In the Forest

They entered the Forest by the edge with the Lake, Sev told her, "You can take off your hood now." Which confirmed to her that he had covered her up so they wouldn't recognize her unmistakable hair. But she didn't because it smelled like him.

Not that they had never been there before. Sev, like a good Slytherin, was prone to breaking the rules, and on a few occasions he had convinced her to walk in the woods. But of course, they had never gone this deep, at least not her. She began to get a little scared, dangerous creatures lived in the Forest, for some reason it was called Forbidden.

However, Sev seemed to know exactly where he was going. They walked in silence, which was only broken by strange songs of birds and the scurrying of invisible animals that fled in their wake.

They entered a path and about twenty minutes later came out of it. The terrain was rough, with numerous rocks and roots that made it difficult to walk, he kept turning to take her hand and help her get around them.

They came to a narrow creek, and although Lily could have jumped across it, Sev, with one foot on each bank, lifted her up by the waist to pass it.

She soon felt confident again and allowed herself to admire the beauty around her. The first dry leaves of autumn fluffed the ground; unknown plants, with leaves of the most unexpected shapes and colors, grew around them. From time to time Sev stopped to explain that one of them was used in this or that potion.

"How do you know so many things?"

"For the books, obviously, and coming to investigate. Herbology is much richer than what they teach us in the greenhouses."

Lily understood Sev's taste for solitude. Of course, he knew how to take advantage of it, and internally she again agreed with him that she didn't know him as well as she thought she did. He was a box of surprises.

The mist swirled trying to break free from the ground and rose in shreds through the twisted trunks, which resembled columns of a natural temple, with the green, yellowish and reddish canopy of the tree tops as a roof.

At one point Sev stopped, resting his hand at arm's length on the trunk of a huge tree.

"We've taken a little detour to show you this. I think it's the oldest fir in the Forest," he told her while they both admired the towering tree. "Do you know it's my sacred tree from the lunar calendar of the ancient druids? There was a whole magic around nature. Too bad most of it has been lost."

Sev was telling her about the Celtic horoscope book! Let's see if he told her something else.

"And do you know what mine is?"

"Yes, the cypress," starting to walk again. "But I've never seen any in the Forest, I think they tend to grow more isolated." And stopping to turn to look at her, "Did you know that they are both conifers? They are related. Also the wood of my wand, black pine, is."

Merlin! Sev, in his own way, keeping most of the information to himself and letting it drop as if carelessly was telling her a lot of things. But at no time had he mentioned the word 'horoscope' nor the book, so Lily refrained from insisting further, as she might give herself away for having been spying on him.

When they had been walking for so long that she thought they would soon reach the other end of the Forest, he announced, "We are arriving."

They appeared in a medium clearing, largely covered in the canopy of trees known to Lily, chestnut, walnut, and hazel, the ground dotted with edible fruit.

"This is better than kitchens, don't you think?" Sev said. He took out his wand and summoned a walnut which he cracked open with a Diffindo and held it out to her. She also took hers out of her cloak and they spent some time tasting the fruits, commenting from time to time.

"In autumn, you could camp in the Forest and live off what it give," Sev said.

Lily soon gave up the chestnuts. "I prick myself with the hedgehogs."

"I'll open them if you want."

"Yes, but even so they are difficult to peel and raw they are not so rich."

"Certain."

She dabbled in hazelnuts, which was what she liked best, and when he noticed her, she gave him cracked nuts from time to time. "Eat these too, they are good for the brain."

"Oh yeah? Why?"

"Haven't you noticed the shape?"

When they had been eating for a long time and were beginning to get tired of summoning and shelling, Sev said to her, "Don't get fed up, leave room for dessert."

"Is there still more?"

"Quite a feast."

He led her back through the trees in a different direction, until after a short and less bumpy walk they came to a path lined with all kinds of edible berry bushes, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries...

Sev would pick out the largest and most perfect ones for her and hand them to her with a smirk. Between the ones she received and the ones she took herself, she soon wasn't able to eat them at that rate. "Don't give me so many… I can't with them…"

"Save them for later, so you will remember the walk."

