(Disclaimer: I own nothing

(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)

(Author's Note: The plot thickens! Yay, finally…just to tell you, there's two plots to this story. The first one is about to unfurl. Hope ya like it. Stay crunk w/ lotsa love from Sea Chelle)

Chapter Thirteen

"What did I say?" asked Sirius in confusion. He looked at the group. Lily sighed.

"Good going, Sirius, you've upset her," Gwen accused. He grinned but there was a bit of guilt upon his face.

"Then my work is done," he concluded. James shook his head and punched the boy's shoulder. "Nah uh, I've had enough punches from you. One's more than enough." He pointed at his cheekbone. James blushed a nice shade of crimson.

"Sorry about that." Sirius just grinned and waved his hand.

"I'm just kidding you," he replied. "What's up with the maniac witch though?"

Lily looked to Lydia and Gwen uneasily. "Er – not sure," she mumbled.

"Is she sick?" asked Peter.

"Maybe something bad has happened," said Remus. This made the girls avert their eyes. James grinned at how secretive they were trying to be.

"Anyway, what's our first class today?"

"The – the Alloy child? But, that's just a legend," she said quietly.

Rogue laughed. It is not. It is hard fact, and you have the half of the Alloy Child. If you give it to me, I will leave your mind and you alone. Hallie blanched.

"You mean, if I give you the – er – half of the Alloy Child, you'll leave me alone? Forever? Just like that?"

A smile was in Rogue's voice. Yes, I'll leave you alone forever, just like that. Now, give me the half.

At this, something hit her; she didn't have the half. "Um – Rogue, what does the half look like?"

He burst into a round of wild laughter. What does it look like? Dear child, don't mock me. You know just as well as I what it looks like.

She shook her head. "I don't."

There was a short silence. The one you have is silver. It's a silver amulet of a young girl wearing a dress studded with blue sapphires. Where her head should be, there's a beautiful diamond.

"Oh, right. I knew that," she told Rogue, trying to sound confident.

Whatever you say. Hallie's face contorted into disbelief. Was that humor? Was Rogue trying to be funny?

"Can you just not talk to me for a while?" she asked him softly.

He said, I cannot. You must know I'm here, my master wants me watching over you every single second during day and night until the other half of the Alloy Child is in his hands. Give it to me now. She sighed.

"No."

No? You don't want me to leave you alone then? Perhaps I should make you do things. Things to your family. A lump jumped into her throat. Oh, right, I forgot. Master found out you don't have a father, and your mother is dead.

"Shut up!"

Maybe – maybe I should make you do things to your friends, then. Would that make you give me the Alloy Child? Her stomach turned in dread. What would he make her do? Rogue laughed. Yes, you care for them very much. You see it is not only I who is watching over you, child, my Lord is as well. And he knows many things about you. Down to your favorite color. Green.

Hallie blanched. "Green? You think my favorite color is green? What would make you and your stupid master think my favorite color is green! Practically everything I own is periwinkle! Doesn't that give you a clue?" Rogue just chuckled.

You see I learn things about you every second we speak. She nearly choked.

Smart move, Hallie, she thought to herself.

I thought so as well, Rogue said. She glared into the darkness and put her hands over her ears.

"Just shut up for about five minutes!" she yelled. He just laughed mirthlessly.

I speak only so you know I'm here, dear child, only so you know I am here. Now get up, you have classes now, I don't want anyone to think something's wrong with you.

Smiling triumphantly she said, "Well my friends already do. Lily's worried and same with the rest." She tried desperately to fight the force making her stand, but she couldn't. She felt herself moving her legs up the steps and to her class.

Ah, but don't you think I've thought about how to deal with that?

"No."

Well I have, and of course they'll think you're upset because your mother is dead.

"Shut up, I hate you."

I never said you had to like me…but I could always make you. Hallie cried silently. Why? Because she knew he could.

Lily saw her walk in and quickly stood up to motion the girl over. Hallie smiled and strolled over. "Hey, what did I miss?" the girl asked. Lily looked at her in slight alarm. There was something different about her today. Something was terribly wrong. Lydia looked at the two girls and smiled at them.

"You feeling better, Hallie?" The girl grinned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I wasn't feeling to well last night and this morning is all," was the reply. Lydia looked at her and then to Lily. They exchanged a look. "What? What is it?"

