Chapter 35
Final Conclusions, Final Acts

Hermione's POV

I just know something happened a few days ago when Harry and Alicia went on a walk through the Entrance Courtyard, the one place Harry always goes to when he wants to think as Galleth and Tennessee are now constantly around him – at least during the times he isn't in classes or around either Sirius or Sly.
The Hufflepuffs also now only have one Seventh year in their ranks, but none of them seem to understand why Cedric refuges to acknowledge this or why he pretends that he has always been the only one of his year to be Sorted in Hufflepuff. The only thing I do know is that the actions are done out of anger, but this gets me nowhere.
To make matters worse has Sirius taken me, Fred, George and Neville aside the first time we started noticing these things and has he pressed it onto us that we shouldn't ask Harry about it as it is a similar event to the whole letting thing of almost a month ago and that is something none of us want Harry to re-experience.

Ron isn't doing all that great either as the boy seems to think that – with Harry no longer staying in the boys dorm – he has full say over how things go there, especially who gets to shower when. Luckily enough does it seem as if Harry getting a confidence boost from his Family has also given Neville one as he takes Ron down nice and fast.
Ron also still tries to get in contact with me, mostly because – as he told me the first time – he's still trying to get Harry to see sense and he wants to get Harry so far he will convince Sirius to drop the Restriction oath, but I personally feel blessed that I have Neville, Fred and George to keep the thick-headed idiot away from me.

Still there is one other thing that worries me and that is the looks Harry tries to hide whenever Professor Moody is anywhere near any of us. The scarred, limping man might seem unaware of the suspicious way Harry watches his every move during class, but I don't really think that the ex-Auror is completely unaware.
I've also heard from the rumor mill and the portraits near the DADA classroom that Alicia seems to be doing the same thing and to make matters worse, does Harry constantly use the Marauders Map in plain sight these days, his eyes constantly watching the small dot with Moody's name on it and then evading the man's path.
Wondering what on earth could have my best friend so worried about our Defense Teacher, do I whisper to his ear as we walk to Charms: "I'll meet you in Sirius' quarters tonight, Harry, I want some answers." Harry seems unaware of this as he still has his eyes on the map, the map itself being the reason he doesn't bump into stuff.

Later that evening

We've finished dinner and while Sirius makes sure that Harry follows him to his chambers, does Harry pull the map from his pocket the minute he turns the corner to the Grand Staircase and I quickly bump into Neville and the twins, signing them silently to follow me as I want to know why my best friend suddenly hates Moody.
The three of them nod and with Alicia's help, who seems to be reviewing one of her essays for the next day, do we quickly arrive at Sirius' portrait, only for the girl to speak up while still looking at the paper and say: "If you want to follow me, you could have just asked if I needed help with my homework, you know?"
And while I'm shocked that she knew we were there the entire time, do I suddenly something that makes me shout: "HOW DID YOU GET THAT?" And I motion for the Map lying on her paper as I could have sworn I saw Harry draw it as he passed the doorway from the Great Hall. Alicia smiles at me and says:

"Harry had Sirius and Remus make me one. He doesn't trust the chance that I could be attacked seeing what happened during the Second Task and a few days ago." She then nods at the portrait and to my shock, does it nod back before opening for her. The girl walks through and says: "I really come here too often."
The exasperated tone of her voice making me know she's joking and Neville, the twins and I are quick to follow her, feeling shocked to see not just Sirius and Remus, but also Sly, Tennessee, Galleth, Carmelita and Angel all sitting at the couches, loveseats and chairs around the fireplace, along with Harry and now Alicia.
The girl is quick to take her place in Harry's lap, while Sly and Carmelita seem to dismiss Tennessee and Galleth with a simple nod and then Sly says: "Go check on our victims, Riochi." And I see a shadow shoot by one of the windows further down the room, shocking me as I hadn't even known of his presence.

Then Sly's words hit home and I ask: "What do you mean victims?" Before I turn to Harry and ask: "And why are you so suspicious of Moody all of a sudden?" And while this seems to be something new for everyone bar Alicia and Neville, does Harry calmly answer: "Because of what Uncle Salim taught Bentley and me.
Expect the Unexpected, Predict the Unpredictable and Forsee the Unforseen. I've been wondering about who could have put my name in the Goblet since the damned thing came out, but I now realize several things I have believed perfectly normal before." This confuses and intrigues me and I ask: "Like what?"

