Chapter 14

The other schools arrived in late October and the names were taken from the cup. The usual fuss occurred over Harry's name, as well as the usual press from Rita Skeeter. Thankfully this time Ron had believed him when he said he didn't put his name in. The Yule ball was announced and the two went to find dates. In the end, just as before, they took Parvati and Padma.

All too soon the tournament began. Hagrid showed Harry the dragon, and Harry told Cedric. The first round was played and the eggs were won. The fake Mad-eye had given Harry hints about using his wand to summon his broom. And Remus, Sirius and Julian had banded together to buy him the firebolt before he left home.

In the calm between the first and second task Harry was able to pick up a large bag of Remus' favourite chocolates for the man's birthday. He sent it and a crystal wolf from Julian off with Hedwig along with a letter updating Remus and Sirius on his progress.

Cedric caught up with Harry and gave him the hint about the egg. He decided to take a bath for the sake of it. Making sure Myrtle was nowhere near, he slipped into the water and let the egg open. The merfolk had lovely singing voices. But he felt it came nowhere near to the lullaby Julian had recorded onto the music box. His dad had a beautiful voice. He asked Dobby to get him some gillyweed, after another hint by fake Mad-eye. Round two began and he dived into the lake in search of his best friend. Harry had wanted to make sure Ron was the one chosen for the second round. Not that he wanted his friend in danger, far from it. But if it wasn't Ron then it would have been Julian, which would have been a giveaway.

The final round was upon them. Harry caught Julian's eye and gave him a brief smile before heading into the maze. As he made his way through Harry thought on everything he'd learned and seen. He was willing to trust and believe in Dumbledore. The man had the potential to be a symbol of good for the whole magical world, and he threw it back in their face. Power can do a lot of damage in the wrong hands.

Fleur and Viktor were out and Harry and Cedric were racing towards the finish. Harry caught the spider before it could get to Cedric, leaving the older boy frozen by its body.

'Are you ok?' Harry asked.

'Yeah… Thanks. That's twice you've helped me out' Cedric replied.

'Don't worry about it. You helped me as well.'

They stood by the cup. Harry could see Cedric was thinking over the situation, glancing to the cup and back at him.

Cedric. I was never supposed to be in the tournament. And I don't care about winning. I want you to win. But… Cedric there's something wrong with the cup. It's supposed to take the winner to the entrance. But it goes somewhere else.'

'What do you mean?' Cedric asked.

Harry checked around with his magic for anyone listening in.

'You're not going to believe me. But what I'm about to say is true. I've come back in time. I already know what's going to happen. We both take that cup and get transported to a graveyard. Voldemort is there waiting for me. Cedric you get killed because you shouldn't have taken the cup. I want you to win this tournament more than anything. But I don't want you to get killed.'

Cedric was silent, his face pale.

'You're serious!?'

'Very serious. Look, if I touch this cup alone, I have a chance of destroying Voldemort before anyone else can be killed. That's why I came back in time. You'd be the first one to fall in his rise. Please Cedric you must believe me. The prize money, I don't want it. You can have it. If you don't believe me then speak to Professor Heartright. He knows everything. Please. Let me take the cup, and send out sparks to get yourself out the maze' Harry pleaded.

'Harry… You're really going to fight you-know-who?! I can't just leave you alone! The money's not important. Let me help' Cedric argued.

Harry shook his head. Then he smiled slightly.

'A compromise. You leave the maze, and when I come back we'll split the money. I know what I'm doing. I've planned this for a long time. Voldemort won't know what hit him.'

Cedric sighed, shaking his head with a small smile.

'Never mind the money. You promise me you'll come back alive, and I'll leave.'

'I promise. I swear on my magic. And when I get back, if you haven't spoken to Julian, then I'll tell you everything. Don't say anything to anyone else' Harry replied, holding out his hand.

They shook and Cedric stood back. Harry took a breath and turned to the cup. Time to stop the lesser of two evils. He grabbed it, and vanished.

He stunned Pettigrew before the man had a chance to attack. The bundle that was Voldemort was left as it had no power of its own, and Harry set off to find Nagini. It didn't take long, and Professor Snape's sectumsempra spell cut her down. To make sure, Harry brought the basilisk fang from his pocket and ran it through her. Only one horcruxe left. Harry headed back to Pettigrew and released the man wandlessly, acting like he had ran in panic. Pettigrew recovered and, ordered angrily by Voldemort, quickly shot the binding spell. Harry was pushed to the gravestone and held in place. He acted the part as Pettigrew then completed the spell. Voldemort rose from the liquid and was presented with robes and his wand. He called his deatheaters, then turned to Harry. He said his piece while the deatheaters answered his call, then addressed them and created Pettigrew a new hand. In all his rambling he hadn't noticed Nagini's missing presence. And then came the words Harry was waiting for.

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

More words were spoken, and the duel began. He dodged from the first spells and shot a few back, to make Voldemort think he was attempting to fight. In his mind he was thinking about his family. About how they would be safe. About how Julian would tell everyone the truth. About how happy his dad looked when he realised his son was alive. Harry had promised himself he would complete the plan. And the plan called for him to die. He was ready.

'Avada Kedavra!'