Missed you PV Colin McCoire Closed

Attire: Usual weekend kit: Slytherin pride, neck ring, kilt, no shoes. Nothing fancy!

Reducio

Another Christmas holiday at Hogwarts was finally at an end. Colin had been in the library this particular January afternoon. There was always something interesting to read, and not having anything else on his schedule until after dinner (Tea and chat and cards with Snek Squad) Colin thought that some time spent reading and doodling surreptitiously in one of the library books was time well spent! In this particular case, it was a history book. Colin wondered, as he crew a tiny heart between two Cs, why it was wizarding history books were so full of sh---

"OH CRAP!!" Colin whispered harshly. His pocket watch, lying accusatorially on the table in front of him, announced in no uncertain terms that he was now very nearly late for dinner! He stood quickly. "OW! Bloody---" With a soft thud, Colin's knobby right knee banged into the heavy wood of the reading table. He opened his satchel, grabbed his wand and said: "Pack!" All the books, random bits of this and that, sheaves of parchment, watch, and notebooks all neatly zipped right into his satchel. "Aw, that's such a brilliant charm. I love magic!" he said as he arranged his kilts, slung his satchel over his shoulder and headed down towards the great hall.

He skipped along the corridors, popping a couple random first years on the head and laughing gently as went. He knew Loops had gone home, and he was looking forward to catching up with him especially. Of course Clair had gone home too. He was hoping to catch sight of her over at the Ravenclaw table. As he came charging through the small hall he thought he might howl for her, just as he had during the start of term feast! He smirked. That would be sooo cool!

"Yeeep!" Colin squeaked as he slipped through the door to the great hall, and almost ran into an older student. "Whoa, close one lad!" he said to himself. His head turned to check out the Ravenclaw table, but it was difficult to make out if she was there or not. And as he turned back, he caught sight of someone right in front of him! Colin skidded to a stop, the momentum carrying him forward just enough --- his eyes widened! "Bloody hell!" A look of surprise came over his face. His green eyes looked into the two loveliest blue eyes he'd ever seen! Somehow, by luck or minor miracle Colin didn't know, his forward momentum stopped at just the right moment!

The tip of Colin's nose just dooped Clair's! Colin smiled! "Clair! You're here!" He blinked in shock as he reestablished his balance. "I mean! I know you're here --- train came back today and all. But you're here!" He nodded towards the Slytherin table. He blinked again. Something was different about Clair. Well, first of all, she was here at the Slytherin table. His bright green eyes scanned her all over. Robes. Check. Ravenclaw. Check. Clair. Check. Sky blue eyes. Check. Hair. Ch---checkers and cheese! She'd done her hair in a braid!

"Um!" Colin gulped. "Clair, um, do you want to sit with me?" Colin nodded towards a place against the wall. He waited to see if she'd sit or just wanted to say hi before going to her own table. Colin's breath caught suddenly. His heart skipped a beat. I don't think she came over here --- waited here --- just to say hi...

@Clair Fernandez

Clair had put her hand on Colin and pushed him back gently. He hadn't meant to almost slide right into her, but, well, at least it wasn't Opeila or Cassandra! When she touched him, though, he felt a shiver run down his back. Whoa. Her hand was warm and strong. He could feel that much through his plaid shirt. But, he felt much more than just a warm hand. It was such an --- odd --- feeling. Not bad. No, it felt nice. But not like when anyone else pushed him.

He gave her a slightly bemused smile as she sat down next to him. "I knew I'd find you here!" she said. Colin wondered at that. He wondered where else she could've looked. His heart began to speed up a bit. Clair was actually sitting next to him! Even if there was no food, still, this would be the best dinner ever, just to be with her! "I'm assuming you've guessed I did not troop through the whole of Hogwarts' students to say hi?"

Huh. What?

"Er." Colin blinked several times. She didn't just want to say hi? Colin thought frantically! What does she mean, lad!? Did we miss something? Why else would she be here!? Is it her birthday or something!? Girls always like it when we remember things like that!? RIGHT?

