Geoff Rickly never intended to find Way Manor. He was being followed home by Finley and his group of bullies after school one day, and the quickest way out was to run into Greenwick Forest. Even as Finley taunted him for being a "scaredy cat," Geoff knew that Finley's group would never follow him. The forest was off-limits to just about everyone. His dad had told him that dangerous things happened in Greenwick Forest, but in all honesty, Geoff thought the idea was a bit daft. What could possibly be so bad about a forest?

As Geoff ran through the trees, he noticed a light coming from the middle of the forest. He decided to follow it. Geoff followed the light until he came upon a house, and it wasn't just any house. It was a gigantic, old mansion that reached up into the sky and seemed to go on forever. The mansion wasn't even the strangest part though. In front of the mansion, there were two people: a man in his forties and a boy who couldn't have been much older than Geoff. The two of them had matching brown hair and eyes and similar faces, so he assumed that the man was the boy's father. Both of them were floating on broomsticks and playing catch with an unusual type of ball that Geoff had never seen before.

Geoff was going to introduce himself, but the boy saw him first. "Hello!" the boy exclaimed as he dismounted the broom and reached out his hand. Geoff shook it. "I'm Mikey Way! What's your name?"

"Geoff Rickly," Geoff said shyly.

"Mikey, let's go inside," Mikey's father said. "We don't talk to strangers."

"Geoff's not a stranger, Dad," Mikey said. "He just introduced himself. Besides, he has to be a wizard. How else would he have gotten through the Muggle Repelling Charms?"

Geoff had never thought of himself as a wizard. He knew that his mother was a witch, but since was raised around non-magical people (or Muggles, as Geoff's mum called them), he didn't fully realise that there were other people like her. Geoff did know that he could make things happen sometimes, like when he ended up on the school roof after a particularly dreadful class, but he couldn't explain how they had happened either. Maybe that really was magic.

Mikey's dad clearly hadn't heard him, since he had gone inside and left his broomstick on the ground. "Geoff, how old are you?" Mikey asked.

"I'm eight," Geoff said. "How old are you?"

"Seven and a half," Mikey said. "Where are you from?"

"You ask a lot of questions," Geoff said. "I'm from Greenwick."

"If you're a wizard, then why do you live with the Muggles?" Mikey asked. "Are you Muggle-born? How come I've never seen you before?"

"My mum is a witch," Geoff explained. "She wants me to learn to be nice to Muggles. My dad is a Muggle."

"So you're a half-blood," Mikey said.

"What's a half-blood?" Geoff asked.

"It's when some of your family are wizards, but some of them aren't," Mikey replied.

"What are you?" Geoff asked. He wasn't entirely sure if he was allowed to ask that, but this being Geoff, he asked anyways.

"I'm a pure-blood," Mikey said. "That means that all of my family are wizards. Do you want to play catch?"

"I don't know how to use a broomstick," Geoff said.

"I can teach you," Mikey said. He grinned, showing his several missing baby teeth. "We can be friends! I don't have a lot of friends. Nobody ever comes to play with me, and I don't want to be alone."

"I'll be your friend, Mikey!" Geoff exclaimed.

"Hooray! Best friends to the end!" Mikey shouted. He then held his hand over his broom and said, "Up!" The broom zoomed up into Mikey's hand. "See? That's how you get your broom. Then, you just get up and go!" Mikey hopped onto his broom and started flying into the air.

Geoff figured that he should give it a try. "Up!" he exclaimed, but the broom did nothing. He tried a few more times, and on the fourth try, it finally flew into his hand. Geoff cautiously got onto the broomstick and then steered it up a little bit. "I'm flying!" he shouted.

Mikey laughed and then held up a ball and said, "This is a Quaffle. It's the ball they use in Quidditch."

"What's Quidditch?" Geoff asked.

"It's the sport that wizards play," Mikey said. He threw the Quaffle to Geoff, who tried to catch it, but it flew over his head. Geoff turned around, found the Quaffle, and threw it back to Mikey.

