Harry Potter: The True Lord Chapter 23: Barty Crouch Sr

When the duo reappeared, Alastor and Antonio were standing just outside the Ministry building.

This was the closest anyone could apparate to the Ministry. Wards prevented anyone from coming close.

In tis like these, when the Wizarding Britain was riddled with violent attacks, security at the Ministry was heavily reinforced, and no carelessness was tolerated. Any kind of breach or attempt to undermine the security of ministry was t out with a very heavy hand.

Alastor led Antonio inside. Not many people paid them any attention. The news of the attack and what Antonio had done afterward had not yet spread, so for now, it was business as usual.

"You know, lad," Alastor said as he guided Antonio toward the Departnt of Magical Law Enforcent, "by bringing you here like this, with your wand and not like a prisoner, I am taking a huge risk."

"If you were to do anything untoward, I would shoulder all the bla. I am overlooking the protocols for you."

Antonio chuckled as he responded, "The Ministry is at ease with so many Death Eaters working among them. I am sure they would not mind an innocent civilian like . Whatever I did was an act of pure self defence."

Moody's steps halted at those words, and he almost snapped toward Antonio, who wore a mocking smirk. Death Easters in the ministry. There were quite a few of them and one or two were being identified almost routinely. And this was a sore topic especially for people like Moody. He held his glare for a few monts before resuming his pace.

"You know too much for soone who is supposedly not involved in all this," Moody muttered.

"That I do," Antonio said. "I have a habit of gathering information."

"Having a lot of information can sotis be really dangerous," Moody muttered.

Antonio did not respond. No more words passed between them.

Moody led Antonio deeper into the building and finally into the DMLE. As they walked through the departnt, wizards and witches dressed in auror robes or even simple robes were working round the entire departnt. It was like a flurry of activity all happening at once.

Many greeted Moody, and the respect they held for him was genuine. It was no surprise. Alastor Moody was one of the best Aurors in the Ministry. Though not the Head Auror, he commanded no less respect.

Moody brought Antonio to a small cabin and gestured for him to sit.

"Alia will be returning shortly. When she cos, give her the full account of what happened," Moody instructed.

Antonio gave him a strange look. It said, 'I have to wait?'

"What?" Moody frowned. "You do not expect to slog through all that ss of recording statents and drafting official docunts, do you? That is hardly my forte."

"Once you are done here after Alia arrives, we have sothing to discuss," Moody added before striding out of the cabin.

Antonio let out a sigh and settled in to wait for Alia's arrival. Through the small glass window in the cabin door, he could see much of the departnt outside.

He was idly passing the ti watching people co and go when he spotted soone marching toward his cabin with a fierce expression.

Antonio recognized the man imdiately. Barty Crouch Sr., the current head of the DMLE.

From his expression and the aggression in his stride, Antonio could tell sothing was wrong.

His wand slid smoothly into his hand from its holster as he prepared himself. But thankfully, no confrontation ca.

Barty had not gotten far when Moody intercepted him. Antonio could not hear their words, but he could see their expressions and gestures.

Moody initially looked confused, as though unaware of whatever had riled Barty up. anwhile, Barty was visibly livid and furious. His expression and animated hand movents made that plain.

Was his son, Barty Crouch Jr., one of the two I killed? Antonio wondered. He did not know and he did not particularly care.

As the conversation progressed, it grew heated. Moody, though not as visibly aggressive as Barty, was clearly firm about sothing.

After a couple of minutes, it seed Moody raised his palms, firmly denying Barty whatever he wanted. Barty shot Moody one final look of anger and dissatisfaction, muttered sothing, and then stord off in a rage.

Moody shook his head, looking almost regretful, before he too disappeared from Antonio's line of sight.

Antonio was certain whatever had just transpired had to do with him. He wondered if Alastor would co back to inform him of the details. But that didn't happen. Moody did not return to the cabin.

He did not have to wait too long when the gate of his cabin was pushed open and the red head, he had been waiting for finally arrived. She looked serious and there was not a trace of smile on her face.

"Lord Olario," Alia muttered as she arrived and took her seat in front him.

"Miss. Bones," Antonio greeted back. "I must thank you for easing out the situation at that ti."

"I thought you were not afraid at all of going against the Aurors," she replied with a chuckle.

"I was not," Antonio responded. "But your alternative solution was far better than what I had in mind and far better than what could have happened."

Alia smiled. "Then I must accept your thanks."

Antonio nodded, then asked, "If you do not mind, may I ask, how do you know ?"

"Oh!" Alia raised her eyebrows. "After what you did to Rodolphus Lestrange, there are not many people who do not know about you."

"Fortunately, I had a friend present at that gathering, and she was kind enough to share a copy of her mories," she said.

"And I must say, you are a truly powerful wizard not that it needs to be said after what you did to those Death Eaters."

"Thanks," Antonio replied a bit awkwardly.

Alia then opened a small bag which she had been carrying and took out a dicta-quill from it.

"Lord Olario," she said. "I want you to narrate the entire incident, from the very beginning with all the possible details you could muster."

"And though it is not necessary, but it you agree you can also handover a copy of your mories."

"I have no problem in providing a copy of my mories," Antonio replied as he begun his narration of the events.

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