A/N: Continued from the last chapter. I need to pick up the pace and actually write the ending here soon. Meaning, Smack and I have to get together to write everything for it, 'cause I need her to do it. (Nephiro plays a huge part).

Chapter 23: Ice Adventures

Rilee left me completely stunned and feeling very immature. Harsh emotions means harsh words, and my particular harshness was not acceptable. I would have hit the straw dummy if it still hung, but the limp creation was still on the floor, surrounded by the yellow stuffing. I stared at the door for some time before chasing after her, hoping I'd find her quickly. "Rilee?" I cried, fairly loud down the abandoned hall. After a minute of waiting for a reply, I shut the door behind me and started towards the dorm to grab my cloak. 'I have nothing better to do than ponder life's existence. Why don't I do it where it's cold and wet?' I thought bitterly.

The common room was full of first and second years and a few others that couldn't go to town. I shrugged them off me as they tried to speak and made my way up the stairs. I grabbed my black cloak with silver lining and threw it around my shoulders and walked to the window. No one seemed to be out on the grounds, probably do to the cold. The Whoomping Willlow seemed to be back to it's normal violent self, thrashing about all alone, and at nothing in particular. Sighing, I slowly made my descent the Entrance Halls.

I ran past the dementors that roamed near the front gates and began to steer towards the Whoomping Willow, hoping I'd find that dog. A figure stood by the lake, in what seemed like all black clothing, but no robe or anything to keep them warm. "Rilee . . ." I whispered to myself and changed my direction. The snow crunched under my feet as I trudged through it to get to my acquaintance. She turned to face me, as I got closer. "I'm really sorry Rilee. I didn't mean to be so... so..." I glanced up her face, and then dropped my eyes back to the ground, unable to look her in the eyes. The ground showed an interesting view. It seemed Rilee had come out here to freeze to death. She had no cloak, no robes, and no shoes. Her bare feet were red from the cold. 'She must be in some serious denial or something.'

"Whatever Black," she responded quietly.

"Ri- you need to get warm..." I said quickly.

"No I don't" she replied equally as quiet. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not," I stated, reaching towards her arm. She pulled back slightly, and looked at the lake, which was now frozen over with a layer of ice and snow. She walked toward it and sat down hard in the snow. Rilee placed her face in her hands and shook slightly. Not knowing what to do exactly, I removed my cloak and placed it on her back. I at least had my school robes to keep my some-what warm. Sitting down, I wrapped my arms around my legs. "I'm here to listen and to remain silent."

She was quiet for sometime, probably forgetting that I was even there. "I guess you never heard about my boggart fear." Her sudden speech spooked me. It had a husky, cold, hissing sound embedded in it.

"No . . . I never did..." I answered hesitantly. She grabbed her shoulders and tried to warm herself. She was now shaking and turning a slight purple, blue color. I eyed her, waiting to see if she would tell me. I had never thought that something could scare her. "Please, come inside before you freeze to death," I begged, trying to put an emphasis on dying.

"No thanks, not hungry mom." I glanced over at her. What the hell was that? She had moved swiftly to the lake edge and was playing in a small section that wasn't covered in ice. Her eyes were smiling but hurt. 'Oh great she's become delirious.'

I got to my feet and followed her to the edge of the water. I attempted to cling to her arm and pull her out but she moved again quickly and ended up just pulling me in with her. The cold traveled up my body, like suddenly the warmth decided to go on vacation. Gasping, I glared at her. I could feel my teeth start to clatter, and my bones shake. "But you need to eat something dear," I commented, remember her remark not to long ago.

"But I'm not hungry!" she said with force. Her voice had changed into a higher pitched tone. She sounded more like a 7 year old with a mother than a 13 year old at school. My eyes widen in surprise.

"You eat now, or you go to bed," I said sternly. My aunt said that to me once...

The young Rilee grinned. "Sleep!" She ran out on to the ice and jumped up and down. "Come get me!" No!

"Rilee Riddle! Get back here this instant!" I screamed as loud as I could. The ice under her made a slight bouncy movement. I looked around and saw no one coming, so I took a step. "I don't have time for these games!"

She laughed manically; or at least attempted to. "If you can call me by my full name than I'll come in. Hahaha, no one knows either."

She ran further out onto the ice and slipped. "RILEE!" I threw my arm out as if trying to catch her but she was too far away. I saw her slide across the frozen water and slowly come to a stop. Grinning, she stood up and took one step back. I heard a snap and the rush of water. It came to me fast. The ice had broken and the underwater current was running were Rilee now stood. "Rilee! Come back. Quickly!" I attempted to move forward a little but ended up slipping myself. My butt hit the ice below me hard and I groaned in pain. The sound of cracking was loud and I felt the ice move partly. Stiff with fear, I stared at the small split of ice coming out from beneath my body.

