56
Running The Maze
Time: Seconds Later
Place: The Maze
Susan's plan was simple, direct, and capitalized on her recently learned spells. With no room for error, she was going to have to win this tournament. That meant either finding the cup before anyone else, or taking out the competition so they couldn't find the cup, and searching for it at her leisure.
Accelerated as she was, she had a good chance of doing either of those things.
She ran headlong into a Skrewt and skidded to a stop. She grinned.
Time to put my plan- one problem, I don't think they have eyes.
She threw herself to one side as a pincer went to grab her. She easily avoided it.
"I'm taking the full time," she said to Sparkle.
"Got it!"
Time for plan "B" then. "Shrink," Susan cried, putting 6 energy into the spell and taking the full 6 delay to cast it. The Skrewt shot fire at her, but Susan trusted Sparkle to take care of it.
"Deflection!"
The fire very nearly reached her, and Susan flinched back a little as magical energies solidified before her, blocking the heat and flames.
Susan's spell went off, getting a 15. The Skrewt shrunk down by 5 size modifiers, to a −3. That made it the size of a house cat, but it didn't seem to notice.
Right, no eyes.
It attacked again with a pincer but she easily took a step and avoided it.
"Now what?" asked Sparkle.
"Glad you asked. Immobilize!" Susan cast instantly, trusting to her Acceleration bonus for being a Mercury spell to get it off.
The Skrewt busted free.
"The heck?" both of them said at once.
"Take the time, I'll watch it," said Sparkle.
Susan began casting again. She took the full time of 5 segments, and the Skrewt attacked again. Sparkle, not bothering to put more than 1 energy in, was shocked when the Skrewt's claw sliced through the Deflection and hit Susan in the foot for 1 damage.
"Ow!"
"Sorry! Trying to save energy. I didn't think this thing would be so tough."
"Immobilize!" Susan got a 26 this time, and the Skrewt was wrapped up tight.
"Sheesh, that was annoying," said Susan. "Trust me to run into the thing that doesn't have eyes right away. Energy time!"
She touched a finger to the bundle and cast Energy Drain, getting a 12. She got no energy.
"I am really starting to hate this creature," she remarked, taking a step away from it. "Elemental Burst: Knockout!"
Being Knockout and a smaller creature, the damage was multiplied by 2 and then again by 4. This meant 64 damage to the body, and the Skrewt stopped moving.
"Thank you!" shouted Susan to the sky, releasing the Immobilize and finally draining the creature of energy. She had to be careful and only drained for three actions, because she didn't know how much energy the creature had. She didn't want to kill it, after all. She took back 15 energy and now had more than her maximum.
"Shall we continue?"
"Indeed!" said Sparkle.
Susan tediously repeated this procedure for another 2 creatures she met in the maze, (with eyes, and low REAson scores) until she came upon Fleur.
"I'm sorry about this," she said.
Fleur leveled her wand.
"About what?"
Magical circles appeared underneath both of them. Susan decided she would cast wordlessly, as Fleur didn't know she could do that. She always cast her spell verbally, because of the −4 penalty. But Fleur probably won't attack until she hears me say something, so if I don't say anything, I can probably take the full time. It's only 1.75 seconds. She can't beat me.
"What are you doing? Stop it!"
And there we have it. Hypnotic Field.
The Hypnotic Field sprang up, and Fleur stared into it, entranced.
"I'm not sure you can hear me," said Susan, stepping up to her. "But my mother has been kidnapped. I have to win this or she'll die. So I'm afraid I have to take you out of this competition." She shook her head. "I keep having to work against you, when in reality I wish I could have just gotten to know you better. Maybe in another world. Energy Drain."
Susan drained Fleur until she passed out, and Susan dropped the Field.
"Are we just leaving her here?" asked Sparkle.
"No, not with all the crap we've been running into from the wandering monster table. We'll stick her someplace safe."
