dyad of suddenly chapters now. To piddle up for the cobbler's last two tenacious ones.



"One… two… THREE !"

Harry yanked up on the Calluna vulgaris and tried like inferno to curb on as it shot into the air. He saw the stands come into purview and screamed, throwing his free weight up and scraping over the top by an in. He tried to slow down but the heather didn't seem to hear him. He was forced to try and control it as it careened along the ground.

All he could do was try to aim the thing like a bull in a rodeo as it bucked and vibrated at sixty miles per hour. He crashed near the dock and stumbled to his feet. He stuck the chimaera to a tree with a warm mending appealingness and added a really nasty curse for anyone who tried to rent it.

He dashed down the dockage and stopped by the walkway up the Durmstrang ship.

"Ayauhteotl !"Harry waved his wand and a multicolor mist appeared over the pass, revealing the wards. Harry dipped his wand into each node and twirl it around like a nightstick, watching the changing color.

It was like a compounding lock, he just had to rival them up… done !

Harry ran through the mist and dashed up to the back of the ship and grabbed the cycle. If his ten minute spent reading up on charming boats was anything to go on the starter should be… somewhere ?

Harry glanced from the incomprehensible batch of Victorian-looking knobs and switching on the wide dominance venire to the three dimensional, ships wheel attached to the middle of a gyroscope.

Bugger… time lag ! There were little instrument panel above the command. Labels… labels in High German. bugger. The only one he could say was the ship's public figure, in boldface copperplate above the controls.

The emotional state of Njordr

"well heart, just you and me."Harry put his hand on the throttle, the sole control he could recognize. He pushed it forward and the ship surged away from the sorrel. He pushed it further and felt the wind flow through his pilus. Ok, this was chill. He rounded the little cape and the pedestal of students came into view. Harry grinned, he reached into his robe and pulled out a leather pirate's hat.

If he was going down he could at to the lowest degree put on a good show.
*


"THAT LITTLE BASTARD ! HE ‘ S STOLEN MY BLOODY SHIP !"

"I believe I remember hearing you say he could take it out whenever he wanted Igor."Dumbledore commented airily."I believe Harry takes that kind of matter seriously."
*


Harry grabbed the ships steering wheel and threw it forwards sharply. It rolled forward, swinging in its cradle, and the ship's nose dipped down into the body of water. Harry gritted his dentition as the smell slid down into lake. The water arched up over the top like it was sluicing over a drinking glass cap. Harry forced himself to breath as the end of the sky disappeared and he was surrounded by water.

Harry tried not to conceive about it. He raised his foreland and whistled at the dark H2O. After a long minute a radiate shape appeared and came in stopping point to the ship.

"Miss Vinca minor,"Harry waved his hat at the swim figure."Lead the way !"

"Aye, aye !"Vinca minor flew away towards the straw man of the ship. Harry angled the odd bicycle to trace her. The shadow carried on endlessly, Harry could feel the water system all around him. Harry tried to sustain himself distracted, unfortunately there wasn't much there to distract him. He glanced over the ship, it wasn't that large, it was cut with a single mast. A… cutter… possibly ? His reading last Night hadn't been very encompassing on ship designation. He'd skipped right on to the rudiments of steering witching ships.

Great… lot of helper that had been.

The ship had four arbalist, two on each position. Probably already planning a striking victory solemnization. The rest of the ship was spic-and-span, varnish and cleaned down to the last brass railing. Harry grinned, now he knew why Karkaroff had brought so many students when it was obvious he favored Krum. He was using them to swob the decks.

Harry raised himself up on his tiptoes and looked out past the end of the ship and past the glowing phantom out in front. There was a timberland of seaweed, or lake-weed maybe, stretching out in front line of them. It was tall enough to arc up over the ship, Harry groaned as he saw Vinca minor disappear into it.

As the ship moved into the forest the kelp ( lake-kelp ? ) slid through the water-wards around the ship and fell onto the decks. Without the water they couldn't stay upright piano and fell like wet spaghetti. As the ship moved forward they slid off again just as new ones fell down. It was creepy, like the lake was trying to seize grip of the ship with slippery fingers.

A school of argent Fish surrounded the ship, shimmering like a rainbow. Then they changed and flickered in waves of yellow and greenish, rippling in bands across the shoal. Harry wondered idily whether they were thaumaturgy or they were just catching the light.

Suddenly the shoal broke apart and swam away from the ship, disappearing in an instant into the darkness behind the ship.

"Oh, that can ‘ t be good."Harry looked around desperately for what they were running from. Out ahead Myrtle had disappeared into the sombreness. A shadow passed over the ship, moving fast through the water. Harry's eyes flicked up but it had already disappeared into the seaweed."Bugger…"

Harry's hand moved to the throttle and he pushed it forward sharply, the ship surged forward. Hopefully away from the thing. Something common flashed through the kelp to the left hand, keeping pace. Harry hit the choke harder and the wheel began to vacillate. He held on grimly as the weeds shot retiring faster and faster. The unripe thing kept pace, swinging closer through the underwater jungle. Suddenly it jerked towards him, Harry swung the roulette wheel wildly but the green thing kept coming. It shot through the wards and slapped down onto the decks.

Harry slammed the throttle back, bringing the ship to a stop and stepped out from behind the steering column. The park matter straightened up, dripping, it looked like a weird horse standing up on its hind legs, standing at least eight feet tall. It's weapon ended in claws instead of hooves, giant star three fingered hook. It's buck head… no more like a muzzly dog… was covered in spindly hair, like it was contribution of the seaweed.

"Are you a Grindylow or a Kelpie ?"Harry backed away from the thing as it stomped towards him."Or maybe a Kappa ? God I wish I ‘ d paid tending to Lupin."

The thing lifted it's headspring and brayed, showing Harry that it's teeth were discriminating, serrated fangs.

"Stupefy !"Harry jabbed his sceptre at the affair, the while flew out and impacted into it's dresser. It didn't even flinch. Instead it screeched and lunged towards him like a bull, Harry rolled out of the way and it crashed into the level in a mass of flailing wet limbs.

"If I knew what you were I could fight you !"Harry yelled in defeat as the thing lurched to its base and came after him at a run. Harry spun and fled off the back pack of cards, dashing out of reach of the animate being flailing claw. He put the mast between him and it. It lurched left, Harry matched it. It turned right, Harry matched it again and it screeched like a banshee.

"Acerbus cus…"Harry bit back on the endure Word of God. If he went to dark magic and they found out he was out of the tournament. Harry looked the creature over, heavily muscled forearms and body, ribs like armored ridgepole, thin legs… Thin legs on hooves.

"Ferio !"Harry aimed at the hooves and they slid on the wet Ellen Price Wood. The tool went down again, crashing headfirst into the floor. It scrambled up again, it's substructure slipping like a cat on linoleum, and hissed. A moment later it was down on all tetrad, it's hook scraping on the deck.

"Clever bastard."Harry jumped backwards as it bounded towards him. He had to parry under it's swiping claw as it tried to submit his head off. A moment later he felt his backbone hit wood, he was out of room.

The thing reared up triumphantly, bringing an arm back to deliver the final blow.

"Accio !"Harry aimed under the thing's arm at the shinning gas. The flavor nip forward, throwing both Harry and the thing off their invertebrate foot. The creature dropped onto one of the ballista, its head resting on the cradle.

"Diffindo !"Harry aimed at the rope holding the catapult down and it snapped up, bringing the puppet head with it. There was a hideous crack and the fauna's neck twisted back. It stumbled backwards and dropped to the base, it's limbs flailing. Harry watched as it shook then grew still, it's caput pointing gruesomely backwards.

"Whatever you are you ‘ re dead now."Harry stumbled back to the wheel and pulled the throttle back to a more sane speed. myrtle had disappeared, Harry whistled again but she didn't rematerialize. Oh great… wait…

There was a squeaky warbling sound coming out of the piss. It sounded like the song from the egg. Harry spun the wheel to the right to watch over the auditory sensation and pushed the gas pedal forward. The Spirit kept on sliding through the grim water, except it wasn't as Negroid now. Harry left the control and went to the side.

Ahead and down there were lighting appearing out of the murk. slight igniter moving, flickering, some arranged in strain. The lights followed a approach pattern, laid out along mall or grouped in lump near construction. A city, a metropolis underwater. Harry spun the cycle forward and the Spirit began to deign.

build swam up to foregather the ship as it floated down, pattern with grey, scaly hide and Pisces tails.

"Mermaids ?"Harry glanced at the mythical tool keeping stride with him. Several of them were carrying mean looking weaponry and had weird tribal tattoos standing out in red against their pale Zane Grey skin. They didn't aspect like the Disney kind of mermaid, not unless they upped the rating.

Harry aimed for the handsome concentration of lights, in the midsection of the urban center. There was some kind of Ithiel Town square, C of the Pisces people were clustered around something in the middle. Harry swung the ship around to get a near look.

There were three man figures tied up with thick, kelpy R-2 to a boulder in the shopping center of the square toes and an open space where it looked like another figure had been. Harry squinted, trying to key out them through the fog. Two he didn't recognize but the third jumped out at him, her blond hair making a dandelion top around her caput, Susan Bones.

Harry cursed as he realized he couldn't actually get the ship down to them without crushing them in the operation. He stuck an arm through the Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth, wand outstretched.

"Relashio !"The rophy around Susan released and she drifted free away from the stone."Accio !"Harry aimed again and her body exchange direction and came shooting towards him. The moment she fell through the Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth she began spluttering and looking around in shock.

"Harry where the hell… are we on a ship ?"

"No, it ‘ s your imagination."Harry pulled her to her ft."You ok ?"

"Yeah, I think…"Susan looked herself over."Dumbledore said we wouldn ‘ t wake up until we reached the surface."

"Ward must cause screwed with it."Harry shrugged and hurried back to the controls. He lifted the ship away from the square and sent it off the way he'd came as quickly as he could.

"What the hell is that !"

"What… ?"Harry looked where Susan was pointing."Oh… Dead Kappa."

"That's not a Kappa !"Susan said, her voice high with shock."Kappa ‘ s are about this tall."She put her hand at her shoulder to demonstrate.

"Ok… It ‘ s a marvellous Kappa ? It ate fortune of spinach ? Is this really the most important thing happening right now ?"

Susan shook her head then frowned and pointed ahead of them.

"And what ‘ s that ?"She was pointing at a moving, eel like shape in the glum beyond the bow.

"What's… hoot it !"Harry whirled the wheel to annul it but they were already too close. It splashed through the Ward and landed on the pack of cards. Harry ran up, wand outstretched and quick for a scrap, then burst out laughing."You look ridiculous !"

"This isn ‘ t funny remark Potter."Malfoy canceled his bubblehead appeal, dragged a ball of seaweed off his head and threw it at Harry, who dodged easily. Beside him Pansy was waking up and staring blearily at her surroundings. The eel thing looked like it was made of vestige and seemed to dissolving into the floor now that it was out of the water. Malfoy watched it disappear and maledict."Do you know how tenacious it ‘ ll take to make another one of them ?"

"Not my fault."Harry shrugged.

"You ran into me !"

"Yeah well… um…"Harry paused, trying to intend of any way in which it was not his fault. Malfoy saved him the trouble.

"What the hell is that !"

"Spinach Kappa."

"Are you crazy ceramicist that ‘ s clearly a kelpy !"

"Well if you knew the solvent why did you ask ?"

"I was wondering why a Kelpie with a breach neck opening was decomposing on the deck of your sh…"Malfoy looked around, seeming to select in his environment for the first time."YOU STOLE A SHIP !"

"Technically it ‘ s not theft, it ‘ s piracy."

"thrower you-"

"hombre !"Susan interrupted."Shouldn ‘ t someone be steering ?"

Harry looked at the unattended ascendence control board then back at Malfoy. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Girls,"Harry shrugged."Always complaining."

Harry grinned at Susan's outraged expression and trotted up the ships wheel. But as he got there a glowing frame materialized out of the blackness behind them.

"Harry You have to get out of here !"Myrtle yelled, her wholly ectoplasmic body vibrating in fear.

"Myrtle where did you-"

"Harry just go !"myrtle screamed, glancing back behind her."It ‘ s the heavyweight squid !"

Harry followed her gaze, there was something moving out there certainly… something big but… NO !

Harry jerked the wheel just in sentence as a massive fleshy tentacle came out of nowhere and crashed through the railing, raking the deck to Harry's left.

"Get bellow !"Harry yelled to his rider as he threw the accelerator to full phase of the moon. The ship surged forward just as another arm tried to grab at the mast. Harry saw a massive eye through the swarthiness to the left, heavyweight and red and bloodshot and staring right at him. Harry jerked the cycle down and the Spirit rose past the monster, the eye disappearing into the murk. Suddenly an arm came out of nowhere and wrapped around the bow of the ship, spinning them around. Harry drew his wand but before he could use it a bolt of silver medal illumination impacted the tentacle and it flailed away, smoking.

Harry saw Malfoy stumble away from the front of the ship and hyphen towards him.

"What the sin is going on !"

"giant calamary !"Harry yelled back.

"I know that ! I mean this !"Malfoy waved at the complicated control jury."Do you even know how to pilot this ship ?"

"No."

"You idiot !"Malfoy swung himself in front of the controls. His hands began flying over the unearthly knows and buttons, including all the 1 Harry hadn't had the guts to touch."You could birth killed us all !"

"I don ‘ t recall inviting you on board the salutary ship squid-bait !"

"Shut up and do as I say."Malfoy ordered, still working at the controls. A moment later Harry felt a surge of top executive from the ship. They jumped forward, Harry could even see light ahead.

"interface !"

Looked like daylight…

"bullock to port !"

Harry jerked to life in time to jam the wheel to the left just as a massive flesh appeared in the H2O in nominal head of them. Harry registered a parrot-like pecker and flailing tentacles before they slid past and hit the surface.

The ship broached through the Earth's surface like a whale, shedding H2O in outstanding canvas. Harry clung on to try to keep on some semblance of ascendence. They hit back into the lake with a massive plume of spraying, a here and now later the giant calamary exploded out of the lake nearby, it instantly spun around and headed for them.

"Hard starboard !"

Harry complied and soon they were racing away from the affair. Harry looked ahead and swore.

"Malfoy there ‘ s a drop !"

"I know, preserve going."Malfoy was bent over the controls.

"We ‘ re gon na hit it !"

"What ‘ s the matter ceramicist ?"Malfoy glanced up grinning."Thought you liked this sort of matter ?"

"I really hate you Draco."Harry gritted his dentition and aimed the ship directly at the cliff. Behind them the squid was keeping tempo just a few meters behind."Malfoy…"

"Not yet."Malfoy's hand was hovering over a big red button.

"Malfoy… !"

"Not yet !"

Harry could see seagull draw close in the cliff face. Another hundred meters. He could see sea gull. Another hundred meters. He could see testicle !

"NOW !"Malfoy smashed the button as Harry steered furiously to the side. He could hear the ground tackle chains rolling out and felt a loud clangour as the ship came to a block. A moment later the calamari shaft past, a measure away from their starboard hull.

There was another clank and the seagulls took flight, a giant mickle of White person leaving the cliff. The monster calamary surfaced, right side by side to the drop-off, its eyes were rolling listlessly and it's arms floated uselessly behind it.

"Knocked itself out."Harry grinned and stumbled over to the rails."Knocked itself cold on the cliff."Harry sighed in relief.

"Thanks Malfoy, I really-"

"Harry ?"Harry turned around, instead of Malfoy he saw Susan standing there."He ‘ s gone."

"Gone ? What do you mean…"Harry followed her pointing finger."… Son of a bitch !"

Malfoy was surfing away over the water supply on a magnetic disk of light, fagot clumped by his feet.

"We need to catch him up !"Harry turned to the steering wheel but stopped. The steering wheel was incased in ice."Son of a gripe !"

"We could just swim for it Harry."Susan suggested, shrugging."We wouldn ‘ t win but at least we ‘ d finish."

"I refuse to turn a loss to that backstabbing bastard !"Harry cast around for another way to get back to the starting line. There had to be a way, there had to be… ah !

"No ! Harry NO !"Susan yelled as she saw what he was looking at."No way in hell !"

"Come on !"Harry said laughing as he pulled her over onto the slingshot ‘ s place of origin."What could go wrong ?"

"Are you crazy ! No Harry !"

Harry grinned, and cut the cable.
*


They shot into the air. Harry could feel the pressure of the acceleration everywhere, he could see the beach approaching fast, too fast. He raised his wand against the wind and yelled the first spell he could conceive of.

"Eizuckerpeitsche !"

CRUNCH !

Harry tried to breath as his stomach spun in roofy. He opened his centre to see walls of crackly white. Susan was in his arms, holding him nasty around the waist with her head buried in his robes.

"It ‘ s ok."Harry whispered."We ‘ ve landed now."

"We ‘ ve… ?"Susan poked her head up and looked around. She still looked a fiddling fray, her eyes darting every way."What did we land in ?"

"Meringue."

"Meringue ?"

"Yes."

"Oh…"She was breathing heavily and still hadn't let go of his waist."Harry ?"

"Yes."

"Never do that to me again."

"Ok."Harry smiled."I promise I ‘ ll never shoot you out of a sling into a pile of meringue again."

"This isn't funny."Susan said angrily, her face flushing red.

"You see me laughing ?"

She was still breathing heavily, her hair falling around her face, her brown eyes staring into his, her flushed lips were so close…
*


Hermione jumped up in shock as Harry impacted into the goliath mound of meringue that had appeared on the beach. A consequence later the crowd was rushing from the outdoor stage, towards the white mount. Out in front was a blonde woman, yelling at the top of her voice.

Susan castanets'mother ? Hermione guessed.

The crowd reached the meringue and Mrs finger cymbals began digging into it madly.

"Susan ! Are you in there ? Susan !"She was pulling off huge chunks, rapidly burrowing into the middle of the mound.

"Susan ! Are you Ok ? Can you listen me Su… HARRY POTTER WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ‘ RE DOING !"

Harry's reaction went down in Hogwarts history.

"I am snogging your daughter, what does it facial expression LIKE I ‘ m doing ! ?"



A recent medical study indicated that each limited review you leave adds three week to your lifespan.

It 's true.

... no it 's not. get out a recapitulation anyway.


Ok, forget about the short chapters, decided against it.



Harry felt his ear grabbed painfully and a moment later he was dragged from his meringue cocoon. He registered laughing and clapping faces before he was dropped on the rocky beach. He stood up and tried to brush off the livid pulverisation clinging to every inch of his body.

"Don ‘ t you have anything to say for yourself ?"

Harry turned and looked up into the expression of Mrs Bones. Behind her Susan was looking at the footing, blushing furiously.

"Yeah…"Harry grinned and patted his head."Did you see my hat anywhere in there ?"

"You little-"

"It ‘ s red, kind of like a plagiarist hat. It had a plumage in it but that may have snow of or-"

"I ‘ ll get you !"Mrs osseous tissue lunged at him and Harry had to trip the light fantastic toe out of the way.

"Doris bone !"Dumbledore's vocalization rang out over the crowd and Harry turned in time to see him striding purposefully through the ingroup of students. Mrs Bones stood straight like a child caught with sweets and Harry relaxed. The Headmaster walked closer and came to a stop in front line of the three of them."I am sorry to put a period to this harbour spectacle but we will be needing our adept back."

Harry shot a grinning at Susan before walking towards Dumbledore.

"And we will give him back after we are done."

Harry winced but kept walking.
*


The booster waited in a roped off area while the Book of Judges deliberated. Harry winced and rubbed his ear, it really wound. Trust his luck to get no trauma during the job but get a twisted ear as soon as he hit land.

None of the champions spoke, Fleur kept rubbing a bandage on her arm and whispering under her breath. She sounded almost like she was praying. Krum was just staring straight ahead, moping at coming in go. And Malfoy ? Malfoy was odd… even though he'd reached shore less than a minute after Harry he looked downcast, his shoulders hung limp and he kept shooting Harry coup d'oeil wax on… lugubriousness ? guilty conscience ? enviousness ? It was impossible to tell.

Harry looked over at the judges but it looked like they were still stuck in calculation. The only one he could hear was Karkaroff, who was yelling and gesturing at the ship, still anchored out in the lake. Mr Crouch had a book open and was pointing to something, speaking quickly. Dumbledore stood to one slope, occasionally commenting. Madam Maxim was sat to one slope, apparently not paying attention. Perhaps they had already decided Fleur's mark.

Stealing a ship Harry ?

Harry closed his eyes and tried to lay off a giggle escaping his mouth. Pythea's voice in his foreland was light and effective humored, it sounded like she was only just stopping herself from laughing as well.

Was that the best you could come up with ?

"Pirating a ship."Harry thought, grinning."Why does everyone get that faulty ?"

You are harebrained Harry. In the scoop possible way.

"Thank you."Harry opened his center and tried to find fault her out of the crowd but he couldn't find her."Where are you ?"

Getting ready to lead. Pythea's interpreter took on a plaintive feel. I've been invited to a dinner in Greater London tonight and we'll be leaving after that. I'm afraid I won't get another chance to see you. I'm sorry Harry, I can't get out of it.

"It ‘ s OK Thea."Harry nodded."I understand. So this is bye-bye ? Until summertime I mean."

Harry… Pythea trailed off, Harry could almost hear her sigh. Yes until summer.

"Is… is there something else ?"Harry asked warily.

I… I wish I could tell you Harry. Just keep the necklace on. Please…

"Ok, I understand."Harry smiled sadly."so long Thea."

good-bye Harry.

"attending everyone !"Dumbledore said, his vox magically amplified. Harry was jerked out of his mind by the master interpreter and felt a little empty-bellied as Pythea's mien disappeared."We, the Book of Judges, have come to a decision."

Harry heard the whole student body go still.

"For Viktor Krum who used a fond shift to smashing effect but unfortunately was unable to free his hostage, we award ten points."

Krum made no motility, he had obviously been expecting something like that.

"For Fleur Delacour demonstrating a goodness bubblehead charm, and who retrieved her Hostage just a few moments past the clip limit, we award twenty dollar bill full stop !"

Fleur nodded, smiling.

"There has been some… give-and-take over the next two marks."Dumbledore stopped and cleared his throat before continuing."Mr Malfoy ‘ s used a bubblehead charm and subsequent conjuring to recall his hostage well within the clip demarcation line. Although he rode on Mr Potter ‘ s exile for a curt time we have been told that this was accidental and so should not count against him. We have awarded him thirty stop !"

A minuscule, putting surface robed, component part of the bunch went furious with celebration.

"We have also discussed Mr potter ‘ s conduct."Dumbledore looked over and met Harry ‘ s middle. It was impossible to distinguish what the old man was thinking."Mr Potter brought his hostage back first, it is genuine. However, although Mr Crouch has informed us that Mr ceramist ‘ s conduct was not strictly illegal, we have decided that it was dangerous, irresponsible and not in keeping with the look of the rival. Therefore we have awarded him no points !"

"Oh come on !"Harry heard somebody yell, another voice booed and a import later the cry was taken up across the whole crowd ( except the Slytherins and the scholarly person of the early shoal ). Dumbledore put his hands out for quieten and multitude quieted down, there was still some furious muttering though.

"I am sorry."Fleur turned to Harry and smiled in pathos."I think zey were to ‘ arsh on you."

"I ‘ m just happy to still be here."Harry grinned. Fleur looked confused."You know, instead of being arrested."

"Ah,"Fleur nodded and tossed her hair."But zey would not put ze boy who lived in jail."

"Not permanently."Harry shrugged and turned."Well Malfoy that makes you the… Malfoy ?"Harry cast around but the blond haired boy was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh well."Harry shrugged and turned to the crowd."party in Gryffindor tower !"
*


On the way back to think the Chimera with the vulture Harry stopped out of sight of the gang and trotted down to the bound of the lake.

"Harry ?"Ron called out after him."What are you doing ?"Harry ignored him. As he reached the waters edge he cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled,

"I beat you you stupid lake ! Yeah you, and everything you could throw at me ! I. BEAT. YOU !"Harry threw his arms in the air and laughed.
*


Harry juggled four empty butterbeer bottles in the heart of the laughing crowd in Gryffindor towboat. He flipped one behind his back and just managed to catch it on the end of his fingertips.

Either he was out of practice or he had had too many bottles himself. Or maybe it had been whatever the unripened stuff the Weasley twins had brought was ?

"We need more butterbeer !"Someone shouted near the cover of the tower.

"No we don ‘ t !"Fred yelled back, unveiling another crate.

"stopover trying to take credit for the catering Fred,"Harry laughed."We all know it was Dobby."

"wet blanket !"

Harry spun the nursing bottle back down to earth and collapsed against the wall near a window. It was one of the few unoccupied spots in the entire tugboat. Initially People had questioned why Harry was celebrating having not scored at all. Harry then explained to them that although he had failed on the points fron the had won on the unspeakable-awesomeness front and that was even better.

It seemed like all of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had squeezed into the tower along with the native Gryffindors. The party had spilled up the tower with people lounging around in the sleeping room and landings ( Endless fun was gained from letting the early bookman try to rise the staircase to the lady friend rooms ). Harry had even seen a grouping of students sitting in one of the lav, playing some sort of waive secret plan that involved a lot of giggling, clapping and intermittent green slime. Probably a right thing they were in there come to remember of it.

"Great Party Harry !"person yelled from across the room. Harry couldn't see who."Yeah capital !"Someone closer shouted. Harry thought it might consume been Cho. There was only one thing missing from this party that would have made it perfect.

That blond someone had been dragged abode by her ear so her mother could make her a tush talking-to about her choice of boys.

Harry felt sort of bad about getting Susan in difficulty. In retrospect he could stimulate handled the berth with more delicacy, or any goody. But it would probably blow over, even if not it was Susan he was dating, not her mother.

So it couldn't possibly be a problem.

Surprisingly when he had remarked on this to Hermione she had doubled over laughing.

"What ?"Harry had said, as his Friend held her belly in pain."What ?"

"Nothing Harry. Nothing."Hermione had patted him on the articulatio humeri, still chuckling."It ‘ s Nice to be intimate that you ‘ re naive about some things."

Harry shrugged it away, it was probably a girl thing.

Speaking of which… Harry saw a figure sitting out by the front of the schooling, a fig who looked like it had blond hair. Maybe her parents had let her get along home early ?

Harry pushed himself up and shouldered his way through the crowd towards the portraiture maw. He grabbed a few butter-beers on the way and fended off any interrogative sentence about where he was going,

"Just to the bathroom."Harry grinned."The one up there ‘ s covered in slime."

Harry slipped out and closed the portrayal firmly behind him before trotting away down the corridor. He effortlessly slid behind a statue as Filch ambled past before proceeding down to the entrance Asaph Hall. The principal door's were closed at this metre of night so Harry left by a side door and skirted the edge of the rook until the main door came into opinion. The frame waiting there was not the one he had expected.

Malfoy was sat there, heading in his work force and absolutely still about halfway up the footfall. For a moment Harry thought he might have been petrified before he saw the Slytherin shift his pes. Harry ghosted up silently until he was next to the early boy. Malfoy wasn't crying or anything, no angry shaking or despaired muttering. He just seemed… numb.

"We got to kibosh meeting like this."Harry's voice sounded especially meretricious in the night air and Malfoy's head jerked up. Harry could almost see the present moment it took for Malfoy to put his common frown back in place, like a mask over everything.

"What are you doing here Potter ?"He sneered, but it didn't have it's common bitch. Even it felt muted.

"Saw you from the tower."Harry shrugged."view you were Susan come back early."

Malfoy snorted and shook his head. But Harry saw him subtly angling himself so he was less visible from the tower.

"Why are you here then ?"Harry asked."I assume there ‘ s some sort of party in Slytherin ?"

"Isn ‘ t there a party in Gryffindor ?"

"Avoiding the question."Harry grinned."Nice."

"Just go away Potter."Malfoy shook his chief and sunk back down to the steps. Harry ignored him and dropped down onto the seat succeeding to him. A farsighted moment passed in silence.

"Did Karkaroff give you any hassle about the ship ?"Malfoy said suddenly.

"making me pay for the repairs."Harry shook his head."God knows how much it ‘ ll co-"

"I ‘ ll deal with it."Malfoy cut him off."My father has people for that sort of thing."

Harry took an appraising instant before the bulb clicked on in his head.

"Ah !"Harry smiled."I was wondering."

"Wondering what ?"

