Welp... enjoy this... things have been changed. Sven did catch Pettigrew so I needed someone to replace him and... well, blame the Discord for this choice. And for those who continue to complain about Sven being a pushover, get over it. That's his character. He's got a soft spot for his friends and was never a violent, over-the-top powerful vampire to begin with. He won't be in the future either. He's a person who isn't confident and happens to be a vampire. He's not someone who was raised to be your ideal vampire, nor would I be able to write this story if he was. Don't like it? Don't read it.

The third task happened in the evening. The champions being led out to the Quidditch pitch where the once small hedges were now twenty feet high and made it obvious that it wasn't going to be an easy in-and-out challenge. Sven eyed the hedges curiously with Harry standing awkwardly beside him.

"How hard do you think it's' going to be?" Harry asked, having felt nervous since lunchtime.

"We've studied and done our best," Sven shrugged. "I do not care whether I win or lose. I'd rather lose, honestly. I doubt the Ministry would be pleased if I did win."

Harry winced, having forgotten that him being a vampire meant that the Ministry would rather hate to have him win. Though Sven didn't want to be involved in the first place… Guess it means one less person to worry about.

"You won't… I mean, if we run into each other…"

Sven shook his head. "No. We've all agreed to not sabotage the others," he said, nodding to Krum who bowed his head, and Fleur who shrugged, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "It will only be us against the challenges. Dueling has no purpose."

Harry felt a hint of relief at that, glad that they wouldn't duel each other when a thought occurred to him. "What if we reach there at the same time?"

Sven shrugged. "Then, we will figure it out there. If we agree to duel, then we'll duel. If one wants to give it to the other, we will. If we want to tie, then we will." He looked at Harry then, tipping his head. "Friends talk and solve problems together, do they not?"

Harry's tense shoulders sagged in relief, nodding with a soft sigh. "Yeah… yeah, you're right. Thanks, Sven."

"What for?"

"Well, uh… I-I don't think we'd all be friends if you weren't here."

He tipped his head with a hum and the subject was dropped as a group of professors approached. Hagrid, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick were all there, though Harry eyed Moody warily and Sven frowned at the man before Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

"We are going to be patrolling the outside of the maze. If you get into difficulty and wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one of us will come and get you, do you understand?"

They all nodded and Bagman grinned. "Off you go then!"

The champions split up to stand at an entrance and Bagman spoke to the audience gathered around them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each: Mr. Sven Rydell and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School! In second place, with eighty points: Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute! And in third place: Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!"

Harry glanced up and waved at the Weasleys and Sirius and Lupin, who offered cheers and waves in return.

"So, on my whistle, Sven, Harry."

He blew on the whistle and the two took off into the hedge maze, lighting their wands and stopping together when they reached a fork in the road.

"See you," Harry said, getting a nod from Sven as they went off in different directions.

After a moment, the whistle was blown twice more, signaling that all the champions were in the maze now, but Harry felt uneasy, as though he were being watched. He kept going though, unnerved by the lack of obstacles until he heard something. Sven appeared out of the bushes on his right, looking cross and with his robes singed along the sleeve.

"Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts are in the maze apparently," he grumbled. "They've grown."

Harry shook his head and took a different path as Sven did the same, neither wanting to run into them. Harry hit a bogart though, banishing it quickly and easily once he realized it wasn't an actual dementor. He struggled a little with a cloud of something that messed with his vision when there was a scream. It sounded like Fleur and he hesitated, but there were no red sparks, no sign of her. He assumed she'd been taken out of the maze which left him, Sven, and Krum. He thought he might actually win and a bit of hope filled him. How cool would that be? Me. The youngest champion.

He hit a few dead ends and then stumbled upon the skrewt Sven had mentioned. Harry struggled with it, given his spells just seemed to bounce off its tough armor shell, until he managed to get its softer underbelly and run past. Some more dead ends and a turnaround or two and Harry felt he had to be nearing where the cup was, only to hear shouting.

"Viktor! You must snap out of it!"

It was Sven and Krum. Harry hurried over to where he heard them, rounding the corner to see Krum trying to fire spells at Sven who blocked them before lunging at the student. There was a scuffle and Harry hesitated on firing a spell. Sven had said they wouldn't fight each other and with the two tangled in each others' grips, it was impossible to try and hit one over the other. Harry had just lifted his wand when Krum shouted.

