A/N- I should probably put in a disclaimer here before I get sued *chuckles nervously*
I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters in this fic. All characters and the wonderful Wizarding World belongs to the lovely JK Rowling. I'm just using her world for my enjoyment and in no way intend to make a profit from it.
Now that that's out of the way let's get on with this!
Chapter 2- Strange Wounds
Harry was aware of two things when he hit the ground hard after the portkey dropped him and Cedric off. The first being that his left shoulder felt hot and pulsed with agony as blood pumped through his bloodstream. Then again, his whole body was aching everywhere, but his shoulder felt the worst. The second were the sounds of loud cheering and heavy footsteps coming his way. Harry risked opening his eyes and found his vision to be blurry from the pain he was still feeling, but he knew he was back at the entrance to the maze.
He could feel the ground reverberating beneath his body as a mass of shapes descended upon him like a swirling wave of colours, and his grip on Cedric's body tightened.
He was aware of someone standing behind him and crouched down, laying a hand on Harry's (relatively) uninjured shoulder.
"Harry, are you alright?" asked the person behind him. Dumbledore? thought Harry.
"Voldemort's back!" cried Harry. the effort straining his vocal cords. "Voldemort's back! He killed Cedric! He told me to bring his body back! I couldn't leave him, not there!"
"Albus, what's going- Merlin's beard! Diggory, he's dead!" Whoever said that shouted it rather loudly, as several gasps filled the air and the sounds around Harry grew louder as chaos ensued.
"Harry, let go of him,"
"No! No!" shouted Harry angrily, struggling against the unknown person's arms as his strength faded. Amidst the crowd surrounding them, Harry heard a woman's shriek of horror as people began to notice Cedric's lifeless form and the unfolding drama before them.
"Albus, Amos and his wife are coming down right now- try to hold him off until we can-"
"I'll take him up Dumbledore."
"Harry needs to stay here."
"Keep everyone in their seats! A boy's just been killed!"
"Potter needs to get to the infirmary, he's injured."
"Harry, stay here," said the calm voice of Dumbledore.
A strong pair of hands yanked Harry up from Cedric's body and held him tightly before leading a still struggling Harry away from the crowd. Harry glanced upwards and briefly saw Ron and Hermione giving him concerned looks. Next to them stood the three Gryffindor Quidditch Chasers, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell holding their hands over their mouths as tears streaked down their faces.
"It's alright son, I've got you," said the gruff voice of the man carrying Harry away.
"Dumbledore said to stay," Harry protested weakly.
"You need to rest. Come on lad, just a little further."
Harry was aware that he was being led back into the castle, but was still unsure as to where he was being taken or who was holding him. The clanking on the stone pavement every second step indicated to Harry that it was probably Professor Moody taking him to his office, but the sheer pain he was feeling made Harry's vision start to blur so he was unable to confirm his suspicions.
Climbing a staircase, the pair finally arrived at a classroom door, which was opened by the man holding Harry up. He was ushered into the office and roughly pushed into an armchair and he heard the office door close and lock before his companion disappeared behind another door. He reappeared a few moments later and pushed a flask into Harry's quivering hands, ordering the boy to drink. Too tired to argue, Harry downed the flask's contents and his face screwed up as the unpleasant potion disappeared down his throat. Whatever the potion was, it cleared his vision and Harry found himself staring up at the deformed face of Professor Moody.
"What happened boy?" asked the retired Auror.
"The cup, it was a portkey," murmured Harry. "It took Cedric and I to a graveyard... Wormtail, Peter Pettigrew, that is, killed Cedric and performed a ritual to bring Voldemort back. He took some of my blood," he added, showing Professor Moody the bleeding cut to his wrist.
"Did you fight him?"
"Y-yeah, we dueled but something-"
"What was it like?" cut in Moody.
"What?"
"The Dark Lord! What was it like to stand in his presence?"
Harry looked at his teacher in confusion. "I-I don't know. He was terrifying," he said. The old Auror had a look that Harry could only describe as pure giddiness. Something wasn't adding up.
"Were there others? The Death Eaters, did they return?"
"Yes," said Harry. "Loads of them..."
"How did he treat them?" Moody asked quietly. "Did he forgive them?"
"I... what?" asked Harry wildly.
"Did he forgive the scum who hid at his downfall while the others went to Azkaban for their undying faith in the Dark Lord?!" shouted Moody, his shaking getting more out of control as his face began to contort strangely.
"I don't know!" exclaimed Harry.