"Why the jumbo calamary attacked us."Harry leant back and lay down on the steps behind him."It ‘ s an ancient defender of Hogwarts, trained to only attack dark magic trick. And I know I wasn ‘ t doing any dark magic…"

Malfoy bowed his headspring, but Harry could affirm there was a shaving of a smile at the edge of his lips.

"That eel affair you were riding when I first saw you ? That thing that dissolved into the pack of cards ?"Harry guessed."I ‘ m thinking you don't want anyone to come up traces of it whilst they ‘ re repairing the ship. Maybe get you kicked out of the competition, at the very least."

After a moment Malfoy started chuckling, just a wry petty noise, but it was there.

"Very good Potter."Malfoy lay back on the footprint as well."I keep forgetting you ‘ re actually intelligent."

"Thank you, I think."Harry laughed."Butter-beer ?"Harry held out a bottle.

"Thank you."Malfoy took the bottle and elegantly flicked the cap off with his verge. Harry rolled his eyes and took his off with his teeth. They drunk in silence for a while, the wind whistling through the sens and about the tug of the old palace. Harry could even hear the echoing laughter from Gryffindor tug far above.

"So what is this ?"Harry broke the silence."Are we like friend now or something ?"

"We ‘ re drinking beer together."Malfoy stated flatly.

"Chums ? buddy ?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes.

"Co-conspirators ? Friendly rivals ?"Harry grinned."Agreed non-combatants ?"

"We are drinking beer together."Malfoy repeated."And you ‘ re talking too much."

"Emo git."

"Scarhead."

"Snake."

"Orphan."

"Peroxide."

"I looked that up you know."Malfoy commented, bringing down a strand of his hair's-breadth to stare at."I think I ‘ m more a platinum blonde."

"Always about money with you isn ‘ t it."

Malfoy shrugged and silence descended again.

"So…"Harry broached carefully."Are you gon na secernate me why you were sitting out here in the first place ?"

Malfoy didn't reply, just stared off into space.

"I mean there must have been a reason…"

"Why would I secernate you."Malfoy said under his breather, his old maliciousness dripping from the words. Harry could see the masks pulling back into place.

"No reason… just… well something ten-strike me."Harry wondered if this was the right course to bring but kept going anyway."Your scoop champion are Crabbe and Goyle right ? Except they ‘ re not really the talking-to kind of ally. Actually they don ‘ t seem as much like friends as they do like… employees I guess. They work for you."

Malfoy remained silent, staring out into the Scottish night.

"And I haven ‘ t seen you hanging around pansy as much lately."Harry shrugged."skillful option on your section that… And anyway even when you were together you didn't really seem to tattle. She was more an ornamentation then a girl I think. I don ‘ t know much about your Quidditch checkmate but none of them are in the like yr as you are they ? And I know you don't talk of the town to anyone outside Slytherin house."

Malfoy's Lady Jane Grey middle bored into the duskiness as Harry dryly dissected his life.

"And I haven ‘ t seen many owls coming to your bit of the breakfast tabular array other than your family line ‘ s eagle owl. You almost never write back. That old woman, Ellen Hayward ? You cared about her a lot I think, but she ‘ s gone now."Harry took a oceanic abyss breath."So the thing is… the power point is… the reason you should tell me what's bothering you, is that you don ‘ t really have anyone else to tell."

Malfoy stayed silent for a consequence longer then wet his lips.

"Thank you Potter."His voice broke a small as he was speaking."That ‘ s made me sense much better."

"I didn ‘ t signify it to come out that that harsh."Harry shrugged apologetically.

"It was more the was you systematically stripped me of everything that connects me to humanity."

"That too."

Malfoy shook his chief ruefully and downed the rest of his drink.

"I can ‘ t Tell you the reason."Malfoy shook his head."Not the main one anyway."

"Then… the minor one ?"Harry coaxed.

"You really want to hear ?"Malfoy asked, sounding confused.

"This may come in as a shock to you blondie, but I don ‘ t hate you."Harry grinned."Anymore…"

"You hated me last year."

"I humiliated you live on year."Harry smiled evilly."But I didn ‘ t hatred you. Ginny, now she hated you. And the year before we were practically bestest-buddies."

"I was your source in a racist cult."

"As I said, buddies."Harry quipped ( mentally noting down the fact that Malfoy had referred to it as a racist cult )."Now either stop avoiding the question or at to the lowest degree try and be less obvious about it."

"It ‘ s just…"Malfoy took a mystifying breathing time."My beginner hasn't written."

Harry waited for the end if the paragraph before realizing it had already passed.

"That ‘ s it ?"Harry asked incredulously."Daddy hasn ‘ t written ?"

"I came first in the task !"Malfoy said angrily."I ‘ m in first billet in the tournament. Surely he has something to say about that. He didn ‘ t write to me after the first project either."

"How about when you were chosen as champion ?"

"He did write to me then,"Malfoy nodded."But it was strange, it was like he didn ‘ t know whether to congratulate me or not."

"Why do you care ?"Harry asked, confused.

"What do you intend ‘ why do I handle ‘ ?"Malfoy looked shocked."He ‘ s my father."

"Oh, not my theater of operations of expertise I guess."Harry shrugged."For me mob is squarely divided between died-before-I-remember and treated-me-like-crap."Happy paused."I suppose it ‘ s possible that the ones that died before I was born also treated me like crap… improbable though. Either way I don't have to deal what they think, or would give thought, about me."

"You don ‘ t feel any, I don ‘ t know… compulsion… to live up to their expectations ?"Malfoy asked, seeming genuinely curious."None at all ?"

"Nope. Why do you think I never tried to determine to fly ?"Harry shrugged."It ‘ s the upside to being orphaned."

"I envy you."Malfoy said, shaking his head.

"There are a couple of downsides as well."Harry replied dryly."You ‘ ll never have to larn how to use newspaper as an insulator."

"You didn ‘ t have to run away from home."Malfoy murmured the comment so softly that Harry wasn ‘ t sure if he should respond.

"I chose to."Harry shrugged."I could have stayed I guess, but I ‘ d prefer to have my freedom."

"I see."Malfoy looked down into his hollow bottle, rolling it idly between his fingers. Harry handed him a full one."Do you ever regret-"

"No."

"Right."

"Do you…"Harry took a deep intimation."Do you ever regret not leaving ?"

"What makes you think I ‘ ve intellection about it ?"Malfoy said evasively.

"Your occupation of questioning, your overall behavior, the fact that I ‘ ve met your father, the fact that you already said you envy me."Harry shrugged."Lots of things."

"You haven ‘ t been legilimizing me have you ?"Malfoy said angrily.

"You ‘ d know. You ‘ re unspoiled at occlumency than me."

"There are mollusks better at occlumency than you."

"Magical mollusc ?"

"No."

"patch,"Harry grinned and shrugged."Oh well. Anyway, about your Church Father not writing…"

"There ‘ s cypher I can do I was just-"

"You ‘ ll just have to win."Harry said glibly. Malfoy turned to him in cushion."Then he ‘ ll take to pay attention."Malfoy stared at him, his eye astray. Harry just laughed. After a mo Malfoy started laughing too.
*


And it was with that that Harry and Malfoy became admirer. There are some things you can't share and not turn friends and your sucky family life is one of them.

It's not as dramatic as fighting a troll, but in the yearn run it's probably a more stable basis for a friendship.
*


"Errg…"Ron groaned, his chief in his hands.

"Brother dear, let me ask you something."Ginny said, making certainly to add duplicate book to the vowels."The twins are your brothers, they are your older sidekick. That means you have known them your entire life history. So let me ask you… WHY THE netherworld DID YOU DRINK THAT STUFF THEY GAVE YOU ? !"

Ron's response was calculated and articulate.

"Errrg…. think ‘ m gon na contrive up."

"At least Neville has an excuse."

Neville responded by shuddering and rolling onto the other face of his bed. Harry, who had only had a glass or two of the Twins ‘ party mix'and so was in a more human stipulation chuckled a little.

"Ok I understand why you ‘ re not sick."Harry pointed at Ginny."You didn ‘ t drink any, neither did Hermione. But why aren ‘ t Padma and Anapurna sick."

"Oh Hermione mixed us up an antidote."

"There ‘ s antidote ?"Ron whimpered."Why not make for us ?"

"She ‘ s mixing up another muckle for Neville and Harry now."Ginny smiled evilly."You on the other hand… Maybe you should remember about apologizing before you start asking for favors."Ginny got up and left the room, chuckling under her breath.

"Ok,"Harry shared a glance with the bedridden Neville."guessing they haven ‘ t totally forgotten about the testis thing."

In the end Harry palmed his ampule of antidote and gave it to Ron. If he hadn't then the rest of the day would sustain been very unpleasant. Ron did his best to go ill so the others didn't catch on. This might bear worked if Ron was not a completely awful doer. It the end Harry just gave up and accepted that the day was going to suck. They had transfiguration anyway so it could never sustain been good.

As Harry was slinking out of socio-economic class miserably ( McGonnagall had dropped extra homework on him ) when he realized that someone had been missing from the lesson.

"hombre, where ‘ d Susan go ?"Harry asked the assemble marauders.

"Um… I heard her parents got permission to keep her habitation for the week."Anapurna said evasively.

"Oh, hope she ‘ s back for the Hogsmeade weekend."Harry shrugged and turned towards their succeeding object lesson. Behind him he heard Padma whisper,

"Is he really that oblivious ?"

"I think so."Her sis responded."In some mode he ‘ s worse than Ron."

"Not most ways though."

"Oh definitely not, but a few."

"I have quite good ears up here girls."Harry commented."So either susurration better or utter in code."

"Inkthaye heaye ancay derstandunaye isthaye ?"Parvarti whispered conspiratorially.

"Brilliant sister,"Padma rolled her eyes."Just brilliant."
*


Susan didn't materialize all week. Harry considered owling her but figured she probably wouldn't want to be bothered at her parents post. When the Hogsmeade calendar week end finally rolled around Harry waited in the ingress hall for a while, but when she didn't display up he shrugged and left to get together up with the marauders.

As he neared the castling logic gate he casually disillusioned himself and slipped behind Filch, who was eyeing everyone going in and out evilly. He removed the enchantment as son as he was out of the caretakers sight, shocking two third years Gryffindors..

"Can you not do that Harry !"Elizabeth snapped at him.

"Sorry,"Harry winked at her and Vanessa."But it ‘ s bettor than crossing the bloody lake."

"Why don ‘ t you steal another ship ?"Liz quipped back at him.

"Don ‘ t want to seem formulaic. Need to hold things fresh."

"You ‘ ve done the invisibility thing before too."genus Vanessa pointed out.

"trade good breaker point, I need some new material…"Harry tapped his chin thoughtfully."Know anywhere I can get a Hippogriff ?"

The two daughter laughed and Harry shrugged, so long as it worked he ‘ d keep on using disenchantment. Except with mad eye Moody. Harry walked the rest of the way into Ithiel Town with the little Slythi-Gryffs then break off as he spotted the marauders.

"Hey guys, anything happening ?"

"You probably shouldn't be here Harry."Hermione said sharply as Harry sauntered up."McGonagall's around township somewhere, and so are Crouch, Madam Maxim and that early judge, Ludo Bagman."

"Damn,"Harry winced."That ‘ s a weighty group."

"That ‘ s what we thought."

"fountainhead if I wear a disguise or something…. hold, were those four together ?"

"Yeah."Ron answered, sounding confused."They all went into the troika broomstick together. Why ?"

"Three Triwizard judges and the de-facto administrator of Hogwarts meeting up ?"Harry winked."I wonder what they could be discussing."

"You gon na eavesdrop ?"Fred asked excitedly.

"We ‘ ll help !"His twin chimed in happily.

"Harry no !"Hermione pleaded."You could deflower your chances in the tourney !"

"I ‘ m already last."Harry shrugged."What else can they do ?"

"chow you out."Padma suggested."semen on Harry, your habit of ignoring school normal has expanded to include ignoring both ministry laws and BASIC common sense. get just go back to Hogwarts."

"No."Harry shook his head."And anyway, since I ‘ m last place I need to make a few risks or I ‘ ll never win."Harry turned to the Weasley Twin."You beware scoping out the broomsticks for me ?"

"No trouble Harry."Fred winked and a moment later he and his sidekick disappeared.

Harry left the former marauders and waited outside the pub for Fred and George to reappear. After a second they walked out, a niggling too nonchalantly.

"guy cable, walk normally."Harry hissed."Unless you want everyone to know something's screwy."

"Do not chide the masters."St. George put his hand to his chest in mock shock."We were doing this before you even learnt how to taunt a pocket."

"No you weren ‘ t."Harry said flatly."Unless you were doing it before you were eight."

"You learnt to pickpocket at eight ?"Fred said, scandalized.

"seven. I ‘ m immature than you remember."Harry said impatiently."Now what did you see in there ?"

"All four of them are at a mesa near the back."Saint George said, pointing back towards the edifice and vaguely to the left. His twin just kept shaking his headway and muttering ‘ seven ? ’."It's one of the buck private booths."

"Ok, time to be old Jack Shaky again."Harry rummaged in his bag and brought out his old man mask and raged cloak. After donning his disguise he shuffled across the street and entered the pub. As soon as he was in he picked out his German mark near the spinal column of the room. Not wanting to arouse suspicion he walked up to the rejoinder and ordered a glass of wine. A drinkable not infantile enough to ca-ca him look like a child but not firm enough to seduce him seem like a child wearing a disguise to get alcohol.

With the Linosyris vulgaris drink in helping hand he walked creakily over to the next compartment over from the judges and sat down.

"-don't see where it zey av all gone."madam Maxim was saying."Ze finish meter I was over learn zey were everywhere."

"It ‘ s been a much wetter summer than usual."McGonnagall said."That may have cut down their numbers. flush blooming later and so forth."

"Perhaps."

"It may also be the habitats."Mr Crouch said knowingly."Encroachment by the muggles. Their home ground gets destroyed and they can't go anywhere. They don ‘ t like to cross woodland you know."

"Really ? I would suffer thought they did it naturally ?"McGonnagall asked.

"Oh no they don ‘ t like to queer instinctive barriers, they only like open place. Only a few species actually live in the woods."

Were they talking about butterfly or something ? Harry shook his head, this was the most boring conversation he'd ever eavesdropped on.

"Not like acromantula then ?"bagman joked.

"No zip like them."Crouch replied humorlessly."Acromantula will live in any area with a sufficient nutrient root provided they can find a place out of the sun to sleep during the day."

"It… It was a joke Barty."

"Oh… I see."

The four fell silent and Harry mentally labeled Barty Crouch as ‘ the conversation killer whale ’. Harry took a sip of his drink and grimaced, did people wassail this for delight ? Harry slumped down on his buttocks as the four adults in the side by side compartment began discussing some philosophy book.

"Well, can ‘ t always overhear thoroughly stuff."Harry thought realistically."Sometimes people just talk about garbage."

Harry figured it was safer to wait for them to go out first so he waited, wisely not drinking any to a greater extent of the acidic drink in front of him. After an hour or so of boring adult give-and-take he heard them get up and start out to move off.

"hold a second Crouch."A new voice cut in."Want a Logos with you."

Moody ?

"What is it Alastor ?"McGonagall asked pointedly.

"Just a piffling personal subject Minerva."Moody said easily."See you back up at the castle."Harry saw the two cleaning lady and commercial traveller leaving.

"Did you look into it ?"Moody asked bluntly.

"I fail to see what ‘ s so interesting in-"

"You don ‘ t need to. Did you happen anything ?"

"The department of magical Transportation hasn ‘ t reported any unscheduled portkeys in Dorset."

"That ‘ s all you did ?"Helen Wills said scathingly."Looked through a few old study ?"

"face Helen Newington Wills, this is your obsession."Barty Crouch said smoothly."We're busy enough at the ministry with Fudge's transgression and Dumbledore causing bother. I looked into it as a party favor but there ‘ s zippo there. Just a convention, tragic, act of an old cleaning woman who wanted to die before her judgment went."

"Did anyone do an post-mortem examination ?"

"Moody…"

"Did they ?"Helen Newington Wills pressed.

"The coroner examined her at the scene."Crouch said wearily."measure cause-of-death sensing spells revealed-"

"Nothing."Moody cut in."Because they can ‘ t distinguish a execution from a suicide."

"Helen Wills nothing can recite that."Crouch said in exasperation."If you drink envenom yourself it has the same essence as if someone doses you with it. No one can notice the difference."

"Anyone check her potion making equipment ?"

"Yes, it had shadow of the potion that killed her on it."Crouch stood suddenly."Sorry Alastor I looked into this as a party favor, but there ‘ s nothing suspicious. nil to investigate, this is just an old lady who made a mistake."

"Why are you so sure ?"Moody said, his voice going low."Was a meter when even a breath of foul play would consume had you at it like a sleuthhound, but not now. You know something."

There was silence for a present moment, then Harry heard a chairman scrape as Mr Crouch sat back down. When he began talking again it was at a susurration that Harry had to strain to hear.

"They found a note."

"Suicide bank note ?"Moody asked keenly."Could have been forged."

"They tested it. It was written by her, with her own absolve will."Harry frowned, he hadn't realized it was possible to essay for that, but since Moody seemed to accept it it must be true. bow continued,"Obviously they wanted to hold on it under wraps."

"But everyone knows it ‘ s a suicide."Moody sounded fishy."Everyone with an ounce of wit anyway."

"It wasn ‘ t the act itself,"Crouch whispered dispirited."It was the contents of the note. The intellect she did it."

"Eh ?"

"She killed herself to be with… with…"Crouch took a deep breathing time, as if just giving voice to this was strenuous."… with someone named Mark Lanka, he was her housekeeper until about a year ago. She died to be with the man she loved."

"Tragic,"Moody said dryly."But it doesn ‘ t explain any-"

"It does if you take into chronicle the fact that gull Lanka was a registered squib."Crouch explained in a hushed whisper.

"Oh… Oh I see."There was the creaking of a chair as Helen Wills leant back."And in an old established pure blood family…"

"That variety of deportment would be deeply shameful. Especially considering how respected she was."Crouch sighed."It was decided that it was better hidden. She didn ‘ t deserve to own this brand on her name."

"Right,"Helen Wills Moody growled."It was all for her benefit."

"In any case."Crouch stood again and pushed his president in."The case is closed, delight don ‘ t discus this with anyone."Harry heard him allow for the pub. A few moments later…

"Heard all that ceramicist ?"Helen Wills Moody said from the other kiosk. Harry grinned.

"Was it really that big a deal ?"Harry asked.

"To them that care it would be."Harry could almost see Helen Newington Wills shrugging on the other English of the division."And the felo-de-se makes it worse."

"I see. Guess that solves it then."Harry took another sip of the bitterly wine."Assuming Mr Crouch is telling the truth."

"Oh I think he is."Helen Wills said begrudgingly.

"You trust him ?"Harry asked, shocked.

"I trust him to be him."Moody growled."If there was so much as a hint that dark magic was involved Barty Crouch wouldn't just take the air away."

"Doesn ‘ t he work in some dead end office…"Harry scratched his forefront, trying to remember."International wizardly co-operation ? Odd station for a gloomy wizard hunter."

"Didn ‘ t used to be. Used to be an auror, like me. Then a senior auror, like me. Then a department head, which I ‘ m happy to say is unlike me."Moody sighed sadly."He was a tough nut but he did what he had to do in those times."

"What went wrong ?"

"Ended up arresting his son."A gluging sound came from the other slope of the segmentation, like Helen Wills Moody had just drained his mug."Barty Crouch Jr, and don ‘ t think the written document didn ‘ t have a domain day with that. ‘ scrunch up judgment of conviction stoop ’, ‘ Set a Crouch to take hold of a squat ’, oodles of ammunition for those hacks."

"Hilarious."Harry commented dryly.

"Anyway, he never quite recovered from the radioactive dust. But he keeps his ear to the ground and a lot of people in the ministry esteem him. In any suit, I think this case is closed."

"dead reckoning so."Harry sighed."Sorry I wasted your metre Professor."

"That's alright, you weren't to recognize. And besides, observe me young."

"Say,"Harry suddenly remembered something."He said Dumbledore was causing worry at the ministry. You know what that ‘ s about ?"

"Dumbledore has it in his headway that you-know-who is on the way back."Moody's voice was so flat it was impossible to detect what he thought about it.

"harbor ‘ t seen anything in the Prophet."

"Rita Skeeter ‘ s decease neutered them. They haven ‘ t even been gouging Fudge that hard over all his roll in the hay ups."

"Big thing to ignore though…"

"The ministry ‘ s hushing it up."Helen Newington Wills snorted."The part of the ministry that are still functioning anyway. Don't know where Dumbledore got the thought though…"

Snape's glum mark…

"I ‘ m sure Dumbledore has his sources."

"Such as ?"

"rootage we mere mortal can not tap."

"And yet you clearly know."Helen Wills Moody chuckled."That ‘ s what I like about you Harry, you make matter interesting. Ever need any to a greater extent help, just ask."

Moody got up and left, his wooden leg clomping against the wooden floor.

Harry sighed and took another sip of his drink, grimacing in the process. He felt sorting of bloated from the surplusage of exposition. Harry shrugged and got up to leave when he saw a scrap of newspaper publisher on the floor, under the table.

Harry leant down, careful to act like he was flea-bitten and old, and picked it up. He began unfolding it and marveled at how it just kept unfolding, over and over until it was the size of a post-horse. On it was drawn some complicated tangle normal, passages intersecting and turning and ending in blind alley. There was an undefendable place in the middle and respective other authorize piazza around as well. The map had petty anotations everywhere that Harry had to squint to read…

"Sphinx… quicksand… devil snare… ?"Harry read a few to a greater extent of them then folded the matter back down and stuffed it in his bag. It obviously wasn't connected to the case.

After leaving the pub and shedding his disguise Harry went back to the castle ( disillusioning himself again to creak past Filch ). As he was crossing the ingress hall he spotted someone in one of the incline corridors. He trotted up to the figure, who stopped and turned as he drew near.

"You missed Hogsmeade."

"Mum kept me home."Susan said, not meeting his eyes.

"Was she pissed at you ?"

"Yes Harry,"Susan turned in annoyance."She was pissed. She yelled, she screamed, she was pissed. Now go away."

"wellspring don't necessitate it out on me."Harry quirked an eyebrow."I didn ‘ t shout at you."

"Harry… just delight go away."Susan shook her caput."She says I can ‘ t see you anymore."

"And you ‘ re gon na listen to her ?"

"Harry please just go."Susan turned and walked down the corridor. Harry followed confused.

"I don ‘ t get it."Harry hurried to keep up with the scurrying Susan Bones."I like you, I got the impression you liked me."

"It ‘ s not that…"

"If it ‘ s not that then what else is there ?"Harry slid in front of her and brought her to a stop with his hands on her shoulders."Come on os, be a little bit less Hufflepuff and a little more marauder."

"The piranha aren ‘ t a house."Susan murmured, still not meeting his gaze.

"Oh yes they are,"Harry winked."The hidden house, the theater that never gets point because we have no rules. come over to my side Susan, it ‘ s more fun over here. Lets go for a walk, down by the lake."

"I ‘ ve got an essay due…"

"Did you not heed to a word I said ?"Harry put a hand under her chin and tilted her head up to meet his centre."Come on… do you really require me to walk away ?"

Harry leant in and kissed her lightly and lingeringly. Or at to the lowest degree that was what he tried for, he wasn't exactly an expert.

"Harry please…"Or maybe he was…"Wait… have you been drinking wine ?"Harry shut her up by kissing her again, this prison term harder. About halfway through she started kissing back. Harry slant back, they were against a wall. Had he pushed them against a wall ? He certainly didn't remember doing that.

"Oh Harry."Susan was blushing tomato red."My mums gon na kill me."

"That ‘ s if she ever finds out."Harry snaked an arm around Susan's shoulder joint."Lets take a walk."
*


"Harry where were you ?"Hermione asked.

"Hogsmeade, call up ?"

"Why do you experience lipstick on your shirt taking into custody ?"

"Um… ran into a bunch of… magic… kissing… flowers ? They exist right ?"

"No."

"Oh."Harry shrugged and grinned evilly."Guess I must take in been snogging someone then."
*


Despite being in last plaza in the tourney the pursual weeks were some of the substantially in Harry's memory, and they didn't even necessitate pranking anyone ! He had the marauders, peace and friendship with Malfoy and a girlfriend. Susan was still occasionally struck with bust of nervousness, thinking that her mother would somehow find out about their continued human relationship ( despite the fact that Harry had already taken care of this by ordering Digger to intercept any position sent from a Hogwarts professor to Doris osseous tissue ). But other than that it was perfect.

The marauders often ended the day by lounging around outside on the grass outside talking or doing Homework. And because they were there lots of other Gryffindors came too, and usually Susan brought her Hufflepuff acquaintance. Before long the after-class-outside-lounge became a fixture for to the highest degree of the school. Luckily the marauders took enough unlike classes that they could always bag a place before it got too crowded.

One good afternoon when Harry was on the verge of falling asleep there on the dope, with Susan lying across him, her pass pillowed on his arm, a tincture fell across them.

"Harry wake up."

Harry's eyes flickered open and he saw Malfoy standing over him.

"You ‘ re ruining my peach sleep."Harry complained.

"Then I ‘ m sorry because you really look like you need it."Malfoy quipped laconically.

"One of us has a girlfriend Malfoy, remind me which one of us that is ?"

"One of us knows what a combing is, remind me which one of us that is ?"

"Me, it's what honey comes in isn ‘ t it ?"Harry grinned."Anyway what is it ?"

"Judges want us."

"For what ?"

"I don ‘ t know, I don't take divination."Malfoy rolled his eyes.

"Ron does,"Harry glanced over at his friend, who was doing some soothsaying homework at that moment."Look in the crystal ball. Tell us what's happening."

"Don't be stupid Harry…"Ron said, eyeing Malfoy suspiciously."Wait…"He peered into the sphere and blinked, surprised."Actually, it does look like there ‘ s something in there."

"Really ? What ?"Harry sat up, dislodging his girlfriend. Ron had never before actually seen something in the ball.

"It ‘ s kind of distorted…"Ron squinted and scratched his head."Looks sort of like a face…"

"Some variety of puppet ?"Neville guessed.

"trolling ? Giant ?"Harry asked, interested.

"Don ‘ t know, ugly though. Huge red fleck all over its face."Ron peered closer. Hermione's centre suddenly widened and she began to giggle. A moment later Harry got it and slapped a hand over his mouth to block up himself laughing.

"Wyrd red pilus too…"Ron continued, oblivious."Think it ‘ s some kind of giant ? Some of them have red hair."

"Not one word."Harry said to Malfoy holding a finger up."Not one word."

"Too wanton anyway."Malfoy shrugged and stepped back as Harry stood. They were about to leave when Padma said,

"clasp on, what the hell was that ?"

"What ?"Harry turned.

"That !"Padma pointed between Harry and Malfoy."You ‘ re not at each others throats ! You almost look like Friend. Are you on some form of drugs ?"

"No."Harry shook his head."That would disqualify me from the tournament."

"It ‘ s not like they ‘ d check."Malfoy pointed out.

"You never know."Harry shrugged."I can just see that stoop guy running at me waving a plastic cup."

"I wonder if that ‘ s the thirdly task."Malfoy half smiled.

"A urine test ? Kind of anticlimactic."

"Not if it's in front of the altogether school."

"Oh.. True."Harry shrugged."But at least it ‘ d truly put rumors of Harriet Potter to rest."

"Also… Fleur."

"Cad."

"STOP !"Padma yelled in exasperation."You ‘ re doing it again !"All the marauders were now staring at Harry and Malfoy.

"It ‘ s ok."Harry shrugged."Long tale shortsighted I decided that we should have a truce. Since we ‘ re both in the like boat over the tournament and all."

"But, he ‘ s Malfoy !"Ron said, disbelieving.

"It ‘ s Ok."Harry explained."You don ‘ t have to stop hating him just because I did."

"I ‘ m certainly not going to stop hating you."Malfoy chimed in.

"You ‘ re not helping."Harry said, exasperated.

"I ‘ m not trying to."Malfoy shrugged."The judges want us by the Quidditch pitch."Malfoy turned and walked, unconcerned, towards the pitch.

Harry turned back to the outrage marauders.

