Live, Love, Die

Chapter 3

It's almost Halloween and Serenity didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. She felt security she has never felt in before in the walls of Hogwarts but her past memories around this time wasn't all too pleasant.

"Daddy?" Serenity walked up to her father who was sleeping in the middle of the living room. She couldn't help thinking why her father would sleep there and in that particular position. "Come on Daddy, wake up." She now kneeled behind her father who was still laying down on the floor.

She nudged him but he still didn't make movements of getting up. "Stop playing around Daddy! I'm hungry!" She playfully slapped his shoulder. Then, after several seconds of prodding him something in that eight year old mind, something calculated, then her heart broke to pieces.

"Daddy... p...please wake up..." She shook him gently not wanting to accept what she already knows. "Come on Daddy.... we have to go... you promised me my birthday breakfast..." she shook him harder, "you promised..."

"Serenity!"
She snapped back into reality. "Yes? I mean what did you say?"

Lily gave her a puzzled look. "We were talking about the party on Hallows Eve in the Gryffindor tower. What do you think?"

"Oh, yeah I can't wait."

"I love Halloween," Alice said. "It's the only holiday the wizarding community can go all out."

"Yeah my parents are always unconcealing our house on Halloween, and when them muggle trick o treaters come they scare the crap out of them, it was a blast when I was little," Joey said. "Did you trick o treat Serenity?"

"What are you doing?" Serenity's voice was full of fear.

"Giving you your birthday present." Davis had suddenly appeared in her bedroom and bent over her. He slowly brought his hands to her night dress and unbuttoned one by one; careful to touch her forming breast as he did so. "Just stay still."

She was paralyzed by fear but after a few moments when he got the last button unbuttoned she came to her senses and screamed. She pushed him away and tried to cover herself.

"I said to stay still! You listen to your dad." He slapped her across the face and violently pulled opened her nightdress.
She screamed.

"SILENCIO!"

She became mute and powerless as his hands (and body) violated her.

"Serenity? Did you trick o treat when you were younger?" Joey asked again.

"Huh? I mean, yeah I did, when my dad was still alive." Serenity replied.

"What's up Serenity? You're all scattered brain." Lily looked real concerned for her.

"Too much studying I think. We've been at this for the last 2 hours."

They were all up in the library studying for the Transfiguration test.

"That's why we're talking about the party," Valerie said. "You know Sirius and James throw the best parties ever."

"Amen to that," Joey said.

Lily just simply rolled her eyes. "If your tired head back up to the tower, I'll be there in a bit."

"Yeah, I think I would. Good night."

They all yelled out "Night" as she made her way out of the library. It was only ten and the library didn't close till eleven.

"What are you doing walking all by yourself?"

Serenity looked around and saw that the voice belonged to Sirius, who was 20 feet away.

"I could be asking you the same question," she replied as he caught up to her.

They began walking again.

"Oh, well, just fancied a walk on the grounds."

"I didn't know you were so... you know." She didn't want to say sensitive in case it bruised his ego.

"Well, there's a lot you don't know about me." He casually pushed his hair back with one of hands. "You didn't answer my question."

"My dorm girls are in the library talking about the party you're going to throw. I got tired and decided to head in early."

"Is that all?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You don't seem happy."

"That's just because I'm tired."

"Is that all?"

Serenity laughed, "Shut up and just walk me."

"Will do."

"Thank Merlin your back Serenity!" Marissa, a brunette said.

"Wow, who knew someone could miss me that much," Serenity joked. Sirius raised a brow.

Marissa ignored this, "You have mail and the owls are creeping me out."

Serenity looked around her and saw the two black owls. She rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry, they're harmless."

She walked to the two birds and Sirius followed.

"Yeah, sure and when that one bit you it was his way of saying 'I love you'."

"Bloody hell, who knew you could understand owls?" Serenity said sarcastically as she got her stuff and the birds flew away.

"Not gonna throw it in the fire this time?" he asked.

"Nah, they put inflammable and anti-rip spells on it, they always do." Serenity said making her way up the girls' dorm. "Thanks for walking me, Sirius," She called out not leaving her eyes off of the mails in her hand.