"How did you escape the Dark Lord's clutches. Surely you could not have escaped by yourself!"
Harry thought for a moment. "There was something, a monster I think... it attacked the Death Eaters while Voldemort and I were dueling. It told me to run... but it bit me before I grabbed Cedric and the portkey..."
"What bit you?" urged Moody, his face continuing to change. Harry saw the many scars on his face fade, his missing nose growing and shortening. His short, grizzled grey hair lengthened and turned blonde as it grew over his magical eye.
This wasn't Professor Moody, it's the spy! realised Harry in shock. Harry guessed Polyjuice Potion. Oh Merlin, I'm going to die...
"Stupefy!" bellowed a voice from outside as the Stunning Spell shot through the fake Moody's office door, splintering the wood and slamming into the Polyjuiced Death Eater's chest, sending the unfortunate bastard flying into the shelves behind him. Harry turned around from his chair and saw Professor Dumbledore walking through the remains of the door with his wand drawn and a murderous look on his face. The very air around the Hogwarts Headmaster crackled with energy as he vented some of his magic. Harry now knew why Dumbledore was considered the most powerful wizard of his time and why Voldemort feared him. The sight was truly awesome.
Behind Dumbledore stood Professors Snape and McGonagall, both with their wands drawn and pointing at the unconscious Death Eater. Professor McGonagall rushed towards the still shocked Harry and helped him out of his seat.
"Albus I'm taking Harry to the infirmary," said McGonagall.
"Harry needs to stay here," said Dumbledore calmly, his wand still trained on the Death Eater who Harry now recognised as Barty Crouch Jr. But Harry thought he was dead, and apparently, so did the others in the room judging by the looks on their faces. The wooden leg fell off as a new leg grew in its place, and the magical eye popped out of its socket, replaced by another, real eye.
"Severus, the Veritaserum?" said Dumbledore. Snape stepped forward and unstoppered a vial containing a clear liquid, then forcibly opened Crouch's mouth and poured the liquid down his throat. Snape then stepped back as Dumbledore muttered "enervate."
Crouch Jr.'s eyelids fluttered open and he stared at his interrogators with a glazed look in his eyes.
"Do you know who I am?" questioned Dumbledore.
"Albus Dumbledore," answered Crouch.
"Who are you?"
"Bartemius Crouch Jr."
"Where is Alastor Moody?"
"Here," said Crouch, though he looked to be fighting the serum's effects in order to hide the real Alastor Moody's whereabouts.
"Is he in this room?" said Dumbledore.
"Yes."
"Where."
"The seventh compartment in Moody's trunk."
Dumbledore nodded to Snape, who walked over to the oversized trunk and unlocked the seventh compartment. The trunk's lid sprang open and Harry had to fight the urge to vomit from the stench wafting from it. Snape peered over the trunk and ushered Dumbledore over. Harry peered into the trunk as well and saw a much thinner and balder Alastor Moody laying unconscious at the bottom the the cold trunk. Dumbledore ordered Professor McGonagall to fetch Madam Pomfrey as he levitated the real Moody from the trunk and gently placed him in a cushioned chair, then conjured a blanket and placed it over Moody.
"Now," said Dumbledore, turning back to Crouch, "What was your plan with Harry Potter?"
And so Crouch told them. How his father helped him escape by replacing Crouch Jr. with his mother in Azkaban, how Winky was charged with taking care of him. How he managed to overthrow his father's Imperius Curse and put one on his father, which explained Crouch Sr's debilitating health. He then told them about how he found Wormtail and together they found Voldemort in Albania, where they nursed him back to sufficient strength for Voldemort to obtain a new, albeit smaller and much weaker body. They were the once who kidnapped and tortured Bertha Jorkins in revealing them about the Tri-Wizard Tournament, then subsequently killed her. He then told them how he was the one who cast the Dark Mark with Harry's wand at the Quidditch World Cup and how he and Wormtail learned that Alastor Moody was to teach at Hogwarts, so together the two ambushed the retired Auror in his home. Then Crouch Jr. became the Polyjuiced Mad-Eye Moody and set up the plan to capture Harry Potter to use his blood for the potion and ritual to restore Voldemort to his former power.
