I'll Be Okay ((Skyler))

[Williard Thoth R4]

Williard collapsed in the cool, soft grass by the Black Lake, profusely sweaty and quite exhausted. It was the very last day of school, and Skyler had finally taught Williard how to play ''soccer.'' Williard wasn't a natural athlete, but supposed he did alright considering this was his first time playing a game he knew nothing about. He caught on quickly, and the two took turns playing different positions in the game like, ''goalkeeper,'' and, ''foward,'' but they mostly ran up and down the grounds trying to keep the ball away from each other.

It was abnormally hot outside today, but Williard didn't care. Seeing as how it was the last day of school, there was no other way that he wished to spend it than running around in shorts, sneakers, and a t-shirt, playing with his best friend. But, Williard knew why he was really happy. Lately, Skyler had been so distant, but today, it felt like it used to be earlier in the school year. He had been missing that side of Skyler, and today, it felt so good to just be how they were.

Willliard arched his neck to see Skyler had also collapsed, and was laying down in the grass breathing just as heavily as he was. Williard laughed, closing his eyes. ''What am I going to do during summer holiday?'' As Williard swallowed, he felt sweat roll down the side of his neck. He had said that, not really meaning to. ''It's just....I'm going to miss you.''

Williard thought he would feel awkward after saying something like that, but the awkwardness never came, and he was glad. He wasn't overly affectionate, but he had no problem expressing himself to people he actually cared for. Feeling a bit braver, he decided to go on. ''You know,'' he said rolling over onto his stomach and propping himself up on his elbows,''you are the first real friend that I've ever had.'' It felt funny admitting that, but Williard pressed on anyway. Now that he did have a friend, he didn't want to be seperated, now that he actually new what having friends felt like.

It was a wonderful feeling, and Williard knew it wouldn't be the same when he went home. He would be alone, and more than likely, his grandmother was going to come and stay with him while his parents went to work; which was nothing to look forward to. ''It's going to be very, hard, not to be around you for a few months.''

[phantomlynx]

Skyler fell down in the grass besides Will. It was very hot and he and Will had just been playing some football. Of course, with just the two of them, it was really difficult to play the game. They mostly just ran around a lot while Skyler kept reminding Will that he could not use his hands under any circumstances. Unless you were the goalie. Skyler was unsure whether Will had enjoyed himself, but he seemed to so that was good. After all this running Skyler needed to rest. "Hey Will, remember the Bonfire night? And how we went to that game where boxes where lined up in a row and we had to burn them to find a prize? Your hands got clasped together and I got that jelly leg curse? That's how my legs feel now."

Skyler smiled. "I'm going to miss you too. At least you get to stay in the magical world when you go home. When I go home, I get to back to the muggle world." He took out his wand and pointed it at the ball that they had been using to play with. "Wingardium Leviosa," he told the ball. After a year of doing this simple charm he had mastered it as the ball hovered a few inches off the ground. "I wish we could use magic when we're not at school," he said pushing the ball toward Will hoping that he would push the ball back. While they were playing the game it was easy to avoid Will's eyes but now that they were sitting together, Skyler was having a hard time avoided eye contact. He would use anything to avoid the subject that was weighing heavily on his conscience.

"Speaking of the Bonfire Night, later I'm going to set off those fireworks that we won in the courtyard. What are you going to do with yours? Are you going to take them home? Maybe you should give them to Peeves and he can torture the Headmistress with them over the summer. A lot has happened this year," Skyler swallowed. "I imagine a lot is going to happen next year too."

[Williard Thoth R4]

Williard reached up and caught the ball. He listened as Skyler seemed to gloss over what he had said to him. ''Uh, yeah, I guess,'' he said wiping his forehead, the sweat making his forearm glisten. Suddenly, it seemed very interesting, and seemed to steal his attention. That wasn't quite what Williard had hoped to hear, considering he had just opened up to Skyler, but Williard smiled anyway. He would just try to have fun and savor the day. No need to get emotional this soon. He was dreading when they would have to get on the train and return to Platform nine and three quarters. He didn't want to say goodbye to Skyler. Not yet.

Williard sighed, and rose himself up to rest on his knees. His breathing had slowed, but that was small comfort considering it was blistering hot. ''You ready to go in,'' Williard said wiping sweat from his forehead before it fell into his eyes. ''It's too hot out here.'' They got up, exhausted, and began making their way to the castle. Williard clutched his side; a small stitch had formed, but didn't seem like it would tighten. Drummed his fingers against the ball he carried under his arm, he stole a glance at Skyler. A few times he wanted to say, something, but decided against it. Judging by what had just happened, Skyler wasn't ready to have ''that'' conversation just yet.

