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chonashpstuff · 9 days ago

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my personal pet peeves in HP is whole second book, and medicine. especially medicine

starting with the sewers that Salazar invented about half a millennium before the Muggles and beyond. but these things have almost no effect on the overall effect, but hospitals do. the school infirmary and St. Mungus. it feels like jkr came up with Saint Mongoose only for book 5, because before when students suffered serious injuries (Basilisk and cat hair for polyjuice, I mean you) they were treated at school. the students literally waited half a year for the mandrakes to ripen! but for some reason the teachers are transferred to Mungos (McGonagall did not stay at the school after 4 spells).

either these are plot holes or I don't understand something

Like with many things in HP, you can read it as a plot hole, or you can read it as Dumbledore's manipulations at it again (which is what I always do).

If we're talking specifically about year 2, we know Dumbledore knows what the Chamber is and what the monster is. He was a professor the first time around 50 years ago when Myrtle died. He knew it was Tom back then so it's not that he has no clue.

I think he doesn't know for certain who Tom is possessing at first or how, and he lets it play out to both:

Learn more about Voldy

Test & teach Harry

Additionally, even if petrification isn't serious enough to be sent to St Mongos (playing devil's advocate a little), I refuse to believe mandrake leaves can't be imported year-round. I mean, they are a common enough potion ingredient and are used in sleeping potions and healing potions. So there must be a supplier for potioners from where they buy the specific parts of the mandrake they need.

So, I think there was a wee bit of a coverup going on so Harry could be the one to figure it out and face Voldemort. Like in first year:

“No, it isn’t,” said Harry thoughtfully. “He’s a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don’t think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It’s almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could. ...” “Yeah, Dumbledore’s off his rocker, all right,” said Ron proudly.

(PS)

“You see what you expect to see, Severus,” said Dumbledore, without raising his eyes from a copy of Transfiguration Today. “Other teachers report that the boy is modest, likable, and reasonably talented. Personally, I find him an engaging child.” Dumbledore turned a page, and said, without looking up, “Keep an eye on Quirrell, won’t you?”

(DH)

Dumbledore is testing Harry in his first 3 years. The first time Dumbledore isn't fully in on what's going on at Hogwarts and isn't aware of all of it is 4th year (and even then I'm pretty certain he knew Moody was an imposter, but I digress).

In general, I think, 2nd year is just another example of Dumbledore endangering students and sacrificing their education (by hiring Lockhart) to teach Harry a lesson and test if Harry is truly a Horcrux, which he suspected before:

“Couldn’t you do something about it, Dumbledore?” “Even if I could, I wouldn’t. Scars can come in handy...”

(PS) - when talking to McGonagall about Harry's lightning scar.

“I guessed, fifteen years ago,” said Dumbledore, “when I saw the scar upon your forehead, what it might mean. I guessed that it might be the sign of a connection forged between you and Voldemort.” “You’ve told me this before, Professor,” said Harry bluntly. He did not care about being rude. He did not care about anything very much anymore. “Yes,” said Dumbledore apologetically. “Yes, but you see — it is necessary to start with your scar. For it became apparent, shortly after you rejoined the magical world, that I was correct, and that your scar was giving you warnings when Voldemort was close to you, or else feeling powerful emotion.”

(OotP)

But second-year proved it to him:

“You can speak Parseltongue, Harry,” said Dumbledore calmly, “because Lord Voldemort — who is the last remaining descendant of Salazar Slytherin — can speak Parseltongue. Unless I’m much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do, I’m sure. . . .”

(CoS)

It allowed him to test his Horcruxes theory (the diary) and also test Harry. It accomplished a lot of things Dumbledore needed anyway, so he probably thanked Lucius in his head as he let it all play out.

I mean, we see how little concern Dumbledore shows over Katie and Ron who got hurt by Draco trying to kill him:

“You gave me your word, Severus. And while we are talking about services you owe me, I thought you agreed to keep a close eye on our young Slytherin friend?” Snape looked angry, mutinous. Dumbledore sighed.

(DH) - this is all Dumbledore really says about Draco endangering students.

“You have had a busy time while I have been away,” Dumbledore said. “I believe you witnessed Katie’s accident.” “Yes, sir. How is she?” “Still very unwell, although she was relatively lucky. She appears to have brushed the necklace with the smallest possible amount of skin: There was a tiny hole in her glove. Had she put it on, had she even held it in her ungloved hand, she would have died, perhaps instantly.

(HBP) - even when talking to Harry he is incredibly cold about it.

And in book 2, the board of governors did get involved and removed Dumbledore from the school because they, quite reasonably, were concerned he wasn't dealing with the danger seriously. Like, I know it was Lucius Malfoy who engineered it and he's not supposed to be in the right, but he kinda accidentally was in this case. Dumbledore probably hid a lot of information from the board and was weird about the whole deal, I mean, Lucius can bribe to his heart's content but I don't think the board would remove Dumbledore so readily unless Dumbledore's behavior supported what Lucius was saying in some capacity.

We know Dumbledore is incredibly cold and calculated and we know it's not out of character for Dumbledore to endanger students if it advances his goals and doesn't hurt anyone too much by his standards. What's a few petrifications if it means he can be sure he can kill Voldemort and learn more about his connection to Harry?

(Regarding Hermione and the Polyjuice in year 2 is even easier. Because I don't believe Hermione told her parents and Hogwarts wouldn't tell muggles about what's going on at school, so it would be quite easy to hush down for the sake of the grander plan. Also, it protects her, Harry, and Ron since what they did is kinda illegal, so Dumbledore not sending Hermione to St Mongos protects them from punishment, which works well for them and him in this case)

#harry potter #hp #hp meta #harry potter meta #albus dumbledore critical #albus dumbledore #hogwarts #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry

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chonashpstuff · 9 days ago

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the most important question in a world: where the pets poop in Hogwarts? who heals them if they sick? who feeds them? what if student has allergy? is there a possibility to have allergy to a magical pet? a magical allergy?

pets in wizarding world my beloved

I mean, the owls are in the owlery in the West Tower, so they pop and eat in the owlery:

The Owlery was a circular stone room, rather cold and drafty, because none of the windows had glass in them. The floor was entirely covered in straw, owl droppings, and the regurgitated skeletons of mice and voles. Hundreds upon hundreds of owls of every breed imaginable were nestled here on perches that rose right up to the top of the tower, nearly all of them asleep, though here and there a round amber eye glared at Harry. He spotted Hedwig nestled between a barn owl and a tawny, and hurried over to her, sliding a little on the dropping-strewn floor.

(GoF)

Also, considering mice and vole skeletons litter the ground, it seems the owls are just allowed to freely hunt in the forest and the areas around Hogwarts.

As for cats and toads, we don't really know. My guess is that the common rooms have litter boxes for the cats that the house elves clean up.

Toads are usually kept in terrariums as pets and pop there. It's honestly kinda weird toads are just, held and stuff since I read some toad pet-keeping advice and they tell you to never handle toads without rubber gloves. Skin oil can harm a pet toad and toads have toxic glands on their skin, so, like, I don't know what Neville is doing with Trevor, man. I assume the pet toads wizards have are magical, and therefore are more durable and have less toxic glands. Perhaps their magicalness allows them to be intelligent enough to poop in a specific designated area. Or, maybe, the common rooms occasionally have tiny toad poop on the floor at random places and the house elves are in a constant war against it.

Regarding food, I think it's kinda like with the owls. As in, cats hunt whatever is around the castle or eat human food and toads catch insects themselves. The cats possibly have cat food in stations in the common rooms as well, but that's a maybe. I couldn't find anything about it.

Scabbers, as a pet that wasn't on the list of allowed pets, probably was fed and taken care of by Percy and Ron since the facilities weren't in place.

Regarding pet allergies, apparently, Hagrid is allergic to cats:

Tell yeh what, I’ll get yer animal. Not a toad, toads went outta fashion years ago, yeh’d be laughed at — an’ I don’ like cats, they make me sneeze. I’ll get yer an owl. All the kids want owls, they’re dead useful, carry yer mail an’ everythin’.

(PS)

And we know nothing was really done for Hagrid's allergy as students are allowed to bring cats to school quite freely. I'd guess they have a potion that works similarly to (or more effectively than) regular antihistamines for allergies. If magic can fix an allergy, it makes sense they won't be overly worried. Also, since when is Hogwarts particularly concerned about student safety? especially for something wizards would consider as petty of a concern as allergies.

