Hey readers! I cannot say how sorry I am that I haven't been writing since, I think January or February. I got hooked with this website on Christmas vacation and then, life started again! Whether it was a dance competition, a sports tournament, dance practice, homework, vacation, or school- I just didn't have time to write! And when I did, I had serious writer's block! I AM SO SORRY! But, it is summer now! I can't say I will be writing a chapter every day because I still have dance and sports and, I'm taking a Grade 9 English course. But, I'm going to try to post a chapter every week. That might be divided with my other stories though (sorry!) Anyhow, I know I haven't written and I'm sorry. But, I'm back. A little rusty so take it easy on me!

James woke to the sound of urgent, quick feet coming from the hallway outside the Gryffindor common room. He sat up on the couch, rubbing his eyes and looking around in confusion. The last thing he remembered was sitting up brooding about his try-out and, most importantly, Raeverri. He had seen her in the halls but she had completely ignored him, walking by as though he were a stranger. He had even called her name when she had turned and stared at him, before moving on. She had been wandering around the school like a loner, confused and angry, all week long. His try-out had gone horribly, the memory of their encounter distracting him the whole time. He had been beaten by some first-year in the scrimmage and the memory of Roxanne smirking triumphantly made him cringe. He returned to the common room after dinner in a state of distress, and drank a few bottles of alcohol some seventh year had given him. People had avoided him all night until, he guessed, he passed out on the couch.

Now, the urgent voices in the hallway leaked through the wall, allowing James to catch glimpses of the conversation. "We need to get her to the hospital wing immediately," a deep voice said anxiously. "We have no idea how long she's been passed out or why."

"Yes, of course. We should contact someone immediately," a woman's voice responded. James stood up and moved closer to the doorway. "But who do we call?"

"What do you mean?" the man asked. "Her parents are likely to want to know."

"Don't you know who this is Professor?" asked the woman. "This is Raeverri Budrige. Her parents died this summer."

James felt himself go lightheaded, placing a hand on the wall to keep him standing. He pushed open the door and scurried out into the hallway, looking around desperately. Right to his left, he saw Professor Nigel, who taught Muggle studies, and Professor Longbottom, his family friend and herbology professor, who were crouching down, obstructing James's view. Pushing through them, he gasped as he saw Raeverri's ragged body. Her long, dirty blonde hair was tangled and frazzled around her head. Her clear blue eyes with the delicate green flecks were blank and unseeing. Her skinny body was splashed around on the ground and James saw a few broken bones. He would have believed she was dead if it wasn't for the shallow rise and fall of her chest.

"Potter," Professor Nigel said, placing a hand on his shoulder. James shrugged it away, collapsing down onto his knees. He took Raeverri's unbroken hand and squeezed it, willing her to come back.

"Rae? Rae? Please don't do this," he begged.

"James," Neville Longbottom said, pulling him back by tugging on his messy robes. "Do you know anything about this? Did you hear anything? Why was she out here instead of with the Hufflepuffs?" he asked, his hand clenching into a fist on James's robes.

"I don't know! I didn't—I didn't hear anything. I was, I was out cold," James sputtered.

"We can talk to James later, Professor," Professor Nigel said and Neville released his grip. "Right now, we need to get her to the hospital wing. James, go back to sleep. We'll talk to you in the morning."

James nodded and stepped back as Professor Nigel began to levitate Raeverri down the hall. He watched until they turned the corner and he could see them no more. Upon return to his dorm, he stepped back in confusion as he opened the door to bright, blinding lights.

"James!" Fred said as he entered the room. "We didn't hear anything but, I got up to go to the washroom and found this," he said, motioning to the mess around James's bed. His trunk and dressing table drawers were thrown open, the contents spewed across the floor. "They didn't take anything except for one," Fred said, twisting his hands sheepishly as James sat down on his bed and looked around in shock at the mess.

"What did they take?" he asked, looking up.

"The Maurader's Map."