A/N: So, so sorry again for the slow update. My only excuse this time is that I've been doing overtime at work and I really couldn't be bothered to write when I got home afterwards. I was really intending to update this story more often now that it's summer, but it doesn't seem to be happening. I'm really going to try and work on that because I know exactly what I want to happen and I need to write it, because if I put it off too long I might end up losing all enthusiasm for it. So, here's the next chapter. I know it seems to be a bit of a sudden jump from the last one, but I'm trying to keep things moving forward so please try and go with the flow.

Part Two, Chapter Twenty-Four

When Thursday morning came round Sander found himself sitting on the chair outside Gwen's office, instead of knocking and going inside like he usually did. He wasn't sure if she was still mad at him. If she was then he could understand that, but he still didn't think he was wrong. Crouch had done something, Sander was sure of it. Even if he wasn't sure exactly what, after he'd finished with the auroscope and looked up to see Crouch watching him with that strange look in his eyes, Sander had sensed that something was wrong. Maybe he'd overreacted, but there was something really off about Barty Crouch Jr, and off in a suspicious way. That had been the first thing he'd said to Martijn when he arrived back from Gwen's, but Martijn's reaction had been pretty much what he'd expected. He hadn't been convinced at all.

Sander was remembering the conversation. His brother had been dismissive right from the start. "Sander, don't be ridiculous, he's the son of the head of their MLE department. What do you imagine he's up to?" Martijn had said sceptically, the moment after Sander had apparated back into the apartment and started ranting about Barty Crouch.

Despite Martijn's attempts to reason with him Sander was still worked up about it. "I don't know, Martijn, but he did something. I may not know what exactly but I'm sure he was trying to stop the auroscope working."

Martijn hadn't believed him, no matter how much he'd insisted. "That doesn't even make sense, San. Why would he do that?"

"Well, he'd do it if he was involved in the Dark Arts, wouldn't he? I think we should keep an eye on him and try and get more information. We need to find out what he's up to."

As soon as he'd said that Sander realised just how crazy that must seem. He knew that suggestion was ridiculous: the accusation against Crouch seemed absurd, and he was asking Martijn to take a huge risk with his job on the basis of very little evidence, but Sander was completely certain he was right. Martijn, however, still wasn't convinced. "What do you mean 'we'?" he'd responded, sounding a little horrified, "If you're so determined to investigate him I don't suppose there's much I can do to stop you, San, but if I get caught spying on the son of Bartemius Crouch Sr. it could cost me my job."

Sander gave him an apologetic look, knowing it was a lot to ask of him, but he knew he couldn't let this go. After what had happened to Anneke it didn't matter how far-fetched his suspicions may seem. He wasn't going to take any risks with Gwen. "I know, Tijn, but what if I'm right?" Sander had pleaded, "Are you really going to risk that happening again?"

Martijn let out a frustrated sigh. "San, have you even got any evidence?"

"Well, not exactly, no, but…" Sander trailed off, realising that telling Martijn about the incident with the foe glass wasn't really going to be much in the way of proof.

"But what?" Martijn had prompted.

Sander hesitated a moment before answering, hoping his brother would take him seriously. "Well, the other day when I went to take Gwen that foe glass I saw his face in it."

"Sander…" Martijn let out a long sigh. "How much of this is because you genuinely think he's up to something bad, and how much of it is just jealousy that he's going out with Gwen?"

"Martijn, it's got nothing to do with that," Sander said defensively, although in all honesty he could understand Martijn's reaction. In truth he was jealous of Barty, but he wasn't going to admit to that if it cast doubt on his suspicions.

"Really?" Martijn said sceptically.

"Yes, really," Sander had replied, but the look on his brother's face showed that Martijn clearly didn't believe him, so they'd left the conversation there. Although Sander was absolutely determined he wasn't going to leave Crouch alone until he knew what was going on, he and Martijn had more immediate concerns. They needed to sort out the problem with their father first, but Sander intended to try and get to the bottom of what Crouch was up to as soon as possible.

Sander had been the one to pick up Jeroen from the airport the following morning while Martijn was working on the Sirius Black case. They'd gotten a taxi back to the apartment due to Jeroen's wariness towards wizard travel, but that meant they couldn't have any conversations about the situation in earshot of the muggle driver. Sander had had every intention of trying to convince his father to go back to Amsterdam the moment they got back to the apartment, but once they'd arrived Sander had been in for another surprise to find his uncle Arien waiting for them. Which was perhaps just as well. Jeroen's brother-in-law was the only person on the planet he might listen to.

It seemed that Arien had changed his mind about agreeing to Jeroen going to England and had apparated straight to London to try and get him to go back. Jeroen, however, didn't want to listen to any of it and the whole thing had descended into an argument almost from the moment they'd seen each other. Sander had decided to leave them to it while he went to work. When he'd got back later that day he'd found his father still insistent on remaining in the UK, but he really hadn't had much energy to continue arguing with him about it. He was too preoccupied thinking about Gwen.

