Magical Origins
Author Notes: Sorry for the long wait, but this chapter took longer than expected. I hope everyone enjoys it. An epic moment in this chapter, I'm sure you're all going to enjoy it. Happy Holidays to all my readers!
Year 4: Secret of the Third Task
Harry spent the last three weeks going over every spell inside those books to learn how to be a better duelist. Granted, he had no one to practice dueling with at the moment. He also couldn't turn to Lily to practice due to the fact they tend to attract crowds when they did duel. At night's he would practice his occlumency to strengthen his mental defensives.
Harry hardly spent time doing his homework, as he had to really focus on the upcoming Third Task. None of his professors gave him a hard time about that. He was one of the top students of his year, so they allowed it. Harry was sure if his grades were like Weasley's, who was having trouble passing, then his Professors wouldn't be so flexible with him.
Harry remembers what Bagman said about obstacles and creatures inside the maze. That is why he was practicing many new defensives spells and counter curses to get him through the maze.
Ron Weasley was finally using the last of his gold to bet Harry would not only fail the Third Task, but he would also die. Weasley seemed almost gleefully and hopeful when he declared that in the middle of the Great Hall.
Professor McGonagall wasn't pleased. She landed Weasley in detention for another month. It seems Weasley had a hard time learning not to wish ill upon other students, yet he seemed to have done that in spades. Nevertheless, Ron was spending most of his nights in detention, cleaning the school without magic.
When this tournament started, everyone outside of Slytherin was doubting Harry for taking part in this tournament. Now, everyone was beginning to bet that Harry was going to win the championship. The lead he had was overwhelming.
In fact, it was so precise, Viktor Krum had already congratulated Harry on his success. Something that displeased Karakoff. Fleur was also happy for obvious reasons. It didn't take long for everyone to hear that Fleur was very pleased with Harry's success. Even Madam Olympia was happy for Harry saving her pupil's life.
Everyone believed Harry was living up to fame. Some were calling him the living legend.
It was strange as everyone wanted Harry's autograph now. From all three schools. Even the girls who fawn over Viktor Krum and Cedric Diggory were now attempting to follow him and get his signature.
To say it was nerve-wracking was an understatement. It was really was bugging him. He's never had people, or a group of girls deliberately follow him. Harry would have to sneak around the castle in his invisibility cloak just to avoid attention. Harry was losing count just how many times he had to stay under his cloak to avoid his admirers and fans. It wasn't even safe at mealtimes anymore as girls started flocking him in packs.
Harry spent most of his time in an unused classroom, curiosity of Professor McGonagall, who seemed to understand his predicament.
Before Harry knew it, the Third Task had arrived. Excitement filled the air like never. As usual, many students were placing bets and trying to get everything settles away. A lot of students were betting heavily upon Harry, who would win. Ron was trying to convince people to bet on Diggory, the real Hogwarts champion. However, the only people who were betting on Diggory were those in Hufflepuff. Too many people were betting on Harry, who had the largest lead in the tournament.
Harry walked down to the Great Hall and was feeling nervous yet excited. Harry sits down, knowing that at six-thirty tonight, after dinner, the Third Task would commence.
"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall says, breaking Harry out of his train of thought as he looks up to the Head of Gryffindor. "Your family is waiting for you in the Entrance Hall."
Harry raised an eyebrow at her meaning. He seriously doubts that the Dursley's would be here. After all, if anything, they would just come to cheer for Harry to his death. Then he remembers about Sirius and his Vassals. Of course, they would be here. They were the closest thing he had to a family. With a smile, Harry gets up and heads to the entrance hall.
Harry walks in, and to his delight, his vassals have indeed gathered around. Artemis was standing there, holding a baby girl and boy in her arms.
Harry walks up, at a loss for words as he looks down upon his children. The girl had the snowy white-blonde hair like Artemis. The boy, however, his hair was jet black like Harry's.
"They're beautiful," Harry says as he holds his daughter. "What's their name?"
"Reina and Gabriel," Artemis replies as Harry holds his children.
Harry smiles as he holds his son and daughter. They were sleeping, yet they were so beautiful.
"You alright, Harry?" Lupin asks.
"Yeah, just a bit nervous," Harry says as he hands his son and daughter back to Artemis. Artemis took them and puts them in a baby sling where they were resting quietly.
Harry quickly spotted Mrs. Weasley with her oldest son Bill lurking the shadows.
"Show us around," Sirius says in a cheerful tone.
Harry did so, knowing that Mrs. Weasley was looking for an excuse to speak to him.
Harry led them around and showed them things. Harry also explains the greenhouse and the classrooms. Needlessly to say, the adults were comparing the current Hogwarts to the times they were at the school.
Several of the adults, Sirius mostly, joke about Professor McGonagall being as strict as usual.
Eventually, it came time for lunch, and they return to the Great Hall to eat lunch. Artemis apparently had to watch what she ate as she was still breastfeeding her twins.
When countless Slytherins saw Artemis was back, they all came up to talk to her and congrats her on her children. Some asked if she was with the father, but Artemis merely smiles and shrugs them off.
They would clap Harry on the back, wishing him luck for tonight's task.
Harry gets up and heads to the Champions tent, where he sits down, waiting for the Third Task to begin. One by one, the other champions came in, and they all look nervous as they came in.
No one says a word. They all sit down and were trying to calm their nerves. The final task was almost upon them. They all knew the odds of Harry losing were slim. His significant lead made him the odds-on favorite to win.
"Excellent, you're all here!" Bagman says in a loud cheerful tone as he comes into the tent. "Now, as you all are aware, the final task is upon you and will start in ten minutes. Now, the way this works is the person with the highest points will enter first." Bagman says, looking at Harry. "After ten minutes goes by, Mr. Krum will follow. After ten minutes of his entry, Mr. Diggory will enter then Miss Delacour will follow her time is ready. Now in the center of the maze is the Triwizard Cup. The person who grabs it first will get full marks and be declared the winner. Now before you enter, Dumbledore is going to place a Telescopic Charm on you."
"A what?" Harry repeated as he was sure he never heard of such a charm.
"I'm not surprised you've never heard of it. It's one of Dumbledore's latest inventions of his spell creativity. It will allow us to monitor all four of you inside the maze. Dumbledore said he got the idea from a muggle vi – vid-a… a muggle omnioculars." Bagman says.