He told them how he killed his father in the Forbidden Forest and transfigured his body into a bone so that no one would find him. He was the one who put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire by submitted Harry under a different school, thus ensuring Harry's name be called out. He told them of how he planted the seeds for Hagrid and Cedric Diggory to provide hints for Harry for the First and Second Tasks, while secretly giving Harry spell books for him to use. He explained how he volunteered to supervise the Third Task and how he Imperiused Viktor Krum to attack and disable Fleur Delacour to ensure that Harry reached the Tri-Wizard Cup that was actually a portkey to take Harry to the graveyard in Little Hangleton. The plan was that if Harry were to somehow escape then it would fall to Crouch to kill Harry Potter, thus securing Voldemort's claim on the Wizarding World.
Harry looked on in horror at the man who had manipulated Harry all year. In some ways, Harry could blame Crouch Jr. for the death of Cedric and was instrumental in Voldemort's resurrection.
When Crouch finished, Dumbledore asked Snape to fetch Minister Fudge while binding Crouch in conjured ropes. Madam Pomfrey arrived then and told Professor McGonagall to take Harry to the hospital wing while she levitated a still unconscious Moody behind them while Dumbledore stayed behind to keep an eye on Crouch Jr.
Several times Harry had to lean against Professor McGonagall's shoulder to support himself as they walked to the hospital wing and by the time they got there McGonagall was practically dragging him along. Pushing open the hospital wing's doors, Harry was greeted by the sight of the entire Weasley family, minus Charlie and Percy, along with Hermione and Sirius, disguised in his Animagus form. further away were Mr and Mrs Diggory, who sat on either side of the bed where Cedric lay. Harry's heart was consumed with grief at the sight, while at the same time comforted by the Weasleys' presence. Stumbling over to one of the beds, Harry all but collapsed into it, welcoming the comfort the bed provided.
Dutifully, Ron and Hermione took up the seats on either side of the bed, watching over him like guardians, and for that Harry was grateful. Finally, Harry succumbed to his pain and grief and allowed himself to release the emotions he had been holding in. He freely cried in front of the people he called family, his sobs shaking his body and causing more spikes of pain to shoot through his body. His shirt was soaked in blood and torn from the wound the lion-man gave him, along with the other injuries he had received during the night.
Harry felt a hand rest on his good shoulder and he looked up to see the sorrowful face of Mrs Weasley. Harry pulled her close, ignoring the protests of his injured shoulder and hugged Mrs Weasley. Nobody questioned Harry's move, though several of the Weasleys including Hermione, looked at the display in shock, as Harry was never one for touching or even initiating hugs. It was a testament to the grief Harry felt and the impact the night's events had left on him. It was a mother's comfort that Harry needed at that moment, and Mrs Weasley, the primary mother figure in Harry's life, was more than willing to provide him with that comfort.
They were forced to release each other however, when shouting could be heard outside the hospital wing.
"You can't possibly believe that Potter is telling the truth about You-Know-Who Albus?!" shouted the voice of Fudge.
"I do indeed believe that Harry was telling the truth. I have have been warning you for years, Cornelius. Voldemort has been gathering strength and now he has returned," replied the calm voice of Dumbledore.
"Preposterous!" exclaimed Fudge before the hospital doors burst open, letting in the portly shape of Fudge, along with Dumbledore and Percy.
"Mister Potter! I demand you tell me what's going on!" bellowed Fudge.
"Minister Fudge! I will not have you shouting at my patients!" admonished Madam Pomfrey, who had marched over from the resting Moody to defend Harry. Likewise, the Weasleys and Hermione formed a protective circle around Harry's bed. Beside Harry, the hackles of the great black dog's rose as Sirius growled menacingly at the Minister for Magic.
"He needs to tell me why he was blabbering on about You-Know-Who's return!" yelled Fudge.
"Cornelius, if Harry said that Voldemort has returned then he has," said Dumbledore.
"The boy is clearly been through a traumatic experience that he thinks he saw You-Know-Who," said Fudge indignantly.
"So you think I imagined Voldemort murder Cedric right in front of me and then torture me?" growled Harry from behind the Weasley circle.
"That is exactly what I'm saying!" blurted Fudge.
"Minister," said Harry seriously, "I saw with my very eyes Voldemort's return with the help of Peter Pettigrew."
"Pettigrew? Are you still prattling on about Sirius Black's supposed innocence?" demanded Fudge. He turned to Dumbledore. "The boy's gone mad, Albus, mad! And so have you if you believe what he's spouting off!" Fudge shook his head. "No, no You-Know-Who is dead and that's that. I demand that you retract your statements, the both of you, so we can put this behind us and move on."
"WHAT!" bellowed Harry, then winced when his shoulder ached and lay back down on his bed.
