Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Sorry for the wait.
Terry couldn't remember a time in his life where he'd been more stressed.
It was second year all over again. Anxiously waiting for news about whether Harry was okay or not, if his best mate was alright.
Except this time no one knew his best mate was in trouble. McGonagall wasn't rushing around waking up every staff member for help, he wasn't being informed by Myrtle of all people what had happened. He was sitting in the stands watching a maze.
At least he had Michael and Anthony by his side, fully aware of what was happening. Feeling the same anxiety as him. He would definitely not be able to cope if the two were unaware of who Harry Reynolds really was. It was hard enough keeping the secret from the Slytherins.
They'd had to find seats in an overly crowded section of the stands so they couldn't sit with them - hiding Harry's absence was easier like this.
Unfortunately with the set up of the event the crowd was beginning to get restless, moving around more as they turned the third task into socialisation. Terry wouldn't begrudge them that, nothing interesting had happened - or if it had, they hadn't seen it.
The only thing of note that had occurred was the red sparks sent up almost immediately after Harry had entered the maze. Nothing had come of those sparks though, the extraction team had (slowly) made their way to the spot of the sparks, and returned empty handed. Terry would have been more nervous if he hadn't known the plan. That Harry would do anything to try and get himself extracted without having to compete.
However, the longer the wait continued the more the doubts crept in. Even Michael's hand on his knee couldn't stop it from bouncing up and down in stress. Stress which was only enhanced by the sight of the Slytherins making their way towards them.
Clearly they had gotten bored of the task and decided to find them, especially given that the rows around where Terry, Mike and Anthony had been sitting had somewhat dispersed, everyone going off to find people, or find snacks.
"Hey," Blaise nodded, sliding into the seat next to Terry. Daphne and Draco stole the two free seats in front of them.
"We tried finding you at the start," Daphne said.
"It was hectic trying to get seats." Anthony explained with a smile. Terry didn't know how he could do it. Force a smile. Stop his voice from wavering. Terry had barely breathed since Harry had entered the maze.
Draco offered some jelly beans over his shoulder. Terry refused - even if he didn't get 'wet trainers' as a flavour, he'd still throw up from eating anything right now.
When Harry had entered the maze the sun had been glaring into Terry's eyes. Now it was long gone, the night dark and the stars twinkling in the sky.
"You haven't applied heating charms?" Daphne asked, noting that Terry was shivering slightly. It was towards the end of June, but they were still in Scotland, and by the time the sun had gone away it was as cold as in October. Terry shook his head. "And I thought you were Ravenclaws," Daphne teased waving her wand, and Terry managed a weak, unconvincing smile, his foot still tapping against the floor as he kept his gaze fixated on the maze.
"You're really invested in this, huh?" Blaise asked, nudging Terry's arm. Terry shrugged. "You know it's our man in there. We're the ones who should be nervous."
Actually, Terry thought, it's our man.
"Where is Harry?" Draco asked, pulling a face as he chewed on a jelly bean.
"Uh," Terry made to respond, but his voice failed him, coming out scratchy instead.
"With Ginny." Mike replied, shooting Terry a look which clearly said 'pull it together already'. His hand gripped Terry's thigh almost as if a warning.
Draco's eyes narrowed, but it was Blaise who replied, an almost amused lilt in his tone as he made pointed eye contact with Draco. What that meant, Terry had no clue, and he certainly didn't have enough wits about him to figure it out right now. "Ginny was with Neville and co. No Harry in sight."
"Oh." Mike replied, feigning surprise. He wasn't a very good actor. Not that Terry was any better. He couldn't hide his nerves, and he certainly couldn't excuse them. The way Blaise and Draco had looked at each other, as if they'd just found another clue in the puzzle... Terry should be working on that. He should be helping Harry here, where he could actually be useful. In an ideal world he'd have been in the maze right next to him. Keeping him safe. Draco opened his mouth, a nervous smirk tugging at his lips, his brow furrowed, and Terry had an inkling of what question was on the tip of his tongue, he just had no idea of what he could say, what excuse he could come up with this time. Luckily - an ironic word given the circumstances - for them at that moment something happened.
What actually occurred, no one was sure, but as one the crowd leaned forwards as the teachers and officials huddled in the opening where an hour before the contestants had been.
Someone near the front must have overheard something, because seconds later whispers rippled up the crowds with the news: "The trophy's gone."
"Say that again?" Terry said, finally finding his voice.
Draco shrugged. "Apparently the trophy's gone. Somebody's won."
"Then why isn't there an awards ceremony happening right now?" Mike asked.
Anthony stood up, peering his head over the other students to try to get a better view of the situation. "Where's the winner?"
