piffcreations

[piffcreations]

It had been a week since the events in the Chamber of Secrets and since Serena had discovered that her Potions Master was actually her father. Things were still a little awkward as both had agreed not to widely share their discovery to others. Serena had many questions for him but she could tell that learning about her father would be a slow battle as he was not one to easily open up. She did not let that discourage her. In August then she would go to live with him for a little bit. Perhaps then he would be more willing to open up.

Of course, Serena had told Harry and Ron—they were nearly more shocked than she was. When she mentioned that she’d be staying with Snape for part of the summer, Harry almost fell out of his seat.

“Better you than me,” Ron had said in disbelief.

Serena was nervous too, but it would only be for a month before returning to Hogwarts. If things got too uncomfortable, at least it wouldn’t last forever.

That evening, a feast was announced to welcome back the petrified students and Hagrid to Hogwarts. While Serena was glad life was returning to normal, it also meant she’d have to face Hermione after what had happened the night she was petrified. Serena wouldn’t blame Hermione if she was angry—but she was also Serena’s first friend, and the thought of being rejected by her hurt more than she wanted to admit.

Deep in thought as she walked toward the Great Hall, Serena was suddenly pulled from her thoughts by a familiar voice.

“Serena!”

She looked up to see Hermione running toward her, smiling brightly. Without hesitation, Hermione wrapped her in a hug. Serena was stunned, but before she could say anything, Hermione continued excitedly.

“Madam Pomfrey told me everything! You did it! You found the Chamber and defeated the monster!”

“Um… yeah, we did. Once we heard Ginny was taken, we didn’t really have a choice,” Serena replied with a nervous laugh. “How are you? Are you feeling okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine now. The Mandrake potion worked perfectly. But enough about that—I haven’t eaten in weeks. Let’s get to the Great Hall! I haven't seen Harry or Ron yet”

Hermione started walking but stopped when she noticed a tear in Serena’s eye.

“Are you alright, Serena? What’s wrong?”

Serena hesitated before finally saying, “Well… I just thought you’d be mad at me about that night. I promised I wouldn’t let the Basilisk get you, and we were barely outside the library when it attacked…”

“Serena, it’s okay. I’m not mad. If anything, I’m just glad you're safe—and that the monster is gone.”

“Are you sure you’re not angry?”

“Yes, I swear! Stop being so silly and let’s get some food.”

Serena smiled, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders, and walked with Hermione to the feast.

As always, the feast was wonderful. Serena sat with Draco at the Slytherin table, enjoying the food and celebration. She even clapped for Hagrid’s return—much to Draco’s dismay—and everyone cheered at the announcement that there would be no exams this year, meaning students would leave Hogwarts early.

Serena wouldn’t be taking the train to London, as a Portkey had been arranged for her that evening. Still, she wanted to see her friends off, so she rode with them to Hogsmeade Station. She gave hugs to Hermione, Harry, and Ron, wishing them a great summer and hoping they could meet up during the break.

Harry was the only one who didn’t seem thrilled to go home. Serena teased that he could always come live with her and Snape—though he didn’t seem too keen on that idea. They all laughed, and Serena waved them off with a smile.

Draco appeared behind her, clearly unimpressed that she’d left with the “Golden Trio,” leaving him behind at school. Serena gave him a hug, which seemed to soften his mood. Draco knew about Snape being her father, and he also knew she’d be returning to London closer to August. Serena had promised to write to him the moment she got back—five times now—but here she was, promising again.

“Don’t worry, Draco. I’ll write as soon as I’m back.”

“You better!”

More students were boarding the train, and time was running out.

“Shouldn’t you get on soon? You don’t want to be left behind.”

“Yeah, I know. I just… wanted to spend as much time as I could with you.”

Serena blushed, caught off guard by his sincerity. When she glanced up, she noticed Draco was blushing too. She thought about how great the past year had been—how quickly it flew by, and how much fun she had. A lot of that was because of Draco. Sure, he could be mean to other students, but with her, he was different. He made her laugh, helped with homework, and even supported her in discovering the truth about her parents.

A thought crossed her mind. Should she? Would it be weird?

Before she could second-guess it, Serena leaned in to give Draco a quick kiss on the cheek.

What she didn’t expect was that Draco had the same idea—and their lips met.

They both jumped back instantly, blushing furiously. A flash suddenly blinded them.

“Oh, young love—how sweet.”

Serena turned to see the young Gryffindor who had followed Harry around all year, holding a camera. He clearly meant no harm, but Draco was furious.

“Give me that photo right now, you little—!”

Draco lunged, snatching the photo from the boy without resistance. Hagrid appeared, shaking his head and guiding both the boy and Draco onto the train. Serena tried to laugh it off to Hagrid, then sighed and he signaled to the conductor to depart.

She watched the train pull away. A window opened, and Draco leaned out, waving goodbye.

Serena left the station with Hagrid, who asked her how her first year at Hogwarts had been.

She paused, then smiled. “It was everything I could’ve dreamed of. I almost don’t want to leave.”

Hagrid chuckled. “Most folks feel that way.”

She couldn’t blame them. Hogwarts was a special place. And as much as she looked forward to a break, she was already excited for September—to return, and to experience it all over again.

[piffcreations]

Both Draco and Serena’s eyes widened as they slowly turned around to find their Potions Master standing directly behind them, one curious brow raised.

“Well, what is it?” he asked.

They glanced at each other, silently begging the other to come up with something—anything—to say. Then, thankfully, something popped into Serena’s head.

“Oh! Professor Dumbledore said you were looking for me?”

Snape's eyes moved between them before he finally responded. “You're late for our usual meeting,” he said, then turned to Draco. “You're dismissed.”

“Right, Professor,” Draco replied quickly, grabbing the DNA potion they'd just finished brewing. “I’ll see you at breakfast, Serena.” With that, he hurried out of the classroom.

Once Draco was gone, Snape walked over to his desk and began preparing Serena’s potion.

For the first time all year, Serena felt awkward around him. She had only just learned that Snape was her father and hadn’t had time to process it, let alone figure out how to talk to him about it. Snape wasn't exactly… easy to talk to.

“Rumor has it you had quite the night. Helping Potter fight a basilisk, were you?” Snape said, his back still turned.

“Uh, yeah… has it really spread around that fast?” Serena asked, responding to his question with one of her own.

“This is Hogwarts. You’d best get used to it if you plan on staying,” he replied coolly. Then he turned and approached her with a vial of red liquid. “You must be tired. You missed your dosage last night and arrived late for this one.”

Now that he mentioned it, she did feel sluggish. She took the vial and drank it down, not wanting to risk being too weak to fight off the bloodlust. Instantly, strength returned to her body, and she felt like herself again—no, better.

“I didn’t realize how tired I was until now. I feel better, thanks.”

Snape gave her a brief nod, his version of you’re welcome, then returned to his desk. Normally, Serena would have left at that point, continuing her day like usual. Her feet even started to carry her toward the door—but something made her pause. She felt torn. Should she say something? And if she did, what would he say?

Snape didn’t exactly give off fatherly energy. Would he even want to know what she knew? Maybe the potion hadn’t worked. Maybe she was making something out of nothing.

“Is there something else I can help you with?” Snape’s voice broke through her thoughts. She turned to face him again.

That’s when she noticed it—something glowing with shifting colors on a smaller side table. Another cauldron. It looked like the potion she and Draco had brewed. Another DNA potion?

“Um, Professor… what kind of potion is that?”

Snape visibly stiffened. It took him a moment to respond.

“It’s a DNA potion. Professor Dumbledore asked me to brew it,” he said quickly.

“How does that kind of potion work?”

“It identifies matching DNA. If there's a match, it changes color.”

Serena’s curiosity deepened. Whose DNA was Dumbledore having him test? Did she even want to know?

“Whose DNA were you trying to match?”

Snape stood straighter and avoided her eyes. “That’s none of your concern. If you need nothing else, I have other matters to attend to.”

“Was it mine?”

Serena was shocked to hear herself say it. She hadn’t planned to ask—but the words had slipped out.

She remembered the Pensieve memory Dumbledore had shown her, the one about her parents. Could this really be about her?

Snape remained frozen, silent.

“Should I take your silence as a yes? Whose DNA did you match it with?”

Still no response.

“I’m only asking because… well… Draco and I brewed one of our own.”

That got a reaction. Snape tensed even more, though he didn’t speak.

“We didn’t have any other DNA samples to test with, but Draco had an idea—we used signatures.”

Serena glanced back at Snape’s potion as she spoke.

“I found out that around the time I was conceived was also the date of Draco’s parents' wedding. Knowing who my mother was—and that she was close to the Malfoys at the time—it made sense she’d be there. Draco got the wedding guest book. My mother’s name was listed… but there was no signature beside it.”

Snape didn’t move.

“While I was in the hospital wing, Draco suggested using the signatures instead of DNA as a substitute. We modified the potion slightly.”

Finally, Snape spoke—his voice low. “I suppose that could work.”

“Yeah, exactly. That’s why I’m curious about your potion. If it was for me, maybe we got the same result. It could confirm our findings.”

She left the ball in his court, hoping he’d volunteer his result. But he didn’t.

“So… to answer your question. Yes, we got a result—if the potion worked, that is.”

A long silence stretched between them.

“There was only one name that turned the potion colorful. All the others turned black. That one name… was yours, Professor.”

Serena watched him closely.

Time seemed to freeze.

Finally, Snape took a deep breath and said, “I knew. I’ve known for a while.”

Serena’s eyes widened. “You… knew? So this potion was for me. Why didn’t you say anything?”

Snape looked away. For the first time since Serena had come to Hogwarts, he looked… unsure. Vulnerable. He always seemed so composed—intimidating, even. But not now.

“You know what? You don’t have to answer that. I get it. It’s… not an easy conversation.”

Snape turned to face her again but remained silent.

“I mean… how do you even start a conversation like that? ‘Oh, by the way, I think I might be your father?’” She let out a nervous laugh, hoping to ease the tension. But of course, Snape didn’t react.

Still, it must’ve helped. Because after a long pause, he finally spoke again.

“You were right… about the timing. It was the night of the Malfoy wedding. The last time I saw your mother. I was… rather intoxicated. I don’t remember much after that. When I woke up, she was gone.”

“So… you don’t know where she is?”

Snape shook his head.

“Was she really as bad as everyone says? Draco’s dad definitely doesn’t like her.”

“She was… a troublemaker. But brilliant, magically speaking. As for Lucius, he never spoke much of his personal life—but he never missed a chance to drag Lelianna’s name through the mud.”

Serena sighed. Not what she wanted to hear. She longed to know both of her parents, but this journey was proving to be more complicated than she expected.

“What are your plans for the summer, Serena?”

The sudden question pulled her back.

“I was going to head back to New York. A Portkey is being arranged—it’s faster than flying, apparently.”

“Yes, it is.” Snape hesitated. “The only reason I ask is because… I have a spare room at my home. You’re welcome to stay there. If you want to. I won’t force you.”

He broke eye contact again, clearly uncomfortable—but there was something genuine behind the offer.

Serena was stunned. She never imagined Snape would make such an offer, but it filled her with unexpected warmth. All her life, she’d longed to know her parents—and now here was her father, offering her a place in his home.

Without thinking, she rushed forward and hugged him tightly.

With a tear in her eye, she said, “That sounds good to me.”

[piffcreations]

Draco hated waiting. He was far too used to getting what he wanted, exactly when he wanted it. For the past three weeks, he’d been visiting Serena, hoping each time that she would wake up. Deep down, a part of him blamed himself for the mess she was in. If only he hadn’t let that hint slip at the library, maybe she wouldn’t have gone after the Beast the way she did. Not that he’d ever let anyone see the guilt.

To pass the time—and distract himself from the growing knot in his chest—Draco began researching other ways to find Serena’s father. He hoped that when she woke up, he could surprise her with the information he had promised he would help her find.

One day, while Serena was still unconscious, Draco was summoned to Professor Snape’s office to be questioned about the night of her attack. Draco told Snape part of the truth—that he hadn’t seen the Beast, only Serena lying on the floor, hurt. He deliberately left out the detail that she had been in the restricted section of the library. As Snape dismissed him, Draco’s attention was caught by a shimmering, rainbow-hued potion bubbling quietly in a cauldron.

He asked Snape about it, and the professor explained it was a DNA potion—one Dumbledore had requested. Draco’s curiosity flared. This might be exactly what he’d been looking for. He later found the recipe in a copy of the seventh-year potions textbook in the library. It didn’t take long to realize how difficult the potion would be to brew—especially since they didn’t have any of Serena’s father’s DNA.

But where there’s a will, there’s a way—and Draco wasn’t about to let Serena down now.

For the next few days, Draco obsessed over the recipe, trying to figure out how to tweak it. The instructions said the potion needed an “impression” of the person—something unique only to them—but how could he get that from someone he’d never met?

As he was banging his head against the proverbial wall, the background chatter of the Slytherin common room caught his ear.

“Wow, Pansy! I never noticed you had such beautiful penmanship. Your signature looks so elegant,” said one of the shyer Slytherin girls.

“Why thank you,” Pansy replied with her nose in the air. “My mother always told me that a proper signature is important—especially when you’re from a pure-blood family. You can tell a lot about someone by how they sign their name.”

That line echoed in Draco’s mind. You can tell a lot about someone by how they sign their name.

That was it.

Without wasting another second, he sprinted back to his room, grabbed his parents’ wedding guest book, and made his way to the potions lab.

He had everything he needed for the potion—except for Serena.

Just as he was about to leave the lab to go visit Serena, he bumped into Professor Snape. Draco tried to act casual, hoping Snape wouldn’t ask too many questions about what he was brewing. But Snape didn’t seem concerned.

“I thought you’d be visiting Serena,” he said offhandedly. “She woke up this morning.”

Draco froze. Then a grin stretched across his face. Perfect timing, Serena, he thought.

“Thanks, Professor!” he called over his shoulder as he darted out of the lab, heading straight to the hospital wing.

But when he arrived, Serena was gone.

Madam Pomfrey informed him that she had left just moments ago—with Harry and Ron.

Draco’s stomach twisted. Why them? he fumed. Did they kidnap her?

He started searching every known Gryffindor haunt, but before he could get far, all students were ordered back to their common rooms early. Rumor had it a girl had been taken into the Chamber of Secrets, and that Lockhart was going to save her.

The Slytherins laughed—Draco included—but beneath the laughter was a growing dread. What if the girl was Serena?

Snape refused to confirm the identity of the victim, which only deepened Draco’s worry. When curfew hit and Serena still hadn’t returned, Draco found it nearly impossible to sleep.

The moment students were allowed to leave their common rooms the next morning, Draco was the first out. He didn’t get far—just outside the entrance he ran into Snape again.

“Where are you headed in such a rush, Mr. Malfoy?”

“Do you know where Serena is?” Draco shot back without answering.

