While Sharing an Office

By: Chibi Pyro Duo

Part III

Percy knocked on Serena's office door. She turned her head towards the opened door giving Percy a worn out stare, telling him she was emotionally and mentally exhausted. The red-haired man shyly stepped through the door, "Umm Serena, I just wanted to say, that I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. It's just that, it gets confusing with my job and all, you see Fudge sent me to follow you around and find out where Dumbledore's headquarters is."

Serena shook her head, "I figured as much."

"So I guess I'll be leaving."

"No you won't." Serena stood up wobbling a little bit. Percy's eyes grew concerned with her wobbling, "I'm not letting you off the hook that easily Percy Weasly." She limped over to him, "You had me worried sick about you for a whole week, making me rack my brain trying to figure out what I had done to deserve this kind of treatment." Her blue eyes slowly came face-to-face with Percy's own brown eyes, "And now you just expect me to let you walk out of that door again. I don't think so."

"Huh?" Percy's face turned from ashamed to confused in under a second.

"You are not leaving this office, until I tell me what made you try and push me away for almost a week."

Percy smiled in relief, thanking the heavens that his co-worker was back to normal, "It was Umbridge."

"Oh is that all, I thought someone was threatening you. Well you can leave now."

"What?"

"I said you can leave, but I expect you to treat me to drinks at the Fairy's Enchantment next time we go."

Percy's face grew even more confused, "You're forgiving me just like that?"

Serena smiled a dazzling smile filled with her innocence and love for all creatures, "Of course silly, that's what friends do."

"Friends?" asked Percy.

"Yes friends, what did you think we were, just plain old co-workers. We've shared to much of our lives with each other to just call ourselves co-workers."

Percy smiled, "Friends." He put out his hand receiving the first real friendship he had, had since his fourth year.

"Looks like she's been dead a while Serena." Stated Amy who was examining another dead body in the park.

"Dang it," yelled Serena.

"That's the tenth female park killing we've had since summer started Serena." Stated Raye.

"It's kind of creepy you know, just thinking about walking outside since these killings have started is giving me the creeps." Commented Mina as she shivered unconsciously.

"Relax Mina, you are a pureblood, everyone who has been attacked is muggleborn or a muggle." Said Lita reassuring her one of her best friends.

"Not really, my grandfather on my fathers side of the family was muggleborn. My parents took on my mother's name to avoid persecution in the distract they were in." said Mina as she shivered again.

"Relax ,you two. You are fully trained Auror's trained by Amara Miracle herself. You'll do fine up against a couple of Death Eaters." Commented Raye almost flippantly.

Ami looked up from examine the body, "Raye how can you be so insensitive. You are the only real pureblood one out of the five of us. So we all know your safe."

"It's not my fault!" Raye's infamous temper taking its toll on the group again.

Serena held her hand in front of Raye and Amy silencing both of them , "Raye it is not your fault you're a pureblood, just like it's not Amy's fault she's a half-blood, just like it's not Mina's fault that her father is a second generation muggleborn, just like it isn't Darien's fault he's a pureblood, just like it isn't me and Lita's fault that we're muggleborn. So stop fighting." Serena twirled around almost gracefully, until she fell flat on her face.

Percy hunched over from laughing as did the rest of the group.

Serena jumped up and yelled, "That isn't funny."

"Yes it is," Darien sitting down trying to control his laughter.

"Wow Meatball Head you had us going on a serious moment there."

"Don't call me Meatball Head, Pyro."

Raye gaveher anintense stare, "Let's get back to work."

"Fine by me."

The two started searching for clues both playfully glaring at each other.

Darien standing off to the sidelines with Percy whispered, "They never do grow out of it."

"You mean they were always like this."

"Yes, ever since the two of them first meet by Serena running into Raye as she was running late to class. Which was Herbology, which Raye had with her also."

"You do have a sharp memory."

Darien tapped his forehead, "Photographic memory."

"How did they meet everyone else?"

