Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

June 2^nd, 1979

“We take a vote. It has to be unanimous. So, all in favour of leaving the war and magic behind us raise your hand…”

Slowly one after the other each hand was raised.

~*~

The soft tap underneath Dorcas's feet were all she focused on. Ignoring the muttering from behind her she carried on dancing along to the rhyme twirling and leaping exactly on point. She had trained for this. She just had to keep her head up. Just as she saw the horizon where all her dreams could come true, she also noticed a whisper of blue. In that instance, she slipped but quickly regained her position and bowed.

The judges looked the dancer up and down before dismissing her. She retreated to the changing consumed with anger and sorrow. Auditions always sucked and they were even worse when she was distracted. She would not be getting that part in swan lake. She quickly grabbed a towel and scrubbed her face clean of all the makeup before sitting down and chucking her shoes at the wall. She had done so well and fucking tripped all that work she had put in; now they were shattered. She felt tears well up as she sat down on the floor. The overwhelming feeling of disappointment and defeat. She closed her eyes and took a breath.

Suddenly Dorcas was bathed in a soft blue hue. The familiar warmth began to soothe her and softly comforted her. She gradually opened her eyes and saw a pale sapphire gazelle above her. It looked at her as if to say you’ve got this. She sat there in the soothing heat of Marlene’s Patronus. She wandered over to it and held out her hand. It straight away placed its head onto her hand and rubbed against it before retreating.

“Wait.” It stopped and peered back.

“You alright?”

It shook its head vividly before Marlene's voice choked out. Her voice was trembling and filled with anguish and longing as she pleaded, “We need help. The order. The order has fallen. Death-eaters. Everywhere. Can anyone hear me? I repeat the order has fallen.” The desperate cries for help rang out in the empty room piercing. “We need help. I need help. Anyone.”

With a crack, the message finished, and the gazelle vanished. Leaving Dorcas with a million more questions and one favour to ask. She quickly got home shoving up the front door and running to the telephone. She heard it ring once and rung twice, “Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.”

.

.

.

The phone began ringing on the side table. Barty moaned out trying to reach for it. “Snakey, the phone.”

Evan gave him a bewildered expression as he thrusts into him again before snatching it off the surface. “Pet. Remember to keep quiet.” He smirked down at him, “Oh it’s you.” The blonde pulled out with the biggest grin, “Oh, yeh he is here... yeh… hmm… okay… right... I can hand you over to him.”

The blonde handed it over to the confused brunette, “hi?”

“Hey, Bee.”

“Dorcas, dee, Dora, double dee. That weir-” he squeaked out as he allowed Evan complete control, “what’s up?”

“The war?”

Barty whimpered out as Evan rocked his hips down before replying, “You sure you want to talk about this now?”

“It's been bugging me for a while, and it surfaced again. I need to discuss it soon.” Evan took the moment to bite down on Barty's neck making him gasp and his hips buckle.

“How about you pick me up tomorrow?” He answered the gritted teeth as Evan, the absolute sadistic bastard, continued biting down on his neck.

“Are you okay?”

“Just fine.” Evan carried on trailing kissing over his body and shifted on top of him setting his weight between his thighs.

“Alright. Tomorrow after drop off?”

“I-” He shuddered against Evan, “yes?”

“Good okay. We can talk tomorrow. I’m sorry for calling this late.” There was a pause, “Are you guy seriously fucking right now?”

 “I’ll make a meeting to get Regulus here. Umm and-”

“Don’t. I'll see you outside the theatre.” Then the line went dead. Evan was still smirking at him.

“You are such a git.”

“Takes on to know one, mon minou.”

The blonde shoved the landline back onto the holder and immediately kissed him pushing him back down into the bed.

~*~

Evan before the alarm went turned it off, he looked down at his chest and smiled as his boyfriend lay across him. He wondered about yesterday; he didn’t have any regrets about leaving the war behind and staying with Barty, but he missed magic and his family. What if they had gone to the war; what was the worst that could have happened? He blinked down and smiled at the brunette. No, he wouldn’t trade anything for this moment. He looked down at the alarm. He gently placed Barty down back on his side and walked to the bathroom. He went to brush his teeth before having a shower and changing into a white T-shirt and some jeans. Then walked over and turned on the bathtub. He opened the cabinet and grabbed a vile wandering back into the room to see his boyfriend still asleep. He smirked and went to go grab two cups of water.

“Pet, it’s time to get up.” He poked his cheek. He was still motionless, “Bee. You alive?”

There was a groan in response, he shrugged and tossed a cup of water making the other man jolt up and begin spluttering before looking to Evan, who was smirking with another cup and his pills in hand. He took a pill and swallowed it with water before giving him a sparing glance and rolling his eyes. He pulled back up the blanket and turned over.

“Jokes on you I don’t mind going back to sleep soaking wet.” He mumbled.

“I know that mon minhou.”

“Turn on that dumb radio thingy which talks about odd murders. The one that you like so I can be bored back to sleep.”

Evan clicked in annoyance before he stood up and plucked him from his bed and carried him by his arms. Then carried him to the bathroom and dropped him into the running bathtub. There was a whine at the temperature change before a hum of gratitude and a smile as he looked at the freckled boy. He switched off the running tap. The blonde left him in the bathroom and went to get out his canvas and equipment for the day. Then retreated to the room and picked up a set of clothes for Barty that day placing it into the bathroom, where his boyfriend still lying down with his eyes closed. He shook his head; he would call Regulus later today to meet. Then he disappeared to the living room placing the Beatles vinyl on the turntable. 

Evan grabbed a paintbrush and looked at the canvas. It was almost completed but the eyes were off. They seemed too dim, and the background was all wrong as well. He needed to finish this before the end of the term for his final grade depended on this. He clicked in annoyance. Then smeared a grey onto his palette before adding white and mixing it; he rolled his neck before dipping his paintbrush in. He slowly scraped the canvas and instantly regretted it spending the next few minutes trying to rectify his mistake. This is surprisingly how he paints. He felt a weight on his shoulder and saw his boyfriend clinging on to them.

“Still a shit photo you picked.” He cackled before kissing his cheek.

“Breakfast is in the fridge and you're gonna be late.” Evan paused and looked into the warm brown eyes. Then Barty pecked his lips before releasing him and leaving to the corridor. “I’ll call Regulus don’t worry about it and the Dorcas will probably see you after the kids… you don’t have to thank me for the friendlier clothes. You would steal it anyways.”

“What would I do without you?”

“That is a scary thought, isn’t it?”

“I’m not that incompetent, dickhead.”

“Your right.” Evan looked up at smirked at him, “You’d probably just end up burning down a building and I’d have to pick you up in jail.”

“You're changing the sheets and maybe later you can tell me about the 1943 murder oddity and why magic was involved in a muggle case,” Barty smiled at him before rushing out. He needed to give Evan some incentive or he would just stare blankly at the painting trying to make it even more perfect.

The brunette looked at the watch he had three minutes to get down to the theatre. He sprinted along the paved alleyways and the windy roads. He dodged and ducked past people. He looked down at his watch and watched the second-hand click. He weaves up and down the narrow pathways. Entering a park, he sprints along the grass and leaps over the bench before finally he can see the building. He burst through the doors and smiled at the receptionist.

“You are late.”

“Time is relative, and no kids have arrived, so I am fine.” He bowed.

“God it’s still creepy seeing a relaxed Scott.”

Barty snorted and walked backstage shoving his bag in the changing room yawning. Eight in the morning is an unholy time to be at work at…

Regulus couldn’t agree more with a statement in his life and therefore he only got out of bed after noon usually excluding the weekdays when he got up at ten to go to lessons. He tumbled out of bed to a phone call from Evan. He didn’t pick it up and let his voicemail handle it.

“Reg, I know you are still in bed so pick up before a walk over to your house and break open your door.” There was a pause as Regulus eyed the phone muttering no you wouldn’t before closing his eyes and rolling over, “I know your there. Just pick up the sodding phone. It takes all of five seconds…” Regulus slammed his hand on the phone and pulled it up. “Goodie you aren’t dead.”

“Four.”

“Wow. You are treaty your best friend like this.”

“Pandora is my best friend. Three.”

“Excuse me.”

“Or maybe even Barty. Two.”

“Dickhead.”

“One.”

“We are having a meeting later about the war at our place.”

That certainly woke Regulus up and he jolted up, “WHAT?!” However, the line had already gone dead; Evan had hung up. “Twit.”

The black-haired boy immediately went to type in the number to call Evan and the line began to ring again. Of course, Evan didn’t pick up. Letting it go to the voicemail machine instead. “You forgot to give me the time you knob…” Silent, “I shouldn’t have let it go to voicemail?” silence again. Regulus sighed, “You are my best friend…”

“I didn’t notice you calling must have missed it.” The black-haired man could hear the smirk on the other side.

"Screw you.”

“You have a limited vocabulary for someone who has a degree in bloody English.”

“Just tell me the time.”

“Fine, one thirty. You know how to get to our apartment.”

“I live in the complex next to yours.”

“That a, no?”

“I hope you smudge your paint, and you scratch your lens, you pillock.”

There was an audible gasp and Regulus couldn’t help a smile at his friend’s antics. “You wanna meet up earlier, I could use your help on the painting.”

“Sure. I’ll come over in an hour.” Regulus thought for a second, “Barty missed breakfast, right?”

“Of course, he did.”

“Be over in ten.”

The line went dead again, and he put his phone onto the holder. He walked to the bathroom. It had been a few years of leaving the world of magic behind; of course, it had been hard for everyone, but it had been especially hard on Regulus. He felt like a hypocrite everything he had been angry about when Sirius had left, he had now done.

Muggle's life wasn’t at all what he had thought it was- he thought life without magic would have been so simple. It wasn’t. He had struggled with the workload of the university for the first term, but his friends all helped him immeasurably including Pandora who was now having her first child. They had all initially shared an apartment for the first year and then Dorcas left; then Barty and Evan. It was a too smaller apartment anyways. He did miss them, but they all made a habit of bothering him regularly. Despite the struggles, he enjoyed this as if living without magic and he had found the beauty of the muggle world within the novels and books.

Regulus finished up. He grabbed his journal and the vinyl, which he refused to hand to Barty or Evan despite him not even having a turntable. He headed off and quickly arriving at his friend's apartment. He unlocked the door, leaving his shoes off at the door.

“Pancakes are on the fridge's second shelf,” Evan called from his seat.

“Thanks.” The black-haired boy grabbed the plate of pancakes and lemon and sugar before walking over to the couch.

“Left wrist.”

Regulus handed him his wrist, where there were five birds instead of the dark mark, as he poured on the toppings. Then glanced at the painting. “Votre finale?”

“Yeh. I don’t get why I keep messing it up.”

“C'est bon.” His arm was released, and Regulus pulled out the vinyl switching out the music for his own. Then walked back, “C'est vraiment bien. Et tellement réaliste.”

“Thanks, Frenchy. I may as well go out with one last bang at the uni.”

Regulus rolled his eyes at the name and pulled out his journal.

~*~

 Dorcas arrived early at the theatre; it was an odd delight watching Barty with the kids. Some more than others you could practically hear him say don’t kill the bugger over and over. It was even better watching him interacting with the parents you could hear his blood pressure rising. The dancer walked into the theatre nodding to the receptionist as she walked in and slid into a seat at the back. She chuckled as she watched the brunette grab a kid throwing him over his shoulder as said kid giggled.  When the class ended, she snuck behind him slinging her arm around his shoulder.

“Hello, sweetie.”

“Hey, Dee.”

“It’s scary how parents actually trust you with kids?”

“Well first fuck you and two it’s about looking the part.”

“I wasn’t gonna mention your lack of piercing, leather vest, platforms, eyeshadow but now feel I feel the need to mention your fashion sense and the lack of it.”

“Coming girl that is wearing a red fedora. I take that as a compliment.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s a red fedora.” He giggled.

Dorcas stuck her tongue out at him as he laughed. They carried on walking down the streets of Scotland. “Do- do did you do anything yesterday?”

“After getting ready and awake it was around five. He was focusing on the painting too much, so I sat on his lap then rubbed against it as he painted then I felt a pleasant surprise-”

Dorcas immediately covered his mouth, “shockingly enough I don’t wanna hear about your sex-life. Understood?”

He nodded as she let go of his mouth, “your hand tastes like coconut... Then we went to a pub together and there was this fucking woman. She kept eyeing what is mine and so I made her know it. Snakey called me a slut but still wanted me on my knees.” his eyes did a quick dodge to hears, “then we went home and... You did something what happened, Dork?”

Dorcas remained silent remembering the patronus. She hesitated and sighed, “Do you ever miss it?”

“What?”

“Magic?” He shrugged in response. “Do you think we did the right thing?”

“Why are you asking now?”

For a split second, she thought about lying and telling him it was just a joke and that they would just discuss it at the meeting. “I saw a gazelle.”

“What?”

“I saw a gazelle.”

“You saw a gazelle. A gazelle in Scotland… Scotland?”

Dorcas gave him a look and shook her head, “Ch-Sweetie, Marlene Patronus.”

“But Marzipan hasn’t contacted you in years. Ever since…” His voice fell flat and looked at Dorcas, “Are you sure?”

“No doubt about it. It came last night.”

“Shit.” He ran his hands through his hair, “Do you really wanna get back involved with her?”

“I don’t know. I can’t help but wonder what could have been if…if I had joined the Order? Maybe, they would be alive. I can’t help but think about the ifs. Are we cowards for not joining? How helpful I would have been? You know. I’m gonna drive myself insane.” She paused, “God I miss the magic. I truly do. At least I was good at that. I’m nothing special here. I kinda regret coming back. I know muggle-born coming back to muggle society should be a no-brainer, but I feel so average you know. I miss her and I know I should, but I do. I miss my friends. At least I have my family to see still.”

Barty remained quiet listening to Dorcas's ramble on and on. Eventually, they got to his apartment complex and waltzed up the stairs. He just opened the door and gave a weary smile back at her. “Ladies first.”

“Fuck yeah.” She chuckled, “Thanks for listening.”

“Don’t worry about it.” The pair carried on up the stairs pushing open the door. The door was shoved open interrupting whatever conversation Evan and Regulus were having.

“You are eating my breakfast, you little fucker?” Barty pointed at him before pretending to faint only for Dorcas not to catch him. “You guys are horrible people. I hope you know that. Oh how selfless old Reggie has fallen.”

Evan had to go pick up his boyfriend and threw him onto the couch as Dorcas went to the kitchen to grab a beer and a coke. Then went to sit on the chair.

“How was the audition?” Regulus asked looking up from his journal. She just shook her head. “Sorry, mate.”

They all were now seated in a circle, more of an ellipse but they were seated so they could all see each other. Dorcas chucked the coke at Barty as she began to sip a beer as they listened to Don Mclean.

“I better start…” she took a breath, “the order has fallen.”

It was eerily silent before Evan spoke, “So?”

“So?”

“So what?”

“There are people dying out there and they are getting slaughtered.”

“World war one and Two; Wizard did nothing to help despite the millions slaughtered. Let’s also not forget they wouldn’t hesitate to kill Reggie over there.”

“That doesn’t make it right and we are wizards.”

“How the fuck are four people gonna help the entire war?”

“We could help by finding pieces of his soul,” Regulus said, the trio gave him a look. “He split his soul into pieces hiding them into objects like Sauron in The Lord of the-”

“You mean Horcruxes? I thought you could only split your soul once though. My god that is so bloody brilliant... I mean awful but that immortality right there and the safeness in it. Dang, I feel stupid, I could have become immortal. Still could although-” Barty’s ramble went on and on until Regulus finally interrupted him.

“You know about them.”

Barty nodded, “yeah. Full-on dark magic shit. It is a curse on the user. It was in… give me a moment. The Secret of the Dark Arts by Owle Bullock; found in Dumblefaces office. Nicked it to read, some fuckwit took it from my room.”

“Do you think that may have been Dumbledore?”

“You know I didn’t put those pieces together but now I think about it… That does make sense. I mean he invited me to the office for biscuits.”

“Pet, why did he invite you to the office?”

“That’s what I’m saying. It was odd because it was just to catch up at the end of sixth.”

Dorcas paled at the mention before quickly diverting the conversation back to war, “So let’s do that.”

“What?” Evan muttered, “You can’t just decide what we do.”

“We can’t just do nothing.”

“Why not?”

“We aren’t kids anymore. We can make an impact and you don’t want to do anything.”

“Sue me, I like living.” Evan slammed his hands on the table and glared at her, “I like this life where I have my amazing boyfriend and a best friend. I have a long, good life planned. Just because you are having a shitty time doesn’t, we are.”

“But don’t you think everyone should be given a chance to live like we do? Be able to sip beer and dance, act, draw, write.” Dorcas stood up to look Evan eye to eye.

“I agree with Dorcas,” Regulus stated standing up with Barty. The three looked to Barty.

“I just felt the need to stand up.”

“Bee, what are you thinking right now?”

“I’m questioning why I didn’t get a beer.” Barty grinned and sighed, “I’ll just follow the majority.”

“All in favour of war, raise your hand.” Dorcas placed her arm up followed by Regulus.

“We aren’t telling my sister. She has her life sorted and Luna shouldn’t be without her mother.” Evan stated.

“Agreed, I know where a Horcrux is,” Regulus answered, Evan placed his hand up as well with Barty.

“First is bloody first. We don’t have our wands.” The three immediately looked at Evan. He had a point; you see they got rid of their wands because magic could easily be tracked, and they did not need them.

Chapter Text

1^st July 1979

The four stood at the platform and here they would make their final decisions if they got onto the Hogwarts Express now and leave this mad idea behind or go through with it despite the risk of getting hunted. The four watched the blurry faces of the students pass by them, all of them unsure about what to do.

“Are we sure we are doing the right thing?” Evan asked breaking the long-held silence as they saw the crowd board.

“No idea,” Barty murmured back as he looked at the steam train. He took a hesitant step forward.

“We are,” Regulus answered putting an arm around him; in truth, he didn’t know the answer but the grass sure as hell had to be greener on the other side. “We have to be.”

The four stood at the platform and heard the final call to get onto the train. The doors slid shut and they watched the train pull away and now the platform was barren and deserted. This was the last time they would be on the platform.

“It's too late to back out now,” Dorcas stated as they took all cast a final look at the castle. 

“We are so fucked, aren’t we?” Evan stated with a cackle.

“Let’s get out of here, Siri,” Regulus called dragging Barty off the platform with him. He was actually doing this and now he didn’t want to turn back not yet at least. The two followed after them; catching up to them. The black-haired boy whispered some soft reassurance to the brunette as they exited the grounds.

“So, time to get drunk at Hogshead, I guess….” Evan asked as they began to wander through the town. Regulus released Barty as they walked.

“Well even with the Hogwarts Express it’s a nine our trip so we have at least three hours to get drunk as we can then we need to get on the train to Glasgow then another train from there.”

“Can’t believe we are bloody doing this?” Dorcas laughed.

“Neither can I,” Barty muttered back.

They would hide their wands where no one would suspect and where they would forget; in hopes that in time they wouldn’t even be able to recall what brought them together in the first place… obviously, that didn’t work.

~*~

“I better not bump into McGonagall. I swear to God, you can kill me.”

“Slughorn would be worse, Pet.”

“For you because he had such high expectations for you, especially after sixth, m'eudail.”

“Yeh…You finished packing?”

“Yep.” He smiled back at Evan. Quickly running to the table and throwing a book into his satchel. “Have you got everything?” The blonde eyed the oven for a second. “No. We aren’t taking the oven.”

“You're just upset I banned you from using it.” Barty immediately grabbed his hand as they walked up to the door, “hey Pretty Bird, are you sure you wanna?” The brown eyes dodged to the ground as he nodded in response. “Alright then let's go.”

Then they exited through the door and Evan steadily locked the door behind them as they took the bus and carried down to the station. They met up with Dorcas and Regulus who were already chatting as they entered the scene and quickly greeted them.

“Train to Glasgow doesn’t come every fifteen minutes; we just missed one. And it’s a six-hour trip with two changes or a five-hour journey with buses.”

“We can get a car back if we need to be quicker?” Barty added, “Taxi?”

“Taxis are bloody expensive,” Dorcas replied looking at the map and seeing the trail back to Fort Williams.

“We could rent one or steal one.”

“We don’t have licenses.” Regulus sighed, “What if we get pulled up by the coppers.”

“I have a license.”

“You know what Barty. I would rather die.”

Barty snorted, “hold up, I have a motorbike that we just need to pay for fuel for; it's cheaper and quicker. I’m not that bad of a driver although four people may not fit onto the bike.” Dorcas and Regulus both turned to Evan glaring daggers at him. As he threw, he hands in surrender. “I might just travel by myself; I can get our wands and meet you somewhere. It would be so much quicker if we did that.”

“Yeh, I’ll deal with it,” Evan said getting up and walking over to Barty. He whispered something in his ear as Regulus immediately went to the ticket office Barty gave him a look and murmured something back. The blonde gave it a second, “Dorcas your turn.”

“If you don’t come with us. I’ll knock you unconscious and drag you into the train.”

“You wouldn’t, you love me too much,” Barty replied. Dorcas gave him a look as if to say try me. “You would… alright.”

“Also, I want the keys to your motorbike… now chree.”

“I don’t have them on me- hey.”

Dorcas pickpocketed his boyfriend and then watched as Evan threw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The black girl just laughed at the way the brunette just submitted to his fate. Regulus arrived back with the four tickets in hand and snickered at the way Barty was hanging down. A few minutes later, the train pulled up onto the tracks with billowing white steam. The doors slid open with a gentle hiss and passengers began emerging on by on; their faces a blur as they disappeared past them.

“Here we go again-”

“I feel a bit lightheaded now, Snakey.”

“Sorry, Pet.”

After a smooth ride, the four reached the first point of transfer and followed the signs guiding them to the next platform before. The second train arrived, glistening in the vibrant sun and they stepped aboard. The train took them through quaint villages and sprawling fields right into the city. They quickly exited and switched to their last and final train. The four entered the train.

As the train chugged along leisurely the four went to find an abandoned cabin. When they did, Dorcas and Regulus immediately sat on opposite sides making the other two separate. The uncertainty and the shame mixed into the silence as the train took them out from the city to the grassland. Eventually, Barty broke the silence by chucking a book at each of them, smacking the two ex-quidditch player square in the face. Evan, of course, began to laugh since he was handed his camera and book.

“What the fuck, mate?” Dorcas yelled hitting his shoulder.

“You didn’t 1984 lobbed at you.” Regulus groaned swiping the book off the floor. “I think I have a fucking concussion. How did it manage to hit your head? You’re sitting next to him.”

“Je suis fou de toi.” Evan stated.

“I miss when you two insulted each other and bullied each other as a form of love.”

“Wait, that isn’t an insult?” Barty responded.

“Tu as choisi cet idiot pour aimer.”

“I know what idiot means in French, Reginald.”

“Fuck off, Bartholomew.” He turned to Evan, “ç'est celui que tu veux?”

“Oh, a hundred percent.” The blonde gave a sly grin, “anyways where did we leave the clue to find our wands?”

“On the roof of the station,” Dorcas answered whilst picking up the book off the floor. “The Pearl; what the fuck is this about?”

“You have to find out Dorculus.” He licked his lips and pulled out his own book.

The train ride was long, and Barty found himself unable to keep his eyes open and drifted to sleep. When he awoke to sunlight getting filtered through a canopy and when he blinked, he realised they had already arrived at Fort William and were now travelling through the forest.  He was brought to a clearing and there stood a solitary door with trees towering over it. He rubbed his eyes and tapped Dorcas to signal he was conscious as they got closer and closer to the door and to Evan and Regulus were already prattling about with the rocks around it. Then nodded to them despite the door not appearing any difference. The four then walked through it entering into another woodland area identical from the last. The dancer carried on giving him a piggyback through the pine tree forest before letting him down at Hogsmeade.

“Thanks.”

“No problem, Bee.” She smiled, “I say this with love, but you need to get some meat on your bones.”

“Excuse you. I’m built like G-eyed joe.”

Barty lifted his shirt and was about to start flexing but immediately Dorcas just gave him a little nudge making him trip over. He lay there pouting until she held out a hand, he gladly grabbed it and swung her down before standing up and bowing. The woman just yanked his ankle making him fall over.

“You two are children and both lost.” Regulus tutted walking back after he said that Evan immediately kicked the back of his shoe making him fall over as well.

“Don’t get cocky kid.” Evan proclaimed.

“My Han Solo save me.” Barty cried out reaching out

“Shouldn’t have snogged Luke then, slut… I mean your own brother. Were you really that desperate?” The blonde smirked down at him.

“I do not regret making you watch it.”

“Nerd.”

“You dragged us around an art gallery and even Dorcas and Regulus managed to get away, who made me stay?”

“I thought you liked the art gallery?”

Dorcas snickered before standing up and saying, “your boyfriend struggles to sit still for more than ten minutes. You took us to an art gallery for one hour and him for four hours. I’m shocked he didn’t try to shoot himself.”

“You should have said something, Pet.”

“Ignore Dorcas. She’s a dancer. I loved going round the art gallery for four hours and twenty-seven minutes holding your hand as you told me the history and mythology behind each piece and artist.” He pushed himself of the ground and wearily smiled. He played with the chain of his necklace.

“Great there another I’ve been dying to go to Centre Pompidou and since we have magic back you wouldn’t even have to quit. Plus, we can check out some houses near the college. we may even visit the colleges and see some piece of the students. I'll explain the imagery usage. We also need to visit Chateau Mathilde.”

"Yay.”

“He says crying on the inside.” Regulus narrated.

“Hey, I don’t mind we will be going to other places. You know I'd go anywhere with you, mo chridhe.”

“Ugh, get a room.”

“Piss off, Frenchy.”

“You are French as well Evander.”

“Not as French.”

“You are as French as me.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Regulus stop arguing with me. We need to get a move on and find our wands.”

“Shame on you, Reggie.” Barty chipped in leaning on Dorcas with a smirk. “Anyways, I was wondering-”

“Just go.” Dorcas sighed

“Really?”

“You will complain otherwise.”

“Love you guys.” With that he disappeared down the cobbled path.

“He doesn’t have any money.”

“You two checked your pockets?” Evan asked finally giving a hand up to Regulus. Dorcas and Regulus frantically began to pat themselves down. “Don’t worry. He nicked mine as well.”

“Fucking kleptomaniac.” Regulus muttered, “I didn’t even notice it this time.”

“He’s gotten better though, thanks to someone.” He gave a look to Dorcas.

“At least he didn’t date Mr Hoarder.” Dorcas sighed, she wasn’t even allowed to complain since she had been the one to teach him.

"I’m not a hoarder,” Regulus protested weakly. Only to have Evan just pat his shoulder.

The three of them made their way down to the station predictably quickly, mainly because a certain someone was not there, and they were also fairly concerned said person being alone with their money. The station as deserted and the platform seemed even smaller than they remembered. The stench of pine could still be smelt from the platform and from across the distance Hogwarts stood looking as if it were from a fairy-tale. The children would be doing the exams still. The familiar sight reminded them of all the times well spent and brought back some bittersweet memory of their final days it also prompted them, especially Evan, to remember the real reason they had to fight in this war. Evan carried on staring out at the magic of the view and found himself wishing he could take a picture. He felt Regulus tap him to bring him out of his trance. He gestured to give him a boost to get onto the roof.

“Alright, Oom-pah Loompa. Let’s give you a boost.”

“Fuck you.”

“Don’t think you have stamina enough?”

