I am so sorry for the lack of update. I do apologize but the muses was just not there, and then add major writer's block for the two chapters I had to come up with. Boy oh boy was it hard, but yes, finally I have come up with two chapters for you to read! Please R & R! I want to know what you think!
Chapter 5: Qudditch Game
It had a been a month since classes start for the year, and Hermione Granger sat at the breakfast table reading the Daily Prophet while waiting for her friends to come downstairs. As she turned the page she heard voices to her left and in front of her. She looked up to see Luna and Ginny sitting down next to her.
"Good morning Luna, Ginny." The brunette greeted cheerfully to her friends.
"Good morning, Hermione." Luna said back before sitting down. As Luna sat down with Ginny, Hermione noticed that Professor Tuskino and Professor Tomoe were not at the head table that morning. Just then Ron, Harry, Neville, and Seamus arrived at the table to eat their breakfast with their friends.
"Anything new they are saying in the prophet?" Ginny inquired as she got food on her plate bringing Hermione back from her thoughts.
"Oh, yes. It appears there was another attack in London and four senshi were spotted this time." She enlightened them.
"Four senshi, that is bloody brilliant!" Ron said excitingly while filling his plate.
"Which four were spotted?" Harry asked curiously as he sat his books down on the table.
"The four that were spotted were Sailor Neptune, Sailor Saturn, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Venus." Hermione said as she reread the paper briefly to make sure she was giving accurate information, before continuing explaining what she read, "What I find interesting though is that the past couple of attacks have been random throughout London and Diagon Ally. There doesn't seem to be any pattern. Plus, there have not been any sightings of the other senshi. No one has seen the other remaining senshi here in England and Sailor Moon hasn't been seen in Japan since the spring."
"Sailor Moon is missing?" Harry raised surprised to hear reports about the heroine.
"Possibly, rumor has it, she may be dead. The last know report was she was badly injured in a youma attack and has not been seen since." Hermione answered seriously.
"But you said it could be a rumor…if she isn't dead where is she at?" Ginny asked looking at her friend.
"I don't know." Hermione responded back looking at the paper wondering the same thing.
~Class~
A month had passed and Serena was enjoying watching her students learn more about magic as each day passed. The blonde woman was enjoying particularly a young man grow up right bore her as well. Serena stood in front of her class with her students looking at her expectantly with Hotaru standing next to her. She smiled at the class before her pleased to see them ready to learn for the day.
"Good morning class, I hope you all slept well," She began cheerfully, "Now, today I hear that there will be a quidditch game later on," She said smiling as her blue eyes came to a young Harry who was sitting with his friends. "Since there is a game we thought for those who ware competing later today we let you play dodge ball." The young group of students smile joyfully while others high five each other. Serena and Hotaru chuckled at the reaction from the students at the news. After the students calmed down both teachers with the help of the students got the room set up quickly for them to play the game.
Serena stood watching her students have a good time playing the game in the class room. As she stood there watching her blue eyes felt heavy from the lack of sleep she had from the recent attack at night with the youmas. To keep herself awake Serena walked around the room as she kept an eye on the game to make sure it did not get out of hand. As the Lunarian princess made her way around the room, she came across Harry and Ron who were playing. She watched Harry as he expertly dodge balls and throw them back at his classmates. She noticed how agile he was at it, realizing he must have gotten it from his father. The princess smiled falter at the thought about the past. The guilt she felt for their death start to come to her swiftly once more. She realized the feelings were surfacing rapidly so she decided to focus on the future that was standing before her now, then on the past that she could do nothing about. As she focused on the game at hand again, the feelings disappeared, before anyone could notice the change in mood in their teacher.
~Qudditch Game~
Serena sat on the quidditch belchers with Hotaru with Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape right next to them. The weather for the game was perfect for it with the sun shining brightly in the sky and only a few passing clouds now. As Serena watched as other professors, and students fill in empty spots she suddenly heard familiar voices not too far in front of her. She noticed only two seats a head of them was Hermione, Luna, Neville, and Seamus ready to cheer for the Gryffindor team.
