Harry Potter 04 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

an equal competition! First you sneak Potter into the Tournament, though he is underage! Now one of your Ministry friends attempts to put my champion out of action! I smell double-dealing and corruption in this whole affair, and you, Dumbledore, you, with your talk of closer international wizarding links, of rebuilding old ties, of forgetting old differences – here’s what I think of you !’
    Karkaroff spat onto the ground at Dumbledore’s feet. In one swift movement, Hagrid seized the front of Karkaroff’s furs, lifted him into the air, and slammed him against a nearby tree.
    ‘Apologise!’ Hagrid snarled, as Karkaroff gasped for breath, Hagrid’s massive fist at his throat, his feet dangling in mid-air.
    ‘Hagrid, no! ’ Dumbledore shouted, his eyes flashing.
    Hagrid removed the hand pinning Karkaroff to the tree, and Karkaroff slid all the way down the trunk and slumped in a huddle at its roots; a few twigs and leaves showered down upon his head.
    ‘Kindly escort Harry back up to the castle, Hagrid,’ said Dumbledore sharply.
    Breathing heavily, Hagrid gave Karkaroff a glowering look. ‘Maybe I’d better stay here, Headmaster …’
    ‘You will take Harry back to school, Hagrid,’ Dumbledore repeated firmly. ‘Take him right up to Gryffindor Tower. And Harry – I want you to stay there. Anything you might want to do – any owls you might want to send – they can wait until morning, do you understand me?’
    ‘Er – yes,’ said Harry, staring at him. How had Dumbledore known that, at that very moment, he had been thinking about sending Pigwidgeon straight to Sirius, to tell him what had happened?
    ‘I’ll leave Fang with yeh, Headmaster,’ Hagrid said, still staring menacingly at Karkaroff, who was still sprawled at the foot of the tree, tangled in furs and tree-roots. ‘Stay, Fang. C’mon, Harry.’
    They marched in silence past the Beauxbatons carriage and up towards the castle.
    ‘How dare he,’ Hagrid growled, as they strode past the lake. ‘How dare he accuse Dumbledore. Like Dumbledore’d do anythin’ like that. Like Dumbledore wanted you in the Tournament in the firs’ place. Worried! I dunno when I seen Dumbledore more worried than he’s bin lately. An’ you!’ Hagrid suddenly said angrily to Harry, who looked up at him, taken aback. ‘What were yeh doin’, wanderin’ off with ruddy Krum? He’s from Durmstrang, Harry! Coulda jinxed yeh right there, couldn’ he? Hasn’ Moody taught yeh nothin’? ’Magine lettin’ him lure yeh off on yer own –’
    ‘Krum’s all right!’ said Harry, as they climbed the steps into the Entrance Hall. ‘He wasn’t trying to jinx me, he just wanted to talk about Hermione –’
    ‘I’ll be havin’ a few words with her, an’ all,’ said Hagrid grimly, stomping up the stairs. ‘The less you lot ’ave ter do with these foreigners, the happier yeh’ll be. Yeh can’ trust any of ’em.’
    ‘You were getting on all right with Madame Maxime,’ Harry said, annoyed.
    ‘Don’ you talk ter me abou’ her!’ said Hagrid, and he looked quite frightening for a moment. ‘I’ve got her number now! Tryin’ ter get back in me good books, tryin’ ter get me ter tell her what’s comin’ in the third task. Ha! You can’ trust any of ’em!’
    Hagrid was in such a bad mood, Harry was quite glad to say goodbye to him in front of the Fat Lady. He clambered through the portrait hole into the common room, and hurried straight for the corner where Ron and Hermione were sitting, to tell them what had happened.

 
     
— CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE —
     
The Dream
    ‘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,’ said Ron at once. ‘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 in the Hogwarts grounds, haven’t I told you enough times?’ said Hermione.
    ‘OK … how’s this for a theory,’ said Ron excitedly, ‘Krum attacked Crouch – no, wait for it – and then Stunned himself!’
    ‘And Mr Crouch evaporated, did he?’ said Hermione coldly.
    ‘Oh, yeah …’
    It was daybreak. Harry, Ron and Hermione had crept out of their dormitories very early, and hurried