Chapter Text
James Potter grew up on a normal street, in a normal neighborhood. Or that's what it looked like to the outside view of a muggle. James however, was a wizard, and he grew up among other wizards as well.
He had friends from the different houses on this block, three of them in fact. He had met them when the Potter’s had first moved in when he was six years old.
Marlene Mckinnon, a brunette girl with pigtails and a rowdy personality. She was hyper and interested in everything and everyone, and as James was similar to her in most aspects, they became friends quickly. They would pretend to wand duel with sticks, and push each other into the creek down the road, and James adored it. Next there was Peter Pettigrew, a timid blonde boy who loved working in his mother’s garden and sitting and watching Marlene and James play. Peter was content with how that was so they never pushed him into participating, though James did on occasion also shove him into the creek. Then, there was Bartemius Crouch Junior, or what they decided to call him; Berry. A younger boy with chestnut brown hair and dark circles beneath his eyes. Berry was a complicated one, he got loud sometimes but mostly kept quiet. He participated in James and Marlene’s antics, but other days he sat with Peter and joked. He too, was pushed into the creek multiple times, of course.
They all were attached at the hip. They laughed together, loved together, stuck by one another through it all. Most days it was all four of them, but Berry’s parents liked him home more than the others so at times it was just James, Marlene, and Peter. But it was always better when it was all of them.
If they weren't outside in the fields behind their houses, or at the creek, they spent their time in James’ house. Peter had older sisters and Marlene had two brothers, one younger and one older, and Berry’s parents never let them inside, so it was easier to be at The Potters.
James’ mum would get them snacks and get bandages if one of them fell, and his dad would arm wrestle Marlene, and let her win every time. They would hang out in the living spaces or in James’ room, play games and with James’ toys, and use the quidditch field in the yard.
James found it especially fun that sometimes, it was just Berry and him. Days when Marlene and Peter were both at something for their siblings, or perhaps they were both busy for other reasons. But James loved these times the best because he got Berry’s full attention, and it filled him with joy.Berry would talk about books he was reading or weird little facts he knew and James would listen with full attention, he’d note down everything Berry told him in his head. And James didn't know why, but he loved it. And now, when James looks back upon it, he knows it was love, well probably because he still loves him.
But those sweet moments didn't last forever, James, Marlene, and Peter were all the same age, meaning they all left for Hogwarts together. Berry wasn’t to go till the next year but they had all promised to write to him, and he promised to write back.
But, that never happened. No matter how many times the three of them sent Berry letters, he never responded. James had adored his first year at Hogwarts, he loved meeting his new friends, Sirius, Remus, Mary. They were all so sweet, but he missed Berry so much that some days he didn't even want to get out of bed for classes.
James was so excited to see him when they got home from the summer, so excited to tell him everything that happened over the year. Maybe Berry had a reason for not writing, maybe he had a reason for all of this. So when they got home, James, Marlene, and Peter went to the Crouch's Door and knocked. Berry’s father had opened it and James had asked if Berry could play, but he said he wasn't up to seeing them. And then slammed the door in their faces.
It wasn't the last time they tried to see him, but every single time they got told no, and to leave them alone. James was starting to feel angry, why did Berry not want to see them? Why did Berry suddenly not want to even write letters?
Eventually they gave up. And Sirius and Remus were over for a few weeks and James could distract himself from the younger boy across the street, from whatever kind of stupid thing was going on between them. If Berry wanted to suddenly ignore James, then James couldn't care less. He would enjoy his time with his other friends and ignore that stupid house on their stupid street.
And it continued like that for a while. Until, the three of them were messing around in the Potter’s front yard, when they saw the front door open and out step Berry. James wanted to look at him with a furious look, to show to the other boy how angry he made him. But all James could muster was a sad look, as he tried not to cry.
He could see Marlene, who actually had the courage to glare him down. And Peter, who simply looked like he didn't have a clue what was happening. He probably didn't.
