Closed Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake PV: Ava Winchect

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧

It remained one of Ava’s goals to run throughout the year. However, it happened rarely. She had forced herself to go on a run, to start a habit for the summer. So she was out. Running. Actually, more accurately she was walking and sometimes she would run a little. You had to start somewhere.

She was scarcely paying attention to what was going on around her, to focused on trying to keep a steady pace. However, she was shocked out of her thoughts when she heard her last name yelled. And the voice was familiar.

Colin. McCoire.

He was one of her teammates on the racing course, but besides that she did her best to stay out of his way. It was best this way. All because of that fateful night, when her whole life had fallen apart. But of course, she had no claim to any pain.

If it were just him, she would be content to run away. But he wasn’t alone. So she slowly came to a stop in front of him. "Hi. What do you want?" She asked, looking between the two brothers with a mixed look of suspicion and confusion.

Not that she spent time observing Colin, but something about him seemed off. She wasn’t sure what, but she was sure she was about to find out.

@Colin McCoire . June 28 . after/between classes

Colin had done his best to avoid Ava since that fateful night. He couldn't understand why a girl who had tried to stab one of his best mates was even still in school. Wasn't it illegal to try and kill someone? The memories flooded back; not in dark dreams this time, but here, standing before him by the lakeside.

Ava. Winchect.

The night had been so jumbled. He remembered being awoken from sleep. He remembered Luci being se scared. He remembered flipendoing her and the knife clattering on the stone floor. He remembered Headmaster Lear exploding through the wall and Miss Jensen and all the Prefects followed. There was a lot of yelling and questions and confusion!

Colin remembered Headmaster Lear casting a spell on them, slugulus eructo he now knew, and they both puked slugs. Headmaster Lear had questioned Colin about a queen potion --- darkest night. Colin wasn't expecting that. How had he known? Must have been something in the slugs maybe?

Colin snarled when Ava greeted him.

"Hi."

Seriously? Hi? Like nothing happened? Colin's body tensed and he felt Liam's hand on his shoulder. He shrugged the hand away and took a step forward. He was about two strides away now. He knew that Ava hated werewolves. The thought struck him that, even if she wasn't sure what he was, she could sure see all of Colin's scars now. Bite marks on his chest. Claw marks all down his sides. Plus the fang he wore on a cord around his neck.

His eyes widened slightly. She would know for sure. He wondered if Ava would come after him with a knife next.

He shook his head like a dog. It really did help clear his mind!

"What do you want?" she asked.

Colin was actually taken aback. What do you want? "What do I want? Are ye serious!?" There was nothing for it now. Colin rested his fists on his hips. Throwing all caution to the wind, he said: "I want to know why you tried to kill Luci! He didn't actually do anything to you, and you know it!" His bright green eyes stared into Ava's. "And the answers had better be good, because we're not finished, Winchect!"

@Ava Winchect | Binding Mark: @Clair Fernandez

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧
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Ava did her best to hide her flinch when he snarled at her. She also wondered if it was possible to move away from them inconspicuously, and without insulting the two high tempered brothers.

She hadn’t seen the brother until this year (this year, meaning her second year), but ever since he had appeared the two brothers had been inseparable on multiple occasions. Even now, she could see their closeness in the little gestures between them. Ava wondered how much Colin’s brother knew about that night. Likely, everything.

But it was Colin who seemed the most, for lack of better words, eccentric. At least, in the moment. She was sure both brothers had their own quirks, but right now the younger brother seemed the most calm. Maybe that was unsurprising, when being compared to Colin.

And then. He asked. The question. And looked really angry while he did. And then he threatened her.

Typical.

She took a deep breath. She had wanted the chance to explain herself for so long, but she hadn’t known how. And now, when it had been handed to her on a silver platter, she froze up.

