A/N: Yeah, so this took a long time to get out. I had to work up the initiative to actually try and type. It was semi-difficult because my computer is an ass and I no longer have Microsoft Word on it : So I had to use WordPad. So using my story bitches I got 21 out :) (Which would be 26...)

Chapter 21: Sharp Objects Are Bad

That night I tossed and turned in my sleep. Images of Rilee's limp body came into my head, the blood, the way her eyes just kind of rolled into the back of her head, the argument... It didn't really make sense anymore. 'Why am I worrying about this?' I thought. 'She doesn't consider you a friend, why should you care.' I gritted my teeth in anger. I tried to help! Why can't see she that! I'm tired of being nice to people only to wind up feeling like I just got hit on the back with a beater's club. I'm not going to sit back and take it anymore.

I sat up in my four-poster and looked out of my curtains. The sun was starting to rise and Hermione was already getting to her feet, stretching. I grabbed my night robe, slipped into and pushed myself up. It was early and I didn't need to be awake yet, but if I slept any longer, I'd go insane.

"You're up early, Emi," Hermione whispered. I glanced at the sleeping forms of the other girls. All three of them were still sound asleep.

"Yeah. I had trouble sleeping," I told her. She doesn't need to know about my nightmares. She shrugged and walked towards her trunk. Picking up my clothes for the day, I went into the bathroom and took a long shower. Maybe the water could wash away any of the guilt I had, it felt like it was covering my skin. I scrubbed my hand and lower arms vigorously, as though I still had the blood on them. 'Must...clean...' I thought, rubbing the washcloth harder than it needed to be, making my skin red with irritation. I gave up and got dressed. There was no use trying to rid myself of the feeling. It was there until eternity.

The others were up and chatting when I returned to the dorm. I disposed of my pajamas and put my school robe on. Running my fingers over the Gryffindor emblem I begin to think that I wasn't a true Gryffindor. How am I brave? I run away from the slightest things, as if some how Rilee is going to turn into a giant quintaped. She is a human being and I'm not afraid of her. I frowned at the thought. 'Maybe I am...'

"Emi!" I jumped at the sound of Lily's harsh voice. She was standing by the door, with her hands on her hips, glaring at me.

"What?" I asked. She sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I've been calling you for five minutes now. Take your head out of the clouds and come to breakfast." I shook my head.

"I'm not hungry." She narrowed her eyes.

"You need to-"

"Eat. I know. I just have something to do. I'll see you in class." I brushed past her and hurried down the stairs. The archery room had been where I originally found Riddle; maybe there will be some kind of clue as to what happened. My mood lightened slightly at the thought. I sneaked around the dungeons quickly, hoping not to run into a Slytherin. A Gryffindor down in the dungeons alone would mean prank time, and I am not in the state of mind to be flipped upside down.

The room was locked, which I took as a good sign. Checking to see if anyone was around, I pulled out my wand and said "Alohomora." 'Such a useful spell,' I thought as the lock clicked and unlocked. I twisted the knob and entered. The trail of blood from where I dragged her to the door was still there. Placing my wand back into my robe, I walked over to the center and stared. In the middle where she was sitting, was a large dry puddle of blood. Shutting my eyes, I took a breath. When I opened them, the blood was still there, I was still awake. "She wasn't fine..." I murmured to myself. "...Poison..." I looked about the room. Everything was in order; nothing appeared to have been touched in days though. Dust covered her bow and cobwebs were forming where her quiver was hanging. "What happened Rilee..."

The floor glinted at my feet and I leaned down to pick up a blade. "Did this cause all the damage?" I brought it close to my eyes and examined it closely. Tears sprang into my vision as the scene flashed before my eyes. It seemed like only a brief flash of light but I was able to see it all.

Rilee sat on the floor of a large stone cavern. Around me was a couple of pieces of furniture, maybe a chair or two, a desk, and what I think is a bed. A long wooden case lay at her side, as she seemed to wait patiently. 'Right, like Rilee has patience.' I began to walk in the direction of her, but stopped myself. She was wearing what I had found her in ... Was this a memory? But how? At the other end of the chamber a figure stirred and started to move toward us. "Mornin' Zach. How's the hangover?" Rilee asked.

'Who's Zach?' I thought, staring over where she was looking. The male came out of the shadows, and I recognized him as the other Slytherin that stayed over break.

The older Slytherin glared at Riddle as she smirked. "Where in hell are we?" he asked, shading his eyes from the "glare" of the lanterns.

"The Chamber." she replied blandly. The one called Zach stopped and gazed.

"You mean-"

"Yes." came the quick response. "I had no intention of actually bringing anyone down here. However, you are the first besides myself ... and Potter ..." The ashened face student growled menacingly at the mention of The-Boy-Who-Fuckin-Lived.