"Serena meet Amy on the Hogwarts Express of their first year, and she met Lita and Mina because they were her roommates at Hogwarts, but she didn't really befriend Lita until her third year. All five of them started to hang out together. Serena and I met when Serena threw a lousy potion score over her shoulder. It hit me in the head and I commented on her lousy grades. She got mad at me and we stayed rivals until I feel off of my broomstick one day when I was playing Quidditch. She was worried about me, grumpy old Darien. Soon after her and me became fast friends. She met Amara and Michelle while they were picking on someone. She told them off and they took an interest in a Gryffindor that could fight back. They soon became friends afterwards when she saved them from Filch. Then there was Hotaru who was basically an outcast in Gryffindor until Serena took her under her wing. I'm probably boring you with all these old stories."

"Actually I find them quite intriguing. Serena hasn't really told her a lot about her past."

Darien frowned, "I can tell you about the good old days, but not much about anything else. Everything seems to happen around her for some reason. I think their was a reason all nine of us became friends, like we are meant to live for so much more. Sorry again, I'm going into another rant."

"Hey Darien" Serena latched onto Darien's arm playfully, "want to catch a drink with Percy and I after work."

Darien put his hand behind his head, "I would Sere you know I would but I've got a big test coming up."

Serena put her hand on her face, "Still trying to pass the Sergeant's test?"

"Yep."

Serena shrugged, "Me and Raye have gathered everything worth while to gather, so we have the night off, wanna give me my free drink now?"

Percy looked at the hyper blonde, "Sure."

"Yeah!" She jumped up into the air only to land flat on her face.

"How can you say that Percy?" yelled the frazzled blonde.

"Easily," stated Percy he's face growing the same shade of his hair from this continuing argument, "Hogwarts has become less and less strict under Dumbledore's watch." Serena's face turned red with anger at the insult of her teacher, "Umbridge is bringing order back into Hogwarts by adding all the new rules, as well as adding new rules for making sure those rules become enforced."

"But Umbridge doesn't like some of the teachers, she's biased," reasoned Serena, her mind swimming with anger at the thought of McGonagal, Flitwick, and yes even Snape, getting canned because of their loyalties, "Oooh this is just like Fudge to get everyone he doesn't like out of the way to gain his own power he should have been in Slytherien the sneaky paranoid jerk."

Percy's face grew even more distorted with his anger spreading and greedily entering his aura, "Do not speak of the Minister that way. He's ten times the person you will be. Why don't you go and find all your little Dumbledore supporters. All your little Gryffindor friends, have them come up with a plan and do what they think is right and rush right in. Go, go run to your people."

Serena's eyes filled with sadness wondering what was wrong with her friend. Tears welled up in her eyes at the thought of loosing another friend, "They use to be your people to Percy." She ran out of the room crying her eyes out.

"Number 12 Grimaud Palace," yelled Serena. She stepped into the emerald green flames and landed in Sirius' house.

The wrinkly old house elf in the living room mumbled something and left the room. Sirius walked in looking at his house elf with suspicious eyes. But those suspicious blue eyes quickly turned to joy and excitement at seeing a human being standing by his fireplace. He ran over to Serena and hugged her, "It's so good to see you. I haven't seen you since Christmas. How are you."? He caught sight of her tears, "What's wrong? Did something happen?" He lead her towards the kitchen, "Come on you can tell me remember, I'm Sirius the lone dog that lives alone. You can tell my anything."

Serena's tears started to flow from her eyes, "Oh Sirius, I'm so confused, one day me and Percy are friends and then the next day he's acting like I'm the Killing Curse it's self."

Sirius drew her into a hug giving the blonde the same comfort that she had once given him, "It's alright Serena. He's just probably confused. He doesn't know who to believe anymore. His loyalty to his family and to his country are both strong and his heart is conflicting."

Serena smiled, "When did you get so smart?"

"I've had some time on my hands." Trying to cheer up the girl, getting her mind off of Percy and the fact that her best friend was in Azkaban.

Serena laughed again, "I do feel bad that I don't have enough time to come and visit you as often as I like. Being all alone in this house with that weirdo house elf must really be a boring life."

"It's alright, as long as I get regular visits. Especially from the prettiest girl I've ever met."

Serena cocked her head in confusion? Was he flirting with her or just being his usual self, "Oh so you've had a visit from Mina or Lita? You do know they both have major crushes on you."