"You've clearly lost it, Mister Potter and you had better rest up," said Fudge. He then reached into his cloak's pocket and pulled out a large bag full of galleons, tossing them onto the foot of Harry's bed. "Your prize money. Congratulations on winning the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Mister Potter." And with that, Fudge turned on his heels and stormed out of the hospital wing, Percy trailing behind him.
The doors closed and Dumbledore sighed. "I fear that Fudge's refusal to accept Voldemort's return will have disastrous consequences on our world," he said gravely. "No matter. Harry, I suggest you rest up and allow Madam Pomfrey to work her magic on you." He glanced at the group of people gathered around him. "These are trying times ahead of us. I pray that we all prepare for the coming war. Good night." Bowing his head, Dumbledore left them to join the grieving Diggory family and offer his condolences.
Madam Pomfrey came over, carrying several potions and instructed Harry to drink them all. Harry grimaced as he drank them all, though the last one left Harry feeling drowsy. Harry rested his head down and his eyes fluttered closed, and barely heard Padfoot whine in sadness as he rested his head on Harry's lap.
oOoOoOo
When Harry awoke, the sun was gleaming through the windows of the hospital wing, creating beautiful rays of light. His ruined shirt had been removed, and his entire torso was wrapped in bandages. Harry noticed that Padfoot was asleep on the floor, but other than his godfather, he was alone. The curtains around Moody's bed had been closed, and Cedric's body was nowhere to be seen. Harry groaned when he attempted to stretch, his left shoulder sending spasms of pain through his body. Immediately Sirius woke up and whined in concern for his godson.
"I'm fine Sirius," assured Harry, smiling sadly. He couldn't help but laugh at the look Sirius gave him, which was quite amusing seeing as a dog was trying to raise its eyebrow at him.
"Alright," conceded Harry, "I'm still a little sore." Nodding his head Sirius walked over to the curtains and used his jaws to pull them closed. Once assured of their privacy, the dog transformed into a tall, thin man with wavy shoulder-length hair and a trimmed mustache and goatee. Harry burst into tears as his godfather enveloped him in a hug, and they remained in that position for several minutes before they finally released each other. Sirius sat down in one of the bedside chairs and looked at Harry intently.
"I'm so sorry Harry," said Sirius softly. Wiping away the last of his tears, Harry shrugged.
"There was nothing you could have done," said Harry. Sirius shook his head.
"I know, but I wish there was a way for me to take away the pain."
"You being here is enough to make me feel better," replied Harry, smiling sadly. "You believe me, don't you?"
Sirius looked up in shock. "Of course I believe you Harry! If you say Voldemort's back, then that's good enough for me," he soothed. "And, I imagine many of your friends feel the same way," he added. Harry nodded his head slowly.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Harry again nodded and told Sirius everything that happened from the moment Harry and Cedric touched the cup. How he watched Wormtail murder Cedric, the ritual and potion used to resurrect Voldemort, the return of the Death Eaters, his torture for Voldemort's own sick amusement and the ensuing duel. Harry was just going into description of his saviour's battle against the Death Eaters and Voldemort when Sirius stopped him.
"Wait, you're telling me that some beast that looked like cross between a man and a lion, wearing a hood and cloak came out of nowhere and saved your life?" asked Sirius incredulously.
"Er... yeah, that's what I'm telling you," answered Harry awkwardly. "Do you know what it was that saved me?"
Sirius shook his head. "No, I've never heard of such a thing," he said.
"Yeah. So anyway I was almost about to escape when the lion-man was thrown on me and when it got up, it said sorry then it me on the shoulder before it ran back to fight the Death Eaters and I escaped," said Harry. Sirius' eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.
"It did WHAT?!" bellowed Sirius.
"SSHHH!" whispered Harry frantically. "You might wake up half the castle!"
"Sorry, but why the hell did it bite you? Was that all where all the blood was coming from?"
"Yeah, and I have no idea why it bit me."
Sirius stroked his mustache. "Strange," he murmured.
"What are we going to do?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure, but I think Dumbledore may be getting the old gang back together to prepare to fight," answered Sirius. He suddenly sat up straight when they heard the sounds of someone approaching, Sirius quickly transformed back into his gigantic black dog form just as Madam Pomfrey opened Harry's privacy curtains.
"Ah, awake I see Mister Potter," she said. "How was your rest?"
