Chương 122: Problems

The start of the summer term was pretty fun. Professor McGonagall was too impressed by Chris, Ginny, Luna and Colin's Transfigurations. Colin was doing great with simple Transfigurations, which was a good sign. In Charms, Professor Flitwik was giving house points to them in almost every class. On the other hand, Professor Snape was very shocked when he saw Colin making a perfect shrinking potion. He checked thrice if someone helped him, he was suspecting Chris and Ginny who also made perfect shrinking potion, but after Colin clearly described how he did it, Snape gave him five house points and walked away. When all three of them got house points from Snape, other students were very shocked seeing this unbelievable thing. Jason caught Chris's eyes and grinned. Chris just smiled as Snape was looking at her. Everything was going really great with Chris, when the students were less scared around her as the Professors were really impressed.

But it couldn't go like that for too long, isn't it?

So in the last week of May, Fred and George pulled her aside after dinner.

"Chris we need a small help." George said, looking worried. "Actually... it's a big help."

"What's it?" Chris asked curiously. It's not like the twins to ask favors that easily, if it's not important.

"Bagman is going to be here tonight." Fred said darkly.

"We heard Harry, Ron and Hermione." George whispered. "He's here to tell the champions about the third task."

"He responded to our last letter." Fred said seriously. "But he's looking for excuses. We wanted to talk to him face to face but..."

"But McGonagall gave us detention tonight. We've to be there at eight o'clock and he's going to be here at nine o'clock."

"Do you think you can help us with this Chris? No one else knows about this matter other than you. But you can get in trouble because of this so we'll not force you."

"Yeah. Fredie is right." George smiled. "We can catch him any other time if you don't want to do it. That's alright."

Chris thought every possible situations she can came across if she agree to do this but the end, the daring Chris inside her jumped up and took control and Chris agreed.

"I'll manage. Don't worry." Chris grinned.

She had a invisibility cloak. What can go wrong? Right?

So at half past eight that night, when Chris, Ginny, Luna and Colin were leaving the Room of Requirement after their daily practice works, Chris gave an excuse of Dumbledore, left the three of them, and went downstairs. Fred and George already told her what to say and where he'll be. So Chris threw the invisibility cloak on herself and quietly made her way towards the Quidditch field.

As she walked down the dark lawn to the Quidditch stadium, turned through a gap in the stands, and walked out onto the field, she saw the Quidditch field was no longer smooth and flat. It looked as though somebody had been building long, low walls all over it that twisted and crisscrossed in every direction. Harry was bending down to examine the nearest one and Cedric was standing behind him. Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Krum and Fleur. Harry and Cedric made their way toward them. Chris went closer to look and realized, what they were creating for third task, it was....

"Maze," grunted Krum.

Chris turned her attention towards them.

"That's right!" said Bagman happily, which made Chris roll her eyes. "A maze. The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."

"We seemply 'ave to get through the maze?" said Fleur.

"There will be obstacles,"said Bagman happily, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Hagrid is providing a number of creatures . . . then there will be spells that must be broken . . . all that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze." Bagman grinned at Harry and Cedric. "Then Mr. Krum will enter . . . then Miss Delacour. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?"

After Bagman said this, Chris cupped her mouth to prevent herself from a loud chuckle. Who knew too well the kind of creatures that Hagrid was likely to provide for an event like this, it was unlikely to be any fun at all. Harry and Cedric both knew about Hagrid, they just exchanged worried glances and then nodded politely to Bagman.

"Very well .... if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly..."

Bagman hurried alongside Harry as they began to wend their way out of the growing maze. Chris followed them.

"Wonder if I could have a quick word, Harry?" said Bagman eagerly.

'Now what does he want from Harry?' Chris thought.

"Er.. ok." Harry replied and they walked a little far from the castle and went towards the forest.

Chris was close enough to hear their talk.

"Well, I just thought I'd congratulate you again on your splendid performance against that Horntail and the merepeoples, Harry." said Bagman. "Really superb. Specially what you did with your broom and what you did to save Delacour's sister, it was clearly remarkable."

"Thanks," said Harry.

Chris understood, like her Harry didn't fell for the praise. Surely Bagman had ulterior motives.

"I really wanted to ask you, Harry." Bagman stopped walking as they reach the edge of the forest. He looked around to see if anyone was near. Chris smirked as he continued, thinking no one was near, "Well if you need any help for your third task?"

Harry looked very surprised like Chris.

