Chapter 26 – Disappearing Faith

Serena glanced around the corner, making sure no one was in sight. Satisfied that the coast was clear, she jogged to the end of the hall where it connected to another corridor and stopped, waiting. A moment passed and no one had walked by, so she peered around the edge and saw that is was deserted, so she sprinted down it and slipped into another corridor. And that was how she made it back to her room.

The halls were quiet and there was a lone Gryffindor on the couch in the common room. Ignoring the curious glance she was given, Serena skipped off to her bedroom. As she opened the door, she was surprised to find Heather still asleep in her bed with the curtain to their single window pulled completely down. Serena shut the door and frowned, wondering where Eve was. As she listened though, she heard the shower running in the bathroom and relaxed. It had to be almost 11:00, but she knew it would be fruitless to try and wake Heather up, so she just walked over to her closet and hung up her dress. She tidied up her things and as she was putting things back in her trunk, she noticed her magic mirror. Smiling softly she picked it up and looked at it. As she traced her finger across the smooth surface, she couldn't help but remember what had happened the previous night. She felt herself blushing, embarrassed all over again. Though she had just spent a magical morning with him, she couldn't shake her mortification. She had admitted her love, and had been stupid enough to think that he would proclaim his in return. Was there something about her which made her unlovable? She wondered to herself.

"Good morning darling—"The voice drawled, startling her from her thoughts. She glanced back down at the mirror and saw that the strange, blonde head was back, watching her.

Serena sighed.

"Good morning."

"Why whatever is the matter beautiful?" The mirror asked. She gazed at the stone wall across from her and pushed the dreary thoughts out of her mind.

"Nothing." She lied.

"And that's right. Nothing should be making you feel bad on this glorious morning. You're hair is shinning and falls just perfectly over your brow…" The mirror went on and Serena just put it back on her table. For a few moments she stared at nothing on her wall, listening to her mirror doll out compliments to her before it seemed to realize no one was paying attention to it and turned off. She drifted a few seconds longer on the floor by her trunk before she sat down on her bed with her homework and waited for Eve to get out of the bathroom.

"Serena?" She heard Heather ask after a little while.

"Yes?" She said, looking up from her work to see Heather staring at her, groggy and hair disheveled.

"Are you doing work?" Heather asked her incredulously. Serena rolled her eyes.

"Yes," She answered, turning her eyes back to her paper.

"When'd you get back?" She heard Heather ask her.

"Half an hour ago," Serena murmured. She glanced up to see Heather's eyes widen slightly.

"Slut," Heather mumbled before lying back down and going back to bed. Serena smiled to herself and refocused on her school work. It wasn't much longer before Eve came out of the bathroom.

"Serena!" Eve cried, dropping her pajamas on her bed. Serena looked up and smiled.

"I didn't know you got back!" Eve said, coming to sit on Serena's bed. "How was your night?" For a brief moment she thought about relating to Eve all that had happened, but didn't feel like it for the sheer fact that they would be able to see through any façade and realize her true disappointment and embarrassment. So, she lied.

"It was great. Tom arranged for this awesome breakfast with tons of food and he even found me Lilies." Eve smiled.

"That's awesome! I know they're your favorite," Eve said.

"What about your night?" Serena asked her. "How was Philip?"

"Oh he was fine. I mean, of course he's attractive and everything, but he's just not very smart," Eve complained.

"And that is coming from you?" Heather cried from underneath her blankets. Serena and Eve looked over, Serena laughing and Eve frowning.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Eve asked, growing red in the cheeks. They heard a snort from underneath Heather's blankets.

"Oh come on Eve," Heather said, sitting up and pushing down her sheets.

"How was your night Heather?" Serena interrupted, trying to change topics.

"Oh it was just fine, Henry was a total sweetheart," She slurred.

"That's good. When did you guys get back?" Serena asked them.

"Sometime after midnight," Eve giggled mischievously. Serena rolled her eyes.

"I thought you said you didn't like Philip?" She said.

"No, I just said he was kind of stupid, so it wouldn't be a long term thing," Eve said.

"Oh."

The girls continued chatting and catching up now that everyone was awake. Heather got showered and changed her clothes so they could all go down and eat lunch together since Heather and Eve missed breakfast by sleeping late. Serena wasn't surprised that Tom wasn't there, as he had informed her that he had a lot of work to do that day.

After lunch the girls wandered around the campus and somehow made their way back to their common room to do homework. School hit them hard and fast the next day and with more trips to Hogsmeade and Quidditch matches, tests and projects, it wasn't long before Christmas sneaked up upon them.

"What do you think Tom's going to get you for Christmas?" Eve asked Serena as they made their way from their last class back up to their common room.

"I don't think he's going to get me anything, he already gave me that really expensive necklace at the beginning of the year," Serena said. "And that was a lot. I honestly don't need anything else."

"Oh," Eve said. "Well what are you going to get him?" Serena sighed.

"I have no idea!" Serena cried. "Do you have any suggestions?" Eve snorted and looked back at Serena surprised.

"No," She finally answered. Serena sighed again.

"Maybe I'll just get him a really nice cloak. You know? Black velvet maybe, hemmed with silver and green?"

"That sounds nice," Eve said.

"Really?" Serena asked skeptically. "I don't know. I just don't know what to get him." Eve shrugged.

"You know him better than me," She said, "but that sounds nice. I think he'd like it."

"Yeah?" Serena asked.

"Yeah," Eve said. Serena nodded.

"I'll have to go order it then," Serena said.

"You know where you should go," Eve said suddenly.

"Where?" Serena asked.

