Author's Note: So we are finally to the end of 4th year.
Harry fell on the ground just as he had before the World Cup. Cassius had clearly had more practice with Portkeys as he had landed on his feet. They were standing in a graveyard, clearly the task wasn't over yet.
"So much for being straight forward." Harry mumbled.
"Potter, get out your wand." Cassius warned.
"Did you know it was a portkey? Did Snape tell you?" Harry questioned.
Cassius was looking around suspiciously.
"In all my research the third task has never included something like this. The third task always end with get to the Cup and you win, touch the Cup and you win. There's never been a twist ending before."
"So…" Harry wasn't sure what the older boy meant.
"So be on your guard, because I don't think that was supposed to happen."
They made their way together, not far from the Cup but they had wandered a little. Harry hushed them when he noticed someone in the distance. He couldn't tell who the figure was because of their cloak but they were short and stout. The way they were holding their arms it was clear they were carrying something. It looked almost like a baby wrapped up in a buddle of robes. Harry went to say something to Cassius but as the figure got closer Harry's head exploded in pain. He fell to the ground clutching his scar, unable to move from the agony of it all.
"Kill the spare." A high voice demanded.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The green jet of light headed right for Cassius, who barely managed to dodge out of the way and sent a stunner in the direction of his attacker. Harry knew he needed to move, he needed to help but he was crippled from the pain. A second killing curse was called off and this time Cassius' body fell to the ground with a thud.
Harry looked over and the Slytherin's eyes were still open, staring in his direction but there was no life behind them. Cassius had nearly made it back to the Cup, his body had fallen only inches away from what was surely a safe transport home. He had almost made it.
Voldemort. Voldemort had returned. Harry felt like once again he was fighting for his life, every year it was something. But this time he had to fight through a pain he couldn't explain and now Voldemort could touch him. His own blood had brought Voldemort back. When they began their duel Harry knew there was only one chance he would survive. He had to get back to the Cup because even if he managed to fight off Voldemort there were plenty of Death Eaters surrounding him.
"Don't stop, Potter. You're nearly there."
Cassius was there. He seemed like some sort of ghost but he was there with him. Harry watched as an old man appeared as well, he seemed just as shocked as Harry. Then Bertha Jorkins appeared as a ghostly form in front of him.
"Don't let go, don't let go, Harry!" she called.
The figures were coming from Voldemort's wand, they were appearing before him. And he knew who had to be coming soon.
"Your father's coming. Hold on for your father, it will be alright. Hold on."
It was strange to see her, his mother. Sure he'd seen pictures and his dreams occasionally let him see her face. But this felt so real, and she looked so young. She was young and small enough to be his friend. Then his father appeared by her side. It truly was like looking in a mirror, so many people had told him and he'd seen the pictures but this… this was real.
"Potter," Cassius called to him after his parents had explained they would give him time to get away, "my father is here. Don't leave my body for them, don't let them cover up my death."
His father. This had been what was important enough to not watch his own son compete in the tournament? Harry wondered if the older Warrington had known this would be happening, or if he just hadn't cared in the first place. But either way he nodded, he didn't want to think what Voldemort would do to the boy if he left him behind.
Harry had to adjust his footing so he would be ready when the connection was lost. He was only feet away from Cassius, from the Cup. But he couldn't risk making a mistake. This would be his only chance to get away. As he dropped the connection he didn't pay attention to the spirits or what they did to give him time. All he heard was Voldemort's yelling and the chaos behind him as he lunged towards the Cup.
With a tight grip on Cassius' arm he grabbed the Cup and just as Voldemort was shouting a spell they both had disappeared.
As Harry fell into the ground back on the Quidditch pitch he could hear the cheers of the crowd. No one seemed to notice that Cassius wasn't moving, or that Harry's arm had been sliced nearly in half. Dumbledore was standing over Harry almost within an instant. He dropped the Cup but grabbed Cassius tighter.
"He's back. Voldemort's back."
The crowd was still cheering, but it seemed people were slowly beginning to realize that something was wrong. Fudge had practically yelled that Cassius was dead and some of the crowd had heard. The cheers began to turn to whispers as more and more people learned that one of the champions was dead. Dumbledore and Fudge were going back and forth about what to do, but both were desperately trying to get Harry to let go of the dead body.
