Well, since I didn't get much of response from the last two chapters, I'm taking that to mean ppl aren't really reading this. The next few chapters are finished, but I'm going to hold off posting them if I don't get some feedback on this one. Don't wanna blackmail folks into reviewing, but I also don't wanna keep writing this if no one is reading. So if you want more, please review.

"That's all they had to say?" Carter's irate voice carried throughout the forest as Daniel winced at the unpleasant sound.

"I'm afraid so. Whatever Jack's doing, it's not something we can do anything about. We just have to wait for him to come to us."

"That answer is unacceptable." The boom of Teal'c's voice stopped everyone in their tracks.

For a moment they all stood in silence as the forest surrounding them seemed to breathe for them. Snape broke the silence with a heavy sigh as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his robes.

"It'll be getting dark soon. We should head back to the castle. We can discuss this more once we get there."

Reluctantly, the group agreed and slowly began to make their way back towards Hogwart's. They arrived a while later, just as the sun was setting in the distance. The groundskeeper was sitting on the steps in front of his hut waiting for them as they came out of the forest. Hagrid gave them back their belongings, then quickly ushered them to the castle where Dumbledore was awaiting their return.

> > > >

It took him two days to figure out where Bartimus Crouch Jr. had been hiding. Now, he was waiting for the perfect moment to surprise the young man. As he watched the older Crouch leave the ministry he followed him at a distance. Once Crouch had reached his home, Jack pounced.

In a flash he shoved the older man into the house, slamming the door behind them once they were inside.

"What nonsense is this! Who the devil are you?" Smiling wildly Jack pulled out his wand, waving it at Crouch.

"I'm the one who's been sent to free your son."

Crouch tried to look indignant, but Jack could feel the fear in the other man. "Wh…what are you talking about? My son is dead. He died in Azkaban, years ago."

Laughing Jack lowered his wand. "That's what you want the world the think, but I know the truth. Your son is here right now. In fact, he's downstairs at this very moment being guarded by your house elf…Winky, is her name, I believe."

Crouch gasped in shock. "That's preposterous!"

"Is it, Barty? How about we go downstairs and find out if I'm right?"

He gulped in a breath then nodded his head. "Very well."

They moved towards the door leading to the cellar. When they reached it Jack motioned for Crouch to open it, and the older wizard did so hesitantly. Slowly they eased their way down the steps, stopping at the last step where Jack waved his wand and light burst forth from the tip. To the naked eye the cellar was completely empty, but Jack could feel the younger Crouch's presence. He pushed the older Crouch forward a few more steps, stopping him just near a pile of wood.

"I told you he's not here."

Jack chuckled softly to himself as he shook his head. "You don't honestly expect me to believe that, do you?"

"Well, you don't see him here, do you?" Crouch protested as he waved his arms and spun around the room.

"Just because I can't see him, doesn't mean he isn't here." Corrigan rolled his eyes, stepped away from the older Crouch and walked towards the opposite corner of the room.

The older Crouch visibly tensed the nearer Jack drew to the corner. Beads of sweat poured down his forehead as Jack pointed his wand at the corner and whispered a few words that Crouch couldn't quite hear. A moment later two figure appeared huddled in the corner…one small house elf, and a very alive Bartimus Crouch Jr.

> > > >

"I sense that your superiors will not be at all pleased with the results of your search, Major Carter." Dumbledore commented as the visibly irritated major shook her head.

"They're expecting us to bring back the colonel."

"Perhaps, if I could speak with them?"

Carter shook her head in frustration. "No offence, but I'm not sure that would help any."

"It wouldn't hurt to try." Daniel chimed, seeing that the major was losing her patience fast.

"I just don't get. All this talk about destiny and magic medallions…it makes no sense to me." Carter sank back in her chair.

She looked around Dumbledore's office where they were all seated. The reality of the situation seemed to hit her all at once. She was sitting with two wizards, talking about magic medallions, destiny, and all sorts of things she'd never believed in a few months before. In truth, she wasn't sure if she even believed them now, despite everything that was right in front of her face telling her it was real. Silently, she shook her head and quickly got to her feet. Before anyone could respond she bolted for the door, leaving the others gaping at her chair in confusion.

