Sailor Witches 19
Bubble, Bubble, Toil ad Trouble
I do not own Sailor Moon or Harry Potter. This is the 2nd time I had to start this chapter. Stupid computer froze and I didn't save the chapter yet. Don't you hate it when that happens?
Serena, Lydia and the other Gryffindors were upset that they had double potions with the Slytherins on their second day, first thing.
"At least we didn't have Potions yesterday," Lydia said optimistically as they left the Gryffindor Table. They saw that Raye wasn't at the Slytherin Table—perhaps to avoid Draco Malfoy.
"I hope we don't have to make a yucky potion," Serena sighed.
"Me too."
"It's bad enough we've got to do it in the dungeons with the Slytherins," Serena complained. "Even if Raye will be there."
They entered the Potions classroom. So they wouldn't be late and risk points, most of the Gryffindors were already there. Raye was the only one Slytherin in the classroom and she was looking at her potions supplies in the front row of the Slytherin side. She smiled when she saw Lydia and Serena, glanced nervously over to Snape and waved them over when he was still working at his desk.
"Hi," she said.
"Where were you at breakfast?" Lydia inquired.
"Went to breakfast early," Raye answered. "Trying to avoid Draco Malfoy."
"He's still bothering you?"
"Yeah."
"Your head of house hasn't mentioned yet what kind of potion we're making today, has he?" Serena asked hopefully. "I don't want to make anything disgusting on my first day."
"No, he hasn't," Raye said. "Frankly, I don't' care what we're making just as long as I don't have to sit next to Draco Malfoy." She looked nervously over Serena and Lydia and hooked her index fingers. "He'd probably end up 'helping me' if you know what I mean."
"I don't blame ye," Lydia said.
Seeing that two Gryffindors were speaking politely with a Slytherin, the other
Gryffindors looked up curiously at the three girls. Some of the Slytherins, including Draco Malfoy, entered the
classroom and stared at Raye. Raye
gasped when she saw them. Lydia and
Serena looked over their shoulders.
"Uh oh," Lydia mumbled.
Raye tried to act as 'Slytherinish' as possible. She backed up and put her hands on her hips. "No way!" she scowled at Lydia and Serena, winking at them slightly. "I'm not lending you my—my—er—spoon! So forget it!"
"Fine," Serena said, winking back. She had plenty of pracitice arguing with Raye before so this wasn't a problem. However, she felt an attack of the giggles coming on as the Gryffindors and Slytherins watched them. "Don't want your spoon anyway. It's probably cursed."
"Yeah," Lydia added.
"So go away," Raye hissed. "Because—I'm and Slytherin and you're both Gryffindors. Gryffindors and Slytherins aren't supposed to be talking to each other, you know!"
"Fine…"
"Fine!"
"You might what to tie your hair back you know," Serena said as she walked off, "Don't want it to get in the caul-dron!"
Serena and Lydia sat down and held their books over their faces so no one will see them giggling. They weren't sure why, but they found it funny.
"Why were you talking to her?" Ron inquired. "You could've gotten us in trouble!"
"Relax," Lydia whispered, "we—just wanted to borrow her spoon."
Draco approached Raye. "What the hell was that about?"
"Oh, you know what?" Raye inquired, trying to sound angry. "They wanted to borrow my soon! Can you believe it? Of all the nerve."
"Right," Draco mumbled in disbelief.
Raye took her books off the table just as Draco placed his down. He looked up at her questionably. She turned to the second row a few seats away.
"I think I'll sit over here. Better lighting."
"Okay," he dropped his books on the desk.
"You don't have to sit next to me," Raye said, trying ever so hard to be polite.
"Yes I do," he said softly. There was a hint of a smile on his pale face.
"No you don't."
"Yes, Raye, I do."
"Really," Raye insisted through clenched teeth. "I can sit with someone else."
"I'm sitting with you."
"Oh no you're not," she said as she moved her books. The Slytherins had to pick up their books because they kept swapping places. Those that were coming in had to back up as Draco followed Raye around the room.
"Just find a place," muttered Pansy.
"Oh yes I am," Draco continued. It was like a game to him and he was winning. He didn't care if he had to spend the whole class finding a place to sit.
"Why the heck for?" Raye demanded.
"Because, Miss Hino," said Snape as he approached them, "Mr. Malfoy offered to 'help' you in your first class. He is the best student in here."
"What?" Raye snarled.
"Poor Raye," Serena whispered and Lydia nodded in agreement. It was probably the first time in Hogwarts history when a Gryffindor felt sorry for a Slytherin.
"So find a seat," Professor Snape muttered and he walked off. Raye's eyelid was twitching as she stared at her Head of House. She felt mad at Draco, Professor Snape, her whole house and even herself. She should've told Professor Snape before Draco that she wanted to sit next to someone besides Draco Malfoy.
