Flames Of Destiny // HJP [1]

Chapter Nineteen : Duel ࿔*:･

「 ✦ 19✦ 」

༄˖°.🪐.ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°.🪐.ೃ࿔*:･༄˖°.🪐.ೃ࿔*:･

⋆˚࿔ (Y/N) 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

(𝖄/ᥒ) stood leaning against the stone wall of the Owlery, the cool morning air brushing her face as she flipped through a comic book Dean had lent her a few weeks ago. It was a story about wizards battling dark creatures, full of twists and turns, but right now, it couldn't hold her attention. Harry had just finished recounting what had happened with Mr. Crouch the night before, and the tension among the group was thick.

"It comes down to this," Hermione said, pacing back and forth in front of them, her voice serious. "Either Mr. Crouch attacked Viktor, or someone else attacked both of them when Viktor wasn't looking."

"It had to be Crouch," Ron said immediately, glancing out over the misty grounds. "That's why he was gone when you and Dumbledore got there, Harry. He did a runner."

(Y/n), sitting now, on a low stone ledge nearby, put her comic down and raised an eyebrow. "Really? A runner? He didn't exactly seem up for sprinting anywhere."

Harry nodded in agreement. "He was really weak, Ron. I don't think he could've managed to Disapparate either."

"You can't Disapparate on Hogwarts grounds," (Y/n) added, smirking as if it was obvious.

"Exactly!" Hermione interjected, sounding exasperated. "Haven't I told you lot enough times?"

"Okay, okay," Ron said, brushing them off with a wave of his hand. "How about this—Krum attacked Crouch and then Stunned himself!" His voice rose in excitement, like he'd just solved a puzzle.

Hermione crossed her arms, glaring at him. "And Mr. Crouch evaporated, did he?"

Ron paused, deflating a little. "Oh... yeah. Well, maybe not."

The four of them were pale and puffy-eyed, having crept out of their dormitories before daybreak. They had hurried up to the Owlery together to send a letter to Sirius, the weight of the previous night's events hanging heavily over them. Now, they stood overlooking the grounds, the mist curling around the trees, unsure of what to make of Mr. Crouch's mysterious disappearance.

(Y/n) sighed and looked out at the horizon. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that this was all connected somehow, like pieces of a puzzle waiting to fall into place. But for now, all they could do was speculate. Not that she knew how it would all end anyway.

"Go through it again, Harry," Hermione urged, her voice breaking the silence. "What did Mr. Crouch actually say?"

Harry let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his eyes. "I've told you, he wasn't making much sense. He said he needed to warn Dumbledore about something. He mentioned Bertha Jorkins, thought she was dead, and kept saying it was all his fault. He also talked about his son."

"Well, that was his fault," Hermione muttered, frowning.

"He was out of his mind," Harry explained. "Half the time, he thought his wife and son were still alive. And he kept giving Percy instructions, like they were still working together."

Ron shifted uneasily. "And... remind me, what did he say about You-Know-Who?"

"He said Voldemort's getting stronger." Harry's voice was quiet but firm. Ron winced slightly at the name, but Harry didn't seem to notice. "That was the clearest thing he said. Even though he was barely able to string two words together, that part was clear. He kept insisting he had to see Dumbledore."