Even though he was used to portkeys, Cedric stumbled while landing because of his injuries while Harry sprawled on the ground hating portkeys. Cedric helped him up & looked around.
"Harry, getting the cup was supposed to end it, right? Harry?"
But Harry was looking around with horror on his face. He knew this face & just when he went to inform Cedric, he heard rustling & a raspy voice saying, "Kill the spare." He didn't think, just pulled Cedric out of the way of the green beam shot towards him. Harry would never forget the squeaky voice of Peter Pettigrew. Fortunately, Wormtail's magical core wasn't that strong, which gave Harry enough time to push Cedric towards the cup which had landed a few feet from them. Unfortunately, Harry was now alone with a deadly snake keeping an eye on him. He hoped Cedric would get the cavalry as soon as possible but had little to no hopes with Fudge involved & he would bet his last knut, Dumbledore would want to use this as another test for his little pawn.
He looked towards the Rat & before he could remove his wand from the pocket, the bastard sent a stunner at him. When he next woke up, he could feel binds on his hands & a breath on his neck. In front of him was a giant cauldron which had a whitish substance swirling & bubbling & a moving cloth bundle beside it on ground with Nagini wrapped around it. After binding him a few more times, Wormtail came in front of Harry.
"Hello Harry." He smiled sweetly.
"You bloody rat. What do you think you are doing? Last time you survived because of me. This time I might kill you myself." Harry was furious. He saw what looked like panic & fear in the eyes of the betrayer but then they cleared & he turned to walk towards the cauldron. He picked the bundle & dropped him in the potion. Harry saw the most hideous baby body he has ever seen when the cloth was removed. While Wormtail's back was turned, Harry realized in his haste, Peter didn't remove the wand from his pants. He just had to bide his time for now. He looked at the snake whose eyes were fixated on the cauldron. Wormtail started coming towards him & pointed a wand towards Harry's feet.
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will revive your master." He levitated a bone to the cauldron & dropped it. Sparks flew from the surface of the potion & it turned poisonous blue color.
Suddenly, Wormtail started whimpering. He took out a blade from a pocket & put it on his wrist.
"Flesh of the servant w-willingly given, you will revive your master." He cut his hand down from his wrist causing the potion to turn a burning red. He screamed & fell on the ground sobbing. After a few minutes of sobbing, he got up & limped towards Harry. He put another dagger on Harry's arm & made a gash.
"B-blood of the enemy forcibly taken, y-you will resurrect your master." He went to get some blood from the gash when Harry interrupted, "I give it willingly." Wormtail ignored him & took the blood on the dagger & dripped it in the cauldron. As soon as he was done potion started changing colors & he fell down again holding his hand which was a stump right now. Harry felt immense pain for a minute but he knew this was his chance & ignored the pain. He was hoping the babymort would have drowned but he knew his luck won't change that fast. He called for Dobby keeping an eye on Nagini. As soon as Dobby popped, Harry screamed, "Dobby, stun the snake & the man. Quick!" Getting the order, Dobby didn't even hesitate. He snapped his fingers & both Wormtail & Nagini were stunned.
Turning towards Harry, Dobby set him free. As soon as all binds were off, Harry jumped down from the statue he was tied to & noticed cauldron was emitting blinding white light. It wasn't gonna take much time. He saw the snake was still blinking. Harry wished he had the Gryffindor's sword to kill the snake just like the basilisk because looking at the scales, old Tommy sure had enhanced his familiar. But to his amazement as soon as he had thought, the sword of Gryffindor appeared in his hand. This was a second time the sword had come to him. He decided to research that later & striked down on the snake, slicing it in two. An eerie scream followed with a black smoke similar to that of the diary in his second year. Harry again looked at the cauldron & saw the body forming. It hadn't even been two minutes since Dobby had appeared.
"Dobby, as soon as the body forms & looks at us pop me to the site of the third task but keep us invisible, understood?" Harry instructed. Dobby nodded his head, "Yes master Harry, Dobby is dos anything you say." He held Harry's hand & waited. Harry had a sudden idea. He sent another stunner at the Wormtail followed with incarcerous. He summoned the body towards him & instructed Dobby to take him with them. After another minute the transition was complete & they heard the command, "Robe me." When the self proclaimed lord didn't receive any answer he opened his eyes & looked directly at his enemy. He had started to say something when Dobby popped them out of there.
