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 files piled high on the desk.

He glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed.

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

At this hour, his wife should already have gone to sleep.

After organizing the documents in his office, he was about to pack up and leave when someone knocked urgently on the door.

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

Mr. Crouch unfolded the letter, and his brows immediately furrowed.

"Intense magical fluctuations have occurred at the Wool's Orphanage and have already alerted the Muggle police..."

He froze.

The Wool's Orphanage.

The last time he had heard that name had been from Dumbledore.

"Get the Auror team ready..."

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

If it was that situation...

He shook his head. He could not let his subordinates handle it.

The Ministry of Magic did not need any more scandals.

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

When Mr. Crouch and the Auror squad Apparated to the Wool's Orphanage, the sight before them shocked everyone.

Vines covered the orphanage corridors, large and small, winding around the walls and ceiling. Several had even grown out through the windows.

Bathed in moonlight, the entire scene reminded Crouch of the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts.

A veteran Auror muttered, "Good Lord, is that... the Vine Curse? How furious would someone have to be to make something like this? I hope nobody's dead in there when we go inside."

Another Auror cut in and turned to Mr. Crouch. "Could it be Dark Magic? Director, should we first... uh, put up some protection?"

Mr. Crouch frowned as he studied the vines. The shrill cries of the Muggles also rang in his ears, making his already exhausted nerves pound like drums.

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

He had always preferred to understand the situation before making a decision.

Though these plants looked terrifying, they had not caused any substantial damage to the building.

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

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

The Aurors scattered to carry out their assignments.

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

Someone stumbled over a vine and wanted to curse, but with his superior present, he could only swallow the words.

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

Mr. Crouch felt a chill. This place did not even have a proper window.

An older Auror muttered as he cast a Warming Charm on his superior, "It's far too cold in here, isn't it? Muggle children aren't made of iron. How are they supposed to endure this?"

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

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

Such control over magic reminded him of scenes from some advanced Charms classes at Hogwarts.

But how could an untrained young wizard possibly...

Could it really be Dark Magic?

Or was one of that person's followers here?

The instant that thought surfaced, his right hand instinctively rested on the wand at his waist.

But several piercing screams immediately interrupted his thoughts.

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

"We won't do it again! I think I can't breathe! I can't see anything... Can someone save us?!"

Several teenage boys were hanging high in the air from vines, struggling nonstop.

Their clothes were covered in dirt and stains, their trousers soaked through, and there were uneven scratches on their necks. Fortunately, none of the injuries were serious.

An Auror asked quietly, "Is that Dark Magic?"

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

He had seen far too much Dark Magic and naturally knew that this was not it.

Guided by the Detection Charm, Mr. Crouch's gaze finally settled on the black-haired girl standing in the middle of the corridor.

He had nearly failed to notice her at first glance.

The girl was so small. Her thin nightgown hung from her body like it was draped over a hanger, and she was shivering from the cold.

Moreover, the way she looked at people made him somewhat uncomfortable.

That gaze was too calm. A child should not have had such eyes.

"Gentlemen!"

A weak voice suddenly rang out.

An older blonde girl struggled up from the ground and shakily stood 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. Though she was frightened by the unfamiliar men, she gritted her teeth and shielded the younger girl behind her.

The blonde girl spoke through tears. "If you're police officers, then this is all my fault. Arrest me if you want, but she was only trying to protect me... Don't take her away. She was very sick last month, almost... almost... She can't endure a place like that..."

Mr. Crouch noticed that the black-haired girl's expression had changed. Amid that guardedness and indifference appeared... concern.

She reached out to support the swaying blonde girl, her movements unbelievably gentle, utterly unlike the gaze she had given him earlier.

A fat woman rushed out from the side, pointing at the girls as she screamed, "You monsters! I knew you weren't normal! You actually dared turn this place into such a mess! I'm calling the police! I'm sending you to—"

Mr. Crouch coldly cut her off. "Enough. Dodge, take this person outside."

As an experienced law enforcement officer, it was not difficult for him to imagine what had happened here.

"You could not have done this. Step aside. I need to speak with her alone."

Mr. Crouch stepped forward, stopping before the blonde girl and meeting Lucretia's gaze behind her.

A pale face, with bruises faintly visible over her cheekbones.

Mr. Crouch frowned as he examined her.

Injuries, guarded eyes, malnutrition.

Signs of abuse.

What surprised him even more was that the girl did not seem afraid of him at all.

Many Muggle-born young wizards experiencing their first magical outburst needed half a day of comforting before they could accept that they could perform magic.

Mr. Crouch suddenly changed his tone, becoming unexpectedly gentle. "You... when was the last time you had a proper meal? How is the food in this place?"

Seeing that the man truly did not seem hostile, Emily hesitantly looked toward Lucretia, who merely gave her a reassuring smile.

The fat headmistress screamed again. "Shut up! You are not allowed to slander my orphanage! It's all because of that monster. She has never fit in, and now she can even conjure such terrifying things..."

Mr. Crouch frowned at his troubled subordinate and gave him permission to use magic to restrain the woman.

He said to the Auror who had just returned from the Ministry behind him, "Williams, prepare the Memory Charm. And Johnson, take people to evacuate the other children."

The vines had all withdrawn.

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

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