"There was definitely something wrong with that Crouch!" Ron declared solemnly at Black House.
They had returned from the campsite, though not without a few complications.
Crouch had no authority to question Harry and the others, but Madam Amelia Bones had arrived shortly afterward. As the current head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she had the authority to question anyone.
Sirius had been much more polite to her, too.
Only later had Tris learned that Amelia's elder brother, Edgar, had died a hero fighting Voldemort. Although she herself apparently wasn't a member of the Order of the Phoenix, she was on good terms with its members.
In Tris's opinion, Madam Bones was an upright and exceptionally capable witch. As for her administrative skills, however, he wasn't particularly convinced.
He didn't know the exact procedures involved, but the fact that he had yet to see any newspaper report of Crouch's dismissal meant that the Ministry of Magic hadn't managed to use that house-elf to expose him.
Of course, it was also possible that Crouch had simply outmaneuvered them.
"I think there's something wrong with him, too. That house-elf called Winky used to be his servant. But..." Sirius said, rubbing his newly stubbled chin,
"Judging by the timing, neither the man you mentioned nor the man who rescued him afterward could have been Crouch. There were people with Crouch the whole time."
"That doesn't mean he's innocent. His house-elf was at the scene, walking around with the Death Eater who might have cast the Dark Mark, and the Ministry still didn't convict him?" Ron said angrily.
"There's no evidence that the house-elf cast the Dark Mark on Crouch's orders, and I don't think Barty would do that," Arthur said, spreading his hands,
"Barty and I aren't on good terms, but