Broken Horses
It was on the train to Hogwarts in his 6th year that Barty realised something dangerous. He was in love with Evan. Barty had always loved hard and fast before moving on. Jumping between people too quickly to even learn their names, but Evan didn’t deserve that.
He and Evan were alone in the train carriage, Pandora was late (as per usual— one day that girl would miss the train all together), Regulus would usually be here but had prefect duties, and Dorcas has managed to find McKinnon.
“Evs,” Barty said, flopping dramatically down onto Evan’s lap, as he was one to do.
“Bart,” Evan responded.
“I have had an epiphany.”
“Have you now?” Evan smirked. Running his fingers through Barty’s hair.
“I’m going to come up with a new nickname for you. Everyone calls you Ev.”
“Everyone calls you Barty.”
“That’s because it’s my name. Besides, I trust you can come up with some grossly mushy name in French. And I promise I won’t ask Reg what it means,” he said that last part with an exaggerated wink.
“tueur de coeur ou voleur de coeur,” Evan muttered.
“I love it when you speak French,” Barty said. He really had not meant too. It had just slipped out. Barty sprung up from Evan’s lap to avoid any awkwardness.
“Come on, Rosie. We’re going to go bother Reg on his prefect rounds,” he said with as much nonchalance as he could muster.
“Rosie? Really?” Evan said, following him out of their train car with a soft smile dancing on his lips.
—————————
The five of them were once again lounging around Evan, Barty and Regulus’ dorm when Regulus announced they would be crashing a party.
“With Quidditch season starting up again they’ll be having a party for every game they win,” Pandora mused.
“And it will be a fantastic opportunity to get Cas and McKinnon talking,” Barty said with a dramatic wink.
“Twat,” Dorcas mumbles, ears turning a faint red.
“I’ll come. Clearly Barty will, so that includes Ev-“
“Oi! I don’t go everywhere with him,” Evan cut Pandora off. The others just gave him a flat stare as if to say ‘you’re sure of that?’
“Yeah you do, Rosie. Where I go you go, and where you go I go,” Barty said. He held Evan’s gaze until he was sure his face was bright red.
“All right. We’re crashing a party!” Dorcas said.
Regulus is able to get them into the party, though he doesn’t explain how he knows the password. Evan and Barty go straight to the drinks table, determined to have all the free alcohol, despite both being filthy rich. They spot McKinnon pretty quickly with her stark blond hair, bright red flared jeans and equally bright lipstick (muggle fashion, Evan will never understand), and usher Dorcas towards her.
“McKinnon,” she said, putting on her ‘trying to seem cool and intimidating’ voice.
“Marlene, please. It’s a party,” she said, blushing profusely.
“We’ll go at get you guys some drinks,” Evan offers.
“You can’t drink everything at the bar, you two,” Dorcas chastised lightly.
“Looks like Sirius has some drinking Competition. Speaking of, is baby black here with you?”
“Oh yeah. Reg is right…” she trailed off. Realising that Regulus had, in fact, disappeared.
“Meh. I just promised Sirius I’d check. Anyway, you’re a brilliant chaser, yeah? Who’s your dream team to play for? I’m a beater, so obviously it’s the dream-“
Evan tuned them out after that. He really couldn’t care less and his mission of getting the two girls talking had clearly been a success.
The next song started playing. Muggle. Evan bobbed his head with the base line. Barty was clearly more enthusiastic (and more drunk), swaying around and singing at the top of his lungs.
“Can’t sleep cause my bed’s on fire. Don’t touch me, I’m a real live wire,” he sang. It was a rather fitting song, Evan thought as he watched his best friend get a little too lost in the song. Bumping into Pandora, who had been talking with Lily.
A few hours past, and somewhere between drinks numbers 5 and 7, Evan had been dragged by Dorcas into the little circle of remaining people. This consisted of the Marauders, Lily, Marlene, Mary, Dorcas, Pandora, Regulus, Barty and Evan himself. The Marauders were sat partly on top on each other on the sofa, with two of the girls at their feet. Evan and Barty were sharing one love chair and Marlene and Dorcas shared the other. Regulus and Pandora were on the floor.
“I propose a game,” Mary said.
“Is it truth or dare? If so, no trying to snog Lily as a dare, James,” Marlene said.
“Oh, Prongs. Your plan has been thwarted. What ever will you do?” Sirus joked.
