Embracing His True Self

Chapter 103

Barty had requested the memory from someone who would have the best angle all around. So, he could actually see what was going on, hear what was going on with the best view. He hadn't been able to attend the press conference, not that he'd have picked it out compared to the other things he had to do. Hermione had made the first available appointment to check on their child, the very first scan. His other priorities were quickly shoved aside, there was nothing more important than his child. Nothing would ever be more important than his child. He would never become his father; he would make sure his child knew they were so loved.

-0 Flashback 0-

"Ms. Granger?" came the call of a Medi-witch as she called out to them, staring at the corridor full of pregnant witches, at all different times of their pregnancies. None of them had their significant others with them, except Hermione. Whether they just didn't care, or had other more important plans.

"That's me," Hermione said, standing, striding forward without an ounce of worry showing. As she left, she did not notice the sour looks, longing looks, and bitter ones as Barty treated Hermione so very well attentive to her care and utterly besotted.

"For now," Barty murmured, he couldn't wait until she was Mrs. Crouch, the possessive part of him demanded anyway. Her parents might be muggles, which he personally couldn't stand, but understood now far greater than ever from all the books he read. However, she was ultimately part of the Malfoy family, had Malfoy blood running through her veins. Between the two of them, their child should surely be quite powerful.

"Granger-Crouch," Hermione refuted, she was hyphenating her name.

"Don't you want the baby to have all available prospects at its disposal?" Barty pointed out slyly, expecting fully to win the argument. "Prospects that weren't available to you?" mostly all parents wanted the best for their children.

Hermione stared coolly at Barty, "No," she uttered in a clipped tone, "Working for status in life makes a person stronger," thinking of Draco and how he'd had everything he ever wanted handed to him without working for it. Although, fair enough, his grades were always very high, and she doubted Professor Snape and the other professors could be bought. He wasn't the best, but he was quite high up, always in the ten percenters, usually five percenters.

Barty blinked, staring at Hermione in a sense of stunned disbelief, following her into the room. Utterly bewildered, almost tripping over himself, Hermione worked twice as hard in this society to prove herself…she'd have their children doing the same? Just because it built character? He didn't understand.

"I see you've left how far along you are…" the Medi-witch pointed out, "Do you know?" looking at Barty.

Hermione huffed, "Well, look at that, I managed to get you pregnant Barty," oozing sarcasm, bitchy to the extreme.

Barty smothered his burst of amusement, "I only just found out," Barty told the Medi-witch, the elderly woman probably didn't mean anything by it. Barty glanced at Hermione in silent wonder, just how far along was she actually? "Mione?" he queried.

Hermione gritted out, "Over a month, but I am not sure, it's why I am here," she should have gone to a Muggle one…at least they would have actually looked at her. She knew this was a male dominated society, and she'd have to work extremely hard to accomplish anything, but she should be able to speak to a female witch and get some understanding.

Despite Hermione's clear anger and frustration, the Medi-witch continued to direct her questions to Barty. Who didn't seem to realize his fiancée's rising ire, as he proudly and puffed out continued to answer the questions, although he began to get an idea when he clasped her hand, and found his hand being crushed almost to the point of breaking his bones.

If his voice became rather high pitched, everyone had the decency to say nothing.

Her sour mood eased when the Medi-witch did the scan, not only did she see her baby but she was also informed just how far along she was. The Medi-witch put the information on the piece of paper.

"Would you like a copy of it?" the Medi-witch asked, staring fondly at Barty who was all agog.

Barty had no time for her, as he stared between the scan and Hermione love and happiness radiating from his every pore. "We did that." He choked out, a tear running down his face, he hadn't thought for a second, he'd have this sort of life stuck first in Azkaban then with his father under the Imperius Curse for so long. Freedom had seemed so far off, never mind a family of his own.

"We did," Hermione's voice had become fond and soft.

"Um, five, five copies," Barty said, glancing only once at the witch before his attention was focused on his Hermione. Hermione's parents no doubt would want one, and the Dark Lord, and Harry, and Rabastan and Luna and Rodolphus, he wanted one and he was sure Hermione did too.

Barty all but snatched a copy of the scan, there was nothing really there to see, what was there was smaller than even a Bertie Bott Bean. Yet, for all Barty saw of it, it might have well been a fully-fledged babe he could see. Paying zero attention the Medi-witch but Hermione as always listened even if she didn't like it.

