The Madness of Mr. Crouch
[Book: B4, 549-552 The Easter Holidays bring Percy's reply, which says Mr. Crouch has been sending written instructions & not to bother him unless it's important. In the last week of May, Bagman shows them the Quidditch field, which is growing into a maze. They learn Hagrid will provide creatures and there will be spells to break as well. Bagman tries to get a word with Siria, but Krum asks for a word as well. Siria tells Bagman to go on ahead.]
Warrington arched an eyebrow at Siria in a silent "you okay?" She gave a small, forced smile and patted her wand, which lined her jacket, as usual. He gave a single nod in reply and headed back toward the castle. Krum led Siria further and further from the castle and the Quidditch field until they were at the edge of the grounds (B4, 552).
"I vant to know," Krum glowered, "vot there is between you and Hermy-own-ninny" (B4, 552). Siria blinked and stepped back. The surprise hit her like a stun to the chest. She opened and closed to mouth wordlessly until she asked, higher than she meant to, "What?"
"I vant to know if you are dating Hermy-own-ninny," Krum rephrased.
"No— no, really," Siria insisted at the persistent glower on Krum's face. "Hermione's my best friend and we don't see each other like that."
"She talks about you very often," Krum said (B4, 552).
"Yeah. We're in the same dorm, have almost all the same classes, and are best friends."
"So, you haff never…" Krum arched an eyebrow and Siria crossed her arms.
"One of us has actually kissed Hermione, and it isn't me," she said. Krum nodded and seemed pleased.
[Book: B4, 553-556 Krum compliments Siria on her flying and she does the same, then Mr. Crouch comes out of the forest. Mr. Crouch looks like he's traveled for days, is ripped and bloodied, and he goes between saying he needs to talk with Dumbledore because he's made a terrible mistake to thinking Percy is with them and that Mrs. Crouch & Jr are alive. Krum is super uncomfortable. Mr. Crouch pulls Siria to the ground when he thinks she's leaving]
"For the love of Merlin!" Siria cursed. She shoved her hand into her pocket, which was pressed to the ground while Mr. Crouch pinned her down. Siria yanked her Black Crested compact and opened it. "Sirius!" She shouted at her reflection. Siria flicked the compact opened and closed and shouted louder and louder for Sirius until his face looked back at her.
"What's wro— Is that Crouch?" Sirius asked and leaned into the mirror until only his eye was reflected.
"We're at the edge of the grounds and—" Siria started, but Crouch cried over her.
"Bertha! It's all my fault— my son!" Crouch sobbed (B4, 556).
"PLEASE SEND HELP!" Siria called at the mirror as Krum tried to pull Mr. Crouch from Siria.
Through the mirror, Siria heard Sirius call for Kreacher then promise to be there as soon as he could. Krum helped Siria off of the tground, while Mr. Crouch grabbed onto Siria's jacket and nearly caused her knees to buckle. "Vat should ve do?" Krum asked as he stepped behind Siria to support her from under her arms and keep Mr. Crouch away from him.
"Wait," Siria sighed and kept the mirror on Mr. Crouch. "We obviously can't leave him like this.
"Siria Potter…" Mr. Crouch rambled.
"I'm here," Siria sighed again. "I'm here, Mr. Crouch."
"The Dark Lord… tell Dumbledore."
"He'll be here soon," Siria patted Mr. Crouch's head, not sure what else to do.
Siria wrestled her wand from her jacket and pointed it toward the sky. "Parva Sole!" From the tip of Siria's wand, a tennis ball sized orb of amber light roze into the air and hovered above them. It lit the grounds all the way to the Beauxbatons carriage and caused the nearby trees to cast long, thin shadows into the Forest. No sooner had the light reached its peak, Krum froze behind Siria. She tried to push Mr. Crouch so she could turn, but something more than shock hit her.
Two blue orbs twinkled behind two half moons while a bullfrog croaked and croacked ever louder. Siria rushed to her feet so quickly, she nearly fell back down as the world blacked for just a second. She steadied herself, but couldn't find her wand. "Siria, you are fine," the patient voice of Professor Dumbledore said. "You and Mr. Krum have been attacked. Please, lie still for a moment."
