What happened to you? PV Closed

6 October 2024

The day had dawned chill and grey. Colin and Liam had been out since the early hours, climbing trees in the Forest and chasing each other around like mad things. They laughed merrily as they wrestled and messed about. The summer had been hard on the twins. One of their little sisters had been turned, and she was still in St. Mungos. And a brother lay dead. Of course, it would be Alex and Angus who laid the blame on Colin. And it was largely their doing that got Colin exiled to Ottery St. Catchpole to live with the elder Aoife for much of the summer. Out of all his brothers and sisters, it was her who took him in and she had taken a great interest in what was going on in his life. Plus, she was an auror, which naturally caught Colin's attention.

Colin smiled. His eyes defocused. Meeting Lark had helped him greatly through the summer as well. Such a good snogger! Sometimes they'd just stand in the middle of the park kissing for what seemed like --- "OOF!"

Liam charged into Colin, disrupting his summer reverie! Colin now found himself flat on his back and Liam pinning him down. "I win! Again! You've got that look in yer eyes, Cailean! Clair! Or Lark! Or Della! Or June! Or Em--- Or Whoever It Is You're Crushing On This Week!" Liam laughed. Liam thumped Colin's chest playfully. "I've got --- a project --- to work on! See ye later!"

And with that, Liam was up and loping off towards the castle.

Colin remained lying on his back for a moment. Wait. How did Liam know he had a crush on the Gryffindorque? He got up, shook his head like a dog. Mind reset, Colin decided to head down towards the lake and maybe do some reading. He snatched up his satchel and headed in that direction.

His bare feet guided him unerringly towards the hang-out tree. It was one place in all Hogwarts that was still pure. Nothing bad ever happened here. Only meetings and hanging out with friends. As he silently approached, he noticed someone was already there. A familiar someone! His eyes were glued to a book and his jacket had slid off his shoulder.

It wasn't the boy's jacket that caught Colin's attention. He raised his left eyebrow. He crouched down and drew his wand. Not to cast a spell or anything, but rather to shift Keith's jacket a bit. He wanted a better look at his friend's shoulder. What had caught his eyes looked familiar, though there were numerous ways one could be so afflicted.

"Oi," he said softly, trying to get Keith's attention. "Must be a really good book?" he asked. He poked the scar. Must be magical, Colin thought. Spell gone wrong? Weird potions accident? Got into a fight with a diricawl? Colin lowered his eyes briefly. There were --- other things --- that could give one such scars. The new scar on his own neck attested to that, as did the scars he wore proudly on his chest, and much of the rest of him.

He didn't want to pry, but Colin really did want to know what had happened to Keith! "You okay mate?" Honestly, Keith looked like he hadn't slept in a month! He just looked --- off, in some way that Colin couldn't put his finger on.

@Keith Moore

Reading brought Keith to a whole new world, one where it was just him. The rest of the real world gone and made up in his mind. Which probably wasn't smart, he should be alert at all times. He knew that, but if he could get his mind off the terrors of the summer then he'd do so. The book was getting interesting anyway, the main characters talking out an argument and kissing at the end.

Keith hadn't heard Colin walk up to the tree. Nor did he feel the wand near his skin. It wasn't until Colin spoke that Keith realized he was there. Keith turned to him, his widening slightly. He noticed his friend looking at his shoulder and frowned, pulling his jacket to cover it.

Keith stared at him for a long moment then nodded. "It was a good book. I guess." He said in a quieter voice. "Why is he here? Did he see my shoulder? Is he gonna ask? I'm not ready to tell him. I'm not ready to tell anyone why is-"

Was he okay? Is that what Colin had asked? Keith hesitated. It was now or never and he knew that. He knew if he lied it'd get him nowhere. Colin had a way of figuring things out. Keith looked at his friend, his best friend. Colin had been honest when they met and told Keith immediately he was a werewolf. Why was it so hard for Keith to tell people now?

"I-" He looked his friend in the eyes for a moment before shutting his book and setting it down. This shouldn't be this difficult. Colin wouldn't be angry with him, or treat him like a hurt baby.

"No I'm not okay" he whispered. He knew questions would be next and he was prepared for them, He thought.

Wc: -306- Interacting with: @Colin McCoire Mentioning: @

Keith was silent for a good while. Unlike him. He also seemed --- subdued --- in some way. Also unlike him. And then there were the scars on his shoulder. Colin wondered. Still Keith was silent. It really couldn't be that bad, could it? It wasn't like he would be upset or angry or anything. Why would he? Unless he did it to himself merely to impress people. That would be daft.

And at last Keith did speak. Words Colin wasn't expecting to hear. "No I'm not okay." Whoa. Colin looked about to see if anyone else was around. This sounded serious. Probably no diricawls involved. Colin rocked back on his heels, looking down. It was an odd choice of words, really. Colin knew that if it were him, he'd be keen on telling the story! Oh, this one? I got this one from a lightning strike in a duel! Because Colin knew that scars were total girl magnets!

