The only, ONLY reason Lucas was even contemplating this excursion was because this forest had been curiously named the Forbidden Forest and there wasn't anything that drew his curiosity more than something that he'd been told not to do. Duh.

Anyway, the Gryffindor had had to detour to the kitchen to sweet talk the elves into a trail mix which... contained only marshmallows and chocolate chips but WHO CARED. When he saw Abbi lingering on the outskirts of the trees, he made a beeline for the redhead and kind of half-ran, half-skipped overt her.

"'Lo," he greeted brightly. "Reeeeeady?" But the second year's brow furrowed when a particularly strange whining noise came from deeper in the trees.

Gulp.

Look brave, little lion.