Wow! A new chapter! And so quick! Over the 4 day weekend I had 3 options, study (eww), work on my english project (as if), or write another chapter. Seeing as my non existent social life wouldn't add to the mix, option C seemed like a the more suitable thing to do...

Well, that being said enjoy!

And no, I don't own Harry Potter. (still wish i did though)

Raine lifted her eyes from the old tattered book in her hands as she heard drunken laughter coming from downstairs. Looking to her right she brought her hand down to gently stroked her dog's messy brown curls.

Even through the closed door the smell of smoke and alcohol still drifted into her room from the adults downstairs. Then again, when couldn't she smell it?

"I'll be back." She said to the small plush toy sized dog that barely moved as the lifted herself up.

Grabbing her book she slid out the window and climbed up the makeshift ladder lining the side of the house. Once on the roof she sat down, the autumn breeze stroked against her bare arms. Shivering she grabbed her knees and attempted to keep warm.

She stared out into the park that bordered their backyard and sighed, looking up into the sky she could see bats circling above the small playground. Slowly Raine let her mind wonder what it would be like to just fly way, leave it all, not feel so alone.

She couldn't remember how her life had ended up how it is now, in her younger years they used to be happy. Happy she laughed thinking to herself; I haven't felt like that for a long time.

Even outside on the roof she could somewhat still hear the shrieks from the adults in the house. Looking over her shoulder to what used to be a front yard she saw six or seven cars parked over the dying lawn. Old chairs, crushed beer bottles, and cigarette boxes lined the ground both inside and outside of the house. It's not like they care how the house looks anyway, for the hour they're sober everyday all they do is try to cure their never ending hangovers.

Once again opening her almost forgotten book she continued reading.

Several hours later her parents and their friends had seemed to calm down a little, probably all passed out. Raine though as she stood up and climbed back into her window. Throwing her book on the bed next to her still sleeping dog, she grabbed her pajamas and walked to the bathroom. Thankfully it was right next to her room, she didn't really want to have to deal with going downstairs right now; she didn't really want to have to deal with going down ever.

Taking off her clothes she stepped into the warm water. Letting it run over her seemed to make the stress go away, well as much as the stress could leave someone in her position. Rubbing shampoo through her locks of long brown hair she looked down at her legs, like usual they were all bruised. She thought back to every beating her drunken father had given her, all the things he had blamed these senseless thrashings on; didn't do her chores, back talked, refused to show him the respect he deserved, the continuous excuse of a list went on.

It's not like it matters she thought to herself, "I'm just Raine" she said out loud, "who cares about me?"

So that's Raine Belifort. Albus thought to himself looking at the girl he was supposed to 'bring back' as Thickanesse had put it. Of course before that he had to confirm that she did, in fact, possess some sort of magic ability. And that, was the reason he was sitting, in a park, with his father's invisibility cloak, at one in the morning.

Yawning, he once again brought his attention to the girl. She was sitting on the roof of a rather run down house, looking like she was in a trance. Suddenly she was looking straight at him well not at him, seeing as he was invisible, but in his direction. Her hazel eyes scanned the park that he had been standing in. though he was far from her he could almost see the desolation in the girls eyes.

When she got up and went inside Albus took it as an opportunity to get closer. Walking up to the house he could hear people laughing, and it wasn't very hard to tell that they were far past drunk. As he walked closer to the house he could see what a sorry shape it was really in. Most of the roof tiles were cracked or falling off, the windows almost all had been shattered but not enough to completely fall apart, lots of bits of the siding that lined the old house was sprawled across the wreck of a yard, and he doubted the lawn had been cut for several months now. It was a horrible place.

Stepping out of the shower Raine grabbed her towel. She quickly dried herself and put on her pajamas. Walking slowly to her room, she still heard people downstairs.

"Raine!" a man slurred through his drunkenness behind her.

"Yes dad." She said turning around.

"Wha were ya doin'" he said as he swayed back and forth.

"Shower."

"Why were ya showerin'? I tol you ta stay in yar room!" he said as he slapped her across the cheek, knocking her down.

Standing up Raine stroked the drop of blood out of the corner of her mouth.

"Go ta bed!" Her father yelled as he walked down the creaking stairs.

Once off the floor she slowly walked into her room, stopping to look in the mirror she saw where her father had hit her, it was already beginning to swell. Grabbing an old shirt she dabbed away the blood.

Sitting outside her open window Albus looked into the room. Old clothes and trash were sprawled over the floor; her small unmade bed looked like it hadn't been washed in months, a ratty dog sleeping on it. As far as he could tell the only normal looking things in the room were a few books and an old brush.

Then he could hear voices.

"Wha were ya doin'" a highly drunken man said.

"Shower." He guessed it was Raine who had replied.

"Why were ya showering? I tol ya ta stay in yar room!" the man shouted before Albus heard a loud smack.

"Go ta bed!" He heard the man yell.

The door opened and he saw Raine come into the room, he could see a bruise forming on her bleeding cheek. She dabbed it with a cloth before turning out the dim light. Going to the window she quickly closed it, and lay down in her bed.

Albus barely knew anything about her but he already knew he felt sorry for her; no one should be in the mess she was sucked into. He was going to get her out of there; he was going to save her.

There you go! (i really need to tone down the enthusiasm) I was debating weather or not to leave the dog in but, after long dreadful hours of heated debate with myself, I decided to leave him (yes him) in. Truth be told he's based on my dog. Who, I did in fact turn to when i got my first review and said "Jess! I got a review" as i did a little dance. Now that that story you really did need to hear is over, i bid you adieu!

And a big thanks to everyone who reviewed and/or added the story to your favorites. I love you all! Okay, I've go things to do, food to eat, more chapters to write, so bye... i guess...