"He had quite a story to tell," Snape told Dumbledore in his office. When everyone had arrived back, Dumbledore had to diffuse a glaring contest between Snape and Sirius before asking about their prisoner who he instantly recognized as Crouch Jr.
Snape continued on explaining how Crouch's father, upon his mother's pleading had rescued him from Azkaban; substituting his wife for his son with Polyjuice potion. How he'd been hidden away for all the years since, how the Dark Lord had found out about him through Bertha Jorkins and had rescued him. As Crouch Jr. glared at him, Snape continued telling everyone what he had learned from the interrogation. He explained how Crouch had overpowered the real Moody before the school year and taken his place. At that Dumbledore turned to Hermione.
"Miss Granger. Did you say you think Alastor Moody is in his office?"
Hermione pulled out the map and showed the Headmaster the dot that coincided with the Moody.
"Remus, could you please go see if you can find Alastor and get him to Poppy if he needs attention," Dumbledore asked. He then nodded to the magical eye and peg leg. "Take those. He'll want them."
"Of course," Lupin replied and was picking up the items when Hermione said. "Wait, stop."
Everyone looked at her in confusion until she walked over to Lupin and within a couple of seconds she had scooped a beetle off his collar. "You seemed to have picked up a bug in the graveyard Mo...I mean Remus," She remembered that Snape did not know the Marauder's names. She then handed the map to Lupin. "Take this; it will help you find him once you're in his office."
Remus took the map and hurried out of the office.
As Snape continued his tale of the confession of Crouch Jr. Hermione walked over to a corner and quietly started talking to the beetle with odd marking around its eyes. "Before you publish anything talk to us first. A lot has happened tonight and I'm all for most of it being reported, but there are some things best left out of the story. One of us will meet you at the same tree as before in two hours."
The beetle buzzed its wings and Hermione opened a window a little and let the beetle out.
Crouch Jr. sneered as he spoke the first words since everyone had appeared back in the room. "My Master is back isn't he? His plan worked flawlessly."
"Yes he has obtained a body," Dumbledore replied. "As for flawlessly, if you consider he had to flee a graveyard with no clothes and heavily wounded by young Mr. Potter as flawless, then I guess you can say that," He then addressed everyone in the office. "Let's get Harry to the hospital wing and then go speak to the judges about the tournament."
"No," Harry said firmly. "I'm fine. I need to get to Gabrielle and then Fleur and I are going to finish what we started this evening," He then stared directly at his Headmaster. "Tomorrow, we need to talk about a lot of things including a prophecy."
Alain Delacour as a politician had developed an ability to recognize another person's thoughts by their facial reaction. He and everyone else in the graveyard had heard Voldemort mention a prophecy but he also knew Severus Snape had not been there. The minute reaction Snape had made when Harry had mentioned the word prophecy was interesting. It wasn't surprise he had seen, but more of like the word had brought back a painful memory.
Dumbledore piercing blue-eyed gaze only found a very determined pair of emerald eyes looking back at him. He instantly knew that tonight had changed something in his relationship with Harry. "Very well," He said finally. "I am sure there is definitely much to discuss. For now though, if you're sure you're well enough, we can head down to the maze and finish up there," He turned to Snape, "Severus, if you will take Crouch to the…"
Dumbledore's instructions stopped when he saw Snape clutch his forearm while at the same time Crouch Jr. cried out in exhilaration, "My master calls. He lives. I shall be rewarded beyond imagination," Dumbledore gazed at Snape until finally he said. "Severus, you know what I need you to do."
Snape only nodded and left the office.
Dumbledore turned to Barty Crouch Junior and raised his wand. "Obliviate," He said quietly and then followed the memory modification spell with a light stunner that made the imposter fall unconscious. He looked around the room at everyone who was staring at him and realized he needed to explain. "It's imperative this man not remember who interrogated him or that Severus was here at all."
"Explain 'eadmaster," Mr. Delacour requested.
"Trust me enough tonight to accept it," Dumbledore replied. "I will explain another time. For now we need to get to the maze. I have a feeling one of the judges is about to leave abruptly," He looked back at the unconscious prisoner. "I had hoped to secure him somewhere, but I guess we will have to take him with us. We can turn him over to Aurors.
"Pettigrew needs medical care," Sirius said. "He lost a lot blood cutting his hand off."
"I had forgotten about him," Dumbledore admitted as he looked over at the man in question. "Though it looks like the blood has stopped thanks to your measures and there is definitely no hope in recovering his hand," He started toward the door. "Poppy will be in the hospital wing with Viktor Krum and hopefully Alastor. We shall stop there and you and Remus can keep an eye on Pettigrew."
"Sir, Gabrielle said to tell you that there are Dementors at the maze," Hermione said.
"Why?" Dumbledore asked no one in particular. "Very well. As soon as we get these two men to the hospital wing we'll go down there. I'm sure McGonagall and the rest of the professors can handle it for now."
A very short time later they entered the hospital wing and a blur of blonde hair pounced on Harry. Gabrielle and her mother had proceeded immediately to the all too familiar medical facility when they realized that's where everyone was headed.
"Arry," Gabrielle cried as she held him tight proving to herself that he physically was still there. He had mentally assured her, but she needed to physically touch him, to hold him, to prove to herself that her bondmate was really alive. Fleur and Hermione both looked at each other and their sister. They both had felt the same thing.
Harry wrapped his arms around Gabrielle and held her tight. "I couldn't leave my angel," He replied. "I have a lot to tell you," Then to all of his bond mates. "All of you, but let's wait for a while."
Poppy was bending over a bed where the real Alastor Moody was lying. He wasn't taking too kindly to her ministration but she wasn't allowing him to leave. They all could hear various words carrying over the room. "Dehydration, exposure, malnutrition…lucky to be alive," She finally looked up to see who had entered her hospital. Upon seeing Harry she immediately came over and started examining him.
"What happened this time Mr. Potter?" She asked.
"Well I broke my arm but Fleur healed it," He replied.
"It's not Harry who needs your attention," Dumbledore said and nodded toward the levitating bodies.
Poppy's memory was extremely good and she instantly recognized the two people who were being levitated in an unconscious state. The pain potion vial she was holding crashed to the floor.
"Peter Pettigrew?" She asked. "But he's.." A memory of the previous year emerged and she looked back at Harry. "You weren't confunded last year were you? You did see him."
Harry could only nod.
"So Sirius Black really is…"
"That's not for now Poppy," Dumbledore said. "As you can see Pettigrew is missing his hand. He cut it off during a dark ritual. Though it's been magically sealed could you make sure he doesn't bleed to death. His testimony is critical. Also do not let him regain consciousness at all. He is an animagus and can escape."
By now Remus was standing next to the large black dog. "I'll stay and keep an eye on him sir. I won't let him escape this time."
"Thank you Remus."
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