The two boys threw the Quaffle around until the sun went down. "It's too early for the sun to set!" Geoff complained. "I want to keep playing with you!"

"Me too," Mikey said. "Will you come back tomorrow?"

"Of course," Geoff said.

"Okay," Mikey said. "So long and goodnight, Geoff!"

"So long and goodnight to you too, Mikey," Geoff said as he waved to Mikey and left to find his way back home.

********

As promised, Geoff returned the next day, and just about every day throughout the summer. He found it harder to come as often once school started again, but he visited his friend as much as he could. Nevertheless, both boys welcomed the return of summer, as it meant that they would be able to see each other every day again.

Mikey was waiting for Geoff to arrive one August day when his mother called from the kitchen. "Mikey! Come down here! Your grandmother and your aunt and uncle are going to be here any minute!" Mikey turned away from the window where he was watching for Geoff and rushed downstairs, but he was too late. Aunt Jenny, Uncle Isaac, and Mikey's cousins were already there. Mikey stood next to his elder brother Gerard, hoping that his relatives wouldn't notice him.

"Oh Astoria, aren't these the most adorable little pure-blooded lads you've ever seen?" an unfamiliar blond-haired man in his twenties said to Mikey's cousin Astoria as he gestured towards Mikey and Gerard. "I want to have kids just like them someday."

"Draco, these are my cousins, Gerard and Mikey," Astoria explained. "Gerard, Mikey, this is my boyfriend Draco."

"Nice to meet both of you," Draco said.

"When's Grandma going to get here?" Gerard asked.

"Soon," Mrs. Way said. "Just be patient."

"Can I go in the basement and read comics...uh, I mean, get ahead in my summer reading for school?" Gerard asked.

"Fine," Mrs. Way said. "Just make sure you're actually studying. When Grandma gets here, I'll tell her where you are."

Gerard sprinted into the basement, and Mikey and Gerard's grandmother arrived a few minutes later. Mikey was tasked with helping her get down into the basement, which he did. Once she got down there, Gerard jumped up and gave her a hug. "It's so good to see you, Grandma!" he exclaimed.

"It's good to see you too, Gerard," Grandma said. "You're going to Hogwarts soon, aren't you?"

"Yeah! Mum and Dad took me to Diagon Alley last week! I got a wand, all of my books, and an owl!" Gerard said. "I'm trying to brush up on my drawings before school starts."

"I can help you," Grandma said. Mikey wasn't all that interested in art, so he went upstairs and found that everyone had already sat down. It was moments like this when Mikey missed Geoff the most.

"You wouldn't believe some of the crazy people who wind up in Magical Law Enforcement," Mrs. Way complained. "There's this one woman I work with - I forgot her first name, but her last name is Rickly - who honestly thinks that we should get rid of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and live with the Muggles. Isn't that insane?"

"It's completely insane," Draco said. "My family would never approve of that. My ancestors signed the bloody thing!" It was at that moment when Mikey noticed a tattoo on Draco's forearm. He didn't know what it meant, and he decided not to ask.

"She's Muggle-born, of course, and she married a Muggle too," Mrs. Way continued. "I feel bad for her son. He's a little older than Mikey, and the poor child is going to go to Hogwarts without knowing anything about our world."

"He'll be no better than a Mudblood," Draco said.

They're talking about Geoff, Mikey realised. "Don't say that!" he exclaimed. "That's mean! Mum, can I be excused?"

"Mikey, you've barely touched your potatoes," Mrs. Way said.

"I'm not hungry," Mikey said. "Can I go?"

"Yes, you can go," Mrs. Way said. Mikey immediately got out of his chair and ran outside to find Geoff, trying to face this with a sense of poise and rationality. Geoff was under a cork tree next to the house, as usual.

"Hi Mikey!" Geoff exclaimed. "You know, it's getting dark. Where were you?"

"My family came over," Mikey said. "I met my cousin's boyfriend. He seemed nice, but then he insulted you, so now I'm not so sure. What's new with you?"

Geoff shrugged and said, "Finley stole my stuff, but everything he stole showed up in my room this afternoon, so I guess it's okay."

