Barty had moved on. He had had his heart broken by his best friend, and he was determined to move on.
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
Last Christmas, he had confessed to Regulus. Spilling his heart out to the boy, and it had gone well. Regulus didn’t say anything, but he kissed Barty, so he took that as a good sign.
But the very next day, you gave it away
But the next day, at the annual Christmas party at Gryffindor tower, Regulus had kissed James and then disappeared upstairs with him.
They had announced their relationship the next day.
Barty hadn’t left bed for days. He had felt betrayed and humiliated. Evan had brought him food and made him get up and shower after two days.
“It’s his loss B.”
Now, 363 days later, Barty realized that he really had moved on. Regulus and James were still together, and they made a cute couple.
Barty hadn’t been with anyone this year. Not even any one-night stands.
Barty stood in the Slytherin common room, looking at his hard work. He had spent the afternoon decorating for Christmas.
No one had asked him too, but it was 3 days till Christmas eve, and he felt it needed to happen. He was determined to enjoy the holiday this year.
“Wow B. You put a lot of work in.” Barty turned to see his best friend, Evan Rosier, walk through the door. “didn’t think you were the festive type.” Evan chuckled and walked closer.
Barty shrugged, “I want to enjoy the holiday. And I figured a good way to start is to decorate.” He did a little shimmy, “To get in the mood.”
Evan laughed, “The Christmas mood?
He nodded, a smug smile spreading on his face. “its very important to be in the right mood Evan.” He smirked at he boy, using his height to look down on him.
Evan blushed, he had been doing that a lot lately. Barty was glad to be the one making his cheeks flush.
“TWO DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS EVE!” Evan was awoken by Barty yelling in his face.
He rolled over, “God B. do you ever quit?”
“I miss when you didn’t give a rats ass about this holiday” Regulus’ voice sounded from the other side of the room.
“Come on guys, I need to go to Hogsmeade for a few last-minute gifts!” Barty dragged Evan out of bed and Evan was suddenly very aware of the fact he was only in boxers.
“I can’t, I have to help James wrap his gifts.” Regulus pulled his curtains closed, and Barty shrugged. “Guess its just you and me Ev.”
Evan threw on a shirt, glad that Barty hadn’t commented on his near-nakedness. “who said I was coming?”
“Me.”
Evan threw Barty a look, “pleaseeee, I’ll buy you a hot cocoa?” Barty fell to his knees, causing another blush to form on Evan’s whole body.
“Fine. But it better have some espresso.”
That is how Evan found himself sitting at a booth in the Three Broomsticks. He was cold after walking around town with Barty for an hour and a half.
They had laughed and Evan was glad he had come. He browsed the books and candy while Barty sneaked around to pick presents out.
And now, they landed in the small coffee shop, Evan demanding his mocha he had been promised.
Evan quietly sat, waiting for Barty to come back with his drink.
He was reading a new book he had just bought; it was about a tree falling in love with the moon. Watching it rise each night, and then leave again. The moon would never settle with the tree, never stay longer than 12 hours.
Eventually the tree realizes this and notices another tree that had stood tall with it all its life. Never falling and always strong standing next to the main tree.
Evan read the first two chapters before he heard Barty set a mug down in front of him. Evan looked up and realized there were tears streaming down his face.
Barty’s face immediately fell to concern, and he reached over to hold Evans face.
“No, don’t cry. What’s wrong?” Evan shook his head, not knowing how to explain to Barty that he had found a tree that reflected his own feelings.
He had watched Barty obsess over Regulus for years, never faltering in his own feelings.
Evan cleaned himself up and drank his mocha. The two sat for a while, smiling together and enjoying the quiet, secluded booth.
Evan felt himself getting more relaxed and his eyelids felt heavy. At some point Barty had moved to next to Evan, and he leaned his head over onto his shoulder.
“are you falling asleep on me, Rosier?”
“Maybe” Evan looked up at Barty, “You make me feel sleepy. I don’t know, you relax me”
“hmmm, I read a study once,” Evan burst out laughing at this. “you read?”
Barty rolled his eyes, “Ok, so maybe I didn’t read it. But it’s a real study!”
He quieted down now, “when you are around someone you love, your body naturally relaxes. You release happy emotions and get sleepy.”
Evan felt his face flush – once again – and he thought about this. “Well, maybe I’m just tired after a long day. You ever think of that?”
“Maybe, but I’m sleepy around you too.” Evan eyes shot to Barty, “oh?”
Barty nodded, now his face had a faint blush.
The day of Christmas eve, Barty awoke with a warm glow lighting his face. He immediately was happy, and though he hadn’t remembered why yet, he knew it was something to do with Evan.
He rolled out of bed and stumbled his way to the bathroom, finding his hair brush and mouthwash. He got ready and threw on a new shirt and trousers, pulling on his blue converse and walking downstairs.
He entered the common room, smiling at his decorations again, and saw Evan sitting at a desk far away from the fireplace. It tended to get chilly in the Slytherin common room, but Evan was like a human furnace.
Seeing Evan hunched over a piece of parchment with books strewn across the desk, Barty remembered why he had awoken in such an amazing mood. Evan
As they had been walking back to Hogwarts after their adventures at Hogsmeade, Evan and Barty’s hands had clasped. They had fallen into a comfortable silence, and Barty loved the feel of Evan’s hand in his.
“B, can I tell you something? Something a bit embarrassing?”
Barty had glanced at Evan, glad that he felt comfortable with him. “Of course you can.”
Evan sighed, “do you remember when, last year, you told Regulus you liked him?”
Loved was more accurate – not that it mattered anymore though.
“And, do you remember how you had sobbed to me when Reg kissed James. And do you remember how I comforted you and told you I was sorry and how you were better off without him?”
Barty didn’t know why Evan was bringing this up now, but he let the boy continue on, nodding to keep him going.
“Well, I didn’t tell you this then, because it wasn’t the right thing to say- but I was glad Regulus had kissed James.”
Barty stopped now, turning to look at Evan, confused at where this was leading.
“I was mad at him, yes, but not because he had denied you, but because he had broken your heart. But I was glad because, well…”
Barty stared at Evan, urging him silently to go on. Evan looked down at their joined hands, blushing and shaking slightly. Barty noticed how Evan’s hands were hotter than his usual human furnace hot- he was nervous.
“Ev?”
“I was glad because I wanted you for myself.” Evan whispered, slowly rising his gaze to meet Barty’s.
Barty’s face had light up at this, finally – the words he a had wanted to hear for all his life.
“Ev, you have me.”
Their lips met in a passionate embrace, pouring months – and years in Evan’s case – of feelings into a moment of touch.
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special