Chapter 551: The Conclusion of the Barty Crouch Investigation

Barty Crouch?

Kyle realized it had been over half a year since he'd last thought about that name. Ever since Sirius was acquitted early in the school year, Crouch had faced severe scrutiny for his role in incarcerating Sirius without a trial, throwing him directly into Azkaban.

At the time, it had seemed reasonable—even Sirius himself had admitted as much. Kyle recalled that Sirius had even spoken respectfully of Crouch on occasion.

During Voldemort's rise to power, Crouch had been a staunch advocate for aggressive, borderline draconian measures. Under his leadership, Aurors were granted unprecedented authority: they could arrest and execute Death Eaters, as well as use Unforgivable Curses. The lack of a trial for Sirius wasn't unique; several others had met the same fate.

This violence-for-violence policy had its costs, but it also provided a fragile balance that kept the Ministry from being entirely overwhelmed by the Death Eaters. The harsh measures saved lives during the chaos, even if they turned Aurors into something perilously close to the enemies they fought.

Crouch's downfall began when his own son, Barty Crouch Jr., was revealed to be a Death Eater. That scandal had paved the way for Fudge's rise as Minister of Magic.

Sirius, for his part, held no ill will toward Crouch. His priority had been securing his freedom so he could look after Harry, not pursuing retribution. But the public outcry over Sirius's case had been relentless, and an investigation into Crouch was inevitable. Accusations of deliberately covering up Peter Pettigrew's crimes and tarnishing the Ministry's reputation dragged on for six months.

Kyle stared at the accompanying photograph in the Daily Prophet.

The once-imposing Barty Crouch looked utterly defeated. His meticulously groomed beard was now scruffy, and his demeanor seemed broken.

In contrast, Fudge stood beside him in the photo, exuding smug self-satisfaction.

"He must be thrilled that no one can challenge his position as Minister now..." Kyle muttered.

Still, he wasn't particularly concerned about Fudge's political maneuvering. He returned his focus to the article.

The investigation had uncovered no conclusive evidence linking Crouch to the Death Eaters. Consequently, he retained his position at the Ministry, though not without consequences.

Crouch was demoted, reassigned from the prestigious Department of International Magical Cooperation to the far less influential Department of Magical Transportation. While not the least significant department—that dubious honor belonged to the Department of Magical Games and Sports—it was a dramatic step down.

By comparison, given the choice between the two departments, most would still prefer International Magical Cooperation.

The fallout wasn't limited to Crouch. Others implicated during the investigation had also been reassigned, many to the aforementioned Department of Magical Games and Sports.

Kyle chuckled faintly at the thought. Ludo Bagman must be ecstatic—this is probably the first time his department has seen such an influx of personnel.

Despite the reshuffling, the Ministry seemed intent on downplaying the matter. The story, which under normal circumstances would have been front-page news, was buried in an inconspicuous corner on the back page. Its tone was brief and dismissive, the details scant, and the conclusions almost an afterthought.

...

"It must have been Fudge," Sirius muttered under his breath, leaning close to Kyle during the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the morning.

Professor Moody was apparently on leave due to the Crouch investigation, and in his absence, Sirius had been brought in to teach the fifth years. He had tasked the students with reviewing the Shield Charm while he quietly discussed the newspaper's contents with Kyle.

"It's definitely Fudge," Sirius continued. "The man is obsessed with power. He's used this whole situation as an opportunity to push Crouch's supporters out of important positions."

"Have you noticed? Nearly everyone in the Department of International Magical Cooperation and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is under investigation. Meanwhile, those in other departments who also supported Crouch haven't been touched."

"Need I say more?" Kyle replied. "No one else besides the Minister of Magic could have orchestrated something like this, even with legitimate reasons."

"I don't like Fudge," Sirius said, glancing around the classroom and lowering his voice further. "Even though I regained my freedom because of him, I just don't trust him. He's far too obsessed with consolidating his power."

"He's hinted multiple times that he wants me to give more interviews to The Daily Prophet, focusing on how I was acquitted."

"Obviously, he wants to build an image of himself as fair and just," Kyle said. "He led the retrial, and if anyone talks about the retrial, they can't help but mention him."

"Exactly," Sirius said, irritation creeping into his voice. "I've already given three interviews, but he keeps sending owls asking for more. It's as if he wants me to cry my story out in The Daily Prophet every single day."

"Well, who told you to go and become a tragic hero?" Kyle said with a smirk. "Of course, he's going to use this as a publicity stunt for himself."

"Who's to say he isn't?" Sirius shook his head with a frustrated chuckle. "I've grown tired of saying the same things over and over, so I started dodging his requests by making excuses. That's why I came to Hogwarts."

"I never expected Dumbledore to agree to let me teach here... Honestly, I should thank Fudge again. If he hadn't been so insistent, I wouldn't have had this chance to teach Harry directly."

Kyle watched Sirius, who seemed genuinely happy, and felt unsure how to respond. If anything, it was Dumbledore who should be thanking Fudge the most—finding a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor each year had always been a major headache for him. Naturally, when someone volunteered, Dumbledore wouldn't refuse.

Sirius, however, didn't seem concerned with that at all.

Not wanting to draw too much attention to himself, Sirius moved away to help students who were struggling with the Shield Charm. Some had forgotten the spell after months without practice, so Sirius patiently made the rounds, offering guidance.

It wasn't until near the end of the class that Sirius returned to Kyle.

"I really don't know what the Ministry will become in the future," he said, gazing out the window. "Fudge's methods are clever, I'll admit that, but his character... Never mind. After all, he's the reason I'm free now."

Sirius let out a deep sigh. "Still, without Crouch keeping him in check, Fudge no longer has to worry about anyone threatening his position as Minister. Honestly, that's not a good thing for the Ministry of Magic."

"Isn't there still the headmaster?" Kanna chimed in from nearby. "People say he trusts Professor Dumbledore a lot. Whenever he encounters a tricky problem, he comes to Hogwarts to ask for advice."

"Yes... Dumbledore," Sirius said, though his tone was tinged with reluctance.

I don't know what happened in past years, but since I've been here, Fudge hasn't come to see Dumbledore even once.