Disclaimer: Much as I'd like to, I don't own Draco Malfoy, or any part of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has all the copyrights to ... please don't sue me. There are some parts of this story that are quotes from the book - it can't be helped - events are the same as in the book, but Draco's opinion of these events may vary from Harry's.
Author's Notes: The Second Task is finally here ... sheesh, took me long enough. -_- and for the record, I named this chapter BEFORE I wrote the Star Wars fanfic.
LMTran: Glad you liked it.
Starre: While I was in hospital last month, I saw a few episodes of Teen Titans - I don't have that channel at home, though. They're kinda cool... and to answer your question I couldn't answer last chapter: yes, the shadow shield looks a lot like Raven's, but I think it's created in a different way - I'm not entirely sure. I'm not a comic-book person, though, nor am I a Batman fan.
Exodia Himself: I do believe JKR reads fanfics, but I also believe she does not alter her story based on fanfics. If she does, I think she does it to spite fanfics, rather than to compliment them.
Sinical-Sarchasm: I love Theo, too ^_^; but then, I am writing he and Draco as my dream guys, so... -_-;
Simply Myself: ^_^ glad you liked... I haven't decided where the Skeeter plot-bunnies lead yet... but your suggestion is duly noted. As for Harry's interview in OotP, you'll just have to wait and see.
duochang97: Glad you liked it. There is mention of Fudge in the Quibbler, which was the inspiration for that little bit of gossip. ^_^ I thought that youthful looks potion would get a few laughs.
kraeg001: ^_^ I was proud of "Krapperoff" *bows* glad you approve. I don't have the time to read anything much... I'm even behind on reading Slytherin Rising (the best ever Slyth-fic, in my opinion) recently.
Elizabeth: Thank you.
Bob: Sorry it took so long. It's because I was writing another fic at the same time. Harry Potter is not the only fandom I write in anymore.
Devi: The reference is to the fact that Akuma-sama invented the talking book "The Dark Arts Lexicon"... the text articles (and probably my version of the book's personality) were all mine, though - it was just the concept I swiped. As for Moody, he's not meant to be likable :P
Lolua: ^_^; are you sure you're not a Seer?
dstrbd child: Sorry it took so long.
dragonsprincess: *grins* glad you liked it. And yes, Draco is officially scared of Moody again. Sorry it took so long.
A Slytherin-Pureblood: Thank you, that wake-up call was just what I needed. Though you should know better than to try to threaten a Dark Lord (whichever fandom you're looking at, I'm a Dark Lord in every one I write in - mwahahahaaa!) I had no intention of quitting this fic, I just needed some time to get that Star Wars fic out of my brain so it wouldn't distract me from this.
"Do what you have to do ... but you are not authorised to get yourself killed in the process." -Andromeda
Chapter 25 - Something Fishy's Going On
"Petty theft." Theo announced, one evening.
"What?" I asked, completely confused.
"You're a kleptomaniac - got any advice on stealing things without getting caught?" Theo continued.
I snorted, "I refuse to dignify that question with a response until you give me a damned good reason."
"I wanna annoy Moody. Wanna steal some things from him without him knowing it's me. Probably sell them to Gryffindors, for a good price, and get them in trouble." Theo explained.
"Oh, that's a good reason." I said, slightly surprised that he actually had come up with such a logical plan, "Well, best advice is take small things. Make sure you're either alone or only accompanied by people you trust or you know don't give a damn. And NEVER start sniggering when the person asks you if you've seen it."
"Ok ... thanks." Theo said, and he turned and walked out of the room. That boy really does scare me sometimes.
* * *
Theo appeared the next afternoon, about an hour after classes finished, holding a small bag. "Potion ingredients."
"What?" I asked, yet again completely confused.
"First haul in the petty theft plot." Theo explained, "Lookie." and he opened the bag to show me some pretty foul-smelling potion ingredients.
"What the -?" I asked.
"I nicked them from Moody." Theo said, grinning.
"Why?"
