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Severus and Barty rise from their respective seats in the prefect meeting room, bored after another hour of assigning duties for the next month. The only reason Barty even makes it through these meetings is because of a certain muggleborn who sits on the right side of him; not that he talks to Lily Evan’s in these meetings, but she’s a delight to look at in her short school skirt and knee high socks. Barty’s friend Severus Snape, sits on the other side of him, and they enjoy to whisper snide comments about their fellow prefects during meetings.
“Do you think Slughorn would accept another five inches on the assignment?” Severus asks Barty as they gather by the door, waiting for others to disperse so they can leave.
Barty shrugs, his hands in his trouser pockets. “Slip him some candied pineapple with the submission. He’s a sucker for a bribe.”
Severus’ lips curl up in a slight smile. “Very Slytherin of you, Crouch. Are you sure you’re in the right house?” He mocks, although his tone is lighthearted.
Barty simply rolls his eyes, having heard this a million times from his friends during his time at Hogwarts. He opens his mouth to reply, but he’s cut off by a voice from behind.
“Sev?” Lily Evan’s interrupts, standing behind the boys, not accompanied by Remus Lupin like she usually is.
Severus turns to face her, and Barty doesn’t miss how his eyes soften affectionately. “Happy Birthday, Lil”
Evan’s smiles, her eyes flickering from Severus to Barty and then quickly back again. “Thank you. There’s a party in the tower tonight, James insisted. Would you come?”
Barty had heard about the party from the Lestrange twins earlier in the day, and they had planned to crash with or without an invite. Barty pretended it was only for the free grog, but he also wanted an excuse to see the birthday girl. “We’ll be there” Barty smiles charmingly at Lily, an arm around Severus’ shoulders. “Right Sev?”
Lily gives Barty a disdainful look, which amuses the Ravenclaw greatly. She’s so good at pretending to hate him, it tickles something in his brain.
Severus sighs, a small smile on his face. “Only because it’s your birthday, Lily”
Lily smiles. “Great!” Her expression fades as she addresses Barty. “Best behaviour, Crouch.”
The younger boy waves the warning off. “Always, gorgeous.”
Lily doesn’t look convinced, which he can’t really blame her for. “Alright”
The boys part to let Lily past, and Barty’s eyes are fixed to how her hips sway as she walks away. He doubts that she even wants a big birthday party, but Potter has never been the best at listening to what his girlfriend wants. Barty would be so much better than James Potter, if only Lily would admit it.
Barty spots the shock of red hair before he sees her face, and he already knows who he’s looking at from across the room. Lily turns to face one of her friends properly, a plastic cup of alcohol in her hand. Lily’s wearing a short ruffle skirt that shows off her pale, freckled legs. Her top is a sleeveless number with a plunging neckline that shows a glimpse of her cleavage.
He sips his drink slowly, still appreciating the view. He moves to take a step forward, but Bruce Mulciber wraps his arm around Barty’s shoulders. “Come drink with us! Rabastion is about to dance!”
Barty laughs, although he feels disappointed at his friend’s interruption. He shoots one last glance at Lily, and their eyes meet from across the room. The redhead shakes her head subtly at him, and Barty rolls his eyes, annoyed at her dismissal of him.
It’s another few hours before they get the opportunity to speak to one another. Lily’s cheeks are flushed with the effects of alcohol, her eyes wide and bright.
“my my my, Potter lets you out dressed like that?” Barty teases, licking his lips as he eyes her up and down. “Happy Birthday, by the way.”
“Thank you, Crouch” Lily says simply, ignoring his first comment about her outfit. Now that they’re standing closer, he can see the flower details in her eyeliner. “Enjoying yourself?”
“I could be enjoying myself more.” Barty wiggles his eyebrows suggestively at her, taking his chance to tease her a little bit.
Lily’s eyes dart to something behind Barty, and he groans as he realises who it is.
“Watch your fucking mouth, Crouch.” Comes Potter’s insufferable voice from behind Barty.
