Spring
The weather slowly grew warmer and the ice covering the black lake started to crack and melt. The sound echoed through the water and they could hear it from the Slytherin common room.
“They really stuff us into the depths of the castle, huh?” Regulus groaned. The rest of the castle had started to be warmed by the spring’s sunshine, but the dungeon was still as cold as ever.
“And then they have the nerve to wonder why we all turn evil.” Barty joked.
“I’m not gonna be evil.” Evan retorted. He hated the snide remarks and whispered rumors from the other houses. “Only a handful of Slytherins have really gone bad.”
“Of course not. Neither you or Reggie would be any good at being evil.” Barty laughed at him. “You're too polite. You don’t use 'please' and 'thank you' while you conquer the world. Me and Dorcas could pull it off though.”
Dorcas made a face from the chair she sat in. “And why is that?”
“Dunno, you just seem the type. Oh, and that whole knowing everybody’s secrets thing. You could do some twisted stuff with that.”
Dorcas shook her head. “I only use my powers for good.”
“Oh, really? Was it ‘for good’ when you told the whole school that you caught Loretta Vane-” Evan started.
“Ok, we get it! Still, I only use my powers for good most of the time. But she had it coming.”
“I think Barty might be onto something, actually.” Regulus smiled. “I could see Dorcas’ world domination.”
Evan faked a grimace. “I guess we’re doomed then. We’re top of her hit list for sure.”
She nodded. “Don’t you know it.”
They were all supposed to be studying because of the looming exams that drew close, but Regulus was the only one to truly make an effort to review the material. It was a gorgeous day and no one wanted to be cooped up inside.
“I wonder, if you swam down deep enough, if you could see into the common room?” Barty asked no one in particular.
“Maybe, but you could never get that deep without drowning or being eaten by the giant squid.” Dorcas said.
“The squid doesn't eat people…right?” Evan laughed but grew concerned when no one reassured him. “Right?”
“Is that a dare?” Barty lept out his seat, ignoring his panicked friend and focusing on Dorcas.
“Absolutely not. I know you’re insane enough to try it and I don’t want your death on my conscience.” Dorcas shook her head.
“What if we bet on it? I’ll give you…uh,” Barty fished around in his pockets and pulled out an assortment of coins. “However much this is.”
Dorcas studied his offering. “You just carry around galleons as loose change?” She seemed impressed. “Never mind, I’m in. But, with the condition that you write me into your will so that when you inevitably get eaten, I get your whole fortune.”
“Deal!” Barty shook her hand in agreement.
“Does this squid actually eat people?” Evan asked, the concern in his voice growing. He could not tell if Dorcas was joking or not.
“Guess we’ll find out!” Barty grabbed his stuff and headed for the door.
“You’re really going through with this?” Regulus asked.
They had grabbed Pandora and made their way outside to the lake to where Barty was standing precariously at the edge.
“Why not? If the squid eats me then at least I don’t have to do any of the exams.” Without another word, he dove head first into the murky water.
“Oh Merlin, he’s gonna get himself killed.” Pandora gasped.
“Do you think if he kicks it, we’ll also get out of exams. For mourning, ya know?” Dorcas peered into the lake.
“Maybe we will, but you’re the one who dared him. I don’t see how that gets much sympathy. It's basically second degree murder.” Regulus smiled.
“He would’ve done it even if I didn’t make the bet.” Dorcas groaned.
“It’s too late. The blood’s on your hands.” Regulus shrugged, walking away from the lake and resting against a nearby tree.
“Do you have to be so morbid, Reg?” Pandora followed after him.
It was only a matter of moments before Barty’s head bobbed back up to the surface.
“Did it!” He was gasping and out of breath.
“No you didn’t.” Evan laughed, helping Barty out of the lake. “You were hardly down there for three minutes.”
“I just swam fast.”
Dorcas shook her head. “I doubt it. You couldn’t swim that fast if your life depended on it.”
“Is that a dare?” Barty seemed ready to jump back in.
“No! No more dares with you! You need to give me my winnings for the last one.”
“C’mon Meadows! We could make it a race.” Barty grabbed for her arm to pull her in but Dorcas was quick enough to move out of his reach.
“I’ll do it if you do.” Evan elbowed Regulus. The sun had been beating down on him and he was itching to dive in the water despite the remaining ice.
Regulus shook his head. “I don’t like to swim much.”
“Ooo yes! Get in Reggie!” Barty targeted his next victim. “The three of us can race since Meadows is being a prat.”
Dorcas stuck her tongue at Barty. “Dora and I can judge your race.” She took a seat next to Pandora.
Regulus sighed but pulled off his jacket. The three boys lined up on the edge of the water.”
“Ready…set…go!” Pandora and Dorcas called in unison.
Evan jumped in and the chill of the water bit deep into his skin. Still, he preferred it to the heat of the sun. Evan started pulling himself through the water. He wasn’t the strongest swimmer but he was excited for the challenge. He could feel one of the other boys pull ahead, but he was neck and neck with whoever was left. He pushed himself harder, trying to gain a lead. They had decided to race to a large sheet of ice that was a few meters from the shore and back. Evan had just brushed the tip of the ice with his fingers when he could feel the other boys already heading back. He was determined not to lose. The freezing water was gnawing at his fingers but Evan didn’t mind he just pushed on.
At last he felt the shore and pulled himself up onto the bank. Pandora and Dorcas were giggling and clapping.
“So,” he tried to catch his breath. “Who won?”
“Regulus, by a mile. But at least you beat Crouch.” Dorcas laughed.
