Chapter 80: Snape: Am I The Only Idiot?
Harry was a very good test subject.
He was naive, and when he decided someone was trustworthy, he would cooperate fully if you told him it was for his own good.
On the other hand, he lacked sufficient self-control, and even if he knew punishment would follow mistakes, he couldn’t help but make them, providing a large amount of experimental data by continuously breaking rules.
Over the past month, with Harry’s help, Vaughn had gradually perfected his original idea.
And he had advanced the automatic response persona into a true Persona Embodiment—a virtual personality with real thoughts, memories, and behavioral patterns, albeit an Alpha version.
Hearing Vaughn finish explaining the original intention and principles behind developing the Persona Embodiment, Crouch’s expression was peculiar.
“So, I’ve been talking to a fake personality all this time?”
“No, it was only when I invited you into my Mind World that it became so. Isn’t it marvelous? By the way, the one you’re talking to now is also a virtual personality, but don’t worry, ‘I’ am still in the experimental stage, and the template is based on myself, with thoughts and behavioral characteristics identical to mine.”
Crouch: “…”
He suddenly had a lot to say, yet didn’t know how to say it.
After a moment, he asked curiously, “Then where is your real personality?”
Vaughn smiled without speaking.
Crouch understood; the other party pulling him into his Mind World and facing him with a virtual personality was to hide his true self, to prevent him from also learning Memory Magic and causing trouble there.
Naturally, he couldn’t reveal where his real personality was hidden.
Crouch sighed, “Let me out, I want to talk to the real you.”
“No problem!”
With another snap of his fingers, Crouch felt a dizzy spell. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the living room.
The frequent scene changes made Crouch unsure of what was real and what was illusory. He subconsciously reached for the armrest of the sofa, the rough fabric and its warmth providing a sliver of comfort.
Opposite him, Vaughn leaned back, legs crossed. “So, do you accept my proposal? I’ll help you cure your son, and you will cooperate with the Werewolf Affairs Committee regarding the Wolfsbane Potion, and at an appropriate time, help me with a few small favors.”
Crouch was silent for a long while. “How confident are you?”
“I don’t know.” Vaughn was very frank. “I need to carefully examine Mr. Barty Jr.’s memories, confirm the state of his Mind World, and ascertain the extent of the Dark Arts’ influence on him. Then, I will research treatment plans based on these findings.”
“As a potential partner, I need to explain to you that Mr. Barty Jr. is also very important to my research. Honestly, I’ve never had the opportunity to study a completely fallen dark wizard in detail, to understand what their minds are truly like.”
This point, in fact, was the primary reason Vaughn sought out Barty Crouch.
Crouch clearly sensed this. “The small favors you mentioned, are they also related to dark wizards?”
Vaughn smiled slyly. “Yes, for example, using your position to hand over some dark wizards to me for research.”
“…”
This statement, sounding somewhat like the evil human experimentation depicted in Muggle television, actually put Crouch at ease.
It meant the other party wasn’t trying to deceive him.
And through the demonstration and explanation in his Mind World earlier, Crouch had seen the potential of that strange Persona Embodiment. After a moment of hesitation, he said, “I’ll consider it… How should I contact you?”
This reaction basically confirmed it.
Vaughn’s smile became gentler. “You can send me a letter via owl, or you can use the fireplace to contact Professor Snape and have him relay an agreed-upon time to me.”
Saying this, he handed Crouch a note with an address and a few “Throw me into the fireplace” slips.
Crouch took them, laughing mockingly. “You’re very confident, certain I’ll agree?”
“No, I’m just certain that a father, to save his son, even if there’s only a sliver of a chance, won’t let it pass!”
“…”
…
For the next two days, the inquiry meetings continued.
The Minister’s Office.
Cornelius Fudge, his face grim, observed everything happening in the Wizengamot Chamber through the magic mirror.
This was his prerogative as Minister. Although he couldn’t participate in Wizengamot decisions, he could observe.
The Wizengamot itself did not refuse outside observation; sometimes, during trials, they would even allow ordinary wizards to be present.
Watching the inquiry meeting proceed smoothly under Amelia’s chairmanship, and seeing Vaughn Weasley’s detestable face on the central platform, lightly responding to the harmless inquiries.
Fudge gritted his teeth and forcefully downed a glass of strong liquor.
“Ahahaha—”
He burst into laughter, shaking uncontrollably, then erupted in anger, “Damn it, I want sherry, not this damn giggling strong liquor! I don’t want to laugh!”
“I’m sorry, esteemed Mr. Minister.”
Umbridge apologized flusteredly, fumbling to replace his drink with a new glass.
“Damn Burns, damn Weasley… these damned scoundrels! Did you see, Umbridge? They didn’t even bother to conceal it; all meaningless, pointless questions!”
