Jan. 12: I've Got This Friend: Remus & Barty

[Charlotte Fudge]

▶︎ ▶︎ Oh, if the right one came

If the right one came along...

"...but I hope they can take Slytherin. They need the points if they're going to have a chance at the Cup, after all, Slytherin's already got enough to be in the running. It would be validating for Hestia and the rest of the team, and they deserve it. They've been working so hard, and they could really use a win after their last match. I bet that...Slytherin gets the Snitch, but Hufflepuff wins. What do you think?" Charlotte smiled at the thought of her brother's girlfriend being cheered off of the pitch this weekend, the sweet girl having grown fonder to her in this last term. If she asked, she knew she could count on her classmate to help her with her nerves - assure her that she'd be there when she and Remus came clean to Rufus, that everything would be alright, that this wouldn't be as world-shaking as she imagined - but hadn't had the nerve to ask.

And as she sat in the Ancient Studies section of the library, side-by-side with Remus in the place of their first date, the text opened before her more of a prop than an active part of her evening, Charlotte felt so frustrated by herself. Here she was with someone she found to be a wonderful companion, someone who brought her happiness in a way that she hadn't thought she'd find, and she was afraid to share her situation with her own brother. Their dynamic had rocked and shifted over the years, but it had always steadied, it had always steadied. But would Rufus be as quick to forgive as she was, now that she was the one making waves? Could he be happy for her, could he accept Remus as someone of importance to her heart? She knew she couldn't ask Remus to wait forever, to keep their time together so secretive...

You found a way to see each other over the holiday. But you'll have to find your courage somehow, Charlotte, and before it's someone besides James who finds you out...

[Remus Lupin]

Arthimancy homework in front of him, Remus’ knew he’d have to double check it later, because he was quite happily more focused on his conversation with Charlotte. He was looking forward to going to the upcoming game, Hufflepuff vs Slytherin, and cheering on the Hufflepuffs. He hoped for a defeat against Slytherin, although that was because of his bias against more than his love for the Hufflepuff team. His loyalty was with the Gryffindor team, considering his extended friend group in the house was made up of more than half the team. “The Applebee twins are better beaters than Flint and Nott, so Hestia and the rest of the team shouldn’t have to worry too much about the Bludgers. They’ve got a good shot at winning.”

Remus had been playing a question he wanted to ask Charlotte in his mind for a while now, since he’d talked to Mia over the holiday. He’d been lucky enough to get time to see Charlotte over the break, but he hadn’t wanted to press her when she was already making time to see him. Asking her to be his girlfriend had to happen at the right time, because he didn’t want to scare her away. He really liked her, and making things more official meant they ran a higher risk of Rufus finding out. He wanted to respect the fact that they needed to keep things secret between them, although he’d be contemplating if he could take Rufus in a fight just in case.

Because he didn’t need more than this, not right now. These after dinner dates where they both snuck away to the library, the secret exchanged smiles at meals as they talked with their friends. Between Quidditch and Hestia, it had proven easy to avoid Rufus when they were together. In fact, besides friends from their house, their secret relationship had stayed a secret. “Can you look over this answer for me?” he asked, passing over his work, “I’ve got Quidditch on the brain and I’m not sure I answered it correctly.”

[Barty Crouch Jr.]

Barty leaned casually against a bookcase, looking for all the world to be completely engrossed in his tomb on the ancient magics of Egypt, all the while he wasn’t seeing the pages at all. Instead, he was listening intently to the conversation taking place just on the other side of the towering rows of books. It wasn’t a particularly interesting conversation, not in the least, Quidditch was a common topic around the castle. However, the people discussing the upcoming match between his house and that of the badger, now that, that was interesting. Very interesting. Shocking almost.

Charlotte, what are you up to?

He had been looking for his favorite cousin -he liked checking in periodically with his family, Charlotte especially- he figured she might be in the library and indeed her voice had come to him as he approached the Ancient Studies section and he was about to join her when another voice joined hers. Lupin. What was she on about, hanging around Lupin? He wasn’t the right sort in Barty’s opinion, and as Char had had trouble her whole life telling the right sort from the wrong, he felt it his duty to investigate. So he had done what he did best, listen. And what he heard brought many thoughts to his mind. Firstly, they were both wrong, Slytherin was going to wipe the pitch with Hufflepuff in the upcoming match. Secondly, his dear cousin and Remus Lupin were more comfortable than they ought to have been. Charlotte was the quiet sort and other than her staple friends, Barty had never known her to venture too far off. Especially where the opposite sex was concerned. Her brother did his part to make sure of that. Thirdly, did Rufus know his little sister had made a friend in his roommate?

