Disclaimer: All characters mentioned except 'It' are the property of J. K. Rowling.
A/N: Thanks to all me reviewer's, especially Madelaine, who have committed themselves to this story.
Harry Potter and The Body Snatcher; Chapter 4:
SHOCKING!
BULGARIAN SEEKER TURNS CANNIBAL, GOES ON RAMPAGE
The wizarding world was yesterday thrown into mayhem as a rather gruesome story was revealed.
Victor Krum, the famed Bulgarian Seeker, in a strange twist of mind, is alleged to have turned cannibal and lashed out at Hermione Granger, who is a fifth year student of Hogwarts.
An insider tells the bizarre tale; "We were talking around the fire, trying to keep warm at the Burrow, when Granger jumps out of the fireplace, just like that! She manages to whisper Krum's name before collapsing, so Dumbledore rounds up a few people (me included) to check Krum's place out. I can tell you, I won't be forgetting the sight for some time to come."
The 'sight', it is revealed, was a myriad of decapitated body parts strewn around the Krum mansion. Krum's madness had also been extended to the staff. Only one, Charles Bunyon, survived by throwing himself out of a fifth story window, he was later found suffering from hypothermia and broken limbs.
As for Victor Krum, he was discovered relishing a human leg, and was brought under custody after a lengthy struggle, with ministry officials suffering wounds.
The condition Miss Granger was found suggests that she was sexually abused then assaulted by Krum before finally escaping, thus bringing on his rage.
Krum and Mr. Bunyon are at admission at St. Mungos while friends at the Burrow are caring for a still unconscious Miss Granger.
We shall bring you later updates as the story develops.
Ron threw the Daily Prophets newspaper down with disgust. He had always known something like this would happen, no one believed him. Well, what had happened had happened.
He sat on the bed, beside Hermione and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
The condition Miss Granger was in suggests that…the thoughts swam through his head.
I'm going to get you Krum, he swore to himself, I'm going to get you; then I'm going to kill you! But Hermione had been so sure, so sure that Krum wasn't capable of such an abomination … a new thought surfaced. God, no!
Ron felt her stir beneath his hand. She opened her eyes slowly, and they welled with tears when she spotted him. "Oh Ron, Ron…" she sobbed as she grabbed him and hugged him. She didn't look at his face, so she didn't notice how cold and emotionless it was.
"Hermione," started the comforting voice of Albus Dumbledore, "I know you've been through a terrible, terrible experience. But Hermione, we need to know what happened, can you tell us what happened?" She nodded.
"Good, good. Now, please start from the very beginning."
"Well, I remember reading a book when V-V-"
"Call him Krum." Dumbledore said simply. She swallowed and continued, " When Krum entered the room. He was looking terrible, like he had been in a fight or something, anyway, so I asked him if I could do anything for him, then he-he…" She promptly burst into tears.
"There, there. Everything's all right now." Consoled Mrs. Weasley, hugging her tightly, so she cried into her bosom. "What happened next." Probed Ron, his mother shot him a glare but he paid no heed. Hermione sniffed, then continued, "Then he-he turned into this, this monster. He started hitting me and- and hurting me! I smashed his head with a vase and managed to get to my room. That's where I used floo powder to get here." She noticed the looks they were giving her.
" Is that all that you have to tell us, Hermione?" enquired Dumbledore, "Yes, that's all." They gave each other uneasy looks.
"What about the rape?" Ron asked coldly. "Ron!" his mother screamed. He just stared at Hermione's horror struck face. "Wh-what are you talking abo-?" "Oh, come off it!"
"You don't have to answer that, 'Mione." Harry said, then grabbed Ron by the arm and led him away. "What do you think you are doing?" hissed Harry, "Trying to get the truth, isn't that what we're supposed to be doing?"
"I don't know what's gotten into you Ron. Hermione's gone through a traumatizing experience, she's not thinking straight and she doesn't deserve any of this. Besides, since when could the Daily prophet be trusted?" Ron looked at him for a moment before answering, "Look, she's obviously hiding something, if she can lie about that what chance is there that anything else she's said is true?" He was aware that the entire room was staring at him.
"As Harry has said," Dumbledore interrupted loudly, "Miss Granger has been through a terrible experience and needs her rest, we shall discuss this matter at a later date." On that note, he ushered everyone out of the room.
Tears steamed down Hermione's face as she watched Ron's retreating back.
Hagrid felt the boulder slap him across the face again and he finally woke up. He saw that the 'boulder' was actually a hand, a huge one…
The giantess watched in amusement as Hagrid gave a bellow and scampered against the rock cave wall. An angry looking male giant came lumbering into the 'room' from a hole in the wall. "What's all the racket for?" he roared. Hagrid's breath came in strained gasps. "What are you?" he asked rather stupidly, the male giant rolled his giant eyes to the huge cave's top.
"Pixies." He replied sarcastically. "Don't mind Otto," laughed the giantess, "He gets a bit cranky when we get visitors." Madam Maxime chose that moment to regain consciousness; she joined Hagrid against the wall. "Oh please!" exploded Otto and he stomped through the hole he came through.
I di' it, Hagrid suddenly realised, I found the giants! Madam Maxime must've come to the same conclusion because she broke into a wide smile. "Thanks for rescuing us an' all…" Hagrid began sheepishly, the giantess waved her hand dismissively, "No need for thanks, it's what anybody would do."
"Thanks all the sae, um…my friend here is Madame Maxime and I'm Hagrid, can we have your-"
"Your name is what?" the giantess screamed.
"Hagrid." He gave Madame Maxime a have-I-done-something-wrong look. She shrugged, they watched in amazement as the giantess's eyes welled with tears; "Son?" she rasped.
Dumbledore sighed as he let loose the owl into the rain once again in search of Hagrid, it had been too long, he should've written by now. He went for a last minute check on Hermione.
She was asleep. The throes of puberty he smiled to himself as he thought about a certain redhead. He decided to creep out and let the poor girl have her rest. He wasn't successful. A pale man drenched with sweat or rain or maybe both, crashed through the door waking Hermione up and possibly half of the house. "Dumbledore!" he gasped, "Krum, he's escaped."
Hermione screamed her head off as the man toppled over his one remaining leg and was quickly surrounded by a pool of blood from the stump of his other one.
A/N: Sorry foe taking so long to post up this chapter, I believe it's my longest yet! Keep checking back for more.