But the long and short of it is that if you want your pet at Hogwarts to be well taken care of, bring an owl as they have the most facilities in place.

#harry potter #wizarding world #anonymous #hogwarts #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry

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chonashpstuff · 9 days ago

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Hogwarts Robes

In my quest to design the world of Harry Potter, I created a new design for Hogwarts Robes (it's based on my older design, just revamped). So, the idea is modeled here on an old Harry sketch:

The concept is that these robes could be worn over any shirt with the collar up, and that's how everyone would wear them in the opening feast, for example (the two options on the right). And they can be worn with the collar open with a shirt and tie beneath. With a little button to hold the collar in place (the two options on the left). The buttons & belt buckle are gold for Gryffindor, but each house would have a different color (Silver for Slytherin, bronze for Ravenclaw, and black for Hufflepuff)

The lower layer is the black work robe, and during classes like Herbology or Potions (or when it's hot outside), they'll forgo the overrobe/outer robe.

The robes are unisex (although the girls' version tends to be a bit longer) and can be worn with any shoes & trousers situation beneath to allow everything we know about their school robes to make sense. As shown above on Harry, and on Ron, Hermione sketches here:

*The house logos are taken from Hogwarts Legacy cause I got lazy about that

#harry potter #wizarding world #hp #wizarding fashion

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chonashpstuff · 9 days ago

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I will never be over Dumbledore talking about how Tom Riddle has never had nor wanted a friend and using that as evidence of him being Born Evil TM. And I'm just sitting here laughing like 'dude. where are your friends???"

#harry potter #tom riddle

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chonashpstuff · 9 days ago

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The Difference Between Snape and Dumbledore

Can be summarized by the following exchanges:

“You have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment?”

“Don’t be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?”

“Lately, only those whom I could not save,”

And

“But this is touching, Severus. Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?”

“For him? Expecto patronum”

“After all this time?”

“Always”

Dumbledore loves freely and openly, cannot shut up about the power of love, and acts like a wise and genial Grandfather to almost everyone. Snape’s a harsh, abrasive dick to most people, generally doesn’t care much about anyone’s feelings, and has a few empathy issues. But Dumbledore is the one who’s accomplished in screwing people over to take advantage of them (like sending Harry to the Dursleys, the way he used Snape), sacrifice them for the greater good, and be disturbingly cold about it. Snape isn’t.

“Don’t be shocked, Severus.” Why shouldn’t he be shocked at this revelation? Instead of saying something like “Yes, this is awful, but it must be done to defeat Voldemort”, Dumbledore is kinda trivialising it. In fairness, Dumbledore might have thought that given Snape’s overall character (cold, aloof) this was the best way to break the news to him.

“How many men and women have you watched die?” Meaning that Snape shouldn’t be shocked at Dumbledore deliberately raising another person to be killed, since he’s seen so many others die? Meaning that Snape shouldn’t be horrified at seeing people killed in general? And he’s referring specifically to the people that Snape sees killed as a Death Eater, implicitly bringing up that Snape’s a Death Eater, something to shame him.

And “Lately, only those whom I could not save”. As it happens, Snape is ashamed of being a Death Eater. He is horrified at seeing people killed. So much that he’s willing to risk his cover to try to save them, and he cares about saving them. What happens if he blew his cover, and Voldemort found out? Well, he’d be tortured both as punishment and to get information on the Order, and then killed. The Order would lose its spy, so there goes their MAIN source of intelligence as well their buffer against the Death Eaters (remember, it was Snape who worked out the DoM plot and he’s the one who sends the warnings). Basically, the Order loses one of its most critical members and a fair bit of their secrets. So Snape’s not just risking his life, but essentially the war effort by saving complete strangers who have nothing to do him, with Lily, or with the war effort.

He’s under no obligation to, he’s already risking so much by spying against a mind-reading psychopath, and his only job is spying and keeping his cover. If his Occlumency slipped, if he left tracks behind, if another Death Eater saw him or ratted him out (Bellatrix wasn’t the only one who suspected him, there were several who “carried false tales of his treachery”) or if Voldy was just feeling a tad too paranoid that day, Snape would have met an agonizing death. But he’s obviously disturbed by seeing people die and saves them if he can, putting himself (and by extension, the war effort) at an even greater risk. He probably doesn’t even think it through, he just feels compelled to do so. Dumbledore was the one who reminded Snape to “play his part” over Little Winging, and what does Snape do? Risk his cover to try to save Lupin. If Snape had been discovered as a spy then, his death would mean that he couldn’t protect the students as Headmaster, and he couldn’t deliver the message of Harry needing to die. Basically, if he had been found and killed then, Voldemort would have won since Horcrux-Harry would still be around.

The line “For him?” in response to “Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?“ is used to demonize Snape, saying that Snape never cared for Harry for his own sake. But Dumbledore is the one who cares for people on a personal level while still being able to use them and sacrifice them. Snape hardly cares for anyone personally, but he’ll risk so much to save people, and he’s horrified by how Dumbledore raised Harry to be killed. Not caring for someone personally is worlds different from caring if they die, especially since Snape’s been saving complete strangers.

Snape checked up on Sirius to make sure he wasn’t captured at the ministry. Would he ever admit to “caring” about Sirius? Ahahaha, no. He risked his cover trying to save Lupin at a time when keeping his cover was THE most important thing he could do. Would he ever admit to “caring” about Lupin? No. He brought Ron and Hermione as well back to the Hospital Wing from across the grounds in PoA (despite his head wound), saved Katie Bell’s life when she got cursed, and when he heard that a student had been taken to the Chamber he “gripped the back of a chair very hard”. He spent most of DH trying to protect the students from the Carrows whenever he could, like how he sent Neville, Ginny and Luna to Hagrid for detention (after they tried to steal the sword) to protect them from the Carrows. Would he ever admit to “caring” about Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, Luna, Katie or any of the students? No.

Unlike Dumbledore (or most people) Snape’s extremely selective about people who he loves or personally cares about. This is partially because of his natural personality, but largely due to the way he’d been abused and bullied. That we can be reasonably sure of, the people he personally cared for (long term, at least) were Lily, Dumbledore, his mother (most likely), Narcissa, Lucius, and Draco. That’s only six people over 38 years of his life, and most of these relationships were dysfunctional on some level (and given the circumstances for each of them, that mostly isn’t his fault). That also helps explain the “Always”. Snape did truly love Lily, but it was a broken, painful love, based on the fact that she was one of the few people who showed him kindness when he’d been rejected and abandoned by almost everyone else. He clung to it because it was one of the few good things he ever had, and yes, it was unhealthy. He can’t get over Lily, and this is tied to how damaged he is because he never recovered from the way he was severely abused, neglected and bullied, with hardly any help and no support system.

Note how Dumbledore got teary eyed at the “Always”, but he didn’t comment on the “Lately, only those whom I could not save”, elaborate on asking Snape to protect the school, or even acknowledge all that much on what Snape did as a spy. I’m not entirely sure what to make of this. But earlier, Dumbledore trusted Snape to protect the students as much as he can, so he recognizes that Snape is wholly on the Order’s side, and that he’s not just doing it for Lily. The “After all this time?”, and Dumbledore’s honest surprise at Snape still loving Lily suggests that Snape and Dumbledore barely discussed Lily after she died. Dumbledore was deeply touched at Snape’s love for Lily, but all his comments on Snape spying, seeing people die, sending Harry to his death, and protecting people proceed as business as usual.

And Snape was horrified at sending Harry to his death. “I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter’s son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter”. Now Snape knows that his commitment to Lily is rendered null and void, that he has to send Harry to his death. He does, when he gave Harry his memories. And knowing this, he still followed through on the most difficult stages in the plan, being killing Dumbledore, trying to protect the students as Headmaster (while still spying and being in complete isolation from the Order and his colleagues), likely forfeiting any chance of his own future, and dying as a Pariah. When Snape had to choose between his commitment to Lily (along with his tendency to save people despite endangering the war effort), and ridding the world of Voldemort, he chose to rid the world of Voldemort. He’d already been fighting for the greater good by spying and saving people while spying, but when the “greater good” ran contrary to his commitment to Lily, he chose the “greater good”, a painful as it was.

