Up and down
‘Well, I'm glad you had the sword with you,’ Dumbledore said, as he shuffled sheets of parchment into a pile on his desk. Remus realised, looking only briefly around the room, how unusually untidy it was. Although always eclectic, Dumbledore's office generally maintained a sense of organised chaos, but this afternoon books lay open, notes strewn across them, various instruments balanced in between.
‘I have to admit,’ he continued, ‘I am impressed. And horrified, that such a thing was within these walls. This castle, though, has always been full of secrets. I can see why Tom thought it a suitable hiding place.’ He took off his spectacles and rubbed his eyes. He looked tired. It made Remus nervous.
‘We thought we might be able to come back in the next couple of days,’ Sirius said, ‘This idea about the Founders seems to have been a good one and we wanted to see if we could track down the Fat Friar.’
Dumbledore nodded, ‘Of course,’ he said, ‘In fact I would suggest you hang around for the rest of the week - the Second Task is on Friday and I should think you will be -’ he hesitated, ‘You would like to be here for it?’
‘Of course.’
‘Keep the sword with you,’ Dumbledore said, ‘I will arrange another escort for your ghost hunt on -’ he flicked through the pieces of parchment on his desk, ‘- on Thursday.’
‘That was weird,’ Sirius said, quite loudly, as they descended the stone steps outside the castle and began the trip back to Hogsmeade.
‘He seemed distracted,’ Remus agreed, grimly. It was jarring, certainly, to see any crack in Dumbledore's usually calm exterior. It wasn't as if Remus had never seen him like this before, that was what was so unsettling, it reminded him of -
‘Would he tell us if he'd found something out about Peter and Crouch?’
‘I don't know,’ Remus said slowly, ‘I don’t know if I ever feel like he’s giving us the whole story. I always feel like he knows the information before I give it to him, as if he just wanted to see if I could work out the answer for myself.’
‘Sometimes I think that’s the act though - like he didn’t know but he likes to give the impression he did.’
‘You think?’
‘Surely. Surely he wouldn’t waste time like that?’
‘Who knows?’
*
Thursday morning saw them making their way back up to the castle. By their standards, at least, the last few days in Hogsmeade had been reasonably peaceful. They had wandered up and down the high street, sat in cafes and taken steaming cups of Puddifoot's hot chocolate for walks into the mountains, but their conversation rarely strayed from Voldemort, Peter, Horcruxes and Harry. Sirius was, at all times, a little tense, a little on edge, prone to catastrophise or to snap. Neither of them were sleeping well, Remus plagued with dreams of their school days, the same ones on repeat as if they were trying to tell him something - and Sirius - Sirius’ nightmares had returned full force, waking him screaming in the early hours of the morning, hands tearing at his skin, as if trying to pull the demons from within. Remus would hold him, arms wrapped tight across his body until the shaking stopped and he closed his eyes again. He had suggested Dreamless Sleep, but Sirius refused: what if Harry called them in the night?
‘Then I would hear it and wake you with the spell -’
‘No, you know it takes ages to be properly functioning after a potion. No. I need to be ready. Just in case -’
There had been a shift though, maybe somewhere during the conversation they had had after the last full moon, after the last fight. Something between them was different - better - clearer maybe. Remus looked at Sirius now, half a step ahead of him as they made their way up the long drive, and felt - sure wasn't the right word, he had always been sure, always known that this was fate, the only possibility - but, now he was content in the fact. Whatever undercurrent of mistrust that had clung on from their school days, from the years of separation, had finally dissipated. Whatever happened, good or bad, felt like what had to be. He wondered if it was the same for Sirius. He thought it was.
It was Hagrid that welcomed them in the Entrance Hall, Pomona apparently in a lesson. He escorted them up the stairs, past the kitchens to the large pile of barrels that concealed the Hufflepuff common room. They tapped the barrel in the middle with the rhythm that had remained the same since their own school days, and bid him farewell as the earthy passage opened out before them.
They emerged in a round room, made cosy by its warm yellow walls and the honey coloured wooden tables. Plants in copper-bottomed pots hung from the low ceiling, vines and ivies trailing from them, creating curtains of greenery. Remus sat down on an amber-coloured armchair opposite the portrait of Helga Hufflepuff that hung above the carved mantle, and unfolded the map. Sirius joined him, perching on the armrest, leaning in to examine it.