“I told you guys it’s not like that anymore. I’ve grown up. We’re just friends. Unless...” He said with a smirk, earning more laughter from the group. Aside from Regulus, who just scolded. It wasn’t a secret between them that Regulus hated James and his grand gestures always disrupting meals.
“I will knee you in the balls, Potter,” Lily said, smiling despite herself.
“As long as everything remains within this group and no one is made uncomfortable,” Remus cut in.
They grab a bottle to spin and start the game. As it was Mary’s idea, she spins first.
“Pete. Truth or dare? We’ll start of light, don’t worry,” she said.
“Truth?”
“Ah, the cowards way out, huh? Do you fancy anyone in this room?” Peter looked around, eyes scanning everyone.
“I though I used to, but not really,” Peter said.
“Oh, Wormy. You mean my feelings have been unrequited all this time?” Sirius joked. Earning a barking laugh from James and a chuckle from the others.
“Ok, Peter. You spin next,” Mary said, regaining control of the game.
The game goes on for a while until it lands on Barty.
“Crouch!” Marlene said from Dorcas’ lap.
“That’s my name. Don’t wear it out,” he said with a wink.
“Truth or dare?”
“While I’d love to pick dare, I don’t think I can stand to do anything.”
“You can stay sitting for this,” she said.
“Oh no,” Evan muttered.
“Please give Mr Rosier here a little smooch,” she grinned.
Barty turned on Evan’s lap, in an attempt to face him, and ended up straddling him.
“This fine, Rosie?” Barty asked, face already very close to Evan’s.
“Yeah, sure, it’s just a game,” Evan said, sounding not at all convincing.
Barty craned his neck slightly down and planted a closed mouth kiss on Evan’s lips. It lasts much longer than it really needs to, but eventually Evan pulls away.
“Est-ce que c'était tout ce que tu pensais que ce serait?” Regulus asked, looking bemused (“Was that everything you hoped it would be?”).
“Mieux, le mieux,” Evan replied (“Better”).
Barty quickly pecked his lips again, “oh, sorry. I didn’t— I don’t know why—”
“It’s fine, Barty. Anyway, it’s your turn to spin now.” He does, and just like that, the trance was broken and the game continued.
——————
“Ok. Bed time for me,” James said, standing up and knocking a half asleep Peter off his shoulder.
“I second that,” Peter said, grumbling about being woken up.
“Pfft, lightweight,” Marlene said, looking sadly at Dorcas.
“We’ll see you lot again, right? You’re more fun than I was expecting.”
Regulus left quickly, whereas Evan and Barty had to take a bit of time to pull themselves out of the chair. When they made it up to their dorm, they fell straight into Barty’s bed. They hadn’t been sharing as much this year for reasons Evan couldn’t explain.
When Regulus stumbled back into the dorm, hair uncharacteristically messy, Evan and Barty didn’t say anything. But when, the next morning, Regulus found himself with a Gryffindor tie rather than his usual Slytherin one, they just had to say something.
“Regulus Arcturus Black,” Regulus looked up, looking all most sheepish.
“Who’s tie is that?” Evan asked. Regulus’ face went beat red.
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Have you been snogging a boy from our rival house?” Barty asked.
“No,” Regulus said too quickly.
“Oh, Evan. They grow up so fast,” He said, making a stunned motion.
“Our dear Reggie has been deflowered,” Evan continued, flailing dramatically into Barty’s arms.
“You two are arses.”
“And what lovely arses we have too,” Barty said, slapping Evan’s ass.
The room is filled with the laughter of three teenage boys, who’s only worries are boys and who snogged who.
——————
“Reg,” Barty said, pulling Regulus aside after a class a few days later, “Regulus, I have a problem.”
“Of course you do. And how can I help?”
“Evan,” Barty said, like this was an answer.
Regulus stared at him for a second before his eyes widened in realisation. “Fucking finally,” he said.
“Are you going to help me, or what?” Barty asked.
“Barty. If you finally got together then good for you, but I can’t help with anything after that. I’ve never dated anyone.”
“What about your Gryffindor boy? Actually— that’s not the point. What do you mean we’ve finally gotten together? My problem is that I fancy him and he’s never going to fancy me back.”
Regulus all but facepalms.
——————
Regulus had been sneaking out more and more to meet with his Gryffindor boy, who Barty had loving called Regulus’ ‘boy-toy’ only to receive an absolute spraying from Regulus. He had started to distance himself from his friends and shutting down any attempts at them trying to help him. This got more pronounced as the Christmas holiday grew closer and Death Eater attacks became more and more frequent.
