Bartemius Crouch Junior, the son of Bartemius Crouch Senior and Amelia Crouch, was a study in contrasts within his own family. While he was the apple of his mother's eye and brought her immense pride, he was nothing short of a disappointment in the eyes of his father. This stark disparity in parental approval shaped Barty's life in profound ways, ultimately leading him down a path he never anticipated.
From a young age, Barty held a deep admiration for his father, relishing the tales of Ministry politics and wizarding affairs that his father shared. However, there was one phrase his father constantly reiterated that grated on him like nails on a chalkboard: "Do it well or don't do it." Barty's first encounter with this disheartening mantra occurred when he received a toy broomstick for his fourth birthday. Eager to impress his father, he attempted to fly it, but due to his inexperience, he tumbled ungracefully to the ground. His father's disdainful gaze and his words, "Do it right or don't do it at all," left a lasting mark on young Barty.
In stark contrast, his mother, Amelia Crouch, was a beacon of unconditional love and support. She tended to his scraped knees and told him bedtime stories with warmth and tenderness. To her, Barty could do no wrong, and she consistently encouraged him to pursue his dreams. It was from his mother that Barty inherited his passion for poetry and the theater. In another life, he might have become a remarkable actor.
As Barty embarked on his Hogwarts journey, he hoped it would finally earn him his father's approval. He wished to be sorted into Ravenclaw, just like his father, but to his shock and dismay, the Sorting Hat proclaimed "Slytherin" as his house. Barty pleaded with the hat to reconsider, but it remained steadfast. That night, he was overcome with nausea, for his father had long expressed disdain for Slytherins, considering them little more than "scum" destined for Azkaban. Barty now found himself categorized among the very individuals his father despised, a sentiment that had been passed down to his son.
Barty's perspective began to change, however, when he formed a tight-knit friendship with Evan, Regulus, Pandora, and Regulus. These friends helped him realize that not all Slytherins were as their family backgrounds might suggest; rather, they were products of their dysfunctional families. Among them, Evan stood out as the most sociable, with an affinity for mischief and the most captivating blue eyes Barty had ever seen.
While Pandora spoke of mystical creatures and Regulus immersed himself in books, Evan preferred Barty's poetry readings and impromptu theater performances. Evan claimed to find reading tiresome, yet he cherished the sound of Barty's voice when he read.
Barty didn't become a Death Eater out of sheer enjoyment, contrary to popular belief. Evan's life was the driving force behind his decision. Evan's father had threatened to kill him if he didn't align with Voldemort's ranks. Fearing for Evan's safety, Barty felt compelled to join as well, prioritizing Evan's life above all else. Evan, too, harbored principles; he refused to harm children, recognizing their innocence. His deep love for his little sister, Isabelle, only reinforced this stance.
Barty never met Isabelle in person, but he heard about her from Evan one night when Evan, consumed by guilt, confessed his inability to be the brother Isabelle needed. Barty held Evan through the night as he wept, though he had never met the girl.
Their loyalty to each other was unwavering, and Barty would have sacrificed anything to keep Evan alive. Thus, when Evan presented Hermione Potter, Barty reluctantly agreed to kill her, despite Evan's betrayal-filled eyes. Barty couldn't bear the thought of Evan's demise due to an act of defiance, even if it meant Evan would forever resent him. After all, they weren't paths diverged after that night, and Barty secretly placed an emergency pager on Evan to monitor his safety. This pager would activate only if Evan's life was in jeopardy.
One fateful night, Barty sensed intense pain in his chest. His thoughts immediately turned to Evan, and he rushed to the forest where Evan was supposed to be. What he witnessed there shattered him: Evan, a bit older and helpless, being tortured by an assailant. The attacker delivered a lethal curse, causing Evan to bleed profusely. Barty barely glimpsed Dumbledore, recognizable by his distinctive crescent lenses, before the attacker fled. With Evan gravely injured, Barty desperately tried to save him, promising that everything would be alright, even though they both knew it wouldn't. Barty was struggling to reassure himself as much as Evan.
That day, Barty and Evan both met their demise. With his sunshine extinguished, Barty saw little reason to continue living in darkness. However, he vowed to avenge Evan's death before reuniting with him in the afterlife. To achieve this, he needed evidence against Dumbledore. It took time, but he eventually gathered the necessary proof.
Now, Barty was ready to set his plan in motion. In a dramatic flair, he arranged packages and enlisted Moody to distribute them. The black roses served as a tribute to Evan, who often left them at Hermione's memorial statue. Barty hadn't forgotten Hermione; he knew Evan had hidden her in plain sight.
One piece of the puzzle remained: Isabelle and her whereabouts. Barty discovered a newspaper clipping at Evan's home, featuring Isabelle and a man who appeared to be her husband, cradling a little girl. The girl bore a striking resemblance to Evan and had a profound adoration for him. This discovery offered a glimmer of hope, and Barty's relentless search led him to Villa Borghese in Italy. There, he found Isabelle and Mia, as she was now called, living happily. Barty couldn't speak to them but occasionally checked to ensure Mia's safety.
