Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the rights to Harry Potter
Authors Note: Wow, forty chapters!. I just want to say a massive thanks to everyone who's stuck with this story to this point, whether it's just reading it or reviewing, favouriting and following as well, you all rock.
Special thanks to nightwing27, love-fic-harrypotter28, maxe24 and juankzxy who are the latest people to favourite this story or follow it, your support is much appreciated nightwing27, love-fic-harrypotter28, maxe24 and juankzxy.
Chapter Forty:
"And why are you here at Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked, sounding remarkably calm for someone who's friend had been kidnapped and impersonated.
Barty Crouch Junior answered at once "I was to impersonate Alastor Moody as a teacher of defence against the dark arts at Hogwarts. My Master wished me to bring Harry Potter to him at the Little Hangleton Graveyard".
Dumbledore didn't ask why Voldemort wanted Harry for there was no need. Instead, the Headmaster next asked "how was Voldemort resurrected?".
"My Master was resurrected through use of a resurrection potion using the blood of Harry Potter, the bone of his father and the flesh of a servant" Barty Crouch Junior answered.
Harry saw Dumbledore shake his head gravely. "That's not good" the Headmaster murmured "not good at all".
"I hate to have to ask but...why is that not good?" Sirius asked hesitantly.
Without turning around Dumbledore answered the Auror "it is bad Sirius due to the fact that Voldemort now has Harry's blood".
"Meaning he now can touch Harry" Remus sounded like he was going to be sick "and it means he'll be able to reach him through his dreams".
"I fear it is so" Dumbledore admitted.
Harry felt fearful at this. He had hoped the present given to him by Daphne would block out Voldemort but it seemed that now the dark wizard had his blood he could do what he wanted with impunity.
"Don't be worried Harry" Dumbledore said reassuringly "there is a way to block Voldemort out. It's difficult to master but with help I think you can do it".
"I'll do whatever it takes Professor" Harry assured the Headmaster resolutely. 'The last thing I want is Voldemort inside my head' he thought seriously.
Dumbledore returned to his interrogation. "Where is Voldemort hiding now?".
"My Master was previously hiding in an old abandoned house in a village called Little Hangleton, but he was planning to move from there, to where I do not know".
"Damn!" Kingsley swore.
"One final question" said Dumbledore calmly. "Where is the real Alastor Moody?".
"He is hidden in this room, inside his own trunk". Barty Junior pointed a finger at a trunk that sat against the wall near him.
"Severus" Dumbledore said. Without hesitation, the Head of Slytherin strode across the office to the trunk and muttered "alohamora". The lock keeping the trunk secure clicked open and Harry watched in fascination as many different locks and compartments sprang open containing a variety of equipment's and clothing until the entire trunk was opened up.
Unable to help himself, Harry walked over to the trunk alongside Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Sirius, Remus and Mandy and Jacob. They all stared down into the trunk and Harry was sure he was not the only one who was surprised by the sight that met them.
The trunk was very deep. So deep in fact that it was like a pit. And lying at the bottom of the pit was, unmistakably, the real Alastor Moody. He was sprawled on the floor of the bottom compartment, tied up and gagged. From what Harry could see, the mans leg had been injured in some way and as his hands were tied he could push himself up.
Moody was also missing several chunks of his hair, no doubt they had been removed in order for Barty Junior to make his Polyjuice potion whenever a new batch was required.
For Harry, it also answered the question of why, at one point this year, Snape had believed him to be pilfering from his private stores whereas Harry had only taken the gillyweed for the second task.
Harry stared at Snape and raised an eyebrow. Snape didn't apologise, to no surprise of Harry's.
"I know you can't talk Alastor" Dumbledore called down to his old friend "but if you can hear me old friend, we'll have you out of there and being checked over soon by Madam Pomfrey!".
From his place in the bottom of the trunk, Moody muttered something indistinguishable due to the gag.
"Severus, Remus, Sirius, you will help me get Alastor out of the trunk and down to the Hospital Wing for a check up" Dumbledore decided authoritatively.
