Here is the last chapter of The Goblet of Fire, as promised. It's half as long as usual and thanks to those who reviewed to help me like it just a little bit more (I changed how I started it initially and appreciate it better now that I have). I hope you enjoy it! The next chapter should be out within the next two days but don't be surprised if the gaps between chapters is more than that. I have work and school, so I prioritize those before writing even if I'd much rather be writing...

but please let me know what you think! About this chapter especially, because writing Harry's reaction to this was harder than I thought.

Harry stared at the sack of gold he'd been given, feeling as though it were some form of useless compensation after what he'd gone through. It had only been hours ago that he feared for his life and Voldemort had regained his body and his followers. He knew he'd probably rested better than Nox though, thanks to the Dreamless Sleep potion he'd been given by Madam Pomfrey. He was still angry with him, but a lot of the initial bitterness had faded with his resting, and he now felt more betrayed and curious than anything.

Did Nox really know what was going to happen? Was that why he told Harry to keep Cedric safe? But then, why not stop him from going? Why not warn him what was to happen? And how did Nox know all of this? Professor Trelawney mentioned something about Nox being a Seer or something, hadn't she? He'd taken it as another one of her lies, but what if she was right?

Harry needed to talk to him, and as soon as he'd been let out of the infirmary, he went off in search of Nox. He didn't find him easily. Hermione said she'd been given Dubh to look after when Nox rushed off to find him during the task and hadn't returned to the common room at all that evening. Ron hadn't seen him, and Neville had shaken his head as well when Harry asked. Harry searched the grounds too, checking Hagrid's hut, the Beauxbatons horse corral, the lake, and the Forbidden Forest edge. He'd almost given up until a large black dog bounded up to him and ran in circles around his ankles.

"Sirius, have you seen Nox? I want to talk to him."

Sirius calmed down, ears flicking back with a small whine, letting Harry know that Nox wasn't exactly doing well, as he'd thought. Still, the black dog led him back into the castle and towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. The room itself was empty, but Sirius moved to the office and Harry stepped in behind him.

Moody's office still had the large trunk and various enchanted objects that warned people when others were listening in or wandering nearby. Harry eyed the backs of shadowed figures in a mirror briefly before looking at the occupants of the room. Moody himself wasn't around, but Lupin was sitting in an armchair with a cup and saucer of tea. He spotted Harry and his eyes immediately went to Nox, who's drawn, tired expression spoke of the lack of sleep and exhaustion that clung to him.

"Nox, could I… talk to you?" Harry asked, feeling a bit uneasy around the adults, and even more so with Nox.

But he had to try and understand. Nox wasn't someone who just went and did things without thinking them through. There had to be a reason.

Nox started to get up, but Lupin was already on his feet.

"Stay, Nox. We'll see you down at breakfast," he said, pointing a finger sternly at him. "No excuses… You're too thin."

Nox didn't lift his gaze from his tea and Lupin let out a small sigh before patting Harry on the shoulder and leaving with a reluctant Sirius. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving the two boys in an eerily silent room. Harry slowly moved to take Lupin's seat, wringing his hands and trying to think of what to say. He wanted answers, but a part of him knew that if he just started yelling at Nox—if he let his anger take control—then he wouldn't get the answers he wanted. Nox would shut down and take any beating Harry dished out.

That's just how Nox worked. He already knew Harry would be angry. He said it before—told Harry not to be upset. Nox was already feeling guilty for what he'd done or let happen. He felt he deserved the punishment, the anger and yelling, so he'd take it. So, if Harry wanted answers, he'd have to hold back the anger as best he could.

"You told me to stop Cedric. Why?"

Solemn, defeated blue eyes lifted to meet Harry's. "You know why."

Harry's hands clenched around the arms of the chair, but he forced them to relax. "You knew the cup was a portkey. You knew touching it would send me to him. Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you stop me?"

"If I stopped you, someone else would touch it. Krum, Fleur, Cedric," Nox explained, eyes cold and serious. "They would have been killed on the spot."

"I was almost killed!" Harry shouted, unable to hold his temper for long.

"I knew you could get away."

"How! How could you possibly know!"

Nox's gaze drifted down to the table between them. "You wouldn't believe me."

Harry bristled. "Why not? Magic's real, isn't it? I did the impossible and lived through a killing curse, didn't I? You're my friend, Nox! You were tortured by Voldemort to protect me! You fought a basilisk for me! So why can't you just tell me what's going on, because I don't know what to think!"

Nox sighed heavily, sagging into the cushions and dropping his head into his hands. "I don't have a choice, do I? I've said too much… Got attached too easily and let my feelings towards you and the others make me slip up… God, puberty's a real bitch the second time, isn't it?"

