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Evan pushes through the throng of people, trying to avoid getting smacked by flying hands and swaying hips and red faces. The bouncy music echoes around the room, hitting his eardrums in a steady yet annoying beat.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
He spots Pandora with her hands above her head, the Trelawney girl mimicking her stance. Regulus escaped to Sirius’ room to read what feels like hours ago, Dorcas is probably flirting shamelessly with Zabini’s sister or, God forbid, Aurora Sinistra again, and if he doesn’t find Barty within the next five minutes he’s leaving and not looking back.
He walks by ten people. He elbows two, one with each arm, then passes to the left of one, then to the right of the next. Left. Right. Left.
Wait, he went the wrong way, he has to re-do it-
The music swells again and the crowd goes wild, James Potter himself beaming from where he’s handling the old-school boombox and the sound board connected to speakers spread around the room.
Evan balances on his tippy toes and looks out over people’s heads, finally noticing the familiar ginger curls in the crowd. He pushes his way through a couple demolishing each other’s faces, another one that’s probably hurrying to a guest bedroom upstairs, and at least three or five people too drunk to move of his way unless elbowed in the back or kicked in the shins.
After a long fight, he taps Lily Evans’ shoulder and she turns around, almost knocking her cup into him.
He finds her eye and Lily mouths a “what?”
Evan leans down and says quite loudly next to her ear “Barty, have you seen him?”
She leans back, thinks for a moment and then shakes her head. Evan sighs and waves to her as he departs yet again. How is Evan supposed to find out where Barty is if not even Lily knows?! They had come together just as a “hangout” and dragged Evan into it against his will (well, partially – seeing Barty so excited for Potter’s party had left him a bit biased). But then Barty had to go off an disappear!
That’s it, he’s leaving-
A commotion somewhere to his left attracts him. Evan looks over and, finally, notices the idiot. His idiot. On a table. With people screaming and cheering him on.
Barty came here tonight straight from school, tie snug around his collar and blazer laid carefully over his arm. Now though, his short sleeve shirt is almost halfway unbottened, Potter offered him a pair of denim shorts to switch out his stuffy school pants with and he’s put on that eyebrow piercing not even his parents know about.
Heading closer, Evan sees more and more. His shoulders and hips on beat, his eyelids halfway to closed and his carefully arranged wavy hair even bouncier from the humidity than earlier.
It takes Evan getting next to him and Barty finally noticing he’s there for him to react. And that reaction is to smile like Evan is the sun and throw his arms around the shorter boy, toppling off the table.
Evan huffs from the added weight but manages to put Barty’s feet on the ground before they stumble into anyone, just as the song changes.
Barty finally eases his hold, his arms draped over Evan’s shoulders and a perpetual grin stuck on his face. His cheeks are flushed and the light silver necklace with a flower pendant hangs over his collarbones, shining dimly in the dark room.
“Hi there Rosieeee” Barty says, his voice slurring slightly at the end “did you see me up there?”
Yes, yes I did he thinks just as the chorus speaks something about skin and bones and dammit, he’s not sure when the last time was when he wanted to draw shapes with his fingers over Barty’s skin and tell him everything-
Barty stumbles, almost bringing them both to the ground.
Evan chuckles despite his annoyance, raising a hand and running it through his friend’s hair in an attempts at flattening it a bit. It doesn’t work, but at least Barty leans into his touch with a content sigh.
“Just how much have you had to drink?” Evan mumbles as Barty leans more heavily on him.
“Nothin’…” Barty responds, voice blurry and limbs heavy and limp “Just a hic shot of vodka hic or two and then- hic I split a spliff with Cassie-”
Evan sighs, adjusting so that he can loop an arm around Barty’s shoulders and push with him through the throng while listening to his mumbling. The tone of the song has changed again, repeating the same thing about skin and bones and something something beautiful-
“I hic don’t really deserve someone like hic you, Rosie- someone who takes me every- hic where I want…and hic waits for me an’- hic doesn’t hic judge an’-“
No, I don’t deserve you, Bee. You’re so, so beautiful he wants to say.
