The Madness of Mr Crouch
The trio all went up to the Owlery after they had breakfast on Sunday to send a letter to Sam, asking if he saw Crouch lately, as Sirius suggested.
This time, they used Athena, mainly because it's been so long since she flew to deliver something.
As they watched her fly out of sight from the Owlery window, they started making their way down to the kitchen to give Dobby his new socks.
The house elves all gave them a very cheery welcome, bowing and curtseying and bustling around, this time making tea. Dobby was very ecstatic about his present.
"Arthur Pendergast is too good to Dobby!" He squeaked, wiping large tears from his enormous eyes.
"You saved my life with the Gillyweed, Dobby, I had to show how grateful I am." Arthur patted his tea cosy.
"Could you guys provide an éclair?" David asked, looking at the beaming and bowing house elves.
"David, you just had breakfast." Chrys said, flabbergasted as a silver platter of eclairs zoomed towards them, supported by four elves.
"I think we should get some more stuff to send to Snuffles." Arthur muttered.
"Good idea, it can give Goliath something to do." David replied. "Could you get us some more food?" he then asked the elves, who bowed delightedly and hurried off to get some more.
"Hey, Dobby, where's Winky?" Chry asked, looking around.
"Winky is over there by the fire, miss." Dobby said quietly, his ears drooping slightly.
"Poor thing." Chrys said as she spotted her.
Arthur looked over at the fireplace and found Winky to be sitting on the same stool as last time, but had become so filthy that she wasn't immediately distinguishable from the smoke blackened brick behind her. Her clothes were now completely ragged and unwashed. She was also clutching a bottle of Butterbeer and swaying slightly on her stool, staring into the fire. As the trio watched her, she gave a loud hiccough.
"Winky is getting through six bottles a day now." Dobby whispered to Arthur.
"Is that stuff strong for house elves?" Arthur questioned, knowing their physiology was different from humans.
Dobby nodded as Winky hiccoughed again. The elves that brought the eclairs gave Winky disapproving looks as they returned to their work.
"Winky is pining, Arthur Pendergast." Dobby whispered sadly. "Winky wants to go home. Winky still thinks Mr Crouch is her master, sir, and nothing Dobby says will persuade her that Professor Dumbledore is her master now."
"Winky…" Arthur said, now hit with some inspiration, walking over to her and bending down to talk to her. "...do you know what Mr Crouch might be up to? Because he's stopped coming to judge the Triwizard Tournament."
Winky's eyes flickered. Her large pupils now focused on Arthur. She swayed slightly still as she said "M-master is stopped - hic - coming?"
"Yeah." Arthur replied. "We haven't seen him ever since the first task. And the Daily Prophet says he's ill."
Winky swayed some more, staring blurrily at him. "Master - hic - ill?"
Her bottom lip then started trembling.
"We just don't know if there's any truth to it." Chrys said.
"Master is needing he - hic - Winky!" She whimpered. "Master cannot - hic - manage - hic - all by himself…."
"People can manage to do their housework on their own, you know Winky." Chrys said severely.
"Winky - hic - is not only - hic - doing housework for Mr Crouch!" Winky squeaked indignantly, now 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 -"
"What?" Arthur said.
Winky shook her head very hard, spilling more Butterbeer on herself.
"Winky keeps - hic - her master's secrets." She said mutinously, swaying very heavily, frowning up at Arthur with crossed eyes. "You is - hic - nosing, you is."
"Winky must not talk like that to Arthur Pendergast!" Dobby said angrily. "Arthur Pendergast is brave and noble and Arthur Pendergast is not nosy!"
"He is nosing - hic - into my master's - hic - private and secret - hic - Winky is a good house elf - hic - Winky keeps her silence - hic - people trying to - hic - pry and poke - hic -" Winky's eyelids now drooped and without warning, she slid off her stool and onto the hearth, snoring loudly. The empty bottle of Butterbeer rolled away across the stone flagged floor.
Half a dozen of the house elves came forward, looking disgusted. One picked up the bottle, while the others all covered Winky with a large checked tablecloth and tucked the ends in neatly, now hiding her from view.
