Hey there! Thank you so much to those who are still reading! I have not abandoned this story or any of the others I'm late on updating...I'm between writing more material and dealing with life...same shit, different day. Can't be on 24/7, you know. Anyway, to make up for my tardiness, I'll post chapters 4-6. I hope that's enough compensation for this story. Also, these are featuring Colin in his first, THEN his second year. During and after Chapter 7, he will be in third year, then fourth...where the drama escalates. Just a heads up! :) (Like I've said before, it's a few chapters per year up until his fourth, then the rest will stay in that year...I have to give a more realistic time frame when the feelings are supposed to emerge from both parties.)

Chapter Four-Planetarium

For the next several weeks, Colin and Miles met on their bench up at the pitch, exchanging one detail after another about themselves and the worlds they came from. For example, Miles learned that Colin actually hails from Ireland and didn't come to England until he was four, Irish Gaelic was his second language and he truly aspired to become a photographer...it wasn't merely a childhood hobby. If that fell through, he wanted to work within Potions or become a healer since his mother is a nurse.

Colin discovered that Miles was strongly considered for Hufflepuff; which he made the blonde swear on his camera to never reveal. His favorite class was Care of Magical Creatures and that he desired to play Keeper for the Falmouth Falcons. He thought about the Chudley Cannons for a while but decided against it seeing as their bright uniforms would make his red hair stand out more than it already did...and the Cannons haven't won many games in over 100 years.

Right now, the Snake and Lion were fooling around with the digital camera Colin held in his hands.

"...Ok, now you see the larger button at the top right hand corner? Press down, but not too hard. It's delicate."

"All right." Snap, then a light flashed.

"There you go, you took your first digital picture of the pitch, well...a little above the pitch. Hm, you did get a nice view of a hawk flying about."

Miles grinned "Thanks. Hey, how do you develop the pictures?"

"You can't by classic means." Colin took back his camera and flipped it upside down and opened a small flap, taking out a rectangular piece of dark blue plastic.

"This is called a memory card. On this tiny plastic device, a person can store hundreds or even a thousand photos."

Miles widened his eyes in surprise. "Seriously? All of that onto one little...memory card? Muggles are more advanced than I thought."

"Seriously." Colin smiled, reinserting the memory card into its proper place. He readjusted the camera to its opposite side. "And this is where you put in something called a USB cord and connect it to a computer. That's where you 'upload' or place the digital photos, where you can edit them or do whatever you want."

"Wow. Why can't we do that to ours?"

Colin replied "Well, you guys are more old-fashioned but that's ok. The downside to digital imagery is that people can produce fake photos much easier and that can cause a lot of trouble. Since you guys don't use it, you don't have that problem...or so I assume. Do you?"

Miles shook his head.

"Then you're quite lucky, although it may catch up soon."

The Snake shrugged at that. "I dunno how soon, though. The Ministry is always making things more 'muggleborn-friendly'. Anyway, how are things with Neville and Cormac coming along?"

"Slowly but surely. They're sitting with me during meals, so that's a good thing. We've also been helping each other out with assignments. Neville's still kinda shy and Cormac's not that much of a douche once you get to talk to him."

Miles smiled, leaning into the bench behind him. "You seem to have a way of cracking open a person's outer shell."

Colin returned the smile, responding "Yeah, I guess I do. Not a bad thing, is it?"

"No, it's not. But I do ask you to be careful with that power. Some can manipulate it and use it against people. I know that too well."

Colin scrunched his face in contemplation. "How do you know, exactly?"

"I've witnessed it inside and out of Hogwarts. I've never done it but it's one reason I trust few people. That's also why I implore you to watch what you say around others...Slytherin or not. I assure you, we're not the only ones with scheming arseholes."

"You seem to know so much and yet, you're only thirteen."

"In the elitist world, you're taught from a young age on how to act in public, present oneself in high society, how to play the 'game' and win. It's usually by any means necessary, although there is the concept of lying in wait..."

Colin chirped "Then strike when the iron's hot?"

"Precisely."

"Yeah, that same idea holds in the muggle elite circle as well from I've heard, it's no wonder they rule the world."

