A/N: Written as a themed story for Slytherin House for the Houses Competition forum's round 6.
Prompt: [first line] Of all the people I could have seen against me in this fight... My child was the one I wanted least.
Word count: 2,822
Barty Crouch Sr. POV
November 2, 1981
Of all the people I could have seen against me in this fight... My child was the one I wanted least.
How could he hurt my image like this?
October 30, 1975
"Hey, Crouch." The Head of the DMLE, Hoffman, poked his head into the cubicle.
"What now?" Barty asked.
"Can you take a look at this?" He came in uninvited and dropped a thick file onto the desk.
"Can't a Auror do it?"
"The Aurors are stretched thin as ever; you know that. Look through the damn file, do your research on this, and report back if you find anything useful. Maybe, if you stop this, you'll get that promotion you've been hoping for."
"Well, what do you–" His boss left. "... Mean." Barty sighed and opened the file. Apparently, suspected Death Eaters had been meeting in a number of suspicious locations that formed a pattern around the Big Ben. The Auror who'd been working on the case previously had thought there would be an attack on the landmark, but had no idea when. Barty guessed it was his job to figure that out.
He sighed again. The Aurors had been doing this for five years. They'd start cases to figure out attacks beforehand or try to find out if someone was a secret Death Eater, and then someone else would find incriminating evidence on another guy and they'd have to take care of that, leaving people like Barty at the DMLE to deal with their abandoned research.
This case has given him zero leads on when the Death Eaters would strike. Excellent.
If only we could just bring these guys in for questioning, Barty thought. Then I wouldn't have to do this and we could just throw the suspects in holding cells. Merlin knows the Wizengamot has way too much veritaserum on their hands.
Wait. He sat up and stared into space, his mind racing. If we could have a justice system where we just bring in anyone who is suspicious, it'd create less work for us in the DMLE, and Aurors would be able to round more people up. The Wizengamot would bring the people in for questioning under veritaserum and have trials, and we'll have Azkaban full to the brim within a year, at most.
Barty stood up and ran off to the Head's office. He barged in uninvited.
"Crouch! What are you doing here? I'm in the middle of a meeting here, and I have no time for your complaints about work! We're all working overtime here!" Hoffman shouted.
"But sir, I have a plan!" Barty insisted, ignoring the aghast looks from Hoffman's associates.
"You can't have possibly found something on that report already!" the Head pressed.
"I still think we should take the suspects into questioning! As soon as possible!"
"On what grounds?!" Hoffman's face was beet red.
"We'll just question them under veritaserum, and if they plead innocent, we'll let them go; if not, then another cell in Azkaban is filled! What's the problem with that?"
"'What's the problem with that'?! The problem is, that's not how our government, how a democracy, works. We can't bring someone in against their will with no evidence to back it up."
"But–"
"Besides, veritaserum?! Are you out of your mind?! A person must consent to taking the potion before we can administer it! And if these guys don't, then what have you got now?"
"I doubt that's true," Barty said dubiously.
Hoffman did a double take. "Are you questioning me – the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement – on how the law works?"
"Perhaps so. And even if you're right, then why can't we change the law?"
"That's absurd! Get out of my office!"
Barty opened his mouth to retort, but another idea came to him and the anger flickered out of his gaze, replaced by smug satisfaction. "Very well. Good day, sir. Gentlemen, ladies," he said politely, nodding to the stunned, suited businesspeople.
The lawyer made his way out of the Head's office and walked briskly to another office: that of the Minister of Magic. This time, he waited respectfully for the man to be finished with his meeting before entering.
The people who make things happen are those in power, his mother always used to say. So there is one way to make change: to become powerful. You can do this one of two ways: You get on the powerful people's good side; be polite, respectful, make them feel like they are still holding the power they're so accustomed to over your head. Make your ideas seem like theirs and have them make the changes you want to see. This way, if anything goes wrong, that person will receive the blame. Slowly, you become the person's closest correspondent, and manipulate them from the inside without anyone realizing. Then there's the other option: faster, but more brutal. You will break more than a few fingernails and ruffle many feathers, but in the end you are the one in power. How do you do this? Well, you simply take the power yourself.
Barty then made a vow to himself: no one would stand in the way of his success.
"You can do this one of two ways," Mother had said. Barty smirked. Well, I'm going to do both.
Later that day
"I'm so glad you called this hearing so soon, Barty," Minister Melvin said. "We need as many Death Eaters rounded up as possible."
"Of course, sir," he agreed. "And the Aurors did an amazing job rounding up the suspects so quickly. Just glad to help."
"Excellent, lad." They walked into the elevator together and went down to the ninth floor, where Courtroom Nine was located. "By the way, how'd you find the evidence? We've had our best Aurors working on that case for months."
