After School Zoomies!
4 September 2025
THAMP! THAMP! THAMP! THAMP!
WOO! Classes finally finished for the day and Colin scampered away from the crowded corridors, running top speed down the stairs, skipping ever two steps every third time and skipping one step every other time! What a time saver! Greebo was hot on his heels! Colin headed away from the main door of the castle and down the corridor that led towards the back and out into the herbology gardens. He smirked. Greebo knew where they were going and he sped ahead. He reckoned KitKaits would be out here soon enough, talking with all her favourite plants, making sure they all had a good summer! She'd become a good friend, and best of all, she didn't hate werewolves like Scout Fu-Hai did! Bleugh!
Colin skipped along the path, avoiding the greenhouses and potential entanglement with wayward prefects with practiced skill. He crouched down to check an interesting patch of mint. "Not catnip, eh Greebo? Sorry lad!" He leapt up and continued along the garden path. "Honestly! Life is hard enough, innit, without snagging a detention from some jumped up and power hungry ---"
"WHOA! SQUIRREL!" Colin cried.
With a quick and graceful twist of his body, Colin dashed off to the left and rapidly catching up to said squirrel. Colin laughed merrily. Surely that squirrel had no idea! Probably thought it was being chased by some random kid that would be left behind as it playfully zigzagged through patches of herbs and zoomed out into the wilder gardens behind the green houses! HA! Little did it know that it was being hunted by master tracker and bane of all rats and squirrels, Colin McCoire!
The squirrel was canny, however! Perhaps it remembered Colin from last year? He loved playing with sqirrels! But Colin dove to the right, even before the squirrel had made up it's wee acorn befuddled brain to dip to the side! Arms stretched out before him, Colin wiggled through the well kept shrubbery, guiding the squirrel and at last!
"Gotcha ye little mimble-scrimble!"
Colin's deft fingers gently grasped the wee beastie and, squirrel in one hand and squirrel treats in the other, he leapt out of the shrubbery and crouched on the long stone bench, where he laid out the treats for the squirrel to munch. But Colin wasn't alone! Someone else had gotten the idea of heading out to the gardens after class, and it wasn't Kaitlyn! Wasn't Emmi or AngelFyre either. "Ayo!" he said amiably. "I see ye made it back to school in one piece!"
@Olivia Williams || Mentions: @Kaitlyn Connor | @Emily Shephard | @AngelFyre McCubbin
Keep your mind in hell; and don't despair.
Cursa McCoire
Rigel McCoire
After School Zoomies!
It was still early in the semester, but Olivia had already settled into the routine. Waking up without much sleep, eating a quick, small, early breakfast, classes, and then disappearing to a quiet place without people. Today, that place was the greenhouses.
Olivia liked the quiet there and knew when it was quiet. Although Olivia wasn't a star in herbology, she still knew a thing or two about different plants. She often found peace in nature, where she felt she belonged.
As soon as she got out of the castle and the heavy air in the corridors, she felt freer. The air in her lungs was fresh and she allowed herself a small smile. Then she guided her steps towards the greenhouses and the herbology. The birdsong was clear and beautiful, the sun was shining and it was an unusually fine day. On the way there, Olivia glimpsed a few other students who were also enjoying the nice weather, so she automatically retreated to a more private and shady path. She didn't belong in the light.
But when she arrived, she discovered that she was not alone at all. It was a voice that said something. It belonged to a guy. He had white hair and was sitting on a stone bench. It took Olivia a few seconds to understand that it was her he was saying something to.
Olivia took in what he said and it took her a moment to think of an answer. “Um, hi,” she began, smiling a little cautiously, not big enough for her fangs to be visible. “I guess so,” she then answered him. Then she stood silent. She shifted her weight from one foot to another before finally saying. “My name is Olivia, what’s your name?” Then she noticed the cat. “Oh, is that your cat?”
Olivia liked the quiet there and knew when it was quiet. Although Olivia wasn't a star in herbology, she still knew a thing or two about different plants. She often found peace in nature, where she felt she belonged.
As soon as she got out of the castle and the heavy air in the corridors, she felt freer. The air in her lungs was fresh and she allowed herself a small smile. Then she guided her steps towards the greenhouses and the herbology. The birdsong was clear and beautiful, the sun was shining and it was an unusually fine day. On the way there, Olivia glimpsed a few other students who were also enjoying the nice weather, so she automatically retreated to a more private and shady path. She didn't belong in the light.
But when she arrived, she discovered that she was not alone at all. It was a voice that said something. It belonged to a guy. He had white hair and was sitting on a stone bench. It took Olivia a few seconds to understand that it was her he was saying something to.
