Chapter 2:

Friends Reunited

Hermione and Harry watched in horror, as the confrontation continued.

"Two handsome young boys, like yourselves can't be left unattended." Voldemort waved his wand, which lifted the scythe from on Harry and Cedric's hold. They immediately dropped to the ground.

"Pick up your wand, Harry!" he demanded, waving his wand at Cedric; causing him to fly straight into Macnair's clutches. "I said, pick it up!" he shouted, turning back to face them. "Pick it up!" he hissed. Harry turned around, and crawled towards his wand.

"You've been taught how to duel, I presume, yes?" Voldemort winced, spinning around in a circle. "First, we bow to each other," he stated, bowing before him, as Harry got back on his feet..

Harry and Cedric both scoffed at him.

"Come on, Harry, the niceties must be observed. Dumbledore wouldn't want you to forget your manners, now would he? I said, bow!" he hissed, aiming his wand at him. Harry was instantly forced into a bowing position.

"That's better," Voldemort sneered, glancing at Cedric. "I'll keep you for leverage," he bellowed, turning back to face Harry. He swung his want at him, and sent Harry flying into the air. He landed a few meters away from him. "At a boy, Harry," he exclaimed, as he took a few steps towards him.

Harry quickly stood and cried, "Expelliarmus!"

Voldemort instantly repelled it, and shouted, "Crucio!"

Harry's body was instantly filled with more pain than he thought could be possible. He struggled on the ground, as his body jolted up and down.

"I'm going to kill you, Harry Potter," Voldemort stated, gloatingly, as he walked towards him. He bent down, and looked into Harry's eyes. "After tonight, no one will ever again question my powers. After tonight, if they speak of you, they'll only speak of how you… begged for death; and I being a merciful lord, obliged."

Harry shook his face, in horror. Cedric continued to struggle against Macnair's tight grip.

"Get up!" Voldemort shouted, hiding his hand over Harry's face. Harry found himself being instantly hovered into the air, and placed back on his feet.

"Run, Harry! Run!" Cedric cried.

Harry quickly made a dash and hid behind one of the headstones, nearly missing Voldemort's death curse.

"Don't you turn your back on me, Harry Potter! I want you to look at me, when I kill you. I want to see the light leave your eyes!" he shrieked. Then a grim smile grew on his face, as he turned to face Cedric. "Hmm. Cedric, is it not?" he questioned, turning back in Harry's direction. "Harry, if you won't fight me, than I will be forced to kill your friend, Cedric. Is that what you want?"

All the colour in Harry's face vanished, when he heard those words.

"Harry, don't do it!" Cedric screamed.

Harry knew that was something he could never do. He would never leave a friend behind! He would gladly give himself over, to save his life. Harry slowly made himself visible, as he stepped away from the headstone. He glanced at Cedric, and saw the tears forming in his grey eyes. Harry couldn't bear to see him in pain. His glanced moved towards Voldemort. "Leave him alone! It's me you want!" he hissed, holding up his wand.

"That it is," Voldemort replied, with an vile smirk, raising his wand. "Avada Kedevra!" he screamed, shooting out a beam of green light.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, shooting out a beam of red.

Both lights met, and their wands connected. Voldemort tried with all his might to make his half stronger. Harry used all the strength he had to keep pushing against Voldemort's curse.

Eventually, their connected magic caused a shield to form around each of them. Soon, spirits started to appear out of nowhere. Harry's eyes filled with tears, as he saw his mother's face.

"Let go, sweetheart. Let go!" Lily begged. "We can keep him at bay! You and Cedric must get to the port-key!"

Harry couldn't hold back his tears, as he began to lower his wand.

Voldemort screeched, as he found himself being flung backwards by the spirits of those he had killed.

When the death eaters saw Voldemort fall to the ground, they instantly disapparated. Pettigrew quickly transfigured into a rat, and scurried away. The other death eaters vanished into a black mist.

Harry turned around, just in time to see Macnair; who still had a tight grip on Cedric.

He saw that he was about to disapparate with him. Harry quickly aimed his wand at him, and cried, "Stupefy!"

Macnair instantly fell over, and Cedric immediately made a dash towards Harry and picked up his wand.

"Accio!" Harry screamed, making the cup fly towards them. Cedric and Harry both immediately touched it.

Hermione watched, and gasped when she saw Voldemort trying to stand. She knew he would attack them. She immediately aimed her wand at him, and muttered "Stupefy!" Knowing her jinx would blend in with the spirits.

Voldemort found himself being instantly knocked off his feet. He looked up to see Cedric and Harry disappear. He had no idea who or what caused him to fall. But, he had a suspicion that Harry or Cedric had something to do with it. "Curse you, Harry Potter!"

Hermione smiled, knowing she had just successfully attacked the dark wizard, himself.

Harry smiled, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Nice one!" Harry congratulated.

"Thanks," Hermione replied, smiling.

"You did it!"

