Here's the next one! I've got mixed feelings on the one after this, but my sister read it and said it was okay, so hopefully, it is to you all too :) The chapter after this will be the ending of The Goblet of Fire and I might post it tonight if it's really short! So I hope you all enjoy this one and let me know what you think.

"Mum! Bill! What're you doing here!" Ron gaped as Harry brought in Mrs. Weasley and Bill for lunch.

They'd come to support him during the third task and had been catching up until now since the others were taking their exams.

"Come to watch Harry in the last task! I must say, it makes a lovely change, not having to cook. How was your exam?"

"Oh… okay," Ron muttered. "Couldn't remember all the goblin rebels' names, so I invented a few. It's all right," he reassured his mother poorly. "They're all called stuff like Bodrod the Bearded and Urg the Unclean; it wasn't hard."

The twins and Ginny joined in, making Harry feel as though he were back in the Burrow and allowing the third task to drift to the back of his thoughts until Nox stepped over with Dubh perched on his shoulder. It was a relief to see him if Harry was being honest. He could do with a few tips before the task and if anyone had them, it'd be Nox.

"Nox, dear!" Mrs. Weasley greeted with a soft smile, spotting Dubh. "I heard about your poor bird. How is he doing?"

"Better," Nox answered, eyes drifting towards the head table where Moody had shown up. "He's strong enough to perch again, but I don't think he'll be able to fly, unfortunately. Maybe a few feet or a glide at best."

"Oh, that's a shame," she apologized, returning to her talk with the others and Harry quickly joined Hermione and Ron in questioning him.

"I thought you said Barty Crouch's son was—"

"That's not him," Nox clarified, tucking into a sandwich. "Dumbledore took me into his office this morning before breakfast to prove it…" He gave Hermione a small glance, making her raise a questioning brow. "I nearly set him on fire thinking it was Barty Jr."

"You tried to blast someone in Dumbledore's office?" Ron gaped as Hermione frowned.

"Nox!"

"Well, what do you expect? They haven't exactly caught Barty Jr., have they? Last time I saw him, he looked like Moody. I had every right not to trust him."

"But can you prove it was him?" Harry wondered, curious as he peered over at Moody who appeared to be acting the same as he had been when he was Barty Crouch Jr.

"Not physically, no," Nox muttered. "But he… he likes me. Barty Jr. wouldn't be able to fake that."

"How do you mean, he likes you? I thought you tried to blast him?" Ron questioned.

"He's weird. He likes that I was so cautious. Said I had good reflexes and dueling. It's, um… a bit embarrassing, really. Oh! Lupin and Sirius were there too, Harry. They said they'd be watching you tonight."

Harry couldn't help but smile, not caring about why else they might have been there, just being glad that he had people watching who cared about him. Nox gave him a long look though, making him lose the smile slowly.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just…" Nox's gaze flickered down briefly. "I just want to give you a tip before dinner, if I could. Privately."

Hermione and Ron frowned, but Harry agreed. It was odd, but something about this felt more serious. He spent a good portion of the rest of the afternoon wondering what Nox would tell him as they split up again—him wandering the grounds with the Weasley's while the students went to finish their exams. He spotted Nox waiting outside the Great Hall—having finished before his classmates, apparently—and let Mrs. Weasley and Bill go in for the feast first.

"This way," Nox said, leading him away from the people starting to head in and to an empty classroom nearby.

Harry was rather surprised to see him cast a spell at the door then, effectively preventing any eavesdroppers from listening in, and the action made Harry's stomach flip in unease.

"Sorry," Nox muttered, giving him an understanding look. "I don't mean to… to worry you. I just… what I have to say is important and… and I'm worried who could be listening."

"It's okay," Harry lied, fighting back the tightness in his chest that Nox's suspicion egged on.

"Do you… remember what I asked of you before? When I want you to swear something?"

"Yeah. Is that what this is about?" Harry asked, brows furrowing as Nox nodded, giving the door another glance and even the windows.

"It's going to sound stupid and… well, and mean, really."

"Mean?"

