If You Could Read My Mind

by Dark Cosmos

Sixth Year is here! Check out the preview! Lot's of new suprises, let me know what you think!

11. The Proposal

::::Disclaimer: I'm using direct quotes from Book 5, spoiler alert! I do not own Harry Potter, or Sailor Moon

::::AN: Oh Please oh please oh please oh please...I soooo wish I could make the 200 review mark...please make me happyyyyy!!!! BTW, stand by for an AN at the end of the fic, I've got some things to discuss with my faithful readers...

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As soon as they reached the school, Usagi headed straight for the Great Hall, knowing dinner time was about to end. Students turned to see her enter with a look of both surprise and joy written all over their faces. Umbridge pretended not to notice the princess had indeed arrived. Usagi moved quickly along the Gryffindor table and noticed right away that Hotaru was sitting next to Hermione.

"Okaasan!" Hotaru said as her foster mother approached, "how did you get back in?"

"I haven't found out yet", Usagi replied, taking a weary glance towards Umbridge, who still didn't acknowledge her presence. Hotaru moved from her seat to hug her foster mother, Hermione stood and hugged the blond as well.

"I'm glad you missed me", Usagi whispered for only those sitting closest could hear.

"More than you know", Harry said, getting up to hug her as well. Usagi pulled away and took Harry's arm, looking at the back of his hand and the raw scarring on it.

"What's this all about?" She questioned, looking worriedly at him, Harry took a quick glance towards Umbridge. "Did she do this to you?" Usagi pressed on, Harry nodded slowly.

"Detention", he said, "or some brutal form of it".

"I'll say", said Usagi, taking his hand and brushing her lips against it to heal the wound. She stumbled for a second, then took back her balance.

Dinner had finished as students moved out of the Great Hall, several surrounded Usagi and talked excitedly to her.

"She wouldn't let you play Quidditch?" Usagi asked in disbelief as the Weasley twins recalled several mishaps since the princess had left.

"The crazy old bat's locked up our brooms", Fred continued, "she's even got Harry's Firebolt all chained up and everything. Usagi had her arm around Harry's shoulder, she gave him a protective squeeze.

"At least you haven't been expelled", Usagi pointed out, both twins laughed in response.

"We wouldn't care if she did", George commented dryly. "By the way", he added after a moment, "if you decided to pop around the kitchens any time soon, Dobby's been looking for you".

"Thanks for the reminder", Usagi replied, and gave the twins a wink. Knowing she was expected in Umbridge's office, she bid everyone a quick good-night and headed off in the desired direction. The knight Sir Cadogan she had met earlier that school year, followed along part of the way, saying how glad everyone was that she was back.

Knocking on the door to announce her presence, Umbridge gave her a sappily sweet 'come in' as Usagi entered the office, she turned her face away from the collection of plates as the tacky multi-colored kittens were curling up to go to sleep.

"Won't you please have a seat", Umbridge asked sweetly, Usagi shook her head. "I've brought you back here for disciplinary reasons. I want you to regain some order in this school, since many students have seen to it that they break rules constantly. However, since you are on probation, you will not be allowed to carry your wand." She held out a stubby little hand as Usagi reluctantly gave her the ebony-colored wand glaring the whole time. "Just as a precaution", Umbridge said, smiling sweetly towards the princess. Placing the wand in the desk, Umbridge sat back down behind her desk. "That is all for now", she said, Usagi left the office and continuously ranted inside of her head about how much she hated that woman.

Deciding it was a good time to do as the Weasley twins mentioned, Usagi headed down for the kitchens after she spent a little time making sure her old room was in order. She tickled the pear and lifted her money pouch from a pocket in her robes. The house-elves didn't seem to care much about her presence, but offered her food, of which she accepted with much enthusiasm. After a minute or two, little Dobby hobbled over to her, his eyes wide with happiness.

"Headmistress had returned!" Dobby squeaked happily, "Dobby does not like new Headmistress, Dobby thinks she is bad, bad lady". After saying that comment, the house elf proceeded to hit his head on a nearby wall.

"Dobby, stop hurting yourself!" Usagi said, moving to pull the elf away from anything he could hit himself with. Handing him a coin, she patted the small creature affectionately on the head as he admired his payment.

"Dobby wonders if Headmistress has seen Harry Potter yet?" Dobby asked after a few moments of silence, "Harry Potter has used special room for Headmistress, yes", he said. Usagi rose an eyebrow.

"Special room?" She questioned, the house elf nodded vigorously, "is he there now?" She wondered out loud, growing suspicious.

"Dobby will take you there, if you like", Dobby said after nodding again.

"Yes, how me where he is", Usagi said, as Dobby led the way out of the kitchens and up several flights of stairs until they reached the seventh floor and crossed the painting of Barnabas the Barmy.

"Harry Potter is in here!" Dobby squeaked, but had the lunarian princess confused as she didn't see any room. "Headmistress needs to walk past room three times and think of what she needs. Headmistress will then see door of Room of Requirement!"

Looking skeptical at Dobby for a moment, Usagi did as she was instructed and sure enough a door appeared upon her third passing. She went to open the door, but it was locked. Knocking lightly, she waited for someone to answer the door. Within a split second, Harry had lurched open the door and plowed into Usagi's arms.

"I knew Dobby would lead you up here", he exclaimed excitedly. "I'm so glad you're back, Umbridge is so horrible!" Usagi hugged Harry joyfully, but pushed him back towards the door.

"Let's talk somewhere private", she said, but stopped to send Dobby off first.

All of the other students in the room crowded around Usagi excitedly asking her more questions about why she was allowed back.

"Umbridge probably figures I'll lead her to this room and get you all in trouble. Obviously she's caught wind of this group somehow". All the students looked wearily at one another, but nobody had 'sneak' written on their faces, so Umbridge hadn't been tipped off by a member of the TA.

"Bloody hell!" Sorrow spoke up after a minute of silent accusations, "that girlfriend of yours", she said, pointing at Cho Chang.

"She couldn't have", Cho insisted, but Marietta Edgecombe was the only TA member not present. Sorrow glared evilly at Cho.

"I think this will be the last meeting of your club". Usagi said. At that moment, Dobby had come back into the room in a frantic mood.

"They're coming, Headmistress! Dobby has seen them coming!" Everyone looked at the door, frightened.

"Is it Umbridge, Dobby?" Harry asked, the house elf nodded.

"What are you waiting for?!? RUN!!!" Sorrow shouted as all the students rushed for the door, running out in the hallway in every direction. Sorrow was about to bolt too, but Usagi grabbed her arm as well as Harry's.

"Here", she said, strapping her communicator onto Sorrow's wrist, "this was mine to use anytime the senshi and I needed to talk". She quickly strapped a green communicator onto Harry's wrist, flipped the lid and showed them how to use it. "Now go!" She prompted Sorrow who thanked her and put on the invisibility cloak to make her escape. Usagi and Harry left the room as well and made a mad dash down the hallway. They could hear footsteps not too far behind them and as they came near the corner, Usagi's foot twisted and sent her tumbling to the floor. Harry immediately stopped to help her, and looked up to realize Draco Malfoy had caught up to them.

"I found them!" He shouted out gleefully as he and Harry began a glaring match.

"Harry", Usagi whispered fiercely, "hide your communicator", Harry quickly did so as others approached.

"Excellent Draco!" Umbridge said rather breathlessly, her face spread in a wide smile of triumph.

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They had gone up to Dumbledore's office as he had been summoned to meet there. Cornelius Fudge stood near the desk with Percy Weasley poised to take notes behind him. Usagi and Dumbledore silently communicated to each other as Umbridge escorted Marietta into the office, who was covering her face with her hands.

"This young lady is the one who told us what Potter was doing, she informed Fudge who nodded while observing everyone in the office.

Kingsley Shacklebolt and a rather large wizard stood near Fudge, their expressions unreadable.

"Excellent, excellent. Well Potter, do you know why you're here?" He directed at Harry, who had glanced at the silent conversation going on between Usagi and Dumbledore, the latter of whom looked at Harry for a fraction of a second and slightly moved his head.

"No", Harry answered after a second.

"You don't know why you're here?" Fudge asked.

"No", Harry repeated. Fudge glared at Usagi as a smudge of a smirk crossed her lips.

"You are not aware that you have broken any school rules?" Asked Fudge, beginning to get quite frustrated.

"No", Harry said again.

"So it's news to both yourself and Miss Tsukino that an illegal student organization has been discovered within the school?"

"Yes it is", Harry said, Usagi shrugged her shoulders innocently.

"Minister, Miss Edgecombe told me tonight that if I proceeded to a secret room on the seventh floor, a secret meeting would be taking place."

"Well well well", Fudge said, "well miss-galloping gargoyles!" Marietta looked up, her face was completely disfigured by a close-set of purple pustules that spread across her face to form the word 'sneak'. She gave a wail and pulled the neck of her robes up to her eyes to hide her face.