“Leave all that for later Bat, let’s get you some water and a bed now, alright?” Evan asks instead, trudging up the stairs with Barty hanging off of him.
To his luck, his friend only nods as he tries to climb up too. They reach the landing and Evan heads to the left, opening a door at random-
Thankfully, the first one is empty and doesn’t seem too personal, so it’s probably a guest room. He steps inside and eases his hold on Barty as he drops the boy onto the bed with a little oomf sound.
Immediately, Barty curls into himself like a pretzel, the little stud in his ear (his parents do know about that one but don’t care) shining in the dimly lit room. He had a pristine face full of makeup earlier (courtesy of one Mary and one Alice) – something on his lips, mascara, bright green eyeshadow and even some of Panda’s lipstick at some point, but it’s all smudged now. His eyes are cloudy and slowly straying shut as he stops himself from dozing off, head flinching at the last second over and over again.
Evan might have stood there for a good few minutes, cataloguing everything. How many freckles he can see on his shoulders. How prominent are his acne scars through the concealer. How his body is wracked from time to time from the hiccups before stilling. How his thin, long limbs fold into himself to make Barty look smaller. Young. A little vulnerable.
…fine. Very vulnerable. Barty once told Evan he looks like a big shot when drunk, but once he’s alone and feeling lightheaded, he moves like he has no control left of his body. That’s why he trusts his friends – Evan specifically, for some reason – with taking care of him like that. Because he himself can’t.
Barty almost seems asleep at this point. Finally though, he cracks one eye open and pins Evan with his stare.
“Rosie? I hic have a question” he asks, voice a bit more even.
Evan shrugs in response, and Barty takes it as an opening to go ahead.
“In between you, me and Reg… which one of us is the prettiest?”
Evan snorts and sits down next to him on the edge of the bed, drawing an even amount of circles onto the sheets with his index finger. He thinks it through for a second before he decides to play along.
“Well, saying myself will sound kind of arrogant, and if I say it’s Regulus then you’ll get all pouty” he stops for dramatic effect and Barty actually raises his head and pouts at him. The idiot.
Evan gently pushes his head back on the bed with a hand before continuing.
“So I only have one answer-“
“Think hic a little longer!” Barty whines, reaching up and putting a hand over Evan’s mouth “It’s a hic serious question!”
“Alright, alright” Evan concedes, lightly slapping Barty’s hand away and getting up “I’ll go get you some water and then give you your answer, is that fine?”
Barty seems to genuinely think about it for a minute before he solemnly nods, falling back again on the mattress.
Evan quietly gets up and makes his way downstairs. He retrieves a glass of water (which he washed himself twice more before using) and fights his way against the crowd again. He bumps into Lily at some point and tells her Barty’s upstairs, but she waves him off and says she’s leaving soon anyway.
Well. Her loss.
He stops by a bathroom upstairs and picks up a wad of wet tissues along with (what must be) James’ mom’s micellar water and scavenges around for a medicine cupboard to get some ibuprofen.
By the time Evan’s back, Barty’s turned over on his other side with his eyes closed and breathing evened out.
For another moment, Evan watches him from the doorway. He had meant what he said earlier. He himself is not that great, Reg can be cute at times but he’s also suffering very much from a resting bitch face and Barty…
Barty’s a little ethereal, he supposes. He’s not sure how such a person spawned into this world, and specifically in the Crouch family. He’s not made for them but… Evan’s not sure where exactly Barty would even fit. He’s a little above everyone, Evan can guess.
Barty’s smart, too smart for his own benefit at times. A genius in some aspects, but so innocent and naïve in others (though there’s just as many that put a mischievous smirk on his face).
He’s also kind, though it’s hard to tell. He’ll be there when you need him most, but he’ll disappear the instant he’s burdensome – or thinks he’s being burdensome.
He’s very brave, because he’s not afraid to pick his battles. If he knows something’s a lost cause, he’ll drop it. Well, most of the time – unless it’s one of those things he’ll fight to bone and blood for.
