Bella watches Barty fall to pieces in the Wizengamot chamber. She wonders what he’s playing at, where his pride and courage have disappeared to. This young man, her protégé, her apprentice, her gift to the Dark Lord, has pissed himself in fear groveling to his father. His father who won’t even acknowledge him. His mother, crying heaving sobs, can’t even string together a sentence. Barty always resembled his dad, but in this moment Bella can see his mother in him. Twin tears, ineffective as they are revolting.
The verdict doesn’t surprise Bella as it’s read out, nor does the sentence. Life in Azkaban was to be expected. As the dementors descend upon the four of them again, she can’t help but grasp Barty’s hand. Her husband and brother-in-law trail behind them. She knows she should go to them instead, but Barty’s outburst seemed so out of place. She needs to talk to him. Make sure his loyalties are unwavering, his convictions strong.
As they board the ferry that will take them to that dreaded island, she whispers sharply, “What the hell was that back there, Barty?!”
Bella berates him for being so weak-minded and groveling, demanding to know if her time spent training him was a waste.
His reply was unexpected.
It shouldn’t have been surprising, she supposes. She always knew he was conniving.
“Bella. I’m getting out of here, and that performance will help me do it.“
It was all a show, he explains. Barty knows that his sobs and pleas will endear him even further to his ailing mother. He knows he can use that. Barty is playing the long game. Barty seems convinced that his mother will be his ticket out of Azkaban, that she won’t allow him to remain there, and that she will wear his father down.
Barty thinks he’s getting sprung right out of the world’s most miserable prison.
Bella inquires as to what his plan is once he’s out, because surely his father will not just let him wander free. Barty is certain that once he steps foot off the island, he will be able to give his father the slip, and he will resume his search for his fallen lord.
Bella cackles, briefly drawing the attention of the dementor guarding them. So it seems her pride in her protégé wasn’t misplaced, after all. She quiets her voice to a hush, and poses a question she’s almost afraid to ask.
“Barty? When you get out, you’ll come back for me, right? You won’t leave me there to rot?”
Barty glances around before answering, “Bella. I’ll always come back for you. I promise.”
The boat docks, and the four prisoners are escorted to the fortress. Rodolphus and Rabastan are separated first, leaving Bella and Barty alone save the dementors. Bella’s final words to Barty before they, too, are separated, are quiet and hopeful.
“Good luck,” she breathes.
“See you soon, Bells,” he replies.
The last thing she sees before being shoved into a cell is Barty, giving her a wink.
***
Months pass in Azkaban. Bella isn’t allowed visitors, or letters. There’s a targeted silencing charm on every cell that prevents the prisoners from speaking to each other. The cell doors are staggered throughout the corridor so that there’s no chance of laying eyes on each other either. Meals are served twice daily, appearing magically on the floor. Utensils are rare. Unspoiled food is rarer.
Bella has started to succumb to the isolation. She talks to herself. Screams to herself. Makes herself hoarse. Pulls out her hair and punches the stone walls until her knuckles are well-bloodied, just to remember what it’s like to feel. She’s all but forgotten Barty’s promise to free himself. To free her. It feels like a dream, and those soul-sucking beasts are slowly morphing it into a delusion.
Until one day, almost a year to the day that she’s been stuck on this island. She sees two pairs of worn shoes walking down the dim passage. This is bizarre, she thinks to herself. Bella hasn’t seen another human in 362 days, according to the tally marks on her floor. She glances up and is shocked to recognize the two. One surly and despicable, with thick, glaring eyebrows and an expression of disgust. The other dainty and despairing, tears filling her eyes as she leans on her husband for support, too weak to walk alone.
Barty Crouch. Senior. And his wife… whatever her name was.
Bella rejoices. This is it. This is her moment. Barty’s moment. He must be getting out… and he’d promised she wouldn’t be far behind. Right? She thinks she remembers a promise. It’s hard to remember much anymore, but she’s held onto that sacred oath for 362 days. It must be real.
Bella begins to laugh. It starts small, as though her muscles need to remember how. She quickly devolves into fits of hysteria, such is her joy. Not even the dementors can dim her elation now. Barty will be free. Barty will come back for her.
***
Several hours pass, and Bella has exhausted herself. Lying on the cold, damp ground near the bars of her cell, she’s close to sleep now. Her laughter hasn’t completely faded, small hiccups emerging every few moments. She’s staring at her arm, gently stroking the fading red snake and skull burned into her flesh. She hears footsteps again, and looks up. Barty Sr. and his waif of a wife are walking past again. But something is different…
Bella urges her mind to fight through the haze and connect the dots. Finally, she realizes. The frail woman doesn’t seem so helpless now. She’s walking unsupported, alone. Strong. Upright. Healed. Almost like she’s another person entirely. Could this be? Could Barty’s plan have actually worked? Did his idiot father actually give in?
Bella studies the couple intently. Barty Sr. isn’t as gentle or patient with this version of his supposed beloved. The woman’s movements, though stronger, are stilted and jerky. Her eyes are glazed over. Imperiused, Bella supposes. Bella continues to watch as the couple makes their way past her cell. With a sudden lurch, the woman stops and turns her head. She looks like she wants to say something, but her mouth shakes and closes. With extreme strain, she blinks. When her eyes open again, they’ve lost their glassy cast.
She winks at Bella. Her mouth pulls into a smirk, and she winks at Bella.
Just like Barty. Bella explodes into hysteria again as Barty Sr. draws a concealed wand, casts a wordless spell, and forces his wife—no, his son—away and out of sight.