"Mistress!" Kreacher croaked as he patted on a ground beside him and knelt down. Siria sat beside Kreacher and took hold of his hand. She rubbed her other hand to her head then looked to Krum, who was white as a sheet.
"The last thing I remember, was you getting all stiff. What happened?" Siria asked Krum.
"Ve were attacked." Krum grumbled. He seemed as uncomfortable as Siria, so she didn't ask anything else. Kreacher handed Siria the Black Crested compact, which she flicked open and saw a tiny her and Kreacher, on the ground. She stood up and looked around "Dad?" Dumbledore handed the other Black Crested compact to Kreacher.
"Your father lent this to me." Professor Dumbledore said. "He'll be by later tonight, and Professor McGonagall will come to collect you when he arrives. Once you return to Gryffindor Tower, it is important that you stay there— any practice you may wish to get in can wait."
When Hagrid arrived with Karkaroff, Professor Dumbledore explained that someone stunned Krum from behind. The same person or people then stunned Siria. From what Professor Dumbledore had seen in the compact, they then attacked Mr. Crouch. "Professor Moody is searching the grounds for Mr. Crouch and the attacker." Siria cradled herself in her arms. She didn't know of a spell to watch her back, but she, Hermione and Ron were going to find one.
[Book: B4, 562-563 Hagrid escorts Siria back to Gryffindor Tower, tells her she shouldn't be alone with Krum & when Siria says he was buddy-buddy with Madame Maxime, Hagrid says not to talk about her. Hermione and Ron are in the common room & Siria tells them what happened]
Just after curfew, the extra hand of Siria's watch ticked and she knew Sirius was at Hogwarts. She and Hermione waited for Professor McGonagall in the common room. Professor Moody met them in the hall. "Did you find Mr. Crouch?" Siria asked, but Moody shook his head.
"Even with the page I took from your book," Moody told her. Siria paused then nodded. He didn't want to tell Professor McGonagall about the Marauder's Map either.
"Well, Hermione says you can't Apparate on the grounds…" Siria looked to Professor McGonagall. "Is Mr. Crouch an Animagus, like you?"
"No. Potter-Black, leave the search for Mr. Crouch to the Ministry, please. You have enough to worry about." Professor McGonagall said.
"Siria!" Sirius gasped and ran to them. He hoisted her into the air and squeezed her so tight, she thought she might pop. Sirius kissed the top of Siria's head and put her back onto the ground. "What were you thinking? What if Krum attacked you— he's got four years of experience on you!" Siria gave Remus a small, quick wave as Sirius continued to "what if" all the way to Dumbledore's office, where he finished with "did you forget someone's trying to kill you?"
"Well, they're doing a rather poor job of it, aren't they?" Siria smiled, but Sirius did not.
Remus placed a hand on Sirius's shoulder. Sirius sighed and took a seat. Professor Dumbledore was at his desk, with Madam Pomfrey at a nearby chair. When Professor McGonagall sat down and Moody leaned near the door, Siria realized this was not a typical visit from Sirius. She lowered herself into the chair beside Sirius, and Remus took the other. There were three extra chairs, one of which Siria figured to be Professor Moody's, but everyone else had already sat. Professor Moody opened the door just as the greasy black hair of Snape came into sight. Warrington followed a few steps behind. Moody's magical eye followed Snape to his chair and continued to rest there.
"Before we begin, would anyone like a drink?" Professor Dumbledore asked. Siria scanned around in the silence. Professor McGonagall watched Siria as though, any moment now, the floor would open up under her. Madam Pomfrey took a cup of cocoa from Professor Dumbledore then stared at Siria with the same expression she did the day Siria fell off her broom. Remus gave Siria the look he did when he offered her chocolate on the Hogwarts Express and her stomach started to churn.