Unlike Dumbledore, he was sincerely and openly disgusted by what had to be done, and he didn’t treat sending Harry to his death or watching people die as coldly as Dumbledore did.

Bottom line is, Dumbledore’s a manipulative asshole who does legitimately care for a lot of people, but that doesn’t stop him from using them as pawns and he’s scarily cold about it. Snape’s an honest asshole who personally cares for very few people, but he’s far less cold than Dumbledore about seeing people die, tries to save them if he can, and he isn’t an easy utilitarian.

#albus dumbledore #severus snape #harry potter #albus dumbledore critical

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chonashpstuff · 9 days ago

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how do you see the dynamic between Sirius and Dumbledore? both want to protect Harry, but with different methods, and Dumbledore actually imprisoned Sirius in the 5th book... it seems to me that Sirius trusts him, but clearly not blindly, rather like Kingsley - trust, but think. and I also wonder how Sirius would have behaved in books 6-7 if Harry remembered the mirror fuck jkr for killing Sirius for the plot needs

This is a juicy topic, okay.

See, like, Sirius trusts Dumbledore, he has faith in him that he's the right man to defeat Voldemort and keep Harry safe. That's the big part here, because Sirius, post-Azkaban has really one goal, and that is to keep Harry as safe and alive as possible (also killing Peter, but it's a byproduct of the first one). And he thinks Dumbledore is the best for the job of keeping Harry safe from Voldemort. But he doesn't fully trust Dumbledore, and I don't think Sirius particularly likes Dumbledore.

Dumbledore, for his part, doesn't fully trust Sirius either, but I'll expand on that later.

We see Sirius' faith in Dumbledore's ability to protect in how willing he is to tell Dumbledore anything he thinks puts Harry in danger, even if Harry specifically didn't want to tell Dumbledore:

“I see,” said Dumbledore quietly. “I see. Now, has your scar hurt at any other time this year, excepting the time it woke you up over the summer?” “No, I — how did you know it woke me up over the summer?” said Harry, astonished. “You are not Sirius’s only correspondent,” said Dumbledore. “I have also been in contact with him ever since he left Hogwarts last year. It was I who suggested the mountainside cave as the safest place for him to stay.”

(GoF, 600)

Because keeping Harry safe is Sirius' priority.

At the same time, Sirius chafes a lot under Dumbledore's command. Sirius is not a person who likes being given orders. There was one person who Sirius was ever prepared to take ques from and it was James Potter. James, whom Sirius blames Dumbledore for the death of. Deep down, at least. Sirius is bitter over James and Lily's death because Dumbledore was supposed to protect them, that's what they all decided — and he failed.

So, Dumbledore dishing out orders in OotP gets Sirius really bitter towards him. Especially because Dumbledore forces him into essentially house arrest in a childhood home he thought (hoped)[] he'd never see again. So he's bitter over the past war, his current imprisonment, and probably the years in Azkaban when no one, including Dumbledore (supposedly), suspected he might've been innocent.

So, Sirius is in a state of being generally distrustful of Dumbledore and very bitter towards him and his actions as the leader if the Order, while sticking around becouse he believes Dumbledore's his best bet for keeping Harry safe. If Sirius could just take Harry and run, confident Voldemort won't come after them, and Harry would be happy that way, he would.

We're outright told how disillusioned with Dumbledore Sirius is:

“. . . I’ve been stuck inside for a month.” “How come?” asked Harry, frowning. “Because the Ministry of Magic’s still after me, and Voldemort will know all about me being an Animagus by now, Wormtail will have told him, so my big disguise is useless. There’s not much I can do for the Order of the Phoenix . . . or so Dumbledore feels.” There was something about the slightly flattened tone of voice in which Sirius uttered Dumbledore’s name that told Harry that Sirius was not very happy with the headmaster either. Harry felt a sudden upsurge of affection for his godfather.

(OotP, 83) - as an aside I love this conversation, Harry and Sirius arguing over which one of them had the worst summer. It's a vibe.

Sirius doubts Dumbledore's orders, referring to his logic as what he feels rather than thinks, implying the lack of reason in Sirius' opinion. Also, when Sirius talks about/to Dumbledore in Ootp, you hear in his voice how bitter and disillusioned he is, something Harry relates to during book 5.

Even back in Goblet of Fire, Sirius didn't fully trust Dumbledore, meaning this wasn't new with his imprisonment in Grimmauld Place especially his decision to hire Snape:

“I think they’ve both got a point,” said Sirius, looking thoughtfully at Ron and Hermione. “Ever since I found out Snape was teaching here, I’ve wondered why Dumbledore hired him. Snape’s always been fascinated by the Dark Arts, he was famous for it at school. Slimy, oily, greasy-haired kid, he was,” Sirius added

(GoF, 531)

Of course, Sirius has a specific vendetta against Snape, but it influences his opinion and trust in Dumbledore. He doesn't understand the logic, and he doesn't trust Dumbledore's judgment.

I think Sirius was never fully trusting of Dumbledore in the first war. Sirius is a lot like Harry in that, he just doesn't like authority and orders. He doesn't do well with that. I think he joined the Order mostly after James. I think, even in the first war, Sirius went on his own on occasion/disobeyed orders and it's part of why Dumbledore watches him as closely as he does and tries to control and limit Sirius. Dumbledore knows Sirius doesn't trust him or his orders, and the distrust is mutual. Dumbledore doesn't feel he can count on Sirius to follow his lead and his plans.

And we know Sirius doesn't.

We're shown repeatedly in conversation Sirius' bitterness towards Dumbledore:

“It’s not my fault you haven’t been told what the Order’s doing,” said Sirius calmly. “That’s your parents’ decision. Harry, on the other hand —” “It’s not down to you to decide what’s good for Harry!” said Mrs. Weasley sharply. Her normally kindly face looked dangerous. “You haven’t forgotten what Dumbledore said, I suppose?” “Which bit?” Sirius asked politely, but with an air as though readying himself for a fight. [...] “I don’t intend to tell him more than he needs to know, Molly,” said Sirius. “But as he was the one who saw Voldemort come back” (again, there was a collective shudder around the table at the name), “he has more right than most to —”

(OotP, 88)

There are two quotes above, the first relating to this post, the second less, but one I found interesting enough to include.

The second section is interesting because Sirius calls Voldemort by his name — Voldemort. No You-Know-Who bullshit. This strikes me as interesting since the only other two characters to do so consistently are Harry and Dumbledore. I like to think it's Sirius' bravery showing, but it's also his spite. He was stuck in Azkaban with Vodlemort's top death Eaters for 12 years, I think he would've found it funny to say Voldemort and all of them hissing: "You dare peak the Dark Lord's name!" and stuff like that. That's my headcanon for why Sirius says Voldemort's name.

The first section shows Sirius is bitter about his orders from Dumbledore, the fact that there are so many of them he can ask "Which bit?" He despises how Molly and Severus hold these orders over his head, treating him like a child when he very much isn't.

I think the Order of the Phoenix is an incredibly toxic environment for Sirius, not gonna lie.

It's mostly filled with people Sirius either doesn't like, doesn't trust, or both. Remus, while he is an old friend of Sirius, also treats Sirius with gloves in the way everyone else does. They are closer, they don't really have anyone else, but they don't trust each other like before the first war. James was who held their friendship together and you can feel the James filled hole. Remus is constantly trying to say what pleases everyone and ends up annoying everyone instead, including Sirius.

Basically, Sirius has no one in his corner among the adults and he feels useless and is treated like he's mentally unstable and made of glass. And while, yeah, his mental state isn't great, his state would've been better if the Order treated him like an adult.

There's a reason he seems most comfortable talking to the kids. He feels like he can talk to them as peers, they don't talk above him like he isn't there or treat him like he doesn't know himself.

“. . . He’s not a child!” said Sirius impatiently. “He’s not an adult either!” said Mrs. Weasley, the color rising in her cheeks. “He’s not James, Sirius!” “I’m perfectly clear who he is, thanks, Molly,” said Sirius coldly. “I’m not sure you are!” said Mrs. Weasley. “Sometimes, the way you talk about him, it’s as though you think you’ve got your best friend back!”

(OotP, 88)

Above Molly outright says to Sirius' face that he doesn't know who Harry is, but she's wrong.

