A/N: Thank you to all of Allison's friends...and Allison of course...and thank you to all of my regular reviewers...I encourage you all to read and review my lovely story.

But! Before I post this chapter (sorry Allison and Hannah, I know you're eager to read...but I'm evil (hehehe) so there!) I have a question!

Why do really really dumb stories get a lot of reviews, even if they have a lot of grammatical errors?

Chapter Eighteen

Christmas vacation was to start tomorrow, so Pepper and Hermione were packing their things to go home. Harry and Ron were staying at Hogwarts, as Harry hadn't a place to go and Ron wanted to stay with Harry, since he was missing Sirius because last Christmas break had been spent at Sirius' house.

Pepper and Hermione were leaving Hogwarts for said vacation because Pepper's aunts wanted her home and Hermione was going on a cruise. Pepper wasn't fond of leaving Harry at a time like this, when he was missing his godfather so terribly, but she had to or her aunts would be very mad. Plus, she missed them too, so she wanted to go home.

The next morning Hermione and Pepper made sure they had everything packed and went down to the common room to say their good byes to Harry and Ron before they boarded the Hogwarts Express.

Once they and Ginny were on the train they easily found a compartment and entered it, shutting the door behind them. The journey was spent talking, about boys, school and Christmas, and before they knew it the train had arrived at Kings Cross station.

Ginny found her parents quickly and led Hermione and Pepper over to say hello. "Hi, Mrs. Weasley, nice to see you again," Pepper said politely.

"Hello dear, have you had a nice term at Hogwarts?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Pepper said she had and then the Weasley's said they had to leave, so they did, bidding Pepper and Hermione farewell.

Hermione found her parents and waved them over, introducing them to Pepper. Then the Granger's set off from the train station, leaving Pepper alone to look for her aunts. She had no idea who was picking her up or how they were doing it, and she began to grow worried.

Suddenly there were blue crystals in front of her and her Uncle Leo appeared there. He smiled and immediately hugged her when he saw her. "Hey kiddo," he greeted, letting her go. "I've missed you so much, so do your aunts, so we'd better get you home, come on."

"We're orbing?" Pepper said.

"Yep, now come on, we've got to get going."

Pepper hugged her uncle once more and they disappeared in blue and white lights.

When they arrived back at the Manor, Pepper was greeted with a crushing embrace from her three aunts and kisses being planted all over her face. "Gaa!" Pepper said. "Let me BREATHE!"

Her aunts let go of her and stood back, beaming. "Oh Pepper, it's so good to see you we've missed you so much," her Aunt Piper said. "Why don't we go into the kitchen, I'll make us something to eat."

The five of them went into the kitchen, Paige, Phoebe and Leo taking a seat at the table, Pepper sitting on the counter and Piper pulling out ingredients to make them dinner. "So, what's up?" Pepper asked, kicking the drawers beneath the counter with her heels.

"Since you've been gone? Well, we've told you stuff in our letters...we tracked and vanquished a demon yesterday. You know Pep, you're still wearing your Hogwarts robes..." Paige said.

"Oh. Oh well, I don't care, it's comfy. Anyway, how's Cole, is he really vanquished this time?" Pepper asked Phoebe.

"No," Phoebe answered dejectedly. "I didn't tell you, did I? I was filing for my divorce and he showed up, once again ruining my life. My column's going well, though."

"Yeah, Cole's trying to prove he's good," Piper said, biting the inside of her lip. "But he's got all these powers from Hell, so they're not helping in winning Phoebe back. Add the fact that he made her the Queen of the Underworld and his efforts aren't going well."

"Well then, sounds like your life's going well, how's yours Aunt Piper?" Pepper asked.

Her three aunts and Leo all had smiles on their faces and they were looking at each other as though Pepper couldn't see them. "What?!" Pepper wanted to know.

Piper faced her and blurted out, "I'm pregnant!"

Pepper stared at her aunt wide-eyed for a second before she screamed joyfully. "You're pregnant!" she exclaimed, jumping down from the counter and racing over to hug her aunt. "Congratulations!" Releasing her aunt she ran over to her uncle and jumped on his lap, hugging him. "Congratulations, Uncle Leo!" she cried. "When did you guys find out? Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was a few weeks ago," Piper explained. "We wanted to tell you in person, we figured you couldn't suffocate us with hugs in a letter." She smiled.