"Well, Raye," Draco said smugly. "Where would you like to sit?"
"In the back," she hissed as she stormed to the back row, far right and slimed her books down. If she was going to sit next to Draco Malfoy, it was where less people could see them.
Draco placed his books next to her, sat down and scooted his seat close to her. Raye could feel her blood boil. She looked up at the board, trying hard not to listen to him speak to her.
Professor Snape was writing the instructions for the Dreaming Draft.
"That sounds kind of safe," Lydia said to Serena, who had her eyes covered. "Valerian roots, skullcap—,"
"Skull what?" Serena demanded, bringing down her hands.
"Skull cap petals," Lydia finished with a smile. "It's an herb. So far those are the ingredients. Are we making a potion or a bouquet here?"
Serena focused on the board. "Passion flower, hops…yeah!" she said as she started to relax. "Add a couple spoonfuls of sugar and hot water and we can have some tea!"
Lydia and Serena giggled softly in their luck, until they saw what Professor Snape was writing next.
Lion's Milk 2 pints Crushed Bones 1 pint Three Fruit Flies Cat Brains 1 pintSerena screamed when she read the last ingredient. Some of the Slytherins laughed but Professor Snape continued to write the instructions for the potion. He turned around.
"This should be simple enough for all of you," Snape muttered coldly, glaring at Neville Longbottom. "If done correctly, it should put the drinker into a sleep full of dreams."
Draco turned to Raye with a passionflower and held it to her nose. "Smells lovely, wouldn't you say?"
"I'm allergic to flowers," she lied as she began slicing her valerian roots.
"Shame," Draco whispered, "I wonder what kind of dreams the potion will give you."
'I don't think I want to know what your dreams would be,' Raye thought.
"I suppose so," Draco said, placing the petals off the flower slowly, as if muttering to himself, 'she loves me, she loves me not.'
'Speaking of dreams,' Raye thought to herself, 'I wonder what's the deal with mine. I guess I'll find out in Divination next period.'
She thought about her latest dream. She felt she was living it right now. She dreamed that she was working on a potion and someone kept whispering in her ear and playing with her hair. When she turned, no one was there. She'd continue making the potion and the person would slide their arms around her. Raye shivered as she remembered it, glancing at Draco and he leaned ever so close to her as he dropped the petals in.
"Um, Professor," Serena said clearly yet timidly as she raised her hand. "I have a question."
"What is it?" he muttered as he approached the desk.
"Do we really—have to put cat brains in the potion?" she asked.
"You think I wrote the instructions wrong, Tsukino?" he demanded.
"N-no, sir," she whispered, "it's just that—I was wondering what the cat brains are supposed to do."
"Can't handle this class, can you?"
"Oh, look at this, Raye," Draco said excitedly, nudging her and making the roots fall out of her hand. She scowled as she bent to pick them up. "Professor Snape is hounding that pigtailed girl."
"What?" Raye gasped, looking over to Serena. "Oh, Serena…"
"For your information, girl," Snape hissed, "it is the cat brains that cause one to sleep, for cats sleep 18 hours a day. Do you have a problem with that? Afraid to touch the brains, are you? Too 'gross' are they?"
"Yes!" Serena said too loudly than she meant. "Sorry, and well…."
"Oh, I see, you're a cat lover, aren't you?" he tried to put on a pathetic voice and the Slytherins, excluding Raye, howled with laughter. "Can't bear to think of what happened to those poor kitties?"
Lydia's hand started shaking in anger. She wanted to strangle Snape to death. Hermione frowned and thought of her sweet Crookshanks.
"Yes," Serena whispered and she tried to sound brave, "yes, you see sir, my cat would be very upset if she knew I made a potion with cat brains. No telling what she might do."
"Yeah, mine too," Lydia added. "He wouldn't like this at all."
"I wasn't talking to you, was I?" Snape hissed.
Lydia bit her lip.
"Put the cat brains in," Professor Snape grunted to Serena. "Or I shall fail you and give you detention."
"Yes sir," Serena said, thinking of what Raye said in the Apothecary. 'He'll fail you if you don't—even if you look at him a certain way!'
"Oh, and thank you, Miss Tsukino," Professor Snape said.
"For what?"
"For volunteering to test the potion after class," he said with a cruel smile as he walked away.
Serena froze and she wasn't able to move for a few minutes.
The Slytherins laughed and the Gryffindors looked at Serena. Some were surprised that Snape didn't take any potions and others looked worried.
"I wonder where he got the cats brains from," Ron mumbled.
"Don't you dare mention Crookshanks!" Hermione hissed at him.
"I wasn't!"
"Lydia, did you see Luna and Lucky this morning?" Serena asked nervously when she got over the shock of having to drink the potion.
"You know what," Lydia said, "I haven't! You don't think?"
Serena turned to Hermione, "Hey, have you seen Crookshanks or our cats?"
