• Serena Black •

"In fairy tales you meet Prince Charming and he's everything you ever wanted. The bad guy is always wearing a black cape so you always know who he is. Then you grow up and you realize that Prince Charming is not as easy to find as you thought. You realize the bad guy is not wearing a black cape and he's not easy to spot; he's really funny, and he makes you laugh, and he has perfect hair."

When Serena slowly regained consciousness, the first thing she saw were blurred and indistinct outlines. Colours that merged into strange images. Bright walls that merged with the dark floor and various splashes of colour. She blinked, hoping to improve her vision a little as she thought about what had happened in the last few minutes.

Minutes. Or had it even been hours? Hours in which she had lain unconscious on the astronomy tower? But the soft ground felt anything but the rock-hard floor of the tower. Her vision became clearer with each passing second and she slowly realised that she was not alone. They had found her!

"Am I a vampire now too?" was her first thought and the first words she uttered when she recognised Remus sitting by her bed.

Serena didn't know whether the question was really that stupid or whether she had perhaps read a little too many Muggle stories, but a short burst of laughter went through those present. Only now did she realise that Ron and Hailey were also standing by her bed, and to her surprise, Edmund Hall as well.

"Fortunately, it's not quite that simple," Remus informed her and managed a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

It was only now that Serena seemed to notice the pounding headache, the looming feeling of dizziness and the incredible tiredness that seemed to overtake her all over again. "Totally empty," she sighed and even though she had meant it differently, she was met with part relief and part amused smiles from all sides.

"I'll just let Sirius know that you've woken up and that you're okay," Remus said, rising slowly before pointing to her bedside table, where a small pile of chocolate was piled up, "Besides, you should eat that and you'll feel better soon."

Serena nodded with a small smile and, without her being able to prevent it, her hand suddenly moved to her neck. There she felt for the supposed wound, but all she felt was rough fabric.

"Bite wounds like this heal very slowly, that's why Madam Pomfrey gave you a plaster," Hall spoke up and crossed both arms in front of his chest, covering red stains on his shirt that looked suspiciously like blood.

Serena was beginning to suspect why the Slytherin was even in the hospital wing with her and grumbled, "Do I have to go out with you again, Hall? To thank you for saving me again?"

"As much as I'd like to take the credit," he replied with his usual smirk, "You'd rather thank the world-weary Hufflepuff here."

He pointed at Hailey and Serena looked at her with wide eyes. She was more than eager to hear this story and she hoped that she would hear it soon. Her best friend's cheeks turned a little red as Serena reached for her hand. "Thank you, Hay. Thank you all, actually."

Her eyes drifted back to the blond and lingered on his shirt again. "And what happened there?"

"Oh, I just got into a fight with a vampire, nothing major," he explained with a snide wave of his hand, as if he did this sort of thing often.

Serena gave a short snort of amusement, but she was promptly brought back to reality and fell silent abruptly. "What happened to him?" she asked quietly, looking down at her hands, which she began to fiddle uncomfortably with the duvet.

"Dumbledore threw him out," Ron said. Meanwhile, Serena felt her lips begin to tremble and she looked at her best friend. "You knew, Hailey. You even told me. But I didn't want to hear about it, it was just too good to be true."

The Hufflepuff opened her mouth, but a sound only came out a few seconds later, as if she had been thinking about the right words for a moment. "But who would believe something like that? You couldn't tell by looking at him and I think in your situation I would have dismissed it as complete humbug."

Serena nodded imperceptibly and stared at her hands again. The emotions had crept up quietly, but all at once and with full force. She felt cheated, betrayed, used, but above all hurt, and not just physically.

Once again her vision was obscured, but this time by hot tears that streamed down her cheeks. She didn't want to cry in front of her friends, but she couldn't stop it either. The night before, she hadn't been able to realise it and had been busy fearing for her life, but now the adrenaline-suppressed emotions and questions of why were coming up and seemed to be eating away at her insides.

