#241 - Section 241

Moreover, Voldemort is different from Dumbledore, that old softie, and even Barty Crouch, who is considered a law-abiding dark wizard. He's a madman, a madman with power, who would really dare to attack the Ministry of Magic.

Back when Voldemort was running rampant, he had witnessed the ruthlessness of the Death Eaters firsthand, so much so that Fudge didn't want to confront him at all now.

Just as the Aurors were preparing to act, Dumbledore stopped them. He still had questions to ask.

Although he was old now, not just anyone dared to act up in front of him. Even Voldemort was unwilling to face him directly. Now that Barty Crouch Jr. dared to do so, he must have something to rely on.

Plus, Harry hadn't returned yet.

"Barty Crouch's disappearance, was that you too?"

Just like in the original story, Barty Crouch appeared at Hogwarts in March, was discovered by Harry, and after a series of events, disappeared without a trace.

During this time, the Ministry of Magic hadn't given up searching for Barty Crouch, but all efforts were in vain.

"That's right, it was me!"

"The Dark Lord and I have much in common. For example, we both have very disappointing fathers... extremely disappointing. Harry, we have both inherited our fathers' names with shame, and we have both happily... very happily... killed our own fathers to ensure the rise of the Dark Lord's power!"

Barty Crouch Jr.'s face was filled with madness, completely unconcerned that this almost intolerable act was being known.

On the contrary, he was proud of it, because this was a common point between himself and Voldemort, which was so enviable.

As for his own father, Barty Crouch Sr., Barty Crouch Jr. believed that he had never loved him. In his eyes, profit outweighed everything. As early as when he sent himself to Azkaban and his mother died in his place, he felt nothing but hatred for him.

Dumbledore sighed inwardly. This child was completely beyond saving.

Just as Dumbledore was about to say something, Barty Crouch Jr. interrupted him directly.

"I'm here to make a deal with you."

Barty Crouch Jr. didn't want to say so much to Dumbledore, he just wanted to complete the task and return to Voldemort's side.

"What deal?"

Dumbledore frowned.

"Albus, you still want to make a deal with him? Seize him! He is unforgivable! What awaits him is a Dementor's Kiss."

Hearing that Dumbledore still wanted to make a deal with him, Fudge couldn't bear it any longer.

"Cornelius, we might as well listen to his deal. There are still two champions missing."

Dumbledore reassured him.

"Gryffindor's sword, give me Gryffindor's sword. The Dark Lord needs this. After obtaining it, Harry Potter will return."

Barty Crouch Jr. said.

As for why Voldemort wanted Gryffindor's sword, Barty Crouch Jr. didn't know.

After all, after Ethan and Voldemort made a deal, Voldemort issued a gag order, forbidding anyone from speaking about it.

And although Barty Crouch Jr. wondered what Voldemort needed it for, he wasn't qualified to ask. He only needed to execute Voldemort's orders.

Hearing Barty Crouch Jr. say this, Dumbledore's heart sank. As expected, Harry had been captured.

Moreover, Dumbledore knew just how much Voldemort wanted to kill Harry.

Now that he was asking for Gryffindor's sword, Dumbledore only assumed that Voldemort wanted to create a Horcrux.

In Dumbledore's speculation, Voldemort had most likely turned the remaining relics of the Hogwarts founders into Horcruxes, and was only missing Gryffindor's sword, so he had set his sights on it.

"You bring Harry here, and I'll give you Gryffindor's sword."

Barty Crouch Jr. revealed a sinister smile and said:

"Is that possible?"

If he brought Harry Potter over, facing Dumbledore, not to mention whether he could bring back Gryffindor's sword, he wouldn't even be able to protect himself.

"Then how do I ensure that what you say is true?"

Every wrinkle on Dumbledore's face now carried an icy anger, giving people a sense of immense pressure.

"You have no choice, do you?"

In fact, Barty Crouch Jr. didn't believe that Voldemort would let Harry go, after all, he didn't know that Harry was Voldemort's Horcrux.

And according to Voldemort's hatred for the Savior, he would definitely kill him as quickly as possible.

"Albus, you don't really want to give Gryffindor's sword to him, do you!"

Looking at Dumbledore in silence, Fudge said in disbelief.

If you make this move, wouldn't you be telling all the wizards present that you believe Voldemort has really been resurrected? What am I supposed to do?

Chapter 281: The Triwizard Tournament Ends

"Ron, and Ron has also been captured by you. You have to release him too."

Looking at Dumbledore slowly drawing the silver sword, George couldn't help but remind the others.

There was no way around it. They had been talking for so long, but no one had mentioned that Ron had also been captured.

Even Barty Crouch Jr. had only said to release Harry, as if Ron didn't exist at all.

"Yes, we'll return them all together at that time."

Barty Crouch Jr. gave the Weasley twins a reassuring look, then stared intently at the sword that Dumbledore drew from the void.

As long as he got this, the task Voldemort had given him would be completed.

As for releasing Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, returning their corpses would count!

Anyway, Barty Crouch Jr. was planning to get something for nothing, and didn't intend to keep any promises.

He had even killed his father, so what integrity was there to speak of? Apart from Voldemort, he didn't care about what others thought of him.

As for Voldemort, can you trust the Dark Lord's words?

"I hope you can keep your promise."

Ignoring Fudge, who was blowing his beard and glaring at him, Dumbledore said to Barty Crouch Jr. seriously, word by word.

