“Thandi,” Dean whispers. “Are you free to head to Hogsmeade on Saturday?”
She looks up at the older boy, eyebrow arched in curious disdain. He had waited until Charlie slipped away to approach her, smiling at her brilliantly.
“Why? Are you having a get-together?”
“Yes, of two people, me and you. A date, we common folk usually call it.” His grin is infectious, and Thandi wouldn’t call him unattractive. The problem lies in her hanger-on, suspiciously absent today.
“I don’t know, Dean…I do have to study.”
“Rest is part of study! Avoid burnout, come and catch a break from babysitting Vanderbee, and maybe even snag a bite?”
She considers. Though Charlie hung onto her, kissed her, hugged her, even slept with her–he never said he liked her. It’s nearly sixth year and…he still hasn’t admitted to it.
Thandi caves to the selfish part of her, desperate to know Charlie’s reaction of her actually seeing someone else with her. She smiles up at Dean. “It’s a date.”
Thursday and Friday pass, Charlie suspiciously absent. Considering the last time he was gone so frequently, he and Senet and Merre became Animagus, Thandi couldn’t help but feel a stir of worry. He dodged the questions at dinners, nestled close to her, shaking his head with a curt, “It’s none of your business!”
Saturday and he’s not waiting for her outside her common room. Thandi hugs herself. He was finally getting sick of her, perhaps.
Well. To Hogsmeade. She meets Dean before they leave, and their chat is amiable enough.
“Thandi! You look great.”
“Oh, thank you. You, too.”
“Weather is cold today, so I hope you’re ready for soup and biscuits!” He’s grinning and Thandi feels a twinge of guilt. No matter. Charlie isn’t here, and he hasn’t been attending to her as he had in the past.
Dean takes her to a small restaurant, a hole in the wall place made to look like a cozy dining room. They’re sat by the wall by a smiling host, promising prompt service. A moment passes and they hear the shattering of glass.
Both turn to see Charlie standing outside the kitchen doors, tears already in his eyes, wearing…a server’s apron? He turns and dashes back into the kitchen, and they could hear him being admonished. Thandi stands, wand trailing the air in front of her to fix the pitcher dropped.
She approaches the kitchen doors and is stopped by an apologetic server, and after that, it’s just her and Dean over soup and biscuits. Every time the kitchen door swings open, her eyes dart up to look for Charlie, until a frustrated Dean waves a hand through her vision.
“I thought you two weren’t together?”
“We…aren’t.”
Dean sighs and adjusts his cap before picking at their dessert. “Awful concerned for him when you’re on a date with someone else.”
“I’m just concerned is all. It’s not like him.”
“You’re smitten. I call it how I see it. I was so sure you were just putting up with him, but after that? I’m sorry I asked you out.”
Thandi drops her eyes. “We can split the expense of the dinner–“
“Don’t you worry none about that, I still invited you out. You’re a cheap date–not that that is bad. Just easy on my pocket.”
Thandi nods and dinner is over quietly. She doesn’t see Charlie for the rest of the night.
The next day, he’s at breakfast, sitting in their spot. He stands when he sees her and tries to say something, but instead bursts into tears and runs past her before she could try to speak with him. Thandi bites her lip.
Guilt eats at her. It’s far more distracting than Charlie ever ventured to be, and in the end, it’s up to magic.
“Accio pin.” She can see it perfectly in her mind’s eye, always glinting from Charlie’s hair. He only takes it off to bathe, so she can count on him knowing the instant it springs from his locks.
Minutes pass, and Thandi waits patiently for it to arrive.
There it is, shooting down the hall toward her, a cat chasing it frantically. On seeing Thandi, it attempts to skitter to a stop, sliding along the polished granite floor right into her waiting arms. She cradles him and plucks the waiting pin from the air.
“Charlie,” she says quietly, “Can we talk?”
The cat wriggles frantically, pushing her face away with his paws before letting out a long sigh. She sets him down and the crouching form of Charlie appears before her. He pulls his knees to his chest, squeezing himself as tears already start to drip down his cheeks.
Thandi kneels in front of him, shaking out his handkerchief and blotting away his sadness. “I’m sorry about what happened in Hogsmeade.”
“You don’t like me,” Charlie mumbles. “And you caught me…”
“Darling! I do like you. I thought you didn’t like me–“
“I don’t!! You’re wretched. Awful! And. So…” He trails off, burying his face into his hands, shoulders shaking as he weeps. Thandi carefully tucks the pin back into his hair, pulling him into her to hug.
Charlie calms slowly, clinging to her, kissing her cheek, her shoulder, even the scarf on her neck. Kiss, kiss, kiss, each one soft and loving despite his contradictory words. Thandi could feel the tension begin to leave him as she strokes his hair, letting him cry himself out.
“Why were you working in Hogsmeade?”
“For…p-pocket money.”
Thandi pulls back, tilting her head. “Don’t you have plenty of money?”
“I…um. Wanted to, um. I. Ah. For something. My own…money. But. Um…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why did you go out with Dean?”
“I’m sorry, darling. It seemed like it would be fun and I missed you.” Thandi can see his cheeks beginning to pink from her admission. He buries his face into her once again, holding her tight. “I shouldn’t have done that…”
“Anyone but Dean! Go with anyone else, but not Dean!!” He squeezes her tightly. “Or Pike. Go with Senet or Merre or even Tirel or whoever else!! Dean is in love with you, so don’t go with him!!”
Thandi hugs him back, smiling to herself. “Is that bad? That he is?”
“Yes!! Because–because other people love you, and love you better. Not me. Obviously.” He leans back so he could look at her properly. “I just need another two weeks of work! I promise I’ll be good!! I’m sorry!”
Thandi smiles at him. “And the charm…?”
“I! Morning. Mornings. Okay?”
Thandi nods. “Okay.” He kisses her forehead and squeezes her to him again.
Two weeks and a day. Thandi adjusts fine, and Charlie meets her early morning and over dinner. It’s strange when he doesn’t stay the night, but it is a nice change of pace for her to be reliably sleeping in her bed.
When she sees him the morning he’s done, he’s all grins and cuddles. He presses her tight to him, and it’s nice to feel his solid warmth again. She scratches his head and smiles at him.
“So…what were you up to?”
“Give me your hand.” She offers her right and he pouts at her. The left, then. He takes her fingers, kisses them as he reaches into his pocket. Thandi watches with intense curiosity, then gasps.
Charlie slides a ring onto her finger, looking quite proud of himself. “There. Now everyone will know you’re mine.”
“Y-yours?”
“You’re my Ravenclaw.”
Thandi blushes as she admires the ring. It’s simple, a gold band and a pink pearl, but it’s beautiful. Charlie kisses her palm and pulls her close to him again. “And. Just to make sure. I have…a matching one. Okay?”
“Matching!” Thandi pulls back, taking his hand to see. Indeed. Gold band, small pearl, left ring finger. “Charlie–that’s! Reserved for when you get married!”
“Well, now it’s reserved to tell everyone you’re going to be alone forever. With me.”
He hugs her again and lifts her over his shoulder. Thandi squeals with laughter as he starts to walk toward the dining hall for breakfast, grinning the whole way.