Barty always stayed at school during the Hollidays, not having anyone to really go back to. Evan had written his parents asking if he could stay to continue his studies, and despite having finished his OWLs not having NEWTs until next year, his parents believed him and let him stay. It was just Evan and Barty in their room now, with Regulus having left earlier that morning.
“Rosie, I have decided what we are doing while Reg is out.”
“We’re getting drunk in the dorm? At midday?”
“Exactly! We’re getting drunk in the dorm!” Barty said dragged Evan to the Hog’s Head where they were less likely to question the ages of customers.
An hour later, after a very successful drip to Hogsmeade, the two boys where sprawled out on the floor of their room, well on their way to being drunk.
Barty waved his hands in the air above them in exasperation.
“We need to work out who Reg is snogging. He’s definitely a Gryffindor. Anything else we know for sure?”
“He’s an insomniac like our Reggie,” Evan said.
“Oh, he’d kill you if he heard you calling him that,” Barty laughed.
“We know who it isn’t. It can’t be any of the Marauders, cause Reg hates them.”
“It could be Lupin. They’re both smart.”
“And Lupin is fine. I saw him changing out of his sweater one day in the library, and wow.”
“Yeah, plus his scars. They add a layer of allure and gruffness.”
“He kind of reminds me of a calming cup of tea.”
“Or weed,” Barty added.
“Yeah.”
“Ok, so it might be lupin. Anyone else?”
“I don’t know any of the Gryffindors in that year. Or ours, for that matter.”
“Finnigan? He’s in our year.”
“Oh yeah, him. I think he’s too much of a pushover for Reg. What about Thomas?”
“There’s no way he’s not straight.” Evan elbowed Barty and the room fell into drunken laughter.
They talked about nothing until they had finished their respective bottles and collapsed into Evan’s bed.
——————
When Evan woke up, it was with the morning glow peaking through his bed hangings, shirtless and with Barty lying on his chest. He thought he was dreaming. It was such a nice dream too. He decided that, seeing as this was a dream, he would trace shapes across Barty’s jaw.
“Mornin’. Fuck, how much did we drink?” Barty grumbled, rolling further into Evan’s chest.
Oh. Oh, this wasn’t a dream.
“Barty. You have to get up now,” Evan said reluctantly. Really, he didn’t want Barty to move. But he also didn’t want to cause an uncomfortable conversation and his inevitable rejection later.
“But Rose, you’re just so comfy and I’m too hungover,” Barty whined.
“We don’t really have to do anything today, I guess,” Evan said, because he loved making himself suffer apparently.
They lay there for most of the morning and into the afternoon.
“Barty. We’re getting food.” Again, Barty just grumbled.
“C’mon, Barty. Se réveiller. I’m hungry,” With that, Barty jumped up, then realised how fast he had moved and sat back down. They meander down to the kitchens, requesting some sandwiches, fruit, tiramisu and tea before head back up to their room.
The next few days pass almost exactly the same as the first. Sleeping until mid day (still in Evan’s bed), drinking until dusk (though considerably less than on the first night, as to not be so hungover the next day), and eating food retrieved straight from the kitchens. While Barty was the one making plans— he decided they would be spending the Monday up a tree for a change— Evan found that he could get Barty to do pretty much whatever if he threw the odd French in there, or said it with enough force.
A week into their holiday Evan and Barty where sat on the floor once again. They had decided to take a crack at getting some charms homework done but had quickly given up, planning on copying Regulus’s inevitably immaculate essay.
They where sitting far closer than was probably necessary. Evan stared into Barty’s dark eyes. Just watching as they sparkled. His eye darted down to Barty’s lips. His sharp cupid’s blow and rough texture. Oh, how Evan wanted to run his finger on them. He looked back up to Barty’s eyes, which seemed to be trained on Evan’s with a laser focus.
Barty lifted his hand, placing it on Evan’s neck.
“Rosie?” He murmured. Evan leaned in, closing the gap.
Evan has kissed Barty before, about four months prior at a party. Though it nothing compared to what was happening now. He’d seen Barty snogging girls at parties or in abandoned classrooms, practice that had clearly payed off. He was moving his mouth like he knew exactly when Evan wanted, responding to his own moments perfectly.
Evan opened his mouth and Barty’s tongue slipped inside, devouring everything. Barty kissed like he did everything. With his whole being.