"We is sorry you had to see that, sirs and miss!" A nearby elf squeaked, shaking his head, looking very ashamed. "We is hoping you will not judge us all by Winky, sirs and miss!"
"It's alright. We won't judge you for one house elf still clinging to the past." Chrys assured the house elf, who bowed gratefully at her words.
"We has your extra food!" Another elf squeaked at Arthur's elbow, placing a large ham, a dozen cakes and some fruit in Arthur's arms.
The trio left the kitchen as Dobby thanked Arthur for the socks.
"I think this is too much for Goliath to carry on his own." Arthur noted to David as the kitchen closed behind them.
"Then we'll have to get a couple of other owls to help him out." David replied.
And so later in the evening, the two took Sirius' food up to the Owlery and had a couple of screech owls help out Goliath in carrying the food and watched them set off into the dusk, looking very odd.
The two then saw Hagrid digging energetically in front of his cabin. And then Maxime emerged from the Beauxbatons carriage and walked over to Hagrid. She tried to engage in conversation with him, but Hagrid clearly didn't want to talk because Maxime returned to the carriage shortly afterwards.
"Still bitter about how she treated him, I see." David said as the two left the Owlery and back to the common room to carry on with their homework.
During breakfast the next day, when the post owls arrived, Chrys looked up eagerly, expecting something.
"What are you waiting for?" Arthur asked.
"I've made a subscription to the Daily Prophet. I hate finding everything out from the Slytherins."
"Fair enough." David said as he and Arthur looked up. "What the -?"
A grey owl soared down towards Chrys. It landed in front of her plate, followed by four barn owls, a brown owl and a tawny.
"Don't tell me this is hate mail." Arthur groaned as he seized Chrys' goblet before it could be knocked over by the cluster of owls, all of whom jostled close to her, trying to deliver their own letter first.
Chrys took the letter from the grey owl and opened it to read it.
"It is hate mail." She hissed, showing it to the boys, seeing that the letter was composed of pasted letters that were cut out from the Daily Prophet.
You are a WickEd giRl. ArTHur PenderGast desErves BetteR. gO Back wherE you came from muggle.
"It's all nothing but hate mail." Chrys said, opening one letter after another. "'Arthur Pendergast can do much better than the likes of you….' 'You deserve to be boiled in frog spawn….' Ouch!"
She opened the last envelope and yellowish green liquid that smelled strongly of petrol gushed out over her hands, now erupting in large yellow boils.
"It's undiluted Bubotuber pus!" David said as he picked the envelope up gingerly and sniffed it.
"Ow!" Chrys said as tears formed in her eyes when trying to rub the pus off her hands with a napkin, but her fingers were so thickly covered in painful sores that it seemed like she was wearing a pair of thick, knobbly gloves.
"You should go to the hospital wing." Arthur suggested as the owls around Chrys took flight. "We can tell Sprout you've gone…."
"I did warn her." David said as Chrys hurried out of the Great Hall, cradling her hands. "Look at this one here…." He read out one letter that Chrys left behind. "'I read in Witch Weekly about how you are playing Arthur Pendergast false and that boy has had enough hardship and I will be sending you a curse by next post as soon as I can find a big enough envelope.' Jeez, she'll have to watch out for herself."
Chrys didn't show up for Herbology.
During the lesson, David suddenly knelt down and shut a tin case with a lock on it that had some tiny holes in it so loudly that it made Arthur jump. He then performed an Unbreakable Charm on it. Arthur grinned as he grabbed Skeeter at last. She will no longer write any more rubbish articles.
"Are you sure it's her?" Arthur whispered.
"Yep, the pattern around the eyes matched her spectacles." David nodded triumphantly, fist bumping with Arthur.
Once the lesson ended, the two left the greenhouse for their Care of Magical Creatures class and saw Draco, Crabbe and Goyle descending the stone steps from the castle.
Pansy Parkinson whispered and giggled behind them with her gang of Slytherin girls.
