Chapter 15: Crouch
March 7, 2002
Buffy entered the kitchen intending to have Joyce take some food to Sirius.
"Dobby," she said when she spotted the house elf. "I'm getting a care package together for a friend who's sick. Could you get some food together for me?"
"Of course, Elizabeth Potter," Dobby said.
"I also wanted to say thank you for leading me to the book that I found the information on gillyweed in," Buffy said. "Now I have a question. Do you happen to know what happened to Mr. Crouch's house elf, Winky?"
"Winky is over there by the fire, miss," said Dobby quietly, his ears drooping slightly.
Buffy looked over at the fireplace too. Winky was sitting on a stool. Her clothes were ragged and unwashed. She was clutching a bottle of butterbeer and swaying slightly on her stool, staring into the fire.
"She's drunk," Buffy said.
"Winky is getting through six bottles a day now," Dobby whispered. "Winky is pining, Elizabeth Potter. Winky wants to go home. Winky still thinks Mr. Crouch is her master, miss, and nothing Dobby says will persuade her that Professor Dumbledore is her master now."
Buffy sighed as she walked over to the house elf and bent down. "Hey," she said. She was struck with some inspiration. "You don't know what Mr. Crouch might be up to, do you? Because he's stopped turning up to judge the Triwizard Tournament."
Winky's eyes flickered. Her enormous pupils focused on Buffy. She swayed slightly again and then said, "M—Master is stopped—hic—coming?"
"Yeah," said Buffy, "we haven't seen him since the first task. The Daily Prophet's saying he's ill."
Winky swayed some more, staring blurrily at Buffy. "Master—hic—ill?" Her bottom lip began to tremble.
"You know who I am?" Buffy asked as Winky nodded.
"Slayer."
"I'm not sure if Mr. Crouch is ill," Buffy said. "As a Slayer I need to know for sure."
"Master is needing his—hic—Winky!" whimpered the elf. "Master cannot—hic—manage—hic—all by himself… Winky—hic—does not only—hic—do housework for Mr. Crouch!"
Winky squeaked indignantly, swaying worse than ever and slopping butterbeer down her already heavily stained blouse. "Master is—hic—trusting Winky with—hic—the most important—hic—the most secret—Winky keeps—hic—her master's secrets."
Buffy nodded in understanding. Crouch had a secret that he did not want shared. The question was what was it. "Thank you, Winky," she said as she stood up and walked back over to Dobby.
"We is sorry you had to see that, miss!" squeaked a nearby elf, shaking his head and looking very ashamed. "We is hoping you will not judge us all by Winky, miss!"
"I do not," Buffy said. "I do not even judge Winky for the way she is. I know too well what it's like to be in Winky's place."
"We has your extra food!" squeaked an elf at Buffy's elbow, and he shoved a large ham, a dozen cakes, and some fruit into her arms. "Goodbye!"
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Several hours later Buffy sat in her office when Ginny came barging in.
"Ginny," Buffy said as she looked up at her sister's girlfriend.
Ginny threw a letter on the desk.
Buffy looked at the letter, she saw that it was not handwritten, but composed from pasted letters that seemed to have been cut out of the Daily Prophet.
You are a WickEd giRL. DawN PotTER deserves BeTteR. GO back wherE you cAMe from.
"I've gotten more like that," Ginny said. "Ever since Witch Weekly printed that story. Saying that Dawn can do better than me. That I deserve to be boiled in frog spawn. And I am not the only one who is getting hate mail. Hermione is getting it also. Dawn didn't read the entire story before she burned the magazine. Apparently, part of the story was on Harry and Hermione. Hermione has been getting the same things, she was even doused with undiluted bubotuber pus when she opened one."
"Thanks, Ginny," Buffy said with a sigh. "I'll take care of it. For now, don't open anymore mail."
"I wasn't going to, especially when another letter threatened to curse me," Ginny said. "What should I do about Dawn. She's mad that Hermione and I have been getting these. And we know what happened when she got mad at that Skeeter woman."
"You tell my sister to ignore it," Buffy said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
March 14, 2002
Hate mail continued to arrive for both Ginny and Hermione over the following week, and although they followed Buffy's advice and stopped opening it, several of their ill-wishers sent Howlers, which exploded at the Gryffindor table and shrieked insults at them for the whole Hall to hear.
Buffy finally had enough of it and went to Dumbledore who agreed the mail needed to be screened.
"I would love to know how Skeeter is getting her information for her stories," Buffy said. "Talking with Sirius I know that some of the stuff printed in the Daily Prophet was stuff she couldn't get without being inside Hogwarts. Didn't you ban her after the interview at the wand weighing?"
"I did," Dumbledore said. "She couldn't be using an invisibility cloak. I would know if that was the case."
"Wait a second," Buffy said as she thought of something. "Sirius is an unregistered Animagus. Could it be possible she is also?"
"It is possible," Dumbledore agreed.
May 27, 2002
The letters eventually stopped coming and Dumbledore allowed the mail to return to normal.
