You and Barty had grown up together—your fathers both working at the Ministry, your childhoods intertwined before either of you even realized it. Playdates turned into study sessions. Study sessions turned into late-night talks and quiet walks through the castle grounds. Somewhere along the way, without either of you meaning for it to happen, your world became him, and his became you.

You were inseparable.

You could read each other without speaking. Inside jokes no one else understood. Entire conversations held with a single look across a room. You knew his moods, his half-truths, his tempers, his soft moments—better than anyone ever had.

And somewhere between childhood and growing up… feelings formed.

Real ones.

But neither of you ever dared to say them out loud.

You were both terrified of ruining what you already had. Terrified the other wouldn’t feel the same. So instead, you both dated other people—never serious. Never lasting. Distractions, really. For Barty especially, relationships were fleeting. None of them were you… and yet he never stopped gravitating back to you.

Now, he was dating Piper—a sixth-year Slytherin, a year younger than both of you. It had only been a month, but you and the rest of his friends already couldn’t stand her. She clung to him, hovered around him, and watched you with thinly veiled irritation every time you were near him. She hated the closeness between you and Barty.

And no matter how much it bothered her—he never canceled plans with you for her.

⸻

Evening settled over the Slytherin common room in a warm glow of firelight and murmured conversation. Dinner had ended, students trickling in and out as laughter echoed off the stone walls.

You were sprawled comfortably with Barty, Evan, and Pansy—your group split across two couches. You and Barty shared one, Pansy and Evan the other.

Barty lounged back like he owned the place, his arm thrown behind you without hesitation. His hand curled idly around your shoulder, tugging you just a little closer into his side as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Pansy smirked knowingly at the sight. You rolled your eyes.

“So,” Evan drawled, stretching his arms behind his head, “plans for the weekend? And more importantly—how much trouble can we get into?”

You laughed softly. “How about we don’t get detention this time, yeah?”

Barty snorted and poked your side, making you squirm. “That’s like asking water not to be wet.”

Laughter rippled through the group—until it cut short.

The temperature in the room shifted the instant Piper stepped inside.

You didn’t even need to look up to know she was there—but when you did, her eyes were already locked on Barty. She bounced over with her best friend Sandy in tow, her smile bright… until she noticed how he was holding you.

The smile faltered. Just for a second.

Then it was pasted right back on as she slipped closer and dropped onto the cushion beside him, Barty didn’t move—but his jaw tightened.

“Hey, baby,” she cooed, glancing up at him. “I didn’t see you at dinner.”

“I was with my friends,” he replied shortly. No warmth. No apology.

Her smile twitched again.

And then—slowly—her gaze slid to you. Calculating. Sharp. A challenge hidden behind sugary sweetness.

You felt the tension coil tight in your chest.

Barty’s hand, still resting behind you, curled just slightly… as if he sensed exactly what was coming.

And for the first time that night, you knew— this wasn’t going to stay peaceful much longer.