"You can see the stars really well from here," Mikey said as he lay down on the grass. Geoff did the same and looked up. Mikey was right. This was an amazing view. Geoff inched just a little bit closer to Mikey as both boys continued to look up at the sky.

"Hey moon, please forget to fall down," Geoff whispered. He wished that this night would last forever.

********

Another year passed, and while Geoff often couldn't find the time to visit Mikey during the winter, he faithfully returned the next summer.

Geoff decided to visit his friend immediately after the last day of his fifth year at Greenwick Primary School. He just couldn't wait to see Mikey again. He ran into the forest and found Mikey waiting under the cork tree, but he looked different. His hair was lighter, and a pair of slightly-too-large rectangular eyeglasses now adorned his face. In a way, Mikey looked better though. Geoff still couldn't quite explain the butterflies in his stomach as he approached Mikey.

"Hi Geoff," Mikey said, smiling.

"Hi Mikey," Geoff said as he sat down next to Mikey. "How have you been?"

"Lonely," Mikey said. "People have told me I don't look the same, but that's probably because I changed my hair color and got glasses."

"You look nice," Geoff said.

"Thanks," Mikey said. "What have you been doing?"

"School," Geoff answered. "I hate school. I can't wait until I can go to Hogwarts."

"Me neither," Mikey said. "Homeschool is no fun. I've got an idea! Let's tell each other secrets."

"Okay," Geoff said, trying to think of a juicy secret that he could tell Mikey. "I'm a wizard and I'm going to go to a wizard school when I'm eleven."

"I already knew that one, silly!" Mikey exclaimed. "I almost burnt down Way Manor with a fork and a toaster once."

"How is that even possible?" Geoff asked.

"I don't know," Mikey replied. "Your turn."

"I'm really bad at reading," Geoff said. "I can't read and I can't write."

"I'm sure you can read," Mikey said.

"I got a C this year," Geoff argued.

"You can still read and write," Mikey said. "I've got one. I really want to be in a rock band when I grow up. My mum says it's 'unrealistic,' but I think it would be awesome."

"That sounds really awesome," Geoff said. "I want to be in a band too. Is it my turn?"

"Yes," Mikey said.

"I have epilepsy," Geoff said. "I have to take pills for it."

"What's epilepsy?" Mikey asked.

"When I lose control, convulsions shake the stars above," Geoff explained. Upon seeing Mikey's look of confusion, Geoff said, "Okay, maybe that's a little melodramatic, but seizures are pretty awful. I think it's your turn."

"I really like unicorns," Mikey said. "Everyone says they're really girly, but unicorns are cool."

"Don't listen to them, Mikey," Geoff said. "Unicorns are cool."

"Thanks Geoff," Mikey said.

"You're welcome," Geoff said. He knew that he had a good secret, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to tell Mikey. He decided to tell him anyways. "Sometimes I get these weird squiggly feelings around girls...well, sometimes I get them around boys too. Mum and Dad said that was normal, but when the kids at school found out, Finley and his gang called me all kinds of terrible names. I didn't even know what most of them meant, but they sounded really mean." Geoff had begun to cry, and Mikey wrapped his arms around him. Nobody had the right to treat his friend like that.

"It's okay, Geoff," Mikey said. "Sometimes I get squiggly feelings around boys too." He wasn't quite ready to admit that the only boy he really liked was Geoff.

Geoff wiped his eyes and looked over at Mikey. Just having Mikey there made Geoff feel a lot better. This was why he constantly thanked God for his wonderful best friend Mikey Way.

********

Geoff and Mikey grew even closer over the course of that summer, and they both dreaded the falling leaves that served as the harbingers of autumn. However, despite their magical powers, there was nothing that either boy could do to stop the passage of time, and eventually, Geoff had to return to school once again. Of course, he returned at the soonest possible opportunity, and the young lads were beyond thrilled to see each other again.

One hot day in July, Geoff sprinted to Way Manor as quickly as he could. The sun had just risen, and Geoff doubted that Mikey was even awake, but he didn't care. Geoff had some very big news.

