No Goodbyes \ Ron Weasley

Odd Behavior, Letters, and Preparations

The start of the summer term normally meant Josephine was training for the last Quidditch match of the season. This year, however, it was the third and final task in the Triwizard Tournament, which meant nonstop helping Harry prepare even though he still didn't know what the third task would be. It wasn't until the last week of May that he was told the task was a maze that covered the Quidditch field. Apparently, it was full of obstacles, creatures, and other sorts of threatening things. Both Harry and Cedric had a head start since they were tied for first.

Crouch had apparently attacked Krum, though no one knew why.

It was quite out of character.

"It comes down to this," said Hermione, rubbing her forehead. "Either Mr. Crouch attacked Viktor, or somebody else attacked both of them when Viktor wasn't looking."

"It must've been Crouch," Ron concluded. "That's why he was gone when Harry and Dumbledore got there. He'd done a runner."

"I don't think so," said Harry, shaking his head. "He seemed really weak...I don't reckon he was up to Disapparating or anything."

"You can't Disapparate on the Hogwarts grounds, haven't I told you enough times?" Hermione huffed.

"And Crouch just disappeared?" Josephine asked.

"Yeah," Harry nodded.

None of it made much sense. To go without sighting for months, to show up dazed and attack a student. Everyone in the wizarding world knew who Krum was. Crouch wouldn't just attack him.

It was daybreak. The four left their dormitories very early and hurried up to the Owlery to send a note to Sirius. Now, they were standing looking out at the misty grounds. All four of them were puffy-eyed, tired, and paler than usual because they'd stayed up late into the night talking about Mr. Crouch.

"Just go through it again, Harry," said Hermione. "What did Crouch actually say?"

"I've told you, he wasn't making much sense," Harry yawned. "He said he wanted to warn Dumbledore about something. He definitely mentioned Bertha Jorkin, and he seemed to think she was dead. He mentioned Diggory Manor, and the wards weren't enough. He kept saying stuff was his fault...He mentioned his son."

"Well, that was his fault," said Hermione tactlessly.

She nodded her agreement. "But how would the break-in affect him?" Josephine muttered. "The wards have been up since summer...my mum refreshes them once a week."

"He was out of his mind, Joe," said Harry, shrugging. "Half the time, he seemed to think his wife and son were still alive, and he kept talking to Percy about work and giving him instructions."

"Uh, remind me what he said about You-Know-Who?" Ron requested tentatively.

"I've told you," Harry repeated dully. "He's said he's getting stronger."

And her anxiety was getting worse.

There was a pause.

Then Ron said in a falsely confident voice, mostly for Josephine's benefit, "But he was out of his mind, like you said, so half of it was probably raving."

"He was sanest when he was talking about Voldemort," said Harry, and Ron winced at the sound of the name. "He was having real trouble stringing two words together, but that was when he seemed to know where he was and know what he wanted to do. He kept saying he had to see Dumbledore."

Harry turned away from the window.

"If Snape hadn't held me up," Harry said bitterly, "we might've got there in time. 'The headmaster is busy, Potter...what's this rubbish, Potter?' Why couldn't he have just got out of the way?"