Susan opened a Teleportal back to the school infirmary, and used Telekinesis to gently lower her to the bed inside.
"You know, casting spells on people that can't fight back is so much easier!"
"I can see the appeal. Not to mention things that don't have a ridiculous STRength or size modifiers."
"You can say that again."
Susan repeated this procedure on Viktor, though he didn't waste time talking. As soon as he saw the circle he cried "Crucio" causing Sparkle to hastily cast a full energy "Deflection" to save her.
"Did he just cast what I think he cast?" asked Susan.
"I think so. He could get in a lot of trouble for that."
"Yeah, like, going to Azkaban for life. Think he's been put under Imperio?"
"He'll claim he has. It's the penalty box for you my boy."
Susan drained his energy and threw him, a little more roughly than may have been necessary, into the hospital wing.
"What about Harry?" asked Sparkle as the Teleportal closed.
"I don't know. Let's hope we get to it before he does, and it's a moot point."
Susan took off at a run again.
She rounded a corner, and there was Harry, sitting cross legged in front of the cup.
"You've just been sitting here?" asked Susan. "How did you make it here so fast?"
"I have no idea," he replied. "Did you have to fight anything on the way here?"
"A whole bunch of stuff. Why?"
"For me the maze seemed pretty quiet. I wanted to know why. So I waited for you."
"Wait a minute- how did we meet?"
"What do you mean? Oh, you think I'm not myself?"
"It's a possibility."
"You cast a light spell, I think it was. And of course Sparkle talked to me, and I fell over."
Susan smiled. "That was pretty funny."
"So what's going on?"
Susan sighed. "You know how our families could come and watch?"
"Yeah. Mr and Mrs Weasley came to see me. I was surprised when your mother didn't show up. She knows about magic."
"She knows a little more, now. Apparently, last night sometime Peter or another agent of Voldi showed up and abducted her."
"You're kidding?!" The shock was plain on Harry's face.
Susan shook her head. "Saw more of that writing, like what was in your vault. Plain as day- Win or she dies, basically."
Harry was silent a moment. "I see. It's been quiet here, nothing has leapt out to attack me and prevent me from winning."
"That is odd. Maybe it is just a bet, and whoever did this couldn't… no, your path was cleared. And I think Viktor was under the Imperious Curse because he used an unforgivable on me."
"No way! This keeps getting worse!"
"I know. But if whoever wanted me to win did it, why make him do that? No, none of this makes sense."
"There's one way to find out." He glanced over his shoulder at the cup. "Win."
"Okay, but you're winning too."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course. Ludo said it himself- whoever touches the cup wins. We both touch it, we both win. If something is going to happen when I touch this… well, it could be dangerous."
"We've gone into danger plenty of times. And you know I'm not leaving you to get all the XP."
Susan laughed. "You don't even get XP!"
"How do you know?"
"Okay, okay. If you're sure?"
Harry nodded, wand gripped tightly in his hand.
"On three then."
The world went black as they touched the Portkey.
The two found themselves standing in a graveyard, obviously much further east because it was darker here than it had been in the maze. Sparkle zipped out of Susan's pocket and started looking around, while the others did the same.
Oh great, it was a portkey.
Meanwhile, Sparkle was thinking along similar lines. Good thing we had that foreshadowing earlier or we wouldn't be aware of what just happened.
"Immunity, Ally," Susan said, activating the final two charms on her bracelet. Her dragon appeared.
"So predictable," said a familiar voice.
"Show yourself!" shouted Susan, looking around.
"Of course," said Lucius, stepping out of the shadows. He was behind Stacy, and pointing his wand at at her. "How lovely to see you again, Susan."
"Mom!"
"She's unhurt, for the moment. Dismiss your… friend there, and she shall remain so."
Susan stared at him. Her mother just sort of stood there, unmoving.
"If you're thinking of trying anything," said Lucius, "Know that I can cast the killing curse very quickly."