Harry then turns to Sirius and asks: "Moody's had his leg injury for more than a decade now, right?" And when Sirius nods, does Harry ask: "Then why does he still walk around with it as if it's a recent injury? I know it's an eternal handicap, but even Hagrid would be able to get used with the damned thing after a year or two."
And while I have to give the boy right, do I feel stupid about not realizing this myself and I ask: "Do you think Dumbledore knows this?" But Harry shakes his head and says: "Wizards like to believe that everything is as it's supposed to be. Dumbledore probably thinks that the attack at summer caused for some new injuries to his leg or so."
I nod at this, knowing I would have done the same and then Alicia goes on and says: "I have Defense always after Harry does. He and I have been trying to figure out how he could keep up the disguise so well and we think we have a solution." Everyone is now leaning forward, me finally at ease with my answers and Harry says:

"Meow." Looking straight at me and ignoring how he seems to confuse everyone else. However the hint is enough and I shout: "HIS FLASK!" Shocking everyone and I say: "He's using Polyjuice Potion! That's why Snape is rumored to have ingredients missing! Fake-Moody is stealing them from the cupboards."
Harry nods and says: "Moody is also known to be more paranoid than Hagrid is hairy so for the man to drink from his flask only isn't something people would think twice about. The problem is that Moody does it frequently every hour – on the dot." This shocks me and I mutter: "He's openly betraying himself."
Harry nods and says: "Which is why he's barely doing any double hours. If people were to have double hours with him too often, they would be sure to notice and any Fourth year worth their knowledge knows about the required frequent intake of Polyjuice Potion to keep up the appearance of another person."

"But where is he getting –." One of the twins starts and the other goes on: "The body parts from then?" And Harry answer: "His trunk." Shocking everyone as he says: "I was in his office before the First Task. His trunk moved like mad and he told me he wouldn't tell me what was in it." He then looks down and says:
"I also don't see the name of the real Moody anywhere, but I do see one name constantly confusing me as it comes from Moody's office and classroom, but there is no way that guy is still here, not with Sirius constantly around." To this everyone looks at the Animagus and he asks: "What do I have to do with this?"
And Harry answers: "There is no way this guy would want to accidentally meet you, Sirius, not after that article I had Skeeter write about the two of you." And instantly all of us ask: "Crouch?" And Harry nods as he looks at the Map in his lap and says: "I don't get it either, but that is what the Map is saying. Barty Crouch."
Now everyone turns their heads down, all of us wondering how Barty Crouch could have anything to do with Moody – or why the law-abiding bastard is again breaking the law by pretending to be a famous ex-Auror. But then suddenly Sirius seems to be the one to have figured out this mystery and the answer – doesn't seem good.

The man is whiter than a sheet and is panting harshly, his eyes wide enough his pupils almost over-shadow his iris and Harry and Remus are quick to run to his sides, Remus grabbing Sirius' shoulders and Harry – strangely enough – reaching into the robe he is still wearing, while trying for Sirius to keep eye-contact with him.
Then the young boy shocks me as he pulls a Potions Vial out of his robe pocket and the boy is quick to uncork and help Sirius drink the beverage inside, which by the looks of things, seems to calm Sirius enough his body stops shaking and the man is finally able to look down, back at his own fisted hands, lying in his lap.
"Junior." He then suddenly whispers and Fred, George and I share a confused glance, while Neville gasps in shock as Sirius says: "Barty Crouch Junior. He used to be a Death Eater. Has a terrible record concerning it. He and three members of my old family were all sentenced to Azkaban only days after I arrived there."
He then shakes his head and says: "I just don't get how he can be here as I know for a fact I saw the Dementors drag his dead body away from his cell only a mere few years after he first arrived there. As far as I know he's dead, but he's the only one sharing Crouch Senior's name and the Map is designed to never lie – so –."

Everyone nods, all of us confused all over again and Alicia gently asks: "Did anything happen before he died?" And while Neville now seems to be near hyper ventilation, making me worry for my friend, does Sirius say: "His parents came to visit. I never really understood why, Senior and Junior despised each other those last years of the war.
It's – I think – even one of the reasons Junior joined the other Side, because Voldemort offered him what his father refused; attention from someone who wants you to make him proud. Senior wanted the same, but if Junior did so, Senior just completely ignored it in his face, only talking about it behind his back."
He then shakes his head and says: "I know for a fact those two were enemies those last few years, so I just don't understand why Senior would visit his son after he was the one to condemn Junior there in the first place." Then suddenly Neville glares at Sirius and shouts wildly, so harshly he shocks us all as he shouts:
"WHY ARE YOU DEFENDING THAT MONSTER?" All of us look at him shocked, but Sirius and Remus seem to understand and Sirius says: "I'm not. I just want them to understand why I found it so strange that Junior had his father as a visitor. I would never defend that disgusting little piece of trash, Neville, I promise."