Even as he sat waiting for her to call him into the office now he was worried he'd ruined things completely. They'd had a good relationship with each other, and even though Sander wasn't entirely sure what the exact nature of that relationship was he hadn't wanted to spoil it. She had sort of been a friend to him, or maybe not exactly a friend, but definitely much more than just a client. But now what? Now he was worried she wouldn't want anything more to do with him except in a business capacity. He'd completely lost control the other night, and he was certain that when it came to who to trust over the issue she was more likely to side with her boyfriend rather than him. Even if her boyfriend was an arrogant, untrustworthy little…

The door to Gwen's office suddenly opened and Sander quickly jumped up from the chair. Gwen was standing in the doorway and looking out at him with a completely blank expression. "It's eleven. You best come in," she said flatly, before turning away from the door to let him inside.

He followed her in, feeling more nervous than ever. "Sorry about Martijn not being here yet," he said, trying to sound bright but even to himself he sounded false. "I think he's got caught up with something at work."

"It's no problem," Gwen said in the same emotionless tone as she took a seat at her desk. "I can wait for him to show up."

Sander took a seat opposite her and studied her face carefully, trying to work out what she was really feeling. She didn't say anything more to him and he shifted around uncomfortably. As much as he didn't want to have to talk about this with her, he knew it was going to come up at some point. Best to get it over with while Martijn wasn't here. "Look, Gwen," he began rather awkwardly, "I am really, really sorry about last night. I don't know what happened, it's just that…"

"It's fine," she said, cutting him off abruptly. He stopped talking and just looked at her. She was meeting his gaze, which was something, but her expression was completely indecipherable. She didn't exactly look angry, but she still seemed…troubled, was perhaps the word for it. Something was quite clearly bothering her, and Sander had a horrible feeling that it might be him.

He gave a sigh. "But it's not fine, is it? I mean…I must have messed things up for you. How are things with you and Barty?"

"They're fine," she repeated insistently.

He looked at her sceptically. "Really?"

"Yes," she said with a nod, but then she looked slightly doubtful and bit her lip nervously. "I just wish I knew what exactly the problem is with you two. What did he do? Or what did you do, exactly?"

Sander sighed again. He knew he was going to have to explain to her, but if he told her what he was really thinking she might only end up hating him even more. "Well, I thought that he'd done something when I was trying to reactivate the auroscope. It seemed like…"

"No," Gwen said to cut him off, giving a confused shake of her head. "That's what I still don't get. What's the auroscope got to do with any of this? What was wrong with it?"

Sander squirmed in his seat a little uncomfortably. She wasn't going to like the answer, just like Martijn had warned him she wouldn't. "Well, it's a prototype model so we put an anti-theft charm on it, which means that it's fitted with a remote locator so we can always find out where it is. The thing is though if the charm's activated then the auroscope gets deactivated, so…"

"Wait," she said, cutting him off again, "So you're saying you gave me something with a tracking device on it that let you find out where I live?" She was staring at him with a look of disbelief.

"Er…well, yes," Sander said, beginning to blush slightly, "But I never intended to use it. I was just really worried about you, that's all. It was the quickest way to find out where you were, and I'm sorry if it was out of line."

Gwen just stared at him for a couple more seconds, seemingly a cross between angry and incredulous, and then sighed and closed her eyes slowly before opening them again. "I know you were worried, San," she said, trying to be as diplomatic as possible, "But I still just can't understand why you reacted like that to Barty. I know you don't like each other, but what exactly do you think he did?"

"I, er…" Sander was struggling for an answer. He couldn't explain it properly, not in any way that would convince her, but he still knew he had to tell her something. Barty Crouch Jr. was trouble, and she needed to know about it. But how could he get her to believe him when he wasn't even sure what was wrong himself? "Well," Sander began, "When I was charming the auroscope I got the sense that something hadn't gone quite right, and then when I looked up at him it seemed like…"

He was spared having to say anything more by the sound of the door opening and Martijn walking in. "I'm sorry I'm late," the Dutchman said a little breathlessly, "I've just been arresting Sirius Black. Got here as soon as I could, but the clean-up operation's massive and they'll need me back there as soon as possible."

Gwen and Sander exchanged a glance as Martijn sat down in the seat next to his brother, and then Gwen quickly looked away and took a file from the side of her desk which she opened up in front of her. "It's no problem," she said, trying to sound casual for Martijn's benefit but it still came out sounding forced. "I guess we should get started then." She looked back up at Sander briefly and then fixed her gaze on Martijn.

Martijn seemed to have noticed something was up and looked from Gwen to Sander, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly at his brother but choosing not to comment. "Yes, let's. Right then, business plans," he said, turning back to Gwen.

Gwen met Sander's gaze one last time, and then realising that their conversation wasn't going to go any further with Martijn around she looked back down at the documents in front of her. "Ok, so proposals for responding to changes to the current circumstances in terms of investment," she said, now businesslike as she commenced the meeting, "Firstly, whether or not you can continue to rely on the current investors in the Valkenburg aan de Geul mines…"

A/N: Sorry if that was rather abrupt. I've not actually covered everything I wanted to this chapter, but I didn't want to go more than a week without updating so I'm uploading what I managed to get done. There'll be more of an explanation of Sander and Martijn's history next time round, more about what happened to Gwen after Barty stormed out, how Barty's dealing with things and how he makes up with Gwen. So, lots to look forward to. I'll try to not keep you waiting too long!