I do not own Harry Potter. Direct quotes from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will be in bold. Harry Potter belongs to the wonderful J.K Rowling.
A Surprise Sirius Visit
The day after the task, everyone swarmed up to the people involved in what was deemed the 'hostage situation'. Unable to send people away quite like Hermione could, Charlie repeated the story at least fifty times.
"I don't quite understand the appeal of it," said Charlie, walking down the corridors with her friends by her side. "I mean, all I did was swim through the water and retrieve Harry and Gabrielle."
"You have to embellish the story a bit," Harry said. "Just like Ron is doing."
Hermione arched an eyebrow. "Like how you two battled off a dozen merpeople with only your fists?"
"Exactly!" Harry grinned. "According to Ron, it adds flavour to the story, makes people want to listen."
Hermione snorted. "He wasn't even there. He was watching from the stands!"
"Yeah, but he's improving our version of the story. He thinks the way we tell it is too boring."
Charlie shook her head. "He ought to work for The Daily Prophet. He'd get a following of readers in a snap."
"Nah. That means he'd have to work in the same vicinity as Skeeter." Harry screwed his face up in disgust. "That's just not gonna happen. Ron wouldn't be able to handle it."
They reached the dungeons, where a crowd of fourth-year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were waiting to be admitted. Upon spotting them, Susan Bones frantically started shoving a copy of Witch Weekly into her bag.
"Hey, Susan," greeted Harry. "I didn't know you read Witch Weekly."
"Oh, uh, not normally," said Susan, her face turning red at getting caught. "It's just-"
"There's quite the article in there about you guys," interrupted Hannah Abbott. Horrified, Susan slapped her friend in the shoulder. Hannah winced and said apologetically, "Well, best they find out from us before Draco and Pansy get here."
"Skeeter?" Charlie asked heavily.
Susan nodded and pulled the magazine from her bag. She handed it to Hermione, but before the bushy-haired girl could flip through it, the door opened and Snape appeared. "Potter," he drawled upon spotting her. "You're still alive, I see."
"Barely," said Charlie feelingly. "Those Grindylows did their best to keep me down."
They all filed into the classroom (with the two Slytherins scampering in at the last second) and sat at their respective lab tables. When Snape started writing on the blackboard, Draco and Pansy sent smug smirks towards the two Ravenclaws.
"How bad is it?" muttered Charlie, eyeing the two Snakes warily.
Hermione unfurled the magazine beneath the table and started flipping through it. Eventually, she came upon the article, located in the very center of the magazine.
Hermione Granger-Scarlet Woman or Just Insecure?
Hermione Granger is a fourth year Ravenclaw at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. She is a close friend to Charlotte Potter, Chosen Girl and Triwizard Champion. However, despite their closeness, it seems that Granger is unable to stand the attention heaved upon Potter, who rightly deserves it in light of her tragic life.
Not only does Granger have Viktor Krum, talented Quidditch Seeker and Durmstrang champion, wrapped around her finger, but she's also toying with Harry Lupin. The young Hufflepuff was Potter's date to the Yule Ball, and Granger wasted no time in securing her grip into his affections.
'You're always fishing for compliments,' an exasperated Lupin was overheard saying. But he nonetheless heeded her wish, obviously smitten. Weasley, however, is not as quick to fall for Granger's manipulative charms. He was seen waltzing with Potter at the Yule Ball. No doubt he will soon be the target of Granger's desperate affections.
'I understand her flightiness,' remarked Pansy Parkinson, a pretty fourth year girl. 'She's terribly ugly. Potter's decent looking, I suppose, and she's got those two friends of hers always hanging around. She could get Krum, if she wanted to. That's probably what irks Granger the most. Potter can get any guy just by flaunting her status as Chosen Girl and she has nothing to flaunt.'
'Krum's also probably not good enough for Granger,' added Draco Malfoy, another fourth year. 'She's got high standards, impossible to meet. Plus, she's terribly plain. Who'd want to date her?'
