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Barty was late.
While that wasn’t exactly a rare occurrence, Evan still worried.
He and Pandora finally had their own flat in London, small but cozy filled with potted plants and second hand decor. Despite living most of his life in the Rosier mansion, the flat undoubtedly felt more like home after just a few weeks there than the mansion ever had, despite living in it for most of his life.
Reg had.. unintentionally come out to his parents, resulting in the Potters getting quite the scare, but was now mostly on good terms with Sirius and had spent over an hour going on about Potter’s stupid hair, and even more stupid eyes.
That left Barty, who had somehow pissed off his father again and hadn’t been able to see either of them for over a month (not for lack of trying)
Both Reg and Evan had tried to get him to stay with one of them, get away from his psychopathic of a ‘father’ (if you can even really call him that) but he’d stubbornly refused to abandon his mother and stayed until today.
Their compartment, (the one they claimed in second year) was towards the back of the express, the worn wood by the window with their initials carved in, the seat by the window where Reg always sat, smoking with the window opened just a smidge, book leaning against his leg while he rolled his eyes at Evan and Barty over the top of it.
Evan always sat opposite him, long legs stretched out, often with Barty’s head in his lap, the brunette craving contact like a starved man food. Barty always sat closest to the door, needing the extra reassurance that he had easy access to the exit. (Also, for some reason sitting by the windows always made him nauseous)
However, it was only minutes until the express was set to leave, marking the start of their sixth year, and Barty was still nowhere to be seen.
‘He’ll be fine Ev’ Reg stated, looking up from his book to fix the blonde with a look, clearly annoyed, though the nit in his brow gave away his own worry.
‘I know Reg, but…’ He went back to twisting his silver ring around his finger, looking anxiously around the platform through the window, hoping to spot a familiar head of messy brown hair.
Then again, Barty is short enough that it’s a possibility that he’s here, but just too short for Evan to see him over the crowd of students and parents milling around, saying their last goodbyes.
The shrill sound of the whistle sounds, ecchoing as the last of the students scramble on, waving to the parents left on the platform as the train pulls away. Evan and Regulus share a look, the worry so thick that for a moment Evan’s sure it’s tangible enough to touch when the compartment door opens, drawing their attention to the boy stepping inside.
‘What in Merlin’s..’ Even Reg look surprised, eyebrows raiders to high that they disappear into his hairline.
Barty slumps into his usual seat, scowling when Evan just keeps staring. Reg has the decency to hide his bewilderment a bit better, though anyone who knows him could see that he’s surprised.
Barty’s usually thick brown hair (that had been steadily growing into a mullet last Evan had seen him) was now shaved so close to his scalp that his hair looked black. His lip was split, witch wasn’t necessarily unusual, but that coupled with the bruises just peeking out from his collar and sleeves painted an unpleasant image of what Barty had been subjected to this summer.
'Hey' Barty’s voice was horse, like he hadn’t used it for a long time. When neither boy answered he rolled his eyes, getting up to grab his bag from where it’s been shoved above the seats long with the trunks. There was no trace of Barty’s usual black nail polish, just the slight wince when he lifted his arms, hipbones and wrists more prominent than they should be.
A single glance between Evan and Regulus was enough for them to kake up their minds. Regulus waved his wand, the blinds of the compartment giving them the privacy needed. Evan stands, tuggs Barty towards him.
Regulus always hated physical contact, shied away from it with every opportunity. Barty, however, has always seemed to carve it, soaking it up like a cat in the sun. No-one's surprised when he doesn't relent when Evan carefully takes his hand, pulling the shorter boy towards him.
The sink into the seats, Barty’s head tucked securely into the crook of Evan’s neck and halfway on his lap. His hands grip Evan’s t-shirt like his life depends on it, breath ghosting Evan’s cheek. Regulus busies himself with a book Mrs. Potter must have lent him, though the occasional look he throws at his friends makes it clear he’s listening intently, and the worried furrow in his brow stays very much put.
‘You okay?’ Evan whisper’s in the brunette’s ear, though in retrospect, it seems a rather stupid question. He clearly isn’t. Barty’s buzzed hair tickles Evan’s jaw when he shakes his head, fingers digging into Evan’s back, like Barty’s physically trying to mold himself into him, making a home for himself between Evan’s ribs.
‘I really, really fucking hate him’ Barty whispers, like it’s a secret just for the two of them. His voice cracks, like he’s trying really hard to not cry, and Evan’s so, so sure his heart breaks with it. That fucking bastard. When Evan gets his hands on that motherfucker…
Clearly, regulus is thinking along the same lines, because fury burns in his eyes, and he very calmly starts reciting all the dangerous, fucked potions and curses he learned and stole from his parents before leaving.
‘We’re going to destroy him, piece by piece’ Regulus promises, the gears clearly already turning in his brilliant mind to form a plan.
‘I’ll kill him myself’ Evan whispers into Barty’s ear, holding him oh, so tightly against his chest. At some point Barty falls asleep, drool spilling out of the corner of his mouth, head pillowed against Evan's collar bone. Evan rests his cheek against Barty’s head, trying not to think too hard about the raised lines on the brunette's wrists where he’s still rubbing slow, lazy circles.
James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin barge into the compartment moments later, waking Barty with a soundless scream that thankfully goes mostly unnoticed, though Sirius throws a concerned and confused look at Regulus, who shakes his head. Potter just about throws himself into the seat next to Regulus, looking at him with heart-eyes and having Sirius making gagging-sounds.
‘My baby brother Prongs. You really had to?’ he pleads, though everyone knows he’s secretly glad they’re together so he can spend time with both of them at the same time. They’ve all seen the breakdown he had when they briefly broke up, panicking about whose side he’s supposed to take. It was quite funny, if Evan’s being honest.
‘Here. It’l make you feel better,’ Lupin says, directing it at Barty. He’s holding out some sort of muggle candy, red letters spelling out ‘Mars’, shoving it into Barty’s hand when he doesn't react, slouching against Evan with a deeply confused expression on his face, before inspecting the chocolate bar.
‘You trying to poison me Lupin?’ Barty asks, in the first half-laugh since they go on the train that makes Evan (and by the looks of it Regulus) breath a sigh of relief.
‘I take great offence. If I wanted to poison you, I’d do a much better job than a mars-bar’ Remus quips back, pushing Sirius's face away from where he was trying to take a bit out of Remus’s chocolate over his shoulder.
Peter laughs, starts a quiet conversation with Barty about their charms essay until a ravenclaw pops his head inside the compartment.
‘Peter? Gilderoy’s looking for you’ he says, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. Peter instantly goes beet-red, the wolf-whistles from the other marauders not helping. Sirius half-yells to ‘go get your mans Wormy!’ Pettigrew leaves the compartment, flipping the bird in Sirius’s general direction.
Barty leans back into Evan, speaking quietly.
‘I think this'll be a good year’
‘Yeah’- Evan agrees. ‘So do I’
(They proceed to kiss, followed by lost of wolf-whistles)
(let my babies be happy pls)