After climbing the stairs, Williard went ahead and grabbed one of the front doors to the castle, and stopped. He looked at his feet and smiled. It was deja vu. The first time he had met Skyler and walked up to the castle with him after they had met by the Black Lake, it was he who had opened the door for him then too. Coming back to where he was, he pulled the door open and allowed Skyler to enter before him. It was a remarkable difference compared to outside. ''Hey, you want to get a drink from the Great Hall?''

[phantomlynx]

Skyler smiled to himself when he saw Williard clutch his side and was breathing heavily. One of the things Skyler loved to do was run so he was not really bothered by racing back and forth around the grass. What bothered him was the sun. It seemed to be bearing down on them as if its sole purpose was to make life unbearable for Will and Skyler. Skyler just nodded in agreement when Will started heading toward the castle. Skyler didn't want to avoid the topic of their parting like the plague but he wasn't ready to address it. Not yet. Will was the closet friend that he had ever had. How was Skyler supposed to tell his best friend that he would be leaving for another country? That when they parted at the end of the day at King's Cross Station it would be the last time they saw each other for a while.

Skyler had found out over winter holidays that his father had been transfered to America. "But I don't want to go to America!" Skyler kept yelling at his parents over and over again. He couldn't remember crying as much as he did that day. The tears kept flowing and soaked his pillow as he thought of Will. He was finally happy for once in his life and his parents were going to tear him away from that. How could they be so selfish?! Didn't they understand that they were ruining his life? But in his heart he knew that it was hard for them too. It was hard to leave the house that they called home. His mother worked full time and would have to leave her job to find a new one in America. Chase was going to be pulled from muggle school and home schooled until he was sent to an American wizard school. Chase was very different from Skyler. Whereas Skyler would not have minded being pulled from muggle school, it was devastating for Chase. He was very popular and didn't want to leave his fame behind.

But all that changed when Skyler went from muggle school to Hogwarts. Hogwarts was so different from muggle schools. Skyler connected with the students in a different way than he had ever connected to muggle students. And then there was Will. Skyler looked at Will out of the corner of his eye as they walked toward the castle. It reminded him of the first time they met near the Black Lake. Speaking of which, "You know Will, I never did see that finished drawing of the Giant Squid. The one that you were drawing when we first met. What ever happened to it?" Skyler nodded his thanks as Will held open the door for him. "A drink sounds lovely. Lead the way."

[Williard Thoth R4]

Williard's eyes widened in surprise as he and Skyler made their way to the Ravenclaw table which only had a fair few students seated to the very last lunch of the school year. It had been quite sometime sense he had even seen his sketchbook, being so focused on his studies. And even in his down moments where he had a bit of free time, their was so much going on at Hogwarts, so much to discover, that his interest in drawing was drawn elsewhere; mainly the library. Sitting down, Williard was thankful for the lack of other people; he didn't exactly smell pine fresh at the present moment. He grabbed a goblet, already filled to the brim with cold pumpkin juice, and began to drink quickly. He wasn't exactly in a hurry; Merlin knew he wanted this day to last forever, but his mouth was insanely dry and he felt like he was dying of thirst.

Wiping his mouth on his forearm, he gazed around the Great Hall, taking in everything. Williard smiled at the banners that hung from the ceiling; Ravenclaw had won the House Cup. He looked up at the staff table, where a few teachers were seated. He thought about maybe writing some of them during the summer, mainly Professor Flitwick, but quickly decided against it in the end. That would be a bit too weird, though he did enjoy most them and learned a lot. He really couldn't wait for his second year. Oh the things they would learn.

Williard fininshed his goblet and refilled it with a near by pitcher. ''What do you think second year is going to be like?'' He knew it probably wouldn't be too much different from the first, but he still liked to think they would be allowed to do more. But of course that was just wishful thinking. At least when they got to third year they'd be allowed to go to Hogsmeade.

