Chapter 29 The Dream

It comes trim down to this, verbalize Hermi genius, rubbing her forehead. Either Mr. Crouch attacked Viktor, or somebody else attacked some(prenominal) of them when Viktor wasnt look.It mustve been Crouch, express Ron at once. Thats why he was gone when kindle and Dumbledore got there. Hed done a runner.I dont c on the whole up so, state chevy, shaking his head. He overtakemed re tout ensemble(a)y weak I dont reckon he was up to Disapparating or anything.You cant Disapparate on the Hogwarts grounds, gont I told you enough convictions? verbalise Hermione.Okayhows this for a theory, verbalise Ron excitedly. Krum attacked Crouch no, hold in for it and thus Stunned himselfAnd Mr. Crouch evaporated, did he? state Hermione coldly.Oh yeahIt was daybreak. devil, Ron, and Hermione had crept forbidden of their dormitories very early and travel rapidly up to the Owlery to removeher to send a none to Sirius. Now they were standing looking at out at the misty grounds. All t hree of them were puffy-eyed and pale because they had been talking late into the night to the highest degree Mr. Crouch.Just go through it again, elicit, said Hermione. What did Mr. Crouch actually say?Ive told you, he wasnt do much sense, said kindle. He said he wanted to warn Dumbledore more or less something. He definitely mentioned Bertha Jorkins, and he seemed to gauge she was dead. He kept saying stuff was his fault.He mentioned his son.Well, that was his fault, said Hermione testily.He was out of his mind, said fire. Half the time he seemed to think his wife and son were s trough alive, and he kept talking to Percy about form and giving him instructions.Andremind me what he said about You-Know-Who? said Ron tentatively.Ive told you, Harry repeated dully. He said hes channelting stronger.There was a pause. then(prenominal) Ron said in a falsely confident voice, notwithstanding he was out of his mind, exchangeable you said, so half of it was probably and raving.He was sanest when he was act to talk about Voldemort, said Harry, and Ron winced at the run short of the holler. He was having real trouble stringing ii words together, exactly that was when he seemed to cognize where he was, and know what he wanted to do. He hardly kept saying he had to see Dumbledore.Harry glowering away from the window and stared up into the rafters. The umteen perches were half-empty every now and then, an opposite owl would swoop in through one of the windows, returning from its nights hunting with a mouse in its beak.If Snape hadnt held me up, Harry said bitterly, we mightve got there in time. The headmaster is busy. muck aroundwhats this rubbish, Potter? Why couldnt he swallow simply now got out of the way?Maybe he didnt want you to get there said Ron quickly. Maybe hang on how fast dyou reckon he couldve gotten down to the wood? Dyou reckon he couldve beaten you and Dumbledore there?Not unless he can turn himself into a cricket bat or someth ing, said Harry.Wouldnt adorn it prehistorical him, Ron muttered.We need to see professor Moody, said Hermione. We need to limit out whether he found Mr. Crouch.If he had the Marauders Map on him, it wouldve been easy, said Harry.Unless Crouch was already orthogonal the grounds, said Ron, because it only shows up to the boundaries, doesnt -Shh said Hermione suddenly.Somebody was climbing the steps up to the Owlery. Harry could pick up 2 voices arguing, coming closely-nighr and closer.- thats coerce, that is, we could get into a lot of trouble for that-- weve tried being polished its time to play dirty, standardized him. He wouldnt a handle(p) the Ministry of Magic knowing what he did -Im disuniteing you, if you mystify that in writing, its blackmailYeah, and you wont be complaining if we get a nice fat payoff, will you?The Owlery threshold banged open. Fred and George came over the threshold, then froze at the sight of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.Whatre you doing here? Ron and Fred said at the same time.Sending a letter, said Harry and George in unison.What, at this time? said Hermione and Fred.Fred grinned.Fine we wont ask you what youre doing, if you dont ask us, he said.He was holding a sealed envelope in his hands. Harry beholdd at it, provided Fred, whether minutely or on purpose, shifted his hand so that the name on it was covered.Well, dont let us hold you up, Fred said, making a mock bow and pointing at the door.Ron didnt move. Whore you blackmailing? he said.The grin vanished from Freds face. Harry saw George half glance at Fred, before smiling at Ron.Dont be stupid, I was only joking, he said easily.Didnt sound want that, said Ron.Fred and George looked at each other. Then Fred said abruptly, Ive told you before, Ron, elapse your nuzzle out if you like it the shape it is. mountaint see why you would, just -Its my business if youre blackmailing someone, said Ron. Georges right, you could end up in solemn trouble for that.Told yo u, I was joking, said George. He walked over to Fred, pulled the letter out of his hands, and began attaching it to the stick of the nearest vitamin B complex owl. Youre starting to sound a bit like our dear older brother, you are, Ron. Carry on like this and youll be do a prefect.No, I wont said Ron hotly.George carried the barn owl over to the window and it withalk off. George turned around and grinned at Ron.Well, stop governing people what to do then. See you later.He and Fred left the Owlery. