Disclaimer: Don't own, never have, never will.

All of these are for the Skeletons in the closet challenge on HPFC forum. The things in bold are the prompts. Have fun!

Summery: I'm not telling you who's who but you'll figure that out by the end. :)

I still have the same crush I did in first year. I feel pathetic for holding on this long.
I really want to talk to her again but she probably won't even remember who I am.

\ \ / /

It wasn't just a crush and I was stupid to try and make it out to be a worthless, throwaway feeling I had for an older girl. I don't think it ever was. Well, yes she's older—two years, actually. But she was never the sort of girl that I could doodle across the Great Hall or etch her initials into parchment until the quill broke through. She was more important than that, and I felt stupid for trying to.

I met in her in my first year on the Hogwarts Express. Many friendships are made that way, I suppose. I asked if I could sit in the empty seat beside her, and she looked at me with large green eyes and said, "Sure. Why not?"

I hate the word "love", mostly because it's so overused, but I realised in my third year that I actually did love her and nothing changed. I still found myself staring at her long, thick, dark hair and laughing when she yelled at Potter and Black when they ran out from the Forbidden Forest, screaming about giant spiders, Snape hot on their heels, fighting a curse; I watched from Herbology and Professor Grass nearly shouted at me for nearly killing the Venomous Tantacular. It was worth it.

But, after that one train ride, she never noticed me again. She didn't smile when I said hello in the corridors; I never heard her argue with me about my love of the Dark Arts, like I knew Snape did. She never cared, she never looked at me. I don't think she even knew I existed.

We were in different years and different houses, so I didn't get to see her very often but when I did a loud fight broke out in my head, debating whether I could summon enough courage to go and talk to her. I never could.

I did, however, congratulate her on her OWL results and NEWT, both of which allowed her to become an Auror. She looked at me as though I wasn't there and said, "Thanks, who're you again?" I just smiled and shook my head, trying to get her out of my head when she scurried back to the Marauders.

Over the many years that followed, I grew to hate non-supporters of the Dark Lord and even most of the unfaithful scum he allowed to be called "Death Eaters" with a murderous venom. I distantly heard she became an Auror with her husband and that they had a child, and that they all went into hiding about some prophecy. I really wanted to go and talk to her again; she was a pure-blood (obviously) and could still make the right decision. But I don't even think she remembers who I am and if she does, it's because of my father and that's not exactly what I want.

So, yes, I can say it as I'm breaking down her door, as I'm drawing my wand, as I feel one of my grins come to my face at her terrified expression, as my fellow loyal Death Eater crowd around the couple and as her eyes loose all awareness as I cast the curse, I still have the same crush I've had since first year. I feel pathetic for holding on so long but now she'll never be able to bother me ever again.

"Is this meant to happen?" I ask Bellatrix as I circle the huddled form on the floor.

"I don't think—" But she never makes it any farther, as Frank's yells almost make everyone's ears bleed.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS, BARTY?"

"Easily. Crucio!"

Like it? I know it's a tad short but the last one is much longer.