Chapter 4

I didn't know where I was walking to until I arrived at the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey must have been having bad day.

"Severus, are you alright?" she seemed concerned about me.

"I'll be fine Poppy, it's just this tournament; I keep feeling something major's going to happen," now she was really worried.

"The arm?"

"Not really but Potter?" I looked directly at her, she saw what I meant; but I didn't know what that was.

"He's asleep, poor lad's exhausted; and he keeps going on about understanding you Severus," I raised the eyebrow.

"I don't know what you mean Madame Pomfrey. Has Moody been to see you?" I blurted out quickly, she seemed shocked.

"He told me you hit him, and then after trying to get you to apologise to him, you went off in one; apparently slamming the door in his face," she finished, she knew more than I thought. There was no escaping it.

"Something like that," at least I looked ashamed, she was laughing. "Mad-Eye hasn't been here at all has he? But Dumbledore knows doesn't he?" well at least she stopped laughing.

"Good guess, Severus. He wants to talk about it when you're ready of course,"

"Of course," I really didn't need the headmaster on my back for `attacking` the great Mad-Eye Moody; especially when he started it. I snapped out of my melancholy mood as soon as I heard a particular voice.

"You seem preoccupied, Professor," he still sounded tired. "So how long have I been out this time?"

"Long enough, Potter, long enough,"

"You're getting as bad as Pomfrey," I gave him the look, "Alright Madame Pomfrey,"

"Better Potter; what do you remember?"

"That you didn't confund me and Neville, when Mad-Eye turned up and that you seemed scared of him," Potter waited for a while when he said again, "About the second challenge I don't remember a lot, sir," I wasn't listening to him, since Moody had just walked in; apparently he had sneezed causing his nose to bleed profusely – good serves him right – we ignored each other until Pomfrey asked:

"Alastor, how on earth did your nose get broken in two places, when it was fine two days ago?" his response was surprisingly quick; not knowing that she already knew.

"Walked into a wall, thinking, didn't see where I was going," it was a good thing she never asked the same question twice, most useful.

"Right, "clearly not believing him, "and then you sneezed this morning?"

"Preciously," he wanted to leave, just as I wanted him to as well. Potter was wisely pretending to be asleep. I wanted him to know how much I hated him, but I couldn't hiss at him in front of Pomfrey.

"Severus," I hadn't realised I'd been staring into nothingness again.

"Did you say something Poppy?" at least I hadn't yawned yet; I was tired.

"You can relax Professor, he's gone; that's what you said wasn't it Madame Pomfrey?"

"Exactly Potter, why weren't you asleep?"

"The boy was only pretending to sleep Poppy; I'd suggest he doesn't want to be pestered," Potter nodded, "in that case I shall take my leave, sleep Mr Potter," as I turned to leave Poppy had to ask, didn't she?

"So, what made you hit him; must have been a good punch if he acts like that around you Severus,"

"And what would you know of good punches, Poppy?"

"Only that I was a keen boxer in my youth, thank-you Snape," I snorted, I shouldn't have but I couldn't help it. The mental image of Poppy Pomfrey, Hogwarts School's medi-witch, boxing was just priceless. Although Potter tried to shuffle further away from her, couldn't say I blamed him; she could be terrifying when she wanted to be.

"Well it was a punch that he didn't see coming. Is that his hipflask?" I was trying to distract myself from everything going on, I didn't want anyone to know that the mark was burning like mad, oddly it only happened when Potter winched; so I could say that his scar was also trying to tell him something.

"Yes, wonder what made him forget that?" the sarcasm was unmistakable. Our attitudes changed completely as a small pop was heard, as a tiny house-elf squeaked it's request,

"Herbie was told by Master Dumbledore to fetch Harry Potter ready for the final challenge, Herbie was Sirs and Madame," when the elf had finished it rocked continuously. I did my best to ignore it but its movements where giving me a headache. Madame Pomfrey was the first to act,

"Herbie, would you kindly tell the headmaster that Professor Snape will escort Harry to the arranged meeting place in around half an hour," the elf nodded as it began to disapperate; I added,

"Also inform the Professor that the delayed time is concrete, thank-you," again it nodded and disapperated into thin air. I could hear a breath of relaxation, from either Potter or Pomfrey I couldn't tell.