Faster then me performing an Extra Action? I'm not so sure. Still, I can't risk him killing my mother, but I need time!
"And when you do," Susan replied, starting to shake with rage, "You'll have no more hostages. And nothing will stop me killing you. And I know where you live, so your mansion will be next. I'm sure your bank vault will be easy to find too, and that'll be last. Your family will have nothing."
I really wish I put points into Deception!
Lucius laughed. "You don't mean a word of it! The dragon, if you please."
"You better do it," said Harry.
"Listen to your friend, Susan, he knows what's best."
Susan snarled at him, and the dragon vanished.
"Very good. You can come out now, Peter."
Peter came out from behind a Mausoleum, a bundle in his arms and a large iron cauldron floating after him.
"The gang's all here," Susan said sarcastically.
"Indeed," said another familiar voice. There was a flash, and the pale form of Tom Riddle stood there, looking older than the last two times. "Thank you so much for accepting my invitation. Wand."
Peter flicked his wand, and Harry's went sailing away.
"And so you are now both helpless. It took some doing, given that I cannot attack you directly, Susan. But I think this works just as well, don't you?"
"So what's your game? Why are we here?"
"Harry is here just in case you didn't come," Tom explained. "I knew I wanted one of you, but after hearing what Peter had to say about you? Oh, I wanted you so much."
"Ugh. You're not my type. And I can throw off Impero if I need to."
Tom laughed. "No, you misunderstand. Show them, Peter."
Mom, come on! Why are you just standing- oh, crap.
Peter moved the blanket aside, and showed he was carrying a baby.
"You're possessing babies now? Isn't that a little low, even for you?"
"This is what I have been forced into, thanks to you!" Tom shouted at them. "Two pieces of my soul destroyed. My followers, scattered. My power, broken. Because of him!" He pointed at Harry, who suddenly covered his scar with his hand and looked like he was in pain.
"Interesting," said Tom, calming down. "But something for another time. Bind them both, and blindfold Susan. Peter tells me she has to see her target, that will further reduce her threat."
"What are you going to do?" demand Susan.
"Watch, or in your case, listen, and learn."
Peter put the baby next to the pot, and backed both of them up against a nearby tombstone. The stone flowed around them, holding them. They were close together, and as Peter tied a rag over Susan's eyes, she grabbed Harry's hand.
At least if we Phase we can go together. But that still leaves my mother! How are we going to get out of this?
Then she remembered. Oh, right, he's immune to spells because of the item I made him. He can't be Phased now. CRAP!
"Now I will tell you why you are here," said Tom.
Yes! Monolog! That will give me time to think of a way out of this.
"I originally was going to use Harry's blood for this ritual. It would keep me from being hit by any rebound curses, you see. But there are so many other ways to kill him, and something I wanted much more. You, Susan. Your power."
"What are you talking about? You have to be born with this power, and it comes from another world. I can't just give it to you."
"Perhaps not, but I can take it. Begin the ritual, Peter."
"Yes, master," he said, speaking for the first time. "Bone of the father, unknowingly taken."
There was a splash in the cauldron.
"Flesh of the servant, willingly given," his voice rose as he said that, and there was a scream and another splash.
Did he just… I don't want to think about it.
"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken." Susan felt something cut her arm, and she realized what he was going to do.
The baby- he's trying to use his soul, a baby's body and my blood to be reborn!
She started struggling. "Remember your mother," said Lucius.
"Wait!" she cried. That always works in movies. "You're making a mistake, Lucius. You shouldn't be following him, you should be following me!"
"Oh really?" he said, amused. "And why is that?"
"Because you know I'm more powerful than he is. I also have more to offer you. Can he make you immortal? Would he, even if he could? What about your family? I could make you all immortal, and give you some of my magic directly. You don't serve Tom out of loyalty, you serve out of fear. Join me, and together we can destroy Voldemort forever! Then I'll take over the ministry, with you at my right hand. Think of it, wizards no longer having to hide out of fear of discovery!"
