Hermione couldn't stop the panic growing within her. She knew she needed to step back and calm down before she spiralled back into the depression she was finally getting control over. She made some small talk with Sophie after class, but as soon as she saw an out, Hermione took it and escaped to her secret window up in the tower where she had often gone during her third year. She wasn't ready to go to her nook in the Library, and she most certainly didn't want to engage with anybody she might see back at Gryffindor tower.
Hermione decided instead to stay in her secret spot and crack open the book Sophie had gotten for her. It was immaculate. The pages were a delicate parchment and the deep purple ink on the pages seemed to shimmer depending on how she held the book. The letters were quite small, but the text grew to a readable size when she focused on a section. That must have been how they could include all the information in the book and not have it be an unwieldy behemoth.
It took her a few moments to figure out how it worked, but she learned quickly. She could open it and flip through the pages like any other book, but when she completely closed and then re-opened it, there were minor changes. This book was alive, and it was one of the most marvellous things Hermione had ever owned. The power that this book contained was unfathomable.
Hermione spent the better part of an hour flipping through the pages, shutting the cover, and flipping through the pages again looking for changes. After some time, Hermione realised she needed a more pointed dive into the pages if she was going to get her mind off of the issues at hand or, at the very least, hold her focus long enough to calm down.
Hermione mentally flipped through some pertinent subjects she could focus on, and she landed on Mr Crouch and his son, Barty Crouch Jr. The subject was removed enough from what had set off this episode and would not trigger another panic attack, and was certainly information that would be beneficial. It was the best of both worlds. Besides, Hermione hadn't had a chance to focus on facts and figures much this year, and this provided her with the perfect opportunity.
Scanning the table of contents, she found the first Wizarding War and the subsequent trials. With a quick calculation, she landed on the end of 1981 as the approximate time they took place. She found the right page and the ink grew in size as she scanned the names looking for Crouch. However, her finger landed on another familiar name first: Igor Karkaroff. Her curiosity got the best of her. Hermione closed the book and opened it, making Karkaroff's transcript large enough to read:
27 December 1981: Council of Magical Law
Bartemius Crouch, Snr. Presiding
Tribunal Number 041684: Igor Karkaroff
Deposition on possible information for Ministry
BARTEMIUS CROUCH SNR (BCS): Igor Karkaroff. You have been brought from Azkaban to give evidence to the Ministry of Magic. We understand that you have important information for us.
IGOR KARKAROFF (IK): I have, sir. I wish to be of use to the Ministry. I wish to help. I-I know that the Ministry is trying to - to round up the last of the Dark Lord's supporters. I am eager to assist in any way I can.
BCS: You say you have names for us, Karkaroff? Let us hear them, please.
IK: You must understand that He Who Must Not Be Named operated always in the greatest secrecy. He preferred that we - I mean to say, his supporters - and I regret now, very deeply, that I ever counted myself among them. We never knew the names of every one of our fellows - he alone knew exactly who we all were.
BCS: Yet you say that you have some names for us?
IK: I - I do. And these were important supporters, mark you. People I saw with my own eyes doing his bidding. I give this information as a sign that I fully and totally renounce him, and am filled with a remorse so deep, I can barely-
BCS: These names are?
IK: There was Antonin Dolhov. I saw him torture countless Muggles and - and non-supporters of the Dark Lord.
BCS: We have already apprehended Dolohov. He was caught shortly after yourself.
IK: Indeed? I - I am delighted to hear it.
BCS: Any others?
IK: Why, yes. There was Rosier. Evan Rosier.
BCS: Rosier is dead. He was caught shortly after you were, too. He preferred to fight rather than coming quietly, and was killed in the struggle.
IK: No - No more than Rosier deserved!
BCS: Any more?
IK: Yes! There was Travers - he helped murder the McKinnons. Mulciber - he specialised in the Imperius curse, forced countless people to do horrific things! Rookwood, who was a spy, and passed He Who Must Not Be Named useful information from inside the Ministry itself!
BCS: Rookwood? Augustus Rookwood of the Department of Mysteries?
IK: The very same. I believe he used a network of well-placed wizards, both inside the Ministry and out, to collect information-
BCS: But Travers and Mulciber we have. Very well, Karkaroff, if that is all, you will be returned to Azkaban while we decide-
IK: Not yet! Wait! I have more! Snape! Severus Snape!
BCS: Snape has been cleared by this council. He has been vouched for by Albus Dumbledore.
IK: No! I assure you! Severus Snape is a Death Eater.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE (AD): I have given evidence already on this matter. Severus Snape was indeed a Death Eater. However, he rejoined our side before Lord Voldemort's downfall and turned spy for us, at great personal risk. He is now no more a Death Eater than I am.
BCS: Very well, Karkaroff. You have been of assistance. I shall review your case. You will return to Azkaban in the meantime.
Hermione couldn't believe what she had read. Snape had been a Death Eater. Harry and Ron were right, although Dumbledore testified in court that he had become a spy for the good side. And her suspicions about Karkaroff were confirmed as well.
