"LUCY!" Molly screamed as the fat lady revealed the Gryffindor common room. Molly ran forward and embraced Lucy tightly. "Oh-my-god-I-was-so-worried!" she mumbled all at once into Lucy's shoulder. "Never EVER do that again!"

Lucy's heart started to race. She watched as the fire engulfed the parchment she had thrown in as soon as she heard noises. She ran through the plan in her head, desperately trying to fit Molly into it.

"Where did you go? What did you do? You can explain privately if you like; we could go for a walk around the castle!" Molly chirped. Lucy nodded, deciding it was the best idea.

"Talk to me, Luce!" Molly said after a five minute space where Molly had asked a question.

"Lucy!" Lucy mumbled.

"Lucy. Sorry. But answer me!"

"What?" Lucy grunted, not realising anything had been said at all.

"Where did you go? How did you stay hidden for so long?" Molly asked.

"Oh." Lucy processed as much as possible in her mind before answering. She decided it would be best to come clean. "The forbidden forest. I was in a tree most the time. It's nicer outside than it is in here. Much nicer." Lucy realised this was probably the most she'd ever said at one time.

"And I'm going again. I have to." She blurted out. Molly looked shocked, and didn't speak for a while.

"You can't." She breathed. "Wh-What can you... Where will you get things? Like food?"

Lucy reviewed her plan silently in her head. "Remember the little red bag that Ron and Hermione gave me last Christmas? It has a charm on it. It's bigger on the inside. I only realised this morning when I was looking through my things for a missing shoe. It's a good thing Mum made me pack it. I'm gonna fill it with food at lunch and tomorrow too. Then I'll be gone." Lucy stopped and remembered that she wasn't supposed to tell Molly all of this. She inspected her sister's facial expressions carefully, and deduced that she was quite upset.

"Lucy, you could get hurt! What if you do? Who will find you? The forest is huge!" Molly fumed.

Lucy sighed, realising she was right. But she was adamant to go now. Even if only for a week or so. Plus, she would be fine. What could go wrong? When she was in the forest last time there was no dangers. It wasn't even running away really if she was sort of on the grounds. It was just... Leaving without telling anyone. Except the only person who cares.

"Molly," Lucy whispered. "You really can't tell anyone. I'm asking you this," Lucy stopped and looked at Molly in the eye. "...As your sister. I know I'm a rotten one at that, and I've done nothing but bring you down... But please. This one favour. I will be grateful forever. I'll try and be happier when I come back. I'll try and talk in bigger sentences. Please Molly... I'll do anything."

There were tears in Molly's eyes as she reached forward and hugged her dumb little sister tightly. "Anything but let go of this wild daydream and just stay here?"

Lucy nodded solemnly. "Anything but that."