Chapter 12: Chapter 12 - The Yule Holidays
Serena, a petite figure wrapped in the shadows of the Room of Requirement, watched as the last swirls of the upgraded Wolfsbane potion settled, casting an iridescent sheen in the dim light. Her hair bangs shimmered in the soft light, her red lips set in a grim line of concentration, her small hands steady as she handled the potion.
She had been observing the Marauders for the past few weeks, seeing a shift in their behavior. The usually boisterous group was more subdued, their pranks less frequent and their laughter dimmer. They were exchanging quiet looks, their eyes speaking volumes in the silence. Serena suspected that they had finally pieced together the truth about Remus' lycanthropy. She remembered when she had uncovered the secret in her previous life and how it had changed everything.
Serena suspected that James was the leader in their endeavor to become Animagus. His talent in Transfiguration was remarkable. She recalled the shock she'd felt in her previous life when she'd learned of their achievement, and now, she found herself looking forward to becoming one herself. She had heard Lupin say that the boys took three years to become an Animagus. That is to say, the research took a while considering McGonagall wouldn't teach any students about the subject until they were at least in their senior years. The Marauders had to research themselves, learn the Patronus charm, collect all the ingredients needed for the potions, make it perfectly, and wait until the proper moment to proceed with the ritual itself. But it's a different story for Serena. She planned to start the ritual in her third year.
Pulling herself back to the present, she turned her attention back to the potion. She had to ensure that it was perfect. She told herself that it was only safety measures for herself and the rest of the students, not for the wolf's sake. Once Mr. Belby announced it to the world, she would give it to him.
Cleaning and finishing up, Serena stepped out of the Room of Requirement - only to come face to face with a pair of icy blue eyes that she knew all too well. Lucius Malfoy stood there, his pale blonde hair glinting in the dim light, an elegant figure leaning casually against the wall. His usually kind eyes, however, held a trace of suspicion that made Serena's heart skip a beat.
"Lucius," she started, her voice betraying her surprise. She hadn't expected him to be there, to be waiting for her. She had always been careful, always made sure she wasn't followed. But it seemed she had been too engrossed in her work to notice.
"Serena," Lucius replied, his voice smooth as silk, but the underlying tension was palpable. After a moment of silence, he finally asked the question she had been dreading. "Where have you been?"
She could see the curiosity in his eyes, mixed with concern. She was his friend, after all. Lucius had noticed her frequent disappearances and her vague responses.
He was no fool, he knew she was hiding something.
"I...I've been working on a project," she said, deciding on a half-truth. It felt wrong to lie to Lucius, but she couldn't risk revealing the truth just yet. Not until she was ready, not until she was sure it was safe.
Lucius raised an eyebrow at her, clearly not convinced. "For two hours? And not at the library?" he asked, his tone skeptical.
Serena sighed. She knew she couldn't fool Lucius. He was too observant, too smart. But she wasn't ready to reveal her secret. Not yet.
"I...It's complicated, Lucius," she said, her voice a little shaky. "I promise, I'll tell you someday."
For a moment, Lucius looked like he was going to argue, to press her for more answers. But then, he sighed and nodded, his eyes softening. "Alright. I trust you. But Serena, please," he pleaded softly, his voice laced with a mix of intrigue and concern.
"What was that room? I saw you come out of it, and then it disappeared. It's not like anything I've ever seen before."
Serena hesitated, her gaze shifting momentarily as she debated how much to reveal.
"It's called the Room of Requirement," she finally confessed in a hushed tone, hoping he would understand the weight of her words. "It...it appears when you truly need it. It transforms into whatever you require at that moment."
Amazement flickered across Lucius' face as he absorbed her words. The concept seemed to intrigue him, a glimmer of excitement dancing in his eyes. "That's incredible," he murmured, his voice filled with wonder. "And you've been using it all this time? No wonder you've been disappearing so frequently."
Serena nodded, her expression softening. "Yes, it's been my secret haven. A place where I can focus on my work without any distractions. But please, Lucius, promise me you won't tell anyone about it."
Lucius nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on Serena's earnest face. "I promise, Serena," he vowed, his voice filled with sincerity. "Your secret is safe with me. In fact, I find it fascinating. I might even use it myself someday."
A small smile tugged at Serena's lips, a sense of relief washing over her. She had trusted Lucius, and he had proven himself worthy of that trust. "Thank you, Lucius," she whispered gratefully.
Their conversation continued, shifting to lighter topics. Lucius inquired about Serena's plans for the upcoming Yule holiday, and she confirmed that she would be spending it at the castle. As they walked together through the corridors, Lucius mentioned another friend, Evelyn, who had also expressed worry about Serena's disappearances.
"You should spend more time with Evelyn, you know," Lucius suggested, his voice gentle. "She's been concerned about you. It would be nice for you to have someone to confide in, someone who cares about you."
