Get Out of My Brain Immediately!

Relieved that Crouch was willing to give in, Ivan used his wand to move Crouch away from the fireplace.

Crouch, however, had no intention of moving. He could not see Ivan when he was invisible, but he could guess Ivan's identity from his voice.

"Hales, I don't know why you're willing to follow Alastor into my office, but I want you to understand that attacking a high-ranking Ministry employee is a serious enough crime to keep you in Azkaban for a while! If you go back on your word…"

"It may not be our turn to enter Azkaban… Barty!" Moody sneered. "I now charge you with altering the rules of the game, casting a Confunding Charm on the Goblet of Fire, and attempting to murder Harry Potter!"

"I murdered Harry Potter?" Barty Crouch laughed at Moody's words. "What reason would I have to do that?"

"In addition, do you have a warrant and arrest warrant from the Ministry of Magic? And who gave you permission to investigate me without permission? To investigate the head of a Department of International Cooperation?" Barty Crouch asked harshly.

Moody automatically ignored Barty Crouch's words, pointing his wand at Crouch for emphasis. "I think that letter is proof! Give it to me, now!"

Barty Crouch remained silent, looking coldly at Moody.

The latter became even more impatient and took a few steps forward, preparing to snatch it from her.

Barty Crouch suddenly spoke.

"I can show you the letter … there's nothing shameful in it!"

As he spoke, Barty Crouch handed over the envelope he was clutching and continued angrily, "I hope you won't regret this!"

"I wouldn't!" Moody grinned hideously and snatched the letter away, shaking it and examining it.

"What does it say, then?" Yvonne asked. She wanted to check it out too, but she was worried that Crouch might take advantage of their distraction.

Instead of answering Ivan directly, Moody looked at Crouch suspiciously and questioned him. "What have you been looking for all these months? Or… looking for someone?"

"This is a private matter, and I am under no obligation to answer it!" Crouch, without the slightest instinct of a prisoner and with an attitude of steel, glared at Moody. "You have read it, haven't you? That letter is commonplace!"

"That remains to be seen, and I urge you to be honest with me, Barty!" Moody snapped, grabbing Crouch's robe.

"I wouldn't put it past you to spend so much time on something so trivial.

I checked with Bagman, and he said you'd been out of sight for months, leaving him to deal with the Triwizard Cup, and none of my friends in the Co-operation and Exchange Department have seen you back at the Ministry… Also, I checked those papers on your desk, and you didn't even touch them!"

"It must be something very important and urgent for you to leave all this work behind at once, and I guess you have to do it discreetly, right?"

Moody's words were sharp, and his large magical eye was fixed on Crouch's changing expression.

Ivan was also staring at Crouch, but, to his disappointment, Crouch's face remained calm, no matter what Moody said.

On second thought, however, Ivan found this to be normal. Crouch was the former Chief Executive, having risen through the ranks of the Aurors. Ordinary methods of questioning would be pointless to him.

"Have you had enough, Alastor? These are personal matters, and they have nothing to do with Potter!" Barty Crouch snapped, pulling Moody's hand away and looking at the pair of them. "I'd like to see Dumbledore and ask him how he manages his staff and… students!"

Moody's ferocious face twitched as he clutched the letter in his hand, momentarily caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Can I see that letter?" Ivan asked suddenly.

Moody looked away and, without hesitation, threw the letter at him.

Yvonne reached for the envelope, opened it, and took a look inside. The contents were very vague — presumably the sender wanted Barty Crouch to have a few days' grace, as it would be very difficult to find certain clues all over Britain with just a photograph…

Yvonne had to admit that Crouch was very cautious, and the letter didn't give much away, but when she thought about his strange behaviour, her suspicions resurfaced.

"Did you think of anything, Harls?" Moody asked, sensing the change in Ivan's expression.

"You can show that note to our Mr. Crouch!" Yvonne said casually, then went back to the Daily Prophet for a final confirmation.

Displeased at Ivan's attempt to keep him in suspense, Moody pursed his lips, took the parchment out of his wizarding robes and turned it over.

"Recognise it? This handwriting?" Moody demanded.

Crouch was initially confused as to what the pair were up to, but when he read the scrawl,

However, his heart was in turmoil.

He tried to contain his emotions so as not to reveal them to Moody.

The next moment, however, it was over.

"You know this handwriting, don't you? It's from someone you know very well…" Yvonne said firmly, her eyes locked on Crouch's as she threw the letter and the Daily Prophet on the table.

"No, you're mistaken. I have no recollection…" Crouch shook his head, his expression strained.

"You're lying!" Ivan interrupted Crouch, whose fluctuating emotions were as obvious to him as candle flames in the night.

Ivan tried to take a step closer, and Crouch's panic built and built. He avoided Ivan's eyes, but the light words reached his ears, and each one seemed to rip the deepest secrets from his brain.

"He lost it, didn't he?"

"You've been looking for him all these months, looking for him like crazy! You're worried that something will happen to him, or that something will happen to him. You're even more worried that someone will catch him and affect your career!"

"After all … he is (your son!)!"

Ivan didn't get to finish his sentence, as Crouch was so distraught that he grabbed Ivan by the collar and pulled him up by the neck, ignoring the wand that was now resting against his neck.

"Get… out of my head right now!" Crouch yelled.

"Let him go, Barty!" Moody was the first to move, tearing Crouch's hand away and kicking him to the ground.