Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

Chapter 559: Crouch’s Hatred

Chapter 559: Crouch’s Hatred

“Imagining things, am I?!” growled Moody. “So can you refute what Evan just said now?!”

“I can see clearly that you seem to have given this a great deal of thought!” Karkaroff said coldly, “You and Evan Mason, and this boy, you are obviously very skilled at this kind of thing. If anyone confused the Goblet of Fire, you did it.”

“If I did it, I would have made Evan a champion. There is no young wizard here who would pose a challenge to him. He would definitely win the championship.” Moody retorted, “Am I not right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have deliberately restricted him from competing. This is despicable cowardice.”

Neither Karkaroff nor Madame Maxime spoke, and there was no way to refute Moody. They both knew Evan’s strength.

After the World Cup, Evan was now very famous in European wizarding circles.

If any of the students in their schools could beat Evan, they wouldn’t have specifically named him to be out of the tournament.

Compared with Evan, Ron was really nothing. Everyone could feel the insignificant magic in him.

As Snape said, the boy’s head was empty and he was a complete fool.

Even Karkaroff himself did not believe that Ron could make it through the tasks of the tournament.

“Making Weasley a champion seems to be a harmless act in Hogwarts’s favor, but don’t forget, there are those who’ll turn innocent occasions to their advantage!” Moody retorted in a menacing voice, “It’s my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff … as you ought to remember.”

“Alastor!” said Dumbledore warningly.

Moody fell silent, though still surveying Karkaroff with satisfaction. Karkaroff’s face was burning, and he didn’t dare to look at him at all.

“There’s no point in arguing. We must obey the rules!” Mr. Crouch said softly, and finally made a decision about it.

“But…”

“Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it!” said Mr. Crouch, walking into the middle of the room. He carefully looked at Ron with a cold look. “This boy has to compete. There will be a reasonable written explanation for this to the Ministry of Magic in your two countries.” 

“Thank you, Barty!” Dumbledore nodded to Mr. Crouch. He said to everyone gathered in the room, “How this situation arose, we do not know. It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Cedric and Ron have been chosen to compete in the tournament.”

Madame Maxime did not speak, she merely glared. Snape also looked furious, and Karkaroff was livid. Bagman, however, looked rather excited.

Evan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the problem was over. Then it was up to Barty Crouch Jr. to act.

He looked again at Mr. Crouch, whose slender body looked extremely weird.

Crouch was looking at Harry and noticed Evan’s gaze. He turned and looked at Evan.

This was the first time they looked at each other. Neither of them looked away, as if to see through the other.

Evan didn’t know what Crouch saw in his own eyes, but from his indifferent eyes, Evan saw a trace of madness and monstrous hatred.

He looked like he couldn’t wait to pull out his wand and kill everyone here.

Evan could clearly feel that this guy was a madman, a thoroughly dangerous maniac!

The expression was fleeting, and in the blink of an eye, Crouch returned to his former appearance.

“Well, shall we crack on, then?” Bagman said, rubbing his hands together and looking around at the people in the room with a smile. “We’ve got to give our champions their instructions, haven’t we? The three other children…”

“Let them stay here, there is nothing to keep secret about this matter!” said Mr. Crouch.

“Well, listen, champions, the first task is designed to test your daring,” Bagman told Ron, Cedric, Fleur and Viktor. “So we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard … very important. I hope you can understand this.”

“The first task will take place on November 24th, in front of the other students and the panel of judges.”

“The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests.”

Bagman said it in one breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to look at Crouch.

“I think that’s all. Do you have anything to add?”

Crouch shook his head and returned to his position in front of the fire, as if he had a special liking for it. 

“Are you sure you wouldn’t stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?” said Dumbledore, looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern.

“No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry!” said Mr. Crouch. “You know, it is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment. I have to form a written report to Fudge about this evening… I’ve left young Weatherby in charge … very enthusiastic … a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told.” 

“You’ll come and have a drink before you go, at least?” said Dumbledore.

“Come on, Barty, I’m staying!” said Bagman brightly. “It’s all happening at Hogwarts now, you know, much more exciting here than at the office!”

“I think not, Ludo. I can’t stay here.” said Crouch with a touch of his old impatience. “There are so many things waiting for me to do.” He turned straight away and left the room. Snape followed him out.

Looking at his back, Evan was thinking quickly.

If he was faked by Barty Crouch Jr., then he would soon show up if he didn’t leave.

The discussion just lasted for a long time. If he didn’t drink the Polyjuice Potion again, unless he was not using Polyjuice Potion to deform, it would soon be timeout.

In this case, it was understandable that he was in a hurry to leave Hogwarts. Crouch was not Moody and could not drink wine from his flask all the time. If he talked with Dumbledore for a while, he would have no time to secretly drink Polyjuice Potion.

Anyway, things here were over.

Although he did not know what conspiracy he had, Ron became a champion with his help, and the rest of the matter could be dealt with by Caresius.

He could let him help Ron as Moody, and it would not arouse suspicion.

There was no need for Bartemius Crouch, Jr. to risk his life in the school, as long as he could show up at the last minute.

But when he thought about the crazy light in the eyes of Crouch, Evan felt that things would not be so simple.

“Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, a nightcap?” said Dumbledore.

Madame Maxime ignored him. She had already put her arm around Fleur’s shoulders and was leading her swiftly out of the room.

As they went off into the Great Hall, they were talking very fast in French, and their faces did not look very good.

The same was true of Karkaroff, who beckoned to Krum.

Krum just looked up and drank a small bottle of supplements. His face was gloomy and he followed Karkaroff without saying a word.

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