#in fairness barty and regulus are too

[marsabillions]

it is so funny anytime i see ppl shipping rosestarkiller(?) or general evanreg bc evan and regulus are like definitely related

[ellecdc]

hi! so i was wondering if i could make a request of poly!jegulus x reader fic where the reader goes out to maybe a bachelorette party or smth and gets drunk and james and regulus takes care of her afterwards? if not then no worries! hope you have an amazing day!

thanks so much darling! I love our little Jegulus fics <3

please note: my requests are currently closed as I finish exams and work through the requests that I currently have.

poly!Jegulus x fem!reader who they pick up from a bachelorette

Regulus tried to ignore the strobe lights and the booming bass that currently accosted his senses as he pushed through the masses of sweaty bodies and drunk people “dancing” in his mission to find you.

Fortunately he needn’t search long.

Unfortunately, his and James’ appearance elicited blood curdling squealing from the bachelorette party you were currently attending.

The bride (Alice) and maid of honour (Lily) started wolf whistling at the two boys and Regulus was certain it was Marlene who started the chant “take it off!”

Much to Regulus’ chagrin and to everyone else's joy, James actually started lifting his shirt before Regulus pinched him harshly in the side.

“James Fleamont Potter, you keep your sodding clothes on!” Regulus hissed before his eyes finally landed on you.

He ignored what sounded like a petulant “I was only giving the ladies what they wanted” from James as he crouched in front of you.

Regulus tried (and failed) to control his love sick smile as your foggy gaze cleared when you realised who was suddenly situated in front of you.

“Regulus!” You cheered, your mouth hanging open in a permanent smile as if you couldn’t possibly believe he was truly here.

“And James!” James added as he sat beside you on the pleather settee and roughly pulled you into his side. 

“What are you guys doing here?” You slurred slightly as you looked lovingly between your two boyfriends. 

Regulus felt his eyebrows pinch, but James - ever the master of nonchalance - simply pressed a kiss to your hair. “You asked us to come for you, angel.” He explained plainly.

Your eyebrows pinched to match Regulus’ as you let out a quiet “oh.” 

“Well, that was ver-very smart of me.” You declared through a hiccup. 

“Yeah? Why’s that?” James asked as he rubbed your arm and Regulus confirmed that all of your belongings were safely stored within your purse.

“I was just thinking how much I, how much I would like to be home with my boys now.” You admitted in a sigh, letting your head - which seemed to weigh far too much for your neck - fall onto James’ all-too-willing shoulder.

“Awe, you’re such a sweetheart, aren’t you?” James murmured, earning him a snort from Dorcas. 

“Right, you’ve got yourself a real sweetheart there Potter - which one of you taught her how to play poker?” Dorcas sneered, causing James to bark a laugh, you to hide shyly into his shoulder, and Regulus to grin proudly.

“Did you take them for all they’re worth, amour?” He whispered as he encouraged your face from its sanctuary in James with a gentle hand on your chin.

“Of course she did.” James answered for you, blowing a cheeky raspberry over your head at your friends. “She’s an all-star.”

Dorcas laughed good naturedly as Lily rolled her eyes fondly. “That may be; but she’s officially banned from playing with us.”

“Fair enough.” Regulus admitted as he smiled at your petulant pout and helped you stand like a baby fawn in your heels. 

“How’s everyone else getting home?” James asked the other girls as he supported you with a gentle arm around your waist.

Dorcas, Marlene, and Pandora were getting a ride from Barty and Evan, and Lily, Mary, and Alice were getting picked up by Frank.

After far too many hugs and cheek kisses and what looked like the beginning of tears on Pandora’s part as Regulus finally pried you away from the group, you clumsily made your way into the back of Regulus’ waiting car with James. 

“Did you have fun tonight, sweets?” James asked as he ensured your buckle was properly clasped. 

“Oh, yes.” You declared breathlessly; as if being chaperoned to the car, basically lifted in and buckled up was exhausting work. 

The streets were quiet at this time of night and Regulus enjoyed the comfortable silence that came over the three of you as he stole sneaky glances over his shoulder, sharing soft smiles with James at having their girl back.

“What time is it?” You asked urgently; your tone and words suddenly sounding half-sober as you interrupted the serenity of the car.

“It’s almost three, amour.” Regulus answered, peaking in the rearview mirror to see you staring straight ahead and James looking at the side of your face concernedly as Regulus navigated the quiet, lamp lit streets. 

“In the morning!?” You shrilled, causing James to snort a laugh and rub at your hairline with his thumb as he rested his hand at the nape of your neck. 

“Yes, baby. In the morning; that’s usually when the party’s over, yeah?”

“Did I wake you guys up?” You asked far too shyly for Regulus’ liking.

“Of course not, amour.” Regulus responded quickly, which was followed up with a “we stayed up waiting for you” from James.

Regulus heard a disbelieving breath escape your lips, the sound of James pressing a kiss to your hair, and then nothing but the sound of the tires on the road beneath you for a few moments.

Suddenly, disturbingly, upsettingly; he heard a sniffle.

Regulus immediately took his foot off the gas as he looked at you through the mirror to find your face pointed down in your lap and James leaning forward in an attempt to see your face.

“What’s the matter, angel?”

“Do you feel okay?” Regulus asked quickly, worrying you may be sick.

“I feel fine.” You cried quietly; Regulus could just make out what looked like the fall of a fat tear from your eyes where your head was lowered.

“What are the tears for, sweetheart?” James asked again, trying to encourage you to face him which you stubbornly refused.

“Why is she crying, Jamie?” Regulus asked desperately.

He pretended he didn’t see James shoot him an unimpressed look in the rearview mirror.

“Amour?” He whispered which elicited a quiet sob from you.

Regulus - only slightly unsafely - hastily pulled onto a side street and parked the car before he moved out of his seat, opened your door and crouched beside you.

“Amour, please darling. What’s wrong?”

“Do you feel sick?” James asked, still rubbing affectionately at the nape of your neck. You quickly shook your head no.

Regulus was at least a little relieved you weren’t about to sick up on him.

“Why are you crying, mon cheri?” He whispered, moving a lock of your hair behind your ear and tracing his thumb across your cheekbone.

“You guys are so lovely.” You admitted miserably.

“Angel.” James cooed as he roughly rubbed between your shoulders as if trying to ‘shake you out of it’. “You’re crying because your boyfriends are lovely?”

“Yes.” You sobbed and hid your face in your hands.

“Okay, that’s it.” Regulus demanded as he stood and closed your door gently before walking around the car and opening up James’.

“You’re fired. Get out.” He barked simply.

James let out a disbelieving laugh and looked at Regulus strangely. 

“I beg your pardon?”

“You have our sweet girl sobbing back here.” He explained (overdramatically) as he flung a hand in your direction. “So, you’re fired; you have to drive now.”

James couldn’t help the fond grin that took over his face (the kind Regulus loved the most; the kind that resulted in two dimples instead of just the usual one) as he shook his head in exasperation and acquiesced to his new role as chauffeur. 

“Okay amour, that’s enough now, yeah? You had a good night? Lot’s of fun with the girls? And two boys who love you a lot?” Regulus cooed as he took James’ recently vacated seat.

“I know!” You cried and flung your hands into your lap. “I’m so lucky!”

Regulus made an embarrassingly gooey ‘tsking’ sound as James laughed.

“Thank you, but we’re the lucky ones, angel.”

This just caused you to cry harder.

Regulus could have killed James right then and there if he didn’t look so sodding good behind the wheel of his car.

He’d deal with him later, though; for now, he had a sweet drunk lovie to snuggle.