Barty turns around to face him, meeting Potter’s pissed expression. Black and Pettigrew flank him, but Lupin is no where in sight. “That’s my girlfriend you’re ogling” Potter snarls, moving to stand beside Lily who looks a bit embarrassed at the attention the group is drawing.
Bruce Mulciber puts his hand on Barty’s shoulder and starts to tug him away, trying to avoid further conflict. “Barty, don’t start” He hisses.
Barty looks at Lily with a smug little smile on his face; the alcohol in his blood making him feel more reckless than usual. “Find me when you get sick of Potter”
Bruce pulls Barty away before Potter can hex his bollocks off, but not before he catches a glimpse of Lily’s flushed cheeks.
The group of Barty’s friends are in a corner, laughing and drinking and dancing. Rodolphus nudges Barty to get his attention, and nods towards another part of the room. Barty follows his gaze to where Lily and Potter seem to be having a row.
Potter is gesturing wildly as he speaks, and Lily’s arms are crossed over her chest while she wears a stony expression that Barty is far too familiar with. It doesn’t take long before Lily gets fed up of her boyfriend’s antics, and she throws her drink on him before storming out of the Gryffindor common room.
“Trouble in paradise” Rodolphus laughs, clearly pleased with the suffering of the Gryffindors.
Barty merely smirks, having derived immense satisfaction from the scene. Potter is clearly fuming, but he doesn’t go after his girlfriend. Barty wants to punch the scowl off of his face. It’s like Potter doesn’t know how lucky he is to have Lily; he certainly doesn’t treat her as well as Barty could.
Oh well. The fight doesn’t bother Barty. If anything, it’s good for him. It means he’s getting laid tonight.
He’s drunk, but he still posses enough common sense to know that going after Lily right away will look suspicious. Barty forces himself to continue sipping his drink, silently willing the time to pass faster. He eyes Potter, who seems to be completely ignoring the awkward looks and whispers his girlfriend has garnered. Dick.
When he judges that enough time has passed, Barty sets his plastic cup down on the nearest surface. Only Severus notices him preparing to leave, and he raises a quizzical eyebrow.
“Going somewhere, Crouch?”
“There’s a fit Hufflepuff over there who’s been making eyes at our Barty all night” Rabastan teases. “He’s going to get laid.”
Well thank Merlin for that excuse. Barty hadn’t quite come up with a believable enough one on his own, he was sure that nothing would have satisfied Sev. Although frankly, he hadn’t even noticed the Hufflepuff that Rabastan mentioned.
Barty smiles charmingly at Rabastan. “Damn right I am.”
He’s not exactly lying. He is going to get laid, just not with some Hufflepuff. They don’t need to know that, though.
Rabastan slaps him on the back and grins. “Well go on then.”
Severus rolls his eyes at their antics but waves Barty on anyway. “Use protection. Merlin knows we don’t need more of you in the world.”
With that, Barty departs his friends and ventures into the crowd of drunk and horny teenagers. He figures the chaos of the room will make his friends lose track of him, and they won’t be able to see when he slips out of the common room. The portrait swings shut behind him, blocking out the noise of the party abruptly.
Barty glances around the empty corridor, trying to figure out where Lily will be hiding. He chooses the path to the right, towards the Head Girl dorm. He slinks down the corridor, hiding in the shadows and keeping an ear out for any unwanted company. It’s not a long journey, and he’s soon outside Lily’s private dorm room.
The door swings open before Barty even has the chance to knock. His breath catches as he takes in Lily’s mascara tear streaked face. She’s still gorgeous even with black ink streaming down her cheeks and her eyes red. She’s ditched her heels, but she’s still in her skirt and top.
“Hi, doll.”
Lily’s face twists. “Barty. What do you want?”
“Thought you could use some company” Barty shrugs.
“You’re just searching for a reason to get in my knickers.”