Harry shrugged. "Alright I guess. I didn't feel anything during the night," he said. Madam Pomfrey nodded her head and drew her wand, casting some diagnostic spells around Harry. Her lips pursed and her brow furrowed before stepping forward and began peeling the bandages off Harry's torso. Harry winced occasionally and stifled a cry as he was jostled slightly by Madam Pomfrey's ministrations until she finally unwrapped the last of his bandages. Madam Pomfrey gasped at the sight, while Sirius barked in alarm. Confused, Harry looked down and his eyes widened.
The bite marks from the lion-man had turned an ugly black with red welts swelling along the edges, and purple veins marred his shoulder all the way down to his chest.
"What the-?" started Harry.
"This looks eerily like the bite of a werewolf," whispered Madam Pomfrey. "But the teeth marks are too large. Did this injury happen before or after the maze?"
"Er, after," said Harry. "Some kind of beast attacked Voldemort-" Harry ignored Madam Pomfrey's flinch of the name, "-and his Death Eaters but bit me when I got too close. I don't think it was a werewolf though, cause it wasn't the full moon."
"Hmm. You are correct but just to be sure I will need to run some more tests and keep you under observation," said Madam Pomfrey. Harry nodded his understanding and allowed Madam Pomfrey to perform some more diagnostic spells and take a sample of his blood. She then re-bandaged his torso and put his left arm in a sling to limit the movement of his shoulder before she returned back to her office. Sirius transformed back into human form just as Harry angrily whispered "werewolf?!"
"I have no idea," was all Sirius could say on the matter before they were joined by Ron, Hermione, the Weasley twins and Ginny. Sirius quickly changed back into a dog and barked happily at the newcomers.
"You alright mate?" asked Ron once everyone had gathered around Harry's bed.
"I've been better," was all Harry said. He waited patiently for one of them to say what was on their minds, but it seemed like no one was willing to step up.
"Well?" Harry finally snapped, "are one of you going to ask what happened?"
"Er..." was all Ron could say while Hermione rolled her eyes.
"What happened last night?" Hermione finally said, sadness in her eyes.
Harry then proceeded to repeat the story he had told Sirius earlier. When he was finished, Hermione and Ginny had tears in their eyes while Ron, Fred and George had paled considerably.
"Oh Harry," sniffed Hermione as she pulled her best friend into a fierce hug that could rival one of Mrs Weasley's infamous bear hugs.
"Um Hermione, ouch," winced Harry. Hermione gasped and quickly let go of him.
"Oh so sorry! I should have known!" she squeaked. "How are your injuries?"
"Not healing as fast as they should be," said Harry. "Whatever it was that saved me, its bite acts similar to a werewolf's so Madam Pomfrey's keeping me in for observation." Harry could already see the wheels turning in Hermione's brain. If anybody could figure out what that lion-man was and what its bite did to humans, it was his bushy-haired friend.
"He's really back, isn't he," whispered Ginny. Harry didn't need to ask who he was.
"Yeah, and we need to be ready for when he comes out in the open," said Harry. "With Fudge and the Ministry denying his return, things will be more difficult for us all to prepare."
Everybody in the room nodded their heads at that before conversation turned to lighter topics, much to Harry's relief.
oOoOoOo
The next few weeks were a blur for Harry. He had been cleared the next day to return to classes by Madam Pomfrey under the conditions that he wear a sling to stabilize his shoulder and to take it easy, along with returning to the infirmary for his prescribed potions. Sirius had left Harry, telling him that Dumbledore was sending him to gather the 'old gang' back together and warned Harry to stay out of trouble. He didn't recall anything from his classes, and having been exempt from the end of year exams, spent much of his time in class trying not to think about that night. On the nights where Harry didn't take any Dreamless Sleep Potion, he constantly awoke from nightmares, reliving Cedric's death and Voldemort's return in his dreams. On these nights Harry chose to sit by the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room, staring into the fires.
People generally avoided Harry in the school corridors, though he could often see groups pointing at him and whispering behind their hands as he walked past. He was fine with it mostly, as he didn't want to be pestered about the Third Task and preferred to eat when the Great Hall was mostly devoid of students.
And so it was that Harry sat between Ron and Katie Bell, with Hermione sitting opposite him as they ate in the Great Hall for their end of year feast. There was no excited chatter among the students, no bright colours of which House that had won the House Cup. Instead, there were black drapes on the wall behind the teachers' table. Harry figured it was a mark of respect for the passing of Cedric Diggory.
Professor Dumbledore stood up at the staff table. The Great Hall, which in any case had been less noisy than it usually was at the Leaving Feast, became very quiet.
*"The end," said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, "of another year."