[phantomlynx]

It was fun to see the blue and bronze that littered the Great Hall. It was a great feeling to know that he and Will, first years, had contributed to the win over the other houses. Both he and Will regularly attended classes and tried to do all the work that the professors asked them to do. Granted, that only gained them five or ten points at the most but soon those added up to a win. Plus, to his knowledge, neither he nor Will had lost any points for Ravenclaw. In fact, he had not heard of Ravenclaw losing any points. While it was nice to see his house colours displayed everywhere for the whole school to see it brought up the fact that the school was separated into four houses. They were not one big happy family. "I'm glad Ravenclaw won the House Cup and all," Skyler said to Will as they sat down at the Ravenclaw table, "but I still don't like the idea of Four Houses. I understand that Hogwarts had four founders and that they had different beliefs of education, but I still don't like it. I'm glad I won't be dealing with it next..." Skyler quickly clapped his mouth shut and looked at Will. He was guzzling a cup of Pumpkin Juice. Hopefully he didn't hear or see Skyler's hands just now. Skyler swiftly bought his hands down and reached for his own drink while quickly adding "...week."

To avoid eye contact with Will, Skyler glanced over at the staff table. He was going to miss some of the professors over the summer and in the coming years. He was going to miss Hogwarts in general. What if the American Wizarding School was awful? What if they didn't teach transfiguration or charms there? Maybe they won't have potions either. Skyler could live without that one. Professor McGonagall had not been the head of the school for very long and Skyler wished that he could see what she was going to do with the place. What changes she would make. Maybe she would actually get the leak in the boy's bathroom on the second floor fixed. Maybe she would make Peeves leave. Or maybe she would do nothing. Maybe she was so satisfied with the ways things have been going that she did not want to change a thing.

"I don't know what second year is going to be like," Skyler told Will. "School-wise I don't think it will be any different. But I know things are going to be different. For one thing," he added with a smile, "we're both going to be twelve. And then we can pick on the first years if we wanted to do so. Not that we would, but the option is open. Are you all packed?"

[Williard Thoth R4]

All God-moding of Inactive character Skyler Willis was permitted

"No actually, I'm not," Williard said after downing his goblet of pumpkin juice. He wasn't procrastinating or anything; he just really wasn't ready to leave Hogwarts. Not just yet.

"I suppose we should go then, huh?"

"Yeah, I suppose," Williard said getting up from the table. The two walked through the castle all the way up to Ravenclaw Tower talking merrily to one another. When they approached, the bronze eagle knocker spoke loud and clearly.

"I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?"

"Here's one thing I don't think I'll miss over summer holiday," Skyler whispered to Williard who laughed quietly. He on the other hand enjoyed the riddles the eagle gave. "I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place........hmmm," Williard said thinking out loud. It was usually up to him to get the two into the Common Room, seeing as how Skyler just really wasn't one for riddles, but just as Williard was about to speak, another voice rang out.

"Are you the letter 'e?'"

"Huh?" Williard looked at Skyler to see he had an extremely vacant look on his face. "What do you mean the letter 'e?'"

"Well," Skyler said running his foot against the floor, "The letter 'e.' The beginning of the End, and the end of timE and spacE, I surround Every placE." Get it?"

Williard thought for a moment. "Yeah, I get it, but-"

"That is correct," the eagle said briskly, and the door opened.

"Well......good job," Williard said genuinely surprised.

"Think of it as repayment for all the other times you've had to get us in here," Skyler said leading the way to the dormitories.

Williard sighed as he stopped at the foot of his bed. "Well, we better get started."

"Yeah," Skyler said with his back to him.

The two packed slowly; not on purpose, but because they were talking, occasionally pillow fighting, recalling memories of the past school year, and trying to enjoy each other's company as much as they could. Once they had finished and changed into clean clothes and freshened up, they were led along with the other first years back down to Hogsmeade Station. Williard and Skyler both were quiet during the walk. He didn't know what was on Skyler's mind, but he knew his was torn. He really, really, really wanted to stay here so badly, but he missed his parents like crazy and wanted to see them desperately. That was the only ache Williard had, though he knew that ache would soon be replaced by missing Skyler once he was home again.

Soon, the two boys were on the train and in their very own compartment. Williard had once again bought two of everything of the trolley and the two sat and ate and laughed. Normally, Williard would fret about his oral health but this was a special occasion that he was determined to not be hindered. They told jokes, had a small food fight. Williard hadn't been so happy in all his life, and for that moment he had completely forgotten that they were about to part until they had finally reached the platform.

"Oh.....were here," Williard said shaking a licorice wand out of his shirt that Skyler had thrown at him.

"Uh.....yeah," Skyler said removing the chocolate frog from his hair. The two had gotten the rest of the candy and put it all into a bag.