"Heh, tell me about it."

"So, how are things in the Snake Pit?"

Miles scratched his head "About the same, really. My mates are still in the dark regarding you so, there hasn't been any suspicion. What about on your end?"

"Same as you, though mostly everyone doesn't seem to notice when I'm gone half the time." sighed Colin, fiddling with his camerabag.

Miles patted his shoulder. "Don't you worry about that, take it as an advantage. You can get away with a lot of shit when you're not under suspicion."

Colin perked up "You know what? I think I will. I might even sneak off at night, I dunno which night...but I will!"

Miles laughed at Colin's comical determination. "Just don't get caught."

"I have you for that, don't I? You could tell me how."

"I sure can..." Miles filled Colin in on the tips and tricks to avoid the prefects, Head Boy and Girl, professors, and good 'ol Mrs. Norris whilst traipsing along the darkened corridors after hours until Colin peered down at his watch.

"Crap, I promised Neville and Cormac I'd get back to the tower to help with Tranfigurations five minutes ago! I'll uh, see you later."

"Later, Col." Miles waved a hurrying Lion off. Gazing around the pitch, he noticed it felt empty, boring. He missed it when Colin was around. Miles wanted to hang out with him more often, in public...but he couldn't, knowing what would happen if he did. Hoping that somehow there was a way they could without causing Colin so much trouble, Miles gathered his things and ambled to the Slytherin dungeons.

Gryffindor Tower...

'I'm late! I'm late...please don't be mad, please don't be mad!' Colin skidded through the first year boys' dorm and slammed the door shut, startling the two occupants. "Sorry, I'm late guys! I kinda got sidetracked with the camera...and.."

Cormac interjected "It's cool, man. You're not that late, we're really just getting started ourselves."

Colin let his camerabag slide down in relief. "Thank goodness. Now uh, where were we starting again?"

Slytherin Dungeons...

Whistling a catchy tune, Bletchley sauntered into the third year boys' dorm and settled onto his bed, listening to the banter around him.

"Haha, Flint. You suck at poetry. Who are you even writing that for, anyway?" Adrian grinned, trying to get a peek when Marcus flopped over his parchment, scowling.

"Two galleons says that it's for Percy Weasley." Warrington snickered as Marcus flushed, crumpling the evidence up.

"Shut up."

"Ohhh, so it is for Weasley?"

"N-No, it isn't!"

"Yeah, it is! Didn't know you had a thing for redheads, mate...especially brainy, horn-rimmed spectacled ones."

As Warrington and Pucey playfully teased a blushing Chaser, Montague peered over his Charms text. "Welcome back, Bletchley. Where you been?"

"Out and around."

"Doing what?"

"Things."

"What kind of things?"

"Wanking. Why, you wanna watch?"

Graham snorted at the brash retort. "Nah, I'm good. I believe you're more than capable of handling that on your own."

Miles laid back onto his Slytherin green duvet, letting out a long exhale. 'Thank Merlin. Man, I swear Montague's getting too damn curious.'

The next day at lunch, Colin was catching up on friendly banter with Neville and Cormac. "Think you'll ever get back on a broom again?"

Neville shrugged in uncertainty. "I-I dunno...ever since I broke my wrist, I'm kinda apprehensive about flying."

"You haven't had any practice before you came here? At all?" queried Cormac incredulously.

"No. My gran says I'm too clumsy and she didn't want me crashing through a window."

Colin smiled "Come on, you're not that clumsy."

Neville raised a doubtful eyebrow.

"Ok, maybe you are a little. I believe you'll grow out of it. People don't stay clumsy forever."

"Merlin, I hope so...I've sustained enough injuries."

Colin gave the shy Lion a reassuring pat on the back when he locked eyes with Miles from across the Great Hall. Miles gazed around him to make sure no one was paying attention then shot Colin a small smile, which he gladly returned.

As soon as lunch ended, Colin was heading to Charms with Neville and Cormac when a balled-up parchment hit him on the back of his head. "Huh? What the?" he bent down, picked up the ball and unraveled it.

