Crash Landing PV Claire Lewis and Colin McCoire Completed

Interacting with: @Claire Lewis and @Colin McCoire Mentioning: N/A Date: 01/14/25

Word Count: 214

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Avery had finally made it. Relief flooded her insides as she finally laid down on the bed. Waiting for her turn. Suddenly, an older boy with pale blond hair ran up to Claire and Avery and introduced himself as Colin. Avery smiled at him, but didn't say anything as she listened to him speak. "Yeah. I'm Avery." Avery said. Confusion crept across her face. She didn't even know that Polyjuice Potions were allowed to be used at Hogwarts. Avery sighed then began to tell her tale, "Well, I was doing some extra Quidditch practice since I will be joining the team soon, and I was so focused on trying to catch the snitch that I didn't realize there was a wall in front of me. I quickly swerved to miss the wall, lost balance, and fell off my broom. I think I blacked out somewhere between free falling and hitting the ground since I can't remember hitting the ground. Then I woke up, and tried walking here until I fell. Claire helped me get here." Avery motioned to the girl in the chair next to her. Avery answered no to all the questions asked by Colin. She had been relatively healthy as a child minus the flu she had when she was really little.

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Tuesday
January 14th, 2025

Claire was becoming accustomed to strangeness. She'd been at Hogwarts for months now, after all. Moving staircases? Sure. Ghosts? Fair enough. Moving people inside paintings? Naturally.

But there was something about the healer boy in front of them that made Claire want to question everything she knew about everything. The burning quill was the first big surprise, and Claire just watched the apparently harmless flame for a few seconds, wondering why no one else had sorted it out for Colin.

Then other words began flowing from the boy's mouth. Polyjuicing, dragonpox, mumblewumps, and then he asked Avery if she had mange. Claire was almost offended on Avery's behalf, but she didn't look to be reacting to such strange questions, so Claire assumed these questions were standard for people who had grown up as witches and wizards.

Claire was still staring at the burning quill when Avery told her story and told Colin Claire's name. Claire just offered a small wave.

"I'm Claire Lewis," she said awkwardly.

"Do people... do they often come in with the mange? Or vanish?" Claire asked, looking concerned. "And - and dandruff? Is that a big deal for magical folk? Muggles just have to use a special shampoo..."

Claire was feeling completely out of her element. This was her first experience in the magical equivalent to a hospital, and nothing seemed to make sense.

Colin dutifully wrote out everything Avery said, and made note of Claire's name on the parchment before him. He listened raptly as the Gryffindor told her story. "Pfft! Quidditch! That explains it! Me, I'm a broom racer! Ye get used to breaking bones and bleeding and being burnt and stuff when you're on the race course! And I reckon quidditch can be pretty brutal too."

Colin noted that Avery said she had blacked out when she fell. "Hmm. Blacked out eh? Yeah. That happens. I can't remember how many times I've smacked right into a tree! In fact, we were racing Hufflepuff once, and both teams got eaten by a whole forest! It wasn't there, and then it was! A whole forest. We all ended up smacking into trees that day! Do you have any brains leaking out, Avery? I reckon it can't be too bad if Nurse Bessie has checked you out. Anyway, you'll likely take more than one bludger to the head if you get on the team! Say! Do you ever play unofficial games?" Colin counted off on his fingers: "I know we've got clubs that do unofficial racing and duels and quidditch too!" He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper: "We even played a game of creothceann earlier this year! No one ended up dead, though! You should totally check those out, once we get you fixed up here!"

Avery answered all of Colin's questions. But it was Claire who seemed somewhat suspicious. "Do people ... to they often come in with mange? Or vanish?" she asked. Colin nodded sympathetically. It was a reasonable question for a first year to ask!

"Yeah." Colin shook his head slowly. "Kids come in with all kinds of problems! I've never had mange myself, but I did have to have the contents of my cauldron cleaned out of my hair once!" Colin looked away suddenly. "Well --- more than once, really. Honestly, there's just nothing worse than having burnt flobberworm jelly stuck to your hair! But learning scourgify really helped with that! And kids vanishing --- yeah..." Colin's voice trailed off as he thought about the list of all his vanished friends. "Sometimes it's just temporary, right? Sometimes --- well, let's just say we hope they'll all show up again some day!" He gave Claire a reassuring smile. Hopefully she wouldn't become too worried. He didn't mention anything about hearing random voices and sounds down in the Slytherin dungeons that he was sure were the cries of missing kids. Plenty of time for her find that out on her own!

