Authors Note- Well…I'm still alive. And I haven't given up on this story either! To tell the truth, I do have a major writers block, but I finally managed to write this. And let me tell you, I think this is the most informative chapter of any that I've ever written! And it definitely gives the story some added complexity.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO REVIEW. The ONLY reason that I even bothered to stick to this was because of the wonderful people who have reviewed, and most especially the people who have emailed me. And while I am truly sorry for the long wait, at least I didn't give up. And if you still don't want me to, LET ME KNOW.

College life is too hectic to worry about anything but homework, and if you want me to take precious homework time to work on this, I need to know that my efforts won't be wasted.

The sun kissed the flowing golden hair of the woman kneeling by the still water. Crystalline blue eyes filled with tears as the woman watched the images in the pool. Off to the side she heard the faint sound of a bird singing mournfully. The sorrowful melody sang in a sad accompaniment to her breaking heart.

The boy with tousled brown hair walked out of the library, off to meet the cheery blonde. And as interested as Katrina was in the two, she couldn't take her eyes off the tall man the boy was leaving behind. His eyes were so dead, so unlike what they should look like. And he was searching so hard, so hard for something he would never find. And she wanted nothing more than to reach across worlds and take him in her arms, wipe away all the sorrows and fill the rest of his days with nothing but happy memories.

But she couldn't do that any more than she could reach out to the girl with golden hair or the boy who was spending the day mourning the only person who ever truly loved him. It was beyond her power to change the way things were, no matter how much she ached to.

She took her eyes off the images in front of her and turned her thoughts inward. She had that nightmare again the night previously. She had seen through the small Serena's eyes as the truck slammed into her frail body. She had felt as Serena once more veered on the edge of darkness, ready to give up life forever. And then as the images of the small child faded, she once more had that same nightmare that had been haunting her for nearly seventeen years.

The room was dark, but in the distance shadows would flit against the blackness. Silent shapes moved across the background, their dark robes faintly rustling, their hoods hiding their every feature. She looked up to see where they were all walking to, and followed them unseen. As she came closer she could almost smell the stench of evil that pervaded the room. A mixture of dragonbane and rotting flesh.

Katrina didn't wonder as to why no one could see her as she walked behind the figures. As in the way of dreams the thought didn't even cross her mind. She just walked the dark halls unknowingly, following where her feet led her.

Finally they entered into an enormous hall. It was ancient beyond even that of Hogwarts, and the evil seeped through every stone. Gray marble and agate formed the floor, and horrendous
monsters out of her worst nightmares lined the wall leering at her. Some of them stood still on
their feet or haunches, and others looked as if they were leaping to attack. The group of Death
Eaters now stood in front of the creatures, forming a semi-circle around something that Katrina couldn't see. She cautiously stepped up behind them so she could see what they were all looking at.

In the very center of the opening sat the most horribly monstrous gargoyle in the room. It's
mouth was open in a vicious snarl, one claw hooked over it's shoulder reaching out to tear apart anything that stood in it's way. The other claw was resting on the ground, the fingers held out toform a chair.

And in that chair sat Voldemort.

Some might say the man was handsome. He certainly thought himself so as he slicked back his chocolate brown hair and wore only the robes in the latest style. But that was only on the outside.

What Katrina saw made her sick. The evil in the room had filled the man to bursting, and he wasn't any less a monster than that which he was sitting on. He had callously and happily killed men, women, and children alike. He took either a fierce joy in the deaths he caused, or simply didn't care that he was winking out the life of yet another victim.

His lips quirked in a satisfied smirk, looking ahead at a single figure covered in one of the black robes. It's sex was unidentifiable, and it had fallen to it's knees in front of Voldemort, head bowed in homage, the hood covering any traces of a face.

"You have done very well in your past pursuits" Voldemort's silky voice echoed through the room so even though he had didn't speak above a whisper, everyone heard his words. "But there is one more task that I need of you. You must go back, and you must kill Potter. He cannot be permitted to live if we are to succeed in our attack on Hogwarts. You are the only one I trust in this duty, are you ready to serve the Dark Lord?!" He finished with a snarl of anger, triumph, and was it pride?

The figure raised it's head to look straight at the human embodiment of evil. "Of course master."

Katrina stepped back in shock and denial even as the black hood fell to reveal golden locks and the pale face of a girl no more than seventeen. "Anything for you" Katrina took another step backwards, trying to deny the reality in front of her. "Father."

Serena smiled as she looked adoringly at Voldemort. But her eyes weren't the same crystalline
blue of her mothers. They were pitch black.

