I only have eyes for you

Barty Crouch Jr was not a romantic. No matter what lies Pandora spread. He hated romance, it was a waste of time. Evan Rosier believed in love. He was a dreamer, in contrast to Barty’s totally rancorous outlook on life.

“Don’t you believe in happiness?” He had once asked. Barty had shrugged, and taken another sip of the warm butter beer in his hand. Evan’s eyes rolled and he went back to scribbling.

Barty believed in happiness, of course he did, he felt it every time he was with his friends. He had very few friends, he could count them on one hand. But they were more than enough for him. Regulus, Pandora, Evan (and sometimes Dorcas Meadowes, but she was becoming a big anti-death eater girl and distanced herself from Barty).

He was drunk, on a school night. But he would manage a school day with a Hanover, he had done it before, countless times. The only thing he disliked about drinking, was the lecture he received afterwards from Regulus. Barty was the youngest of his friends, he was bumped up a year when the school decided he was clever enough for it.

He returned back to the dorm, humming a tune to himself. He’d never admit that it was ABBA. Pandora’s music was so catchy, he didn’t know how Evan tolerated it all year round. He would probably smash up her record player.

“Barty!” Regulus scoffed when he fell onto his bed, head landing on Regulus’ knees. He made annoyed sounds and swatted him away, Barty didn’t know when Regulus had started to hate touch so much, but he missed a time when he could sit on Regulus and he would just smile.

“Evan, tell him to get off me!” Regulus whined.

Evan sighed, “Leave him alone, Junior.” Barty hated that nickname, Evan knew. He hated it because it reminded him that all he was and would ever be is an extension of his father. He didn’t want to be anything like his father. That was ultimately why he had been researching and looking into a DeathEater’s lifestyle, what the requirements were and all of that stuff.

Barty jokingly kissed Regulus’ disgusted face, screeching when Regulus scratched his cheek. He skipped to Evan, jumping onto his bed and cuddling up beside him. No, he didn’t believe in love. But he did believe in whatever this feeling was that bubbled in his stomach when he was around Evan Rosier.

“Idiot.” Evan chuckled, running a hand through his soft hair. “You shouldn’t drink so much, you do know that, don’t you?” Un-ignorable worry was laced in his voice as he spoke, his hands wobbling in Barty’s hair.

Barty hummed, not really listening to his words because all he could hear was the hammering of his heart against his chest. He hadn’t felt a feeling like this before. He felt sick, but happy. Very content. Evan was the only person who’d ever made him feel like that. He was sure that Evan knew, maybe he felt it too, but was also too scared to say anything.

“I’m going to the library.” Regulus spoke, in a very ‘all of a sudden’ manner, a smirk growing on his face in Evan’s direction. Evan squirmed under his glare. Regulus was out of the door before Barty could question him.

“The library is closed?”

“It’s Regulus.” Barty couldn’t argue with that, Regulus was a very persuasive boy, always managing to get himself out of trouble. He had a talent for acting innocent, making tears well in his eyes at the perfect moments. It wasn’t a shock to Barty when he met Regulus’ parents and learnt that Regulus was the favourite. He could blame anything and everything on Sirius.

“Barty-“

“Evan-“

They giggled, awkwardly- things were never awkward between them. Barty allowed Evan to speak first, he wasn’t sure when he’d become so selfless. Usually, he’d scoff and speak over the other person.

“Barty,” Evan repeated, and Barty looked up at him, head still resting in his lap. “I think I really like you.” He said, bluntly. Barty hadn’t thought of Evan as one to be blunt. He always, not that he thought about it often, imagined that if he was to confess it would be more dreamy. Evan was a dreamer, after all.

Barty smirked, “You like me?” He watched as Evan’s face fell with worry, he enjoyed making people panic because of him. It was one of his many hobbies. “That’s very cute, Rose.”

“Don’t call me that, I’m not a girl.”

“Oh?” Barty chuckled, “With the way you like me, maybe you are a girl.” He smirked, wider. Watching Evan’s face go red with frustration was more entertaining than Regulus after they lose to Gryffindor (and his brother).

“You’re awful.” Evan dragged his hands out of Barty’s hair, ignoring Barty’s frown and puppy eyes.

Barty rolled his eyes, “Hey, Rosie.” He smiled to himself when Evan responded with a hum, “I’m thinking about something, guess.” He teased.

“Joining the DeathEaters?” Evan sighed, he did not approve of Barty’s plans for as soon as he turned eighteen. But what did he know? Evan’s family wasn’t forcing him to be someone he’d never wanted to be. Evan had something Barty could only dream of, he had choices.

“No, arsehole.” He scoffed, “I’m thinking about whether or not I want you to kiss me, but after that I’m not sure if I want you to kiss me at all.” Barty swore he heard when Evan’s heart fell in to his stomach and when his jaw dropped.

“Barty-“

Before Evan could finish speaking, Barty’s lips were on his and they were kissing. Quickly, he reached up to gently drag a thumb across his cheek. Barty hummed into their kiss, satisfied with Evan’s hands on his face. He didn’t want to pull back, whinging when Evan did pull off of him to breathe.

“You’re pretty.” Barty observed.

Evan smiled, “Idiot.”

Barty shrugged, “I really like you, too.” He said, with a playful wink and a quick kiss on his lips.

Barty Crouch Jr was not a romantic. He hadn’t believed in love until it kissed him on the laps, or, to be more accurate, until he kissed him on the lips. Evan Rosier, the dreamer.