[Forest] Finding Your Feet

[Jac Shaw]

"But why would you be carrying something like that in the forest?"

That was the first thing Jac had asked the small first year who had told her about loosing something very important in the forest. The ickle firsty explained the whole story, which took longer then Jac would have thought possible, and then Jac had agreed to find it for her. She couldn't understand why someone would keep something as repugnant like that but she would rather have an excuse to go in then let the icle firsty go in again.

---

Once the sun had gone down, Jac had snuck out of the castle and headed on the tips of her toes into the Forbidden Forest. The instant she crossed the tree line she felt right at home, with the moist air grabbing at her throat. She breathed in deeply to reacquaint her lungs with the air. Has it really been that long? she thought to herself, looking around. She looked around the dark trees, trying to get her bearings.

She had not realised that she was not the only one in the forest but when she heard a twig snap, Jac whirled around and glared at the spot she thought she had heard it come from. "Georgie?" Jac said slowly, "didn't I tell you I'd sort this out for you and that you weren't to do any more sneaking?" She could think of only the first year who might have followed her and she hoped it was. Any one else and she was worried it was the cursing witch that had given her the large scar on her leg and had nearly tried to kill her. Jac didn't want to run into her again.

[Alex Doyle]

It had been a while since Alex had been in the forest, but he was getting a little, if not a lot bored inside the castle and the only entertainment in which he could think of was a nice relaxing stroll through the forest. Okay, so maybe not nice and relaxing. Though, it was still an escape from the castle of sorts.

It was dark, the moon was out as were the stars. It was a pleasantly warm evening and Alex just couldnt be inside on a night like this. Especially surrounding by those who insisted on studying instead of having fun. He didnt understand why they were all so eager to study, his dorm mates often joked that Doyle was the least ravenclaw-est person around, said he should have been put in Gryffindor instead. Alex wouldnt have minded, at least he would have had an excuse to be seen as more than just a brain on legs!

Alex was used to the forest by now, for seven years he had been coming here. The daunting trees didnt seem very daunting now and the howls of the wolves barely made him tweak his ears. Though, like an idiot, he wasnt watching where he was going as he stood on a twig. "Sort what out?" He said in his joking manner, "And who's Georgie?" He stepped into the light so Jac could see him, and with his usual grin he said, "My my my! Has Jac found herself a boyfriend?" Though quickly took refuge behind a tree, if he knew Jac, she woud have a few damn good spells on the end of that tongue of hers.

[Jac Shaw]

It wasn't Georgie and it wasn't the dreaded witch either so Jac let out the breath she didn't realise she had been holding. Looking back to the person who had just come into the soft light of the moon, Jac's face stretched into a cheeky grin. "Alex?" she said slowly, "who'd 'ave thunk it'd be you who was stalking me?" She chuckled lightly before pulling out her wand.

She turned on her heal and scanned the immediate vicinity. Deciding a quick chat wouldn't hurt, Jac turned back to Alex and walked towards him. She linked her arm in his and pulled him along with her as they walked deeper into the forest. "Georgie is actually a first year girl who has appointed herself my servant," Jac said as though she was explaining the inner workings of DNA to a four year old. "And she's a girl."

Jac let out a little chuckle stepping over a fallen moss covered log. "Can you really see me having a boyfriend?" Jac had thought about it but every time she had she had thought it was a ridiculous thought: Jac Biggerstall dating an actual boy? How could picture a more funny image? "So, I know why I'm here," Jac said, smiling sneakily at Alex, "but what are you doing here, Lexxie-boy? I thought you and Girt were going to go look at a rock ... or something?" Jac couldn't remember what Girty had said over dinner but remembered that it was something like that.

[Alex Doyle]

"It is I!" He chimed, lifting his hands in the air as though he had won an oscar or something. He did his little cheeky smirk before grinning at her, their banter was always a lot of fun, "Well you know! I couldnt help stalking such a pretty creature as yourself" he laughed and walked a little towards her.