‘I don't see him.’
‘No…’ Remus turned the map, unfolding another section and leaning in again, ‘No, not anywhere near…’
‘Ok,’ Sirius sighed, straightening up, ‘Shall we start in the dungeons or the towers?’
‘Let’s just work our way out from here,’ Remus replied, moving to lay the map down on one of the wooden desks, ‘Perhaps he hasn't gone far.’
They searched in silence for a few minutes, side by side, bent low over the table, slowly folding and unfolding the map, following each empty corridor with their fingers, the classrooms either side of them filled with names. .
‘Oh, poor Harry,’ Sirius said, ‘He’s got potions.’
‘There!’ Remus had spotted him. He jabbed his finger at the first floor, just outside Minerva’s office, ‘C’mon, quick before he wanders off.’
They climbed back up the passage, hurrying back along the serpentine corridor, catching snippets of lessons as they passed the classrooms: Filius saying something about banishing charms, Professor Vector chalking up a table on the blackboard, the Defense classroom in which he had taught last year -
He looked round. Sirius had stopped, standing just to one side of the open classroom door. Remus took several steps back, drawing level with him, realising this angle gave them a clear view of Moody, standing at the front of his class. The students looked young - second years maybe, Remus thought, and were all watching Moody with rapt attention.
‘We should go,’ Remus breathed, quiet as he could manage, ‘He’ll see us through the wall if he looks.’ He gave Sirius’ arm a gentle tug, but he didn’t move.
‘... the calling card of the Death Eaters,’ Moody was saying, and shifting just slightly behind Sirius, Remus could see something drawn on the blackboard in green chalk, ‘... the Dark Mark became a signature Death Eaters would leave over the scene of a murder in order to claim credit for an attack…’
‘This on the curriculum when you were here?’ Sirius whispered, face pinched with revulsion.
‘... same mark seen at the Quidditch World Cup…’
Sirius made a sudden move towards the door.
‘Ok, we gotta go,’ Remus said, pulling Sirius hard this time, away down the corridor.
‘What does he think he’s playing at?’ Sirius spat as they descended another set of stairs, ‘Drawing the Dark Mark on the board? Bringing that into a classroom?’
‘I suppose they need to know - like the Unforgivables - he’d argue it was pertinent information -’
‘Second years though, they’re twelve -’
‘What was your mother showing you at twelve?’
‘Exactly!’
They reached Minerva’s office and looked around, the Fat Friar was nowhere to be seen.
‘Shit, too late,’ Sirius muttered, ‘Map?’
Remus unfolded it again, the Fat Friar indeed nowhere to be found on the first floor, just their two names standing in the empty corridor. He followed it both ways, scanning the rooms as he went, and then up the staircases-
‘Damnit,’ Remus said, turning the map so Sirius could see, ‘He’s upstairs now, where we’ve just come from.’
‘Great,’ Sirius rolled his eyes, ‘Come on, let’s keep it out this time, check he doesn’t move again.’
They were half way up the stairs when the bell rang and the classroom doors began to open, corridors filling with students in black robes, armfuls of books and heavy bags slung across their shoulders. They made it to the top of the staircase, just as several classes worth of children began to descend. Remus felt Sirius grab hold of his arm, pulling him out of their path and found himself in -
‘A broom cupboard? Really?’
‘I don’t think we’ve actually been in this one before. Do you recognise it?’
Remus looked around. One broom cupboard was much like another but he could say with confidence this wasn’t one that had been showing up in any of his dreams recently.
‘Nope, don’t think so, second floor wasn’t ever really on our way anywhere was it?’
Sirius laughed, ‘I think the coast is clear - surely they’re all in the courtyard for break by now. Is he still upstairs?’
Remus glanced at the map which was folded into place where the Fat Friar had been and nodded, he was still there. ‘I think he’s opposite the tapestry of Cassius the Quarrelsome - you know, the one with all the turnips on it.’
They slipped out of the cupboard and made their way down the corridor and up another flight of stairs.
‘Friar!’ Sirius said, as the jolly looking ghost in a habit finally came into view.