The boy nods, while I wonder what the two adults know about Neville that I don't, but then see Harry look imploringly and the boy, while everyone else looks between Neville, Sirius and Remus, whispers soundlessly: "Ronald, Charms class." And I nod, realizing that I'm trying to do the same that made Harry punch Ron weeks ago.
Then Sirius sighs and says: "I guess Senior's wife just convinced him to let her see her kid one last time." Now I look shocked and I ask: "Wait, what do you mean, one last time?" Sirius shrugs, obviously trying to keep himself calm and says: "She died a few days after Junior did – or so I heard after I broke out myself."
But I can tell by a single look at Harry's face that my best friend and I are thinking the same thing and then Harry mutters: "So that's how he become so talented with it. How he broke out." everyone looks at him and he asks: "Sirius, how did Lady Crouch look when she came to see her son? Do you remember that?"

Sirius pinches his lips at this, obviously quite against remembering anything about that period of his life and he says: "I can't say for sure, Harry, the cell was around the corner, but I did see them pass me, they had to do so to get to his cell." Harry nods and Sirius grunts before he says: "She – she looked – ill, I think."
Harry nods again and asks: "And when she left? Did she look better or worse?" And while Neville now has an expression on his face that makes it clear he doesn't want to think about the Crouch line, does Sirius say: "Worse. Crouch actually had to hold her up the entire time he passed me. I remember that real clearly."
Harry nods, his face now set in determined anger and Remus asks: "Why is this so important?" Harry shakes his head and says: "I have but one last question, Sirius. You said you used your dog form to escape Azkaban. Would you say the muscles you have as a dog are stronger than your human muscles or not?"
By now everyone is confused about Harry's strange array of questions and Sirius says: "My dog form has always been stronger in the muscle department, Harry. Like I said, their brains are more mundane so they rely more on their physical strength." Harry nods and finally does Galleth ask: "Sorry Harry, but why all these obscure questions?"

And Harry answers: "Sirius obviously would not have been able to escape Azkaban in human form, because his muscles would have been too far weakened by the Dementors. The same goes for Crouch junior; the cell bars kept the Dementors at – even if only a small – distance from his person and thus also their effects.
Outside his cell, the Dementors would be closer and his weak body would be unable to carry itself, so –." And finally does everyone get what Harry and I had been figuring out since Sirius mentioned Junior and Sly is the first to speak as he says: "His father would have been needed to get him to walk out on his own two legs."
Then Sirius curses and says: "So it's not Junior's body I saw those monsters drag to the – what they call – cemetery, it was Lady Crouch's. She loved her only son so much, she forced her husband into breaking the law and made him switch her place with her sons. They then pretended to have a funeral for her and –."

And Harry ends: "And Crouch has been housing his illegal, criminal of a son ever since." He then jumps up from the loveseat he was sharing with Alicia and starts pacing in front of the fireplace, something that makes me cross my arms over my chest with a fond smile on my face as it's such a familiar sight.
"Voldemort mentioned in my dream that he still needed a servant more loyal and dedicated to him than Pettigrew. That means he knew Crouch Junior was still alive. Berta Jorkins also has family that lived in Albania, the same place as where Voldemort was hiding and where Pettigrew caught her and brought her to him.
She must have somehow found out, Voldemort mentioned a Memory Lock that he broke. That must have been the memory that was blocked. She discovered that Junior was still alive and Senior used a Memory Charm on her, but Voldemort broke it and with that discovered everything he needed to know for another attempt on me.

It all makes sense now!" He shouts in the end, standing so close to the fireplace, I'm surprised he hasn't caught on fire yet and Angel asks: "Could you – perhaps – explain it to us then, because – well, you lost me at the part of Jorkins, no offence." But Harry smiles at his sister by marriage and softly explains:
"Junior escaped Azkaban with help of Polyjuice Potion, given to him by his father. He was then grounded to his house for the rest of the years, but Berta Jorkins found him, making Senior forced to erase the memory from her mind. She became vague and gained a bad reputation at the Ministry because of it and left for the hols.
There she met up with Peter Pettigrew just last summer, who had escaped myself, Sirius and the others and who was on the run to see if his master was still strong enough to defend him. He knew he couldn't let a Ministerial Witch go back to the Ministry with the memory of him being alive and so he kidnapped her.
He took her to Voldemort and the monster found and broke the memory spell, discovering about everything the Ministry worked on regarding the World Cup and the Tournament, not to mention that Junior was still alive. He also discovered who the new DADA teacher would be and – here is where Uncle Salim comes in."

