Lily gasped audibly and stopped in her tracks. She and Albus were taking a stroll through the woods behind their house. Albus looked where she was pointing, and saw what had made her exclaim.
"It's a bunny, Lily." he whispered. "Be quiet, or it will move."
Lily nodded, but she whispered back. "It's so small. I think it's a baby."
"The babies don't look like that." replied Albus. "But it is a younger one."
"Can we get closer?" asked Lily.
"You can try, as long as you don't frighten it. But it will probably hop away unless you stay back." Albus liked to read up on anything and everything, and the flora and fauna surrounding their country home was one of his favourite topics.
"I want to try." said Lily. She inched closer to the bunny, lowering herself to the ground as she went. Albus was amazed she could maintain her balance. Finally, Lily was kneeling so close to the small animal that she almost could have reached out and touched it.
Just then James ran up the path behind them. Albus motioned for him to stop, but James just mimicked Albus' arm waving gestures and did a hop skip and a jump towards them.
The frightened rabbit took off into a nearby clearing. Lily was about to admonish James as she watched it hop away when suddenly "NO!" shrieked Lily. A large hawk swooped down and carried the little bunny off.
Lily threw James an utterly furious look and ran back to the house in tears.
James looked flustered. He turned to Albus. "What happened?"
Albus explained the story to him. "I think we need to make it up to her." he decided.