Treasure Hunt PV: EMMI!

June 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire

"And a teeny tiny drink for you~" Emily sang as she drizzled a bottle of water over the lilies by the Care of Magical Creatures fence line. Tavra leaned over to watch whilst she remained perched on a fence post, her eyes wide and curious. A very adorable look for the pet owl, even if it did translate to, "That looks edible~!". Emily could already feel her owl's high beams staring down at her. She shook her head gently without looking back at her fluffy ball on legs.

"Sorry sweetpea... But you're not munching on these flowers". The bird already tried to gnaw at her chicken sarnie earlier that day. And that was before Tavra tried to indulge in a brunch of marigolds back at the Hufflepuff Common Room. She got back on her feet and offered her arms to Tavra, whom accepted them eagerly as she snuggled into Emily's grip.

"That's all the flowers watered around here. There's still time before we need to go back, so let's take a dander," Emily said as she smooshed her cheek into Tavra's fluffy noggin affectionately, eliciting a sweetly chirp from the fluffball.

Floofy companion secured, Emily began to walk alongside the fence of the creature enclosure. She smiled a little as her eyes lingered on the fields. Once the summer passed she'd be able to enrol in what would no doubt become her favourite class once she hit Third Year. She slowed down after walking down the perimeter of the fence before coming to a slow stop near the wildflowers.

"Just think, Tavra... I'll get to be right up close and personal with the loveliest creatures I always hoped to find in the forest...!"

Because in hindsight, those late nights wandering around the forest to find a Moon Calf or another Unicorn ended in vain every time. Not to mention it was hard to find a viable excuse for the dark circles under the eyes and persistent yawning during classes. Being able to observe and interact with creatures during daylight hours on a schedule that wouldn't hinder sleep patterns sounded like a much more pleasant alternative.

Emily sighed dreamily. All the animals she'd get to feed and soothe and snug!

*meow*

"Hm?"

Emily looked down to where she heard an energetic mew. At her feet was a black cat, the sight of which brightened Emily's whole mood a lot more. Greebo!

"Oh! Hello stranger!" Positioning Tavra onto her shoulder, Emily picked up Greebo and cradled him in her arms, scritching his ears and stroking his black coat.

"How lovely it is to see you, my feline friend. Ah!" Realisation suddenly dawned on her and Emily grinned. "If you're here, then that must mean--"

"EMMIIIII!!!! I found you lassie!!"

Bingo!

Emily turned only to be met with a Colin McCoire incoming at high speed. She squinted when he skidded to a halt, giggling when his hair and the ends of his shirt flapped behind him when he approached.

"Colin!" She would've ensnared him in a hug but she was already snugging owl and cat. A forehead nudge onto his arm would have to do!

Emily beamed at him with Emi Love. "Colin, my dear friend! I see you're out for some fresh air too!"

But then in a rather uncharacteristic change of demeanour, Colin whispered to her. "Emmi".

Aforementioned Huffie blinked. "Colin..." Her expression softened a little, her smile unwavering. "You look as if it was urgent you'd find me. I mean-- A little more urgent than usual. Is everything okay?"

She set Greebo back down and sat cross-legged with him on the grass, with Tavra moving spots until she was settled on Emily's knee.

"What brings you out here, my friend?" she asked gently.

_{Word Count: 622}

Stats: Stamina: 7 | Strength: 6 | Evasion: 7 | Wisdom: 8 | Arc Power: 7 | Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

For a long while, Colin just stared into Emily's beautiful eyes. For a moment he got up into a crouching posture. Twas almost more comfortable than sitting for Colin, but he eventually settled down into a cross legged posture mirroring the girl before him. His eyes scanned her face, taking in every curve of its shape, every wisp of her brown hair, every line of her dress, before returning to her eyes.

She waited patiently for him. Maybe she somehow knew it could take Colin a while for the right words to come out at the right time? He blushed a little. Was he really that obvious? A slight smile played about his lips. That was okay! Of all the kids in Hogwarts or any other school, shouldn't it be Emmi to read him so well?

"You look as if it was urgent you'd find me. I mean--" she said, her own smile still upon her own lips. "A little more urgent than usual. Is everything okay? What brings you out here, my friend?"

Colin sighed. Yes! She understood!

He searched her eyes. Colin was certain. This girl didn't just appear in Colin's life randomly. His heart soared. "Eyes of Sky," he whispered softly. Only Emily could hear his words, even if someone else were sitting nearby. Colin straightened up! His pond scum green eyes widened and his face became suddenly animated! "Yes! It was dreadfully urgent!!" he cried. "I needed to find you Emmi! I needed to see you before we leave for the summer!"

