"Come on. Why can't you tell me?!"

The two boys sat in their pajamas on the floor of James' untidy bedroom as the rain tapped like a ticking clock against his window. Pete was scowling at James, but beneath his furrowed brow James could see the pain in his friend's eyes. For nearly ten months now, James had known he was a wizard, and that he would spending his next 7 years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry honing his skill in magic. His parents had been so proud, but many letters had come to the small family since.

Conditions, explanations, contextualization. There was a lot to catch up on for a group of so-called "Muggles" when the Wizarding world had been hidden away in the shadows. Events, history, where to go to by school books, it was all new for the himself, his mother and his father. They'd taken to it well, the McMurtrie's had, they always did, a steadfast family holding strong in the chaos of modern life.

The first letter James had hated though... it was a small piece of parchment that simply read "The Statute of Secrecy". See, for the protection of wizard life, it was important that it be kept a secret. From non-magic folk. His parents could know, but he was never allowed to tell anyone else. At least that's what the letter said. James thought it was rubbish. Most of all because it ensured for the first time in his life, he had to lie to his best friend.

Pete repeated himself. "Why, James!? I know there's something you're not telling me. Why can't you say it?"

James' heart sank- as he forced down his will to burst out and share with his friend the biggest event in his life, "No, Pete, there's nothing. It's just like a regular school, a got offered a place because my grades were good an-"

"Oh Bullshit James!" Pete yelled standing up in defiance.

"Shh m-my parents will he- "

"Yeah? Let them hear! I just don't get it! We promised to tell each other everything, dude." he sat down on James' bed, "and now you've just decided to keep secrets from me for the last ten months!? I can tell, you're hiding something James. And- and friends don't keep secrets. So if this is what you want to do- then- then maybe we're not friends!"

James' fought inside his head. He felt like exploding. He felt like crying, or screaming or laughing, and just giving up on this whole wizard business right now. Most of all he just wanted to tell his friend something cool. He wanted to share his life with the kid who had stuck by him for almost six years. They were basically brothers, surely these Ministry folks could understand that?

For a second he thought about it. He knew if he did he would get expelled. But that might be ok... getting expelled from a school he'd never been to before. What did he care anyway? But he knew that spilling the beans could spell trouble for his Mum and Dad too. The Ministry hadn't been entirely clear on what kind of repercussions the should expect from non-compliance, but James' imagination was vivid enough to dream up the worst. Even if it meant losing Pete, this secret was meant to be kept.

"It's just a regular school, Pete" James said solemnly.

Pete stood wordlessly and walked out of the room. He was nearly into the street when James' mum managed to catch him.
James screamed into his pillow. He punched the wall. Threw his maths books across the room.

A tall figure filled his doorway. "Did he ask you about it again?" his Dad said sympathetically.

"I just don't get it Dad. He's not going to hurt anybody! It's not like Pete's going to wage a one man war against the Wizarding world! He's- well he's just Pete"

"I know buddy, but, you know what? As much as I don't like having to keep this stuff from friends either- I mean, my son a wizard - I'm the proudest Dad in the whole world - I want yell about it in the streets" he said softly, as he sat down next to James on the bed, "but I'm going to follow those rules because those Wizards, they put them there to protect my favorite thing in the entire world - you." he kissed James lightly on the forehead and James sighed.

"I know Dad, it's just- I'm- I'm really going to miss him you know".

"I know kiddo, I know."

Just then, James' Mum appeared in the hallway outside his bedroom.
"I'm going to drive Pete back to his parent's place." she gave her son a sad look, "Friendships last through fights like this, James. It takes time but they do."

James met her gaze and tears filled his eyes,

"Thanks Mum, but I'm not so sure that this one will".