“Personally,” said Lupin quietly, looking away from Sirius at last, as Mrs. Weasley turned quickly to him, hopeful that finally she was about to get an ally, “I think it better that Harry gets the facts — not all the facts, Molly, but the general picture — from us, rather than a garbled version from . . . others.” His expression was mild, but Harry felt sure that Lupin, at least, knew that some Extendable Ears had survived Mrs. Weasley’s purge.

(OotP, 89)

Remus says things he believes are true, but he's also trying so hard to walk the line between Molly and Sirius because he doesn't want to upset either of them.

Now, I mentioned above how Dumbledore doesn't really trust Sirius, how he keeps a close watch on him because he feels Sirius is a loose canon who wouldn't follow his orders and therefore couldn't be trusted. This is visible throughout GoF and OotP, and here are two quotes that show it:

“You are not Sirius’s only correspondent,” said Dumbledore. “I have also been in contact with him ever since he left Hogwarts last year. It was I who suggested the mountainside cave as the safest place for him to stay.”

(GoF, 600)

I already mentioned this quote above, but Dumbledore makes sure to be in correspondence with Sirius because he knows Harry would be. He knows Sirius and he knows Sirius would get involved in the coming war and Harry's life and he needs to keep control of his least controllable variable (besides Harry, but he thinks Harry is more controllable than he actually is).

“Meaning you’ve been known to act rashly, Sirius, which is why Dumbledore keeps reminding you to stay at home and —” “We’ll leave my instructions from Dumbledore out of this, if you please!” said Sirius loudly.

(OotP, 89)

And, of course, the orders in OotP that Sirius hated with all his being. Sirius could have gone out as a dog, he has, but no, Dumbledore forces him into house arrest and to cut contact with Harry in the first half of the summer. He instructs him to not tell Harry anything, and Sirius hates it. Sirius thinks he knows what's best for Harry better than Moly and Dumbledore (he kinda is right, I think he knows Harry's actual personality better than Dumbledore and Molly) and he hates being told what to do on anything, let alone something that's his responsibility, like being Harry's godfather.

It seems to me, like Sirius and Dumbledore never really liked each other, but where in the first war, they had James between them, in the second one they don't. I mean, Remus is there, and he's trying, I'm sure, but for both him and Sirius it's just not the same as James.

as I mentioned, all these instructions go to show Dumbledore is warry of Sirius since he can't fully predict what he'd do. Sirius is a dangerous soldier because he's capable, and he isn't a soldier at all when you get down to it — because he doesn't do orders.

As for the second part of your ask:

What if Sirius survived to books 6 & 7?

Well, let's imagine Sirius didn't fall into the vale, missed it by half an inch, and survived. That'll mean the fight in the ministry would've ended a little differently, maybe Voldemort passed Harry down at the Death Chamber since he didn't chase Bellatrix out of the ministry? Maybe Fudge wouldn't have seen Voldemort at all? Maybe Bellatrix was also sent back to Azkaban with Lucious Malfoy? Or if, as you mentioned, the fight didn't happen at all because Harry spoke to sirius on the mirror?

If we assume nothing changes in the battle outcome, we have a much more mentally sound Harry going into books 6 & 7. It means, he probably would've spent part of the summer at Grimmald Place with Sirius, who might've told him about Slughorn as a teacher before the year started. Once Harry gets suspicious of Draco, he'd writes to Sirius, who'll believe him and distrusts Snape, so, the book would go kinda of the same, except someone believes Harry.

(Maybe he'd actually give Harry advice on how to test food for love potions, I mean, someone has to)

Book 7 is the one that changes most drastically. I think they wouldn't have the same doubts about Grimmald Place if Sirius were alive. Sure, the Fidelius broke, but you can't tell me there aren't other defensive wards over it from years of use by the black family.

Also, throughout book 6, even if Dumbledore told Harry not to tell Sirius about their lessons, Harry would've pulled the mirror out every night and told him (which is why I don't think Dumbledore would've told him not to tell Sirius if he was alive). And when the Horcrux hunt came about in book 7, Sirius would've joined them and learned about Regulus (honestly, he would've made finding R.A.B. so much easier).

Also, if Sirius wasn't dead, Mundungus might've not stolen the locket and then it would've still been in Grimmauld Place and there was no need to infiltrate the ministry. Also, depending on which of Bellatrix's vaults she placed the cup in, they might've had an easier time there too. If it was, say, a Black family vault, maybe Sirius could've gotten access.

Regardless, having Sirius around would've made Harry, Ron, and Hermione feel better about the whole hunt even if it wasn't easier, although I think it would've been.

The other big difference, Sirius, too, would've opposed Harry killing himself. Trying desperately to find a different solution. I think Harry would've still sacrificed himself, Sirius being another life on the line he cares about to die for.

But, like, how much would change would heavily depend on the smaller details, especially in the battle at the DoM. So, you could write in however far or close to canon if you feel like writing the fic. If the battle doesn't happen, Voldemort might have the prophecy and the ministry would not know Voldemort is back into book 6, so everything changes.

I think the main reason she killed Sirius was for Harry's mental state and his feelings of loneliness. He wouldn't have been as brash or cheeky in books 6 & 7 if Sirius was alive. He also might've not gotten together with Ginny if he wasn't as only and desperate to project a connection on someone.

So, yeah.

#harry potter #hp meta #hp #sirius black #albus dumbledore critical

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chonashpstuff · 9 days ago

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Justice for Barty Crouch Jr: Part 2/2

(Part 1)

So, what was Barty's plan? Why did he care about Harry? And what about what he said under Veratiserum?

What I'm going to do is go through the final scenes in the GoF relevant to Barty's characterization and then write down all the conclusions together. For more of the evidence that led me to this point, see Part 1.

After The Third Task

Barty (as Moody) takes Harry away to his office the moment he returns with the cup. And there are quite a few interesting things to note in this scene...

“In here, Harry . . . in here, and sit down. . . . You’ll be all right now . . . drink this. . . .” Harry heard a key scrape in a lock and felt a cup being pushed into his hands. “Drink it . . . you’ll feel better . . . come on, now, Harry, I need to know exactly what happened. . . .” Moody helped tip the stuff down Harry’s throat; he coughed, a peppery taste burning his throat. Moody’s office came into sharper focus, and so did Moody himself. . . . He looked as white as Fudge had looked, and both eyes were fixed unblinkingly upon Harry’s face. “Voldemort’s back, Harry? You’re sure he’s back? How did he do it?” “He took stuff from his father’s grave, and from Wormtail, and me,” said Harry. His head felt clearer; his scar wasn’t hurting so badly; he could now see Moody’s face distinctly, even though the office was dark. He could still hear screaming and shouting from the distant Quidditch field. “What did the Dark Lord take from you?” said Moody. “Blood,” said Harry, raising his arm. His sleeve was ripped where Wormtail’s dagger had torn it. Moody let out his breath in a long, low hiss. “And the Death Eaters? They returned?” “Yes,” said Harry. “Loads of them . . .” “How did he treat them?” Moody asked quietly. “Did he forgive them?” But Harry had suddenly remembered. He should have told Dumbledore, he should have said it straightaway — “There’s a Death Eater at Hogwarts! There’s a Death Eater here — they put my name in the Goblet of Fire, they made sure I got through to the end —” Harry tried to get up, but Moody pushed him back down. “I know who the Death Eater is,” he said quietly.

(Goblet of Fire, pages 673-674)

Now, this scene is after Voldemort came back. Barty is about to tell Harry he's the death Eater who put his name in the goblet. I already covered how he didn't actually act like Moody throughout the book, and I don't expect him to start now once the charade is over. So, in this scene, we have Barty at his most honest. Just him and Harry.

and what is the first thing he does?

Give Harry a Pepperup Potion.

The peppery, burning taste Harry describes along with the calming effect after he drank it fit the description of the Peperup Potion. It's a healing and warming potion meant for the common cold, but would generally make the drinker feel better. What's interesting here, is that the first thing Barty does is give Harry a healing potion, why? he's about to reveal himself; all he needs is for Harry to tell him if Voldemort is back or not, he doesn't need Harry calm for that, not really. He still goes out of his way to help Harry, even once he really doesn't have to.

The second bolded part is Harry's description of Moody. He is pale and terrified. Why is he scared? Harry already told him Voldemort returned, isn't that what he wanted?

