Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Oh, the sky looks so pretty right now, doesn’t it?”

Barty was walking hand in hand with Pandora rosier; on the way to Hogsmeade. They only began dating around the end of 4th year mostly because she went through such a huge fuss to ask him out (which includes Dorcas, Evan and regulus throwing confetti hearts at him much to their own accord) and it was in front of everyone so he couldn’t exactly say no. She was quite pretty, she had this gorgeous blond hair plated into braids, her eyes were full of love and wonder, she had light pink, rosy cheeks and a sweet laugh. She was funny and made Barty laugh and had supported him through times with his father.

“Barty?” She frowned at him and stopped walking

“Huh? Right the sky is really pretty” he answered, she didn’t seem satisfied with how he wasn’t paying attention to what she was saying and began walking faster and didn’t say anything until they reach this tea shop hidden away

Madam puddifoots tea shop.

Barty had to hold him a suppressed gag, everything in here was covered head to toe with sickly sweet stuff, there were hearts and cupids and so so so much pink. There were couples everywhere. He recognised Mary MacDonald and some random dude on the brim of snogging right there. They sat down in an almost secluded corner to Barty's insistence. It was far from windows and far enough from the door so if Evan or regulus walked in, they wouldn’t spot him immediately.

Pandora was silent staring around the place and sighing every so often. Barty recognised this as a sign she’s bored and he needed to speak.

“So how has your lessons been?”

She looked glad he asked and started talking about every detail of her day. She talked about how she wanted to discover things nobody has ever heard of before and how she was going to be an inventor and have millions. Barty was glad he had dating tips from pretty much everyone he knew. Dorcas told him if a girl looks bored it’s because she probably wants him to start the conversation, so they aren’t putting all the effort in. And it had been regulus’ idea for him to plan a date, he then asked Marlene where an ideal date in Hogsmeade and she would be suggest madam puddifoot so here he was.

Pandora started looking around again and humming until she finally spoke

“Phil said he would write about my research in his papers”

Barty also happened to know that if a girl brings up another guy it’s to make him jealous or something, he didn’t get it, why would she bring up another guy if she liked him so much in the first place? He didn’t know swot and the female mind; it was like being shoved into a pilot's cabin and being told to drive safely from London to Antarctica without any instructions. The wrong button or words could send them flying in another direction or worse yet ejected.

“Who’s Phil?” He asked keeping his voice somewhat steady, he honestly didn’t care that much because he had been in around 15 fights in the last three months and won so if he was a problem then he would simply just beat him to an inch of his life.

“Xenophilius, he’s also a Ravenclaw and he’s pretty strange but in an intriguing kind of way you know” she smiled to herself

“I can write about your research for you”

She didn’t say anything, but she began to hum softer, and her smile grew. At least out of the 50 wires in the jet he had been thrown into he was able to take off and sort of fly steadily, now there were only 100 more buttons and controls to figure out.  She was really pretty, and he knew a lot of other guys seemed to think so too, she had rejected about 100 guys since first year, her airiness just had this luring kind of aura to it, it drew guys like a siren song. And yet she asked Barty out. He knew it was inevitable as people began wondering why the two girls hanged out with the worst three dudes in fifth year. In third year, Rita asked if Dorcas liked any of them so much that she snapped and screamed she was a lesbian in Slughorn's class. At least they left her alone after that. Then they started spreading rumours that regulus and Pandora were together. Someone got the courage to ask regulus, and he simply gave a cold stare right through their soul and said “No.” That instantly made them stop asking and the rumours pretty much died down. Then it became Barty and Pandora and Barty felt like he had to like her seeing as they spent all their time together anyways even if it was in a group, so it was almost inevitable that Pandora asked him out. He would have said yes anyways even if she didn’t do it in front of everyone because well, she was nice. And his father wanted him to date someone good, whatever the fuck that meant.

Speaking of his father he was actually happy and looked at Barty while speaking to him for once, he had only found out because Theo rosier (pandoras father) sent him an owl saying that they were dating and asked if Barty could come round for dinner together as they  celebrated the two family’s coming together. Barty honestly couldn’t remember a time where his dad actually looked at him or even spoke to him, if he needed something he was to talk to the elf or his mum as a punishment for refusing to drop Evan and regulus.

Madam puddifoot came with a list and stared at the two of them until Barty looked up

“We’ll have a coffee and a..?”

