(Disclaimer: I own nothing

(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)

Chapter Twenty Nine

"I heard you're going to perform for the Winter Dance," Sirius said as he walked with her to the Grand Hall.

Hallie turned to him with a small smile. "They should have asked you." He grinned and felt his cheeks burn slightly. "My, my, are you blushing, Sirius Black?" she asked with a laugh. This made him turn red all the more.

"Maybe. So is it true then? You're going to perform?" he inquired.

She shrugged chastely. "Yeah, but I don't know if I'll do it."

He raised a brow. "You don't like singing and all that? But you do it all the time!" he exclaimed.

The girl laughed. "I do love it, I like making songs and singing them…I love music. It's kind of a part of me, you know?" He looked at her expectantly. "But I don't know…I do it mostly for myself, not for anyone else."

He understood. "It's sort of private, then?"

"Well, yeah, kind of. It's just that – it's just that I've never performed in front of a crowd before. No, I have, but not an audience, people who are actually there, expecting me to sing for them. Do you understand what I'm saying? Or am I speaking in gibberish?"


"Nah, I understand what you're talking about completely."

She looked at him in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah, you're nervous."

She stopped in her tracks. "I am not nervous! I'm not!"

"Then what's holding you back?" A small smile was on his face.

"Nothing."

"Then perform your song. I'll even help you pick one out from your stash."

Hallie looked at him with wide eyes. "Oh my goodness! That's why that song sounded so familiar!"

Sirius laughed, "I was wondering when you would finally figure it out!"

"You – you…but you worked on it! It sounded different…and – and…but it was written a long time ago!" She paused and looked at him in something like awe. "I like the way it sounds now. I never thought I'd say this, but, Sirius, you have talent!" The boy laughed and put his arm around her shoulders.

"I know, but let's keep that between just you and me, shall we?"

She nodded. "But how'd you get the charms off?"

"I looked them up in our Charms book and took the curses and spells of it. You've got nice work in there, Hal, which one are you using for the dance?"

She paled slightly. "I don't know."

He grinned. "I can help you if you want."

Hallie looked up at him appealingly. "Would you?" He laughed and nodded. She jumped up to give him a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could just kiss you!" They pulled apart and she looked at him. "Er – but I won't." Her cheeks had flushed a soft rose pink.

"So when's the dance again?" Sirius asked after a short awkward silence.

"February fourteenth, Valentine's Day."

He smiled. "Then you know what song you have to sing, don't you?"

"Huh?"

"Think about this one, Hallie, you can get it."

She did as was told and thought of all the songs that she had made up and previous ones. Her eyes lit up which showed Sirius she knew. "It's perfect! But you have to help me fix it up, please?"

"Of course I will," he said instantly. She smiled and put her hand in his and led him back to the dormitory. "What, now?" Hallie gave him a look. "Oh, I mean, yes ma'am."

Andrea grinned. "I know! I can't wait! It's only one month away!"

Sarah laughed. "Has anyone asked you yet?" she wondered.

The other girl rolled her eyes. "Yes, of course, but none of them were at all appealing. How about you?" Sarah blushed. "Oh yeah! I remember! Frank Longbottom asked you! What a score, he's very cute!" This made Sarah blush all the more. "What was your reply?"

She gave Andrea a look. "What do you think?"

The girl laughed. "Score for Sarah Wilson!" Sarah was now as red as a tomato.

"He probably just felt sorry for me," she said softly.

Andrea put her hands on her hips and raised a brow. "You don't truly believe that do you?" Sarah looked at her. "This is Frank we're talking about, would he ask you out of pity? I don't think so! He's too sweet to do such a thing. Now brighten up, you're going out with a cutie!"

"What if she said yes just out of pity?" asked Frank biting down on his lip. Hallie laughed.

"Oh stuff it, Frank, this is Sarah we're talking about. Now brighten up, you're going out with a sweetheart!" Frank smiled slightly.

"She is…isn't she?" Hallie burst into laughter. His eyes widened and he threw a pillow at her. "Stop it, you're so mean!"

She gave him a big hug. "It's okay, Frankie, I know you like her, you both look so cute together!" He blushed but couldn't fight down the silly smile upon his face. Hallie grinned and pulled him down the hall, back to the common room. "Now come on, I want to go talk to Sarah." He stopped abruptly.

"Er – you want to talk to Sarah?"