Alex happily leant Jac his arm, after all, he couldnt have a young girl walk through the forest alone, could he? It was unheard of! "You do not want to know what I thought when you said she was a girl" He laughed and ran his other hand through his hair, "Of course i stopped thinking it as soon as you said she was your servant"

"Honestly?" he asked her, with a smile he simply said, "No" Though he looked to where he was heading, carefully stepping over the moss log, usually, knowing Alex, he would have fell over the thing. "Though I wouldnt say it'll never happen Jacci!" he laughed, looking at her, "Never know who might catch your eye"

"Im here, because sitting in my common room with a bunch of studious people was incredibly boring" He sighed and gave a small shrug, he really was nothing like a ravenclaw. "Look at a rock?" he questioned, amusement in his voice, "No, we met earlier in the afternoon, we sat on a rock, on a hill near Hogsmeade. Its a place we used to go" he laughed and looked at her, "It was fun, but it wasnt arranged or anything, I had no idea she was going to be there... I take it she did set out to look for me" He could be so cheeky sometimes, but if Girty had said she was going to meet him, when he didnt even know about it, it would only have made sense.

"So what is it you're looking for?"

[Jac Shaw]

At Alex's compliment of Jac, she couldn't help but smirk. She never tired of hearing that she was good looking because she didn't think so. But when Alex spoke of Georgie, Jac's jaw dropped and she gasped at him. "Alex!" she almost shrieked, "I am shocked and appalled that such a thought would even cross your mind. I have better taste then a first year, you can have no doubt about that."

A quick change of subject and Jac was right as rain again. "Never is a long time but I'm not saying never, just at present. Guys, no offence to you, seem to be more interested in getting lucky then having a relationship." Jac shrugged and almost lost her footing. She grasped Alex's arm tighter and using her beating trained arms pulled herself towards Alex so she didn't fall over. She giggled and smiled at Alex. "Sorry bout that," she said before looking around.

Jac was beginning to wonder about Alex's intentions when he spoke of Girty. Fondness was in his words and it made Jac smile. "Oh, right then," she said slowly, "must have gotten my stories crossed then." She couldn't help but think there was something developing between the Claw and the Puff but she kept her thoughts to herself.

Continuing on her walk, Jac scanned the area. "Well," Jac said before letting out a little sigh, "Georgie says that she lost her luck charm and she needs it back. The last place she remembers having it was here about three days ago. I didn't want her coming in her so soon and on her own but she came. Least I could do was keep her safe in the castle and face the peril myself."

[Alex Doyle]

He noticed her smirk when he complimented her, this too, made him smile. He lived for making people smile, especially his friends. Though he let out a laugh when Jac almost shrieked, he couldnt help but find it amusing and her face was a picture! "Jac!" He laughed, "I didnt mean it, it was only a joke" he looked at her and gave her a smile, showing he meant no harm by it, "I know you have better taste... Well actually no i dont because i've never seen you like a guy our age, or even hear you say you like a guy our age" he stopped in thought then smirked, "In fact! Ive never heard you say you like a guy full stop!"

"No offence taken" he said, he knew what she meant of course, most guys these days were only looking for a quick fling and nothing serious, but not every guy was like that. Alex for one, wasnt like that. "Well, one of these days, someone is going to catch your eye and then you'll wonder what on earth has happened!" He smirked at her and gave her a small nudge, "And i personally, cant wait for said day" Though, then came the slipping, luckily enough he was able to keep his footing as Jac moved closer to him, trying to get her own, he gave her a warm smile and added, "Dont worry about it, happens to the best of us"

"How many people does she meet by rocks?" he laughed, though kept his gaze straight ahead of him. Jac should know he wasnt serious about what he said, it was just his joking nature, he was fond of Girty, the two of them were very close friends and had been since the start of school in the first year. Though, he smiled when he spoke of her, he smiled when he spoke of all his friends, though apparently he did something different when he smiled when he spoke of Girty, which highly confused him when people told him.

"How the hell are we supposed to find a luck charm in here?" he asked, he found it impossible, the thing must be small and the forest was huge it could be anywhere, "For all we know, something might have swallowed it if she lost it here three days ago, what's a first year doing in the forest alone anyway?" he asked, complelty forgetting he used to come here alone when he was a first year.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac listened to Alex talk about her liking guys and was waiting for the realisation to set in and when it eventually did Jac laughed. "You catch on quick, Lex," Jac giggled. She got to thinking and couldn't remember ever having had a crush on anyone that she would have told her friends about. Perhaps she had one on Ian but he was so much like a brother to her that it would just have been weird. I think this was her problem: she was such good friends with a lot of people that she feared loosing what she had.

