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A Song of Lightning and Fire
Arc I: Magic
Part V: The Goblet of Fire
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Barty had been travelling all over Albania for over 3 months, finding no trace of his Lord, and he was frustrated. He was very frustrated.
He'd spent the months of April, May, and June here, and there was nothing to tell for it. He'd been dodging The Aurors, and Black and McKinnon, all the while trying not to draw too much attention to himself.
It wasn't easy.
He'd escaped Azkaban pretty easily- being a Raven Animagus did wonders for that, surprisingly- and since then, he'd scoured the World for the Dark Lord, his faith in Bellatrix's plan to use a Djinn for the resurrection and further enhancement of the Dark Lord having been completely shattered.
Currently, he had made his way into a nearby pub, as he usually did nowadays, trying to hear a snippet of a conversation from the locals that might be able to help him trace the whereabouts of the Dark Lord.
This method had previously given him his most promising lead in Albania until now. He'd overheard that many people suspected the presence of Dark Magic in the area, and they were right. There was a Powerful Dark Magic in the area. Possession, he would say if he had to guess. One of the worst forms of Dark Magic.
"I'm telling ya," he heard a man say as he went to the bar. "The whole clearing was barren. Not a single sign of anything there. The trees were broken and dead, and the grass was all grey in color."
That drew Barty's attention. Grey grass usually meant that there was some Dark Artefact being kept at the centre of the area. The Dark Magic spread over a small area, no matter how strongly one protected or Enchanted the object and/or the area around it.
"I've been there," the other man said. "There wasn't any clearing there."
"Grey grass, you say?" Barty asked, inserting himself into their conversation.
"We weren't talking to you," the other man sneered. Barty would have liked nothing more than to Curse that expression off his face.
"And I wasn't talking to you," Barty said. "The Grey grass. It is important for a missing person's case I am working on. Where is it?" Barty said, thinking on the spot, and drawing out a hastily conjured Muggle police batch. "I'm with the police."
"I can take you there," the man offered, and Barty nodded in acceptance of the offer.
"Thank you, kind sir," he replied, wanting to bite his tongue off for saying that to a Muggle.
"Of course," the man said, standing up. Barty followed his lead, and the two of them soon made their way out of the pub, Barty casting a Confundus Charm on the other man, who made to follow.
Barty and the man- Jacob, as he introduced himself- entered the Forest, Jacob leading him deeper and deeper into the forest, and having no visible intentions of slowing down.
"How far is it?" Barty asked. Outside of Duelling, he wasn't used to such strenuous physical activity. There was no need for him to be.
"Just a few more minutes," Jacob responded.
Soon, they reached what could only be their destination, and Bart could see that the man wasn't lying.
Grey grass stretched all over the clearing, and the trees were all bare and dead. There was a single white colored tree in the centre of the clearing. It, too, was dead, but it was the sheer size of the thing, as well as the Dark Magic he could feel radiating off of it that drew his attention to it.
Barty reached down and touched one of the grass blades, not at all surprised when it crumbled to dust and floated away. Jacob was sweating now, and Barty suspected there must be some Muggle repelling Charms over the area, and they could only be overcome by a Muggle who was strong of character.
It almost made him regret the thought of killing Jacob.
Almost.
"Tell me this isn't weird," Jacob said, turning around as Barty pulled his Wand out. "What is that?" The man asked curiously.
He didn't grace Jacob with an answer. "Avada Kedavra!" Barty exclaimed. The Killing Curse soared through the air, striking Jacob in the chest, making him fly back and fall to the ground.
Barty walked towards Jacob's body and Transfigured it into a large Wolf, then a smaller Dog, followed by a small Cat, and then finally, a bone.
It was a tedious Transfiguration, but Barty never was always good at it. Plus, it would hide the Transfigurations performed on the Human Body if anyone came to look for a Bone.
"Defodio," Barty cast, watching as the ground moved deeper, allowing him to deposit the bone in the newly formed hole.
