Phoebe

"For goodness sake, Piper, if you don't talk to him, I will," I said.

"Huh?"

"You've been ogling him every day for the past two weeks," I said. "You're just too shy to do anything about it. Make yourself a little more noticeable. I'd suggest you flirt, but I know that's not what you do."

"Whom are you talking about?" Piper asked.

I rolled my eyes.

"She's talking about Remus. Everybody can see it," Paige informed her.

Piper didn't look at Paige. She only acknowledged Paige's comment by crossing her arms. "Okay, you might be right, but I can't talk to boys. It's not a big deal."

Something tingled inside me. I felt insecure for some reason. "You think that you're never going to find love."

Piper gaped at me. "How did you know that?"

"I just… felt it."

"Right. Kind of freaky," Piper said.

Prue was sitting with us, but she had yet to say anything all breakfast. This was the Prue had developed after mom's death. She didn't show her pain, and she had stopped talking about how she felt. I was getting worried about her.

A different feeling tingled inside of me. "Somebody here is in love."

"You are really freaking us out. You're acting like you're feeling what we're feeling," Paige said.

"Why does that make you feel so exposed?" I inquired.

"I think that you're not getting enough sleep," Paige responded.

A quiver of nerves came from Piper.

"Don't be so nervous."

Paige and Piper stared at me.

"Both of you stop worrying about me," I told them.

"There is something going on with you," Piper said.

"There is nothing wrong with me," I protested. "It's you two that are broadcasting your emotions."

"Say what you want, but we're checking the Book."

I acted the same way in potions.

"Jake, would you please stop hating on Brit?" I said, cradling my head. "Your hostility is giving me a migraine."

"She's the one who's giving me the cold shoulder!" he exclaimed angrily. "Hold it. How did you know that?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "I've been doing it all day."

He looked at me oddly.

A surge of anger filled me. "Jake, you're the one who ignored me in front of your friends. If you can ignore me, I can ignore you!"

"Phoebe, what are you talking about?"

The surge ended. I looked to Brit. She was staring at me with her mouth open.

"I think I've figured out what's happening to me."

I flipped to the section in the Book regarding powers. "Empaths are able to feel whatever other people are feeling. They can channel others' emotions and sometimes even their powers. If the empath doesn't gain control, though, he or she may do or say what the other person wishes to do or say. They may even lose themselves to the power of the emotions of others."

"So?" Prue asked in an offhanded way.

"Don't you see? I am an empath."

"You can feel what we're feeling?" Paige asked nervously.

"Paige, I am not going to think any less of you if I know what you're feeling."

"Do you have to do that?" she said.

"I can't ignore what you guys feel."

"Then you will learn when to keep our emotions to yourself," Prue said, being the sensible one, as usual.

"I'll try." Piper was feeling down. I tried to ignore it, but it was too strong. I could basically tell what she was thinking. "I'm sure he would have talked to you if you hadn't been hiding in the corner."

"Pheebs, next time allow her to express her feelings before you give her advice," Prue suggested.

Piper, on the other hand, wasn't bothered. "I know. How am I supposed to approach him, though? What if he doesn't like me?"

"If you can get his attention, I'll be able to tell how he feels," I said. "Will you be up to that tomorrow?"

She chewed on her lip. "I guess so. How should I do that?"

"Well, you could wear a, shall we say, bold outfit. I'll lend you some of my clothes and I'll do your make-up."

"You won't me look like a—"

"Tart? I promise I won't."

"Okay."

Paige seemed to have withdrawn from the conversation. She was studying Prue closely. I wondered if she had noticed what I had noticed.

"Now that we've solved that problem," Prue started, "we have another matter to discuss. Phoebe got her second power, so shouldn't we getting more soon?"

"We should," Piper said. "What does the book say about other powers?"

I turned the page. "Hey, there's a page about the powers of half-whitelighters."

Paige came over and read it. "Half-whitelighters all have the ability to orb. A few of the especially powerful half-whitelighters have the ability to heal. Some can orb through time and modify memories in order to cover up magic. Some have telekinetic gifts which often manifest in the ability to orb things. This is achieved through saying aloud the name of the object that one wants. Because they are related to a soul that has moved onto a higher existence, many are able to transcend the usual plane of reality. What one do I have?"

"Well, you can't try healing right now, and I wouldn't suggest trying to modify our memories, so you'll have to try the last two," Prue reasoned.

Paige, I could tell, doubted it would work, but she attempted to transcend our plane. "Nothing. Now for the orb-thing. Uh, book." The book disappeared in a flurry of blue light and reappeared in her arms.

"That's your second power. It will probably be useful."

While Paige practiced her new power, Piper and Prue tried to find their second power.

"How about pyrokinesis or hydrokinesis?"

They waved their hands around and called for the elements, but nothing happened.

