The Lost Prince of Rivendell

~~~~~~~~~~~
*February 1995

Harry was standing on the platform with the other Champions looking down into the water. The last few months leading up to this point had been mostly uneventful. There had been a ball, Hagrid had resigned from his position as the Care of Magical Creatures professor, Harry had figured out the Egg clue with the help of the other Champions, and then he had researched a thousand ways to breath underwater for an hour.

“Where is Draco?” Harry asked Hermione for the hundredth time.

“I don’t know Harry; I am sure that he will be here. He may have gotten held back by a teacher or something. He wouldn’t miss this Harry,” Hermione tried to reassure him.

Harry nodded and then looked around nervously. Severus was standing with the other Mentors and Remus was in the viewing area just over his head. Blaise, Theo, Fred, George, and Neville were standing with him. Hermione was the only one with him right now.

Then a horrible thought popped into his head. He turned stricken eyes to Hermione.

“We’ve taken what you’ll sorely miss. An hour long you’ll have to look. To recover what we took,” Harry repeated the words from the egg. Hermione looked at him confused for a moment and then she understood.

“They wouldn’t,” Hermione said with a shudder. “They didn’t Harry. They wouldn’t take people…would they?”

“Of course, they would,” Harry nearly snarled. “It isn’t as if they are too concerned about teenagers being put in dangerous situations. I will hurt them all if something happens to Draco.”

“It’s just a coincidence, Harry. It isn’t Draco,” Hermione tried to reason with him. But she didn’t sound very sure of herself.

“Hey, Harry, have you seen Cho?” Cedric asked as he stepped closer to Harry and Hermione. Cho and Cedric had started dating after the Yule Ball. He had asked her to go with him and the two of them were nearly inseparable now. Harry gave Hermione a look.

“Draco is missing also, Cedric. I have a horrible feeling that they are what we have to retrieve from the lake,” Harry shared his suspicions. Cedric looked as horrified as Harry had.

“Do you really think they would?” Cedric asked quietly. Harry gave him a look and then Cedric seemed to grow angry. “This is too much. They had no right.”

“Calm down guys, it will be alright. You need to stay focused. If Cho and Draco really are down there, then they are going to need you to be at your best,” Hermione insisted.

“You are right, Mione,” Harry said with a sigh. He tried to relax his shoulders, but he just couldn’t.

“I have to go but we are all here for you. You got this,” Hermione said and then she rushed off to join the others up top.

Harry took a deep grounding breath. He pulled the slimy plant from his pocket and held it in his hand. Gillyweed was what he and Severus had decided was his best option. Severus had a few of them in his storeroom. Harry had already practiced with it a few times in the Black Lake over the last couple of months. He was confident in his ability to do this.

He knew exactly where the Merfolk called home. It was only logical to think that they would keep their people in the middle of their home. He knew how to make the most of his fish-like body once in the water. He would need to eat the Gillyweed a few moments before they are signaled for the start of the task.

Bagman made his way to them and started arranging them in their places along the platform. Harry took a deep breath and paid attention to when Bagman started announcing the task. When he started to count, Harry popped the Gillyweed into his mouth.

When Bagman hit three, the other three Champions dove in, Harry needed another moment before he felt that newly familiar weight against his mouth and nose that let him know his gills had formed. He dove into the water and took off at a fast swim. He didn’t pay attention to the fish surrounding him because he had seen it all already.

Harry headed for the tall seaweed forest and knew he needed to be ready for the Grindylows. They were vicious little horned demons. He made it through them but stopped when he heard a garbled noise behind him. He turned and saw Fleur fighting them. He sent a quick blasting spell her direction to help her out and then continued on his way.

He knew that no matter how familiar he was with the water and that he had already made this trip a time or two, that it would still take him a good thirty minutes to get to his destination. It would probably take him right at an hour to get there and get back. So, he stayed focused and tried to swim as fast as he could.

He started to hear a choir of singing. They were singing the clue from the egg. Harry grinned he knew he was headed the right way. There were Merfolk lining the pathway to the center of the village where Draco was tied to the tail of the large statue in the center of the square.

Draco wasn’t alone, Cho was there, the Seventh year Ravenclaw Viktor had taken to the ball, and a tiny little girl who looked just like Fleur. Harry was going to trust that the other Champions would find their way to their treasures. He was also trusting that nothing would happen to the people who were not recovered in time.

He pulled out his wand and used a cutting curse to sever Draco’s rope. Then he grabbed Draco and started swimming for the surface. As he was almost out of sight, he saw Cedric swimming near the area that would lead him to the Merfolk Village. He also saw two other figures making their way to the village. Everyone was going to make it.

As soon as he broke the surface of the water, he had to dive back under in order to breath. He still had a few minutes left before his gills were gone and he could breathe air again. Draco sputtered awake as soon as they had broken the surface of the water.

“HARRY,” He exclaimed and held onto the dark-haired boy as they made their way to the platform to the sounds of roaring cheers. He and Draco touched the platform and took first place.

Draco was pulled onto the platform and wrapped in warming blankets while Harry hovered in the water for a little longer. There was a noise that signaled the end of the hour just as the Gillyweed wore off and Harry was able to climb out of the water.

Draco wrapped Harry in a towel and then covered him with the blanket he had wrapped around his shoulders so that they could share it. Both of them were shivering. Cedric broke the surface of the water with Cho a minute after the hour. Viktor arrived shortly after that, and in last place nearly thirty minutes past the time limit was Fleur.

All of the Champions and their hostages were looked over and given pepper up potions. While this was happening, the judges were grouped together to make their choices about scores.

“Alright, the other judges and myself have made the choice to award you all marks out of fifty,” Bagman began using the sonorus charm.

“First up, Harry Potter. Showing an impressive display of original thinking with the use of Gillyweed and being the first and only Champion to rescue his hostage and arrive within the hour time limit…50 points,” Bagman announced. There was a deafening roar that Harry realized came mostly from Slytherin and Ravenclaw. He grinned like a loon when Draco wrapped his arms around him tightly.

“That’s 92 points Harry, you should still be in first,” Draco whispered in his ear. Harry nodded and they turned back to listen as Bagman continued.

“In Second place, Cedric Diggory. He chose to use the Bubble head charm and rescued his hostage arriving one minute past the hour time limit. He is awarded 40 points,” Bagman let everyone know. Again, near deafening cheering was heard. This time from mostly Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. This tournament had nearly divided their school in half.

“That’s 78. He just may be in second now depending on what they award Krum,” Draco whispered to him.

“Arriving third, Viktor Krum. Even though his transfiguration was only partial, it was still effective in getting the job done. Arriving five minutes after the time limit, we are awarding 35 points,” Bagman announced.

“75 points, he is in third place. Look how unhappy Karkaroff looks,” Draco whispered. Harry looked over and sure enough the man looked like he was ready to burst into flames he was so angry.

Finally, Bagman announced that Fleur had earned only 25 points. She had come in last place, thirty minutes past the time limit, and had been rescued from the Grindylows by Harry or she would not have been able to continue at all. She as in last place with only 55 points.

“Now, I will announce one more thing before I release you all to celebrate. The third task will take place on the 24th of June. The Champions will be informed of what it is one month beforehand. Thank you all for coming out and showing your support for our Champions,” Bagman said and then cancelled the spell.

It was over.

He had survived another task and was surprisingly still in first place. Not that he was aiming for first or anything. He just wanted to live through all of this mess. He felt a gentle caress against his cheek, and he was filled with a feeling of pride. He knew that Lady Magic was pleased with him.

Now he had another three months to relax and concentrate on school. In May they would be informed of the third and final task. He would have a month to worry about it at that point.

“Come on, the two of you need to get dry,” Severus said from behind them. Harry looked up at him and grinned.

“I did it,” Harry said with such joy on his face.

“Yes, you did,” Severus agreed. “Now, let’s go. The wolf is waiting very impatiently for you.” Harry looked up to where Severus indicated to see Remus waiting at the side of the dock. Harry, Severus, and Draco climbed into a boat and headed for the shore.

Once again, the moment he was within range of Remus, the wolf pulled him into a tight hug. Only this time, to Draco’s horror, the blonde was included in the hug. Remus scented them both.

“You did so good, Pup. I was worried about you both,” Remus said when he finally let them both go. Draco scowled at the man and wrapped the blanket around himself more securely. Remus just chuckled at the way the blonde moved further back and out of reach.

“Thanks, Remi,” Harry said with a smile at the two of them. Draco had joined them the last Hogsmeade weekend and Remus had decided he was going to claim him as well after a few comments about Draco’s life growing up.

Draco had realized after watching Harry with Severus and Remus that he hadn’t exactly grown up in a loving home. While his mother and father had never physically hurt him the way that Harry’s had, he was not exactly cared for the way he should have been.

They had also been visited by Sirius who had informed them he had been staying in a cave near Hogsmeade so that he was close to Harry and could be near if he was needed. They talked a lot about Crouch and what had been going on with him. From missing the World Cup to missing the second task. Sirius kept saying that it was unlike Crouch.

“They are shivering, Lupin,” Severus pointed out.

“Right, of course,” Remus said. “I am proud, you did amazingly, and I will talk to you soon, Pup. Both of you be good.”

“Bye Uncle Remi. Thanks for coming. It always helps to know that you are here supporting me,” Harry said before Snape hauled both him and Draco back toward the castle.

“Hot showers for both of you right away, then you can celebrate with the rest of your House later this evening,” Severus said once they reached the common room. “Oh, and Harry. You did a great job. I am once again, extremely proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Harry said quietly. He quickly hugged the man who had cared for him from practically the first moment he had met him. Severus held him tightly and then gently cupped his cheek before sending both boys on their way.

Harry and Draco showered quickly and changed into something warm before heading to the common room to relax as much as they could until it was time to go to lunch. There was so much excitement, and the entire school was buzzing with it. Everyone wanted to know what had happened in the lake since they hadn’t been able to see anything.

That evening after dinner, there was another celebration in the common room. Neville, Hermione, Fred, and George were once again with them, and Harry really enjoyed himself. He and Draco both were the center of attention. Draco soaked it up and Harry was happy to let him be the center of attention. Draco loved it and knew that Harry didn’t, it worked out well for them.

~~~~~~~~~~~
*March 1995*

“Harry,” Theo called to him one day after lunch.

“Yeah?” Harry responded. He and Draco had been about head out to the library.

“Can Theo and I talk to the two of you? In your dorm?” Blaise asked.

“Of course, come on,” Draco said and then the four of them headed up to their dorm room.

“What’s going on?” Harry asked their friends.

“We wanted to talk to you about something important,” Theo said with confidence. “You know my dad knows things. There is talk about plans for the Dark Lord to return soon. I know that you and Draco are training together on Wednesdays. Both of you have improved immensely in your spellwork.”

“Yeah, we have been,” Harry admitted. They still had been meeting with Severus nearly every Wednesday to learn new spells and learn to duel. Both had gotten pretty decent especially since they were learning from Severus.

“I know the reason you haven’t invited us along,” Blaise told him. Harry and Draco remained silent. This was the conversation they had been waiting for.

“It is because the two of you are unsure what side we will take if the war breaks out. That or you are giving us the space to make our own choices about it,” Theo added.

“It isn’t about being unsure about your loyalties. It is more that I wanted to make sure that the two of you would be able to make your own decisions about things. Draco made his choice this summer. He doesn’t want to join Voldemort, even if that means possibly facing his parents across a battlefield,” Harry told them.

“He gave me a choice with that part as well,” Draco spoke up. “He told me that he would hide me away and make sure that I was safe and never saw the war if that was what I wanted. But I don’t want to hide away, I want Harry to know that I will stand with him. He will never have to worry what is coming for him because I will always be at his back.”

“We don’t want to join Him either,” Theo admitted. “You are our friends. We will not fight for the “Light”. We won’t fight for Dumbledore. We will fight with and for you. We are your friends, Harry. Both of you.”

“My mother was neutral in the first war. She will be neutral again. I don’t want to be neutral, and I have already talked to her about the choice that I am making. She has decided to start teaching me about poisons. She is very good with them. She knows about poisons that cannot be detected with magic or muggle technology,” Blaise informed them.

“That is pretty neat. And could come in handy,” Harry admitted. Draco nodded with a grin. He was really glad that Blaise and Theo had come to them about this. Harry and Draco had been pulling away from them just a little under the circumstances. Now they could all be close again.

“I am learning everything that I can from my father. He thinks that I am eager so that I can better serve the Dark Lord and because of that he is teaching me so many things and telling me secrets that he learns from the other Death Eaters. I will continue to do exactly this until he demands that I take the mark. I won’t do that. It is where I draw the line that I am not willing to cross,” Theo informed his friends.

“This is so great,” Draco responded. “We have been waiting for this. Now, the four of us can train together. Harry and I have become almost seamless when we duel Severus together. If the four of us can learn to fight as well as the two of us do, then we will be nearly unstoppable.”

“I will talk to Severus about it the next time we talk,” Harry added. They all knew Harry didn’t make important moves without talking to Severus first. It wasn’t so much about asking for permission as it was getting his opinion.

“Right, sounds good,” Blaise agreed.

“So, what were the two of you up to?” Theo asked.

“Research for curiosities sake,” Draco said with a roll of his eyes. “You know that Harry is a closet Ravenclaw. He heard someone talking about how Elves and Fae used to exist, and he wants to see what kind of research he can find on it.”

“Well, yeah. I heard they might actually still exist but that they are deep in hiding because humans, Wixen and Muggle, nearly hunted them to extinction. It was in an old book I took from one of my families vaults,” Harry said with pout. “You don’t have to go with me. I told you that I would go alone.”

“He is curious about it too,” Theo said with a laugh. “Do you remember how Draco used to babble about the legends of the Fae?”

“Oh, I nearly forgot about that. He was obsessed for like an entire year when we were nine I think,” Blaise added. Harry gave Draco a look of triumph.

“Some friends you lot are,” Draco pouted.

“I think they are marvelous,” Harry said and linked his arm with Draco’s. “Come on. You two are welcome to join us if you want.”

“Yeah, I think we will. It will be nice to really catch up without keeping things from each other,” Theo said with a smile.

“Absolutely,” Harry agreed. Then the four of them headed up to the Library and Harry was so happy to be able to be open with Blaise and Theo again. He was still keeping one secret from all three of them, but it couldn’t be helped. Maybe one day he will be able to tell them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
*April 1995*

“The four of you are doing much better casting together,” Severus praised them.

It was Wednesday, and the four of them had been going to training together for over a month now. Severus was a hard task master and expected them to come on time and remain serious and dedicated the entire time they were with him.

“Well, it was relatively easy to trust each other to watch our backs,” Theo replied.

Severus had been making them practice casting as a team. The four of them were always together. Either as a group or in twos and threes. So, they had been training to fight that way. Today Draco and Blaise had been teamed up and Harry and Theo had been teamed up.

