Chapter 15
I laughed when Hermione handed Carlos a carrier crate for her cat. She had purchased a fluffy orange cat with a squashed face. "His name is Crookshanks. He's half-Kneazle which gives him a lion-like appearance. Isn't he adorable?" Hermione asked.
"Babe," Carlos moaned. I wisely held my tongue as we travelled home. Hermione told us that she recognized Peter Pettigrew for what he was. It caused issues between Ron and Hermione until Ron realized Hermione told the truth.
Carlos and I talked about my encounter with the dementor. I told him everything I had envisioned. Every bad memory in my life had erupted to the forefront of my mind. It was as though I lived everything at the same time. I was overwhelmed.
Mason loved Crookshanks, and the cat loved him. Crookshanks protectively laid in Mason's doorway. He didn't let anyone enter the room without checking them first. Hermione was thoroughly amused. Carlos? Not so much. He could barely handle the owls. The cat seemed too high maintenance for Carlos, even though Hermione took care of him.
I worked at E E Martin for a few more months before they let me go. The FBI got the evidence they required to arrest Elaina Hutchinson-Martin. She had continued Eliot the mission to launder mob money.
Baldicott purchased E E Martin and went through a housekeeping sweep. I got permanently laid off because my availability got reduced significantly because of my job at the ministry. In my opinion, I think they suspected I was a witch.
I'm not sure how we managed, but we got Rangeman Trenton ready to launch with the building equipped to staff. Carlos, Tank, Lester and Bobby started the hiring process while I worked from my office at the ministry.
I got recruited to assist the Ministry of Magic in Britain to help plan their biggest event called the Triwizard Tournament. It was surprising, yet an honour, that I got asked to help, but I got highly recommended. Carlos and I spent a lot of time together before I got too busy. We relocated to Britain for the summer. Grandpa William asked us to stay with him so Wilma could watch Mason.
"Oh, no!" Hermione exclaimed as she read the parchment that Hedwig delivered.
"What's going on?" I asked. She was probably worried about something with Harry.
"Harry's cousin, Dudley, got put on a diet by his school. Now everyone in the family has to follow it. Harry is too skinny as it is," Hermione answered.
"We can send him treats and other snacks, sweetie. His birthday should be here soon. Why don't we make him a cake?" I suggested. She wrapped her arms around me to whisper her thanks.
A few weeks later, Hermione got invited to the World Quidditch Game. Arthur Weasley had managed to get prime tickets through his connections at the Department of Magical Games and Sports. It was the first time in thirty years that Britain was hosting the cup. Tickets were hard to get. It was the match of Ireland against Bulgaria. She got asked to stay at the Weasleys for the remainder of the summer. Molly had assured me that Hermione would sleep in Ginny's room. Hermione was afraid we wouldn't let her attend.
Along with the Triwizard Tournament, hosting the Quidditch match was bound to be a magical nightmare. Hogwarts was hosting the tournament. When many witches and wizards from around the world gathered in one place, there were bound to be muggles witnessing the magic performed.
Carlos sat in front of Hermione. He took her hands and held them until she looked into his eyes. "Sweetheart, you may go to the Weasleys to watch the match. Your mother and I would never force you to miss the opportunity of a lifetime. With a large gathering of magic and alcohol, there's bound to be someone misusing magic. Keep your wand on you at all times. Stay with the Weasleys and follow Arthur's orders. I'll be at the tournament, helping the other Aurors with security," Carlos said.
Keep your wand on you at all times. Stay with the Weasleys and follow Arthur's orders. I'll be at the tournament, helping the other Aurors with security," Carlos said.
"I can go?" she asked.
"Yes, sweetie. You can go," I confirmed. "You are a brilliant witch. I know you would stay safe."
"But what if I have to use magic?" Hermione was worried about underage magic usage.
"Herm, if your life is in danger, you are permitted to use magic while underage. Don't worry about the consequences," Carlos replied. "When do we take you to the Weasleys?"
"I would like to get there tomorrow, if possible," she answered.
"Sure. We'll take you to the burrow," Carlos stated. He kissed her forehead before releasing her hands.
Grandpa Plum arrived before aunt Jean placed dinner on the table at grandpa William's house. He wanted to visit Hermione before she left for another school year. They were supposed to go camping, but even dad felt going to the Quidditch game wasn't something Hermione should miss.
When Hermione dismissed herself to get more homework completed, dad asked, "Has Bertha Jorkins returned from Albania?" Bertha got a job in International Magical Co-operation. I had worked on a few cases with her, but I found her to lack intelligence. She got caught up in gossip more than she worked. She was thoroughly exhausting to work with on a project. Barty Crouch Sr had transferred Bertha to the Department of Magical Games and Sports when Ludo Bagman got the position of director.
