Chapter 7
10:34
omw x
see u soon x
Barty was down the stairs as soon as James saw the message and in his opinion, it gave him way too little time to prepare. Maybe he was overthinking but he was worried. It'd been going so well so far and James didn't want it to be ruined. He fell hard and fast every time and it usually ended in a broken heart. Alex had met him halfway through his first year and James would have have done anything for them within a day of them meeting eachother and they used that to their advantage. And then came Lily and he was so stupid to keep holding out hope that they'd be together like James dreamed about, even though she told him explicitly she wasn't interested. He always got so caught up in his feelings that he forgot what was right in front of him; reality. He wanted to avoid that with Barty, not that he thinks Barty would do anything to hurt him. He just doesn't want to end up hurting himself.
Looking into Barty's eyes he doesn't think he'll have that problem. It helps to have him there, someone he knows won't hurt him even if it's only been a little time.
And even though James knows that Barty could look into his eyes and see the hurt, looking into Barty's reflects the same. He sure he's already hurt. And that helps a bit. That he's with someone who knows how it is to hurt and be forced to be cautious. Even though Barty has two other boyfriends, he knows that he knew them since first year and that the trust had been heavily built up. He has a feeling Barty is finding this as scary as he is. But he's certain it will be alright. He trusts Barty, even with their limited time spent together.
"Hey, you alright?" Barty said, ice blue eyes full of care and worry.
"Yeah, I'm good. Want to get on our way?"
"Sure, can I hold your hand?"
James grinned, entwining their hands. "Of course."
The two made their way through the dwindling path away from Hogwarts and towards Hogsmeade, content and chatting about nothing and everything the whole way. The sun was miraculously out and shining down on them and even though there was still a winter breeze, it was hot enough to not need a coat. It was the perfect weather, almost as if the Earth decided they could have a day off.
Hogmeade was packed with students, the sound of laughter and chatter travelling towards the pair standing at the gates. Everyone seemed to have taken the opportunity to go, it being so close to Christmas. James had already gotten everyones christmas present and Barty had insisted that the books were his Christmas present and that if he dared buy him another one, he really would throw him in the Black Lake.
"Okay where to?" James asked, turning to face Barty. He really was very pretty, his hair a deep brown and eyes the colour of ice. He had silver snake earrings in and his hoodie was just low enough to see the siilver chain reaching his collarbones. The hoodie itself was hung loose on Bartys frame, no doubt someone elses and his ripped black jeans and black converse fit with the outfit well. His hands were adorned with the same rings he had on when they went to the forest and a pink and green bracelet could be seen. Barty was single handedly the most beautiful person he had ever seen.
"Phone shop, bookshop, three broomsticks? Just so we can avoid the queue that's already formed." James nodded still looking at him, transifxed. "Oi Jay, you're supposed to be listening to me not oggling."
James looked back up, happy at the eye contact. "You're gorgeous."
Barty turned a nice shade of pink, lips turning up into a smile. "Thanks, love. You are too. Now come on, I need a phone."
The two made their way to the shops they needed to go to, wading their way through the crowd. The phone store was a success even though it did take quite a large portion of galleons. The store worker transpherred the things from Regulus' phone to Bartys new one and then they set off to the bookstore, having never once let go of eachothers hand.
The bookstore was fairly quiet for the busy Saturday and fourtunately didn't have a queue. It was a small store with books on every surface you could see. But it was still fairly organised and the two found it easy to find the books Barty wanted. He was still a little unsure on letting James buying his books for him but James left no room to disagree. They payed for the large stack of books and put them in a bag with an extendable charm on it that James has no clue how Barty did considering it really wasn't taught until seventh year.
They reconnected their hands and made their way to the Three Broomsticks after that, bickering about who'll pay for lunch. James didn't seem like he was backing down any time soon and by the time they were seated, Barty had given up on arguing any more.