Should I tell him? Rufus is my cousin as well.

            Obviously not, you love Charlotte more

“Charchar! I thought that was your voice.” Barty oozed, rounding the corner suddenly and tugging playfully on his cousins hair just as Remus gave his work up for review. “I’ll look it over for you mate.” he said, snapping his own book closed and tossing it on the table his cousin and her friend were sharing. Without invitation he pulled up a seat across from the pair, sending Remus a smile as he deliberately placed a hand over the others work and pulled it away from Charlotte and to himself, spinning it around with a flourish. He really did look over the boys work, and gave a frown of consideration. “Charlotte knows how much I adore studying, I’m always looking for good partners. Funny she wouldn’t call on me today, but I guess with such a great partner in you she wouldn’t need to eh? Even distracted, this seems a fair answer to me.” Barty slid the book back to Remus, meeting his eye briefly before looking to his cousin and taking on a more animated tone. “Hey, why don’t we all study together? Our collective minds should be mightily impressive, don't you think?”

[Charlotte Fudge]

Charlotte's smile turned to a pleased grin as Remus added on to her assessment of the upcoming match, nodding her agreement. With Rufus's accomplishments - and diligent study - of the position, she especially enjoyed the critique of his direct competition. It would be an upset indeed if the match played out differently than they predicted, and she looked forward to continuing their conversation of it after the match this weekend. But for now? For now she would lend her attention to Remus's Arithmancy work, impressed that he was able to hold a conversation with her so attentively while also completing his -

Charchar?

Charlotte's smile abruptly fell at hearing the nickname that could only come from one person at Hogwarts, and she didn't even have the moment needed to send Remus an apologetic look before her cousin was making himself rather well at home at their table. The sixth year smoothed her hair back from her face after the unfortunate tug, putting a smile on that she didn't quite feel reflected inside. Barty, here, now? She could manage her cousin on his own, she knew she could - they had shared a pleasant time together at the most recent Ministry event, he was the only boy besides Rufus that she had ever danced with, he made the most dull of evenings thrilling with his ability to read others (always winning their bets, which Charlotte didn't mind so long as she remained competitive with him in their shared courses), and he had even successfully snuck a drink for her to try. He really could be lovely company, when he was in a mood for it, when he didn't make remarks that made her question his intentions - but his was nearly the last company she desired in the moment.

He was wise to people in ways Charlotte could never hope to be, and there was no way she would be able to talk her way out of the accurate assumption she knew he must be making of this. Would his affection for her be enough for him to hold his tongue? While Barty took charge of the assignment, Charlotte mouthed a sorry to her partner, letting out a strained laugh at her cousin's words. "You know you can always come to me. But I can't have you knowing where my mind is ahead of each of our classes. We'd have all of our debates settled without our enraptured audiences, and then where would their learning be?" she teased lightly, careful not to lean too close to Remus as she peered over the work as it was returned to him. "I agree - a fair answer, but it could be fleshed out a tad more in this point here. Of - of course you should join us, where are my manners? Do you know each other? Remus, this is my cousin, Barty." And Remus is my...?

Rather than attempting to answer that on the spot, she quickly continued, sitting up in her seat to better see the book he'd brought with him, "What - what is it you're reading tonight, Barty? Oh! Magics in Ancient Egypt?" A stroke of luck at last! Ancient mythologies were dearer to her heart than most subjects, and Charlotte animatedly threw herself into steering their talk. "Fascinating study, magic was such an underlying element to their daily life and worldview, it makes you wonder how much the witches and wizards of the day shared with the non-magical population. Not to say that they were known - Heka* could not have been so revered if that was the case, I expect - but I've read that some spells used in their ancient medicine are not so entirely different from what we use today. I - er - are you using that for the Ancient Studies essay? I'm focusing on Norse mythology myself," she said, voice petering out as she held up the book she'd only been glancing at before. Charlotte was shortly finding herself to feel something she'd never before felt in the library: disappointed at the prospect of reading. Was the time she and Remus had to talk in private really to be so cut short? "Which myths did you study last year, Remus?"