His eyes looked out over the lake. He smirked. "Remember when we went broom racing, Emmi? I didn't think ye would actually do it! But ye did!" Colin laughed merrily! "Sorry about the based nose! But I was really glad you let me fix it!" He sighed and his expression changed. "Sometimes, in racing, I feel kind of useless. For the longest time, we never won a single race. And sometimes my spellcasting would go awry. I- I almost left the team once. June convinced me to stay, but still. It was just grand to race with you, and well, Ava too of course!"

Things between Colin and Ava were so complicated. She'd tried to kill his mate Luci and him. He had hoped she would be locked up in Azkaban for ever. He had tried to make her miserable ever since. And what happened when they ended up face to face? They ended up snogging and making peace. They'd sorted it. Still. There was something. A barrier almost.

Colin laughed again. "And then that whole adventure with the potion, right? And ye got mixed up with that crazy wicked tree in the forest!" Colin's head nodded almost imperceptibly back towards the dark and foreboding trees off in the distance. "I- That really got me thinking Emmi. I was really worried about ye when ye were out here lying in the grass all loopy like! I thought ye'd gone mental on me!"

Colin's heart was thumping. Surely Emily could see his shirt moving in time with his heart! There were so many things he needed to say to Emily. Somehow the Hufflepuff girl had really gotten to him. Even as Clair had become much more distant since third year, and had now moved to America, somehow Emily just stepped up and moved right in to his heart. He thought about Jarael too. Eyes of Sky. There was something about these girls. Perhaps love at first sight wasn't really a thing? Perhaps one had to become prepared for real love. Kind of like how you had to practice spells on a training dummy before trying them on someone else? Oof. No, that wasn't quite right. Jarael and Clair weren't training dummmies! Wait. No, perhaps it was fitting in a way. If they had been placed in Colin's life to prepare him --- then surely he had been placed in theirs to prepare them. Their hearts must have been hurting as well. And that was part of life as Colin well knew.

He turned his gaze back to Emily. She filled his waking vision this moment as she filled his dreams and his day dreams whilst in History of Magic class. The way she also filled his sketch books. He loved the way her hair curled about as she say eating her breakfast, reading a book or the Headliner or the Prophet.

Colin scritched Greebo's head as he lay stretched between them in the warm grass. He was purring. The boy was glad he'd taken a fancy to Emily. Well, why shouldn't he? He was a half wild creature himself, and she was really good with beasts. Colin's lips smiled gently as he thought back to the ball where he'd called them Beauty and the Beast.

"We've been through a lot, Em!"

@Emily Shephard

June 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire

Conversations with Colin were usually quite strange, Emily had discovered early on in their friendship. No. "Strange" wasn't the right word, but they weren't like any other typical chit-chat other people would share with their buddies. Colin always seemed to run into the room, guns blazing, but will then slap you down with a cold, sudden silence and just... Stare. Nothing creepy! If anything, Emily found it to be somewhat adorable; the way his eyes carefully mapped out the other person's features like he was trying to memorise them down to their very last follicle. His expression was always soft and thoughtful, as if he was trying to convey something through his silent, pensive state. Emily regretfully could never tell just what it was Colin was trying to tell her when he'd do his "Stare" with her. He was capable of saying so much, it was hard to keep up sometimes.

Luckily, they had known each other long enough for her to learn and pick up on the subtle clues in his expressions. The mischievous yet sweetly glint in his eyes was enough to tell her that he was happy to see her, and that he had something serious to discuss with her.

They sat and watched the lake a while, the sounds of the water rushing in and dipping back out filling in the lack of words between them, until eventually Colin took back control of the conversation.

"Remember when we went broom racing, Emmi?" Colin asked. "I didn't think ye would actually do it! But ye did!"

Emily's cheeks puffed, caught in a mix of amused and miffed nostalgia. "Of course I do... And might I remind you that it was you and Ava that forced me to race! I was very happy to remain on the grass...!" She was very nearly sure the two knuckleheaded Slytherins would get her killed back then. Then Emily's smile returned at Colin's mention of her healing her nose in the aftermath. "Although that was nice of you to fix up my nose... After you bapped it in the first place!" She grinned as she lightly punched Colin's shoulder playfully. She had to admit... It was a good time. Perfect sibling-energy bonding.

Her cadence softened further when Colin admitted to almost quitting the broom racing team. Quitting? Colin?? Of all people???