Evan could see Regulus who was already on shore, attempting to expel some of the water from his robes, crack a grin.
“I thought you said you weren’t much of a swimmer, Reg?” Barty said, clearly out of breath.
Regulus shrugged. “I never said I was bad, just that it wasn’t my thing. Besides, you two weren’t much of a challenge.”
Barty was just getting out of the lake and sent a large splash at Regulus which in consequence hit both the girls as well.
They gasped as the cold water splashed against them. A mischievous look passed between them and they ran at Barty who had finally made his way next to Evan on the shore. The girls pushed both of them backwards into the freezing water. Evan’s instincts were quick enough that he grabbed Dorcas’ hand and pulled her in with him.
Pandora stood on the shore laughing at them and didn’t see Regulus coming up behind her to push her in as well.
Pandora shrieked as she plunged into the freezing depths. “Not fair!” She came up gasping for air. “It’s too cold, help me out.” She stuck her hand out to Regulus.
He must have known what she was planning because he just sighed and took her hand, letting her pull him back into the water.
They all spent the better half of the afternoon swimming around the lake. By the time they got out, they were shivering and Evan was worried they would catch a cold.
It was the week before exams when Dorcas came flying into the library waving a large envelope. They all had their faces nearly glued to the books in front of them but were startled by her sudden arrival.
“She finally sent them! Look!” She sat herself down in the middle of the table between Evan and Pandora and slammed the envelope down in front of her. This earned a rather disapproving hush from the librarian but none of them could be bothered to mind her, photographs had spilled from the envelope.
Quickly, they all started grabbing and examining them. Evan grabbed a photograph that had slid nearest to him and flipped it over. The picture was from his and Pandora’s birthday. It showed Him and Pandora sitting behind the ugliest cake he had ever seen. Dorcas was squished next to Pandora, one arm around her in a hug the other hand holding a party blower to her lips. Between Evan and his sister, Regulus was standing politely, his Party hat slightly askew. Barty was on the other end next to Evan, taking a swig of his butterbeer with one hand and aiming his wand to activate the camera with the other.
Evan grinned at the memory
“Look at how petrified you were!” Barty held out a photo in front of his face. It was another from his birthday but this one showed him and Pandora standing just outside the doors of the come and go room. Pandora was smiling at the surprise while Evan looked as though he had seen a basilisk.
Evan laughed and rolled his eyes. “I had every right to be afraid of what I might've found in that room.”
“When has there ever been anything dangerous in the come and go room?” Barty joked.
The night after their first exams Evan was pacing around the dorm floor. “I could’ve sworn I added too much flobberworm mucus.” He was retracing his steps through every exam he had taken that day.
“Relax, we’ll find out tomorrow if you did.” Barty, much to Regulus’ dismay, lay sideways across the other boy’s bed.
“But we won’t get our results until midsummer?”
“Don’t need ‘em, old slughorn will drop dead after trying your potion if you added too much of the mucus.”
“What? But we weren’t making anything close to a-”
“He’s not going to die, Evan.” Regulus sighed from his desk. “The worst that would happen is that your potion would be too thick. Flobberworm mucus doesn’t have any of its own magical properties.” He didn’t even bother to look up from his writing.
“You’re no fun, Reggie.” Barty groaned. When there was no reaction, he leaned over to see what Regulus was doing. “What are you writing anyway?”
Regulus quickly moved to cover the page but it was too late.
“Dear Siri- Reg, why are you writing to Sirius.” Barty’s tone changed.
“I’m not, now go away.” Regulus slammed his notebook closed.
Barty eyed him. “That clearly said Sirius on it.”
Evan moved over to sit next to Barty, forgetting about his previous worries. “Chill out, Bat. Reg doesn’t have to tell us if he doesn’t want to.” He paused. “But I mean, you do know you can tell us anything, right?”
Regulus considered for a moment before he nodded. “Before you freak out, it’s not a letter because I’m never sending it. I sent him enough letters during his first year, none of which he ever replied to. So I decided if he didn’t care enough to write, why should I?”
“But you are-”
Evan smacked Barty. “Shhh, let him speak.” He hissed.
“So I decided to stop sending him letters and well, not sending them had been easy, I haven’t quite been able to stop writing them just yet.”
“That’s ok, Reg. There’s nothing wrong with writing letters.” Evan reassured him. “Right, Bat?”
Barty huffed under his breath. “Unless they’re meant for a total prat.”
“Barty! It’s his brother!” Evan argued.
“No. We are his brothers. I don’t see why he cares so much about a bloke who doesn’t even look twice when we pass him in the halls. He doesn’t need Sirius, he has us.”
“It’s not that easy! You would know if you actually had a sibling.” Evan yelled at him.
“What did you say?” Barty’s voice was empty.
“You wouldn’t know what it’s like to lose a sibling because you never even had one.” Evan wasn’t sure where his anger had come from but he needed Barty to understand.
“So much for ‘brothers’ I guess.” Barty stormed off.
Evan was struck with realization. “Bat, wait. I didn’t mean-” The door to their dormitory slammed shut.
“That was a bit harsh, Ev.” Regulus said.
“I was defending you! And I wasn’t wrong, he doesn’t even have a clue what it’s like to lose a sibling.”
“And you do? Last I checked, you and Pandora were getting along just fine.”
“But I almost-”
“Almost isn’t the same. I’m going to bed. I think you should too. Don’t go chasing him, it’ll only make it worse.”
Evan listened to Regulus and went to sleep. Over the last week of the school term, Evan tried to apologize to Barty every chance he got, but it got him nowhere. Even as they boarded the train to head home, Barty would hardly meet his eye.