But he still ended up getting a boost onto the rooftop while Dorcas jumped up to reaching onto the ledge before swinging herself up in on motion. Then the pair strolled across the rooftop getting to the next roof to the chimney as Evan pulled himself up. They began to inspect each brick before one slid out.

"Bullocks.” Regulus said taking out a single piece of paper.

Dorcas peered over his shoulder and went back to the hiding hall to see the rest of the clues had turned into sludge then cursed aloud. With all their combined common sense, they didn’t consider the weather. Evan got to them and immediately face palmed after seeing whose handwriting it was.

“The worst part is it doesn’t make sense.” Dorcas sighed. “Shit full stop best friend. Does anyone a guess?”

“It sounds like that blithering idiot left it with us. It’s dumber than anything Sirius could come up with.” Regulus replied. “Evan he’s yours, any ideas?”

“Not a fucking clue.” Evan gritted his teeth, “let’s think for a second… yeah, I’m turning up a blank. Dorcas?”

Dorcas investigated the distance before shaking her head, “Nope, let’s go find Bee.”

They jumped off the roof and went to go find the brunette; he was wondering out of the forest holding a bag of apples then saw them waving before running over to them.

“I need you tell you about the store. It upgraded. Also have you noticed the lack of student it’s as if school went out early or something. ”The brunette blinked then snatched the paper and without battering an eyelash he said, “they’re at Hogshead. I tell you there so much stuff in stitches and draught like muggle gismos and jars full random objects like puffapod and gilliweed. Only for two galleons per jar so I just had to get a jar, so I got the jar of g-”

“Thought process, sweetie?” she said and pointed to the note.

“Shit synonym is poo. What type of Poo could have a best friend? Pooh Bear.  Pooh’s best friend is piglet. Piglet who is a pig. The only places in hogshead with the name to do with a pig is Hogshead.”

“He made that sound completely reasonable.” Regulus sighed. “And yet I don’t I think I would of guessed that in a million years.”

"Bee, there a slight issue Christopher Robin is Pooh’s best friend.” Dorcas called.

“No, he isn’t.” Barty gave on offended look and hissed. “He isn’t.”

“Chris- Sweetie…”

“No and I’ll tell you why Pooh’s best friend is Piglet without a shadow of fucking doubt.” The brunette swung his arm around Dorcas's shoulder and began to march them to the inn.

“Dorcas is screwed.” Regulus laughed then looked to Evan, who looked as if he were in a dream. He glanced where Evan was looking and of course it was Barty and Dorcas. The brunette was smiling and laughing at a joke he had obviously made with the black-haired girl scowling. “You are so whipped, mate.”

Evan just played with his camera before taking a picture. It was time like these Regulus thought about James. What would have happened between them, what could have happened. He rolled his eyes as the blonde placed the camera back down.

“So, Evander when’s the wedding?” The blue eyes looked at him and rolled his eyes making Regulus gape in pure shock. “Holy shit… where’s the ring?” The blonde just shook his head before beginning to walk away, making Regulus run after him, “does Dora know?”

“She knows. It is the Rosier ring after all.” He smiled at him as they walked together. “I’m going to ask when we get home.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Fuck off.”

“No seriously.” The two stopped walking. “I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks… that uh- that means a lot coming from you.” Evan scratched the back of his head as they stood there in silence. “We sh-should go.”

“Yeh. Yep.” They began to walk again. “So where is it?”

“The oven.” Regulus shook his head before Evan carried on. “You’ll be my best man. I’m assuming that is.”

“What about Pandora?”

“Don’t sell yourself short- you’re my brother. You are our brother, really. Pandora kind of adopted you.” Regulus couldn’t stop a smile on his face as he listened to Evan. “I love my sister, but organisation is her thing as well-”

“I’ll do it.” Regulus interrupted. “i though it was weird you saying Chateau Mathilde.”

“Hmm... we still need to see if he says yes.”

Regulus’s laughter filled the air again, his genuine toothy grin broke through. Evan couldn’t help but join in sharing in with laughing. It was as if the war didn’t exist. No Horcuxes. No Voldemort. No death-eater. Just them. God, he didn’t mind if it was always just this. Was it worth going back in the war if he was satisfied with this life? The other two waited outside the inn.

“He wouldn’t stop talking. He did not stop talking. It was all about piglet.”

Dorcas let out an exasperated breath. Evan pulled the man away from Dorcas- her clearly in a state of mental agony after hearing a seven-minute rant about why Piglet is Pooh’s best friend. How he had managed to come up with a seven-minute speech about such a niche topic was shocking. The blonde kissed his forehead and smiled down at him as he beamed back up as they walked in.

The room had a few strays scattered around the room and was all time quiet, but it was still the very same bar with the dusty wooden floors and the owner was still there using the same ragged cloth to clean up the cups. The old man seemingly lit up, well his lip slightly curled upwards which counts due to his usually apathetic nature, when he saw the four. Barty sprinted across the room and bounded over the counter to pull him into a hug resting his ear on his chest much to the senior disproval.

“Abby, you have our wands. Right?”

“Yes, Barty.”

“You called me Barty. You did miss me.”

“Meadowes get him off me.”

The black-haired woman walked over and had to pry the brunette off the senior allowing him to finally breath and go get their wands.  She pulled him over to the booth that Evan and Regulus had selected.

“Okay a Horcrux is located in the cave.”

“We can apparate.” Dorcas answered, “almost all of us can.”

“I’ll take Frenchy don’t worry.” Evan nodded before messing up Regulus hair and moving further away with a groan.

“We established that Voldy was Tom Riddle and the descendent of gaunt therefore another Horcrux is probably where he grew up. The Gaunts only lived in one place which coincidentally there is also a mansion for the Riddles.” He hummed.

“Oh. The case of the 1943 murders in Hangleton.” Evan realised and petted Barty’s hair. “I always told you magic felt as if it were involved. The Gaunts were too well versed in magic. That means I’ve solved the case it was the Dark Lord. The heirlooms of the Gaunt’s were never found as well. My parents badly wanted all the locket and ring that they were said to have. Then when they put up in the news the loss of the artefacts along with the cups; my mother paid a multitude of people to find it. She thought because I got into Slytherin it should be my destiny.” Then he smirked and turned to his boyfriend, “and you told me they were boring.”

“They are.”

The two heads turned to give them a blank look. Abeforth dropped a box and placed a tray on the table as they stared blankly at the brunette making three of them jump and Evan just give an unimpressed look.

“You two are correct.” Abeforth said handing out the wands to them, “Tom Riddle is in fact he-who-must-not-be-named. Don’t worry about apparition. I have an image to help you to do so. Barty a Harvey Wallbanger with pumpkin juice, Rosier a fire-whiskey, Black Junior red wine and Meadowes fishy green ale.”

“You remembered, my order Abby.” He wiped away fake tears, “do you still have the polish vodka behind the bar?”

“Depends on if you still have your alcohol problem, and I swear if you try hug me again. I will kick you out.”

“I’m a paying customer, my dear sir.”

“How have you mentally regressed since I last saw you?”

“They say with age comes wisdom, that not the case for Barty it’s actually quite the opposite, really.” Regulus helped getting a harsh kick to his shin via his friend, who was chugging down the drink at an alarming rate. Then handed the glass to Abeforth with a grin and shooed him away.

“So, we get the pictures to apparate tomorrow. Tonight, we celebrate like a king and queens.” His voice control was weirdly enough wavering making the rest of them scan the bar in case of death-eaters, “I mean why not? Like we know where the cup and locket are, all over the news. So, we can easily know four of them: ring, locket, diadem and cup. Maybe the sword. Now since we decided that no matter who we get captured by, we don’t tell them anything.  Now we shall drink since the night is still young.”

“How are you still a crackhead medicated?” Dorcas asked as she nodded along to the decision he had made for the majority.

“I think you mean my charming personality, Dee.” He smirked before getting up with his wand leaving to the stage. He waved his wand and winked out at them.  

“Bets?” Evan asked

“I’ve got a feeling on Michael.” Regulus answered.

“Billy, obviously.” Dorcas replied sharply. There was a silence as they watched the brunette stretch on stage and take of his jumper. “Rosier?”

“Billy.”

“Not fair pick another.”

“No.”

“Pick another.”

“Jeez your bossy... Queen then?”

The brunette made a spotlight point on him. Sure enough, “Piano man” began to play.The mini crowd cheering loudly. Then it went silent as the piano played itself. It was peculiarly there weren't any students here or perhaps students got boring after they left.

“It's nine o'clock on a Saturday...” Barty began grabbing the mic of the stage. Much to most people disbelief Barty did actual have an incredible voice. Although he rarely used it unless going to the dumb choir club, which he claimed was his quidditch despite him also being an absolute quidditch fanatic. “The regular crowd shuffles in.”

“There's an old man sittin' next to me.” he faked tipped a hat to Abeforth, who was opening a bottle of Vodka. “Makin' love to his tonic and gin.”

The gloomy atmosphere war cleared and suddenly the fireplace began to work. A feeling a warmth overcame the place as if the inn was humming along to the brunette’s singing. The audience began to sing along as he began to get off the stage preforming the natural theatrics.  It was nice. The war became secondary in the moment and every inside Hogshead could forget.

Evan couldn’t help a surge of pride, with a bit of jealousy, as he watched the grin on his boyfriend's face as he danced around the room. He was going to marry that boy. Regulus tried to roll his eyes at him, but couldn’t, instead the corner of his lip curled up into a smile. Dorcas began to, slightly off-key, sing along to the song. When the almost six minutes were up, she clapped the loudest. The cheer died down and the brunette went to the bar.

“Pay up.”  Regulus clicked in annoyance and handed her a galleon. “Rosier. Stop staring at Barty like a lovesick idiot and pay up.”

“Fuck you, Meadowes.” he grumbled turning his attention. Then handed her a galleon, “I would have been right.”

“We both know the rules.” Evan just stuck his tongue out at her. Then much to Regulus amusement it kept escalating. He gazed towards Barty- he still hadn't returned. He grinned.

“Hey Ev.” Regulus stated.

“What?” The blonde turned to looked where the black-haired man was looking. There was a woman placing her hand onto an arm belonging to him. His Barty was entertaining to him in conversation. He got up and strolled over.

Barty felt an arm around his shoulder and looked up to see his boyfriend hanging onto to him. He gets turned around and pulled it a hug. Then pressed his mouth on his, the cold chain which held the ruby necklace was pulled out- just to prove that Barty was his, something that if you asked Barty he wouldn’t mind- before just hanging back onto his shoulder rather like a coat. Barty grabbed a half pint of vodka and placed his wand onto his cup. The elderly watched a trail of ice run across the outside. The brunette smirked before picking up the glass and taking it like a shot.

“That’s a neat trick.” Abeforth remarked ignoring the future kidney failure problem.

“I know. Fire spells are useless, what do they want me to do give them warm beer? Weird.”

“What about winter?”

“Eh- I know like uh two fire spells. I run hot anyways. Ask E.”

“He does. 1976 was awful for him. He actually passed out, which was fairly concerning.” Barty pouted before knocking the blonde of his shoulder, “and he is bloody sexy.”

“Too late.” The brunette rolled his eyes and took another two shots. Turning to Regulus and Dorcas and waving to the pair, “wonder wh-why they are talking ‘bout?”

“Not a clue, Pet.”

“Really? Bit quick there Rosier.” Abeforth quipped.

“Why are you still here?” he quipped back rolling his eyes

“Y-you know we have magic now, Snakey.” Barty slurred as he tripped over to him. Falling flat into his arms. The blonde sighed and looked down at the copper-haired man. Scanning him then shook his head.

“Alright you want to go let’s go, pretty bird.”

“Hey I like that nickna- hey.” Evan picked him up into his arms and began to carry him out of the bar, “you know you are stronger than me... Your taller than me by an inch… and you think your so attractive. I just think your pretty. Please do me a favour let me suc…”

Abeforth chuckled at the two men and his gaze fell back to the other two, who seemed to be laughing at their antics. He could remember those four from many years ago. He wondered if he would ever see the fifth here reunited here and drinking together like they were children once more.

Chapter Text

Regulus made a gesture counting down until Evan pushed his chair back and stormed over, making both Dorcas and Regulus snorted with laugher. They watched the blonde walk up to the bar and placed his arms around his shoulders. Evan pulls him into a hug and glare at the woman- when I say glare I mean if look kill, she would have been incinerated. The woman exited the bar quicker than a cheetah can run. Leaving a rather confused boyfriend and Evan smirking rather like the joker and then swapped spit then went back to the original position.

“Evan is gonna propose when we get back.” Regulus whispered as he took another sip.

Dorcas snorted before seeing Regulus’s half smirk. “No way.”

“I’m no lia-”

“Yes, you are.”

“Well, I’m not lying right now.”

“Wait so… shit.” Dorcas shook her head and chugged the rest of her beer, “Does Pans know?”

“Yeh, she was the first he told.” Regulus paused, “he must of taken it when he was eighteen.”

“I’m guessing your best man?”

“Yeh, you will be as well.”

Dorcas smirked, “I get threaten Evan, again.”

“He hasn’t been anything, but head over heels since fifth except for… he won’t.” Regulus paused and looked up and watched Barty wave at them. In unison replied with a nod, “I bet Evan lifts him over his shoulder.”

“Bridal. A galleon?”

“Deal.”

“We both know Barty will wear a dress considering he screamed it at the top his lungs last we were here. What colour?”

“White because he’s ‘like a virgin’.” He did a pair of mocking jazz hands.

“You are wrong.” Dorcas smirked as Regulus hand her a galleon, “black because it is sliming.”

“I doubt it.” Regulus clicked. “You ready to lose like you did on The Great Dragon bet.”

“Get of that fucking of yours high horse. Because if memory survives you didn’t win; you just didn’t get caught.”

“I still don’t understand, how he found a dragon egg to begin with?”

“I can get over him finding one dragon egg but five fucking eggs.” Dorcas drummed her fingers, “it has to be a skill, right?”

“Or some blessing of a god.” Regulus took the rest of his drink like a shot, “we should off never agreed to that bet.”

“That’s because we both lost.”

Regulus gave her a look before conceding, “yeh. Your right. I’m going to retire for the night.”

Dorcas nodded and polished of her drink before following giving a nod to Aberforth as she went to a bit of investigating on the state of wizarding world then headed to sleep. After she had officially wrangled Regulus out of bed and placed him down onto the bench the next morning with a cup of coffee. She noticed Evan and Barty shaking hands at the top of the stairs before coming down and she heard them say, “you know I like it when you lick my body.”

“That’s because your body is so perfect. Carved like the statue of Marcus August. Not a single scratch or scar on it. The way you-you do that thing. Aren’t you just a good boy.”

“Oh, Evan just take me and don’t stop until I can't eve-”

Dorcas pretended to throw up in front of them making the pair stop. Barty prodded at Regulus then shook him until he woke up. Then sat down next to him.

“Why do you have a bag?” The black-haired boy groaned

“I said the exact same thing.” Evan said with a smirk.

“Why do you dress like a lesbian on steroids?” Barty replied sharply.

“The fuck does that mean.”

“It’s just a phrase people use.”

“Who the fuck says that?” Dorcas asked and placed her hand on his forehead checking for a fever.

“Ignoring Barty’s idiocy-”

“Excuse you I got-”

“Twelve OWLs, we know.” The three groaned. “And ten NEWTs.”

Regulus now awake and finished of his coffee. Then gestured for another as he took out a notepad. “So Eve, rundown on the case of 1943 and any items used.”

“Well, Pet mentioned a few so yesterday we did a bit of research into the life of Tom Riddle and into Horcruxes.” He paused and took out a piece of parchment, “during his time at Borgins and Burkes a multitude of heirlooms went missing if we can easily see a pattern with these objects.  So, the conclusion we have the Slytherin’s locket, Ravenclaw’s diadem, Hufflepuff’s cup and the Gaunt ring. The diadem was lost at Hogwarts centuries ago but it not implausible that he located it.”

“Any other locations we can't just walk into Hogwarts especially not Reg even with the coverup.” Dorcas replied. Regulus subconsciously gripped his tattoo, “most the teachers would know he has it. It will be a sure way to be thrown out. Or worse you might go to Azkaban for being a death-eater courtesy of Barty’s dad.”

There was a brief silence, until Barty quickly picked up the conversation with a dumb smile.

“Any who... the Gaunt Ring location is unknown, but I personally suspect he left Hangleton. The cup is lucky for us located in Gringotts and specifically Les Strange vault. Which coincidentally next the Rosier vault and near the Black vault. I would like to note I also have a vault it just isn't as big as yours but with Evan’s I'm richer than you.”

“Why would I give you, my vault?”

“Because I'll just only wear your gold coins.”

Evan cheek warmed up while both Dorcas and Regulus gave a puzzled look at the brunette and blonde. They blinked trying to understand what that meant.

“Right...” Dorcas spoke. “We know and have the pictures of the location of the locket to teleport there.”

“Apparate.” Evan remarked.

“Tomato Tomatoe.”

“They are two different words.”

“You are such a dick.”

“A big one.” Barty chirped. Immediately getting a swift hit to the back of the head, “deserved that.”

“Then last horcrux would be him. So, no matter what we would have to fight him.” Regulus continued the conversation from before. “We just need to figure out how many he has and what and where.”

Before Barty could open his mouth and make what Dorcas could only assume was a childish. She immediately placed her hands down on to the table with a slam, “I call a vote to ignore the youngest at the table.”

“Oi. That’s not fair.”

“Do we know how to destroy them?” Regulus asked. They all shook their heads except for Barty who too busy pouting. “Shit.”

“Let’s do this one step at a time. Get all the Horcruxes to one place then destroy them. Since they are connected to him. Perhaps he could feel it.” Dorcas answered. “Let’s get the locket. Then come back here. Then go for the gaunt ring. Then Hufflepuff cup. By that time, we will have figured out the answers.”

“What if we don’t?”

“Shut up, Rosier. We will.”

Regulus talked a bit about some rough ideas to get the cup or the ring, but they ultimately settled on going for the locket. The four arrived at the sea, the smell of salt burned in the air. They looked at the thrashing waves beneath them and the clear lapis sky. They stood on a cliff edge overlooking the rocky beach; there was a sharp drop onto the beach but apart from the billowing wind and lack of greenery, it was stunning sight especially at looking at the grassy island a distance away.

“No way this is still in bloody England.” Barty said gaping at the view as he stood amazed at the view, “England is a shithole.”

Dorcas just gave him a slap to the back of the head. “This place doesn’t seem scary.”

The two Slytherins rubbed their eyes to see if they were seeing a different sight because this cliff felt haunted as they followed after the pair going down to the rock shores. There was a cavern and the entrance seemed half submerged into water. The rocks seemingly outlining a dim entrance. With absolutely no hesitation, or thought, Barty jumped in.

“Imbécile.” Regulus muttered as the three followed. The water was freezing and as Regulus re-emerged, he saw a light. The brunette was standing in the middle of the Regulus could only guess was the entrance hall. The black-haired man walked up to wall and began tapping to see, which was it was.

“Expecto patronum.” Dorcas whispered allowing a blue swift to emerge disappearing into the wall then finally emerged at a location. The black-haired boy nodded and made his way over to the wall slipping out his own wand and muttering under his breath. An arch way appeared out in a blazing white light. Despite the still solid door.

“Are you sure you guys don’t want to dry off?” Evan asked.

The two comically realised they were soaking wet, and the blonde sent a spell over to dry them off as his boyfriend began to read the runes.

“Evz, can I borrow the knife we used last night?”

“Why?”

“It needs blood to open the entrance. It has a two-hour limit well according to the inscription.”

Evan sighed and pulled out a switch blade. Walking past Dorcas and Regulus whilst flicking it open. “Tell me what you want me to do, mon minou?”  

Barty’s cheek heated up and went slight scarlet then smirked, “what do you want me do with it?”

Evan looked him up and down, “I want to slowly run the kni-”

“We are on a mission.” Dorcas yelled. “Because I swear to god if this carries on, I will drown one of you.”

“Noted.” Barty coughed, “so just slit across your skin and place it onto the rock as a blood sacrifice. Then removed the skin from the rock surface.”

“Done.”

The wall before them once more lit up and the rock inside the arch began to vanish. Leaving an entrance into the darkness. Evan pulled out his wand healing his hand before Barty took his pinkie stepping into the pitch black together. It was much less scary than he had anticipated. It was just a deserted dark lake with a distant light. The atmosphere was darker than before as if the black wanted to escape from here. They walked to the edge of the bank. The footstep echoed round the chamber and as they walked the view of the distant land didn’t become any clearer.

Regulus was the only one seemingly not looking to the centre and instead gazed to the side and spotted a ghostly glow on the left. He whisked out his wand and pulled whatever it was nearer to them

The boat immediately began to sink causing both Dorcas and Regulus to leap out. Luckily, they had both escaped before even touching the water. The boat then rose back at.

“Shit. There’s weight limit for only one person.” Dorcas clicked. “So, we need to send one person alone to that island.”

All four of them volunteered.

“I found this one. I’ll do it. Plus, I’m the best swimmer. Plus, we need lookouts.” Regulus commented. No-one disagreed with either fact. So, it was decided the black-haired man began to clamber onto the boat; avoiding anyway to say goodbye but was grabbed just before entering. “Barty, what are you doing? I’ve got to do this alone. So, this goodbye for now, we can save sappiness for later.”

“No.”

“Sirius-ly, I have too.” A small plea in his voice to avoid the sad goodbye.

“No, you don’t.” The three gave him a look, “it’s a limited weight of one person. Not one person and an animal. I can transform you into an animal and we go together. We don’t need three people looking out; Dorcas and Evan are very capable duellist, actually them together and can probably beat about a hundred other people. I’m the best person we have for transfiguration. I’m also the only one of us, who knows ancient runes and magical creatures and ancient studies.”

“Shit, he’s right.” Evan murmured; he ran his hand through his hair.

“I’m coming with you, monsieur black.” He smirked before pulling the shorter man next to him. “You thought you can escape me. You will never run fast enough.” Regulus smiled at him and shook his head. “Now I want our sappy goodbyes and the heroes exit.”

Dorcas snorted and Barty into a hug, “you yell if you need us. Please be safe.” She pulled him out and pointed at the other man, “that goes for you as well Regulus. Be safe, alright?”

Regulus just nodded at the boat. The copper-haired man ran and hugged the blonde.

“Hey, Evander.” He called and sub-consciously licked his lips.

“Hello, Bartholomew.”

“Wanna give me a kiss?” Evan complied quickly and held him close.  “ha, I love you too.”

Evan smiled at him, “come back home. Alright?”

Barty just kissed him again before strolling to the boat where Regulus was. Dorcas and Evan made there way back to the entrance hall. Evan stole another glance at the other man. Then they both left through the entrance.

“I need to talk to you Ro-”

The blonde immediately made a break for the water diving straight through icy waters to escape her. Honestly, he felt safer with a natural obstacle in between them. He did not need another shovel talk from her as last time he had one he managed to end in the hospital wing.  

Safe, Evan sat down on the rocky beach. That was until he felt a hand on his shoulder and pulled out his wand only to see a smiling Dorcas with water dripping down her face. She looked like something from a horror movie, which made Evan the helpless victim.

“You are meant to be on the other side.” Evan told her crossing his arms and standing up making sure she couldn’t sense any fear on him.

“You aren’t escaping this.” She began to slowly walk forward as she did, he began to walk backwards.

“I figured that.”

“Then why run?”

“I ended up in the hospital last time the two of us just talked.”

“I had to spend hours with Flitwick getting of your bloody hybrid charm.”

“You started it.”

“No I didn’t.”

“Did too.”

“Did not.”

“Did too.”

“Did not.”

“You definitely fucking did.”

“I definitely bloody didn’t.”

“I never intentionally start a conversation with your Meadowes.” Evan pointed out and then running his hands through his hair he sighed, “just get the threat over and done with.”

Dorcas stopped and hummed. “Evan, he is my brother. I made myself a promise, that incident to do anything to help him and as I much as I… dislike you. You help him. So, I’ll ask you this once and I expect a proper answer, do you love him?”

“He is my everything.”

“But do you love him?”

“I think so.” Evan paused and looked at her. A courage stronger then the light of a hundred suns burned within his pale blue eyes, “he is mine and I am his. I will marry him, and I will get your blessing. Maybe not right this second but I will get it. I will not stop asking for it.”

Dorcas chucked her rock into the water and watched the ripples before answering, “alright. Jesus, anyways you say that with absolute conviction forgetting the fact Chri-Barty would want to invite the whole of sodding England just know for them to know you are his.” She laughed before groaning and pinching the bridge of her nose muttering something along the lines of I’m gonna regret this. “I give you, my blessing.”

“Okay?”

“I won’t attend the wedding as a disdain full guest. I’ll just attend as a doubtful sister.”

There was a moment of silence and Evan was quite aware of what he was hearing he blinked at her before a grin carved its way onto his face.

“Holy shit. I got your approval.” He haltered, “mutual hate, nothing can truly beats that.”

“Piss off. And say it when the time is right?”

“I will… do we hug now?”

“No.”

“Good.”

“Great.” It was silent again. Evan asked holding out his hand.

The blonde gave a look of pure disgust at the action and rolled his eyes retrieving his hand back to his sides. They stood there for a bit longer content at their pact of mutual co-existence, and hopefully unlike Khrushchev it wouldn’t be broken.

“So…”

“We don’t need to make conversation.”

“Thank you.” He laughed.

Dorcas joined in on the laughter. Evan blinked at looked at Dorcas shrugging, she didn't have to know he had respect for her. Before they headed back in through the water getting into the dimly lit entrance hall. They both, nonchalantly, wondered to the bank of the river. The water was still but something was off. Rather the scene was off. The two shared a sceptical look but they couldn’t pinpoint.

“Does that boat a little far out from the island?” Evan asked.

“Yeh. It does. Did your boyfriend forget to tie it up?”

“So, it’s my boyfriend when he messes up but your brother when he doesn’t.”

“Yes.”

Evan rolled his eyes and trudged into the entrance hall.  “Reg?”

Dorcas ran over to him and noticed the black-haired man passed out of the wall as the blonde frantically to check him for any injuries. She blinked scanning the area.

“Where’s Bee?” She muttered.

Chapter Text

Evan shook Regulus’s hand and smiled at him, “good luck, Reg.”

“You too.” He grinned and looked at Dorcas.

“Shit. You didn’t.” Regulus walked back to the boat and smirked at them.

"That goes for you as well, Regulus. Be safe, alright?” Dorcas called out.

He nodded in response from the boat as Barty and Evan said their goodbyes. Then the auburn-haired man made his way to the boat.

“They won’t kill each other, right?” Barty spared a look back to them.

“No. Not yet.” Regulus shook his head and smiled at him; the smiling probably made Barty even more nervous as he pulled out his wand. Then with a flick of the wrist a little black kitten stood. The brunette picked him up, sat on the boat before placed him on top of himself.

“You are adorable. Look at your little face.” The kitten immediately hissed and tried to scratch him as the brunette petted him. Regulus immediately began to sink his claws into the brunette thighs as if to say lets go. “Ouch. Jesus- fuck. Alright your bossy as a little furball.”

