Ok, so I lied about chapter two taking a while. Don't be mad… J
Oh, and here's all the stuff I forgot in chapter one.
Disclaimer: I do not own any character contained besides Serena. All other characters and places and stuff belong to JK Rowling. I'm just borrowing them. And running rampant.
Please, please r/r. I'm lonely… Except for the imaginary werewolf in my head. J
Chapter Two
After their arrival at Twelve Grimmauld Place, Serena disappeared into the front drawing room with Dumbledore.
Remus lingered outside the magically sealed door for a moment before heading back to the kitchen. He found Molly Weasley there, preparing a pot of tea, a tray of biscuits already on the rough plank table.
Molly turned when she heard him come in. "Well, you're back then. And Serena? You were able to convince her?"
"She's with Dumbledore." He replied, sitting absently on one of the benches flanking the table. Reaching out, he nicked a biscuit off the tray.
"Good, good." Molly said. "Things are going well." Then she noticed how he was staring off into the distance, lost in thought, munching on a cookie.
"Remus?"
He blinked. "What?"
"Things are going well?" Molly asked, plopping down on the bench across from him.
"I'm not certain, quite yet." He replied.
Molly selected a cookie for herself. "But she did agree to help?"
"Yes. But how can we be sure we can trust her?" It felt almost like a betrayal to ask it.
"Albus trusts her. So we should trust her too." Molly replied steadily.
He made a noncommittal sound.
Molly cocked her head. "You don't think we should?"
"Well… she's been wandering around the world alone for nearly fifteen years. She's had no contact with anyone."
"I wouldn't say that for certain." Molly said softly.
Remus looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"Sirius had been in contact with her. And Albus."
Remus gaped at her. "What?" Sirius had been in contact with her and hadn't said anything? But then again, why would he? Sirius hadn't known how he felt about her.
"Do you know anything about where she's been?" He asked Molly.
Molly shook her head. "No. But it doesn't matter, does it? All of us have been elsewhere for a time."
Serena and Dumbledore came into the kitchen then, putting a halt to the conversation.
Serena greeted Molly warmly, accepting a steaming mug of tea, and sitting across from Remus.
Molly smiled benignly at the two of them. "I'm sure you have lots of catching up to do, so I'll leave you to it."
They sat in awkward silence after Molly and Dumbledore left, neither looking at the other. Finally, Remus stood. "We should go to the drawing room for the meeting."
Without a word, Serena rose and followed him, retreating to a corner once inside the front room.
The others began arriving for the meeting, most glancing at Serena with undisguised curiosity.
Bill and Charlie Weasley arrived together, and Bill greeted Serena enthusiastically.
She returned his greeting with a warm hug. Remus found himself jealous of the younger man. The young treasure hunter was just the sort of wizard that women fell for. Dashing and adventurous. When had Serena met him?
"It's been a while." Bill said to Serena with a killer grin.
"Oh, I know. I miss Egypt." She replied.
"Egypt wasn't the same after you left." Bill said flirtatiously.
Remus suppressed the urge to choke him.
Serena just laughed. "You're too much."
Bill winked. "You know you love me." He responded, before moving on to speak to his mother.
When Serena turned, she found Remus watching her, a strange light in his eyes. She couldn't help the heated blush that crawled over her face. Had he seen her speaking with Bill? Bill was a doll, a big flirt, but he was far too young for her. Not that Remus would care, she was sure. Ducking her head so that her long hair hid her face, she sank into a nearby chair.
***
Remus watched Serena secretly during the Order meeting. She seemed so distant, almost untouchable. He had to wonder what had happened to her to make her like this. Of course, his accusations probably did nothing to warm her.
She had been a shy girl, back at Hogwart's. A friend of Lily's who had always tagged along with her and friends. He had always felt a strange connection to her.
He sighed inaudibly, tearing his gaze away from her. Connection. Right. He had fancied her.
Still did, if he was willing to be truthful. It was as if the past fifteen years hadn't happened. His feelings were as strong as they had ever been.
And he still couldn't do anything about it.
He forced himself to pay attention through the rest of the meeting.
Serena wouldn't allow herself to look at him. His accusations from before still hurt. Logically, of course, she knew he had every right to be suspicious. But that didn't make it any less hurtful.
If only there was some spell she could do to make her feelings for him go away. But if there was one, she had never found it.
Glancing over at him, she caught his gaze on her. He looked away almost immediately. She wondered what he was thinking.
Their reunion had been less than she had hoped for. Not that she had thought he would have dropped to his knees declaring his love for her or anything, but she had hoped it would have been a little friendlier.
Maybe she should apologize. She did have a wicked temper sometimes. With a sigh, she turned her attention back to Albus.
***
When the meeting was over, Remus found himself making his way over to the corner Serena was in.
"Serena? May I speak with you?" He asked as he approached.
She lifted her head, her hair falling in shining waves over her shoulders. "Remus."
"Look, can we start over?" He asked.
Start over? She'd like nothing more. "I suppose." She said cautiously.
His smile was awkward but sweet. "I promise to behave."
She couldn't help but answer his smile with one of her own. "I don't."