"Crucio!"

Sven stiffened and fell to the side with a cry of agony. Harry had a clear shot at Krum and hastily stunned him before he could run. Sven went quiet and Harry rushed to his side as he panted heavily with his forehead pressed to the grass.

"Sven? Sven, are you okay? I thought you said we wouldn't fight each other!"

Sven accepted his help up and shook his head. "No. No, we weren't supposed to. Viktor was taken over again."

"Again?"

Sven had never fully explained everything that happened with Crouch and Krum before other than him being attacked. "A-A forbidden curse. Dumbledore said it can control people. Viktor was under it when I was with him and Crouch. Moody is here again. He's trying to do something. I told Dumbledore to stop him."

Harry understood Sven's anger. He didn't understand why Dumbledore hadn't done anything either, and now the two of them were stuck in a maze with the man. Harry wasn't sure what to do and looked to Sven for answers.

"We can't leave him here, right? Should we send up sparks for him?"

Sven nodded, standing straighter with a wince of pain as Harry sent up the sparks.

"Do we keep going? Shouldn't we… I don't know, shouldn't we stop? Tell everyone?"

"Will telling them stop him?" Sven asked, making Harry hesitate. "He may just run. Do you think…" Sven frowned debating something.

"What? Do you have a plan?"

"If we can get him to come to the cup, if that is his goal, then I can hold him off while you use the sparks to bring the professors."

"Sven, that's really dangerous though. You got hurt last time, didn't you?"

"Yes, but I couldn't see him and I was protecting Crouch and Viktor. I can fight him for a moment."

Harry was uncertain but nodded, gesturing to the path ahead. "So, we go together then?"

Sven nodded and the two started through the maze once more, both on edge should Moody appear through the bushes. They hit a few dead ends and encountered a sphinx who presented a riddle that had them both stumped for a moment. Sven got it in the end and the sphinx willingly let them both pass. They hurried through until they finally saw a glint of light. The cup was on a pedestal not far ahead but just before they could reach it, a large dark object flew from the side. A giant spider threw itself forward and the two were quick to throw stunners. With the two spells hitting at once, the spider flew back into a hedge nearby unmoving.

Sven didn't feel it was right to leave it where it may get up at any moment and used a rope-conjuring spell to tie up its legs for now, before turning to Harry. They were the only two left and there was no sign of Moody.

"What now?" Harry asked, giving the cup a glance. "I don't see him."

Sven frowned, looking as well. "I don't hear him either. We could just end the tournament. Let Dumbledore know what happened."

Harry looked at the cup. "So… who's going to take the cup."

Sven shrugged. "I'm not interested in winning."

"Yeah, but you helped me through this," Harry said, gesturing to the spider. "You were teaching me and helping all of us too."

Sven frowned. "Yes, but the Ministry…"

"Well, why don't we both take it then?" Harry shrugged. "They can't really say anything if it's a tie, right?"

Sven hummed, tipping his head before nodding. "Yes. Yes, I think that will work."

"You can have the money too if you want," Harry said as they headed over to the cup. "My parents had a lot saved up for me, so I don't really need it."

"What would I do with money?" Sven questioned, brows furrowed.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. What do vampires need to buy?"

Sven tipped his head. "Food?"

Harry went to say something but changed his mind, gesturing to the cup. "On three then?"

Sven shrugged.

"One, two, three!"

They both reached for the cup and the second they touched it, there was a jerk in their stomachs and their feet left the ground. When they landed, they hit the ground hard, Harry taking a second more as Sven hauled him to his feet.

"Where are we?" He asked, feeling Sven's tight grip on his arm and immediately feeling worried.

"Graveyard," Sven said. "The cup was a portkey. That's what Moody was doing in the maze. That was his plan."

"And we fell for it," Harry realized. "How do we get back?"

"I don't know," Sven said, drawing his wand as Harry did the same. "The portkey again?"

It was a little ways away from them but before they could start to go for it, Sven pulled Harry behind him.

"Wha—"

"Someone's here."

