24th June cont'd

"Dumbledore-" I said again.

"Not now, Kathryn." He pushed me aside, "Harry! Harry!"

Harry opened his eyes and let go of the Cup, his other arm still holding Cedric.

"He's back," Harry whispered, "He's back. Voldemort."

Fudge approached us in a hurry, pushing me out of his way, "What's going on? What's happened?" Fudge looked pale and appalled as he looked down at Cedric, "My God – Diggory!" he whispered, "Dumbledore – he's dead."

There was a piecing scream behind me as Fleur had pushed past the surrounding teachers and students, and looked over me, who had, until Fudge pushed me out of the way, been blocking the view of the spectators.

"Let go of him," Fudge said, reaching over Cedric's dead body and prising Harry's fingers off him, but Harry wouldn't budge.

"Harry, you can't help him now. It's over. Let go." Dumbledore reiterated.

Harry lifted his head and looked at me, "He wanted me to bring him back, he wanted me to bring him back to his parents…" he was making little sense. Dumbledore whispered to Harry, but I strained to hear over the sound of screams, shouting and panic as those surrounding realised what had happened. Dumbledore then put his hands on Harry's and prised them off Cedric. I assisted as Dumbledore lifted Harry off the ground and set him on his feet. I could see a wound on Harry's arm and lower leg. He swayed on the spot, I put my arm around him tightly to support him as Dumbledore spoke with Fudge. Fudge suggested that Harry was brought to the Hospital Wing and wanted Dumbledore to go with him to speak with Cedric's parents who were in the stands.

Seeing the colour drain further from Harry's pale face, I got him to hop over towards a seat a metre or so away where I could work out how serious his injuries were. But as I directed him I saw Moody approach Dumbledore, "I'll take Harry, Dumbledore, I'll take him-"

"No, I would prefer-" Dumbledore began replying and I continued to walk him over to a seat.

"You're doing really well, Harry, just a few steps more, keep going." I said, but Harry was in shock. I recognised the glazed look over his eyes. He wasn't picking up on anything going on.

Dumbledore was grabbed by Fudge again, "Amos Diggory's running… he's coming over… don't you think you should tell him – before he sees -?"

"Harry, stay there with Kathryn." Dumbledore said before turning to Amos Diggory and his wife. Amos let out a howl, I couldn't imagine his pain as he saw his son's body. His wife was on her knees, clutching a tissue. Professor Sprout was trying her best to comfort her. A shiver went down my spine and I gave Harry a really tight hug.

"It's alright, son, I've got you… come on… hospital wing…" Moody grabbed tight onto my hands and roughly forced them off Harry, taking Harry under his wing.

"Dumbledore said stay." Harry replied, the first words he had mustered.

"You need to lie down, come on now." He said, pulling Harry forward a few steps.

"Harry said no." I looked into Moody's two eyes threateningly. I had my hand on my wand and I was prepared to fight, "Let go of him. Now."

His fake blue eye started down at my hand which was now gripped tightly on my wand, "Put it away, you stupid girl, if you know what's good for you." He took a hold of Harry and tried to use the Imperius Curse on me, which he had done before in class. My body completely relaxed and my inhibitions dulled. He made me put my wand away and resist fighting him. "Stay right there. Don't move. Don't talk to anyone." Moody's voice was inside my head and I watched him walk away. My feet felt as though they had a sticking charm on them, my body froze on the spot. My tongue felt as though it had been removed, my mouth went dry. I stood there.

"What are you doing?" my brain started to fight back, "He's getting away! He was the one who killed Crouch and now he's going to kill Harry." I fought against the curse and moved. Before I knew it, I was running through the crowds of screaming and crying people. I had to get to Dumbledore.

I spotted him, talking to Mr and Mrs Diggory.

"Dumbledore – DUMBLEDORE PLEASE!" I shouted louder than any of the surrounding screams or the murmur, "It was Moody, Dumbledore, Moody. He's got Harry."

Dumbledore looked past me, his blue eyes became small, he understood. I got up and ran, pushing past people again, now heading towards the exit. As soon as I had left the stadium, I made myself invisible and sprinted as fast as I could, adrenaline pumping through my veins, all the way up to the castle. It was pitch black outside and I could barely see where I was going. There wasn't a soul in the castle who could help me. Wand in hand, I followed the trickle of blood which lead to Moody's office. I could hear Moody's voice.

"You were so long in that lake, Potter, I thought you had downed. But luckily, Dumbledore took your idiocy for nobility, and marked you high for it. I breathed again." I put my ear up to the door and listened. The only upper hand I had against Moody was the element of surprise. He couldn't see me when I was invisible before. If he was going to hurt Harry, I would blast the door down and kill Moody. I had to. "You had an easier time of it than you should have done in that maze tonight, of course. That was because I was patrolling around it, able to see though the outer hedges, able to curse many obstacles out of your way. I stunned Fleur Delacour as she passed. I put the Imperius Curse on Krum, so that he would finish Diggory, and leave your path to the Cup clear." The pieces of the puzzle fitted together, "The Dark Lord didn't manage to kill you, Potter, and he so wanted to, imagine how he will reward me, when he finds I have done it for him. I gave you to him – the thing he needed above all to regenerate – and then I killed you for him. I will be honoured beyond all other Death Eaters. I will be his dearest, his closest supporter… closer than a son…"

I tried to push the door open. He wouldn't be able to see me. He must have it locked…. To use alohomora would take too long… I would have to blast the door down… I fumbled for my wand in my pocket.

