Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Harry Potter but man I wish I did!
Notes: Thanks people for your advice for SM Stars. I think I will have him meet the Starlights, but it won't be until in the later sequels. That way I can do more research! And more may happen to him prior to that.
Oh yes, in this chapter, Sirius will give Harry some girl/sex advice so, if you don't want to read that part, just scroll down. I toned it down some so it won't be well-I guess limey or something. Just enough to make Harry embarrassed!
Sailor Witches—29 Hot of the Press
When Lydia told the cats and the other girls that the blue coin was in the lake they all agreed with her. They also thought that the giant squid of the lake must've been its guardian. However, it was too cold and too crowded for them do go fishing in the lake just yet. Ami also wanted to scan the lake as much as she could and she wanted to try and learn some Mermish before they look for the coin. They decided that the best time would be during the Easter Holidays as it will be warmer then and most students will be home visiting their families. Lydia understood about the wait but she was still impatient.
But Easter is two months away!" she groaned to Serena as they were on their way to potions. "How am I supposed wait that long?"
"It would be good for us to wait so we know what's down there," Serena said.
"Didn't Harry tell you what it was like?"
"Yeah, he said it was cold," Serena replied. "It's dangerous down there—those grindylows could've killed Fleur!"
"We can handle them," Lydia mumbled.
"And I bet you there's more than just grindylows and merpeople," Serena added, "and how are we supposed to fight something with eight arms under water? I've never done that before! It will probably take us forever to stop that squid if it really is the crystal's guardian."
They got to potions and saw that Pansy and her friends were giggling as usual. Malfoy and his two bodyguards were in the huddle and Raye stood away from them—trying not to laugh. Serena groaned.
"Oh now what is Parkinson on about?" she inquired. Lydia shrugged.
"Hi Serena," said Raye as they approached.
"Don't you mean 'Meatball Head'?" Pansy asked with a grin as Serena got closer.
"What?" Serena demanded. "Watch it—Miss Doggy Face!"
Pansy cackled and shoved the magazine to her. "Turn to page ten!"
"What for?"
"Just do it."
Serena raised her eyebrow as he turned to page ten. She gasped when she saw the heading. Lydia, who was reading it over her shoulder, glared at Pansy.
"What's the meaning of this?" she demanded.
"Relax, there's nothing about you in there, MacGreggor."
Lydia looked back at the article. It probably didn't have anything to with her but there was plenty about her best friend.
Harry Potter's Secret Heartaches
Serena shook her head as the article began with Harry not having love since the fateful day his parents' death. It talked about Hermione and how he started dating he, then to how she was playing with his heart with Viktor Krum. Serena's hands began shaking when she saw her name within the pages.
Harry Potter doesn't seem at all bothered by this as he is seeing someone else too. Serena Tsukino, a new student from Japan, has been dating Harry Potter steadily since the Yule Ball. They go for walks around the grounds, eat in the privacy of the school kitchens and they even write notes to each other during lessons.
"It's so annoying to pay attention to class when they're writing notes to each other," says Pansy Parkinson again.
This may not be so bad as the couple seems to be happy together. They spent the whole day of Valentines Day together—starting with Heart Shaped Pancakes for breakfast to receiving moonflowers in the greenhouse and sharing deserts at dinner. At the 2nd task of the Triwizard Tournament the championship to retrieve hostages from the depths of the lake on Hogwarts ground in the time limit of an hour. When Harry did not return to the surface many were upset, mainly Serena. But the hero came with his hostage and best friend Ron Weasley and the hostage and sister of Fleur Delacour of Beaxbatons. Though after the task Harry should have went inside to get warm, he stayed outside to comfort his girlfriend.
'It was only for a minute!' Serena thought angrily as she read on.
However, Serena Tsukino is not as bright as Harry's first girlfriend, Hermione Granger. Serena is very lazy. Many times in classes she sleeps and does not pay attention. She eats too many sweets during meals and many have seen her sneaking to the kitchens for more. She does not act her age and cries about everything.
"I most certainly do not!" Serena snapped.
Another new student came with Serena at the beginning of the school year at Hogwarts. Raye Hino of Slytherin House is embarrassed by her klutzy friend. "Serena's always been a Meatball Head. I'd hate to see her tryout for Quidditch. She'd fall right off her broom—but I bet my house will like it."
Serena decided she had read enough. She brought down the magazine and stared at Raye. "Raye, what's the matter with you?"
Raye shrugged, "Sorry, Meatball Head."
"So, thinking of trying out for Quidditch next year?" Pansy teased
Serena ignored her, walked up to Raye and pulled her away from the others. "What's the big idea? Why'd you tell Rita Skeeter all this stuff about me? Now everyone in school is going to call me 'Meatball Head.'"
"Not everyone," Raye retorted, "Just the Slytherins."
"Oooh! I can't believe it," Serena groaned. "This is worse than those times you tried to take Darien away!"
"Cut it out, Serena," Raye hissed. "That was a long time ago. Besides, you ought to be thanking me!"
"Thanking you?"
"Yeah," she said, cupping her mouth in a whisper so no one else could hear. "I had to tell Rita something to keep her from learning the truth about you! I was doing you a favor!"
"You didn't have to tell her I'm a Meatball head and that I'm a klutz!" Serena hissed. "You are taking your Slytherin role way too seriously!"
"I am not" said Raye"I could've told Rita about Darien"
Serena gasped. "You wouldn't dare"
The trio started walking into the corridor. They looked confused for a moment and Malfoy took an opportunity to make Harry mad, again.
"You came down with her, Potter?" Malfoy sneered, glancing at Hermione. "But I thought you two were over."
"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Pansy inquired. "Your girlfriends made the papers."
"What girlfriends?"
"Forget it, Harry," Serena hissed as she began ripping the magazine of Witch Weekly apart.
"Hey!" Pansy gasped. "Granger still has to read it!"
"Read what?" Hermione inquired.
