The Potter Twins and The Goblet of Fire

by B.E.A.T.N

Just when Harry and Michael thought they could have a normal 4th year at Hogwarts, the Triwizard Tournament had other plans. With somehow BOTH their names put on the same paper in the goblet, the twins will have to face dragons, mermaids, mazes, and worst of all... Teen drama! This story will be a lot more like the book, and thus, a lot longer!

18. Chapter 18

The Potter Twins and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 18: Madness

It was next Sunday when the quartet had gone to the Owlery after breakfast, sending some extra food to Sirius in the mountains.

They had given Dobby his gifts, and had tried to see if Winky might know what was going on with Mr. Crouch.

Sadly, she was too drunk and sad to offer any sort of help.

And even then, they couldn't get much out of her when the other house-elves made them leave when Hermione gave a speech about them having rights.

After they shut her out angrily, she was FINALLY starting to realize her quest for house-elf rights was not working.

Didn't stop her from trying, though.

By breakfast the next day, Ron's and Hermione's bad moods had burnt out.

When the post owls arrived, Hermione looked up eagerly; she seemed to be expecting something.

Ron, "Percy won't've had time to answer yet. We only sent Hedwig yesterday."

Hermione, "no, it's not that. I've taken out a subscription to the Daily Prophet. I'm getting sick of finding everything out from the Slytherins."

Michael, "good thinking. Oh! Hey, Hermione, I think you're in luck…."

A gray owl was soaring down toward Hermione.

Hermione, "it hasn't got a newspaper, though. It's-"

But to her bewilderment, the gray owl landed in front of her plate, closely followed by four barn owls, a brown owl, and a tawny.

They had letters for her and Michael!

Harry, "how many subscriptions did you take out?"

Hermione said, taking the letter from the gray owl, opening it, and starting to read, "what on Earth…. Oh really!"

Ron, "what's up?"

Hermione, "it's- oh how ridiculous-"

She thrust the letter at Harry, who saw that it was not handwritten, but composed from pasted letters that seemed to have been cut out of the Daily Prophet.

You are a WickEd giRL. HarRy PotTER desErves BeTteR. GO back wherE you cAMe from mUGgle.

Michael was growling over his own letters.

KeEP AwaY fRoM mE, yOU FoUl GIt.

Hermione, "they're all like it! 'Harry Potter can do much better than the likes of you.' 'You deserve to be boiled in frogspawn.' Ouch!"

She had opened the last envelope, and yellowish-green liquid smelling strongly of petrol gushed over her hands, which began to erupt in large yellow boils.

Ron, "I think that's undiluted bubotuber pus."

Hermione had tears in her eyes as she tried to rub the pus off her hands with a napkin, but her fingers were now so thickly covered in painful sores that it looked as though she were wearing a pair of thick, knobbly gloves.

Harry, "you'd better get up to the hospital wing, we'll tell Professor Sprout where you've gone…."

Ron, "I warned her."

Hermione hurried out of the Great Hall, cradling her hands.

Ron, "I warned her not to annoy Rita Skeeter! Look at this one…. 'I read in Witch Weekly about how you are playing Harry Potter. That boy has had enough hardship and I will be sending you a curse by next post as soon as I can find a big enough envelope.' Blimey, she'd better watch out for herself."

Michael was looking over his own letters.

'You better not steal MY girlfriend, or you'll pay!'

'You better not steal MY boyfriend you fa-'

Michael tore up that letter.

He opened a letter that read, 'you're as cold as ice!'

And then a cloud of frost blew up in his face, covering his hair and eyebrows in frost.

He growled as he grabbed the last letter.

It was from Mrs. Weasley.

He sighed and read it.

"Dear Michael. I'm so sorry for you. All of those horrible things that Skeeter woman writes. Telling everyone you're an angry boy. I want you to know, this family will always accept you. No matter who you love, what emotions you feel, we will always treat you with the same kindness you and Harry show us. I hope things get better for you and Harry. And I don't believe a word of what the paper said about Hermione…. Love, Molly Weasley."

That letter made Michael's day just a little better...

….

Hermione didn't turn up for Herbology. As Harry, Michael and Ron left the greenhouse for their Care of Magical Creatures class, they saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle descending the stone steps of the castle.

