@rosekillermicrofic, September 2nd - Doctor, T, Word Count - 331
There’s a conversation that Barty remembers. It was back when he and Evan were still at Hogwarts. It was a stupid question Barty had brought up; he wasn’t even sure what brought him to ask it. But it’s one that haunts him, even today.
“Hey Ev? If you had to have a muggle profession, what would you pick?”
He wasn’t expecting a proper answer—maybe something sarcastic or completely stupid—but Evan actually answered honestly, like he had thought this out before.
“I think I’d be a doctor. Muggles can’t just use magic, so they have a greater understanding of the body, and I think it would be interesting to learn all of that,” he explained to Barty, from where he had sat on his bed, twirling his wand in his fingers like he always did. “Do you have something in mind?”
“Um, I don’t really know.” Barty had to think; he never really gave the question much thought before, despite being the one who thought of it originally. “Maybe a teacher? But for kids around our age, not toddlers.”
“I feel like I’d be good for guidance.”
Evan nods. “I can see it.”
They both pictured life. Living in an apartment together, maybe they’d own a dog. They would sit in each other’s warmth, with Barty grading papers and Evan writing medical reports.
But now, the paper in Barty’s hands shakes. His house is cold, empty, and lifeless. And he’s jolted back to reality. Barty’s not a teacher. And Evan’s not a doctor. They don’t live together; in fact, Barty hasn’t seen him in months.
He follows the tear on its journey down his face and onto the paper.
Evan Rosier’s Death Relieves Hundreds.
But if he squints just right through his tears, a different story appears. And there’s more warmth in his house. Evan Rosier’s Discovery Saves Hundreds.
“I’m so proud of you, Rosie…” he whispers to the photograph. The only trace of the doctor that he has.