For the first time in a long while, Barty found happiness in knowing that Hermione would grow up in a loving family. His own path had been fraught with darkness, but he had secured a brighter future for someone else, a testament to the complex web of choices and sacrifices that had defined his life.
With most of his plan in place, the only thing left for Barty was to speak with Mia. Finding her was not a challenging task, as, much like Evan, Mia enjoyed spending time alone.
"You look a lot like your uncle," Barty said in greeting.
Mia, who had been engrossed in a book while leaning against Vahar closed the book and disarmed Barty in a flash, suspicion in her eyes.
"Who are you?" Mia asked, her guard clearly up.
"My name is Barty, and your uncle was my best friend," Barty replied, smiling sadly. "You're quite an impressive witch."
Mia continued to regard him with suspicion. "Did you know my uncle?" she asked cautiously.
"That's right," Barty confirmed. "What do you know about him?"
"Very little," Mia admitted. "My mother only told me that they stopped talking after Evan entered Hogwarts and that he was a Death Eater."
"Your uncle was much more than the mark on his arm," Barty told her.
"I know," Mia replied. "My godfather and my uncle Lucius also carry the Mark on their arms."
Barty was intrigued. "And what do you think of them?" he inquired.
"People are cruel to something they don't know or understand," Mia reasoned. "The world is not black and white."
"Evan kidnapped you," Barty pointed out. "Doesn't that bother you?"
"In war, there are no good guys or bad guys. It's either kill or be killed," Mia responded, her tone matter-of-fact.
"That doesn't answer my question," Barty pressed.
"I grew up in a house full of love and affection, and I owe that to Evan," Mia explained. "I could have ended up in an orphanage or with strangers, but Evan chose to take me in with his little sister. I think that says a lot about him. He made mistakes, but I'm not one to judge him."
Barty nodded, acknowledging her perspective, and then turned his attention to the book Mia had been reading.
"It's not a book," Mia corrected him. "It's a play."
Barty was curious. "Which play?" he asked.
"Romeo and Juliet," Mia replied.
"May I?" Barty asked, gesturing toward the book.
Mia nodded and handed him the book. Barty, his emotions visible, carefully turned the pages while holding back tears.
"Are you okay?" Mia inquired.
"Where did you get this book?" Barty asked her.
"I found it in the Villa Borghese's library," Mia replied.
"I gave this book to your uncle," Barty revealed, handing the book back to Mia.
Mia was surprised. "Really?" she asked. "I didn't expect a pureblood to appreciate Muggle authors."
"I can forgive Shakespeare," Barty quipped.
Curiosity piqued, Mia asked, "How did the book end up with Evan?"
"Your uncle wasn't much of a reader," Barty began. "He enjoyed a good party more than a good book. However, he said he liked my voice when I read."
Mia furrowed her brow. "If Evan didn't like reading, why did he have 'Romeo and Juliet' among the things he gave to my mother?"
"It was your uncle's favorite play," Barty explained. "In fact, it's my favorite play as well. Since I read it so often in school, Evan declared it was his favorite play too. That's why I gave him the book."
Mia fell silent, studying Barty thoughtfully. Her eyes reminded him of Evan's, a clear and endless blue sky in which Barty hadn't gotten lost in decades.
"Why didn't you ever tell Evan how you felt about him?" Mia asked, her curiosity evident.
Barty feigned indifference. "What makes you think I had feelings for your uncle?"
"Your reaction," Mia replied with kindness. "The way you look at me. Your gaze is filled with sadness and love. It pains you to look at me, doesn't it?"
"It hurts so much," Barty admitted, his voice heavy with emotion.
Mia continued, "And the way you reacted to my question. Anyone else would have denied it at first, but not you."
"I never confessed to Evan because he never gave any indication that he wanted anything more than friendship with me," Barty explained.
"But what if he did?" Mia pressed. "What if Evan did have feelings for you?"
"I don't like living on assumptions," Barty replied. "Besides, it wouldn't have worked."
"Because you said so?" Mia challenged.
"Our families wouldn't have allowed it," Barty stated.
"So it's a bit like 'Romeo and Juliet,' isn't it?" Mia observed.
"A bit like 'Romeo and Juliet,' yes," Barty confirmed.
"That's why you gave him the book and read that play so much," Mia concluded, as if dropping a hint for Evan that never came.
"That's right," Barty said sadly. "Unfortunately, it didn't work out, and I settled for his friendship. I don't regret it."
"I'm sorry," Mia said sincerely.
Barty waved off her apology with a nonchalant shrug. "Don't worry about it," he replied. "I've learned to live with it."
Suddenly, a male voice whispered directly into Barty's right ear, sending shivers down his spine. "Get away from her right now," the voice commanded, "I won't say it twice."
Barty's heart raced as he noticed the presence of two wands, one pressed against his neck and another against his back, applying unwavering pressure.
A second male voice, coming from his left side, chimed in. "If I were you, I would listen to him."
Mia intervened, trying to defuse the situation. "Jace, Theo, calm down," she implored, "lower your wands. He's not armed."
The male voice to Barty's left directed a question to Mia, skepticism lacing his tone. "How do you know, princess?"