[crescenthistory]

hi pookie!! it was actually my birthday a few days ago and i was wondering if maybe you could write a regulus x reader fic where it's reader's birthday? (prompt b.12) if not, that's totally fine! take ur time bub :))

~🍓

i'm usually not a birthday fic kinda gal, but i'll make an exception for you my love<33 i hope you had a super birthday the other day, sending you big bday hugs!

Words: 1.3k

Warnings: not proofread, fem!reader, slightly suggestive (implied aftercare), kissing, toothrotting fluff, wolfstar reference, implied black family trauma (super brief)

Your chest is still slightly damp beneath Regulus' t-shirt that he gave you about twenty minutes ago, but your breath is coming at slow, regular intervals again. The dorm around you is wonderfully empty, Barty and Evan banished for the night, which they only reluctantly agreed to when you gave them a “it’s my birthday tomorrow and I want to wake up with my boyfriend” pout. It feels private, intimate, in a way you relish in.

Here, curled up against Regulus’ chest with your fingers tracing constellations between the moles on his fair skin, is the first comfort you have felt all week. The kind that sinks into the bone and warms you through winter. His sheets are warm too where they are draped across your forms, and you feel increasingly like one singular being, heartbeats synced.

His lips are tracing faint butterfly kisses across your hairline and forehead, absentmindedly, as if it’s second nature to him by now. Maybe it is.

This is all you needed.

“What are you thinking about, amour?” His breath fans across your face as he murmurs against your skin.

“You.” The word is spoken around curved lips and you feel his begin to match yours as he hums contently into your hair. “How nice this is.”

“It’s been a hectic week for you, hasn’t it?” he says, voice laced with empathy and understanding.

You just hum in response, burying your face deeper into his shoulder. You begin kissing at the skin you find there, light and soft in comparison to the passionate ones you shared earlier. It feels right to have both, like your heart is being completed.

“So good. You’re so good,” he whispers adoringly, and while you don’t know if he is referring to your handling of said week or something else, you’re fairly certain you’ll accept any and all praise slipping from his lips.

You tilt your head up to look at his eyes and find them already gazing at you. Regulus’ hand comes up to brush over the side of your face, from your temple to your cheekbone and jaw. “Yeah?” you ask through a smile. 

He breathes out something akin to a laugh and whispers back, “Yeah. The best.”

Stretching your neck only slightly, you lean up to give him a soft and delectably slow kiss, savouring the feeling of his lips between yours. He reciprocates in full, humming against you when you support some of your weight with a hand on his chest. You feel his heartbeat beneath it and burrow your fingertips deeper, as if in search of it.

“Do you have anything specific you want to do tomorrow?” Regulus muses when you separate and you begin pressing kisses along his jaw and cheek instead.

“Nothing at all. Not leaving this room.” While your heart means it, your mind is a more logical being and thus doesn’t, so your words come out with a slight laugh, a joke at how stupidly good it would have been.

“Hiding out from the world with me?” A cheeky grin before he captures your lips with his again briefly. “Sounds like the best birthday ever.”

Supporting your own weight isn’t ideal when you’re still a tad worn out, so you lay down with your head on his shoulder again and he runs his hand comfortingly up and down your arm when he feels it shaking. You keep your eyes on his though, head tilted up with a look that contains more worry than Regulus cares for.

“I still have to do quite a bit of reading for my History of Magic project,” you say in the same tone as someone would use to convey their life sentence in prison. “So I’m going to have to hole up in the library for quite a while tomorrow, birthday be damned.”

Regulus cannot fight the tsk-ing sound that escapes him as he frowns in sympathy. “I’m no expert on the perfect birthday, but I’m quite certain that’s not in the recipe.”

“I know,” you groan, burying your head into his flesh. “I know, but I have to.”

“You have to do no such thing, pretty girl.” He kisses the top of your head to coax you back out from hiding. “Don’t think about the project tomorrow, I’ll help you get back into it the day after.”

“Absolutely not,” you try, but you recognise the look in his eyes as one you are rarely able to defeat. “Reggie, baby, you have enough on my plate.”

“Yet the most important thing on it is you.” He says it almost fiercely, passionately, but when you lift a smug brow at him at his unintended double meaning, he jokingly swats at you. “Don’t sully my declaration of love, you heathen. I’m saying I’ve got you.”

You kiss him part in apology and part selfishly because his lips jutted out enticingly when he pretend pouted. “I know, and I love you for it, but you can’t help me with that big of a project baby, you just can’t.”

“There is no such rule in the boyfriend handbook,” Regulus says solemnly, as if reciting scripture. In theory, he technically is because when Regulus first opened up to Sirius about his anxiety of ruining things with you, the older boy made the ugliest homebound book titled How To Be A Good Boyfriend When Your Parents Fucked You Up Real Bad.

When Regulus questioned Sirius’ expertise on the matter, he said Remus made it based on all the missteps Sirius already had made in their relationship.

“Maybe not,” you reply. “But you forget the first rule: a girlfriend’s word is always more important than any silly rule in any stupid handbook.”

Regulus rolls you over onto your back so he can attack your neck with kisses, likely because he had no actual argument against that. “Querulous girl,” he made out between kisses but your laughter drowned him out.

When he came back up to hover his face above yours, bicep flexing beside your head as he held himself up, his hair was somehow even more messed up than before and oh so pretty. His eyes too, filled to the brim with love and humour, softening as he saw the clear flash of admiration across your own face.

“Let me spoil you,” he whispers, kissing your cheeks, your eyes, your forehead, your nose. “You deserve it, amour. You deserve everything.” 

You thought you heard a small “I don’t deserve you” muttered when he kissed your head, but you couldn’t be certain. Nonetheless you brought his face into your hands to press a resounding kiss to his lips to shut down any such stupid thoughts.

“I love you, you know.” Your smile was blinding, but Regulus looked good in the light.

“I know,” he whispers back. “I love you. And I am not letting you sit in the library on your birthday, no matter how many cute dates we’ve had there. Tomorrow is about you – nothing matters but you.”

Tears almost well in your eyes, but you blink them away. Your voice is still watery when you whisper a soft, “Okay.”

“Okay?” A grin starts to form over his previously soft smile. He gives you no time to respond before his lips sweep down to catch yours once more.

He captures your bottom lip between his two, swiping his tongue slowly across and breathing a soft sigh into your mouth as you allow him access. Leaning more of his weight on you, he continues to deepen the kiss, feeling you completely, as he has so many times before and as he will again.

You aren’t certain when it was you fell asleep, time floating around you like soap bubbles, irrelevant but beautiful in its presence nonetheless. What you do know, is that when you fall asleep it is with your body held close to his. And that when you woke up, it was to soft kisses across your face and a “happy birthday, amour” whispered in your ear.

[my-castles-crumbling]

run - @jegulus-microfic - word count: 181

The world was not fair.

Regulus was sure of that, because how could it be, when it made him watch James Potter cooling down after his daily run?

He was sitting on a bench outside, the sun beating on his back as he stared at Potter, who was completely oblivious to being admired as he stretched. Regulus barely choked down the groan in the back of his throat as Potter bent over.

And, of course, the damned sun made it worse. Because Potter had beads of sweat...dripping down his neck and over his bare chest, slowly sliding over sculpted muscles.

Regulus fought the insane urge to run over and lick them.

He was so distracted by the show in front of him that he didn't hear Barty approaching suspiciously until it was too late.

"Whoops!" his friend said far too casually as he spilled the bottle of water he was drinking all over Regulus. "Sorry, Reg. You just looked so thirsty!"

Regulus glowered so angrily at Barty's devilish grin that he almost missed the chuckle Potter let out behind him.

[wolvesandshine]

Sirius had never really liked Barty. If he could he wouldn’t be here right now. But well, Barty was one of the few people who was close to Regulus, and in this case the only one who could help. Desperate times call for desperate measure and such.

