Two days later, Neville melted his sixth caldron. When Snape said he has detention, Harry immediately argued in his defense.
"Professor," Harry started.
"Be quiet, Potter," Snape said crossly. "It doesn't concern you."
"He didn't do it on purpose," Harry said.
"You just lost Gryffindor a point," Snape barked. "Now be quiet and mind your own business."
"Does punishing someone prevent accidents?" Harry asked.
"That's another five points you lost," Snape told him. "At the rate you're going, Gryffindor will be negative at the end of the week."
"I'm just trying to figure out how detention will prevent caldrons from melting," Harry said innocently.
"Ten points from Gryffindor," Snape told him. "If you say one more word, you will get detention."
"Will my detention be instead of Neville's or together with him?" Harry asked.
Snape glared at him.
"I will see both of you tonight," Snape told him.
Neville was extremely grateful that Harry was joining him for detention. He paled when told they would have to disembowel a barrel full of horned toads. Harry tried to keep up cheerful conversation with Neville while working as fast as he could, but the job was disgusting. After a half hour, Snape said that Neville could go but Harry has to stay. After all, Neville's detention was the result of accidents. Harry's was on purpose.
"Sit down, Harry," Snape said. "Why are you getting yourself into trouble like this?"
"I don't think it's fair to punish Neville for accidents," Harry said. "He messes up because he's nervous, and punishing him will make him more nervous."
"How's your occlumency doing?" Snape asked.
"Do you know a man named Karkoroff?" Harry asked.
"Why do you want to know?" Snape asked him.
"I think he's the headmaster of Durmstrang," Harry said. "He's also a former death eater."
"I'll keep an eye on him," Snape said.
"Is there a way to detect polyjuice potion?" Harry wanted to know.
"What's that about?" Snape asked.
"I want to make sure that nobody uses polyjuice potion to sneak into the school," Harry said.
"I'll pass on your concern to Professor Dumbledore," Snape said. "Now let's test your occlumency."
"I'm not ready to be tested yet," Harry said.
"I already told you I'm going to test it anytime you get detention," Snape reminded him. "And that was a pretty clever trick to get Longbottom off the hook."
Harry closed his mind and felt pressure as Snape tried to probe his brain. He managed to hold off for several long minutes before the sight of a dementor appeared in his mind.
"Protego!" Harry shouted.
Snape blocked him before he could see anything.
"I asked you not to do that," Snape said.
"I asked you not to test me," Harry said. "Considering I held you off for a few minutes, you shouldn't have persisted. What were you looking for anyway?"
"I wanted to see what you're so scared of," Snape said. "The dementor didn't tell me anything."
"I'm scared of being entered into the tournament by a death eater seeking revenge," Harry said. "I have no problem answering that question when asked. There was no reason to probe my mind."
"Did you tell anyone else?" Snape asked.
"I told Moody and Dumbledore," Harry said.
"We'll keep you safe," Snape promised. "Don't worry about it."
He dismissed Harry who returned to the Gryffindor common room and a pathetically grateful Neville.
On October 30th, Harry stood with his fellow students to greet the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. He had already asked Fred and George if he could borrow the map for a while and had his invisibility cloak in his pocket. He entered the great hall with his fellow Gryffindors and was extremely disappointed to see Mr. Crouch take a seat at the head table alongside Ludo Bagman.
"Didn't Crouch get in trouble for smuggling his son out of Azkaban?" Harry asked Ron.
"He did," Ron answered. "He was demoted. He worked his way back up over the last few years, and since he's fluent in many languages, he was needed for most of his original responsibilities."
Harry opened the map and placed it on the table. After saying the password, he studied the map.
"What are you looking for?" George asked.
"I'm checking for death eaters," Harry answered.
"Did you find any?" Fred wanted to know.
"Two possible ones," Harry said. "One definitely was at one point and the other shares a name with a death eater."
After Dumbledore explained the rules for entering the contest, Harry ran to the head table.
"The second issue was dealt with," Dumbledore said. "The first one shouldn't be a problem with the second one in place."
Harry glanced at Karkoroff who had stood up intending to reach his students. Harry stared at him, and Karkoroff stared back. They continued staring until Snape finally said, "I'll deal with your concern, Harry. I don't think you need to worry."
Harry put on his invisibility cloak and opened the map.
"Where did he go?" Karkoroff asked.
"He's wearing an invisibility cloak," Snape explained. "He's probably hiding right here, trying to make sure you're not planning on doing anything to him while you're here."
Harry saw Dumbledore smile at him. He quickly ran off to take a seat in the entrance hall.
