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When he was a child, he loved looking at his own reflection. There was something about admiring yourself and knowing you were a cute and even pretty boy.
The first time he got caught by his father, he got only a scolding.
The many times that followed, he was beaten up.
When he was of Hogwarts age, Bartemius made sure to not get caught. He enjoyed the way his dress robes looked in the mirror as the sunlight filled his bedroom.
He loved going to Madam Malkin to get his robes fitted, because it was the only place where he was allowed to look into his reflection and not get punished.
As years went by, he got more relaxed and carefree about admiring himself, which meant he was caught more often than not by his father.
It was then that he learned to love the pleasures of the Cruciatus curse.
His only place of consolation was Madam Malkin and her tutting around his form. She always found nice things to say about how some fabrics fell just right against his form. He assumed Quidditch helped.
And when he became the follower of The Dark Lord, Bartemius knew his father’s days were over.
Even when he was in Azkaban, he knew his mother’s love would save him.
Even Imperius’ed by his father, he managed to have break out moments.
And one of those moments allowed him to overtake his father and plan for The Dark Lord’s return.
But a few years later, when they were scorching the shops in Diagon Alley, he gave in to his childhood weakness.
He helped Madam Malkin escape, feeling like she was the sole person who always understood his love for himself, even if it wasn’t on purpose.
She was his only ally in his search of who Barty Crouch Jr. really was.