Closed Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake PV: Ava Winchect

The boys watched as Ava was caught up in the whirlwind and sent across the grassy bit by the lakeside out out over the water! Probably no more than twenty feet, but Colin felt awesome as the magic coursed through him and along his wand! "That was brilliant, mate!" said Liam. "Hopefully you won't get a detention for attacking another student! I've heard some of the Prefects will make you clean the toilets with your hair! And Professor Starwise is always threatening to dangle us over the astro tower parapet if so much as smudge a telescope lens! I reckon ye'll end up in Azkaban for this!"

"Pfft!" Colin retorted. He was still on about how Ava utterly rejected everything he'd just tried to say. Colin really just wanted to understand what happened, after all this time. And, well, he got his answer. Ava hates him and Luci. With enough passion to try and kill at least one of them.His thoughts flitted to Liam. She was unlikely to know about him.

Colin strode towards the lake's edge, watching as Ava broke the surface at last. He tucked his wand back into its sheath and stood with his fists resting on his hips. "Water nice Winchect? I shouldn't worry about the grindylows! They won't eat a fellow killer!" Colin smirked at Ava as she bobbed in the water. He sneered. If this meeting had gone better, he would have enjoyed a dunk in the lake himself! After all, that's where he and Liam were headed after their run!

Colin called out to his housemate: "It was really pointless chatting with you, Winchct!" Colin said with mock cheer. "How bout we do this again in like --- never!" He practically shouted the last word. "In fact," Colin continued: "why don't you just --- YEEEEEP!!"

"Cail!" Liam shouted.

Colin felt magic tugging on his kilt! Firmly caught in its grasp, he felt himself lifted up off the ground! Ava had ensorcelled his kilt and how he found himself floating up and over the water, upside down and rotating about, arms and legs and hair dangling. Levitation charm, of course. Colin squeaked as his body turned about in the air! He just hoped his kilt and Ravenclaw boxers would stay put! Twas one thing for Ying to catch him in the lake without --- but Winchect? He would never live that down!

"YOOOIIICKS!" When the spell finally released his kilts, Colin tumbled towards the water! He did his best to twist into a position that wouldn't result in a painful belly flop. He only wished he could land on top of Ava! His dive was nowhere near graceful, but at least as he crashed into the lake, it wasn't as bad as it could have been!

Colin was under the water for some time. The transition from warm to air to cool water exhilarated the boy. He loved being in the water! He felt a tranquility down here in the water. It pressed all around his body as he swam along the bottom. It insulated him from the outside world in a way, for all sound and sight were muted and blurred. He promised himself, again, that once he learned the bubblehead charm, he'd swim deeper than ever before!

But he didn't know that charm yet, and if he didn't head for the surface, he'd end up drowning! He caught sight of something just ahead. Somewhat blurred, he reckoned it must be Ava, treading water. He smirked. The water wasn't deep here at all. He knew it would be useless to hit her with another spell once he got to the surface. He'd probably just end up really hurting her, or worse. She'd made him really mad, but, well, Colin really didn't hate Ava. He just couldn't fathom why she hated him so much; and if something really bad did happen to her, he knew he'd be in a lot of trouble.

He balled himself up and sank towards the sandy bottom. Just as his toes touched a big rock there, he extended his long legs as hard as he could! Colin rocketed up through the water in a shower of lake water! "WOOOOOOOO!" After breaching the surface with a huge splash, he noticed that Ava was only about four feet away! He shook his head of long hair, sending even more water droplets her way! The cool water had done wonders for the boy!

Colin cupped his hands on the surface of the water and shoved them into the lake as hard as he could, sending a fountain of water spraying towards Ava! "Get a nice cool off, Winchect? Honestly! The water's perfect! Oi! LIAM! Come on in, the water's perfect for a swim!" Colin's twin needed no further invitation, as his own shirt and kilt were quickly shed and the Ravenclaw dove in to cool water.

Colin looked over at Ava. Somehow, he thought she looked pretty miserable. He began to swim in a circle around her. "You know Winchect, I don't know why you ---" No, accusing her of the obvious, of hating him and Luci, wouldn't help. Colin doubted there'd be any way to heal what had been so thoroughly destroyed. But some instinct deep in his heart still held out hope.

