Chapter 524 Rove: Do you want to die, Crouch?
Following the house elf Winky, the three of Rove walked into the tent.
This is both a living room and a study.
The walls are lined with bookcases, and there are two tables—one is a large writing desk in the center of the room, the other is a round table, with a lamp in the center and the latest newspapers and periodicals in various languages displayed in a star shape around them.
Beside the desk stood a filing cabinet, each drawer marked with gold lettering.
"Hey." A wizard raised his hands and shouted happily: "The guest is coming!"
Rove recognized Ludo Bagman immediately, sitting on an old-fashioned leather sofa in his baggy Hornets Quidditch robe.
Barty Crouch sat across from him, his body still straight even in his own home, and he was still wearing a spotless crisp suit and tie.
Winky served another three cups of tea, and then left, Sirius asked with a smile:
"Hey, Ludo, why are you here?"
"I'm here to find Batty, Sirius." Ludo said with a smile on his face:
"The minister of the Bulgarian Ministry of Magic is here, but we can't understand what they are saying, so I came to Batty to help translate. He can speak about 150 languages... What are you doing here?"
Crouch also looked at the three of them curiously. He came to the camp yesterday and received a letter from Scamander in the evening, saying that he would come to visit today.
On the floating dragon boat to Berlin, the two had met before, and Scamander was also regarded as his savior... Crouch did not refuse.
But Crouch did not expect that Rove also brought Black and Lupine to visit.
"I'm here to talk to Mr. Crouch." Sitting on the sofa, Rove smiled politely and said, "By the way, I want to talk to him about an old case."
Hearing the word "old case", Crouch frowned and said seriously:
"If it was about the case of Peter and Sirius, it was true that I was too arbitrary and there was no trial. However, I think I have apologized."
"Rove, Sirius... let this matter go." Ludo also acted as a peacemaker, and said softly:
"Barty has lost his position as the director of the International Magic Cooperation Department and has been punished as he should."
"That's right, Sirius was only imprisoned in Azkaban for twelve years, but Mr. Crouch lost his position as director." Rove said with a smile:
"This punishment is indeed a bit too heavy."
Hearing that the young man was so eccentric, Crouch frowned even tighter, and he said coldly:
"So, what exactly do you want to do, are you satisfied if I completely lose my position in the Ministry of Magic?"
"This proposal is good!" Rove showed admiration, leaned back on the chair, and said with a smile:
"But it's not good enough. I think it's fair to send you to Azkaban and lock it up for twelve years, right?"
Crouch looked ugly, while Ludo sighed secretly, feeling that Rove was too young.
Crouch is an ancient pure-blood family, and has blood relations with many high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Magic. Batty himself has stayed in the Ministry of Magic for decades... He has a deep and extensive network.
A year ago, when the Sirius case broke out, Fudge had no choice but to suspend Batty for investigation under the raging public opinion, and finally returned to the Ministry of Magic without pain.
A year later, even if he tried to turn over the old score, it would be impossible for Batty to enter Azkaban... Even if Rove just got two Merlin Medals, he is in full swing!
"I was just joking." Rove laughed suddenly, breaking the embarrassing silence, he said:
"Mr. Crouch, we're not actually here for the Sirius case, but for another old case."
Crouch was not in the mood for joking, and his voice became colder: "What case?"
"The case of your son Barty Crouch Jr.." Rove pulled a smile at the corner of his mouth, and said, "I suspect that he, like Sirius... has been wronged!"
These words were earth-shattering, not only Ludo was dumbfounded, but even Crouch was stunned.
After a while, Ludo was too shocked to speak, and stammered, "Rove, you...you...do you know what you're talking about?"
"Of course I know." Rove smiled, took a leisurely sip of tea and said, "I have proof."
Crouch stared at Rove, his eyes protruding outward. "What evidence!"
"When I heard Sirius talking about the past, he said that Barty Crouch Jr. had received twelve O.w.Ls certificates at Hogwarts, and also received a special contribution award to the school." Rove Tut Tut said:
"Your son is successful in his studies and grew up in a good family environment, and you have such a powerful father, who obviously has the best future... How could he become a Death Eater and go on the wrong path?"
"Enough!" Crouch yelled, getting up from his chair, his voice full of exasperation.
"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Crouch, I haven't finished my words yet." Rove stood up, walked slowly in the room and said:
"The more I thought about it, the more I felt something was wrong. The more I thought about it, the more I couldn't sleep. I went out for a walk in the camp at night. Guess who I saw?"
"Who did you see?" Ludo held his breath and asked intently.
"I saw it..." Rove lowered his voice and said with a smile on his face, "Barty Crouch Jr."
The entire tent became dead silent again, Crouch's face became stiff, every line was very prominent, and there was a little horror in his eyes.
"This—impossible—impossible," Ludo said after a pause, "The child is already dead, and died in Azkaban very early.
Rove, how could you possibly meet him? Is it a ghost? "
"It's not a ghost." Rove said with a polite smile, but his eyes were firmly fixed on Crouch's eyes.
"It's Little Barty who is alive, he told me that he didn't die, he was rescued from Azkaban back then.
He also discussed Quidditch with me for a while, thinking that the Irish team would win the final..."
Ludo was stunned, as if he was listening to a scary ghost story.
"Enough!" Crouch roared, every syllable tinged with icy anger.
"Perhaps Scamander was implying that I brought my son back home?"
"Yes, that's what I mean." Rove said in a slightly mocking tone:
"You are very clever, Mr. Crouch, to understand me so quickly."
Then there was a very depressing silence, Ludo seemed to be frightened, he stammered:
"Rove, Mr. Crouch...not...absolutely not that kind of person..."
Crouch suddenly drew his wand.
But Rove was faster, he swung his fist, hit Crouch on the cheek, knocked him to the ground with a bang, then raised his wand and pointed it at Crouch's head.
He looked contemptuously at the man who was only one step away from the minister, and said coldly:
"Do you want to die, Barty Crouch?"
...
...