Moody continued talking, his voice much higher than usual, "The Dark Lord and I have much in common. Both of us, for instance had very disappointing fathers. And both of us had the pleasure of being named after those fathers… And both of us had the pleasure… the great pleasure of killing our fathers, to ensure the continued rise of the Dark Order!"

I thought back to Moody killing Mr Crouch. I knew from Sirius telling us that Mr Crouch had a son, Barty Crouch Jr. That night in the forest, before killing Mr Crouch, Moody said, "Goodbye Father." I heard footsteps coming up the stairs behind me.

Moody was shouting at Harry now. I was terrified.

Having a tight grasp, I raised my wand and yelled, "STUPEFY!" and his door blasted out of my way. Still invisible, I saw Moody with his wand pointed at Harry, within a split second I pointed my wand at Moody, "STUPEFY!" and he went flying into the air. He landed in the corner of the room, unconscious. I fell to my knees in front of Harry, taking a hold of his hands which were shaking as well, making myself visible again I asked, "Are you okay?" I searched Harry's face for an answer, my eyes scanning his body for other injuries.

Harry nodded.

Behind me McGonagall and Snape stood dumbstruck. Dumbledore, however, looked terrifying.

"Miss Pink?" Professor McGonagall looked at me and then to Professor Moody then back at me. I nodded at her. Then she looked to Harry, "Come along, Potter," she looked as though she was about to cry, "Come along… Hospital Wing."

"No." said Dumbledore sharply.

"Dumbledore, he ought to – look at him – he's been through enough tonight –"

After inspecting Moody, Dumbledore looked up, "He will stay Minerva, because he needs to understand, understanding is the first stage to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery. He needs to know who has put him through the ordeal he had suffered tonight, and why."

"Moody," Harry said, "How can it have been Moody?"

"This is not Alastor Moody." Dumbledore began.

I interjected, "It's Barty Crouch, Jr." I said, "he killed his father, Barty Crouch Sr that night, in the Forbidden Forest, he was the one who stunned Krum, then he saw me…" Harry nodded in understanding, my speech was disconnected, "And wiped my memory… I knew there was something about him. I'm so sorry…" I said, still trying to process all the information, "The only reason I worked out he was Barty Crouch Jr is from what I heard Moody tell you. I was listening in at the door."

"How couldn't he see you, Kathryn? His eye-"

I ignored McGonagall's statement, "I heard that he was threatening to kill you, so I blasted down the door. I-"

"Severus, please fetch me the strongest Truth Potion you possess and then go down to the kitchens and bring up the house-elf called Winky. Minerva, kindly go down to Hagrid's house, where you will find a large black dog sitting in the pumpkin patch. Take the dog up to my office, tell him I will be with him shortly, then come back here." Dumbledore started fiddling with Moody's trunk.

Harry and I shared a glance as both Snape and McGonagall left, "I only remembered about two minutes before you returned… Moody was patrolling, but I saw him smiling. Snape and Karkaroff were acting strangely, it was as though their mark on their arms were burning or something. Karkaroff made a dash for it, Moody grabbed him, just like he had with his father before killing him. All the memories came flooding back. Then I went to warn Dumbledore, but-"

Harry nodded.

Dumbledore climbed into Moody's trunk. "Miss Pink, if you wouldn't mind retrieving the imposters cloak? The real Professor Moody has been stunned and controlled by the Imperius Curse, he is very weak. Madam Pomfery will need to see him, but he seems in no immediate danger."

I grabbed Moody's cloak and passed it to Dumbledore, who wrapped the really Moody in it. I took the hipflask out of the pocket and smelled it. It was polyjuice potion. I don't think Harry or I were as surprised, it made sense, we had seen the effects of it before.

I looked down at my watch and saw that it was nearing midnight. Barty Crouch Jr was about to return to his own body. His long grizzly hair turned straw colour. His wooden leg fell off and a real leg grew in its place. The magical eyeball fell to the floor. The man lying before us was around 35, blonde, pale and freckled.

When Snape returned with Winky and McGonagall followed soon after, they both looked surprised to see Barty Crouch Jr lying in the corner of the room, stunned, despite me telling them the case not so long ago.

"Master Barty! Master Barty what is you doing here?" Winky shrieked, "You is killed him! You is killed master's son!"

"He is simply stunned, Winky." Dumbledore said, taking the potion which I recognised to be veritaserum from Snape. I had helped make that vial in detention with Snape at the end of November. Dumbledore placed three drops of the potion on Barty's tongue after sitting him up and pointed his wand at him and said, "Rennervate."

Barty opened his eyes, his face slack and unfocused. Dumbledore knelt before him until their eyes were at equal levels, "Can you hear me?" Dumbledore asked quietly.

"Yes." The man muttered.

"How did you escape from Azkaban?"

