Blood I've Spilt

Hair Gel

Once was a thought inside my head

Fore I'd reach 30 I'd be dead

Now somehow on and on I go

I keep on rollin' with the flow

Folks said that I would change my mind

I'd straighten up and do just fine

Ahh, but I still love rock 'n' roll

And I keep on rollin' with the flow

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! CONTENT WARNING ! Discussion of implied eating habits. Reader's discretion is advised!

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"See?! This is why I told you to hurry up!" Liam complained, his fingers subconsciously playing with the leather bracelets he always wore. They decorated both of his wrists. I'm pretty sure I gave most of those to him for past birthdays and Christmases since he loves them so much. "The beef sandwiches are gone." His lips curled into a frown, and he scowled at me whilst I slid into the seat next to him at the Hufflepuff table.

He was right, sadly. There were loads of food left but yet, no beef sandwiches. I couldn't help but let out a chuckle as I nudged his arm.

"Well, let's go see if Cass saved you any?" I suggested with a proposing brow. I was doing this for a reason; either Liam was totally oblivious to it, or he knows what I'm trying to do. There has to be something going on, I just know it.

"Finally, you say something worth doing," He exclaimed sassily, nudging my arm to follow him. I grumbled, not expecting him to drag me along. Although I wanted to see this interaction, it was the least of my worries. My next 'adventure' was to talk to Keith. Keith is a 4th year Slytherin that doesn't like people. He rather be in the library and that is exactly where I was going to look for him later.

We made our way to the Gryffindor table to see a head of pink hair. Cass stuck out like a sore thumb but in the best way possible. The 7th year was the most iconic person I'd ever met. They wore what they wanted, talked how they wanted, and did what they wanted. They had shaggy carnation pink hair that covered their ears but stopped at the start of their neck. They had slender fingers and a tall and well-built figure. They were a Gryffindor Chaser; Cass was quite good, too.

They seemed to be laughing with their boastful friends when Liam cleared his throat, giving them a nice pat on the back. It still took Cass's friends by surprise every time Liam came to talk to them. My brother had quite the reputation when it comes to that community.

Cass is non-binary and has been out as they/he for a while. As you may know, Liam is straight as a line and made life hell for my twin Ace for liking a boy at one point. That makes it a little weird for literally everyone else, knowing how Liam is, or was. It's still hard for me to get used to.

"Oh, hey Liam! What's up?" They said cheerfully, their Irish accent peeking through. They seemed a bit shocked as well that Liam had come to talk to them. I assumed that usually Liam hung out with his jock friends and spoke to Cass when he had free time, and his homophobic friends weren't around.

"Hey Cass, I was just wondering if you have-" Liam started to say before he was cut off by the sass of their voice.

"Yes, we have beef sandwiches," Cass rolled their eyes before sliding over to make room for my brother. It probably didn't even register in Liam's mind who he was sitting with. Honestly, he didn't look like he cared.

I did notice that he wasn't paying attention to anyone else but Cass, and the sandwiches of course. If I'm being honest, I felt like I was standing there awkwardly, not that I cared but it reminded me that I wanted to talk to Keith.

Although, before I walked away, I noticed Ace was on the other side of Cass. He was quiet as always and had his elbow planted on the table. Ace wasn't a part of the group Liam had just joined, he just happened to be next to the bunch.

I was observing him because he worries me sometimes. His plate was pushed away from him, his leg crossed over the other. Ace was a rather thin boy with brown chestnut hair, similar to mine. His wasn't wavy like Liam's, it was just loose and a bit straight, with the occasional curl. His skin had always been quite smooth, and he had a natural light beige tone. Unlike Liam who was quite tan and his hands full of scars from his knives.

Ace has this thing with lotion, so his hands have always been rather soft.

I tapped Cass' shoulder, causing them to turn their head. They cocked an eyebrow to let me know they were listening. I leaned in a bit and began to speak in a low whisper.

"Hey, can you make sure Ace eats at least something today? Don't force him, just encourage him. If he doesn't, that's okay. We can try again tomorrow," I mumbled to them, paying my brother a few glances to make sure he wasn't listening. The last thing I wanted was for Ace to feel pressured into anything.