"You really are excited, aren't you?" Hermione said, softening immediately just seeing Barty so smitten. This was why she'd been so sure she was wrong; how could he be Bartemius Crouch Junior? The vile loathsome insane death eater who had done Neville's parents wrong? She'd seen all of them as bad and evil and unsalvageable. Unfortunately, she'd been forced to wake up. People weren't black and white, there was a lot in between. Yes, that part of Barty existed, but in the Muggle world? He would have been out by now and living his life forgiven for his past misdeeds. Azkaban didn't do anyone any good. Who was she to argue when society said he'd repaid his debt to society? Plus, Neville had forgiven them…oh, she could scarcely believe it, but he had.

"Aren't you?" Barty asked, thrumming with excitement, before calming and staring at Hermione giving her his full undivided attention.

Hermione smiled, "I am," she sorts of wished she hadn't gotten pregnant so soon, she had so much she wanted to do in life, but it seems like she'll have to rearrange everything. She'd still continue to work, just in a different capacity, and one day she swore she'd be the Minister for magic.

It was possible seeing as how everything was changing, even the so called 'dark side' as everyone liked to call it. Sometimes growing up you had to remove the rose-tinted glasses, which sucked, but that was life. You couldn't remain a child forever, or retain the childish fantasies and beliefs.

"Are…are you going to move in with me?" Barty asked, as he helped Hermione off the medical bed. He gave a small nod to the Medi-Witch in thanks but other than that his focus was on Hermione, which helped sooth the witches ire. As soon as the door clicked shut, Hermione began to speak.

"We are not coming back here to her, we're getting someone else," Hermione stated, lips pursed unpleasantly. Swallowing thickly, "Well, my parents place doesn't have room for a nursery, and we definitely need to start planning one soon." She said thoughtfully, her parents weren't as excited as she'd hoped either. She needed to sit down and talk with them, about everything that was going on with them. She doubted Barty would want to live with her parents anyway, and judging by the way he was acting…he wasn't going to easily leave her or their child easily even for a few hours.

"Wait, really?" Barty perked up, eyes wide, "Are you serious?" as they both turned the corner, he almost ran smack dab into a stretcher but Hermione easily yanked him out of the way.

"Yes, very," Hermione said, as they walked down the hallway, though another set of doors. "But I do need time to speak to my parents on my own."

"Now?" Barty asked, wanting to whine, he felt like every time they had something to celebrate, Hermione had to be somewhere else.

"Yeah, now, it's going to be a long and difficult conversation," Hermione said, deducing she wasn't going to like what came next.

"What do you mean?" Barty asked, giving Hermione's hand a reassuring squeeze.

"My parents aren't exactly…jumping for joy over the news," Hermione admitted, "They seem happy enough, but they're not as excited as I thought as first." Seeing Barty had brought home their real lack of enthusiasm.

"I can come with you?" Barty suggested, maybe it had something to do with Hermione not being married? Could they be old fashioned that way? He was very good at masking his dislike of the Muggles, even Hermione hadn't noticed. Or so he had thought…after all she'd figured out who he was.

"No, I'll be fine, but can I move in tonight if I…" Hermione didn't even get a chance to finish her question.

"Yes, absolutely yes," Barty vehemently nodded his head, excitement almost causing him to visibly vibrate on the spot. Then he realized that the place was empty of anything, there was no furniture. At least everywhere had been fixed, painted and suitable for them to move in. Which included the garden, it was perfect for anyone to go and walk around in. He hadn't expected a yes, any time soon, so he hadn't thought of furniture. He'd need to hire a shopper and interior decorator, as soon as possible.

"We'll see how it goes," Hermione said smiling fondly.

All Barty heard in that sentence was 'yes' despite the word never being used! Selective hearing for the win.

-0 End Flashback 0-

Once Barty was informed Irene and Irma had been there and Irene would give him the memory. Nobody would just casually ask the Dark Lord or Harry to give up their memories. So, he didn't ask them, he'd have asked Harry if they were alone, but he wasn't suicidal enough to ask right there and then. He was told where the twins were and he was off like a shot after retrieving his pensive from his rooms. It might be the last day he used it, he might be officially moving into Crouch estate, and in doing so, would make far better memories this time around.

