posted by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alt_lupin at 09:34am on 08/10/2011
alt_lupin at 09:34am on 08/10/2011So. This morning's paper. If you haven't seen it -- it's not just Barty Crouch they think is dead, but Norah Crouch as well.
There's a lot that's rather grimly suspicious about the story, starting with the hysterical tone. Dora's having a lie-in (Bea surpassed herself in fussiness overnight) so she hasn't seen the article yet. What she's said about her foster-mother doesn't much match what I saw in the article, but I'll show it to her when she wakes and she can add her own thoughts.
At any rate, I expect we'll need to go to the funeral. Funerals. Worse, I have to wonder -- what if this was not an assassination from outside the Council chambers, but from within? If the Lord Protector ordered both Barty Crouch and Norah Crouch assassinated, are they going to come for Dora next?
There's a lot that's rather grimly suspicious about the story, starting with the hysterical tone. Dora's having a lie-in (Bea surpassed herself in fussiness overnight) so she hasn't seen the article yet. What she's said about her foster-mother doesn't much match what I saw in the article, but I'll show it to her when she wakes and she can add her own thoughts.
At any rate, I expect we'll need to go to the funeral. Funerals. Worse, I have to wonder -- what if this was not an assassination from outside the Council chambers, but from within? If the Lord Protector ordered both Barty Crouch and Norah Crouch assassinated, are they going to come for Dora next?
(no subject)
Unless someone Imperiated her into jumping. I suppose that could have been what made Barty let his guard drop.
(no subject)
I can't even really guess whether Mrs Crouch would have jumped from the bridge or drowned herself. If someone thought they saw her, well, maybe it's true, but then people think they see things all the time, especially when someone's in the news--or when they think they might make the papers by having seen the right sort of 'something'.
I suppose that means I'm waiting until they find her before I'll believe she's dead.
I expect we will have to go to the service and act suitably sober. I don't want to dance on anyone's grave, but I really can't say I'm sorry for him.
As for the other thing, you're just being silly, Remus. If the Protector wanted to do something to me that would poke a stick in Mr Crouch's eye, he'd give me a medal and make me Minister for Magic.
(no subject)
That makes me feel ever so much better.
(no subject)
(no subject)
It rubbed off on Barty, too. That and the fact that Mr Crouch was the head interrogator for the Wizengamot when they were trying DEs during the war. I've heard it said there was no one fiercer. And, of course, they took opposite sides, and when Voldemort took the Ministry, they arrested Mr Crouch. I suppose you know more about all that than I do. They certainly never talked about it when I was there.
But I can tell you that Mrs Crouch begged Barty to protect Mr Crouch. And he did. I heard him remind his father of that once when they didn't know I was about.
They hate each other: Mr Crouch and Barty, but she'd never admit that. And he kept them locked up for years: didn't call it house arrest, but that's really what it was. Made them earn every little luxury or privilege. And Mr Crouch lost his standing in the Wizengamot: went from being the top interrogator to being the lowest defender, and he's never gained rank since. Everyone they hire in comes in above him. He only gets the hopeless cases. The ones no one else can afford to take because they're all trying to build their records.
But Mrs Crouch doesn't let herself know any of that. She was really ill back when the war ended, so I think she wasn't very aware of what happened or what part Barty played in it all. And I suppose I don't know all of it, either, but it was only Mrs Crouch who couldn't see that Barty was keeping them completely under his thumb, controlling everything to punish his father as much as he could.
I finally realised that she blamed all the horrible things about their situation on me when it was really Barty who caused all of it. Funny I didn't realise it sooner.
And now maybe she's dead.
(no subject)
(no subject)
If so, that's even less chance anyone would come after me.
Would you tell Remus he's wrong about that part?
(no subject)
(no subject)
Did any owls turn up with information about the funeral? It will be awkward if they hold it on Wednesday evening. Although we can always blame Bea for my absence, and let Narcissa Malfoy cluck her tongue over Dora's socially neglectful spouse.