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Chapter 637: It Seems You've Finally Gone Mad, Alastor!
Chapter 637: It Seems You've Finally Gone Mad, Alastor!
Ivan gripped his wand tightly, ready to act if he was discovered!
The sound of the door lock turning had ceased, and in the next moment, the office door was pushed open. Barty Crouch walked in.
The room was deathly silent, the only sound being the soft click of the door closing.
In the distance, the roaring fireplace continuously radiated warmth, dispelling the bitter cold of December.
Ivan, hidden by the Invisibility Cloak, turned his head slightly to observe Crouch as he closed the door and entered. Compared to their previous encounter, Crouch looked even worse, his eye sockets deeply sunken, his expression listless, as if he hadn't had a good night's sleep in days.
Ivan's gaze swept over Crouch, searching for the flask containing Polyjuice Potion, but he found nothing.
Hesitating, Barty Crouch began to walk towards the desk, apparently intending to sit down and rest.
Ivan held his breath and took a few cautious steps back, careful not to collide with Crouch. He was relieved that the room was carpeted, otherwise, Crouch would have surely heard his footsteps at such close range.
Even so, as Barty Crouch passed by, Ivan was on the verge of panic, fearing that his disguise might be seen through or that some detail might give him away.
Although they had tried to tidy up the items they had disturbed, the urgency of the situation had left them unable to fully restore everything to its original state.
The noticeable indentation in the carpet could also expose their presence.
However, none of Ivan's fears materialized. Crouch seemed distracted, with no interest in noticing such details. He leaned back in his chair, the tension in his face gradually easing.
The stern, rigid expression that usually characterized him was now replaced by a look of pain, frustration, and despair.
For twenty minutes, Crouch remained motionless, slumped in his chair, his eyes fixed on the Daily Prophet.
Ivan watched Crouch's every move, trying to deduce his mental state from his expressions and actions. He began to suspect a possible reason but couldn't be certain.
Suddenly, a burst of blue flame erupted from the fireplace. Ivan quickly turned to see a grayish-white owl flying out of the flames.
Crouch, who had also noticed this, reacted with excitement. He stood up abruptly, removed the letter tied to the owl's leg, and began to read it, his hands trembling.
Crouch's face changed as he read the letter. The initial excitement faded, replaced by a terrifyingly suppressed anger, like a volcano about to erupt!
After a long silence, Crouch's grip on the letter tightened, his knuckles turning white. Finally, his expression became vicious, and he kicked over the redwood table in front of him, shouting in fury.
"Useless!"
With a thud, the documents and newspapers on the table scattered to the floor, and the ink bottle at the corner rolled to the ground.
Ivan rolled his eyes. All their efforts had been for nothing! If he had known it would end like this, they wouldn't have bothered to tidy up.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Ivan was more curious about the contents of the letter that had so enraged Crouch.
He strained his neck to catch a glimpse of the letter, but Crouch was too far away. Unless he was willing to risk approaching Crouch, he wouldn't be able to see anything.
After a bout of venting, Barty Crouch gradually calmed down. He waved his wand to restore the overturned table and the scattered files, then grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and walked toward the fireplace.
Ivan could tell that Barty Crouch was preparing to leave. He furrowed his brow, hesitating about whether to act now. The letter might be crucial evidence, and if Crouch left, there might not be another opportunity like this.
Just as Ivan was still wavering, a red beam zipped through the air, and Mad-Eye Moody's voice echoed in the office.
"Expelliarmus!"
Crouch had not expected an ambush in his own office and was instantly hit by the spell. His body flew backward as if struck by a bull, slamming into the wall behind him. His wand slipped from his grasp and spun through the air.
A hand appeared out of nowhere and caught the wand.
At the same time, the Disillusionment Charm on Mad-Eye Moody dissipated, revealing his figure in the office.
Barty Crouch, a veteran of the Wizarding War, was quick to react despite his age. After being hit, he rolled several times and swiftly got to his feet.
The fireplace was just a few steps away. If he could toss the Floo Powder into it, he could escape.
Several thoughts flashed through Barty Crouch's mind, but before he could act, they were abruptly cut off—by something sharp pressing against his neck.
Then, a slightly immature voice sounded in his ear.
"Stay away from the fireplace, Mr. Crouch, and drop the Floo Powder. I'd prefer not to see you trying anything sneaky..."
Barty Crouch ignored the voice and made no move to comply. His gaze shifted to the other side of the office.
"Alastor!" Barty Crouch said, staring at Mad-Eye Moody, his face filled with disbelief.
But he knew all too well what Mad-Eye Moody's presence meant, and anger surged within him.
"So you've finally lost it, Alastor! Breaking into my office without permission, investigating my personal belongings, and attacking me..."
Barty Crouch spoke harshly, but before he could finish, a beam of light shot past his head, shattering the thick window glass.
"Shut up, listen to him, and do as he says. Drop the Floo Powder immediately! Don't make us repeat ourselves! You know what I'll do to a prisoner!" Mad-Eye Moody roared, the tip of his wand glowing with a faint red light, ready to fire at any moment.
Barty Crouch glared at Mad-Eye Moody, as if gauging whether the other man had the nerve to act.
But arguing about courage with a paranoid madman was a losing battle. Barty Crouch couldn't measure how far Mad-Eye Moody had gone, so he relented. He loosened his left hand, and the powder slowly slipped through his fingers.
(End of Chapter)
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