His toes dug into the grass. He had to know! Was he being attacked some dark wizards? Was he in danger? Colin straightened up. He resolved to sort this out with his friend. "Right. Okay. You're not okay. What happened? Are ---" Colin looked around again. You just never knew when some dark creature would leap out from the forest and attack Hogwarts! "Are you being attacked? Did you get in a tangle with a w---?"

No. He didn't want to go there. "What kind of dark creature was it? Where did it happen? Wait. When did it happen?" Colin was full of questions. He absently traced the line of one of his own scars. The one along his collar bone. He expression softened. Surely if Keith had tangled with a swooping evil or something he'd be keen to recount the tale. But really only one such encounter carried the stigma of curse.

"It's okay lad. Tell me," he practically whispered.

He didn't want to say the word himself. Perhaps Keith would just deny it speak no more of it. Best to let him tell his story and just hear him out. Colin thought back to first year. He didn't want to tell anyone either, that he had lycanthropy. Only those he trusted. Like Keith himself. Colin waited. If Keith trusted him, then he would speak. If not, then Colin would think no differently of him. Either way, he'd keep watch over his friend. He'd have the boy's back regardless.

@Keith Moore

Watching the boy in front of him, Keith rubbed his eyes. Tired as he was he needed to focus and tell Colin what had happened. Just breath Keith. Colin seems to understand quite fast. Something happened, he did guess right. Let him settle down before you start talking. You can do this, it's just Colin.

He watched as his friend continued talking, asking more questions than Keith would remember to answer. He really was concerned, or so Keith thought judging by the way his friend was spewing out questions and looking around for people who could overhear. He was glad the boy wasn't yelling yet, and that no one would overhear their conversation.

Colin was tracing his own scars which made Keith notice them more. He didn't comment on them of course, but Keith realized he shouldn't be hiding his as if they were a hideous thing. Colin didn't, why did Keith? So he decided to let the sleeve fall off his shoulders again.

"Over the summer. That's the when." Keith started, his voice shaky. He took another deep breath, "I um.. I'm like you.. now. It happened in a forest, while me and my aunts were out camping. I took a midnight walk and... forgot my wand. And I was bitten. I don't remember much."

That was a damn lie. He had nightmares every night about what happened in that forest. Every detail was engraved in his brain and he couldn't seem to get it out.

He hoped his buddy didn't notice the lie about forgetting details. Keith knew he couldn't say much without people getting in trouble so instead he stayed quiet, staring at his friend.

Wc: -278- Interacting with: @Colin McCoire Mentioning: @

Reducio

OOC- sorry it's shorter, sick and doing too much

At last Keith began his tale.

Colin sat still and listened.

Most kids thought Colin was only this ball of energy, unable to focus, having the long term memory of a short term memory deficient goldfish. But it wasn't true. Not really. Quite a lot of it had simply been a show. Not to say that Colin wasn't naturally hyper, for he was really very energetic. But it had come to be a way to hide certain aspects of himself.

As Keith's story unfolded, things became clearer to Colin.

He spoke of events last summer. There was a camping trip. In the forest. There was a wolf. His aunts. He'd gone for a walk. Full moon. There was a wolf. There was pain. There were claws and fangs. Not huge, but sufficient to the task. Colin's heart sank. He realised in that moment how precious Keith really was. Like. As a person. A friend. That night last summer. That could have been Keith's last. Colin's mind raced. This day, the sixth of October 2024, could have been very different for Colin. He could have been here by the lake remembering all the times he and Keith had hung out here.

But for the wolf.

And now.

They were brothers.

"I um.. I'm like you.. now," Keith said. Colin's eyes searched Keith's. He said he didn't remember much. Colin thought that was odd. He remembered every detail. Every action. Every scratch. Every bite. He looked at Keith's arm and shoulder. His hand absently reached into his own shirt, tracing the old scars. In his mind he could still remember the young wolf leaping. He and Liam fighting back. He defending Liam and Ciarán, taking the brunt of the attack. He was the elder brother. Even if older than Liam by three whole seconds! Of course he had to stand between them and danger. It was his duty.

Colin smirked.

He knew there was more to the story. He looked down at the grass. How it rocked in the gentle breeze. It ruffled his hair. He reckoned Keith might not be ready to say more. "We all keep our secrets, mate." Colin's words were barely above a whisper. He remembered his Uncle Moray saying those words to him a long time ago.

"It's so hard, mate. Being a wolf." Colin's voice was low. "You don't have to tell me everything." Colin shifted his position to sit next to Keith. He put his arm around his friend's shoulder. "Have you transformed yet? It really sucks doing it here at school," he whispered. "But ye'll get used to it. Any time you can get away from school during full moon --- just go! Christmas, Easter, Summer. Exeat weekends. Doesn't matter. Just go somewhere you can be free!"

Colin thought about all the times he'd spent locked up in the Shrieking Shack. Like a monster. "But when ye're here, you won't be alone at least. There's others. We can kip in together if you like. The first few times are the worst. You know. Until you get your things sorted, knowing what to bring with you and what to leave in your dorm. But. It'll be okay Keith. I promise."