"Colin, you're a fabulous flyer!" Emily said, nodding assuredly. "If not for your tips and tricks, I don't think I'd have lasted as long as I did during that broom race. In fact, I would've given my Nimbus back to Ava by now if I didn't learn from your confidence and guidance". She squeezed his hand. "A team is a team for a reason. Even if a role is small or if things go wrong, it's still valuable for the overall purpose. Your presence on the broom racing team for Slytherin is meaningful and valuable! You bring morale and excitement! Without that, it would just be a stale sport".

They shared a laugh and Colin resumed.

"And then that whole adventure with the potion, right? And ye got mixed up with that crazy wicked tree in the forest!"

Emily's face went beet red and she looked down at her knee, breaking eye contact with him. "Oh biscuits... You still remember all that?" Those were not fun experiences and were just as foul as memories. Times where Emily knew she screwed up by letting someone take advantage of her curiosity and compassion, trying to twist and mold her into something she never wanted to be. Though the bruise had long faded from back then, the memory from it still pricked at her every now and then, staining the odd dream when she'd sleep at night and invoking the slightest shiver when she divulged on the topic for too long.

"I- That really got me thinking Emmi. I was really worried about ye when ye were out here lying in the grass all loopy like! I thought ye'd gone mental on me!"

Emily forced a harsher-than-intended laugh. "I did go mental. Forced awake at night by voices in my head, trying to scare me that I'm dangerous around you and our friends, keeping myself isolated because I couldn't tell what was real and what was fake, worried that whatever I would touch next would turn to ash..." She didn't want to finish the rest. The hysterical crying. The hot, burning rage she felt for Gideon. The want to feel him crumble and fade beneath her touch... Emily shook her head violently. Even after all this time, the final lingering of those memories terrified her.

"I never should've listened to Gideon that night," she admitted. "Because of me, Brookie and Avis were suffering back then too... And I only made it worse when I took that potion. I thought for a single moment I could forget how toxic my curiosity was back then... If I became one with that darkness, then maybe I could've atoned for my naivety".

She brought her knees closer to her chest, Tavra shifting position until she was back on her Huffie's shoulder. "But that just made things even worse... Because I made Scout worry. And you too".

Her eyes blurred the longer she stared at the ground beneath until Greebo crossed her periphery. She smiled sadly as she idly stroked his back and tail. "Although at the same time, if I hadn't gone looking for all the strange creatures lurking outside the castle, I never would've come to learn so much. I never would've learnt such resilience. After I confronted my fears and that tree, I felt myself becoming whole again. I also never would've learnt that Gideon is a devious, horrid, manipulating--" She sucked in a breath to prevent the gearing expletive from escaping her mouth. "...And I never would've learnt about you, Colin. I only ever heard of you when AngelFyre talked about encountering Hag Dolls years ago. And the more I came to know about you, all I've come to conclude is that your history is steeped in... Bittersweet experiences".

She shuffled closer to him, her eyes soft and her smile tender. "You have evolved from a sapling into a great oak in my heart, Colin. You're so dear to me, just as Scout is". Her cheeks glowed. "I don't know what I'd do without you. Having you in my life brings me great joy".

She leaned in and gave him one of her Emi nudges on the arm.

"We've certainly been through plenty. And Lord only knows what lies in store for both of us".

_{Word Count: 1100}

Stats: Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 9 | Arc Power: 8 | Accuracy: 7
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

Colin was surprised at how strong Emily's reaction to admission about leaving the racing team was! Yet at the same time, he felt comforted. He knew he was a pretty good flier, but still --- losing every single race had been hard on the team. She'd called him a fabulous flier. Colin blushed a bit and smiled. She made him feel proud of his skill and confidence on his broom.

As their talk turned towards the potion incidence, Colin's ears pricked up. Emily shared quite a lot of what she had gone through. Voices in her head. Dark dreams. He nodded as he listened to what she was saying. How she'd put others in danger and made her friends worry about her. He let out a puff of breath. "That was the hard thing for me too. I was into that stuff for a couple years. Fyre and Liam were really worried about me. Other friends too. They even wrote to me older sister Aoife and me Seanmamó about it. She's been watching over me for almost a year; and Liam and Fyre finally got me free of the stuff. That's why, when I saw you had the same potion, well." Colin looked down at Greebo for a moment before returning his gaze to Emily's hazel eyes. He stared into them for a while. "Well, I just knew I had to help you destroy the stuff. Before you got too far into it."

Colin listened intently as Emily recounted how she dealt with that whole tree thing in the dark heart of the forest. He never did quite understand that bit, or how Gideon fit into it. Obviously, he was a tricky fellow. No. Downright evil to draw kids in to something like that. He smirked when Emily couldn't quite bring herself to call him a bad word. She was just awesome that way! He let out a short bark of a laugh. "He's a wank, Emmi!" He shook his head sadly. Sacrificing your blood and all to some tree. That wasn't right at all. His gaze intensified into one of admiration and pride for Emmi. He never knew that she'd returned to face that dark tree and the fear it had caused. She was brave! Colin's heart swelled with pride.