Barty picked up the two oars and began to row across the dark water. “Reg. Would you opposed to staying like this forever because Evan wouldn’t let me get a pet. He says I shouldn’t have on until keep a cactus alive for five years. I’ve kept it alive for three I’d have you know but to be fair I’ve replaced it twice and pretty sure Evan has as well…”

At this point Regulus just tuned him out instead looking down. it was pitch black and seemed as if it went down for eternity; there was something else in there perhaps a skeleton. Then he realised the lake was filled with corpse, some as young as six and some so old that they decayed. He felt more and more sick the longer he looked, although there was something so mystifying about the water that he couldn’t take his eyes away. Bodies all surrounding them did not scare him, he had seen much worse; no, it was what he could see which seemed to shake him to his core. He felt tranced as he moved closer and closer to the black water.  He suddenly felt a hand on him, and he bit down on it hard enough to draw blood.

“What the fuck Reg?” Regulus stopped biting down and let go. He wanted to apologise but Barty didn’t let him instead he was pulled onto his lap. “You are now a lap cat, kay?”

Barty didn’t show he was scared instead he carried on quietly singing as rowing to the centre as if it were a trip to the fun fair. Regulus listened to the boy singing and placed his head down. He didn’t know if the other man had done it on purpose, but he began to softly sing his favourite song. It lulled him to a false sense of ease as Barty carried on rowing. Eventually the boat bumped gently onto the rocks waking the cat up from his nap.

The brunette picked up Regulus and walked to shore placing him down, changing him back to a human. The island was not only tiny but also dim even after Barty whispered a spell. The island in general felt haunted and Regulus could of sworn he could hear the whispers tell him to run. There was a basin in the centre and both men approached cautiously where they stepped. Within there was an emerald liquid and it emanated a green glow.  The pair looked at one another and Barty immediately shoved his hand.

“Thought so…” he muttered before turning around and go into his bag.

Regulus tried to use a spell to siphon of it but it didn’t work it was as if the potion wasn’t there all together. The brunette walked up with cup made from a plastic bottle scooping it out. The potion didn’t appear to shrink. He gave a look to regulus and dropped the cup before shoving his head into the basin. The black-haired boy yanked Barty out of the potion, he choked up a bit.

“Are you bloody mental?”

“We’ve be over this.” Barty replied, “right. Drink it.”

“What?”

“Trust me. It's not poisonous.”

“Then you drink it.”

“I don’t wanna drink it's disgusting.”

“Then why would I want to drink it.”

“Well, my body is a temple and yours in seventy percent coffee.”

“Ha, you're so funny.”

“You also didn’t do transfiguration NEWT. So, if we both wanna get of the island then I can't drink a lot of it.”

“What if I don’t want you to get of this island?” Regulus stuck his tongue out, but he did have a point. He rolled his eyes and snatched the make-shift cup. “Alright… why are making a distance?”

“Why is Evan hot?”

“The fuck?”

“Exactly no-one knows why. Good luck.”

“Why do I need luck?”

“Ha.” Barty sat down a good metre away from him and nodded. “I’ll swap with you if it gets too much alright.”

Regulus took this chance to inspect it further and swallowed. “No keep me drinking as much as I can- most if not all of it because if succumb to the drink. If I’m right and I probably am- I think is drink of despair. That means it won’t hurt me. So, if you must shove it down my throat no matter what, swear it.”

“See you do have the Gryffindor allele.”

“Barty, please swear it.”

“Alright, yeh… I swear it.”

Regulus hissed at him before taking the first sip and quickly took the seconds and third in quick succession. Then he felt a pull down to the basin placing his hands firmly on either side. He then slipped down he felt an arm on him pulling him back. He began to pant as he was placed back up. The potion scorched his inside making Regulus cry out in pain

“Please don’t make me I can't do it.” Regulus whined.

“Yes, you can. I promise you can.”

As he drank the next cup; Barty transformed into Sirius and then it was shoved down his throat further. He began to see his mother. She stood there and there he was again a mere child as he was being berated for his brother and his kinship with the house-elf. It was there she stood holding out her wand, “Please kill me.”

Suddenly he was dropped, his head slammed against the stair. He heard an apology as the arm left his side leaving him laying down on the steps. His throat burned and his mind screamed. The thought came flying out of nowhere. His mother stood there slowly turning his back on him once again. He saw his friends; the people who saved him from what he could have been turn his back. Then Sirius emerged from the dark and uttered, “you are no brother of mine, you never were.”

He felt his heart shatter. He had no-one and with his mouth dry; he reached for the water to take a sip. Maybe that would help; that could stop the blazing feeling in his lungs at least. He dragged himself to the reflection of the water and touched the water.

A hand grabbed at him gripping his wrist before a burst of ice shot at it. Then faces began to emerge from the dark lake… not faces. Ghastly white men, women, children emerged, there skin stretched thinly across the bone reaching out form him. Then he was hauled up and he looked to see Sirius equally as terrified whipping of spells faster than he could think but it wasn’t enough the army of the undead approached quicker and quicker. They were standing on the basin when his brother turned to him whispering something.

“Sirius?” he murmured back as he was sent flying across the lake as he felt a slight sting in his arm.

The last thing he saw wasn’t Sirius standing above the inferius but he wasn’t Sirius because Sirius wasn’t the one by his side. It was Barty. Barty fighting back against them before it all went black.

~*~

Regulus slowly began to regain consciousness and shot up a wave of confusion hit him they weren’t on the island. He rubbed his eyes to focus. Evan and Dorcas immediately grabbed him hurling questions at him. Where was he? The other two caught on and backed away giving him some air. As soon as the world settled he noted they were just in the entrance hall. The archway had sealed back up meaning it had least been an hour since… his eyes widened. Then regained his posture. He was about to tell them everything but felt a suffocating feeling around his throat as if to stop him. He felt a burning feeling telling him not to say.  

“Where’s Barty? “ Dorcas spoke first and went straight to the point.

“Well-”

Lie… a voice hissed.

Regulus froze and whipped round facing the two. “Did you two say something?”

The pair shook their head still anxious for the answer worry etched on their faces. The black-haired man nodded and swallowed. 

“Sorry you see…” time slowed for a second and the voice called out to him again voicing again his fears.

If you tell them the truth, they won’t carry on with the mission.

Regulus hesitated thinking about it. They were all for one and one for all deal, which meant they should stay behind. He had to tell them. He opened his mouth-

Is one person who is already dead worth the lives of millions other?

Yes. He’s, my friend.

Your friend which you killed. What will Dorcas say? What about Evan? They love him. Those words once again made him freeze up. They will know you for being a Black and leave you just like Sirius did. You will be all alone and it will be all your fault, best man.

That he felt a rush and time began to move again, “he… umm. He went home.”

Evan and Dorcas exchanged looks of surprise.

“He uh. The potion on the other side was a delirious potion and he was begging for me to stop the pain. I couldn’t so I… I forced him to go home. I couldn’t have him in danger in that state. He was crying and have never seen him so distressed… he wanted me to kill him.” Regulus took a breath. He’d done it. He lied. He actually lied. He felt Evan’s hand on his shoulder. His eyes are distant and cold as if he knows he’s lying.

“He’s okay?” Evan asked his voice shaking.

“I didn’t see him die when he left.”

“Thank fuck. Dorcas gave her approval as well.”

Guilt stabbed his heart as his voice choked out. “She gave you her approval?”

“Yeh.” He smirked, “now I have her full permission to get him on his knees.”

“You mean…” Regulus just sighed, “no you don’t.”

“Barty left without us? No warning. No message. Nothing.” Dorcas asked walking over to them raising an eyebrow. She crossed her arms. “Bee wouldn’t do that.”

“He was under the delirious potion, and I got my house elf to bring him where he wanted.”

“I thought you said we shouldn’t use elves. And I thought you were cut off.”

“They think I’m dead, so they didn’t cut me off. I don’t think I can use Kreacher again or I may have to imperio him or obliviate him so no one finds out like I can’t even send a Patronus out to him.” Dorcas walked closer to him and looked him dead in the eye. It was clear she didn’t believe him. “We need to get back to the Horcrux hunt. Let’s go back to the inn and get our shit them go to Gringotts. We can’t waste time.”

Luckily, Dorcas dropped it as they walked back to the inn, but they knew she wasn’t going to let it go. He would tell them after they destroyed all the Horcruxes. He stayed awake that night just talking and the more he did the righter he felt. It wasn’t right to put the need of the one in front of the need of the many, no matter how he felt. It was for the good of the Wizarding world. Anyways the voice was right, Barty was already dead what good would it do anyone if he told Evan or Dorcas, it would just sting and cause unnecessary pain. By the morning, he was convinced he had done the right thing.

Dorcas woke up early that morning to muttering. She got up early in the morning quietly going downstairs sneaking to the front. Look she didn’t not trust Regulus, but she knew Barty and Barty was the clingiest son of a bitch she knew (he was also a very devoted person to his friends but importantly very clingy). There was no way he would separate from the group. She sent her swift out, it cut through the air and straight out of her view. In her heart, she knew something bad had happened and she would find out. She stayed taking in the fresh air before heading back indoors.

 When Dorcas arrived through the doors, she saw Evan and Regulus at the table discussing plans. There was a layout of Gringotts. Evan noticed her and nodded at her.

It was funny to see them finally getting along, Dorcas thought, Barty would have absolutely lost his mind or laughed himself into a coma.

Dorcas went to sit next to Evan, and she noticed the fact there was extra set of cutleries on the side, but she didn’t point it out instead she sat smugly as she ordered a bacon sarnie. It was odd without him not to mention quiet. Regulus was grinding his teeth as he tried articulating a plan by talking to himself. He finally nodded to himself.

“We leave in a few days with a few minor adjustments made.”

“What adjustments?” The blonde wondered.

~*~

“These are the worst adjustments ever made.”  Evan muttered.

They had managed to get to Diagon alley with not so much as a scratch on them although that could change at any second since his arm was currently linked with one Dorcas Meadowes as they entered Gringotts. The briefing was simple Dorcas and Evan entered through the front entrance as a couple and get to the Rosier Vault as Regulus hid as a snake in his pocket. The transfiguration wouldn’t hold up for that long, so they had to hurry.

The pair stormed through the entrance and strutted straight to the counter, where a goblin was sitting counting coins. They stepped forward giving a harsh glare at the creature.

“Master Rosier.” The goblin spluttered out. Clearly startled by the blonde presence, “how may I assist you today?”

“I wish to enter the Rosier Vault with my... umm my.” He gritted his teeth as Dorcas kicked him discreetly on the back of his leg.

“His fiancé and he told me he promised to get me the Rosier wreath.”

The goblin gave them a look and recoiled. There were a few other goblins noticeably staring at them. The woman released his arm and took his hand squeezing hard for him to talk.

“I'm just so in love with Me- My Dorcas.” Tears began to well in Evan eyes as he choked out the sentence. Then Dorcas stopped pinching him. “That’s previously why I had to leave.”

She gave him a glare and had to forcibly keep her mouth shut as Evan talked. They had practiced this. Alas the admittance in public just seemed truly hard for one Evan Rosier even if it were fake.

“You have identification?”  Evan handed him his wand and folded his arm with a glare. Then rubbed his eyes getting rid of any of the tears. The goblin handed it back to him, “well?”

“Everything appears to me in order. However, we received instruction about certain vaults.”

“Instructions?” He rose his voice slightly and snatched his wand back. He talked to him as if he were beneath him, “I heard no instruction. I wish to visit my rightful vault with my lover. Do you have an issue with that?”

Dorcas folded her arms as well and death stared the goblin. “We want the vault and I want my bloody crown.”

“The instruction isn’t about the Rosier vault, are they?” The goblin shrank a bit under the look. “Didn’t think so.”

The goblin clapped as another appeared showing them down another corridor leading them away. They got down into a dark lit by torches. There were rough stone passageways extending on for infinity and there was rats everywhere. For a high security place, it was fairly easy to get into.

The secondary goblin whistled summoning a tiny cart.  It was shaking harshly and then came to a stop. The goblin got into the cart, and they quickly followed. Dorcas finally loosened her grip on the blonde. As soon as the cart began to move. It trudged down the tracks. It jerked at every corner as if it tried tossing them off. Evan was still counting down how long the transfiguration would last as Dorcas was bewildered by just how big Gringotts was. The rattling got louder and louder as the speed increased.

They crashed straight through the waterfall, but the cart shook violently revealing on Regulus Black next to them. They all looked shocked. The goblin halted the cart as Dorcas had to let out a scream as she stumbled forward next to the goblin. Evan grabbed his wand and held it to Regulus skull.

“Imperio.” Both faced the front to see the black girl holding her wand out. She got the goblin to carry on moving, “did you two any brilliant ideas?”

“Nope.” they shook their heads in unison.

“Great. Disenchantment water; why the fuck didn’t we think about that?” She sighed.

“They never had that before.” Evan protested. Then registered what that meant muttering a curse. “How are we going to get out then? It not three come in and four go out.”

“We leave the goblin behind and that way three and three.” Regulus said with no hesitation. 

“Huh?”

“What?”

“We aren't leaving him behind.” Dorcas answered.

“Why not?”

“It’s wrong that’s why?”

“On the scale of things, it isn't that important.”

“It’s morally fucking wrong.” Dorcas looked ready to jump at Regulus and vice a versa. Evan looked around the cart and edged away from the rat on the ground. It wasn’t his business to interfere with the fighting and blocked them out. This bank heist was meant to be with Barty.

It would have been more fun with Barty. It would be less loud with Barty. That was a lie. He would be the most dramatic human alive. Why did he go home? Evan thought. He shook his head. They had this conversation.

The cart came to a stop, and they were still arguing about what would happen. Evan jumped out of the cart. Then ushered the goblin to do his job without them. Then quickly slammed the door then paused looking wide eyed at the other two.

“There is a dragon.” Evan crouched down holding his hands to his lips, “there is a fucking dragon behind those doors.”

Dorcas gave him a look then scramble over to see.

“Duh. Haven't you been here before?” Regulus called walking over.

“Yes but-”

“You should have known about it then.” he rolled his eyes at the blonde.

“What is your problem? It's been years since I've been here.”

“And you forgot about the dragon.”

“So did you.”

“I’m not the one acting surprised.” he responded picking up the goblin and shoving him forwards, “Dorcas giving the fucking orders will you.”

“Orders?”

“The goblin. We need him to access the vaults.”

Dorcas gave a look. She didn’t mind getting sass back as long as it was in good faith, but this wasn’t a good time. She swallowed her pride though perhaps it was just her missing her longest friend and plus emotion were just high. She nodded and gave the order to the goblin.

The goblin guided them opening the doors and there it was a ginormous dragon. It was shackled to the ground as it hid the vaults. It looked ill and there was still a dash of red in its eyes where it was blinded. It viciously twisted its head towards them and shrieked at them. It wasn’t a scary cry instead it sounded more of a plea. The three were given clanker.

Dorcas watched in horror as the creature withered away from the sound. It scurried into a corner. Regulus looked to the goblin with inattention spells fail even the most powerful will. Evan noticed the other focus wavering and yanked the goblin shoving his palm onto the door. Then pulled Dorcas into the room with him and shook his head to Regulus as the door slammed shut.

“The dragon...” she whispered.

“I know... my dear.” The blonde said then looked down at the goblin, “thanks goblin.”

The goblin blinked, confused, opening his mouth only to see Evan’s look almost daring him to say something else. The room had glistening chandeliers dangling down like bats. The blonde looked forwards and surged forwards leaving the black-haired woman to chase after him.

He went to grab the scarlet box of the table slowly opening it. There sat a bejewelled wreath with each ruby glistening capture all the delicacy of a rose on top of silver which weaved in and out of each other.

“That’s beautiful.” She murmured and looked at his fond smile, “Bee would have loved it.”

“Shut it SP.” Evan snapped it shut barely missing her glove and glared at her as he walked back down to the goblin. “I have it we may leave now.”

She growled at the name but strolled after them as the door opened Regulus was waiting with imperio. He was still violently shaking the clanker as he forced the goblin to open the door.

“You two took your time. Did you also hook up in there?”

“Fuck off.” Dorcas quipped back as Evan shook his head.

“The fuck’s that?” he gestured to the velvet box under the blonde’s arm.

“The Rosier wreath. Duh.”

“Why?” he didn’t look at her instead zoned out looking at her hands.

“To give to Bee.” she folded her arms to stop the staring.

“Why? He left us ruddy coward. He should have been stronger to fight-”

“Reg. You say another word about my boyfriend, and I swear I'll the start with the tongue.” Evan warned.

“... sorry. I'm just a bit stressed.” Regulus replied as he stepped into the Lestrange vault. Dorcas looked to Evan, who just conceded to the apology. “We need to look for a cup with a badger on it.”

Evan took a breath and went in after him. It was dark making them all pull out the wand. In the glow Dorcas could see the vault was filled to the brim with gold and silver. There was enough money to pay for all students's education at Hogwarts for the next a hundred years. This wasn’t even the biggest vault in Gringotts. The Blacks were far wealthier, which begged the question what their vault looked like.

“How in god’s name are we going find anything in here.” Dorcas wondered as she stared into the endless waters of gold and picked up a piece of gold.

She flicked it up in her hand only for a searing pain to burn through her glove. She screamed in pain. Evan turned around to see her release the coin. The coin dropped on the ground shattering into duplicates; there were multiple spread in every direction blanketing the floor. Identical in every which way.

“Doubling charm.” She muttered.

“And I’m guessing from the smoke on your gloves and scream. Flagrante curse.” Evan replied, “Reg, you hear than don’t touch a thing.”

There was no reply, Regulus seemed in a trance ignoring them. In sync they shrugged and carefully made there way to a vault. Dorcas held her wand up and searched upon every mound of jewels, silver armour, and decks of jewellery.

“It’s here.” Regulus called out.

Dorcas and Evan made their way over to Regulus, who was holding his up high. He gave a gesture upwards. They both pointed their wands up to spotlight the Hufflepuff cup. The cup was stored high above them and even with Evan being six foot he could even scrape it.

“How about I get on your ba-” Dorcas started.

“Absolutely not.” Evan interrupted then thrusted wreath into her arms.

“But-”

“Nope.” He paused, “levicorpus.”

She let out yelp as she was flung into the air by the ankle. “Fuck you.”

Evan began to focus intently on the spell as he carefully lifted her further. His peripherals picked up a small grey creature. “Regulus get the disease carrier away from me while I get the Horcrux.”

As if the rat understood him, he began to move closer to him. Leading to three things: One the creature was kicked hard by Evan sending it flying across the room, two him to lose control of Dorcas leading to her smashing against the shelf and the third was hot jewellery and silverware and coins to fall to the floor burning them.

At once, Dorcas was propelled through the air and as she was thrusted constantly against the shelf. She reached up and using the wreathe pulled it off the shelf. She looked down and saw the sea of coins Evan was sunk knee-deep into the coins as he was more focused on the spell. She chucked the cup down as leaving Regulus to snatch it into his jacket and wore the crown like a necklace.

“Liberacorpus.” she yelled and began to fall as soon as she stood on the coins they began to duplicate.  She swallowed whatever pain she felt as she grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the ocean of coins.

“Dorcas?” he stumbled backward. She peeked backwards to notice a flood of coins from the distance.

Then they began to sprint. Darting through the path of coins but the door was sealed shut. She heard the coins gather up in the distant and then only her jagged breathing as she watched Evan launch himself at the door.

He began to bang on the door shrieking for Regulus as the tide of coins came closer and closer. Dorcas tried to get above the wave of coins, but it seemed to only to try drag her down like a riptide; she was lucky to have the reflex to pull her leg before it could yank her further into the ocean of coin. She retreated back to the only piece of land no claimed by the gold. She threw a terrified look to the blonde and he looked just as scared as he carried on banging on the door. They were going to die.

“Evan. Evan. EVAN” She murmured as she turned around and saw the tide of coins pullback into one last wave to engulf them both. “He is not bloody coming back.”

“I KNOW… I know…”

Chapter Text

October 4^th, 1972

“Don’t ever disrespect me, you filthy mudblood.” Dolohov spat.

Dorcas let out a screech as he stood above giving her a hard kick. His ugly smile turning to her as she lay clutching her stomach. It was her own god damn fault for not keeping her mouth shut. Honestly her mother always said it would be here downfall. She was going die. If she had known that he would call of his lackeys.

Today, Dorcas had a pounding in her head, and she hadn’t felt like taking any of the crap today. So, she had opened her gob to tell them to piss right off. She thought that was that but at lunch they attacked her like a pack of hungry vultures. The worst part about it was that no one really gave a cared or maybe they were all turning a blind eye.

The next few seconds happened quickly. She whispered a spell sending straight into Dolohov face sending him flying back. She began to run, and they began to pursue. She bashed straight into the wall and carried on sprinting. Where was everyone?

She carried on running dodging every spell cast. She has only been in this school for one sodding month. As she ran the corridor seemed more and more empty. She sprinted into a staircase. This was probably the way to the Ravenclaw tower, right? She didn’t even have a chance to check stumbling in through the arch. She tripped over the first stair and carried on legging it up. Mulciber was hot on her heals. When looking up the tower seemed so for up but that didn’t stop her.

When Dorcas finally managed to push through at the top to only realise, she stumbled into the wrong tower at there was no escape. She looked up to see a boy reading a book and her vision began to blur. She stumbled past him pushing through and ducking into the shadow next to some shackles. She hoped the shadow would be enough to deceive them. She doubted it though.

Mulciber reached the top and immediately he seemed put off. She supposed this place was darker than the rest of Hogwarts and plus there was a few cells. He looked at the boy and stormed over to him standing in front of him.

“Hello.” He had a rather posh and proper English accent.

“You see a black mudblood come up here?” Mulciber yelled looking the brunette. The boy calmly placing his book down and looked him square in the face. Her beat began to beat harder and harder. She closed her eyes tightly.

“No.” He replied there was no hesitation in his voice. She felt herself catch her breath as she peered them back open. “No-one comes to the dark towers because it’s haunted. People disappear up here and vanish to other places.”

He sounded dead serious as he answered. There was a trotting sound around the area. He shrugged and went back to the book unbothered by the sound. It didn’t stop even when he did so and continued to echo around the tower. There was a look of fear passing through the icy blue eyes. Dolohov came panting up the stone steps next. The older boy stepped up the stairs reaching Mulciber and pushed back his hair.

“Pureblood.” He gave a nod as he panted clutching his ribs, “you hang out here?”

“Despite the trotting and the screams and the footsteps and the whisper. It’s quiet.” He nonchalantly responded. The pair exchanged looks of fear and horror as the trots continued.

“Library is quiet as well.”

“Too many people.”

“You seen a mudblood?”

Dorcas held her breath and braced herself.

“Okay.” He sighed placing his book back onto his lap pinching the bridge of his nose, “how would I be able tell? Tell me a phenotype to look for. A visible characteristic.”

“They have a…” Dolohov started.

“Well of course the the...” Mulciber tried to continue.

“Exactly.” He deadpanned. Dorcas watched the brunette flick the wand making a wind surge behind them- the twits probably didn’t notice. There was a sudden neigh.

“Umm… have a. Have a good lunch.” Mulciber muttered trying his hardest not to look terrified, “CARROWS, Wilkes, Avery, back down.”

The two exited returning back down the stairs. Dorcas couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief as they did. She slowly exited from behind the corner and stood there for a few seconds. He had already returned to the book- it was some book by John Steinbeck. She let out an exasperated breath as she sat down next to him.

The brunette placed the book down and for a second, she thought he was about to engage in conversation but then just picked the book. Now leaning on something he carried on reading. She coughed to get his attention. It failed. She tried again and he gave a raised eyebrow then went back to the book.

“Cool book you're reading. Can I read it some time?” She winced. He picked up the wand and pointed it at her. She immediately began to get on the defensive.

“Episkey.”

Dorcas felt a warm sensation flood her face and head. Her headache was gone and she could no longer feel the bruise on her cheek or even the broken nose. She was still gripping her stomach still. She let go and opened her mouth to thank him but he pointed or rather prodded down at his legs before getting up. For a horrid moment she had thought he wanted her to suck his dick

“Don’t let emotions cloud your judgement. Ferula.”

Dorcas was about to respond once more but felt something wrap tightly around her chest and torso. She peeled back her shirt to see a bundle of bandages on her wounds. She felt a slight relief and smiled. She looked up at him, but he had already left.

~*~

Evan’s words echoed in Dorcas’s head as she stumbled down next to him.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?” He stopped banging.

“You lost your boyfriend and now losing your best friend. Now someone you consider your brother.” She let out a sour laugh as tears flickered in his eyes, “on top of that you are going to die next to someone like me by your side.”

“Fucking hell Meadowes.” He snorted, “I don’t mind dying by your side. I respect you, you dumb shit.”

“You do?”

“Of course, I do. Christ.” He huffed, “why would I want your blessing otherwise.”

“Because Bee would want it.”

“Well, yes but lets be honest Barty would marry me if I proposed onion rings.”

Dorcas let out exasperated laugh. “I swear he burnt himself when he put that ring on his finger.”

“I can’t believe he just stuck it on his finger after it came out of the oven. What the fuck did he expect?” Evan joined in on the laughter as the pile of coins approached faster and faster. “That was one of the best holidays I ever had.”

“How about after this is all over, we go on another trip?”

Evan hesitated before he chuckled.

“Barty is so naïve sometimes. Some I mistake him as dumb. Like he knows the fire was hot and yet he will stick his hand in.” Dorcas replied. They both gazed at the enormous wave of coins and jewels. They had about hundred-second left before it engulfed them both.

Evan’s eyes furrowed, “Barty wit is something on par with Athena, I’d say, but he’s not naïve. He sticks his hand into a fire not for the hell of it but- wait that’s it.”

“What?”

“Fire.”

“Sorry?”

“Fiendfyre fire.” He exclaimed beaming, “it burns through anything.”

“Huh?” Dorcas her eyes widened and then her face split into a grin, “what are you waiting?”

Evan spun around, “Pestis Incendium.”

Straightaway there was a burning bright light expelling from the blonde’s wand. It smelted its way through the door leaving a hole as Evan turned it off. Neither of them waited even a second before sprinting through the hole. Both of them had sweat tripping from their hair as they got out. To both their surprise the goblin was still there and still very much imperio’d. Meaning they could still follow the plan.

Dorcas grabbed the goblin’s hand shoving back against the Rosier vault. They waited for the door to slam shut and immediately stomped and began to impatiently snap in front of the creature. It took another few minutes and just as the goblin woke up it was slapped hard in the face by Dorcas making him stumble backwards but before she could apologies Evan spoke up.

“What’s going on?”

“Pardon.”

“Don’t act daft. You sealed in here for what reason.”

“I opened the door.” The voice was slightly wavy.

“You did not otherwise we wouldn’t be confined in these areas.” He snapped back in annoyance. “Now I request to leave let us do so otherwise I will start with the ears.”

The threat seemed to work, and the goblin opened the door once more. They both watch the vault click and wondered back out.

“Send an alert now.” The goblin hissed as he saw the burnt whole in the door and the mouse scurrying away. He grabbed the clanker and wildly shook it; the pair followed in pursuit. No sooner had they got to the cart had they gotten back to the bank floor. Alerts were raised loudly as the pair slipped out unbothered.

They breathed in the air. Then shared a look.

“I’ll take the roof.” The blonde muttered apparating to the top of the building.

“I’ll take the streets.” She sighed taking out the wand. She was about to teleport, but she was pushed in a different direction causing her to trip. The wind pulled her into a direction shoving her down an alley.

Then swiftly teleported along the twisty corridor edging her way through the shadows. She disappeared down the alley to find an exit to a murky area with looming shops and a bald silhouette hanging over the roads. Dorcas’s eyes dodged around the area as she trudged into there. Among the dirt and mud, she found the black-haired man disappearing down path. She surged into action.

