Scotland's nights are dreadfully long in the winter, but that never stopped Lily from taking a long walk with her two most loving friends. The moon shown bright and full, giving the grounds a surreal look of silver. Hogwarts newest attraction was the fabled "Pathless Wonder" a maze promptly renamed for its reputation of impossible. Its walls were fully 30 feet high and 10 feet thick. Paths were constantly changing, and so were its contents. It was very common knowledge that no student had yet to over come the maze, and many a student had to be found or saved. The maze was often used for Defense Against the Dark Art's classes; do to the fact that many monsters roam the area. This is the cause for the rescuing that had taken place. Dumbledore himself had brought on the trouble though when he proclaimed that "…no such beauty or treasures can be found else where…" this only added to the imaginations of romantic women and adventurism of the men. Lily often found herself trying climb this mountain of a goal she placed before herself, but it also gave her time to reflect and be with her friends. Jealousy didn't come by Lily naturally but every time she looked at her best friend since her first year, she could help but feel saddened. Jenna Hence was blonde, slim, beautiful, athletic, smart, amazing, and probably the funniest person she could think of, well besides her troublesome guy friends. Jenna had been nicknamed "Bonita" by her guy friends, because of a little Spanish heritage, and because the title fit better then her real name; Bonita means pretty in Spanish. Jenna had striking eyes of silver-ish blue that seemed to shine no matter what was occurring in her life. Her smile shown like the stars and her hair was like a ripple in pure water. Best of all, Jenna was Lily's friend. Lily felt most in place next to her other friend, although barely so. Rachael Darling was quick thinking but articulate, fun but smart, friendly but conservative, pretty but good care less if she was notice. Lily could win, either way she looked, she felt herself shrink in her friends shadows. 16 years had been kind to Lily though, flaming read hair, a heart of gold, a smile of diamonds, a mind worth a bundle of rubies, and eyes of emeralds, literally. Lily stood out, and in the all the right ways. Heads turned and eyes widened when she strolled through the halls, but Lily was oblivious to this fact.
"Ya know you two really should stop being yourselves." Lily spoke, breaking the silence, with just a touch of bitterness in her voice. The two of them turned to regard their best friend. This had become a ritual; one they thought was very much played out.
"Lily dearest, if I could be you, by all means, I would." Rachael said frowning a bit as she looked at her beautiful friends. Lily noticed this with just a slight bit of trepidation. Jenna on the other hand had had quite enough of the ever low self-esteem of Lily Evans.
"Girl, I'm about to mess that pretty little face of yours up, "oh woe is me, the Wicked Witch of the West rivals me in beastly-ness. Blah Blah Blah, I'm so ugly, my heart is breaking, sniff sniff blah blah blah…" Really Lily get a grip, gorgeousness must have been a charm you learned well!" Jenna finished with a nod of her head, and a flip of her hair.
"Jenna, your lies and threats skip right off me, I'm tough as a tree and… probably as ugly!" Lily quickly retorted jumping quickly out of slapping reach. Jenna turned, the burn in her eyes far more furious then usually.
"Phew, I'm glad you said that…I didn't really want to lie to you about your looks… but you let me off clean!" Jenna's tone told both girls that her words meant pittance, but just for good measure, she flung herself at Lily.
"Grrrrr, you…are so messing with fire!" Lily growled, pinned tightly under Jenna's slender form.
"Fire eh? Fire would burn a little tree like you but it must be fire, I smell smoke issuing from your little pea sized head! Fire, I dear say, more like…Sparky!" Jenna whispered which was followed by a good heartfelt laugh, but she soon regretted it. Lily flipped Jenna clear over her head soon had her pinned down. Rachael giggled from the side, cheering for whoever was losing at the time.
"Sparks set fires my dear, and I'll burn you every time" Lily remarked coyly.
"More like squish me!" Jenna breathed out. A pure look of horror to amusement crossed Lily's face. Lily stepped up and stretched forth her hand to help Jenna to her feet. Jenna would have the last word though. She grabbed Lily's hand and yanked with all her might, sending Lily toppling to the ground. Lily and Jenna both jumped to their feet but were promptly pushed over by Rachael. To her credit, they both toppled over a nearby bench. They all sat down, giggling and panting, leaning on each other for support.
"Where are we?" Lily asked with a puzzled look on her face. She didn't recognize were she was, and immediately excitement coursed through her naïve little self.
"Well… it's a place called Earth Lily, see that right there Lily, that's a rock, and that's a flower, sort of like you Lily, but just your name, not you. Do you know what you are Lily?" Rachael had a wry smile on her face as she spoke to Lily as if she was three.
"Positively charming Rach." Lily responded. Her eyes searched everywhere. Dumbledore was serious this time (which was often hard to tell) this place was beautiful. A small waterfall, leapt from the top most part of the maze wall. The water sparkled in the moon, taking on an unreal glow. The flowers showed like a cloud of colors, making the whole picture of pure rapture, a view of heaven. The grass glistened from a blanket of dew. It seemed like the stars had fallen and made their new home here. Lily stood and walked towards the pond. She peered towards her reflection, but gasped when she saw someone else's face.
" Well 'ello me dear! Greet daay for a swem… well night I gess." The reflection grinned. He looked around for a minute and then stared off with a puzzled look on his face. "Naw wer did that monkay go?" He finally said. Lily looked confused, but she soon found what he was talking about. By this time both Rachael and Jenna had slowly inched forward, when suddenly a huge splash emerged from the pond, and a head poked out from the depth. A Little monkey's grin and clap was seen and heard from the pond.
"Ya like 'im? Well he is yors!" Pond man blurted out as the monkey buried Lily in a huge hug. Lily was utterly speechless; she had no time to dispute the Pond man's gift, because his reflection disappeared. Lily was dumbfounded. But she couldn't possibly leave it. Rachael and Jenna wouldn't possibly let her either. So on Lily's back he jumped, and to her utter surprise, she felt not one drop of water.
"The monkey…he isn't wet." Lily quietly spoke, almost as if to herself. Jenna had a queer look on her face and Rachael touched the monkey and found that Lily's claim was correct… the monkey wasn't wet.
The walk had been odd indeed that night, so the girls decided that the next one would be on the grounds, and not in the bizarre maze. A chill ran down their spine as they navigated towards the entrance. The bushes seemed to be growling fiercely at them. Their hearts couldn't take it. They dashed every which way, Rachael ran straight a head and jumped around a corner, after which a scream came piercing the cool night air. Jenna sprinted to the closest tree and hopped up and continued to climb, nimble as a cat. Lily's legs seem to be carrying her with no direction, so it was no surprise she tripped, head over heels into the intersecting pathways. She felt hot blood on her neck. She felt for the damage but her eyes widened in shock as the wetness from her neck was not blood, but saliva. She slowly turned her head, hearing the whimpers of her pet in her ear, and locked gazes with a werewolf. The weight of the monkey on her back vanished, as it seemed the monkey disappeared, she heard noises all around her, but couldn't focus on anything but it's eyes. She did see out of the corner of her eye a trickling stream of water. 16 years old and she still must have fear enough to wet herself, but so paralyzed with fear, she couldn't feel a thing. Time stopped. It's teeth bared. It seemed my life was over, 'maybe I won't feel that either' Lily thought. But even thinking became too difficult. It reared a step, it's bouncing, killing blow was cocked and ready.