Barty looks up from his work, and upon seeing Sirius he smirks. “Trying to see the big bad Slytherin in their natural habitat?”

Sirius rolls his eyes, not raising to the bait. “I need help.”

Barty simply raises an eyebrow. “And I would help you why?”

“How did you start dating Reggie?”

Barty stared at him for a moment, processing the words before he laughs. “I always knew you were mad but I didn’t realise you were into the whole Black family incest too.”

Sirius barely restrains himself from strangling the boy in front of him. “It’s not for me. It’s for -“ Sirius trails off unwilling to out his best friend.

Barty simply rolls his eyes. “It’s okay you can say Potters name.” At Sirius’s shocked expression Barty looks up and sighs. “You’re as bad as Reg. Congrats on being the second last person in the whole school to know that they’re in love with each other and idiots.”

Sirius splutters indignantly. “Excuse me for hoping that it would be a passing infatuation.”

Barty gives him a look and yeah, okay, fair. They were talking about James I already planned our wedding the moment I saw you Potter and Regulus I’d kill someone just to see you smile Black.

“Well why haven’t any of you done anything about it?”

“We tried. Clearly, it was less than successful.”

“Can’t you just tell James what you did to get with Reggie?”

Barty laughs derisively. “I did nothing. He was the one who walked up to me and asked if I wanted to fuck.”

Barty laughs at Sirius’s disgusted expression. “You asked Black.”

“I don’t even know why I came here.”

Barty shrugs. “Beats me. At the rate it’s going I’ll probably die before they get together.”

Sirius thinks back on the way James and Regulus have been dancing around each other for months and - Yeah, someone needed to pull their heads out of their asses. He swears he and Remus were nowhere near this bad.

It says something about the way his life is going that he’s agreeing with Crouch.

[emlovessid]

@into-the-jeggyverse for the bingo prompt never have i ever, 557 words bingo masterpost

"We should play a game."

James lifts his head to look at Regulus who's lying backwards on James' bed, his socked feet resting on James' pillow beside his head. What had started out as a evening studying for their group university project, had ended with a bottle of tequila, passed back and forth between them until it was empty and they were both a little more than tipsy.

"What sort of game?" James asks.

"I don't know, something fun. How about never have I ever?"

Reaching beside his dorm room bed for the empty tequila bottle, lifting it up for Regulus to see, he says, "We're out of tequila."

Regulus sighs, "You don't have anything else?"

"Unless you want to take shots of English Breakfast, I'm afraid not."

They fall back into comfortable silence, the only sound between them the record playing in the corner, when Regulus pushes himself up onto his elbows, lips curving up into a smile as he says, "How about instead of taking a shot, we take of an item of clothing?"

When James had invited Regulus over to work on their History of Western Art 1500–1900 assignment, this is not how he imagined the night would go, but there's no chance he's going to say no, not when he's been quietly crushing on Regulus all semester.

"Yeah, alright," James says with a shrug, like the thought of either of them getting undressed right now doesn't have his heart jackhammering in his chest. "You can go first, if you want."

With a hum, Regulus eventually says, "Never have I ever…fallen asleep in Professor Moody's class."

Chuckling, James reaches for the hem of his knitted jumper, pulling it up and over his head and throwing it aside. "Okay then, never have I ever…stolen something from my brother."

"God, you're such an only child. It's like you've never met someone with a sibling before. Of course I've stolen something from him," Regulus laughs, as he tugs his socks off. "Never have I ever…"

—

"I'm beginning to think you're not playing fair," James says as he sits back on the bed in only his underwear, while Regulus sits opposite him having only shedded his socks and jumper. "Never have I ever kissed my best friend."

"Tough luck, James."

"What? Never? I would've been willing to bet money that you and Barty had hooked up at least once."

Rolling his eyes, he says, "Sorry to disappoint. Also, in case you hadn't noticed, my two best friends are dating."

It's the tequila running through James' veins that has him joking, "You've never heard of a threesome?"

"Ha, ha."

"Alright, hit me with your worst, Regulus," James sighs, gesturing to his almost-naked state and fixing Regulus with a grin.

With a devilish smirk on his lips, Regulus says, voice low and seductive, "Never have I ever…had a crush on a classmate."

Before James can answer, Regulus pulls his own t-shirt off, and James feels like his brain might combust.

"W-what? You do?" he splutters.

"Obviously, why else would I have suggested this?"

"If you wanted me naked, you could have just asked," James teases, hoping the shake in his voice isn't too obvious.

"But where's the fun in that?" Regulus says coyly, gesturing to James' last remaining item of clothing.

What else can James do but comply?

[mightbeimpossiblenotto]

Crazy - Oct 2 - @rosekillermicrofic - 934 words - Warning: mild violence

(a/n — once again sorry about the lateness!! Trying to catch up)

Barty had always been overprotective of his friends. Growing up the way he did, begging for any morsel of attention from his father, Barty quickly glommed onto his found family to a near-annoying degree. As his roommates, Evan and Regulus dealt with the brunt of his overbearingness, but Dorcas and Pandora got their fair share of pestering as well. He followed them around the halls, he sat at any table they happened to be at, he bugged them in the common room and the dorm when he could. Barty just didn’t like to be alone, after spending most of his childhood alone. But, see, all that love and affection for his friends had quite the downside: if he heard a single bad word said about one of them, he would kill the person who spoke.

That person being Mulciber that very afternoon. He had the misfortune of arriving to lunch late, and one of the only seats left was right next to Barty and all of his friends, including Pandora who had foregone the Ravenclaws to sit with her set of Slytherins. Apparently, he couldn’t just ignore the lot of them for the duration of the meal and get on with his day, because the moment he sat down, he was huffing and puffing and rolling his eyes as if he had been served with the utmost inconvenience by having to sit within earshot of Barty’s friends’ conversation.

But it all came to a head when Pandora mentioned something about wrackspurts making her brains fuzzy today, which her group of friends were quite used to her saying. Barty had taken it to believe that she couldn’t focus, but he respected her belief in the tiny creatures flying into her ears, if she said they were real.

“Bloody mental, that one,” Mulciber whispered overly loudly. “She’s crazy.”

Barty saw red. He couldn’t remember ever being so angry in his entire life. One second, he was sitting next to Evan and Pandora, listening to them ramble to each other quietly, and in the next moment, he was hunched over Mulciber’s bloody face. Flashes of his fists flying into his stupid head filled his mind, and belatedly he realized his clenched hands were bloodied and aching. He stood shakily, stepping away from where Mulciber lay unconscious on the ground. He didn’t go very far — three steps away, he was pulled to a stop by Slughorn, who was berating him, but Barty didn’t hear a single word. His focus was locked on the beaten body he’d left on the floor of the dining hall.

“Barty,” Evan said, and it was as if he’d reached right into Barty’s mind to demand his attention. Barty whipped his head around to stare at Evan, eyes too wide. Slughorn was still holding him by the arms, but Evan had come up on his other side, easily dismantling the grip and holding Barty himself. “Barty.”

The next hour or so passed in a haze. The professors had run over and whisked Mulciber off to the hospital wing, and then Dumbledore had to speak to Barty, who wasn’t ready to speak at all, so Dumbledore let him go after he was near-silent for a full hour. Evan was waiting for him after he left the Headmaster’s office.

“Barty,” Evan said again, as soon as he had eyes on Barty. He wouldn’t be surprised if that all Evan could say.

“I could have killed him,” was the first thing Barty said. It wasn’t what he had meant to say at all, but he wasn’t sure what that would be either.

