1 July 2024

Colin touched his chest and thought of the words that he had taught Clair...

After a long and crazy third year at Hogwarts, Colin felt a sense of relief. Mostly it was good crazy! Liam was back at school, so of course, the unstoppable chaos twins picked up where they'd left off at the end of their first year. There was just something so awesome about being magical and being a twin and being a werewolf all wrapped into one! And on top of that, the youngest McCoire twins started Hogwarts too, and one of them was a wolf to boot!

Four times the chaos!

As the Hogwarts Express sped through the Scottish and then English countrysides, Greebo stretched out on the seat while Liam was regaling Ciarán and Lorcan with stories and teaching them games which gave Colin time to think back. Of course, there was no way Colin could ever forget how he and his dearest love, Clair, had done the binding mark together!

Colin leaned back into the seat and closed his brilliant green eyes. As the somewhat goofy 'Clair smile' spread across his face, his mind flew back to those days. It was Clair who had come up with the idea and had studied the magic required to actually bind them together. Colin's heart thumped at the recollection! Even though she had him think about it first, he knew there would be no way he could say no to his beautiful and smart Ravenclaw! He could still feel the sensation in his skin as she traced the Moon and Wolf onto the middle of his chest, right over his heart. Colin knew that if he died today or two hundred years from now, his last words would be "I love you Clair! And I always have!"

In between all the broom races, Colin had landed himself in several duels, quidditch games, gobstones, study sessions, and the Fall Ball with Clair! Colin sighed. That was the best ball ever! He and Clair spent the evening kissing on a boat in the lake while, according to the stories, all around them kids were drowning and being eaten by grindylows! Honestly, he'd thought later, some kids should really stay out of the lake! Hogwarts's lake could be a really dangerous place after all!

And speaking of the lake! Oh, it was so grand to have Liam back with him! They took up early morning zoomies together, running from the gardens all the way up to the high meadows above the castle and then down to the lake for a swim and a cool off! They'd also made up a game of wizards hurling, using regular hurling sticks and charmed balls, all whilst flying on brooms!

He had met some new friends, Qrow in particular, and also Ying and Bea. Colin had always thought it kind of odd that most of his friends were a year younger than him, like Keith and Astra. He smirked. And then there was Finnegan Connor! He narrowed his eyes. He'd still have to deal with that wee Gryffindorque prat! Yes, a duel with him was long over due! And lastly, there was Ava. He was actually surprised at himself. He hadn't just thought of her as "Winchect". It had taken a long while, but they had finally confronted each other. Only God knew where it would lead them.

And then there all the strange dreams and weird visions. Liam was right. They had to work out what those dreams meant. They were so dark! They'd sent him running into the Forbidden Forest from the spring ball! He'd asked Ying and Bea if they wanted to go as friends, and almost as soon as they set foot in the ball grounds, Colin had a terrible vision. The last couple of months had been full of dark dreams, visions of death and Colin's attempts to forget. Forgetfulness potion wasn't strong enough. That weird yellow stuff wasn't enough. That burning drink wasn't enough.

The only thing that was powerful enough to break the cycle were three simple words that broke through the darkness. Colin remembered. He had a bottle of something nasty in his hand. Again. He was just about to gulp down the fiery liquid within. Again.

And then he heard a voice.

The voice.

Clair's voice.

Colin smiled again. The train had stopped and everyone was piling out of the coaches. Even Liam was herding Ciarán and Lorcan out. Colin savoured the moment as he stepped off the train and onto the platform.

Colin sighed. His heart thumped!

He said, knowing that Clair would hear: "I love you!"