"You have evolved from a sapling into a great oak in my heart, Colin. You're so dear to me, just as Scout is," she said. Colin noticed a slight blush rising up Emmi's face. "I don't know what I'd do without you. Having you in my life brings me great joy".

Colin smiled.

His own cheeks felt quite warm and he was sure he too was blushing.

"I- I feel like that too Emmi! Like. I just feel different when I'm around you! I don't know how to say it ---" Of course Colin knew how to say I really love you Emily Shephard! But what he hadn't sorted out yet was how to say it to Emily Shephard! Casey's admonition still rang in his ears. "I mean! Ye've got a way of like redirecting me if I'm doing something daft; and you like adventuring too! Um. I just love being with you Em. I was wondering."

Colin paused. Why was this bit always so hard?

"Um."

He'd never actually asked a girl this before.

"This summer. Do ye think maybe ---" Colin picked at the hem of his kilt, his voice trailing off. His heart thumped inside his chest. Surely she could hear it hammering away! "Ye know. Maybe we could see each other some time? I mean! Not just at Tes's place! Maybe we could visit each other some time?"

@Emily Shephard

June 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire

Emily always found herself underestimating Colin's ability to sit and listen when sharing heartfelt moments with him like this. For all his constant zoomie energy and howling every wit's end, it was always a surprising but pleasant sight to see him in a present moment and just... Being with her. It was a welcome change of pace than constantly running after Colin and his gazelle legs, out of breath within minutes due to his sheer speed.

Emily still had much to learn about this strange creature sitting with her. Every fact and truth that she would uncover seemed to open more doors to more mysteries about her lupine friend. But one thing she knew for sure was that she would forever be indebted to him for all he's done. Emily rested the side of her head on his arm, her smile warm and full of gratitude.

"You shouldn't have to put so much effort into me. They were all my burdens but you went out of your way to help me lift them. I fear nothing I do until the end of time could possibly repay you for everything you've done for me".

She held onto Colin a little tighter. Aside from "Auntie" and her beloved Scoutie, Colin was probably one of a very few number of people Emily could think of to care for her, in any sense of the word. The thought of which made Emily's heart swell with fuzzies. If Colin really was a wolf, then he was certainly living up to the whole, "Dog is Man's Best Friend" quip. His eyes met hers and it was right there she could see it. Colin would move Heaven and Earth for anyone if he wanted to. Including her.

"He's a wank, Emmi!"

Heh!

Colin wasn't wrong! Although Emily could think of a slightly better word to describe the hell-demon that was Gideon Athanatos. However, it was a word that God would have to grovel for if He wanted to hear it from the likes of Emily, the Hufflepuff with a saint's mouth.

"Yes, he certainly is," Emily said. "I have yet to figure out how someone like him got into Hufflepuff. I don't think even Slytherin would accept someone with such wanton malevolence".

Emily gasped. That came out wrong. "Sorry-- I just meant-- Slytherin is historically known as the House for those that are cunning-- Oh biscuits... That didn't sound very fair. Sorry... Slytherin isn't like that at all". She sighed defeatedly. "You get what I mean though..."

By the looks and sounds of it, Colin didn't seem particularly offended. If anything, he seemed to focused on Emily. Again. "I just love being with you Em".

Emily's cheeks did the heat thing again, hotter than a waffle maker. She took their fluffy buddies and gathered them and him into a hug, owl and cat in the crooks of her arms while Colin's cheek was free for Emily to smoosh with her own.

"You're like a big brother to me, Colin... Or else some kind of fun cousin!" she grinned. "And I said before I would come and visit you. Remember? Back at the Spring Ball? I promised I'd come see you over the holidays, and I intend to keep that promise. Oh! You can come and see me back home too! I know a really nice place just out of town that I'd think you'd like! Lots of fields and open air, quiet and hardly any people around too... Oh we'd have a right laugh in the flowers!"

She lowered her voice to a mischievous whisper. "Perfect for any... Hairy situations...! Assuming you would want to come on a full moon, that is..."

_{Word Count: 615}

Stats: Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 9 | Arc Power: 8 | Accuracy: 7
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

Colin's brow furrowed as Emily spoke. "You shouldn't have to put so much effort into me. They were all my burdens but you went out of your way to help me lift them. I fear nothing I do until the end of time could possibly repay you for everything you've done for me". Emily was always full of surprises, and Colin was actually shocked to hear this one.

