Collin was on his way back to his dorms after the Fairy incident when Filch stopped him. "Where do you think you're going?"

Collin was startled by the gnarly old man. "N…nowhere. Nowhere special. Nowhere I'm not supposed to be going anyway…" He didn't have as much with humans as he used to, but this one just startled him badly.

"You're Hope Kintobor's Brother, aren't you?" Collin already had a sour face on just from that.

"So what if I am? Why the bloody hell does everyone compare me to someone who I haven't seen since I was a babe?"

"Bah, your sister was one of the nastiest little rule-breakers this school has ever seen. I was sad to see her expelled."

"Why, because you couldn't chain her to the ceiling of the dungeons?" Collin asked bitterly.

"By her wrists!" Filch nodded. Then he grinned darkly. "Now I have a second chance with you."

Collin managed to stand his ground. "I am nothing like my sister, Mr. Filch."

"You are liar, is what you are. Mrs. Norris saw two Gryffindors lurking in a forbidden corridor. I'm guessing one of those Gryffindors was you."

"If there is a forbidden corridor, then I don't know about it. I have no clue what you're talking about."

"You won't be going anywhere without me an' Mrs. Norris knowing…"

Collin then smirked. "Well have you heard of Peeves?"

"Course I've heard of Peeves. Filthy little poltergeist has caused me more trouble than every student put together… Why?"

"Because I heard him talking about sabotaging your office."

"How?"

Collin waived it off as though nothing serious. "Oh, I just heard him say something about setting off all the prank items you've confiscated to go off the next time you open the door." Then his eyes widened. "Oh my, I hope Mrs. Norris doesn't get hurt…"

"Why would he do that?" Filch pondered, not quite taking it yet.

Collin shrugged. "Well, you know Peeves better than me, but I assumed it was because he's fond of mischief and chaos… and I think he hates you too…"

"How do I know you aren't lying?"

Collin shrugged again. "You can think I'm lying, and take the chance that he ruins your office, and hurts Mrs. Norris…" Then he looked the squib in the eye from his short height. "Or you can stand guard in your office so Peeves can't get the best of you."

"I hate that wretched little poltergeist… I can't let him harm Mrs. Norris, and damage my office… I keep my favorite chains in there…" He then scowled at Collin. "If I find out you're lying about this, I'll be using those same chains ta hang you by your ankles…" Collin breathed in relief. He was safe for now. He went to his room to put his bag away so he could go to flying class.

Collin made it to flying class just in time for Madam Hooch to explain what they were doing. "Welcome to flying class. Today, we will take to the skies! A well-maintained broom is a fast broom. To your broom care stations!" Collin ran over to his and got his kit out of its spot before heading over to his assigned broom next to Rowan, and across from Penny and Merula. None of her insults bothered him today, as he had gotten used to it. He soon finished and applied some much needed polish to his broom. When they were all done, they gathered in front of Madam Hooch again. "Listen up, everyone. I am going to demonstrate proper broomstick techniques." This meant she was to hover in front of them while discussing the various things that could kill you while flying. That lasted a few minutes. Collin was feeling bored, but knew he had to keep his attention on the teacher. He had a journal and quill with his bag for Flying class. "Listen up, boys and girls. I am going to explain several important bits of information to you." She continued lecturing. After lecturing for a bit, she spotted the bored look on Collin. "Hedgehog…" Collin snapped up and looked at her. "What quidditch player looks for the golden snitch?"

Collin shook his head. "The Seeker."

"Correct. I just wanted to be sure you were awake." Collin nodded and the class pressed on. "The time has come to climb aboard your broom. Stay focused and uninjured." They went to their brooms and stood to summon them.

Collin summoned his and it went up into his hand as carefully as ever, but a tad slow still. He didn't mind, so long as it didn't hit him in the face like it did some of the others. Collin mounted his broom and awaited instructions. He hovered for a bit to get the feel of his broom. He felt strange. He chalked it up to nerves. He realized that despite how much Snape hated him, he felt more at home in a potion lab than anywhere else. He took a deep breathe. "I'm ready to fly… off I go!" His eyes narrowed as he pushed himself off the ground and flew into the air, managing to circle his class a couple of times before landing. "Phew…" He was relieved that it had gone well. He had liked that rush of air passing him as he flew though… the wind in his hair was nice…

He and Penny walked in together after class and started chatting, "…So I was brewing some potions in the common room, and Professor Sprout walked in!" Penny said with excitement.

Collin raised a brow. "Did you get in trouble or…" Just then some Ravenclaws knocked the poor boy down. The leader was a blonde bird with keen eyes, and no care for anyone around her it seemed.

"Collin are you alright?" She asked as he tried to get up after they had rudely left.

"I think so. Who was that? She didn't even stop…" Collin gave a small glare back towards where the elder girl and her crew had gone.

Penny frowned. "That's Rath. She's the toughest quidditch player at Hogwarts."

Collin frowned. "Rath… that's really her name?"

"Her last name. I think her first name is Erika…. I don't really know her."

Collin was surprised at this. "But you know pretty much everyone, Penny."

"Rath isn't around much. Spends most of her time on the Quidditch pitch. She's expected to lead Ravenclaw to win the Quidditch cup."

Collin frowned. "I know I'm short, but did she just not realize she knocked me down… or did she just not care?"

"Perhaps she thought you fell?" Penny tried hopefully.

Collin deadpanned. "Only after she bumped into me."

"I think that's just how Rath is." Penny sighed. "I don't see her often."

"So then I probably won't run into Rath again… or rather, Rath won't run into me again…"

"Unless you play quidditch next year. Once your part of the quidditch crowd at Hogwarts… well… I hear it's a whole new world!" Collin would have to think on that at some point later on. For now though, he had his hands full with the classes he had… and possibly the cursed vaults.