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Gryffindor Auction Prompt: Day 4, Auction 1: Barty Crouch Jr
Word Count: 478
So Be It
"Barty," Regulus protested, laughing. Barty grinned at him, and then let out an 'oof' when Regulus hit him with a pillow.
"Tell me you love me," Barty said, a repeated line that made Regulus roll his eyes.
"Of course I love you, idiot. Though when you tickle me like that, I still want to curse you so maybe stop doing it before I get trigger happy."
Barty snorted, but stopped his attack and flopped down on the bed beside Regulus. They'd snuck him into the Slytherin common room for the evening, and at the bottom of the bed, they had books and parchment spread out so should anyone come in, it would look like a private study session.
Given they were in their NEWT year, it wasn't completely unexpected.
Regulus rolled onto his side to look at Barty, and then shifted forward a little to press a kiss to the tip of his nose.
"I do love you," he murmured, and Barty smiled at him.
"I love you too."
Regulus nodded because he knew that. He loved moments like this, when it was just the two of them, and they could pretend that the rest of the world didn't exist.
They were running out of time for these moments. When Regulus left school, his path was set. Just a week into the summer, he was expected to take the mark. He knew that it was then that he'd have to leave Barty behind.
He wouldn't drag him down the same path.
He couldn't.
Snuggling into Barty's chest, Regulus tried to push the thoughts from his mind. They had time yet, before he would be forced to break both of their hearts. He wanted to enjoy it.
…
Regulus cradled his left arm, biting his lip behind the mask that had been placed ceremoniously on his face to stop himself from whimpering at the pain. There were a few others to go after him, so he'd taken his new place amongst the Death Eaters to watch.
He almost missed the next name called, but the familiarity of it made his eyes widen, and he stared in disbelief as his boyfriend—ex-boyfriend—stepped up to the Dark Lord to pledge his life and loyalty in exchange for the Dark Mark.
He wanted to storm over and demand to know what the hell Barty was thinking, but he kept his head, jittering a little in place as he heard Barty's hiss of pain.
Eventually, after what felt like hours but in reality was mere minutes, Barty joined him in the crowd.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Regulus whispered furiously.
Barty's eyes were bright behind his mask as he met Regulus' eyes.
"You didn't think I was going to let you go that easily, did you? I love you, Regulus. If this is how I get to keep you… so be it."