Harry snapped his mouth shut, tightening his grip on his wand. There was a figure in the dark, hooded and carrying something in their arms. They watched them for a threat but nothing happened and Sven started to slowly back Harry up with him towards the portkey. Suddenly though, Harry's scar flooded with pain, sending him to his knees in agony. Sven wasn't sure what to do, hovering over Harry protectively.

"Kill the spare," a voice breathed and the hooded figure turned their wand with a shout.

"Avada—"

"Expelliarmus!" Sven snapped, reacting faster than they did, though they blocked the spell and fired another killing curse with a growl.

Sven grabbed Harry and jerked him away, dodging the attack and firing a blast once more, kicking up dirt as he tried to heave Harry towards the portkey.

"You little brat!" Their attacker hissed, wand snapping out almost like a whip and tripping Sven.

Sven cursed as Harry tumbled back to the ground, scraping his hands on the half-buried gravestone under him. He wanted to help but he couldn't even see straight with the pain splitting through his skull.

"Crucio!"

Sven cried out in pain as the hooded figure approached, throwing their hood off to reveal a madly smirking woman with dark curly hair. She cackled and straddled Sven as she stopped using the curse, pinning his arms above him with her wand at his throat.

"It's been a while since I've gotten to enjoy myself so much. You're just a brat too, but those eyes tell me it'll be fun to break you."

Sven bared his teeth, spitting a curse. "Fuck you."

She lifted her wand to curse him again, but he was quick and far stronger than Harry expected. He jerked a hand free easily, swinging his head up and slamming it into her nose the same instant he shoved her wrist up to avoid any spell she'd tried to cast. He shoved her off and lunged for his wand—which had fallen when she'd cursed him—grabbing it and rolling away from a curse she threw that tossed up a chunk of the ground where he'd been. His wand aimed her way but she was on him in an instant and when the cutting curse sliced across his face, blocking his vision, she took her chance.

His wand was taken and he was properly bound this time, struggling to glare at her with the blood slipping into his eyes. Harry couldn't keep watching, agony or not. He tried to lift his wand to help, calling out.

"S-Sven—"

"Stay back!" Sven snapped, making Harry flinch in hurt until he saw Sven's eyes.

They were a vibrant red even in the dark and Harry understood that Sven wasn't just fighting this woman and his own pain, but the hunger as well. The stinging of his hands reminded him about his scraped palms. Danger or not though, his friend was in trouble. Sven can hold it back, right? I-I have to try and help him.

"Wait," that raspy voice from before called out. "Bring him to me."

The woman snarled. "Let me deal with him, my Lord! I won't let him get away with this!"

"Bring him, Bellatrix."

She growled but hauled Sven over to the bundle she'd left behind, throwing him to the ground and gagging him before going to grab Harry. Harry couldn't even struggle as she brought him over to the headstone of Tom Riddle and bound him to it before gagging him. Harry couldn't move an inch and his wand had been left over by the cup where they'd shown up. There was nothing he could do as Bellatrix went back over to where Sven was, facing whatever was in the bundle of cloth that made Harry's scar burn.

"Impossible," it breathed, voice twinged with the hint of a mad cackle. "He's a vampire."

"What?" Bellatrix questioned, hauling Sven up by the throat and eyeing him with a scowl. "This brat?"

"The eyes. I've seen them many times before. Dumbledore is a fool for trying to resolve their feud with wizards by letting a child into his school. They'll all fall to my side as planned."

"Shall I take care of him, my lord?"

"No… No, he might be useful yet. Hurry. The ritual."

Bellatrix threw Sven back down near a rather large snake that slowly moved its way around the tombstone. She brought over a large cauldron, lighting a flame underneath to bring the potion within it to a boil. Then, the squirming bundle was revealed, making Harry scream behind his gag. It didn't even look human with its scaly skin and dark, reddish tint; its face almost snake-like. The creature was put into the cauldron and Harry could only hope it would drown and stop the pain in his forehead.

"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!" Bellatrix said, dropping some dust from the grave Harry was at into the cauldron. "Flesh of the servant, willingly given, you will revive your master."

Harry stared in shock as she almost eagerly brought a dagger down onto her hand, dragging the blade through it until the hand itself fell into the cauldron. She cried out in pain when it was done, using her wand and bandaging her hand as best she could as Harry forced himself to turn away from the bubbling pot. His eyes turned to Sven at his feet and he felt a tendril of unease. Sven was breathing heavily, eyes clenched shut and his forehead pressed to the ground despite how it must have hurt the wound across his face. Harry could smell the blood from here and he couldn't imagine how potent it must be for Sven.