“A tea please” pandora asked sweetly

“Is that all” she eyed them both and they both nodded, Barty realised she was waiting for the payment, and he paid 2 gallons and 5 sickles. He didn’t care about money seeing as he robbed almost all the money in his dad's office and replaced with fake ones (curtsy of Evan)

They sat in silence while they waited for her to bring their drinks but it was a peaceful kind of silence where they didn’t need to talk to be in each other's presence, they had a lot of this during first and second year but it slowly started to drop and they began talking more. Pandora eventually held her hand on the table but looking towards Mary and her new boyfriend who were now inches away from humping. Barty hoped Pandora didn’t want that, how would he even explain that to Evan?

‘Sorry mate I shagged your sister last night’ and then get punched so bad it’d look like an engorgement charm.

He held her hand and it was pleasantly warm, and he saw her turn slightly more red. He felt himself turning a little red too. This was nice though, she was nice. And extremely pretty.

Their drinks came and Barty smelled something like a love potion, he knew because the smell of weed and horrible cologne was definitely not a coffee flavour. He wasn’t sure why he smelt this, but it had always been like that since they did it in potions. He also noticed a board behind madam puddifoot while she stared at them it contained:

Snogging: 5 gallons

In the bathroom together: 10 gallons

Book a room upstairs: 25 gallons

Barty wondered why on earth this would be near you know a kid's school but why did anyone in the wizarding world do anything? Pandora must have smelled something too because she didn’t drink but began humming again.

“Careful, there’s nargles here”

“Probably what’s infected Mary” he said a little too loudly, so Mary flipped him off and continued to make out with the guy.

He wondered what the others were doing. They’d also be in Hogsmeade, probably terrorising people. He missed meadows, black and rosier. They were probably all cock up stoned right now using his supply mind you. But he doesn’t think Pandora would appreciate it if he was stoned on a date with her.

“Barty? What are you thinking about?” She stared at him with this quizzical look and eyed him.

“Nothing just the others” he propped his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his palm. She gave a small sign of acknowledgment and went back to humming.

“Wanna get out of here?” They both asked each other at the same time.

Barty smiled and so did Pandora and they quickly gather their things and ran out causing madam puddifoot to yell in anger at the wasted ingredients.

“That didn’t seem like your type of place anyways” Pandora teased

“It really wasn’t, but Marlene told me to take you here” he frowned as he realised, she had been laughing while suggesting it. “I’ve just been played by Marlene fucking McKinnon.”

Pandora teased him all the way until they reached the castle (it took them longer as they stocked up on zonkos and sweets)

“I still can’t believe you asked her for dating advice” she sniggered with a sense of light-heartedness.

“I mean she’s pretty good friends with Dorcas and she’s really smart and also-“ he got cut off mid-sentence

“What? Friends?”

“Yeah, they hang out so much I reckon that she would swap to Gryffindor right in a heartbeat if she could” he rolled his eyes

“Oh Barty..” she smiled softly at him

He gave her a confused look and kept walking causing Barty to question what when wrong. Now this damned plane was having turbulence, will he ever get this right?

Despite being confused he was happy with the outcome currently, it was supposed to be like this he thought, he was with a pretty girl who made him laugh and wasn’t like other who whined and cried all the time over nothing. He was happy. This was normal

Chapter Text

Pandora and Barty went their separate ways to each other common rooms as the amount of homework had actually piled up an alarmingly amount that even Barty couldn’t put it off for ‘later’ anymore.

“What the fuck is McGonagall playing at? 20 inch long essay.” He stared in disbelief at Evan’s half finished essay

“Barty shut up I’m trying to focus” Evan hissed back and then looked at his paper wiring all the cogs in his brain

“Regulus please”

“Should have done it with me and lupin last week” he said not taking his eyes off his book. His eyes were still a little red from the weed and he seemed to be muttering at the book.

“Come off it I know you took my weed” Barty rolled his eyes while regulus stayed silent

“If you keep rolling your eyes it’ll get stuck like that” Evan teased

“Bet you’d love to see that wouldn’t you rosier?” He responded winking while he said this

Evan stayed quiet after that.

After almost an hour of groans, pleading, struggling regulus helped them both and let them be free of ‘literal torture’ as Barty put it.

“Let this be a thank you for the weed” Regulus said while he crossed out bits and pieces of Bartys paper

“LOVE YOU REGULUS” he yelled as he and Evan ran up to the dorm room.

Barty immediately lifted the loose floorboard under his side table.

