Burning the Letter Open Birthday Closed

Colin charged up the last steps towards the Owlery's doorway, his school robes flying behind him like a pair of great black raven wings. He'd always loved it up here, high above the world, up where eagles soared and snakes could only gaze from far below. He hooted gently before he even got to the doorway and one of his favourite school owls floated down from its high perch.

He reached into his pocket, found a mouse and tossed it into the air. The owl gently caught it and gobbled it on the sill near the door. "The usual, friend," he whispered to the owl. "Letter for Ciarán." He fixed his parchment to the owl's leg and watched as she took to the skies above.

It was only then that Colin registered any other non-strigiformian sounds. Someone was --- crying? He walked around the huge bird bath there and found someone was indeed crying!

"Why does he always have to bring her up? Why can't he just leave it alone? I just want to be happy for once," the girl cried out.

Colin's heart broke when he heard her. He had no idea what was going on, but he could feel that she was hurting. He reached out, unsure whether to touch her or just leave quietly. He withdrew his hand. Her wand was out. She might attack him.

Colin wiped his own eyes with the sleeve of his robe, but that didn't stop his own tears. No. Can't leave. No. Not when someone is hurting. No matter who it is who's hurt. Colin knew what it felt like to be alone among hundreds; and although he didn't know the girl at all, he did know that she was alone and needed someone at that moment. Colin realised that, in that moment, he was that someone; and even if there so very little he could really do for her, he would do his best.

Not knowing anything better to do, he just knelt beside the crying girl and did what he'd always done to little Ciarán when she was hurt. He stroked her hair and touched her shoulder. "Are - are you okay, sis?" he said. Colin slid down the wall and sat next to her, put his arm around her shoulders.

@Mei Hagikura

Mei continued to sob. She crumpled the letter in her hand and tossed it to the side. Why did her dad always have to do this? He always brought up her mom. He always brought up the fact that he supposedly missed her. Does he not remember kicking her out of the house multiple times and then guilting her into coming back.

She hadn't been back home to see her dad since she started Hogwarts. If she were to ever go back she would go to her aunt and uncle. They were the the only ones who truly cared about her. She kept her head in her knees and sniffed.

She heard shuffling near her and then someone stroked her hair. They touched her shoulder. "Are - are you okay, sis?" Mei was confused. Who was this person calling her sis? She didn't have any siblings. She looked up to see a person wearing green robes. A slytherin? Since when were slytherins nice? "H-huh? O-oh.....I'm fine....thank you." She wiped her tears quickly. How long had this boy been watching her cry. She felt embarrassed, and her face was already red enough from her crying. Her eyes were also red and her cheeks were quite puffy. She hoped this boy would just take her response and leave.

Word count: 217
Interactions: @Colin McCoire
Mentions: None

The girl looked up, her face red from crying. But also more than just just the crying. Colin wasn't sure why she'd be so red. She couldn't possibly be embarrassed! Right? She hadn't done anything silly or stupid.

He caught the shift of her gaze to his robes. Green. Slytherin. Of course. He'd been in Slytherin long enough to know what the look meant. She probably thinks I'm a real git. She probably thinks I'll spread the story all over the table at dinner. The look stung him.

"H-huh? O-oh.....I'm fine....thank you."

Colin sat next to the girl, leaning against the wall. He wiped the tears from his own eyes as she said that. He looked down at the floor and poked the crumpled parchment with his shoe. He said quietly: "You're not okay. Not really. Look --- you've even got me crying!" He smiled through his own tears.

"I --- I wanted to leave. Well, at first I wanted to --- just let you know I was here. Then I wanted to leave. Your wand was out. I was afraid you might attack me. But." He looked back up into her face. He was resolved. "I couldn't just leave. I don't know why you're here crying --- I don't know what's in that parchment; I don't know who you're talking about --- all I know is that I felt my own heart crack open when I heard you crying. I --- I don't like it when people are hurting. I decided to stay. I don't know if I can do any good. But I'm here." He let out a nervous little laugh. He tapped the Slytherin green of his robes. "Green robes and all."

"Um." He drew in a ragged breath. The sudden shift from high flying elation to unknown heartbreak was a lot to take in! "My name's Colin. What's yours?"

@Mei Hagikura