It felt strange, in a good way, that she had multiple friends during this time at Hogwarts. All Severus had was Lily and a few dark alliances…
Serena's smile widened, touched by Lucius' thoughtfulness. "You're right, Lucius," she replied, her voice warm. "I'll make sure to spend more time with Evelyn."
~~~
The Slytherin common room was eerily quiet, its usually bustling atmosphere replaced by a hushed stillness. Serena sat alone, perched on a plush emerald green armchair, her mind consumed by anticipation. She glanced around the empty room, the dim fire casting flickering shadows on the walls. Only four Slytherin students, including herself, had chosen to stay at Hogwarts for the Yule holidays, and they were nowhere to be seen.
As the minutes ticked by, Serena's heartbeat quickened. She had been meticulously planning this moment for weeks, researching, gathering the necessary items, and steeling herself for what lay ahead. Her extendable trunk, carefully shrunken and concealed within her robes, held everything she needed for her quest. And then there was the rooster she had taken from Hagrid's care. Small guilt gnawed at her, but she knew she had to do whatever it took to fulfill her purpose.
Finally, the clock struck 1 am, its chime breaking the silence like a whisper in the night. Serena took a deep breath, her hands trembling ever so slightly. With a flick of her wand, she cast a disillusionment charm upon herself, her form melting into the shadows, invisible to the naked eye.
Silently, she slipped out of the common room, moving with practiced stealth through the corridors of Hogwarts. Her footsteps were light, barely making a sound on the cold stone floors. The castle, wrapped in slumber, seemed to hold its breath, unaware of the girl venturing into the depths of its secrets.
Her destination was the second-floor girls' lavatory, its entrance concealing the hidden passage to the Chamber of Secrets. Serena reached the lavatory door, her heart pounding in her chest. She pushed it open slowly, revealing the dimly lit room, its walls lined with cracked porcelain sinks.
Thankfully, Moaning Myrtle was no where to be seen.
Keeping her presence masked by the disillusionment charm, Serena made her way toward the sinks, her eyes scanning for the one that hid the entrance. She found it a second later, a sink adorned with a snake symbol, its mouth forming the key to unlocking the chamber's secrets.
With a deep breath to steady herself, Serena leaned into the sink and hissed, "Open," in Parseltongue. The word felt foreign and strange on her tongue, but it worked. The snake symbol twisted, the sink's basin began to rotate, and the floor below her gave way, revealing a dark, gaping tunnel.
Without a moment's hesitation, Serena jumped. The drop was steep and fast, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she spiraled downwards. The wind whipped at her hair and robes, and she could hear the echo of her own breath, loud in the surrounding darkness.
Finally, she landed with a soft thud, cushioned by a spell she had cast just moments before. She found herself in a dank, stone corridor. The air was cold and damp, and the faint scent of decay hung heavily around her. Serena took a moment to regain her bearings, her eyes slowly adjusting to the dim light.
She then swiftly opened her trunk, revealing the rooster she had taken from Hagrid. The bird squawked in protest, its eyes wide and fearful. Serena quickly cast a silencing charm on the rooster, its cries immediately falling silent. She gently picked up the bird and tucked it under her arm, hoping to keep it calm for the time being.
With her other hand, she pulled out a small mirror from her robes. Its surface glinted in the faint light, reflecting the eerie surroundings. Holding it in front of her, she cautiously advanced further into the chamber.
Ahead of her, a massive door loomed. Carved from stone and adorned with large serpents coiled around it, it was as intimidating as it was imposing. Serena stepped forward, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Open," she said again in Parseltongue.
The door rumbled, the stone serpents uncoiled, and the entrance slowly opened, revealing the dark expanse of the Chamber of Secrets. Serena took a final, steadying breath and stepped into the chamber, her mirror held high and the silenced rooster tucked securely under her arm.
Serena's heart pounded in her chest as she stepped into the vast chamber. The air was heavy with a sense of ancient power, and her footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor. The flickering light from her wand danced and cast eerie shadows on the walls, revealing giant snake statues that lined the path before her.
The statues seemed to come to life, their eyes gleaming with a faint green glow as they pointed the way toward the colossal statue of Salazar Slytherin's head. Its mouth, wide open, served as the entrance to the inner chamber where the Basilisk lay.
With each step, Serena's anticipation mingled with a mixture of fear and awe. There it was. Right in front of her. The body coiled around itself and was in deep sleep.
The Basilisk, a creature of legend, was both majestic and deadly. But she had a job to do, a mission to fulfill, and she steeled herself.
Approaching the sleeping beast, Serena took a deep breath and held out the squawking rooster. As she removed the silencing spell, the bird's frantic cries filled the chamber, its fear at its highest level.
