Disclaimer: As sad as it makes me, I do not own Harry Potter. Although, I do own Ray.

A/N: This idea came to me as I was writing Truth Hurts. This deals mostly with Ray and Lucius, and the trouble that she went through hiding the secret from the Marauders. This takes place before Truth Hurts.

Chapter 1 – Meeting Gone Wrong

Ray silently finished her homework as she waited for everyone else to go bed. The only people that were left besides her were James and Lexie. She didn't have to wait too much longer before they too went to bed. She stayed seated at the table for a few more minutes, just to make sure that no one else was going to come down. Finally, she packed up her stuff, and headed out the Portrait Hole.

She pulled out the marauder's Map that she had borrowed from James earlier that day and simply 'forgot' to give it back. After checking to make sure that the coast was clear, she headed to the unused classroom that had been agreed upon to be where they met. As she put the map back up, she thought about how she was glad to have it for two reasons: One, so she didn't get caught by any teachers, and two, so that she didn't get caught by any of the Marauders. She knew that they wouldn't understand and that they would completely overreact when they found out that she was going to meet Lucius.

This wasn't the first time that she had snuck out to meet him, either. She had gone countless times before then, and some of them were not so secret. She was still amazed that she hadn't gotten caught. Although, she could tell that they were starting to get a little suspicious.

Finally, Ray found herself standing in front of the door. I shouldn't be doing this. She thought to herself. I should just go back to the Common Room and turn in for the night. I shouldn't be here…not with him anyway. She stood outside the door arguing with herself over whether or not to come in until she heard footsteps coming from down the hall. Quickly, she pulled out the map, and after seeing that it was Snape, shoved it back in her cloak and darted inside the room.

Lucius was sitting at the front of the room, and upon hearing the door close, turned around.

"I was wondering when you were going to get here." He said, walking towards her.

"Sorry, I…er…I had a lot of homework to do."

"That's okay. All that matters is that you're here now." He said, closing up the remaining space between them.

"Lucius," Ray started, backing up a little, "can we talk for a minute?"

"About what?' He said, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Maybe it would be best if we put our…relationship…on hold for a little while." She said, her voice filled with worry.

"Why would we do that?" He asked.

"Because I can't do this anymore, Lucius. It's too complicated. You just have to understand."

"Understand what?"

'That we have to break up." She said, with a little more confidence.

"We're not breaking up." He said simply.

"Lucius," She pleaded, "Please, you have to understand. Please." She continued backing up as he started to advance on her.

"It's him isn't it?" He asked menacingly.

"Who?" Ray asked, confused.

"Black. You're getting back together with him, aren't you?" His tone was threatening and showed no sign of sadness or concern.

"Sirius has nothing to do with this." She told him. He continued to move towards her. Finally, Ray found the doorknob, and with her hand behind her back started to turn it.

"You're not getting away that easily." Lucius said as he grabbed her by the arm and moved her, rather forcefully, away from the door, and then carelessly, he threw her to the ground. Ray laid there for a moment, waiting to see what his next move was going to be. She figured that she was safer down there than she was standing up and facing him.

"Why can't you just accept it?"

"Accept what?" He asked.

"Accept that I can't be with you. Why is that so hard for you to understand?" After saying that, Ray found out that her theory of being safer on the floor was wrong as Lucius's foot came in contact with her stomach, making her wince in pain. After the pain had reached a level she could tolerate, she stood up. Lucius turned around to face her, ready to deliver another blow, but not before receiving one himself. Ray smiled in satisfaction as she watched him stumble backwards. He wasted no time in returning the favor as he backhanded her. This caught her slightly off-guard, long enough to allow Lucius to deliver yet another hard-hitting blow to her abdomen. She was knocked to the floor, but she made sure that Lucius came with her. Once he was down, she crawled towards the door, stood up, and turned around, ready to fight again. Breathing was starting to become a difficult task for her, but she didn't dare back down. By the time, she had turned around, Lucius was already back on his feet and only inches away from her.

Now, she could hardly breathe at all, and finally noticed that Lucius had her by the throat. He kept pushing her backwards until she felt the cold wall as Lucius slammed her into it. She struggled with him for what seemed the longest time, when finally, she gathered up all her strength and kicked him in the shin. Luckily, he let go and before he could stop her, Ray was out the door and down the hall.

Halfway to the Gryffindor Common Room, she collapsed against the wall, trying to regain her strength. Her breathing was still shallow and her body ached in every place possible. Tears came to her eyes, but she tried with all her might to hold them back. She slowly stood up and walked down the hall, using the wall as a crutch. She had no idea of the time when she stumbled into the Common Room and found her way to the couch. Her breathing was still irregular and she couldn't stop coughing up blood. She laid there, and softly cried herself to sleep.