That seems to be the questions troubling the students of Hogwarts. Why would Krum go after ordinary Hermione Granger instead of one of beautiful Beauxbatons girls, or Potter herself?
'Love Potion,' was Parkinson's firm response. 'Must be how she's getting Krum to go after her.'
Krum has invited Granger to his summer home and has stated that he's 'never met anyone like her before'. These sentiments just don't seem to be enough for Granger, whose eyes are continuously landing elsewhere.
Her insecurities no doubt arise from the jealousy she feels of Charlotte Potter, who is quite pretty and very popular.
Potter's many fans across the wizarding world sincerely hope that she will pull herself away from Granger, who is not a worthy friend of the Chosen Girl. 'Charlotte deserves love,' vehemently states one well-wisher. 'If Granger won't let her have it, then I say she should be dropped!'
Find the love you deserve, Charlotte. Weasley and Lupin are still reachable-you just need to snag them from a poor, vindictive, desperate girl's clutches.
A bark of laughter nearly burst from Charlie's lips, but she turned into a strangled cough. "Um…you can have them, if you want."
Hermione shook her head in amusement. "This is the best she can do? Unbelievable."
"You're not upset?" Harry asked, baffled.
"Of course not!" Hermione grinned. "It's utter rubbish. I've no interest in you or Ron."
"What about Krum?" Harry said mischievously.
Hermione rolled her eyes and slapped his shoulder. "Shut up," was her only response. She turned to Draco and Pansy and flashed a smile, causing the two to scowl at her lack of reaction.
The three started unpacking the ingredients for the Wit-Sharpening Potion they were to brew. Charlie started pounding scarab beetles with her pestle. As she worked she cast a glance at Hermione. "So...did Viktor really ask you over to his summer home?"
"Yeah." A puzzled frown crossed her expression. "I don't know how she found out, though. Along with the comment Viktor made-he did say he never met anyone like me before. Maybe she was under an Invisibility Cloak. It'd explain how she was getting onto Hogwarts grounds."
"Are you going to take him up on his offer?" Harry asked.
Hermione blushed. "I don't know. I haven't given him an answer yet. I was too busy worrying over you and Charlie."
"I fail to understand how discussing your social life is more important than brewing your Potion, Miss Granger."
Hermione stiffened and ducked her head down, hastily working double time on her grinding. "Sorry, Professor."
Snape glanced down and caught sight of the open magazine resting in Hermione's lap. "Reading instead of working, eh?" He snatched it before the girl could shove it away and skimmed the article. He arched an eyebrow when he came to the end. "Indecisive, are we, Miss Granger?"
Hermione turned brick red. "No, sir. It's only nonsense."
"Hmm. Well, to prevent the possibility of a fight breaking out amongst you, I believe it would be best if Potter moved up front." He thrust the magazine on the table beside Hermione and turned to Charlie with an expectant look.
Charlie obeyed, gathering her things and moving up a few tables. She was curious, as she knew Snape was bright enough to know slander when he saw it. She set up her station and continued her work, aware of Snape watching her from his desk.
"I don't suppose you know what happened to my store of Gillyweed, Potter?"
The question surprised her so much she dropped her pestle into her bowl. "Oh…um, Merlin." She bit her lip, unsure of how Snape would take the bit of news she had to deliver. Their relationship had improved since her first year, and he no longer looked at her with hatred boiling in his obsidian gaze. But he still had a temper, and still could be a bit unreasonable depending on the situation. "You see, Dobby, the house-elf that works here, is mine."
"I'm well aware of that. I'm assuming he has something to do with my missing Gillyweed?"
Charlie nodded. "He overheard the professors talking about the second task as he was cleaning. He must have gotten into your office to get the Gillyweed for me. I'm really sorry, I didn't order him to do it, and I should have asked him where he got it from-"
Snape held up a hand to cut her off. "That is all I needed to know. However, while it may not have been your fault, Dobby is still your house-elf and your responsibility. I expect to be reimbursed for the stolen Gillyweed."