Draco and Blaise stood at one end of the room and Theo and Harry stood at the other. Today, they dueled as a pair. The point was to cast in tandem with your partner. One would defend or deflect and the other would return fire.

“Of course, it is. The four of you need to hang on to that trust and never do anything that could compromise it, or working together like this won’t work,” Severus pointed out.

“Are you satisfied with our dueling skills for the day?” Draco asked finally with a bit of excitement. Harry grinned up at his dad.

“Yes, I am satisfied with your dueling skills for the day. I will leave the four of you to your own devices. You have on hour before I want you back in the common room,” Severus told them. Then he turned to Harry. “Can I speak with you for a moment before I go?”

“Yeah, Dad,” Harry said eagerly and stepped to the side with Severus.

“I know that you are frustrated with the lack of information in the Library on Elves and Fae. Lupin is going to go home and start looking through the library there. I wanted to know if you wanted me to give him permission to go to your other properties like Potter Manor and check those libraries as well?” Severus asked him.

“Oh, good idea, Dad,” Harry said excitedly. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Please, give him permission to do that. I hope he can find something. Give him permission to look through my vaults as well. I know there are a lot of old books in there as well.”

“Alright, I just wanted to make sure it was ok with you first. Have fun with your little lesson, tell me how it goes on Sunday,” Severus told him. Harry smiled and nodded. Severus ruffled his hair and held Harry tightly when he hugged him before he left.

Harry turned back to the others who were smiling and ready. Harry had been working with them to teach them how to do the Patronus charm. He figured if he had been able to learn at thirteen then there was no way it was as hard as others thought it was.

They hadn’t managed to produce more than a silver whisp, but it was progress. Harry was proud of them and was hoping that they would be able to produce at least a decent shield before the term was over. If not, they would try to work on it over the summer.

Harry’s was completely corporeal now. It was in the shape of a Basilisk funny enough. Harry figured it was because he was in Slytherin, loved snakes, and could speak Parseltongue. The other three thought it was just really cool.

“Ready?” Harry asked them.

“More than,” Draco answered. So, their lesson continued.

~~~~~~~~~

“Mr. Potter,” Harry and Draco turned at the sound of his name being called. Moody was standing behind them smirking.

“Professor,” Harry said in a clipped tone. He still had no qualms letting Moody and anyone else know that he did not like the man.

“Been thinking about the last task?” Moody asked him.

“No,” Harry answered. “I don’t know what it is going to be yet. We won’t know for another two weeks.”

“Perhaps, you should begin working on a few defensive and offensive spells. Maybe do a little more in-depth research on a few things that you have learned about in my class this year,” Moody hinted.

“I always do more research than necessary. And I assure you, Professor that I am more than equipped with Defensive and Offensive spells,” Harry not so subtly stated. He always made sure to maintain eye contact when he spoke to Moody. He had witnessed the man using his eye contact to intimidate students and teachers alike.

“Very good, Mr. Potter. I am sure that you do,” Moody stated. Then that insufferable movement with his tongue that Harry still hadn’t been able to figure out why it bothered him so much. Moody took a swig from his flask and Harry caught a faint whiff of knotgrass. That was weird he thought. Everyone assumed he was drinking alcohol but maybe it was a potion of some sort.

“We were on our way to do some studying for Ancient Runes, Professor,” Harry replied. Moody simply smiled instead of reacting to his obvious dislike.

“Well, then we mustn’t keep you from your studies. Run along then,” Moody said with a laughing huff. Harry didn’t say anything else he simply took Draco’s arm and made him walk in front of Harry as they turned their backs to the ex-auror.

“Why do you always do that?” Draco asked curiously when they were far enough away from Moody.

“Do what, Drake?” Harry asked absently.

“Always make me walk in front of you when we walk away from certain people,” Draco pointed out.

“So that they cannot attack you from behind,” Harry stated simply. “Draco, I don’t think you quite comprehend the kind of hell I would unleash on this school and the people in it if someone hurt you.”

“Oh, that is where you are wrong, Har. I do know. I have seen the darkness that flits behind your eyes when you think someone has simply threatened me, Theo, or Blaise. We know what you would do for us,” Draco replied. “I was only asking because I am much more alert now and better prepared to defend myself and you if the situation calls for it. Don’t you trust me to have your back too?”

“Of course, I do, Drake. The only person I trust more is Severus. It is just habit at this point, honestly. I have been doing it since we were eleven,” Harry answered honestly.

“So, you do trust me to have your back?” Draco asked.

“With out a doubt,” Harry answered immediately. He let Draco wrap an arm around his shoulders, and they finished heading for the common room where Theo and Blaise were waiting for them.

~~~~~~~~~~

“When are you going to present him with the marriage contract, Headmaster?” Molly asked as she sat across from Albus.

“I will do it this summer. What is the rush, Molly? It is set up to have them handfast after he turns fifteen. That is only two months away,” Albus pointed out.

“My daughter has done nothing but cry to me all last summer and this year in nearly every letter about the fact that the boy will not give her the time of day. He does not acknowledge her at all. She was depressed for a month when he turned her down for the Yule Ball and took that horrible Malfoy boy,” Molly ranted.

“Let the boy have his fun. Once he is handfasted to Ginerva, he won’t be allowed to do any of those things. His contract specifies that he cannot entertain anyone other than your daughter. That outside affairs are not allowed,” Albus insisted.

The woman was insufferable. If he didn’t need the backing of her family he wouldn’t tolerate her. But it was good for Albus to have such a large light family behind him. Molly looked at Albus appraisingly.

“This better work, Albus. Nearly all of your plans that concern the boy have not. He didn’t sort Gryffindor first year. He didn’t befriend my Ronny, he didn’t give my daughter any attention even after your urging, he didn’t fall in line after meeting Remus and Sirius, and he hasn’t sought you out once for advice or guidance. Nothing has been the way you wanted it to be,” Molly pointed out.

“I think you need to leave worrying about the boy to me, Molly Weasley. He will handfast with your daughter this summer, and he will fight for us the way he is destined to. Not every plan goes off without a hitch. There are always outside influences that are unaccounted for. But in the end, I always get what I want. The boy will be brought to heel,” Albus spat out angrily. “Do not question me again, or I just might break the contract and offer another light family the opportunity to join with the Chosen One.”

“Of course, you know what you are doing, Headmaster. I was simply trying to make sure that things would go the way they are supposed to. I am sorry for questioning you. This summer is perfect for a handfasting. I will start planning it for the first weekend of August,” Molly backtracked quickly. “If that works for you.”

“It does. Now, you may go. I have things that need to be taken care of,” Albus dismissed her. Molly nodded and then quickly used the floo to return home. Albus leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily. He was most angry because the woman was right.

Nothing had gone the way he had planned or wanted. Nothing except Sirius Black. The man was loyal to a fault without the compulsions Albus generally used. The man was so desperate to shun everything dark and embrace all things light to prove that he was nothing like his family that he followed Albus blindly.

Even now he was camping in a cave in the forbidden forest because Albus wanted him to be there. Rather than holed up in one of his family homes. Sirius Black would be his key to getting to Harry. He just needed to find the best way to use him to do what he needed.

Then the thought came to him. Grimmauld Place. Get Harry sequestered away before he can disappear for the summer again. He would have Sirius waiting either at the train station in Hogsmeade to get him or London. He would have the boy portkeyed into the Black Family Home and then lock it down.

He wouldn’t be able to leave or write anyone at all. Albus would have complete and uninterrupted access to the boy. He would even invite Molly, Ginerva, and maybe Ron to move in. The other Weasleys were friends with the boy, and he didn’t trust them not to be talked into letting him leave.

He would surround the Potter boy with a light family and dose him up so thoroughly that he wouldn’t know his own name unless Albus told it to him.