Good thing talking is a free action.
"No more having to be second class to a bunch of powerless people. We could rule the world, together! What do you say?"
"Actually, she makes a good argument," said Lucius, surprised. "What have you given me that demands my loyalty, but fear?"
"You would betray me now, at my moment of triumph?"
"Wait, have I been helping the bad guy this whole time?" muttered Harry. "I will join you, Voldemort! Together we shall protect the world from Susan's tyranny. Free me now!"
Good job, keep them off balance. You are keeping them off balance, right? You don't really mean that?
"You would betray me, if she had made that offer to you," said Lucius.
"She would never follow through with it. You know that. She's just trying to turn us against each other! Peter, the blood, now!"
"Would you allow me into your service?" said Peter, who Susan realized was still standing near her.
"Of course, if you stand with me now."
"NOW!" shouted Tom.
"Yes, master," said Peter, shuffling away.
"Coward!" shouted Susan.
There was a larger splash, and winds started whipping around them both. They tore off the blindfold, and Susan looked in horror as a form rose up from the cauldron.
"I am reborn," said Voldemort, stepping out of it.
What, just like that?
"Robe me."
Peter shook out the robe and placed it over Voldemort's shoulders.
"And what is this?" To Susan's horror, Voldemort was holding a character sheet. "Oh yes, Peter said this might happen. This is a character sheet, is it not?" He tilted it so Susan could barely make it out. Her eyes widened, and Voldemort chuckled. "I see that it is. Wonderful, that means the spell has worked. It seems I have now a Natural Magician in addition to being a wizard. Look, Peter, I have a five point enemy. I assume that's you." He looked over at Susan again.
"I'm flattered you think I'm as powerful as the combined military forces of the world," though I suppose in a way I am, I could totally take them. "But I'm sure I'm only part of it. Every wizard stands against you."
He chuckled. "Not every wizard." The sheet vanished. It reappeared. It vanished. "Fantastic. Now, for the main event. Wand."
Peter bowed, looking down, and held out Voldemort's wand out to him.
He took it, and grabbed Peter's arm. Susan noted with horror his other arm seemed to be missing. Voldemort pressed the wand to the moving tattoo on Peter's arm, and he cried out. So did Lucius. So did Harry.
"Now we shall see," he said, taking his character sheet out and looking at it again.
Keep playing with it, you'll go blind.
This is no time for jokes, Susan. Death Eaters will be here any second, and I still have no way out of here. I should have just let him kill my mother rather than allowing him to be reborn. I'm such an idiot!
She looked over at her mother, who was still just standing there, as though she didn't have a care in the world.
If only I knew Teleport, or Teleshpere. But no, I have to actually step through my Teleportal. Susan noticed Lucias' attention was now on Voldemort. Maybe there will be a distraction enough to let be grab both of them and Phase?
Hooded figures started appearing, then bowing to Voldemort.
"It has been far too long," he said, when it seemed no more would arrive. "Yet you arrive when I call, as you should. What am I to do with you? You have all lived in comfort these long years, while I waited, unable to act. You did not seek me out as you should have, did you? Did you believe me gone forever? Broken by the power of a mere boy?" He pointed to Harry. "You now see how wrong you were."
"Forgive us, Master!" said one hooded figure, falling to the ground beside Voldemort.
"Certainly."
There was a collective gasp.
"Not. Crucio." The man went into spasms. The others stepped a pace away from him.
"This is just a taste of what I went though, all those years. You should all be on your knees before me, writhing in agony for your sins!"
Wow, this guy doesn't have a God complex at all.
"Look how Peter has helped me." He stepped away from the gasping man, and grabbed Peter's chin, forcing him up. "He gave his own arm to see me reborn. Would any of you have done as much?"
"If we had any sign at all, any whisper, we would have acted," said one.
