A/N: To Panda's review, wondering why I chose Neville to deliever the gillyweed instead of Dobby.

I happen to like Neville and I found that scene was a nice touch, because, in my opinion, it shows Neville's skill at Herbology, being resourceful, and him not being used as a comic-relief. I also found that scene in the movie as a nice moment of friendship by Neville helping Harry out, even if Neville was influenced by Moody. Even though I consider Hailey and Neville to be acquaintances, I added that scene in because Neville helping Hailey out because he considers Hailey to be a friend, so he helps her out even if he was influenced by Moody. If any of this makes sense.


The next morning, the three Ravenclaws had managed to get Hermione and Ron. They had hurried up to the Owlery to send a note to Sirius detailing what happened. They were now looking over the misty grounds.

"It come down to this," Hermione said, rubbing her forehead. "Either Mr Crouch attacked Eva and Ivy or somebody else attacked the three of them when Eva wasn't looking."

"It must've been Crouch," said Ron at once. "That's why he was gone when Hailey and Dumbledore got there. He'd done a runner."

"I don't think so," said Hailey, shaking her head. "He seemed really weak—he couldn't have Disapparated since you can't do that on school grounds."

"Okay…how's this for a theory?" Ron started, sounding excited. "Ivy and Eva got bored and decided on a little dueling, but Crouch got in the way, so they all stunned themselves."

"And Mr Crouch evaporated, did he?" asked Hermione coldly.

"Oh yeah…" Ron said.

"I highly doubt that Ivy and Eva know how to do the Stunning Spell," Michael said. "They're second years!"

"Besides, they both said that Crouch attacked them," Mandy said.

"And why would Eva attack her friend when her back is turned?" Michael said. "Eva likes fair-play. She wouldn't attack someone when their back is turned."

"Just go through it again, Hailey," said Hermione. "What did Mr Crouch actually say?"

"He wasn't making much sense," said Hailey. "He said he want to warn Dumbledore about something. He definitely mentioned Bertha Jorkins, and he seemed to think she was dead. He kept saying stuff was his fault…He mentioned his son."

"Well, that was his fault," responded Hermione testily.

"He was out of his mind," said Hailey. "Half the time he seemed to think his wife and son were still alive, and he kept talking to Percy about work and giving him instructions."

"And…remind me what he said about You-Know-Who?" asked Ron tentatively.

"I've told you," Hailey said dully. "He said he's getting stronger."

There was a pause. In a falsely confident voice, Ron said, "But he was out of his mind, like you said, so half of it was probably just raving…"

"He was sanest when he was trying to talk about Voldemort," said Hailey, and Ron winced at the sound of the name. "He was having real trouble stringing two words together, but that was when he seemed to know where he was, and know what he wanted to do. He just kept saying he had to see Dumbledore." She turned away from the window and stared up into the rafters. The many perches were half-empty; every now and then, another owl would swoop in through one of the windows, returning from its night's hunting with a mouse in its beak.

"If only Snape hadn't held you up. What was that all about anyway?" Mandy said.

"I don't know. 'The headmaster is busy, Potter…what's this rubbish, Potter?' Why couldn't he have just got out of the way?" Hailey said.

"Maybe he didn't want you to get there!" said Ron. "Maybe—hang on—how fast d'you reckon he could've gotten down to the forest? D'you reckon he could've beaten you and Dumbledore there?"

"He could've turned into a bat or something," said Mandy. "He could've been watching the entire thing and when you turned and ran, Snape could've attacked Ivy and Eva."

"Except they said that Crouch attacked them," Michael said.

"We need to see Professor Moody. We need to find out whether he found Mr Crouch."

"If he had the Marauder's Map on him, it would've been easy," said Hailey.

"Unless Crouch was already outside the ground," said Ron.

"Why did Snape tell Moody that Crouch was there?" Mandy asked suddenly.