Evan grabbed one of his wrists and pulled him into a tight hug, pressing their entire bodies together the way Barty craved to be held. “You didn’t,” was all Evan said.

“But — I could have. I completely blacked out, I had no idea what I was even doing,” Barty rambled, feeling his heart rate pick up with every damning word out of his mouth. He had no idea what sort of spells Dumbledore might have in the halls, what he might be able to hear.

“You didn’t,” Evan repeated fiercely. He pulled back enough to look Barty in the eye. “And even if you had, you were protecting Pandora.”

Some relief washed over Barty. He had been afraid — He’d been terrified that all of his friends would see him beating Mulciber mercilessly, and they would see in him the monster he always felt he was. “But — you all saw me—“

“Yes, we saw you defending our best friend,” Evan said, voice hard and unyielding. “Barty, you’re okay.”

“You’re sure?” Barty asked breathlessly. “Evan, are you sure?”

Evan stared at him for another heartbeat, and then he was surging forward, pressing his mouth to Barty’s. Barty fucking melted. It didn’t matter at all to him that they were right outside Dumbledore’s office, it didn’t matter that his hands were still covered in Mulciber’s blood. Evan fucking Rosier was kissing Barty, he could have died right there on the spot and he would have died happy.

He didn’t die, though. Evan pulled back way too soon, and Barty made that known with a displeased groan. But Evan was smirking at him.

“Barty, what you did today may just be the hottest thing you have ever done,” Evan informed him. “And you have done a lot of insanely hot things in your time.”

Barty blinked. He burst out laughing, utterly delighted, his head falling forward against Evan’s shoulder. Evan brought a hand up to tangle in his hair, and Barty could just tell he was grinning.

[nonbinary-potatoes]

New obsession with these two

Prompt: muggle 06/11/24 @moonwater-microfic

Word count: 536

Regulus stared down at his textbook with his hands in his hair. It wasn't supposed to be a difficult subject, but this homework was impossible. Barty was working on the same peice, breezing through the essay to the point where he'd broken his first quill from writing too fast.

"Bab," Regulus kicked Remus' shin under the table they were sitting at in the library. Remus looked up from his work, a history of magic essay he'd drafted 3 times already. He cocked his head and placed his biro down gently. Regulus found it odd that he refused to use quills anymore, something his friend Lily Evans had taken up after Snape had called her a mudblood. He supposed it was just a way of supporting her, and it had really taken off with other muggleborn students.

"Yeh Reg," he muttered, stifling a yawn and scrubbing his eyes with his hands.

"You're friends with Evans, the muggleborn... can you help me with my muggle studies work" Regulus asked timidly, he wasn't used to needing help with his work and it was easier to ask Remus over Barty who'd loom it over him for the rest of forever.

"My mums a muggle..." Remus said, slowly like it was something bad to reveal to Regulus. He was taken a bit aback, the Lupin name despite not being one the sacred 28 was still a pureblood name. An oversight on Regulus' behalf for not asking, but he didn't really like prying into home lives because Merlin knew he didn't want to answer questions about his.

Remus clicked the top of the pen, and a small spring made the tip of it pop out. He clicked it again, and it went back in. Regulus thought someone ought to recruit more muggle intelligence into the wizarding world because quills and ink wells seemed ancient compared to this. Most of the wizarding world was still stuck in the mid-1600s. Hence, Regulus is struggling so much with the homework;

"Explain three methods of muggle transportation, including at least one method of flight." Regulus read the set task aloud and looked at Remus expectantly.

"Ummmmm.... trains, planes, and busses. " Remus shrugged, offering a small smile as he read the textbook upside down. It wasn't fair him and all his weird friends were so effortlessly smart.

"I actually wanted to do hot air balloons instead of planes," Regulus muttered sheepishly, half prepared for a lecture on how that was stupid.

"I've been in a hot air balloon once" Remus replied thoughtfully "the way they work is easy, just uses the concept of hot air rises essentially. There's a flame that heats the air in the balloon bit and that makes it take off, less flame to go down and more flame to go up" Remus explained softly, scribbling down a few bullet points and drawing a small sketch of a hot air balloon.

It was the small things like that, things that reminded Regulus that love could be soft and kind and warm. Love wasn't harsh words and unbearable punishment to ensure the perfect heir. Love was milk chocolate, parchment notes, and fiction books; sugar mice, secret smiles, and clicky pens. Love to Regulus was Remus Lupin.

[actuallyitskal]

i really love the idea of regulus black faking his death.

regulus who was too smart to think voldemort made only one horcrux. who knew the only way to find and destroy all of them was to disappear.

so he makes everbody, including james and his brother, believe that he's dead.

he goes to that cave, steals the lock and gives it to pandora. her and dorcas work on destroyjng it, while barty and evan keep playing deatheaters as a way to keep voldemort busy. regulus focuses on finding rest of horcruxes.

when the girls succeed and find the right way to destroy the locket, he has already located all of them. obviously harry still doesn't exist, so it's not so tricky anymore.

they destroy all of them, and then regulus comes back to fight voldy.

exept once again, he's not stupid. he has two kings man by his side, and shitlot of potion making skills.

voldy dies from a poison, even tho it looks like regulus killed him in a fair fight.

reg becomes a hero, all of his friends live, he makes up with his brother and lily has enough time to figure out that she's a lesbian.

jegulus reconnect, marylily happens, everybody's alive, harry has four parents.

everybody is happy, second wizard war never happened.

[maladaptivedaydr3amer]

POV: the Slytherin skittles asking Regulus who’s his bestfriend

R: None of you.

P: Why none of us?!

B: Yeah!

R:well, Barty annoys the ever living shit out of me.

B: Hey!

R: Pandora is psycho who likes to torture me for fun

P: Your over exaggerating!

R: well Evan, Evan is just too much of stoner for my taste to be honest

E: fair

R: and Dorcas likes women to much

D: so just because I think women are wonderful you don’t think I’m worthy of being you bestfriend??

R: yes.

B: then who is your bestfriend? James?!

R: no not him, he’s a prat and annoying

P: well doesn’t that prat happen to be your boyfriend

R: yes well

B: then who is it?!!

R: you know what, Kreacher is my bestfriend. Now all of you bugger off!

He walks away.

B: who the hell is Kreacher?!!!

Sirius coming out of nowhere

S: Kreacher is the black family house elf. Lmao

[thedvilsinthedetails]

Rosekiller microfic suggestion 😊

Barty and Evan have always been very affectionate and touchy, lots of pet names etc and one day they find out a lot of hogwarts thinks they’re dating and they’re both like “are we dating? Damn I guess we are” and make out lmaooo

HELP IM REPLYING SO LATE TO ALL THESE PROMPTS BUT I FINALLY FOUND THE TJME AND MOTIVATION TO WRITE

sorry the ending is a bit rushed but yeah✨

•••

They were sat outside in the courtyard. Barty could feel the warm sun shining down on his face and Evan’s fingers softly running though his hair as he let a gentle sense of tranquility wash over him. He had his head resting in Evan’s lap, eyes screwed shut as Evan fiddled with his hair while they waited for Regulus and the girls to get back from Hogsmeade. 

He heard some students walk by and blinked his eyes opened confusedly as he heard their whispers and giggles. He frowned, lifting his head as he caught the end of what one of them was saying.

“Such couple goals.”

But then Evan had his hand pressed gently to Barty’s cheek, looking down at him as he murmured.

“Everything ok?”

“Yeah.” Barty nodded, deciding to ignore what he’d heard, those students could have been talking about anyone.

“Yeah everything’s good.”

Evan just grinned in response and Barty went back to resting his head on Evan’s thigh.

