Disclaimer: Usual. I don't own HP, SM and this is a challenge from Jay Ficlover. Give her the credit for coming up the idea.

Hogwarts Secret Scandal 8

Detention with Darien, Again

All of Gryffindor House thought Serena throwing Snape's back out was hilarious and perhaps the first time ever, they were looking forward to Potions. Snape was still stiff during class, holding his back and shuffling about the room. The Slytherins were very worried about their Head of House and kept asking if he was all right or if there was something they could help him with. Gryffindor treated Serena like she was a hero but she didn't feel like one. She wished that she had been expelled from Hogwarts so she could go back to Salem Witches. She never had to worry about jumping on a professor's back in her old school. They would never send her into a forest where werewolves and Acromantulas and all sorts of dangerous creatures dwell, never! Of course, Serena was not a model student and she had served detention a time or two back in Salem Witches. It was usually for forgetting her homework or talking too much in class and she'd have to write lines or do more homework. But this took the cake! Gathering fluxweed and bicorn horn and urgh leeches? Serena could not bear it. It seemed that all she did these days was serve detention.

"Professor Shields,' Serena said, monotonously as she entered the classroom, "I'm here for my detention."

"Right on time," he said, sliding a silver dagger onto his belt along with six long and thin silver darts.

Serena noticed the silver things on his belt. "You expect us to be attacked tonight?"

"Well, if we are," said Shields, "we'll be prepared. Don't worry, Ser—Miss White—I won't let anything happen to you."

His promise made her feel relieved and uncomfortable at the same time. It was good that he was going to see that she'd be all right, but he was still her teacher.

He cleared his throat.

"Well, we should be off," he said, leading her out of the school. "You have permission to light your wand." He told her as they entered the forest.

"Thank you, Professor," Serena said, pulling out her wand. "Lumos."

Serena was grateful he let her light her wand. Even with the light of the full moon the dense treats made it rather difficult to see anything. She moved her wand around her a couple of times to make sure nothing was following them or watching them in the trees. She wanted to just get the fluxweed and get this detention over with.

Serena kept a safe distance away from him but close enough to keep up. She didn't want to throw out his back like she did to Snape. "Fluxweed is found by water," informed Shields, "I know where a stream is. This way."

Minutes later they arrived at the stream. Shields waved his lit wand by some plants along the stream. "Fluxweed. You can place it in this."

He conjured a large sack, handed it to her and Serena knelt down to pick the fluxweed. He stood behind her and kept a watchful eye for anything dangerous. Serena could see the reflection of the full moon in the stream. She tried not to look at it as she worked. After grabbing nearby fluxweed and putting it in the sack, Serena raised her eyes to Professor Shields.

"Professor, just how much do I need?" she asked. "Professor Snape didn't tell me."

"We'll take as much as we can carry," Professor Shields replied. "That ought to make him happy." He gave her a small smirk, which she returned. Then she had another funny feeling and quickly returned to grabbing fluxweed. Her sack full, she stood to present it to Professor Shields. Deeper into the forest, they heard the howl of a werewolf. Serena gasped and dropped the sack of fluxweed. She stepped back and turned for the school but Professor Shields grabbed her and pulled her to him.

"Don't move," he warned.

"But we've got to get out of here!" she whispered. "It hear us, it can smell us!"

"No it can't," he insured, looking up. "The wind is blowing east, away from us. It can't catch our scent. The howl didn't sound close."

"But what do we do?" she demanded. "If we stay here then it will find us!"

"There might be another one out here to answer it," said Darien.

Then sure enough, another howl sounded. It was coming from the other end of the forest, closer to where they were. Serena started mumbling. Professor Shields told her to be quiet. He needed to keep an ear out. Keeping hold of Serena, he slowly stepped backward.

"This way. Slowly."

Darien listened closely to the environment around him. Then they heard something moving not too far off. Serena screamed and Darien had to clap his hand around her mouth.

