War is Over

15.

A week later we were moved in and not nearly done with painting. We avoided the upstairs unless we were working on it, so that meant we were sleeping downstairs in the guest room we intended to make Sirius & Moony's.

I pet Vega on the bed while Regulus made tea for us when a long knock came on the door. Followed by a softer one.

"I got it!" Reg called while I hushed Vega.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Reg asked as he stared at the person before him. I grabbed my wand and walked to the living room. Reg held his under the man's chin.

"I know- look- I know you're not going to believe me, mate," I knew that voice. It was more hoarse than usual, but I knew that voice. "but I promise I come with no ill intent Reg." It hit me all at once, it was Barty. I felt my legs give out, I fell to the couch. I couldn't believe he was here. I couldn't believe anything. I gathered myself quickly and stood up. I stood to the side of the door. Reg kept his eyes on Barty.

"Crouch, I'll give you one chance to run." I saw Barty shake his head.

"I can't do that, Reg. I've decided I'm done running. Take me inside, tie me up, curse me, hell I know that wife of yours— saw that in the paper by the way, congratulations— has a stash of versatium, use it on me. Do whatever you have to do, but I'm done running." I watched Regulus cautiously lower his wand. He stepped to the side, letting Barty in. He glanced in my direction.
"Don't." Reg warned. Barty nodded and his eyes went straight on Reg again. He had cuts all over his face and arms.

"Nice to see you, Nova. Sorry for dropping by unannounced. Lovely place you've got." He rambled. Reg pushed him towards the kitchen rather aggressively and sat him down. He dug through the cupboards for my stash. I walked in.

"Nova. Don't." I grabbed a vial out of the cupboard opposite from him. He sighed.

"Barty has never scared me, you are not doing this alone." I told him as we both held the vial. He nodded. He handed Barty the vial, he downed it in response. We both sat across the table from him while Vega did her own interrogation sniffing his legs.

"You got a dog, Black? You hate dogs. You've always liked cats. Remember in seventh year when I got my animagus form and we'd run around outside? You a little kitty and me a fucking raccoon? How bullshit is that I got a raccoon?"

"It's working." I giggled. Reg cracked a smile.

"What're you doing here, Crouch?" He asked. Barty looked at him.

"I told you, I'm done running."

"Running from what?"

"The rumors, the lies, my family, you name it I'm running from it."

"Rosier?" I asked. His face went pale.

"Most of all, Evan."

"What happened while I was gone, Barty?" Barty took a deep breath.

"I couldn't make a decision. I had to make the decision and I couldn't make the decision. I had the Slytherins in my ear telling me I had to accept the dark mark, then I had my father, Mr. head of the fuckin ministry telling me not to choose any side, I had you and Evan joining the order, I couldn't do anything. I'm not brave enough to be a spy like you and Evan. I'm not smart enough to work behind the scenes like Nova. I'm not fucked up enough to be a death eater. I was useless. Only thing I could have been was a fucking casualty." He started to cry. He ran a hand over his face to try and mask it. "So I ran. I heard through the grapevine everyone said I chose the death eaters, I heard Evan hated me, I heard you hated me, and I thought, shit, everyone hates me. You want to know what hurt the most? I heard I helped kill Cas. I would never, ever hurt Cas. She was one of the only people I loved, but I guess the timeline added up. Anyways, I stayed away. I didn't think I'd ever come back, just live away from everyone I've known and cared about forever. It worked for a while, but I did some serious soul searching man, I realized I can't run away from everything forever. I wanted to go to Evan first, but he probably would have killed me first asked questions later, you always were the most reasonable one of us. Especially once Nova came around. Speaking of Nova. Nova, dear, are you pregnant? If you're not I'm so fucking sorry." I laughed.

"I am."

"Oh, that's lovely. Congratulations you two. You've built quite a life for yourselves." I looked at Reggie who rolled his eyes.

"I forgot how fucking chatty he gets."

"Barty. Your wounds need dressing." I told him. He touched his forehead.

"Oh these old things? Nah, they hardly hurt anymore."

"Did you hit your head?" Regulus asked him sarcastically.

"Actually I did." I sighed.

"You can interrogate him, but I'm going to start covering his wounds." I told him as I walked around the table to grab the supplies. Reg just watched Barty.

"What's the dogs name?" Barty asked me as he leaned down to pet her. I saw Reggie's hand instinctively dart to his wand.

"Vega." He smiled as he scratched behind her ears the way she liked. She leaned her head into his hand. I set the supplies on the table beside him and pulled up a stool.

"You really don't have to, Potter. I'm fine!" He told me, I shook my head.

"No, you're not Crouch. You're a mess." I told him as I wiped a cloth with hydrogen peroxide across his cuts on his head. He winced.

"I'm sorry I was a dick to you in school, Nova." He admitted. I smiled sadly at him.

"Water under the bridge, Barty. I quite liked you in our later years." I replied. He smiled.

"You did?"

"That's my wife." Regulus told him.

"I meant as a friend, Black."

"It's Potter." We both corrected. He smiled again.
"Regulus Potter. Never thought I'd see the day." He grabbed my wrist to stop me from cleaning him up. He turned to Reggie. "I'm glad you got out, Reg. Verasatium or not. I mean that." He turned back to face me, Reggie held a grin.

"I'm glad you're back, Crouch."

🗡️🗡️🗡️

he's baaaaack. i couldn't write out Barty, i've done him so dirty in this series.

On that note, if you're new here & you've come over from guard dogs (which is top 10 under regulus black rn again wtf that's crazy i love you guys) and this is the third and final book of the guard dogs series, it's slow updates and messy, i know im sorry but i couldn't give up on nova & reg. thank you guys so much for all the love you've given me on these books so far, it makes me so happy that you guys like the stories i never intended to even share. i hope you enjoy these little stories as much as i enjoy writing them. love you all <3