Lies

By Neurotica

Nineteen

The month of June brought along with it the final task of the Triwizard Tournament. The whole of Hogwarts was filled with excitement as night fell upon them. Their champion, Cedric Diggory, was in the lead, followed closely by Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour.

Harry stood beside Ron and Hermione at the foot of the castle entrance as students quickly made their way to the Quidditch pitch. They were awaiting the arrival of Sirius and Remus. The two wizards hadn't been able to attend the first two tasks, so Dumbledore invited them to observe the last. The Hogwarts alumni arrived with only moments to spare. Harry led the group to what had once been the Quidditch pitch. Now it was a giant bush, in Sirius' opinion.

"What did they do to it?" Sirius whispered with tears in his eyes.

"Diggory said they're going to fix it before next year," Harry said, patting his godfather on the back comfortingly.

"But..."

"It's okay, Padfoot," Remus said.

"It's just a Quidditch pitch," Hermione reasoned.

Sirius looked at her as if she had two heads. "Just a... do you have any idea... She said..." he sputtered indignantly.

"Sirius, calm down," Remus said, trying to hold back his laughter at his friend's dramatics.

"Insanity," Sirius muttered, staring at the maze.

"I think Sirius is the insane one." Ron grinned at Harry.

"You have no idea," Harry said back.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" they heard as they sat in the stands. "The third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin." Ludo Bagman sounded more excited that any of the students. He ran down the standings on points: Diggory had eighty-five; Krum had eighty; and Delacour was in last place with seventy. Bagman blew his whistle and Diggory entered the maze to cheers from the Hogwarts students. The whistle sounded twice more, and Krum (followed by Delacour) entered behind him.

"So I guess we just sit and wait now," Hermione said over the cheers around them.

"They just have to get to the cup, right?" Sirius asked, finally growing used to the look of his beloved Quidditch pitch. "That doesn't sound too difficult."

"Hagrid said there are a ton of obstacles they have to get past," Hermione explained. Harry and Ron shivered in unison, causing the two older wizards to raise their eyebrows. "Blast-Ended Skrewts," Hermione said. "Hagrid's been, er, breeding them..."

"Uh oh," Sirius muttered. "That can't be good." Remus shook his head in agreement.

An hour into the task, Sirius began to fidget like a hyperactive six-year-old, so he and Remus made their way down to the ground to speak with Dumbledore. As the night grew darker, the first signs of trouble showed themselves. On the far end of the maze, red sparks were shot high in the sky. Moody pointed out where they came from so Hagrid could retrieve the fallen champion.

The stands were so quiet you could hear a pin drop until Hagrid returned with Fleur Delacour. Madame Maxime and Madam Pomfrey reached the girl's side as the Hogwarts stands erupted in cheers. They were still in the running, and the odds had just gotten better.

At ten p.m. by Remus' wristwatch, Moody stopped dead in his tracks as he patrolled the perimeter of the maze. Remus watched the former Auror's normal eye widen in surprise while the magical one spun wildly. Moody limped as fast as his wooden leg could carry him to where Remus, Sirius, and Dumbledore stood. The Headmaster and professor exchanged a short whispered conversation before Dumbledore nodded and Moody limped off towards the castle.

Dumbledore's face was void of any clue as to what just happened as he pointed his wand at his throat and performed the Sonorus Charm. "Students!" he called. "You are to return to your respectful dormitories immediately! Prefects are instructed to keep all students in their common rooms until further notice. Our head boy and girl are to remain behind for instructions from Professor McGonagall." An outraged muttering began as the students did as they were told.

"What's going on?" Sirius asked over the noise.

"Death Eaters are inside the maze," Dumbledore answered when the teachers gathered around him. Remus wasn't surprised when he noticed Snape was nowhere to be seen. "Minerva, instruct the head boy and girl to secure the school. Any students out of their common rooms are to be taken to my office where they will remain until I can take care of them. Alastor is contacting the Ministry. Prepare yourselves; we are under attack."

"What about Diggory and Krum?" Professor Sprout asked as McGonagall went to meet the Head Boy and Girl.

"I hope that they will remain safe until we can get to them," Dumbledore said.


Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the students up the path towards the school. Just as they passed the greenhouses, however, Harry pulled his two friends aside and into the shrubs.

"What are you doing, Harry?" Hermione asked, trying to untangle herself from the bushes.

"Keep quiet," Harry said as the last of the students entered the school. "Something's going on," he said quietly, staring in the direction of the Quidditch Pitch.

"And Dumbledore told us to go back to the school," Hermione said.

"I'm not leaving Sirius and Remus out there," Harry argued.

"Don't be thick, Harry!" Ron said. "They're grown wizards; they can take care of themselves. And Dumbledore's there."

"If you two want to go inside, then go. But I'm going back," Harry said stubbornly.

"You're an idiot, Harry," Hermione said exasperated.