Cass' confused brow softened, and they looked at me with a solemn but also reassuring glance. They nodded briskly, moving their left hand to brush hair out of their face.

"Uh, yeah I can do that," they mumbled as if they began to worry for the younger Gryffindor, too. I trusted Cass. They seemed like a cool person and obviously changed Liam a little in a good way. It was a big favor to ask, but I wasn't going to be here. Even if I wasn't leaving to see Keith, there was nowhere for me to sit if I wanted to.

I nodded and smiled before nudging Ace's shoulder. The boy turned and looked up with me. He looked drained at first but when he realized it was me, his eyes filled with a bit of light and a small smile grew on his face. He didn't show any teeth, like always, but it made me feel better that maybe I brightened his day.

Ace had been rather reserved ever since we were children; making it hard for me to get to him sometimes. He's the type to only speak when spoken to and when he does, it isn't very much.

"Is Keith in the library?" I asked him, even though I was sure he was. I wanted to make sure, but I also wanted to talk to my brother.

"Uhm- I don't know. Probably," Ace mumbled, his eyes darting around my face except for my eyes. He, too, had a Scottish twang, like the rest of my siblings. It's because of my father's side of the family. He is Scottish, my mother is British.

"Oh, well I'll talk to you later then. I needed to talk to him, but I didn't want to walk into the library, and he would not be in there," I gave a breathy chuckle, Ace smiling in return.

"I hope you- uhm- find him then," he replied as if unsure of his words before turning away. It really was hard to talk to my brother. All of them, really. Liam was stubborn and hated the whole 'feelings' thing. Ace didn't talk much in general; very introverted. And Keith is just cold; he does not like people very much.

I smiled at Ace whilst giving him a nod. Liam waved at me as I began to walk away, my Hufflepuff robes gliding behind me.

***

I pushed open the door to the library, causing no noise as I quietly stepped inside. It was a bit empty here, mainly because it was the time where students were in the great hall eating lunch. I scanned the room for Keith. My Slytherin brother was a pessimistic 14-year-old with the curliest hair out of us all. It wasn't as dark as Liam's but almost there. He uses gel to make his curls more defined and I've noticed he likes it a lot.

I finally spotted him in a secluded corner of the dank smelling library. I hated reading most of the time; Keith seemed to love it for some reason. I weaved my way through all the tables and chairs before sliding into the seat that was across from Keith.

He moved his head as if he were to look at me, but his eyes were still glued to the page of the beloved book he always carried. I assumed he was finishing his page. Keith and I connected the least out of all my siblings; granted, he didn't connect with any of us except Ace. And still it wasn't very much.

He finally peered over his book that had a middle-aged man and a guitar on the front. It was a historical book (I've always found it odd) about a bunch of music creators in the wizarding world. Music was Keith's thing; it seemed all the Smedley's had their thing.

His thicker brown brows furrowed at me, and his lips curled into a frown, like always. Keith tilted his book down to make eye contact with me. I mentally cringed at myself for interrupting his reading session. I knew he hated that.

"What do you want?" His tone was annoyed and flat as he spoke. My eyes averted to the wooden table; my hand subconsciously traced the dents of the flat service. I slowly let my eyes trail to his; Keith's syrup coloured ones having a certain irritated glint.

"I just wanted to ask you about a certain person in your house," I murmured, scratching my neck. He sighed and closed his book after putting in a bookmark that looked to be handmade from thick colorful string. Although, the colors seemed to be washed out as if the thing was very old. I figured it was from Nessa, an old friend of Keith's. He is obsessed with everything he has that was given to him by her. The bookmark, his old leather bag, the beaded bracelet he never took off. I noticed Keith's expression was brittle and careless at the same time.

"Who?" he pondered, one of his eyebrows raising higher than the other. I think I piqued his interest, although I could be dead wrong. Keith is the hardest to read and evaluate.

"Draco Malfoy"

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Thanks for reading<3
-Ty

(Song at beginning: 'Rollin' With The Flow' by Charlie Rich)