Mia's response was straightforward. "Because I disarmed him, Jace," she explained, pointing towards Barty's wand, which lay on the ground in the Targaryen Grotto.
As swiftly as they had appeared, Barty felt the pressure from the wands dissipate, and he massaged his neck in relief. Two young men came into his view, one tall with black hair and violet eyes, and the other with blond hair and hazel eyes.
"We're sorry for attacking you like that," the blond-haired one apologized, his expression contrite. "But you can never be too sure. My name is Jace," he introduced himself, extending a hand towards Barty.
The tall black-haired man stepped forward, offering Barty a warm hug before introducing himself. "My name is Theo," he said with an ear-to-ear smile, " I'm sorry for leaving that bruise on your neck."
"Uh, thanks, I guess," Barty replied, still a bit flustered by the encounter.
Sitting down on the ground, Theo leaned in and inquired, "So, who are you?"
Barty, now feeling a bit more at ease, introduced himself with a small smile. "My name is Barty."
"And what are you doing here, Barty?" Jace asked, also sitting on the floor.
Barty cast a glance at Mia before answering. "I came to ask Mia for a favor."
Mia directed her attention to Barty. "What do you need from me?" she inquired.
"To be honest, I don't need anything from you personally. I need your dragon, Vhagar," Barty confessed.
Mia was taken aback. "Why do you want Vhagar?" she asked, a look of surprise on her face.
"I plan to break into Azkaban at the end of next year," Barty disclosed.
"Entering Azkaban is impossible," Theo exclaimed, disbelief evident in his voice. "It's a fortress in the middle of the sea."
"That's precisely why I need Vhagar," Barty explained to Mia.
Mia sought clarification. "How is Vhagar going to help you with that?"
Barty continued, "I don't know if you're aware, but those responsible for your uncle's death are Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape."
"Isn't Albus Dumbledore the headmaster of Hogwarts?" Theo inquired, seeking confirmation.
"He is," Barty confirmed. "And they're on the verge of being prosecuted for Evan's murder. It's going to be a lengthy trial."
Jace interjected, his curiosity piqued. "I still don't understand where Vhagar fits into your plans."
"Surely you're aware that next year, Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament, right?" Barty asked them.
"Yes," Mia, Theo, and Jace responded in unison.
"Since you'll be traveling with the Durmstrang delegation to Hogwarts, I assume you'll be taking your dragons with you," Barty inferred.
"Of course," Mia confirmed, the idea beginning to take shape.
Barty outlined his plan. "Well, my plan is this: once Snape and Dumbledore have been imprisoned and Potter fulfills his part of the deal, I need Vhagar to destroy the upper part of Azkaban so that I can enter."
Mia looked at Barty with a teasing smile. "So, you want to make my dragon an accomplice to a jailbreak and first-degree murder?"
"Who said anything about murder?" Barty responded with feigned innocence.
"Barty, believe me, if anyone were to harm Jace or Theo, I'd personally see to it that their heads end up on silver platters," Mia replied with a malicious glint in her eyes.
Barty observed her quietly and then turned his attention to Theo and Jace. It was evident that the trio before him would go to great lengths to protect each other.
"So, does that mean you're going to help me?" Barty asked the three of them.
"We're going to make Azkaban shake," Theo replied with a mischievous glint in his eye, a sentiment echoed by Jace.
"Do I want to know how you plan to make Azkaban shake?" Barty asked Theo.
"Hey, you're the one who wants to break in," Jace chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he started to devise their plan. "Plus, it'll just be a little harmless fun"
Barty couldn't help but chuckle nervously. "You guys are a bit intimidating, you know? It's not every day you meet fifteen-year-olds who are willing to help you break into a maximum-security prison."
"As Mia mentioned," Theo started, "if anyone dared to harm Mia or Jace, let's just say that Balerion would have a very special dessert for dinner that night."
Barty paused, his thoughts drifting back to Evan. "You know, you three remind me a lot of Evan and me."
Mia was curious. "In what way?
"In the way you protect each other," Barty replied, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "Evan was my greatest source of happiness. He was the reason I survived the war. I killed for him, and I would have died for him. Dumbledore stole from me that possibility"
Theo and Jace exchanged knowing glances before both nodding in agreement. "We would do the same for Mia," they confessed to Barty.
Mia reached out and placed her hand on Barty's shoulder. "If it helps, it means a lot to me and my mom that you were with him on the day he died. At least he didn't face death alone. He was surrounded by someone who loved him."
Barty's voice quivered with emotion as he responded, "Evan saved me in every way a person can be saved."
As Barty looked at Mia, he couldn't help but see echoes of Evan in her. It was as if Evan's essence lingered in the room, manifesting through Mia's eyes, her voice, her laughter, her smile, and every small mannerism that reminded him of his remembered the deep, infectious laugh they had shared, the way Evan's unruly hair always seemed to defy gravity, the playful wrinkle of his nose when he was perplexed, and the intense gaze he reserved for Barty when he recited poetry.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Barty allowed his thoughts to drift back to Evan.I'm going to do it Evan he whispered within himself, his voice filled with determination. For you, for me,rain for us, for the life we could have had together. I swear they will pay for what they did to you, my love