Lily looked around, the bridge was empty. The more pressing matter was it was going to be getting dark in around two hours. She would never make it back before nightfall. There were huge holes laying in the bridge floor you could see all the way down the steep cliffs to the broken pieces of wood below. There was no crossing at this point, Bella had set her down in a very specific spot, she saw that now. Had Bella dropped her just on the other side she could have taken the bridge over the large crevasse and climbed her way down the less steep canyon side and walked to school. Lily looked back behind her, the only way to get of this mess, the tracks went through part of the forbidden forest before she could get to the trail around the lake.

She sighed, she had to move, the sun was sinking soon and the forest was dangerous even during daylight hours.

Stupid club, stupid Bella. I hate her, this is not worth it. Why did I agree to this? Stupid stupid Lily why did you do this? Stupid school, stupid being a witch. Slap me, I'll slap her. Stupid Bella.

Lily jumped at each noise, she prayed for a miracle to keep the sun high above her but as she walked on she could see that it was indeed sinking. She could see on the horizon snow clouds rolling in, she was terrified.

The track twisted around until Lily saw herself standing at the beginning of the forbidden forest. The trees were so tall and thick they blocked out the sky. Why had she thought this was beautiful earlier? She looked at the thick snow that lay untouched on the ground. That was good, untouched, no tracks, no wild animals to eat her. It was silent in the forest, the snow seemed to mute all the sounds as she entered it, the birds that had been singing so merrily moments ago were now silent.

There was no wind, everything seemed to stand still as Lily took another step into the forest. She could see giant spider webs shining with frozen drops of water. She swallowed, she didn't want to know what size spider could make those webs. Maybe someone would come along, Hagrid possibly. She liked Hagrid, he would keep her safe.

Lily saw movement from the corner of her eye and froze. Something was peering at her in the tree line. "Bella?" Lily whispered hopeful that her mistress was watching from a distance to keep her safe. She took another step and listened. Yes, whatever or whoever was watching her stepped as well. "Come on this isn't fun anymore." Lily said a little louder, birds that had been silent took flight with screeching. "Ooooo" Lily called out in fright, there was a rush of branches breaking and Lily covered her head with her hands.

"The forest is forbidden." Came a voice, Lily uncovered her face and stared. A half man, half horse stood before her. His hair was long and tied back in a braid, he was magnificent.

"I-I know I am just trying to get back to my school." Lily said, she had read about the centaurs in her magical creatures book she had just never seen one up close.

The centaur looked at her, "Why did you enter this forest?" He moved to block her way.

"I was on the bridge and, well I was on the wrong side of the bridge and couldn't get back to my school." She said pointing at the bridge in the distance. She could see the sky through trees was turning a dark purple.

"It is forbidden." He said again and Lily took a breath.

"I know it was so stupid of me. I just I need to find my school."

The centaur tilted his head looking at her this way and that, "You are a witch?"

"I am." Lily said swallowing.

"Magic your way out of the forest then." He turned to go.

"No please, please don't go." She called walking up to him, he turned suddenly and made her jump.

"I just need, I just need help to get out of the forest, once I get to the lake I will be ok."

"Follow the path little witch and no harm will come to you. If you come into my forest again I will not be as forgiving."

"Thank you." Lily said, "I don't know your name."

"Firenze and you are?"

"Lily, Lily Evans."

"Stay safe in this forest Lily Evans and I hope that we do not meet again."

Lily frowned, "Would it be bad to meet me again?" She was confused.

"It would mean that you entered the forest again so yes."

"Thank you Firenze. I hope we do not meet again unless the stars allow it." She remembered suddenly from her book that centaurs followed the stars in all things.

The centaur looked surprised and bowed his head, "If the stars allow Lily Evans."


Lily made it back to the forest in time for dinner. She was frozen. She spied Bella across the hall, their eyes met and Bella winked at her. Her first task had been a success.

"Wicked fight with Severus, where did you go anyway Evans. You missed it, Severus came around the corner with like fifty snowballs all hexed to keep reforming. Brilliant bit of magic that was." James said having to admit his astonishment. "Still can't figure out what spell he used."

"Ah, he's a Prince, they use all kinds of magic we don't know." Sirius chimed in.

"You're a Black mate, I wager you know more about spells and girls than a sixth year." James chimed in and both boys howled with laughter.

"What?" Lily asked coming back into the conversation, her eyes had been locked to Bella's, a small smile forming on her lips.

"Merlin Evans, you're distracted tonight, why aren't you fussing at us for beating up on your dear Severus." James said as Sirius looked over his shoulder at where Lily had been looking.

"Ah mate, she's been pulled in by Bella I think. Hey Evans, don't go down that path, she's bad news and a heartbreaker." He snapped his finger in Lily's face, "Evans. Hello?" Sirius laughed with James, "Ah man she's smitten, lost another girl to my cousin and not even the good cousin."

Lily rolled her eyes, "I am not smitten Sirius."

"Oh yeah, Remus here told us all about the Shrieking Shack and how you went back in for her."

"Of course I did she's my friend." Lily said defensively.

Sirius shook his head, "Look Evans, you're nice and I like you. James likes you. Remus likes you."

"Yeah I'm a nice person I get it. What's your point Sirius?" Lily said picking up a roll to add butter to it.

"My cousin is anything but a nice person. She's a snake through and through and when you least expect it, she strikes. Trust me, I have scars to prove it." Sirius said laughing and pulling up his shirt to show a long scar down his side before launching into a tale about how Bella had nearly gutted him the previous summer.


Bella and her sisters left the next morning after breakfast to see their ailing grandfather. Sirius had stayed at school, it was the girls' maternal grandfather and not the one they shared with Sirius.