"Never mind the spots, dear, tell the Minister-" Marietta gave another muffled wail and shook her head. "Anyways", Umbridge continued, "unfortunately at the point she mentioned the meeting, this hex", she waved a Marietta's face, "came into operation and upon seeing her face in the mirror, she became too distressed to say any more."

"Well, you did the right thing, dear", Fudge said, smiling at Marietta, "now tell me what happened at this meeting?" The girl shook her head, refusing to speak. "Isn't there a counter-jinx for this?" He demanded.

"I haven't found one yet", Umbridge admitted, "I will take up the story from here", she continued, "don't you remember there was a report, that the rogue auror Sorrow, had arranged a meeting with Potter and some other Hogwarts students?"

"How do you know that?" Usagi cut in, sharply.

"I have a testimony from Willy Widdershins, he was bandaged but his hearing was quite unimpaired", Umbridge smugly replied.

"If you would remember", Dumbledore cut in, causing everyone to look at him, "this meeting took place before the new rule was created, therefore it was not, at the time, illegal." Fudge stared at Dumbledore, his face red.

"Well, that one may not have been", Umbridge cut in sweetly, "but meetings since were done illegally."

"Do you have any evidence there were any more meetings?" Dumbledore asked, at the same time Usagi and Harry felt something brush against their sides, they had both sworn to themselves that Kingsley had whispered something.

"That is why Miss Edgecombe is here", Umbridge pointed out.

"I was under the impression she was merely reporting a meeting tonight", Dumbledore pointed out, his eyebrows raised.

Umbridge began asking Marietta several questions about the ongoing meetings, but the young girl merely shook her head to answer each one. Umbridge became furious, she proceeded to seize Marietta and shook her very hard. Dumbledore stood from his seat and rose his wand. Umbridge leapt back, rasing her hands in the air.

"I don't want my students manhandled, Dolores", Dumbledore said.

"Dolores", said Fudge, "the meeting tonight-the one we know definitely happened."

"Yes, of course", she began, "well, as you know, I had Miss Slytherin", Usagi hissed at her, "allowed back into the school on probation for disciplinary reasons. Anyways, as she has come to favor Potter, I suspected if what Miss Edgecombe had told me was true, I knew Miss Slytherin would know about it. I was right as a group of trustworthy students found these two leaving the Room of Requirement. Inside, one of the students found this", she held out Hermione's piece of parchment. Harry took a sharp intake of breath.

"It appears the auror, Sorrow, has somehow been sneaking into the school in order to teach students curses and jinxes they have no business knowing. And look what they've called themselves, 'Tsukino's Army'." After finishing Fudge backed up and looked towards Usagi, a horrified look written all over his face.

"It was my idea", Dumbledore cut in, causing everyone to look at him in utter surprise.

"You?!" Fudge asked, Dumbledore smiled.

"That's right", he said.

"You recruited students for this?" He continued.

"The name was chosen in honor of Usagi, she had absolutely no idea I had been planning this. Tonight was supposed to be the first meeting, merely to see if students would be interested in learning for young Sorrow. I see now that it was a mistake to invite Miss Edgecombe, of course." Marietta nodded, Fudge looked furious.

"Then you have been plotting against me all this time!" He yelled.

"That's right", Dumbledore said cheerfully.

"NO!" Harry yelled, Usagi gave him a warning glance.

"Be quiet Harry, or you will have to leave my office", Dumbledore said calmly.

"Yes, shut up Potter!" Fudge shouted, "I knew it! You had Miss Tsukino to fill in for you so you could plot against me! You were behind everything from the beginning."

"So you get to arrest me, then?" Dumbledore said smiling.

"Weasley? Have you taken down his confession?"

"Yes sir", Percy answered quickly.

"Send a second copy to the Prophet, then we'll get him formally charged and sent to Azkaban to await trial".

"Yes, well, I will not be going, ah, 'quietly' as you would say, I think it would be a waste of time to go to Azkaban. I could break out, of course, but there are better things I could be doing in that time." Umbridge's face had turned red, Fudge had a rather odd expression on his face. The auror called Dawlish went to reach for his pocket.

"Don't be silly, Dawlish", said Dumbledore, "if you attempt to-er-bring me by force, I will have to hurt you".

"Enough of this foolishness!" Fudge barked, pulling out his own wand, "Dawlish, Shacklebolt! Take him!"

A streak of silver light flashed around the room; there was a bang like a gunshot and the floor trembled; Usagi forced Harry and Marietta down on the floor as a second silver flash went off; several of the portraits in the room yelled, Fawkes screeched and a cloud of dust filled the air. Several more noises sounded and then there was silence.

"Are you alright?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes", said Usagi, helping Harry and Marietta up. Fudge, Umbridge, Kingsley and Dawlish lay motionless on the floor.

"Unfortunately, I had to hex Kingsley too, or it would have looked very suspicious", Dumbledore said quietly, "make sure you think Kingsley for altering Miss Edgecombe's mind for me", he directed towards Usagi.

"I will, thank you Albus, it seems I owe you another wizard's boon now, hm?" She said, Dumbledore smiled and headed for the fireplace, he turned to look at Harry. "I'm aware you've stopped receiving occlumency lessons, but I want you to practice as hard as you can, clear your mind every night!" Dumbledore warned, Harry nodded.

Those still on the floor began to stir as Dumbledore left in a flourish of emerald flames.

"Where is he?!" Fudge demanded, looking around at the destroyed office. Usagi shrugged her shoulders. "You are lucky, Miss Tsukino", Fudge growled, "it seems it's the end of your friend, Dumbledore", he said.

"You think so?" Usagi asked, her eyebrows raised. Fudge growled again, "you should get those two off to bed". Usagi didn't take a second glance as she ushered Harry and Marietta out of the office.

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"So Dumbledore saved your butts, huh?" Sorrow asked, her face shining up at Harry from Makoto's communicator on his wrist.

"Yeah, but what are we gonna do now? Umbridge has Madam Tsukino's wand...I wish I could talk to Sirius". Harry said with a sigh.

"Did somebody say Sirius?" The voice of Fred called out, he sat down next to Harry on the Common Room couch, "all right, Sorrow?" He said to the screen.

"Hi Fred! Heard about those fireworks of yours, nice work!" She replied, smiling up at him.

"Anyways, Harry, you said something about Sirius?"

"Yeah, says he wants to talk to him", Sorrow said rather loudly.

"Talk to who?" George asked, he, Ginny and Ron approached the couch as well.

"Sirius", Sorrow answered, trying to figure out who that was.

"Hi Sorrow!" Neville called out, he was bothering Hermione for revision notes.

"Hi Neville!" Sorrow answered back as Neville peered over Harry's shoulder to look at the screen.

"Brilliant commu-cater-thingy", said Ron.

"So you want to talk to Sirius?" Asked Fred, stretching out his legs onto the table.

"Yeah", said Harry sighing.

"Are you crazy?" Hermione shouted, then lowered her voice, "the only fire you could use is Umbridge's".

"Well, that's no problem", George said, "all you need is just a little bit of a diversion".

"What sort of a diversion?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"It's a surprise", Fred answered.

"Are-you-insane?!" Shouted Hermione again, looking at Harry.

"It would be no problem at all", George cut in.

"Sounds like fun!" Sorrow called up to Harry, who flashed a smile at her.

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June seemed to sneak up on everyone so quickly, fifth years didn't realize their OWLs were upon them until teachers started revision in classes instead of learning new things. The Weasley twins' swamp incident was becoming an infamous legend which would no-doubt be remembered for years to come in Hogwarts.

After Harry's chat with Sirius, he still had not bothered to approach Snape about getting more occlumency lessons. Not only that, but Snape had increasingly become more miserable since (Hotaru had briefly mentioned) he was fighting with Usagi. Only Hermione seemed to pick up the hint, but neither girl bothered to explain to the confused Harry and Ron. Usagi's bad mood had mainly been brought on by the intentional absence of Dumbledore since he had become an outlaw of the Ministry.

They were sitting in the Great Hall for breakfast when Ron felt his stomach give a painful lurch, refusing him the pleasure of the bacon and eggs sitting on a plate in front of him. Hermione looked up from a book she was studying and rose her eyebrows.

"What's wrong?" She asked, both Harry and Hotaru were too busily eating their own breakfast to take notice. Ron gave Hermione a weary glance.

"Quidditch cup final today", he whined, "make sure you're there to laugh at me when we lose". Since none of them bothered to try and cheer him up, breakfast continued on without any more conversation.

The stands filled up rather quickly as students fought for the better seats, Harry, Hermione and Hotaru ended up farther back, but it didn't seem to bother them much.

