The Golden Deer

Chapter Four- A magical night

Lily put on her wool cloak and muffler and went out towards the edge of the forest. The magic deer was already there, waiting for her. As she came closer he advanced too and sniffed at the bundle she was carrying. She quickly untied the napkin and saw that James had brought apples, sugar, and also some cranberries. Why did he bring these? The stag, however, went for the cranberries immediately. "Well, I guess you like those, don't you, Magic Deer." He ate the sugar cubes from Lily's hand and then pushed the bundle away with his nose. Lily tied it up and made to go back to the castle, but he stomped his hooves and lowered his head, displaying his grand antlers. Lily was alarmed now. Did the stag mean to attack her? As she looked on in fear, he lowered hi shoulders, kneeling with his forelegs beneath him. "Do you want me to get on your back?" The slight up and down of the antlers let her know he was nodding.

Apprehensively, Lily mounted the deer's golden back. She held onto his smooth antlers tightly as he raised himself up. His powerful muscles moved under her and made her feel very safe and secure. The stag walked towards the lake, and then breaking into a canter, he took Lily around the long side of the lake. The sky was lit by thousands of twinkling stars, and the starlight glistened on the frozen lake and on the deer's golden pelt. It was the most amazing and unreal experience of Lily's whole life. The only thing troubling her was James. It seemed like being with the stag made her think about him even more than she usually did, and the romantic atmosphere of the evening had her mind going in directions she usually did not allow it to go. She dwelled on James's kiss, and yearned for more.

The stag went up a hill on the far side of the lake. Lily had never been here before. When they reach the top of the hill he stopped, and Lily gasped in awe at the view the summit afforded them. She could see for miles; forests and mountains and lakes, and even the village of Hogsmeade with its twinkling lights and smoking chimneys. The stag knelt again for Lily to dismount. She did, and she sat, leaning against the deer's warm body as he settled himself on the snowy ground.

Lily stroked the silky shoulders of her friend and began to talk to him. "You know, Magic Deer, I've been thinking alot about that boy I told you about, James, remember." He nodded. "I want to show him that pine tree you brought me to this morning, would that be ok?" He nodded again. "I know what you're thinking," she went on, "why do I want to bring him there if I said I wanted to hide from him. I know. I'm just a little confused, that's all. I really want James, I want to be with him, but I'm afraid he'll break my heart. I don't know. Now, I just want to kiss him and feel him holding me. I almost think I want it so bad that I'd risk a broken heart, you know?" The stag looked like he was listening, so she continued. "I wonder what my friends will think when they come back and I'm going out with James! Anyway, they have been telling me to say yes all along. He is really good-looking. He's smart too. And good at Quidditch. So what if he's a little arrogant? I mean, that's what my friends say about me for turning him down. Besides, he's loads better than he used to be. Boys just take longer to grow up; everyone knows it." Lily stood up, petted the stag's fuzzy cheeks, and said, "Thank you my deer friend. You really helped me. Now I know what I'm going to do."

The golden stag raised his hind legs and lowered his head so that Lily could easily climb back onto him. He ran down the hill and the wind rushed against their faces with his speed. Lily sat silently as the buck took her at a trot all the way back to the castle doors. After dismounting, she kissed his face, and again felt the strange sensation in her stomach. He is a magic deer, after all.