Pansy Parkinson was whispering and giggling behind them with her gang of Slytherin girls.

Catching sight of Harry, Pansy called, "Harry, have you split up with your girlfriend? Why was she so upset at breakfast?"

While Harry ignored her, since he didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing how much trouble the Witch Weekly article had caused.

Michael on the other hand….

He yelled, "hey Pansy, still kissing Draco's butt, or is that mud on your nose?"

Pansy looked furious, but didn't have a comeback!

When Hagrid arrived, Michael was happy to see them taking care of Niffler's again!

It was easily the most fun they had ever had in Care of Magical Creatures. The nifflers dived in and out of the patch of Earth as though it were water, each scurrying back to the student who had released it and spitting gold into their hands. Ron's was particularly efficient; it had soon filled his lap with coins.

Eventually, Hermione returned with heavily bandaged hands.

She, Michael and Hagrid shared a moment together, all three of them being subject to horrible letters because of Rita Skeeter.

Ron got bummed out when the gold the Niffler's had found weren't real gold. They were chocolate.

Hermione told him at least he didn't have pus in his fingers…. She and Michael both swore they would get back at Skeeter if it was the last thing they did!

Hate mail continued to arrive for Hermione and Michael over the following week, and although they followed Hagrid's advice and stopped opening it, several of their ill-wishers sent Howlers, which exploded at the Gryffindor table and shrieked insults at them for the whole Hall to hear. Even those who didn't read Witch Weekly knew all about the supposed Harry-Krum-Hermione triangle, and Michael being bi-sexual with a short fuse now.

Harry was getting sick of telling people that Hermione wasn't his girlfriend.

And Michael was now an outcast to a good chunk of Hogwarts students.

The only upside was that after his outburst in Potions, Snape had backed off, confusing the brothers and their friends.

Hermione was out to get some dirt on Rita Skeeter, even more so than Michael was.

Ron had joked what were the odds she would come back with a box of I Hate Rita Skeeter badges.

Michael joked that maybe she would start; W.A.R.S

Wizards. Against. Rita. Skeeter.

At least that anagram was catcher than S.P.E.W.

Hermione, however, did not ask Harry, Michael and Ron to help her pursue vengeance against Rita Skeeter, for which they were all grateful, because their workload was mounting ever higher in the days before the Easter holidays. Harry frankly marveled at the fact that Hermione could research magical methods of eavesdropping as well as everything else they had to do. He was working flat-out just to get through all their homework, though he and Michael made a point of sending regular food packages up to the cave in the mountain for Sirius; after last summer, they had not forgotten what it felt like to be continually hungry. They enclosed notes to Sirius, telling him that nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and that they were still waiting for an answer from Percy.

Hedwig didn't return until the end of the Easter holidays. Percy's letter was enclosed in a package of Easter eggs that Mrs. Weasley had sent. All their eggs were the size of dragon eggs and full of homemade toffee.

Percy's letter was short and irritated.

"As I am constantly telling the Daily Prophet, Mr. Crouch is taking a break. He is sending in regular owls with instructions. I haven't actually seen him, so I'm a little worried about if he's writing these letters or not. I have a lot to do at the moment without trying to quash these rumors. Send letters if you hear anything. Happy Easter."

….

The start of the summer term would normally have meant that Harry was training hard for the last Quidditch match of the season. This year, however, it was the third and final task in the Triwizard Tournament for which he and Michael needed to prepare, but they still didn't know what they would have to do. Finally, in the last week of May, McGonagall held them back in Transfiguration.

She told them to go to the Quidditch Field at 9 O'clock, and that Mr. Bagman would be there to tell the champions about the third task.

So at half past eight that night, Michael and Harry left Ron and Hermione in Gryffindor Tower and went downstairs. As they crossed the entrance hall, Cedric came up from the Hufflepuff common room.

Michael had to keep his anger and jealousy in check.

Harry, "what d'you reckon it's going to be?"

Cedric, "Fleur keeps going on about underground tunnels; she reckons we've got to find treasure."

Michael, "that wouldn't be too bad. At least I could use Nosey for that."

They walked down the dark lawn to the Quidditch stadium, turned through a gap in the stands, and walked out onto the field.