"Never mind," Jac said after a moment's thought. It was a plane fact that she had never had a boyfriend and this fact seemed more important to some then it meant to her. She was happy to wait for that day herself because then she would have to hold her tongue. "What a day that would be too," she chuckled.

Laughing, Jac patted Alex's arm. "I think you're the first met by a rock," Jac giggled. "Though pubs are more regular meeting places for him." It was an odd thing that Girty had inherited from her brother, Jac was afraid. She was worried that she would be doing similar things as her brother was but she didn't have anything to back that up with just yet. And when she did she'd be sure to tell Girty exactly what was what.

"That charm will be easy enough to spot," Jac giggled. She looked around, searching for the right way to go. "I know the clearing she was talking about and it apparently glows in the dark, a pair of neon green rabbit's feet." Jac looked at Alex, a smile still on her face. "Georgie says that she had received a letter from an unknown challenger who wanted a duel in the clearing. She took her charm with and went but they never showed. I can imagine she was most distressed as all she talks about is being about to use the spells she's been learing in Defense."

[Alex Doyle]

"Yes it seems I do" He laughed, then took on a more serious note and said, "Ah, but a bit of fluff in ones life is a bit important" he smiled as he spoke and looked at her, "Its not healthy not to have a crush on at least one person Jac" He gave her a cheesy grin, "Unhealthy and strange, there must be someone you at least like to look at! Even if you dont fancy him, there must be someone you have a crush on" He found it hard to believe, someone could walk around a school full of guys and yet, not find at least one of them attractive. Alex on the other hand, he couldnt walk down a corridor without his head whizzing all around him, of course, he would never dream of going to any of those girls, everyone knew they were all no good. And the ones that were, were either taken, betrothed, gay or otherwise not ready for a relationship. Still, Alex didnt mind, he liked to take things easy anyway.

"Nevermind?" Alex looked at her as though she had said the most discusting thing in the world, "But, but fluff! And sweetness! And cuteness, and happyness and im sounding totally gay arent i?" He laughed. It was always a standing joke that Alex played camp once in a while, though he wasnt at all camp, he just did it because he knew it amused everyone around him, however, he did have his odd outbursts, such as now. "Please, please make sure im there!"

"The first and the last!" He corrected, though he laughed at the same time, "What'chu petting me for?" he asked, intruiged. "Ah yes, the dreaded brother" he cooned, he knew of course, about the way her brother had been, he too was worried that Girty was doing similiar things and the look he gave Jac didnt hide it either. "Well she knows were all here for her, right? So it's not like she'd need to, right?" The worry was evident in his voice, he always worried for Girty, he knew that she loved her brother dearly, but he knew that she disliked him all at the same time. Alex, on the other hand, didnt have many dealings with Dan, so he couldnt pass judgement.

"Well if it glows thats fine, but I sure aint touching no foot of rabbit!" He joked, he trusted Jac in here, she had a vast knowledge of the place, whereas Alex just tended to wander and pray he didnt get lost. "Ah, clearings! I do love clearings! I like to lie down, watch the stars and smell the forest" He looked at her, "its surprising how relaxed you can actually be in a place like this!"

"Spells, a first year! Duelling! It is most unheard of! You would never catch me doing such things in the first year, i never broke a single rule!" He looked down at the ground and hummed a small tune, knowing full well he was the exact opposite of what he had just said in the first year, and he knew Jac knew that too.

[Jac Shaw]

The more and more Alex spoke about Jac liking someone, the bigger and bigger her smile became. She stopped walking and held Alex's arm tight. "Why Mr Doyle," Jac chortled, "I do believe I'm crushing on you right now." She winked at him and laughed before starting to walk again. She couldn't understand why it was such an issue. People always made it to be this important thing when Jac couldn't see why. It amused her and she could only joke about liking Alex, just to see what he would do.

"Of course there are attractive guys to look at," Jac chuckled, "yourself included in that list I'll have you know." Jac wasn't the type to look at a person because of how they looked but upon occasion she did look. "And I look just like the next girl does but it's just not as important to me as to others." Jac shrugged, "why should I go for someone because it's someone to be with? I don't. Seems an easy enough solution to me."