"Listen, Harry," Bagman said. "I feel very bad about all this . . . you were thrown into this tournament, you didn't volunteer for it . . . and if . . . if I can help at all . . . I've taken a liking to you . . . the way you got past that dragon! And then you were very smart to understand the egg on your own. . ."

On his own? Chris snorted under the invisibility cloak.

"But... we're not supposed take help from teachers... or judges, are we?" Harry said after staring at him for sometime.

"Well . . . well, yes," said Bagman impatiently, "but... come on, Harry.... we all want a Hogwarts victory, don't we?"

"Have you offered Cedric help?" Harry asked raising his eyebrows.

The smallest of frowns creased Bagman's smooth face. "No, I haven't," he said. "I... well, like I say, I've taken a liking to you. Just thought I'd offer . . ."

"Well, thanks," said Harry, "but I think..."

Harry abruptly stopped, Chris understood why. Something moved behind Bagman in the trees, Harry pulled Bagman aside. Chris gripped her wand tightly in her hand. Harry pulled out her wand as well. Bagman looked tensed as he followed Harry's gaze towards the forest.

"What's it, Harry?" He asked trying to look brave.

Suddenly a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. For a moment, Chris didn't recognize him .... and she crossed Harry and Bagman... then she realized it was Mr. Crouch.

"Barty!" Bagman exclaimed loudly.

Mr Crouch's looked as though he had been traveling for days. The knees of his robes were ripped and bloody, his face scratched; he was unshaven and gray with exhaustion. His neat hair and mustache were both in need of a wash and a trim. His strange appearance, however, was nothing to the way he was behaving. Muttering and gesticulating, Mr. Crouch appeared to be talking to someone that he alone could see.

Bagman rushed towards him followed by Harry. Chris maintained her distance from them but went close enough to see what's wrong with Mr Crouch.

". . . and when you've done that, Weatherby, send an owl to Dumbledore confirming the number of Durmstrang students who will be attending the tournament, Karkaroff has just sent word there will be twelve. . . ."

"Barty! What's wrong?" Bagman said.

". . . and then send another owl to Madame Maxime, because she might want to up the number of students she's bringing, now Karkaroff's made it a round dozen . . . do that, Weatherby, will you? Will you? Will . . ."

Mr. Crouch's eyes were bulging. He stood staring at the tree, muttering soundlessly at it. Then he staggered sideways and fell to his knees.

Bagman bend down and shook him vigorously, like he was trying to wake Mr Crouch from a deep sleep.

"Barty! Barty!"

"What's wrong with him?" Harry asked, looking worried.

"Dumbledore!" gasped Mr. Crouch. He reached out and seized a handful of Bagman's robes, dragging him closer, though his eyes were staring over Bagman's head. "I need . . . see . . . Dumbledore. . . ."

"Sure Barty. But in this condition? Where were you this entire time?" Bagman said, looking weird. He clearly didn't understand what he should do in this kind of situation.

"I've done . . . stupid . . . thing . . ." Mr. Crouch breathed. He looked utterly mad. His eyes were rolling and bulging, and a trickle of spittle was sliding down his chin. Every word he spoke seemed to cost him a terrible effort. "Must . . . tell . . . Dumbledore . . ."

Chris knitted her eyebrows together. What's he talking about?

"Mr Bagman, I think we should take him to Dumbledore's office." Harry suggested.

"Oh no no Harry. Can't you see, he is worse than a madman now. I should take him to St. Mungo's hospital.... yes.. I should take him there." Bagman said hastily, like he knows what the right thing to do.

Mr. Crouch's eyes rolled forward onto Harry and Bagman.

"Who . . . you?" he whispered.

"I'm Ludo, Barty!" Bagman said trying to pull him up. "This is ridiculous. Come with me, Barty."

"No!.... Dumbledore!" Mr Crouch jerked away from Bagman's grip. "I... must.... warn... Dumble...dore... warn... Dumbledore..."

'Is that mean, I was right about Crouch's secret harming Dumbledore?'

"Stop this madness Barty and get up." Bagman said impatiently.

"Thank you, Weatherby, and when you have done that, I would like a cup of tea. My wife and son will be arriving shortly, we are attending a concert tonight with Mr. and Mrs. Fudge." Crouch was now talking fluently to a tree again. "Yes, my son has recently gained twelve O.W.L.s, most satisfactory, yes, thank you, yes, very proud indeed. Now, if you could bring me that memo from the Andorran Minister of Magic, I think I will have time to draft a response. . . ."