Regardless of how they felt about their best friend's mental stability, Ron and Hermione began to follow Harry back towards the maze. The trio ducked under the stands as the head boy and girl ran past them. They exited the stands just in time to see the maze being blown apart. The Death Eaters marched forward, outnumbering the entire teaching staff five to one.


"Harry didn't go back," Sirius muttered to Remus.

"Why do you say that?" Remus asked carefully.

"Because I just saw Hermione's bushy head duck out of the Ravenclaw stands."

"Dammit..."

Neither had time to turn around and yell for the trio to get back inside the school. The Death Eaters were closing in quickly.

"STUPEFY!" Dumbledore yelled into the enemy ranks.

The night sky exploded into a whirlwind of color and sound as the battle broke out. The Death Eaters were firing back lazily as if this were only practice for them. Dumbledore's presence didn't even seem to faze them. Moody returned to the grounds with the entire Auror department and the Order of the Phoenix backing him. Sirius and Remus were separated by a group of Death Eaters. Remus fired every curse and spell that came to him, and was able to knock out three of his opponents.


Harry watched the battle from the stands as his guardians fought to keep the Death Eaters at bay. Suddenly, a sharp, burning pain erupted in his head. It was the worst pain he had ever experienced; his scar was going to explode.

"He's here," he panted breathlessly. He could see flashes of the Forbidden Forest. It sounded as if an entire army was approaching.

"Who's here?" Hermione asked fearfully.

"Voldemort."


"STUPEFY!" Sirius yelled at the Death Eater before him. The other wizard was surrounded by red light for a moment before he fell to the ground. In the momentary pause, Sirius looked around. Remus was partnered with Tonks in a battle with four Death Eaters. He had to admit, his cousin had style. He glanced quickly towards the stands, hoping Harry wouldn't be stupid and would remain under the stands.

"Oy, Black!" called a voice. Sirius spun around and ducked a blue jet of light sent his way. He fired back with a cutting curse and hit the enemy in the stomach. The Death Eater fell to the ground in pain as Sirius ran over to him, stunned him, and broke his wand in half.

"SIRIUS! DUCK!" Remus called.

Sirius hit the ground just as the Killing Curse soared over his head. He could hear the rush of air as it hit the bushes of the maze and caught them on fire. His way of saying thanks to Remus was by stunning the Death Eater directly behind his friend.

"HARRY!" they heard Dumbledore yell.

The battle stopped only for seconds as everybody present turned around to witness Lord Voldemort standing before Harry. Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen.

The color drained from Sirius' face. He's too young... He's not prepared for this... he thought desperately. He made to run to his godson's defense, but a group of ten Death Eaters blocked his path. He'd had to fight to get to Harry before, and he'd be damned if he didn't do so now.


Remus had also been barricaded from Harry. His problem, though, was not the number of Death Eaters in his way, but the one leading them. He'd know that stance anywhere. Nobody held a wand like she did...

"Get out of the way, Naomi," Remus growled.

Remus could almost see his former love smiling at him from under the Death Eater's hood. "I can't do that, love," she said.

"Dammit! MOVE! That's Harry over there! Lily's son!" Remus shouted.

The Death Eaters behind Naomi laughed. "Lily's dead, Remus. Surely you've realized that by now," she teased.

"Naomi, I don't want to hurt you, but if you don't get out of my damn way in three seconds, you will wish I'd reported you to the Ministry. One... two..."

"HARRY!" Sirius shouted from Remus' left. Remus looked over the crowd of Death Eaters and spotted a jet of green light speeding in Harry's direction. Instead of hitting Harry, however, the Killing Curse collided with what looked like a disarming charm.

Remus plowed through the Death Eaters, knocking Naomi carelessly to the side, and met Sirius just in time to see the bead of golden light begin to fight its way to the tip of Harry's wand.

"Fight it, Harry!" Sirius shouted.

"I'm trying!" Harry called back.

"Remus... what... what's going on?" Sirius asked his best friend weakly, watching the bead move away from Harry, and towards Voldemort.

"I don't know," Remus responded wide-eyed and petrified. He'd never seen anything like this in his life.

Around them, the battle had stopped completely. All eyes were now on Voldemort and Harry. They could see the younger wizard sweating and shaking as he forced the bead of light away from him.

After what seemed like an eternity, the bead connected with the tip of Voldemort's wand. Hundreds of golden threads emitted from the wand and created a golden dome that surrounded the two wizards. Sirius made to push through the dome, but Remus held him back.

"Don't," he whispered urgently. "Look..."

Sirius turned and saw what his friend was referring to. A body began to emerge from Voldemort's wand. Hestia... Following her were the other victims of what had been dubbed the St. Mungo's massacre back in December.

"Bloody hell," Sirius muttered as Bertha Jorkins fell from the wand, stood, and straightened herself out. Voldemort's victims paced around the golden dome hissing at the wizard who had killed them.

"Oh my god," Remus muttered.

Sirius turned quickly back to his friend. "What?"

