A/N: Sorry for the shorter than usual chapter. I finally watched and then got distracted by Wednesday fanfiction. Oops.
They forgot that Sirius had nearly fed a fellow student to a werewolf in a fit of spite and only regretted what it would have done to Remus.
They forgot the bonds between a werewolf and their pack, between a Grim and his chosen.
People saw the kind eyes and gentle manner, the patience of one and the jokes of the other, the two shining Gryffindors, and missed the ruthless glint in their eyes.
There was nothing they would not do, no lines they wouldn't cross to keep Harry safe.
So was it any surprise that when the Goblet of Fire activated for a fourth time, Remus and Sirius went still and silent at the Head Table, eyes sharp and ready like a predator hunting his prey? They knew there had been a chance that Barty Crouch hadn't just been bragging and actually entered Harry's name before they caught him. A very good chance, the man had gloated enough about it when they had been questioning him.
Flashback:
How Crouch could have thought he could remain unnoticed even with a werewolf with a werewolf's sense of smell on the staff Remus didn't know. Remus noticed almost immediately that the man who they had thought to be Alastor Moody, was drinking Polyjuice from his hipflask. Remus'd stunned him in the middle of staff meeting to the shock of his colleagues.
Sirius calmly pointed his own wand at the man at Remus's action and as he elegantly leaned back in his chair asked casually, "Moony?"
Remus couldn't keep his growl in and saw some of his colleagues stiffen at the animal-like sound, "Polyjuice."
Severus and Albus, who had been ready for who knows what, sprang up at the growled out word and approached the man masquerading as Alastor Moody. Severus grabbed the flask and comfirmed with a sniff, "Polyjuice."
"Severus," Albus asked with a worried frown, "Are you certain?"
The dour Professor sneered, "Of course I'm sure, Headmaster. I know my potions unlike the dunderheads I teach who you call my students. I've told you that someone has been stealing from my stores, Albus!"
Albus nodded and turned towards the other professors, "Minerva, Filius, please stay. The rest of you may leave."
Most of the other professors looked glad to be leaving but Pomona stayed behind for a moment. She raised and bushy eyebrow and asked pointingly "Albus, I trust you will tell us the results of whatever happens next?"
Pomona Sprout was a very strong woman, Remus found. Fierce in he desire to protect her students and fierce in her convictions even though she didn't look it with her cheery appearance. She was also not easily led by the Headmaster's reputation. Remus was pretty sure that the only reason she agreed the leave the room was that Minevra and Filius were asked to stay.
Honestly, Remus didn't understand the Huffelpuff reputation of being duffers. One just had to look at their Head of House to see it was very much a wrong stereotype. Hard work and Loyalty were beautiful traits to have.
She left when the Headmaster gave her his agreement.
"Severus," Professor Dumbledore commanded as he transfigured a long-backed chair and tightly bound the imposter to it with a wave of his wand. "Get some Veritaserum and come back, quickly. We'll wait here to see who our mystery friend actually is."
Severus nodded and strode off with a dramatic twist of his robes to get the truth potion.
Minerva and Filius stood there, guarding and watching. Filius had come to them within the first day of term to tell them that Bloodaxe had informed him about what they were doing. Apparently Bloodaxe was his cousin and the goblins spy in Hogwarts. Not for malicious reasons, just to keep an eye on the future of the Wizarding World of Britain. That's how Gringotts found Bill Weasley and many others as their human Cursebreakers.
Minerva, on the other hand, was still distant. It disappointed Remus to think how the woman treated the son of two of her favorite students. She could have told the orphan many stories about James and Lily, or even just listened to the boy when he asked for help but she never even tried. Remus knew Albus had something to do with that, as had her three jobs but still, it disappointed him to see his favorite Professor so dimished from how he had known her back in his own school days.
While he knows they weren't as responsible for Harry as he and Sirius were, and Morganna knows how much they had screwed up themselves, but he had expected better of them. Where were the teachers back when little and clearly malnourished and skittisch eleven year old Harry Potter entered Hogwarts?
When they'd asked Harry about it he'd just shrugged. Apparentely he was used to it, people ignoring his circumstances, to Remus's carefully hidden rage.
Severus came back with in his hand a clear vial. He went towards the bound man and not so gently pulled his head back so he could drip three drops of the truth potion in his mouth.
Albus renervated him with a quick wave of his wand. The man wearing Alastor Moody's face took a look around and twisted his mouth in a deranged looking smirk that triggered a memory for Remus. Where had he seen that smirk before? That strange tick?