Fudge used curses to mask his panic and frustration.
According to procedure, after the inquiry meeting, the establishment of the Werewolf Affairs Committee was virtually guaranteed. The meeting itself was intended to identify problems with a proposal through questioning.
If the proposer could answer all questions and gain the questioner’s approval, it would indicate they had given the proposal careful thought and detailed planning, thus meeting the criteria for approval.
To watch something that should have belonged to him be snatched away was undoubtedly difficult.
Umbridge consoled him, “Mr. Minister, you really don’t need to mind too much. The Werewolf Affairs Committee has a very significant problem: as an organization, it has no source of income. Did you hear? The Weasley boy the day before yesterday, to solve financial issues, even dared to try and win over Barty Crouch!”
She shyly covered her mouth, emitting a shrill, girlish giggle. “But he underestimated your authority. Barty Crouch didn’t pay him any mind at all; that old man wouldn’t dare oppose you. Just you wait and see how much money Weasley and Dumbledore can give those filthy werewolves to bleed dry!”
Hearing this, Fudge finally showed a smile, suppressing Crouch was his proudest achievement.
And this achievement, which he was most proud of, could now disgust Weasley!
It was double the pleasure!
Humph, foolish and naive Weasley!
He downed another large gulp of wine, and then, in the magic mirror, he saw with astonishment…
Barty Crouch, who had been invisible for days, suddenly raised his hand.
This action clearly bewildered the Wizengamot members as well. Amelia paused before, out of procedural necessity, signaling, “Mr. Crouch, do you have a question?”
Everyone looked at Crouch’s thin, stern face.
He stood up, his voice somewhat weak but clear enough: “Mr. Vaughn Weasley, I’d like to ask, what specific plan do you have for promoting the export cooperation of Wolfsbane Potion, as you mentioned the day before yesterday?”
Bang!
Umbridge looked back fearfully, seeing the Minister’s face turn ashen, and the wine glass shatter on the floor.
The inquiry meeting of the Wizengamot concerning the Werewolf Affairs Committee concluded with a surprise on the final day.
No one knew why Barty Crouch, who had been hidden for years and practically exiled himself from power struggles, suddenly lost his mind and appeared at such a sensitive time.
During the meeting, everyone observed Old Crouch closely. He seemed unchanged, still meticulously and wearily dressed as he had been for years, still taciturn, as if he only had ears.
However, his mental state was clearly different, like a dying person who had suddenly seen a glimmer of hope for survival.
Although he spoke very little throughout, every time he did speak, he firmly grasped the key points regarding the cooperation on exporting Wolfsbane Potion, even directly interacting with Vaughn in the meeting to help him fill in some details.
His cooperative and eager demeanor was utterly undisguised!
In reality, everyone knew that after the establishment of the Werewolf Affairs Committee, it would inevitably face attacks and targeting from the Ministry of Magic, led by Fudge.
Even if approved by the Wizengamot, making the committee a legal entity in England, the Ministry couldn’t act directly, but for such a power-holding organization, they had many indirect ways to exert influence.
For example, blocking potion sales approvals, inciting public opinion and partners to boycott werewolves from earning Galleons, adjusting the raw materials market, and so on…
Of course, all of this presupposed that the various departments of the Ministry of Magic could operate in harmony and effectively execute Minister Fudge’s series of plans.
But now, before the Minister’s plan had even begun, a major crack was about to appear!
“…The committee’s biggest shortcomings so far have been the lack of income and official backing, which was Fudge’s greatest leverage to make a comeback. But Barty Crouch’s betrayal has opened a new channel for the committee—the international wizarding world!”
“With Barty Crouch’s support, many problems that were previously a cause for concern will now have solutions: blocking potion sales approvals? It’s irrelevant; England’s approvals cannot affect other countries. At least with Crouch, a social butterfly, some countries with minority languages should be happy to open green channels for an old friend—it proves that knowing a few foreign languages can help you make many friends.”
“Blocking raw materials? Also irrelevant. Some countries where werewolf problems are more severe （ Northern Europe, etc. ）, to obtain Wolfsbane Potion as soon as possible, they are likely not opposed to a purchase model of raw materials + Galleons.”
“Restricting potioneers? The Extraordinary Potioneers Association currently has an ambiguous stance, but in terms of 《 Extraordinary Potions 》, due to the calls of Dumbledore and Severus Snape, several potioneers have already expressed their willingness to accept employment and brew Wolfsbane Potion, such as Mr. Slughorn, that lovely and cunning old man, who never misses an opportunity to gain fame…”
“Although we still don’t know how Mr. Vaughn Weasley managed to persuade Barty Crouch, his joining has indeed made the satisfactory conclusion of the inquiry meeting even more perfect.”
“It also signifies that the establishment of the Werewolf Affairs Committee has officially entered its countdown—Rita Skeeter reporting for you!”