"Winchect," he began again; "Ava, that was a strong cast! I --- respect that!"

@Ava Winchect

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧
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When Colin emerged from the water he looked transformed, his temper cooled and his mood lightened. On the other hand, she felt miserable, and knew her mistake. When he surfaced he shook his head, similar to a dog, and water droplets flew in every direction, many landing on her. For a perfect second she saw what could have been.

Two students in the lake, breaking the rules together. The sun shone through the droplets, the water seemingly alive as it moved through the air. Interactions of teasing, but a trusted confidant. Cool kisses of the lake water, droplets landing across her skin and hair. Someone to trust to not judge, someone who understood pain. Soaked brown hair shining in the sun and soaked blond-white hair sending droplets into the air. A friendship.

But she had screwed up, and that perfect second was only a second. She was shocked out of thought by more water being sent at her by Colin, and she forced herself to look at him, really look.

Brave. Funny. Lighthearted. Trustworthy. Loyal. Intelligent. Optimistic. Apathetic. Naïve. Trusting. Scarred. Scared. Angry. Hopeful.

14 words to describe one boy. And for a moment, she saw the appeal so many girls fell for as he called his brother into the water. His brilliant green eyes as he began to swim around her, eyes of the patch of green atop the water of a calm pond, the green of the seaweed in the sea that the sun couldn’t reach. Gorgeous lips that seemed to be made to smile. Scars hard earned that only added to his looks.

She didn’t process the words he said as she slowly swam towards him, having two options but only one she would take. She seemed to always make the wrong decision.

Ava leaned closer, and hesitated a second, the moment stretching into forever as she made her intentions clear to him. And then she closed the gap and pressed her lips to his.

@Colin McCoire . June 28 . PERMISSION GRANTED BEFOREHAND

Colin laughed as Liam swam about in the cool water. He turned towards his brother and they splashed each other boisterously! Colin winced as a wave of water smacked him in the face! His heart felt light, as if the last few minutes never happened. He was actually kind of surprised that Liam even got into the water. Thus far, he hadn't been one to show off his own scars like this. Colin wondered why he would choose now.

Liam splashed the water again, laughing too. "Yow! LIAM! You'll get me hair wet!" Colin shook his head, sending more water everywhere!

"Ye're already a wet dog, Cail!"

"You should talk! Ye're a wet dog yerself!" Colin and Liam laughed as they flicked water at each other. It was only then that Colin noticed something. Ava hadn't said a word! For all the anger she'd unleashed on him but a short while ago, and he had to admit the anger he'd returned in kind, she hadn't said anything since then. Colin stole a few glances towards the girl, in between sprays of water from his brother. She was watching him.

What could Ava possibly be thinking, Colin wondered. He had discovered that girls in general were weirdly different. They didn't just look different and behave different: they thought differently as well. He could just about understand Clair and AngelFyre, the girls her knew best apart from Lily. But Ava was --- inscrutable. She was a cute girl, no doubt about that! But there was more. He reckoned she was smart, because she focused on books the way he and Liam did. And she was fearless!

Colin had thought about Ava quite a lot over the last year or so, and had talked with Liam about what happened in second year. How she stood up to Luci. Yes, she shouldn't have threatened to spill the tea. That was really uncool. But at the same time, Colin was actually impressed. In a way, Colin actually felt a little bit hurt the way she said Was it so bad not to want that for myself. Of course, Colin could never wish this curse, this disease on anyone else. Including Ava. But still...

Liam seemed to have gotten bored splashing an unresponsive Colin, and was busy diving nearby. They were soooo looking forward to learning the bubblehead charm! He turned his attention back towards Ava. She'd gotten closer! Probably sneaking about, planning to splash him when he wasn't looking! For a very brief moment, Colin panicked! What was she up to? She'd gotten in real close! Like she'd been stalking her prey!