She remembered those nights in perfect detail. Staying up through the night, in fear that Lucian would somehow make good on his promise although it was not a full moon. Scared of the approaching full moon. How far was Lucian willing to take this? Asking Thorn for the knife, the ‘silver’ one. Fear, fear, more fear. It was so close to the full moon, the moon looked pretty full to her.

Creeping.

Into. Their.

Room.

Not having the guts. Or maybe having morals. Dropping the knife. Screaming. The walls crashing down.

She forcefully shut down the train of thoughts, her breathing unsteady and her head dizzy from the rush of oxygen going in and out.

"You only wish you were as strong as I was, scum! I could kill you right now... or better yet, I will wait for the next moon... hide in my room... and then when the beautiful, bright moon comes out... Sniff you out like the garbage you are... And give you a scar as ugly as you are- And then I will tell a group of people how you are the scummiest of wolves, as you say, because of your ancestry!"

Okay. Okay. Okay. Breathe. Ava struggled to regain her breath as everything she had tried to avoid thinking about mentally attacked her.

"I almost did it because he—Lucian—threatened me, not once, twice, to find me on the full moon and…" her voice trailed off, an involuntary shiver raking down her spine. "and I didn’t do it because I couldn’t."

She drew in a deep breath. Calm. Calm. Calm. "It’s not like I did it for fun! Or even because you’re a werewolf!!" She exclaimed in a partwhisper-partshout. Not calm. Not calm. Not calm.

@Colin McCoire . June 28 . after/between classes

"Easy, Cail," Liam whispered. Colin could feel his twin's presence just behind him. A wolf just knew certain things. He knew Liam wouldn't interfere. This was between him and Winchect. He also knew that if she tried anything sus, like pulling out a knife right here in the open, his brother's wand would be jammed into her face almost before his own was.

"Ye've a crush on this lassie, Cail?" Liam whispered again. "Are ye mental or what?"

Colin's eyes widened ever so slightly. His mouth made a slight grimace and gave Liam a sharp jab in the chest with his elbow.

Ava had taken a deep breath. Maybe she wasn't expecting Colin's question to come blurting out this way?

"Ow! Alright, mate! I can leave if you want, Cail? Lovers' quarrel is it?"

Colin's face turned red as an apple. He most certainly did not have a crush on Ava Winchect! That was --- that was ---

Colin observed Ava's face as she composed her thoughts. Deep down, he reckoned she must have thought about the --- that night --- every bit as much as he and Luci had.

Liam sniggered softly. Colin knew he wasn't going to live down this whole idea of crushing on Winchect. It was preposterous! She --- Colin had to admit, Ava had proven herself to be a good flier. A really good flier. He'd love to race her some time! Flying was a plus. Wait. A plus!? Colin shook his head again.

Ava looked like she was having difficulty saying anything. Colin stared. Intently. Partly waiting for the first opportunity to set her on fire. Partly wondering why he felt like he wanted to kiss Ava. He --- WHAT!? What kind of thinking was that!? He thought the words! The words that Clair would know! He touched the mark on his bare chest, the Wolf and the Moon, that Clair had drawn there with her magic. Oh God, where was Clair when he needed her most!? She was the girl he should want to kiss, not Winchect, not Ava! What was wrong with him?

He tried to shove all thoughts of kissing and snogging aside. She began speaking. Her words, her voice, swirled in his head. Was it Clair talking, or was it Ava? And what was she saying? Lucian. Luci, one of his best mates. Threatened Ava?

"I call bullocks, Winchect!" Colin managed to collect his thoughts and focus on the issue rather than on the pretty girl before him. He ran his fingers through his messy white hair. Ava wasn't done talking.

"It's not like I did it for fun," she said. Colin noted that she was really trying keep calm. Deep inside, he knew that struggle. If Liam weren't here, his wand have been already out. They'd probably expell him. While Ava gets off easy and comes back to school! Of course, word would get out that a "werewolf attacked an innocent girl" on the last day school. Bullocks! She didn't do it for fun. Well. Duh?