“You guys are all arses, half my pot is gone. Do you have a skin?” Barty asked while frantically searching around for a loose piece of skin

“Maybe, in my pocket I guess” even responded before dumping all his pockets contents out (which contained eye drops, a broke quill, some gum, a note and two rolling papers) “here” he handed Barty the papers and Barty instantaneously started rolling a spliff.

He used his wand tip to light it up and dragged a long puff before exhaling in Evan’s face causing him to cough with a smile plastered on his face

“Sharing is caring crouch” he smirked and took the joint off Barty before he could resist

Barty made a pouting face “you guys always steal mine but never Dora’s”

“She’s scary when she’s pissed off and anyways we’ve tried but somehow she always know she’s coming — this git in the year below caught me and told flitwick. He’s now put a damn charm on the stairs so we can’t go into the girls dormitory” Evan then look a puff and Barty immediately snatched it back off him.

“Idiot. You should have told him you were seeing your sister”

“Speaking of seeing sisters,” Evan squinted at Barty who was now staring at the ceiling laying on Evan’s bed “what’s up with you and dora”

“Oh we’re just you know” Barty said thinking this was a reasonable answer, he knew this was coming he just wished it wasn’t when he was high out of his mind, Man the Hufflepuffs really know what’s up.

“Mhm. She seems happy” Evan muttered a lot quieter.

Barty couldn’t tell if he was blushing or not but he quite liked the idea of making her happy, and if she was happy so was Evan and that was great.

Barty stared at Evan and began smiling, his crazed smile but it wasn’t the one he used whenever he had a prank idea, it was one where he felt genuine happiness with Evan.

“You’re my best friend rosierrrr” Barty whispered still grinning

“Oh piss off you’re high as hell right now” Evan retorted before looking away out the window

Barty and Evan had always been friends since first year, they met in the train. Evan started to talk to him first and commented on his shoes which were green. Barty talked to him seeing as they also shared a dorm but he never really bothered to hang out with Evan or regulus. He stayed in the library until late and came right back in the morning. He stayed clear from them in lessons and he actually participated, he had heard Evan call him an arrogant swot once after he rejected yet another invite to hang out near the whomping willow and he felt hurt he wasn’t even sure why, who needed friends? Not when you can make your dad proud. His second year was just a repeat of the first but he slowly started to loose it, he fell asleep in class and never knew what day it was or what he was even supposed to be studying. He sent home his grades every term yet all he got back was a single letter from his mum saying how proud ‘they’ were. He doubt his dad even fucking saw his grades. When he came home for the summer with one of the best results in year and all his dad said was “Così?”  Not a good job or even I’m proud of you just “so?” He decided he was fucking done. during the start of third year he started smoking at first it was borrowed fags but then it became more often he bought he own. It then became spiffs and Evan caught him smoking up the room and asked to join. They mostly sat in silence for the time they were there but Evan invited him to go to their usual spot near the willow and Barty said fuck yeah. They messed around until regulus was pissed they almost got hit and almost ended up with a broken spinal cord. They both laughed so hard after that because regulus got hit while trying to rescue them, it felt like their ribs broke. Barty got the courage to sit next to them at the back and eventually his grades dropped down so bad they called his father and he fucking got it alright. Two howlers in a row about disappointing the family name. He didn’t care before and now Barty didn’t. The only reason he solely tried was so he didn’t have to repeat (and also because regulus wouldn’t let him fail). Honestly he felt free for the first time in third year. He realised how pointless it was to make his dad happy. The only emotion his dad felt was to be disappointed and Barty founded it the funniest thing ever. He dad only spoke or cared about him when he made his dad look bad. Barty, Evan, regulus Pandora and Dorcas all burnt Bartys photos of his dad together at midnight. He finally said fuck you to him and it all started with a wicked blonde dude who non stopped asked to hang out with him. All because of some green shoes. The whole group became a lot closer after that, regulus even yelled some things about his parents into the fire, Dorcas yelled about her mum in there. Pandora talked about Elvis Presley while they all laughed. Barty and Evan soon found out they shared the same mind and became inseparable, they were best friends. If one had a detention so did the other and regulus would come to distract the teacher so they can get out earlier. Since then Barty then promised to buy Evan his own pair of dark green shoes ever since.

                    ✦ . ⁺  . ✦ . ⁺  . ✦

“you disgust me, you’re filthy and dirty. Disgustoso.”

Slap.

“I can’t even look at you anymore you .”

Slap.

“Get out of my face.”

Slap.

