Disclaimer: Not mine

And we are now done with the rewrite chapters.

EDITED for island name in the first paragraph

Chapter 10

It was a relief to return home, the students quickly spreading stories of what had happened even as the Council met to discuss the same things, including what he children hadn't been privy too. No one had blinked when Harry had ducked over to Isla Muerta, assuming he just wanted to see how work on the Magical Preserve was going. He did, but he also had the first inhabitant ready to be released and he watched as Slinky happily slithered off to get used to her new home, the basilisk much more at home in the tropics than the freezing cold of Scotland. He then returned for the Council meeting, listening as Filius filled the others in on the new teachers at Hogwarts, glad he didn't have Slughorn as a teacher while wondering if they could get Professor Scamander to come, the man had literally written the textbook on magical creatures after all.

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Harry grinned as Hermione opened her Christmas gift, enjoying her gasp of shock before she was hugging him to death. He'd gotten her a rare, signed, first edition of Moste Potente Potions, which had been very hard to find. She liked potions and loved books so when he had found it, the book had seemed the perfect gift. Her gift to him was new Quidditch armour and a Quidditch jersey in Sanctus' colours with his name and number on it. The school didn't have official teams yet, not enough students so she had used his number from Hogwarts.

Most of the day was spent with family but they joined the school for dinner, Harry there officially as King as most of the islands inhabitants piled in as well.

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Ron wandered the halls; this year wasn't turning out as fun as he'd hoped. He'd heard his parents whispering about the tournament and had planned to enter. Then the Headmaster had to use that stupid age line that not even the twins had managed to fool. That murderer Potter somehow managed to not only enter but steal the spotlight and cause a fuss. He dared to show his face in the school again only to have the teachers get him out of competing, coward. And what had the cup been thinking to pick a Hufflepuff for Hogwarts Champion? Everyone knew Gryffindors were the best.

A door up ahead opened, and Ron paused only to see Mad Eye Moody emerge. "Weasley, get in here," the gruff voice ordered, and Ron sighed but obeyed. He stepped inside and everything went black.

'Mad Eye' stared down at the unconscious student. He wasn't the best choice, but he was a Weasley, a blood traitor and one-time best friend of Potter. He quickly levitated him and headed for the secret tunnel out of the castle, once past the wards he apparated away.

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Amelia stormed into the Castle, Aurors at her back as she slammed the doors to the Great Hall open.

"Amelia…"

"Save it," she snarled, thrusting the official papers at him. "Where is Moody?"

"He hasn't come to the last three meals, I knocked on his door, but he didn't answer. I told Madam Pomphrey since he had it rather securely locked and she said she'd check today," Newt spoke up when it was obvious no one else knew.

"That wasn't Moody. Strange that you've had an imposter teaching here all year and didn't realise it wasn't him, considering you're such good friends." She took her Aurors to the Defence Professors rooms and they went to work forcing entry, Poppy soon joining them with a medical bag. They found the imposter gone, the rooms a mess but they methodically went through it, looking for any sign of what had happened to the real Moody.

"Here," Shacklebolt called and they found him scanning a multi-compartment trunk. They got it open and went through the compartments until they came to one that went down a long way, seeing the man at the bottom. Poppy went in after him, not wanting to risk moving him until she had assessed his condition. She soon had him ready for transport to St Mungo's and the team had everything in the room packed up to investigate in full once back at the Ministry. There were no obvious clues as to where Crouch Jnr had gone, Snr was in a holding cell to face questioning over his sons escape.

They were almost to the front door when two voices called out and Amelia turned to see the Weasley twins running after them, faces worried. "What is it?"

"Our brother, Ron, he's missing. No one's seen him and we can't find him anywhere," one of the boys answered. She'd met the twins before and knew this was no joke if only one was speaking.

"Kingsley, Fleetwood, you're with me. The rest of you get back to the Ministry and get to work," she ordered, and the rest of the team left while they moved with the twins back to the Great Hall and over to Minerva.

"Amelia?"

"One of your lions is missing, didn't you notice?" Amelia asked and Minerva looked over at the table, seeing the lack of red hair.

"Ronald?"

"We can't find him Professor," the twins respect for their head of house had plummeted since their third year and Ginny's death, though they also blamed themselves, Ron, and Percy for not looking out for her more.

"Have you asked his friends?" Minerva asked, what more could go wrong this year?

"What,"

"Friends?" they asked. "No one wants,"

"To be near him after the way,"

"He treated Harry after Ginny's death."

Minerva nodded sadly, she honestly wasn't sure how the boy had been sorted into Gryffindor. "I shall summon the ghosts to search and ask the portraits," she promised, going to do so even as Albus approached.

"What seems to be the issue Amelia?"

"Ronald Weasley is missing. We found Alastor locked in his own trunk, the imposter gone…" oh no, if those events corresponded then she feared for Arthur's youngest son.

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Harry stood at the helipad, bouncing on his heels in excitement, Ian beside him. The chopper finally landed, and the passenger disembarked as their luggage was unloaded. As soon as the blades still Harry was rushing over to great them, Ian following at a more sedate pace. "Dr grant! Dr Sattler!" Harry grinned and Ellie laughed, catching him in a hug.

"Hello Harry, it's good to see you again," she ruffled his hair and Harry laughed.

"He hasn't shut up about your visit in days," Ian offered as he reached them, offering his hand to Alan who shook it even as Harry blushed.

"Everyone at the school is looking forward to your talks," Harry tried to cover, and Alan smirked.

