Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

Obviously, even now - he still finds it hard to believe what Ryan said at that time.

But Ryan's eyes were calm as he looked directly into old Batty's eyes: "I saw it with my own eyes, Professor Crouch."

"This is where the problem lies!"

Then, old Batty's voice became almost a growl.

He looked at the bed not far away, at his son and his mortal enemy: "He's right here! In this box! Tied up like a zombie with the Imperius Curse, restraints, and powerful potions—Winky is monitoring him every moment. There's been no reports of him trying to break free, not a single abnormality!"

He gritted his teeth. "But you saw him! In the Department of Mysteries!"

Obviously, this is contradictory.

Ryan knew he wasn't lying, and old Batty knew he wasn't lying either.

Two little Battys - one is causing trouble in London, and the other is like a zombie here.

At this moment, old Batty suddenly opened his eyes.

A kind of fear that was like being hunted and deep in his bones suddenly burst out from his cloudy eyes - this emotion rarely appeared in him.

He looked at Dumbledore, his voice hoarse and cold: "Unless that person... Voldemort and his minions... they already know!"

"Know what?"

Dumbledore asked calmly.

But in fact, both he and Ryan understood what old Batty meant.

"Knowing that little Barty is still alive!"

Barty Sr.'s voice grew louder. "He knew I didn't execute him, I just hid him! For thirteen years! The attack on the Department of Mysteries—that attack wasn't just about causing chaos or provoking the Ministry! It was a carefully planned decoy! A cruel warning! A trap to force abdication!"

He pointed at Ryan, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably: "They let you see 'Little Barty', Ryan - they knew you would recognize him, they knew that with your ability you would eventually find clues!"

"They want to use your eyes and your actions to warn me!"

"They were telling me—'Crouch, we know your secret!' 'Where's your son? Hand him over... or, to make matters worse, make it no longer a secret...'!"

He trembled and growled, "They are going to destroy the glory of the Crouch family!"

Just as mentioned before.

Barty Crouch Sr. was the warrior against Voldemort.

But he is also the patriarch of an ancient pure-blood family.

He still cares about the honor of his family and even regards it as his life.

So, he made his choice.

"I fought for this position... Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."

Old Batty's voice gradually changed from excitement to a deep, suffocating fatigue.

He couldn't meet Dumbledore's eyes.

Ryan could understand his choice.

If the Death Eaters already knew that Barty Crouch Jr. was not dead, but alive.

So what will they do?

The answer was simple - find him, rescue their companions, and completely destroy old Barty Crouch.

And what can old Batty do?

Hiding little Buddy in the ancestral home? On some out-of-the-way property?

No, that's not safe!

To be precise, there is only one safe place in the entire wizarding world.

"Hogwarts."

Ryan said softly.

That's right, Hogwarts—just this old castle.

Under the wing of Albus Dumbledore, it is the most impenetrable sanctuary in the wizarding world.

But at the same time, he is also the most dangerous place for old Batty.

Because here is Ryan Elias - a brilliant young wizard who was involved in the Department of Mysteries and has always been suspicious of him.

This is how the current scene came about.

"..."

The space at the bottom of the suitcase was as silent as a tomb, and even the faintest breathing was harsh.

Ryan's eyes swept over Barty Crouch Sr.

There was no anger or contempt in his eyes, but rather pity and understanding.

Dumbledore stood beside Ryan, his blue eyes filled with deep sorrow and a hint of pity.

"Bati..."

What did he want to say.

But before him, Barty Crouch Sr. had already taken action.

"Kill me, Albus!"

His voice was hoarse like an old bellows.

"For the law I have defended my whole life, for the honor of the Crouch family... Kill me, I beg you!"

He pleaded.

This is not an empty threat.

For the next moment old Barty was waving his wand rapidly, almost convulsively.

His movements were no longer as steady and powerful as usual, and he aimed at the left side of his chest near his heart with trembling hands.

The glimmer at the tip of the wand had already lit up.

He really did want to die.

As long as he died here, he could keep the truth hidden.

Perhaps Barty Crouch Jr. would be discovered, and even what he had done would be discovered, but if he died here in the end, at least some people would think that he was killed in order to fight against the dark wizard who tried to rescue Barty Jr.

"Expelliarmus!"

But at this moment, Ryan's reaction was as fast as lightning.

The disarming spell hit old Barty's wrist accurately.

Old Barty felt as if his wrist was hit by a hammer. A sharp pain came instantly, and his wand flew out of his hand, spinning and falling into a shadow deep in the suitcase, making a dull sound.

"boom!"

Old Barty stumbled back under the force of the spell and slammed heavily against the cold wall of the suitcase.

He looked at his empty hands in disbelief, then looked at Ryan who had made the move.

The boy stood in the dim light, the wand in his hand emitting four-color glow.

His eyes were calm, yet incredibly sharp. "Evasion won't solve the problem, Professor Crouch."

His voice was clear and firm, without anger, but heavier than any rebuke.

"The truth is out - you know what you should do. Trying to hide the truth with death will only drag the Crouch family name into a deeper and more filthy quagmire."

Hearing this, old Batty's body trembled violently.

At this moment, Dumbledore also spoke.

"Battie, Ryan is right."

The old wizard's gentle but unquestionable voice sounded.

He squatted down in front of old Batty, his eyes level with his own. His azure eyes seemed to be able to see through his soul, which was torn by pain and guilt. "Battie, we have all witnessed how you have upheld justice for the innocent and upheld the dignity of the law in the fight against darkness."

"Because of this, you should know better than anyone that using crime to cover up crime is itself the most complete desecration of the law."

"You shouldn't choose to resolve what you consider 'trouble' through killing and death - that's a choice only a weak person like Tom would make."

"You should shoulder the responsibilities you should bear like a true warrior?"

At this point, Dumbledore's voice grew serious.

"Go to Azkaban, Barty—it's the only way to atone for your sins."

"This is for yourself, for your late wife Bessie, and for the law and honor you have defended throughout your life."

"You must wash away the shame of the Crouch family. This should not be done with death, but with a long prison sentence to prove your honor."

When Dumbledore said this, old Barty was stunned.

Warrior, responsibility - these two words were like red-hot irons, burning his soul, which had already been overwhelmed.

Finally... he nodded.

"Send me to Azkaban...Albus, take me and him with you."

After saying this, old Batty collapsed to the ground.

His face was buried in the cold tiles.

The ring on his left ring finger, which symbolized the supreme glory of the Crouch family, flickered with the last glimmer of cold light in the dim light.

Chapter 208 Lingering Doubts

The Aurors from the Ministry of Justice arrived quickly.

Led by the stern-looking Head of the Auror Office, Rufus Scrimgeour, they arrived at Hogwarts Castle via the Floo Network less than ten minutes after receiving the message.

Ryan didn't find this surprising - considering the status of Barty Crouch Sr. in the hearts of the Aurors, their speed in coming here was even relatively slow.

The tragic scene at the bottom of the suitcase - the bound Barty Crouch Jr., the unconscious Colin Creevey, and the completely collapsed and decadent posture of Barty Crouch Sr. - also constituted an irrefutable chain of evidence.

Scrimgeour glanced sharply at Barty Crouch Sr. and nodded expressionlessly.