Chapter 10

Last Chapter:

Serena escorted Harry safely back to his dorm door. The two said good night before he walked back inside. Once he was inside the princess turned around to walk merrily back to her room. As she was walking back to her room, the blonde princess turned the corner, and unexpectedly ran right into someone. She looked up to see a pair of familiar gray eyes looking back down at her just as surprised to see her.

"Remus." She breath quietly in surprise.

Remus had not been expecting to see the blonde beauty in his arms when he rounded the corner of the hall way. Although, surprised he was happy to see her finally. He knew she had been avoiding him since her explanation of "death" in Dumbledore's office only a week ago.

"I am sorry for running into you." She mumbled quickly as she started to back away from him. As she tried to scurry out of his arms, Remus realized what she was attempting to do, which he was not going to let happen. He swiftly wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her from going anywhere.

"Please stop Serena…" he pleaded to her. Serena stop her movement hearing the pleading in his voice causing her to look at him once more. The feelings that she used to have when he would hold her in the past coming back instantly. She felt loved, safe, warm and happy. She noticed he was in a suit from earlier that day, his hair more disheveled, his gray eyes seem bright for the first time in ages, and he had in her view aged handsomely.

Now, that she had stood there he was able to get a much better view of her. Her blond hair in a braid still, her blue eyes bright as ever, her cheeks red, while wearing what appeared to be pajama top and buttons with slippers on her feet. His feelings resurfacing after all of these years in dormant for his first love. It felt right holding her in his arms, and he felt loved, warm and happy to be with her and didn't matter what the world thought of him when he was with her. The two just stood there silently not sure who should speak first.

"How touching." a voice sneered sarcastically suddenly breaking up the moment between the two past lovers. The sudden intrusion of another's voice caused Remus to look up while Serena whipped around in Remus' arms to see who was behind them. They found Darien before them. Remus pulled Serena closer to his body in an effort to protect her, while she did her best to stand in front of Remus to keep Darien away from him.

"Why are you here now? You have already caused enough damage." Serena stated coldly while glaring at Darien. Darien just smirked evilly at her, which Serena did notice, but said nothing.

"You know, I wondered why you were never with anyone, I figured it was because of me." He started to say to her in a matter of fact tone. "But then I had a nice little chat with Peter. He informed me that you two were engaged at one point. I should have figured this out sooner, but you did a good job covering your tracks." He finished with a smirk still on his lips. Serena only frowned at Darien knowing someday he would learn about Remus and it seemed to have finally happened. She refused though to let Darien think that and just rolled her eyes at him before responding to him.

"And you came here to tell me this?" She asked mockingly keeping her body tense ready for whatever Darien was really up to. Darien just laughed at her question.

"No, I came to kill Remus just like I did to your parents and brother." He stated happily. Serena notice the short sword in Darien's right hand. She just stood her ground before Darien glaring at him.

"I'll never let you touch him." She declared in a determined voice. Remus look down at the blonde that was in her arms. He knew in his heart that Serena had been putting him first after all of these years besides Harry. 'Snape was right.' He thought. Darien only smirked more at hearing Serena's comment.

"So, typical of you." He stated simply before he raised his hand creating a dark ball of magic. He then hurled it at the two. Remus dived to the left to get out of the way while Serena dived to her right. Serena was up on her feet in seconds with her wand out. She looked around to find Remus on the opposite end of the hall way with his wand out as he stood his ground too. She turned to see Darien throw another attack at her. Serena used her wand to spark a white magic from her own wand to counter it. The two continued to exchange attacks with one another forgetting about Remus for the time being. Remus stayed back as he watched Serena gracefully counter and attack Darien with her magic using her wand. He could tell by the way they fought this was not the first time. As he stood there he waited for an opening to help Serena. Just then he noticed Serena throw another magical attack causing Darien to dodge it. The opening was there to send his own towards Darien.

"Everte Statum" yelled Remus using his wand at Darien. Darien hearing Remus send a spell with his wand looked over in time to see the spell racing his way, dived to his right so he is not hit by it. When he is up onto his feet he sees he is only a few feet from Serena. Darien smiled evilly at seeing his chance to kill her. Serena never taking her eyes off of him is ready with her wand, but she notices that instead of using his magic, he is coming after her with his sword. 'He thinks I have nothing to defend myself with.' She thought to herself.

As he comes toward her with his sword up in the air to strike her, using her free hand Serena pulls out her Artemis sword bring up in the nick of time to counter his attack. Remus sighs in relief at the sword appearing suddenly from somewhere in Serena's free hand. As the two are fighting with swords Remus again sees a chance to hit Darien with a spell. He throws scorching spell at Darien. However, Darien noticed from the corner of his eye the spell coming towards him. Using his free hand, he sends a sizeable black magical ball to counter it. As the two spells collided it sends a shock wave in the area. Serena not ready for it, is sent flying back off her feet a bit. As she goes flying she drops her wand and sword. Remus being close to a wall has the support of it keeping him from falling, but the blast makes him lose his grip with his wand. Darien on the other hand is able to stay on his feet and is only pushed back a few feet into the wall from the blast.