Claire asked about dandruff next. "Sham poo?" Colin's brows furrowed. Colin scanned through the questions he had to ask. "Sham poo. Is that a Muggle disease?" He scratched his head thoughtfully. "I don't think I've ever heard of that one! I'll have to ask me Muggle Studies professor about sham poo disease. It sounds very uncomfortable. Are you a Muggleborn by any chance, Claire? Me last girlfriend was a Muggleborn. She lives in America now. She knew a lot about Muggles! But she never mentioned anything about sham poo."

Colin turned back to the parchment on the clip board. The flame on his quill danced merrily as the instrument scritched across the surface. Colin reckoned he had everything filled out. "Wait. Oh! Which leg did you break? That'll be important to know for fixing it! And also: did you break anything else? Like your spleen or your knee caps or your liver? Also! Did you check to make sure your wand is okay? Can't be a proper witch with a broken wand you know!"

@Avery Gray | @Claire Lewis | @Brookline Quinn

Interacting with: @Claire Lewis and @Colin McCoire Mentioning: N/A Date: 01/14/25

Word Count: 227

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Avery burst out in laughter when Colin said sham poo. She had never heard someone pronounce it like that, and it was funny enough to make her forget about the pain in her leg for a second. She could understand his confusion, though. As a pureblood, she probably would have never know about shampoo if it wasn't for her old muggle friend. Wow. She really missed her. "Shampoo is a type of muggle product that helps clean their hair. It's the equivalent of using scourgify. At least, that's what an old friend of mine said. She was a muggle." Avery said. She thought it quite funny that muggles used shampoo to wash themselves when she first saw a bottle of it at a store. Avery couldn't hold in her laughter about this. It was just too funny. It was also nice to have a break from the pain, and actually think about something more fun! "Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do the unofficial matches yet. I didn't really even think about joining. I was so focused on practicing enough to be good enough for the team, that I didn't even realize that it was a thing until recently." Avery responded. "As far as I know, I'm just badly bruised, and my left leg may be broken. That's what I'm guessing with the pain anyways." Avery responded.

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Tuesday
January 14th, 2025

Eaten by a whole forest? Brains leaking out? Claire watched Colin with wide-eyed astonishment. He was either quite mad, or the most brilliant, astute person she'd ever met, and he seemed to be the type of person that would make figuring out which of those two he was utterly impossible.

"Shampoo prevents muggles diseases, I imagine," Claire said slowly, hoping that she wasn't spreading misinformation. She knew being clean prevented disease, but were diseases of the hair common? She'd never heard of any, but she wasn't an expert on the matter. "It's also quite relaxing, after a long day. Making the water in the bath hot enough to burn and lathering your scalp with shampoo. I - I'd assumed wizards had the same thing, but if you don't, you have to try it. I have, I think, six different shampoos and four different conditioners in my dorm. You two could borrow them some time, if you like."

Realizing she hadn't quite answered Colin's question, Claire blushed lightly and shook her head.

"And yes, I am a muggleborn. I think? My dad is a muggle. My mum's a witch, though. She went to Hogwarts before I was born," Claire recounted, pursing her lips in annoyance at the thought of her birth-giver, as she'd taken to sarcastically referring to her mom in her head. "So, maybe I'd be witch-born? I don't know what label I'd be, to be honest."

Claire was relieved when Avery brought the topic back to quidditch and her injury.

"I went to my first game back in October. It was surprising, after attending muggle school, to see students in a contact sport like that. Fouls during football back home were rough enough, but a high-speed bludger? It's insanity," Alice said, smiling at Avery. "What position d'you think you'd be interested in? There're four, right?"

Interacting with: @Claire Lewis and @Colin McCoire Mentioning: N/A Date: 01/14/25

Word Count: 220

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Avery nodded her head. Shampoo preventing disease made sense to her. Though she had never tried it, she always remembered her muggle friend complaining about which one of her 20 different shampoos to use! It was very baffling to her, so she didn't pay much mind to those conversations. Now she regretted that. Ignoring that was another thing that Avery shouldn't have done. After her friend had died, she realized how many things they had actually said they would do together, but couldn't now. "If your mother is a witch and your father is a muggle, then you should be a halfblood. Usually students with a magical parent and non-magical parent get labeled this. Though, I'm a pureblood, but from the age of three to eleven, I was living similar to a muggle, but I'm still a pureblood." Avery explained. Hoping that what she had said made sense. The bloodlines could get a bit messy. "Yeah. Quidditch is a pretty fun sport. I love the high speeds, and the constant avoidance of danger. It's a lot of fun, actually. And, yeah, there's four positions. Once I get accepted onto the team, I hope to become the Seeker. Searching for that little golden ball seems like a lot more fun than risking getting the quaffle with bludgers flying around." Avery explained.

