Hogwarts Homecoming

It was not that Hermione had not noticed Harry's dejection, and she had not failed to consider how Harry would feel after what she said. It was inside that made her even more unacceptable.

"Harry--"

Looking at Harry who looked shocked, Hermione held Harry's arm with her right hand and yelled softly.

"Oh, I'm fine-"

After being in a daze for a while, Harry noticed that his arm was being held by Hermione. He was not as angry as Hermione had worried about her breaking his illusion, but just smiled.

"I just think it's a little funny--"

Now that they have unanimously agreed with Hermione's conjecture, what should they do next?

Let Harry go to Fleur and tell her that he will not accompany him to the Yule Ball. If Fleur wants to find someone to make Professor Blaine jealous, this is ridiculous. Even Ron will not think that Professor Blaine will be angry because of this. , after Harry said this tonight, Professor Blaine's understatement smile said it all.

However, neither Hermione nor Ron had any intention of planning Harry's decision, so they left it to Harry to make his own decision.

"Let's talk about what Professor Dumbledore and Professor Brain care about!"

Ron deliberately cheered up and said,

"They're after the mysterious man's mark, right? Do you think they've found a clue?"

Hermione glanced at Ron appreciatively. She knew very well that Ron was obviously not just curious when he opened this topic at this time.

Regarding the Dark Mark they encountered on the night of the Quidditch final, the Ministry of Magic later gave the statement that the masked man who initiated the riot that night evaded the search of the Ministry of Magic and emerged from the hiding place after everyone left the scene. He ran out and conjured the Dark Mark.

But these words can only deceive young wizards and ordinary people. Those who are truly knowledgeable will immediately know that this is a lie.

Because the Ministry of Magic has previously publicized that Vitia Cliona, who was expelled by Amosta Brain, and the masked wizard who caused the riot in the first place, are admirers of the mysterious man. The group of dark wizards worship the mysterious man. People have committed various crimes, but they themselves have never seen the mysterious man, they are just a group of poor imitators.

However, the Dark Mark is not a bad magic that can only be produced by You-Know-Who's Death Eaters.

"Did you notice, Ron?"

Hermione herself also had many doubts. She lowered her head and stared at her toes. She was silent for a while before speaking softly,

"Professors Dumbledore and Professor Brain are very concerned about Mr. Crouch——"

"But he can't be?"

Ron lowered his voice so that no one passing them could hear them talking about a senior official from the Ministry of Magic.

"Barty only came over with his father and the others after the mark appeared later. He didn't have time to do this-"

"I'm not saying that Professor Dumbledore and Professor Blaine are doubting Barty Crouch, Ron -" Hermione frowned slightly, "I know Crouch has no chance..., oh, and of course it's not Winky either. ,but--"

Hermione's slow tone showed that she was also unsure,

"Professor Brain seemed to be very concerned about whether Barty went to the game. He and Professor Dumbledore repeatedly confirmed to us whether anyone had sat in the empty seat that Winky occupied for Crouch——"

"Crouch has not entered the box. Harry has confirmed this, hasn't he?"

"Just because Crouch hasn't been there doesn't mean there's no one in that seat, Ron—"

Hermione said in a horrified tone,

"What if there is always someone sitting in that seat?"

Ron, as well as Harry, who was emotionless, gradually showed fear in their expressions.

"You said yes, there was an invisible person staring at our invisibility cloak in the box that night?" Harry was successfully attracted by this topic, and he asked blankly.

"And that person is a Death Eater?"

Ron said with the same dull face,

"But that seat is occupied by the elf named Winky for Barty, isn't it? Do you know what you are suspecting, Hermione? You are suspecting that Crouch is covering for a Death Eater. You must not Say that in front of Percy, Hermione, or Percy will tear you apart—"

Hermione just nodded to confirm Harry's guess about the invisibility cloak, and then said nothing.

If things are really as she guessed, the empty seat next to Twinkle is really prepared for an invisible person, then how did Professor Blaine and Professor Dumbledore know about this? They left before They came to the school just to investigate this matter. Did they find the invisible person, or did they find clues from somewhere else?

Maybe others will forget it and get used to it, but Hermione herself has never forgotten it. The identity of a warrior in her comes from an unknown source.

So far, there is no clear statement about who put her name into the Goblet of Fire. It is just that on the night when Professor Blaine selected the warriors, the principals of several schools and the referees from the Ministry of Magic discussed this matter in the room behind the auditorium. As I said when it happened, everyone who has the ability to do this is in the room!

Barty Crouch--

Disbelief flashed in Hermione's lowered gaze.

Was it Barty Crouch who threw her name into the Goblet of Fire?

Impossible. When Barty showed up at Hogwarts that night, the Goblet of Fire was placed in the hall. With so many pairs of eyes staring at it, no one could secretly tamper with the Goblet of Fire.

However, what if, as she suspected, the famous high-ranking official of the Ministry of Magic was secretly related to a Death Eater?

So where would this Death Eater be now? Hermione's face turned green. Could it be that this person had infiltrated Hogwarts and, whether on his own initiative or on the orders of Barty Crouch, threw her name into the Goblet of Fire?

This speculation was so unbelievable and ridiculous that Hermione couldn't express it even to Harry and Ron.

On the night of selecting the warriors, when facing the accusations from the deans of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, Professor Dumbledore also came up with a surprising method. In order to make Professor Karkaroff and Maxi Mrs. Thumm was satisfied that Professor Dumbledore had proposed to destroy the Goblet of Fire, eliminate the contract between the Goblet of Fire and the warriors, and then allow the three warriors except her to continue to participate in the competition.

This way, she can be protected from danger and the Triwizard Tournament can continue.

From Hermione's point of view, this was a good idea, except that the Goblet of Fire would be destroyed.

Faced with Professor Dumbledore's proposal, the person who reacted most violently was Barty Crouch. He firmly disagreed with Professor Dumbledore's destruction of the Goblet of Fire, and finally confirmed Hermione's identity as a warrior. In order to appease Crouch, Professor Karloff and Madame Maxime, Crouch simultaneously proposed that the score at Hogwarts in the competition was the average of her and Cedric's score.

To be honest, judging from Barty Crouch's status as a senior official in the Ministry of Magic, his reaction was quite normal under the circumstances, right?

As the main official of the Ministry of Magic in promoting the Tournament, Barty Crouch certainly does not want to see the Goblet of Fire destroyed. However, after contacting Professors Dumbledore and Professor Blaine about the Dark Mark incident, Barty Crouch Crouch's concern made her doubts grow stronger.

The young wizards were still drinking and mingling, the joy in the common room was only a little less deserted than when they first came back, and the fire in the nearby fireplace was always strong, but Hermione's heart was getting colder and colder.

Professor Dumbledore should have expected that some people would disagree with destroying the Goblet of Fire, but he still said so. Does this mean that he was testing.

Professor Brain made it clear that night that all those who had the ability to cast spells on the Goblet of Fire were in that office.

Professors Dumbledore and Professor Blaine were undoubtedly the authorities, and when their opinions were consistent, Hermione would hardly doubt their judgment.

Professor Brain's statement and Professor Dumbledore's suggestion seemed more likely to be a test the more he thought about it.

Hermione raised her head and looked at Ron and Harry, her face horribly pale.

If so, things are as she speculated. Barty Crouch is not as righteous as people think.

Was Barty, or was Barty and the Death Eater in the room behind the Great Hall that night? !