"Or even because you're a werewolf!" There. She said it! Ava had put two and two together. His nose twitched. His internal war would be fought here. Some people he'd told about his lycanthropy. Most kids didn't know. Ava probably suspected all along. Liam's hand rested on his shoulder again. Colin felt relieved that Liam didn't actually leave them. Surely Ava didn't know about Liam too...?

Now it was Colin's turn to take a deep breath. Shake his head again. His whole body. Like a dog. "Bullocks! You're full of it Winchect! Luci wasn't a threat to you. Not once! He was only reacting to the things you said! He doesn't ---" Colin let out a sigh. He turned away from Ava, running his fingers through his hair again.

Well. There was nothing for it. Ava knew his admittedly not well guarded secret. He turned back towards his housemate. "Look. Yeah. I'm a werewolf." He spread his arms wide and turned about in front of her. "Not all of these scars are from banging into trees on the race course! See here?" He pointed to the right side of his chest. "Wolf bit me here. Look here." He twisted so she could see his side. "Claw marks all down me side." He turned again. "Look over here. More bites. More claw marks. I've been in a few fights, Winchect."

A small weight seemed to lift from Colin's heart. There was so much animosity between him and Ava, it somehow felt good to admit this to her. He'd just won his inner war. No more would he hide his own lycanthropy. He determined not to advertise it, but neither would he let it make him live in fear of being found out.

He snarled again. "Look. Winchect. Ava. Luci was only reacting out of fear. See, he's not like me. I've told some kids what I am. A couple have figured it out. Now you have too. But I- I'm not afraid any more. I don't care if you tell anyone else! But Luci --- keep yer gob shut about him. He doesn't want anyone to know! And when you mouthed off, he reacted! I know what he said to you! When he shoved you against the wall. You knew me and Luci are close." Colin crossed the fingers of his left hand so she could see. "Have you never wondered why I didn't do anything to stop him? Eh?"

Colin cocked his head slightly, wondering what Ava would have to say about that.

@Ava Winchect || Binding Mark: @Clair Fernandez

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧
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"Bullocks! You're full of it Winchect! Luci wasn't a threat to you. Not once! He was only reacting to the things you said! He doesn't ---"

Before she could even let Colin say, or do anything else, she nodded her head. "Yeah, not once. Twice."

She shook her head, glaring at him as he turned back to face her. "Look. Yeah. I'm a werewolf. Not all of these scars are from banging into trees on the race course! See here? Wolf bit me here. Look here. Claw marks all down me side. Look over here. More bites. More claw marks. I've been in a few fights, Winchect." As he spoke, he turned to show her the scars he was talking about. She tried not to be curious, not to care, but she couldn’t keep some sympathy from leaking onto her face. She had been pretty roughed up during racing, but nothing on such a scale as this.

"Was this…" she hesitated before speaking. "all in one night?"

For some reason, her best friend Charlie came to mind. She sighed. "I’m going to be honest, right here and now. Me hating werewolves? That was just my excuse for hating you and Lucian. Or I guess since I hated the both of you, and you were both werewolves, I let that influence what I thought about…all werewolves. My best friend’s a part-vampire! I don’t have anything against the magical races." she exclaimed, hoping it would at least support her newest claim. "But… I’ve seen your scars. Was it so bad not to want that for myself?"

It felt…interesting to say all those thoughts out loud. She had been thinking them for a really long time.

And of course, Colin had to defend Lucian’s actions. Honestly, she didn’t buy one bit of it. She could forgive Colin, but Lucian? She would never forget the things he said to her. "Maybe he hates me knowing his secret, but that in no way justifies him attacking me just because I don’t have the right blood." Ava muttered unhappily, staring at the ground with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Have you never wondered why I didn't do anything to stop him? Eh?" Only one response came to mind. "Maybe because you wanted it to happen." She said with a glare. Two could play this accusation game. In seconds, her sympathy for his scars had turned into anger. For a split second her eyes fluttered to his brother’s, watching to see his reaction to this whole argument.

