Chapter 1
Harry entered the Great Hall with some reluctance. He didn’t want to watch all the other champions greet their families. It would just make him think about the Dursleys.
“Harry!” Molly Weasley swept him up into a hug. “Oh, you’re still so skinny!”
“Mrs. Weasley!” Harry exclaimed. “Why aren’t you with Percy?”
She waved a hand. “His father and brothers are with him,”
Harry peered across the hall to where Bill had Percy in a large hug, Charlie peering over his shoulder laughing.
“Mrs. Weasley,” Audrey came up beside Harry. “Lovely to see you.”
“Audrey,” Mrs. Weasley looked nervous. Harry remembered Ron saying something about Percy blowing up at her over his wedding, and he hoped she wasn’t still upset about it. “You as well. Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”
“My future in-laws are here.” Audrey said flatly. “Snape let me out.” She ruffled Harry’s hair. “I’ll see you in a few, Harry.” She hurried over to Percy, greeting the rest of the Weasley family brightly. Molly pursed her lips.
“Is, er, is everything alright Mrs. Weasley?” Harry asked tentatively.
“Oh, yes, everything is fine dear. Don’t worry.” She took a deep breath. “Come, let’s join the rest of them.” She swept Harry across the hall, “Oh, Percy!” She called as they got closer.
“Harry!” Charlie Weasley said with delight. “Oh, hey, thanks for that dragon, she’s doing quite well!”
“Really?”
“Oh, yeah!” Charlie started a series of stories, his older brother listening carefully, cutting in on occasion. After a few minutes Percy and Audrey came back over, their fingers intertwined.
“Ready for that tour, you old man?” Percy teased. Bill made a face at him, but somehow Harry was forced into leading a tour for the entire Weasley family.
“Oh!” Harry heard Audrey exclaim a few minutes in. “This is where I spoke to a lizard for the first time!”
“What?” Bill demanded. Charlie’s eyes lit up and he and Harry shared a look.
“What’s she talking about?” Harry asked lowly, as Audrey told an obviously fake story, before ending it abruptly and asking Percy about some essay they both had. Bill was left with his jaw agap.
“I think she’s messing with him,” Charlie said. “Oh, this’ll be fun, come on.”
The two of them helped Audrey spin her wild tales, Harry on occasion mentioning completely made up events, and Charlie corroborating the story with a fake letter from Ron or Percy. It went so well that by the time dinner rolled around, Harry and Charlie were able to watch with delight as Bill pulled Percy aside for a moment. Audrey beamed as she pushed past them.
“Serves him right,” She murmured. “Come on, I see the twins and Ginny.”
“Charlie!” Fred threw himself at his brother as he walked up, and Harry was able to be easily pulled into a cheerful conversation with the Weasley family. Percy and Bill joined part way through, and the dinner was so delightful Harry forgot why they were all there. Then, Dumbledore stood, and Harry jumped as he requested the champions to join him.
“Good luck, love.” Audrey kissed Percy on the cheek, and the rest of the Weasleys wished them luck as they went to join Bagman.
“Nervous?” Harry asked Percy, his hands sweating.
Percy looked a little amused. “ “A little,” He said. “But there’s not much to worry about, is there? It’s in a completely controlled setting.”
That was the absolute worst thing for him to say. “Yeah, it’s just, you know, my luck.” Harry hoped nothing awful happened.
“You have rotten luck,” Percy agreed, looking a bit nervous. “It’ll be fine.”
“I hope so.” They had gotten to the field, and Harry watched in silence as they prepared to start.
“On my whistle, Percy!” Bagman said brightly. Harry watched as he blew his whistle, and Percy disappeared into the maze. Harry’s nerves got the best of him, and the next few minutes were a blur, right up until he entered the maze.
“Okay,” Harry exhaled shakily. “I’ve got this.” He stepped into the maze, the cheers of the crowd fading the deeper he went. A few minutes later the whistle blew again, Viktor must’ve joined them.
He jumped as footsteps came pounding around the corner and raised his wand just for Percy to hurtle around it. “Just me!” He gasped. “Blast ended skrewts. Absolutely enormous.” He leaned over, trying to gather his breath.
“Probably Hagrids,” Harry said with a wince.