> > > >

"Well, well, well. I love the disguise, Barty. Must say it's cleverer than I'd ever thought you were capable of." Jack smirked at Crouch, who merely shrugged his shoulders.

"You've no idea what a menace that boy is. I'm doing this for his own protection."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk…you shouldn't treat your own child like this, Crouch. It just isn't right."

The younger Crouch stared up at the two men, his eyes glazed over in what Jack was certain was an Imperius Curse. For a brief moment he could see a flicker in the younger man's eyes as though he were trying to fight the curse and Jack smirked.

"Looks like your curse isn't as full proof as you'd like it to be."

"Enough! What do you want with my son?" The older Crouch growled as he pulled his wand from his robe pocket.

"Now, now, Barty. I told you what I want. I've come here to free him."

"I can't let you do that." The older Crouch trained his wand on Jack, but he wasn't quite fast enough.

"Expelliarmus!" Crouch flew backwards and his wand landed on the ground a few feet away.

Jack was quick to grab the other wand and when he turned back around he saw that the younger Crouch was now standing at his full height, and glaring at him angrily.

"I'm setting you free, the least you could do is look happy about it, Bart."

"Don't call me that! I could have escaped on my own."

Rolling his eyes Jack nodded. "Of course you could have. I'm sure you were on your way to planning the perfect escape already."

The younger man haughtily puffed out his chest as he grinned at Jack with an air of confidence. "My plan would have been far less of a hassle."

"Oh really? Well, far be it for me to interfere in the great Bartimus Crouch Jr.'s plans of escape." Jack let his voice linger on the 'Jr,' as he watched the younger wizard grit his teeth in anger.

Snarling the younger Crouch turned his head towards the unconscious heap near the stairs that was his father. "What exactly were you planning to do with him?"

"I'll leave that to you, after all he is YOUR father."

A wild gleam came over the younger man's eyes, and Jack couldn't help but shudder at how inhuman it made Crouch look.

Using his wand Jack lifted the unconscious man up and moved him back upstairs, while the younger Crouch turned to deal with the house elf that was whimpering in the corner. As Jack left the cellar he could hear Barty whispering to the house elf, and for a moment he wondered just what was being said. A few minutes later Crouch joined Jack upstairs where the other wizard was waiting in the older Crouch's bedroom, where he had laid the older man down on the bed.

"You know, Corrigan, I thought you were dead." Crouch shut the door behind them, then quickly pulled out a wand from the nearby dresser aiming squarely at Jack's chest.

"Not a chance. I just wasn't fool enough to get caught." Jack aimed his own wand directly at Crouch, neither man willing to back down.

Crouch shook his head. "No, you were simply enough of a coward to run."

Gritting his teeth Jack took a step towards the younger man. "If Voldemort didn't seem to like you so much, I'd kill you where you stand."

"You aren't wizard enough to do it." Jack stood nose-to-nose with Crouch while the younger man sneered at him. "You were always our master's pet. You'll do as you're told, and if bringing me to him is what you were ordered to do, you'll do just that."

"Don't be so sure, Crouch. I'm far more dangerous than you think."

With a mocking smile Crouch nodded. "I don't doubt you're dangerous…but you only follow orders. Thinking on your own was never something you were good at. Your visions were your greatest power; anything else was minimal in comparison."

Sighing Jack lowered his wand, while Crouch grinned in triumph. "Let's get going, Crouch. Our Master is waiting."

"First, I have to deal with HIM." The younger man growled as he looked down at his father.

Taking the wand in his hand he pointed it at the unconscious man. Uttering the Imperius Curse he ordered his father to wake up. The older man was fighting fervently against the curse, but he wasn't quite strong enough. All the hate and anger that had built up in the younger man was too strong for Crouch Sr. to withstand.

Jack watched, trying to hold back his horror as the older man lost his battle against the curse and slowly lost his mind as well. He could see the madness taking over as the younger Crouch used all his strength to overpower his father. For the briefest of moments Crouch Sr. gained control and ran for the door, and in a split second the younger wizard aimed.

"Crucio!"

The older Crouch's body went rigid as she screamed in pain, falling face first onto the floor. Jack shook his head in disgust at what he was witnessing, as the Barty Crouch Jr. continued to punish his father, the howls of pain echoing through the halls of the house.

tbc...