"There's no hope. I knew he'll go mad the way he worked day and night." Bagman sighed getting up. "I'll stun him and take him to the Hospital wing. Don't worry, Harry, you can go."

"What? Stun?" Harry looked more surprised than he looked when he saw Mr Crouch.

Bagman went pale like he had revealed something, he shouldn't have.

'What this man is trying to do?' Chris thought desperately. She decided even if Harry leaves, she isn't leaving Crouch with Bagman.

"Yes Harry. I know what am I doing." Bagman suddenly transformed himself to look awfully confident. "You go I'll take care of Barty. He's my friend after all."

"Do you want me to call someone for help? Or call Dumbledore? Mr Crouch wants to..." Harry said, with a doubtful tone.

"No." Bagman said flatly, then softly added, "Barty is not in his right mind Harry. There's no need to trouble Dumbledore."

Harry hesitated but Bagman gave a reassuring smile and tried to pull Crouch, who was still mumbling looking at the tree, apparently convinced it was Percy.

"Al... alright." Harry said.

But Chris could clearly see, the doubt, mistrust and then determination in Harry's eyes. He was not going back to the dormitory, he was definitely going to inform Dumbledore.

Harry started to back away from Mr Crouch but his movement seemed to trigger another abrupt change in Mr. Crouch, who seized him hard around the knees and pulled Harry to the ground.

"Don't . . . leave . . . me!" he whispered, his eyes bulging again. "I . . . escaped . . . must warn . . . must tell . . . see Dumbledore . . . my fault . . . all my fault . . . Bertha . . . dead . . . all my fault . . . my son . . . my fault . . . tell Dumbledore . . . Harry Potter . . . the Dark Lord . . . stronger . . . Harry Potter . . ."

Chris was thinking hard what these words could mean. She felt the puzzle was almost completed but still there was a big and important part missing.

"That's enough." Bagman pulled Harry up roughly. "He can hurt you in this mind state, Harry. I asked you to leave."

"But..." Harry tried to protest then suddenly nodded. "Fine."

And he sprinted away from the forest and up through the dark grounds.

Bagman looked at him, clearly understanding he did a mistake. He hastily pulled out a small round hand mirror from his robes. Then tapped it with his wand and hold it in front of his face.

"I found him." He said nervously, looking at the mirror.

"Show me." A female voice answered from the other side of the mirror.

Shocked Chris, tried to get behind Bagman to see who was he talking to. Undoubtedly something was terribly wrong.

As instructed Bagman hold the mirror in front of Crouch, who was still mumbling. Then turned the mirror back to his face.

"Good but why're you looking nervous? Did anyone saw you both?" The female voice said coldly.

Chris tip-toed looked up and peaked into the mirror. The other side was dark and the women had her hood over her head, hiding her face. Only her lips were visible.

"Er... yes... I'm sorry... I've no idea that I'll find him here... I was walking with Harry Potter.." Bagman looked more tensed.

"Harry Potter?" Shrieked the women. Her lips twitched.

"Yes... I was talking with him just like you asked me to..."

"Shut up. Where's is he now? Tell me you stunned him and removed his memory." The women said angrily but when Bagman looked shocked by her guess, she lashed out, "Bagman! You idiot! What're you playing at? Is that too much for you to silence a fourteen years old boy?"

"I asked him to go back as I'm taking Crouch to hospital." Bagman said hurriedly. "I don't think he'll..."

"Inform Dumbledore? Tell me Ludo you seriously think he'll not tell anyone about this? Not even Dumbledore or that girl?" She bit her lips so badly that it started to bleed. "Listen Ludo if he tells about it to that muggle-born girl and she came up with any kind of understanding of this situation then you're..."

"I was thinking about Crouch.... and also memory charms are not my forte,... if anything went wrong then..." Bagman tried to sound sincere.

"Enough. Stop talking in the school grounds. If you've already said, then, take him to St Mungo's. I'll handle the rest." She gritted her teeths. "And listen Ludo, if you didn't manage to do even that then you're not getting anything not even a single Knut."

"Alright. Alright." Bagman hurriedly closed the hand mirror and put it back inside his robes.

"Sorry Barty. But I've no choice." Bagman said grimly as he pointed his hand towards mumbling Crouch, who was almost lying on the ground now.

"Expelliarmus."

The wand went flying from Bagman's hand. Shocked and scared he looked around, only to find no one near him.

"Who's there?" He said, trying to look calm.

"You've two minitues to confess everything, Mr Bagman or else you'll be lying next to Mr Crouch... completely still, not stunned but dead." Chris said with cold and murderous tone.