Chapter 1:

Forewarning Sound

As Dumbledore and Snape escorted the newly found Alastor Moody to the Hospital Wing, Hermione stayed behind with Harry.

"Hermione, how did you know where I was? I mean, you got Dumbledore here just in time to save me from Crouch!" Harry exclaimed.

Hermione sighed, "I'm just glad you're safe. When I saw you and Cedric, my heart just burst. I couldn't believe he was dead, or that Voldemort was back. Then, in all the scuffle, I saw Professor Moody take you away. He had this weird look in his eye. I knew he was trouble, so I immediately told Dumbledore, who then told Snape; before we rushed to this classroom."

"You're absolutely brilliant, you know that?" Harry smiled. "What would I ever do without you?"

Hermione smiled. "Harry Potter, you'd be lost without me."

Even though they were both happy to be together, their thoughts were haunted by the loss of Cedric, and the return of Voldemort. Harry couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't hold back his grief or his tears. "It's all my fault, Hermione. I'm the reason he's dead. If it weren't for me, Cedric would still be alive," he cried, as he slumped on the stairs.

Hermione bent down beside him. "No! Harry, this is not your fault at all. How could anyone have know that Crouch turned the cup into a port-key? Even Dumbledore didn't suspect him, till now. Peter Pettigrew killed Cedric, not you!"

"He should never have been there in the first place! If I had just left him in the maze, then he'd still be here."

"You thought you were saving his life. You didn't want him to be ingested by the maze. Harry, you've got to stop blaming yourself! No one blames you. Do you really think Cedric would blame you?" Hermione asked, knowing she hit a nerve.

Harry knew she was right. Cedric wouldn't blame him. But, why did he have to die? Why did that bastard have to kill him? Why did have kill him?! He was innocent. He didn't do anything!" Harry bellowed.

"I know. Voldemort's a heartless monster! He'd kill anybody in his path."

"I just wish I could have saved him," Harry cried, tearfully, cupping his face in his arms.

Hermione caressed his shoulder, trying to console him. She hated the fact that Cedric was dead. She too had become friends with him. Her thoughts drifted back to their first encounter. She had found him in the courtyard, and asked to have a word. He agreed, and the two talked as they walked along the covered bridge.

"Cedric, I know Harry better than anyone. He's not the type of person who would ever do such a thing. He never entered his name in that cup. Even if he wanted to try, we both know that would be impossible. Dumbledore's spell was absolute. We both saw Fred and George with their aging potion."

"I know. You're right. I've heard a great deal about you and Harry. I know he didn't do it, Hermione. The question is: Who did?"

"That's what practically everyone would like to know. If only I could think of someone, who would have both the motive and the opportunity."

"You're a true friend, Hermione," Cedric remarked. "But, you act as though it's up to you to solve everything. Every single problem, every single question, you have to know the answer."

Hermione's face turned pale. He had a point. She did always have to know the answers. She practically made it her life's purpose. "Well, what of it? Granted, yes, that is what I do. I just want to help Harry. I can't stand people accusing him of something he didn't do."

"Neither can I. I'm sure we'll discover whoever did this to him. But, right now we should be focusing on the first task."

"I know. I just wish I some type of clue to follow."

"It's not your responsibility to solve every problem. I'm sure Harry doesn't expect you to always have an answer. He just needs your support."

Cedric was right. Harry never did expect her to know the answer to everything. Only Ron did. She still couldn't believe he was shunning Harry now. Over something he didn't even do. Ron was acting worse than a prat! "You're right. I guess it's not my place to solve everything. But, Harry will need your support. Since you're in the tournament, you can vouch for him."

Cedric nodded. "If there's anyway I can help him, I will."

Hermione sighed in relief. She could see the sincerity in his eyes. She knew she could count on him to come through for her. Now, she just had to steer Harry in his direction. "Harry is going to meet Hagrid tonight. He's going to show Harry exactly what you're supposed to do. Tomorrow, Harry will tell you what he's learned."

"Brilliant!" Cedric smiled, as they entered the courtyard.

Hermione smiled as well. "See you tomorrow, Cedric."

"See you then," Cedric replied, waving.

Hermione waved back, then hurried up to the Gryffindor common room.