Her eyes drew him in. Ava had pretty eyes, even though they weren't blue. Her gaze was intense as she leaned in closer. He returned her stare. Colin had developed a pretty fearsome stare himself! It felt to him like two wolves staring one another down. He felt prepared for any attack she might use on him! Would she kick him? Would she drag him into the water? Would she ---?

Colin gasped and his eyes flew open! Ava had leaned in closer and pressed her lips to his own! He squeaked softly. His heart pounded inside his chest! It wasn't just a quick peck either! He returned her kiss with a smile, and instinctively wrapped his arms around Ava's waist. His toes found a rock he could stand on and keep their heads above the water. A brief flash of memory, of saving Opal from drowning not too far from her, flashed through his mind as they kissed.

Colin knew all about loving your enemies, but he never thought kissing one might be involved! And Ava turned out to be rather good at it! Colin giggled a bit: a vision of him telling Luci that he and Ava had kissed passed through his mind, and Luci pretending to gag and faint! Colin had no idea how long the kiss lasted. But it was really nice and Colin loved to kiss!

When they finished, all Colin could say was: " --- !"

He was not expecting Ava to kiss him! He had no idea what to say or even to think! This wasn't just a snog in some game of spin the bottle. This was something else. Colin was pretty sure Ava didn't actually like him. Maybe before ... But surely not after everything that come between them? He needed Ava's help to make any sense of this, so he held on to her, waiting for her shove him away or enlighten him. Or just --- talk to him. Something deep in his heart stirred. He'd known since Ava was sent away to St. Mungo's that they couldn't go on hating each other. Someday they'd have to work it out.

Colin blushed.

All he could manage to whisper was: "A--Ava, that was brills! You're a really good kisser!" He closed his eyes. Yeah, that was a really smart thing to say, Colin McCoire!

@Ava Winchect

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧
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Kissing Colin was remarkable. Which was something she never thought she would say. Today was a day full of surprises, it seemed. It was a soft kiss as he wrapped a hand around her waist, but she wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself.

And then she realized what she was doing. She had just insulted him, and then they have both ended up in the waters! That was not what was supposed to happen before a kiss! She pulled away, and to her surprise, found him smiling. But he was still holding on to her. Her mind was racing as she tried to figure out what had spurred her into kissing him.

Colin looked a little confused, too. But he was still smiling. Did he have feelings for her? Did she even have feelings for him?

After a moment, he proclaimed that she was a good kisser. The speech alone was so silly after a kiss…and yet it was so Colin. She blushed pink, and she saw out the corner of her eye her hair was streaked with the same color. Danged metamorphmagus abilities, always showing what she was feeling. She sighed as she figured she ought to explain herself, and she took a deep breath as she tried to line up her thoughts.

"Okay. Let’s sort this out. Did this kiss mean anything to you. Do you like me?" Ava flinched at the direct question, and waited for his answer, however long or short, before continuing. "You’re really sweet, Colin. But I just…I don’t know. I would love to be friends—but just friends." The saying ‘right person, wrong time’ crossed her mind, but Ava wasn’t willing to waste time mooning over a boy who may never want her. Maybe there was something there, but she refused to acknowledge it even if there was.

She continued on with her apology. "And I owe you an apology, both for today and for what happened…" Oh, this was going to be hard for her to do. "Ah— do you want to go dry off in the sand or something?" She owed him a long apology and explanation, and standing on a rock in the lake just didn’t feel like the appropriate space for it to happen.

@Colin McCoire . June 28 . @Emily Shephard

Colin took a deep breath and looked around a bit. What was he --- what were they supposed to do now? Ava blushed. There they were, two red apples bobbing in the lake. Wait. Colin blinked. Ava's hair --- was it always streaked pink? He was pretty sure it wasn't when he yote her into the lake just a few minutes ago.

He opened his mouth to ask.

Ava beat him to it. "Okay. Let’s sort this out. Did this kiss mean anything to you. Do you like me?" she said. Colin blinked. That was not what he had expected to hear Ava say. In fact, he was rather surprised she hadn't kneed him some place he'd rather not be kneed at all. How --- ? What --- ? Colin stared at Ava. How was he even supposed to answer that?

