Declaimer: I do not own SM or HP.
Mere Memory 9
Serena's New Friend
When Serena and Tom came to school the next day, the teacher introduced a new girl to the class. She had long and shiny copper red hair, a pretty face and soft green eyes. She was tall and thin and gorgeous. The boys couldn't stop staring at her.
"Everyone this is Ramua Honda," said the teacher. "Please have a seat."
"Why thank you, sir," Ramua whispered and she took a vacant seat near Lita. Lita smiled and introduced herself before the teacher began the lesson. Ramua took note of her hair. Didn't one of the scouts have her hair in a top knot ponytail like Lita's?
"Lita, you wear your hair like that often?" Ramua inquired in a whisper.
"All the time," Lita said.
"It's cute," said Ramua.
"Thanks," said Lita.
After class a couple of boys went up to Ramua asked if she wanted to have lunch. Some fought who she really wanted to eat with.
"Oh Ramua, you don't want to eat with him. You want to eat with me!"
"Oh boys, I can eat with all of you," Ramua said with a giggle.
"See ya, Ramua," said Lita, "Serena, Tom, wait up."
Ramua watched Lita walk to a girl with pigtails and a tall and handsome dark haired boy. Wait, Sailor Moon's hair was a lot like that wasn't it? Yet Ramua didn't really take notice of this. She was too busy looking at the handsome boy the blond girl was with. The boy was much more handsome than any of the boys trying to eat with her. That was the boy she wanted to eat with. Ramua walked through the boys and up to Serena and Tom.
"Excuse me, excuse me," Ramua called at them.
"Hi Ramua," said Lita, "These are my friends Tom and Serena.
"Oh, hello," said Serena, "I hope you are enjoying your first day."
"Yes, thank you," said Ramua and she looked at Tom. "Tom, could you be so kind to show me around school?"
"I'm afraid I can't," Tom said, taking Serena's hand. "I'm new to the school as well."
"Oh, I see," Ramua said.
"I can show you around though," Serena said cheerfully. "Want to join us for lunch?"
"That would be nice but perhaps another time? I've already had an invite," said Ramua, looking back at the boys. She really should be trying to find the identity of the sailor scouts but she wanted some male attention. She could focus on her mission later. Maybe they even had a sister that liked to write in enchanted books.
"Sure, okay," Serena said, "see you later."
Ramua walked back to the boys and slipped her arms through the arms of two hunky guys. "All right, boys, shall we go to lunch?"
Ramua ate lunch with the cute boys as Lita and Tom ate with Serena. Lita envied how Ramua could pick up guys so quickly.
"It's only because she's new," Lita muttered through her rice ball. "They'll get tired of her."
"Let's invite her to the Crown Arcade Center with us after school," Serena stated. "And maybe the Fruits Parlor Crown."
"I suppose that's a good idea," Lita said, "We'll ask Ami. You want to come too, Tom?"
"Er," Tom mumbled. He didn't really like to spend time with a bunch of giggling girls. There was only one girl he had his eyes on. "No, you girls go and have a good time. I'll just go home and finish homework."
"You sure?" Serena asked.
"Yeah," Tom said, "I'll see you at home."
Lita, Ami and Serena approached Ramua after school and asked her if she wanted to join them for video games and some ice cream. Reminded of her mission to find the scout's identifies, she agreed in going with them. Their hairstyles reminded her so much as the scouts'. But something was strange. Wasn't there a fourth scout with them?
"I would love that," Ramua said, "thank you very much."
Ramua followed the three girls to the arcade and played a few games. Unlike Serena or the other two, Ramua wasn't as gifted to video games and she kept losing her games. As a witch, Ramua never played video GAMES or even heard of them. She felt like a fool playing with "Muggle magic."
"I guess you haven't played the new Sailor V game, huh?" Serena asked when Ramua's player died for the tenth time. "You want to try racing instead?"
But whatever game Ramua played, she just wasn't good at any of it. Angered, her anger rose to the surface and all the games went out of order.
"Er, let's go to the Fruits Parlor Crown," said Ami.
"Good idea," Lita agreed.
