Twists of Fate: Entangled Threads || Sirius Black FF

Chapter 77: Life Debt

N/A: Before we begin, let's take a moment of silence for Dame Maggie Smith, our beloved McGonagall, who passed on the 27th of this month, September, just three days ago. May she rest in peace. Lets raise our wands for her, and the magic she brought into our lives 🪄🪄🪄

***

"Thanks, Barty. You were very helpful." Sandy replied as she began heading to his fireplace, to return to Hogwarts. "You have no idea how much." 

The boy simply grinned and gave her a tight, and long, goodbye hug. "Says you." The pair had spent the day at the Crouch Manor, chatting about anything and everything, although in Sandy's case, this was more than a friendly visit. Firstly, she was checking that he was safe and happy. Seeing as his father mostly stayed at the Ministry, working, that left him with more freedom to roam freely and do what he wanted, while in his mother's company. All summer long, he had been making and selling his WizSnap Spectrum Cameras, having to send them by post to all corners of the world. Apparently, his father was pleased with the popularity this was giving their family. While Barty Senior was not aware that Barty Junior wanted to make this a full-time career, his mother did, and she supported little Barty wholeheartedly. She also seemed to adore Sandy. Those two things had made Barty's confidence grow tremendously, along with his happiness, and plans for the future. He had also been working on developing new magical objects over the summer too. Had so many ideas he wanted to bring to life. That last part was Sandy's ulterior motive for her visit.

With all the notes in hand, she shot him one last smile, and grabbed a handful of Floo powder. "I'll see you soon, yeah?"

"You better! I wasn't done showing you everything, and I loved all your ideas too!" That had been something the pair often did. While Sandy would tell him about something Muggle technology related, the boy would look for a way to create a magical version of it. And he was still insistent on one day, getting wizards to the Moon. And maybe Mars too. Currently though, he was working on creating 'wizard televisions', after she took him to the movies, and let him watch the news channels on a tv as well.

"And you know I love to hear and see all your plans." She responded with a giggle. There were many days she found herself wondering how, this little guy, happened to be the same person (albeit, a different version) of the Barty Crouch Junior she had met in her original timeline. He was an incredible guy, who just needed some love, and someone to believe in him. Sandy would do everything in her power to ensure he had that, in a healthy environment, and wasn't taken advantage of by Voldemort. That could not happen. Not over her dead body. He had grown to become one of the people she loved, and she'd care for him until the end of times- of any timeline. "Bye, Barty."

Waving enthusiastically, he grinned back at her. "Bye!"

"To Dumbledore's office!" And she then threw the Floo powder at her feet. Shortly, that's where she found herself, dusting off any residual powder, and going into the Room of Requirement to get started on her work. 

Tomorrow, she was supposed to go and have lunch with the Malfoys. Her and Dumbledore had devised a plan together. It was risky, however, if successful, it would be incredibly beneficial. Although, to make it work, she required some help. The day prior, she had enlisted some from the Marauders at their get together, questioning them over how precisely they had made the Map. And today, she asked Barty a number of 'hypothetical' questions, which both of them knew weren't hypothetical. But she didn't dare tell him what it was for, only giving him the necessary information to help devise her plan properly (and allowing him to believe it was just to cause mischief). She wasn't going to put him in unnecessary danger.