Chapter 672 The Enraged Hagrid
Evan swiftly placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder and instructed her to stay still.
"What happened?" Hermione inquired softly. "After Harry left, I felt something was amiss, as if someone was lurking in the shadows spying on us. I just conjured a red warning spark and was knocked down..."
"You've done well, Hermione!" Evan summarized the recent events.
He omitted that the person who fought with him was Bartemius Crouch Jr., claiming not to know him.
"Who is that man, and why does he want to kill Mr. Crouch?" Hermione asked, turning towards the direction Mr. Crouch had vanished. "Evan, what should we do now? Should we go rescue him..."
Just then, footsteps were heard. Dumbledore and Harry had arrived.
Both hurried along, a narrow beam of light weaving from one dark trunk to another.
"What happened, Evan?" Dumbledore inquired calmly. "Where is Crouch?"
"He fled, or he's wandering in the forest, or..." Evan recounted the events once more.
Dumbledore listened attentively to Evan's account, gazing thoughtfully towards the dark forest, understanding what Evan implied.
"Professor, should we head towards him or return and seek help?" Harry inquired.
"No," Dumbledore swiftly responded. "Stay here, Harry, all of you."
He raised his wand into the air, pointing it towards Hagrid's cabin. Something silver emerged and drifted among the trees like a ghostly bird.
Then, Dumbledore bent down and roused Ron.
Ron awoke and grasped his head.
"It hurts!" he exclaimed. "I was attacked! The old loon attacked me! Hermione suddenly fainted, and I was about to check on her, the old loon attacked me from behind!"
"It wasn't Mr. Crouch; it was someone else," clarified Harry.
Soon after, the sound of thunderous footsteps reached them, and Hagrid arrived panting into view with Fang at his heels. He was carrying his crossbow.
"Professor Dumbledore!" he greeted, eyes wide. "Oh, you four, what happened here?"
He looked awkwardly around, surveying the traces left by Evan and Bartemius Crouch Jr. after the skirmish.
"Hagrid, kindly inform Professor Moody..."
"It's not necessary, Dumbledore," growled a hoarse voice. "I'm here."
Moody limped towards them, leaning on his staff, his wand lit.
He had changed his clothes, with no signs of any confrontation with Evan on him. A stretcher floated behind him, bearing an unconscious Krum.
"I would have arrived faster if not for this damned leg," Moody exclaimed furiously, indicating his prosthetic limb.
"Professor, what happened to Krum?" Ron asked, surprised, peering at Krum behind Moody.
"Stunned... as if he had been attacked by someone," Moody gruffly explained, his magical eye swiveling.
Evan remembered being burned by the magical fire, but now it seemed as if nothing had occurred, truly...
"Krum is gravely injured; I believe someone intended to kill the lad. Fortunately, I was patrolling in the forest, and here he is!" Moody proclaimed.
Upon hearing Moody's words, Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to look at Evan.
"Well, I did attack him, but he didn't faint or get hurt when I left," sighed Evan, recounting the events between him and Krum and the last Shield Charm he had used.
He hadn't expected Krum to encounter Bartemius Crouch Jr.; this lad was truly unfortunate!
"Professor, it wasn't Evan who did it, it was the man after Mr. Crouch," Harry quickly interjected. "He must have come across Krum in the forest and attacked him."
"Yes," Hermione added anxiously. "I can testify that Evan..."
"Silence, Miss Granger!" Moody snapped. "Did you mention Crouch?!"
"Yes, he vanished into the forest; we must find him!" Dumbledore exclaimed, examining Krum. "Hagrid, I need you to go fetch Professor Karkaroff; he must be informed of this."
"Oh, yes... right away, Professor!" Hagrid glanced anxiously at Evan and the other three. Then he turned and disappeared into the dark trees, with Fang trotting after him.
Moody also heard Harry and Ron's account. He raised his wand.
"Damn it, he was here just now, yet I didn't see him. I'll hunt down Crouch!" Moody declared, limping towards the forest.
The others remained silent, and Dumbledore calmly watched Moody's back, allowing him to move forward. Undoubtedly, he was preparing to deal with Mr. Crouch's situation now.
"Professor, is Krum alright?" inquired Hermione, concerned.
"No worries, but he will need to rest for a while," stated Dumbledore.
After a while, they heard the unmistakable sounds of Hagrid and Fang returning. Karkaroff was following hurriedly, clad in his elegant silver furs and looking pale and flustered.
"What is this?" he exclaimed upon seeing Krum on the ground. "What is happening?!"
"Igor, he has been attacked," said Dumbledore. "This..."
The statement was barely uttered when Karkaroff had sprung up, clutching his furs around him, looking furious.
"Enough, betrayal, all betrayal!" he roared, pointing at Dumbledore. "I see! It is a conspiracy! You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me here under false pretenses, Dumbledore! This is not a fair competition! First, you put Weasley in the tournament, even though he is underage! Now, you seek to eliminate my champion from contention! I smell duplicity and corruption in this whole affair, and you, Dumbledore, you, with your speeches about strengthening international magical ties, about rebuilding ancient bonds, about forgetting old differences... here is what I think of you!"
Karkaroff spat on the ground at Dumbledore's feet. In a swift motion, Hagrid seized the front of Karkaroff's furs, hoisted him into the air, and slammed him against a nearby tree.
"Sorry..." growled Hagrid as Karkaroff gasped for air, Hagrid's massive fist at his throat, his feet dangling in the air.
"Hagrid, no!" shouted Dumbledore, his eyes flashing with intensity.
Hagrid withdrew the hand that had Karkaroff pinned to the tree, and Karkaroff slid down the trunk and collapsed in a heap at its base; a few twigs and leaves fell on his head, and he looked deeply embarrassed.