Cedric's kindness meant so much to her. Hermione could feel her own tears streaming down her face. Cedric should not have died. If only she could have found a way to save him. Then it hit her. My Time-Turner! They saved both Sirius and Buckbeak. They could save Cedric's life as well. Hermione glanced down at Harry. "Harry, there is a way we can save him."

Those words sent a bolt through Harry's body.

"We can!?" he stammered, quickly standing.

"Yes," Hermione replied, pulling out her time-turner.

Harry's eyes widened. "I'd almost forgotten about that. "Do you think it will work?"

"Yes. But, we have to be very careful," Hermione stated, as she started to turn the device. "We need to go back four hours. We can fly to Little Hangleton, and get to the graveyard before anyone else."

"Okay. Let's go," Harry excitedly replied.

Hermione placed the necklace around their necks, and started to turn the hour glass, four times. Soon, shadows began to form, they saw the past events in Moody's classroom play back in reverse. Then, the shadows disappeared, and Hermione took the necklace off Harry's neck. She glanced up at the clock.

"It's 5:00. The third task is just about to start."

"We have to hurry!" Harry exclaimed. "Let's get to the Gryffindor broom cupboard."

"Right."

The two made a dash out of the classroom, and hurried towards the Quidditch stadium. When Harry and Hermione made it to the Quidditch stadium, Harry opened the broom cupboard, and took out his broom and one for Hermione.

Hermione sighed heavily, when Harry handed her the broom. She never really was one for flying, yet now she had no choice in the matter. Cedric's life was in their hands. Hermione glanced over at Harry. She saw the serious look in his piercing green eyes. He would do anything to save Cedric. Hermione always admired his determination. In fact, she was always jealous of it. Gulping down her fears, she made herself mount the broom, alongside Harry.

Harry knew this was a bit much for her. He could see it in her expression. "Don't worry," he reassured. "I'll be right next to you, the entire time."

Hermione smiled, knowing she could always count Harry to reassure her fears.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready."

They both instantly took off. Flying as fast as the brooms could go, they made their way towards Little Hangleton. When they arrived, they landed just outside the graveyard and hid behind the gigantic hedge.

"Okay, now tell me exactly what happened the instant you and Cedric got here."

Harry took a moment to think. He knew how imperative every detail was, so he tried to remember every single one. "Well, when we first got here, I immediately recognised the place. It's been haunting my dreams since last summer. I knew we were in danger, so I tried to warn Cedric, but it was too late. Pettigrew and Voldemort were already there."

"That quickly? It can't be!" Hermione exclaimed. "Harry, are you sure? If they were that fast, you both would have heard them the instant you arrived. Try to remember what happened before they came. Did you hear them? Did you scar start to hurt?"

"Come to think of it," Harry thought, touching his scar. "It did start to hurt. But they were still too fast for us to do anything."

"Did you hear a sound?"

Harry thought about it. He remembered he did hear a sound, before his scar started to hurt. That must have been Pettigrew, when came stumbling out of the crypt, carrying the then skeletal Voldemort. The sound was like a warning. If only he'd took heed of it! "I did hear something!" Harry stated. "I heard a scuffling sound, just before my scar started to burn."

"That's it!" Hermione beamed.

"What's it?"

"We have to make the sound louder, so that you'll know they're coming."

"Okay. I heard it coming from that tree, near the crypt. Then Pettigrew came out of the crypt, and started walking towards us."

Harry and Hermione quickly made their way to the tree, and hid behind it. Moments later, they saw Pettigrew emerge from the old crypt.

"Right on time," Hermione whispered, pulling out her wand. Then, they saw a flash of light, and knew it was Harry and Cedric arriving in the graveyard.

"So far so good." Harry started to pull out his wand. Hermione saw this and slapped his hand.

"Not yet! We have to wait until just the right moment."

Harry nodded, even though he wanted nothing more than to hex Pettigrew and Voldemort this very instant.

"Okay, they're about halfway there. Is this when you heard the sound?"

"Yes."

Hermione slowly flickered her wand, making one of the tree branches fall to the ground.

Cedric and Harry instantly turned around, when they heard the sound.

"What was that?" Cedric asked.