The worry for Girty that came through Alex's words let a smile on Jac's face. She nodded at the floor before looking up at him. "Indeed," she chortled, "I do believe she does know that. I've told her often enough." It was cute that he would worry for Girty as she did, she who had been friends with Girty for as long as she could remember having friends. Girty was a good friend but sometimes she got lost in her own little word.

"And you don't have to touch it," she said, smiling, "I'm the one who told Georgie I'd get it for her so I'll be touching the rabbit's feet." Alex's reaction to the feet was predictable but they way he spoke of the clearing made Jac stop walking again and she lost her hold on his arms, her own falling to her side. "You don't come here very often do you?" she asked, her head inclined to one side. "When you're relaxed, that's when they come at you sideways, trying to catch you off guard. Clearings also give your hunter the advantage of being able to camouflage themselves.

"And I'll have you know, I was dueling a fourth year within a month of school starting." Jac added. It's perfectly normal for them to have different different experiences at Hogwarts and Jac was ok with that. "Unheard of, oh please. Like you've never." She chuckled and smiled happily at Alex. Since he mentioned it she had watched him a nd come to the conclusion that he was actually nice to look at.

[Alex Doyle]

Referance to valentines day card, thread <<< Liz's idea this one Liz Edit: And you are wishing you came up with it hehehe

"Well Miss Biggerstall" He looked at her with a smile, "I must say I am a very attractive young man" He smiled at her, he was indeed a cheeky lad but he never meant any harm by it which he knew Jac knew. Alex knew Jac wouldnt have someone special in her life for a while yet, but still, Alex really believed that everyone should have someone who makes them smile, in a way friends cant. He didnt know why he believed in such things, but in his eyes, "Love is the life soul of people, Thats what I think anyway"

"Well they dont come much more attractive than I" he laughed and looked at her, "Im only yankin' ya' leg" The banter between Alex and Jac always made him smile, he knew Jac wouldnt ever take anything he said seriously, but then again, neither did he, his tone was usually always joking and he was hardly ever serious. He was also noted never to have wore a frown unless something had really gotten to him.

A memory hit him when they spoke of Girty and he stopped dead in his tracks, a smile played on his face as he looked at Jac, "I've just remembered something I long forgotten!" he laughed and looked at her, "When we were all in the second year, I sent Girty a valentines day card... I was totally.. Well i wouldnt say in love obviously because at twelve years old that would be ridiculous" laughing he looked at her, "But i was bessoted by her. I remember telling myself it was only because we were close friends, i sent her a valentines day card saying a few things in it, but never signed it. I dont think she knows it was off me" He laughed and looked at her, "Silly second year right?" He looked at her, the smile faded and he shrugged, "If my memory serves me right, she burnt it too, I cant remember why... Probably didnt want a card of someone she thought she didnt know" He smiled again, "No matter, whats past is past"

"I was kidding Jac, ive touched worse things then feet off a rabbit i can assure you" He looked at her as they carried on walking, he was in a forest, with Jac, looking for something that glowed, "Though still, if it was three days ago, some creature might have been curious about the glow and ate it up! And i am not gutting anything!" He looked at her with a dumfounded expression, "Oh, yes I do come here often, though when i lie in a clearing im not stupid enough to expose myself dear god no. I use a simple yet efficent, dissilusionment charm" He smirked, "Works wonders believe me"

"Well thats because your a rebel Jac Biggerstall, me on the other hand was a rule abiding, never say boo to a goose sort of guy," He shrugged, "So im bending the truth, i did duel and break as many rules as possible, hence why we only won the cup once, and never again, all my doing, i apologize! But your house is worse, you havnt ever won it" He stuck his tongue out at her and grinned.

[Jac Shaw]

Alex's agreement that he was good looking made Jac throw her head back with laughter. She stumbled a little but caught herself well enough. How vain, she thought to herself looking at Alex as he spoke. If Jac had been honest with herself throughout her years at Hogwarts she had had many crushes or what she'd call infatuations on boys but not enough to pursue it further then friendship. She valued friendship above most other things and wouldn't do anything to ruin what she had for what she might have.

As they walked on, from this point, Jac smiled to the ground and avoided looking at Alex. There was so much on her mind that meeting his eyes might break her thoughts. This was at least what she told herself. So they continued walking.