Harry's brows furrowed in confusion, unsure of where this conversation had gone as Nox threw his head back with a loud groan.

"Why do the teenage years have to be such a hot mess? All the crying and irrational anger getting everything all muddled in my head. I should be able to handle this so much better, but no. I've gone and screwed it all up, and I'm going to screw it up even more, so I might as well just say it, right?"

Harry glanced at Nox and over to the door, silently wondering if his friend had finally had a nervous break and whether or not he should go get Lupin back. Nox's gaze settled back on him as he slicked back his hair, making Harry stiffen. Nox's look had changed almost completely. He still looked tired, sure, but now he had this look of… relief? Uncaring? Harry wasn't sure what to make of it until he spoke.

"I know the future."

"Um… what?"

Nox scowled, messing up his hair in annoyance. "You wanted me to explain, so now I'm explaining. I said you wouldn't believe me, but this is me being truthful. Surely you've noticed I'm not exactly… normal, in regards to fourteen-year-olds. Never thought magic was a thing though, so I'm not too all-knowing."

Harry's brows furrowed. "So… you told me to save Cedric—"

"Because he would have died if he went with you," Nox stated bluntly, making Harry wince. "That's how I saw it. You and Cedric make a truce, you both take the cup, you both get transported. Voldemort didn't need him, just you, so…"

"Why didn't you stop me?"

"And tell you what?" Nox frowned. "The only reason I'm telling you this now is because I gave it away and you wanted answers. You wouldn't have believed me if I told you before. And if I just told you to not show up to the third task, would you honestly do it?"

Harry had to admit that no, he probably wouldn't. He actually wanted to try in the third task, as much as he loathed to admit it.

"That, and it needed to happen."

Harry felt his body go hot at that. "Are you serious? You wanted Voldemort to return?"

"Of course, I didn't," Nox hissed, scowling. "But you want him gone, right?"

"Everyone does!"

"Then, he had to come back first. Look. I'll try to make it simple because it makes even my head hurt thinking about it and they'll be expecting us down at breakfast soon." Nox sighed heavily and drank some tea before locking eyes with Harry. "Voldemort tried to kill you, lost his body, and was able to come back, right?"

Harry nodded; brows furrowed in concentration as Nox went over his line of thinking.

"The thing is, killing a body is easy, it's killing the spirit that's hard. That's how he was able to live in the first place. So, in order to kill Voldemort for certain, he has to be in a vessel that's killable. Got it?"

Harry nodded slowly. "But wouldn't he just have found another way?"

"Sure, but then you wouldn't know about the trick your wands can do," Nox hummed, making Harry's eyes widen, as this was further proof that Nox knew literally everything.

It was unsettling.

"H-How… How much do you…"

"Honestly, not as much as I should," Nox grumbled. "I know big events mostly, but smaller details get sort of… lost. Point is, I remember enough," Nox went on, ignoring Harry's shock. "So, I know for the most part when I can and can't do things. Or, well, I try to think of all the consequences of changing things. I didn't expect Pettigrew to die or Barty Jr. to take his place or anything like that. I just wanted Barty Jr. caught and hoped that would do some good." He frowned, looking annoyed. "I just don't like changing things, because then what I know becomes a bit… screwy."

Harry sank back into his chair, mind spinning. One of his best friends just admitted that he was a-a Seer of some sort, who knew the future. A part of him wanted to just run away, to stay as far away from Nox as possible. Another part said to tell someone and try to find Nox help because the idea of him being like Professor Trelawney was insane. But then came all the memories he'd made with Nox. All the times that the boy—while odd—had done or said something that helped. He had better grades thanks to Nox. He'd survived fighting Quirrell and Voldemort because Nox had continued to protect him after he'd passed out. Nox had been willing to die by the basilisk to keep him alive and even during these tasks had continuously helped him, Hermione, Ron, and even Neville.

But Nox basically knew the future and having that sort of ability—as intriguing and useful as it was—meant he had a lot of power. Who's to say he'd use it to help him? He'd already let Harry walk into a literal snake's nest for the sake of some bigger future that only he knew about. For all Harry knew, he was changing things to help Voldemort.

So, as unlikely as it seemed for Nox to drift to that side of things, Harry had concerns. Nox seemed to realize this too and sighed, getting up.

"It's fine if you don't believe me or want to think about it more," he said, looking a little disheartened but also relieved. "I just ask that… if you're going to… to hate me, that you don't take it out on anyone else. Everything has always been my decision, so the consequences are on me. Don't let my choices ruin your friendships."

Harry opened his mouth, but closed it, not really knowing what he could say as Nox gave him a small bow of his head and slipped out. What the hell just happened?

