FRED'S POV
If seeing Harry hurt and angry was shocking, seeing him cry was even worse.
It wasn't just the fact that his emotions were displayed in all their glory, it was the fact he just didn't seem to stop.
Fred was never one to comport anyone directly, nor was George for that matter.
Usually, when things got rough they would disappear to plot together a plan to make sure the person knew they cared by making him laugh with some pranks, but with one look to Luna and then to George as Harry cried with Luna hugging him he knew both of them reached to the same conclusion- if they disappeared this time before fixing things they would never have the chance to.
And it wouldn't just be Harry that they would lose, they would also lose Luna.
So the four of them sat there, the room has provided a couch, and waited for Harry's grand emotional burst to calm down.
It took a while, but eventually it did.
When he stopped crying he seemed to want to leave, but with small nudging Luna did, he finally started telling them his story.
He told them about the darkness he lived in for four years, only let out for bathroom, food and whenever there was needed helper.
He told them about his escape, his lying to the police officer and moved to the orphanage, he told them about getting adopted, and the times mom and dad seemed to slip out of his mouth.
He then reached the party They were all waiting for, James Potter arriving with the letter, first trip to Diagon alley, the week of living with the Potter family, the end of it, and his parents' death.
He wasn't a talented story teller, he kept telling unrelated bits about everything, and Fred knew there was something he wasn't telling.
Yet there was one thing that kept bothering him.
"Why do you think it was Dumbledore?"
"It might not be Dumbledore himself, but the Potter family know about it, I saw the weird glint in Lily Potter's eyes when she said goodbye that day, it was one of knowledge of what's to come. Not to mention the kill was magical."
"But if it's not Dumbledore..." his twin started to say but Harry didn't let him finish.
"You just can't see it, you grew on tales about him, about the 'boy who lived', you don't know what he is capable to do to get what he wants! But Luna does, tell them about Pettigtrew!"
They knew about Sirius Black innocent and Peter Pettigtrew being a Death Eater and faking his own death, how could they not, with their brother telling one more of his adventures around the house this summer to all those that would listen.
When they first heard it they were horrified, their little brother spent three years carrying a Death Eater and their older brother ten.
But the story Luna started telling was different, and in some parts worse.
True, they felt relived their brothers didn't carry a Death Eater, but to find out the headmaster orchestrated the entire affair of the 1981 Halloween night, not to mention knowingly condemned an innocent man to Azkaban.
"But he has no reason to want your parents death..." Even in his mind it sounded weak, if what Pettigrew said is true, and it should be as he is the only one that seemed able to tell what happened that night, then both children survived the night, and Marcus isn't the only boy who lived, not to mention the entire 'leaving Harry to lived with muggles didn't made any sense'.
"Why? Because I used to be Voldemort's horcrux!" Harry spat, it sounded very dramatic, especially with Luna's breathing in sharply, if only Fred knew what horcrux is.
"What is a horcrux?" Well, he seemed not to be the only one not in the know.
"A horcrux is a part of the soul a person ripped apart and put in an object to live forever." Luna said with tears in her eyes
Harry then started explaining about how hard destroying a horcrux is, and that it is pretty much impossible destroying it without destroying the object.
"Wait, you said are a horcrux." His twin brother said with eyes wild open.
An understanding fell upon Fred, which made him feel as if he is holding the sky itself, only for Harry to say "No, I said I were a horcrux, I managed to remove it last month."
The three of them breathed out in relief.
"Wait, but you just said it is impossible to destroy a horcrux without destroying the object."
"And it is, I didn't destroy it, I only removed it, even then, it usually undoable but there was one difference in this situation- my body wasn't prepared to become a horcrux." Harry then started talking about technical differences about a prepared host and unprepared one.
Fred honestly couldn't care less, but he did the Maximus to listen.
After all, that's what being a friend all about.
GEORGE'S POV
When Harry finished explaining all about horcruxes George could tell he has calmed down, which meant they can return to the subject in question.
"So, to wrap things up, the headmaster, knowing prophecy, convinced Pettigrew to sell out his friends.
Peter, trying to save them told the dark lord he wants to kill them himself as a reward, to which the dark lord agreed to do and instead of killing the Potters knocked them out.
For some reason none of the killing curses worked, yet the second one was sent back to Tommy which was supposed to kill him but instead just made his soul to get out of his body.
The soul, which was already super by previous murder went to two different directions, one escaped and tries to return to power and the other one settled inside your lightning curse.
Dumbledore, who thought the only way to kill the soul piece is to kill you and decided the best way is to make you kiil yourself, convinced the Potter family Marcus is the chosen one and that they should send you to Lilly's abusive sister so they can focus on him, from where you escaped, got adopted, and then when Dumbledore and the Potter family found out you were happy with your new family and two weeks later your parants were dead.
Oh, and you managed to do the impossible and get the soul piece out without dying."
"Yes, that's pretty much it."
"Anything else?"
"Not that I feel important."
'Translation: I don't want to.'
"Well, I can't seem to think of something we can say that would convince you to trust our father, he is Dumbledore's man and by this point of time the headmaster has caused your life more damage then Tommy." George said and raised his hand to stop Fred from saying whatever he was about to say.
"No Fred, think about it, if someone killed mom and dad, would you be willing to work with anyone that killed them?" That shut whatever Fred was about to say.
"I'm sorry, but I really can't." Harry said as he looked at his hands with his head down.
"I might have an idea that can make everyone happy." It was Luna who said it, making everyone look at her hopeful.
"Your father doesn't really want to work under you, nor do you want him to, what all of you actually want is for him to do what he dreamed of doing- inventing things for a living. Instead of making him a worker of our business, let's make another.
It's something you taught me Harry, remember? A company making side companies under them!"
Harry's head shot up.
"That's a great idea Luna!" Fred said. "We now have enough money to open a different company, one that will be used for things that are less 'fun' and more life style."
"You could have your father create a magical TV, and video cameras, stuff like that and people who can't afford tickets to quidditch games can pay to watch them at a cheaper prices in a gathering locations!"
"We might even convince mom to make food which we would sell!"
"Or you know, hire someone as a cook"
"Or that."
"WE CAN HAVE TRULY MAGICAL DIESNY MOVIES"
They all looked at Luna who squealed in excitement.
"And Star Wars!"
The argument that started in the day turned into a long discussion into the night.
ARTHUR'S POV
Arthur was never the most ambitious, you could see it by his current job.
He was never the smartest, Professor Slughorn made sure he knew it.
He was never even the bravest, when his two brothers-in-law joined the order he didn't, fearing for his wife and children.
But! If there was one thing he was always known for was being the most hard working person.
When all children learned how to read and write, he took twice as long, he stayed at home when others went to play, studying on his own, but he eventually was the third to know how to read.
When other children gave up understanding muggle objects, he didn't, he studied each part until he knew what it does, even if he was never the greatest with their names.
When his mother told him about the four houses, he knew he was meant for one house- Hufflepuff.
Which was why he was surprised to find himself in Gryffindor, though he didn't regret it for a moment.
