I'm sorry it took so long but oh my God was this hard to write. I have masses of prep and exams coming up. But it's here now and it should last you a while! :-)
Serenity sighed as she glanced around the gardens where she hid, people were still dancing to the romantic music that wasn't that far away but not she. She was sat alone on a cold, moonstone bench watching gallons of infinite water play about a porcelain fountain. She rubbed her bare arms anxiously; "I wish Harry was here," then tears began to form in her eyes as she thought of her
"Or Hermione, she'd know what to do," with those dejected thoughts plaguing the young princess' mind she continued to ignore all else that went on around her.
---The Dance Floor---
"I still don't see why you brought him along, no royal heritage, no planetary links, no relationship of any kind," Argon listed off counting on his fingers while his eyes were pre-occupied with other things, such as searching for a certain Saturian Princess.
"You want to know why?" Argon nodded to his obviously more than annoyed sister who was giving him a patronising look that made him wince, "because he asked and if I hadn't James would have insisted and I would have been killed by Remus and to be honest I detest the idea of all of those things," Hikage replied scornfully.
"Why did I even ask?" Argon thought allowed and Hikage chuckled.
"Why did you ask me to dance or why did you ask me that moronic question of yours?" Hikage taunted.
"Will I ever understand you?" Argon asked smiling.
"Another moronic question to which the blatant answer is no," Hikage replied grinning at him. They stopped when someone tapped Argon on the shoulder, the boy turned.
"I was wondering," Blaise smirked and Argon grinned again, "If I might take her away for a moment?" Blaise asked nodding in the direction of Hikage who raised an eyebrow.
"Be my guest," and with that Argon backed into the crowd.
"Her?" Hikage asked glaring at Blaise.
"You're not going to be mad at me for that are you?" Blaise asked smirking as he looped his arms around her waist, she still stood statically with her arms crossed though; she began tapping her foot. "Guess so," Blaise had the grace to look slightly ashamed, "will an apology go a miss?"
"No," she replied.
"Sorry."
"Okay then."
"Good," Blaise smirked and the pair began dancing all the while talking about the different couples that they saw.
---Hotaru and Tom---
"Father you're here," Hotaru cried joyfully as she flung herself at Snape, she smiled joyfully up at him, he smiled back.
Remus was amazed; he's never seen the potion's master smile like that, oh the wonders of family bonding. Then the werewolf looked up and his eyes widened at what he saw, "Tom? Tom Riddle?" the back haired boy looked up and looked away.
"Yeh," he muttered quietly, turning away from the golden haired man.
"Are you alright?" Remus asked walking up to the ashamed looking other and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"If terribly ashamed counts as alright then your answer is yes," Tom replied, still refusing to meet Remus' eyes.
"I must say that seeing you, is a good thing for me," Tom looked up, "for it would mean, or would appear to mean, that Harry is here to," the hopeful gleam in Tom's eyes faded again. Remus saw this and being the empathetic person that he is, unlike Sirius, he knew exactly what to say in this situation, "No one blames you," he saw Tom's ears perk up a bit.
"I don't blame, and neither would Dumbledore, he would understand better than anyone, it wasn't you that did those terrible things, that was Voldemort, but that's in the past, don't fall backwards Tom." The twenty-year-old looked up, his blue eyes meeting Remus' gold ones.
"You really think that?" Tom said and Remus grinned at him.
"I know that," Remus replied causing Tom to grin back at him.
"He's great really," Hotaru said to her father.
"I'm not so sure," Severus replied going down on one knee to meet his daughter's height, well he was actually shorter than her now but still… "I don't trust him."
"You should do father, he's not what he was, he's better," Hotaru smiled ecstatically.
"Am I mistaken in thinking you like him?" Severus smirked.
Hotaru grinned, "I'm afraid you are father," Snape looked down put, "he belongs to another," their eyes fell on the nervous figure of Ginny Weasley.
They heard a gasp and turned to see Tom looking at the fifteen-year-old in awe, "See what I mean?" Hotaru and Snape smirked identically as Hotaru crept up behind Tom.
---Ginny---
Ginny looked around hesitantly, confused, she knew where she was and how she got here it was just all so knew and some of the looks that were sent her way were not good. In her hair was a silver hair band, a pair of silver stud earrings were in her ears, she wore white gloves and white plimsoll like shoes. The dress itself was white, the right hand sleeve was long and dipped open like her robes, the other sleeve was merely a normal strap, thick though. The skirt flared and when she twirled fanned out like a Spanish skirt and she wore a silver necklace and there were silver ropes draped around her waist.
