Diggory Is A Loser

26- Madman

Celia and Hermione worked tirelessly to discover Rita Skeeter's secret, but as the months went by, they were still no closer to finding out how Rita heard confidential conversations.
Since Celia was also revising hard for her OWLs, she could only spend a few hours with Benjamin each evening.
After one of their dates in late May, Celia was making her way across the grounds, when she heard a strange commotion.
She immediately withdrew her wand and began to investigate.
As she got closer to the noise, she found Viktor and Harry having a conversation with a very dishevelled looking man.

"Harry, what's going on?" Asked Celia, as she lowered her wand.
"It's Mr Crouch, the Triwizard judge, he's just turned up speaking gibberish" answered Harry.
Celia looked over at Crouch, who was now having an animated conversation with a bush.
"He's definitely not right in the head. You should go and get some help" suggested Celia.
"Right. You stay here with Viktor and don't let Crouch wander off. I'll go and get Dumbledore" replied Harry.
"Be quick" Shouted Celia, as Harry ran off back to the castle.

"How are you doing?" Questioned Viktor.
"I'm fine. Better than ever actually. I've patched things up with Benjamin, and made some friends" admitted Celia.
"That is good. Vhat about you and Cedric?" Asked Viktor.
Celia sighed, and turned away from Crouch, who was still talking to a bush, "I don't think things will ever be right between me and my brother. This tournament has just made the gap between us even bigger".
"Family should stick together" insisted Viktor.
"I know, but me and Cedric aren't exactly family at the moment. We're more like enemies who happen to share the same surname" replied Celia.
"I'm sorry you don't get on".

"It's fine, I'll used to it... What were you and Harry doing wandering around at night?" Quizzed Celia curiously.
"Ve just found out the last task. It's going to be a maze" answered Viktor.
"Sounds simple enough. Then again, these tasks are never easy" admitted Celia.
"Very soon, all this vill be over"
"Yes. But even when it is, I don't think things will go back to normal".
The hairs on the back of Celia's neck suddenly stood up as she heard footsteps approaching.
But before she could turn around a  bright light was shone in her face, and suddenly the world around her went black.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the floor beside Viktor, with numerous people looking down at her.
She shivered as the night air hit her, and she wondered how long she had been unconscious for.
"Celia, are you alright?" Questioned Harry, who's face looked white with worry.
"I'm fine" mumbled Celia.
"When I saw you lying on the ground I thought you were dead" admitted Harry.

"Well, I'm still alive... What exactly happened?" Asked Celia, as she attempted to push herself up.
"I would lie still for a few minutes if I were you, since you have just been Stunned" admitted Dumbledore, as he placed his hand onto Celia's shoulder, pushing her back down.
"It vos Crouch. He must have attacked us from behind" said Viktor.
"Why would he hurt us?" Questioned Celia.
"I don't know. But you saw him, he vas talking like a madman" replied Viktor.

Hagrid arrived a few moments later, as did Mad-Eye Moody.
Dumbledore sent Hagrid to fetch Karkaroff and told Moody to search for Crouch.
Hagrid returned several minutes later with Karkaroff close behind him.
"What is this? What is going on?" Demanded Karkaroff.
"I vas attacked by Mr Crouch" answered Viktor, as he pushed himself up into a sitting position.
"Crouch attacked you!" Shouted Karkaroff.
"Igor calm down. If you would take a second to notice, you would see that Viktor is not the only one who's been attacked. Celia Diggory was also Stunned" replied Dumbledore.

Karkaroff seemed not to have heard Dumbledor, for he still seemed incredibly angry.
"Treachery! This is all a plot. You and your Ministry have lured me here under false pretences. This is not an equal competition. First you sneak Potter in, and now one of your judges attacks my student. I smell double crossing and corruption. This is what I think of you, Dumbledore" snapped Karkaroff before spitting on the ground at Dumbledore's feet.
A second later Hagrid siezed hold of Karkaroff and lifted him into the air.
"Apologise!" Demanded Hagrid.
"Hagrid, no" Shouted Dumbledore.

Hagrid placed Karkaroff up against a tree before letting him go, allowing the man to slide down and slump against the tree roots.
As Celia attempted to stand, Viktor took hold of her hand and helped her up.
"Are you O.K?" Asked Viktor quietly.
Celia nodded, "I'm fine".
"Are you sure?" Questioned Viktor.
"I'm a little sore, and cold, but that's nothing a good sleep can't cure".
Viktor undid his fur cloak and placed it around Celia.
"That should keep you varm" he said.
"Thank you" mumbled Celia.
"You should keep it. I don't feel the cold like you do" admitted Viktor.
"You are very kind".

"You don't wish to see Madam Pomfrey then Miss Diggory?" Quizzed Dumbledore.
"Absolutely not" replied Celia.
"Very well. Hagrid, please escourt Celia and Harry back to the castle" announced Dumbledore.
"Maybe I should stay here" suggested Hagrid, as he glared at Karkaroff who was still on the floor, tangled in tree roots.
"You will take the students back to school, Hagrid" instructed Dumbledore sternly.
"Yes, headmaster".
"Celia, Harry, I want you to stay in your common rooms this evening. Anything you might want to do, or any owls you might want to send, can wait until the morning" informed Dumbledore.
"Yes professor" mumbled Celia and Harry in unison.

"I'll leave Fang with you headmaster. Stay Fang... Come on you two, let's go" said Hagrid, as he began walking towards Hogwarts, with Celia and Harry at his heels.
"How dare he attack Dumbledore like that, and accuse him of making all these bad things happen" continued Hagrid.
"Are you alright?" Whispered Harry, as he hung back to talk to Celia, while Hagrid continued rambling about Karkaroff's actions.
"Fine" insisted Celia.
"Did you really not see what happened?" Asked Harry.
"No. I thought I heard footsteps, but as I turned around a spell was cast, Stunning me".

"And you didn't hear who cast the spell?" Questioned Harry.
"No. Whoever it was must have used non-verbal magic" answered Celia.
"I guess... Let's just hope that Rita isn't somewhere around here" mumbled Harry.
"You're right. The press would have a field day if they learned that Mr Crouch turned up at Hogwarts, attacked two students and then disappeared"
"So, you really think it was Crouch who Stunned you?"
"I don't know. The footsteps didn't come from where I thought I left him. But he was the only one around, so it had to have been him. No one else could have arrived and left so quickly. And the fact that he disappeared after we were Stunned is rather suspicious"
"I suppose you're right. I guess we will just have to wait and see what Dumbledore and Moody find out".