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Dan walked next to Phil silently. Neither of them had said a word since a very strained hello in the dining hall. Dinner was now officially finished (tonight had been a seriously fantastic feast- Dan had been thinking about going vegan this year, but when he saw that roasted turkey he just couldn't say no) and now it was their first night on prefect duty. Wonderful.

Phil's bright blue eyes darted around the hallway. There were no other students in sight, and he couldn't be more relived. Phil wasn't exactly the reprimanding or authoritative type. He really hoped tonight would be no trouble.

As the boys walked on, the awkwardness felt like a heavy blanket around them. Dan finally risked a glance in Phil's general direction.

He didn't want to be a prefect, but at least if he had still been partnered with Louise she would've talked and joked the whole night. Now, he was slightly irked at the girl for begging to be partners with Zoe. Dan would much rather have been Zoe's partner himself- or Connor, or Grace, or literally any of the other prefects besides Phillip Lester.

Because he and Phil had actually met before. As first years. However, the memory was so awkward- so cringe inducing- that Dan had tried his hardest to completely block it out. He prayed to God that Phil didn't remember- he didn't, right? He couldn't! Phil glanced over at Dan, and the second their eyes met Dan remembered their first conversation like it was yesterday.

Shy, first year Dan- just a 12 year old nerd- was sitting in a Hogwarts Express compartment, alone. He was already in his robes, as his parents had insisted, but he was lacking a tie. That was because he hadn't been sorted yet. Of course, he had a Slytherin tie waiting for him in his suitcase, another thing his parents had insisted upon. It was either Slytherin, or nothing as far as they were concerned.

Suddenly, the compartment door slid open, and there stood another first year with black hair straighted into a fringe, blue eyes, pale skin, and a huge smile. He was wearing a grey sweatshirt with tiny red foxes on it, and black jeans. Dan stared in total surprise.

"Is that seat taken?"

Dan blinked, filled with happiness and panic that somebody had actually talked to him. He'd been waiting for this moment- planning very carefully so he'd know exactly what to do.

"Hi" said Dan, giving a small salute with two fingers, and trying to remember the magic his brother had shown him, "So, my name is, Dan." He created a rectangle in front of him with his hands and then spread them apart. He mumbled the correct words to get red sparks to appear, and appear they did- totally out of control like a confetti out of a popper.

The boy's jaw dropped, and Dean quickly dropped his arms, feeling his cheeks start to burn. Oh God. When his brother had showed him the trick, it'd seemed so much cooler. Why was he such a screw up?

"That was so ace!" the boy said, surprising Dan with the fact that not only was he a northerner, but he wasn't making fun of him.

"…really?" Dan said, quietly, letting his fringe fall over his eyes.

"Yeah, really." The boy took the seat opposite him, eyes wide with wonder. He looked like an excited puppy. "That was the first magic I've ever seen!"

That made Dan's eyes widen. "But what about your parents?"

"My parents are just, normal," said the boy, sheepishly.

"You mean muggles?" Dan felt a shiver go down his spine. He'd never ever met a muggle before- and certain never someone raised by them. His parents didn't go near mudbloods, as they called them.

"Uh, I guess." He said, with a forced laugh. "I'm Phil. By the way."

Dan had a million questions. Luckily, Phil had a million answers. Dan was utterly amazed by everything that, well, amazing Phil had to say. The entire ride to Hogwarts, the boys chatted and laughed. Phil introduced Dan to Pokémon, a strange but fun-looking muggle game, and anime. Dan couldn't contain his admiration for the blue eyed boy. Phil was funny and creative and kind. Everything Dan wished he could be.

Sadly, after a much too short journey, the train screeched to a halt. Phil looking out the window. "We're finally here!" he said, happily.

"Finally," Dan echoed, a strange feeling spreading through him. Disappointment. Dan could've stayed on that train, in that compartment, listening to Phil for at least another 12 hours.

"What house do you think you'll be in?" Phil asked, standing up and stretching. Dan stared at his hands.

"I dunno," he said, shyly. But that was a lie. He knew. Slytherin or nothing.

"I heard Gryffindor's ace," said Phil, smiling "Though I supposed you'd know better than me."

Dan didn't know how to respond. "My . . . um, my family tends to be Slytherin."

Phil smiled at him, and little 12 year old Dan finally understood what people meant when they said 'ray of sunshine'. "Well, I hope we're together."

And just like an actual ray of sunshine, Dan felt himself grow warmer at the other boy's words. It was a great feeling. But before he could respond, the door slid open and a short boy with bleached blonde hair and black glasses leaned in.

"Hey, what's up you guys?" He said, energetically. "My name is Tyler Oakley. Just thought I'd let you know that everyone's getting off."

And with that Dan, Phil, and Tyler walked off the train, Tyler chatting both of their ears off the whole way. The group was then shuffled into the large castle, and marched into the dinning hall. There wasn't another moment for Dan to say what he'd been meaning to say on the train.

He hoped he and Phil would be together, too.

"Uh, Dan?"

5th year Phil's voice brought Dan back to the present. He quickly shook his head, greatful that his trip down memory lane was cut short.

"What?" He asked, wondering why Phil decided to start talking now. He'd been hoping they could get through the whole night without saying a single word.

"Do you hear that?" Phil asked, forehead creased with worry.

Dan focused, taking care to stare at the floor or the wall or anything that wasn't Phil. Slowly, he heard it. A strange melody, clearly coming from the direction of the library… which was supposed to be closed.

"Wanna check it out?" Phil asked, trying to hide his nerves, "Should we check it out?"

"No," Dan answered, already feeling dread wash over him, "and yes."