*SQUAWKKKKKKKKKKKK*
Serena watched in awe as the Basilisk's body immediately stiffened, it convulsed and shook, its massive form writhing in the throes of death. With one final shudder, the Basilisk froze on the ground, its life force extinguished.
Silence settled over the chamber once again, broken only by Serena's rapid breathing. She had done it. Legs weakened and her body fell to the dirty ground as the rooster kept squawking. Riddle and Salazar were officially bloody tossers in Serena's book. Keeping that thing underneath a school full of children! Mental. The both of them!
But the aftermath of her actions would need to be addressed. She silenced the rooster again and stowed it into her trunk. Serena carefully shrunk the lifeless body of the basilisk using a powerful reducing spell she had learned from her extensive research.
Once it was small enough to fit, she gingerly placed it inside her extendable trunk, ensuring it was securely hidden away. The weight of the basilisk added a slight strain to her trunk, but she managed to close it with a determined effort.
With the basilisk safely stowed, Serena turned her attention to her next task. She reached into her trunk once again and pulled out a school broom. It was a simple model, but it would serve its purpose.
Mounting the broom, Serena took a moment to steady her nerves. Flying in the dark pipes of Hogwarts was disgusting, but she knew she had to make her way back to the girls' lavatories undetected. With a strong command, the broom lifted off the ground, carrying her weightlessly through the air.
She flew slowly and cautiously, keeping close to the walls and avoiding any potential obstacles. Her senses were heightened, and every creak and whisper of the castle seemed to echo in her ears. Serena's mind raced with thoughts of the possible consequences if she were to be discovered, but she pushed those worries aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Finally, she arrived at the entrance to the girls' lavatories. Landing the broom gently, Serena dismounted and carefully concealed it within her robes. The broomstick disappeared, its elongated shape fitting snugly against her body.
Taking one last look around to ensure she was alone, Serena slipped back into the lavatory, her presence still masked by the disillusionment charm. The sink that led to the Chamber of Secrets awaited her return.
She approached the serpent-adorned sink and, once again, hissed the command in Parseltongue. The sink began to rotate, hiding the hidden entrance to the chamber.
She journeyed back through the dark corridors. Eventually, she emerged into the Slytherin common room, the dim fire casting a soft glow that illuminated her weary face.
As a result of not needing to battle the Basilisk, it was more anticlimactic than she had thought. But at the same time, Serena was thankful that she didn't need to fight it.
Hopefully the rest of her endeavors would also be this peaceful in the future.
~~~
Serena woke up on Christmas Day just like any other day. She stretched, her long silky black hair cascading down her back, and got out of bed. She dressed in her usual attire, her snowy skin contrasting with the dark fabric of her old robes.
As she descended the stairs to the common room, the sight of the Christmas tree, adorned with twinkling lights and ornaments, brought a small smile to her lips. The presents piled beneath the tree were a sight to behold. She approached the tree and found seven presents with her name on them. Last year, she had received five gifts, from Lily, James, Lucius, Evelyn, and her mother, Eileen. This year, there were two additional gifts, one from Regulus and another from Mr. Belby.
She sat down on the floor, cross-legged, and began to open her presents. The first one was from Lily, a muggle book titled 'Romeo and Juliet' by Shakespeare. Serena's eyes sparkled with interest. She loved reading, and this was a book she hadn't read yet.
Next, she opened Evelyn's gift. It was a pair of new Mary Janes shoes. Serena looked at her current shoes, the side of which was torn, and smiled. Evelyn had probably noticed and decided to give her a new pair.
Lucius' gift was an expensive new stationary set, just like the one he had given her last year. Serena appreciated the consistency.
Her mother's gift was a new white blouse with a black ribbon on the neckline. Her mother always gave her a new piece of clothing on Christmas.
Then came James' gift. Last year it was chocolate candies. She wasn't expecting a gift from James but she was polite and wrote a short thank you letter. This time James gave her a red ribbon hair clip and candies.
Serena rolled her eyes at the Gryffindor colours. The card attached read, "I think you look good in red. You looked really cute with my scarf! Have a Merry Christmas and don't miss me too much!" Serena didn't know if she turned red from embarrassment or annoyance at James' shamelessness. Did he expect her to wear this surrounded by Slytherins? Why was she even considering this?! Burnt by her insane thoughts, she tossed the hair clip into her bed, decidedly ignoring it all together.
Regulus' gift was a set of new jars for potion craft. Serena's eyes lit up at this. She had been needing new ones, and these were perfect.
Finally, she opened Mr. Belby's gift. It was a copy of his research notes and books on potions from ancient times. Serena stared at them in amazement. These were priceless items! She couldn't believe she had received them for free.
As she sat there, surrounded by her gifts, Serena felt a warmth spread through her. Despite her cold exterior, she was touched by the thoughtfulness of her friends.
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