Thick Of It

The air at Hogwarts crackled after the Second Task. Harry's underwater rescue had made him a hero, but Jason's mind was elsewhere. Moody, with his watchful eye, strange habits, and unsettlingly controlled demeanor, was starting to creep Jason out.

Jason : "Moody's too cautious, too textbook .He is way too moody ."

Jason knew he needed more proof before accusing anyone, but his gut screamed at him.

Two Weeks Later:

Jason "borrowed" Harry's Marauder's Map, hoping to track Moody's movements. But the map stubbornly revealed only "Alastor Moody."

Jason : "If this guy's really Barty Crouch Jr. he's the best liar since that Slytherin who claimed his wand snapped itself."

Frustration gnawed at him, but he couldn't shake the feeling. That evening, he confided in Hermione in the library.

Jason : "Something's just not right, Hermione," 

Hermione [frowned] : "Well, Crouch Sr. was murdered right here. That's pretty unsettling, isn't it?"

Jason : "Unsettling? It's a bloody outrage! A high-ranking Ministry official gets killed, and we're supposed to just carry on with this ridiculous tournament?"

Hermione [ nodded vigorously] : "Absolutely absurd. Dumbledore tried to stop it, but Fudge is pigheaded."

Harry [ looking grim ] "Fudge insists it must go on."

Jason : "Be careful, Harry. This isn't over. Keep your guard up, and don't trust anyone – not even people you think you know."

Harry and Hermione exchanged a worried look. 

Harry : " I will," his jaw set.

Over the Next Few Days:

Jason intensified his scrutiny of Moody. He probed carefully in class, but Moody remained stubbornly "Moody" – paranoid, gruff, and ever-vigilant. Jason's attempts to catch him off guard only reinforced the impression that Moody was exactly who he seemed.

One afternoon, Jason saw Moody testing his magical eye in a mirror, muttering about its range.

Maybe this is just who he is, Jason thought. A paranoid, ex-Auror who takes his job a little too seriously. Not barty .

With his suspicions of Moody fading, Jason began to look elsewhere. Karkaroff and Snape. But neither offered any concrete evidence.

Snape's just Snape, Jason thought. Sneering, intimidating, and always a drama queen. And Karkaroff? NO he is a traitor . both don't want Voldemort .

As the Third Task loomed, Jason's unease grew. He pulled Harry aside during breakfast.

Jason :"Harry, I don't like this. The maze is going to be dangerous. Be prepared."

Harry : "It's a maze, Jason ,How much trouble can it be?"

Jason :"This is Hogwarts, Harry Trouble practically oozes out of the walls. Just… watch your back."

Hermione overhearing, chimed in : "Jason's right, Harry. The maze is enchanted, and we still don't know who put your name in the Goblet."

Harry sighed : "I'll be careful, alright? You two worry more than Mrs. Weasley."

Jason and Hermione exchanged a look, neither of them fully convinced.

The buzz around Hogwarts was electric on the day of the Third Task. Students speculated wildly about the maze. Jason, however, felt a knot of dread in his stomach.

It's today. It's going to happen. I know it. But who's behind it? I thought it was Moody, but no…

As Jason was leaving the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall materialized in front of him, her expression stern.

McGonagall : "Mr. Bourne, A word."

Jason : "What did I do Professor?" 

McGonagall's lips tightened : "Your little…experiment with Professor Moody's flask hasn't gone unnoticed. Though I must admit, he found it rather impressive."

Jason glanced at the staff table, where Moody raised his goblet in a mock salute.

Jason : "I thought Flitwick handled my detentions?" 

McGonagall : "He suggested I take this one," 

Jason followed her to her office, the walk feeling long.

The room was as immaculate as ever, except for a strange wooden box on a side table. It was trembling slightly, as if something alive was trapped inside.

Jason : "What's in the box, Professor?" 

McGonagall paused :"It's for the Third Task. Nothing that concerns you, Mr. Bourne. Now, let's get to your punishment."

Jason's instincts screamed at him. Something about her demeanor, her tone… it didn't feel right.

Something's wrong. Think, Jason. What's off ?

He began sorting parchments as instructed, but his eyes were on her. His heart lurched when he saw her lick her lips – a strange, almost compulsive gesture.

McGonagall : " what Mr. bourne head in parchments ." 

Jason : "Professor, are you feeling alright?"

