(Disclaimer: I own nothing

(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)

(Author's Note: People, here's the next chapter! I'm reaching the end soon!)

Chapter Twenty Two

Rogue grinned. The Alloy Child, he had found it and now he could take it. Carefully, he made himself solid instead of in his shadowed form so he could take the amulet from the girl. He almost laughed aloud at the fright she would be in when she saw him once again. Into the girls' dormitory he crept and he went to Hallie's bed. Slowly, he opened the curtain and saw her sleeping form. He reached out his hand and carefully took hold the pendant. A tingle ran through him at its touch.

With a shiver, he tried to tear it from her but it sent a shock through him. He jumped backwards and landed in the next bed. The girl there jumped up as did Hallie who felt the tug of the amulet on her neck. She saw Rogue and screamed. The other girls woke. Everyone was back at Hogwarts for the holidays were over. "Shut her up!" they yelled. But the girl in the other bed started screaming as well for there was a stranger in the room.

The lights switched on and Professor Jenkins came in looking thoroughly bewildered. "What is the meaning of all this racket?" She looked to Hallie who was still screaming. Lily laughed and came over to clamp her hand over the other girl's mouth. Hallie blinked for a couple of seconds before her eyes became squinted with a smile. Lily shook her head with a smile and dropped her hand. "I will repeat this question only once more, what is the meaning of this?"

"Professor," said Andrea, the girl from beside Hallie's bed, "there was a man in our room!"

Professor Jenkins' eyes widened. "It's true, Professor!" exclaimed Hallie earnestly. The elderly woman shut her eyes gently.

"My retirement will not come soon enough," she muttered. There was laughter from behind her. The girls all turned to see who was there to find that the Gryffindor boys had woken and come over to see what all the fuss was about. "Are you sure there was a man in this room?"

Andrea said, "Yes, Professor! He was right –" but she cut herself off when Rogue was no where in sight.

"Where, Miss Pristine?" questioned Professor Jenkins with her hands on her hips.

"He was – er – well – Professor, he was right, right here before…I swear!" she claimed looking around. "Hallie saw him! Wasn't he here?" she asked the other girl.

"Yeah, I saw him, but I could have been dreaming," said Hallie calmly. Andrea blanched.

"You're lying! You weren't dreaming and you know it!"

Professor Jenkins quieted her with a look. "Enough of these tales. I want no more disruptions tonight, understood?" Everyone nodded. She turned around and shooed the boys away.

"Hallie! How rude! Why didn't you tell the truth?" whispered Andrea fiercely. Hallie shrugged.

"Andrea, do you really think she'd believe you? How could he have gotten in here anyway?" The other girl seemed to ponder this for a while.

"Oh…I know who it was!" Hallie looked at her with a raised brow.

"Who?"

Andrea looked triumphant. "Sirius Black of course!" Hallie and Lily broke into fits of laughter.

"Sirius?" asked Lily. "What makes you think he came in here?"

"Well…it's a Siriusly thing to do…don't you agree? I'll deal with him tomorrow, now someone turn of the lights, he's ruined my beauty sleep."

Rogue rushed away in a panic. He arrived back at the castle. Serpise was looking out the window. "Welcome back, do you have the amulet?" he questioned. Rogue felt like a child.

"No, sir, but I-," Salazar cut him off.

"Need say no more. I am very disappointed in you, Rogue, I had thought you were a faithful servant wanting only to serve your master-,"

"But I do!"

"But I guess I was wrong," finished Serpise. "Leave me, I wish to think on my own. I suppose I will have to retrieve the other half of the Alloy child on my own."

"Master," begged Rogue, "Master, give me one more chance, just one more, I promise I will fail you not!" The other man seemed to ponder this.

"No." He raised his wand to banish the servant.

"Master, please!"

But Salazar Slytherin had already let the words "Chantebra Lengorio" escape his mouth. Rogue disappeared off the face of the earth and back to the hell he had come from.

There was a loud yell that echoed through the school. It was the most horrible thing that Lily had ever heard in her life. The scream was filled with anguish and pain and devastation. She put her hands over her ears as she sat up. Hallie opened her curtains and looked just as frightened as Lily felt. And then the scream was gone leaving a painful silence in its wake.

"What was that?" asked Lydia in fear. The girls left their dormitory and went to the common room where the boys were as well.

"Do any of you know what just happened?" asked Arthur. He held Molly close and Lily felt her mouth tug up into an involuntary smile. Of course, she had forgotten…they were a couple now.

