Chapter Text
Barty Crouch was never the most popular at school. He was proudly a blood purist, a bully, and just an all around asshole. He shoved students in the hallways, dueling the Gryffindor's who “attempted” to do the right thing. Bravery and all that shit. Barty always thought it funny how the Gryffindors would parade around. Loudly exclaiming their achievements and planning in front of the entire school. All Barty had to do to know exactly what was happening was listen… but he wasn’t going to do that. He loved the element of surprise…
The last time Barty had seen Regulus was at the end of their 5th year. Usually he would get a plethora of letters detailing the books he has read or the crazy things his hysterical mother would say, but this summer he had gotten nothing. While that obviously worried him, Barty tried his best to not think about it too much.
He sat in their regular cabin and waited for his friends to arrive.
Dorcas arrived first.
She gave Barty a quick smile and motioned her arms until he got up to give her a hug. Barty was now noticeably taller than her; even when she was wearing her combat boots that gave her 2 inches. They muttered their hellos to each other quickly just to get it out of the way. Barty sat back down before truly looking upon his friend. Dorcas was wearing muggle cloths, a band t-shirt from some band called the who. Barty thought to himself “who the fuck is the who??” while studying her shirt until he realised it made him look like a creep.
“I.. I'm sorry. Didn't mean to.. Ya know.” Barty coughed out while staring at the floor.
Dorcas laughed to herself before hitting bartys feet with her own and looking at him until their eyes met. “No. no I don't know Barty.” She added a shrug at the end and leaned back onto the window before asking the routinely “How was your summer?”
Barty went on about how boring it was and his fathers attempts to brainwash him into joining the ministry after Hogwarts. Although Barty never had any intention to actually pursue his parents interest, he started to think about his choices after school.
What was he to do? Run into one of dumbledore's meetings and plead at his feet until he let into his high almighty mighty group. Barty didn’t have the same choice as the others. He always made everyone think the worst of him. “If you expect the worst then you can't be disappointed.” He would whisper to himself every night he had been especially hard on one of his friends. They regret hurting others but they want to be intimidating.
Regulus was next to arrive and god he was a mess. His entire face had sunken in and he looked as though he had not eaten for months. Maybe he hasn't? Barty knew the extent Walburga would go to get an idea into Regulus’ head. He sat down with a sigh and rested his head on Bartys shoulder before letting his breath steady with the support of his friend. Barty looked to Dorcas for any advice on what to do but she simply shrugged it off and shook her hands towards him in confusion. Barty rubbed up and down his back until Regulus felt sturdy enough to support himself on his own. He looked to Dorcas then next to him at Barty. His eyes had a sadness but a sense of pride that he had never seen before.
Reglus still was the prettiest boy on that train and Barty wasn’t afraid to admit that. Yes, he was James’ but Barty liked to say he had him first.
“Reg, you okay there?”
Regulus looked up with glazed eyes before replying in a hushed voice “could we maybe talk about it later.” He rested his head once again against Barty before realising he forgot something. Regulus jolted up before grabbing Barty on each side of his face, forcing them to lock eyes.
“Do not tell James anything.” He said with a stern face and a scarly cold stare.
“Yeah yeah alright. Geez.” Barty said, rubbing his cheeks where his friend's hands had just been.
“Geez.” Dorcas adds in between her teeth.
The Cabin was quiet for a while before Pandora walked in. She pointed at Regulus with a concerned look on her face. Barty looked at her with as much concern as she had just shown. Pandora stepped backward out of the cabin before closing the door quietly, careful not to wake the now sleeping Regulus.
James had walked in and, in a similar move to Pandora, slowly backed up.
“Sorry.” he whispers quietly while exiting. He stops before adding “tell him to talk to me when he walks up. Yeah?”
Barty just nods at this as his gaze slowly lowers back to Regulus.
At some point while Barty was going through all of possibilities of the cause of Regulus’ condition, Dorcas had walked out without even noticing. He only saw they were alone when the familiar sound of the compartment door opening and closing.
Evan rosier stopped in the doorway, unaware of what was going on. He took the window seat on the bench across from Barty. Something had changed about the way he carried himself. A newfound confidence was emulating off of him in a way that made you want to watch him. As if he alone could keep you entertained for hours just by the sight of him. Barty was proud of him for whatever he did to achieve it.
He was wearing a black turtleneck that was tucked neatly into his grey pants. He sat down spreading his legs, resting an elbow on each. Barty tried to say hello but Evans' smile distracted him until he was tripping over his words.
What the fuck was going on with him?
Barty was always charismatic to the point of annoying everyone in a 10 mile radius, but sitting here staring at Evan was truly taking his breath away.
“Wow, I'm really horny” Barty thought as he spread his legs and deepened himself into the cushioned seat of the train; making sure not to wake Regulus.
Evan and Bartys conversations were light and flowed with ease. They discussed summer, though barty hasn’t brought up the change in Evans mood, their shared friends, and politics. Regulus awoke to the sound of students running to change into their robes. Barty took a deep breath before getting up to grab his, Evan and Regulus’ robes. As he got up, he saw Evans personality greatly change. His aloof attitude toward everything suddenly tunnel visioned on to Regulus’ health. Barty was happy not to be involved in the conversation. Regulus looked as if he was drowning so Barty quickly threw his robes on him and told him to change. A faint “thank you” whispered out of Regulus’ lips as he swiftly exited the cabin.
Barty began unbuttoning his already halfway unbuttoned black long sleeve until Evan let out a loud cough. They stare at each other for too long. An uncomfortable amount of time searching in each other's eyes. All the confidence Evan once had was out the window. Suddenly he turned away and fumbled out “The door. Th- the lock.” Barty, his shirt already undone, went over and locked the door. They quickly changed, refusing to look at eachother. Barty can’t help but wonder what was going on. Had he done something wrong?
A loud knock was heard in unison with the familiar sound of regulus blacks yells.
“Let me in you asshole… were almost to Hogwarts.”
Barty laughed before responding “no.. no i couldn’t me and Evan are having sex. Do you really want to see that?”
He moved his arm to lightly tap Evan on the shoulder encouraging him to join in but he just sat there red faced staring at Barty. He ran to the door, unlocked it and sat down next to the window and didn’t look at Barty the rest of the way to Hogwarts.
Seriously, What had Barty done wrong?