"Hermione doesn't have to read anything!" Serena continued as she went on tearing the magazine into small pieces. "It's stupid, mean and it's untrue! You'll get yours, Parkinson!"
Serena continued to mutter threats to the Slytherins of how she was going to punish them and Rita Skeeter. Then Lydia paled as she pointed behind her.
"Er, Serena…" she said.
"I'm going to punish you!" Serena grunted. "I'll get you for this! You damn Slytherins! I'll write my own article about how sleazy you all are and-"
"Miss Tsukino, why are you littering the dungeon floor?" asked a soft and cold voice.
Serena gasped and turned around. "P—Professor Snape—I-"
Snape looked at the pile of paper on the ground and back at Serena. "And why are you insulting my house when you know very well I could open the door any minute? Isn't that what your common rooms are for?"
"But Professor, Pansy Parkinson and…."
"I don't care!" he snapped, making Serena sway backward. "Clean up this mess and twenty points from Gryffindor!"
Serena gulped as she bent down to pick up the pieces of Witch Weekly. Harry looked at her in confusion and pity, wondering what he had just walked on. He walked toward Serena to help her but Snape opened his big mouth again.
"The rest of you inside!" he barked. Harry groaned, glaring at Malfoy as he walked inside the potions classroom. The Gryffindors shook their head at their classmate as they walked by as the Slytherins grinned.
Pansy Parkinson bent down to Serena and Serena had to fight off the temptation to push her down. She tried to ignore her when Pansy spoke.
"You owe me a Sickle," she hissed in her ear.
"What for?" Serena demanded.
"That was my copy of Witch Weekly you just ripped up," her eyes twinkling as she got up to her feet. "I was going to have it framed!"
"Whatever," Serena muttered and Pansy went into the classroom. She mimicked her voice. "You owe me a Sickle…I can't believe people pay that much to read this crap! It ought to be free—oh man—if it were free then everyone will know about me!"
Serena and Lydia told Harry, Ron and Hermione about the Witch Weekly article that night in the safety of their common room—after checking to see there were no bugs in
"I think Rita's losing her touch," said Hermione with a shrug.
"Hermione!" Serena exclaimed, "she made you look like some two-timer and she made me look like an idiot!"
"It could be worse, Serena," Hermione stated. "It'll blow off."
"You shouldn't have made her mad that day in Three Broomsticks," Harry said to the girls. "Especially you, Serena."
"What did I do?" Serena demanded.
"You broke her quill!" he retorted. "Serena, what were you thinking?"
"She deserved it," Serena moaned. "Saying that stuff about Hagrid and you…"
"Yeah but…"
"Serena's right, Harry," said Hermione quickly. "Rita did deserve it. I just wish I had thought about it."
"Well now she wrote about you two!" Ron yelled.
"The funny thing is that we didn't catch her," said Lydia, sitting up from her seat. "We were very careful during classes and even had a Sneakoscope. It went off a couple of times."
"She was probably hiding were you couldn't see her," suggested Hermione, "after she found out you had one."
"Yeah," said Serena. "After the incident in the greenhouse I couldn't see her. Oh no!"
"What?" Harry asked.
"I forgot to bring my Sneakoscope with me on Valentines Day!" Serena slapped her forehead. "Oh, I can't believe this. I am so going to get her for this!"
Serena groaned and ran up to her dormitory. Lydia shook her head. "Typical Serena…"
Serena and the others met outside the Shrieking Shack to have a meeting. As it was rumored to be the most haunted place in Britain, they knew they'd have some privacy.
"There's no door to this place," said Lita. "How are they supposed to get in?"
"I don't know," Mina told her. "And who would want to go in there anyway?"
"I would," said Lydia quickly.
"I'm not surprised."
"I'm not sensing any evil sprits from this place though," Raye said uncertainly. "But something happened here."
"We can talk about this place later," Serena groaned. "What I want to know is why you told Rita all that stuff about me!"
"I didn't tell Rita," Raye said. "I told Pansy."
"That's not any better!"
Raye groaned, "they already found that stuff on you. Rita saw you tripping over your feet when you're walking in school."
"It's those stupid stairs!" Serena insisted. "They keep changing!"
"And you're always sleeping in class," Raye added. "Pansy just told me what Rita already had and asked if I knew anything else on you."
"You could've just keep your mouth shut, you know," Serena folded her arms.
"Hey, if I did, Rita could've done more digging!" Raye insisted. "I thought that would shut her up."
"You didn't have to tell her I'm a Meatball Head!" Serena shouted, pointing at Raye as she got into her face. "It's bad enough when Darien called me that!"
"Well, it was the first thing that came to mind, okay?" Raye demanded, throwing back her long black hair.
"I can see why Raye was sent to Slytherin," Ami whispered, "given to how she and Serena get along."
"Yeah, no kidding," Lita nodded. "In a minute they'll start hexing each other.
"Everyone thinks I'm a lazy, stupid crybaby…"
"Well, Serena," Raye said bluntly, "you kinda are…"
"Hey!" Serena exclaimed as the other girls tried to keep their giggles down. "That's not funny!"
"Well, Raye does have a point, Serena," said Ami. "Rita could've learned our identities. Imagine if that was in the papers."
"Yeah," Serena sighed, "but still! Now the whole Slytherin House is calling me Meatball Head. Everyone is asking me if I'm really Harry's girlfriend."
"Well are you?" Mina asked.
"No!" she shouted. Then she paused and rubbed her head. "Well, I don't know…"
"I thought you two were dating," said Lita, "I mean, if you really do spend a lot of time together."
"Well yeah...but he really hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend," Serena mumbled, her cheeks turning magenta.
"Do you want to?" Lydia asked.
"I don't know," Serena said with a shy grin. "He is really cute. And I feel so comfortable around him, you know? But I bet after that article he won't want to talk to me. I hope I didn't embarrass him."
"Don't let Rita break you guys up before you start going out," said Lita.