"There were signs aplenty, you fools!" he shouted. "But see, I am not uncaring. Those who give themselves to me willingly are rewarded equally."
He spun his wand, and a silvery hand clamped onto Peter's arm, giving him two hands again.
"Oh, thank you, master!" said Peter, looking at it.
Voldemort started going around the circle, naming those who were there, and those who were not. Susan noted the names with interest. He came to an empty space.
"And of course, the one currently at Hogwarts, where he remains my spy still."
Severus?
"It is thanks to his efforts you see these two before you," Voldemort swept his arm over to Susan and Harry. "But now, let the main event begin! You will now see how little power Harry Potter has, and how much I have. For I will kill him using the magic of his friend, the power given to me through my rebirth. Susan's magic!" He waved his wand, and the stone flowed away from both of them. "Over by your mother, Susan. I know our magic can't touch you, but remember, if we see even the merest hint of a magical circle, your mother dies. Harry, come with me."
Harry looked over at Susan. She shook her head. There's too many, and until my mother is safe, I can't act.
"Someone get him his wand, not that it will do him much good." He laughed.
Wait, does he think he's immune to magic now? That's a spell, not something that comes along with being a Paragon, like me.
"I hear Susan only has one actual attack spell, Elemental Bolt: Fire. I'll have to come up with some more when I figure out how. For the moment, it will have to do. As our wanded magic is too risky to be used on Harry, Susan shall have the pleasure of watching her friend die by hers, instead. Gather round, everyone."
He couldn't have gotten my spells too, could he? She glanced over at Peter. Maybe he doesn't know as much as I thought. He might think casting my magic is the same as casting his magic. The words of the spell and a gesture, because that's how I do it. He doesn't know he has to make planet checks, and envision the formula. I'll have to risk it, that'll be my opening.
The Death Eaters formed a circle around Harry and Voldemort, with Susan, Stacy, and Lucius outside it.
"You should have taken my offer," said Susan.
"Quiet," barked Lucius.
"Your wand, Harry." Voldemort flicked, and the wand came back. "And now we shall duel. I will be interested what spell you choose to cast." He put his own wand away. "I have already told you which spell I intend. Macnair, give us a slow count of three, if you please? On three, then, Harry."
"One," said Macnair.
Okay, my first goal is distraction. I'll call out the Legion with an XP, so I can take another action right after that. That'll be Thrust on my buddy Lucius here. That should throw him pretty far. Open a Teleportal and shove my mother through, then clear a path for Harry so he can jump through. His Barrier Against Spells won't work against that. The spell is opening the hole, he just has to go through it, which is not a spell.
"Two."
I hope Sparkle is paying attention.
"Three."
Elemental Bolt: Fire!"shouted Voldemort. He copied Susan's normal motion exactly, and not a blasted thing happened.
Surprise, jerk.
"Stupefy," shouted Harry at the same time, and a red light smacked into Voldemort.
Who went down in a heap. There was a large measure of shock that went through the Death Eaters.
Susan allowed herself a small smile. Take that, moron. "For Sacrifices Made," she said, spending the 1XP. She willed the soldiers into a second ring, inside the first one created by the Death Eaters.
"Kill them all!" she shouted, and the soldiers raised their weapons. The Death Eaters yelled in surprise, as the area was now lit by glowing soldiers made of fire.
"Thrust!" shouted Susan, whirling on Lucius and taking her held action.
"Elemental Line," she heard Sparkle shout. A glowing line appeared and wound its way around each Death Eater. Lucius went flying, Susan was still under Acceleration after all. She started casting Teleportal. There was pandemonium around the circle. The soldiers pressed the attack, making the Death Eaters step over the Line, and they cried out. Some went misty like a ghost and were surprised to see the sword blades of the soldiers passing through them. Harry stunned another wizard, and leapt out of the circle over his body, towards Susan. Sparkle swooped down.
