"You know Riles," Maya shifts uncomfortably on her swing. They're in a park that's only a few blocks away from Riley's apartment. Her parents apartment. "If we don't hang around as much anymore it's okay." Her blonde braids are swaying as the swing shifts in the wind, hitting her school dress. She's eleven now and her hair is getting longer.

"Why would you say that? Do you not want to be my friend?" Riley looks up at her with her puppy dog eyes looking a little hurt, "I mean I can change."

"Of course not! You're my best friend in the whole world! I love you!" Maya panickedly exclaims, her eyes widening. She's eleven now, and she's been waiting to have this talk with Riley since her Birthday in January. "I just... I might have to move away... And it means I won't get to see you any more." Maya knows that she won't get to see Riley for a long time and that makes her sad, her lip is wobbling.

When Maya turned eleven, her acceptance letter came in the mail. She'd been expecting it for years. Naturally at first she'd been excited. She would be going to Hogwarts like her dad! She was excited, until she was around seven years old. Her parents had started fighting. That's when she met Riley. Her dad was a wizard, her mum was muggle. And one day her dad had left. Mr and Mrs Matthew had always taken care of her when Katy had to work an extra shift or couldn't make my lunch. And realised she'd have to leave her favourite thing about her behind; her best friend.

"Peaches," Riley whispers. Maya doesn't expect her to understand, she's only ten. Her birthday is next week. Today was the last day of the summer term and Maya intended to spend every day of that she could holiday with Riley. She wished she could stay there forever, just the two of them. But they couldn't. Stupid stupid stupid magic school with all of it's... Magic. She's almost surprised when Riley stands up and hugs her. But not really. She knows Riley. She'd expect her to be mad at her but that's not Riley. Riley couldn't stay mad at her for more than five seconds. After a little while she pulls away and Maya stands with her. Riley is looking down at her. Even though Riley is younger, she's already taller than Maya. "Do you promise to keep in touch with me?"

"I'll write to you every week," Maya promises. A promise she wants to keep.

"Will you tell me about your new friends?" she asks and adds quietly: "About your new best friend?"

"Sweetie I'm never going to have a best friend other than you." Maya smiles a little smile, "Ring power!"

"RING POWER!" Riley beams, crossing her arm over Maya's in an X shape. She grins. "Can we go get ice-cream now?"

"Whatever you want."