Serena sighed, "Well, what if Harry doesn't want to date me now? He is going to be busy with the tournament."
"He spent time with you before," Lydia told her.
"Yeah that's true."
"Have you written to Darien about Harry?" Raye asked.
"Are you crazy?" Serena demanded, "What owl will be crazy enough to fly all the way to Japan? Poor thing will die before it even gets halfway there!"
"Well, with muggle mail then?" Lydia added.
Serena shook her head. "I'm not telling Darien about Harry—besides, we're not dating. We're just…getting to know each other, that's all."
"Well, shouldn't you at least tell Darien where you are though?" Mina inquired.
"Why?" Serena demanded, "I haven't heard from him since I sent him that Stonehenge postcard!"
"Fair enough," Lydia shrugged. "Hey, let's talk about how we're going to get the next coin. How's it going with that Mermish, Ami?"
"It's kind of complicated," said Ami.
"But all they do is screech," Mina grinned. "Doesn't sound so hard to me."
"Oh, but it is," Ami insisted. "We have to be careful not to offend the merpeople. They could sic the giant squid on us."
"I think the squid is the guardian though," Lydia said, "so it doesn't matter anyway. Once we find it we can get the coin from it."
"How are we supposed to attack a big thing with eight arms?" Lita asked, "and under water?"
"We can use the Bubble-Head charm," Ami said, "the same thing Fleur and Cedric used."
"Great, so now I'm going to be called 'Bubble-Head,'" Serena groaned.
"What if we can bring it to the surface some how?" Mina inquired.
"I doubt it," Ami said, "the lake is very deep. We'll have to go into the water."
"We'd might have to swim in it before Easter," Lydia suggested, "and practice fighting under water."
"Yeah," Lita nodded. "But we'd have to do it when no ones around."
"We'll keep watch for you," Lucky told them.
"Thanks," Lydia said. "Are ye getting anywhere with yer human transfiguration?"
"Er, yes we are," he said softly. "We should be able to transform into humans on our own soon."
"Lucky is anyway," said Artemis, "McGonnagal's giving him private lessons."
"Quiet, you!" Lucky shouted.
"So, did you guys see Bagman talking to Harry right before the last task?" Ami asked quickly to keep Lucky from tearing Artemis apart. "He was him offering help again."
"Yeah, I talked to him about that," said Serena. "Good chance he's could the one who put his name in there. Harry thinks it is possible."
"Did he offer him help for the next one yet?" Mina inquired.
Serena shook her head, "but I bet he'll try giving him some tips sometime soon."
"Has anyone noticed anything weird happening lately?" Raye asked.
"Like what?" Luna inquired.
"Well, in Potions Karkaroff came to see Snape," Raye said. "Wanted to talk to him but Snape told him to wait until the lesson was over."
"Yeah, that's why Harry knocked his armadillo bile over," said Serena quickly. "So I waited to help him. Karkaroff showed Snape something on his arm and it made Snape kind of mad."
"What?" Raye gasped, "his arm? That's where the dark mark is!"
"Well, we don't know it's the dark mark," Serena said. "Snape saw us and Karkaroff left."
"Don't be daft, Serena," Raye groaned, "Was it his left arm?"
"Well, yeah, so?"
"What did Karkaroff say?" Raye demanded.
"Said it was getting clear." Serena shrugged. "So? Maybe he's got a wart on his arm and he thought Snape had a potion to take it off."
"Yeah right," Raye rolled her eyes. "We all know they're Death Eaters and if he's showing Snape something on his left arm it has to be the Dark Mark".
"Hey, they were talking during the Yule Ball," said Serena. "Snape told him to leave if he wanted to."
"What would this mean?" Lita inquired. "Their Dark Marks?"
"Well, if they're becoming clearer it must mean Voldemort's coming back," Raye said simply.
"But that's impossible!" Serena exclaimed, "Harry stopped him."
"Stop and destroy are not the same things, Serena," Raye scowled. "As the Moon Princess, you ought to know that."
Serena groaned, "and I think you're being paranoid. Did you have Defense Against the Dark Arts yesterday?"
"Maybe I did," said Raye, "so what? I have a bad feeling something bad is going to happen. Professor Trelawny told me there's a wolf in sheep's clothing in Hogwarts."
"Raye, Trelawney's always being dramatic like that," said Lydia. "You don't actually think she's serious, do you?"
"She was right about one prediction," Raye said shortly. "There is someone in Hogwarts that can't be trusted and we've got to find out whom!"
"Well, start checking with your house then," Serena muttered. "I'm going to Honeydukes. Anyone want to join me?"
"Your teeth will fall out you know," said Ami.
"So I'll buy some flossing string mints," Serena said offhandedly. "I need some sugar after what Rita wrote about me!"
"I don't think that's a good idea," said Lydia as she walked off with Serena. "People will see you."
"I don't care!" Serena groaned. "I want some fudge anyway! This is our last Hogsmead weekend, you know."
And as Lydia thought, as Serena went to Honeydukes, she got loads of remarks. Serena did her best to ignore them.
"Are you sure you want to go to Honeydukes?"
"Hey, where's your boyfriend? Did he dump you because you eat too much?"
"I saw Potter with Granger again…what's up with that?"
"Well, at least I can eat them without gaining weight," Serena said under her breath. "And Harry's not my boyfriend!"
She and Lydia stepped into Honeydukes and Pansy Parkinson laughed. "I knew you'd be coming here sooner or later, Tsukino!"
"You've been waiting for me, haven't you?" Serena demanded.
"I was going to buy my candy before you took it all," Pansy hissed. "So, where's my Sickle?"
As Serena was looking at some sweets, she groaned and took out two Sickles. "Keep the change, big mouth!" she hissed, pushing the money to her. "And buy yourself a self-correcting pen you big cheater!"
Having lost her appetite, Serena turned and stepped out of the sweetshop. Parkinson starred at her open mouthed and Lydia laughed.
