Into the forest.

Marie is standing before the depths of the forest; the words of Headmaster Cooper repeating themselves over and over in her head. She should be scared, but that is far from what she is feeling - even after she had heard the cries of a wolf on the past full moon.

She takes two steps forward right, left, and stops, falling back one step, left. Shaking her head at her stupidity, the Gryffindor wills herself forward once more, right, left, right, left, right; eventually smiling at her success. By now, Marie is standing in the Forbidden Forest, with the safe grass behind her, and the dangerous ahead.

She is frightened by the distinct singing of birds, and nearly rushes back to safety - but that is only what cowards do, right? She believes so.

With a few more shuffling of her feet, Marie glances about. What had been covered by the brightness of the sun, is now darkened by the huge trees of the place. Should she be scared now? Perhaps so, for she does not know what lies in the heart of her surroundings. However, still her feet are moving on their own accord. She balls up her fists - a clear indication of the battle going on inside her. Between the part of her that wants to continue and the other part,

This war is what distracts her for less then a second and the next thing she discovers is plain darkness.

Ethanael didn't know what had motivated him to take a walk, espeically near the forest, from where the lake was still in view. He had stopped to take in the surroundings when a figure appeared in the corner of his eye.

Curiousity getting the better of him, he faced it, watching as it took a few steps to and from the forest. That was before, it completely vanished into the Forbidden Forest, and Ethanael couldn't help but gape.

Who would go near the forest, especially when they had been warned off it so many times by the Professors. Having noticed that the figure was a girl, he shook his head at her stupidity.

Ethanael knew it wasn't his business, but he couldn't help but to follow the girl into the Forbidden Forest, just to be sure that she knew what she was getting herself into.

After what seemed like minutes wandering aimlessly, he saw a figure on the ground. And his eyes widened as he ran towards it. "Oh god, wake up'" he said frantically. He tried to pick her up in his arms, but she was too heavy for him, and so Ethanael ran from there, towards the office of a Professor.

"Is this the right path?" Ursula asks Ethanael, taking over his stride when the path into the forest gets darker and more twisted. "Let me lead the way, you just tell me if you remember where everything is," she says, now finally realising that this is very serious and lighting her wand up above her head to frame her way.

There seems to be something on the ground and she hopes it's a carcass of wood, but her gut tells her it isn't.
And suddenly she hasn't been running fast enough.

Choking when she sees her fears have been answered, and yes, indeed it is a Gryffindor, Ursula levitates her to her waist height and strokes her hair.
"Marie..."

With a roundabout turn, she steers Ethanael ahead of her with a steely grip on her shoulders, as her wand turns Marie vertical, so she rests on her chest now, as she strides to the castle.

"Find Martinez," she barked to the Hufflepuff. "Make it fast!"

Ethanael had lead the Professor to the Forbidden Forest, the exact place he remembered to have seen the girl. And when he saw her again, his eyes went from her to Professor Sparrow.

Hearing the teacher bark instructions at him, he ran to the office of the School Healer, desperate for two reasons. For help, and to get there on time so that he didn't get into any trouble.

The School Healer made his way into the Forbidden Forest, where he saw the Head of Gryffindor and a girl levitated before her. Narrowing his eyes, he walked faster and stopped when he was near enough to hold the girl in his arms.

"Follow me," was all he said to the Hufflepuff boy and the woman.

Her face still contorted in shock, she released the spell when the resident nurse came into her way and held onto Marie. She stifled a sob and nodded at Ethanael, walking to catch up with him.

"Thank you for finding me, Ethanael," she said, keeping her eyes straight in front of her. When she reached the Great Hall, she thought about breaking into a run, but slowed a little and cast a disillusionment charm, and sat for a while against the door that remained closed.