Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.

Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. Feel free to back out if need be.

Author's Note: Okay, but I've got to mention this new trick I learned for my anxiety. I learned ASL because of my elective mutism (hate the name, fyi, because it's not "elective" when it happens). The trick I learned was that signing my calming mantra helped me focus better on my breathing exercise. Like, I also have years of yoga & meditation training, so that might affect it but my fronds, just try it.

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Ministry (Winter Year 1); RAVEN (2023); MC4A (Winter Year 5)
Individual Challenges: Old Shoes (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); In a Flash; Setting Sail; Lunar Era
Ministry Challenges: RRD [Day 25] (Colin/Demelza)
RAVEN Challenges: Settings [122](School); Items [129](Tee Shirt); Colors [89](Maroon)
Other MC4A Challenges: Ship (n/a)[FaMed2 (Artist/Must)]; Chim [Rick]("Louder than Words" – Tick, Tick, Boom; Life/Death);Fire [x3](Community); Hang [Phrase 4] (n/a); Soup [Q](Questioning); Swap [Tops (Tourist Souvenir Shirt); Bottoms (Gray Maxi Skirt); Shoes (Maroon Tap Shoes)]
Representation(s): Demelza Robbins/Colin Creevy
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Sweetest Burn
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: Share (Ameliorate)
Word Count: 433 words

(^^)
Vital Question
(^^)

Demelza tugged on her favorite Disney World tee shirt (maroon with just the black mouse ears on it) and smoothed down the gray maxi skirt that she had paired it with. For extra courage, she paired the outfit with her maroon tap shoes. Each clack of the shoes against the stone flooring of Hogwarts gave her a little reminder that she existed, that she took up space, that she deserved to take up space. It would be a good reminder that she could do this.

"You've got this," she told the full length mirror in her dorm room. Having been muted years ago, her reflection could only nodded encouragingly. Demelza took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Very deliberately, she raised her hands and signed her calming mantra as she repeated the breathing exercise.

Only then did Demelza head towards the common room. As always, the common room was warm and inviting, a sanctuary for the members of the Gryffindor House. She had come here for a specific purpose: to ask out Colin Creevy, muggleborn nerd extraordinaire.

She fiddled with the tips of her fingers, shaking with anticipation. Half of her was afraid that he would turn her down and the other half was hoping that he would say yes. She had known Colin since their first year at Hogwarts and, although they weren't particularly close, she had seen enough of him to know that he was a nice guy with a good heart.

Demelza took a deep breath, mustering the courage to approach him. She walked toward the study tables where Colin was sitting, retouching a photograph. The thick rugs of the room stifled the tip-tap clacks of her shoes.

"Hi, Colin," she said, her voice a little shaky. He looked up and gave her a friendly smile.

"Hey, Demelza." He straightened in his seat. "What can I do for you?"

She could feel her heart beating rapidly. Finally, she said the words that she had been rehearsing for days: "I was wondering if you would like to go to Hogsmeade with me?"

For a moment there was silence as Colin studied her face. Then he smiled and said, "I would love to. When?"

Demelza felt a wave of relief wash over her. She was glad he had said yes.

"This weekend, of course. If that's not too soon?"

"Sounds great. I'll see you then."

Demelza thanked him and walked away, feeling strangely light. She had done it; she had asked Colin out on a date. Now all that was left was to wait and see where things would go.