"Get us out of here!" the both shouted.
"Working on it! Teleportal!"
The portal opened to just inside the maze, and Susan tried to shove her mother through. She was not expecting her mother to do a Kung Fu shout and strike, trying to hit her. Susan, even accelerated, couldn't get out of the way, and took 12 points of damage to the body. Oops, I only have 10 points, I'm 2 into gone!
Susan spent her Missed Me card, and time rewound a second, making Stacy miss.
Okay, won't try that again.
"What the heck?" said Harry.
"Thrust," said Susan, targeting her mother through the portal. With nothing to really grab onto, she went flying, but then summersaulted back to her feet.
When did my mother became a ninja?
Harry and the others jumped through the portal, and as Susan closed it behind it, she saw the Death Eaters teleporting away. Peter had grabbed Voldemort and looked at her, possibly with a tiny bit of respect for what she had done, and vanished. Susan closed the Teleportal.
And put energy into dodging another of her mother's attacks.
Her mother was just about to slam a heel into her leg, and she spent another XP to get a plus two, managing to dodge.
"Immobilize!" cried Sparkle, casting a Mercury spell and also getting the bonus from Acceleration. Bands of force wrapped around Stacy, and she struggled to get free.
"What the heck is going on?" asked Harry.
"She's under the Imperious Curse of course," said Susan, reaching out to touch her mother. She took the full time, casting Magic Immunity and Stacy went limp.
"When did your mother turn into a ninja?" asked Harry.
"You know, I asked myself that very same question."
Albus, Alastor, Minerva and others ran up to where Susan was, just inside the maze. I wanted this magic to last until I was safely standing outside the maze, and I may still need it, after all.
"Are you all right?" asked Albus. "What happened?"
"That's a surprising long story for how short a time we were gone," said Susan. "But more important than that, we know a spy for Voldemort is here at the school."
"Do you know who?" asked Alastor.
"Probably Professor Snape," said Harry.
"I'll go get him!" said Alastor.
"Stay here," Albus commanded. "Why don't you come up to my office, all of you, and we can discuss what happened?"
Susan was loathe to lose the magic from her Spell Symbol, but if she wasn't safe in the presence of Albus Dumbledore, where would she be safe?
"What's going on?" asked Stacy. "Why did I attack you? Where am I?"
"Mom? Are you okay?" The bands around Stacy melted away, and they hugged each other.
"I'm fine. A bit hungry, but okay. Those wizards just broke into my house!"
"I'll have to do Fortification on it sometime. Come on, you can sit down in the Headmaster's office. I don't want us out in the open like this if we can help it."
"Good thinking," said Alastor. "Lead the way, Albus."
They all left the field, where very confused people in the stands were milling about, uncertain what was happening.
"You caused quite a stir with what you did," Albus remarked. "Where can we find Miss Delacour and Mr Krum, incidentally?"
"Hospital wing. They'll be fine after a little sleep."
"Remind me never to play chess with you."
"Noted."
They reached the office, and Albus summoned sandwiches and milk, which Stacy gratefully tore into.
"Now, what happened?"
"I have to apologize," said Susan. "The story you are about to hear is mostly my fault."
"No it isn't," said Stacy, swallowing. "I don't blame you for not wanting them to kill me. Doing what they said was the right thing to do, and don't you forget it."
"Perhaps starting at the beginning?"
"The trophy was a portkey, it took us to some cemetery someplace," said Harry. "And Susan's mother was being held hostage by Lucius. Then another Voldemort spirit showed up, and started rambling about how lucky he was."
"He took my blood, Headmaster. And that child was reborn into the fully grown man Voldemort."
"And what about this do you believe is your fault?"
"I should have let them kill her, don't you see? I should have killed her myself, rather than allow my blood be taken. Don't you see?" Susan was sobbing now, why were they so stupid? Didn't they realize what had been done?