"Not since yesterday," Hermione replied, looking just as white.
"Oh no, Serena!" Lydia gasped, grabbing Serena's arm, "what about Artemis? How are we supposed to tell Mina?"
Praying that their cats haven't been mutilated for the class, the three girls continued working on the potion. Lydia made sure Serena was putting the ingredients in properly. The Slytherins decided to have a bit more fun by meowing when they added the cat brains. Even Millicent Bulstrode did, who owned a cat herself. Raye however had to continually bite her lip to keep from shouting at her house and teacher.
"It's purple," Serena whispered, ladling some of the concoction and letting it fall back in. "Is it supposed to be like that?"
"Well, I think so," Lydia replied. "The passion flowers were purple."
Snape swept toward Serena. "Well, Miss Tsukino let's see if you made the potion properly," he said. "I saw that you almost put too much skull caps in. An overdose would cause a stupor, giddiness and twitching."
Serena mumbled nervously, wishing the Slytherins weren't watching her so closely and making cat noises. Snape ladled some of the potion in a goblet and handed it to Serena.
"Now you be sure to drink that and not let it spill down your robes," he muttered.
Serena looked into the goblet. She saw the face of Luna staring at her. "Why, Serena?" said Luna's face with worried eyes. "What have I ever done to you? I'm your guardian cat, remember? Please, Serena."
Serena's hand shook. She couldn't bring herself to do it. She nearly wanted to throw the goblet down.
"Drink it!" Snape scowled.
Serena shot an 'I shall punish you,' look at Professor Snape and brought the goblet to her lips. Luna's voice started whining "No Serena! No!"
Serena closed her eyes and drank the potion. It had a very weird taste. It did have the sweet tangy herby taste from the flowers mixed with a bitter taste. But the texture of it made her want to puke. She felt the rubbery brains in her mouth and she could've sworn she felt a bone prick her tongue. Serena swallowed and looked around the class. They waited for a reaction. Serena yawned and fell face forward. Lydia jumped to catch her so that she wouldn't' knock over her cauldron. The Slytherins frowned, expecting her to throw down the goblet or to throw up all over the floor. The Gryffindors cheered.
"It worked!" Parvarti exclaimed.
"She's sleeping," said Lydia, "at least—I hope she's only sleeping."
Disappointed that she didn't make the potion wrong so he could knock of points, Snape took out a small vial of red liquid and poured it in Serena's mouth. She opened her eyes, yawned, stretched and turned around.
"Wow, I had the strangest dream!" she said to Lydia. "I dreamed that we were in potions and--," she saw what room they were in and frowned. "Oh. Never mind."
Snape scowled at Serena and was about to take points away for questioning the potion ingredients when there was a yell from Neville Longbottom.
"Oh no, not again!"
Serena turned her gaze over to Longbottom. He backed up as the potion burned through his cauldron. People jumped up on their stairs, worried that it would do more than make them sleep if it touched them.
The Slytherins watched excitedly as Snape rounded on Longbottom. "Fool! How many bones did you put in there? Detention!"
"He's always messing up," Draco said to Raye. "Probably the tenth cauldron he melted."
"Maybe the cauldrons aren't strong enough," Raye suggested, ladling the potion into a flask.
Draco laughed dryly. "I don't think there's a cauldron strong enough for Longbottom."
Raye looked at her watch. 'When will this class be over?'
"So Raye," he whispered, playing with the skullcap stems. "Do you take Arithmancy?"
"No."
"So…if you're not in Care of Magical Creatures and you already taken Runes," he continued, "that leaves Muggle studies and Divination. Don't tell me you're studying muggles!"
"No, I have Divination next," she muttered.
"Divination?" he inquired. "You know, I thought about taking that class but the teacher's a fraud. Can't make a real prediction. Father said Arithmancy would be better."
"Yeah, well, I like divination," she said. "Studied it back home."
"Really?" he asked, intrigued. "Read my palm!" He shoved his palm under her nose.
"I haven't learned plam reading yet," she said, pushing his hand away.
"Oh, astrology then?" he inquired. "I'm not sure exactly what my zodiac sign is. My father says that stuff is really stupid."
"Does he really?"
"You've got to tell me what Divination's like," he said.
"Well if the teacher's a fraud," Raye muttered, "and your father thinks divination is stupid, then why do want to know?"
"Always thought it was interesting," he retorted. "To tell the future."
"Well, it's very complicated," Raye told him.
"Really, how so?"
"It takes a person a long time to master it." It was infuriating her that he was asking her all these questions. If he was going to drop Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy just so he'd be with her, she'd leave the school.
When Raye thought it would never come, the bell rang and she fled from Malfoy before he could ask her anything else about divination.
Serena, Lydia and Hermione rushed to the Gryffindor tower to see if their cats were safe. They were so relieved to see that they were asleep on their beds.
