BEFORE THE STORM Title

BEFORE THE STORM
Title: Before the Storm: Chapter 7
Author: whykay
Author Email: millenniumbug_karunaratne@hotmail.com
Category: romance/action/adventure
Keywords: Harry Hermione Ron Fifth Year
Spoilers: All four books
Rating: R
Summary: This story is about the preparations the light side must undergo in view of Voldemort's return. During this fic you will witness their failures and successes. During the year there will be exciting Quidditch matches (Krum-Harry showdown), dark forces to defeat and Potion's lessons to survive through.
What will happen to Ron when Harry and Hermione finally get together? Even more important, how does he react to their *relationship* considering his feelings for Hermione? Find out in Before the Storm!

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Authors Note: You really must read the four HP books before reading ANY fanfiction whatsoever. More about my story, I have planned a seventh year sequel which will contain LOTS of action and adventure. Oh if you want to chat with me my MSN messenger name is "millenniumbug_karunaratne".

Chapter Ten

[A/N- Do any of you know of really good H/H stories that are at least 25000 words in length? The problem with FF.Net is that you can't find all the stories you want. So I'm going on your advice, if you do know of novel length H/H stories, please review and leave the name of the story, the author and if possible the link in your review. Thanks a lot!]

Summary- Events after the Quidditch match. Double celebrations, and then a shocking announcement. Harry has another nightmare and a worried Hermione and Ron ask Dumbeldore what happened after last years third task.


"Bloody Hell, that certainly was scary"

"Uh huh, I always knew he didn't mind taking risks but THAT was ridiculous"

Harry groaned out aloud. Where am I? Is this heaven? He thought blearily. Every bone in his body ached unmercifully; it was as if someone had decided to acquaint him with the receiving end of a beaters club.

He opened his eyes and stared into the pale faces of the entire Quidditch team and Hermione, who looked like she was or had been crying.

"Good god he's alive!" breathed Ron.

"You say that if it was a bad thing" retorted Harry in a weak voice.

There was a roar of the relieved laughter from the others, except from Hermione, who, now that she had seen that Harry was okay, was looking scandalized.

"Harry James Potter!" she snapped.

"Full name treatment eh? Good luck, mate" whispered Rob patting Harry's arm sympathetically.

"That was an absolutely silly thing to do! Risking your life just to catch a silly golden object in an absolutely stupid game" she barked. Harry was surprised by her anger. Usually when he had Quidditch accidents she HAD been upset but never angry.

It was time for the rest of the team to look scandalized, "It's not stupid" said Fred in annoyance.

"Bloody well is" argued Hermione.

"Is not" snapped back George, he continued before Hermione could answer"That was an awesome dive, Harry! Absolutely brilliant! Stroke of genius".

Harry grinned at him, recalling the sensation "It WAS marvellous! Worth every bit! Marvellous sensation!" he said dreamily.

"I cannot believe I am hearing this!" shrieked Hermione ,clapping her hands over her ears. "I'm leaving" and she stalked out banging the door shut behind her.

Seven pairs of eyes followed her out, "What's up with her?" asked Harry in bewilderment.

Ron grinned at him, "You know…it's probably that time of the month". Fred and George grinned at this too.

The members of the fairer sex in that room, namely Angelina, Alicia and Katie looked appalled at this explanation.

"That time of the month?" shrieked Angelina "Is that all you can offer as an explanation, Fredrick Arthur Weasley?"

Katie shook her head in disgust. "Men" she muttered.

"Its how we pass off about Ginny's wild mood swings during the summer" explained George sheepishly.

"Besides, if it isn't THAT, then why is Hermione so upset then? Harry's fine isn't he? And he DID get the snitch, everything's fine and dandy so why the big fuss?"

"Hold on, what does 'that time of the month' mean?" demanded Harry interrupting Angelina.

There was an uncomfortable silence, and Angelina, Alicia and Katie's faces were suddenly tinged with red. Fred and George however looked like they had won five thousand Galleons.

"Um, Harry we're sorry we forgot you don't have any parents to tell you about that" mumbled Alicia.

"You see Harry…" began Fred gleefully, but Harry interrupted him by bellowing with laughter.

"I KNOW about that! I was listening when Vernon gave Dudley the TALK! I was just pulling your leg!" he roared with laughter.

Alicia and Katie looked scandalized, and the twins looked disappointed. Ron however was savouring the joke to its fullest extent.

"That was brilliant, Harry! The looks on their faces…"

They were interrupted by Madame Pomphrey, who stormed in at the sound of raised voices.

"ALL OF YOU OUT! OUT! GO NOW!"

They rest of the team ambled out, Ron was still giggling helplessly.

"Potter! I see you're awake!" she said stating the obvious and trying hard to conceal her relief at his recovery by using a disapproving tone.

"I can see you're better judging by the volume of your voice, if you want you can go down to school now, and for heaven's sake try not to come in here too often".

Harry grinned at her and got off the bed and he managed to get downstairs to the common room where he told everybody who was assembled there, "Okay, you get everything ready, I'll distract her and we'll be back in half an hour right?"

There was a chorus of Okays as Harry hobbled off in search of Hermione.

He found her and she was, as usual, in the library, totally absorbed in a book.

"Hey, Hermione" he called out softly.

She looked up at him, totally startled. "Harry! I didn't see…I mean take a seat" she stuttered.

Harry sat down next to her and spoke gently, "Herm, why did you get so upset in the hospital wing?"

Hermione looked away guiltily. "I'm sorry, but I can't help worrying about you….and Ron" she added hastily.

"Well you shouldn't, I'm capable of taking care of myself and I've had worse injuries" reminded Harry.

"That's an absolutely stupid thing to say! You two are the best and the only friends I have, and I do care about you two very much, especially you Harry, Ron's not in as much danger as you are and I couldn't stand it if you died…."

Hermione seemed temporarily stunned by her own outburst. Then she realized what she had said and she quickly coloured.

"I'm sorry…. I"

She was cut off by Harry, "Well since we're on the topic of friendships, I too have to say something. Ever since I lived with the Dursleys and I went to school with Dudley, I never had any friends, and since I came to Hogwarts and made friends with you two I felt I was the luckiest person on Earth and I would do anything absolutely anything to keep you two safe. I'll give myself up to Voldemort to just to keep you two safe".

"No, you shouldn't do that, Harry... "

"No. I'm not willing to shift on that point" he said firmly. "I'm not going to even argue with you about it and that IS final"

Hermione's eyes clouded with tears and she hugged him so tightly that he nearly fell off his seat.

"Whoa, Hermione!" exclaimed Harry laughing softly as he managed to right himself. "That's enough morbid talk, what are you doing?"

"Arithmancy" she replied recovering her pieces of parchment.

"Oh, I've always wondered what IS Arithmancy about?"

His plan worked as Hermione immediately launched into an explanation about how fascinating Arithmancy was and how woolly Divination was compared to it.

After a couple of minutes of uninterrupted tirade Harry managed to interrupt.

"Okay, Okay Hermione" he said laughing. "I just asked a simple question, now I refuse to let you study one bit more today. We have one win tucked under our belts and THAT deserves a celebration".

Hermione looked as if she was going to protest, but Harry quickly shoved her stuff into her bag and pulled it out of her reach.

"Harry Potter! Give that back!" shrieked Hermione.

"No way! Not unless you come to the party!"

Hermione relented; she knew when she was in a no-win situation.

"Okay, okay you win. Just give me back my bag"

Harry shook his head playfully. "Uh huh, no you're not. I'll let you have it back when we get to the common room" and he hobbled off.

"Harry! Let me carry that, you're in no condition to carry that AND walk"

Harry thought a bit and handed her the bag

"You'd better not study or I'm defiantly gonna hex you!" he warned jokingly.

Hermione nodded and together they walked upstairs.

'I bet nobody will realize that today's my birthday' thought Hermione sadly as she walked with him. Not even Ginny.

They gave the password and climbed in. Instantly Hermione was practically knocked back over as every Gryffindor, from first year to the seventh year shouted at the top of their lungs, "SURPISE!"

Hermione stared at them, totally speechless as she took in the decorations and the banners some of which read, "Happy Birthday Hermione", "Happy Sweet Sixteen" and for some strange reason, "Get Primitive: It's your birthday!".

Hermione caught sight of Ron who was grinning at her with his arm around his Ginny.

"Ron!" she screamed and she belted across the room and threw herself upon him.