The old wizard turned to face Jacob, Mandy and Professor McGonagall "Minerva, would you escort the Potters down to the Hospital Wing for Harry to be checked over and then I would like you to inform Harry's friends, his Cousin Lauren and Miss Greengrass that he is, as far as we know, unharmed and safe".
Professor McGonagall nodded her agreement. "Of course Albus" she responded and turned to Harry and his aunt and uncle "please come with me all of you" she said kindly.
Walking between his aunt and uncle, Harry followed Professor McGonagall from the office. He hoped he'd be able to see Daphne, Lauren and the others soon to reassure them that he was alright as he knew they would worry immensely, even with Professor McGonagall speaking to them.
After Harry had left the room the atmosphere inside the defence teachers office was very tense as Albus Dumbledore has always known it would be.
The greatest fear of all of those still within the room, was that Voldemort would one day rise again and continue his reign of terror and now it had happened. After fourteen years of mostly peace, the most evil wizard in a century, was back and more powerful than ever before.
Sadly, it seemed that for one person, the idea of Voldemort being back, was just too much.
Right at this very moment Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, was shaking his head vehemently "no, no, no Dumbledore!" Fudge shouted "I will not believe it! he can't be back, he just can't be!".
"I am telling you Cornelius, as difficult as it is to accept, you must accept it. Both Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory saw Voldemort...". Fudge flinched at the name.
"Saw Voldemort return" Dumbledore finished and then added "Harry even fought against him in a duel".
It was then that Dumbledore had an idea that he was sure would help. "How would it be if we viewed Harry and Cedric's memories of the incident?" he asked the Minister.
But he was annoyed to notice that the man was already shaking his head "it's out of the question!" Fudge snapped "not only for privacy reasons but also because they are too traumatised by whatever really happened and will not remember clearly". Fudge smiled "really Dumbledore, we can't trust that He Who Must Not Be Named, has returned on the words of two teenage boys".
"Cornelius I beg you to see reason" Dumbledore implored desperately. "Lord Voldemort..." Fudge flinched again. "Lord Voldemort has returned and this sort of denial is just what he wants, just what he needs to conceal the fact and enable him to put his plans into operation".
"You're talking complete gibberish Dumbledore and I won't hear any more of it, you understand? no more!" and with that and ignoring Dumbledore's pleas to the contrary, the Minister for Magic stormed out of the office, followed, reluctantly by Kingsley Shacklebolt, Sirius and Remus.
After the four men had gone, Dumbledore sank down into one of the chairs and shook his head "I always knew Cornelius could be stubborn, pig-headed and make mistakes but this..." he sighed "I always viewed him as a good man but he is allowing his fear to cloud his judgement".
"I always thought Fudge was a fool" Snape said contemptuously. "The man can't accept the truth when it's waved under his nose". Snape chuckled humourlessly "he'll soon change his tune when wizards and witches start dropping like flies and Death Eaters are rampaging across the country".
Dumbledore was doubtful "I'm not so sure he will" he said heavily.
After being checked over by Madame Pomfrey, Harry said goodbye to Cedric and goodbye to his aunt and uncle and then headed, escorted by Professor McGonagall, to Gryffindor Tower. He hoped very sincerely that his friends and cousin would be asleep as he was still in a state of shock regarding what had happened in the graveyard and did not yet feel able to speak of it even though he knew they'd be nothing but supportive.
When Harry and Professor McGonagall reached the portrait hole, the Professor gave the password to the Fat Lady and then bade Harry a good night. Harry thanked her for escorting him and then entered the common room through the portrait hole.
He had to sigh as he felt first one person and then another collide with him followed soon after by a third while a voice from across the common room muttered loudly "give him some room girls".
Harry was thankful for his best friends intervention as, at Ron's words, the girls pulled back in embarrassment and moved back to where they had been sitting.
Harry looked at his cousin and friends and sighed. "I know what you all want" he said plainly "you want me to recount what happened tonight". He shook his head "but I'm sorry, I'm still in too much shock and I'm too tired to speak about it tonight".