Snape raised a curious eyebrow. “Yes. She was out all night with Potter and Weasley. They’ve been sent to the Headmaster’s office for a chat with Professor Dumbledore.”

“Wait—Dumbledore is back!?” Draco asked, then shook his head. That didn’t matter. Serena mattered. “Never mind. Thanks, Professor!”

He sprinted toward the Headmaster’s office, grumbling to himself about how it seemed to be the farthest point in the castle. He finally made it past the trophy room and up the last winding staircase when—

“Hey Draco! What are you doing here?”

Serena was a few steps ahead, a bit dirty but otherwise unharmed. Relief crashed over Draco as he ran up and hugged her tightly. All night he’d imagined the worst. Now she was here, safe. He immediately started bombarding her with questions.

Before she could answer, a familiar voice cut through the hallway.

“Draco, please tell me I’m not seeing what I think I’m seeing.”

Draco turned to find his father, Lucius Malfoy, standing behind him with a displeased glare. Dobby stood beside him, trembling more than usual.

Quickly wiping a tear from his cheek, Draco tried to play it cool. “Umm… Father! What brings you to Hogwarts?”

“I heard the Headmaster returned, and thought— as a governor of the board for Hogwarts—I should welcome him back,” Lucius said, then shifted his attention. “Now, Draco, how many times have I told you to stay away from that girl?”

He nudged Draco with his cane, clearly expecting an explanation.

“Uh… we… well, you see, Father, Serena was just—”

Lucius cut him off and turned to Serena. “Or is the blame on you?” he said, stepping closer until they were nearly face to face. Dobby follows close by. “You wouldn’t happen to have put my son under one of your Veela spells, would you?”

Serena stiffened but tried to stay composed. She opened her mouth, but Lucius continued.

“Yes, I know what you are. Probably better than you do. You look just like her, your mother. That’s how I know—you’re nothing but trouble. If you know what’s good for you, girl, you’ll stay away from my son.”

He gave her a condescending smirk and tapped his cane against her leg.

Serena had had enough. Lucius reminded her too much of the vampire in New York who’d judged her without a second thought.

“Draco’s old enough to decide who he spends time with,” she said firmly, surprising even herself.

Lucius gave a cold chuckle. “Oh really? If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll listen to his father. Because any child of Lelianna’s isn’t worth his time.”

He turned to Draco. “If you insist on being around this half-breed, don’t come crying to me when she reveals her true colors.”

Lucius started up the staircase toward Dumbledore’s office with Dobby on his heels, giving Serena one last evil glare over his shoulder. Serena took a moment before thinking of her response.

“I never knew my mother,” Serena called after him, “so how can you be so sure I’m just like her?”

Lucius stopped, turned, and said, “Because her blood is in you. You are one and the same.”

There was something in his expression—just for a moment—that didn’t quite match his tone. Regret? Serena couldn’t be sure. Before she could dwell on it, Draco took her arm and led her away.

“Come on darling, I have something to show you,” he said.

He took her to the potions lab. Serena, still exhausted and reeling from the events of the night before, just wanted to sleep. But Draco promised it would be worth it.

He pulled out the edited potion recipe. “I started brewing a DNA potion yesterday—and I figured out how to tweak it.”

He held up a pile of cut-up papers. “These are all signatures from my parents’ wedding book.”

Serena’s eyes widened. “You did what? Draco, if your parents find out… your dad already wants to kill me, this will not help.”

“They never look at this stuff. They probably don’t even realize it’s gone,” he said with a smirk. “All we have to do is add your DNA to the ready cauldron, toss in the signatures, and wait for one to float. Or… at least I think that’s how it will work.”

“Signatures? Draco, how do you even know this will work? My dad might not have been at your parents’ wedding. And this potion looks… advanced. How did you even find this potion to begin with?”

“Snape was making one in his office. It caught my eye so I asked him about it. The potion needs two DNA sources. If this version doesn’t work, we’ll figure something else out.” He saw the doubt on her face and gently lifted her chin. “What have we got to lose?”

“Well… your parents’ wedding book for starters.”

“Oh, I left the couples that are still together,” he grinned. “There’s something left of it.”

They both laughed and got to work finishing the potion. Serena placed a strand of her hair into the cauldron. The bubbling liquid shimmered, then turned a milky white as the hair floated gently on the surface. Draco took the pile of cut-up signatures and dropped them in.

Then they waited.

Seconds dragged into what felt like an eternity. Nothing happened.

“I guess that’s our answer, Draco,” Serena sighed. “Back to the drawing board.”

“Wait—look!”

Serena leaned forward. A single piece of paper had floated to the surface, face down so they couldn’t see the name. The liquid beneath it shifted, swirling into a vibrant array of colors.

“Well?” Draco said, eyes wide with anticipation. “Go on—pick it up.”

Serena took a deep breath and reached into the cauldron. As her fingers touched the paper and lifted it out, the potion instantly turned pitch black.

Her heart pounded in her chest. This is it. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life.

With trembling fingers, she flipped the paper over.

“Severus Snape.”

“Yes?” came a familiar voice behind her.

[piffcreations]

Opening her eyes, Serena wasn’t sure where she was. Her vision was still blurry, and her thoughts were foggy. She could hear voices nearby but couldn’t make out what they were saying. As the voices grew closer, she was able to discern a few words.

“She’s awake!”

It seemed Madam Pomfrey had noticed Serena’s eyes open and rushed over, immediately asking her questions.

“Sweetheart, can you hear me? Does anything hurt? What do you need?”

Words were slow to come for Serena. All she could manage was a quiet, “Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital wing. We... well, we’re not quite sure what happened. Mr. Malfoy found you in the girls’ bathroom and called for Professor Snape,” Madam Pomfrey explained.

Pieces of the night started to fall into place for Serena—sneaking out of the library, fighting the Basilisk, and... Hermione. Despite the dizziness still clouding her mind, Serena tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot down her back.

“Oh no, no. You need to stay in bed and rest,” Pomfrey protested. “You nearly broke your back that night. If you push yourself, it could make things worse.”

“Hermione... Where’s Hermione?” Serena whispered, barely able to get the words out. Pomfrey’s expression shifted from concern to sorrow.

“Ms. Granger was found the same night you were brought here.”

Serena’s eyes followed Madam Pomfrey as she pulled back the curtain, revealing Hermione, petrified. Tears filled Serena’s eyes. She couldn’t tell if it was from the pain of failing Hermione or the pain in her back, but either way, she prayed this was all a bad dream.

***

A few hours later, Serena heard familiar voices enter the hospital wing. She kept her back turned, not wanting to look at Hermione. It didn’t take long for her to recognize the voices of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. She listened as they talked, wishing Hermione would wake up, and it only made Serena feel worse.

“She would figure this out. We miss you Hermione,” Harry said.

“She did figure it out.” Serena spoke softly, turning slowly toward them. Ron immediately pushed the curtain between the beds, and both boys’ faces lit up with relief.

“Serena, you’re awake! We were so worried. It’s been three weeks since you’ve been out.”

Three weeks? Serena’s mind raced. “Has anyone else... been petrified?”

“No, but Dumbledore and Hagrid are gone. There’s talk of the school shutting down if the monster can’t be stopped,” Harry said with a disappointed tone.

Serena shot up at the mention of Hogwarts closing. That couldn’t happen! Despite everything that had happened this year, she’d finally made some friends. She didn’t want to lose them. Her thoughts her interrupted by the pain, shot up her back making her wince.

“Careful! Don’t hurt yourself.” Harry sat down on the bed. “Just take it slow.”

“What happened that night? You were pretty banged up when we came to see you the next morning,” Ron asked. Serena couldn’t blame him for wondering. She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about it, but with Hogwarts at risk, she knew she had to explain.

“Hermione wanted to research more about the monster. She found a book in the restricted section of the library that could help.”

Ron looked stunned. “Hermione! Our Hermione was willing to break the rules and go into the restricted section after curfew?”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t about to let her go alone. I went with her to... I guess try to protect her. Not that I did a good job.” Serena glanced over at Hermione, tears forming again.

“Did you figure out what the monster is? How to stop it?” Harry asked, trying to steer the conversation away from the painful topic.

Serena, still looking at Hermione, was about to answer when something caught her eye. Hermione was holding something in her petrified hand. Could it be?

“Ron, look at Hermione’s hand,” Serena said. Ron looked over at Hermione and then back at Serena before moving toward her. Despite Hermione’s stiffened hand, Ron managed to wiggle out a crumpled piece of paper. He unfolded it, his eyes widening.

“The monster is a Basilisk?”

“What’s a Basilisk?” Harry asked, taking the paper from Ron.

“There’s no way it could be that! They’re huge monsters. Someone would have seen it!” Ron said, shocked.

“It’s the sewer pipes,” Serena explained. “It makes sense, how I could hear movement in the walls.”

“Wait, you’ve been hearing things too?” Harry looked at Serena, confused.

“Yes. Just movement, not voices like Hermione told me you were hearing.” Harry seemed relieved, realizing he wasn’t the only one hearing strange sounds in the castle.

“So, it’s getting around in the pipes, but why is it only petrifying students and not outright killing them? It says here that looking into a Basilisk’s eyes will kill you,” Ron said, trying to piece things together.

“Hermione figured that out too. Everyone who said they saw it was looking through something, so they only saw its reflection,” Serena replied. She could hear the boys remembering each attack and realizing Hermione had been right.

“It also says that spiders fear the beast. That makes sense why Aragog wanted nothing to do with it,” Harry added. Serena wasn’t sure who Aragog was, but she followed along.

“We need to tell the teachers right away.” Harry and Ron started to leave the hospital wing. Serena wanted to join them, but fear held her back. She was afraid of failing her friends again, of them getting petrified like Hermione. Harry turned around when he saw Serena still in bed.

“Aren’t you coming?”

Serena hesitated. She wanted to help, but as the day wore on, her memories of that night came back, and it terrified her. If she couldn’t fight the beast, and with Dumbledore gone, who could?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Harry had walked back to her bedside. “Please, Serena. You’re the only one who’s faced it. We need your help.”

Serena couldn’t explain it, but there was something about Harry’s deep green eyes, with occasional swirls of white, that made it impossible for her to say no. “Alright. I just hope I don’t slow you down.”

***

The three of them made their way toward the staff living quarters, but the teachers were already gathered in the hallway. Serena’s heart sank as she saw what they were reading.

“Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever.”

As the trio listened, they learned the “her” in the message was Ron’s sister, Ginny. The situation was getting more complicated by the minute, and the threat of Hogwarts closing seemed imminent. They overheard the teachers discussing Professor Lockhart, who claimed to know where the monster was. It was clear that the trio needed to confront him.

When they arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, to their surprise, Lockhart was packing his things.

They confronted Lockhart and he tried to explain that he was sorry and “oh poor Ginny”. Ron wasn't having it.

“You need to help,” Ron demanded, his voice firm.

Lockhart pointed his wand at them, threatening to erase their memories, and admitted that his heroic stories were exaggerated. Without hesitation, Harry took out his wand and knocked Lockhart’s wand out of his hand, Serena and Ron followed suit.

“Come with us to the last place Serena saw the monster,” Harry ordered.

Lockhart, with no choice, agreed. Serena led the group to the girls’ bathroom, now surprisingly intact. She explained to the boys how the place had been a wreck after her encounter with the Basilisk.

“Basilisk?! You’re taking me to fight that thing!? I’m too handsome to die like that!” Lockhart panicked.

“Relax. Aren’t you supposed to be the adult here? Shouldn’t you be worried about protecting us?” Serena shot back, ignoring Lockhart’s scowl.

She turned to the boys, continuing her story. “When I flew in, I found its tail hanging out of the hole where the sinks should be. I don’t know how it opened or closed, but I’m sure it was there.”

“Okay, well, there’s got to be some kind of switch or lever somewhere,” Ron suggested, trying to stay hopeful.

Serena, Ron, and Lockhart looked around the room while Harry examined the sinks. Suddenly, something caught his eye—a snake engraved under one of the faucets.

“Guys, I think I found something. Look here—a snake. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“That Salazar Slytherin built it?” Ron guessed.

“Maybe he was really into plumbing?” Serena teased.

“No! Just step back,” Harry said.

They all stepped back as Harry spoke in Parseltongue, just like at the dueling club. The sinks began to move, revealing a giant hole in the ground.

“Well, look at that. You found the entrance. I guess you don’t need my help anymore,” Lockhart said, trying to escape.

Serena was faster. She stepped in front of him, her wand still raised.

Lockhart continued to back away, almost falling into the hole. “What? How did you move that quickly?”

Serena raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t you like to know? If you don’t help us, I could be a living nightmare.”

“Oh, please, don’t make me go down there! Do you have any idea how expensive this suit was?” Lockhart pleaded with the students, but it fell on deaf ears. The trio exchanged glances, then unceremoniously kicked him into the hole. His screams echoed as he fell, and they heard a thud at the bottom. Moments later, Lockhart called up to them, “It’s... rather gross down here.”

“Well, he’s not screaming anymore. Guess that means it’s safe, right?” Serena glanced at the boys before jumping in herself. The boys exchanged looks, then followed her.

When they landed, it was pitch black. Serena lit a small flame in her hand, providing enough light to see the room. It was eerie—piles of bones littered the floor, mostly animal remains, though some were human. The ceiling was low, forcing Lockhart to duck to avoid banging his already empty head. There were numerous paths branching off in all directions, making it difficult to know where to go.

“Where do we go now?” Ron asked the most obvious question.

Serena and Harry exchanged a glance, then nodded. Harry strained to listen for any sign of the voice, while Serena focused on detecting any movement. Both came to the same conclusion at the same time and pointed in the same direction. Fortunately, it was so dark that no one saw the slight blush on their faces at the synchronicity.

The group ventured deeper into the dark, damp sewers, searching for a monster they had no idea how to fight. As they progressed, Lockhart grew more and more restless. Eventually, they came to a fork in the path. While the trio discussed which way to go, Lockhart seized the opportunity to make a break for it. He threw a rock in the opposite direction to distract them, then snatched Ron’s wand. He pointed it at the students, threatening to erase their memories as he made his escape. But in his excitement over talking about his next book, he’d forgotten whose wand he had stolen. Ron had broken his wand on the first day of the school year and never got it fixed. As Lockhart cast the spell, it backfired, sending him crashing into the wall.

The room began to shake, and rocks started to fall from the ceiling. Serena acted quickly, pulling Ron out of the way as he was closer than Harry was. As the dust settled, Harry was nowhere to be seen. Both Ron and Serena shouted for Harry, praying he was okay.

“I’m alright, guys!” Harry called back.

They both sighed in relief. Serena pointed toward an opening near the ceiling, and they started climbing. As they peered through, they could see Harry—dusty, but alive.