Alex mentioned a valentines day card he had sent Girty in their second year and Jac thought on that. "I don't remember Girt ever mentioning it but then again I didn't really know her then. I only met her because my mum was caring for Grace's dad while he was in hospital. Grace and Girt were friends but Grace was a year ahead of us. Mum asked me to make contact with Grace. Girty and I were there the day Grace's dad died. It was horrible and what was worse was I didn't understand what was going on. Girty is such a good friend and all I could do was fetch tea. I'm not a very good friend, Alex," she admitted, "I never know what to do or say in difficult situations. I mean, give me a troll over a heart broken friend any day. At least I know what to do with the troll. But ..."

Jac sighed and shrugged her shoulders. Her hair was slowly turning a dull brown and then getting darker till it was nearly pitch black. She didn't like it but they had both confided something in the other. Jac didn't like to share such things with friends, or even Trish, her closest sister. She didn't understand why she had told Alex that but something had been bothering her and she was beginning to think that this confession was part of it.

Alex's point about an animal having eaten the charm began to worry Jac. "I know," she said softly, looking ahead to where the clearing should start to be visible in a few minutes if they kept to this pace. "But I promise Georgie I'd look and I keep my promises." That was it. She had promised to be there for her friend when she needed it but Jac was emotionally closed off and though she was sitting with Grace she wasn't really there for her. Suddenly Jac realised she had stopped walking, had taken her arm out of Alex's, was simply staring at the flood, the leave covered, dark, damp floor. "That's why I'm doing this," she said slowly, thoughtfully. "That's why I told Georgie to stay behind. That's why I've been so determined to find this thing."

Slowly she raised her dark her, her ice blue eyes twinkling with enlightenment. She snorted a laugh before the one corner of her mouth moved into a smile. "I am a bit of a rebel, aren't I?" All trace of bewilderment had gone, even her hair was it's normal autumn colours. She laughed and now took Alex's hand and she strode past him. Her pace was almost a jog. "Come on, slow poke," she said, and pulled her wand out with her free hand, "we're nearly there." For all his talking of house points Jac shook her head as she laughed softly. "I'd even go as far as to say that it's my fault. I'm always getting points take off me for defending myself and what what." She always thought it was silly to aim for a silly cup but it did wonders to keep people going to class. The thing was that it was usually in classes that she lost most of the points she did.

[Alex Doyle]

He looked at Jac when she laughed at his comment about him being good looking, she had clearly missed the irony because he was kidding. He looked back at her as she looked at him and he gave her the widest and cheesiest grin he could. He didnt understand why she wouldnt want someone special in her life, he did...He pushed that thought away however before it could go any further. No use in keep torturing himself.

"Well that girl always has kept things to herself, and hidden them quite well" He wasnt speaking about the Valentines Day card here, "Though I have go no doubt in my mind you are a brilliant friend" He told her with a playful punch, "But your a good friend in your own little way, Jac. Not everyone is sympathetic some people have other ways of helping out. Sometimes just being there with someone is all that you need"

He watched as her hair changed colour, Alex always knew this was a good way to tell how she was feeling. He put a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, cheer up come on" He smiled at her, "Your a great girl"

"And you are keeping your promise, are you not?" He smiled, "You're in here, looking for it. If some beastie has swallowed it and we cant find it, its not our fault, not your fault" Alex smiled at her, wondering if his pick me up lines were helping her. "Listen Jac. You cant always keep promises you make" He knew this from personal experiance, one he had experianced just recently, "You promised Georgie you'd look for the charm, not find it. If we cant find it at least we can say we look and i'll help until you decide to give up" He smiled at her as his arm fell down to his side.

Alex looked at her a little taken aback by her snort of laughter and looked at her with an uneasy smile. "A bit? Jac i would be willing to bet you're the school rebel" He laughed happily as he watched her hair turn back to its normal colour, even though normal is not quite how you would describe her hair colour. He felt his hand being tugged and laughed as he found himself being dragged off, "Okay okay! I can take a hint!" Alex shook his head in puzzlement, "Nearly where? Where are we going Jac?" Alex laughed, he too couldnt keep any house points under his belt, he was always getting caught doing something wrong.

