Little Memories

“You know that the game against Gryffindor is this Saturday, so I want you all to get enough sleep these next few days,” Draco called as the Slytherin Quidditch team flooded the locker. The all waved him off, as they had a grueling practice out in the cold rain and were all exhausted. “We can’t lose this game! Stop acting like this isn‘t a big deal!” He bellowed angrily. Everyone stopped and looked at him, since his anger had finally gotten their attention. His eyes were wide and his fists were clenched at his sides. “Just for you lack of concern, I’m going to schedule a practice for tomorrow as well.” The team gave a communal groan before slouching over to their respective lockers.

“Bastard,” Charlotte hissed as Draco stormed into the Captain’s office and slammed the door behind him. Theodore and Jackson gave half-hearted laughs at her bitter words. “Hagrid said that the weather was supposed to be twice as worse tomorrow than it was today.”

September flew by and now the Hogwarts students found themselves mid-October. Charlotte and Draco were as hostile toward each other as every, and the same could have been said of Charlotte and Gregory. The rift seemed to be growing wider between the two groups and a patching up did not look like it was going to happen anytime soon. Charlotte and Ginny, however, found themselves talking more and more with each other, which in turn lead to Charlotte talking with Luna and Neville. Of course, they were just loose friends. They didn’t sit at the same tables at meals and they avoided each other outside of the classroom or passing in the hallway.

“We’ve missed dinner,” Jackson said softly as he placed his broom into the locker and shrugged out of his Quidditch Uniform. “The idiot made us miss a meal because he couldn’t fucking find the Snitch.” Charlotte pulled off her boots and shin guards before starting to slip back into her uniform. Of course, the girls, or in her case girl, of the teams had a separated area of the locker room to change, but Charlotte had gotten used to changing in front of the guys anyways. It’s not like any of them were brave enough to check her out while she did.

Carefully, Charlotte placed her pure white broomstick into her locker before straightening up the items a bit so she’d easily be able to slip into practice wear and her protective gear and uniform for Saturday.

“Oi’, Draco,” she heard her brother’s voice from the row of lockers just behind her, “you going off to see Daphne now?” Charlotte suddenly stilled and stared emotionlessly into her locker, listening intently. Daphne Greengrass was a girl in a year just above Charlotte. She was also very pretty, which had Charlotte very nervous for what this meeting between them meant.

“Yeah, why?” Draco asked, sounding much more calm than he did before he disappeared into his office.

“No reason,” Gregory replied, “Crabbe and I were going to try to knick some food from the house elves before they went to bed. I was just wondering if you wanted to come along.”

“Well…Daphne and I were just going to work on that Transfiguration paper, but I’m sure we won’t be doing much of that, if you know what I mean,” he said in an incredibly smug tone. Charlotte felt her heart plummet to her stomach and her body go weak. She could tell that both Jackson and Theodore were watching her intently, gauging her reaction.

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Gregory said in a less-than enthusiastic tone and Charlotte felt another set of eyes on her before the feeling diminished. Draco’s footsteps quickly faded as he walked from the locker room, but all Charlotte could do was stand there, staring pathetically into the depths of her locker as she continued to steadily breath in and out. She forced herself to close the locker door and finally let out a shaky breath of air that she had been holding in. She turned and noticed that Gregory was staring at her for a moment before quickly turning and closing his locker.

“Charlie,” Jackson soothed softly, “he’s an ass, okay? He probably was just saying all that stuff because you were there.” Charlotte merely hummed as she stared at her locker, knowing that her brother wouldn’t pretend to hurt her that badly. Draco must have been seeing Daphne, that was the only explanation.

“Jackson,” Theodore said, staring across the blonde girl between them, “you can go ahead to the Common Room. I’ll walk Charlotte back.” Jackson glanced between Charlotte, watching her expression closely, and Theodore before giving a sharp nod.

“It’ll be okay, Charlie,” Jackson murmured softly before beginning to leave the locker room. Charlotte was staring up at Theodore with a half-hurt, half-curious expression as she pulled in her lips.

“He’s a jackass,” he murmured, staring intensely at her with turquoise-colored eyes, “you know that and I know that. I would kill for a girl to do things for me that you’ve done for him.” Charlotte let out a sniffle as she wiped away the tears that had managed to trickle down her face. Theodore sighed sharply as he lifted his hands and gently brushed away the remainder of tears for her. “No crying,” he said, obviously a bit unsettled by a crying girl in front of him, “he’s not worth it. He should be the one crying.” Charlotte shook her head, staring up at Theodore.