"Because, I figure potion ingredients are something he probably needs for his bi-polar disorder. I mean, he doesn't trust anyone to sneeze within ten feet of him in case they're trying to infect him with a fatal disease, so I doubt he'd let Snape make his potions. He's definitely not mentally stable, so he must need medication. This could even get him thrown out on his ear!" Theo said, sounding hopeful.
"We can hope." I noted, smirking faintly, "So what ingredients are they? Maybe we can figure out what potion he's been using."
"Hmmmm ..." Theo started rooting through the foul-smelling contents of the bag, "We've got ... lacewings. A jar of leeches - yuck." although he only looked mildly disgusted, "Fluxweed. Knotgrass. What's this?" he asked, holding up another jar containing powdered something-or-other.
I took the jar and looked at it closely, "It's some sort of powder - probably something's horn. Definitely not unicorn or any sort of ivory, but those are the only ones I've ever seen in potions ingredients, so I don't know what this one is."
"Well, what else has horns?" Theo asked.
I shrugged, "Dragons? No - no breed of dragon has horns that colour."
"Bicorn?"
"Never seen one of those."
"There's a picture of one in the Monster Book of Monsters. It looks like this could be it - process of elimination, I mean can you think of anything else with horns?"
"Not really."
"Ok, next - and last - item." he said, holding up a package of what looked like some sort of skin, "I'm not good on ingredients, but I do know this is Dark Arts stuff - only Dark-magicy potions use skin of anything."
"Yeah, that's true enough. No simple medication would do that, either." I added.
"Hmmm ..." Theo pondered for a second, turning the packet over, "Hey, it's labelled! Boomslang skin."
I thought for a moment, "No clue what that lot makes."
"Me neither."
"We should figure that one out." I said, handing the jar of powder back to Theo, "And you - if you're selling that lot, do it in Knockturn Alley, like a sensible person. No sane kid in the school's gonna want Dark Arts potions ingredients like that, and you're not going to give them to Snape, either - he'd ask too many questions."
"True, true." Theo said, nodding. He then closed the bag, and went away again. There's another piece of the puzzle to work out. Just when you think you can't get any more confused about the situation, Theo finds a way.
* * *
Filch was mad as hell the next morning. Snape also seemed more pissed off with Gryffindor house in general than usual. Moody seemed smug, too. Something must have happened.
When I asked Filch what was wrong, and if he needed a spy to help him get anyone expelled, he told me it was Peeves, and Dumbledore wouldn't let the poltergeist get expelled, unfortunately. I asked what Dumbledore would think of a student 'accidentally' banishing or exorcising him, his answer was, "In my dreams. But that stuff's beyond even Snape, otherwise it'd have been done by now."
"Damn." I muttered, and walked away. I think my offer to help expel other students, and my loathing of Peeves may well have made Filch not hate me quite as much as he did ... but I am a student, so I'm sure he'd still be glad to see me expelled, either way.
When I asked Snape what was wrong, he said, "Someone - most likely Potter - has been raiding my potions ingredients stores, last night."
"Sure it's Potter?" I asked.
"Fairly certain." Snape replied.
"What went missing, maybe I could help you catch him?" I suggested.
"Boomslang skin. That's it."
"Why would Potter want something like that?" I asked, "Isn't that a Dark Arts ingredient?"
"I have reason to believe he - or one of his friends - stole that same ingredients two years ago." Snape said.
"I'll see if I can find evidence for you." I said, more than a little confused by that.
I daren't ask Moody why he's so smug, but I do know it can't be good for me, either way.
* * *
For the second task, we crowded into stands around the lake, and a spell was cast to make the water crystal clear so we could see the bottom in spite of the darker water through which you could usually only see a few feet into it.
The four champions were - apparently - supposed to retrieve something from the bottom of the lake. Looking into the water, with Omnioculars (which Cat had brought, and charged us a Galleon apiece to borrow), none of us could make out the identity of what apparently were four hostages in the Merpeople village.
