Bartemius Crouch Snr.

Bartemius Crouch
Also called	Barty
Character information
Species	Human (Wizardkind)
Family	Wife Bartemius Crouch Jnr. (son)
Occupation	Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation
Book information
First appearance	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Bartemius Crouch Snr. is a wizard and character who first appears in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Biography

Earlier life

When he was a child, his grandfather owned an Axminister.

Barty was very gifted with languages and could apparently speak over two-hundred including Mermish, Gobbledegook and Troll.

Goblet of Fire

Barty was Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation during the 422nd Quidditch World Cup. Percy Weasley was his personal assistant. Barty asked Percy to write a report on the standardisation of cauldron thickness which he would have ready earlier than Barty expected. Percy thought Barty would be grateful because of how busy the department was with the event.

Percy greatly admired Barty and was proud to be working for him. He often talked about him to his family who were largely indifference or uninterested.

During the Quidditch World Cup, he was looking for Ludo Bagman in a campsite. Ludo called him over to where he was talking to Arthur Weasley. Ludo was having trouble understanding their Bulgarian counterparts, but Barty had already spoken to him and learned they were demanding twelve extra seats in the Top Box. Percy then appeared and immediately offered to make him a cup of tea. Despite his enthusiasm for Crouch, he couldn't remember Percy's surname and called him Weatherby.

Barty told Arthur that Ali Bashir was upset with him after he put an embargo on flying carpets. Ludo asked if he had been keeping busy, which Barty sarcastically agreed with. Ludo started talking about the next big event, the Triwizard Tournament, which was still a secret and not to be revealed publicly yet. Barty was not happy when Ludo insisted that there was no need to keep it secret and revealed the event was taking place at Hogwarts. He intervened by telling Ludo they needed to go and meet the Bulgarians. They then Disapparated together.

Barty did not show up to watch the final in the Top Box that evening even though he sent his house-elf, Winky ahead to reserve his seat. Cornelius Fudge was frustrated because he needed Barty to help translate for the Bulgarian Minister for Magic. He did not reappear until Death Eaters attacked the campsites that night. He told Winky to stay in their tent while he and other Ministry officials responded to. When he saw that someone had produced the Dark Mark into the sky, unaware it was his own son, he and other wizards Apparated to the scene and produced the Stunning Spell on whoever happened to be standing there. Harry Potter and his friends, Ron and Hermione were already there and ducked to avoid getting hit.

Realising who the three people were, the enraged Barty asked which one was responsible. They denied being involved but he shouted that they were liars. The other officials there with him did not agree that the three children did it. Arthur Weasley asked where they saw the Dark Mark appear from and when Hermione directed them, Crouch was suspicious of her knowledge of how the Dark Mark was produced. The other officials were no longer taking notice of Crouch, and started scanning the area for the Death Eater.

Amos Diggory decided to search behind the nearby trees which their Stunning Spells flew through. He discovered Crouch's house-elf, Winky, unconscious and holding a wand. Crouch was embarrassed and in disbelief that she was out there alone. When he returned, Ludo had arrived and questioned where he was during the final. In his absence, the other officials had found his house-elf stunned nearby to his shock despite the fact that he had given her orders to stay in the tent. Amos revived her for questioning after Barty's silence indicated that he did not care.

Barty was silent while Amos questioned Winky who denied responsibility. The wand she was carrying turned out to be Harry's which he had lost during the Death Eater attack. Amos learned what spell the wand had last produced which proved that the wand had cast the Dark Mark. Barty was insulted by Amos's implication that his house-elf had been taught the Dark spell. He requested that he should be allowed to deal with Winky and punish her for her disobedience. He decided to give her clothes and free her, sending her into hysterics. Winky begged Crouch not to let her go and when Hermione tried to defend her, Crouch told her he had no use for a disobedient servant who would tarnish his reputation.

Appearance

Barty is an elderly man with short gray hair with an unnaturally straight parting, and a narrow toothbrush mustache. He dressed impeccably in crisp suits and ties, and highly polished shoes.