Snow
Something had happened. Something big. He could feel it.
His best friend was acting strange. Weird. Unusual.
Something really, really serious had happened.
Barty knew this, because his best friend was… smiling.
“Evan,” he whispered to the boy sitting beside him. “Psst, Evan!”
“What?” the other boy replied, grumpy.
“What’s wrong with Regulus?”
Evan rolled his eyes and sat more hunched toward Barty, “What do you mean?”
“Shhh!”
“He’s not even listening!” Evan defended, “He’s not acting weird…”
“Yes, he is!” Barty threw his hands toward Regulus, as if that would explain everything.
“Barty,” Evan said dumbfounded, “He’s just looking out the window?”
“Exactly!” he exclaimed, letting his hands fall, slapping his own thighs in the process.
“Yeah… You’re going to have to explain with words.”
He sighed, slumped down in his seat and groaned, “He’s looking out the window, smiling.”
“So?”
“SO?! He’s smiling at nothing!” Barty shrieked, “What if he’s dying?! What if he’s murdered someone?! Something is wrong!”
“What are you two idiots yelling about?”
Barty and Evan hastily sat up, trying their best to look innocent, but failing.
Regulus raised a brow, “So…?”
Barty couldn’t stay quiet, he had to say something, save his friend, “Are you… dying?”
“What?” Regulus snorted, looking disbelieving.
“You- you’re… acting strange,” Barty explained, “Regulus, you’re smiling! At your own thoughts!”
His best friend frowned, “I’m dying because I’m smiling?”
“Mmhmm.”
Regulus scoffed, “Wait- are you serious?”
“You’re worrying us!”
Evan let out an offended sound, “I’m not worried!”
“You’re not worried about my wellbeing?” The black-haired boy frowned.
“What?” The blond boy sighed, “That’s not- I’m not worried just because you’re smiling.”
“WHY WERE YOU SMILING?!” Barty demanded, slamming his hands on the table.
“Stop yelling!”
“I was smiling because- it’s snowing,” Regulus explained.
A minute passed, and when Barty still couldn’t figure out what snowing was a codeword for he let out, “What.”
“It’s snowing,” Regulus said, as if it was obvious.
“I don’t get it,” he said, frowning, “You don’t like snow.”
“Wha-” his best friend let out offensively, “I like snow. In fact- I love snow!”
“Since when?!”
“Since always?”
“Regulus,” this time it was Evan speaking, “Every time it’s snowing, you’re complaining about it snowing.”
“But that’s only when I have to go outside in the snow!” he responded to the accusation, “I don’t like when I get cold and wet. It always melts in my hair and I always end up looking like a wet cat.”
“Then why are you saying that you like snow?”
“Because it’s pretty to look at, it’s all glitter, and bright, and warm… and gorgeous, and kind, and perfect…”
Barty looked to his right, sharing a silent agreement with Evan that their best friend was definitely not talking about snow.
“Who are you talking about?” Barty demanded.
“What?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“I’m not talking about anyone!” the black-haired boy widened his eyes, “I’m talking about snow.”
“Yeah, sure. Because snow is just so gorgeous and kind and perfect, and warm?”
“I didn’t say that!”
“Yes, you did,” Evan stated, “Very dreamily, looking all… lovestruck.”
“I’m not- lovestruck.”
“Yes! You ar-”
Barty's words were interrupted by a pair of footsteps coming closer to their table, and around the corner walked James Potter. His tie was shining brightly in the light. He had a stupid smile on his face. What was he doing there?
Barty turned to tell Regulus who was sitting in front of him, but he was already looking at the Gryffindor boy. Having that same lovestruck expression on his face as when he spoke about- snow.
Barty gasped, and pointed, first at his best friend then at the Gryffindor, “Snow! Shit, he’s snow!”
“I’m snow?” said the dumbfounded Gryffindor.
“You’re snow!”
James looked startled, and confused, his eyes moved between Barty and Regulus, who was sitting with his face down in his hands. “How am I snow?”
Barty stood up, grabbing a random book from the table and marching forward, straight at James. He lifted the book and started hitting him with it, “You! Have! Broken! My! Best! Friend!”
“Ow! Ow!” James tried to cover himself with his arms, “OW! What have I done?!”
“Barty stop!”
“You broke him!” said boy growled, pointing harshly at Regulus. “You are breaking him!”
“How have I broken him?!”
“Ohhh, I look forward to what Black will do to you once he finds out,” Barty mumbled, walking back and forth between the bookshelf, imagining the sweet, sweet death of James Potter.
“I-I- wait, you told them?”
This made Barty stop in his tracks, and turn to look at Regulus. “Told us what?”
“No, James,” Regulus sighed, “I haven’t told them.”
“Then why is he punching me?” his voice sounded slightly higher than usual. Good.
“I guess… he figured it out.”
“How?” James quickly walked forward and sat down beside Regulus, shooting glances at Barty to see if the attack would continue.
Regulus sighed, “Iwastalkingaboutsnow.”
“Huh?”
“I was talking about… snow,” he said, “And I guess my mind drifted off a bit, and said some things that didn’t really have anything to do with snow at all.”
“Ohhh,” a dangerous smirk grew on James’ lips, looking far too pleased with this new piece of information, “Soo, I’m snow?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm,” Barty wanted to smash his face into pieces for that stupid happy sound, “Because it snowed the first time we… you know?”
“EW!”
“No! Evan, it snowed when we kissed,” Regulus explained, “Gods, why did you have to formulate it so weirdly.”
Something clicked in Barty’s mind, “Wait. Wait, wait, wait, what’s going on?”
“I was planning on telling you later today,” his best friend said, “But I guess… Me and James are together. Have been, for a week.”
“Oh,”
“Oh my god,” Evan exclaimed, “That’s great! I’m really happy for you!”
“Thanks,” Regulus frowned, “What did you think was going on?”
Barty looked away suspiciously, “Uhm, well- I thought that- I don’t know. That you were just shagging or something, but because you’ve had the most obvious crush on Potter for ages you fell in love and then I sort of expected that he would break your heart… or something?”
“Why would I break his heart? I love him,” Potter said confidently.
“Ewww,” Barty whispered, “You’ve only been together a week and already said the L-word?”
“Wha-” Regulus looked frustrated, “Barty you know that I’ve been in love with him for like a year.”
James looked like a child on Christmas, “A year?”
“Yes, a year,” Regulus rolled his eyes.
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“Yeah, well- it’s a bit embarrassing.”
“No, it’s not!” James denied, “I think it’s sweet. And if it makes you feel any better, I’ve liked you since like my fourth year. I just- didn’t know I actually loved you until recently.”
“That’s disgusting.”
“Shut up, Barty!”
There was one thing Barty didn’t quite understand, “Wait- does- does Black know that you dating his baby brother?”
“Well,” James shrugged, “He was the one who told me I had to confess.”
“What.”
“Yeah, he actually encouraged that we should be together.”
“That’s really weird…”
“I know,” Regulus stated blankly, “I didn’t believe it until I asked Sirius about it.”
Evan nodded, “I think I understand him. You’re happy right?”
“Yes.”
“Good, then we,” he said firmly, looking at Barty, “Are really happy for you. Right, Barty?”
He nodded, “Yes. But you have to tell Dorcas and Pandora today because I need to gossip about it with someone.”
James snorted and looked at Regulus like he’d hung the sun and Regulus looked back, smiling softly, “Yes. I’ll tell them tonight.”
They looked disgusting, but something in Barty betrayed him and a smile crept upon his face. Maybe they’re kind of cute.
Ew.