The Headmaster of Shinou Academy observed the group of students in front of him. "Many of you noticed Reina Suzuki's use of a sword in the most recent task. Today, you will have the chance to either watch or, if you have prior experience, possibly participate in an exhibition match against one of out students. For those with experience or interest in archery, please see Professor Ishida. For those with interest or experience in boxing or martial arts experience, Professor Sado. Professor Inoue will be overseeing any of those interested in healing, and alternative weapons."

The students collectively turned to look at the woman, wondering just what "alternative weapons" were.

Considering the number of assorted objects behind her (including a silk robe, a ceramic coffee cup, three dictionaries, and far too many sharp kitchen implements), a number of students were decided to at least observe one of the lessons.

"Please note that for those working with swords, what we teach is not European fencing, but zanjutsu. The rules are different, and all of the Shinou students will be fighting with live weapons. On Sunday, during the closing ceremonies, the top ranked student will spar against me."

The last statement caused a flurry of whispers to break out among the Shinou students, which caused their Headmaster to smirk, before he returned to addressing the others.

"We will, of course, have Madame Pomfrey on hand for any injuries, but if you do choose to participate, you will be required to sign a waiver that states you understood the consequences and won't complain too much if you get hurt."

~IiI~

"You will split yourselves up into groups based upon skill level. Don't lie, there's no point in injuring anyone's feet more than you have to. Done? Good."

The French professor observed the students with a sniff.

Those who had come to observe - either not trusting their dancing skills or having no desire to learn - watched with relief at not having to stand under that particular professor's gaze. She looked like she could cut you down to size with a word, and feel absolutely no remorse for any feelings she might injure, unless you were perfect at executing her art.

(The Slytherins might have collectively been in a competitive love triangle over her with the Ravenclaws. There was some scuffling in the back, before the professor spoke again.)

"They're all your's Madame Maxime," as she curtsied and swept off the dance floor.

"Thank you."

~IiI~

"Staves are not wands. They have more personality, are older and slower to respond initially, and especially if you do not have the requisite amount of power to wield them. Therefore, you will all be given orbs to practice with. This is how it is done at Durmstrang, before anyone moves on to another foci. The orbs will help train you.

"If anyone already has experience with these, then go see one of the other professors," the older man said, with a grin, and a small group of students shuffled off to the side. "We shall begin with lumos."

"Lumos." The students incanted.

Suddenly, light filled the room like a solar flare.

"Argh!"

"GAH!"

"Sorry!" Neville shrieked, throwing the orb in an attempt to put an end the blinding light, though he was not the only one holding a miniature sun.

"Ah, too much power, yes?" the Durmstrang professor commented behind sunglasses. "You only need light enough to see, not blind your enemies."

~IiI~

"Welcome!" Fred and George shouted to the packed Great Hall.

"Hogwarts, as you all know," Fred said.

"Is known for its four houses," George continued.

"The Lions,"

"The Badgers,"

"The Ravens,"

"And the Snakes."

"Thanks to our good friend the Sorting Hat, we've managed to make miniature versions that you all can try!" They proclaimed in unison.

"But first," George began, once the whispers had quieted, "you must prove yourselves worthy of the houses."

"So we've made a bit of a treasure hunt!" Fred said, gleefully.

"Now, you've all got until around 4 o'clock, to give us enough time to sort you before supper,"

"So off you all trot! And, whatever you do,"

"Don't. Anger. The cat." They finished together.

Students scrambled to exit the stands in order for the hunt to begin.

"Notice how none of them asked us for a list, Gred?"

"That I did Forge. Guess none of them are Ravens, eh?"

They share a grin.

"Well, we'll see!"

Dinner consisted of a large number of animals gracing the various tables, and conversation was lost among the roars, hisses, caws, and whatever sound badgers make - which was, it was thought, drowned beneath the rest of the clamor.

~IiI~

Overall, Hogwarts won first place, Durmstrang second, Shinou third, and Beauxbatons fourth. Although this had little effect on their respective champion's scores, they were awarded some points for their school's demonstrations - just because they were champions, didn't mean they didn't need some support from their schools.

~IiI~

Back in the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, Barty Crouch, Jr. clutched his head and groaned. He was failing his master. And his master knew it, as if in unnecessary confirmation, his Dark Mark thrummed with pain.

Why, why did those Japanese show up? Did they know? They couldn't know, no one knew what his master's plan was, except him. Him and Wormtail, but the rat was with his master - had better be with his master, helping his master regain his strength for Barty's success. He would succeed - he could not completely fail his master, not again.

