Chapter 5

AN- Just for the record, the thing about Dumbledore's robes in chap 4 is that everybody has him as really senile, but I bet there is a damn good reason he wears silly robes.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, because frankly I'im really happy I got any. Almost entirely because of this, i will keep on writing...

So, Onwards:

(set straight after the end of chapter 4)

As the wand pieces clattered to the ground, A deep throaty chuckle brought Harry and Cedric spinning round. Who would dare to laugh at the Dark Lord's misfortune? Even if he had no wand, he was still a dangerous man.

The only reason Harry and Cedric were safe was their ghostly nature. Voldemort couldn't see them. Or kill them for that matter. This was a great relief to Harry and Cedric, who hadn't realised up till then how much of a relief it was to be dead. Who can kill a dead man?

Certainly not voldemort. Which is why the chuckling stranger was completely safe. However, seeing the Bloody Baron laugh was a strange experience.

Due to the considerable amount of blood over his robes, nobody dared approach him. Seeing him laughing really got Harry thinking about the Slytherin ghost. Why was he covered in blood. He knew the question had been asked years before, but an answer wasn't given.

Harry glid over to the baron, who hadn't yet seen him.

"Boo!". The baron flinched.

"Who in the seven hells?" he yelped. Regaining composure, he asked, quite politely for someone covered in blood, "Who are you? All the other resident ghosts are adults."

"Harry Potter, and I'm no resident. I'm just here for pissing off old Tommy boy here."

"Ah yes, weren't you one of the students? I'm sure I've you spoken of by some blonde brat, sadly in my house,"

"Malfoy," Harry spat, "Total bastard."

"Yes, he is rather irritating, isn't he? His voice grates on my nerves, and so does his attitude. Sadly, that is what my house has come to." The baron shrugged sadly. "So, how did you die?"

"Blunt, much? But seriously, Riddle never liked me much. I had a rather nasty habit of beating him against hilarious odds. So, he thought he'd better polish me off. Lucky old me however got to stick around and try my hand at poltergeisting." Harry snickered. "Cedric thought he'd join in, 'cause Voldie and The Munchers thought he was in the way a bit. " Harry glanced over to where Cedric was wandering round, idly tripping Voldemort and throwing pencils at him. 'Eventually he'll have an aversion to stationary! Lets see how the munchers respond to a Voldie who won't touch a quill.' By this point, the aforementioned dark lord was spinning around trying to find his tormentor – having no luck whatsoever, needless to say – and quietly whimpering.

"Bit childish, but I certainly approve" the Baron murmured to Harry. Harry sniggered. "I could watch this all day."

"By the way, what your name? After all, you know mine," Harry asked.

The Baron smirked, "That's for me to know, and you to find out. I really hope you find out though," And vanished.

Harry blinked. 'That was weird.' Harry felt something slide into his pocket. He looked behind him but no-one was there. Unbeknownst to him, the Baron was still there. He was just much more used to being a ghost than Harry was, and thus had harnessed more of the abilities that come with an ethereal form. Harry had a suspicion that the baron was still around. Harry shrugged, and joined Cedric sticking pencils in the dark lord's ear...

Later that day, Harry took the parchment out of his pocket.

To find the four who influence wizarding ways

one must head to Hogwarts, where they lived out their days

The snake is easy to find, but is a lion test,

To find the Badger, the raven you must best

The lion hides like a snake among the grass

To catch a raven, you need help in mass

The Baron, Countess, Lord & Lady, that legend often features,

Only they can help you to find their teacher.

AN – I may have been too hasty to declare that I have a co-writer. Ti3nl3i hasn't returned my e-mails, so I have to assume I'm on my own. Sorry about taking absolutely ages to write another chapter – I think I suffer from perpetual writer's block. Review people, it's reviews which keep us writing.

Incidentally, check out Virginia Riddle-Malfoy's fic 'Harry Potter and the turn of the tides', it's great, and I'm currently betaing it, so now its got much more correct spelling and grammar.