He stared at Emily as she spoke. He loved Emily. There was no question in his mind or in his heart. "I- I mean. Emily." Colin cocked his head slightly, still looking into the girl's eyes. "Why wouldn't I put the effort into you? You don't have to repay me! I didn't go out of my way! I- Our ways are, kind of, side by side. Why shouldn't I help bear your burdens? Don't you see?"

He let out a little sigh as she hugged him closer. It felt really nice just being with the girl you liked. Still, Casey's warning resounded in his mind. The last thing Colin wanted to do was scare Emily away. He'd already told her the first of his great secrets. He didn't want the second to end their friendship!

They talked about Gideon for a bit. He was in Colin's year, but thus far, he hadn't had much interaction with him. He knew the older brother, Vladimir, a little better from the Pureblood Society last year. He seemed pretty intense. Gideon always came across as, well, weird? Colin smirked. Emily couldn't figure out how he ended up in Hufflepuff. Colin replied: "Well, Em, maybe Gideon is just a hard working and loyal wank? He's a Wanklepuff!" Colin laughed merrily.

"I don't think even Slytherin would accept someone with such wanton malevolence," Emily said. Colin gave her a side glance. She gasped, probably remembering that he himself is in Slytherin. She turned red. Colin's lips fought against the rising mirth of the situation! Colin knew well enough that when Emily started talking about biscuits, she didn't mean food! He wracked his brain for any Muggle references to biscuits, but couldn't think of any. He waited a moment before bursting out in laughter!

Colin laughed so hard that he rocked forward before collapsing on his back in the grass, taking Emily down with him! "Oh, Emmi! Ye don't know the half of it lassie! Aye, he'd've made a fine Slytherin! There's a lot of wanton malevolence in my House! A lot of calculation and scheming too." Colin shook his head as he gazed up into the blue above. Emily really had a way with him, he realised. She could make him laugh or sober. She could even make him behave, from time to time.

"You're like a big brother to me, Colin... Or else some kind of fun cousin!"

Colin's throat caught. His eyes widened. His heart sank. For a long moment, he just felt the stab of those words in his heart. Emily went on about plans to see him over the summer, and other times in the future. A big brother? He hoped she couldn't see his eyes. He hoped --- honestly, Colin couldn't blame Emily at all. It could have turned out differently. If he hadn't actually fallen in love with Emily Shephard, he certainly would have easily loved her as a little sister! After all, he had many friends like that since coming to Hogwarts.

"A- Aye," he said. Perhaps a little lackluster in his voice. He really did want to see her over the summer. He shoved the 'fun cousin' moniker down. He prayed that Emily would see him as something other than a sibling soon. He would explode soon otherwise! But he managed to get back into the conversation.

Turning his face towards Emily, he smiled. "Anyway! There's Tes's little gathering that you two cooked up! And I'd love to go visit Ireland! Me Aunt Indigo said she's going to take me and Liam there some time. To the island she's from. I'd love to see other places around the country too! And I reckon I'd get to meet your Auntie?"

Colin's eyes wandered a bit before refocusing on Emily's.

"Um."

Colin sat up again, his expression serious.

"Ever since ye talked about yer --- er. Parents..." Colin had no idea how to ask this question. To him it felt completely unnatural for parents to do this to their own children; yet Colin had never been able to extirpate that horrible image from his mind when he had visited Muggle London with Monica back in second year.

"You see..."

He could not recollect learning about it in Muggle Studies either. Colin bit his lower lip. He had to ask now. Emily was a Muggleborn after all, and Muggles do weird things. Like jumping out of hair planes with a pair of shoots in order to fix their hair. He worried that the question might be too personal. He hadn't even asked AngelFyre about this yet.

"Um. Yer parents, right? And, er, yer Auntie. D- Did," he began haltingly, looking around to see anyone was dropping any eves in the vicinity. Colin was proud of himself for finally getting that Muggle metaphor correct! How Muggles could possibly equate taking apart the roof of a house and dropping the bits on the ground with listening to someone else's conversation was quite beyond his understanding!

He ploughed on. Colin stared into Emily's eyes intently. It didn't matter to him if her parents loved or hated Emily. He was pretty sure her Auntie did, though, and that's what mattered. And, of course, he loved her too. He just couldn't say it right now.

"Did they change ye in the toilet for another bairn, Emmi?"

@Emily Shephard

June 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire

Wanklepuff! Hysterical!

Emily burst into immediate laughter, hard enough for a tear to sting at the corner of her eye. If by some strange twist of fate that Colin didn't land himself in a Wizarding profession after Hogwarts, then he definitely could land a gig as a stand-up comedian. A hyperbolic sentiment perhaps, but it was testament to one of the bazillion reasons Emily just loved him.