Harry told them he was going to continue on and try to find Ginny. He suggested they move the rock for when they returned. With little choice, they nodded, watching Harry disappear into the darkness.

“My, who are you two?” Ron and Serena slowly turned around to see Lockhart sitting on the ground, a large grin on his face. “Do you both live here? I love what you’ve done with the place,” he continued, and they both knew the night had just gotten a whole lot longer.

With a heavy sigh, Serena began moving boulders while Ron tried to help—but mostly ended up baby-sitting Lockhart. After a while, Ron noticed something wasn’t right with Serena; she seemed to be getting sluggish.

“Serena, are you alright?” Ron asked, concern in his voice.

Serena looked back down at him and replied, “Oh, yeah, don’t worry about me.”

It hit her then—she hadn’t fed yet today. Since she was still recovering from the attack, she wasn’t in her prime form. Moving the rocks was taking a toll on her, but she couldn’t fail her friends again. She pushed herself to continue.

“It’s okay if you need to take a break,” Ron said empathetically. “This is going to take forever, even with your super strength. You shouldn’t push yourself.”

“I think she’s doing wonderfully!” Lockhart cheered, though it was clear he was barely functioning, given his memory loss.

Ignoring him, Serena replied, “That’s sweet, Ron, but what if Harry and Ginny need us? We have to get through this mess.”

“Well, who created this mess?” Lockhart chimed in, earning a groan from both Serena and Ron.

Serena was about to turn back to her digging when she felt something different, something warm. Just as she turned around, a streak of fire flew into the room. It was none other than Fawkes, the phoenix from Dumbledore’s office. All three stared in awe as the bird perched on a rock.

“What a pretty bird! Is he yours? He matches your hairrrr,” Lockhart said to Ron in a sing-song voice.

“Kawwkkk!” Fawkes called, pointing his beak toward the small hole above. It was as if he was trying to communicate with them. Serena somehow understood what the phoenix was trying to say.

“He wants us to make the hole at the top bigger so he can get through. I think he wants to help Harry!”

Serena and Ron scrambled to climb back up to the hole, pushing as hard as they could. Despite the pain in her lower back, Serena ignored it, focusing all her energy on helping Harry. With one final push, a rock moved just enough to allow Fawkes to pass through. The phoenix gave a nod of thanks before soaring through the hole.

Knowing help was on the way for Harry gave Serena a sense of relief. Her body, however, was screaming from the strain.

Turning to Ron, she said, “Okay… maybe I’ll take you up on that break now.”

[piffcreations]

It didn’t take a genius to notice that Serena had been acting strangely all day—nervous, even. When Draco asked her what was wrong, she brushed it off, claiming she hadn’t gotten enough sleep. Draco didn’t buy it for a second but decided not to press her.

When Friday came around, they exchanged good nights, and Serena headed toward Professor Snape’s office for her evening blood. Draco saw her glancing around every corner, as if trying to avoid being followed, which only made him more curious to track her movements. After waking Goyle and Crabbe, the three boys left the Slytherin Common Room to follow her.

As usual, Serena stopped by Snape’s for her blood, but instead of heading to the Courtyard afterward, she made her way toward the Viaduct. Draco told the others to hurry so they wouldn’t lose sight of her. When they reached the Viaduct doors, Draco saw Serena soaring into the night sky, heading toward Gryffindor Tower.

Draco quickly pushed Crabbe and Goyle back inside to keep them from seeing Serena, still unaware of her secret. He tried to watch her, but she was too high up. She wasn’t in the air for long, though. After a while, she flew off, carrying something—or someone—in her arms. Draco yanked open the Viaduct doors, pulled Goyle and Crabbe back outside, and sprinted after her.

They finally caught up with Serena and… Hermione? Draco’s face flushed. What was going on? Why hadn’t Serena told him about this? It looked like they were heading to the Library. The boys followed them inside, staying close enough to watch as the two girls entered the Restricted Section. Goyle and Crabbe began to laugh, imagining the trouble they’d be in if they reported the girls. Draco quickly hushed them, straining to hear what the girls were talking about.

He could make out snippets of their conversation—something about a beast. Could they be investigating the creature in the Chamber of Secrets? Draco’s heart sank. Why were they looking into the beast now? He realized he had a choice to make. He knew something that could help them, but he’d never told anyone. 

He had overheard his father talking about the Chamber before the school year started. Draco feared revealing what he knew, especially since he didn’t want it traced back to his father. Curious about the beast, Draco remembered tearing a page out of a book at Flourish and Blotts and carrying it with him all year. Should he give it to them? Would they go searching for the beast? Would it put Serena in more danger?

Then, an idea popped into his head.

Draco decided to sneak around to the other side of the library, into the Restricted Section, before Hermione or Serena could get there. He found the same book he had seen at Flourish and Blotts, opened it, left a loose page, and quickly left before they could catch him. He signaled to Crabbe and Goyle to wait outside.

Though Crabbe and Goyle wanted to go back to bed, the three boys waited outside the library for the girls to emerge. Draco needed to know what they were planning next. Finally, the girls left and started retracing their steps. To Draco’s relief, it seemed like they were heading back to bed. He hoped he’d have a chance to speak with Serena before they did anything else.

But then something felt off—everything became eerily quiet and Serena stopped dead in her tracks. Draco looked around, hoping it was just a teacher or prefect nearby, but no one was in sight. When he turned back to the girls, he noticed something was wrong with Hermione. She wasn’t moving, not even an inch. Serena, on the other hand, looked in shock. She tried to shake Hermione awake, but it was no use.

Crabbe and Goyle realized what had happened and tried to run back to the common room. Draco shouted at them to stay put.

Whoosh!

Draco spun around to see that Serena was gone. “Great, now we’ve lost her!”

Just as he finished his sentence, a loud bang echoed from what sounded like the girls’ bathroom at the end of the hall. Draco told Crabbe and Goyle to follow him, and they hurried toward the bathroom.

Draco peeked inside first, trying to determine whether Serena was still in her Veela form or if she had returned to her usual appearance. He also wanted to make sure the beast wasn’t around—he wasn’t in the mood to fight one tonight or any other night for that matter. The coast appeared clear, so Draco stepped into the room. The floor was covered in broken glass and rubble, evidence of some kind of chaos. Serena was nowhere to be seen.

“Serena! Serena!” Draco called, hoping for a response, but there was nothing. He ventured further into the room and called again, scanning the area. Goyle and Crabbe followed nervously. When Draco looked down toward the stalls, he spotted someone lying motionless in the rubble. It was Serena.

She wasn’t moving. Draco’s heart skipped a beat. This didn’t look good. As he got closer, it became clear that things were worse than he had feared. Serena had a massive cut down the center of her forehead, blood pouring from her face. Her arms and torso were covered in cuts, and a piece of glass was sticking out of her arm.

“Serena! Please, say something!” Draco’s voice trembled as he knelt beside her. “Serena, please, talk to me!”

“Dr… Draco?” Serena’s voice was weak and barely audible. Her eyes were barely open, but something wasn’t right. Her eyes had turned a deep crimson red, like when someone cries, but it was more intense.

“Serena, are you ok? What’s wrong? What do you need?”

“Prof… Sn… Snape…” she whispered.

Without thinking, Draco turned around and shouted for Crabbe and Goyle to get Snape. Not wanting to linger in the bathroom any longer than necessary, they rushed off. Alone with Serena, Draco noticed how shallow her breathing had become.

“Sna… snake… blood,” Serena murmured.

“What? Did you drink snake’s blood? You know that’s poisonous to you!” Draco’s anxiety grew. What was taking them so long to get Snape?

“Crabbe and Goyle are on their way to get him. He’ll help you,” Draco said, trying to stay calm. “Just stay with me.”

Serena’s breathing slowed, and tears welled up in Draco’s eyes. Between the poison and the blood loss, Serena was dying right in front of him, and he didn’t know what to do. But then, something caught his eye—a glint of glass sticking out of her arm. Draco had an idea. He hated it, but it could save her.

He grabbed a nearby shard of glass, rolled up his sleeve, and carefully cut into his forearm, drawing blood. It hurt more than he cared to admit, but if it could save Serena, it was worth it. He moved her slightly and held his arm near her lips.

“Please, Serena, drink my blood,” he whispered. Not like she had much of a choice. He moved his cut arm to her mouth.

At first, nothing changed. Serena remained unconscious, her breathing shallow. Then, Draco felt something warm licking his wound. Despite being unconscious, Serena had started drinking his blood. Her eyes snapped open and started glowing red. Veins became visible beneath her eyes, and Draco could feel her teeth gently pressing against his skin.

Suddenly, the bathroom door burst open, and Professor Snape rushed toward them. Draco quickly withdrew his arm and hid the wound.

“What happened?” Snape asked, his voice laced with panic—something Draco had never heard from him before.

“I don’t know, Professor! I found her like this. Can you help her?” Snape immediately moved to Serena’s side, opposite Draco, and began to examine her.

Draco’s anxiety deepened as he knew what was wrong and didn’t want to waste any time.

“Serena was awake for a moment. She told me she drank snake’s blood,” Draco said urgently. Snape looked up at him, his expression confused.

“I know everything, her curse—I’ve known since Halloween.”

Snape nodded, unfazed. There wasn’t much he could do about Draco knowing the truth. He began searching his pockets for something.

“So, she told you she needs blood to live?” Snape asked, glancing toward Draco’s arm.

Draco quickly pulled his arm behind his back. “The cut isn’t that deep. Just enough to get her to drink.”

Snape raised an eyebrow. “I hope you realize how important it is that no one else knows about her condition.”

Draco nodded, feeling the weight of the secret. Snape produced a vial and gently poured it into Serena’s mouth. She stirred but remained unconscious.

Snape began to lift Serena into his arms. “Where are you taking her, Professor? Is she going to be okay?”

Snape didn’t look at him as he walked toward the door. “You need to return to bed, Mr. Malfoy. I’ve already sent Crabbe and Goyle back to the common room. It’s too dangerous for students to be out. I’m taking Ms. Rosier to the hospital wing. You may visit her in the morning, if Madam Pomfrey permits.”

“Professor, please,” Draco pleaded. “Can’t I stay with Serena until she wakes up?”

“No,” Snape replied firmly. “It’s too dangerous. Go to bed.”

Draco watched as Snape left the bathroom with Serena in his arms. He sighed, feeling helpless. With no reason to be out of bed, he made his way back to the common room. He just hoped he would be able to sleep.

Meanwhile, Snape arrived at the hospital wing to find Madam Pomfrey already tending to other students. He approached her and asked where to place Serena.

“What? Another petrification? I’m running out of beds!” Pomfrey exclaimed, clearly stressed.

“No, she’s just hurt and accidentally ingested poison,” Snape explained. Pomfrey quickly directed him to an empty bed, and Snape laid Serena down.

Before long, Dumbledore and McGonagall arrived.

“Oh no, Severus, not another student,” McGonagall said, her voice full of worry.

Snape explained as much as he could without revealing Serena’s curse to McGonagall and Pomfrey. He was careful with his words.

“I’ve already administered some medicine. I was hoping you could watch over her, Poppy, until she wakes up.”

Pomfrey started to rant but was interrupted by Dumbledore. “I think it’s time we tell them about Serena’s condition, Severus. I trust Poppy and Minerva.”

McGonagall and Pomfrey looked bewildered as Snape explained Serena’s curse.

“I thought Serena looked familiar. Let’s hope she doesn’t cause as much trouble as her mother did,” McGonagall remarked, voicing the obvious concern.

“Well, it seems Ms. Rosier is stable. Whatever you gave her seems to have done the trick,” Pomfrey said, nodding in approval.

Dumbledore spoke up, his tone surprisingly calm. “Now, we need answers. What caused all the cuts to Serena? I suppose we’ll have to wait until she wakes up. I suggest we leave Poppy to do her job and return to ours for the night.”

Snape lingered for a moment, looking back at Serena before he followed McGonagall and Dumbledore out of the hospital wing, his mind heavy with unanswered questions.

[piffcreations]

Serena waited at the train station in Hogsmeade for the arrival from London. She couldn't wait to see Draco and hear what he had discovered about her mother. The train was expected around 7 p.m., and thankfully, the days were growing longer, allowing the sun to still shine and warmly welcome Hogwarts students back.

As the train pulled into the station, Serena scanned the growing crowd for a flash of blonde. Just as she thought she had missed him, there he was, heading toward her. They greeted each other with a big hug and bright smiles. Serena began bombarding him with a million questions about what had happened as they walked back to the castle. Draco’s smile slowly faded as he began to explain what happened when he mentioned Lelianna.

“Oh my gosh, Draco, I’m so sorry! I never meant for your dad to yell at you like that!” Serena interrupted with a worried expression. Draco gave her a shy smile, reassuring her not to worry and that his mother was able to soothe things over enough that his father would talk to him by the time it was to leave back to Hogwarts.

Once they made it back to the common room and Draco had access to his trunk, he dug out the wedding book for both of them to examine. They flipped through the pages, scanning each one for any sign of Lelianna. With each turn of the page, Serena’s hope started to dwindle—maybe Lelianna hadn't attended the wedding after all.

“There it is!” Draco exclaimed, pointing to the last page of the book. There, Serena saw a signature that looked as though a toddler had written it. It was barely legible, but it was definitely Lelianna’s signature—large, almost written over other signatures. Most disappointingly, there was no accompanying name next to it. Serena slumped back in defeat, feeling as though it was back to square one.

For the next two weeks, Serena and Draco continued their search for more information about Lelianna and Serena’s curse. When they found time between classes, Quidditch practice, and nearly poisoning herself in Potions class.

It was Wiggenweld potion day, and the class was going smoothly. Serena had successfully brewed her potion to perfection. However, as the class ended and everyone went to drink their potions, Serena hesitated.

“Aren’t you going to try your potion? It’s completely safe—one of the few that actually makes you feel better with no side effects,” Draco said, noticing her hesitation. Serena smiled, looking around for any eavesdroppers before whispering to him.

“Actually, I think this potion might do the opposite for me. There are certain kinds of blood I can’t drink—reptile blood is one of them, and this potion contains salamander blood. It could kill me if I drink enough of it. You might as well have it, Draco.”

Draco gave her a look that said, "Good to know," as he accepted the potion. Together, they moved on to their next class.

By early May, the pair had hit dead ends at every turn. Serena felt it was time to bring in some reinforcements, whether Draco liked it or not. She met with Hermione before class and gave her an update on the research she and Draco had been working on. Hermione was eager to help and more than happy to pitch in for her friend.

Together, Hermione and Serena made their way to the library to meet Draco. The second Draco saw them both enter, a grumpy look spread across his face.

“What is she doing here!?” Draco asked with his rude tone.

Serena sighed, explaining that they needed Hermione’s help and that a fresh set of eyes might be exactly what they needed. Draco’s expression didn’t change, but he returned to the book he had been reading. Hermione sat down, suggesting books that might cover Veelas. Draco interrupted, saying they’d already checked all the magical creature books and found nothing.

