Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Harry Potter. Also, I apologize for this late chapter!

Shifts in Destiny

Chapter 14

Destination, Determination, Deliberation

After a day of rest, Serena's friends had their energy back and they were released to their dorms. They had a meeting in the Room of Requirement to discuss it. Serena explained what happened and apologized. To her surprise, none of them were angry—not even Raye. She was more concerned with the fact that her old home was now a theater.

"Grampa didn't tell me what he was planning on doing with the temple," she said. "I'll have to talk to him about that."

"And here I thought I just worked out too hard," Mina chuckled. "Good to know I don't have to cut back."

"You shouldn't overdo it, Mina," Ami told her and Mina waved her warning off.

"Oh I'll be fine," she said. "I'm looking forward to the five mile run I'm planning with Hannah and the others for the next Hogsmeade Weekend."

"Maybe your sailor powers might be coming back, Serena," Lydia said hopefully.

"I don't know, maybe," Serena murmured. "You guys think so?"

The others shrugged. Luna gave her theory.

"I don't think you can gain all your powers on your own," she said. "But it seems you still have the ability to borrow those of the others when you really want to, or need to. I don't know how you would get the ability to transform to Sailor Moon by yourself."

"Trista was able to pick up on your power trip," said Artemis. "She was using her garnet rod to monitor anyone that would be apparating outside the timezone. When you teleported to Japan, she wasn't able to use her garnet rod for a couple hours."

"Wow," said Serena. "I did that?"

Luna nodded. "She didn't know what it was at first. When we explained what you did, she made the connection. Now your classmates will be curious to know what happened to you. We'll need a story."

The girls began talking together, coming up with their ideas.

"Why not just tell them the truth?" said Mina. The others looked at her like she was crazy. "It's not like we're at a normal high school here. If we tell them who we really are and what happened, we don't have to hide. After all, some people already know—Harry, Hermione, Ron—hell even Draco Malfoy knows!"

"He just knows about me," said Raye. "He doesn't know who you are. I didn't tell him, he figured it out on his own."

"And I'm sure a lot of people would figure it out sooner or later," Mina said. "Why don't we just come clean now, instead of hiding who we are?"

"Because we can endanger not only our lives, but the lives of everyone here," said Ami. "What if the Ministry gets wind of this, or even Voldemort?"

"Sure's a risk," said Mina, "but we can't keep hiding who we are!"

"What do you think everyone will do?" said Lydia. "You think people will think you're an idol or something?"

Mina's mouth dropped. Of course her dream was always to be an idol, but not like this, was it?

"We'll speak to Dumbledore," said Luna. "He'll figure out something. In the meantime, please don't tell anyone you are sailor scouts."

"I've been a sailor scout longer than you guys have," said Mina, "and I got tired of hiding who I was."

"I know it's hard," said Luna. "But your identities must be kept secret."

Mina groaned. "Fine, but they will find out sooner or later, you know." Mina left the room and Lita turned.

"Mina, wait up!" she cried.

Mina ignored her and Lita sighed.

"What's with her lately?" she said. "She's been weird since Christmas."

"I don't follow." Artemis shook his head. "She's focusing more on exercise, and even putting more effort in her studies. I think Mina's doing just fine.

"Well I'm glad you guys are all right," said Serena. "I was really worried!"

The school was buzzing with theories of what happened to Serena and the others. Some said Serena cheated at apparating and her friends passed out on purpose to get out of the apparition lesson. The cover story Dumbledore gave them was that they were just overly tired and Serena focused on home instead of her hoop. The topic didn't die down and they only spoke about it more as the next lesson was approaching.

Harry tried not to be distracted in Transfiguration with Serena helping Draco with the conjuration spells. She was patient and encouraging. He couldn't believe that she still managed to have a good attitude with a guy that was such a jerk. If he wanted things to be better with Serena, Harry had to get used to the idea.

When McGonagall was on the other side of the room helping other students, Draco stopped from practicing to talk to Serena.

"Tell me, Serena, where do you plan to apparate to tomorrow?" he demanded.

Serena paused then smiled. "Hopefully to the inside of my hoop."

"I don't buy the story you and your pals are telling everyone," said Draco. "There's a connection. I know there is."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm keeping my eye on you tomorrow," said Draco. "If you're glowing anywhere near what you were last week...well...maybe it's better you don't come back to Hogwarts."

