I struggled wildly, flailing my paws, but my strength was nothing as a cat. I was picked up easily, and my claws could do nothing. As soon as I off the ground, I felt myself be immobilized.

There was nothing I could do. My heart was pounding wildly. After all, I had just been captured by an invisible Death Eater. Who the hell was it?

I felt myself be pulled under a thin sheet of material.

What was that? As soon as I was under it, I knew. Warped colours swirled around me – there was only one thing that warped the colours slightly. Of course, from the outside, one couldn't tell. It was an invisibility cloak. I would have flinched if I could have when I saw Barty Crouch Jr's face looking down at me.

The years had not been friendly to him. His face was much gaunter and darker, though I could still recognize him. His hair was much longer, and he was grinning manically.

"I watched you, cat," he hissed. "I don't know what you told the Mudblood, but you certainly told her something. You aren't a normal cat, are you?"

I shuddered in his grasp, trying to break the spells on me. He twisted me around to look at my face. That worried me. My eyes are the same in my Animagus as they are when I am myself. It was a long shot that he'd recognize them, but it scared me nonetheless.

"You're too smart…" he breathed into my ear. I shivered again. "Part Kneazle?" He looked closely again.

"Part ugly, for sure."

Yeah. That was necessary, but honestly, that was currently the least of my worries.

Okay, logic.

I'm stuck under an invisibility cloak, with a Death Eater, immobilized, and no one knows where I am.

Those aren't good odds, but I could deal with that. I've certainly made it out of tough spots before.

All I needed to do was to stay calm and think.

"You're eyes…" he whispered, his hot breath striking the sensitive fur on my ears. "You look like Black… but Black's a dog – I'm sure of that."

I shuddered again. Crouch Jr. was too close to the truth. My eyes were like Sirius's, just not as dull or haunted.

I didn't go through Azkaban. Blood was pounding in my ears. If Crouch recognized me or took me to someone who could recognize me, then I was dead.

Immediately.

There was no escape if that happened.

Oh.

Maybe that's what Hermione meant by playing the hero.

"You can understand me," he growled. "I know it. But what does that mean?"

Behind me, I heard yelling and cheering, including Harry's distinct voice.

"He's seen the Snitch! He's seen it! Look at him go!"

Harry's voice quickly faded out by even louder cheering.

"IRELAND WINS!" Bagman screamed. Crouch Jr. was silent, watching out of the cloak for a moment. Then he chuckled.

"That's my cue. And I think you're going to come with you. Rather be wrong about this and just kill a normal cat as opposed to being wrong and letting you free."

To my horror, I watched as Crouch Jr. leaned forward, extending an arm carefully out of the cloak, unnoticed in the insane mix of boos and cheers.

He grabbed Harry's wand, slipping it out of his pocket with nimble fingers. I couldn't conceal the horror in my eyes.

Crouch Jr. chuckled loudly.

"That's right, kitty. I'm armed, and it's time for the fun to begin." Crouch Jr. had a gleam in his eyes. I didn't like it.

It was cold and cruel and insane.

There was nothing I could do to stop him.

There was nothing I could do to save myself.

I was at his mercy, and that was a terrifying place to be in.

Even if he didn't recognize me, someone would, and that would be the end of me.

Betrayal.

A horrific crime to Death Eaters. Well, not really.

Betraying the Dark Lord would be a better way to say it.

After all, betraying each other was encouraged.

Voldemort couldn't have an uprising on his hands, could he?

"I've woke up, kitty. And it's time for me to do something worthwhile. Tonight. Tonight, I'm – we're – going to cause a little mayhem. For the Dark Lord, of course. Because, guess what, kitty, he's not dead, and he will never die. He's here for always. I can see that now.

"I can scream that now! But not yet. Not when my dear father is so close. It's time to meet Malfoy, kitty."

Carefully, Crouch stood. His eyes, so dark in his pale face, seemed fixated on the House-Elf next to him.

The House-Elf had its big head help in its tiny hands. She looked terrified and lost in her own little world.

Crouch Jr. walked away, silent, invisible. I was wrapped tightly in his arms. However, I could feel myself be able to move slightly. It wasn't much, and I felt like a turtle swimming through peanut butter, but it was getting better.

That's what I needed.

Crouch Jr. walked for a while, passing the empty tents and wide fields.

They would be crowded later, full of people and mayhem when the Death Eaters emerged.

Eventually, Crouch Jr. made it to a secluded spot. There was a single figure standing still and silent in the dark corner.

It was Malfoy. He did not bother to hide himself in the slightest. After all, everyone was at the game.

There was no reason to hide himself.

"Malfoy," Crouch Jr. drawled.

"Crouch," Malfoy growled back. "Show yourself. Or can you not break your Daddy's little spell?"

Crouch Jr. growled, and I felt him clutch my body tighter with anger. A bit of breath left me in a gasp as he pressed on my ribcage, digging his fingers into my coat.

He dropped the cloak, allowing it to fall to the ground. It became visible as it fell, and I could see the brown-black material pool around his feet.

"A… cat, Crouch?" Malfoy asked.

"It knows something," he growled. "This isn't a normal cat – the Mudblood had it – the one that is always with Potter. It told her something."

"You're insane, Crouch. Azkaban does that but try to act somewhat sane. We shouldn't have to deal with stupidity and insanity at the same time."

"This isn't stupid, Malfoy." Crouch Jr. dropped me, and I let out a quiet yowl as I fell to the ground, crumpling into a half-stiff heap. I was able to whip my head to the side, avoiding hitting it off the ground.

"Let the cat go, Crouch. Then we might actually get something done."

"Its eyes look like Black's," Crouch protested, seeming a bit unsure of himself. I couldn't believe my luck.

Of all the people to save me, it was Malfoy, albeit unintentionally.

"Now I know you're seeing things, Crouch. Black's Animagus in a dog."

"But Pettigrew mentioned something about a –"

"Pettigrew was babbling nonsense. You'll get used to it if you work with him. He was trying to make it seem like he defeated some great wizard while he was there.

"We all know he just ran away."

Again, I was so lucky. When I was young, I hated how everyone seemed to forget about me when my brother was around.

Now, as I stared at the two Death Eaters, both able to kill me with two words and an intent, I was glad that they didn't know the difference between my brother and I.

Or at least, the real difference.

They thought I was dead still.

Instead, of course, I was alive, and I was going to stay that way through Malfoy's error.

"I'll just kill it anyway," Crouch said, pulling out Harry's wand. He pointed it in my direction, and I froze.

After all of that, they were just going to kill me anyway.

Poof. Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to kill you. I was just killing this random cat because it was bothering me. If I would have known it was you, then I would have tortured you first!

"No!" Malfoy roared, a little louder than I thought he'd dared to be. "You have Potter's wand. If you cast an Unforgivable; they'll know something's happening. Let it go."

Reluctantly, Crouch dropped his arm and put Harry's wand in his pocket. Then he stood and walked away, stiff-backed and angry, making Malfoy follow him like a dog.

That was probably his intention, and Malfoy looked furious about it.

I swallowed hard. That was too close.

I had to warn the others.

But now, I had a problem.

A… dilemma.

Should I listen in on Malfoy and Crouch Jr.? After all, if I was caught again, then I was dead for sure.

If I didn't, then other people were most likely dead.

Hermione told me to not play the hero, but I'm not sure if I would be able to just leave.

I was a fool; I knew that.

And I was going to make another stupid decision.

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Hey, guys! I know it's been a long time, but I'm getting my ass in gear now!

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