A/N: Hiya! Thanks for reviews guys! Here's another chapter for you.
NOTE Aug/17: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 have been partly rewritten. I edited some unnecessary stuff away and rewrote some. Main points are that the Phoenixes' prophecy for him is different (you can check the new one from ch2 if you want) Sky has 2 Animagus instead of 4, he doesn't have a healing ability, but insteads struggles with healing others than himself and suffers from magical outburst which he cannot control unless there is an outlet for him.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
The next few weeks leading up to the First task were for the most part uneventful. News articles on the Tournament were published daily, especially regarding the involvement of Harry Potter. The closer the date of the First Task came, the more desperate the articles pleading Harry to miraculously appear, became. Personally Sky found them very amusing. They would definitely be in for a surprise, come the First Task.
During the weeks Sky spend a lot of his time with both Dora and Emily. Dora he took to a weekend getaway in one of the Potter properties in a small muggle village in Wales. They spend the whole weekend on just focusing on each other. Sky took her on a date in a cinema as he knew she loved the muggle movies and then to a nice restaurant. The next day they went on a hike to the near mountain to see the beautiful sights and then spend the rest of the evening cuddling in front of the fire and talking about everything and nothing. It was perfect and just what they needed after their long separation to continue the war with renewed determination.
Emily he took to Godric's Hollow to see their parents and the house where they both had been born. They spend the day exploring the village and just spending time with each other and catching up with what had happened within the past year.
Flashback
"How are things with your dad?" Sky asked as they walked the road leading up to the Potter's house.
"Not the same." Emily sighed. "We decided not to tell the rest of the family just yet, but it's making thing even more awkward. Dad doesn't know how to treat me anymore and I just feel like I'm an outsider." She said. "I'm afraid that once everyone knows they will look at me differently and I'm not their little sister anymore. As annoying as it is to grow up with six older brothers, they still are my brothers and I don't want to lose them." She said hanging her head.
Sky gave her a one armed hug.
"I'm sure they will still think you're their little sister. Nothing can change an over a decade worth memories you have shared together. I bet the twins especially will be elated their sister is the daughter of Prongs, their idol." He grinned and Emily cracked a small smile.
"I have actually been helping them with some of their pranks." She revealed.
"Really?" Sky laughed. "What did you do?" He asked and Emily launched into her story. Sky smiled seeing his sister smiling again. He was sure that once the Weasley children knew the truth they would accept her just fine.
End Flashback
Now however it was time for the First Task and all of Hogwarts was gathered in stands around the area where the Champions would do the task. Sky was positioned so that he had all the staff and the guests well within his eyesight but close enough to take action when necessary. Marcus was situated few feet away from him, as himself. He and Rufus had decided that Marcus would be in charge of all the Auror corps and would attend all the tasks personally in case anything happened. The reason he was not disguised in any way was to irk Dumbledore. Dumbledore hated Marcus with passion, knowing he was one person he had never been able to fool with his Light leader persona.
Sky looked over at the row where the staff and the judges were sitting. The anticipation for the end of the Task was great, as they all wanted to know who put his name on the Goblet. The bets had been placed few days previously as Sirius finally convinced them, Sirius putting his money on Snape, Remus on Karkaroff and Marcus on Ludo Bagman. He had reasoned that he would put nothing past Bagman having went to school with him and knowing all the stupid things he was capable of. Sky himself had put his money on Bartemius Crouch. He was fairly confident in his answer, in fact so much that he had upped the stakes to 50 galleons. The other men did not need to know that he had found out that Mad Eye Moody was in fact not Moody at all but Bartemius Crouch, Barty Crouch senior's son. He could tell them after he had won the bet and collected his money.
The real Moody was safe, getting treated in Saint Mungos while Sky had charmed a decoy to put in his place in the trunk. Dora thought the whole thing was ridiculous but promised to keep silent when Sky promised to take her on a date the next weekend.
Bagman's booming voice drew Sky back from his musings.
The Tournament was beginning.
A loud whistle was heard and Krum stepped out of the Champions' tent his face a mask of determination. Like Sky had guessed the two foreign schools would do anything to help their Champion win the Tournament, not caring the rules stated they weren't allowed the get help. However, there was no doubt it, Krum had definitely known about the dragons. There was no flicker of surprise there.
Sky watched with half an eye as Krum attempted to retrieve his golden egg, while keeping the other one on "Moody" and the other staff. Several minutes later Krum succeeded with several burns and was taken to the medical tent while Delacour went to face her own Dragon. She took almost as long as Krum but received worse burns.
