Too Little Too late? PV: Fyre!

15 May 2025

When the school owl dropped the piece of parchment... crudely folded unevenly in half and then in half again... in front of her during lunch, AngelFyre was surprised to say the least. Simon was sitting right next to her as she ate, absentmindedly raking his foot along her ankle while studying for his OWLs, so unless he had planned ahead to have it arrive while with her, it had not come from him. Her next reasonable thought was Colin. While moving to unfold it, she immediately glanced over to the Slytherin table and did not see him crouching in his normal spot. She did not really need to look to know he was not present. It was too quiet in the room already clamoring with cutlery clanging against plates, glasses thudding upon wooden tables, and the cacophony of hundreds of voices engaged in conversations. Missing was Colin's signature"OOWWOOOs" echoing throughout the Great Hall as well as his excited bellows of Emily's name ricocheting her and there and everywhere in between. So, before laying eyes on the meat of the message itself, she was pretty certain it would be from Woofy.

Simon's ankle rubbing slowed down considerably as he looked up from his lesson notes on the Herbivicus Duo charm, and then leaned over to rest his head against the side of hers. "A note from a secret admirer, hmmm? Do I have competition?" he teased with that adorable he-knew-better-than-that-smugness in his voice.

"Pfft!" she scoffed as she stopped the unfolding momentarily and tapped the parchment in her palm a couple of times quickly before turning her head to press her lips and nose into the mass of Simon's luxurious, chestnut brown hair. She breathed him in deeply and then planted a series of three quick kisses on the side of his head. "I am pretty certain we both know you would be the one in our dynamic duo to receive fan mail expressing unrequited love rather than the other way around, so in answer to your question... Absolutely not! You are stuck with me. Sorry, not sorry, love. Besides, do other boys even exist? If so, I had not noticed," and she grinned at him playfully.

She was only half kidding on that last question and statement. Of course boys existed, but not in the space occupied by Simon. There was no one but him for her.

And he knew it.

Simon chuckled and leaned over in front of her to kiss her lips softly, keeping his gorgeous eyes open the whole time, which of course, had AngelFyre keep her eyes open as well. "Good. I prefer being a lover to a fighter." Her breath caught at his use of the word 'lover', creating an odd suctioning sound between them as she inhaled his exhaled breath during the kiss. He winked at her then and she could feel his smile widening against her lips, which had the effect of them both dissolving into soft ripples of laughter.

He ultimately pulled back too soon for her liking and turned his attention back to his studies. AngelFyre finished unfolding the note and, as expected, it was indeed from Colin. Her heart sank a bit when he said it was urgent that she meet him at the high place... the sacred place... after classes ended for the day. Little of anything happy had ever been shared during her times there, but happiness was not really the point of that particular place for her, though she hoped one day there would be some happy memories associated with it. No, it was sacred because of the truths and hurts and secrets shared.

And the love.

Her mind twisted wondering what might be going on with him now, but she had no choice but to wait. If it was life and death and right now immediate, he would have called her to the place irrespective of when classes ended for the day, and she would have gone. That would ease her concerns enough, she hoped, to get her through the afternoon classes.

"The note was from Colin," she told Simon. "He wants me to meet him at the outcropping after classes end, and he says it is urgent. I am sorry, love, but I may not make our study session in the Library before dinner. If I miss you then, I will catch up to you in the Common Room later this evening."

*******************
Too many hours later, AngelFyre found herself racing down the Divination Tower's steps and dodging people, quite adeptly (thank you broom racing evasive maneuver practices), in the stairwell and the corridors. She finally made it outside and headed to the Grounds, whistling for Arc as she did so. She knew he was always on watch for her at this time of day, so when she turned towards the outcropping, he flew ahead of her to his favorite tree.

Colin's last class ended when hers did, but he still managed to get there before she did. His last class was not at the top of a tower she reminded herself. She saw him standing at the crest, waiting for her, and she waved. Five minutes later, she had raced up the steep and narrow incline and found not only Colin up there, but Liam as well.

Liam's presence threw her and made her worry that this was not going to be just bad news, but really bad news. Looking from Colin and then to Liam and then back to Colin again, she finally spoke, her voice calm and unwavering.

"Hey, lads. I am here and nervous I am about to learn the world is coming to an end. What is up?"

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Reducio

AngelFyre and @Colin McCoire have longstanding permission to godmod one another's characters, as does AngelFyre with @Simon Kincaid's character.

The boys watched as the speck of gold ran across the long meadows separating the castle grounds from the sacred place. She was coming. AngelFyre. Colin drew a deep breath. Liam edged closer, a reassuring presence in Colin's world. High above and owl circled. That would almost certainly be Archimedes. Colin could just about hold himself together. This letter had been weighing on him. So had the others, but this one much more than the rest.

