Harry Potter: The Golden Viper

0631 Recounting

"You mean Barty Crouch never actually attended the match himself, Harry? Despite having his house-elf Winky save him a seat in the top box? But, then how did you know all this?" Dumbledore asked, stroking his long silvery beard thoughtfully.

Harry nodded, feeling slightly dazed under Dumbledore's deep gaze. "Yes, Professor. Before the match started, when I first entered the top box, I quickly noticed a house-elf sitting alone. At first glance, I mistook her for Dobby. You know, Professor, house-elves do tend to look quite similar to one another."

Dumbledore nodded his head in understanding as Harry continued his tale. "Coincidentally, It turned out Winky and Dobby already knew each other. We chatted for a short while before the match began. Winky explained Dobby's current situation to me. Then she mentioned that Mr. Crouch had ordered her to go to the top box early to reserve his seat for him. But Professor Dumbledore--"

Harry was speaking to Professor Dumbledore, but his confused gaze turned to Professor Watson. "Winky is working here in the Hogwarts kitchens now. If you want to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding that strange skull mark in the sky, why not summon her here to answer some questions?"

"All in good time, Harry," Bryan reassured him calmly then continued to ask. "Once we have the full picture, we'll seek out Winky to hear her perspective. But tell me, up until the moment when that ominous mark appeared, did Barty ever actually come to the top box at any point during the match? Did you notice this situation, or did he perhaps secretly come to watch the match for a little while, but you possibly didn't notice?"

Bryan originally thought Harry would fall into hesitation or need to think carefully, but unexpectedly, he said very straightforwardly,

"No, Professor Watson. I'm quite certain Mr. Crouch never set foot in the top box at all. You see, my seat was near the entrance. Anyone coming or going would have had to pass right by me. After the match started, I didn't see anyone else enter."

Harry paused, his brow furrowing as he tried to recall every detail. There was perhaps a bit of uncertainty in his mind - those fleeting seconds when the bewitching Bulgarian mascots had danced showing their distracting veela magic. But he quickly dismissed the possibility of Crouch sneaking past unnoticed during that brief interval.

Mr. Weasley had been sitting right beside him, and even the Minister of Magic had been present in the box. Surely if Mr. Crouch had made an appearance, these important men would have greeted or reacted to his presence in some way. They wouldn't have simply turned a blind eye.

"Hmm, I see," Bryan murmured, touching his fingertips together contemplatively. "So, if I understand correctly... Winky took up two seats - one for herself and one that remained empty, intended for her master Barty Crouch... During the course of the match, did anyone at all come and sit in that vacant spot beside her?"

Harry glanced at his best friends Hermione and Ron, hoping they might be able to confirm a clear answer. But the other two looked just as uncertain as he felt, their expressions conveying that they couldn't say for sure either way.

In theory, the top box only had assigned seating, not any "standing room only" tickets. The witches and wizards watching from that exclusive vantage point weren't likely to engage in any rude jostling for chairs.

However, it had been such a thrilling, exhilarating match. Many swept up in the excitement had leapt from their seats to cheer or applaud. In all the commotion, who could guarantee with absolute confidence that someone wouldn't accidentally sit down in the wrong spot?

As Harry struggled with this fuzzy memory, Professor Dumbledore smiled calmly and gestured for Hermione to proceed with her perspective.

"Please continue, Hermione--" He didn't seem the slightest bit puzzled by Professor Watson's seemingly arbitrary questions.

Hermione took a deep breath before launching into a precise, meticulous recounting.

She described Mr. Crouch's agitated state after returning empty-handed from checking the top box. His staunch refusal to accept Winky's innocence despite evidence to the contrary. The intense interrogation they had subjected the trembling house-elf to.

Hermione's voice shook with emotion as she narrated how the furious Crouch had cruelly given Winky clothes right there on the spot, freeing her. She shared every detail, up until the point when a grim-faced Mr. Weasley had escorted her, Harry, and Ron safely back to Sirius's tent.

During Hermione's breathless retelling, neither Dumbledore nor Bryan interjected with any further inquiries. The two professors seemed to have already arrived at some confident conclusions regarding the mysterious situation, though they didn't voice them aloud.

"Well done, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said warmly once Hermione finished speaking. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled at the trio. "And Harry and Ron, I must also extend my gratitude to you both for providing such crucial testimony today. The facts you've shared have cleared up many of the lingering questions Professor Watson and I had about this confusing incident. I must say the information you provided is priceless."

The three Gryffindors swelled with pride at Dumbledore's praise, though a current of confusion still ran through them. Hermione tentatively raised her hand again, as if they were in class, before voicing the question troubling her.