Charlie nodded rapidly. She would pay anything. It was a lot better than being in detention scrubbing cauldrons, which is what he would have given her a few years ago. "When would you like it?"
"Next class will be fine. Ten Galleons, if you have it on you."
"I do," she confirmed.
"One more thing I have to ask you." Snape leaned forwards and studied the girl before him intently. "Do you happen to know who broke into my office?"
Charlie knew he was hoping she had spotted someone on her map. While she had never confirmed to Snape that she did indeed have the Marauder's Map, he seemed to know it anyway. "No, sir," she answered. "I'm afraid not."
"Very well, then. Continue on with your work."
She ducked her head and continued grinding, feeling guilty for lying to him. But she had already informed Moody, and he was no doubt investigating. She didn't want to tell Snape as well, for fear that the two would clash and Moody would do something everyone would regret. Besides, she honestly didn't think Crouch was up to anything suspicious. Nothing that would harm anyone, anyway. He was probably just doing a check on Snape and didn't want anyone to know about it.
But if it happens again, I'll tell him, she promised herself.
She was slicing up her ginger roots when a knock came on the dungeon door. "Come in," Snape said curtly.
To everyone's surprise, Karkaroff swept in, an extremely agitated look on his face. He went straight for Snape's desk and leaned towards the man, his voice low and anxious. "Severus, we need to talk."
"We will do so later," said Snape coldly. "When I am not teaching."
"I'm not leaving, Severus," said Karkaroff firmly. "You've been avoiding me, and I won't have you slip away again. I'm staying here."
Snape looked absolutely furious. "Leave Igor. We will speak later."
"Now, Severus!" Karkaroff snapped, forgetting to be quiet and thrusting his hand to the side to display his firmness. It knocked into Charlie's bottle of armadillo bile and it crashed to the floor, glass and gunk making puddle near her feet.
"Karkaroff!" Snape snarled, not at all happy with his display.
"Sorry," Karkaroff said gruffly, but his tense voice showed he cared very little of the additional mess he had created for the Ravenclaw.
"It's okay," Charlie said. "I'll clean it up once I've finished my Potion."
She continued her work at a much rapid pace, her eyes locked on her cauldron. No more words were exchanged between the two men. Snape sat rigidly while Karkaroff stood near his desk, just as stiff. Charlie finished her Potion, bottled it and cleaned up her work area. She bent down and was mopping up the mess on the floor just as the bell rang. The students dropped off their vials on the desk and hurried out of the room.
"It's happening, Severus!" Karkaroff said, once the last student had bolted out of the door. He seemed to forget that she was behind her table, cleaning the mess he made. "It's clearer than before!"
The girl sneaked a glance and it was to see Karkaroff showing the underside of his left arm to Snape, his sleeve rolled up to his shoulder. Snape's lips disappeared in a thin line. "We will discuss this later," he snarled. In a less vicious tone, he demanded, "Potter! Are you finished?"
"Yes, sir." Charlie quickly threw the dirty rag into her cauldron and finished packing up as Karkaroff stormed out. She handed in her own Potion and glanced at her professor. "Is…is everything okay?"
Snape arched an eyebrow at her. "I believe you have your own concerns to deal with. Do not worry about mine. Now off with you."
Nodding, she hurried out of the classroom, mulling over the event that had just taken place.
…
"What's Karkaroff's problem?"
Charlie glanced over at Ron, who had a baffled look on his face. The four of them were walking towards Hogsmeade, lingering at the back of the crowd of students so that they could speak privately. Charlie had just finished informing them of the confrontation between Karkaroff and Snape.
"I don't know," said Harry. "But he seems rather concerned with Snape, doesn't he?"
"Well…Durmstrang is known for their acceptance of the Dark Arts," Hermione said carefully. "Say the rumours were true of Professor Snape being in league with the Dark Arts. It makes sense that the two of them would know each other."