"Shh!" he hissed. "Be quiet!"

"I-it's t-there," Serena stammered, "the werewolf. It's right there." She pointed toward a burrow.

"All right," he said, "I'll check it out." He let go of her and started for the burrow.

"No, Professor," Serena mumbled, grabbing his arm. "It's dangerous."

"I'm the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," he reminded her. He pulled out one of his silver darts. "If there is a werewolf there, I'll get it, understand?"

Serena nodded tearfully. "Be careful."

Professor Shields stepped slowly into the burrow and he remembered everything he learned in his Auror training. Though is heart was pumping hard in his chest he tried to remain calm and alert. He walked closer, closer, he heard footsteps, but they sounded heavy. He jumped though the bushes and prepared to throw his dart. Then when he saw the creature ten feet before him, he quickly hid himself.

It wasn't a werewolf. It wasn't even dangerous. Professor Shields turned back for Serena. This was something no one would want to miss.

"Miss White, over here!" he called

"Are you all right?" Serena asked. "The werewolf, is it--?"
"No," said Shields, smiling. "Come with me. Now be quiet so we don't frighten it."

"What?"

"Shh!"

He grabbed her hand and Serena felt a weird warm wave sweep up her arm to her gut. He took her to the clearing to show her the creature he found. Serena stared in amazement.

"Wait, we've studied these in my old school," she whispered, "is that really what I think it is?"

"If you think it's a mooncalf, then yes," he said with a grin.

"Wow!" Serena breathed. "It's beautiful!"

The mooncalf was dancing in the light of the full moon, as the creatures do at every full moon. Its smooth, pale gray bodied glistened in the moonlight. It had four spindly legs and round eyes on the top of its head. Watching the mooncalf dance was a rare and special occasion as the creature was rather shy. They stood breathless as they watched the creature dance. Serena wanted to get a closer look at it and even touch it if she could. Knowing that that the mooncalf was shy, she kept her distance and breathed quietly. She always wanted to see a mooncalf dance but never got the chance. Finally, as a result of wasting potion ingredients, she was able to enjoy the rare occasion. Perhaps collecting fluxweed at the full moon did have her advantages.

After a few moments of watching the mooncalf dance, Serena realized she was still holding the professor's hand. She let go hastily and cleared her throat.

"Er, Professor," she said, "we have to go back picking the fluxweed."

"Oh, yes, of course," said Professor Shields, his face faulting.

Serena turned back to the stream where she left her bag. Professor Shields supervised as she jumped over the stream banks to pick the plant. They didn't speak a word to each other. Once three bags were filled, Professor Shields told her they were done for the evening and to take the bags to Professor Snape.

They started for the school and Professor Shields stopped suddenly. "Wait a moment," he said.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"The mooncalf," he said, "I just remembered that its dung had strong magical properties."

"Ew," Serena mumbled, "you're not really going to go get some, are you?"

"Professor Sprout could probably use it for her plants," he said.

"But she's already got dragon dung for fertilizer."

Professor Shields however turned back to the mooncalf's burrow. Serena sighed and followed him. She couldn't believe that he was levitating the silver dung into a jar.

"I hope you remember to wash your hands afterwards, Professor," Serena said, cringing.

"I didn't' pick it up with my hands," Shields insisted, "I levitated it."

"It's still nasty."

Darien chuckled. "Oh don't worry, I'll remember to wash my hands. All right, we're done here until tomorrow. WE can go."

They walked back to the forest without any attacks of werewolves. When they placed the three full sacks of fluxweed on Snape's desk, he did look quite impressed but tried hard not to show it.

"I trust that you didn't get this for her, Shields?" Snape asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, she did it," Shields pointed at Serena's dirty and red marked hands as a result from pulling the fluxweed all night. "I got mooncalf dung instead."

"You did what?"

"We saw a mooncalf," said Shields, "so we got its dung for Professor Sprout. I had better get this to her before sunrise or it will lose its potency. I hope that is enough fluxweed, Professor."

