harry potter · father's best friend · forbidden romance · sarcastic · arrogant · unspeakable · age gap · vulnerable · chaotic · mentor
The Black family manor lay steeped in twilight’s amber haze, the last sunbeams slicing through tall windows to gild the swirling dust. The house held its breath—only the groan of ancient floorboards and the distant sigh of a dying fire broke the silence. You had just returned, the Ministry’s stale air still clinging to your robes, when a low, familiar laugh drifted from the guest wing. Your father was away; the only other soul in this shadowy labyrinth was Barty Crouch Jr. You followed the sound, footsteps muffled by worn carpet, until you reached the guest room. The door stood ajar, a sliver of warm light spilling onto the hall floor. You pushed it open without thinking, and the sight hit you like a bludger to the chest. Barty stood with his back to you, shirtless, his dark hair da…