Thankfully, Mikey was awake and he was watching for Geoff. As soon as he saw him, he rushed downstairs, still wearing his pajamas. He ran over to the cork tree, where Geoff was waiting.

"Mikey! Look at this!" Geoff said as he handed Mikey the letter that he had received. "I got accepted to Hogwarts!"

Mikey studied the letter. Sure enough, it was a Hogwarts acceptance letter, signed by Headmistress McGonagall herself. Gerard had gotten an identical letter two years earlier. Nevertheless, Mikey read over the letter one more time.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall

Dear Mr. Rickly,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at . Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on . We await your owl by no later than .

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

There was a list of supplies after that, but Mikey didn't bother to read it. "Congratulations Geoff," Mikey said half-heartedly. He wanted to follow Geoff to Hogwarts, but he was still a year too young. "I guess you're going to Hogwarts."

"Don't worry Mikey," Geoff said. "You'll be able to come with me next year."

"I know, but I'll miss you so much," Mikey said.

"I'll miss you too, but we've got the whole rest of the summer," Geoff said. "Besides, I'll write you as much as I can while I'm at Hogwarts."

"I know, but I want you to stay," Mikey said.

Geoff shrugged and said, "There ain't nothing I can do. I already got accepted to Hogwarts."

"I know," Mikey said sadly.

"Hopefully my parents will let me go shopping in Diagon Alley soon," Geoff continued. "I'd like an owl. I know Mum already has one, but I want one too. I'd love to have my own broom too."

"I thought first years weren't allowed to bring their own brooms to school," Mikey said.

"Yeah, but I still want a broom," Geoff said. "I don't know if Mum and Dad will let me get one though."

"You can borrow my Cleansweep Five until you get your own broom," Mikey said. "It's not in the best condition, but it still works really well." He went back inside and came back with an well-worn broomstick.

Geoff smiled and took the broomstick. "You're the best, Mikey," he said, admiring his new broom. "Thank you."

"Anything for you, Geoff," Mikey said. "Just remember to give it back when you get a better broom, okay?"

"I will," Geoff said as he mounted the broom. He began to fly around Way Manor while Mikey ran inside to get one of his family's spare broomsticks. "You're right Mikey!" Geoff shouted from up above the trees. "This thing does fly really well!"

"I told you so!" Mikey exclaimed as he mounted his broom and chased after Geoff. He glided away, but Mikey flew after him. They circled around the house several times, but Geoff was easily able to out-maneuver his friend. "If my velocity starts to make you sweat, then don't let go!" Mikey shouted as he continued to chase after Geoff.

All of a sudden, Mikey heard someone shout his name. He looked back, and saw his father leaning out the window. "Mikey, what are you doing? It's not even seven o'clock, and you're already causing trouble," Mr. Way said.

"I'm so sorry, Dad," Mikey said.

"Keep your apology, Mikey. Who is that boy?" Mr. Way asked. "I've never seen him before, and I told you not to play with Muggles."

Mikey was surprised, but yet relieved, that his father had forgotten about Geoff. "His name is Geoff," Mikey said. "He's my best friend, and he's not a Muggle. He just got his acceptance letter to Hogwarts!" Mikey was still unwilling to admit that sometimes he wished that Geoff was more than just his best friend.

"Then just stick to playing with pure-bloods," Mr. Way said. "Geoff, you can go home."

"That's not fair!" Mikey complained, but Geoff had already begun to descend towards the ground, so Mikey did the same. "I'm sorry about my dad," Mikey told Geoff.

"Should I keep coming back here?" Geoff asked. "I know your family doesn't like me."

"Yes, please keep coming," Mikey said. "I need you here, Geoff. You're one of my only friends. We'll just have to be a little bit quieter."

"Okay Mikey," Geoff said, still clutching his broomstick. "See you tomorrow."

"Bye Geoff," Mikey said as Geoff walked home with his new broom. However, all Mikey could think about was how much he would miss Geoff when he left for Hogwarts.