His mouth remained open. A perfect O of shock.

"I --- Er. Er! I mean! Y-Yeah. S-Sort it out!?" Colin looked around desperately, hoping that Liam would come to the rescue! But there was no such luck! His twin was examining some terribly interesting rock formation at the lake's edge. What a brilliant time to become interested in geology! "Um!" Colin turned back to Ava. Why was this question so hard to answer? Did she like him!? Was that why she was asking? She kissed him first, after all! It stood to reason, right?

Or, did it?

Inscrutable. That's what girls were!

Ava flinched as she asked her questions. Maybe she didn't like him? Or --- maybe she did and didn't want to say as much? And what did he even think about Ava? Apart from the whole incident that is. It was certainly true that Colin had had a crush on Ava, long ago. She had just started Hogwarts and found herself in Slytherin. Colin had noticed. But he also had a major crush on Jarael. And it wasn't like he hadn't crushed on Irina and Quinn and Bea and the other Bea and Athena. And Pea of course! And Vale! Oof.

Perhaps Ava stuck out because of the incident?

Colin realised he still had his arm around Ava's waist. He wasn't sure what to do with that, so he left it there. At last, Colin just had to say it: "O-Of course the kiss meant something! I mean! Even a quick snog in a game of spin the bottle means something! To me, anyway." Colin remembered that Ava had been present for spin the bottle in the Slytherin common room. He wondered what might have happened if they'd snogged then. He shrugged. Her second question came around to face his awareness again. Did he like her? No -- as a matter of fact, I loathe you so much I wish you had just disappeared like Thorn did. Yeah, no. There was always the darkness, trying to say its piece.

"Do I --- ? Um." Colin looked down at the water between them. It rippled in the space there. He let out a breath. "I --- I love Clair, Ava!" He pointed to the wolf and moon magically tattooed into his chest. "She has my heart." Colin sighed, his eyes wistful at the memory of Clair Fernandez. She owned his heart the way no other girl could ever! "I-I ---" he began. I don't hate you, but...

Thank God Ava took that cue to continue. "You’re really sweet, Colin. But I just…I don’t know. I would love to be friends—but just friends," she said.

Colin blushed deeply. She said he was sweet. After what he'd done? After all the threatening glares? After nearly attacking her after Clair had given him and the Ravenclowns detention? After the incident itself? She thought he was sweet? Suddenly Colin felt bad. He wished he could say the same. Their confrontation earlier hadn't gone well. Even if it had, he wasn't really prepared to call Ava "sweet". He might have said she was sweet a couple years ago, though.

Then she struck him with the words he least expected. Colin never actually wanted to have enemies. He started out at Hogwarts very mistrustful and withdrawn, playing the weirdo in part to keep people away. Of course, that hadn't stopped people like Kim and Sophia and Jarael from befriending him. Maybe, in some way, Ava was like that too. Seeing clearly, through the defenses, through the fog of mistrust and, dare Colin admit it, fear?

After all, Colin had taken on older students in one on one duels before. He fought the hag doll. Colin McCoire was no wimp. He was bold and reckless and perhaps even brave. But the one person that had actually managed to terrify him, was this beautiful girl in his arm, standing with him on a stone in the lake. And she wanted to be his friend. She began to apologise. She wanted to get off this rock and dry off.

That made sense! They'd been in the water for a while now! And as soon as they got out and stood on the little beach at the side of the lake, Colin took out his wand again. He faced Ava, dripping wet still. "Er. I won't yeet ye back into the lake, promise!" Fortunately, wands worked wet or dry! And even slightly on fire! He pointed his wand at Ava again. Softly he said: "Aer calidus." Warm air gushed from his wand and soon dried Ava off, before his started on himself.

@Ava Winchect | Binding Mark: @Clair Fernandez

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧
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Ava wasn’t sure whether she was happy or disappointed as he claimed to not have feelings. Did she want him to? Did she expect him to? She banished the thoughts from her mind, putting them in a box she mentally labeled ‘sort out later’.

