Written for my 'Emotion Challenge' and also written for 'The Ultimate Patronus Quest Challenge' - write about someone trying to impress his/her crush.

Emotion/Feeling: Humiliated

Pairing: Regulus/Barty

Rating: K

Word Count: 749

A Day on the Beach

Barty Crouch Jr had been in love with Regulus Black for as long as he could remember. The thing that Barty loved the most about being in love with Regulus was that Regulus was also his best friend so he got to spend as much time as possible with him.

Regulus was unaware of Barty's feelings, and in Barty's mind, this unawareness had gone on for too long. He wanted Regulus to know. Barty wanted to know if he had any chance in hell of being with the love of his life.

So Barty decided it was time to impress Regulus and make him fall in love with him.

Barty didn't take Potions for NEWTs but his friend Scabior did. He took Scabior aside one afternoon.

"Scabior, can you discreetly find out what Amortentia smells like for Regulus?" Barty asked.

"What's discreetly mean?" Scabior asked.

Barty sighed. "I mean just don't make a big deal out of it."

"Why?"

"And don't ask me questions, okay?" Barty said.

"Fine. I'll let you know."

"'E said it smells like fresh bread n' money n' burnin' wood."

"Great," Barty said excitedly. "Next time you see him can you ask him where he would most like to go on a first date?"

Scabior raised his eyebrows. "Is there somethin' I need to know 'bout?"

"Of course not," Barty said. "Just ask him. Please?"

"Fine."

"'E wondered what the 'ell I was askin' 'im for. 'E said for a walk on the beach."

"A walk on the beach?" Barty asked, smiling. He could picture that now—Regulus holding his hand…

"You got somethin' to tell me Barty?" Scabior asked.

"Nope. Next time you see Regulus, can you ask him what his favourite gift would be?"

Scabior frowned. "Why?"

"Just do it, mate," Barty said. "Come on… for me."

"Fine."

"'E said 'e likes chocolate."

"Mmm, chocolate. How predictable."

"You gonna tell me what's goin' on?" Scabior asked.

"Maybe later, I will," Barty said. "Thanks for all your help."

"You're welcome, I guess…"

Barty found Regulus in the library after baking some bread, burning some wood and… well, he wasn't too sure how to pull off the 'money' smell so he was carrying some coins in his pockets.

"Hey, Reg!" he whispered loud enough for Regulus to hear him. Regulus looked up at him, and Barty gestured for him to come towards him. Regulus closed his book and headed over to Barty.

"What is it?"

"Come with me."

Regulus followed Barty all the way up to the Room of Requirement. When they entered, Barty heard Regulus gasp. The room had become a beach with sand and waves and even a breeze.

"Wow!"

"It's cool, right?" Barty grinned. He watched as Regulus walked towards a beach towel that Barty had put down. Regulus sat down and picked up the box of chocolates that had been left for him.

"Who did this?" Regulus asked.

Me, Barty thought happily. "I found it like this," Barty shrugged. He took a seat next to Regulus and smiled at him.

"God Barty, I have to tell you something," Regulus said quietly. "I'm in love with someone."

"You are?" Barty asked. "Who?"

Me, me, me.

"Please don't judge me," Regulus said. "Or think of me any differently, okay?"

"Never," Barty said, his excitement almost showing. This sounded promising.

"I'm… gay."

"Seriously?" Barty asked.

"Yeah. Do you hate me?" Regulus asked.

"No way!" Barty said quickly. "Man, this is great!"

Regulus laughed.

"So who is it?"

"It's… well… it's Scabior."

Barty couldn't believe his ears. Scabior? His heart felt like it had stopped beating.

"It even smells like him in here, I'm sure he's the one who did this. I mean he's been asking me all of these random things the past couple of days. It all makes sense now."

Barty stopped listening. He felt heart-broken, sure. But he felt utterly and completely humiliated. He had truly believed that Regulus was in love with him. He had done all of these things to impress Regulus, only to find out Regulus loved someone else.

Barty smiled sadly and nodded at Regulus. "That's nice," he forced himself to say.

He stood up and started trudging towards the door.

"Hey Barty, where are you going?"

"I have… class…"

"Which class?" Regulus asked.

"Er… Potions…"

"You don't even take Potions," Regulus said.

"Yeah… well…"

Barty opened the door and walked away from Regulus. This had been the worst day of his life.

xXx