"She looks beautiful doesn't she?" Hotaru asked, Tom jumped and looked down at her and nodded.
"Yes, she does, but why is she here?" he asked shooting a curious and yet oddly suspicious glance at a cheeky looking Hotaru.
"Oh, for reasons," the purple haired girl replied before stepping behind the dazed Tom and pushing him forwards roughly.
"Ah," he stumbled and struggled to gain his footing as he found himself in front of a shocked looking Ginny Weasley, "Ginny, I…" he trailed off, heat rising at his collar.
"Tom," Ginny gasped, he looked gorgeous in a black suit with a dark purple shirt, lilac gloves and black, violet lined cape.
Tom watched nervously as Ginny's eyes raked over his body, "I'm up here you know," Ginny blushed at being caught and looked up at the wary smile on the man's face.
"Yes I know," she smiled fully and he visibly relaxed, the thought that Ginny may reject him had almost turned him grey. "Do you want to," she motioned flippantly with her hands at the mass of dancing couples.
"To dance," she nodded, he gulped, "with you?" she nodded again, blushing this time and fidgeting with her fingers constantly. He reached down and took one of her gloved hands into one of his equally covered ones, "I'd love to," and with that he pulled her onto the dance floor, slipping one arm around her waist making her blush again.
---Hotaru---
Hotaru smiled as the two danced further and further away from her, she sighed and turned and was about to move on to see if she could find a lately appointed Shadow King when she was literally pounced on. "Hotaru-chan," the hyper voice declared in a tone of voice that could only belong to one, Minako Aino, or the Hime no Venus.
"Minako-chan, konichiwa," Hotaru replied, "It's been a long time."
"That it has my friend, I see you have done well," Minako smiled as she gestured at Tom and Ginny who now had her head rested on the black haired man's chest, "you've made me proud."
"You say it like I am your apprentice," Hotaru laughed as Minako giggled insanely as she always did when one made
"Oh you will be my young friend, you will be," and with that Minako pranced off back into the crowd which she was so easily became part of. She's wasn't the, even if it was self-proclaimed, Goddess of Love.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Hotaru gasped and spun around to see the smirking face of Argon, "I little out of your depth here aren't you Princess?" he asked bowing slightly.
"Hardly," she nodded in recognition of him.
"Do you have anything else to say to me or should I go occupy myself with less meaningful banter?" he asked looking at her; she rolled her eyes and then realised what he'd said.
"Less meaningful does that mean that you in some way prize what I say?" she asked using the same old fashioned words order as he.
"Only when you say to me fair lady," he replied smirking and kissed her bare hand gently.
"Then what pray tell has brought you hence to me?" she asked her eyes locking with his.
"Nought but curiosity my dear," he replied brushing some of her hair out of her purple eyes and behind her ears.
"Then why is your curiosity drawn to me, what could I possibly posses that others don't, what makes me so…" he was silenced when she felt Argon's lips on her own.
"Life is not to reason why," he replied softly.
---Ami---
The blue haired girl watched silently from where she stood by once of the palace's pillars, her blue eyes scanned all the activity that was going on before drifting woefully over her finger. She pulled the ring off and made ready to throw it into the pool in front of her, she had been a fool to believe him, it had been a spur of the moment thing.
She was about to release the ring when a strong, pale hand gripped her wrist, "You might not want to do that?" she gasped and spun around to see none of than Draco Malfoy, recently appointed King of Comets.
"Draco," she gasped backing away, but hindered by the minor fact that her wrist was still clutched in his hand.
"What's the matter," he opened her fist and took the ring, "don't want me anymore?" he stepped away admiring the intricate piece of metal and jewels that he was twirling in his fingers.
"It's not that it's…" Ami looked disheartened, worried that she may have upset him and caused the very thing that had upset her in the first place.
"Were you worried about my affection for you?" Draco asked running a finger along Ami's cheeks, it was soft and warm beneath his hand.
"Yes," she whispered not daring to look into his probably maddened eyes.
"You doubted me?" he asked tilting her chin up between his thumb and fore-finger, she could barely stand looking at him it made her feel so guilty, "Never doubt a Malfoy," and he slipped the ring back on her finger.