Ludovic Bagman was a man who tried to relive his glory days. He was the beater with the Wimbourne Wasps and the English National Quidditch team. Ludo should have been a wealthy man, but he had a gambling addiction. To pay off his gambling debts, Ludo often used Leprechaun gold, which disappeared the following morning.
"Not yet. Bertha has the propensity of forgetfulness and getting lost. The ministry refused to waste resources to search for her. We need all hands on deck to handle the Quidditch match and Triwizard Tournament," I replied.
"It's a shame. The Jorkins family is probably wondering where she got lost," dad stated.
"I hope she turns up eventually, but I'm afraid she's dead. We may never learn what happened," I added.
Mason climbed down from his chair and moved to sit on his grandfather's lap. "Your little boy changes his appearance every time I see him. I'm not sure if I had seen him in his true form," dad commented. Mason grinned before he reverted to his normal appearance. "Ah. You have your mother's gorgeous eyes, and your hair isn't as curly. The rest of you is definitely your father."
"Papa, watch," Mason said before making himself look like Crookshanks.
"Mase, you're not supposed to use magic," my dad reminded him. Mason stuck out his lower lip as he returned to normal. I couldn't help laughing. My son's adorable giggles quickly followed.
"Babe," Carlos groaned. I knew laughing was encouraging Mason.
"Kitty," Mason said, pointing to Crookshanks. He was sleeping on his cat bed, his paws wrapped around Chipper.
My dad raised an eyebrow. "Do I want to know?"
I laughed. "Crookshanks and Chipper are best friends. Chipper has his cage and perch, but he prefers to stay with the cat," I attempted to explain. Dad tilted his head to the right then back to the left. "Chipper uses Crookshanks' back paw as a perch."
"You can't move the bird without waking up the cat," dad said, understanding the dilemma. I touched my finger to my nose.
He checked his watch and decided it was time to go home. I watched him walk across the living room to get to the staircase. His footfalls softly climbed the stairs. Dad wanted to hug Hermione before leaving. I'm not sure what dad and Hermione talked about, but it was an hour later when dad left her room.
"Stay safe, daddy," I whispered, hugging him tightly.
"I'll give you the same advice as Hermione. Remember to deflect hexes," he said. I laughed. It was the same thing he had said when I lived with aunt Jean. He took a pinch of powder and disappeared through the fireplace.
"He's been practicing his magic," I told Carlos.
"Tank, Lester and Bobby are helping him learn," Carlos informed me. I didn't know dad had asked our friends for assistance. But I'm glad Dad is finally using magic again.
"I wonder how my mom is coping," I thought out loud.
"She's not happy, but she doesn't stop him either," Carlos stated.
"Time for your bath and bedtime, Mason," Wilma called. Mason squealed and ran towards the house-elf, nearly knocking her over as he jumped into her arms. My son loved Wilma. She was like an aunt, despite being hired help.
The following afternoon, we left Mason in the capable hands of grandpa William and Wilma. Mason gave us slobbery kisses before saying goodbye. I was surprised that he didn't have separation anxiety. Carlos and I dropped Hermione off at the Weasleys home in the burrow. We could tell the house was held together by magic.
Ginny answered the door. She tugged Hermione into the house and up the stairs. "I'm afraid Ginny got impatient for Hermione to arrive," Molly explained.
"No doubt to discuss boys," I joked. Molly readily agreed. She said that Ginny had a crush on Harry, which I already knew. I didn't offer who Hermione liked. Unfortunately for the girls, they had a crush on the same boy. Knowing Hermione, she'd step back to let Ginny date Harry.
Carlos and I excused ourselves to get to our stations at the Quidditch pitch. Molly promised that she and Arthur would take care of Hermione. I wasn't too worried. My daughter was bright and would defend herself if necessary.
We placed portkeys throughout Europe and Asia, bringing witches and wizards having to travel in daylight to Dartmoor, England. The ministry placed guards around the area to monitor the witches and wizards that had arrived several weeks earlier. Arthur had to work until the day before the cup, so he travelled by portkey to the location.
He sent a message to let us know that Hermione arrived, safe and sound. They took the portkey with Amos Diggory and his son, Cedric. The area Carlos and I covered didn't overlap with Hermione's location.
After the match, the partying extended into the night until complete mayhem occurred. Men dressed in black cloaks and masks were taunting the muggles who ran the camp where the Weasleys pitched the tents. I was frantically looking for Hermione. "Babe, Arthur will keep her safe," Carlos reassured me. "We have to help the Aurors."