He knew they wouldn't leave alone unless he promised them something and so he said "I'll tell you all about it in the morning, ok?".
His friends and cousin all nodded and Harry gave them a tired smile. "Thanks guys" he said simply. He hugged Lauren, Ginny and Hermione and then said to Neville and Ron "I don't know about you guys but I'm feeling really tired right now".
Ron and Neville grinned and Ron said "yeah, I could do with getting some z's". The redhead turned to Neville "what do you say Nev?" he asked.
Neville nodded and stifled a yawn with his hand "yeah, it's been a pretty knackering day and evening to be honest".
The boys said goodnight to the girls and headed for the staircase up to their dorm.
Once they were within the sanctuary that was the fourth year boys dorm, they got ready for bed one and by one, said goodnight and pulled shut the hangings on their four posters as they settled down for the night.
Ron said only one thing as they turned the lights out "I'm glad you're ok mate".
The sentiment was echoed by Neville who added "me too Harry, really glad".
"Thanks guys, you're really good mates". The three boys said goodnight and soon they were all sound asleep.
If Harry had hoped to have a sound nights sleep with no dreams and especially no nightmares then he was sorely disappointed for as he entered a deep sleep he found himself in the graveyard where the rebirthing ceremony had taken place for Voldemort and this time he dreamt that Wormtail had killed Cedric and that he, Voldemort and the Death Eaters called there, were laughing maniacally as they trained their wands on him and shouted in a single harsh voice "Avada Kedavra!".
Harry woke with a start to find his blankets twisted around him and himself bathed in a cold sweat on his body and forehead. He had a headache and he felt sick as he recalled the details of the nightmare. He shuddered violently.
For the rest of the night Harry feared falling back asleep and stayed away for as long as possible, using light from his wand, to read under the covers well into the early hours of the morning.
It was only as dawn arrived that Harry decided to extinguish his wand light and settle down to sleep. Mercifully, as his head hit the pillow this time, he had no further dreams.
The next morning, the last full day at Hogwarts, Harry got up early feeling that if stayed in bed he would just keep dwelling on the events of last night. He knew that kind of over thinking could do no good.
After a show and a change of clothes, Harry headed down to the common room with his favourite book hoping that he would be alone down there and able engross himself in reading as a distraction.
Unfortunately, as he reached the common room he noticed that Lauren and Ginny were both waiting for him. He went to ask where Hermione was but Ginny told him anyway "Hermione's gone up to wake up Ron and Neville" she said matter of factly.
Harry sighed. Can't this wait until after breakfast?" he asked wearily.
"Harry you need to start talking about this" Hermione insisted. She added "it'll do you good to get it off your chest".
Tiredly, Harry crossed over to where the girls were sat and flopped down in one of the fluffy armchairs. He had an idea and called out "Dobby!".
There was a popping sound and the devoted house elf appeared before him. He didn't bow as Harry had asked him not to before "what can Dobby do for the great Harry Potter?" he asked.
"I don't like to ask you to do trivial stuff for me Dobby but could you fetch me some breakfast from the kitchens?".
"Of course Dobby can Master, what would you be wanting?" the house elf replied enthusiastically.
Harry considered for a moment. He wasn't massively hungry. After a time, he said "just egg on toast and a cup of tea please Dobby, with three sugars".
"Dobby will do it right away Master Harry" and with a pop, Dobby was gone. Harry smiled feeling great affection for the loyal house elf "I think I'm going to give him more money for the way he helps me out" he said.
Soon, the group were joined by a yawning Ron and Neville who were led into the common room by Hermione.
Ron seemed about to protest being up so early but the moment he spotted Harry he stopped yawning and seemed to fully wake up as if he already knew what they'd be discussing.
He and Neville said good morning to everyone and then settled down on one of the sofa's near Harry. The group said nothing for awhile as Dobby brought Harry's breakfast tray and then left.
Once Harry had eaten his fill of the egg on toast and drained the mug of tea, he set the tray aside, cleared his throat and began to speak.
