Bartemius Crouch was desperate for a comeback.
The International Magical Cooperation Office was a powerless department—so marginal it barely mattered. Wizards lived long lives, and by their standards he was still young. Working for a few more decades was no problem at all, so his dream of becoming Minister for Magic had never truly died.
To revive his career, he needed proof.
Capturing Hydrus Lestrange—the fugitive who had evaded the Ministry for five years—would be the perfect move.
First, it would prove his competence.
Second, it would show that he stood firmly against the Death Eaters, minimizing the stain left by his disgraceful son.
If he pulled this off, his career might finally turn around.
As for why he believed Audrey Astley was that little witch?
Simple.
Hydrus had already demonstrated her Metamorphmagus abilities in front of Kingsley. Changing her appearance meant nothing. Audrey Astley's sudden appearance was far too convenient.
Aurors had reported that the day after Hydrus escaped, while tracking residual magical echoes near Manchester Square, they spotted Audrey Astley—her face was far too distinctive to miss.
The matter had dragged on for five years for two reasons. First, a much larger crisis had erupted at the time—Bode Gray's incident had been catastrophic. Second, Audrey Astley had only been a suspect. There was no concrete evidence.
But now?
A famous sixteen-year-old singer suddenly being admitted to Hogwarts?
Too many coincidences concentrated in one person.
Crouch realized this was his chance. He submitted a request to investigate Audrey Astley to Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
It was rejected outright.
Worse, Bones reprimanded him sharply, warning him not to interfere in her department's affairs. The Ministry clearly valued this late-enrolling witch, believing she was key to uncovering traces of ancient magic.
Left with no choice, Crouch began investigating in secret.
He even infiltrated a Muggle police station to examine Audrey Astley's records.
Her file was flawless—too flawless. Money smoothed everything over. That only deepened his suspicions.
The real breakthrough came when he visited Rick Astley's hometown, Warrington.
No one there had ever heard of Audrey Astley.
That sealed it.
He was almost certain now—Audrey Astley was Hydrus Lestrange.
Even without direct evidence, all he had to do was bring her back to the Ministry. Two drops of Veritaserum, administered quietly, and everything would come out.
"Mr. Crouch," Audrey said calmly, "I only learned yesterday that I'm a witch. This Hydrus Lestrange you're talking about—I've never even heard the name."
She met his gaze without flinching.
"And if you intend to take me to the Ministry, do you have the proper paperwork? An arrest warrant, perhaps? May I see it?"
She knew he didn't have authorization.
He'd been demoted.
And Dumbledore himself had said the Ministry valued her highly.
Sure enough, Crouch's expression darkened.
"Stop acting," he snapped. "Hydrus Lestrange—I know it's you!"
His desperation shattered his composure.
"You'd better come quietly. Don't force me to act."
Audrey smiled and shook her head.
"Mr. Crouch, without a warrant, I'm not going anywhere," she said confidently.
"And if you use force… couldn't that be interpreted as kidnapping? Or extortion?"
She lowered her wand slightly, remaining alert.
"After all, I'm quite wealthy. Plenty of criminals would love to get their hands on my savings."
She tilted her head innocently.
"Oh—or are you after my looks? I know I'm pretty, sir, but I'm only sixteen. I'm still a minor."
Crouch nearly exploded with rage.
A kidnapper? A lecher? Accused by a wanted criminal?!
His wand lashed out instinctively.
"Stupefy!"
Audrey was ready.
"Protego!"
Magic surged through her body, swift and obedient. Before the incantation fully left her lips, the shield had already formed.
So this was it—magic responding directly to intent.
Crouch's spell struck the barrier and dispersed.
Audrey's eyes lit up.
She flicked her wand—no incantation.
A red beam shot back at Crouch.
Silent casting isn't that hard, she realized. Once a spell is cast, my body remembers it. If I form the intent, the magic follows.
She didn't know it—but only a body steeped in magic for sixteen years could do this.