Albus leaned back in his chair and smiled. This was perfect. This was how he got the boy under his thumb where he belonged.

~~~~~~~~~~~

At 8:30 pm, May 27th, Harry headed out of the Slytherin Common Room with Draco, Theo, and Blaise. It was time to find out what the third task was going to be. Cedric was waiting at the top of the stairs leading out of the dungeons.

“Hey Cedric,” Harry said happily. He had gotten to know the three other Champions pretty well since the start of the tournament. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Yeah,” the older Hufflepuff said with a smile. “I know how protective your shadows are, so I was waiting to see if you were going to need someone to walk with you. I see that I was both right and wrong.”

“They decided to come with me to see if they would be allowed to be present when things were explained. If not they were going to wait nearby for me. You are still welcome to walk with us though,” Harry responded.

“Sounds good,” Cedric agreed. “So, what do you think it is going to be?”

“I don’t know. I hope it isn’t something that is going to involve other people again. I did a bit of research with Hermione and Theo. There are a lot of really dangerous tasks that they have used during the tournament and the last task is always the most dangerous,” Harry answered.

“More dangerous than facing a dragon?” Draco asked.

“That’s a terrifying thought,” Blaise added. Harry nodded and Draco draped an arm around him.

“We won’t know until Bagman tells us. So, don’t get worked up yet,” Cedric tried to appease them.

“That’s true. It may turn out to be something that we can navigate easily,” Harry agreed.

They walked in silence for a few minutes until they reached the Entrance Hall. McGonagall was waiting for them there. She frowned when she saw Draco, Theo, and Blaise.

“I am sorry boys, but unfortunately this meeting is only for the Champions. You three can head back to your common room and wait for Mr. Potter there,” McGonagall insisted.

“Can’t we just walk him down there and then wait far enough away that we can’t hear what is being said?” Draco asked. He didn’t like the idea of Harry being out on the Castle Grounds without any of them there to watch his back.

“Mr. Potter is perfectly safe on Hogwarts property. The three of you are being silly. Now, head back to your common room. Do not make me tell you again or I will take points away from your house,” McGonagall demanded. Draco looked like he was going to protest again but Harry put a hand on his arm.

“It’s ok, Drake. You know I can take care of myself if anything happens. It will be fine. Wait for me in the common room,” Harry asked him.

“Hey, I will stay with him the entire time. I will even walk him as close to your common room entrance as he will allow. I will watch his back,” Cedric interrupted quickly.

“Does that work for the three of you?” Harry asked with a smile. He knew that if it came down to it, Harry most likely had a much bigger knowledge base of spells and dueling than Cedric did but if it made all of them feel better to think he needed the protection then he would let them fuss.

“If anything should happen to him..” Theo stated quietly with a small smirk. He didn’t need to finish his threat, they all knew it was a legitimate threat. That smirk promised unimaginable pain.

“Down boys,” Harry said with a laugh. “Go to the common room. I will see you soon.”

“Fine,” Draco agreed and then the three Slytherins turned around and headed back to the common room. Harry turned back to see Cedric smiling and McGonagall frowning.

“Honestly, the five of you are acting as if you aren’t safe here, which is completely ridiculous,” McGonagall complained. Harry and Cedric both looked at her like she was crazy.

“Not to be disrespectful, ma’am but our defense teacher my first year was possessed by Voldemort and tried to kill me, our second year a literal Basilisk was roaming the halls and petrifying students, third year, Sirius Black escaped from prison and was getting into the school despite all attempts to keep him out, Dementors tried to kill me twice, and this year someone unknown put my name into a competition that is known for killing people. I think we have every right to be worried. You are absolutely blind if you believe that this school is a safe place for me to be alone,” Harry pointed out.

“He has a point, Professor,” Cedric said with a grimace.

“I suppose he does,” McGonagall said with a frown. She looked like maybe it had seriously just occurred to her that the school wasn’t as safe as she thought it was. “Come along, I will escort the two of you the rest of the way to the Quidditch Pitch.”

Well, maybe she would start really looking into the school and how it was being run now. She seemed genuinely distressed by the time she left them at the pitch and turned to head back into the school. The two of them finished walking the rest of the way. When they stepped out on to the pitch Cedric stopped and frowned.

“What have they done to it?” He exclaimed.

“It’s hedges,” Viktor stated from his place to their right. Harry leaned down to get a closer look and realized that Viktor was right.

“Well, hello there,” called Bagman. Fleur was standing next to him, and they were standing in the middle of the field. Harry, Cedric, and Viktor made their way to the center. Viktor and Cedric took turns helping Harry climb over the hedges. He was much shorter than the two older boys and it was a little more difficult for him to get over them.

“So, what do you think?” Bagman asked excitedly.

“I think you have ruined our Quidditch Pitch,” Harry grumbled unhappily. He didn’t like what they had done to the pitch, but he also didn’t like having to be helped across the hedges like a little kid. He was nearly fifteen years old, and he was barely bigger than a second year. Even Fleur was taller than he was.

“Oh, nothing to worry over,” Bagman insisted. “Your pitch will be back to normal before the next school year starts. Now, can any of you guess what we are building here?”

“Maze,” Viktor answered simply.

“That is correct. It doesn’t look like much now but give Hagrid a month and they will be twenty feet high,” Bagman promised. “The Goblet of Fire will be placed in the center and the first Champion to touch it wins.”

“Zat is all? Merely touch ze cup and ve vin?” Fleur asked shocked.

“Of course, not,” Bagman said with a laugh. “There will be obstacles of course. Hagrid is providing a number of Creatures, there will be spells that must be broken, and many other sorts of things. You must be prepared to encounter anything while in the maze. Now, you will enter the maze in order of points, the highest will go first. That means Mr. Potter will enter first, then Mr. Diggory, Mr. Krum will follow, and then lastly Ms. Delacour.”

Then he dismissed them and looked at Harry like he was gearing up to offer more friendly advice. But before he could reach him, Viktor stepped up to him.

“Can I speak with you?” Viktor asked him. Harry nodded.

“Yeah, of course,” Harry answered.

“I can wait for you if you like,” Bagman offered.

“I vill volk him back to the castle,” Viktor responded. Bagman looked at Harry with a disappointed look.

“Are you sure?” He asked.

“Yes, Mr. Bagman. Thank you for the offer,” Harry insisted.

“Very well,” Bagman said with a sigh and turned to leave. Fleur had already headed back to her carriage, but Cedric was hoovering.

“I vill speak vith him privately, Diggory,” Viktor insisted. Cedric didn’t pay him any attention. He was looking at Harry.

“I will have Viktor walk me up to the castle. You can wait for me at the front doors if you want,” Harry offered.

“All right, I will wait for you there,” Cedric agreed and then he walked off. Harry turned back to Viktor who offered his arm. He helped Harry navigate out of the maze and headed toward the forest.

“Why are we going toward the forest?” Harry asked.

“For privacy,” Viktor answered simply. Harry made sure his wand was easily accessible in his wrist holder and followed Viktor. He stopped when he felt they were somewhere they wouldn’t be overheard.

“Okay Viktor, what can I do for you?” Harry asked with a smile.

“You are not dating the little Malfoy, correct?” Viktor asked first. Harry just shook his head.

“No, I am not. I have said this many times already,” Harry answered with a sigh.

“Very good, do you like men? Or are you interested in vomen?” Viktor asked next. Harry didn’t know where this conversation was going but he would answer anyways.

“I am interested in men,” Harry answered honestly. Viktor seemed to perk up at that.

“You come from an old Pureblood line. Did your parents make a betrothal contract for you at birth like most British Wixen do?” Viktor inquired.

“No, my family stopped practicing that a few generations back,” Harry responded. “Viktor, what is this about?”

“I have gotten to know you this past year and I vould like to formally ask for a betrothal contract between the two of us. I just wanted to speak with you about it first before I approached your guardian,” Viktor finally got to the point.

Harry was shocked. Viktor hadn’t really shown any interest in him at all, other than a few lingering looks. Gregori had shown more interest in him than Viktor had. Well, at least Harry thought he had been. Turns out Gregori likes girls and was just being really friendly.

With Viktor there was friendly conversation and helping each other out during the tournament but that had always been with the other Champions. He didn’t even know Viktor was interested in boys. He had taken a girl to the Yule ball, and she had been his object that he had to retrieve from the Black Lake.

“Viktor, I am extremely flattered. But I am not interested in a betrothal of any kind right now. We can certainly become better friends and even keep in touch when you go back home though. I just believe that I am far too young right now to worry about it,” Harry insisted.

“Is it because you do not know my family? I am from a very good pureblood family. But I could provide you a very good life just from my own earnings,” Viktor pointed out. Harry smiled at him and patted his arm.

“That isn’t it, Viktor. I am wealthy on my own, I don’t need someone to take care of me. I am only fourteen years old, Viktor. I am not worried about getting married just yet. I haven’t even been in a relationship before. I would like to grow up first. To grow into myself and who I am going to be before I start looking for someone to share my life with,” Harry responded.

“So, you are not saying no. You are just saying not now,” Viktor paraphrased. Harry continued to smile at him.

“Exactly, I want to concentrate on my schooling and decide on a career. Make something of myself outside of The Boy Who Lived. I want to just be myself for a while before I become someone’s partner. Do you understand? The world has a lot of expectations of me because of who I am. I want to step away from all of that,” Harry stated.

“I understand all of that perfectly. I know what it feels like to live a life of others expectations,” Viktor responded with a smile. “I would like to keep in touch with you. Write back and forth after I have left. You are going to be someone amazing and I would like the opportunity to witness your growth.”

“That sounds great. I would like that,” Harry agreed. Just then there was a rustling in the trees behind Viktor. Harry drew his wand and pulled Viktor around so that his back wasn’t to the trees anymore.

“What is it?” Viktor said quietly. His wand was drawn, and he was searching the trees fully alert.

“I don’t know. There was something moving in the trees behind you,” Harry answered just as quietly. Just then a person came staggering out of the trees toward them. Viktor pulled Harry back and out of reach of the ragged, dirty looking man.

“Isn’t that one of your ministry officials?” Viktor asked Harry. He was right. It was Mr. Crouch. He was talking to one of the trees as if it were someone named Weatherby. Crouch looked completely deranged.

“Mr. Crouch?” Harry called out. The man didn’t acknowledge him at all. “Mr. Crouch.” He tried louder. Crouch continued to talk to the tree, then his eyes bulged, and he fell to his knees. Harry stepped closer to him to check on him again.

“What is wrong with him?” Viktor asked as he stepped closer to Harry.

“I don’t know,” Harry answered while still looking at the crazy looking man.

“Dumbledore,” Crouch said suddenly then he reached out quickly and grasped Harry’s robes in a strong grip. “Must….see….Dumbledore.”

“If you will get up, Mr. Crouch, I will take you to him,” Harry insisted while he tried to get the man to let go of his robes.

“I’ve….done….stupid…thing,” Crouch breathed out. He looked utterly mad when he looked up at Harry. “Must…tell…”

“Get up, Mr. Crouch,” Harry insisted. “If you simply get up, I will get you help.” Crouch gripped Harry’s robes tighter and started pulling him towards him.

“Must…warn…someone,” Crouch called out. Harry looked back up at Viktor. The Bulgarian immediately reached down and pried Crouch’s hands out of Harry’s robes and helped him take a few steps back quickly before Crouch could latch back onto him.

Crouch turned and started talking to the tree again. He switched back and forth between talking to different people. Harry stared at him in horror.

“I need to get help,” Harry stated. “Will you stay with him? Cedric should still be at the entrance, I will send him out here to stay with you while I get Professor Snape.”

“I will stay,” Viktor agreed. Crouch seemed to realize that Harry was leaving and reached out to grab him again.

“Don’t leave me,” Crouch whispered desperately. “I…escaped…must warn…tell…my fault…my son…here…my fault…must tell…Harry Potter….Danger…The Dark Lord…Stronger…”

Well, that sounded ominous. It sounded like Crouch had been held captive by someone and he knew something about Voldemort and the danger Harry was in this year. Harry looked at Viktor.

“Go,” Viktor insisted. Harry nodded and took off running. He was fast and made it to the Entrance quickly.

“Harry, what’s happened? Are you ok?” Cedric asked when he saw Harry.

“Something has happened to Mr. Crouch. He is in the forest and is completely mad. Viktor is with him. Go help him please. I am going to get Snape,” Harry said quickly. Cedric nodded and took off running in the direction Harry had pointed. Harry turned and bolted down the stairs and straight to Severus’ private quarters.

“What is it, Child?” Severus asked as he opened the door. “Harry?”

“Something has happened. Mr. Crouch is in the forest, and he is completely mad. He keeps talking about crazy things. But insists that he needs to talk to someone. That he escaped from somewhere. Come quickly, please dad,” Harry told a quick version. Severus nodded and quickly stepped out of his room and closed the door.

“Lead the way, Harry,” Severus said and followed Harry as he took off running for the forest again. They made their way out there and slowed down. Harry couldn’t hear Crouch anymore, but he knew where he was going.

“Viktor! Cedric!” Harry called out. There was no reply. Severus cast a Lumos and held his wand up high so that they could see further into the trees. Then Harry saw feet. He held his wand out and pointed to Severus who stepped up to look. There just around the large tree, was both Cedric and Viktor sprawled out on the ground.

There was no sign of Crouch.

“Severus, Mr. Potter, what has happened?” Dumbledore asked as he came walking around the trees. Hagrid was with him. “I was having tea with Hagrid when I saw the two of you running out of the castle.”

“Mr. Crouch was here. He was talking crazy and looked like he had been tortured. So, I ran to get help. Professor Snape was closer to get to than you. I thought you were in your office. When we got back this is what we found,” Harry explained.

“Hagrid run along and get Karkaroff,” Dumbledore instructed before he leaned down to check on the two students. “Simply stunned.” Then Dumbledore cast Renervate on both boys and waited for them to wake. Viktor sat up and looked around. Cedric did the same.

“We were attacked,” Cedric told them. “From behind.”

“It was the old mad man,” Viktor said and looked straight at Harry. The first person that popped into Harry’s mind was Moody.

“Severus, I need you to fetch Alastor,” Dumbledore instructed.

“No need. I was patrolling and heard all of you and came to investigate,” Moody’s gravelly voice came from behind them. How convenient, Harry thought.

“Crouch is here somewhere. He was talking like a mad man when they found him, and he attacked Mr. Diggory and Mr. Krum. It is imperative that we find him,” Dumbledore stated. Moody grunted and then headed further into the woods. Harry didn’t trust the man at all. He exchanged another look with Cedric and Viktor. It wasn’t Crouch who had attacked them.

“Crouch attacked you? Crouch?” Igor shouted. He pulled Viktor to his feet who then turned and helped Cedric.

“Now, Igor,” Dumbledore started, only to be cut off.

Igor ranted about Dumbledore and the ministry being cheaters and that there was a plot. He ranted about sneaking Harry into the tournament and then trying to take his champion out. Harry and the others watched him continue to rant until finally he spat at Dumbledore’s feet and Harry had to fight not to laugh at the look on Dumbledore’s face.

Then, Hagrid snarled and yanked the man up by his robes and slammed him into a tree.

“Apologize,” Hagrid snarled in the man’s face.

“Hagrid, no,” Dumbledore nearly shouted. Hagrid stared at the man for a moment and then released his hold on the Durmstrang headmaster who slumped to the ground. “Escort Mr. Potter and Mr. Diggory back to the castle.”

“Maybe I should stay,” Hagrid argued.

“No, you will do as you are told. Take the boys back to the castle,” Dumbledore demanded. Harry looked up at Severus.

“Go on. We will talk later,” Severus said quietly. “Go to Draco.” Harry nodded and then he and Cedric left with Hagrid. Hagrid ranted and growled about Igor accusing Dumbledore and then he turned that anger toward Harry who stepped back and dropped his wand into his hand. Hagrid was big. If he hit Harry it would hurt.

“And you,” Hagrid growled out. “What do ya think ya were doin? Lettin that Ruddy Krum get you off somewhere alone. He could ave jinxed you righ then. He coulda. It’s like you don have a brain in yer head.”

“Viktor just wanted to talk to me. He is my friend,” Harry insisted. Hagrid just scoffed.

“No, arry, he isn’t. He is a dark wizard he is. Hasn’t Moody taught you anything?” Hagrid growled out again.

“I think I can escort Harry from here, Hagrid,” Cedric said when they reached the stairs to the dungeons. “Why don’t you go back and check on Dumbledore?”

Hagrid grunted and then continued to growl and stomp until he was out of sight. Harry took a deep breath and nearly slumped against the wall. Cedric reached out to grab him but then thought about what Harry had said about being touched sometimes and now didn’t seem like a good time.

“I’m alright. I am just ready to get back to my Common room now,” Harry said when he looked up and saw how concerned the Hufflepuff looked.

“Then let’s get you there. I know your boys are waiting,” Cedric said and then followed behind Harry as he headed down the hall. “It wasn’t Crouch that attacked us.”

“I gathered that,” Harry responded. “Did you see who did it?”

“I didn’t see him. But I think Viktor did. I was watching Crouch. His eyes got wide and then he started mumbling something that sounded like Arty or Barty or something like that. Then I don’t know what happened because Viktor and I had both been stunned,” Cedric told him everything.

“Thank you for telling me, Cedric. I will tell Professor Snape tomorrow when we talk about what all happened. He will give it the attention that it deserves,” Harry insisted. They walked a little further. “All right, this is as far as you go.”

“Ok, I will talk to you later, Harry,” Cedric said. Then he turned and left. Harry waited until he turned the corner and then opened the door and went into the common room.

He found his boys and then they headed up to Harry and Draco’s room. He told them everything that had happened. They were all a little shocked and upset. Harry just wanted to talk to Viktor so that he could confirm that it was Moody who had attacked them. Harry knew there was something wrong with that man.

~~~~~~~~~~

“All right, Child. Let’s talk this through,” Severus instructed two days later. It was the first chance they had gotten to talk since the thing with Crouch had happened.

“Viktor and I were talking near the woods,” Harry started. Severus held up a hand.

“Why were you alone with Viktor Krum at nearly ten at night near the Forbidden Forest?” Severus asked first. Harry grinned.

“Talking about a betrothal,” Harry answered with a smile. Severus pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath.

“Explain please before I go and stun the man myself,” Severus demanded. “You are fourteen years old, and he is nearly nineteen.”

“I told him no. If it makes you feel better he wanted a legitimate Betrothal contract and to wait until I graduated to get married,” Harry pointed out.

“It doesn’t make me feel better. You said no?” Severus asked to make sure. Harry laughed and nodded.

“Yeah, Dad. I said no,” Harry told him. “Though I don’t think it deterred him. He says he will write and keep in touch so that when I am ready we can talk about it again.”

“I will keep my eyes on him,” Severus said with a scowl. “Tell me about Crouch.” Harry laughed and then told Severus everything that had happened from the moment Crouch emerged from the forest. “Will you let me see it?”

“Yeah, do you want to use Legilimency or pull the memory?” Harry asked his dad.

“I will pull the memory. That way I can examine it again when I need to,” Severus answered. Harry agreed and Severus pulled the memory and put it in a vial.

“I don’t know who did this to Crouch, Dad but I know who attacked Cedric and Viktor,” Harry said finally. Severus looked at him curiously.

“Albus says that Crouch attacked them,” Severus responded. Harry shook his head.

“No Viktor said the old mad man did it. Dumbledore just assumed he meant Crouch, but he didn’t. Viktor told me yesterday that it was Moody and not Crouch that attacked them. I told you there was something wrong with that man,” Harry insisted.

“I know you did, Child. I have always believed you,” Severus told him. “Anything else?”

“Yeah, Cedric said that right before they were attacked, Crouch’s eyes got wide and he looked frightened and then he mumbled something like Arty or Barty right before they were stunned,” Harry finished telling him.

“Barty? But that doesn’t make sense. Barty was Crouch’s son, he died in Azkaban a year after he was put in there. Maybe he was still hallucinating,” Severus mumbled to himself. Then he looked up at Harry. “Do you have your map?”

“No, Uncle Remi still has it. I didn’t even think about bringing it. Why?” Harry asked him.

“I just wanted to search it and see if Crouch pops up on the map somewhere or someone else that is somewhere that they shouldn’t be,” Severus responded.

“Why don’t you write to him and ask him to meet you at the gates and get it from him?” Harry stated.

“Good idea, Harry. I will do exactly that,” Severus said with a proud smile. Harry beamed up at him and sipped his tea.

“Can we talk about the task now?” Harry asked. Severus nodded. “It’s a maze… Hagrid is going to provide creatures, there will be spells and other obstacles that we have to get through to get to the center. The first person to touch the cup wins.”

