Chapter 15. Mr. Crouch
Ron took on the role of Munchausen and now boasted of his supposed adventures with Harry, enthusiastically recounting stories of battling hordes of merpeople and grindylows. Each time he told the stories, the details changed, but the valiant finale, in which he claimed victory at the last moment, remained constant.
"And then you fiercely snored at them!" Hermione once remarked during one of his tales, after which Ron stopped boasting about things that never happened.
Jeanne, on the other hand, was discussed more actively, or rather, her cute swimsuit that she wore while swimming in the lake. Most discussions focused on either the simplicity and elegance of its appearance or the mystery of its color: blue with red details or black with purple. It seemed that only Harry and the professors were interested in the answer to the question of how she managed to hold her breath underwater for a whole hour. Questions about her incredible endurance and swimming talent, which allowed her to still arrive after Harry (Harry wondered where she had been all that time), did not interest anyone.
On Friday, Sirius' response arrived. He wrote briefly:
Be at the tunnel entrance by the turn-off to Hogsmeade at 2 PM on Sunday (from the side of "Dervish and Banges"). Bring plenty of food.
He returned to Hogsmeade? Harry was uneasy about the situation, but there was nothing he could do. The waiting for the Sunday walk to Hogsmeade became a big test for the friends, especially since a new article by Rita Skeeter was published that day, dedicated to Hermione. The article portrayed her as the biggest hunter of famous boys. However, Hermione was not at all bothered by the article and set herself the goal of uncovering the mystery of how Rita Skeeter knew the most intimate details of events she couldn't personally witness. It seemed unlikely that Krum had told this journalist about his private conversation with Hermione by the lake. Hermione knew herself well and understood that she had no reason to go and reveal all her secrets to this writer. In a rare occurrence, Snape was surprisingly lenient during class and didn't pay attention to the chatter among the Gryffindors. His face didn't appear radiant, but it had a hint of optimism and, for the first time, gave Harry hope for success.
During the middle of the lesson, Karkaroff came to Snape with an urgent conversation. The Durmstrang headmaster couldn't wait for the lesson to end, didn't make sure that all the students had left the classroom, and showed something on his wrist to Snape while Harry packed his things into his bag. Snape didn't show any reaction and asked Harry indifferently, "Potter! Why are you still here?" Harry replied apathetically, "I'm packing my things, professor." Finishing his preparations, he shot out of the room, wondering what Karkaroff had shown Snape and why it couldn't wait.
On Sunday, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to Hogsmeade. They decided not to inform Jeanne about where they were heading - there was no need for her to know about Sirius. Who knows what she would think if she saw him. However, on the way, Harry wondered how well-known Sirius' case was among French wizards. Let's say she does see Sirius. What would his face tell her? Surely, the strange details of their encounter would be much more informative... In any case, she needed to be carefully prepared for the meeting with Sirius in advance. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel sorry that the Jeanne he knew was unlikely to be the same Jeanne d'Arc who saved France in the fifteenth century. That Jeanne skillfully resolved social and political issues and engaged in battles more intense than Harry could even dream of. He was certain - that Jeanne d'Arc would understand him without asking unnecessary questions, and her wisdom, well beyond her years, could be relied upon. But this Jeanne d'Arc was just her namesake, living here and now. Where could she possibly acquire the same talents?
Meanwhile, sitting in the Gryffindor common room, reading books, Jeanne also thought about going to Hogsmeade. The Weasley twins' stories about the joke shop, Zonko's, and Honeydukes sounded too beautiful and interesting. She really didn't want to stay at Hogwarts, knowing that somewhere nearby she could have a good time. Putting her books aside, Jeanne got up from the chair by the fireplace and headed towards the exit.
The small village with tightly packed houses gathered into streets of irregular shape - so cozy and similar to those numerous postcards meant to congratulate the recipient on New Year or Christmas. Unfortunately, this landscape didn't impress Jeanne, and she could call postcards of this type overly sweet and pathetic, without showing the slightest interest in them. What was it that people found in these drawings of snow-covered houses?