Then it was Cedric's turn.
Sky knew with one glance at the boy that he had had no idea what he was going up against. His face paled and he stared at the dragon in horror. Thankfully, he had enough sense to duck when the creature spit fire at him. Sky was frankly impressed with him when he started transfiguring dogs to distract the dragon. It worked too for a while and Cedric had almost clear path to the eggs but unfortunately for him, the dragon realised what he was doing and burned him just as he got the egg. The dragon handlers took control over the situation and Cedric was delivered to the medical tent. The judges gave him their points placing him as second few points in front of Fleur.
Sky however, ignored it as he set his eyes on "Moody". He briefly registered as Bagman awkwardly announced Harry Potter as the next Champion even though everybody knew he was not coming. After waiting for few minutes Bagman announced that the First Task was over and the whistle was heard for the final time.
As if on cue an ear-piercing scream was heard from the teachers' row. Sky watched as his theory came true and "Moody's" body started dissolving, parts of skin melting off as the Polyjuice potion disappeared revealing Barty Crouch junior. He kept on screaming as if his body was on fire and his body shined with a bright light for several minutes before the light disappeared and he slumped on the ground. Before anyone could even blink Sky had him stunned and bound, moving to get hold of him before anyone else did.
"Barty Crouch junior!" Bagman exclaimed shocked, his voice booming through the silence of the field as he had yet to mute it.
"Barty?" Barty Crouch senior asked blinking as if he had just woken from a deep sleep.
"Imperious, of course." Sky thought recognizing the symptoms berating himself for not realising sooner. He caught Marcus' eye who nodded at him to take the prisoner away, signalling that he would do the aftermath there. Sky nodded and portkeyed away with the prisoner.
He arrived at the DoM where Sirius and Remus were waiting for them.
"Well?" Sirius asked eagerly.
Sky grinned. "You both owe me money."
As soon as Sky disappeared with the prisoner Marcus took charge of the situation. The spectators of the Tournament were chattering about what happened, some in shock, some terrified, some confused. Marcus paid no mind to them as he signalled to the undercover Aurors to keep everyone from leaving. They would have to make sure that none of what happened today would leak outside. It would give them an advantage if they could interrogate Crouch before the word got to Riddle that his spy had gotten himself caught.
He and the Unspeakables got to work and worked swiftly and silently to place charms on everyone present so that they would not be able to talk or even write to anyone who did not already know about the events regarding the fake Moody and the arrest of the criminal. The charm was a design of the research department of the DoM and they were quite proud of it. It was very unnoticeable, near colourless and the recipients wouldn't even feel it cast on them.
Of course it did not go unnoticed by everyone. Marcus had just finished one charming Rita Skeeter who tried to slip away from the crowds when he came across Dumbledore. Just what he needed.
"Marcus, my boy, I do not think that necessary." The old coot said patronisingly as Marcus raised his wand to charm him too.
"What happened today does not get out of here Dumbledore." Marcus said keeping his voice in check.
"Surely you trust me not to tell anyone." Dumbledore said his grandfatherly smile on place.
"Trust you?" Marcus asked his voice cold as ice, hardly above a whisper. His mind was filled with images of his laughing wife and daughter. "Daddy!" echoed in his mind and he had to grit his teeth together to not allow himself to go down that path. His knuckles whitened as he clutched his wand. "Like I trusted you with Marie and Mia?"
"My boy, you know I did my best…" Dumbledore attempted to sooth him his face the picture of sadness. Only it did not reach his twinkling eyes.
"Your best?! You didn't give a fuck about them! You only thought you could use them to manipulate me. Guess what? It didn't work. They are dead and it didn't work. It will never work. I know who you really are Albus Dumbledore. I know everything you have done. And one day soon, so will the rest of the world." Marcus spat before turning around and storming off. He was pissed off at having to deal with Dumbledore, but even more at himself for losing his school. He should know better.
Only he could never escape the painful memories that man brought with him.
Dumbledore smiled at his success of distracting the Marcus from casting the spell. He had never liked the wizard. In fact, he loathed him. He had always seen through him. He was one person who had never been fooled by him. But regardless of what he had said, he could not know. Nobody did, not even suspected. Dumbledore caressed his wand as he walked back toward the school. He was safe.
Only what he did not know was that when he had been distracting Marcus from casting the spell, the Head of the DoM had signalled Panther to cast it for him. There was nothing Dumbledore could do.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you thought!
- Dalnim
