Dahlia, the centaurs, and James were having a pretty good time. Only when the sun began to set did they realize that they should start heading back to school grounds. "Here, my lady, we shall give you and your friend a ride back to your school."

Dahlia nodded, feeling rather regal. "Thank you, Derek," she said as she mounted him. James mounted Joel not as gracefully, falling off the first. . . well, more than the first time. Finally, Dahlia used her wand and said, "Windgardium leviosa!" and lifted James up on Joel's back.

"Just so you know, I was doing fine on my own," James grumbled.

"Sure you were."

"I was."

Meanwhile Cassia followed them back out of the forest. She knew she should have gone and got Hagrid, but her instincts were telling her to stay with her friends. Except, she saw something she didn't really expect. A kiss. Kind of cute, actually. James leaned in and kissed Dahlia.

Dahlia didn't break the kiss, but she didn't kiss James back either. Then James grabbed the back of Dahlia's head and pressed her into him. Dahlia let out a shriek but James wouldn't let go of her. Then Dahlia sucker punched James in the diaphragm. "You can walk home," she snapped. Joel bucked James off. "Owie!" cried Dahlia mockingly. Derek kicked some dirt on James and rode off.

James bent over and retched. Cassia winced; Dahlia had taken karate and had almost been mugged once. She didn't mess around. Cassia ran out, and helped James to his feet. "Did you see all of that?" James asked miserably.

Cassia nodded, her lips firmly pressed together in a straight line. "I did," she said, feeling slightly protective of Dahlia.

James nodded slightly, then puked again. Cassia bit her lip, then said, "Lenio." James stood up and thanked her silently. "There. Don't talk to me or my friends. Come on, Fang." She started to walk towards the school. Fang whined but followed. James grabbed her wrist and spun Cassia around to face him. Cassia looked around. No one was there. The centaurs had left. It was just her and James (and of course Fang).

"Let me go, James," she warned, raising her wand. James lifted his. "Don't go there." James didn't lower his wand; a defense instinct kicked in. "Stupify!" Cassia screamed. James crumpled to the ground. "STUPIFY STUPIFY STUPIFY STUPIFY!"

Cassia ran full bolt back to the school and didn't look back.