"Crookshanks!"
"Lucky!"
"Luna!"
The cats perked up their heads as the girls came over to their cats, picked them up and squeezed them. "Oh, Luna—I'm so glad your brains weren't in that potion!"
"What potion?" Luna demanded.
"Lydia, not so hard!" Lucky growled. "What are ye trying to do, squeezed me brains out of me ears?"
--
Raye was relieved to be at Divination, until she saw Pansy and a couple other Slytherin girls. 'This is all I need right now,' she thought.
Professor Trelawny welcomed them and before she made any predications for that year, Raye raised her hand.
"Professor?"
"Yes, my dear?"
"Will we be studying dreams this year?" she questioned hopefully.
Professor Trelawny smiled, got up from her great winged chair and walked up to Raye. Raye looked back in surprise as Professor Trelawny reached out and took Raye's face.
"Ah, I see that you have a strong inner eye," she said, squeezing Raye's face and examining her had, looking in her eyes. "Yes, yes…divination is not new for you, is it?"
"Well, I know how to read fire," Raye mumbled.
"Oh, how excellent!" Professor Trelawny exclaimed, embracing Raye and stroking her hair. Some looked at her with giggles and others were waiting for Professor Trelawny to just get on with the lesson. Professor Trelawny continued to talk about 'Raye's spirit' when Raye raised her voice.
"Professor, are we studying dreams this year?" she demanded.
"Your mind is already—er—what?"
"Dreams. Will we be studying dreams?"
"Dreams?" she asked. "Oh, my dear—your eye is quite clear—yes."
"We're studying dreams this year then?"
"No."
"What?"
"But you are close," said Professor Trelawny, "next year we will."
"Next year?" Raye demanded. "But Professor—I'm having this strange dream and…"
"Shh!" Professor Trelawny extended a finger and pressed it against Raye's lips. "Do not reveal your dream until it is time. You may cloud the inner eyes of the rest of us…change the vibrations of this room. You must wait for next year. Next year, my dear, we shall study all about our dreams...but now…we shall study the stars!"
"Great," Raye groaned. 'I'm spacey enough.' She thought as she rested her chin in her hand. 'I'm a sailor scout!'
--
The days continued as the girls went to their studies. By the end of that week they all studied the Unforgivable Curses in Defense Against the Dark Arts. They thought it was strange how an Auror could perform them so perfectly. The only thing they could make of it was that with his experience with catching Death Eaters, becoming an Auror and that they must've gone through some extensive training. Serena wished Professor Moody used something else besides spiders. Serena and Lydia both knew why Neville Longbottom acted the way he did when the Crucaitus was used one of the spiders.
The next couple of days Lydia and Serena worked with Ron and Harry on their star charts. Lydia and Serena told them what they knew about certain stars and planets and Ron and Harry gave their ideas to fill in the blanks. They were laughing as they were coming up with their own deaths and other misfortunes.
"I still don't understand why we have to write, well, sad stuff," Serena said as she wrote that she'd lose all her friends.
"That's what Trelawny likes," Harry explained. "She thinks it has more drama."
"Well it is a bit more dramatic," Lydia agreed.
As they nearly finished up their charts, Hermione approached them about saying they were 'cheating'. Ron made a joke about house-elves.
"What's in the box, Hermione?" Serena inquired.
Hermione looked quite proud with herself as she took off the lid to show different colored badges all bearing the name S.P.E.W.
"Spew?" Harry asked he looked down at them. "What's this all about?"
"Not spew," Hermione groaned. "It's S-P-E-W. Stands for the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."
"Never heard of it," Ron said.
"Me neither," added Lydia.
"Because I've just started it," said Hermione.
"What's it about, Hermione?" Serena asked, quite interested.
"No, Serena—you don't want to know," Ron began but Hermione began telling Serena an Lydia all about how enslaving House Elves was sick and wrong and the information she was researching.
"Hermione—open your ears," Ron grunted to prevent her from making Serena believe her. "They. Like. It. They like being enslaved!"
"They do?" Lydia inquired curiously.
Hermione perked up and argued with Ron about how elves should be treated more fairly.
"And how do we o all this?" Harry inquired.
"We start by recruiting members," Hermione explained brightly. "I thought two sickles to join—that buys a badge—and the proceeds can fund our leaflet campaign. You're treasurer, Ron—I've got you a collecting tin upstairs—and Harry, you're secretary, so you might want to write down everything I'm saying now, as a record of our first meeting."
Serena picked up a badge. Harry looked at her. "Serena, you're thinking of buying one of those?"
"It wouldn't make a difference," Ron said. "House elves like doing work."
But being the kind of person that supported those pursuing their dreams, Serena had no problem with it. "Way to go, Hermione. It's good for you to stand up for what you believe in."
"Thank you, Serena," Hermione grinned, flashing her eyes at Ron.