@Colin McCoire . June 28 . after/between classes

Colin sneered when Ava pointed out that, in her opinion, Luci had threatened her twice, not just once. Whatever. Colin didn't take that bait. He wasn't stupid! Anyway, there was a far more important thing that needed to be said. It was only just barely dawning on Colin that it was his decision that day that was the ultimate cause of the tragedy. Or at least, he felt that in his heart that day. And now, finally confronting Ava, he reckoned that he would lay out his cards and discover how right or wrong he was.

Clearly Ava didn't know much about werewolves, the way she had placed all the blame on Luci and took no responsibility of her own. Colin noted this. Perhaps he would learn more soon. He showed her his wolfy scars, pointing out each one. Colin was actually shocked by Ava's response. "Was this ... all in one night?" she asked. She seemed hesitant to even ask. These were the very first words of compassion or concern he had ever heard Winchect say to him.

He wondered at this. It wasn't like he had been overtly kind to her the past couple years, but he reckoned he had good reason! Still ... Ava had managed to earn some, if small, place in his heart. It had nothing to do with the weird feelings he'd been experiencing every time he saw her recently, and especially today. The thought arose in his mind again --- how deperately he wanted to snog with her!

She broke through his wandering reverie. "I'm going to be honest, right here and now," Ava began.

Colin tensed. "This had better be good," he muttered so that only Liam could hear. His twin tightened his grip on his shoulders. He wondered if Ava knew? She began her side of the story. She hated Colin and Luci. She certainly hated Luci enough to try and kill him! And Colin was never certain, if she'd been successful, would she have turned to knife him as he slept too? Would the Prefects have found two bloodied werewolves? She admitted that her hatred of him and Luci kind of bled over into hatred of all werewolves.

Colin of all people knew that werewolves were often mistrusted. Shunned. Hated. Hunted. Even though kids like him were allowed to attend Hogwarts, and even though he had not met many kids who openly admitted hatred for werewolves, he knew they were at the school. Probably would have quietly celebrated the deaths of two monsters.

Still.

"But… I’ve seen your scars. Was it so bad not to want that for myself?" Ava said.

Something stirred in Colin's heart. His brows furrowed. Ava didn't attack Luci because he was a werewolf. If he understood right, she attacked because she feared being turned into a wolf herself. He lowered his eyes in thought. He knew in his heart that, of course, no one would want to be turned.

For a moment both stood silent. Colin raised his eyes back up to stare into Ava's. Liam still rested his hand on Colin's shoulder. "Tell her," he said. "We've talked about this enough times. She needs to know."

Colin let out a breath. He'd been thinking about what he would tell Ava if they ever confronted each other. He had talked it over with Liam enough times. He took a deep breath, about to respond to her question. It was a legitimate question, and there was only one right answer.

But Winchect just had to open her mouth again!

Her arms were crossed and she lowered her gaze to the ground. Opposite of Colin's fists on hips with intense stare. "Maybe he hates me knowing his secret, but that in no way justifies him attacking me just because I don’t have the right blood." Colin was utterly flabbergasted. But what really upset him the most was what she had said in response to him asking if she ever thought about why he stood by and did nothing during Luci's "attacks".

"Wh---?" Colin quickly tried to gather his thoughts. "What are you on about 'right blood', Ava? And of course, Luci doesn't hate you for knowing his secret! I certainly don't! If he hates you at all, it's because you were going to mouth off and spill the bloody tea! Do you have any idea what that would do to a boy like Luci? I mean. Pureblood mania in that family! They'd disown him or --- or maybe kill him themselves! Anyway, you're Pureblood too! Right? You should know what it is to be a blood traitor!" Colin's thoughts ran back to that meeting in Hogsmeade, the Dark Wizard Society. They got after that boy who crashed the meeting for not being a Pureblood. He wondered they'd do if they found out that Colin was a werewolf. He smirked at the thought. "I reckon that's what I am --- I just don't care anymore if people find out."

