Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 369 Barty Crouch is dead

And so, Tyrell successfully gave Hermione something to do, so she wouldn't be too idle.

Sure enough, as soon as the Defense Against the Dark Arts class ended in the afternoon, Hermione, along with Ron and Harry, cornered Professor Moody, ready to ask him about Barty Crouch.

And Tierra—

Taking advantage of the opportunity, he turned and ran, hurriedly returning to Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets to continue his calculations.

However, just a few days later, to be precise, two weeks before the match, Batty Crouch was found—

Beauxbatons' body was found next to his carriage, his body dried up like firewood. Judging from the wounds on the body, it seemed that his throat had been slit with a dagger, and then he had been quickly dried up using a common magic spell, a dehydration charm.

It was Fleur de Lacourt who first discovered Batty Crouch's body. If it weren't for the clothes on his body, it's very likely that no one would have recognized that such a mummified corpse was the once meticulous Batty Crouch.

It was early morning when Fleur Delacour screamed, waking Beauxbatons' teachers and classmates, and also Hagrid. Waking Hagrid, who had grown up drinking Truth Potion and was as tight-lipped as an inverted jar, meant—

This means that before breakfast, all the students and teachers at Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang knew about Barty Crouch's murder.

Lacking any sense of logic or investigative awareness, the wizarding world had already completely destroyed the scene of the corpse before the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic arrived.

Almost everyone gathered in front of the Beauxbatons Magical Carriage to see Batty Crouch's corpse.

Furthermore, news of Barty Crouch's murder spread rapidly before lunchtime, and that morning, the owls in Hogwarts' Owlhouse were completely emptied by the students—

Almost all of them were sent out to deliver letters to their parents.

Due to public opinion, the current Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was forced to visit Hogwarts again.

He was accompanied by the most powerful Arrogant, Kingsley Shackleton; Dolores Umbridge, the Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic; and Gilderoy Lockhart, the greatest writer in the wizarding world.

Yes, before his departure, Cornelius Fudge personally went to 22 Baker Street in London to ask Gilderoy Lockhart, the great wizard hailed by the Daily Prophet as comparable to Dumbledore, to come out of seclusion.

Dobby, who was staying at the Baker Street mansion, quickly informed Tierra of Fudge's visit. Tierra saw an opportunity to make money, so she disguised herself as "The Parasite" and went to the scene herself.

And so, Fudge and his group arrived at the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts in a flurry of activity, facing Dumbledore standing behind the Headmaster's desk—

It seemed that only in this way could Cornelius Fudge have the confidence to speak to Dumbledore.

At first, their conversation was relatively normal. Although the room was filled with insincere pleasantries, at least there was no argument.

But when Dumbledore casually brought up the previously missing Bertha Jorkins and the Dark Lord's mark that occurred at the Quidditch World Cup, Connelly Fudge's attitude suddenly became serious.

When Dumbledore proposed canceling the Triwizard Tournament—

Fudge looked at Dumbledore as if Dumbledore had toyed with and murdered his father.

"Dumbledore, I see no connection whatsoever!" Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge declared passionately in response to Dumbledore's suggestion to cancel the Triwizard Tournament. "Ludo says Bertha is likely lost, and I agree that we should find her by now. But in any case, we haven't found any signs of foul play, not even a hint of it. As for linking her disappearance, Barty Crouch's death, and the Dark Lord's mark at the Quidditch World Cup, that's utter nonsense!"

"So, Minister, why do you think Batty Crouch was there, why was he next to Beauxbatons' carriage?" Moody's gruff voice said. "Or rather, who killed him and then put him next to Beauxbatons' carriage?" "Isn't it you, my dutiful son?" Tierra thought to herself, leaning against the corner of Dumbledore's office wall watching the drama unfold.

“I think there are two possibilities, Alastor,” Fudge said somewhat stiffly. “Either Crouch went completely insane—which is quite possible given his personal experience, and I think you would agree—he went mad, became delirious, and didn’t know where he was going—and then, very likely, didn’t even know what spell he was using. And ended up drying himself out!”

“If that’s the case, then he’s far too ill, Cornelius,” Dumbledore said calmly. “Perhaps you didn’t pay attention in school, but to completely dry a magical creature like an adult wizard requires at least three stages of spells. To dry himself with a dehydration charm while unconscious is as ridiculous as committing suicide by being shot eight times in the back.”

“Or—perhaps…” Fudge’s voice grew increasingly strained, “Perhaps, we should wait until our Aurors have examined his body and the location where he was found before making a judgment. But you said he was found next to Beauxbatons’ carriage? Dumbledore, you know that woman’s background, don’t you?”

“I think she is a very capable headmistress—and a very good dancer,” Dumbledore said calmly.

“Enough, Dumbledore!” Fudge said angrily. “Don’t you think you’re taking Hagrid’s side because of him? They’re not all harmless—and if you can say Hagrid isn’t dangerous, then his obsession with giant monsters—”

“I trust Mrs. Maxime as much as I trust Hagrid,” Dumbledore replied calmly. “I think it’s more likely that you’re prejudiced, Connelly.”

“Excuse me for interrupting,” said Tiera, or rather, “Gidrolohart.”

“Do you have any suggestions, Mr. Lockhart?” Fudge asked politely.

Even Dumbledore and Moody set their sights on "Gidro Lockhart".

“I have a question,” Tierra said carefully, “If there was a murderer, why did he, or why did they, leave Batty Crouch’s body in front of Beauxbatons’ carriage?”

Cornelius Fudge seemed taken aback for a moment, and even Dumbledore showed interest—

“Go on,” Dumbledore said.

“What I mean is, Mr. Barty Crouch was dried out like that. Even a first-year wizard could easily move the body with a levitation charm, and any fourth-year or higher wizard could corrode it with a blazing fire charm or by brewing a potion of Boots potion,” Tiera said, deliberately mimicking Gilderoy Lockhart’s smug and greasy manner.

"Let's get straight to the point, Mr. Lockhart," Dumbledore said.

"But the murderer did not destroy the body; instead, he placed it in the most conspicuous place."

“Giddy Lockhart,” he said, “so I think killing Batty Crouch was only one aspect. Perhaps Mr. Crouch stumbled upon some conspiracy, or perhaps he was simply the victim who best fit their requirements. But I believe the killer murdered Mr. Crouch and dried him out for a very simple purpose—”

“For easy storage,” Gilderoy Lohart said after a pause.

“You mean…” Dumbledore said grimly.

“I mean, Batty Crouch was very likely murdered around the time he disappeared, but the killer waited so long before displaying the body, especially considering how easily he could have destroyed the evidence, yet chose such a blatant method,” Gilderoy Lockhart said. “Therefore, I believe we can no longer know whether there was a direct conflict of interest or emotional connection between the killer and Batty Crouch, but what is certain is that the killer deliberately exposed Mr. Crouch's body for only one purpose—”

"That's a diversionary tactic! To create a smokescreen for his even bigger conspiracy!" Gilderoy Lockhart asserted firmly, then ignored Connelly Fudge's incredulous expression and looked at Moody—

"Professor Moody, do you think my analysis is correct?"

Thank you to the cat teacher who doesn't like drinking for the 1,500 Qidian coins.

Thank you
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(End of this chapter)