As Serena gets onto her fee the blonde noticed her wand and sword are in the middle of the hallway laying on the ground a few feet away from her. She then looks over to find Remus is up against the wall with no wand and Darien just a few feet from him ready to use his sword. Serena's eyes widened realizing what is about to happen. She knows she has only one option left to save Remus that comes to mind. Serena gets to her feet quickly then teleports herself. Suddenly, Serena is standing in between Remus and Darien as she feels pain suddenly in her. She gasped out loud causing Remus and Darien to look down. Darien smiles evilly at Serena with his sword now protruding out of her abdomen at an angle. Serena looked up at him with pain evident in her blue eyes, but she still holds a glare at him.

"I am not the only one who is predictable..." She started saying as she coughed a bit and wheezed while breathing. "Cosmetic blast." She finished saying as she had her hand in front of Darien's chest without him realizing it. A white light erupts from her hand in a orb sending Darien flying backwards away from the two violently. The pain in Serena's body was getting to be too much that she collapsed onto her knees as she falls, she feels a pair of hands catch her in time. The princess looked up to see Remus' gray eyes looking down at her in fear at the realization of what just happened to her as he gently lays her in his lap.

"Serena…" he choked out in horror. He could see the sword was in at an angle with blood staining her top. Remus looked over the sword and decides he should try to take it out. As he goes to grasp the hilt, Serena's grabbed his hand as strongly as she can to stop him.

"No," she started saying to him causing Remus to look up at her in confusing as to why she doesn't want it out. "I could bleed out faster if you take it out." She finished explaining in a wheezing voice. Remus nodded his head in understanding as he sat there holding the woman he loved, feeling helpless to do anything for her. He could tell by the way her voice sounded that the sword had hit one of her lungs making it harder for her to speak and breath too. "I am so sorry for everything Remus…." She started to say, but was stopped by a cough. Remus shook his head in disagreement holding back the tears in his gray eyes.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You have been protecting Harry and I all of these years. You should not be the one hurt here, but me. You have to continue to protect Harry." Remus choked out quietly to her as he wiped a strand of the blonde hair from her face. Serena gives him a small smile.

"I know, but I couldn't lose you too. Besides, hopefully, Hotaru comes in time…" she says to him in a hopeful voice. Just then laughter could be heard echoing in the hall way causing the two to look in the direction of the source. They found Darien getting up from the complete opposite end of the hall way from the debris that had fallen on or around him from Serena's last attack.

"What's so funny?" Remus demanded furiously at the man who just harmed Serena.

"I had hoped to get you Remus, but I knew it was possible that Serena would intervene so even if Hotaru saves her from the injuries, she can't stop the poison that is running through her body now." He informed them with a smile on his face.

"You bastard!" Remus yelled at him. He was even more angry now. At hearing Remus' outburst, Darien just laughed even more.

"But since no one else has come to rescue the two love birds, why waste the opportunity…" He trailed off as he picked up his sword before making his way towards them with an evil grin on his lips.

"No…" Serena gasped as she tried to get up to stop Darien from going after Remus, but she was too weak to do anything. Just then they heard a voice.

"World Shaking!" Serena smiled upon hearing the familiar words with sounds of running echoing the halls. The yellow sphere came barreling towards Darien causing him to stop and leap back. Serena sighed in relief knowing the girls were coming just in time to protect Remus.

Sailor Mars, Uranus, Neptune, Venus and Mercury arrived. Sailor Mars made her way over to Remus and Serena to see how Serena was. As she kneeled next to them she turned pale at seeing the state Serena was currently in.

"Thank kami you came." Serena wheezed to her friend. Mars only nodded her head before yelling for Mercury to get over to her right away. Mercury leaves the battle quickly and makes her way over to them.

"Oh my..." Mercury stated in shock upon seeing Serena's state.

"Can you help her?" Remus pleaded, hope in his gray eyes that Mercury can do something. Knowing she had to be the leader in this situation gets down to help her princess before they lose her.

"Raye go help the others in my place. I will take care of Serena." She said in a stern voice as she started assessing the situation. Sailor Mars stared at Serena one last second before reluntically leaving to help her fellow senshi fight off Darien. Meanwhile, Amy pulled out her communicator out and pressed Saturn's button right away. Hotaru's face appeared on the small screen in seconds.

"What's up Mercury?" Hotaru asked.

"Serena's is bleeding out. I need you to teleport here now." She explained seriously with a grim look on her features. Hotaru says nothing more and the screen goes blank. Seconds later Saturn appeared before them.