Berry got into a long car at the end of the road and sat down in the back seat, along with his parents. And the car rolled down the street and away. That was the last they saw of him that summer. Then his first year came along. He went by a different name now; Barty, and when he was sorted into Slytherin, James finally decided that he wanted nothing to do with him.
So why did he have to look so good in a button up and green tie? And why did he have to pierce his face and get tattoos and wear clothing that would shock an entire muggle religion? Why did Barty Crouch have to be so fucking hot? And why did James have to still love him?
They never spoke again, after everything that went on during James’ first year, and James continues to keep that up. Whatever that asshole wanted to do, he could do, and James would not give a shit.
And that was all fine and dandy…until now.
—
There was something comforting about the way Remus had a habit of collapsing on top of Regulus. The weight of another person calmed him and he gently ran his fingers through Remus’ soft curls. Remus releases a sigh that tickles Regulus’ neck.
He wiggles underneath him. “Lupin, I can’t see my book,” he grumbles, trying to move his other arm. It’s stuck between his boyfriend's gorgeous body and the frayed grey couch they lay on, but he’s unable to read from this angle. Pity that, he has been quite enjoying it.
“Tragic,” Remus mutters into his chest. The full moon has only passed a few days ago and clearly Remus is still feeling the exhaustion from it, so Regulus leaves him for a moment, his free hand stroking continuously through his hair. It’s nice like this. Just the two of them, hidden away from the world. So far that's what they have been. Secret smiles, hands held under tables, notes in the margins of books no one else will ever read. But Regulus wants more. He wants to sit with Remus at breakfasts and go to hogsmeade together. Regulus wants to kiss him in the middle of the hallway and do all those stupid sappy romantic things that only characters in books do. They haven’t spoken about being public about their relationship. Both of them happen to be private people, who enjoy the simplicity of not having to deal with other people interfering. Regulus is unsure how to broach the subject just yet.
“If you move over a bit I can read to you bits from the book I’m reading.” Regulus looks down at his boyfriend with a fond smile. His long frame barely fit on the couch and there is no way he was comfortable, yet Remus seems uninclined to move anytime soon.
“Alright,” Remus said after a moment, the sound muffled by Regulus’ white school shirt. He moves under Regulus’ arm so he is able to rest the book on his shoulder. Regulus flicks back a few pages.
“I thought you’d like this one,” he clears his throat. “Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behaviour. You’re by no means alone on that score, you’ll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them—if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry.”
Remus looks up at him, a pleased look on his face. “The Catcher in the Rye.”
“Well I did promise I’d read it didn’t I?”
“You did.” Anyone else wouldn’t have noticed how happy that made Remus. But Regulus can confidently say he knew him better than most. So he also notices when their content silence turns more taunt, as though Remus wanted to say something. He is still holding the book in his right hand so with his left, he tangles their fingers together.
Remus looks up towards Regulus and then back down at their hands. “Sirius, James and Pete keep asking where I’m going.”
Oh.
“I’m sick of lying to them, could we… could we tell them?”
“Tell Sirius?” Regulus hasn’t thought about that. Telling his brother he was dating his best friend? Telling his brother he was gay? Regulus hopes that is another viewpoint he doesn’t share with their parents.
“Yeah…”
Things between him and Sirius are… strained. They haven’t particularly spoken since Sirius ran away, and while Regulus doesn’t necessarily resent him for it, he won’t lie to himself and say he has been unaffected by it. Would Sirius care that his little brother is dating his best friend? Regulus knows he shouldn’t care what his brother thinks about his relationship–and he doesn't, he swears–but there’s a little part of him that wants Sirius to be happy for him. He can’t help but worry that his brother will want nothing to do with Regulus. Or maybe Sirius will try to keep Remus away from Regulus Black, Evil Slytherin, Perfect Heir to the House of Black. Regulus refused to let that happen.
Remus let him contemplate in silence. He respects that it is a difficult decision for Regulus and he needs to think things through in his head first. It is one of the many things Regulus loves about his boyfriend. Both of them understand when the other needs a bit of quiet for a moment. Watching Remus tap out a random pattern on the back of his hand (likely a Bowie song, if he had to make a guess), Regulus decides that he would do anything for his boyfriend, and if that meant telling his brother, then so be it. On top of that he refuses to let Sirius ruin this happiness for them. They deserve this and he won’t be able to take that from them.