Upon catching sight of Arthur, she called out "Pendergast, have you split up with your girlfriend? Why was she so upset at breakfast?"
Arthur ignored her, not giving her the satisfaction of knowing how much trouble the Witch Weekly article caused.
Hagrid, who told them last lesson that they were finished with unicorns, waited for them outside his cabin with a fresh supply of open crates at his feet.
Arthur dreaded that it was more Skrewts, but when he got near enough, he was wide eyed and covered his mouth and nose with both hands as he saw some of the cutest creatures he had ever seen.
They were fluffy black creatures with long snouts and had curiously flat front paws. They were Nifflers. They blinked up at the class, looking very puzzled at all the attention.
"These're Nifflers." Hagrid said when the class gathered around. "Yeh find 'em down mines mostly. They like sparkly stuff… there yeh go, look."
One of them suddenly leapt up and attempted to bite Pansy's watch off her wrist. She shrieked and jumped backwards, amusing Arthur, David and Mike especially.
"Useful little treasure detectors." Hagrid said happily. "Thought we'd have some fun with 'em today. See over there?" He pointed over at the large patch of freshly turned earth that Arthur and David watched him dig from the Owlery window. "I've buried some gold coins. I've got a prize fer whoever picks the Niffler that digs up most. Jus' take off all yer valuables, an' choose a Niffler an' get ready ter set 'em loose."
Arthur took his watch off, which he wore out of habit at this point since it didn't work anymore, stuffing it in his pocket.
He then picked up a Niffler, which put its long snout in Arthur's ear, sniffing enthusiastically. It was quite cuddly.
"Hey, easy buddy." Arthur chuckled, stroking it and pulling it away from his ear, placing it on his chest.
"Hang on…" Hagrid said, looking down into the crate. "...there's a spare Niffler here… who's missin'? Where's Chrys?"
"We'll tell you later." David said, noticing how Pansy was listening.
It had to be the most fun any Care of Magical Creatures lesson had been. The Nifflers all dived in and out of the patch of earth like it was water, each scurrying back to the student who released it and spat gold into their hands. David's was very efficient, soon filling his lap with coins.
"Can these be bought as pets?" David asked curiously as his Niffler dived back into the soil.
"They wreck houses, Nifflers." Hagrid informed him with a grin. "I reckon they've nearly got the lot now." He then said, pacing around the patch of earth as the Nifflers continued to dive. "I on'y buried a hundred coins. Oh, there y'are, Chrys!"
Chrys was walking towards them across the lawn, her hands heavily bandaged and looking miserable. Pansy watched her beadily.
"Well, let's check how yeh've done!" Hagrid said. "Count yer coins! An' there's no point tryin' ter steal any, Goyle." He added, his beetle black eyes narrowed. "It's leprechaun gold. Vanishes after a few hours."
Goyle emptied his pockets, looking very sulky.
David's Niffler was the most successful and so Hagrid gave him a large slab of Honeydukes chocolate as a prize.
The bell then rang across the grounds for lunch, the rest of the class setting off back to the castle while the trio all stayed to help Hagrid put the Nifflers back in their boxes. Arthur then noticed Maxime watching them from her carriage window.
"What yeh done ter your hands, Chrys?" Hagrid said, looking concerned.
Chrys then told him about the hate mail she had received that morning and the envelope full of Bubotuber pus.
"Aaah, don' worry." Hagrid told her gently, looking down at her. "I got some o' those letters an' all, after Rita Skeeter wrote abou' me mum. 'Yeh're a monster an' yeh should be put down.' 'Yer mother killed innocent people an' if you had any decency you'd jump in a lake.'"
"Seriously?" Chrys gasped in shock, even Arthur was shocked by how hateful those words were.
"Yeah." Hagrid said as he heaved the Niffler crates over by his cabin wall. "They're jus' nutters, Chrys. Don' open 'em if yeh get any more. Chuck 'em straigh' in the fire."
"You seriously missed a fun lesson." Arthur said to Chrys as they walked back towards the castle. "And those Nifflers were just so cute."
