Vamps

Window Boy

Hogwarts school was one simultaneously one of Regulus's favorite and least favorite places.

On the con side, it was loud, SO fucking loud, with nearly three thousand students in a building intended for half as many, with the majority of the students insisting on making their presence as prominent as possible. Similarly, most of the teachers loved the sound of their own voices, and cared more about how the quidditch team was doing than about what they were actually supposed to be teaching.

The plus side for Regulus was one person.

Barty Crouch Jr.

The two had met at some rich people function that their parents had both been invited to because they were all donors to some shady institution.

Six year old Regulus had accidentally spilled his water all over the shirt of seven year old Barty, promptly burst into tears, and then been saved when Barty had simply told his parents that he had tripped and spilled the water himself.

As it had turned out they were already attending the same school, albeit Barty being one grade above, and once they realized this it was only a matter of time before they were seeing each other at every turn.

Eye contact had turned into shy waves, which turned into lunch, which ended up being best friendship.

By the time Regulus was nine and Barty was ten they were already riding bikes together to go get Fortescue's, and covering for one another whenever one's parents were particularly awful.

Little Regulus had been terrified for Barty to find out about his condition, though that he would find out, maybe call him "bloodsucker" like the rest of the kids at school, and then never speak to him ever again. It would have been absolutely devastating, but Regulus had thick skin, he needed to.

What he hadn't expected was for Barty to have already known. He'd grinned, that stupid fucking grin of his, like this wasn't an earthshattering revelation that could make or break the only friendship Regulus had ever had.

Instead he'd smiled and laughed before wrapping his arms around Regulus in a tight embrace.

"Oh I know, at that donor event some stupid kids told me that I should avoid you and I called them enough names that they haven't spoken to me since. Serves them right."

Regulus had frozen, because he did remember those kids. Avery and Mulciber had been some of the worst of his childhood bullies, and they had let up a little after Barty had come into the picture. Regulus had never made the connection, but looking back it had certainly been there.

"Plus," Barty continued, "It was kind of hard to not figure it out with your 'mysterious appointments' and clear aversion to sunlight.'"

Regulus's cheeks flushed bright red, he'd been so careful to have them hangout when it was dark or raining outside, he'd been certain that he was keeping it under wraps.

Barty had pushed him out to arms length then, a smile growing even wider at how stupidly red Regulus's face was.

"Oh don't be put out," he chided, "you kept it hidden so well I promise, I was simply too good!"

Regulus balked as wiggling fingers began to tickle him until he was forced to hunch over simply to avoid the barrage.

"ST- STOP-" he managed between giggles, trying in vain to push Barty off.

"I only get to do this so many times!" Barty declared, "I have to make the most of it now before you become immune!" He DID stop tickling Regulus, but it had taken several more minutes before either of them were able to stop giggling.