"A video camera?" Harry says.
"Yes, I think that's the word," Bagman says in excitement. "Thank you, Harry, my boy. Yes, basically, it's like…." Bagman says but trails off when he couldn't find the words.
"Watching a live feed from afar." Harry finished.
"I think that's the way Dumbledore say it," Bagman says, nodding. "I'm not sure what it means, though. All I know is that it will allow us to watch and monitor you."
Harry could see how this could be an advantage to the other champions since he was in first place. Harry would be sent ahead and be forced to clear obstacles and traps for the other champions who could have an easier time moving through the maze. Fleur had the greatest advantage as she is currently in last place.
Dumbledore comes in and looks very cheerful.
"Greetings, Champions!" Dumbledore says as he enters the tent. "Now, you have waited and prepared, and the day has finally arrived. Now, a quick word of wisdom before you venture forward. In the maze, you'll find no dragons or creatures of the deep. Instead, you'll find something even more challenging. You see, people change in the maze. Oh, find the Cup if you can, but be wary, and make sure you do not lose yourself along the way." Dumbledore says in a grim tone of voice.
They all look Dumbledore, unsure what he meant. Harry wasn't sure if this was a cryptic talk or a warning.
One by one, Dumbledore cast his spell on each of the participants, and it felt like a crack egg being poured down on Harry's head.
"If you all would," Dumbledore say as he leads them to the entrance of the Quidditch Field. In the stands, all the students and guests were cheering. Amos Diggory was literally bouncing for joy as Cedric walked onto the field and was urgings the crowd, namely the Hufflepuff's to cheer as loud as they could.
Fleur and Viktor walk on the field, and they got a round of applause as well.
When Harry walks on the field, the crowd defying themselves a thunder of applause. Harry raised his hand up, and the crowd cheered even louder.
"Attention!" Dumbledore says in a magically enhanced voice. "As you all are aware. Our Champions have face two grueling tasks; all to get to this point. Their objective is simple. Reach the center of the maze to find the Triwizard Cup. The first one that does will be the winner. Currently in the lead, with ninety-two points is Harry Potter." Dumbledore says. The crowd roared in delight as Harry's name was called.
Harry took this time to look at the judge's panel and sees to his delight, Percy wasn't present. Instead, it was the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge. Harry wasn't sure if that mark for improvement. Harry's opinion of the Minister was meager.
"In second place, with seventy-two points, from Durmstrang, Viktor Krum!" Dumbledore says as Karkaroff raised his arm in triumph as the Durmstrang students all cheered their Champion on.
"In third, with seventy points, Mr. Diggory."
Hufflepuff, with many Gryffindor's, cheered Cedric on as Amos Diggory had a large smile on his face. He brought Cedric's arm up in triumph as if his son already won the tournament.
"And in last place, with sixty-three points, Miss Fleur Delacour," Dumbledore says as Beauxbaton cheer their Champion on.
"Right, Harry, at the start of the cannon…" Dumbledore began, but Filch had already fired the cannon.
Dumbledore turns to the caretaker with a raised eyebrow, and he looks somewhat guilty.
"There will be professors who will be on patrol in case you run into any trouble. If any of you wish to forfeit, just throw up red sparks, and they'll come to collect you." Dumbledore says.
Harry nods his head and takes a step forward. He enters the maze, and the sound of the crowd seemed to have deafened. Harry was more than aware they could see his every move. Harry continues to walk forward, unsure how long this path was going to lead him. After five minutes of walking, Harry reaches his first fork. The trail split off from right to left.
"Point me," Harry whispers to his wand as his wand spins in his hand. It stops pointing to his near the left side of the maze.
This was a useful spell that allowed the wand to act as a compass. His wand would always point north.
The Cup was most likely northwest, in the middle of the maze. However, he couldn't go north.
Harry turns and runs down the right path. Harry jogs down the path and finds a tight turn that went deeper into the maze.
It was strange as Harry walks down the maze. Harry has yet to run into anything or face any obstacles.
Instead, it was dark, with a mist on the ground.
Then a cannon exploded signally that Viktor Krum had entered the maze. Harry looks at the edge of the maze and could see it wouldn't be possible to climb to the top. That would have made things easier.
Harry takes off and quickly could feel like someone was watching him. It wasn't the charm that was placed on him earlier. It was more than that unnerving feeling that someone was keeping a close eye on him.
Harry figure it was that Mad-Eye magical eye that was watching him.
Harry tightens the grip on his wand a bit more.
Would the imposter now make his move?
Harry looks around him to see if anyone was around.
Silence greeted him. All he could do was look around and could feel the intensity.
The sound of the cannon blasted, indicating that Cedric was now entering the maze. Harry nearly flinches from the noise and calms his breathing. Harry ventures forward and continues to walk forward.
It was strange that he has yet to run into anything. His path has been unusually clear.
Did this mean he chose a route with few obstacles?
Harry continues to venture deep into the maze before stopping.
Looking around, Harry could feel like he has been traveling around aimless for hours.
"So, this is what Dumbledore meant," Harry mutters as he looks in around him.
A sudden twig snap caused Harry to raise his wand and points it at an incoming figure.
The figure appears, and it was Cedric. His robes were smoking, and he looked aghast.
"Hagrid's Blasted-Ended Skrewts," Cedric says as he came to a stop in front of Harry. "They're enormous. I only manage to get away."
In saying that, Cedric takes off the other direction.
The skrewts over the school year have been killing each other to the point Hagrid had no choice but to separate them, but that did little to stop them from killing one another. The hundreds of skrewts had been reduced to merely two. Lily told him recently that Hagrid is teary-eyed over the loss of so many skrewts.
None of the students shared Hagrid's sympathy. If anything, they were glad they were killing each other off. Dealing with them was hard enough. Many students started attending his lessons again when he was going over Unicorns.
Remember Rita Skeeter's article about him after the winter holidays caused Hagrid to lose face. Dumbledore told Hagrid he was to return to work.
Harry shakes his head and takes off. Careful to avoid the area Cedric just came from. The cannon erupted a fourth time, telling Harry Fleur was now entering the maze.
All the champions were now inside the maze.
Harry ventures onward. Heading towards the center of the maze.
Harry turns the corner and stops almost immediately.
Even though he couldn't see it, he could see there was something ahead. He could feel something watching him.