His attention was brought back up when Bellatrix approached him with the dagger though.

"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe," she said with a wild grin as Harry tried to squirm away, but the cords were too tight.

The dagger cut into his arm, sending blood dripping down as Bellatrix brought out a glass vial to collect it and moved back to the cauldron. The potion went dark then, no longer sparking and bubbling and Harry desperately hoped it had gone wrong, but someone started to crawl out of it and demanded a robe that Bellatrix hastily provided. Harry felt absolute dread as the figure moved away from the mist, pale and stick thin, but very much alive. Voldemort had risen.

The smell of blood was overwhelmingly strong. Bellatrix was losing blood quickly even with the bandages and Harry's arm still dripped spots on the base of the tombstone near me. My face burned from the long gash across it and the dirt I'd undoubtedly been smearing into the wound. I was barely dealing with the smell though. Every fiber of my being was tense and wound up. I could hear every pump of a heart near me and if it weren't for my bindings, I feared I would've attacked someone by now.

I-I need to refocus. I got lucky. They spared me by chance. I need to get Harry out of here. Lupin told me about him, about Voldemort and everything he'd done. If he's back then we're both dead unless I-I can get us back to the portkey. I clenched my eyes shut before I felt my body leaving the floor only to fly across the ground and slam my back into the tombstone holding Harry. My breath left me and I choked, gasping for air as Voldemort himself looked down on me. I felt no fear for him though. He was just another wizard. Powerful, perhaps, but I didn't experience his wrath, his war, his anger. I had nothing to use to judge whether I should be worried about fighting him other than the fact that he was dangerous to us both. I have no choice. We can't get any help here and I have to help Harry.

I slowly twisted, doing my best to reach my numb fingers into the folds of my robe. It hurt, the bindings around me unbearably tight, but I felt the hilt of the dagger I'd never left without and slid it out of its sheath. It would be my only chance at getting out of this, but it was risky. The second I was released, I would have to somehow cut Harry free and run without either Voldemort or Bellatrix hitting us. There was a flash then and I turned to see what had happened. Bellatrix now had a metallic hand to replace the one she'd cut off, though the stench of blood was still sticking heavily to her and her robes. Voldemort had done something to her other arm that I couldn't see from my position on the floor, but whatever it was made my hopes of escape dwindle as more people began to appear while he ranted to Harry about his life.

He stopped once a group of hooded wizards appeared, encircling us and kissing the hems of Voldemort's robes before standing in wait for their master's orders.

"Welcome Death Eaters," Voldemort greeted. "Thirteen years... thirteen years since last we met. Yet you answer my call as though it were yesterday, we are still united under the Dark Mark, then! Or are we?" He inhaled with a grimace. "I smell guilt. There is a stench of guilt upon the air."

The group shivered as I ran my eyes over them, fighting to twist my blade and cut my bindings in the hopes that my escape would be surprising enough to—at the very least—turn their attention away from Harry. Other than that, I wasn't sure what else I could do. We were terribly outnumbered and outmatched. Still, one thing was apparent. Voldemort ruled by fear.

"I see you all, whole and healthy, with your powers intact; such prompt appearances! And I ask myself… why did this band of wizards never come to the aid of their master, to whom they swore eternal loyalty?"

They were quiet, nothing but the sounds of their rapidly beating hearts echoing in my ears. I could pick out the guilty ones instantly, though all were nervous when faced with their master. No one broke the circle as Voldemort spoke until the guiltiest couldn't handle it and threw himself at Voldemort's feet to beg forgiveness. He was met with the same unforgiving curse I'd been subjected to earlier, crying and squirming on the ground as an example for the others.

"Get up, Avery," Voldemort commanded when he'd finished. "Stand up. You ask for forgiveness? I do not forgive. I do not forget. Thirteen long years… I want thirteen years' repayment before I forgive you. Wormtail could not repay and has been forced to accept the fate of the Dementor's kiss upon his capture. When I had the opportunity to request for his release, I chose another, more worthy, supporter."