And so she entered Hogsmeade - with a grey and gloomy face, expressing nothing but a slight shadow of bewilderment and confusion lost against the usual self-satisfaction. She slid quietly and barely noticed among the residents and guests of Hogsmeade - cheerful and sad, young and old, pensive and simple. They were all doing something, talking about something, and Hogsmeade as a whole was living its life, slowly revealing the secrets of the magical world to Jeanne.
The Sweet Kingdom did not impress Jeanne and was only memorable because two of Bertie Bott's every flavored beans from a handful turned out to be strawberry and pistachio ice cream flavors on whipped cream, and the third one delighted Jeanne with a vomit flavor. After that, she had no desire to try anything in the Sweet Kingdom and angrily rushed out, trying to spit out the unpleasant taste that clung to her tongue. Madam Rosmerta was able to calm her down by inviting her to the Three Broomsticks. Compassionate Madam Rosmerta treated Jeanne to butterbeer at the establishment, learning that she was one of the youngest participants in the Triwizard Tournament.
"How did such a young witch manage to get into the Tournament?" Madam Rosmerta asked. "And to endure two tasks!"
"I have no idea how I ended up in the Tournament," Jeanne replied. "When I wanted to refuse, they told me that it was not possible to refuse. And why should it be difficult for someone to endure? I don't think it's anything special..."
"But there was a dragon in the first task..."
"A dragon? It's just something under my feet!"
Leaving Madam Rosmerta in contemplation, Jeanne continued on her way.
Zonko's intrigued Jeanne a little more than the Sweet Kingdom. Here she had a lot of fun, imagining how she could use dung bombs and other pranks. At that moment, her only concern was the feasibility of such purchases - in the end, she could cause just as much damage to her opponents on her own.
Deciding to explore Hogsmeade thoroughly, she walked around the village and the surrounding area until she came across a cave at the foot of the mountain where Hogsmeade was located. Approaching the cave, she heard the voices of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. There was also a fourth person with them, judging by the tone - an adult man.
"So that's how it went. Crouch thought he had everything under control, but look how it turned out," the male voice said.
"Moody told me that Crouch became obsessed with catching dark wizards," Harry said after a very long pause.
Jeanne approached a little closer and saw three friends, and nearby a dark-haired disheveled and very thin man with a worn-out face, dressed in some tattered clothes. Nearby, a hippogriff gnawed on chicken bones, which Hermione was petting.
"Yes, I've also heard that he's relentlessly chasing after dark wizards," the man nodded. "I think he still believes that if he catches at least one Death Eater, they'll treat him the same."
"That's why he sneaked into Sneg's office!" exclaimed Ron triumphantly, glancing at Hermione.
They continued to talk for a while, and from the man's words, Jeanne gradually realized that everything that was happening now was very similar to the events of the past when the mysterious Dark Lord was in power.
"Wait, someone is here!" the man said. Jeanne already understood from the conversation that his name was Sirius and he, at the very least, was not dangerous. She calmly approached them and greeted them.
"Jeanne?" Ron was surprised. "What are you doing here? How did you find us?"
"I wanted to take a walk around Hogsmeade and explore the surroundings," she replied indifferently. She looked at Sirius and said, "Hello."
He looked at her intently. Unlike Harry and Ron, he remained calm. Apparently, he didn't attach much importance to finding them with Harry's classmate. Moreover, Jeanne was the one he wanted to see after hearing about her participation in the Tournament.
"Hello, Jeanne," Sirius greeted politely. "I'm Sirius, Harry's godfather. So, you're the girl whose name was thrown out by the Goblet of Fire along with Harry's?"
Jeanne nodded affirmatively. A couple of seconds later, Sirius carefully examined her and then said, "So, what is your full name, you said?"
"Jeanne d'Arc," she replied.
Her face showed a flicker of boredom and disgust.
"Don't like questions?" Sirius guessed.
"Not such banal ones," Jeanne replied.
"Alright. Tell me, how did you manage to hold your breath underwater for an hour in the second task? Did you use a spell, a potion, or eat a plant?"
"Yeah, what's the big deal? I just swam," she muttered.
"And what did you plan to do in the first task, do you remember? Harry, do you remember what she said?"
"She said something incomprehensible," Harry said thoughtfully.
"You said that she's very smart and beat up ten people all by herself..." Sirius paused for a second, then looked at Jeanne.
