(Disclaimer: I own nothing

(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)

(Author's Note: Here's the next chapter. Thanks for correcting me from 'goalie' to 'keeper'! I play soccer and I guess it's vocabulary got the best of me during that chapter…stupid mistake really, and I bet I have more but…oh well. If you see anymore, don't hesitate to tell me, thanks again! Lots of love from Sea Chelle!)

Chapter Twelve

James awoke the next day with someone jumping up and down on his bed. Groggily, he opened his eyes to see Sirius looming over him with a crooked smile. "Nervousness, I'm nervous, very, very nervous," said the boy. James kicked the boy's feet making him fall flat off the bed. "Ok, ouch. That hurt."

"It was supposed to, you nitwit," James replied drowsily. "Did you get any sleep last night?" Sirius slowly stood and rubbed his eyes. Deep black and blue eye bags were beneath his eyes. Those startling black eyes that seemed so black they were almost blue.

"Nope, no sleep, none, zip, zero sleep," was the reply.

"What were you doing jumping on my bed?"

"Er – you weren't awake…and – er – I, I don't know! Don't ask me those kind of questions!" Sirius told him. "I don't know how to answer them!" James laughed at the boy and put a pillow over his own head. Sirius walked over and peeked under the pillow just to get swatted by James. "Stop hitting me!" He paused. "I remember why I was jumping on your bed now."

"Really? Why?"

"Because we have a quidditch match in ten minutes." It was only then that James noticed Sirius had his quidditch robes on. The boy jumped up to go get dressed, but before that, he had a last retaliation for he threw his pillow at Sirius, then he ran off.

"Quidditch match! Quidditch match! Quidditch match!" chanted Hallie and Gwen over Lily. She turned over and put a pillow over her head.

With a wave of her hand she said, "Go away."

"Quidditch match! Quidditch match! Quidditch match!" they taunted. Lydia came over and hit them both upon their heads with her pillow.

"Don't bother her!" Gwen grinned from ear to ear.

"But there's going to be…" and then Hallie joined her. "A quidditch match! Quidditch match! Quidditch match!" At this Lily jumped up.

"What? Match? When?" she asked, firing question after question. The three girls laughed.

"Hmm…it only took you…" Hallie counted on her fingers, "nine times before you actually heard us." She gave her best friend an extra special smile. "I'm so proud." Lily ran off to get dressed but gave them each a blow with her pillow beforehand.

James sat on the bench and half-listened to what Leo was saying. His eyes radiated with a fierce glow of excitement and determination, James now saw why the boy was team captain. He was able to fire up an entire team to do their best.

"I don't care if we lose. Winning just comes along with the outcome of what your best can do. Your best is all that I want and all you can do, I don't want anything else." He looked around. "This is our first game and really…a bit of a warm up. I'm going to be watching how each of you play. I'll be looking for your strengths and weaknesses. The weaknesses I find won't be pounded back at you, I'm going to help you strengthen them." A whistle blew outside as Madam Hooch called for them to come out. "All right team, I chose you all for a reason, and that's because I see potential in you. This is just a sport and it's just for fun, so let's go!"

They all followed him onto the field where they were greeted by an eruption of applause. Gryffindor colors littered a whole side of the stadium and Slytherin on another. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were mostly for Gryffindor, but some kept neutral. James looked beside him to where Sirius was jumping up and down, bouncing left and right and laughed. "Nervous, Sirius?" The other boy grinned and stopped. It seemed as though he couldn't stay still though, for he started moving around once again.

"Here's the Gryffindor team!" announced Tommy Jordan, a humorous sixth year boy. He was doing the commentary. "Garnet, Weasley, Stevens, Longbottom, Evans, Potter, and Black!" he yelled with a fierce enthusiasm. "It seems to me that Leo Garnet has picked out young players this year, but as they say, the smallest are the fastest. Last year, Longbottom won every single game except one because of a filthy cheating b –"

"Mr. Jordan…" warned Professor Jenkins. He grinned up at her.

"Bad boy, I meant bad boy, Professor!" She glared at him and his grin faded a bit. "Er – right. Now here comes the Slytherin team." He paused as the players ran out. "Rosier, Malfoy, Snape, Almonte, Henson, Smith, and Franks," he announced dully. "Now, this match against rivalries should be a good one. But seriously, Gryffindor against Slytherin? I don't think so. Who do you think will win? Gryffindor of course! Just looked at the little buggers in green! Who could ever-," he cut himself off when he saw the look upon the professor's face. "Er – ok, never mind. Wait! Wait! Professor, did you see what Almonte did? F*** you Rick Almonte!" He was leaning away from Professor Jenkins who was trying to take the microphone from him. "F*** you! Professor! It's not my fault! He's the one who stuck up the finger!"