They both seemed lost in thought for a moment, surprisingly him more than her. They both swam back to lakes edge, emerging from the water with clothes dripping. When he pulled out his wand again she stiffened, wondering whether she was going to end back up in the lake. And right before she was going to explain herself to him. He must have noticed, because he quickly told her he wouldn’t be tossing her back in.

She gave a sheepish smile to him as he muttered an incantation under his breath, and a stream of warm air embraced her, drying off her clothes and leaving her hair only slightly damp. As he set to drying himself, she took a deep breath and readied herself.

She took a seat at the lake’s edge, and began. "So…when we first met, I remember Thorn talking about you being a werewolf. I had already seen you and Lucian and other people forming friend groups…and honestly, I was jealous. I had no idea how to make friends, and the only person I was close with was a ravenclaw, so I was basically alone most of the time in slytherin. So…I threatened you to try and get in your friend group." she cringed at the memory and exhaled a small laugh. Saying it out loud made it feel more ridiculous than it already was. "I thought it would make me seem tough enough to be friends with…you guys. Werewolves."

She sighed. "And then it all escalated and…" a thousand memories swam through her mind, and she did her best to wall them off. She assumed he had his own memories of the…whatever it was. She wasn’t ready to think about this yet, much less talk about it. She saw her hair was changing into a multitude of colors again, pinks, reds, blues, and she focused her attention into holding off the rainbow of colors.

"I swear if you go talking about this to other people I’ll—" she cut herself off quickly and sighed again. "I like people to think that I’m tough and that I don’t care, but that’s more of a mask. A shield. That’s why I reacted how I did today. I guess it’s become more like second nature…" Her brows furrowed as she considered this. Her voice was quiet when she spoke next, just above a whisper. "I guess I keep a lot of masks, but not a lot of me."

@Colin McCoire . June 28 . @Emily Shephard

Ava didn't say anything for quite a while. She did sit down near the water's edge, though, looking out over the water. Liam shrugged. Colin shook out his long damp hair and sprawled out a couple feet away from Ava. He stretched out his arms and legs as far as they would go. The Sun felt warm and delicious on his skin! Liam sprawled out in like fashion a little ways away. Not so far away that he couldn't hear, Colin noted, but not so close that he would look like he were listening in.

Colin took a deep breath. Clearly Ava was thinking about something. Colin had noticed that about her. Even before. She always seemed to be observing. Watching. Thinking. He did appreciate that she could do this while remaining so still! Colin had to be running or fidgeting or squirming or sprawled out in order to think well.

When she did begin to speak, Colin determined to keep quiet. He'd said his bit, and she'd said hers. And they'd both cooled off in the lake. But clearly Ava had more on her mind. Girls! Colin was careful to not roll his eyes. At least not yet! You just never quite knew where you were with a girl. He hadn't seen Clair in ages. And now Ava, who hated him, was snogging him like the best of them! He shook his head ever so slightly. What was she going to do? Tell him she loved him?

"So..." she began. She launched into her story about how they all met. Her and Luci and Colin mostly, but also Thorn. There was a name Colin hadn't thought of since the incident. She was the one who gave Ava the knife. She disappeared afterwards. Colin heard rumours that she had --- somehow died. He was never really clear on how it happened. All he knew for sure was that the pair of them were sent away and only one of them ever came back.

"I was jealous," Ava was saying. Colin blinked, surprised. He turned his head to face Ava, but held his tongue. How could she be jealous? Who could Ava be jealous of? She tried threatening them --- to look tough? Colin's lips formed a little round o of confusion! She just wanted to seem tough enough to be friends with the werewolves!?

Colin was truly confused, and his face must have shown it. His finger absently traced one of the scars across his bare chest. Up to the point where it touched his heart shaped birthmark. His gaze shifted from the blue sky back towards Ava. His eyes opened wide! His jaw fell. "Ava! Your hair it's ---" He was going to comment on her hair! It was red! And now blue! He could have sworn it was pink before!

"I swear if you go talking about this to other people I’ll—" she started. Her eyes flashed! Anger? Worry? Colin wasn't sure. He only knew of one other metamorph, and she was Slytherin too! Whatever the worry was, it drained from her face. She admitted she was only pretending to be tough. That she had to hide her true self. Her voice lowered to a whisper. Colin could scarcely think of what to say. "I guess I keep a lot of masks, but not a lot of me."

