Chapter Text
"Bartemius Crouch Jr., get down here now!"
Great, his father was yelling at him again, like it would make him move any faster. Did the man even know how to speak normally to his son? Barty continued to take his time packing his trunk. His father had told him to do it a week ago, so of course he waited until last minute. Small acts of rebellion didn't usually end in much of a punishment. What were a few smacks here and there anyway?
Barty finally made his way down the stairs. His trunk hit each step on the way down, a sure way to make his father's eye twitch, he smirked. He wasn't exactly looking forward to going to Hogwarts. It was just another way for his father to get rid of him, although he would be out from under his scrutiny. So, there was that.
As he reached the last step his father smacked the back of his head. "Hurry up so we don't miss the train."
When they reached the station his father told him to stay out of trouble. Sr. had already sent a letter the headmaster informing him of Barty's insubordinate tendencies. His mother stood near Barty with a sad smile on her face. Barty returned the smile, today had been one of her good ones. She reached out, hugged him, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He heard his father scoff in the background.
Barty had never been very good at making friends. When his mother had ventured out and taken him to the park Barty always played too rough. The other parents tended to keep their children at a distance, it was fine. He didn't expect Hogwarts to be any different. In fact, he wasn't sure how long he would even be there. He would probably try to get kicked out. That would show Sr.
Most of the compartments were full, he shouldn't have been so slow getting ready. Sometimes pissing off his father backfired, but still worth it. He found one near the end that only had three people in it; all of them looked to be about his age.
There was a girl and a boy huddled together, they must already know each other. Another boy sat slightly apart from them in contrast to the other two kids' blond hair his was black and curly. He looked like he smelled dung when Barty walked in. It was the same expression his father had when he entered a room. Barty wasn't too concerned.
The girl, he found out was Pandora. She and Evan, the blonde boy, were cousins. The sour faced kid was Regulus, he couldn't see them getting on very well. He seemed too poncy.
They arrived at the school and lined up to be sorted. Barty had already decided he would be in Slytheran, it was what would piss off his father the most. The hat was placed on his head and he heard it speak.
"Hmm, fiercely loyal, smart if you apply yourself, cares, almost too deeply..."
He didn't have to sit here and listen to all of his character flaws. Let me stop you right there, he thinks. I'm a Slytheran.
"Hmph, very well."
"Slytheran!" the hat calls and Barty joined his fellow snakes at the table.
The feast was great, Barty couldn't believe all the choices there were, his house elf tended to make the same meals each week. He hadn't known where to start and ended up taking much more than he needed.
While the first years where being led to the Dungeons Barty tripped on his robes and bumped into an older Slytheran. The boy sneared and shoved Barty to the ground.
"Learn how to walk firstie."
Barty was on the shorter side. He had no doubts that eventually he would grow, his father was tall after all, but for now he was a bit of a runt. He didn't like that, he was not willing to be at the bottom of the food chain.
How many conversations had he overheard while eavesdropping in his father's office, about Azkaban and the criminals he put away? The new guy should jump the biggest guy to assert dominance, or at least that's what Barty would do. He listened to Sr. talk with his colleagues as if prison brawls and arrests were tea party gossip.
When he arrived at the common room Barty found the bloke who pushed him earlier chatting with another student. He was far bigger than Barty, probably a 5th or 6th year. Barty walked up to him with confidence no 11 year old had the right to. He pushed the boy, caught off guard he stumbled backwards. Barty pulled a pocket knife from his robes and pushed it against the boy's neck. What was school if not prison for kids: set meal times, held captive in classrooms or the castle, not allowed to leave the grounds, and limited access to the outside world.
"Prison rules bitch." He whispered with a wicked glint in his eye.
The boy swallowed hard. If he had wanted to he could have picked Barty up under his arm, but Barty had learned a long time ago if people thought you were crazy they left you the fuck alone. He put the knife away and walked to his dorm.
******
Hogwarts wasn't terrible. He decided not to get kicked out just yet. He might as well take the opportunity to learn some spells that could be useful. Also, after two weeks without his father breathing down his neck he was actually kind of enjoying himself.
