Author Note- Hello ya'll, I was actually going to update this sooner, but I have had a lot going on. My friend just died in a car wreck, he was 17, and his little brother suffered severe head traumas, and then I was sick…no one guessed what Rivers was, but I answered it in this chapter, there were really good guesses though, and very close.

Disclaimer- I own nothing other then Jefferson, Rivers, Spike, The whole BB, Sunday, and Calvin. The entire school and all original characters belong to the gifted JKR, and the song "Come Clean" belongs to Hilary Duff.

23- Restricted

"Let's go back
Back to the beginning
Back to when the earth, the sun, the stars all aligned

'Cause perfect didn't feel so perfect
Trying to fit a square into a circle
Was no life
I defy

Let the rain fall down
And wake my dreams
Let it wash away
My sanity
'Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean, I'm coming clean

I'm shedding
Shedding every color
Trying to find a pigment of truth
Beneath my skin

'Cause different
Doesn't feel so different
And going out is better
Then always staying in
Feel the wind

I'm coming clean
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming...

Let's go back
Back to the beginning"

Rivers let a small smile show to the screaming students. Yes, it had been a really good concert. The curtains whooshed shut and reopened for them to take their final bow. Once the curtains were securely shut and their had been announcement that the Weird Sisters would be up next, Rivers let herself relax. There was always that fear that something would go wrong with a concert, that someone would forget the lines, or get them confused. Rivers was happy that something like that hadn't happened tonight. She smiled as people commented on her outfit.

"Love the 'fit, Rivers, but what are you suppose to be?" Herm asked with a bright smile.

"The element of water." Rivers said returning the smile. Herm laughed, but the sound was lost as the curtains opened to reveal the Weird Sisters. Rivers rolled her eyes, she had never really cared much for the British pop band. She sought out Jeff and gave her a quick wave, which was returned with a bright smile. She really wasn't a school function person. She would much rather be off in some dark corner reading some good scary books. Preferably a Stephen King. So they let her slip out without a comment as they joined into the throng of wildly dancing people.

She picked her way down to the dungeons. Mindful of the couples that had already escaped the Hall to "mingle" with each other. She carefully steered clear of locked classrooms where she could hear distinctive moaning. All she wanted was a quiet place, a place where she could sit and think. With all the gossip around Hogwarts she hadn't had a free moment, there was always a scandal, whether they created one purposely or one got created for them.

She could go back to the Common Room, but the idea of that wasn't all that welcoming. She wanted a place where she could explore and think at the same time. And the dungeons on Halloween had to much of a thrill to overlook.

She turned corners and went down halls, letting herself get lost in the maze. Finally she reached a dead end. She had been so lost in thought she hadn't even noticed how incredibly shabby the dungeons had gotten. The dungeons where people frequented were much more well kept then these. A thick layer of grime covered everything, including the door in front if her, although she handle looked to have been recently used.

Carefully she reached out and turned, she wasn't surprised to find it unlocked. If someone was hiding dark secrets and they wanted to go about them in a place they knew no one in their right mind would frequent, hell, this was the place to do it. Yet, they hadn't counted on Rivers James.

Behind the door was a very dark and very treacherous looking stairwell. Yep, more and more creepy as time went on. Thinking that this would all make a killer thriller later she pulled her wand out, though anyone who looked at her would wonder exactly where she pulled it from, she lit it and began to make her way down the steep stairs.

Halfway down she began to hear shuffling. Maybe she was going to catch some naughty first years doing the deed. The thought of scaring them held such a high that she continued. She could clearly hear someone, it sounded like they were talking. OK, so maybe they weren't doing the deed, but she could still scare the hell out of them. At the foot of the stairs there was a long stretched out hallway with yet another door at the end, the only door branching off the corridor. A faint bluish light came from under the door, no doubt one of those magical fires that stayed lit until the counter charm was uttered. By now she could clearly make out the words. Someone was begging for help, the voice was familiar, although hoarse.

!:.BK.:!

Dumbledore was having a nifty time. Watching the students intermingle. He was very happy with the out come. Placing a former Gryffindor in Slytherin had been a stroke of genus for that old hat. The loyalty to her from her former house mates ran deep, forcing her new house mates, and her old house mates to interact, even if it was a small bit. And the Americans were defiantly a tension breaker. Yet, he couldn't help but feel that something explosive was about to happen. He prided himself on knowing what was going on in the castle. He was attuned to every creek and groan the old structure made, it was like a sixth since.

