Hi everyone! You probably all hate me for not updating in forever and then some. I understand and I am so completely, absolutely sorry! Words cannot express how sorry I am. I could give you reasons and excuses, such as:

My family moved to Timbuktu and I didn't have internet access until now.

I was attacked by Death Eaters and had to spend several months running for my life.

My brother made me his slave and would not allow me near a computer.

Nargles infested my brain, making me unable to think enough to write the next chapter.

My pet hippogriff ate my flashdrive. Repeatedly.

But none of those would be true, so all I can do is apologize and hope you'll forgive me enough to read this and let me know what you think! As always, I don't own anything you recognize. Enjoy!

Here's a basic summary since you've probably forgotten all that I wrote:

Everyone arrives at Hogwarts in varying states of excitement. Lily, Charlotte, and Alice all become very close, bonded by their muggle upbringings. James and Sirius become best friends, and very close friends with Marlene, joined by their wizard upbringings. Mary keeps to herself but is still good friends with the other girls. Lily doesn't appreciate James' and Sirius' pestering of Snape, but she's friends with them right now. And of course, Snape already hates Sirius and James and they pretty much return the sentiments. He's trying to gain his revenge and has dared James to go into the Forbidden Forest.

James and Sirius sat on the couch in the Gryffindor Common Room as the last person disappeared up the stone steps. It was long past midnight. They had planned on sneaking into the Forbidden Forest that evening, but they had not accounted for the party, due to the Quidditch team's victory. So they were forced to sit there and wait until everyone went to bed.

As they heard the door shut to the dormitory, Sirius glanced at James who nodded, his hazel eyes shining bright with excitement. Together they stood up and headed to the portrait hole. They pushed it open and were about to climb out when they heard a voice behind them, making them freeze in fright.

"Where do you think you're going?" It was Lily.

"Sirius doesn't feel well," James lied quickly. "I'm taking him to the hospital wing." He glanced frantically at Sirius, who immediately twisted his face into a pained expression and clutched at his stomach.

"Sirius seemed fine at the party," Lily contradicted. "He didn't seem to have any trouble drinking three butterbeers and eating his way through who knows how much food."

"You see, that's, er, why he doesn't feel well. Ate too much. But we must be going. Good night!" James pushed Sirius out of the portrait hole, hoping that Lily would accept his excuse.

"You're lying," Lily exclaimed, following them out of the Common Room. James inwardly cringed. Of course she wouldn't buy it. She was one of the smartest students of their year for a reason. "I know exactly what you're up to! You're trying to sneak into the Forbidden Forest!"

"No Lily, of course not," James tried to placate her.

"I'll go to Professor McGonagall!" she threatened.

"You wouldn't dare," Sirius hissed. "Besides, you don't know how to find her room!"

Lily opened her mouth to argue back but stopped, realizing that he was right.

"Now if you don't mind, we'll be going," Sirius said firmly.

"Of course I mind!" Lily said, her voice rising in pitch. "You'll lose us house points! Sev was being stupid, you shouldn't listen to him!"

"Please Lily," James said with a hint of impatience, "If we don't do it he'll call us cowards. We're Gryffindors, we're supposed to be brave."

"You're just being foolish," Lily argued, "Not brave. But fine, go get yourselves killed. See if I care. I'm going back to bed. I'll tell Professor McGonagall in the morning."

Sirius and James shrugged. She would have no proof in the morning. They turned and began to walk away. Moments later, they heard footsteps running up behind them.

"James, Sirius, wait!" Lily called behind them.

Sirius turned around, "What now?" he asked furiously.

"The Fat Lady's fallen asleep and won't wake up! I'm not going to hang around here and wait for Filch to find me. I'm coming with you!"

Sirius opened his mouth to argue but James cut him off. "Fine, but if we get caught, you are just as responsible as us."

The three silently made their way out of the castle and down to the Forest's edge. They hesitated for a moment before James led the way onto the path.

"We don't have to go in far. We just have to go far enough to get something to prove to Snape that we were here," he called back to the others. They followed the path for about twenty minutes, looking for something they could bring back with them. A heavy silence weighed down on them, broken only by an animal's call in the distance and the wind blowing through the trees.

All three students jumped when they heard a roar of rage from a close distance to their right.

"What was that?" Lily asked frantically.

"I'm not sure," both Sirius and James responded.

James looked at Sirius nervously. "Let's find out?" he asked.

Sirius nodded. They pulled their wands out and crept towards the sound cautiously. Sounds of a struggle grew as they moved closer. They soon entered a clearing in the trees. Something was on the other side, making the noises, but they could not tell what.

James pulled Lily behind him. It was his fault she was with them; the last thing he wanted was for her to get hurt again. It wasn't her fault she kept getting caught in between him and Snape. They inched forward until they could see clearly.

The struggling figure was a young centaur. He appeared to be covered in vines. As they watched, he pulled at his throat, fighting to get the vines off him. The more he pulled, the tighter they became, slowly wrapping themselves around his legs and torso, tightening their hold on his next, slowly strangling him. Lily gasped in horror. She darted forward around James, who tried to pull her back. She reached the centaur and pointed her wand at the vines.

"Diffindo!" she cried and the vines around his rear legs broke. "Diffindo, diffindo!" She repeated the spell over and over again, racing to release the centaur from the vines as they continued to grow. "Help me!" she called to the boys.

With James and Sirius' help, she managed to free the centaur. The moment he was free, he pushed himself shakily off the ground and galloped to the other side of the clearing. The first years moved themselves away from the vines, then watched warily for what the centaur would do. Now that he was free, they could tell he was about the age of a teenager, with white blond hair and a palomino body.

He slowly approached them with his hands in the air, to show that he wouldn't hurt them. When he was just beyond arm's length he stopped. "Thank you," he said in a low voice. "Thank you for saving me. My name is Firenze and you have done me a great service. I shall not forget it."

"You're welcome," they replied in awe.

"Although you did not know who I am, I know who you are from your faces. You are James Potter, Lily Evans, and Sirius Black. I am sorry to say you have difficult lives ahead of you. You shall face many trials and tribulations, yet you will preserve due to your love for one another. I cannot tell you more of your fate for it is against the rules we centaurs have, but remember this: there is no greater gift than love. It creates joy and happiness, security and protection. It is an ancient magic, far greater than any you shall learn at school. With love, anything is possible." Firenze paused for a moment, allowing time for his message to sink in. "Now, I must lead you back to the school grounds. The Forest is never a safe place for students and it is time for you to return to your dormitories."

When they reached the edge of the Forest, Lily spoke up. "Thank you, Firenze, for helping us find our way back."

"It was nothing Lily," Firenze smiled. "Do not forget that you saved my life earlier."

James opened his mouth. "Do you think – er – would you mind giving us on of your hairs. We, well, we need to prove we went into the Forest," he finished sheepishly.

Firence pulled out one of his hairs and handed it to him. "Thank you!" James said.

"No," said Firenze, "Again, thank you. But this is where we must part. Look out for each other." He turned and galloped off into the Forest.

James, Sirius, and Lily looked at each other for a moment before heading back to the castle. They walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, pondering the events that had transpired.