"I think I'll join," Serena said.
"Yeah, me too," Lydia added. "My family had a house elf."
"You did?" Hermione inquired. "You treated it fairly, didn't you?"
"I think so," Lydia mumbled nervously at Hermione's stare. "I was just a little kid. We had to set her free because, well, Lucius Malfoy framed my dad and he went to Azkaban."
"Your dad's in prison?" Harry inquired. "What for?"
"My mother too," Lydia said. "It's a long story, but Malfoy made my parents look like death eaters. They all said they were accomplices for Sirius Black. Which isn't true. Sirius Black's not guilty either."
"How'd you know?" asked Harry.
"The woman I've been staying with is an Auror and a good friend of my parents'," Lydia explained.
"Well," Lydia cleared her throat, getting back to the 'Save the House-Elves' topic. "My parents knew that Lucius would try take everything we owned so we freed Tippy before anything happened. We heard how the Malfoys treat their house elves. Anyway, I think house elves just like to serve people and that's cool. They must get some kind of thrill out of it but a wizarding family shouldn't be cruel to their servants. There might be a chance the house elf will get angry and turn against them."
"There, you see?" Hermione demanded Harry and Ron. "They know what I'm talking about."
"I think our friends might want to join too," Serena suggested. "We'll talk to them at breakfast tomorrow."
"I'll just go upstairs and get my money," said Lydia.
--
Hermione was thrilled to be able to sell three more S.P.E.W badges at breakfast the next day. Lita told her that making a society was a great idea. Ami wanted to meet some house elves and see the kind of environment worked in. Mina was thinking they should already be wearing clothes besides towels and pillowcases and when the wizarding family wanted to dismiss the house elf, it should be in writing.
"Thanks so much," Hermione said.
"How long did these take you?" Lita inquired, she chose a yellow badge to show her house colors.
"Hours," Hermione replied.
"They're pretty cool," Mina smiled. Hers was light blue, a reminder of the mysterious French boy. It put her on a light blue trend. Ami's matched. Serena's was white and Lydia's was light green.
"I'll tell you when we have our next meeting," Hermione told them.
"Sure thing," said Mina. "Hey, we'll put in a good word for this. Maybe we can get more members for you."
"Would you?" Hermione inquired.
"Absolutely," Ami smiled.
"I wonder why you guys are interested in Elfish welfare," Hermione said.
The girls grinned. Actually, they really weren't. They were more in supporting Hermione in her dream and standing up what she believed in. Since they were all sailor scouts, it was something they fought for, to protect peoples' lives, pure hearts and even their dreams.
"See you later, Hermione," said Mina as she and Lita left the Great Hall.
--
Raye wondered how she survived the first week living in Slytherin House. She wondered if she should write to Dumbledore about her dreams but he might learn that she was a sailor scout. She was starting to wish that she didn't choose to come to Slytherin House after all. She hadn't made one friend in her house and because she was in Slytherin House, she couldn't make any outside of Slytherin because no one liked the Slytherins. Sleeping in the Slytherin Dorms added to her dreams as if she took some of the Dreaming Draft. She kept dreaming someone was following her everywhere she went, blowing in her ear, touching her hair and calling her name. Every time she looked around, the person was gone. She sometimes saw the Slytherins in their snake form, laughing and hissing at her.
It made her angry that she was having this annoying recurring dream and couldn't learn what it meant until next year. She needed to know now, before it got any worse.
The other girls wrote to Dumbledore that week about S.P.E.W and they were looking forward being part of a group. Serena told Dumbledore that she had to drink a potion containing cat brains and asked where they came from.
On the start of week two, the mail came during breakfast. The Great Hall erupted in shouts.
"No way! It's them!"
"About time the Daily Prophet said something about it!"
"What's going on?" Serena asked Harry, who had his nose stuck in a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"See for yourself," Harry said as he put the Daily Prophet down for her to see.
Lydia looked over Serena's shoulder and read the article. She couldn't believe it, even though she was waiting for it.
MYSTERIOUS GIRLS MAKE THE MINISTRY LOOK STUPID
"What?" Serena gasped, staring at the title.
"At least she's not saying the scouts are," Lydia whispered.
What should have been a nice victory for Ireland became a nightmare. People dressed in black cloaks wearing masks were terrorizing muggles and starting fires. Who knows what else they could have done if the Sailor Scouts had not showed up. They cornered the wizards, put out the fires and were even able to unmask Charles Avery, who was a supporter for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
"We were only drunk!" insists the former Death Eater.
Our own Ministry of Magic watched helplessly as the Sailor Scouts did their job. The Ministry wouldn't even go near the masked people because they were too afraid. All the individuals could have been unmasked and taken into for questioning if the Dark Mark had not been conjured. Those in the cloaks disaparated before the Sailor Scouts could stop them.
"I heard my tent burning and when I came out," says an innocent victim, "and one of them was putting out the flames—without a wand!"
