Chapter 5

Old friends, they mean much more to me than the new friends,
Cause they can see where you are,
and they know where you've been.

Let Time Go Lightly- Harry Chapin

The strong wind tugged at my clothes and wiped my long honey blond hair around my head. I pulled my scarf tighter around my neck bracing myself against the wind and the cold. For only being mid October it was ridiculously cold out.

" I swear its colder then a well diggers arse out here" Morgan said to me through her yellow and black scarf that she was using to protect her face.

" Where on Earth did you hear that phrase?" I asked laughing at her.

" My Grandpa used to say it all the time".

I just nodded my head in response.

We continued our walk to the Quiddich pitch in silence. It was the second match of the season Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin. Gryffindor had played in the first match and we slaughtered Hufflepuff 260 to 50. Even though Gryffindor wasn't playing in today's match I still wanted to watch. I needed to check up on our competition.

Suddenly there was a particularly large gust of wind. Over the roar I heard Morgan swearing under her breath. Something about how could we be wizards if we couldn't cast simple warming charms over the pitch.

"Morgan you don't even like Quidditch. Why are you coming to the game today? Hufflepuff isn't even playing."

Morgan looked away evading my question.

I had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with the fact that Al would be there.

We continued the rest of our walk in comfortable silence. Mainly because we couldn't hear one another over the roar of the wind. Finally after a few minutes we reached the Gryffindor box and settled ourselves down on an empty bench.

" Ok Morgan I know you don't know shit about Quidditch, but while were waiting would you like me to give you a basic run though of the game?"

" Ry this is my seventh year here. You'd think that if I wanted to learn about Quidditch I would have done so at any time."

" Al would find you more interesting and appealing if you're able to talk about Quidditch," I pointed out to her.

" When do we start?" Morgan asked angling her body towards mine.

I just laughed at her. You have to love her enthusiasm.

"Ok so the beaters job is to?" I questioned Morgan.

She just looked at me her warm brown eyes blank.

"Um… they fly around and shoot balls at other people?" she said

" Yes!" I shouted.

"Really? I totally pulled that out of my arse!"

I glared at her. After fifteen minutes of intense Quidditch talk she still knew nothing.

" I mean you're such a great teacher that I finally understand" Morgan said.

I glared back at her. Until she made a face and I burst out laughing.

"Oh Morgan you know I just can't stay mad at you"

"I know and I plan to exploit it every chance I can" Morgan said grinning at me.

"Bitch" I said back grinning.

"Am I interrupting anything?" Someone asked to the left of us.

Both Morgan and I turned around to see who was talking to us.

" No Al your not interrupting anything. I was just making an attempt to teach Morgan here about Quidditch" I said.

" You don't know how to play Quidditch?" Al asked looking shocked at Morgan.

" No, not really. I'm a muggle born so I never grew up with it. Then when I got to school I never really took any interest in it." Morgan said.

"And why are you interested in learning about it now?" Al asked as he sat down next to me.

"I have my reasons" Morgan said giving him a coy smile.

Al smiled back.

I nearly gagged.

"So Al where's Claire I thought you guys always watched the games together?" I asked.

" She's sitting in the Ravenclaw stands today. Something about supporting her brother" Al said as he stared over towards the stands on the other side of the pitch.

I looked over that way as well and could see Claire's shiny blond hair.

" Are you sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the two of you got in a fight last night?" Rose asked sitting down on Al's other side. I noticed she didn't even acknowledge Morgan.

Al looked over at Rose

" Hello to you too former favorite cousin" Al said.

" You know you still love me. And you never answered to question" Rose said.

" Who knows with her." Al said " But after three years I've learned its best to just give her space and she will come round on her own time".

"But what about your time?" I asked.

Al looked over at me his green eyes intensely boring into mine.

" No ones ever asked me that before." He said as he continued to stare.

I blushed and looked away. Damn him and his intense green eyes.

"Where's Liam?" I asked tearing my eyes away from Al's.

Al just shrugged his shoulders. " He's about".

" You mean you don't know where you best friend is?" Morgan asked leaning forward so she was in front of me.

" We don't keep tabs on one another. Were not like you girls who have to know everything about one another. We like to live with a bit of mystery." Al responded.

Morgan tilted her head back and laughed.

"A bit of mystery my arse. You just don't care about one another's social lives"

Al smiled back at her

"You got me. You've figured out the secret to our friendship, something Claire's been trying to do for years"

I felt Morgan stiffen beside me just for a moment at the mention of Claire's name.

"Apparently she's not very observant." Morgan said.

I saw Al's lips twitch starting to form a smile, but he didn't say anything. It seemed like the conversation had died out.