Wait. Her heart used the word. That word.

No. Not "bazillion". The other one.

Love.

Yes. Emily loved Colin. That was undisputed. As a brother, she said. It made sense, being how that's what it looked like when they would interact, even in the beginning. But it felt more than that. The tree that was Colin in the Huffie's hearty garden was big and beautiful, fresh wood shining effulgently and velvety leaves that umbrella the greenery below. Colin's tree was the epitome of nature's watcher.

So it was curious that something almost as trivial as a tree would rouse such a powerful connection in Emily's heart. It was so profound, it almost bordered on ridiculous.

And the thing was, Emily got the tingling suspicion that Colin could sense it too. Maybe he was alluding to that fact with the way his emerald orbs lost their spark all of a sudden, his face falling ever so slightly, yet enough for Emily to catch it.

Emily looked down as well. It was all so strange. Something she couldn't see. Something she couldn't stand not knowing what it was. Then again, that was always Emily's most despised trait about herself, wasn't it? Not knowing something. Not being able to discern the invisible, powerful presence in front of her.

Emily squeezed Colin's hand. Whatever it was that was between them, she wanted to hold on to it for dear life. Because if she let Colin go, she was afraid of never being able to get him back. The same with Scout. The same with Emmanuel. The same with "Auntie".

At the end of the day, Colin... I need you. I can't explain how or why. You're everything I need and want to cherish. No matter what--

"--You're everything to me... Everything and more. And I want to see where it takes us next".

Emily didn't even realise her thoughts spilled into muttered ramblings. Had Colin's voice not have been louder, she most likely would've continued on as the distracted zombie she probably sounded like just then.

Colin mentioned "Auntie". Emily beamed and nodded enthusiastically. "She'd like you. She's the type of lady that puts everyone's comfort first. If she ever met you, she'd make sure you'd be all nice and wrapped up like a snug bug in a rug if it meant you'd be comfy!"

She giggled as she pictured wild and restless Colin coddled by the affectionate guardian. She clapped her hands together. "Maybe I can convince her to come to Tesla's family estate for the werewolf gathering... If anyone can make everyone feel at ease on the big night, it would be her...She's pretty fearless too!"

"Auntie" was fond of Scout and that was before taking her Dhampir heritage into account. And after seeing Scout in all her Scoutness, she was all the more smitten with the girl. Knowing "Auntie" -- and Emily knew her very well -- she would be warm upon seeing Colin and his woofy greatness.

Colin then got serious. He brought up her parents. Oh dear. That was Colin's first no-no. Well-- there was a list of no-nos attached to him by now, but this was definitely a NO-no. All sides of no. The mere mention of her folks put a sour damper on her mood but she couldn't bring herself to get mad about it. Not when it came from Colin, and even more so when he was being so earnest and gentle about it.

"Did they change ye in the toilet for another bairn, Emmi?"

Emily sighed, placing her chin on her knees. "They ought to have switched me out for thin air the second I came into the world".

Her eyes drifted absentmindedly out to the lake. "My father's one of those hoighty-toighty businessmen for a banking firm. One of the most successful in the country by now, I think. My mother, a fashion designer. She travels a lot, trying to spread her own independent company through tabloids and small stream magazines". Emily gave off the "bloody stupid" eye roll.

"The last time we actually all got together as a family was back when I was two years old. No clue what it was for though. All I know was that it was right before my dad hired Auntie to look after me. He took a fancy to her primary school teacher background. Figured she'd be perfect playing both mum and dad while the real mum and dad were off fulfilling their careers and pretending they never had a daughter".

She felt Tavra shift and she instinctively pulled her owl buddy in to hold in her arms, cradling her carefully like a soft toy. "Auntie isn't even related to me. Not by blood. But I need her. I love her. She became my parent. I've no clue where my parents are these days because they're never home. No grandparents or actual aunts or uncles either".

Emily's fingers tangled in Tavra's fluffy noggin. Her voice quivered a bit. "Was it you or Liam that once said that no one messes with kin...? Well, I'd once thought about how much I'd love to know what that feels like with my own kin. But I couldn't because... It's never been possible, and it probably never will be".

Her eyes stung and quickly ran her hand across them to catch whatever was ready to spill down her cheeks. "But I have kin here. With Scout. And AngelFyre. They're like sisters to me. You and Simon have become my brother figures. And ever since Gideon's trick with the tree, I've been praying every single night that nothing gets in the way of all of us".