Colin sighed. He needed to say this. "Look. Ava. You have to understand about werewolves. We're like a pack, right? There's a leader. And there's the pack." He felt like he was divulging a state secret to a foreign spy. "Ach! Luci ain't the leader, okay? I am. I'm the Alpha. Luci's my mate. I---I know he got rough with you," Colin conceded. "I reckon I let him get too rough. But, dammit, Ava! He couldn't have turned you into werewolf even if he really wanted to! He was just threatening you so you'd shut up!"

Colin shrugged off Liam's hand from his shoulder and took the last two long strides that brought him within arm's reach of Ava. He knew Liam was right behind, but his brother didn't restrain him. Colin couldn't take it any more! His stare penetrated into Ava's eyes. His lips curled into a snarl of rage! The voice that came out of Colin's mouth was barely a hoarse whisper. "Do you have any idea what it's like for us, Ava? Do you even know what they do to us every month?" Colin began to shiver slightly. "Our dhampir friends get to live normally! Part Veelas get to live normally! Do you have any clue what they do to us? Our teachers drag us off to the Shrieking Shack before the full moon, right? That tumble down old ruin down near Hogsmeade? You know it? They lock us away in there, Ava. Nine months out of the year! No one stays with us. No one cares if it's cold or if the snow is blowing in through the broken windows. They leave us there for a day or two, cooped up in that dump while we transform! We're not monsters, Ava! All we want to do is run outside on the grounds outside the castle! Or chase each other through the Forbidden Forest! For a day or two, we just want to be the wolves we are inside! But! When I'm a wolf, I'm still me, Ava! I could no more bite you than I could bite Clair!"

Colin sighed deeply. "And neither could Luci. Anyway. If he really tried to hurt you, I'd've killed him myself!" Suddenly, all the anger left Colin. He sniffed, tears forming in his green eyes. "I'd love nothing more than to run with Clair and when she gets tired, just curl up next to her and watch the stars! Nine months, Ava! They put me in a prison and lock me away! I reckon so parents who still think we're off our wolfsbane will feel safe sending their kids here alongside us! Safe? Hogwarts? And you really think I'd want you to have to suffer this way too? For three years, I can't remember how many times I've spent pacing in that dusty old shack, wishing I were dead. No, Ava. I don't wish that on anyone. Not even on you, not even after what you did."

@Ava Winchect || @Lucian Mornstern || Binding Mark: @Clair Fernandez

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧
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Colin seemed, to say the least, shocked. Shocked that she had the guts to ask the question? Shocked that she had… the compassion to ask the question? For a moment, he seemed lost in his thoughts, until she spoke again. She wondered what he had been thinking about.

As she explained her side of the story, Colin seemed tense, and didn’t seem very sympathetic for what she was saying. And then, she reached the end. For maybe the first time in his entire life, he thought long and hard. And for this first time, he thought about what she had said. She had seen Colin angry, calm, energetic, excited, happy-- all of the emotions. But for the first time ever, he seemed…thoughtful.

His brother spoke up, telling Colin to tell Ava what they’d ‘talked about enough times’. Colin seemed lost in thought for another moment, and in that moment of waiting she felt the panic coming. So…she made the choice to speak again, if only so she could avoid whatever his response would be. And to answer his question in a way that didn’t make her feel weak. Showing sympathy to her sort-of enemy was weak. Or that was what she tried to convince herself of.

What she didn’t know was that it would set off the rant of the century. But maybe both of them had thoughts they needed to get off their mind. The only time she said anything was to hiss "muggleborn." quietly at him with a glare after his assumptions of her ancestry. She let him finish the first part of his rant, and before she could think of a good response, he had shaken his brothers hand off his shoulder and stepped closed.