Ramua had never had ice cream before and she wasn't sure what to try. She settled on a simple hot fudge sundae. It was one of the best things she had ever put on her tongue. Serena asked Ramua about basic questions of herself. Ramua had already told her "life story" to the boys she met at school so it was easy to talk to Serena.
"Moved here from the other side of Tokyo," said Ramua, "and I live with my grandfather." It wasn't a complete lie.
"Where are your parents?" Lita inquired.
"They died in a boating accident," Ramua lied.
"I'm so sorry," Lita sympathized.
"It's all right," Ramua said, taking another bite of her sundae. "I was very little. I don't even remember it. Well, enough about me, tell me about you girls. Have you always lived here?"
The girls all gave positive answers and Ramua asked a couple of other questions about their lives. Ramua tried to think of a good probing question about the sailor scouts. Then she smiled as an idea came to her.
"You girls were really good on that Sailor V game," Ramua said, "you must play it a lot."
"Serena does," Lita said, "that's for sure."
"I'm must trying to beat it," Serena said, stirring her milkshake.
"So, this Sailor V, she must be popular," Ramua said, "is she the only super hero like that?"
"What do you mean?" Ami asked.
"Well, a female superhero," Ramua said, "young girl. Are their other girls like her?"
"Oh yeah," said Serena, "there Sailor Scouts here in Tokyo. I can't believe you've never heard of them!"
"And they have movies and video games too?"
"No, they're not quite as movie stars like Sailor V," Lita explained. "But they do save people."
"Have you ever met them?" Ramua inquired. "I mean, have they ever saved you before?"
"Well, I guess in some way or another," Serena said and cleared her throat, believing she had said too much. She began slurping her milkshake.
"Well, Sailor Moon and the sailor scouts certainly have inspired people," Ami said, "and given them hope."
"How nice," Ramua said, "just how many are there?"
"Nine," Lita replied.
"Nine?" Ramua gasped. There were only four that ambushed her that day.
"Yeah, but it started out with five," Lita explained.
"I see," Ramua said, finishing up her sundae.
"Why do you ask?" Ami asked.
"I just thought it was interesting that the Sailor V video game had a female hero in it," Ramua explained, "the rest of the video games were male related, fighting or racing or some other."
She wiped her mouth on her napkin and stood up.
"Thank you so much for inviting me, ladies," Ramua said, "I should get going now or my grandfather would worry."
"Sure, Ramua," Serena said, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Of course," said Ramua, waving to her new "friends" and running out of the shop. When the coast was clear, she disparated back to her grandfather's shop. It was empty as it was nearly closing time.
"I'm back, Grandfather," she announced, dropping her bag to the side. "I hate muggle school."
"Yes, I know," Jimmu said, looking at the paperwork. "But it is the only way of finding the sailor scouts. Any luck?"
"I found three girls that looked like the sailor scouts," Ramua said, "but one was missing. She must go to another school or something."
"Oh yes, there is a private school on the other side of Juuban."
"I did talk to the girls about the sailor scouts."
"You don't think they picked up on you, do you?" Jimmu asked, slightly angry.
"No," answer Ramua, "not unless they know Legilmency—which I doubt. They're only teenage girls."
"Good," said Jimmu said, "what will you do next?"
"I think I'll search their school bags for the Recluse Journal tomorrow," Ramua said.
"Good idea, Ramua," said Jimmu, "Keep a good eye on these girls—all of them."
"Yes."
"Do whatever you have to get the Recluse Journal back," Jimmu ordered.
"I will, Grandfather," Ramua promised.
Ramua checked the lockers in the locker room during PE while the rest of the class was playing volleyball. She looked at Ami',s Lita's and Serena's lockers first but found nothing. The Recluse Journal wasn't in any of the girls' lockers. Where was that Recluse Journal? Did one of the girls keep it with her or did she leave it at home? Growling, Ramua closed the lockers with a flick of her wand. This was more difficult than she thought it would be. She had to find the Recluse Journal as soon as possible. Sailor Moon must've refigured out how to work it right now and Sailor Moon would know who she was. She had to find the identity of the sailor scouts. But how? Ramua thought hard. There had to be some way. Before any of her classmates came looking for her, Ramua walked out of the locker room and joined in the game of volleyball.
