Finished Go to the Ball With Me?

Will you be my ball date?

The way Clair's blue eyes lit up as she turned caused Colin to entirely forget about the presence of the Gryffindor girl and indeed everything else going on in the corridor! His heart beat faster and his mind raced! There was the girl he wanted to ask to the Ball! There was no way he was going to let her slip away like last fall! Oh, the memory of that horrible day of the frog catching errand was burned into his mind and he did not want a repeat.

A part of his mind knew that she was his girlfriend and wouldn't likely go with anyone else. But another part of him knew that they weren't married --- well, not quite yet anyway! --- and she was free to go with a friend. Or maybe even them and friends like Fyre Angel and Simon could go together. But even so, Colin was determined to ask his girl, even though he had almost managed to screw it up just now!

He shook his head like a dog. That calmed him down significantly and allowed him to focus. Time to focus lad! he said to himself. He'd been planning what he was going to say all morning during History of Magic. And to be fair, Professor Lennox made it extremely difficult to not pay attention in her class! But Colin had to focus on Clair. School had been on for more than a fortnight and the date of the Ball was fast approaching! And now was the time to put his plan in motion.

And that plan was quite simple really:

1. Find Clair!
2. Ask Clair!

Yeah. Keep it simple and nothing at all can go wrong!

Of course, he'd already almost asked Ying by mistake. Oof! He hoped that she would understand! She had given him a really big smirk, so clearly she heard him and Colin only hoped that she would realise it was a mistake!

"Clair! I was wondering ---!"

Oof! Clair rushed over, calling his name and gave him a big hug! Colin still wasn't quite used to this as for most of last year Clair seemed to follow up any hand holding with hand sanitising! But he returned her hug blissfully, hoping that no Prefects would catch them. Oh. Wait! Clair is a Prefect! Reckoning that it was safe to hug a Prefect in the corridor, he tightened his grip on her.

"Ohh! So you are Clair" Ying said. Colin turned his head, suddenly remembering the presence of his Gryffindor friend. His lips formed a perfect O of surprise. Crud! Was she going to say something? Her smirk really had him worried! He knew she could be a mischievous girl, and he wondered if Clair had noticed. Thankfully she let him off easy! “See you later!” Ying said to Colin and gave Clair a wink, before turning away.

When Clair released him, she said: "I need your help with something."

"Oh! Of course!" he replied. Colin smiled. He wondered what it was she could possibly need help with. She was easily one of the smartest girls he knew, and for her to need his help really made him feel good. He stood a little straighter and stuck out his chest a little. "What is it Clair? Cos I was wondering..."

"Well, my wand was being sooooo annoying and kept failing."

"Aw, that sucks! I know mine does that too sometimes!"

"Such a simple spell; it's honestly very embarrassing!"

"Of course I'll help ye, Clair! That's why I'm here!" Colin felt like he was soaring on his broom or a magic carpet! "So, I was wondering..."

"Shush Colin." Clair shoved a small bag into his hands, not letting him get more than a word in edgewise. "Please fix it fast, if word got around that I can't even do a paper mending charm I would simply die!" Clair seemed so earnest that Colin tried to fix the paper really quickly! It must be very important, he thought.

Colin reached up his sleeve and slid his wand from its sheath strapped to his right arm. Tipping the contents of the pouch out into his right hand, he realised that he'd just run out of hands to fix the thousands of wee paper shards with!

"Um."

He wasn't quite sure what to do with the bag. His first instinct was to hold it in his teeth, but that wouldn't work at all! Any spell he tried would come out like 'RFFRRPRRPR' and he would probably just end up setting himself on fire. Again!

Colin shrugged and set Clair's bag carefully on top of his head. Once sure that it would stay, he could focus on the magic! He readied his wand and took a deep breath. He knew it wouldn't do to fail right in front of Clair, so he took a moment to calm himself. He knew the spell. He'd worked it loads of times before too! He felt confident.

Colin raised his wand and spoke.

"YEEEEEEEK!!!"

Colin felt two thumbs jamming themselves into his waist on either side! He felt the presence behind him! Colin's body jerked reflexively, but he managed to not spill any of the bits of paper.

"Liam McCoire! Will ye quit it!?" Colin said without even turning to face his twin. Dratted Liam would have to show up at just this moment!

"Right. Let's see yer magic then lad! And don't forget to ask that bonny lassie of yours to the ball. Ye've only been gushing about it for the last month!" Liam sniggered.

"Whisht!" Colin hissed. He backed into Liam to shove him out of the way before casting the spell. He made a tight spiral like wand movement and said: "REPARO!" He could feel the magic swirl down his left arm and into his hawthorn and unicorn. He watched as all the little bits of paper swirled up between him and Clair before a reasonably well repaired piece of paper drifted back down onto his hand.

Colin loved magic!

He held the paper out to Clair, looking into her beautiful and complexly blue eyes. "Here Clair! All fixed up! So, I was wondering..."

@Clair Fernandez || @Fang Hui-Ying

"Yeah. Hey Liam!" Colin said. He could always tell when his twin was behind him. Probably making faces! "Don't ye hae a class to go to or a book to rebind, lad?" Colin winced inside. Sometimes the Slytherin in him came on too strong. And anyway, didn't Colin himself just love rebinding a worn out old book? He heard Clair say 'oops'. He watched as the paper fluttered to the floor. It only had a bit of writing on it. Ignoring Liam, Colin tried to crouch down to snag the paper, but Clair beat him to it.