"Where are all the contestants?" Terry muttered. Where's Harry?
"Something must have gone wrong." Daphne's voice cut through the air like a knife, affirming Terry's growing concerns.
Blaise hummed in agreement. "They seem worried." He nodded his head towards the group of staff, who were still stuck in avid discussion.
The crowd, who had been a quiet buzz, were now a loud roar, gossiping away with out a concern in the world. The Slytherin contingent seemed the only ones slightly on edge, perhaps wondering if they'd won, or whether Cassius had lost. Even they didn't seem to consider that the real worst case scenario wasn't failure, but death.
That was until five minutes later, when Gabrielle Delacour was crying over the body of her sister, her mother screaming and her dad stood still in shock. The entire crowd was silenced, the only sound reverberating around the stands was that of the Delacour family's grief.
Terry almost threw up as they carried the second body out.
When they'd removed Fleur from the maze it had been clear who it was. her blonde hair moving in the wind offering Terry some grim reprieve. It wasn't as easy to figure out who it was. The entire crowd felt the tension of the wait; Viktor Krum, Harry Potter and Cassius Warrington all had the same complexion, all had dark hair. The clothing was too dirty for the crowd to figure out whether it was Hogwarts' colours or Durmstrang's, or whether it was the non-descript black robes worn by Harry.
Soon it was Viktor Krum's name being muttered in disbelief. Almost a year ago the Durmstrang student had been one of the most famous Quidditch players in the world, labelled a future star, and seen as the brightest prospect in the sport, now his parents were being led to his body.
Terry gripped Michael's forearm as relief flooded through his body. However, every second that past felt merely like a small delay before the inevitability of a third body.
"I..." Daphne breathed in deeply, "I need to go find Astoria." She had the reputation of being the Slytherin ice queen, but right now... Right now her face was pale, and her eyes were fixed on the Delacours as she made her way down the stands towards the Slytherin section. She was shaken, and she didn't even know yet. It was times like this when Terry was glad he was an only child. No siblings to worry about, no one to seek out. No oved one to hold so that he could reassure himself of their safety.
"Should we go find him?" Draco asked, his eyes tracking the crowd. No one had to ask who he meant. Harry was the only one missing.
Terry couldn't help himself. He split. The laugh escaped from his mouth before he could stop it. "Easier said than done." He buried his head in his knees, shaking as laughter ran through his body.
"What the hell?" Blaise put his hand on Terry's shoulder. His grip firm. It was probably supposed to be comforting. Maybe even a sign of Blaise's concern at Terry's behaviour. In reality, it felt painful. Added pressure to a body already on the verge of crumbling.
"What does he mean?" Draco ran his hands through his hair.
Terry breathed heavily as the tears started falling down his face. This day had been far too much. "Harry's..." Terry gestured haphazardly towards the maze, ignoring the sharp intake of breath Mike took as he did so.
He was pretty sure Anthony said his name. Probably remanding him for giving it away. Terry didn't care. He could barely hear him over the sound of his inner monologue. Two words playing over and over again. He's dead. "Harry's what?" Draco's eyes flicked between the maze and Terry, a confused expression on his face. He's dead.
Terry wiped his face, breathing deeply. This really was second year all over again. Just this time with more bodies. This time with less people concerned about Harry - his Harry, not the urban myth that was Harry Potter. Terry knew better than anyone: Harry Potter didn't exist. He's dead. Harry Potter was just the memory of a boy who'd been lost to the world long ago. Harry Reynolds was the one Terry needed. The one Terry was already grieving. "Dead, probably."
"What are you talking about? What is he talking about?"
"Terry?" Blaise was looking at him as though he'd gone crazy.
"Haven't you figured it out yet?" Terry asked angrily. Everything would be so much easier if they could have just realised already. It wasn't that difficult to work out, especially with everything that had happened this year. Harry's mysterious behaviour. His unexplained absences. Merlin, Terry had figured it out near the start of the year, had inklings things were off for far longer.
Draco inhaled sharply. "Harry's adopted." He stated, and Terry raised his head to look at him, burning his eyes into Draco's, begging him to understand what was happening already. "His parents..." Draco trailed off, narrowing his eyes. He shook his head. "No. No."
Terry let a smile slide onto his face, aware of how deranged he must look right now. This day had truly driven him off the edge. "Yes."
Because after all, what fruit was there to be found by keeping the secrets of a dead man?
Twenty minutes passed before another word was said. Then, all at once, murmurs echoed around the stands once more, cutting through the pained silence. "Look." Anthony pointed towards Dumbledore.