The Headmaster shared a startled look with Severus and at the other man's nod he started his questioning, "What is your name?"
A haze came over their captive as the potion began the work. In a monotone sounding voice he answered, "Barty Crouch jr."
Sirius gasped, surprised. Remus understood his surprise, Barty Crouch jr. had been Regulus best friend in Slytherin if he rememered it right. But hadn't he died with in a year of being sent to Azkaban by his own father?
Recovering from his own surprise, Albus asked the second question, "Where is the real Alastor Moody?"
"In his trunk in my office."
Sirius stepped forward and asked urgently, "What has Voldemort ordered you to do here?"
Even in the haze of the potion a crazed looked started to appear on Alastor's face, "My master has commanded me to put the Potter brat's name in the Goblet and make sure he makes it to the Third Task. My master has planned something good for the brat, something very good indeed." He smirked, "For my Lord."
Disturbed, Remus asked what they were all thinking, "What is Voldemort planning?"
"My Lord has not shared his plans with his lowly servants." Was the dazed reply and Sirius snorted before ordering, "Tell us your best guess."
"Master is working on his return with the help of his most faithful. My Lord will use the opportunity to simultaneously take revenge on the cause of his current... situation."
Well, that was nothing new. Remus felt a shove moving him aside and suddenly Severus was standing in front of their prisoner. He said with a pointed sneer, "As usual you muts have missed the most important question."
Minevra hissed like a offended cat, "Severus! Control yourself."
Severus gave a slight nod in her direction and continued, "You two are the boy's guardians now, yes? Then why haven't you asked Crouch yet if he has actually succeeded in putting Potter's name to the Goblet of Fire?"
Remus rolled his eyes and saw Sirius do the same. For a Slytherin, Severus could be very impatient and always quick to point out the mistakes of others. It was no wonder that their old schoolyard rival had such difficulty making friends and allies with that behavior. Remus had tried after he apologised for his part in their school days, but he understood that their past was too much for friendship to ever exist between them.
Still, he'd hoped they could be civil.
Crouch seemed to be getting out of the haze of the truth potion as he started to cackle like the insane mas he was, "You are too late, traitor! Potter will meet his end at my Master's hands and then my Lord will punish all of those standing against him, starting with you Snape!"
Then the man turned back into his own body as the Polyjuice potion faded from his system. What was left was an older version of the boy Remus remembered from his Hogwarts years. A young looking man with straw blond hair with slight curls and manic hazelgreen eyes who turned towards the two of them.
Suddenly stone cold sober the man sneered in Sirius's direction and asked, "How does it feel?"
Sirius stared at Crouch with cold eyes that only made the man smile with a hint of smugness as he asked again, "What does it feel like?
"What does what feel like?" Sirius shot right back with an haughty look on his face.
Barty Crouch jr. grinned and Remus had never seen someone so innocent looking look more like a serial killer. Crouch smiled and said with a cruel tilt of his lips, "To lose."
Sirius started forward looking ready to curse the man bound to the chair and honestly, Remus wasn't feeling like stopping him.
To his surprise it was Minerva who stunned him again with her own haughty little sniff, "Well, why are you looking at me like that?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, "Clearly he needed someone to shut him up."
Remus chuckled as Sirius barked out a laugh. No one messed with Minerva McGonagall and got away with it. But they quickly sobered up, Crouch all but admitted to entering Harry's name in the Tournament and it worried him.
Fillius asked, "Does this mean Mr. Potter will be forced to enter the Tournament?"
"Maybe." Sirius told the tiny Professor with a downward turn of his mouth, "We knew Voldemort was planning something this year involving the Tournament but we weren't certain on how. We've taken some precautions that will hopefully negegate his forceful participation but if not, we have been working with him a lot this summer. He's as ready as he could be at this point if the worst happens."
Filius nodded in agreement, "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst."
End flashback.
All the students and the two guest schools watched as the Goblet of Fire started to burn again for the fourth time. A note came out whch Albus carefully caught.
"Harry Potter."
Silence rang out and Remus and Sirius stood up to move towards their cub. Harry was sitting, frozen, at the Gryffindor table surrounded by his friends.
"Mr. Potter," Albus called with a serious look on his face, "Please stand up and go join the others."
Harry stood and Remus bit back a smile as he saw Hermione take her hand back. Harry turned to them and asked with a resigned air, "Yeah, okay, what can we do to fix this?"