Nox waved a hand, making Dubh flap to steady himself on his shoulder when the boy began to pace. "Yes, mean, and I know this won't make much sense but I… well, I don't want you to be upset, okay?"

"Why would I be upset?" Harry questioned with a frown.

"You won't be. Not now, anyway, but…" Nox's face shifted into that tired, worn expression. "But you will later. When you put the pieces together, you will."

Harry shook his head, confused. "Nox, I don't understand what you're saying. What does this have to do with the third task? What is it you want me to do?"

Nox stopped pacing, chewing on his lip before seeming to nod to himself. "I want you to swear to me that no matter what happens, you keep Cedric away from the cup."

Now, he was even more confused.

"Well, I think that's kind of the point."

"That's not what I mean. I mean, if anything happens. If you both reach it at the same time, if it comes down to the two of you racing for it, if he so much as wants to touch it to hand it to you or whatever else—yes, I know it sounds stupid, Harry, but please!"

Harry was a little unsettled at how adamant Nox was being, a hint of desperation filling the boy's voice.

"Please, Harry. Even if it means stunning him the second his back is turned and having him hate you the rest of your years here at Hogwarts. You cannot let him near that cup."

Harry nodded slowly. "Okay. Okay, Nox. I swear."

Nox relaxed a little, looking relieved but not entirely calm, as though he feared that Harry might go back on his word. And as they went back to the Great Hall, Harry couldn't help but wonder what had him so on edge. Yes, even Harry was aware of the threat Voldemort and Barty Jr. still held. Hermione had been practically pounding it into his head every chance she could that there was no way they would give up so easily just because Nox stepped in. But Dumbledore was here. The professors, Lupin, Sirius, and even the Minister was supposed to be there! Trying something during the task seemed almost silly, even for the Dark Lord.

So, seeing Nox worried had him on edge. Harry wasn't stupid and knew that Nox understood more than he let on. This thing he made Harry swear on about Cedric only seemed to prove that even more. Why Cedric in particular? Why not Krum or Fleur? Why did Nox think Harry would be the one to even get close enough to the cup to stop any of them? Why would he be angry with Nox about this?

Nothing quite made sense to him, but he did appreciate Nox's concern. Nox was a good friend and, unlike many of the adults around who held similar intelligence, Nox wasn't afraid to fight back with people bigger than him (bigger in ways other than physical size) and Nox always told him what he needed to know. Even if it didn't make sense or if the adults felt he shouldn't know or wouldn't understand. Nox still told him if he asked, and even if he didn't.

So, as the champions were led out of the Great Hall and towards the Quidditch field covered in hedges, the tight bundle of nerves in Harry's stomach relaxed somewhat. Nox trusted him—believed in him—to get as far as the cup. He wouldn't let him down now.

"We are going to be patrolling the outside of the maze," McGonagall said once everyone from inside started filling up the stands. "If you get into difficulty, and wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one of us will come and get you, do you understand?"

The champions nodded and Harry eyed Moody and Lupin who stood there in preparation also. Lupin gave him an encouraging nod and Moody seemed to crack a small smirk in his direction too as they headed off—Hagrid offering good luck too as Bagman called out to those in the stands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each—Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School!"

Cheers rang out, putting butterflies in Harry's stomach as he looked up and saw a large black dog sitting beside Nox in the stands. The butterflies calmed at the sight and a small smile flickered onto his face. I can do this. Sirius is watching. Professor Lupin is outside with Dumbledore and everyone else. I just have to keep Cedric away from the cup. Harry's hand slipped into his pocket and wrapped around his wand, drawing upon all his courage as a whistle was blown and he rushed into the maze with Cedric.

The two reached a fork and split up, hearing the whistle for the other two champions after a moment more. Harry felt a shiver run up his back though, glancing behind him for the umpteenth time since he started. He felt like he was being watched.

"If you get that feeling, trust it," he remembered Nox telling him when Nox had successfully jinxed him in the hall and did the countercurse. "Humans have animal instincts too, and they're usually right about these sorts of things. Keep your guard up and believe in yourself, and you won't be caught off-guard easily."