"—that's blackmail, that is, we could get into a lot of trouble for that—"

"—we've tried being polite; it's time to play diry, like him. He wouldn't like the Ministry of Magic knowing what he did—"

"I'm telling you, if you put that in writing, it's blackmail!"

"Yeah, and you won't be complaining if we get a nice fat payoff, will you?"

The Owlery door banged open. Fred and George came over the threshold and froze at the sight of the five fourth-years.

"What're you doing here?" Ron and Fred said at the same time.

"Sending a letter," said Hailey and George in unison.

"What, at this time?" said Fred and Hermione.

Fred grinned. "Fine—we won't ask you what you're doing, if you don't ask us." He was holding a sealed envelope in his hands. Hailey glanced at it, but Fred shifted his hand so that the name on it was covered, whether on purpose or accidentally.

"Well, don't let us hold you up," Fred said. He did a mock bow and pointed at the door.

Ron didn't move, "Who're you blackmailing?"

Fred stopped smiling. Hailey saw George half-glance at Fred, before smiling at Ron. "Don't be stupid, I was only joking."

"Didn't sound like that," said Ron.

The twins looked at each other. Fred then said, "I've told you before Ron, keep your nose out of if you like it the shape it is. Can't see why you would but—"

"It's my business if you're blackmailing someone," said Ron. "George's right, you could end up in serious trouble for that."

"Told you, I was joking," said George. He walked over to Fred, pulled the letter out of his hands, and began tying it to the leg of the nearest barn owl. "You're starting to sound a bit like our dear older brother, you are, Ron. Carry on like this and you'll be made prefect."

"No, I won't!" replied Ron hotly.

George carried the barn owl to the window and it took off. He turned and grinned at Ron. "Well, stop telling people what to do then. See you later." He and Fred left the Owlery, making the five fourth years to look at each other.

"You don't think that they know something about all this, do you?" Hermione asked. "About Crouch and everything?"

"No," replied Hailey. "If it was something that serious, they'd tell someone. They'd tell Dumbledore."

"Besides, why would they hide something like this, anyway?" Mandy asked.

"I wonder who they're blackmailing, though," Michael said.

Ron was looking uncomfortable.

"What's the matter?" Hermione asked him.

"Well…" Ron started, "They're…they're obsessed with making money lately, I noticed it when I was hanging around with them—when—you know—"

"We weren't talking," Hailey finished the sentence. "Yeah, but blackmailing…"

"It's this joke shop idea they've got," said Ron. "I thought they were only saying it to annoy Mum, but they really mean it, they want to start one. They've only got a year left at Hogwarts, they keep going on about how it's time to think about their future, and Dad can't help them, and they need gold to get started."

"They could ask Eva. She seems to have a fortune stashed somewhere," Michael said.

Ron shook his head, "I don't think they would accept hand-outs, though."

Hermione was looking uncomfortable now. "Yes, but…they wouldn't do anything against the law to get gold."

"Wouldn't they?" said Ron, looking skeptical. "I dunno…they don't exactly mind breaking rules, do they?"

"It's against the law," said Mandy.

Hermione was looking scared. "This isn't some silly school rule… They'll get a lot more than detention for blackmail! Ron…maybe you'd better tell Percy."

"Are you mad?" asked Ron. "Tell Percy? He'd probably do a Crouch and turn them in." He looked out the window where Fred and George's owl had departed. He said, "Come on, let's get some breakfast."

"Should we see Professor Moody?" Mandy asked as they started going down the spiral staircase.

"Is he in this early?" Hermione asked.

"Probably not," replied Hailey. "He'd probably blast us through the door if we wake him at the crack of dawn. He'll think we're trying to attack him while he's asleep. Let's give it till break."

History of Magic seemed to go by so slowly, that Hailey kept looking at the watch Mandy wore. She had discarded her own. Mandy's watch was moving so slowly that it seemed to have stopped working too. It looked like Michael had fallen asleep using his book as a pillow.

