Chapter 45 Mr. Crouch

The last week in May finally arrived and was almost time for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament.

"Ali there you are!" Fred called from down the hall as I was leaving Muggle Studies.

"Hey Fred! What's up?" I asked giving him a big hug.

"McGonagall sent me. They're going to tell you about the last task."

"Oh," I readjusted the straps of my bag as I waited for him to continue.

"They want everyone to meet down at the Quidditch field tonight at nine."

"Thanks for letting me know." I smiled and started to walk away.

"Hey!" he hollered after me. "Let me walk you to your next class!"

"I can't believe it's already time for the last task." I told him as I took his hand.

"Yeah me either. Make Hogwarts proud alright?" He dropped his hand from mine and kissed me on the forehead.

"I think I've done well so far." I told him before entering the transfigurations classroom. At half past eight that night I made my way up to the Entrance Hall. Cedric was there and he seemed to be waiting for me.

"What d'you reckon it's going to be?" He asked me as we walked to together down the stone steps. "Fleur keeps going on about underground tunnels, she reckons we've got to find treasure."

"That wouldn't be too bad!" I said thinking back to my niffler lesson with Hagrid. "Hey what have they done to the Quidditch pitch?" I asked as the approached the stadium. From where we stood we could see long low walls that twisted and crosses in every direction.

"They're hedges." Cedric answered me. "Let's go get a closer look." He raced off and I followed after him.

"Hello there!" Ludo Bagman called as we approached. He was standing in the middle of the field with Krum and Fleur. We slowly made our way to them by climbing over the hedges. "Well, what do you think?" Bagman asked happily once we had joined them. "Growing nicely aren't they? Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high! Don't worry you'll have your quidditch field back to normal once the task is over." I noticed Cedric relax at my side, though the Idea of playing Quidditch over hedges intrigued me. "Now I imagine you can guess what we're making here."

"Maze." Krum grunted.

"That's right!" Bagman told us excitedly. "A maze. The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."

"We seemply 'ave to get through the maze?" Fleur questioned.

"There will be obstacles," warned. "Hagrid is providing a number of creatures . . . then there will be spells that must be broken ... all that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze." Bagman smiled at Cedric and I. "Then Mr. Krum will enter . . . then Miss Delacour. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?" As long as Hagrid's pets don't kill us. I thought but nodded animatedly along with the other champions. "Very well. . . if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly. ..." Bagman scurried off in the direction of the castle. I was about to do the same when Krum tapped me on the shoulder.

"Could I haff a vord?"

"Uh, sure." I shrugged my shoulders having no idea what he would want to talk to me for.

"Vill you valk vith me?"

"Yeah." I followed Krum as he walked towards the forest. "What are we going all the way out here for?"

"Don't vont to be overheard." We were far from the castle before Krum stopped walking.

"I vant to know, vot there is between your brother and Hermy-own-ninny." That's what you don't want people overhearing? You think there is something going on with Harry and Hermione? I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Nothing." I answered honestly. "They are just friends, best friends, she's not his girlfriend or anything and she never has been. It's just that Skeeter woman making things up." Krum stared back at me, skeptical.

"Hermy-own-ninny talks about him very often."

"Yeah because they are friends, like I said.

"They haff never . . . they haff not..."

"No." I answered firmly. "Believe me I'm his sister, I would know." Krum's features relax.

"You fly very veil. I vos votching at the first task."

"Uh thanks. I saw you at the Quidditch World Cup. You really…" But something moved behind Krum in the trees and I lost my train of thought. Krum didn't know the kind of things that lurked in the forest so I instinctively jumped in front of him.

"Vot is it?" I put my finger to my lips so Krum would know to keep quite. I slowly slipped my hand into my robes and grasped my wand. Without a warning a man staggered out from behind a tall tree. I was about to cast a spell before I realized it was Mr. Crouch. He looked as though he had been in the forest for days. The knees of his robes were ripped and bloody, his face scratched; he was unshaven and his skin was gray. The way he look was nothing compared to the way he was behaving. Muttering, Mr. Crouch appeared to be talking to someone that he alone could see.

"Vosn't he a judge? Isn't he vith your Ministry?" I nodded speechless as Crouch continued to converse with a nearby bush.

"... and when you've done that, Weatherby, send an owl to Dumbledore confirming the number of Durmstrang students who will be attending the tournament, Karkaroff has just sent word there will be twelve. . . ." I was reluctant to do anything for fear of how Mr. Crouch would react, but I knew that if we didn't do something, things could end much worse.

"Mr. Crouch?" I whispered.

"... and then send another owl to Madame Maxime, because she might want to up the number of students she's bringing, now Karkaroff's made it a round dozen ... do that, Weatherby, will you? Will you? Will..."Mr. Crouch's eyes were bulging. He stood staring at the tree, muttering soundlessly at it. Then he staggered sideways and fell to his knees.

"Mr. Crouch?" I said a little louder. "Are you all right?" Crouch said nothing but his eyes began to roll in his head.

