Chapter 50: Saying Goodbye
I sank to my knees, bringing Sirius with me as his words were deaf to my ears. I couldn't think, I wouldn't believe that Harry was gone, the son I swore to protect, the murder my own blood. I let the tears fall as Sirius continued to speak, his arms shaking me. "What's wrong with Harry? Phoebe, talk to me." it was quiet for a moment before Sirius turned me to face him, "It's not Harry. Listen, don't you hear the name." I couldn't listen, I knew my father had killed Harry, he wasn't able to stand against him like that. "Who's Cedric? Where have I heard that…" The words finally reached me and I listened hard, hearing Cedric's name as the dead…
I let out a breath of relief, then sadness filled me as I realized that Cedric was dead because of my father, he was so young, so full of life, his whole future ahead of him…cut short because of my evil father. "Phoebe, there's people coming, we need to go." Sirius's voice was in my head, but I wasn't going anywhere. I was going to find Harry and make sure he was alright. "I'm going to find Harry…Sirius, go back to the cave. I'll meet you there later." I didn't give him a chance to reply as I stumbled to my feet and began to walk toward the castle, seeing a set of figures heading that way as well.
They disappeared before I could reach them, entering the castle, I went to follow, but heard running behind me, I pulled my wand, but lowered it to see Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore rushing my way. "Phoebe?" Dumbledore asked, not stopping as he hurried pass me and I followed without thinking. "What's going on?" I asked, easily keeping up with them. "Moody is gone and so is Potter." Snape sneered and McGonagall nodded, "It seems he was behind all of this…although nothing is certain." I felt my legs speed up, Harry was with the person behind my father returning. That wasn't good. I needed to get to them.
We rushed to his room, the door was locked, I blasted it away and shouted "Stupefy!" Dumbledore rushed in, seeing Moody on the ground unmoving. I moved over to Harry, who was hurt, but still alive. I jerked him into my arms and began to cry again, tears of relief, he was still breathing. McGonagall tried to usher us both out, but Dumbledore stopped us, saying we needed to understand. "This is not Moody. He would have never taken you from my sight." he instructed Snape and McGonagall to do some things, but I wasn't moving, I was staying with Harry.
We watched as Dumbledore moved to a large trunk and began to unlock it one lock at a time, until he crawled down and called back up to us. Harry did as he asked, I still held my wand at the fake Moody on the ground. When he climbed out, he explained the poly-juice potion and we waited to see if it was going to wear off before he woke. It did and Crouch's son's face was the true one, his thin body hiding under the thick clothes that Moody wears. The others returned and Dumbledore poured the potion into his mouth and pointed his wand at his chest, "Ennervate."
It was only a moment before his eyes fluttered opened as he came to. Albus asked how he escaped and Barty said that it was his mother. Swapping places to save him since she was already dying and begged his father to do it. I listened as the questions continued and the story was revealed. How he had fought the curse and everything leading up to tonight. "My master's plan worked. He is returned to power and I will be honored by him beyond the dreams of wizards." his face was truly insane as I stared in disbelief, my father had truly returned and would be coming for us all.
Dumbledore bound Barty, telling McGonagall to watch over and Snape to get Fudge and Madam Pomfrey to tend to the real Moody. "You two, follow me." I nodded and helped Harry follow Dumbledore up to his office. When we walked inside, shock ran through me as I saw Sirius standing there. He crossed the room and began firing questions off at us. Dumbledore allowed me to sit Harry into a chair as he explained everything to Sirius. Fawkes came over, landing on Harry's knees as they continued talking. Dumbledore finished and came over to Harry, asking him to tell him everything that happened after he touched the Portkey.
Sirius and I objected, saying Harry needed to rest and heal first, that it could wait, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. I listened as Harry relived every moment of tonight, I felt my breath trembling as Sirius was silent also, only making sounds sometimes. Harry met my eyes and I gave a slight shake of my head, telling him to keep quiet about my connection to my father just now. He continued, telling us about the wands connecting and the ghost appearing. As he had been talking, Fawkes had moved and was crying its' tears on his wounds to heal them.