Everyone looks confused at this and Harry says: "Rule # 37, people. Expect the Unexpected, Predict the Unpredictable, forsee the Unforseen, remember?" Sly and Carmelita nod, while the rest looks amazed at hearing this and Harry goes on: "Moody is the last person anyone would suspect, because of Dumbledore."
Now everyone seems to get where Harry is getting at and the boy goes on, saying: "Voldemort freed Crouch from whatever methods Senior used to keep his son in check, had Junior swear renewed Loyalty and then had him and Pettigrew attack, imprison and then impersonate Moody, so he could infiltrate Hogwarts.
Junior just used Polyjuice, because it allowed him to keep the real Moody under close watch and because of the whole flask thing, it would make no one suspicious of how he constantly drank only from his flask, because Moody was just considered paranoid that way. He just made one very fatal mistake in his plans."

Everyone looks at Harry, while I'm pretty amazed that my best friend is going way further with figuring this all out than I ever could and he says: "He didn't give Crouch Junior time to practice with Moody's injuries. The fake Moody is walking around as if that crippled leg is a few months old, while it's really a war-injury.
He's practically betraying himself in the two most obvious ways, thus the two ways no witch or wizard worth their stubbornness would even think of looking twice at." He grumbles at the end, obviously angered that these two obvious signs are being ignored and then Carmelita makes my worries rise as she asks:

"Okay, so we know Moody is really a criminal up-high enough in Voldemort's ranks to deserve a maximal-security cell at Azkaban, just like Sirius did. What do we do with this?" Everyone looks down at this and Harry says: "Voldemort is determined to get me to the Third Task, that's why Fake Moody has been trying to help me.
He also plans some kind of ritual that will require for Pettigrew to give up an appendage as Voldemort told him he would get some kind of honors most of his followers would give their right hand for. Pettigrew thought he was being honored for something, but I think it's pretty obvious that he should have taken it as a warning."
Everyone nods and Harry says: "If I could just find out what the Third Task was, I would be able to plan around it." But then Neville asks: "Wait, so we're not going to unmask Crouch?" And everyone looks at him as he now looks white with fear and anger and Harry sighs, walking over to his friend and saying:
"We can't, Neville. Like I said, Voldemort is determined to let me see this year through. He was once willing to use an eleven year old girl, I don't want to think of who else he would try to use if we unmask Crouch now." He sighs again and says: "We can't unmask him, Neville, it would make us face the Third Task too blindly."

Neville nods and asks: "So we just stick our heads in the sand?" His tone proving how angered he is at the thought of doing nothing, but Harry shakes his head again and says: "We wait until I get a hint as to the Third Task, we plan around it and when Voldemort thinks he has me, does my family strike out against Crouch."
Now Neville seems alleviated and Sly says: "And with your family you mean everyone but Angel, Sam, Carmelita and myself. Angel and Sam, because they just can't learn enough about fighting in the next two and a half months and me and Carmelita, because we will be ready to apparate to wherever Voldemort wants to get you."
Harry nods and then suddenly a knock is heard on the painting, making all of us tense with shock, me fearing that it could be Crouch having realized that we're onto him, but when Sirius asks: "Who is it?" Do I feel relief coursing through me as I hear Cedric say: "It's me, Sir. The teachers want us Champions at the pitch."

We all look at each other and Sly shouts: "Riochi!" And the Raccoon appears, using his cane to lean from the upper right corner of the window and Sly says: "Follow Harry. He and Cedric have to get to the Pitch, but we know who put his name in the Goblet and it's someone no one would suspect of doing it."
The Ninja nods and Sly sends Harry an imploring look, whispering: "Be careful. And transform if need be. Don't fight the guy if he tries anything, just try fleeing back here so we can regroup and attack him together, understand?" Harry nods, happiness shining in his eyes while I had expected indignation instead.
Realizing that Harry would have been angry had it been someone not blood-related to him and that he, instead, is just happy with the evidence that his family cares for his safety and well-fare, do I still feel worried as I see Harry leave through the portrait, Cedric being visible on the other side and smiling widely as he leads Harry away.