"He took her powers, Headmaster," said Harry softly. "He got a character sheet, and said he was a Natural Magician now, just like Susan."
"Oh no!" Stacy paled. "That maniac got hold of your magic? Is that what he was babbling about all that time?"
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
"It's all right Susan. We can still beat him… somehow. How long do we have?"
"What do you mean?"
"His spell didn't work, remember?" said Harry excitedly. "He tried to burn me alive, but it didn't- AAHH!"
Harry fell over, clutching his scar.
"Harry!" Albus exclaimed, kneeling by his side.
"He's awake again. Angry!" Harry managed. "Torturing Peter… for failing him. Spell didn't work… Peter doesn't understand why. Oh, he's angry!"
"You can see into his mind that clearly?" Albus was stunned. "This has gone further than I thought." A moment passed, and finally Harry was able to sit up again.
"As I was saying, we still have time," Harry continued. "He took your Background but not your Skills. He doesn't have any spells memorized, and the only source of them is your book. He doesn't understand casting magic as a Planet Check, he just waves his wand around."
Susan blinked. He's right. We do still have time.
"Yes, he has a character sheet, but that alone isn't going to do him much good."
"You see," said Albus, "All hope is not lost. What happened then?"
"He tried to kill me with fire, Susan's fire, but of course it didn't work. I cast Stupefy on him, and he went down. In the confusion Susan called her soldiers out, and Sparkle did… something. Some spell I hadn't seen before. The Death Eaters were caught by surprise though. Susan opened a Teleportal, but then had to fight off her mother-"
"Sorry about that."
"And got us back here."
"Wait, you stunned the Dark Lord?" asked Alastor. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, he went down like a sack of potatoes. He had such a surprised look on this awful looking face. I'll remember it forever."
"Humph!" said Alastor, reaching for his flask again. He was about to bring it to his lips when Sparkle, still in fairy form, darted up over Susan's head.
"Destruction," she cried, and the flask exploded. And by "exploded" it turned into a fine ash, and a bit of smoke. A putrid green liquid splashed out, all over Alastor.
"That, uh, was my best flask!" said Alastor. "What did you do that for?"
Sparkle settled herself on Susan's head. "Maybe it's just my high LUCk, but I notice you drink from that flask at least once an hour. Rather an odd behavior, given what we know about the potion one must take to turn into someone else."
"Are you accusing me of something?"
"Not at all. Just requesting you don't drink anything for the next hour. Simple enough, right?"
"Yes," said Albus. "I'm sure you can go without for the time being."
"I don't have to sit here and be accused of… of… not being myself. I'm going to go get Severus, he really should be here for this." He lunged for the door, which didn't open. He turned back, wand in hand, but Albus was already pointing at him. Red light shot out, and Alastor went down.
"It seems your idea was sound," said Albus, sinking back into his chair. "Well done."
"About time someone recognized my contributions," said Sparkle, giving Susan a thump with her fist.
"I'll buy you all the catnip you want."
"That would be… a good start."
Albus waved his wand, and the silver phoenix shot out, flying towards the outside of the castle again.
"Severus should be joining us momentarily. Then we will get the full story out if whoever this actually is. We'll have to find the real Alastor, as well. Presumably he'll be close, so the impostor could get the needed ingredient for the spell. How much time do you estimate that we have?" asked Albus.
"I don't know," admitted Susan. "It depends on how much XP he got, and how soon he realizes he needs to shift that XP over into his skills. He's going to be working magic out, from scratch, so he'll have to get a high enough rating to cast the spells he wants while trying to research the spells he wants. Spell research is tough too. I think it's a number of days equal to the casting difficulty, and 100 dollars worth of materials per day. I've never had to do it, my book can do it for me because of the modifications my father did to it. But if he does nothing else for the next year, and he focuses his efforts on things he can't already do, like making himself immune to magic, he could become pretty powerful."
"What about that backlash? You've mentioned that," said Harry.
