Author's note: I know it's been a long time since I put out a chapter for this story but I've been seriously considering whether or not to continue it. However, I couldn't bring myself to give up just yet so I decided to write one more chapter before making a decision.
CoolDiva: Thanks, glad you liked the ending of that last chapter.
moonlite-n-roses: Yeah, I thought it would be fun to see Corin's reaction to Halli mixing potions.
RatedRCouture: Thanks.
"This is nice," Tommy remarked one morning as he sat around the table with his wife and daughters.
"What is?" Nikki questioned.
"Our family being all together for breakfast, I mean lately you're always off first thing with one of your charges and Halli's always rushing off to meet Corin," Tommy responded.
"The two of you have been spending a lot of time together, you must like him a lot," said Nikki.
"Please Mom, it's so not like that, Corin and I are just friends that's all," Halli told her.
"For now maybe but who knows, I mean one day he's your best friend and the next…." said Nikki.
"Nikki, if Halli says they're just friends then they're just friends," said Tommy.
"Thanks Dad," said Halli.
"Your father just hates the idea that you could ever like any boy," Nikki told her.
"I just think that our daughter has enough to deal with, without adding boys to it, I mean she just started a new school and then there's her magic to think about," said Tommy.
"I thought we weren't supposed to use magic anymore," said Hannah.
"You're not, but Mom and Dad said that I can use magic whenever I want," Halli told her.
"That's not what we said, we said you could practice it here at the house," said Tommy.
"I thought we also asked you not to mention it in front of your little sisters," said Nikki.
"Oh yeah, sorry," said Halli.
"Halli, gets to use magic, that's so not fair," said Hermione.
"I want to use magic too," said Hannah.
"I know it doesn't seem fair but Halli's older and she's had a lot more practice at controlling her powers," Tommy told them.
"It's still not fair," said Hermione.
"I know but for now those are the rules, you and Hannah will have plenty of time to learn to control your powers when you're older," said Nikki.
"Do you really think she can pull this off?" Hugh asked Cassandra a few days later.
"Yes, I have every confidence that my daughter can pull this off, she knows what's at stake if she fails," said Cassandra.
"You better hope so because if she slips up even once…" he said.
"Don't worry she won't," Cassandra promised as Naomi descended the stairs.
"Well don't you look particularly mortal this morning," Hugh remarked.
"Isn't that the idea," she growled.
"Patience Naomi now is not the time to show your true face," said Cassandra.
"I trust you can remember that today while you're around all those mortals, you can't fly off into a rage if one of them accidently trips you or something," said Hugh.
"Lucky for those mortals, my only interest is in that little witch," Naomi told him.
"Good you just keep repeating that to yourself over and over and everything should be fine," said Cassandra.
"Hey Halli," said Nathan as they sat down in their first period science class.
"Hey Nathan, what's up," she said.
"A.J. and I were thinking about heading to the hideout after school and I was wondering if you wanted to come," he said.
"Sure, sounds like fun, is the whole gang going," she replied.
"Everyone but Charity, she's got cheerleading practice," he told her.
"Attention class," said Mr. Wells who was their teacher.
"Looks like you're not the new girl anymore," whispered Nathan as he and Halli turned their attention to the front of a class where a girl was standing with the teacher.
"Class this is Naomi Rowe, she just moved here and today's her first day, I trust that all of you will make her feel welcome," said Mr. Wells.
"Hi I'm Nathan and this is Halli," Nathan said as Naomi took the seat behind him.
"Hi, nice to meet you both," Naomi told them.
"It's definitely nice to meet you Naomi because up until the minute you walked into class I was the new girl around here and I am more than willing to hand over the title," said Halli.
"Well then I'm happy to take it from you," Naomi replied.
"Say Naomi you're family wouldn't happen to live on Grant Street would you?" Nathan asked her.
"Yeah, we just moved there a few days ago," Naomi answered.
"I guess that makes you my new neighbor," he said.
"I guess so," she said.
"Ahem, would you three like to share something with the class?" asked Mr. Wells.
"No, sorry," Nathan told him.
"Hey Naomi, do you need any help finding your next class?" Halli asked her once the class was over.
"No, thanks, I'm actually gonna head to the bathroom for a minute," Naomi replied.
"Ok, well see you around," said Halli as she and Nathan started to walk away.
"Uh, lunch, I don't want to look totally lame sitting alone, do you think maybe I could join you guys," Naomi called after them.
"Sure, why not," said Nathan.
"Cool, thanks," said Naomi.
"See you later," said Halli.
Naomi walked into the girls' bathroom and quickly checked to make sure that all of the stalls were empty before she opened up her backpack.
"Wake up, you little gremlins, I've brought you to a new playground," she said as the small creatures jumped from her bag.
"Now do your worst but take your time and don't ruin the place in one day," she told them.
"Hi Halli, hi Nathan," said Naomi as she walked over to the group at lunch.
"Everyone, this is Naomi, the new, 'new girl'," Halli told them as Naomi took a seat.
"How's it going Naomi, I'm Aliyah, this is Charity," said Aliyah.
"Welcome to Angel Grove," said Charity.
"Hey I'm A.J." said A.J.
"Naomi's my new neighbor," Nathan told his best friend.
"Cool, I hope that means we'll be seeing a lot more of you," A.J. said with a smile.
"Oh don't worry, I'm not going anywhere," Naomi told him.
"I'm Corin, if you need any help catching up on any schoolwork just let me know," he said.
"It's nice to meet you all, thanks for not making me eat lunch alone," she told them.
"How was school?" Cassandra asked later that day when Naomi returned home.
"Great, things are going according to plan, I made nice with the witch and she and her friends let me eat lunch with them," Naomi replied.
"Excellent but why aren't you hanging out with her now?" Cassandra questioned.
"They didn't invite me and I didn't want to seem too pushy, besides if I had to sit there one minute longer while the one called A.J. kept making gooey eyes at me I probably would have reached over and pulled them out of their sockets, " Naomi answered.
"Well next time follow them, we need to learn everything we can about this witch so that when the time is right, she'll be ours for the taking," said Cassandra.