Then a movement.
Harry tightens his wand a bit and holds it true as an Acromantula walks forward. It was big… the size of a small car. The Acromantula steps forward, it's pincers snapping and dripping its toxic salvia with anticipation.
Harry quickly cast and launches a giant ice spear, and it hits the dead spider center. The spider twitches before falling to the ground dead.
Harry was going to kill that Oaf Hagrid for putting an Acromantula in the maze. Did that oaf truly believe these monsters were tamable and harmless?
Harry turns and breathes slowly as he turns and ventures onward. Not where the Acromantula emerged. He didn't want to run into any more of them. Instead, he takes off in the opposite direction and heads deeper into the maze.
Harry turns the corner and almost stops.
He has seen this creature before in Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them. Yet he never dreamed of encountering one.
With the body of a large male lion, it had the head of a woman. A beautiful sphynx sitting upright guarding a path.
"Champion, your goal is near. The quickest route to take is behind me. However, you cannot simply walk past me. Solve my riddle, and you shall walk past. Answer incorrectly, and I'll attack. Remain silent, and I will allow you to walk away, unscathed," said the sphynx.
"Okay, what's the riddle?" asked Harry.
"'First think of a person who lives in disguise, who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend, the middle of middle and the end of end?
And finally, give me the sound often heard during the search for a hard-to-find word.
Now string them together and answer me this, which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?"
Harry paused as he took this in.
"A person who lives in disguise and tells naught by lies. That would be a spy," Harry said quickly as the Sphynx looks at him carefully, almost as if she was surprised by his quick response. "The middle of middle and the end of end share the same letter, 'D.' Then the creature I wouldn't want to kiss would be a spider," Harry said, answering the riddle quickly.
The sphynx smiles upon Harry for his quick thinking and high intellect and steps aside, allowing him to rush down the path towards his goal.
After several moments of running, Harry could see the Cup shining down the end of the path. Harry runs forward and grabs the Cup.
Before Harry could brace himself, he was lifted off his feet, and he was falling through the air. It took Harry a split second to realize the Cup was a Portkey.
Harry lands on the ground and looks around.
He could see tombstones all around him. A statue of a reaper or some sort of angel was nearby.
Then without warning, something hit him, causing Harry to fly backward and hit the statue. Harry's wand flew out of his hand in the process.
Harry felt the cords wrap themselves around him and the statue, and he struggles to break free.
'Magical restraints?' Harry realized when he couldn't feel his magic anymore. This was a type of magic Auror's study in restraining their opponents.
A figure walks forward, holding something in his hand. Harry couldn't see his face due to the hood, be he notices the right hand. A hand with a missing index finger. It was Wormtail. His nose twitches a bit as if he was still a rat.
Wormtail waves his wand, and a large cauldron appears.
"Do it." A harsh voice snaps as Wormtail dumps the body into the cauldron.
Wormtail waves his wand, and the ground started to crack and crumble a bit before several bones appeared and started floating towards the large cauldron. The cauldron hissed and spat out its liquid before turning a poisonous pale blue glow.
"Bones, of the father… unknowingly given, you will renew your son!" Wormtail says in a rasping voice. With a shaky hand, he holds up his right hand upward, the hand with the missing finger. With his left hand, holding a sharp dagger, he begins to whimper. "Flesh – of the servant – w-willingly given – you will – revive – your master."
Harry realizes what he was going to do and closes his eyes as he heard a splash in the cauldron, and a bright red glow filled his eyes.
Then Harry could feel Wormtail's breath near him. Harry could do nothing to prevent what happened next. Wormtail rips off his right sleeve and digs his dagger into his forearm.
Harry wished he could simply kick Wormtail then realized he could. With a swift kick, he kicks Wormtail off of him. Wormtail hits the ground whimper.
Harry opens his eyes and tries to break free of his binding. Wormtail raises his wand with his left hand and cries, "Crucio!"
It was a pain as Harry has never felt before. Harry could feel himself shaking violently against his bindings. His bindings held true, and Harry was doing all he could to not scream out.
"Wormtail!" the voice hissed in a loud commanding tone.
Wormtail release the curse, and Harry drops his head, breathing a sigh of relief. Just as Wormtail made his way over to the cauldron again.
"Blood of the enemy… forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe," Wormtail says as he drops Harry's blood into the cauldron from the knife. With his job done, Wormtail backs away and falls on his knees, whimpers over his bloody stump.
Here the cauldron turns black with vapor rising out of it.
The vapors soon began to take form. It appeared like some sorted of mutated snake-human, almost like a male lamia without snake fangs. Yet the snake-like features could be seen. Black vapor could be seen rising from the person's body.
Voldemort has returned once again.
Voldemort sniffs the air with his snake-like nostrils as he brought his hands up to feel his bald head. He sniffs again as he brings his head up. He then takes the time to scrutinize his own body. Inspecting himself as he had a smile on his face.
Voldemort ignores Harry, who felt a sudden chill sweep down his spine. Voldemort walks straight to Wormtail with his right-hand stretch out.
"My wand Wormtail," Voldemort said in a soft voice.
Wormtail, still whimpering on the ground, holds up a wand with a skull at the end of it. Voldemort takes it and looks at it for a few moments. Finally, he turns back to Wormtail.
"Your arm," Voldemort orders.
Wormtail stands up.
"Oh, master, thank you," Wormtail said as he holds out his bloody stump.
"The other arm Wormtail." Voldemort hissed.
Wormtail's face fell. It was clear this wasn't what he was expecting.
"Master… you promised," Wormtail said with his lip trembling.
Voldemort brought his wand up, and Wormtail fell to his knees, whimpering. Voldemort also grabs his left hand, and with a quick flick of his wand, the sleeve rolls back past the elbow, revealing the Dark Mark on his left forearm. Voldemort then presses the Dark Mark with his wand and pauses as if he was sensing something.
"How many will return? And how many will be foolish enough to stay away?" said Voldemort.
He then let's go of Wormtail's arm, allowing Wormtail to fall on the ground, whimpering. Harry looks up, and to his horror, the Dark Mark appeared again in the sky.
Harry then heard something that sounded like hissing. He looks down and sees a large snake. Much larger than the Bao Constructor at the Zoo when he was eleven years old, slithering around the statue he was trapped on.