####
Everyone in the audience was getting quite bored just sitting there waiting for the winner to be announced. It had been more than one & half hour since the last champion had gone into the maze. Suddenly Cedric Diggory landed in front of the panel with the Triwizard cup on his chest. & like a switch was flipped everyone started cheering & clapping & hollering. His name was chanted everywhere. Few hufflepuff ran down the stands & pushed him in the air. All the while Cedric was trying to gain people's attention. He was afraid Harry didn't have enough time. Finally fed up, he took out his wand & casted a sonorous on himself & shouted at top of his voice, "SHUT UP EVERYONE!" He nodded when everyone calmed down & went to Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore, Harry is in danger. He-" But he was cut down to his annoyance.
"Ah Mr. Cedric, nothing in the maze will cause a fatal blow. The Ministry made sure of it. You don't need to worry." Bagman was smiling so big Cedric could count all his teeth.
"That might be Mr. Bagman. But Harry Potter is not on school grounds anymore. We both touched the cup at the same time & were portkeyed to some graveyard. & I would question your sanity if what's in a maze is something you can consider as safe." He gave a death glare to the retired beater who recoiled from the angry young man in front of him.
"Mr. Diggory, do you know where this graveyard you mentioned is?" Dumbledore twinkled his eyes.
"No. I don't. But Harry seemed to recognize it. You can get that from this cup I suppose. I just got back from there."
"That can't be done Mr. Diggory. I guess we would just wait for Mr. Potter here." Dumbledore said with a great show of disappointment. Cedric looked at him aghast.
"Professor, whoever is there, just cast a killing curse at me. If Harry isn't back yet then anything could have happened there. Shouldn't we at least call for aurors." Cedric suggested. He owed Harry his life. He couldn't let this go like this.
"Don't worry Mr. Diggory. I am already here." Madam Bones could be heard from the audience. Everyone parted to give her way. "I actually wanted a lazy day where I could witness the historic Triwizard tournament but alas! Anyway, I have already placed call for more aurors. They will be here shortly." The head of DMLE intoned.
"Surely, Amelia, that's not necessary. I am sure Mr. Potter would find a way to get back here." Dumbledore put on his grandfatherly act.
"And how would you know this Headmaster Dumbledore? Unless you know where exactly Mr. Potter is?" Madam Bones arched her eyebrow at him.
"No I don't. But I trust in Mr. Potter's abilities." He assured her.
"That's good for you but who you are talking about is a 14 year old child who from what I heard was placed in this tournament under questionable circumstances. & now is kidnapped from the very grounds of the school. So let me do my duties, headmaster." Amelia warned looking at everyone. By that time aurors had arrived & Diggory parents along with Hermione, Ron, Ginny & Neville had reached the center of activity. Soon aurors had received their orders & were getting statements from Cedric who made sure to tell everything. Hermione & Ginny were crying while Ron & Neville were trying to calm them down.
Harry landed amidst this chaos. He saw Dumbledore looking around with a twinkle in his eyes. The old fool's eyes twinkle more than bloody diamonds. He saw auror's examining the cup & getting Cedric's statement. He looked at everyone present. He knew the traitor would be here. If Dumbledore wasn't so light he would have believed he had done everything but that wasn't to be. He saw his friends worried. Ginny looked kinda cute with a red nose. He admonished himself, this wasn't the time. Looking around, he saw Karkaroff looking at his hand in horror & Moody looking at his own in glee. He would keep an eye on Moody.
"Dobby, when I say, just materialize me. Keep yourself & the rat hidden. Especially him. He has betrayed me before. & here, keep this sword with you." He instructed the elf.
"No worries, master Harry. Dobby taking care of everything."
"Okay Dobby. Now." With that Harry was visible to everyone again along with a sword in hand. For some time no one noticed him, when one student shouted his name & everyone like a machine turned towards him. If the situation wasn't so serious, Harry would have laughed.
