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News of Engagement of Interest Society Folk

Black-Malfoy.

The engagement of Miss Narcissa Black, niece of the Duke Orion Black, to Mister Lucius Malfoy, son of Sir Abraxas Malfoy, Baronet, was made public by Sir Arcturus Black (knighted in the Order of Magic, 1945), father of the duke.

The wedding will take place in April with the support of their family.

Luna hummed at the newspapers in Regulus' hands, his arm thrown over her shoulder as they sat in the Slytherin table, Evan and Barty sitting across from them. They were reading the announcement together, Regulus drinking his tea while Luna ate her toast.

"Unbelievable!" groaned Regulus, distasteful with the news.

"You said that your cousin really does like him," Luna reminded him.

Regulus sighed in defeat as he folded the newspaper and pulled his arm away from Luna's shoulders.

"She does, unfortunately," he admitted.

"I get it," Evan said, nodding to himself. "If my sister was to marry a baronet, I'd be upset as well."

"Your sister is marrying an untitled man from an untitled family," Barty reminded Evan.

Evan didn't seem to like the reminder by the grimace he put on, but he forced himself to shrug it off.

"Well, at least his money was made by hardworking people, not... gambling and his ascendents' silver-tongue," Evan said, defending Xenophilius. "Regulus' grandfather is just below them in title after he gave up being a duke."

Luna turned to Regulus.

"I never understood that. Why did your grandfather allowed your father to get the title while he was still alive?" Luna asked.

"Because he said my father was ready to take care of the family," he answered with a nonchalant shrug.

"If there's one thing that I learned by pretty much being part of the family at this point, Luna, dearest, is that you don't question Sir Arcturus Black under any circumstance," Evan said, shaking his head slightly, as if the idea in itself was horrible. "Though I must admit that it might be out of fear, nor out of knowing that he's making the right decision for the family in general."

"He can't be that bad," Barty grumbled.

He had been the man before in Regulus' birthday the year before. He had not given him the honour of exchanging a single word, but he did look at Barty with some disgust that he had only seen in Abraxas' face, which explained why Arcturus wasn't that against Narcissa's new relationship and why he and Abraxas became such good co-workers. However, in general, he just seemed like an overly grumpy old man, not a dangerous force as Evan often described him.

"He's horrible," Evan said.

"That's my grandfather, please," Regulus said, though he didn't seem to be really scolding his friend.

"Regardless, mate! I'm terrified of that man," Evan insisted.

Luna raised her eyebrows.

"If he gave up his titles to your father, why is he still a knight?" she asked.

Regulus sighed, as if the question as something that many people asked and he had been tired of explaining (it made Luna blush slightly in shame, but she didn't take back her question; she was always too curious).

"He helped some people in the Ministry to find a way to end the muggle war in 1945, he and a group of British wizards managed to get in contact with a group of Italian wizards that agreed with peace. They worked since 1943 for that; when the war ended, they were knighted," Regulus answered.

"You mean the Second World War?" Luna asked. "The one that you didn't know much about when I asked?"

"Do forgive me if a war which I was not involved in didn't get my attention," he said, slightly annoyed.

"Well, I wasn't involved either – I wasn't even alive, for that matter – but I know it to details –" Luna started.

"Oh, come on. You two are barely well together again, don't find another reason to argue," Barty said, frowning at the couple.

Evan seemed to find their arguments somewhat amusing while they were not very serious, probably due to the fact that he had not seen Regulus that worried over something as small as what flowers to buy since he could remember; besides, he grew up watching his parents screaming at each other, far too busy with covering Pandora's ears and trying to distract her from the problems to the point that he stopped feeling anything other than a distant amusement over any arguments, always making them feel unreal. Barty, however, was far from used to arguments – in his family, his parents' problems were dealt with in the quiet of the night and the arguments were between the couple alone, away from him and his ears; he was always guiltless of the constant problems of marriage.

"Barty's right," Regulus said, putting his arm around Luna's shoulders once more. "I should study History."

Luna pursued her lips.

"I think your grandfather's title it's... cool," she said, though she seemed confused about the correct way to word her appreciation.

"Cool," Regulus repeated the word with a smile. The informal word tasting odd on his mouth. "Yes, I suppose that his story can be 'cool', though he's not."

Evan gave a single solemn nod, agreeing to his friend's observation.

"I hope I don't meet him," Luna said.

