milliways_bar | (no subject)

Replying to this note from Tim.

"Bar, see that Tim gets this, would you? Or maybe someone on Security can give it to him. Thanks."

That was an odd note. I might ask the same of you, apparently, but that is neither here nor there.

Do I want to reform? What do you mean by reform? Why do you assume I need to?

I know I can be ruthless, violent, easy to anger. I know that these aren't a priori character faults, but I also know I have them to an excess. I know I could be better with regard to such. So that would be a yes.

Maybe you're asking if I want to live differently when I leave Milliways. Yes, of course. If I sit back in Azkaban, I know what's coming, and I want to avoid that. A different timeline, then. So yes.

Maybe you're asking about my loyalty to the Death Eaters. Well, I think that's rather arrogant of anyone to assume that a political alleigance you don't agree with requires 'reform'. What do you know of my world? What do you know of my war? Who appointed you an authority on which side's adherents are noble heroes to a man and the other side necessarily in need of 'reform'? I know there are bigots and sadists in the Death Eaters. I also know there are bigots and sadists in the Ministry. Do you?

I might ask if you know that our Ministry is corrupt, inefficient, unmeritocratic, run by second-rate cowards on publically subsidised ego trips. Or that our courts are political, unjust, and arbitrary; that our press is a Ministry-run misinformation monopoly; that the Ministry stifles magical innovation; that the wizarding economy is supported by slave labour and apartheid; that the Ministry's refusal to tackle the issue of our relationship with Muggle society threatens us gravely; and that the political manifesto of the Dark Lord gives solutions to all these problems? Do you know that the government Tonks and the others support thinks it is good economic practice to treat goblins as second-class citizens and that the Death Eaters have long supported their emancipation?

Reform? Come again?

So, to recap. If you want me to be less violent and ruthless, you'll be pleased to know I intend to be. If you want me not to be a Death Eater, then I might have to do that as a matter of survival when I go back. If you want me to think that the wizarding world is better run by the Ministry than the Dark Lord, then you'd better research my world very thoroughly, because you'll have a hard time convincing me.

Barty Crouch.

P.S. Why are you asking?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Actually, I was mainly wondering if you wished to rid yourself of your Dark Mark. I need a sample of a working one."

Barty doesn't know whether to laugh or bash his head against something very solid.

He laughs.

The he replies.

Why?

"To help fix a mistake I made."

Details?

(About what you'll do with it, not about your mistake.)

" Use it to remove knowledge from the Death Eaters that was given to them before they were ready for it. By linkign the spell to the Dark Mark, it'll will spread to all of them, to ensure that they do not accidentally bring ruin to themselves before they should otherwise do so."

*Cause Tims from the future, technically. He's seen the end of the movies.*

So they forget the guns, yes?

Call me suspicious, but how can I be sure you won't do a spell that'll make all Death Eaters forget anything else? Or die? Or whatever?

Even if this sounded like something he'd agree to. Which it doesn't. But he's not saying no just yet.

" I'd be willing to make you an Oath on my True Name that thats all I would do. Ask around, you'll find I am incapable of breaking such oaths."

OK, so I'll ask about that. I'm not saying yes yet. I'm not convinced. I'll have to think about it.

He's very unconvinced. But he might be able to make a deal.

" Just write me a note if you feel like dealing."