Charlie would rather be hibernating, like the bears at the zoo he works at, than standing in line at Gringotts. He just needs to pull out some money for the poker game with his coworkers tonight. It just so happens that he's there at the most inopportune time; it looks like everybody and their brother are trying to withdraw money, and here he is thinking it would be quick since it's after Christmas.

Apparently not because the line is slow going, and Charlie's phone is dead, which means he has nothing to keep himself occupied while he waits. The only blessing is that he's shielded from the snowy weather. He keeps himself entertained by studying the bank. Gringotts is the oldest bank in London; it has white marble floors and pillars. The desks are a mix of mahogany hardwood tables and marble tops.

He fidgets as he stands in line, a little too anxious to get out of there. Judging by the clock on the wall, there's a chance he might have missed the first round. Of course, when he's the next in line, he hears a person yell, "Freeze, everyone down! This is a robbery!"

Chaos ensues the next few moments; there are people crying and begging and the robbers keep ordering them down. As Charlie goes to get down, biting back a groan at his rotten luck, he feels an arm around his waist, pulling him backward, flush against the person. Something round and cold presses to his temple.

And, well, as usual, Charlie's mouth starts to run before his brain can remind him to keep quiet. "I would ask if that's a gun in your pocket or if you're just happy to see me, but the gun's not in your pocket."

His words take everyone, including himself, by surprise. He can hear a person mutter, "You're really gonna do that now? Really?"

The man who has the gun to Charlie's head sounds just as stunned as the other hostage when he hisses, "Do you have a death wish?"

"Honestly, it would save me from my mum's fussing when she finds out," he answers, shuddering. There's not much he fears, but his mum when there's serious threat to her children's life? He'd be a fool not to fear that.

"You—what?" It feels like time stops while his captor tries to understand his line of reasoning. It's fair, he supposes; he doesn't know how he'd react if he was in the robber's shoes.

The other robber calls, "Shit. Time!"

The gun is pulled away from his head and he's shoved forward, hard. He stumbles to get his balance while the person who held him calls out, "Stay down!"

Charlie stands rooted in place until the police enter the bank for a rescue. And all he can think about is how much his mum is going to fuss about him. As he goes to leave, still trying to come up with the best way to say, "I'm fine, Mum.", he pats his pockets for his keys. He feels his keys, but not his wallet.

Son of a bitch. What are the odds that he'd get pickpocketed while being held hostage during a bank robbery?

The only thing that Charlie likes about winter is ice skating. He grabs his phone from the couch, slings his skates over his shoulder, before he locks up. The park isn't too far from his flat. He can't take public transit because his card was in wallet and he didn't even end up withdrawing money two days ago.

At least it isn't snowing hard, only a few snowflakes here and there. He starts to walk when he hears his name being called. He freezes; he remembers that voice very clearly.

A blond man comes to stand in front of him, holding out Charlie's wallet. It seems to spur him into action. He digs his phone out of his pocket, dialing 999. Before he can hit the button, Charlie tilts his head slightly and puts his phone away. He's more intrigued at this move than he is about calling the police.

"You got away on Friday. Why would you personally bring me my wallet?"

The blond does a flicking motion with Charlie's wallet, as if he's silently asking him to take it again. "I don't have an answer for that. Why aren't you calling the police?"

"I'm curious," he answers, taking his wallet. The blond rolls his eyes when he checks to see if everything is there. He really isn't surprised that everything is, including his cash. He steps around the man. "Come on."

"What?"

When he glances over his shoulder, the blond is wearing a very confused look. "I'm obviously not going to stand in the middle of a street for hours when I can be skating. But I told you I was curious. So come on. You're going to explain to me why you held a gun to my head two days ago, and I'll decide after if I want to call the police or not."

"For the power rush," the man answers, monotoned.

Charlie snorts. "You want to try that again?"

"You think you're an expert at my motives, do you?"

"No, but if it was for power rush, you wouldn't have chanced bringing me back the wallet you took," he replies. Before the other man can counter, he asks, "And how about you tell me your name?"

Charlie is mildly surprised when the other man says, "Draco." There's hesitation before he adds, "Malfoy."

