Barty, Don’t Cause Trouble-
“I feel like I haven't caused enough trouble yet," Barty said. A collective groan rose among the slytherins and one ravenclaw gathered near the lake. Pandora was doodling on a parchment while Dorcas braided her hair, Evan and Regulus were both reading and Barty's head was in Evan’s lap.
“Barty, you made the Gryffindor’s house points in the hourglass green just yesterday. I think you have caused enough trouble,” Dorcas replied. Barty stared at her.
“That was yesterday! I haven’t done anything today,” Barty whined. Evan sighed softly in reply, causing Barty to turn to look at him instead. “Come on Ev, it’s like this itch under my skin,” Barty explained, looking hopeful. Regulus rolled his eyes behind his book. Evan would definitely fold like an origami now.
“Alright, fine. But what do you even want to do?” Evan conceded. Score. Regulus was right yet again. From the corner of his eye, he saw Pandora and Dorcas exchange a look with one another.
“I’m thinking…drama. Not in the mood for much house rivalry today,” Barty replied, staring hard at the sky now.
“Reg, what is Armontentia famous for again?” Dorcas asked into the silence.
“Being the world’s strongest so-called love potion,” Regulus replied without hesitation. Dorcas muttered her thanks, but she continued braiding Pandora’s hair. “Why?” Regulus asked, feeling slightly suspicious. Dorcas waved her hand in a way to say nothing.
“Armontentia! Of course!” Barty bolted upright. “Cas, you’re a genius! Armontentia is definitely going to cause chaos and drama!” Everyone else stared at him in disbelief. “Hear me out! We’re not going to let them drink it, that’s way too dangerous. But, we can ask different people to smell it to say it’s perfume or something then find their crush and cause drama and gossip with it!” Barty explained, practically shaking with excitement.
“Barty, Armontentia is banned from taking out of the potions lab. How do we get it?” Pandora asked, starting to write down what was going on. At least that’s what it seemed to Regulus.
“Reg can pull the ‘favorite’ title with Slughorn, it’ll be easy from there!” Barty replied confidently, a stark contrast to what everyone else was feeling. “Don’t look at me like that! I’m sure it’ll work!” Barty defended. “One step at a time. Reg gets the potion first, of course. Then we find victims to use it on.”
“And why would I get you the potion?” Regulus asked coolly. He would never do anything without ensuring he got something out of it. He’d made that mistake once, never again.
“C’mon Reg. Please?” Barty pleaded, looking at the others for help. All the traitors (to Barty at least) shook their heads in reply. Barty fell silent as he thought hard. “What do you even need?” Barty groaned, falling back into Evan’s lap. Regulus mentally noted the flush coating Evan’s cheeks and filed it away for blackmail.
“You owe me. 3 favors,” Regulus replied, and his tone left no room for argument.
Barty groaned again. “For the sake of all of you traitors here, I will take the deal,” Barty said, throwing his hands up dramatically. Pandora and Dorcas both sighed. All of them knew how chaotic this one was going to be.
“I’ll get it now. Free period is ending soon anyway,” Regulus stood up, leaving quickly as he shot them the middle finger, to Pandora’s laughter and Barty’s yells.