milliways_bar | (no subject)

*Tom decides to change the subject.*

Enjoying your stay? Finding it nicer than Azkaban?

"Why, yes! Much nicer, thank you. I mean, no Dementors has got to be a bonus, right? Plus decent food, reliable hot water, and a toilet that flushes properly."

Even if he'd enjoy it a lot more with a wand. Bugger! Still, there's always hope.

Don't get too comfortable.

He frowns. "Hmmmm? Not sure what you mean there. You saying the toilets here are faulty too?"

You know what I'm saying.

Perhaps an Auror from your time will walk through that door soon. That's all it will take. You never know who might come here next.

"You wish. But then, no violence in the bar. They can't take me here. Plus, of course, if they were going to take anyone, I believe a certain T.M.Riddle is higher than me on the Most Wanted Wizards list."

My name and my face are not well known in our world, and I have allies here. Powerful ones. And I am not the wizard that is wanted. He is. Not I.

"I have allies here?". He laughs, mocking. "You do sound like him."

He shrugs. "I suppose the murders you've already committed...no-one's ever found out about those, have they?"

*He frowns, trying very hard to not let the boy get under his skin.*

I've told Tonks.

*About some of them.*

Door knows, as well. A few others here know, and have given me a chance anyway. I've proven myself to them.

*Even Door has never received a detailed account.*

Tonks? Who's...ah. That must be the Auror, surely. So that's her name.

"I'm sure you've told Tonks about the wizards and witches you've killed. But the Muggles? That's nothing to do with her, is it? So if a Muggle constable from, say, the late 1940s comes along with an unsolved case...or three..."

He sips his water, watching Tom. No smile this time.

*Tom gives him a point blank stare. He is a ruthless man, and even though he's changed, he won't be trapped in his past evils.*

They'd be looking for someone else. The curse I used made it appear the victim died of fright. When I killed my father and grandparents, the constables couldn't even hold the Muggle scapegoat they'd charged.

*Try harder, boy. I'm not impressed.*

"Oh, you don't need to tell me the details," he says, with a casual wave of his hand. "I do know them already. You've told me. Sorry, your other self told me, or whatever you want me to call him."

"My point was that you're just as guilty as I am outside Milliways, and just as innocent since coming here."

And as long as you stay innocent, you should have a grand time.

There's the rub, Barty.

*He sneers as he says his name.*

I don't trust you because I was you. Well, similar to you, anyway.

*I was much superior.*

"Well, I happen to think there are more important things than 'having a grand time'. Staying true to my principles, for example. Something which you have been manifestly unable to do." His voice is neutral, rational.

"You don't trust me?" He shrugs. "I don't trust you either." We're so very much alike, as you always told me, but I don't have your weakness of spirit...

What are those principles, exactly? I'd love to hear my alternate self's deranged viewpoints forty years on.

He pauses for a moment; he's unsure of what to say, and he looks it.

He regains his composure.

"No, I don't think so."

Because you're an intelligent man, and you above all would come up with rational arguments against them. Arguments I'm not sophisticated or mature enough to counter yet. And I do not know, or ever want to know, or ever will know, doubt.

"I'm not prepared to discuss them with anyone who thinks they're deranged."

Pity. I'd like to know what you think about Voldemort being a half-blood.

"Well."

A very long pause; he keeps eye contact, making sure to keep his Occlumency defences up.

"Half-bloods are interesting cases. Not their fault so much as the parent's. And by the time they're born, the damage has been done, the wizarding world and the Muggle world have coincided."

"I suppose the real question is, what does Voldemort think of Voldemort being a half-blood? I've never asked him, funnily enough."

Interesting cases. Funny, that's not what they call them in Slytherin House.

Muggle father, witch mother. You follow with every ounce of devotion someone whose blood is befouled by that which you hate most.

"Yes, well, I'm not a Slytherin. I'm a Ravenclaw. I had my own reasons for joining the Death Eaters, and they are probably different to what you think." He's annoyed now, and makes no effort to conceal it. "So, Slytherins might have had their pathetic ambition and hate, and I saw a lot of them, but some of us joined for better reasons."

"Besides, means to an end, Riddle. It might be hypocrisy, but if he's the man who can lead the wizarding world forward, then I'm not going to worry about moral self-indulgence to get there."

Interesting views. Most interesting.

I should have suspected you were a Ravenclaw. When they go bad, they do so with such logical intensity.

You've shared your fervor with me, Crouch, but what I want to know is this. What do you plan to do about your most interesting views here?

I have somthing of a vested interest, seeing as how you follow a version of me. I'd hate to be further bad-mouthed to those who don't know me well here.

"I plan to do nothing of interest. What with the physical manifestations of Merlin knows what wandering about, seems a bit dangerous to do anything at all."

He maintains his Occlumency defences.

"As far as I know, there are three rules in the bar. I plan on following all of them. And I don't think you have the right to ask any more."

*When fighting those who are evil, sometimes one must resort to practices that are not quite morally upright. In the game of power amongst evildoers, one also must show supremacy, or so Tom thinks.

He makes eye contact with Barty and says, very quietly:*

Legilimens.

*He punches through Berty's defenses, not quite as easily as he thought he would, and then withdraws his powers quickly. He didn't look for any specific memories or insights; he merely wanted to show the younger man he could do so, if he'd wanted.*

No, I haven't the right, but as you said - any means to an end. Milliways is a haven, and it is like a home to me.

I will fight to protect it, boy, and those I love. I promise you, if it comes to it, I will fight dirty, changed man or no.

He's surprised by the curse - no, stunned. He'd not considered how Tom would react to his taunting and arrogance.

He's humiliated, and scared.

He looks away.

After a long time, he says, "I'd do the same too."

He's got a new respect for Tom. Respect through power and fear; they both know the way raw power works.

He still doesn't look at him.

It's good to hear we can agree on something.

*He feels uneasy, to be honest, showing his power like that. It used to be he'd not have given it a second thought.

He doesn't regret doing it, though.*

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