Harry needed to remain asleep for at least two days, and his friends visited him in the Hospital Wing. The explanation for his unconsciousness was that strenuous activity after overeating had made him unwell. It was a little flimsy, but it would do.
The next day, while Brian waited for Voldemort's Horcrux to be ready, Dumbledore returned from the Ministry of Magic. He really had spent a long time there this time, and precisely because of that, Dumbledore had specially brought back a souvenir from his visit-the newly appointed Minister for Magic, Barty Crouch Sr.
The Chamber of Secrets had another visitor. Considering that Dumbledore's taste in souvenirs surely could not be quite so peculiar, Brian believed there had to be something wrong with Barty Crouch Sr.
He studied Barty Crouch Sr. on the floor and caught the scent of Polyjuice Potion. Well, it seemed the Death Eaters really were out of tricks. They had used Polyjuice Potion to infiltrate Hogwarts before, and now they were using it to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic, too. Perhaps Polyjuice Potion was simply too useful. After all, even Voldemort himself had suffered because of it.
"The Ministry must be a complete mess right now," Brian said. Barty Crouch Sr.'s appearance was only now beginning to change, which was unusual. That suggested the impersonator had taken a version of Polyjuice Potion modified with Dark Magic, with stronger effects and a longer duration.
"In fact, it is far worse than a complete mess, Chet. At least twenty people from the Death Eaters' camp had infiltrated it, including at least three core members bearing the Death Eaters' mark. Even I could not detain them all on my own."
Dumbledore spoke with some regret.
"Although I had considered the possibility that the Ministry had already been infiltrated,