"Hello everybody." Harry grinned at them & gave a little wave.
"Harry, my boy. I am glad you are back. Perhaps we should adjourn to my office now." Dumbledore gave him a grandfatherly look. Harry could feel him probing around his mind. He shut down his mind pushing the fool back. For a second he noticed the shock on Dumbledore's face but only because he was looking for it.
"I am afraid not, headmaster. I am sure everyone would like to know what happened." He looked around & saw several people nodding along with the minister. Whereas Dumbledore didn't look quite happy.
"Harry, I must insist. You can tell me everything & I'll pass along to everyone else. I am sure you would like to get away from prying eyes." Dumbledore tried again but was thwarted by a woman who Harry decided wasn't someone he wanted on the opposite side of him.
"Headmaster Dumbledore. Mr. Potter was abducted from school grounds under your watch. That makes it a DMLE matter as Mr. Potter is the heir of a prominent family of our society. You have no right to interfere in the matter." She turned towards Harry & continued, "Pleasure Mr. Potter, I am Amelia Bones. Head of DMLE. Can you tell us what happened since you touched the cup?"
"Madam Bones. It's my pleasure to make your acquaintance. & I'll surely tell you everything. But can we backtrack a bit? Heir of a prominent family? Me? I am not sure I understand. Surely, you are misinformed." Harry knew he was not only heir but he could claim lordship now but if he could get some sympathies from people & create some trouble for people like Dumbledore, then why not? Madam Bones gave him a funny look, "Mr. Potter, are you saying you don't know the importance of your own family?" Harry could hear murmurs from everyone present in the audience. Harry gave her a confused look & looked so innocent Ron had to take some serious efforts to keep his face straight. On the contrary madam Bones along with many others including the minister looked furious & whirled around to get some answers from Dumbledore. On realising this could take a steep nosedive, Dumbldedore tried to placate everyone, "Perhaps we should ask Mr. Potter about tonight first, I would like to know how he was taken from Hogwarts." The minister & Madam Bones gave him a look which said 'we will discuss this later' whereas some aurors kept a close watch on him. Before Harry could start though, they all heard some commotion behind. An auror came holding Moody who was thrashing to get away.
"Leave me now. I will have your hide for this." He roared. The auror ignored him & looked at his boss, "He was working towards the boundary of school silently. We came upon him while exiting the maze but he didn't even recognize me. Considering he was the one who trained me but doesn't even remember my name, it was suspicious."
"Thank you auror Finley. Keep hold of him & take away his wand. Auror Clarke, help Finley with searching him. The way he is behaving is certainly suspicious." Finishing the orders she turned towards Harry, "Mr. Potter, it might take a few minutes. Take a seat till then. I am sure madam Pomphrey would like to make sure you are okay in the meantime." The mediwitch in question was already furious that aurors wouldn't let her take care of her patients.
"Mr. Potter & Diggory, sit down." She conjured two armchairs where both students promptly sat. As soon as they sat, she got busy with them. Harry just had a cut on his arm whereas Cedric had burns on his legs & hands along with several bruises. She applied some salve on his burns & gave him strengthening potion. She gave Harry a lookover & deemed him fit except for the cut which she healed in a jiffy. Harry looked at his friends & gave them a reassuring look.
Meanwhile aurors found polyjuice in the infamous flask of Moody. They had to stun him though as he kept resisting & managed to get the wand of Finley. After leaving him to return to his form & seeing Harry being done, madam Bones asked him to give his statement. Harry started to tell everything from recognizing the graveyard to sending Cedric back. He explained how Peter Pettigrew stunned him when the Minister interrupted, "Please Mr. Potter. I thought we dealt with this last year. Peter Pettigrew is dead & has been for the last 13 years. Stop lying." He almost shouted the last part. Harry looked levelly at the man & stated calmly, "Minister please let me finish. I'll answer all questions afterwards. I assure you I am not lying & won't tell anything but truth in the whole statement. You can use any means to make sure what I am saying is the truth & nothing else."