An overwhelming need to be close to him washed over him before he even knew it. He wanted to display as many types of affection as he knew and he was finding it very difficult not to ask James if they could hold hands again. Maybe it was childish but it's Bartys biggest way of showing that he cares. Dorcas had said that its probably because he didn't get much affection as a child, only the occasional hug from his mum. His dad never really like him, even as a child and his mum never really let him go out and make friends. The person who actually introduced him to physical touch was Pandora, the first day they met. She gave him a hug and told him how pleased she was to meet him and Barty was quite confused as an eleven year old with very little knowledge on what affection and attention was.
But since then, he had been really clingy. To all of his friends and boyfriends (when they allowed it). And the urge to be almost unbearable affectionate and clingy was coming in strong.
Before he even had time to think about what he was saying, he'd asked if he could hold James' hand again.
James grinned at that, his honey eyes warm. "Of course." He took Bartys hand in his and traced patterns absent mindedly on the back. "What'd you want to drink?"
"Butterbeer?"
"Food?"
Barty found his face starting to hurt from smiling so much. "Burger and chips, if that's okay?"
"Of course it's okay, Barty. And good idea. I'll be back in one minute, okay?"
"Yeah yeah, the people round the bar say different."
"Aww will you miss me?"
Barty rolled his eyes and lightly kicked James' foot under the table. "Never, now hurry up."
"Ow? Also that's very contradicting, sweetheart." Barty kicked him again, feeling himself start to blush. Sweetheart really is his weakness. "I'm going, I'm going!"
He pulled out his phone for a distraction and wasn't surprised at the group chat blowing up.
SLYTHERIN SKITTLES GROUP CHAT
11:30
{regulus}: y'all are so sweet its actually disgusting
{dorcas}: who the FUCK says yall
{regulus}: I do stfu
{evan}: anyways barty if u read this before we've told you
{evan}: we teamed up with his friends and are in the same pub
{regulus}: EVAN WE DONT TELL HIM THAT TILL AFTER HE COULD GO ON HIS PHONE THEY HAVENT EVEN ORDERED FOOD YET
{regulus}; also does anyone else think James and barty are way too fit to be together?
{evan}: agreed theyre both an annoyingly fit couple
{regulus}: RIGHT???
{dorcas}: pandora stop ignoring us we know u can see the chat
{pandora}: i will play no part in this
{dorcas}: YOU ALREADY HAVE
{dorcas}: u are here with us chatting to pettigrew you are very much a part of this
{pandora}: oh hush he's looking at the texts
{barty}: where tf are u???
{barty}: THE TWO GROUPS PUT TOGETHER IS VERY BIG HOW CAN I NOT SEE YOU
{regulus}: bc we're fucking brilliant
{dorcas}: dont try looking u wont find us
{pandora}: they said dont try looking why are u trying to look?
{barty}: u hush
{barty}: wait did u fucking cloak urself w magic
{barty}: ik exactly where u are LEAVE
{evan}: no x
"You alright?"
"Our stupid friends are nearby." Barty said with a huff.
"Yeah but we expected that, love. We can get them to piss of later." James said, piss off being considerable louder than the rest and clearly to the people he knew were nearby.
"I can feel the magic radiating of where they are. How did I not pick up on it earlier?"
"Me too and you were distracted with the pure hotness infront of you obviously."
"I don't think thats why, darling but whatever you want to believe."
"You're so mean."
A small chuckle escaped Bartys lips, "If you think I'm mean, you're gonna find it hard when you inevitably speak to Regulus."
"Oh he'll love me the second he meets me."
BARTY AND REGULUS CHAT
11:32
no I wont
omfg
AT LEAST DONT LISTEN IN???
"He said he won't."
"Ah covering it up already."
Barty started laughing and soon James began too, at some point forgetting why they were even laughing in the first place. His stomach hurts but just feels so light around James, he knows he can fully trust him with everything and he's only known him about a month. He's only ever had that with his friends, Evan and Reg.
"Merlins balls my stomach hurts." James complained clutching his stomach.
"Merlins balls!?!?"