Hallie said, "No…it was awful though…"

A long while later when everyone was sitting, lounging about in the room, Professor Jenkins stepped in looking drained. "A tragedy has occurred." The room was now silent. "Jonathan Greggors has disappeared."

"Disappeared? Just like that?" "Professor Greggors?" "Our Charms teacher?" These were few of the many questions that erupted in the room.

"Quiet down please, the headmaster is doing all he can to find the professor but he needs you all to stay calm. Professor Greggors will be found, you need not worry," said Professor Jenkins.

"But the scream! He must have been in pain!" came a shout.

"Someone must have kidnapped him!" said another.

"Quiet!" yelled the teacher. "That will be enough. Get dressed and go down to the Great Hall. I want no more talk of this. Yes, something terrible has happened but we will push through. Professor Greggors will be found." The students reluctantly obeyed and went to get dressed.

"Joanne, I got the letter!" exclaimed Celeste happily. "They'll have me! They'll have me there!" The woman ran over and hugged her.

"That's wonderful, dear, I told you they would. You're too good to not have," she replied with a smile.

"Can I go now? They said I could go back now!" said the young girl. Joanne nodded.


"Of course, dear. Your things are already packed."

Celeste's eyes widened. "How?"

"I knew they'd have you," was the woman's reply. The girl smiled happily and took a pinch of floo powder from the fireplace mantle. Before she left, she hugged Joanne.

"Thank you so much, Joanne. You're the greatest." The woman laughed hugged her tightly.

"It wasn't a problem, you were wonderful to have over."

And then Celeste threw the powder into the fire yelling, "5476 Graters Drive, America!"

At breakfast, Remus came in slowly and then took a seat next to Lydia who was playing around with her food. "Lydia?" he said. She looked up at him with a smile.

"Oh hi, Remus!" she exclaimed.

He grinned back. "I just," he paused uncertainly, "I just wanted to thank you." She looked at him in puzzlement. "I mean – a-about – you know…over the holidays…and having me over…I really – er – appreciate it," he stammered. She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"It's never a problem. You're my friend, I'd do anything for you," she said to him sincerely. He smiled in happiness and hugged her back.

"Thanks, Lydia, thanks again."

Voldemort on the Rise

The unknown man whom is called Lord Voldemort is on the rise. He is a notorious dark supporter and brings about havoc and terror in his path. All should beware. The Ministry is doing all they can to stop him…

"Can you believe that?" asked Sirius in incredulity. "As if we don't have enough problems to deal with!" James sighed.

"I know, it's as if everything's falling into ruins," he said. Fate, I need to speak with you. Instantly there was that occupancy in him.

You called? She asked with humor in her heavenly voice. He grinned.

Er, yeah. Why aren't you doing anything about Voldemort? There was a sigh.

I do not control these entities, I only write the story, was the reply.

But isn't he part of the story? Why don't you change what he does? Asked James in wonder.

Fate said, Dear James, I cannot change the story, nor can I change the personality of the characters. What if I didn't like that you are falling in love with Lily? Would you wish me to change it so you fall in love with say…the Miss Andrea Pristine?

James choked on his sausage and Sirius clapped his back a few times. "Take it easy bud, there's more than enough." James swatted at him with a grin.

Andrea Pristine? Ugh, no way! And who said I was-

You are, do not deny your true feelings. But do you understand what I'm trying to point out? Asked Fate.

Yes, I think I do.

Fate said, I thought you would, I will leave now, but beware of what is to come, James Potter.

I don't know what to do, he told her. How am I supposed to find what is to come?

I had thought the answer was obvious of course! She exclaimed. There was a smile in her voice. He remained silent. Why, if Rowe is to be freed, the two halves of the amulet must be joined! Now do you know what you must do?

An extremely long silence followed this statement. Yes, I must go back to the Slytherin Castle.

Andrea ran over and smacked Sirius upside his head. He turned around and touched the sore spot. "What was that for?" he yelled at her.

She smiled with accusation. "You think I don't know what you were trying to do last night? Ha! Well I do, you were trying to scare me last night!"

The boy looked at her as if she were going mad. "Why – may I ask – would I want to do a thing like that? Though…it does sound like a good idea." He grinned at the other three boys watching the scene in amusement.

"Because I wouldn't go out with you! That's why! You just feel so bad that I don't like you and you were trying to scare me in revenge," she said triumphantly. Next to the boys were Lily and her friends who broke into laughter.

Sirius shook his head with a small smile. "Andrea, Andrea, Andrea, I think you're becoming too full with yourself," he proclaimed. She choked in indignation.

