Barty Crouch Sr. stood by the living room window, holding a glass of red wine. His face was flushed, clearly a result of drinking too much. Nearby, a young man who bore a striking resemblance to him—seven-tenths, to be precise—sat motionless on the sofa. His vacant gaze suggested that his mind had slipped away.
The young man was none other than Barty Crouch Jr., and the house-elf standing nearby, her posture hunched, was Winky.
With a long sigh, Barty Crouch Sr. stared at his son, emotions conflicting within him. He then waved his hand at Winky.
"Take this scoundrel back to the basement," he ordered, "then bring the guest over."
"Yes, Master," Winky replied softly, her hands folded tightly against her chest. She moved to help Barty Jr. up and led him away with a pop.
Moments later, Winky returned to the room, this time with a tall man wearing a red robe. His face was weathered, a reflection of years of experience and hardship.
"Hello, Mr. Crouch," the man said, introducing himself with a slight bow. "I am Leonard Vanber."
Barty Crouch Sr.'s expression remained neutral, but his eyes briefly flickered toward the golden emblem on Vanber's chest. It was unmistakable—the Fire Serpent Party emblem. He knew there were three tiers of these: gold, silver, and bronze. The lower ranks, the scum of the Fire Serpent Party, wore bronze, while the silver emblem marked someone of considerable importance. But a gold emblem was a rare and notable distinction. Only a handful of individuals wore it, usually at the highest echelons of the Party.
"Only one person wears the golden emblem in the Fire Serpent Party," Barty Crouch Sr. said slowly. "That must mean you're a very high-ranking member, correct?"
Vanber smiled and shook his head. "Ah, Mr. Crouch, there is, and always will be, only one person with a golden emblem in the Fire Serpent Party."
Barty Crouch Sr.'s eyes narrowed, and he couldn't help but sneer. "So, Mr. Vanber, are you here to surrender?"
Vanber let out a hearty laugh. "As expected of the former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Your sense of righteousness is clear. But catching me won't be so easy."
As he spoke, Vanber casually tossed a handful of seeds into the air. Barty Crouch Sr. was momentarily confused, but that was before a flash of green light shot from Vanber's left hand. Before Barty could react, the seeds had taken root and sprouted, as if breaking the very laws of nature.
In mere moments, enormous, dangerous plants had erupted from the ground. Devil's Snare vines crept across the floor, their tendrils slithering like serpents. A Venomous Tentacula unfurled its poisonous petals nearby, while the Chinese Chomping Cabbage—about the size of a water vat—opened its toothy maw, its teeth bright and unnervingly sharp.
"Chinese Chomping Cabbage?" Barty Crouch Sr. exclaimed, horrified. "This species has been banned from cultivation! You—"
Vanber looked at him, his expression one of mockery. "Mr. Crouch, do you really think I'm a law-abiding citizen?"
Barty Crouch Sr. froze. The sight before him was a reminder that this man was no mere criminal; he wielded a power that could tear him to shreds. If his plants could grow without soil, what else could he do?
After a brief silence, Barty Crouch Sr. finally spoke. "You're not here to kill me, so what is it you want?"
Vanber grinned. "That's better! I much prefer a civil conversation to pointless hostilities. Let's sit down and discuss things properly."
Despite the chaos surrounding him, Barty Crouch Sr. remained composed. He transfigured a chair leg into a proper chair, still clutching his glass of wine. He sat down with straight posture, the situation far from ideal but under his control.
"You've got my attention," Barty Crouch Sr. said with a tone of cautious interest. "What's your goal here?"
Vanber crossed his arms over his chest, his face still smiling. "You're in a hurry, Mr. Crouch. Don't rush. We have all the time in the world."
Barty Crouch Sr. shook his head. "Although I'm off today, I have business to attend to. Since Merlin City was built, wizards from all over come to see me. Someone might even be waiting at my door right now."
"No one will be visiting you today, Mr. Crouch," Vanber replied smoothly. "They wouldn't dare."
Barty Crouch Sr. was about to ask what he meant when a pop echoed in the room. Winky reappeared, her voice panicked.
"Master! It's terrible! A large group of wizards in red robes have stormed into our manor! They're ransacking everything!"
Crouch's face twisted into fury. He pointed at Vanber. "You! This is your doing!"
Vanber remained calm, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Mr. Crouch, calm down. My subordinates aren't here to steal a thing. This is simply a performance for the public eye. Tomorrow, the Daily Prophet will run a story about the Fire Serpent Party raiding the Crouch family manor. That way, no one will suspect that you're working with us, don't you agree?"
Barty Crouch Sr. roared, "Nonsense! No one in their right mind would partner with you, a criminal leader!"
Vanber raised an eyebrow and feigned surprise. "Did I misread the situation? I thought you, Mr. Crouch, were interested in becoming the Minister for Magic?"
Barty Crouch Sr.'s eyes widened slightly. Vanber's words had hit a nerve.
Vanber leaned forward, his tone suddenly more serious. "Earl Dantes is no longer overseeing the defenses of Merlin City, and the current defenses of the city are... insufficient. The Fire Serpent Party will soon make its move. When we take the city, what do you think will happen to Minister Fudge? How long do you think he will keep his position once we strike?"
Barty Crouch Sr. was silent, his mind racing. Vanber continued, his words like a siren call.
"If you perform well during our operation, say, by protecting a district or two, wouldn't that increase your standing? And when Fudge falls, won't you have the chance to replace him? As Minister for Magic, we could become partners. We could help you strengthen your position, make you untouchable."
Barty Crouch Sr.'s gaze narrowed as he processed Vanber's words. His lifelong dream of becoming Minister for Magic had always been just out of reach, but now, it seemed possible.
Still, his sense of justice fought back. Could he really work with criminals like Vanber?
"What's the catch?" he asked sharply, his voice colder now.
Vanber grinned widely. "It's simple. All you need to do is provide us with the Ministry of Magic's defense map for Merlin City. After all, as someone responsible for liaising with the prominent families and merchant guilds there, obtaining the map should be easy for you."
Barty Crouch Sr. recoiled. "You're asking me to steal it? If I'm caught, it would be the end for me!"
Vanber shook his head, unfazed. "Think of it differently. This is your chance to rise to power. The Ministry's defense map is the key to your future. And if you play your cards right, you'll become Minister for Magic. Do you really want to pass up that opportunity?"
Barty Crouch Sr. sat back in his chair, his mind whirling with conflicting emotions. On one hand, this was a dangerous path to take. On the other, it was the opportunity he had dreamed of for years. He put down his glass of wine and took a deep breath. The decision was not easy, but it was one he had to make.
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