"Ding. First floor, Minister for Magic's office."
The lift stopped, and a crowd of paper airplanes flew eagerly inside.
Dumbledore took a look around. There were clearly far more paper airplanes now than there had been during Fudge's time.
People streamed in and out of the lift, all carrying armfuls of things. Even their footsteps had quickened.
The first floor was as quiet as ever, its soft carpet absorbing the sound of footsteps.
Dumbledore walked slowly along and soon arrived at the Minister for Magic's office.
To his surprise, the luxurious wooden door was not firmly shut as it had been when Fudge was there.
Instead, it stood wide open, with paper airplanes occasionally flying out. Through the doorway, he could see the enormous wooden desk Fudge had purchased, piled haphazardly with all sorts of documents.
Barty Crouch sat with his lips pressed together, writing forcefully on a sheet of parchment.
It was a working style utterly unlike Fudge's.
Dumbledore sighed. He had always thought Barty was the best person to be Minister for Magic, and everyone else had thought so too.
He simply had not expected Barty Crouch Jr. to disgrace his father so thoroughly. Now, the young man had become one of the most troublesome threats on Voldemort's side.
He knocked on the door beside him.
The knocking made Crouch look up. He appeared rather dazed, as though still immersed in his work, and it took him a moment to register who was there.
He hurriedly put down his quill and came over to greet him, both warmly and in confusion.
"Albus? What brings you here? Has something gone wrong with the Super Goblet of Fire?"
Dumbledore gave a gentle smile.
"Not at all. The Super Goblet of Fire tournament has been a great success, and it is