Chapter 6
James was very excited to see Regulus. Of course, he saw his boyfriend every day, but each time he saw him he was filled with the same giddy excitement he was when they first met. This excitement only increased as time went on and now James nearly burst every time he so much as thought of Regulus.
Regulus was being nice to him today; not that he was wasn’t usually nice to James, it just wasn’t in his nature to show affection openly. It puzzled James as to how they worked so well since James thrived under affection and Regulus severely lacked it. Because of this, James was curious to see what had changed his boyfriend’s behaviour towards him today.
Regulus always had them meet at the astronomy tower; James assuming this was what he meant when he said, ‘come by later’. James had been far too flustered to respond rationally with questions as to where he was ‘coming by’ and so he was taking an educated guess. His guess was proven to be correct as he spotted a familiar raven-haired boy waiting for him at the top of the tower.
“Hey Reg,” James smiled. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Potter.” Regulus tried to sound unbothered, but a smile was making its way onto his face. “I missed you.”
“You did?” James grinned. “I missed you too, even though I saw you just this time yesterday.”
“You weren’t at breakfast, or at least I didn’t see you.”
“You look for me at breakfast?”
“Of course, I do. Do you not look for me?”
“Everyday.”
Regulus seemed satisfied at his answer and approached him, interlocking their fingers. James didn’t make any sudden moves, scared somehow that he could startle his boyfriend out of the tender and soft side he was being shown. It seems he wasn’t as sneaky as he thought.
“What’s wrong?” Regulus asked.
“Nothing.” James replied. “I’m just seeing a new side to you tonight.”
“A good side?”
“Very.”
James liked them like this. No one around, no drama, no Sirius gagging every time they interacted. No teachers, no students, and specifically no Snape.
James was very worried when he saw Severus back in the halls; he was bound to have a revenge plan ready to go. His scheming had almost cost Regulus’ and his relationship last year and he was damned if he would let it happen again. He squeezed Regulus’ hand a bit tighter.
They sat down on a picnic blanket that Regulus had brought with him, James sitting with his back against the wall and Regulus sitting between his legs, his back to James’ chest. They looked up at the stars together, and yet Regulus could still hear James think.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Would you be pissed if I said Snape?”
Regulus laughed.
“Not what I was expecting, but I’ll bite. Why is he on your mind?”
Regulus always tended to be standoffish in public, sending glares and eyerolls to anyone who spoke or even looked at him. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy to be understanding or to show any kindness towards anyone. But with James, Regulus was the sweetest and most understanding person ever. He always listened to James’ worries and never shut him down or told him he was being irrational, which James’ often thought he was. When it was just them two, James felt like he could tell Regulus everything and Regulus would listen with a smile.
“I’m just worried about what he has planned. You know how manipulative he can be.”
“We’ll deal with whatever comes together.” Regulus reassured. “We know his tactics now and are smart enough to realise when we are trying to be tricked.”
“You’re right. You always are.”
“Yes, I always am.”
James buried his face into the back of Regulus’ hair, laughing as the boy in front of him struggled.
“That tickles, you arsehole!”
***
“Moony! Wait up!”
Remus had decided to call it a night as he was tired of playing Wizard chess with Peter in the common room. It was half past 8 which was very early but he knew he wouldn’t be properly in bed until 11 if he wanted to read.
His plans seemed to have been foiled by his boyfriend.
“What is it, Pads?” He sighed as he entered their dorm room, Sirius following closely behind.
“I just wanted to talk to you!” Sirius complained, pushing his hair back from his face.
Sirius’ cheeks were bright pink, making it clear that he had exhausted himself running up the stairs after Remus. Remus almost felt bad until he reached his bed and realised he had no clothes to change into. Only Sirius Black could destroy all of his clothes as an ‘I’m sorry’ gift.
He knew he wasn’t being completely fair, but he wanted to be petty for a day longer. He’d had to borrow some of James’ clothes and even they were too short for him; being 6’3 seemed to have its downsides after all.
“Well, I don’t really want to talk.”
“You know I didn’t mean to! It’s not fair that you’re shutting me out like this!”
Remus turned to face Sirius. The boy was still red in the face but instead of looking exhausted, he was now scowling. How could his boyfriend look so hot whilst angry? It wasn’t fair.
“I just need some time to cool down, Pads. What would you do if your entire wardrobe disappeared?”
