Chapter 26
The fanfare was immediate the moment they appeared, shell-shocked and flinching back. Cedric leaned into Harry, the two of them bracing each other, even as James slipped out of the limelight, offering Newt a nod which was returned as the magizoologist took up the position in front of the children. He wouldn’t allow any further harm to come to them tonight, even if it was just from the overzealous attention of the crowd.
James’ eyes scanned the stands, and though he’d known Natalia wouldn’t be there, it didn’t soothe him at all.
She was supposed to be there.
He stalked towards the steps at the back of the stands, and saw Clint in the same moment the archer turned and noticed him.
“Where’s Natalia?” He demanded, and Clint frowned.
“Figured she’d be with you.”
James shook his head, scowl in place. Tony jogged towards them, and James angled his body to keep anyone from being able to hear them easily.
“Who’s missing?” He asked, and watched both men frown as they considered. Tony snapped his fingers, eyes going bright.
“The defence teacher. Moody, right? With the weird eye.”
James didn’t bother with an answer. He was already stalking towards the castle.
>>>
Natasha’s mind felt muddled. Every time she tried to focus, tried to think of where she was or what she was doing, the thoughts would slip away.
She could feel her body - feel a chill - but she didn’t know why.
She tried to shake her head, to rid herself of the feeling, but found she couldn’t move.
Stronger than I expected, for a muggle.
The words were barely a whisper, and she could barely grasp onto them, but she fought tooth and nail not to loose them. Muggle. She knew that word.
Non-magical.
Her mind made the connection even as her body stiffened, and she could see the room beginning to swim into focus.
Strong. Yes. She was strong.
Why was she here?
Green eyes swam through her mind and she latched onto them with everything she had.
Harry. Harry.
Like a fog clearing, the haze lifted, and she found herself staring into the surprised eyes of the man who’d caught her.
Who’d cast the imperious curse on her.
Who’d controlled her mind and her body with the curse.
She had no idea how long she’d been under the curse - no idea what might have happened between that moment beneath the stands - and she couldn’t stand it.
Before he could so much as lift his wand she was flying across the room, blade brandished.
>>>
They heard the curse - the crash - the wet gurgle of blood. James went through the door first, Clint and Tony at his back, and the first thing he saw was Natalia, poised over the body of the professor and driving her knife into his chest - again, and again, and again.
The man was long dead, features slack, but Natalia didn’t stop.
She was shaking, eyes bright with fury, blood splashed across her cheek, her hands slick with it, but still she didn’t stop.
It was the tears that cut through him - they poured down her cheeks with no signs of stopping, and they were what pushed him to holster his weapon, moving to haul her off the butchered corpse.
She turned on him with all the fury of a spitting cat, but he caught her wrist before she could plunge the dagger into his own chest.
“Natalia. This is not who we are anymore.”
His voice had her freezing, and then her eyes met his.
Her expression stayed blank for only a moment before it crumbled. The knife fell from her hand, clattering to the floor, but Natalia just shook.
He gathered her close, felt the first sob shake her frame, worried that she’d just shake apart with it, and looked over her head at Clint and Tony.
The two of them regard the scene, and them, with an anger he was sure was mirrored in his own eyes. Then Tony’s gaze shifted and widened, horror filling brown eyes.
James followed his gaze, and watched as the corpse shifted - skin stretching and bubbling - the magical eye popping free - before the shape finally settled into a gaunt, greasy looking man.
The creak of a foot on the steps had James gun back in his hand, Clint’s bow raised and aimed, and a repulser covering Tony’s hand. Severus stepped into the doorway, taking in the scene with dark eyes, before his gaze fell on the body by the door.
He stepped back, shaken, and looked up at them all once more.
“Who is he?” Natalia’s voice is raw, and James barely resisted shushing her, settled for tightening his grip on her instead.
“Barty Crouch Jr.” Severus told the room, mouth grim. “One of the most devoted of the lot.” He sighed, suddenly looking years older. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
“Tom Riddle’s behind this. Voldemort.”
Severus barely even flinched at the name now.
“Yes.”
Natalia was shaking again, and James could think of only one thing that would soothe her.
“Harry made it out.” He said, giving her the room to step back. “Newt and I got both him and the Diggory boy out.”
She looked up at him, gaze searching, but she didn’t speak, just nodded and rushed past them all. Left in the room, the four men looked at each other.
“There was a ritual.” James admitted. “Newt - he - he spoke to me, somehow. Without actually speaking.” He looked at Severus to confirm his words were possible, and when the man nodded, continued. “He said as long as Harry gave his blood freely, it would change the meaning of the spell, change the results.”
“Why didn’t you just stop it? The ritual?” Clint asked, but it wasn’t an accusation.
“Because now we know what the enemy is. And whatever Newt’s idea changed, you can bet it’s in our favour for once.”