And Katrina screamed as her eyes snapped open.

Katrina now stood in a small clearing in the middle of the forest. All around ancient trees thrust into the air, more vast and beautiful than anything on earth, filled with a silent majesty that only an immense age can create. And these were as old as time itself. Yet even these regal beings kept their roots out of the perfect circle of grass, not even their branches dared to loom across the sacred space. Tiny sprites with pastel hair only partially covering their naked bodies hovered just under the shade of the trees, mischievous eyes glowing in anticipation. Tree nymphs stood in the shadows of their mighty oaks, lithe bodies leaning casually against the trunks. Other creatures only seen in the eyes of a child day-dreaming filled the forest, but in the clearing it was silent.

A bubbling spring was all that broke the silence, the emptiness of the green grass. It didn't seem to be much to the naked eye, just one stream like millions of others in both worlds. But this was the spring that brought the water of life. All the life in Faiere existed due to this stream, and the water that had grown the first trees, and sated the thirst of the first sprites. Now the water was no longer used, just revered. It had given life and magic to a world, and now was held in the hearts of all. And it was still the lifeblood of the land.

Katrina looked down at the cool water, and fell to her knees by the side of the pool. This water
had been her baby's milk when she was first born, and she was far more comfortable with it than most other creatures in this world. She hadn't realized that as she drank from the water she was being tied to this realm, which was now the cause for all of her problems. To drink once of the water tied a person to the realm of Faiere. It would give them access to the powers of the land, a connection held sacred in the eyes of all Faiere. To do as she had was to be chained to it. And since she had arrived her parents had commanded that she drink of the pool of water every day, careful to be sure she had completed her task. She had broken free of the chains once, but now they were careful that she never have the opportunity to do so again. Because they loved her, she was told.

As her child grew within her, Katrina had feared for the life of the unborn baby more so than even her own. When she had realized she was pregnant she had been careful not to allow her parents to know about it. And the day she was to deliver she came once more to this world, and in this glade Serena was born. She had dipped her daughter in the pool, and had Usagi drink of the water.

Those actions had tied her inexorably to this realm, and the magic contained therein.

She knew with the power of blood and water, her baby would be the incredibly powerful, even more so than her parents or grandparents. But things had not gone as they should, and Serena had been snatched out of her arms only minutes after she had been born. Since then
Katrina had only been able to catch glimpses of her daughter in the seeing pool.

She was only able to watch as her only daughter grew into the young woman she was now,
never even knowing her mother or the heritage she was born with.

And as much as Katrina wanted to hug her daughter close, and cover Serena's face with her kisses and tears, Katrina was held back. She was prevented by pride and fear, those afraid of what her daughter could do if she were confronted with the truth. Her parents had prejudices against mortals, and had been shocked and dismayed when she had married one of them. The blood of Faiere had never been mixed with that of a mortal before, let alone that of a wizard. And the Black background hardly helped. To marry a man whose family had a history as dark and evil as Sirus's was something her parents still hadn't forgiven her for.

That day of Serena's birth was forever burned into Katrina's memory. In all their resplendent glory her parents had invaded the peace of the pool, demanding to know what had happened to her. At first they were worried for her health, and then they saw the baby. Katrina had never known what her father was capable of, or that her mother was callous enough to sit and watch as Katrina's baby was ripped out of her hands. The fact that Serena was their granddaughter didn't matter to them.

All they saw was a monster that should never have been created. Apparently is was forbidden to mix the blood of Faiere with mortals, and Serena never should have existed. Of course, how could a child conceived of love ever be anything but wonderful? She didn't buy it for a moment when she was told that Serena shouldn't be allowed to live, and threatened to take her own life if they took that of her baby. And she would've too, without hesitating for even a second. Finally her father had relented and told her that so long as Serena was forever banned from their world, and never knew of her heritage, she could live.

Only the knowledge that this was the only way that her baby could survive kept Katrina from preventing her parents as they locked all Serena's power away, so she wouldn't be more than a mere mortal. She had lost the powers from both her parents, witches and Faiere. And was denied that one thing that was most precious, her sacred connection to the land.

But Katrina was not born with the prejudice of her parents, and she had fallen in love. With that love had come a child, and she deserved the world. Instead all Serena had been given was pain and sorrow. But she wouldn't allow her baby to suffer anymore, and would do anything she could to make up for what she had lost.

Katrina took out a small glass vial, hidden in the depths of her robe and slipped it in her hand.