“Putain d'enfer,” Evan swore when Barty pulled away to catch his breath. Barty closed the gap between then again, faster this time.
“Fuck Ev,” Barty sighed into his mouth.
When they pulled apart again, Evan giggled. “You really like me speaking French, huh?”
“I can’t even be embarrassed at this point, yeah, I do.”
“You and Reg’s Gryffindor boy-toy would agree, from what I’ve heard,” He said, making Barty laugh.
“Merlin, Reg would have your head on a spike for calling him a ‘boy-toy’.”
“Good thing he isn’t here then,” Evan said with a wink, before kissing Barty again. Barty shuffled forward and into Evan’s lap, before continuing the snogging.
“You’re my boyfriend now, right? This isn’t just a ‘friends that happen to make out’ thing?” Evan asked. He had forget to check with Barty between all the kissing.
“Our bond is too deep to be encompassed with simple words. I ask you to tell me every terrible thing you ever did, and let me love you anyway. And be my boyfriend while you’re at it.”
“Barty, did you just quote Edger Allan fucking Poe to me?!”
“Yeah, Reg gave it to me to read.”
“You can read?” Evan mocked.
“I have top grades in almost all our classes, only person better than me in our year in potions is Reg. And Pan is better at Divination. But other than that—”
“Sure you do, love,” Evan said, cutting off Barty’s protests with a kiss.
The next day went, once again, much the same as the last few, though now with far less talking. Catching up for all the lost time they spent thinking the other didn't want them.
Evan was lying on his back, Barty propped up above him, kissing a trail down his neck.
“Ok? Just tell me to stop yeah?” Barty said, running his hands up Evan’s torso.
“Fuck, yeah, it’s ok,” Evan managed as Barty did away with both of their shirts.
Barty bit down on Evan’s shoulder, earning a soft sound from him. Barty lifted himself up slightly to take a breath, in which time Evan saw a chance and took it. He took Barty by the waist and flipped them over so Barty was now sprawled out on his bed. Evan placed his hand around Barty’s skeletal neck. Despite being a relatively reserved, almost kind person by nature (though the kind part was disputable), Evan was not immune to the raspy moan that he pulled from Barty.
“Fuck, Ev,” Barty sighed.
“This is ok? Tell me if it’s not.”
“Definitely ok.”
Evan applied a little bit more pressure to Barty’s neck and kissed him hard. Barty’s hands moved down Evan’s back as he kissed back. Biting down on Evan’s lips, who had to move his hand to save from crushing Barty’s windpipe. Barty whimpered at losing the contact. Evan didn’t need much more encouragement (and neither did his cock). He flipped Barty over, kissing and biting his way down his spine.
——————
They lay in bed, in their mess until it got too hard to ignore it anymore. They cleaned up and made their way down to the kitchens, getting the usual.
“Care for a round two?” Barty asked a few hours later. They had managed to get their charms essay done and had a celebratory drink.
“Fuck yes. Though you’ll have to give me a moment. I don’t have your stamina, love.”
“You were the one doing most the work,” Barty winked.
“You’re welcome to have a go. I certainly won’t stop you,” Evan said, kissing his boyfriend.
——————
“You two better not still be asleep- OH. OH MERLIN MY EYES.”
Evan and Barty turned to see a horrified Regulus standing at their door.
“Care the join?” Barty asked, grinning face still half pressed into the pillow. Evan gave him a light slap around the ear. To Regulus’s relief, they where both still mostly clothed, with only Barty being shirtless.
“I need to obliviate myself now,” Regulus said mournfully.
“Aww. You not happy for us Reg?”
“No, no, I am happy for you. I’m just not happy for me or my poor eyes.”
“Your eyes are rather rich, actually. Fucking Black Family Heir,” Evan joked, though his smile quickly fell as he saw how much Regulus recoiled into himself at the title.
“Hey, Reg? Are you ok?” Barty asked.
“Yes,” He said, forcing himself to straighten his back and look them both in the eyes.
“Well, we better head to dinner. I’m famished,” he said and strode out of the room.
“Are you two going to tell the others? They’ll be thrilled we don’t have to watch you pine anymore,” Regulus asked as they walk down to the great hall.
“We weren’t that bad. Well, I wasn’t, and I didn't see Rose pinning until the hols?”
“Barty, that is because you are so unbelievably oblivious,” Regulus deadpanned.