"Ok, Mercury how do you want to do this?" Saturn asked staying focus on the task at hand as she kneeled next to Mercury.

"I'll take the sword out. You start healing her once it's out." Mercury said in a matter of fact tone.

"I don't think you should touch it. The sword has poison on it." Remus informed them seriously looking at the two women before him. Saturn rolled her eyes at hearing this.

"Of course, he did…" Saturn muttered darkly wishing she could throw Darien through a wall.

"Thank you, Remus, our gloves will protect us from it. Be ready to hold Serena down," Mercury tells him before looking down at her princess for the last part. "This is going to hurt." Serena nodded her head indicating she understood her. Remus felt her tensing up for the pain as he tightened his hold on her. Remus looks down at Serena getting her attention by using his free hand to rub her cheek gently. Serena turned away from Mercury to look at him.

"Just look at me." He told her softly in hopes to help her in any way through the pain. Serena just nodded her head in understanding as it was getting to hard to breath or speak.

Mercury then got up moving over to the hilt stand to Saturn's left to get a better grip. She got a good firm hold on it before she started pulling the sword out of her princess. As the sword comes out Serena screams in pain. The scream is only half there since her lung has been punctured. Within a few seconds the sword is completely out of Serena and Saturn is pouring as much of her healing power into Serena. Mercury dropped the sword onto the ground then makes her way back over to Serena. She can see Serena is breathing heavily and exhausted from all the blood lost. Mercury grabbed a bag out of her space pocket. She opened it getting a syringe out that is prefilled. She taps all the possible bubbles out it before injecting it into Serena. Once done she places the empty syringe back in her bag, zips it up and then puts it back into her space pocket for safe keeping. By the time she looks up Serena is no longer awake.

"What did you give her?" Remus asked Mercury.

"I gave her a sedative to knock her out so she doesn't feel any more pain while Saturn heals her." She explains simply in a matter of fact tone. Remus nods his head in understanding as he watches the women before him help Serena. Mercury then gets her visor out to see the extent of Serena's internal injuries. She then starts to point out to Saturn the areas that need to be heal the quickest so as not to lose their princess. It takes about twenty minutes before Serena is fully healed from her injuries. Saturn is exhausted herself but happy she is able to save Serena.

"That's it." Mercury announced in relief.

"Is Serena going to be ok?" Neptune asks worriedly causing the small group to turn their heads. They saw the other senshi before them tired, but safe with no Darien in sight anywhere.

"Yes, for now she will be." Mercury said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Uranus asks not liking that answer one bit.

"Let's get Serena back to the infirmary to rest. We can discuss everything there." Mercury says simply. The other senshi nod their heads in agreement while Uranus just crossed her arms making a humph sound since she had to wait longer for more information.

*Infirmary*

The group teleported them all to the infirmary with Remus carrying Serena in his arms as she laid asleep. When they arrived, they found the others already waiting for them there. Dumbledore stood in front of the beds with McGonnell to his left, Snape near the doors to the room, with Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron were in a corner to Dumbledore's left. The senshi found a spot to stand in the room. Harry is shocked to see the blood on Serena's clothes and how pale is god mother looked. The concern was visible as Remus carried her over to a bed. Raye who was now back in her normal clothes noticed the others looking at Serena with blood stain clothes, quickly wave her hand. Unexpectedly, Serena's clothes changed into another pink tank top with matching bottoms. Remus notice the change, but said nothing as he pulled up the covers to keep her warm.

"Why would Darien attack Serena so soon? He knows she would be ready for him." Lita stated simply looking at the others. The first to question the attack.

"Lita is right. It doesn't make any sense." Hotaru said sitting on the bed that was next to Serena. She looked pale and exhausted. Remus stood next to the bed turning to them all.

"He wasn't after Serena, but me instead." Remus spoke up looking at the others as he stood by Serena's bed.

"Why you? That seems odd." Michelle speaks up next looking at Remus with confusion swirling in her aqua eyes. Abruptly, Raye cursed in Japanese causing everyone to turn to her including Remus. While he did not know what the words met he had a feeling it had to do with what he had just said, but he had a feeling he knew what it was about.

"Did Serena tell you?" He asked her simply.

"Yes," She started while nodding her head and looking at him. "Serena and I were planning a party, and that was when you were supposed to meet everyone in Japan and announce it then." She explained seriously to him, violet eyes holding sadness in them at the memories of those days. Remus nodded his head in understanding.

"Mind telling us what you two are talking about." Amara asked in patiently while glaring at Raye and Remus. Remus sighed heavily before answering them.

"Serena and I were engaged fifteen years ago." He informed those who do not already know. There was gasps throughout the room for those just learning this new bit of information.

"How did Darien figure this out if none of us knew?" Mina questioned curiously at them.

