Poppy had put Wormtail on a bed and was running her wand over his body. "Outside of the hand and severe blood loss, he'll be fine. A little work to seal the arm and a blood replenishing potion should do the trick." She looked at the group. "I don't suppose you were able to recover the hand?"
"There is no hope in recovering the hand," Dumbledore replied, "that I can assure you."
Poppy looked at the other person who had been levitated into the wing. "Barty Crouch Junior? Another person who is supposed to be dead. What is going on Albus?"
"He isn't injured," Dumbledore replied. "Though he probably is suffering from Polyjuice poisoning. He's been taking it steadily since the school year began."
Poppy ran her wand over the man and gave a gasp when she read the results. "He also is still recovering from long term exposure to the Imperius curse."
"Can I leave him here as well?" Dumbledore asked. "He also should not be allowed to wake anytime soon. His testimony will be important in another matter."
"Certainly," Poppy said and within seconds Crouch was lying in a bed beside Pettigrew. She then turned back to Harry. "Let me look over that arm before you leave," Before Harry could object she was already running her wand over his arm. "Very well done Miss Delacour," She said "No bones missing and perfectly aligned," She looked at Harry's oldest bond mate. "You have a nice touch. Have you considered a career as a Healer?"
"Non, eet's a career Veela are discouraged from pursuing," Fleur responded.
Poppy grimaced. "I guess you might run into issues with male patients. Well if you decide otherwise let me know."
"How is Viktor Krum?" Dumbledore asked.
"He's fine. He is very confused of course. He only remembers entering the maze and not much after that. He was definitely Imperiused. I had to sedate him to keep him here though. Do you want me to bring him around?"
"Yes. I think if he is back to himself he can join us…" Dumbledore started but stopped as a cold chill started to fill the room. The door burst open and a man with a lime green bowler hat entered followed by two Dementors.
"Dumbledore what is going on?" Fudge asked and then seeing Harry and Fleur. "Why aren't they in the Maze? We have a crowd full of people waiting for the tournament to be over…" he became distracted when the two Dementors that had accompanied him glided past him headed for the hospital bed where Crouch Junior was.
Dumbledore already had his wand out and his Patronus phoenix was encircling one of the Dementors. Harry quickly had a very bright large stag joining the phoenix and the two Dementors were forced back, an otter and an Osprey quickly joined the other two. Finally another female voice could be heard.
"Expecto Patronum," Gabrielle casts pulling her memory of Harry being alive. From the tip of her wand a shape took form and a silver doe appeared and stood next to the Stag.
"I am so jealous," Hermione said to her young bond mate who was looking amazingly at her own Patronus. They both knew she wasn't really jealous but Gabrielle stuck out her tongue in response but followed it up with a very large smile.
The Dementors fled the room being chased by the Patronuses.
Cornelius Fudge just looked on like a man in shock but soon recovered. "Now see here Dumbledore, they were providing protection for me. You had no authority to chase them away."
"They were trying to attack a very valuable witness Cornelius."
"Who?"
"Barty Crouch Jr."
"Junior? But…but he's dead," Fudge replied.
"Look over in that bed. Does he look dead?"
"What kind of trickery is this?" Fudge was almost yelling now.
"No trickery," Dumbledore said. "Now do you remember last year when Harry swore that Peter Pettigrew was alive?"
"He'd been confunded by Black," Fudge said.
"Are you confunded now Minister?" Harry asked.
"Of course not young man," Fudge snarled.
"Then who is that over in that bed beside Crouch?"
Fudge looked where Harry was pointing and recognized an older version of the young man whose picture had graced the Daily Prophet many times last year as story upon story was written about Sirius Black and his crimes along with the picture of his victim.
"What kind of sick trick are you trying to pull Dumbledore?" Fudge snarled. "Everyone knows Pettigrew died at the hands of Sirius Black. What?" The minister's last word was because a large black dog had just walk behind the minister and was currently peeing on his leg. "Get that blasted dog away from me," He yelled as he tried to kick it away. He turned to Dumbledore. "What about the Tournament Dumbledore. I have a very important announcement to make as soon as it's over."
"There are more important things happening tonight than the tournament Minister," Dumbledore explained. "Voldemort has returned. If you..."
"Nonsense Dumbledore! I'm not sure what kind of game you're playing at, but trying to fool me with people disguised to appear like people who are known to be dead and now spouting some kind of nonsense about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is not going to convince me! I'll hear none of this. Now I want everyone back to the pitch so the winner can be sorted out. I have too many other important things to be doing than listening to such fantasies."
"I'm sorry you feel that way Minister," Dumbledore replied to the back of the minister who was busy trying to do a cleaning charm on his pants leg and leave the hospital wing at the same time. Dumbledore turned to the motley crew of people around him. "We need to protect these witnesses to our utmost ability," He said. "Remus you must seal this room when we leave. I will try to get Amelia Bones up here as soon as I can. Once we turn them over to her, I want you to start alerting the old crowd."
Remus nodded his understanding.
Krum had been awakened by then and given a pepper up potion. He made his way to Fleur and Harry. "I vish to apologize. I understand I vas cursed to do things, but..."
"No need," Harry said. "You have a lot to catch up on, but we were all played as fools I think," He held out his hand to Krum who was staring at Hermione's closeness to Harry.
"I never had a chance did I?" He asked her. There was no malice or jealousy in his voice. He was just stating a fact.
"I...I'm sorry Viktor," Hermione said. "I...look can we talk about it later?"
Viktor nodded and took Harry's hand. "I'm not sure vat's going on, but if you hurt her..." He left the rest unsaid.
Harry smiled at the Bulgarian. "Trust me that if I hurt her, you'd have a long line ahead of you. Can you not say anything until we can talk to you properly? If the wrong words got out right now, Hermione could be seriously hurt."
Again Krum nodded and they all left the hospital wing and started the walk to the pitch.
"Who won?"
"Arry did," Fleur replied quickly.
....
Join my P*atreon to enjoy 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/ScarletRosee (Remove the *)
Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.