Harry nodded to himself, muttering his advice under his breath. "And pretend you don't notice to get the upper-hand on whoever is watching."

He reached another fork and used his wand as a compass, taking the left fork and then the right. He hadn't hit any obstacles yet though, which unsettled him. A noise sounded behind him and he very nearly set Cedric aflame— shifting his wand away at the last second and startling the already frazzled Hufflepuff.

"Y-You nearly hit me!"

"You startled me!" Harry countered, grateful for Nox's reflex training, even if it had meant a number of bruises and complaints.

"It's Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts," Cedric explained when Harry spotted his smoking robes. "They're enormous! I only just got away."

Good to know, Harry thought as Cedric took off down another path. It made him feel a little guilty when he remembered his promise to Nox. As helpful as Cedric was being, he might actually have to stun the boy to keep his promise.

Harry shook the thought from his head for now though, fighting a boggart in one part of the maze before having to turn back. He found a golden mist then, trying a spell to no avail before hearing Fleur scream somewhere up ahead. He hesitated before taking a deep breath and plunging in.

"I don't know if they'll use any poison or anything, but if there's anything odd in the air or if you see something strange that absolutely cannot be real, then you need to be prepared to do something about it," Nox warned him as Harry panted behind him in the early morning air, struggling to keep up with the boy's running pace. "Having the ability to hold your breath for a while is helpful, in that case. Running will help."

Harry made it through and gasped out a breath, panting for a moment before focusing on inhaling through his nose and exhaling through his mouth as Nox taught him. He really was preparing me for everything, wasn't he? Harry pushed onward, searching for Fleur, hating that a part of him was glad there was one less champion to think about.

He kept hitting dead ends though until he found the Blast-Ended Skrewt Cedric had warned him about and ducked back around the corner as quickly as he could. Skrewts. Nox didn't say anything about them, but he handled them best in our class with Hagrid. What was it he did? Harry thought back desperately to when Nox was helping them wrangle the creatures. It had taken the boy months to figure out any trick to help calm the raging things and—Ah! Their bellies! He said they were like dragons with softer bellies!

Harry slipped a hand out, staying cautious so the creature—that had near quadrupled in size—didn't notice him and attack. Then, aiming properly, he flicked his wand.

"Impedimenta!"

The creature slowed to a near stop and he smiled, mentally praising Hermione for teaching him that spell as he bolted past it. It took a while longer to find another pat that wasn't in the wrong direction or another dead-end, but he hadn't expected to hear Cedric yelling.

"What are you doing? What the hell d'you think you're doing?"

"Crucio!" Krum's voice called out, getting muffled when Cedric began to wail in agony.

Harry was quick to react, hating how familiar the screams sounded to those he'd sworn he'd heard before from someone else. "Stupefy!"

Krum was stunned and the spell released, leaving Cedric struggling to recover as Harry realized where he'd heard the screams before. Nox… Back with Quirrell and Voldemort… Back with the basilisk… He's been under the forbidden curse before. Why did he not say? Harry swallowed thickly, checking on Cedric.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Cedric panted. "Yeah. I don't believe it… He crept up behind me. I heard him, I turned around, and he had his wand on me…"

Harry frowned down at Krum. "I can't believe this ... I thought he was all right."

"So did I."

"If something doesn't seem right, don't focus on the immediate answer. Always find evidence, if you can. And remember, in the wizarding world, there are spells that can make people do things they wouldn't normally do. There are objects that can hide people without a trace. Don't trust just what's in front of you," Nox warned.

"You think he got Fleur too? Did you hear her scream before?" Cedric asked.

"I don't know, but… he could have been controlled too, right? I really don't think he'd do this."

"I guess. Should we leave him here?"

Harry shook his head. "We should send up sparks for him. Someone'll come and collect him… otherwise, he'll probably be eaten by a skrewt."

"All right."

