Chapter 4
Pandora
Pandora was tired. So fucking tired. Two of her best friends had been madly in love with each other for the past four years and only her, the one in their group who experienced no sexual or romantic attraction, seemed to notice.
She understood that Regulus and Dorcas were slightly distracted by their obsessions with two certain Gryffindors but did they really not see Evan’s longing looks? Or Barty’s flirtatious smiles that meant more than they thought?
She glared at her brother who was currently trying to push off Barty who was clinging to his torso and refusing to let go. Pandora knew he loved it. Didn't he see how Barty felt?
Makeout. She mouthed at the other blond Slytherin. He had the audacity to look offended.
Whatthefuck? He mouthed back. Pandora rolled her eyes. Merlin, he was stubborn.
Fuckingaskhimoutalready, coward. Most people would have lost track of the conversation but the twins often had to communicate this way back home when forbidden to speak and easily recognised how the other formed silent words.
He rolled his eyes and turned back to the love of his life. ‘Get off, Crouch.’ he grumbled and again attempted to push the other boy off.
‘Don't you love me, Rosieeeeee?’ Evan's entire face turned red at the nickname.
‘I do not. And stop fucking calling me that.’ Barty pouted dramatically and rolled on to the floor landing on his face.
He pushed himself off the floor and glared at Evan ‘Why won't you accept my affection, Rosier?’ he whined. ‘Everyone else loves it.’
Evan snorted. ‘If by “everyone else” you mean Regulus, then sure.’ He pulled out a book and rested his feet on the other boy’s back making his face slam back into the carpet.
‘Hey, Barty,’ Pandora said quickly before they could continue their squabble.
‘Are you free this Hogsmeade weekend?’
Barty lifted his head from the floor again and propped himself up on his elbows.
‘Yes. May I ask why, kinder of the Rosier twins?’ Evan kicked him in the ribs.
‘Reg and I made plans for a small study group that weekend but there's a certain polish Reg wanted for his broom. He was going to ask Evan to get it but I want to make sure he doesn't get distracted. Could you accompany him?’
‘Of course! There's nothing I love more than a date with my best friend.’ He winked at Evan.
‘You think he's more responsible than me?!’ an offended Evan asked. Then he saw Pandora's satisfied smirk. His eyes widened.
She knew that now that Barty knew Evan was going he wouldn't leave him alone. And would probably drag him to the Three Broomsticks as well. It really was a date.
Also Regulus did need that broom polish and Evan was clueless about quidditch.
Goodluck. She winked at him before standing up and stretching her hands above her head.
‘Getting quite late, night Barty, night Evan.’
Barty looked up from where he had scrambled back into Evan’s lap and was trying to braid Evan's too short hair. She was always telling him to grow it out.
‘Already, Panda? It's not even 12 yet.’
‘Tired. Try not to annoy my brother too much.’
***
‘What the fuck, Panda?!’ Pandora whipped her head up from the desk she was bent over.
When she saw her brother's angry face in the doorway she smirked and set down her quill.
‘What is it, brother dear?’
And out of curiosity she added,
‘Also how the fuck did you get up here? It has literally never been accomplished?’
Evan continued his scowling as he made his way to the edge of her bed.
‘First, I forbid you from calling me brother, siblings aren't meant to make eachother want to kill themselves-’
‘Top five rules of being siblings, look it up’
‘-second, I'm gay.’
Pandora's eyebrows went up.
‘That's how it works? So you, Reg, and Barty could have always come here instead of me going to your smelly dorm?’
‘Our dorm does not-’ then his eyes widened as Pandora's first words got to his head.
‘Barty isn't gay, Panda.’
She grinned at his miserable expression. Like all siblings do.
‘Of course, because Barty just oozes heterosexuality.’ she raised her brow again.
Evan turned his now blushing face away.
‘He's just joking when he… acts like that, Panda.’
She rolled her eyes. It was pointless trying to argue with him.
‘Sure he is. Why did you barge in here again?’
Evan’s head snapped up, suddenly furious once more.
‘Pandora! Why did you do that? Now I have to spend my Hogsmeade weekend with Barty, again, and he's just gonna be there the entire time just being his annoying beautiful self and I'm gonna be suffering and why would you do this to me? Are you still mad at me for that time I cut your hair in your sleep? You managed to grow it back and-’
She cut off his rant before he actually started shouting.
‘I am actually still mad about that but that's not the point. He likes you too, Evan. If you spend enough time together, alone, maybe one of you will finally man up and confess.’
‘How would you know? You've never liked anyone.’
‘Divination is my best subject.’
He glared at her. ‘That isn't proof!’
‘I'll wait until you realise I'm right. Bring chocolate when you come to apologise.’
He opened his mouth to argue but Pandora cut him off again.
She was tired and her brother was not doing anything to help her slowly forming migraine.
‘Look Evan, maybe I'm wrong, maybe he calls you beautiful everyday for no reason whatsoever.’
Evan blushed and hid his face in his hands.
‘But either way I know you like spending time with him, so just go on this stupid date and call it a “bloke hangout” or whatever.’
She got up and sat next to her brother. She put an arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.
‘I know I can't really understand how you feel and I'm guessing it's horrible to be asked if you like someone and having to lie about it every time, but trust me, it's also not fun to have to lie about being attracted to people at all.’
Her face scrunched up in anger and annoyance as she remembered all the times her friends and family had asked if she had a boyfriend yet.
‘It'll probably fade eventually. And I'll be here every time you need to rant. Okay?’
She pretended not to see her brother dab at his eyes.
‘Yeah. Thanks Panda.’ he gave her a grateful look and she smiled.
‘Anytime, now get out! This princess needs her beauty sleep.’
He snorted, ‘you sound like Regulus.’ he hugged his sister and stood up.
‘Good night, please don't get up to make art at 2 am.’
She stood after him and shoved him out the door ‘I can't promise you anything!’
The last thing she saw before she closed the door was Evan turning to go, shaking his head with a small smile resting on his lips.