A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any character thereof.

Chapter 62

"He's fine Severus."

"How the hell did Crouch's elf get his wand?"

"I'm not sure Harry even knows how the elf got his wand. What did you get from Lucius?"

"It was indeed him. Well the Dark Mark in the air was not him, but the antics were. Thankfully, he did not let Draco participate. Albus the signs are all around. The Dark Mark in the air and on my arm ... the disappearances."

"I see them too Severus."

"Maybe I shouldn't tell him," Severus muttered. "Not with the indications this clear."

"We both knew that he would be coming back and you agreed that regardless, you would tell him."

"You're sure he's fine?"

"Yes. I talked to Molly this morning. He was out in the garden talking with his friends."

Severus nodded and made to leave the room.

"Severus ..."

"I've not changed my mind Albus. I will still tell him when school starts."

Albus nodded and watched as the man left. Just as he sat back down, an owl flew in through the window.

Sirius Black was currently in muggle London. He had transfigured his clothes into a business suit and had transfigured parts of his face so that he wouldn't be recognized.

He easily found the house he was looking for and grimaced.

Sirius had hoped to never see this place again as long as he lived but he needed and wanted to be closer to Harry.

"Pleasant day for a stroll isn't it?"

Sirius turned and smiled at the way the elderly man was dressed. It was a very bright purple suit.

"Hello Albus."

"You sure about this?"

He nodded. "I am. By law it's mine. It has stricter wards than most places and it's already unplottable. The only thing missing is the Fidelius Charm."

"Myself as secret keeper right?"

Sirius nodded at the Headmaster.

Albus performed the spells and then handed Sirius a note that read '12 Grimmauld Place, London'.

When Sirius looked up, he saw his house reappear.

Since Sirius was the legal owner of the house, he technically didn't need to be told the Fidelius secret, however, being told made the house easier for him to see.

"Care to venture inside with me?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"What is that smell?" Asked Albus after they had entered the house.

"Traitors! Blood Filth! Scum!"

"Oh shut up mother!" Sirius turned to close the curtains over the portrait of his mother on the wall.

They made their way into the kitchen. "Well at least I won't be bored," he mused. "Kreacher!"

Nothing happened.

"Kreacher!"

And again nothing happened. "I suppose his not answering could explain the smell."

"If you want, I can send you a couple of my own elves over to help. They'll be able to get your shopping done."

"I'd appreciate it. I suppose any dark artifacts I find I can send up to the attic to comb through later. The scrubbing of each room is going to take me ages."

"I'll send my elves over after I talk to them. I'll also have them bring you some food."

"I appreciate it Albus. I appreciate everything."

"We'll find some way to clear you Sirius."

"I hope so for Harry's sake more so than my own."

Albus nodded. He felt like he was in between a rock and a hard place. It was not his place to tell him that Harry was Severus' son.

"Did Buckbeak settle back in with Hagrid alright?"

"He did," nodded Albus. "I need to get back to the castle. If you need anything else, please let me know. The elves will be along within the hour."

Sirius nodded and started using spells to clear away the cobwebs and dust in the kitchen.

"Everything and everyone is in place my Lord."

"Excellent Wormtail." The creature that was Voldemort looked at the cowering man as he finished milking Nagini. "You have a question?"

Wormtail nodded. "Why go through this elaborate plan? With him in place, he could turn anything into a port key and bring the boy to us immediately. You could return to your body months sooner."

Voldemort saw the fat rat like man trembling and chuckled (which sounded like an evil hiss). He was surprised that he had the foresight to ask such a question.

"Because when you perform the ritual, I need to have built up a certain amount of personal strength. If we keep up with the mixture of Nagini's venom and unicorn blood, come June, I will be ready."

"Of course My Lord. You are wise as always."

"Leave me for a while Wormtail. I won't need fed for another couple of hours."

Wormtail headed towards his bed in the next room.

August 31, 1994

Harry,

First of all the next time your scar hurts, bleeds, and / or you have another dream, tell Professor Dumbledore right away. He will want to know.

Now in regards to curse scars, I'm afraid I can't tell you anything. Your scar is one of a kind.

All this worries me, especially with what happened at the World Cup. It prompted me to come back to the country to be closer to you. Don't worry, I'm well hidden.