"Potter you need to rest," Pomfrey was getting irritable, that much I could hear.

"Harry got to sleep, I fear you will need not only strength but courage as well; whatever this challenge this is, it will not be easy," I stroked the bridge of his nose, placing him into a deep magical sleep.

"Is that legal?" Poppy was again worried.

"Of course not, but since when has that stopped me? Besides at least he will now rest," I had to smirk, but she knew I cared.

"Fine, but not with anyone around else in my hospital wing; I don't want someone getting the wrong idea about how I run my infirmary," she was getting distressed, never a good sign.

"Poppy relax you have my word, "great Snape now your beginning to sound like Albus. I stared at the floor for the next however many minutes until Potter's `nap` was up, he was awake as I moved out of the chair in which I had been sitting, rather stiffly – the boy of course was bouncing with energy. Hearing Potter's excitable giggles, Poppy rather quickly gave him a calming draught, a weak one of my own design; normally I would have saved it but Potter needed it to keep his nerves under control. Pomfrey's never shown much care for my nerves when she's poking and prodding me needlessly.

"Are you ready Harry?" came her voice from next to me.

"No but I suppose I have to be, don't I?" he was looking between us for any sign of worry; or any emotion at all from me.

"I'm sure the headmaster could change the arrangement, if you're not fully recovered," I was hopeful that he might take the offer, but since when had a Gryffindor ever listened to reason. Still I was hopeful.

"Severus," Poppy hadn't even given the boy a chance to answer himself – damn that woman sometimes. "You know Dumbledore can't do that, besides it's against the rules of this stupid tournament," she folded her arms firmly against her chest, I knew it to be a defensive stance – I use it a lot – but also quite a fierce one saying do not mess with me – she was stubborn; but so was I.

"It's not that stupid," I wasn't sure what Harry was defending; the absent headmaster or the tournament. "It has been rather fun, battling dragons and saving my friends from dangerous merpeople," my eyebrow must have raised for he added, "which probably aren't dangerous just misunderstood," he was going to say something pitiful I could tell, I had to cut him off.

"That's not what I meant by the eyebrow Potter, I merely meant that you almost died facing that Horntail and then again with the Merpeople; and that was my fault not yours," I really shouldn't have say that but he had to understand he was in danger; again.

"What do you mean that was your fault?" I bravely cut Madame Pomfrey off before she could go into a full rant.

"I didn't take into consideration the effect fresh and salt water has on Gillyweed, the best Herbologists are still debating if there's an effect at all," I sighed, "I should have listened to Longbottom," I shook my head at my own stupidity.

"I'll give you a check-up later, Severus but for now go and take Potter to that strange maze they built," I should have known I was never going live down that last comment. I walked Potter down to the maze as agreed by Pomfrey, as I was about to leave I gave a final good luck to Harry. Upon my return to the castle, I could see that Mad-Eye was running insanely late. But I did want to know what he was up to, then I recognised the glow from the ridiculous Triwizard Cup – which was supposed to be at the centre of the maze already. I knew that I had to confirm or deny my suspicions that Mad-Eye was not Mad-Eye, until then I had heard no sound as I silently pushed open the door. It was open just open enough to see, but I heard a voice that I hadn't heard in years; at first I thought it was a figment of my imagination but it wasn't. As were Alastor Mad-Eye Moody stood came the unmistakable voice of Barty Crouch Jr, an old Death Eater with a score to settle against Kargoroff and myself.

"Portus," I knew the spell but there had to be a more Slytherin approach to what I was about to do.