Snake & Raven

Valentine’s Day.

 

Simultaneously the best and worst days for Charlie. He takes Thandi out every year, no matter what, and they both know by now. How much he likes her. That said…Thandi mentioned more than a few times this year that she would be busy. Too busy for their…date.

 

Despite his monopoly on her time, she sometimes gets detached and distant. Usually it’s her studies carrying her attention off, but it feels different this time. So: Charlie paces anxiously in the Slytherin common room, ring pressed to his mouth as he debates what he could do for her this year.

 

Does she even want to pass the day with him?

 

He broaches the question during dinner. “So…Um. The fourteenth…”

 

“Mm-hm,” Thandi mumbles, attention on her book as her quill dances across the paper. 

 

“You still want to be with me?” Wait. Rephrase that. “As. As if you have much of a choice.”

 

“I do have a choice, actually.” She turns the page and there’s a long pause. Charlie sighs and puts down their fork, burying his face into her back. What does that even mean?

 

“So you have plans, then?”

 

“I do.”

 

Ah.

 

Well.

 

It stings, and he’s suddenly not very hungry. He’s close to crying again, but he bites his lip and takes a breath, hugging her for his own comfort before she inevitably darts off. Would she even want him to sleep over tonight?

 

He asks as the dishes are tidied up, and Thandi gives him a thoughtful look. “Hmm. Tomorrow, maybe, but not tonight. I have some things I need to finish up, and I can’t have you–” She taps his nose with a smile. “–tempting me to sleep.”

 

Charlie nods, heart easing slightly. Something must actually be going on. Or did she forget? Ah…well, he’ll take her out another time.

 

The two of them walk hand in hand back to the stairs that lead up to the Ravenclaw tower. She smiles at him and he feels that sting creep back in. No. He’s gotta trust her. Besides, by now, everyone knows not to be trying their hand at dating Thandi. Ever since Dean left, life has been a lot easier.

 

The thoughts must be plain on his face, because Thandi reaches over to stroke his cheek and scratch his sideburns. He tilts his head and her smile practically melts him.

 

“All right, darling. Sleep well. See you in the morning.”

 

Now he melts. Being her darling is buoying. Thandi can see that gentle, lopsided grin and the way he looks at her. Her smile grows, and she laughs as he pulls her to him for a hug and a kiss on her forehead. She returns the favor, stroking his cheek again as she slips away.

 

Antsy.

 

Nervous.

 

Anxious.

 

Absolutely rattling.

 

Valentine’s day, and Thandi is missing. She had plans, of course, but today is a half day and he hasn’t seen her at all! The fear crawls over him and he’s half-tempted to check himself for loose spiders.

 

Were the flowers too much? Maybe by busy she actually meant absolutely no Charlies. The bouquet sits on the table with chocolates in a rather pretty homemade box. He had figured that if he wasn’t going to take her out, he’d bring her these, but. Where. Is. She???

 

“Hey, Whiskers.” Charlie looks up to see Senet walking in, pink envelope in hand. They hold it out to him. “Letter for ya.”

 

He snatches it, earning a tsk in response. That’s Thandi’s handwriting! Beautiful and 100% neat and legible. Good ol Thandi.

 

Charlie,

 

I’ve decided to spend today up in the owl loft, doing some research. I’ll see you tonight!

 

Thandi

 

He stares at the letter and looks up at Senet, who shrugs. Should he wait? Should he just go to bed? Was he assuming too much to think that today would be another day together?

 

Senet watches him pace, paling. “Whiskers. Hey. Hey, Whiskers. Whiskers.“

 

His eyes meet theirs, and they grimace. The panic and fear is evident. These two are a fucking puzzle.

 

“Look, why doncha go and see her? Your pacin is makin me nervous.”

 

“I. But. You know, she’s been pushing for me to be more independent, and so, if that’s the case–“

 

“Just go, loser, it’s Valentine’s day! I got like five dates tbe on and you’re eatin into my time.”

 

They watch with satisfaction as he nods and dashes down the stairs of the Ravenclaw tower. They really do have more than a few people to get back to.

 

Charlie makes it to the owl loft. The familiar smell of feathers and bird soil wafts through, and he’s suddenly very grateful that this place sits open to the breeze. “Thandi?”

 

There’s still plenty of sun peeking into the dim room, so most of the owls are asleep. He catches sight of one bird in the gloom. The bird flaps down and drops a pink envelope in his open hands.

 

“Rev? What’re you doing here? Where’s Thandi??” The bird fluffs as he wrestles the envelope open.

 

Charlie!

 

Do you remember the time you thought you lost Rev and we found him here with a whole nest of rocks? It was quite funny. Would you be so kind as to bring me one? I went down to the green to fetch some moss. I’ll meet you there.

 

Thandi

 

Charlie sighs. Rev clacks his beak and flaps up into the rafters while his charge casts for one of the peculiar stones. Small, round, with a curious mottled pattern. Retrieved.

 

He makes his way now down to the edge of the forest. There’s no sign of Thandi amongst the trees, and he gets frustrated again. Where could she be? Charlie approaches the tree she usually pulled moss from, running his fingers over their initials that he carved there himself.