He’s so, so, so pretty. So very soft and so very warm and so very full of life that everyone keeps trying to take from him. And Evan wants to give him everything Barty could ever want but-
Bartys eyes flutter open, the slight tilt of his mouth turning into a small, vulnerable smile directed Evan’s way as he finally approaches and sets the water and medicine on the nightstand.
“Hi Rosie” Barty mumbles.
Evan huffs a laugh under his breath, sitting next to Barty on the bed and opening the packet of tissues.
“Hi there. Now sit up”
Barty dizzily rises, swaying a little until Evan wraps an arm around his back to keep him steady.
Evan picks up a tissue and gently dabs at his face, starting with his eyes. The thin lines Mary had drawn earlier are all wobbly now, but the cheap makeup has got nothing on whatever brand of tissues James’ family uses, as the black slowly fades until it’s gone.
The eyeshadow is next. It’s glittery and takes a little longer, but he deals with it too. The concealer disappears fairly quickly and Barty hums softly, leaning into his hand as Evan cups his cheek to turn his face.
It takes a moment for Evan to recognize the song.
“Is that the song James played earlier? With the bones and whatever it was?” Evan asks absentmindedly, rubbing a finger over a spot to make sure there’s nothing left.
Barty laughs softly and Evan feels the tingle of it down his arm.
“Silly Rosie” he mumbles “it was that song from Coldplay, with all the yellow and that…”
“Oh. Well, I don’t listen much to music anyway, so” Evan concedes, turning his attention to Barty’s cherry-stained lips next.
“I know Rosie, but still” he chuckles and Evan’s work turns out to be harder than he though.
He tries, really. Normal tissues, micellar water, he even wonders if that’s just Barty’s lip color (though he knows it’s not) until his friend speaks up.
“Oh, I forgot. Alice applied a tint at some point?”
Evan looks at him deadpan. Barty sighs.
“It means it’s this… really strong liquid that stains the lips and stays on for a few days after applying”
“And you think of telling me just now?” Evan asks, finally throwing the last tissue away. He distantly realizes he’s still cupping Barty’s face.
“Well, I liked the feeling” as if hearing his thoughts, Barty lets is head drop fully into Evan’s palm, as his own hand come up to cover Evan’s.
“The feeling of what?”
“Well” Barty starts again and goes quiet for a bit. Evan is worried he’s fallen asleep again until Barty starts caressing his hand “the feeling of you, I suppose. Taking my makeup off. It feels much better like this than anything else…”
Evan feels something build up in his throat as Barty’s eyes crack open halfway through, a little dazed but much more sober than Evan had thought he’d be. Not breaking eye contact, Barty turns his head and presses Evan’s palm to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss there.
“Thanks, Rosie”
Evan can’t help but smile a little. He has to ignore his heart beating irregularly and most likely being a symptom of- of tachycardia or something, right?
“You’re welcome, Bee. Now c’mon, let’s get your shoes off.”
Barty groans, breaking the fragile atmosphere they had built. He drops back on the bed, lips already forming into another pout as Evan reaches down and unties his shoelaces.
“I don’t get it… did you even drink?” he asks, kicking his free leg in boredom.
“Nope” Evan responds, popping the p and making quick work of unlacing Barty’s boots. He’s almost done with the second one already.
“Whyyy?” Barty whines and it sounds very very childish “you were supposed to have fun!”
Evan sighs and gets up, grabbing both of Barty’s legs and dragging them forcefully into the bed.
“Well, I don’t think it’s much fun” he begins “and I’d rather get drunk at home next month when I turn fifteen, thank you very much”
Barty stays still – for just half a moment. Then he turns his eyes to Evan and his smile stretches across his face.
“I forgot you’re so… little.” He says, fully missing the point.
“Barty”
“What? You’re so…” he attempts sitting up but falls on his back again, giving up and instead gesturing with his hands “…small”
Evan is about to respond when someone knocks on the door and opens it gently.
He smiles when he sees his sister, dressed still in her rhinestone frilly dress but holding a plastic bag.
“Hi, Panda, got something for us?” he asks, getting up and crossing the room.