Cedric, "what've they done to it?"

The Quidditch field was no longer smooth and flat. It looked as though somebody had been building long, low walls all over it that twisted and crisscrossed in every direction.

Harry, "they're hedges."

"Hello there!"

Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Krum and Fleur. Harry, Michael and Cedric made their way toward them, climbing over the hedges. Fleur beamed at Harry and Michael as they came nearer. Her attitude towards them had changed completely since they had saved her sister from the lake.

Bagman, "well, what d'you think? Growing nicely, aren't they? Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high. Don't worry, you'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?"

Krum, "maze."

Bagman, "that's right! A maze. The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."

Fleur, "we seemply 'ave to get through the maze?"

Bagman, "there will be obstacles. Hagrid is providing a number of creatures…. Then there will be spells that must be broken…. All that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze. Then Mr. Krum will enter…. Then Miss Delacour. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?"

Michael and Harry, who knew only too well the kind of creatures that Hagrid was likely to provide for an event like this, thought it was unlikely to be any fun at all. However, they nodded politely like the other champions.

Bagman, "very well…. If you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly…."

Bagman hurried alongside Harry and Michael as they began to wend their way out of the growing maze. The twins had the feeling that Bagman was going to start offering to help them again, but just then, Krum tapped them on the shoulder.

He asked, "could I haff a vord?"

Harry, "yeah, all right."

Krum, "vill you valk vith me?"

Michael, "okay, we can talk."

Bagman looked slightly perturbed, "I'll wait for you, boy's, shall I?"

Harry, "no, it's okay, Mr. Bagman."

Michael, "I think we can find the castle on our own, thanks."

Michael, Harry and Krum left the stadium together, but Krum did not set a course for the Durmstrang ship. Instead, he walked toward the forest.

Harry, "what're we going this way for?"

Krum, "don't vant to be overheard."

When at last they had reached a quiet stretch of ground a short way from the Beauxbatons horses' paddock, Krum stopped in the shade of the trees and turned to face the brothers.

Krum, "Harry, I vant to know. Vot there is between you and Hermy-own-ninny."

Harry, who from Krum's secretive manner had expected something much more serious than this, stared up at Krum in amazement.

Harry, "nothing. We're friends. She's not my girlfriend, she never has been, and probably never will be. It's just that Skeeter woman making things up."

Michael, "yeah, she's made all sorts of lies about us, except for me being bi-sexual…."

Krum, "Hermy-own-ninny talks about you very often."

Harry, "yeah. Because we're friends."

He couldn't quite believe he was having this conversation with Viktor Krum, the famous International Quidditch player. It was as though the eighteen-year-old Krum thought he, Harry, was an equal.

Krum, "you haff never…. You haff not…"

Michael, "take it from me Krum, his brother who has known him since…. Forever, there has never been anything between Harry and Hermione."

Krum looked slightly happier. He stared at Harry for a few seconds, then said, "you fly very vell. I vos votching at the first task. And your brother is very brave."

Michael, "thanks Krum."

Harry, "thanks. I saw you at the Quidditch World Cup. The Wronski Feint, you really-"

But something moved behind Krum in the trees, and the brothers, who had some experience of the sort of thing that lurked in the forest, Harry instinctively grabbed Krum's arm and pulled him around.

Krum asked, "vot is it?"

Harry shook his head, staring at the place where he'd seen movement.

Michael whispered, "there's something behind us."

Michael slipped his hand inside his robes, reaching for his wand.

Suddenly a man staggered out from behind a tall oak. For a moment, they didn't recognize him…. Then they realized it was Mr. Crouch!

He looked like he had crawled out of Hell itself, and was muttering like a madman.

Krum, "vosn't he a judge? Isn't he vith your Ministry?"

Harry nodded, hesitated for a moment, then walked slowly toward Mr. Crouch, who did not look at him, but continued to talk to a nearby tree.

"... and when you've done that, Weatherby, send an owl to Dumbledore confirming the number of Durmstrang students who will be attending the tournament, Karkaroff has just sent word there will be twelve…."

Harry, "Mr. Crouch?"

"... and then send another owl to Madame Maxime, because she might want to up the number of students she's bringing, now Karkaroff's made it a round dozen…. Do that, Weatherby, will you? Will you? Will…."