Voldemort stood there. Without any emotion yet looked like he was lost in thought. Then he turns to face Harry.
"You stand upon the remains of my late father. A muggle and a fool, very much like your own mudblood mother," said Voldemort. A cruel, twisted smile was on his face as she stares into Harry's eyes. "Your mother died to defend you as a child. And I…, I killed my father to prove how useful he was, in death."
Harry says nothing as he listens to Voldemort's story. It was the first time he was getting any backstory on the infamous Dark Lord.
"You see that house upon the hillside, Potter? My father lived there. My mother, a witch, who lived in the village, fell in love with him. Be he abandoned her when she told him what she was… he didn't like magic, my father. So, he left my mother and return to his muggle home and parents before I was even born Potter. She died giving birth to me, leaving me behind to be raised in a muggle orphanage. But I vowed to find him… I revealed myself to him, that fool who gave me his name…. Tom Riddle."
Voldemort stands tall and looks at Harry with a deep hunger in his eyes. Those gleaming red eyes didn't look human at all. They appeared more demon than human, with no warmth or comfort inside of them: only madness and a sick desire to kill.
"Listen to me, reliving my family history, Potter," Voldemort says softly. He then brings his arms up as if he was embracing the heavens. "But look, Potter, my true family, returns."
The sudden sound of wizards apparating and the swish of their cloaks could be heard.
Men, men in black robes wearing silver masks with strange designs on their faces appeared. Making seeing their faces nearly impossible.
They stood, clearly in disbelief as they look at Voldemort, who lowers his arms and simply stands there.
Then one Death Eater flung himself to the ground.
"Master, master." He said, bowing before Voldemort. The mask muffled his voice making it hard to hear who he was. The others fell to their knees and mumble "Master," each one kissing Voldemort's robes.
"Welcome, my Death Eaters. Thirteen years. Thirteen years since we last met. Yet you still answer my call as if it were only yesterday. We are still united under the Dark Mark, aren't we? Or are we?" said Voldemort.
The Death Eaters all stood up. Harry notice while some may have stood next to each other. However, there appeared to be gaps. A couple was small, yet there were a few who had a large gap between the Death Eaters.
It was as if they were expecting more to show up. Yet it seemed clear that no more were going to show up.
"I see that you're all whole and healthy, with your powers intact – such prompt appearances! – and yet, I ask myself… why did this band of wizards never come to the aid of their Master, to whom they swore enteral loyalty?" Voldemort said in a soft yet dangerous tone of voice.
No Death Eater say a word, nor did they move. Yet Harry could see that they were very nervous. Many were merely afraid. They were as still as statues. All except Wormtail, who remained on the ground. Who continues sobbing and rocking back and forth over his bleeding stump.
"And I find myself answering," said Voldemort, still in his soft voice. "They believed I was gone, that I had been defeated. That I – the greatest sorcerer alive – was defeated by a mere child of no remarkable talents. A child whose powers are nothing compared to my own."
Still, no one moved or said a word.
"I find it troubling. That none of my followers believed I would rise again. They, of all people, should have known the steps I took to guard myself against the means of mortal death. That they, who've seen firsthand, the immensity of my powers in the times when I was the mightiest than any wizard living? Or perhaps, they thought that the Champion of Mudbloods, Albus Dumbledore, was the wizard they should follow."
At the mention of Dumbledore's name, the Death Eaters finally made a movement with a stirred motion. They shook their heads as if they denied this fact. Voldemort paid them no mind.
"It is disappointing to me… the wizards who have been at my side for years… turn their backs on me. I confess I find myself… disappointed," Voldemort said softly.
A Death Eater broke rank and flung himself at Voldemort's feet. He was bowing his head in submission.
"Master!" He says in a loud voice. "Forgive me! Forgive us all!" he says in a loud voice.
Voldemort laugh. A burst of high cold pitch laughter that sent shivers down Harry's spine. A burst of laughter that say one thing, this man… this wizard… enjoys cruelty and killing. He was beyond having any humanity left inside of him.
Voldemort raised his wand and points it at the Death Eater, who flung himself at him.
"Crucio!" Voldemort shouted. The Death Eater cried out and shriek as the curse was placed upon him. He was shaking violently, twisting and turning as Voldemort held him under the curse.
Then Voldemort ended the curse. He looks down at the Death Eater, who was trembling and shaking from his ordeal. Harry could hear him breathing heavily, gasping for breath.
"Get up, Avery," Voldemort says in a commanding tone of voice. "Stand up. You ask for forgiveness? I do not forgive. Because I did not forget. Thirteen years. Thirteen long years I've had to wait. I want thirteen years of repayment before I forgive you. Any of you. Wormtail here, has already paid some of his debt, have you not Wormtail?" Voldemort says as he turns to the whimpering Wormtail.
Voldemort walks to Wormtail as Wormtail looks up at Voldemort with pleading eyes.
"I return." Wormtail whimpers out.
"Out of fear," Voldemort hisses, almost as if he glides over in black smoke. Voldemort stands over Wormtail, who whimpers and bows his head in defeat as Voldemort stops in front of Wormtail. "Not loyalty."
"Master," Wormtail says with a trembling voice. "please."
Voldemort stood tall and looks at Wormtail with those red glowing menacing eyes.
"And yet," Voldemort said in a soft yet kind voice, with a hint of malice in it. "You did help me, Wormtail. You help me restore my body. Worthless and traitorous as you are, you helped me… and Lord Voldemort rewards his helpers."
With a flick of his wand, a silver liquid appeared. It slowly reshapes and resigns itself into a hand and moves down to Wormtail's bleeding stump and attaches itself to his wrist. Almost like it was a glove.
Wormtail flexes his new hand and stops whimpering. Slowly he let out a breath of relief and had a smile on his face. He picks up a stone on the ground and crushes easily as if it was made of sand. Wormtail had a smile on his face as a few tears fell.
"My Lord," Wormtail whispered as he attempts to collect himself and regain the use of his voice. "Master… it is beautiful… thank you… thank you."
He bends down and kisses Voldemort's robes a few times before he stands up and straightens himself up.
"May your loyalty never waver again, Wormtail," Voldemort said in a cold and chilling voice.
"No, my Lord, never my Lord," Wormtail said as he bows his head.
With that say, Wormtail took his place in the circle. He would look down, admiring his new hand. Tears of joy were streaming down his face.
