Author's Note- Guys, I'm so sorry! Mae Culpa, Mae Culpa, Maxima Mae Culpa! This week was ridiculously busy and I got writer's block. I want this to be a really long chapter but decided against it. I want to give you guys something. Anyway, this chapter is mostly in Severus' POV. Hope you guys enjoy Part 2: The Goblet of Fire! On to the story!
Part 2: The Goblet of Fire
Chapter 8: A Warning Is Sent
Harriet
Where was she? What was the world black and white? The houses in this town appeared to be little, old cottages. A sign read 'Little Hangleton'. The town must be muggle. And the clothing that the muggles were wearing was more 1950s than Victorian Era. Harriet watched as little police coppers drove to an old manor. The coppers walked up to the door where a visible shaken man greeted them.
"Are you Frank Bryce?" Asked one of the coppers.
"Yes, sir. Please, come inside and look. I think they're all dead." Indeed, they looked dead. The older man laid slumped in his chair, mouth open and drooling. His wife was crumpled at his feet. Finally, there was the other man. He looked oddly familiar to Harriet, as if she had seen his face in an old photo. He was younger than the couple, probably in his early 30s. As one officer inspected the bodies, the other integrated Mr. Bryce.
"When did you find them?"
"Just before nine. I was working and thought that it was odd that I couldn't enter the front door. They usually open it around eight. I unlocked the door with my key and called out. No one answered. Then, I found them."
"Mr. Bryce, what's your relationship with the Riddles?" The Riddles, why does that sound so familiar.
"I'm their groundskeeper. Though I'll have you know I saw a dark haired lad enter here around seven."
"Roberts, they shouldn't be dead. I can't find anything that can cause death. No puncture wounds and no bottles of drugs. It's not suicide and it's not murder." The other copper returned to his partner's side. The two talked in a hushed voice, Harriet couldn't even hear them.
"Mr. Bryce, you'll need to come with us downtown."
"What?! Why?!"
"We just want to ask you a few question."
"No! I'm innocent! I wouldn't have shown you them if I wasn't!"
"Even so, please come with us."
"No! I'm innocent!"
Then the image changed. Colors entered the image. The once beautiful manor was in shambles. The door was boarded; The windows were shattered; the paint was peeling. Copious amounts of alcohol bottles and cans littered the lawn. An old man was walking up to one of lighted windows. Poor Mr. Bryce hadn't aged well.
"Bloody kids. Why can't they just leave this place alone?"
Harriet watched along with Mr. Bryce when she saw a woman trembling against the ground with a caped wizard holding her down with blood red spell. The woman was silently screaming in horrible pain, as if every nerve in her body was burning. In the corner stood a crib like bed. There was something in the crib, something Harriet didn't think was a baby, probably because it talked like a man. An extremely raspy man but still a man.
"Well, Bertha Jorkins, thank you for your corporation. Here is your gift. Avada Kedavra!" Harriet felt sink as the neon green light struck the shaking woman. She stopped moving. Harriet wanted to scream at Mr. Bryce to leave as fast as she could. Because Harriet feared that Miss Jorkins' death wouldn't be the last. The cape from the wizard that kept Miss Jorkins under the Cruciatus Curse fell and revealed that rat, Peter Pettigrew.
"Well, Wormtail, with this new information and my servant in Hogwarts, Harriet Potter will be mine and I'll rise again. And you, of course, my loyal Wormtail, shall be reward." Lord Voldemort hissed out. Mr. Bryce started to back away when more hissing sounded. Mr. Bryce turned around to see a large, long, green snake that hissed at him. The snake kept hissing and lunging at Mr. Bryce until he was forced inside of the middle of the house. Mr. Bryce must have known that Dark Magic swirled through the air for he stood in absolute fear. While Pettigrew looked like a deranged man waving a tree sapling, the thing in the crib didn't even look human to Harriet. It looked to be the size of a five-year-old child, but it's legs and arms were completely shriveled up. Snake skin covered over the thing in patches. Its head had thin brown hair that clashed horrible with its orangey red eyes. Thankfully, the thing's mouth looked human but she couldn't say the same for his none existent nose. The thing must be Voldemort. More like Lord Snake Baby in Harriet's opinion.
