Severus had always felt relatively secure about the Horcruxes.
Voldemort had kept this secret of his exceptionally well. Aside from Dumbledore, who pieced together the truth through clues and eventually located his Horcruxes one by one-
Even his own followers did not understand how their Master had achieved immortality.
It was precisely for this reason that, at this point in time, Severus never imagined anyone could be competing with him to find the Horcruxes.
Yet, an unexpected complication arose with Barty.
First, he managed to break free from his father's control earlier than expected and escaped from home.
Then, he actually succeeded in locating Voldemort's ancestral home, the Gaunt shack.
On the way to Little Hangleton, Severus mentally reviewed his actions over the past few months and how they might have influenced Barty's situation.
Barty's significantly earlier escape from his father's control was largely due to Severus's involvement in the potion poisoning case, which caused substantial problems for the Ministry.
This kept Barty Crouch Sr., as Department Head, preoccupied with work for an extended period, unable to focus his attention on domestic matters.
It was around that time that Barty also connected with the werewolf Fenrir Greyback, having him create even greater disturbances to cover his escape plan.
This period was the most likely time for things to go wrong, because prior to executing his escape, Barty had been under the Imperius Curse, possessing no capacity for independent action.
Of course, it was also possible Barty had uncovered something earlier.
It's just that in the original timeline, by the time he escaped his father's control, Voldemort had already secretly returned to Britain and was preparing his resurrection plan.
At that time, Barty, who was himself busy working towards his master's resurrection, had no need to 'find' Voldemort.
As Severus pondered this, he arrived at Little Hangleton.
Locating the Gaunt Shack here wasn't straightforward either. After making inquiries among the residents of Little Hangleton, as dusk fell and the sky darkened, Severus walked four or five miles, reached Great Hangleton, and finally arrived before the long-dilapidated, old, and decaying house.
The walls were covered in moss, many roof tiles were missing, revealing the rafters beneath in places.
The house was surrounded by dense nettles, tall nettles reaching up to the very small windows, which were encrusted with thick, years-old grime. A dead snake was nailed to the door. It appeared no one had visited for a very long time.
But from the residents of Great Hangleton, Severus also learned that some time ago, someone else had come searching for this abandoned old house.
Severus approached the door with the dead snake nailed to it. Just as he was about to push it open, beside the rotten doorframe, he spotted a fresh, green leaf.
Although the yard of this house was overgrown with weeds, there were no trees whatsoever. As for outside the yard, the tall oak trees there did not have leaves of this sort.
This leaf had arrived clinging to someone, and it was very recent, within the last few days, otherwise it wouldn't have remained so vibrant and green.
Noting this, Severus silently and slowly drew his wand from his sleeve.
Several names flitted through his mind, finally settling on the one with the highest probability.
He didn't hesitate, merely narrowed his eyes and pushed the door open.
The interior was dim. Dust and moss nearly obscured the windows, allowing only a thin, weak yellow halo from the setting sun perched on the horizon to filter through, illuminating the young man seated in the old armchair.
"I thought that after deducing someone was inside, you might not enter, Senior Snape."
Barty's voice remained just as relaxed as ever. He displayed none of the nervousness or fear shown by his subordinates. Instead, in this competition between him and Severus to see who would find the Dark Lord first, he acted as if he were the victor.
Severus's gaze swept over the room's furnishings. Things were in disarray, clearly showing signs of having been thoroughly searched.
"Why would you assume I wouldn't dare enter?"
He lifted his head to look at Barty
"You should know what place this is, who it once belonged to. But now you've made a mess of it, yet you think I wouldn't dare come in."
Barty didn't avert his gaze from Severus. Instead, he stared directly back at him.
"You found Master in Albania?"
Severus sneered.
"That question is superfluous. You were there too and felt Master's summons."
"You were searching for Master, and you did find him, but there is something wrong with you." Barty's eyes turned cold as well. "You speak of loyalty, claim to be different from the others, but it isn't genuine loyalty, nor are you like those fools who only seek to gain benefits from Master."
"You have other intentions, larger, more dangerous intentions!"
"My loyalty is not for you to judge, so your opinion holds no weight." Severus stated calmly. "I am unconcerned with the views of others. As long as Master places sufficient trust in me, that is enough."
At this point, his gaze towards Barty turned somewhat dangerous.
"But your actions are different. You took something belonging to Master."
"That was left by Master, a clue to find him." Barty declared loudly.
But Severus scoffed. He drew his wand.
"Is that truly the case? Where did you hide it?"
Barty's face was icy.
"I will only return it to Master himself."
In response to this answer, Severus, rather than growing angry, laughed. He shook his head, looking at Barty with something akin to pity.
"I am offering you a chance, Crouch. If Master remains unaware of this, you might yet retain some illusion of loyalty."
"I want to see Master!" Barty merely repeated this single sentence.
Seeing him like this, Severus put away his wand. Without the slightest hesitation, he retrieved the teacup.
In a one-on-one duel, Severus certainly held no fear of Barty, but if an easier method was available, Severus had no objection to using it.
When the teacup lid was opened and Voldemort's transparent, phantom-like form emerged, his voice was distinctly laced with displeasure.
"Have I been too indulgent with you, Severus? If you have not found the unicorn, disturbing me like this displeases me greatly."
"Master, I came to Little Hangleton as you instructed. But Barty Crouch Jr. is also here, and it appears he took something of yours from this place." Severus said respectfully.
Upon hearing his words, Voldemort's entire demeanor shifted dramatically!