"Well then, we can't disappoint them," he offered, he'd gotten a lot better with children since the Incident. Maybe Ellie was right and their own would be nice one day. They got in an electric Jeep and drove into the town, the two scientists looking around in awe, they knew the islands had been empty before but now there was a bustling town. They were given rooms in the small yet beautiful hotel and then they joined Harry at the Potter house for dinner and to meet everyone.

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"Magic…." Alan murmured as they lay in bed, minds spinning from everything they had learnt.

"It does explain a bit more about what happened at the Park, why Nym and Harry were so calm," Ellie offered.

"Mmmm," he agreed. They were going to be lecturing at a school with magical kids and even a few who weren't human, he just hoped they didn't mess up.

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"Hi Bill," Harry greeted, and Bill grinned, bowing.

"Your Majesty," he greeted formally, and Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm still hoping to see my parents faces when that comes out," he admitted, and they laughed about it.

"You know why Aunt Andy sent for you?"

"No…." he saw Harry's face and winced. "That bad?"

"Yeah. Can you stay for a while?"

"Sure, Charlie said he'd be out as soon as he can as well," Bill stowed his gear in the guestroom and followed Harry through the sprawling house to the room Andromeda used for her research and private patients, which basically meant their odd little family.

Harry left them to talk, not really wanting to listen in on what they were going to have to do to get the soul piece out of him. He went in to the living room and collapsed on a couch, he'd done all his homework and there was nothing official that needed him either. It wasn't very often that he had absolutely nothing to do. Of course, he'd just gotten settled when the mirror began to vibrate so he got up and answered it. "Hello Madam Bones."

"Harry, is William Weasley there? The goblins mentioned he might be."

"Yeah, he just arrived. What's wrong?" he asked even as he sent a messenger Patronus to summon him.

"You may want to call the Council together for this," she answered so Harry shot off some more messages and moved the mirror into the meeting room, enlarging it as they others began arriving.

"You wanted to see me Ma'am?" Bill asked as soon as he saw her.

"You're needed at home as soon as possible. I am sorry to tell you this, but your brother Ron is missing, and we fear he was taken by the same man who entered Harry in the Tournament…Barty Crouch Jnr."

"Isn't he dead? I remember him being in a cell down the hall from me for most of my stay but then his family was allowed to visit because he was deathly ill. He died days later," Sirius frowned in confusion as he recited what had happened.

"Crouch Snr allowed his ill wife to take Jnr's place under polyjuice as a dying favour to her. he then kept his son locked in the house in the care of a house elf and under the Imperious to keep him docile. He managed to escape earlier in the year and made contact with Pettigrew or Riddle himself, we don't know which. He captured Moody and took his place as Professor, it was his magical signature on the Goblet of Fire. Unfortunately, by the time we returned to Hogwarts he had fled, and young Ronald went missing at around the same time."

"The Tournament was a trap for Harry….missing him the next best option would be his friend, and if Riddle's operating on old information he may think Ron was still your best friend," Hermione offered.

"But why all that to get me?" Harry asked.

Bill frowned, considering things. "If he's still trying to get a body like in your first year…there are several methods that using an enemy for makes more powerful or needs to work at all. Some wouldn't harm that person much and all need them alive for the ritual so if he took Ron…he's probably still alive." It hurt, to think he may have lost another sibling, but he had to hold onto the hope that Ron was still alive. "June 21 is the Solstice, that would be the closet date for the best results but that means holding him for months, they may not want to risk it. Most rituals will still work, just not quite as powerfully."

"We are searching, if anyone uses his wand an alert will be given."

Harry thought it over. "Where was the Riddle Family from? If Tom's the only one left, then any houses would be his right? And if he thinks people still don't know his real name…"

"Then it would make a good place to hide, we'll look into it, thank you Harry," she smiled tiredly at him.

Bill looked at Andy who nodded, their work would have to wait. "I'll leave immediately, if you could let my Father know?"

"Of course," Amelia agreed. "I'll keep you informed." Her image vanished.

"This is not your fault," Ted stated, looking right at Harry, knowing how the boy thought and Harry nodded slowly.

Bill excused himself to get his things and then was handed a portkey back to Britain. "Sorry Harry."

"It's fine, I hope you find Ron." He may be an idiot, but he was still Bill's family.

"We're upping security, no one knows we're here outside Bill, Amelia and a very few others but better safe than sorry," Remus said, and they all nodded, seeing the wisdom in the move.

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Ron hugged his knees to his chest, he was cold, surrounded by spiders and hungry. He'd never been so hungry in his life. Moody had kidnapped him except it wasn't really Moody. This wasn't the sort of adventure he'd dreamed of as Harry Potter's best friend, and he wasn't Harry's friend anymore, but they said he was and didn't care when he tried to explain they weren't friends anymore. He just wanted to go home.

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Bill hugged his Mum as she cried, looking over at his Dad and seeing his red rimmed eyes. They'd lost Ginny two years ago, they couldn't lose Ron as well. He looked at Charlie who nodded and ushered the twins and Percy upstairs so Bill could talk with his parents about what they had discussed in the meeting before he left. He told them about Moody being Crouch since that was being kept quiet in Britain, explaining why they thought Ron had been taken and that he was likely still alive. While Molly wailed in relief, his Dad met his eyes, understanding what she was ignoring, his time as a prisoner would not be nice and there was no guarantee they would wait for the solstice when it was almost six months away. They'd missed the December one by days, why hadn't he taken Ron earlier?

TBC…