"Don't spend it al in one place," she muttered over her shoulder as she walked outside.
Raye talked with the other scouts at the Shrieking Shack for a while then they departed to spend the rest of their last day of Hogsmead by themselves. Raye was going to come with Vladimir but a scout meeting was important. She said she'd meet up with him later if she could. She decided to walk around to clear her mind before going anywhere and as she was passing Dervish and Bangs she heard someone calling her name.
"Raye! Hey, Raye!"
The person ran up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Draco Malfoy. She groaned and ran her hand through her hair.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
"I wanted to congratulate you on the information you added to the Witch Weekly article," he answered.
"Thank you," said Raye.
"Really something." He told her. "Well, care do have a cup of tea with me in Madame Puddifoot's?"
"Where?" she inquired.
"Madame Puddifoot's," he nodded up the alley across from Dervish and Bangs. "It's a quaint little teashop."
Raye sighed as she thought about his offer. He was being persistent. On Valentines Day when she came back from studying with Vladimir he gave her an assortment of hair ties for when she did her fire scrying. It did come in handy and she used some of them, even braided her hair like he did that one-day. Since she found out he was an Aquarius and the boy she saw in her dream Professor Trelawny was trying to help her make her decision by doing tealeaf readings with her. Trelawney said that it would help her focus. Professor Trelawney always spent more time talking to her than she usually did during the lessons, angering some of the other students. Raye kept dreaming about the 'devils' Draco told her about. They were trying to get him. She saw Pansy Parkinson playing with his mind and stealing his heart. He kept calling to Raye for her help. Sometimes she even dreamed of her failing when she tried and she ended up becoming a Death Eater herself.
"Raye?" he asked again. "Would you like to come and have tea with me?"
"I was," she mumbled, "going to meet Vladimir and Sofia later."
"It's only a cup of tea," Draco smiled. "The day is still young…you can go and see your friends afterwards."
"Draco," she whispered, "I—I-I." She couldn't believe he was acting understanding. She knew he was jealous of her and Vladimir. She could see it in his eyes but he was trying his hardest not to show it. Draco took her hand in both of his. Raye looked at it for a while, gasping in surprise. She bit her lip and raised her eyes to Draco's once again.
Only a cup of tea…that's right…But was that all Draco wanted?
Do it, said a voice in her head. It is only a cup of tea.
Raye figured if she was going to help Draco she would have to know more about him. Perhaps a cup of tea together and a little chat will help her make her decision. Away from Potions class…away from the Slytherin Common Room…away from Pansy Parkinson. Yes, the more time she spent with him, the less Pansy would. Raye looked around to see if Pansy was lurking nearby and smiled as she turned her eyes to Draco.
"All right," she said softly. "I could use a cup of tea."
"Yeah," he said in achievement. "Let's go."
Still holding her hand, he led her to Madame Puddifoot's, opened the door for her and they walked in. It was small with round tables where couples sat. Mina—who was sitting with Pierre—glanced up and gasped. Raye smiled and nodded.
"Something wrong, Mina?" asked Pierre.
"Oh, no," Mina shook her head as she squeezed his hand. "Err, could you pass me the sugar, please?"
Raye and Draco walked to a table. Draco pulled a chair back for her to sit in. She looked up at him, feeling impressed and she moved in front of it. Draco sat her down and he sat across from her.
'For a real snake,' Raye thought, remembering how he acted at the Yule Ball 'he's quite the gentleman.'
A plump witch came by their table. Draco ordered tea with milk; Raye ordered chamomile and lime tea with honey and Draco quickly asked for a plate of biscuits. Draco started a conversation when she left to get their teas. Raye tried to focus and act like she was interested—but all he did was talk about himself. Once they got their drinks she took quiet infrequent sips and nodded as he talked to her. She grabbed a biscuit and took a small nibble. She rarely asked questions for she wasn't sure what to ask. When she finished her second biscuit and washed it down with some tea, Draco let her take the conversation.
"Well, now it is your turn to tell me about yourself," said Draco as he picked up his teacup.
Raye smiled, "but I thought you liked my mystery, Draco. How can I remain mysterious if I tell you all my secrets?"
Draco took a quick sip and smiled as he sat his teacup back down. He leaned closely over the table. "I love your mysterious fire, Raye."
"Lydia's parents helped you escape from Azkaban?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Sirius answered. "They were trying to get me out since I landed in Azkaban. They were looking for Wormtail but ended up landing in with me. They knew I had to go and find you so they helped me."
"How?" Hermione asked.
"They're not ordinary witches and wizards—they're druids. Druids can make mist or fire by will—but it was really hard for them to make being locked up in there." Sirius continued. "They had to really focus but they were able to make a fog so the other prisoners couldn't' see me walk out of my cell. Of course, most of them were already mad but they wanted to help anyway." He reached underneath is robes and took off a gold locket.
"What's that?" Harry inquired.
Flashback
Padfoot walked soundlessly out of his cell and put his paws up on Iris and Kevin MacGreggor's door. They both reached their arms through the bars and patted his head. He licked their hands.
"Eat the biggest chocolate you bar you can find as soon as possible, understand?" Iris demanded softly, sounding like the Healer she's always had.
The dog nodded.
"Tear Wormtail apart when you find him," muttered Kenneth.
Iris took a gold heart shaped locket off her neck and placed it in the dog's mouth. "Give this to Lydia."
Padfoot clenched his jaws over the precious item and got down from the door. He gave one last look before turning the corner and out of sight. Iris bit her lip and turned to her husband.
"Kevin what if…" she began.
"Don't worry," said Kenneth, "Sirius knows what he's doing."
End Flashback
"Iris' locket," Sirius explained, "she wanted me to give it to Lydia."
"I'll give it to her," said Ron, reaching for the locket, "if anyone sees Harry giving it to her they'd think he's cheating on Serena or something."
"Ron!" Harry and Hermione yelled together.