Sirius smiled slightly, "I noticed, they don't visit much either, I'm sure their jobs keep them away a lot. But really I don't have enough regular visitors. Molly comes once a week to bring groceries and that's about it."

Serena smiled sadly, "Sirius what was it like in Azkaban?"

Sirius's playful fiery blue eyes were quickly snuffed out, "It's lonely and it's dark. The place makes you wish you had done something worse. It is guilt twenty four hours a day seven days a week year round." Serena pulled her knees towards her once again depressed that Raye was in Azkaban, "I'm sure Raye is fine Serena, she didn't do anything wrong, she was helping her cause. If she can keep a hold of that thought then she should be fine."

Serena started crying again letting out a sob, mourning over her best friends fate again. If only she had been there that night she would have been there and defended her, or at least she would have been there with her fiery friend, sharing her fate.

Sirius felt an overwhelming urge in the pit of his stomach. He hadn't felt this way since his playboy days at Hogwarts, the rush of the hunt, the thrill of catching his prey, and the final strike. He lifted up Serena's head, her blue eyes both glass-like from her tears. He gathered his courage leaned forward. He kissed her sugar-pink lips kissing her, letting all of his emotions loose for the first time in years. He moved from her lips to her face and kissed away the tears from her face hoping to somehow not only make her feel better, but to have someone to hold.

Serena was surprised to say the least, she had never considered a relationship with Sirius in that way. He was at least a decade older than her, but that didn't make him unattractive, not in the least, but it was still awkward for her. She felt his heart filled kiss, full of all his anger, pain, and suffering. She gasped as he kissed away her tears hoping that she would have the courage to pull away if it got to out of hand, not wanting to crush the man's already fragile heart.

Sirius moved back to her lips, still in the heat of the moment, like riding a bicycle the routine and movements came quickly back to him. He slightly pushed her on the couch letting gravity take it's effect as the blonde fell onto the couch with Sirius on top of her. He kissed her again hoping that she would respond. He moved his hands to her back hoping to get some reaction from her. He looked into her eyes for the first time taking in the confused yet almost depressed look that she gazed his way her blue eyes filling with pity. He closed his eyes again, hoping that the look she was giving him wasn't true, he couldn't stand it, and he just couldn't. He hadn't felt this way in over sixteen years, Serena brought back life and hope in his body, he felt love, he couldn't stand it if she didn't return his feelings.

In the panic to get a reaction, any reaction from the motionless blonde he moved his hands to her waist. He didn't know what to do anymore still no reaction. He closed his eyes tighter holding back the tears of the unrequited love. He moved his hands under her shirt, this time earning a reaction, although not the one he had hoped for. She gasped and shoved him away. Her eyes filled with pity, she didn't know what to do, and she didn't love him she had only continued to let him kiss her because she didn't want to crush him completely.

He turned his now dull blue eyes away from hers, "It's Darien isn't it?"

Serena's pity filled eyes grew concerned, "No it isn't."

"You don't have to hid it."

"Sirius there isn't anything going on between me and Darien."

"I see the time you two spend with each other. And to think I thought I could have your love."

"Sirius," she grabbed his face in-between her two hands, "I don't love Darien like that. I just don't, he's like my big brother."

"Then who, why?"

"I don't know."

"Then couldn't we try this." Sirius pulled her back down into his lap hugging the blonde like a five year old would his teddy bear wanting to never let go of it for the fear of the world.

Serena didn't move away from Sirius' desperate grasp, "I just don't have that feeling for you Sirius."

Sirius' eyes grew wide with fright he didn't want to hear the words that would make it true, "No, we can make this work, all we have to do is try."

Serena somehow turned around in his grasp, "Sirius I don't love you. You are a good friend nothing more."

Sirius' eyes showed his lost feeling, Serena hated seeing it, "You love him don't you."

"No I don't love Darien, Sirius how many times…"

Sirius' desperate lips clashed with Serena's pity ones, tears ran down his face. As he broke the kiss her whispered, "Percy, you love him."

Serena grew red, "No I don't Sirius, I think you are imagining things. Just because…"

He put a finger to her lips to quiet her, "I'm sure of it, it all makes sense now, the way you act around him, talk about him, talk to him. I'm sure you love him Serena."