"Psst!" Called out a quiet, indiscreet voice as a female Gryffindor student moved up from behind them. Harry turned around, his eyes widened.

"Sorrow?" He asked, she was dressed in the Gryffindor robes, except she still wore her favorite black bandana.

"Thought I might come and see Ron make an ass of himself", she said, winking. She slid in next to Hermione and gazed excitedly out at the Quidditch Pitch.

"You must truly have a mental illness", commented Hermione, Sorrow flashed her a mischievous smile. "Where'd you get the uniform?" Hermione inquired nonchalantly.

"Borrowed it, or stole it?" Hotaru asked, the two girls flashed a glare at one another before their attention was adverted towards the teams taking flight.

It wasn't five minutes into the game before Ron let in Ravenclaw's first goal, some Slytherin's proceeded to sing a chorus of 'Weasley is our King', Sorrow laughed.

"What a stupid song!" She commented loudly.

"You know, it's very dangerous for you to be here", Hotaru shot out at Sorrow, who didn't bother losing her concentration.

"Shut it, Tsukino, you're ruining my fun", she shot out of the side of her mouth.

"Harry, Hermione, Hotaru!" Came a fierce whisper from below, the four sitting there turned to see Hagrid below the stands, "come down 'ere", he requested, as the small group reluctantly pushed their way down the stands. "'ello there, miss, er?"

"Sorrow", she cheerfully replied as they followed the half-giant away from the Quidditch Pitch.

"So yer Harry's lady friend, then?" He asked, again receiving a cheerful reply in return.

"Where are you taking us?" Hermione asked, feeling very apprehensive at that particular moment.

"Got somethin' to show yeh", Hagrid replied as they moved towards the Forbidden Forest. The students couldn't help feel a pang of fear, Sorrow's footsteps kept up with Hagrid's as she was rather excited.

They followed along the tress for a ways until they reached a clearing deep in the heart of the forest. Laying down, tied up to a couple of large deep rooted trees, was a bulk of hair and what appeared to be cloth. Whatever the creature was, it was breathing rather heavily, a distant heavy rumbling.

"You brought a giant into the forest?" Sorrow asked, taking out her wand just in case.

"Well, he's my brother...er, 'alf-brother", said Hagrid. The others stared at him for a moment.

"Why would you bring him back here?" Hermione asked, moving a little closer to Sorrow who kept her eyes unblinkingly on Hagrid's brother.

"I couldn' leave 'im there! They were bullyin' 'im, you see? He's jus' so small!"

"Small!?" Hermion said, brushing her arm against Sorrow's, "small?!"

"Well, after me mom left me dad, she wen' an' had Grawp 'ere. He don't speak a lot o' English, I've been tryin' the teach him. Anyway, me mom din' seem to like 'im tha' much, Giantesses like ter 'ave good big kids, he's a bit runty fer a giant-on'y sixteen foot-"

"Tiny?!" Squeaked Hotaru.

"They were kickin' 'im around- I couldn' leave him-"

"Did Madam Maxime want to bring him back?" asked Harry.

"Well, she got tired o' him after awhile, so we split up on the journey home..."

"How did you sneak him in here?" Asked Sorrow, feeling rather excited again.

"Could on'y travel by nigh', but he keeps wantin' ter go back".

"Hagrid, why didn't you let him?" Hermione asked, holding tightly to Sorrow's arm, "what are you going to do with him?"

"Well, he's gettin' loads better, settlin' down well". The four students noticed Grawp was tied with rather large ropes, tied to the trunks of near by trees.

"What is it you want us to do?" Hermione asked, her grip tightening on Sorrow.

"Look after him", said Hagrid. "After I'm gone, yeh see, it won't be long now before I'm sacked-"

The students eyed each other wearily.

"And do what exactly?" Hotaru asked.

"Keep 'im company, jus' somebody to teach 'im, just' talk to 'im a bit".

"Erm, well, we'll try, Hagrid", said Harry, sighing in defeat. Hagrid gave a great big smile.

"Thanks", he said, then picked up a rather large branch, "I'll introduce yeh", he moved towards the sleeping giant, ignoring the protests sounding behind him. "Wake up, Grawpy, I've got visitors fer yeh!" He poked Grawp until the giant gave a loud noise of protest. It took Grawp a few moments to wake up completely, he stood and stared at the four students with large mud-colored eyes. "I brough' some friends fer yeh, to teach yeh English", Hagrid informed his half-brother. "This is Harry Potter", he said, motioning towards Harry, "do yeh mind if he calls yeh Hermy?" He asked Hermione, who shook her head meekly behind Sorrow, Hagrid turned back to Grawp, "tha' is Hermy, Hotaru and, erm, Sorrow". Grawp moved to grab Sorrow, who held out her wand threateningly. "NO! Bad Grawpy! Bad! OUCH!" Grawp had knocked Hagrid down, then lost interest and proceeded to try and uproot one of the trees he was rooted to. Hagrid pushed himself back up and moved towards the students, "well I think tha's enough fer today, I'll take yeh back now". Nobody protested as they left the clearing, Hagrid readying his crossbow along the way. They stopped when they heard movement nearby.

"Hello there, Magorian", Hagrid greeted quietly as a centaur made his way into the clearing.

"I thought we told you not to come in here, human", Magorian spoke, glaring towards Hagrid who frowned darkly in return.

"Human now? Jus' fer helpin' Firenze".

"Firenze is a traitor, he entered the servitude of humans."

"He's jus' doin' Dumbledore a favor", Hagrid argued, but it was no use. A few more centaurs entered the clearing, the black bodied Bane moved beside Magorian.

"You are no longer welcome here", Bane said, readying his bow and arrow.

"Don't you dare touch them", came the voice of Usagi as she entered the scene, white wings spread at full expanse. Both Bane and Magorian took a hesitant step backwards, then bent their front knees in a bow, the rest of the centaurs doing likewise.

"Princess..." said Magorian, "we will let them pass today". Usagi stood in front of Hagrid and crossed her arms over her chest, giving her wings an irritated flick.

"You will never touch these people, do you understand?" Usagi threatened, "otherwise, you will answer to me". Bane was struggling to not retaliate, both centaurs quietly rose and motioned for the group to leave, a gallop of hooves sounded as the small herd left the clearing. Usagi turned and smiled up at Hagrid "whew", she said, "that was close".

"Thank yeh so much!" Hagrid said in relief, as the group made their way out of the forest. Usagi put her arm around Hermione, who was still rather frightened, Usagi looked towards Sorrow who was now holding hands with Harry.

"You like risks, don't you?" She asked, her wings retreating into her back, Sorrow smiled shyly.

"It was worth it, even though I wasn't expecting this little detour. Nice trick with the wings, Princess", Sorrow commented, causing Usagi to laugh in response.

"I think the game is done", said Hagrid, glancing towards the students leaving the Quidditch Pitch.

"Oh no", Hermione sighed, they could hear a chorus of 'Weasley is our King'.

"Wait a minute", Hotaru said, pointing towards the crowd, "those aren't Slytherins chanting, listen closer". They did, and as the voices grew louder, they heard the change in lyrics, a bunch of Gryffindors were carrying Ron on their shoulders.

"Go ahead", whispered Usagi as she gave the students a small push. The four of them pushed their way through the crowd, Ron was all smiles and looked down on them.

"Can you believe it?!" He yelled over the chanting, holding the Quidditch Cup, "We won!" The crowd carried Ron into the Entrance Hall, bumping his head along the way.

"I've got to get outta' here before somebody sees me", Sorrow said, a happy smile spread across her face.

"Why?" Said Harry, "you could probably get into the Common Room without anybody noticing".

"Nice try", Sorrow replied slyly, kissing Harry on the cheek, "study hard", she waved as the other three headed back into the school, busy contemplating when they would break the news to Ron.

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Hotaru sat on the end of the couch as Snape made the anti-cheating announcement before the exams were about to start. The senshi of Saturn took a large sigh as she eyed her parchment with her exam schedule written on it. She absolutely hated the fact she was sitting there right now, she wondered if she'd ever confront Snape about his relationship with her mother...what would he do? Looking up at the Potions Master caused her to think about the raven-haired auror who had gone as far to pretend to be a student just to see Harry. She was very jealous of the girl, but taking a quick glance at Draco made it clear it was all her own fault she hadn't snagged Harry when she had the chance. Bad luck seemed to run in her family, considering the love of her foster-mother's life was now a Death Eater.

"That is all", Snape finished, turning and leaving with a billow of his black robes. Hotaru headed up to the dormitory to put away her books, and head off to the Great Hall for breakfast. She already knew what everyone in her house thought of her sitting at the Gryffindor table, but she didn't care, she was used to solitude.

