Barty Crouch wanted to make a comeback too badly.
The Department of International Magical Cooperation was not a department with real power at all; it was on the fringe of the fringe.
Given that wizards are generally long-lived, he was still young and would have no problem working for several more decades, so his dream of becoming Minister for Magic had never been extinguished.
Therefore, he had to prove himself.
Capturing Hydrus Lestrange, who hadn't been caught in five years, was a very effective method.
First, it would prove his ability. Second, it would show his irreconcilable stance against the Death Eaters, minimizing the impact of his wayward son.
In this way, perhaps his career would take a turn.
As for why he believed Audrey Astley was that little witch?
Simple. Hydrus had already been witnessed by Kingsley using Metamorphmagus abilities, so it wasn't strange whatever she transformed into.
And Audrey Astley's appearance was extremely coincidental.
An Auror had reported that on the day after they lost Hydrus's trail, they were tracking the residual magical echo and saw Audrey Astley while searching near Manchester Square—after all, her face was too recognizable.
But the reason this matter was dragged out for five years was, first, there were bigger messes to solve at the time (the mess Bode Gray created was just too big); and second, Audrey Astley was only a suspect, and there was no evidence.
But it was different now. The famous 16-year-old singer Audrey Astley was suddenly admitted to Hogwarts?
How could so many coincidences all happen to one person?
Barty Crouch suddenly realized his opportunity for a comeback had arrived. He submitted an investigation request for Audrey Astley to the current Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones.
But to his disappointment, the entire Ministry of Magic now seemed to place great importance on this little witch who was only enrolling at 16, believing she was a key figure in finding clues to ancient magic.
Amelia Bones decisively rejected his request and even reprimanded him, telling him not to interfere in the affairs of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement!
Barty Crouch had no choice but to investigate secretly on his own.
He had once infiltrated a Muggle police station to investigate Audrey Astley's records.
But her personal information was perfectly complete (money makes things happen), which made him very suspicious.
It wasn't until he went to Rick Astley's hometown, Warriton, that he discovered something was amiss—not a single person in the entire town recognized Audrey Astley!
Therefore, he was almost certain that Audrey Astley was Hydrus Lestrange!
Although there was no direct evidence, as long as he brought Audrey back to the Ministry and secretly fed her a couple of drops of Veritaserum, what couldn't he find out?
"Mr. Crouch, I only found out I was a witch yesterday. This Hydrus Lest-something-or-other you're talking about, I've never even heard of her," Audrey replied very calmly. "Besides, since you want to take me back to the Ministry, do you have the relevant documents? For example, an arrest warrant or something, can you show it to me?"
Audrey was certain that Barty Crouch had not obtained approval.
First, because he had already been demoted. Second, because Dumbledore had just said the Ministry valued her highly.
Sure enough, Barty Crouch's expression changed: "Stop acting for me, Hydrus Lestrange. I know it's you!"
He wanted to prove himself too badly and had already lost his cool: "You'd better be obedient and don't force me to make a move!"
Audrey smiled and shook her head: "Mr. Crouch, you don't have an arrest warrant. I won't go with you," she said, full of confidence. "If you are going to make a move, then can I assume you are just a kidnapper? An abductor?"
Audrey let her wand hang by her side, remaining vigilant, but her mouth didn't stop: "After all, I have quite a bit of wealth. Plenty of criminals are eyeing my savings."
"Oh, or perhaps you covet my beauty? Although I know I'm very pretty, sir, I'm only sixteen. I'm not an adult yet!"
Barty Crouch was about to explode with anger. He was actually being treated as a kidnapper and a pervert? And by a mere fugitive?
Rushing to his head, Barty Crouch had already waved his wand, and a red light shot toward Audrey.
"Stupefy!" (The color of this spell is sometimes red, sometimes blue, don't get hung up on it)
Audrey was prepared. With a raise of her wand,
"Protego!"
The magic in her body moved as if it were an extension of her limbs, swift and incomparable. Before she even finished speaking the incantation, the shield from the Shield Charm had already manifested.
'Just like that, just as I wished??'
Barty Crouch's spell was blocked.
Audrey, meanwhile, gained a new understanding of her spellcasting ability. She tried waving her wand without saying the incantation. The next moment, an identical beam of red light shot toward Barty Crouch.
'Non-verbal spellcasting doesn't seem that hard? It's like a spell I've cast once is remembered by my body. As long as I have the thought, the magic will automatically achieve the effect according to my will!'
Little did she know that only her body, which had been steeped in magic for sixteen years, could achieve this state!
Even powerhouses like Dumbledore and Grindelwald could only cast non-verbally because of their extremely refined magical skills and their profound understanding of magical principles!
...
Seeing Audrey easily dissolve his sneak attack and even return fire, Barty Crouch became even more certain that the person before him was that damn Hydrus.
He waved his wand and began a duel with Audrey.
As the former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Barty Crouch's strength was quite impressive.
Roughly equal to two Lucius Malfoys.
With his rich combat experience, he immediately suppressed Audrey as soon as they clashed.
This couldn't be helped. Wizarding duels were still a completely new field for Audrey.