"What?" Sirius inquired.
"Oh, nothing," Harry said.
"Well you two are dating, right?" Ron asked.
"No!" Harry grunted, "and you really shouldn't be giving the locket to Lydia either—if you're dating Ami!"
"But I'm not!" Ron said. "I'd just…like to."
"Oh, I'll give it to her in the dormitory," said Hermione, taking the locket and putting in her pocket. "Why'd you have to open your big mouth, Ron?"
"Hermione, come on," Ron rolled his eyes.
"What're you talking about?" Sirius asked.
"Harry's got a girlfriend," said Ron.
"Ron, be quiet!" Harry snapped. "I do not! Serena and I just hang out—that is not the same thing as dating!"
"Hanging out with whom?" Sirius asked with a sly grin. "Is she cute?"
"Well, she's got an odd hairstyle," said Ron.
"Ron, that's enough," Harry's face was turning red.
"You know, maybe we ought to get going," said Hermione quickly, "I have to get something from Dervish and Bangs."
"Oh yeah," said Ron, "I was going to meet Ami in Madame Puddifoot's."
"Why do you always bring her there, Ron?" Hermione demanded.
"Because it's quiet compared to Three Broomsticks," Ron retorted, "It's a good place to study."
"Books or Ami?"
"Books of course!" he snapped. "And we weren't going to spend all day there, we were going to get some parchment together too. What's your problem, Hermione?"
"You're going to scare her!" Hermione exclaimed. "I told you she's nervous around boys. You know, I think you and Harry planed to take forever in the last task so Ami could go get you. Hoping that Ami would give you the kiss of life, weren't you?"
"What's the kiss of life?" Ron asked.
"Rescue breathing," she said, "CPR…"
"Oh yeah," Ron said, "Ami didn't call it 'kiss of life…'"
"Hermione does have a point, Ron," said Harry, "she seemed kind of fidgety at the second task."
"Oh, it's probably because I kissed her," Ron shrugged.
"You did what?" Hermione demanded. "Ron!"
"What's your problem?" Ron said. "You jealous or something?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" she snapped. "Of course not!"
"You're mad because I'm studying with Ami and I'll become smarter than you, is that it?"
"What?"
"Because Ami's smarter than you are."
"She is not!" she snapped.
"What, you think she's not smart? Then how'd she get into Ravenclaw?"
They continued to argue. Ron made another comment of Harry and Serena and all three of them were yelling at each other. Sinus looked at each person as they argued and he picked his teeth.
"Rita put too much into it!" Harry said desperately, "Serena's not my girlfriend!"
"Harry, you had heart shaped pancakes for Valentines Day!" Ron said, "you wouldn't have pancakes like that if you were 'just friends!'"
"That was Serena's idea!"
"And you literally went crazy on Valentines Day—jumping up like a maniac—telling us we had to go and do something for the girls we liked."
"Just shut up about that, okay?" Harry demanded.
"Ron, stop it," said Hermione.
"Oh, go and see Vicky," said Ron.
"Don't call him Vicky!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Sirius barked and the three students flinched. They looked up at Sirius. "Hermione, Ron, you two can go. Harry," he looked at his godson. "You stay here."
Harry raised his eyebrow, "Uh, okay."
Hermione and Ron stood up and left the cave. Sirius watched them leave and he looked at Harry again. He sat there for a moment, stroking his chin.
"So…who's the girl Ron keeps talking about?" he asked with a grin.
"Sirius, she's not my girlfriend," moaned Harry. "She's just a friend I hang out with."
"Oh—like Hermione you mean?"
"Er, yeah," Harry replied.
"I see," said his godfather, "but…would you have heart shaped pancakes with Hermione on Valentines Day?"
Harry gulped and couldn't reply.
"Well?"
"No, I don't think so," Harry said, looking down.
"Have you kissed her yet?"
"Sirius!" Harry gasped, raising his head. "I already told you she's not my girlfriend!"
Sirius laughed. "Sorry, Harry, just trying to give you some girl advice but I can't unless I know the girl."
Harry bit his lip and tapped the ground. "Well, Serena's a new student in Hogwarts…"
He explained how Serena started Hogwarts with her friends and how they went to the Yule Ball together. He told him about their walks and Rita's article. When he was asked, he told Sirius what she looked like without sounded like an idiot.
"So, all I've been doing was just trying to get to know Serena better but everyone thinks were dating," Harry said.
"Well, Harry, kinda sounds like you are dating to me," Sirius shrugged.
"But I don't think it's a good time for us to be around each other," Harry sighed. "With all the looks I'm getting and stuff.
"Don't let Rita break you up before you start dating, Harry," Sirius told him firmly. "Do you want to date her?"
"Oh, I don't know," Harry groaned. "Maybe…I used to have a crush on Cho Chang."
"You did?" Sirius demanded, "for how long?"
"Since we played Ravenclaw last year," Harry replied. "I asked her to the Yule Ball but she was going with Cedric."
"Why didn't you tell me this?"
"Because finding out if someone was trying to kill me was more important," Harry told him.
"When you go on walks Serena—are you holding hands?"
Harry narrowed his eyes, "do you know how cold it gets in the winter time?"
"Ah, I see," Sirius nodded. "So when spring comes will you be holding hands then?"
"Um, well, I don't know," Harry mumbled. "Why are you asking me all this?"
"Because James not here to give you any girl advice, Harry," Sirius told him. "So I'll have to do it."
Harry sighed as Sirius took a moment to think. "Right, Harry, well…you're nearly fifteen aren't you?"
"Yes."
"You must be noticing some changes, eh?"
"Changes," Harry said, "you mean, puberty?"
"What!" Sirius demanded as if Harry had just said a swear word.
"It means when I'm hitting my teenage years, Sirius."
"Oh, yeah, I knew that," Sirius cleared his throat. "Well, this ought to be an exciting time. You're wondering where the boy ends and the man begins."