Cedric sent the sparks up above Krum and they awkwardly split up again—Harry breaking off into a light jog. The sight of Krum—quite possibly being controlled—had him on edge now too. He just wanted to get out of here as quick as he could now. Nox's warnings were proving helpful, but also adding to his paranoia. He could still feel eyes on him, and he didn't like it.

Then, finally, after answering the riddle of a sphinx, Harry had spotted a light and dashed towards the cup waiting at the empty clearing. He wasn't the only one either and Cedric was closer. No. I can't let him. I have to keep him away like I promised! Harry sped up until he spotted something shift and called out to Cedric.

"Cedric! On your left!"

Cedric dodged but lost his wand just as a gigantic spider boor down on him. Harry hit the spider with spell after spell, but they hardly did anything. He was growing desperate when the spider lifted him in the air before he remembered a smiling Nox reciting something he'd learned about dragons.

"Strange, isn't it? How something so big is impervious to most spells unless you have multiple people casting them? Do you think spells just layer themselves and have more effect?"

"Dunno. You'd have to ask Hermione. I'm, um… not good with spell theory or whatever."

"Cedric! Cast on three!"

"What!"

"Just do it! One, two… three! Stupefy!"

"Stupefy!"

The spider fell over sideways, dropping Harry in the process and making him cry out as he landed on his leg poorly.

"Harry, are you all right? Did it fall on you?"

"No," Harry grimaced, seeing blood and wishing Nox had shown him some healing spells as well.

Cedric looked to the cup then and Harry felt his heart skip. He honestly wanted Cedric to have it. He had been there first and Harry had had enough fame for a lifetime. But Nox's desperate expression returned and when Cedric turned around, Harry muttered an apology. Cedric's expression turned confused before the spell hit and he fell to the ground, stunned.

"Sorry," Harry said again, pushing himself up onto his feet. "I would've let you have it, but I… I swore to a friend."

"How touching."

Harry stiffened, whipping around as quickly as he could with his injury and feeling the blood rush from his face at the sight of the scraggly man who stepped out of the bushes. He picked up Cedric's discarded wand and his tongue darted out, licking his bottom lip briefly as a smirk played over his face. Harry tightened his grip on his own wand, wondering if his reflexes would be quick enough to get up red sparks.

"Don't even think about it," the man warned, smirk falling as Cedric's wand came level with Harry's chest. "I've got far more experience than you, Potter, and my tempter is rather short after what your little friend Sterling pulled."

Harry opened his mouth but paused.

"Don't ask questions unless you need time. Questions tend to make enemies antsier, more unpredictable, and even angry and impatient," Nox told him, making him frown.

"What does that have to do with dueling?"

"Trust me. Everyone always wants to talk, get answers for their own curiosity, but all it ever does is backfire. It gives them information on you and what makes you tick. So, if you're ever in a fight, and you know what you need to do, then just do it. Don't give them time to react. They expect you to ask questions and will be surprised when you act instead."

Harry's hand snapped up and red sparks flew the same instant the man sent a spell his way. Harry dropped to the side, cringing as his leg sent pain riveting up his thigh, but the move had worked. Nox did say that if you can't dodge properly, falling works just as well.

Noise was quickly approaching, and the man scowled, lunging forward and grabbing Harry by the arm. Before Harry could jerk away though, the man had grabbed a hold of the Triwizard Cup and it felt like he was suddenly being jerked through a howling wind of swirling color.

A second set of red sparks went up and I was standing in a second, making the large black down at my side growl and tug at my robes.

"No," I snapped at Sirius. "Something's wrong."

The dog eyed me before begrudgingly releasing me as I bounded out of the stands with him on my heels. Please tell me Harry's okay. There weren't two sparks before. The second set has to be him. The first was for… for Krum, I think. We heard Fleur scream too, but there were no sparks there. So, it was either him or Cedric, but if he listened to me, then… I was stopped by Lupin at the edge of the maze near the opening to the stands.

"Nox, you can't be here."

"Something's wrong," I snapped as Lupin shot Sirius a look for not keeping me in my place.

"Someone's already heading for the sparks. If Harry was in trouble, then he'll be there, and McGonagall and Moody will be able to help."

