❣️ When did your OC first realise they were in love? How did they react to the realisation?
At the end of Year 3. After going through the experience of becoming an Animagus and helping Talbott find his mother’s necklace, Catherine realised she had grown feelings for the bird boy. At first, she was confused about it–because she thought she could only fancy Penny, even then that crush faded away–but then she panicked.
“What if he didn’t like me that way? What if he doesn’t even like anyone that way??”
Her friendship with Talbott was still relatively new so she became easily flustered and anxious whenever she was with him.
Then, in the middle of her Forth Year, Catherine finally managed to find the bravery to ask Talbott on a date, but she sought advice from Bill first since he had taken the role as her older brother. Rowan and Andre helped as well, and Catherine would always be thankful for them.
She was nervous. Their first date went as awkward as it could go but it was all worth it when at the end of the day, Catherine got to stargaze with Talbott whilst holding his hand.
They didn’t label themselves as boyfriend/girlfriend right away, but there were shy smiles exchanged in the halls and hand-holding whenever they had the chance to be alone. And that was enough for a fourteen-year-old witch.
💘 What do they love most about their partner(s)? What do their partner(s) love most about them?
Catherine loves how shy Talbott can be, but how passionate he is at the same time. He talks about becoming an Auror in a way that makes Catherine believe he will succeed, and when they were starting their friendship, he often would push her away but still send owl her a letter to come meet him at the Owlery where the two would hang out in their Animagus forms. Catherine also adores how genuinely caring Talbott is but in an awkward way. He’s a dork, and she likes that. And he gives her the best advice! It’s honestly surprising how easy it is for Catherine to calm down when he’s around, holding her hand in a comforting manner whenever she has a panic/anxiety attack. He never pushes her to talk about it. Catherine loves him for that.
Talbott, at first, thought that Catherine’s impulsiveness was annoying but when he realised that he felt that way because he was afraid she’d get hurt for it, he changed his opinion from annoyance to worrisome. But later on, he began finding the witch’s stubbornness and willingness to help him rather charming. Even though he claims to fly solo, he could never shake Catherine off his tail and to this day, he thanks Merlin that she never gave up on trying to befriend him. They are quite the opposite. She’s loud and not afraid to be the centre of attention (even though Catherine has told him she dislikes it) and he prefers to stay isolated from everyone else, using his Animagus ability to avoid being spotted–but Catherine insists on bringing him along on her Hogsmead trips with her friends and because of that, Catherine’s circle began approaching him even when she wasn’t around. Gone was his intimidating and loner aura.
And he… liked that. Somehow.
He fell from Catherine too young. A wizard his age couldn’t possibly know what love was but it happened with this silver-haired, impulsive, and mischievous witch. And even though he tried to shut down his feelings for her, but every time she would smile his way or look at him with her soulful, golden eyes, he was a goner. She is stubborn, loyal, a troublemaker, a rule-breaker and a curse-breaker. And Catherine still managed to be direct with her mistakes, never making excuses or dumping the blame on someone else–Talbott absolutely respected and loved that about Catherine Stark. Because even though she was flawed, she was still a decent human being. And whenever she shows interest in what he’s thinking, he no longer holds back and tells her what is on her mind.
❤️ How did they end up in a relationship with their current partner(s)? (spoilers for Year 5)
So, Catherine’s first date with Talbott at the beginning of her Fifth Year had been disastrous, but worth it when she got to assert their relationship into something more than just friendship.
Problem is, with her busy finding the Portrait Vault and becoming part of her Quidditch team, and studying for her O.W.L’s, Talbott and her didn’t really manage to find a proper time to discuss their relationship.
That was until it was nearing the end of the year when everything terrible happened and after the betrayal. Talbott found Catherine waiting for him at the Owlery, and she looked so vulnerable that when he sat next to her and grabbed hold of her hand, he was kissed instead. Catherine kissed him, and it was awkward. Their teeth clashed and their lips were slightly chapped but for Talbott, it was a wonderful moment with terrible timing.
She started crying afterwards. Apologizing and blabbering about her brother and Rakepick and putting her friends in danger again and she apologized for not spending as much time with him as she hoped.
Talbott, who had enough of seeing her in that meek state, kissed her to silence her. And this kiss had been less awkward. It was better and gentle. And it stopped Catherine from crying and think about the traumatizing experience she just went through–just for one moment, the two kissed and embraced each other under the stars, inside the Owlery. The kissing stopped when the two inexperienced teens run out of breath, and Catherine was shocked to see Talbott grin in a love-struck manner.
Talbott was scared to lose her at this point, hearing that the witch he loved faced a dragon and was almost killed by someone students were supposed to trust made Talbott promise himself to stop delaying what he wanted with Catherine before it was too late for him to tell her how much she meant to him.
He asked her to change everything this Summer. To return to Hogwarts next year as his girlfriend.
Instantly, Catherine said yes in a very enthusiastic manner.
Talbott walked Catherine to the dungeons afterwards and promptly kissed her in front of passing students for Hogwarts to know that Talbott Winger and Catherine Stark were now a couple.
💓 What is their favourite activity to do together (that isn’t time in the bedroom)?
They love to fly together. Both being bird Animagi, Talbott always invites her to fly around the castle and the forest, and then, he’d take her down to the lake where they would change back to being human and sit there, watching the scenery while holding hands and sometimes snogging.
There’s also their trips to Hosgmead, where (during winter season) they’d have warm Butterbeers or hot chocolate and sit in a remote part of the Three Broomsticks, just aimlessly chatting and talking about their future where they are still together.
Being the last two years at Hogwarts, they began having studying dates as well. And even though Catherine would disrupt the actual studying by teasing Talbott, running her foot up his leg or leaning too close on him, Talbott successfully managed to focus on his studies and even help Catherine with her Transfiguration troubles as well.
To them, it’s enough to be alone together to be a favourite activity. Talbott likes to stay indoors while Catherine is an extrovert, but they love each other so they always find common ground.