“Okay,” he says simply.
“Really? Thanks Reg, I appreciate it.” Remus squeezes his hand, pleased. “Would you want to come and tell them with me? I reckon they’re all in our dorm at the moment.”
The prospect of seeing Sirius makes him nervous, but he’d rather just get it over with. Normally he needed at least 5 to 10 business days to emotionally prepare himself for being in the vicinity of his brother.
“Of course Re,” Regulus kisses the top of his head and the two of them slowly get up from the couch. Keeping his right hand tangled with Remus’, he awkwardly shoves his book into his satchel and swings it over his shoulder. He gestures forward. “Lead the way.”
The whole way to Gryffindor Tower, the two boys keep their fingers linked together. It makes Regulus happy that he won’t have to worry about anyone seeing it , he wants to be able to hold his boyfriend's hand all the time, consequences be damned. Remus is still tapping a pattern on his hand but Regulus thinks he recognizes this one. However, he can’t place the name of it for the life of him.
Too focused on combing through his brain for the title, Regulus doesn’t realise that they’ve already reached the tower until Remus lets go of his hand and the tapping stops .
“Fudgecakes,” Remus tells the painting on the door, and it swings open to reveal the common room. Inside there are several groups of students piled on various sofas in front of a grand and, in Regulus’ opinion, slightly obnoxious, fireplace. It has large carved lions holding up the mantelpiece, where photos of past quidditch teams and students sit scattered across it. Some of the students near the door look at him funny and Regulus realizes he’d been wrinkling his nose at the ginormous red and gold banners hanging down from the ceiling. Perhaps he needs to watch himself a bit more in here, he’s already a snake in the lion's den, no need to give them another reason to kick him out. But then again, it wasn’t Regulus’ fault this place was tacky. Remus brushes his hand across Regulus’ back briefly before stepping inside. For all Regulus thought that the common room was tacky, he can’t deny there is a warm homey feel to it that he admires. Students of all ages joke and laugh with one another. Older kids are seen helping younger ones with their homework. There were several pin boards around the room that held anything from notices, to compliments, to artwork done by other students. It was… sweet. Regulus can see why Sirius had spoken so highly of it when they were little, it was more of a home then Grimmauld Place ever would be. Distantly he wondered whether the Potter’s house looked like this, but he’s pulled away from the thought when Remus starts to walk up some stairs, and went down a hallway, knocking on a door.
Standing just behind his boyfriend, Regulus hears laughter and several crashes coming from behind the door, before he can hear his brother's voice call out, “Oi, that's not Moony is it?”
Remus pushes the door open and grins , “Right you are Pads. I’ve got company, however. .”
Regulus steps into the room after him and watches as Sirius’ jaw hits the floor. “Wait, why in the world do you have my brother with you?”
Squinting slightly, Regulus tries to pick apart his brother's expression. There is no anger in his eyes, or worry or annoyance. He doesn’t even look expressly pleased. Sirius just looks… baffled. Like he genuinely has no idea what to think about Regulus being in the room. Regulus was unsure how to feel about that.
“We wanted to talk to you about something,” Remus tells Sirius. Regulus can tell he’s a little nervous but he appears relatively calm despite that.
“Okay okay, wait, let me put a shirt on.” Regulus had forgotten there were other people in the room. He looks to the other side of the room to see James Potter with a shirt halfway over his head, tangled in his glasses. Pettigrew sits cross legged on his bed, reading through what looks to be his charms homework, and frowning to himself.
Once James has his shirt on they all sit down in a circle on the floor. It feels weirdly intimate to Regulus but the others act as though they did this all the time. Maybe they had some kind of weird gossip-sharing ritual. Remus let out a large breath before spitting it out , “RegulusandIaredating.”
“Huh?” Peter says, squinting at them.