"By the way, guess who caught a certain unregistered Animagus?" David chuckled evily as he pulled out the tin case he caught Skeeter in, shaking it a bit to be a pain in the ass to her.
"No way!" Chrys grinned with victory. "Make sure to shove that in your trunk."
Hate mail continued to arrive for Chrys over the following week and despite following Hagrid's advice to not open it, several ill wishers sent Howlers, which exploded at the Gryffindor table, shreking insults at her for the whole Hall to listen. Even those that didn't read Witch Weekly knew about the completely fictional love triangle between Arthur, Chrys and Krum now.
Arthur was growing sick and tired of telling everyone that Chrys wasn't and never will be his girlfriend.
"We just have to ignore it." He told Chrys. "That way, people can get bored of it and since Skeeter isn't going to write a new article, we won't have to deal with any more public opinions."
The trio had their next Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson at the far back of the classroom, wanting to keep as far away from who they now know for sure is Crouch Jr. They were eager to leave, after being given a rigorous test of hex deflection.
The workload was now starting to mount in the run up to the Easter holidays and Arthur didn't take a break as he worked through all his homework, while making sure to send regular food packages up to the cave in the mountain for Sirius, knowing that he had to keep him well fed. He'd also enclose notes to Sirius, informing him that nothing out of the ordinary happened and that they're still waiting for Sam to reply.
Athena didn't return until the end of the Easter holidays. Sam's letter was enclosed with a package of easter eggs from Martha. The trio all had eggs that were the size of dragon eggs, all full of homemade toffee.
"Nice to see that your mum doesn't believe the whole fake love triangle." Chrys said as she dug in.
"Of course she doesn't, she knows full well that Skeeter does nothing but make up garbage nonstop." David said before he stuffed his face full of toffee.
Arthur opened up Sam's letter and found it to be short.
I may be telling the Daily Prophet that Crouch is taking a well deserved break, but I know that he isn't. There's something wrong. All the time I knew him, he NEVER took breaks, even if he was ill.
He also seems to be giving me regular instructions. I haven't seen him, but it seems to be his handwriting, though it could just be a forgery.
I keep asking people to investigate but they just ignore me, saying that there's nothing suspicious.
Well if it turns out that Crouch is indeed missing or something of that nature and they question me, I'll just be blunt about them not taking me seriously.
Now, I'm really busy, so it's best if you don't send any more letters.
Happy Easter.
The start of the summer term normally meant that Arthur would have to train hard for the last Quidditch march of the season. But this year, it was the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament.
But he didn't know what it would be until the last week of May when McGonagall held him back in Transfiguration.
"You are to go down to the Quidditch pitch tonight at nine o'clock, Pendergast." She informed him. "Mr Bagman will be there to tell the champions about the third task."
At half past eight that night, Arthur left David, Chrys and Mike (who was informed of finally catching Skeeter) in Gryffindor Tower and made his way through the castle.
Upon crossing the Entrance Hall, Cedric came up from the Hufflepuff common room.
"What d'you reckon it's going to be?" He asked Arthur 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 don't see how that has any commonality with the Quidditch pitch." Arthur replied.
They walked down the dark lawn to the Quidditch pitch, turned through a gap in the stands and walked out onto the pitch.
"What've they done to it?" Cedric asked indignantly, stopping dead.
Arthur did the same, utterly speechless with horror as the Quidditch pitch was no longer smooth and flat. It now looked like someone built long, low walls all over it, twisting and criss crossing in every direction.
"They're making a bloody maze!" Arthur said, realising what it all was.
"Hello there!" Bagman's cheery voice called out.
He stood in the middle of the pitch with Krum and Fleur. Arthur and Cedric made their way towards them, climbing over the hedges. Fleur beamed at Arthur when he came nearer and Arthur waved back at her with a slight smirk.
"Well, what d'you think?" Bagman said happily as Arthur and Cedric climbed over the last hedge. "Growing nicely, aren't they? Give them a month and Hagrid'l have them twenty foot high. Don't worry…" He added upon seeing that Arthur and Cedric were less than pleased. "...you'll have your Quidditch pitch back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?"
