This is going to be good. This is based on the song in the 3rd HP movie, with the same title. The first time I played it on my keyboard (piano type thing.) I cried. So, I hope this is good. I hope ya'll like. Set in OoTP.
A Window To The Past
Chapter One:
Her breath came out ragged; her eyes stung, yet she refused to cry.
However, as she closed the faded photo-album, a tear fell on the hard leather holding the pages together.
Smiling in irony, she looked at the album. It was now streaked with wetness as always happens when at first one tear falls.
Opening the pages for a second time, she examined the pictures closely.
She went to her favorite page, Lily and James's wedding. The page was so carefully scrap-booked with all the right pictures from the wedding and then reception. Lily had done a page just like it, because she liked hers so much.
There were pictures of James and Lily, her and Sirius, Peter and his date, and Remus and his date. They were all having the best of times, hanging out after the wedding.
Flashback:
"I don't know why they have to make ties so hard to tie," she said, trying to get the tie tied without him noticing the tears that were forming at her eyes.
"You know, this is the best man's job." said James, grinning. "But, by all means, if you want to stay and get frustrated, go ahead."
She smiled up at him. "James, I think we both know that if Sirius got frustrated enough he would have cursed this tie, and you, into oblivion by now. I don't mind, especially if it's saving me some unnecessary clean up time."
James smiled. "What would I do without you?" he asked. Then he smiled. "Growing up would have probably been a lot easier."
Her shoulders slumped. "Ah, you really don't mean that, do you?" she asked.
He put his hand on her shoulder. "How could I say that about my wonderful sister? You've done more for Lily and I than..." he got chocked up, trying to hold back his own emotions. "Than anybody else has."
She finished tying his tie with a triumphant grin. "Yes!" she said, almost shouting. "I got it!"
"Now, was this more to spend time with me before I'm married, or was it to show Sirius that you could actually do it?" asked James, laughing.
She looked at him, and smiled. "A little bit of both," she said. "Besides, I can't stand being with the bride right now, not considering that she has the two devil reincarnates helping her. As long as their in there, I'm in here."
Pretty soon Sirius walked in. He stopped in the doorway as he saw James and her visiting. "I hope I'm not interrupting, but the groom needs to get out there, and the bride needs her maid of honor." he said.
She smiled at James once more and turned to head out the door. She stopped and looked at Sirius. "You look nice," she said.
Sirius grinned. "You know," he said in an undertone. "there is such a thing as looking better than the bride. Last time I checked, that was a crime."
She smiled a radiant smile, then went to go help Lily.
"Wow, Lils, you look beautiful." she said, stopping in the doorway.
Lily was standing in the middle of the room, taking a look at herself in the mirrors that surrounded the room. Her dress was long and white satin. It parted in the middle to reveal a lace petticoat; the bodice hugged tight around her petit figure; her sleeves went down to her elbows, with lace hanging down from them. Her long red hair was done up with curls coming out here and there, and the veil was attached to a little tiara with little white pearls in it. Her bouquet was of yellow and pink roses.
"Thanks, Sere." she said. Then she looked at her with her eyes sparkling."For everything."
Serena went to hug her. "Thanks for marrying James," she said, her eyes filling up again. "I know how hard he is to live with."
Lily smiled. "I'll do the best I can. Whatever else I need, I know who to call." she said.
Serena smiled once more, then heard the strains of music. "Now, let's get you out there, otherwise James'll wonder if you've had second thoughts."
Lily took a deep breath. "Let's go," she said, walking slowly out of the room.
End of Flashback.
Suddenly angry with herself, she slammed the book shut and wiped back the tears that had managed to fall.
Just after she had done that, Mrs Weasely walked into the room. "Sere," she said. "Harry's here."
"Thanks, Molly," replied Serena, standing up.
Mrs. Weasely looked concerned. "Are you alright, dear?" she asked.
"Yes, thanks." replied Serena, walking towards the door. "Stupid allergies have been bothering me all day."
The two ladies walked up to greet Harry.
"Hello, Harry dear, how are you?" asked Mrs. Weasely, hugging Harry. Then she let go and left before he could answer her question.
Serena rolled her eyes and walked over and hugged him. "Yeah, how are you?"
"Good," replied Harry.
Then, before another word was spoke, a shriek filled the whole house.
"Rats! Blood traitors! Creatures of filth! Treacherous scum! How dare you defile my house?"
Serena's eyes narrowed. "Because we can, that's why." she replied.
"You! You sucm of the earth! You alone defile my house!"
Serena grinned. "Why, thank you. I'll take that as a compliment." she said, smiling at Harry.
"Are you antagonizing her again?" came an exasperated voice behind Serena.
She smiled sweetly. "Of course," she said. "Why wouldn't I?"
Harry grinned as he watched his godfather shake his head.
"Anyway," said Sirius, scowling at Serena. "How are you doing, Harry?"