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Colin blushed slightly. Claire had been watching him intently. And then both girls began explaining what this sham poo stuff was supposed to be. Avery said is was like scourgify. Claire said it prevented diseases and was also relaxing. "So. Er. You sit in sham poo to relax? Hmm. Must be like a flea dip..." Colin blushed again. He'd been teased numerous times about needing a good flea dip. Maybe they were referring to sham poo? His expression turned thoughtful.

"But! Wh-why would Muggles sit in anything made with poo? That's what doesn't make sense to me. I mean! Anything with poo in it doesn't sound like it would prevent disease?" Colin shook his head. Muggles truly were bizarre! Claire said he should try it. And that she had six different kinds of Muggle poo in her dorm. Colin blinked in astonishment. "Six ---? So there's more kinds than just sham poo? How many kinds of poo do Muggles need anyway! That sounds sus!"

The girls talked about blood status and quidditch while Colin went over the parchment again. Nurse Bessie had indicated that the bones needed fixing and the bruises need ointment. Finally! Back to sensible and easy to understand magic! "Right! Hang about!" Colin said as he stood up on the chair, then hopped down. He skipped over towards the cabinet where the various ointments and healing potions were kept, his pale hair bouncing all the while.

When he got back, he hopped back onto the chair, and then stepped across the gap, standing on the cot itself. "Right! We'll have you fixed in a jiffy, Avery!" Colin smiled. "All without anything made with poo, Claire!" Colin declared confidently. Mind you, this bruise removal paste is made with flobber worm mucus, and that stuff tastes pretty nasty, I can tell you!" Colin opened the jar of paste and sniffed delicately at it. Good stuff, flobber worm mucus. Colin smiled. "I was in hospital twice me first year after potions disasters involving exploding flobber worm mucus! That stuff was a pain to get out of me hair. I wonder if Muggle poo would have worked on that?"

Colin shrugged as he crouched down on the cot. "First! Some fracture fixation!" Colin stuck his left hand up his right sleeve and withdrew Naur-an-Edraith, his trusty ten inches of hawthorn and unicorn, from its sheath strapped to his arm. It was about as scarred as the arm that wielded it. "So! This won't hurt nearly as bad as breaking it in the first place!" Colin nodded. "You might feel just a wee bit of pain as the broken ends of your bones shift around inside! And! Your leg will feel warm and then cool off, but then the pain will go away!"

Colin cleared his throat and with a deft circular motion of his wand said: "Episkey!" Satisfied that the magic had worked, he reached for the jar of bruise removal paste and with a now long practiced technique, slathered that on Avery's leg. "Owoooo!" Colin howled as he stood up on the cot then hopped back over to the chair where he crouched down again. "Mischief managed and another victory for healing magic! You'll be sore for a bit, Avery, so Nurse Bessie wants you to rest here for a while. I'll check on you in a bit!"

There was nothing quite like the feeling of actually accomplishing something! And with magic! Colin hopped off the chair and skipped over to the huge nurse's desk where could check on what he had to do next. He'd leave Avery and Claire be for a while. At least they had each other's company while they were here!

@Avery Gray | @Claire Lewis | @Brookline Quinn

Tuesday
January 14th, 2025

Claire began to speak, but the words died on her lips. She opened her mouth again, but closed it, tilting her head in confusion. She wanted to laugh incredulously at his use of the word "sus," but she also felt the sudden urge to blush and stammer at his misconception regarding shampoo.

"There - there's only one sort of shampoo. It's - it's only one word. It's like a sort of-" she trailed off, trying to think of something Colin would recognize. "It's a type of soap, for cleaning. But you lather it gently into your hair to clean it. Then, you can add conditioner to leave the hair silky and smooth. It's not actually poo. I think it's made from animal fats or something, unless my dad was only trying to gross me out. I have one in my dorm... it could tame that hair of yours, if you're interested."

Claire's eyes were on the peculiar boy as he began preparing his treatment for Avery's broken leg, but she quickly looked away, not wanting to be caught staring.

"How'd you live as a muggle if you're a pureblood?" Claire asked Avery, her eyes darting briefly back to Colin. "I - I'm beginning to get the feeling that most purebloods are a... unique sort."

She looked back at Avery, hoping she didn't sound rude in her comment. She'd meant it as an observation, not an insult.

"Have you ever been smashed by a bludger? I saw my first quidditch match last Fall, and I reckon I'd pee myself if I had one of those coming for me," Claire said, shivering slightly at the mental image of a bludger closing in on her. "But I'd like to play, too. Maybe if I can make the team next year, we could even play against each other! I think I'd prefer to be a chaser, though. I don't know that my eyes are keen enough to be a seeker."