"He seems so…scared." Charlie frowned as she remembered the pale, frightened expression on Karkaroff's face as he showed Snape his arm.
No one really had anything to say to that, and they finished the walk to Hogsmeade in silence. The first stop they made was to a clothing shop, where Charlie bought a dozen pairs of socks for her beloved house-elf. "Dobby will be very happy."
"I still can't believe he stole the Gillyweed from Snape," snickered Ron.
"I can't believe he didn't throw you in detention," voiced Harry. "All he's doing is making you pay for it."
"I think he stopped seeing me as my father," reasoned Charlie. "They really didn't like each other in school. Dobby didn't know any better, and I really should have asked where he got it from before I took it. But I was in a hurry."
"So…you're rewarding his theft with a gift?" Hermione asked, amused.
Charlie grinned sheepishly. "He saved my butt. He deserves something for preventing my humiliation."
They walked out of the shop, Charlie swinging the bag of socks as she went. She squinted into the sunlight and found a very familiar figure striding towards them, his long hair swaying in the breeze. "Sirius?"
"Hey, kiddos!" he greeted cheerfully. "Surprised to see me?"
"Yes!" Charlie exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell us you were coming?"
"That would have ruined the surprise." He grinned and hoisted up a wicker basket. "I thought we could have a picnic. Muggles like picnics, right?"
"Yes," agreed Charlie, amused. "I'm sure a fair bit of wizards and witches like picnics too."
"Good! Let's get going. I'm starved!"
"Me too," said Ron eagerly, eyeing the basket with excitement.
The four kids followed Sirius through Hogsmeade and out into the surrounding countryside. He went down a grassy slope, well out of range of the village, and sat down. He used his wand to conjure up a blanket and he sprawled it over the grass. They arranged themselves into a circle and Sirius opened the basket.
"We've got tuna sandwiches, peanut butter sandwiches, iced pumpkin juice, biscuits, Chocolate Frogs, and potato salad," listed Sirius as he spread the platters of food onto the blanket. Ron wasted no time in digging in.
"Remus couldn't make it," Sirius informed Harry. "He said to say that he's sorry and he expects you to behave."
"I always behave," said Harry innocently. Sirius cast him a look and the boy smiled sheepishly. "Alright, maybe not always."
"So what's this I hear about a love mess between the lot of you?" Sirius studied them all sternly. "You're all much too young for this foolishness. Harry, Charlie, you know you can't date until you're eighteen."
"It's not true, Sirius," Charlie said in exasperation. "Really, how could you believe anything written by Skeeter?"
Her godfather had the decency to look embarrassed. "Just thought I'd check. Didn't want to risk a fight breaking out amongst you for something stupid."
"You don't need to worry about that," assured Hermione. "Skeeter wrote the article to spite me. She wasn't too happy that I called her wretched a few weeks ago."
Sirius could not help but burst into laughter. "Hermione Granger, actually disrespecting an adult. I never thought I'd live to see the day."
"Well, she hasn't done anything to deserve my respect," she muttered, picking at her portion of potato salad.
"I never thought you would be one to read Witch Weekly," Charlie said.
"Not normally. But I've been reading so much of The Daily Prophet that I figured I'd switch to something else for a brief read."
"Anything interesting in the past issues of the Prophet?" Hermione asked, wanting to know what else Rita Skeeter had wrote about.
"A bunch of stuff about Crouch. Skeeter's twisting it to make it seem like he's dying from a critical illness." His face twisted in disgust. "Awful woman, she is."
"You're telling me," muttered Hermione under her breath.
Charlie frowned in puzzlement. "But he can't be that sick. He came all the way to Hogwarts at one in the morning!"
"All Percy is saying is that Crouch is overworked and is taking a break to recover." Ron shrugged.
"Well, I bet he feels horrible now without Winky," Hermione said hotly.
"Let it go," snapped Ron.
