Barty's Room

The Crouch household was unusually lively, with the sounds of busy footsteps echoing even in the normally quiet hallway.

Madam Crouch was busy checking the luggage list.

"Winky, don't forget to pack raincoats for Leia and Little Barty. Their father asked the Department of Magical Weather today and said it might rain in France."

The house-elf efficiently organized the clothes. "Winky won't forget! And Winky has also packed a blanket with a warming charm just for Miss. The audience seats in the top boxes can get cold at high altitudes, Winky has thought of it."

Lucretia sat on the stairs, sipping juice and watching everyone bustle about.

Mr. Crouch was at the Ministry of Magic handling final tasks and handovers. He had rarely taken three days off, and even his colleagues at the Ministry were quite surprised.

Madam Crouch took out a custom-made sky-blue sun-protective cloak. "Leia, come try this on. I bought it for you from Twilfitt and Tattings. The UV rays are stronger in the summer, we can't let you get sunburned."

The cloak was exquisitely made, with fine silver threads embroidered on the cuffs.

Lucretia carefully put it on, feeling as if a gentle, cool breeze was wrapping around her.

Madam Crouch lovingly adjusted the collar for her and gently stroked her cheek.

"It suits you perfectly. My daughter looks good in anything. When we get to France, I'll take you to buy some of the popular dresses there. French designs are much more fashionable than those here in Britain, you'll definitely like them."

Lucretia recalled the etiquette she had learned in class. "Professor West said that wizards there pay special attention to their attire and choose colors according to different occasions."

Madam Crouch said with satisfaction, "That's right. It seems all your studies haven't been in vain."

"Winky found it!"

The house-elf suddenly ran down excitedly from the attic, holding a telescopic spyglass.

"This is the one Young Master bought when he went to watch a Quidditch match. It's been enlarged with a spell, so you can see very clearly."

Just then, the fireplace flames suddenly turned green, and Little Barty walked out.

He was still wearing his Hogwarts robes, his hair slightly messy from the Floo Powder.

"Mother, Father is still at the Ministry. He sent me a message with a Patronus Charm. He said for us to pack first and he'll... "

He casually brushed some soot off his robes, but stopped mid-sentence when he saw Lucretia in the sun-protective cloak, looking surprised.

Madam Crouch smiled and said, "It's beautiful, isn't it? Our Leia is already exquisite without needing makeup. When she goes to the balls next year, she'll definitely dazzle the other families."

Little Barty turned his face away, not responding to Madam Crouch.

"I'm going to pack my luggage and get some homework done. Oh, right..."

He paused on the stairs.

"Regulus said his family will arrive first thing tomorrow morning. He also said... he said he's looking forward to meeting everyone."

Lucretia's heart skipped a beat.

She hadn't met children from other wizarding families before and worried that her etiquette wasn't up to par and would embarrass Mr. Crouch.

As if sensing her thoughts, Madam Crouch gently put an arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry. You're already very well-prepared. Besides, Regulus is a very good-natured child. You can play together these few days, and your father and I will handle the Black family parents."

Winky was busy casting a space-expanding charm on the luggage, muttering about preparing some refreshing tea bags and various preventative potions.

Lucretia suddenly remembered something. "What about the plants in the garden..."

Winky immediately patted his chest and promised, "Winky will take good care of them! Miss, don't worry, Winky will do his utmost to cherish Miss and Young Master's garden!"

While the others were chatting, the sound of Little Barty rummaging through his trunk could be heard from upstairs, as if he was looking for something.

Madam Crouch sighed helplessly. "Go help Barty. He never packs properly. His room was a mess when he was little, and it's probably even worse now."

Lucretia hesitated for a moment.

She had never been inside Little Barty's room, even though she had lived in the Crouch household for so long.

She took off the sky-blue sun-protective cloak and hung it on the banister.

Lucretia walked to the door of Little Barty's room and knocked gently.

"Barty? May... may I come in?"

A rustling sound came from inside the room, followed by hurried footsteps.

After a moment, Little Barty said, "Come in."

When she pushed the door open, Lucretia was stunned.

The room was indeed as messy as Madam Crouch had said, but it could still be described as a kind of organized chaos.

Various books were spread open and piled on the desk, quills were scattered everywhere, and several Potions notebooks had dried flower specimens tucked inside, with the nibs of the quills all pointing in the same direction.

The suitcase in the corner was wide open and lying askew on the floor, with clothes piled haphazardly inside, some with their sleeves sticking out.

Little Barty stood by the window, pretending to be organizing something.

Sunlight streamed in from behind him, and Lucretia saw him trying to hide a French book behind his back.

"Mother asked me to come up and help. Is there anything you need me to find for you?"

"No need to find anything."

He answered instinctively, but his gaze fell on her bare arms.

The scars had indeed faded a lot more than before, and were almost invisible if you didn't look closely.

It seems Winky's ointment worked.

He suddenly remembered he hadn't asked her if it hurt.

Lucretia noticed his gaze and instinctively wanted to pull down her sleeve.

But then she remembered this was home, this was Little Barty.

She looked at the scattered clothes, "Do you need me to fold your clothes? Mother said you never tidied your room as a child."

"Who said I didn't?" he mumbled, "I just... I just couldn't be bothered to make it so neat. Fold them if you want to."

She crouched in front of the suitcase and began to sort the clothes one by one.

Little Barty's clothes all carried a unique scent, a mixture of sunshine and parchment, with a hint of lime.

And she inadvertently discovered that each piece of clothing had a small "B.C." embroidered in the bottom right corner.

Little Barty suddenly spoke, "That's... that's what Winky embroidered."

Lucretia nodded, remembering that her own clothes had similar embroidery, "L.C."

This discovery warmed her heart.

As she folded the clothes, she said, "How's your French coming along? I only learned a few basic phrases with Professor Boot, and I don't know what to do if I can't understand during the match."

Little Barty paused for a moment, surprised that she had noticed the book.

He hesitated, then added in a low voice, "I'm... just looking at it. Regulus said the French speak very fast, but we have translation earpieces for the match."

Mentioning Regulus, the room suddenly fell silent.

Lucretia placed the last shirt into the suitcase and stood up, "Really? That's great. If I always look like I don't understand anything, I'm afraid Father will be disappointed in me."

Little Barty seemed to make a big decision, "When the time comes... at worst, I can help you translate outside the box."

Lucretia looked up at him, the sunlight shining on his reddening ear tips.

"Thank you."

He turned around to flip through a book, "You're welcome, anyway... anyway, I..."

This unfinished sentence was interrupted by Madam Crouch's voice from downstairs.

"Leia, Barty, come downstairs quickly, the cake I ordered has arrived. Eat it first before you tidy up."

Little Barty was the first to walk towards the door, pausing as he passed her, "Let's go. That... you should keep using the ointment."

With that, he hurried downstairs.

Lucretia was left standing in the room, watching the sunlight spill onto the neatly packed suitcase.

She gently touched the almost invisible scars on her arm, a wave of warmth washing over her.