Being in the house of Lions gave him the courage to pursue his life long dream, and mark the woman he love.
And even if he had to give up said dream for a boring, minimum wage work to feed his children, he still didn't regret a thing.
How could he?
He has a roof on his head.
A loving wife.
6 boys and a girl.
And he still invent and study things in his home.
What more could a man ask for?
Yet, there were a couple of times he felt true regret over the decisions he made in life.
No, non of the above.
The times he felt regret about was when his two oldest children finished school.
He always knew their mother was pushing them toward ministry jobs, but it wasn't until Bill came to them to tell he isn't going to work at the ministry, that he got excepted to work at Gringots as a curse breaker that he realized that they didn't want that.
He was honestly overwhelmed by work, and when he wasn't he was tinkering with his inventions.
He always thought he would have more time, that they have their entire life to spend with each other, only to find out his oldest was moving to Egypt to be 'closer to work'.
Arthur wasn't stupid, he knew applying to a work portkey wasn't that hard.
It took him two seconds of hearing his wife 'trying to convince' Bill to stay for him to understand why he felt he had to leave.
Bill was a lot like him, he was an explorer.
But while Arthur had a domestic soul, Bill had a free one, and his wife did her best trying to crush it.
That night he sat with his wife and explained to her that if she wants to have Bill come back to England, she had to let him go.
He honestly thought he succeeded, while she sometimes slipped, his wife hugged Bill and said she was proud of him for getting such a respectable job, while he took Bill to drink, telling his son he is proud of him for following his dream.
Two years later he found himself in the same situation, this time with his second son, Charlie.
He tried connecting with Charlie, but while he was sure the boy lived him they were too different.
Arthur was a man who liked the ground, the stable life and his inventions.
Charlie on the other hand?
Charlie love the sky, adventures and dragons.
Arthur really tried, he even prepared as a graduation gift a flying car, yet once more, when time came, Charlie left the promising, stable Seeker carrier to become a dragon handler, and when Molly took it hard, he left Britain, leaving his graduation gift behind.
Arthur at that time decided he will never let his children become anything but what they wanted.
He spent the summer trying to connect to his third son, Percy, which was easier and harder at the same time.
It felt, if the other two children of his managed to listen to their mother yet finding their own path, Percy didn't.
He became the best child a parent could ask for and the worst child Arthur never knew but hoped to never get.
He was the best, as he was what every parent wanted.
He followed all the rules, did everything asked of him, and wanted to become what his parents wanted from him.
He was the worst.
He never smiled any real smile, never had any original suggestions, never showed desires, yet Arthur could always feel a type of disdain in his eyes.
The only time he seemed to truly enjoy himself was when he was being praised, especially by his mom, especially if it comes with the 'why you can't be like your brother' lecture She seemed to have.
He wasn't proud of it, but while he loved Percy, when he saw the small smirk the boy had when his wife told him about buying Percy his owl as a gift for becoming a Perfect instead of buying Ron a wand, Arthur wanted to sucker punch him.
In the end, Arthur felt tired, he felt weak, he felt like a failure.
Just when he was about to give up, the twins truly started to shine.
The twins were the best child Arthur could ask for, and the worst children a parent could hope to never get, the exact opposite to Percy.
They were the worst
They never followed the rules, never did as expected, never let anyone tell them what they need to be.
They were the best.
Each smile was real and infectious, no thought was copied from books, every thing they wanted they said, yet never expected to get it without hard work.
He felt like while they got their humor and courage from their mother's side, everything else was him.
He saw it when they sat near him as kids, he saw it when they talked with each other about new ideas to pranks, and he saw it when they worked for a month on a spell they gave to their little sister to cheer her up after being possessed - the bugger-bat curse.
He knew that with their innovative mind and courage they would do great in the world, managing to fulfill their dreams, but he thought it will happen at least two/three years later, after they finish school, not during their fifth/sixth year.
Which is why he was surprised when his two younger children returned from Hogwarts for Christmas last year, telling about their two elder brothers' new business.
In regard to his two youngest children, he know he raise them well.
Both of them were not yet in school when Bill left the country, which meant he spent time with them the most.
There is Ron, which he spent time with in the shed, working on the flying car as he told him stories about Ron's elder siblings, making sure the boy knew he could do anything with enough effort, and that no matter what he will support him.
Then there is Ginny, his only daughter, who he spent time with the most, encouraging her to pursue her interests, hers being quidditch and stories about heroes and villains.
Those two children returned home from a year in a magic school and all they could talk about was the card game the twins created.
He had to admit, the game did sound impressive, and fun to play, but at the time he only thought of it as a way to earn quick gold to create their real business while making sure people have fun, something they did every once in a while.
He was mistaken.
While the game at Hogwarts continued, it wasn't until he saw the article in the daily prophet that he realized the size their business grew to.
They sold brooms!
Not only that, they sold high quality brooms cheep enough for people in their family's economical situation to afford, and in large quantities.
Honestly, Arthur was shocked.
Yet, the thing that shocked him even more was their mother's reaction to the situation.
Sending howlers? Telling them to stop sell things and go back to study as they need the grades to become ministry workers? Has she never talked with her children? Is she delusional? Where is the women he married? The one that encouraged him to pursue his dreams?
He sent the twins a letter of his own, telling them how proud he is with them, how he used to be like them at that age, and how he always knew they would reach far.
He thought that his letter was pretty good, yet, he didn't expect it would be so good that they will want him to do like them, offering to give him money to work on his own inventions.
Of course, he said no.
Then they sent another telling him that if he wanted, when he succeeded he could pay them back.
He might or might not sent the next letter with the words 'Fu*k the bloody hell off.'
To which the twins once again showed him they were like him, never quitting.
After a month of 'negotiating', negotiation that felt like what a house elf would do whenever one try to negotiating with him, he lowering his value while they raised it, he agreed to work them, on the condition he would mar with their two secret partners, as if he wanted to know who he is about to work for, and was curious who are the two mystery people works with, only for his children to tell him two days later that their partners didn't want to meet.
He was just about to say that that's the minimum he is willing to consider, when they brought another suggestion.
Start a sub-company the five of them, Arthur being a partner instead of a worker, the secret partners giving the starters money, with the condition of them not being revealed.
He didn't know what to think, being the owner of a store of his own inventions was always a dream to him, having his children with him? Even better.
It would also won't be them paying for him, something that he felt awkward about, instead it will be something they all build from the ground.
But still, why don't they want to be known?
When asked, the twins only said one was raised by muggles and didn't want the purebloods not buying his products, while the other was in a relationship of sorts with the first.
Arthur knew he really shouldn't work with someone he knows nothing about, but he trusted his sons, and the temptation when told they will recreate muggle products for the magical world was too hard to ignore.
Arthur agreed to it that night, quitting his job the very next day, now he only needed to find a way to tell Molly, it shouldn't be too hard right?
HARRY'S POV
After the argument with his friends, it took about a week and a half to get things back to normal, yet even so, Harry felt the effects the fight had on all of them.
Fred and George became focused on creating a magical TV, something that both them and their father worked on at the same time from two different angles.