“Oh, you love us,” Barty replied, laughing.
——————
The five of them congregate the library after dinner.
“So, how was you guys’ Christmases? Pan, did you get to see maman ou papa? Or did they keep you with grand-mere?” Evan asked.
“Grand-mère. Fâcheusement. She was her usual self,” Pandora grumbled. She was always far too free spirted for their traditional family.
“Cas?” Barty asked.
“Boy oh boy, do I have news for you,” she said.
“You finally snogged Marlene?” Evan asked.
“Am I the only one who didn’t get to see my partner?” Regulus muttered.
“It’s ok, Reg. You can get your boy-toy to snog you senseless into night. Anyway, Cas, you were saying?” Barty pushed Regulus lightly.
“You pretty much summed it up. But I don’t care, I’ll tell you anyway. It was the winter love story of the century and you all must hear it,” she declared.
“Oh, do tell,” Pandora said.
“So you know how we got talking about Quidditch at that party Reg convinced us to crash? Well, she found out I want to try and get into the Cannons as their chaser after… everything,” she said, sidestepping the notion of the war.
“And she gave me tickets because her brother plays for them. So we got to fly with the whole team after the game! Then I went back to hers and we drank hot chocolate by the fire, and it was too cute the way she puts so many marshmallows in and- wait, I’m getting off topic,” Dorcas giggled and blushed slightly.
“So pretty much we got to talking about some heavy stuff and realised we both liked girls. And, well… one thing led to another and— yeah, so I have a girlfriend now. And she’s fucking amazing,” Dorcas’ face glowed with adoration of her girlfriend.
“Fuck yeah, Cas. I knew you could woo her,” Evan congratulated.
“Oh, she did all the wooing. She said she was too intimated to talk to me because she thought I looked like a goddess” Dorcas said.
“Awww,” Barty and Pandora cooed.
“Anyway, as much as I could talk about my wonderful girlfriend (Girlfriend!!) forever, I’ve noticed you two being somehow even more touchy. Who finally manned up and confessed?” Dorcas asked. Evan and Barty’s faces went red, before glancing at each other and laughing.
“Nothing gets past you, Cas,” Barty said, kissing Evan on the cheek.
“Pussy,” Evan said, looking around to make sure they were still alone in their little cove in the library, then kissing Barty there on the mouth.
“Ok, ok. You two can stop,” Regulus said.
“Prude.”
“I think my boyfriend would disagree,” Regulus retorted. Earning a snort from Dorcas.
——————
Dorcas and Regulus where determined to make the most of their freedom before the school year was over. Pandora, Evan and Barty still had 7th year to go but as Regulus’ parents were pulling him from Hogwarts in order for him to take the mark, he would not be joining them.
“I know none of you want to talk about it,” Regulus started. All the serenity of their conversation drained immediately.
The war. Evan knew what he was going to do. His role in the war was practically etched in stone. He would fight to please his parents and he would protect Barty (and Regulus).
“We’re not going to pretend I’m being pulled out of school for anything other than the war,” Regulus continued.
Dorcas’ face flipped between pity, anger and disgust as she looked at Regulus.
“Reg, you can’t make us not fight. You know how I feel about this,” She said.
“I can’t make you leave but I can beg. Please, Cas. Please leave. Leave England. Leave the war.”
“You know I can’t. But you could leave them… you’re so smart, Reg. You could end this war,” Dorcas pleaded.
“I can’t. You know why I can’t leave them. They need an heir and they will drag one of us back. I can’t do that to him.” There is no question as too who ‘him’ is.
“Ev? Barty?” She asked. Evan and Barty exchanged sad looks.
“We need to protect Reg. And my dad will kill me,” Evan tried to mange a nonchalant shrug but it came out too stunted.
“Barty? I know you hate him but fucking with your dad can’t be the only reason.”
“Where Ev goes, I go. Sorry Cas.”
Dorcas stood up, unable to look at any of them.
“Pan?”
“I wont fight. Not on a battle-field, at least. My child will help end this war. And I need her to live long enough to do it,” She said, looking at something the others couldn’t see. Pandora’s premonitions were good enough that they knew not to argue.
“But Regulus will have a plan. I think. Water. I will help him with that,” Pandora continued.
“Dora? What do you mean by my plan?” Regulus asked.
“You’ll know. And when you need me, I will always come to you.”
“Pan, you too?” Dorcas asked, a broken expression on her face.