"You keep it," Williard said tossing the bag into Skyler's lap. "There's no way my mom would let me keep that." Williard stood up and opened the compartment door. "Well, come on."

"Williard?"

He froze.

Williard? Skyler never called him by his full first name. It was always Will. And the tone in which Skyler had said it. He sounded like a child. Well, he was a child, but he sounded like a toddler almost.

"Yeah?"

"I.....I......er...."

Williard frowned. He had a feeling he was going to find out why Skyler had been acting the way he had for the past couple weeks.

"Skyler what's wr-"

"I'm not coming back to Hogwarts next year."

Williard had heard, but didn't hear. The words echoed around his head non-stop, being heard, but not wanting to be heard, and he felt tears come almost instantly to his eyes. Williard was not one for denying reality, and the reality was, as impossible as it seemed, Skyler, who stared at the compartment floor, was not coming back to school with him the next year, and Williard turned his back to him.

"Oh?" He had almost choked just saying that. He swallowed hard. "Why?"

"My Dad. He got a job in America, so...."

Williard felt his nose, ears, and eyes turn red and his eyes get puffy. He kept his face down because students were passing him as they exited the train. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to do.

"Williard, I-"

And those were the last words he had ever heard from Skyler, for he had jetted out the compartment and hurried quickly off the Hogwarts Express. He frantically scanned around for his parents, uncaring that he probably looked ridiculous or was embarrassing himself. Once he spotted them, he ran to them and his mother was crying also. When she saw Williard, she cried more, but he had seen the change in her face as he threw himself at her and knew that she knew something was wrong and that he wasn't crying because he had missed them.

"Anu?" His father's hand was warm and firm on the top of his head, and Williard savored and welcomed the sensation. "Anu, what's wrong?"

Williard just sobbed and couldn't answer. His mother had sat her bag down and turned so while she was hugging him and rubbing his back, he could fully see the Express. He closed his eyes and more tears and sobs came.

"Anu, calm down," she said rubbing his back harder, and he did, and he opened his eyes to see Skyler standing some twenty feet away from him, holding his mother's hand, and tears rapidly streaming down his face staring at him. The two connected gazes, and Williard looked away, sobbing harder than before.

"Ptah, grab his trunk, I'm taking him to the car," his mother said releasing him and grabbing his hand. She hurriedly pulled him along, but not before Williard had looked back at Skyler, who seemed to have started sobbing himself seeing as how his mother now seemed overly concerned, touching and examining his face.

Williard put his hand up in a waving gesture, but didn't wave. He just held his hand up, all five fingers spread. That's all he could do, that's all he knew to do, and Skyler waved back more enthusiastically. Fighting back a big sob, Williard whipped his hand away from his mother's and tore after Skyler.

"WILLIARD!" His mother's yell had caused his father to stop dead in his tracks as he was coming back towards them dragging Williard's trunk. When he reached Skyler and his mother, he stood in front of them for a moment before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a thin, long blue box. Williard opened it and took one of the rings out and slid it on his ring finger. It was a magnificent silver ring with an eagle on it that bore small glimmering sapphires where the eagles eye's should have been.

"Here," he said handing Skyler the box. "This is what my Dad sent us." In the back of his mind, Williard told himself what was currently happening was repayment for not telling Skyler all this time what his father had sent them. He didn't know why, but he always tried to connect things back to some sort of meaning or reason. Skyler held the box staring at the ring, and Williard backed away slowly before turning around and running back to his mother and father. They said nothing, and Williard walked ahead of them silently to the car.

Skyler was Willard's very first friend. Ever. He didn't and couldn't understand why this had to happen, but it did. Thoughts of next year creeped up into his head, and Williard tried hard, so hard to keep them from coming into fruition just yet, though he knew his summer would be filled with thoughts of absolutely nothing else.

When he reached the car, he walked passed it and stood there. He needed to get himself together. He took deep, steadying breaths and wiped his face as best he could. He heard his father open the trunk of the car and put his trunk into it and close it, and he heard the sound of two doors close. They were giving him "space." Afterall, they were the ones who taught him to take a second and breathe, and he was. Once he got his breathing together and had stopped crying, he went to the car and slid in. He didn't need to look at them to tell that they both were staring; his father through the rear view mirror, and his mother through the side view mirror. But, Williard didn't mind, and he stared out of the window at whatever.

He was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay. Everything would get better with time, though he knew he wouldn't be possibly able to forget. He couldn't forget his first friend, his first best friend. He would never forget Skyler Willis, and knew he would do the same.