"I'd thought of going after Mad-Eye - oh the irony of that! Dear old Uncle Alastor! He was the one that arrested me you know. Taught me to fly a broom and then sent me off to Azkaban. But My Lord and I decided it was too much of a gamble. What if I failed to subdue poor uncle? Mad-eye is many things but an incompetent dueller he is not. So we decided to go for the pathetic, invisible squib. I did stop by though to set off Uncle's wards and traps. Made him look the paranoid delusional he really is when the Ministry showed up to see what the fuss was all about.
"Once at Hogwarts, no one took notice of me. Not even Uncle or Dumbledore. After all, everyone knows a squib is no danger to a wizard! And no one missed having Filch around much so there was no suspicion when I drank my Polyjuice Potion. You ruined my simple plan with your little ward, Harry. I was quite angry but forgave you after I saw you diverted my target to that spawn-of-a-coward into trouble. I really did enjoy the chaos you created. Most entertainment I've had in years. But I wanted to make you the centre of attention, not the Malfoy spawn. After all, you are the one seen as being responsible for the Master's downfall not that little twit. Oh, but I had to be oh-so-subtle! A word here about Hogwarts's poor showing in the duels, and another one here about the Third Task needing to be better. And you can through perfectly! So now here you are!"
Harry had decided halfway through the wizard's monologue that the man was completely unhinged.
"Who are you? Harry interrupted the man.
The man made to act embarrassed. "Oh, but of course. Where are my manners? I am Barty Crouch. Junior actually but since dear father was shoved from this mortal coil I am the only one remaining."
Harry vaguely remembered Padfoot mentioning the wizard in reference to his own father sentencing him to Azkaban. Most of the talk was about Crouch Sr. simply throwing Sirius into prison without a trial and the case of the man's son was simply an example of Couch Sr's fanatical behaviour. It appeared the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
"And why did you do all this?" Harry asked.
"Why to cause chaos of course." Barty answered with a grin. "The Ministry was so busy dealing with the Tri-tri Wizard Tournament that it didn't have time to worry about the little things - you know - a disappearance here, a little robbery there. I doubt they've even realized Master's wand has gone missing from their trophy case!" The man giggled in enjoyment.
"My plan was to simply put you into the Tournament as a distraction and to prove your worth as the Master's nemesis. But you took it to a whole new level! Brilliant! But since I still wanted you to prove your worth I needed to create all new challenges for you. Naughty, naughty Harry! But even Master was impressed with your stand against your entire year. Why, he as much as admitted that he would have been hard pressed to duplicate such a feat at fourteen!"
"Enough, Barty," a new voice said. Barty looked affronted at the interruption until he turned and saw what the man carried. Harry looked over to see someone he'd never expected again.
Wormtail
Peter held what looked like a small child in his arms. Peter looked much thinner than the last time Harry saw him. The former Marauder now was much thinner than during the encounter in the Shrieking Shack and wore robes that while older seemed to have been well-maintained. The 'child' in his arms glared at Harry with a green, vaguely reptilian look to its skin and features.
"Hello, Harry. It is nice to see you again."
Harry fought both to keep the Beast supressed and his voice calm. "Peter," he responded.
"Ahh, yes," Peter said with a sad smile.
"Put me down, Wormtail," the 'child' said in a sibilant voice. The man complied instantly. The small figure stepped closer to Harry.
"Hello, Harry Potter. See what you have reduced me to!"
"Tom, is that you?" Harry asked with a grin that was only half forced. Yes, he was not in a good situation but the snake-child looked ridiculous.
The 'child' glared at the hated name. "How do you know that name?" he demanded.
"Malfoy was responsible for me finding out," Harry answered. "Never trust a family named 'Bad Faith'." Tom looked furious at Harry's answer. Technically it was even true. Lucius Malfoy's planting of the diary led to Harry's knowledge.
"I shall deal with my servant later - the same time I deal with your impertinence. But first, you shall be witness to the greatest feat of magic in a thousand years! You- an infant- managed to destroy my body through a fluke of magic. So it is only fitting that you shall be both a witness to my rebirth and the first victim of my new reign!"
Harry felt an involuntary shiver at the figure's words. Now he knew how Han felt at the end of Empire Strikes Back.
The figure ignored Harry now and slowly made its way across the small park to stand in the centre of the largest circle. "Barty, call the participants now."
"Yes, master," Barty answered before moving quickly out of sight. The figure knelt down and seemed to meditate.
"Hello Harry," Wormtail said again as he approached the bound boy. "You look well. Living with Sirius seems to agree with you. Much better than your Muggle relatives, eh?"
Harry ignored the small talk. "How did you get out, traitor?" Peter smiled.
.....
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