•••

Evan soared through the air, decked out in his quidditch gear as he and the Slytherin team flew a celebratory victory lap around the pitch, shooting a wink and a smirk at Barty who was already heading excitedly for the stairs to get down to the ground. Once he got there he sprinted for where Evan was standing, chatting excitedly to his teammates. He launched himself at Evan who caught him and then promptly tripped over, landing them both on the ground in a fit of laughter. Barty rolled over to face him with a grin.

“Well done Rosie!” 

Evan grinned back, face flushed with adrenaline.

“Thanks Bee.” 

He got up, brushing himself off and helping Barty to his feet too, wrapping an arm around his waist.

“You two are so cute.” 

Edgar Bones spoke, smiling as he passed them.

Evan turned to Barty and sent him a wink.

“Hear that? We’re practically the darlings of the year group” 

“Well of course we are, just look at us.”

Barty responded. Evan laughed slightly and Barty huffed questioningly.

“Sorry just- you have grass in your hair.”

Evan reached up a hand and picked out the grass that had gotten into Barty’s hair, then finally he ran a hand through, messing it up for good measure.

•••

“Students, as many of you may know, today marks the  muggle holiday of Valentines Day. Despite the excitement we would like you all to continue on like normal and save the celebrations for this weekends trip to Hogsmeade. Please be civilised and behave norma-“ 

That was when Barty got on the table. He held a bouquet of red roses in the air with a grin and announced loudly.

“Evan Rosier, my rose, light of my life, would you please be my Valentine?” 

He kneeled down, holding the bouquet out to Evan with a grin.

“Why of course.”

Evan took the bouquet and pressed a kiss to Barty’s cheek. As Barty stood up, he took a bow and the students actually began to clap. That was sort of surprising because usually his antics gained groans of annoyance from everyone around him. 

•••

The group was sat in a circle with the new addition of James Potter fiddling nervously with his wand next to Regulus. 

“So…it’s really nice to finally meet you guys. Reggie has told me a lot about you.” James cleared his throat awkwardly before he spoke.

Barty rolled his eyes before turning to Regulus.

“Reggie what happened to friendship solidarity? I’m single so you should be too, it’s not fair.”

“Single?” James asked confusedly.

“But I thought you and Evan were together.”

Barty turned to Evan and raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Me and Evan? Please as if I could ever pull Rosie, why would you think that?” 

“Well you two are awfully cuddly.”

“Are you saying friends can’t cuddle one another James? Does that mean there’s something going on between you and Sirius? Don’t know how Reggie feels being cheated on with his own brother.”

James’ eyes widened as he struggled to find words.

“No- no I would never, I don’t- sorry I just thought because you- you know, you regularly call Evan ‘your rose’ and that a pretty couple-y nickname so.”

“Well yeah but-“

“Plus you made a massive show of asking him out on Valentine’s Day. Everyone’s convinced you guys started dating this year, that’s why they clapped. Everyone thought it was really romantic.” 

Pandora added with a little self satisfied nod at the end of her statement.

“Huh I guess we kind of are together.” 

Barty turned back to Evan and found that he had a blush dusting his face in a dark shade of red. 

“Rosie.” Barty turned to Evan, lifting a hand to cup his face. 

“Well we can’t disappoint the people, would you do the honours of being with me?” 

Evan glanced down at him through half lidded eyes before pressing a small chaste kiss to his lips, letting a small sound escape his throat as Barty deepened it. 

When they broke apart Barty couldn’t hold back a dopey grin as Evan spoke.

“Well I guess I could.” 

“Brilliant.” Barty jumped up quickly, pulling Evan up with him.

“Where are we going?” Evan asked.

“Well I owe you a date don’t I?” 

“What? Right now?” Evan suppressed a smile and quirked up an eyebrow.

“No time like the present. Oh and before I forget-“ Barty turned back quickly to the group.

“James Potter? Thank you very very much.”

“You’re uh- you’re very very welcome.”

James appeared to be sweating profusely now in confusion, face slightly fear stricken. Regulus would probably murder Barty later but that didn’t matter right now. Nothing mattered right now except the warm weight of the hand holding his and the boy attached to it.

“I still don’t like you though.”

And with that, Barty excitedly tugged Evan out of the common room.

[lulublack90]

Prompt 1 - Twisted

@rosekillermicrofic September 1, word count 485

This is my first ever rosekiller microfic so I hope you enjoy it. I'm only going to do this for a month because three microfics a day is insane. Anyway this is the final part of the Apple Core series. I've linked the previous ones below. Enjoy!

Previous Wolfstar part First Jegulus part

Barty was bored. 

“I’m bored!” He groaned into the room. He flipped himself over and grinned lewdly at Regulus, who had stopped by on his way home, want to have a go at that threesome we keep talking about?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. 

"That you've been talking about excessively, you mean?" Regulus said as he threw a cushion at Barty's head. Barty didn’t react quickly enough and got a mouth full of fluff. 

“Leave him be, B,” Evan chastised, coming back in with some vibrant green concoction in tall glasses. “Besides, he’s got his fancy new boyfriend to see to his needs,” Evan cackled as he twisted out of the way of Regulus’s second cushion throw of the evening. 

“He is not my boyfriend,” Regulus glowered at Evan. “We’re just hanging out.”

“Yeah, every day this week since you fell out of that tree into his waiting arms.” Barty sneered, batting his eyelashes. “You’re like a damn fairy story with your apples and Prince Charming. Ha, you’re Snow White!” Barty howled with laughter. 

“Na, he’s too pointy for a fair maiden, he’s more like the Evil Queen!” Evan snickered, which made Barty’s howls even louder.

“Oh my gods, he totally is!” Barty gasped, wiping tears from his eyes. 

“Shut up,” Regulus huffed. 

“I want to meet Justin,” Barty demanded, sitting up to stare at Regulus.

“Who’s Justin?” Regulus asked, confused. 

“Your Prince Charming,”

“His name is James and no way, I don’t want to scare him off,” Regulus froze in his seat as his phone buzzed. He looked at the clock and winced. Barty knew too well what that meant. Regulus was late getting home and Walburga would make him pay for it. It was ridiculous he was a grown man for crying out loud.

“Oui, Maman,” Regulus said into his phone before his mother hung up on him. He stood up to leave but looked back. “Would it be alright if I maybe left some of my things here? I might need to stay over for a few days as well?” Barty swallowed. Was this it? Was Regulus finally going to get out from under his parent’s thumb like he should have done years ago?

“Of course, you can,” Evan replied when Barty didn’t. “It’s your room for as long as you need it,”

“You could share ours, you know,” Barty butted in, trying to lighten the mood in the most Barty way possible. “It’s a big bed and sooooooo comfortable,” Regulus rolled his eyes and left them to it. 

“One day, he’s going to kill you, and I’ll let him,” Evan huffed. 

“One day he’s going to take me up on my offer, and I'm going to let him...” Barty grinned back toothily. 

“You. Bed. Now!” Evan pointed in the direction of their bedroom. 

“Yes, Sir,” Barty practically fell over his feet in his haste to get to their room and undressed.  

Next part

[where-is-vivian]

Starchaser band au

Any trope or type

Maybe like them being rival bands but they are in a secret relationship and write and sing songs about eachother at their shows

Also maybe the media could find out about it because of the songs or something idk

gotcha.

JEGULUS. 623 words. RIVAL BANDS. AWARD SHOW.

"And the winner is... Regulus Black!"

Everyone was clapping. The entire room was suddenly plunged in the loud maelstrom of noise caused by the announcement. People stood up. James stood up too. He had been nominated in the best songwriter of the year category too, but he stood up.

The camera zoomed on his face; he knew cameras were on him, but he ignored them. He played it nonchalantly, standing up slowly, clapping like a fair loser, a little polite smirk at the corner of his lips. Truth was, he wanted to grin fully, to meet Regulus' eyes. Unfortunately, the latter had been sitting in the back, and James' assigned seat was front row.

