Hogwarts Express: Time Travel

LXII. Break

LXII. Break

Hermione is first to notice Annie as she stands and light engulfs the great Hall and whispers her name a bit too loudly than intended, making all eyes snap in Annie's direction.

"Annie!" It was Barty who broke the silence standing up and taking large steps towards her.

She stared at him surprised as he got closer with each step, what was going on? As he stopped in front of her, face blank she didn't know what he was on about, but there was one thing clear in his eyes: Determination.

"Can we talk" he asked hopeful, she looked at him confused but nodded

"Sure" Barty looked around noticing the curious gazes of the nosy students, he shot a look to Evan who understood him immediately as he growled at some to keep their noses to themselves

"Outside Alone"

"Like hell she will" Draco and another certain someone shouted: James, after seeing what he saw he was skeptical of Barty, and he sure as hell didn't want his daughter alone with him

"Dad it's fine" she gave him a small smile that made his day, it wasn't beaming but it was enough to agree to whatever she wanted, he couldn't say no to his baby daughter. Annie turned to Draco and shook her head "I'm fine Draco"

Nodding to Barty to lead the way, they both left the great hall leaving the other confused as to why he needed to talk to her, the two walked the corridor outside, Barty was the first to come into a stop causing her stop walking as well

"I'm sorry" he whispered, he shook his head before she could even utter a word, he turned and dropped to his knees in front of her; Annie's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets from shock "I realize no amount of apologies could set anything right, but I want you to know that I am terribly sorry for everything I put you throughout that year, I'm regrettably and truly sorry for everything I'd done, god...." His voice was breaking and for some reason it tugged at her heart to see him this way "I put you through so much, having you participate in that tournament, sending you to that bloody graveyard... And C-Cedric I-I-I'm sorry..."

Annie not wanting him to drown himself in self-pity, joined him on the floor and sat on her knees as well, her hands reaching for his trembling ones "It's okay, it's really okay"

"It's not" he wheeled staring into her eyes "It's not okay, I don't want to turn into that, I don't want to be that lunatic I'm destined to be, I don't want to be like my... my f-father"

"And that what makes you better than the Barty Crouch Jr I know" She smiled at him

"What? W-Why aren't you mad? W-why don't y-you hate me?" His voice small peering into her eyes searching for any lie but found none, this girl wore her emotions on her sleeve

"I suppose that would be the logical and easiest road" she sighed as she tightened her grip on his hands "I'm not going to lie to you, I did hate you, I did I really did, I came here knowing I'd meet all of your younger selves and I was more than convinced nothing would alter that hate, nothing would calm it, I was positive you were all bad because it is always easy to assume the worst from people, but then saw you, how you, you interacted with other... How you care for each other"

"Yes but still it doesn't excuse anything"

"No, it doesn't, I was starting to have my doubts about my beliefs, then Peter went ahead and proved he was more than delighted with his actions, that he was downright bad and I thought maybe I was delusional, I couldn't be right? You were good. Well as good as bored teenagers could be" she chuckled earning a laugh from him

"Point is I realized something as I watched, you didn't have a choice, it was either join or die, and while some chose to die others weren't as brave and it makes them smarter, finding a way to survive through the storm, and aligning with him, Voldemort.... Well it makes someone mad, I've seen it, hell I've been through it, he twists people's, toys with their emotions, creating his perfect soldier as you can see" she glowered