"Well, no, but I want to see how you both act with each other, now come on." She hauled him into the room and saw Sarah talking with Andrea. "Hey guys!" Immediately, when Sarah's eyes and Frank's locked, they both blushed, but smiled. "Andrea, I need to talk to you," said Hallie. Andrea looked confused. "Now."

"But I –"

"Andrea…" The other girl stood up with a small pout upon her face and marched up the steps following Hallie.

"Why did you –"

"To leave Frank and Sarah alone, you nitwit! Now we can go look at them," she said with a smirk. Andrea yipped with glee and raced back down the steps as quietly as she could go. Hallie followed but the other girl suddenly stopped. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"They aren't there!" exclaimed Andrea.

Hallie sighed and pushed her way through. "They couldn't have just disappeared…" she trailed off when Sarah and Frank were nowhere in sight. "How strange…" There was suddenly a loud 'Boo!' and the two girls shrieked with terror. Frank stood before them with Sarah; both had broad grins on their faces. "That was not funny at all," Hallie told them with a scowl. Andrea glared at the two and nodded in agreement. Hallie picked up a pillow and threw it at Frank. He brushed it aside with a laugh.

"Hallie, dear, you're a weakling." She glared all the more and jumped on top of him.

"I don't think so."

Sarah was laughing and pointing at Frank and Hallie when suddenly, a pillow flew her way from Andrea. The girl got knocked over and blinked at Andrea. After a short moment, the pillow fight commenced.

Sirius stood at the doorway and popped a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean into his mouth. He spat it out almost immediately at the taste of rubber and searched for another disgusting one. When he found a sick green one, he put it in his mouth and at once started jumping up and down at the spice of it. It was hot pepper. When he stepped into the common room, a pillow came his way and he ducked on reflex. The pillow burst and out came a spray of feathers. He laughed. What a scene it was.

Frank, Sarah, Hallie, and Andrea were involved in a very vicious pillow fight. It was then that he got hit on the stomach with another pillow. All the fighting stopped and Andrea grinned apologetically. "So sorry, Sirius," she said.

He rubbed the aching spot. "You should be. Jeez, Andrea, it's a wonder why you're not a beater on the quidditch team…" They laughed and he glared at them playfully. He caught sight of Hallie and felt his insides turn with a shooting pain of guilt. The boy quickly waved and hurried to the steps to escape those large sapphire blue eyes.


"Wait, Sirius, wait for me!" said her voice. He turned around and forced a smile.

"How may I help you?"

She laughed. "Can you help me with the song again?"

"Now?"

She smiled. "If you don't mind, that is." His heart did a turn and he tried to avoid her eyes, but couldn't. Oh well, it was kind of fun to work on her songs with her.

"Sure, let's go."

Frank and Sarah watched after them. "Are they…?" asked Frank.

Sarah grinned. "If they're not, soon they will be."

The next day, Janice and Rick flew on their brooms back to the Slytherin Castle where their master was now located. They passed Requillo on the way who was looking rather distant. Rick stopped and waved his hand before the man's face. He did not blink. "Requillo, what's the matter with you?" asked Janice.

"Nothing, I'm just choosing to ignore the both of you. Now continue on your way and leave me be," was the calm reply.

Janice and Rick looked at one another before doing as was told. Never would they cross the line before Requillo, let alone their master. Both were powerful and were seemingly the darkest wizards ever known in time. But a change was occurring that they knew nothing about. Something was changing inside Requillo. Slowly was he going back to his normal and past self. He did not know why, nor did he know how, but he was becoming his self again.

Deep inside he knew the change was coming about, but he dared not show it to anyone else. No one must know about his alteration, it was for him only to know. He knew now he must find the key to his past so that all would make sense. Then again, there was a feeling that the key was gone, gone when Voldemort had told him, long ago though it was, that his family was gone and done away with. Requillo presumed this was correct, but something inside him told him to believe, and have faith.

This empathy was one so strong that he knew not else but believe it, and so he did. It was a new determination now that was full of vigor and he would not give it up. He just had to know, he had to know the truth of his past, he wanted that part of himself back. Without it he felt empty, empty like a crab without its shell. So soon would that part of him be found, but he just didn't know where to look. Little did he know it was close to him, and as time goes by, it would yet slowly get closer.

Serpise glanced down. It was funny real, now that he was no longer in the living world, he go to choose what his environment was like. He sat on a cloud in the midst of the azure blue of the sky, just like it was on earth, though now he was with the clouds instead of looking up at them. It truly was a magnificent sight.