When the bell rang, Hailey shook Michael awake and they hurried out into the corridors towards the Dark Arts classroom, when Moody was leaving. He looked as tired as Hailey felt.

"Professor Moody?" Hailey called as they made their way towards him, right through the crowd.

"Hello, Potter," growled Moody. His magical eye followed a couple of passing first years, who sped up, looking nervous. The magical eye rolled into the back of Moody's head and watched them around the corner before he spoke again. "Come in here."

He stood back to let the three Ravenclaws into his empty classroom, limped in after them, and closed the door.

"Did you find him?" Hailey asked and then added, "Mr Crouch?"

"No," said Moody, moving over to his desk, sat down, and stretched out his wooden leg with a slight groan. He pulled out his hip flash.

"Did you use the map?" Hailey asked.

"Of course," said Moody and took a swig from his flask. "Took a leaf out of your book, Potter," Hailey was briefly confused, "Summoned it from my office into the forest. He wasn't anywhere out there."

"Since you can't Disapparate on school grounds, there has to be other ways to disappear," Michael said. "You have to rule out Invisibility Cloaks since you can see through them. And the map shows invisible people So, how did he disappear?"

Michael's magical eye quivered as it rested on the lone boy. "You're another one who might think about a career as an Auror. Mind works the right way, Corner."

Michael shook his head, "I'm thinking of being a Curse-Breaker."

"You should consider other options," Moody said.

Michael said, slowly, "All right?"

"He must've left the grounds then," Hailey said.

"Someone could've made him leave," Mandy said.

Michael added, "Like pulling him on a broomstick or something?"

"We can't rule out kidnap," growled Moody.

"He could be somewhere in Hogsmeade," Michael said.

"Could be anywhere," said Moody, shaking his head. "Only thing we know for sure is that he's not here." He yawned widely so his scars stretched and his mouth revealed a number of missing teeth. He said, "Now, Dumbledore's told me you three fancy yourselves as investigators, but there's nothing you can do for Crouch. The Ministry'll be looking for him now, Dumbledore's notified them. Potter, you just keep your mind on the third task."

Hailey was busy thinking of ways that Crouch could've disappeared, was startled at being addressed. "What?" She knew he said something about keeping her mind on the third task. "Oh, yeah…" She hadn't even given a thought about the third task since the previous night.

"Should be right up your street, this one," said Moody looking up at Hailey. He was scratching his scarred and stubbly chin. "Fm what Dumbledore's said, you've managed to get through stuff like this plenty of times. Broke your way through a series of obstacles guarding the Philosopher's Stone in your first year, didn't you?"

"We helped," Mandy said quickly. "Ron, Hermione, Michael, and I helped."

Moody smiled. "Well, help her practice for this one. I'll be very surprised if she doesn't win. In the meantime…constant vigilance, Potter. Constant vigilance." He took another long swig from his hip flash. His magical eye swiveled onto the window. Hailey could see the topmost sail of the Durmstrang ship through it.

"You two," Moody started, his normal eye was on Mandy and Michael, "you stick close to Potter, all right? I'm keeping an eye on things, but all the same…you can never have too many eyes out. Make sure to tell Granger and Weasley the same thing, all right?"

Mandy nodded.

They left the classroom and went to find Hermione and Ron to tell them about what Moody said.


The next morning, Sirius sent their owl back. It fluttered down beside Hailey and she took the letter to see what Sirius had to say about the night before last.

Hailey—what do you think you are doing, walking off into the forest after two foolish girls? I want you to swear, by return owl, that you are not going to go walking with anyone else at night. There is somebody highly dangerous at Hogwarts. It is clear to me that they wanted to stop Crouch from seeing Dumbledore and you were probably feet away from them in the dark. You could have been killed.

Your name didn't get into the Goblet of Fire by accident. If someone's trying to attack you, they're on their last chance. Stay close to Ron, Hermione, Mandy, and Michael

"Why did he put my name last?" Michael asked.