Remus smiled and raised his voice a bit, "We have an idea or two to get you out of this attempt on your life, cub. We knew someone could enter your name against your will. Now we'll see if they've left us a loophole for us to use to get you out of it."
The students who had been muttering angrily started to calm down again as they heard Remus's words. Good. He didn't want Harry to get bullied again for something he didn't do.
Remus looked at his cub's friends and saw the steely eyed looks they exchanged. The Weasleys looked ready for war, sitting straight backed and looking around them for anyone who was bad mouthing their friend. Remus almost felt worried for the the students who caught the Weasleys wrath. Almost, but not quite.
The twins were vicious, especially when Harry was involved, but Ginny was just plain crazy when someone angered her. And when they had Ron backing them? They would never get caught. Seriously, what was it with Harry bringing out the destructive madness of the Black blood running through their veins in those Weasleys?
Together the three walked toward where the other Champions were waiting. Harry entered first and Remus could hear the Hogwarts Champion ask in confusion, "Harry? Do they want us back?"
Sirius and Remus walked in after and Sirius told them, "Unfortunately, there has been another attempt on my son's life. Harry has been entered in the Tournament against his will and we are here to see if there is a way out of it."
Remus saw the other Champions take that in, and saw their disbelief, anger and finally acceptance as they looked at the boy standing in front of them. Even with the Healing done over the summer, Harry was still a fourteen year old boy and it showed.
It was the Beauxbatons Champion, Fleur Delacour who exclaimed with anger on her pretty face, "Zey can't make this boy compete! Madame Maxime, he's clearly too young!"
Viktor nodded in agreement and Cedric told the room, "Harry shouldn't have to compete just because someone else entered his name in the Goblet. Professor Black, what can be done about this?"
Albus and the other judges entered the room and Bagman, loathsome man that he was said brightly, "Ladies and gentleman may I introduce you to the fourth champion!"
Harry glared at the man and said venomously, "I am not a champion! I did not enter my name."
The Headmast shook his head and told them with a sad twinkle in his eyes, "I'm sorry my boy, we've failed you."
But Remus wasn't ready to give up just yet, and judging from the intake of breath Sirius was taking, neither was he.
"Albus," Remus asked urgently, "What exacly does that piece of paper say?"
The Headmaster gave him a searching look and told them, "Harry Potter. The note says Harry Potter."
Sirius, Remus and Harry started smirking and Sirius asked innocently, "And what happens when that is not actually his name? Is his entry in this accursed Tournament still binding?"
Albus's eyes started to twinkle brightly and he said, "Well, that depends on whenever our young Mr. Potter here still has the legal first name of Harry in combination with the surname of Potter."
"My name is not Harry Potter." Harry stated confidently. "I formally request that my entry in the Triwizarding Tournament is made null and void." There was a wave of magic going through the room and in honed in on Harry.
Harry straigtend up as he felt the magic hone in on him and Remus faught the urge to step in front of him. The magic hit Harry and seemed to judge the boy.
A ripping sound came from far away and the piece on paper with Harry's name on it burst into flames. The magical pressure disappeared and with it so did the tension.
Albus beamed, "It seems that our Mr. Potter here doesn't have to compete after all. Thank you all for your patience, but it's time for you all to return to your dorms. I wish you all good luck with the First Task." With a last look towards Remus and Sirius the Headmaster of Hogwarts disappeared with a flick of his colorful robe.
Fleur Delacour stood up and said with a sniff and flick of her shining blonde hair, "Good. Now boys, may the best woman win."
Cedric grinned and Viktor nodded silently as they too went to stand. Remus hadn't heard the Bulgarian boy talk yet and wondered vaguely if he was shy. Soon all the Champions and their Headmaster had left and it was only his pack standing in the chamber.
Harry turned and hugged first Sirius and then Remus, "We did it! Sirius, Moony, we actually did it!"
Sirius closed his eyes as they hugged and said emotionally, "We did it, pup."
Harry grinned as he stepped away from Remus, "Thank you both for my ridiculously long new name."
Remus smiled, "You are very welcome, cub."
Halloween or Samhain was an important day in the Wizarding world, a day in which the living honored the dead. It was an even more important day for the Potter family. Remus hadn't known this when James was still alive but it made sense know that he knew about the Potter family Patron.
Persephone was the Goddess of Death and All Hallows Eve was her sacred day.
They were in the living room of Sirius and his appartments with Harry and some of his friends who'd wanted to join them. Neville, Ron, Hermione, Theo and the twins were all sitting in a circle with them when Harry stood up to open the Samhain ritual he'd found in the Potter and Peverell Grimoires.
