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Written for;

Three for Three - Boggart

Pairing Appreciation - BartyRegulus

WC - 384

Strength and Weakness

Regulus was bored out of his mind. Christmas in the castle was usually wonderful, but with Barty being forced home by his overbearing father, and Sirius taking every opportunity to irritate him, Regulus was just so ready for the holiday to be over.

He stalked up the corridor, paying no mind to the direction he was taking. It wasn't like there was many places in the castle he didn't know, he'd surely find one of them if he actually got lost.

Sulking, though he would never admit that, even in his own head, Regulus changed direction randomly, ignoring the paintings squeaking about him being out after curfew. Like he cared about curfew when Barty hadn't written to him once.

Not paying attention to where he was going, Regulus tripped on an uneven stone, falling into a cabinet that was resting against the wall.

Swearing quietly, he turned around, hand on the wall to balance himself. On the floor before him, he saw Barty, only it wasn't Barty as he knew him.

Blank eyes, staring without seeing. Dried blood on the side of his face. Dead. Barty. Dead.

Heart in his mouth, brain failing to engage, Regulus dropped to his knees, his hand raising to his throat as it became harder and harder to breath.

But -

Barty wasn't here for Christmas.

Barty was in London with his overbearing Father.

Barry wasn't -

Boggart.

"Riddikulus," Regulus cried out, forcing the word through his uncooperative throat. There was nothing amusing Reg could add to the scene in front of him, but he'd put enough power into the spell that the Boggart literally disintegrated.

Storing his wand and getting clumsily to his feet, Regulus turned the way he'd come, moving swiftly towards the Astronomy Tower. He'd been doing so well, Barty had been so proud of him, but if he didn't have a cigarette to calm his nerves he was going to explode. He felt shaky and uncertain, and the fear of what he would see if he closed his eyes told him that sleep would be impossible for hours to come.

He'd never tell anyone about this, he knew. Not even Barty. Perhaps especially not Barty. He could not afford to let anyone know his greatest weakness.

Particularly when that weakness also happened to be his greatest strength.