“Okay… valid point.” Sirius sighed, scowl dropping from his face. “I just miss you.”
Oh Merlin, Remus couldn’t keep a strong resolve for much longer.
“I see you everyday, Padfoot. Surely, it’s impossible to miss someone you’re around 24/7.”
Sirius huffed, irritated that Remus didn’t seem to be understanding him. He marched over to sit on Remus’ bed, crossing his arms.
“I mean I miss us! You barely look at me, you don’t hold my hand and you don’t kiss me anymore!”
This was not the first Sirius Black tantrum Remus had been a witness to; however, it was the first directed at him. It was usually James that had done something wrong, not him. He definitely didn’t like being on the receiving end of the tantrum, that’s for sure.
“I’m sorry, Pads.” Remus tried to defuse the situation. “I didn’t know I made you feel that way. I was just upset and needed some time to myself.”
“I can understand that and I’m sorry! I feel really awful, and you can have my clothes instead until you can buy new ones.” Sirius sniffled, looking close to tears. “I even have one of your jumpers, but you seemed too annoyed at me for me to give back.”
“You have one of my jumpers?”
“Yes,” Sirius got up from the bed and went over to his dresser. He pulled out a light brown jumper. “I kept this one. I know it’s important to you, so I put it aside in case I got the spell wrong. Thank merlin, right?”
Remus could have shed a tear at that moment. His favourite jumper. He’d assumed it had been blown up with the rest of them but there it was. His mum had made him that jumper just before 6th year as a leaving gift and he had worn it for 2 weeks straight because he missed her so much. It also happened to be the jumper he was wearing when he kissed Sirius for the first time.
Remus couldn’t hold off the smile spreading across his face as he walked over to Sirius and kissed him. Sirius was surprised, as you would be if your angry boyfriend suddenly kissed you in the middle of a fight. Remus pulled away and hugged Sirius, gripping him tightly as he remembered why he loved the boy in front of him so much.
Sure, he was stupid at times, they all were, but Sirius never forgot what was important. Many thought he was careless with his actions and whilst he occasionally was, no doubt about that, most of the time he was the most caring and thoughtful boy Remus had ever met. He was the kind of boy to know he had a favourite jumper. Merlin, he loved him.
“I love you.” Remus whispered into his ear.
“I love you too.” Came the choked reply.
***
Dorcas was running a bit late, or she was in her opinion. She planned on being early to meet Evan, but it was five to nine and she had only just left her dorm room.
“Dorks? Where are you going?”
Dorcas turned and saw Marlene and Mary sat on one of the sofas in the common room. She had not thought this plan out thoroughly enough.
“I’m just heading over to Barty; we’re going to watch Gossip Girl.”
“Oh okay! He messaged me earlier today about that, seemed to think we had plans or something.”
Dorcas did not pride herself on her ability to lie. It seemed she was incapable of telling a believable lie, but that didn’t stop her from trying.
“Oh, that’s weird. He must have confused the days or something.”
Dorcas put on what she thought was an innocent smile and made her way to the door. She did not want to be late and have Evan leave before she arrived.
“That’s probably the case, I’ll see you later!” Marlene smiled from her seat.
“Yeah, bye Dorcas!” Mary said. “Have fun!”
Dorcas felt bad lying to her friends but ultimately it was for the greater good. She would help Evan get away from Snape and emerge victorious in front of all of her friends. She just hoped she was going about this in the right way.
She saw Evan coming down the stairs of the astronomy tower. Was he bailing already? He spotted her approaching and walked over to her.
“We can’t go to the astronomy tower, Regulus and James are having date night up there. Got anywhere else in mind?” Evan smiled tightly, as if his presence in the corridor was an inconvenience in itself.
“I’m not sure, maybe there’s an empty classroom?”
They walk in silence as they look for a deserted classroom and Dorcas takes the chance to look properly at Evan. He looked tired and dishevelled, like getting up in the morning had become too hard of a task. He had dark bags under his eyes and a frown on his face. Dorcas remembered a young Evan Rosier, full of hope and laughter during his first year of Hogwarts. The light in his eyes had slowly faded over time; Dorcas wondered why.
“Here.” Evan pointed to a dark classroom with the door ajar. They both entered.
Dorcas took a seat on the teacher’s desk and Evan sat on one of the front row desks. Dorcas didn’t know where to start; she secretly hoped Evan would have a plan as all she had really decided was that she was going to help. How, she didn’t know.