"Shit!" I yelled, coming to my senses finally. I tried to move my body away from the sinkhole. A loud noise erupted and I saw Rilee's legs be engulfed by the cold substance. A strangled sound emerged from her throat before being cut off. I didn't have time to react before being sucked into the hole I made. I cried out for help, but only managed to swallow the lake's fluid. I thrashed my arms and legs about, searching for something to grab on to. Water flowed into my clothes, making me heavier that needed, weighing me down. I tried to wiggle free of my robe, to rid myself of some of the overbearing load.

I could see a dark form far away under the water with me. I guessed it to be Rilee. I tried fighting the current to get back to the surface but hit the ice instead. I had moved away from the hole. Bloody hell! A pair of scalely hands grabbed my arm. I freaked out and flayed about, forcing the creature away. Muffed voices could be heard from the shore and opened my mouth to scream. A light above me gave me hope and I tried again for it. This time a strong hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me through a large hole. It all happened so fast . . .

My body felt so cold, so weak, I drew in a breathe of the air and coughed up water that I had let through my throat. My limbs shook with iciness and my teeth were so clattering like earlier. Never in my life have I'd ever experience this sort of feeling. Feeling of death...

I jumped as something was wrapped around me. Warmth. A blanket? No -a jacket. "Emi? Can you hear me?" I turned my head to see Lupin squatting next to me, and looking worried. I nodded in response and hugged myself tightly. He moved closer and picked me up. I began to struggle.

"No! Rilee is out there!" Farther down the ice, magic burst upward and Rilee was popped onto solid land. She sat kneeling catching her breath before sticking her head underwater. A large blue fin/hand thing shot out of the water and gripped her arm. I lurched forward but Lupin held me back. He watched fascinated. "Lupin, do something!" Another shape appeared by Rilee, and was slowing making it's way to her.

"She is being taken care of," he replied. He turned and started towards the school steps, still carrying me. I saw in the distance Rilee struggle against the figure. They grew to small dots as the doors of the Entrance Hall closed behind us. Lupin walked briskly down the halls of the school, seeming to be headed towards the infirmary. Kicking the door open he practically ran to the closest empty bed and set me down. I was no longer shaking but I still felt cold as if there was a dementor standing next to me. Madame Pomfrey bustled out of her office with an aggravated sigh, but her annoyed look turned to an array of emotions when her eyes feel on me.

"What in Merlin's beard?" She exclaimed, rushing to the opposite side of Professor Lupin.

"I found her in the lake," He said hoarsely. "Miss Riddle should be following soon. Mr. Qwin took the liberty of bringing her."

"The lake. Oh you poor child," Pomfrey whispered to me. She pulled open a drawer that located between my bed and an empty one, and pulled out a bar of chocolate. "Eat all of it this time Emily. No throwing it away." I made a face at the bar of fat and took it from her.

"Yes, ma'am." I ate my disgusting chocolate bar in silence, only looking ahead of me, ignoring the two adults we were speaking with each other. It was about 10 minutes or so when Isaac burst in with a limp Rilee in his arms. "Pomfrey! We're back!" he said loudly. The nurse turned and faced the two teenagers.

"Quiet Isaac. I'm right here." She hissed. "She fell in too? My this child is prone to getting injured." She shook her head and I looked at her confused. 'How often was Rilee here?'

Isaac set Rilee down on the closest bed and sat down beside her. He was worried. I could tell by the way he gazed at her with that pleading look. The way he held her. If Rilee was alive -well of course she is alive- awake, I should say, she would probably push him away. This was the second time he had saved her. At least, the second to my knowledge.

"Isaac," I called out quietly. He looked up and walked over to me.

"Yeah?" he asked weakly.

"She's okay right?" He wouldn't meet my gaze and stayed quiet. "She's still alive right?" His silence was scaring me. "Answer me!"

"It's hard to tell. She's - well, her body has been injured so many times that another intense attack could crash her for some time. Truthfully, this will be tougher for her to handle than when she got sliced up. I don't know what happened then and I don't know all that happened this time but I do know that Rilee won't wake up for at least a week." He had said it fast but clearly. I had heard every word -every bloody word. Why do things like this happen to Rilee?

I lay back down on my bed and rolled over so I was on my stomach. Placing my head into the pillow, incasing it was my arms, I screamed, letting my voice get engulfed by the cotton fabric.

A/N: Parts of this were meant to be silly, lol. I'm so lazy. Another AIM production. :)