"Professor Dumbledore, Professor Watson - sorry, but... does what we've told you help prove Winky's innocence in all this? I mean to say, do you suppose the Ministry might issue some kind of innocence…. statement for her?"@@novelbin@@

"No need for that much trouble, Hermione--" The corner of Bryan's mouth twitched. "As long as Professor Dumbledore and I... Of course, and Mr. Crouch believe Winky is innocent, there won't be any problem. Oh!"

Bryan threw a quick glance at the clock standing along the office wall. Pushing back his chair, he said apologetically.

"I'm afraid we've held you back from dinner long enough! Hurry along now, Harry, Hermione, Ron. Go to the Great Hall. You should still be able to make it in time to eat. In such cold weather, you can't fall asleep without filling your belly!"

Still rather dazed, Harry, Ron and Hermione slowly rose from their seats. Professor McGonagall had brought them to the headmaster's office with such urgency, they'd assumed they were in for a thorough dressing-down. 

But much to their surprise, Dumbledore and Bryan had just wanted to rehash details about the Dark Mark's appearance months ago, during the chaos following the Quidditch World Cup.

While Harry agreed the sinister symbol's manifestation was deeply troubling and needed serious examination, he felt perplexed that the two professors were treating it with a seriousness he found almost excessive. After all, so much time had passed since that night.

Rather than having received any substantial answers, the Gryffindor trio left the headmaster's office feeling more muddled than ever. As they shuffled past the golden perch where Dumbledore's pet phoenix Fawkes snoozed, Harry abruptly stopped.

Turning back, he saw Professor Watson still standing in front of Dumbledore's desk watching them leave, seemingly with no intention of departing himself. He met Harry's gaze calmly, arching an eyebrow as if encouraging him to speak his mind.

"Erm..." Harry shifted his weight from foot to foot, suddenly regretting his split-second decision to bring this up but decided to convey Fleur's message. After all, he had already agreed to be her date. He should do this small favor for her.

"Did you recall another relevant detail, Harry?" Bryan asked, turning his head curiously.

"No, Professor, it has nothing to do with the Dark Mark," Harry said sheepishly, feeling heat creep into his cheeks. He tugged at the collar of his robes as he stammered out, "It's just... well, the Beauxbatons champion, Fleur Delacour..."

Bringing this up in front of Professors Dumbledore and Watson was really quite embarrassing. Harry's face flushed red as he stammered, "She caught me in the entrance hall a few minutes ago. Fl-Fleur wanted me to inform you that she and I... that I agreed to be her d-dat- dance partner. For the Yule Ball. Right then, that's all!" 

Harry's face flushed as red as a fresh-picked tomato, he turned back and sped out of the office as if a Hungarian Horntail was chasing him. He left no opportunity for Professor Watson to question him further.

After several long seconds of staring at the space Harry had just vacated, Bryan shook himself from his whirling thoughts. Chuckling under his breath, he sank down into the chair opposite Dumbledore once more.

'Fleur had asked Harry to be her date for the Yule Ball?' Bryan secretly shook his head. That girl's thoughts were really quite whimsical... However, it wasn't a big deal. Bryan tossed the matter to the back of his mind, preparing to discuss the basically confirmed facts with Dumbledore.

But when he refocused on the headmaster, Bryan found himself pinned under Dumbledore's snooping gaze. Those sharp blue eyes held an unsettling glimmer of amusement.

"What is it, Headmaster Dumbledore?" Bryan's brow furrowed slightly as he used a displeased tone to indicate he didn't want to discuss this topic.

"How surprising, Bryan—" Dumbledore said with a smile, "You invited Miss Fleur Delacour to be your date, right? Then you were rejected?"

This old geezer was playing dumb on purpose— Bryan's face darkened. He knew Dumbledore was fishing for information, but he still said an extra sentence, "Perhaps the truth is the exact opposite of what you expect, Headmaster Dumbledore."

"Oh, is that so?" Dumbledore's silvery-white eyebrows wobbled as he still gazed smilingly at Bryan. "What a pity. I always felt Miss Fleur Delacour was extremely outstanding. Moreover, she seemed to favor you greatly. Then, who will have the honor of joining hands with you on the dance floor at the ball, Bryan?"

Without waiting for Bryan to speak, Dumbledore immediately put on a surprised look and answered his own question, "Oh! Could it be... Professor Moody? Truthfully, that's not a bad choice either, Bryan. I think you needn't..."

"Let's discuss the matter of Barty Crouch Jr., Headmaster Dumbledore!" Bryan said with a dark face, brimming with murderous aura.

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