Barty went to his room and looked in the mirror . His cheeks were swelling and red. His eyes were threatening to spill the salty stream creeping out the corners. He walked back until he hit the wall and slid down. He began to fucking laugh. He wasn’t going to cry what kind of man would he be? But no he laughed until his cheeks were sore. It hurt. He couldn’t tell what hurt worse. The slapping, his father calling him filthy or his threat to ask the school to make sure he never spoke to Regulus, Dorcas, Pandora and Evan again. He was hurting all over so he just laughed. Holy shit. He scrambled off the place he was sat into one of his draws and pulled out a safety pin, his heart was racing and he was deranged. He looked at his ear and grabbed some alcoholic wipes from the bathroom before he started to clean the lobe and the needles. He didn’t count or take a deep breath he just stabbed it. It bled but it didn’t hurt any more than he was already hurting, he started laughing again while the place he just pierced bled all over and swelled up. He called winky to grab an ice cube and she delivered it in shock at what he had done but Barty made her promise not to tell anyone. He held the ice to his ear and laid down on his bed.

Barty woke up with a start, unsure of when he fell asleep but he could hear Evan’s gentle snores and he assumed regulus was asleep too. He got up to wash his face his hands shaking a little but nothing bad, probably just post high or something. He splashed his face with  water and sat on the closed toilet seat rubbing his ear, it was his first piercing and now he has four (two nose piercings and his other ear which Dorcas did for him) four. One for each time his dad had called him disappointing, useless, disgusting or filthy. He sighed and looked up resting his head on the wall. He wished Pandora was here. She knew what to say all the time even if it was in a riddle or something stupid like that. That’s what she was a, a riddle, an impossible beautiful riddle. He looked down and saw regulus staring at him and had the urged to scream.

“Fucking hell black. You’re like a black cat can you please warn me next time.” Barty said putting his hand on his heart

Regulus’ lips slightly twitched and he came in and stood across from him. “Can’t sleep either?”

Barty looked at regulus and took in his features. His eyes were cold but if you got to know him you could see the warmth behind them. His eyebags were prominent yet they somehow made his features more elusive and intricate. Only regulus black could pull of eye bags, he scoffed.

“I can I just wanted to sit in this small ass bathroom just because”

“Never-mind for company then.” They both heard a floorboard creek and turned to look at what caused it, unfortunately it was too dark to see anything. Regulus went back to talking “actually I’ll stay I really hate rats.”

“You out of all people hate rats?”

“Pandora loves them, and she insists of conjuring one up every time we’re together.”

“I thought you hate them”

“Yes. I do quite like Pandora though.”

They both stayed silent for some time

“Not in that way but speaking of that Barty I need to tell you something.”

“I think I’m tired I’m just going to bed” he yawned over regulus drowning his words out. “G’night”

He heard regulus sigh and the door shut and lock behind him. He heard Evan’s soft snores again meaning he was still asleep but who made that noise? He got into bed and wondered if it was a ghost. They bloody barren did seem to like them.

“Hey Evan, me and Pandora are together. And she’s really nice so..fuck you if you don’t like it.” He was more muttering to himself at this point as he heard the shower turn on he rolled over to face Evan’s bed where he asleep peacefully. “Sleeping beauty. But can I ask you something?” No response. “Do you think Pandora likes me too?”

Only the sign of Evan’s sniffling indicated he could have possibly heard while he was dreaming. Barty gave a weak laughing and rolled back to stare at the ceiling. Their ceiling was bewitched to look at the stars in close. Of course regulus was the brightest one. He smiled and suddenly his eye lids felt extremely heavy. God he had such cool fucking friends, they were all wicked and he wouldn’t trade them for the world. The shower finally shut off and he fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Barty woke up to the freezing cold of his covers being ripped off him, he groaned seriously annoyed that his sleep was being disturbed.

“Which one of you bloody gits pulled that shit?” He muttered as he opened his eyes

“We both tried yelling in your ear but it clearly didn’t work. Breakfast starts in 10.”  Regulus responded while he put his tie on.

Barty shot him the bird and went to lay back down, he tried going to sleep, he could sleep through quite a bit, but he couldn’t stand being cold. He tossed and turned and then accepted defeat and got up to get to the bathroom. He banged on the door, and yelled “rosier if you don’t get out I’m gonna blast this goddamn door open.”

Right on cue the door opened, Barty made an attempt to push past Evan yet Evan blocked his way “magic word?”

Barty stared at Evan coldly until he muttered a please and he was finally able to take a piss. Regulus was now yelling at Evan for messing up the dorm while Evan looked for a clean set of robes.

“You guys are infuriating. I’m going to find Pandora and Cas.”

