Hogwarts: Who made her a professor?

Chapter 345 Like Falling into an Ice Cave Skit

Chapter 345 Like Falling into an Ice Cave Skit

Bertha Jorkins was an unlikable person who was always being moved from one department to another.

Regardless of how her department changed, the only constant was that Johansson caused more trouble than she did.

How did this talkative, meddlesome, forgetful, and confused troublemaker end up getting involved with Barty Crouch?

Barty Crouch was known for his strictness and harshness, and he took a violent approach to the Death Eaters, even throwing his only son into Azkaban for life imprisonment.

In the past, Belvina would never have believed that these two could get together.

But now Belvina has no choice but to believe it: Barty Crouch and Bertha Jorkins are already living under the same roof!

Belvina slowly exhaled, looking over the low bushes at the neat rows of houses in the neighborhood, and towards the Crouch family's old house.

The Dark Mark at the World Cup campsite, Moody's attack before the start of school, the fourth champion of the Triwizard Tournament, and the increasingly clear Death Eater mark—all the answers are hidden in that house.

"You're not going to just barge into Crouch's house, are you?" Rita Skeeter asked.

It sounded like Rita was trying to stop Belvina and hope she wouldn't act impulsively, but Rita's expression suggested otherwise.

Rita Skeeter wished Belvina would just rush over, kick open Crouch's door, and then tie Crouch and Jorkins up and torture them.

It would be even better if that damned house-elf could also get some "clothes". For house-elves, "clothes" are the ultimate punishment.

"She really wanted to just rush in, but she wouldn't," Sirius said. "She could convince herself to suppress her impulse."

Sirius stretched lazily and continued, "You're definitely going to be disappointed, Skeeter. Belvina just seems brainless, she's not really."

"Even if I really am brainless, I didn't waste twelve years in Azkaban," Belvina said. "How many twelve-year periods do you have in your life, Sirius?"

Sirius pursed his lips and didn't respond.

"So what?" Rita said, displeased. "You two came all this way just to verify with me, to confirm that I really did see Jorgins?"

Upon hearing this, Belvina nodded and said, "Basically—that's right. You've done a great job, Rita; your discovery has cleared up many of my doubts."

"And what about me? What about my doubts?" Rita looked even more dissatisfied. "The Crouch father and son, and Joggins, what exactly is going on between them?"

Rita scratched her hair in frustration, then said, "And you, why are you investigating Crouch? I don't believe you're just doing this to get rid of your boss at the Ministry of Magic!"

"You wouldn't want to know, Rita," Belvina said. "Let's leave it at that. If we continue this investigation, I'm afraid you'll lose your life in Fuwei District."

These words only made Rita Skeeter angrier.

"You were the one who set me up and made me investigate Crouch, and now you're preventing me from investigating Crouch. You'd better give me a reasonable explanation!"

Then Rita looked at Sirius and asked, "Did your sister hit her head when she was little?"

Sirius looked up at the sky and resolutely refused to say a word.

"Jorgins has been missing for over half a year, you should know what that means," Belvina said. "If the investigation continues, you'll be the one who disappears."

“Of course I know what this means. It means that Jorgins is already considered a dead man in everyone’s eyes,” Rita said. “A missing person presumed dead is now perfectly fine in Crouch’s house, and you’re telling me to abandon the investigation?”

With the sudden reappearance of the missing man, Rita Skeeter realized that Crouch harbored far more secrets than she had imagined.

It needs to be even bigger.

Investigating such a huge secret, the dangers hidden within are self-evident, far more dangerous than Rita Skeeter had anticipated.

Just as Belvina said, once Rita's secret investigation is discovered, her only fate will be "disappearance".

Although continuing the investigation could cost her her life, Rita was unwilling to give up; she was not resigned to it.

"Why don't you go over and knock on the door, pretending to be visiting? Even though that old man Crouch isn't home, the house-elves are," Rita suggested. "Jorgins should be here too; I didn't see her leave."

After saying that, Rita looked at Belvina with anticipation.

"No." Belvina refused without hesitation, without even thinking. "I should be in Scotland right now, in Hogwarts, not in the Winged Quarter."

With her hopes dashed, Rita turned to look at Sirius.

"Crouch was the one who threw you into Azkaban. Didn't you ever think about getting revenge?" Rita seduced. "Now is the perfect opportunity to ruin Crouch's reputation!"

"No." Sirius refused just as decisively. "Old Barty's disgrace is inevitable, there's no rush."

For the Black siblings, the most important thing right now is to find Voldemort, because only Voldemort can get them moving.

As for Buddy Crouch, let him keep jumping around as long as he doesn't show any signs of running away.

Seeing the two siblings' identical attitudes, Rita Skeeter was furious. Was she the only one who wanted to find out the truth as soon as possible?

"Rita, I really don't recommend you continue the investigation," Belvina said seriously. "Although I hate you, we've known each other for so long, and I don't want to see news of your disappearance in the newspapers."

"Don't give me that!" Rita retorted, unconvinced. "When you framed me for investigating Crouch, didn't you consider the possibility of me getting into trouble?"

"Things are different now. Fukuoki District is more dangerous than I expected. It's better if you don't know what's going on here," Belvina continued to persuade. "Go back, Rita."

Rita Skeeter stood with her hands on her hips, staring intently at Belvina, seemingly determined to get a reasonable explanation rather than this vague persuasion.

"Rita, what happens next is really not something you can get involved in," Belvina said patiently. "Even if you investigate everything thoroughly, you wouldn't dare to make it public."

Rita Skeeter lowered her hands upon hearing this, but her eyes remained fixed on Belvina.

A few months ago, Rita was tricked by Belvina, who used a combination of coaxing and deception, along with intimidation and threats, to turn a senior reporter from The Daily Prophet into Barty Crouch's stalker.

Now, Belvina is sincerely trying to persuade Rita to give up the investigation. Her attitude is completely different from before, if not drastically different.

Most importantly, Rita actually felt sincerity from Belvina.

This wasn't the false sincerity of the "unbreakable vow" from last time, but a genuine concern for Rita Skeeter.

"Rita, you have absolutely no idea what you're about to face. That's all I have to say. Think about it yourself," Belvina said, shaking her head as she left.

Rita Skeeter watched with a puzzled expression as Belvina's figure receded into the distance, disappearing into the low bushes.

At this moment, Sirius, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

He said, "Belvina is right. Go back, stop going on like this, don't let your future self regret it."

Having said that, Sirius shook his head and left. He walked through the low bushes and stood beside Belvina.

Under Rita Skeeter's hesitant gaze, the two siblings whispered something and then disappeared as if they had never been to Fubuki Ward.

The afternoon sun was baking the earth warmly, but Rita Skeeter suddenly felt very cold, a chill running from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

The secret between the Crouch father and son is that Barty Crouch Jr. is still alive, and his other identity is a Death Eater and a follower of Mysterio.

What secret could be more serious or more dangerous than the Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr. being alive?

Instantly, Rita Skeeter felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.