Sitting beside Hermione, she was doing last-minute revising, Hotaru attempted to eat some breakfast. The meal seemed to buzz by quickly and afterwards fifth and seventh-years gathered at the Great Hall entrance to begin their exams (the Great Hall rearranged with several desks). Hotaru sat not too far from Harry who was in a row next to her, they gave each other good-luck looks before the examiner told them to begin. Hotaru looked at the first question.

a) give the incantation and b) describe the wand movement required to make objects fly. Hotaru smiled to herself as she remembered her foster-mother sending Professor Flitwick across the room.

Exams went fairly smoothly over the next couple of days, Defense Against the Dark Arts was rather easy for those who had lessons from Sorrow, or had participated in the dueling club. Hotaru was still rather nervous, however, when she was called into the Great Hall for examination. She proved to do the spells quite well, the examiner was nearly finished when he brought up her special ability.

"I heard that you're one of those Sailor people from Japan?" The examiner's face flushed red in shame, but he leaned forward, "show me a little trick?" He requested, "for a bonus?" Hotaru hesitated, knowing better than to 'show off' the powers she had, but she stood back a few steps and summoned her glaive. Twirling the glaive, she brought the tip down on the ground, causing a stream of purple energy to split a crack the length of the floor.

"Silence", Hotaru whispered, emanating a sound wave, breaking a few of the windows. Hotaru's examiner looked at her in complete awe. "Yes...excellent, you may go", he said as other examiners stopped what they were doing to fix the damage.

She left the Great Hall to meet up with Hermione and Harry who had already been tested.

"I think I passed", Hotaru mumbled dryly as they sat to wait for Ron.

They spent most of the weekend together in the library studying for potions, they all missed Ami's presence quite a lot since she was more lenient than the one sitting in for her. The Potions exam proved to be the most difficult thus far, it came as somewhat of a relief that Care of Magical Creatures was the next exam. The Drake bird they had worked with early that school year was part of the practical examination. Hotaru panicked as she had not bothered to study for this subject.

"Tell me, what is the primary food choice for the Drake bird?" The examiner asked Hotaru, who stared blankly, she had no idea.

"Erm...mandrakes?" She made the guess based on the similar name, the examiner made a mark on the parchment.

"Correct, you may go", Hotaru took a huge sigh of relief and met up with Harry and Hermione.

Divination was no problem for Hotaru, yet when she had read the crystal ball, she had once again seen the mysterious bride of whom she did not recognize.

That evening was the Astronomy practical as all students taking it reached the roof to stand behind a telescope. They were to fill out a star chart with the exact positions of the stars and planets, Hotaru knew she'd wiz through this one.

About halfway through the exam, Hotaru noticed Harry's attention had been adverted. She followed his gaze to a disturbance happening outside of Hagrid's hut, she decided to ignore the examiner's protests as the activity become more noticeable. She did not recognize some of the people down by the hut with the exception of Hagrid, her foster-mother, McGonagall and Professor Umbridge.

Several more students looked down below as a large BANG sounded, stunning spells being sent out. Hagrid shouted out threats, he refused to be taken away. One of the examiners gasped and several students screamed as four stunning spells hit McGonagall at once, Usagi was quick to her aid. Hotaru felt a dull ache in her chest as she could sense the ginzuishou being used to heal the fallen teacher. Hagrid was furious and began physically attacking the ones who stunned McGonagall. Umbridge shouted for them to take control, but they were too reluctant, allowing Hagrid to slip into the shadows.

"Five minutes left", Professor Tofty announced, scaring everyone back into attention, although Hotaru had long finished. She moved along the way back into the school beside Hermione who was gushing away about what had just happened. Unfortunately for Hotaru, she would have to head back to her own Common Room, and endure the cheerfulness Draco would no doubt display.

The final exam was History of Magic that morning, as the students once again gathered at the Great Hall. Once again Hotaru felt fairly confident about the course, since she seemed to always pick up facts very well. She wouldn't have been surprised if there was a question involving the Silver Millennium. Sure enough when they flipped over their exam papers, it was one of the first questions, she was sure Harry, Hermione and Ron would be able to answer this one real good as well.

Part way through the exam, Hotaru nearly bolted out of her seat when she witnessed Harry yell out and fall out of his chair.

::::

Harry tried his best to separate himself from Professor Tofty as he was too distraught over the vision he had just witnessed. Deciding he should see Usagi right away, Harry rushed off for the Hospital Wing where she was resting from the previous night's energy loss. Madam Pomfry stopped Harry at the doorway.

"I need to speak to Madam Tsukino!" He shouted rather loudly, Madam Pomfry pushed him away from the hospital beds.

"Both she and Professor McGonagall are resting, last night took quite a toll on them both, I'm afraid", she said. Harry felt that much more panicky as he rushed back towards the crowd leaving the Great Hall.

"Harry!" Hermione said as she and Ron and Hotaru hurried to join him, "are you alright?" She asked, but Harry refused to answer as he ushered them away to find an empty classroom to talk privately in.

"Voldemort's got Sirius", he said.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"How d'you-"

"Saw it. Just now. When I fell asleep in the exam".

"But how?" Hermione asked, both she and Hotaru looking very pale at that moment.

"I dunno, but I know where. There's a room in the Department of Mysteries full of shelves covered in these little glass balls, they're at the end of row ninety-seven. He's trying to use Sirius to get whatever he wants in there...torturing him...says he'll end up by killing him!" Harry took a moment to catch his breath, "How are we going to get there?"

"Get there?!" Said Ron, frantically.

"To the Department of Mysteries, to rescue Sirius!"

"Wait a minute..." said Hotaru, "I don't really think Voldemort could've possibly have taken Sirius with the others there", Harry rose his eyebrows at her.

"They might have gone back to Japan, I dunno- I just saw it!" He yelled, Hotaru took a step back.

"How could Voldemort have gotten in the Ministry without anyone noticing?" Hermione tried, Harry glared at her too.

"I dunno-he used an invisibility cloak or something, but we have to go to the Ministry, now! Besides, the Department of Mysteries has always been empty whenever I've been there-"

"But you've never been there", Ron pointed out, "you've only dreamed about the place".

"Maybe", shot Harry, "but I know someone who -has- been there", he flipped the lid of his communicator open to contact Sorrow, Hermione shut the lid quickly, Harry glared at her.

"But why-why would Voldemort want to use Sirius to get this weapon thingy?" Hermione pressed softly.

Their argument continued for a few more minutes before two more people entered the room. Ginny and Luna Lovegood (who seemed to have followed by accident), entered the room.

"Hi, what are you yelling about?" Ginny asked, her eyebrows raised.

"Never you mind", Harry snapped.

"I was just wondering if I could help?" She said angrily at his attitude.

"Well, you can't", shot Harry.

"You're being rather rude", said Luna quietly.

"Wait", interrupted Hermione after Harry looked away and cursed. "We need to find out if Sirius really has left the Headquarters. Let's just make sure Sirius and the others really aren't there before we rush off to London. If he's really not there, I'll do whatever I can to help."

"We don't have time!" Harry insisted.

"But if this is a trick, we've got to check!" Hotaru interrupted, Hermione shot her a look of thanks.

"We'll have to use Umbridge's fire", said Hermione, "we can use Ginny and Luna as lookouts."

"Ok", said Harry, "if we can do this quickly." They quickly arranged the plans and headed off to carry them out.

::::

Severus was in his office when Draco came to the door.

"Professor Snape, sir, Professor Umbridge needs you". The Potion Master couldn't help but growl in annoyance, although he reluctantly headed up to Umbridge's office, slightly curious as what had happened this time. However, it was no surprise to him that Harry Potter was in the office and the reason for his summoning.

"Professor Snape, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum as quick as you can, please", Umbridge requested as soon as he had come through the door.

"You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter", he said, although he was the only one who knew that to be a lie, since it had been a placebo, not the real thing. "Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."

Umbridge flushed, Severus watched her reaction with great interest.

"You can make some more, can't you?" She asked, her voice becoming sweeter by the second, it made Severus feel ill.

"Certainly", he said, his lip curling. "It takes a full-moon cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in around a month."

"A month?" Umbridge yelled, Severus resisted the urge to smirk, "but I need it this evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons unknown!"

"Really?" Severus said, he looked at Harry with a look of interest, he had a pretty good idea of whom he was talking to. "Well it doesn't surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules." Severus stared directly into Harry's eyes, Harry was trying to tell him something...

"I wish to interrogate him!" repeated Umbridge angrily, Severus returned his attention to the quivering toad-like face. "I wish you to provide me with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!"

"I have already told you", Severus replied smoothly, "that I have no further stocks of Veritaserum. Unless you wish to poison Potter-and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did- I cannot help you. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for truth-telling". Severus looked back at Harry, who was still saying incoherent things about Black and the Dark Lord, although clearly he intended Severus to read his mind on purpose.

