"Let's get this meeting started, shall we," Mad-Eye said sliding a file over to Kingsley across the table while Liv sat in stubborn silence.

Last year, when Liv was the only auror at Hogwarts, it was her that Kingsley had turned to during these meetings on Harry Potter's security. She had been in charge. But this year things were different. Although they were supposed to be working as a team, it was clear that Moody had taken over as the head of Potter's security at Hogwarts.

"The first task went well, no sign of foul play. Potter had enough brains to figure out how to get that egg, so he's on to the next task. As for our suspects, I haven't got anything to say we haven't already discussed. Karkaroff is still a shady bastard, I'm keeping a close eye on him. Maxime is still cozying up to Hagrid for information on the tournament, but so far she hasn't expressed interest in Potter. Bagman offered to help Potter in the first task, which Potter's didn't accept, but I'm keeping an eye on him all the same."

"We have news on that," Kingsley said, shuffling through his own papers to find the one with the information on it. "Our researchers found out he has a gambling addition, and apparently owes some goblins a hell of a lot of money. He has a bet on Potter winning that he's probably hoping will pay off these debts."

"That's good to know," Liv said. "If he wanted Harry to win, it wouldn't be in his interest to harm him."

"No," Mad-Eye contradicted. "It could be his bet and offering to help Harry win is a cover, that way, people wouldn't think he was out to harm Harry. What's gold lost compared to Potter dead for a death eater?"

Liv didn't like to admit it, but he had a point. She clenched her jaw. Mad-Eye looked pleased to have won that argument.

"We have no evidence he's a death eater," Kingsley said, noticing the tension but ignoring it. "Or that he has any death eater friends or contacts, apart from the recent association with Karkaroff."

"Look again. He was in the top box at the World Cup with the Malfoys, granted, that scum was never convicted of any crimes. If there's one thing I hate it's a death eater who walked free."

"We'll look into it," Kingsley said, although he looked as though he didn't believe anything would come of it. "Liv, has there-" he began but Mad-Eye broke him off.

He went on about his Karkaroff suspicions for 10 more minutes before finally turning to Liv and saying, "Liv will tell you about Potter's security, but she doesn't have anything."

Trying to keep her voice from showing the frustration she felt, Liv spoke to Kingsley. "My report short, which in our business is the best kind," Liv said passing a file to him. "The teachers also report there has been no suspicious activity during the day, no one trying to get close to him. At night, there have been no attempts by any of our suspects to enter the Gryffindor common room or Harry's dormitory. My guess is that whoever planned this also knows Sirius Black attempted to enter the common room at night and was unable to get to Harry."

"That is good news," Kingsley said glancing at the papers in the file. "Perhaps we should consider you taking more of an active role in the investigation into Karkaroff. A student might be able to get information on him from another student."

"No," Mad-Eye said directly. "We can't let our guard down just because nothing has happened yet. Stick to what your doing, Liv. I'll take care of the rest. If that's everything, we'll end this meeting here."

"How is the Black investigation going," Liv asked, trying to sound casual, as they packed up their bags. She hoped that Moody, who was still with them, wouldn't consider this suspicious as she had been part of the investigation the year before.

Kingsley sighed. "We've hit a bit of a dead end, to be honest. We have reason to believe he was in South America a few months ago, but we don't know where he is now. My suspicion is that he's back in the country, possibly working with whoever is behind all this, but there have been no sightings of him in the country."

Liv nodded gravely, but on the inside she was pleased her friends were being so careful.

"Someone has to be hiding him," Kingsley continued. "We're setting something up for next week to look into it."

"What sort of thing," Liv asked, her heart beating faster but trying keeping her composure because Moody was listening in now.

"One of the minister's advisors, this small toad-like woman, has been pressuring us to take another look at Remus Lupin, that teacher from last year."

"I remember him," Liv said simply.

"This woman thinks he's suspicious and convinced the minister to have us look into him again, but she has a lot of prejudices, so I don't think he's really up to anything. One of our aurors will pose as an old woman asking for help with something or other, and try to sneak information out of him. She's new to the force, just starting out, but she's good. A metamorphmagus, actually."

"That would come in handy on a team," Liv said, making mental notes.

"But I hear you've got a difficult job for yourself coming up," Kingsley said, his expression grave.

"What do you mean?"

Kingsley, grinning widely now, teased, "finding a date to that ball, of course."

Mad-Eye laughed and led the way as they left the room.

"And don't mind him," Kingsley said in a low voice as they followed behind Mad-Eye. "He's used to taking charge like this. It's nothing personal."

"Hurry up you two, Albus will be waiting with drinks in his office," Mad-Eye said, stopping to let them catch up, and thus ending their conversation.

Liv found it suspicious that Mad-Eye stayed within earshot of Kingsley the rest of the evening, making it impossible for her to talk to Kingsley without him overhearing. Was he purposefully trying to stop them communicating together without him? When she finally got back to the Gryffindor common room, she was still wondering if her suspicions about Moody were groundless.

Liv slumped into a chair by the fire and pretended to read a book as she thought about her suspicions of Mad-Eye. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting together nearby, discussing the first task.

"You really showed old Krum a thing or two," Ron was saying. "I mean, a pro quidditch player who didn't even think to use his broom? What an idiot!"

"I wouldn't have thought of it either if it hadn't been for Mad-Eye," Harry replied.

"What do you mean," Ron asked. Liv was listening now.

"He kept telling me to play to my strengths," Harry said, "I told him I hadn't got any, and said he heard I was good a flying, and sort of hinted at it really, that I needed a spell to get my broom."

Liv's heart began to beat faster. Moody had helped Harry, just like Bagman had tried to do. What had Moody just said in their meeting? Offering to help Harry win is a cover, that way, people wouldn't think he was out to harm Harry.

It time to take her suspicions seriously.