I sat in the Great Hall in my usual spot beside Hermione and across from Ron and Harry—who'd yet to do much more than furtive glances in my direction. The other students were chattering easily and joyously about Harry winning the tournament and their own version of what must have happened in the maze where no one but the champions could see. It was unsettling because I couldn't have predicted this. How saving Cedric from dying the lack of the one big event that convinced some of the students about Voldemort's return. It made me worry that I'd done too much, even though it felt like I hadn't done enough up until now. It made me wonder if Dumbledore would do anything at all, with this lack of evidence other than Harry's word.

I glanced over at the Hufflepuff table, feeling the small bit of relief at seeing Cedric alive and well, though I knew it wouldn't last. My gaze drifted to the staff table then, where Moody and Lupin were chatting quietly, occasionally handing down food to Sirius tucked between them on the floor. Karkaroff had vanished—due to the return of Voldemort, no doubt—and I stiffened slightly when Dumbledore finally stood.

"The end of another year," Dumbledore said calmly though, as he looked around the room, he appeared almost resigned. "There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight, but I must first acknowledge something very important that occurred during the final task of the tournament."

The students murmured a little, curious, but his serious gaze was quick to quiet them.

"Last week, the Death Eater known as Barty Crouch Jr. was apprehended and taken away to Azkaban after charming the Triwizard Cup into a portkey," he explained, having to hold up a hand to silence everyone so he could go on. "Said portkey was then used to transport Mr. Potter into the hands of Lord Voldemort himself, to which he only just managed to escape with his life."

The students were stunned, frightened, and tense now, hanging on every word Dumbledore was saying.

"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so—either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that this incident hadn't happened or occurred through some sort of blunder of his own, is insulting. Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort."

All eyes went to Harry briefly.

"He risked his own life to return and provide us with this information while having a Death Eater very nearly upon him. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor him."

Glasses were raised in the Great Hall and Harry sank in his seat slightly at the attention before Dumbledore went on with his speech.

"The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened—of Lord Voldemort's return—such ties are more important than ever before." He looked from Madam Maxine and Hagrid to the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students in the hall. "Every guest in this Hall will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again—in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.
"It is my belief—and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken—that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. So, remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened and what could have happened to someone who strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort."

The Great Hall burst into murmurs and questions, eyes focused on Harry and Dumbledore as I winced at a migraine that had started up the evening of the third task. It didn't help that I wasn't sleeping, but the strange limbo I was in with Harry made it hard to hold back the creeping thoughts of how I made things worse or the haunting images of Barty Jr. killing me in the middle of the night.

Then, the day everyone was headed home. I felt even worse than before since Harry still hadn't said a word and Hermione and Ron were becoming overly concerned. I hadn't told either of them the half-truth I told Harry, and it seemed he hadn't told them either. The only plus-side was that in the time it took for the third task to be over and for us to be on our way home, I had come to terms with the changes I'd made.

A person was alive because of me. A Death Eater was imprisoned partially because of me. Another Death Eater was dead because of me—something Sirius had been thrilled to hear. Things had changed, but it appeared to be for the better. The students were still murmuring about Voldemort being back, even without the impact Cedric's death would have brought. Harry's trust towards me was the only thing that hadn't turned out okay and I needed to accept that and move on. I was getting there. Slowly.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Hermione asked. "Harry won't tell us what's going on, but if you two are fighting—"

"We're not fighting," I corrected her, ensuring that Dubh was relaxed on his perch on my shoulder after we'd been waiting a while for the carriages. "I told Harry something important and… things have changed between us, is all."

"This isn't just a change, Nox," she argued, frowning but looking more concerned than anything. "You haven't spoken to each other since the third task, and don't think I haven't noticed you've been sleeping in the common room."

"Ah. Well then, you'll be glad to know that's not true. I haven't been sleeping at all."

"Nox, that's exactly what I'm talking about!" She scolded me, making me lean back away from her slightly as my gaze drifted, hearing a few snickers from other students who were overhearing.

"Look. It's not up to me, it's up to him," I told her calmly, my exhaustion making me a little uncaring about her disagreement. "I did something that shook his trust in me. He needs to decide whether he wanted to keep trusting me or not. I can't make that choice for him."

"But you're not even trying to get him to trust you!"

I sighed. "Listen, I can't really explain this to you, it's between me and him. When he decides he's ready, we'll work it out."

"Nox, I honestly think you two should—"

"Hermy-own-ninny?"

We both looked over as Krum approached, and I resisted the scowl that wanted to form on my face. Damn hormones. Calm down with the jealousy, would you?

