Regulus Black's View of Barty Crouch Jr.

"Barty Crouch Jr.?" Dumbledore stroked his beard. "Regulus, did Voldemort give him something similar as well?"

"I can't be sure..." Regulus Black said. "After the Dark Lord asked me to offer up Kreacher, Barty Crouch Jr. actually came to see me."

"His purpose was simple: he wanted to know what secret mission I was carrying out. Barty Crouch Jr. had some unrealistic fantasies about the Dark Lord."

"In his eyes... only those favored by the Dark Lord could be entrusted with important tasks. Perhaps because we were close in age, we had more things to talk about."

"Thinking back on what Barty Crouch Jr. said at the time, I believe he knew some of the Dark Lord's secrets... for example, that a certain Death Eater had also been assigned a similar mission."

"Regulus, in your judgment..." Dumbledore asked, "what kind of person was Barty Crouch Jr.?"

"Although it isn't right to speak of him behind his back like this..." Regulus Black replied, "I must say, from a Death Eater's perspective..."

"Barty Crouch Jr. was quite ambitious, or perhaps you could call it motivated... He joined the Death Eaters half a year after I did and was eager to prove himself. I could sense that the Dark Lord had already noticed him."

"On the day I had Kreacher bring me to the cave, he happened to write me a letter. In it, he mentioned that Bellatrix Lestrange had invited him to help plan an ambush against Aurors..."

"Mr. Regulus Black..." Wizet began, "forgive me for interrupting, but may I understand it this way..."

"Unlike you, Barty Crouch Jr. did not resist the Death Eaters' various actions. He might even be said to have... enjoyed them?"

"That would be accurate..." Regulus Black's tone became somewhat strange. "How should I put it...