Voldemort walks up to another Death Eater, and Harry could see this Death Eater was very nervous. Very afraid. And yet… he was also unusually calm. Voldemort stops just mere inches from this Death Eater.
"Lucius, my slippery friend," Voldemort said in a soft whisper. The others paid close attention to what was being said as Harry and every Death Eater was watching with interest. "I understand that you have not renounced the old ways, though, to the world, you are a respectable face. You are still ready to take the lead in the sport of muggle hunting. Yet you never tried to find me, Lucius. Your exploits at the Quidditch World Cup was amusing, to say the least, but you should have spent that energy finding and aiding your Master."
"My Lord, I was constantly on the alert," Came the swift reply of Lucius Malfoy from behind his mask. Lucius, however, removes his hood and mask and stares at Voldemort with confidence. It was clear he had come prepare for an answer. "Had I seen or heard a whisper of your whereabouts; I would have joined you at once. Nothing would have stopped me from…"
"Yet you ran from my mark when a faithful Death Eater fired it in the sky last summer," Voldemort said in perhaps what sounded like a lazy tone in his voice. Lucius stops talking at once. "I know all about that, Lucius, you have disappointed me greatly. I expect more faithful service in the future."
"Of course, my Lord, of course. You are merciful, thank you." Lucius said in what could only be described as a sound of relief.
Voldemort walked next to Lucius right and stops at the empty space between Lucius and the Death Eater closest to him.
"The Lestranges should be standing here," Voldemort said quietly. "They are imprisoned in Azkaban. They were faithful. They went to Azkaban rather than renounce me. When I break Azkaban open and free my loyal followers, the Lestranges will be honored beyond their dreams. The Dementors will join us, for they are our natural allies. We shall recall the banished giants. We must find and locate Fenrir Greyback. With Greyback at our sides once more, the Werewolves will join us. We shall have an army of creatures and beings who all fear…"
Voldemort stops talking and walks on. He pauses as he looks at two towering Death Eaters. The tallest of the lot. Taller than Voldemort himself. At least by ahead. When Voldemort stops in front of them, they were quick to bow their heads.
"And here," Voldemort said in a lazy tone. "We have Crabbe and Goyle. I trust I don't have to explain myself to you two. About how disappointed I am. This time, you will do better, won't you?" Voldemort says in a soft yet dangerous voice.
"Yes, Master,"
"We will Master."
"The same should be said of you, Nott," Voldemort says as he turns to the Death Eater, who stood in Goyle's shadow, bows his head before Voldemort at once.
"My Lord, I can assure you… I am your most faithful serv…"
"You need to prove yourself once more, Nott. You have lost my faith. I expect your faithfulness to be unwavering this time." Voldemort hisses. Nott bows his head.
Voldemort turns and walks towards the largest gap in the circle.
"Here we have six missing Death Eaters," Voldemort said softly. "Three are dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return… he shall pay. One who I believe has left me forever. He shall perish, for no one betrays me and lives. The last… is my most faithful servant. One who has already returned to me and made this reunion possible. Who also was responsible for our beloved guest," said Voldemort.
Voldemort looks up and stares into the sky. "He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and he shall be rewarded beyond any other Death Eater," with that say, Voldemort turns his attention to Harry.
'So, the three he's talking about… is Karkaroff, the traitor, Snape the coward, and the imposter.' Harry thinks as he takes this in, observing and hoping for a chance to escape.
All the Death Eaters finally turn to look at Harry. Harry could see the shadows of their eyes from the slit of their mask. Lucius Malfoy's face was emotionless as he looks on.
"I find it hard to believe that this boy was my downfall. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. And yet, to the ignorance of the magical world, his story is nothing but a lie." Voldemort says.
Lucius Malfoy steps forward.
"Master, we crave to know… we beg you to tell us… how you achieved this… this miracle. How you manage to return to us."
"Ah, what a story it is, Lucius," Voldemort said with a smile. "And it begins and ends with my young friend here," Voldemort says as he looks at Harry with a wicked grin on his face. He walks lazily towards Harry without a care in the world. "You all know, of course, they believe this boy to be my downfall. How ironic that everything the Ministry believed was based on a lie. It was Lily Potter who stopped me. You see, when sweet Lily Potter cast herself to shield her son, she gave him the ultimate protection possible. It was… old magic… ancient magic. I had… forgotten. It was protection I failed to foresee; I could not touch the boy. For my return, I knew the blood of a wizard I had to have. The protection of his mother left upon him. I knew I must have. Wormtail was insistent that the boy was too well protected. That I should use… another witch or wizard. And yet, for my revenge to be complete, I knew I must have Harry Potter's blood."
Voldemort paused as he took time to reflect on what happened that fateful Halloween night.
"I admit, I was foolish to overlook it, but it doesn't matter anymore. I can touch him now," said Voldemort.
Once Voldemort made this claim, Voldemort presses his finger on Harry's forehead.
Harry shakes his head violently, causing Voldemort to withdraw his finger.
"Ironic, what a few drops of your blood can do, isn't it Potter," Voldemort said with an evil grin on his face. "That I, who have found the true path to immortality, the one who has conquered death, would fail to a mere child. It was a test. One that I endure. I knew I would rise again, more powerful, and greater than my downfall. How easy it would be to kill you. Just like that night." Voldemort says as he points his wand at Harry's temple. "I, however, am a merciful lord. You will die on your feet, Potter."
Voldemort brings his wand down, and the magical cords disappeared. Harry lands on his feet. Voldemort glides over to the other side before turning back to face Harry.
"Wormtail, return him his wand," Voldemort barks.
Wormtail, being the closest to Harry's wand, walks over and picks it up. He walks over and literally throws it in Harry's face as Harry was quick to grab it. Wormtail refused to look at him. Wormtail returns to the circle. And stands there. His face was emotionless and blank.
Harry so wanted to punch him and curse him into oblivion.
Harry turns his attention back to Voldemort. He holds his wand tightly.
This was nothing like his duels with Lily. This was more serious. He knew Voldemort could kill him in an instant if he wanted to. Voldemort was a well-known practitioner of the dark arts and a master of the killing curse.
"You have been taught how to duel. First, we bow," Voldemort said as he did a mock bow. Harry didn't move. He kept his eyes firmly on Voldemort. "Come now, Harry," Voldemort said as stands up. "Dumbledore would have taught you manners. Bow," Voldemort orders. Harry didn't move.