"Great Godric Gryffindor, Hermione!" he spluttered, "All I did was do the organizing, it was HARRY's idea"

Hermione abruptly let go of him and flung herself on Harry, "Oh, you angel, thank you! Thank you!" she sobbed.

"Hermione!" protested Harry. "I'm a wounded man!"

There was a roar of laughter as Hermione let go of him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you, I thought on one would remember!" she said.

Harry rubbed his now red cheek, where Hermione had kissed him. "As if we would" he said. "To tell you the truth it's a double celebration. One, we're celebrating our victory against Slytherin, and two we're celebrating your birthday".

"Come on!" said Ginny, "Let's get this party swinging!" and she turned the radio on at full volume.
Several people had by now cleared away the chairs and formed a makeshift dance floor.

Fred and Angelina were the first on the dance floor and they were followed by Katie and George.

"Let's dance" suggested Ron as he dragged Hermione away.

Hermione was both disappointed and relieved. She was disappointed because she couldn't dance with Harry, and she was also relieved because she had time to gather herself before she danced with him. For some strange reason she found herself losing her composure whenever she was in his presence.

Harry watched his two best friends dancing with envy. He felt jealous that Ron and Hermione should get together after all these years. He could no longer deny it, he DID like Hermione, but he was unwilling to voice his thoughts on risk of endangering their friendship.

'Ron is such a lucky sod', he thought. 'I'd willingly swap over everything I have including all my money, fame and even my position on the Quidditch team to be as lucky as he is. He never realizes that, he's got a great family and now he has Hermione'.

Harry sighed, 'Why do I have to be unsuccessful when it comes to girls? Last year Cedric got to Cho before I did, and now Ron beat me to Hermione. Not that would do much good anyway; it's obvious that she likes him even though she denies it'.

Ginny noticed Harry's dejected state, "What's up? You don't look too happy?

"Huh? No, I'm…um…fine" he lied. Ginny! There was another fly in the ointment, even though there was no secret of her feelings for him, he could never return them, for she was his best friends sister and he regarded Ron as his brother, which made Ginny almost like a sister to him in his eyes. The truth was he always felt responsible for her ever since he saved her life in the Chamber of Secrets.

"Hmm. Okay then, do you want to dance?" asked Ginny with a slightly pink face.

"Er, okay"

They joined the others on the dance floor to the beat of a fast song.

As they danced Harry noticed Fred and Angelina kissing rather passionately on a nearby couch.
Harry smiled to himself, 'No surprises there' he thought.

Finally the dance ended, and they came of the dance floor as a slow song started.
"Whew" panted Ron. "One dance and I'm pooped"

"Get yourself a drink then" advised Harry.

Harry felt someone tap him on the shoulder, and he turned around and saw Hermione standing behind him with her hands on her hips.

"Come on, you're dancing with me now. Birthday girls wish" said Hermione smiling slightly.

"Huh? Wouldn't you rather join Ron for this one?" he said in surprise, indicating the slowly dancing couples.

"No, he mashed all my toes and I want to find someone who can dance properly" she said pulling him to the dance floor.

"Well I should warn you that I'm not at all better than he is" he warned.

They adopted the classic dancing posture and they danced, both of then preoccupied with their own thoughts.

'He really thinks I like Ron,' thought Hermione sadly. 'Well I suppose he'll never notice me, he barely thinks of me as a girl'.

Harry was amazingly, (A/N- Do they communicate telepathically?) thinking of the same thing, 'Ron really likes her' he thought catching sight of his best friend watching them. 'I guess she'll never notice me, I'll have to be satisfied with being her best friend, nothing more. I suppose that it was bound to happen, two boys and a girl, all of us growing up together being best friends.'

Harry sighed inwardly with despair. 'God! Why couldn't it have been like it was back in third year? Pulling of pranks and sharing laughter, why did THIS of all things have to happen?'

"So" said Harry trying frantically to think of something interesting to say. All he came up with was "How do you like your birthday party?"

Hermione grinned at him losing all signs of her awkwardness. "It's marvellous. Thank You"

"It's nothing" mumbled Harry. "Jus' decided that we might as well have a double celebration"

Suddenly the music finished and they pulled apart awkwardly and both of them, with slightly pink faces, returned to where Ron was sitting.

"Now comes the best part" announced Ron and he pulled out a gift wrapped package.

"What's this?" squealed Hermione delightedly taking the present from him and ripping it open. Inside she found a book, Hogwarts a History the latest edition and a photo album.

"Oh Ron" she said sounding disappointed, "I have this book, Harry gave me one"

"I know" grinned Ron. "Take a look at page 453"

Hermione flipped to that page and read out a marked paragraph.

In the year 1935 1995 the record for the highest number of OWLS ever attained was broken by E.S.Johnson Hermione Granger who attained 14 15 OWLS ;and remains today as the highest number of OWLS ever achieved by a person.

The words, 1935, E.S.Johnson and the number 14 were struck through and replaced by 1995, Hermione Granger and the number 15.

"Oh Ron!" said Hermione and hugged him again.

"By the way that's your copy" he added. "We decided to make some modifications".

Hermione frowned at him, "You can't go around nicking peoples stuff and giving it back as presents!"

Ron grinned at her. "Uh huh. That's why the photo album is there,"

Hermione took a look at the photo album and gasped. It was an absolute masterpiece; it contained pictures of only Ron Hermione and Harry during the years they had known each other.

"I got the idea from Ginny, and I got Colin to give me some copies of his photos" explained Ron sheepishly.

"Ron, it's perfect" she whispered and once again she hugged him.

"Now your other present" reminded Harry. "Bought by Ron and me" and he handed he another gift wrapped box.

Hermione tore the wrapping of, and it revealed maroon box, which contained a necklace.

There was a hush, especially from the female section of the crowd as they gathered around to take a closer look.

It was a simple necklace, but it had two red and green jewels embedded in a gold centre. Inscribed underneath it was the letter 'F'.
[A/N- Bloody hell! I'm having trouble describing a NECKLACE!]

"Blimey' summed up Fred in awe.

"It's…its…perfect" Hermione struggled for words to describe it.

Harry grinned at her, "It's our second present to you, it's to remind you of us where ever you are. Red for Ron, and Green for me" he explained.

"What does the 'F' stand for?" she said dreamily twirling the necklace around in her hands.

"Friendship" replied Ron shortly.

Hermione just stared at the necklace before walking over to Harry and hugging him tightly.

"I guess that means you like it," joked Harry trying to lighten the slightly awkward moment.

"It's perfect" murmured Hermione trying it on. "You shouldn't have spent so much on it"

Harry shrugged, "It's expensive enough, so you can't accuse us of being cheap and it's cheap enough so you can't accuse us of spending too much money on you".

Suddenly he looked around the room and stared at the crowd who was gathered around them, "What the hell are you looking at? This is a party for god's sake!"

The crowd laughed and dispersed and some of them started dancing again.

"Colin" called over Hermione to Colin Creevy.

"Yeah?' he asked in the process of snapping another picture of Harry.

"Could you do me a favour, and take a picture of me and the two handsomest guys in Hogwarts?"

Harry and Ron coloured a bit but they stood beside Hermione with their arms around each other while Colin took the picture.

"Thanks Colin" said Harry knowing that such a phrase would make Colin's day. "Can you give me a copy later on?"

"Yeah Harry. Sure thing Harry" he piped up eyes full of misty adoration.

The bar was doing a roaring trade by handing out butterbeers to the first and second years. However the party was obviously on its last legs as more and more people went upstairs to their dorms.

"Come on, let's have a final dance" said Ron trying to drag Hermione to the dance floor.

Hermione looked at Harry, and he said, "Go ahead, I'm feeling tired and I want to get some sleep"

Hermione nodded and joined Ron while Harry trying hard not to look at them went upstairs to his dorm.

He collapsed onto his bed with a groan of despair, "Harry Potter, welcome to the day you got your heart broken for the second time in less than a year" he moaned, before he fell asleep in his school clothes.
***************
And so once again life at Hogwarts settled down to a daily routine once again. Due to Harry's depression about Hermione and Ron (A/N-Talk about being short-sighted!) he worked harder than ever before. He was the first to arrive at the Quidditch pitch, and the last to leave the common room at night.

Thus in the process his Quidditch skills and school work improved by leaps and bounds, and he managed to do quite well in classes, though he could never beat Hermione. In the process he suffered very few nightmares, due to the level of his exhaustion when he finally slept.

