CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

OUT OF THE VEIL

Harry scrambled to his feet after Magda pulled him from the Dementors' Realm onto the Department of Mysteries' floor. He was standing near the black billowing veil, which was where he was pulled from. It was mind boggling how someone would go through it and end up somewhere else. Harry then grabbed hold of the long broomstick and, with Magda, jabbed the end onto the veil. He waited until he felt someone beyond the veil to pull on it.

Someone tugged from the other side. Instantly, Harry reinforced his grip and pulled back slowly. Gradually, the other side of the broomstick came into view, coming out of the veil, together with Hermione grabbing the other side of the broom. Once she was out, she went to lie down on the floor, panting from all the running they did in the Dementors' Realm. Harry then went on, putting the other end of the broomstick through the veil and waited for a tug. Ron came in next, his flaming red head emerging first, followed by his body holding onto the broom. Harry then returned the stick to the veil, ready to rescue Sirius Black.

"Harry! Quick!" screamed Hermione.

"Why?" said Harry, puzzled on why Hermione would be so alarmed. They were saved anyway.

"Its Crouch!" said Hermione in panic. "He is coming this way."

Magda then came closer to the direction Hermione was pointing. "I throwing a big bound book ats him a whiles ago when I realized he gots your wands. He must be conscious again."

Crouch was now at the edge of the circular room, standing by the door. He was slightly wobbly from the hit on his head which was marked with a red sore. He began to descend the stairs towards the center of the room.

After a few moments, Harry managed to pull Sirius out of the veil and was panting heavily. Sirius though had no time to rest. They had to run. Crouch was coming, slowly but still was coming for them, to finish them. In Harry's hand rested all of their lives. It was his intention to going into the veil after all.

Crouch was now near the center of the room and was slowly making his way to the risen dais. Alarm was written everywhere on everyone's face. They still had no wand and if they make a run for it, Sirius was slow in moving due the wounds he endured in battling the Dementors so Crouch would still catch up on them. They were trapped.

Magda then straightened herself up and floated towards Crouch. Her beady eyes were angry as ever.

"You is staying away from thems!" said Magda with a new fury.

"You!" replied Crouch "you poltergeist, you hit me on the head. You have done enough. This is not your affair. Stay away from this!"

Magda didn't take this well. She went floating to the far edge of the room and faced Crouch who was standing by the center. She then prepared herself, clenching her tiny fists, and in a second, kicked hard on the wall and went zooming to the center. She was in such a fast momentum, speeding like a bulled towards a target-Crouch. She then neared Crouch and hit him hard, leaving him rolling on the floor. Three wands were dropped on the ground as Crouch still rolled away. Seeing this, Magda went to scoop the wands and gave them to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Now with wands, they all in unison shouted "Stupefy" with their wands pointed to Crouch. Red sparks emanated from their wands and hit Crouch, leaving him stunned.

They all scrambled down from the raised stone dais. Once they all were down, Magda went near them. She saw Sirius' thin naked body and shrieked. "Oo whos is the nakeds big boy with you?"

Sirius just looked at her and smiled. He then went with the rest of the group. Once they were huddled up together with an unmoving Crouch, they whispered among themselves.

"What do we do with Crouch?" asked Harry.

"We can't just dump him here" added Hermione.

"I" replied Sirius "I suggest that you put this totally in the hands of Dumbledore. He will know what to do."

"We can't" chipped in Ron. "Dumbledore's in St. Mungo's"

"What?" said Sirius, puzzled. "No one can deal with this. You do know Crouch wants to gain power much like Voldemort?"

"We do know" answered Harry.

"We still can't handle this" said Hermione. "We need Dumbledore."

"I suppose we can go ask Dumbledore what to do with him" said Sirius.

The decision was settled. They were to go to Dumbledore in St. Mungo's and ask for advice. Harry took a small stone by the floor and whirled his wand saying "Portus."

They all touched the stone as Harry positioned Crouch's finger to be in contact with the newly made portkey. Then Harry touched the stone himself with his index finger and in seconds, felt the familiar feeling of traveling through a portkey.

They landed with a thud onto Dumbledore's ward. It was almost morning and they found Dumbledore awake.

"Oh" said Dumbledore. "I have visitors."

"Hi Albus" spoke Sirius. "Sorry for my ehh." Sirius looked at his naked body "my present nakedness."

"That is okay Sirius. I am glad to see you again after many many years. You must be proud of your godson for going to extreme lengths in helping you."

"I am proud of him. Always have been"

Harry felt a sweet sensation as his godfather said those words. Sirius was proud of him. Hearing these words was worth the whole encounter in the Dementors' Realm.

"Dumbledore" spoke Harry. "Crouch is with us. We don't know what to do with him. He wishes to be like Voldemort and has gathered massive power already right now. We don't know how to stop him. I mean, we can't kill him then and there."

"Ah" said Dumbledore with wisdom in his eyes. "Yes, Barty Jr. I know about this whole matter. He made a deal with a Dementor which enabled him to survive the kiss. Well, we must deal with him immediately before he gains more power."

Dumbledore suddenly stood up and walked towards them.

"Dumbledore" said Hermione. "You need to rest. You are unwell."

"Ah my dear" said Dumbledore. "I am as well as you are. I am still here in St. Mungo's only because I like the services here. They feed you well and give you fun baths. Besides that, I don't need to be here."

Harry suddenly felt exceptionally powerful. Dumbledore was now with them in taking care of this Crouch thing once and for all. Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard to Harry and with him around, everything is as good as perfect. He didn't care what danger stood ahead.

END OF CHAPTER SEVENTEEN