"Oh, well, I was thinking, and I thought, why don't we bring the suspects to hearings whenever we think there is something that should be inspected?"
"But without evidence?" The Minister squinted suspiciously.
"Oh, of course, they'd have to have been partaking in suspicious behaviour, such as if a civilian or an Auror reports something they have found. In this case, we have both, so I thought I'd appeal to my superior, but when he turned me down, I went to you. I know you are a kind and fair man, and I'm still very grateful to you for hearing me out."
"Oh, nonsense." Melvin waved the compliment off, but laughed. "I'm just trying to keep Britain safe. And now that I think about it, your plan makes perfect sense. It would create less work for the Auror and law enforcement departments alike, saving money and time, and the cells in Azkaban could be filled within–"
"–a year at most," Barty chimed in. "I was thinking the exact same thing, sir."
"The only reservation I have is the veritaserum. That's powerful stuff, and people deserve to have a say in what they put into their bodies."
"Even if the people in question are criminals? Terrorists, even? It would be for the good of the country."
Melvin chuckled nervously. "Let's not throw around that word too lightly, Crouch."
"What, 'terrorist'? Minister, with all due respect, that is what these Death Eaters are. And I for one prioritize the safety of the citizens of Wizarding Britain over calling terrorists mere 'criminals' to spare their feelings."
"Of course, of course. All the people in this building care about the safety of our citizens, Crouch. But veritaserum… I'll get back to you on that."
"Right, sir. I am sorry, I just get carried away when it comes to justice."
"Yes, well. I'll talk to you after the hearing."
Barty nodded and stepped out of the elevator behind Melvin. They walked in awkward silence before Melvin finally asked, "Uh, don't you have somewhere to be, son?"
"Oh, did they not tell you? I'm the prosecutor."
Barty stepped into Courtroom Nine with a smirk, too smug to notice the Minister sitting down next to Hoffman and muttering, "Keep an eye on that one. Crouch."
"Has he caused trouble, sir?" Hoffman asked.
"No. I was just wondering if I should promote him." Before Hoffman could reply, Melvin announced, "Let us begin. Prosecutor Crouch, will you…"
October 31, 1975
Barty Crouch Sr. got to work immensely satisfied with the hearing that had taken place the day before. The five suspects had pleaded guilty under veritaserum and been sent to Azkaban that same day. He'd gotten home late and tired, but it was all worth it. He was sure the Minister would be approaching him right about… now.
"Ah, Crouch!" Melvin's voice boomed across the Atrium right on time. "I was wondering when you'd be coming in. Please, join me in my office." As he was led away, Barty smirked pompously at all his coworkers staring at him.
"I really love the way you handled yourself in that hearing yesterday," Melvin said once they were in his very large, cushy office. "The way you got them to consent to veritaserum was pure genius."
"Oh, why thank you," Barty said. This is going better than I thought.
"I think you could do great things for Britain with a little push. And I've decided to give you it." Melvin leaned back. "I've decided to make you head of a committee of DMLE workers that will do exactly what you did yesterday, working in direct correspondence with one of our best Aurors who, I must say, was quite thrilled by the idea. You'll look through cases the other Aurors have left and try to find evidence to convict them using research and reports from civilians. If you can't find anything, have an Auror tail the suspect until they find something good."
"Oh, thank you so much, sir. This is exactly what we need. It will be an honor to be at the head of it all. But, um, who exactly is this prestigious Auror I'll be working with?"
"Let me show you." The Minister smiled and led Barty to a space on the third floor. Desks, chairs, and records were already set up with DMLE workers at each table. A few Aurors, marked by the red robes they wore when not in combat, ambled around as well. And, leading them, was none other than…
"Mad– er, Alastor Moody!" Barty exclaimed.
"Yup," Melvin said. "He is quite passionate. I'm sure you both will get along fine. I'll leave you to it."
Melvin left and Barty held out his hand to shake. Moody didn't take it. Instead he said in a gravelly voice, "I heard you were all about rounding those Death Eater scum up. Asked Melvin if I could be a part of this committee and he said yes. That's why I'm here: to fill up Azkaban. I'm expecting you to pull your fair share of the work, Crouch. I don't mess around, Crouch," he finished with a growl.
"Neither do I," Barty said steadily, looking the man straight in his one good eye. After a long pause, Moody finally held his hand out to shake.
"Fine, then. I have a tough case that I want you to join. I put everyone else on other cases already." He limped to a small, more secluded area that Barty guessed was his sort of office here.