"Shut it," Mandy said through gritted teeth as she looked back over at the letter.

do not leave Ravenclaw Tower after hours, and arm yourself for the third task. Practice Stunning and Disarming. A few hexes wouldn't go amiss either. There's nothing you can do about Crouch. Keep your head down and look after yourself. I'm waiting for your letter giving me your word you won't stray-out of-bounds again.

Sirius

"Who's he, to lecture me about being out-of-bounds?" asked Hailey in mild indignation. She folded up Sirius's letter and pocketed it. "After all the stuff he did at school!"

"At least he didn't ground you," Michael said.

"Besides, when he was coming here, there wasn't anyone wanting them dead," Mandy pointed out. "He's just worried about you, that's all, just like how Hagrid and Moody are worried too."

"No one's tried to attack me all year," said Hailey. "No one's done anything to me at all—"

"Except for entering you in the Triwizard Tournament, trying to do you in," Michael pointed out.

"There's a reason why they put your name in the goblet. Maybe the third task is the one they're going to get you," Mandy said.

"Look," said Hailey growing impatient. "Let's say that Snuffles is right, and someone Stunned Ivy and Eva to kidnap Crouch. Well, they would've been in the trees near us, wouldn't they? But they waited till I was out of the way until they acted, didn't they? So it doesn't look like I'm their target, does it?"

"Well, they say that Crouch attacked them," Michael said.

"Ivy's back was turned, so someone else could've Stunned her and then kidnap Crouch," Hailey said.

"Why would they want to kidnap Crouch?" Mandy said. "That's what I don't get. What reason did Crouch have to Stun Eva and Ivy and then he goes missing? Who else was in the forest?"

"Murdering Hailey in the forest wouldn't look accidental. Having her get killed in the tournament would look more accidental," Michael said.

Hailey wondered why they were thinking that.

Hermione came over and whispered to them, "She didn't get wind of Crouch." She sounded smug.


For the next few days, Hailey was forced to stay indoors, because she was preparing for the third task. She spent her free time in the library or in empty classrooms to practice hexes. Hailey was trying to concentrate on the Stunning spell, which she had never used before. Practicing the spell involved sacrifices on Hermione's, Ron's, Mandy's, and Michael's part.

On Monday, during lunchtime, they had snuck into the Charms class. They had found cushions that they had used for the Banishing Spell, which Flitwick had left in the cabinet.

After fifth time that Ron had been Stunned and rewoken by Hailey, said, "Can't we kidnap Mrs Norris? Let's Stun her for a bit. Or you could use Dobby, Hailey; I bet he'd do anything to help you. I'm not complaining or anything," he got to his feet, rubbing his backside, "but I'm aching all over…"

"Well, you keep missing the cushions, don't you!" said Hermione impatiently. She rearranged the pile. "Just try and fall backward!"

"It's kind of hard to land once you've been Stunned," Mandy said to Hermione. "Why haven't you gone yet?"

Michael turned to Hermione, "Yeah. Why don't you get Stunned for a change?"

"I think Hailey's got it now, anyway," Hermione said quickly. "And we don't have to worry about Disarming, because she's been able to do that for ages. I think we ought to start on some of these hexes this evening." She looked down at the list of hexes they created in the library. "I like the look of this one, this Impediment Curse. Should slow down anything that's trying to attack you, Hailey. We'll start with that one."

Michael made a face like he would rather not get hit with the Impediment Curse and before Hailey could reassure him, the bell rang. Michael looked like he relaxed and they hurriedly shoved the cushions back in the cupboard, and slipped out of the classroom.

"See you at dinner," Michael said to Hailey and Mandy, before Hermione grabbed his wrist and dragged him off to Arithmancy.

Ron was looking after the two with his eyes narrowed at Michael. It was the same look that Ron was giving Krum.

"What is it?" Hailey asked Ron.

"Nothing," Ron muttered as he and the two Ravenclaws made their way to Divination in the North Tower.