Regulus walked up to the stage. Shook a few hands. Adjusted the microphone.

"Thank you. Thank you everyone. I am beyond grateful to be able to stand here in front of you today. If it wasn't for Evan telling me, four years ago, that I could write our bands songs, for trusting me with such an important part of our albums, I would never have gotten this opportunity."

He let out a chuckle, and waved somewhere in the crowd. James guessed he was waving at Evan, and at the rest of the Green Roses, Barty and Dorcas.

Sirius, next to James, elbowed him.

"He's being a bit arrogant, isn't he?"

James smiled downwardly, shrugging at his friend.

"You're not too upset he won instead of you? I know you two had this rivalry. I mean, our band won best performance, but..."

"No, I'm good," James soberly answered, eyes still fixed attentively on Regulus. His stylist had done his aura justice, tonight. James, at this point was not really listening anymore. He was instead drooling, in his seat front row, eyeing the man up and down in his lace top and his pretty pants showing off his ass. He only wanted one thing. Regulus for look at him. His prayers must have been heard somewhere because Regulus then looked down at him from the stage. Directly gazing at him without looking away. James didn't either.

"I've been pushed to always write the best songs. And I believe... there's a difference: between the songs that are meant to be sung, and the ones that are meant to be heard."

James grinned. So did Regulus. Both of their band's songs were meant to be heard... by each other. James knew the Green Roses' songs were about him. And he was more or less sure Regulus knew the Marauders' were about him too.

"I wrote songs meant to be heard. I wrote songs that were meant to be embodied. I think I am, today, lucky enough to say that the person meant to hear them has been able to see them performed several times."

James chuckled to himself, laughing with his nose.

"That's why I'd like to thank The Marauders. For always dragging James Fleamont Potter to our concerts. Thank you everyone," He concluded with the biggest and smugiest smirk ever, knowing look in James' direction, pushing the mic away and holding his trophy up one last time, under the scandalised and supportive cheers and whistles of the crowd.

James now couldn't stop the smirk blooming on his face. He knew the cameras were still pointed on him, and that he probably should keep a straight face. But he couldn't help it. Regulus looked so smug. Tongue poking his cheek, he ended up sliding his eyes back to his band mates. Remus, Lily and Marlene were looking at him with wide eyes from their seats. But the one that said something first was the one sitting at his right, Sirius, singer and guitarist. Accessoringly James' best friend. Accessoringly Regulus' brother.

"James?!" Sirius let out, jaw dropped but hint of a smile on his face, visibly shocked, as James struggled to keep his lips sealed into a neutral expression.

the end ;)

feel free to send more asks...

[the-stars-are-buzzing]

