Manic Monday
“Rosier.”
“Black.”
“Thank you for being available to come in on such short notice. It's nice to see you.”
“Is it? Tell me, do you usually enjoy seeing your friends as suspects in a murder case?” Evan snarks as he adjusts to lean back in his chair. His tone is cocky but the subtle scent of distressed omega bleeds into the room.
Regulus straightens his tie before he sets a bottle of water on the table and pushes it towards Evan before taking his own seat. “They know you are innocent Evan this is just preliminary. We,” He jesters between himself and James, “just want to know what you can remember from that night to see if we can get a bigger picture. We don't think it was you either or any of the other omegas for that matter. We think it would be someone who was following the alphas specifically.”
There was a flicker of emotion that crossed over Evan’s face. It came and was gone before James could fully identify it. He would have to check in with Regulus afterwards to see if he caught it. Evan shifted in his chair again to lean forward towards James.
“Well? Do I have to come with the questions too?” Evan quipped after the long pause.
James flushed and reached into his pocket to fish out his notepad from his robes.
“Right, sorry.” He floundered before finding the page he was looking for.
Regulus closed his eyes for a moment to take a breath. He truly didn't understand how alphas functioned on the day to day. “Lets start at the beginning, yea? Tell us everything you remember from that night.” Regulus said.
Evan smirked, a knowing look playing on his face as he looked between James and Regulus.
“Well, as you probably already know, my parents want me to marry an alpha. Not just any alpha of course but a pureblood, of course.” Evans gives James a wink that has James shaking his head fondly. James knows Evan is all talk, he flirts shamelessly but always picks Barty over anyone else.
Regulus catches the little frown in the corner of James' mouth. James knows how purebloods can be but his own family never put any of those pressures on him. He has been encouraged to find someone he truly loves regardless of secondary gender or blood status. Alpha, beta, omega? Pureblood, half-blood, muggleborn? It has never been a question for James, as long as he is happy his parents would approve.
Evan shrugs at James’s subtle rejection, he would be the perfect type of alpha and pureblood that Evan's parents were looking for. As far as they know Evan has been “fraternizing” with Barty, a pureblood yes but as far as the Rosier family knows he is a beta. Regulus knows the truth though, Barty is an omega.
Society can get behind a lot of different types of relationships but draw the line at omega/omega couples.
It can be the top category on every adult entertainment website but not an acknowledged relationship. Even alpha/alpha relationships have rights for Circe sake. Unfortunately the old, decrepit, alphas in parliament think two omegas wouldn't be able to function in society, completely disregarding the fact that the laws they have put into place have made it that way.
As if things weren’t difficult enough for omegas to begin with, there were laws specifically outlining what an omega can do and what an omega can't do.
Omegas can not own property. They can hold a job, with permission from an alpha or beta in charge of them, but they can not have a bank account in their name. Any medication or potions an omega takes must be approved by the alpha or beta in charge of them as well. From simple things like pain relief to suppressants to life saving surgeries. Everything had to be approved by the alpha or beta in charge of the omega. Omegas were hardly seen as their own person in the eyes of the law.
If omegas were afforded the same rights as any alpha or beta then they wouldn't have to rely on them to exist in the world. They also wouldn't be obligated to marry another alpha or beta as soon as they were old enough.
And to top it all off some alphas and betas believed they could treat their omegas however they wanted. What could they do to stop them? Omegas couldn't file for divorce if it turned out that their partner was mistreating them. They also couldn't file a report with an auror without the permission of their alpha or beta. Regulus knew that Evan’s parents probably had no idea he was here right now but that Barty was waiting in the lobby for him after signing off on his permission form.
Evan begins to go into detail of the events leading up to the point when he met with the victim, Gideon Prewett.
“... my parents are so embarrassing. Honestly, they think an alpha is the only way I would be able to have an alpha heir. They still believe in all those old wives tales. Betas have alpha pups too!” Evan reaches out and opens the bottle of water before continuing.
“We sat at a table near the bar. I wasn't really paying much attention to the crowd around me. Gideon, the alpha, kept grabbing my chin to make me look at him. Said it was disrespectful to not give my “undivided” attention to him.” Evan scoffed with an eye roll.
“He went on and on about his work as a writer for the Daily Prophet. Honestly, not that interesting since he only wrote for the Quidditch column. Like I like Quidditch as much as the next bloke but to go on and on and on about it.” Evan crossed his arms and his head rolled around on his neck as he recalled how obnoxious the alpha was.
“Don't get me wrong here, rest in peace and whatever else the muggles say these days but come on. If this was supposed to be an “introduction date” then I was fully introduced to him and I am sure he wouldn't even be able to tell you my name by the end.”
