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Title: United in the Dark
Author: Evandar
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Gen
Pairing: Mentioned Barty/Regulus
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I am making no profit from this story.
Summary: This is his real family. Barty Crouch Jr thinks on the Death Eaters.
AN: Written for the prompt 'Chosen Family' for my Trope Bingo table.
He stands in a crowd, a bone mask in place. Before them all sits their Father, the great Dark Lord – he who has placed his mark upon them and given them a cause. A purpose. Something to aspire to beyond a mere Ministry grunt; beyond even sainted Dumbledore and his flock of mudbloods and traitors.
Barty had found nothing but disappointment in the parents who brought him into this world. An absent father whose strict views and stricter rules did nothing but make miserable those he should have cared about; a sickly mother, one he loved dearly, but one too weak to stand up for him when his father took unkindly to Barty’s many, myriad failings.
But those were failings in his eyes and no one else’s. At school, Barty was top of his class. Sprout fairly worshipped him for the glory he brought to Hufflepuff’s door. House points and quiet popularity amongst those she didn’t know were the brothers of his heart.
There’s small, slender, pretty Regulus who wakes up screaming every night and who scrawls dark futures in a notebook he keeps by his side at all times. Whose shy smiles are for Barty alone and whose hand he clasps tightly in the shadows between their robes. Regulus is one of the ‘failings’ his blood father claims he has but one that his Dark Master accepts wholeheartedly; never mentioning it beyond his initial smirk of realisation.
There is Rabastan, his dearest friend outside of Regulus, and his older brother Rodolphus. Rodolphus’ wife as well, Regulus’ beautiful cousin Bellatrix – one of the only women to be welcomed into the fold. The three of them always stand together as a triad of power within the ranks, Bellatrix’s dark eyes gleaming with pride and satisfaction.
If the Dark Lord is their father, then she is their mother. So much more powerful and vibrant than the one who brought Barty, squawking, into this world. Not as kind, perhaps, and he doesn’t think her hair smells of powdered violets, but a mother nonetheless. She teaches them, organises them, leads them into battle, and when they do well and a victory is gained, she glows with pride.
Next to the Lestranges, Lucius Malfoy stand. Rich, influential, and overwhelmingly arrogant, he is the older brother Barty was never blessed (or cursed) with as a Crouch. He is someone to be idolised; who will dispense advice whether looked for or not; who patrons those new additions to the ranks who have lesser merit.
Those like Snape and Pettigrew, who skulk like shadows on the edge – distant cousins, Barty names them – of the ranks taking whatever scraps of favour they gain with more pride than is deserving. Two halfbloods: one a Gryffindor, but an excellent spy; the other an excellent potioneer but in love – so Barty heard from Regulus, whose blood traitor brother once shared a snippet of gossip – with a mudblood.
Snape’s cohorts, Mulciber and Avery, are wild. Brutal attack dogs who tear their enemies down with relish; who study curses and mannerisms under Macnair – the Dark Lord’s executioner. More deadly, but more staid, is Evan Rosier, who looks at Rabastan with something that could either be lust or murder in his eyes.
There are others. Many, many others, whose names Barty doesn’t know, but he does know that they are all united. One cause, one Mark, one glorious Lord whose robe hems they are not worthy of kissing. They are united in the Dark and stronger – exponentially stronger than they could ever be alone. They are family, and this crowd – this is Barty’s home.
Author: Evandar
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Gen
Pairing: Mentioned Barty/Regulus
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I am making no profit from this story.
Summary: This is his real family. Barty Crouch Jr thinks on the Death Eaters.
AN: Written for the prompt 'Chosen Family' for my Trope Bingo table.
He stands in a crowd, a bone mask in place. Before them all sits their Father, the great Dark Lord – he who has placed his mark upon them and given them a cause. A purpose. Something to aspire to beyond a mere Ministry grunt; beyond even sainted Dumbledore and his flock of mudbloods and traitors.
Barty had found nothing but disappointment in the parents who brought him into this world. An absent father whose strict views and stricter rules did nothing but make miserable those he should have cared about; a sickly mother, one he loved dearly, but one too weak to stand up for him when his father took unkindly to Barty’s many, myriad failings.
But those were failings in his eyes and no one else’s. At school, Barty was top of his class. Sprout fairly worshipped him for the glory he brought to Hufflepuff’s door. House points and quiet popularity amongst those she didn’t know were the brothers of his heart.
There’s small, slender, pretty Regulus who wakes up screaming every night and who scrawls dark futures in a notebook he keeps by his side at all times. Whose shy smiles are for Barty alone and whose hand he clasps tightly in the shadows between their robes. Regulus is one of the ‘failings’ his blood father claims he has but one that his Dark Master accepts wholeheartedly; never mentioning it beyond his initial smirk of realisation.
There is Rabastan, his dearest friend outside of Regulus, and his older brother Rodolphus. Rodolphus’ wife as well, Regulus’ beautiful cousin Bellatrix – one of the only women to be welcomed into the fold. The three of them always stand together as a triad of power within the ranks, Bellatrix’s dark eyes gleaming with pride and satisfaction.
If the Dark Lord is their father, then she is their mother. So much more powerful and vibrant than the one who brought Barty, squawking, into this world. Not as kind, perhaps, and he doesn’t think her hair smells of powdered violets, but a mother nonetheless. She teaches them, organises them, leads them into battle, and when they do well and a victory is gained, she glows with pride.
Next to the Lestranges, Lucius Malfoy stand. Rich, influential, and overwhelmingly arrogant, he is the older brother Barty was never blessed (or cursed) with as a Crouch. He is someone to be idolised; who will dispense advice whether looked for or not; who patrons those new additions to the ranks who have lesser merit.
Those like Snape and Pettigrew, who skulk like shadows on the edge – distant cousins, Barty names them – of the ranks taking whatever scraps of favour they gain with more pride than is deserving. Two halfbloods: one a Gryffindor, but an excellent spy; the other an excellent potioneer but in love – so Barty heard from Regulus, whose blood traitor brother once shared a snippet of gossip – with a mudblood.
Snape’s cohorts, Mulciber and Avery, are wild. Brutal attack dogs who tear their enemies down with relish; who study curses and mannerisms under Macnair – the Dark Lord’s executioner. More deadly, but more staid, is Evan Rosier, who looks at Rabastan with something that could either be lust or murder in his eyes.
There are others. Many, many others, whose names Barty doesn’t know, but he does know that they are all united. One cause, one Mark, one glorious Lord whose robe hems they are not worthy of kissing. They are united in the Dark and stronger – exponentially stronger than they could ever be alone. They are family, and this crowd – this is Barty’s home.