Unknown to him Ron, Hermione and many of the Gryffindor's eyed him with concern, but when they had spoken to him about this they found themselves being spoken to rather shortly. Soon they gave up.

So Harry Potter managed to conceal his feelings for Hermione through sheer work and exhaustion.

However another nasty surprise was in store that set of bad memories of last year. It happened in a Transfiguration lesson…

They had been transfiguring frogs into walking sticks. (A very complex process of Transfiguration due to the lack of similarities between the two objects) Harry had nearly fallen asleep on a couple of times, turned his walking stick into a quill and had earned himself a detention in the process. So when the lesson finally finished it could be said that Harry was not in the best of spirits.

When the lesson was over McGonagall dropped her bombshell.

"Due to the popularity of last years Yule ball the administration of this school has decided to hold another ball on Halloween's night. We have done so because we feel that many of the students AND teachers could do with some rest and relaxation". McGonagall looked at Harry who was horror-struck. "Especially you Potter, you look worse than a dementor"

Harry blushed at this before being indignant. Where the hell had SHE seen a dementor's face?

'There will be a notice hung on your notice board in due course. Dress robes will be worn, and I sincerely hope that NO Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way".

Her speech was cut short by the ringing of the bell.

"That will be all. Dismissed"

Harry stood up and wearily gathered up his books and stuffed them into his bag, too sleepy to notice the worried looks Ron and Hermione were giving him.

"Potter, a word" called out McGonagall briskly.

'Oh no what else have I to do now? Open the bloody ball again?' moaned Harry as he approached the desk with trepidation. He wondered how such a perfect day could go so downhill.

McGonagall waited until the other students had departed before addressing Harry.

"Potter, I'd like you to put this up on the notice board" and she handed him a piece of parchment.

Harry nodded silently, wondering if she wanted to talk to him about something else.

"Potter" her tone was surprisingly gentle. "Why did you fall asleep in class?"

Harry was startled by her question, of all the things he expected her to ask him THAT was the least expected.

"I guess I was tired, Professor" he replied wearily.

McGonagall nodded, "I see, Potter. From what I have heard you have been working rather hard during the past few days haven't you?"

Harry nodded.

"Well much as I appreciate hard work, you mustn't push yourself too hard Potter. After all we don't want you falling asleep during a Quidditch match do we"?

Harry stared, was McGonagall attempting a joke, weak though it was?!?

"Well in that case your detention will be cancelled; I suggest you get some sleep, Potter. That will be all".

Harry nodded bitterly before leaving. 'None of them understood, not Ron, Hermione none of them do and never will understand what I have to go through' he thought darkly.

He was met by an anxious Ron and Hermione who were waiting for him.

"What did she want?" was the first thing out of Ron's mouth.

"Uh? Oh jus' wanted to speak to me about my detention that's all" he yawned.

They nodded but didn't ask any questions from him. They entered the common room and Ron and Hermione went and found a table for themselves and Harry went towards the notice board.

He took out the notice and read it,

HOGWARTS HALOWEEN DANCE

On Halloween's day in the Great Hall.

Fourth years and above are invited.

7:30 PM to 12:00AM

Dress robes will be worn. You may invite a younger student provided that he/she is in fourth year and above.

Good behaviour is MANDOTORY!

Professor McGonagall.


Harry read it through again and regaining some of his lost sense of humour he took out a quill and chuckling to himself he added a PS.

PS- Please note that the Rose Garden will be under very close observation.

He pinned the notice to the board and tuned away. The group of boys who were reading the notice roared with laughter. Ron grinned at him and even Hermione looked relieved that he had cheered up a bit.

He was suddenly swamped with a wave of girls who having heard of the news were asking him to the ball.

"Um…ask me later" Harry mumbled. "Right now I'm too tired to say anything or remember anything now. If you ask me now I'll probably end up going with the wrong person".

There were some giggles among the disappointed faces as he stumbled upstairs and for the fist time in days he managed to sleep with out any nightmares.
***************
The next few days were a repeat performance of last years run up to the Yule Ball. Nearly all the girls in the school, including last year's fifth year Hufflepuff asked Harry out only to be turned down. If Harry hoped that his negative attitude would stop the flow of offers he was mistaken as more and more girls viewed this as a challenge.

The reason for his negative attitude was that he considered the Dance a pain in the…neck.

He had no desire to get involved romantically or otherwise with anyone else at this point of his life. He was in grave danger, not many people had realized this, and he didn't want to place anyone else in the same danger he had placed Ron and Hermione in.

Hermione too got her share of invitations but she turned them all down. Everywhere she went, the existence of the Harry Potter fan club was to be seen everywhere. In most corridors many girls giggled over his pictures and exploits and Colin Creevy did a roaring trade of selling his pictures of Harry.

'Hell, why doesn't he ask me out? Even as friends' she thought despairingly as she entered the common room.

There was a Quidditch match being played that day, by Slytherin and Hufflepuff. With the exception of Harry, Ron and herself the rest of the Gryffindors were attending the match, mainly to root for Hufflepuff.

She had excused herself because she had homework to do, and Harry had declined attending the match because he didn't feel like watching Slytherin slaughtering the hapless Hufflepuffs. Ron had volunteered to remain with Harry.

Inside the common room, she found Harry and Ron basking by the fire. Harry was earning some well needed rest by napping on a sofa and Ron was relaxing next to him. Harry looked as if he was in the process of reading some book before he had nodded off.

"Hermione!" exclaimed Ron as he caught sight of her. "I need to ask you something"

"What?" she said listlessly.

"Will you…um….that is…would you like to…um…" he faltered.

"Yes?" she said impatiently.

"Willyougotottheballwithme?"

"Huh?"

"Will. You. Go. To. The. Ball. With. Me?"

"Oh" she said thinking frantically. 'Well what the hell, if Harry's not going to ask me I might as well go to the ball with a friend".

"Oh, okay then" she replied wearily.

Ron grinned in relief.

"Great. I'll meet you here at 7:15 okay?"

"Okay"

Ron grinned once again and resumed his seat by the fire.

Hermione glanced over at the sleeping profile of Harry. There were dark circled around his eyes and he looked thinner than he was during the holidays.

"He's not taking it well is he?" observed Ron noticing her glance.

Hermione shook her head sadly. "He's working too hard" she said worriedly.

Ron too shook his head in helplessness.

"He's going to crack soon" he said shortly, "And what the hell is he reading?" he said and picked up the book.

He stared at the cover for a few seconds in utter astonishment.

"Bloody Hell!"

"What? What? What is it?" asked Hermione frantically.

"This" and Ron shoved her cover of the book.

"Good Lord" whispered Hermione as she took in the words, The Three Unforgivable Curses.

"Bloody hell, why is he reading THAT" exclaimed Ron moving towards Harry to wake him up.

"Ron! Don't! He needs some sleep" warned Hermione.

Ron stared at Harry for a minute before he sat down again, "Yeah, right. Sorry" he said quietly.

Hermione opened her mouth to answer when they heard a groan from Harry. Instantly both of them were at his side.

"Harry? Harry" said Ron, trying to awaken Harry who was groaning even louder and rubbing his scar.

"Oh my god" whispered Hermione. "He's having one of those dreams"
***************
Harry was soaring through the sky as if he were riding a broomstick. He flew through the country side watching as the green meadows slowly turned into snowy drifts.

Suddenly he found himself in a room, very much like the potions dungeon. There was a high backed chair, like a throne, and sitting on it was a tall thin man with red eyes and flat snake like nose with slits for nostrils.

"Oh no, it's Voldemort!" thought Harry.

Cowering on the floor at Voldemort's feet was a short balding man with watering eyes.

Voldemort spoke in the high pitched cold voice that Harry had come to dread from hearing it so often in his dreams. It always was the same word he heard, 'Kill the spare'.

"So Wormtail, once again your bumbling incompetence has failed me"

Wormtail cowered once more, "My lord…forgive me…so sorry" he sobbed, fearfully.

"Silence!"
Wormtails's sobs receded and Voldemort continued speaking.

"YOU lost me the only chance at getting to Harry Potter, when he is not at Hogwarts. We finally broke the protection charms guarding him and YOU let him escape. Now he will remain at Hogwarts and he probably will never return to his home during the holidays. Not only did you let him escape you had to wound him, very badly, instead of stunning him. Do you realize on how all we have planned would have failed if the boy had died because of your incompetence? Do you?"

The pain in Harry's scar had reached a blinding pain. Harry knew that there was more to come, because he head never woken up until the pain in his scar had caused him to do so, and the pain now, was not unbearable.