Serena's eyes grew wide as the feelings she had been repressing about her friend came forward in a well of emotions. She blushed again, wondering what to do with this new found information.

A very disgusted voice was heard from the living room, "Black do you think you could do that in the privacy of your room." Snapped the impatient Potions Professor.

Serena stood up quickly only to be pulled down again by Sirius' grasp, her red face grew even redder at what must be going through her former Professors' mind, "No it's not what you think Professor."

"I am no longer your Professor, Corona, I can no longer give you a punishment for making out in the hallway, but I would appreciate if you would learn some decency."

Serena's face grew even redder at the silent accusations Snape was giving her through his hard-cold black eyes.

"Why don't you shove off Snape."

Ignoring Sirius, Snape directed his comments towards Serena, "Corona, Dumbledore has an assignment for you, but I see you are busy so I'll put it on the counter."

"Thank you Snape," answered the still mortified Serena.

Serena walked into her office hoping to any deity that might exist that Percy was not in the office today. She didn't think she could handle the embarrassment she felt right now. It was a like a hundred of little butterflies all in her stomach creating one gigantic knot.

She sat down at her desk and started to fill out paperwork on the latest case where a man was murdered in his museum of art. It was a puzzling case at first and they almost sent the wrong man to Azkaban because of a foolish oversight on the new trainee's part. But they had eventually caught the culprit the owner of the art museum.

A knock at the door told Serena someone was there. She shuddered slightly as the butterflies decided to do the tango in her gut, "Come in." she barley whispered.

Percy walked in his eyes looking at the floor, "Serena I just wanted to say, that I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday. I was… well… I don't really know how to explain how I feel on certain issues. I just well… I guess I'm sorry. And I want to know that we can still be friends."

Serena's stomach did flip-flops at the words friends. She closed her eyes trying to repress her emotions, which was something she was not good at, "Of course Percy, I also want to apologize. I was a little out of hand yesterday as well."

Percy smiled at Serena wondering what was wrong with his blonde friends, she seemed more nervous then usual. Usually the boisterous blonde was talkative and excited about everything, today she seemed calm, nervous, and confused, "Serena is something wrong?"

Has he noticed already? She screamed in her head, "Oh of course not Percy, you know just another case. I'm a little frustrated with the new trainee, he didn't do as well as I had hoped on this case."

"Well you can't just go and replace one of the best Detective's in the Crime Scene Squad."

Serena's blue eyes grew sad again wondering how long Percy would remain in the dark about the real reason Raye was arrested. Raye had been in the Department of Mysteries that night, looking for whatever Voldermort wanted. Raye had been arrested before she had gotten a chance to tell them what she had found. She didn't even get a hearing, thanks to Umbridge's meddling.

Percy's face fell, "Sorry Serena, I keep on forgetting how close the two of you were. I'll try and not bring it up again."

Serena smiled, "It's okay Percy."

Percy wondered whatever happened to his affectionate nickname.

"Serena I think I found the weapon."

"Weapon, well duh Percy the weapon is the wand everyone knows that."

"But look at this." Percy held up a muggle hammer stained with blood.

"Oh my" whispered Serena.

Percy looked around the park, the most used crime scene since the beginning of the summer, "Have you identified the vic yet?"

"No I'm still waiting for Detective McGlover with that information." Serena held up her hand blocking the light from a streetlight, "Where are they anyway. We got the call almost an hour ago."

"I don't know maybe…" Percy never got to finish his sentence, because a Death Eater attacked him from behind, "What the!" shouted a surprised Percy. He grabbed the black cloak of his attacker trying to get the evil being off of him.

"Percy!" yelled Serena, her stomach clenching wanting nothing to happen to her crush. She was about to hit the Death Eater with a curse when a silver knife found it's way across her neck, a heavy labored breath smelling of fresh mint clouded her sense of smell.

"Don't move girly." Demanded the snarling voice. He wrenched her arm behind her making her drop to her knees.

The other Death Eater finally pinned Percy to the ground, "Oh the master will love this, and yes he will. We have found Serenity, now he will get his revenge on the Time Guardian."

"Who is that?" yelled Serena. Her arm was wrenched even further back almost putting enough strain on her arm to break it.