"Er – nothing," said Lily. They took their seats. Lily leaned to her right where Gwen sat. "Do you see anything wrong with Hallie?" The girl looked at her then to Hallie.

"Umm…no…not really. Why?"

"Never mind. It's nothing."

Professor stood from his desk and glared around the classroom. "Get out your cauldrons," he ordered. The class did as was told.

James leaned over to Sirius and said, "Now?" The boy grinned and nodded.

"Giglesroio," James muttered and pointed his wand at Snape. The boy burst into small giggles, which eventually erupted into enormous laughs. Though he was laughing, his eyes showed confusion.


"Mr. Snape, what is the meaning of this? Stop laughing this instant!" exclaimed the professor. Severus was bent over and clutching his side for he was laughing so much.

"Giglesroio," James chanted once again at another Slytherin. He did this to many other Slytherins. The other Gryffindors didn't need the giggling charm to make them laugh; they were over themselves already with laughter at the Slytherins. Professor Rosier seemed to be having trouble with controlling his class until there was a loud eruption. Remus and Peter had both made their wands make explosions with fog.

Sirius ran to the supply room behind the professor's desk. There he saw many vials. He took out the ingredients list and took the things he needed as quickly as he could find and stuff them into his bag. There were three more explosions and he grinned. His friends seemed to be having a blast scaring everyone. The girls were screaming and the Slytherins were laughing hysterically. He ran back out and took his seat.

Soon, the fog cleared. The Slytherins' laughs had died down and now they were holding cramps on their sides, gasping for breath. Professor Rosier looked as if fire would shoot from his mouth and ears. He performed the counter curse of the giggling charm and glared around the room.

"Who is responsible for the disruption of my class?" he growled. Everyone sat still. "Whoever is responsible will get of lighter than they would if I catch them and they still haven't told me they were the ones who did this. Now, who is responsible?" No one in the room moved an inch. "All right then, but I will catch you," he said looking at Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter. "Start the potion."

Sirius leaned over to James, "Why does he always look at us?"

Next they had Herbology. Hallie walked up to the professor. "I finished the book, Professor Williams," she said handing the book to him. Inside, she was trying with all her might to act on her own will, but it was no use, Rogue was in full control.

"Book, Miss Forester?" he asked. Hallie blanched. He didn't know about the book? But Gwen had said…

"Yes, the book you wanted me to read, remember?" she wondered.

Rogue seemed as confused as she did. He doesn't know about the book? How could he not? Your little friend had said…

"The book I wanted you to read?" the professor repeated thoughtfully. "Oh well, I can't say I remember telling you to read a book, but this is wonderful! At least perhaps you might do a bit better in my class now?" he said hopefully. She grinned.

"Maybe."

That week, Hallie went to detentions with Professor Jenkins who had her cleaning the Trophy room without magic. She obliged happily, which was very odd to the professor, but the teacher pushed the thought aside.

Rogue was controlling her thoroughly, making her do her detentions without complaint, making her say what he wanted her to say, made her tell him what he wanted to know about everyone. He posed threats of what he could make her do and what he would make her do soon if she didn't give him the half of the Alloy Child.

He didn't need to threaten her on what he could do though, for she believed it form past experiences. She hadn't slept a wink all week from Rogue's voice in her head never ceased, never gave her time off to think her thoughts in peace.

That Saturday, she skipped dinner to go put her thoughts down on paper. She pulled out her book with periwinkle fuzz covering it. After undoing all the spells and curses that she and Lily put on it, she was faced with the lock. She undid the clasp of her necklace and put the key into the keyhole. Once it was open, she flipped to a clean page.

What is this book you have for? Asked Rogue. She was glad he let her have this small bit of freedom. This was probably the only thing that gave her sanity through him controlling her.

"Why should I tell you?" she asked quietly as she searched for a quill.

There was another grin in his voice as he spoke. Because I'm the one letting you write in it.

"Fine. My mum gave it to me a long time ago. I write my songs and tunes in here."

Have you come up with another?

She sighed. "Yes, and this one's inspiration was you. Now shut up so I can write." Surprisingly, he did as was told and she could tell he was reading what she wrote.