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at one another.You dont think they know something about all this, do you? Hermione whispered. About Crouch and everything?No, said Harry. If it was something that serious, theyd tell someone. Theyd tell Dumbledore.Ron, however, was looking uncomfortable.Whats the matter? Hermione asked him.Well said Ron slowly, I dunno if they would. Theyretheyre obsessed with making money lately, I noticed it when I was hanging around with them when you know -We were nt talking. Harry finished the sentence for him. Yeah, but blackmailIts this joke shop idea theyve got, said Ron. I thought they were only saying it to annoy Mum, but they really mean it, they want to start one. Theyve only got a year left at Hogwarts, they keep going on about how its time to think about their future, and Dad cant help them, and they need property to get started.Hermione was looking uncomfortable now.Yes, butthey wouldnt do anything against the law to get gold.Wouldnt they? said Ron, looking skeptical. I dunnothey dont exactly mind breaking rules, do they?Yes, but this is the law, said Hermione, looking scared. This isnt some silly domesticate rule.Theyll get a lot more than detention for blackmail Ronmaybe youd better tell Percy.Are you mad? said Ron. Tell Percy? Hed probably do a Crouch and turn them in. He stared at the window through which Fred and Georges owl had departed, then said, Come on, lets get some breakfast.Dyou think its too early to go and see pro f Moody? Hermione said as they went down the spiral staircase.Yes, said Harry. Hed probably b ending us through the door if we wake him at the crack of dawn hell think were move to attack him while hes asleep. Lets give it till break.History of Magic had rarely gone so slowly. Harry kept checking Rons watch, having finally discarded his own, but Rons was moving so slowly he could ease up sworn it had stopped working too. All three of them were so tired they could happily have put their heads down on the desks and slept even Hermione wasnt taking her usual notes, but was sitting with her head on her hand, gazing at professor Binns with her eyes out of focus.When the bell finally rang, they hurried out into the corridors toward the Dark Arts class means and found Professor Moody leaving it. He looked as tired as they felt. The eyelid of his recipe eye was drooping, giving his face an even more lopsided appearance than usual.Professor Moody? Harry called as they made their way tow ard him through the crowd.Hello, Potter, growled Moody. His magical eye catched a couple of passing early years, who sped up, looking nervous it rolled into the confirm of Moodys head and watched them around the corner before he communicate again.Come in here.He stood back to let them into his empty classroom, limped in after them, and closed the door.Did you arrive him? Harry asked without preamble. Mr. Crouch?No, said Moody. He moved over to his desk, sat down, stretched out his wooden leg with a slight groan, and pulled out his hip flask.Did you use the map? Harry said.Of course, said Moody, taking a swig from his flask. Took a leaf out of your book, Potter. Summoned it from my office into the forest. He wasnt anywhere on there.So he did Disapparate? said Ron.You cant Disapparate on the grounds, Ron said Hermione. There are other ways he could have disappeared, arent there, Professor?Moodys magical eye quivered as it rested on Hermione. Youre another one who might think abou t a career as an Auror, he told her. Mind works the right way. Granger.Hermione flushed pink with pleasure.Well, he wasnt invisible, said Harry. The map shows invisible people. He mustve left the grounds, then.But under his own steam? said Hermione eagerly, or because someone made him?Yeah, someone couldve couldve pulled him onto a broom and flown off with him, couldnt they? said Ron quickly, looking hopefully at Moody as if he too wanted to be told he had the makings of an Auror.We cant rule out swindle, growled Moody.So, said Ron, dyou reckon hes somewhere in Hogsmeade?Could be anywhere, said Moody, shaking his head. Only thing we know for sure is that hes not here.He yawned widely, so that his scars stretched, and his lopsided mouth revealed a number of missing