"So Serena when was the last time you have actually been to one of these?" Snape asked curiously her as his eyes roamed around the area.
"You mean a game?" She replied back to clarify the question. Hotaru was listening to the conversation of the two friends curious to the answers. She saw him nodded his head to her question. "Honestly, Severus I haven't been to a game since we were kids ourselves and I use to play." Serena replied back thoughtfully.
"You use to play." Hotaru remarked back in revelation looking at Serena. Serena looked at her friend with a small smile on her lips.
"Yes, I did, but that was a long time ago. Your making me feel old Severus." She said turning back to face him with a frown on her own face only to see a smirk and an amused look in his eyes.
"Well, then if it has been that long, would you like me to refresh you on the rules of the game?" He teased her in a joking manner. The Lunarian princess just rolled her eyes playfully at the comment.
"No thank you, I think I can manage watching the game and remembering the rules myself." She shot back in a sarcastic tone. Before anything more could be said between the two old friends, Madame Hooch had come onto the field and blew her whistle to start the game.
At that moment the students were on their brooms and in the air flying around trying to get goals. As Serena looked around the field she saw Ron trying his best to block the goals from the other team, and doing a good job. As her blue eyes moved around for a particular student of hers, it only took her a few minutes until her eyes fell on the person she was locating. Harry sat on his brown looking ready to move at a second notices, but she could tell he was looking for the snitch, so he could catch it at the right moment within the game to win.
"I hear Harry is very good seeker." Serena said as she watched the match.
"Oh, yes, the youngest ever to get the position." Professor McGonagall answered back proudly to Serena. Serena smiled proudly to have Harry be so great at the game. Serena watched as the quaffel was handed off from a player on the Slytherin team to another team member with a Gryffindor trying to intervene the pass of the quaffel between two players.
"I hear Mr. Malfoy is the seeker on your house team, Severus?" Serena replied nonchalantly to make conversation with the others.
"Yes, he is, although, Potter is better I will admit." He said simply. Serena smiled at hearing him admit a complement out of his mouth about Harry.
"True, but the Ravenclaw's seeker has the next best player between the houses." Professor McGonagall added into the conversation. Serena watched as the Gryffindor team won ten points for getting the quaffel through one of the hoops, bringing back old memories of her days of watching the game with her friends her first year as a student at Hogwarts.
"You miss it?" Snape questioned her noticing the small frown on her lips as she watched the game and her blue eyes showing a bit of pain. Serena turned to him forcing a smile on her lips.
"More than you know." She said quietly to him. Severus took a hold of her hand to give her a friendly squeeze completely understanding why Serena was feeling the way she was suddenly. He knew it had nothing to do with the game itself she actually missed, but the people who were in her life at that time, but were no longer with her now, that she missed the most.
"I know." He whispered softly, his eyes softening and showing concern for her.
"Thank you." She mouth backed as there were screams suddenly from the students as another goal was made. Everyone completely obvious to the two friends sharing in the pain of losing those they loved. Severus just nodded his head giving one last squeeze in support. The Lunarian princess watched the game quietly for a while. Both teams were doing admirable job at getting points and blocking the quaffel. However, during the game at one point one of the beaters for the Slytherin team hit the bludger to hit Harry, from going after the snitch, luckily Harry was able to see it coming and dodge it last second. She watched as Ron, was able to last second barely just stop the quaffel getting through one of the hoops, but unfortunately in watching the move, one of Ron's other team mates got hit by the bludger, making them fall off their broom.
"That is going to hurt." Hotaru stated as she cringed at the thought of the pain the student must be in after the fall.
"It hurts very much falling from that height." Serena acknowledged in a knowing tone.
"Did it happen to you?" She asked her.
"Not only did Serena fall off her broom, but the bludger hit her in the face breaking her noise too." Snape replied before Serena could with a smirk at the memory.