"Yes, this will do," Snape muttered, "you can move on to gathering leeches and lacewing flies tomorrow."

Serena groaned. "Can't wait."

Unsurprisingly, gathering lacewing flies, leeches, bicorn horn and everything else that Serena wasted for the plyjuice potion wasn't nearly as pleasant as getting the fluxweed. She had marks allover her arms from where the leeches had attached themselves to her skin. It was getting really weird spending all that time with Proessor Shields. She didn't' know how to act around him. He made her nervous and sometimes angry. She snapped at him a couple of times when he was only tring to help get the leeches off her arms.

"Snape told you not to help me! I can do it myself!"

Serena was relieved when it was all over so she could come to Quidditch Practice. She was worried that she wouldn't be prepared for the first game, especially when Harry gave the news of the Quidditch Season starting early.

"What?" Ron demanded. "What do you mean our first game is October twenty second?"

"It's only about a three week difference, Ron," Harry insisted.

"Well, maybe the weather would be warmer," said Demelza optimistically.

"Why is Quidditch Season starting so early?" Ginny wondered. "it's not supposed to start eh first week of November.

"I don't know," said Harry, "I just got the news from Madame McCloud. Dumbledore wants us to start early."

"Does this mean we'll have more matches then?" asked Jimmy Peakes eagerly.

"Yeah," Coote added.

"Maybe," Harry answered. "All right everyone, outside."

He led his team outside for practice. Serena felt extremely nervous. Quidditch Season was moved up? Why? Serena wasn't ready. She was still trying to get to the difference of Quodpot and Quidditch. Nevertheless, Serena gave it her best during Quidditch practice and listened to the tips from the other chasers. It was hard trying to use the field with the other teams wanting to use it. Serena still didn't' tell her cousin about making Chaser. Draco was always with her wherever Mina went and he got on Serena's nerves. Serena had been busy with detention and keeping up with her new subjects that she didn't even have time to tell Mina the news. Perhaps she ought to wait until the game.

However, the early Quidditch Season wasn't the only thing people were excited about. The Masquerade Ball was approaching and with the Hogsmeade Weekend just around the corner, the students could get what they needed for their costumes. Serena however, didn't have a date or even or a costume idea in mind. She didn't care either and this surprised the girls in the dorm.

"You don't have a date?" Parvarti asked. "Or a costume?"

Serena shook her head. "Well, I haven't been able to think about it much, have I? With all the detention I had since I got here. Not to mention homework and Quidditch Practice."

"Who are you going with, Parvarti?" Lavender asked.

"Dean Thomas," she replied, "I'm going as an Indian Princess. So is my twin sister, Padma. You?"

"Seamus Finnigan, again," Lavender answered. "We haven't quite decided on our costumes though."

"The ball isn't until Halloween," Serena stated as she turned her attention to History of Magic homework. "We'll have plenty of time."

As for Serena's cousin, Mina, she only had half the problem. She of course was going with her boyfriend Draco Malfoy but neither of them could come up with costume ideas. Draco intently wanted to come dressed as a Death Eater but Mina went nuts saying they'd both be expelled.

"And I don't look good wearing black anyway!" Mina added.

"Well, I really don't care," said Draco lazily. "It's just a stupid ball."

"Come on, Dracikins," Mina pouted, "I want us to be the best couple at the ball. There will be contests, you know."

"Don't worry, we will," Draco insisted.

While they were discussing this in the Slytherin Common Room, someone was working hard on a solution for them. Reenie should have been doing her homework but that wasn't as important as getting her parents to fall in love with each other and the students remembering who they were. Reenie thought hard about Sailor Venus' previous identity, Sailor V. Mina didn't tell her much before. It didn't really matter, because she played the video games and read the comic books about as much as Serena did. Reenie had all the senshi drawn up on pages of her parchment notebook. She was going to move onto the villains next, incase anyone wanted to go as them.