Pressure

I just need this to be alright

I can't feel this another night

Pre

I can't take this I come unglued

I might breakdown in front of you

Necessary to medicate

I'm not sleeping can't stay awake

Can't see through this

Too much pressure

Drowning in this

Too much pressure

If you need me I'll be here

Half unconscious to escape my fear.

Pre

Courtesy to Staind for "Pressure"

(Author's Note: I just thought I'd put this little song in here.

I don't know why really, but I just bought the CD "Break the Cycle"

By Staind and I like it!)

She reread what she had writing and felt her heart skip a beat. Where did these words come from? Was she so affected by Rogue that he was starting to change her? Sighing, she closed the book and redid the curses and spells protecting it after she locked it once more.

She heard the door open and Lily come in. "Hi, Lily," Rogue made her say in a peppy voice. Hallie knew that her best friend saw right through the charade, but she wondered if the girl would be able to put two and two together to find get to the conclusion of what was going on.

"Er – hi, Hallie." Lily paused trying to find words for what she had to say. "Look, I know you're not happy. Just look at yourself." The girl had coal black eye bags below her eyes that had lost all the life in them and were looking extremely somber. "You know you can tell me anything. We've been best friends since what seems like forever. Tell me what's wrong." She looked so concerned that Hallie wanted to scream and kick around to free herself from Rogue's hold, but she could do nothing.

"Lily, really I'm fine. I just haven't been feeling well." The other girl looked unconvinced but dropped it.

"All right, if you say so."

After dinner, the four boys got their ingredients and went to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. "Hello," she greeted sulkily. "What are you doing in here? This is a girl's bathroom. You're not allowed in here." Sirius smirked as James shot her his most charming smile.

"Myrtle, we would really appreciate it if you don't tell anyone what we do in here. You see, we can't trust anyone as much as we trust you," he told her in his most sincere voice. Sirius plastered his innocent look upon his face and nodded as he swatted at Remus and Peter who were chuckling quietly.

"Yeah, what we're going to be doing in here is very important and we need it to stay a secret." She looked around at them from behind her large horn-rimmed glasses.

"Er – alright. Does that mean you'll be coming to visit me a lot?" she asked.

"Of course," Remus told her with a smile. She nodded and went back into her stall.

Sirius grinned at him and in his falsetto he said, "Of course."

Remus swatted at him but then his expression changed to one of seriousness. "Look, guys, I really appreciate you doing this. No one's every done anything like this for me before."

James smirked at him. "Whoever said we were doing this for you? Maybe I just want to be able to become an animal whenever I want." Remus swiped a blow at him playfully and broke into laughter.

"We're your friends, Remus. Friends do things for other friends all the time!" said Peter sincerely. Remus looked around at his three best friends.

"Thanks. You don't know how much this means to me." Sirius smiled another genuine smile. To see Remus' expression that happy made it all worth it.

That night after the boys called it quits, they went back to the Gryffindor house. James sat on the hearth and told them all to go without him, but Sirius stayed back. "What do you do down here?" he asked.

James smiled and gazed into the fire. "I just stay down here to think by myself sometimes. I don't know, to just relax I guess." Sirius nodded. James' handsome face glowed with a radiance of life. Then suddenly something inside him told the boy to make 'the sign'. Not knowing what he was doing, James made arms move into the air, each hand making a half circle.

Sirius watched in bewilderment as the fire danced wildly and cackled as if laughing. James' face was one of furious concentration. Alarmingly, James words form in his mind. He chanted them aloud. "Chantebra lengorio, sepak emot! From the fire, speak within, words so dire, most unspoken. Let him learn, Seer let see, how to help determine, free the spell from thee," chanted James in a singsong voice. Then all at once, the fire erupted brilliantly and then disappeared as if smothered with a bucket of water. Only a string of smoke let be known that there was ever a fire there in the first place.

What was left of a fire was a circle of flames in the form of the circle James had made with his hands. The other boy was breathing heavily as he looked in fright at the globe of fire before the two boys. Sirius read:

So comes the night

The Seer sees

The Rogue is vanquished

The dame set free.

The star, the dog,

Set thee immune,

So chanted the song,

So chanted the tune.

Right turns to wrong,

Wrong turns to write,

Come hence it forth,

Henceforth the fight.