“Ok, let’s talk about what kind of Creatures might be provided,” Severus responded. Harry nodded and smiled. He could always count on his dad to think clearly. So, the two of them spent about an hour going over the different Creatures that may be in the maze and how best to handle each one.

~~~~~~~~~

Harry was sitting outside with Draco when an owl swooped in and dropped a note in his lap before flying back off. He looked around and opened it with Draco reading over his shoulder.

Harry James Potter…What were you thinking going off alone, at night, into the forbidden forest with someone like Viktor Krum? I want you to swear to me with a return owl that you will not go off at night with anyone else from here on out.

There is someone highly dangerous at Hogwarts and they want you dead. Or have you forgotten? It is clear to me that whoever did this wanted Crouch silenced. They didn’t want him to speak to Dumbledore. You were probably barely a few feet away from them out there. You could have been killed.

Your name didn’t get into the Goblet of Fire by accident. If someone is trying to attack you this is their last chance to do it. You need to stay close to Fred and George as well as that little Hermione and the Longbottom boy. Or even Dumbledore and Moody. Do not leave your common room after hours. Arm yourself for the third task. Your survival is the most important thing.

There is nothing you can do about Crouch, Harry, so keep your head on the final task. I am waiting for your reply promising me that you will do better and use your head.

Sirius

“Who does he think he is?” Draco said when they had finished reading. Harry just scoffed and rolled it up.

“How did he even know what had happened? I know Remus didn’t write him about it and neither did I. We have decided to keep him as ignorant about what is going on with me as possible,” Harry said with a frown.

“Maybe it was Dumbledore,” Draco offered. “I wouldn’t put it past the old man to inform him so that he stays on his good side.”

“Oh, you are so right, Drake. I hate that meddling old man,” Harry said with a growl.

“What meddling old man?” Hermione said as she took a seat on the grass next to them. Harry handed her the letter.

“Dumbledore,” Draco answered. Hermione nodded her head in understanding and then read the letter.

“I mean it sounds like he has his heart in the right place,” Hermione said after a few moments. “He just wants you to be smart and stay safe. And he isn’t wrong. If someone wants you dead and wants it to look like it was caused by the tournament, then this is their last chance.”

“We agree with that part of things,” Draco spoke up. “I think his main issue is that someone like Sirius Black is trying to lecture him on following rules among other things.”

“Well, you do need to start thinking about what you are going to do for the third task. Have you got an idea?” Hermione asked.

“Yeah, Professor Snape and I have already started talking it out. We have started planning,” Harry answered. Then they changed the topic to other things. Like their finals that were coming up soon. They were joined by Theo, Blaise, Neville, Fred, and George a bit later and they all stayed out in the lawn and played games together while they caught up with each other.

~~~~~~~~~~

Later that night, Harry was sitting in his dorm room with Draco. He was staring into the fire and felt himself begin to drift lazily. Then from one blink to the next, he was no longer in the common room.

He was riding on the back of an eagle owl, soaring through the dark sky toward an old house. He couldn’t tell what it looked like because it was so dark outside.

He knew they were flying lower, and he could feel the wind on his face as they did. When they reached an old broken window, the owl flew in. They flew along the dark empty corridor until they reached a room at the very end. Then they entered a room that was dark, and all of the windows were boarded up.

Harry was no longer on the owls back now. He was standing to the side as the owl fluttered over to a chair with its back to him. He looked around and saw two dark shapes on the floor beside the chair. Both of them seemed to be moving slightly.

Finally, they came into focus, one was a very large snake and then other was a short beady eyed man. Harry recognized them both. The man was wheezing and sobbing on the hearth while the snake watched him.

Pettigrew and Nagini.

“You are in luck, Wormtail,” said a rasping cold voice that made Harry shiver with dread. He knew that voice as well. “You are very fortunate indeed. Your blunder has not ruined everything. He is dead.”

“My Lord!” gasped Pettigrew from the floor. “My Lord, I am … I am so pleased… and so so very sorry….”

“Nagini, you are out of luck,” said that rasping voice again. “I will not be feeding the rat to you after all…but never mind that…there is still Harry Potter…”

The snake hissed out a word of agreement and anticipation.

“Now, Wormtail,” that voice spoke up again. “Perhaps one more little reminder why I will not tolerate another blunder from you..”

“My Lord…No… I beg you…” Pettigrew pleaded from the ground.

Harry watched as the tip of a wand emerged from the side of the chair. It pointed straight at Pettigrew.

“Crucio,” rasped the Dark Lord.

Pettigrew screamed, he screamed as if his skin was being flayed from his body over and over again. Harry put his hands over his ears as the screaming seamed to seep into his core. His scar started burning and then he was screaming too. The pain was too much. He tried to stifle his screams. He even put one of his hands in his mouth to try and muffle himself.

Voldemort was too close. He would hear him. He would know he was there and watching.

“Harry! HARRY! Merlin please Harry wake up,” Draco was frantic. Harry blinked open his eyes, but everything was blurry. His scar was still hurting so badly, and it was causing his eyes to water and burn. Everything hurt. Even his hand.

“Drake,” Harry managed to croak out.

“I sent Blaise to get Severus. What happened?” Draco asked him. Harry reached up to touch his scar, but Draco stopped him. “It’s red and swollen. There’s some bleeding as well.”

“It was Voldemort, Drake. I saw him again,” Harry whispered out. Draco just shivered and pulled Harry up and into his arms.

“Don’t say anything else, Harry. Just wait for Severus. Anyone could be listening,” Draco whispered in his ear. Harry nodded and just let Draco hold him. It was only a moment later when Severus came striding quickly into the room with Theo and Blaise behind him. They closed the door and Harry felt the silencing ward go up around the room.

“What happened?” Severus demanded as he lifted Harry from Draco’s arms and placed him on his bed.

“I don’t know, Dad. I was sitting at my desk and staring into the fire and then suddenly I was in the middle of a vision..” Harry told him everything. He explained every detail of what was said and done.

“He has to mean Crouch,” Theo spoke up. “The person who is dead.”

“That makes sense. It is the only thing that has happened recently that would cause this. Crouch has been missing. ‘Sick’ we have been told. But what if he wasn’t sick. What if Voldemort had him?” Severus added.

“That would be why he said he escaped and why he would know that Voldemort is getting stronger. That has to be what he wanted to warn Dumbledore about,” Draco agreed.

“It also confirms that he has someone in the school, Dad,” Harry whispered.

“Yes, it does, Child,” Severus agreed. “I am getting the map from Lupin tomorrow morning just after breakfast. We will look over it and see if there is a name that shouldn’t be here. We will start with that.”

“Ok, Dad,” Harry said with a strained smile. “Can you give me something for pain? I am hurting so bad.”

“Of course, My Harry,” Severus said. He conjured his potion bag and set about giving Harry something for the pain. Then he poured something onto a cloth and pressed it against Harry’s head. His scar immediately felt better.

“Thanks, Dad. That feels so much better already,” Harry said with a sigh of relief.

“Get some rest, Son. I will talk to Remus in the morning. I will tell him everything that has happened. He has a sharp mind he will be able to help us work this out,” Severus told him.

“Yeah, ok. I am quite exhausted,” Harry agreed.

“Shower first, Har,” Draco told him and then ushered him off to the bathroom. Harry took his shower and when he came out in his pajamas everyone was gone but Draco. “Get in the bed, Harry. I will take a shower and then come and rest with you.”

“Sounds good, Drake,” Harry agreed and then he crawled into his bed. Draco joined him pretty quickly and then he fell asleep snuggled up to his best friend. Things this year had been pretty calm if you didn’t count the fact that he had been entered into a deadly tournament against his will. Now things were starting to get chaotic. It was time to really start being alert and aware of everything and everyone around him.

~~~~~~~~~~
*June 1995*

“I cannot believe that you are actually taking the Final Exams when you don’t have to,” Blaise said with a sigh. “You have an automatic pass because of the tournament.”

“Yeah, but I have had plenty of time to do all of my work and to study for them,” Harry insisted. “I haven’t missed any assignments or fallen behind, there is no reason for me to not take them.”

“Seriously, you should have gone to Ravenclaw,” Hermione said with a laugh.

“So, they tell me often,” Harry said with a roll of his eyes. “Come one we are going to be late for our first exam.”

He turned toward the stairs and ran right into a tiny little blonde with bright blue eyes. She was wearing the most outrageously bright yellow dress with suns all over it and bright purple leggings with rainbow leg warmers, and no shoes.

“I am so sorry, are you ok?” Harry asked as he steadied her. She smiled up at him and he paused when he looked into her eyes and realized that they were a bit glazed over as if she was blind.

“Perfectly lovely,” she responded with a soft tinkling voice. “I have been asked to warn you, Fae Child. Do not let him share in your win. He won’t survive the trip.” Then her eyes became clear as he was staring into them, and she laughed before stepping back.

“It was wonderful being bumped into by you, Harry. Good luck on your exams,” she said and then she skipped away humming a nonsensical tune.

“What a wonderful girl,” Blaise stated with a laugh.

“Her name is Luna Lovegood. She is in Ravenclaw just a year below us. She is always like that. Everyone calls her Looney,” Hermione informed them as they continued to their first exam.

“I wonder what she meant?” Draco said as he stared at Harry.

“I don’t know,” Harry answered. He looked a bit shell shocked if Draco was being honest. What about that had freaked him out?

“Harry?” Draco asked.

“I’m fine, Drake,” Harry answered quickly.

“Are you sure?” He asked quietly. Harry nodded. He just wasn’t ready to talk about this with anyone but Severus yet.

“Yeah, really Drake, I’m ok,” Harry promised.

“This is one of those things that you haven’t told any of us about yet, isn’t it,” Draco asked him after a moment. The others had all continued to talk about what might be on the exam.

“Yes, please don’t ask me to tell you yet, Drake. It isn’t time,” Harry asked his best friend.

“Not yet, but one day,” Draco replied.

“Yeah, one day,” Harry agreed. “I promise.”

“Ok, then let’s get these exams taken,” Draco said with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Mr. Potter,” Harry looked up at the sound of his dad calling his name. They were seated at the breakfast table and were just about finished.

“Yes, Professor?” Harry answered.

“The Champions are congregating in the chamber just off the hall after breakfast,” Severus informed him. Harry looked up at him and panicked just a little.

“But I thought the task wasn’t until tonight?” Harry asked quickly.

“It isn’t. The Champions’ families have been invited to spend the day here,” Severus stated. “Your wolf is here as well as someone a bit unexpected.” Harry was curious, who else would have come to see him? Who else considered him family?

“Well, go on. We will make ourselves busy doing other things,” Draco said with a smile. “I want to know who else came to see you.”

“Yeah, me too,” Harry said with a grin. “See you guys later. I will try to meet up with all of you for each meal. Whoever came with Remus can simply join us.”

Harry got up from the table as the Great Hall started to empty and headed for the side chamber. Fleur, Viktor, and Cedric caught up to him and they all entered together. Cedric smiled and headed to where his mother and father were waiting, Fleur had her mother father and sister, and Viktor had his mother and father.

“Harry,” He turned and saw Remus leaning against the wall near the fireplace looking wonderfully warm and welcoming. Next to him, was a grinning Bill Weasley. Now that was really surprising. He had exchanged a few letters back and forth with the eldest Weasley about Runes and his job as a curse breaker. He also found out that Bill was the one that the Goblins had sent to threaten Rita Skeeter into acting right.

“Hey, Uncle Remi, I missed you,” Harry said and hugged his Godfather tightly. He let the man scent mark him like he always did. Then he turned to Bill. “Hi, Bill, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Well, you see I was informed of a few things because of my job at Gringotts. Also, I was sent to take care of Skeeter for you, so I figured from that and a few things I have heard from the twins that you wouldn’t have anyone here for you and I wanted to make sure that you knew that you weren’t alone,” Bill told him with a slight blush.

Harry felt teary all of a sudden and buried his face in Remus’ chest to hide it. Remus, who clearly smelled the salt from his tears laughed just a little.

“Merlin, Harry. You have to know that there are so many people who care about you by now. It shouldn’t be so surprising or overwhelming,” Remus said softly.

“I didn’t overstep did I?” Bill asked concerned.

“No, he is happy you are here. I don’t know exactly what all you have been informed about through your job but let’s just leave it at Harry isn’t used to dealing with people who care,” Remus stated simply. Harry took a few deep breaths and composed himself.

“I am so sorry. Please, don’t mind me. I don’t usually get so emotional in front of other people. Thank you so much for being here Bill. I am so grateful,” Harry said with a genuine smile.

“No need to apologize, Harry. I have taken oaths because of my job, but I have a little bit of knowledge about the way you grew up. Trust me when I say that, should I ever get them alone in a dark alley they won’t walk out the same way they walked in,” Bill promised him.

“You will have to get in line,” Harry said with a smile. “There are five people who have dibs ahead of you.”

“All right, enough of that, let’s move on to more pleasant things. It has been five years since I was here. How about a tour?” Bill asked with a grin and a wink. Harry smiled and nodded. That sounded nice. He did not miss the way that Fleur was eyeing Bill. He would have to make an introduction later. He did not blame the part-veela, Bill was really nice to look at.

Harry had a wonderful time walking around the castle grounds with Remus and Bill. The two of them had so many stories from their days at Hogwarts. Apparently, Bill had been a bit of a ladies man. He had a great time pointing out all of the best make-out places that were hard to find. Which meant it was easy to get away with it.

Remus made a point to monitor and temper some of Bill’s more smutty stories. Harry knew it was because Severus had told him about Viktor’s interest and Remus had informed his dad that Harry was definitely into to older boys considering he found Bill and Charlie attractive.

“Bill?” Harry rolled his eyes and stepped closer to Remus. He did not want to deal with Ronald Weasley today of all days.

“Hey, Ron, what’s up littler brother?” Bill said with a smile.

“What are you doing here?” Weasley asked. “And why are you with him?”

“I came here to support him. We have been exchanging letters this year talking about Runes and my job at the bank. We are friends,” Bill said honestly. Ron scowled and then turned to Harry.

“So, you are happy to befriend everyone in my family but me and my sister?” Ron asked him. “They are only friends with you because they don’t know you like I do. You are nothing but a filthy…”

“That is enough of that, Ronald Bilius Weasley. I will not sit here and listen to you talk to him that way. I have heard stories about the way you treat him from Fred, George, and Percy. I will not stand for it. Now, run along and enjoy the rest of your day,” Bill demanded of him.

“But,” Ron tried but Bill just gave him a hard look so the youngest Weasley son turned around with a sneer and left.

“Merlin, I wish it was that easy to get him to leave me alone all the time,” Harry said with a curious look. “You have to teach me how to do that.”

“That comes from being the oldest of seven,” Bill said with a wink. “Now, where were we? Oh, yeah, right over there under that little bridge I used to meet up with…..”

Harry happily listened to more stories until it was time for lunch. Fleur and her family sat with them at lunch. Cedric and Viktor’s fathers wouldn’t let them sit near any of the other Champions. They were taking this competition thing far too seriously in Harry’s opinion.

“Fleur, I would like to introduce you to my friend William Weasley, but he goes by Bill. Bill this is Fleur Delacour. She has been very kind to me during this whole thing and I appreciate her so much,” Harry introduced them. Then he watched as the two of them hit it off quite nicely.

“Harry, have you seen the looks that Viktor has been sending Bill all through lunch?” Draco whispered to him. Harry had noticed, he was just working hard to ignore them since they were silly.

“Yeah, I know. I told him that I wasn’t interested in anyone that way, but I don’t think he paid me any attention,” Harry responded.

“Are we talking about tall dark and handsome over there that has been glaring at me since he stepped into the Great Hall?” Bill whispered as he leaned over Draco to talk to the two of them. “Your boyfriend?”

“No,” Harry said with a smile. “But last month he did ask me about a betrothal. I told him no, that I wasn’t interested but that I was happy to be his friend. I told him I wasn’t interested in a betrothal with anyone. That it wasn’t him personally.”

“Aww, so he thinks I am competition,” Bill said with a slow sexy smile.

“Yeah, and giving Harry looks like that, isn’t going to convince him otherwise,” Draco said with a laugh. Harry on the other hand was blushing lightly from the look. Which was apparently exactly what Bill had intended.

“Stop teasing the poor boy before he combusts,” Remus said with a chuckle. “And to be clear I mean the Bulgarian. He looks ready to curse you right here in the Great Hall.”

Bill leaned back over with a laugh and turned back to talk to Fleur and her parents. Lunch was over too quickly, and the other students headed off to take their last exams or to hang out. Harry, Remus, and Bill stayed in the Great Hall and were joined by Fred, George, Neville, Hermione, and Harry’s three shadows.

They played chess, Gobstones, Exploding Snap, and a few other things that Bill had learned while over in Egypt or from the Goblins. It was a lot of fun and all too soon the sky began to darken, and dinner was nearly over before Harry truly realized it.

“Harry, take a deep breath,” Remus said calmly from his left. Harry looked up and smiled at his Godfather.

“Sorry, it’s just that it is nearly time. I am ready but I am still a little afraid,” Harry said quietly.

“I know, Pup. But you got this. I know how good Severus is at Dueling and I have seen the spells that he has been teaching your since last summer. You are ready. You can do this,” Remus encouraged him.

“Yeah, you are,” Bill chimed in from across the table from him. “The Goblins talk about how deadly and talented your mentor is with a wand in a fight. If he has been teaching you then you are going to be just fine. Just remember to always remain calm. Keep your eyes constantly moving so that you don’t get tunnel vision, it will be easy to do in a maze. Keep all of your senses open and alert. You are going to do great.”

“Thanks, you guys,” Harry said with a smile. Dumbledore stood at the head table and the hall fell silent. Harry took a deep breath to center himself. He locked eyes with his dad and could see the calm in them. Severus was not worried. He had faith in Harry, so Harry would have faith in that.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, in five minutes’ time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the Champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now to prepare,” Dumbledore said with a smile.

“You got this Harry. We are all rooting for you,” Draco said with an encouraging smile. The others all wished him good luck. Bill pulled him into a hug and then Remus surrounded him with his scent and warmth. He scent marked him again and then Harry walked away from them and met up with Bagman and the other Champions. It was time to get ready for the final task.

