End of Sallow

I just want you to know who I am

It was six months into his first year and he was hungry. Podex had kept him all night Friday night and all day on Saturday. And he hadn't been allowed to eat. Levi had decided to visit his house that weekend, so it was just Theo in their shared dorm room. So, when he opened his bedside table door to find all of his food was gone, he felt the same lesson Podex drilled into his head all over again.

He just didn't deserve it.

Why else would it have magically disappeared?

He'd stared at the empty little shelf, where he'd kept nonperishables, with a devastated expression. It was midnight, at the very least six hours away from breakfast. At least he knew he could eat then... Unless Podex called him back. In which, he very well might.

Theo swallowed back his disappointment and ignored his stomach growling as he closed the small end table door and turned. And yelped, jumping back into the nightstand and knocking it over while fumbling for his wand.

There was a creature behind him with large eyes and ears staring at him with a smile on her face that faltered when she saw she'd scared him senseless.

"Oh! Millie is so sorry, she didn't mean to startle Mister Hawke."

Theo stared at her, his wand only half pulled out of his pocket, frozen from when he'd heard her say his last name.

"Do... I'm so sorry, do I know you?" He asked, knowing he looked and sounded insane, considering his hand was still on his wand.

"My name is Millie and Millie works in the kitchens! Millie notices you stealing food from the great hall and had to clean out Mister Hawke's little pile because it were starting to collect bugs and rodents, Mister Hawke."

Theo sighed. Wasted food.

'But not to worry, Millie is here to show Mister Hawke something, an easier way to get food, as long as Mister Hawke can promise not to abuse the privilege." She winked an enormous eye at him.

He stared at this creature, this... kitchen fairy. He'd heard about the elves around the school, but he'd never seen one for himself. Not up close, anyway.

He considered her offer for about three seconds before he nodded. He was hungry.

"I promise," He vowed, shakily, the thought of making any type of promise making him sick to his stomach.

She showed him how to tickle the pear and showed him the kitchen. Showed him where the food was, how it was made. And then she snapped her fingers and a plate full of shepherd's pie appeared in front of him.

"Millie noticed that Mister Hawke didn't take any sweets, she hopes this is okay"

But Theo was already eating, thanking her between the mouthfuls of food. Millie nodded happily, her ears bouncing as she did so.

'Mister Hawke has been missing most of the weekend."

He froze mid-bite, his eyes slowly moving towards hers. She just shook her head, a small smile on her face. "Millie is not prying, but she notices. She hopes Mister Hawke stays safe is all."

Theo slowly resumed eating, his eyes not leaving her as he took in the small creature thoughtfully.

"How often may I come back here?" he asked once he got his fill of food.

"Whenever Mister Hawke likes!" Millie said happily, clapping her small hands together. "The other elves have been notified that Mister Hawke may come and go as he pleases, he just has to be respectful and keep this food in the kitchens, not in his room."