CHAPTER FOUR

BACK TO THE ROOM OF REQUIREMENT

Red sparks immediately erupted from Harry's wand, hitting Crouch dead-smack on the chest, instantly stunning him as he collapsed upon the floor. Harry then peered out of his corner, looking left and right to see if anyone had heard or worse, seen them. Convinced that no one had witnessed what had happened, Harry once again waved his wand while muttering "Incarcerous" and ropes appeared, binding Crouch's still body.

Harry had to do this to Crouch to question him not only because Crouch was supposed to have been disposed of by Dementors years ago but also because he wanted to learn more about Sirius Black and the veil that ended his life, ever ruffling gently and serenely even in the absence of wind.

Harry's next task was to think of a place where he could contain Crouch. He had to keep him somewhere no one can have easy access to as to give him unprecedented opportunities to question him anytime he needed to. He was aware that binding him with ropes will fail to stop Crouch from escaping since apparating was always a possibility. Now, Harry knew of only one place bewitched to prevent apparating: Hogwarts.

Knowing no one was now present in the hall inside the Ministry as it was in the early hours of the evening already, Harry went to the nearest fireplace, knelt before it while inserting his head, then got a pinch of Floo Powder, saying clearly "Gryffindor Common Room," since this was the sole location Harry knew best compared to all the other fireplaces. Harry saw fireplaces zoomed past him until his head reached the common room fireplace. He saw a girl still awake and so quickly pulled his head back out.

He did this several times, waiting until all students were in their dormitories. Every time Crouch showed signs of regaining consciousness, Harry stunned him again. After three tries, the common room was finally empty aside from a toad. Harry then whispered "locomotor Crouch," making Crouch's limp body float towards the fireplace. Harry then went inside the hearth of the fireplace, grabbed a handful of Floo Powder, and shortly went traveling passed many fireplaces towards the Gryffindor common room, Crouch beside his feet.

Harry arrived inside the Gryffindor fireplace and then sneaked off, still accompanied by Crouch's limp form, towards the floor with Gregory the Smarmy's statue. He walked back and forth three times by a bare wall, deep in concentration. Out of the bare wall appeared a door. Harry opened it, hauled Crouch in, and stepped inside.

He was of course inside the Room of Requirement. The tiny torch lit, closet-sized room consisted of stone walls, much like Snape's dungeon, with two metal wrist chains and another pair for one's ankles sticking out on the wall directly across the door. He carefully placed Crouch in this wall, securely locking him unto it, and started to think. How can he keep him here for questioning? He needed to eat, right? He needed a bathroom. Just as he started pondering upon these thoughts, the left wall of the room started to stretch farther, and upon there appeared a small bathroom, complete with a shower and a toilet bowl. At the right side of the wall appeared a table with a singular chair. On top of the table were plates of food that kept refilling themselves if one consumes what is on it. By the new hall appeared a fairly comfortable bed, complete with a pillow and blanket. The chains that were now attached to the limbs of Crouch started to lengthen so that he can reach the bathroom and walk around towards the kitchen and bed but not long enough to reach the door area.

Moments later, Crouch began to stir. Harry then quickly and quietly went towards the door, took out his wand, said "Accio Wand," and caught Crouch's wand as it flew to his open palm. Harry opened the door, stepped out, and closed it again. He waved his wand upon the gap between the door and the doorframe, whispering "Colloportus," sealing it just to make sure that Crouch won't be able to escape if he manages to reach the door, though convinced that he can't while chained inside without a wand. Harry then went to the Entrance Hall, walked towards the main door, and was greeted by the cool December night air as he walked outside.

Moments later, Harry was back in his home. As he walked towards his work table, he noticed the contents of the trash bin underneath it. Inside still laid the mirror pieces Magda left and was suddenly struck with yet another discovery. The mirror looked so familiar to Harry. He never noticed this before but now, comprehension dawned on him. It was exactly the same small, square mirror he had broken years before, during his fifth year in Hogwarts. It was exactly the same as the one Sirius gave him as a way of communication between the both of them. This was Sirius Black's mirror.

END OF CHAPTER FOUR