"HP: Too Late, System!"Chapter 331: Visitors from the Ministry of Magic
It was the penultimate Saturday before exams.
Douglas had just finished making his rounds through the practical classrooms for each year and was stepping out of the castle gates when he spotted two wizards from the Ministry of Magic. One of them was circling the Demon-Suppressing Tower in front of the castle, tugging at a nearby student for yet another introduction.
Curiosity piqued, Douglas watched them for a moment, muttering to himself, "Hmm, the Wizarding Examinations Authority is here this early? Wait, that's not it..."
One of the men, probably in his fifties, stood ramrod straight in an immaculate, sharply tailored suit and tie. His short mustache looked as if a sentient ruler had sculpted it with precision—so perfectly groomed that even the fussiest barbers would weep with envy. His shoes gleamed like mirrors.
If it weren't for the fact that he was standing at Hogwarts, Douglas might have mistaken him for a textbook Muggle manager—he looked the part far too well.
Although Douglas had never spoken to the man, he recognized him instantly as Barty Crouch, Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation—his face was familiar from the pages of the Daily Prophet.
Crouch seemed completely unbothered by the stares of passing students, but his tone was tinged with impatience as he urged his companion,
"Hurry up, Ludo, we're almost at the time we agreed to meet Headmaster Dumbledore..."
The other wizard was none other than Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports—a man who always seemed to be in motion.
Douglas knew Ludo well enough; he'd chased him for autographed books more than once, sometimes even enlisting Charlie as a go-between.
Ludo turned back with a breezy grin, "Barty, it's hard to believe—this is even more magical than it looked in the papers! I've heard Bertha—Bertha Jorkins—rave about this building for ages, though her mind's not exactly all there..."
Crouch cut him off sharply, "Enough, Ludo! We have more important business today."
Ludo, unfazed by Crouch's tone, simply widened his round eyes in delight.
"Merlin's beard, it's the banana-loving honey badger!—Oh, sorry, I should say Professor Holmes here!"
He strode over at a brisk pace, hand outstretched in warm greeting.
Douglas shook his hand politely. "Director Bagman, it's been a while."
He smiled, though inwardly he was full of questions. What could have brought these two senior Ministry officials to Hogwarts for a meeting with Dumbledore?
Crouch stepped forward, offering a curt nod. His smile was polite, but his gaze radiated a quiet authority that brooked no argument.
"Professor Holmes, your reputation precedes you. Our visit today is strictly official business, I hope you'll forgive us for not lingering. Ludo, let's go."
Douglas bowed his head slightly in response. "Director Crouch, you're too kind. I won't keep you."
He stepped aside, allowing them to pass.
With Crouch's seriousness setting the tone, Ludo could only bid a reluctant farewell before following after him.
It occurred to Douglas that, with all the school business these past two years, he'd nearly forgotten—Senior Tom still had one more helper yet to make his appearance.
But it had been so long—he couldn't quite recall which Ministry official's son had been a Death Eater. Strictly speaking, the man had barely any time on stage, usually appearing under the guise of Alastor Moody.
Back when he'd first arrived at Hogwarts, Douglas had quietly investigated the backgrounds of all the Ministry's higher-ups. Quite a few had sons who could have fit the bill. But, swamped with school business, he hadn't dug deeper—any further would have meant poking around the homes of the ancient pure-blood families, whose security was notoriously tight. So, he'd shelved the matter for the time being.
Still, Crouch had left a strong impression—he was the only high-ranking official to send his own son to Azkaban.
Watching Crouch's retreating figure, Douglas turned and made his way to Sirius's office.
Inside, Sirius was busy sorting through paperwork. Douglas grinned and called out,
"Looks like you're in high spirits."
Since Sirius had taken over as Director of Academic Affairs, the Hogwarts professors had finally been freed from post-curfew patrol duty. But with staff stretched thin, Sirius had been working overtime.
Not that he seemed to mind—in fact, he relished it. When he wasn't glancing at the massive Marauder's Map on his wall, he was out and about Hogwarts at night in his Animagus form, perfectly legally.
Sirius looked up and broke into a wide smile. "Couldn't be better! Too bad Harry's not as bold as James—haven't caught him out at night even once. Bit of a letdown, honestly!"
Douglas chuckled inwardly. As if Harry would dare sneak around at night—he'd made sure to trip up Harry's late-night escapades more than once over the past two years. The boy had learned his lesson.
Pulling up a chair, Douglas sat across from Sirius.
"I just ran into Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman outside..."
Before he could finish, Sirius cut in with a grin, "I know what they're here for! I've got some inside info—something to do with next year..."
He looked at Douglas expectantly, waiting for him to bite.
But Douglas sidestepped neatly, changing the subject.
"Actually, I wanted to ask you about Crouch's son—Barty Crouch Jr. I remember he was a Death Eater, sentenced to Azkaban by his own father, and died not long after arriving."
Sirius blinked in surprise. "Barty Crouch's son was a Death Eater? No wonder Crouch never became Minister for Magic. Still, sending his own son to Azkaban... that's just like him. But you're asking the wrong man—I don't really remember much about the kid."
Douglas shrugged carelessly. "Well, I've got a little job for you."
Sirius gaped at him. "Doug, are you serious? I've just started this director gig and now you're dumping more work on me? 'A little job'—name one task you've given me that was ever little! With all your Galleons, why not hire someone else?"
Douglas snapped his fingers—a teacup appeared in front of Sirius. He picked up the teapot and poured him a cup, smiling.
"Don't get worked up, or I'll have to take you for a round of vaccinations. For you, this really is a small task. With your connections, dealing with Ministry higher-ups should be a breeze, right?"
Sirius took a sip and frowned. "This is about Crouch? You think he's a Death Eater too, like his son? Doug, that's almost impossible. Maybe you don't know Crouch that well, but back in the day, he was famous for..."
🔥 Want to read the next 50+ chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 [Join on - patreon.com/GoldenLong]