Professor Dumbledore summoned a comfy chair before his desk and took that seat with his cocoa. Siria's hand snapped out and grabbed onto Sirius's arm. Her mouth was too dry to speak. Sirius placed a hand over Siria's and she wished that Remus had sat on her other side because she was only one empty chair away from Snape— who glared at her with a look of contempt that was worse than any look he had given her before.
"Now, Cassius, Siria—" Dumbledore started.
"It wasn't us!" Siria blurted out. She slapped her other hand over her mouth and looked to Warrington. He sighed. Siria's fingers clenched Sirius's arm tighter.
"Guilty conscious, Potter?" Snape asked.
"Potter-Black" Sirius, Siria, and Warrington corrected. Sirius's voice was much clearer and more firm than hers. It was comforting. Siria put her other hand into her lap and smiled at Warrington.
"Neither of you are in trouble." Professor Dumbledore said. "Consider this a guidance meeting." Siria looked to Sirius, who rose and pulled his chair against hers and sat back down. He took her hand into his and rested them on the arm rest.
"It's okay. We just need you to be safe." Sirius told her.
"You're very bad at that," She whispered. He smiled softly, but it didn't change the deep furrow in his brow.
"Then I'll lead by example." He said. Snape snickered and Sirius shot him a glare.
Dumbledore placed his empty cocoa mug on his desk and Siria tightened her grip on Sirius's hand. "It has come to our attention that you have been out after curfew," Dumbledore said and Snape grinned maliciously at Siria. She wanted to point to Warrington, for she wasn't alone in being out, but knew better. "The issue however is really that, with the state of things, it may be best to have someone monitor your practices."
"Surely, Headmaster, there should be some sort of punishment for breaking curfew?" Snape led.
"Her name was put into the Goblet of Fire, Severus," Professor McGonagall snapped, "that's enough punishment for Ms. Potter-Black." Siria bit back a smirk. "Are you going to punish Mr. Warrington too?"
"I have spoken with the other Headmasters," Dumbledore acted as though he had not heard them, "who are also concerned, after what happened to Ms. Potter-Black and Mr. Krum. They have agreed to use the Great Hall, once dinner has been cleared." Dumbledore told them. "It is unfortunate that your peers will not be permitted to join, but it ensures you are able to prepare for the tasks in a secure environment." Siria looked to Sirius and Remus only to see they and the others had looked to her and Warrington. She nodded at Dumbledore, not sure what else to do.
"Madam Pomfrey, when not otherwise disposed, will attend to monitor with the other headmasters and myself," Professor Dumbledore continued. Siria nodded again. Her grip on Sirius's hand remained firm, but no longer constricted him. Dumbledore continued on to tell her that she and the other Champions would have what they need, though the professors would not be able to actively help them, as are the rules.
"Now," Professor Dumbledore clapped and rose. "Sirius, Severus, I do believe it is time. Professor Moody, if you would escort Mr. Warrington to the dungeons." Siria looked, wide-eyed to Warrington, who shrugged. He left with Professor Moody, followed closely by Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall. "Time for what?" Siria whispered to Sirius, but he rose and shook his head at Professor Dumbledore.
"I disagree." Sirius stepped between Siria and Dumbledore, and she wasn't sure he meant to. "There's been enough excitement today."
"Remus," Siria hissed behind Sirius. He stood beside Sirius and looked to his grey eyed companion.
"Sirius…" Remus placed his hand on Sirius's shoulder.
"Headmaster, surely you're not implying what this fool thinks you are," Siria caught Snape's words through his clenched teeth. Siria stood as well and wedged herself between Sirius and Remus. She looked up at them, "So, does everyone except me know what's happening?"
"She's fourteen," Sirius reminded them.
"Because the age of the victim has always been important to Voldemort," Remus said in a flat tone that read as "Sirius, be reasonable" to Siria. Dumbledore looked over his half moon spectacles and Siria found the usual twinkle light wasn't there.
"Am I dying?" Siria asked. "Is one of you dying? Do we have invisible Dragon Pox or something?"
