Reposted from his bio thread so I don't lose it. Bio is being revamped soon.
My name is Feargus William MacDale. I am fifteen years old and am in my fifth year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am not who you think I am. But I can play that part too. They say these are the times that try mens’ souls...and make the mighty from the weak.
This is my story.
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I came home from school and tossed my shoulder bag on the floor in the back room of the bakery like I always did. It was the last day of school and a Friday and I couldn't wait. Friday was new pie day! I loved taste testing all the new flavors my mum experimented with all day.
As the backpack slid across the flour-covered floor of the back room, I ran into the shop and looked around for my mum. A couple usual customers were milling about, but my mum was no where to be found. I approached the pies on the counter slowly and with excitement when I heard “Feargus William! You come in here right now!” from the kitchen in our attached house.
I quickly looked around the shop and the two customers, who knew me well, chuckled to themselves. I ran to the kitchen, where a large brown owl was preening itself on our dinner table. When I saw this, I skidded to a stop on our well-worn hardwood floor. My mum was standing there with a large grin on her face and an ornate letter in her hands. My mum is a large woman, with bright red curly hair, bright red cheeks and an apron always covered in flour.
“Feargus…you’re a wizard!” she said as she tossed me the letter, laughing. I ripped it open eagerly and read through it quickly, two or three times.
“I’m going to Hogwarts!”
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The wind was blowing as he stepped off the train. He looked around at the other students, eagerly and nervously at the same time. His dirty-blonde hair was a mess, whipped about by the wind. He brushed it from his eyes every so often; a nervous and futile gesture. His robes were already rumpled, soon to become a trademark of his. He milled with the other first years as they approached the lake. At the edge of the water he looked up at the great, looming castle a grin slowly spread across his face…
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“Jack, Jack, Jack!” I called, skidding around the corner in our commons. The floor is tiled and I had socks on. Jack was sitting in the lounge and looked up, to hear about my latest triumph or whatnot.
“I learned a new spell Jack, look!” My wand was already in my hands and Jack cringed, only slightly, perhaps remembering the day I learned Incendio.
“Jelly Legs!” I shouted and proudly swished my wand…as I slipped on the tile again. My wand jerked and I missed my aim. Jack chuckled softly as my legs went limp and I crashed to the floor. My ever-present shoulder bag went sliding, spilling its wide variety of contents across the tiles. Jack knelt down to start gathering them up as I fumbled a bit on the floor, trying to pretend I meant to do it. Jack took my shoulder bag over to the couch and helped me up, leading me to the seat with him. I was a bit mortified that my mentor, my teacher had seen me mess up like that and I tried in vain to hide my blushing.
Jack grinned, “Fearless! That wasn't terrible. Now, next time, just be sure to aim at a bad guy.” He grinned, obviously kidding with me, and I looked at him.
"Hey, I'll tell you what. Tomorrow we'll go and scout out those spell components you were asking about. It should be a fun day."
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He’d sit there for hours, enthralled in whatever Jack had to say. He was excited, because Jack had promised him an adventure the next day. His hair still and always in complete disarray, his robes a bit of a mess, he seemed to be having the most fun he’d ever had in his life at Hogwarts. Being a wizard was a most wonderful thing…
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“Sara, wait up!” I shouted as we ran up the steps of the Quidditch locker room. She laughed as she quickly mounted her broom once we were outside and flew off. I jumped onto my rickety, worn old “vintage” school broom that I was so proud of and flew off after her, nearly colliding with Jack.
“Hey Fearless! No running over the team captain!” he laughed as we both zoomed by him. It was time for my first ever friendly Quidditch match. I didn’t really know the kids on the other side, but they looked kinda tough. I could hardly wait. I quickly followed Sara toward the center of the field and nearly fell off my broom in excitement as we landed.
My first game was an experience never to be matched. The crisp December air made everything a bit more visceral. I made at least three goals, against some actually pretty tough opponents. I had some excellent steals, and some awful fumbles. I was knocked out three separate times by the crazy bludgers, since we really didn’t have a beater to speak of on either team. I left the field bruised, disheveled, and grinning. As Sara and I walked with our brooms past the corner of the school, heading back to our commons, I stopped her,
“Sara uh…I was wondering. You know the Yule Ball’s coming up, right?”