Michael, "hello? Barty? Er, Mr. Crouch?"

Mr. Crouch's eyes were bulging. He stood staring at the tree, muttering soundlessly at it. Then he staggered sideways and fell to his knees.

Michael, "Mr. Crouch?"

Harry, "are you alright?"

Crouch's eyes were rolling in his head. The brothers looked around at Krum, who had followed him into the trees, and was looking down at Crouch in alarm.

Krum, "vot is wrong with him?"

Harry, "no idea. Listen, you'd better go and get someone-"

Mr. Crouch as he reached out and seized a handful of Harry's robes, dragging him closer, though his eyes were staring over Harry's head, "Dumbledore. I need…. See…. Dumbledore…."

Michael, "okay. If you get up, Mr. Crouch, we can go up to the-"

Mr. Crouch breathed, "I've done…. Stupid…. Thing…."

He looked utterly mad. Every word he spoke seemed to cost him a terrible effort.

Crouch mumbled, "must…. Tell…. Dumbledore…."

Michael, "get up, Mr. Crouch. Get up, I'll take you to Dumbledore!"

Mr. Crouch's eyes rolled forward onto Harry and Michael.

Crouch asked, "who…. You?"

Harry, "I'm a student at the school."

Crouch, "you're not…. His?"

Harry, "no, we're not."

Crouch, "Dumbledore's?"

Michael, "that's right."

Crouch was pulling both twins closer now; the twins tried to loosen Crouch's grip on their robes, but it was too powerful.

Crouch, "warn…. Dumbledore…."

Harry, "I'll get Dumbledore if you let go of us. Just let go, Mr. Crouch, and I'll get him…."

"Thank you, Weatherby, and when you have done that, I would like a cup of tea. My wife and son will be arriving shortly, we are attending a concert tonight with Mr. and Mrs. Fudge. Yes, my son has recently gained twelve O.W.L.s, most satisfactory, yes, thank you, yes, very proud indeed. Now, if you could bring me that memo from the Andorran Minister of Magic, I think I will have time to draft a response…."

Harry said to Krum, "you stay here with him."

Michael, "we'll get Dumbledore, we'll be quicker, we know where his office is-"

Krum, "he is mad."

Harry, "just stay with him."

Crouch grabbed the boys again.

Crouch, "don't…. Leave…. Me! I…. Escaped…. Must warn…. Must tell…. See Dumbledore…. My fault…. All my fault…. Bertha…. Dead…. All my fault…. My son…. My fault…. Tell Dumbledore…. Harry Potter…. The Dark Lord…. Stronger…. Michael Potter…."

Harry, "we'll get Dumbledore if you let us go, Mr. Crouch!"

Michael looked furiously around at Krum, "help us, will you?"

Looking extremely apprehensive, Krum moved forward and squatted down next to Mr. Crouch.

Harry, "just keep him here."

Michael, "we'll be back with Dumbledore."

Krum, "hurry, von't you?"

The twins hurried as fast as they could back to the school!

….

Five minutes later, they were hurtling toward a stone gargoyle standing halfway along an empty corridor.

Harry, "sher- sherbet lemon."

This was the password to the hidden staircase to Dumbledore's office…. Or at least, it had been two years ago. The password had evidently changed, however, for the stone gargoyle did not spring to life and jump aside, but stood frozen, glaring at the brothers malevolently.

Michael, "move! C'mon!"

But nothing at Hogwarts had ever moved just because they shouted at it; they knew it was no good. He looked up and down the dark corridor. Perhaps Dumbledore was in the staffroom? They started running as fast as he could toward the staircase-

"POTTER'S!"

The twins skidded to a halt and looked around. Snape had just emerged from the hidden staircase behind the stone gargoyle. The wall was sliding shut behind him even as he beckoned them back toward him.

Snape, "what are you doing here, Potter's?"

Harry, "we need to see Professor Dumbledore! It's Mr. Crouch, he's just turned up, he's in the forest and he's asking-"

Snape, "what is this rubbish? What are you talking about?"

Michael, "Mr. Crouch! From the Ministry! He's ill or something, he's in the forest, he wants to see Dumbledore! Just give me the password up to-"

Snape, "the headmaster is busy."

