Barty Crouch Jr
A new school year started at Hogwarts. Just as it happened last year, it had sufficed putting one foot in school for the Black brothers follow opposite sides: one would be in the company of his Slytherin pals and the other with Gryffindors. It was inevitable, as water that needs to roll downhill: they both knew it and were learning to respect each other in this way - as they knew it wouldn't take too long for being at home again, where they would return to be the inseparable Black brothers again.
The Sorting Ceremony had barely begun when a buzz grew at the Slytherin table around the newest student house: Bartemius Crouch Jr, son of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, famous for sending to Azkaban a multitude of dark wizards and witches. Barty was not a pretty boy, nor was sympathetic and yet everyone wanted to talk or touch him, as if some magical power could be shared by touching. Only Regulus and Severus remained at a distance, one by spite and the other by indifference:
'I can't understand why all this stuff ...' Regulus said, indicating the small crowd of students around the newcomer, including Emma Vanity, who seemed not to have noticed that Regulus had returned to school.
'Um, it's just because his father caught some dark wizards... People are thinking he can be more powerful than anyone ... Nonsense, in my opinion. He shouldn't venture on capturing the Dark Lord ...' Snape paused thoughtfully. 'Why is it that he was sorted for our house?'
'Um, let me see: weak, cocky, ugly ... Looks nothing with us ...'
Snape pursed his lips holding a brief smile.
'Had a good summer holiday?' Severus asked.
'Awesome! ... but I haven't had much progress on that issue.'
Severus opened his mouth as though to speak, but gave up since Amifidel, Jack and John had turned their attention to their talking, trying to capture some hint about whatever Regulus and Severus were keeping secret. Avery and Mulciber were still around Barty.
'And about Li. .. How's...?
'It's okay ... Let see how things will be here at school ... Hey, look there: Slughorn has come to welcome Crouch Jr... We'll probably meet him at the Slug Club ...'
'You can bet ...' Regulus replied, nodding. Then he turned to Amifidel, 'and how about your holidays, Ami? Good, no?'
Amifidel smiled widely and began to tell about a trip "super" exciting he had made with his parents to Romania, where lived his great-uncle, a great connoisseur of dragons and soon everybody around him the filled the air with varied questions about dragons, all at the same time. None of them had seen one dragon in their lifetime. Regulus noticed with satisfaction that Amifidel managed to divert the attention of everyone for himself, scattering the audience of Crouch Jr.
The days that followed were not enough to dismiss the first impression that Regulus had of Barty. There was something in Barty that did not inspire confidence, as if he was hiding something all the time. Severus also felt that, although all Slytherin students continued following Barty everywhere. While Regulus was curious, he concealed a certain fear, especially after the letter of Mrs. Walburga came at the end of September:
"Dear son,
Our home now looks like a desert without you and your brother here. I'm glad you forgiven Sirius, he is a bit naughty, but I'm sure that when he grows he will honour the family name.
I heard the son of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is now at school. Despite him being from a pure-blood family, I should ask you to be careful of him. Your cousin Bellatrix told us last weekend she spent several days being chased by his father. He even took into consideration our traditional and ancient family and submitted her to a particularly unpleasant interrogation. Imagine that: pure-bloods being subjected to such humiliation! Of course there was nothing he could prove against her. The way things are going it will not take long for a witch to be forbidden to do magic even within her own home!
Have a good school year.
Miss you.
Mum. "