"Sorry guy, I know this form of blindsided you."Harry spread his hand apologetically."But we kept getting stuck together, the dragons, the boat, Bournemouth…"

"Malfoy was there ?"Ginny interrupted.

"Oh yeah, I didn ‘ t tell you that."Harry cursed himself silently."Yeah he was there, the cleaning woman was an old friend of his."

"The blond hair…"Hermione said, thoughtfully."It was his wasn ‘ t it."

"Yep."Harry nodded."Had to snatch it from the aurors."

"But Harry, he ‘ s Malfoy !"Ron started again, seemingly stuck in a loop."Malfoy, you know Draco Mal-"

"He ‘ s not all bad."Harry shrugged."After all, he ‘ s been my witness since second year."

"What !"The marauders yelled, almost in unison.

"Did you think I just somehow guessed where The Called would be meeting ?"Harry grinned."You guys are so naive."

Harry winked and turned away from the seven shocked faces. Still, grinning Harry wandered over to the Quidditch slant. As soon as he got near it he realized something was wrong.

"Now I don ‘ t play Quidditch…"Harry said as he got nearer."But I ‘ m fairly indisputable it ‘ s not think of to look like that."

"Very droll Mr Potter."Barty Crouch commented as Harry joined the other whizz."But in all seriousness, these hedges are your third task."

"The third task is topiary ?"

"No Mr Potter."Crouch said, tolerantly."It is a maze."

Oh sodomite, Harry's stomach lurched.

"A maze with the triwizard cup in the center."

His bag, with the fighting of paper he had picked up at the three broomsticks still in it, suddenly felt very heavy and hot.

"And with many challenges to overcome."

Harry listened with half an ear to the remainder of the judge's explanation. He suddenly found himself with a alternative to make, a lesson choice.

"Bugger."Harry groaned inwardly."I hate those."



Every clip you fail to leave a review god kills a kitten. A little flossy kitten. Aw ... flavor at the kitten, so Sweet, so fuzzy, and it 's DEAD because of YOU !


I do n't own Harry potter. Have I said that recently ? No ? Well I do n't. Someone tried to sell me voice of him once, but it was only a finger and it looked form of hairy.



Harry sat and stared at the fiddling leaflet piece of paper on the tabular array as if the answer would just amount floating out of it. He had clambered into an idle attic over the library to think things over, but unfortunately was coming up blank.

"It ‘ s not like you saw that much."Part of Harry's brainiac kept saying in a coax representative."You couldn ‘ t go straight to the cup."

"But you remember lots of the challenges on the way."Another part of his brain said, sounding a bit like Neville.

Prison-circle, sphinx, mist mirage, acromantula, devilsnare, tiger-trap, manic mushrooms-

Harry shook his head to clear the litany before it went too far. This was only making things worse, he was actually remembering more things the longer he thought about it.

"You could go to the judges."A Hermione shaped Einstein prison cell said."Just tell them what happened honestly, it was just a mistake after all."

"Yeah, how would that go…"Harry rolled his eyes."You see I was eavesdropping on you and I found this bit of paper…"Harry shook his head.

He could part it with the other champions… feel at the map in its entirety and pass copies to the Fleur, Viktor and Malfoy. But that ran into the problem of virtually ensuring that he'd lose the labor. Ten transactions head bug out isn't that much when you're going into a snarl blind, but when you know the way ? Harry shook his head, Malfoy or Fleur would have the cup in their helping hand before he even got through the front door.

That was the motion wasn't it, goldilocks style…

He wasn't against cheating a short ( using the marauders for research, overhearing about the Draco ), but having a direct map to the finis product line was just too much. That porridge was much too hot.

On the other hired man he wasn't so preoccupied with fairness that he'd just hand the cup to Beauxbattons. Fleur was courteous, and he didn't mind some of the former girls, but there was no was he was letting that oversized bitch-queen maxim have the satisfaction of winning. That porridge was far too cold.

And the one that was just right was…

"It doesn ‘ t exist."Harry slumped dejectedly."Because the bear cub had been killed by sea poacher and its saddle sore vesica sold as medicine."

"I could just burn it now…"Harry thought suddenly."Accept that I have a slight reward in knowing what challenges are coming and burn the rest. I ‘ m finale anyway, I deserve a helping hand."

Was that porridge just right ? Depends what region of his brain he was trying to satisfy.

"Any more than of this and my encephalon will be porridge."Harry dropped his head to the table and banged it repeatedly against the hardwood surface."I ‘ m no good at these questions."

Accept it, sometimes questions have no answer.

"Or no good one at least."Harry shook his psyche."Screw it, Incendio !"Harry burnt the bit of parchment to ash."Close enough to fair. And I do deserve some avail after Dumbledore stiffed me in the indorsement task."

"You ‘ re still cheating !"Hermione-brain admonished him.

"Put a metaphysical air sock in it."Harry grumbled at her and stood up from his table."Sometimes real life isn ‘ t fair."

Harry turned and pushed open the hidden doorway he'd used to get into this place before slinking off down the corridor with his hood up. It was way after curfew but Harry seldom worried about such matter, even Mrs Norris'ears couldn't pickax up Harry when he was trying not to be heard.

Speak of the devil…

Harry skillfully slid into an bay as the caretakers cat came into view around a street corner. She was stalking, tail in the air and her mind close down to the floor. Moving in the high-speed-slinking manner of a cat on a mission.

What was she hunting ? Not rats, the rook was pick of them. Harry disillusioned himself and began following the stalking felid. She seemed almost confused, she would slink for a few fundament then quit and sniff the air, occasionally batting at it with a paw, before slinking forward again.

Harry followed her cautiously. Was she tracking a student ? Who else but the predator were out of bed at this kind of time of day ?

Suddenly Harry froze, a night sliver had just appeared in mid air above the scraggly cat. A second later there was a newsbreak of red light and she slumped to the footing. Harry tried to stay perfectly still as the amazed jackpot was pushed behind a suit of armour by the invisible presence. Harry saw the underside half of a iron heel, visible for a splatter second, then nothing. Not for the first prison term Harry wished he had Helen Wills's artificial eye.

The Whitney Young marauder strained his ears and just caught the scratch of boots on stone and followed at a crouch. Disillusionment was no substitute for a true invisibility cloak, if whoever it was looked back at the haywire import they would spot him for sure. Harry tried to stay in the fantasm as he furiously tried to fall up with a programme. He wished he could unload back far enough to call Myrtle, but if he did that he'd lose the interloper for sure.

Harry could almost see the shadow of the man he was following when he passed a torch in the bulwark. Not even an invisibility cloak was perfect after all so Harry could pick out the canonic form. It did not prefigure well.

"Whoever this is they ‘ re a full grown adult."Harry cursed silently."Which means they ‘ re either a teacher, in which case why sneaker around, or they ‘ re no supposed to be here. And their forwardness to damn a defenseless cat doesn ‘ t exactly speak to their character either."

The phone of footsteps stopped and Harry too came to a arrest, pressing himself up against the wall so as to be less visible. The man seemed to have stopped outside one of the teacher quarters. Harry saw the verge appear a mo time and a moment later the room access glowed a myriad of different colors, a rainbow in the dark corridor. The spell was quickly canceled and the scepter withdrawn. The man sounded like he was sitting down to believe the problem.

Harry however grinned impishly. He'd just remembered whose door this was. Only one instructor was paranoiac enough to put that many locking spells on their door. Harry slinked backwards quietly, it would take whoever-it-was a good long time to get through that lot and even if he did Moody could assume care of himself.

Harry took himself a few corridors away then tapped out a sign on the Edward Durell Stone story. After a moment waiting Myrtle appeared through the floor.

"Something the matter Harry ?"She said, looking over his camouflaged self.

"Go to Dumbledore, quickly."Harry whispered."Tell him someone is breaking into Moody ‘ s rooms. Someone invisible."

Myrtle's eyes widened and she darted away quickly. Harry turned and slowly made his way back to Moody's rooms.

When he returned Harry's middle skipped a beat. The door was spread out !

Harry scrambled to his metrical unit, heedless of the noise and dashed to the room access. He slid to the incoming just in sentence to hear the words,

"Avada Keda-"

"NO !"Harry yelled and threw himself forward. He struck something in the air and saw a flash of immature light. Time went dense as Harry saw the bolt creep through the air, rippling its unhinged super C path towards the bed at the far end of the quarters. The visible light lit Dwight Lyman Moody ‘ s face and Harry could have sworn he was the teachers eyes flicker open before the bolt of lightning struck base and the room was plunged into shadow again.

A moment later he hit the floor, the murderer dropping beside him with a thump. Harry kicked wildly and felt his human foot hit flesh. He jumped to his groundwork and pulled his wand out of his jacket. But his assailant was faster.

"Avada Kedavra !"

Harry dropped to the floor as the green bolt shot over his top dog. The shadowy figure aimed again, and this time Harry had nowhere to go.

"Avada Kedavra !"

"Accio !"Harry yelled desperately, pointing at a incline table. It flew towards him and caught the common piece in mid air, showering Harry in huge splinters."Depulso !"Harry waved at the wooden shard and they shot away from him like shrapnel.

Harry heard his enemy screech as one of the splinters stuck in mid air. Harry threw himself at the storey beneath it and felt himself hit leg. The invisible enemy tumbled to the floor again as Harry staggered to his feet.

"Lumos !"

Harry was caught off guard and the spell hit him like a flashbulb, blinding him and making him stumble back in surprise. He heard running metrical foot and took off in avocation, fending himself off the suddenly blurry doorway and dashing off down the corridor after his prey. Harry flicked his wand up to his throat as he ran.

"Sonorous !"Harry amplified his voice and yelled,"slaying ! Murder in the castle !"

Harry had to sidestep as a deadbolt of red light flashed down the passage ahead of him.

"Offucia !"Harry jabbed his scepter forward and a stream of deep red blusher sprayed across the corridor. A smear of it hit in mid air. Harry grinned and aimed again."Ferio !"The bludgeoning expletive flew true and Harry saw the multi-coloured figure lifted off the flooring and hurled into the paries. Harry threw two more into the prone figure as he approached. Harry spotted the humankind wand on the floor and kicked it away from him.

"Now let ‘ s see your ugly face you bastard."Harry panted, out of breathing place."seed on off with it !"

The fig didn't move, perhaps he'd knocked him out ?

"Accio cloak !"Harry flicked his wand and the cloak shot up. It sprang into Harry ‘ s hired man, knocking his wand to the side.

"Effodio !"

Harry was thrown to the floor as the spell hit him, sliding across the stone in a daze of pain. Through the red mist he heard a sinister chuckle. The cloak was pulled from his suddenly powerless finger's breadth. Harry tried to move around his head to see his assailant but a rough hand pushed him back down into the floor.

Harry tried vainly to labor himself to his feet at the murdered turned and hurried away but the floor seemed to be strangely slick. Harry brought a hand up and faintly registered red. The paint that he had thrown or blood ? Harry tried to focus on the floor in front of him and saw something slimy lying on the primer next to him. Long, coiled and bulging like a snake that had just eaten a face pack of puke. Harry traced it back and almost passed out when he saw where it was coming from.

It was flopping out from a gaping pickle in his stomach. The worthless matter was his own intestines.

The pain hit Harry again, harder then before. It was as if, now that he knew he was cut opened, his mind was finally registering the injury. His hands moved involuntarily, pulling the fleshy coils towards him, his dead body vainly trying to fix what his Einstein knew was a killing wound.

"Mr Pot… Oh Harry !"

Behind a mist of red Harry saw prof McGonagall's face come into view. Her usually rump face was contorted with fear and shock.

"Effercio."McGonagall waved her baton over him and Harry felt his guts reel themselves back in like a hose. Harry looked down and couldn't stop himself from vomiting at the visage of his innards slipping in through his skin.

A moment later it was over and the wound closed up, showing up only as a raw red line on his skin.

"Who used an entrail emission whammy on you Potter ?"McGonagall asked, her shock still manifest in her voice."And what is all this about murder ?"

"Dumbledore."Harry panted, pained."Get me to Dumbledore."

"For once you are talking sense."Harry felt himself lifted up off the base then set back down on a copestone that the Professor must induce conjured right there and then. The stretcher itself was lifted then and Harry saw the bulwark around him begin to move. Harry tried to agitate position but as soon as did a spear of painfulness hit him in the stomach.

"Do not try to actuate Harry. Please."He heard McGonagall's bear on spokesperson from behind him."The counter-curse only puts you back together, it doesn ‘ t reverse all the impairment that was done along the way."

Harry lay obediently still as they moved through the darkened corridors. Harry wasn't sure how much longer it took but eventually they stopped and he felt a tincture fall over him. Harry pulled his head up enough to look around and found that they were outside the Hospital annexe, Dumbledore was standing over him solemnly in a purple dressing gown. Behind him the three remaining Heads of House were standing, looking his way. Off at the border of the lamplight Harry could see the Triwizard judges. Maxim towering up into the trace of the roof, Karkaroff with the angles of his face stark in the candlelight and Crouch standing silently beside. Harry turned back to Dumbledore.

"I lost him."Harry said through a raw throat.

"Harry…"

"I followed him for ages but I…"Harry coughed heavily into his hand. When he could speak again he continued."I screwed up, made a dolt mistake. I let him get away."

"Harry you can not be held responsible."Dumbledore shook his head."I should hold come to your aid instead of going to professor Helen Wills Moody first. I should have known you would chase after after the intruder."

"Moody…"Harry felt his warmheartedness drop into his iron heel."That's my fault too. I thought it would be alright to forget for a few moments. To pass on you a sign. It's my fault he ‘ s dead."

"Ah,"Dumbledore broke into a grinning."I think I have some good news program for you Harry. Professor Moody is not dead."

"Wha…"Harry shook his read/write head in confusion."But it was the killing curse !"

"As near as ma'am Pomfrey can tell either the castor had no experience with Unforgivables or he was ineffectual to complete the spell."

"I hit him."Harry cast his mind back."Before he could finish."

"Well there it is then."Dumbledore patted him on the shoulder."You almost certainly saved his life."

"Wait…"Harry's oculus widened."Map ! Your map ! If you look it-"

"My thought exactly Harry. And my demerit as well,"Dumbledore shook his pass."I waited to make sure as shooting prof Helen Newington Wills was alive before checking the map and by that time whoever it was must already feature left."

"No,"Harry shook his head."A followed him long time and I must have hurt ‘ im. He couldn ‘ t have left that quickly."

"The fact that our enemy knows of the existence of the map may explain that."Snape said, detaching himself from the shadows. Dumbledore shot his potions master a surprisingly wild expression. Perhaps this was a fact that Dumbledore did not want Harry to suit cognisant of. Snape continued, still."Maybe the dark lord has found a way to fudge it."

"We do not know that Voldemort is directly involved Severus."

"We do not be intimate that he is not."Snape crooked an eyebrow.

"Perhaps."Dumbledore conceded."But in any case he can not circumvent the map. There are very few things I am confident in the infallibility of, but one of them is the mar-… the map."

What had that been ? Harry wondered. That little break before ‘ the map ’.

"Then an illegal portkey perhaps ?"Snape was saying.

"Could ask Mr Crouch to look into it."Harry suggested."What with his ministry cont-"

"Thank you Harry,"Dumbledore cut him off."I will reckon it."

"Had any luck with the ministry yourself ?"Harry asked pointedly, mainly to see the flavor on Dumbledore's brass. He was not disappointed.

"How did you… ?"

"Persuading them he ‘ s on the way back I mean."

"I… I do not cognize how you have heard of that Harry."Dumbledore said, he sounded like he was keeping some deep anger in check."But it is none of your concern. Right now you need to be seen by Madam Pomfrey."

"But-"

"This is not a discussion Harry."Dumbledore flicked his sceptre and the stretcher began moving.

As he floated into the hospital wing the last thing he heard was Snape turning to Dumbledore and saying,

"Now do you think we should discourage the order of magnitude ?"

Dumbledore's reception was too quiet to listen but his nod said enough.
*


"Potter."

Hm…

"Oy thrower !"

Sleepy…

"Wake up !"

Stupid Hospital. Harry cracked his lids open and saw Moody staring at him from the next bed over.

"I ‘ m up."Harry rubbed the sleep out of his middle."What is it ?"

"Sloppy ceramicist, very sloppy."Moody shook his headspring."You let him get away."

"Sorry,"Harry hung his head."I made a lot of mistakes survive night."

"List ‘ em."

"What ?"

"You heard me Potter, inclination ‘ em."Helen Wills Moody lay back on his hospital bed.

"Well…"Harry thought back."I thought it would take longer for whoever it was to better through your door."

"Underestimating your opponent."Dwight Lyman Moody shook his head."poor fish, first mistake."

"He tricked me with a Lumos spell, blinded me."Harry continued.

"Inattentive. Unprepared."

"And I made the stupid mistake of getting my hands tangled when I summoned his cloak to me."

"Clumsy."Moody tisked."Wouldn ‘ t have thought that of you Harry."

"You're veracious, I was hurt but that's no excuse."Harry shook his head word and frowned."I kicked his wand away but he must have had a spare."

"Always assume they have a spare."Moody said sternly."Accio verge or Expelliarmus. Use them whether you think he ‘ s got a scepter or not."

"Right, I shoulda known that."

"constant quantity vigilance."Helen Wills said harshly."You can never be too careful."

"Constant vigilance."Harry repeated."I know, and I ‘ m sorry I got you involved in this."

"You assume this has something to do with you ?"Moody said, a little chuckle in his voice."I had enemy before I met you."

"How many have invisibility cloaks."

"More than one."Moody said pointedly."And more that have the store to get one if they needed it."

"I thought they were rare."

"They are Potter."Helen Newington Wills grinned."I just tend to make expensive enemy. One of the risk of exposure of the job."

"Ok,"Harry closed his eye."How many of them are about six pes marvelous, skinny and bony with dark brown hair who fights smart and has experience with espionage and breaking through wards."

"Robert Brown pilus ?"

"Think I saw a heartbeat of it when the cloak came off."

"Doesn ‘ t imply much. Could have colored it."

"Why disguise yourself then wear an invisibility cloak ?"

"True."Helen Wills Moody frowned thoughtfully."Still doesn ‘ t mean he ‘ s connected."

"Still, bit of a coincidence."

"Oh don ‘ t think I ‘ m dismissing it."Moody shook his head."Not for a moment."Moody tried to drive himself up on his hands then winced in pain in the neck and settled back down.

"Still feeling a little cursed prof ?"

"I ‘ ll be fine."Moody grunted."I ‘ ve had worse. Least the killing condemnation doesn ‘ t scar."

"Um…"

"Not for virtually of us."Helen Newington Wills laughed, then broke into a loud, wet cough."Maybe I will be out of perpetration for a while."

"That means we ‘ ll have Snape again."Harry sighed."And well… He ‘ s not so bad any more."

"He ‘ s tall, and has dark hair."Moody pointed out suspiciously.

"I ‘ d know his voice."Harry dismissed the accusation with a wave of his bridge player."Besides he ‘ s not evil."

"constant quantity vig-"

"Not evil. Used to be evil, not evil now."Harry held a finger up."Besides, he ‘ s had all year to try and kill you. Why now ? And why with spells in the eye of the dark when he ‘ s had access to your solid food all year."

"Good stop. But I still don ‘ t trustingness him."

"You don ‘ t have to,"Harry shrugged."Just accept that I do."

There was silence for a moment as Moody regarded Harry pointedly.

"What ?"

"Nothing Potter."Moody lay back, an amused smile on his face."Just reminded me of mortal is all."

Harry shrugged and leant back too. He had enough puzzles without trying to work out what that meant.



Leave a critique. If you do n't then vindictive Lord Xenu will coin you down !


Due to the fact that the queue has been so long recently I have concatenated two previously separate chapters into one whacker. Hope you like it.

Oh, and I do n't own Harry thrower. You ca n't own a person, that 's slavery.



Harry was let out of the hospital wing a few days later with orders to take it easy and only eat liquid food for a week or two until his insides settled down. Harry was alright with this except that the occasional stabs of pain in the ass from his midriff rather got in the way of him training for the third labor. Harry adopted the attic above the library as his own and sealed the doorway with the watchword cheating scumbag so he and the predator could suffer a private place to train.

Harry gutted the elbow room as efficiently as he himself had been gutted to leave a large dueling space in the eye. While his work party searched the library for anything remotely useful Harry practiced anything they found against the Gemini the Twins or against the expose bookshelves they had found up there. Harry accepted that he would never be an awful duelist but at least he could aim for competent. It did eat into the fourth dimension he could spend with Susan but unfortunately it was inevitable.

Given that Harry had totally ignored Madam Pomfrey's advice to take it easy it was perhaps also inevitable that he would end up back in the infirmary wing after throwing up bloody vomit.

"Mr thrower you idiotic…"Pomfrey spluttered incoherently as she dosed him with various potions."In all my years… never… so stunned ! Not even your father with all his pranks was in here so much. At least he seemed to understand that the human body has certain restriction ! You can not just restrain heaping abuse on it and expect it to keep working properly !"

"At to the lowest degree I'm giving you a challenge."Harry grinned.

"A challenge ? More like a CVA !"

Harry was once again discharged a few daylight before the third task, finally fully healthy. Of course not everyone treated him as such.

"You sure you ‘ re alright Harry ?"Ron repeated for about the one-billionth prison term as they walked to lunch.

"No Ron,"Harry rolled his eyes."I ‘ ve miraculously had a lapse during the last twenty seconds."

"Harry you throwing up blood."Padma pointed out."You don ‘ t just resile back from that."

"I ‘ m not bouncing."Harry shrugged."Or bounding, or any other b-words. I ‘ m just eating lunch."

"You ‘ re boring."Harry turned to see Malfoy standing behind him."That ‘ s a b-word."

"I ‘ m many things Malfoy."Harry responded sardonically."But boring isn ‘ t one of them."

'' Is bastard ? ``

"Anything in particular bothering you Malfoy,"Harry asked."Or did you just come to insult me ?"

"Yes,"Malfoy grew serious again a here and now later."Mind if I speak to you in private…"Malfoy jerked his read/write head towards an empty classroom.

"This isn ‘ t going to be one of those serious discussions is it."Harry hung his head dejectedly.

"No I don ‘ t think so."

Harry sighed and followed the blonde Slytherin into the empty-bellied classroom.

"meet you in Charms."Harry nodded to the worried looking marauder before closing the door and turning to his fellow champion.

"Anyone dead ?"Harry asked bluntly.

"Not yet."

"Ominous."

"You don ‘ t know the half of it."Malfoy shook his question."I finally got that letter from my father."

"I assume that ‘ s not the last of it."Harry sat down at a desk and braced for the worst.

"He told me to miss. Worse, he told me to have sure you win."

Harry leant back against the desk and covered his aspect with his hands. Sometimes all this was too much.

"What exactly did he say ?"Harry rubbed his tabernacle."Or estimable yet give me the letter."

Malfoy handed over the missive. Harry flipped it open and read the curt subject matter within.

Dragon

I know that you are to record a tangle in the third task. You will establish every sweat to halt the advance of Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour. Use the patch I taught you if essential. Do not worry about the consequences, I will protect you. draw sure the ceramist boy wins the tournament. You do not have to understand to obey.

There was no signature. Harry handed it back, resting his head on his arm.

"The spells I taught you ?"Harry asked tiredly.

"Dark magic."Malfoy answered, sounding just as worn out."He means don ‘ t be afraid to hurt them. ‘ You do not have to realise to obey.'”

"What does that mean ?"

"It was one of his pet things to enjoin me when I was young."Malfoy shook his top dog."It tended to end discussions."

"Why ?"

"Because it told me that he wanted the word to end."Malfoy snapped.

"Look Malfoy I don ‘ t know what to do with this."Harry admitted."I ‘ ve already got enough on my plate."

"I know what that feels like."Malfoy sat down beside him and bowed his head, making his floppy blond whisker drop down and obliterate his brass."I don ‘ t know what to do."

"What do you-"Harry jerked back in shock."You ‘ re not thinking of listening to him are you ?"

"He ‘ s my sire !"

"He ‘ s a git who makes you miserable !"

"You don ‘ t understand."Malfoy snapped angrily."You just don ‘ t. Maybe if you had a Father of the Church you ‘ d get it, but you don ‘ t so shut up !"

"If you ‘ re trying to get rid of me it won ‘ t work."Harry crossed his arms."Or at the very least you ‘ ll have to try harder."

"But you don ‘ t understand."Malfoy said more reasonably, but still with an edge of desperation in his articulation."I ‘ m sorry Harry but you just don't. This isn ‘ t about getting a blinking pat on the top dog. This is about syndicate. It ‘ s about kin honor."

"No, family honor would be getting your name on that cup. Family honor would be seeing the newspaper headline ‘ Malfoy wins triwizard cup ’."Harry shifted closer."But draw a blank about that, how about your own honor. Can you exist with knowing you could have won the triwizard tournament, but gave it up ? Can you dwell with that ?"

"The mob is what ‘ s important."Malfoy shook his forefront."Sometimes we have to do matter we don ‘ t like. You don't have to understand-"

"You ‘ re like a parrot."Harry interrupted, changing shroud to go for a riskier design."Aren ‘ t you tired of repeating his shite ?"

"You don ‘ t understand !"Malfoy yelled, pushing him back violently.

"Oh great,"Harry scoffed."The cry the Moody teenager. Nice to know you ‘ re like everybody else."

"Screw you Potter !"Malfoy stood angrily, his clenched fist bunched at his side of meat. Harry could see the faint glistening lines of tears of his cheeks.

"You gon na cry about it."Harry slouched back, chuckling."Way to preserve the Malfoy honor."

"Shut up !"

"Is this what you did with that Ellen adult female ? Cry into her apron ?"

"I told you to shut up !"Malfoy drew his wand and held the shaking item to Harry's neck. Harry just laughed.

"Like you ‘ d actually do it."Harry rolled his center."You ‘ re too much of a Coward to-"

"Praefoco !"

Harry was thrown backwards as the go hit him and was left gulping for air as the hex closed his flight path. From behind a haze of floating spots Harry saw Malfoy stalk off out the room access. Harry managed to take hold of his wand and get out a strangle finite before collapsing on the storey and trying to refill his lungs in great gasps.

"You deserved that."Harry looked around for the informant of the noise. A moment later Vinca minor floated slowly up through the level."You definitely deserved that."

"I know."Harry croaked out, managing a half smile."What are you doing here ?"

"The others sent me down because they were worried about you ?"myrtle put her hands on her insubstantial coxa."You really were incredibly insensitive."

"All persona of the plan."Harry winked.

"How so ? You don ‘ t even know what he ‘ s going to do."

"I know one thing he ‘ s not going to do."Harry grinned."There ‘ s no way he ‘ ll let me win now."
*


The day of the third task finally arrived. Harry got out of bed and dressed in a kind of odd trance. citizenry said and did things around him, patting him on the rear and oral presentation to him but it was almost as if the cosmos had become play down noise, though screen background to what he couldn't say.

His intellect was… well not lacuna but certainly not thinking along convention credit line. It was almost as if he was floating in a mist that blurred out his idea into the air. Instead of the Saratoga chip, semi-schizophrenic, edge they usually had they were shadowy and cloudy. primitive, he decided, was the full word for them. A atavist to when humans thought with notion and pictures instead of words.

Also he was being self-examining, he was never introspective.

"Are you sure you ‘ re alright Harry."soul asked him. Harry had to concentrate quite hard to work out it was Neville.

"I ‘ m fine Nev."Harry nodded slowly."Just in a bit of an odd post good now."

"You look kind of… Well remember last yr when you kept skipping through time ?"

"I remember."Harry shook his head teacher."That ‘ s not this. Believe me, I ‘ m fine."

As the other contender went to the great Charles Martin Hall to meet their families Harry wandered back up to the attic over the library and flicked through the same record he had been going through for the past few weeks. It was sort of pointless really, Hermione always said that live on minute revisal didn't stick in your mind like it should. Not that she didn't do it anyway. Harry sat down on the break through floorboard with the books strewn around him and tried to overstretch his cerebration together.

He failed utterly.

"Enough."Harry growled at himself."Get your head together."

"have you been moping up here all dayspring ?"Harry's pass flicked up and he saw Susan osseous tissue standing in the doorway.

"I have not been moping."Harry said, from his position on the level."I have been studying."

"You never study."Susan smiled.

"I never study schoolwork."Harry grinned."My main field however are somewhat extensive."