I was about to say something when Al spoke again.

" So what have you learned about Quiddich Morgan? I'm sure Riley is a brilliant teacher. After all she's been doing such a good job helping me in transfiguration".

Before Morgan could even speak I jumped into the conversation.

" Are you implying I'm a shit teacher because I can't help you with transfiguration?"

Al grinned at me.

" I happen to be a wonderful teacher. Transfiguration is just my worst subject. Go on and tell him all you've learned Morgan." I said hitting her gently to prove my point.

Morgan went to speak but then closed her mouth again looking confused.

"Um the goal is to put the red ball through the hoops right? And it's the one persons job to block the hoops. And you have to avoid the big black balls"

I was smiling smugly at Al as Morgan told him the basics of Quiddich.

" And the game ends when the last player is standing"

Back this train up did she just say what I think she said?

I turned and looked at Morgan my eyes wide. I could feel Al shaking with laughter next to me.

"Morgan could you repeat yourself please. How does the game end?" I asked.

"When there is only one player left on their broom"

I groaned and put my head in my hands. So much for being a brilliant teacher.

Al just laughed.

"Do you really want to learn about Quiddich Morgan?" Al asked.

Morgan nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Trade places with me Riley. I have work to do." Al said to me as he stood up.

Who knew the way to get Morgan and Al talking would be through Quiddich?

" So Rosie how are things on the Scopious front?" I asked as I settled into my new spot next to her.

Rose just glared at me.

"I could ask you the same thing about"

"Don't you dare." I cut her off. It was common knowledge that she fancied Scorpious, but no one knew that I used to fancy Liam. And it needed to stay that way. "Not here Rose. We will talk later. I'll fill you in."

"You better"

"Budge over ladies" a voice said from behind me.

I looked up to find Liam standing over us.

"Why?" Rose asked.

"A man can't sit next to his best mate?" Liam questioned.

"Not when there's an open seat, that doesn't force us to move," I said.

"But he's my best mate! I haven't seen him since breakfast" Liam protested. Sticking his lower lip out for emphasis.

"And another hour wont kill you. Now sit your arse down," Rose said patting the seat next to her.

Liam sat down mumbling under his breath. I'm pretty sure I heard something about girls not understanding the power of a bromance.

"So Liam, what have you been up to this morning?" I asked leaning forward to see him past Rose.

" A gentleman never reveals his secrets" Liam said grinning.

" If you're a gentleman then I'm the fucking minister of magic" Rose said.

"Clearly your not a lady Rosie" Liam said.

" Fuck you" Rose said with a smile.

Liam laughed at her.

"Back to the question at hand. What were you up to this moring?" I asked Liam.

" A little of this a little of that." Liam responded.

" Way to be evasive," I said.

" Its one of my many talents."

"Apparently so is being a tosser," Rose grumbled.

Liam laughed " This is why were friends Rosie, your wicked sense of humor."

" Your never going to tell us are you?" I asked

" Not a chance."

Damn. It was time to play dirty.

" Al" I asked taping him on the shoulder.

He turned away from his conversation with Morgan and focused his attention on me.

"Yes?"

"Where was Liam all morning?"

" Probably off tailing Emma Langdon. Why?" Al responded.

" Nice going mate." Liam said a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

" They didn't know?" Al asked his green eyes going wide. "I'm sorry mate I thought they knew. I mean you talk about her all the time."

" I talk about her with you. Were bro's."

"Hey" Rose cut in " What are we then?"

"Rose were close and all that" Liam began.

"But you're not a bloke so its not the same" Al finished for him.

"El-bro" Al and Liam said at the same time. They then reached across Rose and I to bump elbows together. Clearly their fights didn't last long.

" The two of you still continue to astound me." Rose said.

" Oh Rosie, you just need to learn to let things go." Al said leaning forward.

" So Liam, you fancy Emma Langdon then?" Morgan asked joining in on our conversation.

" Damn I thought you had forgotten." Liam said.

"Not a chance" Morgan said with a smile. " I've seen her around. She's in her 6th year right?"

Liam inhaled before speaking. Apparently he thought if he answered any questions about her we would all start calling him a stalker. When in all reality that title should go to Morgan.

"Yes." He said.

" Ohh she's the brunet in Hufflepuff with the pixie cut right?" Rose asked.

Liam tilted his head down the back of his neck flushing red with embarrassment.

" Yes." he said again.

"She's cute Liam you should go for it." Morgan said leaning forward joining the conversation.

" Really?" Liam asked.

Morgan smiled at him.

"Most defiantly."

"As much as I hate to break up this conversation. The match has been going on for fifteen minutes" Al cut in.

