Chapter 119

"Will you let me know when you get a reply?" Hermione asked Ginny as they left the Great Hall after lunch.

"Of course," Ginny replied and put a hand on Hermione's arm, drawing her attention, and they stopped walking. "I mean it, Hermione," Ginny said firmly. "That wasn't fair to you. You didn't deserve it."

Hermione swallowed and nodded mechanically.

"I just didn't want to make everything worse... It all just seemed so petty," she said as the students fanned around them, going off to their classes.

"I know," Ginny told her. "That's why mum needs to know it was all rubbish."

Hermione nodded again. "See you later?" she asked.

Ginny smiled. "Of course."

They parted ways and Hermione hurried off to her next class hoping she wasn't going to be late.

14 May 1995

Dear Oliver,

I wanted to let you know that Fred, George and Lee helped me earlier today. Ever since the articles came out from Rita Skeeter, Colin Creevey has been avoiding me. I guess he thinks I'm still mad at him for it.

Anyway, I'm not, but he still wouldn't talk to me. I saw him taking pictures at the Yule Ball and I wanted to get copies of them. Lee and the twins were able to get them from him. I thought you'd like to see them. Madam Malkin made the dress to go with the earrings you gave me last year.

I've enclosed both some of the Wizarding pictures he took and some of the still frame ones–that's the Muggle kind. I hope you like them.

Hermione

Hermione sat in the common room after class. She folded the letter and set it aside with the copies of the pictures, and then pulled out another parchment.

14 May 1995

Dear Mum and Dad,

I wanted to let you know I finally was able to get the pictures from the Yule Ball from Colin. He's a Muggle born — um, like me. With non-magical parents. He loves taking pictures and takes his camera everywhere. You might remember me telling you about him after my second year.

Anyway, we'd had a misunderstanding after the Yule ball, and he's been avoiding me since, afraid I'm mad at him. My friends, Fred and George Weasley and Lee Jordan–you met them at the ice cream shop–helped to get them by talking to him. I can't send you the Wizarding photos he too, they're the ones that move, but I'll bring them home, so you can see them. Enclosed are the still frame pictures Colin took though. I hope you enjoy them.

Hermione

Taking both letters she tucked them into her bag and headed to the Owlery. Calling down two owls, she sent them off with the letters before heading back to the common room and finishing her homework.

The next morning at breakfast, she received an owl from the Hogsmeade Owl Post bearing a letter from Oliver. She opened it and read his letter dated 8 May 1995. Taking out a quill and parchment, she wrote back since the owl was awaiting a response.

15 May 1995

Dear Oliver,

Thank you for your kind words. It does feel strange and not myself to not be asking questions in classes. I will endeavour to become more myself again. I am glad that you have had good practices as well. I miss you, too.

I hope you like the pictures I sent, they were sent out last night. I also sent some to my parents. I've not heard from Harry yet when the third task is. I'll send you a message when I find out. Sorry for not writing much, I've been busy with classes and homework. I've not even seen Viktor lately. I think he's also preparing for the final task even though we don't know what it is–or at least it hasn't been publically announced yet.

Hermione

She handed the owl some bacon and then held out the letters. It scarfed the bacon down and then gave a hoot before flapping its wings and grasping the letter. "Oliver Wood, please," she called, and it flew off.

"Hermione," Harry said, keeping his voice low when he approached her in the Great Hall at breakfast the morning of Sunday, 28 May.

"Yes?" Hermione asked, turning from where she sat with Fred, George, Ginny and Lee.

"I need to talk to you," Harry murmured, not wanting to interrupt the conversation that Lee and the twins were having.

"It's okay," Ginny said.

Hermione looked hesitant though as she looked up and saw Errol, the Weasley family owl flying toward them and was about to crash-land, holding a letter in his beak.

"Hermione," Harry said, and she looked at him again. "It's important."

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, looking to Ginny who was quickly clearing a space for the owl, and it crashed into the table.

"Yes," Ginny answered as the owl hopped up and shook itself. "Go on, I'll tell you what it says later."

"Okay," Hermione said and got up, following Harry from the Great Hall. "What is it?" Hermione asked when Harry led her across the entrance hall to the room the first years waited in to be sorted, closing the door behind them.

"The third task," Harry answered. "Mr Bagman explained it to us last night. It's a maze, but we'll have obsticles we have to get past to continue. It will be in a month."

"Oh," Hermione replied.

"And there was something else too," Harry answered.

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"Mr Crouch..." Harry said. "I saw him last night... he didn't seem well." She watched as Harry swallowed nervously.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"Krum," Harry said.

"What about him?"

"I–I left him with Mr Crouch and went to find Professor Dumbledore. Crouch was asking for him–Dumbledore I mean," Harry said and Hermione nodded that she understood. "W-well, when we got back, Crouch was no where to be found... but we did find Krum... knocked out. Someone attacked him."

Hermione gasped, her hand going to her mouth. "Is-is he alright?"

"He um," Harry said and rubbed the back of his neck. "He said that it was Mr Crouch that attacked him."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, looking puzzled. She remembered them sending a letter to Percy before Easter just after they'd met with Sirius. She thought she remembered something about his response at Easter, but she'd been busy wondering about her Easter gift from Mrs Weasley, and then Oliver's gift had arrived, so she couldn't be sure.

"You remember what we heard from Percy, right?" Harry asked.

Hermione lowered her gaze and shook her head. "Sorry, Harry," she said.

Harry put his hand on her shoulder and she met his eyes. "It's okay..." he assured her. "This year has been a lot to take in. But Percy said that he was telling everyone that Mr Crouch was taking a much-needed vacation. Before I went to get Dumbledore, he was ranting and raving and I thought he'd lost his mind. His clothes were ragged and torn and he reminded me of a beggar." Harry paused and swallowed. "There was also blood on his clothes... and he said something about... Voldemort."

Hermione gasped.

"Harry, you don't think..." she began and trailed off when Harry nodded.

"I do," Harry replied. "I'm starting to think he's the one who put my name in the Goblet of Fire."

Hermione sighed and rubbed her face, not sure what to think.

"What was he saying, Harry?" Hermione asked when she looked at him again. "In his rants?"

"He was talking about how he had done something..." Harry said. "Something stupid. He wanted to see Dumbledore, and he was talking like he lost track of time... talking about sending messages to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime about the tournament. He was talking to a tree like it was Percy."

"Oh, dear," Hermione said and rubbed her face again. Sure it was easy to think that this stupid thing Crouch had done was putting Harry's name in the Goblet, but she just wasn't sure.

"Yeah," Harry said quietly.

"Well," she said and sighed after a moment. "We can't get side tracked with worry about what may or may not be, Harry." She looked at him and he nodded. "We just have to focus on the tournament... on this third and final task."

"Alright," Harry replied, but from the way he swallowed and the look in his eye, she could tell that would be hard if not impossible.

"Did you get any more clues from Mr Bagman about the task? What sort of obsticles you'll face in the maze?"

"He said there would be spells and enchantments, and that Hagrid was going to supply some creatures we'd have to get past, but that's all he said. Well, other than the Triwizard Cup would be placed in the center and the first champion to touch it woud get the points."

"I see," Hermione said, and tapped her lip, biting at it. "Well, we both know what kinds of creatures Hagrid likes, so we should start there. I don't think its a good idea to talk to him and try to get him to tell us what he plans on putting in it... we'll just have to plan for any of them. Ron can help. And we'll work on your spell work."

Harry nodded.