Potter appeared at the last minute, looking like he'd slept in those clothes, and hadn't quite woken up yet.
"So, how do you reckon they're gonna go that deep underwater and still breathe?" Blaise asked, curiously.
"Transfigure themselves some gills?" I suggested - it was the only idea I could think of.
"Bubble-head charm." Cat said simply, as if this was fact.
"Sounds most likely." Blaise said, clearly referring to Cat's prediction.
Sure enough, Diggory and Delacour both used the Bubble-head charm. Krum, on the other hand, dived straight into the water, and while underwater cast a partial Transfiguration spell on himself, turning his head into a shark's head. Potter just stood there for a moment, then stumbled into the water, and I had no idea what he did, but he looked like he was turning into a fish-person. "What the hell -?" I asked.
"Gillyweed." Blaise answered - it was her turn with the Omnioculars, so she must have had a closer look at what he'd done, "Horrid stuff. Mom uses it sometimes, when she has to negotiate with the Merpeople near where we live - they've been having problems with local Muggles trying to use the lake for fishing - no amount of disillusionment charms short of making it look like the lake is polluted will keep the Muggles out, and the Merpeople won't let us use those charms."
"Oh." was all I could say.
"What's Gillyweed do?" Pansy asked.
"Gives you gills." Blaise answered, in a tone that seemed to say 'duh'.
Pansy pulled a face, "Yuck."
It was really boring watching the task, though - I mean, I could see where they were trying to go, but they obviously couldn't. "Why can't they see the village?" I asked, "It's not far in front of Diggory's nose."
"The crystal-clear charm only works when you're above the water." Milli answered from behind us.
"How'd you know that?" Pansy asked, craning her neck to see Milli and her Hufflepuff boyfriend sitting behind us.
"We overheard Bagman talking to Dumbledore about it." Milli answered, smiling in faux-innocence.
"You mean you were spying on Bagman again?" Blaise translated.
"Yeah." Milli said, shrugging.
Blaise nodded, smiling faintly, and returned her attention to the lake. "Why'd you not just ask him?" Milli's boyfriend asked her.
"Because this way he doesn't know we know." Milli said, smiling, "That counts as an advantage, however slight."
"Oh." he muttered, and sat back, "Makes sense I guess."
"What's your name, anyway?" I asked, turning to look at the Hufflepuff.
"Why do you care?" he asked defensively.
"Because I'm bored with the task, and these girls -" I indicated the girls sitting to my left and Crabbe and Goyle sitting to my right - all of whom were too preoccupied watching the lake to care that I was talking about them, "- are ignoring me."
The Hufflepuff watched me warily for a few seconds, then said, "My name's Wesley Price. And everyone knows who you are, Draco Malfoy."
I nodded slightly. I'd never heard of that family name, but I didn't say anything about that. "So why are you dating a Slytherin? No offence, Milli, but we do have a bad reputation."
"Because I met her on the train in her first year. She didn't seem evil to me. I didn't talk to her again till this year, when I asked her to the Ball." he answered - Hufflepuffs are terrible liars, so I know he was telling the truth.
"Glad to see someone doesn't think we're all evil." Blaise said, not taking her eyes off the lake - apparently she'd been listening in even though she certainly didn't look like it.
"See, this is why people are scared of you guys." Wesley said, "You can act all innocent, and no one can tell when you're up to something, or listening to their conversations, or whatever else."
"We're always up to something." Blaise said calmly.
"She's right, y'know." Milli said, smiling.
"I figured as much." Wesley said.
"Although, we're rarely up to anything dangerous or illegal." Milli added, in what was supposed to sound like a comforting tone.
"Unless you're talking about Flint, that is." Blaise added.
"Or Montague." Cat noted.
"Or Michael." Blaise continued, referring to her own brother.
"Or Theo." Cat said, smirking faintly. That one was true - he was always up to no good.
"Or ..." Pansy was about to add a name to the list, but hesitated before saying, "Or you-know-who."