Potter should be in first place - would have been in first place - or at least not as distant a second as he was currently, and so narrowly ahead of Krum. Although...there was an idea. Igor had been slacking with his students. And if not him, then there were other contestants - after all, in a dark maze it's hard to tell friend from foe...or how many creatures there are.

~IiI~

Nearly a month later, the champions were shown the final task.

While the boys were certainly upset about the sacrilege inflicted upon the Quidditch field, the girls were more interested in the maze itself.

"So, we must get through the maze and reach the center to get the cup and win the tournament, yes?" Fleur asked.

"Precisely!" Bagman said.

"Are there any restrictions on what we may do within the maze?" Was her follow up question.

"Well, we'd appreciate it if you all avoid killing each other, but there'll be plenty of trials within the maze itself to give you trouble, so apart from sensibly not using anything illegal, you all are free to use what you'd like."

"I see, thank you," she said with a smirk.

Reina was beginning to be concerned about her fellow champions. The tasks she could handle. The rest?

Well. There was a reason she was gunning for Kurosaki-taichou's division, to serve under either Kurosaki or Sado directly.

~IiI~

The interruption of Aki's practice wasn't welcome, but he knew that the Englishman who'd once been judging the tournament in which his best friend was participating was probably important enough to stop his attempts at upper level kidou and alert Kurosaki-taichou.

Man, and when he's finally been figuring out how not to implode his bindings...

Still, the mission came first, so Aki flared his reiatsu while wandering over to grab the physically older man in torn robes, who'd begun muttering to a tree.

Sure people knew that Suzuki could "run on air," but it's not like he needed to remind them of that fact. And it didn't look like the guy was going to die anytime soon.

~IiI~

The quick arrival of Ishida (who, admittedly, was probably better for this work), resulted in the transport of both student and ministry worker to the Headmaster's office.

Conveniently, nearly all the other people involved with the tournament were present.

Ishida, quite unnecessarily given the proximity, but politely, knocked on the window, which was quickly opened by Kurosaki.

"Kurosaki, Tamura found this man walking in the forest asking for Professor Dumbledore."

"That's the...judge who's been missing, right?"

Ishida rolled his eyes.

Kurosaki scowled. "Well, bring him in."

Given the stupefied expressions on the other teachers' faces, Ishida forwent the polite courtesy of asking Dumbledore for permission to enter, and walked in with Tamura Aki, dragging Crouch behind him.

Apparently it wasn't everyday you saw visitors arrive via window, but given that they'd all seen Suzuki Reina's performance, Ishida didn't see why it was such a shock to see the teachers perform similar feats. Even if he was standing on a glowing platform.

Nonetheless, Dumbledore recovered quickly enough and nodded his, now unnecessary, assent before Tamura closed the window behind them. Given the current position of the furniture in the room, Ishida and Tamura were facing a semi-circle of teachers.

With a nod, Kurosaki said, "Alright, Tamura, start from the top."

~IiI~

"This is an outrage! Your ministry man claims illness only to turn up at this tournament he organized - is this a plot, Dumbledore? A plot to win over Durmstrang, to cheat even more than you've been allowed to already with a second Hogwarts champion?" Karkaroff spat at the elderly wizard.

"And you, you upstart." He said, rounding on Kurosaki. "It was your people who found this man! How do we know you're not colluding with Dumbledore in this mess? To make yourselves better and impress others by overstepping your boundaries, as if crushing everyone in every single competition wasn't enough to show your arrogance!"

Dumbledore simply sat back, pondering the appearance of this unintended guest, while Kurosaki was vastly unamused by Karkaroff's blatant stupidity. Ishida couldn't blame him. It was quite repetitive.

Madam Maxime took up the questioning and complaints before Karkaroff had finished, thankfully ending the further insulting tirades that were, without a doubt, forming in Karkaroff's brain.

"Indeed, Monsieur Karkaroff, this is most peculiar, but then why is this man in such a state? And perhaps even more importantly, how did he even get onto the school grounds? There seems to be a security breach, for him to have been able to arrive here. I was told this was one of the safest places in Britain - but if this man can come into the school in such a state, I must question that proclamation. Are my students truly safe?" She glared at Dumbledore.

"Perhaps the best question," Kurosaki cut in, "is why this man is here, though how he get here is certainly an excellent question as well. And what did he want - does he want?"

This was, apparently, the man's cue to cease speaking at air, fixating his eyes on Dumbledore and finally saying something relevant.

"Dumbledore. Must warn...Dumbledore."

"Yes, Barty, what do you need to warn me about?"

"Must...tell Dumbledore...that He's back...back...and my son...back..."

"What? Who, Barty, and what does this have to do with your son?"