"Hey, Irene, mind sharing your memory for the pensive?" Barty asked her, the pensive in question bobbing behind him carried by Barty's magic alone.

Irene's unimpressed face became visible as she removed the book blocking the view. "I am busy!" she had a very important test tomorrow; she would not fail.

"You've read the book… at least twice!" Barty pointed out, "Come on, it will only take a few seconds!" he really wanted to see it for himself the article just wasn't enough. He'd never trust a reporters view of an event. They wrote it to please readers, and themselves, it's never the entire truth, at least it had never been in his experience.

"Come on!" he whined once again, staring expectantly at the teens.

"Will you leave us in peace if we I do?" Irene asked exasperated, but her lips were twitching giving away her genuine amusement at the situation. Sure, she worked hard to pass her exams and such, but she knew how to space things out. Their mother and father always taught them to enjoy life, that doing nothing but studying was proven to be harmful.

Irma laughed softly from behind her book, the twins identical in all ways, down to having very, very similar personalities. The only difference between the two was Irma had a love of animals far greater than Irene who could live with or without them. "Go on, stop teasing him," her eyes were twinkling brightly.

Irene sighed dramatically, removing her wand from her holster. Which was attached to her left wrist, she was left-handed as was her sister. "I can't see the fascination; it was rather boring."

"Only because it was predictable," Irma added, nodding firmly, people were so boring, so predictable. Watching as her twin removed the memory that Barty wanted to see so much, and with careful precision it was added to the empty pensive. Which begun to glow now that there was something within it. "I had no idea the Crouch's had a pensive?" she added, swiping her fingers reverentially over the Crouch Insignia she saw imbedded on the side.

"It belonged to my grandmother, well, grandparents really," Barty said, staring at the pensive a half smile on his face, which was tight, as if he was struggling to remember something, something fond. "Gifted to Casper Crouch and Charis Crouch Nee Black by Lord Arcturus Black as a wedding gift." Their portraits had been a great comfort to him growing up, until his father found out he was talking to Charis…he shuddered anew just recalling the portraits fate. His father had burnt her, then decided Casper deserved the same fate for defending someone so dark. Luckily his father didn't know about this, or many of the family heirlooms, Charis may have been married into the family but she was ultimately a Black and had hidden a lot when she realized what her son was like, poor thing, they had raised him to be neutral, but he'd gone vocally, vehemently and drastically light after attending Hogwarts. No doubt down to Dumbledore. Naturally. Now the world believed he had been dark all along, and once again Charis was being blamed – she was a Black after all it tainted everything – they only remembered the Black's when they felt like it.

Soon that sort of shit wouldn't happen, he couldn't wait for their world to be overhauled. Only those in the know will ever see the underbelly of the beast…but the rest of the world? Would only ever see the perfect illusion, that their world was perfect. If some had to die to accomplish that? Well, he was perfectly happy to have that on his shoulders.

It would be worth it; his family would make it worth it.

Hermione knew who he was, knew what he had done…and stayed with him regardless. He could barely believe it, especially after Luna's words, he'd even camped out behind her parent's house, terrified she'd leave in the dead of the night. Yet no escape attempts were made, they'd gone to St. Mungo's and he had shown the scan to everyone he came across from the second they left the hospital room.

He was besotted.

"Oh, Merlin, I didn't think it was possible for you to look even more insane," Harry quipped as Barty walked on by.

Barty instead of replying stuck his tongue out, a second of panic hitting him, as he glanced around in fright. The relief that swamped him was almost too much to bear. He knew he wouldn't get away with what was seen as disrespect for Harry, their Lord, when the Dark Lord was around. Harry was sat at the Great Hall surrounded by books, scribbling away, with Severus looking through books and murmuring quietly to him, as they both worked on something.

"I don't know what your inferring, he looks like that all the time," Severus said wryly, hardly giving Barty the time of day. Honestly, he didn't understand himself how Barty could stand Granger for more than a minute. Perhaps she wasn't quite so annoying out of academic settings? He was glad he no longer had to teach her that's all he had to say on that front.

Barty threw Severus a droll look, not at all insulted, he'd heard it a million times before.