‘Sirius Black! As I live and breathe! Or don’t as the case may be!’ he laughed heartily at his own joke, ‘It has certainly been a while. How are you my boy?’
‘Fine, yeah, thanks,’ Sirius replied, clearly unsure where to begin, ‘Er - how are you?’
‘Can’t complain, can’t complain,’ the Friar replied cheerfully, ‘I was just enjoying this beautiful piece of craftsmanship,’ he gestured to the tapestry, ‘It’s one of my favourites!’
‘We’re wondering if we could ask you a question,’ Remus said, ‘We are carrying out some work for Professor Dumbledore and-’
‘Ah yes,’ the Friar turned now, hands clasped in front of him, holding, Remus noted, his usual rough-hewn mug, ‘Helena did mention you had an interest in certain relics. She is very grateful you know, very moved by the return of her mother’s precious heirloom -’
‘Yes,’ Remus said, ‘Yes, exactly. You were a pupil of Helga Hufflepuff, were you not? We were wondering if you knew anything that might have been hers that could have been - that might have been - er - coveted - by -’
‘Helga was a wonderful teacher,’ the Friar said, wistfully, ‘Just wonderful. Such a kind and caring educator.’
‘Yes,’ Remus said, ‘Did you ever notice - did she have anything that was significant? A magical object -’
‘She very much enjoyed the finer things in life,’ the Friar continued, ‘Of course a pious man such as myself knows that such earthly pleasures are not to be indulged in too often, you can’t take them with you can you?’ he chuckled.
‘So -’ Sirius said, rolling his eyes at Remus, ‘So she did have something? That was left behind.’
‘She loved a nice dinner, nice glass of wine - not something I can judge her for can I?’ he winked and held his mug out, ‘I am sure you’ll agree.’
‘Yeah -’ Remus looked at Sirius, who just shrugged, ‘Did she also like - objects at all? Ones that might have caught the attention of - Voldemort?’
‘That is what I am trying to tell you!’ The Friar shook his head, ‘Such a shame if it is true, but a Hufflepuff relic is of course a deeply sought after item. So few and far between, and such a legend -’
‘Yes, but what is it?’ Sirius asked.
‘Why her cup of course!’ the Friar shook his head as if they were wilfully misunderstanding, ‘A golden goblet, embossed with a badger, her own personal cup you know? And a powerful magical item.’
‘A cup? What happened to it? Is it still here?’
‘Oh no, no,’ the Friar shook his head solemnly, ‘Long passed down through the Hufflepuff family. A very long line it was. Young Hepzibah had it at school I think, some time in the 1920s, but I certainly haven’t seen it since then.’
‘Hepzibah?’
‘Smith,’ the Friar replied, ‘Lovely young thing she was, of course, as all Hufflepuffs are!’
Remus looked at Sirius who nodded, ‘Thank you,’ he said, ‘Thank you, Friar, that is - that is, hopefully, very helpful.’
The Friar nodded, and raised his mug in a toast, before ascending through the ceiling. Remus watched him go, and then looked at Sirius.
‘Hepzibah Smith? Any ideas?’
‘One for Dumbledore I guess.’ Sirius replied, ‘Let’s go, before the bell rings again.’
They found Dumbledore at his desk, his office rather a lot tidier than when they had last seen it. Remus wondered if he had solved whatever problem he had been working on that had caused the disarray. He looked up as they entered, lowering his half-moon spectacles, waiting for one of them to speak.
‘Possibly helpful,’ Remus said, not bothering with further introduction. ‘He knew what it probably was - a golden cup, he said, with a badger on it. No idea at all where it is though. Not here.’
A light had appeared in Dumbledore's eyes as Remus was speaking.
‘No, not here,’ he said, rising from his chair.
‘He did give us a name though,’ Sirius said, ‘He said we should be looking for a witch called -’
‘Hepzibah Smith.’ Dumbledore finished the sentence for him, crossing the room and pulling open a glass fronted cabinet.
‘You know her?’