Dorcas ran tackling Regulus to the ground, only to get elbowed in the face before they locked eyes betray stinging in Dorcas’s. The tension in the air hung in the air; he knew what he had done, and she could only guess, their movements calculated and precise each swipe and every dodge. With a sudden burst of speed, Dorcas once more lunged at Regulus, fists flying in a whirlwind of punches and kicks.

The black-haired man, equally skilled, blocked and threw his one punches attacking with grace. Their hand-to-hand combat was a symphony of violence, the clash of their bodies echoing off the narrow walls. But Regulus may not have had quicker reflexes, but he did have a sharper mind and was able to easily get the upper hand. As soon as he did, she vanished leaving a shadow behind. He only had a split second his eyes widened as she reappeared behind him slamming him hard into the wall.

Regulus panted heavily before twisting around and shoving the woman to the ground. He held his wand up a small flicker of regret reflected in his eye and just as he began to say the words Evan materialised at Dorcas’s side slamming him against the grimy wall forcing his wand. Then ripped the cup from his pocket.

Instead, Regulus sneer and desperately parred making Evan stumble backwards. Spell ripped through the air hitting Regulus in the chest. They both stood holding their wands pointing at him. The blonde was still hesitant, but he would not let his feelings forget the facts.

Evan heard a whistle and immediately ducked dropping the cup to floor flinging a gust of wind backwards.  Only for a spell to come from the above binding his whole body. Dorcas jolted forward placing her hand in front of Regulus. The silhouette began to form and quickly she listed of spells. Only for each of them to be deflected and there were only three people to ever be able to deflect all her spells.

Dorcas hesitated… but Marlene didn’t.

Her vision went dark.

Chapter Text

Evan yawned pulling hard on the restraints. He blinked. Restraints. He turned his head down to look at the shackles. He didn’t put these on. Did Bee… he hummed he wouldn’t put it past him but he’s ninety percent sure his boyfriend doesn’t have access to dark dingy cell. Then again being a minister’s kid must come with some kind of perks. He heard the door creak slowly open revealing a shadowy figure. He clicked in annoyance when it was only Marlene and her pack of idiot like Lily nor Mary were even there. They yanked him up and shoved him into a chair as he pouted.

“What are you sad you got caught?” Marlene spat. Evan just pouted even harder and looked to the floor. “Aww don’t cry.”

“You ruined my life.” He sniffed. She watched the girl smirk as she sat on the chair opposite him leaning close to him. He, too leaned in close, just to add that little but extra drama. “You know before you walked in, I was entertaining the idea of really kinky sex with my boyfriend. But now I don’t think that’s the case anymore unless he comes out wearing a dominatrix costume nothing can salvage this now although it wouldn’t be that weird if you watched.”

His lip slightly curled up as he watched Marlene reel away from him as the dumber Black and James stifled a laugh only to be hit on the head by the werewolf. It took a few seconds for the commotion to stop as two of them were forceful shoved out the room.

“You know your friends already told us everything.”

“One its weird you call your ex my friend. Two I highly doubt that. Regulus getting up at any time before twelve you’re dreaming. And Dorcas come on, you met the bitch. She will not tell you shit.” He quipped back leaning back on his chair. “But carry on with your pathetic excuse for an interrogation, McKinnon.”

Marlene kept up her poker face as she looked to the chestnut-haired man above her. Lupin leaned down and pointed a light into Evan’s eyes. “Where Bartemius?” He asked.

“Who?”

“Where is your thick boyfriend?”

“I wouldn’t say he’s thick.”

“We know twelve OWLs.”

“No I was thinking more lengthy.” He sang back.

There was a second of buffering from Lupin as he processed the answer before going a dark scarlet colour much to Evan’s amusement.

“Where’s your worse half? Where is Bartemius?” Marlene asked again with a dark fire in her eyes.

“Wherever he wants to be.”

“He’s your boyfriend.”

“Eh. You met bloke. Do you think he changed that much?”

The freckled woman considered for a second then shrugged. “Hmm. What are you doing?”

“Sitting.”

Marlene grinder her teeth, “what are you doing with a Horcrux?”

“Nothing currently. I mean kinda hard with the shackles but then again there is a lot you can do with them.”

“Stop avoiding the question.”

Evan made a point to cough then responded with shrug and then said with the poshest accent and the sincerest smile he could muster he said, “nah.”

“What do you mean nah? You’ll get out quicker if you just answer.”

“Well, the dominatrix idea is still up here so I’m holding out till then.”

The three backed out of the room rather quickly leaving Evan with the biggest shit-eating grin in the world. He shifted slightly squinted at the cuffs before shrugging and facing forwards again. Why were so many people so squeamish about sex.

Dorcas woke up around two minutes after Evan did and she saw James peeking at her through the door. She gave him a slight nod as she shook her chains.  She sucked her teeth, there was no way Marlene had left her wand here.

I can’t believe she jinxed me straightaway. She thought as she began to move reach for her thumb. Evan and Regulus weren’t here, which made the breakout just that much harder but if she knew the Marauders and Marlene, which she did, they would be unharmed and not very far. Before she could even attempt anything there was a swish of the door and Marzy walked through the door wand in hand.

The blonde made a point to walk over and crouch next to her glaring at her as if she were he-who-must-not-be-named. The two other silhouettes within her peripherals disappeared back through the light, although Dorcas was too focused on the untamed pale-green eyes. They were angry and tired and so very confused.

“Where’s Bartemius?”

“Who?” Dorcas had made her mind up long before she was going to deny everything.

 “Where is Crouch?”

“Who?”

Marlene didn’t humour her and turned her gaze away, “Meadowes, where’s Bartemius? I won't ask again.”

“I stand by my first statement.”

Marlene nodded and sighed getting up. “Why are you looking for the Horcruxes?”

“So that’s what they are called?”

“Why are you making this so hard, Meadowes?”

“Why did you chain me up like an animal?” She hissed back gesturing to the shackles, “do you really think I would join him? That I would work under him.”

“I don’t know what to think anymore.”

“Yet it's just to shackle me to the wall? Instead of asking me.”

“I’m asking now aren’t i?”

“Bit late.”

“You’d know about that.”

“I think we are done here.”

“I decide that.”

“Then think what your going to get from this.”

Marlene didn’t reply leaving the room and leaving Dorcas in the dark again. She wouldn’t explain herself again; this time she would just get Evan and leave. She would just need to wait a few seconds. Then as soon as she was sure she dislocated her thumb pulling her hand from out of the cuffs then quickly did the same with her other hand. She located them again as she pulled a clip from her hair then picked the lock.

The door swung open and much to her own luck no-one was there. She looked down the narrow lobby. It wasn’t an abandoned building like she thought it reminded her more off Marlene old house before the attack… was it Marlene’s house? No, she didn’t have a dungeon only a high-end pure blood would have this. She blinked did she carry on going down the dark twisting corridor or go up the marble stairs. She had to get Evan… and Regulus. She licked her lips as she headed down the pathway.

The black woman sighed the look in her Marzy’s eyes plagued her every step. She didn’t even notice someone following her until she felt a shove into a wall.

“I’ll ask this once where is my wand?” A smooth silky voice asked. Dorcas immediately struck into the stomach then paused.

“What the fuck Rosier?”

“SP?”

“No shit. What the fuck does that even stand for?”

“How was I supposed to know it’s very fucking dark here. Or did that escape your notice?”

“Shut up.” She hissed back, “how did you get out?”

“Broke my thumb.”

Dorcas shrugged, “maybe we should get our wands first.”

“Weren’t you doing that?”

“No. I went to find my friends.”

“See that’s on you.”

“You are lucky I can see you or you’d be getting punched.”

“You swing like a girl.”

“I am a girl.”

“Makes sen- ow fuck.” He whined as he got slapped in the back of the head, “lets go look for our wands.”

James shifted before shaking Regulus awake for the interrogation then softly placed him onto the share. Then clicked in front of his face before McKinnon swiftly shoved past him and banged hard onto the table. The black-haired man jolted up and blinked up at them.

“Where’s Bartemius?” She spat.

“Who?”

“You guys' sound like a bunch of fucking owls. You know that?”

James stepped in and shook his head at her giving her sign to cool off, “Baby Black, where’s the brunette who was from Ravenclaw and who is dating Evan Rosier?”

There was an audible face palm from everyone in the room with a fairly amused snicker from Regulus. “Well- that is an excellent question, James.” He paused and shrugged, “none of us actually have a clue.”

“You don’t know where Bartemius is?”

“No, we don’t. We got separated a while back.” Regulus spoke almost feeling like himself when he spoke to the brunette.

“When?”

“After we left Hogsheads.”

“Oh. You didn’t look for him?”

“Tad busy.”

“Why do you have the horcrux?”

“Same reason I suspect you all did.”

“You are being more cooperative than Meadowes and Rosier.”

“I am a diplomat above all else… well except Barty that boy could take after his father if he wanted. Definitely has the brains for it you know. Jeez.”

“Barty isn’t that smart is he?” James wondered aloud.

“No he really is that smart but somethings even brains can’t solve.” He murmured the last bit and swallowed the shame he felt. It was only now did he feel as if they should go back.

“R-”

“Prongs not the time.” Remus asked. “So you guys are helping us?”

“I-” the door smashed wide open with Dorcas and Evan standing there with their wands in hand in a Charlie’s angel pose. There was silence in the room.

“Did you tell them?” Dorcas asked.

“Duh.”

“Excuse me?”

“Obviously I told them. Why wouldn’t i?”

“They knocked us out. They kidnapped us. They stole our wands. They chained us to the wall. They interrogated us. They threatened us.” Evan began listing, “oh and the percentage of us don’t get along and do not trust each other.”

No-one disagreed in the room, all seven were more or less nodding and shrugging.

“Why not a truce?” James asked breaking the silence. He received four glares but everyone else seemed to agree so they were nullified.

“Can I say why it’s a bad idea?” Marlene said.

“How can you say it’s a bad idea. You all share three brain cells total.” Evan quipped back lowering his wand and crossing his arms. “We are getting the bad end of the deal.”

“Fuck off.” Sirius snarled back.

“Brilliant comeback Black. Ten out of ten.” He clapped his hands with an eye roll before Dorcas elbowed him hard in the ribcage.

“To clarify, we want the same thing. We are going the same thing. We are doing the same thing. And it would easier to work together.” Remus paused, “but we aren’t going to work together because... why?”

“Some people can’t be depended upon.” Marlene hissed, Dorcas just grimanced and was about to reply when Lupin barked back at her.

“You called she came. That’s pretty sodding dependable.” He snapped, “we need people to help, or we are going to lose and very fucking badly. Maybe when Lily dad Mary find and try convincing the order to reform but for now we need their help.”

“Plus they’ve found and gotten the same amount of Horcruxes as us in less time.” James chirped in.

“But they haven’t gotten a way to destroy them we have.” Marlene replied. “Plus we fought a massive bloody basilisk. They just walked back in and out of a vault. Those aren’t comparable in the slightest.”

“They have less casualties than us.” Peter whispered.

“They have less casualties than us.” Remus echoed louder. “They have done the same thing but haven’t endangered their other friend or children at Hogwarts. Mary and Lily could have been killed at that would have been on us- truly dependable people to risk their own friend’ lives.”

“And accuses friends of being spies.”

“Accuses friends of spying on each other as well.” Sirius exclaimed out loud.

“I thought you were on my side.” Marlene spat picking up the drink. 

He just shrugged and looked at his younger brother. “We need all the help me can get.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” She sighed and took the shot shaking her head. “Fine. Screw it. You know what let death-eaters join. They’ll just kill someone else parents. Or let’s wait for good old Dorca-”

Before she could even finish the sentence Evan punched her square in the face. “Thank you. We are going to go. Have fun on your pity journey.”

“Wait.” Remus spoke next, “we do need the help since Mary and Lily are busy.”

“But-”

“Sirius.”

“…fine.”

“A truce is not about liking one another. We have the same goal. We can work together.”

“Nah. Not interested. Let’s go.” The blonde replied walking to the door, “also we want our Horcrux back.”

“Evan.” Regulus called. “We are doing it.”

“Excuse me.”

“We are doing it.”

“No.”

“This isn’t up for discussion. We are.”

“Fuck-”

“We can cover more ground.” Dorcas gave a side eye to Evan although not opposed to the idea of the truce using Barty as a way for an agreement made her want to disagree and fight about it. She took a breath but Regulus probably did this for a reason. The black-haired man gave her a look she just nodded, “so it’s a truce?”

“I guess.” Marlene murmured back as she got up and left the room.

Chapter Text

January 26^th, 1973

Dorcas began to stay in Ravenclaw Tower more often since October. It wasn’t out of any fear rather out of survival. She suffered from an acute issue, which Flitwick liked to call, the Gryffindor sickness which is where one cannot help but get into a fight when insulted. As for that brunette he seemed to be always in her peripheral however whenever she noticed him, he’d just leave. It was getting rather irritating. She had tried looking for him in fact every time she wasn’t at the common room, she was at the Dark Tower but every time she was there, he wasn’t. It was as if he was purposefully avoiding her. Yet he wasn’t. She knew he wasn’t. Or was he.

So, Dorcas had decided on the next most rational thing figuring everything about him. Starting with the students, it turned out he was just as allusive with them then he was with her; she didn’t may attention to much else of what they said though all she got was they had tried to befriend him as well, but he was too hard to find. Which was great news it meant he wasn’t avoiding her but rather everyone so that was a bonus.

Today she was trying the teachers… well she was finally going to ask the lioness. The Ravenclaw carefully walked over to her office and knocked before walking in. The teacher gazed up from her work giving an unimpressed look and continued grading papers.

“Yes?”

“Do you know where Crouch is?”

“Why?”

“I wanna be friends with him.”

There was silence as McGonogall placed down her pen down and looked her up and down, “you want to be friends with him?”

“That was the plan. Yeh.”

“He’s by the oak tree by the Great Lake.” She replied with absolutely no hesitation. She turned around to face her with a wicked, almost evil, grin. “Good luck.”

The young girl didn’t hesitate and practically sprinted to the Great Lake; she was beyond excited. This was her first shot at this. What would she say? How would he react?  There he was sitting propped up with a book. She smiled and took a breath before walking over, “hiya.”

Did I just say hiya? She thought as she watched the brunette practically jump five foot into the air; he turned to her then scowled at the tree opposite him before turning back to her.

“Hello.”

“I’m Dorcas Meadowes.” She stuck out her hand.

“Great. Nice to meet you.” The boy gave an awkward look up before slowly going back to his book. Before feeling a slight jab to the face as the girl swiped at him. “Ouch.”

“Huh? You are real.” She squatted next to him, “we are people so interested in you. You are kinda boring.”

There was a sigh, “first, i’m a pure twenty-eight. Second I’m the future minister’s only child. Third, I celebrated my eleventh birthday three weeks ago.”

“You’re the future minister kid?”

“Jesus, my name is Bartemius Crouch Junior the second.”

“Not fancy enough where are your middle names at?” The brunette gave her a peculiar look as no one had ever said that to him before. She took no noticed and laugh, “ah only joking but saying that your name is still horrific. Fairly laughable actually. Sorry.”

Barty froze before breaking into a fit of laughter, “you so right. It’s a sodding horrendous name. Imagine being the one to have to introduce yourself to people.”

She gaped at him, “holy shit you’re Scottish.” He immediately shut up and his cheeks flared up. His eyes just dodged to the ground. “Not like that. I think it’s neat, Barty.”

He just raised his eyebrow and Dorcas couldn’t tell whether it was the use of the word neat or the new nickname she had given him. “Thanks and all but I’ll pass. I’m not meant to speak like that it’s. Well, it’s uncivilised and unruly to speak in such a manor.”

“Whoever said that you can piss right off.”

“You just called me weird.”

“You are… but so am I.” She gave him a grin before messing with his hair. He was still before smiling back. Then it finally hit her, “wait you are a year younger than me.”

“How did that take you that long to realise?”

“You said it without saying directly.”

“I know it shocking what subtext is.”

“Sarcasm. Funny.” He just laughed closing the book. It was as if she had found something she had been missing her whole life, not quite someone she was in love with but he was there for the coming years and one the hardest years of her life when her Chris would pass away. He would end up becoming that someone she would want to share all her troubles with and someone who could share her triumphs.

~*~

It was fairly silent as they sat gathered in the dining room; it turned out they were just in the basements at the Potter’s, which in hindsight Dorcas should have guessed. Peter joined them and was slightly alarmed by their participation. Marlene who was to the left to the bar was nursing a whiskey bottle as if it were a baby. Even the Marauders were silent, and she wanted to ask what happened, but she knew better. Marlene kept giving her a side glare at every given chance. It was here she truly began regretting coming back. The silence was always bad, and everyone seemed to have their guard up, almost everyone. It was if she was sitting with a group of strangers.

Remus had sighed and walked out of the room with Sirius following him and returned with a jug of water and some snacks as if that would magically mend all bridges. Then placed them on the table and sat on the armchair. Of course, Dorcas gave a look to the other, who just shrugged. This was clearly going excellently.

“So…” The messy haired man started. He clicked and sucked his teeth. “What have you all been up to since graduating?”

His question fell on deaf ears. Dorcas watched Evan open his mouth before shutting it again.

“This and that.” She replied with a wave of her hand. “What about you?”

“We had a war.” Marlene remarked as she took another sip of the bottle. “You know for the wizarding world and entire world as we know.”

“No. What I can’t believe it. Tell me more.” Evan dared her with a half-smile swirling his drink in his hand.  Dorcas had to stifle a laugh, they said Barty had a flare for the dramatics.

“You haven’t changed a bit. Still a fucking sociopath.” She replied grabbing another bottle.

“And you're still a bitch.” He sung and reflectively grabbed the bottle the other blonde had just lobbed at him. “So, where is the Horcrux?”

“Oh, we destroyed it.” Remus spoke lifting it up from his jumper.

“You can just break it?” Regulus asked.

“Yep.” Sirius said popping the p as he did so. “Basilisk fang. Sword of Gryffindor. Both viable option.”

“How the fuck did you get a basilisk fang?” Dorcas muttered as soon as she did Marlene got up and walked out of the room.

“We killed a basilisk at school around a few days back.” Again, there was a sense of nonchalant in his voice.

“That explain why Lily and Mary aren’t here.” Regulus said, Evan hummed in response as well.

“How?” Peter whispered, only for it to fall on deaf ears until Dorcas would repeat the question.

“Basilisks go after muddleborn.” Evan quipped back as he stood up and stretched showing of his abs. Then waited a second clearly waiting for someone to comment only to realise that the someone wasn’t there. Then placed his arms back down quickly with a small blush on his face, “now where are we meant to be going?”

“Do you all know of any other horcruxes?” Remus asked.

“We have a guess on quite a few of them.” Dorcas replied but shook her head. “We only know for certain one and we don’t know the location for sure.”

“We know where one is. But it isn’t really a massive group operation.”

“It could be a trust exercise though.” James joined in he was met with two glare from the two blonde. “We do need to try to trust each other. I can start by telling you that we aer going after Tom Riddle’s diary. Which is in diagon alley.”

“We were going to go after the Gaunt Ring which we believe is in Little Hangleton.” Regulus stated much to Evan’s dismay.

“We don’t know for sure it’s the ring. But since we can assume you know about the heir looms of Hogwarts. It would be a good guess since the Dark Lord is also known as Tom Riddle who is a descendant of the Gaunts.” Dorcas quickly intervened. “But that is going to be crawling with death-eaters so we would have to rely on one another.”

“Well at least Crouch isn’t here. Idiotic cunt would mess it up in a seco-” Sirius muttered only for a bottle to get flung just to the side of his head. All of them turned wide eyed at the direction the bottle was thrown from.

“Shit my bad.” Evan clicked as he cracked his neck back. “My hand slipped.”

“… lets not go on that endeavour right now.” Remus stated still wide eyed, “I doubt we would survive.”

“Agreed.” Dorcas said pinching her nose, “Rosier. Please.”

“No.”

“Alright.”

“That’s your whole punishment.”

“Sirius, you shouldn’t have said shit about Bee.”

“You are taking his side?”

“I have the unfortunate pleasure of being his friend.” She sighed watching Evan salute to her, “plus you don’t even know him. If you did then you would know you can never call him an idiot.”

“Why not?”

“He got twelve OWLs and ten NEWTs, I heard.” Peter squeaked. James speedily pulled a face of distress upon hearing those words. “Even though he skipped every lesson, yeh.”

“He found them boring and a dull use of his superior intellect.” Marlene stated as she walked back into the room with a map and letter.

There was a small glimpse of softness in her eyes before it was quickly replaced by anger as she threw the equipment onto the table. They all subconsciously gravitated towards the table. She pulled out the letter reading it one more time, Dorcas and Evan recognised the handwriting of Mary MacDonald.

“So what’s the plan Marz?” James smiled.

At this point Evan had half a mind to ask why the fuck James was so optimistic? I mean his dad and mum were dead for a very curable disease and the war had killed a lot of his friends. But the blonde hadn’t turned that bitter just yet and tuned back into the conversation.

“… group of twos since you are just that insistent on trust, Meadowes. We will be mixing the groups. So Rosier with Remus, Sirius and Black, James and you, me and Pete.”

“Why am I with the werewolf?” Evan asked. The marauders turned to him as if he had just called Dorcas a mudblood and looked just about ready to smack him. Remus had gone pale, all the colour drained from his face. Dorcas smacked the back of his head. “So slapping me SP or I swear i’m going to stab you. It can’t have been a secret… Was it a secret? Shit. I’ll be damned. Reg you were genuinely right. They really truly thought they were slick.”

“Mate, stop talking.” Regulus replied pinching his nose. “You are so much worse without your boytoy.”

Evan paused and laughed, “what did you just call him?”

“You have to stop being a complete prick to everyone. Just cause Barty is gone.”

“What the fuck?” He chuckled again confusion across his face. “I was calling him a werewolf cause that is what he is. You guys need to stop being pansy. Bloody hell. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”

“I’m never referring to you as Barty better half again.” Marlene muttered under her breathe. Then coughed loudly drawing back everyone’s attention whilst pouring herself another drink. “We know it’s in diagon alley and we know the death eaters are busy guarding elsewhere. We will leave tomorrow. Remember room assignment.”

“Nope sorry repeat them. Zoned out.”

“How can anyone stand you?”

“Charm and wit. Something you sorely lack.” At those words Marlene looked ready to square up if Peter had tapped her shoulder. She immediately left the room with the man to discuss thing elsewhere.

“Evan. Please.”

“No.”

“Just try.”

“I would but I don’t like one, two, three, four out of five of them.” Dorcas and Regulus glared at him as if to say they needed this alliance, “I’ll try after I leave the room.”

“I miss when you were just one Snape’s lackey.” Sirius quipped.

“I miss when you opinion actually had weight behind it. But now disgraced heir, traitor, murderer, bully, downright shit personality. You add no intellectual value to anything. All you are just a pretty face and even then, it's only a face a mother could love. And we know about your mum.”

The black-haired man jaw went slack as he looked at the pure blood, who stretched and got up. “You’re ugly too.”

“But my parents love me. My sister and I still have a close relationship. And I wasn’t ever intellectually far behind my brilliant boyfriend. Plus I have never killed anyone. So my hands, still, are only used for art.” Evan shrugged, “before you say it. I am vastly aware about my personality is shit. But I have blonde hair, blue eyes and olive skin. I don’t need to be nice… anywho stepping out the room; I will attempt to be nicer? Do not pick a fight with me. I’m an artist that means you cant tell me something I haven’t already told myself while working on an oil paint.”

He gave a small salute before leaving the room with a piece of Sirius’s ego.

“This is going to be fun.” Remus muttered beneath his breath pinching the bridge of his nose.

None of them could anticipate what would be happening the next day. It could either be a nightmare or dream. All they knew was they would have to work together otherwise they would all be screwed. And that fact alone made the half blood grab a drink of the table.

Chapter Text

The follow few mornings at Potter Manor went exactly how they would of expected. With Evan having the team working ability as of a suicide bomber and Sirius’s desperate attempt to gain the piece of ego he had lost, it made the wait even longer. Not to mention the fact Evan was staying in the same room as Remus, which only ticked Sirius off more. Regulus seemed more at peace than the previous days as with James as for Marlene she was at least sober today.

Dorcas arrived downstairs braiding her hair herself today as she looked down at the depressing pancakes in front of her. She subconsciously looked up at the blonde woman in front of her, who was looking at her, only to avert her gaze. The atmosphere was thick as the two sat there alone with the ruckus upstairs. Eighty-five percent of it was caused by Evan’s snippy comments- definitely had the Slytherin tongue. Neither of them even attempted to talk. This led to the Ravenclaw getting up and walking out of the room finding a random room in the house.

She closed the door and took out a fag before lighting it with a sigh. Then wondered to the window opening it. Today was a warm day. The sun was just about peeking over the valley. She swung her legs out of the window just taking a breath in looking at the view; when the noise finally subsided she would have to go in again. She wondered about Pandora and her merry bunch. It was good they didn’t tell her or otherwise she would have insisted on joining and much like Evan had the same snake tongue; they would have had to accept her. Luna is one and to grow up without so much as remembering her own mother’s face would be too crueler fate. Even if Pandora would be able to make things a hell of a lot easier. No it would be selfish to involve her.

Dorcas took another puff of her ciggy and again began to search the sky for some blue- she wouldn’t find it. They needed to finish this as quick as possible. Saving the Wizarding world was one thing but she hadn’t expected dealing with Marlene would be this bad.

I guess I missed her too much to realise how this sort of this would go down. She thought bitterly. She bit her lip and extinguished her smoke. Then got up and walked back to the kitchen. Before long Evan wondered through the doors with a clear smirk aimed towards Sirius as Remus would walk in seconds later. She shook her head and noticed the dark brooding figure of Regulus Black- how the hell was he awake?

Evan followed her gaze and his eyes didn’t exactly express shock but he did move away from the other writer. So everyone was now gathered all eight of them. Peter was closest to Dorcas and handed her a tea as they stood listening to Marlene’s plan which was pretty boiled down to Diagon alley get book leave- in that order. At least it was simple.

“We should probably split into groups.” Remus stated. “Cover more ground.”

“Can you take ten fucking steps back?” Evan said turning around and pointing at , “the smell of wet dog is quite disgusting.”

“Can you shove off?”

“Again. Great comeback Black. Ten out of ten.”

“Evan, stop instigating a fight.”

“I’m not instigating shit Reg.”

Regulus bit his lip and rolled his eyes. “Evan. Shut up.”

The blonde hissed at the later before sauntering away. The black-haired boy carried on looking toward the direction Evan walked off in before he heard a groan and a thud then he returned.  He heard Sirius laugh. “You know he wouldn’t be as jolly if you got grand-mother’s schizophrenia.”

“God your such a pansy. What was grand mama to posh for you?”

“Can you stop that?”

“What?”

“Acting like you know me.”

“I’m your brother and your mine.”

“Ugh don’t call me that.”

“What?”

“You don’t to call me brother or family.” It was at this point everyone else shut up and leaned in to hear the conversation.

“What... why?” Sirius replied startled. Regulus looked at him curiously.

“Because we aren't.” Regulus stated, “your family are the Potters. You made that very clear to me so don’t try back track now. We aren't family. We aren't brother and we certainly aren't fucking friends.”

“I didn’t have a choice to leave.”

“But you had a choice when you called Jamie your only brother.”