@Fang Hui-Ying | @Beatrice Dupont || Binding Mark: @Clair Fernandez

Date: 1st July, 2024
Ying felt her heart pounding in her chest with a heavy, painful rhythm. Leaving Hogwarts for holidays’ breaks never felt as exciting as expected, it was nice to be able to get to see her parents again, but she knew they would soon have to get back to work while she would have to stay alone or in the scarce company of her older brother. This was normal for her, the sentiment she was used to feel, but today…today was different… today was possibly the last time she would ever see that platform, that she would be leaving that train, leaving Hogwarts and her friends behind. She knew that new adventures would be waiting for her, that Mahoutokoro would be an interesting place to meet and she would be happy to see some of the friends she had made over the years during the international events, but all of that positive thoughts felt like a too small buoy for an overwhelming sea of sadness and sorrow for having to leave everything she had learned to love.

So, was with a heavy sigh that Ying got out of the train, dragging her luggage behind her. She stood there for a while, looking at the students flooding the space, walking towards their families, wearing wide smiles while sharing hugs and welcoming words. Somehow, she felt unable to take a step, her legs felt heavier, moving away felt so real that she became cowardly in the face of it. Her dark eyes felt warm when tears threatened to appear and her breathing seemed jarring…

"I love you!" Those words worked as a call, pulling her out of her spiral of miserable thoughts. She knew that voice, knew who had said it and to whom. She knew those words weren't for her, would never be for her, but that didn't make her feel any different, didn't stop her from wanting them to be for her.

Slowly, she turned around, until her eyes met those of bright green. He was not far away from her, three steps and she would be right in front of Colin McCoire. But… to say what? To tell him the truth? That she…that she pathetically had a silly crush on him? Ying cringed at this thought. To finally admit that? How was she supposed to say goodbye to him? He would probably not care…why would he care anyway? She was not that relevant in his life, not even a close friend…

While she was debating what to say, she was suddenly self aware that she had been staring at him and if he noticed then she would not have a way to leave without saying a word. So she forced herself to smile, to look relaxed and happy, but she was sure her eyes would show that she was making a poor performance. “Hi Colin!” She greeted him, waving a hand at him and giving a step towards the slytherin boy, “Good thing I found you here! So I can say goodbye to you!” It was a tremendous effort to keep her voice from trembling with her last words, but she still kept trying to seem that she was fine…her pride kept her shoulders straight and gave her strength to keep pretending, at least for a while longer…

@Colin McCoire & @Beatrice Dupont

Colin barely registered that he'd gotten off the train. His vision was filled with Clair! He should have known before --- when all the dark dreams were affecting him --- that he should have turned to those he loved! Liam of course, but also AngelFyre and most of all Clair! She really had a power over him, that he knew. Her presence, her look, her voice. She could calm his heart, even if she wasn't fully aware she had this ability or what it might mean.

The iron and stone work of the platform seemed hazy and far away, the excited sounds of the other kids muted. He had no idea where his siblings had gotten off to, and right now, in this moment it didn't matter. They'd soon all be home, ready to face some fun adventures away from the drama that was Hogwarts! And of course, there was the freedom of transforming away from the stifling little Shrieking Shack! They'd be able to run and roam under the Moon as they pleased!

Colin decided that he'd really have to write to Clair more this summer. Wait. Why? All he had to do was touch the wolf on his chest and say the words that would activate their link! They could just talk to each other! She could be with him when he went for a swim and he could be with her when she took care of that dratted old goat Cinnamon! Colin still hadn't quite forgiven the wild creature for running off on him when he visited Clair's place last year.

It was only slowly that Colin's vision began to clear. At first he heard her voice: "Hi Colin!" Colin smiled. Clair had found him! He knew she was in the crowd somewhere! He saw her wave! "Good thing I found you here!" But there was something wrong! Her voice wasn't quite right. Was she sad about something?

Colin smiled. "You're so beautiful!"

He sighed and blinked. Wait. Something wasn't right. The scent for one thing. It dawned on him that it wasn't Clair he had heard! Suddenly the sounds of everyone hit him at full volume. He'd been away --- elsewhere --- again. He looked at Ying. She stood right in front of him. She was cool, though he didn't know her well. She looked --- off somehow. It must have been Ying talking to him and not Clair!

"Oh! Ayo Ying! Looking forward to summer? I'll bet you and Ming will have all sorts of places to go!"

