Just a Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor

"As for the reason why he didn't want to kill Crouch easily, I prefer to believe that he was planning for his successful return."

"Although he is crazy, cruel, and ruthless, he has never lacked foresight. Even if he makes a comeback, he has failed once. This time he can fight in the magic world and the Ministry of Magic as he did before. Good results.

"So he has to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic in advance, and Barty is undoubtedly a good springboard."

Dumbledore knew all about Voldemort.

When he was a student, he could already see through Tom Riddle's disguise as a good student, and even now he can still analyze his character very clearly.

"It's crucial that you bring Crouch back this time, not only to find out what he did after his soul was taken away, but also to disrupt Voldemort's subsequent steps."

Because back in the past, Crouch's son Barty Jr. worked as an undercover agent in the Ministry of Magic, causing Sherlock to suffer a lot, which led to his unfriendly impression of Crouch as a person.

But after understanding his importance, Sherlock also felt that this could save him, which would indeed save him a lot of trouble in the future.

While they were talking, Moody and Leach also returned to the principal's office.

Judging from their faces, things were not going well.

"He took me to the place at the bottom of the lake, but there was nothing there. After I repeatedly confirmed that he remembered the location correctly, I had no choice but to come back first." Moody said with a frown.

Leach explained nervously.

"Indeed, it is indeed there. If my memory has not been changed by others along the way, when my body was out of control, I grabbed the boy's arm to take him there."

Dumbledore didn't seem to show much disappointment on his face, he just sighed.

"Our reaction was a bit late. After Harry comes ashore, we should let Harry guide us and dive to the bottom of the lake. Maybe we will make important discoveries."

Regrets can only be said after the fact. After there were no other clues, Dumbledore gently persuaded Leach and apologized for what happened today. I hope the mermaids under the Black Lake don't mind. .

Leach was originally a pro-wizard or pro-Dumbledore faction. He was flattered by Dumbledore's words and repeatedly said that these were all accidents. If he wanted to blame him, he could only blame the person who used the Imperius Curse on him. The dark wizard is cunning and has nothing to do with Hogwarts.

After Leach left, Moody was able to speak openly.

"I think it is impossible for anyone except Karkaroff to do this. He has always lived on the Black Lake and has a natural advantage."

He obviously thought of going together with Sherlock. After being an Auror for more than thirty years, Moody naturally has a "sense of smell" that ordinary people cannot match.

Dumbledore put his hands together, his eyes slightly reflecting the white light.

"But this does not become evidence for the Ministry of Magic to arrest him. Moreover, he is not a British wizard now. Unless there is direct physical evidence or witness, otherwise according to Fudge's character, he will never be willing to go to this trouble. ”

Moody fell silent. He had also worked under the Fudge government for three or four years, so he naturally knew what the current Minister of Magic was like.

And just when the office fell into silence, Crouch, who was lying on the sofa beside him, finally slowly opened his eyes.

He first looked around with his cloudy and confused eyes, and finally fixed his gaze on Dumbledore, completing the focus.

"Albus!" Crouch's tone was very urgent, completely different from his usual calmness and rigidity.

"You must know these things. That person has regrouped the power he once had! And is planning a comeback!"

Dumbledore comforted him softly.

"Calm down, calm down, Barty, I already understand what you said. You are still in a very bad mental state. Maybe I should ask the kitchen to prepare a cup of hot cocoa for you."

At this time, Crouch reacted.

He was not being tortured surrounded by Death Eaters, but had returned to the safety of Hogwarts.

His tense body and spirit slowly relaxed, and he completely collapsed on the sofa. His face, which was originally red due to nervousness and excitement, now turned back to that sickly pale color.

Hot cocoa soon appeared out of thin air in the principal's office, which is undoubtedly the best drink for people who are both physically and mentally exhausted.

He held the cup and after taking a few sips, his face obviously became slightly better.

Dumbledore also asked at the right time at this time.

"Now can you tell us what you have experienced?"

Crouch, whose thoughts had stabilized, became a little complicated, especially when he turned his eyes to Sherlock.

He seemed to be hesitating about where to start, or whether to say something or not.

The other three people who were waiting for him to speak did not take the initiative to urge him, but just waited for him to be mentally prepared.

"I admit that I made mistakes before." Crouch said with a gloomy face.

"My son, Barty Crouch Jr., you all know that he is actually a Death Eater. After I personally imprisoned him in Azkaban, I did not regret doing such a thing."

"But Kath resented me, she hated me for doing this, for sending our only son to that prison, and she was so physically broken because of it that the doctor at St. Mungo's was so worried about her condition. She is completely helpless, she has a heart disease of her own, and no amount of precious potions can cure her."

"She also knew that she didn't have much time to live. In the last few days of her life, she only asked me to help her do one thing."

Crouch's tone returned to calmness, but from his unstoppable trembling, anyone could tell that his emotions were not as calm as his expression at all.

"She wanted to die in Barty's place. She asked me to turn her into Barty's appearance and then go to Azkaban to replace him."

"I shouldn't have promised her. This goes against what I have always insisted on, but I think I have never owed anyone in my life, except her."

"I was very harsh on little Barty. There were basically no opportunities to educate him in life, which caused him to go astray later. I am responsible for this. But I also provided him with education that was far beyond that of other peers. The starting point allows him to have the opportunity to choose his career after graduating from Hogwarts, so that he does not have to worry about life, and it is even better than most adult wizards. "