Walk of Shame (Or Not)

I wanted to reach out but I never said a thing.


When Barty opened his eyes he instantly regretted it. The early morning sun streamed through the windows and burned into his aching brain, sending waves of nausea to his stomach.

There was an arm hooked over his waist, which he peeled away gingerly, trying not to wake the sleeping woman who was pressed up behind him. When he was sure she wouldn't wake, he rolled off the sofa that he'd been sleeping on and climbed to his feet, rubbing his temple with the palm of his hand, and glanced back at the girl. Narcissa Black. "Ugh," he murmured to himself. "How drunk was I last night?" He hoped that nothing had happened between him and the blonde. Barty hadn't felt the slightest bit of an attraction for a girl since he was a confused thirteen-year-old.

As he staggered towards the door, he was aware of sleeping bodies strewn around the living room, the hallway, and someone was even asleep half-up the stairs.

The Malfoy Manor was ruined. The 'small gathering' that Lucius Malfoy had planned to host for a handful of new and old boarding school students in the summer had well and truly gotten out of hand. A notable group of old students—that certainly weren't friends of Lucius's—had heard about the gathering and crashed the party, led by Sirius Black and James Potter.

No one was surprised.

Lucius had tried in vain to kick the unwelcome guests out, but in the end he'd marched off in a huff, choosing to drink his father's expensive liquor in the drawing room until he was inebriated enough to join in with the camaraderie.

Barty hadn't really wanted to attend the 'gathering', but he knew that a boy from his dormitory was going to be there—a boy who he'd been trying his hardest to catch the eye of since his fifth year. He'd hoped that a couple of drinks might instill a bit of confidence in him, but like everyone else, he'd drunk too much.

He slipped out of the door and started to wander through the gardens, trying to find the exit. The ground was crisp with morning frost, and despite the milky winter sun, the air was cold. Barty rubbed his bare arms, wishing he'd thought to bring a jacket to the party.

When he finally reached the gates, he leaned up against the wall and pulled out his silver cigarette case out of his jeans, popping one into his mouth and digging in his pockets for a lighter. When he couldn't find one, he groaned angrily.

Not only did he have a long walk home in the cold, but he couldn't even smoke during the journey either.

"Here," came a voice from the other side of the gate. A familiar man with dark, sweeping hair and charcoal grey eyes stepped towards him and flipped the lid of a steel lighter. Barty leaned forward and cupped his hand around the lighter gratefully. When the cigarette was lit, he took a long drag and took another look at his companion.

Regulus Black was wearing a gaudy purple t-shirt that he hadn't been wearing the night before, and he had bags under his eyes. Barty was willing to bet that Regulus had a hangover as bad as his. But despite him looking as bad as he probably felt, Barty still couldn't help but feel his stomach flutter at the sight of him.

This was the boy who he'd wanted to hook up with at the party, not some blonde bimbo.

"Thanks," Barty replied. "So I take it you're doing the walk of shame as well, huh?"

"Walk of…" Regulus's pale face glowed. "Oh. I suppose...how do you know I was with anyone, anyway?"

"You weren't wearing that last night." Barty nodded to the purple t-shirt that Regulus had on.

Regulus's blush deepened. "Well, at least I know now that you noticed me."

Barty raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I only came to this stupid party because I knew you were coming."

"I only came because you were," Barty admitted in response.

Regulus made eye contact with him, and they stared at each other silently for a few moments.

"You mean...you…" Regulus trailed off.

"I've liked you for ages." Barty felt his own cheeks start to glow. "I thought if I had a few drinks last night I'd get the nerve to make a move, but then I saw that stupid Potter idiot pulling the moves on you."

"I wanted to come over and make conversation with you, too." Regulus was flipping the lighter between his hands absent-mindedly. "But then I saw you snogging my cousin."

Barty was briefly reminded of Narcissa; a flash of blonde hair and too-plump lips. He shuddered. "I only did that to get your attention," he muttered.

"Well, it worked," continued Regulus. "That's why I went off with James."

They were silent again for a few moments.

"I didn't exactly expect to confess my feelings in this way," said Barty. "Especially after knowing you slept with Potter."

"I didn't sleep with him," Regulus said quickly. "I mean...I kissed him, sure. And we fell in bed together, and clothes came off...but he was so drunk and so was I. Also, I'm sure he was just trying to wind up my brother. We just fell asleep."

Barty tried to hide his relief. "Well, I'm sure I never did anything with Narcissa. I kissed her and we ended up on the sofa, but I woke up with all of my clothes on." He glanced at Regulus's purple shirt again with a smirk.

Regulus gave him a playful shove, and they both laughed.

"I suppose things kind of worked out, then…" Regulus said, tucking the lighter in his pocket. "I'm sure your hangover is as bad as mine. Do you want to get coffee?"

Barty grinned and flicked the tab of his cigarette into the road. "Sure."


Written For:

Meet Cute Marathon Day #3: (scenario) We both awkwardly meet on a Saturday/Sunday morning... doing the walk of shame.

Assignment #5/Magical Law & Government Task #1: Write about a confrontation

Writing Club/Comics: 3. (color) purple

Writing Club/Amber's Attic: 23. (drink) coffee

Writing Club/Lizzy's Loft: 15. (setting) Malfoy Manor

Writing Club/Film Festival: 8. (action) smoking

Supernatural Club: 21. Kokoro (One Piece): (word) Drunk

Wacky Wandmakers/Wood Type - Ash: (colour) Charcoal Grey

Wacky Wandmakers/Core Type - Snallygaster Heartstring: (emotion) Relieved

Seasonal/Days of the Year: January 1st - National Hangover Day: Write about a bad hangover.

Seasonal/Winter Prompts: 19. (weather) Morning frost

1,000 Prompts: 49. (word) Smoke

Word Count: 999