“He is... He has helped me more than you.” He spat back without think and then opened his mouth to apologies but he didn’t have time too. “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry I understand why your upse-”

“Really? You do?” he cackled, “You promised so much. You don’t think before you talk and hardly think before you act. You paid for your freedom with my life. And you had promised you’d protect me. You other half is Prongs. Your brother is Prongs. Your family are the marauders and the Potters not me. Never call me your brother again. We are just have the same surname don’t make that mistake again.”

The whole group paused and looked at the pair; not a single word was uttered as the words sunken in. Everyone seemed to be exchanging looks until James would intervene and calmed the situation down. The teams were eventually randomly drawn: Remus was with Evan, James was with Regulus (shocking), Dorcas was with Peter and Marlene was Sirius. Due to the morning outburst by one Regulus Black no-one seemed to want to pick a fight— it was all quiet until they got to Diagonal Alley each splitting up ways.

Dorcas being paired with Peter wasn’t exactly what she had in mind; she thought she would be paired with one of her boys but here she was. They had almost nothing in common. It was quiet an awkward experience. They were Carkitt Market to look around in.

In the heart of the marketplace, the pair looked around the crowd of people. Dorcas watched the magical fire cracker and the burst of lights- she had missed magic more than she had thought. She must have been out of it for a while as Peter handed her a chocolate frog. She gave a small smile as they made there way into the first store. She had never been to this area before.

The first place they adventure was potion emporium, where shelves lined with multicoloured vials beckoned. Peter’s eyes he saw the flickering colours within the vials. He stared at the green swirl- what was that ingredient? They were ingredients he hadn’t seen before. He felt a hand on his shoulder, making him jump.

“You know we can grab some shit.” She gave a sly grin.

“These are expensive Meadowes.”

“You right.” She paused and hummed. “I’ll check round back for the book. You take your time.”

Peter eyes watched her leave before going back to looking at the ingredients; she hadn’t seen through him like the others. He felt himself smile before he frowned looking at the shelf. Their journey led them to other antique shop and they look through all the objects adorned the shelves. They checked the objects behind the counter.  Nada.

In the next few hours they would just be going in and out of stores before they would take a snack break before continuing on. They actually had a pretty pleasant chat on what they expected to come of the war and what they were expecting to do now. Turns out they both though the horcrux wasn’t going to be on their journey but would rather not fight about it.

Their final location was a bookstore and as they wondered through the aisle checking each shelf the blonde had a thought that crossed his mind.

“Why are you guys so close? I remember when you guys were in sixth and you weren’t talking much or at all.” Dorcas turned to him and his face seemed to plead guilty to her glare, “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Don’t worry.” She sighed. “No-one talks about it: not Regulus, not Evan and certainly not me. So please reframe from asking about the incident.”

“The incident?”

“Yeh… you got anything?”

“Nope.” There was a delay, “was it anything like how Sirius almost killed Severus?”

“… worse. Probably.” She murmured back. Before standing up straight. “How long have we been out for?”

“Four hours. Maybe a bit more or a bit less.” There was a click from the other aisle, “so. You killed someone?”

“His heart stopped.” Dorcas found it easy to step into security with Peter and she couldn’t understand why. She hadn’t realised but it had just managed to slip out. “Do you have a fag on you?”

“I don’t think we are allowed to smoke in a bookshop.”

“Yeh and we aren’t supposed to steal?”

“Huh?”

“Mate… I saw you in the potion shop. I know the look quite well and the flash of dark purple.” She hummed walking over to the last aisle passing him with her lips slightly curled. “I have three of the richest friends. Trust fund with over fucking six digits. Inheritance more than that.”

“The worse part is they don’t even realise how rich they are.”

“Exactly.” They both let out a laugh before Dorcas placed a small vial of a green liquid on the shelf for Peter.

“Thanks you aren’t bad for a… a Ravenclaw.”

“You were about to say Slytherin weren’t you?”

“…yep. Sorry.” She laughed in response as she watched him take the vial of and place it in his pocket. “You know I could have been a Slytherin?”

“Same here. Even funnier is Regulus could have been a Gryffindor, he has always been selfless. Anyways, I doubt your doomed to be evil because of that. Also don’t tell Evan that.”

“Got it ma’am.” There was the sound of large fireworks in the distance breaking their conversation. Peter gave a scared look as they made their way out to see a large Hogwarts’s sign in the air. “Someone found it.”

“I guess they did. We should get back then.”

~*~

Evan had gotten stuck with the werewolf and the werewolf seemed to want to talk to him. It was one thing having to share a room with him but it was another having to actually pretend to give a shit about what he was saying. He kept having to remind himself about no snide comments. It’s odd though he never thought Lupin talked this much- then again he didn’t have to interact with the bloke. Although saying that he thought too much talking was anything that came out of the older’s mouth.

They had gone to another books shop after antique in knockturn alley. The grim place would usually lighten his mood but as of now it only seemed to piss off Evan more.  He didn’t remember what Lupin had said but he only heard a single word which made him freeze.

“Do not call me that. Do not act like we are friend. We are just fucking allies. So shut the fuck up before I make you.” Evan hissed pointing his wand at his neck. Then stopped and gave the sort of smile which is so forced it seems to bring pain to recipient. “Please.”

The blonde placed his wand back down with a nod before continuing on the path.  “What wrong with calling you Snake?”

“You didn’t call me Snake. You called me Snakey. There is a difference. One invokes familiarity; the other is an insult. Call me snake I’m fine with that.  But I want to emphasis we aren’t friends. And I don’t want to be friends.”

“You are worse than me.”

“Fine by me. Now stop being a gobshite.”

“I’m being friendly.”

“That’s an issue. Stop.”

“Is it because I’m-”

“No. No. It is nothing to do with you being freakishly tall on a full moon.” They walked into the next shop it was dusty sign and creepy coffin that could be seen through the window, “I just don’t like as a person.”

“That’s a reli- what?”

They began to navigate dusty shelves and deciphered cryptic cataloging systems, in a begrudging cooperation slowly blossomed on Evan’s side. Each conflicting opinion and sarcastic remark fuelled an unexpected camaraderie; turns out the dog did have some bite. When the coveted book finally materialised, and they found it Evan unwittingly finding himself smiling. He didn’t even need to see Remus’s smirk to know it was there.

It was actually quite easy to get the diary; they simply paid and walked out. That was that. Remus sent fireworks into the air and compared with the complexity of the first task and second task they faced. It was pretty easy… it wouldn’t be like anyone would steal the diary now that it was within their possession. They dispersed disappearing back to Potter’s manor, where they had the brilliant idea to celebrate over destroying the diary right there and then.

Chapter Text

June 25th, 1978

“We seriously fucked up.” Evan whispered as held back tears rocking back and forth.

They were in the Dark Tower. Pandora had graduated the year prior and yet they had managed to turn everything to shit within that year.  None of them could deny that truth. It was completely and thoroughly their fault and they concluded the worse part was they couldn’t do anything. They no longer could interfere. They had to wait. They hadn’t done anything but wait for the past few days- they were meant to enjoy this week of no school yet here they were waiting for any good news to come their way.

“Can’t believe we all fucked up our relationships in a month.” Regulus snorted as he looked over the edge. “You know the jump isn’t that far. James wouldn’t talk to me. I almost killed someone. I’ve got a symbol of oppression on my arm. I have no one at home for me. I have exams next year. My safe haven will go next year. What the fuck do I have to live for?”

“Black if you are jumping I am as well. Ain’t no fucking way I’m letting you take the easy way without me.” Dorcas replied looked at the dull sunset. “Do we tell Dora?”

“What to add salt into the wound?”

“We deserve it.” Evan murmured. “I should do it.”

“Evander?” Dorcas turned to him raising an eye. He was running his hands through his hair rocking back and forth. She clicked in annoyance. Why did he have to look so human? She sauntered over putting out her ciggy on his skin waking him out of that self pity fuelled. “Get over yourself.”

“Get over it Evander. I’m useless. I’m bad person. I’m an idiot.” He muttered before snatching the rest of the pack out of her hands and chucking it off the side of the tower.

“I didn’t say get over it. I said get over yourself you cunt.” She peered down the side, “I guess that’s another reason to jump.”

“I can go retrieve them if you want.” Regulus chipped in.

“Fuck off.”

“You know what Dorcas? I didn’t want to get this mark but it was that or death. I’m kinda wishing I went for death now.”

“You could of just refused it.”

“You make it sound so fucking easy.” He finally cried back exasperatedly. Evan froze and turned to watch Regulus shoving his hand into Dorcas’ just, “you are a muggleborn. You don’t have the weight of pure-blood expectation. You cant just refuse my parent anything especially not in front of the fucking dark lord.”

“You- i. He was at your house?”

“Yes!” He roared, “I didn’t get that luxury of running away like Sirius. I cant anymore. I have to do this whether like it or not. Or fucking dead. Fuck I feel dead anyways.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?” She yelled back. “I could help you escape. I was your friend.”

“Then wouldn’t a friend know I wouldn’t voluntarily get the dark mark.” He screamed back. “You stopped being a fucking arse for five seconds you could of figured that out.”

“Ahh.” She shouted, “I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to think with everyone. I thought Snape was one of the decent ones but after calling Lily a mudblood everything was acceptable.”

“I’m not Snape.” He shrieked. They both began panting. They had subconsciously gotten into each other face.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She whispered.

“Would you have listened?” He murmured.

It was now silent again apart from the puffing. “I would like to think so.”

“So would i?”

“Does this mean we are friends again?”

“Fuck. It does.” She clicked. He shook his head, his lips slightly curled into a smile. “We should of probably talked before all this.”

“Yeh.” He bit his lip.

“Are two going to kiss? Because… ” the blonde pretended to gag. He sighed. He had calmed down during the screaming match.

“Shut up Evan.” Dorcas rolled her eyes.

“Don’t ever call me that SP.”

“That is the Rosier I know.”

“What are we going to do now?”

“We are going to move on.”

“Is that healthy?” Regulus asked raising an eyebrow.

“When have we ever done anything for the sake for being healthy?” Evan snickered. “So we are to never to talk about this.”

They all nodded and by the end of the term they all were friends again and they hoped to keep the incident in the past.

~*~

James and Regulus made there way down Diagon Alley. It had been now close to two hours. The cruel words still hissing in his head. There was also the uncanny sense of unease took over Regulus as he watched James’s eyes sparkle with a childish joy. It was just them and the black head had a million questions to ask the brunette yet he would remain silent.

You don’t deserve this- the voice whispered and for once Regulus didn’t argue back. It was completely right. After everything he had done. No he truly didn’t deserve anythin-

His thought were cut off as James grabbed his hand and they entered a store. Immediately he felt warmth spread through his hands. He blinked and looked around the store. There were broomsticks and quaffels. Is that the new nimbus model?  

“Are we in a quidditch shop right now?” He asked incredulously.

“Yes we are. Baby Black. You played didn’t you?”

“Like you don’t know.” He hummed pulling his hand away. He wasn’t going to fall in love with this idiot again. He wouldn’t but he couldn’t his heart panging when the ex-Gryffindor began to chat with the young children boasting about his superior quidditch skill.

What a treacherous little heart? The voice laughed and he turned away to walk outside. You know he’s married. He had a child. Yet here you are hoping. How cruel you are.

I know.

He sat outside waiting. This mission was going uselessly. He should probably search by himself then. Why don’t you take him for yourself? Love potion. It would be so easy.

He felt himself freeze at the thought. It would be easy. He could have him again. The black-haired boy had a smirk as he made his way down to the potion store. His eyes were filled with only what he wanted. His desire was all he thought about when he became a slave to his ambition.

The familiar ring as he waked in. The eyes all fixed on him. The last time they probably heard about Regulus Black was on his death. Oh. He liked the fear. He snorted walking over the dusty shelf.

“Whattcha looking for mate?”

“James.” He yelped backing away from the shelf.

Those eyes were no longer fixed on him. It was as if the curse had lifted. The brown eyes flicked between the shelf and the young boy as if inspecting the situation before he smiled. It was as if the brightness had been restored to the world. As the other man reached to the shelf-

He’s going to hate you. He thinks you are pathetic

-It was right. James couldn’t not hate him. His heart began beating as he saw him reach. Was the room going darker? Why was it so fucking crowded? He peeled his eyes open. Seeing a purple liquid in the his hands.

“The lavender, right?” He grinned, “perks of being tall.”

“Yeh.” Relief washed over him, “thank you.”

His lip slightly curled up as he snatched it from the taller’s hand and strolled off. He paid and got out of the suffocating store. He ran down the street and crouched down.

That more than looked weird, you know.

“Fuck you. Fuck off.”

I’m not the one doing it. I’m you. Your deep thought. The ones you keep oh so hidden. The voice echoed around him. His head kept turning trying to look for the figure. Aren’t you actually relieved Barty is dead.

“No. I’m not.”

You say that with such conviction. Yet you treat him as if he were someone else. He paled at the words and took at his wand. The more you try resist me- the more you try ignore your own words. The worse it gets. Why don’t you just admit it? You hated Barty. You truly do.

The words coiled around him and hypnotically whispering in his ears until he would yield to them but, James got to him just in time. Wiping the tears of his face and pulling him in for a hug as if their past hadn’t happened. Then the fireworks occurred ripping them out of each other grasps.

.

.

.

James had placed a bunch of decorations up hanging them across the dining room table. Regulus sat watching him on the stool listening to the small voice as he read his book. It was kind of nice.

You haven’t asked about Fleamont and Euphemia. They are probably dead and you left him to rot alone.

I know.

You are a bad person you know. You could of saved them. You could of checked up on him. But you did nothing. You didn’t even help Barty. Twice you failed him. You are a failure

“Reg. You good?”

“Y-yeh. I’m fine.” He watched James have concern flick through his eyes but he didn’t question further

You want him back and yet you don’t even trust him enough to tell him. How pitifu-

“Are you sure?” He felt the a hand on his face and looked into the deep chocolate eyes. “You keep zoning out and you have read past the third page.”

“I… yeh. I am. I AM.” He gave a nervous nod and looked back down. He heard the voice calling him a liar.

“Really. If you don’t feel well you can go to sleep. I don’t mind. I appreciate the company.”

“You really did get humble. How fucking dull?” Someone- Evan- scoffed staggering over to where the two men were. “Yo James. I’m sorry about your parents. Dragon pox is a bitch.”

The animagus blinked and opened his mouth and bit his lips. “Th-thanks.”

“You look sickly Reg. Have you been sleeping? The undead look better than you.”

“Shut the fuck up Evan.” Malice laced in his words causing Evan to stumble back in surprise but quickly recovered.

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Reg. Only joking you look as pretty as ever.” Evan still made a break to get out of the room. Regulus rolled his eyes.

“Mate, that wasn’t cool.” James muttered, “I think that Evan’s way of showing he cares.”

“You think.” Regulus clicked, “that man only cares about his family and his boyfriend. No in between. Nothing else.”

“I…” James fell silent. He couldn’t think of anything or rather chose not to say anything hanging up some more decoration, “do you think Dorcas would like her house colours as well?”

“I don’t think she gives a shit.”

“Yeh. Your right.”

Although they lapsed back into what Regulus thought was a comfortable silence. The voice still called out to him like a siren but with James around it was bearable. The party would start and would go of without a hitch. In fact all three of them were doing well. For now at least. Everything was okay.

Evan, himself, couldn’t help but give a soft smile as began talking to wormtail when he watched James and Regulus slowly leave down into the dark corridor. Two boys leaving the party together, where had he heard that before. He looked to Dorcas, who was wondering to the balcony. He sighed and tuned back into the conversation with the other blonde. He was mentioning something Dee had said to him.

Dorcas spun around exiting to the terrace looking at the setting sun. She stretched her arms in the arm and smiled closing her eyes. There was a cold stroke across her face and she peeked her eyes open to see the soft blue of her swift as it landed on the balcony.

“So, where is our idiot?” She murmured getting closer to her patronus.

Chapter Text

“You know I would have never of guessed our friendship after everything.” Regulus replied a small smile gracing his face. James nodded as well tapping his drink.

“Reg you aren’t as bad as you try to make yourself out to be.” James commented with a grin that made Regulus heart flutter.

The door was shoved violently open, and splint fly everywhere. In a sudden burst of wrath, Regulus was shoved up against the wall. There was a loud thud as his head collided with the wall and he could feel his heart jump to his throat as he noticed her eyes were blazing with anger.

“How could you?” She whispered; her voice was sharp cutting the silence.

James immediately ran over only to stop flat. There were tears dribbling down her eyes. Her eyes told a story of betrayal and instead of intervening he stopped and watched. He watched Regulus stammering out but nothing came out his defence. It only made her glare intensify yet his face didn’t change. He didn’t show any remorse as she dug her nail deeper and deeper into his throat before releasing him. 

The grey eyes wondered up to her face and the only defence he could come up with was, “you wouldn’t have carried on if you knew the truth?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t have. He’s our friend.” She yelled back. “Our family.”

“Your family.”

The black woman let out a sour laugh, “you are right. He was just there when you real family left you. When James left you. Whenever you were needed him he was there for you. But doesn’t qualify him as shit to you. That why you left him.”

“I-  what?” James squeaked.

“Dorcas what the fuck?” Evan yelled as the door was slammed open again, “why the fuck did you tell Pettigrew of all people about it. You promised to never speak about it.”

“You told the fucking rat.” Regulus yelled standing up as the blonde walked over to the pair.

“Did I date you?” James tried.

“Ha. That’s the main issue here?” Dorcas hissed, “he’s the one that left Barty to be dragged down by Inferni on the first mission. We could have saved him and he let him die.”

Evan eyes widened and looked blankly at Regulus, “she’s lying, right? You didn’t actually let my boyfriend die… did you?”

“Sorry, kinda in the dark here but Reg-”

“Shut up James. I erased your memory. Now answer me Regulus.” He slammed his punched a hole into the wall. His eyes filled with pure anger then he covered his mouth quickly. Dorcas looked at him wide-eyed as well.

“You erased my boyfriend's memory?” The black-haired man asked.

“Ex. Your ex boyfriend’s. Regulus you wouldn’t stop bloody crying and yelling and being a right fucking arse to everyone. CONSTANTLY. You wanted him to leave you alone. You begged him to leave you alone and ‘stop chasing you like a lost puppy.’ Worse about it you threatened to kill yourself and worse than that you almost killed Barty.” He replied composing himself.

“You were worried about me?”

“Someone had to be.”

“It wasn’t your call. You made the boy I loved and made him into a man I don’t know.” His eyes filled with a slimy green as he shouted back.

“You left the man I love, your family, behind for a war we are not needed for.” The blonde sucked in a breath and picked his next few words careful. “I erased his memories because I was scared for you. I was scared for the people I cared about. You killed my… my everything out of your-your ambition.”

“It wasn’t out of-”

“Why couldn’t your spare a few minutes then?”

“Well that fucking retard loonie about the memo-” there was a resounding punch as Dorcas’s fist collided with his face sending him to the ground. Evan cast a small look down fighting the urge not to murder him right there and then.

“H-he died for you, Black, least you can do is show some respect.” She spat.

“You are the one that suggested the war. His death is on your on hands as much as it is on mine.” His face contorted into something that could only be described as malicious. “You are always the one to put the nail in the coffin like in sixth.”

“You are such a tool.”

“I’m just saying you are always the one to ignore him and you were the one that said it.” Regulus carried on, “look at you. You are so ready to hurt someone you call family.”

“I was a fool to consider you as his family. Even dumber to think you weren’t a Black.”

“I never asked to be his family and neither did I ask to be yours. So I am happy to be a Black.” He chuckled, “I’m kind of happy he is dead. He was quite irritating.

The other two fell silent. Evan’s eyes twitched and before long his composure completely broke and launched at Regulus. The blonde raised his fist and began to punch him hard in the face. His silhouette towered Regulus, their friendship shattered in an instant. With every savage punch, the Evan’s rage consumed him, unleashing a flurry of blows upon their fallen comrade. The sound of fists meeting flesh echoes off the bar walls, even if Regulus had said something the blonde probably didn’t hear him and he hadn’t heard the others enter not until he was being yanked off him.

“LET GO OF ME. I’M GOING TO FUCKING KILL HIM.” He screamed thrashing against the arms glaring at the bloodied boy. “I’M GOING TO RIP YOUR THROAT OUT WITH MY HANDS. YOU SON OF A BITCH.”

Regulus stood up wiping his face as if he had only gotten a nose bleed from the exchange. Then rolled his eyes before slinking off. The blonde was still seething with wrath as he left. “GET OF ME. YOU FUCKING WEREWOLF.”

“Hey don’t yell at Moon-”

“FUCK OFF BLACK.”

This time Sirius did back off and stayed silent. The blonde glowered as if the black haired boy was still there in front of him and he trying to his mind to rip his face off. Dorcas had stayed silent the whole time with vengeance keen on her mind. She gave a slight look the the blonde before stalking after Black.

“I don’t know who you are but your aren’t Regulus.”

The man hissed back contorting his head in an almost demonic way, “What the hell do you want?”

“To punch you. To stab you. Possibly kill you.” She laughed taking out her wand, “I want to do so many things to you but I’m not going to do that. I’m going to take what is mine and I’m going to leave. I’m going to take the locket the thing you have be pretending was the one ring to rule them all and I’m going to leave with Evan.”

“No.”

“Yes.” She gave a smile and played with her wand in her hand. Regulus immediately drew his wand and spat a curse at her which she deflected. Before cracking her neck, “alright lets fight, Black.”

With a crack of the air light flashed between the two sides before Dorcas cut it off his neck only to be scratched at. Then it fell back into Regulus’s hand until he was met with a punch to the face by Evan, looking as if something had grabbed his hair and yanked him into the room. The locket smashed onto the floor and broke open. A dark erupted from it whirling in front of the three of them. It send them flying back against the wall. Gasping for air Regulus looked up there was morphing of face. Arms reaching out. Longs contorting. Wailing cries before a sudden burst before turning into a singular person.

“Hiya.” The voice fluctuated between a bad British accent and a shit Scottish one before settling, “did you miss me?”

A smile broke through and the rest of the body formed around it.

“… Barty?”

Chapter Text

“That’s my name don’t wear it out will you?” There was a snicker although it sounded more robotic like someone had spliced recording together. “You good?”

“B-bee?” Evan whispered gaining his composure and trying to stand only for Dorcas to place an arm in front of him. Something was off. They all knew it. It was definitely a trick. That obvious but seeing him smiling and pouting seemed real. He seemed real enough. She looked up into the eyes and instead of being met by a warm brown; they were completely void.

Dorcas swallowed, “h-how are you?”

“How do ya think?” He spat and sneered at them, “I’m fucking dead after all. It is pretty fucking bleak here.”

“Pretty bird?”

“Dead bird.” He snorted, “yeh, E. here sucks. There is nothing in the beyond and I’ve stuck in the nothing. This is the first time I’ve seen any light. Rest of life is pitch black for me. Left to die by friends. Fucking brilliant.”

The moment Regulus broke eye contact and looked to the locket it rounded on him the distorted image seemed to drift closer to him with a wide smirk and a shallow laugh.

“Aww. Regulus. Regulus. Regulus.” It giggled wondering over. “Should I introduce myself as Sirius for you?”

Regulus’s eyes immediately widened, unable to respond had to stutter out some form of defence. Only to immediately to be given irrefutable evidence.

“I think you are a black through and through. You left me to die out of jealousy.”

“I was- it wasn’t like that.”

“Really?” He clicked, “you were never jealous of me? You never wanted the life I lead. Loving family? Brightest wizard in the school? Amazing boyfriend?”

“I… I wouldn’t kill you over it.”

“But you admit. You don’t like me. You never have.”

Regulus stopped. The itch in his brain that snake-like voice resounded again. His eyes flicked down to the locked. The words Barty was saying was his inner thoughts. Things that he feared Barty would say to him and thought he had thought for a fleeting second and nothing more. He blinked away tears.

“You aren’t Barty.”

“You don’t even know Barty.” It mimicked back, “what’s my favourite animal?”

“A- a bird?”

“Wrong.” The silhouette licks his lips taunting the boy as he paled. “It’s a fox.”

“… No.” Dorcas eyes furrowed, “no. That’s not right. Barty’s favourite animal is a bird. It’s an eagle.” The black woman paused and blinked as the figure contorted to face her, “because of Ravenclaw and because its Evan.”

Like a ragdoll the silhouette began to crack its neck as if it were possessed and then grinned. It’s face glitching before stopping in its tracks.

“Oh my Chris.” There was a quite pause and Dorcas froze at the name. It took this and laughed as if they were on a game show, “you thought I didn’t know. That’s so funny.”

“I- that its not like that.”

“That what is it like?” He sung back.

“I…”

“You preach about being yourself about us being our own individual. Yet you don’t even listen.” It cackled, “you are such a hypocrite. You know it. Marlene knows it. Your parent. Me. Only strangers don’t and you make sure to try keep everyone a stranger.”

“Barty. listen to me-”

“No. You listen to me. You don’t listen to your parents. Marlene or anyone.” His tongue flicked along his teeth, “you are a selfish little mudblood.”

“What did you just say?”

“Come on babe. You didn’t think we were actually equal.” It’s smirk widened as it floated towards her, “you will beneath me. You always were. You are always second place in love. In your parent's eyes. In mine. In everyone’s. Why do you think Evan calls you SP; must I spell it out for you?”

Dorcas turned to Evan her eyes widen and Evan just looked to the ground. She felt tears sting in her eyes and she pulled them away from her friend back to the figure. She sucked in a breath yet couldn’t bring herself to answer.

The thing just began to vibrate before its head dropped turning to Evan with licking it lips like a wolf, “Oh Evan my dear rose. Did you ever love me? For one who loves yet never acts can recall a time that love is not wasted.” The distorted figure whispered.

Everyone was taken aback by the question, “No I do. I do love you more than anything.”

“seulement dans la mort.” Evan’s eyes widened and panic began to rise in his chest, “you have only ever love me when I am not there.”

“That’s not tr-”

“To weigh your love for me against your parent; the scale would fall to the latter.” It blinked almost humanly, “you cannot love me if you refuse to say it to my face.“

“I-I…” he smelled wearily forward reaching out his hands

“Your not the only one who left some thing behind. I left everything. A title. A high position job. Father. My mammy. Everything. I had bright future too. Why is it that you only think about your sacrifice?”

Tears fell from the blue eyes as he reeled back surprised and hurt. The Barty rolled its eyes in clear disgust. This was a snapping point because there was no way in hell Barty had ever blamed anyone for things especially not Evan. He wasn’t the type. Not in this life time. Sure he could be loud. But to intentionally hurt Evan. No that couldn’t be him.

Despite her own hurt, Dorcas grabbed Evan’s arm pulling him away only to be met with a stiff reply.  Even if he hurt her, it didn’t matter. Evan was someone she respected as well. “Evan. Don’t. It’s not him.”

“Why do you care what I do?”

“I respect you and you respect me. You told me that. That is our relationship.”

“I call you second SP.”

“Listen Evan. One you’ve been calling me that before you go to know me.” She laughed, “ and two if I’m second place you are fucking third place.”

“… I don’t care. I need him.” The blue eyes seemed to well up with tears, “I truly need him. He is half of my being- he owns my life and dominates my soul. I love him and if this is my only way to be with him so be it.”

“Your that desperate?”

“I AM.” He yelled. The wind began to pick up in the room. “I love him and I need him more than anything. His breath is intoxicating and his eyes are like a spell; I don’t know what I am without him. He’s everything to me and I’d rather settle for a replica of him than not have those eyes in my life again.”