"Restituatur," Barty said, sighing in relief as the ground moved again and the soil filled up the exposed area, covering the bone from view completely.
Barty walked over to the tree in the centre and peered inside a hole that was in its centre. He could smell the Dark Magic inside the trunk, and he could see the edges of an object down the hole.
Upon focusing his eyes, he saw that the object was a tiara, one embedded with a large blue gem stone in the centre with the emblem of the House of Ravenclaw. He couldn't gold in his gasp even if he wanted to.
He'd just found the Lost Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.
It was an Object of legendary renown and reputation, said to bestow the wearer with high amounts of wisdom and knowledge. Barty didn't know if it was true or not, but it certainly would sell for billions of Galleons.
"Barty?" He heard a cold voice hiss.
He immediately whirled around, recognizing the owner of the voice. He was met with a snake staring back at him, its head cooked in curiosity, but it was the red eyes of the snake that were most familiar to him.
The eyes of his Lord Voldemort.
"My lord," he gasped, immediately dropping to his knees. "I knew you were alive, my Lord. Everyone thought you were dead, but me and a few others never listened, never believed the… lies… they spewed."
"Rise, Barty," the Dark Lord said. "I am glad you have found me. This progresses my plans by quite a few decades."
"Master," Barty said. "The Talons, they have made a soldier for you. The Orc, just as you asked them to."
"They were successful?" The Dark Lord asked in surprise. "I was not expecting them to be ready before a few more years at the least."
"They are ready, my Lord," Barty answered. "And they are quite Powerful. Immune to Spells, any and all kinds. Black, McKinnon, and Lupin destroyed our biggest factory, but we have more."
The snake seemed to sigh in disappointment, but the words that came out surprised him. "To build something beautiful, sacrifice is needed," The Dark Lord said. "Anything else you would like to tell me, Barty?"
"The Potter boy is still alive, my Lord," Barty said. The Dark Lord did not seem surprised by this, judging by the slow nod he gave.
"What of the Weasley girl?" The Dark Lord asked. "She dared to defy me once. Will we be able to recruit her, or will she also have to die?"
"I cannot say for certain, my Lord," Barty said. "Perhaps I can infiltrate the school-"
"No," the Dark Lord interrupted him casually. "I shall need you by my side, Barty. Not out there teaching children."
Barty gave a long bow. "Your wish is my command, my Lord."
"Good," Voldemort said. "Take me back to Britain. I shall explain what you need to know on the way."
Barty nodded and extended a hand to his Lord, allowing him to slither on top of Barty's shoulders. He summoned a nearby rock, and turned it into a Portkey, one that would leave in ten seconds.
They were sucked into a Vortex as the Dark Lord tightened his grip around Barty's shoulders. When Barty opened his eyes, he was in his Father's old home.
"What is this place?" The Dark Lord asked.
"My Father's home," Barty said venomously, causing the Dark Lord to turn to him in surprise. "He kept me here under an Imperius Curse for years. Hid me under an Invisibility Cloak. It wasn't pleasant."
"I am sorry, Barty," the Dark Lord said sympathetically. "This shouldn't have happened to you. You have been far more loyal to the cause than anyone else."
"Thank you, my Lord," Barty said.
"Your Father is behind you," the Dark Lord whispered in his ear a moment later. "Cast a Spell on him… now!"
Barty spun around without hesitation.
"Expelliarmus!" His father's Wand went flying out of his hand without much effort.
"Carpe Retractum," A golden chain of Magic shot out of his Wand, and attached itself to his Father, who was unceremoniously pulled towards Barty.
"What have we here?" Barty asked mockingly as his Father fell near his feet.
"What in the Devil are you doing, Barty?" Barty Crouch Sr. asked harshly, rrying to stand up but being thwarted when Barty placed his foot on his Father's shoulder.
"Freeing myself," Barty replied. "Revenge is sweet, wouldn't you say?" He asked rhetorically, relishing the way his Father's eyes widened once he caught on to what Barty meant.
"Imperio!"