Chapter 272: Suspect
Chapter 272: Suspect
The middle-aged wizard, once a Dark Wizard and now the headmaster of Durmstrang, was loudly protesting that he would never bring his students to the next Triwizard Tournament and was planning to file a complaint with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards over this matter.
Mad-Eye Moody and Sherlock were both watching him closely.
"Karkaroff is a prime suspect", Mad-Eye Moody said in a deep voice. "I was the one who captured him, and I know how cunning and deceitful he is. Before he was caught, almost all the Death Eaters believed he was one of the Dark Lord's most loyal followers. Yet, on the very first day of his capture, he didn't hesitate to betray all of his comrades."
"He might be trying to use Harry as a safeguard for himself. If the Dark Lord rises again, he could use this to secure his own survival."
Sherlock, however, had a different opinion.
"Dumbledore said that the Dark Lord despises betrayal the most, and Karkaroff should be well aware of this. Harry would not be a safeguard for him but a death sentence. Besides, even if Voldemort were to spare him, the Death Eaters who were betrayed and imprisoned in Azkaban would never let him off."
His argument was well-reasoned, but Mad-Eye Moody didn't entirely abandon his thoughts; he simply reserved his judgment. The two then turned their attention to the next person.
Madame Maxime, the headmistress with a stature as imposing as Hagrid's.
This woman was clearly unhappy, but she was much more composed than Karkaroff and refrained from making any threatening remarks.
"Olympe Maxime's background is quite simple", Mad-Eye Moody, a seasoned Auror, said, having seen many files in the Auror Office. "Apart from her family history being unknown, her past is well-documented. There is no indication of any connection to the Dark Lord, nor any deep-seated grudge against Harry."
Sherlock and Mad-Eye Moody were in agreement about this woman.
"She is indeed the least likely suspect, as there is no reason for her to do such a thing."
Their gaze then shifted to Ludo Bagman, the Minister of Magic's Department of Magical Games and Sports, who was standing beside her, short and almost dwarf-like.
"Ludo Bagman's situation is even simpler", Mad-Eye Moody continued. "He was once a Beater for the Wimbourne Wasps and the England national team before joining the Ministry of Magic as the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. He enjoys gambling and is skilled at scheming and using fake money. He has many small faults, but there has never been any rumor of him having any connection to the Dark Lord's forces."
Sherlock couldn't recall any significant information about Bagman from his limited memory of the original story.
He concluded that Bagman was a minor character and unlikely to be the mastermind.
Finally, they turned their attention to the last person, Barty Crouch Sr., the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, who had been silently watching the others argue since entering the room, his face grim.
This time, Sherlock spoke first.
"I think he is the most likely suspect!"
Mad-Eye Moody was puzzled by this.
"Although Barty has the indelible stain of having a son who is a Death Eater, his character is beyond reproach. During the 1970s, when the conflict between the Ministry of Magic and the Death Eaters was at its peak, he was staunchly opposed to pure-blood supremacy and the Dark Lord's rule. After discovering that his son was a Death Eater, he didn't hesitate to send him to Azkaban. At the time, some even thought his only flaw was being too impartial and unyielding."
Old Barty once served as the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for a long time. As the superior of Mad-Eye Moody's former superior, there was still a lingering connection between them.
Given Old Barty's history, it seemed impossible that he would have any connection to Voldemort.
However, Sherlock clearly knew more than Mad-Eye Moody.
He lowered his voice to a volume that only he and Mad-Eye Moody could hear.
"The details are too complex, so I'll keep it brief. His son, Barty Crouch Jr., a staunch supporter of the Dark Lord, didn't die in Azkaban."
Upon hearing this, Mad-Eye Moody's pupils suddenly constricted, but Sherlock continued.
"Recently, at the Quidditch World Cup, I discovered Barty Jr. and killed him. I'm not sure if Crouch knows about this, but just based on this, his suspicion is significant."
Mad-Eye Moody fell silent. His gaze didn't linger on Crouch; instead, he lowered his head and stared at his rough palms.
"Even someone like him would betray the Ministry of Magic?"
No one could answer him, and Sherlock couldn't either.
All their current speculations were merely suspicions. Without concrete evidence, any of the four, except Dumbledore, could be the suspect.
Or, if they broadened their scope, it might be some Wizard who had infiltrated Hogwarts Castle and secretly carried out the deed.
However, this possibility was extremely low, and neither Mad-Eye Moody nor Sherlock considered it a priority.
After confirming Harry as the second Hogwarts champion, the debate over the extra champion came to an end.
Barty Crouch Sr., as the representative of the judges, informed the four champions of the time for the first task.
"The first task will take place on November 24th, in front of the other students and the judges. It will test your courage, so we won't tell you what it is. Facing the unknown is a crucial quality for a Wizard. Very important."
"During the task, champions are not allowed to request or receive any help from their teachers. The only weapon you will have during the first challenge is your wand. After the first task, you will learn about the second task. Due to the high demands and long duration of the tournament, champions will not take their end-of-year exams."
The instructions were brief. After delivering this message, the day's proceedings came to an end.
The judges and professors left the compartment in the Great Hall.
When Harry went out, he found that the Great Hall was already empty, and Ron and Hermione had not waited for him. However, he wasn't left to return alone.
"So, we're opponents again?"
Cedric's face always wore that warm, friendly smile, making him seem like a good-tempered neighbor's older brother.
Harry's mind was in turmoil, and he only managed to respond with a brief:
"Maybe."
(End of Chapter)
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