"Vot is wrong with him?"

"I don't know. Look can you go and get someone…"

"Dumbledore!" Mr. Crouch gasped from the ground. "I need to see Dumbledore…"

"Well if you get up, Mr. Crouch, we can go up to the…"

"I've done…stupid…thing…" Mr. Crouch breathed looking insane. Very word he spoke seemed to cost him a vast amount of effort. "Must…tell…Dumbledore…"

"Get up, Mr. Crouch!" I nearly commanded. "Get up, I'll take you to Dumbledore!"

"Who ... you?" He whispered back in respond.

"My name is Alice, I'm a student at the school." I turned to Krum for some help, but he was hanging back looking extremely nervous.

"You're not... his?" Crouch whispered back.

"N-no?" I answered having no idea what he was talking about.

"Dumbledore's?"

"Yeah…" I told him still having no idea what was going on.

"Warn…Dumbledore ..." Crouch grasped onto the bottom of my robes I tried to pull away but he was too strong.

"I'll get Dumbledore if you let go of me. Just let go, Mr. Crouch, and I'll get him…" Mr. Crouch did let go of my robes, but only to continue talking to a nearby tree.

"Thank you, Weatherby, and when you have done that, I would like a cup of tea. My wife and son will be arriving shortly, we are attending a concert tonight with Mr. and Mrs. , my son has recently gained twelve O.W.L.S, most satisfactory, yes, thank you, yes, very proud indeed. Now, if you could bring me that memo from the Andorran Minister of Magic, I think I will have time to draft a response. ..."

"Stay here with him!" I ordered Krum. "I'm going to fetch Dumbledore, It'll be quicker for me to go, I already know where his office is."

"He is mad." Krum said as he stared down at Crouch.

"Just say with him!" I turned to walk away, but this triggered another fit from Mr. Crouch.

"Don't…leave…me!" he whispered, his eyes bulging again. "I...escaped…must warn…must tell... see Dumbledore…my fault…all my fault…Bertha…dead ...all my fault…my son ...my fault…tell Dumbledore…Harry Potter ...the Dark Lord…stronger…Harry Potter..."

"Just keep him here! I'll be back with Dumbledore." I ran off without another world. It was probably the fastest I run in my who life, but the time I reached the giant eagle that guarded Dumbledore's office my sides were hurting and I was panting.

"Sher-Sherbet lemon!" I gasped. When the stairs didn't magically move like I'd become accustom to, I realized Dumbledore must have a new password. I thought maybe Professor McGonagall would know how to get in touch with him. Her office was the closest of all the heads of houses, so running as fast as I could I sprinted down the stairs

"POTTER!" Not now Severus. I grumbled internally.

"What are you doing here, Potter?"

"I need to see Professor Dumbledore. " I quickly weighed my optioned before deciding that telling Severus what was going on would be the fastest way to get to Dumbledore. "It's Mr. Crouch, he's just turned up! He's in the forest…" Severus rolled his eyes as if I was telling a childish story.

"What are you going on about? Slow down." I wanted to stamp my feet and pout, he could be so frustrating sometimes, but I knew that wouldn't get me anywhere so I just took a deep breath.

"Mr. Crouch, from the Ministry! He's ill or something, he's in the forest and he wants to see Dumbledore. Please just give me the password up to..."

"The headmaster is busy Miss Potter."

"Please Sev, this is important!" He probably thought I was whining, but I didn't have time for him to be stubborn. I was about to launch into an argument with him when a the stone wall behind me slip open. Dumbledore stepped out through the secret passage wearing long green robes and a curious expression.

"Is there a problem?" He asked looking between Severus and I.

"Professor Dumbledore! Mr. Crouch is here he's down in the forest he wants to speak with you.

"Lead the way." Dumbledore said without asking any questions. We walked away from Severus leaving him to skulk the halls like he was doing before.

"What did Mr. Crouch say?"

"He said he wants to warn you, that he's done something terrible. He mentioned his son and Bertha Jorkins, I think, and Voldemort. He said something about Voldemort getting stronger and he mentioned Harry."

"Indeed." Dumbledore quickened his pace but didn't say anymore.

"He's not acting normally. He doesn't seem to know where he is. He keeps talking like he thinks Percy Weasley's there, and then he changes, and says he needs to see you. ... I left him with Viktor Krum."

"You did? Do you know if anybody else saw Mr. Crouch?"

"No. Krum and I were talking, Mr. Bagman had just finished telling us about the third task. Krum and I stayed behind and then we saw Mr. Crouch come out of the forest.

"Where are they?"

"Over here." I pointed to where I left Krum. We reached the spot I indicated but both Krum and Crouch were gone. "Viktor!" I shouted out to the trees. When no one answered, I turned back to Dumbledore.

"They were here. They were definitely somewhere around here." Professor Dumbledore lit the tip of his wand and swept it across the forest in front of us. The narrow beam from his wand illuminated the ground before falling upon a pair of feet. We ran forward to find Krum sprawled on the forest floor, unconscious. There was no sin of Mr. Crouch at all. Dumbledore studied Krum for a moment.