"It broke your noise!" Hotaru exclaimed looking at Serena with her purple eyes wide in shock.
"Yes, but I also broke my arm from falling off my broom from the impact. I was in a lot of pain that day." Serena sighed before continuing. "That was one of my first games I had played."
"Wow." Hotaru said amazed at hearing the story.
"Yes, but what was even more amazing, is that Serena got right back on her broom to finish the game. The team won, in the end, and Serena had helped with the win." Severus responded back in admiration for his friend. Hotaru just shook her head at hearing such information.
"Now, that sounds like the stubborn Serena I know." Serena just shook her head at the comment Hotaru just made knowing full well the meaning behind it.
The game had been going on for about an hour at this point and Gryffindor was up by ten points in the lead and the students were getting tired. From what Serena could see Harry was actively searching for the snitch so the game could end with the Gryffindor team winning, but Malfoy was not far away in search for the same small magical ball. Harry had stopped abruptly looking around until his gaze fell on something in the air not too far away. Then he shot off in the direction his gaze was in with Malfoy fast on his toes. Serena watched Harry zig and zag on the field avoiding other players as he raced after the snitch to catch it. As Harry raced to close his fist around it, the quaffel was aimed at one of the goals to get points for the Slytherin team. Ron, quickly raced in the direction of the quaffel to stop it from getting through the hoops. As he blocked the goal, just in time, Harry grabs hold of the snitch signaling the end of the game. The Gryffindor team won the game with 200 in points while the Slytherin team had only 40 points.
After the game the students of Gryffindor returned to the room cheering on for Ron and Harry in the performance for winning the game. The two boys were smiling happily with their friends not too far from the group enjoying in the celebration of beating the Slytherin team. The two boys shook some hands of younger students who were looking up to them both with admiration for what they did. Some time had passed and everyone started going their separate ways to enjoy the celebration of the win. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Seamus, and Neville all sat in front of the fire place chatting casually about the win, and how upset the Slytherin team had been at the lost. The friends were joking around enjoying themselves when a young burnette appeared at the group shyly.
"Ron, could I talk to you." She asked him sweetly. Ron smirked at Harry and Seamus before answering her.
"Sure." He said smoothly as possible as he got up to talk to her. The two walk only a few feet away from the group so no one could hear what they were saying, but could still see them.
"Who is that?" Ginny asked Hermione curious about the girl.
" Lavender Brown is her name. I wondered why she wants to talk to Ron." Hermione questioned out loud, but before anyone could reply to her question, they suddenly knew what the answer was. Lavender abruptly kissed Ron on the lips for a few seconds before pulling away and giggling like a school child while Ron just smiled gleefully before the two disappeared.
"You've got to be kidding me." Ginny mumbled in shock. Hermione just looked on with a hurt expression upon seeing the affection between Ron and Lavender. 'He'll never see me that way.' She thought sadly to herself. Hermione could feel the tears welling up in her eyes at realizing that Ron had no interested in her, so she quickly excused herself from the rest of group to be alone. Harry had turned just in time to see the hurt expression on Hermione's face as she excused herself. Harry got up swiftly to follow his friend to make sure she was ok. A few minutes later he found Hermione in the hall crying lightly to herself on the ground.
"You ok?" Harry asked cautiously as he approached her. Hearing the sudden voice she looked up to see her friend Harry standing before her with a concern look to his face.
"No." She whispered as tears kept coming down. Harry nodded in understanding sitting himself down next to her and letting her cry on his shoulder. He knew she liked Ron, but Ron was completely oblivious about it. Harry was unsure what to say at a time like this, so he kept quiet while rubbing her arm to show support.
Meanwhile, Serena was walking down the hall when she heard soft crying not too far from where she was going. Suddenly worried as to why someone would be crying she stop her direction to find the person. A moment later she rounded a corner not expecting to see these two particular students of hers sitting on the ground in the hall way.