"Um!" Colin had no idea why Clair had come over to the Slytherin table to wait for him. As far as Colin could tell, the mind of a girl was far more illegible than the most inscrutable rune text ever written. Mind you, he was very happy she was here with him! And he certainly had reasons that he wished were the reason for her sudden appearance. Indeed, they were among the most desperate wishes of his heart. He scratched his head. Maybe she wanted --- nah, that couldn't be!

Clair's eyes were so very blue! His breath caught. She's looking right into our eyes! Blue meeting green! She's never done this before! Maybe --- whoa. Could it be? Colin blinked. Maybe she really does, after all this time, could it be true that she likes ---

"So what did you do over your holidays?" she asked. Colin was shaken from his line of thought. Holidays? She turned to face him as they talked, one leg on either side of the bench. He smiled and turned to face her, mirroring her posture.

"Oh! Christmas was good here! Kind of quiet, though. Nice for sneaking!" He gave Clair a little smirk. "Me and Niffler and Rina ---" he nodded towards a couple first years a little way up the table "--- we stayed up aaaalll night long Christmas Eve waiting for Santa. Cos Jannette had a brilliant and cunning plan to catch him! She made some treats and put them out by the Christmas tree and she wrote a letter and everything!" Colin's eyes lit up at the recollection. "The only problem with the plan was, well, we all fell asleep early is the Snek Fort! So! We never got to actually see Santa, but when I woke up, someone had tucked us all in real snug. That must have been Santa! Plus! All the treats were gone. And," Colin's voice lowered to a whisper as he leaned in closer to Clair. "And, the letter was gone!" He nodded as if he'd just proven Gampf's Law to be utter nonsense.

"And yeah, I did more than just a little sneaking! Lassie, there were practically no Prefects around! Hm. That was kind of nice, but, really it's more fun to sneak around when all the Prefects are here." He nodded. "Mostly, though, I just hung out in the library or went outside..." Colin's voice trailed off. For one, he was getting dangerously close to remembering, again, that this was his first Christmas without Liam. And also, she was gone for Christmas. He really did miss seeing Clair around. Missed her presence. If it weren't for Christmas Eve in the Snek Fort with his friends, Colin realised he probably would have just hidden down in the deep dungeons somewhere to cry.

For another, Clair didn't really seem all that interested in talking about Christmas holidays. She just let him talk, but he realised that she wasn't answering. She wasn't telling him about what she did or who she was with. That was odd. Very odd.

Something was up.

Colin looked around. No one seemed to be paying them any attention. He turned back to Clair. She was smirking at him. Her lips were curled into a mischievous grin and Colin knew that look very well! It had been on his face often enough! She's up to something lad! his brain screamed at him.

"I definitely did not just come to say hello," she said as she leaned in closer.

Colin panicked! His eyes widened and darted from side to side. SEE!!?? Up to something! She's a Ravenclaw, lad! Be very careful what you say! "I --- You --- Wh---?" Colin's brain decided to zone out and he fell silent for a moment. He focused on Clair's eyes. They were so blue! So beautiful! Like the sky. Eyes of Sky for real this time. Wait. Colin blinked slowly. A part of Colin's mind awoke in that moment. It had been in slumber, but chose now to arise and incant a rune.

overhead and rimmed by night
there the stars that shine by night
sky of deeping blue

here on earth they mirror blue
gems cerule of welkins hue
blue her eyes of sky

Colin took a breath. He blinked and shook his head like a dog to clear his mind. "W---Wait. You definitely did not just come to say hello?" Colin tilted his head to one side, mulling Clair's words over. "Did not come to say hello. Wait. That means --- there's another reason?" What could it be? Is it her birthday? Is she pulling a prank?

Colin narrowed his eyes, trying to gauge what Clair was getting at. No, not a prank. But a game...maybe? "You didn't come to say hello. That's true --- you didn't say hello. You said you knew where to find me! Right? Okay. You didn't come here to talk about Christmas, because, well, you haven't said anything about your holiday. I think --- you came here to --- aarrrgh!! You're teasing me!" Colin laughed and slapped his bare thigh. "That's what you're doing! You came over here to tell me you came over here for some reason; but you're not going to tell me what you came over here to come over here about!"