"Pheebs, that's enough for tonight. We'll try again in a few days."

"Why a few days? We—"

"We've been working hard on the Charmed Ones thing," Piper reminded me. "We need to take a break. We do enough magic in school."

I was put out. "All right."

"Good night, Phoebe," Prue said and Paige orbed them back to the Ravenclaw dormitories.

As hard to believe as it was, I was actually enthusiastic about something that wouldn't get me into trouble. It wasn't too bad, being good.

That night, I allowed my thoughts to wander. The first person that came to mind was mom. When she was alive, I hadn't been close to her. I guess that was because I had blamed her for Victor leaving. If she had just given up on magic, if she had left the demon fighting to Grams... "She'd be alive." I curled up, pain washing over me. It had been a while since mom had died, but the pain was still as fresh as it had been the day I had learned of her death. I had once thought that the pain stopped at a certain point. That was a foolish thought. The pain would never completely leave me. I had learned that. I wouldn't forget her either. I could wish forever but nothing could bring her back from the dead. She was gone.

Then my mind moved to the subject of Paige. There was an ugly feeling in me about Paige and about mom. I hadn't even admitted this to my sisters, but I admitted it to myself when I was alone and no one could see me. I was angry with mom for falling in love with a whitelighter, and I was angry with for never telling me. I could accept Paige, but this sudden news messed everything up. We were just working through the pain, and now this had to be thrust onto us. It wasn't Paige's fault, but she was still a complication. I knew that I had to work through this on my own, and the first thing I had to do was to accept how I felt and not feel guilty. I did have a right to be angry, and forcing back those feelings would do nothing but make it worse.

I thought of what I would say to mom if I could see her one last time. I would tell her how much I loved her, and I would confront her about Paige. Deep down, I knew why she had done what she had done. She had done it for love. I could accept that. I knew what love felt like. I also knew that eventually, I could accept what happened, and I could take it slowly. Every emotion, from pain to anger, took time to deal with. Sometimes I forgot that. However, I remembered this time.

The curtains around my bed were ripped open. I opened one eye and sat up. "I… what... who… Piper?"

"Help me! I don't know what to wear. I've never worn make-up."

I could sense her panic. "Calm down. I'm going to help you. What time is it?"

She hesitated before she told me, "Five o'clock."

"Piper! It's Saturday and you get me up at this time?"

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I was freaking out."

"It's okay." I rubbed my eyes. "Wait here and I'll get ready."

When I came back, Piper had picked out an outfit suited for a lawyer. "This is such a nice outfit. I don't see why you don't wear it."

"Grams got that for me. You are not wearing that. It's too conservative. He'll never notice you in that." I sifted through my trunk and found a flamboyant outfit. "Now this is much better," I said and held up a low cut shirt and short jean skirt. Piper looked as though she'd rather die than wear it.

"I can't wear that!"

"I'm not finished. You'll wear these shoes (high heeled pumps) and red lipstick."

"You said you wouldn't make me look like a whore," Piper said, her eyes wide.

"Hey, these are my things, you know."

"Well… I suppose I can wear it."

"You're going to," I said firmly. "Now get dressed."

She reluctantly did. I giggled when she came out. She had her arms crossed over her chest and at the same time was trying to pull down the skirt.

"First rule: you can't act like your ashamed of your body. You're a very pretty girl, Piper. Show it off." I moved her arms and pulled her skirt back up. She protested while I put make up on her and fixed her hair. I finished and placed her in front of the mirror.

"I look—"

"Fabulous?" I prompted.

"Not exactly the word I was looking for. Couldn't I wear a different shirt?"

"No."

Piper argued with me for a solid hour. She had an iron will, but I won out. By the time I was able to drag her to breakfast, everyone was up and in the Great Hall. A hush fell over the mass of students when she walked in. She looked around uncomfortably. I pushed her along. She looked down at her feet and sat at the Ravenclaw table.

All the boys felt like they were seeing her for the first time. I looked at Remus and concentrated on what he was feeling. He liked her and… he had for a while. I snuck up to Piper and whispered, "He likes you. He has since you starting liking him."

She smiled. "Really?"

"Really."

"Thank you, Phoebe!"

Piper

In Divination on Monday, I was feeling both nervous and excited. It was my first class of the day with Remus. Those feelings were increased when we were partnered up. "…Lupin and Halliwell…"

He came over and sat with me. I had no idea what to say to him, so instead I stared at the table. "Um, do you want me to read your palm?" I forced myself to ask.

"How about I read yours first?"

I shyly gave him my hand.

"Hmm. Interesting. According to your palm, you should have died two years ago."

I smiled a little.

"I saw your outfit last Saturday," Remus said.

"Oh, I, um, lost a bet and Phoebe made me dress like that."

