The Father's Journal

Part 49 - The Road to Healing

Now everyone looks at Millicent. When they saw Millicent's hand on Serenity's shoulder, now all eyes were on Serenity. Serenity looks at everyone uncomfortably. Slughorn smiles kindly to Serenity.

"Ambition. Cunning. Resourcefulness. Not really speak 'Good', I am right?" tease Slughorn.

Everyone laughs and giggles.

"But all of that is not entirely evil. It is the truth that no one dares to admit. And as a Slytherin takes things as they truly are. Ambition. Cunning. Resourcefulness. Having all these leads towards leadership. Everyone here is born to lead. Either it is to lead the entire country to greatness. Or to lead oneself to self-enlightenment. Leadership" say Slughorn, looking straight to Serenity.

Serenity's heart sank. Part of her is there, with everyone. But half of her is elsewhere, far away.

"We Slytherin do what it is necessary to get to where we want. No one else matters unless they are one of our own. But we also will never sink ourselves low, not unless our life and the lives of our dear ones are at stake. Like the event that has to happen before" say Slughorn kindly.

Everyone looks at the head of the house solemnly.

"Leadership. With the wrong leadership, we sank. With the right leadership, we prosper. That is what we are. A Slytherin" say Slughorn kindly.

"So this means, we had to be better than those who come before us," says the second year.

"Yes. It is not easy, but it is not impossible" advises Slughorn.

Slowly everyone nods their head.

**********

The days pass quietly at Hogwarts as the mid-term comes. As usual, exam students panic and make regular visits to the Hospital Wing. Even Millicent start to feel the heat. On the other hand, Hermione is worried, for Serenity. Serenity looks like she is not all up for the exams. Because of that, Millicent notices that too.

"Serenity, are you sure you are up for the exams?" ask Hermione worriedly.

Serenity sign.

"I don't know," says Serenity slowly.

Both Hermione and Millicent jump. They both look at each other.

"Serenity, are you alright?" ask Millicent.

Serenity wonders for a while. Her head is full of the image of her reading a book and playing the piano for her father and godfather. That is all that she can think of.

"I don't know," says Serenity, looking down at her hand.

Serenity knew she have to live on. She is being stupid. But yet, why didn't she have the will to live her life? Hermione can see it and she reaches out and take Serenity's hand in hers. Her bright brown eyes look straight at Serenity's black eyes. Hermione's chest pains. Unlike Snape, Serenity's eyes always have the usual shine.

But now, Serenity's eyes look withdrawn, just like how Harry describes it when Snape tells Harry to look into his eyes before he passes away.

**********

Hermione smiled confusedly when everyone congratulates her vigorously.

"Finally a Gryffindor is in the first place," said one of the students who congratulate Hermione.

"What?" asked Hermione, still confused.

Once they reach the results board, Hermione is shocked. Yes, she gets Outstanding in all her eleven subjects. But what shocked her the most is Serenity's exam results. Serenity falls to second place. She gets Outstanding only on the subject that she needs to be a Healer, except Potion. She gets Exceed Expectations on Potion, along with other subjects.