"When this was just fun, I'm sure you wouldn't have to meet him, but now that nobody can't say it's real... well, he is Regulus' grandfather," Evan said.

'This', apparently, was the relationship between the two.

Unfortunately, Evan was right. When the relationship was a fake courtship, it was good enough to keep them busy, but away from their families most of the time, but now that the relationship was real and they couldn't bear to be apart from one another without writing or seeing each other for a few moments, it was harder for Regulus to protect Luna from his own family. It was like they were hounds, smelling the blood of true affection from far away and just then showing interest.

"My uncles and aunts have expressed interest in meeting Luna," Regulus admitted.

Luna turned to him.

"Have they?" she asked, worried.

"Yes. Bellatrix is amused by the idea that I found someone to care about," he said.

Evan faked a dramatic chill. Barty poked him in the ribs with his elbows. Regulus laughed at his friend's theatrical mannerisms.

Luna saw a shadow by the corner of her eye, making her turn her head slightly and raise her eyebrows at Professor Flitwick standing behind her with his hands behind his pocket. Worried, she glanced at the Gryffindor table only to relax, for her brother seemed well enough in his deep conversation with Lily Evans.

"Good morning, professor," she greeted.

"Ah, Professor Flitwick, morning, sir," Regulus said as well, realising the man's presence and being polite.

"Mister Black, Mister Rosier, Mister Crouch," the man greeted. He looked back at Luna. "Miss Lupin, dear, why don't you take a walk with me? I'll walk you to your Transfiguration classroom."

Regulus raised his eyebrows, taken aback by the clear privacy that the professor desired to talk to Luna.

"I'll see you later, if you want, Luna," Regulus said kindly.

She glanced at the professor before turning to her boyfriend again and nodding.

"Walk me to Divination afterwards?" she asked.

"Of course. I'll see you then," he said gently.

Usually, he would reach for her hand to kiss it or would caress her face before parting with her, not wanting to make a commotion of a public kiss more often than they needed to, but Regulus wasn't the type of demonstrate affection in front of others, let alone their professors. Therefore, his only act was a smile.

Luna walked with Flitwick to the doors of the Great Hall, unsurprised by the sight of Pandora laughing with Marta and Morris as Morris told some story, walking with both girls beside him.

"While I know your private life has nothing to do with me or any other professor in the school, you must understand that we worry about you, Miss Lupin," Flitwick said suddenly, not looking at her as they walked. "Your relationship with Mister Black has created quite the stir amongst the students."

"Whatever do you mean, sir? We're quite private in our relationship," she said.

That wasn't completely true, they revelled on the attention the students gave them when they were talking, calm as ever – half in the sun, half in the shadows of the courtyard's trees. When the relationship was fake, it seemed much easier to make a big deal out of everything, but now that it was real, it was far more comfortable to make their small moments private.

"Some of the older students in Slytherin have admitted that your courtship with Mister Black is not completely accepted outside of school. The professors gathered to talk about it – and Professor Slughorn will talk to Mister Black as well, don't worry – and we decided to ask if anything outside of school is making this situation difficult for either of you," Flitwick said.

Luna was never one to beat around the bush, she was always a direct person, unless nervous, when she tended to ramble a bit more than usual. One thing that she had some difficulty was to understand when people would not say what they meant.

"Professor, what are you asking?"

"I'm asking if Mister Black's family is giving you a hard time," he specified.

With a hum of understanding, Luna nodded.

"Oh, I see..." she mumbled. "We didn't have much contact, sir. Duke and Duchess Black were ever so polite to me in the few moments we met."

"In the olden days, the school offered a chaperone service for the students in official courtships. While the service was discontinued, it can be repaired if you so request, Miss Lupin. Your well-being and safety are more important than you realise," Flitwick said.

"It's not necessary, sir. I got a chaperone already!" she said, shaking her head at his kindness. "The Potters accepted me as a ward. Lady Potter is my official chaperone since my mother is not magical and has to work such odd hours."

Flitwick seemed to relax. "Oh, that's good to know!" he exclaimed.

"May I ask how this conversation came to be?" she asked.

Flitwick nodded.

"Lady Black has written to the school this morning to request to take Mister Black and you out on April 11th for the wedding that was announced in the newspapers today," he said. "Alongside, came the letter of your mother, accepting it, but without any other explanation."

Luna blushed.

"My mother doesn't understand how these things works," she admitted.