She was careful not to allow the her parents spy's see her slip the vial into the water as she leaned down to drink, filling it to the brim. As she filled the vial with the water cupped in her hands, she allowed the rest to drop back into the pool. After sixteen years of this routine, she knew her parents spy's were lax and wouldn't notice. A fact for which she was incredibly grateful.

As Katrina stood she slipped a cork over the lid of the vial, watchful not to let even a drop spill.

And she walked away.

Usagi idly leafed through the pile of pamphlets covering her bed. She had quickly abandoned the idea of going through any of the ones her father gave her, as she couldn't trust his judgment for picking out a school any more than she could trust his taste in picking out clothes. So she had spent the whole morning traveling to the library, post office, and any other place that might have information on schools in England. She had even gotten online, and a large portion of her bed was covered in print outs of schools that looked like possibilities.

"Vermion, don't allow pets. Can't have that now can we?" She swiped one paw and the paper she had printed out earlier was on the floor.

"But it had such cute guys!" Usagi complained, but didn't move to pick it up.

Luna gave Usagi one of those scathing looks that Usagi had long ago learned to ignore. "Guys are what got you into this mess in the first place. If you weren't always daydreaming about boys you would've gotten passing grades and not had to go and leave all your responsibilities to go to a school in England. So I highly doubt that guys is what you should be worrying about right now. You need to find a school that has an excellent academic program. After all, that's what's important."

Usagi pouted, but didn't argue. 'No,' she wanted to say 'it wasn't guys that got me into this mess, but you, you pesky feline! If you hadn't ruined my life with all this heroine crap, I would be fine.'

But she knew there was no point in arguing, so instead sat on the bed beside Luna and started
looking at the ones that were pointed out. After all, Luna did only want the best for her.

"Harry, do you think I should call her?" Ron paced back and forth in front of Harry's bed, where he lay sprawled working on some homework for Potions. 'Oh how I hate potions!'

Harry didn't look up. "Do what you want. She seems nice enough to you, although I don't think she likes me very much. I guess she's the only person we know here, and she's pretty enough."

"She's not pretty Harry." Harry looked at Ron to see stars in his eyes. "She's gorgeous."

Harry sighed. "So call her then."

Ron chewed his bottom lip as he started to pace again. "But what if she doesn't want me to call her? I mean seriously Harry, what if she's gonna pick up the phone and say 'Not him again!'. She's just so nice and pretty, and she's way to good for a guy like me anyway-"

Plenty sick of hearing his best friend insult himself like that, Harry jumped up, snatched the worn piece of paper our of Ron's hand and before Ron could stop him jumped back. "Fine, then I'll call her." Ron jumped forward trying to tackle Harry, but Harry once more evaded his approach. "Come on Harry! You can't call Usagi, she doesn't even like you. Do you have any idea how weird if it was YOU who called instead of Ginny or me? Just give me the number." And Ron again leaned
forward and Harry didn't try to stop him as Ron snatched the pink paper out of his hand.

"Harsh Ron." Harry whispered, but knew his best friend didn't hear him. He hadn't stopped Ron because he knew that the red-head was right. And for some reason it bothered him that Usagididn't like him, although he couldn't quite place why. Why she disliked him, and why it bothered him. After all, she was just some strange Japanese girl who spoke a little English and had helped them out. She wasn't anything special, and he would most likely never see her again after they left. So why would he care?

"Harry." Ron waved his hand in Harry's face. "HARRY are you in there buddy?" Harry looked
sheepishly up at Ron. He hadn't meant to drift off like that. "Harry, I need you to help me think up ideas as to what we can do with Usagi. I mean, if I'm gonna call her I should have plans right? Something really cool that she just can't say no to."

"Well...I don't really know. Do you want to go on a private date?" Ron looked at Harry in shock.

"Of course not! I couldn't be alone with her, what would I say? I would be WAY too nervous to
ever do something like that. You're coming with me!." Harry gave Ron a 'what the heck are you talking about' look and Ron immediately got a pleading expression on his face.

"Of course you're coming with me Harry. Aren't you? PULEASE!"

Harry shut his eyes and tried to block out Ron's voice. This was gonna be a LONG day.

Katrina pushed the vines and leaves aside and stepped inside. It always felt good to be home,
despite the fact that she knew it was a prison. She had lived here since she had arrived in Faiere mourning years before. She had left behind the palace and grandeur to instead embrace the silence of her new home. It was an ancient dwelling, most likely used by the first ones to life here. It was a small cottage with a thatch roof, nothing extravagant but surprisingly secure and comfortable.