"What do you mean?" Serena asked him. "You saw me?"

"I was right next to you when you disappeared," said Draco. "People don't glow when they apparate. You did something else. Did you cheat?"

"No," said Serena. "I don't know what I did."

"Right," Draco hissed. "You glow and disappear, while Raye and those other girls end up unconscious for one day? I know Raye isn't an ordinary witch—so you're probably not an ordinary witch either. Am I right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Serena, raising her wand hand. "Of course I'm an ordinary witch."

"Yeah, of course you are," Draco said with a smirk.

The bell rang and students began piling out. Serena walked up to Harry. "Hey, Harry—how about we hang out together during the apparating lesson tomorrow."

Harry's eyes lit up and he kissed her front of Professor McGonagall and half the class. Dean whistled and Pavarati sighed. "Aww!"

"Potter, that wasn't part of the lesson," McGonagall said sternly.

"Yeah, sorry, Professor," said Harry. He took Serena by the hand and led her outside. "You have anything right now? We can talk."

"Divination," said Serena. "And you've got Potions."

"Oh, right," groaned Harry. "After classes then?"

Serena nodded and then hurried to the North tower.

Serena and Harry sat in the common room talking for about an hour after their classes for the day. It was the longest conversation they've had since their fight. To Harry's relief, it wasn't awkward. He stayed away from the topic of Draco, since he knew it would set her off. They talked about their classes and funny things they've noticed. The usual things they used to talk about. It was like nothing happened.

"I'm glad you'll be with me for the apparition lessons tomorrow," said Harry. "You can teach me a thing or two from your trip from Japan. What was it like? I mean, you didn't get sick or anything, did you?"

Serena laughed. "No, but I didn't exactly apparate—like wizards do. I teleported. It's how we scouts got around. We used our sailor powers. But my sailor powers are gone—I borrowed the others'." Serena frowned. "That's what knocked them out."

"Hey, they're going to be fine," said Harry. "One night in the hospital wing and they were back on their feet. I've been through worse, trust me."

"I know," said Serena. "But I should have known better. I wouldn't have done it if I knew it would make them pass out."

"Well, is teleporting the same thing as apparating?" Harry asked.

Serena nodded. "Yeah, a bit. We have to focus on the place where we want to go. Since we've always done it in a group, it had to be the same place. Then we had to picture ourselves there. We called upon our power and then, there we were."

"You didn't call on your or their powers, did you?" said Harry.

Serena shook her head. "That's the thing. I don't know why. It could because I was thinking back in Japan and I wanted to go back there so badly, that I couldn't have done it using my wizarding powers, so what's left of my sailor power used that of the others."

"I think you'll be fine tomorrow, don't worry," said Harry. "Just as long as you're not thinking about Japan again."

"I won't be," said Serena. "Now that I got the visit out of my system, I can focus. What happened with the lesson? Did they continue or did they have to send everyone to the dormitories?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, after Raye and the others went to the Hospital Wing, they resumed the lesson. Nobody was able to apparate, except for Susan Bones. But she splinched her leg."

"Splinched her leg?" Serena put her hands to her mouth, looking mortified.

"Don't worry, she's all right," Harry said. "Professor Twycross said that happens when someone isn't determined enough. That doesn't happen to you guys, does it?"

"No of course not!" Serena said, now looking nervous. "Oh gosh, I hope I don't splinch anything important tomorrow."

"Did you see anybody while you were gone?" Harry asked, to get her mind off of splinching. "Any of your friends?"

"Well, yeah," Serena said shyly. "My friends from my old school. My best friend molly and her boyfriend Melvin—he's such a geek but Molly seems to like him. I uh, also saw Darien." Serena bit her lip and pushed her pointer fingers together.

"Darien?" Harry murmured.

"Now don't get jealous!" Serena warned.

"I wasn't," Harry said, trying very hard not to be. "How'd that go?"

"It was short," Serena said. "He doesn't remember me. Probably because of his motorcycle accident. I saw him with Lizzy, one of my friends that is a waitress our favorite cafe. I think he likes her."

"What makes you say that?" said Harry.

"Well, Darien said she was helping him a lot since his accident," said Serena.