“Well he is dead so…” Regulus responded dryly but it made Evan smile. Dark humor was their thing. James sighed and motioned for Evan to continue with his story.
The Rosier family entered the restaurant together. Alviria and Orm Rosier were both alphas with twin omegas needing to be married off before they could name their third child, an alpha, the official heir. Nobody understood the pressure they were under nearly as much as their oldest children. Pandora and Evan had felt the disappointment they caused their parents since they failed to present as alphas like they were predicted to. Having been raised as if they would present as such their parents regularly reminded them about what a waste their education had been. How much effort was put into making them the perfect alpha heirs in their own right, only to turn out to be nothing but omegas.
Their only redeeming quality at the present time was the connections they could create with other families by marrying off their omegas. Pandora had been lucky enough to meet her soon to be husband, Xenophilius Lovegood, during school. They had been close since first year. Evan is sure they had been sleeping with each other long before they presented.
If you had asked anyone in their graduating class they would have all put galleons on Xenophilius presenting as an omega and Pandora presenting as an alpha. They would have also bet their first born child that Xenophilius and Pandora were soulmates. What an odd twist of fate for them both to come to the ripe age of 23 when they both presented as the exact opposite of what was predicted.
Xenophilius immediately asked the Rosier’s for Pandora's hand and they agreed enthusiastically.
Evan wasn't as lucky. During school he had been so shy and kept to himself more than his more outgoing sister. He tried to coast by, keeping his head down and remaining neutral in all petty distinctions children made amongst themselves. Unfortunately, or thankfully, his plans were aggressively derailed by a skinny boy with skinned knees and an affinity for chaos.
Barty Crouch Jr. stomped up to Evan one day in the library and said “You’re my friend now.” Before plopping down in the chair right next to Evan at his secluded table in the very back of the library in the muggles studies section. He then kicked out the chair across from him before calling to someone behind him. “Well sit down, Black.” And a timid boy with soft curly hair and striking grey eyes shuffled forward and sat down too.
“Umm …. Not that this isn’t a wonderful story. I never knew that's how you all became friends,” James shoots Regulus a warm smile, “But, uh, do you think we could focus more on the night in question.”
Evan held his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, you said to start at the beginning and I thought you meant all the events leading up to the… ‘wonderful’ date and terrible demise of Mr. Prewett. It really all started when I tried to kiss Regulus…”
“ALRIGHT! That's quiet enough…” Regulus sat up in his chair and reached out to try and … well he didn't exactly have a plan but he had to get Evan to stop talking.
“--but then he told me i’m not his type--”
“Right, Evan, now is the time to shut up and move on.” Regulus is gripping the edges of his chair now, trying to remember that he is currently at work and assaulting a witness would be means for immediate suspension.
“--because he prefers tall, dark, and --.” Evan almost finishes but the look Regulus is sending him tells him their friendship might not survive this level of teasing “oblivious.” He says. Regulus will forgive him…. Eventually.
James frowns, that doesn't sound like any of the people Regulus has been with in the past. Not that he has kept track or anything! No, he just simply notices because Regulus brings them out when everyone gets together. Never the same person, but always someone way too smart and always smaller than him.
Regulus is seething right now and contemplating Evans murder and how he can make it look like an accident when James’s laugher pulls him back to the moment.
“Like I said Evan, if you could just tell us about the night in question it would really help us out.”
Evan sighs and continues while only looking at James since he isn’t sure if Regulus has mastered wandless magic to the extent he could really hurt him with the looks he is giving him.
Gideon Prewett had gotten to the restaurant early with his twin brother Fabian. Fabian’s date was running late so when the Rosier’s came to greet their guests they were momentarily stunned.
“Pardon me, you mentioned you had a brother, I didn't realize you meant a twin brother. Evan is a twin as well, you see.” Alviria says as she shakes Gideon’s hand.
“Oh, yes sorry, I ran into him in the lobby. Guess we do have that twin telepathy since we both scheduled dates at the same restaurant at the same time.” He smiled easily and took in an eyeful of his date as he shook Orm’s hand as well. “You must be Evan?”
“If I must.” Evan mutters and his mothers hand snatched out so quick and cuffed him on the back of the ear.
“Enough!” She hissed before turning back to Gideon, “I am so sorry Mr. Prewett. He is usually much more behaved. You know how omegas are when they get tired, he had a very busy day…” They kept chatting as the host led them to their table. Evan tuned them out and kept his head down. If he stayed quiet they might honestly forget he was even there, an omega is better to be seen and not heard.