Well, I don't think so. I think that the fear he sees on Barty/Moody, that is a fear of Voldemort. He fears Voldemort's return just like Fudge (well, maybe not just like, but you get the gist). Barty proceeds to assert Voldemort is indeed back. And he's scared by Harry's answer that yes, he is.

He then asks about the Death Eaters, and some of it is still his envy, but part of it now, is fear. He knows another war is coming and he's scared. He doesn't actually want the death and torture. The only death he actually wanted was his own father's, not anyone else's. Not even Harry's.

I think Barty is similar to Regulus in that respect.

He joined the Death Eaters willingly, for his own personal reasons (spiting his father, rebelling against him, but also trying to get his father's attention), and then realized what he got into and had no way out. And even worse, he ended up in Azkaban for it, for Death Eater crimes, he personally didn't commit.

I mean, why would Barty hiss in sympathetic pain at seeing Harry's injury moments before he tells him he's a Death Eater? The only explanation is that it's real. That it isn't an act. That he does sympathize with Harry's pain and doesn't want this 14-year-old hurt.

Look at how he says he knows who the Death Eater is. It almost looks like regret and shame. Because it might very well be just that.

And what does he do then, after he tells Harry? You'd expect a loyal Death Eater to take him straight to Voldemort, maybe kill him himself. But that's not what Barty does. Barty starts monologing:

“You didn’t . . . it — it can’t be you. . . .” “Who put your name in the Goblet of Fire, under the name of a different school? I did. Who frightened off every person I thought might try to hurt you or prevent you from winning the tournament? I did. Who nudged Hagrid into showing you the dragons? I did. Who helped you see the only way you could beat the dragon? I did.” Moody’s magical eye had now left the door. It was fixed upon Harry. His lopsided mouth leered more widely than ever.

(Goblet of Fire, page 676)

Barty explains to Harry everything that he did. Every part of the ploy he was so obvious about it's a wonder Dumbledore didn't call him out. But why? What's the point in telling Harry if he's about to die?

I wondered this and I noticed the sentence I bolded. His magical eye was looking at the door.

So what? he was watching to see if he had time to kill Harry. He couldn't kill him if he got caught.

The thing is, I think it's the opposite. I think Barty planned to get caught. I mean, why else would he spend so long monologing? He's buying time.

Moody’s wand was still pointing directly at Harry’s heart. Over his shoulder, foggy shapes were moving in the Foe-Glass on the wall.

...

The foggy shapes in the Foe-Glass were sharpening, had become more distinct. Harry could see the outlines of three people over Moody’s shoulder, moving closer and closer. But Moody wasn’t watching them. His magical eye was upon Harry.

(Goblet of Fire, pages 677-678)

Moody's eye is magical, if the Foe-Glass saw the professors coming, Barty saw them too when he looked at the door. And yes, he's pointing his wand at Harry, but he isn't actually doing anything. Just pointing it and buying time, like he's waiting for Dumbledore to arrive and stop him.

The same way he bought time this whole year. I think the reason the plan took the whole year to execute was mostly this. Barty had plenty of opportunities to get Harry to Voldemort, but he didn't. No, instead he helped him through all the tasks while doing a really bad job of acting like Moody. I think he took so long because he wanted to be caught. He hoped someone would catch him and stop Voldemort from returning — Dumbledore mostly.

After all, we see Barty is scared of Voldemort's return, not joyous.

Veratiserum

So, now we need to talk about the scene where he was questioned under Veratiserum. Veratiserum is a truth serum that forces the drinker to only speak the truth.

A note about the evidence received with the use of the Veratiserum: The potion can't be legally used for testimony since some wizards can resist it. It is considered: "unfair and unreliable to use at a trial". This is the same as lie detectors (like a polygraph test) being generally not admissible as evidence in court here in the real world.

As such, anything Barty says under the influence of Veratiserum comes with the caveat of it potentially being a lie. Considering he did learn to resist the Imperius Curse marginally and thought Harry to resist it as well, it is possible he can resist Veratiserum as well. We even see hints, that he potentially does resist it.

Crouch’s son opened his eyes. His face was slack, his gaze unfocused. Dumbledore knelt before him, so that their faces were level. “Can you hear me?” Dumbledore asked quietly. The man’s eyelids flickered. “Yes,” he muttered.

(Goblet of Fire, page 683)

Here we have the description of how someone should look under the effects of Veratiserum. The drinker would have a blank face and expression, gaze not focused on anything. They are emotionless and hazy. Remember that description for later.

“And what did your father do with you, when he had got you home?” said Dumbledore quietly. “Staged my mother’s death. A quiet, private funeral. That grave is empty. The house-elf nursed me back to health. Then I had to be concealed. I had to be controlled. My father had to use a number of spells to subdue me. When I had recovered my strength, I thought only of finding my master . . . of returning to his service.” “How did your father subdue you?” said Dumbledore. “The Imperius Curse,” Crouch said. “I was under my father’s control. I was forced to wear an Invisibility Cloak day and night. I was always with the house-elf. She was my keeper and caretaker. She pitied me. She persuaded my father to give me occasional treats. Rewards for my good behavior.”

(Goblet of Fire, pages 684-685)

This is Barty's explanation of how his father controlled him with the Imperius. But I want to point out one odd part here. The part I outlined is odd because Barty hesitates. there are three dots indicating a pause like he is considering his words, something that shouldn't be possible under Veratiserum. And notice what he talks about when it happens. He talks about Voldemort.

I am uncertain why he would choose to lie about that... I assume it's out of fear. Knowing the way Voldemort tracked down and killed Karkaroff when he turned traitor, I assume Barty knew his fate would be the same if he betrayed Voldemort. After a whole year of trying to get Dumbledore to notice he wasn't acting like his friend, Moody, and failing, I don't think he trusted Dumbledore's ability to protect him from Voldemort.

This is also why he didn't just openly tell Dumbledore what was going on. He was scared of a fate much worse than what the ministry would throw at him if he was found by Voldemort to be a traitor. But also, if he turned traitor, nothing would stop Voldemort from sending someone else to finish Barty's mission, someone who'd actually want to do it. By pretending to be loyal, Barty is ensuring he can buy Harry time. Time, Dumbledore isn't using.

“Now it was just Father and I, alone in the house. And then . . . and then . . .” Crouch’s head rolled on his neck, and an insane grin spread across his face. “My master came for me. “He arrived at our house late one night in the arms of his servant Wormtail. My master had found out that I was still alive. He had captured Bertha Jorkins in Albania. He had tortured her. She told him a great deal. She told him about the Triwizard Tournament. She told him the old Auror, Moody, was going to teach at Hogwarts. He tortured her until he broke through the Memory Charm my father had placed upon her. She told him I had escaped from Azkaban. She told him my father kept me imprisoned to prevent me from seeking my master. And so my master knew that I was still his faithful servant — perhaps the most faithful of all. My master conceived a plan, based upon the information Bertha had given him. He needed me. He arrived at our house near midnight. My father answered the door.” The smile spread wider over Crouch’s face, as though recalling the sweetest memory of his life. Winky’s petrified brown eyes were visible through her fingers. She seemed too appalled to speak.

(Goblet of Fire, pages 687-688)

Again, before talking about Voldemort, he thinks of his words. He stutters and pauses his speech. He changes his expression, he's grinning. Veratiserum should keep the drinker's faces slack and emotionless. To me, this indicates something suspicious, not Barty's insanity.

Especially when considering his behavior throughout the books that indicates he's trying to sabotage Voldemort's resurrection.

“And what did Lord Voldemort ask you to do?” said Dumbledore. “He asked me whether I was ready to risk everything for him. I was ready. It was my dream, my greatest ambition, to serve him, to prove myself to him. He told me he needed to place a faithful servant at Hogwarts. A servant who would guide Harry Potter through the Triwizard Tournament without appearing to do so. A servant who would watch over Harry Potter. Ensure he reached the Triwizard Cup. Turn the cup into a Portkey, which would take the first person to touch it to my master. But first —” “You needed Alastor Moody,” said Dumbledore

(Goblet of Fire, page 688)

Again, his speech is odd for Veratiserum. He speaks with convection and emotion, repeating his statements, his language is more flowery and not short and truthful, all things I wouldn't expect from someone dosed with Veratiserum.