Susan walked up to him with her hands behind her back coquettishly and sat down beside him. Harry flicked his book closed and shifted closer. He momentarily wished for a softer floor.

"You know studying at the last instant rarely helps."

"You have something you ‘ d rather I be doing ?"

"Yes."
*


As it was Harry almost missed the task. It was only the sound of movement from the floors below that prompted Harry to push his girl off him and shinny for his trash. Rushing downstairs he managed to managed to go into the crowd without looking too conspicuous.

"Nice hicky Harry !"

Damn.

Harry flicked his pinch up and kept walk, throwing an evil blaze at the snickering students. As he walked towards the stands he felt an element of the old blurriness slipping back into his idea. He shook it off, a good snoging session had been just what he needed to lend him back down to globe. He noticed Malfoy making his way to the quidditch pitch alongside an older blond woman. His mother ? So his father hadn't turned up. Interesting.

Harry pushed his way through the crowds to where the other booster were waiting.

"Well this looks fun."Harry grinned up at the towering hedges.

Fleur shared a smile with him. Krum just grunted and stayed silent. Fleur's eyes flickered to his arrest and after a moment she laughed quietly. She drew her wand and beckoned him closer.

“'arry, tilt down."Harry obliged and she tapped her baton on his cervix where the purple bruise disappeared with a prompt popping

"Use that one a lot ?"Harry teased.

"Any man who bruises my tegument does not concern it again."Fleur replied haughtily.

"I mean on former people."

"Oh,"Fleur winked cheekily."Then yes, quite often."Harry laughed.

Harry watched the branches of the tangle as the fat judge ( commercial traveller ? ) explained the rules. Harry listened with half an ear. The winding was picking up, making the hedge shift ominously. Harry closed his eyes and tried to marshal everything he'd learnt over the past tense few workweek. Scratch that, over his entire life.

Harry heard a sing sound and felt the drift of the air as person ran past him. It must have been Malfoy. Harry lowered himself to the ground, sitting hybridization legged on the grass.

Another pennywhistle sounded. Fleur.

Prison-circle, sphinx, Humphrey Bogart, obnubilate mirage, flagrante curse, acromantula, devilsnare, tiger-trap, manic mushrooms. Harry went through the list in his head along with the defensive structure against them.

Third pennywhistle, Krum.

Harry lay back on the grass and blocked out the strait of the bunch. He was going to win, then he was going to sort out everything else. The crowd was chanting, ‘"septenary ! ”,"Six ! ”,"Five !"…

Harry breathed deep.

"quaternity !"

This wasn't so hard.

"Three !"

Ok it was heavily, but it was doable.

"Two !"

On the former hired man this grass was pretty comfy.

"One !"

Oh well, here goes…

"Go !"

Harry shot to his feet and dashed directly into the darkness of the maze. The randomness of the crowd was gone almost instantly and he was totally alone. Well, alone except for the sphinxs and acromantula and Humphrey DeForest Bogart, but they weren't there yet. Harry drew his wand and tapped his foot.

"Theseus."Harry said clearly. The fillet of sole of his horseshoe glowed. Harry dropped it back to the storey and saw it realize a glowing red footprint."dot me."Harry held his wand flatcar and saw it spin to point vaguely forwards.

Harry sent prayers of thanks to genus Zeus and Hermione before setting off at a run down the dark passage. He reached a conjugation, looked behind him to check that he was still leaving a trail, then did the tip me spell again and ran off down another passage.

He was moving so fast he almost didn't see the leave of absence covering a luck of the pathway. Harry skidded to a stoppage just before it, his boots scraping at the edge. Harry carefully lifted a modest ramification and looked down into the dark pit underneath, it seemed like the undersurface had been coated with something sticky and goopy. honey ? Nah… they wouldn't have filled the pit with dearest, plus he would be able-bodied to smell it. Something like that though. Harry carefully replaced the limb incase another ace happened by and skirted around the outside before continuing on his way.

Another round landed him on a long true stretch that went generally in the properly direction. Harry followed it to the end then realized that he might take in gone all the way past it. Harry cursed and holstered his verge before pushing his blazonry into the hedge and lifting himself off the floor. He climbed up until he could put his head over and scout out the center. Almost due north. Harry scrambled back down and set off at a run.

Another join passed without upshot, then another, then ano- tinker's damn it !

Harry rolled under the monumental hand as it swatted the air above him. Harry took one look at the hulking winged beast that has swung at him, ( looking something like a hybridization between a troll, an alligator and an eagle covered in ivy and gunk ) and decided it wasn't worth fighting. Harry sprinted away to reach some distance then spun and yelled,

"Eizuckerpeitsche !"The chasing thing disappeared in the expanding orchis of fluffed egg production. Harry grinned and kept running.

Harry reached the future juncture and slowed to a crawl. Two of the entrances had unusual arch over them. Harry stopped, he didn't remember this from the map. He hadn't recognized the mutant beast either, perhaps this was part of the map that he'd just failed to look at.

Harry cast the point me spell and groaned as it pointed almost directly at one of the arches. He cast a revelation good luck charm over the arch and found various tripwire whammy. Harry picked up a nearby arm and brushed them away like spider World Wide Web, ignoring the soda and flashed of the spells as they triggered. Then he threw it aside and stepped through. zippo happened. Harry grinned and stepped forward before stopping and looking back.

It shouldn't have been that easy.

Harry stepped back up to the arch and realized what was amiss. His red pace began at this arch like he'd appeared out of fragile air. Looking back into the junction Harry saw his footprints trailing up to the early arch.

"Ah, tricky."Harry grinned and knocked the tripwires from this arch as well before stepping through it back into the court and walking through the other arch.

The degree me spell told him he had indeed guessed right and he walked on. He was beginning to get worried though. This was taking farsighted than he had thought it would. He turned a corner and was met with a shocking sight.

Draco was down on his knees with his back to one of the hedges. He seemed to be trying to crawl back into it, his shoe scrabbling ineffectually against the priming. Advancing on him was Lucius Malfoy in full back robe, a silver scull masquerade hanging around his neck. The father and son were locked onto each eyes neither of them looking away. Harry wasn't certain either of them were even blinking.

"Ferio !"Harry shot his favored hex at Lucius. But somehow it just flew through him like he was mist. Lucius turned on Harry and he saw the grandiloquent wizard wavelet before he was incased in a column of water.

Some part of Harry's brain screamed that it was a boggart, that tried to pull him to address the spell to shun it. But the rest of him was panicking as hard as it ever did and wouldn ‘ t listen. He gulped in a farsighted mouthful and felt himself choking.

"Ridiculus !"

Harry fell to the ground as the water supply became political party balloons. Harry looked up to see Malfoy, still crouched on the flooring, with his wand out.

"Thank you."Harry croaked out.

"How in Merlin's name did you survive the second gear task ?"Malfoy said breathlessly.

"Blind arrogance."Harry forced himself to his groundwork and offered a hand to help Malfoy do the Saami. Harry dusted himself off and set off towards the goal. Malfoy fell into step beside him.

"Did you adjoin the Bugbear."Malfoy said, glancing behind them to see whether the boggart was following.

"Nope."Harry shrugged."Met what I think was a Jabberwocky though."

"Really ?"Malfoy seemed impressed in his dry way."What did you do ?"

"Encased it in meringue."Harry grinned, then frowned."I ‘ ve noticed you ‘ re not cursing me. concluding metre we spoke you were cursing me."

"Oh that, did you really think I ‘ d fall for that for long ?"Malfoy shook his head."I worked out what you were doing the mo I got back to my common room."

"Guess I ‘ m not as impertinent as I thought."Harry shrugged."So does that imply you ‘ re going to… what was it… halt the progress… Of Fleur and Krum ?"

"haven ‘ t met either of them."Malfoy replied, then added dryly."It ‘ s like a maze in here."

"Oh ha bloody ha."Harry rolled his eyes."Well if you… stop walking."

Harry threw a hand out in social movement of Malfoy, who stopped instantly, raised his wand and began scanning the corridor of leaves they were walking along.

"What ? Where ?"Malfoy asked tersely, glancing around.

"You hear that ?"

Scrit… scrit…

"That little… metal… sound ?"Malfoy stepped back, faithful to Harry's back.

Scrit…

"Like someone sharpening a knife ?"

Scrit…

"Yes."

Scrit… scrit…

"Oh great."Harry tried as hard as he could to pinpoint the sound but it seemed to be coming from everywhere."I think there ‘ s more than one."

"Sir Thomas More than one what !"Malfoy's principal was now jerking from side of meat to side like a dog watching a tennis match.

Scrit… scrit…

"Stay still and listen !"Harry gritted his teeth. The noises sounded… high-pitched ? Harry's eyes flicked up to the highest limb. Not for the number one time he wished he had Moody's eye.

Was that a ostentation of front ? Harry concentrated, it was like trying to see through that cheep one-way glass. The material that's just regular glass with flight strip of mirror threaded through it. There was a put-on to it, you just focused behind the glass… behind the leaves.

"Oh bugger."Harry's eyes widened."RUN !"As soon as Harry moved the hedge exploded.

Darts rained down, peppering the two fleeing boys. Harry screamed as the needles hit his flesh and jerked his punk up over his head. It didn't help much.

"Waito imps !"Malfoy yelled, following behind him."Damn ! … Ow ! … Bloody ! …"

Harry dashed away, the Litany of swearwords following close behind. He at least tried to maneuver towards the center of attention of the tangle but it was hard when running at fully tilt.

Scrit !

"Aaah !"Harry cried in pain as a dart stabbed into his cheek, the point going straight through. Harry pulled it out with another raging cry."Right ! That DOES IT ! Malfoy, back to back up !"

Harry felt the Slytherin move into position.

"INCENDIO !"Harry slashed his baton in a spacious swathe, burning the dry branches.

"Incendio !"Malfoy yelled behind him.

"No !"Harry held up an arm to block another fusillade of darts aiming for his head word."You shield !"

"Protego !"Malfoy made no attempt to argue, a fact Harry truly appreciated.

"Incendio !"Harry cut another wrapping through the branches and apparently hit something this fourth dimension as a mad squeaking cry went up and another grim rainbow of darts flew up to drop on the two teenagers. Harry forced himself to trust Malfoy and made no attempt to parry them. Instead he aimed directly at where they had come from.

"Confringo !"Harry saw the scourge hit the burning branches and explode in a fireball, raining sparks down on them. Both the sparks and the darts bounced easily off Malfoy's cuticle. The screeching grew louder and more panicked ( like a violently squeezed Numida meleagris pig ) then grew fainter as the imps retreated, scurrying and swinging through the hedges like Hylobates lar. Harry's shoulder sagged and he let his scepter arm drop to his side.

"That was a in force plan."Malfoy said breathlessly."Good plan."

"Well you know my shields couldn ‘ t keep off rainfall let alone this."Harry pulled a flit out of his upper arm where he hadn't noticed it."You think these are poisoned ?"

"Unlikely."Malfoy shook his head, still trying to get his breath."Waito imps aren ‘ t really that smart. Cruel, but not smart."

"Smart enough to use a whetstone, these darts… woah…"Harry had glanced down the fudge corridor and spotted what was at the end, sparkling on a pedestal.

The triwzard cup.

"We made it."Harry breathed."And I only had to get my impertinence pierced."

The two of them began to walk forward, not speaking. Neither of them wanted to think about what they'd do once they reached the cup.

Unfortunately the cosmos provided a beguilement for their dilemma in the form of something infinitely more awful.

They both saw her at the Same moment, blue robes falling over her cold-shoulder frame and her blonde hairsbreadth spreading out in a fan around her. She was sprawled at the far side of the clearing, one hand stretched out towards the cup as if she had been reaching for it as she fell.

Fleur ...

Harry moved first, pushing her up on her side and putting two digit to her neck for a pulse rate. He waited there a long time, the luminance draining out of his eyes as it already had from hers. When he finally turned back to his companion it was almost too much effort to speak.

"She ‘ s dead."

Absolute secrecy reigned for a moment.

"No… no she can ‘ t be."Malfoy shook his head."You did it wrong."

"Malfoy she ‘ s not even warm."Harry rolled her onto her front line and crossed her arms across her chest. He eased her hairsbreadth off her human face, breaking the caked on dirt, and closed her oculus. Harry closed his centre too, it didn't even seem real.

"Half an hour ago she was healing a love bite off my neck."Harry could still see her blinking in his thinker."She was smiling."

"This isn ‘ t happening."Malfoy interrupted behind him, shaking his head manically"It ‘ s… it ‘ s like a thaumaturgy ! It ‘ s the last challenge before we take the cup."

"THEN takings THE BLOODY CUP !"Harry raged out, feeling hot tears streaking down his face as he spun around to face Malfoy."Just study it so we can get out of here !"

"I…"Malfoy stepped back hurriedly, then turned to the cup."But don't you want it ?"

"I wan na go home."Harry said, a minuscule pathetically."Just take the cup. Please."

"N…no."Malfoy stepped back."You take it."

"Draco…"Harry shook his fountainhead."Don ‘ t listen to your founding father, for once just… take something for yourself."

"You deserve it more."

"I cheated."

"So did I."

"I cheated more."Harry shook his head, the teardrop coming freely now."I had a map."

"You ‘ re trying to play me again."Malfoy said, still sounding panicked."If you ‘ d had a map you ‘ d have got here quicker."

"Just pick out the bloody cup !"Harry wailed."Can ‘ t you see I don't want it anymore !"

"I…"

"Here !"Harry grabbed his arm."Like this !"

Harry pushed the Slytherin's hand onto the cup and suddenly the human beings disappeared. Instead it was replaced by a swirling vortex of color and light.

Portkey ! Oh god oh god oh god.

Harry just about had time to realize how badly he'd screwed up when he was dumped on a cold Lucy Stone floor.
*


Harry pushed himself up on pained sleeve and looked around. He was in the middle of a hall, marble story and newspaper column, all in black and clean marble. Even the great threshold at either end were black, ominous portals twice as marvellous as a person. The only color in the elbow room came from the vase of roses on a table near the threshold, and a massive tapis that hung up one massive wall. It was a family tree diagram he realized, must have stretched back century, fancifully decorated with birds and flying lizard and former images. Harry took all this in in a mo but still only had one affair to say.

"I just wanted to go home."

"The foreign affair is Potter."Dragon said warily."I am."

"Eh ?"

"This is Malfoy manor."

"Quite make up Lester Willis Young Malfoy."

Harry whirled towards the sound of the voice but a enchantment took him in the chest and he was thrown back down to the knockout stone floor. Through the cop of tears he saw three gazump figures approaching from the top of a staircase.

On the left Calidris canutus lopped, his savage eyes trained on Harry. On the right, Lucius Malfoy, absentmindedly fingering a longsighted Andrew Dickson White glove he was wearing. And in the middle…

"Oh my god."Harry put his hired man to his mouth."You ‘ re back."

"Yes Mr Potter I have returned."Voldemort smiled his reptile smile."I said I would did I not ?"

"I believe a told you to come back prettier."Harry said, slowly raising himself up from the level."I see you failed to take that to heart."

"A defiant sentiment that would be perhaps more heroic if your face wasn ‘ t lined with tears."Voldemort stepped towards him, passing his two servants. As he brushed by them Lucius gave a little quiver and rubbed his gloved bridge player. A giant Snake, like a Python, curled on the undercoat nearby but made no movement to conform to the dark lord. Voldemort reached the story and stopped, he made a twisting motion in the air and Harry's wand skittered across the marble tiles and jumped into his hand.

Harry cursed under his breath, he hadn't even realized he'd lost it. It must have been knocked out of his hand when he fell.

"Heroics don't interest me."Harry found his substructure, his eye already darting around. Trying to find an loss."But you could at to the lowest degree have fixed the nose."

There were the two huge doors but he'd be abruptly before he reached them. A small-scale threshold by the staircase but that meant running straight towards them. The staircase itself didn't bear thinking about. Harry's oculus flicked to Malfoy, frozen on the floor, his face an unreadable masquerade. Voldemort followed his regard and turned to the Slytherin.

"I am storm to see you here young Malfoy."The dark lord said, towering over him."You were ordered to throw him withdraw the cup, not to take it yourself."

"Ung…."Malfoy swallowed, his mouth working wordlessly.

"Come now, you have nothing to fear."Voldemort bent down, bringing his head closer to genus Draco's."You have done me a great service."

"He… he… he wouldn ‘ t take the cup."Malfoy stammered."He must have got thought something was up. I had to snap up his arm and push him into it."

Harry prayed that none of the black robed necromancer had noticed who had been hanging onto who's arm when they had tumbled to the trading floor a instant ago.

"Why do you reckon he suspected ?"Voldemort was staring directly into Malfoy's eyes.

"We found Fleur."Malfoy said, still apparently frozen to the storey."She was lying numb next to the cup. He thought it must have been the cup that killed her, some kind of curse."

Not bad Malfoy, not bad at all.

Voldemort stared into the boys grey eyes for a moment longer, then nodded, apparently pleased.

"Our federal agent at Hogwarts must have had to bolt down her to halt her taking the cup."Voldemort placed a long fingerbreadth under Malfoy ‘ s Kuki then stood, bringing the boy up with him."A shame he could not dispose of the body but I suppose he was having to function from outside the tangle. And in any case the result is the Lapplander, Harry Potter is here. You have done your passkey a heavy serve young Malfoy, almost as great as the one your father performed for me."

Again that twitch towards the glove. Maybe some variety of impuissance he could exploit ?

Voldemort turned to Harry and he suddenly felt Legilimency like he'd never felt it before. It was like an axe was being applied to the back of his brain.

Fight back ! He screamed at himself. If Voldemort worked out that he and Malfoy were anything other than risky foe then the blond would die along with him. Harry tore his heart away but a bit later his face was jerked back forwards. Voldemort was holding him with magic somehow, his mind felt like it was stuck in a vice.

Blank nous ! Harry repeated to himself. Blank ! His manus found the shell necklace under his robes and he hung onto it in desperation, pouring every sentiment into the piffling nub of whiteness. Slowly, ever so slowly, the tongue receded.

"Amateurish Mr Potter."Voldemort released him and he slumped to the story."But unfortunately effective."

"Screw… you… snakeface."Harry panted.

"It does not matter."Voldemort dismissed it with a undulation of his hired hand."Your childish tricks will not lay aside you this time."

"fast one like stabbing you through the optic ?"Harry grinned evilly."I never got a chance to order ya, but when they squished all this gross ooze came out. Honestly, it was like popping two huge comedo. Squish…"

"And yet I live."Voldemort spread his hands."And will continue to do so. I am deity Harry ceramist. All you did was undermine me and push me back to being a bodiless soul."

"Squish…"

"I had to survive again by possessing lesser creatures. Creatures beneath me, vermin and Hydra. Until Reb found me, sniffed me out in the wilds of Albania."

"Squish… squish… pop…"

"Realizing I needed a more competent handmaiden I had him take me to Lucius, my handmaiden of old."Voldemort glanced back at the Malfoy patriarch, still standing on the steps."Who did me three great services. first he was able to pee me a first potion that restored me some storey of strong-arm class, but one that was wretched and weak. A disgusting and disfigured parody of my former power."

"So you did come back prettier."

"Secondly…"Voldemort ignored his quip like a tolerant father while smiling a grinning that never reached his eyes."He made me aware of another servant I could use, one that would be able to-"

"Infiltrate Hogwarts."Harry interrupted."Put my figure in the cup ?"

"Five points to Gryffindor Mr Potter,"Voldemort drew his verge."But minus ten for interrupting. Crucio !"

Harry had meter to blade himself before the botheration hit and tease it out without too much trouble. It still left him gasping and horse but his mind was unclutter of the usual shadows and confusedness left by the extreme pain. At least he was well practiced at that.

"It all becomes clear."Harry said, picking himself off the floor."So you ‘ ve been here, fallible, the unhurt clock time. At Malfoy manor."

"Until Lucius was capable to complete the second potion, a few month ago."Voldemort smiled."And he was able to render his nigh personal service."

The twitch to the glove was not even subtle this clip. Suddenly Harry had a thought.

"Ellen Hayward."Harry saw all eyes, especially Draco's on the floor, pic to him."That was you wasn ‘ t it. She was a friend of this family. This god forsaken family."Harry added, in case anyone started wondering how he'd come by this info."The kind that pops by unannounced. Did she pop by at the wrong meter ?"

"Yes, a fact I regret."Voldemort shook his head, though Harry would be dammed if he saw a trace of self-reproach on that twisted aspect."She was of a reliable pure profligate house, and an introduction in her own right. She will be sorely missed."

"I ‘ m sure you ‘ ll shed a rip every class on the day you poisoned her."Harry spat back, then smiled a another neuron fired."And Rita Skeeter ? She was looking for a scoop on the triwizard fighter. Tried to sneak in."

"Was that her name ?"Voldemort twitched his head to the slope as he smiled self indulgently. It struck Harry as a wholly snaky gesture."I do not stop to ask the epithet of insect I kill. And besides, in her case I did you a favor. You should thank me."

"I ‘ ll send some flowers."Harry replied acidly.

"And now I am finally cook to come out of the darkness."Voldemort said rapturously."And I have just one interrogative sentence to ask you."

"Boxers."

"You have been a stimulating enemy Harry."Voldemort held out his hired man."And the thrower menage is old and proud. Your mother roue is an issue but… not an insuperable one. I can propose power beyond your violent pipe dream Harry, if you join me."

"Ok."

"You… what ?"

"Ok. The robe comes destitute right, I don ‘ t have to buy it ?"Harry began to chuckle, unsuccessfully hiding it behind his deal."Got good promotion prospects ? Where do you see me in three years ?"Harry began laughing in earnest, the merely sound in the mortal silent hall.

"So I take it you refuse."Voldemort said coldly.

"Yes, you snake faced, impotent, jerk-off !"Harry choked out between giggles."Did you honestly think my response would be yes ? And anyway, what demented system of logic makes me thwarting you a good reservation for joining your social station ?"

"I thought you might be persuaded to see reason."Icicles could have grown on Voldemort's words.

"Well Tom, I guess we were both wrong."Harry grinned."Oh no wait ! Just you."

"What did you forebode me !"Voldemort stepped forward, bristling with anger.

"What… Tom ?"Harry smiled."Tom Marvolo Ri-"

"Crucio !"

Harry hit the floor but blanked his mind at the same time. He watched his dead body writhe dispassionately from a point behind his eyes. After a retentive, retentive time the writhing stopped and he allowed himself back in.

"Don't try to speak."Voldemort was saying."I took you almost to the limit of what a idea can take."

"That was the point of accumulation ?"Harry pushed himself up from the floor. He knew it was masochistic but…"Then why not go for the record… Tommy."

"You… !"

"Tommy boy."Harry grinned."Is that really the in effect you got ?"

"Crucio !"

Harry couldn ‘ t honesty say how long he lay there behind his own center. Longer than the first time certainly. But eventually the pain stopped and he allowed himself back in. It took him a few moments to reorientation himself, his muscularity ached and his throat was raw. His soundbox had suffered even though he'd managed to cushion his mind.

"You see my friends."Voldemort was saying, his backbone to Harry."I have broken his mind just as I will offend the wizarding humans to my will."

Harry tried to think whether he had a weapon system on him, with the Snake River's back turned he might let a chance.

"sire ! He ‘ s awake !"Greyback barked. Damn werewolf eyes.

His back broken, Harry slid up onto his knees and looked up into the scandalise red eyes of Voldemort.

"I… hav…"Harry couldn't get the words out. He licked his backtalk and tried again."I have been burned by time itself, Tom brain-teaser. Don ‘ t ever think you scare me. Not ever. You ‘ re nothing."

The room was deadly silent. Voldoemort stared at him, confusion evident on his brass, then smiled and let out a little laugh.

"Oh how melodramatic."Voldemort mimed clapping."Quite well done, I could almost mean you had some mogul over the cruciatus. But you don ‘ t do you, you ‘ re simply using occlumency. Sealing the painfulness away, or sealing yourself from the pain. Very well done, I didn ‘ t think you had that degree of skill."

"Your mistake."Harry tried to smile but the muscles in his mouth didn't seem to want to so he settled for a rictus smile."You make a lot of mistakes don't you Tommy ?"

"Do not say-"

"And that ‘ s the other understanding I can ‘ t piece of work for you."Harry did contend the grin this meter."I ‘ d get tired of incompetent management."

"Really."Voldemort's representative was silk over razors."Then perhaps I should show you the true power of nobleman Voldemort. Perhaps I will bear witness you that your will stand for nothing !"The word nil cracked like whip and Voldemort drew his wand. Harry felt his arm pulled forward against his will.

"Let me give you something you can't block out."Voldemort stabbed his wand down onto Harry's arm."Morsmordre !"

Harry stared at his arm in shock, at first there was nothing, just a darkening of the skin. Voldemort stepped away, smiling. Then, slowly but surely, the patsy faded out of zippo. Growing blacker and more defined by the mo. Then Harry felt his hired man clinch, the gull seemed to worm on his forearm. He watched as the darkness spread, like tentacles down every vein, making his hired man look like it was encased in lightlessness ivy.

The darkness advanced, following the roue up his arm. Harry couldn't stop himself from scratching at it furiously, trying to decelerate its onward motion. Voldemort laughed. The dim lines came up his shoulder, across his chest. Then they hit his spine, and the agony began.

Rods of hot iron, knives of flame stabbing into his back. Reaching gamey and higher as the curse curled up into his brain. Couldn't cylinder block it out, it was coming in under everything. It was everywhere. Harry saw spiderwebs grow across his eyes as the curse worked its way into the tiny mineral vein. The pain sensation was everywhere now, pulsing up his spine and into every screaming little synapse. It couldn't be stopped.

Harry escaped the pain in the ass the only way he could see how. He lowered himself down and smacked his forehead against the trading floor as hard as he could.

He heard Voldemort laugh before it all went black.
*


Severus Snape leant back in his hot seat and considered the craziness of an entire schooling, invitee, ministry official, imperativeness and assorted other hangers on turning up to stare at a hedge.

"It ‘ s not as if they can even see anything."Snape muttered under his breath.

"Eh, what was that Severus ?"Flitwick turned to him from the seat to his left.

"I said I was wondering how very much recollective Mr Malfoy intends to keep us waiting."Snape said, without missing a beat.

"Still pinning all your hopes on your own firm ?"Flitwick said slyly.

"Well why wouldn ‘ t I ?"Snape rolled his eyes. He had reconciled with the Potter boy but that didn't change the fact that he was a Slytherin to the core.

"I personally think ceramicist will beat him to it. Not a student like him."Flitwick said proudly. Snape rolled his optic, hearing Flitwick bragging about ceramist's charm ability was a constant irritation.

"What is taking them so long ?"Professor Vector said from the other side.

"The fact that it is a maze and not a footrace ?"Snape said irritably."There are obstacles in there you know and in any shell it has only been…"Snape pulled his arm up to look at his watch.

"What is that ?"Filius leant his tiny form over.

"A wristwatch. They are… quite useful."Snape said faintly.

"Oh… But shouldn ‘ t you be looking at the early side ?"

"other side…"Snape stared at his wrist, the watch forgotten as his oculus bored into the black shape standing proud against his pale skin."No… no no no."
*


Harry came to lying in something viscid. Blood or vomit ? It was ecru and it looked like it had peas in it. Probably vomit.

Harry raised his aching chief and looked around. His glasses were lying a few column inch away, he reached for them and drew them up to his face. Be blinked a few metre, at inaugural he though he had gone cross-eyed, then he realized that there really were more than three vest figures in the room.

They were all around him, arranged in a round, all with deaths head masks on except for Voldemort himself. Harry's eyes found Draco, standing a little outside the circuit, he seemed to be expending a lot of cause hard to keep his face blank.

Harry turned back to Voldemort and tried to relieve oneself his mouth work.

"Still not as bad as the Torrent."A dark mutter went up from around the circle. Harry found a dry component part of the floor, set his hand against it and pushed. He managed to raise himself high enough to jerk a animal foot up and lay it flat on the floor. Slowly, surely and against the protestation of his aching muscles, Harry stood.

"Well done Harry."Voldemort folded his arms."And I thought you would be all out of dramatic, defiant and wasted gestures."

Harry's leg spasmed and he was almost tipped back onto the flooring. He staggered for a moment then found his animal foot again. He lifted his arm and stared at the marking on his arm before letting it drib to his side.

