Chapter Text
"I don't fancy her." Charlie emphasized "fancy" on accident while trying not to stutter it.
"Of course you do, you idiot." Andre scolded him, taking a swig of butterbeer.
No, really, Charlie was pretty sure he didn't fancy (Y/N) (L/N).
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(Y/N) was sat right next to him at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. She was cracking down on some Defense against the Dark Arts paper while Charlie was idly doodling dragons on a piece of parchment. Um. While Charlie was making anatomical studies of a Norwegian Ridgeback for very professional reasons. He looked at her for a second to see her wave discreetly with a soft smile directed at someone across the hall. Charlie followed her gaze.
Winger. Charlie's jaw clenched on reflex. The young man's piercing gaze eyed Charlie warily and moved back to (Y/N). He nodded and turned away, leaving the hall. Charlie felt relieved. The idea of expanding their small study group left Charlie uneasy, especially whenever Winger was involved. Everything just felt so awkward with him there. He often felt they had nothing in common, which was stupid because he knew they had the same favorite teachers, and they were both friends with (Y/N) so that had to mean something, right?
The truth was, Charlie's interactions or even sightings of the red-eyed Ravenclaw were rare, however lately, he had heard a lot of people gush about Talbott, which kind of pissed him off.
First, Kettleburn mentioned him as having a knack with beasts in a previous class. Charlie caught sight of (Y/N)'s lips forming a half-smile, apparently amused at something. Whatever that could be.
McGonagall also liked the chap a lot. One of her most talented students or whatever. Charlie was glad he didn't have Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws. Then, he thought of (Y/N) in class with him. Was she impressed by his talents as well? Did she sit next to him? No. No way, (Y/N) always sat next to Rowan. The thought of Talbott helping (Y/N) figure out a wand movement invaded Charlie's mind. Talbott guiding her wrist while she looked at him attentively. Her turning to him with a proud smile when she finally succeeded, because (Y/N) always succeeded perfectly in everything she set her mind to... That thought made Charlie's stomach woozy.
Penny. Penny also liked Talbott, but Penny was friends with everyone...
Now Andre, that one hurt a bit more. Charlie liked that he had a special relationship with Andre. Seeker to seeker. So, yeah, he wasn't fond of hearing Andre hum in approval at everything (Y/N) said to compliment his housemate.
Finally, yes, (Y/N) had been spending a lot of time with Talbott. She would always tell the others the funny things Talbott had said to her, with a little laugh and her cheeks flushed. Now, Charlie wasn't the best-versed person in terms of flirting and dating but that seemed like a dead ringer. Also, Penny always teased (Y/N) about a crush so certainly there had to be someone. Someone who wasn't Barnaby. Or Bill. Charlie had already gotten reassurance that no, she did not like his brother, and no, she did not like Barnaby and had only agreed to go to the ball with him in the Fourth Year because no one else had asked her.
"Hey, what’s the deal with you and Talbott?" He decided to ask his friend as casually as possible. Her head whipped around and she looked at him, genuinely confused.
"What?"
"Well you know, you guys have been spending a lot of time together…"
"I’m not dating Talbott, Charlie." She cut in with a small disbelieving laugh. She shook her head and looked a Charlie like he was an idiot. "He's just a bit sad these days and I've been trying to cheer him up. We’re just good friends, that’s all."
"Look, you’re perfectly allowed to date whoever, I don’t care." Charlie tried to explain himself, but there really was no good explanation for how relieved he felt right at that moment. "But, I mean, if you were dating someone, you’d tell me, right?"
"Of course, Red! You’re my best friend!" She elbowed him playfully, leaning her head toward him in confidence. As soon as the words left her mouth, she clasped both hands on it and looked left and right. "DonttellRowanIsaidthatplease."
"My lips are sealed." He elbowed her back. "You’re my best friend too, y’know."
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The Gryffindor locker rooms were slowly emptying. The team's spirit was low. They'd just lost their first match of the season. Charlie had recently been appointed team captain and he would have been beating himself up for poor leadership if he wasn't very worried about something else. His mates, however, knew nothing of his concerns and assumed the brooding redhead simply needed to be left alone. So they did. One of the beaters allowing himself a very manly pat on the shoulder and a grave look.
Young Oliver Wood, the third-year Gryffindor keeper, left last. He exchanged a curt nod with Charlie before letting the curtain fall behind him. As soon as he did, Charlie exhaled loudly and sat down on a bench, burying his face in his hands. However, he didn't have time to savor the quiet before someone walked in again, making themselves known with a polite cough. He didn't need to look to know who it was. (Y/N) (L/N). Still, he parted his fingers and sent her a defeated look from behind his hands.
"Are you okay, Red?" She enquired with a concerned look on her face as she carefully closed the curtain. Charlie sighed again and stood up to face her. He knew he could tell her about his concerns. She would know what to do. He walked up and planted himself right in front of her.
"Don’t tell anyone," he warned her with a side glance around the tent as if to make sure they were alone, "but I think someone hexed me during the match."
