Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I attempting to make any personal gain from this story.
Second Time Around: Year 4: Chapter 20: To Catch a Death Eater
Harry told Cedric about the Deathly Hallows and showed him the ring and the cloak. Dumbledore had the wand but Harry thought he may be its master anyway as a result of a complex series of events that occurred before he started at Hogwarts. Once Cedric agreed to Harry's terms he took hold of the cup.
Cedric saw the cup glow bright blue and then Harry and the cup were gone. Cedric pointed his wand into the air and shot red sparks. It was Professor Moody who came for him. "Where's the cup?" Moody asked as he landed.
"I don't know," Cedric replied – a true statement since he only knew it had taken Harry to a graveyard.
"Well that's weird. It is supposed to be right here. Somethings not right here. Well, come with me Diggory, maybe Dumbledore can sort this out."
Cedric climbed onto the back of Moody's broom and they landed near the judges' table. "What has happened?" Dumbledore asked as they landed.
"Cup's missing," Moody said. "Diggory here was standing by the plinth but there was no cup."
Any further questions were stifled when two house elves suddenly appeared in front of Bagman. Kreacher and Dobby both pointed to Bagman and shot stunners at him. Bagman was blasted off his chair.
"How dare you attack a Ministry official," Fudge shouted, pulling his wand out only to have it knocked out of his hand as Cedric cast the Expelliarmus spell.
"That's not Ludo Bagman," Fred and George shouted together. "That's Barty Crouch Junior using Polyjuice potion to impersonate him."
"Silence," Dumbledore bellowed over the mayhem. "Can you prove it is not Bagman?"
"Yes," Fred.
"We can," George.
"Have a look…" Fred.
"At this map." George.
They gave the map to Dumbledore. Snape, meanwhile, had approached Bagman and bent over him. He now stood up and said, "This is Polyjuice Potion, Headmaster."
Dumbledore was inspecting the map. "Are you two certain this map is accurate?" he asked the twins.
"Yes sir," Fred.
"Completely," George.
"Sirius Black gave us…" Fred.
"His personal guarantee," George.
"He helped create…" Fred.
"The original…" George.
"And personally gave us…" Fred.
"This authentic copy." George.
"Cornelius, it appears as though the students and the elves are correct. Cedric, do you know where Harry is?" Dumbledore asked.
"He said the cup was a Portkey and that it would take him to a graveyard. He didn't tell me what graveyard, however," Cedric replied.
Dumbledore was clearly very worried. "Severus, I believe you have a supply of Veritaserum in your store room? Please bring me one vial. Take Alastor's broom, it will save time."
"Yes, Headmaster," Snape replied before taking the broom and flying off toward the castle.
Next Dumbledore stood and addressed the crowd. "May I have your attention, please? It has become apparent that an outside influence has affected the outcome of the 3rd Tri-Wizard task. It does appear, however, that Harry Potter was the first person to touch the Tri-Wizard cup and, as such, is the provisional winner, pending on the outcome of an investigation that the judges and the Ministry of Magic are about to conduct. Can all students please return to their respective dormatories and Common Rooms and remain there until breakfast time tomorrow. Professors McGonagall, Moody and Hagrid, please remain here. Can all other Hogwarts staff please accompany the students back to the castle and ensure they remain there."
The students and most of the staff headed back to the castle. Fred, George and Cedric remained behind since Dumbledore wanted to question them further.
While they were waiting for Snape to return Crouch's Polyjuice potion wore off. Now all present could see it was indeed Barty Crouch Junior.
Once Snape returned Crouch was given the Veritaserum and was then revived. Dumbledore stood before him. He asked Professor McGonagall to take notes during the interrogation.
"Can you hear me?" Dumbledore commanded.
"Yes," Crouch replied.
"What is your name?"
"Bartemius Crouch Junior."
Where is the real Ludo Bagman?"
"At his house."
"Is he alive?"
"Yes. We only stunned him."
'Who was with you when you stunned him?"
"Peter Pettigrew, and the Dark Lord."
Fudge gasped. Several others present were also surprised to hear this.
"What did you do to the cup? Where did it take Harry?" asked Dumbledore.
"I turned the cup into a Portkey that would take the first person to touch it straight to my Master."
"Where is your Master?"
"In a graveyard where he will be reborn."
"Impossible," Fudge growled. "He who must not be named is dead."
Dumbledore turned to Fudge. "I think this should make it quite clear he is not, in fact, dead."
Suddenly Snape clutched at his forearm. Karkaroff did the same. Karkaroff's expression was one of terror, whereas Snape caught Dumbledore's eye and seemingly passed him some nonverbal information.
"What do you know about Madam Umbridge's death?" Dumbledore asked Crouch.
"It became necessary to kill her when she managed to fight off the Imperius curse."
"How did she achieve this?"
"The dragon flu. Some of the potions she took affected her mind, made it stronger."
"How did you escape from Azkaban?"
"Mother helped me. She was dying and her last wish was that I should be free. We took Polyjuice potion. My potion had some of my mother's hair in it and hers had some of my hair. Once we had consumed the potion mother took my place in the cell and I left with my father. When my mother died she was buried in a grave under my name. The grave my mother was to be buried in is empty."
