oldthreads | 13. Theo & Evy | Aborted visit to the 3B GENDERSWAP THREAD

It had been a long day for Theodore but it wasn't over yet. He'd needed the sleep, the rest and to forcibly yank all his marbles back into a semi-coherent line before he could do anything like sensible behaviour, but he got there. He hadn't so much laid out his plans as he'd slipped away in an obvious manner so that his friend's would know he was okay but just that he'd had to go.

He didn't want to head back to the Nott House, and apart from Draco's place he had limited places to go, but there was a place he thought might do something for him and the bad day he was having. Still dressed in his boy-form's clothes and sock feet charmed at the bottom to act as shoes, he cut an odd figure but he moved like everything was normal and as such no one paid him much attention. He made his way back to the Three Broomsticks but slow, meandering through Hogsmeade, catching his reflection in windows and feeling startled at his new appearance each time. He drew a couple of looks that were simple curiosity at a pretty girl in plain and shapeless clothes but some that were more the kind imagining what could be under the hooded jumper and jogging bottoms. He didn't understand the first, used to slipping through a crowd unseen, but he'd been subjected to the second more than he cared to have been; so much so that he was more used to seeing that look turned on him from his father than any parental pride.

It was strange that although his body was supposed to be more vulnerable, women were always seen as weak and frail, that he didn't feel as exposed and bared in this form as he did under those looks as a boy. Then again, they still made him feel sick and dirty and the nightmares he'd have later would prove to be even more vivid and graphic than usual. He pulled the hood of the jumper up and over his head and tried to duck in to the Three Broomsticks only to find it a hive of activity that he wasn't prepared to breach, not wanting to fight through the Ministry of Magic members, locals and the bastard press.

He turned around and, intentions thwarted, turned to wander away from the pub to see if he could fill his evening with something else, maybe drop by to pick up some more chocolate to replace what he took from Pansy (and then some) and something for Draco to apologise for, well, he'd lost track by now so he'd just go with the immediate 'freaking out and disrupting the morning'.

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Evy breathed a little sigh of relief before smiling brightly. She was relieved that Bella hadn't scared the girl. "Thanks. She can be a little exuberant some times, but she's great company." Automatically, Evy's hand moved to find Bella's soft fur, taking comfort in her proximity. Trailing her hand up the dogs back until she found Bella's collar, she easily gathered the leash back into her hands.

She hadn't assumed herself much of a dog person before she'd been given Bella, but now that they were comfortable with each other, Evy couldn't imagine not having her around. "Bella would like to speak to everyone if she could," she laughed lightly, her tone holding fond amusement. "Just like a child. Curious and more curious. I don't think she can help it."

Now that she had the attention of not one, but two individuals, Bella had stopped her barking, but her tail still thumped happily against the side of Evy's leg as she enjoyed the attention. Like Bella, Evy was just as content to talk to a complete stranger. It didn't even phase her that perhaps this individual had been in the middle of her own errands. It was simply nice to have someone to talk to.

"Unfortunately, she hasn't been out in a while and got rather excited at the prospect of new faces," Evy responded, her tone suggesting that it was an amusing thing to have done, despite the fact that Evy was no longer certain where she was in the small village.

Theo drew back from petting the dog when the stranger moved forward to run her hand up it's back to take it's collar, seeing enough to know that she couldn't. He stepped back and hid his hands in the overlong cuffs of his sleeves, then held nervously against his new chest. He lifted them higher and hid his mouth and the tip of his nose in the soft fabric. The sound of Evy's laughter made his ears twitch like he'd never heard the sound before but he was brought up short by what she said, the idea of dogs being like kids not coming together for him but being able to relate to the curiosity.

He kept his eyes on the dog, smiling a smile that was genuine and crinkled his new eyes at the sides, expressive for once like his own joyless face rarely was.

"Curiouser and curiouser." he echoed absently before looking back at the girl. "She hasn't been out in a while?" it seemed that echoes were his friends today, or rather more crutch than friend. Navigating the world as a girl while having just had a panic attack meant that he could use all the help he could get being social, and if that meant he had to magpie conversation then so be it. He thought he liked the girl who seemed to be able to see around things better than he did even without sight and didn't want to make her think he wasn't interested in talking with her just because of her disability.

Evy frowned slightly at the question, knowing what it sounded like and not having meant that at all. It only last a moment, however, before she was smiling again. "She's been out, but it's mostly been in the "working" capacity. She's been going with me to work with me and to run errands, but it's not quite like this. She gets to actually play."

Even know Evy didn't quite understand how Bella recognized the times when she needed to be alert and by Evy's side and when she didn't need to be. It was part of the reason it was hard for her to think of Bella as anything more than a pet. Don't get her wrong, she appreciated the assistance Bella offered her and knew she'd have a much harder time of it without her, but ... well, she didn't really know how to explain it. It just was ... she supposed.

"We were actually heading down to Honeydukes," she responded, slipping her hand through the handle at the end of Bella's leash, "If you'd like to come." It didn't at all occur to her that she probably shouldn't be asking a stranger to tag along with her. "I could use the company as I'm no longer sure exactly where I am."

Theo hummed softly as he took this in, fingers twitching and not the ones on his bad hand, just suppressed desire to reach out and pet the soft fur again. He didn't take the liberty of course, not wishing to disturb the girl or worry the dog. "Oh. Honeydukes?" he queried, like he hadn't been about to go there, the idea of doing so circling back. "That's a good idea actually, I need to pick some things up."

He wasn't sure how to respond to her being lost though, uncomfortable offering an arm for support. He gave her a brief description of their location. "I don't know if that helps? I can walk us there, if you would like me to, I wouldn't want to over step or anything." he said carefully, hoping not to offend or imply that she wasn't capable.

13. Theo & Evy | Aborted visit to the 3B GENDERSWAP THREAD

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