End of Sallow

***You got me thinkin' it'll be alright

Longer chapter x.x CW: SMOOOOTS

"Charlie?"

She didn't leave his side if she could help it. Slept with him in Toby's room. Brushed her teeth while he brushed his. Ate with him. Looked panicked when they had to go to separate classes.

All the while, barely talking. Not offering information. Her hand was always seeking his, at night she clung to him, basically sleeping on top of him.

In any other circumstance, he would have loved it. But she was tense. Sad. And Theo had no idea why. He'd even gone to Malfoy in desperation and had been relieved when he said he'd help talk to her, since Theo couldn't get anything out of her.

Charlie looked up at him, her expression looking like she was angry and sad at the same time. "I don't know where to go," he reminded her.

They stood in the middle of Hogsmeade main square right by the floo flame. Charlie huffed, her breath coming out in a thick white puff against the cold air before she hugged his arm and moved forward. She led him to the shop that Grace had always visited to buy her books and Theo almost snorted in realization. Of course, the Ollivander owned a bookshop.

He tried the door but found it was locked and frowned. They were late.

Charlie sighed. "Will you please tell me why we're here now?"

"Malfoy will tell you." Theo said. He didn't want to tell her the truth and then she decide it wasn't necessary and close up.

He just hoped they wouldn't have to wait long.

"Mrow."

Theo blinked and looked for what in Merlin's name had just made that sound. It sounded like someone pretending to be a cat. Pretending with one of the deepest voices he'd ever heard.

Charlie seemed oblivious though.

"Mrow."

"Do you hear that?" Theo asked.

"Yes, it's a cat," she sighed, her tone patient. As if answering a child's question.

"The hell it is, do you hear it?"

"Theo, it's the little calico over there."

"What's a calico?"

"The.. mixed color cat." She pointed. "She's probably in heat."

"How do you know it's a she?"

"Mrow."

Yes, that was the cat. Theo eyed it uncertainly. It was a rather small cat that was made up of two different shades of orange, black, and brown. It stared at him, pupils much too wide for how bright it was outside, and it was wiggling it's little bum as it stared at him.

What the fuck was this creature doing? The only experience Theo had with cats was Alec's patronus. And Alec, if that counted.

"Sorry!"

Theo looked up to find Ollivander hurrying towards them, Malfoy in close step behind her.

"For what?" Charlie asked. "Are you two finally going to tell me why we're here?"

Malfoy's eyes cut to Theo's, who shrugged.

"Theo, are you a reader?" Eliza asked and Theo went to answer but winced when the calico cat suddenly attacked his ankle, and he nudged it away with his foot.

"Erm... Depends on the book, I suppose?" He said, distractedly. Did no one notice this damn cat?

"What books do you like, then? I'm sure we have one for you," she said as she went to the shop door and unlocked it and pushed open the door. Theo hesitated before following.