"Serena!" yelled Percy trying to wriggle free again from the Death Eaters hold, "Let her go!"

The Death Eater that smelled like mint laughed, "I don't think so rodent." He quickly flipped Serena onto her back, he pinned her on the ground before she had a chance to escape. He pulled his mask back ever to slightly to reveal the bottom half of his face, he pressed his lips up against her ear making her shiver from the breath leaving his mouth tickling her ear, "Your mutt will go and rescue Dumbledore's weapon. The prophecy will soon be in our hands."

Serena's eyes widened in fear, No Harry, Sirius, I have to help them. Serena struggled greatly against the man pinning her down.

He laughed harshly again sending an evil vibe down her spine, "Try all you like you'll never get away."

He moved his head away from her ear and moved to her neck licking it, "Hmmm tasty. Perhaps the my Lord wouldn't mind if I tasted a bit more."

The other Death Eater shouted, "I get next dibbs."

The minty Death Eater laughed again, "Hmmm so it shall be." He freed his hand from her arm holding it down with his other hand, pinning both her arms above her head, with his free arm he slowly slid it down the front of her robe.

Serena panicked and tried to wiggly and swarm free.

Percy getting a glance at what the Death Eater planned to do with Serena started to summon up every fiber of his being to try and get free, "Serena!" he shouted in fear for her.

Serena closed her eyes in fear and panicked, every sense was at high alert, every artery was pumping a gallon of extra blood, her adrenaline was rushing from the fear, and then time seemed to stand still. A pulsating rage overcame her. Her eyes lit up with fire, her body surrounded itself with a heavenly glow, and a golden crescent moon found itself on her forehead, "AHHHHHHHHH" she screamed her body realizing her hidden power.

The Death Eater was thrown off and died from the hard impact on the ground, "AHHHHHHH" the air filled with a intensify power disintegrating the grass, the trees, and the other Death Eater but curiously left Percy unharmed.

"AHHHHHHHHH" she still screamed, her mind racing, panicking at the newfound power she now possessed and trying with all her might to turn it off before she killed Percy.

"Serena!" she heard Percy yell from the little distance away from her, trying to stand up resisting the sheer force of power radiating off of her.

Serena closed her eyes concentrating, trying to find the off switch, but to no avail, her mind was clouded she could only see the golden light around her mixing with all the colors of the rainbow, "Sirius" she yelled remembering what the Death Eater had told her.

Percy confused and slightly jealous that she had called out someone else name found the strength to stand up. He touched her and winced from the sheer holy power radiating off of his friend. He grabbed all of her body into a hug.

Slowly but surely the power stopped pulsing through her veins. The glow died down after a few minutes of Percy holding on for dear life. Finally the golden crescent moon on her forehead disappeared leaving only her slightly charred and torn clothes. Her collapsed into Percy's hug and cried, "I don't know what came over me."

"It's okay Serena, it's okay." He held onto her even tighter afraid that she might disappear again.

"Percy we need to go to the Department of Mysteries." demanded Serena panicking again.

Percy slightly puzzled voiced his question, "Why?"

"No time to explain." She concentrated and apparent out of the park.

Percy confused again followed his comrade and apparented out of the park as well with a loud bang, leaving a very charred and burned park, with a two fresh corpses.

Serena's heart pounded in her chest a million times faster than it should have been. What if something happened to Harry? He was the one person she was supposed to protect, the last hope for the world. And Sirius, she had a fondness of the man, like an older brother who she could confide in. She couldn't even think of who else might be with Harry. The Weaslys and Hermione were a given, who else perhaps Longbottom. Didn't Harry start a Defense Against the Dark Arts class? She could barely remember hearing that.

She ran down the hall and came upon the Department of Mysteries door. She threw it open to be welcomed by a curse that she ducked and hit the wall behind her.

She heard the pop from Percy and the heavy footsteps running after her. She ran into the room in time to kick a Death Eater who was attacking a blonde haired student. The blonde haired girl thanked her as she ran off to find Harry.

Someone grabbed her from behind and she once again had a wand to her throat. "Oh Miss Corona, how delightful to see you again." The Death Eaters voice sounded familiar. Serena's eyes widened as she realized who it was. Lucius Malfoy licked her neck. "Oh what a treat."