Harry's POV

I still can't believe what has been happening today. Hermione insisted we speak after dinner, we found out who Moody really is, where the real Moody is being held, what Voldemort has been preparing for all this time – and now I find out that one of my favorite places of Hogwarts is going to be used for the Third Task of the Tournament.
Feeling that Fudge has absolutely lost it with his plans for the extremely high hedges, do I feel almost positive that Crouch Junior has some kind of hand in the decision of the height of those things, but that is currently not my biggest issue. My biggest issue is standing in front of me and fellow Champion, Viktor Krum.

It's Barty Crouch Senior and just by his behavior can I tell that he was a victim of Voldemort and his methods of torture, something that makes me feel stupid for not realizing that Voldemort had Crouch under control the entire time his servant was here at Hogwarts with us as else Senior would have spilled all of the beans.
Feeling for the man, but feeling weirded out at how he's reacting as he seems to be sane one moment, looking me in the eye and telling me he has to see Dumbledore and looking absolutely deranged the next as he seems to leap onto his feet and talk to trees and tree stumps about things that obviously happened years ago.

Krum himself is absolutely no help as the Bulgarian Seeker is as weirded out by all this as Crouch sometimes behaves and I think: "I can't let anyone find out about him." I turn my face to Krum and say: "Find my Ancestor. He's hiding in the forest somewhere. Go!" And this seems to make Krum reel back into action.
The Bulgarian sends me a warning look and then storms into the forest, only for my ancestor to actually appear from the other side. The Raccoon stands next to me and says softly: "It is not safe for you here, young Grasshopper." But my lips thin and I say: "It's not safe for him either. Voldemort must know he's escaped by now."
The Raccoon nods and asks: "What are we to do with him?" And I say: "Take him on your back. Use your stealth and get him to your rooms. He's safest there as not even Sly and Sam come there. You and Madam Pomfrey will be able to nurse him back to health and no one will know where he is until Voldemort tries to strike."

Riochi nods and throws one of his Bamboo-wooden canes at the man's neck, hitting him just hard enough to knock the man out and I quickly catch him as he falls backwards, me helping Riochi put the man on the Raccoon's back. Riochi then looks at me and says: "Get out of here. You are not to be here when Krum returns."
I nod, while feeling bad as it will make Krum think I lied to him or something and while hoping that his Headmaster won't go too hard on the fact that I took off with a supposed madman while letting his star-student roam through the forest, do I change into my Raccoon form and run back for the Castle, back for Sirius' dorms.

Arriving there, I change back and knock on the painting frame, Sirius opening the painting seconds later and asking me: "Where were you? I saw Cedric arrive back over half an hour ago." And I tell him everything. Of how we saw what the Third Task was, how Krum took me aside to discuss Hermione and how Crouch arrived.
The man whitens when he hears this and says: "We can't let anyone know we have him." And I nod at the man as I say: "I better send a letter to Krum. If he comes back to that spot and finds it empty, he might think Crouch kidnapped me or something." Sirius sighs, but nods either way and I quickly summon writing material.

Hedwig instantly flies in as well and is only seconds later followed by Riochi, who jumps in and says: "I left our attendant in my room and swore Poppy to a Secrecy Oath. Not even Dumbledore will know we have him." I smile at the cautious behavior of my ancestor and then quickly lie the parchment on my lap and write:

Victor,
I'm sorry for sending you off, but I was thinking of spells to use during the Third Task as we talked and I didn't want you seeing me use them as most of them are diversion technique spells. I tricked Crouch into blabbing away some other place and ran off in my Raccoon form. Thanks for trying to help me.
Harry

Hating the lie, but feeling relieved – for the first time – for my placement in the Tournament as I couldn't think of another way to explain my sudden absence without worrying the Bulgarian, I quickly tie the short letter to Hedwig's paw and say: "Make sure he gets it – preferably before he gets back to his boat, okay girl?"
And the owl answers me by flying out the window, her white colors quickly fading in the shadows of the falling night. I then sit down, finally feeling relieved that things are under control and then remember why Krum and I were there in the 1st place. Smirking at the whole thing, I look at Hermione and ask:
"So Hermione, any idea why Krum and I were walking another route to the school?" The girl looks confused that I asked her and I try not to snicker as I say: "It was, my dear intelligent friend, because Viktor Krum – Seeker extraordinaire – thought he had to ask my permission to date you." And the girl turns beet red as I laugh.