Barty heard regulus slam the door shut a little louder than he probably meant to making a pounding noise in the back of Bartys head. He was not a fucking morning person.

He ran back into the dorm. He had lost track of time and accidentally spent 20 minutes in the shower and 10 minutes deciding how to style his hair. He decided to keep it messy as that was the only thing that worked for him. “Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck” clothes were strewn about everywhere making it impossible to tell who’s who’s. He let out a yelp as he banged his head crawling underneath his bed while trying to grab his wand.

Barty ran out of the dorm with ten minutes to spare looking like a complete mess. Luckily he bumped into Dorcas on the way.

“Thought you might have overslept and brought you this” she handed him a piece of toast smothered in jam and butter

“Cheers cassi” He had never felt so grateful for her compassion, she wasn’t sweet in a sickly way but she was sweet in her own quiet way. She cared silently and reminded him much of regulus at times.

“Don’t call me that.” She said whilst they began making their way out of the dungeons and into the main part of the castle

“Too bad cassi it really sticks you know” he said in between mouth fulls “how come Pandora isn’t with you”

“She’s pissed at you mate.”

Barty stopped walking and quickly swallowed his mouthful “she’s what?” He spluttered

“She’s fucking pissed, you two were supposed to meet for a quiet breakfast today apparently”

Barty grimaced at his own stupidity, how could he forget. Barty had been with quite a few girls and in those cases he wouldn’t care wether they were mad at him or not. But it felt different with pandora.

“Shit. Thanks cassi do you know where she is?” He asked while brushing the crumbs off his mouth and clothes.

“Probably heading to astronomy, but we have transfigurations. And if you think mcgonagall is going to let you be late again”

Unfortunately for him she had a point. There was no way he could make it there and back in time. He’d have to think of another way of making it up to her. They both made their way to transfiguration and arrived as the last pupils went in.

“Mr crouch I’d advise you sort yourself out before walking into my classroom, you look..” McGonagall told him looking in disbelief that anyone could wonder around the castle looking like that not be embarrassed

“It’s a fashion statement, don’t I just look ravishing” He smirked looking at Dorcas who had to stifle a laugh. He even thought he caught McGonagall’s lips being tugged into a smile

“Fix yourself up crouch. Good morning Miss meadows.” She said softly and opened the door while smiling, Barty heard Dorcas whisper a good morning back before hurriedly rushing inside

Barty quickly fixed his collar and his robes so he looked somewhat presentable and walked in, he took his place next to Evan and regulus while Dorcas sat right at the front listening intently. She only sat there because apparently the three at the back distracted her so often she was ‘at risk of failing’, regulus sat there taking notes and every so often sighing and looking at him and Evan who were now in a ferocious thumb war. After one particularly hard sigh he took their almost blank parchment and began copying his own notes onto theirs. “Love you reg” Barty whispered as he tried to capture Evan’s thumb in his. “I would just think extremely lowly of you two if you failed.” Was his response.

Soon they got bored and tried seeing who can go without blinking the longest. Barty saw Evan’s dark eyes water and he clapped right into Evan’s face making him blink and groan.

“Mr crouch is there any particular reason you’re currently clapping?”

Barty smiled and continued clapping “no professor, just thought you’re inspirational” he lightly nudged Evan who joined in the clapping scowling that he was also being dragged into this. But he allowed himself to be dragged anyways, one for all and all of one. McGonagall turned around and went back to teaching whatever the topic was (vanishing spells)

“You’re a dick Barty” he heard Evan whisper

Barty said a little louder than he normal spoke “oh yes Evan I will be your boyfriend!!” Causing people in-front of them heads turn around and stare at the two. He saw Evan’s cheeks turn a shade redder than they already were and regulus chose to ignore them.

Evan ribbed him hard and put then his head onto his desk, his blonde locks gently falling over his face. Barty took his parchment back from regulus and began drawing on the back of it.

The bell rang and there was a rush to the door but the three boys stayed back and waited for Dorcas to finish talking to McGonagall, regulus was in the middle of telling them how important grades were when McGonagall finally spoke to them

“Rosier, Crouch, I expect you two back by dinner and you can tell me what exactly was so awe inspiring”

“Yes professor.” He sighed and began to walk away “I swear she knows we weren’t listening she just wants to torture us”

From far back she responded “I’m not sure torture is the right word mr crouch”

They began walking faster after that.