"Actually I'm wondering what the next task is about," said Harry.
"Would you let me finish?" Sirius inquired. "Now, Harry, you'll be feeling certain things when you're with girls—maybe you already are with this Serena girl."
"Oh dear," Harry moaned. "Here comes the sex talk."
"Harry!" Sirius exclaimed. "You watch your mouth, young man."
"Sirius, I already know about that stuff," Harry said.
"What do you mean you know about it already?" Sirius demanded, "You haven't…done it…have you?"
"No!" Harry yelled, "Dudley had some dirty magazines in his room so my aunt and uncle had to give him the 'sex talk.'"
"And you listened in on them?"
"Yeah, because I thought it was funny."
"It's not supposed to be funny."
"I meant Dudley's reaction," Harry told him. "And we learned some of it in school."
"I don't remember learning about it in Hogwarts."
"I meant the muggle school I went to before Hogwarts," Harry explained, "just about puberty and stuff."
"Oh, I see," said Sirius, "you already know about it?"
"Of course—it's all over the telly."
"The what?"
"Television."
"They actually put this on the television?" Sinus interrogated, "who runs these…muggle picture boxes anyway?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know."
"Unbelievable," Sirius sighed. "Well, you know what happens with a man and woman get together and…"
"Yes, Sirius, I already know about that," Harry said quickly. "You really don't have to go any further."
Sirius nodded. "Well then, that makes my job easier. Oh, wait—you don't know the wizard and witch version, do you?"
"There's a different version for magical people?" Harry demanded, "Because if there is, I don't think I want to hear it."
"Well, you're not a muggle, are you, Harry?" Sirius asked. "What you learned is totally different."
"Different, how? Do I have an extra body part somewhere or something?"
"Wizard teenage years are not exactly the same as a muggle's," said Sirius. "Your drives are, well, stronger—and for some they have more pimples. Your father had to use a bucket of bubotuber pus every day in his sixth year."
"Oh man," Harry sighed.
"I'm kidding," Sirius smiled, "His acne wasn't that bad but you might want to have some bubotuber pus handy in your sixth year—that was when he started breaking out. He couldn't grow a beard though." Sirius grinned , rubbing his unshaven face. "He was always so jealous of me because of that…I started shaving in our fourth year!"
"Well, you turn into a dog," Harry told him. "My dad became a stag."
"I don't think that has anything to do with it, Harry," Sirius muttered. "In this point in your life and probably to the time you leave Hogwarts your moods will change. Now, when it becomes that time when you er—want to—well…"
"Have sex?" Harry guessed, "or is there a different word for wizards?"
"I'm going to have to wash your mouth out in a minute, Harry!" Sirius shouted. He narrowed his eyes and continued. "Well, yes, when that happens—forget all that muggle stuff you learned because it's different…"
As his godfather told him the wizard version of the birds and the bees-perhaps called the Fwoopers and the billywigs—Harry wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
Raye didn't tell Draco much about herself. All she told him was the basics, her birthday, where she was born, favorite foods and a bit about astrology. She finished her tea and began swirling her cup.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked.
"Tealeaf reading," she replied. "Professor Trelawney said it helps you focus."
"What are you trying to focus on?"
"My future, of course," she told him and she peered inside. "Hmm…I have an hourglass."
"What's an hourglass doing in your teacup?" Draco inquired.
Raye smiled and held it under his nose. "The shape of the tealeaves is in an hourglass…means I have to decide something."
She sighed. 'I already knew that,' she thought. 'These things are supposed to tell me what's coming, not state the obvious!'
"You know what decision you have to make?"
She shook her head.
"Anything I can do to help you make it?"
"I—I don't know," Raye answered.
Draco looked at his own teacup and drained it. He made the same movements and looked inside. "I can't tell what this is."
He pushed his teacup toward her. Raye looked inside. "It's a pig—it means greed."
"Damn thing just insulted me," Draco muttered.
Raye laughed, "You don't have to believe it." 'Even if it is true.'
The door opened and Ami walked in with Ron. Draco grinned. "Are you sure you can afford a cup of tea in this place, Weasley?"
"Shut it, Malfoy," Ron muttered.
Raye got to her feet before things got more ugly. "I've got to get going. See you in the common room, Draco."
"Uh, sure," said Draco and Raye went out of the teashop. Ron looked after her and turned to Draco.
"Not good with hanging onto girls, are you, Malfoy?"
Ami put her hand on Ron's arm. "Ron, let's just go…"
"Yeah, okay," said Ron.
"Are you done yet?" Harry demanded. "I think my ears are bleeding."
"Yes, I think so," said Sirius. "Now remember, Harry, when a girl says no, she means no! Especially when her older brothers say so. Does Serena have any older brothers?"
"A younger brother," Harry replied.
"That shouldn't be too bad," Sirius said. "But he might annoy the hell out of you if you're with her a lot. Well, don't do anything stupid. No taking Serena to the Shrieking Shack. That's not what it was built for—the bed's broken anyway—you two could get hurt."
"Sirius, that's enough!" Harry scrambled to his feet. "I—I wasn't thinking about that!"
"Well, good," Sirius said.
"Can I go now?" Harry pleaded. He never thought he'd be in a hurry to leave his godfather's presence but he couldn't listen to anymore.
"You have a date with Serena?" Sirius teased and Harry groaned. "Yeah, okay, sure. Just remember to keep writing me. I want to know if you do start dating this girl or you've kissed her. Actually, write to me before you do that so you know what you're doing. You don't want to miss and get her nose or something."
"Oh, all right," said Harry.
Sirius got to his feet, grabbed Harry in a head lock and rubbed his ehad. "You're growing up Harry! You're only fourteen and already you've got the girls chasing you. Just like me an' your dad!"
Harry rolled his eyes. He wasn't sure what to say.
"I'll go down with you," said Sirius, "see if I can get a paper and get a peek at this Serena."
"Oh no," Harry groaned.