Wesley squeaked slightly, "He was a Slytherin?!"
"Yeah, I thought that was common knowledge? I thought that was why everyone was scared of us?" Blaise asked, surprised.
"I thought it was just because everyone thought you guys were evil, not because ... of Him." he shut up then. And the rest of the event was boring.
Even when Potter almost won because of 'moral fibre' - to hell with moral fibre, when did that ever do anyone any good, anyway - I barely bothered to pay attention.
I didn't like watching Potter reach a tie-break with the champion I wanted to win. It was annoying, which is why I didn't pay attention to the details.
* * *
After the task, I walked into the Library to find Theo sitting there, with ten different potions books on the desk, reading through one called, "Potions You Don't Want To Know How To Make, But Do Want To Know If Your Neighbour Is Making Them'. "Where did you find that book?" I asked, sitting next to him.
"Defence section." Theo said, still reading. "It categorises strange smells from nasty potions, ingredients used but not how they're used, and odd side-effects."
"Sounds interesting." I said.
"This is the only reference I could find on the really Dark Arts potions without getting into the Restricted Section." Theo explained. "Ewww - Blood Burning Potion."
I hit Theo, "Shut up and look for something with Boomslang skin in it." I growled, reminding myself to hurt or embarrass Higgs again sometime.
"Right, right. Here's one - Skin-Shedding Potion. Makes you into a ghost for an hour, then you turn back to normal when it wears off. Apparently Boomslang skin only lasts an hour against stomach acid before becoming totally useless."
"Somehow I doubt it's that one ... wait a second - only lasts an hour?" I asked.
"Yeah, why?" Theo said, looking up at me.
"Look up Polyjuice." I said, leaning over his shoulder to look at the book.
"Ok." and he did that. "This is it!" he announced, "It's got all the same ingredients, smells of cabbage - as does his drinking flask thing - and Cat did say he's not really Moody."
"Well, now we know how he's not Moody - we still need to find out who he is, though."
"No idea how to do that." Theo said, shrugging.
"We'll figure out something, right?"
"Right." Theo said nodding, and grinning evilly.
* * *
End of chapter 25
Author's Notes: The Second Task is finally here ... sheesh, took me long enough. -_- and for the record, I named this chapter BEFORE I wrote the Star Wars fanfic.
LMTran: Glad you liked it.
Starre: While I was in hospital last month, I saw a few episodes of Teen Titans - I don't have that channel at home, though. They're kinda cool... and to answer your question I couldn't answer last chapter: yes, the shadow shield looks a lot like Raven's, but I think it's created in a different way - I'm not entirely sure. I'm not a comic-book person, though, nor am I a Batman fan.
Exodia Himself: I do believe JKR reads fanfics, but I also believe she does not alter her story based on fanfics. If she does, I think she does it to spite fanfics, rather than to compliment them.
Sinical-Sarchasm: I love Theo, too ^_^; but then, I am writing he and Draco as my dream guys, so... -_-;
Simply Myself: ^_^ glad you liked... I haven't decided where the Skeeter plot-bunnies lead yet... but your suggestion is duly noted. As for Harry's interview in OotP, you'll just have to wait and see.
duochang97: Glad you liked it. There is mention of Fudge in the Quibbler, which was the inspiration for that little bit of gossip. ^_^ I thought that youthful looks potion would get a few laughs.
kraeg001: ^_^ I was proud of "Krapperoff" *bows* glad you approve. I don't have the time to read anything much... I'm even behind on reading Slytherin Rising (the best ever Slyth-fic, in my opinion) recently.
Elizabeth: Thank you.
Bob: Sorry it took so long. It's because I was writing another fic at the same time. Harry Potter is not the only fandom I write in anymore.
Devi: The reference is to the fact that Akuma-sama invented the talking book "The Dark Arts Lexicon"... the text articles (and probably my version of the book's personality) were all mine, though - it was just the concept I swiped. As for Moody, he's not meant to be likable :P
Lolua: ^_^; are you sure you're not a Seer?
dstrbd child: Sorry it took so long.
dragonsprincess: *grins* glad you liked it. And yes, Draco is officially scared of Moody again. Sorry it took so long.
