Loyalties | Barty Crouch Jr

The Restricted Section

September 9, 1977 - Friday

Leonora had been spending most of her time the past few days with Regulus and Barty. She was so far successful in avoiding Thalia and Illyria after what they had said, though she found it hard to ignore the pained looks Illyria would occasionally send her way.

It was incredibly annoying avoiding them, as she would have to walk in different directions through the corridors and sit as far away as possible from them in the classes that they shared. She had been doing such a good job at eluding them that her other friends were now curious as to what the girls were quarreling about.

"Are you in a fight with Thalia and Illyria?" asked Barty that Friday as they sat side by side in Charm's class doing reviews.

"No," she answered shortly, trying to focus on her work.

"You've been avoiding them."

"No, I haven't been."

"Illyria keeps begging me to tell you that she's sorry and asking me if you would talk to her. I noticed you haven't been talking to either of them these past few days."

Leonora sighed. "So, you're watching me too now? Great."

"What?" Barty asked confused. "Someone's been watching you?"

"Never mind," Leonora waved it off. "Thalia just said something that upset me, and Illyria practically agreed with it."

"What did Thalia say?"

"Something about my family, it doesn't matter what exactly."

"Well, I hope you talk to them soon. It's getting annoying constantly getting pestered by Illyria. She's even starting to ask Regulus."

Leonora set down her quill and sighed. "I'm sorry, Barty. I just need some time away from them. I didn't think they'd start pestering you"

Barty shrugged. "You don't have to apologize, it isn't your fault."

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Leonora let out a sigh as she looked over her unfinished paper. Barty had distracted her from completing it, meanwhile he had of course finished his, which appeared to be at least six inches longer than hers was.

She rubbed her temples, annoyed that this would now become a part of her homework. After neatly placing the unfinished paper into her book bag, she stood up and turned to Barty, who was frantically putting his own things away.

He felt her staring and glanced up to meet her eyes. "I'm already late to my next class," he stated as he swung his bag over his right shoulder. "I'll meet you in the library before dinner, alright?"

Leonora nodded, watching as he ran out of the classroom.

.........................................................

After classes were finished for the day, Leonora and Barty found themselves holed up in the library, discussing their course of action for that night. Since it was Friday, the time had finally come for them to sneak into the restricted section.

"Do you think we need some sort of plan?" asked Barty.

"Probably," Leonora responded, twisting around to inspect the restricted section. "Do you have any ideas?"

"No," he whined, "I thought that you would."

"Why would I, Barty? I've never snuck in before."