Colin's heart sank. This really wasn't what he was expecting at all. He sat up to face Ava. There was nothing for it but the truth. Colin licked his lips. "I- I get it Ava." She sighed. "In first year, I was hiding myself a lot. I reckon most kids by now just think I'm weird. But I was just hiding the wolf. Maybe --- maybe if they saw me running outside and playing all the time, they wouldn't notice that I was trying to hunt. Liam wasn't changed yet. I'd only had lycanthropy a few months. I didn't really know what to do. I was hungry all the time, Ava. And I needed to pounce on things! So... I ran outside as much as I could! And --- sometimes --- I'd pounce on a squirrel or a field mouse. And, well." Colin hung his head. This was something only Liam knew for certain. "Let's just say mice aren't really the tastiest snacks. Even after they've been incendioed. If you catch my meaning." He kind of hoped she wouldn't. Admitting to eating raw mice was surely not a good way to repair or forge a friendship. Most kids would feign illness and never talk to him again, he was sure.

"If everyone just thought I was weird, then, well, that could explain all the wolfy things I do, and they would never have to know the truth. To be honest with you, Ava, I was so afraid that someone from the Ministry would come swooping in and yank me off to Azkaban! I would have fought! But what could I have done against a grown up wizard? I reckon I wore a mask too."

Colin paused for a while, thinking over what Ava had said. He could see how he had hurt her. It wasn't out of malice. "We didn't know what you were up to. That, somehow, you just wanted to be our friend. Back then, even now, I know Luci doesn't want to reveal himself. I'm not ready to just tell everyone, but ---" Colin spread his arms wide, showing off his scars "--- I'm also no longer afraid to tell people. Maybe today is different somehow? I don't know how it works, but." Colin glanced over towards Liam. His twin nodded curtly, as if giving permission. "But, after what just happened, my heart says I can trust you Ava."

Colin let out a long breath.

He'd said what had been on his mind for such a long time. It felt like a burden had been dropped. Liam had told him it would, after all!

He smiled at Ava, showing her his left side fangs. "I won't tell anyone you're a metamorph. You're not the only one I know, too! So." Colin wondered: were they going to try to be friends? Were they going to have another row? "What do we do now? Um." Colin stared into Ava's eyes. "Would you like to snog again? I really liked that!"

Colin heard a barely contained wheeze of laughter from behind. He began to blush again. He just hoped Liam would keep his yap shut!

@Ava Winchect

୨⎯ Swimming Lesson for a Water Snake ⎯୧
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Ava couldn’t help but think that this was the longest Colin had ever kept quiet. She felt bad for thinking it, but she knew it was probably true. Despite that, he was an intent listener, one of the best she had the misfortune of spilling her secrets to. It seemed her habit of confiding in Ravenclaw’s had come to an end.

White blond hair twisted around a face she never thought she would confide with, a slight halo of sun twinkling as he sat up in the grass. Lips she had just kissed formed confessions she never thought she would hear. The glittering sun reflected off the glassy surface of the lake, stretching the moment of shared secrets into a forming bond.

Ava listened intently, her eyes focused keenly on his own. It wasn’t as if she had never tried to put herself in his shoes, but his words that formed sentences that formed secrets explained what she couldn’t have understood on her own imagination. He had already explained that his first turning had been painful, and the full moons following it weren’t much better, but she hadn’t expected that even the times between the moon was painful.

At the almost silly confession of his fears of being sent to Azkaban, she almost smiled. Almost. Her own shared fears were not related nor funny. But…maybe she understood more than others could. Among the population of students at Hogwarts, she wondered how many had similar fears.

Colin opened his arms, showcasing the raised skin and scar tissue of traumas long gone but never forgotten. He opened his heart, showcasing kindness and secrets she had never predicted she would find in her old sort-of-enemy. “I…trust you too.” she finally decided, after a short moment of debating and a long moment of choosing her words.