His voice felt hoarse and he paused several times as he spoke. When he reached the part about the bone, blood and flesh Hermione and Ginny looked like they'd be physically sick while Lauren looked outraged "that son of a bitch!" she cut herself off before swearing "if I ever meet this Lord Voldemort I'll chop his legs off!".
Harry smiled feeling grateful for his cousins strong support. The others grinned too except for Hermione who looked shocked at the strong language.
"So anyway" Harry finished off "Cedric managed to summon the cup slash portkey, I grabbed hold of it and the two of us ended up back at Hogwarts".
Harry threw his arms out "that's all there is to it".
"How many times have you faced Voldemort now?" Ron tried to make light of it.
"Four times, in one form or another" Harry answered with a shaky laugh.
Lauren's eyes filled with tears. Harry hadn't meant to make her cry "I'm sorry Lauren, we were only joking" he said.
"Oh it's not you two" Lauren assured him "it's the thought that the prophecy was right and you'll have to face him and kill him...or he kills you".
Harry went over to where she was sitting and pulled his cousin into a tight hug. "Hey" he said "Lauren look at me".
When she didn't, he put a hand under her chin and raised her head. "I promise I will beat him and I will go on living" he swore "you've never known me to break my word, have you?".
His cousin sniffed and then shook her head "just make sure you keep your word on this one thing" she said seriously.
"Cross my heart" Harry said, making a motion over his heart.
He turned to the others "we'd better get down to the Great Hall, I expect you all want some breakfast".
The others readily agreed and soon the group were heading down to the Great Hall. Despite having to relieve the painful memory of last night, Harry was glad in a way to have got it off his chest.
Right now there was one person and only one person that he wanted to see. He'd not been able to speak to his girlfriend Daphne when he'd returned to Hogwarts as it was already curfew by the time he'd been released from the Hospital Wing.
He grinned as he saw her waiting by the doors to the Great Hall alongside her younger sister Astoria.
"Harry my love!". Daphne practically flew into his arms almost knocking the wind from him.
"I missed you two love but give me some room to breath eh?" Harry joked.
Daphne pulled back and Harry saw that she had tears in her dark eyes. "Hey don't cry love, don't cry" he murmured softly. "I'm here, I'm whole, I'm safe" he assured her as he wiped her tears away and kissed her forehead.
"I just...you're my whole world Harry" she said emotionally. "I don't know what I'd do if...if I lost you".
"Well you haven't lost me" Harry said sensibly "so no need to dwell on things that didn't happen".
He took her hand in his and kissed it. Eventually, he asked "where's Millicent?".
"She's saving us seats at the Gryffindor table" Daphne informed him.
The group entered the Great Hall. Harry spotted Cedric sitting at the Hufflepuff table with his girlfriend Cho Chang and he waved. Cedric waved back throwing a thumbs up to him.
Harry and the others took their seats as people began to whisper and mutter "what's up with all of them?" Harry wondered aloud as he poured himself a goblet full of pumpkin juice.
"Err Harry?" Neville said tentatively.
"Yeah Nev?" Harry replied contently as he raised the goblet to his lips.
"I think you should read this mate".
Neville sounded so serious and concerned that Harry set down his goblet with a sigh and took the proffered newspaper.
In an instant, as he read the front cover of the prophet, he saw why Neville seemed so concerned.
On the front page was a photograph of Cornelius Fudge the Minister for Magic and the headline below the picture read "MINISTER DECLARES VOLDEMORT HAS NOT RETURNED".
Harry was fuming as he opened the paper and began to read the article on page two. The article went on to describe that both Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory had claimed the previous night to have been present at the rebirth of Lord Voldemort and that Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, had backed them up.
The Minister declared that the two boys were lying or had seen someone who looked like Voldemort. He attacked Dumbledore verbally as being too soft and pandering to his students fantasies and even mentioned that changes should be made at Hogwarts.
When Harry was finished with the article he threw it down in disgust "for fucks sake!" he snapped causing his friends to stare at him, for her rarely swore. "Sorry guys" he apologised "I'm just so angry at that article".