"I've already said, it's a maze!" Arthur replied.
"That's right!" Bagman said. "A maze. The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the centre of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."
"We seemply 'ave to get through the maze?" Fleur asked.
"There will be obstacles." Bagman said 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." He grinned at Arthur and Cedric. "Then Mr Krum will enter… then Miss Delacour. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending on how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?"
Arthur knew better than the other champions the kind of creatures that Hagrid would most likely provide for such an event, knowing that it will not be as fun as Bagman suggested but he nodded politely 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 hurried alongside Arthur as they wound their way out of the growing maze. Arthur knew that Bagman was trying to offer him help again, even though he told him he didn't want any at all. But then Krum tapped Arthru on the shoulder.
"Could I haff a vord?"
"Sure." Arthur said, very surprised.
"Vill you valk vith me?"
"Okay." Arthur said curiously, though he had an idea what he wanted to talk about.
Bagman looked a bit perturbed. "I'll wait for you, Arthur, shall i?"
"Just go, I know where to find the castle on my own, thanks." Arthur replied.
He and Krum left the stadium together, though Krum didn't head for the Durmstrang ship. He actually led Arthur to the Forest.
"Why are we heading this way?" He asked Krum as they passed Hagrid's cabin and the Beauxbatons carriage.
"Don't vant to be overheard." Krum said shortly.
They eventually reached a quiet stretch of ground that was a short way from the paddock with the Abraxans. Krum then stopped in the shade of the trees and turned to face Arthur.
"I vant to know…" He said, glowering. "...vot there is between you and Chrys."
Arthur frowned at him, having expected this.
"There is nothing between us." He replied, though Krum glowered at him still. "We're just friends. She is not even my girlfriend, and never will be. Skeeter just made it all up because she loves making up lies."
"Chrys talks about you very often." Krum said suspiciously.
"Yeah… because we're friends." Arthur said, already getting a bit annoyed, thinking that this wasn't what he wanted his first proper conversation with his favourite Quidditch player to be.
"You haff never… you haff not…."
"No, just the idea of doing so with my friend makes me sick." Arthur shuddered, partly because of him being gay.
This made Krum look slightly happier.
He stared at Arthur for a few seconds before saying "You fly very well. I vos votching at the first task."
"Thanks." Arthur grinned. "You were great at the Quidditch World Cup, that Wronski Feint alone -"
He stopped himself when he saw something move behind Krum in the trees. Having experienced stuff that lurked in the Forest, he, on instinct, grabbed Krum's arm and pulled him around.
"Vot is it?"
Arthur placed a finger on his lips to keep quiet as he stared where he saw movement. He slipped his hand into his robes, reaching for his wand.
Then suddenly, a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. Arthur's eyes widened when he realised that it was Crouch.
He looked like he travelled for days. The knees of his robes were ripped and bloody; his face was also scratched while being unshaven and grey with exhaustion. His neat hair and moustache were both in need of a wash and a trim.
This was nothing compared to his behaviour. He was muttering and gesticulating, as though he was talking to someone that wasn't there.
"Vosn't he a judge?" Krum asked, staring at Crouch. "Isn't he vith your Ministry?"
"He is, but something's wrong with him." Arthur said quietly.
He then walked up to Crouch slowly, who didn't look at him, continuing to talk to a nearby tree.
"...and when you've done with that, Merlon, 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?" Arthur said cautiously.
"...and then send another owl to Madam Maxime, because she might want to up the number of students she's bringing, now Karkaroff's made it a round dozen… do that, Merlon, will you? Will you? Will…." Crouch's eyes were bulging. He stood staring at the tree, muttering soundlessly at it. He then staggered sideways and fell to his knees.
"Mr Crouch? Are you alright?" Arthur asked loudly.
Crouch's eyes rolled in his head. Arthur looked over at Krum, who followed him into the trees, looking down at Crouch in alarm.
"Vot is wrong with him?"
"I don't know." Arthur muttered. "We'll need to go and get someone -"
"Dumbledore!" Crouch gasped, reaching out and seizing a handful of Arthur's robes, dragging him closer, though his eyes stared over Arthur's head. "I need… see… Dumbledore…."