After adding the detail to Sailor V's costume, Rini approached the Reenie and Draco. "Excuse me, are you still having trouble finding a costume?"

"Yeah," Mina said breathlessly, "have any ideas?"

"Mina, she's just a first year," Draco muttered, "what does she know?"

"More than you think," Reenie muttered back, showing them what she had drawn. "Here Mina, you can go like this."

Mina gasped, staring at the drawing. "That's perfect! Oh, I really love the gloves!"

"I love the skirt," Draco grinned.

Mina giggled and went red. "Oh, Dracikins!"

Reenie groaned and rolled her eyes.

"I wonder how I'm going to get all this stuff," Mina mumbled, scratching her head.

"It's simple, sweetheart," Draco said, "All you've got to do is shrink your skirt and transfigure it blue. And shrink your skirt too."

"What about Draco?" Mina asked. "Have you got a costume for him?"

"Oh yes, flip the page," Reenie said brightly.

She flipped the page and there was a drawing of a blond haired man wearing a long white sleeved shirt and pants. He had a white eye mask and white gloves with red hearts. Was it really Draco Malfoy, or someone else? Mina thought he looked familiar. She breathed in amazement while Draco snorted.

"I'm not wearing that!" he said, pointing at the picture. "I'll look like a fool!"

"What's wrong with it?" Reenie demanded.

"It's all white, and what are these, hearts?"

"It's supposed to be a sign from playing cards," said Reenie, "you know, ace of hearts, ace of clubs, diamonds, spades."

"How about diamonds instead?" Mina suggested softly.

"Yeah, okay, red diamonds."

"I don't like red," Draco muttered

"What's wrong with red?" Reenie demanded.

"Yeah, what's wrong with red?" Mina echoed, flipping to her drawing. "My costume has red in it."

"It might look all right on you, Mina," said Draco, "but not on me! Do I have to explain it to you? Red is a Gryffindor color! My whole family has been in Slytherin. I'm not disgracing my family—and I look horrible in red anyway!"

Reenie chuckled and Draco glared.

"How about green diamonds then, like emeralds?" Mina said quickly. "And your outfit can be in green and silver and black?"

"Well, I—I," Reenie glanced at the picture. "Maybe."

"Better than all white," said Draco.

"Yeah, that's true," Mina said, studying the picture, "you are quite pale, Dracikins. You'll look like a ghost!" She and Reenie laughed but Draco didn't' find it funny.

"How about these belts black, with silver fastening," Mina suggested, "and black pants too? And instead of a white shirt a green one?"

"Yes, I guess we can change it a bit," Rini shrugged.

"Better," Draco muttered, leaving the common room. "Coming to dinner, Mina?"

"I'll catch up," said Mina. Draco sighed and left. Mina looked at Reenie. "Reenie, you think you could make something for my cousin Serena?"

"Oh, I already have!" Reenie replied.

"Really?" Mina asked.

"Well, I just like to draw," Reenie said, "flip to the very first page."

Mina turned to the front and there was a picture of a girl in an elegant white dress. "This is for Serena?"

"Yes," said Reenie, "but there's also this one…and this one…and this one too…"

Reenie showed her all the different stages of Sailor Moon, from beginning to Eternal. Intrigued, Mina kept flipping through the pages where she found a page of a girl in a short skirt, with descriptions of the girls and items they had even close-ups on their faces.

"Wow, you've been busy," Mina mumbled.

"Well, I knew some of you guys would have trouble coming up with ideas," Reenie explained, "so I drew these."

"You can show it to your cousin if you'd like," Reenie said.

"This whole thing?" Mina asked.

"Sure!" Reenie answered. "You can give her the pages too, the ones of the Moon Princess and Sailor Moon. I've got them labeled."

"You gave them names?" Mina asked. "Who are they?"

"Uh, well," Reenie moaned, trying to think of an explanation. "It's just something I dreamed up, you know, thinking of making my own witch comic."