~~~~~~~~~~

Harry was standing with the other Champions as they waited for the stands to fill with the students, teachers, and others that had come to witness the final task of the Tournament. He was staring at the twenty-foot hedges that stood before them and the small gap in them that marked the beginning of the maze. It was so dark and silent past that opening that he didn’t even want to think about what waited for him inside.

Hagrid, Moody, McGonagall, and Flitwick approached Bagman and the Champions. They were all wearing something that had large, red, luminous stars on them. They were going to be patrolling the outside of the maze. Their job was to watch for red sparks being sent into the air and rescuing the Champion who sent them up.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin,” Bagman announced.

Harry looked around and saw Draco in the stands with Theo and Blaise on either side of him. The twins were sitting next to Blaise. Hermione and Neville were sitting next to Theo. He noticed the tiny blonde Ravenclaw sitting just behind them wearing Slytherin colors and smiling.

Remus and Bill were sitting next to her. Severus was sitting with Albus, Maxime, and Igor. His dad gave him a slight nod and mimed taking a deep breath. Harry did as instructed and took a deep breath to center himself.

“Let me remind you how the points currently stand,” Bagman continued. “In first place, representing Lady Magic herself, Harry Potter with an impressive 92 points. In second place, representing Hogwarts, Cedric Diggory with 83 points. In third place, representing Durmstrang, Viktor Krum with 80 points. And in fourth place, representing Beauxbatons, Fleur Delacour with 55 points.”

There were cheers for each student in turn as they were introduced, and Harry was moved into place in front of the opening of the maze. He would go first, he would have a two-minute head start and then Cedric would enter, then Viktor, and finally Fleur.

He needed to make those two minutes count as much as possible. He checked the pouch on his hip that had a few potions, mostly antidotes for some of the creatures that may be in the maze.

“So, on my whistle Harry,” Bagman called out finally. “Three…” Harry took a deep centering breath. “Two…” He slipped his wand from its holster. “One…” The whistle sounded and Harry took his first step into the maze.

The sound of the crowd completely disappeared. He cast a spell that Severus had taught him that would cause a ball of light to hover over him at all times so that he would not have to sacrifice his light to cast others spells. He walked at a brisk pace and when he reached a fork and headed to the left. So far, he hadn’t run into anything.

He heard the sound of the whistle and knew that Cedric had entered the Maze. He sped up just a little and continued down the path that seemed to be deserted but he did not let his guard down. He turned to the right and kept going. He started to feel like he was being watched and the maze grew darker.

Harry came to another fork and tried to use the stars like Severus had taught him to do in order to determine where he was and which direction he should go to get to the cup. He distantly heard another whistle and knew that Viktor had also entered the maze or maybe it was Fleur. He wasn’t exactly sure anymore. Sounds were muffled and time seamed to pass weirdly.

The lack of obstacles was starting to unnerve him. He had already taken at least three or four turns at this point, and he had come across nothing. There was no way it was going to be this easy. Something had to show up soon. He heard a rustling behind him and turned with his wand held at the ready.

Cedric came darting out of a path to the right and paused when he caught sight of Harry. He looked shaken and his clothes were a bit torn and singed.

“Hagrid’s bloody Skrewts!” He hissed at Harry. “They are three times as big as they were in class. I barely escaped it.” Then he kept going down a different path. Well, at least he knew there were actually creatures in the maze now. Harry turned and hurried off just in case the Skrewt was following Cedric. He turned a corner and stopped when he saw a Dementor gliding toward him.

He flicked his wand and summoned his Basilisk patronus. The Dementor stumbled back and tripped over its own robes before knocking into the hedge next to it. He had quite a lot of experience with Boggarts from all of his practices with Remus. This was not a true Dementor.

“Riddikulus!” Harry stated. The Boggart exploded in a silver mist that hurried away from him and his Basilisk faded from sight. Harry continued on. He watched the placement of the stars and continued to choose his turns that way. Right….and then left….left again. Harry ran into a few dead ends and simply turned and headed a different direction.

He came across a fine golden mist hovering in the path ahead of him. He thought through his list of spells to try and work out what it could be and what he could use to counter it. As he was thinking about it, he heard a scream pierce the air. It sounded like Fleur. He waited to see if he would see sparks shoot into the air but there was nothing but silence.

He cast an ‘Evanesco’ to try and banish the mist but it did nothing. He cast ‘Avis’ and sent the summoned birds through the mist. Nothing happened to them, they just continued to fly straight through as if nothing had happened. So, Harry took a deep breath, and stepped through.

Immediately the world flipped upside down and he seemed to be dangling upside down from the ground. It felt as if he would simply fall from the ground and into the endless sky. It had to be a trick of some sort. Something to confuse the senses because nothing had happened to the birds. So, he closed his eyes and took a step.

There was an instant shift in perspective and the world righted itself around him. Merlin, that had been disorientating. Harry took a moment to calm his nerves. He kept going and looking for signs of Fleur down the paths that he passed. He knew it was her that had screamed and he was concerned at the way it had cut off and the lack of red sparks.

Harry kept his eye out for Fleur, but he didn’t stop moving on. It was ten more minutes, maybe, before he ran into the next thing. Cedric had been right, the Skrewts were huge. It was almost half Harry’s size.

“Sectumsempra,” Harry cast quickly and watched the slashes appear on the Skrewts body. It panicked and the hedges behind it caught on fire. Blood started pooling on the ground underneath it and Harry took the opportunity to dart past it. He didn’t feel the need to make sure it was dead he just wanted to get away from it.

He heard a screech and turned to see the Skrewt moving much faster than he thought it should after having lost all of that blood. He remembered something Hagrid had said about the Skrewts having a soft neck area and cast an overpowered cutting curse. The Skrewt’s head separated from its body and fell to the ground. Harry continued on.

A few turns later he could hear shouting. It sounded as if it were on a path parallel to the one he was currently on.

“What the hell is happening? Why are you doing this?” Cedric cried out.

“Crucio,” Harry heard Viktor call out. Cedric started screaming. It reminded Harry of Pettigrew screaming in the dream he had of Voldemort.

He turned to the hedge separating him from the other two and cast a dark curse Severus had taught him that would blast through solid stone. The hedge blew out and he stepped through quickly as the hedge repaired itself.

Viktor was brushing debris from his clothes and Cedric was panting and crying on the ground.

“Petrificus totalis,” Harry cast quickly and Viktor stiffened before he hit the ground. His eyes were blank and glazed. Moody and Severus had taught him enough about the Unforgivables to recognize them. Someone had placed the Imperius on Viktor. Who could have done that? Were there other people in the maze?

“Stupify,” Harry cast just to make sure that Viktor didn’t somehow break out of the body bind. Then he went to Cedric and pulled him up to his feet as much as he could since he was so much shorter.

“Are you ok?” Harry asked the Hufflepuff.

“Yeah…I think so…I can’t believe it…I didn’t think he would do something like this…” Cedric panted out as he kept his eyes on the unmoving Bulgarian.

“He didn’t,” Harry said with a frown. “His eyes were glazed, and his face was blank. Someone put him under the Imperius. Are there other people in the maze?”

“I don’t know? Are you sure Harry?” Cedric asked him. Harry nodded.

“Moody and Professor Snape have taught and showed me the Unforgivables enough times to recognize what it looks like,” Harry insisted.

“Did you hear Fleur earlier?” Cedric asked finally.

“Yeah, you don’t think Viktor hurt her do you?” Harry responded.

“I don’t know. I hope not,” Cedric answered. “Do you think we should just leave him here?”

“No, there is no telling what is in this maze. I would feel bad if he was eaten by a spider or something because we left him here. We will send red sparks up and let them come and get him,” Harry stated.

“Ok,” Cedric agreed. Cedric lifted his wand and shot the red sparks into the sky.

“Come on. We don’t want to be here when they come to get him,” Harry added. So, the two of them turned to keep going. When they reached a fork in the path they split, and Harry went one way and Cedric went the other. He was pretty sure that he and Cedric were the only competitors left.

Harry kept hitting dead ends and the silence around him became nearly deafening. He felt like everything was pressing in on him from all sides. He must be getting closer to the center. He had to be. He didn’t know how long he had been in the maze. His sense of time was altered, and his watch didn’t seem to work in the maze either.

Suddenly, he turned a corner and came face to face with a creature that he had only ever seen once in a book. A Sphinx lay calmly blocking his path. It was beautiful and he felt a little in awe of it. She locked eyes with Harry and sat up from her resting position and watched him keenly as he approached her.

“You are very near your goal,” She said with a melodic voice that captured his attention. “The quickest path is through me.” Perfect.

“And I suppose you have a riddle for me?” Harry asked her respectfully. He knew that she would not simply move. Sphinx were known for their tricky riddles.

“Yes, little one. Answer my riddle on the first guess and you are free to pass…answer wrong…I attack. Remain silent…I will let you walk away from me unscathed,” She told him.

“Ok, can I hear the riddle and still walk away if I don’t answer?” Harry asked her first.

“Smart boy, yes,” she answered. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, please,” Harry answered and he could have sworn the Sphynx smiled.

First think of the person who lives in disguise,
Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.

Next, tell me what’s always the last thing to mend,
The middle of middle and end of the end?

And finally, give me the sound often heard
During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together, and answer me this,
Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?

Harry thought about it for a few moments. The first part was obviously ‘spy’. It had been talked about enough between him and Severus because of the role he would have to play if Voldemort came back.

“Will you repeat the second part please?” Harry asked. The Sphynx nodded and repeated the line for him. “The middle of middle,” Harry mumbled. What was the middle of middle?

He leaned down and used his finger to write the word in the dirt. “And end of the end.” He wrote end down as well. Oh, the letter ‘d’ was at the end of ‘mend’ and ‘end’ and it was the very middle of ‘middle’.

“And the last part was a ‘sound often heard during the search for a hard-to-find word’,” Harry spoke out loud. He wrote ‘spy’ and the placed a ‘d’ at the end of it. So, he sat there and looked at the word ‘spyd’ and thought of different animals that could exist in the magical world and the muggle world.

He wasn’t really sure what sound someone would make when they couldn’t find a word. So, he thought about all his friends when they studied together. There were a lot of noises that were made when they couldn’t find a word.

Then he thought of Neville just a few days ago when he couldn’t remember the word for one of the spells they were studying. ‘er’ he had said over and over again. So, much so that the twins had started making fun of him for it. He wrote it at the end of ‘spyder’ Oh. He looked up at the Sphynx who was already smiling at him.

“Spider,” Harry stated with a smile. She flashed her teeth at him, stood and stepped to the side.

“Very good, Little One. You may pass,” she responded.

“Thanks,” Harry said. He swiped his foot across the ground to erase his writing. He wouldn’t forget that this was a competition. Cedric may come across the Sphynx and he didn’t want to make the answer to easy for him.

He jogged lightly down the path and stopped to check the stars before choosing the right path. He saw a straight path in front of him and there at the end gleaming was his prize. He took off running. Then he saw a figure dart onto the path ahead of him and realized it was Cedric and he was going to get there first.

At this point, Harry was determined to win. He had come too far not to. He could just imagine the look of pride on his dad and Remus’ faces when he won. Then he noticed something very large on top of the hedge to their left. It looked like it was getting ready to pounce and Cedric was its prey.

“Cedric,” Harry shouted. “Up on your left!” The Hufflepuff darted to the side just in time to miss being landed on by the massive spider that had dropped down on the path. Cedric tripped over his own feet and his wand went clattering away from him. The spider turned and bore down on the older boy.

“Hafrat Kabira,” Harry shouted. He was taking a risk using such a dark spell in front of the Hufflepuff, but he figured he might cut him some slack for saving his life. The Spider paused for only a moment and then burst into pieces that rained down on the two of them.

“Merlin, Harry are you ok?” Cedric said as he scrambled to his feet. He was wiping blood and spider bits off of his face and clothes. “What kind of spell was that?”

Harry, however, wasn’t paying his questions any attention. He cleaned his face off with a quick aguamenti and then he made sure Cedric was ok before he took off running again. They were still competitors after all. He heard Cedric curse behind him and then he could hear him running behind him.

Cedric passed him up and then stopped an arm’s length away from the cup. He looked back at Harry who stopped next to him.

“Go on, you beat me to it. Take it,” Harry panted out. Cedric just kept looking between the cup and Harry.

“No,” Cedric said and stepped back. “You have saved me at least twice in here. I would never have made it this far if you hadn’t helped me. You deserve it. Take the cup.”

Harry thought about arguing, he thought about offering to share the win with him. Then he suddenly remembered the warning a tiny little blonde had given him. ‘do not let him share your win. He will not survive the trip’. Instead, he nodded, reached out and grasped the cup.

