Chapter 346: Shadows Approach

Chapter 346: Shadows Approach

The sky gradually lightened, turning into a deep shade of blue, with a faint touch of white emerging from the horizon.

Felix Harp stood amidst the crowd, beginning to understand why Fudge was so wary of Barty Crouch. Crouch rarely smiled, exuding an old-fashioned and rigid demeanor. While Fudge was still contemplating how to handle these masked individuals, Crouch had already issued orders methodically.

"Take these ruffians away," he said sternly, "they will undergo interrogation until someone reveals the mastermind behind this act of terror."

Fudge wiped his brow, "Crouch... Barty, you're being too severe... They were just drunk and causing a bit of a commotion. It didn't result in any serious consequences... I wouldn't classify it as terror... If it weren't for the Muggle involvement, a fine would suffice."

"Oh, really?" Crouch retorted, his eyes fixed firmly on the unmasked figures, "Some of them I recognize quite well, very well indeed..."

Fudge cleared his throat, "Very well, let's discuss some matters back at the officeWalsch!" He turned and scanned, as Walsch Cedric briskly approached.

"I'll take charge of a portion of these people; you handle the aftermath... um, the pacification work. I need to return to the office to deal with more complex troubles."

The Ministry's staff hastily prepared a batch of Portkeys and left with the fallen individuals.

Walsch Cedric arranged for the remaining people to extinguish fires and calm the crowd. Many families had become separated, and the Ministry's employees empowered their voices, their throats going hoarse as they shouted amidst the crowd.New n0vel chapters are published on

There were claims, complaints, grievances, all sorts of tangled demands. Walsch demonstrated excellent professionalism, taking note of everything and then casually instructing them to compile a list of losses. Whether compensation would be provided or not remained uncertain.

"They won't get compensated, just have to chalk it up as bad luck," Sirius, experienced as he was, quipped. Harry wanted to laugh but found it hard to, so he settled for a wry grin.

"Alright, children," Mr. Weasley said, "you should head back to your tents and get some sleep. Dawn is only a few hours away, and you'll need to queue up again to collect the Portkeys in the morning."

Barty Crouch remained behind, seeking out Felix Harp.

"There are some matters I wish to discuss with you, Mr. Harp," Crouch said with a stern expression, "shall we find a place to have a proper conversation? What do you think?"

"Of course," Felix replied with a slight smile, "how about my tent? It's still intact."

They returned to the tent of Future World Inc., a spacious one with stacks of empty boxes in the corners and two large magical lamps shaped like dragons. Crouch glanced at Clementine and Lupin in the corner but said nothing.

As they sat down, Felix motioned for a pitcher of lemon juice.

"Thank you," Crouch said politely, his expression serious. He wasted no time getting to the point, "Mr. Harp, I want to express my gratitude to you for promptly quelling the riot and preventing more severe consequences."

"More severe consequences?"

"Yes, indeed, more severe consequences," Crouch repeated sharply, his gaze fixed on Felix, "You haven't experienced them, but I know what they are like. To be honest, following the standard procedure, that Muggle family wouldn't have survived."

"Standard procedure..." Felix raised an eyebrow, "It can't be what I'm thinking, right?"

"Death Eaters," Crouch said coldly, "finding amusement in killing Muggles. When I was still the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I dealt with a fair share of horrifying cases. So, I ordered my Aurors to respond in kind."

Felix toyed with his goblet, pondering. Just then, the tent's curtain was lifted, "Barty, I heard you were here... Ah, as expected."

Ludo Bagman panted, his face glistening with sweat.

He pulled up a chair between the two and poured himself a glass of lemon juice, downing it in one gulp, sighing deeply, "What an eventful day. Those fans"

"What!" The cloaked figure, mini Barty Crouch, spoke in a low voice, "Isn't that too risky, Master... We underestimated him before, but today we were on the scene, and you even saw through my father's eyes..."

Barty Crouch's eyes turned blood-red in an instant, his pupils slitted like a snake's, he whispered, "Before devising a plan, it's always prudent to ascertain who the enemies are... Turns out he can't detect me... He can't even match the sensitivity of that child, Harry Potter!"

"But what if he uncovers your disguise?" Mini Barty Crouch said urgently.

Barty Crouch, or rather Voldemort, said with a voice devoid of emotion, "In my current state... the greatest benefit is that I cannot be killed. Perhaps you still hold some attachment to your father?"

"No, my Master." Mini Barty Crouch knelt at his feet, saying with devotion, "I despise him to my core, shamed by his name. Master, he imprisoned me for over a decade, making me live like a dead man, until your arrival freed me."

This touched upon a past event. Over a decade ago, as the war ended, those guilty were locked away in Azkaban. Among them, mini Barty Crouch was charged with tormenting the Lestranges into madness, alongside Bellatrix and others. At the trial, mini Crouch denied the accusations and pleaded with his father, the presiding judge, to believe him. The evidence was not substantial, as eye-witnesses didn't have a strong impression of mini Crouch. Coupled with the fact that his father was the judge overseeing the trial, he had a good chance of escaping the charges.

Unfortunately, Barty Crouch Sr. was unwavering in his judgment. He had long since spotted the flaws in his son's furtive behavior. Combining these discrepancies with the ambiguous testimonies, he ultimately convicted mini Crouch, sentencing him to lifelong imprisonment.

Afterwards, Barty Crouch Sr. made a grave mistake. Unable to refuse his dying wife's plea, he used a Polyjuice Potion to exchange his son's place in Azkaban. Mini Crouch was held captive at home, controlled by the Imperius Curse, taken care of by the house-elf Winky. He intended to keep him oblivious for the rest of his life.

That was, until Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban. With a determination to kill Wormtail at any cost, the petrified Wormtail was startled. Disappearing for several months, he found Voldemort and learned about the Triwizard Tournament and mini Crouch through Bertha Jorkins' information. They broke into his house while Barty Crouch Sr. was away, liberating mini Crouch. When Barty Crouch Sr. returned from work, he was ambushed by his son and Wormtail, controlled by a curse. They used the Imperius Curse to bend him to their will.

...

In a voice devoid of emotion, Voldemort said, "What if I were to have you personally kill your own father?"

"I would carry out your command with great pleasure!"

"No rush," Voldemort emitted a bone-chilling laugh, "Barty Crouch still has some use. However, he nearly broke free from my control in front of that fool Fudge. It almost ruined everything. It's possible that the agony he experienced from my presence in his mind inadvertently dampened the effect of the Imperius Curse."

Mini Barty Crouch pondered, "What if he sees through the flaw?"

Voldemort sneered, "There's no evidence, at most just some probing. But the Triwizard Tournament is inseparable from him, and events will unfold as we anticipated. The only regret is, I cannot sustain this state for too long... Being without Wormtail is truly inconvenient."

"Master, it's all my fault."

"That's enough," Voldemort said, "Proceed as planned. We'll return to your home first; I need some rest. Afterward, we'll seek out Mad-Eye Moody. He's not easy to deal with; we must set up a trap."

"Master, it's been quite an ordeal for you to acquire a corporeal form. I can handle this myself... Or if not, I could have Winky..."

"Since when did a house-elf become capable of serving the mighty Lord Voldemort?" Voldemort said darkly, "If Barty Crouch is exposed, it's fine. I've devised an appropriate way for his curtain call."

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