Character: Barty Crouch jr
Prompt: The Unbreakable Vow
Word Count: 650
Rating: G
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Barty Crouch had never been a free man – his father had made sure of that from his youth. Always, Barty had been in his father's shadow, consigned to the role of Mr. Crouch's son. And despite his willingness to fill that role – he never complained, never a word – his father showed no affection towards him. He never gave Barty anything in return, and yet he expected him to be ever faithful. Ever the good son.
No.
There were other people more deserving of Barty's faith than his father.
The Dark Lord, for instance, deserved every ounce of loyalty that Barty possessed.
The Dark Lord was far beyond Barty's father in power, in skill, in ambition and in wisdom. He was a great man, a man with foresight and vision for the Wizarding world, no matter what the Aurors believed.
Were it wholly Barty's decision, he would have gladly spent every second of his life in the Dark Lord's service. He would have stood at his side whenever he was needed, would have done anything and everything to prove that he and he alone was truly the Dark Lord's most faithful servant.
But he could not, for the Dark Lord refused to grant him that trust.
"I do not know what you wish from me, my Lord," he told his Master after one meeting too many in which he was ignored and overlooked. "I would willingly give you my life, and yet- yet you treat me like…" He trailed off when the Dark Lord turned to him and fixed him with a sharp glare.
"I treat you with the dignity and trust that I feel you deserve, Crouch – no more and no less," he told him coldly. A flush of humiliation rose on Barty's cheeks.
"But Master, I could achieve so much more than you believe of me–"
The Dark Lord's hand shot out and his fingers wrapped around Barty's wrist. They were cold and steady and he gripped his hand with an intensity that made him shiver.
"Promise your loyalty to me, Crouch," he whispered, leaning so close that Barty felt his breath brush against his ear. "If you are so loyal that you feel you deserve higher trust than you are being given, you will have no hesitations about swearing upon it…"
"I- I will swear my loyalty to you, my Lord." Barty's breath was weak, stuttering, and his hand shook in his Master's, but he spoke earnestly. "Always to you, my Lord. Only to you, my Lord. What can I do to make you believe me when I say that?"
The Dark Lord's eyes ran across Barty's face, flicked between his eyes, seeming to search for some signal of honesty or deception.
"Make the Unbreakable Vow," he said at last, his voice low and firm. "Make the Unbreakable Vow and swear your unending loyalty to me, and then perhaps I shall give my trust to you…"
"I will gladly make the Vow to you, my Lord," Barty said immediately. "I will take it now – I want nothing more than to serve you, my Lord, to see you rise to the power that you deserve!"
"Nothing more?" The Dark Lord arched an eyebrow and Barty dropped his eyes, running his tongue around his lips.
"It- it is my primary desire, my Lord," he amended. "But I would be dishonest if I said that I did not have other wishes that are… related to your power."
"Wishes pertaining to your father?" he asked, not without a touch of amusement.
"Yes, my Lord."
The Dark Lord lifted Barty's hand, holding it between them and squeezing it firmly.
"Your wishes can be granted, Barty," he whispered. "Swear your loyalty to me and you will be rewarded. Give yourself to me, and you will become known as a great man, not merely a boy in your father's shadow… I promise you that."