Law and Order

Dobby watched with concern when Hermione began her rant about houseelves and rights. He shook his head. This human girl didn't understand elves at all. She measured them with her human standards, not knowing the consequences.

"Miss Granger. We house elves like it this way. It might seem unjust to you but we don't."

Harry nodded. "Hermione. You cannot force them to do something." "This makes you just as bad as Crouch." Ginny added. Ron grabbed the pack of food he ordered for Snuffles. "Hermione. You are a muggleborn. You don't understand. Houseelves are bound to a master. Otherwise they will die as their magic ceases and they loose their drive to live."

The next day Hermione fell victim to a series of howlers and letters with traps. Cause was an article written by Rita Skeeter. In a short moment Harry had looked out of the tent during the first task and Hermione had wished him luck, with a hug. Rita scandalized the article with interviews of Slytherins to place Hermione as a bad guy. However, the student wasn't the reporter's first victim. Hagrid had received threats as well when his half-giant heritage was revealed.

Erik sighed. Maintaining security was already difficult enough. If the mail had to be checked as well it would mean taking soldiers from patrol duty. He issued an order to keep Rita Skeeter off Hogwarts' grounds. He contacted Overseer Frostbite and Sirius to see if these was something they could do. And indeed Frostbite came up with the idea to pressure the Daily Prophet. The Potters had a fifth of the shares as had the ladyship Weasley-Clan-Vault Ginny possessed. The Blacks had a fifteen percent share so, combined, they had the majority of the shares. Sirius promised to look into the matter. As Harry's godfather he had control over the Potter share. Catherine would help him with the Weasley share but it was just a matter of time. Sirius having dating Amelia Bones since a few weeks could speed the process up. Their old school romance blossomed again although it was a long-distance relationship, as Sirius still traveled to the Cobra-Training-Facility to help Remus.

Hermione was sure that Rita spied on them. Harry suggested that she used a bugging device. However she was sure that the muggle devices didn't work because of the high concentration of magic. Ginny reasoned that if this was the case the soldiers wouldn't work effectively as they did. "Probably a jamming device set up by aware muggles to help keeping the secret." She assumed.

"Indeed. We block everything but our own encrypted frequency." Erik had entered the common room. "I'm here to inform you that the third task involves a maze. With traps. The other champions are informed as we speak. Good luck in there."

Erik returned to the meeting they had in the headmaster's office.

"Sir, I'd like to add that Lieutenant Winston is waiting in front of the Gargoyle." Moody said.

A minute later the Ranger entered and sat down on a couch. "Crime Scene is locked down. We're searching the forest. Krum and Cedric are sure that Crouch was in a strange state. Mr Diggory mentioned that it remembered him of his father's reports about people recently freed from the imperius-curse."

"And your soldiers didn't see it? I begin to question your effectiveness."

Erik stood up and pointed at Fudge. "If you had kept Skeeter in line I wouldn't have had to pull three squads out just for mail-checking. With the missing squads there were holes in the patrol. I managed to reduce one large hole into smaller holes. And if one has to stop to deal with a problem, like the illness in the Bauxbatons camp, the holes get bigger again."

Fudge threw his arms into the air. "The press makes us problems, too. Anyway. We need to find the reason why Crouch disappeared and Krum was shocked. They were near the Bauxbauton camp."

"Skip that. As I said I had a squad in there. All accounted for. Miss Delacour and Madame Maxime were in the Great Hall."

"What about the other Durmstrangs?" "Too far away. They would have crossed my gamekeeper to get there. I assure you that Hagrid is very fond of the grounds and keeps an eye on everyone who crosses it." Dumbledore said.

The next morning McGonagall came down the table to meet Harry and Ginny. "Potter, Weasley, the champions are to meet after breakfast in the room behind the great hall."

"But Professor, the task is this evening." "I am aware of this Mr Potter. However the families of the champions will be watching and now would be a good moment to meet them."

Harry was greeted by a playful punch in his shoulder. "Hey, Big D." Dudley grinned. "Getting yourself into trouble again?" he grinned. Harry gave aunt Petunia a hug while Ginny greeted her parents. Bill was also there. Charlie wanted to come but he was still busy with getting the dragons back into the reserve. "And flirting with Lauren." Erik added. Fleur was on the other side listening to her parents. However Harry noticed that her sight was completely fixed onto Bill. Apparently she had nothing against long hair and fang-earrings.

Going back into the hall they met the twins and Ron, explaining the reason of why they were here.