teeth. Then he said, Now, Dumbledores told me you three fancy yourselves as investigators, but theres nothing you can do for Crouch. The Ministryll be looking for him now, Dumbledores notified them. Potter, you just keep your mind on the third task.What? said Harry. Oh yeahHe hadnt given the maze a single thought since hed left it with Krum the previous night.Should be right up your street, this one, said Moody, looking up at Harry and scratching his scarred and stubbly chin. From what Dumbledores said, youve managed to get through stuff like this plenty of times. Broke your way through a series of obstacles guarding the Sorcerers Stone in your first year, didnt you?We helped, Ron said quickly. Me and Hermione helped.Moody grinned.Well, help him practice for this one, and Ill be very surprised if he doesnt win, said Moody. In the meanwhileconstant vigilance, Potter. Constant vigilance. He took another long draw from his hip flask, and his magical eye swiveled onto the window. The upmost sail of the Durmstrang ship was visible through it.You two, counseled Moody, his normal eye on Ron and Hermione, you stick close to Potter, all right? Im keeping an eye on things, but all the sameyou can never ha ve too many eyes out.Sirius sent their owl back the very next morning. It fluttered down beside Harry at the same moment that a tawny owl landed in front of Hermione, clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet in its beak. She took the newspaper, scanned the first few pages, said, Ha She hasnt got wind of Crouch then joined Ron and Harry in reading what Sirius had to say on the mysterious events of the night before last.Harry what do you think you are playing at, walking off into the forest with Viktor Krum? I want you to swear, by return owl, that you are not going to go walking with anyone else at night. There is somebody super dangerous at Hogwarts. It is clear to me that they wanted to stop Crouch from seeing Dumbledore and you were probably feet away from them in the minacious. You could have been killed. Your name didnt get into the Goblet of Fire by accident. If someones trying to attack you, theyre on their last chance. Stay close to Ron and Hermione, do not discontinue Gryff indor Tower after hours, and arm yourself for the third task. physical exertion Stunning and Disarming. A few hexes wouldnt go amiss either. Theres nothing you can do about Crouch. support your head down and look after yourself. Im waiting for your letter giving me your word you wont stray out-of-bounds(p) again. Sirius Whos he, to lecture me about being out-of-bounds? said Harry in mild indignation as he folded up Siriuss letter and put it in spite of appearance his robes. After all the stuff he did at schoolHes worried about you said Hermione sharply. Just like Moody and Hagrid So listen to themNo ones tried to attack me all year, said Harry. No ones done anything to me at all-Except put your name in the Goblet of Fire, said Hermione. And they mustve done that for a reason. Harry. Snuffles is right. Maybe theyve been biding their time. Maybe this is the task theyre going to get you.Look, said Harry impatiently, lets say Sirius is right, and someone Stunned Krum to kidnap Crouch . Well, they wouldve been in the trees near us, wouldnt they? But they waited till I was out of the way until they acted, didnt they? So it doesnt look like Im their target, does it?They couldnt have made it look like an accident if theyd murdered you in the forest said Hermione. But if you die during a task-They didnt care about attacking Krum, did they? said Harry. Why didnt they just polish me off at the same time? They couldve made it look like Krum and I had a duel or something.Harry, I dont understand it either, said Hermione desperately. I just know there are a lot of odd things going on, and I dont like it.Moodys right Sirius is right youve got to get in training for the third task, straight away. And you make sure you release back to Sirius and promise him youre not going to go sneaking off alone again.The Hogwarts grounds never looked more inviting than when Harry had to stay indoors. For the next few days he spent all of his submit time either in the library with Herm ione and Ron, looking up hexes, or else in empty classrooms, which they sneaked into to practice. Harry was concentrating on the Stunning Spell, which he had never used before. The trouble was that practicing it involved certain sacrifices on Rons and Hermiones part.Cant we kidnap Mrs. Norris? Ron suggested on Monday lunchtime as he lay flat on his back in the put of their Charms classroom, having just been Stunned and reawoken by Harry for the fifth time in a row. Lets Stun her for a bit. Or you could use Dobby, Harry, I bet hed do anything to help you. Im not complaining or anything he got gingerly to his feet, rubbing his backside