She headed back up to the castle, braids bouncing on her back as she walked.
When the others made their way to the Great Hall they were one person short. Dorcas was sat at the Gryffindor table with Marlene. Some of the younger years where eyeing her with suspicion, until James Potter plonked himself down on the side not occupied by Marlene and began to talk like they were old friends.
This cycle continued for the remainder of the few weeks they had left at school. Only seeing Dorcas in classes as she sat with Marlene and her friends, bar one conversation. The last one.
“We need to talk to her. I can’t deal with this anymore,” Evan said.
They planned on cornering her after potions, to try and save their friendship, at least until graduation.
“CAS!” Evan called as everyone piled out of the classroom. Maybe out of habit, or maybe expecting a change of heart from her best friends, she turned.
Barty came around to stand with Evan, Regulus standing by the door. He thought the plan was a waste of time.
’She has morals. We don’t. She won’t be able to, in good concise, kill for him,’ he’d said. But he agreed to try and help anyway. Reg works in mysterious ways.
“Cas,” he said again.
“Evan.”
“This whole, you know, avoiding us,” he said gesturing between them.
“Cas, we want our friend back and, well, it’s not like we’re in the battle now,” Barty said.
“And you know none of us would ever hurt you. Besides, you’re a pureblood. More than that, the Meadows are Sacred 28.” Evan pleads. He really didn't get why she was giving them the cold shoulder.
“Your family aren’t blood traitors. You could convince Marlene to join you.”
“You guys don’t understand, do you?” she said, face no longer holding any potty for her former friends.
“What don't we understand, Cas?” Barty asked.
“They kill people! You will kill people! And Barty, I can almost forgive Reg, I know what his family is like. That it’s him or his brother. But you? You don’t have to. You will kill people and for what? To piss off your father? Attention? Blood purity? Most of that’s just fucking incest. It’s a wonder Reg can stand on his own two feet. You two are okay with killing people, letting people die for that?” She yelled.
“But, Cas. We don’t know those people. We know you,” Evan said.
“And you can’t empathise with them? The person you kill could be someone else’s Barty. Or Pandora. How fucking selfish are you?” She said, pushing past them. “Regulus, open the fucking door,” she said, and he stood aside and she took off towards the Gryffindor common room.
“I told you,” Regulus said, eye brow cocked.
——————
A few days later, days painful absent of Dorcas, the three Slytherin boys were headed to the library to meet Pandora when Sirius stormed up them. His face contorted somewhere between pity and anger. All directed at his little brother.
“Dorcas told me. That you— that you’re joining their side. And— Reg. Why? You know they will always be disappointed in us, Reggie. No amount of effort will ever convince them we are more than just the means to continue a powerful bloodline. We are not and never were their children. They won’t love you for this anymore than they would have loved me.”
“But they did! Sirus, they did love you. You were the heir. You mattered. And now you’re gone and I matter. You know she talks to me? Now that you’re gone,” he said, his mask of neutrality slipping.
“SHE USES UNFORGIVABLES ON YOU!” Sirius yelled, voice cracking.
“ONLY BECAUSE I REMIND HER OF YOU!”
Sirius spun on his heal and ran, Lupin, Potter and Pettigriew on his heels. Potter threw one last look over his shoulder at Regulus, like he was rubbing it in his face.
“S’il vous plaît aidez-moi. Je ne peux pas faire ça sans toi,” Regulus choked out once his brother was, hopefully, out of earshot. Regulus walked quickly up towards their room, only the moment he crossed the threshold did the tears begin to fall.
That was the last time any of them saw Sirius Black.
Regulus sobbed. He screamed for his brother. Barty and Evan even helped him off the floor where he had collapsed and onto the bed.
“I— I cant have lost him. He left and I thought, ‘he’s abandoned me here. He doesn’t care any more. He has James now,’ but he did. And he was waiting for me to leave. But I can’t— he— I’ve lost my brother. For them. I— I can’t be like them. They’re evil,” Regulus sobbed incomprehensibly.
When his tears died down he stood up, strode to the bathroom and locked himself inside. Half an hour later he walked back out. The only evidence of his break down being the slight red rims around his grey eyes.
“You do not speak a word of this to anyone,” he said, addressing his friends. His pureblood mask secured in place one again.
“Of course, Reg,” Barty reassured him.
“My loyalty cannot be questioned. You understand.”
“We won’t breath a word of this to anyone. Promise,” Evan said.