What a fabulous story. I love the insights into the workings of the Auror Department, and the opening with the overbearing, powerful Barty Crouch is very, very fitting. I think my favourite background motif - so to speak - is the description of three young Aurors-to-be: Sirius Black, John Dawlish and Kingsley Shacklebolt, in light of what we know will become of them in canon.
And then of course there's the fantastic, complex pairing Rufus/Alastor. Your characterisation is flawless, and Alastor's voice in particular is spot-on. You can see how they click as the story unfolds, and it is so plausible that these two powerful, intense, authoritative men would be drawn to each other.