"Don't worry, I sniff her crotch or anything—unless you want me to."
"Sirius," Harry mumbled.
"I'm kidding! I'm kidding!"
Padfoot followed Harry down and into the village. Harry looked around for Serena. Maybe he could pull her into Three Broomsticks before Sirius could embarrass him. However, the dog spotted the girl with long blond pigtails and buns before Harry did and he dashed toward her.
"Sirius, don't you dare!" Harry said under his breath.
"Hey, look at that dog," said Lydia, pointing at a big black dog that was coming toward them.
"Man he's huge!" Serena shouted, ducking behind Lydia.
"Don't worry, his tail's wagging!" Lydia insisted and she started whistling. "Come here, boy!"
The dog came up to them, panting happily. Lydia stroked him and talked animal talk.
"Want some chocolate? Want some sweets?" Lydia reached in her pocket and broke off a piece of chocolate, which he chomped down.
"Lydia, you really shouldn't give chocolate to dogs," Serena said nervously. "It'll make him sick."
"It's just a little bit," said Lydia, "and the thing looks like he's starved."
Serena scratched the dog behind the ears. "Yeah, he does. He's got no collar. Poor thing probably has no home—do you boy?" she asked with pursed lips and the dog whimpered. "I wonder if my parents will let us have a dog."
The dog barked and danced around. Serena and Lydia laughed. "He's like a person!" said Serena
"Hey, Serena!" Harry shouted and Padfoot took off.
"Oh, hi, Harry," Serena said shyly. She looked around to see if anyone was staring. When she saw that people were, she started walking away. Harry looked on in surprise.
"They just broke up!" said Pansy gleefully. "Oh, Potter, did you lose your girlfriend? Boo-hoo!"
"Shut it, Parkinson," Lydia grunted and she looked at Harry. "Serena's just still embarrassed about the article and she thinks you don't want to see her anymore."
"I was wondering if she didn't want to see me anymore either," said Harry.
"Give her some time to let this blow over," Lydia told him. "Well, I had better get going before everyone thinks you're dating me now."
Serena was standing in Darien's apartment. They were arguing.
"Who's the guy, Serena?" Darien demanded. His blue eyes looked angry.
"Harry Potter—he's my friend."
"Just how much of a friend?"
"A very good one," Serena muttered. "What do you care anyway? I thought I told you we're through!"
"You can't change your future, Serena," said Darien as he walked closer to her, making her back up into a wall. His shadow loomed over her body. "It's already set, you know. We were sent to Earth for a second chance to be with each other. We'll be king and queen of Crystal Tokyo. We're Rini's parents and there's nothing you can do about it."
Serena frowned and looked at the floor. As much as she hated to admit it, Darien was right. They were destined for each other. She could not change her destiny. She was stupid to try and make a relationship with Harry Potter. She knew he liked Cho Chang.
"Yes, we are," said Serena. "I'm sorry, Darien. I made a mistake."
"You should be sorry," Darien hissed. "This isn't just your future, you know. It's mine too."
Serena felt tears sting her eyes and fall down her cheeks. Darien's shadow was getting bigger. It consumed the whole wall. She couldn't see the sun through the window anymore.
Serena nodded, "yes, I know."
"You stay away from this Potter kid," Darien threatened. "No more walks around the lake for you, Serena. Don't talk to him anymore. Do you understand me?"
"I understand," Serena mumbled. She stepped to Darien and reached for his collar, sobbing. "Darien, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!"
"I guess I can for now, Meatball Head," Darien said with disgust. "Just don't do it again. You're mine, understand?"
"Yes…I know."
"Now stop crying," Darien said, pushing her away. "You know I can't stand it."
The dream ended. Serena turned on her side, tears watering her pillow. Her heart felt like it was breaking. A new dream came into view. Darien's apartment shifted into the Gryffindor Common Room. Darien shrank to the skinny little boy Harry Potter. It looked bright and felt warm inside. Serena was still backed into a wall, sobbing.
"What's the matter, Serena?" Harry asked, reaching for her.
"No, don't touch me, Harry!" she exclaimed, slapping his hand away. She walked around him and stood behind a chair. "Please, don't touch me."
Harry turned around. "Serena, I'm not going to hurt you."
"I know you wouldn't Harry," Serena sniffed, hugging the back of the chair. "Please, stay away from me. I don't want you to get hurt."
"What are you talking about?" Harry looked confused.
Serena's shoulders shuddered as she tried to choke back her sobs. "Harry, I can't spend time with you anymore. I'm so sorry. I never should've went with you to the Yule Ball in the first place."
"Why not?" his green eyes looked sorrowful. "I thought we were having fun."
"I did, Harry!" Serena insisted. "Really. I never had so much before in my life. I loved it!"
"I don't understand," said Harry, "if you enjoyed yourself so much—if you like to be with me—then why don't you want to see me anymore, Serena?"
"I do want to see you!" Serena exclaimed. "It's just that—I can't! My future is already mapped out. I have someone already. I tried breaking up with him but I can't get away. He won't let me let go…he won't let go of me."
"Who is this guy?" Harry demanded. "What does he want?"
"He's…my boyfriend," Serena cried. "I have to marry him."
"You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Serena," Harry told her.
"I really have no choice," she sobbed.
"Of course you do," he walked up to her, reaching into his pocket. "Don't cry, Serena. It'll be all right." He pulled out a handkerchief and she took it away hastily and began mopping her eyes.
"Harry, I'm sorry, really I am!" Serena wailed. "I want to be with you but I'm not allowed too"
"Hey, just because everyone's asking if you're my girlfriend doesn't mean we've got to stop seeing each other," said Harry. "Since they believe that—why don't we start dating anyway?"
Serena threw her arms around his neck. "Oh, I would love that—really I would. I can't Harry. I just can't. We can't be together. No matter how much we both want it, we can't."
