The next morning, I didn't know why, but I felt odd at breakfast, sitting with my fellow housemates. It felt as if I had been alienated from the rest of the Gryffindor House. I had been sorted into their House, weren't they supposed to support me?
"What's she doing here?" I heard a few girls sneer disdainfully, referring to me like the muck on their shoes. It hurt me more than I would ever admit to anyone, even myself. I kept my face hidden by the myriad of curls. I toyed with the betrothal ring on my finger and smiled softly, the pain in my heart fading to a mere sting. I still felt betrayed, but it wasn't as bad, knowing that at least one person didn't hate me completely. I picked up a slice of toast and retreated to the Library, my one solace, even in this time period.
Once a bookworm, always a bookworm…
As I walked out of the Great Hall, one of Barty's Slytherin friends passed me a note from him as discreetly as possible. Which meant barging into me, and slipping the piece of parchment into my book bag. I unfolded the creased parchment and read it eagerly, almost too eagerly for my standards. It was quite pathetic, really.
I can't control all of the Houses, and if I could, it wouldn't be right. Even for me. Forgive me, but I'm afraid that you've been singled out as the 'enemy'.
I smiled down at the parchment like the lovesick teenager I was rapidly turning into, against my feeble wishes and sat down at one of the library tables, placing my head in my arms, sighing softly.
"Hello there, Miss Granger." I shot up and spun around to see Regulus Black standing by the door, his mouth curled up into an arrogant smirk. I pursed my lips to refrain myself from making a derisive remark about Slytherins. It seemed every minute spent here, I was turning gaining the characteristics that the Slytherin House prized above all others. What was happening to me? I shook the thoughts from my head and stared up at Regulus expectantly.
"Hello, Regulus. What brings you here?" I asked cautiously. Didn't want to end up on the wrong side of a Death Eater, no matter how civil he appeared to be right now. It didn't matter either that he would turn traitor, as right now in this time period, he was the epitome of a loyal Death Eater. All grace and charm one minute, but if I turned my back, I would most likely be lying on the ground, lifeless. Where would that get me then?
"Books and beautiful women. I believe that we got off on the wrong foot. Please forgive me for my rudeness before, I was simply jealous." He drawled sensuously. I turned back to the familiar book cases, watching him out of the corner of my eye, ready to strike if need be. Still, I was curious. Who would he be jealous of and what for?
"Of whom exactly?"
"Barty, of course! Such a fiery and beautiful with landing in his lap? Who wouldn't be jealous? Please allow me to apologize." My cheeks flushed at the not-so-hidden compliment and I nodded cautiously.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Black." I teased playfully. He smiled slyly, recognizing my ploy and grabbed my hand, kissing my knuckles softly.
"Regulus, please." He replied, his eyes consumed with a black desire.
"Ah, Regulus, keeping my beautiful fiancé company?" We turned to see Barty leaning against the doorframe, a slight smirk on his lips. Barty walked up to me and smirked at Regulus, who simply shook his head and stepped back. I gulped as Barty turned his heavy gaze on me. How long had he been standing there, watching us? He chuckled softly and entwined his fingers with my own. I didn't protest. I didn't know what he'd do to me if I did. Any other male I could deal with, but not this one. Where had my restrictive cover gone? When did I begin to act before going over my actions repeatedly?
When you gave your virginity to him. It may not have been consensual to begin with, but it sure did end up that way, Mione.
I mentally told the not-so-rational side of my brain to shut the hell up, and leave me alone. I was having enough trouble trying to sort out this mess as it was. I didn't need my hormones getting in the way and distracting me from the task at hand, which at the minute, was Barty Crouch Junior.
"We have Advanced Transfiguration first, goddess. I grabbed your Timetable off McGonagall in the Great Hall. She was quite stubborn and reluctant in letting me take it off her hands, spewing some ridiculous nonsense about you coming to get it yourself." He spat, his coffee colored eyes blazing at the thought of my Head of House and handed my timetable to me. I committed it to memory while the two boys conversed between each other lightly, their speech drowning out as I absorbed the information on the strip of parchment.
"So, Hermione- still up for a duel? One-on-one, of course. A friendly one, that is." I laughed at him and Barty simply smirked at the irony of Regulus's statement.
"A friendly duel between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin? Never going to happen."
"We shall see, we shall see. I'll see you two in Potions, as I have a meeting with Slughorn first. Barty nodded and turned his attention back to me.
"Would you like a tour around the Black Lake, precious? Breakfast doesn't end for another half-an-hour." He held out his arm. I looked at it, and then back at him, a small smile lighting my lips.
"Alright." He grinned impishly as I took it.
"Excellent." He whispered into my ear. I shivered in delight and he chuckled darkly.
-
As we walked around the Lake, Barty began to open up, if only slightly, and warily. I didn't want to push him too far, knowing that would result in an accidental release of his temper, and if he was anything like Snape, that would be the last thing that I would ever want to see. Even with the small information that he confided to me, I could see how he had been driven insane over the years of his childhood, resulting in him murdering his Father without a singular shred of remorse of the man who had been responsible for his birth. His father had thought that his work at the Ministry was more important than his son, who, like all children, thrived off constant companionship and the approval of his father. His father, Barty Crouch Senior, was the most insensitive, unsupportive man that I had ever had the displeasure of hearing about, and that was saying something. I held his arm tightly as he spoke about his mother, remembering how she had given up her life in the future to save her son for rotting to death, if only for a small while. I watched Barty keenly as he spoke, his face betraying his true emotions every now and then. His sanity was like the tip of a knife, balancing on a chopping board. One wrong move, and it's all over. Azkaban had just increased the process. Still, I had to question him. I was an inquisitive creature by nature(AN: If you have read the play Copenhagen by Michael Frayn, this is where this quote is derived from).
"Barty? Why am I like this? I used to abhor the couples who were this 'lovey-dovey' after such a small period of time." He turned to me, sitting up slightly as I questioned him. He frowned, tracing my jaw line softly. I couldn't help but close my eyes, his soft touch making my heart race.
"I haven't poisoned you, if that's what you're asking."
"I believe you, but I need an explanation. I can't just trust my heart all of the time. As much as I wish I could, you're just not trustworthy in my future. How am I supposed to trust you here if I couldn't even trust you there?" He seemed disheartened by my lack of faith in him, but there was no way that I could pretend to trust him. At least, not yet. Not until he had proved himself to have no ulterior motives. I knew that I could be waiting an eternity, but I had no plans whatsoever to become the trophy wife of a bloody Death Eater. He laid back and closed his eyes briefly, drawing me in closer. As I watched I noticed the wind ruffle his hair, and his muscles stretched underneath his school uniform. I blushed and bit my lip. He exhaled deeply and grasped my shoulders tightly, his arms almost like chains, unwilling to relinquish their hold over me.
"Sometimes, you have to live without the answer, and just live." He murmured into my hair, nuzzling it softly as he tried to avoid the question. I laughed at the blunt aversion and he chuckled, knowing full well that I had seen through his dodge.
"Very wise answer, Mr. Crouch. Almost Dumbledore like." He scoffed and rolled his eyes before he helped me up, his arms still encircled around my waist. He lifted a hand up almost hesitantly, caressing my cheek softly.
"We should return." I nodded, staring up at the sky. Everything was still going much too fast for my liking, but it was finally slowing down to a pace that I could almost deal with, which was good. I grabbed his hand as a show of faith, and let him escort me back up to the Castle and to our class. Time to face the music, or a class where both of our Houses were together. It did not bode well for my own sanity.
I had no idea what was going to happen, but I knew that it wasn't going to be a smooth ride.