Serenity sat on her bed after closing the curtains and putting silencing charms around it. Carefully she opened the letter from Donavan first.

Hey Babe.

Been missing you; I was really angered when you didn't reply to the letter I sent you, but you probably didn't even read it. I don't know why you're trying to push me away when you know we're going to end up together. It's already written down in the Book. Davis is making arrangements for you to come back to Durmstrang as we speak... and when you do... you're going to have to bare some punishments of your actions towards me. Undoubtedly, Davis will speak to you during the winter break. I'll see you real soon. That's a promise.

-Donavan

P.S. - Happy Birthday.

Tears streamed down her face but she quickly wiped them away.

'Be strong. Your life is in your hands not in Davis's. Don't you fucking DARE cry, Serenity.' she told herself.

She cursed her shaking fingers as she opened the next letter which was attached to a small package.

Dear Serenity.

Hello honey. It's awfully lonely here in this big house alone. Jonathan has been working late nights lately and my only company is these house elves. I feel sort of useless just sitting here. Maybe I should ask Jonathan if I can get a job? God knows I need to get out of here once in a while.

Well, I'm not going to talk about me because this letter is obviously supposed to be about you. Now I know you don't like to celebrate your birthday anymore... and you have the tendency to block your birthday out of your mind... but make this birthday special... your father would have wanted you to celebrate it. I wish I can have you over and be able to make you your birthday breakfast... seems like I haven't made you one since you started your schooling.

I miss you awful lot... happy sweet sixteen sweetie... and I hope you like your present... it belonged to your father and me.

Love always,

Your Mother.

Serenity opened the boxed package and inside was two platinum rings looped around a silver chain. Tears welled up in her eyes as she slowly took it out of the box. She then brought it to her neck and fastened it. She broke down then.

It has been years since she cried like this. Every fiber in her body was filled with emotion and her heart swelled up to a size of a grapefruit, about to burst from heartache. She clutched her heart in emotional pain and let out an anguished cry. She kneeled forward, burying her face in the comforter, smothering her bawls, forgetting that she had put a silencing charm on the four poster.

***

Lily came in the room and found it crazed. Bright lights blinded her as the objects in the room flew every which way. She stood rooted on the spot trying to figure out what was happening when she found the source. The light was a blaze at one of the four poster and she saw it was Serenity's.

"SERENITY?" She carefully made her way to the bed. "Serenity! What's wrong?"

She yanked opened the curtains to find her friend broken down. Serenity didn't seem to hear her as she continued to sob and vice versa.

Lily whipped out her wand. "UnSilencio!"

She heard Serenity's anguished cries, full sound now.

"Serenity, what happened?" she said softly as she sat on the bed.

Serenity looked up at her with swollen eyes, looking at her in disbelief. She shook her head brushing her tears away.

"Come on Serenity, talk to me."

Lily noticed her shaking with the cries she's trying to hold back.

"Don't... don't keep it in. Let it out."

Serenity flung her arms around Lily's neck and cried openly.

Lily accepted this much. She understood that Serenity wasn't ready to talk yet so she held her friend close and lent a shoulder to cry on.

****

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head.

"You sure?"

She shook her head again.

Silence.

Serenity picked up the letter; she hesitated before giving it to Lily.

After reading half way through Donavan's letter her expression was full of shock and horror.

"What the fuck?"

She nodded.

"Would your father really do that?"

Nods again.

"Do you think Donavan could have lied to get you to come back?"

She hesitated before slowly nodding again.

"The hell you're going back. You can talk to the headmaster! Or better yet, talk to your step-dad. He'll understand."

Serenity's face suddenly shined with hope, Dumbledore!

Clearly misreading her expression, Lily continued, "Write to him right now! Tell him you don't know what Donavan said but-"

The door opened and came in three chattering girls.

Wide-eyed, Serenity snatched up the letters from Lily's hands and flung herself on the bed, stuffing the letters under her pillow.

"Feeling better Serenity?" Alice asked, uncovering her own bed.

"She's feeling a little sick," Lily answered for her.