"The place where we got our dresses last summer. In Diagon Ally, where my aunt Lucy works. You know, Lucy's Magical Wardrobe? She loves you so I'm sure she'd give you a reasonable price and she'd make sure it got done in time."

"That is such a good idea!" Serena exclaimed, stopping in the middle of the hallway to organize everything mentally.

"I can send her an owl tonight with the proper measurements and everything!" Serena cried, clapping her hands together. She turned and hugged Eve, smiling.

"I just hope it won't bankrupt me," Serena laughed.

"Well, " Eve said. "You can always borrow money from your dad."

"That is true," Serena said. "Anyways, I'm going to run off and send this letter out now so I don't forget but I'll meet you and Heather at dinner."

"Ok," Eve said, as Serena ran off, disappearing behind a corner.

She sent the letter out that night and the next morning Lucy had responded giving her a generous deal. The cloak arrived four days before Christmas Eve, so Serena had plenty of time to give it to Tom before she left for her home.

"Happy Christmas/Birthday," Serena cried as Tom opened the package. He fingered the soft material and smiled.

"Black velvet?" Serena nodded. He dragged the rest of it out and threw it on. The cloak fell about him in a perfect fit. He examined the hem which was twisted with silver and dark green. He looked at the silver clasp and noticed that it had a simple

V on it.

Voldemort. He smirked and looked up at Serena.

"It should keep you warm for me while I'm gone," She said. He smiled.

"Do you like it?" She asked uncertainly.

"I do. It's really nice," He said, bending down and kissing her softly. She smiled.

"Really? I didn't know what else to get you," She said.

"No, it's nice. I like it," He said, hugging her. "Thank you." Her heart fluttered. After that incident two months ago, which they didn't mention, it had taken a few days to fully become relaxed again. But they were fine now. And it was the first time he had told her thank you before.

"Ready for your present?" He asked her. Serena looked at him, surprised.

"I didn't think you were going to get me anything. You already got me this earlier," She said, motioning to the black onyx necklace she was wearing. He rolled his eyes.

"I wasn't planning on it but I saw this in the window and I knew you would like it." He said, pulling out a small box from his pocket. He handed it gently to Serena who opened it slowly.

"Oh Tom!" She breathed, looking at the diamond earings that sparkled in the candlelight. "They're beautiful."

He smiled. "I knew you'd like them."

Not replying, Serena simply took out the silver hoops she was wearing and replaced them with the diamond studs he had gotten for her. Once they were both securely in her ear and showed Tom.

"What do you think?" She asked.

"Beautiful," He said against her skin. He kissed her softly, yet it was soul-consuming and powerful. After a little he released her, but held her gaze afterwards with such an intensity that it made her blush and look away. Tom slipped out of the cloak and Serena put the box the earrings were in into her pocket.

"Thomas," Serena said, scooting over as Tom joined her on his couch.

"Yes?" He asked her, as he folded the cloak up and laid it on the table across from them. He placed his arm around her shoulder and settled in next to her.

"What are you going to do after school is over?" She asked him, as she nestled his chest.

"Besides take over the world," He laughed. She rolled her eyes and looked at him.

"I'm serious Tom," She said.

"So am I," He said, his eyes glowing powerfully. She fingered her necklace.

"Come on," She said.

"Well, I was planning on teaching at the school for a little, but as the Headmaster refused, I'm not sure," He said.

"Wait a minute!" Serena cried, turning towards him.

"You wanted to work at Hogwarts? As a teacher?" She asked, shocked. He shrugged.

"Why?" She asked.

"It's an easy way to round up loyal followers. The younger minds are the most easy to manipulate." The ease in which he spoke of manipulating young minds made Serena shiver.

"Why didn't he let you?" She asked him. He shrugged again.

"I don't know," He said. Serena sighed.

"I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself," She said. Tom frowned.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well, you have a plan. Eve and Heather know what they want to do, but I don't. I have no idea where I want to work or anything," She said. Tom's frown didn't leave him.

"You won't be working," He said. "You'll be with me."

"Oh Tom," She sighed, shaking her head. She didn't have the strength to argue with him about that right then. She knew that wasn't actually going to happen and even if it were to, she didn't know if she'd be happy about that or frightened.

His fingers trailed over her arm and she ignored her thoughts for the moment and let herself enjoy her time with Tom.

The N.E.W.T.'s came around much too quickly for anyone's taste. Before they knew it they had taken them and were waiting for their scores. Exams were over and the students were leaving the next weekend. Serena made the most of her time with Tom as she didn't expect to see him again for a little while. She invited him to join her at her house over the summer while they figured out what they were going to do with their lives, but he politely declined. She clung to him in the darkened hallway the night before they were to leave.

"I'll miss you, you know," He said against her hair. She looked up and gazed into his dark eyes.

"I'll miss you too," She said, suppressing the urge to cry.

"Serena, I want you to know that it may be a while," He said. "I have to set things up. It might be a long time, but I don't want you to be there until things are ready. But wait for me. I will come for you." She nodded slowly.

"Promise me," He ordered.

"I'll wait for you," She promised, tears in her eyes. She let him hug her, unsure if it would be their last hug.

And as she boarded the train with her two friends in tow, she wondered if she would see him again. Her life seemed too chaotic now to even think. School went by faster than she could comprehend. She had changed a lot the past two years and was now leaving Hogwarts a completely different woman than when she had first arrived as an innocent, little girl. She didn't know what she was going to do with her life or where she was going to go once summer ended. Eve was planning on getting a job with her Aunt at the dress store in Diagon Ally, and Heather was going to join her parents working with the Ministry. Serena had no idea. And as she fingered the heavy onyx ring on her finger, staring out at the passing scenery, she wondered what was to happen to her.