@Keith Moore

Watching as Colin settled down, Keith began his tale. How he become this creature and leaving out most of the story. He knew he had to, he couldn't risk saying who turned him. Not when the who remind led him so much of his little Carla that it hurt.

Sometimes when he dreamed he'd see Carla instead of the girl who changed him, seeing her in his dreams again and in such a horrific way.

He shook his head at the thought and looked back at Colin.

]ust as he thought, Colin didn't push for more of the story. But his words struck something in Keith that made him want to cry.

Feeling his mate's arm around him Keith leaned on his friend. It was the first time in a long time he felt the need to be comforted. And here Colin was being exactly what Keith needed. A friend. A brother.

He hadn't known he needed it till Colin started talking more, giving Keith advice. When asked if he's transformed at school yet he nodded and mumbled "it does suck"

Keith reached up to wipe his eyes, "I haven't went home since September.. I don't want to. What if I forget to take wolfsbane and hurt my aunts Colin? What if I hurt someone?" Keith whispered, wiping his eyes again.

He was scared of himself, knowing how forgetful he was and how he seemed to be taking care of himself less and less.

"I miss them but I'm so scared I'll hurt them... I'm scared here too."

Keith kept wiping his eyes before tears could fall, but his voice was breaking. And Keith felt like a scared child again, like when his parents used to argue. He wanted to hide and wait it out like he used to, only "there is no waiting this out. You're a wolf forever"

Wc: -310- Interacting with: @Colin McCoire Mentioning: @

OOC- Tears and troubles lol

"It does suck," Keith said. Keith seemed to be overwhelmed. He didn't want to go home, for fear that he might hurt someone dear to him. He didn't feel much better here either. But, Colin knew that you were where you were and there was no sense being afraid in either place. It wasn't the first time he'd thought about it. He reckoned he was probably the oldest student werewolf at Hogwarts. Well, he and Liam. Maybe he should get all the younger ones together...

"There are so many things you just kind of had to learn on your own, Keith," he began. "Sure, Nurse makes sure you got your potion during the week before transformation, but . . . there just isn't anyone to help with all the questions. You know. The practical stuff. Even the library is practically useless. Most of the books are out dated --- either information from before there even was wolfsbane --- or they don't tell you what you really need to know."

He tightened his embrace of Keith slightly. "Listen. Like I said, it's going to be okay. You won't forget to take your potion. Ever." He turned his head to look Keith in the eyes. "You won't hurt yer folks either. I mean. Nurse will make sure you take it, but if I ever find out you've gone off yer potion, I'll make sure to express my displeasure! And it won't be a gentle reminder note, either. I'll just rip ye new one, mate. One thing we can't have is student werewolves off their potions, attacking people. They'll throw us all in Azkaban. And I can tell you, I am NEVER going there."

Colin nodded his head firmly. "They'd have to kill me first!"

"Anyway. There's others here. I reckon two or three of us are older; and I know there's some new firsties. Though I think you must be the first wolf I know who was turned after starting school." Keith hadn't said much about the circumstances of his turning. Colin wondered about that. He remembered there was a girl a couple years ago whose family had turned her. Some kind of local custom. But she was open about that. He knew that at least one other had kin who was a werewolf.

Colin decided that he'd let Keith keep his secret. He wouldn't press him for details.

Not yet anyway.

"Right. So about being scared. You do realise mate, that it's supposed be other kids are supposed to be terrified of you, innit? I mean." Colin's glance scanned the area. "We're the ones who are supposed to be the monsters, right?" Colin smirked. "I know it can be scary, but we've got your back. And I certainly do. There are bad wolves out there, mate. And there are just regular wizards who hate us. We've got to look out for each other. And we can't be scared. I'm not saying we've got to go around telling everyone what we are; but we can't hide from it either."

@Keith Moore

Trying to keep himself from sobbing Keith thought about the tree, which him and Colin were currently under. It was their special place and it was probably the best spot for the secret to be told. Now that he knew, Keith didn't feel as alone. But he wouldn't go around telling people. Not yet, Soon, but not yet.

The air was getting colder outside, Keith hated the winter. He knew the shack wouldnt provide warmth either and the longer the moon was out the longer he'd be the monster each moon brought. He knew the library had jackshit on what to do or what helped, most of it was more mean and cruel about it. So Keith had stopped looking there and figured out things himself, or did his best to. He was only a couple months into this but the fact he knew this would affect him till he died- he studied all he could.

Colin started on about beating him up if he ever stopped the potion, Keith glared, wiping the tears from his eyes at such a statement. "I would never I'm not an idiot." he muttered.

Keith paused for a moment, then looked at Colin again, "you reckon im the first..? In the past decade I mean.."

Keith was terrified of himself, and when Colin said something about them being monsters, Keith's mind really started to accept the fact that he was in fact a monster now, whether he liked it or not. Colin may have meant well by his words but Keith took them in the worst way.

But his expression stayed the same, his thoughts repeating the phrase to him, "A monster."

" I'm not hiding- I'm just... I'm not ready to tell people yet.. I've only transformed 2 times before this.." He whispered. ".. I just want to wait and ..get used to this.."

WC -311- Interacting with: @Colin McCoire