[Remus Lupin]

He enjoyed their times together like this in the library, hiding together as they worked on homework or talked about upcoming Quidditch matches. They’d fallen into a comfortable routine, and it was weird to think that he was thinking about upsetting their entire world by asking Charlotte to be his girlfriend. But it wasn’t a conversation for tonight, not when he still needed to get the boys opinion on how he should handle things. He knew that Sirius would suggest something too bold for him to do, Peter would probably tell him the same thing Daisy had told him when she’d pestered him about it, and hopefully James would have some solid advice. And if she said that she didn’t want to make things more official because of her brother, Remus would understand that.

Before he could finish handing her his assignment, there was a somewhat familiar voice that drew him out of the bubble they existed in in the Ancient Studies section. Barty Crouch Jr, calling his not-girlfriend by a nickname he hadn’t heard before. In an instant it felt like they were caught, even though what they were doing here was entirely innocent. Working on homework together wasn’t that suspicious, but the way Barty was looking at them was. Charlotte’s smile fell, and Remus started wracking his brain for any excuse as to why they were spending time together. One of them needing tutoring from the other wasn’t a believable lie, He let the Slytherin boy take his work, nodding to Charlotte’s mouthed words. This was going to be fine, whatever happened. Barty’s compliment to him was back-handed, and Remus just shot him a grin without saying anything. Thankfully, Charlotte seemed to have it handled, with a smooth reply that Remus knew he wouldn’t have been able to pull off.

He took his paper back gently, nodding to Charlotte’s addition to his work, and looked up to Barty at his suggestion. What he wanted was to not be in this situation, but escaping it was going to take more than simply disappearing into the shelves and never returning. “Nice to properly meet you Barty, I’m Remus. I’m sure we’ve met at some Ministry functions in the past,” Remus said as Charlotte introduced them, hoping that his voice didn’t seem as uncomfortable as he felt. At least one of them had a grip, however, and he picked up the book Barty had dropped on the table to look at it as Charlotte made conversation. Magics in Ancient Egypt was interesting, he loved to learn about the different ways that magic was kept a secret -or not a secret- in the ancient world. “I studied the Roman mythology last year,” he said, placing the book back on the table between them all, “Couldn’t help but pick it with the story of Remus and Romulus, although it’s not the greatest ancient Roman god story.”

[Barty Crouch Jr.]

“A fair answer from my fair cousin.” Barty assented with an inclination of his head. Even if he didn’t believe for one second that the reason she failed to contact him and contacted Remus instead had anything to do with their intellectual competition. No, she and Remus were ‘studying’ together because Charlotte wanted to. His ego would never let him believe that she simply preferred Lupin over himself, no, it had to be because there was more to their table talk than met the eye. He observed carefully his cousin’s interaction with her older housemate as she assessed his work, making a fine suggestion that Barty had overlooked in his cursory review. On surface level nothing seemed amiss, they didn’t sit too close or smile too broadly, they didn’t even touch. Char never once acted in a way that would lead one to believe she was anything but friendly with Remus, but Barty just had this ...feeling. “Never had the pleasure for a proper introduction. Boring Ministry Balls not withstanding.” he said with a genial smile at Charlotte’s introduction, reaching out to give Remus’ hand a firm shake. The other boy wasn’t saying much, and the snake among them could tell he was making the other bloke uncomfortable, Char too if he was reading her right, which he always was. The girl in question jumped on his reading and his eyes slid to the book he hadn’t really been reading at all.

    Oh she’s good. Trying to entice you with knowledge, distract you from the game.

            I’ve never been prouder.

As she went on Barty couldn’t help the genuinely affectionate grin that graced his face. Char was so intelligent and eloquent and she rambled on in an adorable way and she had successfully managed to stall him for a time with good conversation. She was a sweet lamb who needed looking after and Bart saw it as his personal duty as her second nearest relation here at Hogwarts to keep his eye on her. “I’m considering it.” He said in a vague answer to her question of his studies -after that speech about knowing where each other's minds are academically, think i'm going to tell you Charchar?- "What are you thinking for Norse? Loki is my personal favorite. But for you I can see a two foot too long essay on Freya." He sent his cousin a cheeky grin before she turned the conversation to Remus and Barty provided the other boy his full attention, not being able to help the slight scoff at his response. “The brothers who survived by suckling a wolf?” he asked, though his tone and the grin on his face made it clear that it was rhetorical, he knew exactly who Remus and Romulus were.