As Liam and Rose faced front to watch the match I leaned forward over Al to talk to Morgan.

" Ok Morgan time to impress me with your new Quidditch knowledge."

"Well she did learn form the best," Al said as he leaned forward to look me in the eye.

" Will just see about that." I said.

"Indeed we will" Al said with a wink.

I think it may have been the wink that compelled me to up the stakes.

"If you're so confidant in your teaching skills care to make a little wager on it?" I asked not breaking eye contact.

Al smirked

"You sure you want to do that?"

" Not scared are you?" I asked

Al's green eyes hardened a bit at my jab.

" You wish. If Morgan answers five questions correctly, which she will, I win. If some how she doesn't, which she won't, you win."

" Loser has to buy the other a drink next Hogsmead visit" I cut in.

"And call the winner Oh Great One whenever they desire" Al finished.

"Really, you're going to want to call me Oh Great One?" I asked.

" Not a chance. That's what you're going to be calling me," Al said smirking.

I looked at him hard. His green eyes were a light with a spark of something I couldn't put my finger on.

"I get to ask the questions," I said.

He thought for a moment

" Nothing radiculas. Just basic knowledge of the game"

"Deal. Now shake on it," I said extending my hand.

He reached his hand out toward mine. As soon as his fingers closed around mine I felt heat. It was traveling up my arm in a slow blaze. Spreading out from where his gloved hand touched mine. And then, just as suddenly as it came it was gone as he pulled his hand back. I looked down at my hand and then looked at Morgan.

I shook my head slightly. Making it look as though I was shaking my hair, the wind had blown out of my eyes. I then began quizzing her.

" Alright Morgan question number one. What is the big red ball called?" I asked.

She sat there for a moment thinking. She opend her mouth once and then closed it.

Finally she spoke

"The Quaffle" she said.

Damn.

"Question two. What is the seakers job?" I asked

"To catch the golden snitch" she said with out hesitation.

Doubble damn

Al smirked at me.

"Which player guards the hoops?"

"Um the keeper." she said hesitantly. " That's the position you play right Al"

"Right you are Morgan" Al answered.

Mother of Merlin. Now she chooses to remember information about Quidditch. You don't know how many times I've tried to explain Quiddich to her only to have it go in one ear and out the other.

" How does the game end?" She didn't know this earlier. Lets see if it managed to stick this time.

"When the seeker catches the snitch"

Fuck. Al must be one hell of a teacher.

" You ready to start calling me Oh Great One?" Al asked smiling.

" Its not over yet Al I still have one question left."

"Use it wisely." He said still smiling at me.

I racked my brain trying to come up with a question about something that Al may not have covered. Finally it came to me.

" How many points is the golden snitch worth?"

Take that Al!

I saw Al's eyes widen and he glanced over at Morgan.

Morgan sat thinking for a moment. I swear Al and I were waiting on the edge of our seats.

" One hundred and" she paused and made a face as she thought. I held my breath. There was no way in hell that I was going to call Al Oh Great One it just wasn't going to happen. " One hundred and fifty points."

"NO!" I yelled at the same time Al yelled, "YES!"

"Really Morgan now you choose to remember the basics of Quidditch." I said as I placed my head in my hands.

" It must be that Al's such a good teacher," she said smiling at Al.

"Damn strait" Al said smiling triumphantly at me.

" Al's not that good of a teacher"

"Oy, its Oh Great One to you" Al said

"I wasn't talking to you was I" I said.

"You are now." Al said.

I stuck my tongue out at him.

Al opened his mouth to say something, probably to comment on how mature it is to stick your tongue out at someone, when the stands around us erupted in cheers. Quickly our attention was drawn back to the game. Our conversation forgotten.

" What happened?" I yelled to Rose over the noise.

" You weren't watching?" she asked.

I just shook my head.

" Thomas just caught the snitch. Ravenclaw wins by ten!" She yelled over the noise.

"What's the score?" I yelled back.

" 170-160" Rose responded.

Damn looks like I missed a good match. Of all the matches to not pay attention to.

I turned back to finish my conversation with Al, I'm sorry, Oh Great One. But he was gone. Morgan was standing there looking excited.

" Where did he go?" I asked Morgan.

"He went to go find Claire." She said.

"And you're so happy because?" I asked.

" He talked to me Ry Ry! We had an actual conversation. You were right I really did need to learn about Quidditch."

I smiled at her "Told you so"

Quidditch the way into every boy's heart. You can quote me on that.

Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I had a good time writing it. Reviews are my favorite thing! I love knowing what you guys think about the characters and whats happening in the story. The song at the top is Let Time Go Lightly by Harry Chapin.