Will you

Will you something something, Colin tried to read what was written there. He thought maybe it was private at first, so hadn't taken the opportunity to read it before. His eyes caught on Clair. Her long brown hair slipped down her shoulders as she got the paper. He loved the way it did that.

BAP!

Liam gave Colin a thump on his shoulder. "Aye, laddie, A do hae class, and so do you! And ye too Clairie!"

"Oh! Right! Magical Creatures! I don't want to be late for that! It's my favourite, right after astronomy and history and charms and...oh! Before I forget Clair! I wanted to ask you if..." Colin's quick eyes noted a strange shift in Clair's expression. He wondered what could have caused that?

"Don't be dafty Cailean! Magical Creatures is tomorrow!" He gave Colin another wicked poke in the ribs!

"YOW!!" Colin nearly doubled over with the tickles! He really hoped that Liam wouldn't teach Clair all his tickly spots! He gave his brother his strongest glare before turning back to Clair. He'd quite forgotten which part of The Plan he was on now, what with all the interruptions! He was still quite certain that Magical Creatures was today. He was about to blurt something out when Clair smiled and said something first.

"I was wondering something as well..."

"Oh! Me too Clair! I--- but you go first!" Liam snorted and Colin shoved him away. "Or...let's say it really loudly at the same time and see if we can figure out what each other said! Ready? One ... two ... three ...!"

@Clair Fernandez

"Sure on three. Okay!"

His girl caught on to the game real quick! Colin smirked as they began the counting. There was no way Clair was going to get in a word before him this time! There was no way Liam could interfere either! This was a Game, and you had to play by the rules. The Plan would be executed! It always took Colin a while to get back on track once he was distracted. And Clair was a really big distraction for Colin! But he had managed.

Even as he suggested the game, the thought struck him. The words on that paper. His heart could see them clearly, even if his mind couldn't quite make sense of them. The thought had to be side tracked for a moment. The counting game had begun!

ONE one!

A wee voice mocked him: what if she says no? You're right: you two aren't married or anything! What if she goes with her friend Simon? That was silly! Naturally, Fyre Angel will go with Simon!

TWtwoO!

Wait. That note. I swear one of the words on there was "ball!" Was Clair playing a game all along!? She is a Ravenclaw, Colin thought. And very smart. Whoa. That note --- Clair was perfectly capable of "repairing" the paper herself! Colin's eyes widened, even as he stared into hers! She is the Game Master! Colin realised his little plan paled in comparison to his Ravenclaw's machination! Bloody hell, she should have been the Slytherin! Welp!

TtHhRrEeEe!

Too late to worry now!

"Will you GO go tTOo the THE BbAaLllL with mWIe ME!?"

Time slowed. Again, Colin and Clair were in a tiny world all their own. And then the game was done --- the words were out! Colin stared at Clair. His brain was furiously trying to work out what it had just heard. His heart patiently waited. It already knew what she had said.

Colin's lips moved silently as he worked out what Clair had said. Her Cumbrian accent was so lovely! Will you go to the ball with me? It was exactly what she'd already written in the note. His heart leapt as his brain caught up to reality! She'd asked first!

"YES!! OWOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Colin hopped like a mad thing as he gave his reply! He danced around Clair and took her up into a huge hug of his own, spinning them around like a top! It seemed so natural to him now! Her eyes sparkled as he said yes, and he was pretty sure his own did too! Gosh! If it were so easy for girls to come up with such elaborate plans, and carry them off so well, Colin thought he might just let Clair ask next time too! She was so good at it!

@Clair Fernandez

Colin watched Clair as she turned and left. His heart was still racing! Her hair was a mess. Everything had gone so smoothly! Colin smiled. Everything inside him felt warm and full of energy. Every detail of what had just happened was being sealed within his memory, and his heart overflowed.

Colin stood there. In the middle of the corridor. There were fewer kids now as the time for the next class drew closer. At last there were only a couple stragglers left. Mostly first years whose heads were as lost in thought and wonder as his own. A couple of older kids heading to the library or outside passed by, barely noticing how the reality around them was slowly reasserting itself around the third year boy.

Colin became aware of sound again.

A sharp report, as of something being slapped. No. It was the slow clapping of hands. The sound came from behind him. The memory of sound returned as well, of a voice. Clair's voice. She was saying something. Not being late for class. Yeah that could wait.

As if from a depth, Colin drew up the memory. "Outfits? Wait. Wh--- What outfits? Clair?"

Colin turned but Clair was long gone, along with everyone else.

Colin blinked. The last of the clapping sound reverberated from the smooth stone of the walls. Liam. Of course.

"Brilliant! Ye nearly bowl over an entire class of first years wheeling yerself and Clair about and all ye can remember is 'outfits'?" Colin felt himself become gently embraced by his twin and led down the corridor towards their class. "Of course 'outfits' lad! Ye don't think ye're going to the ball dressed for the hunt do ye?" Colin caught the nuanced emphasis on the word hunt. He rather thought going dressed for the hunt would be fun! "Come along lover boy! We'll get ye kitted out proper!" Colin couldn't help but smile as he let Liam lead the way.

@Clair Fernandez
Colin has left the thread.