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Chapter 32 – Conflict: It Feels Wonderful to Have Someone Protect You
Barty Crouch was desperate to turn his situation around.
The Department of International Magical Cooperation was not a powerful department at all; it sat on the very fringes of the Ministry.
For wizards, whose lifespans were often long, he was still young. He could easily work for several more decades, so his dream of becoming Minister for Magic had never truly died.
Therefore, he had to prove himself.
Capturing Hydras Lestrange—the fugitive who had evaded the Ministry for five years—would be the perfect opportunity.
First, it would demonstrate his competence.
Second, it would prove his absolute opposition to the Death Eaters, minimising the stain left by his rebellious son.
It could completely alter the course of his career.
As for why Audrey Astray was suspected to be that little witch—
The reason was simple.
Kingsley Shacklebolt had personally witnessed Hydras's ability to disguise herself using advanced transformation magic. If she could disguise herself as a Magus, then assuming another identity was hardly surprising.
Audrey Astray's appearance had been far too coincidental.
An Auror had once reported that the day after losing Hydras's trail, they spotted Audrey Astray near Manchester Square while tracking residual magical signatures. After all, her face was unmistakable.
However, the matter had been shelved for five years for two reasons.
First, there had been far bigger disasters at the time—what Bode Grey had done was simply too massive to ignore.
Second, there had only been suspicion, not evidence.
But now things were different.
The world-famous sixteen-year-old singer Audrey Astray had suddenly been accepted into Hogwarts.
How could so many coincidences surround a single person?
Barty Crouch realised his chance had finally come.
He immediately submitted a formal investigation request to Amelia Bones, the current Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
To his frustration, the Ministry now seemed to value this newly enrolled Hogwarts student immensely, considering her a key figure in researching ancient magic.
Amelia Bones rejected his request outright—and even scolded him, warning him not to interfere in the affairs of the Law Enforcement Department.
Left with no other option, Barty Crouch began investigating in secret.
He infiltrated a Muggle police department and accessed Audrey Astray's records.
Her personal history was extremely detailed—suspiciously complete.
Money, after all, made things easier.
It wasn't until he travelled to Rick Astray's hometown of Warrient that he discovered the real problem.
No one in the entire town had ever heard of Audrey Astray.
At that point, Barty Crouch became almost certain.
Audrey Astray was Hydras Lestrange.
Even without direct evidence, as long as he brought her back to the Ministry and secretly administered two drops of Veritaserum, what truth couldn't he extract?
"Mr Crouch," Audrey said calmly, "I only discovered yesterday that I'm a witch. I've never even heard of this Hydras Lestrange you mentioned."
She continued smoothly, "Since you intend to take me to the Ministry, do you have any formal documents? An arrest warrant, perhaps? May I see it?"
Audrey was certain Barty Crouch had no authorisation.
First, because he had already been demoted.
Second, because Dumbledore had clearly stated that the Ministry held her in high regard.
Sure enough, Barty Crouch's expression shifted.
"Stop pretending, Hydras Lestrange! I know it's you!"
His desperation finally broke through his restraint.
"You'd better cooperate, or don't blame me for using force!"
Audrey smiled faintly and shook her head.
"Mr Crouch, without an arrest warrant, I won't go anywhere with you," she said calmly. "If you insist on taking action, then may I assume you're nothing more than a kidnapper?"
She raised her wand slightly, remaining cautious.
"After all, I do possess considerable wealth. Criminals with ulterior motives often target people like me."
She tilted her head innocently.
"Oh—or are you after my looks? While I appreciate the compliment, sir, I'm only sixteen. Still a minor."
Barty Crouch was furious.
Being labelled a kidnapper—and a lecher—by a wanted criminal?
His reason snapped.
In a burst of anger, he swung his wand, firing a beam of red light toward Audrey.
"Stupefy!"
(The colour shifting toward blue—don't worry about it.)
Audrey was prepared.
With a sharp flick of her wand—
"Protego!"
Her magic surged faster than thought itself. Before the incantation had even fully left her lips, the Shield Charm had already formed.
May everything follow my will.
Barty Crouch's Stunning Spell shattered.
At the same time, Audrey gained a startling insight into her own abilities.
She raised her wand without speaking.
The next instant, a red beam shot straight toward Barty Crouch.
Silent casting… isn't difficult at all.
Once a spell had been cast, it was as though her body remembered it. As long as the intent existed, the magic responded instinctively.
What she didn't realise was that only someone whose body had been steeped in magic for sixteen uninterrupted years could reach such a state.
Even figures like Dumbledore and Grindelwald required profound mastery to cast silently.