Charms passed fine and nothing extreme happened but it wasn’t until lunch did he have time to properly speak to Pandora. But she was insisting on pretending to not be mad, regardless of what Dorcas said to him

“Pandora let’s talk. Come on”

“Barty I’m fine.” She snapped back clearly in a bad mood

“But dor-“ He paused in pain as a leg beside him just kicked him very hard, he turned to look at Dorcas and got a lethal stare back, Pandora looked between the two of them and seemed to grow even more agitated and stormed out of the great hall before Dorcas got up to follow her.

Barty slumped in his seat and groaned. He was never going to get this right or understand. He felt a comforting pat on his shoulder, “cheer up mate, try living with that for 14 years” He heard Evan say

“Rosier” Barty immediately sat up. Evan’s eye raised up in confusion and regulus turned to look at them both. “Yes you too reg, you know how you guys are awesome? Can you two please tell her how sorry I am. I never say please and you know that”

They both stared at him until Evan spoke “Nah we busy innit? Homework and that” regulus nodded after Evan tried to subtly kick him. Barty squinted and looked between the two of them, they both met his gaze. They stayed silent until Evan coughed “we have to go, don’t worry you’ll sort it out soon. We’re skipping that detention yeah?” Barty nodded as the two of them made there way out leaving him sat alone.

Suddenly he lost his appetite. Evan and regulus had been friends before hogwarts or something because of family connections. Pandora and Dorcas were the only girls in the group so sometimes Barty felt alone, if there’s anything he hated more than the mornings it was being alone. His house was always so damn lonely and he couldn’t stand it. He was lost in his thoughts until a boy who looked like regulus but with longer hair and the same crazed look Barty had in his eyes showed up.

“Hey crouch.” Barty looked at him in pure shock, the black family was fucking gorgeous. An effortless sense of beauty that could be only described as being blessed by Aphrodite herself.

Barty nodded in acknowledgeable, still skeptical of how someone could look that good and why’d he come up to him in the first place, their group ‘the marauders’ or the group of absolute idiots as regulus called them usually never sought them out unless it was for regulus. The main reason being that they had different senses of humour. To them ‘funny’ was making the main floor into a huge ice rink, to Bartys group ‘funny’ was putting a bogart in the hufflepuff common room (how Pandora even got in there they don’t know), she described it as smelling of weed and they were probably all stoned which made the squeals of pure terror even funnier to them.

“Tell reg I got the goods, cheers” he winked before walking back to his group of friends leaving Barty confused and even more annoyed.

Stupid pretty people he thought as afternoon classes began. Regulus, Evan, Pandora and Dorcas all were gorgeous and he was just Barty. And now they’re all probably enjoying themselves without him. He was pissed all the way to the dungeons, yelling at first years to move out the way. He made it and saw regulus nodding along to Evan as he spoke only stopping when they caught sight of Barty.

“Siriustoldnetotellyouhehasthegoods.” He said in what he thought was a calm voice. They all stared at each other until Barty just walked right down into the common room, he didn’t feel like listening to slughorn drone in for another hour. The common room was empty apart from a few sixth and seventh years cramming early revision in. He ignored them and went back to the dorms. There he saw a letter left on regulus’ bed much like the ones the receive every year in the summer. Barty figured regulus wouldn’t mind and he carefully opened the letter. A shiny silver pin dropped onto the floor and Barty picked it up and scoffed. Of course he had been made prefect. Barty skimmed the letter. It turns out the letters were late that year and what not. Barty skipped past the important parts until he caught two names that shocked him.

“Fucking ROSIER? Oh and Dorcas” he said to the open. He understood Dorcas but Evan was a strech. There was also some tosspot in the year below called tori but Barty did not give two fucks. He was more pissed Evan had been made prefect more than anything. He looked to Evan’s bed and sure enough there was an identical letter on top of his pillows.

Barty took a deep breath the headache returning and laid down on his own bed. Not feeling like going to his other lessons he stayed there until the bell for dinner rang, his stomach let out an embarrassing growl which he was glad nobody else was there to hear and reluctantly walked to the hall for dinner. There he met the rest of his group talking excitedly and hurriedly, he even spotted Sirius and james talking with them. He slowly made his way over,

“Right and then-“ Pandora was telling all of them

They all stopped as he sat down, pretending they didn’t all just hush when they noticed him. He nodded at them and began loading his plate.

“See you guys later” james smiled at them and got up to walk to his own table.

“How come you missed potions and herbology” regulus asked as he did the same and started putting food on his own plate

“Couldn’t be arsed mate” he responded with honest truth in his voice, he was tired and couldn’t pretend he was somewhat interested in his academic life.

