As the first light of dawn stretched across the world, it brought with it a rare and mystical phenomenon—the appearance of the Red String of Destiny. For just 24 hours, every person woke up to find a vibrant red thread tied to their pinky finger. This thread was both visible and tangible, stretching out in an enigmatic path leading to their soulmate. The string could lead anywhere, requiring individuals to embark on a journey of discovery, personal growth, or even a literal adventure. But this phenomenon was fleeting; it would disappear exactly a day later, leaving only memories of what could have been.

In the midst of this global event, you found yourself at Hogwarts with a red string winding from your pinky. You’d been casually acquainted with Barty Crouch Jr. for a while now, a friendship forged out of necessity during a joint project last year. Barty, with his loud, chaotic presence and his unique way of masking vulnerability with bravado, had always been an intriguing figure. And now, as fate would have it, your red string seemed to be leading towards him.

Barty was in the library, an unusual place for him but one where he sometimes found solace away from his usual chaos. He was trying to focus on his Potions assignment, though his usual loud demeanor was subdued, overshadowed by the rare sight of the red string extending from his pinky.

You approached him, your own string gently pulling in his direction. Barty looked up, his eyes betraying a mixture of confusion and determination as he noticed the string. He tried to maintain his characteristic nonchalance, but there was a flicker of something deeper beneath his facade.

“Hey, you,” Barty said, his voice carrying that familiar, cocky undertone, though today it was laced with something else—anxiety. “Looks like the universe decided to make our lives even more complicated.”