He walked down the corridor towards potions twirling his wand. He stopped from time to time to 'Wingardium Leviosa' stuff around the halls. He had almost made it to the potions lab when he saw Evan blocked against the wall by an angry 3rd year.
"You pure blood lot think you're so special. Your father is a piece of work, firing my Dad just because he's muggleborn..."
Barty watched as the other boy drew his wand. Barty was faster, he didn't know many spells yet, but was awfully creative.
"Wingardium Leviosa," he aimed the spell at the boy's feet, focusing all his energy on levitating his shoes. The boy's feet slipped out from under him and he fell. He really was aiming for his shoes—what a happy accident. Before the 3rd year could regain his footing Barty grabbed Evan's hand and dragged him, to the potions lab, cackling the whole way.
When they found their seats Barty fully expected the boy to get away from him as quickly as possible, but instead he took the seat next to Barty.
"Thanks," he said, with minimal emotion in his voice and then went about setting up his potions supplies.
Barty narrowed is eyes, hmm, interesting. Maybe the boy hadn't realized Barty wasn't worth it yet.
******
Evan continued to hang around. He wasn't quite like other kids, he seemed more grown up—when he wanted to be. Barty appreciated his sarcastic humor, and that he wasn't afraid to get into a bit of trouble. Barty decided maybe he had room for one friend. He would keep him, for now.
******
Barty, Evan, Posh Git, and another boy, he hadn't bothered to learn the name of, all roomed together. During the months since the start of term Barty had noticed things about Posh G... Regulus.
The first happened during an argument. The git had come into the dorm in a rage, accusing Evan of stealing his sugar quills. In all fairness Evan had one in his mouth at the time, but Barty wouldn't stand for it. He whipped around and drew his wand on Regulus. The boy flinched before immediately regaining a look of annoyance.
Barty didn't think normal kids were used to be on the receiving end of nasty spells. He wondered which ones Regulus was acquainted with. He decided not to dwell on it, but apologized and gave him one of his chocolate frogs.
The second was in the great hall. They had all just returned from Christmas break, so the majority of the younger kids were still wound up. Someone, in their rush to get a second helping of pudding, knocked a plate on the floor. When it shattered Barty couldn't help but notice Regulus sat a little smaller in his seat, he didn't eat anything else for the remainder of dinner. Barty's wand slipped as the perpetrator stood up to leave, how unfortunate that he was hit with a leg-locker curse.
It wasn't until April that Barty thought maybe two friends would be okay.
Regulus' brother and his idiot friends pranked Slytheran students on April Fool's Day. It was harmless, they had charmed everyone's bed curtains to sing the school song whenever they were opened. All morning the Slytheran dorms were subjected to staggered rounds of "Hoggy Warty Hogwarts."
Barty had found the whole thing rather funny, Evan had been annoyed that the singing had woken him up early, but was otherwise unbothered. Regulus on the otherhand seemed furious, until he spoke.
"He thinks he can just mess around and do whatever he wants." His brows were furrowed and he was biting his bottom lip. "If Mother finds out he's messing about..." Regulus cut himself off.
Hmm, so that was the cause. "Regulus your mother isn't here. Why don't we have a little fun, while we can." Barty raised an eyebrow.
That night Barty led Evan and Regulus toward Gryffindor Tower. They decided to single out Sirius and his friends, a targeted attack.
"I've noticed something about you and your brother."
Regulus looked at Barty he narrowed his eyes, but bit his bottom lip, an obvious tell.
He changed tack, "Your hair... you both seem to take an awful lot of pride in your hair."
The plan, put hair removal potion in the Gryffinidiots' shampoo. They would be able to grow it out easy enough, but Madam Pomfrey wasn't in the business of helping students with pranks gone wrong.
Regulus, the first year resident potions master, had brewed the potion earlier in the day. Evan, who had surprisingly excellent hand writing, had written a message from Professor McGonagall to have Potter, Lupin, Pettigrew, and Black meet her in the Transfiguration classroom at 7:00pm. Pandora delivered it for him.
The only hang up was how to get past the common room unnoticed. Barty thought disguises would be sufficient. He stole three sets of Gryffindor robes from the laundry, and had his prison bitch charm their hair different colors. Barty wasn't one hundred percent sure what the term meant, but heard it in his father's office and thought it was brilliant. Evan hung around the portrait until he heard the password.