---James and Lily---
"James, why is our son so sad? He has his family, he has all this," she gestured at what lay around them, "what more could he want?"
"It's not a case of wanting more Lily," he replied and she looked at him pityingly, "but wanting what he no longer has."
"What doesn't he have that we cannot provide, love, friendship? We can give him those things," Lily protested, she couldn't understand, she was at a loss as to what to do.
"He has friends on Earth, the Weasley's, he wants Sirius," Lily gasped, "and Remus and most of all Serenity; or to him Usagi," James explained and Lily looked shocked.
"I don't understand both Sirius and Remus are here as is Serenity, what is wrong?" Lily was becoming agitated.
"He doesn't know that though," James explained brushing Lily's hair behind her ears and kissing her forehead softly.
"Then we will show him," not waiting for her husbands consent she dragged him towards a dejected looking Harry who suddenly found himself engulfed by his excited and more importantly; insistent, mother.
---Remus---
The golden haired man looked around, he'd lost track of Severus, Hotaru, Setsuna and Tom ages ago, now he was stranded at the edge of a dance floor without a partner or chaperon. He sighed, what was a werewolf to do? Does getting pounced on count?
Remus suddenly, without warning or any signs of removal, he found himself swamped by a mass of wavy, coppery hair and bright green eyes that haunted him so much, "L-lily?" he gasped astounded at the beautiful, and most definitely alive, woman before him.
"Surprise Remus," the joyful red-head exclaimed stepping aside to reveal, not one, but two men, both with messy black hair, glasses and a talent for Quidditch.
"James," Remus breathed, "Harry," the golden eyed man's eyes widened in surprise and astonishment, he nearly fainted on the sport.
"Hey Moony," James grinned waving at him.
"Am I dreaming, aren't you dead?" he gasped looking around at all three Potters that stood so alive and welcoming before him
"Not the last time I checked," Harry said grinning and doing a twirl, "Oh Remus it's so good to see you," Remus was surprised when he felt Harry hug him, he hugged the smaller boy back and Harry relaxed.
"I guess we have a lot to catch up haven't we Remus?"
"Oh by Merlin," the quartet spun around to see before them yet another black haired man, only this time it was longer and he had very bright, night blue eyes.
"Sirius?" Harry gasped, Remus looked stunned, James and Lily were slightly confused, "Sirius!" Harry shouted disturbing a great deal of the couples waltzing around him. He ran into his godfather, jumping on his and sending them both to the ground. "Oh Sirius I missed you, where have you been?" Harry cried burying his face in the man's chest.
"Um…I've," he looked behind him and caught the glance of Hikage momentarily, she smirked at him and shook her head before disappearing, "I've been around."
"But how did you get here?" Harry demanded.
Sirius smiled, "A friend Harry, just a friend."
"Sirius?" sounded the tentative whimper of our favourite werewolf, Remus Lupin, he stepped forward as Sirius helped himself and Harry up.
"Yeh it's me Moony," Sirius tripped and fought hard to stay standing when he was engulfed by Remus. "But," he pushed the blonde away lightly, "James?" he breathed, "Lily? What?"
"It's been a long time hasn't it Black?" Lily said coldly, glaring at him.
"Mum, what's wrong?" Harry asked looking at his frowning parents with a confused look on his face.
"Harry come here," James commanded beckoning his son over who walked over, albeit hesitantly. "I don't want you to come anywhere near my son," James spat at Sirius who reeled back in discomfort at the harsh tone his 'best friend' was using.
"James, Lily, what's wrong with you?" Sirius asked looking between them worriedly, "Remus?" he cried desperately looking wide eyed at his friend who shook his head and
"Mum, what's wrong?" Harry asked from where he was wrapped in the coppery haired woman's arms.
"He's the reason we died on earth darling, he was the reason I didn't get to see you grow up," she told him rocking him against her. But Sirius and Remus heard and Harry realised what was wrong as did the other two.
"Prongs, Lily I didn't betray you I swear, it was Peter, all of it was Wormtail's fault," Sirius protested but he could see form the look James was giving him that he didn't believe him, but Lily had bit her lip, perhaps she could be swung in his favour.