They tried to create a magical artifact that transmit pictures and sound while their father was working on enchanting a muggle TV.
Luna also changed, she started to make more physical contact then before, holding his hand, hugging him, and when truly happy one day, she even kissed his cheek.
Harry knew that she probably has feelings to him, hell, he probably has feelings for her as well, but not only was she barley 14 and he had the mine of an a.d.u.l.t, he also had bigger things to deal with right now then relationship.
And lastly, his own changes.
He wasn't as tired as before, with his hurt emotions not constantly being pushed as deeply as they used to be, he got better sleep and his mind felt without a pressure which he didn't know he had before, yet at the same time he felt his emotions a lot more.
It made things a lot harder, before, whenever he looked at one of the Potters, Granger or the headmaster, while he felt anger, it was muted, he could feel it, but it didn't affect his judgment.
Now it was like he sees the people for the first time after they killed his parents or betrayed him.
Making sure he didn't attack them, Harry threw himself deeper into working on creating the body of Voldemort, which he would use to demolish them all.
The creation of the body of Voldemort worked better then he expected.
He started to work on it after the second task. He firstly bought a human-shaped sculpture from an artist, and then, with his deep knowledge of the body and body-changing rituals, of which he became an expert, he changed it to become more human-like, with the looks identical to what Voldemort looks like.
After which he once more did the ritual to make that body a vessel for souls.
All of that took two weeks, the rest of the two months he used for creating fake memories of Voldemort and his 'true' mission, to help his master- Harry Peverel.
He knew the reason his future self couldn't send him the memories is because the only way to send memories is by sending the future human shape Horcrux back in time and artifects that have specialties can't be sent back in time, even if they have souls, their magic interfere with the time travel.
So, instead of having the easy way out, Harry took on the hard way.
He firstly compiled all the information he had about the war.
He used both dark side and light side information that came from Remus and Sirius raiding magical people's houses.
While the light side talked more about the battles themselves, the dark side had more information about the behavior of their lord.
With it as a basis, Harry created a special AI, one that has the same rules of every other AI he created as it's core with four differences.
The first is that it had its personality based on Voldemort's, the second is that doesn't know it's an AI, the third is that by saying the first 12 numbers of Pi he can make it delete its own memory, and lastly is that instead of being inside a computer.
After two months and a half of hard work, Harry transferred it into the blank soul of Voldemort, integrating it with the shapeless magical energy and making it have a shape, before transferring the soul into the golden body.
"Hello Boss, what do you need from me today?" The golem said
"Hey Tom, I need you to go with me to your father's house and help me knock out of the people inside."
Harry knew he wasn't a fighter.
Sure, he can fire curses and is fast, but he didn't have the instincts of one, he was a scientist, a researcher, and now a manipulator, the fighting he would leave to other people, or golems, at least until he has enough time to work on creating those instincts.
Reaching to Little Hangleton wasn't hard, being about 100 miles outside of London, Harry and Tom took two hours and a half to reach it from his apartment in the middle of London, which he came to by using the vanishing cabinet.
The house of the Riddle family being as big as it is was the first, and only thing you would notice about the town, all the other places looked small and regular when compering.
Getting in undetected wasn't hard, not surprising considering a muggle came in at the beginning of the year and wasn't detected until the end of Voldemort's conversation with Peter.
Harry made sure to pay attention to Nagini, being the main thing he needs to take with him.
Walking in, he saw Voldemort talks with Nagini, with Peter not being around, telling her that once he returns to his glory she would be by his side, safe forever as his vessel.
'Nagini isn't a horcrux yet?' That came to Harry by surprise, though in retrospect it really shouldn't.l, the dark lord was barely keeping himself alive with it's 1% soul, making it less then that without having a body to make sure he has hold on the world and not having his mind disappearing would be not better then killinng yourself.
A grin spread across his face, it was perfect, having another soul inside his guinea pig would make it harder to control and make sure the results are correct.
Taking out his trusty knockout rifle as he made Tom stand guard, Harry casted a silencing charm before shooting two knockout darts, taking out both Tom and Nagini.
"Tom," he said as he took out his trusty SOC, "I need you to search for Pettigrew and knock him out." As Tom left, Harry put the childlike body of Voldemort inside SOC, making sure it is secure, Harry then created a strong enough fire to destroy the body, making Voldemort become a spirit once more and trapping him in SOC.
He then moved to Nagini, taking out a cage he bought in a pet store, he put her in it and started strengthening the walls to prevent escape.
By the time Harry finished,Tom returned with the body of Peter Pettigrew flying behind him, Harry took a look at the dark mark on Peter's body and thought 'another project.'
HARRY'S POV
Learning how the dark mark works was mostly easy.
The dark mark was built on two different abilities, one active and once passive.
The active ability is a variation of the portkey or more specifically, the vanishing cabinets.
It was ingenious.
The portkey way of working is based on making the world believe two places is the same, making a person be on the two places at the same time before cutting the connection, leaving the person on the other side.
The same thing is with the vanishing cabinets only constantly connected.
The dark mark takes it a step farther.
It connects the people with it on them as if they were one person, making them able to reach the same location the person who activates it is.
It is why activating the dark mark cause pain.
Making the world believe something as you regret it is very dangerous.
It also made Harry wonder if it's why so manny Death Eaters are insane, if you embrace the fact you aren't a person unique to yourself but a part of a collective it isn't shocking to lose your mind.
If it is, whoever isn't insane has to have great Occlumency, as he can divide the party of him that feels a part of a collective and the other parts.
The passive ability is the connection to Voldemort, it is a variation of the spells parents put on their babies to make sure their of their health and location.
It is usually connected to different objects, the Weasley put it on their clock for example.
Voldemort on the other hand, put it on his followers body with a little change, while it shows his health, it makes sure Voldemort know where they are, which is probably who no traitor survived escaping him.
Understanding that, it took Harry 4 hours from when came into the house to figure out the exact way to change the spell to make sure it moves to be on the new Voldemort (his Golem), while not completely showing it to the Death Eaters, instead keeping it look like the health grow little by little.
Giving Voldemort his orders, Harry left the town, traveling back to Hogwarts.
LUCIUS' POV
Since the moment the dark mark started growing stronger, Lucius made sure to check on it twice a day.
While most wizards were terrified because of the dark lord's ability with the killing curse and his ability to inflict pain, Lucius was a Malfoy, a family that made its original money by creating portkeys, and till today keep on manufacturing them for the ministry.
Lucius knew how the dark mark works, he knew about the side affects, and knew what was most terrifying about the dark lord is his willingness to drive his followers mad.
It only takes one to look at Bellatrix and the other people at Azkaban to see it.
Most of them are purebloods, and more importantly, Slytherin, who learned since they were born to be leaders and to take advantage about everything you have.
Now each of his fellow pureblood elitists who don't have as god Occlumency shields as him were in hell on earth because they lost it.
Yes, Lucius was terrified about the fact the dark lord is about to return, but not for himself, his mental shields are good enough to make sure he won't have a mental breakdown, instead he fears for his son, Draco, who he wasn't sure would manage it so well.