"Don't you try to turn this on me, Sirius Black!" she yelled. "I know you still like me, but that's no reason to become so bull headed." He rolled his eyes.

"I can become bull headed if I like. Besides, I don't like you anymore. I doubt I ever really did…" he trailed off looking thoughtful.

Andrea looked interested though a bit hurt. "Oh? And who's the 'lucky' girl?" At this, Sirius blushed a soft flush of crimson. She laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day when Mr. Perfect blushed about a girl!" He swatted at her and made her laugh harder.

"Shut up, Andrea."

"Let's see…" she started rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Who could it be…Lily maybe? No, not Lily, she's James'." Lily and James both flushed a deep red and averted their eyes. Lydia and Remus took note of this and laughed. "Lydia? No, she's Remus'." They didn't blush…only a reddish tinge appeared on their cheeks and they shared a secret smile. "Hmm…Gwen?" She looked to Gwen who was talking to Frank about something or other. "Um…no, not Gwen…Hallie?" At this she laughed aloud not noticing Sirius' face which was getting redder now. "Definitely not Hallie!"

"Why not?" asked Lily with a smirk at Hallie who was shooting daggers at her. Andrea's smile faltered a bit with puzzlement.

"Because…they hate each other of course," she said uncertainly. Lily smiled sweetly at Hallie and then grinned at Andrea.

"Do they?"

"Of course they do! They just pulled a prank on each other…" she trailed off thinking of the last time. "Er…I don't remember." She then looked accusingly at Hallie and Sirius. "What's going on?"

Hallie stood. "Nothing, Andrea dear, and if you don't shut up, you'll be in for it," she said softly. The other girl's eyebrows shot up and she took her seat but there was a suspicious look in her eyes.

After breakfast, they all went back to their common room. James said, "Sirius, I need to talk to you." The other boy gave him a look but followed him to the boy's dormitory.

"What is it?" asked Sirius.

"I spoke to Fate," said James simply. Sirius raised a brow.

"Fate?" He chuckled nervously. "Funny, really, now, James, tell me what's wrong. Are you sick?" James sighed impatiently.

"No! I'm not sick. Don't you remember that I'm the Seer? I see things and I can speak to Fate. When I need to talk to her, she come and I talk to her. You can't understand it, but I do, just trust me on that ok?" Sirius nodded but he still looked disbelieving. "Now, I just wanted to tell you that I'm going back to the Slytherin Castle." The other boy blanched.

"The-the castle? James are you mad! You must be insane to want to go back there!" He paused to breathe. "I won't let you, I'll strap you to a wall or something but you aren't going."

James looked as if he knew that this would be the reply. "You can't stop me, this is what's supposed to happen. You just have to trust me."

"James, you're asking me something nearly impossible to comprehend and then you're saying 'trust me'! Think about how I must feel about this." He stopped speaking for two seconds. "Ok, good, you've thought about it, changed your mind, and now we're going to class or we'll be late. Let's go," he said taking hold of the other boy's arm.

James pulled away. "Sirius, I'm going. I just thought I should tell someone. Do you know where Hallie is? Because I have to get her amulet." Sirius was so pale he looked like a ghost with his black hair and black eyes.

"I'm going with you," he said breathlessly. He looked scared but determined.

"You can't."

Sirius put his hands on his hips, "And why not?"

"Because it's too dangerous," James replied.

"Then you shouldn't be going either." The other boy thought of this and then grinned.

"So you're coming with me?"

Sirius sighed in defeat. "I guess so."

Sirius and James went to the common room to talk to Hallie. She wasn't there. "Hey, Lydia, where's Hallie?" asked Sirius. The girl looked up from her conversation with Peter and Remus.

"Um…in the girls' dormitory with Lily," was her reply. The boys thanked her and walked to the dorm. They found the two girls trying to do something to the amulet.

"What are you guys doing?" James asked with a grin. The two girls screamed and jumped up with alarm.

"Oh, it's just you," said Hallie in relief. Lily laughed at the boys' hurt faces.

"Just us? Who did you want it to be?" question Sirius trying to look serious.

The girls looked at each other and Lily said, "Er-we're not telling." The boys looked at each other and then shrugged.

"Hallie, we need the amulet," said James. She looked at him with raised brows.

"Why?"

"Er…I-I just need it," he replied. He shared a meaningful glance with Sirius. Lily and Hallie put their hands on their hips.

"You tell us why or you're not getting it," said Lily.

"Lily…" James said.

"Don't Lily me, I know don't what you're going to do and still I don't like it. Now you tell us now or you're not getting anything from us." Hallie looked at her.

