Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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As I am constantly telling the Daily Prophet, Mr. Crouch is taking a well-deserved break. He is
sending in regular owls with instructions. No, I haven ’ t actually seen him, but I think I can be trusted to know my own superior ’ s handwriting. I have quite enough to do at the moment without trying to quash these ridiculous rumors. Please don ’ t bother me again unless it ’ s something important. Happy Easter. The start of the summer term would normally have meant that Harry was training hard for the last Quidditch match of the season. This year, however, it was the third and final task in the Triwizard Tournament for which he needed to prepare, but he still didn’t know what he would have to do. Finally, in the last week of May, Professor McGonagall held him back in Transfiguration. “You are to go down to the Quidditch field tonight at nine o’clock. Potter,” she told him. “Mr. Bagman will be there to tell the champions about the third task.” So at half past eight that night. Harry left Ron and Hermione in Gryffindor Tower and went downstairs. As he crossed the entrance hall, Cedric came up from the Hufflepuff common room. “What d’you reckon it’s going to be?” he asked Harry as they went together down the stone steps, out into the cloudy night. “Fleur keeps going on about underground tunnels; she reckons we’ve got to find treasure.” “That wouldn’t be too bad,” said Harry, thinking that he would simply ask Hagrid for a niffler to do the job for him. They walked down the dark lawn to the Quidditch stadium, turned through a gap in the stands, and walked out onto the field. “What’ve they done to it?” Cedric said indignantly, stopping dead. 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. “They’re hedges!” said Harry, bending to examine the nearest one. “Hello there!” called a cheery voice. Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Krum and Fleur. Harry and Cedric made their way toward them, climbing over the hedges. Fleur beamed at Harry as he came nearer. Her attitude toward him had changed completely since he had saved her sister from the lake. “Well, what d’you think?” said Bagman happily as Harry and Cedric climbed over the last hedge. “Growing nicely, aren’t they? Give them a month and Hagrid’ll have them twenty feet high. Don’t worry,” he added, grinning, spotting the less than- happy expressions on Harrys and Cedric’s faces, “you’ll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we’re making here?” No one spoke for a moment. Then - “Maze,” grunted Krum. “That’s right!” said Bagman. “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 semply ‘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?” Harry, who knew only too well the kind of creatures that Hagrid was likely to provide for an event like this, thought it was unlikely to be any fun at all. However, he nodded politely like the other champions. “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. Harry had the feeling that Bagman was going to start offering to help him again, but just then, Krum tapped Harry on the shoulder. “Could I haff a vord?” “Yeah, all right,” said Harry, slightly surprised. “Vill you valk vith me?” “Okay,” said Harry curiously. Bagman looked slightly perturbed. “I’ll wait for you. Harry, shall I?” “No, it’s okay, Mr. Bagman,” said Harry, suppressing a smile, “I think I can find the castle on my own, thanks.” Harry and Krum left the stadium together, but Krum did not set a course for the Durmstrang ship. Instead, he walked toward the forest. “What’re we going this way for?” said Harry as they passed Hagrid s cabin and the illuminated Beauxbatons carriage. “Don’t vont to be overheard,” said Krum shortly. When at last they had reached a quiet stretch of ground a short way from the Beauxbatons horses’ paddock, Krum stopped in the shade of the trees and turned to face Harry. “I vant to know,” he said, glowering, “vot there is between you and Hermy-ownninny.” Harry, who from Krum’s secretive manner had expected something much more serious than this, stared up at Krum in amazement. “Nothing,” he said. But Krum glowered at him, and Harry, somehow struck anew by how tall Krum was, elaborated. “We’re friends. She’s not my girlfriend and she never has been. It’s just that Skeeter woman making things up.” “Hermy-own-ninny talks about you very often,” said Krum, looking suspiciously at Harry. “Yeah,” said Harry, “because were friends.” He couldn’t quite believe he was having this conversation with Viktor Krum, the famous International Quidditch player. It was as though the eighteen-year-old Krum thought he Harry, was an equal - a real rival – “You haff never… you haff not…” “No,” said Harry very firmly. Krum looked slightly happier. He