Buffy was in her office reading a letter from Willow. She sighed. Willow had told her that she and Tara had broken up. "Poor, Will," she said as a knock came at the door.
"Come in," she said as McGonagall came in.
"Buffy," McGonagall said. "You are to go down to the Quidditch field tonight at nine o'clock. Mr. Bagman will be there to tell the champions about the third task."
So, at half past eight that night, Buffy went downstairs. As she crossed the entrance hall, Cedric came up from the Hufflepuff common room.
"What d'you reckon it's going to be?" Cedric asked as they went together down the stone steps, out into the cloudy night. "Fleur keeps going on about underground tunnels; she reckons we've got to find treasure."
"I just hope it doesn't have anything to do with hostages again," Buffy said.
"So, do I," Cedric said. "Can I ask, how is Dawn taking the stories about her and Ginny?"
"Not good," Buffy admitted. "She's ticked off and I don't blame her. Albus has said he found a lawyer for me and as soon as school is out, I intend to hire him and sue Skeeter, the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly."
"They deserve it," Cedric said. "What has been going on between Harry and Hermione was bad even though they aren't together. Dawn and Ginny was worse because they are together. They deserve everything you can do to them."
"Thanks, Cedric," Buffy said as they walked down the dark lawn to the Quidditch stadium, turned through a gap in the stands, and walked out onto the field.
"What've they done to it?" Cedric said indignantly, stopping dead.
The Quidditch field was no longer smooth and flat. It looked as though somebody had been building long, low walls all over it that twisted and crisscrossed in every direction.
"It's a maze," Buffy said.
"Hello there!" called a cheery voice.
Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Krum and
Fleur. Buffy and Cedric made their way toward them, climbing over the hedges. Fleur beamed at Buffy as she came nearer. Every time the two of them were in the same room Fleur would thank Buffy again for saving her little sister.
"Well, what d'you think?" said Bagman happily. "Growing nicely, aren't they? Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high. Don't worry," he added, grinning, spotting the less-than-happy expressions on Cedric's face, "you'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?"
"A maze," Buffy said.
"That's right!" said Bagman. "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?" said Fleur.
"There will be obstacles," said Bagman happily, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "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 grinned at Buffy and Cedric. "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?"
Buffy looked at her fellow champions and knew not only the creatures that Hagrid was likely to provide for an event like this, but also the creatures that she herself might face. After all she had an unfair advantage in a task like this. She was a Slayer, someone that had supernatural strength and was as strong or stronger than a vampire.
"I assume there will be added creatures and obstacles the others won't face because of who I am," Buffy said.
"Yes," Bagman said. "Nothing that you shouldn't be able to get past though. And no vampires. Now if there are no other questions, we'll go back up to the castle, it's a bit chilly…"
Bagman hurried alongside Buffy as they began to wend their way out of the growing maze. Buffy had the feeling that Bagman was going to start offering her help, but just then, Krum tapped Buffy on the shoulder.
"Could I haff a vord?"
"Sure," Buffy said.
"Vill you valk vith me?"
Buffy nodded.
Bagman looked slightly perturbed. "I'll wait for you, Buffy, shall I?"
"No, that's okay," Buffy said, suppressing a smile, "I'm a Slayer remember. I should have no trouble getting back to the castle on my own, thanks."
Buffy and Krum left the stadium together, but Krum did not set a course for the Durmstrang ship. Instead, he walked toward the forest. When at last they had reached a quiet stretch of ground a short way from the Beauxbatons horses' paddock, Krum stopped in the shade of the trees and turned to face Buffy.
"I vant to know," he said, glowering, "vot there is between your brother and Hermy-own-ninny."
"Nothing that I know of," Buffy admitted. "If there was, Harry wouldn't likely tell me anyways. After all sex is not something a teenage boy would be interested in telling his sister, especially his older sister."
"Hermy-own-ninny talks about him, and of course you, very often," said Krum, looking suspiciously at Buffy.
"Hermione and Harry have been friends since their first year at Hogwarts," Buffy said. "And she and I have been friends since we met last summer."
"Your brother haff never… your brother haff not…"
"Again, not to my knowledge," Buffy admitted again.
Krum looked slightly happier. He stared at Buffy for a few seconds, then said, "You fly very vell. I vos votching at the first task."
"Harry has been a good teacher," Buffy said as she grinned. Suddenly something caught her attention as her Slayer senses began screaming at her. Something wasn't right.
"Vot is it?"
"Something is out here with us," Buffy said. "Stay behind me."
"I can…"
"I'm a Slayer," Buffy growled as she slipped her hand inside her robes, reaching for her wand.
Krum knew enough about Slayers to know that she was very likely stronger than him. He did as she asked and got behind her.
Suddenly a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. For a moment, Buffy didn't recognize him… then she realized it was Mr. Crouch.
He looked as though he had been traveling for days. His strange appearance, however, was nothing to the way he was behaving. Muttering and gesticulating, Mr. Crouch appeared to be talking to someone that he alone could see.