"Harry, my boy, there's no need. I believe you will tell all the truth. There's no need to exert any other means." Dumbledore gave him a smile.
"Professor you might believe me but law needs proof. I don't want a repeat of last year where I will be dismissed as some errant kid. Now, let me continue." Harry started to tell his tale again. When he came to the part of Voldemort, Fudge looked ready to break in again when madam Bone gave him a glare causing him to keep quiet. Harry told them about calling Dobby & asking him to bring him back & stopped. He observed everyone. Ron, Ginny, Hermione & Neville looked frightened but still worried about him. Cedric looked at him aghast. Dumbledore was in deep thoughts. Aurors were looking at their boss who in turn looked at him critically & the minister was turning a shade of purple that Harry feared he might have a stroke.
"Mr. Potter, that's quite enough. How dare you tell such lies? You know who has been dead for many years now. You are trying to cause national panic." Minister screeched at him.
"Professor Dumbledore, can I borrow your pensieve? I am sure minister & madam Bones would like to see this for themselves. Otherwise I am ready to answer questions under truth serum."
"That would be appreciated. Professor, if you would please?" Madam Bones looked at Dumbledore expectantly. Dumbledore tried to refute but sighed & turned towards the castle. As soon as he was out of earshot, Harry turned towards Madam Bones, "Madam Bones, I would like you to recognize someone for me. I just want guarantee that no one would try to harm him before we could get his statement." Amelia had found young Mr. Potter to be an unusual young man & she was still getting surprises. The boy was turning everyone on their head left & right. She nodded at his request giving orders to the aurors & waited to see what the boy would pull out of his proverbial hat. Harry called for Dobby, "Dobby, show yourself & the prisoner in front of me." When Dobby immaterialised along with a body, first thought through Amelia's head was, 'it's a dead body' but then she remembered the request & looked at the man carefully. Harry knew when she recognised the man in front of her as she gave a very loud gasp. She turned towards him & looked at him with eyes as wide as saucers. When she didn't say anything for a few minutes, Fudge started getting antsy, "Oh common. Who is that boy brought now?"
"It's- It's Peter Pettigrew." Amelia spoke in a quiet voice which still carried the crowd, causing murmuring again.
"How is that possible? Peter Pettigrew was killed by Sirius Black. What kind of Joke is this Potter?" Harry gave him a look.
"You didn't believe me last year, minister so I brought him here when I got the chance. If you don't believe me you can question him later. Can I trust you with this madam Bones?" He looked at her for confirmation getting a sour look from the said witch.
"I assure you Mr. Potter, if what you are saying is true then I will personally look into the matter." Harry nodded at her. With the memories he sent to her previously & now Pettigrew himself he was sure he could at least get Sirius a trial.
On her signal, one auror came forward & disappeared with Pettigrew, possibly to ministry. Harry hoped no one would try anything underhanded. He wanted Sirius to be free again. Dumbledore chose this point to be back with his pensieve.
"Here it is my boy. But I don't think it is necessary. I trust you completely." Dumbledore gave him a calm smile.
"At this point, professor, I need the ministry to believe me. & last time I checked the minister was in charge of ministry. This way we won't get the repeat of last year. Madam Bones I would like you to get the memory so no one would say I messed with the memory in any way." Harry brought the whole memory since the acromantula incident to his forefront & felt a tug at his temple. Madam Bones dropped the memory in the pensieve. Harry gestured to her, Dumbledore & Fudge to go in & waited for them to resurface again.
With all the chaos, everyone had forgotten about the fake moody whose stunner & polyjuice it seemed had both ran along their course. Seeing his guard distracted he grabbed the wand in his hand & lifted it.
"Avada kedavra" He started. But as soon as he started several wands turned to him aiming stunners & expelliarmus. But even all those quick spells didn't stop the green beam as Harry with everyone present nearby watched it strike auror Finley. They all watched as the auror's body hit the ground & rushed towards him. One of the aurors sent a body binding spell & incarcerated the murderer before looking at his fallen colleague. Nobody could figure out what to do while remaining aurors handled the crowds which were getting pretty restless.