"No, we did it!" Hermione corrected, facing him. "Now let's get put of here." The two made a made a dash towards their brooms, which were still safely hidden behind the hedge.

"We have to return these, and hurry back to Moody's classroom," Hermione stated, as they flew over the Quidditch stadium.

Harry and Cedric hit the ground with a thud.

They could hear the crowd of people cheering, and applauding them. Both their eyes met, still shocked by what they had just witnessed; and how they had just barely escaped.

"I'm so sorry," Harry whispered. "You shouldn't have been in the middle of it."

"I'm not," Cedric countered. "Harry, I'm glad you weren't alone with that bastard!"

"He could have killed you. I don't know what I would have done, if he did," Harry exclaimed, tearfully.

"Hey, I'm all right," Cedric reassured, touching his cheek. "We made it, Harry. We escaped," he smiled, causing Harry to smile too.

The crowd stopped cheering, when they saw that Harry and Cedric weren't moving.

Dumbledore and Moody, immediately ran over to them.

Dumbledore could read their facial expressions. They had both just witnessed something horrible. "Harry? Cedric? What did you see?" He asked, his voice filled with concern.

"He's back!" Harry cried, looking up at him. "Voldemort's back! He nearly killed us!"

Dumbledore's face turned white. "How did you see this?"

"The cup was a port-key, sir," Cedric explained. "Someone must have made it into one. The instant we touched it, we found ourselves outside Riddle manor."

"Little Hangleton," Harry added. "It's been haunting my dreams, all year. It must have been a warning that he was going to return."

"How did he?"

"Pettigrew did some sort of spell, and Voldemort took on human form."

"Although, he still looks like a snake," Cedric remarked.

"Then, my worst fear has occurred. Tom is back, and he will stop at nothing to get revenge on those who helped destroy him," Dumbledore worriedly sighed, trying to remain calm.

"Professor," Moody spoke, standing over them.

"Perhaps I should have a look at Potter and Diggory. To make sure they haven't been hexed."

"Good idea, Alastor. Although, I think we should let them stay here, for the moment."

Just then, Hermione raced towards to them. "Harry! Cedric!" She cried, bending down next to them. "Are you all right!?"

"Yeah, Hermione, we're fine," Harry replied, smiling.

Hermione turned to face Cedric. "Are you sure you're both all right?" she asked.

Both boys exchanged surprised looks.

"You two both know I wouldn't fall for that?" Hermione quipped. "Cedric, tell me the truth."

Cedric smiled. He knew Hermione could rarely ever be fooled. "Hermione, Harry and I are both all right. We barely made with our lives, but we managed to escape."

Hermione glanced at Harry, and knew she did the right thing when she asked them to look out for each other. It was because of that they both made it back alive. Glancing down, she noticed Harry's bleeding arm. "God! Harry, we've got to get you to the hospital wing!"

Cedric glanced at the large wound on arm. "She's right!"

"I'll look after him," Moody announced, grabbing Harry's shoulder.

For some reason, neither Hermione or Cedric trusted the Professor. There was just something strange about his demeanor. Yet, Harry did need to have his would mended. So, they let Moody take Harry inside the castle. Harry felt a tad nervous, himself as he was escorted back to the castle. But assumed it was due to his seeing a human-ish Voldemort.

Both Hermione and Cedric were still wary of Professor Moody. Hermione kept trying to reason why he seemed different to them. Then it hit her. Moody seemed too anxious to get Harry away from everyone. He must be behind all this! She immediately told Cedric, then asked him to locate Ron while she informed Dumbledore.

When they entered his office, Moody shut and locked the door. He knew he needed more polyjuice potion. He could feel his skin starting to break through his façade. He grabbed a chair, and beckoned Harry to sit. He did, and Moody made his way to the desk; in search of his canteen. As he picked it up, he opened the flask and tried to drink its contents. To his anguish, it was empty. "Were there others?" he snapped, setting the canteen down hard on the desk. "In the graveyard, were there others?!"

Harry started to answer, but hesitated when he realised Moody had asked about the graveyard. He and Cedric never mentioned a word about the graveyard. How could Moody have known about it?

"Sir, I don't think I mentioned anything about a graveyard," Harry stated, suspiciously, causing Moody to choke on his words.

Harry began to feel tense, as Moody's demeanour instantly changed.

"Did you really think that Diggory would have had the brains to the discover the secret of the egg?!" he quipped, quickly turning around. "Huh? He didn't have a clue until I told him. He never would have known to tell you, if I hadn't told him! "You got to have the brains!" he hissed, pointing to his head.

"So, it was you! You were the one who put my name in that cup! You were the one responsible for hexing the maze!"

"You wouldn't have survived without me. Diggory never would have helped you," Moody proudly stated.

"You're wrong!" Harry blurted. "Cedric and I were ready helping each other. With Hermione's help, Cedric and I worked together throughout each task."

Both Moody's eyes glared at him. He was at a loss for words. Granger had brought them together. He had been outsmarted by a mere teenager.

