Chapter Two

"You must know more than that," James said. "How did you find out?"

"Do you remember that holiday I spent with my cousin in London?" Lily said. "I snuck out one night. I realized Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest weren't far out. I went to visit the Forest-"

"Lily!" James exclaimed. "Are you daft? You could've-"

"I know."

"Go on," I prompted.

Lily took a deep breath. "As I was saying, I went to visit the Forbidden Forest at night, and I wasn't far in before I heard the roars. There was a wealth of them, from over by where the forest borders the lake, on and on in the night. It was… Frightening, to say the least. Most of the creatures of the forest were running away. I had just gotten close enough that I could see something moving in the distance when they stopped. The creature just vanished somehow."

"And?" Sirius pressed, leaning forward. "Did you go any further?"

"No," she said. With a pointed look at James, she added, "I'm not that daft."

"So what did you do?" I asked.

"I left. I decided I would come back later, with help."

"I'm going with you," James declared. Lily shook her head.

"No, I already know who I'm bringing."

"Who?"

Lily glanced at me. "Hazel is coming because she's proficient at Care of Magical Creatures. Whatever it is, she'll know what to do with it, or at least have an idea. I'm also bringing Remus-"

"You aren't," James said quickly. "You cannot bring Remus Lupin into a dark forest at night."

Lily gave him a sharp look. "I'm not going to be careless, James. I'll take precautions. It won't be… Then."

Confused, I was about to ask when Sirius spoke up, "Who else, then?"

"Those two, Remus because he's a very talented wizard with defense against the dark arts, and Severus."

James groaned. "Why, Lily? Why him?"

"James, he's my best friend," Lily protested. I felt a guilty twinge as I thought about the jokes I had made to Cassi not a week before. Lily carried on. "And on top of that, there's a potion he can brew that can help us, and he knows so much about potion ingredients that-"

"Whatever," James interrupted. "Come on, Sirius, let's go find Remus and Peter."

James abruptly left the cart and Lily put her head in her hands as Sirius followed. A moment later, the longer-haired of the two poked his head back in with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry about him," Sirius said, looking mostly at Lily. "James has been weird lately. He'll snap out of it when he eats." He turned to me. "Nice seeing you again, Hazel."

He exited the cart and I turned to Lily. "I'm guessing that's why you aren't bringing him."

She sighed, looking out the window into the gathering darkness. "He's only upset because I'm bringing Sev and not him. Sev is and has been my best friend. I'm not leaving him out of this purely on principle. Sev is braver than James thinks, anyways."

"Why are you with him?" I asked, and Lily looked over in surprise.

"What?"

"James- why are you with him?"

Her cheeks reddened. "I'm not."

"But you want to be."

"I just… He's more decent than he makes himself out to be. The only reason he dislikes Sev is because he thinks Sev is actually in love with me, which is ridiculous! Right?"

I raised my eyebrows, and her easy smile sank. She sighed. I stood. "I'm not leaving, but I'll be right back."

She nodded and I made my way down the aisle. I crossed into the Slytherin cart and it didn't take me long to find him- Severus Snape, sitting alone. The pale boy had a hollow expression, his dark eyes contrasting to the greasy dark hair that fell flat on his head. I opened up the cart and smiled at him.

"Hey, come with me."

He looked up. "Why."

"Because Lily Evans is having a bad train ride so far and she needs her best friend."

He moved to stand, and then leaned back. "This isn't something to do with James Potter, is it?" He practically spat the name.

"Yes and no? James is responsible for her being unhappy. I think if you were to come sit with her she'd feel better."

He stood, grabbing his things. "Fine."

We returned to the cart, and as I moved to step in nearly ran smack into Remus Lupin who had ducked to the side to avoid the trolley. I smiled at him. "Remus! Fancy meeting you here."

"And you, Miss Drummond."

I glanced in the cart. "I think Lily would appreciate you sitting with us a moment."

He nodded and entered the cart with me. I bought a box of Berty Bott's and sat on my seat with my back to the wall and knees pulled up, snacking as Lily explained to Severus and Remus what she had told me and James and Sirius earlier. Severus agreed immediately, beginning to rattle off different potions he could make for our benefit, when Remus interrupted.

"Lily, if you told James and Sirius, they'll find a way to come with us regardless."

She shook her head. "Not if you keep this secret. Remus Lupin, if you tell them when we're doing this, I will personally brew a polyjuice potion that will turn you into Professor McGonagall, tie her up, and lock you in her office until she finds you and then she will punish you herself."

I had never heard her sound so threatening, and at Remus's surprised silence, I grinned. "I like that. You have more backbone than I gave you credit for, Lily."

She grinned and turned to Severus. "You're in, then?"

He nodded.

She turned to Remus. "And you?"

"I suppose."

And me. "What about you, Hazel?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

She nodded. "Alright. Do any of you have any free periods?"

"I'm not taking Ancient Runes this year. I'm free everyday except when we finish off with Divination."

"Why are you taking Divination?" Remus asked. I shrugged.

"It's fascinating."

"Not the point," Lily said. We discussed briefly, and it was discovered none of us were taking Ancient Runes. We decided on those days we would meet in the library and prepare. By that time, darkness had fallen outside.

"I'm headed back to Ravenclaw's cart," I said, standing with my empty jellybean box. "It's almost time to change into our uniforms."

"Alright," Lily said. "Thanks for coming to sit with me."

I smiled at her. "No problem." I grabbed my stuff. "Bye, Lily. Bye, Sev. Bye, Remus."