Colin touched his finger to his lips, reviewing what he just said. "That didn't make any sense! But it kind of does!" He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest; he gave her his own cheeky grin. Clair is deffo up to something, Colin lad. She's wants to play a game? Okay, let's play! But it's not the game she's after. Colin let out a breath.

He had the feeling that Clair was going to reveal something that would change his life --- change both of their lives. He didn't dare say that, though. Colin really liked --- no, loved --- Clair. As best a twelve year old can! But she hadn't really made any indication at all that she'd noticed him. They were friends. He was becoming worried that perhaps he was wrong about her. That had weighed on him. That was the other thing he spent much of his time working on --- would Clair be freaked out if he straight up told her how he felt? Would she run away and never talk to him again?

He'd have to wait and see what the next move would be in Clair and Colin's chess game!

@Clair Fernandez

Colin laughed when Clair said she'd wished she had stayed at school over Christmas. "That would have been soooo cool! We could've explored all kinds of places together!" he said. And yeah it would have been --- Colin remembered that he and Clair had originally considered a plan for him to visit her family over Christmas. But that plan got squashed by Colin's parents. Oh well! What was important, in Colin's mind right now, was that he and Clair were here, now, together.

Even if the Ravenclaw girl was playing a game with him!

Colin listened as she talked. Clair was really easy to listen to. There was something about her personality, her character, that really attracted Colin. She was genuine. She didn't pretend to be someone else. She was always just --- Clair. He caught a couple curious words. Think things over. Wait. What did she have to think over?

Colin panicked for a moment. His eyes widened slightly. He didn't miss anything she had just said, did he? He didn't think so! She was talking about her family and then, BANG![/i], she's thinking things over? His panic only deepened when she paused. Like, if you're thinking over which assignment to work on first, you don't pause, right? You just go right into it, right? Like I enjoy astronomy and charms soooo much! But I had to think over which to do first.

And her pause seemed to last --- for --- ever!

Colin thought he would die if she didn't say something! She came over to talk about something else? I was right! There's another reason! Colin's heart pounded suddenly! Clair paused again. Colin died again! What could she possibly mean? Dare he even hope she would say it ---?

"But if your busy I can come back later, and y'know talk at a time that suits you better."

Colin nearly exploded! "NOOO! Don'tgoawayI'mnotbusylet'stalknow!!!" Colin's words all flowed out at once and even he couldn't understand them! "Um! I mean! I---Er, I'm not busy now! I'm never busy! I mean! I am sometimes! But not now! Er!"

Colin shook his head frantically, sending his hair flying about. The last thing Colin wanted was for Clair to get up and go away. He looked at her, his eyes pleading with her not to go!

"There is something that I need to say now, or I'll never be able to say it."

Oh my God! Colin's eyes widened even more. She's gonna say it! She hates me! I know it! All the darkness inside tried to make him feel horrible, to get up and run away, to tell Clair that yeah he was really busy and would talk to her in like ten years!

Colin noticed that he had mirrored Clair's posture. He too was sitting with his hands resting on the bench as he faced her. He wondered about that. It felt right. Like they were opening the same book and turning to the same page in the same chapter. Yes. It felt right. He was attuning himself to Clair, and she was doing the same towards him.

But that's not what she said! She didn't say she hated him! The darkness quailed and subsided. She closed her eyes, but Colin's remained open. "I understand if you don't have the same feelings but..." Oh my! Colin's breaths came heavy. This can't be happening! She's actually --- Clair --- CLAIR!! Please say it! Please say you like me, even just a little bit?

Clair spoke very softly. Like it was her own heart speaking: "But while I was away and was unable to see you I realized that I.. I, have... Feelings, for, um, you. I understand if you don't feel the same way, but I felt you should know, because I would want to know."

Colin's eyes were on Clair as she spoke. Every single word she said went straight into his heart and seared itself there. His heart and his soul took flight! Her eyes were still closed. He wondered why. Was she afraid? Did she think he would laugh at her? He knew she was a very brave girl, probably the bravest he knew. How could he laugh at her? Hadn't he already said he loved her? True, she didn't hear him then, but at least he knew in his own heart that he would be brave enough to tell her that.