"Alright… if you get up, we can go up to the -"
"I've done…stupid… thing…." Crouch breathed, looking utterly mad. His eyes were rolling and bulging and a trickle of spittle slid down his chin. Every word he spoke seemed to be said with terrible effort. "Must… tell… Dumbledore…."
"Get up, Mr Crouch." Arthur said loudly and clearly. "Get up and I'll take you to Dumbledore!"
Crouch's eyes rolled forwards onto Arthur.
"Who… you?" He whispered.
"I'm a student at the school." Arthur replied, looking at Krum for some help, but he just hung back, looking extremely nervous.
"You're not… his?" Crouch whispered, his mouth sagging.
"No." Arthur said, not knowing what he was talking about.
"Dumbledore's?"
"I am." Arthur nodded.
Crouch then pulled him closer. Arthur tried to loosen Crouch's grip on his robes, but it was too powerful.
"Warn… Dumbledore…."
"I'll get him if you let go of me!" Arthur told him. "If you let go, I'll get him."
"Thank you, Merlon, 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 now spoke fluently to a tree again, completely unaware that Arthur was there, which surprised Arthur that he didn't initially notice Crouch had released him. "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 for Magic, I think I will have time to draft a response…."
"You're gonna have to stay here with him!" Arthur told Krum. "I'll go get Dumbledore, I'll be quicker since I know where his office is -"
"He is mad." Krum said doubtfully as he stared down at Crouch doubtfully, who still gabbled to the tree, convinced it was Sam.
"Just stay with him." Arthur said as he was starting to get up, but his movement triggered another abrupt change in Crouch, who seized him hard around the knees, pulling Arthur back to the ground.
"Don't… leave… me!" He whispered, his eyes bulging once more. "I… escape… must warn… must tell… see Dumbledore… my fault… all my fault… Bertha… dead… all my fault… my son… my fault… tell Dumbledore… Arthur Pendergast… the Dark Lord… stronger… Arthur Pendergast…."
"I'll get Dumbledore if you let go!" Arthur shouted, soaking in what Crouch just confessed. He looked over at Krum. "Help me!"
Looking very apprehensive, Krum moved forward and squatted down next to Crouch.
"Keep him here." Arthur said, being able to pull himself free of Crouch. "I'll be back with Dumbledore!"
"Hurry, von't you?" Krum called after him as Arthur sprinted at top speed out of the Forest and through the dark grounds, which were deserted of Bagman, Cedric and Fleur.
Arthur was going through what Crouch admitted and realised that Voldemort must've put him under the Imperius Curse after learning of Crouch Jr being free from Azkaban. But Crouch escaped and came here to try and warn Dumbledore. But what did Crouch have to do with Bertha Jorkins?
He remembered the dream where Voldmort said he killed her. She must be how Voldemort learned of Crouch Jr, the Triwizard Tournament and Moody being assigned as teacher. So Crouch must've cast that Memory Charm on Bertha to make her forget she saw Crouch Jr, which Voldemort broke to get the information.
Arthur tore up the stone steps and through the oak front doors, up the marble staircase and to the second floor.
Five minutes later, he hurtled towards a metal gryphon, which stood halfway along an empty corridor and stood as the entrance to the Headmaster's office.
"Sherbet lemon!" He panted the password to the hidden staircase to the office two years ago.
He realised that it had to have changed because the gryphon didn't spring to life and move.
He tried thinking of other passwords that Dumbledore would use, another sweet for sure -
"PENDERGAST!"
Arthur turned and glared as he saw Snape emerge from the hidden staircase behind the metal gryphon. The wall slid shut behind him. "What are you doing here, Pendergast?"
"I have to see Professor Dumbledore!" Arthur said. "Mr Crouch just showed up in the Forest -"
"What is this rubbish?" Snape said, his eyes glittering. "What are you talking about?"
"MR CROUCH!" Arthur bellowed out. "HE'S IN THE FOREST AND WANTS TO SEE DUMBLEDORE!"