********

Geoff never did return that broom. His parents didn't agree with his idea of purchasing his own broom, so he simply kept Mikey's, even years later when he became Seeker of the Slytherin Quidditch team, but that's a story for another time.

Geoff's first year at Hogwarts was one of the loneliest years of Mikey's life thus far. He was convinced that misery loved him that entire year as he waited for Geoff to return home. Geoff, on the other hand, enjoyed his year at Hogwarts, but he missed Mikey too. As the Hogwarts Express returned to King's Cross Station at the end of June, all Geoff could think about was Mikey.

Immediately after arriving home, Geoff ran into Greenwick Forest to find Mikey. He was waiting under the cork tree as usual, and when he saw Geoff, he jumped up and gave him a hug.

"I missed you, Geoff," he said as he inspected Geoff's school uniform. He noticed Geoff's green and silver tie, indicating that he had been sorted into Slytherin.

"I missed you too, Mikey," Geoff said.

"How did you get through King's Cross Station if you're still wearing your uniform?" Mikey asked.

"Only one person asked me about it, and I told her that I was going to a costume party," Geoff explained. "Lots of Muggles read the Harry Potter books, so it's not that unusual."

"How was Hogwarts?" Mikey asked.

"It's amazing!" Geoff exclaimed. "All of my classes are so interesting. Potions and Defence Against The Dark Arts are my favorite classes, but I think you would like Charms. We got to do to the Levitation Charm!"

"That's so cool!" Mikey said. He couldn't wait until he arrived at Hogwarts.

"Yeah, and I heard that you get to take even more classes in third year," Geoff said. "History of Magic is boring though. I want to drop that class, but it's compulsory through fifth year."

"I wish I could go to Hogwarts with you," Mikey said.

"Don't worry," Geoff said. "I'm sure your letter will arrive in a few weeks."

"Tell me more about Hogwarts," Mikey said.

"The kids are so nice," Geoff continued. "Some of the other Slytherins are mean, but most of them are awesome. There was this girl in my Transfiguration class who helped me study a lot. I think you'd like her too."

Mikey felt a pang of jealousy, but quickly ignored the kick drum beating in his chest again. "Who else did you meet?" he asked.

"There were a whole lot of Gryffindors that I hung out with," Geoff said. "There's this boy - I think he was a third year - who was kind of crazy, but he was fun. I think he described himself as a 'street walking cheetah with a capital G,' or something like that, when I first met him. His name was Gerard, and he was always using the Colour-Changing Spell on his hair, and he liked to draw a lot."

"Wait, are you talking about my brother?" Mikey asked.

"You have a brother?" Geoff replied.

"Yes," Mikey said. "Gerard never comes outside. He sits in the basement and reads comics all day."

"That's so weird," Geoff said. "We've been friends for a long time, and I never knew that Gerard was your brother."

"As I said, he's just really antisocial sometimes," Mikey said. "There's nothing wrong with that."

"I was going to say that Gerard was kind of cute..." Geoff said.

"You have horrible taste," Mikey interrupted.

"But you're cuter," Geoff said. As Mikey blushed, Geoff said, "I was trying to set Gerard up with Frank Iero anyways."

"How did that go?" Mikey asked.

"Not well," Geoff answered. "Repeatedly telling Gerard that he should date Frank didn't work at all, and I don't have any other strategies."

"Give it some time," Mikey suggested. "I've never met Frank, but Gerard does talk about him a lot. Maybe he really does fancy him."

"I think he does," Geoff said. "Those two are obsessed with each other, and I still find it weird that Gerard is probably watching us right now. I never knew that he was your brother."

"I know," Mikey said. "I don't talk about him that much, and we don't look that much alike, especially since he changed his hair color."

"That's true," Geoff said. "I can see the resemblance though."

"You know, I hope I end up in Slytherin like you," Mikey said, "or maybe Gryffindor so I can be in Gerard's house. I don't want to be in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw."

"I think you'd make a good Slytherin," Geoff said. "You'd fit right in."

"Thanks Geoff," Mikey said. "If I get sorted into Slytherin, then we'd be in the same house!"