"Do you see them going out?" Harry asked.

Serena laughed. "I haven't asked my 'inner eye' yet. But I guess they'd be cute together. She's closer to his age, and he's been nice enough to give her rides sometimes."

Serena sighed and ran her hand through her now short blond hair. "You know I tried to see Hotaru. I ended up in a forest of some kind."

"You what? Serena, that was dangerous! What if you found Voldemort you?"

"Yes, I know," Serena groaned. "I was just worried about her, you know?"

Yes, I know," Harry agreed. He took her hand. "But she's really powerful right? I'm sure she'll find some way to get free soon."

Serena nodded and sighed. "I'm kinda tired. See you tomorrow then." She stood up quickly. Before she reached the stairs, Harry called to her.

"Serena, wait," he said. "What made you decide to er—come around?"

Serena bit her lip and hesitated. She didn't want to say anything about Malfoy's comment in class. He'd lose his cool for sure. "I guess, I just missed you, Harry." She smiled weakly, waved and trekked up the stairs.

There wasn't much improvement in the next apparation lesson. People either splinched themselves or didn't apparate at all. Even with Lydia's usual beginner's luck, she didn't apparate to her hoop. She just faded in and out of the same spot she was standing.

"Of all the rotten luck!" she groaned.

"Did you forget where to go?" teased Mina.

"Oh hush!" Lydia snapped. "You didn't do any better."

Mina frowned. Only her hair seemed to apparate, leaving the rest of her behind.

Lita almost made it then splinched her ear.

"It's because I'm too tall, isn't it?" she said jokingly to those around her.

Raye did something completely different. Her body didn't apparate, but her mind seemed to. She could see and hear what was going on in different parts of the room. She saw Draco standing by himself and she was a little surprised that Serena wasn't near him. Did Serena's befriending experiment fail? When she heard Serena's conversation with Harry, it made her wonder.

"Geez, this hard," said Serena. "I doubt anybody will get this by the time of the test."

"Are you sure you just don't want to leave my side, Serena?" Harry smirked. "Because I know I don't want to leave yours."

Serena giggled. "Oh, Harry, cut it out! I've got to concentrate." She closed her eyes and chanted. "Destination, Determination, Deliberation."

The two were back to flirting together like nothing happened. She knew that Serena wouldn't stay mad long but something about Serena's behavior seemed a little forced.

"One last time," said Twycross and on the final attempt Ami made it just outside her hoop.

"Way to go, Ami!" Ron hollered, causing the shy girl to flinch and blush.

Serena glanced at Draco, who was already leaving the Great Hall. She breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't apparate and she hoped she didn't have to worry about Draco. Even if she wasn't Sailor Moon anymore, she didn't want anyone else to know who she used to be.

"Coming, Serena?" said Harry, watching Serena linger back in thought.

"Er, yeah," said Serena.

"Wait a minute," called Raye. She approached her. "We should have a meeting."

"Oh, Raye, it's late!" Serena murmured.

"Just a short one," Raye insisted and she waved the rest of the girls over. They met in the Room of Requirement.

"I thought we'd talk about how we did," said Raye.

"Well if you were watching, we were horrible," said Serena. "I think Ami was the only one who did it."

"It was just geometry," said Ami. "First I thought in feet and then in inches, then in centimeters...but I was off just a little."

Serena groaned. "Oh I hope I don't have to start thinking of math! I hate math!"

"I'm with Serena on this one," said Mina. "I thought apparating would be like our sailor teleports but they're way different. Is there more to it that, Destination, Determination, Deliberation?" She stated the three days in Twycross' voice, causing a couple of the girls to laugh.

"It could because we have our sailor powers to back us up when we're teleporting," Lita pointed out, leaning against the wall.

"I couldn't apparate," said Raye, "but I still felt myself move."

"What do you mean?" said Ami.

Raye smirked, slightly confused. "I'm not sure. I was still in the same spot all evening, but it was like my mind moved around the room and I could see and hear everything what was going on."

"Like you were using Fred and George's extendable ears?" Lydia asked.

"Extendable eyes too," said Raye. "Anyway, Serena, I heard you and Harry talking. You guys patch things up?"

The others turned their attention to Serena and began asking tons of questions. It took Serena a minute to get them to calm down.