Everyone could see from his expression and tone that he was serious.

In fact, Dumbledore had no other choice. Even if there was only a glimmer of hope, he had to take it.

Harry was the key to dealing with Voldemort. He had been planning for so long, although it seemed like there was a bit of a problem now.

But Voldemort really believed that Harry was his nemesis. As long as that was still the case, he could still plot.

As for Gryffindor's sword, although it had some use, its greater value was symbolic. It hadn't been used in years, and in this day and age, no one would practice swordsmanship, let alone anything else in the future.

Therefore, Dumbledore didn't think he had any problems exchanging a dead object for a glimmer of hope.

The only thing to consider was what to do with the subsequent plans if something really happened to Harry.

Now there were still Balrogs and Mind Flayers, these dark wizards, outside. What if they joined forces?

Without Harry restraining Voldemort and drawing his attention here, it was very likely that they would unite.

Thinking of this, Dumbledore felt a headache coming on.

After taking the Sword of Gryffindor from Dumbledore's hand, Barty Crouch Jr. took a deep look at everyone present before turning and walking out of Hogwarts.

"Seize him! Absolutely do not let him go!"

"No matter how he escaped in the first place, we can't let him leave today, or where will the Ministry of Magic's authority be?"

Seeing Barty Crouch Jr. about to leave, Fudge couldn't bear it any longer.

The British Ministry of Magic, which he led, was already a joke internationally.

The disappearance of Barty Crouch, the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, had also shown others the incompetence of the British Ministry of Magic. A department head disappeared just like that, forcing him to step in and participate in the Triwizard Tournament as a judge.

Now, a prisoner who should have been sentenced to death more than a decade ago had appeared in front of everyone in a grand manner and openly admitted to killing the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

Either of these two things was punishable by death.

If he, as the Minister, just watched him leave, how would he manage the Ministry of Magic in the future? What would others think of him?

Putting aside everything else, just looking at the undisguised smirks on the faces of the reporters present, he knew what the newspapers would write tomorrow.

You, Dumbledore, have firmly secured your position as Headmaster of Hogwarts, but my position as Minister for Magic is not so stable!

Barty Crouch Jr. didn't even turn his head as he listened to Fudge shouting behind him. He knew that Dumbledore would take care of everything.

With Dumbledore's prestige, there would certainly be no problem.

As for Fudge, Barty Crouch Jr. looked down on him. He was just a waste, his position as Minister was a fluke, not even as good as his old man, whom he had personally killed.

"Sander, let him leave."

Looking at the small team of Aurors preparing to attack Barty Crouch Jr., Dumbledore looked at their captain.

If anyone was going to take action, it would be him. If they started fighting, although the Aurors were strong, Barty Crouch Jr. was not without the power to fight back.

He was also a genius back then, one of the few people who received twelve O.W.L.s.

There were many students around, and Barty Crouch Jr. had no bottom line. If he targeted those students, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Sander Krystall hesitated for a long time before finally lowering his wand.

Although disobeying Minister Fudge's orders might result in punishment afterward, clashing with Dumbledore would be a bigger problem.

After all, everyone knew that his department head, Amelia Bones, had a very good relationship with Dumbledore.

"Good, good, good!"

Looking at the Aurors around him who stopped just from Dumbledore saying a word, Fudge laughed in anger.

Who the hell was the boss of the British Ministry of Magic?

He hadn't even stepped down yet, and everyone was disregarding his words!

This further strengthened Fudge's idea of seizing control of the Ministry of Magic's key departments. Neither Amelia Bones nor Rufus Scrimgeour were on his side.

However, this was not easy. After the Quidditch World Cup incident, his prestige in the Ministry of Magic had further declined, and now more and more people were not taking him seriously.

The reactions of these Aurors showed that the situation in other departments was probably no better.

Regarding everything that happened behind him, Barty Crouch Jr. showed a hint of mockery on his face, and his pace of leaving quickened.

How could such a team stop the powerful return of Voldemort?

The advantage is with me!

He couldn't wait to share this scene with Voldemort now.

"Dumbledore, you will be in court. I'll be waiting for you up there!"

Fudge couldn't stay any longer. Feeling like a clown, he made a harsh remark to Dumbledore and then stormed off.

He had to do public relations, otherwise tomorrow's report would be unbearable to read.

At the same time, he imagined how to consolidate his position as Minister for Magic and concentrate power.

Dumbledore didn't take Fudge's threat to heart at all.

The wizarding court, the Wizengamot, he was the Chief Warlock.

"You guys go back first."

After pondering for a while, Dumbledore said to Fred and George.

He was not in the mood to say anything to them now, nor could he guarantee anything.

Seeing that Fred still wanted to say something, George tugged at his sleeve, greeted Dumbledore, and then retreated.

He could see Dumbledore's difficulty and couldn't ask anything out of it now.

After the two of them went down, Dumbledore turned to look at Madame Maxime, and Ludo, as the host, also walked over.

They had watched everything just now and now guessed what Dumbledore wanted to say.

"I think we can announce the results of the Triwizard Tournament, what do you say?"

Now there were five judges, but only three were present. It would be good for them to make a decision.

Moreover, the result was now very clear. According to the rules, they had to wait for Harry to return before announcing, but now there was an accident!

"I have no objection!"

Madame Maxime stated directly that now that such a big thing had happened, it was not appropriate for her to delay any longer.