Ministry Wizards and Witches came to their senses and disaparated to the spot where the Dark Mark was conjured. They did not find the culprit.
No one seems to know these girls or where they came from. 'They just came out of no where,' says Fudge, Minister of Magic.
What does this mean? Is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named returned to power or will it only be a matter of time until he returns to finish the terror he has already started? And if he does, will our Ministry be able to protect us or will we have to rely on six girls in outrageous clothes to do it for them?
Serena wanted to start saying something about it but couldn't at the crowded table. They looked around the Great Hall. Some people looked furious and were saying things like, "how dare these stupid girls make fools out of the ministry!" and others were surprised and were wondering out lout who the girls could be.
Seamus was showing the article to Dean, unable to keep a straight face. "See? See? They're real! I wonder why we're only hearing about them now?"
"Maybe Rita Skeeter had her hands tied," Dean mumbled.
"I remember one could attack with fire," smirked Draco Malfoy as he searched the Daily Prophet for a picture of the girls. Lucky for the sailor scouts, no one was brave enough to take a picture of them. Instead there was a twinkling black and white picture of the Dark Mark.
"Oh?" Pansy inquired.
"Yeah," Draco said and added softly so that she wouldn't hear, "wouldn't mind her lighting my fire."
Hearing him, Raye choked on her juice and nearly splashed him with it. 'I'll set you on fire if people weren't around!'
"I'm going to the owlery," Lydia whispered to Serena, nodding over to the other girls. "We've got to owl Madame Indigo."
"Good idea," Serena replied and she followed Lydia out of the Great Hall. The others followed suit.
--
"I can't believe this!" Raye exclaimed as Lydia was scribbling the letter. "That woman made a mockery of us."
"We weren't trying to make the ministry look bad," Lita said. "We were doing them a favor. And they did do something."
"What?" Serena asked.
"Well, you were stunned for most of it," Lydia replied, looking up from her letter, "but after I saved the muggles I sent them to the Ministry so they can perform memory charms on them. They weren't supposed to remember all that stuff—and I don't think they want to. They were so frightened."
"Well, the ministry is kinda stupid," Raye stated. "Someone's been missing for ages. This Bertha Jorkins person. She's supposed to help out at the Tournament but no one's bothered to look for her."
"Try saying that to Fudge," Mina said.
"Any ideas why Rita's writing about this now?" Ami inquired. "Why is it so late? And there's nothing about Moody in there."
"Wait a second," Lita said, counting her fingers. "It's been 13 days since we've seen her, right?"
"Yeah, today's the 8th isn't it?" Mina inquired.
"Thirteen days."
"What does that mean?" Raye asked.
"Remember what happened when she was saying bad stuff about Lydia's family?" Lita inquired.
"You mean," Lydia began, "that I'm why it took thirteen days for her to finally write about what happened at the World Cup? Only because I punched her?"
"Could be," Lita grinned, "and she's probably too upset about her unlucky days to mention it. I wonder what happened to her."
"Maybe all her hair fell out," Mina suggested evilly.
"That's not very nice," Ami whispered.
"Hey, I hated her hair style," Mina insisted.
"Obviously I didn't beat her hard enough to stop her from writing bad things about other people," Lydia grunted. "I'll try better next time. I'm almost done—anything ye lassies want to say?"
"What've you got so far?" Serena inquired.
"Told her about Rita's article and how everyone acted, our first week and S.P.E.W."
"What's S.P.E.W?" Raye demanded.
"Our badges," Lita said, tapping her yellow badge. "Hermione Granger arranged it. It's a society to support House Elves."
"You want one, Raye?" Serena inquired, "only two sickles each."
"You sure?" Raye inquired. "I'm a Slytherin, you know."
"Yeah, but you don't necessarily have to come to the meetings," Lydia said, "or we can talk to Hermione about letting you join."
Raye scratched her head, "hey, Malfoy used to own a house elf. I think he said his name was Dobby…I think his family beat it."
"You can like—go under cover,' Serena said excitedly, "Search your house for 'elf beaters!'"
"Not a bad idea," Raye grinned, "Maybe I can get Draco Malfoy kicked out of Slytherin so he can finally leave me alone."
"It's only been the first week, Raye," Mina said softly. "He's bound to lay off eventually."
"I hope so," Raye sighed. "He's acting really determined though. Well, I'll buy one, why not?" She reached in her pocket for two sickles. "Get it in red—I'm tired of Slytherin colors already!"
--
Hermione walked with Serena and Lydia on to Defense Against Dark Magic. "I wonder what Moody's teaching us this time." Lydia said.
They were shocked when he told them he was going to put them under the Imperious Curse. Hermione attempted to tell him how it was illegal but Professor Moody told her she could learn to work against it or have someone control her without her will. Hermione gasped and went quiet.