"Go to the hospital wing and get yourself some pepper up," Valerie suggested.

"Yeah, those works wonders," Joey replied.

"She'll be fine in the morning," Lily answered again.

In the middle of the night, Serenity got up and prodded Lily.

"Lily... I'm ready to talk..."

"Huh?" she answered groggily.

"I'm... I'm ready to talk."

Serenity went through everything in her mind... she needed to talk to somebody about her problems and Lily was someone she has grown to trust. But she also went through everything she wasn't going to tell her.

"Oh, okay." Lily tiredly sat up.

"Not here... lets go down to the common room."

Lily didn't protest, she silently put on her robe and followed Serenity down.

Now settled in front of the common room fire, Serenity passed her the second letter from her mom.

Lily read the first paragraph and commented, "I'm sure he'll let your mum work."

Fat chance.

Lily popped her head back up, "It's your birthday?!"

"Halloween."

"Why do you ignore it?"

Serenity bit her lip.

Taking a deep breath and looking out the window, which a moon illuminated the night sky, she answered.

"I found my dad dead in the living room."

She heard Lily take a sharp in take of breath.

"Oh Merlin, Serenity, I'm so sorry. No wonder you like to ignore it."

Tears started welling up in Serenity's eyes.

God, I'm turning weak...

Trying to blink her tears away, she let out a laugh which just sounded hallow.

"Don't be sorry. I'm over it."

All of a sudden she saw the portrait hole silently swung open but close with a loud thump.

"What the-?" Lily stood up to see who came in but they didn't see anyone.

"Maybe the Fat Lady jerked in her sleep or something?" Serenity said standing up.

"Possibly..."

Serenity wiped her tears away and in the back of her mind something was nagging her.

"Well, anyways, Serenity... did your father die of a heart attack or something?"

"No... he was murdered..." She looked around the room, something about it was odd. Then after a moment of silently searching, she found out what. It almost made her laugh.

"Oh Merlin... and on your birthday?"

Serenity gave a small smile.

"I think I'll try to get Dumbledore to let me go home, you read the letter, I hate imagining her so alone."

"Yeah... I'm pretty sure he'll let you; it's your mother after all. We'll talk more tomorrow okay? We have to get at least an hour of sleep for the test tomorrow."

"Okay. Thanks Lily."

"Don't thank me. What are friends for?"

Lily started up the stairs. "You coming?"

"In a little while."

She nodded in understanding and climbed the remaining steps.

Sighing, Serenity gathered the letters.

While folding she said aloud, "Nice cloak boys...but you should try and make sure it covers all of yall's feet."

She turned around facing three boys with guilty faces: Sirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew.

"Say anything or mention anything about the conversation you just overheard, to me or anybody else, and I'll make sure that cloak would cover your feet. Or lack of, I should say."

They didn't respond seeing the seriousness of her tone.

She bid them good night before making her way up the stairs.

*******

The next day Serenity woke up to a bright, sunny morning.

In better spirits that she got to talk to someone about something she kept inside, she left the room twirling.

Even though she didn't get anything really solved, Serenity felt part of the weight of problems lifted off of her. Though her heart was still weighed down considerably, she felt lightness in her that she decided to act on and ignore the other problems for today.

"You're in a good mood today." Joey commented.

"Yeah well, today's the party isn't it?"

"I got the impression you weren't looking for to it."

Serenity shrugged. "I was tired yesterday."

Going down to breakfast, Serenity linked arms with Lily the whole way.

"Thanks Lily, for listening. I never even mentioned anything about the day my father died. But I'm going to take my Mum's word and try and enjoy today for once."

"That's great Serenity! I just feel bad I don't have a present."

"Oh, I don't accept gifts anyways. Plus, I'm not really going to celebrate my birthday... just the memories I had with my Dad. It's too hard to have a birthday the same day of your father's death, you know? So, for the first time in my life, I'm going to celebrate Halloween in the memory of my Dad." Serenity gave a smile that seemed to shine.

It felt so infectious that Lily had to smile along with her, laugh along with her, and dance along with her the whole day.