“I understand your draw to your namesake but Remus dies, at the hand of his brother, who then goes on to find Rome, a great muggle empire that Remus essentially had no hand in. That’s lame and morbid, to be killed by your twin, a man with your face. And not as interesting as some other legends. Personally my favorite is the tale of the Three Sisters of Fate, can you imagine ending someone's life with a snip of scissors on a string? Or Pandora and her box, fascinating. Anyway, Roman mythology has been so over done besides. You know what I mean mate?” Barty shrugged, managing to look relaxed and amused as he cut down Gryffindor's previous project. He kicked back some more, threading his fingers behind his head and turning his attention back to his cousin. “What do you think Char?”

[Charlotte Fudge]

How she wanted to take Remus's hand in her own! To tell him that her cousin was simply protective, that he had always taken it upon himself to look out for her best interests, that he really was reasonable at his core...Her fellow Gryffindor seemed pale and put-off by Barty's sudden arrival and equally abrupt familiarity, and she couldn't blame him. Her family was full of personalities that made an impact, as Remus knew well enough from living with Rufus all of these years, but Charlotte did wish that this meeting could have been prearranged. It would have had to happen eventually, but if they had planned it...Would being prepared to be under fire have helped them at all?

Her lips twitched into a surprised smirk as Barty anticipated her choice, although the feeling of unease in her gut heightened as he mentioned his own favorite. Whether or not Loki truly was his preference didn't really matter - what mattered was that it got her thinking of the trickster god in connection to her cousin and that was a rabbit hole to doom her if there ever was one. "And what, pray tell, is so wrong with Freya?" she asked, still smiling as she looked between her unlikely companions. "She was complex, free-willed, a goddess of beauty and fertility and war alike. She brought magic to the other gods and was formidable in her own right, holding her own against even Loki." Her smile swiftly faded as Barty's grin appeared, his tone hinging on insulting as he spoke of Remus's chosen myth. Her own face colored in embarrassment on his behalf, and when the conversation was handed off to her...

"I think that the stories that endure do so for a reason," Charlotte began carefully, face betraying her bubbling nervous energy. She felt like her cousin was setting a trap for her to slip into, and didn't particularly enjoy how the details of his scheme were out of her sight line. Choosing to side with Remus or with Barty or to take a stance on her own, it made what would otherwise be an engaging and purely academic debate into something else entirely. Blindly agreeing with either could harm her relationship with the other, as well as be untrue to her own opinion and instinct...And Barty was so relaxed, utterly repose in the seat across from her, and she sat up straighter, voice strengthening again as she went on. 

"At the least, they entertain, but at the most - they teach. They serve purpose, whether to illustrate the morals and values of a people, to make sure that their histories are passed down, to inspire action...So an origin story for a city and society that is still studied, still fascinating modern historians, that provides the foundation for their moral code?" The girl shrugged, as if to say whether you think this story or all of them have been overdone or not, fellow scholar - not going away anytime soon. "It set the scene for what was expected of their people. While it may pale in some respects to the more overtly thrilling tales, it's still worth studying - as are the rest - if your goal is to understand the people." Sending Barty a thin-lipped smile, she continued, "Thankfully there's no shortage of other civilizations to study if you find the Romans tiresome, cousin."

She rolled up the sleeve of her sweater to check the time on her watch, unable to conceal the adoration fondness in her eyes as she turned them to Remus. It didn't look like Barty would tire of them anytime soon, and while she would be disappointed to cut her time with Remus short...We can catch up in the common room. Without my cousin as our third. "Were you still planning on meeting James to go over the prefect schedules? It's getting a little late, I'd hate to delay you from your meeting."

[Remus Lupin]

Honestly, Remus could have gone his entire life without a formal introduction to Barty. He’d met the other boy’s father ages ago, and while the elder Barty Crouch was very outspoken against the Voldy-pants and his pathetic gang of pureblood supremacists, that didn’t mean that his son was the same. Especially given the general vibe of their current interactions. Remus didn’t really care enough to keep up with who was related to who in the pureblood community, but it was clear they were close enough cousins that Barty wasn’t just dropping by for a friendly chat. While he couldn’t know Charlotte’s exact concerns with him being here without asking, he did think it had very little to do with if this would get back to Rufus. No, this was more of a game, and while it might take him a second to gain his composure, Remus wasn’t going to lose.