They had placed a big bowl in the middle filled with wood and herbs that Harry silently lighted with the tip of his wand.
Harry swallowed visibly and began the traditional words, "I am here tonight to honor my dead," He said softly. "I am here tonight to welcome them home. I am here tonight to ease their passing, and to ask that they, in turn, ease my living. For my father, James Potter and my mother, Lily Potter who died so I could live. May their eternal rest be peaceful. Let it be as said, so mote it be."
Harry dropped a piece of paper with the names of his lost family on it in the fire and watched the flames grow brighter and higher. A breeze went through the room that smelled like flowers. Remus sniffed thoughtfully, lilies and asphodel maybe?
Sirius stood up and gave Harry a quick hug before the boy sat down again. Clearing his throat he began to speak, "I am here tonight to honor my dead," Sirius continued in a rough voice, "I am here tonight to welcome them home. I am here tonight to ease their passing, and to ask that they, in turn, ease my living. For my brother and sister in heart and soul, James and Lily Potter. For my little brother, Regulus Black. And all our other lost friends. Let it be as said, so mote it be."
He dropped his own piece of paper in the fire and wiped away the single tear that rolled down his cheek.
Clapping Sirius on his shoulder as his friend passed him on the way back to his chair, Remus started speaking his own Samhain ritual, "I am here tonight to honor my dead," He said softly, remembering his mum, his lovely gentle mother. Remembering his dad, cold and distant as the man often was in the face of his son's curse, yet still there for him when it mattered. "I am here tonight to welcome them home. I am here tonight to ease their passing, and to ask that they, in turn, ease my living. For my mother, Hope Lupin and my father Lyal Lupin. For my dearest friends, James and Lily Potter. Let it be as said, so mote it be.
The fire started to grow higher and higher with each blessing spoken and Remus could smell the herbs spread through the fire as he dropped in his piece of paper.
Neville was next and he spoke confidently even though his voice shook from emotion, "I am here tonight to honor my dead," The boy said as he stared into the flames. "I am here tonight to welcome them home. I am here tonight to ease their passing, and to ask that they, in turn, ease my living. Living in the in-between I ask for peace for my parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom. Let it be as said, so mote it be.
The fire flared and shone a bright blue for a moment before turning back to normal. Neville's breath caught and he stumbled. Harry quickly guided his friend back to his chair.
Ron stood up with Fred and George behind him. Remus suspected this was the first time the three Weasleys participated in a Samhain ritual since it was a bit more traditional then the Weasley family probably followed.
Ron took a deep breath and began, "We are here tonight to honor our dead," Fred continued with a sad look in his eyes, "We are here tonight to welcome them home." George took over for his twin, "We am here tonight to ease their passing, and to ask that they, in turn, ease our living." Together they said, "For Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Let it be as said, so mote it be."
All three of them dropped their own piece of paper in the fire. The fire had grown high, almost as tall as a grown man but the heat coming of it was comfortable, a loving warmth that they all felt embracing them.
Then Theo stepped up and spoke, "I am here tonight to honor my dead," Theo spoke softly and intensly, "I am here tonight to welcome them home. I am here tonight to ease their passing, and to ask that they, in turn, ease my living. For my mother, Violet Nott and the little sister who I never got to meet, Darlia Nott. Let it be as said, so mote it be."
He dropped his piece of paper in the fire and sat down again with his jaw clenched. Remus touched his arm in support and saw the boy relax a bit.
Hermione stood up from where she sat next to Harry and Neville and shared an unsure look with his cub. Harry smiled at her and Hermione stood up straigther, "I am here tonight to honor my dead," She began quietly, "I am here tonight to welcome them home. I am here tonight to ease their passing, and to ask that they, in turn, ease my living. For my nana, Elsbeth Granger. For the lost loved ones of my friends. Let it be as said, so mote it be."
Remus took a deep breath when he felt the magic around them built. Closing his eyes he thought he could hear his mother's laugh, smell the scents he had loved of James and Lily, of his pack, and feel his father's had on his shoulder. Opening his eyes again he saw the others do the same.
As one they murmered, "May we meet again."
The flame in the middle of them grew even hotter, higher and brighter in it's bowl and suddenly, in a blink, went out.
A/N: Here it is people, the reason for the name change. Hope you all aren't disappointed at my choice in not letting Harry compete in the Tournament. Some lines were inspired by the show Wednesday.
Question: what is your favorite spell and/or potion?