"Well, well, a muggle, how curious." Voldemort spoke out from his crib of doom. "Tell me, Muggle, do you fear death?" Mr. Bryce glared at the baby thing and snorted,
"You don't scare me, you little piece of shit." Harriet would have applauded Mr. Bryce for his courage if it didn't get him an Avada Kedavra by the little shit himself.
"Nagini, eat the corpses. Peter, contact our ally. I wanted him to do something very specific."
Harriet sat straight up in her bed in a gasp. Her head, no, her scar stung. As her breathing quieted, Harriet laid back against her pillows. She turned to lay at her side and stared at the picture that Mama had Professor Dumbledore take of them. Mama stood next to Harriet in her best forest green robes and lace brimmed hat. Harriet sat an elegant chair and wore an equally elegant dress. Her dress was a pale pink tea length dress that flared at Harriet's waist, giving her an older appearance. She wore her clear lensed glasses and her hair was done up in a fancy bun. She had only worn mascara for makeup because Mama insisted that she was too young for anything else.
None the less, Harriet looked beautiful in the picture. Far healthier and more feminine than she ever had in her 12 years of abusive hell. Then Harriet moved her thoughts away from her vanity to the mere fact that she had a room, a bed, a mother. It's funny how people take for granted the little things they have in life. However, it was these little things that Harriet swore to protect.
All That I'm Living For, All That I'm Dying For
Severus
"What do you want to know?"
Severus hadn't been here in quite some time and honestly, he hadn't planned on it. But when Lucius had floo called early to pick up Draco, he had hinted something that made Severus very suspicious of his friend.
"Severus, are you sure you don't want to go to the Cup tomorrow?"
"Lucius, you known I would rather regrade the exams than deal with drunk Muggles and wizards."
"Ah, come now, Severus. I heard that the after party is going to be a… blast. Yes, a blast."
Which led Severus here, to one of the nicer parts of Knockturne Alley. To the whorehouse of Madame Archer. To Madame Cecelia Archer's bed. Madame Archer's 'business' as one would put it, was neither illegal or legal in England. It was shadowed away and looked down upon but no one had done anything to stop it. The whorehouse specialized in girls of Pureblood or Half-blood heritage, making it the perfect stomping ground for unmarried Death Eaters. While Lucius was bond to Narcissa and couldn't even try to sleep with any of the prostitutes, some of Lucius' bachelor friends frequently visited this particular whorehouse. Which was rather ironic, because Madame Archer and her girls willing took whatever information they could get out of the stupid idiots and passed it on to Severus. Of course, that came at a price. However, sex and some coins are a small price to pay for good information.
So there he laid next to Madame Archer, wrapped in the afterglow of sex and bedsheets. She lit a cigarette, toke a drag, then passed it to him. Madame Archer herself was actually a pretty woman. While she was 10 years his senior, she gave good information and good sex. It was a pity that she wasted away in here. Yet, this was her lively hood. And while her business exploits the bastard daughters of Great Britain's Purebloods, she took far better care of her girls than any other prostitution ring. He took a drag before answering,
"What's going to happen at the World Cup?"
"Apparently," She laid her body on top of his and stared straight into his eyes. "Some of your old pals want to get themselves piss drunk and fool around with some Muggles."
"They aren't my pals." Severus huffed out another puff of smoke into her face. She laughed and her chocolate brown hair tumbled down and created a curtain hid their faces from the room. Yes, she wasn't Lily but there was a certain light to her that made her very appealing. Golden brown eyes gazed into coal black before she whispered,
"There's something else though." Severus rolled his eyes before he flipped them over. She laughed again and he growled against her neck,
"What is it?"