She gazed anxiously into Colin's eyes when his met hers. They were so sweet. So loving.

"I don't want to lose you. None of you. I don't know what I'd do if I had to lose another family".

_{Word Count: 1051}

Stats: Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 9 | Arc Power: 8 | Accuracy: 8
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

If Colin's heart had sunk a moment before, it leapt for joy when Emily revealed a tiny little secret! He felt the thump of it in his chest, and his eyes widened! "--You're everything to me... Everything and more. And I want to see where it takes us next," Emily said. It was barely a whisper, and maybe she didn't mean for him to hear. Yet, his keen ears pick up on many things! Emily actually said he, Colin McCoire, werewolf, Hogwart's silliest boy, was everything to her!

Just the memory of hearing Emily say he meant so much to her buoyed him up. He felt that he could fly forever on those four words alone! Those words he would treasure in his heart for ever!

Those words made the rest of the conversation all the more meaningful to him. It had been a hard question to ask, the one about whether her parents had exchanged her in some public toilet for another kid, and that she somehow ended up with Auntie. It had been on his heart ever since they had talked during the fiery fiasco of the Spring Ball. Colin hung on ever word Emily said. "They ought to have switched me out for thin air the second I came into the world." What on earth did that mean!? Colin knew that thin air was just that --- air. Was she saying her parents didn't even want her to exist? His eyes widened in horror. Muggles really were strange!

Emily sat quietly for a moment. Greebo purred contentedly in the grass between them. The girl looked out over the waters of the lake. Colin watched her face intently.

She began her story. It was very confusing, but Colin tried his best to understand. Her dad was in banking. Colin had only ever been to Gringotts a few times, and all he really knew about it was the huge vaults deep under the ground and that all the bankers were Goblins. Emily didn't look like a Goblin at all. His thought about that turned momentarily to Clark. Bloody little hobgoblin had tried to smear him with dragon dung a few years back. Colin let out a soft snarl. Mind you, the lad really could tuck into the mushrooms when he had a mind to it! And hadn't he downed like forty-seven thousand vials of Darkest Night? Lad should be dead!

Colin sighed. This needed investigating. Was Emily's dad secretly working with Goblins? Did Muggles even know about Goblins? Was he, perhaps, actually a Goblin? And then there was her mum. She said she fashions designers. How did one fashion a designer? What kind of designers did she fashion anyway? Colin knew that people designed things like brooms and mansions and enchanted devices. But, were these designers actually fashioned? He reckoned that God certainly did, but how did Emmi's mum fit into it all?

Oh wait! Colin thought. Stream magazines! So maybe Emmi's mum was one of those bile all ologisticians? That was something muggle! And they worked in streams sometimes! Emmi rolled her eyes. Colin smiled knowlingly.

"I hear ye lass! Muggles weird. So, what kind of small streams does yer ma fashion designs for? Is she like a landscaping witch or something? Only, in Muggledom of course! That's really cool! I watched when a landscaping witch worked on our gardens a few years ago. Ye should have seen the way she malkied all the gnomes that had gotten in! She must have used twelve different spells to slay the lot of em!"

The rest of the story hurt Colin's heart to listen to. His face took on an expression of great confusion. Emmi had hinted at it earlier. That whole bit about them exchanging her for thin air. That really worried Colin. A lot. How could Emmi even think that? She was a totally awesomé girl! Being exchanged for --- nothing? That would mean...

Colin's eyes widened as she spoke about what her parents did. He caught the shakiness in her voice. The tear in her eye. This was bad. There were things you just didn't do to your kid. For starters, making your daughter feel like she'd be better off, well, not even existing! No, Colin couldn't live with that. He nodded when she mentioned about not messing with kin. It hurt his heart to hear her say that would not be possible for her. All she had was Auntie. And she got Emmi from a public toilet somewhere. Colin shook his head. Muggles sure had a lot to answer for!

"I don't want to lose you. None of you. I don't know what I'd do if I had to lose another family," she said. Well, Colin reckoned Emmi could certainly do without Scout. That one was irksome. He still couldn't figure out why she hated him so much. Sometimes he wondered if she'd discovered his secret. Not that secret! The other secret. His lycanthropy. He hadn't actually met anyone who hated werewolves. But if anyone did, surely it was Scout. But Emmi loved her bestie so much. Colin decided that he'd have to put with the bloody Gryffindorque.

Emmi looked into his eyes. Colin had gotten pretty good at reading a person from their eyes. Hers are so full of love. And also... so full of longing. Colin felt it when she looked at him. He scootched over closer.

Greebo meowed irately, for his comfortable spot between the boy and the girl had been disturbed.

