https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-635-Your-Words-Are-Too-Harsh-Hals-/13453017/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-637-It-Seems-You-ve-Finally-Gone-Mad-Alastor-/13453019/
Chapter 636: Crouch Returns Early
Chapter 636: Crouch Returns Early
Just as Ivan was lost in thought, Mad-Eye Moody's steady pace suddenly came to a halt, nearly causing him to crash into the wall.
Ivan raised his head in frustration, about to ask what was going on, when he realized they were already at the door of Barty Crouch Jr.'s office!
"Hold your wand, Hals!" Mad-Eye Moody whispered as he placed his hand on the doorknob.
Ivan nodded, already prepared before Mad-Eye Moody's reminder.
"Alohomora ~" Mad-Eye Moody waved his wand, and with a sharp click, the lock opened.
Mad-Eye Moody cautiously pushed the door open, his expression tense as if expecting an attack at any moment.
But things were clearly not as bad as he had feared. The room was empty, just as Mad-Eye Moody had said. It seemed the information was correct, and Crouch had indeed gone to discuss the tournament with Ludo Bagman.
Ivan didn't immediately enter; he scanned the room from the doorway.
The temporary office was not particularly spacious, about half the size of a classroom. The warm red carpet on the floor and the still-burning fire in the fireplace indicated that Crouch had only just left.
Mad-Eye Moody's eyes immediately darted to the walls, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw no portraits hanging there. He then leaned on his wand and stepped inside.
Before entering, Mad-Eye Moody didn't forget to cast a Silencing Charm on his wooden leg to muffle his footsteps.
Ivan followed and immediately made his way to the central desk.
The desk was cluttered with papers, a quill, and an ink bottle pushed to the corner. Most prominently, a copy of the Daily Prophet lay on the desk!
Ivan didn't reach for it immediately; instead, he adjusted his position to get a clear view of the newspaper's contents.
However, when he saw the front page, he froze. This wasn't the latest issue of the Daily Prophet; he was certain he had seen it before!
The front page featured a report on the Quidditch World Cup during the summer, with Sirius Black's face prominently displayed in a photograph. Below it was news about the Dark Mark and the Death Eaters setting fires in the campsite.
Meanwhile, Mad-Eye Moody was carefully flipping through the papers, his brow furrowing in concentration. He remained silent for a long while.
Their movements had disturbed the small creatures in the room. A Kneazle stealthily emerged from a crack in the wall, accompanied by a few Nifflers.
None of this escaped the notice of Mad-Eye Moody's ever-rotating magical eye. He stomped on them with his foot and then grabbed one of the still-moving creatures with his hand.
"Looks like this place is seriously neglected. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so bold", Mad-Eye Moody observed, glancing around and noting the dust on the chairs in the corner.
"Don't forget, Crouch has been away from the school for months, as you told me!" Ivan reminded him.
"Yes, but he's been back for several days now! The papers on the desk that need signing haven't been touched..." Mad-Eye Moody continued, his tone grave. "And he certainly wouldn't want anyone coming in uninvited. So the house-elves can't help with the cleaning!"
Listening to Mad-Eye Moody, Ivan fell into deep thought. He was becoming increasingly convinced that this Barty Crouch Jr. was an impostor.
After all, the real Crouch wasn't the true Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation and wouldn't be able to handle these documents. His frequent absences from Hogwarts could mean he was meeting with Voldemort.
"Do you think what kind of person wouldn't have time to tidy up their office? Even just casting a Scourgify with a flick of their wand?" Mad-Eye Moody suddenly asked.
"A busy person? Like you? Or someone in a particularly bad mood?" Ivan, distracted by the Daily Prophet, replied absentmindedly.
"Both are possible!" Mad-Eye Moody nodded, then noticed that Ivan seemed lost in thought about something else. He said, somewhat annoyed, "Alright, stop thinking about Hermione Granger, Hals. We need to get to work now!"
Ivan shot Mad-Eye Moody a fierce glare, too lazy to explain himself. Instead, he pointed at the document in Mad-Eye Moody's hand. "Won't Mr. Crouch notice if you keep rifling through his things?"
"Do you think he has the presence of mind for that?" Mad-Eye Moody glanced at Ivan and showed him the document.
It was a proposal from a few months ago. As the Head, Crouch should have signed it and indicated his approval or disapproval, but the document was completely unsigned, even past the noted deadline.
Ivan understood what Mad-Eye Moody meant. This suggested that Crouch had either never looked at the document or had simply tossed it aside after a brief glance.
"But what if he wants us to think that?" Ivan countered. He wouldn't underestimate the counter-espionage skills of a former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
If the person was an impostor, it would be even more cause for concern. An undercover agent who had infiltrated the castle alone would be more cautious than anyone else!
"You're cautious, I'll give you that!" Mad-Eye Moody smiled, his gaze full of admiration.
"Then we should remember to put everything back in its place later. If we don't find anything important this time, we need to make sure it all looks the same."
Mad-Eye Moody was about to continue when his expression suddenly changed. His eerie blue eye swiveled toward the door, and his mouth moved as if saying—
He's back early!
Ivan's face paled, and he immediately grew tense. He was almost certain that Crouch was up to something, but they hadn't found any concrete evidence yet, such as a bottle of Polyjuice Potion or anything else that could prove his identity.
He suddenly regretted not revealing the Marauder's Map to Mad-Eye Moody, which would have allowed them to track Crouch's movements more accurately and avoid being trapped in the room.
But now wasn't the time for regrets. In an instant, Ivan cast a spell on himself, and a thin film seemed to envelop him, making him vanish from sight.
On the other side of the room, Mad-Eye Moody almost simultaneously used the Disillusionment Charm, making the small room appear empty once more.
Ivan also noticed that the documents on the desk had been neatly arranged, as if an invisible hand had been tidying them. The dead Veela on the floor was now under Mad-Eye Moody's foot.
The sound of the door lock turning echoed through the room.
Ivan's nerves were stretched to the breaking point. Although they were currently invisible, the Disillusionment Charm wasn't as powerful as the Cloak of Invisibility. Skilled wizards could easily see through it.
Not to mention, they were standing right by the desk. If Crouch decided to come over and sit down, they would surely collide.
(End of Chapter)
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