The Great Book Swap! OPEN

13 March 2026

THAMP!! THAMP!! THAMP!!

Two pairs of feet ran through the corridors of Hogwarts, up the grand stair case, through some more corridors, and along a high gallery filled with wizarding portraits. "Slow down you two maniacs!" Shouted one particularly grumpy old wizard. "Oh shutit you!" cried another; "They only live once you know!" A third one retorted: "Back in our day, they'd've been yeeted off the astronomy tower! Kids these days!"

Colin and Liam paid them no mind. They were on a Very Important Mission! Not defending Hogwarts today from the eternally grimpy-grumpy Liche King, but a vitally important meeting of the Literature Club! "WHOA CAIL! This is our turn-off!" Liam called as he tried to shove Colin towards the rapidly approaching slit between the two stone pillars that marked one of the four-hundred eighty-three short cuts the boys knew to reach the second floor class rooms.

"YEEEP!" Colin squeaked as he stuck out his left hand, just in time to grasp the narrow pillar, and his right hand to grab Liam by his white shirt! Both boys' satchels went bouncing to one side as the pair spiralled around the pillar and disappeared into the hidden corridor! Twas dimly lit and rather dusty. There were a few footprints in the dust, including unshod pairs matching their own, revealing that the way was somewhat well known.

"I kenned we shouldn't've taken the long way out of divination, laddie! We're already late as it is, what with being held back after class!"

"Honestly, Liam! It wasn't my fault those dodgy tea cups cracked! They must be a hundred years old!" Colin retorted. The boys turned quickly to check the ancient marks carved into the rough stone. Second floor dead ahead and to the right! Colin and Liam spilled out of the alcove that guarded the entrance to the secret passage, skirted by the suit of armour that watched over the corridor. They spread their joyful chaos among the first years who were still loitering in the corridor after classes. "WOTCHAWOTCHA!! Coming through! Mind yer Pease and yer Queues!"

Several poor first years got caught between Colin and Liam, making for an instant game of hallway hurling! Liam sent one hapless firstie right into the midst of a group of too serious looking seventh years. Undoubtedly planning the downfall of wizardkind, Colin thought. "Brilliant, Liam! That's extra points that is!" Colin's own shot on goal failed, but it was still great fun to watch as his own firstie rocketed into another firstie, bounced off each other and landed on their bums wondering what the haitch eye double hackle Styx (as AngelFyre so often said) just happened to them!

"Destination directly ahead, Cail! Though I'm sure we missed most of the meeting!" Liam cried.

One after the other, the twins whipped around the corner of the huge wooden door into the classroom. "Liam! Ye ken that a wizard is never late! He arrives precisely when he means to do!" Colin retorted as he flew around the door post and into the classroom.

"EMMIEMMIEMMI!!! OWOOOOOOOOO!" he howled across the space! Both boys charged straight for the girl in question, Emily Shephard! It looked like the meeting was already well under way. Simon was there, and Kit Kaits, and Other Emi, and Pam Graham, and a girl Liam said was in his House, Ophélie. Colin hopped up onto a chair next to Emily and settled into a crouch whilst Liam flopped into another chair.

For what seemed like hours, Colin gazed into Emily's eyes. Then he smiled, giving her a nose doop! Then he smirked. Liam rolled his eyes and muttered: "Oh dear!" Colin gave Emily a quick kiss on her temple, before blushing slightly. Colin loved the smell of her hair. Often it smelled of the herbology greenhouses or the gardens around the enclosures and barns of the care of magical creatures area.

"Heyo, everyone!" Liam said. "Sorry we're just a tad late!" Colin laughed softly. Of course, they were totally late!

"We did bring some books, though!" Colin continued. He rummaged around in his satchel and managed to bring out a copy of Watchers Without. "This one is sooooo cool, mates! It's about a kid who comes over from Ilvermorny, only she's like a dark queen or something, cos she opens up this queer spatial portal down in the deep dungeons and all these dark creatures come flooding out into Hogwarts! And it's up to the Four Houses gang to put a stop to them before everyone gets torn to shreds and eaten!"

"And I brought Time Capers" said Liam. "It's a mystery book about these aurors who've somehow gotten a time turner and they have to go around solving mysterious disappearances and disquieting murders!"

@Emily Shephard | @Simon Kincaid | @ | @Kaitlyn Connor | @Emiline Hunter | @Pamela Graham | @Ophélie Stardust