stared at Harry for a few seconds, then said, “You fly very veil. I vos votching at the first task.” “Thanks,” said Harry, grinning broadly and suddenly feeling much taller himself. “I saw you at the Quidditch World Cup. The Wronski Feint, you really -” But something moved behind Krum in the trees, and Harry, who had some experience of the sort of thing that lurked in the forest, instinctively grabbed Krum’s arm and pulled him around. “Vot is it?” Harry shook his head, staring at the place where he’d seen movement. He slipped his hand inside his robes, reaching for his wand. Suddenly a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. For a moment, Harry didn’t recognize him… then he realized it was Mr. Crouch. He 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. He reminded Harry vividly of an old tramp he had seen once when out shopping with the Dursleys. That man too had been conversing wildly with thin air; Aunt Petunia had seized Dudley’s hand and pulled him across the road to avoid him; Uncle Vernon had then treated the family to a long rant about what he would like to do with beggars and vagrants. “Vosn’t he a judge?” said Krum, staring at Mr. Crouch. “Isn’t he vith your Ministry?” Harry nodded, hesitated for a moment, then walked slowly toward Mr. Crouch, who did not look at him, but continued to talk to a nearby tree. “… 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…” “Mr. Crouch?” said Harry cautiously. “… 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. “Mr. Crouch?” Harry said loudly. “Are you all right?” Crouch’s eyes were rolling in his head. Harry looked around at Krum, who had followed him into the trees, and was looking down at Crouch in alarm. “Vot is wrong with him?” “No idea,” Harry muttered. “Listen, you’d better go and get someone -” “Dumbledore!” gasped Mr. Crouch. He reached out and seized a handful of Harrys robes, dragging him closer, though his eyes were staring over Harry’s head. “I need… see… Dumbledore…” “Okay,” said Harry, “if you get up, Mr. Crouch, we can go up to the-” “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…” “Get up, Mr. Crouch,” said Harry loudly and clearly. “Get up, I’ll take you to Dumbledore!” Mr. Crouch’s eyes rolled forward onto Harry. “Who… you?” he whispered. “I’m a student at the school,” said Harry, looking around at Krum for some help, but Krum was hanging back, looking extremely nervous. “You’re not… his?” whispered Crouch, his mouth sagging. “No,” said Harry, without the faintest idea what Crouch was talking about. “Dumbledore’s?” “That’s right,” said Harry. Crouch was pulling him closer; Harry tried to loosen Crouch’s grip on his robes, but it was too powerful. “Warn… Dumbledore…” “I’ll get Dumbledore if you let go of me,” said Harry. “Just let go, Mr. Crouch, and I’ll get him…” “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, and seemed completely unaware that Harry was there, which surprised Harry so much he didn’t notice that Crouch had released him. “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…” “You stay here with him!” Harry said to Krum. “I’ll get Dumbledore, I’ll be quicker, I know where his office is -” “He is mad,” said Krum doubtfully, staring down at Crouch, who was still gabbling to the tree, apparently convinced it was Percy. “Just stay with him,” said Harry, starting to get up, but his movement seemed to trigger another abrupt change in Mr. Crouch, who seized him hard around the knees and pulled Harry back 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…” “I’ll get Dumbledore if you let me go, Mr. Crouch!” said Harry. He looked furiously around at Krum. “Help me, will you?” Looking extremely apprehensive, Krum moved forward and squatted down next to Mr. Crouch. “Just keep him here,” said Harry, pulling himself free of Mr. Crouch. “I’ll be back with Dumbledore.” “Hurry, von’t you?” Krum called after him as Harry sprinted away from the forest and up through the dark grounds. They were deserted; Bagman, Cedric, and Fleur had disappeared. Harry tore up the stone steps, through the oak front doors, and off up the marble staircase, toward the second floor. Five minutes later he was hurtling toward a stone gargoyle standing halfway along an empty corridor. “Sher - sherbet lemon!” he panted at it. This was the password to the hidden staircase to Dumbledore’s office - or at least, it had been two years ago. The password had evidently changed, however, for the stone gargoyle did not spring to life and jump aside, but stood frozen, glaring at Harry malevolently. “Move!” Harry shouted at it. “C’mon!” But nothing at Hogwarts had ever moved just because he shouted at it; he knew it was no good. He looked up and down the dark corridor. Perhaps Dumbledore was in the staffroom? He started running as fast as he could toward