There was a message. '-Don't come to the pitch tomorrow. The Slytherin team's having a double-practice session. Meet me at the gargoyle across from the entrance to the dungeons at 8:00 pm. Bring your camera and lenses, I want to show you something.-'

'What could he possibly want to show me?' Colin thought curiously as he walked upstairs.

Saturday night, Colin wandered towards the entrance of the Slytherin dungeons. 'Ok, Miles said to meet him at the gargoyle statue.' He rounded the corner to see Miles fiddling with his wand, keeping subtle surveillance. The redhead peered up and saw Colin.

"Hey, glad you could make it." he whispered, gesturing the Lion over.

"Wouldn't miss it. Um, what is it that you want to show me?"

"Follow me and you'll find out." Taking note of his cryptic reply, Colin obeyed and followed Miles to a presumably empty hall several corridors away. They were now standing in front of a plain wall.

"Here we are."

"Uh, no offense but there's nothing here. It's just a wall."

Miles smirked "Not exactly." He walked past the wall back and forth three times before a door appeared for them. Colin's mouth dropped in astonishment.

"Wow...a secret door! Where does it lead?"

Miles opened it, dragging Colin behind him. "The Room of Requirement."

Colin gazed around in amazement. He suspected there were numerous passageways and doors that led to forbidden and secret places, but this one was hidden in plain sight and it didn't take a special lever or switch to activate it.

"Who else knows about this place?"

"I don't think too many know. If everybody knew about it, it would never be vacant. So, don't tell anyone."

"I won't, I promise."

"Good. Come over here, I have it all set up." Miles gestured to the floor where two fluffy pillows, a blanket and a table full of snacks lay. Colin took a seat next to Miles, surveying the treats. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, assorted chocolates, Butterbeers, crisps and other tasty confections dotted the wooden surface.

"Yum, our favorites! So, uh...what did you need me to bring my camera for?"

"This." Miles waved his wand, muttering an unknown spell to Colin and the room went dark. Above them, the night sky appeared, littered with stars and the waxing moon shone brightly, illuminating the space.

The gummy wand Colin was munching on dropped out of his mouth. "Whoa, this is awesome! Our own planetarium! How'd you do this?!"

Miles responded "I researched a spell in the astronomy section of the library. This way, we could always get a view of the current night sky without having to sneak after hours outside or to the Astronomy Tower. It also cuts down on any haze or glare so the pictures you take will be much sharper."

Colin's grin was almost as bright as the moon. "This is the most amazing thing anyone's ever done for me. I can't tell you how many times I've had a good picture ruined because of some stupid extra light. Thank you...I-I mean it, really."

Miles pulled Colin in for a side hug. "Don't mention it. How about we lay back? I think you'll get a much better shot this way."

While Colin was joyously using his night-time lens, snapping away at the sky, Miles quietly observed him. He noticed that the moonlight made his hair, skin, and eyes somewhat brighter, almost ghostly in a sense. It wasn't at all unattractive and it did spark a new curiosity within the Snake. Colin was rather small for his age, his voice squeaked in a few places and he was quite squirrely.

Regardless of all that, Miles thought of him as really nice and fun to be around. Colin was so genuine and spirited. He had nothing to hide, no hidden agenda, nothing. Miles found he could be himself around Colin, not only his friends. He knows now that he can trust him, seeing as his few private details were never shared with anyone else. He made no mistake in befriending the Lion.

Setting down the camera, Colin grabbed a snack and laid back upon the pillows, absentmindedly brushing his hand against Miles's. "Oops, sorry mate." Smiling, Colin removed his hand and started opening his pumpkin pasty.

''It..it's fine." Miles replied, moving his tingling hand onto his chest. He scrunched his face, vaguely wondering what that sensation was until Colin handed him a cauldron cake.

"Here you go."

"Oh...thanks."

Once their night-time meeting expired, Colin waved the Slytherin goodbye as he ascended the staircase. Miles stared after him then at his hand, remembering that distinct tingle.

'What was that? Well, whatever it was, it...it didn't feel too bad.'

Hmmm...what could that tingling be? Hope this went well for you! 5-6 are up next! They're starting out in his second year! :)