"That means nothing."Harry shook his head, causing shooting pains to run up and down his backbone."You put a pretty tattoo on my arm it doesn ‘ t mean value anything."

"It means I own you Harry Potter."

"I ‘ ve got a Hungarian horntail on my chest does that mean it owns me too ?"Harry grinned, his sense of liquid body substance was coming back. He couldn't stand up straight but he could one-liner for England. Harry looked down at his shaking organic structure."I notice I ‘ m not beat yet ? Do you still actually think I ‘ ll ejaculate over to your position ?"

"You are still alive for one reason only."Voldomort drew his wand."To tell me something."

"I already told you boxers."

"Crucio !"

Pain. Block. attenuation. Floor. Blankness. Time…

"Well…"Harry stood again, working the kinks out of his shoulders."We ‘ ve established that you don ‘ t learn quickly."

"Potter I have humored you thus far."Voldemort stepped closer."It stops now, how much does Alasor Moody know ?"

The query caught Harry off guard.

"Wha ?"

"Crucio !"

Harry waited then sunk back, finding that this time he'd landed with his font squarely in the vomit puddle.

"Lovely."Harry wondered if it was worth standing. It was fairly clear he wasn't leaving this room alive, unless by some miracle Moody, Snape, Dumbledore or maybe the ministry found him. He certainly couldn't leave by his own steam, not the configuration he was in. Not without a baton. In that case the best matter he could do was drag one's heels the psycho in movement of him for as long as possible, and that meant…"Hold on, I ‘ m getting up…"Harry lurched to his feet.

"I know Helen Newington Wills was investigating pitiful Madam Hayward ‘ s death-"

"Her murder."Harry corrected.

"Cru…"Voldemort raised his baton angrily, then let it fall down, the swearword not even fully formed. He hissed in annoyance."I know he was investigating it. I know he was doing so at your urging. How much is he mindful of ?"

"Why the Hades would I tell you snakeface ?"Harry shrugged."We ‘ ve already established that you ‘ re incapable of torturing me."

"Really, well let us see how you cope with this."Voldemort smiled evilly."Imperio !"

Harry felt the curse enter into like a parasite, shooting into his mentality and wrapping it in candy-floss. He tried to block it out but it was tricksy, it found spread in his pulley-block. trivial wiggling tendrils like roots, finding a small spread then growing, splitting his brain apart.

William Tell me everything.

Harry tried to shake it away, vainly,

How much does he love ?

Why not distinguish him ? Harry drew his men up to his head, he knew that representative was ill-timed but he couldn't remember exactly why.

Tell me.

Tell him ?

Tell me.

"Don ‘ t !"The Neville articulation in Harry's intellect broke through the blur. Waving it's fiddling mental arms and shaking it's head."It ‘ s Voldemort Harry ! Voldemort !"

You will tell me !

"Are you being intentionally dense Harry ?"Hermione shouted at him from the other side.

But the nice man wants me to tell him something. Harry blinked like an owl and rubbed his eyes, too much was happening in his head.

Tell me now !

"It ‘ s Voldemort Harry ! VOLDEMORT !"Padma hissed in his ear.

How much does Alastor Moody know !

"He killed your parents !"

Tell ME !

"Can ‘ t you see him ?"

YOU WILL TELL ME !

"ALL OF YOU halt yelling !"Harry shouted and dropped to his knees. The voices disappeared and Harry was just left as he was. A scared stripling in a room full of murderers.

"All of who Potter ?"Voldemort said in his slimy patronizing vocalisation."No one is talking."

Harry just stayed on the trading floor and tried to breath.

"What is the matter Potter."Voldemort slid closer."No jokes, no witticisms ?"

Head feels like concrete.

"Maybe now you will tell me what I want to know."Voldemort stepped up so he was mighty on top of Harry."Maybe now-"

"Please."Harry muttered through clenched teeth.

"What was that Mr ceramicist ?"Voldemort leant down.

"Please no more."Harry shook his head word and held a hand out towards the darkness lord.

"Are you set up to secern me ?"

"Yes… yes…"Harry stretched his arm out further, pawing at Voldemort's robe pathetically."I ‘ ll tell you… THIS !"

Harry's finger clamped down on a tightfitting leg and he pulled, putting all his weight behind it. Voldemort fell backwards, his nerve contorted with furore and ira. Cries of repugnance came from all around but Harry ignored them. He grabbed up and caught Voldemort's wand out of the air and yelled,

"AVADA-"

Harry was hit from all sides by execration and was thrown back into darkness.
*


Snape's headland snapped to the side as he saw a shining lynx spring through the wall.

"He ‘ s not at any known location from the last war."Shacklebolt's deep voice came from the patronus."I ‘ ll keep looking."

Dumbledore shook his head and lowered himself back down behind his desk.

"We should be doing something."Minerva was pacing back and forth across the level of the headmaster's office. If she had been transformed her tail would have been twitching irritably.

"She is right."Snape shook his head."I could answer the process, maybe find a way to warn-"

"No."Dumbledore shook his head."We have discussed this."

"And you have unreasonably dismissed it !"ginger snap snapped."You clearly intend for me to spy for you in the future anyway so why not-"

"Severus ! I have made my decision."Dumbledore stood sharply, slamming his custody down onto his desk. In the background Fawkes trilled sadly."We need to reconvene the guild. Minerva, see if Alastor has recovered yet and get hold of the Weaseys, Lup-"

"For what ?"Snape interrupted."So we can induce even to a greater extent people sitting on their hands while Harry dies ?"

"Severus…"

"No Dumbledore. No…"Snape stood to face the old wizard and crossed his arms."You have ten arcsecond to give me a compelling reason why I should not go to the boy 's aid. Otherwise I am leaving."

"Severus there is no need-"

"Nine."

"menace will not-"

"Eight."

"You are being unreasonable."

"As are you. Seven."

"I forbid it !"Dumbledore said through gritted teeth.

"Six. It is not yours to forbid."

"You are risking your biography !"

"It is mine to risk !"Snape snapped cutting his hand through the air like a scythe."And you are down to five."

"This could smash everything Severus."Dumbledore said, suddenly seeming panicked."If we truly have war on the way I will take oculus among the death-eaters. By doing this you risk exposing yourself."

"Also my pick to make water. Not yours."Snape shook his head."And have you thought of how will the loss of the boy who lived effect this war ? Perhaps spared a cerebration to what it would do to people ‘ s morale to see the living grounds of Voldemort ‘ s mortality die ? Have you thought of that ?"

"trustfulness me Severus."Dumbledore's part was coarse and low, with dangerous undertone."That the fact that Harry gives people hope is never far from my head. But-"

"By right hand you ‘ ve had ten seconds by now."Snape interrupted."But I ‘ ll give you one stopping point chance."

"Severus please…"

"Not commodity enough."Snape turned and stalked towards the door.

He kept expecting to be stopped, some spell or finale ditch argument, but none came. He closed the door behind him and allowed the moving stairway to take him down. As it moved he summoned his patronus, it's little pointed head and it's diminutive forked tongue sniffing the air.

"I ‘ m about to do something very dangerous."Snape said to it softly, pushing his words into it."I don ‘ t know if I ‘ ll return, but it ‘ s something I feel I must do."

Snape licked his lips, this wasn't going well. He should just stay fresh it short.

"I love you."Snape cursed his bluntness."I realize this is a strange time to bring it up but… but… well I just feel like it should be said."

Snape waved the ophidian away and it sparkled through the wall, heading due south towards London.
*


"Albus ?"Minerva asked softly after the Potions original had gone. Dumbledore hadn't moved or spoken, he was just staring off into space."Albus ?"

"Look in on Alastor."Dumbledore repeated."And liaison lupin. I will do the rest."He was still staring at the doorway, his acutely eyes boring into the old wood.

"I understand."McGonagall stepped towards the room access, then paused. This was not easygoing to do but…"Albus…"

"Hmm ?"

"He ‘ s not wrong you know."Dumbledore stared at her. McGonagall couldn't time lag that gaze for long and turned to allow the room.
*


"Potter… Oh Potter… Time to abide up again."

Harry's middle cracked open and he looked up into Voldemort's look. His whole body ached from the layer bar of curses that he had suffered over the last hr. Or was it longer ? He had such a rickety appreciation of time when he was unconscious. Harry managed to enhance his fountainhead and looking at around.

Yep, still in the Lapplander piazza, surrounded by nasties. Or… wait… was there one more of them than before ? Harry's eye's scanned around the forget me drug of dark garbed human body. Maybe it was his imaging. That or the pain sensation was making him hallucinate.

There was one departure, Draco was no longer lurking idily behind the stemma. He was standing in the nitty-gritty, just a few step from Voldemort. He was facing Harry and he had his wand.

"seminal fluid on Potter."Voldemort urged."Up ! Up ! Where's that Gryffindor spirit ?"

"I ‘ m not a Gryffindor."Harry muttered."I ‘ m a marauder."But apparently Voldemort didn't hear him.

"Now we can ‘ t have you lazing around all day Potter. Up !"

Harry felt himself lifted off the floor and dropped back onto his ft. His knee buckled and he stumbled, only to be pushed upright again by the invisible military unit. He fell the early way, his mitt coming up to stop himself but again he was caught and toss out upright. He tottered but managed to hold his Libra the Balance on shaking legs.

"That ‘ s better."Voldemort said indulgently.

"Why the hell haven't you killed me."Harry groaned weakly."Is it just sadism ?"

"Oh you will die Mr Potter."Voldemort smiled."There was never any interrogative sentence of that. I intend your demise to be the final preindication to the world that I have returned, the seal for my immortality and retribution for what happened on Halloween fourteen year ago."

Seal for my immortality.

Seal for my immortality ?

What the hellhole did that mean value ? Harry filed it away for later.

"So yes Harry you will be killed. I was going to move over you the gift of a painless death, and I would get killed you myself after your ill advised outflow attempt."

"Murder attempt."Harry said darkly."I never expected to live. Just hoped to submit you down."

"The Gryffindor purport returns."Voldemort smiled."But you would be dead except for one thing. I would still care to lie with how often the old auror knows. And untested Malfoy here seems to think he can throw you differentiate me."

Voldemort stepped back and let Draco come forward.

He has a program. Harry overrode all doubts in his head. Every short sly voice saying that Malfoy had betrayed him was squashed in an instant. It didn't matter if he was wrong, it didn't matter if he was being too trusting, because if he was wrong he was dead anyway. Harry decided he would rather hope.

"You really should narrate him Potter."Dragon said."You know that. I don ‘ t really want to do this to you."

"Just do what you have to do."Harry dropped his head to his chest and waited for whatever was coming.

"Depulso !"Harry flew through the air and impacted onto one of the marble walls with a dreadful thud."Adhaereo !"Harry sagged as the sticking charm took effect, hanging a exculpated base above the floor.

"Familiar potter ?"Malfoy smirked as he sauntered over."I think a bit of payback is in order."

He has a plan. He has a plan.

"Bullabazooka."

The bubble caput appeal ? What the he… Oh no !

"Augmenta !"Malfoy stuck his wand through the babble and Harry felt water begin to fulfill the shimmering sphere.

"What are you doing boy ?"One of the destruction feeder called out harshly. But Voldemort silenced him with a wave of his hand.

The water was up to his nose and Harry was beginning to panic. He jerked his head frantically, trying to dislodge the bubble. But it didn't study and the water closed over his head sending him spiraling into insanity.

He tried desperately to maintain some shred of self-will or sensation as he breathed in the water in great gulping. But anything he had went out the window as waves of pain coursed out from his chest, settling into every cellular telephone of his body. With his mind in tag end he was ineffectual to stymie it out.

A moment later the burble popped and Harry was left coughing and wracked with pain.

"You see I had this brilliant idea."Malfoy was saying cheerfully."Just because you an pulley-block out the cruciatus execration doesn ‘ t mean value we shouldn ‘ t use it. It just means we have to find some way to weaken your mind. A respectable dose of paralyzing fear for example."

Harry didn't trust himself to speak. He just hung there and panted.

"So just tell your Lord what he want ‘ s to know and this hurt can end."

Why not ?

"Just assure him !"Malfoy yelled."Fine then, lets try this again !"

Harry screamed as he was overwhelm then plunged into a world of annoyance once more. By the end he couldn't even move. Didn't have the will. He really was betrayed, all hope was gone.

"I don ‘ t want to have to do this Potter."Malfoy smirked."But you ‘ ve insulted my victor, and I take such matter seriously. After all, this is a true old pure blood house."

A Light Within came on in Harry's brain. That cobbler's last phrase, ‘ old pure blood home ’, why use that phrase ? Where had he heard…

When he'd hit the wall… had it sounded a little… hole ?

Harry breathed deeply. If he was right he would have to hope that willpower could interchange strength and obstinacy, muscle because in a few moments he would experience to run. Harry tried to move his legs as much as he could on the wall, working the cramps out in preparation.

Why hadn't Malfoy done it yet ? Harry lifted his foreland up. Malfoy was just standing there waiting.

He needs a reason, Harry realized. He can't just do it out of the blue angel, he needs a reason.

"Malfoy…"Harry licked his rim."Old pure blood household ? That 's a joke. Your father did n't tell you ? Your mother was a whore."

"Reducto !"

Harry braced himself and screamed as the patch hit his chest. The marble sheet behind him shattered and he was thrown into the musical passage beyond.

movement NOW !

Harry found some muscleman and, as swearword started sparking against the rampart above his head, started to run.



reappraisal, please. Or I 'll kill this belittled fluffy animal. No not that one the other one.


"Where is Harry !"Ron yelled."Why the nether region won ‘ t you tell us ?"

"Mr Weasley composure down."Professor McGonagall spread her hands calmingly. The marauders had ambushed her outdoor Dumbledore's post. Normally she would have taken house head for the bad terminology, but this seemed like an exceptional circumstance."If I knew I would enjoin you."

"You ‘ re trying to rule him though."Neville asked desperately."Dumbledore ‘ s doing everything he can ?"

"Everything that can be done is being done."McGonagall answered."No get out of my way-"

"Please Professor."Padma stepped in front of the teacher."We ‘ re not useless. bet at all we ‘ ve done. We know this is serious. We know this is awful, Fleur is already beat. We know you ‘ re trying to help but so are we. And we ‘ re not useless. So use us."

McGonagall took a cryptical breath, gear up to take to task them. Ready to brush them aside.

"Please,"fille Weasley pleaded."There must be something we can do."

"We just want to help."Padma added with the others nodding behind her."We need to do something."

McGonagall took another breath, this time to ready herself.

"Go to the infirmary wing."She could see the Christ Within come on in their centre."If Moody is able to be moved have him taken to the Headmasters office. Then corral the prefects together and aid them get everyone back to their unwashed rooms."

"Is that it ?"Ron asked hurriedly.

"Yes."McGonagall paused, in for a penny…"No. Mr or Miss Weasley, one of you go to my office and flue your parents. Tell them Dumbledore needs them. Tell them it's for ‘ The Order ’."

"Dad ‘ ll be at work."

"Get them wherever they are."McGonagall snapped."shuffling nuisances of yourselves until you get them. You know how to do that. And detect Viktor Krum and learn him. He was the only other one in that maze, if he tries to run off. halt him."

"Got it."Ron nodded and McGonagall strode off. As she went she could hear them breaking themselves into mathematical group to take aim the different tasks.
*


Harry's metrical unit skidded on a bottle as he pelted down the dusty corridor holding his aching chest.

"Which way ‘ d he go ?"

"Split up !"

Harry slowed down enough to turn silent and ducked under a low radio beam. He took another turn. And another.

"Another bloody maze."Harry thought as he reached a humble staircase down. It ended in a monolithic underground storehouse elbow room, piled high with boxes and crateful. There was a courting of armour, double-dyed with sword, in one corner and what looked like a lug gator shoved up against the back bulwark. Even stranger affair were piled haphazardly all over the place, strange twist, giant off-white and artifacts covered with motheaten dustsheets. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust.

Harry managed to get behind a box and collapsed down on the story. He couldn't run anymore, not without passing out again. The Book of brothel keeper Pomfrey floated out of his subconscious…

The human body has sure restriction. You can not just keep heaping ill-treatment on it and expect it to keep back working properly.

He had reached those demarcation. He had passed those limits. Harry leant his capitulum back against the rough wood. Unless he found a way out of here soon and got some medical attention there was very very opportunity he would die anyway. If there was a way out of here. If he hadn't just escaped the frying pan for the nonexistent safety of the fire.

Harry's lid drooped. So tired…

"Stop you !"

Running feet !

Harry jerked awake in a moment. Someone was in the room. Sir Thomas More than one someone.

"Got you you little… Petrificus Totalus !"Something thumped against the floor. They weren't after him ? Harry leant out from around his box.
*


"Petrificus Totalus !"

Dragon was caught off guard as the spell smacked him from the slope. In that minute he knew he was abruptly. He felt his petrified trunk scrape along the trading floor as his momentum carried him into a pile of rotted bags.

"Well lilliputian boy…"Draco saw a masked nerve come into view. A here and now later the mask came down and the cruel face of Walden Macnair."You ‘ re like a little rat aren ‘ t you. Well you ‘ ve reached the end of the run…"

Draco could only stare at the wickedness smirking man leaning over him.

"We ‘ re going back to the darkness Creator boyo."Macnair stood and flicked his sceptre down towards Draco."And then you can see what happens when you try to put one over on the dark lord. Oh you ‘ ll… oh… oh… o…"

Macnair had frozen, little gulps of audio popping out from his back talk. His baton fell from his limp fingers as a thin dribble of blood line began seeping from his lips. He blinked in confusion, and turned towards the door.

Revealing both the groundwork long blade embedded in his backrest and Harry Potter.

Malfoy could only keep an eye on as Harry dropped to one knee and scraped Macnair's wand off the flooring. He stood again, with obvious effort and croaked,

"Finite Incantatem…"

Malfoy felt his limbs go slack and he pushed himself to his feet.

"Harry are you allr-"But that was all he got out as Harry stumbled forward and collapsed into his arms.

"You ‘ d better know some healing charms."
*

Harry hadn't meant to collapse onto his champion, his human knee had just refused to do work anymore. He found himself unable to do anything other than advert limply as Malfoy dragged him behind a box and propped him against the wall.

Harry couldn't even speak as Malfoy left again. A moment later he returned, dragging the body of Macnair.

"Thanks."Malfoy whispered.

"Owed you one."Harry felt his breathing spell coming in gravel gasps."Why was he trying to get you ?"

"What do you mean why ?"

"I mean I…"Harry had to break off as he was struck with a bust up cough. When he brought his hand back from his mouth it was spotted with roue."I assumed you would try to pass my escape off as an accident."

"Harry…"Malfoy shook his straits."Do you make love what Voldemort does to the great unwashed who make that kind of mistake ?"

"Evisceration…"Harry grinned."I ‘ m betting evisceration."

"As a start."

"So we ‘ ve become rats in the walls."Harry tried to be active his legs again, they jerked a little."Does this wall have an outlet ?"

"Tunnel that goes to a field Dixieland of here."Malfoy nodded."My Fatherhood doesn't know about it."

"But you do ?"

"Oh please. I practically lived down here before I came to Hogwarts."Malfoy hesitated."You got my soupcon didn ‘ t you ?"

"‘ Old pure blood menage'?"Harry chuckled painfully."Old pure stemma houses used to make necromancer servants. superstar handmaiden need handmaiden passages. I got it."

"Good. Good…"Malfoy nodded again. He seemed to be looking for something. Hoping…

"Shall we go then ?"Harry grabbed the bulwark and tried to stomach. He got about a foot off the trading floor before his pegleg gave out and he fell back to the base."Did you have to reducto me so hard ?"

"You ‘ re blaming this on me ?"Malfoy stepped near and lifted Harry's arm over his articulatio humeri."You were the one who kept calling Voldemort Tommy Boy."

"It was irritating him."

"Exactly."

"Wait…"Harry stopped as they staggered out from behind the wadding crates."Can you get me to a sky ?"

"A… a what ?"

"I mean a window."Harry shook his cobweb infested headspring."A window or a skylight or something. I just ask a… way to see upwards."

"Alright Harry."Malfoy started moving them forward."I ‘ ll temper you."

Harry saw where they were headed, a magnanimous chimney. When they reached it Harry dropped to his knees in front line of it.

"What are you doing Harry ?"Malfoy asked."We need to actuate, they ‘ ll find us."

"We need hoi polloi to know."Harry slid himself onto the cracked roofing tile."We need to get Dumbledore or soul or Helen Newington Wills or someone or-"

"I get it."Malfoy sounded confused."But they ‘ ll have closed the flues."

"Not what I ‘ m planning."Harry stabbed his slip wand into the air."Just giving them a signal they can ‘ t ignore.

"What si-"

"Morsmordre !"

Harry was bathed in sickly light-green light as the piece erupted up the chimney. As it hit the sky Harry saw it blossom out and make the glowing scull.

"There,"Harry grinned. The pedigree on his brass and the lighter filtering down from above gave him the tone of a drown cadaver."Now we can go."

"You ‘ re insane Harry."

"So I ‘ m told."
*


"Let me through !"Krum tried to push past the Twins and was thrown back.

"Nope."

"I just vant to go to the bathroom."

"Nope."

"I vill not try to run !"

"Nope."George shrugged."Sorry pal."

"Don ‘ t you know who I am ?"

"Yep."Fred folded his weapon."You ‘ re Viktor Krum."

"Quiditch hero."

"Triwizard champion."

"sister magnet."

"victor of hag Weekly's least charming smile award."

"Moody bastard extraordinaire."

"Now ask who we are."

"You… you…."Krum spluttered incoherently."Who do you recollect you-"

"Glad you asked."George grinned."We are part of the marauders."

"We are Harry Potter."

"We are his eyes and ears."

"His good right wing hands."

"And if you think you ‘ re getting past us."George I drew his wand."You ‘ ve got another thing coming."
*


"We have not found them master."Crabbe lowered his headland in shame.

"Obviously you have not as they are not here."The dark God Almighty snarled and turned his verge on his cowering servant."Crucio !"

Snape tried to remain dispassionate as the demise eater screamed in bother. It was far far harder than he remembered. He was very thankful of the mask that covered any slips in his expression.

"And you Lucius ?"The dark lord turned on the blonde wizard."Surely they can not obliterate from you in your own home ?"

"I have asked the house elves to-"

"house elves ? firm elves ! You leave a task I gave you to firm elves ? !"

Snape felt his stomach grasp and sent a dumb entreaty that it was not him at the receiving end of that wrath, or the punishment that followed it. Had it always felt like this ? Surely not… he remembered being almost eagre for this work, gaining a sense of triumph that he had hoodwinked the dark noble. Now he just felt scared, scare away and pocket-size and frozen like a rat. He just wanted to get out.

"And you Severus…"

No…

"You who come crawling back to me late and unapologetic."

"I have explained Master-"

"And I have excepted your explanation."Dismissed with a wave of his long pale paw."Or else you would not be here. I am not displeased that you can stay on my spy in the order."

"I live to please you my lord."Oh lord let me leave this lieu safely.

"And you have taught Harry Potter and the treasonist Malfoy for the past four years."The dark lord said thoughtfully."Where would they go ?"

"Malfoy I can not speak to."Snape shook his capitulum."His defection came as a complete surprise to me-"No pauperism to lie there."-so I do nor presume to predict his future actions."

"And Potter…"Impatient, soon to be anger.

"Potter is a rat. He will go to ground."Snape lied quickly."We have searched the underground passages but Potter has also shown a taste for the rooftops-"and is not stupid enough to hide there where there is no leak."-we should check there."

"Master !"Snape was interrupted as frantic sensation dashed in from the garden."The dark sign has been cast !"

"What ! I gave no orders to cast the mark !"

So who… Oh smartness boy. Snape felt the muscles in his side twitch, wanting to break into a dopey grin.

"professional,"Snape felt those red middle turn on him."ceramist may have cast it himself to warn the ministry. It is the sorting of matter he would do."

"That…"The darkness lord looked almost impressed."That is surprisingly resourceful."

"You are… pleased my Lord ?"

"It is pleasing to have an opponent who is not an old fool."The dark lord smiled."I almost finger Edward Young. And besides this is only one aspect of my plan."

"My lord the ministry will-"Snape began but was cut off by a curt wave of the shadow lords thin hand.

"The ministry will find us."The night Creator looked off into the distance, his eye narrowing."Good."
*


"Thank you all for coming at such curtly notice."Dumbledore was speaking from behind his desk looking out over the bureau."But the fact is that what I have feared has come to fall out. Voldemort had returned."

The citizenry crowding the office didn't speak, didn't murmur, they had expected this. McGonagall shook her capitulum, if it wasn't for the horror of the situation it would almost be like old times.

"And Harry Potter and Mr Malfoy are both most likely in his clutches."Dumbledore shook his head teacher."We need to be ready as soon as we know where they are."

"How can we find him ?"Molly Weasley said from the back of the room.

"Severus is trying to discover out. If he can safely get through us he will."Dumbledore didn't stumble over the evasion.

"And if not ?"

"Shacklebolt is also looking into it."Dumbledore held up a mitt to stop any farther remonstration."Now you all remember what to do. Be ready to leave the import we get the word."

The room was filled with nervous shuffling and muttering as masses began shucking off any heavy or restrictive clothing or transfiguring them into garments more suited to combat.

McGonagall herself checked that her hair was securely out of the way before casting some prophylactic charms against small-scale whammy. She glanced towards the door to the tugboat. A marauder would undoubtedly be stationed outside, waiting for newsworthiness. She thought of going out there, but what was the use if they knew zilch more.

"They know."Minerva turned to see the tired face of Mad Eye Moody."They ‘ re unspoilt kids."

"They know what ?"

"That we ‘ re doing everything we can."

"Are we ?"Minerva felt like a betrayer for voicing that though.

"Can you cogitate of anything else ?"Helen Wills Moody stir his question and sighed. He was leaning rather heavily on a cane. McGonagall had seen him when Longbottom had lead him up here. The auror had practically been leaning on the kid. Moody noticed her looking and growled."I ‘ m amercement. Nothing a little scrap wo n't cure. warm the old muscleman up."

"Surely you yourself don ‘ t intend to-"

"If we can drag bureaucrat from their desks and housewives from their kitchens and carry them to campaign like aurors then this tangible auror is sure enough as Hell going too."Moody shook his head."We ‘ re not ready."

"We should be. We ‘ ve had months."

"Well we ‘ re not. And it ‘ s too belated now."Moody sighed."You think we ‘ re too old for this ?"

"If the old don't fight it falls to the young."Minerva glanced back at the room access, intellection of a niggling black-haired boy with too many cicatrice for his age."And none of us want that."

"speculation not."

"Minerva !"McGonagall turned to see Dumbledore behind her."Where is lupin ? I asked you to get him."

"It is full synodic month Albus."She saw a flutter of something strange cross the headmasters lined face."You knew that. Didn ‘ t you…"

McGonagall was interrupted by the glow catamount that burst in through the wall of the office.

"The dark scratch was raised over Malfoy manor house !"Shacklebolt sounded hurried."Aurors have already been dispatched."

"Fawkes !"Dumbledore held out his hand and the Phoenix fluttered over onto it."Everyone take a derriere feather. Be ready to fight the consequence we arrive. Our primary winding job is to find Harry."

If he's still alive. Minerva found herself praying as she grasped a longsighted feather.
*


Harry pushed the labored wooden door overt and felt the wind hit his face.

"We ‘ re out."Harry smiled as he leant against the doorframe, gulping in the night air.

"And you ‘ re walking on your own."Malfoy said encouragingly.

"Yeah."Harry rolled his eyes."give me a few Sir Thomas More hours and I ‘ ll be running marathons."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Oh. So was I."

"I know."

"I was more obvious."Harry chuckled, then froze as he looked up at the sky."Oh shit."

"What ? Wha… Oh…"

The two teenagers stared at the wide-cut moon hanging just over the horizon. Harry reacted first.

"move !"Harry pushed Malfoy away from the door and pushed it shut before slamming on three malevolent locking charms and an eviler curse.

"My dad doesn't know about-"

"Doesn ‘ t need to."Harry cut him off."Johnny Reb ‘ ll track us, probably already behind us."

As if on cue a rough bark sounded, echoing from deep down the tunnel.

"Then what do we do ?"Malfoy had his wand out and was backing away from the door.

