5th June

Dear Diary

Today is my fifteenth birthday. Mother sent me a big bag of candy, a cake and letter saying that my present from her and Father is too big to send by owl, but that it'll be waiting for me when I get home. I think she at least could tell me what it is.

Snape gave me a notebook on potions he had written himself. I think it's the best present I ever got in my life, and I said so to him. He almost smiled at me and told me that I could call him Severus in private. I bet Potter can't call any of his teachers by first name.

….

24th June Dusk(Events not recorded in diary)

Draco had had a hard month. He had been revising for three exams: his own, Greg's and Vince's. This was not counting the help he had been given Pansy in potions, Theo in History of Magic, Millicent and Blaise in both Transfiguration and Divination. Draco didn't even take Devination, but he could probably pass the test if someone gave it to him. He had also helped a group of third year Slytherins three nights in a row to set up a telescope and draw a star map for one of their assignments.

It felt good when all the exams where finally over and he could take a break. He collected some food in a napkin from the Great Hall and headed out for the stands by the torch lit Quiddich pitch leaving his friends behind. The dusk was coming on and he lit his wand to walk the last feet to the stands. He wanted to avoid people for as long as possible. He was also a little nervous. His father had again this morning sent him an owl telling him to 'be careful'. There had been a feeling in those two single words that had shook Draco deeply.

He chose a good spot for himself on the stands, next to the places reserved for the teachers, and unwrapped his dinner on his lap. There was chicken, a couple of small gherkins and some buns. Draco had also managed to get hold of a chocolate muffin for dessert. Taking his time with the food he studied at the big hedges that now surrounded the Quiddich pitch. He longed to play again and couldn't wait until next year. He had finally got over his sickening feeling on the broom and longed for to take his Nimbus 2001 for a real test ride.

Draco watched as Professor Moody stalked around the hedges for at least the third time. It looked like the old goof was checking for holes in the shrubbery, because he kept poking leaves with his wand. Moody had given him a glare when he first arrived, but Draco had ignored him. Instead he took up the notebook Snape had given him for his birthday; he had not had time to study it closer because of the exams.

It was stupid, Draco thought, that no one in the stands could see into the maze. How was this supposed to be a public event when no one could see what was going on? He had thought the same thing at the second task that had been held under water. Draco smirked as Theo Nott was walking towards him from the castle with his chess set under his arm. He noticed several others also carrying books and games. The tournament was really a game for the contenders, not the audience.

After a while more students, spectators and judges began filling in the stands. Draco had vanished his garbage and was now sitting with Pansy to the right and Snape to the left. Pansy had given him a small yellow and black Hufflepuff flag. Under any other circumstances Draco would have burnt it to ashes, but he conceded and held the flag limply in his hand. Pansy had actually donned a Hufflepuff scarf that she had nicked from a first year. He had noticed Snape roll his eyes.

Draco could see the plump Weasley mother and one of her older good-looking sons hug Potter before turning to the stands and sitting down next to Krum's parents. Draco huffed. It seemed like Potter had a family after all. Too bad it was the Weasleys. Draco would rather be an orphan than live with the Weasleys.

Ludo Bagman began presenting the champions and their individual scores. He also told that they were supposed to enter the maze and bring back the Tri-wizard cup. Draco looked on as Potter and Diggory lined up at the entrance of the maze. Potter looked as nervous as ever and looked to the Weasley mother who flagged a red and gold handkerchief. There was a bang and both Potter and Diggory disappeared inside to foliage. Krum stepped forward to wait for his turn.

"How are you feeling?" asked Snape in a low voice.

"Fine, sir," answered Draco with a blush as he noticed that he had tensed up without knowing it.

There was another bang and Krum was off. Delacour walked up.

"No headaches? Nauseas?"

"Have you, sir?" Draco glanced worriedly at the man, he looked paler than usual.

"I'm sure it's just my imagination…" murmured Snape and placed his right hand absentmindedly on his left arm.

His father's letter rang in Draco's mind. There came the third bang and Delacour ran inside the maze. Draco tried to lean back with the others, but Snape's rigid posture and his father's words kept him from relaxing.

"Sir?" Draco fished up the short note from his pocket and showed Snape. "I got this, this morning."

Snape looked over the words and paled a little more, if that was possible. Draco could feel the nervousness come from him in a wave and then suddenly, like blowing out a candle, it was gone. Snape's mind was completely closed, not a whisper escaped his thoughts. Draco bit the knuckle of his thumb. Suddenly there was a terrible female scream coming from the maze.