“Well, did you think to check books on magical beings?” Hermione countered. “Veelas aren’t considered creatures—they’re more like vampires or zombies since they have a human form.”

Draco rolled his eyes but turned back to his book. Clearly wanting to retort but saw Serena give him a look to not try anything. Ignoring him, Serena joined Hermione in searching for books about magical beings. It didn’t take Hermione long to find a book she claimed to have seen before. The girls brought it back to the table where Draco was still sitting and started reading through it.

“Ah, here it is!” Hermione exclaimed with excitement. “Veela or Vila are fairy-like beings, typically beautiful, with the ability to hypnotize men with their dance. They have hair as bright as the sun and skin as pale as the moon. Some Veelas can control storms, turn into animals, and manipulate nature. When angered, their heads transform into bird-like heads, and large feathered wings grow from their shoulders. They can also create fire and hurl it at their enemies.”

Serena wasn’t sure how to feel about this information. It was exciting to learn about potential magical abilities she might possess, but the description worried her. Serena didn’t have golden hair, and while her skin was pale, it wasn’t as pale as the moon. She could transform into her bird form at will, and her fire was ice-cold—nothing like what the book described.

“Is there anything about… drinking blood?” Serena whispered to Hermione. Hermione shook her head.

“No, nothing about that. It may be part of your curse. Also, there’s no mention of an awakening like you had when you were ten.” Hermione noticed Serena’s sad expression and quickly added, “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for your curse, and once we figure it out, we can break it!”

A small smile tugged at Serena’s lips. It was sweet how Hermione was trying to comfort her. They continued their search for anything related to her curse, but found nothing. By mid-afternoon, Draco announced he had Quidditch practice and had to leave.

“Thanks for your help, Draco! I hope practice goes well,” Serena said as he made his exit, receiving a smirk from him and an icy stare toward Hermione. “I’ll see you later in the common room Serena. Have fun with goody two-shoes over there.”

“Ignore him, I don't know why he thinks he can say those things and get away with it.” Serena said, annoyed.

“Why you hang out with him, I’ll never understand,” Hermione said once Draco was out of sight.

“Well, he’s nice to me. I just wish he was nicer to everyone else. I’ll bring him around eventually.”

Hermione gave Serena a skeptical look. “I’ll believe it when I see it. Do you mind if we change topics for a bit? I’ve been meaning to look into something about the Chamber of Secrets.”

Serena’s eyes widened at the mention of the Chamber. All the teachers had been telling students not to worry about it and to leave it to them. But Serena knew that if anyone could help, despite her powers being the result of a curse, she could be of use, a use for good. Knowing she wasn’t muggle-born anymore gave her the courage to ask Hermione what she had in mind.

“The beast in the Chamber,” Hermione said. “If we figure out what it is, maybe we can stop it.” She stood up and headed toward the back of the library. “There might be something in the restricted section about dangerous beasts, but… it would be breaking school rules to enter.”

Serena smiled. “Well, it’s about time I made a bad girl out of you.”

Hermione gave her a puzzled look. “No, no way am I breaking school rules.”

Serena raised an eyebrow. “Even if it meant saving someone’s life?”

Hermione sighed, as the girls began to devise a plan to sneak into the library.

That Friday, after everyone had gone to bed, Serena flew outside to Gryffindor Tower where Hermione waited in the common room. Once Hermione saw Serena outside one of the windows, she carefully climbed out the window. Serena then flew off with Hermione in her arms and headed as close to the library as possible by flight. Once landed, Serena used her enhanced hearing to listen for any staff or prefects nearby. Once the coast was clear, they made their way to the restricted section of the library.

With her blue flame lighting the way, Hermione focused on finding a book about dark creatures. The restricted section resembled the main library but was covered in a thick layer of dust—clearly, it wasn’t often visited. Serena noticed one book slightly pulled out more than the others on a dusty shelf. She drew Hermione’s attention to it, and they discovered it was exactly what they were looking for.

They sat down to skim through the pages, looking for anything that could explain what was petrifying the students at Hogwarts. After flipping through several pages without finding anything useful, Hermione slammed the book shut in frustration and started to return it to the shelf. As she did, a page fell out and fluttered to the ground. Both girls bent down to inspect it and could hardly believe what they had found.

The page described a creature called a Basilisk: a fearsome, snake-like creature that would instantly kill anyone who looked into its eyes. Hermione’s excitement grew.

“If the beast in the Chamber is a Basilisk, everything would make sense!” she exclaimed.

Serena, still confused, asked, “But it says that if someone looks into its eyes, they die. All the students are just petrified.”

“Yes, but they were all looking through something. Colin (a young Gryffindor) had a camera, Justin (a Hufflepuff) must have seen it through Nearly Headless Nick( a ghost at Hogwarts), and there was water on the floor the night Mrs. Norris was petrified. She must have seen the Basilisk in the water!” Hermione explained quickly, barely giving Serena time to process.

“Then how is it moving around? This says a Basilisk is huge. Surely someone would have seen a giant snake slithering through the halls.”

Hermione thought for a moment and then seemed to have an epiphany. “Harry always said he could hear it in the walls. The plumbing’s in the walls! That’s how it’s getting around!”

Serena nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. I didn’t know Harry had been hearing it too. I’ve heard something in the walls sometimes, but I thought it was normal and everyone could hear it.”

“You could have said something! Harry thought he was losing his mind!” Hermione chuckled before making her way toward the door. “Let’s get out of here before we get caught.”

Once they reached the doors, Serena stopped for a moment. “Hey Hermione, if this is true and the Basilisk can kill you just by looking into its eyes. You should probably stay behind me. I will hear and see if it comes before you do in the Dark. I can tell you to close your eyes and get us out of there before it can hurt us. I promise I will fly faster than ever to get us out of its sight” Serena finished with a giggle. 

Hermione smiled, “Right, that would probably be best. I will stay right behind you then.”

As they exited the library, Serena began listening carefully for anyone approaching. They made it quite far before something sounded different—a noise too big to be human. The sound was getting closer, but Serena couldn’t see anything in the dark with her enhanced eyesight. Lighting her hands with blue fire, she still couldn’t see anything.

“Look, Serena, there are tiny spiders leaving through this window,” Hermione said, peering through a magnifying glass.

Serena waited for her to finish her sentence but suddenly realized Hermione wasn’t right behind her. When she turned around, she saw Hermione frozen in place, her eyes wide with terror.

Panic gripped Serena. She had promised to protect Hermione, but in that moment, she had failed. Anger and fear flooded her body. Without thinking, she shifted into her bird form and took flight, following the sound of what she assumed was the Basilisk.

The noise led her to Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, and without hesitation, Serena charged in. In the middle of the room, she saw it: the Basilisk. It appeared to be crawling down a path that looked to be the original place of all the sinks. Fueled by rage, Serena attacked, her talons digging into its scales as she bit down hard on the beast.

But the Basilisk retaliated fiercely, using its tail to knock Serena into the bathroom wall. Its blood did not taste just right but Serena didn't care, she was causing the beast pain and in the moment that was all that mattered.  

She could feel her strength waning as the battle raged on, the beast’s tail smashing her into the walls again and again. Finally, with one powerful swing of its tail, Serena was thrown against the back wall. Glass shattered, and part of the walls crumbled from the impact. Serena watched as the last bit of the Basilisks swept into the hole and the sinks closed back over.

Serena could barely keep her eyes open, she could barely feel her body, all Serena could taste was the  snake’s blood that was bitter in her mouth. It was only then she realized, the Basilisk, regardless of size, was still a snake. A snake is a reptile, therefore it’s blood was poisonous to her. The realization hit her too late.

“I’m… sorry… Hermione...” Serena whispered as her vision blurred. She hoped Hermione could forgive her. Was this her punishment for failing to protect her friend?

The silence was broken by a door opening and a voice Serena didn’t recognize calling out, “Come quick! She’s in here!”

[piffcreations]

They say there’s no place like home, and for Draco, that was very true. Being back at the Manor after not being home for Christmas made him long for it even more. Not to mention, being adored by his mother and having servants at his every whim made the Manor feel far superior to Hogwarts. Despite the comfort, Draco couldn’t forget that he had a mission over the break: asking his parents about Leliana Rosier.

It came time for dinner, and Draco thought it would be best to ask while they ate. What could possibly go wrong?

Draco and his parents sat down at the luxurious, long dining table, adorned with some of Draco’s favorite foods. Lucius sat at the head of the table, with Narcissa to his left and Draco to his right. His mother, Narcissa, quickly asked Draco how his time at Hogwarts had been. Lucius, on the other hand, seemed mostly concerned with Draco's grades. Draco, however, was only interested in discussing how Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were favored by all the teachers. As dessert was served, Draco decided it was the perfect time to ask his father about Leliana.

“Father, I was looking through some old yearbooks at Hogwarts with some other Slytherins,” Draco started, remembering not to mention Serena, as his father had made it clear that Draco shouldn’t be seen with her.

“Oh? Dare I ask what you found?” Lucius replied with a raised eyebrow.

“Do you happen to remember a photo from the day when Goyle played that prank on you?” Narcissa chimed in, giggling. Lucius raised a playful eyebrow at his wife before turning back to Draco.

“Well, I was wondering if you could tell me about someone I saw in the photos with you. It was a woman…” Draco began.

“It was probably your mother, Draco,” Lucius quickly interjected, taking another bite of his dessert.

“Um, no, it wasn’t... The ledger said her name was... Leliana Rosier,” Draco said, feeling his pulse quicken.

At the mention of Leliana’s name, Lucius immediately began choking on his food. Narcissa’s eyes widened in surprise at Draco’s question, before quickly helping her husband. After taking a drink of wine, Lucius stood up from his chair, glaring at Draco in a way that reminded him of how his father used to look at their house-elf, Dobby, when he broke something. Draco had never been afraid of his father before, but this felt different.

“How did you find that name?! Who told you about her?! Is it that girl I told you to stay away from?!” Lucius yelled, his voice sharp and harsh. “Draco, I told you to STOP talking to her!”

Draco was stunned. His father had never yelled at him like that before. He struggled to find the right words but was speechless. For a moment, he looked to his mother, silently pleading for help. Narcissa, sensing her son’s distress, stood up and moved to intervene.

“Love, please. I’m sure Draco would not disobey you. Please, sit down and finish your dessert,” she said soothingly.

Lucius’ glare remained fixed on Draco, but he replied, “I’ve lost my appetite.” With that, he turned and stormed out of the dining room. Draco slumped back in his chair, trying desperately to hold back his tears. He hadn’t even noticed his mother move to his side until she spoke softly.

“Oh, my poor boy,” Narcissa murmured, wrapping her arms around him. “Your father didn’t mean to yell at you like that. That woman… she’s a sore subject for him. Why did you bring her up? And what girl is your father talking about?”

Draco hesitated, unsure of what to say. He knew his mother would speak with his father later.

“I was just curious, I swear! I had never seen her before, and she was in so many photos with Father. They must have been close. It just seemed odd that I had never heard of her,” Draco explained, hoping his mother wouldn’t see through the lie.

Narcissa sighed but nodded. “Yes, Draco, your father was close to her for a time. But then… she betrayed us. That’s all I can say without speaking with your father first. Please, Draco, don’t bring her up again. Do you understand?”

Draco nodded, giving his mother a small, shy smile. “Yes, Mum, I understand.”

They shared a tight hug before Narcissa straightened up. “You should go back to your room once you’re done. I’ll speak with your father and try to smooth things over.”

Draco watched as his mother left the dining hall, heading toward the door his father had stormed out of. Then it hit him: the wedding!

“Mum, wait! One more thing!” Draco called out. Narcissa turned around, raising an eyebrow as if to ask what it was.

“I know this is a bit odd to ask, but… where is your wedding stuff again?”

Narcissa gave her son a confused look but answered, “It’s in the storage room along with all your old baby things, but why on earth would you be interested in our wedding things?”

Draco almost panicked, realizing how strange it must seem for a teenage boy to be interested in his parents’ wedding. “Um, well… it’s for a school project!” he said quickly.

“Oh, in that case, just please be careful with it all,” Narcissa said, still sounding perplexed, as she left the dining hall.

Draco let out a sigh of relief, as though he had been holding his breath during the entire conversation. He quickly finished his dessert and made his way to the storage room.

Once there, he reached for the door handle but found it locked. Of course, Draco thought. He took out his wand and cast the Alohomora charm, unlocking the door.

“Very well done, young master.”

Draco nearly jumped out of his skin. He spun around to see their house-elf Dobby standing behind him. “Dobby, what are you doing? Don’t you have work to do?”

“Of course, young master. I just thought I would offer my assistance if needed. Apologies, Dobby shall punish himself,” Dobby said, beginning to bash his head against the wall in penance.

Draco opened the door to the storage room and was taken aback by how disorganized it was. The large room was filled with things he hadn’t seen in years—storage trunks, scattered boxes, and furniture covered in sheets. It would take hours to find the signature book from the wedding. Then, an idea popped into Draco’s head.

He turned back to Dobby, who had stopped bashing his head and was now heading down the hall to continue cleaning.

“Dobby, wait! There’s something you can help me with!” Draco called out.

Dobby perked up and walked back over. “Do you need Dobby to clean your bathroom again?”

“No.” Draco replied quickly before Dobby could continue.

“Do you need Dobby to polish your shoes again?”

“Ah, no, Dobby. I just need… I just need help finding something in the storage room! Can you do that?”

“Oh, yes, young master! Dobby moved everything in there himself,” Dobby said eagerly.

Draco sighed and motioned for Dobby to follow him into the storage room. “Okay, Dobby. I need to find the signature book from my parents’ wedding. Can you help me find it?”

Dobby eagerly set to work, apparating all over the room, looking under covers, and opening boxes until, finally, he found the right one. “Here it is, young master!” Dobby declared with pride.

Draco’s smile grew as he took the book. Just as he was about to leave, Dobby asked, “Young master, may I ask why you are so curious about this book?”

Draco turned back to look at the house-elf, then down at the book. “To help someone and make her very happy,” he said before heading to his room, mission accomplished.

Back at Hogwarts, Serena was doing her best to stay occupied. Fortunately, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sticking around over the holidays. The four of them spent quite a bit of time together over the two weeks. Serena enjoyed Draco’s company, but everyone needs a break now and then. The rough part of the break was that they weren’t allowed to wander around the castle freely and had to hang out either in the library or the Great Hall.

It was more apparent than ever how students were ignoring Harry due to the incident where he spoke Parseltongue in the Duel Club, along with the recent petrifications. Serena could see the hurt on Harry’s face. Trying to make him feel better, she said, “You know, Harry, I believe you didn’t hurt those students.” Serena watched as Harry’s head lifted at her words. She continued, “It just isn’t in you. I can tell you're not like that.”

