I ran as fast as I could through the Forbidden Forest. My beautiful black dress that I had worn to the ball was ripped and torn from the bushes and thorns. I felt a sharp object puncture the bottom of my bare foot and I fell, causing another tear in my dress. I looked at my foot and pulled out the small stick, lodged deep, and almost screamed with the pain. But I couldn't scream. Then he would know where I was. I noticed blood on the leaves and looked at my foot. It was bleeding but not enough to worry about. I heard the sound of crunching leaves just a few yards behind me. I jumped up and kept running. It got darker as I went deeper into the forest and I got more scared with every pound of my feet. I figured I had gotten far enough ahead of him so I stopped, breathing hard, and slowly sat down at a tree trunk.

"Lily?" I heard

I looked around me, afraid to even breath.

"Lily?"

I saw a tall figure walk toward me. I was too afraid to move. Out of habit, I crossed my arms out in front of me in defense. Then, as the figure came closer, I noticed it was James.

"Lily, are you okay?" He asked.

I put my pointer finger to my lips and he was quiet. I didn't hear anything so I whispered.

"Lucius." I knew that word was enough.

"What!?" He whispered angrily.

I nodded. I knew that he knew why I had been running.

That's when I started crying. I looked at myself. A pitiful picture. My dress was ripped, my feet were dirty and one was bleeding, my red hair, which had been so nicely put up in a bun was now a tangled mess with leaves and twigs.

"Come here." James said, his arms wide open and inviting.

I fell into him, thankful for arms around me, warmth…and a friend.

He wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb.

"I'll get you to the Infirmary." He told me.

I nodded. "Thank you."

He titled his head to the side and looked at me sorrowfully. I tried to smile at him.

He pointed to his broom and I climbed on.

I looked down at the dark forest below me as we rose into the night sky. With the small breeze and my arms around James, I felt safer than I had in a very long time.