"Remus, is it true?" Lily asked, James looked startled down at her and Harry was smiling. Remus nodded, "Harry?" her son nodded and wrapped her in a hug much like he had Sirius, except upright and not on the ground. "James," she put a calming hand on her fuming husbands shoulder and looked at him with her brilliant emerald eyes, "Do you really believe your best friend would do that?" she asked smiling.
"Padfoot?" Sirius looked up hopefully at the twinkling hazel eyes of his best friend.
"Yeh?" he asked.
"Come here," the two fell on each other and began to beat at each other.
Lily and Remus shook their heads, "They will never change will they?" Lily asked looking at Remus.
"Nope," the golden eyed man replied grinning.
"Wait," Lily looked around, "where's Harry," she looked at Remus who shrugged.
---The Darkness---
"Soon we will attack," a woman smirked menacingly as she marched up in front of four people in grey uniforms, a girl and three men. "And what are you?" she asked them.
"Your loyal servants, to serve you and only you my queen," they all said in perfect unison.
"Control," she whispered fingering a green earring in one of the men's, a blonde one, ear, "is such as wonderful thing when it's forced," she laughed shrilly and the four stood there, still as stone and completely silent.
---Remus---
He sighed and looked around at the beautiful gardens, they really were lovely, especially the water fountains, they were grand indeed. He was looking at one when he realised that we wasn't alone, a tall woman, shorter than him, with wavy aqua coloured hair in a perfect turquoise dress was standing on the other side and apparently hadn't noticed him.
He walked round and up behind her, "They're beautiful aren't they?" he asked, he saw her shoulders moved, he'd scared her, she turned her head slowly and looked at him with piercing green tinted blue eyes.
"Yes," she replied, her voice as calm as the see, he felt a shiver run down his spine, she was slightly unnerving with that kind of purity, like water, like crystal, "they are."
"Do you come here often?" Remus asked keeping about a foot away from the Aquarian beauty.
"Do I live here you mean?" she asked, her voice petal soft.
"Um…" Remus swallowed hard, it was hard to make out what she could be feeling, was she insulted, annoyed or just confused?
"I know of better ones," she commented looking back to the glimmering water that seemed to be emitting a shine of its own.
"You do, where?" Remus asked taking a step closer to her.
"On my home planet, Neptune," she looked at him out of the corner of her eye, "do you know who I am sir?"
He shook his head, "I'm afraid I do not," he replied.
"Then that would explain why you so freely talk to me," she replied turning away from him. She shivered visibly and her flesh crawled.
She gasped when she felt a warm cloak swung around her bare shoulders, "And pray, dear lady, why not?"
"You need not know," she replied turning her head away from his welcoming face.
"I don't even care," he whispered in her ear, she took in a sharp gasp as she felt his warm breath tickle her ear.
"Who are you?" she asked him her hair floating around her as a small wind seemed to blow past, she gasped, "I have to go," she tried to move away but he caught her around the waist.
"Why?" he asked looking at her with his brilliant golden eyes, so gentle and understanding.
"Just go…please," he released her but to his surprise and delight she didn't move, merely hung her head so her hair fell into her eyes.
"Surely someone like you wouldn't be afraid of something," she spun around and stared at his smirking face with wide, astonished eyes.
"What do you mean, how could you?" he walked up to her and tapped his nose, then realisation dawned on her, "werewolf," she breathed, it wasn't a question, nor an accusation, merely a sound of verification, he merely nodded.
"You afraid of me?" he asked tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear and leaning forward so she was forced to lock eyes with him.
"Never," she hissed back at him but her defiance was wavering as he took her hands in his and rubbed the palms gently with his thumbs.
"We'll see," he replied and leaned in closer and despite her might she was powerless to stop him.
---Sirius---
He sighed and rubbed his temples for the umpteenth time since he'd taken a break from James and Lily when Remus has slipped off to God knows where. He didn't like parties much really, I mean yeh, back when he was seventeen adrenalin running through his veins after a Quidditch match, getting drunk on stolen Fire Whiskey and having it off with someone else's girlfriend in a dark corner didn't seem so bad.
But then came… the Yule Ball, no alcohol, despite his and James' regular attempts to spike the punch, fancy gowns and vigilant partners. He shuddered, this really wasn't his scene, now, a down town club on the other hand, well let's just say that was a different matter.