Olivia took in what he said and it took her a moment to think of an answer. “Um, hi,” she began, smiling a little cautiously, not big enough for her fangs to be visible. “I guess so,” she then answered him. Then she stood silent. She shifted her weight from one foot to another before finally saying. “My name is Olivia, what’s your name?” Then she noticed the cat. “Oh, is that your cat?”
Reducio
@Colin McCoire
| Olivia Williams - Gryffindor | Whether you're a werewolf or human, love is still love. Betrayal is still betrayal. |
After School Zoomies!
Greebo got up and sniffed at the girl. Ever since the first night feast, Colin had absolutely given up on advertising Greebo as a savage fighter. The fact was, he'd hop up into anyone's lap for a snuggle and maybe just possibly a treat! Greebo purred as he bunted the girl's legs happily. He purred loudly.
Colin smiled.
"Olivia," he said softly, remembering that detail. "Aye, that's Greebo! And I'm Colin! He might look all scary and everything, but he's really a snuggle buddy! Well, that's what Emmi says, anyway! Oh! And this is MimbleScrimble!" Colin stroked the squirrel's head. "We've got an arrangement! I chase him around the garden and then he gets The Most Delicious Squirrel Treats Ever!" Colin stared at the girl. She seemed vaguely familiar somehow. He'd probably run into her in the corridors last year. First years tended to get in the way, after all!
But there was something else.
Loose comfy clothing. Nothing special there. Colin always sported a loose fitting white shirt. You just never knew when you had to reach into your sleeve and draw your wand! No, it was more than that. She was covered from her neck down, like she was hiding something. Colin knew folks like that. She wore a bracelet with a silver moon pendant. Colin's eyebrow raised slightly. An interesting choice.
Colin slid from his accustomed crouch, settling into something approaching a seated position. His wolf fang necklace slid out of his partially unbuttoned shirt. He never really bothered hiding his scars. He'd had one over his left cheek since he was ten. And by the next year, his chest and shoulder and neck sported a few more from his fight with Old Three Fangs before his first year at Hogwarts. Colin smirked. And wasn't he wearing the Fourth Fang around his own neck! He took note of the mousey hair and freckles. Brownish eyes. Thin. Hmmm. "Ye'd probably like Emmi! She's all into magical creatures and being outside too! Of course, she's third year now, so gets to take Care of Magical Creatures!"
His gaze drifted away from Olivia. His eyes took in the garden and the assortment of tools and equipment needed to work the herb and flower patches. His nose took int the scents from around. Who'd been here an hour ago, and where they went. Olivia's trail from the castle. His own romp through wildflowers with MimbleScrimble! And indeed the comings and goings of numerous wee beasties that inhabited the garden. Colin smiled. "Really, it's no wonder she likes coming out here! There's so much going on out here ---" Colin's gaze shifted back to Olivia's eyes, boring through them "--- right under our very noses. So what ye out here lass? Do ye like to chase squirrels and marmots, too?"
@Olivia Williams || Mentions: @Kaitlyn Connor | @Emily Shephard | @AngelFyre McCubbin
Keep your mind in hell; and don't despair.
Cursa McCoire
Rigel McCoire
After School Zoomies!
Olivia smiled at Colin and gently petted the cat, whose name was apparently Greebo. She had always had a soft spot for black cats, maybe because people were always prejudiced against them too. Then she sat down next to Colin, slowly as if asking permission. She carefully studied his appearance.
“Wow,” she said, pointing to his collar. “Interesting choice, how did you get that?”
She continued to study his appearance, he didn’t hide his scars. Imagine if Olivia had been like that, not caring about everyone else. Life would have been so much easier then, without everyone’s opinions.
When he mentioned his friend, Emmi, Olivia smiled. “Maybe so, I’m also looking forward to third year when I can start with more interesting subjects,” Olivia said and looked out over the plants.
Olivia felt a little uncomfortable when his eyes bored through hers. It felt like he knew she was hiding something. But how could he?
Then he asked why she was out and if she liked to hunt squirrels. “Well, I find it easy to get too close in the castle,” she said, nodding her head. “I’ve never actually tried hunting one, but I prefer to take care of them than play with them.”
She smiled and tilted her head back, looking up at the sky. The moon was visible, not quite full yet. Then she glanced at Colin again. She really couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew she was hiding something.
“Wow,” she said, pointing to his collar. “Interesting choice, how did you get that?”
She continued to study his appearance, he didn’t hide his scars. Imagine if Olivia had been like that, not caring about everyone else. Life would have been so much easier then, without everyone’s opinions.
When he mentioned his friend, Emmi, Olivia smiled. “Maybe so, I’m also looking forward to third year when I can start with more interesting subjects,” Olivia said and looked out over the plants.
