I do not own Harry Potter, only the OC

Hello guys, Badger here. I hope you are all okay today. So far, no one has guessed the Doctor Who reference in the previous chapter. I guess there are no Doctor Who fans here then. Never mind.

Today, I have a slightly longer chapter for you all today. The last one was a little bit short.

Side Note: I plan to close the poll sometime next week, so if you haven't already leave a vote down.

That is all for now. Read on, and I will see you at the end.

Chapter 52

How can one breathe underwater?

Harry and James sat in the library, reading through any books they could find, which could help them with the Second Task. They had found a few ideas. One was the Bubble-Head charm. A simple, yet difficult charm, which gave the caster a bubble around the head and gave them an endless supply of oxygen. There were also spells for partial human transfiguration, which was more dangerous, but could be used to give them gills. The second option seemed to intrigue James, but Harry didn't exactly seem fond of the idea. Of course, it was possible they wouldn't be able to perform either, meaning they needed a backup plan, just in case.

Not only did they need to find a way to help them breathe underwater for an hour, but they also needed to find out what lived in the Black Lake, so they knew what spells would be useful to them. From what they had read, Grindylows lived in the Black Lake, meaning blasting spells, cutting curses and the Revulsion Jinx were their best bet, should they encounter the little buggers. There was also a Giant Squid in the Black Lake. That may cause problems for them, but hopefully they could avoid it. Next to them, they heard Neville talking to himself, as he read through his own book.

"Amazing" He said "Absolutely amazing"

"Neville" James said, causing the boy to look up at them "You are doing it again"

"Oh sorry" Neville replied, turning a little red

"What are you reading anyway?" Harry asked

"Magical Water Plants of the Highland Lochs" Neville replied, holding the book up, so they could see clearer "Moody gave it to me, when he did the lesson on Unforgivables…he knew that I had a fascination for such things"

"Water plants" James repeated "Is there anything in there that could help us breathe underwater for about an hour?"

"Hang on" Neville murmured, as he skimmed through some pages, reading the titles, until he stopped on a page near the end of the book "Here we go, Gillyweed, it's a magical plant that, once consumed gives gills to allow them to breathe underwater, as well as webbing between fingers and toes…the plant is found in the Mediterranean Sea, but can be difficult to find"

"I could get Dobby to look for me" Harry spoke up "he wants to help me in any way he can…I'm sure he will know where to look…thanks Neville"

"You're welcome" Neville smiled "I'm glad I could help"

He looked outside the window, overlooking the Hogwarts Grounds. Everything was falling more and more into place. Thankfully the Diggory boy had done what he had hoped, and told Potter and Badger about the Egg, allowing them to find out the clue for the Second Task. He also overheard the Longbottom boy giving them some help, by telling them about Gillyweed. This was good, also. Whilst Potter or Badger may use their own methods to make their way through the Second Task, they at least have a backup plan. Now though, he just had to do make sure, they grabbed their hostages. His master did not allow any failure. Not to mention, his new favourite shown their own displeasure at the possibility of failure. Though they didn't use words. He still felt the effects of the Cruciatus Curse, which they used as a warning. He didn't want to go through that again.

The wood of the training dummy split, as Harry's cutting curse severed through its arm, sending splinters flying, to which he had to quickly put up a shielding charm.

"Brilliant work Harry" James said, as he dropped the shield "You have done pretty well…I must say, you have mastered this spell quicker out of all the ones I have taught you"

"Do you think these will work against Grindylows, and anything else we'll find in the Black Lake?" Harry asked

"I'm hoping so" James nodded, using a quick Tempus Charm "We should get going…it is way past curfew"

Harry nodded, taking out the Marauders Map. After checking to see the coast was clear, the two of them left the classroom they were in, and headed back to the Slytherin Common Room, keeping an eye out for any teachers or prefects. As they were walking through one of the corridors, however, a name caught their attention, in the Defence professors office. One they weren't expecting to see: Barty Crouch Jr.

"Maps not faulty is it?" James asked

"I don't think so" Harry replied "How did he get in?"

"Unsure" James said "We should check it out…just in case"

Keeping an eye on Bartys name to make sure he didn't leave, they made their way towards the Defence Classroom. It was empty inside. Seeing that Barty was still inside the office, they slowly made their way up the stairs, opening the door slowly, so they didn't alert him of their presence. They saw Barty leaning inside a trunk, where they could hear someone screaming.

