He's thirteen when he realises that she'll never be like him.

Things have changed between them since he went to Hogwarts. Instead of seeing each other every day they're only able to spend time together during the holidays. Frankly, she's the only reason he does come home, though he'll make sure that nobody will ever know that. Before he went to Hogwarts he barely had any contact with other witches and wizards,. let alone with ones his own age, and he could pretend that being friends with a muggle was a very ordinary thing. It's different now he's at school though, even those annoying little Gryffindors don't have any mugglefriends, muggleborn yes, muggle no, imagine how his fellow Slytherins feel about them.

So telling people about Lucy was a no go. If the other pupils ever found out about her, he'd never live it down. He'd be exiled and despised. He used to feel so high and mighty that he, a wizard, would spend time with a muggle. Now, after two years of Hogwarts where he was surrounded by other pureblood children, he feels slightly ashamed of himself for not being able to let go.

Muggles are lesser beings, he should make them do as he pleases, he shouldn't want or need one in his life and certainly not so much. It's undignifying in his mind and on several occasions, when he lay awake in his four poster bed at night, he told himself that he'd cut her out of his life the next time he went home for the holidays, only to strike out on his promise once he actually got there.

He'd set himself the same goal right before the end of his school year and yet here he was, at a muggle mall no less, helping her pick up her school supplies. At least he knows no one will ever catch him here.

Lucy hasn't changed much since he saw her last he muses, as he watches her rifle through a diary. She's gotten a bit taller, though she's still almost a head smaller than him. Her hair is different, longer and less curly than he remembers it to be, but for the most she's still the same. She still carries that bloody book bag everywhere, she still loves the same flavor ice cream and she still refuses to eat vegetables.

He doesn't know why that's so comforting.

--

It's the 31st of August and tomorrow he'll be leaving to start his second year at Hogwarts. They're sitting at their usual spot on the swings. He's looking around the playground with little interest while Lucy finishes her cookie dough ice cream.

It's times like these when he can't help but wish that she wasn't a muggle. He hates saying goodbye, though he'll never tell anyone that, not even her. She likes being a muggle, she'd told him once to his surprise. She finds the wizarding world and everything he tells her about it fascinating, but she doesn't need to be a part of it. She likes the world she lives in and she wouldn't trade it even if she could.

He feels a little disappointed in her for that.

"It's getting dark." She says as she looks around. "I should go."

"Yeah, alright." He answers with reluctance. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

--

"Well, I suppose this is goodbye then, at least for a little while." He says sadly.

Even though he has mixed feelings about Lucy's bloodline, he knows that he'll miss his best friend desperately anyway, just like he had this past year.

Before he knows what's happening she's thrown her arms around him. He can feel tears moistening his neck as she utters a muffled: "I'm going to miss you."

He doesn't answer, he just hugs her back for a moment, before telling her he'll be back soon. He's afraid that he'll cry too if he tells her he'll miss her as well.

--

When he returns home he finds his parents fighting about money once again. He walks past them without a second glance. They've never taken an interest in him, why should he take an interest in them?

His room is a mess, unpacked clothes and next years books are strewn across the floor. He picks them up with little enthusiasm, begrudging the fact that he can't use magic to clear everything. Stupid underage magic restrictions.

When his trunk is finally packed he walks to his bed and pulls a familiar book out from under his pillow. He smiles as he runs his fingers down the worn spine, the author's name barely visible. Some of the gold lettering has faded beyond recognition. D rwi

He pulls a pair of socks out of his trunk, throwing one back carelessly, before cautiously placing the worn book inside the other.

The first time he accidentally took it with him to Hogwarts. He'd stumbled upon it when he was unpacking his more personal belongings just after his first ever feast at the school. He hadn't known what to do with it at first. He was in Slytherin now and the rest of his school career would certainly become a living hell if his fellow students found out he had read muggle books.

The smart thing would be to throw it away or better yet, incinerate it at the spot. But something stopped him. These muggle's ideas could still be of use to him here at Hogwarts, he'd reasoned, besides Lucy had given it to him after he'd told her he liked it and it was very rude to throw away a present, wasn't it?

He'd pondered his dilemma for a few moments more, before another student walked in and interrupted his musings. In an instinct reaction he'd shoved the book under his pillow and that's where it stayed for most of the year.

That's where it would stay this year too.

He'd keep this book his dirty little secret, just like the girl who had given it to him.