"That would be glorious," Geoff said. "Then, we could hang out in the Common Room and drink Butterbeer together and save rock and roll!"

"That's going to be so much fun," Mikey said.

"I know, right?" Geoff said. "I can't wait until you come to Hogwarts with me."

"Me neither, Geoff," Mikey said. The two boys simply relaxed under the cork tree for a while after that. Just being with each other was enough for both of them.

********

As usual, Geoff and Mikey spent the entire rest of the summer together. Mikey's Hogwarts Acceptance Letter came just a few weeks later, and he immediately rushed into the forest to show Geoff. Shortly before school started, Mikey and Geoff both went shopping in Diagon Alley, but they couldn't go together. Mikey knew that his parents wouldn't let him.

Much to Geoff's excitement, Mikey was in fact sorted into Slytherin, but they both became caught up in their schoolwork once the year got going. They occasionally waved to each other in the hallways, but they were never able to find the time to "hang out in the Common Room, drink Butterbeer, and save rock and roll." Nevertheless, Geoff and Mikey sat next to each other on the Hogwarts Express as it returned to London, and once Mikey had returned to Way Manor and Geoff had returned to his home in Greenwick, the two boys ran off to find each other once again.

Mikey found Geoff on the outskirts of Greenwick Forest, but he was being followed by a large boy with blond hair and a wicked grin on his face. "Hey look, Geoff the Gay is back!" the boy exclaimed.

"Stop it, Finley," Geoff muttered.

"Are you back from that freak school for good?" Finley asked. "I've seen sinking ships go down with more grace than you, Geoff." Keep running, Geoff told himself, but his feet remained firmly in place. All of a sudden, Finley looked towards Mikey. "Who's this?" he asked. "I've never seen you before. I bet you're Geoff's pathetic little four-eyed boyfriend."

"Don't you dare insult Mikey!" Geoff shouted as a jet of light encompassed Finley. Nobody was quite sure what was happening, including Geoff, but the light disappeared, and Finley was gone. In his place was a newt crawling around on the ground.

Geoff hadn't meant to do it, but he had just turned Finley Hall into a newt.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY FINLEY?!" a woman shouted. Mikey presumed that she was Finley's mother. Geoff grabbed Mikey's hand and the two of them ran off into the forest. "GET BACK HERE, RICKLY! I WANT MY FINLEY BACK!" As they ran, Geoff and Mikey heard Finley's mother tearfully explaining to her neighbors that "the awful Rickly boy" had turned her precious son into a newt. "I always knew that he was trouble!" she exclaimed.

A few minutes later, an owl swooped into the forest and landed in the cork tree that Geoff and Mikey were resting under. The owl dropped a letter right into Geoff's hands. He opened and read the letter.

Dear Mr. Rickly,

We have received intelligence that a Transfiguration Spell was used near your place of residence this afternoon at eleven minutes past three.

As you know, underage wizards are not permitted to perform spells outside school, and further spellwork on your part may lead to expulsion from said school (Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C).

We would also ask you to remember that any magical activity that risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) is a serious offence under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy.

Enjoy your holidays!

Yours sincerely,

Mafalda Hopkirk

Improper Use of Magic Office

Ministry of Magic

"We're in big trouble now," Geoff mumbled, but Mikey had no clue just how right Geoff was about that.

A few days passed. The spell that Geoff had cast wore off, which meant that fewer and fewer people believed that Finley had truly been turned into a newt. However, enough of the Muggles believed Mrs. Hall to cause some concern to the Rickly family. Eventually, Mr. and Mrs. Rickly finally made their decision.

They were moving.

Mikey only heard about this quite a bit later, when his parents called him and Gerard down for lunch one day. "We have some news for you boys," Mr. Way said.

Mikey groaned. "Has the garden been infested by gnomes again?"

"Or maybe someone had a complication in their heart and has maybe just two weeks to live," Gerard said.

"That's horribly morbid, Gerard," Mikey commented. "Oh, I've got it! We're going on holiday, aren't we?"

