SIDE AFFECTS
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"Hey," said Theodore, as he joined Charlotte in the living room where she was sat eating beans on toast on the settee in front of the telly. Today was the day she was to receive her exam results, and she was full of nerves and tensions. So morning telly would have to calm her down. "Can I have a slice?"

"Go and make your own," she said, but let him take her second slice off her plate anyway. She snuggled closer to him, putting down her toast down and resting her head on his shoulder. This was the first time they'd been alone in a while, and she was slightly bitter about this fact. "So, why aren't you with your girlfriend as usual?"

She was hoping for an answer such as "I wanted to spend time with you" or something equally as nice but instead she got: "She'd rather be around Malfoy today." It was just wonderful being a second resort.

"Oh," Charlotte frowned, and he nodded.

"I know, right," he replied. "I love Zara to the bottom of my heart, and she was the first person I trusted in years, but someone I definitely don't trust is that Malfoy. Now that You-Know-Who is out in the open, it's only a matter of time he needs someone in the castle, more people than just Snape. He's already been recruiting, and it's only a matter of time before..."

"You think Malfoy's working with him?" she asked, nodding as if she understood everything, but really she was just wondering who the hell Snape was and why he's allowed in the castle if he works for the enemy.

"I don't know," Theodore admitted. "But I do know what death eaters are like and they're brutal. They won't care that Malfoy is underage- or that he's vunerable. I just don't want Zara getting too involved with that."

"I would speak to her but it seems like she barely wants to know me these days," Charlotte sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Hey," Theodore said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "She does love you, you know."

"Doesn't seem like it sometimes, particularly when she doesn't write," she sighed. "But I suppose I can't expect her to. She certainly can't expect me to write, 'cause I won't. She's the one who's going away, so she better be the one to-"

"You do know friendship is a two way street," Theodore said, an eyebrow raised.

She felt patronised.

"You don't understand, you don't get it," Charlotte blurted, feeling a hot flush of defense take over her. "You don't have any friends, the only person you've ever met with this summer other than me, or Zara, or mutual friends is that Pansy Parkinson, and she hardly counts! You and Zara are practically joined at the hip. You don't know what it's like to have a best friend, someone you could always rely on, someone you love, someone who's like a sister to you- vanish out of your life completely!"

By the time Charlotte was finished with her rant, she wanted to take it back, rewind to thirty seconds ago and just nod politely, and agree with him. Because the look on Theodore's face was full of disapproval and hurt. She'd let him down.

"Those are really horrid things to say, Charlie," he frowned. "I do know how it feels. I lost you, remember?"

She didn't think that guilt she felt could get any worse but low and behold, it had. "Sorry."

Theodore didn't reply, simply wolfed down the last of his toast before wrapping his arms around her, and she smiled. "Hadn't you better get going? You don't want someone else getting to your results before you do."

"The teachers have probably all had a peek anyway," Charlotte chuckled. "Will you come with me though?"

Theodore agreed, and the two of them quickly changed out of their pyjamas and headed out. Summer was thick around them that day, hot enough that Charlotte had worn her shortest shorts, much to Richard's dismay. She was particularly jumpy that morning, and regardless of the fact that she had already taken double her dose of prescribed amphetamines... Now that she came to think of it, that probably wasn't such a good idea.

Theodore looked over at her, with a concerned glance as they walked, but she didn't notice, and was only focused on the loud, fast pounding of her heart and irregular breathing. She was definitely hotter than she should have been, sweating like a pig as she came to a halt, vision suddenly blurring. She vaguely acknowledged Theodore asking if she was okay, but his voice was certainly not louder than the buzzing by her left ear. She swatted at the air, convinced there was a bumble bee on her, but the buzzing only grew louder.

Charlotte squealed loudly, shaking as she swatted at the air. "Get it off me!"

"Charlie, there's nothing there," Theodore assured her, trying to put his hands on her shoulders but she pushed him away. "Charlie!"

She knew exactly what was happening of course, but it was hard to convince herself of this at that moment. One of the side affects of her medicine was "craziness", as her doctor had put it. Seeing or hearing things that are not there. But the buzzing sounded so real and she couldn't believe it to be a figment of her imagination, far too realistic to be anything but genuine. Soon enough her legs gave way and she was slouched on the floor, holding her hands over her ears, as she trembled, the buzzing never ceasing until she felt a cold hand on her face and she opened her eyes to see a woman crouched in front of her, a woman she only recognised from the picture albums on the coffee table at home.

The voice of Charlotte Dubost, her late mother, replaced the sound of the buzzing. Her mother was young, and radiant, blue eyes full of light and blonde hair that mirrored her own shining in the sunlight. The only image in her view that was not blurred.

"Charlie, it's okay, you're with me," her mother spoke and Charlotte nodded, with a gulp, still shaking incessantly, trying to control her breathing. Her mother reached into the pocket of her black jeans and pulled out a small white bottle, pouring a lilac liquid into the cap. "I have something that might help you. It's called the Draught of Peace, and it might be just what you need."

"Give me the entire bottle," Charlotte panted, moving to grab the potion, but her mother pulled it away from her.

"A capful is all you need," she answered, bringing the cap to her lips and Charlotte drank the sweet brew, closing her eyes as her heartbeat slowed and her breathing returned to normal. When she opened her eyes, her mother was gone, and instead, Theodore was crouched in front of her. Her heart broke a little.

"Better?" he asked her, and she nodded, slowly getting to her feet.

"My mother's eyes were brown," she said, after a moment's silence.

"Sorry?"

"My mother," Charlotte repeated. "Her eyes were brown, not blue. Even in medical induced episodes I can't see her properly."

Theodore smiled sadly, and took her hand, gently. "She's still with you."

"I know," Charlotte nodded, before pulling herself together and plastering on a grin. "You know what? I don't fancy stepping in that he'll hole of a school anymore. D'you mind picking up my results for me? I'd rather head home."

"Of course," Theodore nodded, and she could tell he was not falling for her act.

When she reached her home, she immediately ran to her father's room, where he was sat in bed, reading a book, and threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Of course, Richard Cardleman tried his best to comfort her but it proved difficult to do so since she wouldn't tell him what was wrong with her. How would he feel if she told him that she had had a vision of his dead love?

Nothing cheered her up that day, not even when Theodore brought home an envelope which told her that she had received an A* in French and B's in the rest of her GCSE'S. Then she'd gotten a call from Flynn. She answered on the first ring.

"Hello?"

"My grades are terrible," her friend moaned and she sighed.

"I'm so sorry."

"I have to stay in school for Year Twelve," he continued. "I thought I'd get out of there. What were your grades like."

"Okay," she said, not wanting to rub her achievements in his face, but in reality she was just as upset by his results as he was. If he couldn't move schools with her then she'd be alone again. She didn't want that. "I'll stay with you."

"What?" Flynn gasped. "No! You hate our school, you've been looking forward to moving for months!"

"I don't want to move if you have to stay Flynn," Charlotte stated. "Friendship is the more important thing."

"What's got you so soppy today?" Flynn laughed down the phone and the sound was the first thing that made her smile in hours.

"Just trying to appreciate what I've got instead of focusing on what I don't have."

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Hi everyone! I hope you liked this chapter. I know Harry isn't in it but I wanted to explore Charlotte's ADHD a little more- and- never fret! Next chapter may just contain a few confessions from both Harry and Charlotte, juicy right?

Please remember to vote and comment if you enjoyed this post cause it means everything to me.

-Amber.