He shook his head "how stupid can Fudge be?" he asked rhetorically. "Does he really think that me and Cedric would make up something so serious as this, just for attention?".
He shook his head again "and surely he doesn't really think that Dumbledore would back us up unless he was one hundred per cent sure". Harry just couldn't understand what Fudge was playing at.
"Fear does very funny things to people" Hermione observed calmly. "It can make rational people suddenly start to make irrational statements and do the most irrational things".
Harry sighed. "I get the fear. Hell, I'm afraid of Voldemort" Neville and Ron flinched at the name. "But what Fudge is doing is just ignorance. He's burying his head in the sand, ignoring the evidence and hoping it'll go away".
He felt so frustrated. "He heard the bloody testimony from Barty Crouch Junior last night".
Harry heard footsteps and looked up to see Professor Dumbledore standing nearby. The old wizard was smiling but it looked a strained sort of smile. Harry could understand that given the stress he too was feeling right now.
"Harry I wondered if I might have a word with you in private" the Headmaster asked softly.
Harry nodded "of course Professor, when?".
"Now, if you wouldn't mind please Harry" Dumbledore said.
"Alright Professor" Harry waved to his friends and assured them that if he was allowed to reveal what was said between them, then he would.
Once Harry and Dumbledore were safely ensconced in the Headmasters Office, Dumbledore got straight down to it and said "Harry I'm afraid we no longer have any evidence that Voldemort has returned".
Harry frowned "but what about Barty Crouch Junior?".
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "He was taken to Azkaban yesterday and immediately had the dementors kiss performed upon him".
Harry knew the despondency must be showing on his face as Dumbledore continued "unfortunately, the Minister refused to listen to anything that Barty Junior had to say and as I'm sure you have read in the paper, he claimed that Voldemort has not returned".
"But what about my memories?" Harry asked. He felt desperate now. The wizarding world needed to be prepared to fight Voldemort.
"No good my boy" Dumbledore said grimly "as you've seen in the paper, the Minister made a statement declaring that neither you or Cedric had really seen Voldemort. Privately, through my Ministry contacts, I have heard that he has also refused to examine the memories of yourself or Cedric as he doesn't believe they'll show anything".
Harry felt like tearing his hair out in frustration but decided to be practical. "What do we do now?" he asked Dumbledore.
The aged wizard smiled enigmatically and replied "we must move before Fudge has a chance to cause any problems for the school directly".
"You don't think he'll go after you do you?" Harry asked in alarm.
Dumbledore nodded "that is exactly what I expect to happen and it is why I have already contacted a certain someone known to both of us to become the new Professor of defence against the dark arts".
At Harry's questioning look Dumbledore explained "Professor Moody, or I should say Alastor Moody, has decided to leave Hogwarts and devote his time to fighting Voldemort and his Death Eaters as he feels this to be more important".
"So who's taking over from him Professor?".
"Well I hope it will be a certain black haired Auror who..." Dumbledore stopped in midsentence as the fireplace flared up. Both Harry and Dumbledore looked towards it and Harry grinned at the sight of his Godfather Sirius.
"Ah my boy!" Dumbledore was smiling and there was a twinkle in his blue eyes "have you decided yet?".
"How could I refuse such an offer?" Sirius grinned "it gets me away from that idiot Fudge and I get to see my godson and surrogate goddaughter every day, I accept".
"I am delight to hear it Sirius" Dumbledore declared "please make sure to be here at the beginning of the third week of August for a staff meeting".
"I'll be there Albus. Thanks for this".
"No thank you Sirius for you have solved a major problem for me" Dumbledore replied.
The two men said goodbye and Sirius' head vanished.
"You mean...Sirius?". Dumbledore must have known what Harry meant for he smiled and nodded "he has much experience of fighting against the dark arts, he's trustworthy and knows how to teach what with being the head of the training programme at Auror Headquarters".
Harry grinned "he'll do great. I know it".
