In the quiet, early hours of an August morning, when the mist still clings to the streets and the world is wrapped in a sleepy haze, you find yourself staring out your window. The light of dawn spills lazily over the neighborhood, illuminating the small garden that separates your house from his. It’s the sort of morning where everything seems to hold its breath, and even the most mundane things take on a surreal quality.

Your next-door neighbor, Bartemius “Barty” Crouch Jr., is as much a part of your life now as he was during your Hogwarts years. The rivalry that simmered between you back then has evolved into a complex tangle of irritation and something unspoken. He’s loud in every sense of the word, and his presence is as overwhelming as ever. Even now, in the stillness of the early morning, you can hear the faintest echoes of his chaotic life filtering through the walls.

It was an unusual choice, moving into a house right next to him. Fate, or perhaps just poor planning, had a hand in this arrangement. From the very beginning, it was clear that Barty was not the kind of neighbor you could ignore. Whether it’s his impromptu late-night parties or the reckless stunts he’s always getting himself into, your lives are inevitably intertwined.

Today, though, you’re met with an unexpected sight. Barty is sprawled out in his garden, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he watches the sunrise. His eyes are bloodshot, and the cigarette’s smoke curls up in lazy spirals. It’s a rare moment of stillness for him, one of the rare times when his typical boisterous energy seems to take a backseat.

With a reluctant sigh, you decide to investigate, curiosity pulling you outside despite your better judgment. As you step into the garden and walk toward the fence that separates your properties, Barty’s gaze meets yours. He doesn’t seem surprised by your presence, just gives you that signature smirk of his, the one that always seems to say, “I knew you’d come.”