Olivia felt a little uncomfortable when his eyes bored through hers. It felt like he knew she was hiding something. But how could he?
Then he asked why she was out and if she liked to hunt squirrels. “Well, I find it easy to get too close in the castle,” she said, nodding her head. “I’ve never actually tried hunting one, but I prefer to take care of them than play with them.”
She smiled and tilted her head back, looking up at the sky. The moon was visible, not quite full yet. Then she glanced at Colin again. She really couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew she was hiding something.
Reducio
@Colin McCoire I’m so sorry for the long wait!
| Olivia Williams - Gryffindor | Whether you're a werewolf or human, love is still love. Betrayal is still betrayal. |
After School Zoomies!
Colin's eyes defocussed for a long while. A dreamy smile played about his lips. It was a little more than a month since he'd declared his undying love for Emily in the Three Broomsticks. Even the steadily waxing Moon couldn't bring down his mood today! Greebo nudged Olivia's knees and purred contentedly. The girl made herself comfortable next to Colin.
She began to study him. Twas only fair after the way he stared at her earlier. He'd gotten a bit of a reputation for a penetrating gaze, but he really didn't mean anything by it. Well, not usually anyway! But he did have a good reason for it. Colin had found that staring at another kid was a good way to get a sense for what sort they were.
What sort of person is Olivia? That was the question. There was a familiarity about her, but he couldn't quite place it. She asked about his necklace. Colin smirked. He gazed out over the garden. He could practically hear the plants growing. And he could certainly smell the scent of growth. And death. Even plants ate, after a fashion, he'd learned. And some of them had rather curious tastes in dinner!
The necklace.
He wondered if the creature whose tooth it was still felt the pain of its loss. Olivia's question hung in the air between them. It had been an innocent enough question. Most kids thought it was really cool that he wore an actual fang around his neck. Some, naturally suspicious types, assumed it was probably a transfigured chicken bone or perhaps something from Zonkos. It was neither of those things.
Colin made a decision.
He turned back to face Olivia. He lifted up the ivory coloured fang. "Me bestie AngelFyre revealed the last piece of the puzzle during our adventure in the Channel Islands last summer!" he said excitedly. He lowered his voice to little more than a whisper. A glint of sunlight off of Olivia's moon pendant bracelet caught his eye. He had a good feeling about Olivia. Just as he'd had with Quinn and Sophia and Fyre and of course Emmi.
He leaned in closer towards Olivia. He stared into Olivia's eyes. He was sure about her. "I won it!" Colin's smirk turned into a smile. Colin laughed! "Well, Liam and me and our little sister Ciarán!" He paused for a quick breath. "We all have our secrets, Olivia." His pond scum green eyes searched her brown eyes once more, just to make sure. "The truth is, only a couple days before me and Liam --- he's me twin! --- left home for Hogwarts in first year, I got attacked." Another pause.
Olivia's bracelet glinted again.
"By a Werewolf! Got a fair few scars from that fight!" Colin leaned back and gazed out over the gardens again. He thought about what Olivia had said. He'd gotten used to life in the castle, but he had to agree about the closeness of so many kids all living in the same place. Not to mention all the smells! Colin laughed softly. "Do ye know, lass, squirrels don't taste half bad, once ye learn to cook them properly! But Emmi keeps on about how she enjoys caring for magical creatures. I think she'll make a super magizoologist one day!"
@Olivia Williams || Mentions: @Kaitlyn Connor | @Emily Shephard | @AngelFyre McCubbin
Even sorrier about the even longer wait!
Keep your mind in hell; and don't despair.
Cursa McCoire
Rigel McCoire
After School Zoomies!
Olivia just stared at Colin. It couldn’t be true.
“You were attacked? By a werewolf?” she repeated. “So that means… that you’re a… werewolf?” she asked, just to be sure.
She was completely shocked. Of course she knew there were more in the world who were also werewolves, but that she would actually meet one. She had never thought that.
“Colin,” she said carefully. “I’m a werewolf too.”
She paused to see his reaction.
“I was bitten when I was three. My parents and I had rented a cabin in northern Sweden, I lived there before we moved to London. It was a dark night and I had wandered off alone when a werewolf attacked me. I would have died if it hadn’t been for my parents.” She slowly pulled up the sleeve of her oversized knit sweater. “I don’t remember anything from that night, but I have them here. The scars. Everywhere except on my hands and face.” It was the first time she had shown her scars to anyone. They stretched all over her arm. Some newer, some very old.
“I never thought I would meet another… another werewolf.” She looked at him. “Thank you for telling me, thank you for trusting me.” She smiled, this meant more than he could ever imagine.