"Long ago, I read about something similar, about people who are capable of such things. You must not be an ordinary person. And the fact that you found us here and now is another sign..."
A gloomy but still smile appeared on his face. He looked at the trio of friends with a gaze that was full of both excitement and surprise, and then asked, "Why didn't you invite such an amazing friend with you?"
Harry and Ron immediately became flustered, and Hermione could only gasp in response.
"What does this mean, Sirius?" Harry asked puzzledly, but Sirius remained silent, continuing to study Jeanne's self-satisfied face with his gaze.
The next morning, the children sent Sirius and Pigwidgeon with school owls to deliver a package full of food. They didn't want to think about what he must be going through – eating only rats and occasionally stealing, all while spending all his time in the form of a big black dog. It didn't take long for Hermione to receive several threatening letters during breakfast. Opening one of the letters resulted in painful burns on her hands. Yellow-green liquid with a distinct smell of gasoline oozed out of the envelope.
"Undiluted bubotuber pus," Ron guessed.
Hermione's visit to the hospital wing prevented her from attending the Care of Magical Creatures class, but even a couple of minutes at the end of the lesson were enough for the four of them to learn from Hagrid that he used leprechaun gold, which vanished over time, to demonstrate the nifflers' abilities during the lesson. Ron was deeply upset upon hearing this, as he believed he had repaid Harry's debt for the Quidditch World Cup by giving him the hat.
"I hate being poor," Ron muttered hopelessly.
Hermione was very surprised to hear Hagrid's story about numerous threatening letters from readers of the Daily Prophet that had come crashing down on his head after the unfortunate article was published.
"And don't open the letters, burn them – problem solved."
The following week, Hermione continued to receive similar letters. However, she followed Hagrid's kind advice and threw the envelopes into the Griffindor common room fireplace. Sometimes, the letters would burst into flames, igniting the fire brightly and hissing unpleasantly. Some students flinched at this, but Jeanne simply watched the burning envelopes with a peculiar pleasure known only to her.
Time flew by quickly. Harry didn't even notice how the long-awaited day came closer. Ludo Bagman gathered all the champions of the Tournament and led them onto the Quidditch field. The field was filled with strange bushes and wild growth.
"So, what do you think it is?" Bagman asked.
"A labyrinth," Krum was the first to guess.
The participants were surprised that they had to navigate a labyrinth for the third task, but Bagman quelled their doubts by telling them about the multitude of obstacles – creatures, traps, and spells – that would surely be placed in the labyrinth before the task began.
"Well, if there are no more questions, let's head back to the castle, it's starting to get chilly..."
And he hurried past Harry towards the stadium exit. Harry barely had time to think that Bagman would offer his help again when Krum took him by the shoulder.
"Can we talk?"
"Well... yes," Harry answered, taken aback.
"Let's take a walk."
"Okay."
Bagman became worried when he noticed this.
"Harry, should I wait for you?"
"No, Mr. Bagman, thank you," Harry replied, containing his smile. "I'll be back soon."
Krum led Harry towards the Forbidden Forest.
"Why are we going there?" Harry asked anxiously.
"I don't want anyone to overhear us."
"Well, what do you want to talk to me about?" Harry asked when they stopped at the edge of the forest.
"I want to know what's going on between you and Herm-ione," Krum asked.
That's all. Harry was pleased to resolve the situation by telling Krum the truth about his friendship with Hermione. Krum's face instantly brightened after the conversation. Oh, Rita Skeeter!
"And you fly well," Krum suddenly praised him. "I saw you during the first task. And also together on the broom..."
"I saw you at the Tournament. You flew amazingly too, and that Viktor Krum feint..."
Before the boys could fully admire each other, an unfamiliar crackling sound came from the nearby bushes. Harry pushed Krum aside, knowing all too well what creatures lurked in the Forbidden Forest. To their mutual surprise, Mr. Crouch emerged from the bushes. He looked disheveled, his clothes and shoes were worn-out, and his scratched face bore an indifferent expression.
"I must... tell... Dumbledore! The Dark Lord... stronger... than Harry Potter... Weasley, bring me some tea..."
Dumbledore himself rescued the situation, approaching them accompanied by Snape, McGonagall, and Moody. They had all come to the forest together, and Dumbledore held the Marauder's Map in his hands.