"Serena, don't do this," he said softly. "Please…I really like you…"
Serena kissed the boy's forehead and stepped back. "I like you too, Harry…but I shouldn't…Goodbye, Harry." She ran up the stairs to the girls' dormitory and Harry sat down on the sofa and cried.
Serena sat straight up in bed, sobbing into her hands. "It's not fair…it's not fair," she said. "Why can't I choose my own future? My own destiny?"
Serena wondered if she had to have that conversation with Harry. She wouldn't be able to bear telling him they couldn't hang out anymore, let alone date.
On Monday at breakfast Serena hardly ate. People were still giving Serena odd stares and asking her when she and Harry were going to go for another walk.
The mail came and owls dropped letters in front of Hermione and Serena. "Who'd be writing to me?" Serena demanded.
"Maybe it's Madame Indigo," Lydia suggested.
"Oh really!" Hermione mumbled, placing down the letter she got. Serena gasped when she saw the letter. "Hermione—who—who wrote that?"
"I bet you probably got one like it," said Hermione as she began to open the rest of her hate mail, "Frog Spawn?"
Serena looked at her pile of letters and started going through them. "You must be really stupid if you think The-Boy-Who-Lived would like you."
"Ahh!" Serena exclaimed. "Who wrote this?"
"Go and live on the moon?" Lydia demanded, close to giggles as she looked at one letter.
'First the dream with Harry and now this?' Serena thought, opening a parcel. It was a book entitled, Arithmancy for Dummies. "I don't even take arithmancy—now who's dumb here?"
"Meatballs" Serena shouted as she opened another parcel packed to the top with meatballs. "Oooh! When I found out who sent this one"
She opened another letter and yellow-green liquid oozed out onto her fingers just as Hermione got a similar letter.
"Oh no, you too, Hermione?" Serena asked.
"Undiluted bubotuber pus!" Ron cried.
"Not again!" Serena groaned. "I hate that stuff!"
"Go to the hospital wing," said Harry, "we'll tell Professor Sprout where you are."
"Come on, Serena," said Hermione and the two girls with matching hands walked out of the Great Hall. They talked about how they were going to seek revenge on Rita the whole way there.
"Watch it, Parkinson," Lydia sneered as a niffler tried to bite off her watch. "Without your watch you won't be able to come to your lessons on time."
Parvarti and Lavender grinned as Pansy glared back.
The students took off their valuables and shoved them in their pockets. Parvarti made a comment about how cute and cuddly the nifflers were as they picked them up. They let their nifflers began digging for the gold coins Hagrid buried. Everyone was having loads of fun.
"Go!" Lydia urged her niffler as it began burrowing. She started clawing at the earth with her hand. "I'll help you. Dig, dig like the wind!"
It came back and spat coins into her hands. "Good boy, good niffler!"
She looked behind her to see if Serena or Hermione were coming but they were still at the hospital wing. 'Where are they?' she wondered, 'they're missing a great lesson.'
Lydia came in second after Ron. Ron's niffler produced the most gold and he received a huge piece of chocolate as a prize. As the lesson was ending, Serena and Hermione were walking up with excessively bandaged hands. They both looked very upset.
"What happened" the gentle giant asked when he saw the two girls.
"You tell him, Hermione" Serena whispered.
Both and Hermione and Serena took Hagrid's advice about the hate mail. However, they received some they had no choice but to open. They were getting howlers everyday. One was so threatening that Serena ran out in tears and Lydia had to pour her pumpkin juice over it, causing the thing to choke. Raye began to feel bad about what she said but Serena wouldn't forgive her. Sofia and Vladimir were both shocked to believe Raye to do such a thing.
"That vasn't very nice, Raye" Sofia muttered.
Raye frowned"well, Serena and I don't really get along-but I didn't expect her to start getting hate mail."
Sofia then noticed Viktor pick at his food when Hermione got another howler. So he wouldn't have to listen how the girl was a two-timer, she stood up and escorted him out of the hall.
"I don't think any of that stuff is true, Viktor" said Sofia.
"I think I should talk to Potter about this" Viktor muttered.
Serena decided to do what her howlers told her and leave Harry alone. She had already made up her mind after the disturbing dream of her and Darien. She was telling everyone she wasn't Harry's girlfriend and neither was Hermione. Serena spent most of her time in the girl's dormitory where she was away from the Slytherins. Remembering she had her weekly essay for Dumbledore, she took out a quill and parchment.
She started writing about the article in Witch Weekly and insisted to explain to the Headmaster though that she was sort of a flake, she really did enjoy most of her lessons. She wasn't dating Harry and trying to take his concentration from the tournament. Serena paused. There was something she felt she had to tell the Headmaster. She knew if she continued to remain in Hogwarts she'd fall in love with Harry if she hadn't already. Serena sighed.
This will be my one and only year in Hogwarts. After this year is over I'm going back to Japan. It is not my decision. My decision has already been made for me. My friends can stay if they like but I will have to leave.
Serena took the essay down to the Headmaster's office. Serena gave him a fake smile as she handed him her essay.
"Hi Professor Dumbledore" she said"Here's my essay."
"Why thank you, Serena" he smiled. "I do hope your latest posts haven't been upsetting you"
Serena shook her head"no. I'm okay, Professor."
Dumbledore looked at her for awhile. Serena had the feeling he knew she was lying.
"Is there anything you'd like to talk to me about" he asked kindly.
"No" said Serena. "I'm all right, really."
"Do you have any questions" he inquired"I believe you had some for me in your last essay." He began shifting through his papers and he brought out her essay. "Ahh, you had questions about the lake on the grounds. Your friends have similar questions."
"Yeah" Serena said"is it...well, safe to swim in"
"Yes it is" he nodded. "But I would wait until it warms up if I were you."
"Good, hat's all I waned to know" Serena said"Thanks, Professor."
Serena turned out of the Headmaster's office and headed back to the Gryffindor tower. With the Easter Holidays coming, she hoped everyone would be gone.
To Be Continued