Only a fool for you

Something that has become increasingly clear to Barty within this past week is that he and his boyfriend are not patient men.

Not that he had ever really thought of himself as patient more so he was just stubborn. If it meant crossing his enemies he could wait for a thousand years but apparently he couldn't even wait 2 seconds before he needed to capture Peter Pettigrew's attention.

It freaked them out a little bit when Peter shut down at the beginning of the week because for all of the ‘out of pocket’ things that Barty has done making Peter retract into his head and almost cry might have just been the worst thing he's done in his life. It also made him think because what if Peter didn't like him anymore or never did at all. It would suck because the majority of the plans that he and Evan came up with to win Pete's heart consist of Peter already feeling something for Barty. But what if he didn't or even worse what if he just felt disgusted.

That was enough to shock both of them into the reality that just because they had come to terms with wanting Peter to join their relationship Peter might not feel the same. It was scary enough to make Barty want to quit because as you may remember he's a damn coward when it comes to Peter Pettigrew.

So yes he had thoughts of just leaving Peter alone swirling through his head the next day when their friend groups melded to hang out by the Great Lake. Well he did until he heard Peter's cute little giggle when Barty joked about Regulus and James’ sex life and he knew that he could never let Peter Pettigrew walk away again.  And if Peter didn't like him now, well that's nothing Barty couldn't fix. 

How hard could it be?

Apparently really freaking hard. 

It had been a week, a whole week! Of him and Ev trying to get to Peter and Barty could count the amount of times that they talked on one hand. It was all because of his idiotic friends. Barty didn't think he could hate people as much as he hated the marauders right now. Every time he or Evan tried to talk to Peter one of the three would swoop in and steal him away. As if they're knights in armor. The pricks.

It frustrated Barty to no end because now Pettigrew was rarely ever alone and on the rare occasions that he was by himself it was never for very long. But man when they were able to get to Peter, he would laugh at Barty's jokes and tease Evan about his hair and he would just fit so perfectly into them that Barty (on multiple occasions) would almost lose his composure and snog him senseless right then and there. However that would be the moment that one of Peter's over involved friends would crash into the perfect bubble that they had built and drag Peter away. It pissed Barty off.

Another thing that pissed him off was the fact that the idiots figured out how irritated Barty got at the sight of them touching Peter and now did it as often as the could just to rub it in his damn face every chance they got. They are all over him and what is Barty supposed to do? Just sit there and be uninterested when they are touching their Peter. He may not know it yet but Peter Pettigrew belongs to Barty Crouch and Evan Rosier. 

“What the hell is wrong with you two.” Evan jumped a little from where he was laying with his head in Barty's lap but quickly covered it up to seem like he was just sitting up. It made Barty chuckle before he turned his gaze back to Reg who looked about ready to kill.

“What'd we do this time?” Evan scooted back to Barty's headboard so that they were now sitting next to each other as they watched Regulus start to pace.

“It's been a week! A bloody week and already my boyfriend and my best mates hate each other. James doesn't hate anyone! Gods why couldn't you guys just play nice for me. I really like him, you know and I don't want to have to choose. Don't make me choose.” Regulus started to helplessly pull at his hair which told Barty that it was definitely time to intervene.

“Woah, woah” Barty hopped off the bed and walked over to reg to pull his hands out of his hair and sit him down. “Alright what's really this about?”

“Why doesn't he like you guys?” Barty had to think for a second before answering, not knowing if now was the right time to tell Regulus that they both fancy his boyfriend's best mate and he seems to have an irrational problem with it. But before he could even stumble out a lie Regulus kept talking. “Because if he doesn't like you guys then he won't like all of me. I mean we're all basically cut from the same cloth. So what happens when he figures that out?” 

“Hey, Potter is absolutely obsessed with you Reg and that won't change, I swear it.” Barty comfortingly rubbed his thumb across Reggie's knuckles cause he knew it would calm him.

“Also bold of you to assume that you're anywhere near our level.” Evan was at their side now and gently nudged Reg's shoulder with his.

“Oh piss off” Regulus nudged (although nowhere near as gentle as Evans) his shoulder back. “Why were you guys fighting in the hall?” Regulus mumbled while not holding either of their eye contact.

That however was not a story that Barty wanted to tell Regulus. It would probably only lead to having to confess that they liked Peter. Which wouldn't be a problem this thing wasn't so new, he definitely was not ashamed of the feelings he felt for Pete but there were too many variables for him to ju-

“Potter needs to learn to keep his hands to himself.” Alright so I guess we're having this conversation.

You see if you asked Barty it was not their fault what happened today in the hall with Potter. It had been one of those rare days where Peter had been heading off to the greenhouse completely alone. So Barty and Evan had promptly interrupted his path and made him chat with them. They had been talking about how Peter was trying to teach himself a new charm since that was his second best subject and they had just started discussing the new defense against the great arts teacher's weird accent when Potter showed up from out of nowhere.

“Hey Wormy” Potter looked between the three of them before wrapping his arms around Peter's middle and pulling him in before leaning his chin to his shoulder. He's never wanted to punch someone more in life. Which is saying a lot because he's a Slytherin for god's sake. He wants to punch the people in the commons on the daily.

“Potter” Barty's eyes widened a little at the venom heard in his boyfriend's voice. Sure he knew that Evan was a little possessive and the way the marauders touched Peter irritated him but this was different…Evan is angry. It's incredibly attractive. God, he loves his boyfriend.

Potter simply looked up from where his hand was playing with Peter's fingers to give Evan a cheeky smile and a wink. He winked. Barry wanted nothing more to rip Potter's filthy hands off of Peter, their Peter. To be honest Barry isn't entirely sure that he's not going to.

