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Story 1: Agender.
The two Slytherins were cuddled up together on Evan’s bed in the 6th years dorm; Evan was peacefully reading a new chapter in his potions book and Barty was messing with his boyfriends hair. He was laying on the blonde’s chest, one hand next to them on the mattress and one in Evan’s hair; whilst Even had placed his book on top of Barty’s back. Evan chuckled quietly when his shorter boyfriend brushed through his curls and pulled lightly at them.
"Somebody want some attention?" he teased Barty, who grumbled in offense and started to climb off Evan's lap. "No, stay here," he immediately protested, carelessly tossing the textbook to the floor and wrapping his arms around the brown-haired boy’s waist, pulling him back onto the bed. “I didn’t say anything, I wanna cuddle.” "Oh, now you want to cuddle? And earlier the book was more important than me or what?", Barty lifted his head and placed his chin on Evan's chest so that he could look his boyfriend in the eyes.
His blue eyes regarded him lovingly and a tender grin graced his lips. "Nothing is more important to me than you, darling, you know that." Evan carefully grabbed Barty’s face and pressed a kiss to his forehead. Then he buried his nose in Barty's dark hair and held him a little tighter. Evan made sure that his boyfriend was laying down comfortably and placed his hands on his lower back, brushing his fingertips over the exposed skin. He closed his eyes and just enjoyed the intimate touch.
It was rare that they had the dorm to themselves because usually Regulus was also hanging out there. They didn’t mind, they both considered the raven haired boy their brother, but it was still different when it was just the two of them. The couple acted differently with each other when someone else was around. They weren’t as touchy or soft as they were around each other, ever since both of them had been branded the mysterious Slytherin boys in school and their families weren’t exactly the most accepting. Evan’s family had often expressed that they didn’t like the idea of someone being gay and Barty’s father hated the idea of his child dating anyone in general.
Barty leaned into Evan’s touch even more if it was possible, burying his head in his hoodie and inhaling his boyfriend’s significant smell. He loved everything about this boy and could not put his happiness to be with him in words. Barty had been certain that he had found the one for him as soon as he first met Evan, and ever since that day he had never doubted it once.
"My boy," the taller one murmured into his hair and kissed him gently on the head again. The brunette winced. "Well, about that-" Barty began speaking up before quickly shaking his head and pressing his face into his boyfriend's chest again, "oh nothing." “What?”, Evan asked, pushing his partner's chin up so he could look him in the eyes. Questioningly he looked at him before smiling softly, "Barty, what were you going to say?" His face was soft and his lips curled into an even softer smile, expressing his support, no matter what Barty was going to say.
“It’s nothing, Ev, don’t worry about it.” Barty shook his head again and groaned. “Let’s just move on.” Evan carefully sat up under his boyfriend’s weight, sitting him up on his lap, so that he was now looking the blonde one right in the eyes. “Darling, you clearly wanted to say something. You know, you can tell me anything, right?” Barty closed his eyes. “I know.” His boyfriend pulled him closer and pressed a kiss against his chin.
“Then what is it? It is clearly bothering you not to talk about it. I won’t force you to say something, but I want you to know that you can always tell me.” He kissed his boyfriend’s face again, this time kissing the corners of his mouth. Barty couldn’t resist a smile, making Evan laugh. “Look. Whatever you wanted to tell me, it won’t change anything. You will still be my favorite boy in this entire world.”
Barty got quiet. “And if I wasn’t a boy?” He pressed his eyes shut, just waiting for the rejection he thought that was gonna come. His hands went stiff around his boyfriend’s back and his smile faded, making room for a stressed expression. Evan went silent, trying to process this information. A very long minute passed, then he smiled. “You’re not a boy, aren’t you?” “No.”
“You a girl then?” Silence again. “No.” Barty still refused to open his eyes but his hands relaxed a bit. “Okay. You want to explain it to me?” Evan brushed Barty’s hair out of his face. His fingers softly grabbed his chin, turning Barty’s head in his direction. “Darling, look at me, please open your eyes. Can you do that for me?” Anxiety still freaked Barty out but he slowly relaxed and opened his eyes, studying his boyfriend’s expression and taking in his smile.
Then he was met with a pair of lips against his own. Evan quickly pressed a kiss to his lips but pulled back shortly after and just hugged the brunette. “I’m so proud of you, darling”, he whispered against Barty’s hair.
Still perplex, the younger one leaned into the hug, while tears started forming in his eyes. “Oh no, love, it’s okay”. Evan was quick to sooth Barty and rub his hand up and down his back. “Do you want to talk about it? Like, explain some stuff?” His voice was genuine, not demanding anything from Barty, but instead giving him the choice to do everything on his terms. “I don’t know? Yes? I haven’t thought about this.”
Barty was lost. He didn’t plan on coming out to his boyfriend, so he didn’t know what to say. “Is it… okay? Me not being a boy?” Evan immediately shook his head: “Don’t you even think that it isn’t okay, Barty. You can identify as anything that makes you feel comfortable with yourself. It won’t make me love you any less.” “But your gay, aren’t you?” “I am”, the Blonde confirmed, “and you are still not a woman. I don’t care whether you are a man, nonbinary or something else. You’re still my- wait. Boyfriend? Partner? What do I call you?”
Evan paused in his tracks and looked at Barty. “Oh god, I didn’t ask about pronouns. Do you want me to use any new ones? And what about terms like boyfriend? Oh shit, did I misgender you the whole time? I’m so, so sorry, Barty, do you want me to change anything?” A quick kiss interrupted him in his rambling. Barty just laughed, wiping a lonely tear away from his cheek.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, love. I mean, he/him is still fine. I don’t mind they/them I guess, but I am completely fine with being called a he. I’m just not a boy, but the masculine words are still okay. Same with stuff like Boyfriend. Partner is also cool with me, but I’m still your boyfriend. And before you ask- my name is still Barty, so no changes there.” At first Barty was worried that Evan might not understand everything he said but his boyfriend’s encouraging smile made him keep going.
“Got it.” Evan smiled at Barty and brushed some of his hair out of his face. “I love you, my gorgeous not-boy.” The brunette grinned happily and hugged Evan closer. “I’m agender by the way”, he mumbled into the other one’s hoodie, “I feel no connection to gender at all. It’s just not a part of my experience, you know? I’m not a boy or a girl. Or nonbinary or anything like that. I’m just Barty.” He didn’t expect an answer, he just wanted to explain himself and Evan understood that. He just nodded against his partner’s head.
Both of them just enjoyed each other presence and warmth for a few minutes. “Are you gonna tell anyone else?” “I don’t know? Probably Reg, Dorcas and Pandora. But with other people just when I know I can trust them I think. Dad would kill me if he found out I was gay and trans.” Barty wasn’t exactly sure about this decision but it was the one they felt the safest and the most comfortable with. “You’re still valid if you aren’t out to anyone, Barty.” Evan said, being able to tell that this was bothering his partner. “Thanks.”
Evan pressed a kiss against Barty’s temple and then tried his best to sit them up. “Come on, we need to get to the Great Hall, it’s dinner time soon.” Barty protested quietly and tried to cling onto their boyfriend. “Get up, I want to eat”, Evan whined when his boyfriend pulled him down again. “No, I want to cuddle.”
And just like that, Barty was content with how everything turned out. He didn’t exactly plan on anything that happened in the last half an hour but he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. He was in love and he knew was loved just as much as he loved Evan. No matter whether he was agender or not: He was still Barty.
The end.