Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Maximum Ride belong to J.K. Rowling and James Patterson respectively. Since I am neither of them, I am (unfortunately) not entitled to any profit for using their characters.

As always, reviews are appreciated.

And this is the chapter where the plot finally arrives, late and frazzled, but better late than never.

I'm really sorry for the large gap between this chapter and the last. I wish I could say that it'll never happen again, but we all know that's not true. I'm also sorry this chapter is kind of a crapfest.

Also, an anonymous reviewer stopped by long enough to tell me that James Potter was a seeker, and "hadn't I read the books?" In answer to your question, yes I have read the books. I have also read an interview in which JK specified he was a chaser.

If you doubt me, here's the link. Take out the spaces and there's your proof: accio-quote . org / articles / 2000 / 1000-scholastic-chat . htm

Eleven: Slots

My boots crunched through the snow. It was late November, and in lieu of the Christmas spirit, we were going to Hogsmeade to do some Christmas shopping. I needed new quills, since I'd lost all of mine already, so they would be a pseudo-present to myself, from myself.

James had managed to land himself in detention, most likely for hexing Snape. I hadn't really kept up, I'd been too worried about Angel. Mum had sent me a few more letters recently, detailing her frequent disappearances.

'Max!'

Thunk!

'Hey!' I yelled at Sirius, who very wisely decided to duck behind a tree as I threw at snowball back at him.

A snowball whacked me in the back of the head, and I whirled around to see Remus laughing.

'Not fair!' I shouted, then giggled (in a very badass way, of course).

Snowballs came flying from what seemed like every direction, and I soon found myself buried under a pile of snow. I shook it off, and was extremely proud when I saw that Sirius was also soaked.

'That's what you get.' I boasted, just before Remus knocked me over with another snowball.

We ran shrieking and snowball-throwing all the way to Hogsmeade. (Just in case you didn't guess, 'we' refers to everyone except Fang, who trailed solemnly behind us.)

'Anyone fancy a trip to Zonko's?' Sirius asked, grinning mischievously.

Peter shook his head. 'Can't. I'm meeting Rose at the Three Broomsticks. I'll see you guys later, okay?'

'Oooh!' Sirius cooed. 'Pete's got a date!'

'Come off it, Sirius.' Remus nudged him. 'Let's go, and make it quick. I've got to go in ten minutes.'

'Why is everyone leaving me?' Sirius wailed, falling to his knees. 'I suppose you're leaving too, Max? Fang?'

I laughed, and tugged him to his feet. 'Nope. I'm with you all the way.'

'Yes!' he crowed, and grabbed my wrist, dragging me along as he sprinted to Zonko's. As always, Fang trailed solemnly behind.

We plunged into the brightly coloured, well-lit shop. Excited chatter echoed around the place, and I smiled. The cheery atmosphere was really getting to me.

'Here!' Sirius shoved something into my hands. I examined it as he pranced around. 'Hold that, won't you?'

It was a small turtle.

'Um, Sirius?' I asked, but he was gone.

I stood rather awkwardly in the corner, watching as other people shopped and gave me weird looks.

'So, uh, turtle.' I said, feeling stupid. 'Do you talk or something?'

No.

Wait, what?

Hello, Max.

I rolled my eyes. Of course, I should have known. Say, instead of ominous foreshadowing, why don't you tell me why I'm holding a turtle?

I don't know, Max. Why are you holding a turtle?

I got the feeling that if the Voice had a face, it would be rolling its eyes.

I don't know, that's why I'm asking you! It wasn't a riddle or anything.

Oh, Max. Max, Max, Max.

That is my name, yes.

You'll pull through.

I frowned, and instinctively looked down at the turtle. Maybe my subconscious had decided that the turtle was the Voice.

Pull through what? Being tormented by a vague, irritating Voice who seems incapable of just saying things straight?

You'll see. You always see, Max. That's what makes you special.

You are so annoying.

I shivered involuntarily, and hugged the turtle close to my chest.

Yeah, today wasn't my best day. I was kind of tired, and evidently out of it. I don't normally hug turtles, you see.

'Max!' Sirius exclaimed. 'You kept him safe!'

He promptly plucked the turtle out of my hands and hurled it to someone I didn't know.

'Let's go!' Sirius dragged me out, apparently having already paid for the armful of crap he was lugging around.

'Okay.' I said. I thought it would be better for us all if I just went along with it.

As it turns out, I was wrong.

Sirius stopped outside the Three Broomsticks, trying to push the door open without dropping anything. We all watched him, until Remus sighed and opened it for him.

'Peter!' Sirius called. 'Look what we got!'

'Over here guys!' Peter waved at us.

'Merlin, Sirius, haven't you ever heard of bags?' Rose asked, snickering.

'Hey!' Sirius shot her a look. 'I am Sirius Black! I need no bags!'

'Right...' I muttered.

As always, Fang said nothing and stood awkwardly to the side.

'Yeah, I'm just going to leave now.' Remus said, rolling his eyes.

'Don't you dare...' Sirius warned, but Remus had already disappeared. 'Dammit.'

'Okay, I think I'll head back.' Rose said, and Peter nodded. I narrowed my eyes. I had the feeling I was missing something, and I never had liked that feeling.

'See you.' I smiled in the my most friendly manner, trying to dissect her with my eyes. And by that, I mean discover why I felt like there was something going on that I wasn't a part of.

'Max...' Fang murmured to me, in a tone that meant that he wanted to talk in private. I obliged, and took a step away from the group.

'What?' I hissed. 'What's so important that you have to talk to me about it right now? In case you didn't get the memo, we're trying to build ourselves a normal life! That means cut it with the suspicious whispering!'

He sighed. 'I know.' he said, sounding somewhat resigned. 'But I can't help but wonder...'

He didn't elaborate. I knew what he was trying to pull. He wanted me to ask what he wondered, so I couldn't get mad at him for telling. I hesitated, then went for it.

'What do you wonder?' I snapped.

'Are we really doing the right thing?'

I paused. I couldn't say I expected him to ask me that. 'What do you mean?'

'We're in England, Max.'

'So? We've been plenty of places!'

'We're settling down here. Jeb and your mom have found us a house.'

'Yes, Fang.' I rolled my eyes. He wasn't usually this dense. Something must be really bugging him.

'Max, we're caging ourselves in. We shouldn't be doing this. We should be out there, helping people! Isn't that what we decided to do?'

'Fang...'

'We said we'd help. We promised.'

'Why are you suddenly getting on my case about this now? I thought you were happy. I thought you understood, at least, what it means to me, to us, to be able to find a place to call home.'

'Max.' Fang stared straight into my eyes, and I held his gaze, trying to figure him out. He had that look on his face, the one that told me he wanted to tell me something that I probably wouldn't like.

'What is it?' I asked.

'Brigid sent me a letter.'

'Oh.' I broke eye contact, looking down.

'She needs my help, Max.'

I noticed that he specified 'my' rather than 'our'. Brigid wanted him, and him alone.

'I promised her I'd give her a hand if she ever needed it, and now she does. I owe her.'

'You owe her nothing!' I hissed angrily. Stupid Brigid. How dare she ruin our peace?

Max.

Not the time!

Let him go.

No, and shut up.

Let him go.

Why should I? Tell me exactly why I should let him rescue Dr. Stupendous?

LET HIM GO.

The Voice's words reverberated in my head, rattling around painfully like bouncy bowling balls.

'Go.' I hissed out, trying not to throw up. 'Just go. Go help her.'

He looked at me with concern, but didn't ask. 'Thanks.' he said.

Come back when you're done, I added silently as he left.