“Probably.” Percy inhaled deeply. “Doing alright?”
“Haven’t found anything yet.” Harry admitted.
Percy nodded. “Try to keep it that way.” He told him. “Good luck, holler if you need me.”
Harry nodded and watched him vanish. He waited a moment, and then cast a point me, following it away from the skrewt corridor Percy had come down.
A few minutes later he heard yells and then- “What are you doing?” That was unmistakably Percy’s voice, followed by his cries of pain. Horrified, Harry sprinted up the path, and when there was no way towards Percy he cast a reducto and wiggled through. He got through to see Percy laying on the ground, Krum above him with a crucio.
“Stupefy!” Harry yelped, before rushing forward. “Percy!”
Percy groaned and Harry stood over him helplessly. “Percy, are you alright?”
“Yeah,” Percy groaned, making his way to his feet. “I don’t believe it. He was behind me, and then suddenly he was attacking me. With an unforgivable too.” He stared at Krum, looking slightly lost.
Harry swallowed. “Think we should send up red sparks?”
“Yes,” Percy performed the spell. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He led Harry away from Krum’s body. “Did you hear Fleur earlier?”
“Yeah.” Harry said. “Reckon Krum got her?”
Percy didn’t answer for a moment. “Maybe. I hope not.”
Harry nodded, and then glanced at the sky. Realizing how late it was getting he shifted. “Well, I’ll see you in a bit.” Harry said. “Figure we’ll run into each other again before the end of this.”
Over the next few minutes Harry made his way past a sphinx. He hoped Hermione would be proud of him. His next challenge though, was a bit tougher. One of Hagrid’s acromantulas was against him, and it was not friendly. His spells were strong, but not strong enough, and Harry was certain he’d die before another stupefy joined his own and the spider collapsed.
“Crap, Harry, are you okay?” It was Percy again, which made sense since they were the only two left. “Hang on.” Percy cast a few spells, stopping Harry’s bleeding. “Don’t need you collapsing from blood loss.” He said with a wry smile.
“Thanks,” Harry pulled himself up and he stared at the cup. “Well? Go get it.” It made sense for Percy to win, and Harry knew he and Audrey would need the prize money.
“Not a chance,” Percy said, ever the Gryffindor. Harry wondered if this was how people felt about him.. “You beat me to it.”
“You helped me with this whole thing.” Harry said. “And I know the hints from Aaron and Audrey have been from you. I’d never have made it this far without your help.”
“You’d have found a way.” Percy said, looping one arm under Harry’s shoulder. “The most you’re getting from me is a tie.”
“A tie?” Harry said incredulously. “But you deserve to win.”
“Come on,” Percy dragged him towards the cup. “Stick it to whoever put your name in this to kill you, will you?”
“I think that’s the most Weasley thing you’ve ever said.” Harry muttered. “Fine. We take it at the same time. Still a Hogwarts victory, I guess.”
“Still a Gryffindor victor,” Percy said, with no small amount of glee. Harry huffed a laugh, his earlier sentiment confirmed.
“Alright.” He agreed, recognizing a loss when he saw one. “One, two, three.” They reached out and took the cup at the same time, and then the world dissolved into a mess of color. Harry closed his eyes, and opened them again to a graveyard.
“Harry!” He heard Percy cry, dropping the cup. He leaned over him, casting a few more spells on his leg. “Is that better?”
“Yeah,” Harry gasped. “Where are we?” He sat up, but didn’t stand yet.
Percy looked nervous. “I dunno. Don’t suppose I missed the part where the cup was a portkey?”
“If you did, I did too.” Harry said, casting his eyes around the graveyard. It was spooky, and Harry had a horrible feeling in his stomach.
Percy swallowed. “Right.”
Harry watched as he cast a few more spells, some of which he didn’t recognize. “What’s that?”
“Disillusionment, and shield charms.” Percy whispered. “Keep your wand out.”
Harry nodded, and then paused as he heard footsteps. “Someone’s coming,” He whispered. He turned to see a figure holding a baby, and then a voice spoke.
“Kill the spare.”
Harry watched, helpless, as a jet of green light caught Percy square in the chest. He fell, his blue eyes open and empty. “PERCY!” He screamed. It was no use. Percy Weasley was dead.