“He said Remus and I are dating,” Regulus responds, decidedly not looking at his brother. All three of them develop equally shocked expressions as the words finally work their way through their brains.
“Oh okay! That’s great, good for you guys!” James finally says. He grins at them and Regulus smiles back slightly.
“Yeah mate, cool,” comes Peter’s response. Sirius still hasn’t said anything. He’s looking between the two of them rapidly, making Regulus’ stomach churn with worry. There is no way he is going to be able to handle Sirius’ disappointment, no matter how much he likes to pretend otherwise. He felt a lump forming in his throat. The last time he felt like this he’d been 13 years old and telling his brother he didn’t want to be a girl anymore. Only that conversation had gone well. This one, he isn’t so sure about.
“You don’t… are you mad?” Regulus’ voice breaks slightly and he forces himself to look at his brother. Stupid, stupid, he’s being pathetic, he doesn’t need to be so emotional over such a simple thing. This is ridiculous.
Sirius breaks out into a sudden grin. “Are you kidding? This is exactly the kind of thing Mother would hate, and just the knowledge that she would have a heart attack over this makes it fantastic to me!”
“I-,” Regulus shakes his head. Next to him Remus is grinning in amusement. It’s one of Regulus’ favourite smiles, where one side of his mouth is lifted higher than the other and his eyes are sparkling with laughter. “I should’ve seen that coming.”
“Yes you really should’ve Reg,” Sirius laughs as Regulus frowns at the nickname. His brother takes a moment to sober up . “But seriously, I love you both, so I’m reassured by the fact that neither my brother or my best friend are dating an asshole.”
“Oh,” Regulus blinks. He can’t remember the last time he’d properly spoken to Sirius, let alone heard the word ‘I love you’ from him. “Thank you?”
Peter claps his hands. “We need to celebrate! James, go get some chocolate frogs for everyone.”
“Yessir,” James mock salutes his friend.
“You are so smart Wormy,” Sirius throws an arm around his friend. “Celebrating the union of our two houses, rivals no longer.”
“Awww does that mean next week's prank is off?” Peter looks disappointedly at Sirius and then suspiciously over at Regulus, as though this had been his plan all along. It had not, Regulus doesn’t even know about the coming prank, but now that he does, he is definitely going to interrogate his boyfriend for details later.
Sirius’ laughter fills up the room. “Don’t be ridiculous, of course not. What it does mean, is Reggie here–”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Alright, alright. Regulus is going to drag his Slytherin buddies over to sit with us at breakfast tomorrow.”
“What, no. Absolutely not.” That is a terrible idea. Regulus can’t think of anything worse. Having breakfast with his brother and his friends. He would rather drown.
“Pleaaaaaase, Reggi–,” He interrupts his brother with a glare, “lus, it’s Saturday tomorrow, come on, it’ll be fun!”
Regulus continued to glare at him for a few more moments. This is a terrible idea, it will be the worst experience of his life, he would rather– “Okay fine.”
“Yayyyyy!” His brother is basically a little kid. James and Peter giggle from where they have been eating chocolate frogs and watching the two brothers argue, their eyes darting back and forth. Thankfully Remus squeezes Regulus’ hand reassuringly. He is surely going to regret this.
Regulus gets up off the floor. He has to go back and tell his own friends then, he supposes. He says his goodbyes to the group and Remus follows him out of the common room and back through the portrait. Standing in the quiet hallway by themselves, Remus wraps his arms around Regulus and draws him in.
“That went well,” his boyfriend mumbles into his hair.
“Yeah, it did.” Regulus hides his smile in Remus’ shirt. Secretly he’s very pleased. His brother doesn’t hate him, he isn’t mad at Regulus, in fact, he seemed rather thrilled by the whole thing. It could not have gone better.