McGonagall's eyes narrowed : "You've always been too observant for your own good, Mr. Bourne."

Before Jason could react, her wand was out.

Jason : "Wait, let's talk—"

A blinding flash of light erupted, and then darkness.

The room was suffocatingly dark, with cold stone walls that seemed to close in on Jason as he came to. His wrists were bound tightly, his wand nowhere in sight, and an eerie silence surrounded him—except for the slow, deliberate pacing of the figure before him.

Jason's voice, hoarse but steady, broke through the quiet.

Jason: "Who are you?"

The figure stopped, turning toward him with an unsettling grin.

Barty: "Me? Oh, Jason, you know me."

Jason narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. Something about the voice, the mannerisms, felt both foreign and familiar.

Jason: "Professor McGonagall…?"

The figure clapped mockingly, his lips twisting into a cruel smirk.

Barty: "Atta boy, Mr. Bourne. Quick as ever. But I suppose I shouldn't expect anything less from you, should I?"

Jason's stomach twisted. He knew now, with gut-wrenching certainty, this wasn't McGonagall.

Jason: "What do you want?"

Barty crouched down, his face inches from Jason's. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity.

Barty: "Lies, lies, Jason. Always deflecting. But you already know what I want, don't you? You've been sniffing around too much. Too clever for your own good."

From his robes, Barty produced a small, ominous vial filled with a clear liquid.

Barty: "Veritaserum. You know what this is, don't you? Three drops, and you're an open book."

Jason clenched his jaw, lips pressed tightly together. Barty's grin widened as if he welcomed the challenge.

Barty: "Ah, playing the stubborn hero, are we? No matter."

With a vice-like grip, he forced Jason's mouth open, tipping three precise drops of the potion onto his tongue. The effect was immediate—a dizzying sense of helplessness flooded Jason as he felt his will being stripped away.

Barty: "Now then, what's my name? Say it."

Jason's voice came out against his will, flat and emotionless.

Jason: "Barty Crouch Jr."

Barty's expression lit up with mock delight.

Barty: "See? Was that so hard? Now, tell me, where did you first see me?"

Jason tried to resist, his mind screaming to stop, but the words tumbled out regardless.

Jason: "Dumbledore's Pensieve."

Barty tilted his head, intrigued.

Barty: "Dumbledore's Pensieve? And how, pray tell, did you get into it?"

Jason: "I didn't. Harry saw you. I saw through his memory."

Barty chuckled darkly, standing upright and pacing again.

Barty: "Oh, such camaraderie. What a friend you are, Jason. Peering into someone's mind uninvited. Still, clever. Very clever."

His tone shifted, venom dripping from his words.

Barty: "But you, Jason, your face… it reminds me of something. Or someone."

Jason's blood ran cold as Barty leaned in closer, studying him with unnerving intensity.

Barty: "Ah, yes. Now I remember. It was during a raid in the Muggle world. Filthy little town. We killed dozens, torched their homes. There was this one Muggle—a man who managed to take out four of my men before we got to him. Sacrificed himself alongside his wife to save their son."

Jason's breath hitched. His hands shook in their bindings as Barty's words clawed at something buried deep within him.

Barty: [mockingly touching Jason's face] "You look just like him. That man. Tell me, Jason… are you that boy?"

Jason's voice was barely a whisper, the weight of the realization crashing over him like a tidal wave.

Jason: "I'll kill you."

Barty threw his head back, laughing maniacally.

Barty: "Oh, such fire, Jason. But your tone… it's lacking conviction. Here, let me help you with that."

With a flick of his wand, Barty cast a spell, and Jason was plunged into an illusion so vivid it felt real.

He saw them—his parents. Their lifeless bodies sprawled on the ground, their faces frozen in terror. The acrid smell of smoke filled his nostrils as the scene replayed itself over and over, each moment more harrowing than the last.

Jason screamed, thrashing against his bindings, but there was no escape.

Barty's voice echoed around him, cold and cruel.

Barty: "Remember this gift, Jason. Sweet dreams. "

When the illusion ended, Jason was trembling, drenched in sweat. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath.

But before he could react, Barty downed a flask of Polyjuice Potion. In seconds, the features of Professor McGonagall reappeared before him.

Barty: "It's been fun, Mr. Bourne. But I have a master to serve and a task to fulfill. Enjoy your memories."

Barty then stun Jason , only his body paralyse .

With one last mocking smile, Barty left .