Ancient Studies hadn’t been his favorite subject, although he had been good at it. It was interesting to learn about the past, but he preferred to do it on his own time schedule. He was very gladly not taking the class again this year, opting for only the necessities he would need for teaching. But he listened with amusement at the discussion, not terribly shocked to hear that Charlotte had selected Norse Mythology, or that she favored Freya while her just-nice-enough-not-to-be-rude cousin had a flair for Loki. At least, he had been playing nice so far, a trend that did not continue at Remus’ admission of the myth he had chosen to study last year. Charlotte’s smile fell, but Remus didn’t stop himself from smirking. Why yes, the twins who had survived suckling from a wolf. That was sort of the fun, a secret laugh between him and his friends given his furry little problem. But that wasn’t something she was about to explain to Barty.

Barty wasn’t entirely wrong, it wasn’t a story that put his namesake in any sort of a good way when you trickled down the tale to the very end of it all. But there was admittedly much more to it than that, and while Remus kept his mouth shut as Barty referred to Charlotte, he was already considering his response. Charlotte, smart as ever, was trying to diffuse the situation in a tactful way, and Remus admired that about her. Upsetting Barty by agreeing with Remus directly wouldn’t have been the best path - but Barty wasn’t his cousin. And he certainly wasn’t intimidated by the younger Slytherin. So he appreciated Charlotte’s attempt to give him an out, and he smiled at her fondly before speaking, “Ah, he’s Head Boy. I’m sure he’s got it figured out by now,” and he directed his gaze back to Barty. “Perhaps it isn’t quite as enthralling as the fates, but I see some merit in it. Being raised together in secrecy and having each other’s backs throughout life - only for one to betray the other in the end. A lesson, that sometimes you can’t even trust the people closest to you. Perhaps it was better that Romulus was the victor - Reme seems like a ridiculous name for a city. Although, it’s not like Rome really worked out for them in the end either. But if it's Ancient Egypt that has your interest, might I recommend Set? He seems up your alley.”

[Barty Crouch Jr.]

Bart extended his hands in defeat, inclining his head to his cousins assessment. There was nothing but truth in her words, and he could not argue with facts. Freya was all that she said, all power and wisdom and fierceness, even if Barty found that to lack interest and intrigue, it was to be respected. He smiled at his cousin as she smiled at him. “They are a true reflection of you and I then.” he complimented, seeing everything the goddess represented in Char. His cousin was young still, in mind and spirit, but she had the potential to become a force, like the goddess herself and so many women in their family. Like all of their kind, only better, Charlotte could be better than them. She was more intelligent, more clever, and more cunning than most, undeniably more so than her chosen companion. Remus was…lacking potential. To put it kindly.

Alas, Char seemed determined to befriend and defend him. Or rather, his school project from the year prior. Still, to Barty, it was clear she was trying her best to not past judgement on either of their preferences. Charlotte was a gem at diplomacy, which was at times, very useful, but at the moment, it was only slightly annoying. He didn’t want careful words, he wanted some, feeling.  He wanted some reaction, a tell that his suspicions were founded. “You wound me Charlotte.” he said, making sure he didn’t sound too serious about it, it would not do to let her know that she wasn't giving him what he wanted. “As a connoisseur of human folly, you know I am constantly studying my fellow man and all those who came before us.”

Yes, leave, so I can find out what is really going on here.

    No, don't. I’d rather poke around a bit more for fun.

At his cousin’s -obvious- attempt to find Lupin an escape route, Barty held his breath. He wasn’t sure what he really wanted. For Remus to stay or for him to go. Either option held entertaining and enlightening possibilities. ”Yes, I’m sure Potter has it in hand, Char.” he agreed at once, patting her on the hand in false comfort. Inside, he was celebrating. Turns out, he was pretty excited at the prospect of an extended interaction with her cousins particular friend. The more he could observe, the more he learned, and knowledge was always useful.

The Slytherin let out a barking laughing as his new companion was concluding his spiel. “Reme, how ridiculous!” Alright, so that was a good joke, Barty felt true amusement for it. At his guess of which of the Egyuptian God's Barty might choose he leaned forward, flashing the Gryffindor boy a toothy grin. “Flattery will get you everywhere Remus. An accurate assumption on you for my favorite. Bravo. See, Charchar, we’re nearly friends already, we seem to know each other very well. And when you put it in this light, I can see what valuable lessens are to be taken from the story. Alright, you two have convinced me that it does have some merit, if only to teach that people, no matter how close they may seem, are never to be trusted. I am resigned to trust no one ever again, apologies dear Charlotte for the sudden change in our relationship but one can never be too careful.”