Which is why, when he checked his dark mark to see its progress and saw it changed to its faded look Lucius was relived, only for him to find out that evening, when he took a shower that it returned to the color it was before.
Lucius night and might not cried himself to sleep that night.
LUNA'S POV
Luna sat on the side as the last card dueling tournament was up and going.
With the exams coming near, most of the fifth and seventh years didn't join, preferring to use the time to study, though there still were quite a few.
Honestly, while Luna loved how much their game changed Hogwarts, it wasn't why she came to watch the tournament.
The reason she came to watch it was because another song they made is about to be showed, and she never missed any of them.
Looking at Harry's watch, who she convinced to sit with her instead of staying at the ROR as he planned, she saw there was one more minute.
"Can't wait?" Harry asked as he grinned sending butterflies into her stomach.
Since Harry's breakdown, she felt his interactions with her and the twins are different, more genuine.
Even when he wasn't in the ROR and his Occlumency shields were up, she were able to tell he wasn't pushing his emotions away.
She could now tell when is he sad, angry or happy, and while it did take some of the mystery out of their interaction, she felt closer to him.
Before, she could never tell if he liked something or not, making it harder to touch him more then necessary, as she didn't want to upset him.
Now, whenever she touched him and he wasn't prepared she saw a spike of happiness in his aura before a self anger took its place, making her understand Harry's personality better.
Harry liked her hugs, her hand holding, and her one time kiss on the cheek, but he didn't like the fact he liked it.
She wasn't sure why, but she knew her best way to proceed is to make those spikes in happiness permanent.
"It starts!" Harry whispered as he drew her out of her thoughts.
Looking at where the twins were standing she saw them look around themselves as the illusion of the potion classroom appeared, with Severus and a piano in the middle.
He then started singing and playing.
'It's 5:53 in the evening
Not one student walked through the door
But I'm still here, teachin' dumbass for a living
I've never played piano before
Not bad
I know this castle like the back of my hand
But I'm not such a fan of the back of my hand
Cause if you look real close
At those little hairs and veins You're like
"Hands are sort of gross"
It's hard to explain
The point is:
Hey, Dumbledore
Why won't you let me break free?
Am I doomed to stay here
Teaching my high school friends' kids
For the rest of eternity?
Hey, Dumbledore
You know just where to find me
I'll always be near, maybe grubbing butterbeer
Hey, Dumbledore
What'll it be?
It's 5:55, I'm still singing
The card dueling game's letting out
But no one's comin' here
Who am I kiddin'?
Hey, you smart ravens
Give me a shout
Everyone's going out
'Cause it's time to make friends
Friends with Bulgarian and German and French
Friends with people not in the same house
Where you might find your future spouse
Dun-dun bom-bom!
Gun-ga bom-dom!
Hey, Dumbledore
You're not listenin', so what's the use?
Is my purpose in life to spy on two sides
Or to teach potions and look like the evil dude?
Hey, dunderhead, I'll be right with you
Hey, Dumbledore
Look what you're doing to me
Can't you see, Dumbledore
You're killing me, Dumbledore
Last call, Dumbledore
What'll it be?
Looking at her head of house, Luna felt her heart going toward him as she noticed a tear running down his left eye.
SEVERUS' POV
It took him a year, but finally even he can't deny the benefit the card game has on the students.
It wasn't only that potion magical cards weren't only extremely accurate, but also the many creatures and their use in potions.
The game itself had many ways to teach potions, with one magical field card especially- the potion class.
This card made it possible to create the effects of specific potion cards without them as long as you name the ingredients, process, and pay magical energy.
He saw students who had this card actually improve in class.
So yeah, as much as he didn't want to admit it, the Weasley twins created a better way of studying potions.
Which is why he sat there, at the tournament, watching the tournament and thinking of ways to add it to his lessons as a way to make the dark lord think he is harming the students.
Suddenly, an illusion of the potion classroom appeared, making Severus think he missed one of the duelists using a card before noticing himself and a piano in the middle of it.
He was about to get up and leave when the illusion's song started.
Hearing it singing about his hate of teaching, His hate of the castle where he was bullied as a child, and his anger toward Dumbledore, not to mention his plans to spy on both sides, Severus was shocked.
It was like the person who wrote this song was in his mind, which wasn't possible, not without him noticing! It wasn't possible! Right?
Severus didn't even noticed the tear running down his cheek.
FLEUR'S POV
Walking up from her sleep, it take long for nervousness to fill her stomach.
Today was the last task of the tournament, and this time she won't have any help, as the three champions already talked about it and decided that they will let the best win.
She might didn't like to admit it, but she had a feeling Harry would be the final winner.
Victor might know more spells, she might be better at magic, but whenever she talked with Harry she can always see he KNOWS how to use each and every spell of his.
Eating breakfast, Fleur tried to calm her nerves when her headmistress came to her.
"Ms Delacour, we need you to come to the side chamber, we have a surprise for the champions in there."
'Why on earth would madam Maxime would tell something like that to me on such a nerve-wracking day?!' Fleur thought as she walked there, seeing Marcus Potter, Victor and Harry moving toward the chamber also.
As she arrived first, she hesitantly opened the door, only to rush into a hug when she saw her parents and sister were there.
"maman! papa! Gabrielle!" Hugging her little sister and then her parents moon of who she saw since the second task, when the tournament organizers decided to use her sister as a price.
"Que fais-tu ici?" (What are you doing here?)
"nous sommes venus vous voir gagner ce tournoi" (we came to see you win this tournament) her younger sister said in excitement.
As she continued to talk with her family, she watched from the corner of her eyes the other families talk.
She saw Victor hugging his younger sister, talking rapidly in Bulgarian, she saw Marcus Potter hug his father, telling him he would do his best.
And then she saw Harry, who sat on the side, and seemed to look in contempt and anger at the Potters, something totally understandable, as they kicked him out of the family, but to see it on the face of Harry, who seemed to always be filled with good emotions and happiness was too bizarre for her.
Taking her parents toward him, Fleur introduced them to Harry "Maman, papa, this is Harry, the wisest wizard I have ever met, Harry, those are my parents."
When Fleur started talking and Harry's head turned to her, she saw a glimpse of the emotions Harry had for the Potters before he smiled to her, and honestly, it made her heart jump.
No, it wasn't the hatred that affected her, it was the smile, and the transition in the emotions in his eyes.
Veelas are people that are extremely attuned to emotions in people's eyes.
They can tell what a person is thinking of them by taking one look at their eyes.
Which is how she knew it wasn't natural.
People shouldn't be able to do it.
They shouldn't be able to shift from one emotion to another without the connection, which meant either one of two things.
Either he has a split personality, one that deals with darker emotions like sadness and anger and the other that deals with happiness and joy.
Or, he has extremely well developed Occlumency shields, lettering him bury his emotions whenever he feels like he needs, either way, it means he truly suffered, as it is the only way for one of those two things to appear.
"Nice to meet you." Harry said shaking her mother and father's hands before doing the same to Gabrielle.
