A/N: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to DarthVandola. She's been so kind in reviewing and reading this story, and she gave me a few ideas for this chapter. It's nothing like you thought...but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway. So this, like most of the recent chapters, is how I think this how the end of the Triwizard Tournament SHOULD have gone down. I killed some people, and I saved some people. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks to all my readers for all of your support. (Oh and this is not the last chapter. We still have a few more! Yay!)
Chapter 38: As It Should Be
May 31st, 1995
Minerva patrolled the outer edges of her beloved Quidditch pitch. It had been transformed into an enormous deadly hedge maze. Somewhere inside it were Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory, and most importantly, Harry Potter. Just as with the two previous tasks, Minerva focused on her own heartbeat as she did her job and not on her fear for Harry.
Albus was patrolling the opposite edge of the maze. He was worried, which was not an unfamiliar feeling this year. The Triwizard Tournament brought much stress to the Headmaster. In addition, just before Christmas, Azkaban had a massive breakout of Death Eaters. Sirius Black was blamed for the event, which was obviously impossible, but it happened nonetheless. Something terrible was coming, Albus could feel it.
None of the tasks had gone as planned. Harry nearly died when the dragon's fire got a bit too close in the First Task, and he had almost drowned in the lake trying to save every single hostage. But while Albus was worried about the boy, certainly, he knew that Minerva was nervous as a cat. He chuckled at his choice of phrases.
From within the maze, Albus overheard Cedric Diggory's voice. "Harry! You saved me back there. Fancy taking a break for a second?"
"Um, sure."
The two paused just on the other side of the hedge from where Albus stood.
"Listen, I never got a chance to tell you how great you were with that dragon. You're a fantastic flyer," Cedric commented.
"You're just as good a flyer as I am. We've played against each other before."
"Quidditch runs in my family. My dad was a Chaser for Hufflepuff, but he was rubbish. My Aunt Paige, though, she was a brilliant Beater. Dad says she could have gone pro if she hadn't gotten involved with Sirius Black and gotten killed by his Death Eaters. Well, you know what that's like."
Albus could sense Harry stiffen with rage. "Sirius wasn't a Death Eater. He loved her. They were both in the Order to protect you and me and the rest of our generation from Voldemort. She died for that cause. She was my godmother, in case you didn't know."
"Wow. No, I didn't know. I'm um…I'm sorry." There was an awkward silence. "Back to the maze, I guess…"
Harry started to walk away. "Yeah. See you later, Cedric."
"Harry?" Cedric called after him, "Maybe when this is all over we can play a pickup game of Quidditch sometime?"
"That'd be great. Good luck!"
"You too."
The two boys departed. Albus, who had heard every word, smiled with pride. He would have to remember to tell Sirius about this. Harry was very correct in what he had said; Sirius loved Paige very much, and she died for a cause she believed in. He would have never let harm come to her if he could have prevented it.
This reminded Albus of the witch he loved so much. He raised his wand with a smile and emitted a brilliant silver form.
Minerva was startled by the sudden appearance of a silver phoenix. It spoke in her husband's kind voice. "Hope you aren't too bored over there, Tabby. Everything's just fine. Nothing to worry about. Just thought I'd let you know that I love you." The patronus dissipated, leaving Minerva with a happy smile and a warm heart.
The feeling didn't last long. There was a loud yell followed by a shower of red sparks in the air. Minerva ran into the maze. It was enchanted to allow the patrol staff through unchallenged in case of emergency. She reached Cedric Diggory just as Albus and Severus came in from the other sides.
"Diggory!" she cried, "What happened?"
"The Cup! Harry and I were going to grab it together, but my hand slipped, and it nearly took my arm off. Was it supposed to be a portkey?"
The three professors stared at each other with worry. Severus gasped in pain and clutched his forearm. He stared at Albus with fear in his black eyes. "It's burning. He's back."
"Go, Severus. Contact everyone when you can."
He nodded and disappeared with a loud crack.
Cedric stared wide-eyed. "How could he apparate on Hogwarts grounds?"