“Maybe. You gonna let me in?” Barty nods his head towards the dorm behind her.
He can see the obvious doubt on her face as she steps aside to let him into her space. Barty rests his hands on her hips and walks Lily backwards, kicking the door shut behind him. “Atta girl.”
Lily fists her hands in Barty’s shirt, playing the with material. She looks up at him through her lashes, which are clumped together with tears and mascara. She’s so pretty. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Barty scoffs. “Bullshit. Cmon, doll. Let me help you forget about him, yeah?”
He ducks his head so their faces are mere inches apart, and Barty can feel the redhead’s breath against his lips. He rubs careful circles on her hips where her shirt has ridden up to expose a sliver of skin. He feels as Lily’s breath hitches in her throat despite her inhibitions.
“You’re a wanker.” Lily hisses, her cheeks flushing a red that matches her hair.
“That’s not the magic word.” Barty chastises, a smug grin on his face. He refuses to kiss her first, wanting to make her work for it.
“Die.”
“Now now-“ Barty is cut off as Lily presses her lips to his, closing the small gap between them.
The pair stumble backwards towards Lily’s bed. She tugs at his shirt, silently demanding for him to take it off. Barty complies happily, breaking their embrace momentarily to pull his shirt over his head. His body is thrumming with energy, a familiar pool of arousal in his belly.
“Someone’s eager.” He teases as Lily unzips her skirt and steps out of it.
“No talking.” She replies sharply.
Barty nods, biting his lip. “Yes ma’am.”
The room is silent apart from the rhythmic sound of their combined breathing. Lily’s laying on Barty’s chest, her bright hair fanned out around her head. Barty’s arm is around her middle, holding her close. It’s an intimate moment, two lovers tangled, enjoying the shared affection.
“You should go. Someone might notice you’re not there.” Lily breaks their momentary silence, although her voice is still soft, as if she’s scared of shattering the moment further.
Barty traces mindless patterns into her pale skin, linking her freckles. “Nah. They think I’m shagging a Hufflepuff.”
“Mm.” Lily hums mindlessly in response, nuzzling into his chest. “Still.”
A smirk tugs at Barty’s lips at her behaviour. She’s telling him to leave, but refusing to let him go. “Okay, doll.” He says simply, but doesn’t move.
Once Lily meets her quota of cuddles, and sits up, drawing the sheet around herself. Barty frowns at the loss of contact. “Oi.”
“What?” Lily’s voice is quiet.
“Come back.” Barty sits up, his bare chest reflecting the moonlight coming in through the curtains.
Lily shakes her head slightly, avoiding eye contact with Barty. “You have to go now.”
“Why?” Barty demands. “If you’re worried about someone finding out-“
“This is wrong, Barty. I love James, I don’t want to hurt him.” Lily cuts him off, a flush on her cheeks. Barty can see the conflict in her emerald eyes, and the blow stings both of them..
“Didn’t seem like it when you threw that drink on him.” Barty hisses, hurt. He’s sick of being treated like a second option when Potter isn’t around, and treated like shit when he points it out.
He climbs out of bed and starts haphazardly dressing, his back turned to Lily so he doesn’t have to look at her wounded expression.
“That’s not fair.” Lily’s protests weakly, staring at Barty’s back longingly.
“What isn’t fair is that I’m some sort of sneaky link! You won’t even leave Potter for me!” Barty can’t help but lash out at her, hoping to release some bottled up anger on the source.
Lily falls silent, unable to argue back. The fact that she’s speechless only means that she knows Barty’s right, which gives him a sick sense of satisfaction.
“This arrangement is over.” Barty says simply as he reaches the door, fully dressed. He looks over his shoulder at Lily, whose appearance is utterly broken. “Don’t talk to me unless you’re ready for something real.”
With that he storms out of her dorm, letting the door slam behind him. He doesn’t even care that the loud noise could attract attention, he just needs to get out of there. And probably go smoke. Definitely smoke.
This is so bad. So bad.