Colin stayed as long as Madam Pince allowed him in the library and then borrowed every single book that he could about Durmstrang. He decided that if he has to stay up all night in the common room poring over the dusty old books with unnerving dark brown smudges in the edges so be it.
"What are you doing?"
He looked over his shoulder to see Hermione Granger.
"Oh, you know. Just looking up some things. How are you tonight?"
Hermione's brown eyes are already skimming the words on the browning parchment. After gathering what she needed to know in less than two seconds she sighed. "Oh, Colin," she said as if exhausted.
Colin didn't get why she sounded so tired when he was the one doing the research. Maybe Hermione is too used to studying that when others do it- she finally sees it for what it really is- dying just a little bit. "What's the problem? Our new head girl having a bit of trouble? Need help? Or better yet, are you running out of ideas because I have a lot of projects that I think-
"Colin, are you thinking about Violetta?"
"No, I'm thinking about Durmstrang, as you can see..." He waved his hand at the array of opened books at the desk, some are even floating in the air- a feat that he got from Hermione. It was a half truth, of course, Hermione has the other. So, Colin had to give half a lie. "For instance, here's one. I have a joke about Bulgaria. But never mind it's too vulgar!"
He slapped his knee at his own pun but Hermione just looked worried. "Get it? Vulgaria? Bulgar? Maybe I should have went with burglar or burger instead, what do you think?"
Hermione sighed, "I know that she gave you the mark on your wrist, Colin. It was not a bee stung."
"I honestly don't know what you're talking about, Hermione. But I tell you what- since you are so worried about our new Hogwarts fellow student. I will take it upon myself that she makes her first friend," Colin grinned before going back to the books in the hopes that the head girl will just leave him alone.
"Who do you have in mind?" Hermione sounded anxious.
Colin let out a little laugh, "Me! Of course! If you want something done- you must do it yourself!"
There was silence and Colin was more than sure that Hermione has left but then he felt a slight prickle of magic erupt in the air. Hermione has just casted a muffling spell.
"Listen, Colin. I personally don't think that you should be the one talking to Violetta. For one- you're a boy and she's..."
"A girl?" Colin supplied, his brows furrowed in confusion, "She's really stunning, Hermione. But all I want is a picture and maybe a new friend. Don't worry about that! Girls and boys really can become friends. We're the same species after all."
He watched as Hermione bit her lip as if she's thinking about what to say next, "Colin, it's not that. It's just that boys are weaker-"
"I thought you said boys and girls are equal and there is no weaker sex. Or was that all lip service, Head Girl?" Colin started feeling slightly irritated at Hermione, the fire in the room glowed brighter. Hermione noticed it too as she spun around but she decided not to question him about it. "I really don't understand the point of this conversation at all. I get it that you want to know what we're doing but this is too much."
"She's a dhampir, Colin," Hermione finally said. "I was not supposed to say anything to anyone but she almost killed you. Do you know what will happen if she actually caught you by your pulse? She'll suck out your blood, you'll be dead in two minutes tops."
"But she's only half a vampire- she doesn't need the blood. She can walk in the sunlight, right? So she doesn't have the blood curse. Maybe it was just a feat to get a rise out of you or Headmistress McGonagall."
Hermione shook her head, her brown hair catching the light from the candles, "You don't understand, Colin..."
"Then explain."
"She's a blood addict and you're a virgin," Hermione finally said.
Colin rose up from his seat, his cheeks flushed. "Who told you that? What are you saying? And what if I am? Is that something that I have to be ashamed of? What are you saying? I can't believe this! Judging people by their sexual experiences and being denied friends because of it? This is not starting to sound like Hogwarts! It sounds like any other-"
Hermione stood on her tiptoes and covered his mouth with her hand. "Calm down!"
Colin squirmed but didn't have the heart to push her away. You shouldn't hurt girls after all. You shouldn't hurt anyone.
"But you are, aren't you? And I'm not saying that's a bad thing, Colin. It's a personal decision. I respect that. I'll remove my hand now, alright?" Hermione looked at him with such understanding that it was hard not to just nod in agreement.
Colin took a breath as soon as Hermione removed her hand that smelled of ink, "But what's the point?"
"You're reading the wrong books, Colin. It's true that there had been rumors of vampires hiding out in Durmstrang and actual dhampirs attending the school but of course it will gloss out what they are really like. Vampires need blood and dhampirs don't-" Hermione could see Colin open his mouth to cut her off but she continued, "So for a dhampir to want it but not actually need it, is much, much worse. It is something akin to an addiction. Headmisstress told me to watch over her and Hagrid too probably, I agree that she should make friends. We all need that..."
For the first time that night Colin weighed his words and his thoughts. He wants to talk to Vi more. He really does. Much more now that he learned how of her different circumstances, it's exciting. She's special.
"Yes, I agree. So, I'll be careful," Colin replied to Hermione.
Hermione chewed on her lower lip. "Colin... I don't think I am in the position to say this but maybe someone other than you..."
"You're right, you don't have a say in who befriends who," Colin said with determination but in a lighter note he added, "I got this," he grinned. "We'd go down in history to be the first virgin and blood sucker to actually be friends. It will be great!"
Hermione didn't voice out her doubts but it showed in her big, brown eyes.
"And if I don't, at least I'll die trying!"
It was supposed to be a good natured joke.
None of them found it the least bit funny.
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Updated just cause I randomly felt like it :) I guess this will be one of those stories that no one will read but I could always go back to to see if my writing has improved. Oh well, I still love it anyways. <3
Song up top is 'She's So High' by Tal Bachman cause I love it and it's such a good song when you're starting to crush on someone really unattainable.
Almost 200 reads! :D
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Dear Bright Eyes| Colin Creevey
Fanfiction"All he wanted was a picture. All she wanted was a bite."