Harry gave Serena a warm smile and thanked her for her kind words. As the group sat down to eat, Serena finally asked why everyone treated Harry differently. Harry smiled at her question while Ron laughed, and Hermione looked surprised.

“Wait, should I know already? Are you someone important?” Serena immediately regretted her cringeworthy question.

“No, not at all,” Harry said, still smiling. “It’s actually kind of refreshing that you do not know who I am.”

Hermione then went on to explain everything that had happened with Harry’s parents and Voldemort. Serena’s eyes widened.

“I… I’m so sorry, Harry,” Serena said, barely finding the words. Harry gave a small shrug and continued eating.

“Well, I guess we have more in common than I thought,” Serena said with a chuckle, hoping to lighten the mood. Instead, the other three looked at her with extreme confusion. Serena realized her mistake and quickly tried to explain.

“I mean... I mean that, well… I also didn’t know my parents...”

The three of them went from confused to solemn as they listened to Serena explain her past—the same things she had shared with Draco.

“I can’t believe I haven’t told you guys yet,” Serena finished, while the other three stared at her, stunned. For a moment, they were silent until Hermione finally spoke.

“Yeah, you forgot to mention all that… You threw a car at police officers???”

“I didn’t mean too!! I was scared, okay? Is that not a normal amount of power to display when I couldn’t control it yet?”

The Golden Trio all shook their heads, and Serena slumped down in her seat.

“Being raised by vampires still sounds better than living with my aunt and uncle,” Harry said, which made Serena chuckle a bit.

“There were bad days and good days. I tried to just focus on myself.”

Ron piped up, asking, “Do you really think Malfoy will get it out of his father who your mom is? That right git, Lucius only cares about his family and status?”

Serena shrugged and replied, “Well, if he can at least get the wedding signature book, maybe he won’t have to ask.”

“Ahem.”

Serena heard someone clear their throat from behind her. When she turned around, she saw Professor Snape standing there. Looking at the time, it was almost time for her blood. As soon as Snape saw that she had noticed him, he quickly left.

“What was that about?” Ron asked, staring toward the entrance of the Great Hall where Snape had disappeared.

��Oh, it’s almost time for my blood,” Serena explained. “As you can imagine, Snape doesn’t like it when I’m late. I should probably get going.”

She started to get up, then turned back to the trio. “You guys promise not to tell anyone, right? If it gets out, then... I might have to leave Hogwarts.”

Harry was the first to smile and say they promised. Serena returned the smile and headed out of the Great Hall.

As she got closer to the Potions classroom, she could almost taste the blood. She entered the classroom to find Snape still heating it up for her. She greeted him and took a seat while she waited.

As she waited, a thought crossed her mind: Could Snape know about her mother? They would have been at Hogwarts around the same time, with her mother being his senior.

“Professor, did you happen to know someone named Lelianna Rosier?”

Snape seemed to freeze at the question but replied, “Yes, she was a student here at Hogwarts, a few years ahead of me. I never spoke to her much. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, just curious, I guess.”

Snape turned around and gave Serena a raised eyebrow, clearly not believing her. Serena didn’t feel like explaining it all again after just talking about it with the trio.

“I just…” Serena started to say but sighed heavily. “I wonder if… maybe… she might be my mom. I never met her before, but I… I don’t know.”

Serena lowered her head, hoping not to meet what she imagined was a judgmental look from her professor.

“It’s possible,” Snape said as he walked over to Serena with the warmed blood.

“Really? You think I could be...?”

“You look just like her. Your hair, your eyes, everything. You almost look like a clone of her.” Snape handed the glass of blood to Serena. She stared at it for a moment before asking, “I’m trying to find her, but it seems like she doesn’t want to be found.”

“Lelianna was her own person,” Snape replied. “If she wanted something, she usually got it. Including not wanting to be found.”

Serena nodded, then drank the blood and handed the glass back to Snape. “Thanks. I guess I should head to the common room for the night.” She turned to leave but stopped and turned back around. “One last question, Professor. Did you know if Lelianna had a partner or fancied anyone? I’m struggling to find my father’s name.”

Snape seemed taken aback by the question, taking a moment to reply.

“No. No, I’m not aware of Lelianna being with anyone.”

Serena nodded her head and left the classroom.

Snape stood there, bewildered. Twice now, he had been asked about Lelianna’s relationship status, within the past few months, despite barely knowing the woman. Something kept nagging him at the back of his mind.

The glass that Serena had drunk from was still in his hand. Looking at it, he saw some saliva at the rim. Snape found himself wondering why he was thinking about this so much.

He put the glass down and started searching through his potions books, looking for a particular potion recipe. Once he found it, he gathered the ingredients and went to work mixing.

To finish the potion, he had to add the final two ingredients. Snape took the glass from earlier, swabbed the saliva from the rim, and dropped it into the brewing potion. Then, for the first time in his life, Snape hesitated. This potion could change everything. Was it better to live in ignorance or to know the truth? The question paralyzed him. What should he do?

[piffcreations]

Entering the Pensieve was an experience unlike anything Serena had ever felt. She held her breath, as if diving into water, but quickly realized this was different. There was no need to hold her breath, as the liquid in the basin shifted, transforming into a scene. Serena found herself standing in a familiar room with Draco—Gunner’s office. The layout and furniture left no room for doubt.

“Where are we?” Draco asked aloud. Serena hadn’t expected to be able to speak, but quickly responded, “We’re in Gunner’s office in New York.” Draco looked at her, confused. “Who was Gunner again?”

Before Serena could answer, they heard voices approaching the door. “What do you think, Albus?” Both Gunner and Albus Dumbledore entered the office. Serena’s first thought was, When is this? It was obviously the past, but when? Scanning the walls, Serena’s eyes landed on a calendar dated six years ago, in September. Her eyes widened as realization dawned.

“Draco, I think this is right after my first use of magic. I remember Professor Dumbledore visiting me back then.” Draco turned to her. “Let’s listen and see what they talk about.”

Dumbledore appeared deep in thought, not responding immediately. Gunner, after sitting behind his desk and lighting a cigar, broke the silence. “Is that amount of magic normal for the first time?”

Dumbledore took a seat, then replied, “No, not normally,” pausing for a moment before continuing, “But I believe Serena is no ordinary witch. Tell me again, who are her parents?”

Serena and Draco held their breath. They’d spent all day searching for that answer, and now they might finally be getting it. Gunner slumped in his chair, took a long puff of his cigar, then spoke. “I was never told who her father was. Could’ve been someone in England, but I don’t know.”

A wave of defeat hit Serena and Draco, but then Gunner continued. “As for her mother... Her name is Lelianna Rosier. She came to our bar seven months before Serena was born. Needed protection, and how could I say no to a face like that?” A smile spread across Gunner’s face as he reminisced about Lelianna. “It also helped that she had a letter from an old friend in France asking me to look out for her.”

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “Where is she now?”

Gunner shrugged. “No idea. After Serena was born, she disappeared. I had some of the clan search the city, but we couldn’t find her anywhere.”

Dumbledore stood and began pacing, clearly deep in thought. Gunner, sensing his hesitation, pressed him for more. “Albus, please, what are you thinking? What should I do?”

Dumbledore finally stopped in front of the window. “You see, Gunner, Lelianna was once a student at Hogwarts. She transferred to us from Beauxbatons in her fourth year.”

Gunner’s patience seemed to be wearing thin. “That’s all well and good, but what should I do now? I don’t have any magic—how am I supposed to teach Serena?”

Dumbledore gave a reassuring smile as he approached Gunner’s desk. “I have books that can help with youth and magic, don’t worry. But I must ask—did Lelianna ever mention her condition?”

Gunner, now more confused than ever, thought for a moment before responding. “Her condition? She never seemed eager to go back to her parents for some reason.”

Dumbledore shook his head. “No, I mean physically. Did she ever mention her bloodline? A possible curse?”

Gunner’s eyes widened. “I... no... She didn’t say anything. Is Serena going to be okay?” Panic overtook Gunner as he stood up.

Dumbledore spoke calmly, trying to reassure him. “I’m not completely sure. Lelianna kept many things hidden from us at Hogwarts, almost as if she were afraid to confide in us. I’ll look into it, but for now, focus on teaching Serena to control her magic.”

Gunner sank back into his chair. He didn’t speak for a moment, then asked, “What about Serena’s father? Did she ever show interest in anyone at school?”

Dumbledore lowered his head and replied, “I’m afraid I’m not certain about the father. There was only one person she was ever remotely close to, and he’s married to someone else. They have a child the same age as Serena.”

Gunner chuckled. “Don’t be naive, Albus. With a woman like Lelianna, any man would fall for her in an instant.”

Dumbledore’s expression remained unchanged. “No, I can picture Lucius Malfoy doing many terrible things, but cheating on his ‘pureblood’ wife? That seems unlikely.”

A smirk appeared on Draco’s face at the mention of his father’s loyalty. Serena continued to listen as Dumbledore spoke. “Although... there is someone she does resemble.”

Gunner, unable to wait any longer, asked, “Well, who Albus?”

Dumbledore took a deep breath. “I have a suspicion that Serena’s father is…”

At that moment, Serena and Draco felt a tug at the back of their necks. The scene before them disappeared, and they found themselves back in Professor Dumbledore’s office.

“What do you two think you’re doing?” A stern, cold voice came from behind them. Turning around, they saw a very cross Professor Snape, their head of house.

“Uh, well, you see, Professor, we were... um...” Serena stammered, trying to come up with an excuse.

“We were waiting for Professor Dumbledore, and we saw the Pensieve was here. There was one vial labeled ‘Serenity’ out front. We figured we’d take a look to see if it had something to do with Serena.”

Serena was shocked by Draco’s honesty. Turning back to Snape, she realized he didn’t seem as angry as she expected.

“I see... I suggest, going forward, that you don’t make a habit of looking through other people’s memories. You never know what you might find. Now, back to the common room, both of you. It’s late.”

Serena and Draco nodded in agreement and left Snape in Dumbledore’s office. Once they were sure Snape couldn’t hear them, they both let out an excited cheer.

“I can’t believe we actually found my mom’s name!” Serena said, still in disbelief.

“See? I told you, you must be at least a half-blood. I have a good feeling your father is a pureblood too!” Draco said confidently.

Serena gave him a confused look. “Really? At this point, it could be anyone.”

Draco stopped walking and stood in front of her. “Well, first off, she’s a Rosier—pureblood name. Second, it sounds like she used to hang out with my dad, and he wouldn’t just associate with anyone.”

Serena wasn’t fully convinced, but she was happy to finally know her mother’s name. Though still puzzled as to why Gunner had never told her, she pushed the question aside. She couldn’t ask him anyway. For now, the focus was on learning about her mother. It was time for some rest, as tomorrow promised to be another long day in the library.

[piffcreations]

The next day, Serena and Draco got straight to work. They made their way to the library to begin researching Obsidian Veelas. Thankfully, since it was Christmas break, there were very few students around. Draco managed to convince the other Slytherins to give them some space.

Hours seemed to pass as they dove deeper into their research, but neither of them was having much luck. They found information on Veelas in general, but nothing specifically about Obsidian Veelas.

“Are you sure Obsidian Veelas are a real thing?” Draco asked tiredly. “Maybe you just have darker wings.”

“Then explain why I have a thirst for blood,” Serena replied, slumping back into her seat in defeat. “None of these books say anything about Veelas being bloodthirsty.” She paused. “Besides, Professor Dumbledore himself told me that there used to be a student here at Hogwarts with the same curse.”

Draco perked up at the mention of Dumbledore’s words. “Wait—are you saying Dumbledore told you there was a student at Hogwarts who had the same curse, but he didn’t give you any more information? Ugh, and people wonder why Hogwarts has gone downhill since he took charge. He can’t even give you the full story!”

Serena ignored Draco’s rant about Dumbledore, trying to recall more of what he had said. But nothing was coming to mind.

“Well… why don’t we just go ask him, then?” Draco suggested, standing up to return the books. “There’s no point in reading book after book if he already has the answers.”

“Fair point,” Serena said with a sigh, “hopefully he’s in his office.” After helping Draco return the books, they made their way to Professor Dumbledore’s office.

“Sherbet lemons!” Serena called out, speaking the password to open the way. Draco, having never been to Dumbledore’s office before, raised an impressed eyebrow at her. As they entered, a calm atmosphere filled the room. The many portraits of past headmasters and witches were either sleeping or talking quietly amongst themselves. Serena rushed ahead, calling for Dumbledore, but there was no sign of him—or of Fawkes.

“Ah, hello, young Veela,” came a voice. Serena looked up to see the Sorting Hat speaking to her. “The headmaster is out at the moment.”

“Oh, um, hello, Mr. Sorting Hat,” Serena said, slightly taken aback. “I was hoping to speak with him about—”

Before she could finish, Draco ran up behind her and asked, “Did you happen to know of another Veela student here at Hogwarts? Housed in Slytherin?”

The Sorting Hat seemed to “raise its eyebrow” at Draco’s question before replying, “Well, yes, there was one student not too long ago... what was her name again?”

Draco rolled his eyes and started heading back down the few steps to the entrance. “This is a waste of time. Why is it that whenever Potter needs Dumbledore, he shows up, but when we need him, he’s nowhere to be found?”

“Do you think they have student files somewhere around here? Maybe we can find mine,” Serena suggested, trying to stay hopeful.

“I doubt they would keep that kind of information here,” Draco replied as he leaned against a mirror-like wall. A moment later, something began to move. Draco jumped a little, and Serena stepped down a few steps to join him. The mirror-like wall opened up, revealing a basin about hip-height, glowing with a cool blue light. Above it were rows of vials, each labeled with something written on them.

“What is this?” Serena asked aloud.

“I believe it’s a Pensieve,” Draco explained as he began looking through the vials. Serena raised an eyebrow at him.

“That doesn’t really help me understand what it does,” she said.

Draco sighed. “It lets you review memories from a third-person perspective. Very handy if you want to relive or remember something you’ve forgotten.” He smiled, his eyes lighting up. “Ah, I was right!”

Serena watched as Draco pulled a vial from one of the rows. “Draco! We shouldn’t be touching things—what if we break something?” she warned.

Draco gave her a teasing look and held the vial up to her face. “Look, it has your name on it. This must be a memory about you.”

Serena looked at the vial and sure enough, it said "Serenity" on it. “It only has my first name. It could be about anyone,” she said, still skeptical.

But Draco took the vial and opened it. “Yes, but the writing looks fresher than the others. I have a strong feeling it’s about you.” He poured the silvery liquid into the Pensieve and turned to face Serena. “Come on, just take a peek. If it’s not about you, we’ll stop.”

Draco extended his hand toward her. Serena’s stomach fluttered with nervousness. Even if this memory was about her, what if it was something she’d rather not know?