"You are on probation!" Professor Umbridge shouted at him, Severus rose his eyebrows at her. "You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!" Severus still resisted the urge to laugh at her, instead he gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave.

"He's got Padfoot!" Harry shouted at him, 'damn' Severus thought to himself. "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!" Severus stopped with his hand on the door handle, 'damn damn' he continued thinking to himself.

"Padfoot?" Umbridge yelled out, she looked from Harry to Severus. "What is Padfoot? Were what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?" She glared at him, but he looked at Harry, trying his best not to show he understood.

"I have no idea", Severus lied. "Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."

He left the office thoroughly pissed off, he was heading straight for the Hospital Wing cursing to himself, trying to understand why Potter couldn't keep his big mouth shut. Severus still did not feel bad about refusing Potter occlumency lessons, served him right to put his nose where it didn't belong. His whole face, actually. He and Usagi had been purposely ignoring each other for a while, but it had to stop, now.

He barged angrily into the hospital ward, ignoring Madam Pomfry's protests as he scanned the beds for the lunarian princess. Finding her sleeping form, he approached her and gave Usagi a violent shake.

"Wake up, dammit!" He cursed, Usagi's eyes snapped open, she quickly squinted them to get used to the bright light.

"Let...me...go!" She said, Severus dropped her. "What do you want?!" She protested loudly. He grabbed her arm and forced her to get out of bed. Dragging her along the hallway, getting irritated when she tripped along the way, he used as few words as possible to explain what was going on.

::::

Hotaru looked around at her fellow Slytherins guarding the struggling TA members. She had to think fast as she knew time was running out, she had already guessed at what Hermione was doing and it was very dangerous. Pushing Pansy away from her, she dove for Umbridge's desk hoping to grab her wand. Draco immediately took action and took out his own wand, threatening Hotaru with it. She looked up at him from the floor and stared into his cold gray eyes.

"Do you really want to hurt me?" She asked, causing Draco to falter for a second. It was a mistake he made and couldn't change as the second was long enough fro Ginny to pull out her wand and send a curse at him. Draco howled in pain as his face began growing wings, which were flapping furiously. The other TA members quickly took action and managed to fight off the other Slytherin students. Hotaru summoned her henshin wand and called out her transformation phrase, temporarily filling the office with a bright violet light as she transformed into Sailor " Ginny admired out loud.

"I'm going to get the other two, meet us by the edge of the forest", Saturn instructed, opening the office window and taking a giant leap to land hard on the ground below. Holding her glaive as tightly as she could, she made a mad dash through the forest, trying desperately to sense the others. She made it into a clearing, witnessing Harry being lifted off the ground by an angry centaur. Nobody noticed Saturn's presence until she put the blade of her glaive up against the assailant's neck.

"Drop him", she ordered, her voice icy cold, the centaur immediately did as was asked as all the herd stared towards her.

"The angel of death", one of them said, fearing for their lives.

"Let's go Harry, Hermione", Saturn said, summoning her energy to make it clear she was in no mood for negotiation.

Suddenly, Grawp came stomping through the trees, acting madly.

"Where Haggar?!" He bellowed, centaurs began shooting arrows at him, causing Grawp to howl in pain. He began swinging blindly at his attackers, until he spotted Hermione and made a grab at her.

"Hermy, where Haggar?!" He asked, as his face was pelted with more arrows. Great drops of blood spattered over the three students until Saturn caused an invisible shield to surround them as they left the forest clearing.

"Oh, that's so terrible!" Said Hermione as they ran through the forest. "He might kill all of them!"

"I don't really mind", said Harry, continuously glancing at the fuku-clad Slytherin next to him, "you probably could've wiped them all out!" He told her, Hotaru looked at him for a moment.

"Easily, but what good would that have done?" They made it to the edge of the forest where Ginny, Neville and Luna were waiting anxiously, Ginny handed Harry and Hermione their wands.

"Shoulda' seen us, Harry!" Neville said rather breathlessly, "Hotaru had Draco scared, then Ginny nailed him with a Bat Bogey Hex". Harry flipped the lid of his communicator open and called Sorrow, who popped up on the screen seconds later.

"Not much time for an explanation, we're coming to the Ministry of Magic, now", Harry rushed, Sorrow blinked at him a couple of times.

"Ok, I'll meet you out front", she said after a moment, then Harry shut the lid.

"Sirius wasn't there?" Hotaru asked after having de-transformed.

"No, neither were the others, Kreacher said they'd all gone back to Japan."

"Great timing", Hotaru muttered.

"So how are we getting there?" Ginny asked curiously, Harry stared at her for a moment.

"'We' are not going anywhere, you're not involved."

"We are now", Hotaru said plainly, wiping some of Grawp's blood off her face.

"Yeah, we wanna help", Neville said, "what good was learning defense if we're not going to use it?" Harry stumbled, he had him there.

"Oh, alright, obviously we can't fly, my broom is still locked up in the dungeons."

"There are other ways of flying, you know", Luna said, swaying dreamily back and forth, the others stared at her.

"How??" Ron snapped at the Ravenclaw.

"We can ride Thestrals", she answered, gazing towards the edge of the forest where three Thestrals were looking uncertainly at them.

"Those crazy horse thingys?" Ron said incrediously, "the ones you can only see if you've seen someone snuff it?" Luna nodded, both Harry and Hotaru watched as the three animals approached them and began licking the blood off their robes.

"You've watched somebody die?" Harry asked softly, Hotaru looked up at him sadly."

"I've watched many die", she answered, Luna then pointed to the trees.

"Hey, they're attracted to the blood", she said as more Thestrals emerged from the forest. "Plenty for everyone", she said as she slid onto one of the creature's backs.

"Some of us can't see them, you know", Ron informed her dryly. Luna slid off her Thestral and helped him, Ginny and Hermione onto the backs of other Thestrals. Everyone seated themselves as securely as they could.

"Erm...Ministry of Magic in London...if you know where to go", Harry requested. The Thestrals hesitated for a moment, before vaulting straight up in the air, their leathery wings causing the creatures to glide through the air. They remained fairly close together, the students becoming extremely cold and uncomfortable from the frigid night air. After a few minutes, the Thestrals changed direction and turned into a stomach-lurching dive as they came down onto solid ground. Everyone slid thankfully from the Thestrals' backs as they walked towards the red phone booth of which Sorrow was leaning up against, smoking a cigarette. She watched them approach her as she flicked the butt away.

"Nasty habit", she said out loud, smiling at them. "So what's with the field trip?" She asked, opening the phone booth door.

"Sirius is here, Voldemort took him", Harry said, getting inside of the phone booth. The others all squeezed awkwardly inside of it too. "Dial six two four four two", he informed the closest one to the phone, Ron bent his arm to do so.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business", came the feminine voice, Sorrow glared while looking up, she started by listing everyone's names.

"...and I'm an auror, you stupid dumbass", she cursed rather loudly, "we're here to get somebody out, 'cause your Ministry idiots couldn't sniff out Voldemort even if he rubbed his butt right up against your noses." Everyone else couldn't help but stifle a laugh, regardless of the situation. A handful of badges spat out with all of their names on it as well as 'butt-sniffing rescue mission'.

"Oh, a smart ass, are you?" Sorrow mumbled. The woman's voice listed a few instructions before the phone booth lurched into motion and sunk into the ground. The seconds seem to pass on for an eternity before the phone booth door opened as everyone fell out of it on top of each other, the only sound that could be heard was the soft spraying of the fountain.

"Where are we going?" Sorrow asked, frowning around her, "you'd think they'd have this place more secured", she said under her breath.

"Department of Mysteries", Harry answered quickly, he and Sorrow led the way past the fountain towards the golden lift as they all hurried inside of it. Pushing the button for the ninth floor, the lift noisily began to move, giving everyone a sense of danger, all except Sorrow who still seemed irritated. A soft, cool feminine voice announced their desired floor as they stepped out into the corridor. They headed down the corridor until Harry stopped and turned towards the others.

"Wait...maybe a couple of people should stay here as a lookout...?"

"What for?" Asked Sorrow rather loudly, "you wouldn't be able to hear anything."

"We're coming with you, Harry", said Hotaru.

"Let's get on with it", Ron pressed. Having no choice, Harry led the others towards the door he had seen in his dream and swung it open. The room was completely black except for the shimmering blue flames of candles illuminating their presence. Just before Harry could make his choice out of a dozen doors, the room began to rotate, Hermione grabbed onto Harry's arm, frightened, but the doors stopped moving after a moment.

"How are we going to get out?" Asked Neville, obviously uncomfortable.

"We won't need too, until we've found Sirius", Harry answered, still trying to determine which door to choose.

"Which room do you want?" Sorrow asked, she knew exactly how to identify which way to go.

"I dunno exactly", said Harry, "it's a room that kind-of glitters". Sorrow stared at him for a moment, before making her guess.