"It was odd," mused Sirius. "That Winky was in that box all by herself and Crouch never showed up." He continued thinking for a moment before his eyes grew wide. "Charlie, did you check to see if you had your wand after you left the box?"
"No," she admitted. "I only realized it was gone when the whole Dark Mark fiasco started. Why? Do you think someone in the Top Box stole it?"
"The more I think about, the more I'm starting to think so." Sirius' eyes narrowed. "At first I figured you just dropped it and Winky found it. But now I think there's much more to the puzzle, especially considering all that's happening recently."
"You don't think Winky stole it, do you?" Hermione asked sharply.
"No, I don't think so. It's not in a house-elf's nature to steal, at least not without orders."
Charlie frowned dubiously. "I really don't think Crouch ordered Winky to steal my wand," she voiced. While the man was certainly acting suspicious, she truly didn't believe he was out to get her, or anyone else for that matter.
"Well, there were lots of people with us." Sirius thought for a moment. "I wouldn't put a stunt like that past the Malfoys, but there were so many influential people around them that I don't think they'd risk it. What about Ludo Bagman? How has he been acting?"
"He's alright. He's been trying to give me some help with the Tournament. It's like you said, Mr. Bagman adores me."
"He was in the forest when the Dark Mark was conjured. He looked a bit off," remembered Hermione. "When we told him he high-tailed it somewhere."
"To the campsite, Hermione," said Ron, rolling his eyes.
Hermione glared. "How do you know? You didn't follow him!"
"Hermione, Mr. Bagman didn't cast the Dark Mark," Charlie said in exasperation.
"There was more of a chance of him doing it then Winky!"
"No one's saying it was Winky!" Charlie exclaimed. "Mr. Crouch was in a tight spot, he did what he thought he had to do. No, it doesn't make it right. But Winky's at Hogwarts and she'll soon get over the loss of her master. So please, just let it go."
Hermione's lips formed a thin line and she went silent. Charlie ignored the smug look Ron sent Hermione and turned to Sirius. "I don't think it was Mr. Bagman," she repeated. "Even in the short time I've known him, it's just not something I think he's capable of."
"I don't think that it's Bagman either. But I think there is a reason to be suspicious of Crouch. He spent so much time to get the Tournament going and he doesn't even go the events. He's never been one to let illness stop him from going to work, so something's up there."
"You actually know Mr. Crouch?" Charlie asked, surprised.
A humourless smile curled across Sirius' face. "He was the one who sent me to Azkaban without a trial."
Eyes wide, Charlie could only stare. Hermione, Ron and Harry gave gasps of horror. "No way," cried Harry.
"Yup. He had good chances of becoming the next Minister of Magic, old Barty Crouch. In his hopes to get the spot, he sent me, the greatest known traitor in the magical world, to Azkaban. He's a pretty powerful guy. He's also against the Dark Arts."
"So, not a Voldemort supporter," Charlie stated.
"No. He was rather outspoken against him. But he wasn't a saint."
Sirius turned his gaze to the blue sky and continued, looking as though his words were bringing memories he wished he could rid himself of. "Voldemort was the most powerful wizard the magical world ever saw. He had his supporters, and you never knew who they were. Anyone around you could be under the control of Voldemort. It was a dark, frightening time.
"Crouch started making harsh decisions. Aurors were ordered to kill instead of capture. If he saw it fit, no Voldemort supporter would get a trial. The Unforgiveable Curses were legalized for use against any suspects. It was a violent war, on both sides. While many didn't approve of Crouch's unethical means, many more did. Owls were sent left and right, demanding that Crouch be appointed Minster. When Voldemort disappeared, it seemed like it would become true. Then it happened."
Heart pounding in her chest, Charlie could only whisper, "What happened?"
"Crouch's only child, his only son, was caught with a gang of Death Eaters that had managed to weasel their way out of Azkaban. They were trying to find Voldemort and bring him back to power."
Charlie thought for a moment. "Well…was he a Death Eater?" she asked carefully.
