Lifeguard

Epilogue

Regulus 

I sipped on my tea. "It's been a while, Crouch."

"Too long, Black." He sipped his tea in a way that I wasn't completely sure he wasn't copying me.

"So we're going to pretend I'm not here?"

I looked up at Evan. "I was waiting for you to say something, Rosier."

"Why are we back to last names, we aren't in secondary anymore."

"It's called dramatics," Barty explained.

Evan rolled his eyes and sat down. "Well, I've spent far too much time with Couch. Tell us about you, black."

Barty sighed

"It's been good, actually."

"If it's been so good, you should've visited." Barty muttered

"I texted you last week."

"But you never give a proper update." Evan complained

"Yeah, it's always 'oh my brother did this' or 'how is potter so nice and pretty and lovely I'm in love with him'"

"I'm not in love with James. Why does everyone get the impression I fancy him?"

"First name? You are."

I sighed. "Anyway, life has been decent. I've been going to Durham, as you know, and it's been good."

"Same school as your brother, right?"

"Yes, I can visit him more regularly now that I've moved there."

"Ah, so we have to transfer schools to be able to talk to him."

"Yes, well, on a completely unrelated note, I have to go. I've decided that my current school is no good."

"Oh yeah, just got lots of articles on how shitty it is."

"Shut up, you both are a load of rubbish."

Barty smirked. "Not as rubbish as you are at keeping in contact."

"What do you think I'm doing now?"

Evan shook his head. "This is pretty much a high school reunion."

"Oh, should I have brought my brother and James then?"

"Never, you'd never even speak to us in Potter's presence." Barty teased

I sighed. "Why did I ever think I could get through this lunch without wanting to shoot my brains out?"

Evan ordered drinks while Barty teased me more. "Oh, speaking of, how's that therapist of yours?"

"Still seeing him."

"Maybe I should stalk him and tell him what you said."

"Oh, I'm not worried, he'd hang with you for one minute, out of politeness, and he'd understand."

"Is it hard to see him, since you're out of town?"

"Well, it wasn't hard for first year, since the workplace is near the potters."

'"Lived with his parents and they aren't married?"

Evan grinned

I ignored them."But second, I've mostly been doing online chats. A little more difficult, but I'd rather not get a new one and I've liked living in residence."

"How do you live there without any friends?"

"I made some."

They both gasped like I said I killed both their mothers.