On his cloud he soared downwards slowly and ever so carefully towards his old home. The home in which he now despised for he had earlier been imprisoned in it. Life seemed as if it was only one day ago he was solid and standing upon the grounds of the earth.

Then there was a flash of ocean blue light. "Hello, Rowena," he greeted with a smile. She took a seat next to him.

"I love what you've done with your setting, I should try my own some time, it's really beautiful," said she as she surveyed the surroundings.

He grinned. "Yeah," he said looking at her with adoration, "it is."

And then she observed the Slytherin Castle below. "Oh, my, it looks horrid, what has happened?" she wondered.

"Another man is occupying it at the moment. He calls himself Lord Voldemort." Rowe looked at him for elaboration on the explanation. "He's on the Dark side of magic and brings terror everywhere he goes. At the moment, one with the Inner Eye has predicted his downfall and he is trying to find the Seer to confirm if it is true."

"The Seer? You mean James Potter?" asked Rowena with widening eyes.

Serpise nodded. "Indeed. And the Dark Lord has researched a Seer's capabilities and knows what power is in the boy's hands. A Seer is able to change the future if they are powerful enough with a vigorous spirit and if they have a strong will. James has both and Voldemort has observed him and knows it is so. In saying so, he wants to capture the boy and use him to change the future to his advantage." Rowena gaped at him. "I've been watching with interest. Fate has visited me often and we've conversed some."

"But…but she won't let that-that Lord – er, Voldemort did you say? Yes, Voldemort, do such a thing, will she?" she questioned with fright bright in her eyes.

Salazar shrugged. "I know not, but she told me it is the characters in her story that will choose the path in which the future will proceed." There was another flash of light though this one was crimson/maroon with a tinge of gold. "Hello, brother."

The man smiled. "Hello, Salazar."

"What brings you here on this fine day?" asked Serpise conversationally. Rowe chuckled and Godric took a seat with them.

"Nothing at all really, I just felt I needed to pass by. What have you been doing lately?" inquired Ric.

Serpise looked down at his home. "Just gazing at the present. There is toil in the world and trouble is yet boiling. Our dear young friends are flying straight into the middle of it."

"And your descendant?"

Slytherin shook his head. "Still knows nothing, but the memories and such are gradually slipping back into his mind. I hope he will find the key soon. It is keeping me in excited anticipation."

Godric looked at Rowena and smiled. "I'm sure it is."

Serpise raised a brow. "And that means…?"

Rowe laughed. "Why does this interest you so, Serpise?"

The man smiled. His handsome face seemed to become bright as if the sun was just starting to rise in the darkness of night. "I know not why, but it does. These are my descendants; I suppose it intrigues me to watch how they're lives proceed"

Rowena studied his face for a moment. "Serpise, you never did marry though, how could you have descendants without having a child?"

At this, the man blushed making his pale cheeks arise with a rose reddish color. "Er – well…do you remember Breana Bristol?"

Godric roared with laughter. "How could we ever forget her? She was after you like a dog is to a cat! I couldn't stop laughing for weeks!"

Serpise looked sour. "I know, you weren't off my case for a horribly long time."

Rowe smiled softly. "So you found love after all?"

He shook his head. "No, she intoxicated me with mounds of bottles of whiskey I think…I don't remember the events of that night exactly." Rowena's eyes widened. "I know," he said with a rueful grin, "it was terrible. I never even liked her, not one bit. To tell you the truth, I despised her. The face remains that somehow, I awoke not knowing at all who I was but ended up beside her in my room."

Godric nodded in remembrance. "I remember that day! You were a dreadful old miser and would speak with no one and almost blew your top when she smiled at you at breakfast!" He tried to muffle his laughter but couldn't. Serpise rolled his eyes and placed his head in his hands. Rowena elbowed Ric in the ribs. "Er – I mean, it couldn't have been that bad…"

The other man gave him a meaningful look. "It was Coyote Ugly," he said simply.

Godric howled with laughter and Rowena joined with him. Even Salazar couldn't stop his laughs. "Oh yes," said Rowe, "I remember it clearly now, she was the ugliest one of the three hideous sisters."

With a pained expression upon his face, Serpise nodded.

James smiled at Lily and she smiled back. Andrea noticed and sank a bit lower in her chair. Sirius threw a spider at Hallie's hair and she threw it back after doubling its size with an Enlarging Charm. Remus doubled over with laughter and nearly knocked over his cauldron. Lydia gave him a look and kept working but couldn't help laughing when Remus couldn't control himself. Peter grinned around at the classroom. He was content.