Putting down the newspaper, Amelia Burns looked at Vaughn, a half-smile playing on her lips.
“When did Rita Skeeter become your mouthpiece?”
Eating biscuits, Vaughn shrugged. “Perhaps she was always a fair and compassionate journalist, who simply prioritized sensationalism over the pursuit of journalistic truth in the past.”
“Heh…”
Amelia chuckled. She had been interviewed by Rita several times and knew the foolishness and malice within that woman all too well.
She didn’t really care. She was a staunch Dumbledore supporter and a politician, knowing that in political struggles, uniting all possible forces was the correct approach.
Cherishing the virtuous and distancing oneself from the wicked out of personal preference, while admirable, was too idealistic.
However…
Amelia put down the newspaper, rubbing her temples, looking both annoyed and curious. “Just the day before yesterday, I cautioned you not to contact Crouch, and now… Speaking of which, how exactly did you persuade him?”
Vaughn didn’t answer, instead asking, “After seeing Old Crouch’s performance today, do you think recruiting him has more disadvantages than advantages?”
“…It’s hard to say, but his mental state is indeed different, and his enthusiasm far exceeds my expectations.”
Although she didn’t quite understand, Amelia answered honestly.
The useless, idle Crouch was the one who lost value, not the Crouch from the previous meeting, who was very cooperative and proactive with Vaughn’s plans!
Vaughn smiled.
When a father is pushed to desperation, he can unleash an energy far beyond what outsiders imagine for the sake of his son and family.
Looking at the child sitting on the sofa, eating biscuits, Amelia found him increasingly mysterious and inscrutable.
Regarding Crouch, in the first few years, many still had high hopes for him, expecting him to emerge from his personal darkness and lead everyone out of the stagnation of the Millicent Bagnold era （ she was a rather appeasing leader, and her main strategy during her reign was to be an ostrich; the current backwardness and inefficiency of the wizarding world bore some of her responsibility ）.
Many people had tried to help him get back on his feet, including Amelia herself back then.
But they all failed; everyone believed that the once iron-willed Crouch was now a broken man!
No one could have imagined that such a man, whom many old friends and colleagues couldn’t pull out of the mire, would be conquered by Vaughn Weasley today.
Amelia was very curious about what method Vaughn had used.
Similarly, others were also very curious.
As they were chatting, there was a knock on the office door. Amelia coughed and tidied her appearance before responding, “Enter!”
The door opened, and a middle-aged man with an imposing aura walked in.
He was a middle-aged wizard with thick, messy chestnut-brown hair, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, but his eyes were extremely sharp. His leg seemed to be slightly lame, yet his gait was powerful and imposing; every movement exuded a strong style.
At first glance, he looked like a lion preparing for battle.
“Rufus?”
“Amelia!” The wizard pursed his lips slightly, his voice deep and serious. He nodded to Amelia, then his gaze, like a sharp sword, fixed on Vaughn.
“Mr. Vaughn Weasley, I am Rufus Scrimgeour. Can you tell me how you persuaded Barty Crouch? As far as I know, he hasn’t involved himself in politics for a long time!”
“…” Vaughn, who had just put a biscuit in his mouth, blinked, finding his directness a bit baffling. “So?”
“So, I suspect you used abnormal means on him…”
Amelia frowned. “Rufus!”
Amelia was somewhat angry.
Rufus Scrimgeour was the Head of the Auror Office. The Auror Office belonged to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Although the Auror Office had a degree of autonomy based on the principle of separation of legislation and enforcement, nominally, he was still her subordinate.
Yet here, her subordinate was questioning her guest in front of her.
“I apologize, Amelia.”
Scrimgeour said he was sorry, but his eyes never left Vaughn. “But as an Auror, I have reason to suspect any anomalies, especially for a high-ranking Ministry official like Barty Crouch. If he were under the Imperius Curse…”
“That’s enough, you’re going too far, Rufus!” Amelia didn’t want to listen anymore and was about to reprimand Scrimgeour to withdraw.
Vaughn raised his hand. “It’s alright, Amelia.”
He looked with interest at Scrimgeour, who resembled an old lion with his messy, slightly graying hair, and smiled. “If I don’t want to say, what will you do?”
Scrimgeour maintained his pursed-lip expression. “If you refuse to say, I cannot force you. However, you will come into my sight, and I will be watching your every move!”
“Of course, you can bring pressure to bear on me through other important figures. I know Dumbledore is backing you; yes, this bit of gossip has spread throughout the wizarding world.”
He twitched his lips, as if smiling. “But as long as I remain Head of the Auror Office, you must be careful. You have a pair of eyes watching your back!”
With that, he turned and left, without any hesitation.
It seemed his appearance was solely to deliver these words of warning.