"I said bow," Voldemort said as he raises his wand.
Harry didn't move, showing his abilities to resist Voldemort's spell that was trying to make him bow. He stood there, grinding his teeth.
Voldemort was surprised. It showed on his face.
The moment Voldemort lifted his spell, Harry raised his wand. "Ignis!" Harry cried out. Voldemort raised his wand to block the spell, but his robes quickly caught on fire. Voldemort was attempting to put out the fire, and Harry saw his chance to run. He promptly cast another spell. "Nebulus!" as a thick fog began to appear, making visibility hard to see. Harry stops running and rests on a tombstone and slows his breathing.
"You cannot hide from me, Potter," Voldemort said from afar. "Does this mean you want to end it. That you've given up? Come, Harry, come to your death. It might even be painless. I do not know. I have never died."
Harry knew he couldn't run forever. For one, there were twenty-three of them and only one of him. Meaning he wouldn't be able to outrun them. Even though the mist was concealing his current location. Perhaps his mother's sacrifice was in vain. Maybe it would have been better had she step aside that night instead of trying to save him. He was going to die regardless.
Harry also knew his legacy would live on. He already knew it would. His vassals would avenge him. Lily would find a way to beat Voldemort.
With that final thought, Harry stands up. He walks back to the tombstone where Voldemort and the Death Eaters were calmly waiting. Voldemort looks at Harry as if he was confused.
"Let's do it your way, Tom," Harry said.
Voldemort's eyes flashed dangerously at the mention of his real name.
"Stupefy!" Harry shouts, launching his spell at Voldemort. A red electric beam erupted from Harry's wand heading for Voldemort.
"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort shouts at the same time as a green electric beam erupted from his.
Both spells clash into each other, and immediately, they enter a deadlock.
Harry refused to let go. He was focus hard to push his spell forward, despite knowing the spell in front of him wasn't one to be overpowered so easily.
"Do nothing!" Voldemort shouted as several Death Eaters started to pull out their wands. "Do nothing. He is mine to kill!"
By now, the deadlock was immediately high winds as Harry could feel both his robes and hair being blown back. Voldemort was in the same situation as his robes were whipping back heavily. Almost as if they would be torn from his body at any second.
Then a golden light shot upwards and moved around them. Creating a dome trapping Harry and Voldemort inside. Harry and Voldemort didn't let go of their spells but look upwards in shock and surprise. It was clear Voldemort didn't know what was going on any more than Harry did.
Voldemort started to freak out. His wand started vibrating heavily. A white wisp shot out of Voldemort and slowly reform itself into Bertha Jorkins.
"Do not let him win," said Bertha Jorkins. Her voice sounding very far as if she was an echo. "You can beat him, hold on."
Another wisp appeared and slowly reformed itself into an elderly man. The same elderly man Harry saw in his dream.
"Kill me, did he. You can beat him, son," said the old muggle.
Voldemort was aghast. He was clearly afraid.
Then another wisp erupted from Voldemort's wand. This one floated over to where Harry was slowly reformed. Like Bertha Jorkins, it was reshaping itself into the body of a woman.
Now it was Harry's turn to be freaking out. He nearly lost it as the wisp finishes reshaping herself.
Twenty-One-year-old Lily Potter was standing mere inches from Harry.
She calmly places her hand on his should, yet Harry couldn't physically feel anything there, even though a warmth did enter his body.
"You are so brave. I love you more than anything. It is not your time to die. You can win," said Lily Potter. Her voice, like the others, was an echo. Harry looks forward and could see that the old man, Bertha Jorkins, and his father were standing in front of Voldemort. Throwing insults at him. So, he wouldn't hear. Voldemort was cursing and screaming, trying to get them to go away.
Even the Death Eaters were startled by this unexplained of events. The worse was Peter, who was looking upon the face of his dead friend of James Potter, who was cursing Peter, warning he was going to die a very unpleasant death. His dreams would now be plagued by nightmares for James would never let Peter rest in peace after what he has done.
"We can linger after the connection is broken, but only for a moment. You must get to the Portkey. You must return to Hogwarts," said Lily.
Harry's eyes dart around, and he quickly spots the Portkey off to the side. He would really have to run for it.
"I know you're in Slytherin," Lily said as Harry turns to face his mother. He was staring into her green eyes that mirrored his own. "Regardless of what House you are in, I am proud of you. And I will always love you. I wish you had been raised better, but I am proud of the man you will become. You are ready, break the connection. Return to Hogwarts," said Lily.
Harry didn't break the connection. Instead, he closes his eyes and tries to feel the depth of his magic. As if time itself has slowed down, Harry could feel the extent of his magic. Harry began to pull in everything he had to put everything he had into this one spell.
Voldemort and the Death Eaters began to panic. The ground started to shake violently, and static could be seen and heard all around them. The tombstones around them began to crack under the pressure of the power that was radiating. It was a power like they've never felt before.
Voldemort was feeling the worse of it. The power was so strong it felt his body and bones would crack under his pressure. He's never felt such raw power in life. Not even Dumbledore had this power. Not even he, the greatest of them all, had this power.
Harry opens his eyes, and his mystic eyes took hold. The silver eyes with the blue rings appeared, and Voldemort looks at Harry, and he was scared. He hasn't been scared for a long time. Those eyes terrified him. Eyes told him he held the real power, and he was just a little boy who didn't understand power. Voldemort was deeply reminded of the day he first met Dumbledore when Dumbledore bullied him by setting his closet on fire without hurting anything.
Harry yells with frustration and pushes his spell forward.
His spell started to penetrate Voldemort's killing curse, and it reaches Voldemort's wand at lightning speed.
Voldemort's wand was destroyed from Harry's spell. The golden dome disappeared, and Voldemort was launched into the air. At the same time, a shockwave erupted, knocking all the Death Eaters off their feet.
Harry takes off as his mother and the others launch themselves at Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Dispersing as they did so. Yet they did so where they covered the area where Harry was running to. Making it hard to see him. Few Death Eaters got their wands out and quickly cast their curses into the mist, trying to hit Harry or the phantoms.
Harry reaches the Cup and grabs it, and with a tug, he disappears.
