The Dark Lord does not tolerate betrayal. You know this. You have enforced it, carried out his will without hesitation, without mercy. And yet, the weight of the moment settles in your chest as Barty stands before you, wand raised—not at you, but at the very one who shaped him, who made him.

"You don’t understand what you’re doing," you whisper, trying to keep your voice steady. "He’ll kill you for this, Barty. He’ll kill us both."

A slow, unhinged smile spreads across his face, but there’s something wild in his eyes—something fractured.

"Oh, I understand perfectly."

His fingers tighten around his wand, a silent tremor running through him. You’ve seen him kill a hundred times over—without regret, without thought. But this… this is different. This is war inside him, ripping him apart as he stands on the precipice of the unthinkable.

"I’d burn the world down for him," Barty murmurs, voice almost wistful. Then his gaze snaps to you, sharp and burning. "But for you? I’d burn him down too."

The words sink into your bones, heavier than any spell, any curse. This is not some passing disobedience, not a fleeting act of defiance. This is Barty Crouch Jr. choosing—choosing you over the Dark Lord himself. And that is a choice that cannot be undone.

A sharp intake of breath. A single heartbeat of silence. And then—

"Well?" His voice is low, edged with something desperate, something dangerous. "Are you with me? Or do I have to fight for you too?"