The blonde stalked forward to the locket but he felt a hand wrap around his leg pulling him to the floor tripping him over. He hissed as he turned to face Regulus shaking his head; the blonde kicked the black haired boy smashing his face into the ground. Blood began to poor onto the floor. Then it all happened in a flash. Dorcas had run past both the boys picking up the fang and smashing into the locket. A shrill cry ripped from the locket. An amalgamation of human and banshee broke through.

“It’s over now.” Dorcas murmured a breathing out. “You okay Evan? Evan?”

She looked at the blonde who seemed to be frozen his pupil dilating as he looked to the locket.

Chapter Text

Evan replayed the moment. He hadn't heard what Dorcas had said, his eyes fixated on the object beneath. He had watched the locket shatter in front and his legs didn’t refusing to move despite his effort. The next few seconds he sprinted to it and tried to piece it together.  His heart drowning any other noise and his mind blocking out everything except the horcrux as he scrambled to fix the locket, but they wouldn’t go together. That didn’t stop him trying again and again desperately hoping that he could piece of locket together... hoping he could the last piece of his boyfriend together. He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Regulus and Dorcas, who were just behind him.

The blonde just smacked it off the way and snatched the pieces off the ground and stormed out of the room. He needed to repair it. He needs to fix it. I Maybe if he pieced it together then he would be able to find and bring Barty back home... to him. He placed the pieces on the ground and began to stick them together. It didn’t work. He couldn’t mend it. He began to scratch at his hand as he tried again and again. Every time he attempted it, he would fail. Every time he failed. He had now failed him three times.

“Your hand is going red.” A voice rang out from behind him.

Evan didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. He already knew James fucking Potter was standing behind him with the most pitiful look. He didn’t need to see it. He didn’t need pity what he needed was to fix his mistake. He just needed to fix it. He especially didn’t need someone here.

“You need to stop.” He felt a hand. He just rolled his eyes and ignored him carrying on, “please. If he is dead, this isn't going to bring him back. Which means you are hurting yourself for no reason. Barty wouldn’t want that.”

“How the fuck would you know what he wants? You don’t even know him.” The blonde spat out.

“Whose fault is that then?” There was a silence, where everything stopped. “i don’t know why that came out. I'm s-”

He was interrupted by laughter and looked to Evan, who was snickering at the remark.  James took it as an invitation to sit next to the blonde on the roof.

“I’m going to get rid of these shards.” He gradually pulled his wand to show the blonde he meant no harm. Then flicked it sending the piece off the rooftop. “Now they are gone you can stop harming yourself. You are rubbing really hard.”

“Okay, I’m not accepting the fact he’s dead.” He paused and shook his hand out, “my heart is telling me he’s alive. I would feel if he was dead.”

James stayed silent and smiled at him, “then he’s not dead and you’ll find your way back to one another. That’s always the case with love.”

Evan groaned and the turned pointing his wand at the brunette head making the other man’s eyes widen. “I hate that your nice person.”

“What are you…”

“It’s not permanent. Do you want your memories back?”

“I thought you said-”

“I was pissed off and you were being a nark.” Evan stopped and ran his hands through his hair. “To know the truth, it will make a liar.”

"But aren’t I already a liar?”

“No, you aren’t.”

“That worse than because that means I'm a coward.”

“It’s okay to run, James. This may ruin your marriage and change all your relationships.”

“I’m not running.”

 Evan paused holding up his wand, “I'm sorry I stole them from you.”

“I forgive you.”

“Forgiveness is earned.”

“You are wrong. It’s given.” He smiled at the blonde. “And I choose to forgive you, Evan.”

The blonde sucked in a breath, “this is going to be painful.”

“The truth is always painful.” His smile widened as Evan rolled his eyes muttering how he ruined the moment. He placed the wooden stick onto his forehead.

James felt a searing pain as if someone had gotten a hot rod shoved through his brain. The pain as neurones began to connect caused tears to begin to fall. He began to remember it all. The squabbles. The arguments. The fear. But he also remembered the love, the joy and hope he had around Regulus. Not only had he remembered Regulus, but he remembered all of them. He had remembered the times they had all spent together and how he had felt especially since is after the prank.  Those three were his secret escape; none of them had cared about the past. He even remembered that week, where it had all ended.

~*~

James felt a sense as if he were falling rather like Alice did when she fell down the rabbit hole. Some of the memories seem blurred whilst some of the other seem crossed out. He reached forward then it was complete darkness.

It was the summer of graduation. Emotions were high and tensions were higher yet James had still managed to carve out time for all his friend. He wondered to the astronomy tower still in his blissful ignorance noticing a bundle of blanket at the balcony. He smirked.

“How was your hibernation?” James asked handing Barty a beer whilst simultaneously scaring the boy.

“Alright.” He hummed back, “thanks for visiting.”

“No worries, mate.” The Gryffindor replied. They stayed there for a minute in silence as they sipped their drink. “It is getting worse, isn't it?”

“Hmm.” He nodded absenting looking at his drink taking another sip.

“Have you talked to Poppy yet?”

“I’ve got depressive meds already, ‘mate’.”

“They don’t seem to be working too well. I mean you look like shit.”

“Thanks,” he snorted and then grinned. “It’s probably going to keep getting worse though. I just hope you all will visit be in the loony bin.”

“I don’t think your depressed Barty.”

“Yes, lack of energy and suicidal tendency are just a byproduct of being a child.” He rolled his eyes.

“I think you might be manic. Do either of your parents h-”

“No.”

James stopped sipping his drink and raised an eyebrow. He wouldn’t press and hummed, “Dorcas wasn’t there.”

“Yeh, she was. You just don’t see her because she’s ignoring Reg. So, I told her to visit in the morning and Reg to visit at night.”

“Why?”

“The Dark mark, duh. She just assumes the worse, but Reg hates it. Not to mention Eve is going to get it. So, she is distancing, and I think she hopes I’m doing the same.” He sucked in a breath, “is it bad I-”

“Dark… mark?” James interrupted as his eyes widened and he began to wobble the tab.

“The Dark Mark? The black tattoo with a skull and snake.”

“I know that but the dark mark…”  he snapped the tab of and looked the brunette dead in the eye.

Barty tilted his head and snickered, “Regulus has... it.”

It was as if the world creaked to a stop. He felt as if someone had poured a bottle of icy water onto him. The jigsaw piece finally fell into place his Regulus had the dark mark. He gripped his can harder. “You aren’t lying to me, are you?”

Barty paused for a second and looked at him then it was as if James was a problem in need of a solution, then he stood up and shrugged. His demeanour shifting and changing every second like a chameleon. Then he paused getting up and licked his lips. Then began to edge his way to the door.

“I need to-”

“Sit back down, Bartemius. I think we need to have a talk.” The Ravenclaw had to suppress a shiver as he slowly sat back down. A concerned James was a very scary person to be around, and a worried James was very dangerous person to be with. “I would like to ask you a few questions and I want you to answer them truthfully. Thanks.”

It took a few minutes to break the younger boy into talking and then he began to answer every bullet of a question from James and by the end James wasn’t angry.  No. He felt betrayed. The worst part about it was they had all known: Pandora, Evan, Dorcas, Marlene, Peter, Sirius, Lily, Remus, Mary. Even fucking Snivellus knew about the mark before him. Ever y last one of them knew before him. Of course, he could understand why five of them hadn't said anything, but the rest didn’t have an excuse for keeping him in the dark. He didn’t want to fight his Regulus. He couldn’t. Never. The memory swirled and whipped and he remembered a twisted stopper to the room and him just sitting on the bed unable to focus on studying. He finally gathered the courage.

“Do you have anything to tell me?” The black-haired boy looked back and shook his head. Before picking up his journal and walking back over. “So, we are going to just meet on the battlefield trying to kill each other?”

He watched his boyfriend freeze at the question, “you know?”

“I know.”

“Who?”

“Does that matter?”

“Yeh. It fucking does.”

“No. It doesn’t.”

“Was it Sirius?” James shook his head, “fucking Dorcas?” The other boy just pinched the list of people. “Remus? Peter? Marl-”

“Jesus Christ Regulus. It doesn’t matter, who.”

“Yes. It does.” He yelled back. “They betrayed my trust.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to tell you when I was ready.”

“I'm about to graduate when you were going to tell me.” He called swinging his legs out of bed and walking over to Regulus. 

“I had a plan.”

“Enlighten me.”  Regulus stayed silent holding his book, “tell me your plan. I'm listening and I will believe whatever you say.”

There was silence again and the black-haired boy looked away. “Was it Evan?”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Fucking Snape?”

“It was Barty. Okay? Now can you do me a fucking favour and tell what is going to happen to our relationship. Considering in less than two months I'm going to be joining the Order and you’re a fucking death-eater.”

“Bee told you?” The black-haired boy replied his eyes widening.

“That’s what you care about now.”

James ran his hands through his hair and laughed. He needed to calm down.  He could feel himself suffocating as every breath seemed to be running away from him. He couldn’t be in this room right now. No, he could be in this room just not with Regulus. His heart beating like drums in his ear making every sound filter out. He trudged out of the room. He began to avoid Regulus like the plague and in return Regulus pretty much did the same.

The next few weeks dragged along he ignored regulus yelled at him and told him to rightfully piss off unless he was given an apology and not an excuse. None of that happened. And he finally felt at a loss. He was avoiding him for the right reasons… right? He just wanted an apology why was that so hard? In full honesty he didn’t care about the mark- he just didn’t want to be lied to. It reached a boiling point when was again Regulus tried to explain himself then just admit he was in the wrong. Now it was every time they talked they would fight each other and yell and scream at each other. It was awful yet they didn’t break up. It was after one of these times that he felt a wand on the back of his head. Then that young boy was erased from his memory. It was as if someone had scrubbed his face out of his memory- not just his face but Barty’s and Evan’s as well.  

~*~

Suddenly James was pulled out of his memories and jolted forward. His eyes red with tears. Part of him was relieved and the other half wished hadn't known.  He panted as he attempted to get up only to fall flat. Evan sauntered over to him telling him to just sit down. Then handed him a glass of water.

“H-ho-how-” He gagged out.

“Three minutes.”

“That’s all?”

“Should be.” He sucked on his tongue. “I’m sorry.”

James paused and looked at him then smiled, “thanks but I guess if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have my Harry. So im glad.”

“Jesus do you always have to look on the bright side?”

“It would be awfully dull otherwise.”

“I like dull.”

“No you don’t.”

“I do.”

“Evan you put up this massive wall where you only allow one person in and allow them to see your personality and that’s okay. But maybe try tell people how you feel.”

“I do.” Then paused, “and very bluntly.”

“Then why is it always the people you hate are people you hate because the way they treat your friends or your fiancé.”

“Excuse me.” The blonde glared at him, “I think this is the end of the conversation.”

“Okay.”

Evan truly thought this would be the end of that and he wouldn’t have to face the reality of Potter’s words but he would and sooner than he thought.

Chapter Text

June 2nd 1979

“Do you think we will still be friends three years from now?” Barty asked lounging on the bench with Evan lying with his legs on top of his. Putting out his fag on the wall, his third cigarette. They were currently situated in the dark tower drinking as much as they could before Monday would arise with the final exams… well Barty’s first exam was that Monday the rest still had a few more days.

“Why wouldn’t we?” Dorcas questioned flicking open her light.

“I don’t know. I know we are all going different ways no matter what.” The brunette replied glumly pushing the blonde’s legs off. He cracked his legs and picked up the bottle walking over to the side of the tower.

“What are you actually going to become a minister?” Regulus snorted.

Their was a brief silence then a chuckle as he turned around opening the bottle, “what don’t think I’ll make a good one?”

“Barty any office job for you would be a hell on earth.” Dorcas responded with a snicker.

“Hey.”

“But you know. I’ll become an aurora so we aren’t that far apart.”

“You an aurora. Don’t make me laugh.”

“Better than your goal of becoming a healer. I mean seriously Rosier. Every cure will be a fucking amputation for you.” She quipped back.

“You’re a fucking police officer, mate. So I have the moral high ground here.”

Regulus snorted as they continued to argue back and forth but noticed a frown from his Scottish friend. Then stumbled over. “Why are you sad?”

“I’m gonna miss their squabbles, my guy.”

“Yeh I know how the fuck are we going to get those two in a room together?”

The brunette laughed. Then looked down at the drop, “you know there is a u and I in suicide.”

“Save the Romeo and Juliet shit for Ev.”

“Alas here I was thinking you loved me.” Barty placed his hand over his head and fainted.

“Save it Crouch.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Incredibly.”

“Do not let envy consume you for it is an ugly stain on what otherwise be a beautiful f- OW.”

“Cunt.”

“Did Evan tell you about J-”

“Please stop talking. Your sex life is none of my business.” He paused and took a sip of his drink. The brown eyes widened then dodged to the ground. Regulus was caught off guard before reaching to pat his head, “you suck.”

“Actually I swallow.”

“Fuck you.”

“Evan’s job, even so you would need a stool to even attempt that.”

“I’m an average height.”

“For an Oomp loompa maybe.”

Regulus frowned before that dissolved into laughter. He hadn’t given the future much thought. In the past he thought he would of gone down the ministry route helping with House Elves or children rights but he didn’t have much of a chance now. With the war and the mark, not to mention he was going to have to meet James on the battlefield. The future really did suck. Then he glanced towards Barty, his eyes were fixed on the bickering in front of them. It was a borderline miracle they are all friends still. Even after what they had done, how could he of been forgiven so easily? How could any of them?

It there Regulus realised something; the soft gaze towards his friend and how just being there in their presence seemed comforting in a way he had never felt before. This felt like home. It felt warm and comforting. This could potentially be one of their final Saturdays together. He blinked down at his drink. Was he really willing to let this go? Did he really want to lose even one of them? He felt the sting of Pandora leaving and he felt the pain of Sirius doing the same. Why wasn’t he allowed to?

It would be here that Regulus would do one of his most selfish acts ever; he would ask them to stay together. That day he was the one calling for the unanimous vote. He would ask them all to leave the war. To leave behind everything in the sake of their friendship. He remembered their blank look as he said, “we take a vote. It has to be unanimous. So, all in favour of leaving the war and magic behind us raise your hand…”

At first they would look at each other exchanging looks. He would reason it further. No-one fought him despite his flimsy arguments. Barty was the first to place his hand up beside Regulus and gave a genuine smile. Then they all followed.

Slowly one after the other each hand was raised.

~*~

Regulus flicked a fag before burning it out. He was so easily tricked coerced by the Snake. Now he wasn’t even sure what he meant. Thinking back to that night part of him wanted to argue that all of them could of made a rebuttal. Maybe if he had been stronger he would of gone on this hunt alone. When Kreacher had told him about the Dark Lord’s secret he could of adventured into that cavern alone. But instead he had decided to not do a thing. He could of spared so many lives if he had just said something. He could of saved Barty if he had courage.

“Wallowing in self-pity will get you nowhere.” A voice remarkable like Sirius’s called.

“Wow. I didn’t know that.” He turned squinting into the shadow and moving away from the balcony back indoor, “thank you so much.”

“I’m just saying Reg. Also there is a meeting going on in Mooney’s ro-”

“Don’t call me that. We aren’t familial. I stand by what I said.” He pushed past the other man walking down the corridor going to the living room where they were all situated. Evan was there laying down reading his book. It was the book Barty’s had given him. The blonde didn’t even look up. He sucked on his teeth standing next to the door. He made a brief eye contact with Dorcas. She turned away, her eyes still seeing the person who had killed her brother.

“So, we need to go figure the next Horcrux. Who's up for a recon mission?” Marlene asked with a clap of her hands.

James and Sirius were first to place their hand up along with Peter and hesitantly Dorcas joined in.

Regulus sucked his teeth, “Evan you want to-”

“How about you go fuck yourself?” Evan spat out playing with his cigarette. Regulus walked out. The knew he deserved it in a way but it still stung. Evan was his brother. He felt a hand on his shoulder he half expected to look up and hoped to see Dorcas and hoped it was Evan. It wasn’t either of them.

“Regulus you all right?” Peter asked.

“That really none of your fucking business.”

“I’m sorry.”

“That solves everything then.” He murmured.

“Dorcas really didn’t tell me about the incident. I promise. Evan just kind of assumed, she did. He kind of jumped conclusion maybe he’s doing the same with you.” Peter whispered. Regulus gave a glare. It was quite an odd way to comfort him. He just rolled his eyes. He felt a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think you were in the wrong at all. I don’t think there was much you can do. Evan is sort overreacting.”

The brown eyes looked up at the grey eyes. “It’s fine.”

“Is it? I mean. It wasn’t your fault at all. I don’t understand why he doesn’t understand that? You are in the right like he hurt James. Why don’t they under-”

“Fuck off.” Regulus responded shoving the hand off his shoulder, “please.”

The disgust was evident on the his face as he exited back towards the room where everyone was filing out. Evan had hurt James but when Regulus had time to think about it if someone had done the same to Evan he probably would have done the same. Not to mention Regulus himself had contemplated doing the same thing and was going to. Plus James was happy and it didn’t matter what made him happy.

Chapter Text

December 9th, 1973

Evan was trying hard and yet he was still at best coming second. Every time he was coming second and this was if he beat Reg. How was that possible? The easy answer it shouldn’t be. The blonde stormed up to their newest defence against the Arts teacher. The teacher was so incompetent that she just handed him the sheet with the name and scores.

A surge of anger washed over him as he remembered getting his results, he had gotten an O in this class at the end of years and still came second; it was rare for a first year to get an O, but he did, and yet he still came second, and it was to the same fucking person.

“Calm down Ev.” Regulus muttered as he looked up from his book. He could see the anger burning of him looking at the paper.

“I lost again to someone who hardly shows up to class.” He replied scrunching up the piece of paper.

“Mate, you are only losing against a Ravenclaw.” He paused and looked up, “it isn’t the end of the world. Plus your parents hardly care.”

“They do. They just don’t show it.” He slammed his hand onto the table. “Dora was doing so much better to me at my age.”

Regulus just shook his head. “Go talk to him or stalk him either. I don’t care.”

“No. I’m not a creep.”

“You talk about him, it as if you want to go in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

“I do not.”

“Don’t lie to yourself.”

“Sod off.”

“Just go because if here you're in the next minute I’m going to drop the potion grade to a T.”

“You wouldn’t do that.” His friend raised an eyebrow, “jeez fine.”

Evan wondered out of the room. He wondered what he looked like. What sort of name his Bartemius anyways? He felt himself storm into the Ravenclaw common room. His eyes fell an Asian quidditch chasers.

“Vance, where is Crouch?” He snapped.

The black-haired girl gave him a dead look, “why?”

“I’ll give you a sickle if you tell me.”

“Money isn’t everything. Why?” She replied.

He sucked his teeth, “I want to speak to him.”

“About?”

“I’ll give you a galleon.”

“Great Lake. The big oak next to there.” He flipped the coin over to the girl and left.

His stomach twisted as his made his way to the lake wrapping himself up in a ton of coats. How anyone could stand winter in Scotland was a mystery to him? He disappeared down the twisted alley to the lake. He hummed and clenched up his fist. That fucker must have been cheating. Doesn’t show up to half his sodding lessons and shouldn’t even be in the year below. He kept mumbling until he felt eyes burning into him. He whipped around and turned to see a boy. In that moment he could tear his eyes away from him.

There were a pair of deep brown eyes gazing at him with complete adoration and the blonde didn’t want to look away. He was so entrapped by their warmth that he forgot about his anger. He felt as if someone had placed a spell on him as he leant forward reaching out to touch his face. He was warm. He felt a weight of his cheek as the copper-haired boy leaned against his hand.

“Are you a girl?” He asked. The Ravenclaw just shook his head pulling away from the touch. “Are you sure?”

Evan missed the heat in his hand. The brunette nodded again. He bit his lips and began to turn away to leave.

“Don’t go.” The other boy asked. He had a soft silvery Scottish accent. Evan wrinkled his nose Scottish accents aren’t pleasant and if it were any other person he would have scoffed and carried on his way. “Please. Let me at least finish counting your freckles.”

Suddenly now he found himself becoming self-conscious about them but that didn’t stop him from turning around. He chewed on his lips as he was being pushed closer to him much to the latter delight. Is this what jealous feels like? Yeh, it had to be. The brunette was focused on counting them making his face go redder.

“Can you stop that?” He hissed smacking his hands away. The latter immediately reeled back and muttered an apology before turning away. He felt guilt weigh down on him, “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just I don’t know your name yet.”

“I’m Barty.”

“Evan. Evan Rosier.”

“You’ve got a lot of freckles. A whole galaxy of them.” He grinned, “I like them. Your eyes are so so blue like the sky. They’re limitless. They’re freedom.”

Barty was unusually pretty for a boy. Evan felt his cheeks go a dark rose colour and he swallowed, “tu es sûr que tu n'es pas une fille?”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Okay.” It fell silent and he missed the attention. “Why are you here?”

“What?”

“No-one comes out here for lunch.”

“Oh.” Evan paused. Why was he here? The realisation dawned on him as he spluttered out the explanation.

The brown eyes widened, and he licked his lips, “oh. I-I ummm. I don’t take the tests. My my friend does. Yeh. She takes them for me. So. You should get pissy with her. Her name is Dorcas.”

~*~

Now that Evan thought about it, Barty had probably lied to him even then he could tell but he didn’t want the resentment of being second place to fall onto him. He just settled on the snide comments towards Dorcas mocking her at any given chance, but she always had a quip or remark. In the end, she started fights as often as he did. They ended up with a relationship built on a formerly unspoken c for one another that and they were pretty much Barty’s full-time babysitters… with Regulus.

The blonde heard a knock on the door and heard the soft swish of the door opening. He peeked his eyes open to see all of them standing there. He rolled his eyes and closed them again maybe he would see Bee again. It was silent for a bit. Did they really expect him to speak? He just groaned pulling out a cigarette and lighting with his wand.

“So, we need to go figure the next Horcrux. Who's up for a recon mission?” Marlene asked with a clap of her hands.

James and Sirius were first to place their hand up along with Peter and hesitantly Dorcas joined in.

Regulus sucked his teeth, “Evan you want to-”

“How about you go fuck yourself?” Evan spat out playing with his cigarette. Regulus gritted his teeth and picked up his wand. Cunt.

“Alright. Remus stays with Rosier.” Marlene stated grabbing her wand of the counter.

“I’ll stay as well then.” Sirius said and quickly sat back down.

“No.”

“But-”

“Remus if he so much as breathes when you don’t want him to kill him.” The blonde woman said leaving the bedroom had they seriously walked in expecting he would help. He opened his eyes staring at the wooden planks little scorch marks above him; it kinda looked like a mockingbird.

“Well-” The werewolf started.

“UGH.” He groaned loudly before he put the cigarette out on the wood leaving a burn mark. “Please stop fucking talking. You have a shit voice.”

“Seriously.” The blue eyes turned to look at Remus and gave him a dead look. “Right. We are going for a walk.”

“I’m not your owner, werewolf. You can go walk yourself.”

It was silent as the pair Evan carried on reading. Remus shrugged and went for his book as if he was trying to compete to see who can ignore the other for longer. They carried on staying like that until there was a sharp snap of a book.

“You know I understand what you’re feeling so if you want to ta-” Evan just cackled in response. “Why are you laughing? I love Sirius. I would do anything for him.”

“Would you kill Harry for him?”

“No. What the fuck?!”

“Exactly. There is a line you wouldn’t cross. There’s no line for me.”

“You would kill Luna?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation no wavering or uncertainty in his voice as the blonde carried on flicking through his book. “There is a line that you wouldn’t cross for Black or a time when you will put someone, something, above him. There is never that line or time for me and there will never be that line for me. I would burn the world for him. I mean I realise now my family and everyone is not as important as the person, who hold my heart.”

Remus’s jaw couldn’t get any wider and spluttered, “I- uh. But that’s a child.”

“My sister would hate me but unless Bumblebee told me specifically told me not to do so and it was a sure-fire way to save him. I would do it in a heartbeat.” He paused, “I mean when it comes down to picking people. I will from now on always pick him.” I should of picked him to begin with.

The amber eyed man was at loss of words. Could one even class this as love? Or was it something more sinister; maybe it boarded on obsession. Remus just picked up his book again and they fell back into a silence. He wouldn’t kill Harry even if Sirius’s life was on the line because he knew Sirius wouldn’t want that, but Evan would. That’s just insanity.

It was as if the god had heard him and a small tawny owl came through rattling on the window. He sighed. Evan pulled himself up and snatched it out of the talons of the bird. His eyes grew as he noticed his sister’s handwriting. Shit no-one better of told her.

Are you missing something?

It read in simple cursive. He titled his head opening the package.

Hello, Snakey.

That was Barty’s handwriting.

It’s alive! Ha. I will spare the detail, but I am of able mind, body and soul. If you haven’t killed Cecilia, then congrats (I’ll revisit this point later). I hear you found the diadem, so congratulations are in order. Yay. This maybe late getting to you, but I got information to tell you. That just means I figured out the other Horcruxes and locations are :)

1. Diadem (you’ve gotten this, and he knows this)

2. Locket (you’ve gotten this)

3. Gaunt Ring (you’ve gotten this)

4. Helga’s cup, Lestrange vault at Gringotts

5. Diary, the open market. It has the initials T.M. Riddle

6. Morfin Gaunt’s wand, cemetery where Marvolo is buried

7. Himself, you just have to locate and kill him after destroying the rest

8. I don’t know. I know there is one but not a clue

A finite amount can be made and if I heard correctly, he has already pushed his soul to the limit. Although, I am doubtful he could create more due to his own arrogance- damn found someone with a bigger ego then Potter ha- try not to risk it. Saying that it can turn you all against each other, corrupting the soul; Lord of the rings sort of deal. So if it get too much break it.

Don’t tell a soul you have them, especially the locket he thinks no-one knows about it, we can use his own ego against him like we did in ‘77 to Older Black. He can't feel when we destroy them. As long as he thinks he is a god then he thinks he cannot be killed.

I got you a ring though so afterwards celebratory sex?

Bee

P.S I think the Morons are after them

P.P.S If it wasn’t clear I was alluding to some sort of wedding sex because of the ring cause you get a ring at a wedding. Like I want hot fucking sex. I’ll wear the dress and all. Although this isn’t a proposal. I just really need to fuck.

Evan smiled. He was okay. He was alive. His Barty was alive. He grinned as he pulled the ring from the envelope and turned to the werewolf with it in hand before tossing it to him. The latter inspected the ring and turned to the blonde.

“You have a fang, no?”

“Is this...”

“Yeh so fucking do it.”

“How?”

"Doesn’t matter.”

Remus raised his eyebrow at him then complied but not before inspecting the ring. There was ancient marking on the black stone and-

“Destroy it already, halfer. You can’t be this fucking useless.”

He shoved the dagger into the horcrux it made a loud hiss before the ring snapped fizzling and burning. Then a shrill cry. Evan re-read the message then noticed a small sentence which he had covered up by his thumb.

Also I might have joined the death-eaters but I’ve got it handled.

Chapter Text

“… I swear it.” Barty hesitantly replied

The brunette crouched down facing him holding the fake locket in hand and watched the black-haired sip the first few drinks. He trust Regulus and he trust more than anything Regulus’s potions skill so when he says it wouldn’t hurt him; Barty knows it won’t.  He saw him grab the basin around it.

“Reg, are you alright?”