"Viktor, hello," Hermione greeted, though her gaze shifted to me briefly.

"Could I have a vord?" Krum asked her, though his gaze shifted to me and I nodded begrudgingly.

Hermione started to head off with him, but called back to me, making me flinch. "We're not done talking, Nox!"

"I really wish we were," I muttered under my breath, pinching the bridge of my nose as Dubh cawed lightly and nuzzled against my jaw.

He knew I wasn't feeling great and I really appreciated the bird's comfort when everything else became a bit overbearing. The carriages arrived not much later, and I ended up in a different carriage than the rest of them, crammed in-between Fred and George as they chatted with myself and Lee Jordan about their plans for their shop-in-progress. It was nice to focus on something other than the crack in my friendship with Harry, and even when we made it onto the train, I finally felt relaxed. Fred and George are so important, more than they could ever think.

Our little group had spotted Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle up ahead though, and—wands out—we hurried on after them just in time to overhear what they were spouting to Harry and the others.

"You've picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you! I told you, you ought to choose your company more carefully, remember? When we met on the train, first day at Hogwarts? I told you not to hang around with riffraff like this! Too late now. Potter! They'll be the first to go, now the Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first!"

It sounded almost like a grenade had gone off in the compartment as multiple spells went off at once. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were all dangling upside-down as though held by invisible rope from the ceiling, completely unconscious with tentacles starting to sprout on their faces.

"Thought we'd see what those three were up to," Fred hummed, looking amused as our group stepped into the compartment and overlooked our work.

"Interesting effect," George mused. "Who used the Furnunculus Curse?"

"Me," Harry replied.

"Odd. I used Jelly-Legs and with Nox here using Levicorpus, well… Looks as though those three shouldn't be mixed. He seems to have sprouted little tentacles all over his face. Let's not leave them here, they don't add much to the decor."

"I got it," I replied, flicking my wand and sending the trio down the corridor in a heap of tangled limbs.

"Exploding Snap, anyone?" Fred offered then, our groups mixing together into the compartment. "Say, did you hear about Ludo Bagman?"

"What about him?"

"Lee Jordan's dad had had a bit of trouble getting money off Bagman. Turns out he's in big trouble with the goblins. Borrowed loads of gold off them. A gang of them cornered him in the woods after the World Cup and took all the gold he had, and it still wasn't enough to cover all his debts. They followed him all the way to Hogwarts to keep an eye on him. He's lost everything gambling. Hasn't got two Galleons to rub together. And you know how the idiot tried to pay the goblins back?"

"How?"

"He put a bet on you, mate. Put a big bet on you to win the tournament. Bet against the goblins."

Harry's gaze shifted towards me, remembering what I'd said about Bagman betting on him back during that Hogsmeade trip. I couldn't think too much about the look before Fred clapped me on the back.

"So, it's great that you bet with us instead, Nox."

"Yeah, cos we'd be in a real pickle if we'd actually bet with him. Probably wouldn't have gotten any money at all."

"But, I did win," Harry brought up, looking away from me.

"Yeah, but goblins play as dirty as him. They say that because Barty Crouch interfered and knocked out the other champions that you didn't win fairly. Outside interference and all that," George shrugged, dealing out the cards again.

We disembarked not long afterward as the train pulled into King's Cross station, and I waited for any sign of Lupin or Sirius on the platform before flinching when someone touched my arm. Hermione cracked a smile and a small apology but squeezed my hand.

"You'll write, yes?"

I nodded, humming in agreement.

"And you better be eating right and sleeping too," she chided, leaning on my shoulder for a moment as I spotted Lupin not too far off and heard the excited barking of Sirius as he played with Harry for a bit. "And… And try to fix whatever's going on between you and Harry."

"I told you, there's nothing I—"

She shot me a sharp look and I begrudgingly sighed.

"Fine."

"Thanks." She leaned over and kissed my cheek, sending heat to my face as she bounded away to meet up with her parents, equally pink in the face.

"So, Hermione, is it?"

I shot Lupin a scowl as he smiled down at me in amusement. "So what?"

He chuckled. "Nothing. She's good for you, I think. Ah, but don't tell Sirius, or you'll never hear the end of it."

My lip twitched up at that, just as said dog slouched on over with a whine. He wanted Harry to come with us as much as anyone, but Harry was to go with his Uncle Vernon for the summer. At least until the dementors… Hold on…

"Harry!"

Harry paused, turning away from his Uncle and giving me a surprised and somewhat concerned look.

"I'll see you soon!"

He opened his mouth, brows furrowed in confusion before it clicked, and his eyes widened in shock. I cracked a smile, bringing a finger up to my lips, and was feeling hopeful when I left the station.

He'd smiled back.