'Foolish muggle sport,' Ramua thought as she missed a shot for the third time. She wanted so badly to curse the volleyball into flames. Ramua's mind worked for a solution of finding the scouts' identities and as she saw the girls moving together to get the ball, it game to her. She could cause an attack in Juuban and catch the scouts transforming. What kind of attack could she use? Should she change her appearance and start cursing people? Should she get a demon and set it lose on the street? So many choices. It had to be foolproof Ramua did not want to take so long yet she wanted to take her time and get to know the cute boys of Juuban High school, especially the handsome and mysterious Tom Ridder. He was with Serena Tsukino. Were they going out? The very thought of them together made Ramua green with envy. Perhaps Ramua could think of a way to break them up. But her grandfather was counting on her to find the scout's identities and if he knew that she was trying to win over boys instead, he would be furious. There would be no use lying to him. He was a Legilmens and Ramua had never really mastered Occulmency.
After hitting the spiking the ball around for a while, PE was over and the girls went back inside the locker rooms to shower and get ready for next period.
"I hate PE," Serena grumbled.
"I don't like it much myself," Ramua said.
"Too bad Mina isn't here," Serena said, "she's great at volleyball. She could've been on our team."
"Who's Mina?" Ramua asked.
"Mina's one of our friends," Lita explained, "She's in England at the moment visiting her grandfather."
"I see," said Ramua, "when did she leave?"
"Beginning of the summer," Lita answered.
"Ramua, you want to come with us for ice cream again?" Serena asked.
"Love too," Ramua said.
"Serena, you haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Forgot what?"
"We're meeting at Raye's after school," Ami said.
"Oh," Serena murmured, "sorry, we've got to meet our friend, Raye."
"Who's Raye?" Ramua inquired, "I don't believe I met her."
"That's because Raye goes to the TA School for Girls," Ami explained.
"All girl school?"
"Yes," Lita said a grin, "can you believe it? No boys. I don't see how Raye does it."
"Well, I suppose she doesn't get too distracted," Ramua said thoughtfully, hitching up her bag. "See you around."
After school, Ramua waited around the corner of the school and watched Serena meet up with Lita and Ami. Ramua felt the twinge of jealousy as Serena was saying goodbye to Tom.
"I should be home before dinner," she said, "tell mom for me?"
"Sure," Tom muttered, "see you at home."
"They live at the same place?" Ramua whispered to herself.
Serena and her friends left and Tom sighed set his book bag down. He might as well read something on the way home. Ramua walked up to Tom's side.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi," said Tom, "if you were hoping to see Serena you just missed her."
"Yeah, she said something about meeting a friend," Ramua said, "say, are you dating Serena?"
Tom looked up at Ramua in the middle of unzipping his bag. He looked at her searchingly and said, "Why do you ask?"
"Because well, you're always together," said Ramua, pushing her hair back.
"We're not dating," Tom said, "but we really like each other."
"You want to date her, then?"
"Yes," said Tom and he took a book from his book bag. "I would."
"How do you know her?"
"I'm a foreign exchange student," Tom explained, "I'm staying at her house."
"I see," said Ramua, unable to keep from grinning. "Well, would you like to--,"
"No," Tom said shortly, "I have to get home and study."
"Oh, well all right," Ramua said.
Tom turned and walked off with his nose in a
book.
Ramua groaned and turned the direction Serena had
gone with her friends. Perhaps it wasn't too late to track them
down. It may have been dark when the scouts fought
against her that night but Serena and her friends had more sybarites
than any of the other girls at school. It was her only lead.
Ramua looked around, trying to find their trail. She should've
asked Serena where she was meeting her friend. Ramua found some
people leaving the TA School for Girls. Ramua stopped and
backed up, looking for Serena, Lita and Ami. Perhaps they went
to meet their friend here? Ramua paused for a moment and when
she didn't see the three girls piling out of the gates, she entered
the school gates and glanced around.
"Looking for somebody?" said a voice behind Ramua.