Also, risk everything? What did Barty have to risk? He was a prisoner under the Imperius Curse in his father's basement. He had nowhere worse he could go.

He was desperate to leave the hell that was his life for 12 years, he'll tell Voldemort anything he wanted to hear. And, well, it's not like he could say no to Voldemort, could he?

“For a week I waited for my father to arrive at Hogwarts. At last, one evening, the map showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the forest. Then Potter came, and Krum. I waited. I could not hurt Potter; my master needed him. Potter ran to get Dumbledore. I Stunned Krum. I killed my father.”

...

“You killed your father,” Dumbledore said, in the same soft voice. “What did you do with the body?” “Carried it into the forest. Covered it with the Invisibility Cloak. I had the map with me. I watched Potter run into the castle. He met Snape. Dumbledore joined them. I watched Potter bringing Dumbledore out of the castle. I walked back out of the forest, doubled around behind them, went to meet them. I told Dumbledore Snape had told me where to come. “Dumbledore told me to go and look for my father. I went back to my father’s body. Watched the map. When everyone was gone, I Transfigured my father’s body. He became a bone . . . I buried it, while wearing the Invisibility Cloak, in the freshly dug earth in front of Hagrid’s cabin.”

(Goblet of Fire, pages 690-691)

I have two main notes about this part. The first is about not hurting Harry because Voldemort needs him. That explanation is bullshit. Barty said he stunned Krum, nothing stopped him from stunning Harry, it wouldn't have actually harmed him. A single, not very powerful stunner would've been nothing. I wouldn't really consider it harmful. Barty just didn't stun Hary because he didn't want to.

The second is when he speaks about how he hid his father's body. The reason I bolded it, is because it shows Barty is reasonable (to a degree) and intelligent. He is magically talented enough and smart enough to come up with a great plan to get away with his father's murder. It shows that all the odd inconsistencies, his choice not to act like Moody, to help Harry when he doesn't have to, to not stun Harry with a stupid senseless excuse, monologing to give Dumbledore time to catch him — it was all deliberate.

He's too intelligent for it not to be deliberate. And here too, we see that pause again. Like he was considering whether to reveal where his father was buried or not. He decided to reveal it because they could dig up the bone and check his testimony, and he needed them to believe him. So he had to be mostly truthful, just cover up some of the minor details, like what he thought about Voldemort.

I believe, that when he chose to get caught, he knew he was likely to die. But a quick death is probably better than the treatment of a traitor Death Eater.

Conclusions

Barty Crouch Jr didn't torture the Longbottoms.

He joined the Death Eaters to spite his father. He realized he was not cut out for it, but it was too late, he was already marked.

He was then sent to Azkaban for a crime he did not commit. He was then broken out only for his father to keep him imprisoned. Both weighed on his psyche heavily.

In the Quidditch World Cup, Hermione theorizes the person who cast the Dark Mark tried to scare the attackers away — she was probably right and that was Barty's intention.

He didn't go searching for Voldemort, Voldemort came for him, not giving him a choice but to comply.

So he went to Hogwarts, but he went far beyond necessary to protect Harry and encourage him. Along with giving him advice that Harry continues living by even after learning Barty's true identity. Showing Barty did truly care for Harry, at least to some degree.

His plan, during the year, had two layers: The first was to ruin his father's reputation (the reputation his father cared about more than his son). The second is to drag Voldemort's mission for him as long as possible with the hope of alerting Dumbledore without alerting Voldemort. All this while helping Harry along the way as much as he could without revealing to Voldemort he is a traitor.

Barty was terrified of Voldemort's return and actively worked against it, if in a limited way.

When what he feared (Voldemort's return) did come to pass, he bought as much time as he could, at the cost of his own life, so Harry and he could get the word out.

#harry potter #harry potter thoughts #wizarding world #harry potter theory #overthinking #hp theory #first wizarding war #death eaters #barty crouch jr #barty crouch junior #goblet of fire #harry potter and the goblet of fire #gof #barty analysis #bartemius crouch jr #bartemius crouch junior #hp meta #hp thoughts #harry potter meta

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chonashpstuff · 9 days ago

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Justice for Barty Crouch Jr: Part 1/2

(Part 2)

This is a bit of a weird theory, and I'll confess, some of the evidence is not all that conclusive. But I didn't see anyone mention anything about this anywhere else...

When I reread the books recently, I noticed I really liked Mad-Eye Moody in Goblet of Fire. Moody in the fourth book is actually one of my favorite characters, he makes the top 10. But then I reached Order of the Phoenix and realized (again) that I hate Moody's guts.

The only conclusion I could draw was that I really liked Barty Crouch Jr. because, Moody in book 4, wasn't really Moody. So, I went back to Goblet of Fire to try and find out who Barty is, how his behavior as Moody, differed from the real deal in the later books, and why I liked him when I didn't like the real Moody.

And let's just say, I came to some interesting conclusions...

This post ended up being pretty long, so I've divided it up into two. But my thesis is:

Barty was a Death eater, but he didn't torture the Longbottoms.

He didn't want Harry to be hurt during the Tornoment and actually cared about him.

And I can prove it!

Reasons for Doubt

When reviewing all the scenes of Barty Jr, it was made clear pretty quickly that Barty wasn't really trying to fool anyone. Actually, he seemed to be actively sabotaging himself.

“Maybe someone’s hoping Potter is going to die for it,” said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl. An extremely tense silence followed these words. Ludo Bagman, who was looking very anxious indeed, bounced nervously up and down on his feet and said, “Moody, old man ... what a thing to say!” “We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn’t discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime,” said Karkaroff loudly. “Apparently he is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt you had your reasons.”

(Goblet of Fire, page 279)

From the very beginning, Barty is outright telling everyone what happened. And exactly how:

“Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object!” said Moody. “It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament. ... I’m guessing they submitted Potter’s name under a fourth school, to make sure he was the only one in his category. ...” “You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody,” said Karkaroff coldly, “and a very ingenious theory it is — though of course, I heard you recently got it into your head that one of your birthday presents contained a cunningly disguised basilisk egg, and smashed it to pieces before realizing it was a carriage clock. So you’ll understand if we don’t take you entirely seriously. ...”

(Goblet of Fire, pages 279-280)

He goes as far as to explain how he got Harry into the tournament. To the point even Karkaroff thinks it's strange Moody would bother putting so much thought into it. And he's right, it is super strange.

Barty shouldn't be explaining that to the people he is supposedly trying to deceive. It's so incredibly revealing and counterproductive. And it's not that Barty is stupid, he shows he is both intelligent and competent to a degree it's clear that if he really wanted to not be discovered he wouldn't be (he transfigured his father's corpse to a bone and buried it in the forest when he didn't wish to be found out, clearly, he can get away with murder when he wants to). So why all of this? Why try so hard to tell them exactly what's going on? Why is he showing his hand?

It won't be out of character for Moody to not mention all of it. He could not go into as much detail easily. But, he chooses to go into detail about the very method he used to get Harry chosen for the tournament. Like he's trying to get himself caught.

“So . . . whoever conjured the Dark Mark . . .” said Hermione slowly, “were they doing it to show support for the Death Eaters, or to scare them away?” “Your guess is as good as ours, Hermione,” said Mr. Weasley. “But I’ll tell you this . . . it was only the Death Eaters who ever knew how to conjure it. I’d be very surprised if the person who did it hadn’t been a Death Eater once, even if they’re not now. . . .

(Goblet of Fire, page 143)

This is an earlier note from Hermione, and I agree with her 100%. The goal of Barty when casting the Dark Mark isn't clear. We know he is a marked Death Eater, but so are Regulus and Snape. We know not all Death Eaters agreed with everything they did, and some of them had regrets. And it's kind of interesting this idea that Barty cast the Dark Mark to scare the attackers off was planted this early in the book.

“What — what are you doing?” said Professor McGonagall, her eyes following the bouncing ferret’s progress through the air. “Teaching,” said Moody. “Teach — Moody, is that a student?” shrieked Professor McGonagall, the books spilling out of her arms. “Yep,” said Moody.

(Goblet of Fire, page 206)

I wanted to add this scene just because of the "yep" as his response to McGonagall, but this entire conversation, actually is noteworthy. Why? Well, the mannerism.