Karkaroff's face went white, Ishida was interested to note.

"Him. Him. He. Is. Back. And my son. My son..."

"Who, Barty?"

"You-Know-..." And then the man began speaking to thin air again regarding his son's OWLs.

But, most people in the room didn't need that statement completed.

~IiI~

A quick trip to the hospital wing left Crouch under the care of Madam Pomfry and Ishida and Aki were allowed to return to their previous activities, provided they remain silent on the whole Crouch matter. Quickly, the school heads reconvened in Dumbledore's office to discuss security, while Dumbledore made a firecall to the Ministry.

"If we can bring in different continents from France and the Slavic countries, we'll have the people to further guard the students. The problem will be the final task."

"Why do you say that, Monsieur Kurosaki?"

"How long has You-Know-Who been back? If he's aware of the tournament, then all the champions are at risk."

"Are you saying He could have someone sabotaging the tournament?" Karkaroff asked.

Kurosaki pinned Karkaroff with a look.

"Given the earlier questions you asked included Hogwarts cheating to include an extra champion, who, completely coincidentally I'm sure, happens to be the one person at the top of You-Know-Who's To-be-Killed list, I think it's foolish to not think the tournament isn't already compromised. Unless you truly believe that a 14 year old is more powerful than Dumbledore and whatever ancient magic the goblet is imbued with."

Karkaroff was silent.

In the lull, vague sounds from the fire could be heard.

Soon enough, Dumbledore retreated from the hearth with an air of frustration and exasperation.

"Minister Fudge is refusing to believe the words of a, I quote, 'deserting, lying official, who has shirked his duty to the wizarding nation' that Voldemort is back. Consequently he shall not be informing the other Ministries of the possible danger and our need for guards."

Karkaroff and Maxime both protested loudly.

"He would put our students at risk?"

"There will be no help coming?"

Kurosaki, however, remained pensive.

"Ichigo, are you not concerned for your own students?" Dumbledore asked perturbed by the lack of visible concern.

"You forget, Dumbledore, that Shinou is a military school - and it's students will see battle before they graduate as part of the curriculum. My students have some idea of how to handle themselves if we are attacked. Can you say the same for any of yours? With the end of the major wars at the Time of Separation, the schools have fallen back to peace time curriculums that fail to instill the necessary attitudes and mindset one needs in battle."

The other three bowed their heads, because Kurosaki spoke the truth. But that did not stop their questions.

"Where do your students see live battles? For that matter how? Most of the magical nations are at peace." Madame Maxime queried, for it was her job to know almost everything that happened in the Magical World, so her students would be in the best place possible to succeed.

"And would you have had us maintain wartime policies and disciplines? The parents would revolt and those skills would not suit the current world."

"There is no place for the extreme wars that were fought in ages past. Voldemort is a problem, but he, too, will pass." Dumbledore added.

"How will the threat of Voldemort pass if there is no resistance? And why should civilian volunteers fight when there are those trained? Do you not have some form of armed forces - they should be able to build on what the students learned in school, not have to teach them anew. And basic defense is of benefit to everyone. As for where? Well, Karkaroff, if you do not reveal where your school is, why should I have to do so with mine?

"But, regardless, my students will be ready. And, if you can prevent it from ruffling too many feathers, there are others than can be called who might assist in defense of this school."

The mood was tense, all the European school heads focused on the one from Japan, who in turn met each of their eyes squarely, but none longer than Dumbledore's. He flinched minutely and bowed his head in agreement.

"Very well. I shall work on Cornelius, but if I cannot prevail, I will take responsibility for your people coming to protect the students and the school. As the Chief Warlock of the ICW I can go above the man's head. And considering the event...international help might be exactly what we need."

"I too, will inform the Prime Minister, and see what he can do. He was one of my students, not to long ago," Madame Maxime said.

"I shall do the same," Karkaroff grumbled.

"Very well."

~IiI~

One would've had to have been completely oblivious to have not noticed the change in the atmosphere among the headmasters and headmistress, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione certainly weren't.

There was, after all, a mystery afoot.

But, between final exams and the looming final task, neither Hogwarts student had time to devote to discovering the source of tension.

Two more chapters to go!

And Kitsuneonna, over on Ao3, has agreed to help out with further beta'ing (because apparently I can't just complete a thing, I have to add more as I post them. Whoops).

Also, any replies will be delayed as I finish off Hell Week, and begin finals - next week's chapter will probably be earlier in the day, since I'm amazingly smart and have three finals all on Thursday of next week. (I'mma die.)

Anyways, reviews are very welcome! And don't forget that you can always poke me on tumblr: .com.

~Fins