"Obliviate!"
As Barty Crouch fell, Tom cast another Memory Charm.
The House-elf Winky, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned, completely unaware of what had happened.
"Imperio!"
After gaining control of the House-elf, Tom stripped Barty Crouch of all his clothes, took his wand, and pulled a handful of his hair.
After doing all this, Tom looked at Lucius, who was dumbfounded by Tom's series of zero-frame actions.
"Alright, Lucius, you can go back now. Remember to clean up any traces of your visit."
After sending Lucius away, Tom commanded Winky, who was under the Imperio: "Now, take me to your young master, Barty Crouch Jr."
Led by Winky, Tom found Barty Crouch Jr., who was hidden in the house by Barty Crouch.
Feeling the burning sensation from the Black Magic Mark on his left arm, Barty Crouch Jr. gradually broke free from the Imperio his father had placed on him.
He looked uncertainly at the hooded young Wizard in front of him and tentatively asked, "Master?"
Tom slowly took off his hood, exuding the pressure of a great Wizard: "It is I, Barty, I have come personally to welcome the return of my most loyal servant."
Seeing the 'Dark Lord' again, Barty Crouch Jr. immediately became excited: "Master, it's really you. This is great, they all said you were dead, but I firmly believed you would return."
"You are right, how could a mere so-called Savior, and Dumbledore, make me fail? Eleven years ago was just a minor setback. Now I have returned with a younger body and greater power. To conquer the magic world, I need your assistance, my most loyal servant."
Tom's voice was low, with a hint of seduction, as he slowly approached Barty Crouch Jr.
"Yes, Master, I am always at your command."
Barty Crouch Jr. respectfully bowed his head to Tom, who was slowly approaching, and then saw a familiar wand fall in front of him.
"Your father's wand, now it is yours."
Barty Crouch Jr. picked up the wand and heard Tom instruct him: "Now, Barty, there is an important task that only my most trusted person can complete. I wonder if I can entrust it to you."
"Master, rest assured, I guarantee I will complete it."
Barty Crouch Jr. immediately promised with conviction when he heard the words 'most trusted person'.
"Go to the forest in Albania for me. Someone is secretly plotting things, using the name of Voldemort. Go there, find him, confirm if he still exists. If he is still alive, then kill him."
Tom's tone was chilling, and Barty Crouch Jr. felt an undisguised killing intent from it.
Hearing that someone dared to impersonate Voldemort, Barty Crouch Jr., who fanatically worshipped Voldemort and considered himself Voldemort's most loyal servant, was instantly enraged.
"Master, someone actually dares to impersonate you. I will depart now."
After speaking, he prepared to leave the manor directly for the forest in Albania, but as he passed the unconscious Barty Crouch, he couldn't help but stop.
"I know you want to happily kill your father like I did, but, Barty, now is not the time. He is still useful to me."
"Now, you have your mission to complete. I look forward to your good news."
Just as Barty Crouch Jr. was about to kill his father, Tom appeared in time, stopping his actions.
Hearing Tom say this, Barty Crouch Jr. immediately stopped his movements. No matter how much he hated his father, he would not choose to disobey Tom's words.
After saluting Tom, Barty Crouch Jr. truly left this time, heading towards the distant Albanian forest.
'Letting Barty Crouch Jr. find the nose-less Voldemort, and in a state where he considers him an enemy, I am indeed a genius. Although I don't know if Voldemort is still alive, if Barty Crouch Jr. can really find him, I really look forward to what sparks they might create.'
Tom's lips curled up in pleasure as he watched Barty Crouch Jr. leave.
Having sent Barty Crouch Jr. away, Tom remembered the purpose of his trip, as Barty Crouch Jr.'s actions were merely a convenience.
He mixed a strand of Barty Crouch's hair into the prepared Polyjuice Potion and drank it in one gulp.
"Ugh..."
So disgusting!
Tom, drinking Polyjuice Potion for the first time, almost gagged.
As he transformed into Barty Crouch, Tom put on the clothes he had stripped from him, turned around in front of the mirror to confirm there were no issues, then called Winky over, grabbed her, and casually threw her into his storage space.
After preparing everything, Tom grabbed a handful of Floo powder and threw it into the fireplace. As green flames shot up, Tom stepped into them.
"Ministry of Magic!"
When he opened his eyes again, Tom was already in the main hall of the Ministry of Magic.
It was Christmas, and most Ministry of Magic employees were on holiday. Besides a few scattered on-duty personnel, there was no one else.
As a senior official of the Ministry of Magic, Barty Crouch was usually serious and proper. These on-duty personnel merely greeted him simply, and no one would be so tactless as to engage in small talk.
Tom, having the experience of scouting the Ministry of Magic during the previous trial of Peter and Sirius, decided not to waste time and proceeded directly to the Department of Mysteries.
"Good afternoon, Crouch, isn't it Christmas holiday now? Why are you at the Ministry?"
Just as Tom was heading to the elevator hall, a Wizard who looked like an old lion called out to Tom.
Damn it, Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office.
"Ah, Scrimgeour, good afternoon. I left something in my office and came to pick it up. I have something else to do later, so I won't chat with you. Merry Christmas, see you."
With that, Tom completely ignored Scrimgeour and left directly.
Rufus Scrimgeour watched Tom's departing figure and felt that Barty Crouch was a bit strange today, but more than ten years of peaceful life, or rather, he simply didn't think anyone would be so bold as to impersonate Barty Crouch and infiltrate the Ministry of Magic, so he didn't think much of it, believing it might be his imagination. He shook his head and left.
Tom breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Scrimgeour hadn't followed him. Although he could easily defeat him, doing so would ruin the purpose of his trip, which was not what he wanted to see. This situation was just right.
He skillfully entered the elevator, pressed the 9th-floor button, and upon arrival, quickly walked through the corridor, pushed open the black door, and stood in the pure black circular room.
Department of Mysteries, he, Tom, was here again.