Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Written for the Battlefield Wars forum (Battle #7): The Inquisitorial Squad (Sergeant)

Headlining Character: Barty Crouch Jr

Assisting Character: Regulus Black

It was a beautiful morning. The sun was bright, the sky was clear, and there were even birds chirping in the trees. Everything was just perfect.

It made him sick. He couldn't stand the picturesque perfection that the world seemed intent on forcing onto him. It didn't help that he had woken up in a bad mood, his head still thumping from the ridiculous quantity of firewhiskey that he had consumed the previous night. Sighing, Barty continued on his tour of the Hogwarts grounds. Hopefully some fresh air would clear his head, and he would sober up enough to go to classes.

His dad was being a complete prick as usual. No one else took their third year exams seriously but of course his dad expected him to get perfect marks. Absentmindedly he kicked a tree trunk and continued reflecting on the injustice of the world.

If he didn't have Regulus he would be utterly screwed. Barty was supposed to be the captain of the quidditch team, the prefect, the head boy. Reg was the only one who had shown him how to have real fun, how to escape the confines of a stifling family.

Reg had shared a dorm with him since first year, and they had been practically inseparable ever since. It was only recently though that their friendship had morphed into the relationship that they now had, and Barty didn't knoe how he had survived without it for so long. It had happened at a party like the one that he was still recovering from, when they were both too drunk to really consider what they were doing. However, it had still felt so natural in the morning, when they awoke held in each others arms, that to ignore what had happened would have been impossible.

Sighing he ran a hand through his hair and sat down on a rock. Barty knew that when Reg woke he'd come find him, and he couldn't stop the need he felt for the comfort of being in Regulus' arms, of feeling his hands on him.

Sure enough it wasn't long before Barty heard the muffled thud of heavy footsteps behind him. Turning he grinned as he saw Regulus leaning against a tree, a muggle cigarette held loosely between his fingers.

Barty jumped up and threw his arms around Reg, who chuckled and leaned forward, gently pressing their lips together.

"I missed you babe." Barty whispered, their foreheads pressed together.

"I saw you last night" Regulus muttered. Barty frowned and Reg ran his hands through Barty's hair, forcing them closer together.

Reg smelled of cheap aftershave and the muggle cigarettes that he loved to smoke. Barty knew that he only used them because he thought that it made him look rebellious, but Barty didn't care.

It was Barty's fault that they had to meet in secret. He knew that Reg would have shouted it from the rooftops otherwise. Reg was so brave, so uncaring of what anyone else thought. That was what Barty loved about him though; the posing and the act, all of it a shield which Reg could hide behind. Not many people knew how vulnerable the real Reg was, and that just made it more special that he trusted Barty enough to let him in.

Barty wanted everyone to know, he really did. He wanted to know that he was the one Reg loved, that he had caught the heart of the most attractive and funniest guy in the school. He didn't care about the jokes and the bullying that hewould have to withstand, he knew that as long as he had Reg he could cope with that. The problem was Barty's dad. Barty could only imagine what Barty Crouch Senior would have to say if he found out that his son was gay, but he knew that it wouldn't be pretty.

Even the thought of his dad knowing was enough to send shivers down his spine. He would be cast off, have nowhere to go, no money, no safety. He knew that all that kept him safe at the moment were his good grades and the promise of a good job, an obedient wife and a perfect future. He felt Reg grab his hand tightly and smiled gratefully at the warm contact. Sometimes all that it took to clear his head of any depressing thoughts was the knowledge that someone cared about him, that someone loved him unconditionally. He couldn't bring himself to even consider what would happen if Reg left him...

Barty winced painfully and Reg sighed, leading him away carefully.

"Come on babe. Let's get some breakfast and some sober up potion, and then you'll feel better."

A smile managed to make its way onto Barty's face at last, and finally content he followed his boyfriend back inside.