She nodded, “Yeah, I heard about it.”
“Well uh…I was er…I was wondering. Would you go with me?”
“Oh! Sure, I’ll uh, I’ll go with you. Uh…I didn’t know you could dance…
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He was young, and really didn’t know what he was doing. He was having fun though, and Sara was fun. He thought maybe they’d have fun together. He could hardly know that this would lead to one of his very first world-rocking experiences. And to a dear friendship that would end up saving his life…
...the blood rushes to my head and I can hear my heart pounding in my ears as I slam into the floor. I can hear Sara's dog Caboose growling as he fights the monster. I struggle to roll over, wiping the blood from my eyes...it would have had me if Caboose hadn't rushed in. I hear a yelp and a thud as Caboose is thrown into the wall beside me. I scramble to clear my eyes and I can see his limp form lying on the floor. I feel as if I'm caught in molasses as I try to do something, anything. The monster looms over us and tramples me to the floor again. The beating of my heart in my ears becomes deafening and the pain washes over me like a wave, drowning me, crushing me. I can barely hear what sounds like Caboose struggling to his feet again and growling at the beast as blackness overwhelms me...
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I sat in my favorite spot in the library, trying to avoid Pince’s eagle eyes as I scribbled out my homework. There was a firm set in my jaw, the kind that makes it clear that no more tears will be coming from this face. My fourth year had hardly begun and I was looking back on my third…trying to make some sense of the craziness that had gone on. Wild parties, friends gained, friends lost…my first ever sight of naked girls. And Marta. Geez….Marta. It was a year of firsts, really. And at this point in my life? I was tired of it all.
I was pretty much prepared to give up. Brennan had been seriously hinting about whatever it was he smoked. It seemed to do wonders for his mood. Miriam was flirting with me already and darn it…why not? Why shouldn’t I loosen up and have some fun? Screw Marta and screw the rest of them. It’s not worth it being good anymore...
I’m not “everybody’s favorite firstie” anymore.
“She loved me…and she left me. Then she came back, loved me again, and then threw it all in my face.” I shook my head as I spoke quietly to myself, “Nice guys lose. I’m finished…”
I packed up my books and headed for the Entrance Hall…where action always managed to find a place.
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There’s slippery slopes. And there’s avalanches. He barely cared for the difference. He had made his decision and unless and until something stopped him…he intended to enjoy every moment of the ride.
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The trees nearly sparkled as the sunlight hit their snow-covered boughs. Strange for such beauty to be found in so desolate a place. We stood atop a mountain in the bright afternoon sunshine in Eastern Europe. She and I had just spent a few hours practicing spells and learning new tricks and had finally managed to climb to the top. The view was breathtaking and we simply stood there together for awhile, my “protégé” and I. I was proud of her…she had learned a lot and seriously had no fear. We actually had found that we worked very well together as a team…
We stood ankle deep in the snow, talking about whatever popped into our minds. I had mentioned my formal attire to her, which brought another round of curious questions.
“So……what do Scots wear under their kilts?” Jennifer asked, seeming a bit nervous of the answer.
I turned from the expansive view and laughed. “If you have to ask, you know the answer!”
She looked at me, not sure if she should be horrified at that information or not. “That’s just not right.” She shook her head, finally fixing her eyes on me, a grin slowly turning up the corners of her mouth.
I looked at her, the sunlight trickling through her blonde hair and the world seeming almost as if in slow-motion while her entire face brightened in laughter. I realized something in this moment. I’m going to fall in love with this girl.
I hadn’t been looking for love. Hardly, the events of the previous year were still a bit fresh in my head. But somehow...somewhere…she had broken through it all. All the pain, all the loss, all the bad intentions. She was different, she was above it all. Better than it all. And for the first time all year I realized that I had been given a second chance.