"Your mother doesn't need to, she's a Muggle," Flitwick reminded her. "Besides, I'm sure there's a lot of things that I don't understand of her culture either."

Luna nodded. "Yes," she mumbled, noncommittally.

Luna still wanted her mother to care enough to try to learn more of the culture that both her children were involved with.

Barty Crouch Junior felt his cheeks burning and his hands shaking as he stared at Evan Rosier looking at him as if he was the weirdest thing that ever existed, frowning and looking at him by the corner of his eyes.

"No!" Barty yelped his answer like a dog whose tail had been stepped on.

Evan took a step back, surprised by Barty's strength of refusal.

"What's wrong with you?" Evan asked.

"You want me to go to the wedding with you?" Barty asked, repeating what Evan had said.

Evan raised his eyebrows.

"Clearly, otherwise I wouldn't have asked," Evan said.

It was getting harder to breathe.

"Evan... this –" he stopped, taking a moment to breathe. "This is a bad idea. How will you explain this to your family?"

Evan rolled his eyes.

"I'll say that I wanted my friend to come along since my sister's fiancée and my best friend's partner will both of be there, leaving me to go through the party alone," Evan said. "Oh, come on, Barty, nobody will care. My father took business partners to wedding parties before and nobody asked questions."

"Well, your father's married and your father's business partners were not gay," Barty said.

That got Evan's attention. They barely ever mentioned Barty's sexuality in conversations in any more than a passing comment, much like the way that Barty had come out to him, so him making it the subject of the whole conversation – especially to explain his reason for the refusal – was surprising.

"Nobody knows that you're gay," Evan reminded him, lowering his voice.

They were standing at the corner of the Common Room while Regulus was with Luna, learning Transfiguration. He needed to be careful with his words, still his care and fear were useless. Nobody cared about Barty – he was a pureblood from a good enough family that spent most of his school-life in silence or talking in low voice with his friends; he was harmless. Barty was a nobody.

Barty gave him a pitiful look.

"Evan... it's not hard to guess," Barty said.

Evan pressed his lips together. It wasn't a lie.

"You were careful, nobody knows," he insisted.

"Not for sure."

"That's good enough," Evan dismissed.

"It won't be when your father is threatening to lock you inside the house again!" Barty said firmly, voice growing slightly. It was enough to make Barty blush and look away when people looked at them, but they didn't seem to hear.

Evan crossed his arms in front of his chest and frowned, looking away from his friend who knew him far too much.

"It was years ago. It was a stupid thing to say what I did. I was just too interested in my father's business partner, of course everybody would think something like that. I should've noticed that he was getting uncomfortable, it was my own fault," Evan said.

"And they were wrong?" Barty whispered.

"Of course they were!"

"I'm not trying to –"

"Listen, if you don't want to go, just say it. You don't need to make up excuses of 'protecting me' and implying that I'm gay just so you don't have to go to the bloody wedding," Evan said, cutting him off. "That night I was fourteen and I just had my first firewhiskey. I tried to appear interested in a bloke that my father needed to close a deal with and overdid it. Not everybody –" he stopped himself.

Barty narrowed his eyes, trying not to appear as offended as he felt.

"Not everybody what?" Barty asked, well-controlled in his tone and volume.

"I'm sorry."

"What? What were you going to say?"

Evan blushed.

"Just because you like men, it doesn't mean everybody does. Assuming otherwise just leaves your preferences even more exposed," Evan said, measuring his words.

"The thing is that I have not tried to hide my preferences since the start of the year, Evan. I came out to my mother; she said she'll help me talk to my father this summer," Barty said, raising his chin. "I like men. I shouldn't have to be ashamed of myself or ashamed of the people that express interest in me. You shouldn't either."

"I'm not ashamed. I have nothing to be ashamed of, Barty," Evan said, shaking his head.

Barty sighed in annoyance.

"Neither do I!" he said, frowning and curling his fists to keep himself in line.

Evan seemed to realise what he could have implied.

"I'm not saying that you do. It's not shameful to like men, it's completely natural, I suppose. Much like me liking girls," Evan said, trying to appease the situation while he could. "I don't like men, that's the truth. That's what everybody needs to know. Nobody is going to care if I take a friend with me. You have nothing to be ashamed of."