The cleared air between them and the spilled secrets made the sun seem that much warmer, the sky seem that much brighter and her heart feel that much lighter. She had kept these secrets for so long, from him and from herself.

“I’ll keep your secret, too.” she agreed, her words only moment before his request. It seemed neither of them knew what their new relation would be, and the laughter from his brother didn’t seem far off from her own reaction in her head. She paused, eyes wide as pink overtook her hair, the color broadcasting her embarrassment. Come to think of it, the shade was almost identical to the color his cheeks were turning.

She grabbed at her hair as she searched for an answer. “Errrr,” she drew out the word for a long moment, trying to find a non-embarrassing way to reject him. “don’t you…have a girlfriend?” her words dropped to a whisper as her eyes comically searched the grounds for some spy that would rat Colin out and cause Clair to get mad at the both of them.

@Colin McCoire . June 28

Who knew what could possibly be going in the head of a girl? Clair was often unreadable. Even when their Binding Mark was open. Ma --- Colin still didn't understand her. Even his sisters thought strange thoughts. Big Aoife, Little Aoife. Even Ciarán, who was closest in age to Colin. And now here was Ava. She had obviously hated him. And now she'd kissed him. And now they were sharing their deepest secrets.

He'd said some things he hadn't even told Clair.

Colin sighed as Ava looked him over. What was she thinking? Colin wouldn't have minded another kiss! He reckoned she was either planning some mischief or, dare he even think it? When she spoke at last, it wasn't what he was expecting. At all.

"I...trust you too."

Simple words. If telling Ava of his own fears and his own secrets had felt like a burden lifted, then her statement of trust felt like the vanishing of those burdens. As if they were never there. Colin smiled. Properly. All four fangs this time! When Colin asked Ava to kiss again, she seemed surprised. He laughed at her response. “Errrr. Don’t you…have a girlfriend?”

"Aye Cailean!" came his brother's voice. Of course, Liam didn't shut his yap! "Unless ye've forgotten already, her name is CLAIR! Honestly, both of you have been moping around the last while!" Liam wasn't wrong, of course. Today was the first day in a long while that Colin's heart had actually felt light. Perhaps this chance meeting with Ava was simply something that needed to happen? He'd never wanted to be Ava's enemy. It was clear, now, that Ava never wanted to be his.

Colin sighed.

"It's kind of queer," he said. "How this just happened, isn't it?" Colin knew it would require some thought. "I mean. It's not like we never see each other in the common room, right? It's like, this just had to happen here, as far away from the castle as we can be!" Colin didn't know what this encounter would lead to, but he felt pretty sure it wouldn't lead to any further strife.

It was now a time for healing.

@Ava Winchect

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"Honestly, both of you have been moping around the last while!" She heard from his brother, causing another pink flush to creep up her neck. She tossed a grin to him, the cogs in her brain turn as she searched for a response.

"He’s just mad he’s not intelligent enough to mope," Ava whispered to Colin, the sparkle in her eyes denoting the words as a clever joke. She knew he was intelligent, as one had to be to be in the house of the ravens. It was easy to underestimate the duo, although she wasn’t sure whether that was by intention or not. Either way, she had experienced many moments where their reputation gifted them the upper hand.

"It's kind of queer. How this just happened, isn't it?" She heard him say from her side as she dipped her head in agreement. It really had just happened, and how unexpected it had been. She had never expected that when they made up, it would be like this.

She had thought often on the possibility of reconciliation, but never about kissing in the lake! Was it kissing? Or did he think it was snogging? Did she have feelings for him?

HE HAS A GIRLFRIEND!! she told the thoughts, banishing them from her mind.

She sun cast golden rays around them as she shook her head. I used to think love would be black and white… but it’s golden.

"It had happen here," she echoed, glancing back and forth from him and the water. It had to happen away from all the bad memories in the dorms, corridors and classrooms.

She slowly stood up from the grass, swiping off the bits and pieces of nature from her clothes.

"Wanna head back?" She tilted her head toward the castle. They had been outside long enough, and she didn’t need to stir up rumors that she had drowned him in the lake.

@Colin McCoire . June 28