Pettigrew have you reached Albania?
Yes My Lord. I am in a small village near Sarande on the coast.
Good. Head inland. You're getting close.
Vermin, are you near the forest yet?
Yes My Lord. I entered this morning.
Excellent. Keep going.
Master...I found it!
Good evening.
Good evening. I take it I am now speaking with myself?
Indeed. I must say it was an interesting surprise to find Pettigrew at my door with a page of my own diary stashed on him.
A pleasant surprise I hope?
The best I've had in some time. Pettigrew tells me you are at Hogwarts.
Not presently, but I am in the possession of a student.
And the basilisk?
Sleeping. I have focused my attention on more important things.
Such as?
Our restoration.
Then you will be happy to know I already have a plan.
Good, so do I. You go first.
There is a spell. It requires the bone of our father, flesh of our servant and blood of our enemy.
I see. And how do you intend to procure these items?
The bone we can retrieve from our fathers grave easily enough, Pettigrew can provide the flesh, we will need Harry Potter for the blood.
And how will you get Potter away from Dumbledore?
It has come to my attention that a Death Eater named Crouch, officially reported dead, is in fact alive and being held captive by his father. I intend to rescue him and plant him within Hogwarts to smuggle Potter out.
Interesting. How?
He will take the place of the defence against the dark arts teacher this year.
Once again..how?
By using polyjuice to disguise himself as whoever Dumbledore chooses for the position. He will of course have to kidnap this person and take their place before the school year starts.
Indeed and once this Crouch is in place?
There is a tournament due to take place at the school this year. Students from three houses will compete against one another.
You mean the triwizard tournament? How does this affect us?
We will make sure Potter is chosen as a competitor.
Why...actually, no, I'm going to ask how first..Competitors are required to be over 17 for legal reasons and are selected magically so those underage cannot apply. Potter is 14.
I am aware of that. Crouch will manipulate the selection process to let him be chosen.
Why?
So he will be in the tournament!
Now I'll ask why. Why does he need to be in the tournament?!
Because when he wins, the trophy he touches at the end will be a portkey which will bring him straight to us and we can take the blood!
A portkey?
Yes.
You want to make the trophy into a portkey?
Yes.
Your plan is to rescue a Death Eater of questionable reliability from his father...plant him right under Dumbledore's nose for an entire year disguised as a defence teacher...assuming that he won't be caught...after kidnapping the real teacher ...who's identity we don't yet know...who will have to be held prisoner the whole year so Crouch can maintain his disguise...a process that will require the continuous and time-consuming brewing of ployjuice potion...so you can put Harry Potter into a tournament he is not allowed to enter...assuming Dumbledore will let him compete even if his name is picked...also assuming that he will win against several older and more experienced competitors...so you can get him to touch a portkey disguised as a trophy...which will somehow have to be planted without anyone's notice...to bring him to you?
Yes.
Excluding the brief period you spent attached to Quirrell, have you been out here alone this whole time?
Yes.
I think it's screwed with your head.