[Charlotte Fudge]

"At risk of sounding big-headed - I'll take the compliment, cousin, I daresay you're onto something there." The girl had to laugh at Barty's assessment of them as the pair of gods who never seemed to end up on the same side of the argument, but whose challenges to each other could be seen as ways of bettering themselves and the other, if they were being generous. If not for the internal pressure she felt to compete with him, as she assumed was only natural for family of the same age, would she push herself as hard as she did? Her cousin did have the uncommon trick of getting rises out of her, better ones indeed as they had moved away from days of hair pulling and into the world of academics together, where they had a more even footing. When it came to rational argument, at least. For Charlotte felt as though she was missing something unsaid, for as Barty scoffed, her smile fell - and both boys began smirking before she carefully laid out her words...What are you up to, Barty? His eyes were impossible to read, he was so hard to read, but she wasn't left wanting for long. 

She kept her thin smile on, wishing without much hope that he wouldn't see right through it. A "connoisseur of human folly"? One "constantly studying his fellow man"? It was all too easy to let an overactive mind run wild with that. So he was here to "study," was he? Her "folly"? While she didn't often wish to possess more attributes that either of her siblings had, in this moment, Charlotte certainly wished she did. She could clearly see Rufus simply barking at Barty to sod off and taking his own leave if their cousin wouldn't, and Violet curling up to expertly spar with him in the same way - coiled, yet exuding ease. At least he didn't call you Charchar again. "Of course you are, be healed," she encouraged, mimicking the lightness with which he spoke. After a beat, their eyes met and she continued in the same light tone, "It's a pity that we'll never know which interpretations are exactly right, however enjoyable it is to speculate from our safe distances."

While she would have taken an offer to leave this table without a second thought, Remus was staying put. With a smile. It was warm and fond, one of her favorites to receive, and she had to smile back. She tried to relax into her chair, as they were evidently going to see this through. Whatever "this" was. For Barty was incredibly keen to pile onto - and again, the unsaid things multiplied, and she gave her fullest attention to the said ones. She nodded ardently to Remus's assessment, hand flying to cover her mouth as a laugh fled out at his more than proper continued assessment of her cousin. The Slytherin took it well, though, Remus's measure of him - all magnetic grins and jests and graceful bows. "We always knew the end times would come, but I never thought it would be so soon," she joked with a sigh, putting on a touch of an affect in an effort to meet his energy. "The professors don't seem to enjoy having us in class together, always stick us in separate parts of the room," she went on, sending a grin Remus's way, "I could never guess why."

[Remus Lupin]

The things he knew about Barty Crouch Jr. were very limited, just as he knew very little about the boy's father. For example, he hadn’t known before today that Charlotte and Barty were cousins. So he listened intently as the two of them discussed Freya, and he could see the similarities between them. Just as he could clearly see their differences, which he felt were greater than the things Charlotte and Barty had in common. They kept each other on their toes, and while Remus had never desired to have cousins, he was in this moment extra glad that he didn’t. Who knew what kind of people the rest of the Lupin family was, given that they’d never tried to contact him or his mother was enough to know they weren’t really worth worrying about. But Barty? Here with them, bantering back and forth? That was worth worrying over. He had his doubts that Barty would say anything to Rufus, he didn’t feel like his roommate and the Slytherin were close.

He would make it up to James later and would pour over the prefect schedules tonight. Not that he felt that he truly needed to do that anymore, as Lily and James were getting along quite splendidly these days since they got together. Besides, James would understand that Remus couldn’t back down from this challenge. He wasn’t going to let a snake ruin his time with Charlotte, and while he didn’t necessarily enjoy playing mind games, he was decent at them. Enough to hold his own in this conversation, and he grinned as Barty seemed to eat up his words. Yes yes, it was easy enough to tell that the younger boy would be interested in Set, given his feelings about Loki. He wouldn’t agree with Barty’s assessment that they were friends, but perhaps he could get on the Slytherin’s good side enough to avoid any fallout from this interaction. “Oh, I agree. I can’t imagine why the professors wouldn’t want you both to have a hearty debate in the middle of class,” he said with a grin. “Personally I think they should let you both go at it, I’m sure the two of you could teach the others in your classes something important. What do you think, Barty?”