“I know I did things that he didn’t approve of,” she whispered, not trusting her voice to speak above that, “but everyone knows Daphne is a whore. She’s only good for one thing and it just…” Charlotte hummed again and shook her head even more, her damp, curly hair falling in her face.

“Just what?” Theodore pressed as they both pulled up the hoods on their cloaks and began to prepare themselves for walking out into the rainstorm that surrounded them. He went to open the door but Charlotte stopped him before he could, since neither of them would probably be heard over the howling winds and torrential rain.

“It’s like he knows that being with her would bother me the most,” she said, looking up at him earnestly. “And I’m not quite as sad as I should be about it,” she continued, causing Theodore to raise a brow in curiosity, “I’m angry with the both of them.”

“Oh?” Theodore said, clearly interested in what Charlotte was saying as he leaned back against the door and crossed his arms over his chest. They were the only ones left the locker room, so they weren’t in danger of being heard or blocking anyone from leaving.

“Yes,” Charlotte said, her brow furrowed and her eyes harsh, “I’m angry with Daphne for even thinking about touching what’s not hers to begin with and I’m angry at Draco for mucking around with Daphne.” Theodore merely remained silent as he looked over Charlotte’s face, clearing thinking things through. He suddenly cut his eyes at her as a wicked grin curled his lips.

“You know what I say you do about all this, Charlotte,” he said suddenly, gaining Charlotte’s undivided attention. She merely raised her brows, silently telling him to go on. “I say you get even. Find someone who would make Draco as mad as he’s making you at the moment.” Charlotte stared at him apprehensively, knowing how this things went.

“I don’t know, Theodore,” she said slowly, shaking her head as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ve done something like that before and I don’t think it quite worked out the way I had planned it to.”

“Blaise, last year, right?” Theodore asked, watching Charlotte closely. She merely nodded, pulling a bit of a face at the mention of his name. “Well…did you make it clear to him what you were doing?” The blonde drew in a deep breath of air and scrunched up her nose slightly.

“I suppose not,” she said, “I ended up ‘breaking up’ with him because he treated me like a piece of meat that was only good for shagging and nothing else.” Theodore hummed softly in replied, still staring intently at Charlotte as she stood in front of him. They were the same height, which could have been intimidating to a lesser man, but Theodore wasn’t intimidated by her in the least. He knew she was powerful and had a quick temper, but he was one of the only friends she had and knew she wouldn’t do anything to hurt their relationship.

“You’re going to have to find someone that’s okay with pretending you’re a couple,” he said softly, a smile tugging the corners of his lips upwards. He had an idea they could go with, but he didn’t want to come right out and say it. He had to make it seem like Charlotte had figured it out all for herself. Charlotte rolled her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

“I don’t have to do anything, Theodore,” she grumbled sourly, staring at him darkly, “I’ve had it with stupid, immature boys who get too attached.” He pushed off the door and closed the space between the two of them, never breaking their eye contact.

“It’s a good thing that I’m not a stupid, immature boy then,” he murmured. Realization flashed across Charlotte’s face as she stared up at him, but her expression quickly fell into a frown.

“No. Absolutely not, Theodore,” she said stubbornly, shaking her head. Theodore merely let out a chuckle as he stared down at her, still smiling.

“C’mon, Charlie,” he said, “to pretend like we were dating would make him the angriest and you know it.”

“To pretend like I was dating Blaise would make him the angriest,” she shot back. Theodore shook his head, grinning wryly at the stubborn girl. He knew it would probably take a lot more convincing to get her to agree to their plan. He also knew that it would make her feel a bit better if she could get back at Draco, as it would make any Slytherin feel better, but he just needed to give her a sharp push to help her realize it.

“I know you’re not going to want to go back to Blaise, so I’m the next best thing,” Theodore replied. Charlotte let out a heavy sigh then let her head fall back as she closed her eyes, thinking it all through.

“I don’t want to get even right now, Theodore. I just want to forget him as much as I can,” she finally said, opening her eyes and looking directly at him. Theodore merely let out a sigh and looked over her face. He knew her well enough that it’d only be a matter of time before she’d want to get back at Draco.

“Alright,” he sighed, “but just know that the proposition still stands. If you wanted to pretend to date me to get back at him, I’d do it whole-heartedly for you.” Charlotte smiled up at Theodore and nodded a bit before kissing his cheek.

“Thank you,” she said softly. She sighed a bit before glancing to the door. “We best go and brave the storm,” she murmured after a while, letting out a small laugh as she added in a humored tone, “people are probably going to talk about us being alone in the locker room regardless if I want to pretend that I’m dating you are not.” Theodore laughed and shook his head before pulling open the door. They both shot each other a slightly frightened glance at the weather before running out into the rain, slamming the locker room door behind them.