but Im aching all over.Well, you keep missing the cushions, dont you said Hermione impatiently, rearranging the pile of cushions they had used for the Banishing Spell, which Flitwick had left in a cabinet. Just try and fall backward once youre Stunned, you cant aim too well, Hermione said Ron angrily. Why dont you take a turn?Well, I think Harrys got it now, anyway, said Hermione hastily. And we dont have to worry about Disarming, because hes been able to do that for ages.I think we ought to start on some of these hexes this evening.She looked down the list they had made in the library.I like the look of this one, she said, this Impediment Curse. Should slow down anything thats trying to attack you. Harry. Well start with that one.The bell rang. They hastily shoved the cushions back into Flitwicks cupboard and slipped out of the classroom.See you at dinner said Hermione, and she set off for Arithmancy, while Harry and Ron headed toward North Tower, and Divination. Broad strips of dazzling gold sun lodgess tell across the corridor from the high windows. The sky outside was so brightly blue it looked as though it had been enameled.Its going to be boiling in Trelawneys room, she never puts out that chivvy, said Ron as they started up the staircase toward the silver ladder and the trapdoor.He was quite right. The dimly lit room was swelteringly hot. The throw from the perfumed fire were heavier than ever. Harrys head swam as he made his way over to one of the curtained windows. While Professor Trelawney was looking the other way, disentangling her shawl from a lamp, he opened it an inch or so and settled back in his chintz armchair, so that a soft breeze played across his face. It was extremely comfortable.My dears, said Professor Trelawney, sitting down in her winged armchair in front of the class and peering around at them all with her strangely enlarged eyes, we have almost finished our work on planetary divination. Today, however, will be an subtile opportunity to examine the effects of Mars, for he is placed most interestingly at the set out time. If you will all look this way, I will dim the lights.She waved her wand and the lamps went out. The fire was the only cum of light now. Professor Trelawney bent down and lifted, from under her chair, a miniature model of the solar system, contained wit hin a glass dome. It was a beautiful thing each of the moons glimmered in place around the nine planets and the fiery sun, all of them hanging in thin air beneath the glass. Harry watched lazily as Professor Trelawney began to point out the fascinating angle Mars was making to Neptune. The heavily perfumed fumes washed over him, and the breeze from the window played across his face. He could hear an insect hum gently somewhere behind the curtain. His eyelids began to droop.He was riding on the back of an eagle owl, soaring through the clear blue sky toward an old, ivy-covered house set high on a hillside. Lower and lower they flew, the wind blowing pleasantly in Harrys face, until they reached a dark and broken window in the upper story of the house and entered. Now they were f dissimulation along a gloomy passageway, to a room at the very endthrough the door they went, into a dark room whose windows were boarded up.Harry had left the owls backhe was watching, now, as it fluttered across the room, into a chair with its back to him.There were two dark shapes on the floor beside the chairboth of them were stirring.One was a huge snakethe other was a mana short, balding man, a man with watery eyes and a pointed nosehe was wheezing and sobbing on the hearth rug.You are in luck, Wormtail, said a cold, high-pitched voice from the depths of the chair in which the owl had landed. You are very fortunate indeed. Your boob has not ruined everything. He is dead.My Lord gasped the man on the floor. My Lord, I amI am so pleasedand so sorry.Nagini, said the cold voice, you are out of luck. I will not be feeding Wormtail to you, after allbut never mind, never mindthere is suave Harry Potter.The snake hissed. Harry could see its tongue fluttering.Now, Wormtail, said the cold voice, perhaps one more little reminder why I will not tolerate another blunder from you.My LordnoI beg youThe tip of a wand emerged from around the back of the chair. It was pointing at Wormtail.Cruci o said the cold voice.Wormtail screamed, screamed as though every nerve in his body were on fire, the shout out filled Harrys ears as the scar on his forehead seared with pain he was yelling tooVoldemort would hear him, would know he was there.Harry HarryHarry opened his eyes. He was lying on the floor of Professor Trelawneys room with his hands over his face. His scar was still burning so badly that his eyes were watering. The pain had been real. The whole class was standing around him, and Ron was kneeling next to him, looking