They said their goodbyes and I made my way down. I found the cart with my friends, who immediately questioned me but received no answers. I managed to get Xeno to leave under the pretense we had to change. Xeno had grown over the summer- his platinum blond hair was just past his jaw now, and his face had matured, gaining a more masculine jaw. It was odd when his prince-like looks met his eccentric personality. Xeno left and the four of us changed, and by the time I had just sat down, the train was slowing to a stop.

"Oh, I am so ready to be in the Great Hall with that feast," I said, one hand on my stomach. All I had eaten today was the jellybeans and the breakfast this morning. Normally, I would have packed a lunch, but I had forgotten. Maybe I did need Mum to drop me off.

"I'm just glad to have everyone back together," Pandora said. "It's good to see you, Hazel."

I smiled, meeting her blue eyes. She was so pretty- big blue eyes, soft features, blonde hair. It seemed as if she had somehow gotten even more beautiful over the summer. "It's good to see you, too, Pandora. Can I ask why you and Xeno were sitting so close?"

She blushed, the red coming out clear on her pale cheeks.

"They're in love," Yumi sighed, and then giggled teasingly. Pandora crossed her arms.

"We are not in love! He's just…" She gazed fondly at the door he had exited through, her head tilting to the side and a small smile curving her lips. "He's sweet."

"He's batty," Cassi retorted, laughing.

"Maybe so, but I think he's sweet," Pandora argued, laughing.

"And you?" Cassi asked, looking back at me. "What have you been doing for so long, over on yonder Gryffindor cart?"

I rolled my eyes, grinning. "Cass, if I could tell you guys, I would- you know that. It's just… I need to know more. I need to understand what I'm dealing with before I say anything. To anyone. I can't even tell Dumbledore this."

"Then it sounds like something you shouldn't be doing," Cassi replied.

"And maybe it is," I snapped. "How do you know? You don't even know what it is."

"Because you won't tell me! You're too busy conspiring with Lily Evans and her Gryffindor friends."

"The only other Gryffindor even involved is Remus Lupin."

"Oh, great, the pretty boy with the sad eyes. What next, you start dating one?"

"Dating one what?"

"A Gryffindor! Do you even remember what house loyalty is, Hazel?"

"Cassiopeia!" I exclaimed. "Don't you dare accuse me of disloyalty! I'm on the quidditch team, I spent half my time arguing against Gryffindor's ability- I actually contribute to the house points, what do you do? Brew potions for the Slug Club?"

I knew as soon as I said it that I shouldn't have. I sat back.

"I'm sorry," I said, but I couldn't keep the bite out of my tone as the anger hadn't quite died yet. Cassi's hurt was quickly covered with fury.

"Whatever, Hazel. Have fun with your Gryffindor friends."

She grabbed her stuff and walked out of the booth. I glanced at Yumi and Pandora; neither would meet my eyes. I sighed and grabbed my bag, following.

The Great Hall bustled with life. Dumbledore had just finished his lengthy speech, and food greeted me as the words ended. I chowed down from my seat next to Xeno Lovegood, who looked at me and smiled. "Hungry?"

I covered my mouth, grinning, as I finished a sizable bite of a roll. I nodded at him and he laughed.

"Your OWLs went well, yeah?" I nodded again. "What classes are you taking this year?"

I told Xeno my schedule. "I don't know what I want to do after I leave here. I'm just taking classes in subjects I enjoy and want to know more about, and I'll still study as hard in them all so that whatever happens I'm qualified."

"Smart," Xeno commented. "Are you joining the Quidditch team again?"

"Definitely," I answered. "I don't know what I would do if I didn't have quidditch."

"You might want to skip out on it this year, actually. There'll be so much studying to do, you'll want to study every spare second. There might not be enough time on the field."

"I opted out of Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes so I could still have enough time to study and play quidditch."

We continued to chat, discussing the school year. Xeno was also clueless about what he wanted to after Hogwarts, but he had more of an idea than I did. I ate heartily, but it felt hollow as my stomach sank. It was only the first night and already Cassi and I had got into a fight. Maybe I was being secretive, but she was being nosy. And I had been out of line with that comment, but… She called me disloyal. I love Ravenclaw; I would be a Ravenclaw for life. Spending one train ride with a couple of Gryffindors wouldn't change that. If she had heard how the conversation with James went… But then she would have thought I was talking to yet more Gryffindors, and I can't have that. She would hold that against me, too.

The meal ended and the prefects began leading the way toward the dorms. The journey to the fifth floor passed with all the familiarity and warmth that was Hogwarts; other students bustled to their own dorms, the prefects shouted information to the first-years, and the portraits and ghosts greeted us all. The only thing missing for me was the usual camaraderie of Yumi, Pandora, and Cassi, all because Cassi started that fight. Instead, I walked next to Xeno, who accepted my company without complaint. We reached the door and the current prefect tapped the knocker.

The eagle woke up. "Ah, my house returns. Good to see you all. Now then: take away the whole and some still remains. What is it?"

"Wholesome."

The door opened and the Grey Lady swooped out, sighing her way down the stairs past us and through a few first-years who leapt away. We made our way in, and Yumi sought me out, dragging me into the dorm. As I changed into pajamas and chose my bed, Yumi began giving details about her trip to France, ecstatically yammering on. By the time we put out the lights and laid down, I was exhausted, and Yumi was still going. It truly was interesting- her cousin from Beauxbatons lived a very different life than any of us from Hogwarts.

Eventually, Yumi fell asleep, and I was left in silence. After a while, sleep finally caught me, and I fell into it without protest.

The next day, I learned, would not go quite as planned, mainly due to a certain Sirius Black.