Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Written for Pairing the Character - TheoCharlie

Word Count - 531

don't let it define you

The Great Hall was bustling, an air of both celebration and mourning, the contrasting emotions fighting for dominance.

Charlie couldn't deal with it. It was overwhelming, and he felt like he was drowning in it.

The moment he stepped out into the cool air of the spring night, he felt something inside himself unclench. The grounds were empty, and Charlie enjoyed the solitude of the moment, strolling along the grass.

He frowned when he saw a figure sitting on crumbled steps by the old boathouse. Hesitating only for a moment, he approached quietly.

"Why are you sitting out here, alone?" Charlie asked, sitting down beside the younger man on the steps.

He startled at Charlie's voice and turned to look at him. "I don't belong in there," he murmured, after a long moment.

Charlie frowned. He'd clearly been fighting, the state of his clothes and a large gash on his face evidenced as much.

"I'm a Slytherin," he added bitterly.

"Did you fight against Voldemort?"

The other man flinched slightly but nodded. "And my own father."

"Then you belong there with everyone else," Charlie said firmly.

The other man didn't reply, but they sat together in companionable silence as the sun came up over the grounds.

Eventually, Charlie stood up, stretching tall. He was stiff and aching and he wanted a bath and to curl up in his own bed.

"Come on," he said quietly. "Come inside. You need that cheek looking at, and you should eat something. Get some rest."

"I'll probably get arrested the moment I step into the hall. My family… they were known for being on the Dark Lord's side. Nobody will trust me."

"I won't let them," Charlie replied softly. "I promise."

The younger man stood and looked at Charlie for a long moment. "I'm Theo Nott."

"Charlie Weasley," Charlie replied. "You didn't let your house define you, don't let your last name either."

Theo snorted. "Easier said than done."

"Easier than fighting in a war."

"You'd think that, wouldn't you?"

…

Six Years Later

…

Charlie muttered to himself as he climbed onto the bed in the hospital wing. Gloria, their currently very pregnant Chinese Firebolt, hadn't been very happy to see him in her paddock, and she'd made her anger known.

"Ah, this is Charlie Weasley. He's probably one of our most frequent visitors, since he has no fear and no bloody common sense," Anastasia, the head healer at the reserve said.

Charlie looked up and blinked. "Theo?"

Theo smiled. Charlie took in the healer robes and grinned.

"It's good to see you," he said.

"It'll be better when we get some burn salve on you, I reckon," Theo replied, raising his eyebrow.

"You look… good."

"Hmm. Decided to take some advice I got about not letting my name define me. It turned out rather well, all told."

Charlie winced, when the cold salve touched onto the large burn on his arm, but his smile soon returned. "That's good. I'm… I'm happy to hear that."

"Thank you," Theo murmured, soft enough that it was for Charlie's ears only. "Maybe I could take you out, you know, to properly show my appreciation?"

"I'd like that."