"Enough, Mr. Jordan." He sighed.

"Fine. But me oh my…such violent signs from Almonte makes me wish I had one of those beater clubs so I could – all right! I'll stop! Professor just stop that – you'll get arthritis if you point that finger at me any longer." James grinned and mounted his broom. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and the balls were let go.

"They're off and Henson has the quaffle. Pass to Smith – Snape and then back to Henson who drives to the goal – shoots – blocked by Weasley! Amazing block! Good job, Arthur! To Stevens who soars high and drops the quaffle to Evans who passes to Potter – watch out!" Rosier had flown straight at him almost knocking the boy from his broom. Madam Hooch blew her whistle. "And it's a penalty shot for Gryffindor. Come on Stevens – you can do it! And she scores! Ten – zip, Gryffindor lead! Oh wait! Almonte's diving! Longbottom follows in suit and their neck to neck. Frank!" exclaimed Tommy Jordan in horror. Almonte had pulled a stunt dive but fortunately, Frank pulled out of the dive just in time before he smashed to the ground. "Ha, ha, Almonte! You nitwitted blagard! Just kidding, Professor! You can't trick our Longbottom! He's too good for your old tricks!" Rick Almonte made a very rude sign with his hand towards Tommy who made it right back to him.

James laughed and caught the quaffle from Molly who pointed to Lily who was open and free. "Evans scores! Twenty – zero, Gryffindor lead!" The stands were roaring with applause. Snape had the quaffle. Sirius, grinning blithely, shot a bludger towards him. The boy twirled in the air to avoid it. "Great hit, Black! The quaffle dropped to Potter who goes all the way and…score! Another ten points to Gryffindor and the score is thirty – zero, Gryffindor lead! It seems to me that this game is pretty predictable from now on who's going to win! Great choice of players Garnet!

"Longbottom's diving! Watch that boy fly! He's diving and Almonte's now beside him…go Frank, go! Damn it, Almonte!" roared Tommy waving his fist threateningly into the air. Rick had flown at Frank making the boy fall from his broom. "The snitch has disappeared and a penalty shot for Gryffindor. Frank's getting up and he's waving! Atta boy, Frank!" Leo had flown down to see if the boy was all right. With a last encouraging grin, the team captain took off into the air once again with Frank following close behind.

The game ended up two hundred ten – seventy. Gryffindor won. That night, there was a huge celebration for their win in the common room.

"Come on, James!" yelled Sirius over the clamor to the boy sitting next to Lily. The two were talking so Sirius just left with Remus and Peter to go to the kitchens. They met the house elves there that happily obliged to give them as many treats as they could carry back. When the arrived there again, the three boys were greeted with deafening cheers. They threw the desserts into the crowd.

Gwen walked over to Hallie. "Hey, here's a Herbology book. Professor Williams wanted me to give it to you since you were having trouble. He wants you to read it before classes on Monday." Hallie smiled.

"Thanks, Gwen." The other girl just shook her head.

"Not a problem." That night was full of partying and having a great time. No one went to bed earlier than midnight that evening.

The next day was full of relaxation for everyone. They were allowed outside for a short time but that was it. The fourth years and up went to Hogsmead leaving only the first, second, and third years at school. Soon would be the Christmas Holidays in which everyone was hyped for.

Hallie took this day off to read her Herbology book, which seemed to fascinate her more than she thought it would. She never really did like that class, but this book seemed to make her like it more.

James, Remus, Sirius, and Peter took the day off to find as many books on Animagi that they could find so they would be able to make the potion soon. They were all excited as they read up on the subject. The only problem was how they would be able to get the ingredients.

"We'll just have to take it from Professor Rosier," said Sirius. Remus gave him a look.

"Oh really? And how are we supposed to do that?" he questioned.

Peter stated, "Maybe we can ask him if he'll give it to us?" James laughed at this.

"Yeah, and say, 'Professor Rosier, we need some of your restricted and deadly ingredients for a potion we're going to make. Why, do you ask? Because we're planning on becoming illegal Animagi." They broke into a fit of laughter.

"Then that settles it," said Sirius. "We're going to have to steal it all." That night, they made plans for the next day so they could take the ingredients that they would need.

"Wake up, girl," whispered a voice. It was a low baritone voice, wicked and cruel. "Wake up!" it said louder. Hallie jumped up awake in alarm. She looked all around her in fright. It was Sunday night at around eleven thirty.

"Who's there?" she called out softly. The voice laughed.

"There? Where's there?" She closed her eyes as it said, "I'm in your mind, girl." It laughed again, a cackle with no trace of mirth in it anywhere.

"Who are you?" she asked.

She heard a grin in the man's voice. "Call me 'Rogue' for the time being. Now, I need you to do me a favor." Hallie glared up at the ceiling.