Harry sniggered, glancing up again, making sure his comment wasn't being taken seriously, "Are you okay?" Barty had been riding a high for days now, ever since he'd found out that Hermione was pregnant.

"I am," Barty replied, inclining his head as if to convey double sincerity.

Harry returned his nod, before returning back to his work.

"What are you two up to?" Barty questioned, padding forward, the pensive following dutifully at his back.

"We're trying to create a stronger fertility potion," Harry explained, brow furrowing, "Something more along the lines of IVF to be honest."

Barty snorted, "Sorry but…can you see any of the witches going through that?"

"If they want a kid they'll do it," Harry shrugged entirely indifferent to whether they did. He was giving them a way to have bigger families, or families at all. "Won't be a problem soon, if you all keep going down the road of introducing new blood each generation." He added with a wry snort, knowing that most wouldn't want to do it…but the alternative was their house becoming extinct. They'd rather marry a Muggle than allow that to happen.

"They will consider it barbaric if we continue with this particular application method," Severus spoke, perceptive of those who would be using the application, "Unfortunately, I cannot see it working any other way, not if we want at least seventy percent chance of success."

Barty nodded emphatically, agreeing with Severus. "I categorically agree."

Harry arched a brow at the way he was talking, categorically? Really? Who was he trying to impress? "If they don't want to do it, they'll just have to hope the fertility potion with only the promise of twenty percent success – which ironically enough worked more on Half-blood's and Muggleborn witches. The problems pureblood witches faced were more severe due to the inbreeding that had been done for generations before the cause had been found.

"Narcissa would," Barty pointed out seriously, she was desperate for a child, hell, she'd go through the Muggle IVF if need be. He didn't know everything about the procedure, but he'd read a lot of books on Muggle science and it amazed him. Luckily, since he could for the most part keep up with Hermione when she prattled on.

"I know," Severus murmured compassionately. He knew just how much Narcissa would have loved to have a second child. Narcissa was always composed outside of her home, but inside? Especially after a recent tragedy, another more vulnerable Narcissa appeared. Each miscarriage had ripped a part of Narcissa's heart and Severus had seen her break down, scream and cry and rage at the injustice of it. It was less painful after she had Draco but still there in every day life where she couldn't give Draco a younger sibling. Watching him grow up isolated, like his father, and not like Narcissa, not that she'd been close to all her siblings. "This could actually give her what she wants." it's just regretful that she may become a grandmother at the same time. Hopefully Draco will have grown up by that point. Unlikely spoiled brat.

"Could help a lot of witches," Barty said, well aware of many witches having difficulties, being diagnosed with infertility damaged their prospects. Faced with marrying someone who already had an heir and just wanted a wife to raise that child or worse. He didn't like to think on what he'd heard…and thank Merlin he didn't have a sister to worry about. not that they had come to him with their troubles, no, he'd overheard a lot. The bitterness the girls felt over their future was heart-breaking.

"That's the hope," Harry commented, "Tom wants the magical world to thrive." They were so small in number, compared to the Muggles, it was hardly surprising he wanted to see their numbers raise drastically as possible. They were the smallest magical community in the world, and they would not survive much longer, stagnant as they were.

"Right," Barty nodded his agreement, rapidly losing interest, "I think I have a few books on the most recent form of IVF if you need it. The House-elves can get it for you if you like, I'll see you later." He slowly and carefully set his pensive on one of the tables on the other end of the Great Hall.

Without a second's hesitation, he pressed his wand against the shimmering liquid that was the memory. Then Barty was gone from the Great Hall, his form now immersed within the liquid viewing the memory.

Memory

Barty straightened up, looking around, both at the spectators – which he noted were mostly reporters here – but further at the back were those just interested in hearing what 'Lord Potter' had to say. He wasn't just that though, Barty thought reverentially, no, he was also Lord Consort, to Lord Slytherin, one of the oldest names in all of Wizardkind. Betrothed to the very last direct Slytherin, while, yes, Harry was also a Slytherin by blood, on both sides, but the title and the most direct bloodline belonged to his Lord.