"That's a great idea!" Mina laughed. "Too many wizard ones and they all have the same story. There should be some for witches too!"

"You really think so?"

Mina nodded.

"Thanks, Mina."

"You know," said Mina suddenly, "I feel like I've known you years."

Reenie shrugged. "We must've known each other in another life."

"Yeah, maybe," Mina said, "I'll go and show this to my cousin Serena. I wonder if she's got a partner yet!"

Reenie grinned and sat down on the leather chair as Mina ran out. "I might be able to help you on that one too."

"Serena, look at this!" Mina exclaimed, putting down Reenie's drawing of the Moon Princess in front of her. Serena gasped.

That girl, she thought, she looks so familiar.

"What is this?" Serena asked.

"Your costume for the Masquerade Ball," Mina said excitedly. "Isn't it gorgeous? We just need to make a mask for you."

"But how'd you get this?"

"A first year from my house," Mina answered, flipping through the pages. "She drew all these! Look, this one's mine!"

"Wow," said Hermione, looking at the picture over Serena's shoulder. "She's just a first year?"

"Yeah," said Mina.

"Well, that's nice, Mina," said Serena, "but where am I going to get the gown and everything? It must cost a fortune!"

"Hogsmeade Weekend's coming up," said Mina, "we'll find something there."

"Finally," Serena moaned, "I get to go on a field trip."

"Who are you going to the ball with anyway?" Mina asked.

"Dunno," Serena replied, "haven't been asked yet."

"I can set you up with someone," Mina grinned, "there's a really cute seventh year in Slytherin! You and I can double date! I'm going with Draco!"

"No Slytherins," Serena moaned, "Draco's bad enough."

"Here," said Mina, ripping out the page of the Moon princess, much to Parvarti and Lavender's shock.

"You just ripped the page!" Parvarti squealed.

"It's okay," Mina insisted, "Reenie told me I could." She finished taking out the pages of Sailor Moon and left them with Serena. "You can try these costumes too, but I really like the princess one."

"How am I supposed to get my hair like that?" Serena wondered, looking skeptically at all the pictures and pulling on her hair. "I've never put it up like that before."

"Yeah, but it's different, isn't it?" Mina asked.

"They look like meatballs," Serena grumbled, causing Mina and a few others to laugh.

After rushing through her assignment at her desk in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Reenie began drawing another sketch. She had forgotten about drawing Tuxedo Mask. How could she forget? She could've drawn it already to give to Mina. Dressing like the Moon Princess wasn't good enough if Tuxedo Mask or Prince Endymion wasn't there. She had to get this done before class was over so she could show it to Professor Shields. When the bell rang, she was still engrossed the drawing.

"Reenie," Rose muttered, "time to go, we've got History next."

"I just need to color this and I'll be done," Reenie insisted, "tell Trista I'm on my way. She won't mind, we're close friends."

"What?" Rose demanded.

"Er, I mean, just go ahead," Reenie said, flushing.

"All right," Rose said, thinking her new friend had just lost her mind. She turned and left the room, leaving Reenie to finish coloring her picture.

Professor Shields walked to her desk. "Class is over, Miss White. You'll be late for your next class."

"I want to get this done."

"The assignment isn't due until tomorrow," Professor Shields reminded her. He saw the drawing she was working on. "Have you been drawing during the whole lesson?"

"No, I did the assignment already," said Reenie, "I wanted to draw this for you?"

"You wanted to draw a picture for me?" Professor Shields asked with a small smile. "Why?"

"Because you're my favorite teacher!" Reenie grinned. "There, I'm finished!"

She ripped the picture from her book and handed it to him. Professor Shields looked it over while Reenie prepared to leave. There was something about the drawing that looked familiar.

"You like it?" Reenie asked.

"Yes, this is very good, Reenie," he said, "Thank you. You'd better get to your next class now."

"Glad you like it, Professor," Reenie beamed. "It might become as some inspiration to you."