Harry shook his head. "I'm fine, but if I'm asked that question one more time I think I'm going to burst." he said.
"And I see you're becoming well acquainted with my mother," said Sirius, throwing a dark look at the portrait that was now covered in velvet.
Harry looked at him surprised. "That's your mum?" he asked.
"Unfortunately," muttered Serena, also casting a look at the portrait.
"For once, I agree with you." said Sirius, grinning at his wife.
Serena turned to Harry. "Old hag must've put a Permanent Sticking Charm on there so we can't get her down."
"Come on, before the other's wake up," said Mrs. Weasely, showing up to usher them out of the hallway into the kitchen.
Harry made a weird face at Serena; she was never usually like that about any body, even Sirius's family.
"You're guess is as good as mine, Harry." whispered Sirius. "But I think it's this house."
"I take it your family didn't like her," stated Harry.
Sirius grinned. "Thank goodness. If they did, we wouldn't be married." he said.
"I don't even know why you two are right now, myself." kidded Lupin as Harry and Sirius joined the table. Serena was helping Mrs. Weasely with the dinner. "With the way you two've been at each other's throats lately, it's amazing to me that you're still together."
A slight blush crept up Sirius's cheeks. "I didn't think we were that loud," he said.
Lupin grinned. "The whole house can hear you." he replied. Then he looked to Harry. "I've been keeping a running commentary on their arguments, and they were arguing about you just last night."
"You were?" asked Harry, looking at Sirius, startled.
Sirius glared at Lupin for a minute, then turned to Harry and grinned. "Yep, we were, actually. See, we wanted to go and get you sooner, but Dumbledore wouldn't let us."
"And when this situation arose," continued Lupin where Sirius left off. "we all came to get you straight away. That's why there were so many of us."
"But, Sere couldn't go because she would most likely have turned your Aunt and Uncle into a newt," said Sirius, grinning.
"Or worse," retorted Lupin, grinning as well.
"It would have been a nice change for them," stated Serena, setting a pitcher of water on the table.
Harry grinned. "I wish you would have," he said.
"See, I told you he'd agree with me." said Serena, poking Sirius in the shoulder.
Harry frowned. "Not that that counts for very much," he stated. Then he realized something. "Hey! You're family!" he said to Serena. "You're dad's sister."
"Unfortunately," said Serena, grinning. "Growing up with him was a pain."
"Try having six older brothers," said Ginny, glaring at Ron and Bill from across the table.
Serena made a sympathetic face. "You're poor mother," she said.
Mrs. Weasely grinned as she put some spices in the stew she was making for dinner.
"No, Ginny," Serena went on, taking her seat next to Sirius, who rolled his eyes at Harry. "I grew up around guys from the time I was little. " then she grinned wider. "And you know what's sad? They still won't leave."
"Like you ever wanted us to," retorted Sirius.
Serena made a -fake- serious face. "Are you kidding me?" she asked. Then she turned to Hermione and Ginny. "All while I was fifteen I avoided them like they had the plaque."
"Only 'case you liked us," teased Sirius.
"I know," she sighed. "What was I thinking?"
---------------
Dinner that night was an enjoyable affair for Harry. He was happy to be back, especially with Sirius and Serena. He laughed at the pair as they insulted each other and then Lupin.
After dinner Serena had to make a subtle, but hasty exit. She walked up the stairs and into the bathroom. As soon as she got in there, she went straight to the toilet and threw up her dinner.
After she got finished, she brushed her teeth. That was the second time that week that that had happened. She put a hand on her stomach. It was being crazy right now, and she knew exactly the reason.
After she had brushed her teeth, she went back downstairs.
When she got there Sirius and Mrs. Weasely were glaring daggers at each other.
Shaking her head she said, "Well, I think it's time for bed. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, follow me."
"Serena," started Mrs. Weasely in a warning voice.
She turned to Mrs. Weasely. "Don't worry, Molly, I'm not going to tell them anything more about the Order than has already been said." then she turned to Sirius. "I think you had better come too."
They trudged up the stairs and went into Harry and Ron's room.
When they were all sitting, Serena took to pacing. "Now, I don't want you guys to think about all this all night," she said to them. "But," she continued, smiling as she saw Harry and Ron open their mouths. "I do want to know why you guys think it's so unfair that you don't get to be in the Order."
Harry spoke up first. "Because I'm the one who saw him come back!" he burst out.
"I thought that might be the case with you, Harry." replied Serena, grinning and ruffling his hair, making him blush and Ron snicker. "And nobody's denying that, but you've gotta understand that since Voldemort's back, things are going to be more dangerous for everybody, especially you, because you survived to tell the tale to Dumbledore and he didn't want that."
Everybody considered this for a minute. Then Ginny spoke up. "Because we're treated like babies. Even if we can't be part of the Order, we can still keep secrets, like everybody else can."