With Bella gone Lily fell quickly back into the routine of school and meeting Severus, in the library now to avoid any further snowball fights. He had apologized to her, she understood it wasn't easy when your best friend was a girl who stood up for you to two bullies. She promised she wouldn't intervene again and told him how James and Sirius had been impressed with the spell Severus had performed. This pleased him and he wrote the spell in the margin of his Potions books.

"Why do you do that?" Lily asked finishing her uses of moonstone essay for Slughorn.

"To get into the Slug Club." Severus said flipping the pages to moonstones to begin his essay.

"The Slug Club?"

"Yeah, with Professor Slughorn. He takes students who are really good at spells and potions and things. They have parties and all kinds of stuff. There isn't a witch or wizard who is famous who wasn't part of the Slug Club. My mum was in it." Severus said proudly.

"Rather unfortunate name." Lily said making Sev frown.

"Better than being a Moon Knight." He said shot back staring at her intensely.

"How-" Lily remembered herself. "What's that?"

Severus shook his head, "It's not nice to have secrets from your best friend Lily. I know you're an initiate. I heard Bella talking to Lucius."

Lily looked around the room, she saw Bagman standing in the corner looking at a book glancing at the two of them from time to time.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Lily said shaking her head.

"Come off it Evans I know. You can tell me."

"I think those snowballs yesterday made your brain go funny. What is a Moon Knight?"

Ludo Bagman closed the book and walked out of the library. Lily followed him with her eyes, either this was another test or she was really paranoid.

"it's a club." Sev said, "But you know that already."

"I don't. Is it like the Slug Club?" She asked innocently.

"You are a terrible liar." Severus said pulling his parchment closer to work on his essay.


Lily arrived to a letter waiting on her bed, there was no return address.

Dear Pet:

Do try to be more convincing when you lie.

Grandfather is still very ill and they don't think he will last the week. Mother cries all day and Cissy and Andy are doing homework so it is a bit of a bore here. Father said we're going into town to do some shopping tomorrow. I shall have to get you a treat if you keep being such a good girl.

Remember what I told you on the bridge.

B.

Lily read it again and then put it away in her trunk. She didn't want Alice or anyone else seeing it.

She sat on the bed, Friday was looming and the thought of it made her heart pound. What if Lucius made her go? What if he tracked her down and dragged her there? Her cheek was still tender from Bella's strikes.


Lily had managed to avoid Lucius for the rest of the week, she thought if she could just get through Friday it would be alright. Bella was due back on Saturday morning because she had a quidditch match, Andromeda and Narcissa were going to stay another week away.

Lily sat in the library, her fingers absently playing with her locket that Bella had given her for Christmas. So far she has passed two tasks, she felt pleased with herself, only tonight loomed in front of her. She realized too late however that the library wasn't the best choice to avoid Lucius Malfoy.

"Evans." She heard him when he came up behind her. "Studying?" He asked leaning over and picking up her book to glance through it. "Transfiguration, any good at it?" He tossed the book down. The librarian was out to lunch and Lily realized they were very much alone in the vast expanse of this room.

"I'm fair." Lily said picking her book up and fixing the bent pages.

"She's fair at it." Lucius said to someone over her head, she heard Antonin Dolohov laugh.

"I hear you're the best in your class. In potions too." Antonin said sitting next to her leaning in to sniff her hair. Lily jumped back from him and he laughed. "Just wanted to know if you spelled like mud Evans." He said before moving to sit on the table.

"And what's the verdict Nin?"

"Strawberries." He said back to Lucius laughing.

"Matches the hair. A little strawberry." Lucius said laughing with Antonin.

"Alright Strawberry, we need you to do a little job for us. You up for that?" Lucius said leaning down to look at her, his fingers playing with her hair.

"What's the job?" She asked trying to ignore Lucius messing with her hair.

"Well see, Nin and I are making a potion that requires some…special ingredients."

"Ingredients." Antonin said repeating him laughing.

"What kind of ingredients?" Lily asked backing away from Lucius' hand. He dropped her hair and left it noticing her pull away.

"Special ones."

"Very special." Dolohov added.

"You said that." Lily said feeling annoyed now. "What are they?"

"Well I can't tell you until you agree to find them for me." Lucius said winking at Dolohov.

"Is it dangerous?" Lily asked trying to appear indifferent.

"Oh I hope so Evans. Do you agree or not?"

Lily looked at him frowning and then it hit her. She could use this to her advantage, "If I agree then I skip the meeting tonight."

This brought Lucius and Antonin up short for a moment. "Skip the meeting? Why?"

"I have my own reasons." Lily said knowing she had them over a barrel if they wanted her help.

"Fine, does that mean you'll get them for us?"

Lily sighed, "Yes."

Both the boys laughed and Lucius handed her a list. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You've got a week to get these Strawberry. Don't think I've forgotten the other day."

Lily looked at the list and frowned, several items were easy enough they were in the students store cupboard but the other two.


"Severus?" Lily asked that afternoon after she had left the library.

"Yeah." He said bewitching two twigs to duel each other.

"Do you know where I could find a bicorn horn?"

He frowned at her, "What are you brewing?"

"It's nothing I just- well I wanted to experiment."

"Not with a bicorn horn you don't, those are really rare to get. You have to go find them they don't just get them in the shops you know. If they do there is such a waiting list for them, it would take you at least a year to secure one."

This was not good news to Lily. "So how do people get them when they need them? Like if your mum needed one?"

"My mum doesn't use them in potions." Severus said grabbing the stick he had just bewitched; it had taken to now smacking annoyingly against a tree trunk after it's triumph over the other stick.

"If she did." Lily said very annoyed.

"Dunno, I guess she would just get one somehow."

Lily sighed, if the bicorn was hard to find the other ingredient was going to be impossible.