After the next potions lesson, Harry waited for everyone to leave and approached Professor Snape.
"Did it come back?" Harry asked.
"Should I show you or make you fall on your head again?" Snape asked.
"First show me, and after that, if you want you could make me fall," Harry answered.
"I really don't know where this paranoia is coming from," Snape said, reluctantly rolling up his sleeve.
"You see, it's not back," he said.
"Thank you," Harry said.
"Would you like a detention?" Snape asked teasingly.
"No thank you," Harry said. "I don't think I need one tonight."
"Look in my eyes," Snape ordered.
Harry did his best to keep Snape out. After a few minutes of pushing, Snape withdrew.
"You're getting stronger," he commented. "Keep it up."
During the last week of May, Harry asked for the map again. Once again he studied it to make sure Barty Crouch wasn't on school property.
"Anything suspicious?" Ron asked quietly.
"Everything's fine," Harry said. "I was just making sure."
Harry returned the map and walked over to Dumbledore's office.
"Is Mr. Crouch okay?" he asked.
"As far as I know," Dumbledore said. "He should be here for the third task."
"Nobody attacked him?" Harry asked.
"I'll check," Dumbledore said, "but I think it's very unlikely."
Dumbledore left the room and came back a few minutes later.
"I just spoke to him and he's fine," he said. "Now work on your occlumency so you don't have to deal with Voldermort's thoughts all the time."
The night before the third task, Harry went to Dumbledore's office again.
"Can you make sure the tournament cup isn't a portkey?" he asked.
"When they bring it tomorrow, I'll check," Dumbledore said.
Harry was very tense the next day. He checked with Dumbledore several times and had trouble focusing on his History of Magic test.
When it was time for the third task, Harry got the map and asked Dumbledore again about the cup.
"Are you keeping an eye on things?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry nodded.
"So am I," Dumbledore said. "I'll check in with you or send others to check in with you throughout the task, but I don't think you have to worry. As of now it's not a portkey, and it will be hard for anyone to get to it in the middle of the task."
Harry watched Cedric enter the maze. He checked his map. There was nobody else in the maze. Barty Crouch was sitting with the other judges. There were no other Barty Crouches on the map.
"Are you okay?" Remus said, looking at the map over Harry's shoulder.
"I hope so," Harry said. "I'm very nervous."
"I wish I could sit with you," Remus said, "but I have to patrol the outside of the maze."
"If you see anything suspicious, could you let me know?" Harry asked.
"What are you looking for?" Remus wanted to know.
"Voldermort wanted the cup to be turned into a portkey so he could use the winner's blood to make a new body," Harry explained.
"Dumbledore checked and the cup isn't a portkey," Remus said calmly. "I can't stay here with you the whole time, but I'll come check on you every time I get a chance."
Remus walked away. Harry watched Victor enter the maze. Snape walked over and took the map out of Harry's hands.
"You need to occulate and stop worrying," he said firmly. "There is enough security here that everyone is safe. Block Voldermort's thoughts from your mind."
"I can't," Harry said. "Someone could get killed if I do."
"Give me your cloak," Snape said.
Harry reluctantly handed over his cloak. Snape slipped it over both of them and rolled up his sleeve.
"Are you happy now?" he said. "You're the only one he could communicate with so if you keep his plans quiet, nothing will happen."
Snape handed Harry back his cloak and walked away. Harry tried to think how Voldermort can communicate without using his horcrux. Who said the soul really gets destroyed when kissed by a dementor? Maybe all dementors are possessed and nobody realizes it.
Harry watched Fleur enter the maze. Dumbledore walked over to him.
"The cup isn't a portkey," he said firmly. "The only people who could get to the cup now are inside the maze."
Harry nodded, not trusting himself to talk. Dumbledore went back to the other judges. Harry checked the progress of the three champions in the maze. They all seemed to be moving, although he couldn't tell where they were supposed to go. Harry watched nervously until finally Cedric reached the cup. He waited with baited breath as Cedric emerged from the maze as the winner. Cedric stayed on the map, proving that the cup wasn't a portkey.
While the rest of the school celebrated Cedric's victory, Harry was still a nervous wreck. He kept the map with him and ran to Remus's office.
"What's the fastest way to contact Sirius?" he asked anxiously.
"I'll get him for you," Remus said.
He disappeared into his fireplace and emerged with Sirius.
"Nothing happened," Sirius said. "Why are you still so scared?"
"He would have killed Cedric," Harry said.
"He has no body to kill him with," Remus reminded him.
"He has his death eaters," argued Harry.
"He can't communicate with them," Sirius said.
Harry checked the map again to make sure Cedric was alive and moving.
"Do you want me to spend the night here?" Sirius asked.
Harry suddenly lost all the self control he had managed to keep since his dream the summer before Hogwarts. He threw himself into Sirius's arms, sobbing hysterically. Sirius and Remus tried to calm him but couldn't. Remus walked out and returned a few minutes later with Dumbledore and Snape.
"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Dumbledore asked gently.
Harry shook his head and continued to cry.
"You need a calming potion," Dumbledore said.
Snape left the room and returned a few minutes later with the potion. Harry continued to cry as Remus held his head back and Snape poured the potion into his mouth. He slowly felt himself calming down.
"What happened?" Sirius asked once he was calm.
"Voldermort wanted to turn the cup into a portkey and use the winner to get his body back," Harry explained.
"How do you know?" Snape asked suspiciously.
"I know what he was thinking," Harry said.
"I want you to promise to practice occlumency for ten minutes every night before going to bed," Dumbledore said. "You can't let Voldermort mess with your head. Do you want Sirius to spend the night here with you?"
"Where would he sleep?" Harry asked.
"I could join you in your dorm," Sirius said.
"People will make fun of me," Harry protested.
"I'll come as Padfoot," Sirius offered.
"Are dogs allowed in the school?" Harry asked.
"I'll tell Professor McGonagall that I made a special exemption for one dog for tonight," Dumbledore said.
Harry walked Padfoot up to the dorm. He fell asleep almost immediately. A few hours later, Harry awoke.
"Ask Snape if the mark came back," Harry whispered urgently to Sirius.
Sirius transformed back, making sure the curtains around Harry's bed were completely closed.
"It could wait until the morning," Sirius said. "The mark didn't come back. Voldermort's gone."
He transformed back into a dog and lay his head down next to Harry. Harry put his arms around Padfoot and went back to sleep.
The next morning, Harry said goodbye to Sirius and checked Snape's mark again.
"This should be the last time I'm checking," Harry said. "If he's not back by now, I'll assume he's never back."
"Work on your occlumency," Snape ordered. "Don't tell anyone you communicate with him or many lives will be in danger. If the wrong people find out, they will act on his orders. You need to block him from your head."
Harry agreed and the rest of the school year passed quickly.