Some of the still hardline Slytherins threw strange looks towards Petunia and Dudley, but both were indifferent about it. Luna came over and sat down next to Dudley, as did Daphne Greengrass. She and Neville shared something closer than friendship since the ball. "We don't know. It simply sparked." They explained. They were truly a mixed group. Only a Hufflepuff was missing, but that was soon solved when Susan Bones came over. "Sirius finally proposed to Aunt Amelia." She told Harry. The romance between the two adults was not a secret, at least in their small circle, but it still surprised Harry that his godfather took so long to do so. ~Not all are fortunate to share what we have.~ Ginny told him. ~Yeah but to see out little group here, we really are one of a kind.~

Dean Thomas talked with Dudley about football but his gaze was mostly on Ginny which annoyed the girl and her husband immensely. ~He fancies you?~ ~Like nearly all boys in my year. Colin did, too, until I told him off. He is the only one who stayed a friend and didn't pressure me into something else. Some needed, let's call it a more aggressive way, to understand that I'm not interested and off the market.~

As breakfast was coming to an end Dumbledore stood up and announced the third task. The students began to move out of the hall towards the pitch. When Malfoy came over for a comment, Dudley simply ran him over and glared him with the look he had for Harry a few years ago.

"Problems?" "Filthy muggle, I'll..." "You will what?" Professor Flitwick stood behind Draco, a questioning look on his face. "Nothing professor."

"Way to go, Big D." Harry joked as they left the fuming Malfoy behind.

Harry and Ginny waited in front of the maze with the other three champions. The rules were that they would enter accordingly to the points. However, that rule didn't matter at all, because after Fleur entered last she met up with the others. Together they began to face the maze and its inhabitants.

Erik had one group ready at the maze. A second group was circling above the maze, keeping track of the champions and the third group was at the castle.

Second Lieutenant Lori Angeles, callsign Angel patrolled within the castle. It was quiet as all the students were outside at the maze. Therefore it was understandable that she was confused when a lifesign flashed on her HuD. It came from the DADA classroom. She indicated two of her patrol to follow her. The medic with his more precise sensors took the lead and went up the stairs to the teacher's rooms. Ray was confused. His scanners showed him clearly that the person should be in front of him. However the only thing in the direction was a large chest. Next to him his partner and wife Melanie pulled out a wand and tapped the lid. The first opened, revealing a compartment full of books. The second held some potions while the third had clothes in it. The continued to open the chest until the last one opened. The foul smell of excrement filled the air and the Rangers engaged the air-filters of their helmets. Looking down they found a person lying prone in a yellow liquid.

Erik moved a hand to the side of his helmet. It wasn't really necessary but old habits die hard.

"SIR! We have found Moody in his chest. He is barely awake. The only word he said was Imposter. The Moody with you is fake!"

"Copy that, Angel. Get him to the hospital wing and watch over him."

He ran towards the maze. "Moody brought the cup into the maze. Group Red, maintain security. Try to warn the other professors. We need to capture him before he catches up. Group Blue double check the castle, tighten security and equip yourself with heavy weaponry. Angel, examine the room. Any hints on what is going to happen. Group Green, stay in the air. I have the feeling that we will change location soon. Lead me towards the champions."

Kelly nodded as she approached the imposter. With a fast and silent movement she knocked him over. "He fainted. I need medics over here!" She shouted while with the other hand she took his magical eye and stored it into one of the magic-proof pouches on her armor.

Harry and Ginny were leading the group. They had agreed to keep the spirit of the tournament and cooperate and win this competition together. The maze was gigantic. They had already spent hours fighting off creatures and finding the way. They had run across some of Hagrid's blast-ended Skrewts and a sphinx. The riddle was a complicated one:

First think of the person who lives in disguise,

Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.

Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,

The middle of middle and end of the end?

And finally give me the sound often heard,

During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together and answer me this,

Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?

Thanks to Harry's growing up in the muggle world he knew the first two lines were referring to a spy. Fleur's bad english made Cedric noticing the mentioned letters 'd' and 'e'. So far they had the word 'Spyd'. Krum repeated the poem to find the last clue. His heavy accent made him realize the many 'r's in the riddle. Finally Ginny answered to the Sphinx, remembering her brother's scare for the eight-legged creature. "It's a spider!" The sphinx nodded acknowledging and cleared the path.

A boggart attacked them but when it tried to scare the five of them at once it turned into a strange combination of a two headed person with a zombie head resembling Ginny and a bludger. It was clad in dementor robes and had a donkey body. Holding in its hands was a parchment declaring the death of Cedric Diggory by a Dementor's kiss.

Before they could do anything, a blue bolt shot from behind them and hit the boggart dead on, which exploded into a fine blue shower of goo.

Turning around they saw Erik running towards them. The soldier skidded to a stop. "Moody is an imposter. He took the cup in here but we still don't know what he is up to." Harry know understood.

He remembered the dream he had a few days back.

"They are after me."

"Who?" Cedric asked. "Voldemort." Ginny and Cedric flinched at the name. "I have to face him alone." "No you won't." Ginny retorted. "I have to. You are in danger. He will kill you all."