He paused, and his eyes fell upon the Hufflepuff table. Theirs had been the most subdued table before he had gotten to his feet, and theirs were still the saddest and palest faces in the Hall.
"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured toward the Hufflepuffs, "enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory."
They did it, all of them; the benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood, and raised their goblets, and echoed, in one loud, low, rumbling voice, "Cedric Diggory."
Harry caught a glimpse of Cho through the crowd. There were tears pouring silently down her face. He looked down at the table as they all sat down again.
"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house," Dumbledore continued. "He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."
Harry raised his head and stared at Dumbledore.
"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."
A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. He looked perfectly calm as he watched them mutter themselves into silence.
"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, "does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory."
Stunned and frightened, every face in the Hall was turned toward Dumbledore now...or almost every face. Over at the Slytherin table. Harry saw Draco Malfoy muttering something to Crabbe and Goyle. Harry felt a hot, sick swoop of anger in his stomach. He forced himself to look back at Dumbledore.
"There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Cedric's death," Dumbledore went on. "I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter."
A kind of ripple crossed the Great Hall as a few heads turned in Harry's direction before flicking back to face Dumbledore.
"Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort," said Dumbledore. "He risked his own life to return Cedric's body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor him."
Dumbledore turned gravely to Harry and raised his goblet once more. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit. They murmured his name, as they had murmured Cedric's, and drank to him. But through a gap in the standing figures. Harry saw that Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and many of the other Slytherins had remained defiantly in their seats, their goblets untouched. Dumbledore, who after all possessed no magical eye, did not see them.
When everyone had once again resumed their seats, Dumbledore continued, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened - of Lord Voldemort's return - such ties are more important than ever before."
Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table. Krum, Harry saw, looked wary, almost frightened, as though he expected Dumbledore to say something harsh.
"Every guest in this Hall," said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.
"It is my belief- and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst.
"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."*
Katie sniffed slightly as she cried silently beside Harry. Not knowing what else to do, he awkwardly rubbed her back, to which she sent a grateful smile in return. Harry smiled back, though his smile did not reach his ears, something which he knew Katie had noticed. Harry turned back to the feast, attempting to drown his sorrowful mood in the delicious food provided by the Hogwarts house elves.
oOoOoOo
Despite the bright sunshine and cloudless skies, the trip back on the Hogwarts Express was relatively subdued, though Harry, Ron and Hermione had found a compartment for themselves and were talking freely and fully than they had in over a week.
But, of course, all good things must come to an end. While Hermione was busy explaining to the boys about how she had captured Rita Skeeter once she had figured out that the vile reporter was an unregistered beetle Animagus, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle made their semi-annual visit.
"You should have taken me up on my offer Potter," sneered Malfoy.
"What?" said Harry, his face contorted in confusion.
"When we met on the train? Our first day at Hogwarts? I warned you about meddling with Mudbloods and blood-traitors! Now the Dark Lord is back! and he's going to murder them all, starting with you. Well, actually he started with-" Malfoy never got to finish that sentence, because the next thing anyone knew, Harry was holding up the Slytherin Prince in the air by the throat with his good arm.
"Finish that sentence, I dare you," snarled Harry, knowing full well that Malfoy wasn't capable of speaking. Crabbe and Goyle were stunned in surprise, as they along with Ron and Hermione never even saw Harry move, but they recovered and were just about to roll up their sleeves when they were hit in the backs by several jinxes. The two brutes fell to the ground like a bag of rocks while Harry threw the spluttering Malfoy out of the compartment. Fred and George, along with Angelina, Katie and Alicia peered around the compartment door, grinning like idiots.
"Well, it seems like you fellas didn't need us," said George lightly, "We didn't even see ferret boy until Harry tossed him out."
"Very impressive, I must say Harry old boy. Have you been working out?" joked Fred. Harry didn't answer, being too surprised at his own display of strength as he sat back down. The twins and the girls filed into the compartment where everyone but Harry gathered around for a game of Exploding Snap.
Harry, on the other hand, stared out the window and watched as the country flew past them, his mind wandering aimlessly. He was disrupted from his thoughts though, when a hand rested on his arm and he turned to look at Hermione, who was giving him a concerned look. Harry smiled and shook his head, silently telling her that he was fine. In truth, he really did feel ok, but he was worried about the future of his world and the people he cared about now that Voldemort was back.
Harry's world would never be the same again.
A/N- *Taken directly from the Goblet of Fire.*
Love it? Hate it? Let me know! Note that this will probably be my longest chapter, though all future chapters will still be relatively long.
