Right. So she did not like her parents. Theo was learning quickly; it would be unwise to mention anything about her past from the people that inhabited it to her old favorite flavor of Bertie Botts Beans. And he was curious. Oh God, was he curious. But it would have to wait. Probably for a while. A long while. Until he gained her trust and until he stopped being an insensitive git by saying things he didn't mean or understand. And here was a chance to somewhat remedy having acted like a git. A test. A loaded question with two possible paths. He noted the duality of the word. Why did he want to be her friend? Why should she trust him?
He hadn't the foggiest.
"People need friends. And I'm pretty friendless. Help me out, won't you?" he asked. There. He put it on himself for being lonely. Not having pity. Just wanting her company. Well played? He would have to just wait and see. "And you can trust me because I never claim to be anything I'm not," he said plainly. Honest. Simple. True. "If anything, I'll tell you about how much of a witless toerag I am and how likely I am to screw things up for everybody," he assured her. If such a statement could be assuring.
Better than being lied to.
He grinned, but his tone remained decidedly serious. "But I do my best, you know. I do my best. I don't just... leave people," he explained, eyes not leaving hers. "I care. At the very least, I care." But back to her powerful belch and the fact that she was a dude...
SHE WAS A DUDE.
"House elves. Great. Just the thing I need right now... to be made paranoid about the safety of my dinner," he groaned. "And tonight there's going to be lemon tart!" Yes, he knew the menu. Theo was pretty tight with the house elves nbd. Bigger issue at hand: Rosie was on the move again, and she was clearly brewing under the surface. Alright. Clearly something was up with this family. He needed to watch his mouth. Speeding up his steps to catch up with her, he tried to keep smiling, keep it pleasant. "So... I mean... what do you do... in your... free time?" Oh God. She was going to have a hay day with that one. How typical of him.