Moody whom we meet in book 5 and onwards doesn't speak or act like this. The mannerisms and speech patterns we see in this conversation are 100% Barty Crouch Jr. And this isn't the only scene in which his own mannerisms peek through because he isn't putting much effort into his act.

Here are some examples of how Moody talks in book 5, for comparison:

“Well, congratulations,” said Moody, still glaring at Ron with his normal eye, “authority figures always attract trouble, but I suppose Dumbledore thinks you can withstand most major jinxes or he wouldn’t have appointed you. . . .”

(Order of the Pheonix, page 169)

“Yeah, well,” said Moody, “there’s something funny about the Potter kid, we all know that.” “Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when I spoke to him this morning,” whispered Mrs. Weasley. “ ’Course he’s worried,” growled Moody. “The boy’s seeing things from inside You-Know-Who’s snake. . . . Obviously, Potter doesn’t realize what that means, but if You-Know-Who’s possessing him —”

(Order of the Pheonix, page 491)

He's more gruff, more blunt, more paranoid. He isn't as gentle with Harry and Ron as Barty was (I'll showcase some of these moments later). And he shows full faith in Dumbledore's decisions. Something, Barty doesn't do even when pretending to be Moody.

Some Background

I want to talk about Barty's trial and Azkaban sentence for a bit, along with his relationship with his father as it explains a lot about him as a character...

and a boy in his late teens, who looked nothing short of petrified. He was shivering, his straw-colored hair all over his face, his freckled skin milk-white. The wispy little witch beside Crouch began to rock backward and forward in her seat, whimpering into her handkerchief. Crouch stood up. He looked down upon the four in front of him, and there was pure hatred in his face. “You have been brought here before the Council of Magical Law,” he said clearly, “so that we may pass judgment on you, for a crime so heinous —” “Father,” said the boy with the straw-colored hair. “Father . . . please . . .” “— that we have rarely heard the like of it within this court,” said Crouch, speaking more loudly, drowning out his son’s voice. “We have heard the evidence against you. The four of you stand accused of capturing an Auror — Frank Longbottom — and subjecting him to the Cruciatus Curse, believing him to have knowledge of the present whereabouts of your exiled master, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named —” “Father, I didn’t!” shrieked the boy in chains below. “I didn’t, I swear it, Father, don’t send me back to the dementors —”

(Goblet of Fire, page 594)

Does this look like a hardened Death Eater who was happy to torture the Longbottoms and proud to serve his lord?

No, this is a terrified nineteen-year-old kid who was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people.

Barty continues and calls:

“Mother!” screamed the boy below, and the wispy little witch beside Crouch began to sob, rocking backward and forward. “Mother, stop him, Mother, I didn’t do it, it wasn’t me!”

...

“No! Mother, no! I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it, I didn’t know! Don’t send me there, don’t let him!”

(Goblet of Fire, page 595)

Barty calls this as Bellatrix and the Lestranges are completely calm, taking credit for torturing the Longbottoms. Shouting at Crouch Sr, that Voldemort would return. Barty isn't doing that, he isn't the fanatic Death Eaters, he's a scared boy:

But the boy was trying to fight off the dementors, even though Harry could see their cold, draining power starting to affect him. The crowd was jeering, some of them on their feet, as the woman swept out of the dungeon, and the boy continued to struggle. “I’m your son!” he screamed up at Crouch. “I’m your son!” “You are no son of mine!” bellowed Mr. Crouch, his eyes bulging suddenly. “I have no son!” The wispy witch beside him gave a great gasp and slumped in her seat. She had fainted. Crouch appeared not to have noticed. “Take them away!” Crouch roared at the dementors, spit flying from his mouth. “Take them away, and may they rot there!” “Father! Father, I wasn’t involved! No! No! Father, please!”

(Goblet of Fire, page 596)

Barty keeps swearing he wasn't involved and that he didn't do it. that it wasn't him. Compared to how calm the three Lestranges are — it's clear something's up.

I think Barty is telling the truth here. I think he really didn't torture the Longbottoms.

Barty was still acting as a scared boy, just like in his trial, even in front of only dementors and Death Eaters, when there was no need to act. He is described by Sirius when he arrived in Azkaban:

I saw the dementors bringing him in, watched them through the bars in my cell door. He can’t have been more than nineteen. They took him into a cell near mine. He was screaming for his mother by nightfall. He went quiet after a few days, though . . . they all went quiet in the end . . . except when they shrieked in their sleep. . . .

(Goblet of Fire, page 528)

Barty was young and scared and kept to the same behavior even with no audience to convince — which means it wasn't a lie. It wasn't an act. He really didn't do it.

Sirius talks a little bit about Braty's childhood, his relationship with Crouch Sr and the events leading up to his trial:

“Crouch’s own son was caught with a group of Death Eaters who’d managed to talk their way out of Azkaban. Apparently they were trying to find Voldemort and return him to power.”

...

“Nasty little shock for old Barty, I’d imagine. Should have spent a bit more time at home with his family, shouldn’t he? Ought to have left the office early once in a while . . . gotten to know his own son.” He began to wolf down large pieces of bread. “Was his son a Death Eater?” said Harry. “No idea,” said Sirius, still stuffing down bread. “I was in Azkaban myself when he was brought in. This is mostly stuff I’ve found out since I got out. The boy was definitely caught in the company of people I’d bet my life were Death Eaters — but he might have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, just like the house-elf.”

...

“...Crouch’s fatherly affection stretched just far enough to give his son a trial, and by all accounts, it wasn’t much more than an excuse for Crouch to show how much he hated the boy . . . then he sent him straight to Azkaban.”

(Goblet of Fire, page 528)

Barty, at the time of his trial and sentence, wasn't even for sure a Death Eater. He wasn't actually caught doing anything, he was caught with Death Eaters who escaped an Azkaban sentence, which means Death Eaters other than the Lestranges. This means he wasn't even caught on the scene of the Longbottoms torture, but somewhere else and unrelated. It proves even more that Barty was innocent regarding the torture of Frank and Alice.

We know he was a Death Eater because he could cast the Dark Mark. But, I think he wasn't involved in torturing the Longbottoms or anyone, for that matter. I don't think he had it in him before Azkaban and years of torment by his father.

The other thing of note is Crouch's treatment of his son. He was an absent father, caring more for his ministry position than his family. And we see later in GoF that Barty despises his father. I think he disliked him even before being kept under the imperious curse for years. I think that's what pushed Barty to become a Death Eater, it was something to spite his father. To create a distance between them.

His murder of his father during GoF is probably the only murder he wanted a part of. Actually, his father is the only person we know he killed. He didn't get the chance to kill the real Moody, and he never killed anyone else.

Once the boy [Barty Jr] had died, people started feeling a bit more sympathetic toward the son and started asking how a nice young lad from a good family had gone so badly astray. The conclusion was that his father never cared much for him

(Goblet of Fire, page 529)

More from Sirius that strengthens my former point. Barty joined the Death Eaters, in large to go against his father.

This vendetta against his father is the main reason I believe Barty chooses this plan to aid Voldemort. Well, there are some other reasons, but using the tournament is a good way for him to mess with his father's reputation. That same reputation that was more important to him than his own son.

As a Teacher and Mentor

A lot of fans like to say Remus Lupin was the best DADA teacher Harry had, I'd actually argue it was Moody (aka Barty). I'm saying that because Barty-as-Moody was the one who taught Harry many of the techniques and approaches he keeps going back to in the books.

The constant vigilance that saves him multiple times is from Barty, not the real Moody.

His resistance to the imperious curse.

When Harry quotes Moody in his head under certain situations for the advice he was given, it's not advice from the real Moody but from Barty:

He raised the cup to his lips and then, just as suddenly, lowered it. One of the horrible painted kittens behind Umbridge had great round blue eyes just like Mad-Eye Moody’s magical one, and it had just occurred to Harry what Mad-Eye would say if he ever heard that Harry had drunk anything offered by a known enemy

(Order of the Phoenix, page 630)

This above quote is based on Barty's advice in GoF, not the real Moody.