…
Seeing his ambush deflected so easily—and worse, returned—Barty Crouch became completely convinced.
This was Hydras Lestrange.
He brandished his wand and launched into full combat.
As a former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Barty Crouch was no weakling.
Roughly equivalent to two Lucius Malfoys.
With decades of duelling experience, he quickly overwhelmed Audrey in their first exchange.
Wizard combat was still unfamiliar territory for her.
And the spells she knew were limited to Years One through Five—most of which she had skimmed less than half an hour earlier.
"Fire Shield Protection!"
Blue flames surged upward as Crouch's spell struck the fiery barrier, exploding into a shower of sparks before dispersing harmlessly.
With a thought, Audrey reshaped the flames into a colossal dragon that lunged toward him.
Barty Crouch was stunned.
What kind of magic was this?!
He had no time to dwell on it.
Rolling awkwardly across the grass, he narrowly avoided the dragon's jaws.
But when Audrey pulled her wand back, the dragon turned and pursued him again.
Face grim, Barty Crouch slammed his wand into the ground.
"Colossus Puppeteer!"
A transfiguration variant.
The earth churned violently, and a three-metre-tall clay giant clawed its way out of the ground.
The mud golem collided head-on with the blue flame dragon, halting its advance for the moment.
Dodging two more spells fired from within Audrey's ring of fire, Barty Crouch pulled a small metal sphere from his pocket.
Pain flickered across his face.
Such alchemical items were becoming increasingly rare—and he was no longer Director. Acquiring another would be nearly impossible.
This was a tool authorised only for dealing with vicious Dark wizards.
With a flick of his wand, the metal sphere shot toward Audrey.
The Fire Shield blocked it instantly—
But the next moment, the sphere exploded, releasing a dense cloud of blue smoke.
The blue flames recoiled violently upon contact, and the smoke spread at terrifying speed, engulfing Audrey in seconds.
Dizziness struck.
Audrey collapsed to her knees.
With her magic supply disrupted, the Fire Shield disintegrated rapidly.
Barty Crouch was ecstatic.
Victory—power—restoration—everything seemed within reach.
As the smoke cleared, he stepped forward to seize her.
Crack.
Crack.
Two figures appeared between them.
Barty Crouch's face drained of colour.
He had not expected Dumbledore.
Of course…
This area had been protected by a Muggle-Repelling Charm and a Confundus Charm—one cast with master-level precision.
If it had been Dumbledore, it made perfect sense.
"Director Crouch," Dumbledore said calmly, "what exactly do you intend to do to my student?"
Meanwhile, Grindelwald helped Audrey to her feet, examining her condition.
"Albus—it's Mentor metal powder."
Dumbledore's expression changed sharply.
Mentor metal was a substance capable of blocking magical transmission. When reduced to powder and inhaled, it severely suppressed a wizard's ability to control magic.
Worse still, it was nearly impossible to remove through magical means. The body could only expel it naturally—a process that took years.
"Barty Crouch!" Dumbledore thundered. "You used Mentor metal powder on a sixteen-year-old child?!"
"She's a criminal!" Crouch snapped, glaring. "A wanted criminal! What's wrong with using force on someone like that?!"
"Where is your evidence?"
"Where is your authorisation from the Ministry?"
"You had neither—yet you used a forbidden alchemical substance on a Hogwarts student."
"Who gave you the audacity?"
Each question struck like a hammer.
Barty Crouch's reason finally returned.
He realised—too late—that his entire plan depended on illegally taking Audrey back, violating protocol, and forcing the truth from her with Veritaserum.
Only after confirming her identity could his actions be justified.
Now, without proof—
He looked insane.
Using Mentor metal powder on a minor?
That alone could land him in Azkaban for years.
"Professor Dumbledore…"
Cold sweat streamed down Barty Crouch's face.
Desperate, he began listing every suspicious detail.
"Don't be deceived! Audrey Astray is Hydras Lestrange!"
Dumbledore's expression remained calm—but fire burned in his eyes.
"I will ask once more," he said quietly. "Where is your evidence?"
"Hydras Lestrange is a master of disguise."
"On the night she escaped, Audrey Astray appeared nearby."
"And no one in Warrient even knew she existed!"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"These are conjectures, not proof."
"But your unprovoked assault on a Hogwarts student—and your illegal use of Mentor metal powder—are proof."
He looked directly at Barty Crouch.
"So, Mr Crouch—have you decided how you intend to explain this?"
Leaning weakly against Grindelwald, her body aching, Audrey smiled faintly.
It really does feel wonderful—
To have someone protecting you.