Over the years the door had rotted away, and the outside had been completely covered in vines, with flowers of every imaginable color growing off them. You could barely see the hut through all the flowers, and it looked like a pile of petals more so than a home. But Katrina couldn't help but love it. It was beautiful in a way no words could ever hope to describe.

Off to the side of the cottage was a perfectly blue pool of water. The pool that she used for scrying. It was one of the reasons Katrina had come here in the first place. She was determined not to simply let go of the world she was forced to leave behind, and even if she could rarely directly effect that world and the lives of those she loved, at least she could look at their happy faces, and make sure they were living happy lives.

Inside was a plain bed in the corner, and a table as old as the cottage sat in front of the fireplace. The only other furniture was a small dresser containing a few items of clothing, and on that dresser a picture frame. Katrina didn't need pictures to see her loved ones, but this one she treasured all the same.

It was of her and Sirus. She was dresses resplendent in white, and he looked sharp in his black robes. She had worn her hair down that day, held back only by a sheer veil. Sirus was leaning slightly over her, his fingers cradling her chin tipping it up so she could look at him. His eyes were locked hers, passion filled both their gazes. And because it was a wizard picture, the figure tilted her head just a little more and leaned down to give her a kiss so sweet and loving that she could still feel her lips tingle just thinking about it. It was rare that anyone loved as they had, and she had treasured the beauty of it. Now, this was all she had left. And he didn't even have that. The only thing he carried was a muggle picture that had been taken when they were at a park. When Sirus had gone to Azkaban everything else had been burned.

What wasn't was systematically destroyed, or lost forever when Sirus went to prison. Voldemort had destroyed their home and all their possessions in a jealous rage, and this picture was the only thing she had been able to find. Miraculously it had been protected, although she still didn't know how.

She forced her eyes away from the picture. It ached just to look at it, and she didn't have time for that right now.

Her parents didn't care enough about the real world to know what was going on, but Katrina had to if only to protect her family. And once more she had to save Serena before Voldemort's eye fell on her. He had desired the magic of Faiere for years, and she knew that if he found Serena her dream would come true. So she had done everything in her power to keep Serena invisible to his eyes. Of course, for some reason Harry Potter just had to keep on coming into the picture. She had been shocked when they had found each other as children, and had thought that with Serena in Japan the danger would be over. She had never dreamed that they boy could find her there. At least he didn't know who she was. The less importance placed on her daughter, the less chance of Voldemort finding her. And he was always watching Harry, so with him the chances were better than most.

But she wasn't going lead Serena away as she had last time. Voldemort knew of her daughter, and nothing she could do would hide Serena forever. As much as she liked to. Serena was no longer a child, and Katrina could no longer shelter her when she couldn't even adequately protect her. It was time for Serena to be given the power to protect herself if she ever came in contact with the evil wizard. Of course, Katrina smiled thoughtfully, she had much more power to do so than a normal girl of her age. What a shock to discover who her little baby really was! But even the reincarnated daughter of an ancient queen couldn't fight a wizard with her power locked away. And if she did, there was no assurance that she would win. She needed to be able, and prepared to fight if she was ever going to defend herself. And Katrina refused to know that she had allowed her daughter to be killed or dominated when she had the power to prevent it.

She reached over to her dresser and pulled out the top drawer. Inside lay two long 'sticks' about twelve inches in length. One she brushed with her finger thoughtfully, and then ignored it. I had been her wand when she had attended Hogwarts when young. The other she just looked at for a moment before picking it up. She had gotten it the day Serena was taken from
her. Sobbing with grief she had torn recklessly through the trees and branches. As she was running she tripped over a vine and flew forward. She grasped at the branches to try to halt her fall, and had grabbed this stick. It had come out into her hand the moment she touched it and she had gained a few bumps and bruises from the fall. But still she knew what it was. It was a gift from the land for her daughter. And even if her parents didn't approve of the baby, and forest did, and gave a tool that could be used to help her.

Secure in her purpose, Katrina picked up the wand and took out the vial of water. There was only one thing she could do.

Okay, it's about time I got that out. So, now you know the history of Usagi's mother. And that something will be happening

in the next chapter. And while I could've kept most of that information secret, I figured 'why not just get it out in the open?'.

And since you're all so wonderful, I did.

Remember to review if you want a new chapter.

And email me at anytime. I'd love to hear from you if you have any advice, comments, constructive criticism, or pretty much anything.

Ja!