Ooh, what happened to Mattie? And who is her father? You'll find out soon. Don't worry people, I'm not that mean.

"So Mattie's father isn't really dead?" Alice said. I had just finished telling them about the note.

"Well, apparently not."

"But why would she hide this from us?" Lily asked. "Why would she want us to think her dad is dead?"

"Who knows, maybe she ran from an arranged marriage or something? Or maybe she attempted to kill him, and he's come after her?" James said.

"Mattie's not like that." Remus said quietly.

"We don't know that. I mean, how do we know she's not a murderer or even psychotic?" Sirius theorized. "She's lied about her dad; she could be lying about a lot more."

"No, guys, the note said he was coming for her. Maybe he's after her." Alice said. "But why would she lie to us?"

"I don't know." I said.

"What if she's in trouble? Shouldn't we try to rescue her?" Lily said, wringing her hands.

"We don't know that she's in trouble. For all we know, she could have gone crazy, and that note could be a perfectly innocent greeting from her father." James said rationally.

Lily looked at him strangely. "She is not crazy. She wouldn't do that to the common room! There was BLOOD in the common room!"

"Maybe she did it to scare us?" Sirius offered.

"Stop!" Remus suddenly yelled. "You people are insane! Mattie is not crazy, she did not cut herself to scare us. She's in danger, and I can feel it. So, what are we going to do about it?" He looked worried, and angry. I guess James and Sirius weren't helping the situation. Everyone went silent.

"Remus is right. We need to find her. Any ideas?" I ask.

"The Marauder's map might be able to help. If she's still in the castle, or if she's close by, we'll be able to find her." James suggested, hesitantly. "I'll go get it." He scrambled up the stairs to his dorm.

"What's the Marauder's map?" Lily asks curiously.

"The Marauder's map," Remus begins. "Is one of our creations. It's a magical map that tells the reader who is where in the castle." He informed us.

James came back down the stairs, holding a piece of folded parchment. "Here it is." He said, and then pointed his wand at it. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He told the map, tapping his wand at the center.

The map came to life, words springing up and saying something I didn't catch, because James opened it too fast.

"Find Mattie." He instructed. The map changed from one area to another, and came up with nothing. Instead, it went to the great hall, where all of the teachers were gathered.

"Maybe we should go and see what they're up to." Sirius suggested. "They could know something."

"Well, I suppose it's a good idea."

"Why don't we just let the teachers handle it? I mean if they have a lead…" Lily trailed off.

James scoffed. "They're not that good. They have no chance of finding her. They're all practically idiots."

Lily was about to protest. But Remus spoke up first. "Come on then. James, you got the invisibility cloak?" James nodded.

"But I don't think we can all fit under it. Maybe just four of us. Peter, you stay here – Pete?" He asked, looking around. "Has anyone seen Pete?"

We all shook our heads.

"Alright then, I guess we'll find him later." James said. "Anyway, I think we'll take you Azura, and go and have ourselves a little eaves drop, shall we?"

I nodded and Remus, Sirius, James and I set off along the corridors under the invisibility cloak, which James had miraculously pulled out of his pocket.

When we reached the great hall, we could hear the sound of argument.

"Albus, we can't seriously go after him! He's dangerous, and he could hurt the girl!"

"Of course we go after him! He could kill her, if he's that crazy!" Slughorn retorted at McGonagall.

"Quiet!" Dumbledore yelled. "I agree, we cannot go after the girl. However, we must do something. We can't leave her to this maniac. I shall get in touch with the ministry, and get someone from the transportation department, that can help us transport her away from him."

"Albus, where exactly has he taken Miss Blamey?" McGonagall asked.

"He's keeping Matilda and her mother at the old Zonko's warehouse." He told her. "Come now, everyone, we must get back to our students."

There were murmurs or agreement, and I looked to the three other boys, who looked to be scheming already. "We know where that is." Sirius informed me. "But it's a hard place to infiltrate." James and Remus agreed.

"We've got to try." I whisper back desperately. I'd do anything to get Mattie back. Even if she did lie to us about her dad, I've grown close to her. I can't help it if I care.

They nod acceptingly, especially Remus, who seems to have developed a slight crush on her.

We head back to the common room and reveal ourselves to Lily and Alice.

"She's being held," I emphasized held, thus emphasizing the danger. "By her father at the old Zonko's warehouse. You know the one they shut down for a bigger one." I explained.

They nodded eagerly. "Where is it?" Alice asks.

At this, I look to Sirius, James and Remus.

It's Remus who explains. "It's just past Hogsmeade. About an hours walk from Hogwarts, but I'm sure we can fly."

Fly? FLY?! I can't FLY!

Of course you can, Azura, you're brave. Gryffindor, Gryffindor! My brain roars. You've got to save Mattie. So you can kill her.

Lily's eyes widen. "Oh god, I can't fly! James, I can't fly!" She says panicked.

"It's alright, Lily," James coaxes. "You can ride with me. I'm a great flyer." It's true, he is a great flyer, but for some reason, I think Lily's more scared of flying than I am, and it probably won't help.

"Fly? With you? Oh no, oh no. No way, James. I think I'd rather walk." She says.

Alice grins impishly at me. Oh no, what now. "It's okay, Lils, you can ride with me. I mean, I'm not quite as good as James, but I have the basics down pat, you know, getting off the ground… then again, my steering is a little off –"

"James!" Lily squeals, her eyes wide. "I'm riding with James." She says calmer.

"Okay, now that that's settled," Sirius says. "We can get going."

"Wait, one problem, who am I riding with? And how are we meant to get Mattie out of there?" I ask.

"Az, can you fly a broom?"

"Um, well, I… No." I squeak, giving everyone an apologetic look.

"That's alright, Az, You can ride with me or Alice." Sirius says. "As for Mattie, we'll work it out when we get there."

"We can't go yet." James says, nodding to the portrait. "Here come the authorities. We'll have to wait until nightfall."

"Alright, everyone, listen up." McGonagall calls everyone to attention. "You're allowed to leave the tower, but no leaving the Hogwarts grounds. Understand?" There's a chorus of agreement. "As for class, it has been cancelled today. Have a good day." She briskly walks out of the common room.

James and Sirius look at Lily and I. "Time for you two to learn how to fly." They say in unison.

Lily and I look at each other with identical looks of terror on our faces. Uh-oh.