Draco, sensing her hesitation, gave her a warm smile. “It’ll be okay,” he reassured her, and Serena couldn’t help but blush a little. Tentatively, she took his hand, and together, they dived into the Pensieve to see what awaited them.

[piffcreations]

Serena was stuffed from the delicious Christmas feast. She couldn't believe that Goyle and Crabbe could still find room to eat. Draco then nudged her to get her attention, suggesting they leave the feast and take a walk. Serena nodded and followed behind him.

Draco led them outside into the courtyard. It was softly snowing, and the air wasn't too cold. Serena couldn’t help but notice how Draco’s pale skin seemed to glow in the snowy night. He turned to look at her and gave her a small smile. She quickly turned away, blushing. Did he notice how long she had been staring?

“How was your first Christmas away from home, darling?” Draco asked.

“Good!” Serena replied, though she felt a twinge of guilt. “As much as I feel bad that you stayed here with me instead of being with your family, I’m glad you are here.”

Draco’s face turned beet red, and Serena couldn’t help but smile. Then an idea popped into her head.

“Hey, the other night, I was flying over Hogwarts and found a tower with a beautiful view! Want me to take you up there?”

Draco looked unsure. “How would we get up there?” he asked nervously.

Serena looked around, making sure no one was watching, then spread her wings. “I’ll fly us up there! Do you trust me?” she asked, extending her hand.

Draco hesitated but then took it. Serena wrapped her arms around him from behind and swooped them both into the night sky.

At first, Serena could tell Draco was nervous, but she held him tight, hoping to ease his discomfort. The flight wasn’t long, and soon they were at the top of the Astronomy Tower. Serena set Draco down gently and sat beside him. From so high up, they could both still see the last remnants of the setting sun. It was beautiful.

They sat in silence, watching the sky darken, until it was fully night. Serena gave Draco a smile, but to her surprise, he turned away, avoiding her gaze.

“It’s getting cold up here. Should we head down?” he asked.

Something had been bothering Serena since the first Quidditch match of the season. Draco had been acting differently since his conversation with his father. One moment he was friendly, the next distant.

“Draco… is there something wrong? I’ve noticed you’ve been a bit distant. Did I do something to upset you?”

Draco quickly turned to face her. “Oh no, darling. It’s just…”

“Just what, Draco?”

Draco hesitated and then told her about what his father had said to him. Serena tried to hide her disappointment, but she was sure it showed. Did he really have the power to expel her from Hogwarts? It was curious how Lucius had mentioned Serena’s mother—maybe it was something worth looking into.

“Now that I’ve said it out loud, I have to admit, I feel a little silly not telling you. I do feel better now that I’ve gotten it out.” Draco lowered his head a bit but kept his gaze on her. “I don’t want to disappoint my father, but I like spending time with you, Serena. You’re good company. I don’t understand why he’s so against you when he doesn’t even know you.”

“I like spending time with you too, Draco. What if I promise that, if your dad is around, I’ll act like we’re just friends?”

“That sounds good to me,” Draco agreed.

Serena could see Draco had started skating from the cold and offered to take them both back down to the ground. When they reached the Great Hall, they found that neither Goyle nor Crabbe was around. They shrugged and made their way back to the common room, as it was getting late.

As they passed the dungeons, Serena heard someone talking to Percy Weasley, one of the prefects. When they turned the corner, there was Crabbe and Goyle.

“Crabbe! Goyle! Where have you two been? Pigging out in the Great Hall this whole time?” Draco called.

Serena followed Draco over to the three boys. As they approached, she noticed that Crabbe and Goyle didn’t smell like they usually did. The scent was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. She didn’t have much time to think about it, though, as Draco gave Percy some sass, and then motioned for them to follow him to the common room.

Once inside, Draco flopped down on the couch, taking up the whole thing. Serena walked over and cleared her throat to get his attention. Looking up at her, he simply raised an eyebrow. She gently tapped his foot in the direction of the floor. After giving her a sly smile, Draco moved his feet, allowing Serena to sit down.

Now that they were settled, they looked across to see Goyle and Crabbe still standing.

“Well, sit down,” Draco said, his voice laced with confusion. Crabbe and Goyle were acting stranger than usual.

Once they were seated, Draco got into a mood that Serena dreaded. It always ended with her telling him not to be so mean. She couldn’t understand why he was so sweet when it was just the two of them, but became a bully when others were around.

Draco started talking about the Weasleys and Dumbledore. Serena was about to remind him that she wouldn’t even be at Hogwarts if it weren’t for Professor Dumbledore, when Goyle piped up, saying Draco was wrong.

That’s when things started to get truly bizarre. Draco didn’t take the comment well and stood up, demanding Goyle tell him who was worse than Dumbledore. Goyle nervously picked the safe answer: Harry Potter. Draco smirked and agreed, then brought up the Heir of Slytherin.

Serena hated talking about the Chamber of Secrets, but Draco didn’t seem to mind. Goyle, however, seemed to have forgotten everything as he asked who the Heir was. Draco reminded him that neither of them knew, and then strolled over to some unopened presents. He pocketed one, and Serena shot him a look, though he wasn’t paying attention.

Draco continued talking about the Chamber and what his father had told him. “It’s only a matter of time before another Mudblood dies. As for me, I hope it’s Granger.”

Before Serena could tell him to stop for the hundredth time, Crabbe suddenly shot up from the couch, looking furious. Goyle spoke up, claiming Crabbe’s stomach was bothering him. Draco shrugged and started to open the present he had pocketed. Serena turned back to the boys and heard Goyle whisper to Crabbe to calm down. Then, Crabbe whispered something that made Serena’s blood run cold. “Scar.”

Her heart skipped a beat, and then it hit her—Harry and Ron were pretending to be Goyle and Crabbe? She stood up and whispered urgently, “Harry! Ron!” The look of fear on their faces confirmed it. She had to act fast.

“Go!” she whispered to them, “I’ll handle Draco.”

She turned to Draco, who was still distracted by the gift he had previously pocketed. “Draco!” she snapped. “Haven’t I told you to stop calling Hermione a Mudblood? It’s just rude, let alone wishing death on her is cruel.”

Draco smirked but didn’t respond. “I’m serious, Draco!” Serena was now in his face, trying to make him understand. “I get that you feel safe on your pureblood throne, but not all of us are as lucky. Some of us are scared to walk the halls.”

She hadn’t noticed the tears welling up in her eyes until it was too late. Feelings of fear that she had been suppressing down were starting to surface.

Draco looked at her with confusion, but didn’t say anything. He had never seen her like this before—angry, hurt, and raw.

“You’re impossible sometimes,” she muttered, unsure of what to say. Serena heard Harry and Ron’s footsteps fading away.Knowing they were safe, she ran off toward the far end of the common room.

Draco called out after her. “Darling! Stop!” But she kept running.

Draco stood there, torn. One moment they were talking about the Chamber, the next she was angry with him for reasons he didn’t understand. Crabbe and Goyle had just disappeared without a word. Confused, Draco followed Serena to the large part of the Slytherin common room where she sat, staring out the windows into the Great Lake. He saw the tears streaming down her face.

“Serena…” Draco said softly.

She looked up at him, then quickly turned away, wiping her tears. “What do you want?” she asked, her voice breaking.

“I want to know what’s wrong,” he said, stepping closer. “And before you say ‘nothing,’ it’s clear something’s bothering you.”

She didn’t respond, so Draco asked a different question. “What did you mean when you said some of us aren’t as lucky?”

Serena lowered her head to the floor, silent.

Draco frowned. “You’re not afraid of the monster in the Chamber, are you? You’re a pureblood, it won’t come after you.”

Serena looked up at him and took a deep breath. “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice quiet.

Draco was taken aback. “Well, of course, you’re pureblood. You’re a Rosier, one of the Sacred 28.”

Serena looked at him with confusion. “The Sacred 28? What’s that?”

Draco blinked. “You know, the 28 pureblood families on the registry. Didn’t your parents tell you about it?”

Serena sank into her seat. “That’s the problem, Draco.” She raised her head to meet his eyes. “I don’t know who my parents are.”

Draco’s eyes widened in shock. How had he not known this in the past four months?

Serena, sensing his silence as judgment, started to get up, but Draco gently grabbed her hand, stopping her.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” he asked, his voice soft.

“Be the weird kid with no parents? I already stand out enough. I didn’t want to make things harder.” Serena’s tone was dry. “All Slytherin talks about his blood status, especially you. I knew it was important to you and I did not…”

Before Serena could finish her sentence Draco jumped in.“Well, you must be a pureblood. Salazar Slytherin would never have let a Muggleborn into his house.”

Serena stared at him, her voice quivering as she asked, “Then why was I abandoned as a baby, Draco? Clearly, I must be a Muggleborn.”

Tears were falling faster than ever. “What if the monster in the Chamber is after me? I don’t even know who my parents are, and I’m scared every day.”

Draco felt a tightness in his chest. He had never meant to hurt her and make her cry. Thinking over the past few months and how many times he brought up the Chamber.

Then something clicked.

“Wait, didn’t the Sorting Hat tell you that you come from a long line of Slytherins?” Draco asked.

Serena paused, considering his question. “Yes, but Hogwarts has been around for over a thousand years. What if my magical bloodline died out and I’m just randomly magical?”

Draco shook his head. “The chances are slim, and with a last name like Rosier, it’s even slimmer. How about this? We have a week before classes start again. Let’s do some research and figure out who your parents are. One of them had to have gone to Hogwarts.”

Serena was still uncertain, her mind racing with questions and fears. What if they were bad people? What if they had abandoned her on purpose?

Before she could spiral into worry, she felt Draco brush her tears away with his hand.

“Serena, let me help you. I promise you, by the end of the school year, I’ll prove to you that you’re not a Muggleborn, okay?”

Serena didn’t know what to say, but her lips curled into a small smile. “Okay.”

Draco wrapped her in a warm hug, pressing his cheek to the top of her head. “No more crying, alright? We’ll figure it all out.” Pulling away Draco smiled and said, “We should probably go to bed, though. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

For the first time in a long while, Serena fell asleep peacefully that night, reminding herself she needs to talk to Harry and Ron first thing in the morning!

[piffcreations]

Over the next few days, Serena noticed Draco acting slightly distant. It wasn’t overly concerning, as he still sat with her in class, but he no longer seemed to be rushing to find her or waiting for her like before. Then one evening, Draco stormed into the common room, clearly excited to share some news. “Everyone! Potter did it! He petrified that mudblood in Hufflepuff, Justin. I saw him being taken to Dumbledore’s office. I suspect he’ll be expelled.”

Laughter and chatter spread quickly through the Slytherin common room. However, Serena felt more worried than ever. This didn’t sound right. She knew Harry wouldn’t hurt anyone, and she still believed in him. While everyone was busy talking, Serena quietly slipped out, hoping to find Harry. She hadn’t made it far when she heard a familiar, cold voice. “And where do you think you’re going, Serena?”

Professor Snape stood just outside the common room door. Serena knew that many students didn’t like Snape, but she’d never had a problem with him. He always seemed fair to her—tough, but fair. Besides, he was the one who supplied her blood, so it was probably best to stay on his good side.

“Oh, um, I was just going to take my flight a little earlier tonight. I heard about Justin in Hufflepuff, and I think I could use some fresh air.” Serena hoped her excuse sounded believable. Snape raised an eyebrow. “Oh yes, your ‘outings.’ I should warn you, those may be coming to an end if there are more attacks. Come to the Potions classroom now. Since you’re already out, I might as well give you your draught.”

Serena knew he meant her blood, so she followed him, hoping Harry would be alright.

In the Potions classroom, Snape prepared the artificial blood. Serena had waited for this before but the eerie silence always pushed her to find something to talk about. Despite Snape’s usual lack of conversation, she tried anyway. “Do you think Justin and Colin will be okay? You know, with them being petrified and all?”

Snape didn’t even turn to face her as he replied, “Yes, they’ll be fine once the Mandrakes mature. The concoction is simple to make once I have the ingredients.”

“That’s good,” Serena said, her voice lightening a bit. “Professor, do you have any idea who could be behind all these attacks? The heir of Slytherin would likely be from Slytherin, don’t you think?”

Snape paused, then continued, “No, I’m not sure.”

“Do you think it’s Harry?” Serena asked, nervously.

Snape paused again, glancing over his shoulder at her. “It’s unlikely, but not impossible. As a student, this is not something you should worry about. Leave it to the staff and focus on your classes.”

Serena knew he was right, but it didn’t stop the anxiety that gnawed at her. Someone in the school was attacking muggle-born students. Now two students were petrified—who would be next if someone didn’t stop them?

“Speaking of classes,” Snape continued, “It’s been three months since you arrived at Hogwarts. How have you been settling in?”

The question caught Serena off guard. She’d never seen Snape care enough to ask about a student’s well-being. Looking back at him, he even seemed uncomfortable asking.

“Well, overall, I think it’s been good,” Serena replied. “I’ve made friends, and my grades seem okay—other than Charms. Though, I did forget to bring a winter coat with me. I didn’t realize how soon winter would come to Scotland.” Serena laughed, trying to mask her embarrassment. Snape gave her a look, as if to say, Really? You forgot a winter jacket? but didn’t say anything.

He walked over with the blood ready, and Serena drank it right away. The taste of blood always brought a sense of euphoria, like life rushing back into her body.

“How is the blood?” Snape asked, surprising her. “Is it as close to the real thing?”

“It tastes fine. If it were warmer, it would be more realistic,” Serena replied.

Snape nodded, as though taking mental notes, before taking the vial back. “Good to know. If you must take your flight, just be quick about it.”

Serena promised she would and stood up to leave. As she walked out, Snape watched her, taking a seat at his desk. He began to ponder why he found himself caring about this girl. Dumbledore’s question from the first day of school still echoed in his mind. Then Snape had an idea—one he might not want to know the answer to, but felt compelled to explore.

Christmas came, and Serena found it strange to see the school so empty after four months of classes. The quiet was peaceful, though. Draco helped her finish their homework quickly so they could enjoy the holidays.

On Christmas morning, Serena was woken by none other than Draco, Slytherin’s blondest boy.

“Come on, Serena, get up! There are presents to open!”

Still groggy, Serena found it cute that Draco, at twelve years old, was so excited about presents. They made their way to the common room, and Serena was surprised by the amount of gifts under the tree for the few students who remained. Draco set aside one that must’ve been for him. Serena wasn’t expecting anything, so she sat and watched the others open their gifts.

Draco stacked three gifts on top of each other and handed them to her. “Here you go. These are for you.”

Serena’s face showed shock. As she opened the first one, the tag read, From Draco.

She felt guilty and said, “Draco, you got me a gift, but I didn’t get you anything.”

Draco smiled. “Oh, don’t worry about it, darling. It’s nothing much. I noticed you needed a new bag, so I asked Father to send me a new one so I could give it to you—though I didn’t tell him that part.”

