Serena appeared in the middle of her living room, her arms still tightly wrapped around little Harry Potter. She had no idea what was going on, but she knew that Sirius would not have had her take Harry if there hadn't been some kind of danger. She was just going to have to wait until she saw him again to get some answers.
Immediately, she pulled out her wand. Her intention was to cast as many protection spells as she could remember, but she thought better of it. If any Death Eaters came looking for her, or Harry, they would be looking for a place that was once there that was now gone. Protection spells would hide her flat, but it would also point Voldemort's lackies in the right direction, and she didn't want that. Besides, with her special gifts, she could protect Harry all on her own. Sirius had no idea how right she was for the job.
She put her wand back into her belt and walked aimlessly around the room. She had no idea what she was supposed to do with herself or Harry. She was terrible at waiting for anything and she had no baby supplies whatsoever. What happened if Harry got hungry? She didn't even know when Harry had eaten last. For all she knew, it could have been hours ago. She gazed down at him. He seemed content in her arms. He balled his hand into a fist and shoved the whole thing in his mouth, chewing on it. She wondered if the little guy was nervous. After what he'd been through tonight, she wouldn't doubt it or blame him.
Serena thought for a little while before she decided to wait to try and feed him anything. As late as it was, she speculated that Lily had just laid him down for the night, or was preparing to when Voldemort attacked. She swayed Harry a little as she walked over to the window. He laid his head lazily against her shoulder. She continued to sway him while she glanced out into the street below.
Everything seemed to be fine. It was quiet and desolate now. The last few people down there were probably heading on home, she reasoned. Halloween was almost over.
Suddenly, her thoughts jumped to Sirius. Where was he? He should have been back by now. What was taking so long? Was he in trouble? She wanted so badly to know who had been coming up those steps and why he had wanted her to leave with Harry. She was worried too about what he had said to her about Azkaban. What had he done that could possibly land him in prison? She bit her lower lip. Sirius had been there for her when she had no one else, when her world came crashing down around her. She couldn't stand it if anything happend to him. Her thoughts drifted to the night they talked alone for the first time. It had been just outside of the school, the same night that Severus left...
The rain was still pouring down, but Serena paid no attention to it as she slowly made her way back up to the castle. She was soaked and her clothes stuck to her skin like they were full of a million tiny leeches. Tears flowed from her eyes as the realization hit her: her best friend was gone and he wasn't coming back.
Serena made it all the way to the courtyard before she collapsed on the cobblestone walk way, deep sobs escaping her that caused her whole body to shake. Severus had been the only person she had left. She was completely alone now. There would be no one to care for her. At least, that's what she thought. But she didn't know that there was someone there in the courtyard with her.
A gentle hand landed on her shoulder and she jumped, her head snapping in the direction the hand had come from: behind her. There was a boy standing there, but his identity was a mystery due to the relentless rain and the darkness. It wasn't until he spoke that she realized who he was. It was Sirius Black.
"I heard you crying. What's wrong?"
She doubted he could see who she was or he wouldn't have bothered to stop and ask her if she was okay, or even talk to her for that matter. He had made it very plain, on several occasions, that he didn't associate with Slytherins.
"It's nothing," Serena said, dismissing her problems for a moment. She hoped he would go away. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts for now.
"Nothing doesn't make you cry," Sirius insisted. "I heard you the moment I stepped outside."
"It's raining. You should be inside. You'll catch a cold."
"I could say the same to you."
"Besides, you don't care what's wrong with me...or you won't when you find out who I am."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I'm a Slytherin."
He leaned closer to her and drew out his wand. He lit the tip of it with a flick of his wrist. Sirius held it down close to her face. His eyes stretched when the light illuminated her features. He recognized her immediately.
"You're Snivellus's mate. Serena, isn't it?"
Serena rolled her eyes. She clearly wasn't in the mood for his company, but she decided to humor him anyway. "Yes."
He shook his head, and much to her surprise, sat down beside of her. "I knew old Snivellus would break your heart somehow. He seems to be really good at that."
She turned to glare at him. "His name is Severus. Don't make me hex you again," she warned.
"He's always been Snivellous to me, but I won't call him that in front of you if you like." He rubbed his chin. He sure didn't want her to use her wand on him again. It had taken him a week to get over her last hex.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. It's the least I can do." Sirius grinned. "Now tell me what he done to you."
Serena was a little reluctant to tell him anything. He was likely to spread it all over school as soon as he got back. It didn't matter though. There would be no one there to be taunted by anyone he told by her. She sighed deeply, and then told him everything that had just happened. To her surprise, he listened intently. She blushed when she told him the part about loving him for more than just a friend, and thought he might make a big deal out of it, but he didn't. He sat there silently as she poured her heart out to him. When she finished her story, he placed his hand over hers.
"I'm sorry that happened to you. It's his loss though." He paused for a moment. Severus's leaving was partly his fault. "You know, I came out here to think about things, to re-evaluate my choices over the past few years. I've grown up quite a bit. James has Lily and Remus has Lurey. I want someone I can talk to and maybe hang out with outside of that circle. I'm starting to feel like a fifth wheel."
Serena wiped her eyes on her sleeve. The rain was starting to slack off now. She looked like a dishevelled mess. "Why are you telling me this?"
