Strangers And Ice Cream (Char and Hannibal)

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte happily wandered into the ice cream parlour and she smiled to herself, the last time she was here it was with James, and in her heart she had hoped that he would be here again today but she knew that he probably wasn't not after what she had just heard the Ministry had announced, it was so scary to think that Uncle James was going to be arrested the thought upset Charlotte so much she had to distract herself from it each time.

Wandering up to the counter she smiled gently and ordered her normal chocolate and cherry ice cream, and the lady gave her an extra scoop, whether it was because she looked so sad or because she came here a lot, Charlotte beamed at her and gave her the money that she asked for. The weather was getting duller now, and she thought she would try their warm ice cream next time she visited the shop.

With a small sigh Charlotte began to eat her ice cream, taking out her sketch pad she gently began to work on the drawing that she had been trying to get out of her head for the past few days, the drawing was of a face that she would rather not remember, and that her Papa didn't even know existed, it was of her brother, Hannibal the way he looked when she last saw him...but it was hazy, she could barely remember his features any more. Sighing she blinked back a few tears and ate another spoon of ice cream.

[Hannibal Matthews]

Hannibal had seen his younger sister acting a bit down recently and concluded it was because of the rebel, James, and the fact that he was close to being arrested. He didn't care for the man personally, unlike Cobalt he was a man who couldn't protect Charlotte from the negative attention he drew to her. Deciding that it was high time he showed his sister he was still alive, even if he neglected to tell her who he was, he ordered her the extra scoop of ice cream.

Seeing her sketching what was clearing a version of his face when he was younger, Hannibal decided to make his move. He coughed slightly and handed her a bottle of coke,

"A gift for a pretty little lady..." he chuckled sheepishly, "From a man who must ask for a seat as everywhere else is full. Do you mind?"

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte glanced up when she heard a male voice speaking to her she was about to ask what he wanted when he offered her a bottle of coke in exchange for the seat next to her, she smiled happily at him, not wanting to be so emotional in front of a stranger and she took the bottle of coke graciously with a light brushing of her hand against the man's own fingers which was purely accidental but she frowned when it happened, it was like she had felt a connection.

"Of course, sit down, you didn't need to buy me a drink though sir you could have just sat down anyway, I don't mind at all, it is rather busy today, people trying out the new warmer ice creams I suppose because it;s cold." she smiled gently, before falling silent so that the man could return to his own business, whatever he was doing here he might want to be left alone to do it.

Placing her attention back on the sketch, Charlotte gently traced the lines of her brothers mouth, frowning gently as she tried to remember more about him, but, her memories failed her and she had to place it back in her bag before she began to get upset again, oh how she wished he was here now.

[Hannibal Matthews]

Hannibal smiled a little bit more when he noticed that Charlotte seemed to twig that there was something strange about him. She always was a smart young lady and she was only getting smarter as time went by. It made him a little sad that he'd not gotten to see it first hand by being by her side. Like a big brother should have done,

"Ah thank you my dear. You're very polite about this whole thing, others would just tell me to go away. Especially since they see the suit and immediately mistake me for a muggle." he told her in a light and conversational tone before smiling, "What's your name my new friend?"

He noticed her putting the sketch pad away and raised an eyebrow,

"You been drawing things that bring bad memories?"

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte blinked a little bit and she chuckled lightly, shaking her head, after all she didn't really mind if she talked with muggles, wizards or creatures as long as they were nice to her, if not then she would start to have a problem with them. Seeing that the man wanted to talk Charlotte kept her attention focused on him, and she thought that she knew him vaguely from somewhere, but she wasn't sure when.

"I'm Charlotte Smith." she answered with a happy smile on her lips "What's your name? I wouldn't mind what you were as long as you were nice to me by the way, even if you were a muggle, you have every right to be here, its not like it's illegal or anything." Charlotte smiled gently.

When he asked her if she was drawing things that brought back bad memories, Charlotte traced some of the pain splatters on her hands before nodding and answering simply; "Yes."

[Hannibal Matthews]

Hannibal knew for a fact that his little sister was probably the least racist person in the wizarding world today. Including him if he was honest. He'd been raised to dislike squibs and it showed through sometimes. He could see the wheels turning in Charlotte's head, like she kind of knew that she knew him but she wasn't sure where from,

"Lovely to meet you Charlotte Smith." he greeted her with a bright smile before chuckling a little bit, "Matthew. Well I suppose you're right. Very tolerant of you Charlotte, most people are not as kind as yourself."

Hannibal's heart lurched in his chest. He knew she had been drawing him after all. Reaching across the table he gently patted the back of her hands, "Whoever it was, I'm sure that they love you very much."

[Charlotte Smith]

Charlotte beamed happily when he complimented her, whoever he was she really liked this man and maybe he would stay for more than one ice cream, it was so nice that he was talking to her about things, it made her think that not everyone in the wizarding world was going to try and attack, rape and kill her like the Prophet tried to make out that they would, she really hated those people.

"I know, and I think that's very sad when someone like me is regarded as a very kind person, really I'm just normal, there's nothing that special about me." she smiled gently, her red eyes looking down at her hands that were now so pale and slender, she could tell that she was growing up, she had begun to loose her baby fat after all, and she was definitely growing in areas she hadn't before.

When he patted her hand, Charlotte sucked on her lip piercing and blinked her eyes furiously, trying not to cry, but she still managed to answer Matthew, even with her voice cracking as she did so;

"Mhm, y-yes he did." she whispered not daring to look up until she had put her emotions under control.

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