Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever, own Harry Potter or anything related to it. And although it is against my beliefs to own people, I did happen to create Maggie Mangrich and some other very interesting characters that you have yet to meet.

Chappie 6

The Forest

Lily and James ran through the ever darkening woods. It hadn't been light in there when they started, and now that the sun was setting, it was getting even darker. Long shadows made the forest floor harder to negotiate that ever before and they both fell once or twice.

"I think we lost them," James said breathlessly as they stopped behind a large bush.

"Do you think? I don't know, they were pretty close there for a while," Lily whispered, looking over her should just to make sure they weren't there. "We should keep going or they'll catch us."

"Okay. We're almost there. All we need to do is get across this clearing and through one more little patch of forest," James said.

He edged around the bush; looking back and forth before motioning for Lily to follow him. They dashed across the clearing. Just as they reached the other side, they heard loud screams from behind them and two jets of blue light shot over their heads and into a large oak tree. The tree, which had been blowing in the wind before, froze instantly. Not one leaf moved.

"Darnit! I thought we had them beat!" James yelled to Lily. They both shot spurts of golden light back over their shoulders as two more blue streams shot past them. "Quick! Behind that tree!"

Lily jumped behind the tree and shot several rounds of light off behind her. The blue streams stopped almost instantly. "I think we got them this time, Jimmy! Let's go!" She started to run off but noticed that something was wrong; he wasn't following her. "Jimmy, what's wrong?" she called as she ran back in the direction she had come from.

"My feet are frozen," he called back, "I can't move!"

Lily raced around the tree and ran smack dab into James. They fell to the ground.

"Thanks for unsticking my feet, Lily," James said from underneath her.

"No problem," she replied as she rolled off of him to sit on the ground. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I don't think so. You?" he asked.

"Nope." Lily looked around. "Hmm. I don't really like sitting on the ground." She smiled. "You look pretty comfortable, Jimmy." She got up and sat on his stomach.

"Uff. Lily. Remember? We're almost there! Get off of me!" James implored.

"Hmm," Lily thought. "I don't think so. I like this a whole lot better than running through a forest!" She bounced up and down on his stomach.

"Okay then." He rolled his eyes and paused; then said slyly, "Hey, Lily, are you still as ticklish as you were when we were kids?"

Her eyes widened, and she stopped bouncing. "No, Jimmy! Don't you dare!"

"I don't seem to have a choice now do I? Or are you going to get off?" He looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Nope," she answered stubbornly as a smile played on her lips.

"Let the record show that I have made all attempts to make peace with the victim and I must now resort to force." With that he started tickling her. At first she tried to hide it, but she couldn't hold it in for long; she burst out laughing. She rolled of his stomach and onto the forest floor. James continued to tickle her as he put one of his legs on the other side of her and sat on her stomach.

"Jimmy," she giggled, "get off!"

"I don't think so, dearest Lily," James replied as he continued to tickle her. "Now you know how it feels!" He said as two jets of blue light hit them square on.

"Tsk, tsk! You guys could have won, too!" Sirius laughed as he and Maggie walked around the bush, into the view of the frozen Lily and James. "Such a pity," he sighed. "It was a good match, but in the end, Maggie and I can never be beat!" He high-fived Maggie as they walked away.

"We'll wait for you two love-birds outside the forest!" Maggie called back. "Don't be too long." They left the forest giggling like maniacs.

Lily and James walked out of the forest both so flushed they looked like strawberries.

"Well, it took you guys long enough! We've been waiting here for ages!" Sirius exclaimed when he saw them.

Maggie smacked him in the arm. "Shut up, Sirius! You know that spell only keeps them frozen for thirty seconds!"

"Okay. Well, then it seemed like ages!" He smiled. "So James-"

"Shouldn't we be getting inside?" Maggie interrupted. "The moon will be out soon," she told Sirius pointedly.

"Jeez, Maggie," Sirius said exasperatedly. "Don't you know? The full moon was yesterday!"

"What are you guys talking about?" Lily asked. 'Why would they be talking about the full moon?'

"Never mind," James said as he started to walk towards the castle. "I'm starved. Let's go get something to eat!"

"I second that!" Sirius chimed in.

'It's probably nothing,' Lily though as she rolled her eyes at Maggie and followed the boys to the castle.

I'm BACK! Okay, so it's kinda short, but I'm going to update really soon! Promise! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! We're kind of down from the last chapters wipes away a tear but as long as someone is reviewing I don't care!

Leki the philosophical momad: You can defiantly have a muffin! Hands muffin Hope you liked this chapter!

Miracle Girls: Ugh! I know. The only thing I like about the end of the year is that soon it will be over! I hope you found your hour!

WhiteTiger1992: Glad you liked it!

Following Padfoot's Pawprints: Really? You were in Peoria, too? Nifty!

AlannaDragon(anon.): Well I checked out Eragon! I love it! Thanks for the tip! Any other good books you want to recommend? WooHoo! Go Procrastinators!

Harry-an-ginny: Thank you! Hope you still do!

Thanks again to all you wonderful reviewers! Keep reviewing!