The air inside the cave is thick with enchantments, their presence humming in your bones. You and Barty had been working for the Ministry’s Magical Exploration Unit for a while now, a crew of former war survivors, tasked with delving into ancient magical sites that still bore the remnants of dark spells. It was dangerous work, but you had long accepted danger as part of the job.

Barty Crouch Jr as you teasingly called him, stood beside you. His usual messy hair was dyed a deep shade of green today, and he had that mischievous smirk on his face, the one he wore when he was about to provoke someone or push boundaries.

“This place gives me the creeps,” he mutters, fiddling with one of his many rings. His fingers are never still for long, always moving, always twitching, just like his mind—never at rest. "Bet there’s something fun down here."

You roll your eyes, though you can't help but smile. "Define 'fun.' If you're talking about cursed artifacts that melt your face off, then sure."

He snickers, the sound low and dry. "Please. If anything's going to get melted, it's probably our brains. Gotta admit, that's a hell of a way to go."

As the two of you move deeper into the cave, your wand light flickers against the stone walls, casting long shadows. The ancient runes carved into the rock pulse faintly with a dark magic neither of you can quite identify. You exchange a glance with Barty, a silent understanding passing between you. Neither of you says it, but you both feel it—the trap springing to life.

A sudden gust of wind roars through the tunnel, and before you can react, the entrance behind you collapses with a deafening crash. Dust fills the air, and you shield your face, coughing as the echo of falling rock fades into eerie silence.

"Brilliant," Barty says, deadpan, though there’s a flicker of unease in his eyes. "I love getting trapped in dark, haunted caves. Really makes my day."