"The Headmaster is busy, Pendergast." Snape said as his thin mouth curled into an unpleasant smile.
"I need to tell Dumbledore!" Arthur yelled.
"Didn't you hear me, Pendergast?" Arthur growled as Snape was enjoying himself, denying Arthur what he needed.
"Listen, you stupid git! Crouch is out of his mind, he wants to warn -"
The stone wall behind Snape slid open and Dumbledore appeared, wearing long green robes and a curious expression.
"Is there a problem?" He asked, looking between Arthur and Snape.
"IT'S CROUCH!" Arthur yelled before Snape could say a word. "HE'S IN THE FOREST! HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU!"
Dumbledore didn't even bother asking questions as he said "Lead the way."
He swept off along the corridor with Arthur, leaving Snape standing next to the gryphon, looking twice as ugly.
"What did Mr Crouch say, Arthur?" Dumbledore asked as they walked down the marble staircase.
"He admitted terrible stuff, saying it was his fault that Bertha's dead, he mentioned his son and mentioned Voldemort growing stronger." Arthur replied.
"Indeed." Dumbledore said, quickening his pace as they hurried through the pitch darkness.
"He wasn't acting like himself." Arthur said. "He didn't seem to know where he was. He even kept talking to a tree he thought was Sam Merlon. Then he changed, saying he needs to see you. I left him with Krum."
"You did?" Dumbledore said sharply, now taking longer strides, making Arthur run to keep up. "Do you know if anyone else saw Mr Crouch?"
"No." Arthurs shook his head. "We were just talking, Bagman had finished telling us about the third task, we stayed behind and then Mr Crouch appeared from the Forest -"
"Where are they?" Dumbledore asked as the Beauxbatons carriage emerged from the darkness.
"This way." Arthur said, moving in front of Dumbledore, leading him through the trees. He was worried when he didn't hear Crouch's voice, though he knew where to go.
"Krum?" Arthur called out, getting no response when they arrived at where he and Krum met Crouch.
"They were right here." Arthur said to Dumbledore. "Something must've happened.
"Lumos." Dumbledore said, light forming from his wand.
The narrow beam of light travelled from one black trunk to another, illuminating the ground. It then fell upon a pair of feet.
The two hurried forwards and found Krum sprawled on the Forest floor. He looked unconscious with no sign of Crouch at all. Dumbledore then bent over Krum and gently lifted one of his eyelids.
"Stunned." He said softly. His half moon glasses glittered in the wandlight as he now peered around the surrounding trees.
"Should I get someone?" Arthur asked him.
"No." Dumbledore replied swiftly. "Stay here."
He raised his wand into the air and pointed it in the direction of Hagrid's cabin. Then something silvery darted out of the wand, streaking away through the trees like a ghostly bird. Dumbledore then bent down over Krum again and pointed his wand at him, muttering "Rennervate."
Krum's eyes opened and he looked dazed. Upon seeing Dumbledore, he tried to sit up, but Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder, making him lie still.
"He attacked me!" He muttered, putting a hand up to his head. "The old madman attacked me! I vos looking around to see vare Pendergast had gone and he attacked from behind!"
"Lie still for a moment." Dumbledore told him.
The sound of thunderous footfalls reached them and Hagrid came panting into sight with Fang at his heels. He carried his crossbow.
"Professor Dumbledore!" He said, his eyes widening. "Arthur, what the -?"
"Hagrid, I need you to fetch Professor Karkaroff." Dumbledore said. "His student has been attacked. When you've done that, kindly alert Professor Moody -"
"No need, Dumbledore." A wheezy growl said. "I'm here." Moody, or Crouch Jr, limped towards them, leaning on his staff, his wand lit.
Arthur narrowed his eyes, suspecting him for attacking Krum and more than likely disposing of his father, more than likely on orders from Voldemort.
"Damn leg." He said furiously. "Would've been here quicker… what's happened? Snape said something about Crouch -"
"Crouch?" Hagrid said blankly.
"Karkaroff, please, Hagrid!" Dumbledore said sharply.
