A Forgotten Queen

Chapter Three

By Chang Liko

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Serenity groaned slightly and she shifted on the bed underneath her. Opening her eyes, she pushed herself into a half reclining position, glancing around the room, trying to figure out where she was. Catching sight of Madame Pomfrey, she grinned, excited.

Pushing herself up further, she cleared her throat. "Umm...Madame Pomfrey? How long have I been out?"

Turning around, Madame Pomfrey smiled, seeing that her patient was awake. Taking up a piece of chocolate, she headed towards the bed, saying, "Hello Serenity. You've only been out for about two days, not that I'm surprised. You've always been a fast healer."

Taking the chocolate that was handed to her, Serenity grinned, nibbling on it. Shrugging, she replied, "What can I say, I'm good!"

Chuckling, Madame Pomfrey shook her head, saying, "Well, as soon as you get that chocolate gone, you are free to leave. I believe that the Headmaster wishes to see you, though, before you go and find any of your friends."

Nodding, Serenity frowned slightly, asking, "Madame Pomfrey? Do you know if Fred or George Weasley are still going to school here?"

"I think that they are, actually. They were supposed to graduate last year, but they needed extra skills for the position they applied for in the Ministry of Magic, so they came back for another year," Madame Pomfrey replied.

Grinning, Serenity finished eating the last of the chocolate before jumping off the bed and dashing for the door, calling back over her shoulder, "Thanks Poppy! And if anyone asks, you don't know who I am!"

Chuckling, Poppy shook her head, going about her daily work, knowing that the school year was about to get rather more interesting.

Giggling, Serena ran through the deserted halls, glad that everyone was in class at the moment. As she was turning a corner, she ran straight into a dark robed figure. Quickly righting herself, she glanced up at who she'd run into and chuckled. "Hey Professor Snape!"

Rolling his eyes, Snape shook his head asking, "Do I even want to know why you were running in the halls, Serenity?"

"Poppy ... I mean Madame Pomfrey told me that the Headmaster wanted to see me right away. I was just running because it's faster," Serenity replied, grinning widely.

"I see. Well, since you haven't been sorted into a new house as of yet, I'll let you off with it for now. But if I catch you running in the hall again, I won't be so forgiving," Snape replied, a barely visible smile tilting the corners of his mouth.

"Thanks Professor! By the way, do you know the password to the Headmaster's office?" Serenity questioned.

"The password's 'Butterscotch Toffee'. Don't let anyone else know," Snape replied, walking off to his class.

Giggling again, Serenity mumbled to herself, "He always was an old softy. Never did understand why others thought he was scary." Glancing over her shoulder, Serenity took off again, running swiftly and quietly, so as not to attract attention to herself.

Coming to a stop in front of the stone gargoyle that blocked the entrance to the Headmaster's office, Serenity grinned, whispering the password, "Butterscotch Toffee."

Nodding slightly in acknowledgement, the stone gargoyle moved out of the way, allowing the young girl in front of him to pass.

Running up the stairs, Serenity quickly made it to the top, and quietly knocked on the door to the Headmaster's office, opening it slightly when she heard the Headmaster call out, "Enter."

Sticking her head around the edge of the door, Serenity grinned and questioned, "You wanted to see me, Headmaster?"

Eyes twinkling, Dumbledore nodded, saying, "Yes Serenity, dear. Please, come in!"

Nodding, Serenity opened the door further and entered, closing the door firmly behind her. Walking forward, she dropped into one of the chairs sitting in front of the Headmaster's desk, waiting for him to ask what she knew he wanted to ask.

Chuckling, Dumbledore held out a tiny dish, asking, "Toffee?"

Shrugging, Serenity plucked a toffee from the dish and unwrapped it, popping it into her mouth.

Leaning back into his chair, Dumbledore questioned, "Why have you returned so soon, Serenity? As I remember, you weren't supposed to return for another few years yet."

Sighing, Serenity nodded, replying, "I know that I wasn't due to return quite yet, but I couldn't take it anymore. My scouts, my own protectors, were constantly belittling my intelligence and they always found some way to harm me, whether it was physical or not. Not to mention that my so-called soul-mate cares only about the power he'll gain if he marries me. Also, I missed everyone here."

Nodding, Dumbledore said, "Well, you are always welcome here, as was your mother when she was still alive."

Smiling, Serenity giggled, exclaiming, "Thank you, Headmaster!"

Chuckling, Dumbledore nodded, stating, "Well, since you'll be joining us again, you'll have to be Sorted into a house, won't you? I think you'd be in your seventh year now, wouldn't you?"

Nodding, Serenity thought a moment, replying, "I think that should be about right. We'll just let everyone else assume that I'm extremely smart if I happen to do rather well."

Chuckling, Dumbledore shook his head in amusement, saying, "Yes. That would be best. I believe that your things are still in Professor Snape's office, if you wish to go and collect them. Or you can wait until you are Sorted this evening at dinner."

"I think that I'll wait. I'd like to visit a few old friends of mine first," Serenity said, grinning. Getting up, she opened the door, stopping when she heard Dumbledore say her name.

"Yes?" Serenity questioned.

Smiling, Dumbledore got up and went around his desk, pulling Serenity into a gentle hug. "It's good to have you back, Serena."

Smiling, Serenity hugged him back, saying, "It's good to be back, Daddy. I missed you."

Releasing her, Dumbledore smiled, saying, "You run along now, and find your old friends."

Leaning up, Serenity kissed him on the cheek. "See you later, Daddy."

Waving, Serenity ran down the stone steps and out into the halls of Hogwarts. Glancing around, she ran in the direction of the Slytherin dorms. As she was turning a corner past the library, she smacked into someone and fell backwards onto the floor. Muttering to herself, she winced, looking up.

"Fred? No! You're not Fred. Not George either. Too young to be Bill or Charlie. Too cute for Percy. You're Ron, aren't you? Ron Weasley?" Serenity questioned, chuckling as she watched Ron blush.

"I'm Ron, yeah. You know my brothers?" Ron questioned, glancing at Harry and Hermoine standing next to him.

Standing, Serenity nodded, saying, "Yeah. I know your brothers. I used to date Bill, until Daddy found out. Still don't understand why he objected. We're still friends though, even if Bill is still a little wary of Daddy. As for Charlie, well, I was always helping him out. For someone so smart, he was always in trouble with Professor Snape. Don't know why, though. I always did think that Snape was a big softy. As for Percy, well, he was always nice to talk to. Always has the best advice. And Fred and George. Well, we always gave Filch a hard time. Or tried to, at least. Usually, we just ended up amusing him, though I do have a feeling that was mostly my fault."

Wide eyed, Ron stared at her in amazement. "Wow!"

Chuckling, Serenity nodded, glancing at Harry and Hermoine before asking, "Listen, Ron? Could you tell Fred and George that the Moon Bunny says the team's back together, and that I'll see them later, at dinner? Tell them to save me a spot next to them at the table. Just in case." With those words, Serenity resumed her path towards the Slytherin dorms, leaving the Golden Trio standing where she left them.

Still amazed, Ron stared at his two friends. The only words out of his mouth, were, "How old IS she?"

To Be Continued...

A/N: I hope that you guys liked this chapter. At first, I was going to have someone else as Serenity's father, but this seemed to fit better to my liking, so I changed it. Also, the brother I mentioned in the first chapter isn't going to be her actual blood related brother. He's just going to be someone that Serenity calls her brother, because that's how close she is to him. I'll leave it to you to figure out who her brother might be. Anyways, Please Review!!