"Does a Mr. Barty Crouch Junior ring a bell to you?" What the hell? Severus let go of her and sat up. She pouted and tried to drag him back down but he needed to know the answer.
"What do you mean? He died." Then again so did Pettigrew.
"Not according to my girls. He was here last night. Didn't bother to hide himself either. He was already drunk when he arrived. Kept saying some bullshit about how he was going to help resurrect You-Know-Who." She laughed at that. Severus got out of the bed quickly and began to dress. His movement caused her to stop. He had to leave. The information needed to get to the Headmaster. How tempting she looked, draped in ivory sheets, her hair tussled. Madame Archer stared at him with pleading eyes.
"He isn't going to come back? Is he?" She whispered out in worry.
"I don't know." He tossed his pay at her. She caught it and her eyes widen,
"This is too much!"
"Your new girls, use it to get more clothes and protection spells. Contact me whenever you need potions."
"You don't need to do this…"
"I want to. Take it." His voice left no room for argument. She nodded. She knew their agreement since he first started visiting for information. She would get her sex and money. He would get his information. A rather simple deal, in fact. He moved to the door when she called out,
"Don't get yourself killed."
"I make no promises."
Very early next morning, he informed Albus and Minerva of the new information. Albus stroked his beard while Minerva paced around the office.
"Just what we need. Someone else who we thought died to be miraculously alive again. Tell me Severus, should we worry that Medusa Avery will rise again?" Minerva asked sarcastically.
"Unlikely, the Dark Lord behead her when she failed to get Crouch into her bed."
"Now I don't want Harriet at that bloody cup."
"Now Minnie, Harriet does want to go. She is very excited." Albus threw in his two cents. Minerva glared at him enough that he began to shrink into his chair again. That's been happening a lot recently. It was amusing to watch.
"Perhaps Harriet shouldn't go with just the Weaselys for protection?" Albus asked, terrified that Minerva was going to unleash her fury on him. Why did he have a bad feeling about this?
"I would go but I have to go meet six different Muggleborn students today."
"Then perhaps Severus-"
"No."
"But Severus, I hadn't even asked-"
"You don't need to. My answer is no. I have work to do and I told Lucius that I wasn't going to the blast thing." Albus pondered this before snapping his fingers. He rose from his chair and moved to the fireplace.
"Moonlace Home." He threw the powder into the floo. "Remus, are you there?" God fucking dammit. Instead of Lupin, the mutt answered,
"Albus, what's wrong? Is Harriet okay? Did that Greasy Git hurt her? If he hurt her- Ow! Remus!" Thank God Lupin was there to drag Black out of the fireplace. Severus wanted to cancel the floo on him.
"Sirius, you know you're not supposed to answer the floo. Albus, what can I do for you?"
"If you would floo through please, I would like to discuss something with you. And yes Sirius, you may floo in too." Fucking hell.
The last of the Marauders flooed through. Lupin still looked as shabby as he usually did. Black at least was clean, which was a miracle seeing how long he was in Azkaban for. Minerva poured herself some coffee and passed another cupful to him. Severus was very happy that she added the wizarding version of Bailey's to it.
"Albus, how can we-"
"Minerva, where's Harriet? Is she okay?" Black interrupted Lupin loudly as he tried to monopolize Minerva.
"She's sleeping. It's 0600 here."
"It is?! Really, it's like what 10pm where we live. Remus, where do we live again?"
"Never mind that, Black." Severus sneered out, wanting to get this done and over with. "Now Albus, if you would? I have to get started before sunrise or I'll lose a valuable day on Angel's Trumpet Draught."
"Oh, is that going to fix that greasy mess you call hair, Snivellus? Ow, ow, ow! Minerva, let go!" Minerva had grabbed Black left ear in a vice grip and held Black's head back at an awkward angle.