He felt a jerk somewhere behind his navel and knew what that familiar feeling was. A portkey. Perhaps it was taking him back to the beginning of the maze. He closed his eyes and waited. When he landed, he instantly knew something was wrong. There was silence where there should have been celebration.

Harry opened his eyes and held his wand at the ready. Something was definitely wrong. He was not in the maze or anywhere at the school, he was in a graveyard. Was this part of the tournament? They had said all he had to do was touch the cup and win.

Then he realized this was it.

This was the reason he had been entered into the tournament. This was where he was supposed to die. Well, he had news for Voldemort, he wouldn’t play along. He reached up to grasp the portkey around his neck that would take him straight back to Severus but before he could he found himself unable to move.

There was a very large snake suddenly wrapped around him. A snake he recognized from his dreams about Voldemort.

Nagini.

“Bring him to me,” Came that terrifying raspy voice. Harry struggled to move but could not. He heard footsteps coming toward him.

‘Please let me go,’ Harry begged Nagini. The snake just tightened around him.

*I only serve my master. He wants you bound and so I will bind you. It is useless to struggle* Nagini responded to him.

Then Pettigrew was walking toward him with his wand out. He cast something that bound Harry and lifted him from the snake. Pettigrew sneered at him and plucked his wand from his fingers.

“You won’t be needing this, Potter,” he said and then tucked it into his waistband. “My Master will use you to gain a body and then he will finally have his revenge. It will be glorious.”

“Your Master is pathetic, you better hope that he kills me because if he doesn’t you will regret it most of all. If I escape, and trust me, I fully intend to, I will kill you. I have learned quite a few dark curses since the last time you saw me, Peter,” Harry threatened.

“You won’t escape,” Pettigrew squeaked out. Then Harry found himself held immobile by a very large angel tombstone. Peter then walked away and when he returned he was carrying the grotesque form of Voldemort that Harry had seen in his first nightmare.

Then Harry’s scar exploded with pain. It was worse than any pain he had ever felt in it before. He could vaguely hear the sound of croaking laughter. But it was nearly drowned out by the sound of Harry’s screams. He had tried not to scream. He didn’t want to give Voldemort the satisfaction, but it was just too much.

It stopped as suddenly as it began, and Harry panted to keep himself from whimpering in pain. He could feel hot liquid trickle down his face and knew that his scar was bleeding.

Through the blur of pain, he watched as Nagini wrapped herself around the misshapen figure that was Voldemort. He looked up when he heard the sound of something heavy being pushed across the ground.

Pettigrew was sweating and wheezing as he pushed the largest cauldron Harry had ever seen over to the foot of the headstone he was bound to. There was already a liquid inside of it because Harry could hear it sloshing around.

A fire was lit beneath the cauldron that began boiling rather quickly. It was also sparking as if on fire and emitting a large volume of steam so that the air around him became hard to see.

“Hurry,” came a rasping voice from the bundle of robes on the ground.

“It is ready, Master,” Pettigrew said with a whimper. He lifted the horrible abomination from the robes and placed it in the cauldron. Harry hoped it drowned. But he knew he wouldn’t get that lucky.

He kept his eyes on the cauldron and couldn’t really hear what Pettigrew was chanting. He saw a bone drop into the cauldron. Quickly followed by a hand. It startled Harry to see and he looked up to see Pettigrew staring at his own bloody stump in terror. Merlin, these people were all insane.

“Blood of the enemy…forcibly taken,” was all Harry heard before Pettigrew came toward him and cut him from the bend of his elbow to his wrist. Harry bit his lip and refused to scream when Pettigrew pushed a glass vial into the gash and scooped out blood. Then he poured it into the cauldron as well.

He stared at his arm and noted that if he didn’t stop the bleeding soon, he wouldn’t have to worry about whatever came out of the cauldron, because he was going to bleed out. The sparks coming out of the cauldron stopped. There was a surge of white mist that blinded him to everything around him.

Harry prayed to any being that was listening for the potion to fail. But to his terror, he spotted the tall figure of a male rising from the cauldron. He was completely hairless and nearly bone white. His face was snake like, and he had slits where his nose should have been.

“Robe me,” He hissed out and Pettigrew scrambled to do as he was instructed. Then, the disfigured man turned toward him with a feral grin and a forked tongue flicked out of his mouth.

This was not going to end well.

~~~~~~~~~~

Harry really did hate when he was right about things like this. He had waited and waited for an opportunity to run. But it hadn’t been easy. Voldemort had babbled on and on about his victory and how he was back and stronger than ever.

Voldemort had called his Death Eaters and Harry had not been surprised by the sheer amount of people in dark robes and white masks that had shown up. He even recognized a few by their voices and one in particular he recognized by his voice and platinum blonde hair.

Lucius was here and he had stood there impassively as Harry was tortured. If he escaped, Malfoy Manor was definitely no longer safe for him. Then he mentioned something that definitely caught Harry’s attention.

“My most loyal follower is unable to be here currently because he has done a masterful job of impersonating one of Albus’ oldest friends. He is hiding in plain sight at the ‘Safest place in all of Britian’. Barty Crouch Jr. is most favored among you all. All of this was possible because he infiltrated the school and set it up so that Harry Potter would find his way here,” Voldemort bragged.

Harry was not as shocked as he should have been. Bary Crouch Jr. had somehow escaped Azkaban and had been polyjuiced as Moody all year. Harry knew he hadn’t liked that man. It also explained why they had seen Crouch’s name on the map so often and could never find him. Harry was going to kill him. Just as soon as he could get away from this blasted graveyard.

When Harry didn’t seem properly impressed by Voldemort and his new body and power or sufficiently afraid he had used ‘Crucio’ over and over again. Harry felt like he was going to have a permanent twitch if he survived this. Then, it had happened. Voldemort the cocky Son of a Bitch had let him go and handed him his wand.

He wanted to give Harry a ‘proper chance’ to defend himself. The first curse hit Harry before he could reach his portkey and threw him back. He smiled when he landed right next to the Triwizard Cup. He looked up and smirked at Voldemort. The snake-man looked confused for a moment and then angry.

“Big mistake,” Harry said with a mad laugh. Then he lifted his wand and cast Sectumsempra. He watched the slashes appear all over the Dark Lord and then he reached out and grabbed the Cup. He was laughing wildly when he landed in a heap at the beginning of the maze.

“Harry!” He heard someone exclaim as the crowd around them roared to life in celebration. He thrust the cup as far away from him as he could and stood shakily to his feet. He felt someone grab his arm and he turned quickly to find Albus Dumbledore.

The man seemed shocked to find Harry’s wand pressed tightly against his neck. He slowly removed his hand from Harry’s arm and backed up a step.

“Calm, Mr. Potter. You are safe,” Dumbledore tried to sound reassuring.

“Don’t touch me,” Was all Harry managed to growl out. He looked around and saw Moody start striding toward him. He turned before anyone realized what he was doing. “Stupify,” He shouted and watched with satisfaction as Moody fell to the ground face first.

“Now, see here, Mr. Potter,” Fudge exclaimed. “What is the meaning of this?”

“That isn’t Alastor Moody,” Harry answered with anger. “That is Barty Crouch Jr. Check his hip flask, it has Polyjuice potion in it. He has been pretending to be Moody since before the school year started.”

Severus, his wonderful supportive father, went straight to Barty and pulled out the flask. He smelled it and then growled.

“He is right. It is Polyjuice,” Severus spat out. “What happened, Potter?”

“DON’T touch that,” Harry shouted when Bagman leaned down to pick up the cup. “It is a portkey. Moody turned it into a portkey. It took me to a graveyard. We need to go somewhere private to talk about this.”

“You need to be seen to. You are twitching, bloody, and look like you are about to pass out where you stand,” Severus countered.

“Harry, Oh Merlin, Harry!” Harry turned at the sound of Draco shouting. The blonde shoved his way through the teachers and other Champions. “Are you ok? What happened to you?”

“Draco,” Harry breathed out. He let the blonde bundle him close. It hurt because his nerves were raw, but he didn’t care. He had thought he would never see any of them again. “I thought I was going to die,” Harry whispered to his best friend. “Voldemort is back, Draco. Your father was there.”

“Hush, Harry we will talk about it when it is safer,” Draco whispered back. But he tightened his arms around Harry, and he knew that Draco was upset.

“Bagman will deal with the crowd,” Dumbledore stated. Bagman nodded and turned to the waiting crowd.

“Onto the stretcher, Mr. Potter,” Pomfrey instructed. Draco helped Harry to lie down and then held his hand as it hovered behind Pomfrey up to the castle. He could hear Bagman in the background announcing him as the winner.

“You are twitching,” Severus stated once Harry was laid on a bed. Harry nodded his head. “Why?”

“Cruciatus,” Harry answered with a sigh.

“How many times?” Severus demanded.

“I don’t remember. Too many,” Harry said with a grimace. Severus cursed and did a quick scan before handing Harry a potion.

“It is a potion that I created to counter the nerve damage caused from being under the Cruciatus for too long. You will take it once a day until the twitching stops,” Severus instructed.

“Yes, Professor,” Harry answered. It was only the two of them and Pomfrey in the room, so he needed to be careful. Pomfrey did a spell that cleaned him of all of the dirt, blood, and guts that he had been covered in and then she looked at Harry and Severus questioningly before she continued.

Harry nodded. His scars were nearly invisible now. The last cream that Severus had brewed for him had nearly faded them completely. You could only see them if you were looking for them. Pomfrey seemed relieved to be allowed to help. She removed his clothes and then tended to his wounds with Severus.

“The cuts, were they also caused by a spell?” Pomfrey asked.

“Yes, all of them except the one on my left arm. That one was done with an Athame. Pettigrew did it and used my blood for a potion,” Harry answered. She started applying cream to all of the cuts and chanting over them to close them up as much as she could.

The one on his arm was the worst and Severus had had to stitch it closed the muggle way. No matter what spell the two of them used they could not get it to close or slow the bleeding. Severus figured it must be because it was done with a ritual knife and there was no telling what runes or spells had been carved into it when it was made.

When they were finished bandaging him up and had given him a mild potion for pain, they dressed him in the infirmary pajamas and let Dumbledore and Fudge into the room.

“Tell us what happened, Harry,” Fudge said gently. “We need to know what happened to you so that we can take care of the threat.”

“Well, Minister Fudge, it is rather simple. A Death Eater has been posing as a teacher in our school all year. He put my name in the Goblet of Fire to ensure that I competed. He killed Mr. Crouch and stunned Cedric and Viktor that day in the woods. Then he turned the Cup into a portkey that would take me straight to his master,” Harry told them.

“And where did it take you?” Dumbledore asked. To Harry, he seemed almost excited.

“To a graveyard where Peter Pettigrew was waiting with a horribly disfigured Voldemort,” Harry answered.

“That isn’t possible. You must be mistaken,” Fudge gasped out. Harry shook his head. Then he told them everything that had happened. He left nothing out. Fudge looked increasingly horrified, and Dumbledore looked like he was fighting a smile through the entire story telling.

When he was finished, Fudge demanded that he tell no one else that story until it could be confirmed that Voldemort had returned. He didn’t want to cause a panic.

“It could simply be a group of Death Eaters trying to pretend that He is back,” Fudge denied.

“It will be easy enough to confirm at least part of his story by questioning Barty Crouch,” Dumbledore pointed out.

“Barty Crouch Jr. is dead. He died over a decade ago in Azkaban. He is buried in the graveyard outside of the prison,” Fudge insisted.

Harry just laid back and let the two men argue. He didn’t’ have anything to add. They could believe him or not, he didn’t care. He was going to prepare to protect himself and his loved ones. They could spend their time fighting each other if they wanted.

“I believe that Mr. Potter has given you all of the information that he can. Now, please take your conversation somewhere else so that he can rest properly. He is in desperate need of it,” Pomfrey interrupted the two men.

“Of course, Madam,” Fudge said with a slight bow. Then he turned to Harry. “Congratulations on your win, Mr. Potter. I am sure there will be an official interview or announcement made as soon as you are able to attend. Feel better soon and remember to tell no one until it can be confirmed.”

“Yes, Minister. I won’t tell anyone,” Harry agreed. Though he would be telling his friends and family. He would make sure to warn those that were important to him.

“Congratulations, Mr. Potter. You have represented Hogwarts well,” Dumbledore said with pride.

“I wasn’t competing for Hogwarts, or did you forget that I was representing Lady Magic as her Champion. This was not a win for Hogwarts, Headmaster,” Harry stated with a shrug. He did not miss the snort from the Minister or the flash of anger from Dumbledore.

“Of course, you are right,” Dumbledore agreed. “A win to be proud of none the less. Severus when you are through seeing to young Harry, I need to speak with you.”

Then the two of them left the room to continue their argument. Pomfrey nodded to Severus and then went to her office to give them privacy. As soon as she was gone, Severus pulled the curtains around his bed closed and then cast a silencing spell.

Harry sat up and burst into tears as soon as Severus wrapped his arms around him. He had been so scared and his dad was his safe place.

“I thought…thought that I was never going to see you again,” Harry stuttered out after a few moments. “I was so afraid, Dad. It was terrifying. He is terrifying.”

“I know, Child,” Severus said. “But you got away. You are so brave and so smart. You got away and you came back to me. That is all that matters.”

“I got him good, Dad,” Harry said with a grin. He looked up at Severus. “I got him with Sectumsempra right before I ported away. He was bleeding everywhere, and he was so angry.”

“Good boy, Harry. You did so good,” Severus praised him again. “Draco, Remus, and your shadows are here now. I am going to leave you to their fussing. I must go see what Albus wants. I will probably be sent to Voldemort I don’t know when I will be back. Just do what you are supposed to do and stay out of trouble while I am gone.”

“Be careful, Dad,” Harry said with a frown. Now, that Voldemort was back, things were going to get a lot more dangerous for all of them. His dad most of all. He would be in Voldemort’s company more than any of them.

“I will, Child. Let them fuss and then get some rest,” Severus instructed. He cancelled his privacy spells and then opened the curtains. He touched Draco on the shoulder as he passed and watched as the blonde began to fret over his son. Then he locked eyes with Remus and nodded his head to get him to step to the side with him.

“What is it, Severus?” Remus asked worriedly.

“I am going to be sent out tonight. It is time for me to start spying again. Things are going to get extremely dangerous now. Voldemort is back. He used Harry to get a new body. I need you to stay close and keep an eye on Harry. In fact, stay here until I have returned. There is no telling how many people he has hiding in Hogwarts. Teachers, Students, house elves, it could be anyone,” Severus instructed him.

“I will keep our boy safe, Severus. Do what you need to do and make sure you come back. Harry would be devastated if he lost you,” Remus responded. Severus grunted and then looked back at Harry one more time before he strode from the room and up to Dumbledore’s office.

About an hour later, Pomfrey made everyone leave so that Harry could rest. Draco looked up at her and then over at Harry.

“Go ahead and stay,” Pomfrey said with exasperation in her voice. “If I send you away, you will only sneak back in after I retire for the night. I don’t know how you do it, but I have given up on trying to keep the two of you apart when one of you is in here.”

“Thanks, Madam,” Harry said with a smile. Draco nodded and then took the pajamas that she held out to him. He changed quickly and then climbed carefully in the bed with Harry.

“My father was there?” Draco asked after a moment of silence.

“Yeah,” Harry answered quietly.

“Did he just watch Voldemort torture you?” Draco asked reluctantly.

“Yeah,” Harry answered honestly. “I’m sorry Draco.”

“Don’t, Harry. We knew he would go back to Voldemort if he returned,” Draco responded. Harry nodded. “What are we going to do?”

“Prepare for war. Now that he is back there is no doubt that there will be one. And both sides are going to be after me. Voldemort wants me dead, and Dumbledore wants me to fight for him or die for him. I am not exactly sure about his motive yet. I know based on the contract he drew up that he doesn’t plan on me making it to seventeen,” Harry answered.

“It isn’t safe for you at my house anymore,” Draco told him.

“I know Draco,” Harry said with a yawn. “Whenever you are ready, you can move in with me as well. Your house may not be safe for you either, Draco.”

“I know,” Draco responded. “Let’s get some sleep. We can talk about it more later. See what Uncle Sev has to say when he comes back from his meeting.”

“Good idea,” Harry answered. “Good night, Drake. Thanks for staying with me.”

“Always, Harry,” Draco responded. Then the two of them fell asleep.

Remus was lurking in the shadows near the door of the infirmary. He had promised Severus he would stay until he returned, and he planned on doing exactly that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
*July 1995*

Harry had been released from the infirmary three days later. He was still twitchy, and his arm was not healing properly at all. Everything else was healed up without any issues. Two days after that, the Final Exam scores had been released and Harry was quite proud of his scores.

“How did you manage to still get mostly all ‘o’s’?” Hermione said in exasperation. “I thought for sure this year I would be top of the class since you had so much going on.”

“You should know by now that our Harry doesn’t let anything distract him from his school work,” Theo pointed out.

“Next, year then. I am determined to beat your scores at least once before we graduate,” Hermione promised.

“Good luck,” Harry told her with a laugh. He was pretty determined to be top of his class every year. It would look good for any mastery that he attempted to get. If he couldn’t find a way to get back to his home dimension.

“He won’t make it easy,” Draco told the bushy haired girl.

“I don’t expect he will,” Hermione agreed. “He just gives me the motivation I need to work extra hard at all of it. Next year is our OWLS year. Those scores will determine what NEWT classes we are allowed to take. So, it will be one of our most important years for testing.”

“I can’t wait,” Harry said with a grin.

“Did you see that they posted our rating for the year?” Neville said as he joined them.

“Yep,” Harry said with a grin.

“Determined to outdo us all aren’t you?” Neville teased. “Top of the class and Triwizard Winner. I am sure you made all ‘0s’ on the Exams that you weren’t even required to take. You are setting the bar impossibly high for us mortals to keep up.”

“Oh hush, you,” Harry said with a pout. “Come on, it’s time to go to the Great Hall for the Leaving Feast.”

“I wonder who won the House Cup this year,” Draco said as they made their way.

“Don’t think they are awarding it this year. I heard one of the upper year Prefects talking about it,” Hermione informed them.

“Really?” Harry asked. “Seems stupid not to. It isn’t like our points system was affected by the tournament in anyway.”

“I agree,” Theo stated.

Turned out Hermione was right. Instead, the Great Hall was decorated with all four colors just like normal. They ate and enjoyed the last night with each other and their new friends from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. Fleur, Viktor, and Cedric all sat with Harry at the Slytherin table to talk about everything that had happened. They all promised to keep in touch with each other.

The next morning, the Hogwarts students watched as the girls from Beauxbatons loaded up and flew off in their carriage and the boys from Durmstrang boarded their ship. When that was finished they returned to their rooms for their trunks and made their way to the Hogwarts Express.

It was a quiet ride home for most of them. Harry had told his group of friends about the graveyard and made them promise to keep it to themselves for now. So, the atmosphere for the ride home was more somber than usual.

They were all going to go to their separate homes and feel out what was going on. Harry had already decided that he would house Draco, Theo, and Blaise for the summer if he needed to in order to keep them safe. Draco and Theo were the ones that he was most worried about though. Both of them had fathers who were completely loyal to Voldemort.

Severus had given all three boys a portkey that could be activated with a word. It would take them straight to Spinner’s End. Severus had redone the wards there and made it unplottable except for those who had a portkey or the password to get in. He would be alerted the moment one of the portkeys was used and then he would tend to whatever was going on.

When they arrived in London, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Harry didn’t have to wait for the Dursleys to leave this time because they didn’t come at all. He had just caught sight of Remus when he felt an arm snake around his waist.

“Don’t worry, Pup. I am going to take you somewhere safe,” He heard Sirius say next to his ear. Remus started walking quickly toward them.

“Let me go, Sirius. I already have somewhere safe to go,” Harry responded. He felt Sirius tighten his arm and shake his head. He took a step back from Remus and dragged Harry with him.

“No. You aren’t safe with those Malfoys or with Snivelus. Only I can keep you safe now that HE is back,” Sirius said. “Don’t fight me, Pup.”

It was that moment that Harry realized Sirius had something metallic pressed against his hand at his waist. Oh Merlin, it had to be a portkey.

“Remus,” Harry called out. Finally, afraid. But before the wolf could do anything Sirius mumbled something and Harry was ripped away from a running Remus just before he grasped them. He landed on his knees on a hardwood floor. He didn’t have anything with him except his wand. Sirius had left his trunk behind as well.

“Welcome home, Pup,” Sirius said with a grin. Harry glared up at him and looked around. He was in a dark house that just pulsed with Dark Magic.

“What did you do?” Harry nearly snarled out. Sirius just waved away his anger.

“Don’t know what you are so angry for. I told you that I was going to move you in with me a year ago. This is what your parents would have wanted. Now, you are safe. Nothing can reach you here. It is under fidelius, and it is warded to the foundation. No owls, no apparition, no portkey that isn’t a Black heirloom. Nothing in or out unless I allow it,” Sirius said with pride.

“I told you last year when you brought it up that I didn’t want to live with you,” Harry responded as he pulled himself up off the ground. “You take me back right now, Sirius. I mean it. You can’t keep me here.”

“I am afraid that he can, dear boy,” Dumbledore said from behind him. Harry whipped around and glared at him.

“No, he can’t, and neither can you,” Harry spat out. Dumbledore smiled at him, and Harry could see the contempt flash behind his eyes.

“That is where you are very wrong, My Boy. I am your Magical Guardian and I have every right to keep you here. You are still a minor,” Dumbledore stated. “You will be staying right here all summer long. You will make friends with the Weasley family, and you will get to know Ginerva properly.”

“And why would I do that?” Harry snarled. He couldn’t wait to rub it in their faces that their plans had failed again.

“Because, Harry, I am going to be your wife. We will be handfast this summer after you turn fifteen,” Ginny said from the doorway to his left. Harry started laughing. He couldn’t help it. They were all insane.

“No, I won’t,” Harry told her. She just smiled at him.

“There is a contract already made up between your Guardian and my mother. You cannot fight it without risking your magic and titles,” Ginny said with confidence.

“I am going to take great pleasure in informing all of you of this. So, please listen carefully. Albus Dumbledore is not my Magical Guardian. I was emancipated on my fourteenth birthday. I am considered an adult in the eyes of Lady Magic and the law. Maybe you should have paid more attention to your duties, Headmaster,” Harry said with glee.

“That is simply not true, Harry. Don’t tell lies, it isn’t becoming of a boy your age,” Dumbledore responded. Harry ignored him as if he hadn’t spoken.

“I was informed the moment he tried to make his betrothal legal. It is in no way binding, and it will not be taking place. He doesn’t have the authority to betroth me to anyone,” Harry told Ginny who looked like she was gearing up for one hell of a tantrum. Then he turned back to Dumbledore who looked ready to murder him on the spot.

“What you have done is kidnapping and if you return me to the station right now I won’t contact the ministry and press charges,” Harry stated calmly.

“Escort Mr. Potter to his room, Sirius. Make sure he stays there until I return. I need to make a trip to the bank. Send his meals up there as well. Do not let him leave this house,” Dumbledore demanded and then strode out of the room.

Sirius grabbed Harry by the arm and pulled him toward the stairs.

“You need to listen to me, Sirius. If you want to have any hope of being a part of my life you need to let me go right now. This is kidnapping. Dumbledore is not trying to do what is best for me. He isn’t a good person,” Harry tried.

“Of course, he is a good person. He is a great man, Harry. You have just been around Snivelus and those horrible Death Eater spawn for too long. They have corrupted your mind, but don’t worry. Enough time here will wash away their influence and then you will see that I am right,” Sirius insisted.

“You are wrong, Sirius. Don’t do this please,” Harry tried again. “We can go to the bank together. Just you and me. I will show you proof, Padfoot. Please, just take me to the bank.”

“This is Reggie’s old room. It is right across from mine so that I can be close if you need me, Pup. Don’t worry I will take care of you. Now, be a good boy and go into your room. Don’t try to escape,” Sirius told him and then closed and locked the door behind him.

Harry tried the lock and even tried a few unlocking spells, but nothing worked. He looked out the window to see that they were in the middle of a muggle London town. If he could just get out, he could disappear into the crowds until he found a safe place to use his portkey.

Severus was probably worried sick by now. He was sure that Remus had already let him know what was going on. If he hadn’t, then Griphook and Silverfang would the moment that Dumbledore turned up at the bank asking questions. This was not the way he had wanted Dumbledore to become aware that he was no longer Harry’s guardian.

He knew the exact moment that Dumbledore returned because there was shouting and what sounded like things being broken. He heard the sound of a girl crying and smiled.

Ginny apparently knew she wasn’t going to be marrying Harry after all.