Without looking he knew regulus rolled his eyes and shoved some notes into his pocket. Barty slightly smiled, at his friends thoughtfulness when he was being a down right knob

“Thanks” he said quietly just so regulus could hear, all he got was a grunt in response. As much as regulus claims he thinks they’re all a waste of his time and his space he cared.

“By the way I figured we got to go to that detention you know McGonagall is scary.” Evan said in between mouth fulls

Barty nodded, if Evan went so did he, even if he was extremely reluctant to. Although he was extremely hungry twenty minutes ago he didn’t feel as if he could stomach any food and just stared until Evan finished up.

Evan grabbed his bag and began to walk which just left Barty to follow.

They arrived outside the room and knocked, Barty looked at his feet as Evan made excuses for why they were late which began believable enough but then ended in an apparent flood in the great hall. She looked tired, sighed and then let them in. The whole hour was extremely boring and she made them just write lines about how they wouldn’t disrupt again. Not even regulus came in to save them so they could escape. Just little over an hour she finally said “I hope you two learned your lesson, I have a feeling Mr black is waiting outside for you two” she looked over her glasses, her eyebrows raised as she dismissed them.

As Evan opened the door he let out an exasperated sigh, Barty had barely any time to register why his whole group was there before he was blindfolded.

“WHAT THE FUCK YOU ALL ARE WANKERS LITERALLY HOW OLD ARE WE?” He yelled all the way to..he didn’t have a cool where he was being dragged until he felt the cold embrace of the dungeons and realised they were heading to their common room. He groaned. If his past five years at Hogwarts taught him anything he knew he was walking into a—

“HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY FUCKER” a whole room erupted as he walked in removing his blindfold. He couldn’t help himself and smiled.

“Since we missed the sixteenth of August..” Pandora started

“We decided to celebrate a month later” Evan continued smirking

“And with your dad and what not..” Regulus spoke as he started working on getting the music playing

People began talking, Barty saw Lupin, Sirius, james, Peter, Lily, Mary and Marlene all by the drinks mixing up something that could probably kill.

“You threw a party on a monday. How stupid do you have to be” Barty yelled over the music which was sure to wake up slughorn.

“FUN START TO THE YEAR” he heard rosier yell back while he came back with drinks for all five of them.

They all clinked their glasses and drank immediately coughing “WHAT THE FUCK DID SIRIUS PUT IN THIS?” Regulus blurted unusually loud

Barty drank again still smirking, his friends clearly wanted to hang out with him, they would have never agreed to getting pissed on the second week back if they didn’t. He wasn’t even sure why he was in such a strop before, he fucking loved his friends.

“YOU GUYS ARE ALL PISSHEAD FUCK YOU ALL” he screamed while people began singing to suffragette city. He smiled sloppily as he allowed himself to be dragged by Pandora to dance, he got smiles and the bird from Dorcas in return. He allowed his attention to fully focus onto Pandora and let her take the lead. She was almost a head shorter than him and she hummed the lyrics to whatever song was playing. He felt the feet of what felt like thousands of people jumping and heard the voices of people laughing and screaming with their friends. He swayed slightly and let the alcohol flow through him giving him some encouragement to keep going.

                   ✦ . ⁺  . ✦ . ⁺  . ✦

At some point somebody had turned the lights off, using wands to shoot up different coloured rays of light making the whole thing look like a strip club. Barty had some strong shit coursing his veins, he didn’t know where any of his friends were ,probably making out behind some couch. He walked outside into the deserted corridor ,after feeling ridiculously hot, to the cool air, most people had thrown up and left or were about to clear it. It was some point around 2 am and a face came to join him.

“Hey crouch, mint party” Sirius said, his words only slightly slurred.

Barty nodded his hand tapping on his pants, he could really kill for a spliff he thought yet if he went upstairs he was sure he wouldn’t make it back down. Sirius must have took notice of his fidgeting and lit up a joint. “Birthday present, and the drinks but they were mostly lupin and Mary’s doing”

“Thanks” Barty reached out for it instantly inhaling and letting the easy feeling take over. “Shit that’s what you meant this morning” he laughed, he can’t believe he seriously thought he friends hated him.

“Yeah but you know reg, buggers like a damn cat always so sly, I don’t know how he does it” Sirius said lighting his own joint.

“Amen to that” Barty nodded, he felt at peace and easy despite the kinks loudly playing in the background.

They sat in silence once more before Barty smoked his joint into ashes “cheers mate” he said as he walked back in only getting a nod back.