"Crucio"

Wormtail screamed and writhed along the ground in agony and Voldemort mercilessly held the curse on him for a few minutes until his anger had subsided.

"Now bring the prisoner in"

Wormtail bowed and tried to kiss the hem of the Dark Lord's robes. But Voldemort kicked him away.

"At once, my lord" stumbled Wormtail and he left.

Soon he repapered with some other Death Eaters. They were dragging a man, who looked very familiar to Harry…

Karakoff.

The Death Eaters threw Karakoff onto the floor in front of Voldemort.

"My lord…how glad am I to see you….I have been waiting long"

"Igor, how good to see you" sneered Voldemort.

Karakoff trembled in fear, it did not take a genius to find out what was to come.

"Why did you not return to me, Igor, when I returned? Why did you run away?"

Karakoff didn't reply.

"Why did you betray my servants, Igor? All YOU had to do was stay in Azkaban until I returned and you together with the Lestranges would have been honoured beyond your dreams. Even if you did get out of Azkaban you could have returned to help me recover my body, or even if you delivered the Potter boy to me you would have been forgiven and even rewarded. Why Igor? Why?"

Voldemort's voice seemed contain a trace of regret, but Harry knew better.

"Answer me!"

Karakoff sobbed, "My lord, forgive me, I…so sorry, willing to do anything…please forgive me"

"No forgiveness, Igor. You will be a fine example to my servants as to what happens to those who betray me. Crucio!"

Karakoff screamed and writhed, Harry could imagine what he was feeling right now. The pain coursing through each joint of his torso like white hot knives piercing every inch of skin he possessed resulting in excruciating, unbearable pain….

Voldemort mercilessly kept the curse on Karakoff for several long minutes. During which the pain in Harry's scar reached an unbearable level. It took all willpower on Harry's part to refrain from screaming out.
Abruptly Voldemort removed the curse,

"This is where we part ways, Igor. You have been a fine example. MORSMORDRE!"

The Dark mark appeared in the sky above Karakoff. Voldemort raised his wand,
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"
A bolt of green light erupted from his wand and it streaked across the room and hit Karakoff in the chest and the pain in Harry's scar became too much for him to bear.
***************
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" he yelled and in his agony he tumbled from the sofa and fell to the floor. He kept screaming and screaming as he tried to cover his scar from the hands that tried to pry them off his face.

"Harry! Harry!" said someone frantically.

Harry opened his eyes and looked into the pale face of Ron and the tearful face of Hermione.

"God Almighty, Harry, what the hell happened?" gasped Ron.

Harry didn't reply immediately, he just sat, shaking uncontrollably on the floor in Hermione's arms.

Finally he managed to gasp out, "Karakoff….Crucio….Avada Kedavra"

"Shh, Harry. You don't have to tell us now" said Hermione soothingly.

Suddenly Harry started, "Dumbeldore! Got to see Dumbeldore" he exclaimed.

"Don't be silly, look at you! You're shivering and you're in no condition to walk about the castle" admonished Hermione.

"I'm fine!" snapped Harry and pushing her aside he leapt to his feet. He would've fallen if Ron and Hermione hadn't caught him.

"Then again maybe I'm not" conceded Harry shakily as Ron and Hermione led him to the sofa.

There was a moment of silence before Hermione spoke up,

"Was it bad?" asked Hermione softly.

Harry couldn't answer, he just nodded. "Can…I…have some water…anything to drink?" he croaked.

Hermione jumped up, "I have just the thing" she announced and she bolted upstairs to her dorm.

"Harry…um…your scar" said Ron looking strangely at Harry.

"What?"

"It's bleeding…I think"

Harry's hand flew to his scar and he cried out in pain when it made contact. Ron dragged his arm away,

"Don't! Wait a moment and let it be" he said softly. He continued
"You're fine, mate. You'll be okay" muttered Ron, and he did something he had never done before. He hugged Harry.

"Oof" cried Harry. "What's this about?" he said at a weak attempt at a joke.

"Its relief" said Ron fiercely. "God, it was so scary knowing you were in pain and we couldn't do anything about it…." He broke off as Hermione came downstairs at a run.

"Here" she said thrusting a bottle of Butterbeer into Harry's hand. "Drink it, it'll help" she said shortly, and she handed him a goblet.

Harry ignored the goblet and drank straight from the bottle, taking several long swallows until he had finished the bottle.

"God, that's much better" he muttered and he lay back and closing his eyes he took a few breaths, trying to calm himself down, he pushed back his sweat sodden hair exposing his scar. There was a sudden intake of breath from Ron and Hermione, as they gazed at the puffy, bleeding scar.

He felt something dabbing at his scar, and he opened his eyes and saw Hermione wiping the blood away with a handkerchief. He lay back and let her clean off the blood.

When Hermione had finished cleaning the blood off, he stood up. "I've got to see Dumbeldore" he said. He wobbled a bit but he managed to keep his balance, "I'm fine. Honestly" he insisted.

"We're coming with you" said Ron firmly. "Whether you like it or not" he added when he saw Harry start to protest.

"All right, come on" sighed Harry and he scrambled out of the portrait wall.

Ron and Hermione hurried after him, and together the three of them made their way to Dumbeldore's office. They found themselves in front of Dumbeldore's office.

"What's the password?" asked Hermione. Harry shrugged,

"I have absolutely no idea. Let's see, Sugar Quill? Fizzing Whizbees? Pepper Imps?" Harry rattled of the names of all the sweets that came to his mind.

"Exploding Bon Bon? Cockroach Cluster? Jelly Slugs?" said Ron getting the idea.

"Oh bugger" swore Harry in frustration. "Let's try again, um…Ice Mice?"

The stone gargoyle swung open. "Well done, Harry!" congratulated Ron and they went inside.

Before they could knock on the door to the office, Dumbeldore peered out. "Has your scar been hurting you again Harry?"

Harry looked at him in astonishment. "How did you know?"

Dumbeldore gazed at him, his pale blue eyes twinkling, "I know" he said simply, not bothering to elaborate any further.

"Come inside" he said and beckoned them into his office. "Sit down, and tell me what you saw, Harry"

Harry took a deep breath and started repeating of what he saw in his dream. When he had finished Dumbeldore looked unusually sombre.

"I see" he said quietly. "Will you leave us for a couple of minutes, Harry? Wait in the next room" he said.

Harry looked startled, but he didn't ask any questions. Over the five years he had known Dumbeldore he knew that the headmaster didn't do anything without a good reason.

Harry nodded at the headmaster and silently left the room.

"Do you know why I asked Harry to leave?" said Dumbeldore peering at them.

They shook their heads. Hermione then spoke up,

"Sir? We would like to know what exactly happened to Harry in the maze. We want to comfort him and we would like to show him that it's not his problem but OUR problem. The thing is he won't talk about it. So I was wondering, could you tell us what really happened in the maze?"

Ron nodded eagerly.

"I won't tell you" began Dumbeldore. Ron and Hermione's faces fell, "because I can do better. Would you like to go into Harry's mind for the duration of the third task?"

"How-?" began Ron but Hermione interrupted him.

"The Pensieve, sir! You have Harry's memories in your Pensieve, don't you sir?"

Dumbeldore's eyes seemed to twinkle even further. "You guessed right, Miss Granger. I needed to know what exactly had happened to Harry when he faced Voldemort, so with Harry's permission I used his memories and placed it in my Pensieve".

Dumbeldore stood up and went to his cabinet and took out a shallow basin that contained a silver white substance. It looked like a liquid of some sort but then again it didn't….

"This is my Pensieve. Now reach out your hands and touch the Pensieve…"

Hermione and Ron held each others hands and they reached out and touched the shimmering liquid like substance…

With a lurch both of them fell into the Pensieve, and they landed headfirst on the grass of the Quidditch Pitch.

"Gods" murmured Ron. "It's the Third Task"

Hermione paled, "Look! Ron, its Cedric!"
***************
They watched Harry and Cedric line up in front of the entrance as Ludo Bagman began speaking.

"Off you go then!" he said cheerfully, and the four patrollers left, Hagrid muttered something to Harry and he followed McGonagall.

Bagman pointed his wand to his throat and muttered "Sonorus".
He then began speaking,
"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each - Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School!" The cheers and applause sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky. "In second place, with eighty points - Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute!" More applause. "And in third place - Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!"

Hermione could see herself applauding Fleur politely. She then concentrated on Harry. How different he looked! Within the space of two months Harry had grown up, from a boy into a man.