Interacting with: @Claire Lewis and @Colin McCoire Mentioning: N/A Date: 01/14/25

Word Count: 350

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Avery tried and almost failed to contain her laughter. She had never heard anyone refer to shampoo as actually muggle poo. She hadn't ever realized before that it could be similar to flea baths. She had never had one herself, but she had heard they weren't the most fun thing in the world. Avery nodded her head when Colin said it would only heart a little. She braced herself and winced slightly as the bone knitted back together in her leg. It was feeling much better. Then he slathered on some kind of paste on her leg. When he said she would be sore, and that nurse Bessie wanted her to stay for awhile longer, she nodded in understanding. She watched as he walked away to nurse Bessie's desk. Then she turned her attention back to Claire when Claire asked how she lived as a muggle if she was a pureblood. Avery sighed deeply before saying, "Well, it all started with my mom. When I was three, she forced us to move to London because of some thing in her job. Ever since then, I've had to live and act like a muggle outside of my house. My parents said it was to "fit in" more, but it was terrible. Before my muggle friend died, I couldn't even tell her who I really was." Avery sighed as rubbed her face. She wished that they had never moved. All she wanted to do was go home to her family in Wales again. She missed them dearly, and couldn't wait to see them this summer. But since it was only winter, summer felt so far away. Almost unreachable. "Luckily, I haven't been hit by a bludger, yet. During my solo practices I've done, I haven't really focused on bludgers. I've mainly focused on catching the snitch, since that will be my job. That's really cool that you might play! Though we will be on different teams and different positions, I will still cheer you on. You did save me, so it's the least I can do. Maybe we can practice together sometime?"

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Colin hopped up onto the chair and then crouched down onto it. He draped his body over the small desk dramatically as he read over the parchment for the three hundred and thirty third time. He wanted to make sure he'd done everything right of course! Avery and Claire were talking about bludgers. He'd never been smacked by a bludger; but he reckoned it wouldn't be much different than being smacked by a large rock or a tree. Colin nodded. "Aye. I've not been smacked by a bludger either. But I reckon it's no different than someone throwing a tree at you."

"Right!" he said. "If you two really are up for quidditch, then I reckon ye'll become very familiar with this place!" Colin looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he smiled, thinking back at all the times he'd been in here himself. "Ye might want to practice yer levitation charms, too! That way, one of you can carry the other and ye won't have to be a human crutch!"

Colin had done everything Nurse Bessie ordered for Avery, and the lass seemed like she was quite ready to go on with her day. "Right! So, Nurse Bessie says ye're good as snow, Avery! You can go whenever ye're ready! Oh! Try to avoid flying in to walls, trees or castles for the next twenty four hours; and make sure not to drink any random potions. Oh! Also! Make sure you go over your broom after every collision, checking for splinters, breaks, misplaced bristles and any signs of hexes or curses or birds nests. Also! Pigeon poop can seriously affect the flying characteristics of a broom!" Colin shook his head at the memory of being slathered with pigeon poop. "Scourgify is such a blessing in those moments!"

"This was fun!" Colin said, somewhat randomly. For him, getting hurt and being healed were much the same: another experience to be faced and savoured with one hundred percent excitement! He stuck his left hand up his right sleeve against and slid his wand out of its holster. With a deft flick and swish, Colin cast the levitation charm on the parchment. "Wingardium leviosa! Right. I'll just float that over to Nurse's desk and we'll be done!"

When at last the parchment landed safely on the stack of other hospital wing case reports, Colin slid off the chair. "Time for me to fly! Was nice meeting you danger noodles! And now I've got to go find out about all this sham poo!" Colin threw his arms in the air. "To the Library!" And snatching up his satchel, he turned and skipped out of the Hospital Wing. Once outside, Liam threw his arm around Colin. His twin had been waiting for him, and they took off at a full run.

"OWOOOOO!!!"

As they skidded towards the corner, those two annoying first year sisters were talking together. Sus. "Wotcha Gryffindorque!" Liam called out.

"Comin through, Ravenclown!" Colin replied.

They boys slipped between Meyra and Jun, ruffled their hair playfully and continued on their way pell mell! Not for the first time, Colin felt that there was something familiar about these danger noodles. He shrugged. And as the chaos twins disappeared around the corner and down the stairs, a sense of tranquility and calm returned to the Hospital Wing and its corridor.

@Avery Gray | @Claire Lewis | @Brookline Quinn | @Meyra Lancaster | @Jun Mayumi Mochizuki