And then it disappeared leaving nothing behind. The fire sparked to life in the fireplace once again. James' breathing was labored as he got up to start walking to the dormitory. Sirius helped him. "You – you have to stay here, Sirius," James breathed. He was sweating with the effort to speak. "You have – have to stay." And then he went up the steps and into the dormitory leaving a stunned Sirius behind watching after him.

Hallie tried to block Rogue's voice from her mind but found she could not, like always. She was wary with sleep but because of him, she could not slumber. The girl stood and walked down the steps hoping to escape from everyone else and be alone. For some reason, she was able to act on her own accord, though; it still took a bit of strength as she fought with her will against Rogue.

With her wand in hand, downstairs to the common room she tiptoed quietly until she stood before the fire. She collapsed onto the floor. Sitting up, she opened her eyes and blinked in the dim light of the fire. Before her hovered a menacing shadow.

"This is me, child, look at me," it said in a deep and low voice. Hallie did a double take.

"Rogue?" she asked. The shadow laughed evilly and bore into her eyes with his own sinister red ones.

"It is I. I who have spoke to you in your mind and controlled you. You were very hard to master at first because of your fierce attitude, but I conquered." He laughed his cold laugh again and she shivered. "Ah, but we are not alone," he said and moved what was supposedly his hand forward. He outstretched his fingers and then folded them into a fist.

Sirius who had been concealing himself in the armchair flew forward and onto the ground before Rogue and next to Hallie who looked at him in fright.

"Sirius?" she asked him. He forced a shaky grin.

"The one and only, how are you doing?" he asked as if saying 'how's the weather today?' She just blinked at him with wide eyes, then she turned back to Rogue seemed to be grinning down at them both.

"I am supposed to be vanquished by you?" asked the shadow sarcastically. He laughed. "The prophesies seem to have mistaken now." He quoted:

"So comes the night

The Seer sees

The Rogue is vanquished

The dame set free.

The star, the dog,

Set thee immune,

So chanted the song,

So chanted the tune.

Right turns to wrong,

Wrong turns to write,

Come hence it forth,

Henceforth the fight." Then he laughed once more. "Vanquished, I think not! Kill him, child, kill the boy." Hallie looked at him in terror, then to Sirius who was looking back at her calmly.

"I – I –" she stammered. Rogue loomed in over her viciously.

"Kill him!" he ordered. She felt herself raise her wand and point it at Sirius. Words came to her mind. Chant the spell, child, chant it…chant it.

"NO!" she yelled and covered her ears. "Stop talking to me! I hate you! Just leave me alone!" She was forced to her feet, as was Sirius.

"I command that you kill him! Now do as I say!"

"NO!" She started to tremble with her effort to control herself. "I won't! Leave me alone!" As if on instinct, Sirius marched over and pulled her into an embrace. She shook violently. "I won't!"

All at once, the fire cackled again and turned to the color of midnight. Rogue shrieked wildly as if being tortured and was pulled towards the fire. "No! NO!" he screamed. His voice was sharp as knives. And then he was in the fire. It seemed to devour him and smoke rose into the chimney. The flames flickered and turned back to their normal array of oranges, reds, and yellows.

Sirius rubbed Hallie's back like his mother did to him when he was younger. "It's alright now, it's all over," he whispered. "It's over now." He felt her tears drain into his robes and felt a soft wind swirl by. Soon after, her sobs slowed and she looked up at him.

"Is he gone?" He smiled comfortingly and nodded.

"He's gone." Many expressions passed on her face. Confusion, relief, happiness, fright, and most of all, drowsiness. She sighed and buried her head into his shoulder. He helped her back to the girls' dormitory. She lay down on her bed and put her head onto her periwinkle pillow. The girl closed her eyes and he stood up to leave.

"You saved my life," Hallie whispered. He turned back around and sat at the edge of her bed. He smiled genuinely down at her.

"That's what friends are for." She smiled back at him. He kissed her forehead gently. "Sleep well, Hallie." He stood and walked out of the room. She pulled her pillow to her.

"Goodnight, Sirius, and thank you."

(Author's Note: Thanks a bunch to: jenn_airone, Siriusly in Love, Pheonixgrl***, and Nettey Potter for your reviews! Lotsa love from Sea Chelle)