For the one character comp – write about your character in their later years (65+) with all of the prompts in a table (Table C): surprise, blanket, hours, meaning and borrow.
For the OTP boot camp with the prompt: lost
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Charlie walks down the road, a hot chocolate in his hands and an ache in his bones with each step he takes. The warming spell that he casted before leaving the house isn't enough to drive the bitter cold out of his joints and his drink has long since cooled, but he wouldn't miss this day for the anything. When he reaches his destination, the ground is already thickly blanketed by snow.
Taking out a small object from his pocket, he transfigures it into a chair and has a seat. Across from him is a lone headstone. A sad smile crosses Charlie's face as he finally looks at it.
Draco Malfoy
5 June 1980 – 23 November 2034
A dragon of a different sort
The words he borrowed from the other Dragon Tamers' description of Draco. He's spent hours reading and re-reading these words, hoping to find some closure in them, but never does. Instead, his heart just aches for the man that the headstone stands for. Draco's illness had been a surprise to both and by the time that it was identified, it was too late to save him. Charlie was just forced to watch Draco die, unable to do anything.
When he looks at the headstone, dark against the pure white ground, he remembers the time he spent with him. He remembers the taste of hot chocolate on Draco's lips. He remembers all Draco's small gestures that showed his love and how those gestures, few and far in between, were enough for Charlie. But that's the meaning of love – accepting what is given, and never asking for more because it's more than enough.
"I miss you," he finally says when the memories threaten to drown him. "Some days I wake up and, for a moment, forget you're not here. But then reality comes crashing down." Those days are the hardest ones for Charlie to make it through because the grief is far too much for him to get out of bed. He just lays there, wrapping himself in the memory of those mornings when he didn't have work and the two of them would stay in bed for day.
"I thought I would find you here," a voice jolts Charlie back into the present.
He glances up and meets the ever-changing eyes of his best friend. "It's the anniversary. I wouldn't miss it," he says. He takes another small object out of his pocket and transfigures a chair for her. "What are you doing here?"
She takes the seat and hands him a new cup of hot chocolate. "Making sure you're alright," she replies. She searches his eyes, and sees what she has since Charlie lost Draco – overwhelming grief. She had always wondered what Charlie would be like if he lost his dragon, but she has hoped that she would never have to find out.
Charlie averts his eyes back to the gravestone. "You know, I thought I knew what to expect from Fred, Mum and Dad's death. But…" he breaks off. "But now I realize that every death impacts us differently."
She puts a hand on Charlie's arm. "It hurts," she whispers, "but I know you'll get through this." She glances down at the stone. "This is still raw, still new. Once it heals, it won't hurt to remember anything anymore."
He nods. And she stands, offering him her hand. Before they leave the graveyard, Charlie looks back. "I still love you," he murmurs to the wind.
A/n – So many thanks to Luce for her help on this. And thanks to Paula who beta'd this for me!