"Wormtail." Both Hermione and Harry said at the same time causing everyone to look at the young teenagers. Remus was even more surprised to hear Harry of all people speak up at the answer.

"How do you know?" He asked him. Hermione quickly started explaining how she came across the photo in Serena's desk sheepishly and gave it to Harry. Harry then further explained his conversation he had with his god mother earlier that night.

"This is why Serena cut her ties in England. She knew if she didn't Darien would most likely find out about Remus and Harry. Then he would have gone after both of you." Raye repeated to all of them again so they did not forget why things are now happening the way they were.

"Explains so much now." Amy wisely responded looking at everyone in the room.

"I still don't understand why he would poison Serena if he is really after Remus?" McGonnell questioned out loud.

"Because Minerva, while he was after me, he knew Serena would most likely come to help and if he got the chance to get her instead, he was going to take it." Remus clarified to her.

"Bastard…" Amara muttered darkly. Michelle hits Amara in the arm lightly for cursing in front of the adolescents but says nothing and instead just glares at her.

"It explains why Darien told us to enjoy what little time we have left with her." Mina stated as she looked at her princess with concern in her eyes.

"Why didn't Hotaru's power cure her from it?" Raye questioned, looking towards Amy who she figured would know the answer.

"The only logical guess I have is that the type of poison that was used. It had no effect on it, it seems." Amy logically explained to them.

"Did he mention what poisoned he used?" Snape finally asked having just been listening and observing everything for the time being.

"No." Remus replied simply. Michelle also nodded her head indicating Darien said nothing to them either.

"Which means we have no idea how to stop it." Lita said bitterly as she took her fist and punched her palm in anger.

"Not true." Amy started to say causing everyone turned to the blue hair genius with hope in their eyes that she had something good to tell them. "We have the sword that poisoned her. I can use that to hopefully determine what it is and then get the antidote to her." Amy finished explaining to them.

"That could work. Amy why don't you and Snape try and figure this problem out. If anyone is going to be able too, it will be you two." Dumbledore suggested wisely to the two. Snape nodded his head in agreement. "Also, I suggest the rest of us get some rest in the meantime." He added on giving everyone a soft smile.

"Of course. We will get right on it." Amy then made her way over to Snape who was starting to leave the room knowing Amy was right behind her.

"That's a good idea. It is late and you all must be exhausted." Minerva replied looking to Hotaru who seem pale and sleepy.

"You are correct Professor. Hotaru you should go back to your room and get rest. Trista would you mind taking her?" Mina asked looking at her as she takes up the leader role now that Serena is no longer able to be in charge.

"Of course." Trista responded walking over to Hotaru. Hotaru stood up leaning on the senshi of time since she was worn-out from healing her princess. Then the two disappeared as Trista teleported Hotaru to her room.

"Michelle and I will escort kids back to their rooms. We will spend the night there just as a precaution." Mina announced to the others.

"I'll take the first watch over Serena." Raye volunteered simply.

"Amara and I will take rounds of the castle." Lita offered not at all tired at the moment, plus she knew Amara would be to wound up after battling Darien. It only took a few minutes for everyone to disperse to their destination for the evening leaving Raye and Remus alone with Serena in her bed. Remus took a seat next to Serena sitting next to her. He took her hand to hold hers. He sighed heavily starring at the princess the laid before him. Her hair was pretty much undone it was no longer blonde, but red and brown in it from the blood and filth from the debris of the fight too. Her skin was paler than it should have been too he observed. He couldn't believe that as she laid in the bed looking peaceful there was there was poison that was slowly killing her.

"Your back in my life and now I may lose you." Remus said softly looking at Serena. Raye sighed heavily her violet eyes holding sadness in them for the two before her. The noise caught Remus' attention making him look in Raye's direction.

"Remus, I have to tell you something." Raye replies to him. Remus looks over to the senshi of fire wondering what she would have more to share with him.

"What is it?"

"Serena knows that you are engaged, and has been avoiding you because of it. She didn't want to ruin your happy life. Plus, she fears you hate her for James and Lily's death and her past." Raye tells him knowing that the truth about why Serena was avoiding him had to come out. It was Remus turn to sigh at hearing Raye explanation.

"To be honest I was angry at first when I learned that she was alive. I thought she didn't trust me with her secret, but it took Snape of all people, to make me realize it wasn't about that, but protecting me. She has always been that way. Putting everyone else first over her and even today she did it for me. I could never hate her, I love her." He confessed to Raye his eyes holding nothing but sincerity and love in them.

Author Notes: I hope you liked this chapter. A bit short but I thought this was a good spot to stop. Sorry it has taken so long to get this chapter out. Between being pregnant with my second child and having her, working full time, going to school, and taking care of my four-year-old, I have been very busy. I will do my best to try to get another chapter out soon. Please be patient with me. Hope you all enjoy your summer!