People in the crowds were crying, girls were screaming. But Harry could only hear one voice.
"Cass! Cassius!"
Callie was running her way through the crowds towards Harry. It was only when she had reached him that he released Cassius to her. She wasn't crying, not like the girls in the stands that didn't even know Cassius. But the screams she capable of, Harry didn't think he would ever get the sound out of his ear.
"I couldn't leave him there. I couldn't. Couldn't leave." Harry couldn't form a sentence to explain to her what had happened.
But Callie didn't seem interested in what had happened. Instead she clung to her love, and screamed. He didn't have any family there for him. Harry knew why, his father had been there. Cassius' own father had to have seen the dead body of his son just lying there in that graveyard. Callie was the only one there to mourn for him. The other Slytherins from sixth year were making their way down, standing off to the side, but clearly there as a sign of support.
"Harry stay here." Dumbledore told him as he moved away towards the students.
But Harry could feel himself being dragged off. He tried to say he was supposed to stay but Moody was pulling him away and paid him no attention. The night felt like a blur. Moody wasn't Moody at all, Dumbledore arrived and helped but nothing was making sense. Harry couldn't get the image of Cassius' cold dead eyes staring back at him out of his head. Nothing else was being processed.
"Come Harry," Dumbledore said when Harry didn't seem to be paying attention.
"Cassius. His parents."
"They are being informed." Dumbledore assured him.
"Cassius said his father was there. He was in the graveyard."
Dumbledore didn't say anything in response. Instead he continued to lead the boy away from fake Moody's office and towards his own where Sirius was waiting for them.
"Harry! What happened, are you alright?" Sirius called out to him as he hugged Harry tightly but Harry couldn't find the energy to respond.
Dumbledore urged him, against Sirius' wishes to tell them what had happened. Everything that had happened that night. It was like someone else was speaking for him as he remembered the events of the graveyard. His arm hurt as he remembered Wormtail slicing it open, but he felt numb when the image of Cassius' eyes filled his mind again.
"Cassius spoke to me," Harry explained to Sirius when they started talking about the wands connecting, "him and Bertha, some old man, mom and dad they all were there. Cassius he didn't want to be left there. I couldn't leave him there."
Nothing made sense. The days bled together after that and Harry couldn't tell how much time had passed. He knew Fudge didn't believe that Voldemort had returned, and had taken care of Barty Crouch Jr. before he had the chance to give any testimony. There was no proof of what Harry was saying, no proof of anything. Harry wasn't sure how he had made it to the final feast, he felt like he'd been standing still since the moment he left the graveyard. Black drapes decorated the Hall, a sign of respect for Cassius Warrington. For once the feast was not filled with chatter and happy goodbyes, instead everything was very silent.
"The end of another year," Dumbledore began his traditional speech but the students were not in the mood for goodbyes when one of their own was gone, "There is much we should discuss, much that needs to be addressed but for now let us remember the life of one of our own. We have lost a fine student who should be sitting here enjoying the feast with us. Cassius Warrington."
Dumbledore raised his glass and nearly immediately every teacher was on their feet with their glasses in the air. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs followed suit. Harry stood first at the Gryffindor table which caused the other lions to stand and raise their glasses as well. But the Hall was silent as every person stared at the Slytherins who had made no move.
Harry could hear a slight movement but it took a moment to see over the crowd of people. Callie had stood, not just on the floor but on top of the table. Her glass was in her hand but she hadn't raised it yet. Everyone was looking to her, everyone knew who Cassius had been to her.
"To Cassius, and to Harry Potter for bringing him home to us."
Her eyes met Harry's and he didn't feel he deserved to be a part of the moment. But this was peace, wasn't that what it was? Some sort of olive branch to tell him she knew, that she believed him. The Slytherins stood after her toast and raised their glasses.
"To Cassius."
Author's Note: So that's it. 4th year still ends very much the same, but how will Cassius' end change the plot moving forward. Cassius didn't want his death covered up and now the Slytherins have lost one of their own. Things might just start changing.
