merry christmas my love

'𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘺' The text read, and Barty's heart sunk. He had hoped to get Pandora, Regulus, even Reg's stupid brother, anyone would be better than 𝘩𝘦𝘳. Barty didn't even know why he was here in the first place. Reg was here for his brother, Pandora for her friend Marlene (god know what they had in common) and Evan... he didn't actually know why Evan was here, but he had a sneaking suspicion it was for the Peter boy, who he seemed to be eyeing up. God. Can none of his friends keep it in their pants for one minute.

But now, he had pulled 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘌𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘴'𝘴 name out of the hat, and he had to buy her a stupid gift, and wrap in stupid paper, just for her to grin and say how beautiful it was, cause that's just the kind of girl she is. Insufferable. They had been rivals since first year, and she was so effortless in her studies. Potter had been smitten since day one, often shouting after her. People didn't seem to know that Barty had been friends with Lily, often defending her name, till he met Panda and the Slytherin's and well... He was better off in his circle. And she was better off with her circle. With Potter.

Speaking of which, Potter pulled out his name, sighing as if disappointed. Obviously. Barty had Lily, something James could never handle. Oh the irony. Barty thought he has rid himself of the dastardly 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 until Reg came home, oohing and ahhing over his brothers bestfriend.

How would he even know what to get for Lily? Books? A cauldron? Some money? Heaven knows she needed it with those ragged robes. He chuckled to himself about dipping into the Crouch Family Fortune for a muggeborn he barely knew. He snapped back to see everyone looking at him. He locked eyes with Lily Evans. Highlighted with rings of silver, with sea glass eyes. They had flecks of gold in them, swirling around as if almost hypnotic, able to make any man loose his dignity, and any shred of respect he had for himself. For those eyes. Emeralds basking in dawns first light, where the earth meet the sun and heavens, in a jade glow. And, not that he'd ever tell her, but he'd thought about her eyes so much over the past few days. Hell, even the last few years. They were... insufferable.

"Barty" Evan whispered aggressively, snapping his eyes away from her eyes. He was now painfully aware of his shit coloured eyes. Of course.
"What?" He snapped back. He didn't even want to be here in the first place. As he's pretty sure everyone here knew. Except her. Of course. She was still looking at him. He turned his head back to Evan.

"I'm going to the Slytherin common room, which you'd know if you were listening. You coming?" Barty had to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

"Ah yes! I'd love to!"

"Really?"

"No."

That earned him a eye roll from Evan, but he decided to just sit in the Gryffindor common room. The Ravenclaw one always had the swots out, and Barty would rather die than be swept up in a bookish conversation with a needy girl who wants the 'dangerous bad boy' that they can fix. Pathetic. The lot of them. Just as Barty got into his book (Little women - He found it fascinating, and his favourite character was by far Meg March) when a looming shadow blocked his light. Can you guess who it was?

"Lily. Can I help you?" Barty said through his teeth without turning back to see her. He hoped it was her or this would be embarrassing, but he could recognise her silhouette anywhere.

"Hey I just wanted... to know who you got for Secret Santa?" Lily mumbled uncertainly. Barty turned to face her, and before he could get distracted by her freckles, he cocked his head and-

"Are you sure? You don't sound sure sweetheart." He watched lily go red, glad to be able to get a rise out of her. She spluttered angrily for a few seconds, but as he was turning back, she blurted

"You're not supposed to be in here! You're a Ravenclaw. If you weren't aware, this is Gryffindor."

"Wow. How will we cope. Someone call the Aurors to take me away, to drag me back to the slums they call Ravenclaw!"

She wasn't to happy with that one.