Her eyes widened a little, lips parting. Before she could say anything, he was quick to clarify.
"I don’t know what happened but my broom just froze mid-air while I was chasing the Snitch and I lost track of it." He stared in her eyes almost pleadingly. He needed to know he wasn't insane.
"I saw you stop abruptly but I didn't know you were onto the snitch." She asked with furrowed brows. Charlie remembered perfectly his broom stopping dead in its tracks. He'd looked down to check on it for a second, then back up to make sure he hadn't lost the Snitch but instead, he felt a bludger speed right past his right eat. It had missed him by just a few inches. Immediately after that, his broom started working again. If Rath had aimed a bit more to the left, if his broom had stopped half a second later, he would have been sent flying off of it.
"You think they tried to…" Charlie struggled to put his thoughts into words, he felt rage invading his mind. "If I find that asshole I’ll…"
"No, no, no." Alice cut him off hurriedly "I’m just saying, that Bludger missed your face by like, a few inches, maybe they tried to help you. » She flinched slightly, knowing her theory about a well-intender hexer would not please her friend.
« Help me? We lost the game! » He exclaimed, gradually losing his temper. She'd expected him not to like her idea but she did not expect such a strong reaction. She couldn't help but get defensive.
"At least, you’re still in one piece!" She cried out, trying and failing to hide her distress.
"It's Quidditch, (Y/N)," Charlie snapped back, "bludgers happen, hexes should not!" He walked back to his locker, threw his Quidditch robes in, grabbed his shoulder bag, and slammed the door.
"So what, you'd rather be in a hospital bed?"
No. Yes. Maybe? He didn't answer, considering his options. He would rather have won. He must have made face because she read him like an open book.
"Oh, please, you lost a match! Boohoo! So what? You'll just need to win against Hufflepuff in 2 weeks and you'll be back on track!"
He looked at her, expecting to see her scolding gaze, the one she used to reprimand 1st years who stayed up late. However, Charlie too could read her like an open book and that look... That was guilt. The most terrifying realization dawned on him.
" It was you!"
His tone was vicious, pointing his finger at her accusingly. Her eyes widened in surprise and he lowered her gaze. She should have been defending herself. There was no way she would do this to him, right? Right?
"I'm sorry Charlie, I didn't mean for you to lose track of the Snitch."
Charlie's heart dropped.
"I cannot believe you would do this to me." He managed to utter through his constricted throat, shaking his head lightly. Maybe he was going to cry. It certainly felt that way, but he had no way of knowing if the prickling sensation in his eyes was due to betrayal or blind rage.
"I'd rather see you lose a match than fall to your death." A fire erupted in her eyes. Trying to justify herself, now? That ought to be good.
"Well, I'd rather you don't meddle with my games"
"I didn't have time to think, Charlie, you were not slowing down and I was not sure you'd seen th-"
"I don't need your saving!" He cut her abruptly, ignoring the way she flinched slightly at his harsh tone. His eyes scoured her face. She was defensive, persuaded to have acted for the best. She was always so self-righteous.
"How many times have you ended up in a hospital bed after a match?" She spoke matter-of-factly, but this was not potion's class and Charlie roared.
"Bullshit! How many times have you taken me on life-threatening adventures?"
She turned her eyes away again. They were teary, which Charlie hadn't noticed before. She swallowed hard, as though she had something bitter in her mouth. Charlie spoke again, ignoring the bad taste in his own mouth.
"You're such a hypocrite."
She closed her eyes this time, inhaling slowly. A tear rolled down her cheek and, maybe, some other time, Charlie would have reached to catch it.
"Think what you want, I'm glad you're unharmed." She told him, looking at him again with a sad look in her eyes. That wasn't fair. She shouldn't get to feel sorry for herself right now.
"Don't try to be the bigger person, here! You hexed me, and you did so while I was playing!"
"Tell me, please, tell me that you would have seen it, that you would have dodged it!"
Her eyes were pleading, not to be wrong, but for Charlie to see her side of things. He wouldn't have dodged it. He knew it. He had been much too focused on the snitch. It happened sometimes. Sometimes the rest of the pitch completely disappeared around him when he zeroed in on his target. It was dangerous, but he usually trusted his beaters to protect him.
"I should go to McGonagall right now." He finally said, keeping his voice as calm as he could, trying his best to limit its angry trembling. "I could- I should go to her right now. See how well she likes a Slytherin prefect messing with another team's captain."
Apparently, he struck a nerve. She shook her head dismissively.
"Oh, fuck off, Charlie. You weren't even playing Slytherin."
"You fuck off." He answered immediately, feeling his anger boiling up inside of him again. She didn't get to hex him AND tell him to fuck off in the same afternoon. No way. "YOU FUCK OFF! I don't want to talk to you right now."
"Don't raise your voice at me, Char"
"Get. Out." He said slowly, emphasizing each word and ignoring the way her trembling voice made his insides stir unpleasantly. "Now."