Neither Albus nor Minerva answered him, but both knew the answer. Different rules applied to Death Eaters when summoned by their master.
"Minerva, will you see to Mr. Diggory? I need to find Alastor…"
She nodded and understood. What on earth had Moody done to the Cup? And more importantly, where was Harry?
After ensuring that Cedric and the other two champions were receiving the attention they needed from Madam Pomfrey, Minerva hastily went in search of Albus.
She was stopped by another patronus, this one from Snape. "Dark Lord returned. Battling Potter. Little Hangleton graveyard. Come now."
Had Minerva been any other woman, she would have fainted. But Minerva Morrigan McGonagall had more important things to do. She rushed back to the Quidditch pitch where she found Albus instructing the students to be sequestered in their common rooms until further notice. Prefects were in charge of their Houses. The Head Boy and Girl, along with the rest of the staff, would go between the dormitories to ensure the safety of the students. The visiting Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students were to remain in the Great Hall under the care of Madam Maxime, as Karkaroff had fled. Albus finished by stating that Minerva would be in charge in his absence.
Albus then dashed out to the Hogwarts gates. Minerva knew she couldn't let him go alone. "Filius!" she cried. The tiny wizard saw the desperation in her eyes and nodded. Knowing the castle would be well cared for, Minerva ran after her husband.
He was about to apparate when she caught him by the arm. "Minerva, you mustn't do that! You'll get splinched! Besides, I need you to stay here with the students."
"I have to go, Albus. I can't stay here while you and Harry are in such danger. I can't go on without you," she pleaded in a low voice.
Albus understood. "Little Hangleton graveyard. See you in a bit. Be careful." He quickly kissed her cheek and disapparated with a pop. She took a deep breath and did the same.
Minerva had apparated into the middle of a chaotic battle. Death Eaters were dueling Order members all around. In the center, Harry was fighting Lord Voldemort himself.
Before she could think, Rodolphus Lestrange sent a Killing Curse at her, which she dodged with her feline reflexes. They began to duel. He was less talented than she, but more ruthless. He sent vicious curse after vicious curse at her. She narrowly deflected the Cruciatus Curse. She could feel the spell ripple against her hair, which had fallen out of place due to the strenuous dueling. In the end, Minerva stunned him, gaining herself a momentary pause in the action.
Albus was dueling four Death Eaters at once, but he was having no trouble, it seemed. Sirius Black was fiercely battling his cousin Bellatrix. Remus Lupin was pitted against Fenrir Greyback, the very werewolf who had bit him as a child. Severus was in an intense fight with Moody. Before Minerva could discern who was on whose side, Rabastan Lestrange came to take his brother's place against her. She dealt with him more swiftly than his elder sibling.
Nearby, Albus dispatched Nott, Crabbe and Goyle, leaving only Dolohov to duel. Arthur Weasley bravely took on MacNair as his wife focused on Mulciber.
Harry's Disarming Spell was locked once more with Voldemort's Killing Curse. Harry's blue jet of light was pushing further and further toward Voldemort. The boy's face was contorted in ferocious concentration. Minerva's heart was in her throat. If he broke the spell connection, he would be killed. He had to hold on.
Harry's spell reached Voldemort. The power of it split the wand apart, sending it soaring into Harry's hand. With a yell of anguish, triumph, and intense strength, golden fire burst from Harry's wand. Voldemort exploded into black smoke and red sparks. Tom Marvolo Riddle, Lord Voldemort, was no more.
Bellatrix Lestrange let out a primal scream. She ran at Harry, wand in hand. A flash of green light stuck her down. Sirius Black, injured from his duel with her earlier, passed out after casting the curse.
Harry collapsed to the ground a moment later. Minerva ran to him and held her brave nephew in her arms. She could feel his heartbeat. Thank Merlin, he's alive.
Albus came rushing over and kissed her cheek. "It's all over now. Are you alright?" She nodded. "Can you take Harry back to the Hospital Wing?" She nodded again. Speech was eluding her. "Good. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Minerva conjured a stretcher for Harry and apparated him back to Hogwarts.