Ramua turned around and came face to face with a girl about her age. She had short blond hair and glasses.
"Er, yes," said Ramua, "I'm supposed to meet someone here…her name's Raye…er…"
"Raye Hino?" asked the girl. "That's the only Raye I know of."
"Yes," Ramua said, hoping that this Raye Hino was the same friend Serena mentioned. "Perhaps she forgot and went home. You know where she lives?"
"Yeah, the Cherry Hill Temple," the blond haired girl answered, pointing down the lane.
"Thanks so much," Ramua said running out of the school gates.
On approaching Cherry Hill Temple, Ramua stopped, ducked into an alley and changed her appearance to an old lady. Ramua walked to the temple and peaked around the corner. Serena was talking to the girl named Raye. Raye had long black hair and violet eyes. Ramua touched her lip. Didn't the kappas injure a scout that look just like that?
"You still didn't find that thing?" Raye demanded. "Serena, it's very important that you find it!"
"It was just a book!" Serena exclaimed. "What's the big deal? There wasn't even anything in it."
Book? A smile spread across Ramua's face. Perhaps these girls were indeed the sailor scouts. Ramua thought now was a perfect time to show herself and force them to give up the Recluse Journal. Just as Ramua turned around the gate, Chad ran her over.
"Raye! I got my first gig."
Instead congratulating Chad, Raye chewed him out. "Chad, why don't you watch where you're going? You ran over this poor lady!"
"Oh, sorry," said Chad, "I didn't see you there."
As Raye continued yelling at him, Serena and the others went to help Ramua to her feet and bring her inside. Grampa Hino was very happy to see a lady around his age enter his house. He immediately set her in a comfy chair, put her feet up and gave her something to eat.
"I'm—really feeling better," Ramua said, trying not to be sickened out. She got to her feet and walked out of the temple. "I must go now."
"No, please stay!" Grampa Hino cried. "I can sing to you!"
"That won't make me better," Ramua muttered. She left the gate and turned the corner.
Grampa ran after her and just as he turned the corner Ramua was gone. "Where'd she go? I didn't even get her name!"
Ramua was furious that she wasn't successful in getting the Recluse Journal back or getting a date with Tom Ridder. She talked to her grandfather about her day and he told her to get as close to the girl named Serena as possible.
"From what you told me," Jimmu said, "this girl must be Sailor Moon. She fits the description and she may have the Recluse Journal."
"Yes, grandfather, that's what I believed."
"Take your time to gain her trust," Jimmu said, "then we can set a trap for her here. We'll force her to give up the Recluse Journal."
"Excellent idea," Ramua said, inclining her head. "I will do my best."
As the days went on, Ramua spent as much time as she could with Serena. She walked with her to and from school. She ate lunch with her and she was sometimes invited to Serena's house to study. Ramua looked around Serena's room for the Recluse Journal but she could not find it anywhere. Perhaps Serena really wasn't Sailor Moon after all. However, Serena was Ramua's only lead. Serena must've kept the Recluse Journal in a special place, hidden with other books on the bookshelf in the living room. Ramua went to the living room to look for it while Serena was getting chips and other goodies so they could watch a movie together.
'It must be here,' Ramua thought, 'I must find it!'
"What're you looking for?" said a male voice. It was Tom.
Smiling, Ramua turned to Tom. "Oh, hello, I was, er, looking for an encyclopedia, for the biology assignment you know."
Tom did not smile in return. "No you weren't."
"What?" Ramua asked, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Tell the truth!" Tom commanded and Ramua was so shocked she backed up into the bookshelf.
"W-what's your problem?" Ramua inquired.
"I saw you in Serena's room earlier when she was on the phone, "Tom said, "What'd you take?"
"I didn't take anything!" Ramua snapped. "I wouldn't' steal from Serena!"
"Tell the truth!" Tom said again.
"I just did!" Ramua insisted. "You're the one that's lying!"
"Shut up!"
Hearing shouts, Serena rushed into the room. "Tom! Ramua! What's going on here?"
Ramua started sobbing into her hands. "Tom…hurt my feelings!"