Regulus looked petrified as he didn’t reply making the other man stand up. He began to sweat and his face twitched as if he was watching a nightmare unfold in real time. Then he slipped and Barty rushed to his side pulling him back up. Holding him tightly as he caught the jar with his other hand.

“Please… don’t make me. I cant. please do it.” Regulus begged, his voice was strained.

The brunette felt himself tremble underneath him. Regulus was rarely ever scared. “Yes… yes you can. I promise you can.”

He hoped if he said it aloud then it would make himself feel better. He gave back the jar allowing the boy to take another sip. However when he did Regulus began to weep tears as he hugged him and the worse part wasn’t him called Sirius, it was when he forced the next drink down his throat. It felt wrong and as the task weighed on him tears welled in his eyes before shoving another sip of the drink. Then underneath he heard a whimper asking him to kill him. Barty knew he couldn’t do it and released dropping him gently to the ground.

Barty walked over to the sink and took the jar taking the last sip then swapped the two lockets around; it was fairly easy to do so and the potion must have been about the amount consumed since he didn’t feel any effect. He smiled and turned to Regulus but Regulus was reaching for the water.

“Regulus don-” he yelled than yanked him back from the surface and his foot touched the water as he dragged them away. But it was too late. The black icy surface broke and a pal white hand reached out to them. “Fuck. fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

Barty sprinted away from the monster pulling him onto the basin. His first response was to apparate but that didn’t work.. of course it wouldn’t work. “Glacius.” The ice spun hitting the inferius sending it back into the water but it did nothing to the other. No matter which spell he whipped out: it did nothing for they could not bleed.

Barty couldn’t even yell for Dorcas and Evan they were way to far away for the other two to help unless they were put in harms way. It wouldn’t work if he transformed Regulus they would still go after him. “Why did it have to be inferni? Fuck. They aren’t myths. Why aren’t they myths? Weakness fire and light. Light. Lumos Maximus”

The brown-eyes glazed over the army of the undead each stretching their bony arms out toward them, contorting their bodies over one another to shy away from the sudden burst of light. It was now it stuck him they couldn’t both make it off the island. It was either him or Regulus. Regulus had better chances than he did in the war; he didn’t truly matter. He pulled Regulus close and whispered, “good luck.” Before screaming out for Dorcas and Evan at the top of his lungs.

“Sirius?”

“Wingardium Leviosa,” then sent him flung him to the other side. They would be after him on the other side. “Incendio. DORCAS! EVAN! SAVE HIM! SAVE HIM!”

He doubted they would hear his words, but they would definitely hear his yells and screams as he continued to battle the inferi on the island. He could feel tears as he carried on. He had had something to defeat them… why did he need to win?

Then a light bulb went off as he switched to his left-hand using spells whilst reaching into his bag pulling out pounds of gilliweed swallowing as many as he could in the time it took for an inferius to grab him. He let a choked-up screech bas the grip pulled him beneath the surface. The water was icy cold as he struggled against the restraints panic going straight to his mind. He flailed helplessly against the inferni as it dragged him deeper and deeper still holding his fists.  The water tightened his grip over his throat as he shrieked. The claws of the undead tore at his skin, ripping his flesh off. His sight began to fade.

Then as he felt himself loosen his grip and then he... could breathe. The water, too, felt less chilly. The breath allowed him a moment of peace but quickly realised he had to stop struggling so that’s what he did. He stopped struggling completely in attempt to convince the inferni that it had succeeded with its mission. That it had succeeded in protecting the locket.

~*~

The darkness was boring. It was dull. It was scary. He couldn’t sleep. He could not eat. He could not drink. He could not move. He was in the dark so long he began to lose hope. He just prolonged the inevitable. Now he would die alone. Just like his father said.

It was here in deep murky water he would see a ray of blue light. It tore through the darkness and slashed the inferni away allowing for Barty’s body to float to the surface. The swift probably mean they were going to continue with the journey. They had actually left without him. That was probably for the best, he was useless anyways... he had the no reason for the war. No personal reason to even be involved meant liability. Flexible moral standards. Although he did have reason. It was just a fairly shit reason. Being alone with his thoughts sucked.

Barty hadn't been alone since he had run away. He wasn’t meant to be alone anymore. Evan was meant to propose. They were meant to get a cat. Then the cat was meant to keep him company. He wondered if they were still going to do elope together. Having magic complicated what they were meant to be doing. Would Evan become a healer apprentice? Would he go back to his parents? If he did does that mean he would have to go back?  Would Dorcas leave him for Marlene? How about Reg? They all had their futures and responsibilities in the wizarding world. He didn’t. Would Evan change their plans?

He peered from the shadows to look back at the sealed entrance.The darkness was bad, but the silence was so much worse. He had half a mind to hum but wasn’t sure the vibration caused could lead to more issues. It was good he was still holding his wand otherwise he would have bled out. Saying that if he had bled out, he wouldn’t be in this situation ergo he wouldn’t be bored out of his mind. But Dorcas would be pissed, and worse Evan would be sad.

Then again at least he could get some sleep. Now every time he closes the inferni snarling and clawing at him saying that it was better talking to his father in his dream. What if he had a wet dream now? He entertained the thought for the next half hour before realising no matter how kinky it could be, it would ultimately be bad for him. He needed to keep thinking of things.

He began to recite Shakespeare at one point then thought about his obituary. What if they never came back for him? What if they had just left him for real this time. It would be his own fault, what sorta last words are good fucking luck? Perhaps he should of began counting and just switch of his mind.

One Piccadilly. Two Piccadilly. Three Piccadilly. Four Piccadilly. Five Piccadilly…

Seven-hundred Piccadilly. Seven-hundred and one Piccadilly… what number am I up to?

Bollocks.

One Piccadilly. Two Piccadilly. Three Piccadilly…

Shit. I fell asleep.

One Piccadilly. Two Piccadilly. Three Piccadilly… did I say three Piccadilly? I’ll just start again

One-hundred thousand and twenty-six Piccadilly. One-hundred thousand and twenty-seven Piccadilly. One-hundred thousand and twenty-seven Piccadilly. Did I say that already? One-hundred thousand and twenty-six. Fuck.

Nine hundred Piccadilly… shut up. Door. Fuck where was i? Nine hundred and one Piccadilly. Nine hundred and two Piccadilly.

“Please spare me. I’ve done nothing wrong.” A voice pleaded. “I swear I didn’t tell them about the diadem in the school.”

Shut up. Nine hundred and three Piccadilly. Nine hundred and four Piccadilly.

“Im not going to hurt you, Mr Cresswell.” Another voice rasped, “you are just going to do me a favour.”

Can you two do the favour in peace… nine hundred and five pi- wait.

Barty eyes widened as he felt the ripples of water against his skin. His view was skewed so he could only see the green hue on the dark cave but he could hear the fear as Cresswell hysterically begged him to spare him.

“I’m not going to hurt you. You just to do this for me.”

“So so you w-won’t hurt me.”

“If I can love. I would never hurt someone.” Hearing the words made the crying stop. “Trust me.”

“Of course. I swear I will not tell a soul about the the d-d-diary or Morfin’s wand. I’m sorry I talked about the ring at hangleton. They don’t even know. Please. I’m begging you I don’t want to die.”

“Hmm. Do this for me first and then I will spare you.”

“Thank you, your benevolent Dark Lord. I will never talk about the locations again. I wont ever even talk about the whispers where the grave is or the fact you left the dairy out and around.”

SHIT… Dark Lord. THE dark lord. Freakin’ Voldemort.

Barty didn’t dare to open his eyes nor move. He had half a mind to full body bind himself but then he wouldn’t be able to get out. He there swish of the oars as they guided Cresswell across the water. Then the sound of the wood hitting the island echoed around the chamber. In the silence he could hear Voldemort’s snake.

Was that a horcrux? Could a living organism be a horcrux? No… right?

Then there was another sound as he heard the small boat had departed from the land. He had never be more proud of Regulus’s superstitions. Cresswell’s boot scraped onto the pebbles.

“It is there.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Good but unfortunately I only have eight of piece and you know of them.” Then he heard a thud. He heard splashes rising to the surface “Kill him.”

Voldemort commanded the inferi the noise allowed Barty to move is hand to his chest and shift his body so it moved to the bank. He heard the screams and please from the muggle-born begging to be spared but nothing came of it. The worst part was he heard the scream and the inferni low raspy breathe and wasn’t even allowed to flinch. Then the water settled once again and in the brief moment of silent… not even a hiss from the snake nothing. His heart began to pound so loudly he thought the dark lord and he heard the crunch of pebbles beneath his shoe. He sucked in a breath and began praying to Evan. However, the footsteps became quieter and quieter. He let out a breath.

Thank fuck for that. So, they were going after the ring next. He could probably surprise them there but as of now he needed to wait. He wouldn’t want to accidentally bump into Voldemort. That could only end up one way. So he waited. He was getting good at the whole patience thing. He just began to name all the children he had met during his time teaching.

“Ascendio.” He murmured doing a swish I launched him far into the air.

It gave him a second to land on the stone beach and he didn’t even look back and just ran. He ran as fast as he could as far as he could before collapsing onto the ground in a green field. He fell to his knees and began to sob. Exhaustion and fears overcame his body and he tears dribbled down his face. He had kept all his feelings bottled up in the cave to not taint his mind or act irrationally that now they all just exploded out. He proceeded to lay on the floor allowing his body to go flaccid. He was had been terrified. It only took a second before he composed himself and got up.

The three were heading to the Gaunt Ring. He would be there just not tonight. Tonight, he looked up at the night sky and wished Evan was next to him looking at the stars in the sky.

~*~

Barty wouldn’t end up going to sleep; the faceless people haunting his thoughts all night forcing him to begin his way to Little Hangleton. He arrived in the upper village late that night and limped into the first inn he saw. His clothes weren’t as wet as before but the mud was still rather unsettling and the ‘small’ traces of blood. He wondered into the front office and asked for a room, where the lady asked no questions and handed him the key. The Riddle house was located in the lower town same with the Gaunt residence. He took of his clothes and bandaged up his wounds. Turns out they were rather deep to the point and since they were inflicted by inferni, which are both magic and non-magic, spells couldn’t solve the issue. So he used duck tape and bandages to cover them up before flopping onto the hard bed.

Maybe if he closed his eyes for just a second it wouldn’t be that bad? It was in fact that bad several times he found himself waking up. Which caused him to cast silencing spell as he broke a ton of shit in his room then afterwards he spent time mending everything. Then he took his meds before changing into Evan’s clothes since despite all his wit he got his boyfriend to re-pack his bag. He did pack it initially but with rather useless things so his, more practical and neat, other half went over it again. Turned out not only did he forget his clothes but also forgot his whole washing kit. He is a prodigy but not entirely smart.

By the morning his mind was hardly functioning, which led to his whole body shutting down and he ended up falling asleep on ground. Which then evolved into the owner screaming in his ear as they opened the door thinking he is dead. He just lifted his head off the ground to give them a look, then the old lady tried to pick him up which he shook off and placed his head back down onto the solid wooden floor ignoring whatever protest she was having until she left.

Where he would, eventually, get up and stretch. He should be meeting back up with them soon. He would just collapse on top of Evan and forcibly make him carry him or Dorcas, although she would probably punch him. He yawned then began to collect his things. Then placed on the new set of clothes before burning the old clothes. Unintentionally he scorched the corner of the room but that didn’t matter on the scale of things. He brushed his teeth and headed down. Weirdly enough he found the inferni in his dreams weren’t that bad compared to some other dreams he has had but closing his eyes and seeing them was piss annoying.

He have forgotten to pay when leaving the inn and then disappeared to lower town where instead of finding his friends. He didn’t though instead he found some death eaters. Did he approach them? The smart thing to do would to be scoping out the area noticing the details and reporting back. He did not do that. He just waved at them before walking over then he realised who they were and it was too later to back away.

“Yo, how are you guys?” He said as if he hadn’t been absent from the wizarding world for the past few years.

“Crouch?” Avery asked titling his head rather like an owl.

“Hi?”

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I don’t know.” He licked his lips and shrugged, “the story goes I began walking south-east from school through forests and stuff. Avoiding the government and all. Then got here.”

“Why are you here?” Mulliciber replied not fully convinced of the situation.

“Where is here is the better question.”

“Little Hangleton.”

“Where?”

“Trust me we don’t know either.” The black man shrugged. He scratched his head, “the dark lord wanted us here in case those Gryffindors came so we can kill ‘em.”

The brunette blinked, “why would the Morons come to this dingy as town?”

“The Lord works in mysterious ways.” Avery replied causing Barty to snort. The other brunette glared at him. “Anyways we have duty to fulfil so…”

“Can I come with? I haven’t had a human interaction in a while.”

“Sure.”

“Avery.” He hissed back.

“He’s cool.”

“Thank you.” He said inserting himself into the conversation again with a wide smile. Aimed at Avery.

“Plus his wit is on par Rowena Ravenclaw herself.” He whispered back to Mulciber rather loudly.

“That what makes me worried.”

“Can we go sit down somewhere? My knees hurt.” He whimpered at the other men. Then pouted like a child. Which Avery gestured to frantically.

“Fine. You are the one getting in trouble if this blows up in our face.”

“Then if he proves valuable i get the praise as well.”

“No.”

“So you want the reward and not the reward punishment. How fair.”

There were not so silently discussing about what they should do as they wondered down into the forest. They ended up at a cottage. The two opened the door and the wondered in. There was an immediate rush, and a shriek. A powerful spell was crackling. There was a quiet fire in the fireplace and despite it now being warm there was an unsettling chill.

“I never thought this was your aesthetic.” Barty sung.

“Shut it Crouch.” Mulicber hissed. “This isn’t our place. We are in need to protect it.”

“That sentence makes no sense. Do you perhaps mean you are here because you here to protect it- or you were ordered to protect it?”

“Carry on talking and I’ll give you another reason for you knees to hurt.”

“Ooh kinky.”

There was a silence, “just sit down.”

“Yes sir.”

Barty gave a look to Avery causing the other brunette to laugh. The Scot lounged not the armchair speaking his arms and legs out barely concentrating on what the others were now saying. There was a high probability that there was a horcrux in here. He just needed a distraction. Maybe firework or firecrackers. Or a dragon. Or-

“Shit we need to go pick up psycho.” Mulicber stated.

“I forgot psycho was coming to meet us.” Avery muttered. “Let’s go Barty.”

The brunette shook his head and sunk further into the arm chair. Mulicber was taking his bullshit trying to pull him off. Avery, though, he could sway Avery. He gave big puppy eyes to the older boys, mainly aimed at Avery. He added a quivering lip and tears began to form on the crust of his eyes.

“I don’t wanna meet psycho. I don’t wanna use ma legs. I don’t wanna go out.”

“You sound like a child.” The black haired man replied pulling on his arm harder. Barty just turned his head away allowing his body to go limp. “Avery help me.”

“Nah.”

“Nah?”

“Don’t feel like it.”

Mulicber let out a sigh before throwing his arm back down and storming out of the house. They exchanged a look before the other death-eater dashed out with a salute closing the door behind them.

“That was surprising easy.” Barty whispered looking out of the window seeing them get out of sight. He got up pulling out his wand, “accio horcrux.”

Nothing happened. He didn’t exactly have high hopes for that trick. So it was a ring. The gaunt one. How would you find something like that? In theory it would have a magic signature since its alive but then again its inanimate. Supposedly it wouldn’t fit with the energy of the room. He just needed a sense where to look. He hummed sitting on the ground and cast a spell in dust. The room glowed a dark colour and he went a light blue there was also a bright colour emitting for the floor.

Just like that there was a loose floorboard that Barty made light work of and swiftly nicked the ring hidden bellow the deck. He quickly tucked it into his pocket and the spell disappeared with a swish of his wand. He made a beeline to the kitchen; it was just in time before Bellatrix stomped in. He wondered out of the kitchen in fashion akin to a lost puppy. He was holding a bottle of water.

“Halo, Bellatrix?”

“What the fuck are you doing?” She hissed snatching out her wand. Sticking it into his neck.

“Water…”

“It’s sealed.”

“Just got it out the fridge.”

“Shame you are a liar.” She growled.

“I haven’t spoke a lie since meeting you.”

“But you lied before.”

“I-”

“Bellatrix get off him. He’s here to join us.” She didn’t move despite Avery’s yell. He grabbed her off him and threw her to the ground. “Barty you good? The hell were you thinking.”

“I was thinking he will be a traitor.”

“You know nothing dumb bitch.”

Barty was going to leave and disappear through the door but Mulicber was outside waiting for them. He blinked at him. “You are coming with us aren’t you?”

“I-” there was a sharp slapping sound cutting him off. It gave him time to think.

He thought about the offer and more specifically who it would impact. Then realised there was no line he would hesitate to cross of it were for any single one of them especially Evan. So he nodded. So here he was walking, again, down from the forest. They would finally come to a clearing to spot the house.

“You’ve got to be shitting me.” Barty said coming to a halt and gaped at them ‘house’.

He may actually be convinced to join the dark side if this was their residence. The house, although you could call it a castle, stood trying to reach the heavens; it was gated on the outside as if it were sacred ground. Avery noticed his bewilders expression and smirked.

“Welcome to Rosier Manor.”

There was complete silence in his mind.

SHIT. THE IN-LAWS

Chapter Text

As the four entered through the gates, Barty main worry wasn’t the fact he had now entered the enemy territory. No, it was making a good impression on his future in laws. It would be the first time he would meeting them, and my god was he nervous. It’s not like he could tell them he was Evan’s though. It would be like a meeting before the real meeting. His boyfriend had always spoken of them so highly and as long as he didn’t do anything to stupid, he would be fine.

The main entrance swung wide open, and Barty was greeted by the site of marble floor and columns. There was a chandelier decorated with diamond hanging down from a painted ceiling. He had already had to climb up limestone stairs to get to the frickin’ lobby.  Was Evan richer than Regulus… no he couldn’t be.

Could he?

No… right?

The brunette blinked and carried on blankly staring. The glass door slid open and Barty could say for it was as if he was looking into Hogwarts for the first time. The ceiling being the same charm used in his dorm and in the great hall. He has to stifle a laugh looking at the painting of the Rosier family above the fireplace, it must have been painted just before Evan served his first year. They were all smiling- not doing one of those smiles toothy and big smile but just a slight curl of the lip just enough to indicate that they were once a family. They didn’t stop walking and carried on up a winding staircase. They probably had Evan’s baby pictures here…

Barty now had a new priority see his boyfriend as a toddler. The brunette couldn’t help a grin imagining his blonde baby face scrunched up into his signature scowl. No. He needed to stay focused. He could not think about cute baby Evan. He would get that bully material later. 

“You are staying in Bellatrix’s room with her.” Avery replied swinging his arm around the brunette, “I would like you to stay in my room, but I've got Sev in my room and he would complain about the noises.”

“Twas a shame.” Barty replied licking his lips, “so Black.”

He clapped his hand and turned to her. She gave him a side glare. Then stormed off.

“You are meant to follow Mrs Hostile.” Mulciber stated.

“Mrs?”

“She married that forty-year-old. What's his face?” he clicked.

“Rabstan.” Avery responded, “so she’s no longer a Black. Her father slapped that out of her.”

“According to him she’s a screamer in bed.”

Barty blinked, “so I'm staying with her?”

“Don’t worry. He hardly touches her now.” 

“If it gets too much. You can come to my room.” Avery smirked.

Barty gave a slight nod backing away and ran after Bellatrix. She hadn't walked far. He tried to make conversation, but she didn't react. He continued to talk at her though. It kept him from thinking about the fact it would be weeks maybe even month before he saw Evan again. He began contemplating life. It took a while for him to go to sleep. It more than a while for him to go to sleep. There was no one to stay up with him or hug him despite Lestrange being up as well. She just rolled over at any more talking.

~*~

The brunette sat at the table tapping his hands on the table as he waited. Bellatrix quickly stopped then scowled at him to behave; which he took absolutely zero note off and began to tap his foot on the ground. She pinched the bridge of her nose before gripping his knee hard shaking her head. He began to whistle.

“Will you stop that?” Snape yelled slamming his fist on to the table.

There was silence in the dining hall for all of five seconds before he started to tongue clicking. If it were possible to have negative common sense, then Barty would have already signed up. There is being dumb and there is sitting in a room full of murderers and dark wizarding with no insurance of joining them winding them up. I mean honestly how daft must one be.

Luckily, he only ended up with one of Snape’s, less harmless, spell. The charm managed to entertain him for a while as he tried ungluing his tongue from the roof of his mouth. Even more luckily Voldemort didn’t come. They had all been sitting there for an hour waiting before a vulture came rattling on the window. Lucius scurred over the bird and snatched the letter. Reading it silently and nodding so the messenger could fly off.

“Bloody read it out, will you?” Avery hissed.

Malfoy just gestured to Barty. “He needs to leave.”

“Why? He’s joining.”

“It’s about him and some associate.” He said through gritted teeth. All the eyes fell onto Barty as he just titled his head. Rabastan chipped in echoing the last words in question form. “Christ on a stick. His friends.”

Barty was about to protest but he was quickly thrown out. He clicked in annoyance. He attempted to easedrop but there was a spell cast on the door. He licked his lips and left the room wondering down the hallway. He needed to find an empty room and needed to write his letter. He would just go to the opposite side of the house and hide in one of those rooms.

As he crept down up the door going left at the hallway; it began to warmer despite there being no fire and the walls seemed more decorated and well kept. It was definitely cleaner in this part of the house.

Was this area banned? He thought, maybe it was because this was the only inviting part of the house and they need to seem more mysterious and brooding.

Barty laughed at his own thoughts and looked around this cooridor there werent any doors. Was there an enchantment. His question would be answered when he got to the end of the walkway and walked through one of two doors. It turned out it was just two massive bedrooms on each side.

The bedroom he had entered was en suite. The wardrobe was massive and king-sized bed. There was a desk and heaps of books- to an extent that he wasn’t sure if this could also double as a library. He wondered over to the desk taking a piece of parchment. He began to look through the text from an envelope and then placed it with the ring sealing it shut. Then grabbed another letter and envelope wrapping the package inside the second.

This was definitely a banned area of the house; it was too quiet and too peaceful. He looked out of the window. What a sight? The forest was breathtaking.

“What are you doing in here?” A female voice called.

Barty whipped round shoving his hands into his pocket getting up, “Mr and Mrs Rosier.” he stood up before nervously placing his hands in front of him. “Hi.”

Did I just say hi?

Evan’s father just rose his eyebrow as his wife crossed her arms. They all stood in silence for a few minutes, which felt like hours for the brunette. His mind screaming at him for ruining the first impression with the in-laws for going to an abandoned part of the house and getting caught.

“How did you get into this side of the house?” The man asked looking him up and down. “Only family can.”

“I. Umm. I. Uh.” Between the unintelligible spluttering he began to panic. He didn’t even know there was a charm. How did he walk straight through it.? They were looking at him. They wanted him to answer. They were expecting answer. If he didn’t answer they would be angry. He would be angry at him again. “Yes?”

“Pardon?”

“Sorry.”

“You sho-”

“It’s alright son.” He cut off his wife and sighed holding out his hand, “it’s lovely to meet you. I'm Marcas Rosier. This is my wife, Antionette Rosier.”

“I'm. I'm Barty.” he took his hand, “it’s short for Bartemius. But a lot of people say Bartholomew as a joke, which i personally think is more fun. But you didn’t need to know that. I'm still shaking your hand. I'm going to let go before I embarrass myself more.”

“Hmm. You have an heir loom on that allows access to the family wing.” Marcus observed with a half-smile. His wife walked to his side.

“Yes.” he caught his breathe and furrowed his eyes, “what heir loom?”

“The Rosier amulet.”

“The Rosier... oh.” he immediately began feeling where it was and pulled it out. He watched Antionette’s eyes sparkle as he revealed it. “I found it in your daughter’s room.”

“We are in my son’s room.”

Evan always bloody complained about the amount of clothes he had, and he had this. They were going to have a serious discussion.

“You stole it from him in school.” Mrs Rosier stated walking towards him.

“Umm.” He licked his lips and handed it to the lady. “Not on purpose. I thought it was a different ruby necklace my lover gave me it as a present, so I didn’t investigate the legitimacy. Sorry.”

He gave a look to both of them before carefully walking away. Then darted back down the corridor. He had officially burned any relationship he had with Evan’s parents apart from being Evan’s fuck buddy. He had ruined any paternal relationship; he was going to have to make his boyfriend choose. There were so mad at him. He outside ducking into the greenhouse in the back area. He rocked back and forth.

“You are squashing the mushrooms.” a snobbish person called. Barty snapped up to see a small blonde kid. He couldn’t be more than two, “get off them.”

The brunette got up wiping his trousers. The blonde glared at him then went over to the crushed mushrooms and hissed at him. “Why do you need mushrooms, kid?”

“I don’t talk to strangers.” the blonde tossed his nose in the air turning fully away from him.

“You just did.” He replied through gritted teeth. He swallowed his comment and let out a shaky breath. “So why do you need mushrooms, kiddo?”

“Hmm... For my mother and I'm three. I'm not a kid.”

A sense of relief flooded Barty’s mind; he had dealt with kids before, and this will keep his mind off everything. “May I ask why?”

“For my potion and you ruined it.”

“There is no potion that uses hedgehog mushroom unless it’s for food.”

“How would you know?” The boy sneered getting up and crossing his arms.

“Well, I got O in the subject for my OWLs and a Newt in the subject. I am pretty sure.”

“Hmm. My mummy knows better than you. She said big mushrooms.”

It was probably the way he was speaking and looking at him that if he was fifteen years older, he would have been soccer punched in the face. The boy blinked at Barty. He went on one knee and looked at the silver eyes. He was Lucius’s kid that was for sure. So must be Narcissa’s kid as well. She wouldn’t get potions wrong.

“Do you know what the potion is for?”

“It for fire.”

“Fire?”

“Fire.”

“Oh.” he snapped his finger, “you are looking for bursting mushrooms.”

“No, I'm not she said big mushroom.”

“Alright.” he pinched the bridge of his nose, “how about I help find your big mushrooms then? It will be quicker.”

And I don’t want you throwing a hissy fit to your dad or worse your mum. He bitterly thought.

“You better. You destroyed them.”

Barty finally looked around the green house. He hadn't noticed the area. It seemed as if nature was reclaiming the building. The overgrown weeds hung down the barracks and the nettle bush now looked untameable. The light shied away the army of green as for the windows they were infested with moss. He began to wonder along the paths plagued with roots.

“i need to clean up this area.” he murmured.

“That was my idea.”

Barty took a second and looked at him again, “and it was a brilliant one.”

“Thank you.”

He noted a small pond taken over by the algae and saw a tree standing tall. He found the tree and dropped down pointing them out to the young boy.

“Good job, servant.”

The blonde rushed forward to grab them and for second Barty considered letting him pick them but then he would have to deal with a crying kid. He gripped the boy shoulder harder pushing him down then pulled out his wand to pick them carefully ignoring the boy's cries. He let go of his arm and held the mushrooms carefully.

“Sorry but these mushroom and very prickly to pick so they could go kaboom if you pick them by yourself.” he said in the sweetest voice he could muster.

“I knew that. You hurt me you brute.”

“You were run...” he paused and smiled handing the mushrooms to him. He took a breath. “I shouldn’t have hurt you. That was wrong and immoral of me. You were running quickly at it, and I thought you wouldn’t hesitate to pick it up and blow up the building potentially hurting both of us.”