"For what?" he asked, gazing at her over the drawing.

Reenie shrugged and walked out of the classroom. Darien returned his eyes to the drawing and walked to his desk. Inspiration. There was something about the drawing. Darien had a strong feeling Reenie wanted him to use this picture for something. What was she up to? Was it really because he was her favorite teacher? And why did she draw a picture of a masked man with a top hat and a cape?

The Hogsmeade Weekend finally came. Serena was going to go there with Hermione and the other Gryffindor girls to find ideas for the Masquerade Ball. Serena had dreams about the girl in the picture. The girl wasn't always alone. There was a masked man there wearing a cape, but she didn't know what he was doing there.

Peeves the Poltergeist was being the pest he had been for longer than anyone knew. On the way to breakfast, Serena became his target. He pulled the rug from underneath her, causing her to fall flat on her face.

"I hope you enjoy your little trip to Hogsmeade!" he cackled.

"You're going to wish you didn't do that," Serena said, the floor muffling her voice.

She had just about enough from Hogwarts. She was given too many subjects to handle. She didn't like any of her new teachers. Quidditch Season was starting too soon. She had to suffer three weeks of detention. She wasn't in the mood for the Masquerade Ball. She didn't have to take any crap from the school poltergeist either. Serena pushed herself up and pulled her wand out of her pocket.

"I'm going to send you on a little trip, buddy."

"Oh, I'm so scared!" Peeves said in mock fright, floating in the corridor.

Half of Serena's mouth twitched into a smirk. She knew how to handle poltergeists. She had plenty of practice in Salem Witches Institute. There were a couple of them at the school to keep Muggles from finding its location. The students were allowed to use magic in the corridors to keep the poltergeists in line. There was a nice little hex she'd love to try on the poltergeist now.

"So, you like to play games, don't you?" she demanded. "All right, you puny little poltergeist, let's play!"

"Oh, what fun!" Peeves said devilishly.

"Appeto Ballo!"

Peeves arms wrapped around his legs and he was pulled into a ball. His eyes were wide with anger and surprise. He hit the ground and bounced a couple of times.

"Shall we play soccer?" Serena asked with a grin, walking to the balled up Peeves. She picked up the ball and bounced off the walls and floor.

Peeves gave muffled curses and said, "Ow! Ow! OW!" every time she bounced him.

"Or maybe basketball?" Serena inquired, still bouncing the ball. "Oh, I know—how about bowling?"

She conjured rolling pins at the end of the corridor and stuck her fingers up Peeves nose and mouth. He made a muffled nose of shock. Serena took a few steps, pulled her arm back like a lever and flung Peeves with all her might. He screamed as rolled over and hit all the pins. He kept rolling and rolling until he bounced down the staircases.

"Take that!" Serena shouted. "Next time you'll get worse, I know a lot of hexes just for poltergeists, you filthy little—poltergeist!"

"Miss White, did you just use magic in the corridors?" said a cold voice behind her.

Serena turned and there was Professor Snape. He appeared to be sneering and smirking at the same time.

"Professor, it was the poltergeist," Serena said immediately.

"That's everyone's excuse," Snape sighed.

"But it's true!" Serena shouted. "Didn't you see what I did to him? Didn't you hear me yelling at him?"

"I think it would be better if you miss the Hogsmeade Trip today, Miss White," he said.

Serena gasped. "Wait! You—you can't!"

"More detention might remind you to keep the rules," Snape muttered. "Yes; I believe Professor Shields can supervise you again."

"But Professor McGonagall's my Head of House!" Serena snapped as Snape took her painfully by her upper arm. "Take me to her instead!"

"I told you that if I gave you detention you'd be serving with Professor Shields. But the next time I find you doing something wrong, I just might go to your Head of House. Perhaps she will expel you."

Serena didn't seem to care about expulsion. It sounded better than having detention with Darien Shields—again. Just how many times was she going to serve detention in this school?

To Be Continued