‘Of her,’ Dumbledore replied, pulling a shallow stone basin from the cabinet. A silvery light glowed from within it, swirling across the surface of its contents, ‘It may not surprise you,’ he continued, ‘That I have been collecting information, where I could, on Voldemort, for quite some time, despite having little direction for my investigations…’ he carried the basin to his desk, setting it down amongst his papers and returning to the cabinet to rifle through a shelf of glass bottles. ‘Hepzibah Smith was a very old, very rich witch who died - many years ago now - poisoned, it was claimed, accidentally, by her house-elf,’ he found what he was looking for and came to lean against his desk beside the Pensieve. ‘The house-elf, Hokey, lived a little while longer -’
Dumbledore tapped the bottle with his wand, removing the cork and tipping the contents into the basin.
‘If you don't mind -’ he said, inclining his head towards it.
Remus glanced at Sirius who nodded, once, eyes on the basin. He rose, and Remus followed, bending low over it, the tip of his nose just touching the surface -
Remus found himself in a brightly lit living room, stuffed with furniture. Heavy velvet curtains hung at the large windows, and every polished surface was covered with delicate trinkets. An old lady wearing billowing pink robes sat on a brocade day bed, a tiny wrinkled elf at her feet. Opposite them, on a stiff, high backed chair, sat a handsome young man in a smart black suit. Remus jumped slightly as Sirius appeared beside him, shifting over to make room between the many ornaments. Dumbledore arrived moments later, facing them, on the opposite side of the room.
The old lady was holding out a plate of tiny cakes that she had lifted from the ornate side table that stood between her and the young man.
‘Help yourself, Tom,’ she said, ‘I know how you love my cakes. Now, how are you? You look pale. They overwork you at that shop, I've said it a hundred times…’
‘Tom -’ Sirius whispered, eyes widening as he turned to Remus. The young man was smiling, teeth bared - dangerous looking, Remus thought - but Hepzibah didn't seem to notice.
‘Well,’ she continued, smiling back at him, paper thin skin stretching across her heavily rouged cheeks, ‘What's your excuse for visiting this time?’
‘Mr. Burke would like to make an improved offer for the goblin-made armour,’ Tom said, ‘Five hundred Galleons, he feels it is a more than fair-’
‘Now, now, not so fast,’ Hepzibah said, selecting her own little cake, ‘or I’ll think you’re only here for my trinkets!’
‘I am ordered here because of them,’ said Tom, shaking his head in mock regret. ‘I am only a poor assistant, madam, who must do as he is told. Mr. Burke wishes me to inquire -’
‘Oh, Mr. Burke, phooey!’ said Hepzibah, dismissively. ‘I’ve something to show you that I’ve never shown Mr. Burke! Can you keep a secret, Tom? Will you promise you won’t tell Mr. Burke I’ve got it? He’d never let me rest if he knew I’d shown it to you, and I’m not selling, not to Burke, not to anyone! But you, Tom, you’ll appreciate it for its history, not how many Galleons you can get for it.’
‘I’d be glad to see anything Miss Hepzibah shows me,’ said Tom softly.
‘I had Hokey bring it out for me… Hokey, where are you? I want to show Mr. Riddle our finest treasure… In fact, bring both, while you’re at it…’
‘Here, madam,’ squeaked the house-elf, producing two leather covered boxes, and holding them up to her mistress.
‘Now,’ said Hepzibah happily, taking the boxes from the elf, laying them in her lap, and preparing to open the larger one, ‘I think you’ll like this, Tom… Oh, if my family knew I was showing you… They can’t wait to get their hands on this!’
She opened the lid, revealing a small golden cup, with two delicate handles either side and a badger engraved across it. Hufflepuff’s cup, just as the Fat Friar had described it.
‘I wonder whether you know what it is, Tom? Pick it up, have a good look!’ whispered Hepzibah, allowing the young man to lift the cup carefully from its snug silken wrappings. His long fingers moved across the engraving, and his eyes gleamed -
‘A badger,’ he murmured, ‘Then this was…?’
‘Helga Hufflepuff’s, as you very well know, you clever boy!’ said Hepzibah, eagerly, ‘Didn’t I tell you I was distantly descended? This has been handed down in the family for years and years. Lovely, isn’t it? And all sorts of powers it’s supposed to possess too, but I haven’t tested them thoroughly, I just keep it nice and safe in here…’
She hooked the cup smartly onto her own finger, laying it carefully back in the box, cooing softly to it like a child. Remus could see the look on Tom's face as he watched her close the lid. It was wolfish, hungry -
‘Now then,’ said Hepzibah, ‘where’s Hokey? Oh yes, there you are — take that away now, Hokey.’