Serena looked at Tom in surprise. She never would've thought him that way. "Tom, what did you do her?"
"Nothing!" Tom said, "I saw her in your room. I think she's trying to steal from you!"
"I told you I'd never steal from Serena!" Ramua cried, pulling her hands from her face.
"Then what were you doing in her room?" Tom demanded. "You were looking for something."
"I lost an earring!" Ramua lied. "But I found it under the dresser."
"You're lying!" Tom insisted.
"I'm not!"
"Stop it!" Serena exclaimed and remembering the last time when she got mad, she quickly put her hand to her forehead. It was a good cover up because the yelling was really giving her a headache. "Tom, could you please leave us alone?"
"But Serena!" Tom said in a whisper. "I swear. She's up to no good!"
"I appreciate your concern," Serena told him, "you must've thought she was just looking for something of mine but you heard her. She lost an earring and found it."
"I saw her looking for something in the bookcase!" he pointed at the bookcase. "She's probably looking for where your dad keeps his safe!"
"My dad doesn't even have one!" Serena yelled. "Now please, could you leave us alone?"
Tom sighed and shook his head. "Yeah, fine. I guess Sammy might want help with his homework."
Tom walked out of the living room and went upstairs. Serena turned to Ramua.
"I'm so sorry," said Serena, "are you all right?"
Ramua hiccupped and nodded. "I'm sorry, maybe I should go home now."
"Oh, please stay," Serena said, "don't you still want to watch the movie?"
"No thanks," Ramua said, "my grandfather is probably worried about me. Maybe another time, okay?"
"I'm really sorry, Ramua," Serena said.
"Don't apologize," said Ramua, "Tom was the one who yelled at me."
Ramua picked up her bag and left the house. Though Serena still felt horrible, Ramua didn't. She was rather pleased. Now she got Serena's trust. Tomorrow would be the time to set the trap for Serena. With Serena angry at Tom, she wouldn't want to spend time with him so Ramua would be able to complete her mission. Tomorrow, she was going to force Serena to transform to Sailor Moon and give up the Recluse Journal. Tomorrow.
To Be Continued
JUST KIDDING! I just felt like pulling your chain. This chapter will continue now.
To the surprise of everyone in Serena's family, she got up for school early and left without Tom. She and Tom argued about what had happened for hours. Serena still couldn't believe Tom accused Ramua of stealing. The way Tom was yelling at Ramua really scared Serena. It was like Tom was a whole different person.
Ramua wasn't at school when Serena got there. Serena stood at school talking to Molly and the other girls about what happened.
"I hope she wasn't so upset she didn't want to come," Serena said sadly.
"Maybe Tom's just jealous because Ramua is like your new best friend," Lita suggested. "You've been spending a lot of time with her since she started coming here."
"But I only wanted to make her feel welcome," said Serena.
"Hey, here she comes," Molly said, pointing at the long haired Ramua. Ramua waved as she approached the girls.
"Hi, Ramua," said Serena, "I'm sorry about yesterday. Are you okay?"
"Sure," said Ramua. "I'm sorry I left the way I did. How about you come over to my house today?"
"Er, well, all right," said Serena, "if you're grandfather's okay with it."
"Oh, he's fine with it," Ramua said with a grin. "He told me he's really looking forward to meeting with you."
"Okay, sounds good."
"Serena!" Tom cried, running to the school.
"You came without Tom today?" Lita asked Serena in surprise.
"He slept in," Serena grumbled, "I'm cold, let's go inside."
"Serena, wait!" Tom yelled.
Arm in arm, Ramua and Serena went into the school. Lita turned to Tom as he came up.
"You must've had a real falling out if Serena doesn't even want to talk to you," she said.
Tom groaned. "I didn't think Serena would get mad at me."
"Oh, she'll get over it," Lita said, "she'll talk to you by the end of the day I'm sure."
But Serena kept a distance from Tom. It was hard for him to come close to her because she was always with Ramua and Ramua always broke into tears whenever he tried to come up to them. He couldn't' say anything to her all day. Before school let out, Tom was going to talk to Serena and make him listen to him. He was sick of the silent treatment. It wasn't like Serena. When the bell rang and he stood up, he was cornered by Melvin and two other smart guys.
