AUTHOR'S NOTE Thanks for the reviews! I've written quite a bit on this story but as of right now it's incomplete. Although, I think my writer's block is beginning to break! Yay!

For anyone wondering, Amy Madison appeared in seasons 1, 2, 3, and 6 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But this isn't a Buffy crossover, I'm just taking Amy.

DISCLAIMER I don't own them, I swear! Oh wait, I do own Bricilla, but no one else.

Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan were full of questions about their fifth roommate's disappearance. Harry and Ron's simple answer of "hospital wing" was readily accepted, as Neville ended up in the hospital quite often.

But Neville didn't return from the hospital the next day. Or the next. Or after that. A week went by and still he remained unconscious. Madam Pomfrey tried her best and still nothing could wake him up.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent as much of their free time researching as possible, but their heavy class loads prevented much of it. Most of their prior years were nowhere near this hard, thus freeing up research time.

Meanwhile, either Harry, Ron, Dean, or Seamus visited their near comatose roommate everyday. None of the Professors seemed to know who or what had attacked Neville. But also, there had been no other students harmed. The entire Wizarding world was in high paranoia over the strangely quiet Voldemort, so one wounded student was not very high on the worry list.

Not yet anyway.

***

Ginny walked silently in the Great Hall. Black drapes lined the paneled walls and students slowly filed in. She had only seen people this somber and the Great Hall o sad the year Cedric had been killed.

The Hall, regardless of the majority of Hogwarts' student body being inside, was near silent. Ginny took a seat next to Luna Lovegood, who she'd become good friends with since they both fought Voldemort in the Department of Mysteries. Luna was a Ravenclaw, but houses didn't matter then.

Slowly, Professor Dumbledore stood up before the school. All of Hogwarts turned their saddened eyes to him. "My dear students," he began. "This is a dark time for us all. Through the years, there has been darkness and there has been light. Never is there one without the other.

"But there are those who fall victim to the dark and get lost, never reaching the light. Today, we mourn one such loss. Pansy Parkinson, 6th year of Slytherin House, is now gone." Dumbledore paused. "She will not go unremembered."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat close together. They far from liked Pansy Parkinson, hated her in fact, but even age-old quarrels were forgotten in the face of death.

Pansy's death had shocked everyone. She'd been killed by a strange curse that left her body completely dry of blood. No one knew of any curse that could do it. Besides, no matter if the house was really evil or not, Voldemort was Slytherin's heir and would doubtfully attack a member of his own house. That meant that someone else was behind it.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione got up to join Ginny and Luna at Ravenclaw's usual table. "Hey Gin," Ron said quietly. Ginny didn't say anything, just attached herself to her brother's waist and sobbed into his robes. Ron patted her hair awkwardly.

"Ginny, stop crying," Harry said soothingly. "It'll be okay."

"But she's…" Ginny tried to speak between hiccups. "She's dead! I didn't even like her and now she's dead!" the girl wailed.

Ron and Harry looked at each other. Too many girls said the silent message. While Ginny wailed, Hermione and Luna had started sniffling as well.

As he and Ron waited out the crying, Harry began to formulate a plan. Whatever had attacked Neville and killed Pansy wasn't through yet. They had to learn more.

"Hi Luna." A shy little voice drew everyone's attention.

Luna looked at the tear-stained face of a terrified first year girl. "Hi Bricilla. Come sit down." Luna looked over at all the Gryffindors. "This is Bricilla. She's my first year."

"Huh?" Ron asked.

"In Ravenclaw, each first year is assigned to a fourth year or older," Luna explained.

"Luna shows me around," the girl said in her small voice.

"That's nice," Harry said smiling. The girl was obviously very frightened.

"Harry?" Ron said pointedly. Ginny had finally let go of him and he was ready to get out of the depressing Great Hall. Harry nodded.

"We have to go," he said apologetically. "Ginny, Luna, we'll see you later. It was nice to meet you, Bricilla." Bricilla nodded.

Once they'd left the Hall, the atmosphere felt considerably lighter. The famous trio ended up alone in a corner of the library. They sat in silence for a minute.

"We need to figure out who's behind this. We need to stop them," Hermione said, her voice dull but firm.

"Duh," Ron said miserably. Harry and Hermione looked at him, confused. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Picked it up from Professor Madison."

Hermione rolled her eyes. Ever since Professor Madison had turned the Hogwarts boys into lovesick puppies, the Hogwarts girls had rather taken a dislike to her. With vague amusement, Hermione realized that this must have been what the boys felt in second year with Gilderoy Lockhart.

"Professor Madison…" Harry repeated. "What if we ask her?"

Hermione glared at him. "You must be joking!"

"She's a powerful witch, Hermione. She knows of creatures and spells used that aren't common in England."

"Hmph." But Hermione didn't argue any more and Harry knew he'd won. Ron looked mildly happy at the chance to learn more about Amy Madison.

Hogwarts went to sleep that night with a heavy heart, but three students among them resolved to find an answer.