They were in potions and the day was going by slowly. The dance was in two days and everyone was tense with excitement. The girls had already planned what they were going to wear and now they were just planning what they would do with their hair. The guys were just waiting for the day to come with impatience.

That afternoon, after classes, Lily stepped into the library to borrow a book to read before lights out and walked down the isles. She abruptly stopped. Her palms became blocks of ice and her heart stopped beating. Her breath slowed and came out in short gasps as her eyes widened to the size of tea saucers. She bit down on her lip to muffle a cry of disbelief. Were her eyes deceiving her? She shut them tightly and opened them. At first she saw spots, but then she blinked them away and saw the same scene. It couldn't be, it couldn't possibly be…

"James?" she croaked, finally. Andrea and James slit apart. His expression never changed but Andrea's did. She looked horribly guilty and surprised. James though, she could not tell what his feelings were, she could not decipher his feelings through his expressions.

"Lily!" she exclaimed. The other girl was looking at her and her boyfriend each in turn.

"Hello, Lily," said James serenely. She blinked at him with liquid burning in her eyes.

"J-James, what, what're you doing?" she asked with a sob choking her slightly. He shrugged and sent a smile Andrea's way before turning and walking past them both. Both girls watched after him in puzzlement. "Andrea," said Lily suddenly outraged, "tell me what just happened this instant." She was trying with all her might to control her anger but found she couldn't. Her heart ripped into pieces inside of her and she almost couldn't breath because of the pain.

"I-I-"

"Tell me!"

"Lily, I'm so sorry, but he came onto me, I swear it. I wouldn't do this to you, really I wouldn't, but it suddenly happened…and you know James, just look at him! He's a freaking prince! I couldn't resist, he just suddenly came onto me and I didn't know…I couldn't…" she babbled and trailed off softly. "I'm so sorry, Lily."

Lily looked at her for along time before marching forward and slapping Andrea across the face. "How could you do this to me?" And then she raced away.

In her rush, she bumped into Sirius on her way to the steps to her dormitory. He grinned. "So sorry, Lily, didn't see you," he joked as he pointed to her fiery red hair. He just then noticed her tear-stained face and pained emerald orbs. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to knock into you so hard," he said, his voice dripping with guilt and concern. "Are you all right? Where are you hurt?"

She shook her head an hiccuped. "It – it wasn't you" hiccup "I-I-" but she broke down and collapsed to the floor, her body racking with sobs. He immediately was at her side.

"Lily, please tell me what's wrong, please?" he said and hugged her. She cried into his shirt. "What's the matter? You know you can tell me." The girl just nodded. "Do you want me to get James?" he wondered, thinking this would help her, but she sobbed all the more. "What? What is it? Is this about James?"

She pulled away. "He-he was kissing A-Andrea," she hiccuped.

Sirius suddenly laughed. "Oh! I get it! You and Hallie teamed up to get back at me! She was mad that I threw that spider in her hair!"

But Lily shook he head. "They-they were in the library," she cried. Sirius stared at her with wide eyes.

"You're serious?" She nodded and he gaped at her. "I-I can't believe it…James – he, no – you're wrong, he would never do anything like that to anyone, let alone you." He looked away, deep in thought. Lily's sobs were gone now and she just looked at her lap where her hands were wrung. Just then, James came through the portrait hole.

"Hey guys," he said with a smile. He took a seat next to the two of them. "What's new?"

Lily covered up a sound of disbelief as she put her hand over her mouth and used the other one to slap him. "How could you just come and sit here next to me as if nothing happened?" she shrieked at him.

James' eyes widened. He looked thoroughly alarmed and concerned. It puzzled her that she could decipher his expressions just now when she couldn't before. "Lily, what are you talking a-"

"Don't talk to me!" she said in a mad rush. Her heart pounded and she bolted away.

James watched after her with a somewhat frightened expression upon his face. He turned to Sirius who was looking at him carefully. "Sirius, what is she talking about?"

The other boy looked up the steps where Lily escaped. "She – well – James-," but he cut himself off and looked uncomfortable.

"Tell me, Sirius," said James looking at him squarely.

Sirius shook his head. "You have to talk to her about it, it's…I-I can't get in the middle of this one." He quickly stood and walked out. James watched him go before he too stood up.