@jegulus-microfic - prompt: barren - wc: 450

~~~

Regulus is very rarely confused. There are times where he’s on the brink of having no clue what’s happening, but more often than not, he has a general idea for what’s happening around him. The only two times in life that he had been genuinely baffled was when Sirius had explained to him that their family’s views were wrong, and when Barty had confessed to having a crush on him back in third year. Since then, he’s kept his head on straight. 

Now, though, would be a time that Regulus will add to that list. As he stands in the middle of a, usually barren, Room of Requirement, his head feels like it’s spinning in circles. Instead of the small, empty room that he’s usually given upon entering the room, there’s an entire picnic set up in the middle of what appears to be a large sunroom. On the other side of the candle-lit blanket stands a rather sheepish-looking James Potter. 

“Hiya, Reg,” James’ voice is quiet and his eyes are trained on the dinner in front of him. It does look quite delicious, to be fair, and Regulus’ mind distantly recognizes that all of his favorite foods are displayed. 

“Potter,” Regulus says slowly, not quite knowing how to react as his heart beats rapidly against his ribcage. If this is some sort of prank, he’s going to kill his brother and anyone else involved. “What the hell is this?”

James’ shoulders slump slightly at this, but he lifts his head, a soft smile on his face. “Well, uh, y’know.”

There’s a pause, then Regulus sighs. “I don’t know, actually. That’s why I asked.” 

James lets out a soft laugh before stepping around the blanket, standing a bit too close for comfort. At his proximity, Regulus lifts the books in his hands to be in between the two of them, and James laughs a little again. The butterflies are going crazy at the moment. 

“So, uh, this is for you,” James nods his head toward the romantic setting only a few feet away from them. 

“Figured that much,” Regulus responds dryly, trying so hard to resist the temptation of looking at James’ lips. With their small distance, though, this seems to be impossible. Regulus’ voice is barely above a whisper when he asks, “Why?”

James furrows his eyebrows and tilts his head the slightest before lifting a hand and tucking a loose curl behind Regulus’ ear. “Isn’t it obvious, Reg? I really like you. Like, a lot. I haven’t told Sirius because–”

Regulus doesn’t need to hear anything else, dropping his book and instead using his hands to tug at James’ tie, successfully causing their lips to crash together.

[remushrts]

hihi I love your fics n this is my first time requesting :]

may I request a Barty Crouch jr x romantic!amab!reader fluff fic?

Something, something along the lines of the slytherin skittles (or just reader and barty, your call) up on the astronomy tower after curfew (snuck out n’ stuff), and then reader fell asleep on Barty while they were pointing out all the constellations they could see?

thank you so much if you write this, and absolutely no pressure at all if you don’t want to! <3

Stargazing

— pairing: barty crouch jr x amab!reader

— a/n: hii, thank you so much for requesting, i hope you enjoy it, i tried my best!! it's also my first time writing for amab!reader, so let me know if it's okay <3 barty might be a little ooc for what it's used to but i love the idea of a soft barty only with his partner (feel totally free to request again if you want him more chaotic, i'll gladly write that!!)

— warnings: mostly fluff, mention of smoking pot (barty is a little high, reader is open to interpretation)

For the first time in years, maybe, Barty doesn't feel like talking.

Not that he would need to anyway, the silence that lingered between you was comfortable enough to allow that, but still, he never felt so at peace.

He thinks it's about you. It's your presence, the way your hair tickles the skin of his neck where your head lays, gentle weight settling on his chest. When he commented that with Regulus, he said Barty should get a weighted blanket. He thinks you beat it by at least hundred times. Weighted blankets wouldn't do half of what you do to him. He wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now.

To be fair, you wouldn't either. Not even with the smell around you, weed and smoke and the stolen candies from the kitchen that lay unfinished next to you. Not when you have Barty's heartbeat just above your ear, his voice just loud enough to rumble across your chest when he speaks. You have no idea what he's saying anymore, but it's just so nice to hear him talk.

"This meteor shower is supposed to be rare. You, baby, are supposed to watch." His voice is full of taunt, the smug on his face when he catches your eyes sneaking to him.

"Yeah, Crouch?" You smile back at him, snuggling closer to him as if there was a way to get closer.

"Uhm, can look at me anytime, baby." His hand tugs at your chin, grin wide as he gently pushes it upwards, to the sky. It's beautiful tonight, clear vision from the shooting stars that light up the sky for brief moments before they disappear. "We should make it ours." A beat of silence has passed and you think you've lost something. He makes no sense.

"The stars?" You ask, smile slipping to your lips with no resistance.

"All of it. Each wish from those, they're all ours now. The planets too. All ours..." He points out, following an imaginary trace from the meteor that fell just a moment ago. You blinked, looked over at Barty again, and it's gone.

"I thought you didn't believe this crap?" You say, voice no softer than a whisper, but Barty catches the tease.

"Oh, baby, don't offend me." He lets out a breathy laugh, flicking the side of your head, but not letting you move it either. "I'm taking all the wishes I can for you, angel." The pet names drips from his lips, he has a tendency of saying them a lot when he gets high. You're always "baby", always "angel", always "pretty boy". There's a lack of something on his tone, his arrogance or taunting, but you're buying it. It's strange seeing him so soft, but you adore it, every moment.

You nod against his chest, his rambling and the raspy tone pushing you towards a state you've been trying to avoid, sleep claiming your body in a slow but sure pace. You think Barty can feel it either.

"Thanks, B..." You mumble, getting more comfortable on his chest.

"Anything for my boy." He says, no edge of intention to his words, his hand slipping around you waist to hold you close. His fingers trace your hip bone, softly.

His boy, his words echo on your chest, soft, soft. You could be that, if he kept saying it with that voice. Especially his. You're convinced he got you folded in half with that tone alone. He kisses the corner of your lips, thumb holding your chin in place. He begins to talk about the constellations again, not a single coherent idea to the textbooks you've learned, but just as poetical. You're pretty sure you hear he names a star after you before you fall asleep.

[unconventional-lawnchair]

In The Absence of Goodbye {Prologue}

Barty Crouch Junior x Fem!Reader

Wc:2831

Masterlist

Next-->

The Ravenclaw tower had quieted to a low hum, most students either celebrating in the common room below or drifting off to bed, but Barty, Regulus, Evan, Pandora, Dorcas, and you had found your own private corner on the tower’s open terrace. The night was cool, the stars crisp against the velvet sky, and the laughter still floating up from the castle grounds below seemed to pulse with the energy of Ravenclaw’s victory over Gryffindor. You could feel the vibrations for muggle music shooting through your feet.

You all were sprawled along the stone railing in a chaotic line of limbs, each one of them claiming their own space in a way that somehow felt perfectly coordinated. Regulus sat at the end, leaning back against a column with his arms crossed, an annoyed look as Barty once again explained his game saving bludger hit. Evan, as usual, took up more than his fair share of space, lounging back with his legs stretched out across the railing, crossing them with a lazy confidence. 

Pandora, nothing like her brother, was perched precariously on the edge of the railing beside Evan, her legs swinging as she hummed softly to herself, gazing at the stars with a far-off look that spoke of theories and creatures only she could understand. Dorcas, sitting cross-legged with her chin propped in her hand, watched Pandora with a half-smile, tracing her fingers along the ancient stone as though whatever was lingering behind Pandora’s eyes would be revealed to her.

And then there was you, sitting at the center of it all, your laughter light and steady as you bantered back and forth with Evan, both of you trading exaggerated stories of the match. You were tucked right against Barty’s side, though, who occupied as little space as possible, as if his entire purpose was to keep as close to you as he could without drawing too much attention. The usually boisterous boy completely content to just lay there with you, letting ‘his girl’ shine before anyone else.

It was late, well past curfew, but Barty didn’t care. With your shoulder pressed to his and the warmth of your laughter filling the night air, he was completely, hopelessly content. As Evan said something that made you laugh, Barty felt a flutter in his chest, his gaze lingering on the way your eyes caught the dim light, how your smile seemed to hold a brightness that the stars could only envy.

“Oi, love.” Evan’s voice cut in, playful and teasing. “Think you’ll ever take pity on poor Barty here and let him breathe without you?”

You rolled your eyes, nudging Barty with your elbow but staying firmly at his side. “Maybe if he ever learns how to breathe on his own.” You shot back, grinning.

Barty barely reacted, too focused on your to care about the jibes. “Who needs breathing when I’ve got a much better reason to stay close?” He murmured, just loud enough for you to hear.

Regulus snorted from his end of the railing, smirking into the night. “Careful, Barty. You’re starting to sound almost sentimental.”

“Impossible.” Dorcas deadpanned, giving him a mock-serious look. “That would imply he actually has feelings.”

Pandora tilted her head, smiling dreamily. “Maybe he’s just like a rock orbiting his star.” She suggested, her gaze lifting to the night sky as if she could see their paths mapped out in the constellations.

“Don’t encourage him, Pandora.” Said star groaned, though a faint blush had crept into your cheeks. You looked down at your lap, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Barty doesn’t need any more reasons to act ridiculous.”

Barty grinned, leaning in just a fraction closer, his shoulder brushing yours. “Oh, come now, star.” He murmured, his voice low. “If I’m ridiculous, it’s only because you make me so.”

The group let out an exaggerated groan, and you turned red, swatting him lightly on the arm. “Merlin, Barty, you’re incorrigible.”

“Incorrigible?” He echoed, feigning offense, his hand pressing to his heart. “I’d say I’m nothing if not loyal.”

Evan snickered, nudging him with a boot. “Keep telling yourself that, mate. If you get any closer to her, they’ll have to separate you two with a pry bar.”

Pandora sighed, looking back at them with a wistful smile. “You know, some things are meant to be close together.” She said. “Like stars in a constellation. They belong right next to each other, don’t they?” She gestured upwards and your eyes followed hers. “We are like Pleiades.”

Barty gave a satisfied nod. “See? Pandora understands.” He said, his hand brushing along the back of your arm. “Besides, what else am I supposed to do with my time? Not follow my favorite person around?”

You shook your head, laughing. “Maybe you should put some of that energy into finding a new hobby.”

