Chapter 500: Darren Is Here!!
"Lead the way!"
Dumbledore straightened at once.
Harry glanced at Snape, feeling uneasy.
In his eyes, Snape had been strangely calm the whole time—almost smug—and now he was suddenly the first to move.
Harry sneered inwardly.
He wasn't stupid.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
He turned and led Dumbledore back toward the place they had just been.
But—
It was silent.
"Darren!"
Harry shouted in panic.
"Lumos."
Dumbledore whispered, his wand lighting up.
They followed the glow.
And then they saw a pair of feet.
It was Krum.
"Darren is here!"
Harry rushed forward.
Not far from Krum, Darren lay unconscious on the ground.
Dumbledore waved several spells over Darren.
"It's a potion."
He turned to Snape.
Snape hurried over and examined Darren.
"It's a powerful Draught of Living Death."
"One I developed myself."
Snape sounded furious.
He looked at Harry, as if wanting to say something.
But Dumbledore shook his head.
With a flick of his wand, a silvery-white bird shot off toward Hagrid's hut nearby.
Then Dumbledore cast several spells on Krum.
"Ennervate."
Krum woke up.
"Crouch attacked me—he ran!"
Krum shouted.
"Then rest."
Dumbledore waved his wand again.
Krum's head lolled, and he fell unconscious once more.
"Albus—Merlin's beard—Darren!"
Hagrid came charging over, crossbow slung over his back.
Fang thundered along behind him.
When Hagrid saw Darren lying there, rage twisted his face.
"Hagrid," Dumbledore said calmly, "go call Karkaroff. Something has happened to his student. And notify Moody as well."
"—I'm here!"
Moody's angry voice rang out.
"I heard from Snape that something happened with Crouch—I rushed over at once!"
"If I'd been here sooner, I never would've let him escape!"
"Merlin—Darren!"
Moody roared in fury.
"Alastor," Dumbledore said steadily, "Darren is fine. He was given a powerful Draught of Living Death."
"It was an inside job," Moody snarled.
"It had to be!"
"With Darren's strength, no one could've taken him head-on. Only something like this—scheming, poison—could work!"
Dumbledore nodded.
"But now we must find Barty Crouch."
"No problem. I'll go."
Moody limped off into the forest.
By then, Hagrid had already summoned Karkaroff.
Krum was shaken awake by his headmaster.
"What?! Crouch stunned you?!"
Karkaroff exploded.
"So this is your doing, Dumbledore! Talking about cooperation, and this is the result?"
"You shove Harry Potter into this dangerous tournament, and now your Ministry referee attacks my student?!"
Karkaroff was livid.
He wouldn't listen to any explanation.
He spat toward Dumbledore—and Hagrid grabbed him, slamming him against a tree.
"Apologize! Apologize to the Headmaster!"
"Apologize? He—"
"Hagrid, let go."
Dumbledore raised a hand.
"Karkaroff, Darren was also attacked. This was clearly premeditated."
Only then did Karkaroff notice Darren lying beneath the tree, Snape kneeling beside him and feeding him potions.
"Hmph."
Karkaroff fell silent.
He turned away sharply.
Dumbledore looked at Hagrid.
"Hagrid, take Harry back."
"Escort him straight to Gryffindor Tower."
"Harry—whether you want to talk to your friends or write letters—wait until tomorrow morning."
"All right?"
"I can—but Darren—"
Harry didn't know how Dumbledore guessed his intentions, but he didn't care.
He was worried about Darren.
Darren still hadn't woken up.
Snape had already given him several potions.
Harry couldn't help wondering if Snape was trying to poison him.
"Darren will be fine," Dumbledore said firmly.
"Go back now. Don't delay."
Harry could only look at Darren one last time before leaving with Hagrid.
"Don't worry," Hagrid said gruffly.
"Severus is a top-tier Potions Master. He'll wake Darren up for sure."
"After all, this time Darren's only asleep because of the Draught of Living Death."
He sighed.
"Compared to the times he came back covered in blood, this is already much better."
"That Karkaroff—how dare he yell at Dumbledore! I should tear him apart!"
"And you!"
Hagrid glared at Harry.
"Didn't you know Krum's from Durmstrang? You still went off with him—and dragged Darren into it too!"
Harry felt miserable.
But he still tried to explain.
"Krum's a good guy. He just asked me about Hermione."
"He thought I was competing with Darren for her—he misunderstood, that's all!"
"Hmph."
Hagrid snorted.
"None of them are good people. Stay away from them!"
"But you were friendly with Madame Maxime before!"
Harry protested.
"Don't mention her!"
Hagrid snapped.
"She was just trying to pry information out of me."
"Big bones, that one—she wanted to know about the third task!"
"I saw right through her!"
"Harry, remember this—stay away from these people!"
Hagrid was in a foul mood.
He despised them to the core.
Harry didn't dare say another word.
He only truly relaxed once he returned to the Gryffindor common room.
But another problem awaited him.
Hermione was crying.
The moment she heard that Darren had been hurt again, she completely lost control.
She kept apologizing, over and over.
Every time Darren's name was mentioned, she nearly broke down.
In the end, they all had to return to their dormitories, agreeing to talk after Darren woke up the next day.
Harry lay in bed, staring at the ceiling deep into the night.
Anger burned in his chest.
An inside traitor.
That was it—there had to be one.
Someone had made Darren drink that Draught of Living Death.
But then—
Why had Krum woken up insisting that Crouch attacked him?
Had his memory been altered?