Renouncing Magic's Child

So at half past eight ... Hufflepuff common room.

Cedric grinned at Harry. While he wasn't keen on the idea of participating in the tournament, he was grateful he had Harry with him. At least his older self wasn't alone.

"What d'you reckon ... got to find treasure."

"Underground tunnels?" Draco asked.

"They did it in one of the very first tournaments," Krum explained.

"That wouldn't be too bad," ... niffler to do the job for him.

That got a round of laughter from almost everyone in the chamber.

They walked down ... stopping dead.

Everyone who had not been there that year, waited in anticipation. They didn't want to know what had been done to their favourite pitch.

The Quidditch field ... examine the nearest one.

"A maze then," young Ron said.

"Maybe," young Hermione said, "but it might not be. It could be a labyrinth."

"That's the same thing," Ron muttered.

"It's not!" Hermione retorted. "A maze has dead ends while a labyrinth has a singular path."

"Hello there!" ... saved her sister from the lake.

Fleur blushed. The book was not wrong. She hadn't been very nice to the prince before the second task. She now felt deeply ashamed for it.

"Well, what d'you think?" ... what we're making here?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. Bagman was annoying.

No one spoke ... "A maze.

Young Ron gave a pointed look towards young Hermione. He had been right.

The third task's ... receive full marks."

"Simple he says," Fleur huffed.

"We seemply 'ave ... a number of creatures...

Almost everyone groaned. They could only imagine what sort of creatures Hagrid would provide.

then there will be spells ... head start into the maze."

"That's good, I guess," Sirius said with a sigh. He didn't really care if Harry won but surely the quicker he got into the maze, the quicker he could escape it.

Arcturus nodded his head in agreement. He couldn't wait for this book to end. He just hoped the next book was better. He didn't like how much his grandson's life seemed to be in constant danger. But he had a sneaking suspicion that wouldn't change in the next book.

Bagman grinned ... Should be fun, eh?"

"That man is balmy," Theo muttered.

Harry, who knew only too well ... it's a bit chilly..."

The Slytherins were all muttering between themselves about what they remembered from the third task. They'd seen slightly more with that task and they hadn't liked much of what they saw.

Bagman hurried alongside ... "Could I haff a vord?"

Krum grimaced, realising that their private conversation would be exposed to the entire chamber.

"Yeah, all right," ... slightly perturbed.

"I think he thought I was going to attack you," Krum huffed.

Harry laughed. "More like he was cross he had missed another opportunity to make sure I was ready to win so he didn't lose more galleons."

"I'll wait for you ... he walked toward the forest.

Sirius sighed. "Not the best direction to go in."

"What're we going this way ... turned to face Harry.

Everyone was pretty sure they knew what this conversation was going to be about and they weren't sure they really wanted to hear it. It really wasn't any of their business.

"I vant to know," ... Krum in amazement.

The Gryffindors in the chamber all gave out exasperated sounds. Harry could be so oblivious sometimes.

"Nothing," ... elaborated.

"I didn't believe you," Krum said. "Anyone could see how close you were."

"We're friends ... making things up."

"She's practically my sister," Harry said seriously.

"Hermy-own-ninny talks ... "because were friends."

Even Hermione was laughing now. She had in fact had a crush on Harry at one point. Quite a long time ago, now she thought about it. Second year, if she remembered correctly. It hadn't lasted long. As much as she loved Harry, she couldn't see them together. Not like that.

He couldn't quite believe ... a real rival -

Krum snorted. "There's no competition. You'd win hands down."

Harry's eyes bulged. "Only because I'm a prince."

"No. You're kind. Protective. Apparently, self sacrificing. Modest and a bunch of other things," Krum said. "Like I said, Hermione talked about you A LOT."

"You haff never ... I vos votching at the first task."

Harry blushed. He had appreciated that compliment.

"Thanks," ... The Wronski Feint, you really -"

Now it was Krum's turn to blush. It was nice receiving praise from some one else who flew as well as he did. He told himself that he'd help teach young Harry everything he knew so the kid could go pro if he wanted to. He had to have some fun in his life, being Mother Magic's chosen child was most likely going to be exhausting.

But something moved ... pulled him around.

The tension in the chamber ramped up immediately.

"Vot is it?" ... Mr. Crouch.

The aurors' attention was caught. What was Crouch doing there?

He looked as though ... gray with exhaustion.