~~~~~~~~~

Harry spent his days locked up in what he learned was Grimmauld Place. He knew he was in the house with Sirius all of the time and that Dumbledore, Molly, and Ginny visited at least once a day. Harry spoke to no one. They had tried many times, but he had nothing to do with any of them.

Two days after he arrived he woke to the sound of a very unhappy house elf in his room. He was straightening all of the things that Harry had moved around in the room.

“Nasty mutt, putting the Potter brat in my precious Master Reggie’s room. He has touched too many things. The room must stay the way it was,” The elf was complaining.

“I am sorry for touching your master’s things. I didn’t know they meant so much to you. I will not touch them again,” Harry said as he sat up in the bed. The elf turned toward him with a frown and looked him over as if to see if he meant what he said.

“Kreacher thanks the Potter boy for his consideration. Must be bored can Kreacher get you anything?” the house elf, Kreacher offered.

“Well, I am quite bored locked up in here all day. Would you bring me something to read? There must be a library here,” Harry asked.

“Of course, there is a library here. Greatest collection of Dark books in all of Britain,” Kreacher bragged. “The Great and Noble house of Black was once the greatest Dark house.”

“Oh, Draco mentioned that the Black Family has a massive library,” Harry said excitedly. Kreacher seemed to brighten.

“Potter boy knows the Malfoy heir?” Kreacher asked. “Lovely Cissy’s perfect boy?”

“Yes, Draco is my best friend. He is probably worried sick about me since I haven’t written him yet. Do you think you could get a letter out to him for me?” Harry asked quickly.

“Kreacher can do it. Nasty Muttface doesn’t pay attention to where Kreacher goes. Hates Kreacher he does. But Kreacher hates him too,” Kreacher answered. “He has let that Light Lord into my great Ladie’s home and filthy blood traitor Weasels. My poor Lady being turning in grave.”

“He shouldn’t disrespect your lady’s home like that,” Harry agreed. Kreacher smiled up at Harry and it was a terrifying smile full of sharpened teeth and promised pain.

“Kreacher will get him back. Kreacher does many things to make Muttface and Blood traitor miserable,” Kreacher said with glee. “Hides spices or foods and cleaning supplies. Messes up rooms after cleaning.”

“Perfect,” Harry said with a laugh. “Keep doing that, Kreacher. They deserve that and so much more.”

“Kreacher will get, Heir Potter books to read. Write letter. Kreacher will take to Heir Malfoy,” Kreacher promised.

“Thank you, Kreacher,” Harry said with a smile.

The elf popped away and Harry wrote a quick letter to Draco explaining what had happened and for him to get a letter to Remus and Severus about it. He needed help. He described everything that he could see outside of his window because the fidelius prevented him from naming the house. He was hoping that since Kreacher seemed so familiar with Draco and Narcissa that they would recognize where he was and tell someone.

Kreacher came back with a stack of books. It looked like he had gathered the darkest books from the library and brought them to Harry. That could be so helpful. He took Harry’s letter and then popped away. A tray of tea and snacks appeared on the table next to the chair and a fire sprang to life in the fireplace. Looks like he had made a friend.

He settled in the chair and pulled the top book toward him. Man, this was definitely an illegal book. Harry made himself comfortable and started reading. He was practicing one of the spells in the book when Kreacher returned. He handed Harry a letter and looked pleased when he noticed the open book and what spell Harry was practicing. Draco’s letter had been simple.

Harry,

I know where you are. I am telling Severus and Remus. Don’t worry, stay calm. Let me know if anything changes.

“Good choice. That is a lovely spell. Master Reggie mastered it when he was about your age. Such a good Heir. He would have made a wonderful Lord Black. Would have brought honor to his great house. Not like that disrespectful failure of a brother,” Kreacher said with a frown.

“Thank you Kreacher for the letter and the books. The snacks too. I enjoyed them. Please, don’t be a stranger. You are the only person worth talking to in this house,” Harry said honestly.

“Kreacher will take care of Heir Potter,” Kreacher promised.

“Well, I am actually Lord Potter, and Lord Peverell as of last year on my birthday,” Harry said with a grin.

“Peverell? That is a house as great as the House of Black. Kreacher is happy to take care of such a Lord. Kreacher will provide Master Harry’s meals from now on,” Kreacher said with glee.

Harry was happy to let the elf feed him. Molly Weasley’s food was barely edible, and he had already been warned by his rings that there were potions in some of it. He had Kreacher bring him vials and he started keeping samples of his meals and drinks.

He kept them in a pouch he had found in the room and attached it to his belt loop. He wanted to be ready to run at a moment’s notice. He wrote everything down and made sure to gather as much evidence as possible while he was there.

For four days after making friends with Kreacher, his routine stayed the same. Kreacher provided all of his meals in secret. As far as Sirius and the others in the house knew, Harry was refusing to eat. He could hear them getting desperate about it.