She passed the box to the elf, turning her attention to the other in her lap, ‘I think you’ll like this even more, Tom,’ she whispered. ‘Lean in a little, dear boy, so you can see… Of course, Burke knows I’ve got this one, I bought it from him, and I daresay he’d love to get it back when I’m gone…’
Remus took half a step forward, leaning in just as the young man did. He felt Sirius shift beside him, craning his neck so he could see around her. She slid back the clasp and flipped open the lid, revealing, nestled in the crimson velvet interior, a heavy gold locket -
Sirius inhaled sharply and Remus looked up to find Dumbledore was now beside them.
‘I think we know the rest of this story,’ he said in a low voice, reaching out a hand -
Remus had barely registered his seat back beneath him before Sirius was on his feet.
‘How long have you known about that?’ he said, eyes narrowed.
‘I collected that memory some time in the 1960s,’ Dumbledore said, mildly, ‘Shortly before Hokey died.’
‘And you're only telling us about it now? Months after we started this crazy mission?’
‘I had no way of knowing this memory was pertinent until now.’
‘She had the locket!’ Sirius said, incredulous, ‘Didn’t that click for you when you saw it in my kitchen?’
Dumbledore paused, eyes clear and bright, ‘I haven't held the details of the memory in my own head for quite some time…’
Sirius made an irritated noise somewhere deep in his throat, ‘Take a minute now. Wrack your brain. Is there anything else you think we should know?’
Dumbledore paused again, his blue eyes locked with Sirius' grey ones. Remus could feel the tension prickling between them. He moved, intending to pull Sirius back a step when -
A knock at the door caused them both to look round. It was Snape, face pinched and furious.
‘Albus! I -’ he stopped abruptly at the sight of Sirius and Remus, dark patches appearing on his pale cheeks, ‘I need to speak with you,’ he added, words clipped, ‘Alone. It's urgent.’
Dumbledore nodded solemnly, eyes flicking back to Sirius for only a moment. ‘Certainly. We are done here I think. Sirius, if you would be so kind, I believe Minerva wanted to see you in her office. If I have anything further I will contact you.’
He nodded to each of them curtly, and crossed to the door, holding it open for them as Severus took Remus’ vacant seat by the desk.
‘What was that about?’ Sirius hissed as they descended the spiral staircase.
‘Which? Snape or Dumbledore?’
‘Both?’ Sirius said, ‘Or either.’
Remus shook his head, ‘Don't know.’
‘He definitely wanted us out of there,’ Sirius said, the irritation clear in his voice, ‘Kicking us out for Snape -’
‘He did say it was urgent.’
Lessons were over for the day and they could hear the chatter from the Great Hall rising up the main staircase as they passed. Remus felt his stomach rumble and realised they'd been wandering the halls almost all day. He wondered if Harry was managing to eat his dinner, or if nerves about the Second Task were stopping him. They descended one more set of stairs, finding themselves back on the first floor outside Minerva's office. Sirius knocked.
No answer. He tried the door, but no it was locked.
‘I guess we wait. Maybe she thought we'd be later?’
‘Have a look at the map - see if she's at dinner, or in the staff room?’
Remus pulled the map out of his pocket, reactivating it and sheafing through its many layers carefully, scanning the names as they drifted about the corridors and passages.
‘Not in the Great Hall I don't think - it's busy though I can't see -’
‘Staff room?’
Remus folded the map over, turning it, looking for the right section and froze - there, two floors above them, just round the corner from the staff room was -
‘Bartemus Crouch,’ he whispered, nudging Sirius, who had his back turned, examining the painting behind them.
‘What?’
‘Look -’ Remus pointed, ‘Right there. He’s here again - he's just upstairs, in the Defense classroom, with Moody.’
Sirius stared at it for a moment.
‘Let’s go and see.’
‘But - I'm sure Moody's got it handled - shouldn't we wait for -’
‘We’ll come back, come on!’