"Yeah, if he doesn't do the spell right, it'll blow up in his face. He would probably start small though, work his way up over time. I don't know. With luck he'll just give up because Harry humiliated him so much when it didn't work."
"No, he's seen what your power can do. He'll want it for himself, especially after all the trouble he went through to get it," said Albus.
"Then I would suggest moving quickly," said Susan. "Before he finds out what he can really do."
The group waited then, in silence, for Severus. As they did, Alastor become Barty Crouch Jr, his features changing as his leg grew back. The eyeball rolled away and Sparkle almost sprang after it, but remembered herself.
"Who's that?" asked Susan.
"That is the son of an Auror, Barty Crouch, who you may have seen wandering around during the tournament."
Severus arrived with the truth serum, and Barty was made to spill the beans on the plan. He put Susan's name in the cup, knowing she would be judged worthy. He put Harry's in under another school. He made sure they both were steered towards victory, so that Voldemort would have his choice of them when the time came. He explained his evolvement in the World Cup events, and stealing Harry's wand. He told everything.
"There goes the puzzle," said Susan. "My question is, why didn't you realize it? Behavior, I've said. Twice even! The only way to tell someone is not themselves is by behavior. You must have noticed he had different mannerisms than the real one!"
"Alas, I did not," said Albus, sadly. "Now, we must fetch the minister. He will wish to hear this testimony personally. I will go and get him. Minerva, Severus, I can trust you to keep an eye on this man?"
"They both nodded."
"You two are unhurt, I take it? Do you need to visit Madam Pomfrey?"
"I think all of her alcohol is medicinal, Headmaster. We're fine."
He gave a small smile. "Then you are free to find your friends, who I'm sure are worried about you."
"I think I'll stay here, just the same," said Susan. "I don't want this guy to meet with any… unfortunate accidents." She stared at Severus, who glared back.
"Suit yourself. I will return in a moment."
When he did return, he looked furious.
"Albus, what-" Minerva started to say.
He held up a hand. "Susan, I often believe you do things in an over the top way. I will have no problem if, in twenty seconds, you exceed even that expectation. You will know what I mean."
Susan looked at him curiously, and Cornelius Fudge stepped into the room.
He was followed by a Demontor.
"Dementor! Pocket Dimension!" Susan pulled her knife out of nowhere, and advanced on the creature. It backed up against the wall and seemed to look over at the minister.
"Don't let her kill me…" it rasped.
"Susan, put that away at once!" said Cornelius. "You're… frightening this poor… Dementor." Even he looked confused speaking that sentence.
"You bring one of those things here? In my presence? I've killed dozens and I'll destroy dozens more before I'm through. As for you-" She stalked over to the creature and held the knife up to the Dementor's face. It flinched back. "Were you there, on that night, when I slaughtered so many of your kind?"
"I was," it softly said. "We call it the night of sorrow."
"Good. Catchy. I like it. It's your lucky night, because you get to escape my wrath a second time. Are you not lucky? Say you are."
"I am lucky."
"That's right. You get to carry a message for me. Voldemort has returned. He has mentioned you might ally with him. You will take the message to your… kind… that this would be a very bad decision on your part. You will all die at my hand. All of you. That is a promise. But if you spurn him, you get to live longer, understand? Side with us against him, and buy your species further time to exist. But side with him and that will be the end of you." She pointed with her free hand. "Fly away. Now. Carry my message. I expect to see you defending our school, not besieging it. Are we clear?"
"We are clear."
"Then get out of my sight."
The Dementor edged around the knife to the window, passing through it and out into the night.
Albus looked smug. "I told you. You didn't want to bring that thing in here."
"You knew she was here! I wouldn't have if I had known that. And what's all this nonsense about Voldemort returning?"
"True. All true. This man can tell you."
Albus started to question him again, and the minister's face got more and more pale.
Maybe some good will come out of this, after all.
