Among those who had changed was Barty Crouch Sr.
He was a creature of power and had never changed. In the past, he had chosen to keep a low profile only because his son had consumed so much of his energy, and because he knew the stain on his own record made it impossible for him to fit into the existing system.
But—what if everything had changed?
Other than Crouch himself, no one knew what kind of ambitions had reignited within the old wizard who had languished for so many years.
At the very least, he had not urged Vaughn to treat Barty Crouch Jr. in a long time.
To put it bluntly, the so-called "treatment" had long since quietly become an excuse. If the boy were actually cured and dear Mr. Vaughn Weasley shifted his research interests elsewhere, that would hardly be worth the loss!
Beneath his expressionless facade, Crouch let his thoughts run wild as he accompanied Vaughn through breakfast without tasting a thing.
Vaughn opened the "Dimensional Gate." Crouch's vision blurred as he "saw" his and Vaughn's figures reflected across countless overlapping spherical surfaces. In an instant, the environment around them changed.
A dark, churning sea and a gloomy sky blanketed in leaden clouds swept toward the horizon before his eyes.
Crouch looked around. They were standing atop a massive semicircular rock, and on the cliff face not far ahead was a fissure large enough for a person to crawl through, submerged beneath seawater.
"The cave entrance is over there?"
Crouch took the initiative to ask.
"Mm. There's anti-Apparition magic inside. When you come here in the future, you can only teleport to the outer perimeter, so I didn't take you directly inside. Take note of the surroundings."
Crouch did as instructed and committed the place to