“Did you notice when his brother, Fabian, sat down as well? Maybe where he was in the restaurant?” James cuts in again.
“No. I kept my head down and only spoke when spoken to. Like the good little omega I am.” Evan’s tone was getting harsh, probably from the memory of how he was treated that night. Regulus wished he could reach out and hold his hand to settle him down but for one he was still mad about Evan almost telling his secret to James and for two he was at work. He had to remain professional.
“I’m sorry Evan I am just trying to get an idea as to why these alphas were targeted.” James spread his hands out on the table and leaned back to give the omega more space.
“Maybe they deserved it. It's not like alphas like that care about how they treat omegas. Maybe they got what they deserved.” Evan snapped before taking another sip of his water. His heat was coming up soon and he seemed to be a little more on edge than he usually was.
“Alphas like that? What do you mean by that Evan?” James asked gently.
Evan scoffed, his arms folder tighter against his chest and his shoulders were almost touching his ears. He wished he had taken some kind of suppressant this morning. “You know exactly what I mean, Potter.” Evan spat out James’s surname like it would leave a bad taste in his mouth otherwise. “Alphas that want pretty omegas to sit quietly at their side, give them little baby alphas as heirs and never have any stupid ideas of having dreams or ambitions. Alphas that treat their omegas like trash and get away with it” Evan stood at this point and punctuated each word by jabbing his finger into James’s chest, “every. single. time.”
James didn't even flinch, he took Evans hand between his own, “I’m sorry that happened to you. It must be really difficult for you to talk about this.”
Evan stutters for a moment, the allure of an alpha like James Potter is strong. Even if he is wearing scent blockers, what little scent is coming through has a calming effect on both of the other men in the room. The soft orange and cinnamon scent was uncommon in an alpha but oh so comforting. Regulus took in a subtle breath, trying to drink in the calming tones from Potters scent.
Snapping out of it first, Evan snatches his hand back and flops back down in his chair. “Excuse me,” He says as a mask of indifference comes over his face. “You know how emotional omegas can be. As I was saying--”
James didn't try to interject anymore and let Evan finish his story. Sadly he didn't notice anything else. He had spent the rest of the meal nodding along with the conversation and trying not to fidget too much when Gideons hand came to rest on his thigh for the entire meal.
The Rosier’s said goodbye to him in the lobby and went their separate ways. Gideon down west street towards the subway and the Rosier’s had gone up just a ways to their town car.
“We drove home and didn't hear anything else from Mr. Prewett until we received an owl asking us to come down to the station the first time.” Evan looked like a huge weight had lifted off his chest at the end of his story.
“Thank you so much for sharing that with us.” James said as he stood and held out his hand for Evan. “Is Barty with you today?” He asks as he pulls Evan up out of his chair and then leads him to the door without dropping his hand.
Evan just nods and stares at their joined hands for a moment before walking through the door before James.
“I’ll walk you to the lobby then. You should spend some time with him. I think it will help.” James gives him a warm smile and lets his hand drop to his side before guiding Evan through the maze that is the ministry lower levels.
Regulus stayed behind and shut down the interrogation room before going back to his desk to wait for James.
He went over the notes for their next interview with the other omegas. He made sure to note some of the questions James was able to ask Evan and include them in the list of things to look for. Something kept sticking out to Regulus as he looked over the photos of the victims when they were found. He couldn't put his finger on it but something was missing. He could feel it.
In the lobby Barty jumped up from his chair as soon as he saw Evan and ran over to wrap him in a hug.
“Hey you should probably take him home, yea? It was … it was a difficult time for him.” James said as he reached into his robes and pulled out a card. He handed it over to Evan directly, “Owl me if you remember anything else. Anything at all that you think would be important.”
“Yea yea we got it from here Potter.” Barty snapped. He gave him a harsh up and down look before steering Evan towards the exit.
James watched them go for a moment longer before heading back upstairs.
“I think we should talk to Reginald next. Since he was there at the same time as Evan. I'm curious how one person was able to take down two alphas in the same night. Whoever this is is careful.” Regulus said in lew of a greeting.
James let out an amused snort. Regulus raised an eyebrow at him from over the file he was scanning. “Care to share, Potter?”
“It's just funny. Reg and Reg. Do you think he hates being called Reggie too?”
“Anyone would hate being called Reggie.” Regulus deadpans.
“Oh come off it Reggie,” James teases as he sits on the corner of Regulus’s desk.
Regulus breathes out a sigh before shoving back from his chair and leaving for the owlery. “I will send him an owl and see if he is free tomorrow.”