And then, the dungeon returned. Harry was sitting in a different seat; still on the highest bench, but now to the left side of Mr Crouch. The atmosphere seemed quite different; relaxed, even cheerful. The witches and wizards all around the walls were talking to each other, almost as though they were at some sort of sporting event. A witch halfway up the rows of benches opposite caught Harry's eye. She had short blonde hair, was wearing magenta robes, and was sucking at the end of an acid-green quill. It was, unmistakeably, a young Rita Skeeter. Harry looked around; Dumbledore was sitting beside him again, wearing different robes. Mr Crouch looked tireder and somewhat fiercer, gaunter… Harry understood. It was a different memory, a different day… a different trial.

The door in the corner opened, and Ludo Bagman walked into the room.

This was not, however, a Ludo Bagman gone to seed, but a Ludo Bagman who was clearly at the height of his Quidditch-playing fitness. His nose wasn't broken now; he was tall and lean and muscly. Bagman looked nervous as he sat down in the chained chair, but it did not bind him there, as it had bound Karkaroff, and Bagman, perhaps taking heart from this, glanced around at the watching crowd, waved at a couple of them, and managed a small smile.

'Ludo Bagman, you have been brought here in front of the Council of Magical Law to answer charges relating to the activities of the Death Eaters,' said Mr Crouch. 'We have heard the evidence against you, and are about to reach our verdict. Do you have anything to add to your testimony before we pronounce judgement?'

Harry couldn't believe his ears. Ludo Bagman, a Death Eater?

'Only,' said Bagman, smiling awkwardly, 'well - I know I've been a bit of an idiot -'

One or two wizards and witches in the surrounding seats smiled indulgently. Mr Crouch did not appear to share their feelings. He was staring down at Ludo Bagman with an expression of the outmost severity and dislike.

'You never spoke a truer word, boy,' someone muttered drily to Dumbledore behind Harry. He looked around, and saw Moody sitting there again. 'If I didn't know he'd always been dim, I'd have said some of those Bludgers had permanently affected his brain…'

'Ludovic Bagman, you were caught passing information to Lord Voldemort's supporters,' said Mr Crouch. 'For this, I suggest a term of imprisonment in Azkaban lasting no less than -'

But there was an angry outcry from the surrounding benches. Several of the witches and wizards around the walls stood up, shaking their heads, and even their fists, at Mr Crouch.

'But I've told you, I had no idea!' Bagman called earnestly over the crowd's babble, his round blue eyes widening. 'None at all! Old Rookwood was a friend of my dad's… never crossed my mind he was in with You-Know-Who! I thought I was collecting information for our side! And Rookwood kept talking about getting me a job at the Ministry later on… once my Quidditch days are over, you know… I mean, I can't keep getting hit by Bludgers for the rest of my life, can I?'

There were titters from the crowd.

'It will be put to the vote,' said Mr Crouch coldly. He turned to the right-hand side of the dungeon. 'The jury will please raise their hands… those in favour of imprisonment…'

Harry looked towards the right-hand side of the dungeon. Not one person raised their hand. Many of the witches and wizards around the walls began to clap. One of the witches on the jury stood up.

'Yes?' barked Crouch.

'We'd just like to congratulate Mr Bagman on his splendid performance for England in the Quidditch match against Turkey last Saturday,' the witch said breathlessly.

Mr Crouch looked furious. The dungeon was ringing with applause now. Bagman got to his feet and bowed, beaming.

'Despicable,' Mr Crouch spat at Dumbledore, sitting down as Bagman walked out of the dungeon. 'Rookwood give him a job indeed… the day Ludo Bagman joins us will be a very sad day for the Ministry…'

And the dungeon dissolved again.

---

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