First Meeting with Mr. Crouch

Barty Crouch rubbed his throbbing temples.

He was the only one left in the Ministry of Magic conference room late at night, with stacks of documents piled high on his desk.

He glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed.

The Department of Magical Law Enforcement had too many cases lately.

At this hour, his wife should be asleep.

He was tidying up the files in his office, preparing to leave, when the door was suddenly knocked upon urgently.

After receiving permission, the head of the Auror Task Force handed a red, urgent letter to his desk.

Mr. Crouch unfolded the letter, his brow immediately furrowing.

"Strong magical fluctuations occurred at Wu Orphanage, alarming the Muggle police..."

He froze.

Wu Orphanage.

The last time he'd heard that name was from Dumbledore.

"Have the Auror teams prepare..."

He was about to give the order when he changed his mind.

If it was that kind of situation...

He shook his head; he couldn't let his subordinates handle it.

The Ministry of Magic didn't need any more scandals.

"No, I'll lead the team myself."

When Mr. Crouch and the Auror squad Apparated to Wu Orphanage, the scene before them shocked everyone.

The orphanage corridors were filled with vines, large and small, winding around the walls and ceiling, with some even growing in through the windows.

The moonlight shone on them, making the entire scene remind Mr. Crouch of Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest.

A senior Auror whispered, "Good heavens, is this... the Vine Curse? How much anger would it take to do this? I hope no one's dead inside when we go in."

Another Auror chimed in, turning to Mr. Crouch, "Could it be dark magic? Director, should we... uh, cast some protective spells first?"

Mr. Crouch frowned as he observed the vines, the wailing of the Muggles still reaching his ears, making his already tired nerves pound like a drum.

But years of political experience told him this was not the time to show fatigue.

He always preferred to understand the situation before making decisions.

Although these plants looked terrifying, they hadn't caused any substantial damage to the building.

Instead, they seemed to be... protecting something.

He gave a brief order, his voice carrying undeniable authority: "Evacuate the Muggles first. Johnson, cast a Confundus Charm. Williams, take two people back to the Ministry to request permission to use Memory Charms. The rest of you, come with me, but remember, do not act rashly unless I give the order."

The Aurors dispersed.

Mr. Crouch led the remaining people cautiously through the vine-covered corridor.

Someone tripped on a vine and was about to curse, but restrained themselves due to their superior's presence.

Moonlight streamed through the broken windows, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

Mr. Crouch felt a chill; the place didn't even have a decent window.

An older Auror grumbled softly, casting a warming charm on his superior, "It's freezing in here, isn't it? Muggle children aren't made of iron, how can they stand it?"

Another younger Auror suddenly pointed ahead, "Director, look at those vines..."

Mr. Crouch noticed that the vines deep in the corridor were slowly moving, as if making way for them.

This level of control over magic reminded him of scenes from advanced Charms classes at Hogwarts.

But how could an untrained young wizard...

Could it really be dark magic?

Or was someone's subordinate here?

As this thought crossed his mind, his right hand subconsciously went to the wand at his waist.

But his thoughts were immediately interrupted by several more piercing screams.

"Ahhh! Help! I was wrong, I'll never bully your sister again! Let us down quickly!"

"We won't dare anymore! I think I'm suffocating! I can't see anything... won't someone save us!"

Several teenage boys were seen hanging high in the air by vines, struggling incessantly.

Their clothes were stained with dirt, their pants were soaked, and they had some uneven superficial wounds on their necks, thankfully not serious.

An Auror whispered, "Is that dark magic?"

Mr. Crouch, however, shook his head, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

He had seen too much dark magic to mistake what was before him for it.

Guided by the detection spell, Mr. Crouch's gaze finally fell upon the black-haired girl in the center of the corridor.

He almost missed her at first glance.

The girl was so small, her thin nightgown hanging on her like a scarecrow, shivering from the cold.

And the way she looked at people made him uncomfortable.

Her gaze was too calm; a child shouldn't have such eyes.

"Gentlemen!"

A faint voice suddenly rang out.

The slightly older blonde girl struggled to get up from the ground, tremblingly standing in front of the little black-haired girl.

There was still blood at the corner of her mouth and her wrists were covered in bruises. She looked timid when faced with these strangers, but she gritted her teeth and shielded the little girl behind her.

The blonde girl's voice was choked with tears, "If you're police, it's all my fault. Arrest me if you must, she just wanted to protect me... Don't take her away. She was very sick last month, almost... almost... she can't handle that place..."

Mr. Crouch noticed the black-haired girl's expression change. Amidst her defensiveness and coldness, there was... worry.

She reached out to support the swaying blonde girl, her movements incredibly gentle, a stark contrast to the gaze she'd given him earlier.

A plump woman rushed out from the side, pointing at the girl and screaming, "You monsters! I knew you weren't normal! How dare you make this place like this, I'm calling the police, I'm sending you to..."

Mr. Crouch coldly interrupted her, "Enough, Dodge. Take this woman out."

As an experienced law enforcer, it wasn't hard to imagine what had happened here.

"You couldn't have done this. Step aside. I need to speak with her alone."

Mr. Crouch stepped forward, standing in front of the blonde girl, and met Lucretia's gaze from behind her.

Her pale face, and the faint bruises on her cheekbones.

Mr. Crouch frowned as he examined her.

Injured, defensive gaze, malnourished.

Signs of abuse.

And to his surprise, the girl didn't seem afraid of him.

Many young wizards experiencing their first accidental magic outburst needed half a day of reassurance before accepting that they could do magic.

Mr. Crouch suddenly changed his tone, surprisingly gentle, "You... when was the last time you had a good meal? How's the food here?"

Emily saw that the man didn't seem to have any ill intentions and looked hesitantly at Lucretia, who simply gave her a reassuring smile.

The plump matron screamed again, "Shut up! You can't slander my orphanage! It's all this monster, she never fit in, and now she can conjure these terrifying things..."

Mr. Crouch frowned and looked at his troubled subordinate, allowing him to use magic to restrain the woman.

He said to the Auror, who had just returned from the Ministry, "Williams, prepare the Memory Charm. And Johnson, go and evacuate the other children."

The vines retracted.

Lucretia stood there, the moonlight making her pale face even paler.

She stared at Mr. Crouch for a few seconds, "Sir, can I... speak with you alone?"

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