena?" asked someone behind her. Serena turned to find her brother standing there with one hand on his hip and a dark ring sounding the eye she punched..
"What do you mean?"
"Well you were in love with Quirrell and he used you, you're in love with Lupin and he left you, and-"
"And?"
"And then there's me. You're overbearing brother that belittles you at every turn."
"You're not so bad" she replied linking her arm through his "You're just worried about me and why not? My judge of character is a little different. So are the rumors true? Are you in the Order of Merlin?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Well, ok. So, I guess I better start searching for a new teacher. Do you want the job?"
"Nah, let someone else have a chance next year."
"That's nice. You know maybe people are right maybe the job is cursed." She sighed "Looks like I'm gonna have a busy summer."
End