They stole back down the corridor and up the staircase, taking the stairs two at a time. Remus found himself down at the map every other second, checking the name remained. The door was closed when they arrived and they looked at each other in indecision - knock? Burst in unannounced? Sirius reached forward, placing a hand on the door handle -
The door opened, Moody’s disfigured face peering grumpily up at them, his magical eye rolling left and right.
‘Is there a reason you two are lurking uninvited outside my classroom? You need something?’
‘Uh-’ Sirius said, craning his neck to see into the room, finding no one there, ‘Are you alone?’
Moody gave him a strange look.
‘We’re here for the task,’ Remus said, quickly, ‘We were looking for Minerva.’
‘Well you won't find her in here,’ Moody replied gruffly, stepping back so they could see into the room, properly, ‘Not sure why you’d think you might.’
Sirius pushed past him, walking straight to the centre of the room, turning in a slow circle.
‘He alright?’ Moody grunted, not turning away but allowing his magical eye to swivel so it was looking out the back of his head.
‘Yes I think so,’ Remus said, nervously as Sirius ducked to look under a desk, ‘Just nervous about tomorrow, y’know.’
‘Anyone else here?’ Sirius asked, calling his question from across the room as he looked behind the blackboard.
‘This is nerves is it?’ Moody asked, turning and following Sirius across the room. ‘No one else is here. Why do you ask?’
‘Oh thank goodness, there you are!’
Remus turned in the doorway to find Minerva bustling up the corridor. ‘Albus said he had sent you to me, but I've had to look everywhere for you!’’
‘Sorry Minerva,’ Remus said, stepping back toward her, ‘we just had to - erm -’ he looked at Sirius for help, but he was now peering unsubtly through the open door to Moody’s quarters.
‘OK, well, Sirius - Sirius! What are you doing? I need just you down in my office please,’ she turned back to the door, but paused when he didn't follow.
‘Just me?’
‘Just you,’ she confirmed, ‘Remus, I am sure Alastor will see you out and then I'll see you tomorrow for the task.’
She turned again. Remus looked at Sirius and shrugged.
‘No I think we’ll stick together if that's OK, Professor,’ Sirius said, quite firmly.
Minerva turned back, an expression of exasperation on her face.
‘Alright, come on then, quick, quick, they’re waiting.’
They followed her from the room, Remus casting one last look around it, as if Barty Crouch might suddenly be sitting, nonchalant at the teachers’ desk.
‘Now listen, just try to be - sensible when we get down there,’ Minerva was saying as they hurried behind her down the stairs.
‘About what?’ Sirius replied, flashing Remus a look of concern, ‘What in Merlin's name is going on with everyone today?’
She opened the door of her office, ushering them in to reveal it was already quite crowded. She indicated a seat in front of her desk, which Sirius took, Remus finding room between a hat stand, and, curiously, Percy Weasley. Hermione was sitting in the chair beside Sirius, a small blonde girl on her other side, and Cho, who they'd last seen at the Yule Ball beside her. Ludo Bagman was sitting across the desk in Minerva's seat, grinning slightly maniacally at them all.
‘And our last treasure arrives!’ he said, cheerfully, clapping his hands together, ‘Excellent, excellent. Now, you may be wondering why you're here -’
‘Correct.’ Sirius interrupted, looking around and catching Remus’ eye.
‘Well! You four have the supreme privilege of being part of the next Triwizard task!’ he announced, beaming. Remus glanced at Minerva, who he was sure he'd just caught rolling her eyes.
‘You what?’ Sirius said, sitting forward in his seat.
‘As part of the next task, each of our champions is going to have someone to rescue - their most important person -’ he paused, expression earnest, ‘- to ensure they are - properly motivated,’ he smiled again, ‘And our sources have told us that you four fill that criteria!’
‘Rescue?’ Sirius said, ‘From the lake?’
For a moment, Bagman looked slightly uncomfortable, but he recovered almost immediately. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘Obviously that information is supposed to be only held by the champions,’ he glanced at Percy, who looked deeply disapproving, ‘But yes. You will be rescued from our very own Great Lake!’
‘It’s February,’ said Sirius, ‘It’s freezing.’
Remus looked at the girls, who had started shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Cho leant round the smaller girl to whisper something he didn't catch to Hermione.
‘It is,’ Bagman agreed, his voice slightly strained. He glanced up at Minerva who just shrugged at him. Remus smiled slightly. Her face was the definition of I told you so. He wondered if she had warned him.