"So ... on my whistle, Harry and Cedric!" said Bagman. "Three - two - one -"

He blew his whistle and Harry and Cedric hurried into the maze. Ron and Hermione followed them. Harry pulled out his wand and whispered, "Lumos". Cedric did the same.

They reached a fork, and Harry said "See you" in a soft voice as he took the left fork.

As Harry hurried along they heard a whistle, "Krum" muttered Ron to himself. After a short interval they hear another whistle indicating that Fleur had entered the maze.

They heard Harry mutter a spell and he continued along another path. Suddenly they heard an oath and they whirled around to see a shaken Cedric.

"Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts!" he hissed. "They're enormous - I only just got away!"

Harry nodded his head and hurried off. Clearly he wanted to get away from the Skrewt as soon as possible. By now Ron and Hermione were struggling to keep up with him, and panting they jogged after him.

Suddenly Hermione gave a shriek, and Ron went stiff as they saw the Dementor gliding towards Harry.

Harry seemed to freeze before he raised his wand in a flash and cried out, "Expecto Patronum!'.

"Blimey" said Ron in awe as the stag burst out of Harry's wand and raced towards the dementor.

The dementor tripped. "Hang on!" Harry shouted, "You're a boggart! Riddikulus!"

The dementor vanished, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he hurried forward with Ron and Hermione following him.
After a few twists and turns they found themselves in front of a golden mist, Harry pointed his wand at it and shouted cautiously, "Reducio!"

The spell shot through the mist. Suddenly a scream shattered the silence.
"Fleur!" yelled Harry. But there was no answer.

Then Harry ran through the mist. Ron gave a small cry as he saw Harry turn upside down. They wanted to help him but they couldn't touch him. Then Harry stepped out and he righted himself.

Harry fell to the ground, took a few deep breaths and hurried on. He encountered a few dead ends and suddenly he found himself in front of an enormous blast ended skrewt.

Hermione gave a small whimper and she clutched at Ron's hand as they watched Harry hurl curses and charms at it to no avail. The skrewt froze a few inches away from Harry. It had been hit by the Impeiment curse.

Harry hurried along and then they heard it,
What are you doing?" yelled Cedric's voice. "What the hell d'you think you're doing?"
"Crucio!"
Hermione gasped in horror. Viktor had done that? Even Ron seemed shocked as they heard Cedric yell in agony.

Harry tried the Reductor curse on the hedge and he squeezed through the small hole. Somehow Hermione and Ron were magically transported to Cedric's side of the hedge. Krum looked up and saw Harry and began to run away.
"Stupefy!" cried Harry at a fleeing Krum.
Krum stumbled and fell down.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked Cedric anxiously.
"Yeah," panted Cedric. "Yeah ... I don't believe it... he crept up behind me. ... I heard him, I turned around, and he had his wand on me. . . ."
"I can't believe this ... I thought he was all right," Harry said, staring at Krum.
"So did I," said Cedric.
"Did you hear Fleur scream earlier?" said Harry.
"Yeah," said Cedric. "You don't think Krum got her too?"
"I don't know," said Harry slowly.
"Should we leave him here?" Cedric muttered.
"No," said Harry. "I reckon we should send up red sparks. Someone'll come and collect him . . . otherwise he'll probably be eaten by a skrewt."
"He'd deserve it,"

"Well... I s'pose we'd better go on. . . ." muttered Cedric as he shot red sparks over Krum.
"What?" said Harry. "Oh . . . yeah . . . right. . ."

The proceeded along the maze and they parted company at a fork, and Harry continued inching along the maze. Every now and then Harry hit dead ends and he had to backtrack and choose a different path.
Then they saw it…

It was a sphinx. It had the body of an over-large lion: great clawed paws and a long yellowish tail ending in a brown tuft. Its head, however, was that of a woman. She turned her long, almond-shaped eyes upon Harry as he approached. He raised his wand, hesitating. She was not crouching as if to spring, but pacing from side to side of the path, blocking his progress. Then she spoke, in a deep, hoarse voice.
"You are very near your goal. The quickest way is past me."

"So ... so will you move, please?"

"No, not unless you can answer my riddle. Answer on your first guess - I let you pass. Answer wrongly - I attack. Remain silent - I will let you walk away from me unscathed."

"Okay," he said. "Can I hear the riddle?"

"First think of the person who lives in disguise,
Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,
The middle of middle and end of the end?
And finally give me the sound often heard
During the search for a hard-to-find word.
Now string them together, and answer me this,
Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?"

"Could I have it again . . . more slowly?"
She blinked at him, smiled, and repeated the poem.
"All the clues add up to a creature I wouldn't want to kiss?" Harry asked.

The Sphinx didn't reply.

Harry muttered to himself as he thought frantically.
"'The last thing to mend,'" Harry repeated. "Er ... no idea . . . 'middle of middle' . . . could I have the last bit again?"

"'The sound often heard during the search for a hard-to-find word,'" said Harry. "Er . . . that'd be ... er ... hang on - 'er'! Er's a sound!"

"Spider Harry!, The answer is Spider!" cried Hermione.
Spy ... er ... spy ... er ..." said Harry, pacing up and down. "A creature I wouldn't want to kiss . . . a spider!"

The Sphinx smiled at let him pass. "Thanks" called Harry as he moved along the path.

Suddenly they saw the Tri Wizard cup, a hundred yards away. Cedric burst out of a patch and was sprinting to the cup. Harry followed in pursuit, and then Hermione screamed as she saw the spider bearing down on Cedric. Ron shuddered in horror.

"Cedric!" Harry bellowed. "On your left!"

Cedric saw it, and tripped, his wand went flying away.

"Stupefy!" bellowed Harry, but the spell bounced off and the spider ran towards Harry.
"Stupefy! Impedimenta! Stupefy!"

But the spells bounced off, and the spider took Harry and lifted him in the air.

"Oh no, Harry!" shrieked Hermione.

Cedric was yelling curses but the spells bounced off. They saw Harry kick the spider, and suddenly Harry bellowed in pain.

He then pointed his wand at it and cried, "Expelliarmus!"

Harry fell to the ground, and, they saw, spraining his ankle in the process.

"Stupefy!" shouted Harry and Cedric in unison.

The two spells combined did what one alone had not: The spider keeled over sideways, flattening a nearby hedge, and strewing the path with a tangle of hairy legs.

"Harry!" he heard Cedric shouting. "You all right? Did it fall on you?"

"No," came back the faint reply.

Ron and Hermione avoided the spider and peered at Harry's leg. There was a gluey secretion on it, which caused them to shudder.

"Take it, then," Harry panted to Cedric. "Go on, take it. You're there." He pointed at the Tri-Wizard cup.

"You take it. You should win. That's twice you've saved my neck in here" protested Cedric.

"That's not how it's supposed to work," snapped Harry. "The one who reaches the cup first gets the points. That's you. I'm telling you, I'm not going to win any races on this leg

"No," he said.

"Stop being noble," said Harry irritably. "Just take it, and then we can get out of here."

"You told me about the dragons," Cedric said. "I would've gone down in the first task if you hadn't told me what was coming."

"I had help on that too," Harry snapped. "You helped me with the egg - we're square."

"I had help on the egg in the first place," said Cedric.

"We're still square,"

"You should've got more points on the second task; you stayed behind to get all the hostages. I should've done that."

"I was the only one who was thick enough to take that song seriously!" said Harry bitterly. "Just take the cup!"

"No," said Cedric.

Harry stared at him.

"Go on," repeated Cedric.

Harry seemed to be pondering something and then he replied.
"Both of us," Harry said.

"What?"

"We'll take it at the same time. It's still a Hogwarts victory. We'll tie for it."

Hermione and Ron looked at each other in horror. So that's why Harry had blamed himself, he had insisted that Cedric take the cup with himself.

"You - you sure?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "Yeah . . . we've helped each other out, haven't we? We both got here. Let's just take it together."

Cedric grinned at him, "You're on," he said. "Come here." He supported Harry, and they made their way to the cup.

"On three, right?" said Harry. "One - two - three -"

They reached out and grasped the cup, and then with a flash both of them disappeared.

Hermione and Ron suddenly felt themselves get yanked forward and they fell onto the ground next to Harry and Cedric.

"Where are we?" Harry said,

Cedric shrugged.

"Did anyone tell you the cup was a Portkey?" he asked.

"Nope," said Harry. He was looking around the graveyard. It was completely silent and slightly eerie. "Is this supposed to be part of the task?"