“Shouldn't you go and find your boyfriend to be all over?” Barty crossed his arms and tried not to grind his teeth at the fact that James is still wrapped around him. Though the mention of Regulus made Potter's hand twitch, Barty supposes it's a little victory.

“Shouldn't you two go and find somewhere to be all over each other? Ya know since you're dating.” The hell does Potter think he's doing? He's saying it as if he's reminding them off it which is pretty idiotic, as if they'd forgotten-

“I-I gotta get to the greenhouse. Bye Prongs.” Peter's eyes were casted down to the floor and he was pulling his book as close to his chest as it would go. Barty thought he was just gonna leave but he surprised him by mumbling a quiet. “Bye Ev, Bye Bart.” And then he was off and all Barty could think was this is Potter's fault.

“Okay Potter what the hell is your problem.” Barty didn't exactly know what happened but it felt like he blinked and Evan was suddenly pushing into Potter's face. He supposes he should try and defuse the situation since getting into a fight with the best friend of the guy they're trying to woo is not a good idea but to be quite honest… Barty is just so angry.

And really as much as he loves Evan and knows everything about him Barty never could seem to figure how to calm him down, it was something that bothered both of them quite a bit because no matter what they did they just couldn't figure out that one thing about each other.

“You two stay the hell away from Peter.” The way that Potter's voice turned void of any emotion made an honest to god shiver run down Barty's spine but he'd be damned if he let James Potter tell him what to do.

“Yeah or what Potter? You can't be with him every second of the day. We’re gonna get to him eventually.” Barty smirked and blinked his eyes and all of a sudden he and Evan were pinned to the wall. 

Damn, alright Reg, Potter is hot as hell

“Leave him alone or I'll beat you black and blue. I'm not kidding, I don't care if you're Regulus’ best mates. Peter doesn't need this crap, he's been through enough.” Now that seemed to drain Barty of his anger, well at least the one aimed toward Potter because what did he mean? What has Peter been having to deal with? 

“What's happened to him?” At least Evan seemed to be having the same thoughts as him. But instead of answering, Potter simply scoffed and walked away. What an arse.

“So, let me get this straight. You two, both, fancy Peter Pettigrew and that's why you and my boyfriend have been fighting.” Evan nodded his head vigorously as Barty thought that it was cute that Regulus kept calling Potter ‘my boyfriend’ instead of just James. “I suppose I get it. He is a good looking bloke.” 

“Gods we know! He's so bloody beautiful Reg I'm not even joking.” Barty sighed dramatically before dropping his head onto Evan's shoulder who began to caress his hair.

“And the way he talks about the things he loves. I could listen to him for hours, Regulus.” Barty hummed in agreement but to be truthful he wasn't really paying attention, he was falling asleep.

“Alright, alright, please stop gushing about Pettigrew. I already had to sit here for an hour listening to that story because you wouldn't shut up about him and get to the part with my boyfriend.” Both Barty and Evan chuckled at the dramatic eye roll Regulus gave them.

“Well we can talk about how my Herbology grade is in the gutter. The teacher tried to get me to get a tutor but I got out of it.” Barty was sorta mumbling his sentence because of the sleepiness that was creeping up on him, which seemed to be flung out the window as Evan pushed him off his shoulder.

“What the hell Ev?” Barty huffed before sitting up right and being met with two pair of eyes looking at him like he's stupid

“What?”

“Gods you're dense.” Regulus flicked Barty on the forehead then turned to Evan. “Alright I'll distract James but you're on your own with my brother and Lupin”

“Alright what's happening?” 

“Sweetheart you're getting that herbology tutor. It also just so happens that I now need a tutor for Charms”

<3—--------------—-----------------------—---------<3

Barty was nervous. Well technically he is also excited, he is so excited that he thinks he might just vibrate right out of his skin because they get two hours of Peter all to themselves at the end of everyday. But the best part is that there's nothing those three idiots can do about it because they are not allowed to interfere with the students and their tutor. He really is so lucky that Evan is smart enough for the both of them.

It was fairly easy getting their teachers to agree that Pettigrew be their tutor, the hard part was getting them to agree not to tell Peter who his students will be.

 Which brings him to why he's nervous. Well really there are two reasons. Because well there is still that little doubt in his head that Peter might not actually want them. Sure while Pete was talking to them he fit so perfectly that Barty didn't know where they ended and he began, there was always that shatter when one of his friends would swoop in and Peter would look so relieved, like he wanted to be saved. Which is something that Barty just doesn't understand because he knows that Peter wanted to talk to them, he could tell but then they would come in and it would be as if Peter had been doused with cold water. 

The second reason is that this year Peter has only seen them in small increments. What if now that he has to see them everyday he gets tired of them? What if Barty really can't win him over? He doesn't think he can do the just friends thing with Peter. It was bad enough doing it with Evan but now it's not just his feelings that will have to be pushed down if this thing with Pete doesn't work. It has to work. 

“Alright let's go get our man Ev.” Evan chuckled and grabbed Barty's hand pulling him into the greenhouse which is where Peter patiently waited while twirling his wand through his fingers. Oh good he's facing away from the door.

“Hiya teach, what are we learning?” Barty tried to smile as charmingly as he could as he purposely pushed into Peter's space from behind.

Peter pushed him away before gritting out 

“You didn't.” 

“Oh yes we did. Looks like you'll have to be in here with us undisturbed for 2 whole hours.” Evan whispered into Peter's ear while running his fingers up Pete's arm.

“A-alright” Peter clears his throat and Barty thinks that it's the cutest thing in the world. “Alright well sit down and we'll get started”

“Yes sir” They both said in sync while sitting their butts right in front of Peter.