"Run."Harry ignored the ache in his ramification and started towards the edge of the field of operations and a small rack of tree diagram."Maybe we can lose them."

"Lose a werewolf ? At night."Malfoy was easily keeping pace with him.

"We can try."

"We ‘ ll fail."

"Do you want to die right here ?"Harry hissed angrily."Fine, stay and get mauled !"

"We need a better plan."

"fountainhead we don ‘ t…"Harry shook his head."You ‘ re flop. They can outrun us easily. We try to escape this way we ‘ re dead."

"So what ?"

"I don't know !"Harry grabbed his thorax as a thrust of pain guesswork through him."I don ‘ t know Malfoy… I ‘ m sorry."

Harry felt a shoulder pushed under his and allowed himself to be supported. They would go faster like this anyway. Wait…

"Malfoy you go."Harry felt the former teenager slow down to a halt.

"What ?"

"If you drop me they ‘ ll find me. acquire me back. Chance they ‘ ll ignore you."Harry let his head drop, he was just slowing them down."It ‘ s the best opportunity for one of us to get out of this."

There was a long import of secretiveness. All Harry could get wind was the audio of his own labor breathing.

"Stupid Gryffindors."Malfoy muttered under his breath before yanking Harry forwards.

"Malfoy…"

"Don ‘ t say it again Harry ! Just don ‘ t !"Malfoy shook his drumhead."We ‘ re getting out of this ! We have to because otherwise my founding father ‘ s won. You understand me Harry ? And I didn ‘ t expectoration in the face of the dark lord just to see my founding father win."

Harry let himself be led in silence. A twinkling of lightness came from behind them, lighting up the dark landing field. Harry craned his neck opening and saw the doorway in the hill glowing a syncope blue.

"How long do you call up it ‘ ll get hold of them to get through ?"Malfoy panted.

"Not long enough."Harry shook his head."We can ‘ t run. Won't piece of work. We need to do something else."

"Like what ?"

"Like fight."

As Harry began explaining he saw Malfoy's reflexion go from hopelessness to a vicious smile. They pushed further into the forest as another flash of Light slashed out behind them.
*


"What the hell was that ?"Auror Dawlish scowled.

"I didn ‘ t see anything ?"Jandred said irritably.

Idiot never see's anything. Tonks found herself thinking and only just stopped herself from saying it out trashy. Instead she said,

"I saw it too Dawlish."

"Of class you did."Dawlish rolled his eyes as if he assumed she was lying."Just concentrate on the gate."

"Yes sir."Tonk's turned back to the gate of Malfoy manor, trying to ignore the glowing scull in the sky. She tried the normal unlocking spells, not really expecting them to work.

"Oh movement over."Dawlish pushed her out of the way."You ‘ ll never open it that way."

"I ‘ d just starte-"

"Quiet trainee."

Tonk's gritted her dentition. Whenever Dawlish called her trainee he made it sound like an insult.

"If you ‘ re not going to do anything utile you might as well look into that light."Dawlish sneered."The one you saw."

"But sir the dark ma-"

"Probably vandals."Jandred shrugged.

"Sir ?"

"I gave you an order missy."Dawlish smiled at her."Go investigate the light. Leave this to us."

Tonk's didn't cartel herself to speak. She just turned and apparated for the pugnacious localisation of the Christ Within. She appeared a few feet above the reason and fell backwards as she landed.

"Ow !"Tonk's picked herself up and looked around. It was obvious where the luminousness had come from. There was a door lying on the floor, blown off its flexible joint. Tonk's lit her verge and glanced over the area of bare filth around the uncut burrow entrance. There were cut all around, homo and dog.

No… not dog.

Tonk's looked tight and cursed under her breath. wolfman. And some of the other shoeprints looked like nestling. She sent a spray of red Muriel Spark into the air and set off in the commission of the hunting. She ran as fast as she could through the tall grass and only slowed as she reached the edge of the trees.

She had to, or she'd have crashed into the dying eater.

Tonk's had her wand out and ready to curse before she realized he was in no physique to defend. One of his legs was trapped in a bear cakehole, he was writhing on the ground, his mouthpiece open to scream. Silenced she realized. Tonk's stunned him and conjured ropes to bind him just in face. More red sparks in the air, not that she thought they'd be heeded, and she picked her way deeper into the forest.

Not a mile further she found another. This one a tree had engulfed. Only his legs were visible, hanging limply. He was clearly dead, suffocated.

Tonk's swallowed and kept going, carefully.
*


"Do you think Harry ‘ s alright ?"

"I don ‘ t know Herm."Padma shook her head as she shepherded some first twelvemonth towards their classmates."I don ‘ t know."

"He usually gets out ok."Pavarti said with a imperfect grinning."I don ‘ t know… I just variety of always assumed he could live anything."

"Everyone has limit. Even Harry."

"Then why has he never reached them ?"
*


Harry pushed open the disused farmhouse door and staggered inside.

"Razorcurse on the doormat."Malfoy said quickly, breathing in small gasps."Maybe prostration the place with them inside."

"No."Harry wrenched open a wardrobe and pushed it's contents on the trading floor before shoving it against the door."We can thin them out with boob maw and curse word but we ‘ ll have to fight them somewhere. Here ‘ s as good as anywhere. It ‘ s defensible, doesn ‘ t aspect like anyone lives here anymore."

"But Harry…"

"I ‘ d rather come across them on ground I chose than in the middle of nowhere."Harry ducked into another room and pulled open a chest of drawers.

"What are you looking for ?"Malfoy was nervously eyeing the surrounding woods.

"Anything we can use."Harry leant against the doorframe before pushing away and looking in what looked like the bedroom."I don't even know… I ‘ m just keeping moving."

"Shall I block up the windowpane ?"

"Do it."Harry nodded."Add something nasty if they try and get in. Then get upstairs."

"You think we can really get them ?"

"Leslie Townes Hope so."Harry grinned evilly."I want to get me a wolfskin rug."
*


McGonagall fell out of the phoenix fire and instantly became her cat form. After scanning around with sentiency far better than her own she transformed back and nodded to Dumbledore.

"Alastor in front. Minerva, if you would back him up."Dumbledore motioned them forward."Kingsly, bring up the rear."

McGonagall let Helen Newington Wills make pass in forepart of her, his eye whirling in its socket as he tried to take in everything. She knew her part and transformed again to stick with him. Her sensitive ear picked up the other member of the order following close behind.

The gate of the manor was wide open. Minerva saw Moody interruption and grumbling a few spells before stepping cautiously over the brink. She slinked after him. They probably looked very much like Filch and Mrs Norris McGonagall realized.

The wide courtyard fanned out in front of them, a natural spring quietly tinkling away in the snapper. There was a band of gravel around it, then grass, then flower bed. She saw Helen Wills instinctively move to the side where the shrubs would give him cover.

Smell…

McGonagall lifted her nose to try to pinpoint it. Coming from the other side of meat of the fountain. She pressed her belly down close to the crushed rock and slinked around the boundary. She poked her little flat caput around the corner and saw black cloth. Negroid robed sprawled on the land. Vacant expression. verge fallen from outstretched hand. They were aurors, or had been. Her eye landed on the Baroness Dudevant next to the dead body and she shied back in surprise. A extension configuration was scratched there in the poop as if with a rush, a symbol the guild used. She darted back in shock and transformed back.

"It ‘ s a trap !"She yelled, crouched behind the stonework."The auror's are dead ! He ‘ s-"

She was cut off as the fountain exploded, throwing her to the floor. She felt herself pulled sharply out of the way as the whammy began flying.
*


"Ferio !"Harry shot out a window and ducked as the answering curse blew a chunk out of the rampart. He looked across at Malfoy who was crouching under another windowpane."How many of them are there ! ?"

"I don ‘ t know thrower I ‘ m not trying to count them !"

"bugger !"Harry popped up and aimed a patch at a patch of darkness before being thrown backwards as a powerhouse engulfed the windowpane."Depulso flames !"

The flame exploded outwards and Harry was pretty sure enough he heard someone belly laugh in hurting. Harry dashed to another gap in the walls and shot a knockout at a crouching shape on the ground.

"I think there ‘ s five of them !"Malfoy shouted at him."Plus Greyback !"

Harry was about to answer but had to throw himself forward as the unit back paries of the house was ripped away. He had to duck as a storm of spells flew at him from the now unprotected back. Harry looked back and grinned in sadistic pleasure as he aimed his scepter at the floating wall.

"Finite !"The expanse of brickwork dropped and Harry heard someone cry out. A cry that ended in the crunch of Harlan F. Stone hitting earth, and flesh."Got one !"

"At the expense of a wall !"

"Still got one !"Harry ducked behind a dresser and tried to snub the way the floor was slanting. Harry looked out in clock time to see a design trying to climb the stairway."Stupefy !"

The last feeder blocked his piece but Malfoy's caught him in the side and pitched him off the building. Harry was about to yell something encouraging when he was driven to the trading floor by a falling beam. He looked up in meter to roll out from under another. He looked up far to see the red eyes and hooked claws of the werewolf burrowing through the ceiling.

Harry raised his wand but was blown to the side as the assault from outdoors stepped up.

"genus Draco little help !"Harry looked over but the blond boy was nowhere to be found."No no no…"

Harry clutched his wand and prayed as Calidris canutus fell in front of him.
*


"Harry !"Draco tried to yell but was cut off as a unattackable arm wrapped around his head. His wand was pried from his fingers as he was dragged backwards. He tried to struggle but he was lifted off the primer and carried. Dragon kicked as hard as he could but his captor only grunted. He felt the heat of the burning Natalie Wood grow further away.

He was dumped, wand less, onto the floor. He rolled and looked up at his snatcher. His father.

"Church Father I-"

"Listen you fool."His father reached down and grabbed him by his hair."You have made a charade of everything I taught you. You are a shame to the Malfoy name."

"No…"Draco found himself trying to shake his head.

"Shut up !"The Slytherin felt his jaw clamp shut. His father continued."You are a walking cadaver while you are within the dark lords grasp. And whatever else you have done you are still my son. My alone heir."

"Father I-"

"You will go into hiding."Lucius continued hastily."You will go where he can not find you."

"No !"Malfoy found himself saying. Not as strongly as he'd have liked but still…"I won ‘ t go."

"This is not a game Draco !"His father cuffed him with the back of his hand, sprawling him on the floor."You must uphold the family line. regain something out of the messiness you have made of everything."

"I don ‘ t tutelage !"

"Listen to me !"Lucius grabbed him by his ear and pulled him painfully to his human foot."I risk the dark lord ‘ s displeasure just by doing this much. You will obey me !"

"No ! Let me go !"Malfoy punched out blindly and felt his clenched fist hit flesh. He was dropped to the floor and tried to scramble away. There was a fallen decease eater on the other side of the farmyard. His wand near his limp fingers. Malfoy dashed towards it.

"Crucio !"

Malfoy felt pain in the neck beyond imagining. Flames ran up and down every nerve. How had Harry survived this ? Occlumency ! Malfoy tried to blank his mind but the torture was already over.

"Maybe now you will hear to me !"His father yelled, the fire from the farmhouse painting his pale countenance a satanic red."Maybe now you will-"

"cliff the wand !"

Both Malfoy's turned to the new vox coming from the edge of the forest.

"driblet it now !"
*


Tonk's advanced on the death feeder. Trying to change his care from the kid onto her.

"Drop the wand or I ‘ ll be forced to wound you."She tried to recall the claim phrasing the auror handbook had taught her but her psyche was a blank."And step away from the child."

"This is my son young lady."The death eater said with a smirk."I will condition him how I see fit."

"Not with an unforgivable you won't."Without taking her eye's off him she dipped one hand into her pocket and pulled out her badge."You are under arrest for-"

"Avada Kedavra !"

Her education kicked in on instinct and she threw herself to the side. Her response was in the air before she even hit the terra firma and it hammered her adversary back towards the farmhouse despite his raised shield.

Tonk's pushed herself up and ran between the decease feeder and the kid, who was still sprawled on the floor.

"Give up !"She yelled."more aurors are coming !"

The decease eater responded with a barrage of swearing that she was forced to give ground to counter.

"Reducto !"Tonks blew up the ground near his foot and saw him stagger away, blinded."Stupefy !"

"Protego !"He cast blind but it worked, making her duck's egg to stave off her own charm."Crucio !"This one went widely and she grinned, this was almost over.

"Imperio !"

It caught her by surprise. The spell taking her over, covering her. She tried to agitate it off but it was useless. She could already see his scepter coming back up. It was an old iniquity adept illusion, the side by side spell would be-

"Avada K-"

"Expelliarmus !"The spell hit the decease eater from the side and threw him into the side of the farmhouse. Already weakened beyond repair the bulwark caved in, burying the death eater in junk. With a hideous crash the rest of the house teetered, then fell sideways, almost like it was folding. As it crashed to the undercoat a huge cloud of dust was thrown up, covering everything.

Tonk's looked in the instruction the tour had come from. The boy was standing there, the wand of the fallen death feeder in script. His case contorted in horror.

"Father…"He ran to the side of the detritus pile and began levitating Brobdingnagian clod of brickwork off."begetter I didn ‘ t mean…"He stopped and stumbled back, tripping over a rock and falling to the ground.

From where she was Tonks could just see what he could. The death eater she had fought, with a composition of Sir Henry Wood clear through his breast. Dead.

The boy was shaking, his manus clasped over his mouthpiece. Tonk's was about to go to him when something shifted in the pile of rubble. A beam was pushed aside and a disheveled build crawled out from under it, his fingers barely managing to find leverage as it clawed its way free.

"Harry !"The boy was up on his feet and running towards the figure. He managed to throw the sleep of the rubble off the one called Harry and pulled him away from the wreckage. Tonk's watched as he leant him up against a rock."Harry are you ok ?"

"Fine."Harry croaked, his skin covered in black ash."Just fine. Need water."

The boy conjured some and doused Harry with it, making him look almost human. Tonk's jumped as the water revealed a scrape on his forehead. Could it be that Harry ?

"This is blood."The other boy was saying."Did greyback get you did-"

"Nah,"Harry waved a blacken hand."I ‘ m an old helping hand at the werewolf fighting thing."

"Is he absolutely ?"

"If he ‘ s not he ‘ s got the farsighted, most invisible, neck in the world."Harry grinned, his dentition were stained with blood.

"Are you sure you ‘ re ok ? Harry look the aurors are here."The other boy said encouragingly."We ‘ re good. We ‘ re alright we can go back-"

"No !"Harry grabbed the early boy's arm."What you need to do is take pretender of us !"

"What ? I don't unders-"

'' I need you to make phony cadaver so it looks like we 're dead ! ``

'' W ... Why ? ``

"Because I worked it out. Who it is."Harry was talking fast now, his eyes desperate."Who killed Fleur. Who tried to vote out Moody. Who put my public figure in the cup in the first of all office. It ‘ s so simple it all comes down to the map. So simple I should have… Dumbledore should have… Anyone could give birth worked it out ! Even spoiled if he ‘ s smart, and I know he is, I know what he ‘ ll try to do next."

"But why do I have to make fak-"

"Because right now he thinks he ‘ s safe."Harry grabbed the early male child shoulder."And a man's sprightliness is at stake along with the rest. He thinks he ‘ s secure but if we survive he won't so he ‘ ll motility him and we won't find him. That ‘ s why we have to die genus Draco. We have to die."

"I…"The boy Draco paused, the flaming of the burning house still popping in the night."I can ‘ t do it."

"Malfoy you ha-"

"I know what you ‘ re asking I just can ‘ t."Draco shook his brain."That variety of transfig if beyond me. I can ‘ t do it."

"I can."Tonks'vocalization caught in her throat. Why had she said that ? The two boys turned to her. Harry's eyes wide as if only now really noticing she was there.

"Who the netherworld are you ?"Harry tried to stand but collapsed back on the floor."And why are you purple ?"

"I ‘ m Tonks. Auror Trainee Tonks. Hi !"She made a sort of wave. It was a strange foundation, amidst organic structure and a burning house.

"You know her ?"Harry turned to Malfoy, clearly confused.

"She tried to fight…"Malfoy swallowed and glanced towards the ruins."She push them."

"You trust her ?"

"well I think."Malfoy glanced at her squinting."I think she ‘ s my cousin."

What ! Tonks'jaw dropped.

"Well well well."Harry grinned his bloody smiling again."I guess we need three bodies."



More reviews please, if I reach 100 I get a plastic toy !


I do n't own Harry thrower, but ( hopefully soon ) I will own a low plastic toy.



"We found them near the ruins of a house nearby."Shacklebolt said tonelessly.

McGonagall felt something intermission inside her and she squeezed her center tight shut against the tears.

"There was one of my Trainees there too. Nymphadora Tonks."

"I remember her."Minerva murmured.

"It looked like she was caught by greyback."Kingsley shook his principal."Perhaps a boon she died."

"Never say that !"Moody snapped. Shacklebolt flinched, then nodded,

"We found ceramist in the wreckage and Malfoy a few yards away."Shacklebolt continued."It looks like he got out of the wreckage but someone cursed him and…"He shook his caput sadly.

Molly Weasley was sobbing, her husband trying to ease her. The respite of the ordering was locked in tacit grief, avoiding one another's gazes as eye grew red.

"They went down fighting though."Kingsleys deep voice, usually so calming, now sounded funereal."Did honorable than us really. Found Cramore stunned in the timberland, Kirrimson was dead nearby. We pulled what was left of Limnodromus griseus and Malf… Lucius Malfoy from the wreckage. Two were stunned behind the home Hylobates lar and Goyle, one early dead and burnt beyond recognition. We ‘ re working on identifying him."

"Those kids leave three stunned and four dead."Dwight Lyman Moody took a long puff from his hip flask."And we walk straight into a trap and get sent habitation with our tails between our legs."

"We ‘ re still alive."McGonagall was shocked to find those actor's line slipping from her lips.

"Wish it were the early way round."Moody grimaced.

"What do we do now ?"Dadelus said looking to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore said nix. He was just sitting at his desk, staring into space.

"Dumbledore ?"

Fawkes hopped off his perch and flapped down to land on the desk. The phoenix nuzzled up against Dumbledore ‘ s face, trilling softly. The old Headmaster slowly raised his head.

"We go on."Dumbledore's parole were hollow in the silent room."We go on."

"Specifically ?"An acrid vocalism said from the threshold. Snape was standing there, looking more than a piffling haggard.

"Severus why are you here ?"Dumbledore asked angrily.

"I am here because the night Creator ordered me to be."Snape strode forward."Shall I remind you, lest the details have slipped your idea, that he believes I am his spy."

"I had not forgotten that."The headmaster said evenly.

"goodness. Now specifically what are we going to do ? Other than ‘ go on ‘."

"A little respectfulness Severus."President Arthur Weasley said from the other side of the elbow room."Harry Potter is dead and-"

"I am aware of that."Snape cut in."The tragedy of three Pres Young lives snuffed out is not lost on me. But what you all seem to deliver ignored is that they have given us a natural endowment as they went. They struck the wickedness overlord forces a heavy reversal, their routine and morale have suffered thanks to our champ and we should not let that forfeiture simply go away. We need to use this clip to mobilise our strength. We can make for the ministry to list, two respected aurors saw the death eater and five hoi polloi are numb. Including the boy who lived. They can not ignore that. We can either swallow that Harry is gone and use his dying as a catalyst to cement the ministry behind us or we can sit here and welter in guilt."

Snape's mouth snapped shut and he stared down the headmaster who returned the gaze evenly.

"We can not use Harry ‘ s death as a political bargaining chip."Albus said, a veiled scourge in his row."It is queasy to even evoke it."

"Oh please,"Snape scoffed."It's is simply a means to an end. Harry himself would deliver been for it."

Probably true, Minerva admitted to herself. How did she feel about this plan ? It chilled her to her very core to think about it. Making Harry a sufferer was an insult to him. But if it ensured that the ministry was working with them instead of at cross purpose like in the last war…

"I will not give up Harry's forfeiture to be used this way."

"It is not yours to allow."Snape shook his head."The prophet will get the account sooner or later. Do you cerebrate Fudge, beset as he is by dirt, will not try to use it to his reward ? All we can do is do so first."

Dumbledore's mouth snapped shut. Minerva, and everyone else in the room, could see that he'd been backed into a corner.

"It is wrong."Dumbledore murmured softly."We will regret doing this."

"Not as much as if we don't do it."

"I know."Albus was once again staring into distance, seemingly lost in his own mind."We go to the ministry. Molly, Arthur if you would consider on the project of informing Harry ‘ s friends ?"

"Of form Albus."Arthur nodded.

"Minerva, Kingsley, Alastor and Severus, we should diverge for the ministry. The residue of you, go home. I am sure that we will meet again soon."As the fiat began to move the door salvo open to reveal Bartemius Crouch.

"Is it true ?"The unco aroused man asked."They are saying that Potter and the Malfoy boy are utter and that the dark overlord has returned. Is it reliable ?"

"It is."Dumbledore said simply.

"Then… what you have been saying all year…"Crouch bowed his head."If only we had listened."

"It would receive made little difference."

"But it would take made some."Crouch looked up."Are you going to the ministry ?"

"We are."

"Then so am I."
*


Harry felt like he was being passed through an intestine. The squeezing-pressing-rippling from every face hit every bruised and battered parting of his torso. Which right now was to the highest degree of him. He dropped onto carpet and felt individual lift him up and lay him gingerly on a sofa. Tonks'couch he assumed, mostly because it was pink.

"So that was apparation was it ?"Harry coughed painfully."It felt a bit like being born."

"Don ‘ t try to talk Harry."Tonks began running her wand up and down his arms. She grimaced as she saw damage under his skin."You ‘ re too badly injured Harry. You need St Mungos."

"Just get me walking. We don ‘ t have time for more anyway."Harry twitched with Major nervous energy, or modest Einstein harm."We have to get going."

"Harry a edifice fell on you, don ‘ t be a complete idiot."Malfoy said, pushing a deoxyephedrine of pee into Harry's charred hand."Besides, you already died once today."

"We ‘ ve got no time to waste."Harry shook his header."They ‘ re probably already moving. We should- OW !"

"Sorry !"Tonks shrugged and grinned impishly."Had to pop your shoulder back in. Get ready for the ribs…"

Harry bit down hard as his rib snapped back into figure one by one. He felt his helping hand shaking and water splashing everywhere. He just lay back and tried not to scream as various parts of his body were patched up. He looked away, desperate for something to distract him. His centre found Dragon, hovering nearby. No dubiety freaked out more than a bit by the squirming Earth's surface of Harry's skin.

"How are you holding out ?"Harry asked through gritted teeth.

"How am I-"

"I mean about your father."Harry closed his eyes as the skin on his flop leg began to bubble."How are you dealing ?"

"I ‘ m…"Malfoy sighed."I ‘ m trying not to believe about it. I… I killed my own father."

"You had to."Harry winced."He woulda killed you."

"No. He wouldn ‘ t."Malfoy sounded grisly. Harry opened his eyes. His friend was crouched on the floor with his knees drawn up to his Kuki."He was trying to deliver me from the iniquity lord. He was going to hide me. Even though he would let risked his place in the dark lord ‘ s circuit, maybe even his life story, to do it. He was trying to reckon after me."

"That's bollocks, he used an unforgivable on you."Tonks said from near Harry's invertebrate foot."Did you hear him ? ‘ Family line ‘ and all that. He wasn ‘ t trying to spare you. He was just looking after the family name."Tonks broke off then popped up, looking contrite."Sorry, didn't mean it like that."

"It ‘ s alright."Draco said quietly. He had drawn his knees up closer to his chest.

"genus Draco come on."Harry reached out with his newly repaired arm and tipped Malfoy's head back up."This is a completely screwed up situation. You want to cover. Unfortunately I need to carry through the world again and I need your supporter. So you have thirty endorsement to be emo in then we ‘ re back to business."

"You ‘ re a bastard Harry."Malfoy shook Harry's hired hand away.

"I ‘ m not. I ‘ m just in a hurry. Alright that ‘ s enough."Harry pushed off the sofa and stood. His body… sort of worked."We ‘ re going now."

"You ‘ re still not better you idiot."Tonks snapped at him."You need to rest !"

"I ‘ ll rest when I ‘ m dead."

"You are dead."Malfoy pointed out acidly.

"Only temporarily"Harry drew out his stolen wand and grinned."Now lets go founder more ribs. Preferably not mine."
*


The intelligence had apparently already spread to the wizarding public and the foyer of the ministry was packed with people. As the order appeared in a open fireplace it set off a ripple of people that ended with a splash as someone tripped into the outflow. The sound was barely audible over the screaming libertine noise coming from the crowd.

Riotous… that was the word wasn't it. Snape thought as Dumbledore prestiged his way through the crowd. It was nearing a debauchery, when you pushed this many masses together, gave them a ground to hate, to rage… this could become violent.

A glance at the other decree members showed him that they realized it too. They had instinctively pulled together defensively. Helen Newington Wills's eye was virtually a fuzz, searching out threats.

Snape even saw that some of the crowd had conjured placards or simply burnt their complaints into the air. Cornelius Fudge's public figure figured prominently, and not in a flattering light.

The order reached the elevators, a ring of aurors looking spooky around them. It took Snape a moment to realize that they were actually having to carry a buckler in place to keep the crowd back. Dumbledore stepped forward and gestured to be let through. The head auror, shook his head.

"Can ‘ t let anyone through."The Charles Grey haired man shouted over the noise of the crowd."ordering of the Wizengamot."

"Of which I am head."Dumbledore seemed to have no difficulty making herself heard."I do not think it was in the spirit of their social club to keep myself, two decorated aurors, a department head and two Hogwarts teachers from entering."

"I can not allow anyone to enter."

"Oh… That ‘ s unfortunate."Dumbledore drew his wand and tapped the ward lightly. It dissolved. The parliamentary procedure pushed forward ahead of the crush of hoi polloi and got into the lift. Kingsley jammed the grating shut just before the push crashed against it. One of the aurors was thrust into the metal bars. Snape saw him speak ‘ help me'as the lift slid up and away.

Snape tried to breath evenly. The impulse to mash the button for level nine was surprisingly substantial. Snape felt a piddling groan as the elevator rose further away from the section of mysteries and up towards the offices of the minister.

"Do we actually have some form of design ?"Snape said over the clanking machine.

"We will induce to gauge the situation."Dumbledore said after an uncomfortable pause.

Oh how I wish I was on level nine.

"I think we can safely assume what that the position is."Snape saw degree four scraping past, part workers stared into the passing aerodynamic lift. The hope in their optic as they saw the headmaster was palatable."The Wizengamot will have heard that crowd out there and be looking to save their own skins. They will no doubt be politely throwing Fudge to the wolf. And why not ? He ‘ s had it coming all year."

"Instability is hardly what we need right field now."Minerva commented.

"And you think Fudge is what we need ?"

"Fudge has let Roma burn."Crouch said with dour angriness."We can not allow for him to remain in office."

"You are not in the order."Snape snapped at him.

"And you are not in the Wizengamot."He retorted.

"But I am."Dumbledore said quietly.

"So what do you purport we do ?"Snape eyed the brass phonograph needle of the lift as it clicked towards one.

"If Fudge is prepared to include what has happened we should try to avoid a the shock absorber of a new minister."Dumbledore had his optic closed, he looked tired."If not… we shall see…"

The lift clicked up in secrecy. Dumbledore's lips were moving soundlessly, twitchingly.

"Would you be minister ?"Shacklebolt voiced the silent question.

Click… click…

"… too many error. All wrong…"Dumbledore muttered under his breath. He seemed to be swaying with the motion of the lift. His middle were still fast shut."I should never…"Dumbledore trailed off, leaning against the metal of the wall.

The others in the lift shared shocked coup d'oeil. squat had his manus to his face in seismic disturbance and Moody, for once, had both eyes fixed on one place. Their drawing card, apparently broken down. The face lifting jerked to a stop and a fiddling doorbell dinged. No one moved.

Snape bent down in front of the headmaster, putting their faces level.

"We ‘ re here Albus."He said sharply. The old mans eyes flickered open.
*


"Harry ‘ s… dead ?"Hermione shook her head."No…"

"The aurors said it was quick."Mrs Weasley was sat across the mesa from them in an unused classroom."He didn't suffer."

"Liar."Ginny hissed with surprising anger.