"Now, this is not what I expected to find here." Serena said softly as she approached both them with a frown on her lips her blue eyes holding concern for both of them. She notice Hermione was the one crying while Harry was there it seemed concerned for her, for his green eyes shown the emotion clearly in them when he looked up to her. Both students looked up the instant they heard Serena's soft voice.
"After a victory like today I would not expect this. What is wrong?" Serena asked them as she walked up to two and was next to Hermione on the ground completely worried for the girl's well being. Hermione could see the worry in her eyes for her and that she cared for her too.
"It's nothing professor." Hermione mumbled quietly to her. Serena looked at the young girl before with a skeptical look of 'I am not buying it.'
"Now, I maybe a teacher Hermione, but I was a student your age at one time, that went through similar experiences as you two, so please tell me what is wrong." She encouraged her student before her to answer her. Hermione looked at Harry who nodded his head in agreement.
"The boy l like, kissed another girl in front of me in our common room." She said simply not wishing to give away too much of information. Serena nodded her head in understanding of the situation right away.
"Ron would be the boy who is completely oblivious to the fact that you have feelings for him." Serena stated simply while looking at her with her blue eyes holding understanding and concern for Hermione. Hermione was surprised that her teacher knew who she liked and was easily written on her face and Harry was taken back by the comment. Serena smiled at seeing both their reactions and could not help but giggle at the two lightly. Hermione grew angry at hearing her teacher laughing at her for having feelings for Ron and being upset at the whole situation.
"I am sorry for the laugh. Please I am not laughing at your situation, but rather the looks on your face. They were ones I was not expecting from either of you. I apologize." She said quickly at seeing Hermione's features change to anger. "But you both seem surprised by my comment I see."
"Yes, how did you know that I liked Ron? Did someone say something to you?" Hermione asked curious as to know how her teacher knew so much. Serena smiled at Hermione's curiosity and thirst for information.
"No, no one told me. Like I said I was a teenager once myself and have been in similar shoes you could say."
"You were." Harry stated amazed at how easily it seemed for the two of them to talk to her and know so much about them.
"Yes. As for how I know is because I pay close attention to my students and I see the way you look at him when he is not looking and can tell you care for him deeply. Just as I see the way Harry looks at Ginny when she is not looking." She stated simply causing a giggle from Hermione as Harry blushed at realizing Serena knew his feelings towards his best friend's sister. "But don't worry he will realize you have feelings for him eventually, it will just take some time, it always does." Serena stated in a confident tone.
"Really? You think so?" She asked her. Serena nodded her head.
"Yes, when I was in school there was a boy I liked, and it took a long time for him to realize it too." Serena replied to her softly as she thought back on her days at Hogwarts without giving away too much. Harry noticed her blue holding sadness her eyes as she looked far off into her memories of the days when she was younger.
"What happened?" Harry asked her bring the lunarian princess back from her thoughts.
"Let's just say things don't always go according to your plans, but that does not mean that will happen to you Hermione." She continued. "You are a bright, talented young girl, and I know you will get Ron to realize your feelings for him."
"Thank you Professor." Hermione stated sincerely at the professor cheering her up causing her to smile a little.
"Now, that is what I like to see, a smile on your face." This time her comment made both of them to smile at her. "Now, up both of you." She said happily. Both students stood up with their teacher standing before them. "I want both of you to go enjoy the rest of your evening."
"Yes, professor." They both said at the same time.
"Good. And if you need someone to talk to please do not hesitate to come to me about it, I would be happy to help you." Serena stated genuinely.
"Thank you." Hermione responded floored by her teacher's concern for her and willing to help her with such a personal matter.
"Now run along you two, and I do not want to see anymore tears on that pretty face of yours. They do not suit you." She said in a soft commanding voice. The two nodded their heads in agreement before heading back to the common room to be with their friends until dinner was ready.