"It's not about them caring or about shame, it's about safety, Evan. Your safety," Barty answered. "I don't want you to get hurt because of something so silly as not wanting to leave me alone for a night. I couldn't bear one of you getting hurt because of me."

Evan's expression finally softened, and he reached out, putting his hand on Barty's shoulder with a soft squeeze. He looked younger when he did that, finally looking carefree as his age should demand.

"Barty, you're my friend... my best friend, at that. I wouldn't invite you if I didn't want you there or if I didn't think we could handle it," Evan said, calmly. "I'll write to my parents, request that they assure they'll chaperone you as well when they come to take Pandora and I to the wedding, alright?"

Barty glanced at the hand in his shoulder, feeling the warmth in silence before nodding and looking up at his friend's eyes.

"Alright. But what if someone says something? What if they start asking questions to your dad?" Barty asked.

"I'll be back in school by the end of the night. My father has no power in here," Evan dismissed. "And my father isn't as scary as you make him out to be, really. I'll just find a girl there, to talk to during the wedding. No one will suspect anything. I'm sure Luna, Regulus or Pandora can entertain you for a while when I cannot. It'll be fine, Barty, just trust me."

And while Barty did trust Evan with his life, he didn't trust him to care for his own life when he didn't need to. He frowned in silence, not liking the idea, but knowing that Evan wouldn't back down unless he told him that he didn't want to go – which was a lie, because Barty genuinely liked Narcissa and wanted to be there, but his father (if he had been invited) wouldn't take Barty with him.

With some hesitation, Barty nodded.

"Alright, I'll go with you. But only if you promise nobody will be mad at you," Barty said.

Evan allowed a genuine smile to come to his lips.

"Don't worry about me. It's a deal. You won't regret it, Barty, it'll be fucking blast."

Barty forced a smile and looked away, ignoring the mixture of relief and dread pooling at his stomach. He didn't like the idea of a party, but he cared for Narcissa enough to go and cared for Evan enough to stay.

Pushing his feelings aside, he glanced around the room.

"Want to play chess?" he asked.

"Let's kick out the second-years over there," Evan said, already moving. "I'll so beat you this time around."

"Your confidence is amusing, but misplaced," joked Barty. "I'm much better in chess than you, Evan."

"Oh, I know... I know... You're the smartest of us all," Evan replied with a grin.

EXTRA:

LETTER FROM EUPHEMIA POTTER TO LUNA LUPIN.

Thame, Oxfordshire, England.

March 2sd, 1976.

Dear Luna,

As you probably didn't recognise my handwriting, this is Euphemia Potter. I hope I didn't scare you too badly by suddenly writing to you, but I have been trying to find an excuse to keep some connection between us. I hope this letter finds you well, healthy and excited about the party that we were both invited in April.

I have been encouraged to write you this letter since I received a letter from Lady Black a couple of days ago by my husband, and I agree with him. It's possible that you don't understand the weight of her request of taking and Regulus from school for the wedding, or what it could mean to people watching it all happen. Though it might not look like much more than her duty or Regulus' request for your company, you are going as his partner, not as another guest – your image is intertwined to his in this event, and her taking you out of school (not me or one of your parents) means that she's publicly dismissing any other woman with interest for Regulus. This is the closest thing to acceptance that you can get from her.

Gudiya, the whole Black family and all its associates will be there, and they'll all be looking for any faults on anybody at all. A wedding as big as this is not only to celebrate the love between the bride and groom, or to celebrate the joining of two powerful and "pure" families. This is more than a social event. This is networking that could make or break anybody inside. But not to worry, I'll be there for you! I'll help you as much as I possibly can! The only thing that you must do know the Black Family slightly more. Ask Regulus to teach you more of the family tree, at least the living ones – this way, it'll be safer for the both of you.

However, more than acceptance, this can be Lady Black's way of trying to make you fail – and this part I ask you not to share with Regulus, for that woman is his mother regardless how much I hate the woman – and she's known for gathering gossip and secrets. And I know how. Her father-in-law, Arcturus Black, is quite the man. And this is not a compliment. If there's someone to fear in that wedding, my doll, it is that man.

Protect yourself. Protect your mind. Protect your secrets – we all have them.

Your sponsor and friend,

Marchioness Euphemia Shanti Potter.

Hello, welcome back! I hope you all liked this chapter and I hope that you all liked the little Evan-Barty part of the chapter. I thought of cutting it out, but I thought I deserved the treat of writing them.