 

Just underneath, another pink envelope is tacked there. Thandi’s a whirlwind today! It’s just like her to have a stack of stationary ready to go even while she’s running around.

 

Charlie

 

The initials here are just like ours, aren’t they? I remember you saying that it must be some other pair out and about. Isn’t that funny? Do you mind taking a rubbing and bringing it to me in the library? At our usual corner.

 

Thandi

 

Yep. All over. Charlie dutifully flips the paper and presses it to the tree, pulling a pencil from his pocket and rubbing the carving carefully. She’s not stupid. She knows it was him.

 

Why is she asking him to get these things? He sighs. To the library.

 

As expected, she’s not there. He sees the pink of an envelope poking out from under a cushion and picks it up. 

 

Charlie

 

We spent many a good cuddle session here. Oh, excuse me–a study session. Do you mind picking up the book we read during our break? I believe I left something important in it. I’ll see you at bedtime!

 

Thandi

 

He sighs and tucks this envelope into his pocket with the others. What is she up to? He’s blushing already. She’s got a plan or a project but she keeps pointing him to places like this. It’s a little…well, a lot out of character for her. She doesn’t really do special stuff this big. It’s mostly his fault, of course, since he makes a fuss, and this time won’t be any different, but.

 

But.

 

The shelves are scanned and he pulls out a thin volume. It comes back to him as his fingers pass over the cover: they read this frequently, and when she first kissed his cheek, this is what was sitting in her lap. His face heats further and he shakes the memory loose, flipping through the pages. 

 

Nothing. Hm.

 

Rock, book, and rubbing collected, he makes his way back up to the Ravenclaw tower. He’s not really expecting her to be there, but he’s beat and needs a good lie down.

 

As he steps into the common room, a fluffy dark blur dashes up to him and squeezes him round the middle. It makes him panic briefly until the sweet scent of her catches up and he hugs her back.

 

“Charlie! I was waiting for you!”

 

“You were? I thought you were busy. I mean, not that I. Care. At all…”

 

She giggles and leans back in his grasp, beaming. He finally looks past her and blinks in shock.

 

First, it’s empty–thank goodness, most are out on dates or studying or just making themselves scarce–and there are decorations set up on the table they frequent.

 

Pink candles. The bouquet he left earlier is sitting in a vase. There’s food and a little cake, and there’s a little pink box sitting next to the box of chocolates he had gotten for her.

 

“Did you get the things I asked for?”

 

“Er. Um, yeah. Of course. What…is this?”

 

“Our alone-together dinner.” Again, her grin practically melts him.

 

“Ah…hah. Looks, um. Er…s-scant. Definitely not…not…not what I would have done.”

 

She tugs his hand and sits him down, holding out her hands for the things he gathered. She also plucks the pin from his hair, the scarf from round his neck, her scarf, and just…lines them up on the floor with an assortment of other things he recognizes.

 

“Ah. Just need…” Thandi reaches over and pulls the ring off his finger, dropping it next to hers in the line.

 

Charlie starts to panic. Is this goodbye? Is she sending him off by gathering everything up and getting rid of it in some flashy manner? Does she really actually resent him? No. Nonono.

 

“Thandi, this is wretched, what–“

 

She waves her wand, tapping things in sequence, pulling a little silver thread from each object as she mumbles words to a spell.

 

He’s shaking. Is she severing their connection? What in the–

 

Tap. “Done!” Thandi looks up, smiling, and sees the tears dripping down Charlie’s face. He had, as always, assumed the worst. Now is a good time to demonstrate her creation. She pulls her ring on, alongside a ratty sweater she got from him. His old pajamas. The scarves are set aside, but she picks up the pin, his ring, and the rock.

 

Charlie stares at her, uncertain, lip trembling as she approaches. The pin is slid back in place, the ring back on his finger, and she in her spot on his lap. She keeps a firm grasp on his hand and curls his fingers around the rock.

 

It eases him. It eases him a lot. “It’s a worry stone, darling.” 

 

“You…made…”

 

“If you put in enough good memories, it eats up your worries!”

 

Charlie laughs, stilted, and squeezes her to him, kissing her forehead. “You. You. You!!! B-b-b…idiot. I thought you were busy.”

 

“I was!!”

 

“Too busy for the. You know. Have you got Stockholm syndrome?”

 

Thandi snorts a laugh and kisses his cheek. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

 

“Wretched. Awful. You’re so horrid, you ugly thing, you!” He punctuates with nuzzling and squeezing, relieved. “I hate you and your schemes. Always trying to wriggle in my grasp.”

 

“You’re a villain! What else am I supposed to do?”

 

“Stuff your face and look content. It’s my responsibility to care for my own pet.”

 

“Well! I’m an emotional support Ravenclaw, darling.”

 

That blush earns him a head scratch and he purrs at the easy feeling of her affection. They tidy everything else and she eats in his lap as always. Dinner is delicious, as is dessert, and they curl up together as always. Not a bad Valentine’s.