“Yes, Evie” she responds, handing him said bag “I’m going to go relax a bit and then head home with Cassie”
There’s a mischievous glint in her eye. Evan can’t really understand if it’s because now he’s expected to take care of Barty for the night or it she’s just that high and thinking of blowing up the kitchen tomorrow.
“Well, James saw you leave and asked me if I could bring you two some jammies” she taps her chin thoughtfully “what a thoughtful thing… wouldn’t that appease to anybody, including-“
“Panda.” Evan whispers “I say you keep that until we’re at home and can discuss Reg’s love life privately?”
She shrugs but accept it.
Anyway, he gently pushes his smiling sister out of the room and turns back inside, checking the contents of a bag.
It’s a mismatched Star Wars pyjama and another one - a bland white tee and checked pants. Heading towards Barty, he pinches his side to make sure he’s awake.
Barty squeals slightly before sending a drunken, betrayed look at Evan.
“C’mon Bat, I’ll give you some jammies and step out so you can change, alright?”
After processing for a few seconds, Barty nods and Evan steps out to the bathroom to get changed too.
The party has finally calmed down downstairs, and a lot of people are slowly trickling out – though there’s still some straggling behind and taking possession of couches, armchairs and the spare rooms upstairs.
When he steps back in the guest room, dragging the too-long pyjama bottoms across the floor, Evan is greeted with the sight of Barty sitting down, swaying slightly but struggling not to fall asleep.
“Hey, I thought you’d be in bed already?” Evan asks, approaching and trying to see what could be wrong.
Barty shakes his head, raises his eyes to look at Evan, and it finally clicks.
His hand shots out, grabs Evan’s and drags him on the bed too. Evan goes down with a oomph sound before chuckling.
“It’s fine Bat, I’ll take the floor-“
“No” Barty says decisively “I knew you’d… that you’d try that, so I waited for you!”
Laying down, Evan’s hand still clasped in his, Barty brings both of them down until they’re lying side by side.
“This alright?” Evan asks, unsure of whatever it is that Barty wants.
The other boy only nods, blinking and mumbling something about Evan closing his eyes.
Evan chuckles, but it’s more of a reaction against his thudding heartbeat. He closes his eyes, leaning into the clean sheets and feeling Barty’s hand covering his own like a shield.
It takes a few minutes, but Evan is still fully awake when Barty’s plan finally goes into motion.
At first, he doesn’t do anything except scoot a bit closer. Then a bit more. And more and more, until Evan knows there's barely a few inches between their bodies. Then, he wraps an arm gently – or as gently as drunk Barty can manage, which is still oh so very slowly – around Evan’s back, slowly bringing him closer.
Evan shuffles a bit, trying his best to pass it off as sleepy movement. Barty hold his breath for a few moments, but when Evan doesn’t move again – which he makes sure of – he gathers his courage and wraps his other arm around the short boy too, effectively caging Evan against his own body.
It takes a few more ministrations until Evan (who hasn’t dared open his eyes) has his head tucked pleasantly against Barty’s shoulder and jaw, his own arms draped loosely over Barty and both their legs intertwined.
“You’re so….” Barty murmurs against his hair, breath fanning Evan’s ear and sending a shiver down his back “…tiny. How are you so tiny?”
Evan has to stifle a laugh. He’ll get shit for Barty for being average height years to come, but now he doesn’t mind.
It’s only then that Barty finally gets the courage to press a soft kiss to Evan’s forehead, lasting a few moments too long to be friendly before leaning back but bundling Evan up even closer until they’re flush against one another.
“Goodnight, Rosie” Barty mumbles.
Evan can’t respond – he’s already slipping into nothingness and dreams.
But he lets out a quiet sigh and shuffles even closer, humming in response.
Tomorrow they’ll pretend nothing happened. Barty will probably go on a date with Lily at this point, and Evan will pull yet another excuse about about studying and living his young years free coming between him and his dating life.
But Evan knows the truth. As long as he’ll live, he’ll always love Barty, if even just a tiny bit.
Or a bit more.
He’ll love every bone and breath and drop of blood.
But for now, he’ll love him in this bubble in time in the Potter Manor, where they’re just two boys wrapped up in each other and away from the world, soft fabric and gentle breaths the only things separating them