the staircase – “POTTER!” Harry skidded to a halt and looked around. Snape had just emerged from the hidden staircase behind the stone gargoyle. The wall was sliding shut behind him even as he beckoned Harry back toward him. “What are you doing here, Potter?” “I need to see Professor Dumbledore!” said Harry, running back up the corridor and skidding to a standstill in front of Snape instead. “It’s Mr. Crouch… he’s just turned up… he’s in the forest… he’s asking -” “What is this rubbish?” said Snape, his black eyes glittering. “What are you talking about?” “Mr. Crouch!” Harry shouted. “From the Ministry! He’s ill or something - he’s in the forest, he wants to see Dumbledore! Just give me the password up to -” “The headmaster is busy. Potter,” said Snape, his thin mouth curling into an unpleasant smile. “I’ve got to tell Dumbledore!” Harry yelled. “Didn’t you hear me. Potter?” Harry could tell Snape was thoroughly enjoying himself, denying Harry the thing he wanted when he was so panicky. “Look,” said Harry angrily, “Crouch isn’t right - he’s - he’s out of his mind – he says he wants to warn -” The stone wall behind Snape slid open. Dumbledore was standing there, wearing long green robes and a mildly curious expression. “Is there a problem?” he said, looking between Harry and Snape. “Professor!” Harry said, sidestepping Snape before Snape could speak, “Mr. Crouch is here - he’s down in the forest, he wants to speak to you!” Harry expected Dumbledore to ask questions, but to his relief, Dumbledore did nothing of the sort. “Lead the way,” he said promptly, and he swept off along the corridor behind Harry, leaving Snape standing next to the gargoyle and looking twice as ugly “What did Mr. Crouch say. Harry?” said Dumbledore as they walked swiftly down the marble staircase. “Said he wants to warn you… said he’s done something terrible… he mentioned his son… and Bertha Jorkins… and - and Voldemort… something about Voldemort getting stronger…” “Indeed,” said Dumbledore, and he quickened his pace as they hurried out into the pitch- darkness. “He’s not acting normally,” Harry said, hurrying along beside Dumbledore. “He doesn’t seem to know where he is. He keeps talking like he thinks Percy Weasley’s there, and then he changes, and says he needs to see you… I left him with Viktor Krum.” “You did?” said Dumbledore sharply, and he began to take longer strides still, so that Harry was running to keep up. “Do you know if anybody else saw Mr. Crouch?” “No,” said Harry. “Krum and I were talking, Mr. Bagman had just finished telling us about the third task, we stayed behind, and then we saw Mr. Crouch coming out of the forest -” “Where are they?” said Dumbledore as the Beauxbatons carriage emerged from the darkness. “Over here,” said Harry, moving in front of Dumbledore, leading the way through the trees. He couldn’t hear Crouch’s voice anymore, but he knew where he was going; it hadn’t been much past the Beauxbatons carriage… somewhere around here… “Viktor?” Harry shouted. No one answered. “They were here,” Harry said to Dumbledore. “They were definitely somewhere around here…” “Lumos,” Dumbledore said, lighting his wand and holding it up. Its narrow beam traveled from black trunk to black trunk, illuminating the ground. And then it fell upon a pair of feet. Harry and Dumbledore hurried forward. Krum was sprawled on the forest floor. He seemed to be unconscious. There was no sign at all of Mr. Crouch. Dumbledore bent over Krum and gently lifted one of his eyelids. “Stunned,” he said softly. His half-moon glasses glittered in the wandlight as he peered around at the surrounding trees. “Should I go and get someone?” said Harry. “Madam Pomfrey?” “No,” said Dumbledore swiftly. “Stay here.” He raised his wand into the air and pointed it in the direction of Hagrid’s cabin. Harry saw something silvery dart out of it and streak away through the trees like a ghostly bird. Then Dumbledore bent over Krum again, pointed his wand at him, and muttered, “Ennervate.” Krum opened his eyes. He looked dazed. When he saw Dumbledore, he tried to sit up, but Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder and made him lie still. “He attacked me!” Krum muttered, putting a hand up to his head. “The old madman attacked me! I vos looking around to see vare Potter had gone and he attacked from behind!” “Lie still for a moment,” Dumbledore said. The sound of thunderous footfalls reached them, and Hagrid came panting into sight with Fang at his heels. He was carrying his crossbow. “Professor Dumbledore!” he said, his eyes widening. “Harry - what the -?” “Hagrid, I need you to fetch Professor Karkaroff,” said Dumbledore. “His student has been attacked. When you’ve done that, kindly alert Professor Moody -” “No need, Dumbledore,” said a wheezy growl. “I’m here.” Moody was