"Stop making a fuss" Barty growled "No one will hear you…now stop moving, I need more hairs…I'm all out of Polyjuice"

They watched as he came back out of the trunk, closing the lid. They saw the same messy brown hair and thin face from the Quidditch World Cup. It was definitely him. Harry and James looked at one another, removing their wands. At James' nod, they sprung into action, with James kicking the door open, pointing their wands at Barty.

"Stop, right, there" James said slowly, emphasising each word

Barty looked shocked for a moment, before a small smirk made its way onto his face, raising his hands up in a surrendering manner.

"Potter, Badger" He said "How has the Tournament been for you two?"

"So…you were the one to put our name into the Goblet of Fire" Harry replied

"Right indeed" Barty smiled

"I may regret this but, why?" James asked

"Oh, you will find out soon enough" Barty laughed "We have some special plans for you two…I just had to make sure you made it to the end of the Third Task first"

"Who's we?" Harry asked

"What makes you think I will tell you" Barty smirked, before his wand quickly flicked into his hand and banished the desk towards them

James flicked his own wand, causing the desk to change course and hit the nearby wall. However, neither of them were able to stop the second banishing curse that sent them through the door, where they went flying over the railing of the stairs and crashing onto the desks below. The impact breaking a few of their bones. Rolling out the way, to avoid a bone breaker, James jumped to his feet and sent a bludgeoning curse at Barty who was standing in the doorway of the office. The man dodged the spell, making his way down the stairs, sending more spells at the youngest champions. Wincing as splinters from a desk pierced his skin, Harry sent a cutting curse, which nicked his arm. Hissing, Barty sent a blasting curse at his feet, to which Harry was only able to avoid, jumping behind a few desks, to take cover. James proceeded to send a bone crusher, which Barty swatted away and quickly sent a banishing curse, which impacted James on the chest and sent him flying over a few rows of desks.

It was starting to become obvious that Barty wasn't trying to kill them. If he was, he would be sending Killing Curses their way. He trying to incapacitate them, meaning he could either escape from the castle, or take them with him for the same reason he placed them in the Tournament. All they could do, was try to stop him, or stall for time, so someone patrolling may hear the commotion and come running, or until either of them could send a message to someone. With James still trying to get back up, Harry jumped from one desk to another, sending another cutting curse, which Barty avoided and sent a desk flying towards Harry. Acting fast, Harry blasted the desk and jumped behind cover to avoid any shrapnel. Barty then turned his attention to James, who got back onto his feet, and sent a bludgeoning hex towards the boy. James dodged the spell and sent a blasting hex at the window closest to Barty, which caused the glass to smash and fly towards him. Barty summoned a shielding charm to protect himself, which allowed James to follow up with a blasting curse to the ground below Bartys feet, causing the man to fly into the opposite wall, with a small crunch, his wand flying out of his hand. Barty panted, the wind knocked out of him, as Harry and James made their way towards him, wands pointed at his heart.

"Let's try this again" James said, small trail of blood going down the side of his face "You are going to tell us why you are here, and quickly…before I lose my patience…what little I have left of it"

Barty just let out a mad cackle, which only annoyed James further.

"Oh, I'm not telling you anything" He said

Before Harry or James could do anything, Barty grabbed a necklace hanging around his neck, where he disappeared, with a massive rumble which shook the whole classroom, the rest of the windows smashing to bits. The violence of the rumble caused Harry and James to stumble.

"Shit!" Harry cursed "How did he do that, I thought Portkeys couldn't be used in Hogwarts?"

"I don't know, but someone must have heard it" James replied "Jinx!"

The excitable little House-Elf popped in. Seeing the bloodied state of Harry and James, along with the state of the classroom, caused Jinx to hug James' legs.

"Is kind master okay?" She asked

"I'm fine Jinx, can you bring Dumbledore and McGonagall here, they need to know what has happened here" James replied, though he didn't like the old man, he needed to know what just went on

Jinx nodded and popped away, leaving the two of them alone. The last few minutes had finally caught up with them and they both fell on their knees, feeling more then tired. They weren't alone for long, however, as it wasn't long until Dumbledore and McGonagall arrived in the classroom. The sight shocked both of them.