"Oh," chuckled Bagman through his enlarged voice. "It seems that Miss Delacour has run into a spot of trouble! No red lights? No, it looks clear! Good girl!"

The audience shifted uncomfortable. That scream had not sounded like it was clear. Draco could see Delacour's parents whisper worriedly to each other. He moved closer to Snape, without really knowing why. He wondered what Potter's scream would sound like.

After the scream there was some whispers and rustling among the spectators. A few went back to their books and games. Draco noticed that Granger had stood up and begun to pace nervously, she was quickly pulled down to her seat by Weasley. The two of them started arguing under their breath. Snape was breathing harder.

There was a sudden ioooh/i from the spectators. Pansy pulled Draco's arm and pointed. He would have seen it with out her guidance. A part of the maze was lit up with a strong blue light.

"Is that a Patronus?" echoed Bagman's voice over the grounds. "Impressive magic from either Krum or Diggory there."

"That's Potter," whispered McGonagall to Fleetwick on the other side of Snape. "Diggory can't do anything like that, and I doubt Krum can either. You remember that stag Potter set on against Malfoy last year?"

Draco remembered far too well. He had not been to near to pee in his pants since he was four. He watched the blue light flicker and extinguish. There was a moment of silence. No one moved. After a few minutes, just as they were beginning to relax, there was a great ipop/i. Then silence again. Snape placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Draco looked sideways at him.

"What happened?" Bagman sounded confused, and scared – really scared.

At that moment Hagrid came out of the maze carrying both Delacour and Krum. Both were unconscious. McGonagall gasped and rose. Snape also got up to his feet, hesitated and then turned to Draco.

"Do as your father told you," he said and hurried of with the other teachers.

"What does he mean?" asked Pansy and frowned.

Draco just shook his head. He had dropped the Hufflepuff flag on the ground. Fleetwick was telling people too keep to their seats. Krum's and Delacour's parents were sprinting to their children. Granger was on her feet and almost jumping; Weasley was also standing trying to hold on to her. Mother Weasley was whispering franticly to her older son, who seemed to pat her reassuringly on the back.

Several people were going into the maze with their wands alight. There was a tatter of panicked voices spreading around the stands. Dumbledore strode forwards and held up his arms to ask for attention. He got it quickly, everybody stared at him. He cleared his throat.

"They were stunned?" bellowed Bagman's engorged voice. "Oh, sorry…"

Dumbledore gave an impatient glare over his shoulder before he turned back.

"Please stay calm!" his voice was not charmed, but he still was heard by everyone. "Miss Delacour and Mr Krum are not in any danger. We are still looking for Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter. I'm sure by now any of them has reached the cup and are on their way back..."

"What do you mean there is nobody in there?" Bagman's scream made everyone jump.

"Ludo!" yelled Dumbledore turning around.

Apparently someone had turned Bagman off since the "sorry" came back in a low distant voice. Dumbledore sighed and tried to look calm which, to his credit, he did very well. He repeated that everyone should stay calm and then went back to the others.

"Hermo-ninny," Krum was walking up to the stands holding his father's shoulder.

There was a spontaneous applaud at his appearance. Krum waived and smiled. His mother and Karkarof were standing behind him. Karkarof seemed very jumpy and was looking around everywhere. Granger hurried up to Krum and asked something about Potter. Draco smirked.

He rose to his feet to get a better look at Krum. Not that he cared. He walked a little closer. He could hear Greg and Vince large bodies move behind him. Karkarof's roaming eyes caught sight of him. Draco was immediately seized by his arms. Karkarof was spitting as he talked, his neat goatee stood out in all angles. He shook Draco so hard that it felt like his head was going to come off.

"You!" Karkarof hissed in a low voice. "You are Malfoy! You know! Don't you?"

"Let him go, Igor!" Snape pulled Draco from the crazed man. "The boy knows nothing."

"But you do?"

"I know as much as you. Draw your on conclusions."

"I vill," stammered Karkarof, turned and hurried away.

"We won't be seeing him again," muttered Snape. "Draco, stay here." He turned to the stands that were now erupting. "Everybody! Stay here! Sit down!"

The reaction was immediate. Several of the students sat right down on the ground. Some even landed on each other's knees too scared to move. Draco's knees also buckled automatically, but Snape caught him before he fell down on his arse.

"You need to stay here and stay still. Understand? Stay in plain sight where everyone can see you. So that you are not accused for something later. Do you understand me, Draco?"

"Yes, sir," nodded Draco, he swallowed. "Is… is he…"

"Yes," said Snape shortly, turning away and hurrying to join Dumbledore.