Harry, "we've got to tell Dumbledore!"

Snape, "didn't you hear me?"

Michael, "look, we don't care if you love messing with us! Crouch isn't right, he's- he's out of his mind! He says he wants to warn-"

The stone wall behind Snape slid open. Dumbledore was standing there, wearing long green robes and a mildly curious expression.

Dumbledore, "is there a problem?"

Harry, "Professor!"

Michael, "Mr. Crouch is here, he's down in the forest, he wants to speak to you!"

The twins expected Dumbledore to ask questions, but to their relief, Dumbledore did nothing of the sort.

He said promptly, "lead the way."

He swept off along the corridor behind the boys, leaving Snape standing next to the gargoyle.

Dumbledore, "what did Mr. Crouch say?"

Michael, "said he wants to warn you…. Said he's done something terrible…. He mentioned his son…. And Bertha Jorkins…. And- and Voldemort…. Something about Voldemort getting stronger…."

Dumbledore, "indeed."

He quickened his pace as they hurried out into the pitch-darkness.

Harry, "he's not acting normally. He doesn't seem to know where he is. He keeps talking like he thinks Percy Weasley's there, and then he changes, and says he needs to see you. We left him with Viktor Krum."

Dumbledore, "you did? Do you know if anybody else saw Mr. Crouch?"

Michael, "no. Krum, Harry and I were talking, Mr. Bagman had just finished telling us about the third task, we stayed behind, and then we saw Mr. Crouch coming out of the forest."

Dumbledore, "where are they?"

They made it to the place where they had found him.

"Over here", said Harry, moving in front of Dumbledore, leading the way through the trees. They couldn't hear Crouch's voice anymore, but they knew where they were going; it hadn't been much past the Beauxbatons carriage…. Somewhere around here….

Harry, "Viktor?"

No one answered.

Michael, "where are you?"

Still nothing.

Harry, "they were here. They were definitely somewhere around here…."

"Lumos", Dumbledore said, lighting his wand and holding it up. Its narrow beam traveled from black trunk to black trunk, illuminating the ground. And then it fell upon a pair of feet. Harry, Michael and Dumbledore hurried forward. Krum was sprawled on the forest floor. He seemed to be unconscious. There was no sign of Crouch.

Dumbledore said softly, "stunned."

His half-moon glasses glittered in the wand light as he peered around at the surrounding trees.

Harry, "should I go and get someone? Madam Pomfrey?"

Dumbledore, "no. Stay here."

He raised his wand into the air and pointed it in the direction of Hagrid's cabin. The twins saw something silvery dart out of it and streak away through the trees like a ghostly bird. Then Dumbledore bent over Krum again, pointed his wand at him, and muttered, "Rennervate."

Krum opened his eyes. He looked dazed. When he saw Dumbledore, he tried to sit up, but Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder and made him lie still.

Krum, "he attacked. The old madman attacked me! I vos looking around to see vare the Potter's had gone and he attacked from behind!"

Dumbledore, "lie still for a moment."

The sound of thunderous footfalls reached them, and Hagrid came panting into sight with Fang at his heels. He was carrying his crossbow.

Hagrid, "Professor Dumbledore! Harry? Michael? What the-?"

Dumbledore, "Hagrid, I need you to fetch Professor Karkaroff. His student has been attacked. When you've done that, kindly alert Professor Moody-"

"No need, Dumbledore. I'm here."

Moody was limping toward them, leaning on his staff, his wand lit.

Moody, "damn leg. Would've been here quicker…. What's happened? Snape said something about Crouch-"

Hagrid, "Crouch?"

Dumbledore, "Karkaroff, please, Hagrid!"

Hagrid, "oh yeah…. Right y'are, Professor…."

Hagrid turned and disappeared into the dark trees, Fang trotting after him.

Dumbledore, "I don't know where Barty Crouch is. But it is essential that we find him."

Moody, "I'm onto it."

He pulled out his wand and limped off into the forest.

Neither Dumbledore nor Harry or Michael spoke again until they heard the unmistakable sounds of Hagrid and Fang returning. Karkaroff was hurrying along behind them. He was wearing his sleek silver furs, and he looked pale and agitated.