limping toward them, leaning on his staff, his wand lit. “Damn leg,” he said furiously. “Would’ve been here quicker… what’s happened? Snape said something about Crouch -” “Crouch?” said Hagrid blankly. “Karkaroff, please, Hagrid!” said Dumbledore sharply. “Oh yeah… right y’are, Professor…” said Hagrid, and he turned and disappeared into the dark trees, Fang trotting after him. “I don’t know where Barty Crouch is,” Dumbledore told Moody, “but it is essential that we find him.” “I’m onto it,” growled Moody, and he pulled out his wand and limped off into the forest. Neither Dumbledore nor Harry spoke again until they heard the unmistakable sounds of Hagrid and Fang returning. Karkaroff was hurrying along behind them. He was wearing his sleek silver furs, and he looked pale and agitated. “What is this?” he cried when he saw Krum on the ground and Dumbledore and Harry beside him. “What’s going on?” “I vos attacked!” said Krum, sitting up now and rubbing his head. “Mr. Crouch or votever his name -” “Crouch attacked you? Crouch attacked you? The Triwizard judge?” “Igor,” Dumbledore began, but Karkaroff had drawn himself up, clutching his furs around him, looking livid. “Treachery!” he bellowed, pointing at Dumbledore. “It is a plot! You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me here under false pretenses, Dumbledore! This is not an equal competition! First you sneak Potter into the tournament, though he is underage! Now one of your Ministry friends attempts to put my champion out of action! I smell double-dealing and corruption in this whole affair, and you, Dumbledore, you, with your talk of closer international wizarding links, of rebuilding old ties, of forgetting old differences - here’s what I think of you!” Karkaroff spat onto the ground at Dumbledore’s feet. In one swift movement, Hagrid seized the front of Karkaroff’s furs, lifted him into the air, and slammed him against a nearby tree. “Apologize!” Hagrid snarled as Karkaroff gasped for breath, Hagrid’s massive fist at his throat, his feet dangling in midair. “Hagrid, no!” Dumbledore shouted, his eyes flashing. Hagrid removed the hand pinning Karkaroff to the tree, and Karkaroff slid all the way down the trunk and slumped in a huddle at its roots; a few twigs and leaves showered down upon his head. “Kindly escort Harry back up to the castle, Hagrid,” said Dumbledore sharply. Breathing heavily, Hagrid gave Karkaroff a glowering look. “Maybe I’d better stay here. Headmaster…” “You will take Harry back to school, Hagrid,” Dumbledore repeated firmly. “Take him right up to Gryffindor Tower. And Harry - I want you to stay there. Anything you might want to do - any owls you might want to send - they can wait until morning, do you understand me?” “Er - yes,” said Harry, staring at him. How had Dumbledore known that, at that very moment, he had been thinking about sending Pigwidgeon straight to Sirius, to tell him what had happened? “I’ll leave Fang with yeh Headmaster,” Hagrid said, staring menacingly at Karkaroff, who was still sprawled at the foot of the tree, tangled in furs and tree roots. “Stay, Fang. C’mon, Harry.” They marched in silence past the Beauxbatons carriage and up toward the castle. “How dare he,” Hagrid growled as they strode past the lake. “How dare he accus Dumbledore. Like Dumbledore’d do anythin’ like that. Like Dumbledore wanted you in the tournament in the firs’ place. Worried! I dunno when I seen Dumbledore more worried than he’s bin lately. An’ you!” Hagrid suddenly said angrily to Harry, who looked up at him, taken aback. “What were yeh doin’, wanderin’ off with ruddy Krum? He’s from Durmstrang, Harry! Coulda jinxed yeh right there, couldn he? Hasn’ Moody taught yeh nothin’? ‘Magine lettin him lure yeh off on yer own -” “Krum’s all right!” said Harry as they climbed the steps into the entrance hall. “He wasn’t trying to jinx me, he just wanted to talk about Hermione -” “I’ll be havin’ a few words with her, an’ all,” said Hagrid grimly, stomping up the stairs. “The less you lot ‘ave ter do with these foreigners, the happier yeh’ll be. Yeh can trust any of ‘em.” “You were getting on all right with Madame Maxime,” Harry said, annoyed. “Don’ you talk ter me abou’ her!” said Hagrid, and he looked quite frightening for a moment. “I’ve got her number now! Tryin’ ter get back in me good books, tryin’ ter get me ter tell her what’s comin in the third task. Ha! You can’ trust any of’em!” Hagrid was in such a bad mood, Harry was quite glad to say good-bye to him in front of the Fat Lady. He clambered through the portrait hole into the common room and hurried straight for the corner where Ron and Hermione were sitting, to tell them what had happened. Yüklə 1,61 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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