And while I do not anticipate on getting caught, if I do it will not be your fault. Get that out of your head this instant.

I want to hear about anything strange happening. Keep your eyes open and trust your instincts.

Have a good start of term and enjoy the festivities this year.

Love,

Padfoot

PS Use a different owl that way Hedwig can't be tracked.

CRACK!

Harry looked over bemusedly at the glass in the door of the Hogwarts train. It was cracked.

"Honestly Harry. You need to keep your temper under control. Reparo." Hermione said as she waved her wand at the glass.

Harry watched it repair itself. It was the first bit of accidental magic he had done in a couple of months - which was a vast improvement.

"What's up mate?" asked Ron.

"Sirius is back," hissed Harry. He handed the letter over to Ron and Hermione.

"I'm sure he's safe," said Hermione as she read it.

"Festivities?" asked Ron.

Harry shrugged.

The door to their compartment opened. "Anything off the Trolley dears?"

Harry nodded. He bought each of them some chocolate frogs. As he turned to close the door, he saw Cho Chang approach the trolley.

Harry smiled and fled back into the compartment.

Ron looked at him like he was crazy.

Severus was pacing the staff room nervously.

"Severus what is the matter with you?" asked Minerva. She had never seen him like this before.

"Nothing," he snapped.

"Don't you get grumpy with me Severus Snape," she snapped back.

Severus sighed. "I apologize Minerva. I just have a lot on my mind."

Albus cleared his throat. He was fully aware of why Severus was pacing and thought it better to rescue him before a duel erupted during the staff meeting, which sadly would not be a first.

"Let's get this started so we can head to the Great Hall."

Harry and his year mates were talking animatedly during dinner about the Tri-Wizard Tournament and the arrival of Mad-Eye Moody. (He had arrived during Dumbledore's speech.)

Harry suddenly felt someone staring at him. He looked up and saw that it was Moody. He frowned. Moody was the only one in the Great Hall that didn't have a glowy thing.

That was odd.

"Are you going to find a way to enter Harry?"

Harry focused on Seamus. "Nah. I just want a nice, quiet year."

Everyone chuckled. "Good luck with that," said Dean.

That night, before Harry retired to bed, he replied to Sirius' letter.

Severus was exhausted. He had just returned from taking his first years to their first check up with Madam Pomphrey. Just as he reached his quarter's he was brought up short by someone standing at his door.

"Moody," sneered Severus.

"Snape. Just where have you been?"

"Why do you care where I've been?"

"Because it's my job to care."

"You are not my keeper. Now remove yourself from in front of my quarters before I remove you myself."

"I'd like to see you try."

Severus drew his wand and pointed it at Moody.

Moody merely laughed and limped away. "I'll be watching you Snape."

Severus entered his quarters.

'Man has really gotten paranoid,' he thought as he removed his outer robes.

A/N: Moody's lack of a glowy thing will be explained later. This chapter addresses a couple of my pet peeves from the books. If Sirius had a house, why did he not move into it sooner than Harry's 5th year. Yes, he hated seeing it but at least he doesn't have to live out in the open anymore. It also addresses the fact that since 'everyone was in place', why didn't the imposter take Harry sooner. Hopefully everyone is happy with the explanation that I have given (though I will say that Lord Moldy-Shorts does elaborate on it later in another chapter).

The next chapter is longer and poor Harry is going to be getting a lot of detention. Oh ... and him and Malfoy have an almost civil conversation. *grin*

A/N: For those that asked me about how I'm doing with my typing program, I think I have it mostly sorted out. At least for a little while anyway. I'm using a trial version of the newest WordPerfect that's out until I can find my CD to install the non-trial version on my netbook. I gave up on word. It kept resetting my paragraphs and pages and overall making me insane. LOL I hope to have the next chapter out by either late Monday night or sometime on Tuesday. =)

A/N: Now, for the other regular warnings. This story will stick to the main plot line of the Goblet of Fire book, and some quotes are from the book directly. However, every once in a while, a scene or two from the movie may sneak in. (All that of course aside from the fact that a lot of scenes from my own mind are sneaking in as well - evil cackle!) Quite a bit of what's written in the Goblet of Fire will change to suit my whims for my own story! Don't hate me! (Evil smirk!)