A Slytherin-Pureblood: Thank you, that wake-up call was just what I needed. Though you should know better than to try to threaten a Dark Lord (whichever fandom you're looking at, I'm a Dark Lord in every one I write in - mwahahahaaa!) I had no intention of quitting this fic, I just needed some time to get that Star Wars fic out of my brain so it wouldn't distract me from this.
"Do what you have to do ... but you are not authorised to get yourself killed in the process." -Andromeda
Chapter 25 - Something Fishy's Going On
"Petty theft." Theo announced, one evening.
"What?" I asked, completely confused.
"You're a kleptomaniac - got any advice on stealing things without getting caught?" Theo continued.
I snorted, "I refuse to dignify that question with a response until you give me a damned good reason."
"I wanna annoy Moody. Wanna steal some things from him without him knowing it's me. Probably sell them to Gryffindors, for a good price, and get them in trouble." Theo explained.
"Oh, that's a good reason." I said, slightly surprised that he actually had come up with such a logical plan, "Well, best advice is take small things. Make sure you're either alone or only accompanied by people you trust or you know don't give a damn. And NEVER start sniggering when the person asks you if you've seen it."
"Ok ... thanks." Theo said, and he turned and walked out of the room. That boy really does scare me sometimes.
* * *
Theo appeared the next afternoon, about an hour after classes finished, holding a small bag. "Potion ingredients."
"What?" I asked, yet again completely confused.
"First haul in the petty theft plot." Theo explained, "Lookie." and he opened the bag to show me some pretty foul-smelling potion ingredients.
"What the -?" I asked.
"I nicked them from Moody." Theo said, grinning.
"Why?"
"Because, I figure potion ingredients are something he probably needs for his bi-polar disorder. I mean, he doesn't trust anyone to sneeze within ten feet of him in case they're trying to infect him with a fatal disease, so I doubt he'd let Snape make his potions. He's definitely not mentally stable, so he must need medication. This could even get him thrown out on his ear!" Theo said, sounding hopeful.
"We can hope." I noted, smirking faintly, "So what ingredients are they? Maybe we can figure out what potion he's been using."
"Hmmmm ..." Theo started rooting through the foul-smelling contents of the bag, "We've got ... lacewings. A jar of leeches - yuck." although he only looked mildly disgusted, "Fluxweed. Knotgrass. What's this?" he asked, holding up another jar containing powdered something-or-other.
I took the jar and looked at it closely, "It's some sort of powder - probably something's horn. Definitely not unicorn or any sort of ivory, but those are the only ones I've ever seen in potions ingredients, so I don't know what this one is."
"Well, what else has horns?" Theo asked.
I shrugged, "Dragons? No - no breed of dragon has horns that colour."
"Bicorn?"
"Never seen one of those."
"There's a picture of one in the Monster Book of Monsters. It looks like this could be it - process of elimination, I mean can you think of anything else with horns?"
"Not really."
"Ok, next - and last - item." he said, holding up a package of what looked like some sort of skin, "I'm not good on ingredients, but I do know this is Dark Arts stuff - only Dark-magicy potions use skin of anything."
"Yeah, that's true enough. No simple medication would do that, either." I added.
"Hmmm ..." Theo pondered for a second, turning the packet over, "Hey, it's labelled! Boomslang skin."
I thought for a moment, "No clue what that lot makes."
"Me neither."
"We should figure that one out." I said, handing the jar of powder back to Theo, "And you - if you're selling that lot, do it in Knockturn Alley, like a sensible person. No sane kid in the school's gonna want Dark Arts potions ingredients like that, and you're not going to give them to Snape, either - he'd ask too many questions."
"True, true." Theo said, nodding. He then closed the bag, and went away again. There's another piece of the puzzle to work out. Just when you think you can't get any more confused about the situation, Theo finds a way.
