Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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On their back to the castle after being told their last task was going to be a maze, Harry decided to have a chat with Hermione for a bit. 

"Hey, 'Mione? How are you doing?" Harry asked. 

"Like I've been telling you and Ron that I'm fine." Hermione told him, rolling her eyes in annoyance a bit. 

"Listen, Hermione, Ron and I are just trying to--" 

"Mr. Crouch?" Hermione called out. Hermione saw Mr. Crouch fumbling near the forest. He was swaying side to side a bit like he was unaware which way to go. They shared a look with each other before walking over towards him. 

"Mr. Crouch?" Hermione called out again as they moved over to his side. He kept mumbling something under his breath. His hands were violently shaking; his face twisted in terror as he looked like he was about to have a heart attack. 

"Sir are you okay?" Harry asked him. Soon his words began to get a tad louder where she could hear something. 

"...coming... must warn... coming... must warn..." Mr. Crouch mumbled. 

"Who's coming, Mr. Crouch? Warn who?" Hermione asked him. Mr. Crouch face slowly turned towards her then he's eyes widened. His hands shot out, grasping tightly onto her shoulders, causing her to shriek. While Harry attempted to get Mr. Crouch off Hermione, Mr. Crouch kept screaming at her and shaking her like a ragdoll. 

"He's coming... He's Coming... HE'S COMING!" 

"Who's coming? Who?" Harry screamed while was able to pull Hermione from Mr. Crouch's grip. Mr. Crouch became stiff like he had been hit by a stunning spell; his eyes widened and his breath paused. 

"He's already here..." 

Before any of them could asked, there was a flash of green light that hit the back of Mr. Crouch. Mr. Crouch's face was frozen with fear before he dropped down onto the ground. Hermione screamed in horror until her attention shifted when a bright red light past her face. She turned to see Harry was now on the ground, completely out cold. 

"Harry!" She shrieked until she felt something hit her back. She felt herself fall against the ground. The last thing she saw was someone looming over her. 

"Hermione? Hermione?" 

She jolted up into a sitting position so fast, Ginny (who had been the one calling her) had to back up and almost fell onto the floor. Hermione was breathing rapidly as she darted around. She was in the hospital wing with people all around her. There was Fred, George, Viktor, Cedric, Fleur, Ron, Hagrid (who was bawling his eyes out), Madam Pomfrey (who looked annoyed), Dumbledore, Bagman, Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. 

"Oh good, you're awake!" Fred cheered, smiling happily and thrilled. 

"What happened?" Ginny asked.

"Are you okay?" Viktor asked, concernly. 

"Everyone! Please! Back it up!" Madam Pomfrey  ordered as she was trying to take care of Hermione. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape proceeded towards the bed. 

"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked, remembering he was attack just as she was. 

"Hermione!" She turned to see Harry leaning over the edge of his bed to look at her. 

"Mr. Bagman and the other champions heard your screams and rushed to help you two, and found you two out cold on the ground." Dumbledore told her, "Do you mind telling us what happened?" 

"Not-- not sure-- what... Mr. Crouch! He was there! We saw him-- He was--" Hermione gasped as she was unable to say the word. Everyone looked at each other in confusion. 

"What are you talking about, Miss Granger? Mr. Crouch wasn't there. At least no one found him there that I'm aware of," Professor McGonagall claimed her. Hermione's eyes widened. 

"But he was there! We saw him wandering near the edge of the forest! But then-- then-- he-- he was killed by someone." Harry blurted out. People gasped as they started to mumble to each other. 

"That's a serious statement, Mr. Potter! And you don't have much proof to prove it, either..." McGonagall claimed. 

"But I was there! And I saw it as well!" Hermione stated. 

"I'm sure they might have been mistaken... I'm sure them being stunned will cause them to do so." Mr. Bagman stated. 

"Either way! We shouldn't take any chances!" Everyone turned to see Moody limping into the hospital wing, "You might be able to brush off the chance someone's dead because there's a lack of a corpse, but you can't brush off the fact these two have been stunned by someone!" 

"Moody is right, Albus. Someone did attack Potter and Granger, sir. We need to set up guards for them or something?" McGonagall suggested to them. 

"We'll figure out the plan later, but for right now, I'm sure Miss Granger and Mr. Potter will be in need of rest. If the judges could follow me to my office so we can discuss the matter, and Mr. Bagman, I suggest maybe going to Mr. Crouch's house and search the entire place. Just to make sure, Mr. Crouch is there." Dumbledore ordered as he motioned for everyone out of the room. As soon as they were out, Hermione and Harry shared a look before Madam Pomfrey began ordering them to lay down in their bed. 

She found herself standing at the edge of the driveway. There was a two-story, dark and depressing manor that lurk in front of her. The sky was filled with storms as lighting flashed here and there, sending ominous vibes down on her. Her focus shifted when she saw Barty Crouch Jr. storming across the drive and up the stairs. Hermione rushed behind him, unable to stop her feet, as she ran alongside him into what appeared to be a parlor. There was someone else there, sitting in one of the chairs that had their backs faced away from her. Barty walked over to it as he bowed his head in a respectful manner. 

"My mistress, we may have trouble on our hands," Barty told the woman in the chair. 

"What trouble?" she asked. 

"When I went to kill that bastard before he let slip of us, he slipped and happened to be found by Hermione and Harry. I'm sure they didn't see me, but I had to stun them and now guards are being stationed everywhere due to the incident." Barty explained to her. 

"I doubt it will effect our plan. As long as they're still in the tournament and you can still keep an eye on the two, I don't see how this could fail." The woman assured him, "Now quickly go back or else they will suspect something." 

"Of course, Mistress." Barty agreed, bowing his head again. There was suddenly a loud nose coming from behind her, causing Barty to turn around. Hermione's heart stopped when his eyes landed right on her as a sickening smirk ran across his face.

"It seems like have an intruder... Barty get rid of them!" the woman ordered. Without even wasting a moment, Barty held out his wand, pointing directly at her as he mumbled the word 'Crucio!'.