Chapter 1

She's the star in this scene

There's no way to deny she's lovely

Perfect skin, perfect hair

Perfumed hearts everywhere

Tell myself that inside she's ugly

Girl Next Door- Saving Jane

I love the smell of fresh coffee in the morning. It reminds me of my Mum, who grew up in the States, and still prefers it to tea.

I still have yet to figure out why she likes it better. Between you and me, coffee might smell wonderful, but it tastes horrible unless a whole bunch of sugar and cream has been added.

Someone placed their hand on my shoulder, startling me out of my thoughts.

"Morning Ry," Morgan said, as she slipped onto the bench next to me.

"Morgan, how come you're sitting over here this morning? You know McGonagall is handing out our schedules today, and we have to sit at our house tables."

"Relax Riley, don't get your knickers in a twist. I just want to check out the view before heading off to join my fellow Puffs." Morgan answered before she began scanning the area around me.

"The view?" I questioned, as I took a bit of fruit.

"Yes, the view!" she answered, her voice growing impatient.

Her brown eyes were now locked in on someone who was sitting further down the table from where we were sitting. I wearily followed her gaze, and located the person whom she was watching with rapt attention.

"Really Morgan, Al Potter? Have you ever even spoken to him? Does this mean that you're going to begin stalking him?"

Morgan looked over at me, glaring.

"What do you mean stalking? I don't stalk anyone!" she said, defending herself

I laughed and shook my head

"Just keep telling yourself that, Morgan."

"I do not stalk people, Riley! I just-" she paused "I casually observe them from a distance!"

I smirked.

"Morgan, observing is the sa-"

But I didn't get to finish, before she interrupted me

"And to answer your second question, yes, he has talked to me"

"When?" I demanded.

"We were partners in Defense last term." she said smugly.

I vaguely remembered that we had D.A.D.A. together. Unfortunately, I was partnered with Marshal MacLean, and was too busy warding off his advances to pay attention to who Morgan was partnered with.

"Did he say anything to you that didn't have to do with Defense? Cuz you know it doesn't count if it's about the class you're in." I asked a bit skeptical.

She started to speak but I cut her off.

"Nor does it count if you talk about the weather."

She shut her mouth again, scowling. I smiled at her. Her pretty face was blank for a moment as she thought, but then her dark brown eyes lit up.

"He told me that his brother, James, was moving to the States to play Quidditch!" She shot me another smug smile.

"What! Why would James go to the States to play? James is way too talented to play for any of those teams! Did Al say which team he was playing for?"

Morgan just shrugged her shoulders.

"I've never followed Quidditch, you know that. Anyway whatever team James is playing for is beside the point. What really matters is that Al talked to me!"

Before I could respond to her, someone slid onto the bench on my other side.

"Morning Ry!" Rose said cheerfully

"Aren't you so excited to begin lessons? I kno-"

Rose stopped speaking normally, her sparkling blue eyes were reduced to slits as her eyes fell on Morgan.

"What are you doing here Davis?" she asked, every word tense.

"I was just having a word with my best mate," Morgan replied snootily.

"Oh, don't push it, Davis. Everyone knows Riley is my best friend." Rose said, as she angled her body away from the table, and more towards Morgan and I.

"Guys, I mean girls," I interrupted, before an all out girl smack down began in the middle of the great hall " I am both of your best mates, and both of you are mine!" I continued sensing the tension still growing.

To this day, I'm not sure what happened between the two of them. All I know is that we left fourth year glued to the hip, and came back for fifth year broken apart.

I know that whatever happened occurred over the summer, but every time I asked about it, both of them would just change the subject. After three years of trying to figure out what happened, I've chosen to leave it alone.

Both Rose and Morgan continued to shoot daggers at the other as I sat in the middle, uncomfortably munching on a piece of toast.

Well, this is turning out to be a fun tension free breakfast. What a great way to start the term.

"Hey Rose." a deep voice interrupted the silence that had descended upon us.

I let out a sigh of relief, and looked up to thank the person who had just rescued me from being smothered in the tension filled air.

Speak of the devil; Al Potter was standing there next to Rose, his emerald eyes meeting my blue as he looked over at me.

"Oh, hey Riley!" he said when he noticed me.

"Hi Al" I said with a smile. I felt Morgan stiffen next to me, as Al's eye fell on her face.

But Al's face remained blank, and showed no recognition.

"Hey, I'm Al," He said politely, nodding his head in her direction, sending his already messy hair tumbling into his eyes.

Morgan's face fell.

"Morgan Davis." she said gruffly.

Al turned his attention back to Rose.

"So Rose, I was wondering if-"

But he was cut off, as a petite blond girl came up to him pulled him down to her level by his tie and kissed him. After a few seconds, they broke away from one another. I noticed that Al was blushing slightly, a small smile on his lips.

"Sorry ladies, but I just can't resist him in this uniform." Claire Bouvier, said turning to us and flashing us a bright smile. She turned back to Al

"McGonagall is just about to start passing out our schedules, so I have to go back to my table. Love you!"

She gave him another kiss, and then hurried off to the Ravenclaw table, her magically shortened skirt swishing behind her.

"Really Al, does she have to be all over you in public?" Rose asked looking up at him.

Al just smirked at Rose, and sat down on the bench next to her.

I turned, and looked at Morgan, whose face was blank as she was staring off into space.

"Earth to Morgan," I said, as I waved my hand in front of her face.

Her eyes slid over to mine, and I could tell that she was hurt more by Al and Claire's PDA than she would like to let on.

"Well Ry, I have to get back to the Hufflepuff table."

Morgan swiftly stood up, and walked away without looking back.

As I walked into Charms class, I spotted Morgan's shiny brown hair, and made my way over to sit with her.

"I'm glad we have at least one class together," I said, smiling at her.

"Riley, how long have we been friends?" she asked. This question caught me completely off guard, and I just looked at her for a moment.

"Um since we were nine… So like six almost seven years."

"Exactly," Morgan said, looking over at me her eyes bright. "Now, since we've been friends for such a long time, I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

"What kind of favor?" I responded skeptically. Morgan had never done anything like this before, and I had no idea where she was going.

"Oh nothing major. I just need to break Al and Bitty Bitch up so he will date me."

"What? Excuse me did you just said that you want me to break Al and Claire up so then you can date him? Can you please repeat yourself cuz that can't be right." I said, laughing a little at the end. She had to be joking right?

"No, you heard me correctly. I want Al for myself, but he doesn't know who I am. You, however, he knows so you already have an in. All you have to do, is get them to see that they aren't right for each other, while introducing me to him, and then once they call it off, I can swoop in and help Al get through the break up and he in turn, will fall madly in love with me. He will never think about Bitty Bitch again!"

I just stared at her. I'm surprised that my jaw didn't hit the floor.

"What have you been smoking? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Do I look like I'm fucking with you?" Morgan asked. Her dark brown eyes were hard and there was no trace of laughter in them.

"Morgan, this will never work," I said with a sigh.

"Come on Ry! I never ask for anything, you've got to help me do this!"

Damn it, she was using the puppy dog eyes. I hate the puppy dog eyes. I have no defense. I could feel my resolve slipping.

"Fine, I'll help you." I said as I laid my head on the desk.

Morgan squealed in glee next to me.

"Oh thank you, thank you, Bitty Bitch will never know what hit her!"

Merlin, how do I get myself into these situations?

Hello Readers,

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and will continue on to the ones that follow. Reviews of any kind are welcome. They help make me a better writer. The song at the top of the page is Girl Next Door by Saving Jane. It definitely fits Morgan's view of Claire.