"Do you remember, the locket you found in your first summer with Sirius?" Dumbledore asked. Siria nodded. Someone would have to Obliviate the memory before she could forget. "Then the diary in your second year?" Sirius placed an arm around Siria and glared at Dumbledore. She had never seen him so dismayed. "Have you ever wondered why they called to you? How the locket summoned you and the diary felt like a friend?" Siria shuddered. She regretted telling him that and took hold of the back of Sirius's jacket as she nodded.
"There is a type of magic called a Horcrux; it is a very dark piece of magic in which a person, at the cost of killing another, may merge a piece of their soul with an item. Should something happen to the person, they could, theoretically, not die as long as they have a Horcrux," Dumbledore explained.
"So," Siria's voice trembled, "when Tom Riddle came to kill me, and I killed him, I made a Horcrux?" Her hand her from how much it shook and the force she used to try and steady it. Sirius pulled her closer and squeezed his eyes shut. He looked miserable.
Tears filled Siria's eyes, but she blinked them back and stood taller. Her arm stiffened and she locked her knees to stop their knocking. Dumbledore looked almost apologetic when he confessed she was not quite correct. "Voldemort made a Horcrux that night. When he failed to kill your young and defenseless self, a piece of his soul attached itself to the only living thing in the room." Siria felt stunned, Stupify stunned.
"The dementors," her voice felt foreign to her. She refused to collapse under the humiliation and revelation of what Dumbledore had told her, of what she just learned. Siria had not heard the memory of her parents' deaths; she heard Tom Riddle's memory of his soul being ripped from his body.
"How do we get it out?" Siria asked. She clenched her teeth and raised her head higher, hoping that if she acted proud and unaffected enough, she would be. Sirius shook his head.
"Someday, Voldemort will return to power and come for you, as a show of strength…" Dumbledore looked almost as miserable as Siria felt.
"Let him?" Siria choked and nodded. "Cool," she choked out and blinked as much as she could to stop her tears, but they escaped past her. "No!" She shouted. "It's not!" She knocked Sirius's arm from her. "I'm— I'm just supposed to die? Then why didn't you just let Quirrell finish me off?" She sniffled. Sirius reached for her, but she knocked his arm away and glared around the room. "Great, sure— so I have to get through the Triwizard Tournament so Tom Bloody Riddle can kill me himself, do I? Don't touch me!" She screamed at Sirius, who's hand flinched back.
"Siria—" Dumbledore began.
"NO!" She screamed. Siria lifted the chair she had sat on and threw it into the middle of the room. Remus and Sirius stepped out of its way. Snape walked beside the Headmaster's deck and looked at Siria with what she took to be pity. "Don't you dare!" She pointed at Snape. "Don't you dare bully people then think you've the right to pity me— don't worry!" She snapped at them. "I'll get through the Tournament fine and live a nice, short life until ol' Voldy comes for me! I'll be sure to throw up my arms for the greater good." She shook her head. "I can't believe you all," her voice fell from her thunderous rage to barely a whisper. "Don't write me."
She turned to the door, which had been locked. Siria slid her wand from her jacket. "Alohomora!" It did not click. Her burning, green eyes glared over her shoulder.
"Siria, when you're ready to continue, we'll be here." Dumbledore told her and the door unlocked. She shook her head and stormed down the stairs. Her rage boiled inside her. Even if she screamed into eternity, the rage would be there. Siria paced before the Room of Requirement, which appeared before her, full of objects as fragile as she felt. The door had not even closed when the shattering screams and waves of glass began.
At the top of her lungs, Siria screamed into the room. She took object after object without seeing what they were and threw them into other objects, into towers of glass goblets, against tiny glass figures and onto the harsh, white floor. Somehow, the tears had escaped her and Siria collapsed onto the floor, coated in broken glass. She glared at her hands and caught sight of the watch. Siria fought the watch off her wrist and threw it into the void of shattered glass. She snapped the necklace off and tossed it as well.
Intent to rub her meaningless destruction in her face, the walls of the room turned to mirrors. Blotchy faced and with tears still streaming, a messy haired, green eyed girl stared back at Siria with scorn.
"The Girl Who Lived," she scoffed.