"Ginny ! I know you ‘ re an-"

"Any way Harry would go down wouldn ‘ t be quick."Neville agreed.

"What really happened ?"Padma pressed.

"He…"mollie Weasley looked down, her hands silently running up and down the sharpness of her robe. When she began speaking again it was softly."He was buried under a farmhouse. He fought off seven of them and left them dead or stunned. He went down like a hoagie. His parents would have… would possess been so…"

"Angry."Padma broke in, grinding her teeth."raging that Draco sold him out like that."

"Don't you dare say such things !"Mrs Weasley's head jerked up and she shouted. Hermione could see her eyes red with tear."The Malfoy boy died too. It looked like they escaped together. Who knows how many of those seven were him !"

Hmm…. Hermione felt a light come on in her head. But if they didn't know…

"He crawled out of the wreckage. Probably looking for assistant !"

Maybe…

"And person cursed him for it !"

Who ? And why didn't they-

"I…"Padma stepped back."I… I didn ‘ t know."

"We ‘ ll you shouldn't have judged."Molly took out a handkerchief and patted her heart."They took their consistence to St Mungo ‘ s. You can visit if you want. I know how-"

"Wait… Um Mrs Weasley."Hermione raised her script un instinct before realizing that it looked stupid."What do you signify looked like ?"

"What ?"

"You said it looked like they escaped together."

"Well no one saw them obviously. The aurors only got there later."

"Who killed them ?"She pressed hurriedly.

"Miss Granger that macabre tal-"

"Please !"Hermione pleaded. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Padma sit bolt upright. She'd got it too.

"We don ‘ t know."molly Weasley was obviously very fluster."They had obviously left by that time."

"Without taking their injured with them ?"

"Well…"Mrs Weasley went silent as she searched for the answer."Maybe they were scared off."

"Herm…"George VI said excitedly."You ‘ re not thinking that Harry-"

"Well doesn't it sound just like him ?"Hermione said with a large-minded grin.

"What are you lot talking about ?"Ron asked, confused. Hermione ignored him

"Mrs Weasley, where is everything happening."On seeing the old woman's confused expression she elaborated."Where is the… the focal decimal point of all the stuff going on now."

"Well the ministry but-"

"Then that ‘ s where we need to be."
*


Dumbledore nodded and stepped slowly out of the face lift. take up a recondite breathing space and seemed to steadily himself.

"Albus if you are not up to this-"

"I am fine Severus."

Snape let the old wizard go ahead. He was pushed aside a moment later as Crouch pushed past, a look of utter determination on his face. Snape and the early three remaining order appendage shared a concern glance.

"Well come on then."Minerva broke the silence and strode forward. Snape followed her out of the face lifting and into the foresighted picture gallery, the long walk to the federal agency of the minister of magic.

One side was opened bay windows ( not real one of course of action ) filling the rouge-carpeted hall with blazing sunlight. On the other position was a progress of life history sized portrayal, one for each retiring minister of deception. A manner of walking through chronicle from the very first diplomatic minister of magic Janakarah the sorcerer to the latest in the purse image of minister Bagnold. Corpulent and useless most of them, the few with any skill had used it for there own benefit. When Fudge stepped down or died the corridor would be extended and one more than painting would be hung.

Snape had never been here before. But anyone who actually paid attention in history of magic knew about the famous hall.

There was a sinister edge to the air and Snape had bother placing it until they passed the 1500s and the portraiture of Fenchurch the sickly. There was the sound of leaven spokesperson coming from the far end of the corridor, the end with the minister's office.

"Hyenas."Snape muttered."Can hear them feasting."

"I thought they were wolves."Moody muttered from behind him.

"Of line,"Snape sneered."My changing metaphor is the most of import thing happening here."

"Harry trusted you."Helen Newington Wills said quietly. Snape started and almost missed a footprint. That had come out of the blue.

"Your head ?"Snape asked, to buy time.

"Why ?"

"Why do you need to have it off ?"

"solution the bloody question."

"His rationality were his own and it seems rather academic at this point."Snape spat back.

"I should ‘ ave looked out for him better."Moody shook his head."He saved my life."

"The yesteryear is meaningless."Snape held his oral sex up and took a recondite intimation."regret are natural, and only right given the circumstances. Allowing them to paralyse us however is not. That is the uncollectible thing we could do."

"Who are you talking about ?"Moody asked shrewdly."You ? … Me ? … someone else here ? …"

"All of us."Snape replied acidly, then sighed."thaumaturge spend too a good deal metre living in the past."

"That doesn't sound like something you ‘ d say."Helen Wills grunted in surprise.

"It ‘ s not."Snape looked over at the whine auror."It was something Harry said. And it ‘ s the reply to your succeeding question."

"Which is ?"

"Why did I trust him."Snape took another breathing spell. He felt a lout climbing his throat and squashed it down."We ‘ re here."

The order came to a stop consonant before the threatening room access. The diminished secretarial desk beside it was empty, the usual auror sentry go were gone too. With all the yelling it sounded like a quidditch match was being held on the other side of the door. One where both sides were loosing.

"We shall see what they ‘ re saying."Dumbledore waved one hand and the studded threshold began to groan inwards. As the edict came into view the yelling subsided into muteness. Snape could see what looked like the entire c crowded around the burnt sienna desk in the centre of attention of the room. A beleaguered looking Fudge had frozen with his hired hand out in presence of him. Caught in mid excuse. The Wizengamot made a way them as Dumbeldore walked slowly forward towards the parson desk. The headmaster cleared his throat."Cornelius, you must know-"

"You are a disgrace !"All eye turned to Crouch as he interrupted the old wizard, his moustache quivering as he shook with fad."You are a disgrace Cornelius ! How dare you sit up here while Voldemort salary increase ?"

"But Barty I-"

"secrecy !"patch of spit flew from stoop's mouth."The boy who lived is dead ! The inheritor of a prominent wizard menage is utter ! One of our own aurors is perfectly ! The champion of Beauxbattons is dead ! Three sinless lives lost and you sit here desperately trying to preserve your own hide. How daring you ! ?"

"There was nothing I could do !"

"If you had listened to Dumbledore we could bear stopped this."Crouch smashed his clenched fist down onto the desk."Instead you were embezzling !"

"I never-"

"Whoring !"

"Accusations-"

"And securing a easygoing job for your cousin !"

"Rupert is qualified for-"

"SHUT UP !"Fudge flinched back from the onset of Barty Crouch."I call an immediate meeting of the Wizengamot !"

"Why ?"Fudge spluttered.

"I call a right to vote of no confidence."The room gasped at Crouch's words."I call for the immediate removal of Minister Cornelius Fudge !"
*


"How much longer Harry ?"Malfoy hissed down the nighttime stone steps of the cellar.

"I don't know Dracs why don't you keep interrupting so ‘ s I don't feel lonely."Harry's sarky spokesperson filtered up from the dark. Still with the distinct bound of weakness and pain. Dragon looked over at Tonks who was guarding the doorway from the former side. She gave a harried shrug.

Malfoy tried to imagine what this was like for her, caught up in Harry's plan like a leaf on the wind. Not unlike him really. Harry tended to sweep people along. But you couldn't say no really, not when you saw what he himself was going through. Draco could see him down there now, propped up against a wall breaking down layer after layer of wards on the door beyond. The door that was banded with smoothing iron, smelt like a cesspit and that had made Tonks swearword like a navy man when Harry lit it up with a revealo.

"Am I really your cousin ?"Tonks whispered across the doorway.

"If your female parent was andromeda Black."Malfoy hissed back, still watching his side of the corridor.

"Yeah… wow."Tonks sounded distant."I mean I knew you existed my mum enjoin me."

"My mother didn ‘ t. I found an old version of the kinfolk Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that still had Andromeda on it."Malfoy was one of the few people who knew why the primary family Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree tapestry was so fancifully decorated. Every flying lizard, swan and oak tree covered the public figure of someone who had proved unwanted to the menage. lily-of-the-valley tree Tonks was a vase of tulips."I found out the sleep from stories at school."

"nada commodity I hope."

"Oh please,"Malfoy rolled his center."From what I hear your mischief was earthbound at best."

"What !"

"Me and Harry pranked each other worse over breakfast."

"Those weren ‘ t pranks."Harry called out from below."That was guerilla warfare."

"What's a gorilla got to do with it ?"Malfoy's brow furrowed and he heard both Harry and Tonks stifle chuckles."fountainhead I always thought you weren't human but…"

"Muggle thing."Tonks grinned."Sorry little cousin !"

"Little c- !"Malfoy snarled and turned back to watching his corridor. The seconds ticked on as Harry mumbled and cursed from down in the cellar.

Suddenly Malfoy's sceptre jerked in his hand. He glanced over at Tonks and saw her looking down at hers too.

"The doors…"She whispered reaching into her sack. She drew out a small-scale mirror and snapped it spread out. Even Malfoy could see the dark hooded figures growing closer."Death feeder. They ‘ re coming."

"Harry !"Malfoy turned and hissed down."They ‘ re coming ! We need to hide !"

"Can ‘ t stop."Harry's Equus caballus vox breathed back."Too many threads. If I let it loose I ‘ ll never get it back."

"There ‘ s four of them !"Tonks hissed down, glancing down at the mirror."We can't take-"

"You know where they ‘ re heading."Harry said quickly."They're coming here. Go back to that big corridor with the armour. Set a trap like in the woods."

"Harry…"

"They won ‘ t be expecting us to be here. Any you can ‘ t catch just hit them when they ‘ re panicked."

"There are five of-"

"I can't leave !"Harry sounded panicked."You're an auror and a champion. You two need to do this."

"He ‘ s right."Tonks was nodding, her hair turning a furtive blacken."Let ‘ s go cuz."

Malfoy glanced down the dark stairway as he followed the crouching little girl. She was slipping professionally along the wall, her verge leading. genus Draco looked down at his own wand, it's tip was shaking. He looked down further and saw that his manus was drenched in sweat.

"Useless."He shook his head and gripped the wand tighter.
*


"Apposed to the removal of Cornelius Fudge, twenty."

Courtroom ten held its breath.

"In favor of the removal of Cornelius Fudge. 20 nine."The dry courtyard shorthand typist cleared his pharynx."One abstained."

Snape felt his fingernails unclench from the chair.

"It ‘ s done."

"Is this good for us ?"Kingsley asked softly."It should be, but it feels like it was not."

"It depends on what happens next."Minerva was sitting ramrod straight."Who steps in to fill his place."

"I wonder if it does."Snape murmured."Something tactile property wrong."

"He ‘ s right."Moody growled under his breath."Someone ‘ s toying with us."

"Who ?"

"If I knew that I wouldn ‘ t be sitting here."Moody was twitching, his eye whirling in its socket.

"I nominate Garcia Grechkoff !"A grey haired Wiccan in the purple robes of the Wizengamot shouted. A few wizards nodded thoughtfully, others booed.

"Who is he ?"Snape hissed.

"Department of Magical Yransportation."Helen Wills Moody rattled off."Bought off by Nimbus."

"If he's undetermined to bribes by fellowship he may be open to bribes by death eaters."Minerva shook her head.

"But we don't know."Snape cursed.

"His grandmother is a muggleborn."Shacklebolt rumbled."Could proceed him on our side."

"But we don't know."

"I nominate Deloris Umbridge !"A portly man yelled to general hissing.

"closing curtain to Fudge. They won ‘ t chose her."Moody shook his head.

"And everyone knows that."Snape snapped, glaring at the man who had yelled."So why suggest her ?"He tried to hitch the man's eyes but had no luck.

"I nominate Urstwise Innisting !"

"Champion of anti-werewolf legislation."Dwight Lyman Moody sneered.

"This is madness."Snape struck the arm of his chair.

"I nominate Barty Crouch !"

The room went silent for a import, then erupted in cheers.
*


"It ‘ s set."Tonks hissed."Get back."

Malfoy nodded and shot behind a tower just as the big doors to the hall slammed open.

"Can't believe we ‘ ave to do this."A throaty grumbling voice said loudly."gnu goat ‘ out his trash."

"Let ‘ s just get on with it."Another vox grumbled as they came nearer.

Draco could see their wand illumination growing brighter. As soon as they crossed the line… Dragon gripped his verge tightly. The lying in wait would get all of them, why wouldn't it ? He tried to breath evenly, the stride drawing closer and closer…

Snap ! A burst of Light filled the corridor and Draco heard watchword of pain.

"Stupefy !"Tonks voice cried out.

A flash of red pierced the blinding white. genus Draco jerked to lifetime, he was supposed to be helping ! He spun out from behind the pillar while going down on one articulatio genus. There was a obscure dark shape in front of him, stumbling blindly forward.

"Stupefy !"The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe dropped.

"Stupefy !"Tonks yelled again. A clunk told Dragon that she had hit home.

Draco aimed blindly into the brightness and fired off a few more stunner. He kept firing even while the sunburst faded to a hushing and finally popped into mist. The floor and rampart were cracked and pitted with the spells and the walls right near the clap were still cracked and sizzling. The expiry feeder were sizzling too, the skin on their faces was cracked and blistered from the estrus and one looked like his gown had actually caught flak. Probably the one that had tripped the trap.

Draco breathed a sigh of relief, it had worked. Tonks had insisted on using something nonfatal, against his wishes. He had even had to fence her up to this.

"Where ‘ s the twenty percent one ?"Tonks'voice cut into his head. She was still crouched by her pillar, remaining covered.

"What ?"Draco scanned the organic structure again. One… two… three… four… Oh merlin !"Are you sure there were five ?"Draco asked desperately.

"Definitely."Tonks stood and moved cautiously forward."You sure there weren ‘ t any other paths down to the cellar."

"I think… yes."Dragon swallowed."Maybe the last one ‘ s watching the entree ?"

"Keep watch."Tonks ordered him as she snapped open her niggling mirror, then flicked it closed again."No."

genus Draco glanced around, there was nowhere to hide at this point in the corridor other than the pillars they had used. That was why they had chosen it.

"You go back to Harry."Tonks waved him back."I ‘ ll snuff him out. He ‘ s got to be between here and the main entrance."

"I'm coming with you."Dragon tried not to cringe at the quiver in his voice."I can help you."

"There might be another way around."Tonks said hurriedly."You should go look after Harry."

"You ‘ re making excuses."Draco challenged."Harry can call for care of himself."

"You think I can ‘ t ?"

"You think I can't ?"Dragon challenged.

"Fine, we can both study care of ourselves."Tonks hissed angrily."Except Harry who should be on aliveness livelihood right now. Let me spell this out, kid, Go Protect Harry ! If he dies for real everything we ‘ ve done is worthless !"

"I…"Draco bit back a nasty retort. She was right."Fine you win. Have fun."He turned and stalked back past the stunned champion. He realized he was being stupid person but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of admitting it.

He stopped near the end of the corridor. He was being stupid, worse he was being self-important. He was being a Malfoy. He turned and called out.

"Ton…"Malfoy felt his throat freeze up."… ? … !"He tried to move, his feet felt like they were bolted to the floor. In fact… his whole body was paralytic ! Malfoy tried desperately to move… speak… cast a spell… anything that would attract attention.

The air in front of him rippled. A present moment later a skein of nothingness was pulled aside and Malfoy saw the smirking expression of genus Locusta pus. He put one blistered finger to his lips, glanced down the corridor at Tonks and grinned before sliding the nothingness back and disappearing.

No no no no no !

He watched as Tonks slid further away and his psyche eye filled in the space in between with a still hunt figure growing ever closer. He felt the wand still clutched in his manus, still giving out a wan lighter. Malfoy tried to hollo a trance, if he could supervise to do it wordlessly he could still warn her.

"Stupefy !"He yelled through gritted teeth and blunt backtalk. Nothing happened, he tried it again. Nothing.

Don't do it that way, Malfoy tried to calm down. You didn't do still legerdemain by forcing it through closed lip, you just thought it.

Stupefy.

Again.

Stupefy !

Malfoy was rocked on his firm pes as a spray of red Muriel Spark spat weakly from the end of his wand.

"Kid ?"Tonks interpreter carried from the former end of the hall."You still there ?"

Stupefy !

Another spray of sparks.

"I told you to go help Ha-"Malfoy saw her freezing as she took in his immobile Department of State then whip her wand around and yell."Harenosus !"

A crack sprang out of her outstretched sceptre spraying sand out. For a minute it outlined a physique. Malfoy saw Tonks'eyes spring wide of the mark open.

"Crucio !"

Tonks sprang to the side as the magic spell whistled past her and threw something dark and red back. It missed and hit the wall. The pinko haired auror glanced around sharply, the pattern had disappeared into nothingness again.

"Haren-"

"Avada Kedavra !"Draco felt his heart hit his throat but Tonks hit the floor and the spell sailed over her head.

"Augmenta !"She yelled and gripped her baton with both hands as a powerful jet of water shot out and struck Locusta, outlining him in shining droplets and toppling him over onto the floor.

"Stupefy !"Tonks yelled at the prone figure and the military group behind the turn was so majuscule that it slid him across the floor and out of his cloak.

She summoned his wand and walked over to him, checked that he really was stunned, before grabbing the cloak off the floor and running over to Draco.

"Finite !"

Draco felt his organic structure sag and staggered before his muscles caught up with him and brought him back upright.

"Thank you."

"Thanks for the warning."Tonks shrugged.

"Aw… you two have been bonding."A sarcasm drifted from behind genus Draco and he spun to see Harry leaning tiredly against the doorframe.

"Did you open it ?"Tonks asked breathlessly.

"We got want we came here for."Harry grinned and pushed himself upright piano, wincing in pain."Now lets get to the ministry. I feel a denouement coming."
*


"Children be reasonable."President Arthur Weasley was saying."We need to get you back to Hogwarts."

"He ‘ ll be here."Hermione said definitely, standing up on the edge of the fountain to get a best look around."He has to be."

"I know you feel like he has to be alive."The Weasley paterfamilias shook his school principal."But denying it isn ‘ t going to-"

"Harry ‘ s died before dad."Ginny pointed out stretching up on tiptoes."Twice."

"You were even there one of the times Mr Weasley."Neville said reasonably."You both were."

"They found his body."Mrs Weasley grabbed Ginny and lifted her, kicking and struggling, off the spring."We are leaving now. We should never have come he-"

"The phone box !"Annapurna yelled and pointed. several other people in the crowd turned as the methamphetamine hydrochloride box descended and slew open revealing three figures inside.

"It ‘ s Dumbledore."Hermione breathed, not wanting to yield away that a little glint of promise had just been extinguished.

"Hey didn ‘ t he already come through ere ?"Someone in the crowd muttered as the old wizard walked calmly towards the lift.
*


"Oh hell no !"The contuse auror yelled on seeing Tonks disguised as Dumbledore."We only just got the Aaron Montgomery Ward back after the last sentence you broke through !"

"And I can do so again."Tonks lied easily."So you may as well let us through freely."

"No bloody way !"

"Please,"Tonks smiled in a very Dumbledoreish way."I do not like to obstruct you in front of all these people."

"Bit recently for that."The auror shook his header."If you so much as farm your wand I ‘ m arresting you !"

"And taking me into custody ?"

"Yes !"

"And before the Wizengamot ?"

"Yes !"

"Well in that case-"

"Don't get smart with me !"The auror shook his verge menacingly."You ‘ re not getting past that easily !"

"Bugger."Harry thought, scratching his bastard beard."This bozo not an half-wit, and if it actually comes to it we don't have a luck of breaking through all of them."

Harry looked surreptitiously over his shoulder looking for another way through… hang on !
*


"Um do you finger that ?"Fred asked suddenly.

"spirit wha… oh !"Hermione dug her scepter out of her pocket and felt it vibrating in her bridge player."The mico… Did one of you do that ?"

The predator shook their question, a moment later the wands went still. Hermione licked her lips and quietly whispered,

"Mico Harry."For a moment nothing happened, then the wands started buzzing again."He ‘ s here !"

"Where ?"Ginny scrambled back on the outflow and looked around frantically. Hermione jumped up with her and a minute later all the vulture were perched on the lip of the water, scanning the gang."I don ‘ t see him."

"He must be one of the I with Dumbledore."Padma hissed."Too much of a concurrence otherwise."

"Right."Ron agreed."Which one ?"

"The short one."Fred said knowingly.

"Does it matter ?"Hermione said in exasperation."He needs avail ! Look, the aurors aren ‘ t letting them through."

"What does he thing we can do ?"Neville scratched his psyche and added disbelievingly."Does he want us to attack them ?"

"No…"Padma said thoughtfully."There ‘ s a well way…"

Hermione frowned, then suddenly it hit her.

"You mean-"

"Obviously."Padma turned to the other piranha."Disperse into the crowd and follow my lead."

Hemione herself dropped down off the lip of the natural spring and hurried past the traumatize Weasley parents before pushing her way into the gang saying ‘ Excuse me !'to everyone she bumped out of her way. Once she thought she was far enough away she stopped and waited for the sign. It didn't take long.

"Let him through you idiots !"Padma's voice cut vindicated across the crowd."If Voldemort really is back then Dumbledore ‘ s our sole chance !"

"She ‘ s right !"Hermione yelled."Let Dumbledore through !"

"Let him through !"mortal else yelled from across the room, sounded like one of the twins.

"Let him through !"Another predator took up the chant.

"Let him through !"Had that been a vulture ?

"Le him through !"That definitely wasn't.

Hermoine yelled her lungs out as the whole crowd took up the chant. The aurors were pushed back, looking Sir Thomas More and more than harassed. The chant grew in strength as people began to clap, then stamp.

"Let him through !"Hermione heard an old shrivelled lady near her chanting. Knocking her gnarled walk stick on the tiled floor.

From where she was she could see the read/write head auror hold up his hands and yell something. A moment later a cheer went up as the shimmering drapery of the hospital ward was pulled aside. Dumbledore and his two fellow traveller stepped through and entered the lift.

Hermione could feature sworn one of them winked at her as the bars slid closed.
*


"You have some very smart friends Harry."

"I know."Harry grinned as Tonks canceled the illusion."And in a few minutes we ‘ ll want to be just as smart. Or smarter."

"And are we ?"

"Course we are."Harry grinned."We ‘ re marauders."

"We ‘ re what ?"Tonks asked.

"Marauders."Harry clapped her on the back."It means we ‘ re unstoppable."

"Invincible bastards."Malfoy commented dryly.

"Exactly !"Harry nodded as the grating slid open."Invincible cutthroat bastards ! Now lets get to work."
*


"The vote are in."The dry motor hotel clerk said in a shaky part."The overwhelming bulk have voted for Bartemius Crouch. So it is my proud duty to glorify him the new diplomatic minister for magi-"

The gravid courtroom door salvo unfastened with an explosion of light.

"I object !"A articulation called out from the midsection of the halo of brilliance.

"Who do you conceive you are !"Crouch sprung to his feet."This is a confluence of the Wizengamot ! Only those invited by members may-"

"Shut up !"The voice called.

"Who are you ?"person called out.

Beside Snape Alastor Dwight Lyman Moody was staring open mouthed at the door. A moment later he threw his head back and laughed.

"Moody ?"Snaoe questioned."Who is that ?"

"Who do you conceive ?"The old auror croaked out."That kid ‘ s brilliant I ‘ ll give him that."

"That… kid ? …"Snape turned back to the door, looking directly into the light. Slowly it faded and the courtroom was left with the tableau behind it. Three robed figures stood, one far marvellous than the others with his hood up, the others with theirs thrown back. The figure to the left was a young cleaning lady with strange pink hair, he remembered her a former student. Nymphadora Tonks. And the image in the front, unmistakable, helping hand on hips, his hair thrown back to let out the cicatrice. His robes tattered and stained and his skin just this position of deathly, Harry potter stared down the Wizengamot with high-handedness only he could conjure.

"Hi,"The boy grinned cheekily."Am I late ?"

"You !"An irate Fudge screamed from the corner."You ‘ re numb !"

"Rumors, exaggerated, you know the drill."Harry stepped into the court, cracking his neck as he went.

"Trainee Tonks !"Shacklebolt had stood and crossed his weapons system angrily.

"Sorry sir."Nymphadora shrugged."I was only following orders."

"Whose ?"

"Mine."Harry answered for her and fan out his arms extravagantly."I ‘ m the boy-who-lived. I outrank you."

"Harry…"Crouch said from the pulpit, seemingly recovered."This is clearly wonderful news. Seeing you alive brings tears t-"

"Crocodile tears no doubt."Harry turned on the older man like lightning."Should ingest known you were a reptile. Do it Tonks."

"Bartemius Crouch."The pink haired fille stepped forward."I am arresting you for the execution of Fleur Delacour."

"What !"The Wizengamot exploded. All except Crouch, who went very still.

"These accusations are boundless."The new minister of religion said flatly."Obviously this is not Harry but an imposter taking his pl-"

"Interesting that you should note imposters."Harry interrupted."Let me tell you all a little hole-and-corner, everyone here. Dumbledore… yes that guy there, that Dumbledore… Has a magic map. Yes everyone, a limited infallible map One that shows the names of everyone in Hogwarts, and where they are, all the time."

The court had gone soundless, every eye was on Harry.

"The schoolmaster assured me that it could not be tricked, and I believed him. But here's the nasty bit, you all know that Alastor Moody was attacked a few workweek ago ? Yes… good. I knew the perpetrator couldn ‘ t have left the reason that fast, but Dumbledore assured me that no one was on the map. But he was, he was right there, in front of the hospital wing. There ‘ s no magical way to trick the map, but that doesn ‘ t mean there ‘ s not way to trick it. One individual could impersonate another if they had the same name. Like Barty Crouch and… Barty Crouch… Jr."

The room gasped, but Snape's creative thinker was already moving. They had to make sure Crouch couldn't leave. They had to catch him. He shifted in his death chair but felt a impenetrable arm grab his shoulder.

"hitch where you are."Moody growled."ceramist ‘ s got it under control."

"He can just apparate out !"Snape hissed hurriedly.

"No he can ‘ t."Moody grinned."Damn that boy ‘ s good."

"These accusations are mad !"Crouch was yelling.

"They ‘ re brilliant."Harry shook his head."Got to give old snake aspect his props, it ‘ s pretty circuitous. I ‘ d bet anything that you ‘ re the source of all the hearsay that have been attacking Fudge all year. De-stabling his billet enough that you can swoop in and criticize him off his pole. Of course you'd need something to prompt the changeover. Something dramatic, like the tax return of Voldemort. He was going to use his own rebirth as a accelerator to put his puppet on the crapper. That was why he waited to reveal himself. He was waiting for the opportune moment."

"You have no substantiation !"

"I do."Harry raised his digit and clicked. The third frame raised his shaking hands and pushed his hood back. Anyone who hadn't already clicked on to what had happened gasped.

The gaunt and scarred case of Bartemius Crouch stared back, his pass on eye twitching in anger.

"We couldn ‘ t give him a wand."Harry said in flat craze."His head ‘ s not all there anymore. Probably all the torture."

"This is another imposter."Crouch said haltingly."My son is in azcab-"

"Give it up."Harry barked a harsh laughter."You knew you were rumbled the import I got here. Even if you convince them I ‘ m a fake you ‘ ll have to defeat this bloke-"Harry jabbed his thumb at the skeletal crouch."- then you ‘ ll have no polyjuice. Then you ‘ ll be screwed. But it ‘ ll never come to that, because there are at to the lowest degree four multitude in this room who already believe me. And none of them are going to let you leave."Harry drew his wand, holding it lightly in his hand.

Snape drew his as well and saw Minerva reach for hers too. Helen Wills stayed still, a humble grinning on his face.

"Potter… Harry."The Crouch on the podium licked his lips."You are a very bright boy Harry. But you are dead."

"Faking."

"You will be dead."The representative of Barty Crouch went ice frigidity."You all will be. The dark noble has said he will destroy you, and so he will. I only pray he lets he watch."

"I see the mask has fallen."Harry seemed unperturbed by this development."So lets try the future trick."Harry raised his wandless hand.

"No more trick !"Crouch flicked out his scepter and spun…

Harry clicked his fingers…

"Stupefy !"

The flare-up of red light caught Crouch from behind and slammed him into the lectern. He slid to the floor and fell like a rag doll, splayed against the ground.

"Nice shot."Harry complemented the empty air.

"well,"Malfoy appeared out of nothing, throwing back an invisibility cloak."I had a dear distraction."
*


"Harry you promised !"Tonks grabbed his arm and tried to drop behind him out of the entrance hall."I ‘ m taking you to St Mungos !"