~Dinner~
Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat at their table with the rest of their friends enjoying the meal and talking about the game. Everyone seemed to be in a high spirits from the win for Gryffindor. The students talking among themselves while eating the delicious food that was before them. Serena watched Harry and friends talk about the game, she could tell how happy he was which made her happy to see.
"It seems the students are in a good mood after the game." Hotaru stated simply as she observed them.
"Yes it seems so." Serena replied back casually remembering what it felt like when your time won a game.
"Serena still eating a lot of food at least some things never change." Serena turned to see Severus who was next to her right cutting up his meat that was on his plate. She glared at him for the comment.
"Oh, she has not changed her eating habits in all of the years I have known her. She still out eats everyone that I know." Hotaru joked back.
"Yes, it seems some things have not changed about me." Serena replied back sarcastically to him earning a smirk from the potions professor.
"Tell me Hotaru how long have you known Serena?" Severus noticed the mention of years that Hotaru seemed to know Serena and wondered how long they know one another.
"Well, we met in Japan during the summer. Serena was about sixteen or seventeen at the time." She finished thinking back to the past while watching how she worded things should anyone ease drop on their conversation. Severus was surprised by what she said, which Serena saw from his look on his face.
"Yes, I have known Hotaru a long time, Severus, which you are now making me feel old again." She said with a pout to her face earning another smirk from him. "In one whole day you've managed to make me feel old twice." She finished with a frown still on her lips causing Severus to chuckle softly at her.
Harry while eating and listening to his friends talk about the game look over to the professor table to see Professor Tuskino, and Professor Tomoe, talking to Professor Snape. He watched as they talked Professor Tuskino pout causing Snape to smirk at her while speaking to her. Then the blonde professor laughed about something and Professor Tomoe just smile. Harry was amazed to see Professor Snape actually seem to be willingly participating in a conversation and enjoy it.
"Harry what is so surprising?" Ginny asked noticing Harry shock look written all over his face. He turned to look at her bringing him back to where he was at.
"Look at Snape talk to Professor Tuskino and Professor Tomoe. I've just watch him smile at Professor Tuskino. I never seem him act like this before." He explained to his friends.
"You are right Harry. He seems so happy and joking with them." Ron replied in amazement tone and disbelief look written on his face while watching them.
"From the way they are acting I'd say they know each other very well." Hermione stated while observing the two professors.
"That is so weird." Ginny responded.
"Impossible though, Professor Tuskino and Professor Tomoe just moved here." Harry pointed out to them.
"I know Harry, but how else can you explain the behavior." Hermione asked him seriously.
The rest of the dinner went on with no problem. Once the students had their fill of food many were getting up to go to their common rooms to study or get ready for the night to end. The professors were doing the same thing too. There were only a handful of students in the dining hall, as well as professors too. The young blonde sat at the table watching Harry and his friends that were left get up to head back to their rooms. Serena sat at her table thinking about her time she had with him thus far and able to protect him when the time came. Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard screams coming just down the hall. Serena was up in seconds running in the direction of the scream as fast as she could. The young blonde ran until she came across Harry and his friends along with a few other students facing a youma with their wands out to protect them from it.
"You have to be kidding." She muttered to herself in annoyance. She had a feeling this would happen, but not this late in the day.
"We should blast this thing with a spell." A student suggested confidently.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Serena replied coolly as she made her way to the front of the group purposely putting herself in between the youma the students. The students were surprised to see her show up so fast.
"Why not?" the same student asked.
"It won't do any good." Hermione explained, her voice showing fear even though she did her best to hide it.
"She is right. However, spells we use can slow it down until help arrives, so long as the youma is not to strong. There is no spell to kill it, but defending yourself is the best course of action when in a situation such as this." Serena stated in a matter of fact tone. "However, depending on the level of the youma and the type of spell you use, you could upset it further to, should you try to defend yourself." Serena added as she starred at the youma before her. The youma grinned at Serena. The Lunrian princess knew the youma recognized her, she just hoped it could not speak and give away who she was to the other students. All of a sudden the youma started to make its way towards the group.