Why had Maxon chosen her? Had he planned it from the start? But that would mean that he had never really cared about her.

The two boys looked at her, startled and puzzled at the same time, "Is something hurting you?" Ron asked worriedly.

Yes, my heart, she thought, but she shook her head. But Hailey seemed to understand and hugged her tightly, as only a best friend could. "I felt the same way when it was over with Cormac," she whispered, "but it'll pass quickly."

Serena nodded and a soft sniffle escaped her as she wiped the tears from her face and stared blankly out of the window opposite. It had started to snow again and the magical sight of the dancing snowflakes calmed her a little.

"Surely you're not mourning after that blood bag now?"

Serena decided to ignore the Slytherin's comment. Instead, she grabbed the gold locket Maxon had given her, pulled it from her neck with a tug and flung it to the ground. Perhaps a little dramatic, but it felt damn good.

Hall shrugged, "Didn't suit you anyway."

The Gryffindor barely had time to give him a dirty look in return, because at that moment Madam Pomfrey entered the hospital wing with quick steps. "Oh good, you're finally awake. I'll bring you a revitalising potion in a moment and give you something for the wound. Then I think you'll be able to walk again tomorrow."

Serena was glad that she didn't have to stay in the hospital wing any longer than necessary and accepted the potion a few minutes later with thanks. The healer also threw a white blouse onto her bed and, shaking her head, pressed a shirt into Hall's hand. "Now why don't you put something else on?"

Only now did Serena realise that blood had apparently run down her neck because it had also stained her top and made her dark hair sticky. As she sat up in disgust, she realised that Ron and Hailey were whispering quietly to each other.

"Erm... I hope you don't mind, but I think we're going to go down for lunch... because we haven't eaten anything today," the redhead stammered, addressing her this time, while his girlfriend looked rather reluctant.

"No, of course I don't mind," Serena replied, looking after the two of them. Ron dragged a rather unenthusiastic Hailey behind him. But even Serena had heard her stomach growl at the distance. The Hufflepuff gave her and Hall one last look before turning the corner and disappearing from their sight.

Serena fiddled with her fresh blouse while an awkward silence hung in the room. "So I-I..." She fell silent abruptly when she realised that they had both started talking at the same moment. With hot cheeks, she turned away and fumbled for her wand on the small table next to her. "I should change."

Hall nodded and unfolded the shirt as well before walking over to the bed opposite her and spreading it out. With a quiet Wingardium Leviosa, Serena had levitated the privacy screen from the empty bed next door and placed it back at the foot of the bed, protecting her from prying eyes. She unconsciously hurried, as she felt a little uncomfortable despite the privacy screen.

When she was done, she let the screen float a little to the side again. Hall was standing with his naked back to her and was in the process of putting on his shirt. Serena didn't want to stare, but she couldn't take her eyes off the deep cuts on his pale skin, which looked more than just painful.

She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out. The wounds had long since been covered with fabric again to protect them from the eyes of others and Serena let out a quiet. "I'm finished," out.

He turned and began to fasten the first button, seemingly unaware that Serena had seen his disfigured back. "Wait."

Completely taken aback, Hall paused in his movement and stared at her, his hands still resting on the fastenings of his shirt. "Can you... can you take that off for a minute?" Serena asked in a voice that almost failed her.

The Slytherin was still looking at her, completely flabbergasted, before he actually began to undo the buttons after what felt like an eternity and a mocking smirk formed on his face, "I wouldn't have minded if you waited until you were out of here before thanking me."

Serena chewed on her lower lip, unable to get the deep wounds out of her mind and still seeming to see them in her mind's eye, forgetting to roll her eyes or even grimace at the comment.

It was only when Hall stood right in front of her and made an effort to open his trousers that she made a face, "Don't do that."

"Just kidding," he laughed, but Serena didn't join in because she didn't feel like it at all. She twiddled her thumbs for a moment before plucking up her courage. "Can you turn round again?"