Sirius shrugged. "Could have been. I was in Azkaban at that point, and he was brought in while I was there. Most of the stuff I'm telling you now are the things Remus told me. There is chance he was only at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Did Mr. Crouch try to get his son out?" Charlie asked.
Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Haven't you realized by now that Crouch throws away anything that gives him a bad reputation? At that point, he'd spent so much of his life working to become Minister. He wasn't going to let his son take that away from him. Just as he wasn't going to let a devoted house-elf associate him with the Dark Mark again. Any love he held for his son-and there wasn't very much-extended to the point where he gave him a trial. Then it was off to Azkaban."
"How old was he?" Hermione asked softly.
"Only nineteen. He would scream for his mother in the night. But that only lasted for a few days. After a while, everyone goes quiet."
Charlie didn't like the haunted look that crossed her godfather's face. She reached out and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. "Is he still there?"
"He died a year after he was brought in," said Sirius dully. "Not many last in that place. If they're not already insane they go mad. Most just lose the will to live. The boy looked pretty sickly when he was brought in. Crouch and his wife came for a deathbed visit. Not long after, the wife died too. From heartbreak, they say."
"Why didn't Crouch get the Minister job?" Harry questioned.
"Think about it. A son comes from a good family and turns to the dark side. Who's to blame? Not the mother, who was always caring. But the father, who hardly ever showed he cared for the boy. There was a large drop in popularity after that incident, and Cornelius Fudge became Minister."
"My dad once said that Crouch is just as obsessed as Moody with catching Dark wizards," said Ron. "Is it true?"
"Yeah, I reckon Crouch believes that by catching one more Death Eater, he'll be back in the Ministry's good graces."
"I guess that explains why he was rummaging through Snape's office," spoke up Harry.
"I admit, I was initially wary when I learned Snape was teaching at Hogwarts. When we were there as students, he was well known for his expertise in the Dark Arts. His gang of Slytherins all turned out to become Death Eaters after graduation. There was Rosier and Wilkes. Both of them were killed by Aurors a year before Voldemort fell. My cousin and her husband are in Azkaban-the Lestranges. Avery smooth talked his way out of a sentence and is who-knows-where. Probably out of the country."
"But what about Snape?" Ron asked.
Sirius shook his head. "Never got himself caught."
"Karkaroff and Snape know each other pretty well, but Snape doesn't seem happy that Karkaroff keeps encountering him in public places. He was furious when Karkaroff showed him his arm."
A baffled expression crossed Sirius' face. "I don't know what that's all about."
"Say, Ron. Percy works for Mr. Crouch! Maybe you could ask him if he's seen him lately!"
"I suppose," said Ron reluctantly. "Don't expect much of a response, though."
"Ask about Bertha Jorkins while you're at it," added Sirius. "I've been wanting to know what's going on with her and the news is rubbish."
"Bagman says they're looking for her," Charlie informed.
"Yeah, I read that part in the Prophet. But what bothered me is his statement saying Bertha had a bad memory." Sirius frowned. "I suppose she could have changed since I knew her, but the Bertha from school had quite the good memory-especially for gossip. Her mouth often got her in trouble. I guess that's why Bagman took so long to look for her. She could be a liability for the Ministry of Magic."
A period of silence passed, where the group continued eating and thinking. After a while, Sirius got up and stretched. "Well, you lot better head back to school. I'll clean up."
"Okay." Charlie nodded. "Thank you, Sirius. For the picnic."
"It was delicious." Ron patted his stomach.
Sirius gave Charlie a hug and the group departed, waving goodbye over their shoulders. As they made the trek to the castle, Ron mulled over what he would write to his brother. "It can't sound like I'm accusing Crouch of something. Percy loves that guy."
"I'll help you write it later," Hermione offered. "But right now, we have a History of Magic essay to write."
Ron turned to stare at the girl.
"Hermione, has anyone ever told you that you need to get your priorities straight?"