Ginny just lifted her hands. "Bound forever. Even if you leave me, I'll find you no matter what."

Harry reached out to the cup. He was ripped away. Ginny nearly expected her to follow him, but at exact the moment Harry touched the cup, their golden cuff disappeared. "HARRY!" She reached through the bond to find him. ~Don't. This is my fight.~ Harry said. She screamed when he received a Cruciatus and blacked out. Erik checked his weapon. "Security is my responsibility. Also my unit can find me and send back up. And you will need witnesses if Voldemort is really back. Easier to silence one boy than a large group, especially with a famous seeker." He nodded towards Krum.

Cedric nodded in agreement. "As the head boy I can't leave a younger student place himself in danger. I'm with you." Fleur and Krum nodded in agreement. "'e von't exzpect uz." "The morre the merrierr."

Ginny reached out through her bond to Krum and Erik held onto her while Cedric and Fleur held onto them. The older people placed disillusion charms over them while Erik engaged his cloak.

Dumbledore was surprised when the soldiers knocked Moody out. He was about to pull his wand on them when he heard Miss Weasley scream. Turning his attention back to the maze he saw a large flame erupting and quickly disappearing.

Platoon Sergeant Kelly next to him reached for her wrist. "Triangulating now. Lieutenant, any lead on where you are to specify the search?"

"No sun. Completely dark. Left crescent moon. We're on a grave yard. Looks like a valley. Can't really see the stars, which means that there has to be a larger city nearby. Temperature same as in Hogwarts, air pressure a little higher."

Kelly looked up. The sun had disappeared but she could still see a faint light from the horizon. She could see the faint crescent moon as well. That her superior could see the same moon meant that he was still in the UK. Continental Europe was already in the night and the temperature and air pressure wouldn't match. "Group Red, head west. Directions will be relayed. Weapons hot."

Erik hid behind a tombstone. His cloak had shut down to recharge. The other champions were still in disguise. Ginny was getting impatient. She wanted to save Harry as soon as possible but Erik had hold her back. "Evaluate and Engage. In precisely this order. We don't know what they have planned. For all we know, you could kill Harry if you try to free him from that statue." Erik had explained while he deployed a small micro-drone. The machine hovered silently above the graveyard, recording everything and sending the location out to the other Cobras.

Now they waited. He convinced Ginny to lay down and rest. The task and the following teleport with four people had exhausted her. It would be better to have her at full strength than to attack and risking her being captured. "That would put us back to square zero."

Harry concentrated on the bond. It was the only thing that kept him sane while he was bound and tortured with the Cruciatus. Apparently Peter wanted to weaken him for whatever they had planned.. Whatever Pettigrew was brewing couldn't be good. Then the moon rose completely.

Peter reached for a small bundle and dropped it into the cauldron. He stepped over to the grave Harry was bound to and dug a bone out. Lowering the skull into the cauldron he began to stir it with his wand and chant an incantation.

"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son." Next he pulled out a long silver dagger and cut his own hand off. It landed with a splash in the potion which now changed from grey to a dangerously glowing green. "Flesh of the servant, willingly sacrificed, you will revive your master." He sealed off the wound with a short healing spell and limped over to Harry. The dagger sliced his arm open, letting his blood drip into the ready vial. Harry bit his tongue to keep the scream down. It still burned like hell, especially since Wormtail didn't heal the cut.

"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe."

After Peter added the blood into the potion, a fire erupted and lifted the bundle out. The cauldron melted and the dark fog surrounded the rapidly growing figure. It stretched and bended. It was like watching an abomination growing from a fetus to a grown man in a rapid time-lapse. Harry nearly puked from the sight. Far behind him the other champions didn't fare any better. Cedric barely kept his breakfast down while Fleur vomited behind a boulder before rinsing her mouth with a bottle provided by Krum. The bulgarian looked a little green but was fine otherwise. Erik was completely indifferent. In his career as a soldier with Task Force Cobra he had seen a lot and was hardened against such sights. It still gave him the creeps, but it didn't stop him from fighting. Ginny distracted herself with giving Harry a mind-hug.

Finally it was over and the black molten metal formed a cloak around the man who now stood where the cauldron was minutes before.

So pale that he was nearly white, with no nose but snake-like slits, red eyes, burning with hate and evil and a smile with a laugh that was evil, creepy and disturbing at the same time. A voice that didn't fit to the evilness he radiated. "Wormtail, give me your arm. No, the other." He pressed the dark mark. One by one, death eaters apparated into the grave yard.

"Welcome back, my friends. The crusade has begun. We will clean this planet from the dirty blood and claim it as our own. Purging every trace of mud from our pure blood until we rule this planet. Put the muggles where they belong. For I am back!"

Lord Voldemort was back and he was stronger than ever he believed.