She wanted to pause and digest that information, but her curiosity got the best of her again. She started scanning the names again and another familiar name popped out: Ludo Bagman!
20 January 1982: Council of Magical Law
Bartemius Crouch, Snr. Presiding
Sentencing 092794: Ludovic Bagman
Diversionary Disposition
BARTEMIUS CROUCH SNR (BCS): Ludo Bagman, you have been brought here in front of the Council of Magical Law to answer charges relating to the activities of the Death Eaters. We have heard the evidence against you, and are about to reach our verdict. Do you have anything to add to your testimony before we pronounce judgement?
LUDO BAGMAN (LB): Only, well, I know I've been a bit of an idiot.
BCS: Ludovic Bagman, you were caught passing information to Lord Voldemort's supporters. For this, I suggest a term of imprisonment in Azkaban lasting no less than-
-Outcry from spectators-
LB: But, I've told you, I had no idea! None at all! Old Rookwood was a friend of my dad's. Never crossed my mind he was in with You-Know-Who! I thought I was collecting information for our side! And Rookwood kept talking about getting me a job in the Ministry later on. Once my Quidditch days are over, you know. I mean, I can't keep getting hit by Bludgers for the rest of my life, can I?
BCS: It will be put to the vote. The jury will please raise their hands. Those in favour of imprisonment-
-Recorded 21 votes NO, 0 votes YES-
-JUROR NUMBER 7 Addresses the court-
BCS: Yes?
JN7: We'd just like to congratulate Mr Bagman on his splendid performance for England in the Quidditch match against Turkey last Saturday.
-Applause in Courtroom-
BCS: Despicable. Rookwood get him a job indeed. The day Ludo Bagman joins us will be a very sad day for the Ministry.
Hermione sarcastically chuckled. A sad day indeed. Now the two worked with each other. Or, at least, they had. Hermione never did like Ludo Bagman, and it seemed her suspicions were warranted. There was no doubt in her mind he knew exactly what he was doing. Ludo may not have been sharing information maliciously, but he was definitely sharing it selfishly. He knew how to butter up the right people to come out on top, though it seemed to have backfired in this instance.
Hermione ran her finger down a bit further and saw the name she had been looking for originally: Barty Crouch Jr. It appeared that he was included in a group trial. Hermione read on:
27 February 1982: Council of Magical Law
Bartemius Crouch, Snr. Presiding
Sentencing 061857: Bartemius Crouch Jr
Sentencing 071365: Bellatrix Lestrange
Sentencing 051524: Rodolphus Lestrange
Sentencing 072814: Rabastan Lestrage
Conviction Hearing
BARTEMIUS CROUCH SNR (BCS): You have been brought here before the Council of Magical Law so that we may pass judgement on you, for a crime so heinous-
BARTEMIUS CROUCH JR (BCJ): Father! Father, please!
BCS: -that we have rarely heard the like of it within this court. We have heard the evidence against you. The four of you stand accused of capturing an Auror - Frank Longbottom-
Hermione gasped. Longbottom!
-and subjecting him to the Cruciatus Curse, believing him to have knowledge of the present whereabouts of your exiled master, He Who Must Not Be Named.
BCJ: Father, I didn't! I didn't, I swear it, Father! Don't send me back to the Dementors.
BCS: You are further accused of using the Cruciatus curse on Frank Logbottom's wife when he would not give you information. You planned to restore He Who Must Not Be Named to power, and to resume the lives of violence you presumably led while he was strong. I now ask the jury-
BCJ: Mother! Mother, stop him! Mother, I didn't do it! It wasn't me!
BCS: I now ask the jury to raise their hands if they believe, as I do, that these crimes deserve a life sentence in Azkaban.
-Recorded 0 votes NO, 21 votes YES-
BCJ: No! Mother, no! I didn't do it! I didn't do it! I didn't know! Don't send me there! Don't let him!
BELLATRIX LESTRANGE (BL): The Dark Lord will rise again, Crouch! Throw us in Azkaban, we will wait! He will rise again and will come for us. He will reward us beyond any of his other supporters! We were faithful! We alone tried to find him!
BCJ: I'm your son! I'm your son!
BCS: You are no son of mine! I have no son! Take them away. Take them away, and may they rot there!
BCJ: Father! Father! I wasn't involved! No! No! Father, please!
Hermione could barely believe what she had read. Frank Longbottom and his wife had to be Neville's parents. The dates all added up. And even though the transcript was written completely devoid of emotion, she could feel the anger and betrayal Mr Crouch felt towards his son. Likewise, she could imagine the desperation in Barty's voice. She wondered if Barty Crouch Jr was actually innocent or if he was just an excellent actor.
All she wanted to do was leave the tower window immediately, find Neville, and give him a huge hug, but she didn't want him to know that she knew. In fact, she didn't want anyone to know she knew about it. It was not her story to tell or share. She could only hope that when he was ready, Neville would trust her enough to share the story of his parents with her.