"I wanted to see if I could help Harry in the lessons," Serena said quickly. "I mean, if Voldmeort's targeting him and Harry has to disappear of all of a sudden..."

"Oh, I see," said Raye. "And Draco?"

"I'm sure he can get apparating down," said Serena. "I bet he would've been able to last week, if, well, I didn't freak him out and make him fall down."

"That's not what I mean. Will you still be his partner in transfiguration?" Raye asked.

Serena raised her eyebrow. "What's with the third degree, Raye? I'm not planning on breaking up with Harry and dating Draco on the rebound. Anyway, I'm heading up to the dormitories."

"I'll go with you," Lydia said, rubbing her head. "Trying to apparate can really make one dizzy and tired."

The rest of the girls followed suit. As Raye made her way down to the dungeons she found Draco examining a portrait of Salazar Slytherin. It was empty.

"Always wondered why the founder of our house doesn't stay in his portrait," he said, noticing Raye walk up.

"Well he left the school, didn't he?" Raye said dismissively. "Guess he left for good if he won't even stay in his portrait."

Draco looked at her as if he was going to argue, then he looked back at Slytherin's empty portrait. "Yeah, I reckon he didn't want to see mubloods infesting his school."

"How could you say that?" Raye said sternly.

"Because it's true," Draco shoved his hands in his pockets and sighed. "You know what? I wish Slytherin had taken his students with him the day he left Hogwarts and created his own school of purebloods. He shouldn't have left them behind."

"Is that what you think? That he abandoned them?"

"Well, yeah," Draco said. "Creating a school of magic was his idea in the first place. He just allowed the other three to join in out of courtesy. He didn't really need them. I just want to talk to him. I've got a lot of questions and nobody has the answers. I figured he would."

"Questions like what?" Raye pressed.

"About the school," Draco murmured. "I guess I'll never know."

Draco turned and started to walk away. Raye looked at the portrait. "Wait Draco...have you tried using passwords?"

"Of course I have," he snapped. "None of them work."

"Maybe you're just not speaking in the right language," Raye whispered. She groaned and her voice came out in a hiss. "Come forward, Salazar Slytherin."

Hearing her speak in Parseltongue made Draco stop in his tracks. He looked over his shoulder. Raye was continuing to speak to the portrait in the language of snakes.

"Raye!" he gasped, coming back to her. "I didn't know you were a parselmouth!"

"I found out during the party at your house," Raye said, quickly. "I heard the runespoor speaking."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded.

"Other things were on my mind that day, all right?" she said.

A man dressed in green stepped into the portrait, his fingers pressed together. He had a monkey-like face and a long white beard.

"Are you my heir?" he said.

"It's Slytherin!" said Draco.

"No," replied Raye. "I'm Raye Hino from Japan. I had a parselmouth in my family."

"Do you know who my heir is?"

"Your heir is a man named Tom Marvolo Riddle but these days he calls himself Lord Voldemort. He is a very dangerous dark wizard."

"Did he open the chamber?"

"Yes," Raye replied. "When he was a fifth year. He attacked many muggleborns and one of them died. They almost closed down the school but he framed a third year Gryffindor student who had a pet acromantula."

"And the school believed this story?" Slytherin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What're you guys talking about?" Draco demanded.

"Chamber of secrets," said Raye, waving a hand. "Yes, the framed student was expelled and Tom was given an award. He created a horcrux out of his diary-"

"A HORCRUX?!" Slytherin bellowed, his face full of disgust. "My heir became a Horcrux creator?"

"Y-yes, we believe he may have made six," Raye replied and Slytherin shook his head."His diary formed as a tool to reopen the chamber of secrets. He used a first year student to open it. Nobody died but some were attacked. He was going to use her body to return. A Gryffindor student named Harry Potter came to save her and he killed the basilisk with the sword of Gryffindor and destroyed the horcrux with a basilisk fang."

"My basilisk is dead?"

"It is," Raye said. "I'm...sorry."

"It had to be done, I suppose," Slytherin groaned.

"Raye!" Draco muttered. "Can I talk to him now?"

"Oh, right, sorry, he had some questions too," said Raye. She cleared her throat. "I called you because my friend—I mean—classmate wanted to speak with you."