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There’s slippery slopes. And there’s those who catch our arm and hold on for dear life from the top. She told him she’d never let go. And he told her he’d never go back.
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“Feargus! I got on the team, I got on the team, I got on the team!! I’m a Seeker!
Feargus, I never thought I’d be so accepted here. I mean sure, it’s taken three years but come on. It’s France! I’ve only just begun to be half-decent at speaking the language and seriously, they always make fun of my accent!
I always get them back though. After three years, they still haven’t figured out who’s been putting the sticking charm on the toilet seat! I love it. Wax fruit at the breakfast table, chair legs half cut-through, letters starting all sorts of rumors. I’m having a blast! I figure I’ll either teach the French to have a sense of humor
while I’m here, or die trying.
I still can’t believe House Bellefeuille chose me for Seeker. You and I are going to have some serious practicing to do this summer! And I promise not to put that sticking charm on your broom again! I promise! Well….
Your little sister, for better and worse,
Siobhan
PS- I've included a couple pictures of me and my friends this winter. That's the hat mam sent for Christmas... *a doodle of girl's face with an uncertain expression follows the PS*"
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Asphodel! How on the coldest side of hell did I miss that? Asphodel! I ran back into the castle, my sojourn rather shortened by my sudden lightbulb moment. As I trotted into the Entrance Hall I saw them all seated there, near the sign. I slowed down to take them in, having another, more profound lightbulb moment as I looked.
“Keeferson,” they call him. Walking back to his commons after a stimulating and somewhat enlightening conversation earlier. Randell, still rubbing his temples from that conversation, looked up and gave me a grin anyway. “Indefatigable” would be a good word for him, even if he didn’t catch the reference. Mai turned as she saw him look at me and gave me a bright grin that nearly lit the room up. She is a lot like me... Adain, who I just met today. Friendly enough, certainly. And a good conversationalist. For a Gryffindor.
As my eyes track them all again I see how I fit...the Ravenclaw to fill the gap alongside a Hufflepuff and a Slytherin. And across from a Gryffindor. Four houses, united in friendship. As it always should have been. Two months ago only one of these four was known to me, and even that friendship has changed.
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He walked up to them, among equals. He laughed, he shared...they shared in his triumph. His pain was great...no one is happy when someone leaves them. But he’d found a way to move on, to become something, define himself. Without her...
...she's sitting beside me, smiling, happy. I see her hair begin to turn brown at the roots and expect to see her pull her flask out. She pats her side, digs in her bag, looks at me...her face is drained and she looks terrified. "Feargus....my potion....I forgot..." She needs to get to Pomfrey. Now. I stand, draw my wand, quickly charm myself. She's laying on the ground, her hair more brown now. I scoop her up in my arms and dash off to the castle... "Watch out!" I shout, nearly bowling Keeferson and Randell over in the hall. Mai is limp in my arms now and I slam through doors in my effort to get to the Hospital Wing as quickly as possible... "Thank god..." I sink to my knees beside her bed as her color returns to "normal" and she opens her eyes. Madam Pomfrey bustles back into her office, clucking her tongue at Mai's lack of foresight... "Little one, are you okay?" Keeferson and Randell have arrived at the bedside. I sink back on my heels and close my eyes, sighing. Randell and Keeferson worry over Mai, who has visibly improved. I can't help it, tears come to my eyes... "Stop your weeping, MacDale. Crying is only useful if you intend to be proactive about it...hug the girl!" I open my eyes and lean in quickly, hugging her tightly. She hugs me back, squeezing hard... "I have to go now" Randell and I look over from the group hug. "Keef. Give her a hug." I say. "Keef doesn't do h-" Randell is interrupted by Keeferson's lung-crushing bear hug, before Keeferson quickly leaves the room, leaving us to our relief. Mai is okay...
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I am a fool. A fool after a fool's own heart. I'm not coming out. And you can't make me. I'm not going to cry. You can't make me do that either. This floor is cold and hard and just about perfect for me right now. I want to stay holed up here forever. I have ruined everything.
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My name is Feargus William MacDale. Welcome to my story.