Karkaroff, "what is this? What's going on?"

Krum, "I vos attacked. Mr. Crouch or votever his name-"

Karkaroff, "Crouch? The Triwizard judge? He attacked you?"

Dumbledore began, "Igor..."

But Karkaroff had drawn himself up, clutching his furs around him, looking livid.

Igor bellowed out, "treachery. It is a plot! You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me here under false pretenses, Dumbledore! This is not an equal competition! First you sneak the Potter's into the tournament, though they are underage! Now one of your Ministry friends attempts to put my champion out of action! I smell double-dealing and corruption in this whole affair, and you, Dumbledore, you, with your talk of closer international wizarding links, of rebuilding old ties, of forgetting old differences, here's what I think of you!"

Karkaroff spat onto the ground at Dumbledore's feet. In one swift movement, Hagrid seized the front of Karkaroff's furs, lifted him into the air, and slammed him against a nearby tree.

Hagrid snarled, "apologize."

Karkaroff gasped for breath, Hagrid's massive fist at his throat, his feet dangling in midair.

Michael pulled out his wand and growled, "apologize before I burn that mustache off!"

"Hagrid, Michael, no!"

Dumbledore has shouted this.

Hagrid removed the hand pinning Karkaroff to the tree, Michael put his wand away with a glare, and Karkaroff slid all the way down the trunk and slumped in a huddle at its roots; a few twigs and leaves showered down upon his head.

Dumbledore, "kindly escort Harry and Michael back up to the castle, Hagrid."

Breathing heavily, Hagrid gave Karkaroff a glowering look, "maybe I'd better stay here, Headmaster….."

Dumbledore repeated firmly, "you will take them back to school, Hagrid. Take them right up to Gryffindor Tower. And boys, I want you to stay there. Anything you might want to do, any owls you might want to send, they can wait until morning, do you understand me?"

Harry, "er- yes."

How had Dumbledore known that, at that very moment, he had been thinking about sending Pigwidgeon straight to Sirius, to tell him what had happened?

Michael, "yessir. Sorry sir."

Michael found it odd as well, as if Dumbledore could read their thoughts.

Hagrid said, staring menacingly at Karkaroff, who was still sprawled at the foot of the tree, tangled in furs and tree roots, "I'll leave Fang with yeh, Headmaster. Stay, Fang. C'mon, Harry. C'mon Michael."

They marched in silence past the Beauxbatons carriage and up toward the castle.

Hagrid growled as they strode past the lake, "how dare he. How dare he accuse Dumbledore. Like Dumbledore'd do anythin' like that. Like Dumbledore wanted you in the tournament in the firs' place. Worried! I dunno when I seen Dumbledore more worried than he's bin lately. An' you two! What were yeh doin', wanderin' off with ruddy Krum? He's from Durmstrang, boy's! Coulda jinxed yeh right there, couldn' he? Hasn' Moody taught yeh nothin'? 'Magine lettin' him lure yeh off on yer own-"

Harry, "Krum's all right! He wasn't trying to jinx us, he just wanted to talk about Hermione!"

Hagrid, "I'll be havin' a few words with her, an' all. The less you lot 'ave ter do with these foreigners, the happier yeh'll be. Yeh can' trust any of 'em!"

Michael suddenly pulled out his wand and shot a stream of fire into the air.

THAT got Hagrid's attention.

Michael, "shame on you Hagrid! After how welcoming you've been to others! After being shamed for being different, I thought you of all people would be tolerant of them. I get you're angry about Maxine, and Karkaroff insulting Dumbledore, Hell, I was angry too, but you shouldn't say they're all bad. Krum and Fleur are good people. Don't blame them for their awful teachers."

Hagrid seemed to listen to Michael's words and said, "I'm sorry, Michael … I was jus' so angry…. I'm sorry."

Michael smiled and said, "water under the bridge, big guy."

Hagrid wished the twins good night as they clambered through the portrait hole into the common room and hurried straight for the corner where Ron and Hermione were sitting, to tell them what had happened….

….

Reviews:

Canadude2029: well, I'm glad you liked the changes and stuff added in.

Bailey Radcliff: thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you're still enjoying my stories.

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