Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

Chapter 626: Shadows in the Bushes

“Mr. Crouch’s health is just a minor problem. He will be up and about in no time,” said Percy importantly. “He’ll definitely get better before the start of the second task. But in the meantime, I’m more than willing to take up the slack. Of course, it’s not all attending balls.”

He laughed airily and continued, “I’ve had to deal with all sorts of things that have cropped up in his absence … you heard Ali Bashir was caught smuggling a consignment of flying carpets into the country? And then we’ve been trying to persuade the Transylvanians to sign the International Ban on Dueling. I’ve got a meeting with their Head of Magical Cooperation in the new year…”

Percy kept on talking about his recent work, and the others were not in the mood to listen.

Evan was more concerned about what had happened to Mr. Crouch. Did Barty Crouch Jr., who probably pretended to be him, get tired of the work of the Ministry of Magic, so he gave all these messy things to Percy?!

What Barty Crouch Jr., who had disappeared from the crowd, was doing made Evan a little worried.

He certainly would not be lying in bed as Barty Crouch, but had more important things to do.

Also, what did Percy just mean about the new measures in the Triwizard Tournament?!

If he asked Percy directly, he certainly wouldn’t say anything; but since it was the Ministry’s decision, the school should already know about it.

Maybe he could ask Caresius, by the way, if there were any new information.

They sat there for a while, and from time to time someone came to invite Evan or Hermione to dance.

Evan was annoyed. He didn’t want to dance with the other girls, and neither did Hermione.

She once again turned Krum down, who left with a dreadful look on his face, not showing what he was thinking about.

Harry was still thinking about Cho, while Colin, Neville, Ginny, Luna and Gabrielle continued to dance.

As for Ron, he never came back after the end of the third song. It was unknown where he and Lavender had gone.

“Let’s go for a walk,” Evan whispered, and Hermione nodded.

They left the table, edged around the dance floor, and slipped out into the entrance hall.

The front doors stood open, and the fluttering fairy lights in the rose garden winked and twinkled as they went down the front steps.

Now, the rose garden in front of the castle was filled with low bushes; winding, ornamental paths; and large stone statues.

There were festive Christmas decorations hanging on the statues and trees, and the stars were shining with golden magic.

Evan could even hear splashing water, which sounded like a fountain. Here and there, people were sitting on carved benches.

The fairies were dancing in the flowers, fluttering their wings and dropping some stars.

Evan and Hermione set off along one of the winding paths through the rosebushes. They were not walking fast, enjoying this rare time alone.

As the light grew darker and darker, Evan could hear the sound from many rosebushes, and in the obscurity he could see someone kissing.

As for the more daring, they had already run to the edge of the Forbidden Forest or the huge shadow of the castle.

The two were a bit embarrassed, but they seemed to be affected by the surrounding environment, and had a further impulse and temptation.

With this kind of opportunity, it was too useless to just take a walk!

Evan made up his mind to hold Hermione’s little hand and walked into an empty dark corner.

Hermione also understood Evan’s purpose, a little scared and a little expectant, allowing him to drag her forward.

She felt her face blushing, but fortunately it was so dark, and no one could see it.

When she recovered, she raised her head subconsciously and looked inside the dark corner on the left side.

“Evan, look over there,” Hermione said suddenly, in a low voice.

Evan looked into the corner she was indicating and vaguely saw Ron and Lavender.

They were in the corner, hugging each other so closely that it was hard to tell whose hands were whose.

Well… that didn’t persist for long. Ron seemed to be very… hands on, and in the face of Ron’s various moves, Lavender did not refuse.

Both Evan and Hermione looked at the corner with surprise and did not react for a while. Then they left the place quickly as though they had seen nothing.

Ron and Lavender were progressing too fast. Thinking about what they were doing, anyway, it was not very suitable to do it around here. Evan didn’t want himself interrupting Ron, or Ron interrupting him.

He led Hermione in a different direction, but they had gone only a short way when they heard an unpleasantly familiar voice.

“I don’t see what there is to fuss about, Igor.”

“Severus, you cannot pretend this isn’t happening!” Karkaroff’s voice sounded anxious and hushed, as though keen not to be overheard. “It’s been getting clearer and clearer for months. His strength is increasing, and at an unimaginable speed. He is coming back soon. I am becoming seriously concerned, I can’t deny it.”

“Then flee, coward!” said Snape’s voice curtly. “Flee, run to a place where that man can no longer find you. I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts”

Snape had his wand out and was blasting rosebushes apart, his expression most ill-natured. Squeals issued from many of the bushes, and dark shapes merged from them.

“Ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!” Snape snarled as a girl ran past him. “And ten points from Hufflepuff too, Stebbins!” as a boy went rushing after her.

“And what are you doing?” he added, catching sight of Evan and Hermione on the path.

Karkaroff looked slightly discomposed to see them standing there. His hand went nervously to his goatee, and he began winding it around his finger.

“We’re walking, professor!” Hermione said they did nothing.

To be exact, they hadn’t had time to do it yet.

“Keep walking then, Miss Know-it-all. Twenty points from Gryffindor!” Snape snarled, and he brushed past them, his long black cloak billowing out behind him.

Karkaroff also hurried away after Snape, leaving Evan and Hermione standing on the dark path.

There was nobody around now, but neither of them was in the mood for what they had intended on doing.

They were thinking about the conversation between Snape and Karkaroff, and the twenty points deducted really spoiled the mood.

“What on earth is going on? What’s got Karkaroff all worried?” said Hermione. “And since when have he and Snape been on first name terms? They look familiar and have a good relationship.”

Of course, after all, there were not many people, still alive, who had betrayed the terrorist organization of the Death Eaters.

At this critical moment on the eve of Voldemort’s return, it was also inevitable that they would exchange views.

Listening to Karkaroff, besides the Dark Mark becoming clearer, Voldemort’s power was increasing. How did he do it? Would it be related to the movements of the vampires and the disappearance of Barty Crouch Jr.?

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