Dumbledore was finally finished talking and said that he would let him rest. He even allowed Sirius to stay with us, turning into his dog form as we walked the halls. We went to the hospital wing and after he dressed for bed, we gathered around him, Sirius pressed against my leg, his head in my lap as I sat close by Harry. He drifted into sleep and we just watched him, anytime someone would speak, I would send them away. Finally they gave up and went to bed themselves, saying that they would return later when Harry was awake. I rubbed Sirius's dog head and sighed, making him whimper. "There's something I need to tell you. That I should have told you so long ago. Whenever you are ready to leave, I will tell you."
He gave a nod and replaced his head, his eyes focused on the sleeping Harry. Godfather and Godmother watching over Lily and James's son…surviving meeting my father and fighting against him. Suddenly there was voices coming for us, Fudge, Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall were arguing. Fudge didn't believe that my father had returned, he said Dumbledore shouldn't believe Harry, making Sirius bar his teeth and growl at Fudge. I was staring at the man, who was demanding that it wasn't true, the fool. Harry spoke, asking if Fudge had been reading Rita's papers, making the man go red.
I hadn't even noticed he was awake, but he looked a bit better already. I had hope he would recover. Fudge continued, saying Harry was hiding things, as well as Dumbledore, when Harry sat up, shouting he had seen my father return. I pushed him back down, but he continued to tell them about what he saw, the Death Eaters. It went on for a while, the fighting and back and forth, Fudge was deaf to our words, no matter what was said, he would not believe the Dark Lord had returned. Finally he sat a bag at Harry's table and left, signally Dumbledore to start telling a few people some task he needed of them.
Finally he told Sirius to turn back and he did, making Snape scowl at him and he returned he, but didn't move forward, staying by my side and Harry's. Dumbledore told them both it was time to put aside their difference, telling them for the short term at least and asking them to shake hands. It took a minute, but finally they did and it was quick. Dumbledore asked him to alert other members of the Order we once served fighting my father the first time and Harry wanted him to stay, but Sirius explained it to him. He gave me a small nod before turning back to the black dog and leaving.
Snape left on his mission not long after that, and then Dumbledore left to. I gave Harry his potion, telling him to finish it. "Phoebe…your…you know…I mean…" I nodded, understanding that he was trying to see how I was feeling about him returning. "You rest, Harry. Don't bother worrying about that. I'll see to it. Get some sleep." I gave him a deep hug, trying to take his pain away, trying to make him feel better. My mind already thinking of a plan to take on my father. I would end this. I would protect Harry, I would protect Sirius, I would protect everyone, even if I ended up dying too.
After the end of school feast, the students went to pack and I did the same, rushing as I wanted to see Harry off and then get to Sirius, we would make our plans together. "Harry." I turned and saw the Fleur girl saying bye to Harry and Krum as well, I walked over and Hermione and Ron excused themselves as I faced Harry, ushering him away from the crowd. "Are you going to be alright?" he nodded, saying it was possible for him to visit the Weasley's sometime during the summer. "If Dumbledore would just let me take you, it would be safer. I have my own house, secluded and protected beyond measure. You could be happy and safe there. I would protect you. But he refuses. Sometimes I wonder what his plans are."
"Phoebe, you're rambling." he said and I smiled, shaking my head. "Right, sorry. I want you to write me, and when you can visit just send me a letter and I'll come get you. I'm sure you would like my home." "Would you really want me around? I seem to have bad luck." I laughed and whispered, "That makes two of us." I stood up, pulling him into a hug. "I'm serious Harry, no matter what anyone says, you will be safe with me. I swore to your parents I would protect you. I'm sorry I haven't done a good job. Just send me a letter and I'll be here to take you away, no questions asked. If anyone has a problem, they can come deal with me. You are just like family to me." I released him, waving as he boarded the train with his friends before I returned to my room, seeing Rain waiting with a letter.
It was Sirius, saying he was with Remus and that they would be heading to my home today. He joked saying that Remus was concerned about how I was going to react to seeing him after last time, I mean he didn't know we had been in contact, and together together. I laughed and rushed my stuff out of the barrier and apparated to my home. I got settled when I heard the alarm, signally that someone was near the border. I walked out to greet them, thinking this was going to be an awkward exchange for all of us. We had a lot to explain.