I tamped down my fear to help manage the situation. The death mark got sent into the air. I cringed when I saw the green snake with the skull high in the night sky. My heart putter-pattered in fear. I wondered who had died. When Carlos appeared at my side, I was relieved. It didn't take us long to locate Hermione and her friends. I couldn't believe that Barty Crouch Sr thought Harry Potter had conjured the death mark.
Unfortunately, his wand got used conjuring the mark. He confessed that it had gone missing between the camp and the forest. Harry didn't recall having his wand since the Quidditch match. Carlos prepared an emergency portkey to send Arthur and the children back to the burrow.
Once everything got settled, we returned to our jobs at the ministry. I heard talk regarding Harry Potter. Some witches and wizards think he's mentally unstable. His scar hurt intermittently, which he claimed was whenever Voldemort was near. Nobody wanted to consider that the evil wizard was attempting to rise to power again.
Carlos and I believed the boy. If the pain in his scar only happened when the dark lord was around, why is everyone blind to the big picture? Neither Carlos nor I could comprehend why the ministry wasn't doing everything possible to protect Harry.
"How did Harry get into the Triwizard Tournament?" I asked Carlos.
"I believe that someone put his name into the cup. They would've confused the Goblet of Fire into thinking four schools got entered. Once a name gets selected, the student got bound by magical law to participate," Carlos answered my rhetorical question.
"Something doesn't feel right. I sent Hermione information on more advanced spells to teach Harry. She's worried that someone is trying to kill him," I said.
"Not kill him immediately. Harry is probably a stepping stone to help Voldemort regain power," Carlos suggested. I didn't want to think about Voldemort returning and hoped my husband was wrong.
My heart kept feeling like it was beating through my chest. Harry had made it past the Hungarian Horntail to collect the egg. Hermione had taught him the summoning charm. He flew his Firebolt to outmaneuver the dragon.
Hermione and I went shopping to purchase a dress for the Yule Ball. She was excited to be attending the dance with Viktor Krum. I knew that Hermione had expected Harry Potter or Ron Weasley to ask, but neither boy plucked up the courage to ask. She went with Viktor to make the boys jealous. Apparently, it worked like a charm. Ron was upset, but Harry wasn't since he had a crush on Cho Chang.
"Teenage hormones are the worst," I said after reading Hermione's letter. "Hermione spent the night crying in her room."
"Teenage boys are idiots," Carlos said. "Give it some time, and the boy will come around." I shrugged, thinking it would take a few more years until the boys grew up.
"Carlos, what do you think about Mad Eye Moody?" I wondered if he had the same ill thoughts as I had.
"He walks and talks like Mad Eye, but I don't think it's him. Some mannerisms are different from the time we worked on a mission together. I've been trying to gather proof that it isn't the real Mad Eye Moody, but he's too vigilant."
"I have an idea. Are you willing to listen?" I asked. Carlos nodded and grinned when I laid out my plan. It could work to see what was occurring on the grounds.
A few times a week, Carlos and I would transform into our animagus to spy on the teachers and students at Hogwarts. I swear Hermione saw me near Hagrid's cabin a few days ago. Thankfully, she never drew attention to me. We had watched Harry on his second task. He retrieved his friend, Ron, within the allotted time frame for the event. But he wanted to make sure the others got rescued by their champions. I grinned when it got declared that Harry got extra points for outstanding moral fibre. Kudos to you, Harry Potter.
The intel Carlos and I gathered got us to realize that Mad Eye Moody in Hogwarts was not the real deal. We had problems trying to discover what happened to the real man. There was no doubt that Polyjuice potion got used. I shuddered to think of the long-term effects of its use.
By the time the third event arrived, Barty Crouch Sr had disappeared. We had searched the grounds but couldn't locate the man. Ludo Bagman handled the commentary for the task in the maze. Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter were the first to enter the labyrinth. The champions would need to get past several obstacles to maneuver towards the centre where the Triwizard cup waited for the winner to claim.
Carlos and I transformed to fly above the maze. I watched in horror as Cedric and Harry simultaneously touched the cup and disappeared. Soaring within Dumbledore's vision, I motioned something had gone horribly wrong.
A few hours later, Harry returned, clutching the cold, dead body of Cedric Diggory. It was horrible. My heart broke for Amos and his wife. The students screamed when they had realized that Cedric had died.
Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape questioned Mad Eye Moody. They had discovered it was Barty Crouch Jr using Polyjuice potion. The real Mad Eye Moody got locked into his trunk. What frightened me the most was learning that Lord Voldemort, the evilest wizard of all, had returned to full power.
I wanted to take Hermione home, but she needed to stay at school to grieve Cedric Diggory with her classmates. Carlos and I hugged Hermione tightly and told her to stay safe. We'd see her after school got out for the summer.