His features fell at the same moment and he seemed to guess what she was getting at, "Serena..."

She shook her head stubbornly, her voice trembling as she asked him once more to turn round. With a sigh, he finally complied and Serena had to take in a sharp intake of breath, because from a distance, the wounds had seemed harmless in contrast to the reality. "Don't even try to talk your way out of it and say that it all happened yesterday."

"If I could reach it, they would have healed long ago," he replied grudgingly and slowly Serena began to understand why the Slytherin always carried Diptam around with him. She tried not to ask why, as it was probably as little her business as her love life was his. Instead, she held out her hand calmly. "Do you have the essence with you?"

"No, but it must be around here somewhere," Hall replied, disappearing briefly into the room Madam Pomfrey scurried into every time. It wasn't long before he returned with a small bottle and handed it to her. Serena tried to be as careful as possible, but the Slytherin still flinched at the slightest touch.

After his entire back had been treated, there was only a small amount left in the small vial, giving a small idea of the extent of the injuries across his entire torso.

"Really nice of you but..." He paused briefly as he pulled his shirt back on. "Please promise me you'll keep this to yourself."

Serena nodded and stared at the floor. "Still, I think you should do something about it."

"Like I said, if I could..."

"That's not what I mean," she interrupted him and took a deep breath. She didn't know how to bring it up, or even if she should. After all, it was a rather sensitive subject, so she tried to find harmless words to express what she wanted to say next. "So that something like this doesn't happen in the first place."

Cautiously, the Gryffindor looked up into two turquoise eyes that, as she had expected, now harboured an angry glint. "Just goes to show how clueless you are, Black," he snarled.

"But... maybe... if you defend yourself..." Serena stammered, but she was promptly interrupted by a wave of his hand. Hall was now staring at her with such an angry look that it made her flinch back into the soft pillows.

"So you want me to learn how to use a puny stupor properly from Potter too?" He laughed hysterically for a moment. "Well, first of all, I know how to defend myself properly and secondly, I really didn't think you'd be so naïve as to think you'd stand a chance with something like that."

Serena froze on her bed and looked at the blond as if thunderstruck. She had been aware of the risk that he would find the idea anything but good, but she was a little surprised by his reaction.

"I think I'd better go now too," Hall muttered at the end of his diatribe. "You seem to be feeling better now. Get well soon."

The words were probably meant to sound nicer than the tone with which he said them, but before Serena could say anything in reply, the Slytherin was already gone. Serena still stared contritely at the door from which he had disappeared and regretted her suggestion. But at least it had been better than the reproaches that would plague her if she hadn't done it.

Exhausted, she wiped her face and tried to organise the thoughts that were randomly running through her head. There was Maxon with his sharp teeth, Hall with his bloody back and both were giving her a headache.

"Hey, are you all right?" Hailey's voice finally freed her from the whirlwind of her thoughts and brought her back to the present.

"More or less," Serena managed to get out, her best friend's hazel eyes still scrutinising her anxiously as she sat down on the edge of her bed. She immediately realised that something was wrong and stared into the Hufflepuff's distracted face.

Her eyes were now restlessly fixed on a spot on the bed, her hands were kneading each other in her lap and her mouth was slightly open as if she was desperate to get something off her chest. It all looked like bad news, which was why Serena slowly tensed up. "Spit it out, Hailey."

"That obvious?" She managed a small smile before taking a deep breath, "I don't think you should trust Hall."

Serena was about to pop a piece of Remus' chocolate into her mouth, which was now hanging in the air in front of her lips. She slowly closed her mouth again and stared at Hailey in amazement, who continued slowly, "You don't realise how strange he was yesterday. He did help save you, but it seemed more like he was trying to save his own skin. Why would he help you so often? Even when he barely knew you. When you didn't wake up yesterday, he really freaked out and then when you moved, he was suddenly so... so different like he was just in a role. He's hiding something and I bet you ten brooms it has something to do with the family secret."