Lily emptied her full hands into the inside pockets of Sev's cloak. When they were almost fed up, he said to her, "It's getting late and I still want to show you something."

"What?"

"The finishing touch. Don't worry, it's close."

He took her by the hand, and this time without letting go, he led her along the same path until they reached a fork where he stopped for a few seconds to give her a knowing? look, turning at last to the left down a passage so gloomy that it seemed as if the afternoon had advanced several hours.

"The plants that I am going to show you are endemic, they only grow in this Forest and this place. It took me months to find them."

He stopped, looking around him, finally found what he was looking for, got out of the way leaving Lily there and dodging plants and rocks she saw him bend down and pluck something from one of them. He came back with a dark maroon fruit in his hand, the size of a walnut and the shape of two joined halves.

"This is called Bleeding Heart. I do not know if it has any special use, but if it is ingested in large quantities, it produces a kind of depression that can end in death. Do you want to try it?"

"I'm not really sure…" Lily said, apprehensive.

"My, I scared you. Nothing happens for one, I wouldn't give you something I hadn't tried before." He took a bite of one of the halves of the fruit.

She knew that she could trust him, that he would never offer her anything that would hurt her, so she let herself go. "Okay, I'll try it."

"Open your mouth and close your eyes."

"What for?"

"It's just to better appreciate the taste. Come on, trust me."

Lily did as he asked and she felt Sev put the other half of the fruit into her mouth, without actually touching her.

"How about?" he asked her.

"It has a metallic taste, like blood," with her eyes closed, "and bitter… and now, a slight trace of sweetness."

"You didn't like it very much, did you?"

"It hasn't been unpleasant either, just strange, that mixture."

"It can become addictive, like Muggle drugs. Lucky that it only grows here."

He had turned and was taking a few steps further, searching the other side of the path. Meanwhile he told her, "Drink water, to remove the taste."

Lily took out her wand and conjured an Aquamenti. She approached him, he was plucking two small white flowers with five sharp petals. "This is the Flower of Indifference, it is used to prepare one of the antidotes against Amortentia. Don't worry, without the rest of the ingredients it has no effect," taking one to his mouth.

"Are the flowers also eaten?"

"Only some, you have to know them. You know, eyes closed…"

Lily repeated the gesture. This time, when inserting the flower, since it was small and she had opened her mouth less, he lightly brushed her lower lip with his fingers, she felt it like a kiss.

"How about?"

"It doesn't taste like anything… and it has a texture like… parchment." She spat it, Sev followed suit.

"You have to try to know what you like and what you don't. Let's keep going." He took her hand and led her ahead of her down the path.

Passing by a plant with long, thin, totally white leaves, as if vaporous, he warned her, "This one, don't you dare touch it. It is used to prepare potions of oblivion, very dangerous. They act like an Obliviate, but uncontrolled and irreversible, it is considered Dark Magic. Come, we have the last one."

They arrived hand in hand in an even darker area, night seemed almost to have fallen.

Sev released her to crouch beside a small bush, almost at ground level, while he said academically, "This is no longer used, but there was a time when it was. A potion was prepared with it that only has an effect between two people who love each other, to unite their souls." He got up with two small spheres, one in each hand, of an intense red color. "They had to prepare it together and take it at the same time so that it would do its function. The berry itself is harmless, as is everything I've given you. Do you want to try it?" With the question he changed his tone to silky with a certain inciting nuance that she had never heard from him.

By Merlin! She did want this. She didn't answer him, just opened her mouth slightly and closed her eyes again. When she felt his fingers slipping into her to deposit it, for it was small, she caught them with her lips and opened her eyes to see him taking the other berry into his mouth as well.

She caught him nailing the black tunnels to her. "Eyes closed…" he whispered as he released his fingers from the grip of her lips, slowly, like a caress.

She mourned the loss of contact, but not for long, because when she popped the tiny fruit into her mouth, much more juice coming out of it than she supposed it could hold, it tasted like… him! Very intensely... It was his smell turned into taste, she had been sensing it all day under his hood. Without opening her eyes, she brought the rim close to her face and sniffed to check.