The sky outside looked so brightly blue, that it looked as if it had been enameled.

"It's going to be so hot in Trelawney's room," Mandy said. "I don't know why she doesn't put out that damn fire."

"I know," Ron grumbled.

They started up the staircase towards the silver ladder and the trapdoor.

The dimly lit hot was sweltering and the fumes from the perfumed fire were heavier than ever. Hailey's head swam as she made her way over to one of the curtained windows.

She noticed that Professor Trelawney was busy disentangling her shawl from a lamp and opened the window an inch or two. She settled in a chintz armchair and felt a soft breeze playing on her face. It was actually extremely comfortable.

"My dear," started Professor Trelawney, sitting down in a winged armchair at the front of the class. She was peering around at them with her strangely enlarged eyes. "We have almost finished our work on planetary divination. Today, however, will be an excellent opportunity to examine the effects of Mars, for he is placed most interestingly at the present time. If you will all look this way, I will dim the lights…" She waved her hand and the lamps went out, leaving the fire as the only source of light.

The professor bent down and from under her chair, produced a miniature model of the solar system, contained within a glass dome. It was quite beautiful, each of the moons glimmered in place around the nine planets and the fiery sun. All of them hung in thing air right beneath the glass. Hailey watched as Trelawney pointed at the angle that Mars was making to Neptune, as if it was fascinating. The heavily perfumed fumes were washing over Hailey; the breeze from the window was blowing hair in her face. She could hear insects humming gently outside. She was starting to feel extremely sleeping…

She was now on the back of an eagle owl. They were soaring through the clear blue sky toward an old, ivy-coloured house that was set high on a hillside. They started flying lower and lower, the wind being extremely pleasant on her face, until they reached a dark and broken in the upper storey of the house and entered. They were flying along a gloomy looking passageway, to a room at the end and went through the door, right into a dark room. The windows were boarded up.

Hailey left the owl's back and was now watching as a chair with its back to her. Thew owl fluttered across the room, landing on the back of the chair. There were two dark shapes on the floor that was beside the chair. There was a huge snake and a, short, balding, man with watery eyes, and a pointed nose. The man was wheezing and sobbing on the hearth rug.

"You are in luck, Wormtail," said a cold, high-pitched voice. The voice came from the depths of the chair. "You are very fortunate indeed. Your blunder has not ruined everything. He is dead."

"My Lord!" gasped Peter Pettigrew, who went by the nickname of Wormtail. "My Lord, I am…I am so please…and so sorry…"

"Nagini," said the cold voice, "you are out of luck. I will not be feeding Wormtail to you, after all…but never mind, never mind…there is still Hailey Potter…" The snake hissed and Hailey saw its tongue fluttering. "Now, Wormtail, perhaps one more little reminded why I will not tolerate another blunder from you…"

"My Lord…no…I beg you…" whimpered Peter Pettigrew.

A wand tip emerged from around the back of the chair, pointing at Wormtail.

"Crucio!" exclaimed the cold voice.

Peter Pettigrew screamed as though he was in pain. The screaming filled Hailey's ears as the scar on her forehead seared with pain. She was yelling too…Voldemort would hear her, would know that she was there too…

"Hailey! Hailey!"

Hailey opened her eyes. She realized that she was lying on the floor of Trelawney's room. Hailey had her hands over her face; her scar was burning so badly that her eyes were watering. The pain had been real. The class was standing around her, while Ron was kneeling next to her, looking terrified. Mandy was on both of her knees, looking down at Hailey, looking worried.

Ron asked, "You all right?"

"Of course she isn't!" exclaimed Trelawney, looking excited. Mandy gave the professor a 'really?' look. Trelawney's eyes were looking over Hailey, gazing at her. "What was it, Potter? A premonition? An apparition? What did you see?"

"Nothing," Hailey lied, feeling herself shaking. She looked around the classroom, right into the shadows that were behind here. Voldemort's voice had sounded so close…

"You were clutching your scar!" said Trelawney. "You were rolling on the floor, clutching your scar! Come now, Potter, I have experience in these matters!"