Here they were all salivating over him, unaware of the darkness in him. The utmost desire to be him, the utmost desire to marry him, to have fame and fortune at their fingertips. They looked, the desired, the wanted, but they all knew he was unobtainable. His Lord's Consort was so far above them that it was laughable, they shouldn't even be allowed to look. To gaze upon him with their pitiable eyes.

He made a mental note of everyone he could see, a lot of Half-blood's and Muggle-borns. He knew because he'd taught many of them…and their stances and clothes were all wrong. Pureblood's exuded money, power, wealth and status. He could point them out a mile away, but speaking wrenched him out of his pursual of the crowds and their conversation.

See, all this was missed by just seeing the article in the newspaper. The photos for all they moved, didn't give this sort of detail. They were on rewind, with only five seconds of memory, before it halts and goes right back to the start. He listened to the words Harry and the Dark Lord spoke, as he moved desiring the best view possible. Nothing had happened though, so he wasn't quite so vigilant in that regard.

The Dark Lord had a meeting afterward, but nobody had noticed anyone paying particular close attention to Harry. Or Tom for that matter, none of them seem to have ulterior motives well, other than the reporters, which was easily explained.

"Are you related to You-Know-Who?" Barty narrowed in on the reporter, the audacity nearly left him reeling. Plans already ticking away at the back of his mind, not today, not tomorrow…but that reporter would pay, with their lives. Making his way towards them, he read the nametag, hmm, good, it wasn't anyone that would be missed. Then he realized that the Dark Lord himself demanded nobody be killed unless there was absolutely no choice.

Well, there was no choice in this. it was just one measly reporter. It could happen after the takeover. Nobody had to know. He couldn't bear the disrespect.

"Only biologically, I never met the wizard," Tom said demurely, the pain crossing his features looked so very real that Barty almost wept for him. He knew what was it was like to have a father that was one in only blood. "In fact, until I was seventeen, I didn't know I had any living relatives, my mother, bless her, died giving birth to me."

Harry leaned against the Dark Lord, a sad sympathetic smile on his face, of a shared pain. A pain in a past that they both had gone through. Growing up without parents, and Barty could see the crowd softening, almost melting over the obvious bond that the couple shared. Even Barty was giving them a look, neither were normally quite so…open, they might be like that behind closed doors, like most pureblood families – no weaknesses shown – but he'd never know.

"She…she must have known…something," his voice cracking on the words, brown eyes wet with tears he refused to let fall, glistening wetly, but he continued, "She knew something was going to happen, she left me letters, memories, and it made me who I am today." Resolute in his defence of himself and his mother. Now that was definitely faked, the Dark Lord could not stand how weak his mother was, if asked, the Dark Lord wouldn't be able to decide which parent he loathed the most.

However, he knew how best to manipulate people, to make them pity him, respect him. He'd been doing it all his life and Barty was in awe of it. The way he did it was mesmerising, even watching him all these years, he still couldn't do it the way he did it.

"Despite what happened, she decided to keep the child, raise the baby on her own." Harry added, as 'Tom' grew too emotional, and just had to look away. Honestly though, it was very difficult for Harry to keep a straight face. Especially seeing as he could feel how much amusement Tom was gleaning out of duping them. Added to the fact that they were actually giving facets of the actual truth, but that's the way Tom preferred it. It made it less likely to be caught in a lie. "Regretfully, she wasn't given that opportunity, as shortly after giving birth, she passed away, not before having her affairs in order. Although, I do believe everyone who wants a family, or has one, makes those decisions for the most part."

Everyone was leaning forward eager to hear more, Barty could see the plans in their eyes to focus more on their partnership than the actual interview. Which happened, naturally, dramatically written 'dark eyes glistening with tears he refused to let fall' to 'despite all life had thrown at him, he remained strong, good and pure, and able to entice our very own noble Lord Potter' Barty snorted just remembering the article.

Nobody had known whether to show their amusement or be very afraid of the Dark Lord's ire.

"When can we expect the pitter-patter of the next generation of the Potter family?" one reporter called out.

"Never," came the immediate and blunt reply from Harry.

"You don't want a family?"

"I have a family," Harry refuted immediately, annoyance flashing across his features. "Families are people who love one another, share their lives together, sometimes sharing the same blood…oftentimes not. My godfather and his partner, my boyfriend, my best friends, my closest confidants, they are my family, I do not need to have a child to consider that my family." That shut them up sharpish.