When she opened them he was still looking at her, but this time he was smiling pleasedly. She expected him to ask what it had tasted like to the others, but he didn't, maybe she had told him.

He just took her hands and said, "You really liked this one…" with the same silky and inviting tone with which he had offered her the berry and a complicit look.

"Much…"

"Too bad the recipe has been lost…"

They stood looking into each other's eyes for a few long seconds in the gloom.

Sev finally broke the silence in a much more casual tone. "Let's go," letting go of her hand to retrace their steps. "Soon it will be night, we just need to get lost."

"I would like to take more…"

"No, Lily, they are very powerful, just one at a time, we'll come back if you want," advancing along the path preceding her and without looking at her.

When they got out of the twilight zone they realized that it was not as late as they thought. He let go of her hand and she catched up with him, the path was wider there.

"Well, it looks like we'll get to dinner," he said, and they slowed down. "The way back is shorter, all along trails, but you have to be careful not to get lost."

They walked for a while in silence. Lily was trying to absorb what had just happened. Had he bewitched the berries? Or was it an effect like Amortentia, which smells like what you're most attracted to? What would they taste like to him? Would they taste like her?

She plucked up the courage to ask him, "What have the berry tasted like to you?"

"Which of all?" he faced her questioningly, apparently he was in any other world.

"The last."

"Ah…!" he outlined a sad smile and took a long time to continue, looking at the slow steps that his feet were taking. "The same as always, but more intense, they are in season. They always taste the same to me."

With that he didn't answer anything. Or was he answering everything? Twisted Slytherin! Always speaking cryptically, with half truths, anyone understood him.

"And you?" he asked her.

She should have expected it, for him to ask her too, and if he had been frank she would have told him the truth. But her pride got the better of her, she also would know how to be ambiguous, he was infecting her with his serpentine spirit. They kept walking without looking at each other. "To something unknown and at the same time very familiar."

It took a few long seconds for him to speak again. "Strange… isn't it?" He was putting her in a bind, placing every possible advance on her.

"Like something… that you would have always eaten and now tasted different."

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and saw him smile wryly, still staring at the ground. "Well, if you liked it so much... you can try it again whenever you want. Maybe you don't need to come to the Forest to do it…" said him with a certain mischievous tone.

By Merlin! What was he referring to? Was he assuming the berry tasted like him and was flirting? What had he believed? She still hadn't been given him any sign. Or had she? Was he capable of grasping what she felt without her giving him any clear indication?

She was going crazy, under the guise of their leisurely stroll her mind was abuzz. The Forest was already thinning and they had come, after many twists and turns, to a main path. Although Sev seemed to have been slowing his steps more and more, they were almost to the castle grounds and they still hadn't made a date for DADA classes!

"Sev, I wanted to ask you something…"

"Tell me…" he spoke to her very sweetly.

"You see, when I told you about the OWLs… The fact is that I need a good grade in DADA, I don't understand why to take Potions."

Sev heaved a deep sigh before speaking in a cool, academic tone. "Both are related. Remember that there are Potions that are remedies against Dark Magic."

"Yeah, the thing is... I don't think I'll reach the level on my own, with the teacher we have this year…"

"You have never come down from a Exceeds Expectations. Do they ask you Outstanding?"

"No, but…" Lily no longer knew what excuse to use. "I want you to teach me, Sev, you're the best."

Lily expected new polite reticence, but not this reaction. Sev stopped short, facing her, and said, barely containing his anger. "By Merlin, Lily! Always asking for what you want and never accepting what is offered to you. You're a…!" He caught himself breathing deeply to calm himself, one fist on his waist and the other hand on his forehead, looking away from her, lowering his gaze to the ground. Lily guessed that the end of the sentence might as well have been 'selfish' or 'capricious'.

"Look, I'm going to accept," he looked at her again, still speaking harshly. "But not because I think you need it, in any case you have plenty of friends to ask for help, but because I don't want to end badly a day that has been perfect for me. Almost."