"This is AWESOME! I'm going to have a COUSIN!" Pepper yelled, running over and giving her Aunt Piper another hug. "Ahh, it's so good to be home. So, what do you guys have planned for our short vacation together?" Pepper wondered, snapping out of excitement mode.

"Sorry, Pep, we haven't got anything planned. You know we can't plan things in this house," Paige said.

"So nothing HAS changed then..." Pepper sighed. "Ah well, I'll just have to think of things for us to do. OH! I've got to see my baby!" She rushed outside and found her VW convertible parked by the sidewalk in front of the house. She ran up to it and hugged its front end. "I missed you, car," she cooed. "But why are you sitting here instead of in the garage or something...? Ah ha!"

She ran back into the house and to the kitchen. Pointing at her aunts accusingly she said, "You've been using my car!"

"Yes, we have," Piper said. "We don't have a car for each of us, so we've been using yours since you weren't here."

"Aw, poo, you were supposed to deny it," Pepper said. "You've got no sense of excitement. Hey, where'd Uncle Leo go?" she asked, realizing that Leo was no longer in the kitchen.

"The Elders wanted him. Oh, Pepper, I was wondering if anyone got to enjoy my gifts to you," Paige asked suggestively.

"Yes, actually," Pepper answered. Her aunt looked very surprised. "I went to yell at Harry in my see-through PJs and he and his dorm mates at a great laugh at me. Bloody brilliant that was."

"How are things with you and Harry?" Phoebe inquired. "You haven't said anything in your letters recently."

"I think we're alright, though I snogged his arch enemy," Pepper told them.

"Who did what to who?" Piper wondered.

"I made out with Malfoy," Pepper said. "When Harry found out he was pretty pissed, but then I found out he made out with Ginny, so it's all good now. Harry, however, didn't get to enjoy me in my kinky gifts, apart from the night I had a go at him."

"Teenage drama, I don't miss it," Paige said, shaking her head.

"You know, since I went to Hogwarts everything's gotten confusing," said Pepper. "Life was much simpler when I just lived here. I've had so many fights with my new friends...Harry got mad at me once, Hermione twice, Ron two or three times...well, he got mad mainly when Hermione was mad...but it's all really complicated. Plus I'm being swamped with work and extra classes, and my life's pretty much a mess. Are you sure I can't just move back here?"

"Are you serious, Pepper?" Piper asked, draining the pasta and shooting her niece a puzzling look. "From your letters it sounded as if you liked Hogwarts."

"I like learning all the magic and everything, but like I said, my life is harder now. I've never had much human contact, and at school there are people everywhere. I have a best friend now, and other friends, and I have interest in boys, which I've never had before. The only problem is I have interest in TWO boys, both of which happen to be arch enemies, one of whom is my god brother and one who is my second cousin."

"What!" Piper, Paige and Phoebe exclaimed in unison.

"I'll explain in a minute. Anyway, I've learned that I'm not much of a people person...and that I'm too cocky."

"Who told you you're too cocky?"

"Hermione," Pepper answered. "But then, I don't think she's cocky enough. When someone insults her she just stands there and she never flirts..."

"Flirting isn't always a good thing, Pepper," Phoebe told her.

"So I've heard," Pepper mumbled. "You do it all the time, though, Aunt Phoebe."

"And I've learned it isn't always a good thing," Phoebe said, "Do as I say, not as I do. Really though, as I'm sure you've found out, it's not always the way to go."

"Hermione told you you're too cocky?" Paige asked, setting plates out on the table and helping Piper serve the spaghetti.

"Yes she did, and I didn't appreciate it much. Maybe she's just jealous..." Pepper said.

"I think I agree with Hermione," said Piper. "You are too cocky sometimes, Pep. You may not realize it, but you are. And I think if Hermione told you that then you should tone it down a bit."

"I know," Pepper grumbled. "I told her I'd try and stop."

They all sat down at the table and began their meal. "Now tell us about your relation to your other object of affection," Paige said.

So Pepper explained about Harry told her she was related to Malfoy. "Yeah, apparently every pureblood family is related by blood or marriage. I'm Ron's, like, fourth cousin twice removed or something. It's weird."

"You're attracted to your second cousin?" Phoebe asked dully. "Pepper, that's not good. It's illegal in some states, you know."

"But to continue a pureblood family purebloods marry purebloods, therefore you have to marry someone who's related to you," Pepper explained.

"Probably not someone as closely related to you as a second cousin," Piper said, looking skeptical.