"So Fleur," he said "ready for your ass to be kicked?" A small smile appeared on his face.
"I think you're the one who's gonna lose, little boy." The smirk on her face showed she was joking, as the nickname she gave him every time they had an argument appeared.
"I really think that age shouldn't count when I'm as tall as I am." Harry said rolling his eyes.
He was right of course, not only was he a head taller then her, he also looked a lot older then his age, with his old eyes, broad shoulders, defined muscles... Fleur has to shove her blush down, she might have a small crush on Harry, but it doesn't matter, every person with eyes can see Luna is in love with him, and she won't let her friendship with the girl be destroyed by going after Harry, unless Harry makes the first move.
"It doesn't matter how tall you are, you aren't going to win." She said.
"Oh, I know I'm not," Harry said "but neither do you."
"You think Victor would win?" She asked surprised, both her and Victor talked about it and both felt Harry would win.
"No, I think Potter would, if only by cheating."
That made her and her parents to frown.
"You think Potter is going to cheat?" Her father asked
"Not him, Dumbledore. The headmaster wants him to win."
"And how do you know that?" Her mother asked.
"Because I was made to swear an oath to help him." Harry said looking sadly at Fleur. "Which is why if we meat at the maze I will have to knock you out, I'm sorry."
Fleur felt this kind of anger Only a few times in her life.
She felt it when her friends abandoned her for being a Veela.
She felt it when she heard students in Hogwarts making fun about her headmistress.
And she felt it now.
It was a righteous anger about favoritism and acts of looking down on people for something out of their control, like birth or in Harry's case, a dark wizard choosing to kill his brother first, instead of him.
Before she even noticed, she hugged Harry, whispering in his ear "Don't worry, I will knock you out first and win this stupid tournament, before giving the bird to Dumbledore."
Harry laughed, and it was like the world was right again, yet, before he could say something, he tensed, and a voice was heard from behind her back.
"Hey Harry, can we talk?" Turning around, she saw James Potter standing near them, looking embarrassed.
JAMES' POV
James wasn't sure what is he going to say.
After all, what do you say to a son you abandoned twice, even if the first time was out of your control.
He wanted to drop on the floor and beg for forgiveness, for a second (or more correctly third) chance.
He wanted to act like it never happened, hugging the boy as he did when he was a baby.
He wanted Harry to look him in the eyes, see his emotions, forgive him, cry and reunite with his family.
He knew non of it would eve ever happen.
The boy, no the young man that was hugging the Veela (and how proud was he of the boy!) would never agree to forgive him right away.
No, he needed to slowly insert himself to Harry's life until he was one day just forgiven, and it all starts with one sentence.
"Hey Harry can we talk?" He saw the guarded look his son had when looking at him, and it broke his heart, because he knew he deserves it.
"What do you want?" The temperature in his voice was something James never heard, it wasn't like heated hatred, something Snape has, nor was it like the apathy, an even temperature voice that was uncaring, like how Lucius Malfoy talked to him, it was ice cold fury, something that seemed like there was nothing there, but with one step too far would cause an avalanche, making everyone a causality.
"To talk, privately." His voice was smaller now.
"I can't, I need to focus on the task."
"So can we talk after? It's important" James said, adding 'to me' in his head.
"Fine, an hour after the task, right here."
James almost jumped in joy, getting Harry to listen to him Would be the first step, but he is sure that one day they l the four of them would be family again.
HARRY'S POV
Getting out of the chamber and near the toilets, Harry called Dobby before popping away, only to return five minutes later, with a grin on his face.
'Let the game begin.'
VICTOR'S POV
As Victor looked at the maze where it used to be a quidditch field, heard the audience cheer, and saw Harry running in after Fleur, he couldn't help but see red.
While Victor would have loved winning the tournament, he already had fame from his seeker position.
Fleur cared more about the win, but she wanted to show to herself and others she is more then a Veela, and she did.
The only one of the three of them who Victor felt need the win was Harry, not that he would ever tell them.
But Victor saw.
He saw the anger in his friend's eyes whenever he looked at any of the Potters.
He saw the students whispering about Marcus, seemingly forgetting Harry.
He saw the looks in the eyes of Harry's friends, even the ones that Harry hides his friendship with as they looked toward Harry's location, looks full of sadness for him.
Harry needs the win.
He needs to show the world he is here, that he is special, that he isn't just the longer ex-brother of the boy-who-lived.
And now he his shot was forcibly taken from him.
Now he has to help a boy he hates win a tournament he doesn't deserve to win.
And there is nothing Victor can do to help.
Sure, he could knock out Marcus, but Harry made a magical oath, he would only cause bigger problems for his friend.
Looking back at Marcus with disgust, Victor heard Bagman telling him to go, before running in.
At least he can make it so everyone know Marcus cheated.
MARCUS' POV
When Marcus heard his name called in the champions choosing ceremony he freaked out.
He didn't put his name in, but like every year since he came to this school, trouble seem to follow him.
Well, if he is being entirely honest, that isn't accurate.
In his first he chose to take his friends to fight Snape, only to find out the one who wants to steel the philosopher's stone is Voldemort, instead of telling other professors when McGonagall didn't listen.
In his second year he could have chose to tell a useful Professor about what monster was hiding in the chamber and take them into it.
Even in his third year he was never in danger from Sirius, and the Dementors didn't really bother him.
But this year he truly didn't do anything, which is why he was so surprised when his name was called.
But he was even more surprised when not only most of the school didn't believe him, but his best friend also.
It all turned better a few weeks later, when people had enough with the uncaring attitude Harry seemed to have.
Yet, it took until he almost died from a dragon for Ron to get his head out of his ass and apologize.
The life of Marcus got incredibly better afterwards, he had the school support, his friends, and his family.
His only problem was that Harry kept besting him in everything.
It is hard enough to have a brother better then you.
It is even worse when it's your twin.
But when it's a twin that was kicked out of the family? It's like every time he beats Marcus in anything Marcus fears their parents are about to regret.
When he got last place in the first task he might have been only a little bit worried.
But then Harry showed up with amazing date at the Ball, and won the second task perfectly, looking like a hero as he helped the other two champions along, it was like he tries to steal his place in the world.
Yet, the worst came today, when his father, after wishing him good luck distractedly, went to talk to Harry.
Marcus knew the day would come, when he had to prove he is more than the boy-who-lived, when he has to prove himself to be the better man to be a Potter.
He is going to win this stupid tournament!
HARRY'S POV
The second Harry walked into the maze he used the disillusion charm to make himself invisible before taking out his broom that was shrunk and enlarged it before riding it.
Seriously, why did no one of the other champions thought about it was beyond him, and that not even thinking about the hat being summonable, which it is, as canon Harry did just that in the graveyard.
Harry watched Fleur canceling a special enchantment that seemed to cause people to slow down before Barty crouch jr. stunned her.
He saw Victor moving forward, placing magical traps anywhere he walks on.
It warmed his heart knowing, as he heard the man murmuring about making Marcus' victory a tough one.