"I hope he doesn't make me do anything stupid," Serena whispered to Lydia.
They watched as the Gryffindors helplessly did without their will or knowledge. Some of it was enjoyable, despite the fact they were under the effects of an unforgivable curse.
"Tsukino," growled Moody.
"Good luck," Lydia whispered as Serena looked nervously at the group. She bit her lip and walked into the room. She had a few experiences where people tried to get into her mind, control her thoughts and actions. She could only hope that it could help her fight of the imperious curse.
'Don't let it control you, Serena,' she thought. 'This sort of thing has happened to you before and you were able to fight it off. You can fight this off too.'
"Imperio!"Serena flinched as she heard the incantation and felt the floaty sensation. When someone tried to make her do something before, she never felt like this. She had felt like she was in a daze and didn't' know what was happening. But this time, she felt light and that she could do anything. That everything was going to be okay.
Get down and start doing pushups.'Sure, why not?' Serena thought. 'Pushups are fun.'
This was certainly Serena wouldn't do in her right mind. She hated physical education. Serena started lower herself down to the ground. Then she heard another voice.
Since when does the Moon Princess take orders from others?Serena was so surprised at this second voice that she stopped. "What?" she said aloud.
Do pushups. You are in the army. Moody ordered.
I'm most certainly am not. I don't have to take that.
'What's going on?' Serena thought.
Pushups. Do them now.You do your own damn pushups. Said the other voice angrily. I'm not doing them.
'You're confusing me,' Serena thought. 'Do I do the pushups or not?'
No way. I don't have to do them. I really don't want to.
The voices continued to the point Serena didn't know what to do.
"Shut up!" she yelled and whirled herself up straight, clutching her head. "You're confusing me, now stop it!"
Everything went clear. The students stared at her. Even Moody.
"I never had that happen before," Moody growled. "Excellent, Miss Tsukino. You fought it off, quite determinedly I might add. Right, MacGreggor."
Lydia walked up to replace Serena's spot and Serena slipped back into the crowd.
"How'd do that?" Harry inquired her in a whisper.
"Do what?" she asked. She wasn't quite sure what just happened.
"You fought off the Imperious Curse," Ron said. "How'd you do that?"
"I did?"
"Yeah."
"I'm not sure." Serena said, scratching her head. "I heard Moody but then…I heard another voice telling me I didn't have to do the pushups. Wait, pushups? I had to do pushups?!"
'I'm in control of myself,' Lydia thought as she stood there, waiting to be put under the curse. 'I will not let him control my body.'
"Imperio!" Moody shouted.
Lydia felt the floaty, happy sensation in her body. She smiled absentmindedly. Everything went out of focus. Dance.
'My pleasure,' Lydia thought as she lifted up a leg.
Then came the other voice. Hey, I hear no music.
'Huh?'
Dance.
How am I supposed to know what kind of moves to make if there's no music? There's no beat, no rhythm. Dance, dance to what? No. I'll dance when I want to. When there will be music playing. Dance!Lydia blinked, "Then put some music on!" she shouted.
People gasped. Some even laughed. Moody watched her curiously. "Interesting," said Moody. "People don't usually fight it off that soon."
Lydia looked around, blinking as things went back into focus. "I guess…it's just…beginner's luck," she mumbled as she scratched her head. 'And I'm a sailor scout.'
Lydia went to join Serena. "You fought it off, Lydia!" Serena smiled.
"I know, it was weird," Lydia mumbled. "Did you hear a second voice telling you not to do those pushups?"
"Yeah," Serena nodded. "It sounded stronger than Moody's."
"We're the only ones so far that can fight it off," said Lydia.
"I wonder why that is," Serena said, watching Moody make notes of Lydia's fight.
"Must be because we're not ordinary witches," Lydia whispered to Serena's ear. "Aren't we, Serena?"
"Yeah."
Moody called Harry to the front. Lydia wished him luck as he walked up. Serena watched closely and crossed her fingers behind her back.
"Come on, Harry," she whispered. "You can do it."
"Imperio!"Serena saw Harry's face relax. He looked so peaceful.
"Jump onto the desk," Moody told him.
Serena paid special attention to Harry's eyes as his knees bent. At first they looked hazy when he was first put under the spell. Then suddenly, they looked clear and determined. They started twitching as if he was concentrating on something.
"Yeah, Harry," Serena said, "That's it."
Moody continued to tell Harry to jump on the desk. Harry wasn't moving. His eyes looked more determined than before. She could see a fire blazing behind those bright emerald greens.
Jump! NOW!
Serena cheered as Harry tried to prevent himself from jumping. However, he ended up ijuring his knees.
"Potter fought!" Moody yelled, patting Harry on the back, nearly knocking him to the ground. "Did you see that? Who noticed his eyes?"
Serena raised her hand. "I did—they changed a bit."
