THE gift From Death Year 4

Chapter 40: Fourth year Part 27

18, August. 1998. 1.30pm...

"Starting just after I explained to Ron and Hermione about what happened. This is a long memory so get comfortable." Harry said.

"It comes down to this," said Hermione, rubbing her forehead. "Either Mr. Crouch attacked Viktor, or somebody else attacked both of them when Viktor wasn't looking."

"It must've been Crouch," said Ron at once. "That's why he was gone when Harry and Dumbledore got there. He'd done a runner."

"But why would he run? He sounded really desperate to talk to Dumbledore." Remus muttered.

"I don't think so," said Harry, shaking his head. "He seemed really weak - I don't reckon he was up to Disapparating or anything."

"That too." Sirius added.

"You can't Disapparate on Hogwarts grounds anyway." Lily said.

Remus nodded, "Honestly. It wouldn't kill you to read Hogwarts: A History."

"You don't know that." James pointed out.

"Yeah, Moony. You can never be too careful." Sirius smirked. Lily, Remus, Minerva and Hermione all looked exasperated, all four having read the book before.

"You can't Disapparate on the Hogwarts grounds, haven't I told you enough times?" said Hermione.

"Okay... hows this for a theory," said Ron excitedly. "Krum attacked Crouch - no, wait for it - and then Stunned himself!"

"Why exactly would he do that?"

"It still wouldn't explain where Crouch went, even if that was the case."

"And Mr. Crouch evaporated, did he?" said Hermione coldly.

"Oh yeah..."

It was daybreak. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had crept out of their dormitories very early and hurried up to the Owlery together to send a note to Sirius.

Now they were standing looking out at the misty grounds. All three of them were puffy-eyed and pale because they had been talking late into the night about Mr. Crouch.

"Just go through it again, Harry," said Hermione. "What did Mr. Crouch actually say?"

"I've told you, he wasn't making much sense," said Harry. "He said he wanted to warn Dumbledore about something. He definitely mentioned Bertha Jorkins, and he seemed to think she was dead. He kept saying stuff was his fault... He mentioned his son."

"Well, that was his fault." said Hermione testily.

"And pretty much the only part you could understand." Ron chuckled.

"He was out of his mind," said Harry. "Half the time he seemed to think his wife and son were still alive, and he kept talking to Percy about work and giving him instructions."

"And... remind me what he said about You-Know-Who?" said Ron tentatively.

"I've told you," Harry repeated dully. "He said he's getting stronger."