"Dumbledore!" Severus shouted. He had Moody surrendered at the end of his wand. But it wasn't Moody. His face and skin bubbled up. The magical eye fell out of his head and the mechanical leg detached as a human leg grew in its place. Barty Crouch, Jr. sat in front of them, maniacal grin on his face.
"Severus, take him back to the castle, and keep him in Alastor's office. We need to know more." Snape did as instructed.
Albus helped Kingsley and the other aurors round up the Death Eaters who remained. Bellatrix, Avery, Scabior and Alecto Carrow had been killed, but there were about a dozen who were stunned or disarmed that needed to be taken into custody.
Remus Lupin was kneeling beside Nymphadora Tonks. She was alive, but only just. He took her and Sirius immediately to St. Mungo's. They were the only two, thankfully, who needed immediate medical attention.
Unfortunately, the Order suffered losses. Elphias Doge, who was too feeble to have been fighting, was killed, along with Emmaline Vance. Dedalus Diggle died a hero's death, jumping in front of Albus to save him from a stray curse. They all would be posthumously honored by the ministry and greatly missed by all who knew them.
Confident that the ministry could handle things in the graveyard, Albus returned to his school. He was torn between going to Minerva in the Hospital Wing or Severus in Moody's office. Albus decided that Harry and Minerva were safe, whereas the truth about Alastor Moody and Barty Crouch, Jr. was the pressing matter.
Snape was doing a commendable job keeping Crouch in his custody. When Albus arrived, Severus administered the Veritaserum.
Albus took over the interrogation. "How long have you been impersonating Alastor Moody?"
"Since August."
"When did you escape Azkaban?"
"Last year. My father helped me get out to honor my mother's dying wish. I escaped his home and found my master. The Dark Lord rewarded my loyalty by trusting me to deliver Potter to him. I succeeded," Crouch replied with pride.
"It seems you will be returning to Azkaban, Mr. Crouch." Albus turned to Snape. "Notify the ministry, will you, Severus?" He turned back to their prisoner. "Barty, where is the real Alastor Moody?"
Crouch pointed to the large chest in the center of the room. Albus incapacitated Crouch before opening the chest. Inside, Alastor Moody was weak and strongly Confunded.
Albus returned the magical eye and mechanical leg to Alastor and helped him to the Hospital Wing. Upon seeing Alastor's emaciated form, Poppy screamed in shock. Thankfully, her professionalism quickly returned and she swiftly began to take stock of his condition.
Albus went behind one of the privacy partitions where Minerva was sitting beside Harry. She jumped up upon seeing her husband. They shared a long embrace.
"Harry has magical drain again," she explained.
"Not surprising, after what he's done tonight."
"What happened to Alastor?" Minerva asked.
"Barty Crouch, Jr. has been keeping him prisoner all year and impersonating him with the Polyjuice Potion. The ministry will deal with Crouch along with the other Death Eaters. Alastor should be alright. We'll know more once Poppy takes a look at him."
They both remained in each others arms in silence, watching their brave boy lying in the hospital bed.
From across the room, they could hear Poppy arguing with Alastor. "St. Mungo's can take better care of you!"
"No!" came his gravelly response. "I'm not going anywhere. You can heal me!"
"You're just being stubborn. You've been to St. Mungo's before. It's nothing to worry about, Alastor."
"Poppy, please let me stay with you. I…I love you. I've missed you. Don't send me away."
Silence. After a moment, Poppy answered. "Why didn't you say so before? I've always loved you, Alastor. I'd never send you away."
Albus and Minerva met each other's eyes and said in unison, "About time!" They laughed cathartically.
Finally, everything was as it should be. Poppy and Alastor were reunited. Voldemort was gone for good. All his Death Eaters were in custody. Everyone Minerva loved was safe.
The bed sheets rustled as the dawn light came through the windows. The boy lying in the bed groaned. Harry Potter was waking up.