Alice wasn't stupid.

Really, okay? She did loads of senseless stuff and said a bunch of dumb things that caused way too many issues, but her head wasn't completely screwed up, which is why she didn't actually venture INTO the Forbidden Forest, only hovered near the edge of it. She needed one last ingredient, just one, and there were more interesting things to gather than feathers, she assumed. But she wasn't going IN the forest. It was just a potions assignment, no need to like get eaten by an Acromantula or something in the process of completing it.

She warily eyed the first of the expanse of trees, staying a bit back from Mr. Firth's nearest 'Keep Out!' sign. The fifth year crouched down and examined the ground, eyeing a particular patch of a plant. She was sure this particular one had been in one of the books she'd flipped through in the library. What.. what was it.. Knotweed? Knotgrass. Alice leaned closer, examining it for a few seconds before wrapping her fingers around a bit of it and yanking the desired amount out of the ground.

.. was she hearing noises? Was that something in there? Time to leave. The Knotgrass was pocketed, and Alice was heading back into the castle with four minutes to spare.