"And if he's not there?" I countered—fists clenched at my side.

"Nox, please. I can't have you go in there for your own safety."

"Why can't you just trust me?" I questioned him then, bristled and the overwhelming fear I had that I'd done something terribly wrong by letting Harry do this making me even more unsettled. "Why can't you just believe me?"

Lupin eyed me for a moment before he sighed heavily and waved me forward, drawing his wand as we moved towards the hedges. "Stay behind me, understand?"

I nodded, grateful to be moving towards where we would be needed and as we slipped right through the hedges towards the center, I felt my body tense with anxiety. Cedric was lying on the ground, stunned with McGonagall hovering over him while Hagrid dealt with the giant spider. Moody though, was in position by where the cup should have been—the space empty and no sign of Harry around.

"Remus!" McGonagall snapped upon spotting me. "Mr. Sterling shouldn't be—"

"Where's Cedric's wand?" I asked, cutting her off and making her pause before looking around with the others.

"I don't…"

"Smart kid," Moody grunted, his magical eye swirling towards me. "No cup, no Potter, but two stunned and no wand around to do it."

"Someone took his wand," I pointed out, moving from behind Lupin as the adults eyed one another uneasily. "The cup is gone, Harry is gone, and there was someone else here."

"A champion?" Sirius asked, having transformed back since we were out of sight of anyone unimportant.

"Viktor Krum was taken out early on," Moody informed as McGonagall seemed to pale.

"And Miss Delacour was also removed. Both were… Mr. Krum didn't remember what happened, but Miss Delacour informed us that she was stunned."

"By who?" I pressed, unease building.

"She didn't say."

"Alert Dumbledore," Moody grumbled, eyes flickering to us. "The Dark Lord has made his move."

Harry hit the ground hard, his injured leg giving away and only the odd man's grip on his arm holding him up for a moment. A quick look around though, alerted him that he was no longer in the hedge maze, but standing in what appeared to be a dark, overgrown graveyard. The man holding him cackled briefly, an insane sort of sound that made the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stand on end before the man shoved him towards a large marble headstone and cords were conjured to strap him to it.

Harry struggled against it, twisting his wrist to try and cut them, but the man disarmed him with a flick of Cedric's wand as he moved towards where a bundle of robe rested in the gap of a statue's feet. What is that? A baby? Robes? Harry's scar suddenly burst with pain, making him hiss and grit his teeth as it felt like his head was about to crack open.

"No trouble then, Barty?"

"None at all," Barty Jr. replied, making Harry stare at the man in shock.

He remembered what Nox had said about him, and Harry felt fear roll through him. He didn't know where he was, how far from help he was, nor where Voldemort could be. He was obviously here somewhere. Barty Jr. was here, after all, and he worked for him. Perhaps the voice came from…? Harry's eyes shifted to the robes in disbelief, wishing the chords hadn't wrapped themselves around his mouth, preventing him from questioning the man. Then, a thought occurred to him.

Why did Nox tell me not to let Cedric touch the cup? Did he know? But how? Cedric would be… he would be dead, wouldn't he? If Cedric came with me or got to the cup first… But how could Nox have known? A churning sense of betrayal filled him for a moment as Nox's desperate expression from before filtered into his mind.

"…I don't want you to be upset…"

Harry's gaze drifted to the cup some feet away, flickering in the moonlight. It would be his one chance of escape. He then saw movement at his feet and stiffened at the large snake that slid around him and then into the dark. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself as he finally looked at the bubbling cauldron that Barty Jr. was preparing.

"Hurry!" A voice demanded and Barty Jr. smirked in the dark.

"It's ready."

"Now."

Barty Jr. reached into the robes and pulled out a strange figure with the shape of a human child but hairless, scaly, and a dark reddish-black with vibrant red eyes and a flat, snake-like face. Barty Jr. dunked the figure into the cauldron with a small grimace of disgust before he began to speak.

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

The grave below Harry cracked and dust rose from it to join the figure who'd sunk to the bottom of the cauldron. Harry could only hope it drowned.