Both Colin and Liam had been rather impressed by Cursa. One day, that day they had invited all the kids to a broom race on the viaduct, Cursa found the twins and invited them to go to Hogsmeade for dinner. He had given them a box. He'd said a bunch of weird things, too, but the mystery cleared up once they opened the box up. It was full of letters. Letters addressed to Colin. Even a couple for Liam. Both boys had questioned Cursa about why he had these letters. His story was, to put it mildly, exceptionally unbelievable!

Cursa had risked a lot to help Colin and Liam. It wasn't hard to imagine how Alex and Angus would react once they discovered their plot had been uncovered! But it sounded like Cursa had a plan for that as well. Colin had felt truly relieved that his American cousin was not only not against him, but was also on his side in this! After they'd pored over the letters, including AngelFyre's, they even made an Intractable Oath! With actual spit and everything!

Colin smirked as AngelFyre approached.

Alex and Angus wouldn't know what hit them --- and that stone headed cousin Hamish would be in the same sorry state!

"Hey, lads. I am here and nervous I am about to learn the world is coming to an end. What is up?"

AngelFyre's blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight as Archimedes circled overhead. Colin could just barely contain himself as he looked into her eyes. He rarely wavered when he stared at anyone. If it was a fighting stare --- we'll the other person had better watch out! But a searching stare, such as he often gave Emily or Fyre or even Liam; those only had Colin's tender heart behind them.

Colin's eyes scanned AngelFyre's face, memorising every detail. He wanted to remember this moment; for he knew that what he had to show her would be devastating. Almost he wanted to forget about the letter and just make up some excuse like he and Liam just wanted to chat or something. Liam seemed to understand this about his brother. Just at the last moment, when Colin's strength of will was at its last end, Liam put his arm around his brother.

Tears flowed from Colin's eyes as they looked into AngelFyre's. He might as well have gotten one of Ava's knives and stuck it in his best friend's heart. His hands fumbled about in his pockets. Colin was delaying and he knew it. The images that marred the letter were too graphic to even speak of. The words defacing it were little better. Some, perhaps, were worse. He and Liam and Cursa blushed just looking at it. And to think: it was his little brothers and their older cousin who had done it. Done it, not so much to Colin, but to AngelFyre.

Colin's hand slipped the red envelope out of his pocket.

Colin whimpered like a forlorn puppy.

Breaking away from Liam, he closed the gap between himself and AngelFyre and took her into a strong hug. The words just tumbled out.

"Oh Fyre! I didn't know ye felt this way for so long! I'm sorry I abandoned --- I didn't even realise! Oh God, I was --- stupid potion and hag slugs and Ava and Clair and Lark and --- and I read the letter! I didn't even get your letter Fyre! Honest! I know now how much I hurt you! I did abandon you, and I know I shouldn't have! Ye're my friend --- my best friend! I- I've always loved ye Fyre, ever since we met! Ye've stood by me through everything. When I thought Liam was dead. Through all my crazy nightmares and visions. And- and I just left you behind!"

Colin slumped as he released AngelFyre.

Liam. Colin could feel his brother's presence behind him. His arms wrapped gently around Colin's chest, his head leaning on the back of Colin's. Colin straightened up a bit. "I- I got yer letter Fyre. Just a few weeks ago, right before the ball. From Cursa! Do you believe it?" Colin spilled the whole story of how the three of them made hurried plans before the ball and even afterwards, late into the early morning after. How Colin and Liam both felt like Cursa was more of a brother than just a cousin. How they were determined to set things right with Alex and Angus and Hamish. How they were going to sort out who all was involved in their little brothers' plot and put an end to it.

Colin let out a huge long breath. He looked down at his hand. He held the red envelope up between them and AngelFyre. He read Cursa's letter to her:

Colin!

We need to talk. Face to face. Not by owls. Don't write back. I've decided. I know I said I'd never set foot in England again, but I'm going to go to your spring ball at Hogwarts. I'll make up some story here.

Also.

You need to see this letter. AngelFyre does too. I don't know what's going on here, but your brothers and dear cousin Hamish are cooking up something against you. I don't understand half of the drivel they defaced your letter with. But I promise you this. After seeing this letter, I no longer trust Alex and Angus.

You showed me nothing but kindness back last fall. You and Liam. You treated me like a brother. I didn't expect that. Not after all the stories Alex and Angus told about you. Colin. They even called you a werewolf! Can you believe that!? So I'm making a vow with you. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure Alex and Angus's plans fall apart. I know people here.

One day soon, brother, we'll face them together.

