Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 552: Chapter 550: Barty Crouch Investigation Concludes

Barty Crouch?

Kael felt like he hadn’t heard that name for more than half a year.

Ever since the start of the school year, shortly after Sirius was released without charge, Barty Crouch was criticized by many for imprisoning Sirius in Azkaban without trial.

Actually, at the time, this wasn’t so wrong, even Sirius himself thought so... Kael recalled he even had a relatively positive opinion of Crouch.

Back when Voldemort hadn’t fallen yet, Crouch advocated for tough measures, giving Aurors some new rights.

They were no longer only allowed to capture, but had the authority to kill, and were permitted to use Unforgivable Curses on Death Eaters... Sirius wasn’t the first to be handed over to the Dementors without trial.

This approach, using violence against violence, made Aurors as ruthless and cold-hearted as many Death Eaters. Although it doesn’t sound right now, during that chaotic time, it indeed saved many lives.

Moreover, it’s because of this that the Ministry of Magic was able to hold a balance of power with the Death Eaters for several years.

If it weren’t for his son, Barty Crouch Jr., being proven to be a Death Eater, Fudge wouldn’t be the current Minister of Magic.

Hence, Sirius didn’t really resent Crouch that much; he just wanted to regain his freedom to care for Harry, rather than pursue accountability.

However, despite this, Crouch was still investigated for the mistake, suspected of deliberately helping Peter Pettigrew cover up his crimes and damaging the Ministry’s reputation.

And this investigation lasted for half a year.

Kael looked at the photograph in the newspaper.

In merely half a year, Barty Crouch seemed like a different person, his neatly trimmed beard had become messy, and he seemed utterly dejected.

Contrary to him, Fudge in the photo looked quite pleased with himself.

”He must be very pleased, there’s no one to compete for the Minister’s position,” Kael thought cynically.

But Kael didn’t care about this.

He continued to read the newspaper.

There was nothing substantial in the investigation about Crouch that could prove his relation to the Death Eaters.

Thus, after the investigation, he could continue working at the Ministry and retained his Minister position.

The only difference was, he was transferred from the Department of International Magical Cooperation to the Magic Transportation Department.

This is probably the most marginal department in the Ministry, only slightly better than the Department of Magical Games and Sports,

Of course, it’s not that the Magic Transportation Department isn’t important, just depends on what you compare it to.

If given the choice of staying in the Department of International Magical Cooperation or the Magic Transportation Department, no one would choose the latter.

Besides Crouch, all others investigated were also reassigned from their original positions to more marginal departments, like the Department of Magical Games and Sports.

Ludo Bagman must be very happy, as it’s probably the first time so many people have been transferred to his department.

However, the Ministry doesn’t seem to want to publicize this incident excessively; logically such important news should be on the front page, but this time it only appeared on the back, in an inconspicuous corner, with most of the content glossed over to just one result.

...

”It’s definitely Fudge’s doing.”

In the morning’s first Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, Sirius stood next to Kael and whispered.

Perhaps because of the Crouch issue, Professor Moody was on leave, so until he returned, Sirius took over the fifth year’s Defense Against the Dark Arts Class.

He asked the students to review the Iron Armor Spell they had learned before, while he chatted with Kael about the contents of the newspaper.

”It must be Fudge; I guarantee it,” Sirius continued. ”He’s inherently obsessed with power, and took advantage of this opportunity to move those supporting Crouch from important positions.

”Did you notice, that in this investigation, almost all of those being investigated were from the Department of International Magical Cooperation and the Law Enforcement Department.

Although there are many others involved and firmly support Crouch, nothing happened to them.”

”Isn’t that obvious?” Kael said. ”Aside from the Minister of Magic, no one else could move so many people even with suitable reasons.”

”I don’t like Fudge,” Sirius glanced around and whispered again. ”Despite him being the reason I regained my freedom, I just don’t like him; he’s overly obsessed with power.

”And he’s hinted more than once at wanting me to accept interviews from the Daily Prophet and emphasize how I was released without charge.”

”Clearly, he wants to establish his unbiased and serious image,” Kael said. ”Fudge was the chief examiner of the retrial, so mentioning that trial inevitably involves him.”

”Exactly.”

Sirius said irritably, ”I’ve already accepted three interviews, but he keeps sending owls with letters...seems he wants me to recount my experience in the Daily Prophet every day.”

”It’s because you were painted as the tragic hero,” Kael laughed, ”He naturally wants to use this opportunity to promote himself.”

”Who wouldn’t say that’s true?” Sirius shook his head. ”I’m really tired of repeating the same story; I just want to find any excuse to avoid it, so I came to Hogwarts.

”I never expected Dumbledore would agree to let me be a professor here...honestly, I should thank Fudge again, because his annoyance led me to have the chance to personally teach Harry.”

Kael looked at the joyous Sirius, suddenly unsure what to say; he felt that Dumbledore might be the one most grateful to Fudge.

Dumbledore’s biggest annual trouble is finding a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and when someone offered themselves, he certainly couldn’t refuse.

But judging by Sirius’s demeanor, he didn’t seem to care about this either.

To avoid drawing too much attention, Sirius soon moved to a different spot to guide the students who hadn’t finished practicing the Iron Armor Spell.

Some people had almost forgotten this charm after several months of not practicing.

Sirius circled around and returned to Kael just before the class ended.

”Honestly, I don’t know what the Ministry of Magic will become,” Sirius said as he looked outside the window. ”Fudge’s tactics are cunning, but his personality... never mind, after all, I did regain my freedom because of him.”

He suddenly sighed, ”Without Crouch’s check, Fudge never has to worry about anyone threatening his Minister position again; honestly, it’s not good news for the Ministry.”

”Isn’t the headmaster still there?” Conna chimed in. ”People say he trusts Professor Dumbledore a lot, and every year, when he faces a difficult problem, he consults the headmaster’s opinion at Hogwarts.”

”Yes...there’s still Dumbledore,” Sirius said, but his tone sounded a bit forced.

He wasn’t sure of the situation in previous years, but this year, ever since he became a professor, Fudge hadn’t visited Dumbledore once.

...