"Voldemort's close," Harry stated. "Cedric, we have to be ready to defend ourselves. He could attack at any moment."

Cedric couldn't believe Harry's words. Voldemort was here!? He could see it in Harry's face. He was dead serious. Cedric had heard stories about Voldemort, all his life, and knew of Harry's legendary past encounters in the past. Cedric knew what they were up against. Mustering all his courage, Cedric pulled out his wand, and held it up. Ready to attack or repel any spells that came their way.

Hermione and Harry watched them prepare themselves for Pettigrew's attack.

"It worked!" Harry beamed.

Hermione smiled. "Yes, it did. Now we just have to see how it plays out. If there's anything more we can to, we will," she stated, as she started down the hill, beckoning Harry to follow. As they got closer, they could see Harry groaning, as he touched his scar.

"He's getting close, Cedric. Be ready!

Whatever you do, don't worry about me. Get to the cup, and get out of here!"

"I'm not going to leave you!" Cedric firmly replied. "We're in this together, Harry."

Tears started to swell in Harry's eyes. Cedric was truly a loyal friend. His purity and selflessness knew no limits. Just then, Pettigrew appeared in the graveyard, carrying the dark wizard. With each step Pettigrew took, the fiercer Harry's pain became. He could barely stand.

Cedric saw this, and pointed his want straight at Pettigrew.

"You!" Harry shouted. "You filthy little rat! How dare you bring us here!? What the hell do you want!?"

"Master, I can't fight both," Pettigrew squealed.

"Capture them," spoke a frail Voldemort, in an almost inaudible tone. Pettigrew started raised his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" Cedric shouted. Pettigrew's wand instantly flew out of his hand. He was now fully disarmed.

"Fool!" Voldemort shouted, in a raspy tone.

"Forgive me, master," Pettigrew cowered, setting him on the ground.

"Cedric, get to the cup!" Harry bellowed.

"Accio!" Cedric cried, causing the cup to fly into his hands.

He and Harry were just about to activate the port-key, when Pettigrew waved his wand, levitating the pair, which caused them to drop the Tri-Wizard Cup. He shoved them against a skeletal headstone, then used a scythe to trap them there; forcing them to remain above the ground.

"I did it, master!" Pettigrew gleamed.

"Well done. Now, get the cauldron ready. Do it now!"

Pettigrew lifted Voldemort's body and dropped him into cauldron; shedding him of his dark robe, which revealed his frail skeletal figure. Then, shaking heavily, he muttered, "Flesh of the servant, willingly sacrificed," as he cut off his hand, letting it fall in the cauldron.

Cedric and Harry were both flabbergasted by his actions. Pettigrew turned back to face them. "Blood of the enemy," he started. "Forcibly taken," he finished, slicing Harry's arm through his shirt. Harry screamed, as Pettigrew walked back to the cauldron, and let the drops of blood drip into it.

Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. "This is horrible! I can't believe this is actually happening!"

"Neither could I," Harry sighed.

They watched, as the cauldron started to shake violently.

Soon, Voldemort's carcass levitated into the air, from the cauldron. His body stretched out, and he soon landed back on the ground, in a physical form. Black mist spread around him; instantly clothing him in black robes. Voldemort gasped, as he started to walk towards Pettigrew. "My wand, Wormtail."

Pettigrew handed him his wand, then bowed.

"Hold out your arm."

"Master, thank you," he smiled, holding out his severed arm.

"The other arm, Wormtail!"

Pettigrew sheepishly held out his other arm, and Voldemort seized it. He pointed his wand on it, giving him the Death Eater mark. An instant later, dark figures zoomed around him, then landed around him in a circle. The death eaters had returned to their master.

"Welcome, my friends," Voldemort spoke. "Thirteen years, it's been. Now, here you all stand before me, as though it were only yesterday. I consider myself, disappointed. Not one of you tried to find me. There were signs. More than whispers!" Voldemort hissed, turning to face Cedric and Harry. "Ah, Harry. I'd almost forgotten you and your friend were here. Do accept my apologies. It's because of you that I lost my body," he stated, turning back to face his death eaters. "Now, it's because of you it has been restored."

Harry felt as though he was about to vomit! He couldn't bear reliving this memory. But, he had to stay strong. He had to save Cedric!