Dumbledore listened quietly until the conversation came to an end.
Sirius hadn't actually seen the two people speaking; even in the memory, only dense bushes and lush green leaves swayed around them.
Wormtail's voice was full of tremor and nervousness, just as he had always been.
It seemed that even among the Death Eaters he served, Peter Pettigrew hadn't earned much respect or trust, and Dumbledore wasn't surprised by this at all.
As for the other person, his voice was hoarse and low, completely different from the Barty Crouch Jr. of the past. However, they couldn't conclude that it wasn't Barty Crouch Jr. just because of that.
After all, even if that person hadn't died in Azkaban, so many years had passed; outsiders couldn't possibly know what he had been through, so a significant change was only natural.
He might also have used Transfiguration or Potions to completely change into another person, operating under a different identity, with only his fellow Death Eaters knowing who he truly was.
In fact, if his voice had been exactly the same as Dumbledore remembered, the Headmaster would have been certain that the person was an imposter.
Therefore, Dumbledore didn't get sidetracked trying to identify the voice; instead, he focused on what was being said. After listening, he tapped the Pensieve with his wand, and the sounds and images in the air vanished, leaving only the silvery memories calmly swirling.
Sirius couldn't wait to ask, "Dumbledore, was that really Barty Crouch Jr.? Was there something suspicious about his death back then?"
Dumbledore pondered for a moment before saying, "Voldemort hasn't truly resurrected yet; he must be in a very weak state right now. Someone who can earn his trust at a time like this, and easily subdue Lockhart and Garr Troka... there are very few such people among the Death Eaters."
"Take Malfoy, for example; that man is a fair-weather friend. Voldemort would only let him grovel at his feet when he was powerful. When the Dark Lord is weak, he would never let Malfoy know his whereabouts."
Sirius was speechless for a moment.
So... was it really Barty Crouch Jr.? Was his father, Barty Crouch, also involved?
He opened his mouth, about to press for more questions, when he suddenly realized that Dumbledore wouldn't easily voice his suspicions without concrete evidence.
After all, Barty Crouch was currently the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Though his prestige wasn't what it used to be, many people still trusted and respected him far more than Fudge, the Minister for Magic.
"They're after Harry," Sirius said, his gaze dangerous. "Dumbledore, I still remember that place. Shouldn't we..."
Sirius made a slicing motion across his neck with his fingers, his meaning very clear.
Dumbledore met his gaze for a moment and said, "Leave this to me. You have only one task, Sirius."
"What is it?" Sirius asked eagerly, leaning forward.
"Protect Harry," Dumbledore said. "That's what's most important."
...
The locked iron gate quietly opened in the silence. Dumbledore walked through the overgrown garden, gently waving his wand, and an invisible ripple spread outwards.
The silence around him was terrifying; not even an insect chirped. Only the cold night wind continued to blow as usual, making the old man's silver beard and hair flutter.
To others, this courtyard appeared empty and desolate, but to Dumbledore, it was filled with traces of magic.
But the source of the magic had already left this place.
He walked past a wooden hut and heard the sound of water dripping from inside. Dumbledore glanced in and found an old man lying on the ground, his grey eyes staring blankly at the sky, already dead.
On a nearby table, an aluminum kettle had been knocked over, and clear water continuously dripped from the edge of the table.
Next to the kettle was a plate of chops, a small portion of which had been eaten. A grimy fork lay carelessly to one side.
Dumbledore crossed the courtyard. He tapped the lock of the front door with his wand, and after a soft click, he opened the door and stepped inside.
The corridor and hallway were thick with dust and smelled of decay, suggesting no one had been there for a very long time.
Following the traces of magic, he began to ascend the stairs. At the top, he walked down the corridor and finally saw a meticulously maintained room.
The room was pristine, as if new. Thick curtains blocked out the sunlight, a soft Persian rug covered the floor, and the firewood in the fireplace hadn't fully burned, with embers still flickering.
On a nearby table sat a teacup and a small bowl. In the porcelain bowl was an exquisite silver spoon, and a small amount of white liquid remained at the bottom of the bowl, appearing to be some rare potion.
Dumbledore took a step forward, and his eyebrows suddenly lifted slightly.
A crimson light suddenly glowed beneath his feet, concealed within the soft, long pile of the rug. If it hadn't been late at night, it would have been very well hidden.
*BOOM—*
If anyone had been standing in the courtyard looking up at that moment, they would have seen a thick, dark green smoke suddenly erupt from a room upstairs.
Immediately afterward, as if in reverse, the ominous smoke contracted back into itself in a very short time, leaving only a faint, foul smell in the air.
Not long after, Dumbledore came downstairs. Aside from his slightly askew hat, he looked no different from when he had gone up.
Subsequently, Dumbledore went to a nearby graveyard and, sure enough, found a grave split open down the middle, with the bones inside missing.
The old man stood beside the empty grave, sighing silently.
He was increasingly certain that the person helping Voldemort resurrect was likely Barty Crouch Jr.
Voldemort was an arrogant and conceited man. Even if Lockhart and the other man had stumbled into his hiding place, after interrogating them and discovering they were merely desperate fugitives, he might have killed them or forced them to serve him, but he wouldn't have hastily moved locations.
However, Barty Crouch Jr., who had experienced imprisonment and escape, and had remained hidden for over a decade without exposure, possessed such caution and would choose safer methods.
Dumbledore had learned from some Death Eaters that Barty Jr.'s relationship with Voldemort had once been very close. Voldemort treated him like his own son, and the young man regarded Voldemort as his father.
Therefore, Barty Jr. might have been able to persuade Voldemort to choose a safer plan, which other Death Eaters might not have.
They had even taken the bones of Tom Riddle—Voldemort's father.
But this act also made Dumbledore feel a hint of incongruity.
If they didn't want to expose their hiding place, why would the cowardly Wormtail dare to lead Lockhart and the other man to this location?
Dumbledore stood in the desolate graveyard, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed into the distance, gently stroking his ancient wand and recalling every tiny detail.
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