"I dunno," said Cedric. He sounded slightly nervous. "Wands out, d'you reckon?"

"Yeah," replied Harry.

"Someone's coming," he said suddenly.

They saw someone carrying a bundle of robes coming towards them. The person drew nearer and nearer until he was six or seven feet away from them.

Suddenly Harry gasped in pain and fell onto his knees, clutching at his scar in agony.

"Oh no" muttered Ron. "It's you-know-who!"

Hermione felt an icy shiver of fear run through her. She felt a strange feeling as what was to come.

A high, cold voice said, "Kill the spare."

A swishing noise and a second voice, which screeched the words to the night: "Avada Kedavra!"

Their visions were obscured by a flash of green light. When Ron and Hermione opened their eyes they saw Cedric, lying spread-eagled on the ground beside Harry. Dead.

Harry seemed dazed. He hardly resisted as the hooded man dragged him and tied him to a gravestone.

Hermione drew in a gasp of horror when she realized who the hooded figure was.

"Wormtail!" muttered Ron wincing as Wormtail punched Harry.

Wormtail the checked the cords, and stuffed a gag into Harry's mouth.

Harry's best friends watched in horror as a huge green snake appeared out of nowhere and circled Harry. The watched in horror as Wormtail rolled a huge cauldron forward and lit a fire underneath it.

Ron and Hermione recoiled in disgust and horror when they saw what had become of Voldemort. A hairless scaly looking thing with dark reddish skin.

Wormtail carried the thing and lowered it into the cauldron which was now simmering with some potion.

Wormtail raised his wand,
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!"

A crack appeared at Harry's feet and dust flew into the air and into the cauldron.

Wormtail pulled out a dagger,
"Flesh - of the servant - w-willingly given - you will - revive - your master. "
Wormtail raised the dagger, Ron and Hermione wanted to close their eyes and to do anything to avoid looking at the gruesome spectacle.

The dagger fell and Wormtail screamed in agony as the dagger sliced through skin, muscle and bone. The hand fell into the cauldron with a splash as the potion turned an angry red.

"B-blood of the enemy . . . forcibly taken .. . you will. . . resurrect your foe."

Hermione moaned in horror as, they watched helplessly, while Wormtail stabbed a struggling Harry in the crook of his arm. Wormtail gathered the blood into a vial and emptied it into the cauldron. The cauldron turned a brilliant white and Hermione covered her eyes to shut out the glare. Smoke erupted around the cauldron and their vision was obscured.

Then a man stepped out of the cauldron his body was obscured with the smoke, Wormtail stumbled forward and wrapped a robe around him.

They saw a man with white skin whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake with slits for nostrils . . .

Lord Voldemort.

Hermione shuddered with fear, she could feet Ron shaking as well.

Voldemort examined his body and drawing his wand he moved towards a sobbing Wormtail.

"My Lord . . ." he choked, "my Lord . . . you promised . . . you did promise ..."

"Hold out your arm," said Voldemort.

"Oh Master . . . thank you, Master ..."

He extended the bleeding stump, but Voldemort laughed again.

"The other arm, Wormtail."

"Master, please . . .please ..."

Voldemort forcibly pulled out Wormtails's left arm. He forced the sleeve upwards and revealed the dark mark.

"It is back," he said softly, "they will all have noticed it... and now, we shall see ... now we shall know ..."

He pressed his finger on the mark. Wormtail let out a howl of pain.

Voldemort began to pace back and forth.

"How many will be brave enough to return when they feel it?" He whispered.
"And how many will be foolish enough to stay away?"

After a minute or so, he looked down at Harry again, a cruel smile twisting his snakelike face.

"You stand, Harry Potter, upon the remains of my late father," he hissed softly. "A Muggle and a fool . . . very like your dear mother. But they both had their uses, did they not? Your mother died to defend you as a child . . . and I killed my father, and see how useful he has proved himself, in death. ..."

"You see that house upon the hillside, Potter? My father lived there. My mother, a witch who lived here in this village, fell in love with him. But he abandoned her when she told him what she was. ... He didn't like magic, my father . . .

"He left her and returned to his Muggle parents before I was even born. Potter, and she died giving birth to me, leaving me to be raised in a Muggle orphanage . . . but I vowed to find him ... I revenged myself upon him, that fool who gave me his name . . . Tom Riddle. . . ."

"Listen to me, reliving family history . . ." he said quietly, "why, I am growing quite sentimental. . . . But look, Harry! My true family returns. . . ."

Wizards were Apparating into the graveyard. Many of them wore hoods and masks.

A Death Eater fell to the ground and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes.

Master . . . Master " he murmured.

The other Death Eaters followed suit.

Voldemort surveyed the circle of Death Eaters around him,
"Welcome, Death Eaters," said Voldemort quietly. "Thirteen years . . . thirteen years since last we met. Yet you answer my call as though it were yesterday, we are still united under the Dark Mark, then! Or are we?"

"I smell guilt," he said. "There is a stench or guilt upon the air".

"Ha!" snorted Hermione. "Of course, most of them lied their way out of prison". Ron shushed her as Voldemort began to speak.

"I see you all, whole and healthy, with your powers intact - such prompt appearances! and I ask myself . . . why did this band of wizards never come to the aid of their master, to whom they swore eternal loyalty?"

And I answer myself," whispered Voldemort, "they must have believed me broken, they thought I was gone. They slipped back among my enemies, and they pleaded innocence, and ignorance, and bewitchment. . . .
"And then I ask myself, but how could they have believed I would not rise again? They, who knew the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against mortal death? They, who had seen proofs of the immensity of my power in the times when I was mightier than any wizard living,?
"And I answer myself, perhaps they believed a still greater power could exist, one that could vanquish even Lord Voldemort. . . perhaps they now pay allegiance to another . . . perhaps that champion of commoners, of Mudbloods and Muggles, Albus Dumbledore?"

"It is a disappointment to me ... I confess myself disappointed. . . ."

One of the Death Eaters flung himself before Voldemort.

"Master!" he shrieked, "Master, forgive me! Forgive us all!"

"Crucio!"

Hermione recoiled as she watched the Death Eater shrieked in pain.

"Get up, Avery," said Voldemort softly. "Stand up. You ask for forgiveness? I do not forgive. I do not forget. Thirteen long years ... I want thirteen years' repayment before I forgive you. Wormtail here has paid some of his debt already, have you not, Wormtail?"

"You returned to me, not out of loyalty, but out of fear of your old friends. You deserve this pain, Wormtail. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes, Master," moaned Wormtail, "please. Master . . . please ..."
"Yet you helped return me to my body," said Voldemort coolly, watching Wormtail sob on the ground. "Worthless and traitorous as you are, you helped me ... and Lord Voldemort rewards his helpers... ."

Voldemort raised his wand again and whirled it through the air. A streak of silver began forming itself into a hand. With a twirl of his wand Voldemort attached the hand to Wormtails's bleeding stump.

Wormtails's sobbing stopped abruptly. His breathing harsh and ragged, he raised his head and stared in disbelief at the silver hand, now attached seamlessly to his arm, as though he were wearing a dazzling glove. He flexed the shining fingers, then, trembling, picked up a small twig on the ground and crushed it into powder.

"My Lord," he whispered. "Master ... it is beautiful. . . thank you... thank you. ..."

He scrambled forward on his knees and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes.

"May your loyalty never waver again, Wormtail," said Voldemort.

"No, my Lord . . . never, my Lord . . ."

Voldemort moved among his Death Eaters and stopped before the man to Wormtails's right.

"Lucius, my slippery friend," he whispered, halting before him. "I am told that you have not renounced the old ways, though to the world you present a respectable face. You are still ready to take the lead in a spot of Muggle-torture, I believe? Yet you never tried to find me, Lucius. Your exploits at the Quidditch World Cup were fun, I daresay . . . but might not your energies have been better directed toward finding and aiding your master?"

Ron growled in anger as he recognized Lucius Malfoy's voice.

"My Lord, I was constantly on the alert," came Lucius Malfoy's voice swiftly from beneath the hood. "Had there been any sign from you, any whisper of your whereabouts, I would have been at your side immediately, nothing could have prevented me -"

"And yet you ran from my Mark, when a faithful Death Eater sent it into the sky last summer?" Said Voldemort lazily, and Mr. Malfoy stopped talking abruptly. "Yes, I know all about that, Lucius. You have disappointed me. ... I expect more faithful service in the future."