"Oh, I think I know which one you want. The Room of Time", she strolled up to a random door, and opened it, everyone gazed curiously inside.

"This is it!" Announced Harry, immediately walking inside of it.

::::

"Damn it!" Severus cursed loudly after finishing a hurried conversation with Sirius. He and Usagi had just discovered Sirius was still inside Grimmauld Place, safe and sound, while Harry was still under the impression Voldemort had his godfather.

"What now?" Usagi asked, feeling extremely worried at that moment.

"I'll go make sure they're not still in the forest", said Severus, who was about to do just that before Usagi stopped him.

"You honestly think he's still in there?" Usagi and Severus stared at each other, "you know right well they're probably heading towards London as we speak." Severus growled loudly at her. "I've got to go there and stop them before they get hurt-"

"You're not going anywhere", Severus said firmly, blocking her exit through the door. Usagi glared at him.

"I made a promise that I'd protect Harry-"

"Well, this wouldn't have happened if your so-called friends hadn't run off to Japan".

"Oh, so now it's their fault?!" Usagi shouted, balling her fists defensively, "you're the jerk who stopped giving Harry those lessons."

"Potter always steps too far!"

"Get over yourself already!" Usagi snapped, making another move towards the door.

"It's none of your damned business!" Severus snapped back.

"You made it my business you arrogant son of a-" Usagi never finished her sentence, she took a step backwards, her eyes wide in fear as Severus had raised his hand, ready to strike her. A moment of silence passed, Severus lowered his hand slowly, realizing what he had just about done. He felt instantly sorry he had become so angry.

"Fine, but I'm coming with you," he said softly.

And so, he had contacted members of the Order, everyone readily taking action by heading towards the Ministry of Magic. Severus and Usagi followed behind the others, Sirius had come along even though knowingly putting himself in danger. The couple in the rear were about to follow the others through the rotating chamber, when a shadow lept into view and seized Usagi violently.

"Oh no, you will not interfere, Usako." the cold voice whispered fiercely. Severus turned around and sent his fist flying straight towards Mamorou's face. It came in contact, sending Mamorou backwards, having released Usagi.

"Go ahead," Severus told her, she didn't move, looking at the scene before her. The Potion Master glared at her, "Now!" She quickly did as she was told and left the two men to finish what they had begun.

Usagi hurried to join the others as they made their way to a room styled oddly like a colosseum, a huge stone dias standing on the middle of the sunken pit. The Death Eaters who were fighting the students all noticed their presence almost immediately as the Order rushed to intervene in the fight. Usagi rushed towards Hotaru and Sorrow, the latter who was bleeding badly from her side.

"Okaasan!" Hotaru yelled, "Help Harry They're after Harry!" Usagi looked round where Harry was supporting Neville, trying to climb the stairs. She quickly headed towards them. Hotaru stayed with Sorrow, the auror pocketed her wand and removed the bandana from her head, wiping blood from her sweaty face. That's when Hotaru's eyes widened with a sudden recognition.

"You're the bride!" Hotaru said, causing the other girl to look at her in puzzlement, "I just realized after all this time, that you're the one I keep seeing, wearing the white dress!"

"Going to get married, am I?" Sorrow asked, retying the bandana around her head, trying to keep her long raven tresses away from a deep gash on her cheek.

"That's not what I mea-" Hotaru stopped suddenly. She turned to see that her foster-mother had transformed into Eternal Sailor Moon, the power enabling her to fully support Neville, while hurrying him up the steps. A vision blurred over Hotaru's eyes as she witnessed the scenes playing out before her.

"Hotaru?" Sorrow questioned, gently shaking the other girl's arm to snap her out of it.

"Sirius is about to die," Hotaru said, "He's going to fall behind the veil!" She looked at Sorrow, eyes wide like saucer plates.

"Are you sure?" Sorrow asked in disbelief.

"I've never been wrong." Hotaru answered, Sorrow looked down at the stone dias, where Sirius was dueling his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange.

"No." Sorrow said bluntly, and pushed Hotaru out of the way as she made a dash towards Harry's godfather, "NO!" She yelled out, "Sirius, no!" But it was too late.

"C'mon you can do better than that!" Sirius taunted the woman standing only a few feet away from him. She had shot a burst of red light towards him, and it would've hit him square in the chest, but Sorrow had pushed him away and had taken the blunt of the curse. Her body curved backwards as she fell, her eyes wide with fear, her body soaked in blood. The veil fluttered softly as the black curtain swallowed the rogue auror's body whole.

"NO!" Harry screamed, having just witnessed the scene that had passed like an eternity. Lupin grabbed Harry before he could reach the stone dias. "NO! SORROW!" He screamed, desperately trying to fight Lupin's hold.

"It's too late, Harry, she's gone." Lupin said. Sirius had long since gotten up from the floor where he had landed, and resumed his duel against Bellatrix with a fierce rage. She realized her disadvantage and bolted out of the room after hitting Sirius with a blinding blast of her wand. Harry bolted after her. Usagi, too, had witnessed the scene and followed Harry while the other's fought on.

Usagi hurried through the room with the brains which were bow scattered all over the floor, she lifted herself partially off the ground in order to not slip to her doom. Moving into the rotating room she looked around at all the doors in a panic.

"Where's the exit?!" She yelled out, a door behind her flew open, she hurried through it. She found the lifts and got inside, hitting the button for the Atrium. She had just made it into the Atrium when she heard a voice she did not recognize. Looking up, she saw the hooded figure talking to Harry. With cold realization washing over her, she knew exactly who the stranger was. Usagi moved towards them, still unnoticed as she heard Voldemort's next comment.

"I have nothing to say to you, Potter, you have irked me too often, for too long. AVA KEDAVRA!" The spell had hit it's target just as Usagi's fuku clad body came into Voldemort's view.

"NO!" She screamed, kneeling at Harry's limp body. She started to cry. Voldemort laughed at her.

"A little late, Serenity." He said. Usagi turned her head to look at him as she cradled Harry's lifeless form, in her arms.

"I'm afraid not," came a new voice echoing in the Atrium. Voldemort looked up as Dumbledore came into view. He looked down at Usagi and smiled softly. "Now would be a good time", he said, "before it's too late". Usagi didn't need an explanation, she closed her eyes and called on the ginzuishou's power, the sound of Voldemort and Dumbledore's duel fading out into the distance.

::::

Harry looked around himself in awe. He had absolutely no idea where he was, but before him he could see part of the earth, the colors vibrant in the endless sky. Behind him lay ruins of what must have been a huge palace. He clutched the emerald pendant around his neck and felt his forehead searing with pain.

"Where am I?!" Harry yelled out, feeling rather frustrated that his voice echoed pointlessly around him. He tightly wrapped his arms around himself, suddenly feeling cold and lonely.

"Harry", the soft voice caused Harry to jump, he turned around and gazed in wonderment towards Usagi. She was dressed in a flowing white gown, trimmed with gold, her white wings folded neatly behind her.

"Am I dead?" He asked her, his voice quavering. Usagi smiled at him.

"I won't let you die", she said, then looked towards something moving behind him. Harry turned around and watched a lavender-haired woman walk slowly towards them. The woman's grey eyes gazed lovingly on Harry, she offered a small smile.

"I've been waiting to meet you, Harry Potter", she said, "a cruel way to initiate such a meeting, but something I've been looking forward to none-the-less". Selenity then looked up at her daughter, "a pity the young girl had to lose her life", Usagi nodded at her, then took Harry's arm and led them towards the palace.

Inside, much of it was still intact, they headed towards the throne room, if Usagi's memory had remembered correctly. Selenity stopped just inside the entrance and turned to Harry.

"I must speak privately with my daughter now, but there are some people here who wish to see you". Harry looked at the strange queen with uncertainty, but then turned his attention towards the two people who came into view. Harry looked on in disbelief.

"Go on", Usagi whispered in encouragement. Harry waited a moment before the woman opened her arms in invitation. Harry felt like he was being deceived at first, but then he rushed forwards, being taken into the woman's embrace.

"Mum! You're really here!" Harry said, letting the tears that had been building up fall from his eyes. Lily Potter hugged her son with a fierce longing. Harry then looked up into the eyes of James Potter. "Is this real?" Harry asked, even though he felt warm in his mother's arms.

"Yes, Harry", James said, and hugged his son.

"Use this time wisely", said Selenity as she and Usagi left the throne room.

Mother and daughter walked along the once beautiful courtyard in silence, Selenity knew what she must now explain and took a short time to gather her thoughts together.

"Firstly", she began, "I know you are still confused about Endymion, and you have a right to know why things are the way they are.

"You see, Salazar Slytherin never truly cared for me right from the start. But I was too foolishly in love to notice anything suspicious. Everyone knew about the powerful weapon I wielded then and Salazar would've wanted nothing more than to claim the power as his own.