Too close. Close enough to do anything, really. She stiffened, eyes glued to the ground although she could feel Colin’s glare. And although she didn’t dare look up, his whisper was deadly and sharp, and the words were harsh. She listened quietly, hearing what he said about what happened to werewolves on full moons. And although she had known that they left the school for the full moon, she had never really thought about what they did. Or rather, what they didn’t do. The way the he spoke about it illustrated the rough conditions they sometimes lived through, and she couldn’t help but feel sympathy.

She could tell he was crying, or at least tearing up, and she knew that there were right things to do. She listened as he finished, listened hard. She could’ve offered a hug, however awkward, or acknowledged his words, or anything other than what she did.

But still, that nagging voice in her mind was telling her that to show sympathy would be weak. And she listened. And she took a step back, and crossed her arms, and said the only thing she could think of to say. The only thing she could think of to say that she thought would make her seem tough.

"Boo. Hoo."

Truthfully, she was terrified.

@Colin McCoire . June 28 . after/between classes

"Boo. Hoo."

That was what Ava said.

"Boo. Hoo."

Two words that changed the entire course of this exchange. Everything had been going as well as could be expected for two kids who basically loathed each other. Colin had done his best to defend what his mate had done. He'd even opened his heart to Ava! Expressed to her what he and Luci and Li --- what other kids like him went through. Colin knew the strength of vulnerability, and he'd used that with Ava. He had also really listened to what she had to say. He was fully prepared to concede that point. She had no idea why Luci was going after her. Neither of them had said anything --- there was no time! Prefects had shown up in the girls dorm and there was just no time to explain anything before the knives came out.

And after that night, the night of Red Moon and Red Knife, there would be no talking. On either side. Luci especially, but also Colin still bore the scars in their nightmares. Of Ava coming after them, dead eyes and dead soul, bloody knife in hand. It was just too much! And no that they both seemed ready to talk, all Ava could say was "Boo. Hoo?"

Colin's eyes widened and his jaw opened. He turned towards Liam. His twin's expression matched. They'd both heard the same, cold and callous response. It was clear. Ava had no interest in resolving this problem, or even seeing the other side. In fact, she was just as full of loathing for Colin now as she ever had been.

Colin's lips parted slightly, and he snarled at her!

His left hand quickly reached for his wand, tucked away in its sheath strapped to his bare right arm. Ava had backed away and Colin launched himself at her! He closed the distance quickly! With his head tucked slightly and his right shoulder forward, he charged straight into his housemate! On his lips was the gusty wind charm, ventus! He had practically growled the incantation as the swirling whirlwind of air blew from the end of his wand, roaring boy and howling gale smashing straight into Ava, sending her towards the lake!

@Ava Winchect

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧
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Ava knew she had screwed up big time when his face went from mad to furious. In her attempt to seem strong, she just seemed like a snotty child.

There were so many better things she could have said—should have said. Maybe she could have gained a friend. But instead, she had screwed up big time. Now she had an even bigger enemy, and this time she had no idea how she would make it right. She really was the villain of this story.

Her life would have been so much easier if they could have healed and moved on, but all she had done was add more ammunition to the fight.

She shouldn’t have been shocked when the spell came.

She watched as Colin reached into what she could only assume was a wand sheath and withdrew a wand—his wand. He closed the gap between them quickly, and before she knew what was happening a strong and painful gust of wind hit her with an audible smack, and the next second she hit the water, arms outstretched as she flew.

She sunk under the water for a second, panicked as she inhaled a little water, before she had the good sense to find her footing and push to the surface. When she reached air she coughed, spitting out water. It couldn’t have been that deep here, she had been in these waters before. By her best guess it was about 7 feet deep, so she had to tread through the water to stay afloat.

For a moment, all she could think about was revenge, and in seconds she had drawn her own wand from her pocket and pointed it at Colin. "Wingardium Leviosa!!" she cried, focusing as she moved her wand quickly to point over the lake once the spell had taken ahold of Colin’s clothes. Almost as soon as Colin was over the lake did she release the spell, exhausted.

She could only think one thing. She really was the villain of this story…

@Colin McCoire . June 28 . after/between classes