"Albus, is there something wrong?" the voice was light and slightly worried. As if they didn't want anyone else to hear.

"No, Minnie, just one of those feelings that something is about to happen."

"O dear, I hope nothing to big." She said faintly as she shot a warning look to a couple dancing that were looking a little to friendly.

"Well, these feelings are never wrong, and if this one is right, its going to rock the foundation."

Before Minerva had a chance to reply the doors were thrown open and a very dishelmed American ran through the crowd, they deafly parted like the red sea, as if sensing her urgency.

"And I believe it has started, Minnie."

"What has started?"

" Why IT of course."

"O dear."

"Headmaster. It is imperative that you listen to me right now. I think you and the professors need to see something. Right now." Snape looked disapprovingly at the demanding tone she had used, but saw the fear in her eyes.

With out hesitation Albus Dumbledore sent the students to their rooms, the heads of house followed them and made a brief speech to them about the importance that they stay in their rooms, and for extra measure, looked all escapes. Twenty minutes later they all met in Snape's classroom, where Rivers had told them.

"This had better be good, Miss James." Snape said, although it wasn't quite as biting as usual.

She merely nodded before retracing her steps. It took less time to get the door when she had her destination in mind then it had when she was roaming the halls thinking. They descended the steps, wands out, the sounds of their shoes echoing off the walls. They stopped short at the large door.

"I couldn't get it open. There's someone in there, and I couldn't get it open." Rivers said. Snape looked agitated that the reason that the whole castle had gone on alert had been because a Seventh year couldn't get a door in a restricted section of the castle open…restricted. Which meant the moment she stepped into the restricted section alarms should have gone off, they had been disarmed.

!:.BK.:!

Ginny sat in a big comfy chair with Jeff. Both of them being so small made it easier for them to both fit in the chair comfortably. Ginny was gnawing on her bottom lip as she stared in the fire, Jefferson kept fiddling with her nails.

"That's it!" Spike burst out. "I cant take it anymore! No one else is going to say it so I fuckin will! WHERE THE HELL IS RIVERS!?" it had been well over an hour since the dance had been called suddenly to a halt, and still, Rivers had not returned to the Common Room.

Pansy, who was curled up on the couch between Spike and Draco sighed. "I hope she's alright."

"She had better be. Ill kill the lil reject that fucks with her." Came Cleans gruff voice from the Chair across from Ginny. They had been sitting like that for a while. At first they had thought nothing of it, changing into PJ's and laughing while they waited for the rest of the students to trickle in, it wasn't until the entrance was sealed that they had began to panic. Rivers hadn't been in the house when they had gotten there, nor had she come after. She was most certainly MIA.

Ginny nodded sagely from her nook. Blaise, who was sprawled out on the floor looked a little pale. All in all, they were extremely worried.

"Why do you think the dance was called off?" Draco asked, not once taking his eyes of the mesmerizing flames.

When they had arrived back at the common room there had been a lot of talk about how the "Dark Lord" had attacked, or that someone had found a dead body in the dungeons. None of the comments made the Rivers situation any better.

Ginny shrugged, doing her best not to let out her fears, "Maybe there was something more important that the teachers needed to do, I'm sure we will know either later or in the morning." The others nodded on agreement. So they sat there, in comfortable silence, all worrying about a dark haired girl that was no where to be found.


!:.BK.:!

!:.$h0u7 0u7$.:!

Silverbutterfly- Well I am glad that you checked back!

chicklepea- Jeff was a Punk Princess, LOL! And I will find somewhere to put Summer of 69 because that's an awesome song and I love it!

Michelle Marie Maire- Here ya go, more, and quickly considering, LOL!

Kt- Good guess, but no.

supergirljen- Thanks Jen!

gtrlvr8877- No chance for that dance in this chapter….hmmm…but maybe…

bigreader- WHAT!?!? Where did you get that from?! O wait…"It took Draco a few minutes to get coherent thought flowing through his mind again, but after that it was smooth sailing" He wasn't looking at Pansy, he was looking at Ginny, They had just come out, sorry for the confusion!

dracoshotty, eX-Driver Liz, raisa, Jeeths, IslandGirl-11, swimfan, FunkyWitchOnFire, tasha90tasha, xxvalkyrie17xx, Midnight-Sunn, Allieterag, brokentoy19, Hoppers, da fish, Icy Lullaby, Krystal1989, Nickel - U all had good guess and thank you for reviewing!

A/n- If u like D/G and want to read from someone that updates frequently, then I suggest Flight of the Thestrals by GD-7

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