Remus pulls away slightly to look Regulus in the eye. He places a gentle kiss on his lips which leaves Regulus’ insides fizzing. “You’re sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
“Yeah, I’d rather tell them myself.” They share another kiss and Regulus feels like he’s flying. Remus has a hand on his cheek, tilting his head, and another on his waist, drawing him close. The kiss is sweet and soft and Regulus feels so much love for the boy in his arms that he thinks he might just collapse. This is what people write poetry about. This thoughtful and quiet love that screams in his mind. A love that draws him back in every waking day. All Regulus knows is he is going to fight and bleed and die for this love. He drags himself away from Remus.
“Okay, I’ll see you at breakfast then.” Remus says, red tinting his cheeks.
“Merlin, don’t even remind me.”
~~~~~
When Regulus makes it back to his common room he relishes in how empty it is. Everyone else has disappeared into their own dorms and all that are left are Evan, Barty, Dorcas and Pandora. Evan looks up when he walks in but Barty and Dorcas are too busy having a heated debate over whether or not Barty would survive skinny dipping in the black lake and Pandora is twisting tiny plaits into Barty’s hair. Regulus makes his way over and collapses onto the couch beside Evan. He flicks his wand, casting silencio over Dorcas and Barty, interrupting their pointless argument. Dorcas was correct, Regulus decided, but he also wanted to see if Barty would actually do it. The two of them were silently spluttering at him indignantly.
“I have something important to tell you,” Regulus rolls his eyes. When neither of them tried to speak again, he undid the charm and continued. “I’m dating Remus.”
“What?!”
“Really?!”
“No way!”
Came the sarcastic collection of responses from his friends. Regulus squints at them. “You all knew didn’t you?”
Barty raises his eyebrows at him. “Regulus, my good friend, I have never seen you walk out of the library smiling so much in our entire 5 years at hogwarts. You went in there to do charms homework last week and then I asked if I could copy it and you said you hadn’t done it.”
“You let me borrow one of your books and I think you gave me the wrong one, because there were several notes in the margins and I know for a fact that it wasn’t your handwriting.” Evan adds. Regulus’ eyes widen and he tries to think back to which book he had given his friend.
“Dora and I guessed, and then these idiots confirmed it for us.” Dorcas side eyes Barty on the word idiots, clearly still thinking about their argument.
“Aaaaaand, to top it all off,” Barty opens his arms wide for his grand reveal. “I walked into an empty classroom and you two were making out in it.”
“What?!” Regulus feels his face turn redder than Remus’ tie.
“Yeah I know, imagine my shock when I open the door and there’s my best friend, a proud Slytherin, with a Gryffindor’s tongue in his mouth.” Barty gags and pretends to faint against Pandora who’s sitting beside him. He sits up in mock outrage. “And a marauder!”
Regulus is not dealing with this right now. Evan and Dorcas are positively cackling at this point and Pandora is making kissy faces at him. He has no allies in this horrible place. Scowling at them all, he stands up.
“I hate all of you,” he grumbles as he starts walking away. “But please, for Merlin's sake, get all this stupid shit out of your system tonight, we’re having breakfast at their table tomorrow.”
Barty lets out a loud whoop and Evan falls off the couch clutching his sides. Regulus walks back up to their dorm and flops face first onto his bed. Maybe drowning is a good idea after all.
—
Marlene is late. Actually she’s very late, and if she can't find her shoes then she will probably lose it. It's a Saturday so of course she doesn't have to wear her uniform, which thank merlin for that (she’s lost her tie again.)
Marlene ducks underneath Mary’s bed, crawling and trying to see. She then remembers she’s a witch, and grabs her wand from behind her ear. She casts lumos and looks around before cheering when she finds her left combat boot. She grabs it and drags it out from beneath and sighs in relief, clutching the shoe to her chest like it's a newborn. She stands up and tucks her wand back behind her ear. She brushes off her ripped jeans and sits back on the chair at Lily’s bed. Then tugs on her other shoe and ties her hair back so it's away out of her face while she does her makeup quickly.
Once she's done she grabs her jacket from her bedpost and runs out of the room and down the stairs of the girls dorm. She passes by a few different Gryffindors as she runs to the portrait hole. Lily will most likely scold her for her tardiness, the princess she is. Marlene rolls her eyes at the thought. On the weekends she usually doesn't even go to Breakfast, but today is special.