Lily was on the verge of tears. "I just want to spend time with you, Sev…"

"And what have we done today, then?" somewhat less upset. "I need to dedicate myself to OWLs, Lily. Now I have to prepare both just in case. Five Outstandings! And also continue with Arithmancy. I've even been tempted to ask for a time-turner, but they would never give me one. So okay, I'll teach you, but don't expect much, as soon as we give the syllabus it's over."

Lily's tears had finally flowed out of her eyes. She was hugging herself under the cloak like in the morning and she wasn't able to look at him.

He must have realized that he had crossed the line because he immediately changed, approaching her and taking her by the shoulders, looking for her gaze. "Come on Lily, don't cry, I can't bear to see you cry because of me," much softer but a little impatient. "Understand, I have a lot of pressure," as she still didn't look at him, he hugged her and Lily let out even more. "Calm down, Lily, please," he almost begged. "I don't want you to go like this, we had a great time… There will be more days…"

She forced herself to collect herself and moved slightly away from him, to wipe her tears with the cloth of the cloak. He took advantage of it to grab her chin and lift her face up. She resisted a bit.

"Lily, look at me," he said very sweetly. She finally did, her eyes still cloudy, in Sev's she saw deep sadness. "I love you very much too," he told her.

She looked down again in embarrassment. She felt that she had blackmailed him again, although this time it had not been on purpose, with her weakness, as she always did. She felt unworthy. "It's not necessary… about the classes… Sev…" sniffling. "It was just an excuse…"

"It doesn't matter, I've already told you I'll do it and I don't like to break my word. Friends?" with a more animated tone, looking for her gaze.

She nodded without looking up.

"Sure? As always?" Sev insisted.

Lily almost started to cry again, she didn't want to as always anymore… But she restrained herself. "Sure, Sev, as always."

"Come on, I think we're not going to be on time for dinner now." He spoke softly and sweetly to her, facing them towards the path and taking her by the shoulders to start walking the short distance that remained to the edge of the Forest. "Although I think I'm going to go straight home," happier. "I'm sick of how much we've eaten… Aren't you?"

"It's true, I'm not going to dinner either."

"Come on, don't be sad, remember everything we've done today... And I'm going to teach you, I'll show you my secret place."

Little by little, Lily felt better. "How are we going to appoint?" she asked him.

Sev thought for a few seconds. "Very easy, with the Potions notes. Do you think it's okay?"

"Okay," she agreed.

They reached the edge of the Forest and stopped again, they were close to Hagrid's hut, far from where they had entered. It was almost night, at the top of the slope they could see the castle with the windows already lit.

He faced her taking her by her shoulders. "Are you better?"

"Yes, yes," looking at him at last.

He hugged her again. "Think of something nice," very tender. "I will think… of the face you put on when you tasted the berry."

"What face did I make?"

"Of happiness." Lily hugged him tighter, he rocked her. "Come on," separating. "Go ahead, it's better that they don't see us together," returning to her the backpack. "I'll follow you a bit behind. Ah! My book," picking it up again and taking out the small volume of the Celtic horoscope. "It's done. Come on, go."

"Take your cloak…" Lily said, unbuttoning the collar.

"No, no, keep it," closing it again. "Leave it to wash at your house, see how it is," looking at her feet and laughing.

Lily looked too. It was true, she had been dragging the cloak all day through the mud of the Forest.

"I don't think the elves realize that a Slytherin cloak appears in the Gryffindor laundry," he almost cracked up.

She finally smiled.

"Come on," he pushed her slightly. "See you on Wednesday. You know, buddies in Potions.

"As always," she grinned at him.

"As always," he did too.

She turned to leave, and when she was already a few steps away, she heard his voice. "Sleep well…"

Then Lily turned around, and without stopping to walk backwards, opening her arms and with her best smile, she exclaimed, "I will dream about you!" And she turned to walk briskly toward the castle.

. . . . . . . . .

This chapter is dedicated to Miguel, my partner, because it's inspired by our walks through the forests of his land, which is now mine as well.