“Hobby? I have one.” He cheeked, a little too quickly. “It’s you.”

Regulus let out a huff of laughter, finally glancing over. “Careful, Barty. You might actually manage to scare her off one of these days.”

But you only rolled your eyes, giving him a playful shove. “Scare me off? Fat chance. I think if I would of been scared of it've happened already.”

Barty’s expression softened, and for a fleeting moment, there was nothing but quiet between you, the sounds of your friends’ laughter and banter melting into the night. He looked down at you, a softness in his eyes that none of the others saw, and for a second, he opened his mouth to say something- but the words wouldn’t come.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that this moment was important, like a memory he wanted to carve into his mind forever. With everyone around them, under the stars, your shoulder resting against his, everything felt strangely perfect.

But that perfection was fragile, and something in him knew it. 

“Hey, promise me somethin’, Star.” He prodded quietly, his voice barely a whisper. You turned to him, brow furrowed in confusion. “Promise me you won’t leave.”

The question caught you off guard, and you blinked, a half-smile forming on your lips. “What? And leave all this behind?” You gestured at the group, at the friends who surrounded you two. “Not a chance.”

But you hadn’t really answered, and Barty could feel the words balancing on the edge of his tongue, desperate to reach you. He wanted to hold you there in that moment, to make you understand what he couldn’t say- that he needed you, more than anything else.

Instead, he only nodded, forcing a casual smile as he nudged you back. “Good. I’d be absolutely lost without you, star.”

“You're exaggerating.” You smirked, rolling your eyes in mock disbelief. “I’m sure you’d find something else to obsess over if I ever left.”

But Barty’s gaze lingered on you, a seriousness flickering beneath his usual charm. “Not like this,” he murmured, so quietly you almost missed it.

For a moment, the laughter around you all seemed to fade, leaving only the gentle hum of the night air and the warmth of his presence beside you. You opened your mouth to respond, something lighthearted on the tip of your tongue, but before you could speak, Pandora’s voice broke the spell.

“Oh, I’ve got it!” Pandora exclaimed suddenly, her eyes bright as she looked at the group, then to you. “If we’re the Pleiades, that makes you our brightest star- the one we all form around.”

Evan laughed, clapping his hands together. “Hear, hear! Our star and fearless leader!”

“You'll feed her ego.” Regulus tutted and Dorcas rolled her eyes but joined in regardless.

Everyone joined in, voices echoing with lighthearted agreement as Barty gave a satisfied, almost possessive smile. He looked at you as if Pandora’s words had sealed something between you, as if you were the gravitational pull that kept him- and perhaps all of them- anchored. You almost found it in yourself to feel guilty, about using events that haven't even happened yet to build your bond.

And as you sat there, under the vast expanse of stars, surrounded by the people who meant the most to you, you couldn’t help but feel the weight of this moment too, like it was something precious. Something you would carry with you, a memory pressed into your mind like an indelible mark.

But you didn’t know yet just how fragile it all was. Or how much one boy, hopelessly captivated by you, would be willing to sacrifice to keep that feeling alive forever. Even if just for you two.

You all looked up as someone called your name. It was almost mistakable, the poor Head Boy’s voice fading into the music of the tower. 

Regulus shot you a curious glance, and Barty immediately stiffened beside you, his hand brushing your arm as if by instinct, ready to keep you rooted in place.

“What d’you reckon that’s about?” Evan asked, quirking a brow.

You shrugged, reluctant to move, feeling as if shifting now would shatter the moment completely. But the Head Boy called again, his tone leaving little room for ignoring.

“Probably some silly thing Dumbledore wants.” You murmured but your heart sank, giving Barty a quick smile to reassure him. “I’ll be right back.”

Barty’s fingers tightened slightly around the edge of your sleeve before he let go. “I’ll wait.” He whispered, a faint frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Don’t go making that face.” You teased. “I’ll be back before you even realize I’m gone.”

As you rose, Pandora gave you an encouraging smile, and Dorcas reached over to tap your shoulder in a silent show of support. You returned the small gestures with a glance, trying to shake off the odd, inexplicable pang that had settled in your chest.

You turned to the group and gave them a playfully dramatic bow. “Don't wait up too late. You know how the old man likes to keep his company.”

“Too damn long.” Evan finished for you with a snicker, nodding you off as you hurried out of the room.

You headed down the winding staircase, the echoes of your friends’ laughter fading behind you.

The warmth of your presence seemed to linger in the air even after you’d disappeared down the staircase, a faint ghost of laughter and light that stayed with Barty. He barely noticed the conversation continuing around him. His eyes were fixed on the doorway, his mind a step behind, as though he hadn’t quite realized you were truly gone.

Pandora nudged him with a small smile. “She’ll be back, you know. Dumbledore’s not whisking her away forever.”

Barty forced a chuckle, but his chest felt strangely tight, his fingers clenching and unclenching as if he could still feel the edge of your sleeve beneath them. “Yeah, I know,” he mumbled, eyes still lingering on the staircase. “Just... hate when she’s not here.”

Dorcas threw a rolled-up bit of parchment at him, smirking. “Honestly, Barty, if you get any more sappy, I think we’ll need to send you to Madame Pomfrey.”

“Yeah, mate,” Evan chimed in, grinning as he stretched out lazily, “You're practically a lovesick puppy at this point.”

“Can’t help it if I know quality when I see it,” Barty shot back, trying for nonchalance, but his voice was softer than usual, almost distant. He looked at the spot you’d just left, as if willing you to come back.

Regulus gave him a sidelong glance, quiet but observant. “Don’t worry, Barty. She’s just with Dumbledore. What could possibly keep her from coming back?”

Barty forced himself to nod, trying to brush away the inexplicable feeling clawing at his chest. It was silly. You were just with Dumbledore, probably for some random task he wanted you to handle. It wasn't uncommon. But as the minutes stretched into an hour, and the sounds of the castle grew softer, a chill settled into Barty’s bones.

He didn’t realize how long he’d been waiting until Pandora reached over, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “She’ll be back soon.” She said softly, her voice a quiet comfort.

But Barty’s gaze never left the staircase, his heart heavy with a gnawing ache he couldn’t explain, an ache that whispered in the back of his mind, warning him that something was absolutely wrong.

As the minutes dragged on, a heavy quiet settled over the terrace, snuffing out the easy laughter and teasing jabs that had filled the air only moments before. One by one, they fell into silence, glancing around as if they too felt the strange shift- the lighthearted buzz from earlier replaced by a heavy, aching stillness. It was as though something fragile had cracked, and a shared, unspoken dread seeped into the space between them.

Evan, who was usually the first to crack a joke, sat up straighter, his usual smirk nowhere to be seen. “She’s taking her time, isn’t she?” He muttered, but his voice lacked its usual bravado, almost as if he didn’t really want an answer.

Regulus gave a quiet sigh, folding his arms tightly over his chest, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Shouldn’t be gone this long... Thought she was just fetching some nonsense for Dumbledore.”

Pandora’s legs had stilled, her gaze fixed blankly on the stars above. Her dreamy demeanor was gone, her expression vacant. 

Barty sat frozen, fingers curled tight around the stone railing. The easy smile he’d worn was gone, replaced by an expression that teetered between frustration and fear. His gaze stayed glued to the staircase, his foot tapping a frantic rhythm against the stone floor as if he could summon you back with his sheer will alone.

“Maybe she’s off on a task of his. She did say not to wait up,” Dorcas offered, though her tone was weak, her words less an attempt to reassure and more a desperate hope. She shifted uncomfortably, as if sensing that none of them quite believed it.

The memory of year five hung thick in the air- an unwelcome reminder of moments they’d all tried to bury. That hollow feeling of watching you fade away, knowing you didn’t belong here, that something about your presence always felt borrowed, fleeting. Now, with each passing second, it grew harder to ignore the creeping certainty that maybe, this time, you weren’t coming back.

Barty’s voice broke the silence, strained and almost unrecognizable. “She’ll be back,” he said firmly, though his hands were clenched so tight his knuckles had turned white. “She promised, didn’t she?”

But even as he spoke, his heart sank deeper, a hollow ache filling his chest. The silence stretched on, swallowing the last of their laughter and leaving behind a feeling of loss that none of them dared to speak aloud.

And as the cold night air pressed in around them, it was painfully clear that everything felt… wrong.

“She's gone.” Pandora's voice drifted out softly, breaking the silence like a faint breeze, but it held a certainty that sent a chill through the group. Her gaze remained fixed on the night sky, her eyes glassy as she lifted a finger to point upward. A single tear slipping down her listless expression. “Alcyone flickered.”

They all looked at her, a hush settling over them as they followed her gesture, craning their necks to find the star she was talking about. Alcyone, the brightest star in the Pleiades, seemed to pulse faintly, its light dimming for the briefest of moments before shining on.

Evan swallowed, casting an uneasy glance at the others. “It’s just a bloody star, Pandora. Stars flicker all the time.” He muttered, though his voice held none of its usual swagger. Staring at his listless twin sister.

But Pandora didn’t waver, her gaze still locked on the sky. “It's wavering. Alcyone’s light is… steady. Always is. It doesn’t flicker unless something’s different. Like it knows.”

Regulus shifted uncomfortably, crossing his arms tightly as if to ward off the chill that crept over him. “Don’t talk rubbish, Pandora.” He grumbled, though his voice was quiet, almost pleading. “She’s just with Dumbledore, that’s all.”

Dorcas’s hand found Pandora’s, giving it a gentle squeeze. She didn’t say anything, but her face was pale, her usual steady presence dimmed by a shadow of doubt.

Barty’s jaw clenched, his eyes fixed on the spot where you’d disappeared, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. “She promised.” He repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, as if trying to convince himself. “She has never lied to me.”

But the certainty in Pandora’s voice gnawed at him, burrowing into the hollow ache inside his chest. The others’ silence only deepened the feeling that he was grasping at something slipping further and further from his reach.

Pandora’s words lingered, filling the cold air with a heaviness that refused to lift, and as he looked back up at the stars, Barty couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, the universe had taken you away from him.

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