[Jac Shaw]

"Girt is a special person," Jac admitted, titling her head to the side with a little flourish of her autumn coloured hair. But Alex began to speak of her and her smile faded. She had always wondered what other people her thought of her and knew that none would tell her the truth to her face; brash truth was her department. She wondered if the time she had spent with Grace had been what she needed. Girty and Grace were so alike and helped each other tremendously. So why did Grace need Jac? She just didn't know.

Alex was in a very philosophical mood, Jac could tell, so she listened to what he had to say. It was much comfort that someone thought she was doing what was right. There were few who would say it so openly and Jac appreciated it. She smiled again, wider then before but her blue eyes shone a little sadder. They walked on, over fallen branches and decaying leaves. Her shoes were once again full of dirt and grime and a dark shade of brown then their usual weathered red.

Looking up at his final question, Jac saw brighter moonlight threw a few trees ahead. She let go of Alex and walked ahead, through the trees, her wand in her hand poised for whatever might jump out at them. Circling, Jac could feel there was no more leaves of cracking twigs beneath her feet. The grass was soft and made no sound and the trees gave birth to a small hill of grass. "Here," Jac said, standing on top of the hill and looking down on Alex. Smiling, she chuckled, "It's no often that I get to be taller then you."

"Now," she said, looking around at the trees that surrounded the clearing. "It should be around her somewhere, on a low branch or even on the ground." She looked at Alex, her eyes questioning before she could even get the words out. "Will you help me look, Alex?"

[Alex Doyle]

Alex nodded in agreement, Girty was a special person, at least to Alex she was. Jac was special to him too, Jac was one of his friends, and he thought of all his friends as special, his greatest treasures who he would do anything for, he'd put himself in danger if it meant keeping those he classed as special safe. He saw her smile fade and knew a playful punch on the shoulder wouldnt help. Instead he put his arm around her shoulder as they walked, giving her a little squeeze. "Everyones special"

Alex was becoming too serious, that was what he was doing. "Im growing old way before my time" he laughed, thinking about it, he had been doing an awful lot of un-Alex-likeness lately. Frowning constantly instead of smiling, being serious instead of cheeky and happy. No, this wasnt right and Alex had vowed to put that right. Starting as soon as he could. It wasnt like he could mope forever right. He looked at Jac and with a sly smile, he pulled her into a tight hug, "Awwww!" He laughed, "Liccle Jaccyboo not feeling right?"

Alex smiled as he looked up at Jac, it was a strange feling to have to look up at her instead of down. "Well dont get used to it, we all know im taller naturally" he gave a cheeky smile and stuck his tongue out at her as he looked around the clearing. It was, as Alex always found them, tranquil and relaxing. Though death could occur quite easily within these trees, but he felt a little at ease within their boundaries.

"Of course" He said as he began to look high and low for something that resembled a rabbits foot. "Rocks... leaves.... twigs" He mumbled as he picked something up, "Oh look! Another rock! Who'd have thought eh?" Laughing he continued his search.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac rolled her eyes and let out a harsh breath. "So basically no is," Jac said slowly, looking around. She didn't trust the forest for a second and at any moment any number of wide creatures could jump out at you. She never expected to be jumped at by the one she was walking with. Suddenly Alex was hugging Jac. "Oh," she giggled, trying to get him off half heartedly. When he finally let her go, Jac shrugged dramatically and straightened her jacket. "I'm feeling just fine, thank you very much."

She smiled down at him as she was so much higher then him. His quirk made her laugh and she walked down to stand level with, now looking up. "Naturally, in deed," she said and grew so that she was taller then him. Being a metomorphmagus sure did come in handy some times. "But it's just so much fun being taller then you." She put out her arm and leaned her arm on his head. "Lovely view from up here." She giggled, thinking she was very funny.

Shrinking back to her normal short size, Jac bunched up her nose quickly and gave Alex a light tap on the arm. "Come on," she said and walked around the clearing. The mound in the middle meant that she lost sight of Alex but his voice carried to her. When he said oh look she ran up the small hill and looked expectantly down at Alex. Jac tilted her head and put her hands on her hip. "Nice one Mr Funny Man."

She sighed, dropping her arms to her side. "Oh, dear," she said with a heavy sigh. Her head lulled to the side and she rolled her eyes again but as she did so a spot of light close to the ground caught her eye. Frowning, Jac looked closer at it and began to walk slowly down the hill. "What's that?" she said slowly, narrowing her eyes and walking closer to it.