"Of course you can!" said Serena, starting her pacing again. "But there's always a way for the other side to find out about us."
"Because we, well some of us (casting a look Ron's way.), know all the spells and stuff and we know how to use them, too." said Hermione, folding her arms.
Ron glared at Hermione as Serena stopped pacing. "You may know all the spells, Hermione, and you may be able to use all of them, but, as young as you are, your skills aren't developed enough, so you wouldn't have enough strength to work the full potential." she said.
Ron, who was still glaring at Hermione, couldn't come up with something to say. Instead he settled for becoming bright red and being quiet.
Serena smiled a small smile then turned to Sirius. "For every bad thing you can come up with, I can think of about ten good things." she said.
"Sure you can," said Sirius, stubbornly.
Then she turned to the group. "Don't feel bad, guys." she said. "There will be plenty of time for this later. I myself don't get to be part of all this magical goodness."
There was an instant outburst from everybody.
"Why!" cried Harry, Ron and Sirius.
"Yeah, why?" cried Hermione and Ginny.
Serena grinned. "That's one of those good things I was telling you about earlier." she said, looking at Sirius.
Everybody looked at each other then at her, confused.
"You guys," she laughed right out loud. Then she got serious. "The reason I'm not able to be part of all of this is because I'm..." she trailed off, trying to find the best way to put this to everybody. She tried again. "Because I'm going to have a baby,"
Hermione and Ginny squealed in pure delight. They were so happy. They both jumped up from their spots on Ron's bed and hugged her. "Yay!" said Ginny.
"Oh, oh, I wanna hold it when it gets here!" said Hermione excitedly.
Serena raised an eye brow at the two girls. "Hey, relax. I just found out yesterday. It won't be here for another eight months." she said, patting them both on the head all the same.
Sirius, Harry and Ron looked at each other in shock. The same thing was going through each of their minds.
Serena always hung out with them while the girls were doing something else and she would always tell them (teased Sirius) about wanting to become a mother. They all knew how much it meant to her, even if no thoughts could penetrate their state of shock right now.
Hermione regained her composure. "I suppose this is number one on your good things list?"
Serena nodded. "Sure is," she said, laughing at the absurd faces the boys were making. "Sheesh, are you three still in shock?"
Sirius nodded numbly, then stood abruptly and, before anybody could say anything (or, in Harry and Ron's case, protest anything), he had her wrapped in his arms and smooched (AN: My words of the month; smooched, smooch, smoocher. Anything to do with smooch.) her right then and there.
Hermione and Ginny burst out in giggles and Ron and Harry made disgusted noises from behind the couple, neither of which seemed to notice a thing.
Just as they broke apart, Mrs. Weasely walked into the room. She was still a little red in the face, and was glaring at Sirius when she was talking to the kids. "Ron, Ginny, Hermione," she stated curtly. "It's time for bed."
"Oh, come on Molly," pleaded Serena, her face glowing. "Let them stay up a bit longer."
Mrs. Weasely acted as if she didn't hear a thing. "We've got a long day tomorrow." she said, adopting her curt voice again. "No, come on you lot."
"Congratulations, Serena," said Ginny, standing up reluctantly. She smiled at her.
"Yeah," replied Ron, grinning.
Serena watched as Mrs. Weasely stopped in the doorway. She could tell she was curious why the kids were congratulating her, but she was still too angry at Sirius to ask.
"I was just telling these guys my good news," said Serena, grinning impishly behind Mrs. Weasely's back. She knew that Mrs. Weasely would want to know what news this was.
Sure enough, she turned around and looked at her questioningly. "And what might that be, dear?" she asked politely.
"That I'm going to have a baby," bubbled Serena. She was so happy that she could hardly stand it. If she was in a dark room by herself she could light it up with the way she was glowing right now.
"Oh, my goodness!" said Mrs. Weasely, eyes widening. "We need to do something to celebrate." she turned to Ron and Ginny. "Ron, go clear the table off, Ginny, go wash out the cake pan."
"What can we do to help?" asked Hermione, grinning.
"Hermione, you can set out the cups and plate, Harry, you can get the silverware out and set the table."
Harry and Hermione got right up and walked out of the room, followed by Mrs. Weasely, Ron and Ginny.
Serena grinned. "That worked out better than I thought,"
Sirius looked at her. "This is definitely better than being in the Order," he said.
She smiled and kissed him again. "I love you,"
"I love you, too." he said, smiling at her.
They walked down to the kitchen holding hands.
"Now," stated Lupin, grinning. "What is all this about?"
The whole kitchen was decorated with pink and blue streamers and balloons.
"Well, " said Serena evenly. "It could be because I'm going to have a baby, but that's just my guess."
Lupin grinned. "About time," he said. "Congratulations."
"Why, thank you, Remus." said Serena, sitting down next to him. "I'm quite excited myself."
End of Chapter One. Wow! I didn't realize how long this chapter was. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing this.