He sat down next to Rilee and slid his hand over the wooden case, fingers edging slowly toward Rilee's uniform skirt. "Can we?"

"Only if you truly want to."

'What the hell? What are they talking about?' I looked back and forth between them, confused. She kept watching forward as his hand moved away and landed on the end of the wood. She bowed her head and stood.

"Yours is under the bed you were laying on." Zach got to his feet and walked back in the direction he came from. Riddle leaned down, untied her shoes and removed her school vest. As she unbuttoned her white shirt the gray tank top underneath finally showed through.

Zach came back down the walkway stripped off his shirt with a sword in his hand. "Ri ... thanks."

"No prob. I mean I've been itching for a good fight. Black isn't good for anything except humor. Pathetic humor."

I growled in my defense but they couldn't hear me. 'I'm gonna bitch her out.' Before me the two Slytherin's got into guarding stance with swords at the ready. They inclined their heads eyes not leaving each other's. Rilee came at Zach, so swiftly that I barely saw what she had done before it was finished.

A lock of Zach's dark brown hair fell to the floor with Rilee standing behind his back. "Come on, Down! You're the one that wanted to do this so get you're fucking act together!"

He pivoted around and slashed her stomach. She looked down in shock at her bleeding body. But before she could counter or block, another strike cut through her hair. Blood seeped into her blue and black hair, matting it against her skull.

She came to her senses and countered the next attack cutting Zach's cheek. They sneered at each other in abhorrence.

I blinked and started slightly. I was back in the archery range, accompanied by a major headache. "Damn it!" I want to know what happens after that! I set the knife back down quickly and turned around to leave, wanting to be as far away from that as possible. Nothing really useful had come from this...endeavor, except that I have a clue what happened.

As I went to open the door, it opened from the other way and I had to step back as Rilee walked through the entrance. She stopped when she saw me and blinked twice before speaking.

"Black... " she muttered, venomously, almost snake like.

"Err- Rid - Rilee," I replied, unsure of what to say. "How are you...ummm... feeling..." She glared at me, and then looked away.

She cleared her throat, "Blac...Emi...um...I... I guess... I guess I should say... thanks..." My eyes grew wide as I looked at her in pure shock.

"Thanks?" She started to edge backwards at the small thank you she had given. She backed into the wall and stood there almost looking frightened but not quite. I smirked a little, and turned towards where the knife lay. "You should take care of that before someone else gets hurt. Tell Zach that sharp objects are bad."

She stared at me in a mix of horror and distaste. "How did -?" She glared at me. "You weren't in the Chamber when he and I.... well... how did you find out?"

I pointed toward the knife. "They work wonders no?" Rilee wasn't herself, the Rilee I know wouldn't say thanks if her life depended on it...did it depend on it?

"Get out," she growled.

"Why? I'm finding this rather interesting. Should I start to think something is going on with you two? Perhaps some strange erotic blood thing?"

"Get OUT!" she screamed, face red. I gasped.

"There is!"

"No."

"Then why are you getting all huffy about it?" I asked, or rather demanded.

"None of your fucking business."

"Touchy aren't we?" I was feeling...errr...rather –brave. Her eyes narrowed more and pushed off the wall.

"You're really trying your luck aren't you, Black? Remember last time you pushed my button too far?" I stifled a laugh.

"I haven't pushed any of your buttons." Rilee snarled at me, looking as if I was a giant Peruvian Viper tooth.

"Shouldn't you be at breakfast?" I questioned before she could attack me.

"Same question goes for you." She appeared to relax slightly.

"I was being Detective Black." I took a breath of air, puffed out my torso like I was a superhero, and placed my hands on my hips.

"You're such a frickin' dork." I smiled cheaply at her.

"Yes. I am aware of that. Now if you excuse me I have class to attend." I picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder. "And you should pick the knife up."

"Evil, horrid, fucking..." I walked out of the room with Riddle muttering curses at my back.

I took my seat next to Lily and smiled to myself. I had successfully pissed Rilee off and walked away without a scratch on me. "What are you so happy about?" Lily asked, ogling at my now happy-go-lucky state.

"I'm having a good day," I stated. She raised an eyebrow, but didn't get a chance to response because Professor Lupin walked into the classroom. He glanced at me, like he usually did and put his briefcase down on the desk.

"Good morning class!" He said rather cheerfully. I moaned quietly and slid down in my chair. Lily elbowed me.

"I'm not letting you copy my notes, so stay away you idiot," she hissed.

A/N: Haha. Oh what foul mouths they had. What was with the knife? What kind of spell was cast on it to make it do that? And how did Rilee get from the Chamber to the archery room without anyone seeing her? Wouldn't you like to know? Me too, lol.