Moody tutted at the description. He'd most likely been held prisoner in his own home.

His neat hair ... he alone could see.

"Oh dear," Molly whined. She was itching to grab Harry as if she could keep him safe from what had already happened in the book.

He reminded Harry ... shopping with the Dursleys.

Barty laughed almost manically. His father would hate being compared to a tramp.

That man too ... beggars and vagrants.

Kingsley was glaring at Albus, muttering about security risks.

"Vosn't he a judge?" ... Weatherby,

"Percy, he's talking to you!" George said.

"I don't believe so," Amelia said. "Didn't he have an assistant by that name when he had my position?"

"Do you know, Amelia, I think he did," Albus said thoughtfully.

send an owl ... there will be twelve. . . . "

"Nope, definitely talking to Percy," George said.

"Mr. Crouch?" ... will you? Will you? Will..."

The aurors were eyeing the book seriously. "His mind is broken?" Tonks asked.

"Possibly," Amelia muttered. "He certainly seems to have lost track of time."

Mr. Crouch's eyes ... fell to his knees.

Barty eyed the book gleefully. He liked the idea of his father suffering. The others in the chamber probably wouldn't understand but he loathed the man.

"Mr. Crouch?" ... and get someone -"

"That is a terrible idea," Severus muttered. He didn't like the idea of Harry unprotected, alone with a madman.

"Dumbledore!" ... "I need... see... Dumbledore..."

"Imperious curse," Moody growled.

Amelia nodded. "Yes, and it would appear he's fighting it."

"Okay," said Harry, ... "Must... tell... Dumbledore..."

Lady Zabini huffs. "The school needs to find a way for students to summon teachers in emergency situations. I can think of countless times in these books that Prince Myrrddin needed a teacher and one wasn't there."

"Get up, Mr. Crouch," ... his mouth sagging.

"His?" Blaise asked. "What's he talking about?"

"The man is mental," Draco grumbled. "You don't expect him to make sense, do you?"

"No," ... "Warn... Dumbledore..."

"Warn him about what?" the younger kids all asked irritably.

"If I had to hazard a guess," Moody growled, "I'd say his son has escaped his prison."

"I'll get Dumbledore ... concert tonight with Mr. and Mrs. Fudge."

Amelia looked slightly smug. She knew it. It hadn't sat right with her that Crouch had forgotten his assistant's name. The man had an amazing memory for detail. And he wasn't that old by wixen standards, certainly too young to be going senile. Had someone been using memory charms on him? That could have a similar effect on his mind. While she agreed that he seemed to be under the imperius curse, she didn't think he'd been under it at the world cup. And he was already showing signs of memory issues then.

Crouch was now talking ... very proud indeed.

Barty huffed.

Now, if you could bring ... I know where his office is -"

Sirius thought that was a slightly better idea than Harry's first idea but he still didn't like it and by the tension radiating through Severus's entire body he didn't either.

"He is mad," ... Bertha... dead... all my fault...

"How does he know that?" Kingsley asked his older self.

"You should stun him," Luna said, "and levitate him to the castle."

Harry and Krum both frowned. Why hadn't they thought of that?

Amelia looked less convinced. "Unarmed and mentally unsound, we should not forget that he was still once the head of the DMLE. He won't take being attacked well."

my son... my fault ... Harry Potter...

Sirius tensed at the mention of Harry.

the Dark Lord ... "Help me, will you?"

"I was shell shocked," Krum said. "Things like that don't happen at Durmstrang."

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Harry said bitterly.

"In fairness, they didn't really happen at Hogwarts before you started either," Percy said with a shrug.

"That you noticed," Charlie said.

Looking extremely apprehensive ... sherbet lemon!" he panted at it.

"How do you know the password?" George asked.

"I didn't," Harry said.

This was the password ... glaring at Harry malevolently.

"It's changed every few weeks," Albus said. "Although if you tell the gargoyle that its an emergency he will call me down."

"And why don't the students know that?" Narcissa demanded.

"I..." Albus sighed. "I'm supposed to tell them in the start of year feast."

"Move!" ... "What are you doing here, Potter?"

Severus sighed. He could almost guarantee that his older self would be no help at all.

"I need to see Professor ... "What are you talking about?"

"He just told you!" Ron shouted angrily.

"Mr. Crouch!" ... an unpleasant smile.

Krum was glaring at Severus too now.

