Orli placed a firm hand on Dobby's shoulder and continued speaking.
## Orli: "His name is Barty Crouch Jr. He was sentenced to death before, but his father managed to smuggle him out of Azkaban. Now, a house-elf named Winky is guarding him. He's far more dangerous than your former master, Malfoy—if he gets the chance to escape, he will definitely help the Dark Lord rise again."
Orli's voice was quick and low, and she kept glancing around to make sure no one else overheard their conversation.
# Dobby: "Winky?"
Dobby's silence charm had worn off, and he exclaimed in surprise.
# Dobby: "Dobby has met Winky before! Dobby knows Winky!"
Orli froze for a moment. She hadn't expected Dobby to already know Winky. This meant she couldn't completely rely on Dobby to handle the matter of Barty Crouch Jr., forcing her to adjust her plans.
## Orli: "I see. Then you should know that Winky is very soft-hearted—she's a kind house-elf, but she can't keep Barty under control. If Barty escapes, Voldemort..."
Dobby shrank back, visibly terrified by what he was hearing.
## Orli: "Your task is simple..."
Orli spoke slowly, her tone deliberate.
## Orli: "After the match, almost everyone will return to the campsite to sleep. The Death Eaters will begin their plan in the middle of the night. Keep an eye on the commotion there. As soon as they start tormenting Muggles, come back immediately and Apparate me to the tent next to the Weasleys'. Do you understand?"
# Dobby: "What? Miss Orli wants to go to the gathering place of those dark wizards?"
Dobby frantically shook his head, his large ears making sharp slapping sounds as if he were scolding himself.
# Dobby: "That's too dangerous! Dobby can just take Harry Potter away! Miss Orli mustn't go!"
## Orli: "No. This is more complicated than just Harry. I have to go."
Orli's tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
## Orli: "Dobby, remember, stay close to Harry and keep an eye on his surroundings. Harry's ticket was arranged by Mr. Arthur Weasley, and Barty Crouch Sr. works at the Ministry of Magic. Their seats are likely close together, probably in the same box—"
She took a light breath to steady herself.
## Orli: "If you see Winky sitting near Harry, it means the Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr. is also nearby. You must protect Harry until the match is over."
She recalled that Winky had a fear of heights and would always cover her face, while Barty would seize the opportunity to steal Harry's wand.
# Dobby: "Dobby... Dobby understands... Dobby will protect Harry Potter."
Dobby looked deeply worried, his round eyes filled with concern.
# Dobby: "But Miss Orli, you don't have to go... It's too dangerous..."
## Orli: "Many things are dangerous, but someone has to do them. Because we all have people we want to protect."
Orli spoke each word with deliberate emphasis. Dobby wanted to protect Harry, and so did she. But deep down, she also wanted to change someone else's fate, and stopping Voldemort's resurrection was a crucial step in that.
# Dobby: "Dobby understands, Miss."
Dobby gazed at Orli with his large, round eyes, gave her a solemn bow, and then disappeared with a snap.
The next day and a half passed in restless anticipation for Orli. She didn't know if her plan would succeed, whether she could find Barty Jr. before his father did, or if she would have the resolve to end him.
Previously, handing over Peter Pettigrew to the Ministry of Magic had been about clearing Sirius Black's name. But Barty Crouch Jr... this ticking time bomb was better defused sooner rather than later. She retrieved her mother's old wand and prepared several bottles of stronger corrosive potions.
She had once used corrosive potions to burn through the floorboards of the Dursleys' house, but this time she had prepared something much more potent.
Additionally, she had redeemed something from the system—something essential for dealing with Barty Crouch Jr. afterward.
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