“You were attacked? By a werewolf?” she repeated. “So that means… that you’re a… werewolf?” she asked, just to be sure.
She was completely shocked. Of course she knew there were more in the world who were also werewolves, but that she would actually meet one. She had never thought that.
“Colin,” she said carefully. “I’m a werewolf too.”
She paused to see his reaction.
“I was bitten when I was three. My parents and I had rented a cabin in northern Sweden, I lived there before we moved to London. It was a dark night and I had wandered off alone when a werewolf attacked me. I would have died if it hadn’t been for my parents.” She slowly pulled up the sleeve of her oversized knit sweater. “I don’t remember anything from that night, but I have them here. The scars. Everywhere except on my hands and face.” It was the first time she had shown her scars to anyone. They stretched all over her arm. Some newer, some very old.
“I never thought I would meet another… another werewolf.” She looked at him. “Thank you for telling me, thank you for trusting me.” She smiled, this meant more than he could ever imagine.
Reducio
@Colin McCoire
| Olivia Williams - Gryffindor | Whether you're a werewolf or human, love is still love. Betrayal is still betrayal. |
After School Zoomies!
Colin smiled. Olivia stared at him. She seemed genuinely shocked by his revelation. He remembered telling Sophia and AngelFyre about his lycanthropy. So far, no one he had told had tried to kill him or anything. Most kids seemed to think it was cool. Olivia didn't flinch or appear to be weirded out. Colin wondered. She just asked to make sure she heard right.
Then it hit Colin.
Her voice lowered, she said in a measured tone: "Colin." Pause. This would either be where she stood up and said wait til my father hears about this, or perhaps --- "I'm a werewolf too."
He met her eyes.
It all made sense now. Long sleeved shirts. Turtle neck jumpers. Silver moon bracelet...
The words sank in. Four simple words. Here was someone who trusted him the same way he had trusted her. Her eyes searched his the same way he knew his had done to so many others. Will you reject me or accept me? Will you turn on me now that I've made myself vulnerable? Colin knew his own answer to those questions. He knew he'd never have the heart to reject or to turn against someone. Unless they were some dead thing like a hag doll, a monster sent out to kill.
Heh.
His expression belied a brief moment of turmoil. For wasn't it just such a monster that was sent out to kill him? And then Liam? Somewhere, deep down, he knew that his enemy had once been a boy the same age as Olivia. Was he received with trust? Or was he rejected and abused?
Colin sighed.
Only the future would know the ultimate course of their lives, regardless of what the divination books said. Colin knew only that he would do what he could to prevent any younger wolves from turning into real monsters. At first Colin didn't say anything. There was really no need.
He undid a couple shirt buttons and drew his collar aside. The scars of four big puncture wounds on his right shoulder were now clearly visible. Claw marks along his chest were pale, almost silvery in the afternoon light. Rolling up his sleeves, he showed her his arms. Not all of the scars were wolfy in nature. Duelling, broom racing, and just being a McCoire boy had conferred a number of small scars over the years.
Colin nodded, encouraging Olivia to go on if she wanted.
And she did. Colin listened intently, scanning the girl's face as she spoke. He took in every word. Colin pondered how similar their tales were: kids wandering out from the relative safety of home and parents. His thought flitted towards Emily. Home, maybe, but parents? Olivia's parents came to her rescue. As had Da and everyone in the household when it came to old Aunt Aggy's attack on Liam. Would Mr and Mrs Shephard have gone out to save Emily? Colin knew he certainly would have! Without hesitation, too. Of course, they were two great Muggles, and might just try to pet the werewolf...
Wait.
No. Petting the werewolf is exactly what Emmi would try to do! He wondered if her dangerous hobby regarding evil creatures and monsters had to do with being Muggleborn? Anyway. Mr and Mrs Williams took care of business! Olivia pushes the sleeve of her jumper up. Colin instantly understood. "Your Ma and Da were very brave! Looks like yer wolf was gonna eat you!" He leaned in for a closer look. "Bit marks. Scratches. Gouges. Gosh."
Olivia seemed relieved to have told her story. Colin smiled. "Of course!" he said. "I've got a pretty good sense of who's trustworthy, and who isn't!" He laughed. "Anyway! We need to stick together! It's one thing for ordinary folks to study magical races; but it's another being one. Who knows? Maybe there's, like, some kind of place where werewolves can go in safety? There's so many out there who've never even heard of wolfsbane, right?"
@Olivia Williams |@Emily Shephard | @AngelFyre McCubbin
Keep your mind in hell; and don't despair.
Cursa McCoire
Rigel McCoire