Mountainous Estate

"Nothing puts a wedge in family more than deception..." Crouch smiled deviously as a plan came to mind.

Raven notices Crouch's smile and raises a brow, smirking, "What are you planning?"

"Well... let's let them ruin themselves! We reveal Jack's lie to Jessie somehow and let infighting ensue for now!

"Would Jessie be that offended?  She hardly knows Jack, Jack hardly knows her, and no matter what she said on the outside, why wouldn't she want me gone?"

Crouch gave some thought, "Hmm you're right we need something better..."

"We could just tweak something that has already happened to them, or make up a believable lie..."

"I see... very interesting, like what?"

"I'm not sure... I'd have to think about it."

I aperate just inside the door, leaning against the wall briefly. 'Umm....crouch?' I call out, tentatively

Crouch was sitting in his library, reading books on the darkest arts, trying to find some way to restore his powers to him. He now had all the time in the world as he used a potion to possess someone to act as his proxy, so he was under no threat of imminent attack but he knew the charade probably wouldn't last long.

"River... what are you doing here?" He asked curiously as he marked his page and stepped down the stairs to her.

I shrug, watching him warily. All i had to go on was the words death had said, that he did this because he cared about me, but all i knew was tha...he was a killer. 'To see you?'

"It's good to see you are doing well..." Despite his sincerity to the words he couldn't help but feel a deep envy for her... HIS magic coursing in her.

'Because of you.' i smile.

"I see Death gave you the details... that's unfortunate. Life would be much easier for you if you didn't know."

'Why? i would have found you anyway. or did you not want me to know that you, being a big evil death eater, actaully cares?'

"The reason I say that is now that you know I care, you won't be able to hate me and your life is so much easier when you do..."

'in not sure i really like you at the moment anyway. You kiled someone for this....and i feel like his blood is on my hands because its my fault.'

"Oh River, you've still got that pesky conscience..." He smirked while shaking his head.

"Who deserved what and why is of no consequence..."

'it is to me.'

"It's all because of the chain, if I didn't kill him then he would've just betrayed me... or if he didn't do that, he'd be out to get vengeance on someone else..."

"That's all life is, a cycle of betrayal and revenge..."

'not everything is fuelled by hate and anger, crouch.'

"Oh I very much beg to differ... that's all there is."

'but you proved yourself wrong by giving up your magic for me. that was not because of hate. you could have et me die.'

"Where do you think my hate began? Your suffering spurred me, your separation destroyed everything good in my life... made me filled with hate..."

"But with hate also gave me clarity! The wrong people are suffering, whilst I suffered the world was a happy place... well, looks like the grin is on the other face now..."

'thank you for making me understand that its actually my fault you are like this now.' I say dryly.