"After you left prison how were you hidden?"
"My father placed me under the Imperius curse. He kept me in the house with only Winky, our house elf, for company. She saw to all my needs and encouraged my father to give me special rewards for good behaviour. It was she who convinced father to take me to the Quidditch World Cup final."
"You got hold of a wand at the final. How?" Dumbledore asked.
"It was the Veela. When they appeared most of the younger boys in the box were enthralled. One of them, a tall, ginger headed boy did not notice his wand had fallen out of his pocket. In the confusion he kicked it toward me. Winky did not see it. She is afraid of heights and had her eyes covered. I picked up the wand."
"But you were under the Imperius curse. How did you manage to fight it off?"
"I had been under the curse for so long it no longer affected me. I beat it." Crouch seemed pleased with this achievement.
"Why did you cast the Dark Mark in the forest after the final?"
"Those traitors who abandoned my Master needed to be punished. They were free but they made no effort to find him. I was loyal. I escaped Azkaban. I fought off my father's control and I obtained a wand. I am loyal and those traitors will be punished once the Dark Lord returns to power while I shall be rewarded for my loyalty, my courage." Once again Crouch seemed proud of what he had done.
"Can you give us the names of your fellow Death Eaters?" Dumbledore asked. He motioned for Professor McGonagall to carefully record this information.
"I know only a few names. The Dark Lord never told us the identity of all his followers. He didn't think it safe. He already did not trust some whose loyalty he doubted."
"Who can you name for us? Only name those whom you know are not in Azkaban."
"Severus Snape; Igor Karkaroff. My Lord regarded both of them as traitors."
Snape and Karkaroff looked uncomfortable.
"Who else?" Dumbledore prompted.
"Lucius Malfoy."
"Impossible," Fudge whispered, just loud enough for those around him to hear.
"Go on," Dumbledore commanded.
"Walden McNair. There are others I don't know as well as these. Crabbe, Goyle, Nott."
"Do you know of any others?"
"No. The Dark Lord keeps much to himself," Crouch replied.
Dumbledore turned to McGonagall. "Do you have a complete list of those names?" he asked her.
"I do. Some of them have children who are students here. What should we do about them?" she asked.
"They are children, Headmaster," Snape said. "They cannot be held responsible for the actions of their parents."
"Severus is correct. For the moment we can do nothing. Indeed, the only one we can do anything for is Theodore Nott. His father is a widower and he has no other close family. We are obliged to see to his wellbeing. Severus, as his Head of House you will need to speak with him. Tomorrow shall be fine. For now we must try and save Harry and protect the innocent."
"Professor Dumbledore?" Cedric Diggory enquired.
"Yes, Mr. Diggory?"
"Before he took the cup to this graveyard Harry gave me a lot of information. Amongst other things he said he had arranged for Madam Bones to set a trap for any Death Eaters who answered the summons after You Know Who was restored to a body. I would guess, based on the reactions of Professors Snape and Karkaroff, this has now happened and all we can do is wait and see what happens next."
Dumbledore looked uncomfortable at this statement. He realised Cedric was right about Snape's and Karkaroff's reactions; clearly Voldemort had returned and had now summoned his Death Eaters. He had a strong suspicion he knew where they were. The Riddle family, Tom's father and grandparents, were buried near the old Riddle Manor in Little Hangleton. This was almost certainly where they were now, but he couldn't certain. He wondered exactly what the trap was and whether or not it would work but knew, for the moment at least, there was nothing he could do.
Fudge was in shock. He regarded Lucius Malfoy as a friend, indeed almost his closest friend now that Dolores Umbridge was dead, and hoped what he had heard wasn't true. Unfortunately too many people had heard what Crouch had said and it would be impossible to contain it. Desperately, Fudge tried to find a way out of it but it seemed inevitable his career as Minister for Magic was over.
"Are you certain his man is telling the truth?" Fudge asked.
"Unless Crouch has built up some form of resistance to Veritaserum then there can be no doubting it," Dumbledore replied.
"Do you know which graveyard Crouch was referring to?" Fudge again.
"I believe so. Severus, if Voldemort has summoned his Death Eaters then he must be expecting your presence, also. I believe it is time for you to resume your role as a spy," Dumbledore said.
"What do you mean, Dumbledore? Are you saying Severus Snape is a spy working for you? Why wasn't the Ministry informed?" Fudge demanded.
"Yes, Severus is a spy, a fact that the Ministry is fully aware of. Whether those in the know chose to tell you of this fact is beyond my control, however. Perhaps your own staff do not trust you?"
Fudge was left speechless. Dumbledore returned his attention to Snape. "Off you go, Severus."
"Of course, Headmaster. I shall leave immediately." Snape didn't look very happy about this but he immediately climbed back onto the broom and flew to the castle. Once there he donned his old Death Eater robes and walked beyond the gate and disapparated.
Almost as soon as Snape had left the grounds there was a flash of blue light near where the others were grouped. The Tri-Wizard Cup had returned and with it were several people.
Author's Notes: 1. Now you know how Crouch escaped from Azkaban, why Dolores Umbridge died and how Crouch got his hands on Ron's wand.
2. The next chapter is the beginning of the end. The climax has been reached and all will be revealed over the next several chapters.