Bellatrix grinned, standing the closest to him, proud. Voldemort approached another, whose name caught my attention immediately.

"Lucius, my slippery friend. I am told that you have not renounced the old ways, though to the world you present a respectable face. You are still ready to take the lead in a spot of Muggle-torture, I believe? Yet you never tried to find me, Lucius… Your exploits at the Quidditch World Cup were fun, I daresay… but might not your energies have been better directed toward finding and aiding your master?"

Malfoy's father spoke calmly in his defense, but his heart pounded quickly. "My Lord, I was constantly on the alert. Had there been any sign from you, any whisper of your whereabouts, I would have been at your side immediately, nothing could have prevented me—"

"And yet you ran from my mark when a faithful Death Eater sent it into the sky last summer? Yes, I know all about that, Lucius… You have disappointed me… I expect more faithful service in the future."

He was spared for now and Voldemort strolled past others, saying nothing for the moment. He mentioned the few worthy of his praise—more names I recognized from their children in Slytherin—before mentioning those who were missing.

"And here we have six missing Death Eaters… three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return… he will pay. One, who I believe has left me forever… he will be killed, of course… and one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already reentered my service. He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived here tonight."

Moody. He's talking about Moody. I stiffened when there was a sound off in the grass nearby—the large snake, no doubt—and I hesitated to continue cutting my bindings. Not that I could have continued when the attention was drawn to Harry behind me.

"Yes. Harry Potter has kindly joined us for my rebirthing party. One might go so far as to call him my guest of honor. His… companion, is simply an added bonus."

Eyes through the masks of the Death Eaters shifted briefly to me but were quick to return to Harry as Voldemort neared and was asked to retell how he captured the both of us.

"You know, of course, that they have called this boy my downfall? You all know that on the night I lost my powers and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died in the attempt to save him and unwittingly provided him with a protection I admit I had not foreseen… I could not touch the boy."

Voldemort neared Harry, whose eyes were watering and screaming for help. I couldn't cut through the bindings just yet though. Attempting to lunge at this man when there was a circle of his people around us would end up with me dead and Harry at the mercy of them. The only thing keeping us alive right now was Voldemort, and I ground my teeth tightly when Harry cried out into his gag at the man's touch. I'm sorry, Harry. I'm sorry. I'm trying to find a way out of this. I'm trying!

The Death Eaters were silent as Voldemort told his tale of possession, death, and being thwarted repeatedly by Harry. How he came to know of the tournament at Hogwarts, of a stone that could give him endless life, of Moody's plan to turn the cup into a portkey and summon us away.

"And here he is… the boy you all believed had been my downfall. Crucio!"

I struggled not to lunge at him right then and there, knowing the pain Harry was dealing with firsthand. It was too much of a risk, but I could at least turn the attention to myself. I twisted, shoving my feet out to hit against Voldemort's legs. It was weak, given my bound state, but it stopped the curse and turned his—and Bellatrix's—attention towards me. Voldemort simply eyed me, gaze calm while mine was full of hatred.

"You dare lay a finger on the Dark Lord!" Bellatrix roared, storming over and wand raised, but Voldemort stopped her with a hand.

"Raise him up."

She hesitated but went over to me, jerking me onto my feet roughly as Voldemort used his wand to lift at part of my robes.

"A Slytherin," he mused, seeing the green and silver lining and raising a brow. "Yes, fitting for your kind though I wouldn't have thought…" He gave Harry a brief glance before looking back. "Remove his gag."

Bellatrix untied the cloth in my mouth that I spat out, still staring down the Dark Lord until she grabbed the back of my head and pushed it forward towards my chest.

"Show respect," she hissed.

"What is your name, boy?" Voldemort asked, and I remained silent, debating whether it would be worth trying to buy time for someone to track us down.

But how? No one knows we were taken. No one is aware of what happened, where we are. How could anyone find us?

"He asked you a question!" Bellatrix snapped, pressing the tip of her wand painfully into my neck.

The blood on her hand made me grit my teeth tight, forcefully keeping my gaze off it as best I could as I finally responded.

"Sven Rydell," I muttered, making Voldemort hum.

"Rydell… Not a pureblood. Not a name I know… Though it wouldn't matter with your kind. Parents are dead, yes? Vampires rarely leave a meal half done."