Date: 1st July, 2024
She was half step there, half step towards him, when she felt the time stop. What did he say? Did she hear him right? No...that must have been a trick of her mind, a mix of sounds between his greeting and all the voices surrounding her. That was someone else's voice, clearly he wouldn't look at her and say that, and in such manner. "Ignore it Ying, pretend you didn't hear it" she told herself. But even if struggling to follow her rational mind, her heart felt like it had been freed to beat as it pleased, in a mad rush that almost left her dizzy. She was nervous...gosh, more nervous than when she faced the boggart, if she had known this moment before, she could bet the creature would have shown her this moment.

She decided that breathing was a good option. She could not say if she kept doing it while taking those few steps, but now she was inhaling deeply, steading herself while displaying the best smile she could find in her to show. "Oh! Ayo Ying! Looking forward to summer? I'll bet you and Ming will have all sorts of places to go!" Colin finally said to her, as he had woke up from a day dream. Yes... of course he was daydreaming, daydreaming about Clair no doubt. In another occasion, Ying would have made a bigger effort to keep unflustered, but she really felt it was no longer needed. Her smile cracked, as her heart felt the sting. Of course she was expecting nothing less, but still, there are things she couldn't find herself to control.

Ying looked down, to her feet, while accepting things as they were and that it was not in her to changed them. She wondered for a brief moment, if anyone had ever noticed beyond the mask she always wore, the times she felt it slide and looked down or to some place else to avoid being found. Maybe Rai? Or perhaps Liam? The twin always seemed more aware and perceptive than his brother, Ying was happy for his silence, if he had ever really noticed.

Anyway, she was glad no one was around at that moment. She once again gave a deep breath before looking at Colin again. He was really tall, much taller than her and so she had to really look up to find his gaze. His eyes were what always called her attention first, not the color or the shape but the glint and the soul that could be seen through them. Such a pure soul and such fierce, kind heart. He was the plain contrast of everyone she had grown up with, she wished she had someone looking at her like he looked at Clair, without any pretense, without fear of showing his feelings, without taking them as weakness. That's what fascinated her, such bravery and honesty.

"Not really." Ying finally responded, in a serene but sad tone of voice, showing a ghost of a closed-lipped smile. Once again, her eyes felt the need to look someplace else to help her find the courage to say what she needed to say. "I'm not coming back Colin. I'm going to leave Hogwarts." She said it...like that, dropping the words to the ground and not even being able to look at him. Like a coward. She swallowed hard before finding his green eyes again. "That's why I'm glad I find you. So I can say goodbye to you." She repeated, sure he hadn't listen to her the first time. "And..." Oh gods, help her..."And..." Ying felt her soul leaving her body from how anxious she felt, and she could feel her heart beating in her chest, her ears...everywhere! It was almost deafening and thinking about what words to say seemed an impossible task.

Her tongue felt dry when she started talking again, "Colin...this will sound absurd! I know that I will sound crazy and silly and...and..." Ying bit her lower lip, deciding to remain silent and looked at him with something that could be interpreted as a mixture of despair and embarrassment.

She didn't know what took control over her, if she finally lost it or if it was because he would never have to look at her again and that gave her the right excuse for her impulsiveness to speak louder than reason and common sense. The raven-haired girl didn't give herself time to think about what she was doing, one moment she was looking at him as if she wanted to run away and the next, she was closing the remaining distance between them, balancing herself on her toes and her lips brushed his in a quick but sweet kiss.

When she pulled away, she was sure her face looked redder than her Gryffindor robes, but what was done was done and she would not regret it. It was only fair that Colin McCoire was left with her first kiss, at least fair in her perspective that's it! "Goodbye." She told him. Now that she was starting to allow herself to think the only thing she wanted was to run and hide, her body and mind were almost begging her to turn away and disappear as quickly as she could. And that's exactly what she would do if she wasn't stopped by him or someone else...

@Colin McCoire & @Beatrice Dupont