"Hey, Tom," said Melvin, "want to come with us to the museum? It's extra credit!"
"Not now, Melvin," Tom said, edging past them. "I've got to talk to Serena."
"But I thought she doesn't want to talk to you," Melvin said.
"She told you?" Tom demanded.
"Well, no, I just noticed you two weren't talking," Melvin said.
"Yeah," said Jim, "what happened to you two? Did you break up?"
"No!" Tom exclaimed. "It was all just a misunderstanding!"
Tom was forced to explain himself and he missed another opportunity to take things out with Serena. Ramua and Serena left school for Ramua's house.
"Thank you so much for coming with me," Ramua said, unable to keep from grinning.
"No problem," Serena said, "where do you live?"
"Not too far from here," Ramua said, "we'll be there soon."
They walked down the street away from school. Serena and Ramua stepped past a pet shop. Snakes were in the window and Serena grimaced.
"My brother had to take care of his class snake," she said. "So disgusting."
Ramua laughed. "Yes, I suppose so."
When Ramua saw that the street was empty, she put her arm around Serena.
"Serena, you're such a good friend."
"Thank you, Ramua," Serena said, "so are you."
Then suddenly, Serena felt as if she were pushed through an eye of a needle. Everything went black. She couldn't breathe. What was happening? Where was she? It was the oddest, most unpleasant sensation she ever felt.
At the first opportunity, Serena took in a deep breath and opened her eyes. She was no longer on the street but in a small room.
"Ramua, where are we?"
"My place,"
Ramua said, pushing Serena to the floor. Serena looked at her
at shock.
"Ramua, what's going on?"
"We'll be asking the questions here, Sailor Moon," said a male voice.
"What?" Serena saw an old tall bearded man standing in the corner.
"Glad you can be with us today," he said. "We've gone through plenty of trouble trying to find you."
"Where's the Recluse Journal?" Ramua demanded.
"What?" Serena asked.
"Oh, perhaps this will jog your memory," Ramua said, closing her eyes. In an instant, her copper red hair changed to black, her green eyes to deep brown and her petite body into a tall woman's body.
Serena gasped. She recognized the woman but she couldn't show it. She knew what the woman was after. "Who are you?"
"You should remember me," Ramua said. "You and your sailor brats interrupted me while I was doing a very important job. The book I dropped, you have it and I want it back."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Serena hissed, "now let me go!"
"I had a feeling you wouldn't be cooperative," Ramua said, "but I've got ways of making you talk. Crucio!"
Tom managed to get away from Melvin and he looked around the school for Serena and Ramua. He didn't find any of the girls.
"Where is she?" Tom wondered out loud. "Did she go home already?"
Tom spotted Molly out of the corner of his eye. "Hye, Molly! Have you seen Serena?"
"Oh, she went to Ramua's house," said Molly.
"Ramua's?" Tom groaned. "Where is that?"
"I'm not sure," said Molly, "sorry Tom."
Molly walked of and Tom stood there in discouragement. He didn't know where Serena was. He might as well go home but he didn't feel like it. He knew the vague direction Ramua came to school. Maybe if he hurried he would be able to catch up with her. Tom started walking and he kept an eye out for Serena. Tom passed the pet shop and stopped when he found something on the ground: a long blond hair.
Tom bent down to pick it up. "Serena?"
"She's gone," said a voice.
Tom looked at the window to find six snakes looking at him. He crouched next to the window and conversed with the snakes.
"Did you see where she went?" Tom asked
"They disappeared right there," a bull python used his head to indicate the spot.
"They? A girl with red hair?"
"Yesss." The snakes said in unison
Tom thought for a moment. Serena couldn't disparate. That meant that only Ramua could. Ramua must have been a witch that could disparate and she must've been good enough to side-along-disparate. What would she want with Serena though? Tom gasped. He remembered Jimmu saying something about his granddaughter, Ramua.