"Mr Potter, Mr Badger, we felt the wards around the castle shatter, what happened here?" Dumbledore asked

"Well, sir, it seems a Death Eater snuck in under your nose" James replied, anger evident on his voice "Seems Barty Crouch has been disguised as Professor Moody the whole time"

"What!" The two professors exclaimed

"You heard" Harry replied "He was the one to place our names in the Goblet of Fire"

"Hmm, lets take you two to the Medical Wing" McGonagall said "You can explain everything after Pomfrey has fixed both of you up"

"You may want to check the office before that" James replied "He seemed to be holding someone in a trunk"

"Show us" Dumbledore said

Wincing from the pain, Harry and James led them into the Office, pointing out the black trunk they had seen Barty inside earlier. Dumbledore opened up the trunk, where there seemed to be a expansion charm inside. Deep down inside the trunk, was Mad-Eye himself, minus his magical eye and was dressed in rags.

"Are you alright Alastor?" Dumbledore asked

"Just about Albus…" Moody groaned

"Minerva, take Mr Potter, Mr Badger and Alastor to the Medical Wing" Dumbledore said "I'll inform Cornelius about what happened"

James and Harry soon found themselves in the Medical Wing, being checked over by Madam Pomfrey. Professor Moody was lying unconscious on a bed next to him. Seems he had been dosed with a poison that was keeping him weak and would have killed him, if he wasn't found in time. After giving him the right treatment, she then looked over the youngest Champions. She had to fix several broken ribs, and heal dozens of cuts and bruises. She also had to repair four shattered ribs James had obtained, after he was sent crashing into the classrooms desks by Barty, as well as internal bleeding in Harrys right arm. Needless to say, she wasn't exactly happy. A sentiment that was shared with Harry and James. After she had finished fixing them up, Dumbledore came in, followed by Cornelius Fudge.

"Mr Badger, Mr Potter" Fudge said "I have been informed by Dumbledore about what's happened, can you please tell me everything"

"Well, we accidently went past curfew, practicing spells" Harry replied, choosing his words carefully "As we were making our way back to the Slytherin Common Room, we heard noises coming from the Defence Classroom…we decided to investigate and found Barty Crouch Jr in the office, rummaging through the trunk that contained Moody…he mentioned Polyjuice, meaning he must've been disguised for some time…we held him at wand point, but he was quick and a duel happened between us…"

"What I want to know" James spoke up, stopping any response "Is how Barty was able to make it through the wards in the first place…surely the castle has such wards to warn you about the possibility Dumbledore?"

"Mr Badger has a point, Albus" Fudge said "First a Basilisk, and now a Death Eater…A Death Eater who had somehow escaped Azkaban and has been teaching your students"

"I do apologise Cornelius, but I received no warning" Dumbledore replied

"Hmm" Cornelius' eyes narrowed "Mr Potter, Mr Badger, I apologise for what has happened here tonight…I will inform Amelia Bones about what happened and investigations will take place, I promise you"

With a nod to the young Champions, he left after giving one last glare to Dumbledore.

"Dumbledore" James spoke up, after he left "I don't trust you much as it is…this recent situation hasn't really helped you with that"

And that's a wrap. What did you guys think?

I always enjoyed Barty Crouch Jr as a character in Harry Potter and David Tennant did a brilliant job in the movie, in my opinion. However I felt like his appearance was rather short. The character deserved to be in at least one more movie. This is why, in my Fanfiction, he has escaped. He will be a minor antagonist for a while, though I am unsure as to how big of a role he will play currently. But hey, at least we got some more action. Did I do okay with the fight between Harry, James and Barty? Let me know in the review section.

This does leave behind a big question, however. Now that they know Barty is the one who placed Harry's and James' name in the Goblet of Fire, will they drop out, now that there is no risk of losing their magic, or will they decide to continue competing?

I also have a question for any and every Harry Potter fan here. I'm sure you've seen this question around before but, during the Battle of Hogwarts, if Voldemort had indeed killed Harry, who do you think would be the one to kill Voldemort? Leave your answer, and the reason why in the review section.

That is all for now. I hope you enjoyed and I will see you in the next one.

Badger out.