Part IX

Hours passed by. Nataliya fell asleep with her head on Arthur's shoulder. Arthur leaned against Francis, feeling his eyelids starting to droop.

"How… long does it take for them to get to the centre?" he asked with a yawn.

"Attends," Francis whispered suddenly. "Where's the cup?"

"What?" Arthur demanded, sitting up. Nataliya slumped over onto Alfred's shoulder.

"The cup, it's gone! We could see it before – it was glowing blue!"

"Well, then, the task should be over!"

"But no one's coming out of the maze."

Arthur leaned against his seat, closing his eyes –

"Kill the spare."

"Avada Kedavra!"

Arthur screamed.


"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!

"Flesh of the servant, willingly given, you will revive your master!

"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe!"

Blood, bone, and flesh all dropped into the cauldron. Sparks flew about, lighting up the graveyard.

A figure emerged from the cauldron. He was tall and skeletal with a pale white face, bright red eyes, and a snake-like nose. Robed in black, he emanated danger and mystery.

The figure laughed.


"Arthur! Arthur, wake up!"

Arthur opened an eye. He was still in the Quidditch pitch. Nataliya, Francis, and Alfred were holding him – he was lying on the floor between the seats.

"Arthur, you were screaming," Nataliya whispered fearfully. "Are you okay?"

Ron and Hermione rushed over. "We heard screaming," Ron whispered, looking slightly panicked. "Bloody hell, Arthur, you look a mess."

"Y-you think?" Arthur stammered. It can't be… it cannot be…


"My Lord… my Lord, you promised…"

"Hold out your arm."

"Oh, Master… thank you, Master…"

"The other arm, Wormtail."

"Master, please… please…"

The man took Wormtail's left arm and revealed a tattoo – a skull with a snake protruding from its mouth.

"It is back," the man whispered. "They will all have noticed it. And now, we shall see. Now we shall know…"

He pressed a forefinger to the Dark Mark on Wormtail's arm.


"No, Arthur, please! Stop screaming!" But Arthur went on, thrashing wildly. Everyone turned to look at him.

"Mr. Kirkland, are you feeling all right?" It was Dumbledore.

"Sir, he's taken Harry and he's killed Cedric!" Arthur gasped, as excruciating pain coursed through his body.

"Who, Arthur, who?" Alfred exclaimed.

"Lord Voldemort!"


"We bow to each other, Harry," the man – Voldemort – sneered. "Come, the niceties must be observed… Dumbledore would like you to show manners… bow to death, Harry…"

Harry glared at him, refusing to bow.

"I said, bow." Voldemort raised his wand and Harry was forced into a bowing position. "Very good. And now you face me, like a man… straight-backed and proud, the way your father died…"

Harry gritted his teeth.

"And now, we duel."


"Voldemort?" Dumbledore hissed. "You are sure of this?"

Arthur nodded, even as he felt Harry's agony miles away, heard Voldemort's cruel laughter in his mind…

"You sense his rising, no doubt," said Dumbledore softly. "He is a part of you – he was born in you and he killed your people…"

Hermione and Ron looked confused at Dumbledore's cryptic message, but Arthur nodded.

"Is there any way I can go and help?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not. We have no idea where Voldemort took them." Dumbledore's face was grave.


"Expelliarmus!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

The jets of light – red and green – met in the air. From it, a golden light erupted. The duelling figures rose in the air, their wands connected. More light poured from the single beam until they were cocooned in a golden web.

Echoes of screams emitted, and then the image of a hand... and then the ghostly image of Cedric Diggory came out through the golden light.

"Hold on, Harry."

More screams, and then an old man came blossoming out of the light.

"He was a real wizard, then? Killed me, that one did. You fight him, boy."

A woman appeared. "Don't let go, now. Don't let him get you, Harry – don't let go!"

Another woman appeared – it was Harry's mother. "Your father's coming. Hold on for your father. It'll be all right... hold on..."

A man appeared. He looked almost like Harry, who was gripping the wand as if his life depended on it.

"When the connection is broken, we will linger for only moments... but we will give you time. You must get back to the Portkey; it'll return you to Hogwarts. Do you understand, Harry?"

"Harry, take my body back, won't you? Take my body back to my parents..."

"Yes, I will," Harry gasped.

"Do it now. Be ready to run, do it –"

"NOW!"


Screams filled the air as Harry came tumbling back into the stadium. He was clutching a body and the Triwizard Cup.

Arthur stood up shakily with Dumbledore. "Harry! Harry!" he screamed, rushing over to the boy with Dumbledore, who turned him over. Hermione, Ron, Alfred, Francis, and Nataliya followed in their wake.

"He's back," Harry gasped. "He's back. Voldemort."

"I know, Harry," Arthur whispered. "I felt him come back, too. I saw you."

"H-how?" Harry asked.

"We owe you three an explanation," Francis said quietly. Harry looked at him wildly. "But not right now."

"What's going on? What happened?" Cornelius Fudge appeared. "Merlin's beard – Diggory! Dumbledore, he's dead!"

"He's dead!" screamed the crowd. "Cedric Diggory's dead!"

"Let go of him," Arthur urged, trying to prise the body of Cedric from Harry's grasp. "Come on, Harry. You can't help him now. It's over."

"He wanted me to bring him back," Harry muttered. "He wanted me to bring him back to his parents."

"That's right," said Dumbledore gently. "That's right, Harry. Let go now."

"Diggory's dead! I can't believe it," Nataliya sniffled as Harry was led off by Professor Moody.

"He's injured! He needs to go to the hospital wing!" Fudge was declaring. "Diggory's parents, they're here, Dumbledore! Should we tell them before they see...?"

Arthur was clutching his side. He could still feel the pain coursing through his body, sapping him of energy.

"Arthur!" Alfred was shouting something, but he couldn't hear.

He collapsed.