"Yes."
And that sets them off again and they keep on setting each other off until their food arrives. They eat with small smiles, talking mildly about stupid things. Barty feels their group of friends leave half way through and he assumes James does too by the look of relief on his face.
They finish up and James pays and they set off back to Hogwarts, both trying to be as close to each other as possible but on their way there, Barty had a brilliant idea.
"Jayyyy?"
"Yes?"
"Tell me if I'm overstepping but would you like to stay the night maybe? We can do movie night and smoke and you might end up meeting Regulus and Evan but if you're uncomfortable with it, it's fine. I can get them to leave us alone and you can say no obviously but-"
"I'd like that a lot, Barty." James interrupted, a light blush dusting his cheeks.
"Can I hug you?"
James nodded with a grin, opening his arms and enveloping Barty in a hug. His heart gave a swoop when Barty nuzzled his head in his neck and rested his head on his shoulder. The two stand there embracing for what felt like hours. Hugging Barty was something he never wanted to stop doing.
"Oi, Prongs!" He heard Sirius shout.
For fucks sake.
He half pulled away, keeping an arm around Barty and the other holding his hand. "Hi, Sirius.
Sirius and Remus stopped infront of the two, the both of them smirking. "See you're having a good time."
"Oh fuck off we know all of you were spying the whole time even though I took the cloak."
Barty shot James a confused look that James ignored, too soon to tell Barty about one of his most prized possessions that most people thought didn't exist.
"Yeah apparently Dorcas and Lils knew some spells. But anyways, it's what every good friend would do."
"I didn't spy on yours and Moonys first date.
"That's because you knew better." Remus interjected.
"Yeah yeah whatever. Why are you here?"
"Wondering when you're going to go to the dorms?"
"I'm not, staying the night at his."
"Coolcool."
"Yeah okay I'm gonna go catch up to Lily, wear protection, stay safe, have fun all that." Remus said walking off.
"REMUS! WHAT THE FUCK, REMUS!" James shouted as Barty and Sirius doubled over in laughter. "That's not funny, stop laughing!"
"Its very funny actually." Barty replied.
"You're supposed to be on my side."
"Never said that."
"Hello, Crouch." Sirius said eyeing him suspiciously. James groaned inwardly.
"Hello, Sirius." Barty said, eyeing them with the same suspicion.
"You hurt him or Reg, you're dead."
"You hurt Reg again or James, you're dead."
James saw it then. The anger switch in Sirius' eyes go off. "Piss off or I swear to merlin I will-"
"Okay thats the end of this lovely chat, Sirius go after your boyfriend, yeah?"
Sirius dragged her eyes away from Barty. "Yeah, yeah whatever. Have fun, Prongs, stay safe."
James let out a sigh as Sirius left, playing with Barty's rings. "Sorry about him, she's just Sirius."
"It's fine, James, wanna go smoke in my dorms?"
James smiled, taking his arm away from Bartys waist and switching hands before they both started walking. The walk to Barty's dorm was spent in a comfortable silence, the both of them enjoying just being close to each other.
REGULUS, EVAN AND BARTY CHAT:
19:34
y'all done yet?
ah well you see
I kinda invited him to stay the night sooo
Oh fuck yes
we are allowed to stay right?
yeah he said he didnt have a problem with it
oh my god
can I be mean?
please dont be
I really cant be?
none of u can be
fine.
whatevs
when can we come to the dorm?
whenever?
neither of us care when tbf
u have asked him right?
yes I have
im not that much of a dick reg
hm okay
on our way
"Hey, love, Reg and Evs are gonna come up if thats okay?" Barty said, James looking up at him from where he was lying against his chest and between his legs.
"'Course it is. Hand?" James reached up waiting for Barty to link their hands together, which he did with a smile on his face.
James hummed contently, playing with Bartys rings. He couldn't help it, they were just so pretty. There was a specific snake one that James especially liked, loving to run his fingers down the curves and scales. It seemed bigger than it was which was saying something as it ran down from the start of Barty's finger to the first knuckle. It was just so Barty but also so not Barty to wear and he loved that about it.