Not to mention, the spells she had mastered were only from the first to fifth-year curriculum, which she had just haphazardly self-studied in the last half hour.
"Fire Shield Charm!"
Blue flames surged up. Barty Crouch's spells hit the fiery shield, bursting into intense sparks and dissipating into the air as magic.
With a thought from Audrey, the flames turned into a giant dragon and flew toward Barty Crouch!
Barty Crouch was greatly alarmed. What magic was this?
He didn't have extra time to ponder the question.
He rolled to one side in a sorry state, dodging the blue flame dragon's assault.
But Audrey pulled her wand back, and the dragon turned around and came back!
Barty Crouch's expression was grave. He plunged his wand into the ground:
"Colossus Puppet!"
This was actually a variation of a Transfiguration spell. The lawn surged, and a three-meter-tall mud giant climbed out of the ground.
The mud giant met the blue flame dragon head-on, preventing the dragon from getting close for a moment.
Barty Crouch dodged two spells from Audrey, who was hiding in the ring of fire, and took a small metal ball from his pocket.
His face showed his heartache. These alchemical items were finite; one used meant one less. He was no longer the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Getting his hands on this kind of thing again would be as hard as climbing to the sky!
This was a tool that was only permitted to be used when dealing with the most vicious dark wizards!
Barty Crouch waved his wand, and the metal ball flew rapidly toward Audrey.
How strong was the Fire Shield Charm?
It directly blocked the small ball. But the next moment, the ball burst open violently, and a cloud of cyan-colored smoke spread out.
The blue flames that came into contact with the smoke were actually forced back, and the smoke spread extremely fast. In just an instant, it enveloped Audrey.
Feeling a wave of dizziness, Audrey half-knelt on the ground.
Having lost its supply of magic, the Fire Shield Charm quickly dissipated.
Barty Crouch was ecstatic. He seemed to see himself wielding power once again! He was going to make a comeback!
As the smoke cleared, Barty Crouch walked forward, intending to take Audrey away.
Swish.
Swish!
Two figures appeared in front of Barty Crouch.
Barty Crouch's face changed dramatically. He had never expected Dumbledore to appear here.
'That's right... this area was set up with a Muggle-Repelling Charm and a Confundus Charm from the beginning. That Confundus Charm was very tricky, clearly cast by a master wizard.'
'If it was Dumbledore, then it all makes sense...'
"Director Crouch," Dumbledore spoke, "What do you think you are doing to my student?"
Meanwhile, Gael Depp supported Audrey and checked her condition.
"Albus, it's Mentorui Metal powder!"
Dumbledore was shocked. This Mentorui Metal was a metal that could sever the conduction of magic. If made into a powder, once inhaled by a wizard, it would powerfully suppress the wizard's control over their magic.
And because of its quality of not being affected by magic, there was almost no way to remove it from the body. One could only wait for the wizard's body to expel it naturally, but that process was measured in years!
"Barty Crouch! You actually used Mentorui powder on a sixteen-year-old child!!"
"She is a criminal! A fugitive!" Facing Dumbledore's reprimand, Barty Crouch glared back, meeting him head-on. He had been stifled at the Ministry for too long. "What's wrong with me using measures against a criminal?"
"Evidence? Do you have evidence?"
"Do you have approval from the Ministry of Magic?"
"You have nothing, and you used a prohibited alchemical item on a Hogwarts student?"
"Who gave you the nerve!!"
This barrage of questions was like a mighty bell. Under the shock, Barty Crouch's reason returned.
He suddenly realized that to convict Audrey, the prerequisite was to bring her back to the Ministry, violate regulations by feeding her Veritaserum, and make her tell the truth.
Once it was confirmed that Audrey Astley was the fugitive Hydrus, all his own rule-breaking actions would be forgiven. He would even be commended for it and gain a reputation for relentlessly fighting criminals.
But now, without bringing Audrey back to the Ministry, he couldn't prove she was a fugitive. In that case, his, Barty Crouch's, actions would look somewhat insane to others.
Using Mentorui Metal powder on an underage witch? That was enough to send him to Azkaban for a few years.
"Professor Dumbledore,"
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead. Barty Crouch knew he needed to change his approach. He had to save himself.
So he began to list the many suspicious points about Audrey to Dumbledore. "Don't be deceived by this Audrey Astley. She is actually the murderer Hydrus Lestrange!"
Dumbledore's face was calm, but there was a fire burning in his eyes.
"I'll say it again: since you have made an accusation against Miss Astley, where is your evidence?"
"Hydrus Lestrange is a Metamorphmagus;"
"On the night she escaped capture, Audrey Astley suddenly appeared nearby;"
"And all the residents in Rick Astley's hometown of Warriton don't recognize Audrey Astley. When you connect these, isn't that evidence?"
Dumbledore shook his head: "These are all your speculations, not evidence. But your unprovoked attack on a Hogwarts student, and your use of the prohibited alchemical item Mentorui Metal powder on her, that is solid proof."
"Mr. Barty Crouch, have you thought about how you are going to handle this?"
Audrey leaned against Grindelwald, feeling weak and limp all over. Even so, she smiled.
The feeling of having someone back her up... was really nice.
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