Chapter 17 - Secrets Known

The hospital wing of Hogwarts was quiet, save for the soft whispers of Serena Snape and Lily Evans. They were standing near a closed curtain bed, waiting for Lucius Malfoy to emerge from his private room. Half way through the week, Lily insisted on visiting Lucius with Serena as she wanted to help and learn how to take care of an omega in heat. She declared that she didn't want Serena to suffer alone when her own heat period arrived in the future. Lily was determined and Serena couldn't stop her, letting the Gryffindor tag along.

Serena was exhausted, having spent the past week visiting Lucius during his heat period. She was also becoming increasingly agitated with Sirius Black's constant attempts to find out about Lucius' whereabouts. It was especially irritating because James Potter, who was often accompanying Sirius, did nothing to stop him. Instead, he simply stood there, grinning at Serena like an idiot. It tempted her to use the bat bogey hex on him. The whole thing was becoming quite ridiculous. 

Suddenly, the door to Lucius' private room opened, and the blonde boy stepped out. He looked a bit paler than usual, but his icy blue eyes were clear, and he managed a weak smile at the two girls waiting for him.

"Serena, Lily," he greeted, his voice soft.

"Thank you for waiting."

Serena gave him a small smile in return, her irritation momentarily forgotten. "Of course, Lucius. How are you feeling?"

"Better," Lucius replied, though he still looked a bit weary. "I appreciate you being there for me this past week, Serena, and you too Lily."

"You're welcome, Lucius," she responded, her eyes warm. "That's what friends do."

Meanwhile, Lily, ever the cheerful and inquisitive one, piped up. "It was my pleasure! I wanted to help! And Lucius, I wanted to ask you something. I know Serena is also an Omega, and I was hoping that maybe you could tell me more about what you need during your heat period. I want to be prepared to help both of you when the time comes."

Lucius looked surprised at Lily's request, but he quickly composed himself. "I... I think that's very kind of you, Lily," he said, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I'd be happy to help in any way I can."

As the three students were engaged in their conversation, the curtains of one of the beds beside them  rustled and opened, revealing a shocked Remus Lupin who was laying down. For a moment, Lucius, Serena, and Lily froze in their spots, their eyes wide as they stared at Remus.

Remus looked at them, his eyes wide and full of shock. His gaze landed on Serena, and he muttered, "You're an Omega..?" He had clearly overheard everything.

"Oh no," Lily exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand. Lucius looked at Serena, his eyes filled with worry and a hint of apology.

Serena, on the other hand, pursed her lips, her mind racing. How could she have been so careless? She had been so preoccupied with Lucius' well being this past week that she forgot it was the full moon last night and that Remus always spent his mornings in the hospital wing to recover. Now he knew her secret. She could already hear Mad-eye Moody's voice and his 'Constant Vigilance' phrase shouting at the back of her head. 

Sighing in defeat, she turned to Lily and Lucius. "Wait for me outside the hospital wing," she requested. They hesitated for a moment, but after a beat, they nodded and left the room, leaving Serena alone with Remus.

Remus was still staring at her, his face pale.

Serena straightened her shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. "If you keep my secret, I'll keep yours," she said.

Remus blinked, clearly shocked and confused. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Serena didn't beat around the bush. "I know you're a werewolf, Remus."

Remus paled even more, if that was possible. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Serena merely raised an eyebrow at him. "Well?" she prompted.

Remus was silent for a moment. "H-How did you know?" he finally asked, clutching the blanket of his bed like a lifeline.

Serena shrugged. "It wasn't that hard to guess. You 'fall sick' each month, and the scars on your face…" She trailed off, watching as Remus gaped at her. "I figured it out in our first year."

Serena considered the situation carefully, realizing that it might be better for Remus to believe their trust was an exchange. It would provide him with a sense of security, knowing that she had a secret of his own to protect. 

On the other hand, Remus stared at her, his eyes filled with a mix of surprise and gratitude. She had known about him being a werewolf for over a year now, yet she had never uttered a word about it to anyone? Her actions spoke volumes about her loyalty and the blind trust she had placed in Remus.

Remus' wary expression began to soften, replaced by a warmth of gratitude. He couldn't fully express how much her keeping his secret meant to him, especially given the nature of his condition. He had always been cautious, but to have someone like Serena, who had known his secret for so long and remained silent, was a comfort he had never expected. She probably created this deal so he can have a sense of security. It was in that moment that he realized Serena was more than what meets the eye. She was someone he could trust.

After a moment of silence, Remus finally nodded. "Alright. I'll keep your secret, Serena, if you keep mine."

Serena smiled at him. "Deal."

Remus hesitated for a moment before asking, "Aren't you afraid of me, Serena?"

Her laughter filled the room, but it was short-lived. She looked at him with a serious expression. "I am afraid, Remus. Not of you, but of the werewolf that comes out every full moon."

Remus seemed surprised by her answer, but after a moment, he also smiled back at Serena.

Serena noticed the small injuries on his arms, likely inflicted during his transformation. She'd be dead before she admitted it, but concern filled her.

Without a second to spare, Serena stepped closer to Remus' side, her hand gently coming to rest on top of his injured arms.

She closed her eyes, focusing her energy and channeling her Omegan magic. A soft, warm light emanated from her hands, enveloping Remus' injuries. Remus, confused by Serena's actions, stayed still, watching in growing awe as his wounds slowly began to fade away.

As the healing process took place, Remus' mouth hung open in astonishment. When Serena finished, she withdrew her hands and opened her eyes, meeting Remus' surprised gaze. He couldn't help but ask, "How... What was that?"

Delighted by her success, Serena smiled softly, her voice hushed. "It's a secret, Remus. It's my Omegan magic, Healing Touch. I've been practicing it, and I'm glad it worked." She pressed a finger to her lips, indicating the need for secrecy. "This is another secret you have to keep."

Remus nodded, and smiled, "Thank you…"

~~~

The chill of the castle's stone walls could be felt even through the layers of Lucius' robes. He leaned against the cold surface, his eyes looking out at the empty hallway. Beside him, Lily, with her bright green eyes and reddish hair, waited patiently. They were outside the entrance to the Hogwarts hospital wing, waiting for their friend Serena.

Without warning, a familiar trio appeared at the end of the hallway. Sirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew. Sirius was the first to notice him, his eyes widening noticeably. Lucius met his gaze evenly, his own expression unreadable.

"Lucius! Lily," James greeted them with a friendly smile. "What are you two doing hanging outside the hospital wing? Waiting for someone?"

Lily nodded. "Yes, we're waiting for Serena."

At the mention of Serena, James' hazel eyes sparkled with interest, but he quickly composed himself. "Are you here to visit Remus too?" he asked, trying to divert the conversation.

Before Lily could respond, Sirius suddenly moved, grabbing Lucius' arm. "We need to talk," he said, his voice serious.

Lucius didn't resist, allowing Sirius to guide him away. He glanced back at Lily, a small smile playing on his lips. "Don't wait up for me," he told her.

James whistled as he watched them go. "Looks like a lovers' talk," he commented with a smirk.

Lily rolled her eyes at James' comment. "Do shut up, Potter," she admonished him, turning to Peter to continue their conversation. Meanwhile, Lucius and Sirius disappeared around a corner, leaving the others behind in the quiet hallway.