"Flesh of the servant, willingly given, you will revive your master," Barty Jr. declared, pulling out a silver dagger and stunning Harry as the man cut off his arm with a cry of agony.

The man's tongue flicked across his bottom lip as he tore part of his robes to tie off the bleeding stump and swiveled to Harry, who jerked uselessly in his restraints as he approached.

"Blood of the enemy… forcibly taken. You will resurrect your foe," Barty Jr. hissed, dragging the dagger down the crook of Harry's right arm and collecting some blood with a small glass vial to add to the potion.

A surge of steam billowed from the cauldron and again, Harry hoped the figure who'd been put it in had died or drowned or something because he was starting to realize what was going on—who that figure must have been. Please. Please let it go wrong. Let him be dead.

A man stepped out of the cauldron, demanding his robes—which Barty Jr. gratefully provided—and the man from his nightmares stepped out of the fog and towards him with a serpentine smile. Voldemort was back from the dead, and very much alive.

"Anything?" Dumbledore asked upon stepping into the center of the maze.

"Nothing," Lupin replied, an arm wrapped around my shoulders as a form of comfort, but also to keep me in place to prevent my own disappearing or running off.

Not that I would. I knew there wasn't anything I could do at this point. But Cedric's alive. Harry might be upset when he returns, but he shouldn't be any worse for wear… I hope. We just have to wait. He'll escape… right? He said Pettigrew died, so has Barty Jr. replaced him? Someone else? Harry should still be able to get away. I prepared him more than he would've been. So why do I feel like I've made a mistake?

"It was Crouch," I murmured, drawing their gazes to me. "He was the only one close enough. He had to have snuck in, cursed Krum, attacked Fleur a-and changed the cup into a portkey. That's why it's missing and Harry, right? They couldn't have just snuck out of the maze. Once the sparks were sent off, he was surrounded."

"Where would they have taken him?" McGonagall questioned. "He could be anywhere."

"We'll have to wait and remain calm for now. No one knows what has happened yet, not even the Minister. If he doesn't return within the hour…" Dumbledore's serious gaze looked around at everyone, just allowing the question to hang in the air unfinished.

No one wanted to consider what would happen if Harry didn't return, and I leaned further into Lupin's side in unease. Please tell me I didn't somehow screw this up.

Harry felt fear roll through him at the Death Eaters that now surrounded him as Voldemort and Barty Jr. scolded and tortured them. Barty Jr. looked so pleased to be torturing someone that Harry wondered how he hadn't noticed the very same glee back when he was acting as Professor Moody in their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. Back when Nox initially realized something was wrong.

Barty Jr. had been the only one rewarded for his acts of loyalty, regaining his sacrificed limb with a metal one, but Harry hardly cared about that. Some of the names he was hearing were familiar. Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy, Lestrange, Macnair. People Harry knew in some form or another. Then, the graveyard went quiet. Voldemort was looking at him now.

"You know, of course, that they have called this boy my downfall?" Voldemort hummed, retelling his story as he neared ever closer to Harry, who struggled to hide the pain his scar was sending through his head. "You all know that on the night I lost my powers and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died in the attempt to save him - and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen… I could not touch the boy."

A pale-white, spidery finger was lifted ever so close to Harry's cheek, making him wish he could jerk away.

"His mother left upon him the traces of her sacrifice… This is old magic, I should have remembered it, I was foolish to overlook it… but no matter. I can touch him now."

His finger brushed Harry's face and Harry nearly passed out from the agonizing pain that split through his skull. Harry couldn't focus on what Voldemort was rattling on about then, fighting to push past the pain his scar was bringing him, because he knew passing out now would mean his death. And he still had a chance. He just needed to get back to the cup.

Voldemort spoke of Quirrell, of Harry and the Sorcerer's Stone, of Nox's fight, Bertha Jorkins, and of Pettigrew's mistake which cost him his life. Before Harry could comprehend what was happening, Voldemort had cast Curcio and made him squirm in his bindings as blindingly hot pain flowed through him.

