The great plan
“You think I should tell them about my brilliant plan?” Evan asked Dorcas as they sat in the common room “Yes, I need them to know how delusional you are as well” Dorcas chuckled leaning back in her seat “Very well” Evan stepped up onto the coffee table, as if he was starring in a terrible rom com. He banged his chest, before clearing his throat “Gentlemen. And others” he winked looking at Dorcas “I have a very important announcement to make” he said “Oh just get on with it Rosier, some of us have places to be” Barty complained “Alright, I have decided that to make this year a bit more exciting for myself, and for you guys as well. I am going to seduce a Gryffindor” he explained making Regulus chuckle “what? Why? And who?” Barty asked “Because I think it'll be fun, and my target is going to be Mr. James Potter. The only reason for that, being that I just want to try it out” Evan said, stepping down from the table, having finished his dramatic speech.
“Even though I much applaud your confidence, and creativity on the matter. Isn't Potter and that Evans girl a thing or did I miss something?” Barty asked “They're not a thing” Regulus muttered, making them all turn their eyes on him. “Sirius mentioned something about Potter desperately pining for Evans over the last years, but never anything about her liking him back. Which means the odds are in your favour my friend” Regulus patted Evan on the back, ignoring the aching feeling in his chest as he said the last words.
“How exactly are you planning on seducing Potter? Have the two of you ever even spoken?” Regulus asked Evan, as they sat at lunch “No we unfortunately have not had the chance. But you see, I am going to take that to my advantage” Evan explained, with great enthusiasm
“It will add to my mystery, when I do end up speaking to him. Therefore he will find me more intriguing and fall hopelessly in love with me” This made Regulus let out a chuckle “Not gonna lie, I am very excited to see how this is going to pan out” Regulus said “You, my friend, just earned yourself an invitation to our wedding” Evan said “Look at him mate, I think you need more than mysteriousness to get him interested” Barty said, looking over at the Gryffindor table.
There he sat, simply minding his business. Having absolutely no clue about what the four Slytherins were conspiring about. He also had no clue about how carefree he looked, head leaned on Remus Lupin's shoulder, and the way it made Regulus want to scream.
Regulus had always felt sort of lucky, about the friends he had gotten during his time at Hogwarts. The immediate lump that had formed in his throat, when Sirius had come home after his first year, and wouldn't shut up about his new friends.
Regulus had been absolutely terrified that he might never make any friends. The only friend he had ever had was Sirius, and now he didn't even live in the same house anymore.
The amount of relief he had felt, once he became friends with Barty and Evan couldn't even be described in words.
“No, please Merlin tell me you are not doing what I think you're doing?” Dorcas asked, already disappointed, as Evan was scribbling down on a piece of paper “I am writing out a numbered plan to seduce Potter, Is that what you hoped I wasn't doing?” He asked looking up. Barty snatched the paper out of his hands “Step one: engage in conversation (Preferably about quidditch) step two: Subtly flirt to make him subconsciously fancy me. Evan this is Ridiculous” Barty handed him back the Paper “I have a question. What are you expecting to get out of this little mission of yours? Even if Potter were to fall hopelessly in love, or at least let you get laid, what's the plan after that? Do you actually fancy him?” Dorcas asked “Not exactly. He's fit, very fit. So I think that the plan is to just succeed and see where it takes me” Evan said, and continued writing.
Regulus wondered why Evan would even do such a thing, if he didnt genuinely fancy him. He also felt sort of jealous.
Seeing as Regulus had spent the majority of his teenage years until now, in a constant gender crisis. This had made it hard to think about other things. The thought of romance at all had not even felt like a reality in his head, so he had just come to a sort of peace with the fact that he might not experience it. At least not while at Hogwarts.
The first time that Evan built up the courage to speak to James Potter, Regulus, Barty and Dorcas sat in the front row. They had been out for a walk on a saturday, coincidentally strolling past the quidditch pitch as the Gryffindor team had practice.
They had sat on the stands, pretending to be working on a transfiguration assignment, until the team had a break. Evan had marched right down there, straight up to Potter. The weird thing was, that in a matter of seconds, Evan managed to make him laugh.
Their conversation had lasted a couple of minutes, before Potter glanced up at them in the stands. He flashed a quick smile, before giving Evan a simple pat on the shoulder.
“No but did you see him? I made him laugh, I wasn't even trying to. I had planned for our first interaction to be a bit more serious actually” Evan said, and Regulus wondered why he wasn't able to feel even an ounce of happiness towards his friend.