"Oh no," Tom said, "she knows…"
It all clicked. Why Ramua came to the school and why she was getting friendly with Serena. Ramua was looking for something at Serena's house. The Recluse Journal and knowing that Tom and Serena were at odds; Ramua used that to her advantage and invited Serena to her home. Somewhere, Ramua was with Serena and she was trying to get the Recluse Journal. Jimmu would most likely be there with her. Serena was in danger and Tom felt helpless. He didn't even know where Serena was and even if he did, he had no wand. It was true before he knew he was a wizard he was able to exercise his abilities, make things move without touching them, make animals do what he wanted to them to do and he could hurt people but that was half a century ago. When he learned real spells he didn't have to rely on wandless magic. It was only when his emotions got so high they caused magic. If only he had his wand with him he might be able to find Serena and save her before it was too late. He looked at the snakes and they looked right back at him. Then it came to him. Tom was not alone.
"I need your help," he said, "we must find Serena."
Tom backed up, focusing his eyes on the window. His fear and anger reached the surface. A different fear consumed him. It wasn't for his life or his reputation. This time he was scared for someone else. What if he lost Serena? What if he never saw her again? He couldn't lose her this way when they were both upset with each other. This wasn't how he wanted it to be. The last thing she said to him was, "I just can't believe you!"
Those were the words he didn't want to remember. He had to believe he'd find her all right. His anger also reached the surface. He was also angry; angry at himself, at Jimmu and Ramua. He never should've trusted Jimmu. With those two emotions rising, he made the window break and the serpents slithered out. Not just the snakes in the window, but the rest of the shop. Tom went to gather snakes from the zoo. With over fifty snakes at his command, he set out to find Serena.
"Well, Sailor Moon?" Ramua asked after putting the Cruciatus Curse on Serena for the fifth time. "Are you going to cooperative with us?"
Serena could not respond. She was lying on the ground, crying and gasping for breath. The pain she went through was unbearable.
"Just give us the Recluse Journal, Sailor Moon," Ramua said. "I know you have it."
"I am not Sailor Moon," Serena muttered. "You have the wrong girl. Now let me go!"
"Oh you're not?" Ramua asked. "Then what is that you have there?"
Ramua pointed her wand and shouted. "AccioBrooch!"
Serena's brooch flew off her bow and into Ramua's outstretched hand. She handed it to her grandfather to examine.
"What do you think, Grandfather?" Ramua asked. "That looks just like the same brooch Sailor Moon was wearing."
Jimmu opened the brooch and found the crystal inside. "Ah, well what a beautiful gem you have in here."
"Let it go!" Serena cried. "That's mine!"
"We'll give it to you once you hand over the recluse journal," Ramua said, "that red book I dropped when you came to play with my kappas. I want it back."
"What would you want with a book anyway?" Serena demanded.
"You haven't discovered the person within?" Jimmu asked.
"No," Serena lied.
"Surely by now you must know about Tom Riddle," Jimmu told her. "We would very much like to speak with him."
"Well, Sailor Moon?" Ramua asked. "What's it going to be? Give us the Recluse Journal and we'll give you back your brooch. If you do not do what we say then we'll just have to kill you."
Ramua grinned and stepped toward Serena. "But don't worry, it will be like you've never left." Ramua crouched inf rotn of Serena, closed her eyes and her face changed into Serena's and Ramua's black hair became golden pigtails with buns. "I'll live in your house, wear your clothes and I'll have your boyfriend, Tom."
"I wont' let you take my place!" Serena shouted fiercely and her golden birthmark appeared on her forehead, flashing through the room.
"What's this?" Ramua backed up. "Ah ha! A golden crescent mark—Sailor Moon has just the same!"
"Now we know who you really are," Jimmu said, "the journal if you please, Sailor Moon."
"I'm not giving it to you!" Serena barked. "I don't care what you do to me, you're not getting it!"
"Very well," Jimmu said, "kill her, Ramua."
"Sorry, Serena," Ramua said, going back to her schoolgirl disguise. "You really were a good friend."
"No!" Serena cried.
Ramua pointed her wand at Serena. "Avada…"
The door broke open. The windows exploded. The floor and walls were shaking.
"What's going on?" Ramua wondered out loud.
