Hey!  Thanks again for your reviews!  Oh! And this is AU. Remember, Barty Crouch still lives!  That answers your questions?

I'll try to write another chapter and post it ASAP cause I'm going to my landowner's cottage for 3 days for my vacation (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).  There won't be any computers but I'll try to write more ideas.  So I want reviews anyway!!!!  I'll be reading them when I return!

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Fate has brought us together

Chapter 12: Worries

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  Weeks had passed since Serenity had arrived at Hogwarts.  The people had learned to get used to her power and to stay out of trouble's way if they didn't want her on their case.  Malfoy had been an…interesting guinea pig for the demonstration.  And Snape had thrown a tantrum fit. 

  Christmas was on its way.  Preparations were starting and the students were joyful and eager for the party.  The classes had all been cancelled, to Hermione's great dismay, but Ron had swatted her off and was enjoying every last bit of it.  Sirius had the intention of passing his free time with Harry and probably Remus, since he never had a chance in the past.

  Serenity, on the other side, had started to worry Harry.  She was almost never in Hogwarts now, always patrolling outside and coming really late in the night or not at all.  She always looked on the edge and she was clearly tired, but never complaining.  Dumbledore had asked her to rest and let things arrange themselves but she had only ignored him, staring at nothing in particular during his demand.  He had made a note of it to Harry, who had noticed the lack of communication between her and the others.

  Not that she was the talkative type but she always seemed more at ease with the Gryffindors.  They had helped her get out of her shell, but now… "What are you thinking about, Harry?  Earth to Harry!"  Sirius had stopped his train of thoughts, flashing his hand in front of his face, surprising him.  They were with Lupin, walking down the main entrance's stairs, going outside to see Hagrid in his 'house'.

  "Ummm…Nothing really.  Just thinking, that's all."  Sirius and Remus shared a glance of understanding.  "You're worried about her, aren't you?"  Remus asked silently.  Harry turned to him to reply but Sirius had passed in front of him to knock at Hagrid's door.  After the familiar barks of Fang, the door opened to see Hagrid, smiling gleefully at them from above his beard.  "Well! Come in mates! Don't stay outside, it's freezing!"

  They sat in the big, comfortable chairs of the half giant, accepting a cup--if you can even call it a cup--of tea.  Harry still had the pensive air so Hagrid called him on it.  Remus smiled tiredly.  "It seems that Harry's young fiancée is causing him quite a worry."  At that, the green eyed boy almost critiqued, but thought better of it, seeing his godfather's worried glance.  He didn't want everybody to worry themselves sick so he emptied his heart with a sight.

  "Serenity seems more distant lately.  I mean, when is she not? But that's not the point.  She seems to avoid everyone, she's staying out of Hogwarts most of the time and she's always staring into nothing when we're trying to talk to her.  I know she hasn't lived a really happy life but I don't want her to bottle everything up.  She's always trying to help others before her self; she's so careless about herself!"

  He was now pouring his worries to them, they could see it.  Harry was frustrated to no end, it seemed.  He was frowning and mumbling under his breath.  Sirius took the initiative to talk some sense into him before he destroyed himself.

  "You know, Harry, you shouldn't worry so much about her.  She has proven us she could take care of herself really fine and you told us yourself; we should believe in her and give her a chance.  You should give her the time and space she needs for the moment.  I'm sure she'll come back to us in no time!"  He was now sitting beside Harry, one hand on his godson's shoulder, a fatherly smile etched on his usually prankster face.

  Remus continued, since Harry didn't look totally convinced.  "Sirius is right, don't be so down!"  Harry transferred his gaze to him.  "Do you remember the time when she disappeared for 2 days after a fight with professor Trelawney?"

  'How can I forget that?'  Harry thought ironically.

Flashback

  When Trelawney had contradicted Serenity in the astral matter and tried to 'educate' her in the real way to read the stars, the rabbit had gotten so frustrated she had gone outside knocking the class door so hard it shook the wall, instead of literally knocking some sense into the deranged teacher.  Trelawney had never seemed so pale in her life.

  Harry, Ron, Hermione and a couple more lions had been searching for her for nearly 2 days when they finally gave up.  Professor Sprout had been the one to find her.  She was on her way to the Whomping Willow with her third years when she got the shock of her life.  The angry tree, once denuded of all life, was literally green again, leaves as big as a human, healthy and still whomping, apparently.  She had tried to approach but it had nearly got her with one of its leafy branches.

  In the movement, it had uncovered a sleeping Serenity, who didn't seem fazed by all the commotion.  It looked as if the tree was trying to protect her, or maybe thank her for what she had done for him.  After all, it did have a mind of its own, like 2 certain Gryffindors had discovered in their second year…. 

  So Sprout had gone to get Harry since she didn't seem to budge, instructing the third years to stay away.  10 minutes later, it was the entire clan of Gryffindors 7th years who had followed, a very vexed Trelawney running after them.  They had coincidentally been in Divination.  No big loss there!

  Trying to get in the tree seemed too risky, so Harry had opted for the sonorous charm to wake her up.  She woke up, all right.  She looked quite happy to see Harry but when her eyes landed on Trelawney, she turned, crossed her arms and frowned, gazing at some leaves.  Her comportment had shocked the present people but Harry couldn't help himself.  He burst out laughing.  Apparently, she had been there the entire time, sulking over such an unimportant matter.  She wrinkled her brow at him but accepted to get down nonetheless.  She had hopped on a vine and let the tree get her down.  Sprout had been excited to see such a new comportment from the Willow but it seemed only the rabbit could get it to obey.

  The moment she had touched the ground, she had started a glaring contest with the divination teacher, who looked proud of herself, nose in the air, snobbing her.  They were almost face to face and Harry had had to call a truce between the 2. With a glare from Sprout, Trelawney had reluctantly agreed, almost forcing her hand to get in front of her.  Serenity had only shrugged and accepted.  That had been a little too fast, Harry thought.  But before he could stop the mischievous rabbit, she had already spread her hand to the teacher.......shocking her with an electricity bolt at the same time. 

  She had then smiled an angelic and innocent smile to him and turned around, heading to the school, before turning one last time and calling out; 'TRUCE!', leaving a herd of laughing students and a fuming (literally!) Trelawney, hand still up.  Harry looked particularly baffled but had enjoyed the little shock treatment nonetheless.

End flashback

  Harry smirked at the memory.  "Maybe you're right.  I should give her some space for the moment."  Sirius snorted.  He hadn't seen the incident but had begged her to show what had happened that afternoon to him.  After nearly getting on his knees, he had convinced her to show it to him on the mirror of Neptune.  He had clearly enjoyed it, too.  Sirius and Trelawney never really got on good terms in the past anyway.  And the seer had learned to stay at a safe distance from her, judging by her retreating to her chambers whenever she came by…

  So, after big thanks for the tea, the 3 boys got back to the castle.  Serenity still wasn't in her bedrooms that night, but it didn't bother Harry that much anymore.  After all, he remembered she had an entire universe to protect, not only Hogwarts!

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Ahhhh!  That done, I'm going away for 3 days!  Don't worry, I'll be writing my ideas and getting you a new chapter out the minute I get back!  You'll also know why Sere has been distant.  Prepare yourselves!  A fight is coming!  Christmas party in the next chapter!

I want your reviews, you guys!!!  No flames!

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!  I'll be checking them when I get back!!!

Love, Eternal Cosmos  ^_~