"Demiguise," the portrait swung open and the boys made their way inside. They climbed the stairs to the boys dorms. It didn't take long to find the one they were looking for and got to work.
As they tried to leave they saw the Gryffindorks coming back in through the portrait hole. Salizar's knee socks, Barty spotted a closet and shoved the other two boys inside. After what felt like days they peered through the door. The Gryffindicks were gone, the boy's quickly made their way back to the dungeons to avoid being caught.
In the Slytheran dorms Regulus was smiling, he looked a lot less like a dick when he smiled.
"Barty, thanks." He saw Regulus smile for the second time this year.
Two, two friends was a pretty good number.
******
"Avery moved out early."
"Who?"
"Our roommate you git, you took his blanket last week because you said he didn't have a monopoly on comfort?" Reggie crossed his arms, and waited for recognition to come.
"Hmm, not ringing any bells." Barty shrugged.
Barty watched Evan and Reggie pack. He should probably get started on his own trunk, but that felt like giving in.
"You know, your Dad's not here. We won't tell him you packed on time, promise."
Barty groaned and flopped back on the bed as time slipped away.
******
Only a few weeks into summer break and Barty had managed to get on his father's bad side. Barty wasn't sure he even had a good one. He had found a dog walking the grounds. It was a young thing, dirty and malnourished. It had obviously been on its own for too long.
His dad was at the Ministry and Mum was having one of her quiet days. It was easy enough to sneak the animal in to the bathroom. He gave him a bath and dried him the best he could. Barty wondered if he would be able to train him to guard stuff and attack on command. He would have to try if he found a way to keep him.
Barty was careful, he checked the halls, they were empty. He carried the dog to his room and quickly shut the door. Now that he was clean the dog didn't look as tough. He had floppy ears and was white with red patches. His hair wasnt too long, but had a little bit of a wave in places. He was probably too cute to be an attack dog or maybe that would lul his enemies into a false sense of security. Maybe Barty could use the puppy's cuteness to his advantage.
He shoved the dog into his closet. "Winky," he called.
"Yes Little Master Barty?"
Barty rolled his eyes, "you don't have to call me little anymore."
"Winky used to be changing your nappies, you is always Little Master."
Barty blushed in embarrassment. "Winky can you bring me some meat? Anything will be fine."
Winky narrowed her eyes, "Little Maste, your closet squeaks."
Barty rushes to step in front of the closet. Shadow Bringer? Nightmare? Omen? Had started whining. He coughed to try to cover the sound.
"Please Winky, bring some meat. I'm just very hungry."
She looked at him skeptically, "will Little Master be needing kibble for his beasty?"
Barty swallowed, then nodded slowly.
Winky returned later with the kibble and a bowl of water, hmm she didn't bring any meat.
Surprisingly, Barty had been able to keep Loki hidden for almost a week before he was discovered. He would take the dog out during the day while Sr. was at work. His Mum had been having a lot of her quiet days so she didn't really notice what he was doing.
He was teaching Loki, it was the name that stuck, how to bite his enemies when his father came home early.
"Loki, bite!" The dog ran in a circle and nuzzled his head under Barty's hand for pats, it was a work in progress.
"What is this." His father made a beeline across the yard to where he was standing.
"A dog," Barty deadpanned.
His father grabbed the dog by the scruff of the neck and dragged him towards the house. Barty followed plotting how to free the animal. Before he had a chance to act his mother was coming though the door.
"Bartemius, I see you've met your son's pet. Isn't he lovely?"
It was the most words Barty had heard from her all week, he was sure she hadn't even known the dog existed earlier. Sr. narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. He shoved the dog away, Barty quickly scooped him up.
"I thought Barty could use a companion and some responsibility this summer." She said with conviction.
His father huffed and walked away. Barty knew that was worse, he would stew until later. Tomorrow wouldn't just be one of his mum's quiet days. That night he took the Loki to a nearby farm, he knew they had several kids. Barty hoped they needed a highly trained, vicious, attack dog.