Snakes of all sizes slithered into the room. A king cobra slithered between Serena and Ramua. It raised its head at Ramua and bared its fangs, hissing. Shocked, Serena backed into the wall.
"Snakes?" Jimmu wondered.
The snakes were acting strange. A couple more snakes got between Ramua and Serena and others coiled around Serena. Serena remained still with fright. She didn't want to make them bite her but they showed no sign of attacking her.
'Wait,' Serena thought, 'they're not here to attack me. They're here to protect me?'
"Out of the way!" Ramua cried.
The cobra lunged and bit Ramua on the arm. She cried out and backed away—right into Tom.
"Tom!" Serena shouted.
"Riddle?" Jimmu asked.
"Tom Ridder," Ramua muttered, looking from
Serena to Tom. "You're Tom Riddle?"
"I'd watch
where you step if I were you," said Tom, sounding surprisingly calm
despite he had a coral snake coiled around his arm. A dozen
more snakes were slithering in around his legs into the room.
"My friends bite."
Tom had a strange look in his eyes. Though he seemed so calm he looked like he was ready strike like a snake himself.
"Kill them," Tom hissed at the snakes. He flung his left arm, sending the coral snake flying onto Jimmu. As the snakes attacked Jimmu and Ramua, Tom walked to Serena and picked her up in his arms. She cried into his shoulder as he carried her out. She was relieved but confused and still scared. How did Ramua find out who she was? What were those snakes doing there? How did Tom know how to find Serena?
Tom didn't say anything until he was a good distance from Jimmu's home. He carried Serena to the park and set her down on a park bench and crouched down in front of her.
"Oh Tom," Serena wailed, "you were right! Ramua was trying to steal from me. Ramua knew! She was after you!"
"What did you tell her?" Tom asked.
"Nothing," Serena replied, "I told her
nothing about you! She kept saying I was Sailor Moon but I just
played dumb. But then she took my brooch and…"
Serena put her
hand to her chest. "My brooch! She has the crystal!"
"You'll get it back," Tom assured her.
"How? It's back there!"
"The snakes will return it," he said.
"The snakes?"
"Yes," Tom sighed, "Serena, I never told you why Voldemort kidnapped me and preserved me in the book. It's because I have this gift. I can speak to snakes."
"You can speak to snakes?"
Tom nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you at first."
"It's all right," Serena whispered. "So, Voldemort wanted to use you because of this power?"
"Yes," said Tom.
Serena paused. "Mr. Slither—that's how you found him—because you can speak to snakes."
Tom smiled. "That's right, you remember."
"And the snakes," Serena whispered, "that's how you found me."
"I was worried about you," Tom explained, "Molly said you went home with Ramua so I tried finding you. The farthest I got was next to a pet shop and I found a piece of your hair. The snakes told me they saw you disappear with Ramua and then I realized who she was. I got as many snakes as I could to help find you."
"Oh Tom, if you hadn't come," Serena said, "Ramua was going to kill me!"
"You're all right now," Tom said, cupping her face. "No one's going to hurt you. Listen, Serena, you have to tell your friends about me. It's too late. You were almost killed because of me. Your friends have to know."
Serena nodded. "I know."
"I can come with you if want me to," Tom said.
"I'd like that," Serena said.
A group of snakes came slithering to Tom. One had Serena's brooch in its mouth. Tom reached his hand out and the snake dropped Serena's brooch in his hand. Tom handed it to Serena who slid off the park bench into Tom's arms. Serena sobbed softly and patted her head. He was so glad she was safe. "I was so scared," she said, "they were going to kill me if I didn't give the book to them. They were calling it a Recluse Journal."
"It's all right now, Serena," Tom assured her, "you're safe. You're with me. You don't have to worry about them anymore."
"Oh Tom…"
"Come on," he said, "let's go."
"Right," said Serena, leaning back and wiping her tears away. She put her brooch onto her bow and Tom helped her feet. Hand in hand, Tom and Serena walked over to Cherry Hill Temple. How was Serena going to tell her friends the truth and how were they going to take it?
TO BE CONTINUED (FOR REALS)
NEXT CHAPTER: DARIEN RETURNS
