"Where are Hugo and Lena?" Lily asked Hagrid when they returned to the tree's outskirts. Hagrid stood stark still. "I don't know." Maddie started to feel her stomach twitch. "As in, they're somewhere 'round here, or you have no idea in Hogwarts where they may be?"

Hagrid shook his head, "They were just 'ere. I, uh, they said they'd wait for us."

Lily looked at Maddie. "They wouldn't just wander off." Maddie agreed silently. Definitely not.

"What if," Maddie's voice was small as she whispered, "they were..." Her voice trailed off. Taken, she finished mentally. "You don't think...?" Lily's hand slowly made its way to Maddie's arm. An action of worry.

"No. That's exactly what I thinks." Hagrid held his lantern up higher. "Lena! Hugo!"

Nothing.

"What are we going to do?" Lily whined.

Maddie felt tears well up in her eyes. This was the forbidden forest, after all. It was forbidden for a reason. What if Lena and Hugo were hurt?What if they were worse than hurt? Maddie felt Lily wrap an arm around her. She then became aware her cheeks were damp. "Aw, don't cry," Hagrid said, "I'm, uh, sure they're back at Hogwarts, eh, Lily?"

"He's probably right. They most likely just got cold and headed back."

"Lena... maybe," Maddie choked over her tears, "Hugo?... I don't think s-so."

Lily had nothing to respond to this.

The three just stood there and looked at each other for a second. Hagrid was running his oversized hands through his tangled beard. Lily was frozen with her arm draped over Maddie's shoulders in a nervous way. And Maddie, well, she just thought about her sister. If I were lost, would she worry this much about me? Her next thought: I don't want the answer to that.

She felt the small lump weighing down her pocket. If she hadn't cared so much about being the one to have the stupid bottle... if she hadn't dragged her best friends into this... well, things would be different. But Maddie also knew she had to bring her best friends into this. Without her partners in crime, she couldn't make it through Hogwarts. Hugo and Lily were the best friends she'd ever had.