"Oh yeah… right y'are, Professor…." Hagrid said, turning and disappearing into the dark trees with Fang trotting after him.
"I don't know where Barty Crouch is…" Dumbledore said to Crouch Jr. "...but it is essential that we find him."
"I'm onto it." Crouch Jr growled, raising his wand and limped off into the Forest.
Arthur desperately wanted to tell Dumbledore that he was really talking to Crouch Jr, but he didn't really have proof to back whatever words he'd say.
Both of them didn't talk again until they heard the sounds of Hagrid and Fang returning. Karkaroff was hurrying along behind them. He wore his sleek silver furs, and looked pale and agitated.
"What is this?" He cried upon seeing Krum on the ground with Arthur and Dumbledore beside him. "What's going on?"
"I vos attacked!" Krum said, now sitting up and rubbing his head. "Mr Crouch or votever his name -"
"Crouch attacked you? Crouch attacked you? The Triwizard judge?"
"Igor…" Dumbeldore began, but Karkaroff drew himself up, clutching his furs and looked absolutely livid.
"Treachery!" He bellowed out, pointing at Dumbledore. "It is a plot! You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me here under false pretences, Dumbledore! This is not an equal competition! First you sneak Pendergast into the Tournament, though he 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 then spat on the ground at Dumbledore's feet. Arthur's fury at this former Death Eater's act of disrespect made him want to inflict so much pain on him. But instead he watched as Hagrid, in one swift movement, seized the front of Karkaroff's furs and lifted him into the air and slammed him up against a nearby tree.
"Apologise!" He snarled as Karkaroff gasped for breath due to Hagrid's massive fist being at his throat, his feet dangling in mid air.
"Hagrid, no!" Dumbledore shouted, his eyes flashing.
Hagrid removed the hand that pinned Karkaroff to the tree, making Karkaroff slide down into a huddle at the roots of the tree; a few twigs and leaves showering down on his head.
"Kindly escort Arthur back up to the castle, Hagrid." Dumbledore said sharply.
Hagrid breathed heavily, giving Karkaroff a glowering look before saying "Maybe I'd better stay here, Headmaster…."
"You will take Arthur back to school, Hagrid." Dumbledore repeated firmly. "Take him right up to Gryffindor Tower. And Arthur - 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, Professor." Arthur nodded, as he would've sent an owl to Sirius in the morning regardless.
"I'll leave Fang with yeh, Headmaster." Hagrid said, still giving a menacing stare at Karkaroff, who was still sprawled out at the foot of the tree, tangled in firs and tree roots. "Stay, Fang. C'mon, Arthur."
The two marched in silence past the Beauxbatons carriage and towards the castle.
"How dare he." Hagrid growled as they strode past the lake. "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!" Hagrid now suddenly said to Arthur angrily, who was taken aback. "What were yeh doin', wanderin' off with ruddy Krum? He's from Durmstrang, Arthur! Coulda jinxed yeh right there, couldn' he? Hasn' Moody taught yeh nothin'? 'Magine lettin' him lure yeh off on yer own -"
"But Krum isn't like all the other Durmstrang students!" Arthur replied as they climbed the steps into the Entrance Hall. "He wasn't trying to jinx me. He was trying trying to clear things up about Chrys -"
"I'll be havin' a few words with her, an' all." Hagrid said grimly, stomping up the stairs. "The less you lot 'ave ter to with these foreigners, the happier yeh'll be. Yeh can' trust any of 'em."
"You're only saying that because of Maxime!" Arthur snapped back at him.
"Don' you talk ter me abou' her!" Hagrid told him, now looking quite frightening. "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!"
Hagrid was in such a bad mood that Arthur was truly grateful to part ways with him in front of the Fat Lady.
He clambered through the portrait hole and into the common room, hurrying straight for the corner where David and Chrys were, telling them about what had happened.
Well, they finally caught Skeeter, and she now won't write that one article that would've made Fudge not take Arthur seriously.
Those Nifflers are so cute.
And Karkaroff should never get away with disrespecting Dumbledore like that.