He whistles. He would have to live under a rock not to recognize the surname given there's a huge tower adjourn with it not too far from the zoo. "So why would a Malfoy resort to stealing?"

Draco grimaces, shoving his hands into his pocket. "It's because we had no other choice. Or at least it felt like it."

Before he can be asked, he starts talking about how he had realized that he was gay and that his parents didn't take the news very well, going as far as disowning him. There was little that his father would allow him to take, but having anticipated the reaction, he saved all the money he could after his self-discovery.

Charlie can't imagine being in that situation. His parents had expressed their acceptance with hugging and soft words. He supposes each coming out story is unique in their own way.

He tells Charlie about living with his best friends. And then how Blaise broke his leg when a car hit him. It had lead to Blaise being out of work, and rent being due. Theo got laid off as well, while he was trying to help Blaise. Him and Theo devised a plan to make ends meet.

Then he shrugs. "Theo got the guns. I didn't ask, but I didn't let him load them. I didn't want to be responsible for that."

"It still doesn't make it right, holding an unloaded gun to my head," Charlie replies mildly. He takes a seat on the bench. He's long forgotten that he started this journey wanting to ice skate on his day off.

"No, it doesn't," Draco agrees, sitting next to him.

"You're not defending your actions," he points out.

"Why would I? I knew they were wrong, but it the only solution we had at the time."

Charlie lets the silence settle between them as he watches families skating, smiling and enjoying the winter wonderland. He can understand Draco's reasoning for the robbery.

"Why'd you take my wallet?"

Draco actually gives him a half-smile. "I wanted to know who you were. Lifting your wallet was the easiest way to find out."

He looks at Draco. "Why did you give it back? The real answer this time."

"You were stupidly brave," he answers, shrugging again.

"You risked freedom because you liked that I said the first thing that came to mind."

"I never said it was a good reason," Draco tells him. He looks Charlie up and down very pointedly. "Well, a good reason to you. It just felt right."

Charlie's thankful the bitter weather hides his blush. And again, his mouth starts talking before he can stop it. "If your roommate is still needing a job, there's a position at the zoo I work out open. I can put in a word."

The other man eyes flicker across Charlie's face, reading him for a moment. "So you're not going to call the police?"

"I didn't think you would have an objection," he says.

Draco laughs for a moment before sombering. "No, I don't have an objection. I'm just surprised that you'd be willing to help after I held an unloaded gun to your head."

Charlie shrugs. "I'm a forgiving person. My older brother always told me that it would come to bite me. I mean, that doesn't mean that all is forgotten; I'm not particularly fond of guns being held to my head, loaded or not. But I can't exactly fault you for seeing no other solution."

The other man stands, giving Charlie a nod. "I'll let Theo know about the job at the zoo."

Charlie watches him walk away before he pulls on his skates.

Years later he would look back on the moment in the bank. He never really thought he would find love in that way. He'll never tell his family the real story of how he met Draco, but that's okay. He's still happy.

Meet cute: bank robbery, wc 168

Bootcamp: Rotten

Fairies: Winter - Snow, White, Cold, Snowflake, Unique, Winter, Freeze, Wonderland, Ice Skating, Hibernate

(600 words) Days: Gay Pride: Write Slash/Femmeslash

Colors: Mahogany

Shay's musical: 40. write about doing something dangerous to achieve your goal.

Gryffindor: Charlie Weasley

Star chart: (word) Rescue

Balloon: (Dialogue) "You're really gonna do that? Really?"

Eagle: Marietta Edgecombe: (word) defend, (emotion) fear

Chocolate Frogs: (Gold) Gringotts

365: 282. (Song) Iris [And I'd give up forever to touch you /'Cause I know that you feel me somehow /You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be]

Insane: 510. Action - Stealing

Character Appreciation: 15. (plot point) Not being able to follow through with a task [bonus]

Disney: T3 - Write about someone finding love unexpectedly.

Book Club: Governor Dragna: (word) fear, (word) power, (food) plum

Showtime: 1. Charlie Weasley

Buttons: D3. "It's because we have no other choice."

Lyrics: 4. Of having hope in this insanity

Lo's Lowdown: C3. emotion: exasperated.