Chapter 28 Summary: The Madness of Mr. Crouch

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No: HPFGUIDX 11115

Chapter 28, The Madness of Mr. Crouch

This chapter begins with Harry, Ron, and Hermione visiting the 
Hogwarts kitchen to present Dobby with socks in gratitude for his 
help with Harry's Second Task – not to mention to obtain food
to send 
to Snuffles.  When they arrive, they discover that Winky is in a very 
bad state – tattered and beyond tipsy.  She wants to go back to
Mr. 
Crouch.  Harry asks her if she knows what Crouch is up to, as he 
hasn't been turning up at the Triwizard Tasks and the rumor is
that 
he is ill.  Winky says Crouch needs her, because she is keeping a 
very important secret for him.  

Ashamed of Winky, the other House-elves hide her away, and Hermione 
gives them a lecture on their rights.  The result of this is that the 
House-elves send them away (but not without plenty of food, of 
course).

That night, Ron and Hermione get on Harry's nerves, and he goes
to 
the owlery to send Sirius the food they've gotten for him.  He
stays 
for a while and watches an eagle owl fly around the owlery and sees 
Hagrid and Madame Maxime having a short chat.  It seems Hagrid still 
doesn't want to have much to do with her.

The next morning, Hermione eagerly awaits her copy of the Daily 
Prophet.  Instead, she receives all sorts of nasty letters from 
people who are angry with her because of Rita Skeeter's article
in 
Witch Weekly.  One of the letters contains bubotuber pus, which burns 
Hermione's hands, and she has to go to the hospital wing and
misses 
Herbology and part of Care of Magical Creatures.  

In Care of Magical Creatures class, Hagrid has them hunting 
leprechaun gold with Nifflers, fluffy black creatures that like 
sparkly things and are good treasure detectors, though too much of a 
nuisance to keep as pets.  Hermione shows up in the middle of class.  
Ron's Niffler finds the most gold, and he receives a chocolate
bar as 
a prize.  Leaving class, Ron gets angry at Harry because Harry
didn't 
tell him the leprechaun gold Ron had used to repay him for the 
omnioculars had vanished as all leprechaun gold does.  Harry points 
out that he had more important things to think of at the time, and 
Ron says he hates being poor.  

Hermione swears to get revenge of Rita Skeeter.

Harry gets tired of telling people Hermione's not his girlfriend.
 
Hermione checks with Moody to see if Rita might have been using an 
Invisibility Cloak, but he says she wasn't.  Harry suggests maybe 
she's got Hogwarts bugged, and Hermione explains that the magic
has 
bad effects on things like electricity.

Ron receives an irritated reply from Percy about Mr. Crouch, saying 
he hasn't seen him but receives letters of instruction from him.  
Mrs. Weasley sends Easter eggs.  Ron's and Harry's are rather
large; 
Hermione's is tiny – Mrs. Weasley reads Witch Weekly.

The summer term starts, and the time comes for the champions to learn 
about the third task.   They meet on the Quidditch field, which is 
now overgrown with hedges.  The third task will be a maze, complete 
with creatures provided by Hagrid and spells to get through.  The 
first person to touch the Triwizard Cup will win.  Harry and Cedric 
will have a head start, as they are in first place.  

After the task is explained, Bagman tries to give Harry more help, 
but Krum wants to speak with Harry, and the two of them walk towards 
the Forbidden Forest, talking of Hermione.  Harry assures Krum that 
he and Hermione are just friends, though Krum is not easily 
convinced.  They compliment one another on their flying and Quidditch 
skills, and then Mr. Crouch staggers out from the trees, unshaven, 
ashen, his robes ragged and bloody.  He is muttering and gesturing, 
and apparently thinks he's talking to "Weatherby."  In a
moment of 
what Harry believes is clarity, Crouch asks for Dumbledore.  Krum 
hangs back from them.  After asking Harry, "You're not

his?" 
and "Dumbledore's?" Crouch begins his muttering to the
tree he thinks 
is Weatherby again.  He also talks about his son, about Bertha.  He 
says it's his fault, mentions Harry, and says the Dark Lord is 
stronger.  

Harry leaves a displeased Krum with Crouch while he goes to find 
Dumbledore.  Snape finds Harry outside of Dumbledore's office and 
tells him Dumbledore is busy.  After a bit of arguing, Dumbledore 
comes out of his office, and when he hears what Harry has to say, 
asks Harry to lead the way, leaving Snape standing behind, angry.

When they get back, no one is there.  After looking around a bit, 
they find Krum, stunned.  Dumbledore wakes him, and he says "the
old 
madman" attacked him from behind.  Hagrid and Fang arrive, and 
Dumbledore sends them to fetch Karkaroff.  As Dumbledore is telling 
Hagrid to find Moody next, Moody arrives, says Snape told him what 
was going on.  Moody goes looking for Crouch in the forest, and 
Karkaroff arrives – very angry.  He says it is treachery and
blames 
Dumbledore.  Hagrid stands up for Dumbledore, who sends him off with 
Harry to Gryffindor Tower – with orders to save any letters that
need 
to be written till morning.  Hagrid fusses at Harry about going off 
with Krum, says it's better not to have anything to do with 
foreigners.  Harry brings up Madame Maxime, and Hagrid gets mad.  

In the Common Room, Harry fills Ron and Hermione in on what's 
happened.

QUESTIONS:

Is the eagle owl Harry sees from the owlery important?

Why is Hermione so bent on getting revenge on Rita Skeeter?

Why is Molly Weasley so willing to believe the worst of Hermione?

What do Krum's questions for Harry imply about Hermione?  About
the 
advancement of the Hermione/Krum relationship?  About her feelings 
for Harry?  Harry's for Hermione?

How does Snape's stalling Harry affect things?

What is with Hagrid's attitude about foreigners?  Is it just that 
he's angry at Madame Maxime?

*****
Karin