A/N: I'm really sorry I haven't updated for a while. I've been so busy, what with preparing for my next audition, the holidays, and school… which is something I should be thinking about right now, but I know I won't be able to focus until I get my daily Potter-quota in. Anyway. I hope you like the story so far… and I hope I can get some of my old readers back—I miss them!!

Chapter 10

Diggory is Dead

Something was very wrong. Sirius knew it in the pit of his stomach. No one around him seemed to have noticed or cared that the balls of light that represented the champions had gone out. But Sirius knew that this was what he had been waiting for—Harry was in trouble.

Suddenly, Sirius could see Dumbledore streaking down to the field. He pointed his wand into the entrance of the maze, and a streaking, ghostly phoenix flew out of the tip, and jetted through the hedges. When it returned, Dumbledore seemed to understand. McGonagall was saying something to him, looking fearful. Dumbledore nodded grimly.

Sirius gripped the box edge with sweaty palms, praying that Harry was okay, and wishing with all his might that he could hear what McGonagall was saying to Dumbledore… palms… he looked down at his hands, and suddenly realized that he had involuntarily changed back into a man. Not bothering to transform just yet, he crouched down deep into the box.

Where was Harry? Was he all right? There was no way to know… Sirius was sweating with nervousness… he felt sick… how could he have let this happen? Why had he thought that Harry would be safe in this tournament? What had Dumbledore been thinking to allow this Tournament to occur? What about the Diggory boy? Was he okay?

Sirius inwardly hoped that the prophecy Dumbledore told him about wasn't going to be completed tonight—Harry couldn't possibly be ready. But if it were destined to happen, then maybe Voldemort would be defeated tonight, before he ever had the chance to rise again…

He held his face in his hands, and pressed his palms deep into his eyes, willing these mind-dizzying thoughts to leave his head. Lily and James's only son was missing, somehow… gone… where is he?

There was no telling how long Sirius sat there. Each moment brought up a more and more frightening situation that Harry might be in. But there was an outbreak of cries and shouts from down below, and Sirius knew that Harry had returned. He transformed into a dog with a pop, and peeked over the box's edge.

There was Harry—laying face down in the grass at the maze's entrance. He was holding the Triwizard trophy and… Cedric's body.

There were screams of terror and confusion… people shouting to one another. But the words were all the same: "Cedric Diggory's dead!" "He's dead!" "Cedric is dead!"

Sirius stumbled backwards… It wasn't possible… what happened?

Dumbledore rushed towards Harry, but Harry wasn't moving either. Dumbledore helped Harry to his feet, where he swayed back and forth dizzily. He was trembling terribly, still clutching the Triwizard trophy, and his eyes unfocusedly looking down at Cedric's pale body. Cornelius Fudge was hurrying over… shouting something to Dumbledore. Sirius put his paws on the edge of the box and peered over the edge, trance-like.

Amos Diggory was sprinting forward with his wife on his heels… running to their son's side. Amos's wife screamed when her eyes fell upon Cedric's body and her tears were visible even from Sirius's distance.

Sirius suddenly realized he needed to get down to the pumpkin patch. He bounded down the stairs and away from the Quidditch pitch, though he didn't want to leave Harry. But hadn't Dumbledore said he shouldn't have left the patch in the first place?

He sat quietly in Hagrid's yard. He could still hear people screaming and crying from the stadium. Girls sobbing, Fudge shouting at someone. But still, two word's echoed all around the grounds: "Cedric's dead!"

Two people moving towards the castle caught Sirius's attention. It was Mad-Eye Moody… he was half-carrying, half-dragging Harry to the castle. Harry was muttering wildly… explaining something to Moody deliriously…

Sirius got the idea to follow them… surely Moody would be happy to see him again? But Sirius remembered Dumbledore's warning and he stayed where he was, all the while praying that Harry was all right… praying that Harry wasn't hurt…

Moments later, Moody was followed by Dumbledore, who was striding purposefully across the lawn. Sirius gave a loud bark, hoping to catch his attention. Dumbledore paused. Their eyes met, and Dumbledore frowned slightly. McGonagall and Snape were hurrying up the lawn after Dumbledore.

"What's going on, Albus? What's the matter?" McGonagall cried to him.

"We need to get Harry."

"Potter is with Moody, Professor," Snape said quietly.

"That is not Alastor Moody," Dumbledore said to him furiously, and he started towards the castle again. Sirius cocked his head. What?

"Albus… what do you mean…?"

"The real Alastor Moody would never have removed Harry from my sight after what happened. Never," Sirius head Dumbledore say as the castle door slammed closed behind the group of professors with a reverberating sound.

Sirius sat more patiently than even he thought he could. He didn't move, didn't even hardly breath. His mind was spinning with questions… but it was taking all of his will power and strength not to burst through those double doors and demand to know what was going on.

After what seemed like hours, Minerva McGonagall descended the castle stairs and started walking straight towards him. Sirius wondered if McGonagall knew that he was an Animagus, but his question was instantly answered when she stood tensely before him.

"Come on, Black. Follow me," she said with a sigh. Looking closely at her, McGonagall looked to be on the verge of tears.

Sirius gave a small bark, as if to ask what was going on. She did not answer, but led the way up the stone steps and into the entrance hall. Up the flight of marble stairs they went and down the corridors to Dumbledore's office. McGonagall said the password, and the entrance to Dumbledore's office spun open.

"You are to wait in Dumbledore's office, until he and Harry arrive," she said edgily.

"He'll be here soon, then?" Sirius asked her, transforming quickly.

"Mr. Black! Do watch where you are transforming!" she said in a horrified whisper.

"They'll come here soon?" Sirius repeated persistently.

"Yes, I imagine so," McGonagall said. She turned to leave, but Sirius touched her arm.

"Is… Is Harry all right?" he asked her softly.

McGonagall looked at him with an unreadable face. "He'll be fine."

She motioned for him to go up the stairs. Sirius did, and he entered Dumbledore's office quietly, his breathing somewhat shallow.

The hundreds of portraits on the walls were all pretending to be asleep again, just like they had when Sirius was sent here for punishment in his years at Hogwarts. Dumbledore's odd contraptions whirred and clicked on spindly tables, glinting silver in the light. Sirius sat himself in front of Dumbledore's desk in one of the squashy armchairs. Outside the window, Sirius could see the starry night sky and wondered how Cedric's parents were doing.

Sirius closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He heard one of the overhead portraits give a grunting snore.

"If you want to know why I'm here, just ask," Sirius said flatly.

"I'd prefer Dumbledore's take on the events over yours, thanks," said a grumpy, yet familiar voice.

Sirius craned his head to look at the portrait that had spoken. It was a gray-haired man who was seated in a big leather chair. Behind him was a banner of green and silver. "Phinneas Negillius?"

"That's right, you dirty, rotten—"

"Nice to see you too," Sirius sighed again, turning back around to face Dumbledore's desk.

"Now, now, Phinneas, be nice to your great-great-grandson, why don't you…"

"And you wonder why you were the least popular Head here…"

"Thanks for sticking up for me, and all," Sirius said agitatedly to the pictures, "but I liked you better when you were asleep…"

"Well, I never!"

Sirius rolled his eyes and put his head on his knees. This was going to be a long wait.