Dumbledore and Grindelwald could cast silently through mastery and profound understanding.
She did it by instinct.
Seeing his ambush blocked—and countered—Crouch was now fully convinced.
This was Hydrus.
He launched into a full assault.
As former Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Bartemius Crouch was no weakling—roughly the equivalent of two Lucius Malfoys.
With deep combat experience, he quickly pressed Audrey back.
She had no choice. Wizard dueling was new territory, and she only knew first- through fifth-year spells—learned hastily within the last half hour.
"Fire Shield!"
Blue flames erupted, forming a blazing barrier.
Crouch's spells exploded against it in showers of sparks, dissolving into raw magic.
Audrey's thoughts shifted.
The flames twisted—shaping themselves into a massive blue fire dragon that lunged toward Crouch.
His face went pale.
What kind of spell is this?!
He barely had time to react, diving to the side as the dragon tore past.
Audrey pulled her wand back.
The dragon turned.
Crouch slammed his wand into the ground.
"Golem Construct!"
The lawn churned violently as a three-meter-tall mud giant rose from the earth, colliding head-on with the fire dragon and holding it at bay.
Dodging two more spells, Crouch pulled a small metal sphere from his coat.
Pain flashed across his face.
This alchemical item was rare—used only against the most dangerous dark wizards. He no longer had the authority to acquire more.
He hurled it forward.
The Fire Shield blocked it—
Then the sphere detonated.
Green smoke exploded outward.
The blue flames recoiled, forced back by the cloud, which spread with terrifying speed.
Audrey was engulfed.
Dizziness hit her like a hammer. She dropped to one knee.
Her magic faltered.
The Fire Shield collapsed.
Crouch was ecstatic.
Power. Authority. Vindication—he could see it all within reach.
As the smoke cleared, he stepped forward to seize her.
Crackle.
Crackle.
Two figures appeared between them.
Crouch's face drained of color.
Dumbledore.
Of course. The area had been warded with Muggle-Repelling and Confundus Charms—complex ones, cast by a master.
Only Dumbledore made sense.
"Director Crouch," Dumbledore said calmly, "what exactly do you think you are doing to my student?"
At the same time, Gellert Daep supported Audrey, checking her condition.
"Albus," he said grimly, "it's Mantari metal powder."
Dumbledore's expression changed instantly.
Mantari metal disrupted magical conduction. In powdered form, once inhaled, it severely suppressed a wizard's control over magic.
Worse—it couldn't be extracted by magic. Only time could remove it. Years of time.
"Bartemius Crouch!" Dumbledore thundered.
"You used Mantari powder on a sixteen-year-old child?!"
"She's a criminal!" Crouch roared back. "A wanted one! What's wrong with using force on a criminal?!"
"Where is your evidence?"
"Where is your authorization?"
"You had neither—and yet you attacked a Hogwarts student with a prohibited alchemical substance!"
"Who gave you the audacity?!"
The words rang like a bell.
Crouch's rationality snapped back into place.
He realized too late—without bringing Audrey back to the Ministry and forcing a confession, he couldn't prove she was Hydrus Lestrange.
And without proof, everything he'd done looked insane.
Using Mantari powder on a minor?
That alone could land him in Azkaban.
"Professor Dumbledore," he said quickly, sweat pouring down his forehead, "please don't be deceived. Audrey Astley is the murderer Hydrus Lestrange!"
Dumbledore's face remained calm.
But fire burned in his eyes.
"You've accused Miss Astley," he said evenly. "Where is your evidence?"
"She's a Metamorphmagus!"
"She appeared near the escape site that very night!"
"No one in Warrington recognizes her!"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"These are conjectures—not evidence.
But your unlawful assault on a Hogwarts student, using banned Mantari powder—that is evidence."
"Mr. Crouch," he said quietly,
"have you considered how you intend to answer for this?"
Audrey leaned weakly against Grindelwald, her body heavy and powerless.
Still—
She smiled.
Having someone stand up for her…
felt really, really good.