"Very well said," she stated. The other girl grinned at her. With impatience etched on his face. Sirius lunged for the amulet. Hallie tried to kick him off and James pried him away.

"Very calmly done, Sirius," said James. The other boy looked at him.

"I rather thought so." They looked at each other.

"Ok, we'll tell you," James told the girls who were glaring at them furiously. "We're going back to the Slytherin Castle to free Rowe from the Alloy Child. Fate told me that's what we're supposed to do." The girls shared a look.

"All right," said Lily. Hallie nodded.

"But we're going with you."

Sirius glared at them. "No you're not, it's too dangerous."

"So? What do you care?" asked Hallie. She turned to James. "I've got the amulet so I've got to go. And I'm taking Lily with me whether you like it or not. Now let's go, I want to miss potions."

Hallie clasped the amulet tightly. You're going to be free soon, she said.

Thank you, but be careful of Serpise, when he gets angry, he thinks irrationally and becomes dangerous, cautioned Rowe.

Don't worry, I think I know that, you're in the amulet, the girl replied.

Rowena said, Just be careful. Everything and everyone is not what they seem.

Puzzled, Hallie mounted behind Sirius. "You had better not do those stupid scary stuff," she told him. He nodded.

"I'm too stiff to do anything." She smiled in relief. "But we have to go fast," he said.

"Why?" she exclaimed.

"Sorry, Hal, but if we're going to get there before nightfall and do what we have to do, we need to go fast." She tightened her grip on Sirius' waist.

"All right then, if we're going to do it, let's go now." The window clanged open and the four kids doubled up on two brooms rode into the morning sky not noticing the two people peeking in a crack in the door. They had heard the whole thing.

By late that afternoon, they had arrived at the Slytherin Castle. It looked even more gloomy than usual but that didn't stop them from going there. They landed at the entrance and surprisingly, the colossal doors immediately opened. The four students looked at each other before entering. Hallie clasped the amulet for comfort. James took Lily's hand in his and noticed she was shivering. He put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. She smiled thankfully at him. Sirius was gazing wide-eyed around at the surroundings. He hated this castle; it seemed so malign.

And then someone stood in front of them at the staircase. "How did I know you would be back?" he asked with a smirk upon his handsome face.

"We're here to free Rowena Ravenclaw," proclaimed James confidently. He sounded surer of himself with his voice, but inside he was trembling with fear. As handsome as Serpise looked, there was an aura of evil around him.

Salazar Slytherin laughed heartily. It was a beautiful laugh but wicked just the same. "I know, boy, I know. Now come, let us have lunch in the dining room." He started towards the room after the entrance but notice they didn't follow. "Come along, there's no harm before a meal. We need to be filled for the adventure about to come." The kids looked at each other and then followed uncertainly.

The room was one of beauty. Though the only colors were different shades of green, silver, and black, it was decorated marvelously. A long table fit for a ball was in the middle and the curtains were open letting in the brilliant rays of sunshine.

"Please, have a seat," said Serpise formally. They did so but didn't eat. He did however, and very daintily might I add. "Yes, I seem to have lost my appetite. Now, about the Alloy Child. Have you brought it with you?"

Hallie looked to James and Sirius across the table and then to Lily beside her. Slytherin smiled heavenly. "Yes, we've brought it," she told him. He held out his hand.

"Please give it to me." Indignantly, she glared at him. When her anger flared, it seemed to make her lose her fright and nervousness.


"I don't trust you," she said quietly. Lily covered a grin behind her hand. The boys looked to Salazar who was looking extremely amused.

"I suppose I have not given you any reason to…but I think Mr. Potter knows you can, don't you?" he asked James. The boy looked at him squarely in the eyes for a moment before nodding to Hallie.

She blanched and then swallowed deeply. "Give it to him?" She asked holding it tightly.

You may and you must, said Rowena within the amulet.

Hallie sighed. "Only because she said to," she told Serpise. He looked puzzled. "Rowena said I must give it to you so here." She handed it to him. There was a glow in his eyes as he looked at her for a moment, and then his green eyes brightened with tears as he took the amulet.

A tingle ran through him at the amulet's touch. Finally, finally he had both of them. His dear Rowena could now be freed. Serpise unclasped the golden half from his neck. Then he touched the two pendants together and they became one. The tears fell freely from his eyes. "Rowena Ravenclaw may you be freed."

(Author's Note: Sorry for rambling, I'll try to speed it up and make it more exciting. Thank you to Fairy Kisses and Lissa May for your reviews!)