"After your birth and my severing the ties with Earth, Salazar knew if he was to gain the ginzuishou, he'd have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers. So after you had first come of age, he had discovered a loophole that he could use, and that loophole was you. Endymion, both prince and wizard, was admitted to study at Hogwarts. Endymion was a teacher's dream, being both smart and talented. Naturally, he became an instant favorite of Salazar's and your father took on the apprentice with a dark intention.

"Knowing full well that Endymion would be your perfect match, Salazar planned that after you and the prince were married, he would be able to have Endymion persuade you to accept ties back with Earth, since you would be queen and would wield the ginzuishou. In having you back in his life, he would persuade you to let him teach you the ways of magic and eventually get his hands on the ginzuishou.

"Naturally, his plans weren't foolproof, there were the wars with Metallia going on and Salazar was having his own personal problems at the school. He desired to wipe out those who were not 'pure-blooded' wizards that possessed magic, he had built a chamber in which to keep such a killer that would do his bidding. He had though once he had the ginzuishou, he would be powerful enough to rule the world himself, and govern it as he saw fit. After the Moon Kingdom was destroyed, the ginzuishou had disappeared and he would never see Endymion again. In his lifetime anyway.

"That's where the present time comes into play. Voldemort had discovered his Saturnian power while he still attended Hogwarts. Over the years, this power developed and he learned to wield it, eventually making him the most powerful wizard in existence. Doing his research, Voldemort discovered the history of Salazar Slytherin, and seeing that one Miss Serenity Slytherin had once again been accepted to study at Hogwarts, he intercepted and stopped the letter from ever reaching the Tsukino house. He wanted to wait for you to discover your own past, as he knew if you had been reborn, the pure-blooded prince would have been as well.

"When you had first become Sailor Moon, one Mamoru Chiba discovered he had hidden powers. Of course, you were unsure of his loyalty when he began his quest to collect rainbow crystals for his own reasons.

"Voldemort had found Mamoru when he had first become Tuxedo Kamen, as he too would have received an invitation to attend Hogwarts. Voldemort persuaded a young, confused Mamoru to collect the crystals for him. In exchange, he offered to show him the princess he had been dreaming about and reveal his past. Seeing this as an irresistible offer, Mamoru did not refuse. But once again, the plan faltered when the crystals responded to a princess's love for her prince.

"Mamoru had forgotten about Voldemort after that. That was until Galaxia had stolen his star seed, while he was flying for America. Naturally, Mamoru had died, but Voldemort had entered his life once more. Voldemort's spirit had escaped after his attempt at using the Philosopher's Stone, and after a young Harry Potter had thwarted him, Voldemort had left to regenerate using the power of Saturn. He gave the prince a tempting offer, since he had that power, he would give Mamoru's life back to him, Mamoru could not refuse. Voldemort did not reveal the prince for such a gift just yet, but instead had Mamoru's forearm marked with the Dark Mark, a testimony to Mamoru's owing of a wizard's boon.

"Over time, Voldemort's influence became too strong for Mamoru to withstand, and after you had severed your ties with the prince, Mamoru turned to the only one who seemed to always be there to help. Which is why Mamoru is a Death Eater.

"What you have to realize, is that Mamoru and Endymion did it all out of his pure love for you. Mamoru was the innocent in all of this, he always has and probably always will love you".

Usagi had listened to every word with an unwanted understanding. Her heart broke into a million pieces as she felt terribly evil for what had happened to Mamoru.

"This whole thing is my fault", Usagi said, bitting the bottom of her lip to keep herself from a crying fit.

"No", said Selenity quickly, "it's all my fault and I take full responsibility for it. I am also the one who kept you from releasing Uranus and Neptune from the catacombs, but the reason I cannot yet reveal." Usagi looked up at her mother, her eyes sparkling with tears.

"What now?" She asked, knowing time was running out.

"You will take Harry back with you, take care of him and make your choice now."

"Choice?" Usagi felt a sense of dread wash over her.

"Do not let the facts that I have just revealed moments ago influence the decision you are about to make. Keep in mind, that while Mamoru still loves you, the both of you were dealt a cruel hand of fate and should not have been forced together to relive the past thinking it's best. Sometimes, the past needs to be forgotten." Selenity led her daughter back towards the throne room to fetch Harry. The small family noticed the lunarian's presence right away as Lily and James gave Harry their last-minute farewells.

"Thank you", James said to Usagi, "you have no idea how much this meant to us". He added, his arm wrapped around his son's shoulder.

"Oh, I think I do", said Usagi as Harry moved to join her, "ready?" She asked, Harry slowly nodded as Usagi summoned the ginzuishou to send them back to their bodies.

::::

Usagi woke up with a violent start, she had de-transformed during her little spirit-enlightenment, her arms were still holding onto Harry, who had also woken up. Usagi realized that they hadn't been gone very long, maybe a couple of minutes at the most, since Voldemort and Dumbledore were still dueling. Pieces of the fountain of Magical Brethren lay scattered all around them, Usagi put her head over Harry's to protect him from flying objects. The duel had suddenly stopped when Voldemort had realized both of his 'victims' were still very much alive.

"You!" He hissed, "I killed you, Potter!" Harry looked up towards Voldemort and felt his forehead pulse. Voldemort jumped backwards as though he had been burned. "You will die, Serenity", Voldemort said before taking Bellatrix and leaving the Atrium.

Cornelius Fudge, clad still in pyjamas rushed towards them, a few Aurors following behind him.

"He was there!" One of the men said, "I saw him Mr Fudge, I swear it was You-Know-Who, he grabbed a woman and Disapparated!"

"I know Williamson, I know, I saw him too!" Fudge blabbered, fidgeting on the spot. "Merlin's beard-here-here!-in the Ministry of Magic!-great heavens above-it doesn't seem possible-my word-how can this be-?"

"If you proceed downstairs into the Department of Mysteries, Cornelius", Dumbledore interrupted after making sure Harry and Usagi seemed alright, "you will find several escaped Death Eaters contained in the Death Chamber, bound by an Anti-Disapparation Jinx and waiting your decision as to what to do with them."

"Dumbledore!" gasped Fudge, "you-here-I-I-" He looked round at the people he had brought with him, almost ready to have Dumbledore arrested.

"Cornelius, I am ready to fight your men-and win, again!" said Dumbledore quite loudly. "But a few minutes ago, you saw proof, with your own eyes, that I have been telling you the truth for a year. Lord Voldemort has returned, you have been chasing the wrong man for twelve months, and it is time you listened to sense!"

"I -don't-well", Fudge was babbling again, looking around as though he wanted somebody to tell him what to do. When nobody said anything, he said, "very well-Dawlish! Williamson! Go down to the Department of Mysteries and see...Dumbledore, you -you will need to tell me exactly-the Fountain of Magical Brethren-what happened?" he added in a kind of whimper, staring around at the floor, where the remains of the statues of the witch, wizard and centaur now lay scattered.

"We can discuss that after I have sent Harry back to Hogwarts", said Dumbledore.

"Harry-Harry Potter?" Fudge looked over to where Usagi still had her arms wrapped around Harry, Dumbledore moved over to them and offered a hand to Usagi.

"You need to deal with other matters", said Dumbledore as he helped Usagi up. She had understood him and left towards the corridor to go back down into the Department of Mysteries.

She had reached the corridor leading towards the rotating room when she saw some members of the Order leaving it.

"It's ok, Usagi, it's over now", Lupin said, but she was too busy staring at Severus's blood-covered body. Some of his robes were sliced up and he had terrible gashes all over, Kingsley Shacklebolt was supporting him, although he made it quite clear he'd have preferred to support himself. Severus stopped his walk-limping, removing his arm from Kingsley and stared towards Usagi.

"You didn't-?" Usagi began, Severus continued to stare at her.

"No", Lupin offered, "but he won't remember anything for a while. Severus hit him with a powerful memory charm-" Lupin stopped. Usagi and Severus were still staring at each other, she had tears welling up in her eyes.

"I think this is where we stay out of it", Lupin mumbled to Kingsley as they slowly backed away from Severus, who was standing completely on his own at that moment. Usagi quickly moved towards him and reached up to take his head in her hands. Nothing was said between them, Usagi pulled his head down towards her so she could kiss him. Her crescent mark glowed brightly as her magic healed the blunt of his wounds. After a moment, her energy tapped out as she collapsed limply on the floor. Lupin made a move to pick her up.

"No", said Severus quickly, and winced as he wrenched a piece of glass from partially healed skin. He then bent to pick up Usagi, in order to carry her towards the lift, Lupin and Kingsley followed closely behind.