"I asked you a question and if you want me to even think about doing a favor for a voice in my mind, you had better answer it. Now, who are you exactly and what are you doing in my head?" The voice laughed wildly.

"Ah, dear child. Feisty are we?" Rogue chuckled with something like amusement in his deep voice. "I'll have so much fun controlling you."

Lily woke up that morning and sighed in content. She felt more rested than she had felt in a very long time. Everyone was gone already so she sat up and looked around. On her right, Hallie's curtains were close so she walked over with a grin. Slowly, she opened the curtains and saw that the girl's back was turned to her. "Oh, Hallie," she sang tauntingly. The girl didn't stir at all. Frowning slightly, Lily tapped her. "Hallie, wake up, Hal," sang Lily.

Hallie sat up abruptly and screamed, "Stop talking to me!" Lily jumped backwards and looked at her. The other girl broke into hysterical sobs with her hands covering her face. "Just stop it," she whispered. Before she had hidden her face, Lily saw deep black eye-bags under the girl's eyes. Their sapphire blueness had lost the usual fire glowing brightly in them.

"Hallie, what's wrong?" She looked up and to Lily with large and frightened eyes.

"Lily?" she asked softly.

The girl nodded and cautiously walked over to hug her around the shoulders. "Hallie, what's wrong?" Hallie looked at her with those eyes full of fear.

"Bad dream," she whispered in a dazed sort of way. She stood and went to get dressed leaving Lily watching after her in worried bewilderment.

Lydia waved Lily over. The girl sat down and looked at Lydia with concern in her dazzling green eyes. "I'm worried about Hallie." Gwen looked at her.

"Why? What's wrong with her?" asked Lydia with dread turning her stomach. Lily sighed.

"I – I don't know for sure. But she wasn't acting right this morning…" Gwen grinned.

"Does she ever? She's not really a morning person…" Lily frowned.

"I know, but – she's just not acting like herself." Lydia looked worried.

"Did something happen lately? Maybe she's upset about that," she told her friends. Lily seemed to think this over.

"Well, her mum – her mum's…gone." Lydia gasped and put her hand to her mouth. Gwen's eyes widened.


"Oh, dear."

Lily looked at her, "I know. She didn't tell anyone about it except a couple of days ago…maybe she's upset about that then?" Lydia nodded.

"Probably." As if on cue, Hallie came into the Great Hall. She took a seat in the empty chair next to Lily and put her head in her arms.

Lydia said, "Er – here, Hallie, have some toast." The girl looked up tiredly and shook her head.

"N-no thanks." Then she put her head in her arms once again. The boys came over to their side of the table. Sirius took a seat next to Hallie with a wicked grin and opened his mouth to speak but the other three girls were shaking their head and mouthing 'no' at him.

"What?" he asked them. "I was just going to say 'hi'." Gwen rolled her eyes.

"Right," she said slowly.


"So, hi," he said to Hallie with a fake oily nice voice. She looked up at him with her large blue eyes and stood up. His stomach did a double take at how disheveled and tired she looked. There was also a hint of fright upon her face.

"I have to go," she told them all and then she ran off as if afraid something might happen. Hallie ran and ran not knowing where she was going but still she raced away hoping that nothing she would regret would happen. Especially if it had to do with Sirius, she was afraid what Rogue would make her do. All last night was a demonstration to her of what he could make her do.

Very smart of you to run off, Hallie, dearest. Very, very smart of you, he said in amused admiration.

"Leave me alone!" she yelled at him in frustration. "What do you want with me? What is it?" Tears sprang to her eyes for she was so angry. Her veins burned with a fierce fire of rage. "Why don't you leave me alone!"

Dear, dear Hallie, I would leave you alone, but you have something my master wants. Something he needs, I'm only a servant you see, a servant to the most powerful lord that every lived. And you, my darling, are my servant.

"I am not! I'm not your servant!"

Rogue laughed. Ah, but you are. And my Lord has burdened me with the task of mastering you. You see, you have something he wants, and he'll do anything to get it back, for it once was his. Actually, you only have half of it. And do you know what it is he wants?

Hallie sat in a corner of the dungeon she had found. No one, hopefully, would find her here. And if they somehow stumbled to her little hiding place, the light was so dim the most probably wouldn't see her anyway.

"No, what is it?" she asked softly. It was no use anymore, Rogue controlled her, and she could do nothing. But he couldn't take her if she didn't want him to, right? She wouldn't let him, she'd make him go away, she wouldn't give into him. She just had to hold on somehow.

There was the grin in his voice again as he spoke. He wants the Alloy Child.

(Author's Thank You: Thank you to Lissa May (again, he, he!) and to Pretty Pink Princess! Thanks for the reviews!)