Sirius grinned. "Because you seem like a good listener. And maybe I was hoping we could forget this past year ever happened and start over. You don't need Sni- Sorry. Severus. Maybe you and I could be friends."
She stared at him, unsure if she had heard him right. What did she have to lose? "Really?"
Sirius shrugged. "Sure. If you want."
She smiled warmly at him and stuck out her hand. Sirius shook it happily. "It's a deal," she declared.
Serena smiled at the memory. She and Sirius had been friends ever since that night. He was a part of her life now and she couldn't bear to even think about losing him. She gazed down at Harry. Harry couldn't lose him either. Right now, Sirius was the only family he had left. His eyes were closed. Her smile broadened. He was sleeping.
~ * ~
His head felt like it had been pounded into the ground about ten times. It was throbbing when Sirius finally opened his eyes. His vision was a little blurry at first, but adjusted quickly as he sat upright. He was in the floor of some establishment--no, wait--someone's home. He rubbed his forehead. That seemed to be where his headache had settled in. He glanced around the room to try and figure out where he was.
The walls were lined with book shelves heavily packed with books and trinkets. The walls were periwinkle with a while trim around the edges. The place was unfamiliar, somewhere he had never been before. Sirius got up on his knees. He started to get up on his feet after that, but a rough hand seized him and sat him back down on the floor hard. He winced as pain surged through his head and knees. The action had jarred him badly. And before he could even blink, there was a wand in his face.
"I don't think it would be wise to try and escape, Sirius."
He stared at the wand. His eyes slowly travelled up to the face of the wielder. He smiled, turning on his infamous charm. "Me? I wouldn't dream of it, Remus. But you can put that thing away. I know you're not going to hurt me."
"I'm glad one of us is certain."
Remus ran his free hand through his shaggy hair. His mind was reeling. If what Dumbledore had said was true, then he wasn't sure what he may be capable of doing. Albus explained about the Fidelus Charm, that Sirius was James and Lily's secret-keeper, and that the only way Voldemort could have found them was if Sirius was dead or he had betrayed them. Remus didn't want to believe it, but it was the only thing that really made sense right now. Sirius was alive, so he must have betrayed James and Lily. The thought of it horrified him, but it was the only logical one there was.
"Where's Dumbledore?" Sirius asked curiously. "I remember him being with you."
"He's looking for Harry," Remus answered quietly.
"Harry's safe. I know where he is."
"Yes, well excuse me if I don't take comfort in that fact."
Sirius stared at him incredulously. "I know what you're thinking, Remus. It's not true. I could never betray James and Lily like that." He leaned toward him. "Do you honestly think that I work for Voldemort? That's madness."
"You were their secret-keeper, Sirius. Look at this from my point of view. If the roles were reversed, wouldn't you think I was guilty too?"
"Of course! But I didn't betray James and Lily. I would have died rather than betray our friends!"
"Then why are they dead?" Remus shouted at him, his eyes full of tears.
Sirius hung his head. Tears shone in his eyes too. "Because of me. I-" he gulped, guilt flooding through his entire body. "I convinced them to use Peter instead of me. I thought Voldemort would never suspect James and Lily to use someone so...weak. Peter and I switched at the last minute. Nobody knew but us. Not even Dumbledore." Tears fell from his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. "Peter was the one that betrayed them. Not me."
Remus lowered his wand just a little. "How do I know you're not lying?"
Sirius gazed up at him, the tears still shining on his cheeks. "You don't. You're just going to have to trust me."
He frowned. How could he have possibly thought he could have done this? They had been friends for so long. He should have known better...but all the evidence had pointed to him. "I do trust you, Sirius."
He finally lowered his wand all the way and reached his hand down to his friend to help him up. He had never been much of an actor anyway and the tears were genuine. Sirius took Remus's hand and finally hopped to his feet.
"Now," Remus said, "where do you suppose that little rat has gotten off to?"
Sirius laughed, wiping the tears away. "If he knows what's good for him, he'll be long gone by now."
"I'm sorry for the way I reacted."
"Me too. That was one nasty stunning spell."
Remus laughed. "That wasn't me. It was Dumbledore."
Sirius's eyes widened. No wonder he had a headache. "Where is he?"
"Back at Hogwarts. Said he had something he had to take care of. He shouldn't be long."
Sirius frowned, deep in thought. "Well, I can't wait. You wait for him and I'll be right back."
"You shouldn't leave, Sirius."
He stared at him. "You still don't trust me."
Remus averted his eyes. "I was told not to let you out of my sight. It's not that I don't trust you. Dumbledore doesn't. Your story is a lot more believable than the one I had concocted in my head. The truth is that Peter has been acting a little strange lately. I visit with him from time to time. He's been really nervous the past few weeks. I just don't want Dumbledore to come back here and find you gone. I've seen his anger and I don't want to be the one it's directed at."
Sirius shrugged. "Fine. Then we go to him."
Before Remus could object, Sirius grabbed his wand from a table near by and headed for the door. He shook his head. Sirius always had a good eye for detail. He had given away no indication that the man's wand was laying there. Without a word, he followed him out the door, staying closely on his heels.