Growing Up
Thandi giggles as Charlie buries his face into her scarf, nipping at her neck playfully. She gives him a scratch as he nibbles quietly, enjoying her squeaks and teasing.
“You call me chipmunk, but you’re the one doing all the nibbling!”
“Family resemblance,” he says as he presses his lips to her cheek. “Happens when two people spend too much time together. You rub off on one another.”
“Too much time is right!” A younger Ravenclaw sticks out his tongue in disgust. “It’s like having my parents in the common room! Why do we have to let a Slytherin sleep here, anyway? So rude!”
Charlie wiggles the fingers of his left hand at the kid, ring glittering as he sticks his tongue out at them. “It’s ’cause we’re married, dipshit.”
Thandi gasps and covers his mouth, face red. He gives her a sly grin as she shakes her head. “No! No, we’re not married! Not yet! And–“
“Oooh, yet, she says!!” His voice is muffled by her hand, but the glee is plain on his face. Teasing her like this is leagues more fun than he anticipated. The younger kid groans as Charlie keeps hassling Thandi. “You’re going to marry your keeper?? Hmm??”
“Charlie! You’re–you!!!” She sighs and collapses back into him. “When did you get to be such a handful?”
“First day of first year, dearest,” he purrs. “You’re sentenced to a life of loneliness…” Again, he leans into her and kisses her neck, loving the noises she makes. “…with me.”
Thandi laughs quietly to herself. How is she going to break it to him that her family wants her back as soon as she passes her NEWTs? He’s so…he is being sincere, isn’t he? Or is this a new level of teasing he’s discovered, a new way to get her hopes up before crashing them down?
Thandi sighs, nestling into his hold properly, curling up. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. She’s going to miss his ornery denials. His minty freshness at all hours. How she has never once been cold since he’s been around. And the affection he pours on her ceaselessly!
Her family is going to pluck her up and marry her off to who knows what in who knows where, while her idiot probably gets to travel the world and learn about…dragons, or something. The lights of the common room dim as it empties, a fire in the grate and Charlie holding her close.
He peers down at her and loosens her scarf carefully, setting it aside. Carefully, he takes off her jewelry and he kisses her forehead before handing her her headscarf. Thandi sighs and she puts it on dutifully before reaching for his face. She strokes his cheek gently, watching him lean into her touch, nuzzling her hand. He smiles at her.
“Charlie…”
“Hm?”
“Do you…never mind. It’s nothing. Are you sure you want to go back to your dorm tomorrow night…?”
She can swear that his eyes glitter, reflecting the firelight. “Do you want me to stay?”
“I…! Well, I’m glad you started to get over the…incident…but…”
“Is once a week not enough for my Ravenclaw? You want a nice warm bed to go with your studies?”
Thandi could feel her cheeks get hot again, and she opens her mouth to…what? Deny that she wants him here? Beg him to stay? This really is quite the inversion. He could be a mad genius at times. Instead, she leans up and tilts her head, so close that she could feel his breath.
There it is.
That flicker of anxiety. Fear, even. She kisses his nose instead. “Maybe you’re right. I’m growing up! I shouldn’t need a keeper anymore.”
Charlie opens his mouth and thinks better of it. “Good night, Chipmunk.”
“Sleep tight, Whiskers.”