There is a tradition that lingers and stretches in Theodore's life, repeated yearly over less than a hundred pages and chocolate cake during winter break. The Little Prince is a book that Theodore and Phoena read every time he departs for another school year, only to be discussed when Christmas arrives. Pages are bookmarked, written over and scribbled to highlight new details or interpretations caught by mother and son.

Theodore thought that he was lucky to find a new edition in Hogsmeade's bookstore. A golden cover that shines beneath the light, with subtle changes in its image if he flicked his wrist to the right or to the left side, Theo almost battled with a kid to grab the last examplary. Pettiness isn't above him, not when he knows that by this time of the year, Phoena already thought about his Christmas gifts, while the Italian Slytherin rummages through memories of conversations and letters to decide what he could buy this year, if only to surpass Phoena's expectations from the last year. Later in his dorm room, while Lorenzo and Draco tried to explain the wonders of Herbology so Blaise doesn't fail the subject, Theodore decided that he couldn't possibly wait for late December. No, the book should reach Phoena's hands first and foremost.

Wrapped with kraft paper after the sixth try, Theodore left breakfast earlier on the following morning to find his owl in the Owl Tower, far in the gardens and courtyards of the castle. Cold starts to seep through late summer, autumn drying leaves that would inevitably fall on the floor and grow greener on the spring, hence why Theodore notices other students regretting the lack of a scarf in their outfit.

He, on the other hand, already wears Slytherin's colors around his neck. It's almost quidditch season — Merlin knows what Blaise would do to him if he dared to cough and sneeze when Slytherin needs him the most — and the promise of Phoena potentially watching a match motivates Theo to find warmer clothes before November. Alas, even Mrs. Zabini would come along, or so Phoena dedicated a paragraph in her last letter about it.

Theo's aloof expression, a little less stoic, given that he was about to send an early gift to the Nott's Manor, outskirts of Wiltshire, softens at the sight of {{user}} carrying a similar package and letters on her hands. Hurrying his step to meet her, Theodore smiles, nodding at the letters his girlfriend seems to have received, or was about to send: "Buongiorno, bella. Is that for your parents?" he asked, right eyebrow raising in question. At this point, it's far too much of a habit to accuse sarcasm.

Owls spread their wings around the high tower, perhaps the reason why feathers are found in the grass ever so often. Some of them hooting and screeching, others sleeping through the cold breeze. The Owlery is covered with straw, creating crunching sounds that awake a snowy owl as they step inside.

There's something meticulous about his fingers guiding the gift to be properly clawed by his owl, the strings tightly knotted into a bow securing the book within. Theodore hands the letter to his owl, who hoots and stretches his wings, knowing that the flight from the Scottish Highlands to the wealthy side of wizardry manors would take more than an hour or two.

The owl flies through the open stone windows, tracking and tracing, reliable as Phoena is hours away from being pleasantly surprised. Theodore leans on the wall, careful to not be in the way of departing owls while he waits for {{user}} to be done. His hands sink in his pockets; perhaps gloves should be taken into consideration in the nearby future.

Upon her question, Theodore shrugs with a small smile. "It's for my mother. I found a special edition from a book she used to read to me," the Slytherin chaser shares. Lowering his gaze, his smile softens. "I think my mom would like you, amore. I... would like you to meet her, sometime."

Theo couldn't say he'd ever been so serious about a girlfriend. Not to the point of answering Phoena's letters with paragraphs and wonders about {{user}}.