"Impediment!" Serena shouted waving her wand in the air. The spell hit the youma dead on, which the youma slowed down at first, but it kept coming towards them.
"Huh, oh, that just slowed it down." Ginny said.
"Now what?" another fearful girl asked.
"Stupefy." Serena yelled hoping the power of the spell would do something to it. The spell hit the youma, but it was in effective to doing anything to it.
'No, this youma is just too strong.' She thought as it came towards them. Just then Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn appeared from behind them.
"Pluto Deadly Scream!" Pluto yelled her attack while moving her staff.
"Silent Wall!" yelled Saturn to shield the students from any debris coming back at them from the attack. The attack hit the youma head on slamming it back against a wall with a loud thud. Pluto turned to see the Serena standing in front of the students.
"I suggest you get out of her while you can. We'll handle it from here." She advised the group.
"Right." Serena said before turning to her students who were looking to her for direction in this deadly situation. "Follow me." She said to the group of students in a commanding voice. Serena started making her way down the hallway that the students were originally heading to when the youma made its appearance. Once down the hall the students saw the stairs that would lead them to their common rooms. As they made their way towards the stairs they were met up with the headmaster, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape and Professor Flick.
"Professor Tuskino what is going on?" McGonagall demanded from the young blonde.
"A youma has appeared trying to attack these students." She informed the other professors as she caught her breath.
"Oh, no." McGonagall responded in a worried tone.
"Well, we should deal with it then." Severus stated seriously looking in the directions that the young princess and student had just come from.
"No, you will only get in the way. Two senshi have arrived to deal with the youma. Please let them handle it Severus." Serena pleaded to her friend to stay away for fear she would lose him as well.
"She is right Severus. You will only do more harm than good if you go. What we can do best is get these students up to their rooms safely while they handle the youma." Dumbledore wisely stated to them.
"Of course." Severus answered back. Serena looked down the hall feeling frustrated that she could not help her friends without giving away who she was at the moment.
~Dumbledore's Office~
Dumbledore sat in his chair with an amused look on his face as he watched the princess before him through his half moon glasses pace back and forth in his room waiting to hear from her friends. Just then a portal open in his office and Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn appeared before them. Serena sighed in relief to see they were alright.
"Thank goodness you're both alright." Serena said happily. Both girls just smiled at their leader, not surprised by her behavior.
"Yes, we are fine." Pluto said with a smile on her lips.
"And the youma?" Dumbledore inquired while popping a piece of candy into his mouth.
"Defeated." Saturn replied simply before reverting back to her teaching robes.
"So it would appear that they have decided to start attacking school with youmas." Pluto stated in a serious tone.
"I'm not surprised. He knows the school has no defense against this sort of magic and is open to an attack." Hotaru said looking to them all.
"Hotaru is right. Darien assumes that there is no one here to protect Harry from this sort of magic. He is expecting it to be easy to use a youma to get to him. That way he does not have to reveal himself." Serena replied.
"I had a feeling this would happen when I learned Darien was working with Voldermort. It is a good thing you are here to protect all the students." Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
"Yes, which means for now we have to expect that there will be an attack here at Hogwarts at any point in time from a youma. Now, that Darien knows there is someone here stopping them, it is only a matter of time before he shows up himself to get Harry." Serena said gravely looking at them all with a frown.
"I will inform the others about today's events with the youma. That way the girls will be ready when the time comes when Darien finally decides to make his move." Pluto replied.
"It is only a matter of time and he will make his move. I suggest you stay close by Pluto for this to work out." Dumbledore said wisely to her. Pluto nodded her head in agreement.
"He is right. Darien will not wait long since he feels that it should be easy for him to get to Harry. He is going to strike soon and we must be ready when he does." Serena said soberly the worry swirling in her blue eyes.
"I will."
"I know." Serena looked at all three ready to make her stance against Darien.