Remus, their dear Remus Lupin, has a boyfriend. When Marlene had first heard the news she cheered, their timid giant of a friend finally found love. Then, she found out he’s dating a Slytherin. One who is Sirius’ younger brother. Which is a shocker, obviously, but the thing that shocked Marlene the most was that Sirius hadn't been angry about it. Which, made her loosen up about it a bit more, obviously. She trusts that if all of the Marauders are cool with it that maybe it isn't so bad.
But this new development meant that they were all meeting Baby Black’s friends at Breakfast. Including, well, Regulus himself. Marlene isn’t too sure how this will go, but she might as well go anyway. If, of course, she isn't completely and utterly late.
Spoiler alert! *She already is.*
Marlene runs down the hall and is gasping for air by the time she gets to the Great Hall. She grumbles a little and adjusts herself before walking into the hall and heading for the Gryffindor table at the end of the space. She runs a little and spots where Peter is sitting, sitting right next to him before taking in more of the surroundings.
“Marlene! Where were you?” Lily asks, she’s sitting across from her. Marlene laughs a hint awkwardly. Mary, who's sitting across from Peter, stares at her with wide eyes.
“I lost my boot and it was under Mary’s bed for some reason! Not my fault.” Marlene says. A tatted twink that she doesn't recognize, is sitting next to Lily. He gives Marlene a glare. Marlene glares back. *Weirdo.*
“Marls-” Mary mumbles and gestures to Marlene's left. Marlene looks over and almost falls off the bench. She’s sitting next to Dorcas Meadowes. Her crush of three years. A goddess in human form. Marlene gapes at her, like the actual loser she is.
“Oh- uh- Hi,” Marlene says. Dorcas laughs and nods at her. “I'm uh-”
“Marlene Mckinnon,” Dorcas says. “You're in a few of my classes.” Marlene nods, her face red and her brain enveloped in the girl in front of her. Dorcas’ dark skin that shines against the sun, her long butterfly locs, with jewellery scattered all over them, tied back in a half up style. Her long purple dress, and the tattoo of a snake on her shoulder. Marlene is staring, she knows it.
“Uh- yes, yes. Nice to meet you.” Marlene smiles at her and Dorcas giggles. Marlene is about to die a little she thinks.
“Cassie.” The aforementioned tatted twink says. He’s sitting across from Dorcas, wearing a black button up shirt, the collar unbuttoned. “You know Mckinnon?” Okay, twinkie, why the fuck do you know my name?
“Yeah, I do.” Dorcas says, she takes a bite of bacon from the plate in front of her. The twink nods but looks at Marlene weirdly. Marlene frowns and rests her chin on her hand. Peter is looking at her like he's about to throw up. She furrows her eyebrows.
“What's up?” She whispers to him. Peter opens his mouth but closes it.
“So, Crouch.” James speaks, he's on the other side of Dorcas, next to Remus as well, and across from Sirius. “Are you still, you know, being a bratty arsehole?” Marlene's jaw drops. James? The fuck? He never argues with anyone. Marlene watches the twink, as he makes eye contact with James, takes a deep breath and grin.
“From time to time, how’s being a disgusting cunt going for you? Still finding enjoyment in the torment of others?” He responds. Marlene narrows her eyes at him. Wait a fucking second. Berry?!
“Holy shit!” She says out loud, she slaps a hand over her mouth. Everyone looks over at her, Berry glares at her, angry. “I just- sorry, Berry.” Marlene says a bit firmly, she can see where the hostility from James came from. She remembers how heartbroken this asshole made him back in First Year.
“It's Barty. And to you, Mckinnon, it's Crouch.” Barty spits out. He says his words with venom, a real Slytherin.
“Yeah well, it's not like you took the time to let us know.” James cuts in. Marlene frowns, she looks at Peter who still looks nervous.
“Barty, what the fuck-” Dorcas starts to say. Barty holds up a hand to her, eyeing James.