Barty made Harry think of becoming an auror. He was the one who convinced him he could become one:

“You ever thought of a career as an Auror, Potter?” “No,” said Harry, taken aback. “You want to consider it,” said Moody, nodding and looking at Harry thoughtfully. “Yes, indeed . . . and incidentally . . . I’m guessing you weren’t just taking that egg for a walk tonight?” “Er — no,” said Harry, grinning. “I’ve been working out the clue.” Moody winked at him, his magical eye going haywire again. “Nothing like a nighttime stroll to give you ideas, Potter. . . . See you in the morning. . . .”

(Goblet of Fire, pages 477-478)

Barty did more for Harry's self-esteem than any other teacher.

“Now, that’s more like it!” growled Moody’s voice, and suddenly, Harry felt the empty, echoing feeling in his head disappear. He remembered exactly what was happening, and the pain in his knees seemed to double. “Look at that, you lot ... Potter fought! He fought it, and he damn near beat it! We’ll try that again, Potter, and the rest of you, pay attention — watch his eyes, that’s where you see it — very good, Potter, very good indeed! They’ll have trouble controlling you!”

(Goblet of Fire, page 232)

In the above scene, Barty is delighted by Harry's resistance of the imperious. He is so proud and fond. I already mentioned and will continue showing how Barty did very little acting when he pretended to be Moody, as such, I don't think he's pretending here either. I think he actually is delighted.

And, I mean, think about it, why would a servant loyal to Voldemort teach Harry Potter how to resist the imperius? Why would he keep practicing with him throughout the year to make sure he was good at it? Why make sure Harry knows people would want to control him and he should make it hard for them?

The only conclusion I can come to is that he is trying to help Harry from a limited position. Why and How will be discussed later.

Neville was standing alone, halfway up the passage, staring at the stone wall opposite him with the same horrified, wide-eyed look he had worn when Moody had demonstrated the Cruciatus Curse. “Neville?” Hermione said gently. “Neville, what — ?” But an odd clunking noise sounded behind them, and they turned to see Professor Moody limping toward them. All four of them fell silent, watching him apprehensively, but when he spoke, it was in a much lower and gentler growl than they had yet heard. “It’s all right, sonny,” he said to Neville. “Why don’t you come up to my office? Come on . . . we can have a cup of tea. ...” Neville looked even more frightened at the prospect of tea with Moody. He neither moved nor spoke. Moody turned his magical eye upon Harry. “You all right, are you, Potter?” “Yes,” said Harry, almost defiantly. Moody’s blue eye quivered slightly in its socket as it surveyed Harry. Then he said, “You’ve got to know. It seems harsh, maybe, but you’ve got to know. No point pretending ... well ... come on, Longbottom, I’ve got some books that might interest you.”

(Goblet of Fire, page 219)

And he wasn't only the best DADA teacher for Harry, he was the best teacher for Neville too. He actually helped the son of the Longbottoms he was sent to Azkaban for torturing.

Just, he is the only adult attempting to build up Neville's confidence in himself and his abilities. He encourages Neville's love of Herbology and doesn't ridicule him like most other adults in Neville's life.

Also in the above quote, he clearly wants to tell Harry more. "but you’ve got to know", he says. He is trying to prepare Harry for what's to come. Why would he do that if he wants him dead?

As a Defender of Harry

To continue off Barty actually steps up to defend Harry a lot throughout the book. Even at times, he won't necessarily have to. I mean, the real Moody was never this protective of Harry. Sure, he kept him safe, but he didn't really care for Harry's feelings and self-esteem. Barty did.

“Yeah, that’s Harry Potter,” said a growling voice from behind them. Professor Karkaroff spun around. Mad-Eye Moody was standing there, leaning heavily on his staff, his magical eye glaring unblinkingly at the Durmstrang headmaster. The color drained from Karkaroff’s face as Harry watched. A terrible look of mingled fury and fear came over him

(Goblet of Fire, page 258)

He's scaring Karkaroff and the Durmstrang students away from Harry. The moment before this quote had the Durmstrang students and Karkaroff noticing Harry for the first time as they were leaving the Great Hall on the day they arrived at Hogwarts. They all freeze and stare at Harry, knowing his story and probably about to ask him questions, it's not like Karkaroff would've done anything in the Great Hall. But Moody (Barty) steps in to fend off Harry's discomfort! Hes not even in actual physical danger! Just discomfort!

Harry hesitated. He’d been afraid of this — but he hadn’t told Cedric, and he certainly wasn’t going to tell Moody, that Hagrid had broken the rules. “It’s all right,” said Moody, sitting down and stretching out his wooden leg with a groan. “Cheating’s a traditional part of the Tri-wizard Tournament and always has been.” “I didn’t cheat,” said Harry sharply. “It was — a sort of accident that I found out.” Moody grinned. “I wasn’t accusing you, laddie. I’ve been telling Dumbledore from the start, he can be as high-minded as he likes, but you can bet old Karkaroff and Maxime won’t be. They’ll have told their champions everything they can. They want to win. They want to beat Dumbledore. They’d like to prove he’s only human.”

(Goblet of Fire, pages 343-344)

Moody is glad Harry knows about the dragons, and that could be explained by wanting him to win so he could get to the graveyard (that plan had so many problems in it that I'll get to later) but that isn't the only thing he reveals here. He calls out Dumbledore and his attitude. He shows his dislike towards Dumbledore and his moral flexibility regarding cheating - two things the real Moody will never say. And he would definitely not phrase them like this. This whole conversation — that's all Barty.

Barty, who is actually encouraging Harry and belittling Dumbledore.

That sentence about proving Dumbledore's human, I think Barty shares that feeling. He agrees with the other headmasters on that. Even if he hates Karkaroff's guts.

Because he actually does hate all the Death Eaters that got away genuinely, but not for the same reasons as, let's say, Bellatrix. Bellatrix dislikes them for their lack of loyalty to their lord; Barty hates them out of envy.

Barty was sent to Azkaban for his mark even if he never tortured or killed anyone. And these other Death Eaters, ones he might know killed or tortured, got out scott-free. He was fought alongside them and still sent to the dementors instead of being let go. And he is bitter.

Also, important to remember, that a year in Azkaban and then twelve years under the Imperius curse didn't leave him unscathed. He is not mentally or emotionally well or anything close to it when we meet him in the books.

“Well, I’m not going to tell you,” said Moody gruffly. “I don’t show favoritism, me. I’m just going to give you some good, general advice. And the first bit is — play to your strengths.” “I haven’t got any,” said Harry, before he could stop himself. “Excuse me,” growled Moody, “you’ve got strengths if I say you’ve got them. Think now. What are you best at?”

(Goblet of Fire, page 344)

I love this scene. Like, this is the first ever time an adult with authority, a teacher, tells Harry how great he is. I talked about the fact Harry is clever and magically powerful but has really low self-esteem. And Barty actually argues with him. Bart (as Moody) makes him believe he could become something. That he has things he is good at.

One of this book's antagonists is the first person to tell Harry he has strengths. That's just all levels of messed up.

It shows Barty Crouch Jr actually does more for Harry's emotional well-being than any other professor he had. More than McGonagall, more than Lupin. Actually, the only adult who tries to help Harry with more care than Barty, is Sirius Black, Harry's godfather. It's just insane that Barty, a Death Eater, actually understood Harry and went out of his way to help with his insecurities and make him comfortable more than Molly Weasley did.

Now, let's talk about the Farret Incident because it's interesting too. both regarding his defense of Harry and his hatred of the Death Eaters that got away.

“I don’t think so!” roared Moody, pointing his wand at the ferret again — it flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor, and then bounced upward once more. “I don’t like people who attack when their opponent’s back’s turned,” growled Moody as the ferret bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain. “Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do. ...”

(Goblet of Fire, page 205)

Barty steps in to defend Harry because he does it a lot. It's why I placed this moment in this section. One would expect someone who wants Harry to die to not mind if he was cursed a bit, it's not like Draco was about to kill him, but no, he defends him even when no one sees him there.

But specifically in this incident, I want to mention how personal he gets about this. Barty's disdain towards the Death Eaters that escaped Azkaban is very real and very dangerous to Draco. He's furious they didn't need to spend a year in hell on earth only to then be enslaved by a curse for 12 years by their father who kept them like a dirty secret in the basement.

As I mentioned above, I don't think Barty is mentally sound, but I think he genuinely cares about Harry and didn't torture the Longbottoms.

In the next post, I go through the final scene of Barty in the book, and explain the whole plan Barty had.

Part 2 >>

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