Beyond House And Blood

4 The Bet

Regulus's POV

     After the Christmas break, we had returned to Hogwarts with a new determination. The grounds were still blanketed in snow, and most students bundled up against the cold as they hurried to their respective classes. Evelyn and I slipped back into our routines, but we shared a quiet understanding every time our paths crossed. Though we never interacted publicly, due to my reputation as a Slytherin, our midnight snowball fight and quiet conversations in the library are what I cherish the most. I really hope that one day, we would get the courage to have a conversation without feeling the need to hide them.

     Unfortunately, our little moments didn't go unnoticed by my group of friends, Evan Rosier and Pandora Rosier. As we were just hanging out in the common room, Evan eyed me suspiciously. "You seem awfully chummy with Potter's sister, you know," He said with a smirk. "Potter's sister? As in Evelyn Potter? The Ravenclaw?" Pandora turn from her book to look at her twin brother. Evan just nod and turn back his attention to me. I tried to stay composed and focus on my reading. "Are you trying to be like Sirius? A Black who betrays his family?" That word hit me like a bludger to the stomach, though I never felt it (yet), but I tried not to show that the words affected me that much. "It's not like that. I just... respect her. She's different." I replied still focus on my  book.

     Pandora slammed her book shut and turn to glared at me. "Different?" She echoed, a hint of disdain in her voice. "A Potter is a Potter, Regulus. You don't want to get mixed up with them. They'll drag you down." I said nothing, but felt a pang of frustration. My loyalty to my family and house was unshakable, but Evelyn was... well, different. We just continued the evening reading silently, no one decided to question further.

Evelyn's POV

     I was spending my time with my closest friend in the house, Barty Crouch Jr. in the common room. We always share everything to each other, including my interactions with a certain Slytherin. "Why do you spend so much time with him?" Barty asked between their conversations. He never really understand her interest in the reserved Slytherin. "He's a Black, and he's a Slytherin. Aren't you worried about what people will think?"  I just shrugged. "Well, as I already told you through my stories, we never talk in public. Just small gesture here and there. Besides, Regulus isn't like the others. He's thoughtful and loyal, and he understands what it's like to be in someone else's shadow." I paused, glancing at Barty. "Sometimes I think people are too quick to judge each other by their families."

     I know Barty meant well and just be careful for me, but I can take care of my own judgement. Barty didn't argue further, they went back to work at their Charms homework. The smirk that's growing on Barty's face didn't really go unnoticed by me, but I just shake it off and didn't question him about it. It is fun to have a friend who is worried about us. I really hope that our friendship could last forever. Maybe one day, I could even introduce him to my family, as friends of course.

     As the term wore on, tensions between Gryffindor and Slytherin ran high. James and Sirius, both notorious pranksters, had taken upon themselves to make life difficult for the Slytherins whenever possible. Everyday we would see a Slytherin walks into the Great Hall angrily, while the Marauders failed miserably to hide their laughter. Glitters, weird hair colors, sneezing none stop, sometimes they even limping into the Great Hall. I felt bad for the Slytherins, but I really need the laughter once in a while. "Your brother's pranks are getting wild, Potter. You sure you're not involved in any of them?" Barty grinning like an idiot as he saw the poor Slytherin walks in with a bright blue hair with glitters all over his robe. "Well, I must admit, I did helped some of them. It's fun, you should try sometimes, Crouch." We both burst out laughing until the Marauders came to our table. James takes a seat next to me, while the other sat across from us, chuckling. James runs his hand through my hair, messing it up while grinning widely. "These pranks are good, but what are the progress for the... you know,"

     Barty looks at me confusedly. "What are you guys planning this time?" James turn to look at Barty. "You didn't tell little Crouch here yet, Evie? I thought you guys don't keep secret from each other." I pushes James away and tame my messy hair back. "Well, we don't, and I've been too busy and forget to tell him about it. The good part is, I found some important thing that makes you guys want to back out from doing it." "Can someone please fill me in here? Maybe I could help too." Barty looks around the group feeling more confused then ever. "Don't you snitch on us, little Crouch. And for your information, we are planning on becoming an animagi. Do you have any idea about it?" Sirius said while clinging onto Barty's shoulder. Barty eyes went wide at the thought of them trying to be an unregistered animagi. "So that's why you always been reading about animagi these past few days, Potter." He paused, glancing at the Marauders. "There is one problem though, there will be required for you guys to keep a Mandrake leaf in your mouth for an entire month. Everyone will get suspicious by the sudden silence from you lots."

     The information got all the second year gryffindor fell silent. Their hope had been crashed down. "That's why I have an idea, but I wouldn't know if it would work or not." The Marauders all turn to me with a devastated look. "We make a bet." We all moved to talk in the library instead of the Great Hall, like what James said and I quote it 'it's risky to talk about it in the Great Hall', as we all thought, the library are almost empty, there are just some people who are stress with their studies or just a nerd reading a book. The six of us find a seat at the quiet corner in the library. "Talk." James said shortly as we all got comfortable in our seat. Barty is on my right and Remus on my left, across from me is James with Sirius on his right and Peter on his left.

     "As I was saying, we make it as a bet." I said while all of their focus are on me. "We could announced it to the one that we know could spread the words around Hogwarts quickly. The bet is that you guys can't use a single word for a month, I'll join in too. I bet everyone would join in the bet and we can also win some money in the progress. It's a win win." Everyone looks really surprised by my explanation. They're all silent until they all starts to grin except for Barty, he is still to stun. "You're a genius, Evie. No wonder you are a Ravenclaw, bloody hell, you could even be sorted into Slytherin." James exclaimed cheerfully. Barty nodded slowly. "Beauty with brain, who would thought that from you, Potter. By the way, what is the reason to suddenly want to be an animagus may I ask?" "That's a story for another time, Crouch." I replied grinning, happy that the marauders accepted her idea.

A/N: I had decided to change it. What do you guys think? I tried my best. Here I just added some Barty and Evelyn's moments. It wouldn't hurt to add some flirting between friends right? And the mention of being sorted into Slytherin, I was thinking, why not add some similarity between Evelyn and Regulus, plus Harry almost being sorted into Slytherin thing. Share your thoughts about the chapter, there is no Evelyn and Regulus moment in here. This chapter are just fillers about being an animagus thing.