Where Oh Where Is My Little Dog Going? Solo Closed

29 June 2024

THAP! THAP! THAP! THAP! SCUFFLE!! SCUFFLE!!

"YEEP! CAILEAN! Ye'll tip me books over!" a voice cried out in the corridor.

"I know!" came the reply.

BAPP!

"Yow! LIAM! That's not fair!" cried Colin as Liam slipped into the Library.

"Course it's fair, Cail! You taught me the kick behind the knee trick, after all!" retorted Liam. "And if ye can't take the same medicine ye dish out ..."

"I know! DON'T DISH IT OUT!" replied Colin. The twins laughed quietly as they jostled into the Library. If asked separately, both boys would practically claim ownership of the whole place. It was a great spot for contemplation --- that is, girl watching --- and also for studying! Most people who know Colin are actually surprised to learn that the boy can actually be still for more than a second whilst not actually asleep or unconscious. Being in different houses had forced the twins to find other ways of being together, and chasing each other into the Library for study time was one of those.

But alas! Today was not a study day! It was, after all, the last weekend of Colin's third year at Hogwarts. It had been a crazy year, what with their adventures at the balls, and Lily, and the cool younger twins starting Hogwarts this year, and even right up to yesterday's confrontation with Ava Winchect. Colin sighed at the memory of yesterday. Ava... There would be a lot to think about, that was for sure!

The boys sat down at one of the tables to sort out the books they had to return. They decided on a competition. Whoever had the tallest stack the quickest would win! "Right! Begin!" said Liam. They jostled each other and scattered each other's books about. There was much rib jabbing and not a few under the table kicks for good measure!

"Ungh! Liam! That's my book!"

"No it's not!"

"Look! Ye've got the same book in yer stack!"

"No I don't!"

"Look there! Same title!"

"No it's not!"

"Stop messing about!"

"Not messing about! And done!" cried Liam.

"WHAT!? Wait ---"

Colin leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair. Liam patted his twin on the head. "It's okay, Cail! I'm a Ravenclaw, I naturally read more than yer average ophidian!" The boys looked at their respective stacks of books. Liam's was indeed a bit taller!

"Liam! I swear, ye have my book in yer stack!"

"No I don't!" Liam said with a cunning smirk. "I read it twice!"

"WHAT!?"

Liam winked at Colin. Then he pointed to Colin's own stack of books. "Anyway, there's yours. At the bottom! Likely unread. Right. Let's return these!"

Colin wasn't paying attention to Liam. Something else had caught his attention. Something more pressing than even books. He relaxed into the chair, hooking one long leg up over the arm rest. A slow smile spread across his face. Of all the things that had happened this year, he realised that there was one person he'd lost sight of the last few months.

"Cailean?" Liam asked.

Colin had been out of sorts since the spring ball. Much more than usual. He had been really quite troubled in fact, and had withdrawn from everyone apart from Liam. Those horrible dreams and dark visions! The black runes and the shadowy creatures. Colin zoned out, competing forces within his mind fought for supremacy. The light versus the darkness strove. Colin closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them a moment later, he saw that Liam was no longer next to him, but across the table, smirking. Colin blinked. "Wha---?"

"Ye were gone for a good five minutes lad!"

"I---I wasn't!"

"Aye, ye were! I returned yer books too! Anyway, I know that in yer eyes! When they get all dilated and big!" Liam opened his eyes wide and imitated what was undoubtedly Colin's silly grin. "I know why get that way too!" Liam looked around to make sure none of the librarians were close. Then he sprawled back in his own chair, tilted his head back and called out: "CLLLAAAIIIIRRRRRR!!!" before letting out a most satisfied laugh.

"I---! LIAM!" Colin sighed. "I know." Colin leaned back in his own chair. "She was here. Recently. Clair."

Liam stared at Colin, his right eyebrow raised. "Cail. Honestly." He lowered his voice to a whisper, leaning in towards Colin. "Do ye think I don't know what Clair smells like?" He smiled. "Come on, lad! Let's go find Clair!"

Colin smiled, showing off all his fangs. Liam returned the gesture. And quick as lightning, the boys were off, loping through the corridors, stopping here and there to confer as to their next move.

Tracking: @Clair Fernandez