Dahlia was upset to say the very least. She couldn't believe Cassia! She could do so much better than Oliver. She caught herself heading up to the first year girl's quarters, but she realized that Cassia had probably beat her to it. So she sat in a chair in the Common Room.

She quietly sulked to herself, mumbling. If Cassia was going to act this way, then fine. But as Dahlia sat hunched in the chair, she began to feel more guilty than vengeful. And that was when she heard the quick yet hesitant footsteps coming down from the girl's quarters. Without another word, she fled the Common Room.

Ignoring the odd looks she was given as she ran down flights of moving stairs and corridors filled with students, Dahlia got outside. Heaving breaths, she thought of where she could go. Not the lake; that's the first place Cassia would look for her. All the other places were just too filled with. . . people. She needed to get away from the stupid population. Glancing in both directions, Dahlia went to the only place she felt she would be secure: the Forbidden Forest.

Inside the forest would have seemed queer to most witches and wizards, but Dahlia liked it. Suddenly feeling a weight on her back, Dahlia turned around and realized that she still had all her school books with her. Sitting down at a tree stump, she pulled out her wand with care, caressing its hard surface. Then, focusing hard on a toadstool, she yelled,"Wingardium leviosa!" It flew up in an instant, showering Dahlia with dirt. "Ugh!" she groaned, "Really?"

The dirt was rubbed into her white shirt, and she couldn't remember the spell that would fix it.
I'll just have Cassia do it later, she's good in charms and transfiguration. That was when she remembered, Cassia was mad at her. And that was when she started to feel alone. Arms folded, she left the shelter of the trees, heading back towards the school.

Pitter patter, pitter patter. Dahlia paused, listening to the animals in the forest and the trickle of water. Pitter patter, pitter patter. She thought about a tiny stream that ran through the forest, a slow jogger, but fair player. This stream managed all of the life surrounding it, it was the heart of the forest.

"Aah, ahh, aah, sleep, sleep, aah, ahh, aah, aah." Dahlia heard it singing in the forest, similar to the first crackle of fire in a silent house, echoing further and further... Cassia! Cassia was one of the best singers Dahlia knew. Everyone knew Dahlia was better, but Cassia was pretty good considering she had never had vocal lessons, and the school they used to go to didn't offer musical courses.

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, sleep, sleep, ooh, ooh, ooh." And Dahlia ran back to the forest.

She sat down at her tree, reading through her books. "That's a good one," said a deep voice. Whirling around, Dahlia saw a boy behind her blush.

"Oh, hello!" she said, feeling very flustered and surprised. "What are you doing here?"

The boy shrugged, his dark hair reflecting light from the forest canopy. "Just out for a ride. What are you doing here?"

"Reading. What do you mean, ride? Do you have a bike or something?"

"No; a horse."

"Where?" Dahlia glanced about, but there was no horse in sight.

"Right here." The boy stepped out of the shadows, and Dahlia gasped. His entire lower half was that of a horse. A word flashed through Dahlia's mind, followed by a long string of information and trivia.

Quickly overcoming her shock, she simply said,"Wow." It seemed like the only appropriate thing to say to a centaur.

"Yeah, it is pretty. . . Wow. So, what is a Hogwarts student like you doing out here in the Forbidden Forest? I mean, it is called that for a reason." He snorted, a glint of humor in his eyes.

With a sigh, Dahlia elaborated. "And that's way I'm in this darn forest."

"I see. . ."