"It's none of those," Mrs. Way said. "First of all, Astoria and Draco visited while you two were at Hogwarts. I've been waiting for a good time to tell you this, but Astoria's pregnant."

"So we're going to have another cousin?" Mikey said.

"First cousin once removed," Gerard corrected. "Get it right, Mikes."

"It's the same thing," Mikey said.

"Yes," Mr. Way said. "We're going to have another child in the family. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Mikey asked. He didn't care that much, but he was curious.

Gerard started to go on some rant about how the unborn baby hadn't determined its gender identity yet, and therefore that was a rude question to ask, but Mrs. Way interrupted him. "It's a boy," she said. "Draco and Astoria are still trying to decide on a name, but they're thinking of going with Scorpius."

"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy," Mr. Way said. "There's lots of power and strength behind that name. I like it."

"Is there any other news?" Gerard asked.

"Yes, actually," Mr. Way said. "Do you boys know Geoff Rickly from school?" Mikey and Gerard both nodded. "Well, he did some underage magic in front of Muggles recently, and there are a lot of rumours floating around about him and his family."

"This is why you never do magic in front of Muggles," Mrs. Way said. "They get suspicious, and then you're in huge trouble."

"The Ricklys live right near us in Greenwick, and they want to move," Mr. Way said. "We usually don't associate with those with tainted blood, but they are fellow wizards, and this is a time of crisis. I expect both of you to help us while we assist the Ricklys in their move this afternoon."

"Wait, what?!" Mikey shouted. "Geoff's moving?"

"There's no need to get upset, Mikey," Mrs. Way said. "You have plenty of other friends."

"But you said that he's leaving this afternoon!" Mikey exclaimed. "Why didn't he tell me?"

None of the Ways had an answer for that, and Mikey felt like Geoff had just created a tear in his heart. He needed his friend, and yet he was leaving. Nothing could be worse than this.

That afternoon, the whole family went over to the Ricklys' house to help them pack their stuff. Gerard, Mikey, and Geoff found it difficult to help since they were unable to perform magic, but Gerard did find a few odd jobs that he could do. Meanwhile, Geoff and Mikey snuck off into the forest one last time.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were moving?" Mikey asked.

"I didn't want you to be mad at me," Geoff said. After a pause, he asked, "Are you mad at me, Mikey?"

"No, I'm not mad," Mikey said. "This isn't your fault, but I miss you so far." 

"I'll write to you," Geoff said. "We can make this work."

"Where are you moving to?" Mikey asked.

"Holyhead, or maybe Pontypridd," Geoff replied. "My parents keep changing their minds, and I keep forgetting. Somewhere in Wales, for sure."

"Wales?" Mikey said. "That's so far away."

"It could be worse," Geoff pointed out. "I could move to California and become just another LA devotee. Then we'd never see each other again, even at school."

"That would be horrible," Mikey said, his loneliness returning just from thinking about Geoff being so far away. It was getting dark already, reminding him that this was the last summer evening that he would be able to spend with his friend.

"I know, but remember, this will pass," Geoff said. His head wasn't quite sure what to do, so he let his heart take control. He leaned in just a little bit closer, until Mikey's lips were almost touching his. Then, he kissed him, and to his surprise, Mikey kissed back. The moment was over almost as quickly as it had started, but as he pulled away from Mikey, he knew that both of them would cherish it forever.

"GEOFF!" he heard his mother shout. "We're just about ready to go! Where are you?"

"I'm coming, Mum!" Geoff exclaimed. "See you soon, Mikey." He waved and ran off, while Mikey waited in the forest. He couldn't bear to watch Geoff leave, especially not with the taste of his kiss still on his lips. He still couldn't really believe what had happened, so Mikey simply watched as the sky faded into black days and sky greys and clouds full of fear.

Mikey didn't see Geoff a lot after that day, but he never forgot him. He never forgot the way he felt when he was around him, and he never forgot what Geoff had said to him. Whenever he felt sad or alone, he repeated it to himself over and over again.

Remember this will pass

Remember this will pass

Remember...