Harry tried to focus on all the figures running around Hogwarts. He watched as students went to their dormitories and professors scurried around. He watched Dumbledore approach with the goblet.
"Are you planning on keeping watch all night?" Dumbledore asked him.
"I have to," Harry said.
"I'll take a shift for you," Dumbledore told him.
"It's fine," Harry said. "I'm not going to be able to sleep anyway."
Harry watched Dumbledore set up the goblet and the age line. When Dumbledore finished, he sat down next to Harry.
"You could go to bed, Professor," Harry said. "There's no reason you need to stay up."
"I won't be able to sleep knowing that you're worried," Dumbledore told him.
"That never bothered you before," Harry said.
"You never confided in me before," Dumbledore said.
Harry continued staring at the map. The professors stopped scurrying around and all seemed to be in their rooms. Harry checked to make sure Karkoroff was still on his ship. He didn't see Mr. Crouch anywhere on the map.
"There's no danger right now," Harry said. "You could go to sleep."
"I was admiring your map," Dumbledore said. "Where did you get it?"
"I'm not allowed to say," Harry told him. "You don't need to stay up because of me."
Dumbledore stood up.
"Good night, Harry," he said.
Harry watched Dumbledore's figure walk away. Instead of going to his own office, he saw it going towards Remus's room. Harry groaned as he saw two figures walking toward the entrance hall. This time when they came in, Dumbledore put his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"He's right over here," he said.
Remus slipped his arm around Harry and sat down next to him. Harry watched Dumbledore's figure go down to dungeons.
"He's getting Snape," Harry told Remus.
"He probably wants to find out how his talk with Karkoroff went," Remus said. "You could go to bed."
"No I can't," Harry said. "I won't be able to sleep anyway so I might as well keep watch."
"You need your sleep," Remus insisted.
"Staying up all night once in a blue moon won't make a difference," Harry told him.
"Don't talk to me about blue moons," Remus said. "They're very painful."
"Sorry," Harry said.
He looked at the map. Dumbledore was still in Snape's office. Remus lifted the cloak and slipped under it next to Harry.
"You don't need to stay up with me," Harry said.
"I want to," Remus told him. "Considering what you did for me last year, I owe you a lot."
Harry looked at the map again. There was still no movement. Remus took the map from Harry's hands.
"I'm trying to track everyone," Harry protested.
"Karkoroff is still on the ship," Remus said. "Dumbledore is still in Snape's office. There is nobody in any corridor."
He pulled Harry into his lap and held him tightly.
"I'm too big for that," Harry said, embarrassed.
"No you're not," Remus said. "You're as small as ever, and you're scared. If it makes me feel better to hold you, let me hold you."
"Can I at least see the map?" Harry asked.
"I'm watching it," Remus said.
"Is this a trap?" Harry wanted to know. "Are you going to let someone enter me?"
"Of course not," Remus said.
Harry slowly felt his eyes closing. He tried to fight it and heard approaching footsteps.
"The map!" he whispered frantically.
Dumbledore and Snape came into view.
"Well you look comfortable," Dumbledore said. "Why don't you go to bed?"
Harry blushed and scrambled off of Remus's lap.
"You were trying to distract me," he said angrily. "Anyone could have entered my name in the goblet during this time."
"Nobody moved," Remus said. "I didn't take my eyes off the map the whole time."
"So why didn't you warn me they were coming?" Harry asked, pouting.
"I thought you fell asleep," Remus said.
He removed the cloak from both of them.
"You should go to bed," Snape told him. "We could take a shift for you."
"I'm fine," Harry said. "You should all go to sleep. There's no reason everyone has to stay up."
"I spoke to Karkoroff," Snape said. "He's as scared as dementors as you are."
"Did he also watch his mum get murdered?" Harry asked.
"No," Snape said. "He went to Azkaban twice because of you."
"Does he want revenge?" Harry asked.
"He's too scared to try anything," Snape told him. "I told him that you told me I didn't change since my death eater days and that you plan on keeping a close eye on him. He wouldn't do anything that will land him in Azkaban again."
"Go to bed," Dumbledore said gently. "I'll keep an eye on things."
"You should go to bed," Harry said. "You're going to have a busy day tomorrow."
"How do you know?" Dumbledore asked.
"Lots of students were talking about trying to get past the age line," Harry told him. "I'm assuming something exciting will happen when they try."
Dumbledore laughed.
"You should all go to bed," Harry said. "Otherwise, I will feel guilty tomorrow that you're all tired just because I'm paranoid."
The three professors said good night to Harry and left. Harry sat alone for the rest of the night, watching the map.