CHAPTER THREE

CROUCH AND THE VEIL

Harry awoke early the next day, hours before day break. He had dreamed again of the same event he experienced when Sirius vanished beyond the veil. Feeling that he cannot sleep any further, he decided to prepare for the day ahead. Harry noticed that Hedwig hasn't returned from her nighttime hunt and that his work bag was still cluttered with the shards of Magda's mirror. He opened his bag and disposed of the broken glass of the hand-held mirror and packed everything he needed for work.

He stepped into the bathroom while figuring out why he was having these recurring dreams. Could it be that his guilt for having been responsible for Sirius' death were triggering them? Maybe they meant something. They could be signs that foretold future events. Harry immediately dismissed these thoughts as he went to wash his face for he wasn't really a firm believer in fortune telling, proved by his strong dislike of Divination back at Hogwarts. Thoughts of his discovery the night before further forced him to abandon thinking about his dreams. Why has Barty Crouch returned? Last time he heard of him was during his fourth year at Hogwarts. What happened to him since then was all a mystery. His mind was hard at work while he went into his robes, trying to make up theories to try to give explanations to his many questions.

Minutes later, he finally pocketed his wand and went out of his apartment just as Hedwig swooped in from the window, full with a nights hunt.

Harry was up for a walk this cold December morning and seeing that it was only around six o'clock, he went to the nearest diner two blocks away. As Harry arrived, he saw Mr. Weasley sitting by the corner, eating a bowl of cereal.

"Mr. Weasley" began Harry.

"Sit down Harry. Have some toast" said Mr. Weasley warmly.

"What brings you here? This is a Muggle restaurant."

"Well I was fascinated, Harry. Muggles dining everywhere. What I still don't understand though, my boy, is why you want to live in what Muggles call apartments."

"It's just that I'm sick of being looked at and noticed so I chose to live here where I could be just like everyone else for a change" answered Harry as he spread some jam on his toast.

"Can't blame you there. Well, I'm off to St. Mungo's."

"Why?" asked Harry.

"Blimey Harry, you don't know?" said Mr. Weasley. "Albus Dumbledore's just been transferred there last night. He is terribly ill."

It took a while before these words sank into Harry's overworked brain. Dumbledore has always been a constant member of his world. He was always there, solid, unwavering, almost invincible. Hearing this from Mr. Weasley only reminded Harry how human Dumbledore is.

"Well, I better get going." Said Mr. Weasley and off he went down the street. Harry watched him until he couldn't see him, still thinking of Dumbledore and his current situation. Making a mental note to himself to see Dumbledore soon, Harry stood up and left the diner.

Harry arrived in his office at around half-past seven. He sat at his cubicle, again filled with all sorts of paper. Magda was by the window, swatting some flies, while Harry started to unfurl all the new paper planes that were circling around him.

8 am came and people started to fill their usual cubicles. Harry heard a lot of his coworkers exchanging stories excitedly though Harry found this very distracting. Suddenly, Magda started to talk to Harry. Harry ignored her at first until she began talking about Edgar. "I just seeing him three nights ago. He was different though, not in his best." Blabbered Magda.

"Where?" asked Harry enthusiastically.

"He comings from the Department of Mysteries. He was really weird. Just appeared all of a sudden."

"How? Where exactly in the Department of Mysteries?"

"I is not sure. It was dark you see. I think I sees him crawling from under a big veil. I was just going to visit that room chasing after a mouse when I saw him come out."

Harry was stunned at the new piece of information that he learned. Keen to ask more, he started asking again but was cut short when Magda saw a bunch of paper airplanes zoom by, eagerly chasing after them as if unaware that she was just in a conversation with Harry.

How was Crouch able to come out of the veil? Sirius must still be able to come out if Crouch did. Harry found a tiny ray of hope that he might be able to see Sirius once again. He knew that something fishy was going on with Crouch's return posing as an employee in Muggle Relations but he can't deny the happiness he felt with knowing that one can survive the veil.

Harry's curiosity got the better of him so after work, he went to search for Crouch, combing the whole Ministry of Magic until he found him.

"Hey Edgar, can I have a word?" said Harry as he saw Crouch drinking from a water fountain.

"Sure" he answered and so they went to a corner, making sure no one was able to hear them.

"The game is up" said Harry immediately as he inserted his right hand in his pocket, firmly grasping his wand.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Harry."

"You do know, Edgar. Or should I say, Crouch"

There was silence as Edgar's face changed into a menacing smile.

"So" began Crouch, "I guess you saw right through me. Well, I just want to say that you can trust me Harry. I'm now a, shall we say, new man. My allegiance to Voldemort wasn't quite what I wished it would turn out to be."

Crouch was speaking in a very different fashion. His smile was still tainted with menace while his tone remained honest, leaving Harry confused. It made sense. Voldemort no longer lives so Crouch poses no threat. He must feel a bit of anger towards the Dark Lord for failing him since he was such a firm believer in Voldemort's power and immortality. Somewhere though, in his mind, a voice told him "he's bluffing. He is still evil. You're an Auror Harry, you should know better."

With that, Harry whipped out his wand.

"Stupefy!"

END OF CHAPTER 3