Chapter 492: Clothes for the Elf

"Apparitions are not allowed in this place!" Scrimgeour said.

"I know, but he suddenly disappeared from my sight! "

"Rufus, so that's it!" Fudge said, apparently relieved. "Whoever conjured the mark could have disappeared or wandered off by other methods right after doing so, leaving Harry's wand behind. A smart thing to do, not to use their own wand, which could have betrayed them. And Winky had the misfortune to find the wand moments later and pick it up."

Scrimgeour was silent for a while, as if considering the possibility of what Fudge had said.

"Elf, did you see anyone at the time?" he asked in a cold tone.

Winky began to shiver more than ever. Her giant eyes flickered from Scrimgeour, to Fudge again, and finally to her own master, Mr. Crouch. Then she swallowed and said, "I saw no one, sir...no one.... "

"You're lying!" Scrimgeour was in disbelief, "I have a way of letting you tell everything you know. "

"Scrimgeour!" Crouch said sharply. "I am fully aware that, according to general procedure, you would want to take Winky to the Auror's office for questioning. However, I ask that you allow me to deal with her first. "

Scrimgeour did not respond, and Crouch seemed to see it as tacit acceptance. He walked quickly to Winky's side.

"M-m-master... " Winky stammered, looking up at Mr. Crouch, his eyes filled with tears.

"Master, please, please, please, don't.... "

Mr. Crouch stared at her, his face somehow sharp, each line upon it more deeply etched. There was no mercy in his gaze.

"I was very surprised at Winky's behavior tonight. " She said slowly, "She did not obey my orders and appeared at the scene of the incident, picking up the wand that house elves are not supposed to touch... This means clothes!"

"No, no!" cried Winky, prostrating herself at Mr. Crouch's feet. "No, master! No clothes, no clothes! Please!"

The only way to free a house elf was to present him with proper clothing.

However, this meant not only the release of the elf, but also its destruction.

It was truly pitiful to see the way Winky clutched her tea towel as she sobbed at Mr. Crouch's feet.

"You can't do this; I was scared!" Hermione suddenly said indignantly, glaring at Mr. Crouch. "Your elf is afraid of heights; he couldn't stay in the box all the time, waiting to die! It's understandable that he showed up here. She was running for her life and found Harry's wand - you can't blame her!"

Ivan could feel that, out of anger, Hermione's little hand holding it trembled a little.

By then, everyone knew that Winky couldn't be the one to conjure the Dark Mark, but Crouch didn't care; he just needed a scapegoat.

Ivan looked into the dark ruins and wondered where Winky was hiding Barty Crouch Jr.

The wizard said he saw a figure that escaped his eyes. It must be Barty Crouch Jr.

He couldn't have disappeared, so he must be hiding under the invisibility cloak.

Ivan could no longer sense the existence of Barty Crouch Jr. who seemed to be protected by a magical force. And because of the battle just now, Ivan was very weak.

In his current state, it was impossible for him to detect the specific location of Barty Crouch Jr. And the magic had lost its effect.

However, he had no intention of revealing the matter.

This was related to his next plan. As for Barty Crouch's fate, Ivan could only wish him luck. Voldemort, who had suffered successive failures, would definitely break into his house in person.

Although he did not care for Crouch, this incident also warned Ivan.

With very strong power over ordinary wizards, these lunatics could do anything.

Whether it was Voldemort or vampires, these evil dark wizards had no respect for human life, and tonight's scene could happen any time later.

Mr. Crouch did not seem to hear Hermione's words. He took a step back, freeing himself from contact with the elf, whom he watched as if he were something dirty and rotten that was contaminating his shiny shoes.

"I have no use for a maid who disobeys me," he said coldly, looking at Hermione, "I have no use for a maid who forgets what she owes to her master's reputation."

Winky was crying so hard that her sobs echoed through the ruins, and there was a very embarrassed silence.

Mr. Crouch wanted to get rid of her, but Winky clung tightly to his leg.

"If you can, please give Harry's wand back to him." Sirius frowned and said, "These children have been through a lot tonight. They need to go back to rest. We have no energy or obligation to stay here and watch this farce unfold. "

Scrimgeour hesitated, but then reached over and handed Harry his wand, and his eyes fell on Ivan.

"You're Ivan Mason?!" he asked. "I'm hoping to talk to you!"

Ivan originally wanted to agree, but Sirius stepped directly in front of him.

"I don't think Ivan has anything to say to you. Everyone saw what happened tonight! " He said rudely. "In my opinion, Ivan saved everyone - he's a hero! "

"True, but this boy has such powerful magic, he's obviously not normal!" Scrimgeour said harshly.

"You have to know that some people are born to be geniuses!" Sirius replied quietly. "Don't use your low standards to measure other people. Furthermore, no matter how powerful Ivan is, this matter has nothing to do with Aurors."

Scrimgeour was embarrassed and stood still, glaring at Sirius.

"Come on, children!" Mr. Weasley whispered and tugged quietly at Sirius.

Everyone knew that Scrimgeour was a determined person. He worked as an Auror and spent most of his life dealing with Dark Wizards.

The professional habits he had developed over a long period of time prevented him from letting go of any person or matter he had doubts about.

Even though he was not as powerful as Crouch, it was best not to mess with him.

Ivan's performance tonight was so flashy that he needed to lay low.

What happened tonight, especially the appearance of the Dark Mark, was obviously out of place, and best not to get involved.

Everyone turned and left; only Hermione seemed reluctant to move, her eyes still on the sobbing elf.

"Hermione!" Mr. Weasley said, more urgently....

A few seconds later, Hermione turned and followed Ivan and everyone else out of the ruins and out of the stadium.