Yet he saw Barty Crouch coming closer, and knew the man might place Victor under an unforgivable, so before that could happen he sent a stunning curse with his wand, which he took out just for the day, before sending red sparks.
As he flew to keep an eye on the 'boy-who-lived', he could see fake Moody smile at him, creeping him out.
Watching Marcus moving through obstacles wasn't as boring as feared, as every creature and trap he managed to over come, fake Moody was overcoming five, cleaning the boy's path forward.
'Seriously, when canon Harry said he overcame everything with luck and help he wasn't kidding.'
Finally, Marcus reached the cup, and disappeared.
A FEW HOURS EARLIER
HARRY'S POV
Having Dobby Pop him to the graveyard, Harry had Voldemort bring Pettigrew, who had been fed the Draught of the Living Death after getting caught by Harry, and then obliviated before getting fake memories of living with baby Voldemort, catching Marcus, and cutting his arm to bring Voldemort back to life.
The only thing Harry hasn't managed to do yet was figuring out how the silver hands Voldemort created in the books was made.
Sure, he can create something similar, with his knowledge of biology, belief and magical power, but to create it without the knowledge was beyond him for now, especially with the special hidden affect of killing Peter if he betrays him.
Harry's way of doing the spell was simple, creating the arm as it is supposed to be built with little magical energy of his own, connect the arm to the body and Peter's magic and let him fuel it himself.
The problem that by doing so, you can't create secret effects as most of the magic used isn't yours, and even the smallest effects would disappear after a month at most.
While not understanding this piece of magic is annoying, Harry didn't really need it as he didn't care for loyalty from Peter, instead, Harry had Voldemort cut Peter's arm before using his imitation for the spell on the rat, creating a Golden arm.
After finishing with it, Harry sat on a chair He conjured, listening to GAI reading him a book.
The second he heard something smash to the ground he had his wand up and stunned Marcus, before obliviating him and putting a memory of the ritual inside his head.
Having Voldemort give Peter the antidote for the Draught while confuding him, Harry made sure he is invisible and going near the place he had Voldemort put the cauldron.
LUCIUS' POV
Feeling the pain of being summoned, Lucius takes a quick look at his dark mark.
'He is back.' Lucius thinks as he looks at his dark mark that seemed to pulse darkness across his arm, with the black snake swimming fast in the skull.
Lucius was prepared for this moment, he felt his excuses couldn't be better, and he was scared as hell.
Putting on his Death Eater robes and mask as quickly as possible, which he had prepared for weeks, Lucius finally released the hold he had on the dark mark magic, teleporting reaching the destination, Lucius saw he was in a graveyard, and that he wasn't the first to come, but luckily, not the last either.
Seeing his chance to start something that I'm important for mercy, Lucius quickly Bended his knees, crawled to the dark lord's feet and kissed his robes, "master" he shouted, feeling disgusted with himself but willing to do everything it takes to survive.
He wasn't sure who was the first fellow Death Eater who copied him and why, though most likely they also understood the need to do so to survive the night, but eventually all the present Death Eaters did the same, finished, and stood in the half circle the dark lord used whenever he had a speech for all his 'friends', leaving in the middle the dark lord, Pettigrew, who not only was alive but, as Lucius now noticed, has a golden arm instead of his regular, and Marcus Potter, who lay on a grave looking either stunned or dead.
Looking around, he saw a few more holes in the circle then he expected, with Severus' spot being one of them.
'Oh, I hope you would have a good explanation for this Severus.' Lucius thought before cleaning his mind from every thought unrelated to his survival.
"Welcome, Death Eaters," said the dark lord quietly, sending shivers in Lucius' body. "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 put back his terrible face and sniffed, his slit-like nostrils widening.
"I smell guilt," he said. "There is a stench or guilt upon the air. 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?" Lucius knew better then to answer, every single one of the Death Eaters knew better then to answer.
"And I answer myself," whispered Voldemort, "they must have believed me broken, they thought I was gone. They slipped back among my enemies, and they pleaded innocence, and ignorance, and bewitchment... And then I ask myself, but how could they have believed I would not rise again? They, who knew the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against mortal death? They, who had seen proofs of the immensity of my power in the times when I was mightier than any wizard living?
And I answer myself, perhaps they believed a still greater power could exist, one that could vanquish even Lord Voldemort. . . perhaps they now pay allegiance to another . . .
perhaps that champion of commoners, of Mudbloods and Muggles, Albus Dumbledore?" Lucius resisted rubbing his head, it seems that the dark lord didn't changed, and that the same issue that changed the war to physical from political as it started last time stayed the same.
The dark lord is still extremist, and he makes every follower of his the same with his dark mark driving them insane.
"It is a disappointment to me ... I confess myself disappointed. . . ."
One of the men suddenly flung himself forward, breaking the circle. Trembling from head to foot, he collapsed at Voldemort's feet.
"Master!" he shrieked, "Master, forgive me! Forgive us all!" Lucius looked in horror, who was the stupid man thought he was standing before? He should know what happens when you interrupt the dark lord.
"Crucio!" Lucius should feel pity, but instead he feels relive it isn't him.
"Get up, Avery," said Voldemort softly. "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." The dark lord then looked to his right, where Lucius stood, where he stood everyone there was a gathering.
"Lucius, my slippery friend," he whispered, halting before him, making Lucius more nervous then possible. "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?" The answer was ready on Lucius lips, having perfected and memorized it for weeks.
"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?" said the dark lord lazily, and Lucius made sure to stopp talking abruptly, making it seem as if he is speechless, when he knew the dark lord would bring it up, excuses are for later, the dark lord showed his power already, now he shows his compassion- thank you Avery.
"Yes, I know all about that, Lucius. . . . You have disappointed me. ... I expect more faithful service in the future."
"Of course, my Lord, of course. . . . You are merciful, thank you..."
The dark lord moved around, talked about the ones who lost themselves to the dark mark as loyal, and gave the ones who didn't he gave a second chance.
"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..." Lucius didn't know if to hope it to be Severus, which would means he would survive, or hope it isn't, which means he is sane.
"Yes," said the dark lord, a grin curling his lipless mouth as the eyes of the circle flashed in Marcus Potter's direction. "Marcus has kindly joined us for my rebirthing party. One might go so far as to call him my guest of honor."
Looking at the young boy, Lucius felt it is pity he would die tonight, as he was still only a child.
"Oh, I'm not going to kill the boy." The dark lord said, making every single Death Eater look at their lord in shock.
"No, the boy need to suffer before his death, he needs the entire wizarding world to turn on him, to be in despair, and to drag the entire light side with him through the mud, which is why he is about to announce my return as we make the world think he is crazy!" Lucius couldn't help but impressed, even if the dark lord kept with his idiotic notion of telling his evil plans to everyone being a good idea, he still managed to create an actual plan that doesn't involve only killinng and torturing people with crucio, maybe the years walk were good for the dark lord.
"Now, when we finished with this, it is time to return the boy to his school." The boy woken and made to hold a cup that was apparently a portkey, sending him to school.
"Now, I'm going to live at the Malfoy manor!" The dark lord said before appearing, making Lucius internally sigh.
This is gonna suck
ALBUS'S POV
Seeing Marcus appear at the maze entry point with a long cut on his arm made Albus giddy with joy.
For the past two weeks he got no correspondence with update from Peter, something that made him worried about the situation with Tom.
Only Barty keeping to the plan made him not abandon everything and go search for Peter and Tom.
Yes, he knew the DADA Professor isn't Alister Moody, he knew the man since before he lost an eye, he knew the man isn't as crazy as he made it seem, that most of it is an act to throw people off their game.
Although, this year in captivity might change it.
Not that it mattered now, as he ran toward the child that will make him a god, as said child screamed "Voldemort is back." He didn't care about his friend who probably developed claustrophobia, he didn't care the child of his most loyal followers was probably tortured.
he only cared for one thing- the trap has been sat.
BARTY'S POV
Seeing the boy return with the portkey filled Barty with joy and dread.
It filled him with joy as the boy's screams about his master being alive confirmed what the dark mark's pain already told him- the plan worked and the dark lord once more has a body.
On the other hand, the boy being back means the plan his master sent to him two weeks ago will need to be executed, and of he won't do it the dark lord will disregard any contribution he did.
The chaos Marcus' return and screaming caused was just enough to distract the headmaster, and with the boy's parents being faraway, Barty managed to take the boy with him.
"Its all right, son, I've got you . . . come on ... hospital wing . . ."
"Dumbledore said stay," said Marcus with eyes filled with a special kind of confusion, the kind that meant his mind has been messed with.
"You need to lie down. . .. Come on now..." Barty said as he used the power Moody's strong arms granted him to pull him away from the crowd.
"What happened. Marcus?" He asked as he took the teen inside the castle, not because he wanted to know, but because he knew that the more times he thought of what the fake memories showed him happened, the more focus he had on the tiny details, and the more time he talked about what happened, the more the memories will integrate themselves into his mind, especially if he does it when he is still confused and tried, as his magic won't have the strength to fight it.
"Cup was a Portkey," said Marcus as they crossed the entrance hall. "Took me to a graveyard . . . and Voldemort was there . . . Lord Voldemort..."
"The Dark Lord was there? What happened then?"
"Made a potion . . . got his body back. . . ."
"The Dark Lord got his body back? He's returned?"
"And the Death Eaters came . . . and then we dueled. ..."
"You dueled with the Dark Lord?" The dark lord's plan to disproof the light side woulld work perfectly if the world had the story of how the symbol of the light is delusional enough to think he can beat the dark lord in a duel.
"Got away . . . my wand . . . did something funny. ... I saw people . . . they came out of his wand. ..."
"In here. Marcus ... in here, and sit down. . . . You'll be all right now . . . drink this. ..." he gave the boy a memory potion, one that in the past was given to people when aurors take statements to sharpen people's memory, one that was stopped being given as it has the side affect of strengthening the connection a fake memory has to the drinker's mind, especially if he thinks about the saiid memory.
"Drink it... you'll feel better . . . come on, now. Marcus, I need to know exactly what happened. ..."
Seeing the boy doesn't drink, Barty tipped the stuff down Marcus' throat who coughed, before looking much more focused.
"Voldemort's back, Marcus? You're sure he's back? How did he do it?"
"He took stuff from his father's grave, and from Wormtail, and me," said the teen.
"What did the Dark Lord take from you?" said Barty urgently, knowing he doesn't have much time before people start showing up.
"Blood," said Marcus, raising his arm.
Barty let out his breath in a long, low hiss.
"And the Death Eaters? They returned?"
"Yes," said Marcus. "Loads of them . . ."
"How did he treat them?" Barty asked, yet before the boy had a chance to say anything, the office's door was trusted open, Dumbledore, James and Lily Potter coming in.
"Stupefy!" The three shouted at the same time with their wands shooting red lights toward him, something he could have avoided if he wanted to, but the plan was for him to get caught, which is why he didn't, letting darkness sweep him in.
Waking up from a stupefy was a pain, you feel as if your entire body is made of lead, and not in the fun 'nothing can hurt me' way.
Not to mention there was a fogginess even in his half woken mind he can identify as something that happened to him when a truth potion was poured inside of him.
"Can you hear me?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
Barty could resist, but that wasn't the plan.
"Yes," he muttered.
"I would like you to tell us," said Dumbledore softly, "how you came to be here. How did you escape from Azkaban?"
If smirking wouldn't have given away his ability to resist the poison he would have, instead, Barty took a breath and told them about his father's crimes.
He told them about how his father rescued him from Azkaban because of his mother's wish, how he controlled him with an unforgivable, how the man obliviated a woman after she found out, and he told them about the quidditch cup.
He knew it didn't matter, his father is dead, he killed him, but still, petty revenge felt good.
After which he told them about his master helping him.
"And what did Lord Voldemort ask you to do?" said Dumbledore when it reached that point.
"He asked me whether I was ready to risk everything for him. I was ready. It was my dream, my greatest ambition, to serve him, to prove myself to him. He told me he needed to place a faithful servant at Hogwarts. A servant who would guide Marcus Potter through the Triwizard Tournament without appearing to do so. A servant who would watch over Marcus Potter. Ensure he reached the Triwizard Cup. Turn the cup into a Portkey, which would take the first person to touch it to my master. But first -"
"You needed Alastor Moody," said Dumbledore. His blue eyes were blazing, though his voice remained calm.
"Wormtail and I did it. We had prepared the Polyjuice Potion beforehand. We journeyed to his house. Moody put up a struggle. There was a commotion. We managed to subdue him just in time. Forced him into a compartment of his own magical trunk. Took some of his hair and added it to the potion. I drank it; I became Moody's double. I took his leg and his eye. I was ready to face Arthur Weasley when he arrived to sort out the Muggles who had heard a disturbance. I made the dustbins move around the yard. I told Arthur Weasley I had heard intruders in my yard, who had set off the dustbins. Then I packed up Moody's clothes and Dark detectors, put them in the trunk with Moody, and set off for Hogwarts. I kept him alive, under the Imperius Curse. I wanted to be able to question him. To find out about his past, learn his habits, so that I could fool even Dumbledore.
I also needed his hair to make the Polyjuice Potion. The other ingredients were easy. I stole boom-slang skin from the dungeons. When the Potions master found me in his office, I said I was under orders to search it."
"And what became of Wormtail after you attacked Moody?" said Dumbledore.
"Wormtail returned to care for my master, nurse him to health."
"And tonight. . ."
"I offered to carry the Triwizard Cup into the maze before dinner," whispered Barty. "Turned it into a Portkey. My master's plan worked. He is returned to power and I will be honored by him beyond the dreams of wizards." He put his crazy smile on, knowing it was time for his performance to finish.
Dumbledore left, taking the entire Potter family with him, leaving only McGonagall to keep an eye on him.
"So..." he dragged his voice as he looked at Dumbledore's little bitch. "You know the headmaster won't ever love you as you wish, he is gay." That was something he wanted to tell the women since before he finished his studies, and he felt like the look in the transfiguration Professor's face will keep him alive in the next few months in Azkaban until his master rescue him, even if he got stunned once more.
As darkness took him for the second time, Barty thought he would wake up in prison for the next time, not knowing he is about to be kissed.
HARRY'S POV
As he looked at his watch, Harry saw the time he used the time turner has arrived, which meant Marcus haas returned and he can leave the maze.
As he left the maze he saw the entire audience in a state of panic as Dumbledore, the other headmasters and Fudge kept trying to calm them down.
Seeing that nobody noticed him, Harry left for the ROR to rest, after all it was a long day.
JAMES' POV
With Marcus appearing suddenly in the middle of the field, announcing the return of Voldemort, getting taken by Moody, finding out he wasn't Moody but Barty Crouch, and calming his son down enough to tell them what actually happened twice, first as a father and then as an auror, it took James five hours to remember his intended meeting with Harry.
Rushing to the side chamber for the chance Harry is still there, waiting for him, James didn't actually have much hopes about that, if he was in Harry's place, twice abandoned and left to defend himself, he wouldn't give him a chance, but he gave a chance and James spat on it, no matter the reason, James knew he blew his shot.
It was why James wasn't surprised that no one was at the side chamber, and why, if it was before the whole 'Voldemort returns to life' fiasco, James would have left the boy alone to calm down before trying again.
Now he can't.
It isn't safe anymore, he needs to come back and live with his family.
Going back to the grand Hall where students kept talking about his younger son and the return of the dark lord.
Going over to the one table he wanted to stay away from, James approached a student he saw Harry talk with all the time last year.
"Excuse me, ms Lovegood?" Her head turned in his direction as her conversation with the French champion, an eyebrow raised when she saw who approached her, eyes turning from warm and smiling to so cold and sharp he couldn't believe she is the child of weirdo Lovegood, who he used to prank as a child.
"Do you know where is my son?" As if she knew what he was about to ask Ms Lovegood immediately said "Wasn't he taken by Professor Moody after shouting about the return of You-Know-Who?"
"I meant my other son, Harry."
The girl's eyes opened in mock surprise "You have another son?! But how would I know where he is, I only know one Harry, and he isn't a Potter."
At that point James had enough. "Tell me where he is, now!" Raising his voice probably wasn't the best course of action, as not only the entire Grand Hall seemed to stop talking and look at him in silence instead, the French champion who sat beside ms. Lovegood took out her wand pointed it at him.
"Do you have no shame!" The party Veela yelled. "You abandoned Harry, twice! forced him to concede the tournament, only for your son 'The boy who cheats' to win, and now you expect him to be at your back and call?" The entire Hall was filled with hash conversations, as the Veela's words sinked in every person's mind.
'Made him concede? What on earth is she talking about?' James was truly confused, but he wasn't an auror for nothing, remembering how Crouch talked about helping Marcus win the tournament, he quickly made the connection.
"No, it's a misunderstanding! Now I have to talk with him! It's for an investigation."
Before any of them could answer, a voice he hated was heard behind him.
"Mister Potter, please stop bothering the students." Snape appeared behind him, usually he would have started arguing with the man, but now he had more pressing issues.
"Listen Snape, they think we forced Harry to give up the tournament and help Marcus win! Harry thinks that!" A passive look appeared on the man face, one that James recognized from some of their spats as a.d.u. , one that meant he keeps his emotions in check, yet James recognized the glint of understanding, horror and anger in the man's eyes.
"Miss Lovegood, where is mister Peverel?"
LUNA'S POV
Luna knew she has to give an answer of sorts, her head of house's eyes didn't look like they would take no as an answer.
"He went to sleep." She said, and watched the two men run in the direction of the Slytherin common so fast that she didn't have to hold her giggling back.
"What's so funny?" Fleur seemed to ask, but Luna instead of answering reached her left ear and sent magic into her earring.
"Harry," She said quietly only Fleur hearing her. "Professor Snape and James are looking for you." She heard a quiet "thanks" reaching her ear as she saw Fleur standing with her mouth opened in shock as her eyes looked at the earring.
"I have so many questions!" She said, before dragging Luna away from the Hall as Luna thought how to explain it without lying yet not activating the Fidelius charm as to not make her friend lose her memory.
SEVERUS' POV
As Severus ran to the Slytherin dorms he thought once more about escaping, even though he knew it was useless.
If Severus didn't know what the dark mark was, he would have escaped already.
But the moment you take the dark mark you are doomed for life, either yours or the dark lord's, and Severus wasn't planning on dying anytime soon.
Which is why he decided to stay, making sure to become a spy on both sides, making sure each side think he believes in their cause, when in fact both causes were twisted.
As a half blood and a member of both sides, Severus knew each side's arguments vary well.
He knew the real reason most purebloods hated muggleborns is the destruction of their culture and the self-righteousness they seem to possess in the last 100 years.
As the muggle's studies and society progressed more and more, muggleborns who used to come to Hogwarts without much previous knowledge and with a will to become part of the already established society, became unwilling to learn the culture of the magical world, thus creating hate in the magical world toward them.
On the other hand, muggleborns didn't want to change their traditions, even if they changed most of them by living most of their their Hogwarts years in the magical world.
The two sides would have reached some sort of middle ground in the end, probably by keeping the core of the magical culture while adding fun muggle traditions if not for the two people the war seem to be all about/ Dumbledore and Voldemort.
The second Dumbledore became a headmaster, Chief Warlock, and Supreme Mugwamp, he started to push for changing all the traditional holidays to muggle holidays, something that made the tension that was already there to explode.
Now, if that was all, maybe the purebloods would have pushed Dumbledore out from his positions of power or excepted it, but around the same time another power rouse, Voldemort.
Having someone as powerful and charismatic as him to fight for their cause was something they needed.
Once again, If that was all it would have come to an end with political battles and maybe a few duels, especially with magical people's laziness and willingness to accept status quo, but there was two thing no one could have predicted.
The fact that the leaders of both sides are crazy megalomaniacs and that they didn't really care for their causes made it so the escalated every peace talks into fights.
And the fact that both made sure their followers and enemies both become more and more invested in the war.
On the 'light' side Dumbledore used manipulations of emotions to convince the young students he is the best wizard to ever grace the earth, and after you joined and made friends you couldn't back out without being considered evil, while showing the other side that if they fight there is no bad consequences.
On the 'dark' side Voldemort used the dark mark to create insanity in his servants.
Making even those that separated the craziness from their mind to attached themselves to the things that cause them the most joy, and take them to the extreme.
Those that loved dark magic became obsessed with the unforgivables, those that liked money and their status became unable to let it go.
Even Severus didn't get away from it, with his unhealthy obsession with Lily, something he knew that if she died would have become worse.
Luckily for him she lived, and instead his obsession became helping Slytherin students and making Gryffindor students suffer as he hoped as a child the head of house would be like for him.
It is why he wouldn't let Harry walk the same path he did, even if it meant working together with Potter for a while.