"I never said we were going to get married, though," Pepper said, wanting to change the subject. "Ooh, Aunt Paige, can you orb me to Diagon Alley tomorrow?" Pepper asked her aunt through a mouthful of noodles.

"I don't know if I can, that's pretty far away, Pep," Paige replied. "Why do you need to go there?"

"Christmas shopping," Pepper responded. "That place is so cool, I'm sure I'll be able to find something for everyone I know."

"Why don't we all go?" Phoebe suggested. "I've got work off for two weeks, so I'm free."

"It's a date, then," Pepper said, smiling.

Pepper, Paige, Phoebe, and Piper all arrived in Diagon Alley at noon the next day. There were a few shoppers wandering around but the place wasn't nearly as busy as when Pepper had been here last.

"These shops are so weird," Paige said, trying to look at everything at once.

"Come on, I've got to stop at the bank, Gringotts, before we can look at anything else," Pepper urged, beckoning her aunts to follow her as she headed down the street.

As the snowy white building came into view, Pepper's aunts gasped. "Come on," Pepper said as her aunts were slowing down to look at the building. "Don't be alarmed by the workers, they're just goblins."

They walked up to a free goblin sitting at the long counter and Pepper showed him her key. The four of them were led to a cart and they climbed in with the goblin. The cart set off, rattling down the track at an alarming speed – Piper held on tightly to Paige's arm as they hurtled through the dark tunnels.

When they arrived at Pepper's vault they all climbed shakily out of the cart. "Key please," said the goblin and Pepper handed it her key.

Her aunts gazed around the full vault as Pepper gathered coins from it. "Told you I was rich," Pepper said matter-of-factly as she saw their surprised faces. Once her bag was filled to the top with gold Galleons, a few silver Sickles and a handful of bronze Knuts, the goblin closed the vault and asked her if she'd like to see her other one. "Sure, why not," Pepper replied, curious to see if her other vault was filled like the first one.

The goblin asked for her key again and she handed it to it. When he opened the second vault it was Pepper's turn to look surprised and gasp. Half of the vault was filled with Galleons and the rest of it was full of jewels. Lying on the floor was a single folded piece of parchment, which looked very out of place among the glittering riches.

"Oh my god," Phoebe breathed.

"What's this?" Pepper wondered, stepping inside the vault and picking up the piece of parchment. Holding the paper, Pepper picked up a red jewel that appeared to be a ruby in her other hand and studied both the folded parchment and the jewel with great interest. The goblin gave an impatient cough so Pepper pocketed the jewel and the parchment and left the vault.

Once the four Halliwells were outside of Gringotts they all burst into excited chatter about Pepper's second vault.

"I have JEWELS!" Pepper exclaimed as Phoebe said, "Give US some!" Piper cried, "WHAT are you going to do with all that money?" and Paige asked, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I had no idea I had jewels," Pepper told them. "And you can have some, I have no idea what I'm going to do with all that! You realize that if I converted all those coins and jewels into Muggle money I'd be a millionaire!"

"I'd bet you'd be a multi-millionaire, Pep," Phoebe said.

"I had no idea I was THAT rich," said Pepper in awe. "Cool. Well, I know what I'm going to do with some of this, at least."

For the rest of the afternoon Pepper, Phoebe, Paige and Piper walked around Diagon Alley, looking in most of the shops. Pepper bought Christmas presents for her aunts, Leo, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and the owl she and Hermione shared, Cashlinn. Satisfied that she'd shopped for everyone she knew (save Malfoy), Paige orbed them all back to the Manor.

Tired from a long day of shopping Pepper fell asleep when her head hit the pillow, forgetting all about the mysterious parchment that still occupied her jean pocket.

"The old fool has gotten his hands on another secret weapon," said a high-pitched, cruel voice. "We eliminated the first, though from what my spies have told me this one is much more powerful. We must destroy her, Wormtail."

"But how, my Lord? She resides at Hogwarts, the one place we can not get to," said Wormtail.

"We must find a way. Get me Malfoy, I need to speak with him," said Wormtail's master.

"Yes, my Lord," Wormtail whimpered, bowing himself from the room.

Minutes later, Lucius Malfoy appeared in the room, bowing before his master. "Yes Lord?" he said. "What do you wish me to do?"

"Get rid of the Halliwell girl, Lucius," Voldemort commanded. "I am aware that it won't be an easy task, but it must be done. She is the greatest threat to me, especially if she fights alongside Harry Potter."