"Crispin O'Malley," Moody growled. "The guy's been meeting with dirt like the Malfoys and the Blacks for at least three years, but he's real good at clearing his tracks. My superior says we 'don't have enough definite evidence' seeing as neither Abraxas Malfoy nor Orion Black are confirmed Death Eaters. In my opinion, if you hang around with scum like that, you deserve to be locked up."
"I was thinking the same thing," Barty jumped in. "Ideally, we could round up anyone suspicious and have them be put under veritaserum. It would weed out the Death Eaters from decent people real quick."
Moody looked at him sideways. "I think you may be onto something, Crouch." He gave him a gruesome smile. "I think we'll grow to become quite accquainted with each other."
Barty smiled back. "So do I."
December 24, 1975
"Cell in Azkaban half-filled thanks to Crouch and Moody," Barty said happily. "What'd'you think of that, Mad-Eye?!"
"I think you're getting bloated on attention," he called back good-naturedly. They were the only ones left in the committee office as it was so late.
"Citizens clamor for Crouch and Moody to become Heads of respective departments," Barty continued, ignoring his coworker.
Moody snorted. "That's a pipe dream. As if I'd ever consider being a department head."
"Why not? I'd definitely appreciate a promotion."
"Then take it. That's not for me." Moody leaned back in his chair and took a swig from his flask.
"The election is coming up," Barty muttered. He glanced back at his noted on O'Malley. Suddenly, a sentence stood out to him. Bought a vial of a mysterious substance that looked like basilisk venom… "Mad-Eye."
"What?"
"O'Malley potentially bought a vial of basilisk venom. That's illegal." He stood. "If we can get him to confess in a courtroom, we can have him in Azkaban for at least a few months."
"You're a genius. We'll round him up tomorrow."
"No, Mad-Eye, we'll do it now. There have to be some Aurors working overtime on paperwork that are bored out of their minds and would do this for us."
"I think you just described me, but without the part where I'd do it," Moody said, sighing as Barty ran off anyway. And to think he has a kid and wife and it's Christmas Eve. Merlin help me.
March 3, 1976
"Barty Crouch! How's that new office feel?" Melvin said cheerfully.
Barty laid his hand on the plaque that read Bartemius Crouch Sr.; Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. "Very good, sir. Thank you again for appointing me."
"You deserved it."
"I actually have something I wanted to show you. Here." Barty sat up and took a file out of his desk. Melvin took it and frowned.
"The Veritaserum Mandation Bill? Barty, isn't this going a little far?"
"Don't worry, the Wizengamot still needs to approve its use first. Can you run it by the council by the end of the week?"
"I'll try, but this seems like a stretch."
"Well, I'm confident. I'm Head of the DMLE; I'm on the top of the world!"
Melvin smiled. "I'll get right on it. Enjoy yourself, Barty. Maybe you could finally take a day off now."
"Why in Merlin's name would I do that?"
November 1, 1981
"As Death Eater attacks become more and more frequent, the people of magical Britain clamor for Barty Crouch, Sr. to become Minister of Magic," the day's Prophet.
"I can't believe we let Cinolly slip through our fingers like that!" Barty was ranting to Moody. "And on a technicality! Ugh!"
"Maybe you need to take a break. We've just won the biggest war in Wizarding history, for Merlin's sake! You've been working nonstop for six straight years, and in that time alone, you've become the Head of the DMLE, passed dozens of reform bills, and put countless Death Eaters in Azkaban," Moody placated. "We'll round this guy up later. Let's celebrate! I'm retiring, and you're about to become Minister of Magic!"
"I can't let a Death Eater go! Listen to yourself! That piece of filth need sot be extinguished off the face of the Earth like all the others!"
"Woah. Calm down."
Barty turned to face his long-time friend. "Did you just tell me to calm down? I am your superior now! You can't tell me what to do! Get out of my office and let me catch the Death Eater myself, if you won't help!"
Moody raised his eyebrow and hobbled out obediently. "I'm just saying, maybe you should take a break and go home to your family. To Crouch Jr."
"They're not as important right now. I thought I told you to leave!"
The door slammed shut and Barty was alone in his large, mahogany office. Which suited him just fine.
November 2, 1981
Barty couldn't believe his child had betrayed him like this. After all he'd stood for, after all he'd accomplished, his son was going to throw it away?! Theresa, the mother of the child, sobbed in the corner, but Barty paid her no mind. He'd made a vow, and he was a man of his word. If his own son was standing between him and the position of Minister, there was nothing he could do about that.
"You are sentenced to a lifetime in Azkaban for your heinous crimes," he decreed.
The crowd gasped. Barty Crouch Jr. screamed for mercy. Theresa cried, "My son!"
Barty inhaled sharply and locked eyes with the pitiful boy being carried away. "I have no son!"