Remus could only point. Sirius looked back into the dome and barely felt his knees hit the ground. Lily Potter stood from where her ghost had hit the ground (at least, she looked like a ghost...) and moved towards her son. Harry's eyes were wide as his mother said something to him. He nodded and held his wand with more determination than before.

"He's next," Sirius said weakly from the ground. He didn't dare look away from Voldemort's wand as his best friend pushed himself from the tip and fell to the ground.

Before joining his son and wife, the messy-haired Marauder called to Sirius. "She's coming, Padfoot... she wanted to see you... just a minute..." It sounded like an echo of James' voice, as if he was in a deep cavern and Sirius was at the opening. Sirius nodded, not sure what he was even nodding at. He followed James' progress to Lily and Harry. James smiled at his son and whispered something to him. Again, Harry nodded, but this time, he gave a small smile to his parents.

"Sirius..." Remus said softly. "Look..."

The final figure out of Voldemort's wand was a tall woman who would have had brown hair and dark blue eyes had she not been a grayish color. "Julia," Sirius whispered longingly.

The ghost of the only woman he'd ever loved smiled at him as she approached the edge of the dome. "I would have said yes, Sirius..." she said. "Just a minute, I'll come back..."

She crossed over to James, Lily, and Harry. The three of them stood in front of Harry while the other victims closed in on Voldemort, shielding him from the boy. Harry suddenly jerked his wand upwards, still protected by his parents and Julia. The golden dome disappeared immediately.

Voldemort raised his arms above his head and touched his left forearm with his wand. A blue light surrounded every Death Eater on Hogwarts grounds, giving the night a strange daytime glow, before Voldemort and his followers disappeared. One by one, Voldemort's victims began to fade away into the night. Remus grabbed Sirius' arm, pulled him up from the ground, and began to drag him to Harry.

"We only have a few seconds..." Lily said, her voice fading.

"Take care of him," James said to Sirius and Remus.

"We will, Prongs," Remus said, wanting desperately to hold his friends one last time.

Lily smiled. "We love you guys..." she said before disappearing.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened with us, Moony... And, Padfoot... I never blamed you for anything..." James said. The next moment, James Potter was once again gone.

"I'm proud of you, Sirius..." Julia said, smiling as she approached the Auror. "And I love you..."

"I love you, too," Sirius said through his tears as Julia followed Lily and James to wherever it was they went.

Dumbledore ran to Sirius, Remus, and Harry followed by Minister Bones and the Aurors. Sirius and Remus continued to stare at the spot their friends had just been moments ago. They didn't even notice Harry collapse to the ground.

"Boys," Dumbledore said softly, placing his hands on the wizards' shoulders. "Let's go inside."

Neither of them could bring themselves to move; they had to be escorted back to the school by Hagrid and Moody.


Remus was exhausted, but he couldn't sleep. He sat wide awake in the hospital wing in a bed beside Sirius. Harry was just across from them. He'd been magically drained with the duel with Voldemort and was forced to drink a sleeping draught and a replenishing potion by Madam Pomfrey.

Remus still couldn't believe what he'd seen. Lily... James... Julia... He'd heard them speak... He saw them all walk and smile...

Dumbledore had explained to him and Sirius about the brother wands Harry and Voldemort shared. It was the first they'd ever heard about the wands' cores, and had Sirius not been in a state of shock over the night's events, he would have made a big deal about it.

"Remus," Sirius whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I wasn't hallucinating, right?" Sirius had asked the same question at least every hour since he'd been able to bring himself to speak.

"No, you weren't hallucinating," Remus said to Sirius as much as himself.

"...she would have said yes..."

"I know, Sirius."

Remus could hear Sirius sniff in the dark, and was having a time trying to hold back his own tears. Neither man was shy about crying in front of the other; they'd been doing since the day they were reunited eight years before—most of their tears were shed over the memories of Lily and James. But that night was one neither would ever forget; they'd seen their friends again, even if it was just their echoes.

"Why didn't you tell me about Naomi?" Sirius asked after long minutes of silence.

Remus turned his head in his friend's direction. Sirius' tone wasn't accusing, only curious. "I don't know," he answered honestly.

Sirius nodded. "It's all right."

Remus nodded back. "How did Voldemort leave the grounds tonight?"

"I don't know. You can't Apparate or Disapparate here..."

Remus lay back on his pillows. The impossible had happened more than once that night: Voldemort attacked Hogwarts—the safest place in the wizarding world; they saw Lily and James and Julia; Voldemort somehow transported him and his Death Eaters—the injured included—off Hogwarts grounds; and most importantly, Harry lived through his first duel with the Dark Lord.

Had Voldemort discovered another crack in the Hogwarts wards? He'd known about the Apparition spot in the Forbidden Forest since he'd been in school. He now had Lily and James' powers... But not even Dumbledore could Apparate or Disapparate into Hogwarts.

Yet another mystery had shown itself. And Remus Lupin always did love a good mystery...