Chapter 256
Not long after, the matter of Barty Crouch Sr. seemed to fade on the surface. The only thing Albus Dumbledore could do was tighten security at Hogwarts. As Headmaster, he formally requested the Ministry of Magic to send a group of Aurors to the school, ensuring safety and order before the third task of the Tournament.
Olympe Maxime and Igor Karkaroff accepted this arrangement reluctantly.
What puzzled many people was that even under such circumstances, Mr. Crouch still claimed to be ill and disappeared completely, as if avoiding everyone.
At least, that was how it looked to some insiders.
"Oh! That's just slander. There's no evidence at all!" Percy said loudly in the Great Hall, defending his superior with great enthusiasm.
"I personally visited Mr. Crouch at his home. He was extremely weak and bedridden. Honestly, if it weren't for work, he would already be recovering at St. Mungo's."
"And why would he travel all the way just to attack a Triwizard champion? What possible reason would he have?" Percy added, shaking his head confidently.
Logically, the latter part of his argument made sense—any crime needed a motive.
But Percy had slipped in a lie to strengthen his claim.
He had never visited Crouch's house. Their relationship simply wasn't close enough for that. It was nothing more than his own vanity, hoping to impress others.
The surrounding students nodded, largely convinced. As Hogwarts students, they were more inclined to believe this was some sort of scheme from Durmstrang—perhaps even something involving Krum and Karkaroff.
Or maybe Krum had simply hit his head and misremembered things.
While Percy continued speaking at one end of the table, the Gryffindor trio discussed the matter quietly at the other.
"Harry, this is something we need to be careful about," Hermione said firmly, placing her empty bowl aside and pointing a finger at him.
"I could believe one of you was mistaken. But both of you? That's unlikely—unless someone used magic. And that would be even worse."
"Of course I trust you," she continued, her tone steady. "And I doubt either of you were under any spell. Dumbledore would have noticed."
"I only trust Harry," Ron muttered stubbornly.
"Krum's account isn't completely reliable," Hermione said. "I questioned him myself. He admitted he didn't actually see the attacker—he was hit from behind. He only assumed it was Crouch."
Ron's expression darkened slightly at the mention of Hermione talking to Krum alone.
"But we still can't be certain," Hermione continued, tapping the table lightly. Her eyes shone with sharp clarity.
"The attacker could have been someone else. After you left, another person could have arrived. For example…"
"You mean… Professor Moody?" Harry frowned, his lightning-shaped scar creasing.
"He's a possibility," Hermione replied calmly. "But that's not my point. We shouldn't fixate on just one suspect. We need to consider everything."
Without Rita Skeeter constantly stirring trouble, Hermione had more time and focus to think things through.
In another situation, she might have been overwhelmed dealing with rumors and backlash.
But now, although whispers about her and Krum still lingered, they didn't disrupt her life much.
"That's enough for now," Hermione said, glancing around the hall. Most students had already left. "We should head for lunch break. We have Potions this afternoon."
—
"Longbottom! Use that pig-like brain of yours for once!"
In the Potions classroom, Severus Snape's sharp voice cut through the room.
Neville's workstation was in complete chaos.
A moment later, flames burst violently from his cauldron, twisting upward in a roaring column. Within seconds, the fire nearly reached the ceiling, heat radiating outward.
The surrounding students quickly stepped back.
Neville stood frozen, sweating, his legs shaking—but he still tried to fix it, raising his wand.
"Enough!"
Snape snatched the wand from his hand and cast a spell in a low, rapid incantation. A streak of pale blue light pierced the flames.
Instantly, the fire vanished.
The air cooled.
"I will seriously consider recommending to Dumbledore that Mr. Longbottom be banned from practical potion work—for the safety of everyone," Snape said coldly, tossing Neville's wand aside before returning to the front.
Neville picked it up slowly, his expression unreadable.
At that moment—
"Hermione! He's used it!"
Harry suddenly leaned over, holding up a small crystal bottle.
He had been distracted earlier, but when he heard the faint clink of glass, he looked down and found it lying on the floor—likely dropped from Snape's robes during the commotion.
It was the same bottle Snape had shown him before.
The one containing Veritaserum.
Last time, it had held a clear liquid.
Now—
It was completely empty.
Hermione stared at the bottle in Harry's hand, her expression freezing in shock.