“He’s got a plan.” Evan spoke. “To get back at you all.”
“What is it?”
“He didn’t tell me all of the details, but it’s his usual manipulative stuff.”
Dorcas sighed.
“What can I do to stop it?”
“He wants to go after Barty first, says I’m closer to him.”
“Are you?”
“So everyone keeps telling me. I know he wants nothing to do with me, he told me that much, but I can’t get Severus to lay off him.”
“He’s angry about the Slughorn incident.”
“For sure. If someone got you suspended, wouldn’t you want revenge?”
“We need to get him suspended again. Simple as that.”
“He’s not doing anything that can obviously lead back to him. He’s got his cronies and me doing all his dirty work.”
“And you’re not one of his cronies?” Another voice spoke from behind Evan.
Recognising the voice, Evan’s frown becomes even more prominent.
“What are you doing here, Barty?” Dorcas snapped at the boy, now emerging from the darkness at the back of the classroom. “I told you to stay away.”
“Answer the question, Rosier. Sorry, Dorks.”
Evan looked like he wanted to sprint out of the room and never come back. Oddly, at the same time, Dorcas thought he looked more relaxed than he had any other time she had seen him.
“Not by choice, Crouch.”
Barty made his way to the front and placed himself on the teacher’s desk, right next to Dorcas. What was intended to be a simple talk had now turned into an interrogation. Just perfect.
“What does he have on you?”
“None of your business.”
“We need to know if we’re going to help, Evan.” Dorcas chimed in, she wanted to befriend him again, not turn him into an enemy. Barty didn’t seem to understand this.
“Look. He’s got stuff on my family. If it gets out it will ruin me and them, okay?”
“What kind of stuff?” Barty pried.
“I can’t say.” Evan looked almost nervously now between Barty and Dorcas, like he had revealed way too much.
“Fuck Evan, we’re trying to help you. I’m trying to help you here, damn it.” Barty growled, seeming almost frustrated with himself for even considering helping Evan. “If you want to get out then you have to at least try.”
“Don’t you think I am trying? Merlin, Barts I’m trying so hard to get away from all this. To make myself better.” Evan cried. “It took everything in me to even come today and I definitely wouldn’t have come if I knew you’d be here.”
“Too many bad memories?” Barty sneered.
“No, too many good ones.” Evan whispered, shocking Barty into a silence Dorcas didn’t even think was possible.
She’d definitely overstayed her welcome, despite being the one to organise this whole thing. Plus, she kind of missed Marlene; she’d become kind of distant and wanted nothing more than to curl up with her and watch a film.
“I promised Marlene I’d be back soon so…” Dorcas lied, yet again. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow?”
Neither of the boys so much as glanced in her direction, only looking at the floor and muttering their goodbyes. Dorcas dashed out of the room.
She arrived back at the common room to find Marlene where she’d left her, Mary nowhere in sight. Marlene smiled upon seeing Dorcas and that smile grew even more when Dorcas slid in next to her.
“Good binge session?” Marlene asked. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too and let’s just say there was a lot of drama.” Dorcas giggled as Marlene pressed a kiss to her temple.
***
“Where do we go from here?” Evan dared to speak after what felt like hours of silence.
“I don’t know.” Barty replied. “I kind of hate you right now.”
Evan huffed a self-deprecating laugh at that.
“I fucking miss you so much.”
Evan glanced up to see Barty’s reaction to his words, only to be met with such an intense gaze that he almost had to look away. Whatever he used to feel towards Barty, he realised had never really gone away. That was his best friend, and it always would be. Fuck.
Without breaking eye contact, Barty stood up from the desk and walked over to stand in front of Evan. He didn’t know what to expect; Barty had always been very unpredictable, and it was hard to tell if Barty was going to punch him or kiss him. Surprisingly, it was neither.
Barty pulled Evan in and hugged him. Evan thought he might have died and gone to heaven. It was a short, tight but sweet hug and Evan only felt himself craving more contact from Barty. Alas, he could only have what he was given. Barty released him, looking just as affected from the hug.
“I’m going to help you sort this shit out with Snape. Then we’ll talk, okay?”
“Okay.”
Barty smiled gently at Evan and that’s when Evan knew he would do everything in his power to stop Snape. Just to see that beautiful smile again.