"Of course, my Lord, of course. . . . You are merciful, thank you. ..."


"The Lestranges should stand here," said Voldemort quietly. "But they are entombed in Azkaban. They were faithful. They went to Azkaban rather than renounce me. . . . When Azkaban is broken open, the Lestranges will be honored beyond their dreams. The dementors will join us ... they are our natural allies ... we will recall the banished giants ... I shall have all my devoted servants returned to me, and an army of creatures whom all fear. ..."

"Macnair . . . destroying dangerous beasts for the Ministry of Magic now, Wormtail tells me? You shall have better victims than that soon, Macnair. Lord Voldemort will provide. ..."
"Thank you, Master . . . thank you," murmured Macnair.
"And here" - Voldemort moved on to the two largest hooded figures - "we have Crabbe . . . you will do better this time, will you not, Crabbe? And you, Goyle?"
They bowed clumsily, muttering dully.
"Yes, Master ..."
"We will, Master...."
"The same goes for you, Nott," said Voldemort quietly as he walked past a stooped figure in Mr. Goyles shadow.
"My Lord, I prostrate myself before you, I am your most faithful -"
"That will do," said Voldemort.

Voldemort stopped before a big gap between the Death Eaters.

"And here we have six missing Death Eaters . . . three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return ... he will pay. One, who I believe has left me forever ... he will be killed, of course . . . and one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already re-entered my service."

"He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived here tonight. . . .
"Yes," said Voldemort, a grin curling his lipless mouth as the eyes of the circle flashed in Harry's direction. "Harry Potter has kindly joined us for my rebirthing party. One might go so far as to call him my guest of honor."
There was a silence. Then the Death Eater to the right of Wormtail stepped forward, and Lucius Malfoy's voice spoke from under the mask.
"Master, we crave to know ... we beg you to tell us ... how you have achieved this . . . this miracle . . . how you managed to return to us. .. ."
"Ah, what a story it is, Lucius," said Voldemort. "And it begins - and ends - with my young friend here."
He walked lazily over to stand next to Harry, so that the eyes of the whole circle were upon the two of them. The snake continued to circle.
"You know, of course, that they have called this boy my downfall?" Voldemort said softly, his red eyes upon Harry, whose scar began to burn so fiercely that he almost screamed in agony. "You all know that on the night I lost my powers and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died in the attempt to save him - and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen. ... I could not touch the boy."

"His mother left upon him the traces other sacrifice. . . . This is old magic, I should have remembered it, I was foolish to overlook it... but no matter. I can touch him now."

And Voldemort touched Harry's face and he struggled in pain.

"I miscalculated, my friends, I admit it. My curse was deflected by the woman's foolish sacrifice, and it rebounded upon me. Aaah . . . pain beyond pain, my friends; nothing could have prepared me for it. I was ripped from my body, I was less than spirit, less than the meanest ghost . . . but still, I was alive. What I was, even I do not know... I, who have gone further than anybody along the path that leads to immortality,. You know my goal - to conquer death. And now, I was tested, and it appeared that one or more of my experiments had worked ... for I had not been killed, though the curse should have done it. Nevertheless, I was as powerless as the weakest creature alive, and without the means to help myself... for I had no body, and every spell that might have helped me required the use of a wand. . . .
"I remember only forcing myself, sleeplessly, endlessly, second by second, to exist. ... I settled in a faraway place, in a forest, and I waited. . . . Surely, one of my faithful Death Eaters would try and find me . . . one of them would come and perform the magic I could not, to restore me to a body. . , but I waited in vain. ..."

The Death Eaters shuddered; and Hermione could see why they did so.

"Only one power remained to me. I could possess the bodies of others. But I dared not go where other humans were plentiful, for I knew that the Aurors were still abroad and searching for me.
I sometimes inhabited animals - snakes, of course, being my preference - but I was little better off inside them than as pure spirit, for their bodies were ill adapted to perform magic . . . and my possession of them shortened their lives; none of them lasted long. . . .
"Then . . . four years ago . . . the means for my return seemed assured. A wizard - young, foolish, and gullible - wandered across my path in the forest I had made my home. Oh, he seemed the very chance I had been dreaming of... for he was a teacher at Dumbledore's school... he was easy to bend to my will... he brought me back to this country, and after a while, I took possession of his body, to supervise him closely as he carried out my orders. But my plan failed. I did not manage to steal the Sorcerer's Stone. I was not to be assured immortal life. I was thwarted . . . thwarted, once again, by Harry Potter. ..."

"And then, not even a year ago, when I had almost abandoned hope, it happened at last... a servant returned to me. Wormtail here, who had faked his own death to escape justice, was driven out of hiding by those he had once counted friends, and decided to return to his master. He sought me in the country where it had long been rumored I was hiding . . . helped, of course, by the rats he met along the way. Wormtail has a curious affinity with rats, do you not, Wormtail? His filthy little friends told him there was a place, deep in an Albanian forest, that they avoided, where small animals like themselves had met their deaths by a dark shadow that possessed them. . . .

"But his journey back to me was not smooth, was it, Wormtail? For, hungry one night, on the edge of the very forest where he had hoped to find me, he foolishly stopped at an inn for some food . . . and who should he meet there, but one Bertha Jorkins, a witch from the Ministry of Magic.

"Now see the way that fate favors Lord Voldemort. This might have been the end of Wormtail, and of my last hope for regeneration. But Wormtail - displaying a presence of mind I would never have expected from him - convinced Bertha Jorkins to accompany him on a nighttime stroll. He overpowered her ... he brought her to me. And Bertha Jorkins, who might have ruined all, proved instead to be a gift beyond my wildest dreams ... for - with a little persuasion - she became a veritable mine of information.

"She told me that the Triwizard Tournament would be played at Hogwarts this year. She told me that she knew of a faithful Death Eater who would be only too willing to help me, if I could only contact him. She told me many things . . . but the means I used to break the Memory Charm upon her were powerful, and when I had extracted all useful information from her, her mind and body were both damaged beyond repair. She had now served her purpose. I could not possess her. I disposed of her."

"Wormtail's body, of course, was ill adapted for possession, as all assumed him dead, and would attract far too much attention if noticed. However, he was the able-bodied servant I needed, and, poor wizard though he is, Wormtail was able to follow the instructions I gave him, which would return me to a rudimentary, weak body of my own, a body I would be able to inhabit while awaiting the essential ingredients for true rebirth ... a spell or two of my own invention ... a little help from my dear Nagini," Voldemorts red eyes fell upon the continually circling snake, "a potion concocted from unicorn blood, and the snake venom Nagini provided ... I was soon returned to an almost human form, and strong enough to travel.
"There was no hope of stealing the Sorcerer's Stone anymore, for I knew that Dumbledore would have seen to it that it was destroyed. But I was willing to embrace mortal life again, before chasing immortality. I set my sights lower ... I would settle for my old body back again, and my old strength.
"I knew that to achieve this - it is an old piece of Dark Magic, the potion that revived me tonight - I would need three powerful ingredients. Well, one of them was already at hand, was it not, Wormtail? Flesh given by a servant. . . .
"My father's bone, naturally, meant that we would have to come here, where he was buried. But the blood of a foe ... Wormtail would have had me use any wizard, would you not, Wormtail? Any wizard who had hated me ... as so many of them still do. But I knew the one I must use, if I was to rise again, more powerful than I had been when I had fallen. I wanted Harry Potter's blood. I wanted the blood of the one who had stripped me of power thirteen years ago . . . for the lingering protection his mother once gave him would then reside in my veins too. . . .
"But how to get at Harry Potter? For he has been better protected than I think even he knows, protected in ways devised by Dumbledore long ago, when it fell to him to arrange the boy's future. Dumbledore invoked an ancient magic, to ensure the boy's protection as long as he is in his relations' care. Not even I can touch him there. . . . Then, of course, there was the Quidditch World Cup. ... I thought his protection might be weaker there, away from his relations and Dumbledore, but I was not yet strong enough to attempt kidnap in the midst of a horde of Ministry wizards. And then, the boy would return to Hogwarts, where he is under the crooked nose of that Muggle-loving fool from morning until night. So how could I take him?
"Why ... by using Bertha Jorkins's information, of course. Use my one faithful Death Eater, stationed at Hogwarts, to ensure that the boy's name was entered into the Goblet of Fire. Use my Death Eater to ensure that the boy won the tournament - that he touched the Triwizard Cup first - the cup which my Death Eater had turned into a Portkey, which would bring him here, beyond the reach of Dumbledore's help and protection, and into my waiting arms. And here he is ... the boy you all believed had been my downfall. ..."