It was gone just as quickly, but the pain made a shiver run through his body and his mind. This was the kind of pain Cedric had gone through—Nox had gone through—and he wanted to die with just a moment's taste of it. It made him feel weak. It made him feel angry. Then, his chance.

"Now, untie him, Barty, and give him back his wand."

It wasn't much of a chance. Harry's injured leg shook underneath him, threatening to give out with the wrong move and the Death Eaters had closed in, removing any gaps that he could have used to get to the portkey. Harry wasn't sure what to do, or what he could do other than fight. And fighting one of the strongest wizards in the world with only what he was taught by another fourteen-year-old, didn't seem like a winning scenario.

"You have been taught how to duel, Harry Potter?" Voldemort questioned as Harry looked at the other Death Eaters, wondering how many he'd be able to take out before he was killed.

Because he would, undoubtedly, end up dead given the situation.

"We bow to each other, Harry," Voldemort continued. "Come, the niceties must be observed. Dumbledore would like you to show manners. Bow to death, Harry."

The thought was almost funny, as he remembered Nox's response to bowing back when they learned with Lockhart.

"In a real duel, no one bothers with the bowing, you know. It's just fighting to the death."

Yet, Death himself wanted him to bow.

Harry's spine was forced into a bow by the man's wand before he was allowed to straighten up with a frown.

"Very good," Voldemort hummed. "And now you face me, like a man; straight-backed and proud, the way your father died. And now—we duel."

Harry dove to the side, grimacing when his leg throbbed, but surprising Voldemort and himself when the Cruciatus Curse missed and cast a divot into the Earth where Harry had once been standing.

"Ah, so there is life in you yet," Voldemort purred. "Shall we try again?"

Harry didn't respond, eyes scanning for an escape, for a sign of which of the Death Eaters might be the easiest prey that he could stun to get away.

"I asked you whether you want me to do that again," Voldemort repeated. "Answer me! Imperio!"

Harry wasn't quick enough to dodge this one with his leg and felt the overwhelming urge to answer him. Still, a stronger voice in the back of his mind fought against it and his response came out clear.

"I won't!"

"You won't?" Voldemort questioned. "You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a virtue I need to teach you before you die. Perhaps another little dose of pain?"

Harry somehow dodged again, rolling behind the tombstone he'd been tied to as the spell missed again.

"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry," Voldemort taunted. "You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean that you would prefer me to finish it now, Harry? Come out, Harry. Come out and play, then, it will be quick. It might even be painless… I would not know… I have never died."

Harry hated this. He knew how Nox had told him to run in useless situations. He knew that this was one such situation where he had no help coming, no real plan of escape. Yet, he didn't want to die while running away. He wanted to die facing him, facing this monster of a wizard. And he couldn't do that hiding behind a wall of stone. So, taking a deep breath, he leaped out from behind the grave and called out.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Harry's and Voldemort's spells clashed mid-air and their wands shook violently, though their hands were almost glued to the magical devices. A beam of light connected their wands and Harry was in complete disbelief as to what was happening as their feet rose from the ground. They were moved to a clear patch of grass with the Death Eaters following and demanding orders in this unexpected situation.

"Do nothing!" Voldemort commanded, looking just as astonished as Harry was. "Do nothing unless I command you!"

A song began to fill the air, reminding Harry of Fawkes, and it was almost as though someone was speaking softly in his ear.

Don't break the connection.

Harry knew this, but it suddenly became harder to do. A bead of light had begun to move closer to Harry's side of the connection and he knew he couldn't let it reach him and began to try and push it back. Voldemort looked almost fearful as it finally touched the other man's wand and it began to scream.

Ghostly images flickered from it, the ghost of Barty Jr.'s new hand, and then… a head, a torso, and a whole person. It was an old man. One Harry had witnessed dying in his dreams at the start of the year by Voldemort's very hand.

"You fight him, boy," the ghost demanded as a woman appeared next.

Bertha Jorkins eyed what was happening and echoed the sentiment. "Don't let go, now! Don't let him get you, Harry. Don't let go!"