Dumbledore nodded "I'm certain he will" he said. Then Dumbledore's face fell "however, there is one thing that cannot be stopped and that is this message I have received from the Minister not long before I spoke to you in the Great Hall".
Dumbledore passed the message over "a liaison officer from the Ministry?". Harry looked up from the note and said "he said he wanted to change Hogwarts".
Dumbledore nodded gravely "indeed he did and it is clear that this so-called liaison officer will be reporting our every word and action for signs of disloyalty to Fudge".
Dumbledore sighed. "There is something else I must discuss with you Harry. About you and Voldemort".
"About the prophecy?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore shook his head "no my boy. Not about the prophecy. It's to do with these dreams you've had of Voldemort in the past ". The old wizard clasped his hands together "I don't imagine you've heard of a practice called occlumency".
Harry shook his head "no Sir, I haven't".
"Well to be frank Harry, we have to block the connection that you and Voldemort have and the only way to do so is by the use of occlumency. No charm or object can block him out for he is too strong".
So Dumbledore knew about the charm Daphne had given him. That wasn't surprising but his next words were "Voldemort is not currently aware of your connection, not in the sense of your minds, but he will be soon and believe me Harry, he will attempt to exploit it to trick you".
"I'm not stupid Professor" Harry protested, feeling indignant.
"Oh of course you're not my boy, you misunderstand me. Voldemort is a master of manipulation and can bend anyone to his will. I would hate to see him do such a thing to you".
Dumbledore was staring at him intently. "Do you trust me Harry?" he asked. Harry nodded seriously.
"Good" Dumbledore said in satisfaction and then added "in that case, you shall be taking occlumency lessons with me every Friday night". The old wizard looked deadly serious as he said "you must come here under your invisibility cloak. I shall give you the password for the week on every Monday morning in the Great Hall where it will not cause suspicion".
Harry nodded.
"Now that that is all settled my boy, you may go down and enjoy breakfast with your friends. It's a lovely day outside and I'm sure you're eager to get out there and enjoy the sun".
Harry grinned, stood up and headed for the doors "thanks for keeping me in the loop Professor".
"No thanks are needed Harry" Dumbledore assured him "not only is it common sense to keep you informed, it is also your right".
Despite the tense start to the day caused by the newspaper article and the revelations from Dumbledore, Harry's spirits had been lifted knowing that Sirius would be teaching him and the others next year and not only that, he was also being given a way to shut out Voldemort, hopefully for good.
The day went by quickly and soon the entire student and staff body was assembled in the Great Hall for the usual end of term feast and celebrations.
Harry was rather disappointed as Gryffindor's three year win streak had come to an end with Ravenclaw getting the highest points total over the course of the year at four hundred and fifty while Gryffindor came in second with four hundred and forty eight, Slytherin third with four hundred and twenty five and Hufflepuff in last with four hundred points. Harry grimaced as the House Cup was presented to a beaming Professor Flitwick who shook hands with a disappointed Professor McGonagall.
The next morning, as Harry, his friends and his cousin sat in their compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Harry's mind was on everything that had happened in the last few days.
He had spoken with both Victor Krum and Fleur Delacour the previous afternoon before their respective contingents had left Hogwarts and both had offered their support in the fight against Voldemort. Fleur had even kissed his cheek and thanked him once again for saving her little sister Gabrielle during the second task and informed him that now she was finished with school, she was taking a job at Gringott's Bank to improve her English.
Victor was rather mysterious in Harry's opinion when he said goodbye as he merely said "I'm sure we shall see each other soon Harry".
As Victor had been leaving, Ron had finally broken and asked the Bulgarian seeker for his autograph. Victor looked rather surprised given Ron's previous animosity but had signed a photo nonetheless and wished Ron well.
"Everything's going to change now isn't it" Hermione said to no one in particular as Harry felt Daphne's head shift position where she was leaning against him. He put an arm protectively over his girlfriends shoulder as he said "yes, everything is going to be different next year. Some good, some bad, hopefully we'll survive it intact".