Voldemort raised his wand and pointed it at Harry. Hermione's knees went weak, she knew what was going to happen, and she tried to will Voldemort to drop his wand.

"Crucio!"

Hermione gave a little scream as she saw Harry twist and writhe in agony against the bonds which were holding him back, he seemed to be trying to scream with pain through the gag.

Suddenly Voldemort removed his wand and Harry stopped twisting and he lay back against the grave stone, his bangs sodden with sweat.

"You see, I think, how foolish it was to suppose that this boy could ever have been stronger than me," said Voldemort. "But I want there to be no mistake in anybody's mind. Harry Potter escaped me by a lucky chance. And I am now going to prove my power by killing him, here and now, in front of you all, when there is no Dumbledore to help him, and no mother to die for him. I will give him his chance. He will be allowed to fight, and you will be left in no doubt which of us is the stronger. Just a little longer, Nagini,"

The snake moved aside towards the Death Eaters.

"Now untie him, Wormtail, and give him back his wand."

Ron drew in his breath as Wormtail untied Harry, who staggered to his feet. He seemed as if he were going to run for it, but the Death Eaters closed around him.

You have been taught how to duel. Harry Potter?"

Ron snorted in derision as he remembered Lockhart's duelling club, three years ago.

"We bow to each other. Harry," said Voldemort, bending a little, but keeping his snakelike face upturned to Harry. "Come, the niceties must be observed. . . . Dumbledore would like you to show manners. . . . Bow to death, Harry. ..."

"Don't do it Harry!' yelled Ron, but of course Harry couldn't hear him.

"I said, bow," ordered Voldemort and Harry bowed.

"Very good," said Voldemort softly,

"And now you face me, like a man . . . straight-backed and proud, the way your father died. . . .
"And now - we duel."

Before Harry could raise his wand he was hit by the Cruciatus curse, and this time Harry fell to his knees and screamed, a scream which curdled Ron and Hermione's blood. The Death Eaters around them were laughing.

"A little break," said Voldemort

"A little pause . . . That hurt didn't it. Harry? You don't want me to do that again, do you?"

"You bastard!" roared Ron, his usually pleasant face screwed up in anger. But it was of no use.

"I asked you whether you want me to do that again," said Voldemort softly. "Answer me! Imperio!"

A dreamy look overcame Harry's face, but he seemed to be debating with himself.

"I WON'T!" the words burst from Harry's mouth.

"Good on yer mate!" cheered Ron, "Go on! Show the bastard what you're made of!"

"You won't?" said Voldemort venomously.

"You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a virtue I need to teach you before you die. . . . Perhaps another little dose of pain?"

"No, not again" breathed Ron, "He won't be able to stand another dose of that!"

Hermione gripped Ron's hand as they waited for Harry to answer. Voldemort muttered a curse but Harry, with reflexes born out of strenuous Quidditch training dived behind a gravestone.

"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry," said Voldemort's soft, cold voice

"You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean that you would prefer me to finish it now, Harry? Come out, Harry . . . come out and play, then ... it will be quick ... it might even be painless ... I would not know... I have never died. . . ."


Hermione saw Harry's face twist in despair which turned into determination.

He leapt to his feet and cried "Expelliarmus!" and at that same instant Voldemort cried "Avada Kedavra!"

The jets of green and red light met in midair, and then it happened…

Ron let out a breath of amazement as they saw Harry's wand vibrate with energy, a deep gold light was in place of the red and green lights, and it connected the two wands together.

Voldemort and Harry were raised in the air and they floated away and landed in a grave free clearing.

The golden thread connecting Harry and Voldemort splintered; though the wands remained connected, a thousand more beams arced high over Harry and Voldemort, crisscrossing all around them, until they were enclosed in a golden, dome-shaped web, a cage of light

"Do nothing!" Voldemort shrieked to the Death Eaters, his red eyes were wide in astonishment.

"Do nothing unless I command you!" shouted Voldemort again.

Then they heard it, the most beautiful song they had heard, Phoenix song, the song of life and hope….

They watched in awe as Harry forced the beam of light into Voldemort's wand.

The wand began screaming, and shuddering with pain, a smoky hand flew out of it and then they saw something that would remain with them for the end of their lives.

The ghost of Cedric Diggory was climbing out of Voldemort's wand.

Cedric looked over the beams of light and said, "Hold on. Harry,"

More screams of pain from the wand . . . and then something else emerged from its tip. An old man neither of them had seen before climbed out and looked at Harry.

"He was a real wizard then? Killed me that one did. . . . You fight him, boy. . . ."

This time a woman who they didn't recognize climbed out of the wand.
Don't let go, now!" She cried "Don't let him get you, Harry - don't let go!"

"Oh no" moaned Hermione, "I know what's going to come…."

Ron didn't reply, he was too engrossed in what was happening…

This time a man climbed out, he had spectacles and black messy hair that was exactly like Harry's….

"Your mother's coming . . ." he said quietly. "She wants to see you ... it will be all right... Hold on. . . ."

Then a woman climbed out and walked towards Harry. They recognized her, it was Lily Potter.

"When the connection is broken, we will linger for only moments . . . but we will give you time. . . you must get to the Portkey, it will return you to Hogwarts ... do you understand, Harry?"

"Yes,"

"Harry . . ." whispered the figure of Cedric, "take my body back, will you? Take my body back to my parents ..."

"I will,"

"Do it now," whispered his father's voice, "be ready to run . . . do it now. ..."

"NOW!" roared Harry and he jerked his wand away , the golden light disappeared and the phoenix song stopped, and he bolted. He zigzagged around the grave stones and ducked the Death Eater's curses.

"Stun him!" screamed Voldemort.

Ron and Hermione sprinted after him, they saw him running like the wind towards Cedric's body.
"Impedimenta!" yelled Harry pointing his wand at the neared Death Eater.

Harry grabbed Cedric's arm and dragged him to the cup, but he was making slow progress.

"He's not going to make it…he's not going to make it" muttered Ron as they anxiously watched Harry drag the body to the cup.

"Stand aside! I will kill him! He is mine!" shrieked Voldemort.

"Accio!" the cup flew into Harry's hand and Voldemort let out a howl of rage.

There was a swirling of colours as Harry disappeared. Suddenly they found themselves in Dumbeldore's office.

Standing in front of them was a pale faced but perfectly composed Harry Potter.

"Oh Harry!" wailed Hermione as she hugged him tightly. The sound of muffled sobs came from her.

"Gods, Harry. Why didn't you tell us mate? We could've helped you" said Ron sorrowfully.

Harry didn't reply and instead spoke to Dumbeldore, "So they saw everything?"

Dumbeldore nodded.

"I'm glad. It was better this way, I mean words can't express how it was back in there" said Harry shortly.

Dumbeldore nodded again, "You had better go now. I am sure there is much you want to discuss"

Harry nodded and led Hermione away with Ron following them.

When they were outside Hermione rounded on him.

"Now you are going to stick with us, and we are going to take care of you is that understood?" she demanded with her hands on her hips. She was an uncanny resemblance of Professor McGonagall.

"I can take care of myself" shot back Harry thoroughly outraged. "I've faced Voldemort more times than anyone else and I've come out fine".

"That was pure luck" retorted Hermione. "Nothing but luck, and frankly if you don't take care you are going to run out of luck one day."

"Thank you for having so much confidence in me" replied Harry sarcastically.

There was a pause and then Ron began to laugh, slowly at first but then loudly. Harry glared at him, the ends of his mouth were twitching, "it's not funny" he growled irritably.

Ron didn't answer he still continued to laugh, and gradually Hermione and Harry joined in with him.

"Stop it" wheezed Harry trying to remain serious. "It was a bad joke, Ron. It even wasn't meant to be a joke" he complained.

Suddenly Hermione stopped laughing and looked at him seriously.

"Harry Potter" she said gripping his shoulders, "I want you to promise me that you will never keep anything from us ever again, do you promise us that?"

Harry stopped laughing and he slowly nodded and placed his hand over his heart.

"I promise" he said quietly and with great feeling.
***************
[A/N- Next up, the Halloween Ball! We find out who Harry's date is going to be and we see Hermione finally tell Ron of her feelings for Harry! How does Ron react to this? Do fists and curse fly about the Gryffindor common room? Find out in the next chapter! Due in one to two weeks from now! (Or if I've finished it when I post it then immediately)]