Immortal Magic (Book 1)

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Allison's Point of View:

Now I understood why Harry had motioned for me to stay quiet. Professor McGonagall's and Minister Fudge's voices were getting louder and closer with every second. 

With my enhanced hearing, I could hear every word of their argument clearly long before they reached the Hospital Wing. "Regrettable, but all the same, Minerva," Fudge was saying loudly.

"You should never have brought it into the castle! When Dumbledore finds out," McGonagall snapped back. The Hospital Wing doors burst open before she could finish.

"Where is Dumbledore?" Fudge demanded as he stormed inside. Professor McGonagall and Snape followed closely behind him. Mum stood protectively nearby while Bill stood beside her. Ron and Hermione were still seated near Harry's bed.

"He's not here," Mum answered sharply. "This is a hospital wing, Minister. Don't you think you're behaving a little?" The doors opened again before she could finish. I looked over and immediately saw Dumbledore striding into the room.

"What has happened?" Dumbledore asked sharply. His eyes swept over everyone before landing on McGonagall. "Why are you disturbing these people?" he demanded. "Minerva, I asked you to stand guard over Barty Crouch."

"There is no need to stand guard over him now, Dumbledore," McGonagall replied tightly. "When we informed Fudge that we had captured the person responsible for tonight's events, he seemed to think his own personal safety was at risk," Snape explained coldly.

"He insisted on bringing a Dementor into the castle with him," Snape continued. "He took it up to your office, where Barty Crouch." "The moment that creature entered the room," McGonagall interrupted furiously, "it swooped down on Crouch and, and—"

She didn't need to finish. I already knew. By the horrified expression on Harry's face, he knew too. The Dementor had kissed him.

"By all accounts, he was hardly a great loss," Fudge said dismissively. "The man was clearly responsible for several murders."

"But now he cannot testify, Cornelius," Dumbledore said dangerously quietly. "He cannot explain why those murders happened." Fudge stared at him incredulously.

"Why he killed them?" Fudge repeated. "Surely that's obvious. The man was completely insane! According to Minerva and Severus, he believed he was acting under You-Know-Who's orders!"

"Lord Voldemort was giving him orders, Cornelius," Dumbledore replied firmly. "Those deaths were part of a larger plan to restore Voldemort to power." Dumbledore's blue eyes blazed.

"A plan that has succeeded, Voldemort has returned." Fudge simply stared at him, pale and wide-eyed. "You-Know-Who returned?" Fudge repeated weakly. "Dumbledore, really, this is absurd."

"As Minerva and Severus informed you," Dumbledore interrupted sharply, "we heard Barty Crouch confess under the effects of a truth spell." He then began recounting everything Crouch had told us.

Fudge shook his head repeatedly. "Come now, Dumbledore," he scoffed weakly. "You cannot honestly believe You-Know-Who has returned."

Harry and I exchanged a glance before looking back at them. Mum, Bill, Ron, and Hermione had remained silent throughout the confrontation, though all of them looked tense.

Fudge gave a small condescending laugh. "Perhaps Crouch believed he was following You-Know-Who's orders," he said. "But to trust the word of a lunatic."

"When Harry touched the Triwizard Cup, he was transported directly to Voldemort," Dumbledore interrupted. "He witnessed Voldemort's rebirth himself."

Dumbledore looked toward Harry and me briefly before returning his gaze to Fudge. "I will explain everything if you accompany me to my office," Dumbledore said calmly. "However, I will not allow you to question Harry tonight."