"A… vampire, my lord?" Someone asked.

Lucius is here… he doesn't know… didn't know. This is not good. I could get expelled. I probably will…

"Yes, surprising, isn't it?" Voldemort mused. "Dumbledore inviting one of them to a school to learn like other wizards. Tell me, Rydell, it is ridiculous, is it not? You know your kind better than I, though I've had quite a few dealings with them. Do you believe they will side with Dumbledore when war breaks out?"

The answer was simple. "No."

"Yes, even you're aware," he hummed. "So, why not choose your side now? The side of the strong, the powerful. You can have your meals and more. Those people who mock yours will bow before you like fearful children…" He looked back to Harry. "Or the side of the weak, the… lucky who will fall and crumble effortlessly."

I glanced at Harry, seeing his worry, his uncertainty. He was scared. I could hear his heart racing, pounding away in a panic. I wouldn't join Voldemort. Not in a million years. While the other vampires might sway easily for the free meal and the opportunity to hold power over those who tried to hide us away, I wasn't interested.

"My loyalty is to my friends," I said calmly, making him narrow his eyes at me. "If I cared about any of those things you're offering, I'd still be in the coven or I'd be dead. I might be scared of your power, but I'm not afraid of you."

"You damn little—" Bellatrix cut herself short when Voldemort lifted his hand to silence her as her wand jabbed painfully against the underside of my jaw.

"Brave child. Ignorant boy," Voldemort cooed mockingly. "You think your precious friends will want you knowing what you are?"

I faced him confidently at that, knowing they already knew and already stayed by me.

"Yes, so confident in such a fragile building of trust. Tell me, have any of your friends seen you at your worst?" He asked, making me hesitate. "Have they seen you starved of blood, tearing into a carcass like an animal who hasn't eaten in weeks?"

They hadn't. The only people who'd come close were Lupin and Sirius and even then, they weren't there when I ate, when I was struggling not to kill that mother and son. None of them had seen me at my lowest and I never wanted them to. It's why I fought to avoid human blood. It may make me stronger, but it would place a heavier burden on my shoulders than I felt comfortable with. I would go from the occasional whiff of blood from a scrape or a cut to constantly being surrounded by potential food. It would put anyone near me in danger and I couldn't risk losing control in front of Harry or Luna or any of the others.

But he doesn't know that. He doesn't know I don't drink human blood. Even now with Harry bleeding and Bellatrix covered in blood, I'm holding it back. It's still there, roaring in my mind, but I've worked hard to control myself. I took a long, shuddering breath, clenching my hands around the dagger still pressed to the insides of the ropes binding me, waiting to cut through the last of them and fight. I've always been patient. I can do a little longer. Just long enough to get us out of here a-and Dumbledore can get me something to help. I just need to hold on like I've practiced.

Voldemort smirked then, sending a tendril of unease through me. "They haven't, have they? When was the last time you fed, vampire? When was the last time you were able to eat properly, without hiding, without fear of being spotted?"

Never, my mind supplied, knowing that even in the coven I had always been on edge and uncertain, scarfing down meals before they would be taken. Worried that someone would see me or catch me. Hogwarts was even worse, gulping down blood goblets before they were jinxed or spotted or taken. But I don't need to enjoy it. It was never about enjoying it. It was a necessity, I argued with myself, fighting against the words that seeped doubt into me. I looked at Harry beside me, taking in his worried expression, and used that to settle my thoughts. It didn't matter what Voldemort offered me. I had people to help that I never would've had if I'd been interested in what he was offering. No Harry, no Ginny, no Luna.

"Yet, still you resist," Voldemort sighed, gesturing to one of the Death Eaters. "Avery, untie Potter and give him back his wand."

"My lord?"

"You see, I think, how foolish it was to suppose that this boy could ever have been stronger than me. But I want there to be no mistake in anybody's mind. Harry Potter escaped me by a lucky chance. And I am now going to prove my power by killing him, here and now, in front of you all, when there is no Dumbledore to help him, and no mother to die for him. I will give him his chance. He will be allowed to fight, and you will be left in no doubt which of us is the stronger."

I turned to Harry in concern as Avery approached him and started to untie him. I'm running out of time. We both are. I was jerked forward again by Bellatrix.