Buffy looked at the man as he reminded her of her mother. Joyce Summers before the surgery had done much the same because of the tumor,
"Vosn't he a judge?" said Krum, staring at Mr. Crouch. "Isn't he vith your Ministry?"
"To my knowledge he is with the British Ministry yes," Buffy answered. "But I'm American so I don't one hundred percent for sure."
She walked slowly toward Mr. Crouch, who did not look at her, but continued to talk to a nearby tree.
"…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…"
"Mr. Crouch?" said Buffy cautiously.
"…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.
Buffy knelt next to Mr. Crouch and saw his eyes were rolling in his head. She looked around at Krum, who had followed her into the trees, and was looking down at Crouch in alarm.
"Vot is wrong with him?"
"No idea," Buffy said. "Go to the castle. Bring someone back."
Krum nodded and hurried off as Buffy turned back toward Mr. Crouch.
"Dumbledore!" gasped Mr. Crouch. He reached out and seized a handful of Buffy's robes, dragging her closer, though his eyes were staring over her head. "I need… see… Dumbledore… I've done… stupid… thing… Must… tell… Dumbledore…"
Mr. Crouch's eyes rolled forward onto Buffy.
"Who… you?" he whispered.
"I'm Buffy Potter," Buffy said, "The Slayer."
Crouch was pulling Buffy closer. "Warn… Dumbledore…"
"I will," Buffy said.
"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. Fudge."
Crouch was now talking fluently to a tree again, and seemed completely unaware that Buffy was there.
"Yes, 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…"
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Krum led Dumbledore back to the last place he saw Buffy and Mr. Crouch. Neither of them were there.
"You're sure this is where you left them?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes," Krum answered.
"Do you know if anybody else saw Mr. Crouch?" Dumbledore asked.
"No," said Krum. "It was just me and the Slayer. We we're talking."
"Where are they?" said Dumbledore as the Beauxbatons carriage emerged from the darkness. "Lumos." He held up his wand as it lit the area.
Its narrow beam traveled from black trunk to black trunk, illuminating the ground. And then it fell upon a pair of feet.
Krum and Dumbledore hurried forward. Buffy was sprawled on the forest floor. She seemed to be unconscious. There was no sign at all of Mr. Crouch. Dumbledore bent over Buffy and gently lifted one of her eyelids.
"Stunned," Dumbledore said softly. He pointed his wand at Buffy, and muttered, "Rennervate."
Buffy opened her eyes. She looked dazed, which for a Slayer was saying something. When she saw Dumbledore, she tried to sit up, but Dumbledore put a hand on her shoulder and made her lie still.
"I was attacked," Buffy said, putting a hand up to her head. "Crouch attacked me! Took me by surprise as I was watching to see who Viktor brought back."
"Lie still for a moment," Dumbledore said.
The sound of thunderous footfalls reached them, and Hagrid came panting into sight with Fang at his heels. He was carrying his crossbow. "Professor Dumbledore!" he said, his eyes widening. "Buffy—what the—?"
"Hagrid, take Mr. Krum back to his ship. Then I need you to fetch Harry and Dawn," said Dumbledore. When you've done that, kindly alert Professor Moody—"
"No need, Dumbledore," said a wheezy growl. "I'm here."
Moody was limping toward them, leaning on his staff, his wand lit.
"Damn leg," he said furiously. "Would've been here quicker… what's happened? Snape said something about Crouch—"
"Crouch?" said Hagrid blankly.
"Hagrid," said Dumbledore as he nodded toward Krum. Hagrid left with the boy. "I don't know where Barty Crouch is but it is essential that we find him."
"I'm onto it," growled Moody, and he pulled out his wand and limped off into the forest.
A few minutes later Buffy and Dumbledore heard the unmistakable sounds of Hagrid and Fang returning. Harry, Dawn and Ginny were hurrying along behind them.
Dumbledore looked up at Hagrid as if to ask why Ginny was there.
"She wanted to support Dawn," Hagrid said.
Dumbledore nodded in understanding.
"What's going on, Professor?" Harry asked.
"Buffy was attacked," Dumbledore said.
"Vampire?" Dawn wondered.
"No," Dumbledore said. "Mr. Crouch."
"Crouch attacked Buffy?" Ginny said shocked.
"Hagrid, kindly escort Buffy to the hospital wing. Have Madam Pomfrey look her over." Dumbledore said. He looked toward Dawn, Harry and Ginny. "Harry, Dawn, you two can remain with Buffy till morning."
Hagrid helped Buffy to her feet and then they, Harry, Dawn and Ginny headed back toward the castle.
"Hagrid," Ginny said. "Can I stay with Dawn?"
Hagrid looked toward Dawn who nodded. "I don't see why you can't. But if Dumbledore says otherwise."
"I'll go back to Gryffindor tower, immediately," Ginny said as she slipped her hand into Dawn's.
They marched the rest of the way to the castle in silence. Hagrid left the group in the hospital wing where Madam Pomfrey looked Buffy over before pointing to a nearby bed and ordering Buffy to sleep.