Suddenly, as he was wondering absentmindedly through the palace gardens he saw a girl in a navy dress with short blonde hair and a tempestuous look on her face sat at a bench glaring at an aqua haired girl and a blonde haired man near a fountain. Upon closer inspection he discovered that said blonde man was his own friend Remus and was currently rather busy with the aforementioned aqua haired girl.
"Sickening isn't it?" he asked sitting himself, uninvited mind you, next to the blonde haired girl, that, had she not been wearing a dress, could have easily been mistaken for a boy.
"You're telling me," she replied, although she didn't look directly at him he saw the sidelong glance she gave him out of the corner of her eye.
"So, am I right in assuming that this kind of party isn't your scene?" he asked grinning.
"My scene?" she gave him a confused look, his raised an eyebrow.
"You know, scene, like place to be," Sirius explained unconsciously moving a bit closer, she didn't notice, or if she did she didn't react.
"No, it's not," she replied looking at him with a raised eyebrow of her own, "you're not from the planets are you?" she asked.
He shook his head and gave her an innocent grin, knowing Sirius it probably was anything but innocent but that's how it looked, "Nope, Earth bound here."
"So what, pray tell, are you doing talking to me?" she asked.
He looked shocked, "Should I not be?" he asked.
"Well, you're a mortal from Earth and I'm an immortal Princess and a warrior," she replied looking back to the two figures near the fountain.
"So," he picked up one of her gloved hands and kissed it quickly, "I like that in a woman," he grinned, she had an urge to slap him for his nerve alone, or blow him into next week, whichever came first.
---Serenity---
"Hello, my lady," she spun around to see a man with black hair, a black suit and a cape with a mask over his eyes.
"Hello, forgive my appearance," she whispered wiping her eyes from where she had been crying.
"Forgive what fair lady," the man said, she blushed but looked away, charming though this man seemed she was in love with Harry, dead though he probably was. "What's trouble you so?" he asked walking up to her and pointing her face towards him with his thumb and forefinger on her chin, "Am I that displeasing to the eye?"
"Oh no," she laughed slightly, "I mean no harm sir it's just that I…" she trailed off.
"Would a dance cheer you up?" he asked lightly looking into her eyes, unfortunately for Serenity, his eyes were masked and his black hair fell over his forehead.
"Are you offering or asking me?" she asked.
"Whichever you are prepared to take it as," he replied smiling at her, she sighed and smiled a small smile back at him, "shall I take that as a yes," she nodded very slightly and he took her gloved hands and began to lead her. One hand in hers and the other around her waist, "Tell me what troubles you," he said to her.
"My…my lover is…is," she trailed off as a fresh wave of tears sprung helplessly from her eyes.
"My lady is not the point and purpose of this party to find you a husband," she nodded, "how are you to know who is out there if you remain here for the entirety of the party?"
"I…I just…" she trailed off again, unable to face the truth of his words.
"Of course," she looked back at him as he twirled her into him so his arms locked around her waist, "you may be wrong."
"Me sir?" Serenity asked looking up at him confused as he grinned, then she saw it, through the veil of hair covering his forehead…a lightning scar. "No, it can't be," she carefully removed his mask, he shook his head to get his hair out of the way and there he was. Same scar, same black hair and the same emerald green eyes. "Oh Harry!" she cried and fell on him.
"Yeh Usagi…Serenity even…it's me," he replied.
---Watching them---
"I take it you planned all of this to?" a woman demanded.
"Are you angry with me?" the other asked, also a woman but younger and darker.
"For finding her a husband willingly and not having me force her to marry…no…for going behind my back…yes," the first replied.
"I see."
"Are you finished yet; is all your scheming going to come to an end?"
"Not quite," they both turned to look at the dark cloud just visible against the blackness of space that loomed ever nearer, "We are better prepared this time."
"Did this really have to happen…again?" asked the first looking a little upset.
"Yes, but as I said, this time we are better prepared.
"So where does Blaise come into this?" asked Queen Selene.
"He doesn't," Hikage replied with a smirk.
"So what will happen to him?"
"I don't know, the point and purpose of my plan was to bring those two," she gestured over her shoulder to Serenity and Harry, "together and all their friends who could help here for the night that Beryl attacks. I can do no more than that," Hikage replied.
"And if we don't win?"
"Then we'll have to do this all over again won't we?"
Right people, I need reviews k? Anyone who reads this needs to leave a comment. As I said before, here comes Harry's new near death experience...with Beryl. And then...well you'll have to wait and see.