Terry couldn't remember Dumbledore ever sounding like this before. Even in darker times, when Harry was missing or there was a troll in the school, he'd remained a beacon of strength, someone you would seek out and feel reassured at seeing. A role model. For all of Dumbledore's faults, he was a leader, and how he acted rippled through everybody, influencing them and guiding them. Now, he just looked tired.
He was eulogising teenagers. It was an impossible task for anyone. Because how can one sum up the life of someone when it was cut so short. How can one put into words the immeasurable grief their families will feel for the rest of the lives. That their once beloved memories of their children and siblings will now haunt their every smile. Because, how can one dare to smile in the face of such a tragedy. What life have they now been condemned to?
Dumbledore can talk about their honour, their integrity. He can talk about how they were admired by all and were inspirations to everyone in the stands, and everyone they'd left at home.
In the end his words meant nothing, because that's the thing when children die. No words can sum up their lives, and no words can bring any peace to their loved ones. Even the news that their deaths will be forgotten.
Terry couldn't help but feel spite for the man. Even as he stood, weary and old, a life full of loss, he'd been naïve. His experience had meant nothing. What had been the need to revive this tournament, one that had been cancelled in the first place for the deaths it had provoked. Dumbledore could talk all day about how these deaths had shocked him, but he should've known better, he should've known enough to not find surprise for a common result. 'Improving international relations'. That's what he'd said.
Terry sincerely doubted the French and Bulgarian governments would feel anything but animosity for two of their children being killed on British soil.
He then told them that Cassius Warrington had been found. That he'd been attacked. That he had survived. That he was now safely being checked over in the Hospital Wing. The only contestant to have such a fortunate fate of being near death, and not having had to meet it. The story was off. That was what Terry took away from it. There was no explanation given for why Cassius was dealt a different fate than Fleur and Viktor. For why no one had seen Cassius being taken from the maze.
Cassius, however, was not Terry's priority right now.
He was listening for the answers about Harry. For something to be revealed about his fate. Whether Terry's best friend was even alive right now. Instead Dumbledore told him that Harry was missing. That he'd won the tournament, taken the trophy and something had happened. What, Dumbledore didn't know. No one did.
Some people immediately began speculations that Harry Potter had taken the trophy and gone back to wherever he'd been hiding the last ten or so years. Terry knew better.
Luckily, it didn't seem like Dumbledore, or the rest of the staff believed that either. They were still flittering about beneath the stands, having hushed discussions and leaving a general atmosphere of concern around the stands.
"How long do we stay here?"
"What if he doesn't come back?"
"How did they die?"
The questions were murmured all over the stands. The Delacours and the Krums had been moved somewhere private, their children's bodies no longer dissplayed on the floor beneath the spectators. Now the crowd only watched the maze for a sign of the eternally elusive Harry Potter.
Somehow everything had come full circle, and in the year that Harry Potter had been found, he'd once more been lost. The entire wizarding world wondered again: Where is Harry Potter?
The answer came almost an hour later, as the crowd was growing more and more restless. Terry had been convinced that Dumbledore was about to come and tell them all to return to the castle, that Harry Potter's disappearance wouldn't be resolved in one night. To not worry, or some bullshit sentiment which meant nothing when two people had already died tonight.
Instead it was Harry himself who appeared, one hand on the trophy as he dropped to his knees.
The crowd was stunned into silence.
Harry threw the trophy to the side in disgust, raising his head to the crowd. Terry could barely see him at the start, if he hadn't been holding the trophy he wouldn't have known who he was - not whilst he was wearing that face - but it only took him a second to rush down the stands, his friends hot on his heels. Whilst the rest of the crowds were too shocked to move, Terry made his way down. He only just managed to stop himself as he landed on the bottom step.
He could see Harry clearly now. Blood was streaking down the right hand side of his face, his hair matted with it. His robes were ripped in places, and there was a deep gash on his arm.
Harry's eyes scanned the crowd, before they finally landed on Terry's. His hair flickered blonde, just for a second.
"He's back." Harry said. His voice was quiet, but it echoed through the grounds. Harry's eyes flicked to just behind Terry. His sharp, green eyes narrowed as they focussed in on something. Harry said two words before he passed out: "Voldemort's back."
AN: Sorry for the wait! Also sorry for the fact that I don't think I'm going to be able to post next week because once again... My keyboard is broken... Which is great, because I have an assignment due tomorrow... Anyways... Hope you enjoy - and don't worry I won't leave this fic without an update for this long again, I've now gotten over my writer's block on this so it should go better from here because I know where the story goes from here and will get onto writing it as soon as I've sorted my keyboard.
AN2: ^ oops, my bad, I'm getting around to it, this story is not abandoned, new chapters will come soon ish 19.08.2022