Draco felt a cold wind blow through him as he returned to his seat.

"Draco?" asked Theo carefully. "What did Snape say to you? What are we doing?"

"We are staying here," Draco sat down.

"Oh," Theo nodded and looked at the two Slytherin prefects who looked inquisitive. "We are staying here." The prefects nodded and conveyed the message.

His life flashed before Draco's eyes. It returned often enough to his father and his talks to Draco about the Dark Lord. When Draco was younger, his parents had been frantic about the Dark Lord's return, even searched for ways to find him. When Draco was five, his mother's and father's gist had died down a little. They settled to a pace, a calm life of waiting.

Draco had always heard the stories, listened to their opinions of Muggles and Mudbloods and bloodtraitors. His mother gave up with her waiting about when Draco was ten. Lucius had held out for a few more years. About two years ago when he lost the Dark Lord's diary that had been entrusted to him, he confessed to his family that he believed the Dark Lord was lost and it was time to think of their own future. It had been a blow for them, but they continued business as usual only with new goals.

If the Dark Lord was back now, would his father be one of the first to return to his side? Draco had no doubt that both his parents already stood by his side.

iPop!/i Draco was woken from his thoughts. As he looked up his heart stopped for a beat. Potter had returned.

He looked horrible. Dirt, blood and mud covered every inch of him. He was exhausted; his glasses were gone and his dirty face was streaked with tears. He was dragging a body, hugging it tightly to him. Draco knew before the whispers reached him. Diggory! It's Cedric! He is dead! Cedric Diggory is dead! Draco just stared as Potter was dragged away by Moody.

Draco's first thought was his parents. Where were they? He didn't know what any of this meant but he could add up to the most likely possibility. Snape said that the Dark Lord was back. His parents would answer the call the moment they got it. The Dark Lord would be wanting to take his revenge on Potter. Potter had appeared with a portkey and a dead body. Conclusion; Potter had escaped the Dark Lord and Draco's parents was still there. He took a deep breath.

They had to wait for almost two hours before Snape came and told them to go to their dormitories. It was passed midnight and all of the other houses had gone inside without permission. The Slytherins had huddled together glaring away the stragglers. As the last Hufflepuff had left, Draco had told the others what he knew and his suspicions. He made sure not to mention his parents or his worries for them. They had been sitting there in the dark, quietly contemplating when Snape arrived.

As they returned to the castle guided by their wands, Snape pulled Draco aside. He gave him a rolled up parchment.

"Give this to your father when you get home," he said. "You can read it if you want to, but seal it with my name before you give it to Lucius, you know how to do that. Don't let him know you know. See this as the first test," Snape sounded bitter.

"Test for what?" Draco got no answer. "Test for what. Severus?"

"Go to bed, Draco," said his teacher. "You'll be leaving tomorrow. Things will only be worse from here on end."

Draco watched as Snape mixed with the dark of the night and disappeared. He clutched the roll of parchment to his chest.

….

25th June

Dear Diary

I really hate Potter. It took Mother over an hour to get rid of the boils that Potter and his cronies gave me on the train home. There are still scars from where she popped them with her wand. If any of them are permanent I'm going to kill him! I told mother that is was one of Greg's spells that went wrong. Neither she nor Father is in any condition to hear the mention of Potter for the moment.

Father is excited, desperate and confused at the same time. I have never seen him like this before. He has told me all about the Dark Lord's return and what happened at the graveyard. I told him all about what happened at the tournament. He was just called away by the Mark on his arm. Mother was not called.

Severus's letter explained it more clearly. I read it before I went to bed yesterday. It seemed that Moody wasn't Moody at all but Barty Crouch jr! Father had told me Crouch jr died long ago in Azkaban, so that was a bit of a surprise for both of us. Apparently The Dark Lord had been far too angry to fill Father or any one else in on what had happened at Hogwarts.

Severus also told everything that happened after that Potter had returned. That Crouch had used polyjuice; that he set up so that Potter would be a champion; and that Crouch later was kissed by a Dementor. Father said that Severus already has contacted the Dark Lord and retaken his servitude with him. I guess Severus could be an important spy.

I told Mother about what happened to me in December, she was very upset. I didn't tell her who it was though. I hate Jacques even more than I hate Potter, but I still don't want his death on my conscience. Strange that, but then again, I wouldn't want to carry Potter's death either. Let someone else deal with that crap. Why should I dirty my hands? Mother told me not to tell Father, he has enough trouble. Mother is now teaching me how to send a stinging puss hex letter though, that will come in very useful in the future.

Tomorrow I'm going to fly my broom again.