Shout out to infinityqueen7, congrats on winning the contest, it's YOUR chapter!

"'Ello, kids." Hagrid waved them over to his hut. "Time for detention," Filch snickered.

"Okay, we'll be makin' groups now. Uh, Maddie. Why don't you go with Lily? And, Hugo, go with Lena, alright?" He handed each pair a lantern. "E'ryone got them wands?... Good! Let's be off, then."
They trekked the the outskirts of the trees. "So," Hagrid explained, "Tonight, we'll be, uh, markin' any unsafe trees. You'll mark it with an 'X'." He handed the other member of each pair a can of red spray paint. "Can't we do this with our wands?" Lily asked. Hagrid shrugged, "I don't know if all of you kids know the spell."

Maddie held the lantern tightly in her hands. "O', lighten up, Maddie. This is one of the easier punishments."

Hagrid escorted them a bit deeper into the Forest and halted again. "So, uh, this is where we splits up."

Maddie gave Hugo an apologetic glance. She didn't look at her twin.

Lily was about to step in the opposite direction when Hagrid stopped her. "Wands out. Ooh, and I'll be waitin' 'ere for you guys in an 'our."

---

Maddie held the lantern up to a tree, "Does this look safe?" Lily stepped closer, "Nah." She pulled out the spray can. She was about to spray when she was interrupted by a noise.

Foot steps.

"W-who's there?" She stuttered. Maddie shook her head. "It's probably just an animal." But Lily wasn't convinced. The footsteps quickened. Lily looked at Maddie, her eyes swimming with fear.

Maddie held the lamp out shakily. The footsteps stopped. The heavy breathing of the girls was echoed by another source. The footsteps moved closer, but the shadowy void in the trees was bare. Then the bushes rustled. Something was inside them. Maddie didn't wait to find out what.

She yanked Lily behind as she fled. The two ran, but they could hear the footsteps following.

The two tripped over a tree root and went tumbling. The mysterious foot steps' source loomed over them.

"Lily! Do something!" Maddie cried.

"I can't! I-I dropped my wand! You do something!" She cried back.

Maddie's wand, to her, was nothing more than carved wood in her hand. It could be more, but it wasn't. If Maddie were more, more than just a squib, then the wand could protect the two. But Lily didn't know that.

"I can't," Maddie was crying now, "I don't have magic!" Now she did know.

Lily was about to say something back, but Hagrid's voice cut her off.

"Hey! Give the two some space!"

Hagrid and his lantern approached. In the light they didn't have, seeing the lantern broke with their falls, they saw the beast. "A centaur." Lily breathed. "Thank God."

Maddie caught up with reality. Lily knows. She knows. Her mind and heart raced.

Hagrid helped them both up. "I'm sorry if I have frightened you." The centaur apologized. If Maddie hadn't been so wrapped up in who knew her secret, she might have noticed his beauty. Lily certainly did.

She went over and admired his fur. "It's really very soft," she told him. He thanked her. "I was chasing a fellow centaur, just a game. I'm sorry to have caused you ladies such displeasure. And for your broken lantern, Hagrid."

Hagrid shook his head, "No need. I've gots plenty of 'em." The centaur turned to Lily, "I will assist you in searching for your wand, young witch." Hagrid dug in his pocket for something, then produced Lily's wand... still in one piece! "I found it on my way over 'ere. I thought it was Miss Potter's, but I couldn't be sure."

Lily took the wand, "Thank you, Hagrid. It's my wand."

"Are you two okay?" The centaur asked.

"I think so." Lily said, "Maddie?"

Maddie looked at Lily. But in a different way. Not in a best friend-sort-of-way, no, the look was fear decorated with relieve, laced with plain sadness. But Lily looked at her like she had for over a month. Like a best friend.

"I'm okay," Maddie managed.

"Then I shall leave you." With that, the centaur galloped off.

Hagrid turned to them, "Well, I'd say you two have had enough detention for now. It's been over an 'our anyway. Best get back before Lena and Hugo start to worry."

Hagrid led the way, and the two trekked back in silence most of the way. Then Lily whispered, "You're still my best friend." Maddie wanted to cry, "You, too." She said quickly, trying to hold back tears. "Can we talk about this later?" Maddie asked. Lily nodded, "Sounds perfect."