The door opened then, James still not tearing his eyes away from their loosely entwined hands.
"Barty it stinks of weed, what the fuck? At least use the fucking spell."
"Oh Regulus cut me some slack. You know I don't know how to cast it."
"Oh fuck off, you could've at least opened a window or lit some of Pandas incense that they so kindly make for us for this exact reason."
"Reg, no one cares. Why hasn't your loverboy³ said hi?"
He finally dragged his eyes away and turned his head towards Regulus and Evan. Regulus had long, black curly hair drifting loosely to his shoulders and storm grey eyes that gave off the impression of being bored but even though his eyesight was a bit foggy he saw the hint of mischief and interest in them. Him and Remus really would be good friends. Evan had sandy hair, long on the top but shaved close to his head everywhere else. One eyebrow was raised and he looked like he was enjoying either what was to come or what was happening.
"Hiya." James said, a small smile on his face.
"Hey, James." Regulus said at the same time as Evan said, "Hello Bartys loverboy³."
Maybe his brain was making it up but Evans sentence didn't really make sense.
"Okay leave him alone now, you said you'd be nice."
"Excuse you? We are being nice?" Evan said, holding a hand to his heart in mock offence.
"I can tell you're going to be rude soon."
"How?" Regulus asked sitting on what James presumed was his own bed, it was much neater than the others.
"You have the glint in your eye, cut it out seriously. You can be rude when he's not stoned out his mind."
"Oi." James said drawing his eyes back up to Barty. He seriously was the most beautiful person he'd ever seen.
"It's true, hun."
"Disagree. But I do wanna watch something, what should we put on?"
"Aristocats!"
"Beauty and the beast!"
"Meet the Robinsons!" They all said at the same time.
James laughed. "Who the fuck likes Aristocats, Evan? And Meet the Robinsons is the obvious choice, sorry not."
"I like Aristocats? It's a good movie? I mean I don't agree with some things in it but it's still a good movie."
"Hmmm. I mean I haven't watched it in years to be fair but Meet the Robinsons will always take second place along with Emperors new groove."
"What's first place?" Regulus asked.
"Cars obviously."
"Now who the fuck likes Cars, James?" Evan said, grinning.
"Me. It's the best. Anyways, wheres my phone? I need to text Lils."
"Here." Barty grabbed his phone off the side and passed it over with the hand that wasn't occupied. "I'll put the movie on yeah?"
"Yeah, Thankyou."
"Anytime, love."
LILY AND JAMES CHAT
13:52
helloooo?
bestie hows it gone?
15:33
this is just plain rude
stop fucking ignoring me omgggg
17:21
BRO
ANSWER ME
pls dont say u let him hit on the first date james
even tho I would accept that as good reasoning to IGNORING UR BSF
19:11
HELLO?????
ur rlly starting to worry me nowwww
19:49
.....hello
HELLO TO YOU TOO MISTER
ANSWERS NOW
well ur rlly dirty minded, we were not having sex
and we've literally just been watching movies
reg and Evan just got here too
okay well I wouldnt put it past u to get railed on a first date
oh fuck off
anyways
what are reg and Evan like?
hot.
very unfairly attractive
Evan is clearly nicer (?) idk
ofc theyre hot everyone you know is hot
and fairsfairs
whats reg like then?
they really arw
and hes just a little more closed off
prly more sarcastic idk
oh no
thats ur type james
oh piss off no it's not
nd u can u not???
thats the person I am on a date withs boyfriend
im sure he wouldnt mind
he'd probably agree too
anyways
have fun
uPDATE ME
yeahyeah
also
would u ever be interested in having another girlfriend?
I dont know?
why?
no reaosn
u are weird omg
but I wouldnt mind
huh
good to know
byeeeeee
vyeeeeeee
see u in the morning/noon
see u in the morning