"Yes, good job, Tsukino. Very good, Potter. Let's continue that."
"What?" Harry demanded.
--
That night after classes, Serena helped Harry get to the common room. She sat with him nd put ice on his sore knees. "He should've tried to make you do something else," Serena whispered, frowning at the bruises.
"Yeah," Harry winced.
"Those bruises look awful, Harry," Serena mumbled.
"I'll be okay," he said. "Thanks, Serena."
"Sure," she smiled.
It was quiet in the common room. Some people were still at dinner, others were upstairs in their dorms and others were working silently on homework.
"Thanks for getting the ice," Harry smiled.
"Oh, you're welcome, Harry," Serena said.
It was awkward, but at the same time, she felt rather calm and relaxed with Harry. Harry felt the same way. It was strange. It was kind of like the way he felt when veela were around or when he was put under the Imperious Curse. Even though Serena had just started coming to Hogwarts and only been in Gryffindor House for a couple of weeks, he felt he knew her for years. They were silent for a while but it felt nice. Only in rare occasions did either of them feel they could sit in a room full of people and feel so at peace without anything to say.
"Can I get you something?" she asked.
"No thanks," Harry replied.
"Well, I guess I'll get going then," she stood up.
"Hey, wait a minute," Harry said quickly. "Something I wanted to tell you."
"What's that?" Serena inquired as she sat back down.
"That voice you heard," he began, "that told you not to do those pushups—what did it sound like?"
Serena thought for a minute. She wasn't exactly sure. It seemed like she heard the voice before but she didn't know who it was.
"Well, it sounded like a woman," Serena said finally. "What'd you hear?"
"I didn't hear a woman speaking," Harry said. "It was a man. But the voice sounded familiar. I thought maybe we heard the same person telling us to fight."
"Hmm," Serena said as she cupped her chin in thought.
"Did Lydia say anything about the voice she heard?" Harry asked.
"No," Serena replied.
"Maybe the person we hear is different," Harry suggested.
"Yeah," Serena nodded. "Actually, Harry, I think the people we hear are ourselves."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the voice was speaking in third person," Serena explained. "And, it kind of sounded like my voice, only I never heard myself talk like that before. It was so firm."
'Except when I'm Sailor Moon,' she added mentally.
"You're probably right," Harry said quickly, "maybe I did hear myself. Now that you mention it, it kind of sounded like my voice and it was speaking in third person also. It just sounded stronger."
"Pretty cool," said Serena.
"I like how you fought it," Harry smiled.
"Really?"
"Yeah," he nodded, "it was as if you knew what Moody was trying to do."
"It was confusing me," Serena sighed.
"Did I say anything?" Harry asked.
"No, not the first time," Serena replied. "I was watching your eyes. I could tell you were trying not to jump. The last time Moody put the curse on you, you were acting more determined and you kept saying, 'I won't do it.'"
"I did?"
"Yeah," Serena smiled. "It was pretty cool."
"Thanks."
There was another comfortable silence as Serena and Harry just sat there, smiling at one another. It wasn't until ten o'clock that night when Serena finally left for bed.
'Time to go to sleep,' said the same voice that told her not to do the pushups.
"I know," Serena mumbled, "I know."
--
TO BE CONTINUED
I hope you all liked that chapter! It seemed a bit choppy because it had so much in it, but I'm making chapters longer now. I can't believe I'm to 19 and not even to the Yule Ball yet! I'd better get cracking! By the way, the next chapter will be the arrival of Beaxbatons and Durmstrang, but I don't have an idea for a subtitle. Maybe I'll make up mascots for them but if you guys got any suggestions, let me know.
::Heroine grabs her kitty:: I'm so glad your brains weren't used in Potions!
Heroine's cat (angrily): Mee-ooowwwr!
--
Mae-E's questions (everyone else skip this so you won't get spoiled!)
So how are the scouts going to have to send each other owls
to set up scout meetings? I think
instead they'll use their communicators.
I know electronics don't work in Hogwarts but they've got magical powers
so they will work. They're not ordinary muggle electronics of course.
Where would they hold them? Empty
classrooms, broom closets, outside.
They do not know about the Room of Requirement.
Will ms. Indigo show up at the school at all? Yeah-for the Yule Ball and last task.
Will Raye get her house ghost to talk to her? I haven't really thought about it but I might have her ask him about the history of Slytherin House.
What could he possibly say? He'd probably answer her in 'yes' or 'no' questions.
What will happen if the other people in her house figure out the truth behind Raye's lies? They won't. Well, Draco will but not until the sequel. He'll be very mad but won't tell anyone because well…even though he's furious he is also in love with her so he basically just leaves her alone. It will be a very sad scene. I'm not saying anymore!
I've got a question for you—do you have an email address so I can email these to you? I don't mind answering them in the fic but I'm probably spoiling everyone and AN's aren't really allowed are they?