“You know what, Potter? If you want to act like a hypocritical swine, then so be it you blind old shit.” Barty says through clenched teeth. Dorcas sighs at being silenced.
“Barty!” A blonde boy says, peeking out from next to Sirius.
“Shut up Evan!” Barty calls out and stands, so does James. From Marlene’s angle she can barely see James but she can hear the malice in his voice, feel the anger coming off of him in waves.
“Seems like my assumptions were correct! You're still a heartless slag.” James says, his tone is different, anger filled. It's rare now, to see him angry. Barty snorts.
“Slag? Wow, you’ve really taken the time to be updated about my sexual history. Very cute of you, Potter.” Barty says. James groans.
“Shove it up your arse,” James almost growls. Marlene sits there, watching it all go down.
“James! Alright what the fuck is going on?” Sirius stands, looking at James with a shocked face. Marlene does find it a bit funny that no one at Hogwarts has seen James angry like this before, so used to the happy go-lucky persona he shows off. Marlene and Peter however, had known James the summer when Berry stopped talking to them. They’d known him when he was hitting trees with sticks out of anger for a friend lost. Marlene couldn't imagine what it would have been like if it was Sirius instead. She almost shivers in that thought.
“What's going on?” James asks, clearly in no control of his emotional reaction to seeing Berry…or Barty, again. “He's an ass, I can't believe you like this monster, Regulus.” Baby Black, is staring at them, shocked. He and his brother share the same expression, and Remus looks terrified, like he wants to sink away from the situation.
“Monster? Wow, you're not the best person in the world either, you cocksucker!” Barty yells.
“Oi! Both of you! Stop!” Sirius yells again, he frowns. James folds his arms and sits down. Barty does as well, his glare still stuck to James.
The moments of them always staring at one another hasn't gone away. A habit not lost, just renewed, made different, turned into an evil thing. Soft glances, and smiles, turned to glares and frowns.
Marlene is pissed at Barty, of course she is. How could she not? Not only did he hurt James, he hurt her too. They were friends too. But, Marlene loves to reminisce. She’s still that little girl at heart, and she hurts for her friends now.
“It's not my fault,” James says, looking at Sirius. “I just- I can't deal with him right now.”He looks at Barty and grimaces. “Ugh, I can't even look.”
“Oh wow! Says the one who called me a slag! I'm hot and you know it. ” Marlene snorts, not meaning to. Barty gives her a glance before looking back at James.
“You look like a child’s colouring book,” James says. “Plus, the nose ring makes you look like a cow .” James nods while he says it and Barty gasps loudly. Marlene is trying hard not to laugh. She makes eye contact with an equally amused Mary and almost breaks.
“Your hair looks like a rat lives inside of it, and the glasses make you look like your brain actually has contents! You know I always wondered why we were taught not to judge a book by its cover and you are a prime example, you imbecile .” Mary opens her mouth wide at the comment and looks at Lily, who looks annoyed. Evan, apparently, is giving off a similar look.
“Cunt.” James spits out.
“Gargoyle fucker.”
“The fuck does that even mean?”
“Your mother’s hairy-”
“OKAY! THAT’S ENOUGH!” Dorcas stands up, her hands smacking against wood. Marlene can't help but stare up at her and think of how hot her yelling voice is. How hot her literal everything is. Dorcas Meadowes could be a cannibal that runs on all fours and wear’s peoples faces like masks, and Marlene would call it hot. “Obviously you two have some weird type of history that none of us are aware of, and you both need to walk it off.” She says.
They both look at her and that at each other, as if they're being scolded by a tired mother. They grumble and Barty stands, storming out of the Great Hall. Evan and Regulus share eye contact before getting up as well, Regulus places a hand on Remus’ shoulder and kisses him on the forehead before he and Evan start to follow their friend.
Marlene sits there, not exactly knowing how to react. Dorcas sits back down and pinches her nose bridge. Marlene and Peter share a knowing look. Marlene looks to James, who is promptly ignoring everything and glaring at his lap.
And then, someone says it.
“What in the bloody cock-sucking hell just happened?” Mary expresses.