Yet another spirit emerged, and Harry felt his heart stop.

"Your mother's coming," his father told him quietly. "She wants to see you. It'll be all right. Hold on."

Sure enough, his mother slipped through the veil next, walking right up to Harry and speaking to him quietly so Voldemort couldn't hear.

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

"Yes," Harry murmured, fighting to keep hold of his wand as his father whispered back.

"Do it now. Be ready to run… Do it now!"

"Now!" Harry shouted as well, jerking his wand away and running as if his life depended on it.

The pain in his leg was agonizing, but the adrenaline subdued it as he subdued two Death Eaters. He dodged curses, swatting away others with the shielding charm that Nox taught him when they weren't forbidden curses.

"Stun him!" Voldemort demanded as Harry dove behind a stone angel and fired back a few shots himself. "Stand aside! I will kill him! He is mine!"

"Accio!" Harry summoned, getting one last look at Voldemort's face as he screamed in fury and the portkey tugged at Harry's stomach; the same moment someone grabbed his arm.

Harry hit the ground and my wand was out in a second along with several others. He hadn't been the only one to be brought back and Barty Jr. snarled dangerously. His hand twitched and I called the spell out before any of the others could do anything.

"Expelliarmus!"

Cedric's wand flew from his grip as his eyes shifted towards mine, making my jaw clench and my heart race. This was the man who hurt Dubh and tried to kill me. I wasn't about to let him do something to Harry.

"Oh, if it isn't the Sterling brat," he hissed—tongue running over cracked lips. "Oh, he's got his eyes on you now too, you know. Meddling brat!"

He lunged forward and I bristled, prepared to do something about it only for Lupin to shift between us, wand at his throat along with several others prepared to do the very same.

"Touch him, and you'll wish the Dark Lord was around to kill you," Lupin snarled.

"I've got him, Remus," Moody said sharply, magical eye focused solely on Barty Jr. "We've got some unfinished business to settle. Imperio!"

Barty Jr. was forced to stand with Moody as I slipped out from behind Lupin to Harry's side. His leg was injured, and I spoke as calmly as I could to him, knowing he was on edge.

"Harry, I'm going to heal your leg, okay?"

"You… knew."

I swallowed thickly, keeping my eyes on his leg as I ran my wand over it a few times to heal the injury as best I could—knowing Madam Pomfrey would be able to repair what I couldn't.

"Y-You told me… You said not to take him, but you didn't… Why didn't you…" His expression pinched. "I trusted you a-and you knew!"

"Later," I hissed under my breath, seeing and feeling Dumbledore's eyes on us. "Please, Harry. I-I'll explain later. Just let me—"

His hand snapped out, smacking my wand away as he shouted. "Don't! Y-You don't get to touch me!"

My hand stung along with my heart, but I nodded and stood, backing up a step as Harry scrambled to his feet. He's still favoring that leg, but… least he's not bleeding everywhere… I just hope he'll understand… Harry looked to Dumbledore then, having flinched when the man touched him.

"He's back," Harry whispered. "He's back. Voldemort…"

"What's going on? What's happened?" Fudge asked, having descended the stands and eyeing both the pale Harry and Barty Jr. in Moody's custody. "Hold on. Isn't that…"

Harry looked almost ill as people began to filter down from the stands, trying to get to him as they cheered and spoke over one another. He was overwhelmed, I knew, but I couldn't do anything for him. Not when he wouldn't let me. My hand was tight on my wand even now, as Dumbledore finally sent everyone off so he could take Harry up to his office.

"Nox?"

I blinked, looking up to Lupin and suddenly feeling far older than I should be. It's this damn body. All those hormones. Losing a friend's trust shouldn't hurt this much. I'm an adult, dammit… so why do I feel… Lupin knelt down and wrapped his arms around me, and I sagged into him, holding onto him tightly as well. I was relieved Harry was okay, tears breaking through and soaking into Lupin's robes, but this—I knew—was the beginning of the end.

Voldemort was back. A war was coming. And if I didn't have Harry's trust… I wasn't sure what use I could be.