Lily Potter (Harry Potter's Twin)

Chapter 34

Hermione thought that a change of scenery was in order to help study for O.W.L.s. She persuaded Ron, Harry and I to join her in studying under the beach tree at the edge of the lake. It was a nice warm day. The castle grounds were gleaming in the sunlight as though they were freshly painted; the cloudless sky reflected on the smooth sparkling lake, the grass rippled in the wind occasionally. We spread out our books in the shade of the tree.

"Describe the wand movement required to make objects fly?" asked Hermione.

"It's swish and flick," I said, smiling.

"Very good, you ask one now," Hermione said.

Hermione and I did this for several more minutes until a shadowy figure blocked the light from reaching my book.

"Hey," said a hoarse voice quietly.

I turned around to and saw Hagrid's enormous bearded face. He was slouching as if he was trying not to be seen, but he saw still a good four feet taller than everyone else.

"Listen," he whispered, "can yeh come with me? Now?"

Hagrid's nose was gently dripping blood. He had two black eyes. His appearance convinced us to leave.

" Course," said Hermione at once, "course we will come..."

" What meeting were you talking about?" I asked as we headed to his hut.

"Umbridge is having a meeting with all 'er students," Hagrid said. "You know, the Inquisitorial Squad and Filch."

"What is it Hagrid?" asked Hermione.

"Yeh will see in a mo' " said Hagrid distractedly.

We had to jog to keep up with him as he strode across the lawn, looking around every other step. When we reached his cabin, Ron and Harry automatically turned left toward the front door; Hagrid however, walked trait hit past it into the shade of the trees on the outermost edge of the forest, where he picked up a cross bow that was against a tree.

"Were goin' in there," he said, jerkin his shaggy head to the forest.

"Into the forest?" asked Ron.

"Yeh, quick before we're spotted!"

We ran to catch up with Hagrid, who had already went into the forest, his cross bow over his arm.

"Hagrid, why are you armed?" asked Harry.

"Jus' a precaution," said Hagrid, shrugging.

"But when you showed us the thestrals you didn't bring a cross bow," said the nervous Ron.

"Well, we weren' goin' in so far then, " said Hagrid. "An' tha' was before Firenze left the forest, wasn' it?"

"Why does Firenze leaving make a difference?' asked Hermione.

We small talked about Firenze and the centaurs, how they are more unfriendly than usual. They nearly killed Firenze when he left to work for Dumbledore. The path was becoming increasingly over grown and the trees grew so close together it was harder to keep up with Hagrid, his single stride was three of ours. We walked father and father. We were soon a long way past the clearing where Hagrid had shown us the thestrals. I felt on edge. Then, Hagrid stepped off the path and began wending his way in and out of trees roars the dark heart of the forest.

"Hagrid? " I asked, fighting my way through thickly knotted branches (Hagrid had stepped easily over). "Are we there yet? "

"Bit further, " Hagrid said over his shoulder. "C'mon, Lily.... We need ter keep together now... "