::::

"There you are Harry, I thought they would drag you into this somewhere", said Hermione, after reading an excerpt from the Daily Prophet. She put the newspaper down and held her ribs as she slightly adjusted herself in the bed. Her forehead was glowing brightly, as the power of Mercury that had awakened inside of her, had kept her from receiving worse injury than she already had. She was more than excited to learn that her power of knowledge was inherited from an actual Mercutian. She looked up at Harry who's own forehead was glowing with the sign of Jupiter, he had used his own power the same night Hermione had discovered hers.

She, Harry, Neville, Ron, Ginny, Hotaru and Luna were all sitting around Hermione's bed, visiting in the Hospital Wing as the newly discovered Mercutian was recovering from her wounds received from a Death Eater. Usagi had been resting in the Hospital Wing as well, but she had long-since recovered and had left, but continuously checked up on Hermione.

Professor Umbridge lay in a bed just across the room from them, Ron made clip-clopping noises with his tongue which produced the only movement in the woman, who had been rescued by Dumbledore. Nobody knew how he had done it, exactly.

"Harry", Hotaru said softly as Harry stood to leave the room, saying he was going to see Hagrid. He stopped and looked at her with sad and tired eyes. "I want to say that I'm sorry...I mean, about Sorrow...I didn't mean to treat her so badly-"

"It's ok", Harry insisted, then offered the violet-eyed girl a soft smile, he could feel a sudden warmth emitting from her, while her planetary mark glowed on her forehead. "I just wanna leave". He said, and did so, Hotaru didn't bother following.

::::

Severus headed into Dumbledore's office with an uncertainty. Things had changed since Dumbledore had once again taken over Headmaster position at Hogwarts. And yet, it was as though things were never to be considered the same anyways. The four Japanese senshi had returned to the school to remain with Usagi for the remainder of the school year, which was only now one week to go, they had all gone to St. Mungo's to check up on Mamoru who had sustained several serious injuries. Sirius was now not held as a fugitive anymore, his name had been cleared, and from the blood of the young rogue auror known only as 'Sorrow', he lived to remain as Harry's godfather.

Opening the office door, Severus stood in front of Dumbledore's desk, waiting to hear what the aging man had to say. Dumbledore peered over his half-moon glasses and smiled.

"You may have it." He said, then stopped for a moment.

"Sir?" Severus questioned, in puzzlement.

"The position that I have yet to let you have. Defense Against the Dark Arts. That is...if you still want it."

"I don't...understand? Did she put you up to this?" Severus readily brought Usagi into the conversation, but Dumbledore shook his head.

"She knows nothing about this, this conversation is just between me and you. I'd like to hear what your answer is."

"Well, of course I still want it...but-"

"That is fine." Dumbledore cut in, he continued to smile knowingly, he always had an answer to everything. He cast his eyes away to gaze on a piece of broken wood, something of which Harry had destroyed only a few nights previous. "I already have a replacement for your post in mind", Dumbledore added after a moment, "but it will all depend on you, if she takes it or not, that is". Severus narrowed his eyebrows, he was meaning to keep Usagi at Hogwarts, but what his comment had meant, he did not know. Dumbledore turned his gaze back to the Potions Master again. "I may be an old man, but sometimes this old fool sees things that younger people tend to miss. It is no secret how you and Usagi feel about each other, I would just hope that you make it clear to her how you feel before she leaves to go back to Tokyo."

"Sir-I don't think-"

"Do not try to argue with your elders, Severus", Dumbledore interrupted, feeling quite pleased with himself at that particular moment. "You have less than one week, Severus, I should think you have a little business to make, hm?" Severus eyed the Headmaster for a moment, before nodding curtly and leaving the office. Once again, Dumbledore smiled brightly.

::::

Usagi threw the tiny remembrall against the wall of her room in anger. It was now the eve of her last night at Hogwarts, and Severus still had not returned from his secretive trip he had left on a week ago. Dumbledore had refused to tell her the whereabouts of the Potions Master, which frustrated her to no ends. She left her robes behind as she fled her room and headed outside in the cool, night air. The full moon shone down on her in bright mockery, as it was also the eve of her birthday. Her white wings spread from her back and fluttered a bit for a little stretch before settling down behind her. Crossing her arms across her chest, Usagi stood at the edge of the lake and simply stared quietly while hundreds of thoughts went through her mind.

What her mother had said to her, was what bothered her most, since she realized now the mistake she had made. Usagi was madly in love with Severus Snape, and would never see him again, since she was bound for Tokyo the next morning and he was nowhere to be found. She had realized this fact while sitting next to the sleeping form of Mamoru Chiba in St. Mungo's. She and the senshi had gone there to visit Mamoru, he had been badly injured during his duel with Severus. Usagi knew the deceased Queen had been right, she did have strong feelings for Mamoru, but love was not among those feelings anymore. No, her love had been growing steadily for another man, but this time, her love was not driven by fate, but rather by her own pure choice.

After a few minutes of more silent thought, Usagi turned to head back into the castle. That's when she stopped and looked towards the dark figure standing in her way.

"Where have you been?!"

"What were you doing?"

"My question first", Usagi said, as the two looked at each other, one with an angry expression, the other with mild interest.

"I had to take care of some things", Severus answered cooly, then proceeded to approach the lunarian, who still stared at him angrily. "What were you doing just then?"

"Thinking", Usagi said, then allowed herself to cool down a bit, since she didn't want to spend the night arguing the whole time.

"The Headmaster has asked me to do something for him", Severus continued after a moment, Usagi rose an eyebrow at him, "my position has opened up, he wonders if you'd be interested in taking on Potions for the next year."

"Wait...how come your position is now free?" Usagi asked suspiciously.

"Because I have accepted the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts".

"Oh." A few seconds of silence passed between them, Usagi felt rather frustrated at that time, and looked back up towards the new DADA professor. "Why me? There are way more qualified people than me to take the position".

"Yes, I am well aware of that, but I have no intention of letting you leave Hogwarts." Usagi glared at Severus for a moment.

"Oh, you don't? And how do you intend on keeping me here?" She wondered out loud. Severus did not answer her, instead he produced from one of the pockets in his robes a small ring, it glittered in the moonlight beautifully. He rose an eyebrow at her in question. Usagi didn't say anything, she couldn't. The two stared at each other, and Usagi allowed Severus to stare straight into her eyes, he could sense the confusion she was experiencing at that time. Usagi turned to walk a little towards the lake, fighting her tears. Severus approached her from behind and slipped the ring onto her finger.

"I will not stand between you and that prince. If that is what you want", he said softly into her ear, then began walking back towards the school.

"Wait", Usagi called out after him, Severus stopped and turned towards her once again. "I want nothing more than to be your wife", she said, "it's just..."

"I know what you want from me, but it is not something I can merely learn from a text book", Severus said, Usagi's eyes were watering heavily, she wiped some of the tears from her cheek. Once again the two quickly shortened the distance between them as they studied each other. "You know what I've been through, Usagi", Severus said, placing his own hand on her cheek to wipe away tears. "You saw what I had to learn from".

"It doesn't matter", Usagi replied, putting her own hand over his and smiling at him. "I can teach you". He kissed her. The two figures stood as shadows beneath the moonlight in the night sky, Usagi had made her choice.

::::

Usagi hugged Harry as students boarded the Hogwarts Express, ready to go home for the holidays. Hermione and Ron stood not to far away, allowing their friend his time alone with the lunarian. Hotaru stood quietly behind her foster mother, still not sure the fate of the senshi and Hogwarts, since Usagi still had not revealed her plans. Or revealed what had happened the previous night.

"I want you to know, that even though you still have to stay with your aunt and uncle, I will make sure of it to see you during the summer, ok?" Said Usagi, she looked at the pendant still hanging from his neck. "You understand why I gave this to you now", she added, brushing her fingertips over the faint insignia on his forehead. Harry smiled softly at her. He was still feeling the effects of Sorrow's death, but he did not let himself slip into a solitary state.

"I know", he said, looking into the eyes of the woman who had brought him back from death. "I wish you didn't have to go".

"Who said I was going anywhere", Usagi said with a wink, Harry looked at her, confused. "You better get on the train before it leaves you here, hm?" She suggested, and sent Harry to join his companions on the train. They all waved at her from the windows as the Hogwarts Express left to take the students back to King's Cross. Little did they know of what was in store for them sext September.

::::

AN: end of the fifth year!! Yay, finally did it! Now, what I'm leaving up to you, is if you wish for me to just keep on going into the sixth year. Things to look forward to:

the new Potions teacher, our very own bubbly blond!!

A new baby on the way..(Usagi is pregnant as of now, btw, but doesn't know it yet)

lots of relationship happenings (Harry's gonna be crushing on both Hotaru and Cho)

Voldemort tries his best to fulfill what he had said to Usagi in the Atrium (hint hint)

the outers show up into the story

Ok, ok, that's enough teasers, so, let me know if you'd like me to keep going, please!

Thanks,

Dark Cosmos