At that moment, Theodore realized it was too late.

For weeks, he'd been trying to find the right moment to tell you, to confess. Hell, he'd even tried to make you some kind of craft, hoping you'd like it—they didn't work out, so he threw them away.

He'd been sure, completely convinced, that the right moment would come. But that moment had come for someone else.

Now you were there, laughing in front of another boy who smiled at you the same way Theodore had tried to since that day you said you liked his crooked, imperfect smile. The guy was brushing a hair out of your face, and Theo's heart sank into his stomach.

He felt nauseous. It tightened his chest. He didn't know what to do. So he kept walking, avoiding that scene while his mind replayed the sparkle in your eyes when you saw that other wizard who wasn't him.

'Too late, Nott.'

'She's probably in love with him.'

'He looks so much better than me.'

'She will marry him and I'll have to watch it happen.'