chapter five — the finale.
February 9th, 1980

Barty Crouch Jr. never quite believed in love, well, he did for a short time but then it evaporated as fast as it came. He was never the type to think that there was a soulmate destined for him, another half. But when Barty's eyes fluttered on February 9th 1980, he felt submerged by a feeling of loneliness and emptiness.

Nothing felt right. Even the way his feet felt on the wooden floor didn't feel right at all. He wasn't able to put a finger on it until he went downstairs, and saw his father reading the Daily Prophet. He always read the Daily Prophet during his breakfast with a cup of hot tea that Barty's mum had prepared beforehand.

"Morning, sweetheart," his mum appeared and kissed his cheek. "Fancy a cup of hot tea and some pudding I made?"

Barty pulled out a chair, humming, "Please."

"Morning, father," he spoke up as his father merely greeted him back. "What's new?"

He moved the newspaper down a bit, fixing Barty, "A young boy was killed during an attack on the ministry. A friend of yours, I believe. Ah, what's his name, darling?"

His mum put the cup of tea in front of him and hummed quietly, "Evan Rosier I think."

"Evan?" Barty choked.

His father hummed, "Yes, that is him. Evan Rosier was killed by Alastor Moody during a planned attack on the Ministry of Magic. What an idiot. Let me tell you, those Death Eaters deserve death so let's just say that sometimes death is a kindness."

Barty felt sick. So sick. Everything around him was spinning. He couldn't see his parents' faces anymore and he feared he was about to lose consciousness. Soon enough, a hand laid on his shoulder and gripped him tightly.

"Bart, darling," she whispered, cupping his face. "What is wrong?"

Barty shook his head, unable to form a sentence. He clutched his shirt, near his heart as he tried to find a way to breathe. He couldn't tell if the shirt was suffocating him for real, but it did feel as if the shirt was glued to his skin and stopped him from taking a deep breath. His whole world was crumbling down and he did not know how to make it go back to normal.

"Why is he like this?" His dad asked his mum, a frown on his face.

She sighed, hushing him, "Evan was Bart's best friend. He's just shaken up," she muttered, holding her son's face tightly in her hands. Her worried eyes scanned his whole face as she bit her lower lip, noticing how Barty seemed gone. "Darling, go back to your room, alright?"

Barty didn't say anything but rose to his feet and headed to the safest room in his manor, his bedroom. He always had been safe there. It was as if it was only himself there, there was not mum or his father that walked in. The space was simply his, and sometimes Evan's. As soon as his door was closed and locked, he crumbled to the floor as if his legs weren't working anymore and the tears started streaming down his face.

He felt so sick.

Nothing made quite sense the next few days. He spent most of his time locked up in his room where he reminisced his most precious memories with Evan. They were mostly sweets and a feeling of longing submerged him soon after he tried to stop thinking about it, as if he couldn't allow himself to not think about him or everything would start falling apart. Him first.

Seven days later, his mum slipped the Daily Prophet into his room with the date, the hour and the location of Evan's funeral. Barty never felt so heavy before as he browsed through his clothes, and pulled an old suit that his father had bought years before.

As he made his way to the location, he couldn't help but think this was all his fault. So many ifs were spiralling in his mind. If I hadn't pushed him away, nothing would have happened. If he had been there, perhaps he would have been there. If, if, if...if.

The first thing he noticed as he arrived there was Daphne, someone he held in high regard and his heart felt at ease for the first time in days. Daphne always had been like an older sister and he wanted to hug her so tight until she begged for him to pull away, but none of his muscles bulged. His feet seemed anchored in the floor and he watched the casket with teary eyes.

"I see you have made it," a familiar voice whispered near him as he turned his head to see Pandora. "I was wondering if you'd come."

"Why wouldn't I?" He queried, his voice rogue due to not speaking for days. He cleared his throat, focusing back on Daphne clinging onto Fabian Prewett's arm.

Pandora shrugged, "I don't know. Things were pretty rough between you two."

"I loved him, Pandora," he notified the woman as she offered a sad smile, a hand patting his back.

"I know."

All he could do was watch as they lowered his casket into the ground and listen to Daphne's loud weeps throughout the graveyard. Barty's heart felt rotten and he knew that until he would exhale his last breath, he would never love anyone else. It was as simple as that. There wasn't Barty without Evan. Soon enough, everyone was leaving and he found himself in front of the stone.

"I should have listened to you," he started, his finger grazing his name softly. The same way he used to caress his cheek. "Getting the mark was foolish. After our argument, I should have reached out. Salazar, why am I so weak for telling you all of this now? I love you, alright? I hope you will find peace wherever you are."

Perhaps that was how it was meant to be. The finale. Barty Crouch Jr. finishing his life alone. He was somehow alright with it because he knew deep down that he would not be able to love anyone after Evan Rosier.

And, he was right.

Barty Crouch Jr. died in Azkaban soon after his hearing and being found guilty. He passed away on a cold night of November where the waves were crashing against the wall, and the prisoners cried to death. He had closed his eyes, in hope to reach a mere souvenir of Evan and ended up leaving this world. To his surprise, everything felt warm up there and Evan was there–a cocky smile on his face, his curls perfectly combed and his eyes full of stars at Barty's sight.

Barty Crouch Jr. would always love Evan Rosier, even in his afterlife.

—————
authors note, i am deeply saddened to tell you that this is the last chapter of the veiled affair though i am sure there is only steve reading it!!!

anyways, i do love this pair so much and couldn't help but make them a couple in my own book illicit affair.

i appreciate every single one of you, silent readers and NOT silent readers even though it is always better when you all comment!!! i love you very much!