Voldemort was back on his feet and charges his forward, looking around for Harry.
He looks down at his hand of his now destroyed wand.
Voldemort yelled so loud it echoed all around him. His Death Eaters back away from him.
Nagini slithers to her Master.
Voldemort was panting as he looks on. His plan was ruined. Harry Potter would tell Dumbledore in a heartbeat, and his plan would be ruin.
"My Lord," Lucius said carefully.
Voldemort didn't turn to Lucius.
"My Lord, I can assure you. Even if Potter does tell Dumbledore, I can make sure the Ministry doesn't believe him. I have The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge ear. Allow me to return to speak to him to ensure that your return remains quiet." Lucius says.
Voldemort says nothing. He was panting, trying to figure out what went wrong.
"Go." Voldemort finally said.
Harry lands on his feet in front of the crowd, and everyone was cheering. They were clapping and cheering.
"Harry Potter Wins!" Bagman shouted as the crowd cheered.
"He's back," Harry shouted. He looks up, and he looks worse for wear. The crowd continues to cheer, paying no mind what Harry was saying. "Voldemort's back!" Harry shouted for the crowd to hear.
This got the crowd to fall silent. Harry could see the other Champions looking at him with concern in their eyes.
Harry looked at the judge's table and wasn't surprised to see Karkaroff was missing.
Dumbledore walks to Harry and places his hand on Harry.
"Potter is merely exaggerating. He must have run into a boggart, and it scared him," Fudge shouted, ending it with a false laugh.
Harry falls forward, exhausted, unable to stand anymore.
Someone picks up Harry and starts carrying him back to the castle.
Harry was too tired and exhausted to argue. His eyes were blurry, and he couldn't hear the crowd noise growing dimmer.
A door opens, and Harry was led inside and was put in a chair.
Harry could feel some of his strength returning, but he felt drained from his duel with Voldemort. He wouldn't be able to do that again. Then again, Voldemort would require a new wand soon.
"You alright?" said Alastor Moody.
Harry was instantly on guard.
He was so foolish. The imposter was still a threat. Harry tries to feel his wand but saw to his horror, the imposter had his wand in his pocket.
The imposter opens his trunk and paused as he looks down. He quickly starts looking around for his office for something.
"What happen?" asked fake Moody.
Harry says nothing as he looks at the imposter carefully.
Moody stops what he was doing and looks at Harry carefully. He seemed to have registered that Harry knew the truth.
"Marvelous creatures, dragons," The imposter says as he looks at Harry with both eyes. "I thought for sure my Master would complete the task of killing you. Yet it seems, you really do have the devil's luck. You manage to elude my Master. How you escape is beyond me. Yet, if I bring you to him. My Master will reward me beyond any other follower," said Moody.
With his attention solely focused on Harry, he didn't see the shadows forming outside the doorway.
"You are the reason why my master's reputation was ruined. He was so close to cleansing this world and putting the infested down like dogs they were. The purity my Master sought was ruined by you. My Master may have failed, but I live to serve him. Your capture will…"
Harry, at that moment, used the last ounce of his strength to cover the room with ice.
It took a lot out of him. Yet there was a reason for this.
Harry began to suck the magic out of the imposter, and he was quick to fall to his knees.
With his strength returning, Harry stands up. The imposter looks at Harry, and he could feel the Polyjuice potion began to disappear.
"The one thing you tend to forget about me, Barty Crouch," Harry said as he looks down at the Death Eater. "Is that I'm a Slytherin. A true Slytherin would never show his hand to anyone. You only know I excel well in my subjects. Yet even I have secrets. I do well to keep them hidden. There are things about me that you have no knowledge of. Nor do you know that I am stronger than Voldemort. it was a simple task, in destroying his wand."
The imposter's eye opens wide. The magical eye pops out and hits the icy ground before rolling away. The prosthetic leg pops out, and the imposter's original leg began to regrow.
Unfortunately, he was unable to do anything. He was depleted of magic. Harry reaches down and pulls out his wand. He then flicks his wand, and the imposter was in the chair. A second flick and bindings appeared, tying Barty Crouch Jr to the chair. Harry dispels his ice, and the room return to normal.
"You all can come in," Harry said to the people hanging outside the office.
The door opens, and Dumbledore walks in with Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. Samuel and Olivia Wynter follow.
Dumbledore walks forward with his wand out.
"Harry!" Lily said as she pushes past everyone and embraces Harry.
Harry was caught by surprise by Lily's appearance.
Harry hugs her in return.
Harry picks up the flask and hands it to Snape.
"I think you'll find this interesting, Professor," said Harry.
Snape takes it and opens it giving it a sniff.
He turns to Dumbledore as he closes the top.
"Polyjuice Potion," Snape said simply.
Snape looks at Lily, who had a smirk on her face knowing the Potion's Master owed her an apology for falsely accusing her of stealing from his private stores.
"Well, now we know who's been stealing from your stores," Dumbledore said.
Snape said nothing as they all turn to Moody, who started flicking his tongue to the side repeatedly like he was a reptile of some kind.
"One moment," Dumbledore said as he waves his wand at Moody's trunk. All the seven locks burst open as a man wearing shabby wizarding robes appears. The real Alastor Moody appears on the ground, without his prosthetic leg or his magical eye.
"Albus?" said Moody.
"Alastor, forgive me for not acting sooner," said Dumbledore.
Moody groans as he lies on the ground feeling weak and exhausted.
Dumbledore turns his wand towards the imposter and points his wand at him.
A silent spell was cast from Dumbledore, forcing the Polyjuice Transformation to end as the fake Moody began to change from their very eyes. Moody's magical eye pops out as does his prosthetic leg.
A leg grows in place as his right eye also grows back.
"I'll take Alastor to the Healer Wing," Professor McGonagall said as Dumbledore nods his head without looking at her.
Professor McGonagall flicks her wand as she places Alastor Moody on an invisible stretcher. A second flick as the prosthetic leg and magical eye summons to her. She turns and walks out of the office with Mad-Eye floating behind her.
"Severus fetch me the strongest vial of Veritaserum you have," Dumbledore said softly.
"The Dark Lord will have your head traitor!" Crouch shouted at Snape.
Snape said nothing as he simply turns and walks out of the office.
Lily waves her hand and conjures fire chains on Crouch to ensure he doesn't try anything.