"That's why she was curious when I told her you were helping me," Harry remarked. "She saw right through you," he smiled, gloatingly.

Moody was now beyond furious. But, he was too weak to raise his wand at Harry. He groaned, grabbing his chest, and he fell back against the desk, struggling to stand.

Harry immediately stood, and backed away.

Just as Moody was about to strike, Dumbledore and Snape thrust the door open. "Alastor!" Dumbledore bellowed, pointing his wand at him.

Moody flew back against his desk, and Snape walked up to him, and pressed him against the chair. Then, he pulled out a vial, and poured the contents down Moody's throat.

"Are you all right, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, sir. I'm fine."

Dumbledore sighed in relief, then turned to face Snape, who was now sniffing Moody's canteen. "Polyjuice potion," he stated. "So, you're the one who's been stealing my vials, a year," he snarled, glaring at Moody.

"We'd better get you to the hospital wing," Dumbledore suggested, turning to Harry.

Just as they were about to leave, Moody started to groan. The three turned around to see his skin start to rearrange, and his eye patch fall off his face. Moments later, Barty Crouch appeared in front of them.

"I might have known," Dumbledore stated. "Now, you know why I was viewing that memory, Harry. Where is Alastor, Barty?"

Barty scuffled, knowing he would never answer him. Snape then grabbed him by the throat, and etched his wand into his cheek.

"There," he spoke, eyeing the chest near the wall.

Dumbledore opened it, and let the chest unravel itself, revealing a chasm. Dumbledore peeked down, and spotted Alastor Moody, slumped against the wall. "Alastor? Are you all right?"

"Yeah," Alastor grunted. "What took you so long, Albus?"

"Hold on, my friend," Dumbledore replied, as he raised his wand. He levitated Alastor up, and prepared to escort him to the hospital wing, while Snape escorted Crouch to the ministry.

Just as they were about to exit the office, Hermione whammed open the door. "Harry? Are you all right?" She exclaimed, embracing him tightly.

"Hermione, I'm fine," Harry replied, hugging her as well.

"I see you are in good hands, Harry," Dumbledore smiled. "Ms. Granger, please escort Harry to the hospital wing."

Hermione nodded, as the professor left the room.

Hermione and Harry knew it was almost 1:00 in the morning. They had to reach Moody's office, before the final stroke.

They raced into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and headed towards the front, just in time to see themselves disappear.

"We did it," Harry stated, happily.

"We did it," Hermione smiled. "Now, we best get to the Hospital Wing."

Harry winced at her. He was too happy to even think.

"Cedric will be there," Hermione smirked.

"I wonder how he's doing?"

"Why don't you ask him, yourself?" a voice spoke.

Harry and Hermione bolted around, to see Cedric entering the classroom.

"Cedric, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, his voice filled with both shock and joy.

"I tried to get here sooner. Hermione told me about her suspicions, and wanted me to find Ron while she informed Dumbledore. When I finally found Ron, I told him what we discovered then raced to the classroom.

Harry couldn't believe his ears, or his eyes. Cedric was really there, beside them. He couldn't refrain himself from opening his arms and wrapping them around Cedric.

"Whoa! Easy, Harry," he laughed. "Don't squish me."

"I'm just so glad you're here. You're safe." Feeling Cedric in his arms, filled Harry with joy. Just hearing Cedric breathe made him smile.

"I'm here. I'm safe," Cedric reassured, returning the embrace.

Harry slowly released him, only for Hermione to bear hug him.

Cedric was bewildered. "What is this?"

"Nothing. We're just happy to see you,"

Hermione replied, laughing. She was happier than she could remember. Just seeing Cedric, made her smile.

"Guys, this is getting weird," Cedric moaned. "You're scaring me."

"You have no idea," Hermione laughed. Then, she realised that neither of them had been to the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore would be furious with her. "Okay, you two. Let's get you to the Hospital Wing."

"Hermione!" Harry groaned.

"No excuses! Dumbledore left me in charge of you!" She huffed, turning towards Cedric.

"Both of you. Now, let's go."

Cedric couldn't help but smile. He had never met anyone as determined as Hermione. Fighting her was a lost cause. "It's no use, Harry. We'd better do as she says. Or who knows what she'll do."

"At last, a voice of reason."

"Blimey, Hermione!" Harry bellowed, glancing at Cedric. Harry knew he was right. "Lead the way," he sighed

"How is Viktor?" Cedric asked. "When he tried to attack me, his eyes were completely dilated. It was like he was another person."

Hermione lowered her head. "Dumbledore learned that Igor had placed a hex on Viktor; which changed everything about him. They wanted him to attack you and Fleur, so Harry would win."

"That does makes sense," Cedric remarked, as Harry remembered the intensity in Viktor's eyes. They were glowing and dilated. When Harry saw Viktor pointing his wand at him, he was sure he was going to be attacked. That was why he lowered his wand.