Hailey looked up at the professor, and lied, "I need to go to the hospital wing, I think. Bad headache." She really wanted was to see Professor Dumbledore about the dream.

Professor Trelawney said, "My dear, you were undoubtedly stimulated by the extraordinary clairvoyant vibrations of my rooms! If you leave now, you may lose the opportunity to see further than you ever have—"

"I don't want to see anything except a headache cure," said Hailey, standing up. The class backed away, looking unnerved. She muttered to Ron and Mandy, "See you later." She picked up her bag and headed for the trapdoor.

When she reached the bottom of the stepladder and headed straight to Dumbledore's office. She marched down the corridors, thinking about what she had seen in the dream…it had been as vivid as the one that had woke her up back in Michael's flat. She tried to run over the details, trying to remember them…She had heard Voldemort accusing Pettigrew of making a blunder…but the owl had brought good news, the blunder had been repaired because now somebody was dead…so Pettigrew wasn't going to be fed to the snake…she, Hailey, was going to be fed to it instead…

It took a few minutes to realize that she walked right past the stone gargoyle that guards the entrance to Dumbledore's office. She stopped, blinked, and looked around before heading back to the gargoyle entrance.

"Pear Drop?" Hailey asked, remembering that Lemon Drop didn't work anymore. "Er—Licorice Wand." It didn't work. "Fizzing Whizbee, Drooble's Best Blowing Gun. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans…oh no, he doesn't like them, does he?" She asked herself. "Oh, just open, can't you?" she snapped angrily. "I really need to see him, it's urgent!"

The gargoyle stayed put.

Hailey was growing irritated and hit the statute with her bag, "Chocolate Frog! Sugar Quill!" She threw in, "Cockroach Cluster!" as a joke. The gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside. Hailey stared, "Cockroach Cluster? That was a joke."

She hurried through the gap in the walls and stepped onto the spiral stone staircase, which slowly moved upward as the doors closed behind her. The staircase took her up to the polished oak door that had a brass knocker.

Before she could use the knocker, she heard voice from inside the office. She hesitated, and listened to the voices.

"Dumbledore, I'm afraid I don't see the connection, don't see it at all!" It was the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. "Ludo says Bertha's perfectly capable of getting herself lost. I agree we would have expected to have found her by now, but all the same, we've no evidence of foul play, Dumbledore, none at all. As for her disappearance being linked with Barty Crouch's!"

"And what do you think's happened to Barty Crouch, Minister?" came Moody's growling voice.

"I see two possibilities, Alastor," said Fudge. "Either Crouch has finally cracked—more than likely, I'm sure you'll agree, given his personal history—lost his mind, and gone wandering off somewhere—"

"He wandered extremely quickly, if that is the case, Cornelius," replied Dumbledore.

"Or else—well…" Fudge replied, sounding as if he was embarrassed. "Well, I'll reserve judgment until after I've see the place where he was found, but you say it was just past the Beauxbatons carriage? Dumbledfore, you know what that woman is?"

"I consider her to be a very able headmistress—and an excellent dancer," replied Dumbledore quietly.

Hailey was thrown off by the randomness of Dumbledore complimenting Madame Maxime's dancing skills. Why was that important to say?

"Dumbledore, come!" said Fudge angrily. "Don't you think you might be prejudiced in her favour because of Hagrid? They don't turn out harmless—if, indeed, you can call Hagrid harmless, with that monster fixation he's got—"

"I no more suspect Madame Maxime than Hagrid," said Dumbledore, calmly. "I think it possible that it is you who are prejudiced, Cornelius."

"Can we wrap up this discussion?" growled Moody.

"Yes, yes, let's go down to the grounds, then," said Fudge, sounding impatient.

"No, it's not that," replied Moody, "it's just that Potter wants a word with you, Dumbledore. She's just outside the door."