So, I just wanted to start out by saying that yes, I realize it's been months and months since I last posted. So, I'm sorry, I guess. Not that apologizing makes it any better… Anyway, I'm kind of working on an actual story that I hope to publish sometime, so that takes up most of my free time. BUT enough with excuses! I will try to keep writing this… slowly. I will warn you, my writing for this story is a little rusty!

…. "Please come down," I asked softly. I was sick of talking up into the tree. Plus, watching Potter almost fall out of it wasn't thrilling.

People don't joke when they say life is full of surprises because he actually did what I asked. In less than a minute he was standing in front of me, gazing down so he could look into my eyes…..

He had the oddest expression on his face. He didn't speak, just kept looking into my eyes. I felt my face flush and looked at the ground.

"Thanks, Potter," I said. "I was starting to worry that you would fall out of the tree."

My statement was met with silence. I glanced up and saw that Potter's eyebrows were scrunched up, and his hazel eyes had become little slits.

"Well, Evans, I'm glad you were so concerned about my wellbeing."

Ah, that's why he was angry. He actually wanted me to call him James! I didn't know if I could do it. I was so used to calling him by his surname.

"Please don't be angry with me. I just want to talk," I whispered, scared that he would walk away, unwilling to forgive. Potter's expression softened, his forehead unwrinkled. "I wanted to ask you to forgive me for dumping juice on you… and for yelling at you… and for… for… you get the point," I finished. It was somewhat humiliating telling Potter everything that I had done wrong to him—because it was a lot.

Potter nodded his head. "I'll accept your apology on one condition." I wasn't sure I wanted to know what it was. I waited. "That you call me James from now on."

I stared at him. "That's it?" He nodded. "Well, okay… James…" That caused him to break out into a wide grin.

"I guess I should apoligize for my behavior too," he muttered. "I have been acting rather... difficult. I promise you I have a good reason for all my actions." His voice trailed off and he looked embarrassed.

A howl came from somewhere deep in the forest, bringing me back to the reality that we were in the Forbidden Forest.

"Can we get out of here?" I looked around and felt fear creeping into me. Then I heard branches cracking, as if someone—or something—was approaching us.

I looked at Potter in horror. "What's that noise?"

He shook his head and said the obvious, "we better get out of here!" I could tell he was trying to stay calm, but he looked scared too. He started running towards the entrance to the forest, but his long legs carried him a lot faster than mine could. I was falling behind.

I glanced behind me and saw a creature twenty feet behind me and gaining on me. I wasn't even sure what it was. It looked like a cross between a wolf and a hippopotamus. "Potter!" I screamed.

He looked back and I swear his eyes almost fell out of his head. He stopped and sprinted back to me, grabbing my hand and helping me run. He went so fast, my feet were literally not touching the ground.

Before I could blink, we were outside the forest. And Potter didn't stop, he charged on. I looked behind us and saw that the beast hadn't followed us outside of the forest.

"Potter," I said. "POTTER!" He slowed down. "It didn't follow us, you can stop." He did as told.

We stood silently, trembling. I stared at him and he stared at me, wide-eyed and gasping for breath.

"Uh, Potter? You can let go now," I finally said. He looked surprised to see that he was still holding my hand and tried to pry his fingers open. It was difficult because I had clenched onto them so hard.

When he pulled his hand free, he massaged his fingers. They had started to turn purple under the pressure I had created.

"Don't even know my own strength," I said with a faint smile, and he rolled his eyes at me.

"You broke your promise, Evans," he lectured. I raised my eyebrows at him. "You promised to call me James!"

Oh. Right. "Well, sorry if getting attacked by some rabies infested animal throws me off guard."

He returned the eyebrow raise. "It had rabies?"

"Well… probably… just go with it, okay!"

He grinned at my lame response and started to walk back up to the castle, leaving me trying to keep up.

"What were you doing in the forest anyway?" I shouted after him.

He turned around and waited for me to catch up. "I was living a little, Lily. Enjoying life. What's life without a little danger?"

We reached the front doors and he held the door open for me. What a gentleman, I thought sarcastically. Inside, the school was packed. People were rushing back and forth, bumping into one another and yelling.

"Must be passing time," I said, stupidly. I started walking towards the staircase.

"Where are you going?"

I looked back. "I'm going to class, Po—James. Where else?"

He ran up the stairs to stand in front of me. "I absolutely refuse to let you do such a stupid thing," he told me. I gave him a defensive look. "Look, Lily, you were almost attacked back there! And now you want to go to class? You've got to be joking."

But I wasn't... "Well, what do you suggest doing instead?"

He gave me his best evil grin.