Loyalties | Barty Crouch Jr

It's a Date

November 30, 1978 - Thursday

It had been almost an entire week since Dumbledore had announced the ball, and Barty had yet to ask her to be his date. With only two weeks left until that night, she was beginning to worry. As far as she knew, however, he hadn't asked any other girls either, which had made her feel a bit better.

She had already rejected a few invites from a couple of boys in anticipation that Barty would ask her, rather surprised by the fact that so many boys were interested in her. One had even approached her while she was sitting with the boy, only to suddenly turn on his heel and run off. She had turned to Barty in confusion, only to witness the dark glare etched on his face, his attention glued to where the boy had run off to. Barty had scared him off.

She had sighed then, wondering just how much longer she would have to wait for the jealous boy to work up the courage to ask. If he wanted others to stop asking her, he'd have to do it himself sooner rather than later.

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

"We should go dress shopping on Saturday," Illyria suggested as she flopped down on the plush, green couch in the Slytherin common room. "It's the only Hogsmeade weekend before the ball."

Leonora nodded in agreement as she joined the girl on the couch, lowering herself down beside her. "We can do that." 

"I just wish I could go with Francis," Illyria sighed out in a whisper as she stared into the fireplace, the warmth radiating around them. "I'm gonna be dancing alone all night."

"Is he even going?" 

The girl nodded. "Yes, but you know what will happen if we're seen together. I can't be his official date, but we're still going to try and coordinate our outfits, without making it too obvious that we're matching."

"How adorable," Leonora joked, a grin appearing on her face as Illyria lightly swatted her shoulder.

"Enough about me. I want to know about you and Barty. Has he still not asked you?"

Leonora sighed as she cast her eyes downward, landing on the tops of her pale hands. "Not yet. I know we still have time, but I'm starting to become worried that he won't. It's already been a week."

The girl rolled her eyes and scoffed, mumbling something inaudible under her breath.

With a raised eyebrow, Leonora eyed her friend. "What was that about?" she asked lightly, afraid she had somehow upset the girl.

"Barty, and his inability to ask you out." She scoffed again. "You know, at this point you should just say yes to another boy and then rub it in his face. That'll show him that he should've asked you sooner."

Now it was Leonoras turn to roll her eyes, though playfully. "I'm not saying yes to another boy just to make him jealous. You should've seen him the other day when someone else did ask me out. If looks could kill, that boy would surely be dead."

"I don't doubt it," Illyria began, a smile playing at her lips. "But-"

Leonora raised her eyebrows in curiosity as the girl had stopped mid-sentence, her attention drawn to something on the other side of the room. Following Illyria's line of sight, Leonora whirled her head to the side to see what the girl was staring at so intently.

Her eyes instantly locked onto Barty's figure, which was nervously pacing back and forth. She could see his lips moving slightly as he mumbled to himself.

"What is he doing?" Leonora wondered aloud, turning back towards Illyria. 

The girl quickly whipped her head down, using her hand to hide the side of her face as she rested her elbow on the back of the couch.

"No clue, but he's on his way over."

Butterflies instantly flooded Leonora's stomach as she watched the boy approach in her peripherals. Could he finally be asking her to the ball? Perhaps before he was practicing what he was going to say. She was lost in her thoughts when the boy had finally reached them and had only acknowledged him when he loudly cleared his throat to grab her attention.

She jumped slightly, before looking to him with a smile. "Barty," she greeted, nodding once.

"Could I talk to you, Nora?" He asked, swallowing thickly. 

The couch dipped slightly as Illyria scooted closer to the pair, her eyes wide in anticipation. She eyed the boy knowingly as a smirk rested on her lips.

"Alone," Barty added as soon as he noticed.

Illyria's shoulders sagged back as a sigh escaped her lips. "I suppose you may, Barty," she answered for the girl, disappointment lacing her words. With a quick wink to her friend, she stood up, smoothing down her robes. "Come find me after." 

With Illyria out of earshot, Barty slithered his way around the side of the couch, occupying the spot the girl had just been sitting in.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Leonora questioned as soon as the boy was situated. She of course, had an idea, but didn't want to get her hopes up, only to be crushed.

"Well," the boy began, his cheeks turning pink almost immediately, "I've been meaning to ask you something this past week, I've just been waiting for the right moment."

Leonora studied the boy as he talked, noticing how he fidgeted with his fingers, and stumbled over a few of his words. "Are you alright?" she asked. "Your face is all flushed."

He gulped. "I'm perfectly fine, thank you."

They stared at each other for a moment, until Barty remembered why he was there.

"Right, sorry," he began, shaking his head lightly. "I suppose I should just spit it out." He took a deep breath. "Would you like to be my date to the ball?"

Almost instantly, a large smile broke out on the girl's face, her own cheeks now turning a light shade of pink. Barty eagerly watched her with his own lopsided grin, awaiting her answer.

"I would love that, Barty."

The boy immediately let out a breath of air he hadn't realized he'd been holding, relieved she had said yes.

"You know, I was beginning to think you weren't going to ask me."

"You wanted me to ask you?" he questioned timidly, the corners of his lips curling upwards at her reveal.

She nodded eagerly. "Of course. I've been waiting for you to ask me all week."

"Well then," he began, a new wave of confidence taking over his body, "I'm sorry it took me so long. I was just worried you'd say no."

Leonora smiled warmly, reaching her hand out and grabbing one of his own, intertwining their fingers. "I don't think I could ever say no to you, Barty."