Barty's breathing hitched, Harry's words echoing in his mind. Yes, yes, this was how he had felt for so long. What his – first – family didn't give him any attention – Merlin his mother tried, bless her soul – he'd gotten that attention elsewhere amongst people who could truly understand him and everything he'd been through.

He became a carer for his mother, as she slowly declined over the years. Not that it was weird that he was his mother's carer, it was his age and the fact his father should have been doing it. Barty should have been celebrating leaving Hogwarts, his very high scores. It was a miracle he'd pulled off as well as he had in school, given his worries.

While his father remained at work at all hours, refusing to spend any time with his wife or son. Never taking the hard parts of being married, it's how he knew he was going to be a good husband. A good father – he hoped – it didn't and wouldn't take much to be better than him.

It had been too much responsibility for such a young teen, but Barty had never begrudged his mother her illness just his father. He'd made his own family…and his child, his little baby…would add to that family, not take from it.

And suddenly Barty had no desire to remain within the pensive, he already had the answers he had unwittingly sought.

End Memory

"Hey, are you okay?" Harry asked Barty, he had been very pensive since he came out of the memory, he'd badgered Irene and Irma for. he'd been too immersed in his project to pay much in the way of attention. Rabastan had come to see what was holding Severus up not five minutes ago.

"I'm fine," Barty promised, watching as Harry packed up his stuff. He'd heard Harry insist he didn't want children, but he'd thought it was his age. That he would change his mind, but that statement? That statement was filled with determination. "How's the project going?"

"So-so," Harry said shaking his hand in a 'meh' manner, as he slid everything into his satchel that Tom had gotten him. It was beautiful, had many of compartments that he could put multiple projects into. Harry sniggered softly when the rest of the belongings on the table disappeared. The House-elves apparently getting ready to send up the food. The looks on their faces lately…have been down right reverential. Word had gotten around that he'd defended them.

"We will succeed," Severus stated determinedly, "I do regret that potions are primarily…a solitary occupation for the most part. I think of all the leaps we've managed in six hours…something I couldn't have done on my own. Having someone there to feed of your own passion for the project, it truly allows it to reach new heights." Almost sounding enthusiastic.

Harry nodded his agreement, "That's true, I was stuck on quite a few of my projects which you just pointed out and boom, they were experimentally correct." His tone wry. Admittedly, not all of them were for everyday use – or polite society – so they were sparingly brewed.

"That was pure luck I had just been reading Potioneer journal…" Severus was explaining, when a question caught him off-guard.

"Why do you have mail belonging to Creevy?" Rabastan asked, flicking the letter over, not shocked to see it just smeared with wax, no coat of arms. Either a fellow child or a half-blood who had no name and no standing.

Severus, Barty and Harry whirled around, glancing at the innocuous little letter as if it had all the answers of the universe.

"Why do you have Creevy's mail?" Harry asked glancing at Severus entirely befuddled.

"Redirection mail, right?" Barty deduced, "Smart."

"Yes, I put it on him almost immediately," Severus said, straightening up a little at the acknowledgement of his smarts. He didn't need validation from anyone, he knew he was intelligent, but it was nice to hear it now and again. "I must confess, I didn't expect it to bear any fruit."

Rabastan tested the letter for anything harmful, just in case the lack of coat of arms was just a ruse. Finding nothing worrisome as his partner spoke to his best friend and Lord's consort.

A/n – Well, there you go! So, you all wanted to see a bit more of the side characters, so that's what's happening, I'll continue to the plot using at least one- or two-characters points of view so that you can see what's going on in their lives as it goes on hopefully that will be enough for you all (since a poll was decided and you guys wanted to see more of them 😉) if there's something you actually want to see before the end speak now or forever hold your peace 😉 😊 hmm and of course, the last few chapters will be for Tom/Harry and then the epilogue where everyone will get a mention and if you think I've forgotten anyone feel free to let me know 😉 as you can see this is Hermione/Barty's one not sure who I'll do next but you'll know soon enough R&R please

A/n 2 – I know I didn't expect to get another chapter out on schedule but it's such a relief not to think and just write, to focus on something I love that even when I feel guilty, I'm still writing 😊 and I managed to do this and clean the entire kitchen too 😉 go me!