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SEND ME MEMES !

Barty stares at the compact.  At him, at Regulus, sitting on his desk, gazing through that crystal.  It’s a bit foggy, but he’s scared to fiddle with the controls that may bring clarity because he fears he might send Regulus out of focus.  What if he can’t get him back?  It’s something that terrifies him now that Regulus is here.  By the sound of it, Barty shouldn’t be so worried.  Regulus has always been here.  Always witnessed what happens to Barty.  How sad, to be stuck viewing this life of his.  It hasn’t been fun or happy or anything good, has it?

His finger taps away at the wood his arms rest on.  “That sounds overwhelming.”  Is that really what it’s like to die?  To be in that place Regulus watches from?  To see the world from that perspective?  

“Is it really worth it for you to be here?”  Part of him wants Regulus to be happy, and leave if that would bring it.  Part of him is selfish and wants to reach through that screen between them, grip Regulus hard with his savage and monstrous claws, and keep him from ever leaving him for even a moment.  Barty doesn’t want to be alone anymore.  Barty doesn’t want to be left behind anymore.  Barty doesn’t want to be forgotten anymore.  There’s his friend.  Right there.  Appearing just how Barty remembered him.  “You seem disturbed by what I do, what I will do.”

They squabble, but mostly Barty ignores it, manically rattles on about loyalty and destiny and bonds.  Voldemort, his master, is going to recognize him for who he is:  BARTEMIUS CROUCH JR., THE GREAT.  Not for the sake of glory or power, but to simply feel loved and adored and seen.  He even seems like someone has obliviated him sometimes, completely shutting out everything Regulus tries to warn him about.  That he will never attain this dream of his.