Colin kept his gaze fixed on Emmi for a long while. He leaned in close to her. He put his arm around her and drew her close. Love was a choice. True love, that is. An act of the will. It meant you desired for your beloved the best. Not the best things. But to be whole. To live without fear; for the heart to be free. Colin desperately wanted that for Emmi. He hadn't the words for all that quite yet. His strong embrace and leaning his head on hers would have to do.

"You know, Liam is very fond of you. I- You should visit us some time. I know me parents would love you. In fact, Aoife's been pestering me about when I'm going to introduce you to them. After that whole Pureblood engagement ball fiasco ---" Colin rolled his eyes. He'd totally skipped that ball! "--- They realise that their son has his sights set rather higher."

He paused, looking out over the Great Lake.

"I know they'll love you, when ye meet them, Emmi," he whispered softly. Maybe her own parents wanted her to be gone; but his own wouldn't, that much he knew.

@Emily Shephard | @Scout Fu-Hai

June 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire

Tossing her frustration over her parents certainly helped to quell the tension that tightened in the Huffie's chest. Even if Colin did do some strategic coaxing to get the girl talking (even if it was only a harmless question...) Emily figured she would answer Colin no matter what. If he wasn't looking to pull Emily out of the deep of whatever trouble she landed herself in, he was doing it to remind Emily - in a way - that she was always on his mind.

At the same time, anyone would be curious as to why Emily never really divulged on her home life. The reason was simple. There was nothing to truly divulge on other than her parents were workaholic "parents"... In the heaviest of quotation marks.

Colin was a fabulous listener. When it came to Emily, that is. She still wondered if he paid this much attention to any of his classes or the various warnings to stave away threats of detention when he was acting like a mischievous Niffler with bright hair. Emily knew that she could talk to him. It was an easy feat. Almost as easy as reading the phone book backwards.

Emphasis on almost. Because after all that being said, there was still somewhat of a barrier between her and Colin. Emily was Muggle-born. Colin was home grown in the Wizarding world like any other organic vegetable stemming from a rich, magical background. In a vaccum of its own, that posed quite the challenge.

Which is why it made sense when Emily quite naturally gave a subtle "Eh?" glance to him when Colin suddenly began prattling on about Goblins. Clearly somewhere in the middle of Emily's little rant, she had lost Colin with an unprecedented language mix-up where Colin had missed the point completely.

How does AngelFyre cope with this?

A--Ahh... Sorry, maybe I didn't make myself clear..."

Muggle Lexicon 101

"When I say fashion designer, I meant in the sense of clothes and outfits. That's what my mother does. She makes designs for outfits. I guess maybe there's a different term for it in this world that I haven't considered... Oh, and small stream just means something that isn't quite as well known. You know, mainstream and small stream? Something well known and more popular than something that's smaller and not as popular...?"

She looked at Colin for any signs that he was getting any of this. Well, Emily decided it didn't really matter. She trusted him to listen. He listened.

And despite the social slang disconnection, he understood the core of it.

Emily felt an arm take her until she was pressed close and comfortably against him. As if by second nature, Emily leaned into him. Whatever otherworldly force that brought them together so close over the months felt stronger than ever this time. It was love. But for some reason, Emily refused to categorise it.

It was just love. Wholesome, precious love.

Colin pitched the idea of Emily meeting his family. How they would love her. How she'd feel at home with them. "--- They realise that their son has his sights set rather higher."

"Eh--?" Emily looked at Colin, eyes wide. "My friend... Do you mean to say that--?" She cut herself off. Maybe it didn't mean what she thought he meant. Perhaps Colin meant he had his eyes on someone like Emily. Not necessarily Emily herself.

Still... It was hard not to look at it from both sides. Because if Colin really did...

"Colin," she began again. "I regretfully admit that I don't know what, how or why you're so precious to me. I thought I did but somehow things kept changing and I found it hard to re-evaluate and understand them. This feeling... It's something I've never felt before but want to figure out. You're a friend, that I see as a brother, yet acts as something more than that. Maybe it's because you give me the attention I've spent years begging my parents to give me. Maybe it's because you're just so amazing that I'm drawn to the aura you have, the same way that the forces of nature draw me in. I believe it's a combination of all of that, and more... And I want to find out what they are, if it means learning what this feeling is".

A canvas of pink painted along Emily's cheeks as she smiled. "Because right now, all I know is that I need you. I feel safe with you. I want you. I want to be near you over the summer. And if you and your family will let me, then I am pleased to say that I find it impossible to refuse to spend time with you and them".

_{Word Count: 792}

Stats: Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 9 | Arc Power: 8 | Accuracy: 8
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace