Oh, Brother! (Reed and Paris)

[Paris Célestin]

Oh, Paris was in so much trouble! She'd been at the lake and the trees came up close to shore, but she hadn't thought anything about it until a stiff breeze sent her Charms essay flying off behind her. She'd just spent an hour writing it and it was perfect, so of course she'd gone after it, jumping gnarled roots and dodging low-hanging branches. It wasn't until she'd caught the parchment and stashed it safely in her bag that she'd realized where she was.

In the Forbidden Forest!

Aimé had told her that the forest was off-limits, that it was full of acromantulas and werewolves. Apparently a student had disappeared last term and all they'd found was his bones! Her brother had told her to stay out of the forest, and she'd fully intended to. But how did you get out once you were in?

[Reed Brennan]

The Forbidden Forest used to be one of Reed's favorite hiding places. She knew it was off-limits to students and that was why she got a rush from simply being in the forest. It made her feel incredibly rebellious and like such a bada--. For the first time since she had come back to Hogwarts, Reed slipped past the lake. She quickly scanned the area around her and behind her to make sure the coast was clear before slipping in. A familiar feeling reached her as her heart sped up and a triumphant grin spread across her face. So far in all her time at Hogwarts, she had never been caught.

Reed was deep enough into the Forest that she could not be seen by anyone lingering on the outside edge. She slowed her pace down, protected by the thickness of the trees. She heard the snap of a twig and the rustling of leaves nearby and suddenly her grin disappeared and the look on her face was replaced by the look of a deer in headlights. She quickly looked around for a place to hide. For all she knew, the noise could've been from a professor patrolling the Forest looking for students like her. Reed pressed her back against a tree. It wasn't the best hiding spot, but it was all she could manage.

[Paris Célestin]

Paris heard so many sounds that it was hard to pick out one from another. She stopped in place and turned slowly on the spot, but with the thick tree cover, she couldn't tell where the sun was to even guess which way she'd come from. She knew that when you were lost you were supposed to stay put or risk getting lost worse, but who was going to find her here?

She sighed and brought out her wand. She didn't know how the charm would help if she didn't know which direction to go in, but it made her feel like she was being proactive. She lay the wand on her palm and whispered, point me. The wand spun, then stopped. Well, that way was north, but which way was the lake?

[Reed Brennan]

Reed heard the words Point me as if the wind had spoken them and not an actual person. She questioned whether she actually heard it or whether it was all in her head. Curiosity got the best of her and she peered around the tree. She took a cautious step forward and immediately saw blonde hair shining in the sun. It took her a moment that the hair belonged to a girl. She could hardly see who the girl was since the trees were in her way, but she could see enough to make her think the girl was far too young to be a professor.

"Er...hello?" She called. She didn't step any closer and was still partially hidden by the tree. Her eyes rested on the wand in the girl's hand and Reed instinctively reached for her own wand. She grasped it in her hand, but kept her hand at her side. She hated having to use her wand on other people and she hoped it wouldn't come to that.

[Paris Célestin]

Paris gasped, and her head lifted to see who had spoken. "Oh!" she cried out. Her lips curved, and her green eyes brightened with excitement. "Thank goodness! I hope you're not lost, too!" At this point she'd be thrilled to get a detention from a prefect, as long as it meant she wasn't lost anymore. Her parents would be terribly unhappy, but she'd rather face them than the glowing eyes of a hungry acromantula!

"Hi, I'm Paris. I got in here by mistake. You don't know how to get out, do you?" What were the chances that the wind had blown other people's homework in here too? She certainly hoped those chances were low.

[Reed Brennan]

Lost? Reed couldn't imagine coming into the Forest intentionally without knowing where she was going. After all, there were all sorts of creatures lurking there. "No, I'm not lost." Reed answered shaking her head. She walked over to the girl, careful to avoid any roots or plants that she might trip on. The last thing she needed was another bruise or worse. The girl, who did look rather young, seemed terrified. "I know how to get out, but it's about a five minute walk." It would be hard to explain the exact directions because if you weren't used to it, all the trees looked the same. "Is this your first time in the forest?" She asked tilting her head to the side. Reed tucked her wand away since there was no use for it now. "It's really as bad as they say." She offered, giving a reassuring smile.

[Paris Célestin]

Paris nodded. "I know we're not supposed to be here, but my essay blew away and by the time I caught it I was lost. I don't mind walking to get out!" She glanced into the dark spaces between the trees. "If it's really that bad, we should probably go," she said, then looked up at the older girl. "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask your name!" It was easy to be distracted when everything Aimé had told her had just been verified.

[Reed Brennan]

“I’m Reed Brennan.” Reed answered. It was a habit to give her last name. She didn’t know where the habit came from or when she started doing it, it just seemed automatic. “What’s yours?” She asked glancing at the girl. She looked unfamiliar, but Reed, unlike her brother who remembered everything, was never good with names or faces. “Did you ever find your essay?” She asked curiously. It would be hard to now since there were many different paths it could’ve escaped on. Reed placed her hand gingerly on the girls shoulder. “Relax.” She commanded softly. “Most professors stay away from here even if the students don’t. But if you’re worried about it, I can just show you the way out.” It would be getting dark soon and Reed always tried to be out of there while it was still light.

[Paris Célestin]

"Wait, the students don't stay out?" Paris asked. "But it's... forbidden!" Why would the students go into the forest when the professors didn't? If they got into trouble, who would help them? Paris was extremely grateful for the help she'd gotten, and the hand at her shoulder did help her relax, but she couldn't imagine she'd find someone here every time. Well, assuming she somehow found herself here again. Which I won't, she told herself.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Paris Célestin, and yes, I got my essay. Do students really come in here?" It was just so hard to believe! Her curiosity knew no bounds. If people came in, she wanted to know who, and why. She wanted to know everything.