Serena opened the gift to reveal a leather satchel, perfect for carrying her books. It was exactly what she needed.

“Thank you, Draco. It’s perfect.”

Draco smirked. “I know it is. Now, what else did you get? My parents sent me this expensive jumper. Doesn’t it look nice?” Serena shook her head as Draco proudly held it up to show her. She then noticed another gift, one without a name on the tag.

“It says it’s for me, but it doesn’t say who it’s from,” she told Draco.

Draco raised an eyebrow. “Well, open it! See what it is.”

Serena unwrapped the gift and found a very Slytherin-style winter jacket. It was green, with blue, lighter green, and white stripes. The hood was lined with fluffy material that looked incredibly warm. Draco seemed almost as excited as she was and insisted she try it on. The jacket fit perfectly and kept her warm.

Taking it off, Serena looked at the last gift, which was from Gunner. Serena’s excitement grew as she opened it to reveal her stuffed penguin, Pippa. Pippa was a plush toy Serena had had since she was little. Though it wasn’t as fluffy as it once was, it was still just as huggable. Holding Pippa made Serena realize how much she missed her home. While she didn’t miss the judgmental people back in New York, Gunner and the other kind vampires were her family. She decided she would send a thank-you card later that day.

After everyone opened their gifts, they dressed and made their way to the Great Hall for the Christmas Day feast. Serena’s eyes widened at the sight of all the delicious food. Just before everyone started eating, the remaining staff came in to greet the students. Professor Snape stopped by the Slytherin table, and Draco immediately began talking about his gifts. Serena sat quietly, listening, until Snape asked her if she was happy with hers.

She nodded, and Draco chimed in, mentioning the mystery gift—a beautiful winter jacket—but still unsure of who it was from. Snape gave a small smile and simply said, “Interesting,” before walking away.

Serena paused for a moment, puzzled by his behavior. It clicked in her mind—Snape was the only adult she’d mentioned not having a winter jacket too. Could he have bought it for her?

[piffcreations]

The next morning, an uneasy tension hung in the air throughout the castle. As Serena walked with the rest of Slytherin to the Great Hall for breakfast, whispers filled the corridors. Though she could catch bits and pieces, the details remained unclear. Then, she saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione descending from their common room at the top of the grand staircase. Harry’s arm appeared fully healed, but his expression told a different story.

"Hey, guys! Have you heard what's going on? Everyone seems on edge this morning," Serena asked. As she spoke, she noticed Ron and Hermione glance at the floor. Harry was the first to answer.

“It’s probably about Colin, the first-year Gryffindor,” he said.

Serena looked puzzled. “Wait, you mean the boy who followed you around with that old camera?”

Harry nodded. “He was petrified yesterday, just like Mrs. Norris. Whatever's in the Chamber of Secrets attacked him.”

The trio moved on into the Great Hall, leaving Serena stunned. This wasn’t what she had expected for her first year at a magic school. She’d anticipated flying broomsticks, brewing potions, casting spells—not fearing a monster lurking in the halls.

"Students! Students!" Professor McGonagall called out. "I have the sign-up sheet for those staying over the Christmas holiday. I'll leave it here for you to write your names."

As the professor walked away, Serena watched some students approach to sign up. She noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione adding their names, which made Serena feel better. Though she hadn’t thought much about it, she’d probably have to stay over the holiday too—no time for relaxation between New York and back. Serena started making her way toward the sign-up sheet when Draco called out to her.

“Darling! Aren’t you coming to sit with us?” Draco’s voice carried as Serena turned back to the sheet. “Are you staying for the holidays? You aren’t going home to your parents?”

Trying to think of a reasonable excuse, Serena stammered. She hadn’t yet told Draco the full story about where she was living, so she needed a quick answer. “Well… My parents are visiting friends in New York and aren’t home in London.”

Draco gave her a confused look. “They left without you?”

Serena froze for a moment. “Uh, yeah, they’re always on the move.” She tried to laugh, but Draco didn’t seem convinced.

"That's kind of strange, don’t you think? But I guess you know your parents better than I do." Serena offered him a small smile and quickly made her way to the sign-up sheet.

Draco felt guilty. He knew most of the Slytherins weren’t staying, and to top it off, Potter and his crew were. He didn’t want to leave Serena alone with them. He turned to Crabbe and Goyle, telling them to stop eating and follow him.

As Serena finished signing up, Draco snatched the quill from her hand and signed for himself below. He gave her a reassuring smile and made Crabbe and Goyle do the same.

“I thought you were going home for the holidays? You mentioned your parents’ holiday parties before—you seemed excited about them,” Draco said.

Serena’s face fell slightly, and Draco immediately noticed. “I couldn’t leave you alone over the holidays. You’d be bored out of your mind.” Serena’s frown turned into a shy smile—one Draco was always happy to see.

A week later, another sign-up sheet appeared in the Great Hall: the Dueling Club. Before Serena had a chance to read the notice, Draco informed her that he’d already signed her up. Anxiety surged through her—she could barely manage the basics of spells, and now she had to duel. Draco reassured her that he would be her partner, which calmed her nerves a little.

Serena was surprised by the turnout. The Dueling Club was packed, far more than the students who signed up for the Christmas holiday. Professor Lockhart, the club’s leader (if his books were anything to go by his ability to lead this club), stood at the front, announcing that Professor Dumbledore had allowed him to start the club to teach students how to defend themselves. He also mentioned that Professor Snape would be his “assistant”.

Serena couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy when she saw Snape knock Lockhart onto his backside. The entire Slytherin house cheered, and even some students from other houses joined in. Flustered, Lockhart announced they would pair up to practice disarming spells using Expelliarmus. Serena tried to reach Draco, but he was already paired with Harry. When she attempted to join Hermione, Snape paired her with Millicent, the larger girl from Slytherin.

Running out of options, Serena felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Daphne Greengrass, one of Pansy’s friends but notably the nicest of the group, offering to pair up with her.

Daphne’s smile reassured Serena. "Sure," Serena said, and the two girls moved to an open space. Draco shot Serena an approving nod as he observed from the sidelines. Even Snape seemed to be keeping an eye on them.

Both girls raised their wands, ready for the duel. Daphne called out that she’d try to send a spell to allow Serena to disarm her. Serena, her nerves on edge, nodded to signal she was ready. Time seemed to slow as Daphne prepared to cast—but then, just as the spell was about to be cast, a huge puff of green smoke enveloped them. It turned out that Neville Longbottom had accidentally unleashed the smoke in his attempt to master his wand.

Meanwhile, chaos broke out: Ron was struggling, Millicent had Hermione in a headlock, and only Harry and Draco seemed to be doing well.

Professor Lockhart quickly asked Draco and Harry to demonstrate. As the two started their duel, Draco sent a spell that knocked Harry back, but Harry retaliated with a spell that sent Draco flying in the opposite direction. Snape intervened, pushing Draco back with a whispered word that seemed to bring a sneer to his face. Draco raised his wand, calling out a spell that Serena didn’t recognize. A large snake shot from Draco’s wand, slithering toward Harry.

The room went silent as the snake inched closer to Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff. Snape started toward the snake to remove it, but then something strange happened: Harry began speaking, though Serena couldn’t understand what he was saying. The room fell into an eerie silence. Even after Snape removed the snake, the students left, casting uneasy glances at Harry.

As the students made their way back to their common rooms, Serena saw an opportunity to ask Draco about what had happened. She caught up to him, but Draco looked at her with confusion.

“You mean you’ve never heard of Parseltongue? I thought your pureblood, former Slytherin parents would’ve mentioned it,” he said, clearly surprised.

Serena stared at him, blank. “Uh, no, they never did. Is that what Harry was doing?”

Draco lowered his voice as they walked. “Yes. It’s the ability to speak to snakes. Salazar Slytherin was known for being a Parseltongue. This could mean that Potter might be the Heir of Slytherin. I can’t imagine someone like him would be, but it’s possible. Saint Potter… guess his true colors are starting to show.”

Serena wasn’t sure what to think. Could Harry really be the Heir of Slytherin? He’d always been kind to her, and she couldn’t imagine him hurting anyone—especially with Hermione being Muggle-born. But she also knew the sting of being judged for something she didn’t do, and how rumors could be damaging. For now, Serena decided not to believe Harry could be the one responsible for Colin’s attack. But she knew one thing for sure—she’d have to keep her wits about her from here on out.

[piffcreations]

“Oh, the pain! I think I might be dying. Where is Madam Pomfrey?”

For the past ten minutes, Serena had been listening to Draco groaning and complaining about the pain he was in. Madam Pomfrey had already told him he was fine and needed to leave, but Draco insisted on staying. Serena knew Draco could be a bit of a whiner, but this was getting ridiculous.

“Mr. Malfoy! Stop making such a fuss. You can go now.” Madam Pomfrey’s voice was stern as she rushed over to the crowded bed. There sat Harry, his injury one of the most grotesque Serena had ever seen. During the Quidditch match, a rogue Bludger had broken Harry's arm, and Professor Lockhart had tried to help—by removing all the bones. At least it wasn’t broken anymore. Serena started to walk over to Harry's bed to check on her friend. Draco, however, didn’t like what he saw. Why would Serena be concerned about Potter, anyway?

Draco shot up from his bed and called out to Serena. “You know, I’m feeling much better now.” He stormed over to her, then hooked his arm through hers. “How about we get out of here, darling?” Serena tried to protest, but Draco had already secured her arm.

As they left the hospital wing, they found Marcus Flint waiting. His sour expression was even worse than usual—if that was possible. His face flushed with rage, and it looked like he was about to snap at Draco when they all heard a voice behind them.

“Ah, there you are, Draco.”

Serena turned to her right and saw a tall man dressed in several layers. She recognized him from Diagon Alley back in August—Draco’s father. Serena noticed how much he and Draco looked alike. There was now doubt that they were father and son. Marcus and his cronies seemed slightly intimidated, offering polite greetings before quickly moving on.

Serena realized she hadn’t introduced herself yet, so she smiled and extended her hand. “Hello, you must be Draco’s dad. We met in Diagon Alley before school started, remember? My name’s Serena. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Malfoy.”

Mr. Malfoy didn’t even offer his hand. He raised an eyebrow and spoke coldly. “Pleasure. Would you give Draco and me a moment… alone?”

Serena hesitated, taken aback by his tone, and glanced at Draco. He didn’t seem thrilled to see his father right now. “Um, yes, sir. I’ll see you in the common room later, Draco?”

Draco gave a slight nod, and Serena made her way down the hall.

Once Serena was out of earshot, Draco looked up at his father. He wasn’t sure why he felt upset, but it was clear he was uncomfortable. It could have been for any number of reasons.

“Hello, Father. Did you catch the game? I know it wasn’t my best, but it was my first one. That stupid rogue Bludger threw me off. I bet it was Potter’s fault. Gryffindor knew they couldn’t win with the new brooms you got for us, so they had to resort to cheating.”

“Enough, Draco,” Lucius Malfoy interrupted, his voice cold. “We’ll discuss Quidditch another time. I want to know what you were doing talking to that girl.”

Draco blinked, confused. “What do you mean? She’s a nice girl. It’s not like she’s a Mudblood or anything.”

Lucius’ gaze hardened. “You don’t need to understand why. You just need to listen.” His voice grew colder with each word. “Don’t try to lie to me. Professor Snape told me he’s seen you two together.”

Draco sighed, trying to explain. “It’s difficult, Father. We’re in the same house and have all the same classes.”

“I don’t want to hear excuses!” Lucius snapped. “If I find out you’re still talking to her, she just might find herself expelled. Do you understand, Draco? She may seem innocent, but don’t be a fool. It’s all an act. If she’s anything like her mother, she isn’t to be trusted. Now promise me you’ll stop talking to that girl.”

Draco’s shoulders slumped as he nodded. “Yes, Father.”

“Good. Now, let’s take a little trip down to Hogsmeade and see if we can get something to eat. Doubt we can get anything good in this castle.” Lucius turned to walk back down the stairs. Draco stood there for a moment, feeling defeated. Today had definitely not gone his way.

“Draco! Aren’t you coming?” Lucius called from below.

“Yes, Father,” Draco replied, before following his father down the stairs.

Later that evening, Serena began to worry when Draco still hadn’t returned from his conversation with his father, especially since he didn’t show up for dinner in the Great Hall. None of the other Slytherins seemed concerned—was this normal? Maybe she was overthinking it. But just as she was about to dismiss her worries, Draco finally appeared, walking down the large staircase into the common room.

“There you are, Draco! How did your chat with your dad go?” Serena called out, hurrying toward him. As she got closer, she noticed Draco looked exhausted and was still in his Quidditch uniform.

“It went alright. I think I’ll get changed and call it a night,” Draco said, barely giving her a glance as he walked past her.

“Okay then, I imagine you’re tired after today.” Serena smiled faintly. Draco turned around, meeting her gaze with a small smile of his own.

“Yeah. I’ll see you in the morning, darling.”

[piffcreations]

It had been a full week since the Chamber was said to have opened. Many of the Hogwarts inhabitants were on edge—except for Slytherin, of course. Draco seemed more relaxed, while Serena did her best to hide her nervousness. Serena had lost count of how many times Draco had said he couldn’t wait for the Mudbloods to start dropping like flies. Draco often wondered why she defended them and would tell him to stop.

As the week drew to a close, the tables turned, and it appeared that Draco was the one trying to hide his nerves. His first Quidditch game was fast approaching, and the pressure from Captain Marcus Flint was mounting.

Saturday finally arrived, and before heading to her seat in the stands, Serena decided to stop by the tent where Draco was getting ready. She spotted him immediately, his platinum blonde hair unmistakable.

“Hey! How are you feeling, Mr. Seeker?” Serena greeted him with a wide smile as she walked over.

Draco’s nervous expression softened into a shy smile as he saw Serena approach. “Oh, I’m just trying to figure out how I’m going to show up Potter.”

“Don’t worry about Harry. Just focus on your goal—catching the Snitch! I know you can do it. I’ve seen how hard you’ve been training,” Serena said with sincere encouragement.

Draco’s shy smile grew at her kind words. She always seemed to know just what to say to comfort him.

“Oh, darling, I’m not worried about Potter.” Draco grabbed his broom. “With these new brooms, Gryffindor should be the ones worried.”

Marcus called Draco over for one last meeting before they headed out to the pitch. Serena gave Draco a quick hug before heading to her seat.

Serena was curious about Quidditch. She’d never seen a game before, but she’d heard plenty about it from both Draco and Harry. She didn’t have to wait long before the teams flew out onto the field. She sat down near Crabbe and Goyle, just as Madam Hooch blew the whistle to start the match.

There was so much going on that it was hard to decide where to focus. Slytherin quickly took the lead, the new brooms clearly proving advantageous. As Slytherin scored another goal, Draco flew by and waved to Serena. She waved back and cheered him on. Draco couldn’t help but feel joy seeing her support—he could get used to it.