"He is merely stunned."

"Should I go and get someone? Madam Pomfrey?" I suggested.

"No stay here." He raised his wand into the air and pointed it in the direction of Hagrid's cabin. Something silvery darted out of it and raced off towards the nearby bushes. Dumbledore pointed his wand at Krum and whispered "ennervate."

"He attacked me! The old madman attacked me! I vos looking around to see var Potter had gone and he attacked from behind!"

"Lie still for a moment," Dumbledore instructed Krum. Before any of us could say anything, the sound of thunderous footsteps reached us. I turned over myshoulder to see Hagrid carring his crossbow, Fang at his side. Fang recognized me immediately and tackled me to the ground before attempting to lick my face off. Hagrid just stared at the scene in disbelief.

"Professor Dumbledore! Alice! What are yeh…"

"Hagrid, I need you to fetch Professor Karkaroff. His student has been attacked, when you've done that, kindly alert Professor Moody -"

"No need, Dumbledore, I'm here." A wheezy grown said from behind Hagrid. "Damn leg, would've been here quicker… what's happened? Snape said something about Crouch -"

"Crouch?" Hagrid looked confused.

"Karkaroff, please, Hagrid!" Dumbledore spoke sharply.

"Oh yeah . .'. right y'are, Professor. . ." Hagrid, turned and disappeared into the darkness, Fang trotting after him.

"I don't know where Barty Crouch is, but it is essential that we find him." Dumbledore told Moody.

"I'm on it." Moody pulled out his wand and limped off into the trees. Dumbledore and I waited silently for Hagrid to return. Karkaroff was hurrying along behind Fang. He looked pale and agitated.

"What is this, What's going on?"

"I vos attacked! Mr. Crouch or votever his name -" Krum replied rubbing his head.

"Crouch attacked you? Crouch attacked you? The Triwizard judge?"

"Igor," Dumbledore began, but Karkaroff cut him off looking wild and livid.

"Treachery!" he bellowed, pointing at Dumbledore. "It is a plot! You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me here under false pretenses, Dumbledore! This is not an equal competition! First you sneak Potter into the tournament, though she is underage! Now one of your Ministry friends attempts to put my champion out of action! I smell double-dealing and corruption in this whole affair, and you, Dumbledore, you, with your talk of closer international wizarding links, of rebuilding old ties, of forgetting old differences - here's what I think of you!" Karkaroff spat on the ground at Dumbledore's feet. My eyes grew wide, I didn't know what to say. I'd never seen anyone so openly disrespect Dumbledore.

"Kindly escort Allison back to the castle would you Hagrid?" Hagrid was glaring violently at Karkaroff.

"Maybe I'd better stay here. Headmaster. . . ."

"You will take Allison back to school, Hagrid," Dumbledore repeated firmly. "Take her right to the Slytherin Dungeons. And Alice, I want you to stay there. Anything you might want to do, anywhere you might want to visit, and owls you might want to send, they can wait until morning. Do you understand?"

Take him right up to Gryffindor Tower. And Harry - I want you to stay there. Anything you might want to do - any owls you might want to send - they can wait until morning, do you understand me?"

"Yes sir." I nodded knowing that was his way of telling me to wait until the morning to contact Severus or Remus.

"I'll leave Fang with yeh. Headmaster. Stay, Fang, C'mon, Alice." Hagrid waited until we were near the castle steps before speaking.

"How dare he! How dare he accuse Dumbledore, Like Dumbledore'd do anythin' like that! Like Dumbledore wanted you in the tournament in the firs' place. Worried! I dunno when I seen Dumbledore more worried than he's bin lately. An' you! What were yeh doin', wanderin' off with ruddy Krum? He's from Durmstrang, Alice! Coulda jinxed yeh right there, couldn he? Hasn' Moody taught yeh nothin'? 'Magine lettin him lure yeh off on yer own -"

"Krum's alright!" I defended as we entered the Entrance Hall. "He wasn't trying to jinx me, he just wanted to ask me about Harry and Hermione."

"I'll be havin' a few words with her, an' all, the less you lot 'ave ter do with these foreigners, the happier yeh'll be. Yeh can trust any of 'em."

"You were getting on all right with Madame Maxime." I answered quickly before I forgetting for a moment that I wasn't supposed to know about his interest in her.

"Don' you talk ter me abou' her! I've got her number now! Tryin' ter get back in me good books, tryin' ter get me ter tell her what's comin in the third task. Ha! You can' trust any of'em!"

"I'm sorry Hagrid. Thanks for walking me back to the castle." I said at the top of the dungeon stairs. "Oh and Hagrid, don't worry too much about Dumbledore. I'm pretty sure he'll have his own choice words for Karkaroff, otherwise, he wouldn't have sent us away." Hagrid smiled at that.

"I recon you might be right."