"Yes, my Lord. My son is working on making her weaker. He tells me he is making great progress," Lucius said. "He says her powers are pathetic, and her heart shall be easy to take."

"Good, good," Voldemort murmured. "Once he has succeeded, we must lure her from Hogwarts where we can finish the job we've set out to start. And this time, our plan must succeed."

Harry Potter awoke with a start, drenched in a cold sweat, his scar burning. "Pepper," he exclaimed in a whisper. Getting out of bed, not caring if he woke Ron, he opened the trunk at the foot of his bed and pulled out a piece of parchment.

Dipping his quill in ink, he set it on the paper and began to write. Before he'd gotten finished with the first sentence, he thought better of it and stopped writing.

No, he thought, no need to worry her. But shouldn't I go to someone about it? he told himself. Dumbledore? Yes, I'll go to Dumbledore first thing in the morning, he decided, climbing back into his four-poster.

But Harry didn't get back to sleep that night. In his mind he kept replaying the dream – well, as much of it as he could remember. He knew Voldemort had been there, and a Death Eater and they were plotting to kill Pepper. When, Harry didn't know, but he knew there had been urgency in the way Voldemort spoke. Harry had also detected a bit of fear in Voldemort's voice...Harry feared they would attack soon, and Pepper knew nothing about it.

Wait, had Voldemort said that he had spies? Harry's eyes grew wide in shock. There were spies at Hogwarts? But who? Had Snape turned back to the Dark side? How else would Voldemort know that Pepper's powers were weak? The only time she'd exerted them was in Potions class...

It was six thirty before Harry snapped out of his thoughts and realized how tired he really was. He got out of bed and dressed. Putting on his robes inside out – for that's how tired he was – he went down into the deserted common room. Nothing in here was worth his time so he exited the room and headed towards Dumbledore's office.

It wasn't until he arrived at the griffin statue that he remembered he didn't know the password, as it changed frequently. He tried "Tootsie Roll" just in case, but, just as he suspected, Dumbledore had changed it. Trying to get his brain to remember the names of sweets, he rambled a list of them at the statue. Finally, at "Pumpkin Pasties," the statue admitted him to the twisting staircase, and he stepped onto it gratefully. Taking the griffin knocker in his hand, Harry beat it twice upon the door before Dumbledore admitted him into the office.

"Mr. Potter, what brings you here so early in the morning?" Dumbledore asked Harry, motioning for the boy to sit down. He had a soft smile of concern on his face, noticing that Harry looked very tired.

"I had a dream last night, Professor Dumbledore," Harry began. "Voldemort and a Death Eater were in it and they were plotting something. They're after Pepper, sir. They're plotting to kill her."

Dumbledore's look of concern deepened as he listened to Harry. He had been afraid Voldemort would find out about the powers of Pepper Halliwell-Black, and he had a good idea who had tipped him off.

"Voldemort said something about Pepper being a weapon...but there was one before her, one whom they had eliminated already...?" Harry said in confusion.

"Ah, yes. By the first weapon he would, of course, mean Pepper's mother: Prue Halliwell," Dumbledore said sadly. "What else did your dream tell you, Harry?"

"Voldemort's spy told him Pepper's much more powerful...that has to mean there's a spy in Hogwarts, Professor," said Harry. "But the only place Pepper's shown her powers is in Potions, so that must mean it was someone there..." said Harry, desperately hoping Dumbledore would realize it was Snape that had told Voldemort about Pepper and her powers.

"Yes, I am aware that there are some who might be in Voldemort's circle," said Dumbledore. "The question is, how did he find out that she is to be our 'weapon?'"

"Who do you think it is, sir?" Harry wondered.

"Some of the students have parents who are Death Eaters, Harry, and I'm sure they've been told to keep an eye out for any new tricks I have up my sleeve..." Dumbledore said thoughtfully.

"Oh," said Harry, feeling a little stupid for thinking it was Snape and not thinking about Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy and other Slytherins that had Death Eater parents. After all, Snape was in the Order. "Does Pepper know of the students who may be a threat to her?"

"I have informed her to be careful, as there are some students it may not be wise to use her powers around, though I did not tell her specific names. I think it best for you not to say anything to her either, Harry," Dumbledore said in a tone of finality.

Harry was about to ask why but the look on Dumbledore's face told him it was time for him to leave. "Now I advise you to go get some rest, Harry. Happy holidays," Dumbledore smiled.

Harry left the office feeling a little better now that he had talked to Dumbledore, though he was still very worried about Pepper.