In Between Two Worlds (HP/PJO Crossover)

Chapter 153: The Parting of the Ways.

Dumbledore stood up. He stared down at Barty Crouch for a moment with disgust on his face. Then he raised his wand once more and ropes flew out of it, ropes that twisted themselves around Barty Crouch, binding him tightly. He turned to Professor McGonagall.

"Minerva, could I ask you to stand guard here while I take Harry and Karlee upstairs?"

"Of course," said Professor McGonagall. She looked slightly nauseous, as though she had just watched someone being sick. However, when she drew out her wand and pointed it at Barty Crouch, her hand was quite steady.

"Severus" - Dumbledore turned to Snape - "please tell Madam Pomfrey to come down here; we need to get Alastor Moody into the hospital wing. Then go down into the grounds, find Cornelius Fudge, and bring him up to this office. He will undoubtedly want to question Crouch himself. Tell him I will be in the hospital wing in half an hour's time if he needs me."

Snape nodded silently and swept out of the room.

"Harry, Karlee?" Dumbledore said gently.

I got up and swayed again; the pain in my leg, which I had not noticed all the time we had been listening to Crouch, now returned in full measure. I also realized that I was shaking. Dumbledore gripped my arm and helped me out into the dark corridor.

"I want you two to come up to my office first," he said quietly as we headed up the passageway. "Sirius, Sally, and Percy are waiting for us there."

Harry and I nodded. A kind of numbness and a sense of complete unreality were upon me, but I did not care; I was even glad of it. I didn't want to have to think about anything that had happened since we had first touched the Triwizard Cup. I didn't want to have to examine the memories, fresh and sharp as photographs, which kept flashing across my mind. Mad-Eye Moody, inside the trunk. Wormtail, slumped on the ground, cradling his stump of an arm. Voldemort, rising from the steaming cauldron. Cedric...dead...Cedric, asking to be returned to his parents....

"Professor," I mumbled, "where are Mr. and Mrs. Diggory?"

"They are with Professor Sprout," said Dumbledore. His voice, which had been so calm throughout the interrogation of Barty Crouch, shook very slightly for the first time. "She was Head of Cedric's house, and knew him best."

We had reached the stone gargoyle. Dumbledore gave the password, it sprang aside, and he, Harry, and I went up the moving spiral staircase to the oak door. Dumbledore pushed it open. Sirius, mum and Percy were standing there. In one swift moment, they had crossed the room. The three on them enveloped Harry and I in a hug.

"Harry, Karlee, are you two all right? I knew it - I knew something like this - what happened?" Sirius asked.

His hands shook as he helped Harry and I into chairs in front of the desk.

"What happened?" he asked more urgently.

Dumbledore began to tell Sirius everything Barty Crouch had said. I was only half listening. I clutched mum and Percy, so tired every bone in my body was aching, I wanted nothing more than to sit here, undisturbed, for hours and hours, until I fell asleep and didn't have to think or feel anymore.

Dumbledore stopped talking. He sat down opposite Harry and me, behind his desk. He was looking at Harry and I. I avoided his eyes. Dumbledore was going to question us. He was going to make us relive everything.

"I need to know what happened after you touched the Portkey in the maze," said Dumbledore.

"We can leave that till morning, can't we, Dumbledore?" said Sirius harshly. He had put a hand on Harry and my shoulders. "Let them have a sleep. Let them rest."