Then he saw Potter flying past him. Harry seemed to be swerving in odd directions, the Bludger relentlessly chasing him.

“Training for ballet, Potter?” Draco called out with a grin.

The Slytherins snickered at Draco’s joke, and he reveled in the attention. So much so that he missed the Snitch flying just above his left ear. Harry, noticing the Snitch, zoomed after it. As Harry passed him, Draco immediately turned and chased after him.

Serena watched as Draco and Harry sped after the elusive gold ball. The Bludger continued to follow Harry, and Serena started to worry for both of them. After several moments of tense, crashing sounds from beneath the stands, Draco and Harry both reappeared. Harry was still in pursuit of the Snitch, but Draco had been hit by the rogue Bludger. He was knocked off his broom and sent crashing to the ground.

Serena’s heart dropped into her stomach. Without thinking, she leapt from her seat in the front row, gliding down the side of the stands, and ran to Draco. She was so focused on him that she hadn’t even noticed Harry had caught the Snitch. While others rushed to congratulate Harry, Serena only had eyes for Draco.

“Draco! Draco! Are you okay?” she called out, frantic.

Draco lay on his back, dazed but mostly fine—though his rear was sore from the fall. He opened his eyes to see the sun shining behind Serena. For a moment, she looked like an angel.

“Yeah, maybe… Oh, yeah, I should probably see Madam Pomfrey at the hospital wing.”

Feeling relieved that Draco was going to be okay, Serena helped him to his feet and walked with him off the pitch.

In the stands, an irritated pure-blood wizard sat, watching with growing disappointment. Lucius Malfoy had bought the new brooms for Slytherin, secured his son’s position as Seeker, and yet they still couldn’t win. His frustration was palpable as he watched Draco crash after Harry caught the Snitch. Just as he was about to get up and leave, something else caught his eye. A Slytherin student was making her way toward Draco. It was hard to see who it was, but the two-tone hair gave it away. It had to be the same girl Draco had run into that day in Diagon Alley—the one Lucius had told his son never to speak to again.

“Severus… who is that student helping Draco?” Lucius asked, his voice tight with rising suspicion.

Seated beside him was his old friend, Professor Severus Snape, the Potions Master and head of Slytherin House. If anyone knew, it would be him.

“Oh, yes.” Snape leaned forward, squinting to get a better look. “It’s the new girl from America—Serena Rosier.”

At the mention of her last name, a wave of rage swept through Lucius. There was no doubt about it. This girl had to be her daughter, which did not make sense to Lucius but he pressed on. “What do you know about her?” he asked, barely keeping his voice steady.

Snape gave Lucius a puzzled look but answered, “Not much. She’s a quiet, well-behaved student, for the most part. Not the best with basic Charms, but she’s doing well in all her other classes. May I ask why you’re so interested?”

Ignoring Snape’s question, Lucius pressed on. “You haven’t seen Draco speaking to her, have you?”

Snape raised an eyebrow. “They’re in the same house and have all their classes together. I imagine they talk.”

Lucius’s face flushed with anger, and he stood abruptly. “Excuse me, Severus. I believe I need to have a chat with my son. Good day.”

[piffcreations]

Before Draco’s eyes stood a being unlike anything he had ever seen, or at least not quite like this. He had heard of Veela—creatures whose heads would transform into the likeness of a white bird when angered, with flames dancing in their hands. But this creature had a bird’s head, resembling more of a raven, and the flames in its hands glowed blue. As it turned its head slightly, it met Draco’s gaze. He froze—not from fear, but from something else. The creature's blood-red eyes seemed... concerned?

The old hag began pleading. “Please don’t hurt me, I beg you.” The creature turned back toward her, its flames intensifying in size and brightness. The hag shrieked louder than ever before, stumbling as she fled, tripping over her cloak, putting up no resistance at all, and made her exit.

Draco chuckled at the sight, but his amusement quickly evaporated as the creature’s gaze shifted toward him. All humor left him in an instant. His eyes widened, and he tried to rise, but his feet kept slipping. The creature took a step closer, and panic gripped Draco. He began to plead, closing his eyes in the hope that it would spare him.

“It’s just me, silly.”

Draco recognized the voice instantly. It was Serena! He opened his eyes, relief flooding him. But something was off. Her eyes, once a bright blue, now had a reddish tint to them. Her hair seemed to be shifting, almost like it was reverting from feathers. Serena extended a hand to help him up, but for some reason, Draco hesitated.

“I’m glad you're okay, Serena. Did you see the giant bird creature that was just here?” Draco asked, uncertainty creeping into his voice.

“Oh, was there?” Serena replied, her tone oddly nervous. “I must have missed it. Guess we should head back to the castle, huh?” She started walking toward the castle, but something felt wrong to Draco. Recently, he had noticed that every time Serena got nervous, she would quickly change the subject. What was she hiding?

Draco made a decision. Tonight, he was going to get answers.

“Serena... are you hiding something from me? You can’t honestly expect me to believe you didn’t see the bird creature with blue flames, standing right over there, and you ‘missed it.’”

Serena froze in place, still looking ahead. “What? What do you mean, Draco?”

“Where were you just a few minutes ago?” he pressed.

“I was hiding,” she said quietly.

“Why are you even in the forest to begin with? Why have you been sneaking out almost every night since classes started? Why have you been meeting with Snape so early in the morning and late at night?”

With each question, Draco stepped closer to her. Serena slowly turned to face him, realizing she might not be able to keep her secrets much longer.

“Well, to answer your questions...” Serena began, then paused. “I just hope you won’t think differently of me.”

Draco took her hand and gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. “Of course I won’t. I just want to know the truth.”

Serena took a deep breath and lowered her gaze. “Okay, I’ll tell you. I’m not a normal witch. I’m... part Veela, part witch.”

Draco smiled, feeling proud of himself for figuring out the Veela part. But Serena wasn’t finished. “Oh, and you should know... I’m cursed. It’s kind of like a vampire curse. I don’t know much about it, but I swear I won’t bite you! I meet with Professor Snape because he gives me artificial blood, and then I usually take a flight to stretch my wings.”

She rambled on, and Draco found it endearing, but he knew if he didn’t stop her, they’d be out here all night. Gently, he raised his finger to her chin and made her look at him again. “Serena, darling, breathe. I believe you won’t bite me.” He then turned and started walking toward the castle, feeling a sense of accomplishment. He had finally figured out why Serena had been disappearing so often.

Serena stood there, stunned. “Umm, did you hear me? Vampiric curse? Munch munch.” She flashed her sharp teeth at him, but by then, Draco had already walked up the hill. He paused, looking back down at her, and Serena couldn’t help but notice how handsome he looked with the moonlight shining behind him. He gave her a shy smile.

“Of course,” he said, “you’ve had plenty of chances to bite me, and yet here I stand.” He gestured for her to follow, as she did she asked. “But doesn’t it scare you? I don’t even know the full extent of the curse. What if I turn into a bloodthirsty bird monster?”

Serena caught up with him, now walking side by side. He looked down at her and said softly, “It should scare me, but there’s something about you... something different. You just saved me from an old hag, and I would like that to stay between us, I have a reputation to uphold.”

Serena giggled, walking beside him. “I guess I can help you with that—on one condition.”

Draco raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And what’s that?”

“You can’t tell anyone about what you saw. About me drinking blood, or sneaking out to stretch my wings at night.”

Draco chuckled and nodded. “Deal.” As they exited the forest, he realized that even with all of her secrets, Serena was someone he could trust—someone he wanted to protect.

[piffcreations]

It was Halloween night, and many of the Slytherins were making their way to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast. Draco waited eagerly for Serena, excited to sit with her and share all the delicious candy. He didn’t have to wait long—he spotted her sitting in the common room.

"Coming, darling? The feast is almost starting!" Draco walked up to her, but he immediately noticed she wasn’t wearing her uniform. Instead, she was dressed in a tight black suit.

“Oh, right! You should go ahead without me. There’s something I need to do first,” Serena said, her tone a little off. Disappointment was clear on Draco’s face.

“Okay,” he replied quietly before heading to the Great Hall, but the strange behavior of Serena lingered in his mind. He had noticed something odd lately: Serena had been sneaking out after hours nearly every night. Draco had followed her a few times but always lost track of her after she visited Professor Snape. He could never hear their conversations, but Serena always walked out of the dungeons, then disappeared up the stairs.

As Draco left the Slytherin common room, he met up with Crabbe and Goyle. The three of them made their way toward the Great Hall, but Draco’s thoughts were still on Serena. What was she hiding from him?

Tonight, he decided, he was going to find out.

"Boys, I’ve got something else in mind before the feast," Draco said, his voice low with purpose.

Crabbe and Goyle exchanged glances, then turned back to him.

“Does it involve food?” Crabbe asked.

Draco sighed and shook his head. “No, Crabbe, it doesn’t. Just follow me, we can eat later.”

Draco led them back toward the common room, where they found a small nook to hide in while waiting for Serena to leave. After Crabbe and Goyle complained about being hungry five times, Serena finally emerged from the common room and made her way toward the dungeon exit, just like before.

Draco followed quickly, trying not to get caught. He was determined that tonight would be the night he uncovered Serena’s secret. They followed her out of the castle and watched as she made her way toward the Forbidden Forest.

“W...w...we’re not going to follow her, are we, Malfoy?” Goyle stuttered, his nerves getting the best of him.

Draco rolled his eyes. “Yes, we are. We just need to get to her before she enters.”

Crabbe pointed toward the forest. “But we’ve already lost her.”

Draco whipped around to see Crabbe was right—Serena had vanished. "She couldn’t have gone far. Let’s just go in a little bit and find her."

Goyle and Crabbe were practically shaking with fear, but Draco was trying his best to mask his own nerves. With every strange noise from the forest, all three boys jumped and screamed.

“Just a little further, guys,” Draco said with a deep gulp. “She has to be around here somewhere.”

They had ventured fairly deep into the forest, but still no sign of Serena.

“Malfoy... maybe we should turn back... before we get lost,” Goyle suggested, pivoting nervously, clearly expecting some monster to appear.

Draco felt a sense of defeat creeping in. “Alright, let’s head back.”

But as he turned to leave, he saw Crabbe and Goyle running away, screaming, “Behind you, Malfoy!!!”

“You’re just going to run off and leave me alone!?” Draco muttered, frustrated. He wondered why he kept those two around. But then, something interrupted his thoughts.

An old, feminine voice croaked, “Hello, deary. Lost in the woods, are ya?”

Slowly, Draco turned around to see a tiny, plump figure cloaked in dark fabric standing behind him. A bony hand reached out to grab him, and Draco screamed, scrambling to run.

“Ohhh, sweetie, don’t run away,” the old hag cackled. “I’m sure you’ll taste delicious.”

Draco didn’t make it far. He tripped over a tree root, and the hag was quickly gaining on him. Desperate, he rolled onto his back and fumbled for his wand. His hands shook as he tried to focus, his mind racing in panic.

Suddenly, a cold breeze swept through the forest clearing, though strangely, Draco found it oddly comforting. The old hag screeched, her attention drawn away from Draco. He glanced up and froze, eyes wide.

Standing in front of the hag was a creature he had never seen before, but there was something familiar about it.

[piffcreations]

It had been a whole week since Serena started classes at Hogwarts. Her favorite subjects were Potions, Transfiguration, and Herbology. Although she was still struggling with Charms and Flying, she was determined to stay positive. Thankfully, she had Hermione and Draco to help her. Draco, of course, wasn’t thrilled about Serena spending so much time with the Gryffindors and would try to pull her away from them whenever he could. He had even started calling her “Darling,” which made Serena blush every time. She wasn’t upset, though—just a little flustered.

One day, Serena, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the Transfiguration courtyard, studying. Their attention was drawn to the entrance as both the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams arrived. The three exchanged glances and, without saying a word, got up to see what was going on. As they approached, they overheard Draco bragging about being the new Seeker and boasting that his father had bought the entire team Nimbus 2001 brooms.

“Well, at least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in,” Hermione snapped, defending her house. “They got in on pure talent.”

Draco immediately turned to face her, scowling. He took a step closer, his face inches from Hermione’s, and sneered, “No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood.”

Serena watched as Hermione’s usual confidence faded, her face falling in the wake of Draco’s cruel words. In the week that Serena had known her, she had never seen Hermione look so hurt. Before Serena could speak up, Ron, red with anger, tried to make Draco “eat slugs” by using his broken wand. The spell backfired, and Ron ended up vomiting slugs instead. Harry and Hermione rushed to his side, helping him up and saying they’d take him to Hagrid’s. Serena watched them leave, confused by what had just happened. What exactly was a Mudblood?

Turning back to the Slytherin Quidditch team, Serena saw them making their way to the pitch.

“Draco, wait a second!” Serena called across the courtyard.

Draco stopped and smiled, clearly pleased by her attention. “Hello, Darling! What is it? I’ve got practice, but if you want to laugh about Potter and his slug-eating friends, we can chat later.” He chuckled, and Serena could hear the other Slytherins laughing along.

“What’s a Mudblood?” she asked, still bewildered. “Hermione looked really upset when you called her one.”

Draco blinked in surprise. “What? You must have a different term for them over in America. Simply put, Granger has dirty blood.”

Serena was even more confused. “Dirty blood? Like a disease?”

Draco seemed slightly annoyed now. “No, no. Sorry, darling, I don’t have time to explain. Later, I promise.” He turned and rejoined his waiting team, leaving Serena standing alone in the courtyard. Unsure of what to do next, she decided to head to Hagrid’s hut. With no one around, she spread her wings and flew to his cabin.

Serena arrived just in time to hear Hermione explaining the term “Mudblood” to Harry and to see Hagrid comforting Hermione. Serena smiled and joined the conversation. “Exactly, Hermione. I’d be so behind if you weren’t as brilliant as you are. I’ll talk to Draco and make him apologize. I won’t let him speak to my friend like that.” She gave Hermione a warm hug as Ron vomited up another slug.

Another week passed, and Serena still couldn’t get Draco to apologize. He always managed to avoid it—changing the subject or coming up with something else to do. Serena began to think she might never get him to make amends. Feeling guilty for not following through, she decided to do something special for Hermione’s birthday.

Serena sneaked into the kitchen and baked Hermione a large, delicious cupcake, decorated with a lion, a book, and a cinnamon stick carved to look like Hermione’s wand. Serena loved baking, especially decorating pastries and experimenting with different flavors. It had become a fun hobby, and she was getting really good at it.

On September 19, during dinner with everyone gathered around the Gryffindor table, Serena brought over the cupcake for Hermione. Gasps of admiration echoed through the hall as everyone marveled at the intricate decoration. Hermione stood up and, to Serena’s surprise, pulled her into a huge hug. No one had ever been so excited about her cupcakes before, but Serena was simply happy to make Hermione smile