The blonde blinked at Barty and pouted then trudged but not before demanding him to be here tomorrow. It was odd despite this being one of the worst behaving children he had seen in a while e couldn’t help but feel as if he was himself. It was probably just him missing home and Evan and Dorcas and Regulus. That what it was. He hummed at looked at the greenhouse. This would be the perfect place.

“Bartemius.”

He jumped out his skin turning around to see Wilkes his arms were folded. His flopping blonde hair and his brown eyes glaring at him.

“Hi, Wilhem.”  he gave a lopsided smile, “I was going to start cleaning here up.”

“What are you doing here?”

“umm. I was about to start cleaning here up. What are you going here?”

“Nothing.”

It was good that he was talking to wilkes rather than Avery or Mulliciber or Snape because he was so easy to read. The brunette rolled his eyes, “want to help?”

“No.”

“You are here to just watch me?”

“Yep... no.”

Wilkes the most dim-witted of the four and thank God for that. Thank god for Evan introducing them as well otherwise he may have struggled with reading him. Even so he couldn’t do anything with him here. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. It meant he had cleaned here. 

It turns out Wilkes wasn’t the only one keeping an eye on him everyone was looking at him. No matter what time of the day. On the upside him and blondie were getting closer and now he was only sometimes called a servant now. He still had to get the letter out though and with each day it got harder. Not to mention his attachment to the young blonde which made his plan so much harder.

“So, young master. When are you leaving the house?”

“When daddy’s business is finished.”  That was no time soon. “Or mummy wants to go back to Malfoy manor.”

 “Well, we are almost done in the greenhouse.” We were a subjective word though because I did all the work as you ordered me around, “so are you going to discuss with your mother?”

“She’s enjoying her time with auntie. You missed a spot and look there a dog flap.”

Barty gave a look and glared at the window. Maybe he could convince Narcissa, “where?”

“Top left and the flap are on the bottom right look.”

“That’s a branch. See.” he flicked it out of the way.

“Oh.”

He jumped down and walked over to him, “i think we are done.”

“Good.” The boy sat up dusting himself off and picking up his book. Then held out his hand, “you weren’t bad at your job.”

“Thank you.” he shook the small pale hand.

“Mother will think you an excellent subordinate.”

“Sure.”

The kid grabbed his arm yanking him away from the greenhouse. Dragging him away from the backyard into the house. He was pulled into the gazeboo, where Narcissa was resting with a book in hand.

“Mummy. Mummy. Mummy.”

“Yes, Draco,” she peered up taking of her reading glasses. Then gave a warm smile opening her arms for the kid to run into. “Barty?”

“hey.”

“You know my servant?” he exclaimed with a shocked expression, “he has a name?”

Barty gave a confused look but the other blonde rocked him and nodded. He yawned then promptly fell asleep in his mother’s arms. “Huh? I do have a name… shocking.”

“Shut it, Barty.” She smirked and in response He grinned at her. She stood up placing Draco into her chair walking over and picking up a blanket. Then placed it on top of the boy. Kissing his forehead with a smile. Then turned back to him, “why are you here?”

“I wanna join the club. The tattoo are so-”

“Cut the bullshit.”

“Wow. Language.”

“Barty. Evan, Dorcas and Regulus were just spotted all together in diagon alley. With your appearance seems a bit suspicious, no?”

“Who?”

She gave him a dead look and groaned, “we aren’t going to do this back and forth.”

“Alright.” Barty’s eyes shifted around the area. “You should leave with your son though.”

“No.”

“You are aware something bad may occur.”

“Will something bad happen?”

“Maybe.”

“Hmm.” she looked him up and down then picked up her son, “I'll take the chance.”

“Your son is in possible danger.”

“Your hands are dirty.” she pointed out.

“I’ll wash them later.” She began to walk out of the gazebo with the bundle of blankets. “You did hear what I just said, right?”

“I am aware of that and I'm willing to take that risk.”

“You are kidding, right?”

“Unless you are thinking about betraying us. I don’t see a risk of that.”  Barty openly was gaping at her, “if there a risk. I want my sister to be alright. My husband is going away on recon at the ministry for the next month.”

“So his business is finished. You can leave.”

“I don’t think I will. Unless my sister is safe.”

They got closer and closer to the castle in silence. It became clearer and clearer that Narcissa wasn’t going to budge, “fuck. Wait. Yes.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll do it. I'll keep your sister safe.”

The blonde turned round with a smirk and turned back around to face him. “Promise me, Barty.”

“Yeh yeh. I swear on my life.”

“No. swear it on Evans?”

“Who is Evan?”

“Really... Swear it on his life and I will leave and if you don’t whatever you are planning will include a death of a child on your conscious.” Narcissa looked him dead in the eye, “swear it. Even if you don’t know who he is.”

“Why him?”

“Simple it is because you love him. And we both know even if you forgot him, you can’t erase your emotion. No matter what your heart will continue to beat for him.”

“… fuck.” He held out his hand and sighed, “I’ll do whatever in my power to keep her safe. I swear on Evan’s life.”

“Good.” She shook his hand holding Draco in one arm.

“I hope you know that was child endangerment.”

“It’s only child endangerment if I wasn’t so sure you’d agree.” She smiled at him, “I will say this once you have a heart, Barty and that truly is your weakness.” She turned away and got to the door before stopping a twirling around adding, “it is the same problem my sister suffers from she cares too much about people she loves. Good luck. We will be out of your hair in three days.”

Then she left him alone outside as she shut the door. “She definitely fucking related to Regulus and Sirius. Bloody drama queens the lot of them.”

True to her word she left on the third day with her son. The death-eater were still keeping a watchful eye on him but in the following few days. He beat Snape at chess, Mulciber at exploding snaps, Snape again at chess, beat Avery a Wizard Skittle, beat Snape again at chess, Wilkes at Rune Riddle, which he did attempt to dissuade the blonde from playing against him but it didn’t work at he crushed the poor man making him denounce ever playing the game again, Played Snape again, Bellatrix was still hostile but now give him a nod, he played chess again against Snape... honestly Snape didn’t give up which made Barty wonder why he wasn’t a Gryffindor. Although he did keep that to himself. He also had to restructure his entire plan.

"One more round.” The greasy-haired man demanded.

“We’ve played for the past five hours.” Barty mumbled back, “a normal match lasts around half that time, but you looked for every possible move. Then still lost. You can't overthink chess especially not on the first move.”

He sucked his teeth, “still smarter than you.”

“Potion, yes. Anything else...no” It wasn’t that bad here. “You see there is a difference between a prodigy and someone who is gifted.”

“You are so sure of yourself.”

“Look at my report, baby.”

“Don’t call me that, you mudblood lover.”

Well, aside from the hate-speech, the constant use of the word, the murders, the mission updates about how they burnt a village down, the lack of freedom he had here and constant watch on him, all the insults thrown at him (some he didn’t even think were insults). Huh? That was pretty big list actually.

“Awe baby. Just lost again doesn’t mean you should give. You are becoming more Gryffindor every time we play.” he gave a grin from ear to ear as he scuffed up Snape’s hair.

“Fuck off, your impure pureblood.” he growled.

“Impure?” he mumbled back.

“Your mother be a witch, but she’s born of two mudblood.”

“She is...”

“You're not so smart now.”

“But my mam is a second generation muggle-born so I'm a pure blood still. So I’m purer than you halfie.”

“Take that back. I'm the half-blood prince. You weren't even in Slytherin.”

“Anyways weren’t in love with Evans?”

“She’s different them.”  He spat, “She wouldn’t go straight to violence. She’s kind.”

“Then why call her that?”

“I didn’t want her to hear me.” Barty eyebrow furrowed and he titled his head, “i just regret using that word around her. Now she has a kid with Potter. The man who bullied me.”

“Didn't you retaliate.”

“Self-defence and revenge.”

“Didn't he save your life.”

“He was friends with the mutt who put me in danger.”

“You mean the godfather of her child, who was fifteen like you when he pulled the prank.”

“Sixteen and he almost got me killed. Yet everyone flocked to him saying poor him. He almost killed me.”

“Fair point for hating him.” He nodded, “i don’t like him either.”

“Why? What did he do to you?”

“Nothing. He’s just a dickhead.” He also left Regulus. Left him when he had promised him, he’d stay. He gave a half smile. Snape gave him a smile?

"Everyone get ready the Dark Lord is arriving. The signal is up.” A booming voice called and suddenly Barty was wrapped up in a tornado of people cleaning and standing.

He was pushed into the entrance way where everyone had been lined up. He ducked into the line. He couldn’t stand out. Voldemort was a master occlumency some people going so far to call him a telepath. He couldn’t crack. He wouldn’t crack. There was a sudden breeze of ice as the doors opened. He peered down the line until he saw a black coat entering then went to attention. His breathe tried escaping the room like his heart tried to rip out his chest.

“Hello.” His voice was chilling. Barty peered up as was met with cold eyes, they weren't yet snake like but they were not quite human.

“Hi.” He chirped back.

“You’re new.” The ghostly man made a point to look at Barty’s barren wrist.

“That I am.” He could feel everyone’s eyes on him as he carried on taking in the sight of Voldemort. He had face was littered in burns and his face looked like an illusion as if his eyes were trying to piece together the remains of a human. He could also feel something prodding at his mind.

“Hmm. You are peculiar so much undefined wit and underlying rage. Visit my study, Bartemius.” He froze, “come at your own leisure. I will be waiting.”

Barty stood stunned as he left. He'd wait for him to be ready. He couldn’t help but beam with a sense of pride especially after seeing everyone else look defeated except Bellatrix who looked upset. He wondered over to her and prodded her. She jumped out of skin then glared at him before pulling him closer.

“You need to be mature Dee.” She sighed ruffling his hair.

“Bee?” He parroted but she had already left him.

That was the first and pretty much only pleasant conversation they had had. He toddled of after the woman. Calling out to her.  He eventually caught up to her, she was already on her bed reading. She looked bored out of her mind as he approached her, she glared daggers at him. He shrank back down a bit. This was the bitch he needed to save. He sat down next to her bed pulling out his own book copying her.

For once Bellatrix didn’t seem to care. She somewhat acknowledged he was there but didn’t respond to him.

“Bell.”

“Can’t you see we are all reading in peace. Leave if you are going to talk, alright?” She replied, “you be quiet too.”

His bag changed colour and the brunette stood up backing up to the bathroom. Stupid Evan spell. He  shoved his book into his bag then locked the door as shuffled through his items. He yanked out his wand placing on the sink then pulled out his meds. He missed Evan giving it to him. He shook them out then blankly looked at them. He didn’t really need them.

Barty picked up his wand to turn of his bag alarm. Then something struck and he stopped staring at the pill. He ended up taking it and headed out of the room past Bellatrix, who was in deep conversation with herself. Right now, would be a perfect time for alcohol. He knocked on the door.

“Come on in.”

He opened the door and walked into the room. His heart raced trying to escape the prison of his chest. He felt like a child again. He gazed up at the desk. The man had his quill in hand, and he was always writing.

“Bartemius.” It was his voice and he felt like he was back there.

Barty felt his breath being stolen. The walls caved in on him and thought went away faster as fast as they arrived. Why did it have to be a study? Was he sweating? A whirlwind of scenarios caught him in a hold so much. He didn’t even notice Voldemort had gotten up. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he went for his wand shoving it to the pale white neck. Then the room began to still and dropped his wand.

“Sorry.” He braced for a slap but felt a strong hand on his shoulder. The room cleared. He didn’t know what happened. Why did he have a sudden rush of emotion?

“Don’t be, Barty.” His voice was silky. He wasn’t angry at him. “Are you here to discuss the terms of your involvement in the death-eaters, son?”

“Yes…”

“First of all you may call me Voldemort. If you wish. I’m aware of your circumstances of your childhood.” He stated. Barry’s eyes widened. He never told anyone. He hadn’t. He couldn’t. No one would believe him.“I want you to know I’m on your side.”

“You are?”

“Since your father is in a position of power you often got neglect. You were always a second prize. You were often forced into doing thing you didn’t want too. You only wanted his approval.” He felt a hand guiding him to the fireplace, “I get it.”

“You do?”

“Of course. My father never loved me. He never cared. We are one and the same, my dear boy.” Voldemort smiled at him, “I would never hurt you. I hope you wouldn’t hurt me either.”

Barty let out a squeal and found himself leaning towards him. He swallowed and looked down. He couldn’t be fooled. He was not going to let him get in his head. He felt a ice hand on him and it felt like the inferni. He tripped and stumbled backwards grabbing the ledge of the desk. Inferni. He snapped out of the trance and remembered why he is here. He looked back to the Dark Lord as his turned his mind onto focusing on a song. He peeped open his eyes staring into the dark lords eyes, he smiled.

“I could never hurt you, Voldemort.”

“Good. Get one knee and be sworn in.” The dark wizard stopped looking in his direction and pulled out his wand. “You shall receive the Dark Mark.”

Shit. Barty thought. He didn’t want the dark mark. Not right now…

“You hesitate.”

“My mammy is a muggle born. Second generation.” It may not have been the true reason why but he needed a reason.

“You mammy is an exception. A very rare one. They are disgusting creature. Who are stealing jobs from wizards like me and you. Stealing their love away from people like us.” Voldemort whispered lulling him into a small sense of security. His words were vile, yet they were kind. “I would like you to love me, and I will do what your father could not.”

Alarm bells began to ring in his head. Love. Love is something he cannot do then how could he expect it from Barty. It snapped him out of his spell. Ripping him away from any control. He took a breath.

He needed to do this for his beautiful boyfriend, his brother and sister. He would do this for all of them even if they wouldn’t want him to, they needed him to do it and that’s all he needed… and even if she would never forgive him. He held his left arm out and got on one knee. He felt a flood of ice exit from the wand’s tip and then there was a searing pain then his forearm was released.

“Thank you.” Barty stated then rose. His wrist felt heavy.

“No need to thank me my dear child. May you serve me well.”

The Dark Lord gave an endearing smile trying to lull the brunette in a false sense of security. Barty felt ill as a warmth spread through his body because he felt safe and worse made him happy. It made him feel happy to serve. The dark lord embraced him, which cursed the twisted feeling to swell. It made him want to tear of his own skin. Finally, he was released, he saw the smile again and he turned numbly walking back to his room. Part of him wanted to scream. Part of him wanted to serve.

That night Barty played with the thought of the Dark Lord being a hero- a saviour. It was then it clicked, and he remembered where he had felt the same sickening feeling. The feeling that made him all fuzzy on the inside. It wasn’t Evan. Nor was it Dorcas. Not even Regulus. It was from his father. He had felt the same validating feeling from him. It was pathetic. He was pathetic. And he needed not to be. He snatched his bag and disappeared from the room. Grabbing a quill as well adding a sentence or two.

The brunette got down to the greenhouse and yanked two weeds from its roots. He whipped out his wand and the flower turned into a rabbit. Then pulled out the envelope addressed to Pandora. He knelt handing it to the floppy rabbit the letter.

“What are you doing?” 

He spun round to face Bellatrix. She looked tired and agitated at the sight of him. “Hey, B.”

“What are you doing here Dee?”

“I was cleaning the last of the greenery.” Barty replied revealing his hands and the weed in his hand. She was blankly looking at the weed. So much so he doubted his own acting his ability. He licked his lips then felt arms wrap around him.

“Oh, Andromeda. I didn’t want you to get the Dark Mark.”

… Andromeda? He thought as he tugged closer to her chest.

“I just wanted you by side once more. I didn’t care if you have that lowlife Cretan as long as I'm your number one sister. Or number two I mean Cissy come on.”

“I-I’m not A-”

“Look. I need you to know I'm sorry. It doesn’t matter if you are angry or not.”

Barty conceded and shuffled closer to Bellatrix. He hadn't had a hug in a hot second, and he missed contact. In the cold night it began a bit warm. As he listened to her heartbeat, and he settled into her warmth, he realised he didn’t mind being Bellatrix’s Andromeda and he didn’t mind being Regulus’s Sirius and he definitely didn’t mind having to be Dorcas’s Christopher at least he had a use. At least here he could help. He wondered if this was his purpose. She released him and didn’t spare a look back to notice the small flap slightly ajar. She held his hand and they left together. It allowed the small rabbit to escape.

The small bunny ran along the muddy path crossing sticks and grass. It carried on hopping through the cities and country even climbing aboard transport. Then it toddled straight into the hands of a young girl. The small grubby pale hands picked up the floppy ear creature.  They played dress up and had a mini tea party. Then the sun began to set and she placed it with her arms and took it indoors.

“My little Dove, you really should release the bunny.”  Her mother called placing down her trinkets and potions.

“But it likes me.” The blonde pouted a bit petting under her chin.

“But it has a family. That family will get worried if it can’t find the little bunny.”

Pandora smiled and crouched down. She stroked the bunny. Luna let out a scream as the bunny evaporated. Her husband ran into the room to see the silvery eyes fill with tears as she attempted to explain what happened. He knelt down pulling her into a hug softly patting her back.

He gave his wife a bewildered look. “Dove, what happened?”

“Mummy what happened?”

Pandora swallowed and gave a weary look to Xenophilius. “Well... you see the-the Nargle nicked the little rabbit because they too wanted to play with him.”

“Oh.” The child stopped crying and smiled, “then I’ll just search for them.”

“Take daddy with you, okay?”

“Yes mama.” she rushed out the room.

“Nargles?” Xeno smirked at his wife. She gave a light shove before giving him a peck on the lips.

“Good luck, luv.”

He just shook his head leaving the room. As soon as he did Pandora went to investigate what happened and noticed familiar handwriting on a letter that hadn't been there before. She groaned and pinched her nose. “Oh. For fuck's sake Barty.”

She brought the letter to the desk before opening it.

Hey, Panda

How are you? I'm doing alright. So, I need a bit of a favour.

“Of course, you do.” she sucked her teeth.

Don’t say that. But yes. Me and Evan, you know your younger brother... who happens to be my sex partner. He just so happened to get lost. I know Evan should probably get glasses now. Ha. Twas ashame and before you say it... it wasn’t my fault. Don’t murder me. I need you to find him and deliver a package to him ASAP.

Barty <3

There were a multitude of things wrong with the letter especially the fact that he had referred to his brother as a sex partner being one of them, but her main worry was the fact Barty wasn’t with him. Now she had met Barty and knew how clingy sod he is and how much he loves physical contact. So much so she had witnessed several accounts of PDA she didn’t need to or very much want to. So, for him not to me within jumping distance of her brother was cause for concern.

It also meant that Evan didn’t have Barty around him, which was even more worrying. Barty was his anchor and was pretty much his everything. She knew Evan and whether he could admit it or not he loves Barty more than anything and would risk everything for him. He would pick him over anyone and anything. She dreaded to think what Evan would do to get him back and would he would do without him.

“Fuck.” She ran her hands through her hair before sending out her patronus to look for her brother.

It was a week before she got any confirmation, and it swooped through her workshop. Pointed to a map and disappeared. Dora simply attached the package with a small note onto it. Then sent an owl on its way. She truly hoped they knew what they were doing re-entering the war.

Chapter Text

Evan and Remus began to dance next to each other cup in hand listening to ABBA as they played the greatest hits on the radio. Marlene and Dorcas seemed to be all sorted as well singing along to their favourite tunes next to one another. Even Regulus seemed to be enjoying himself watching the two idiots dancing on the table. The two being that of James and Sirius as they were dancing too next on top of the table.

Everything was perfect. Everyone was dancing and smiling. Regulus and Sirius were getting along. Same with Evan and Remus. It was so perfect- there was a sense that everything was one.

“Why don’t you like us?” Remus asked with a smile; something had been bugging him.

“Because you got the whole of Gryffindor to growl at us. LION hardly growl- I mean they do but they also moan and huff and puff. But they mostly roar.” Evan paused and to take a drink, “like if you are going to insult us or intimidate us at least do it right. We did. We hissed because snake's hiss.”

“You don’t like us because we couldn’t do basic animal analysis.”

“I do like you…” Evan blinked at looked around the room. Something felt off and he blinked. “No. I don’t. I don’t like you, Black, McKinnon, Pettigrew. I don’t like you all.”

Remus seemed to feel the same as if he began to remember and looked around the party area. “Yeh that’s what I said. You don’t like us. Why? We never did anything to you.”

“No. You didn’t. But but you hurt someone close to me which is so much worse.”

“When did we ever do that?”

“All the…” The room started to darken as if his words were affecting the room. “Why are we at Gryffindor tower?”

“Because there a party.”

“But we graduated?”

“Yeh we… we graduated a few years back.” Remus paused and looked around. He was definitely right. “What the fuck?”

“Wow you caught on quick werewolf.”

“And your back to being a git.” He sucked his teeth This time the words got to him; not because Evan was acting any stranger than he did before but because Evan had the capacity to be nice to him yet he was adamantly not being a team player. He was actively being hard and he gave no explanation. “You know what I’m tired of the constant snide remarks.”

“Get out of Europe than.”

“So I have to leave my home because your being an arse to everyone.”

“Not everyone. Just the Gryffindors.”

“I did nothing.”

“Exactly.”

“That makes no sense.”

“To me it does.” The blonde looked around what was once the Gryffindor party but now was just a dungeon. He immediately began to walk to the exit.

“I tried being nice to you.”  He yelled.

“Really when?” Evan replied turning around and pointing at him. “Showing me basic human empathy and decency during a wartime period is nice?”

“Well you can’t. So I am a hell of a lot nicer than you.”

“That isn’t fucking hard. I’m dick. I’m a jerk. I’m arse. I’m a total fucking cunt. At least I know who  I am. But I’m still working with the likes of you. And I don’t need to try being nice. That’s not what we are here to do.”

“At least you’re self aware. Which is your only good quality.”

“Unlike someone.” He muttered. He rolled his eyes and went to face the exit again for it to no longer me there. “Shit.”

“What does that mean?”

“Figure that out yourself. While I try find another way out.”

Thirty minutes had passed. Remus was yet to come to a conclusion and Evan was yet to find a way out. Both of them were close to asking the other for help but neither of them would say anything for the next thirty minutes. Probably expecting the answer to just fall out the sky. Evan ended up sitting down next to where the door was and began to smoke a cigarette.

“Can I-”

“No.” Evan replied instantly.

“…  I tried thinking about why. I didn’t wrong your friends or boyfriend. I didn’t do anything.”

“I know.”

“Then why?” He snapped back only to see Evan give him a look. It was here he realised what he had meant. “Because I did nothing, right?”

Evan closed his eyes and sighed.

“Pitiful Pandora. Batty Barty. Pathetic Pandora. Creepy Crouch. Retarded Rosier. Those names are hardly creative, but they do catch on… would you like me to list more that you guys  came up with?” He muttered. He did consider lying but if he was going to be forced to spend the rest of eternity he here may as well fess up. He lifted his head up to look Remus Lupin in his eyes. There was a spark of recognition in the names.

“They are just names. I didn’t do anything anything else to hurt them.” He replied.

“Yeh. Yeh. You are right.” Evan just laughed and rolled his eyes. “You did do nothing. You did not actively bully the people I love more than anything. You did nothing while your friends mocked mine. You did nothing when the marauder pulled an epic prank by hiding my sister’s shoes, so she had to walk barefooted. You did nothing when they pulled an even better prank when they ruined my boyfriend’s books, so he had to buy new ones. You did nothing when your friend bullied us in first and second and third and fourth and fifth and a bit of sixth year for good measure. My mates had done nothing to you guys in the beginning, but you all didn’t stop. You could have called them out on multiple occasions. But you didn’t. You just let them. You sat back and watched. Then you pretend as if we are friends. You try comfort me as if you know how I feel to lose your everything. You know nothing because you do nothing, and you are fucking surprised I don’t like you. At least Pettigrew backs off. At least Black knows. And James understands. You act as you did nothing wrong because you did nothing. Then you pretend, oh, I’m just sad little Remus. Doth me, I’m so ugly and unimportant in life. Everyone is better than me. Grow a fucking backbone and fight for your moral.”

“Ev- Rosier… I-”

A light dramatically shone from around the corner and without waiting the blonde stood up and turned around and left. He wondered where everyone else was for a brief second and then realised he should not care. It was meant to be just him… and Barty and his sister and Luna and Regulus… maybe Dorcas and Xeno and maybe his parents could join or Bee’s. No wait. Just him. It was meant to be him against this stupid world. Well, he couldn’t leave Barty alone… Barty was his and only his. He sighed and his pinched his nose.

“That git better be okay or i will kill him.” He muttered. His eyes shifted up letter were above the door. It was a saying of sorts.

 You stand alone, without a peer, 

 Always present, always nearby. 

Many will fear you with no disguise

For you do not refuse or hid

Who exactly are you?

Evan rolled his eyes and daunted forwards opening the next door. It was meant to be as simple as finding the book- why fuck were they all searching this labyrinth. ‘We did recon they said?’ And here he was lost with the werewolf trialing behind him. Earlier that day, he was just lounging around and trying to figure out where the death eater base was as they vacated Malfoy manor and now… why didn’t just say fuck off? Or the could have gone with being the lookout with Pettigrew that would be less annoying.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and quickly pinned the figure to the wall. Then let go after realising it was the werewolf. “I’m sorry for everything.”

Evan bit his tongue and glared at him, “don’t give a shit”

Remus paused, “I just thought you should know.”

The blonde began walking again before there was hesitation. Evan spoke again, “why?”

“Why I’m sorry?”

“No. Obvious fucking not.” He swallowed, “why them? Why did you guys take a liking to bullying my two favourite people?”

The chestnut-haired man stopped walking and thought on him and he truly didn’t have an answer. He had just gone along with it for no valid reason. He wanted his friends to like him, and he didn’t even bother to ask anyone why Barty and Pandora were subject to their torment. He didn’t even really understand why. They weren’t even in Slytherin. They weren’t on a quidditch team. Aside from the occasional comment, they didn’t bully Dorcas or the other Ravenclaw. Dorcas hung out with them as much as the other two did. He swallowed. He didn’t really have a reason, which would probably set off Evan even more. Although in comparison with Snape, they really didn’t mess with Pandora and Barty all that much at least that what he was trying to convince himself of. “We didn’t do it that much…”

“What did you say?”

The floor began to shake and rattle underneath them before Evan could even try to hex Remus. They slipped through the ground fall into a fit of darkness until they each felt themselves being levitated to the ground.

“I’m going to fucking k-”

“Evan don’t talk.” Dorcas called. “The room shrinks when say the wrong words.”

The pale blues eyes turned to face the brown eyes with a look that said every torture method known to man would be executed on you if you ever talk to me again. He looked around the room and sure enough everyone was inside the room. All had the same defeated look, which left Evan with a question of how they arrived here.

“Basement again?”

“I think dungeon more like it.”

“How was your trip with Marlene?”

“Seriously. I just said the room shrinks when we talk, and you ask that.”

“Why not?”

“Shrinking room could die?”

“At least I’m killing a few Gryffindor with me.”  

The room lapsed into silence and remained in silent until James finally spoke up.

“We need to escape this room. I’m not sure how we can but we can’t just sit around doing nothing.” James stated.

“Brilliant James. Any ideas to how.” Evan snipped back. It fell straight back to silence.

“Who are you to be such a bloody arse to everyone?” Sirius yelled getting ready for a brawl. Evan dusted himself of the floor and raised his fists with a smirk.

“You that bored Black, to the point where you want to start fights?”

“No.” The room began to shrink agains and everyone simultaneously let out a curse as they tried to stop the room from squishing them. Soon enough Evan could feel the heat of his own breath against his own skin. They were going to suffocate….

“I hope you know before we die. Black, I fucking hate you.” Evan spat out.