She stepped to the side and Draco came forward. "Professor Slytherin, it's an honor to speak to you. I'm Draco Malfoy. Wizards have been in my family on both sides for many generations. My family's all been in Slytherin House. The sorting hat announced I was in your house before it even touched my head!"

Raye and Slytherin both groaned.

"Just tell me what it is you want," Slytherin said.

"Y-yes sir!" said Draco and he looked at Raye. "Um, can you leave us alone?"

"Okay," Raye murmured. She gave a traditional Japanese bow to Slytherin's portrait. "Nice to meet you, professor."

Slytherin nodded. Raye went to the common room.

"Professor Slytherin," said Draco. "I need to know if Hogwarts has any secret passages that lead outside."

"It does," said Slytherin.

"Where are they?" he asked urgently.

"They are hidden,"said Slytherin. "I am certain after I left Hogwarts the other three founders may have changed the entrances."

"I see," Draco murmured. "I guess I just have to keep looking.

"Is that all?"

"No sir," Draco answered. "When you left Hogwarts, why didn't you take any students with you?"

"Hogwarts was for them," said Slytherin. "Not for me."

"You could have made another school. All purebloods and you could have taught them the dark arts! Like at Durmstrang!"

"I didn't want another Durmstrang," grumbled Slytherin.

"But it says in Hogwarts, a History and the Sorting hat says in every damn song that you only wanted pure blood wizards here!"

"Listen boy, I needed to leave my students behind as an example to the other students. To teach them the tradition of wizarding heritage. Muggleborns come to Hogwarts not having any idea of the wizarding world, do they?"

"No, they don't know anything until they get the letter," said Draco. "Actually, I think one of the teachers comes to them personally, to speak to their parents."

Slytherin nodded. "Yes, and do you do that? Exemplify yourselves to muggleborns?"

"Well, I think so," said Draco. "I call them Mudblood or muggle all the time."

"Oh, so you give the muggles even more reason to hate and fear us?"
Slytherin said sarcastically, clapping. "Well done, boy, well done. Now we just need to have a battle at Hogwarts and fight to the death with muggleborns and muggles. Lovely."

"I, I don't understand," said Draco. "Muggles are the enemy, right? You didn't want their children to come to Hogwarts because they're inferior and not worthy to study magic."

"No I didn't, fool!"

"But it says so in..."

"Oh, do the books make me out to be some kind of bigoted pureblood villain?" Slytherin barked. "In my time, the muggles were poor, diseased and illiterate. There would be no way for them to afford to send their children here. I was concerened for the welfare of my students catching whatever it is that they may have. Not only that, many muggles hated magic and hunted us down. There was a chance that the few muggles that could afford to send their children to Hogwarts, would do so only to spy on us and give away its whereabouts. I didn't trust muggles and muggleborns. However, I did believe that anyone who had the capacity do do magic, should learn how to control it. I just didn't want it at Hogwarts unless I knew them or their families."

"You mean, someone could make a school just for mudbloods?" Draco asked.

"Yes," said Slytherin. "I suppose that could work."

"But I don't understand, why did you build the Chamber of Secrets anyway? Didn't you want your heir to hunt the muggleborns down?"

"Of course not!" exclaimed Slytherin. "I just wanted to scare them. Any that posed a threat to Hogwarts. I imagined if they saw the reflection of the basilisks eyes in a mirror and become petrified for a time, it would scare them away from Hogwarts. I never wanted them dead. I didn't want to risk my school being closed down!"

"But so many purebloods do want muggles and mudbloods dead," said Draco. "That's what this war is about. The Dark Lord is hunting them down. Muggle supporters too. I...I work for him."

"I beg your pardon?"

Draco glanced at both ends of the hall. Seeing no one, he pulled up his left sleeve.

"What's that?" asked Slytherin.

"The Dark Mark," Draco answered. "The Dark Lord gives this his Death Eaters—his followers—and once we get these we have to do everything he says."

"Voldemort."

Draco nodded.

"And what has he told you to do, boy?"

Draco put his sleeve back down. "I have to kill our headmaster—or The Dark Lord will kill me."

"Are you?"

Draco looked at the founder of his house, his voice breaking. "I don't know if I can."

TO BE CONTINUED