"Sounds like something she'd do. What is up with Phoebe anyways? She hasn't cursed anyone lately."

"Dippet said that he'd expel her if she caused any more trouble," I explained. My heart was still beating like crazy. "She's found something else to concentrate her efforts on."

The conversation progressed from there to pranks.

"I'd watch out if I were you," I said. "Phoebe may be afraid of being expelled, but she has, well, certain defenses now."

"What do you mean?"

"She found this book that shows her how to cover up magic. I think she's been getting a little antsy from the lack of mischief."

We continued to talk throughout the lesson. To my great surprise, I was eventually able to relax. I could actually talk to him. I was even more stunned when he asked if we could study together some time. I, without hesitation, said yes.

"Phoebe, I talked to him without blushing!" I beamed with pride.

Phoebe seemed predisposed. She was concentrating on two pieces of paper. "What? Oh, that's great. Did you flirt?"

"No. I think it would better for us to just be friends right now."

"Judging from his feelings, I'd say that's not going to last long."

"But I'm not ready for a boyfriend," I moaned.

"He is a very understanding boy, and he's rather like you, so I don't think that will be a problem." She read the two papers again, moving her lips silently.

"What are those?" I asked, suspicious.

"Nothing." She stuffed them into her robes.

"Pheebs, you're not—"

"I'm not going to do anything." She hurried off.

"Not again."

Eavesdropping was an esoteric art, one that I had never felt the need to master. That was why I was having so much difficulty eavesdropping on Sirius and James. I knew that there were spells to aid an eavesdropper, but I, being a good girl, had never learned them. I now regretted that mistake. This wasn't my usual manner of finding out information, but I had changed since mom had died. I wanted to enjoy life while I had it.

The conversation that I was listening to was in fact a heated argument. The subject, of course, was Phoebe.

"I have taken this with a smile, but enough is enough! You go parading around with that—that Phoebe as if there's nothing wrong with it. Lily told me to leave you alone, but I refuse, REFUSE to stand this any longer. I didn't want to do this, Padfoot, but I have to curse her for your own good!"

"Prongs, I love her."

"Don't say that! She's probably got you under her spell."

"Give it up!"

"No. I'm going to do what I have to do."

"I won't let you do anything to—" Sirius was suddenly cut off.

A chill went through went through me. What had happened to Sirius?

I sensed that James was going to be coming out through the door I was currently leaning my ear to. I froze time and went down the hall. Time resumed and James burst angrily out of the room. I followed him, not fully believing that he would actually do anything to my sister. Yet he went right to her.

"James, why are you so angry?" Phoebe asked once he had found her.

He held up his wand, and for the only the third time in my life, I saw fear in her eyes.

Phoebe unsteadily said, "James…"

I stepped in between them, my own wand drawn. "Don't even think of it."

"Stupefy!"

It was like my own power had been turned against me. I watched helplessly as James advanced on Phoebe.

"Diffugere!"

Phoebe popped out of sight with an "oh" of surprise.

I broke out of the spell and tackled James. "What did you do to my sister?" I screamed in rage. My fist connected with his face. I couldn't stop myself from hitting him again and again, not even when I drew blood.

"Piper, don't!" Someone pulled me off of him. It was Paige.

I struggled against her, not satisfied that James's face was bloody. "He did something to Phoebe!" I yelled. "Let me go!"

"I'll find her," she said and orbed out.

I didn't attack James again. Instead, I got out my wand. James flinched, but he didn't do anything. "Salubris." Whatever wounds I had inflicted on him were healed and the blood disappeared. My anger was somewhat overshadowed by fear, but I still had plenty of anger.

"What did Paige do?" James asked.

"You'd be much better off not saying anything." I paced in a blind fury. "She got over this stupid feud. Why couldn't you? If she is hurt—"

"She'll be fine. I just sent her to another plane."

"What!"

"An alternate reality, specifically."

I used every ounce of self-control to stop myself from pummeling him again. "You sent her to another reality. You should be expelled for this."

"So be it."

Paige orbed in, holding a shaken but healthy Phoebe.

"Phoebe, are you all right?" I hugged her.

"I'm fine." She pulled out of my grip and took my hands. "Piper, what happened to you?" Phoebe asked worriedly.

I looked away. "That's not my blood," I mumbled. "I thought I'd lost you, Phoebe, like we did mom."

James's steely look faded at that comment. Anger again controlled me. "Yeah, didn't think we'd lost enough? Thought we needed some more pain!"

"Piper, you've got to get a grip. I know why he did it. I felt it." Phoebe's eyes shone with something I couldn't identify. She looked past me to James. "I know what you're feeling. Paige, let's go."

Something had happened between James and Phoebe. I knew it was important, yet I didn't know why. I didn't feel that I had the right to ask her. It didn't seem to concern me. It was something that was meant only for the two of them.