His illusory, transparent form fluctuated violently, then he sharply turned to look at Barty, who was already trembling and kneeling on the ground.
The moment Voldemort appeared, Barty recognized him as Master he had yearned for.
In that instant, he could no longer contain his emotions. Gone was the contempt and recklessness he had displayed facing Severus. Tears streamed down his face as he knelt on the ground. Just as he prepared to lift his head and call out to his Master.
A nearly roaring bellow suddenly erupted in his ears.
"What did you find here!!"
The furious voice made Barty's entire body jolt violently. He then looked up in terror, his face a mask of confusion and innocence.
"I, I, Master..."
"Tell me! Barty Crouch! In this place! What exactly! Did you find!!!"
Voldemort's voice, lower in volume than before but radiating even greater terror and fury, rang out once more.
Barty was utterly panicked. He resembled a child abandoned by a parent, pitiful and helpless.
"A... a ring... I, I was trying to find you, Master... I always wanted to find you... to bring you back..."
He continued explaining, pleading, not even comprehending what he had done wrong.
But Voldemort fell silent at that moment. He simply stared coldly at Barty, remaining wordless for a long while before speaking again in a voice that seemed calm, even gentle and reassuring.
"And then? After obtaining that ring, what did you discover?"
Severus, watching from the sidelines with his arms crossed, stared at Barty kneeling on the floor like a pitiful insect. He knew this was Barty's final opportunity.
If he told a small lie, claiming he had discovered nothing significant about the ring, then Voldemort, upon regaining his composure, might, considering his need for followers upon his return, refrain from taking severe action against him.
After all, Voldemort had also entrusted Horcruxes to Lucius and Bellatrix for safekeeping.
It was simply that Barty had struck a nerve this time. This wasn't an item Voldemort had voluntarily given, and Barty had located it through his own initiative.
However, given Barty's fanatical loyalty to Voldemort, how could he possibly lie to his Master?
He pulled the Marvolo Gaunt's Ring from his person, his voice trembling and stammering as he divulged his discovery regarding the ring.
"This ring has, has a part of you, Master. It was it, it gave me hints, showed me many things..."
"There was you taking a golden cup from a witch... your experience of returning to Hogwarts to apply for a position... there, there was also a locket you hid in a seaside cave..."
Voldemort's voice grew even softer, but the icy rage barely held in check sent a shiver down Severus's spine.
"And then? After seeing these visions, what did you do next?"
"I, I kept searching for you based on the locations in these visions... I tried to find information about that witch... I went to that seaside cave... and I found that locket inside as well... I also went to Albania... I went there looking for you..."
A deathly stillness.
After Barty's voice faded, no sound permeated the house.
Severus, standing by the wall, understood. Barty was finished.
It wasn't that someone sought his death, and he had brought it upon himself.
"Where is the locket you found?" After a prolonged silence, Voldemort's faint voice finally sounded again.
Barty didn't dare hesitate for even a moment. He drew the locket he had procured from the seaside cave using Rolf from his pocket.
The Marvolo Gaunt's Ring and the locket were placed together. Seeing these two objects, Voldemort spoke softly,
"I always believed you were a most promising young man, Barty. You are clever, loyal, and possess the purest bloodline and pedigree."
Barty, kneeling on the ground, seemed to sense something. His body trembled as he raised his pale, helpless face.
"Severus."
Hearing Voldemort's voice, Severus stepped forward, bowing his head to signify his presence.
"Deal with him. Take the ring and the locket. Keep them secure for me. Let no one else discover them, and permit no one else to know of their existence."
After issuing these commands, Voldemort retreated back into the teacup.
Inside the teacup, he could distinctly feel the dissipation of his soul slowing, no longer rapidly weakening. Therefore, until the unicorn was found, he did not wish to squander a single second outside.
Severus respectfully observed Voldemort's return to the teacup. Only after finally securing the lid did he take two steps forward, looking down upon Barty
Barty at this moment seemed as if his soul had been ripped out, sitting slumped on the floor with hollow eyes.
He certainly comprehended the true meaning behind Voldemort's final order for Severus to 'deal with him'.
Severus bent down and retrieved the Marvolo Gaunt's Ring and the locket from the floor.
With a single glance, he could discern that the locket Barty had found was clearly a fake, while the genuine Horcrux had long since been swapped and hidden within the Black Family's residence.
But the Marvolo Gaunt's Ring was undeniably, unequivocally real!
After safely storing the ring away, Severus looked back at Barty
"So, I told you, do not court death. Why did you insist on this path?"
Barty, moving like a puppet with rusted joints, slowly lifted his head to meet Severus's gaze.
"These two items are immensely important to Master, so important that no one can know of them. Even knowing a little could pose a threat to him, correct?"
Severus shrugged.
"You see, you've deduced it yourself."
Barty's utterly lifeless eyes simply stared fixedly at Severus.
"Then what are you waiting for? Master ordered you to deal with me, and only my death ensures Master's safety. So why haven't you acted!"
He urged, exhibiting no fear of death, only the desperate fervor of a moth flying into a flame.
"Do it! Kill me! And you! You also learned of this today! You must die later as well!!"
Severus merely raised his wand, regarding him with a smirk.
"If I hadn't met with Dumbledore today, I would have no reservations and would kill you outright. But now, this pure soul of mine is something that old man seems to value highly."
"You're better off meeting your end via Dementor's kiss."
Under Barty's stunned gaze, a blinding scarlet light flooded his entire visual field.
"Stupefy."