"You are gifted for a mudblood," Crouch said to Lily.
Lily's eyes flash dangerously as she conjures fire chains on Crouch. The sound of his clothes burning made Crouch lean backward as if trying to avoid the fire. Soon the smell of burning flesh filled the air as Crouch tried not to cry out.
Harry places his hand on Lily.
"We need him alive," Harry said.
Lily said nothing as she glares at Crouch before her spell ends.
Harry knew Lily is only reacting this way because Crouch had threatened and nearly gotten Harry killed. He really should have learned not to piss her off, like Malfoy.
Snape soon returns, followed by Professor McGonagall. Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore quickly use their wands to have Crouch in position with his mouth open as Snape releases a single drop of his Veritaserum into Crouch's mouth.
"How strong is that potion?" Lily asked Dumbledore.
"Barty Crouch Jr. is skilled in Occlumency, this potion is illegal for Hogwarts Professors to have. This potion should be strong enough for us to get my questions answered. Now, when did you switch places with Alastor?" said Dumbledore.
"In the summer," said Barty Crouch.
"He put up one hell of a fight, but he didn't take account for Wormtail. Wormtail is a coward at heart, but once Mad-Eye had his attention on me, he stunned him from behind. I took a couple of strands from his hair and quickly assembled his formed. When Arthur Weasley arrived with other Ministry officials, I told him I thought I heard intruders in my yard and sent them off. For the next month, I used the truth potion and the Imperius Curse to learn everything I could about Alastor Moody. His habits, his speaking pattern, who he trusted, and how he would treat his students."
"Tell us about Voldemort's plan," Dumbledore said at once.
"My Master learns of my existence from Bertha Jorkins," said Barty Crouch. "She worked for Ludo Bagman and his department and came over for some paperwork for my father to sign. She heard him speaking to me and figured out what was going on. She attempted to blackmail my father, but my father put a memory charm on her to make her forget. Too powerful, he said he may have damaged her mind. When she went to the Forest of Albania, she ran into Wormtail, whom she did not recognize as a wanted criminal. He tricked and persuade her to follow him into the forest where she met my Master. My Master then broke the memory charm, and she told him everything. Once she had served her purpose, my Master killed her."
"Where is her body?" Dumbledore asked at once as Professor McGonagall let out a gasp with a tear falling down her cheek.
"Nagini ate her, there is no body," says Barty Crouch.
"Tell me how you escaped from Azkaban when no one knew," said Dumbledore, trying to hide the anger in his voice.
"My mother saved me," said Barty. "She loved me while my father didn't. She knew she was dying, so she persuades my father to spare my life and allow herself to die in my place. My father loved my mother and agreed. Being a high-ranking Ministry Official, he manages to arrange a visit for one last time. The Dementors cannot see, but they sense one dying and healthy person entering and leaving Azkaban. I was smuggled out under the guise of a Polyjuice Potion in case anyone was watching."
Dumbledore says nothing, knowing the simple brilliance behind this escape and how it wouldn't raise any suspicions as it did when Sirius manage to escape.
"Tell us about your father's strange behavior, and his disappearance," Dumbledore orders at once.
"Once I got home, my first thought was to find my Master and serve him once more, but my father didn't share the same notions as my Master in restoring this world to its pure form. He placed me under the Imperious Curse and used other methods of control to keep me hidden from the world. I was forced to wear an invisibility cloak day and night while our family's house-elf nurse me back to health. She was my caretaker and my keeper. Over the years, I grew stronger and slowly began to fight against my father's control. After years of my father's treatment, our house-elf persuade my father to get some fresh air and allowing me to see the outside world again. I sat in the top box at the Quidditch World Cup, my father managed to acquire for myself and his house-elf. Winky didn't like heights; she had her face hidden, so she didn't see me steal a wand from a boy's pocket during the excitement of the match."
Harry remembers hearing about Ron's wand being discovered shortly after they left him with the Ministry officials.
"My father was furious that I nearly escape, Winky was punished for allowing me to take possession of a wand. She was freed with clothes while I face the wrath of my father at home," says Barty. "then my Master came for me. He quickly overpowered my father and placed him under the Imperius Curse. I was free, and my father was the one now enslaved. Once freed, I began to live my dream of serving my Master. My Master needed a servant at Hogwarts to bring him, Harry Potter. The enemy who ruined him so he could return to power unchallenged once more. I agreed to the assignment, as I have long wished for my Master to kill the boy who ruined my Master."
"Tell me about your father's disappearance," said Dumbledore.
Throughout these questions, Harry could tell Dumbledore was doing all he could to keep his anger in check.
"Wormtail remains behind to nurse our Master and to look over my father to make sure he followed through my master's plan. But my father began to resist my Master's control, so he had to be watched daily. My Master forced my father to stay home while sending letters to his assistant with instructions. Wormtail was careless, and one day my father overpowered Wormtail and escaped. My Master guessed at once my father would head towards Hogwarts to warn Dumbledore of his plans and sent word to me at once. I was every watchful for my father's appearance. Then one day, I spotted my father lurking Hagrid's hut and went to greet him at once. When I arrived, my father was talking to Potter and Krum. I couldn't hurt Potter. My Master needed him alive. Potter left to the castle, leaving Viktor Krum with my father. I stunned Krum; I killed my father."
"Where's your father's body?" Dumbledore asked at once.
"I took it deep in the forbidden forest and left it there," Barty said without a care. "When I went back for it, it was gone."
"And tonight?" Dumbledore asked, trying to hold back his anger.
"I took the Cup to the maze, and turn it into a portkey," said Barty. His face broke into a grin. "My Master's plan worked. He returned once more and will purge this world of the infested."
Dumbledore stood up, looking down at Barty in disgust.
It was rare for Dumbledore to show such emotions.
"Severus, stand guard until the Minister arrives," Dumbledore said as he turns and leads Harry out the room.
Snape pulls out his wand and points it at Barty, who continues to flick his tongue.
Author Notes: I hope everyone enjoys the chapter.
One of my most extended chapters. Voldemort wand has been destroyed. The reason for this is because Harry wand was stronger than Voldemort's. Oak with Thestral Tail Hair is more potent than Yew with Phoenix Feather.
Please like and review.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Also, this took me a while to re-edit. I didn't realize how many grammar errors were in this chapter when I posted initially been posted the chapter.
