20demayo Chapter 94 Instant Disarming
Chapter 94 Instant Disarming
Chapter 94 Instant Disarming
The name Voldemort had a shock to Barty Crouch that was beyond Dumbledore's imagination.
When Crouch heard the word "Voldemort," his body stiffened abruptly, as if struck by a petrification spell.
The metal reel slipped from his hand and fell to the ground with a crisp "clink".
His already serious and rigid face instantly lost all color, and was quickly covered by a dark blue color that was a mixture of shock, disgust, and disbelief.
This name, like a sharp knife, pierced deep into the most painful old scars of his soul—
The cold stone walls of Azkaban, the withering face of his son Barty Crouch Jr. under the shadow of the Dementors, the desperate pleas of his terminally ill wife... a series of painful memories crashed over him like a tidal wave.
"God... Mysterious Man?" Crouch's voice was dry, like sandpaper scraping. He even subconsciously took a half step back, as if trying to get away from the filth associated with the name.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent thoughts, his sharp eyes fixed on Dumbledore, trying to find a trace of a joke or misjudgment in the old man's calm and serious expression, but all he found in those deep blue eyes was undeniable seriousness.
The immense shock even briefly overwhelmed the anger at being outmaneuvered by Fudge.
Crouch felt dizzy, his heart pounding in his chest as if it would shatter his ribs.
He took a deep breath, feeling the air in the Hogwarts Headmaster's office was icy cold.
No, this news is too big. He needs time and space to digest it and think about what it means—what it means for the Ministry of Magic, for himself, and for the entire wizarding world!
His mind was in turmoil; he couldn't imagine how his rebellious son would react to the news...
No! We must be even stricter in preventing him from accessing outside information!
"Dumbledore!" Crouch's voice was urgent and hoarse, a urgency he himself was unaware of. He forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his mind, trying to keep himself from losing control. "Those Aurors! I must... I must stop them immediately! I ordered them to take... forceful measures if Professor Lynch refused to go to the Ministry of Magic!"
These words, spoken hastily and deliberately, seemed more like an excuse he came up with on the spot to escape this room filled with the name "Voldemort".
Dumbledore was surprised by his panic, but did not point it out.
He considerately changed the subject, following Crouch's lead: "There's no need to rush, Mr. Crouch. I trust Professor Lynch knows what's good for her. Professor McGonagall is also here; she's an extremely reliable and powerful wizard, more than capable of maintaining order. Please come with me, let's go see the Forbidden Forest Stone House together."
Crouch nodded almost stiffly; he desperately needed a distraction.
He silently followed Dumbledore out of the headmaster's office.
The Aurors outside the door also noticed Crouch's unusual behavior. They exchanged a glance and quietly followed behind.
No one spoke, and the path to the Forbidden Forest Stone House seemed exceptionally long and oppressive.
Crouch's mind raced: Voldemort was back? He killed those Vagabond wizards? Where was he now? Was he still near Hogwarts? How did Dumbledore confirm it? ...
Countless questions grew in his mind, coiling around him like poisonous vines, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Finally, after traversing the long stone path, the solitary stone house came into view.
To Crouch's surprise, the area around the stone house was unusually quiet, with no signs of a struggle or flashes of magic.
They walked up to the stone house, and through the open wooden door, a scene that took their breath away unfolded before them.
The atmosphere inside the stone house was unexpectedly "harmonious".
Lin Qi sat comfortably in the armchair by the fireplace, his long legs crossed, holding a steaming celadon teacup in his hand.
Opposite him, Professor McGonagall sat upright with a tense face, her lips pressed into a pale line, her sharp eyes scanning the other people in the room.
The Aurors who were sent by Crouch to "control" Lynch were now in a rather awkward situation.
Their expressions ranged between embarrassment, wariness, and a hint of barely perceptible awe, as they occasionally stole glances at Lin Qi sitting on the sofa and the small square table next to him.
At this moment, several people sat stiffly around a makeshift square table, with amber-colored tea in their teacups.
A house-elf dressed in a black tuxedo stood before them, holding a plate and warmly inviting them to enjoy some cookies.
Out of basic courtesy, they each reached out and took a small cookie.
But no one opened their mouth to drink it, nor did anyone touch the teacup.
The air was filled with the aroma of Ceylon tea, but it did nothing to ease their tension.
All of this was because their wands—the most important weapons and symbols of the Aurors—were now neatly arranged side by side in the center of the small square table next to Lynch.
"You see, Mr. Crouch," Dumbledore's voice broke the eerie silence of the stone house with a hint of relief, "just as I said, Professor Lynch is behaving himself. Everyone seems to be getting along...quite well?"
Professor McGonagall tensed her jawline.
They got along well?
Of course it's good.
Half an hour ago, after he was ordered to lead the way here, these Aurors, with a guarded and official demeanor, conveyed to Lynch their intention to take him back to the Ministry of Magic for investigation.
After Lynch clearly refused, they immediately revealed their wands.
The next instant, their wands were barely raised in the air, and they hadn't even had time to utter half of the prefix syllable of the spell, when the wands they relied on for the battle mysteriously slipped from their hands, as if pulled by invisible threads, and landed steadily on the table next to Lynch with a soft "tap-tap" sound.
Immediately afterwards, the man in the sharp suit, with his usual warm smile on his face, conjured up tables and chairs, gestured for the Aurors to sit down, and had Thortz serve them hot tea.
This is hardly "getting along," it's clearly absolute suppression under the influence of force!
It would be strange if the atmosphere was bad!
Professor McGonagall picked up her teacup, took a sip as a pretense, and tried to maintain a calm facade.
She wanted to inform Dumbledore immediately, but considering Lynch's status as a Hogwarts professor, she worried that if she left, he or the Aurors might do something outrageous that would cast a shadow on the relationship between Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic. Reluctantly, she had no choice but to stay and keep an eye on them.
"Chief!" Upon seeing Crouch and Dumbledore appear, the Aurors stood up as if they had seen saviors, their faces a mixture of shame and nervousness.