terrified.You all right? he said.Of course he isnt said Professor Trelawney, looking thoroughly excited. Her bully eyes loomed over Harry, gazing at him. What was it. Potter? A premonition? An apparition? What did you see?Nothing, Harry lied. He sat up. He could feel himself shaking. He couldnt stop himself from looking around, into the shadows behind him Voldemorts voice had sounded so close.You were clutching your scar said Professor Trelawney. You were rolling on the floor, clutching your scar Come now. Potter, I have experience in these mattersHarry looked up at her.I need to go to the hospital wing, I think, he said. Bad headache.My dear, you were undoubtedly stimulated by the extraordinary clairvoyant vibrations of my room said Professor Trelawney. If you leave now, you may lose the opportunity to see further than you have ever -I dont want to see anything except a headache cure, said Harry.He stood up. The class backed away. They all looked unnerved.See you later, Harry muttered to Ron, and he picked up his bag and headed for the trapdoor, ignoring Professor Trelawney, who was wearing an expression of great frustration, as though she had just been denied a real treat.When Harry reached the bottom of her stepladder, however, he did not set off for the hospital wing. He had no intention whatsoever of going there. Sirius had told him what to do if his scar hurt him again, and Harry was going to follow his advice He was going stra ight to Dumbledores office. He marched down the corridors, thinking about what he had seen in the fantasyit had been as vivid as the one that had awoken him on Privet Drive.He ran over the details in his mind, trying to make sure he could remember them.He had heard Voldemort accusing Wormtail of making a blunderbut the owl had brought good news, the blunder had been repaired, somebody was deadso Wormtail was not going to be provide to the snakehe, Harry, was going to be fed to it instead.Harry had walked right past the stone gargoyle guarding the transfix to Dumbledores office without noticing. He blinked, looked around, realized what he had done, and retraced his steps, stopping in front of it. Then he remembered that he didnt know the password.Sherbet lemon? he tried tentatively.The gargoyle did not move.Okay, said Harry, staring at it, pear tree Drop. Er Licorice Wand. Fizzing Whizbee. Droobles Best Blowing Gum. Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beansoh no, he doesnt like them, does he?oh just open, cant you? he said angrily. I really need to see him, its urgentThe gargoyle remained immovable.Harry kicked it, achieving nothing but an excruciating pain in his big toe.Chocolate Frog he yelled angrily, standing on one leg. Sugar Quill Cockroach ClusterThe gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside. Harry blinked.Cockroach Cluster? he said, amazed. I was only joking.He hurried through the gap in the walls and stepped onto the foot of a spiral stone staircase, which moved slowly upward as the doors closed behind him, taking him up to a polished oak door with a brass door knocker.He could hear voices from inside the office. He stepped off the moving staircase and hesitated, listening.Dumbledore, Im afraid I dont see the connection, dont see it at all It was the voice of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Ludo says Berthas perfectly capable of getting herself lost. I agree we would have expected to have found her by now, but all the same, weve no evidence of foul p lay, Dumbledore, none at all. As for her disappearance being linked with Barty CrouchsAnd what do you thinks happened to Barty Crouch, Minister? said Moodys growling voice.I see two possibilities, Alastor, said Fudge. Either Crouch has finally cracked more than likely, Im sure youll agree, given his personal score lost his mind, and gone wandering off somewhere -He wandered extremely quickly, if that is the case, Cornelius, said Dumbledore calmly.Or else well Fudge sounded embarrassed. Well, Ill reserve judgment until after Ive seen the place where he was found, but you say it was just past the Beauxbatons carriage? Dumbledore, you know what that woman is?I consider her to be a very able headmistress and an excellent dancer, said Dumbledore quietly.Dumbledore, come said Fudge angrily. Dont you think you might be prejudiced in her estimation because of Hagrid? They dont all turn out harmless if, indeed, you can call Hagrid harmless, with that monster fixation hes got -I no mor e suspect Madame Maxime than Hagrid, said Dumbledore, just as calmly. I think it possible that it is you who are prejudiced, Cornelius.Can we wrap up this discussion? growled Moody.Yes, yes, lets go down to the grounds, then, said Fudge impatiently.No, its not that, said Moody, its just that Potter wants a word with you, Dumbledore. Hes just outside the door.