Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

110

They woke up early in the morning and made their way back to the Burrows. Hermione carried Winky, who was still sleeping with puffy red eyes from crying, in her arms. She gently patted Winky's head while entering the Burrows just as Mrs. Weasley came rushing out through the doors. 

"Oh, thank goodness, thank goodness! I've was so worried." Mrs. Weasley shrieking as she wrapped her arms around Mr. Weasley, dropping the Daily Prophet with the title  Scenes of Terror At The Quidditch World Cup. Then she hurried and hugged each of her kids then Harry before moving onto Hermione, but stopped and stared in disbelief. 

"Who is that?" Mrs. Weasley asked her. 

"This is Winky. She was fired by Mr. Crouch." Hermione explained to Mrs. Weasley. 

"Oh you have got to be kidding!" Mr. Weasley spoke up, drawing everyone's attention, "it's that Rita Skeeter woman again! She just won't ever write decent articles... oh crap! Hermione's mentioned in here!" 

"What?" Hermione asked as Mr. Weasley began reading of the page. 

"...it has been said that one of the identified Death Eaters is the notorious Barty Crouch Jr., who was rumored to have been stalking Muggle-Born Hermione Jean Granger during her time at Hogwarts. Whether or not this was his attempt to try and kidnap Miss Granger is unknown as of yet. I can't believe someone let this leaked," Mr. Weasley mumbled while he folded the paper before motioning for them inside. 

As they were walking into Ron's room, Hermione set Winky on Ron's bed while Harry went telling them about how his scar had hurt three days ago and how he was having a nightmare about You-Know-Who and Wormtail, plotting something. Harry was stating how it could be more than a mere dream and what Professor Trelawney said last year might be coming true. Ron wasn't taking it as all serious and Hermione wasn't sure what to think. 

The following week they didn't see Mr. Weasley or Percy at the Burrow. It was stressful for the two of them in the Ministry from trying to deal with the tons of Howlers people sent to them. Then there was also the incident with Percy and Mrs. Weasley when Percy had the nerve to accuse his Father letting slip a public statement that went to Rita Skeeter. Then Mr. Weasley would stated how this Rita Skeeter would visit the Ministry to get information about not only the issues of the World Cup but also the situation between Hermione and Barty. 

"Don't worry, Hermione. We're making sure she doesn't learn another peep of the situation. I think you have nothing to worry about. I'm sure they'll be more focus on the fact he was in Hogwarts over the fact he was after you," Mr. Weasley assured Hermione. 

Hermione was also having a hard time with convincing Winky to allow her to pay her wages for doing things around the Burrow. Winky insisted that working was a House-Elf's duty and didn't deserve to be paid. She was lucky to convince Winky to have some Holidays off (though Winky insisted again she should be working full time). They had gotten it down to Christmas and Winky's birthday and that was the only thing Winky would agree too. 

They also were packing so they were ready for Hogwarts and whatever surprise event was happening there this year when Ron blurted out in a horrorstruck voice. 

"What is that supposed to be?" 

Ron was holding up what appeared to be a maroon velvet dress with moldy-looking lace frill at the collar and cuffs. Mrs. Weasley had stated that on their lists was a mention of dress robes were on the lists for them. Hermione couldn't help but laughed and she was sure that even Winky giggled at the sight of the dress. 

Upon the day they were leaving the Burrow to go to the Hogwarts Express, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Diggory were speaking together about a famous Auror named Mad-Eye, who according to what Mr. Diggory was muttering on about paranoid, and a supposed intruder entering his backyard. 

It was hell to get to King's Cross, given they had to use taxis and they happened to have one hell of a fright when fireworks went off from Fred's trunk. Of course, the driver was also frightened when he spotted Winky walking beside Hermione.Thankfully they were able to get onto the train as soon as possible and rode off. 

On the train ride was also hell. At the beginning they could overhear Malfoy talking about another wizarding school known as Durmstrang, because they were far more relax at teaching the Dark Arts than Hogwarts. Ron mumbled how he wished Malfoy did go there instead. Then a few moment later he came showing off and started making fun of Ron's dress robes... until he spotted Winky sitting right next to Hermione. 

"Isn't that Mr. Crouch's elf?" Malfoy asked. 

"Not anymore. He rudely fired her for no reason at all. And I took her in," Hermione stated to him. Malfoy laughed. 

"A Mudblood like you? Having an elf? The world has gone to the dogs," Malfoy mouthed before he and his gang moved away. 

"I hate that git! Hermione you should send that dementor on that no-good, spoiled brat!" Ron told her. 

"Then I will be charge for his murder." Hermione advise him, "surely, you wouldn't want me to go to Azkaban?" 

"No, but you would be able to survive. After all, you can talk those dementors out of it." Ron stated to her. 

They soon arrived at Hogwarts, soaked from head to toe from the down-pouring rain that began the moment they got off the train. She was thankful she wasn't a first-year that day because they were going to have to cross the lake while the others went on carriage. 

They sat in the Great Hall (Winky going up to Gryffindor Tower) awaiting the Sorting then the feast, which Hermione had hoped would be soon. Soon it was over and the feast began. However, Hermione lost her appetite when she learn Hogwarts had the largest number of house-elves in any dwelling. Though she wouldn't eat another bite, Hermione set some aside for Winky when she went to give it to her. 

Then it happened... the announcement they were waiting for... 

"Starting in October... we will be having the famous..." Dumbledore started when a large bang caused everyone to silence and turned their head to the Great Hall's doors. There stood one of the most frightening men Hermione had seen besides Snape. The man's blue eye that was moving ceaselessly and without so much as a single blink made her skin crawl. He limped across the floor towards the teachers' table before shaking hands with Dumbledore before making his way to his seat. 

"First let me introduce you to our new Defense Against the Dar Arts teacher, Professor Moody," 

"Moody? That's Mad-Eye!" Ron mumbled to them. 

"Now-- as I was saying, this year-- the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this years!"