But for right now, Clair's words sunk into his brain and for right now, there was only thing Colin could possibly do! He didn't care who heard him or who watched or what they might say. Colin couldn't help it! He exploded. He jumped up onto the bench and shouted for joy!

YEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!
SHE SAID IT!!! CLAIR LOVES ME AND I LOVE CLAIR!!!
OWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Colin flopped back down onto the bench, literally vibrating with excitement and energy! He looked into Clair's sky blue eyes. His vision was blurred --- he knew there were tears in his own eyes he was so very happy! She just said it! Right out of nowhere! His twelve year old heart barely knew what to do, except pound in his chest!

Colin wiped his eyes on his sleeve. "Um!" After his shouting and carrying on, his voice now came out very soft and quiet. He blushed deeply and closed his eyes. "Umm...I---Clair---I feel the same way. I have since last summer, Clair! At the race! I saw you and I knew that I would l---"

The L word! Colin stumbled! Was that a step too far? Clair didn't use the L word after all. The darkness chided him. See? You're such a stupid boy! You're just twelve! What do you know of love?

Colin shivered slightly. Well, she said she had feelings for him, right? That took courage. That was something they shared in common. Colin knew he had to say it, and it might as well be now! He too took a deep breath before pressing on. "I---I knew then that I liked you --- no." Colin's voice lowered to a whisper, but he kept his green eyes on her blue eyes. "I knew that I loved you. A---And if it's okay, Clair, I---I'll love you more. Um. Maybe just a bit at a time?"

@Clair Fernandez

Colin hadn't been this truly happy in such a long time! For what seemed to Colin to be a long while, he just stared into Clair's eyes. He soaked in everything about her from the way she had her hair braided, to the tilt of her eyebrows. Even the way she was sitting before him. He wondered if she was nervous at all.

Colin's heart was still pounding. Every future dream he had, every single thing he ever wanted to say to Clair came rushing into his brain all at once. He hardly knew where to start, but fortunately Clair said something first. She said: "Well I can't stop you can I?" Colin smiled just as she did. Why would anyone want to stop love? "I won't try to stop you either."

In that moment, everything changed. The world wasn't just him surrounded by friends and classmates and teachers. The inner world where he stood, there was now someone with him. Just as he stood with Clair in her own world. Whatever might happen next, Colin knew that a kind of bond had just been made. Fragile and its powers untested, but a bond different in nature from friendship or fraternity.

The realisation hit Colin that he had no idea what one was even supposed to do when a girl said she liked you! His left hand decided that for him, reaching out towards Clair. He took her right hand in his. It was strong and warm. Colin smiled at Clair and looked up from their hands to her eyes. "I---You really just made me so happy Clair! I don't know what's going to happen in the future, but whatever happens, I just want you to know this isn't a feeling --- not just a feeling. It's my choice too. Whatever happens to us, I won't ever stop loving you."

Colin looked around the hall suddenly, realising he must have made a scene. He blushed deeply.

@Clair Fernandez

She didn't yank her hand away! Colin's heart soared over the Moon! Clair actually held his hand! Oh my goodness! Colin would never ever wash this hand again, not after it held that of his beloved!

He nodded solemnly as she spoke. He knew very well that, at the very least, he and Clair shared the pain of loss. Her ma, his brother. Colin was certain that together they would overcome the trauma. They'd be unstoppable!

Gosh! Colin smiled at Clair. He'd actually said the words! The --- the L-word --- love. He wondered how she'd take that. "I have to go now, but maybe we could talk another time?" she said.

Colin stood up as Clair did. "Aye, lass! I --- er --- I have to get to my own table too!"

A few snickers from fellow Slytherins reminded him that he was, in fact, already at the Slytherin table. Clair waved at him and he sat back down to watch the Ravenclaw girl head back to her place. Colin let out a big puff of breath. His dinner entirely forgotten, and likely picked over by hungry housemates, Colin wondered again how Clair took his pronouncement.

After a short while, Colin got up. Without saying a word to anyone, he left the hall. For once in his life, he didn't need to ponder some imponderable or consider anything deep. For once, he knew that he meant exactly what he had said. Whatever would happen in the future, he would surely love Clair for ever.

@Clair Fernandez
Colin has left the thread.