"What about him, my Lord?"

"He will not join us, I regret. You may toy with him as you please when I'm done with Potter."

Bellatrix tightened her grip, a smirk crawling over her face that I ignored in favor of trying to work out what to do. Harry was released and the group around us closed in, preventing escape as Avery brought over Harry's wand and thrust it towards him. Harry took it but looked between me and Voldemort uneasily.

"You have been taught how to duel, Harry Potter?" Voldemort questioned.

Harry was more prepared for dueling with my help and the practice we'd done in the Room of Requirement, but a match for Voldemort? Neither of us were, and I could handle Moody for at least a little while. Something told me I wouldn't last long here.

"We bow to each other, Harry," Voldemort smirked. "Come, the niceties must be observed. Dumbledore would like you to show manners. Bow to death, Harry."

Harry didn't move, stubborn and defiant.

"I said, bow," Voldemort pressed, raising his wand and Harry grimaced as he was forced into a bow, making those around us cackle in delight. "Very good. And now you face me, like a man… straight-backed and proud, the way your father died… and now, we duel."

Harry didn't have a chance to lift his wand before he was screaming in pain. I lunged towards him as best I could while still bound, but Bellatrix wrapped her arm around my throat tightly and jabbed her wand against my temple.

"Behave," she purred in my ear. "Your time will come."

The curse was stopped and Harry staggered to his feet, getting pushed away by the Death Eaters he'd bumped into back toward Voldemort. I need to do something. This isn't a duel. This is a beast toying with his food. How do I get us out of here? I scrambled to figure it out, properly scared for the first time in a long while. There was no help here. We were on our own and we didn't stand a chance.

"A little break," Voldemort hummed, looking pleased. "A little pause… That hurt didn't it, Harry? You don't want me to do that again, do you?"

Harry was silent again.

"I asked you whether you want me to do that again. Answer me! Imperio!"

Harry hesitated, drawn under the curse that should control him but somehow fighting against it until it broke. "I won't!"

"You won't?" Voldemort mused. "You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a virtue I need to teach you before you die… Perhaps another little dose of pain?"

Harry reacted this time, flinging himself behind the marble headstone as Voldemort's curse cracked through the air, missing.

"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry," Voldemort taunted. "You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean that you would prefer me to finish it now, Harry? Come out, Harry… come out and play, then… it will be quick… it might even be painless… I would not know. I have never died."

Harry didn't move and Voldemort sighed.

"Shall I toy with your companion instead?" He hummed, idly pointing his wand at me as I straightened in preparation.

"Stay, Harry!" I shouted, prepared to take the pain for him if I had to.

I've dealt with worse. I have. This is nothing.

"No!" Harry called out, starting to emerge and making me bare my teeth.

"Stay there!"

Harry stopped, still just out of sight of Voldemort as we locked eyes. We need to get out of this together, but I can't do that if you're dead! We just need an opening! He took a small step forward and I scrambled to think of something. I can cut free, easily, but her wand is still there. If she lets go of my throat… I froze, realizing the only way I could do anything was to deal with her arm around my neck. The only weapon I had was pinned between my back, the ropes, and her chest. Harry was going to step out. Voldemort was going to attack. Harry might block it but I was the liability now. I needed to escape and there was only one way to do that.

Harry moved out from behind the tombstone, wand raised and firing off a spell the same instant Voldemort cast the killing curse. The same moment I twisted in Bellatrix's grip, slicing through my bonds and biting down hard into the crook of her neck. She cried out, one hand grabbing my hair and turning her wand towards me, but my hands were free. My dagger rammed up between her ribs while my free hand grabbed her wrist, shooting the spell aimed for my head into the air.

The air felt as though it were buzzing with Harry and Voldemort's spells fighting against one another, but my attention was focused nowhere and everywhere all at once. The biting tang of copper filled my mouth, drowning out a deep, never-ending thirst I hadn't realized was there until now. The world felt too loud and too quiet all at once. The steady beating of a heart rang in my ears as I drowned in the seemingly-infinite supply of nourishment. The wrist I was holding fell limp, dropping a wand to the ground unnoticed. The hand holding the dagger into Bellatrix's side now wrapped around her back to hold her up, to grip at her and pull her closer as the need for more drowned out all sense of myself.