* * *
Filch was mad as hell the next morning. Snape also seemed more pissed off with Gryffindor house in general than usual. Moody seemed smug, too. Something must have happened.
When I asked Filch what was wrong, and if he needed a spy to help him get anyone expelled, he told me it was Peeves, and Dumbledore wouldn't let the poltergeist get expelled, unfortunately. I asked what Dumbledore would think of a student 'accidentally' banishing or exorcising him, his answer was, "In my dreams. But that stuff's beyond even Snape, otherwise it'd have been done by now."
"Damn." I muttered, and walked away. I think my offer to help expel other students, and my loathing of Peeves may well have made Filch not hate me quite as much as he did ... but I am a student, so I'm sure he'd still be glad to see me expelled, either way.
When I asked Snape what was wrong, he said, "Someone - most likely Potter - has been raiding my potions ingredients stores, last night."
"Sure it's Potter?" I asked.
"Fairly certain." Snape replied.
"What went missing, maybe I could help you catch him?" I suggested.
"Boomslang skin. That's it."
"Why would Potter want something like that?" I asked, "Isn't that a Dark Arts ingredient?"
"I have reason to believe he - or one of his friends - stole that same ingredients two years ago." Snape said.
"I'll see if I can find evidence for you." I said, more than a little confused by that.
I daren't ask Moody why he's so smug, but I do know it can't be good for me, either way.
* * *
For the second task, we crowded into stands around the lake, and a spell was cast to make the water crystal clear so we could see the bottom in spite of the darker water through which you could usually only see a few feet into it.
The four champions were - apparently - supposed to retrieve something from the bottom of the lake. Looking into the water, with Omnioculars (which Cat had brought, and charged us a Galleon apiece to borrow), none of us could make out the identity of what apparently were four hostages in the Merpeople village.
Potter appeared at the last minute, looking like he'd slept in those clothes, and hadn't quite woken up yet.
"So, how do you reckon they're gonna go that deep underwater and still breathe?" Blaise asked, curiously.
"Transfigure themselves some gills?" I suggested - it was the only idea I could think of.
"Bubble-head charm." Cat said simply, as if this was fact.
"Sounds most likely." Blaise said, clearly referring to Cat's prediction.
Sure enough, Diggory and Delacour both used the Bubble-head charm. Krum, on the other hand, dived straight into the water, and while underwater cast a partial Transfiguration spell on himself, turning his head into a shark's head. Potter just stood there for a moment, then stumbled into the water, and I had no idea what he did, but he looked like he was turning into a fish-person. "What the hell -?" I asked.
"Gillyweed." Blaise answered - it was her turn with the Omnioculars, so she must have had a closer look at what he'd done, "Horrid stuff. Mom uses it sometimes, when she has to negotiate with the Merpeople near where we live - they've been having problems with local Muggles trying to use the lake for fishing - no amount of disillusionment charms short of making it look like the lake is polluted will keep the Muggles out, and the Merpeople won't let us use those charms."
"Oh." was all I could say.
"What's Gillyweed do?" Pansy asked.
"Gives you gills." Blaise answered, in a tone that seemed to say 'duh'.
Pansy pulled a face, "Yuck."
It was really boring watching the task, though - I mean, I could see where they were trying to go, but they obviously couldn't. "Why can't they see the village?" I asked, "It's not far in front of Diggory's nose."
"The crystal-clear charm only works when you're above the water." Milli answered from behind us.
"How'd you know that?" Pansy asked, craning her neck to see Milli and her Hufflepuff boyfriend sitting behind us.
"We overheard Bagman talking to Dumbledore about it." Milli answered, smiling in faux-innocence.
"You mean you were spying on Bagman again?" Blaise translated.
"Yeah." Milli said, shrugging.
Blaise nodded, smiling faintly, and returned her attention to the lake. "Why'd you not just ask him?" Milli's boyfriend asked her.
