Chapter 502: Crouch and Bertha
As the sole heir of the Black Family Manor, Sirius Black was young, wealthy, handsome, and exceptionally skilled—loyal, brave, and formidable. Though his face was perpetually etched with impatience, people still flocked to him like moths to a flame.
Wade and Harry had just finished lunch and were preparing to depart the tent when Remus Lupin immediately fell into step beside them.
"Where are you off to, boys?" Remus asked.
"Looking for Michael," Harry replied. "I remember he and his family arrived too, right?"
He turned to Wade for confirmation.
"Yeah," Wade said. "He mentioned their tent is in the northwest Horn, near the water source."
"I know that spot," Remus said with a smile. "I’ll come with you—don’t want you getting lost."
Of course, it was an excuse. The camp was filled with young children running around freely, and their parents weren’t worried—after all, magic ensured anyone who wandered off could be found quickly.
But Harry suspected Remus wasn’t just being helpful. He likely didn’t want to be stuck as a silent figurehead near Sirius Black, so using the boys as an excuse to leave was a convenient way out.
Harry chose not to expose the truth. Pretending to be the kind of child who still needed an elder’s watchful eye, he grinned, "Sounds good. Saves me from having to go back and grab the map."
Wade glanced up and caught Remus exchanging a subtle glance with Sirius Black, followed by a barely perceptible nod.
He understood. Both men knew Harry had once again been targeted by Voldemort, which meant they weren’t about to let him out of adult supervision.
The three of them set off toward the water source. Along the way, Wade noticed many wizards carrying water kettles and buckets, queuing up at the faucet.
It was absurd—anyone could conjure a fresh water spring with a single charm. Yet, many seemed deeply immersed in the "Horn roleplay" experience, enthusiastically joining the line as if it were part of the ritual.
Still, their performance was far from complete. Wade spotted several wizards filling their buckets, then secretly using a Hovering Charm to lighten their load before striding off with ease.
Even in the northwest Horn—close to the water source—the tents stretched endlessly in every direction. As they wandered through the maze of fabric and poles, they scanned for familiar faces.
Wade didn’t spot Michael, but he did recognize Qiu Zhang. She was with her parents, a trio with distinctly East Asian features—gentle, refined, and radiating a quiet elegance.
Wade couldn’t help but glance twice. When he turned away, he noticed Harry’s cheeks had flushed, and a goofy, unguarded smile had slipped onto his face.
"Ahem!" Wade cleared his throat, giving a dry cough.
Harry startled, nearly tripping over his own feet. He frantically ran a hand through his hair and tugged at his house tie, trying to cover his embarrassment. "You—were staring at Qiu Zhang, weren’t you? Do you… like her?"
"No," Wade said casually. "I was just going to ask if she knew where Michael’s tent is. Then I thought it’d be awkward to interrupt."
Harry exhaled in relief—only to freeze again when Wade added, "Oh, and Qiu Zhang apparently has a boyfriend."
"What? Really? Are you serious?" Harry blurted, three questions in rapid succession. He looked away, rubbing his nose. "I—I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just… curious."
"Apparently it’s Cedric from Hufflepuff," Wade said.
He wasn’t the gossiping type, but being surrounded by a friend who was constantly involved in romantic entanglements—and had a reputation for charm among girls—meant he picked up rumors easily. Qiu Zhang was strikingly beautiful, kind-hearted, and one of Ravenclaw’s most prominent figures. Any change in her love life would spread through the house like wildfire.
Hearing Cedric’s name, Harry’s chest tightened.
The image of Cedric—tall, handsome, effortlessly charismatic—flashed in his mind. Just by looking at him, he could win over countless Gryffindor girls. A heavy weight settled in Harry’s stomach, as if lead had been poured into his bones. He lowered his head, silent.
Wade glanced back. He shrugged. Remus just sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"Mr. Crouch! The Egyptian Ministry of Magic has arrived! Minister Fudge needs you to assist with translation!"
A young voice rang out from a distance. Remus paused mid-step. Before his brain fully registered the words, he had already reached out and shoved Wade and Harry toward a nearby blue-green tent.
Harry’s surprised gasp was cut short as Remus clamped a hand over his mouth. Then, Remus raised a finger—shush—and both boys nodded in silent understanding.
A moment later, several figures passed by the tent entrance. Wade blinked, then looked over.
Barty Crouch stood in sharp, well-tailored clothes, though his hair was disheveled and dark circles shadowed his eyes—exhaustion etched into his face.
The speaker was a young Ministry official, wearing glasses, his expression tense and anxious. Beside him walked a round-faced girl, her large blue eyes blank with distraction. She wore the Ministry uniform, but clearly wasn’t present in mind.
"Egyptian Ministry of Magic?" Crouch asked. "They weren’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow."
"No, today, Mr. Crouch," the glasses-wearing official replied, surprised. "You confirmed this with me yesterday. Didn’t you remember?"
"Oh… right. Yes. Yes, I did." Crouch’s face twitched with mild embarrassment. "I’ve been so busy lately… I’ve been forgetting things lately. Where are they?"
The official pointed in a direction. Watching Crouch hurry away, the official sighed and muttered, "Even though Mr. Crouch speaks over two hundred languages, he’s still human. Age catches up to everyone. Bertha, did you pass your forgetfulness to him?"
He cracked a joke that wasn’t funny at all. The girl—Bertha—only blinked and replied, "...Uh?"
"Never mind. I’ve got to register wizards using Portkeys. You can wander around the camp—keep an eye out for anyone misusing magic. Be strict. Got it?"
"O-oh, okay!" Bertha stammered, nodding frantically. She spun around, picked a random direction, and drifted off aimlessly.
The official shook his head, sighing. "Why are all my colleagues like this? Even Crouch is starting to slip..."
Once the group had vanished into the distance, Remus finally stepped out from behind the tent.
Wade watched Bertha’s path. She seemed to forget her task instantly. Moments later, she saw a child struggling to retrieve a toy broomstick stuck in a tree. Without hesitation, she waved her wand and summoned it down. The child rewarded her with a damp, sticky kiss on the cheek.
"Such a forgetful person…" Wade thought. "That’s her—Bertha Jorkins. The first sacrifice in Voldemort’s resurrection. In the original timeline…"
He watched her sway mindlessly through the camp, her movements drifting like a leaf in the wind. For a fleeting moment, he saw how a single tiny shift—his own Butterfly Effect—could alter destiny.
"Who were those people?" Harry asked Remus, eyes wide with curiosity. "Why did we have to hide?"
(End of Chapter)
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