After he left, Vaughn looked at Amelia strangely. “Is he always like this?”
“Sigh…”
Amelia sighed. “You should ask how many people are left in the entire Auror Office who are *not* like this.”
“Alright, how many?”
“…The one I can recall immediately is Kingsley Shacklebolt…”
After complaining, Amelia still defended Scrimgeour. “Aurors are always on the front lines against dark wizards, so they can sometimes be very direct and rude. A prime example of this is Alastor Moody; believe me, when you see him one day, you’ll understand that Scrimgeour is actually quite mild.”
Vaughn smiled, saying it as if joking, “Ah, it seems the Ministry still needs a lot of system improvements. I think it’s necessary to establish a psychological counseling agency for the Auror Office. I have some skill in Memory Magic, Amelia; perhaps you could consider hiring me?”
Seeing that Vaughn didn’t seem too bothered by Scrimgeour’s offense, Amelia secretly breathed a sigh of relief and replied with a joke, “If I ever become Minister for Magic, I might consider it.”
Vaughn responded with a smile.
He truly didn’t take Scrimgeour’s threat to heart.
This old lion was undoubtedly a competent Auror, possessing a sense of justice and a resilient mind.
In the future, even under severe torture by Voldemort, he would not reveal Harry’s whereabouts.
But his talent was limited to that.
In the original story, with Voldemort’s return, Fudge’s resignation, and Amelia’s murder, he rose to become Minister for Magic, but until his death, he made no effective decisions.
The only achievement of his tenure as Minister was distributing defense pamphlets to wizarding residents…
Amelia didn’t want to discuss Scrimgeour further and changed the subject, asking, “What has Dumbledore been busy with lately? I haven’t seen him at all these past few days.”
“Him… he’s probably investigating a case in some primeval forest right now!”
“?”
…
Snape, with a stern face, his long robes trailing, passed the password with the hideous gargoyle and entered the Headmaster’s Office.
Then, he saw Dumbledore, dusty and disheveled, his beard and hair covered in twigs and leaves.
“Ha…”
Snape let out a short, expressionless laugh to emphasize his sarcasm. “Esteemed White Lord, you’ve been missing for over half a month. I thought you were busy with some important wizarding world affairs, but now it seems you might have just gotten drunk and fallen into a tree hollow?”
The thick-skinned Dumbledore pretended not to understand and smiled warmly. “Severus, long time no see. Is everything well recently? How is Harry?”
“Not well. Your great Boy Who Lived, to gain attention, has impersonated an owl, a Ravenclaw student, a hamster, a madman… and a stag!”
At the mention of the last word, “stag,” Snape’s expression darkened, as if recalling something that disgusted him.
Dumbledore was unfazed. “What vibrant youth, isn’t it? Hmm… How is Vaughn?”
It must be said, the person who understood Snape best was Dumbledore.
Snape’s expression visibly softened. He didn’t speak, but instead took a newspaper from his pocket and handed it over.
“Ha, it seems you’ve been keeping an eye on your dear student.”
“I just want to see how he plays himself to death!”
“Don’t be disingenuous. If you didn’t care about him, with your temper, you wouldn’t carry the newspaper around with you… Oh—the inquiry meeting has concluded? Crouch actually supported Vaughn at the meeting? It seems I’ve missed many exciting scenes!”
Quickly scanning the report in the newspaper, Dumbledore narrowed his bright blue eyes slightly but said nothing further.
Snape couldn’t help but feel curious. “Aren’t you curious how he managed to persuade Crouch? Many people are very confused.”
“Of course, I’m curious.” Dumbledore took off his glasses and wiped them, his expression calm. “But we had an agreement to protect each other’s current trust and focus on more important matters.”
“For Vaughn, the Werewolf Affairs Committee is his most important matter currently. All his goals serve the establishment of the committee, and I have no reason or desire to interfere.”
“Just as when he needed me to personally intervene the most, I chose to do what I deemed important, and he didn’t interfere with me—this is a compromise and trust between two intelligent people, very precious!”
Snape narrowed his eyes.
Humph, I don’t really understand you smart people!
He couldn’t be bothered with the two foxes, one big and one small, and whatever agreement they had. He directly stated, “Are you done asking? I still need to go back and grade your Boy Who Lived’s thesis. Tsk tsk, I spent an hour forcing myself not to vomit after looking at that pile of trash.”
To his surprise, Dumbledore didn’t speak, seemingly deep in thought.
After a moment, he said, “Severus, find some time to pressure Quirinus.”
Hearing this, Snape frowned. “You want to speed up the process? Why?”
According to the adjusted plan, he was supposed to pressure Quirrell at the end of the semester, thereby alerting the Dark Lord and forcing him to make a desperate move and attempt to break through.
The reason for choosing that timing was to wait until Harry had mastered Legilimency.
