For the Can You Make It To the End Challenge ( Round Two: your OTP in the Leaky Cauldron)


Regulus doesn't feel comfortable in the Leaky Cauldron. Too many faces, too public. He'd much rather go back to his place for a drink. But his focus is on Barty now, and Barty says that he needs something familiar.

"Drink this. It will calm your nerves," he says, handing Barty a glass.

He doesn't know if it really will. Barty is still pale, beads of sweat dotting his forehead. Regulus can hardly blame him. He remembers receiving his Dark Mark. It had been so overwhelming that he couldn't sleep or eat for days.

Barty drinks deeply, his eyes fluttering shut for just a moment. When he opens his again, he looks almost haunted. "Does if ever start to feel real?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

Regulus grips his hand, kissing his knuckles. "Eventually."

"My father will kill me."

Regulus feels his heart break at that. Even now, after proving himself complete separate from his father, Barty still thinks of him, probably still fears him. "It's lucky for us that he'll never find out," he says gently.

Barty smiles wryly, draining the last of his glass. "You'd like to think that. But the old bastard is too smart for his own good."

Regulus frowns. He wishes he could just dismiss Barty as paranoid, but times are so uncertain now. Suspicion is rampant within the Ministry. Those like Lucius work desperately to keep the Aurors off their trail, but they can only do so much.

"Maybe you need another drink," Regulus murmurs.

"I need a hell of a lot more than that."

Regulus grins at that. "Well, I'm sure I can help you with that," he teases, brows raised.

Barty doesn't seem to be in the mood for games. His face is hard, grim. Not even a hint of a smile.

Regulus climbs to his feet, pulling Barty up gently. "Let's get you home," he says.

And as Barty leans against, Regulus can't help but notice how unsteady he is. He thinks, not for the first time, that he might have lead his lover down the wrong path.