Harry would read the books Kreacher brought to him and practice some of the spells or copy them into a journal that Kreacher had gotten for him. Making friends with the house elf had been the best thing he could have done.

On the fifth day, things changed. It was Friday and he had been locked in Grimmauld Place for a week. After breakfast, he was sitting and reading when there was a knock on his door. He hid the book so that no one would know what he had been reading and made sure that his pouch was on him and covered by his robes. His wand was in its place on his wrist.

He opened the door to find Albus standing there smiling at him. He just stared at the man but said nothing. He knew the door was always locked and the man had only knocked after unlocking to try and give Harry a sense of control. They had all been doing it. Harry thought they were idiots. As if he didn’t hear the door locking and unlocking every time. As if he wasn’t trying to leave at every opportunity.

“Today, things will change. After lunch we are going to the bank, and you are going to make this right. No more of your stubbornness. I will have you back under control like you should have been from the start. See you after lunch,” Albus said and then he turned and walked away.

Harry closed the door and called Kreacher after penning a quick note to Draco.

“What can Kreacher do for Master Harry?” the elf asked. Harry smiled at him and held out the note.

“I think this may be my chance to get away. Dumbledore is going to take me to the bank. I am sure he is going to use compulsions or spells to make sure I do what he wants. But he doesn’t know that I have a system set up with my account manager and the King. This is where he gets caught and I get away. Will you take this to Draco so that he knows what is going on?” Harry asked with hope.

“Kreacher is happy to take letter to Heir Malfoy. Such a lovely boy he is. Great choice for Master Harry as a friend,” Kreacher praised. “Kreacher hopes Master Harry really gets the old man in trouble.”

“Me too, Kreacher,” Harry said sincerely. The elf popped away and Harry checked all of his things to make sure that he had everything he needed like the journal and all of the vials in his pouch that he made sure to hide. Kreacher returned and handed him Draco’s response.

We’ve got you Harry. Don’t worry.

Harry grinned and thanked Kreacher.

“When Master Harry gets free, he must remember that if he needs help he can call Kreacher. Kreacher will come when he calls,” Kreacher promised.

“Thank you Kreacher. I will remember that,” Harry said with smile. “You are the only reason I haven’t lost my mind here, Kreacher. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

“Kreacher is happy to serve worthy Master Harry,” Kreacher said and then popped away.

After lunch, Harry was ready. Dumbledore knocked on the door and then opened the door without waiting for Harry to answer. He pointed his wand and Harry.

“Summa Potestate,” Dumbledore cast as soon as he was in the room. Harry felt the same feeling come over him that he did when he was under the Imperious.

Apparently, Dumbledore wasn’t aware that Harry knew how to throw this off with ease. If felt a little different but it was still easy enough for Harry to break when he was ready. But he was going to stay under its influence until they go to the bank. It would help his case more.

“Now, come My Boy, it is time to go to the bank and set things to rights,” Dumbledore said with a smile.

“Yes, Headmaster,” Harry heard himself say and then the two of them headed down stairs and out the front door. Once they reached an alley out of the wardline, Dumbledore grasped Harry and Apparated them to the Leaky Cauldron.

They headed for the bank and didn’t stop to speak with anyone. When they reached the bank Dumbledore asked for Griphook.

“Do you agree Lord Potter?” The goblin asked. Harry felt the push in his mind and nodded with a smile.

“Of course, I do,” Harry answered. The Goblin nodded and the two of them were led down the familiar hallway to Griphook’s office.

“Lord Potter, please come in and take a seat. Albus,” Griphook said with obvious displeasure. He indicated the two seats, and they sat down. “Before we begin.” He slid the dagger and parchment across the desk.

“That won’t be necessary,” Dumbledore stated confidently. “You know that it is him. We can simply continue.”

“I am afraid that isn’t up to you, Albus,” Griphook said with glee. “Lord Potter has made previous arrangements with us that he is never to step foot in our office without a test. If he refuses the test we do not help him.”

Harry could see Dumbledore getting angrier and angrier. He felt a push in his mind.

“Couldn’t I just sign-off on not doing this time?” Harry asked.

“Unfortunately, not the agreement is binding and witnessed,” Griphook answered. “Is there a problem here? A reason that you don’t want to submit yourself to the testing?”

“Of course there isn’t,” Dumbledore snapped out. Griphook calmly looked between the two of them.

“I am sorry, but I am going to have to ask you to step out of the room, Albus. I need to speak with my client alone. I have reason to believe that he is compromised, and he has given me previous permission to use force if I ever have reason to believe so,” Griphook said. He made a motion with his hand and two guards stepped into the room.

“This is outrageous. He doesn’t consent to this. We are leaving,” Dumbledore stated and then he tried to grab Harry by the arm, but he was stopped by an axe.

“You will step out now or you will find yourself in one of our cells,” the guard told him sternly. Dumbledore glared at everyone in the room and then turned to Harry.

“Do nothing they tell you to do, Do you understand me? Nothing. They will be forced to let you go. I am going to the Ministry,” Dumbledore commanded and then walked out of the room. Harry was happy that they didn’t give him the choice. He was going to reward them greatly when this was all done.

The guard’s held him down while he fought and shouted. Griphook pricked his finger and dropped the recommended amount on the parchment and then Harry broke the spell himself.

“I’m ok, now,” Harry told them all. “It was like the Imperius, and I am really good at breaking that. I stayed under it voluntarily to make sure that it showed up on my test.”

Griphook nodded and the guards let go of him. Harry leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily.

“Can you get my, Dad now?” Harry asked quietly.

“Of course, we can. We want you to submit yourself to the cleansing just to be on the safe side. He will be here when you come back,” Griphook answered. Harry nodded and took the pouch out of his robe pocket along with the journal.

“This is every piece of evidence that I could gather while I was there. I will be happy to offer memories as well,” Harry informed him and handed the pouch over. “I took a sample of everything that made my ring heat up when they gave it to me. I want him taken down a few notches.”

“Very good, Lord Potter,” Griphook said with glee. “Go for your cleansing. I will call your father.”

“Thank you, Griphook,” Harry said sincerely. Then he followed the guards out of the room and to a ritual room. He would do whatever they told him to do if they let him see his dad faster.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“Dad!” Harry exclaimed when he finally made it back to Griphook’s office. Severus had been pacing the floor. He turned at the sound of Harry’s voice and caught the smaller boy when he launched himself at Severus.

“Merlin, Child you find yourself in the worst situations. For two days I thought that a Death Eater had managed to kidnap you Polyjuiced as the Mutt,” Severus told him as he held him tightly. Then he realized that Harry was shaking and silently crying into his robes.

“I tried so hard to figure out how to get away, I swear I did,” Harry cried into his chest.

“I know you did, Son,” Severus soothed him.

“The house was warded and locked down. I couldn’t use my portkey. I was trapped and they kept trying to dose my food and drinks,” Harry told him. “I got samples, Dad. I took samples of everything.”

“Good boy, Harry,” Severus told him. “It’s time to calm down now. Take a deep breath and then let’s sit down and talk about it. Amelia Bones is here as well to hear your story. She will let us know if there is anything that we can do about him.”

Harry nodded and took a few deep breaths to collect himself. When he felt like he could do this without getting too emotional he told Griphook that he was ready. Silverfang entered the room with Amelia Bones.

Harry told them everything. He left nothing out, including Sirius’ involvement. He did not care if it meant the man went back to prison. He was tired of playing nice with Albus and Sirius. He wanted both of them punished as well as the Weasley females.

He gave Amelia some of the entries from the journal and the samples of food. He let them pull all of the memories of his interactions with each person. Griphook and the guards that were present submitted statements of what they witnessed.

About halfway through their conversation, Dumbledore returned with a ministry official. The two of them were led into a private room. Harry, Griphook, Silverfang, and Amelia joined them and handed the tests and all of the paperwork over to the official who looked at Albus and frowned.

“This is your formal warning that an investigation is being opened against you for kidnapping, attempted line theft, use of compulsions, harboring a fugitive, and many other things. I suggest you get a barrister, Mr. Dumbledore,” Amelia warned him. “We have enough evidence from this incident alone to get you removed from all three positions that you currently hold. Have a great day.”

“Oh, and Lord Potter has filed for a restraining order. If you are anywhere within one hundred feet of him or if you attempt to contact him in anyway, you will be imprisoned while the investigation takes place and a trial can be held,” Silverfang added.

“Do you understand what you have been told today?” Amelia asked a quietly seething Dumbledore.

“I understand,” Albus ground out. “I also know that all of you will regret this. Voldemort is back and he is preparing for war. That boy is vital to our side. He must fight, he needs training so that he can defeat Voldemort. You are helping the Dark by preventing me from getting him ready.”

“This boy isn’t even fifteen yet. He is a child. If there is to be a war it will not be waged with him at the head. You are out of your mind,” Amelia exclaimed. “I suggest you leave now before you give us even more evidence against you.”

“You will regret this, you have doomed us all,” Dumbledore threatened again before he left the room.

“That man is completely mad,” The official, Mr. Smith stated with a frown. “He used to be great. A true leader.”

“Yes, well he is clearly not fit to lead anything anymore,” Silverfang stated. “Come, little Lord. I know you are ready to go home now.”

“More than,” Harry answered and let the Goblin king lead him back to Griphook’s office where Severus was still waiting. “Can we go home now, Dad?” Harry asked.

“Absolutely,” Severus agreed quickly. “Your wolf is pacing holes in our floor. He will be happy to have you home. Prepare to be smothered. I will write to Draco and let him know that you are home safe.”

A bit of smothering sounded really nice to Harry right now. Silverfang let them use a floo room in the bank that was reserved for their most important clients. Severus and Harry both counted. They flooed to Spinner’s end and then Severus apparated them home.

Severus had been right of course. Remus crushed Harry in his arms after making sure that he didn’t have any injuries. The Wolf didn’t leave his side the entire night and when it was time for bed, he transfigured one of Harry’s chairs into a cot and slept in Harry’s room. It was about two days until the full moon and Mooney was nearly frantic anytime Harry wasn’t within sight or scenting distance.

Harry was ok with that too. Because it meant when he woke up screaming from a nightmare, Remus was already there and curled around him as he fell back asleep. When he woke in the morning, Severus was asleep in a chair next to his bed and Remus was still wrapped around him as if to protect him from the world.

It was so good to be home. The only thing that would make it better was if Draco was there as well. Harry needed to find a way to see his best friend without going to his house. It might be time to invite Draco over for a visit.

~~~~~~~~~~
*Dumbledore*

Albus was livid. That horrible boy had managed to get himself free of Albus’ manipulations. When had that stupid boy gotten one over on him? When had things gotten so completely out of control?

It had been two days since the issue at Gringotts. He knew for a fact that Amelia Bones had gone straight to Minister Fudge. There was a meeting called to decide how they were going to handle Albus during this time.

He was sure that he still had time to set things in order while there was an investigation going on. He needed to find a way to get a letter to Harry that couldn’t be traced to him. He would try and plead with the boy to drop the charges.

Albus would simply let him know the truth. The boy would fall in line to protect his loved ones. Albus was sure of it.

He was pulled from his thoughts when there was a knock on his office door.

“Enter,” He called out and was surprised to see three members of the school board along with Amelia Bones and about six Aurors.

“What can I do for you all today?” Albus asked them. “Tea?” He asked.

“No, thank you. We are here on business,” Amelia answered.

“And what business is that?” Albus asked her cautiously. Amelia handed him a stack of parchment.

“Effective immediately you are hereby removed from you position as the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot due to the investigation that has been filed against you,” Amelia informed him and then stepped to the side as one of the school Governors stepped forward and handed him another parchment.

“This is to inform you that you are no longer Headmaster of Hogwarts. You will be given one hour to pack your things. Your signature will be removed from the Wards and once you step foot outside of the wards, you will not be permitted to enter it again,” Lord Flint informed him.

“You cannot do this,” Albus insisted. “I am the only person that Voldemort is afraid of. The only reason he will not attack the school. You are leaving the children open to attack. I must stay at the school.”

“There is no proof that Voldemort has returned. The Minister has informed you that you are not to spread such rumors until it can be proven,” Amelia responded.

“It would have been easier to prove it if he hadn’t sentenced Barty to the kiss without questioning him first,” Albus accused. “The Minister is afraid of the truth and his fear will be the death of you all. And now you are punishing the only person trying to fight for you.”

“I suggest you watch what you say. You are bordering on treasonous,” Amelia warned him. Albus scoffed.

“It is not treason if it is the truth. Don’t you understand, I am trying to protect us all. I need to be on the Wizengamot so that I can counter the laws that His followers will surely try to pass. I need to be in the school to keep him away from our children, and I need Harry Potter so that he can be trained to defeat Voldemort again. He is our only hope of winning,” Albus spat out at them.

“You have quite a high opinion of yourself don’t you?” Amelia said with a laugh. “You are not the only one capable of defending our world ‘IF’ He returns. You are not the only thing preventing Him from attacking the school, and you most certainly are not going to pin this war on the shoulders of a fourteen year old boy.”

“Pack your things, Albus. Your time is running out. Anything not packed when your time runs out stays here,” Lord Flint informed him.

Albus scowled at them all and packed his things. This was not going to go well for them. He would pack and he would leave, but he would give it only a few months and they would be crawling back to him begging for him to return and save them.

Once he was finished, Minerva was called to his office. She looked at them curiously.

“Due to current events and the charges brought against Albus Dumbledore by Harry Potter, Albus is being removed from his position and is no longer allowed on the school grounds. As Deputy Headmistress, you will be placed temporarily into the position of Headmaster until another can be chosen. Do you understand?” Lord Flint asked her.

Minerva was shocked. What in Merlin had happened to cause Harry Potter to bring charges against Albus? Charges that were serious enough that he was being removed from the school. Did this have to do with what Harry and Cedric had brought up with her about safety?

“I will do my duty with pride and to the best of my abilities,” Minerva answered and then walked with the group as Albus was escorted away.

The gates closed and she took a deep breath. This was not good. Not only was the school even more vulnerable than it was before, but Albus would probably lose whatever faith the public had in him to defend them.

She turned and headed back into the school. She needed to call all of the other professors back to the school so that they could discuss what had happened and prepare for the next year.

Minerva would not be able to perform her duties as a professor if she was acting Headmistress. So, she would need a Transfiguration Professor and a Defense Professor. Perhaps she could get Remus back for the defense position. He was great professor, the students loved him, and they had scored the best on their exams under his tutelage.

She had a few people that she knew would be good in the Transfiguration position. It might take a little maneuvering, but she would get it worked out. The first thing she was going to do was ask the Goblins to send their best Warders to come in and check the wards around the school and have them set them to rights.

Minerva had a feeling that the wards had not been functioning properly for some time now. After her talk with Harry and Cedric she had sat down and forced herself to really think about everything that had been happening that shouldn’t have been possible. There was a lot.

It was time to make Hogwarts safe for the children again.