--Cursa

Liam stepped to Colin's side. Colin felt like the worst of it was to come. "Cursa's been brilliant, really. I actually get regular updates from him! He's like one of those --- what are they Liam? You know, that Muggle thing? --- triple nutty spies!" Liam nodded, smiling. "He said that for the longest time he hated us, because of the things Alex and Angus told them at Ilvermorny. Fyre. A lot of kids think we were involved in the attack last fall in Hogsmeade!" He waved the letter towards Liam, who shook his head slowly.

"Daft buggers, Ilvermorny, if they think that!" Liam nudged Colin. "Go on lad. It's time. It's time our friend sees the worst of it. It's why we're here," he whispered. "I- I'm sorry, AngelFyre," Liam said; "that you've been mixed up in this. We're not sure of all the details, but we think you might be in some danger because of us. And. Well..."

Colin snarled.

He ripped AngelFyre's letter from her original envelope, savagely unfolded it and held out in front of the girl. He did made sure to stretch his finger over one particularly horrible and mean word. The M word. In Colin's mind, that was even worse than the graphic stick figures of him and AngelFyre scribbled in the margins doing --- things. That word pricked him the most. It attacked his best friend's very heart and being.

"I'm very proud of me heritage, Fyre. Me and Liam both. But I'm also very proud of you Fyre. And Emmi." For just a moment, his eyes lost focus as they saw elsewhere to that place where Emily was. "Two Muggleborns thrust into the wizarding world. Ye're both excelling. How can I not be proud of either of you? Alex and Angus are going to answer for this."

@AngelFyre McCubbin

Her words had barely settled when Colin’s gaze caught hers — and held. The intensity of it rooted her in place. He was searching her face as though trying to fix every detail in memory, and she found herself wondering what he hoped to find there… or feared to.

The wind stirred the space between them, cool against her cheek. Liam’s arm came around his brother in a quiet, steadying gesture, and something in her chest tightened at the sight. Then the tears came... unhidden, unashamed... and she felt the ache of them as if they were her own.

Whatever this was, it was costing him. And whatever it was, she would not look away.

Colin’s hands fumbled in his pockets, the motion awkward, delaying. She could see the strain in him, the way his will was fraying at the edges. When the battered red envelope finally appeared, clenched in his fist, she understood that this was the thing all of his dread was centered around.

Then Colin broke from Liam, closed the gap between them, and pulled her into a strong, almost desperate hug. The suddenness of it choked her breath. She froze for a heartbeat, and then another ten, stunned by the awareness. His arms were tight around her, his words tumbling out in a rush against her ear.

"Oh Fyre! I did not know you felt this way for so long! I am sorry I abandoned— I did not even realize! Oh God, I was— stupid potion and hag slugs and Ava and Clair and Lark and— and I read the letter! I did not even get your letter, Fyre! Honest! I know now how much I hurt you! I did abandon you, and I know I should not have! You are my friend— my best friend! I— I have always loved you, Fyre, ever since we met! You have stood by me through everything. When I thought Liam was dead. Through all my crazy nightmares and visions. And— and I just left you behind!"

She then held him just as tightly, her own tears now brimming her eyes, his words sinking into her like warmth after a long winter, each one loosening something she had not realized she had been holding. That was not entirely true. She had known she was holding those hurts, locked away, but Colin had just set them... and AngelFyre... free.

When he finally released her, she saw the slump in his shoulders and the way Liam’s arms came around him from behind, steadying him. Colin straightened a little, his eyes still locked on hers.

"I— I got your letter, Fyre. Just a few weeks ago, right before the ball. From Cursa! Do you believe it?"

He went on, spilling the story of how he, Liam, and Cursa had made hurried plans before the ball and talked late into the early morning after. How he and Liam both felt Cursa was more of a brother than just a cousin. How they were determined to set things right with Alex and Angus and Hamish. How they would find out who else was involved in their younger brothers’ plot and put an end to it.

Then he lifted the red envelope between them... explaining that it was Cursa who had sent her letter along to him, and then Colin began to read aloud. Her mind was reeling at the fast-paced delivery of the information being thrown at her as she was internally asking questions all along the way. Wait! Did he say Cursa? Why would Cursa have her letter to Colin? Both surnames were McCoire, sure, but it was not like Archimedes to make such an error.

She shot a quick glance over at Colin, the questioning 'What is going on here?' look taking center stage in her eyes, but he was looking down, still reading aloud. And when she zeroed in on what he was saying, it became clear. Well... clear-er.

She listened in silence as Cursa’s words filled the space between them — his disbelief at the defacement, his vow to stand with them, his promise to help dismantle Alex and Angus’s plans. The thought of Cursa choosing to help her, to be protective of her, someone relatively unknown to him, roiled both gratitude and a flicker of hope and admiration across the pond in his direction.

