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Barty and James used to be best friends way before James left for Hogwarts and met Sirius.
Regulus and Sirius used to be best friends way before Sirius left for Hogwarts and met James.
Watching Sirius and James become best friends, always being loud and happy and completely forgetting about the two of them all together is hard, and when Regulus notices Barty staring at James the same way he’s staring at Sirius, he knows in his gut that Barty will understand what he’s feeling.
“Being replaced too?” Regulus asks the boy next to him. They had both just been sorted into Slytherin, and although it’s supposed to be a happy moment, they’re both miserable.
“I think I was replaced last year but now he’s just throwing it in my face,” Barty mumbles to the boy sitting next to him.
Regulus felt those words deep in his chest, and it stung. While he was at home, feeling miserable and alone and missing his brother, Sirius was making new friends and forgetting all about him. To make things worse, it looks like this guy was also at home, waiting to go to Hogwarts so he can be with his friend again, only to get here and realise he’s been replaced.
This doesn’t sit right with Regulus. What makes James so much better than him? Sirius is his brother. They’ve been best friends since he was born… how could that not be enough?
“Yeah,” Regulus mumbles sadly, looking away from the Gryffindor table. “I’m Regulus.” he says as he offers his hand to the boy next to him.
Barty looks over to the Gryffindor table once more, seeing James look over at him. He ignores him, looks away and shakes Regulus’ hand.
“I’m Barty,” he tells the kid next to him. “I think we’re going to be good friends.”
“Looks like we’re both in need of a new one anyway,” Regulus replies dryly.
Ever since then, the two of them have been inseparable. Barty was wild, and he brings out that side of Regulus. They know each other better than anyone, and as James and Sirius live their lives while forgetting they once had a best friend before each other, Reg and Barty can’t seem to forget.
They do their best though, and remind each other that they don’t need James or Sirius.
Until Regulus falls for James.
Barty can’t understand why everyone leaves him. Chooses others over him every time.