He went up the steps to the girls' dormitory and knocked; there was no reply. Slowly, he peeked in and didn't see anyone around. He opened it all the way and stepped in. Almost immediately he was hit with a pillow. James blocked the next hit and saw Lily glaring at him. "I knew you were going to come up here," she said to him.

"Lily, what's the matter? What's wrong?" he asked.

She took a step back at his sincerity. "You should know, James, how could you not?

He blinked at her in uncertainty. "Er…know what, exactly?" he wondered looking at her carefully.

She took another step back. "You should know! You were the one kissing Andrea in the library!"

James grinned. "Are you feeling all right, Lily? Did you hit your head or something?"

Lily looked at him in incredulity. "What?" she exclaimed.

His face became serious again. "I guess not," he murmured to himself. "I was not kissing Andrea in the library, I don't know what you're talking about," he told her earnestly.

"I'm sure you don't," said Lily coldly as she left him alone again. He watched after her again with puzzlement written across his face.

After she slammed the door shut, she ran off with many thoughts running through her mind. Something just didn't seem right.

That night, everyone sat in the common room. Remus, Peter, James, and Sirius were on one side while Lily, Hallie, Lydia, and Gwen were on the other. James slid down in his seat at the armchair before the fire just at the thought of what happened between he and Lily. I guess that means we're not going to the dance together anymore. He though of how hard it was just to ask her to it and now all his worries had gone to waste.

"Are you sure?" asked Lydia in a horrified tone.

Lily rested her head in her hands, "Ya, I saw them, just ask Andrea." As if on cue, the girl walked into the common room.

Hallie motioned her over. "Come here, Andrea, I want to talk to you," she said in a calm but frigid voice. Lily gave her a look. Hallie ignored it. With a dreaded look on her face, she slowly walked over.

"Sorry guys, but I'm really tired and -"

Gwen cut her off. "Stuff it, Andrea. Now tell us what happened." The other girl looked at her.

Andrea, who was looking horribly guilty, turned to look at the four guys across the room, and then back at the four girls. "He came onto me, it wasn't my fault," she said in a rush, "I don't know what happened really. I was doing my report in the library when he suddenly came in and took a seat beside me. And you all know how cute and adora-" but a look from the girls stopped her there. "Well, he's very good looking and I just couldn't resist." The four girls looked at her in disbelief.

"Are you telling us that James Potter, the boy who's head over heels for Lily, came onto you?" asked Hallie in incredulity. Andrea nodded honestly. The girl shook her head and frowned slightly. "That's just like kissing me, and he's like my brother! Andrea, something isn't right here, and I want you to tell me the truth right now." Andrea looked at each of them.

"I am telling the truth! I swear! I know it doesn't sound right and I know that it isn't but, it happened and I'm sorry but it just did." And with that she turned and left.

Should I tell Lily? No, they made me promise…but they must have done it for a reason…why would they make James do that? Lily hasn't ever done anything wrong…why would they want to hurt her like that? Andrea shook her head and lay down on her bed. She closed her eyes and fell into a land of dreams.

James looked at Sirius. The boy was staring into the fire and was looking extremely thoughtful with a line of guilt upon his face. "What's on your mind?" asked James.

Sirius jumped up in alarm slightly and then grinned sheepishly. "Er – nothing really." But James knew something was, and he had a feeling he knew what it was.

That's it, thought Sirius, I'm not being fair. He stood up and excused himself. Gradually, he made his way to his destination. "Um, Hallie, can I talk to you for a sec?" he choked out. She looked up at him with a smile.

"Sure." She followed him out of the common room and they walked together down the halls. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Well, the dance," he said. She stole a glance at him with question.

"Is it about the song?" she wondered. He didn't look at her but shook his head.

"I – er, Hal, I'm sorry," he told her and stopped. She faced him in confusion.

"About what?" She was looking at him with her large sapphire blue eyes. Something in them told him that she knew what he was going to say, but she would never know what was going through his mind. She didn't know about the bet but when he said what he had to say, he had a feeling it wouldn't be a pretty sight. Just say it and get it over with. He took a deep sigh and she looked at him in concern. "What's wrong?"

He wanted to say 'nothing' so badly, but he couldn't. "I'm sorry, Hal, I can't go with you to the Winter Dance," he said quickly, and then turned and ran off.

(Author's Note: Thank you Foxy77, FairyKisses, and Harry's Hunny for your reviews! Please guys, please review my story! Thanks a bunch, lotsa love from Sea Chelle!)