When Colin finished reading, Liam piped up and her heart fluttered, not from excitement, but from that feeling just before it drops to your stomach. He told her straight on they both thought she might be in danger, and her head almost exploded. To silently almost quote Simon:

"WHAT

THE

ABSOLUTE

H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS?"

She was already in danger from Simon's father, why was she now also in danger from kids at Ilvermorny? It was absurd. All of it. The thought gnawed at the edge of her focus, even as she forced her attention back to Colin.

"This is insanity." Liam nodded in agreement, but she noted a change in Colin's demeanor.

His sadness had turned to resignation, which in turn had morphed into anger. Colin withdrew a green envelope from within the red, its wax seal broken, a jagged piece missing but enough left for her to see the faint curve of her own initials. He then thrust the letter it contained out to her. As she took hold of it, she noted the edges were no longer crisp, as if it had been opened and read so many times it could no longer hold its original shape.

Her gaze softened as it moved from Colin to Liam, letting them both see that some of her apprehension had lifted. “Alright,” she said curiously, bouncing the letter in her palm three times, “let us see what has traveled so far to get back to me.”

The letter in her hands was all so familiar — her parchment, her handwriting... but the "artwork" was certainly not hers. Jagged scrawls in multiple inks sprawled across the margins, crowding her words.

Tilting her head to the left, she studied the first defaced margin. Then a tilt to the right followed suit. A step back with her arms outstretched gave her a different angle, as though distance might improve the artistry. “Interesting use of perspective,” she remarked, her lips spreading into an easy smirk. “Although I swear I am not entirely certain which end is meant to be up.”

Liam leaned over, squinting. He offered, helpfully, by pointing at the doodle in question. “If that is meant to be a leg, it is in the wrong place entirely.”

Her laugh came easily as she nodded in agreement. “Perhaps they were inspired by Picasso. Or perhaps they have never seen a leg?” She chuckled as she looked at Liam from the side and winked.

Turning her attention back to the parchment, a double‑take at another drawing farther down the page brought her brows up in mild surprise. Recognition dawned — the female figure was meant to be her, and the male with her was unmistakably Colin. A faint flush touched her cheeks, not from the crude anatomy, but from the absurdity of the pairing.

Simon’s face came to mind suddenly. She could picture him taking in the same drawing. Would he laugh at the childishness? Bristle with righteous anger? Or dismiss it as the empty noise it was, knowing there was no truth in it and therefore held no power? She suspected it would be mostly the latter, with possible hints of jealousy and anger. The thought almost made her smile — not at the insult, but at the certainty that Simon would never believe it.

AngelFyre did not look up at Colin. She hoped to give no sign of even slight discomfort at the crudity. She instead brushed her momentary embarrassment away as she consoled herself with the thought that Colin did not even see her as a girl, but as one of his pals. That thought steadied her further.

Her thoughts faltered, however, when she came upon the names Alex and Angus. She had met the younger twins three years earlier at Colin’s older sister’s wedding. They had teased her mercilessly with ginger newts, pranked her every chance they got, and she, in return, had made them laugh with tales of dancing suits of armor in the corridors at Hogwarts. AngelFyre had always believed they got along fine. Why, then, would they do this?

She continued to read, her expression calm, until the “m‑word” slur appeared. She would have breezed right over it, but she felt Colin tense beside her, the way a bowstring tightens before release. He had been studying her as she read, clocking where she was as her eyes scanned down the page, and it seemed that mention in particular bothered him. Most notable was his finger... protectively covering the spot.

Without looking at him, she gently wrapped her fingers around his and removed it, revealing the slur beneath.

Looking up, she met his sad, distressed gaze. She slowly shook her head back and forth and mouthed, “Sticks and Stones, Woofy,” knowing full well words could hurt more... and for longer... than sticks or stones. But in this case, the bromide was true. “That word clearly lands with far more hurt on you, on my behalf, than it does with me, my friend, I promise you. I pay it no heed; I never have.”

AngelFyre stepped closer and wrapped him in a fierce hug, whispering in his ear “I know who I am and I know who you are. Dinna fash, lad. (do not worry) But I know you are so bothered because you care deeply about what ignorant people think it says about those you love. That is why it stings you and is part of why I love you too.”

She patted him a couple of times on his back and then stepped back to finish reading the last few lines.

When done, the letter was folded neatly, along the visible creases. She held it out to Colin. “It was always meant for you and it belongs with you.” As he took it back, she put both of her hands in her pockets and let out a deep breath while looking up at the sky and the passing wisps of clouds.

“I am curious to know what your plan is, beyond letting me know you never received that,” she asked, nodding vaguely in the direction of the letter. “Smart money would say you just might need a level-headed witch on your side as well. I happen to know a good one if you are in the market," and she smiled cheekily at the both of them.

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