Barty Crouch Jr. laughed loudly. "Of course you'd see your mum and dad. What else?"
"N-no... nothing else."
"Really?"
Barty Crouch Jr. rested his fingers on Hermione's delicate neck. "You really didn't see anything else?"
Harry began to tremble. He didn't want Voldemort to get the Philosopher's Stone, but he couldn't stand by and watch Hermione get hurt, either.
So he slowly reached toward his pocket. If... if giving him the Philosopher's Stone could keep Hermione and Ron alive, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't blame me, would he?
He definitely wouldn't.
His fingers touched the hard Philosopher's Stone.
"Stupefy! Petrificus Totalus!"
Just then, Ron suddenly scrambled up from the floor and charged straight into Barty Crouch Jr.'s back, shouting. He had lost his wand long ago; shouting the spells was only meant to distract Barty Crouch Jr.
With a thud, Barty Crouch Jr. stumbled several steps forward from the impact.
"Quick! Run!"
Ron lunged forward, grabbed the stunned Hermione, and ran outside, shouting to Harry as he went.
Harry reacted, too.
"Expelliarmus!"
Seeing Barty Crouch Jr. regain his footing, Harry hurriedly drew his wand and cast the Disarming Charm he had only recently learned.
Bang!
But Barty Crouch Jr. already had a Shield Charm up. The moment the Disarming Charm struck, it bounced straight back, knocking Harry's wand out of his hand instead and sending him landing on his backside.
"Harry!"
Hermione cried out in panic.
"Don't worry about me! Go find Professor Dumbledore!"
Ron tugged hard on Hermione's wrist and pulled her back the way they had come at a run.
Harry gritted his teeth and got up, then sprinted over and spread his arms to block the door.
Barty Crouch Jr. remained unhurried, looking calmly at Harry. "I've just let your friends go. Isn't it time you gave me the