"The headmaster is busy?" Minerva looked ready to spit fire. "A student has just told you there is an emergency situation and you said the headmaster was busy."

"Pot meet kettle," Severus hissed. While he didn't agree with his older self's response, he wouldn't have Minerva tell him off for it. She was being massively hypercritical.

The older witch immediately deflated. The man was hardly wrong.

"I've got to tell Dumbledore!" ... he was so panicky.

"I really wish your older self was here right now," Sirius muttered angrily.

"You and me both, love," Severus replied. He'd happily give himself a piece of his mind.

"Look," ... looking between Harry and Snape.

"Finally!" Blaise huffed. He'd always liked his head of house but he didn't agree with the way he treated Potter.

"Professor!" ... looking twice as ugly.

Several people looked like they wanted to laugh but no one did, too scared of Severus's wrath.

"What did Mr. Crouch say ... Voldemort getting stronger..."

The adults in the chamber were all looking at the book with serious facial expressions.

"Indeed," ... anybody else saw Mr. Crouch?"

"Why would he ask that?" Tonks asked.

"He suspects there is an impostor in the castle," Moody growled. "I couldn't tell you if he's worked out who it is yet though."

"No," ... somewhere around here..."

"Oh dear," Fleur frowned. How had she known nothing about this?

"Lumos," ... peered around at the surrounding trees.

"So, whoever did it, didn't want to hurt Potter," Moody growled.

"How do you work that out?" Tonks asked her mentor.

"They waited for Potter to leave," Moody said.

"We don't know that for certain," Amelia said. "It could be coincidental."

"But you don't believe that, Amelia," Moody said sharply.

"No. Unfortunately, I don't."

"How is that unfortunate?" Tonks demanded.

"It means that whatever sinister plan they have for Potter, it won't involve killing him in the tournament," Moody explained. "They're keeping him alive for something."

"But we want Potter alive," Tonks said in exasperation.

"But it also means that there's a very real chance that they're planning to kidnap him." Amelia sighed heavily. "Kidnapping a student from Hogwarts should be impossible. You certainly wouldn't be able to pass through the wards with an unwilling child."

"The cup," Moody said. "It'll be a portkey."

Everyone gaped at the aurors. Just how were they able to... Was it just conjecture or were they really just that good at their jobs?

"Should I go ... "Stay here."

"I wouldn't want you out of my sight," Albus said heavily.

He raised his wand ... "Ennervate."

"Not the best way I've ever woken up," Krum grumbled.

Krum opened his eyes ... he attacked from behind!"

"Doubt it was Crouch," young Kingsley said.

"Lie still for a moment," ... "Harry - what the -?"

"Gave me a right shock," Hagrid said.

"Hagrid, I need you to ... "I'm here."

"Of course he is," Moody huffed.

Moody was limping ... Snape said something about Crouch -"

"How did he know Potter spoke to Snape?" Amelia asked.

"The map," Mad Eye answered immediately.

"Crouch?" ... essential that we find him."

"He'll be dead by morning," Moody complained.

"I'm onto it," ... into the forest.

"I'd never have put my damn wand away," Moody almost shouted. He couldn't believe his old friend had missed the signs that were as clear as day to him.

Neither Dumbledore ... The Triwizard judge?"

"Karkaroff was not happy," Krum muttered.

"Igor," ... the ground at Dumbledore's feet.

Augusta Longbottom looked highly offended. "Well, really!"

In one swift movement, ... leaves showered down upon his head.

"You need to learn to control your temper," Professor Sprout said gently to Hagrid.

"Kindly escort Harry ... wait until morning, do you understand me?"

Sirius didn't like that but he had to admit it was probably safer. His older self could wait.

"Er - yes," ... "Stay, Fang. C'mon, Harry."

Everyone laughed. They all knew Fang was a coward.

They marched in silence ... lettin him lure yeh off on yer own -"

Hagrid looked sheepishly at Krum. "Sorry. That wasn't fair."

"Krum's all right!" ... Yeh can trust any of 'em."

Hagrid sighed. He didn't have a problem with foreigners. He'd just been angry with a particular French half-giantess.

"You were getting on ... You can' trust any of'em!"

Hagrid sighed. He'd forgiven her eventually. Although it had taken a while.

Hagrid was in such a bad mood ... tell them what had happened.

"I'll be glad when this book is over," someone said.

Harry grimaced. While the end of this book would suck, he didn't even want to think about how awful the next book would be.