Serena's blue eyes glowed; she was tired of men assaulting her. Did she have a sign over her head that said "Molest me please, I'd greatly enjoy it. Oh please start with the neck."A golden glow surrounded her as Malfoy was burnt and had to let go of her.

Serena ran forward as soon as she was released, remembering her true goal was to find Harry. She rushed into a room with a veil in it.

Serena slowed down, Harry, Remus, Lestrange, oh yes and Sirius. Sirius lurched forward and tried to hit Bellatrix with a curse, she dodged it and hit Sirius with another curse.

Serena rushed forward to help Sirus, when a strong pair of arms held her back. She was pulled back into a hug as she saw Sirius fall back into the mysterious veil. "NOOOOO!" shouted Serena. Her blue eyes filling up with tears as she collapsed into the hug of a male. She saw red hair and felt the stout body of Percy Weasly. She flung her arms around him and felt Percy's arms around her body, not knowing quite sure why she was crying but was there to comfort her.

"Well how the mighty have fallen."

Serena looked up to see Harry battling what she could only assume was Voldermort.

A power welled up in Serena's chest. She could feel it, all the anger, all the hurt, all the resentment, all the emotions she could muster, all the emotions that every existed busted out of her body in a flood of golden light. Harry looked at Serena in shock, not quite sure what to think of her. Voldermort's red eyes drank in the light with greed surrounding it with his darkness.

"That is enough Voldermort." Shouted a firm voice. Serena saw Voldermort whirl around to see the mighty Albus Dumbledore. Serena's body collapsed out of exhaustion. Fainting, not being meant to be disturbed for a long time.

"Serena, you have to get over this."

Serena's eyes looked at her office desk dejectedly, still morning the death of her dear friend Sirius, "It's not the easy Perc, he was so desperate, so lonely, I just keep thinking what if." Tears brimmed her eyes again, falling down her face like a pattern.

Percy slapped his hands on her desk in frustration, "Serena, it has been a week, there is nothing we can do. You have to get on with your life, that's what Blac… Sirius would have wanted. Not to have you sulking all over the place."

Serena's anger rose, not remembering to keep her temper in check so her new powers would not explode the building, "Easy for you to say, Mr. I'm too apathetic to comfort anyone."

Percy's face flushed, "Serena, I'm not being apathetic, but I'm not going to encourage this kind of behavior."

Serena stood up her golden aura filling the room once again, burning the papers, but once again not Percy, "What would you know about it? You're a pureblood, you have your family, you have your friends, you have your job, and you have everything."

Percy leapt across the desk and fiercely kissed Serena. Her eyes widened not expecting this feeling to come from him. His kiss was fierce and passionate, all his emotions letting themselves out for the first time, since he had met her, nearly a year ago.

"Don't you dare say I have a perfect life. Because of my job I was expected to turn against my family and friends. They don't trust me. The only friend I have left is you. And don't you dare bring in my being pureblood. You, you are the one who has everything. You have a loving family, who cares if they don't understand you because you're a witch. You have a group of friends that will sacrifice their lives for you. You have a wonderful job that you love, you are the one who has everything."

Serena's eyes gazed into Percy's. Not a sound passed through them for half an hour Serena looked at Percy who looked straight at Serena, until Serena said, "Why did you kiss me?"

Percy blushed, breaking the serious tone of the room, "I don't know."

Serena diverted her gaze, "So if I did this." She grabbed his face- surprise written all over it- and kissed the fool that she loved. She moved her face away from his, "what would you think."

Percy, surprise still written on him, leaned across from him and pulled Serena close to him, "This." He said, as he kissed her again.

All of Serena's unbridled emotions went out of proportion. Instead of a golden yellow aura that usually filled the room, a loving red one, filled with the passion and fire of the love they held for each other filled the room. As they pulled away from their kiss, still surrounded by the burning red light, their foreheads touched together, "I love you."

So what did you think? This was originally a one-shot until I discovered I had written about 37 pages.

A special thanks to Az-chan for reading this and helping me with this idea. And a special thanks to K-chan, for just being there to help me though this. Also a special thanks to all my forum buddies who helped with the title.

Chibi Pyro Duo