When he walked back in he saw Phil and Pandora talking, he aught to go over but they seemed to be having a good time and so was he, what was the need to put anyone else in a bad mood?

He spotted Dorcas speaking to Mary who occasionally began giggling and Barty realised he’d rather not go hear what they were talking about, he saw regulus speaking to someone on the couch but he couldn’t see who since their back was turned although the light reflecting off someone’s wand made them look like the sun. Barty chuckled at the stupid idea that the sun was currently sitting in one of the gloomiest common rooms ever. He looked around for Evan deeply missing his best friend and saw him by the drinks leaning onto the table talking to someone who was nearly the same height as him. He saw Evan’s cheeks looking a little redder than normal and Barty was sure it wasn’t due to the alcohol, he even saw Evan stuttering as he talked. Was Evan actually flustered??

Barty looked back at where Phil and Pandora were standing but they seemed to have made their way back to their own common room or something, regulus and the person were still deeply talking so Barty walked over to Evan realising how sad it looked for the birthday boy to be stood by himself at his own party

“Rosier, I’ve been looking for you” Barty said smirking

It took Evan awhile to register Barty was even stood there and looked away from the guy “Thought would have been passed out in some girl’s bed by now” Evan responded smiling back

“Don’t think of me so lowly, seems as though you’ve joined team regulus” he shook his head while wiping fake tears

“Slag. Piss off anyways I’m talking to someone go find reg or cas”

Barty felt a little hurt about being blown off but it was probably just the weed and alcohol talking, “I came here for the drinks not you although..” he winked flashing Evan a grin

Evan rolls his eyes “alkie.” He responded and went back to talking to the guy stood infront of him who was currently staring at his feet awkwardly. “So anyways while we were in America—“

“You were in America?” Barty said in shock

Evan turned around to look at him but had a slightly more annoyed expression in his face. “Over the summer. Family business.” He turned back around the annoyance leaving his face as if it was never there “anyways so me and Pandora snuck off to watch the movie and it was so fucking cool. Sharks just might be my new favourite animal, apart from snakes of course.”

Barty felt left out, he probably should have left three minutes ago and go to find Dorcas or something but he just couldn’t. His body just wouldn’t let him, he was sure he drank something that was laced.

“Oh no same. I already liked sharks but jaws was definitely sealed the deal for me.” The guy said speaking excitedly. He looked like a right ass kisser Barty thought

“I like racoons” Barty blurted out of nowhere causing the pair to look up at him

“Racoons.” Evan said slowly raising his eyebrows.

“Yeah they have masks and stuff, they’re- they’re pretty cool masks.” Barty said lost, Evan’s locs were loosely tied up behind his head making his jawline prominent, his dark eyes were fixed right in Barty and he saw a less subtle pink tint in his cheeks.

“And they’re also thieves” the boy said, Barty actually stared at Evan before turning his gaze towards the boy giving him a rough smile. The boy looked in between the two and brushed a hand through his hair. “I should probably go to my dorm, I have arithmancy tomorrow with Umbridge ‘nd she’s a proper pillock” Evan laughed while the boy began to walk away.

Barty rarely heard Evan laugh like that but he wanted to hear it again and again. It was a harsh deep croaky laugh nothing like pandoras sweet cheery laugh, yet he found himself replaying it in his mind. Damn Evan rosier was hot.

He took a shot of something that was on the desk causing Evan to stare. “Weren’t you the one complaining we have classes tomorrow?” Evan said concerned

“Shut that pretty mouth of yours rosier” he said feeling Evan lighter headed.

“Piss off mate.”

Barty laughed and drank until he couldn’t stand up straight anymore, at some point regulus had also came by his side although Barty didn’t notice. Everything felt so slow and he felt as if his mouth was moving faster than his mind. He wasn’t even aware what he was doing until regulus and Evan dragged him upstairs to their dorm and cast a silencing charm on the door. Barty wasn’t a lightweight and luckily for them he didn’t feel like throwing up. He laid on his bed humming to a song he didn’t even know the lyrics to smiling at the stars above him. He was only vaguely aware of Evan and regulus talking and then Evan getting in the shower.

“Reggguuuuulusssss” Barty sang smiling while he sat up

“How long does it take you to—sleep” regulus hiccuped eyeing him

“Rosier is so pretty.” Regulus nodded in response to him which made Barty feel even more irritated.

“No I mean rosier is so gorgeous I wanna shag–“

Barty never finished his sentence as he body couldn’t take anymore and passed out right there and then.