"Because this way he doesn't know we know." Milli said, smiling, "That counts as an advantage, however slight."
"Oh." he muttered, and sat back, "Makes sense I guess."
"What's your name, anyway?" I asked, turning to look at the Hufflepuff.
"Why do you care?" he asked defensively.
"Because I'm bored with the task, and these girls -" I indicated the girls sitting to my left and Crabbe and Goyle sitting to my right - all of whom were too preoccupied watching the lake to care that I was talking about them, "- are ignoring me."
The Hufflepuff watched me warily for a few seconds, then said, "My name's Wesley Price. And everyone knows who you are, Draco Malfoy."
I nodded slightly. I'd never heard of that family name, but I didn't say anything about that. "So why are you dating a Slytherin? No offence, Milli, but we do have a bad reputation."
"Because I met her on the train in her first year. She didn't seem evil to me. I didn't talk to her again till this year, when I asked her to the Ball." he answered - Hufflepuffs are terrible liars, so I know he was telling the truth.
"Glad to see someone doesn't think we're all evil." Blaise said, not taking her eyes off the lake - apparently she'd been listening in even though she certainly didn't look like it.
"See, this is why people are scared of you guys." Wesley said, "You can act all innocent, and no one can tell when you're up to something, or listening to their conversations, or whatever else."
"We're always up to something." Blaise said calmly.
"She's right, y'know." Milli said, smiling.
"I figured as much." Wesley said.
"Although, we're rarely up to anything dangerous or illegal." Milli added, in what was supposed to sound like a comforting tone.
"Unless you're talking about Flint, that is." Blaise added.
"Or Montague." Cat noted.
"Or Michael." Blaise continued, referring to her own brother.
"Or Theo." Cat said, smirking faintly. That one was true - he was always up to no good.
"Or ..." Pansy was about to add a name to the list, but hesitated before saying, "Or you-know-who."
Wesley squeaked slightly, "He was a Slytherin?!"
"Yeah, I thought that was common knowledge? I thought that was why everyone was scared of us?" Blaise asked, surprised.
"I thought it was just because everyone thought you guys were evil, not because ... of Him." he shut up then. And the rest of the event was boring.
Even when Potter almost won because of 'moral fibre' - to hell with moral fibre, when did that ever do anyone any good, anyway - I barely bothered to pay attention.
I didn't like watching Potter reach a tie-break with the champion I wanted to win. It was annoying, which is why I didn't pay attention to the details.
* * *
After the task, I walked into the Library to find Theo sitting there, with ten different potions books on the desk, reading through one called, "Potions You Don't Want To Know How To Make, But Do Want To Know If Your Neighbour Is Making Them'. "Where did you find that book?" I asked, sitting next to him.
"Defence section." Theo said, still reading. "It categorises strange smells from nasty potions, ingredients used but not how they're used, and odd side-effects."
"Sounds interesting." I said.
"This is the only reference I could find on the really Dark Arts potions without getting into the Restricted Section." Theo explained. "Ewww - Blood Burning Potion."
I hit Theo, "Shut up and look for something with Boomslang skin in it." I growled, reminding myself to hurt or embarrass Higgs again sometime.
"Right, right. Here's one - Skin-Shedding Potion. Makes you into a ghost for an hour, then you turn back to normal when it wears off. Apparently Boomslang skin only lasts an hour against stomach acid before becoming totally useless."
"Somehow I doubt it's that one ... wait a second - only lasts an hour?" I asked.
"Yeah, why?" Theo said, looking up at me.
"Look up Polyjuice." I said, leaning over his shoulder to look at the book.
"Ok." and he did that. "This is it!" he announced, "It's got all the same ingredients, smells of cabbage - as does his drinking flask thing - and Cat did say he's not really Moody."
"Well, now we know how he's not Moody - we still need to find out who he is, though."
"No idea how to do that." Theo said, shrugging.
"We'll figure out something, right?"
"Right." Theo said nodding, and grinning evilly.
* * *
End of chapter 25