War is Over

17.

"Nova, how do you date?" Marlene asked from the couch during our break from painting. I laughed from the floor.

"Marls, I've been dating the same boy since I was fifteen." She laughed. She looked to Lily who just shook her head.

"Well okay, I'm not you guys. I didn't get to marry my school crush." I shrugged.

"I don't think it's hard." Lily replied optimistically. Marlene glared at her.

"You married James Potter, I don't know if I trust you."

"Jamie did fawn after you for years." I agreed. Lily shrugged.

"Okay then you help her." Lily threw a pillow at me. I laughed.

"I don't know, you just like, flirt and twirl your hair, you laugh at the right times and ignore them when you have to." I offered. Marlene stared at me blankly.

"Okay, but with who?"

"I hear Mary Macdonald is quite fit now." Lily suggested.

"Wait, does this mean you and Ev are calling it quits?" I asked. Marls nodded.

"He's super into Barty."

"He always has been." Lily replied.

"Yeah, but now that he's back it could be real. I don't want to get in the way of that." Lily nodded.

"Where is Barty?" She asked. I shrugged.

"Hey Crouch?" I called. He popped his head over the railing of the stairs.

"Yeah?"

"Do you like Ev?" I asked. He blushed. Marlene tsked.

"Better question, do you know how to date?" Barty glanced between all of us for a moment.

"Is this my invitation to girl talk?" He asked, I smiled.

"Get down here." He ran down the stairs and threw himself on the couch next to Marlene. Lily straightened her posture.

"Lilypad." I whispered. She just nodded.

"So to answer your question, yes I do like Ev. No, I don't know how to date. It's quite obviously my biggest problem right now with Ev." He explained. Marlene groaned.

"I just need to know how to date!" She whined.

"You dated plenty in school." I told her. She rolled her eyes.

"It was easy then!" I shrugged. She shook her head. "Pivot to Barty's problem. We can help him."

"Barty are you in love?" Marlene teased. He blushed. I swatted up at her.

"Leave him be!" I scolded. She laughed.

"What is all the appeal to Evan Rosier? I don't get it!" Lily huffed. I laughed.

"Ev's a catch." I replied.

"He's more than that, he's funny, he's sweet, he's insanely attractive and he always just knows the right thing to say when you have something to tell him." Barty listed. I stared at him. Marlene gave me a look.

"Alright, you're allowed to tease. Barty's in love."

🗡️🗡️🗡️

"Did you harass Barty all day?" Reg asked me as we put sheets on our bed. I nodded.

"It wasn't intentional, but once he started spewing how much he loves Ev, I couldn't hold Marlene back." He laughed as I plopped onto the bed.

"Have you thought anymore about taking that position Minnie offered?"