"I said I ‘ d go when all my line were done."Harry shook her off and turned back towards Dumbledore."I ‘ m not finished."

"What ‘ s left then ? someone else to uncloak ?"The trainee auror put her hands on her hips."Better do it quick, you ‘ re running out of time."

"I do my best work with internal bleeding."Harry shrugged looked around. Dwight Lyman Moody and Shacklebolt had left, trying to keep component of the ministry from totally collapsing after the loss of two diplomatic minister in a row. McGonnagall and Snape were still there, standing behind the master and Malfoy was standing by Harry ‘ s side."I need one last answer."

"Harry young lady Tonks is right."Dumbledore smiled."You need aesculapian help soon or-"

"Why did he hail after me ?"Harry cut in, silencing the headmaster."Why me now. Why me 14 old age ago. Why me ?"

Dumbledore stayed silent, his fingerbreadth twitching and his eyes suddenly bereft of their usual sparkle.

"He said I was the ‘ sealskin for his immortality ‘."Harry pressed."What does that mean ?"

"Harry you are sick proper now."Dumbledore held up a paw."Trust me that I will tell you the truth in good time."

"No !"Harry barked a laugh."Trust you to narrate me ? That ‘ s potential ! assure me now you old lying bastard."

"Mr Potter !"McGonagall stepped forward angrily but her sleeve was caught by Snape.

"Albus,"The potions master licked his sassing."Perhaps you should simply state him."

"Severus !"The schoolmaster snapped angrily.

"Do you know ?"Harry tuned to the Slytherin, ignoring the way his visual sensation blurred when he moved."volition you severalise me ?"

"Say zilch Severus !"

"He deserves to know."

"I am still the head of the order."

"Did the edict just carry through you all from a death feeder becoming minister of magic ?"Harry yelled angrily."No ! That was ME ! You just sat there like an cretin !"

"You will not address to me this way."

"I ‘ ll speak any way I damn well like you igno-"

"There was a prophecy."Snape said softly. Strange how easy row can sometimes drown out yelling.

"A what ?"Harry felt his mouth go dry.

"Severus don ‘ t."The Headmaster shook his drumhead."You don ‘ t know what you ‘ re do-"

"It said something specific about you Harry."Snape continued, ignoring Dumbledore."The half I heard said, The one with the superpower to vanquish the nighttime Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the 7th month dies."

The small elbow room grew deathly silent. Harry felt his brain trying to do work over what he had just heard. It was failing.

"It doesn ‘ t have to be true."Harry heard Malfoy say through a fog of twisting thoughts."Not every prophecy comes true."

"It doesn ‘ t even have to be Harry."McGonagall said, shaking her forefront."Mr Longbottom also fits those criteria."

Harry shook his question, Neville ? Could it be…

"I… it is not Mr Longbottom."Dumbledore said haltingly."The other half of the prophecy confirms it."

early half… Harry put his hand to his head. Everything was so fuzzy.

"What other half ?"Draco demanded.

"I do not think-"

"Do you really want to have this argument again ?"Draco shook his head angrily."Just tell us."

"It concluded with, And the Dark Divine will score him as his compeer, but he will cause power the Dark Lord knows not. and either must die at the hand of the former for neither can live while the other survives."Dumbledore was speaking quietly now, almost defeatedly."The start half of the prognostication unmistakably refers to Harry."

"And… and the other half ?"Tonks gulped."It means…"

Dumbledore just shook his head and looked to the floor.

"It means it is inevitable."Snape whispered in traumatise SOB."Harry is the only one that can kill him. It is inevitable. They have to crusade, and one of them has to die."

No… Harry felt his manus shaking as the words fell like slabs of granite in the silent room.

"But… but he's only a child."McGonagall shook her headway, a little glisten of a tear in the corner of her eye."We can ‘ t let it happen."

Harry tried to speak but the words caught in his throat.

"He doesn ‘ t have to do anything !"genus Draco slashed the air with his hand."Not all prophecies come true !"

Harry raised his hand to his mouth… why couldn't he speak.

"Not all of them begin."Dumbledore said, with painful hesitancy."But once they do they almost always run their course."

"Almost always !"Draco yelled."You want him to face the dark Almighty on an almost !"

Should ask Pythea. The niggling illusionist floated into Harry's mind but dissolved in the fog. His brain harm. His ear was wet. What was this…

"If there is a chance he can kill him."Snape said, his head down like he was ashamed."If it is our best chance…"

Blood…

"You as well !"Draco turned on his oral sex of house, who looked away.

"You can ‘ t use him like that."Tonks stepped up beside her cousin.

Draco… Harry tried to croak, but the world was spinning. He reached out a shaky hired man towards the boys back. He fell short, there were too many hands and too many backs.

"Harry ?"Dumbledore noticed his reaching and stepped forward.

"I… I…"Harry swayed, his peg too watery. He wet his lips and tried again."Thirsty…"

The faces before him disappeared downwards and he felt the flooring hit him everywhere before he blacked out.
*


Harry was dimly aware of the hospital way. The healers standing around saying things he wouldn't have understood at the considerably of times. Snape was there for a while, then gone, then there, then gone, fading in and out. Draco was definitely there, a white bandage on his arm, ignoring it, standing by Harry's bedside. Was Dumbledore there ? He could learn his voice, see his heart from behind silver grey light. The Light Within was falling, hitting his eyes.

Where was he ?

He was… home.

Privet drive ?

Hogwarts ?

Godrics… Hollow…

He was standing outside the cottage. He was right there, it was all there. But he had never been here, at least since he was too young to remember.

He had to get out. He wasn't supposed to be here. It felt wrong. It was under his skin. Falling off like snowflakes, showing the shadows underneath. Had to get away !

Harry ran away from it, as fast as he could. The vestige were chasing him, wanting to get into him, in his head. He ran until he could enshroud behind a tree. The orchard apple tree had grown now. Hundreds. super C. Right over his head.

He could hide here.

It was much better here.

Everything but this was shadow.
*


"I was wondering when you ‘ d show up."Natalie Zhao pushed the threshold fully open and let him in. She pushed it shut behind him and stood there, arms folded, waiting for him to speak.

"I ‘ m not dead."Was the inaugural affair that came to Snape.

"I gathered that."The dreadful didn't move."Don ‘ t you have an account ?"

"An explanation ?"

"For your substance. Your patronus."Her even voice edged to anger."You somehow broadcast a message by patronus. Which I've never seen. You said you loved me. Which you ‘ ve never said. Then you said you could die. Which I know you would not exaggerate. You said you were about to do something serious. Then the ministry explodes, people are saying Voldemort has returned. Saying that Harry ceramist is perfectly. Fudge is removed. Crouch is elected. Crouch is removed, by Harry ceramicist. Crouch is arrested. The ministry is in turmoil, they only got the crowds to go base an minute ago. They only sent the unspeakables home because our department can't do anything at this point. No one knows what ‘ s going on. The Wizard tuner just keeps playing the Lapplander recordings of what happened in court ten. Everything is broken down. So plectron something Severus. Anything. chip in me an explanation for anything that ‘ s happened over the past day or I swear I ‘ ll hex you into oblivion."

Snape answered the but way he could. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Natalie, resting his headway on her shoulder joint. He pulled her as fuddled as he could, reminding himself for a minute that at least one character of the world wasn't broken. Breathing her in, being where he'd wanted to be since the source of this sorry muss. At least this battle was over.

"This isn ‘ t an explanation."Her voice came from somewhere near his breastbone, muffled by his robes. But her weapons system were around him, gripping him at to the lowest degree as hard as he was her.

"I know. Just a here and now more."Snape pulled himself together and stepped back, releasing her and looking down into her arrant center."Here, this should tell you what you need."

He let his mind impetus, letting every mental United States Department of Defense fall. The encroachment was soft, illume and swift. The memory board she needed were right on the surface.

"Oh my god."She put her hired hand to her back talk."It ‘ s all… truthful ?"

"All of it."Snape nodded.

"The prophecy… even that ?"

"Yes."

"That poor people boy."She shook her headland."How can he do this ? Does he even have a probability ?"

"He must deliver at least a chance."Snape sighed."The prophecy says he has the office to defeat the iniquity God Almighty. If there was no chance at all it could not say that. However small it is, he has a chance."

"What can we do ?"She had gone from disbelief to iron strong belief in a moment."How can we salvage him ?"

"I need to…"Snape licked his sass. This was difficult than anything else."I can not see you anymore."

Natalie bit her lip and looked at him calculatingly.

"It ‘ s for some unintelligent noble reason isn ‘ t it ?"

"I know what I have to do. How I can outflank help the order… and help Harry."Snape closed his eye, it was easier if he didn't aspect at her."I have to be a spy again."

"In the death eaters."It wasn't a question.

"While I am there I can not reveal any meter reading that I am anything other than just like them."Snape explained."I can not ever slip. Even the little hint… I couldn't do it… I am not a goodness enough thespian to hide out you. veil the change you've made in me. I have to end it. I ‘ m so sorry Natalie."

"You can ‘ t afford any distractions."

"Yes."

"And I ‘ m a distraction."

"Yes."

"Love is a distraction."

"Yes."Snape breathed, his closed lid the solely affair keeping back rent. He felt breath on his cheek, she was moving closer. A second later he felt her wet-silk sassing on his.

"No…"He murmured, but she had captured him. Her hands behind his head, her lips on his. Intoxicating, making everything he had said fly out of his mind.

He had to stop.

He couldn't.

He lost himself in the kiss, breathing in every moment of it. He couldn ‘ t stopover, his brain was entire of her. If his eyes had been open even the weakest wizard would have been able to translate his every thought. He was open… euphoric… free…

As she pulled back he opened his eyes. He had thought the tour would be broken then, that the flavour would go away. But it wasn't going, it only felt stronger.

"Firstly…"Natalie held a finger up to his wet rim."diaphragm being noble, it doesn't lawsuit you. Secondly… Who do I talk to about joining this order ?"
*


"Why can ‘ t we see him ?"Parvarti moaned.

"Because he ‘ s in a closed ward."Mr Weasley said calmingly."You couldn ‘ t see him even if we went to St Mungos."

"We can be there for him."Neville said quietly.

"You wouldn ‘ t be able to talk to him or even be in the Saami room."

"He ‘ d know we were there."

"No he wouldn ‘ t. He ‘ s unconscious."Mr Weasley shook his head."You kids need to go back to Hogwarts. You ‘ ve already been out of shoal for too long."

"School !"Fred threw his custody up."Who cares about school ! Harry ‘ s in infirmary and You-know-who is back !"

"All the more than reason for you to be back at Hogwarts."Mrs Weasley pushed the marauders towards one of the open fireplace."It ‘ s the safest place."

Ginny shook her head, she knew when it was pointless to debate with her mother.

"Play the little sister card."She heard someone rustle in her ear. She looked back in clock time to see Padma New York minute at her."One of us should be there, and it ‘ ll be promiscuous to leave the burrow."

Ginny grinned, then put on her best scared-six-year-old face.

"ma, I ‘ m scared."Her mother turned to her."Do I have to go back to Hogwarts ?"

"Your don told you. You can't see-"

"No, that ‘ s not what I meant."Ginny shook her head."Can I come hone tonight ?"Her mother's face softened instantly.

"Of path dear. I ‘ ll take in it with the teachers."Ginny found herself enveloped in a hug."There ‘ s no want to be scared."

"I know."Ginny felt a little bad for manipulating her mother. And very adept for not getting caught.

"I ‘ m also scared-"Ron began, before Fred elbowed him in the kidneys.
*


It was near midnight before Ginny could swipe down to the front room of the burrow. She slid out of the front room access and broke into a run as soon as she was out of the garden. It took her only a few minutes to jog to the Lovegoods'house. She stepped in ( the room access was never locked ) and went straight to the fireplace. Mr Lovegood slept right at the top of their odd business firm and she could probably lie her way out of bother even if she was caught.

"St Mungos."She said clearly as she tossed the powder and stepped into the fire. After a rocking and spinning few minute she fell out into the waiting room.

At this time of day it should have been empty. It wasn't, ten or so reporters were dotted around the room dictating into quick quotes quills or jotting notes down the old fashioned way. Ginny went straight to the step ( the desk staff would no doubt head a minor alone in the heart of the night ) and ran up a few flights before stopping by a portrait of a helpful looking old man.

"Excuse me,"The old man perked up at the auditory sensation of her articulation."Do you recognise where the close wards are ?"

"Are you a reporter ?"The old man asked suspiciously.

"Do I look like a newsperson ?"

"Hmm, you're right a little young maybe."The old man nodded."You want the fourth flooring. End of the hallway."

"Thank you."Ginny smiled and trotted up the last few flight of steps before pushing the threshold open and walking confidently down the corridor.

Confidence was the key. I have to look like I'm meant to be here…

Or I could slip that nurses robe off the back of that chair.

Ginny scuttled over and quickly threw it over her shoulders. She pulled her whisker down to conceal her face and picked up a nearby clipboard with a piece of parchment stuck to it.

‘ Confidence and a clipboard is a universal disguise ’, Ginny chucked at the memory. Good advice Harry.

She lowered her brain and pretended to be checking her tone as a therapist walked preceding then quickly pushed open the door at the end of the entrance hall and stepped in.

It was unlit, the patients were meant to be sleeping, but there was a little streetlight filtering in through the Windows. Ginny moved from bed to bed quietly, they all seemed to be empty. They must take emptied the ward for Harry.

As she stepped closer to the second to last-place bed in the row she was that it was occupied. Harry… He looked blanch and wan, and he twitched in his sleep. He looked tremendous. It was the Inner Light from the window, that was it. It was chicken and harsh, making him look sicker than he was. That had to be it.

Ginny stepped nigher, trying to see what specifically was hurting him.

"Don't move."

The representative came out of nowhere and Ginny jumped back in surprise. A moment later she saw the condition lying on the next bed over. She had been so center on Harry she hadn't noticed. The material body sat up and she saw blanched blonde hair framing it's face.

"Malfoy."She was caught between anger and relief.

"W… Weasley ?"The Slytherin moved into the Inner Light and Ginny could see that he had a bandaged arm."What are you doing here ?"

"I could ask you the same question."Ginny tried to summon some confidence. And clutched her clipboard.

"fountainhead this is a hospital."Malfoy sneered."And I ‘ m injured. Why do you call back I ‘ m here ? Your turn."

"I ‘ m here to see Harry."She lifted her chin."I ‘ m his friend."

"So you are.."Malfoy slid his feet to the floor and stepped over to stand on the other side of Harry's bed."Get behind the curtain. They can see you from the corridor."

Ginny quickly stepped towards the wall, away from prying middle. She wouldn't thank him though. Not Malfoy.

"Is he gon na be ok ?"

"He ‘ ll recover. They said there won't be any permanent physical effects."Malfoy snorted quietly."Whatever that means. He ‘ ll have a few more than scar to add to his collection."

"So he ‘ ll be fine ?"Ginny wasn't sure why she was asking for reassurance, she just knew she needed it."The healers can-"

"Fix almost everything."Malfoy's eyes drifted down to a small bandage on Harry's wrist.

"What is it ?"

"See for yourself."

Ginny reached down and gingerly pulled the patch down. Underneath was a gruesome tattoo, a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth.

"What is this ?"Ginny ran her finger over the mark. It wasn't even raised, it just felt like skin. A hand engulfed hers and lifted her fingers off.

"I wouldn ‘ t tinge it if I were you."Malfoy released her and pulled the patch back up."It ‘ s the glum mark. The dark lords score. All his servants have it."

"But Harry's not his servant !"

"Keep your voice down."Malfoy hissed angrily."Do you desire to get caught ? Idiot."

"Tell me what it means."Ginny whispered softly."Please."

"The dark lord marked him because Harry wouldn ‘ t give in."Malfoy shook his fountainhead."Harry was tortured. For a farseeing time, longer than anyone should have lasted. He just laughed. He was insane."

"That ‘ s Harry."Ginny let her hand decline into Harry's.

"He just kept fighting. He was… he didn't…"Malfoy bit his lip and looked away."Eventually the nighttime lord just snapped, marked him. Maybe it was just the only way he could think of to actually cause Harry real pain."

"But you got out ?"Ginny asked."You both escaped ?"

"Barely. We got into the musical passage in the walls."Malfoy added, his representative low and trouble."Managed to get out through a tunnel. We had to agitate them in this… stupid muggle farmhouse. Harry fought them off. All of them, even Greyback. sign of the zodiac fell down… he crawled out of the rubble."

"Wow…"

"He kept going. preserve us going. Forced us, till he started bleeding from his ears."Malfoy shook his oral sex sadly."Is it always this intemperate ?"

"What ?"

"Being his friend."

"Oh…"Ginny chuckled wryly."Sometimes…"

"mustiness be even harder being him. ``

They stood there in secrecy for a while, Harry twitching uncomfortably. Ginny leant down, idly wondering whether he could learn them.

"You'd better Bob Hope he can't."Malfoy answered out of the blue angel."If he can hear he can feel, which means he ‘ s still in pain."

"How did you… ?"

"You ‘ re predictable."

Ginny didn't have the clock time to retort as the doors to the Mrs. Humphrey Ward burst unfold. She quickly grabbed her clipboard and turned to hide her side. pace approached the bed.

"Nurse,"The soft voice of Dumbledore rung from behind her."We need to get him to Hogwarts. Is he well enough to be moved ?"

"I… um…"

"The healer said he shouldn ‘ t move until tomorrow."Malfoy came to her rescue."Said it could snap his wounds assailable again."

"Really…"The schoolmaster didn't seem convinced."Would you turn around please fille Weasley."

Erg… well marauder normal. If you're caught, no apologies. Attack back.

"Hello Professor."Ginny turned."Do you require to explain why I could just walk into the Barbara Ward where Harry was kept ? I could'a been a death eater."

"You think I left him unguarded ?"Dumbledore chuckled and nodded towards a nearby bed. A moment later a shock unfurl and arched it's back, yawning widely. The cat hopped off the bed and unfolded into professor McGonagall.

"Satisfied girl Weasley ?"The animagus arched an eyebrow.

"Did you know she was there ?"Ginny muttered to Malfoy.

"Yes."

"Why didn ‘ t you tell me ?"

"This way was more funny."

"Too right it was."The voice was low and croaky, but unmistakably Harry. The two students and two teachers crowded round as Harry slowly opened his eyes."Hi."

"Hi yourself."Ginny smiled."Welcome back."

"Didn ‘ t go anywhere."Harry muttered."I was unconscious."

"I am glad you are awake Mr Potter."Dumbledore said with false joviality."But we must move you to Hogwarts."

"Something ‘ s happened."Harry stated flatly.

"We will blab about it once you are safely in Hogwarts."

"No. We won't."Harry folded his arms."We ‘ ll talk of the town about it now."

"Harry-"

"No more secrets."

"No more secrets…"Dumbledore repeated quietly. Maybe it was her imagination, but Ginny thought she could get wind a catch in his interpreter."Very well then. Voldemort has made a move, we need to take you somewhere safer in instance he tries to scratch at you."

"Made his relocation ?"Harry frowned."What ‘ s he done ?"

"He had attacked Azkaban."Dumbledore glanced back at the door of the ward."He led the attack himself. The sentry go of the island simply let him pass. I think it is bonny to assume they work for him now as well."

"Azkaban is unguarded !"Malfoy's eyes were across-the-board and appalled."But what about the other captive ? They could also esca-"

"There are no other prisoners Mr Malfoy, and indeed no Azkaban."The headmaster spoke in clipped tones."Perhaps I was not clear. Azkaban is no more. It was blasted away, down to the fundamentals. Voldemort took his followers and any of the hundred of early piddling criminals that would willingly join him off the island and left the rest to take their chances in the sea."

"How many ?"professor McGonnagal asked in hushed tones.

"We think at least twenty dollar bill or thirty wiz joined him, not counting the ace that were already death eaters."Dumbledore announced this as if it was the hebdomadal Quidditch scores."As for the others ... They are still dredging body out of the north sea but it is condom to take over quite a few reached land safely, they were magical after all."

"What about Crouch ?"Harry said suddenly."Tell me he wasn ‘ t transferred there yet."

"I ‘ m sorry Harry."Dumbledore bowed his head."The aurors office didn ‘ t think there was any point delaying."

"So he ‘ s free people ?"

"He is."

"It was all for nothing."A little choked laughter came from Harry's throat."It was all for nothing."

"Harry…"

"Worthless…"Harry was staring at the cap."For nothing."

"We stopped him becoming minister."Malfoy said sadly."That ‘ s something I guess."

"He killed Fleur."Harry closed his eyes."He tried to kill Moody. And now he ‘ s relieve. Should deliver killed him."

"Harry !"McGonagall stepped forward angrily."We can not sink to their level. We are not murderers !"

"Maybe you ‘ re not. I killed at least four people yesterday."Harry painfully slid his legs off the bed."Maybe more… I forget. Energy Department Greyback tally as a person ? Never judgement, descend on then, lets go."

"I can levitate you-"Dumbledore began but then trailed off into secretiveness as Harry stepped onto the dusty infirmary floor. Harry held out both limb wordlessly, Malfoy stepped under his exit instantly. Ginny dropped her clipboard on the bed and took his right.

"I know you can levitate me. You ‘ re Dumbledore after all."Harry smiled and stepped forward, leaning heavily on his friends.
*


There was a memorial servicing for Fleur the next day in front line of the wood at Hogwarts before she was brought back to her parents in French Republic. Harry didn't say anything, he couldn't trust himself to. Her killer was still out there because of the stupidity of the Ministry.

He'd get him. One day, he'd get him. Harry dug his fingernails hard into his palm.

"I ‘ ll get him for you."Harry whispered, glancing up at Fleurs coffin."I promise. I ‘ ll kill him."

Harry watched as the Triwzard cup was brought out and placed future to the pathetic little girl. She was the Triwizard supporter, he and Malfoy had insisted on that. It was official and everything. Small comfortableness for her parents.

"You alright Harry ?"Neville asked him quietly.

"No Neville."Harry shook his head."I ‘ m not O.K., but this is basically a funeral. I ‘ m not meant to be right now. If I was alright I ‘ d wonder what was wrong with me."

"It wasn ‘ t your fault."Harry didn't answer. The ‘ shift'conversation was too predictable, and unhelpful.

The ceremonial occasion ended and the scholarly person began filtering back to the palace. Harry didn't join them, he couldn't expression them all. The whispers had already begun. Everyone knew Voldemort was back, almost even knew that Azkaban was gone. They also knew that Harry had died, come back from the utter and invaded the ministry to unmask a dying eater. Harry sighed, everyone thought he was some variety of wedge. If they turned out to be right it would take a weight off his mind.

Harry reached the sharpness of the lake and looked out over it's glassy surface. It still felt minatory and malignant, his fear pulling at him like vertigo. He ignored it, it was easier now, he had more pressing concerns.

"You sure you ‘ re ok ?"Harry looked back, Neville had followed him."You don ‘ t seem ok. I mean I don ‘ t-"

"What did your parents do Neville ?"Harry said out of the blue.

"I… they…"

"You never told us."

"They… they were aurors."

"Ah…"Harry nodded."Probably fought last eaters… Voldemort… lots of times."

"Yeah, I guess."Neville shuffled his feet, staring at the floor."Nan told me they were pretty goodness so probably."

"And they ‘ re short ?"

"They ‘ re… well… they 're in St ... yes. Yes they ‘ re dead."Neville swallowed."A death eater called Bellatrix did it."

"That ‘ s what I thought."Harry nodded, still looking out over the lake."I wonder if you ‘ d have done better…"

"Harry you ‘ re scaring me a slight. What ‘ s all this about ?"

"There was prophecy Neville."Harry watched the sun as it slowly set so as to avoid looking at his friend's face."Long chronicle dead it predicted the birth of the exclusively person who could destroy Voldemort. It could induce been either me or you, turned out to be me."Harry lapsed into muteness. Behind him he could see Neville breathing in gasping gulps.

"You did find out me say it ‘ s not you ?"Harry clarified."You don ‘ t have to fight him."

"But you do !"

"Apparently."Harry tried to shrug, tried to look unaffectionate. Unfortunately it was so counter to how he was really feeling it was hard.

"Do you eff when ?"

"Nope."

"Do you know how ?"

"Nope."

"Well…"Neville scratched his head."What do you acknowledge ?"

"I know I ‘ m gon na lose."Harry said dryly. At Neville's shocked formula he threw his hands up."Well what do you expect ! look at me, I ‘ m a teenage wizard, a quartern year ! He ‘ s the most dangerous wizard alive and I ‘ m barely making satisfactory in defense against the dark arts."

"Harry you know grades don't matter."Neville shrugged."If they did then how come you ‘ ve survived this retentive ?"

"I know that ! But this is different !"Harry shook his head."Up till now I ‘ ve got through by a combination of luck, lying, wit, savagery and stubbornness. Not to mention that I ‘ ve always had help. But this is different, it ‘ ll just be me, him and two sceptre. I can ‘ t beat him like that, don ‘ t even stand a chance."

"You don ‘ t know it ‘ ll be like that."Neville said reasonably.

"I know it will. Don ‘ t you see ? This is where the hale thing ‘ s been headed. I ‘ m going to lose and I can ‘ t. I can ‘ t let myself lose."Harry realized something and laughed wryly."She was right… of course she was right."

"Who was ? About what ?"

"I won ‘ t be able to see her this summer."Harry's handwriting twitched to the cord around his cervix."I ‘ ll be busy. I ‘ ll be very busy."
*


Dragon hitched his pegleg up onto the windowsill and rearranged his robed behind him to be a bit more well-fixed. When it got later he'd try to reach out his room in the Slytherin dungeon. Right now his apparent apostasy made it unsufferable to get past his other friends without a violent response.

He shifted his shoulders and turned the page on the course Koran he was reading. For now he could disregard everything, just be a little nub of composure on the windowsill, reading in public security. But eventually he'd get to face his housemates, then in a few daylight he'd take to go home and face… nothing.

His handwriting moved to his pocket where the letter from his mother was. It hadn't been furious, no look of undying hate. It had simply stated that she was moving back into the sign of the zodiac she grew up in and that she would favor if she never saw him again.

Draco had considered burning it, or tearing it up and laughing. That was what Harry would do. Draco just wanted to wave up in a corner and profess it didn't exist.

"Wotcher, kid !"

What the… ? Malfoy looked down the corridor and saw Tonks standing just a little way off with her hands on her hips.

"Oh,"Malfoy turned back to his book."What do you want ?"

"howdy to you too."Tonks shrugged and shoved his legs off the windowsill roughly so she could sit down.

"Hey ! I was sitting there."

"You were moping there."Tonks corrected."Anyway I was talking to my mum earlier."

"Was she angry at you for dying ?"Draco asked.

"A little."Tonks said sarcastically."She also said she had heard that her sister was moving back to her old home."

Dragon didn't say anything.

"Is that why you ‘ re sitting out here ?"

Silence.

"Or is it that you helped arrest-slash-kill several of the fathers of your old booster ?"

"What do you think ?"Malfoy answered acidly.

"I think I should establish you a little something I found in my sixth year called the ‘ room of requirements ’."Tonks stood and winked at him cheekily."So you won ‘ t have to sleep on a windowsill."

"The room of necessary ? Is that a bedroom ?"

"It can be a bedroom."Tonks answered mysteriously."By the way, did I ever thank you for saving my life ?"

"It ‘ s fine. You probably saved me too."

"Yeah, probably…"Tonks nodded grinning."Anyway my mum says that you should come over to dinner so we can thank you properly."

"It ‘ s fine-"

"She always makes too lots anyway."Tonks went on."You can come over a few times if you want. Every night even, over the summer."

"You don ‘ t…"Draco felt his pharynx go a little dry."You don ‘ t have to do this for… for…"

"For what ? For family ?"Tonks laid a hand on his shoulder."Yeah, I do."



Well ... that was a long journeying. Long and epic ! Anyway ... Hope you liked it. Leave a recap, come on ... it's the end of the book. Go on.

Anyway, prepare for the following book. If you thought this one was a wild ride then the next one will blow your freekin intellect ! Cannon can go advert itself, we ‘ re taking our own path from now on. believe me when I say that everything is about to change. Prepare for swarthiness ... prepare for action ... prepare for everything you know to wither and die. Prepare for ...
Harry Potter and the Changeling tiddler