‘But luckily,’ Bagman continued, ‘We’re wizards!’ he laughed nervously, ‘So, in a few minutes, we will be putting you into a lovely charmed sleep and then early in the morning you will be transported -’
He was cut off by Sirius' bark of a laugh.
‘You want to put me into a charmed sleep and take me to the bottom of the lake?’
‘Well yes,’ Bagman looked at him, ‘You’re Harry’s-’
‘Whose am I then?’ Hermione asked, utter confusion on her face.
‘Erm,’ Bagman glanced at Percy again, ‘- Viktor Krum?’
‘What?’ Hermione said, cheeks pink, ‘But I've only known him a couple of -’ she tailed off and looked round, catching Remus’ eye and reddening further.
‘I don't think I want to -’ Cho began, voice trembling slightly.
‘It’s going to be just fine!’ Bagman said, sounding slightly shrill, ‘We are slightly behind schedule so we need to get cracking. We’ll just charm -’
‘I do have to ask,’ Remus cut in mildly, ‘If you have parental permission for this. Enchanted sleep, bottom of a lake - seems like something you should need a permission slip for -’
‘Gabrielle’s parents know she is here, of course,’ Percy replied, tone officious. The others are - old enough -’
‘Old enough to give their own consent? Have you asked any of them?’
‘I -’ Percy spluttered, ‘The rules state -’
‘What are you doing here anyway?’ Sirius asked him, turning in his chair, ‘Why isn't Crouch -’
‘Mr Crouch is still unwell!’ Percy snapped, ‘And I am following his instructions to the letter. The task requires hostages -’
‘Hostages?!’ Sirius said, sounding scandalised, although Remus thought he might be rather enjoying himself. ‘Not treasure?’
‘Do stop it, Sirius,’ Minerva scolded, evidently of the opinion that this had gone far enough. She crossed the room and perched on the front edge of her own desk, almost entirely obscuring Bagman from view. ‘I realise this all seems a little dramatic, but I can assure you all you will be just fine. I will conduct the charm myself and there are safety measures in place. If any of the champions should struggle to complete the task, you will be immediately returned to the surface.’ She turned to Sirius and gave him a hard look for a moment, before her eyes shifted to Percy.
‘I did warn you, Mr Bagman, -’ she said quietly, without turning around, ‘- that selecting someone you felt might exaggerate the spectacle was a poor decision. Mr Weasley, can you really think of no one else, vitally important to Mr Potter, who might be much more willing to take part in this task?’
Percy wrinkled his brow momentarily, expression clearing only a second later.
‘Could someone send for -’
There was a knock at the door.
‘Come in!’ Minerva called sharply, and the door opened to reveal -
‘Ron!’ Percy called, straightening his tie, ‘Fantastic, you’re here. Come and sit down.’
*
‘What the fuck?’ Sirius said, half an hour later, as they descended the stone steps in front of the castle once again. They had checked the map once more before they left, finding Moody alone in his office, no sign of Barty Crouch.
‘Yeah,’ Remus said, ‘Really weird day,’ he rubbed his hip, ‘So many stairs.’
Sirius let out a laugh, sudden and loud and shook his head. ‘Oh, Moony. Oh, I’m sorry. Are you alright?’
‘Yes, yes!’ Remus said, choking out a laugh as well, ‘Fine, really, just - what even happened today?’
‘Too much,’ Sirius shook his head again, and rubbing a hand across his face, ‘We’ve gotta get through this task and then we’ve got to find that cup and then we’ve got to find Crouch - if he’s still sick and sending Weasley in, then what was he doing in Moody’s office - you reckon the map was wrong?’
‘One thing at a time,’ Remus said, trying to keep his voice steadier than he felt. He reached for Sirius’ hand, pulling it away from his face and gripping it tightly. The map was never wrong - which meant - he sighed. ‘We’re back tomorrow, we’ll look at the map again then.’ He laughed suddenly, another memory of the evening floating to the front of his brain, ‘Fancy them thinking they could talk you into being held hostage at the bottom of the lake?’
‘Ha!’ Sirius laughed again, properly now, if darkly, ‘Maybe I should have agreed. I could do with some sleep!’