"Sirius, you are thirty years old. You are an adult and I expect you to act like one. If you don't, I will have no problem bringing you over my knee. But I know that I won't have to do the right?" Her sickly sweet smile frightened the living shit out of Black.
"Yes, Professor! I'm sorry, Professor!"
"And who else are you going to apologize to?"
"No one. Ow!" Minerva was twisting his ear now. "Fine, sorry Snape. Shit, that hurt like a fucking bitch. Hey- cough, cough." One does not curse in front of Minerva or less they face her soap spell in their mouth. Unless you were Severus, of course.
"Anyway, Remus, due to recent information, Minerva and I would like you to go with the Weasely to the World Cup in Minerva's absence."
"Really? Of course I'll do it." Lupin replied in excitement. Severus had to stop himself from vomiting in his mouth from Lupin's happiness.
"Hey, can I go?" The other occupants in the room turned towards at Black and stared at him like he grew two extra heads.
"Black, did it escape that empty waste of space that you call a brain that you are a wanted convict with a death sentence over your head?" Surely, Black couldn't be that stupid.
"Oh yeah." He spoke too soon.
"Maybe Sirius could go in his animagus form?" Lupin suggested timidly.
"Yes, let's allow the dogfather to carelessly go to a place with the largest concentration of wizards in Britain since school ended. Oh, and let's not forget the fact that the Minister of Magic and his Auror guards will be there as well. Who, by the way, knows that Black has an animagus form. Yes, Lupin, brilliant plan. 1 point to Gryffindor." Ah, sarcasm, oh how we missed you so.
"My apologies Sirius, but you can't go. I'm sure Remus will bring you back a gif.t." Albus reassured the mutt. Then, the floo roared to life and Miss Potter's voice called through.
"Headmaster, have you seen Mama?"
"Harriet!" Shouted both Lupin and Black as they tripped over each in their effort to get to the fireplace. Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. Stupid Gryffindors.
"Sirius, Remus, what are you doing here?! You're supposed to be in hiding, Sirius!" Miss Potter scolded as she stepped through. She dusted herself off. The girl had obviously just awoken she was still in her dressing gown. Minerva quickly casted another layer of robes for her.
"Harriet! Princess! How are you? Have you been playing Quidditch? You excited for the Cup?" Black asked excitedly as he smothered his goddaughter in a fierce hug. Severus pried Black off of the Girl-Who-Nearly-Lost-All-Of-Her-Oxygen.
"Thank you, Professor." Miss Potter said after taking a big gulp of air. "I'm good, Sirius. Yes, I've played Quidditch and yes, I'm excited for the cup. Now will you tell me why you're here and not in hiding."
"Remus and I are going with you to the Cup!" Everyone looked at Black like he was crazy, including Miss Potter. Black, you fucking idiot! Severus was about to yell at Black when Miss Potter said,
"Absolutely not. It's too dangerous. I can understand Remus being able to go but you aren't going."
"But Harry-"
"No." You know, it's sad that the goddaughter has more maturity than the godfather.
"Anyway, Mama, I have to floo to the Weasely's soon. I'll head back and finish getting ready." Miss Potter then turned to him and said,
"Professor, thank you for the books. I put them back on their shelves for you."
"Think nothing of it. Have your essay on veelas completed when you return and we'll discuss it later."
"Yes, Sir. Bye Sirius, stay out of trouble. Remus, see you at the Cup. Having a good day everyone." With that, the Girl-Who-Lived left the office. Now that that was over with, Severus could finally go back to his lab and finish that drau-
"What the hell type of books are you letting my Harriet read, you greasy perverted git?!" Just his fucking luck.
Author's Note- The World Cup approaches. Will Sirius sneak out to the Cup? Will the Death Eaters make an appearance? Who is Barty Crouch Jr. and why is he important? All of this and more will be answered very so. I love you guys so much! Sorry again for the long wait! Love you guys!
-V.I. Winthrop