Snakes and Roses|| Rosekiller || ✔️

35. Grief

WARNING: mentions of animal death, mentions of death, mentions of drowning, depictions of grief, threatening language (i think), aggressive behaviour, child abuse, broken bones/injuries, mentions of smoking/cigarettes, alcohol
This chapter is very heavy on grief so please look after yourselves
This is told entirely from Barty's perspective

When Barty was nine, he lost the family dog, his Mother had told him that Dottie was simply too old and she had to be put to sleep. She was a big soppy dalmation that Barty loved to bits, and he was devastated.

That was Barty's first experience with death, with grief. He had cried the whole way to the vets, and the whole day after that. They never did get another dog after Dottie, none of them could ever bear to replace her, so they hung up her pictures and continued to mourn her, never filling the hole she left.

When Barty was eleven, just before he started Hogwarts, his Grandpa Shiloh had passed away. His Mother was broken up about losing her Father and his Father was no help to either of them. Barty Crouch Sr was never good with emotions, he was there for his wife as best he could be, but he was no help to Barty.

"You have to be strong for your Mother, Bartemius, boys don't cry, men don't cry"

Barty had to cut his mourning short to appease his Father. He spent his life pleasing his Father just for him never to be pleased.

Barty hasn't had much experience with death or with grief and he supposes he's lucky for that, he supposes he should be grateful.

Evan is still asleep when Barty heads to his dorm room to grab his pack of cigarettes. He feels the itching need beneath his skin to smoke away his stress. Regulus still isn't back and Barty is beginning to worry that he won't be returning.

He opens the door to the dorm room and it's still empty. He scans the room, looking in every nook and cranny just in case Regulus might be hiding somewhere, pulling some sort of elaborate practical joke on him or something. At least, that's what Barty was hoping for, but Regulus was nowhere to be found.

Just as he was about to grab his cigarettes off of his nightstand, there's a knock at the door and Barty's heart jumps into his throat, he really hopes it's Regulus. He doesn't know why Regulus would be knocking at his own bedroom door but Barty doesn't care about logic right now, he just needs to know Regulus is okay.

When he opens the door, his heart plummets at the sight of Professor Slughorn, which can only mean that Professor Dumbledore wants to speak to him again, and currently, Barty doesn't have the time for this, but he can't very well say no, what if Dumbledore knows something about Regulus

"Mr Crouch, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you" Professor Slughorn states and Barty simply nods, allowing Slughorn to lead the way.

When Barty sits down before Dumbledore's desk he feels antsy, anxious for information. He starts bouncing his knee and wringing his hands, waiting for Dumbledore to start talking, and it feels like a lifetime before Dumbledore says anything

"Mr Crouch, I have some news for you that might be distressing" Dumbledore prefaces

Barty feels sick "is it about Regulus?" Asks Barty

Dumbledore purses his lips "Regulus Black was found at the bottom of a body of water in a cave, the Daily Prophet is under the impression that he was doing the Dark Lord's bidding, however, a letter I received from him tells me he was acting against the Dark Lord, I presume he was trying to play the hero. I am very sorry for your loss, Barty" Dumbledore replies

Regulus Black was found at the bottom of a body of water

I am very sorry for your loss

At the bottom of a body of water