We hadn't gone unnoticed by everyone, but there was nothing the Death Eaters could do. I was too close to Voldemort and Harry. Voldemort hadn't seen what I'd done and commanded the Death Eaters to do nothing unless he commanded; more fascinated by the strange incantation happening between him and Harry than the death of his servant. The heartbeat was fading though, enticing a groan from me as I struggled to find it, to pull it back, but it went silent and my mouth felt dry. I felt powerful and desperate and weak all at once. I wanted more. Needed more. I glanced up, tasting copper everywhere I looked only to see Harry and feel everything in me fall into a pit of guilt.

Bellatrix was pale and lifeless in my arms, I realized, dropping her corpse to the ground and taking a step back from those frightening dead eyes and face twisted into a permanent scream of agony. I-I… W-What did I… My right hand was covered in blood from the dagger, nearing my mouth immediately before I knew what I was doing. I jerked it away when there was a shout.

"Now!"

My eyes snapped to Harry as he jerked his wand upward, turning and running. I bolted after him, catching up painfully quick and grabbing him as I lifted a wand I didn't know I had and flung two Death Eaters out of our way. Curses followed after us and I swung my wand in an arc, shielding our backs as Voldemort bellowed behind us.

"Stand aside! I will kill him! He is mine!"

We were too far from the cup still and Harry drew his wand—thinking far faster than my muddled head was able to—summoning it to us as a spell was flung our way. I covered Harry as we both grabbed the portkey, feeling pain run along my back as we were jerked away once more. We hit the ground hard, neither of us moving. Harry lie underneath me, breathing hard while I somehow managed to push myself partially off him and onto my elbows. I froze though, breath hitching.

His neck was right there. So very close and his heart was pounding, racing in my ears alongside my own. My nose brushed the edge of his shoulder, mouth opening for just a bite when I froze. Fear rolled in my stomach and I jerked away quickly, pain flaring through my back being the only thing that stopped me from getting up. I cringed, falling back down to an elbow as my other hand snapped up to cover my mouth. I-I… I almost… t-to Harry…

"Harry! Harry! Sven!"

I couldn't lift my head, breathing hard through my fingers clasped around my mouth and keeping my wide eyes on the grass below. People were crowding around us, making things worse. Their hearts beating away in my ears as though I were trapped in a room with a thousand drums. I felt as though I was going to be sick. My hand clamped down tighter while the other tore into the earth below. Harry was speaking, saying something to someone, but I couldn't hear him over all the noise. I clenched my eyes shut, pressing my forehead into the ground before one voice cut through everything.

"I'll take Harry, Dumbledore. I'll—"

I was on my feet in a second, wand out and moving far faster than I thought I was capable of. My hand wrapped around his shirt and my wand rested against his jugular as I bellowed at him.

"You won't touch him! I won't let you touch him!"

I wasn't sure how I was upright, let alone using the amount of strength I had to hold Moody firmly in place. I was quaking, my vision blurred and twisting, but I held firm even as he snarled back.

"You put me down, boy, before someone gets hurt."

"Sven. Sven, you need to let him go," someone said, lightly grabbing my arm, but I held firm.

"No. No, he's with them. He was with them! He made the portkey! He planned this! Voldemort said—"

"Sven!"

Arms wrapped around mine, hauling me off him but struggling as another grabbed my hand with my wand.

"What's gotten into you, kid!" Someone barked in my ear, fighting to hold me back.

"I won't let him. I won't. I-I've already—I've already messed up. I-I won't—"

"Sven, you need to calm down."

"T-They were going to kill him. They were going to—I-I had no choice."

"Sven, it's okay! You're safe! You and Harry are—"

"Nobody is safe!" I snapped, tears adding to my blurry vision. "N-No one… N-No one will e-ever be… Not now. N-Not when I…"

My strength faded quickly, leaving the people holding me to falter and nearly lose their grip when I stumbled.

"My office," Dumbledore said then, voice calm but tense. "Quickly. Take Sven and go. We will be right there."

"S-Sorry," I breathed, trying to find Harry in the blur of shapes. "I-I'm sorry. I-I-I didn't know what to do… I-I didn't…I'm sorry."