Crouch spoke in a low, emotionless voice, "My mother saved me, she was dying, she persuaded father to rescue me as a last favour to her. They came to visit me, I took polyjuice potion containing my mother's hair and in turn, she became me. I left Azkaban disguised as her. Dementors are blind you see. There were two dying bodies, they couldn't tell the difference. The polyjuice potion was just in case one of the prisoners was looking out of their door."

Like Sirius, he was fooled.

"My mother died shortly after, in my form, buried by the Dementors as me." Winky pleaded with her master not to continue, "We staged mother's death not so long afterwards. That grave is empty. I was brought home and Winky nursed me back to health. Father used a number of spells to subdue me, including the Imperius Curse. I wore an invisibility cloak at all times. The house-elf was my keeper, she pitied me. She persuaded my Father to reward me for my good behaviour. When I returned to strength I thought of nothing more than returning to my master, restoring him to full power, returning to his service."

"Did anyone else discover you were still alive?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes," Crouch's eyelids flickered, "Bertha Jorkins. She came to the house with papers for Father's signature. He was not at home. Winky showed her inside and returned to me in the kitchen. Bertha heard Winky talking to me, she heard enough to know who it was underneath the cloak. My father arrived home, she confronted him. He put a very powerful memory charm on her to make her forget. He said it damaged her memory permanently. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at those…" his eyes found mine.

Before I could open my mouth to speak, Dumbledore asked, "Tell me about the Quidditch World Cup."

"Winky talked my father into it. I hadn't been outside in years; I would be under the invisibility cloak. Father, in the end, agreed. It was carefully planned. My father led myself and Winky up to the Top Box early in the day. Winky was to say that she was saving a seat for my father. When everyone left the box, we were to emerge. Winky would appear alone. Nobody would ever know. But Winky didn't know I was getting stronger. I was starting to fight the Imperius Curse. It happened in the Top Box, I saw a wand sticking out of a boy's pocket in front of me. I stole it. Winky didn't know, she's afraid of heights and had her face hidden."

Harry looked at me, that was his wand…

"What did you do with the wand?"

We both knew the answer to this one.

"We went back to the tent. Then we heard the Death Eaters. The ones who escaped Azkaban. They woke me, my mind was clearer than ever before. I wanted to attack them for their disloyalty. My father left the tent to free the muggles. Winky bound our bodies together using her own magic. Winky pulled me from the tent, away from the Death Eaters and into the forest. It was there I used the stolen wand to cast the Dark Mark in the sky… Ministry wizards arrived, casting stunning spells in every direction. One of the spells came through the trees were Winky and I were standing and the bond between us was broken. We were both stunned. Father knew I must have been nearby, he searched the bushed and felt me lying there. He waited until the ministry workers left, put me back under the Imperius Curse and brought me home. Now it was father and I alone in the house. Then my master came for me."

Barty's head rolled on his neck and an insane grin spread across his face, "Master had captured Bertha Jorkins in Albania and tortured her. She told him that I was still alive. She told him a great deal; about the Triwizard Tournament and how the old Auror Moody was going to teach at the school. He tortured her until she was no longer useful." A wider smile appeared on Barty's face, "My master arrived at our door and my father answered. My master put my father under the Imperius Curse, forcing him to go about his normal business. I was released. I awoke, alive as I hadn't been in years."

"And what did Lord Voldemort ask you to do?" Dumbledore asked.

Barty's smile continued, "He asked me if I was ready to risk everything for him. I was ready. It was my dream. He told me he needed a faithful servant at Hogwarts. A servant who would guide Harry Potter through the Triwizard Tournament without appearing to do so. But first-"

"You needed Alastor Moody." Dumbledore's eyes were blazing, yet his voice was calm.

"Wormtail and I did it." Crouch nodded, "There was a commotion, we forced him into the secret compartment of his trunk, took some of his hair and I posed as Moody for when Arthur Weasley showed up. I set off for Hogwarts later that day with Moody under the Imperius Curse. I learned about his past, his habits so that I could fool even Dumbledore. I stole ingredients from Snape's office to make the polyjuice potion."

That explains how Harry saw Barty Crouch in Snape's stores that night.

"What became of Wormtail after you attacked Moody?"

"Wormtail returned to care for my master, in my father's house, and to keep watch over my father."

Dumbledore said, "But your father escaped."

"Yes, he fought the Imperius Curse, just as I had done. My master decided it wasn't safe for my father to leave the house any more. He forced him to send letters to the ministry instead. But Wormtail neglected his duty. My father escaped. My master guessed he was heading for Hogwarts. He was going to tell Dumbledore everything, so my master sent word of my father's escape and I watched for him on the map I had taken from Harry Potter. At last, one night my father showed up around the edge of the Forest. Then Potter came, and Krum. I waited, I couldn't hurt Potter, master needed him. Potter ran off to get Dumbledore. I stunned Krum and I killed my father. Who I didn't see was her," His eyes narrowed, as though he was trying to work it out, "until the last minute and I tried to wipe her memory. She was in the hospital wing and Snape provided a potion, which made her memory return at an alarming rate, so I cursed her with sepsis, to kill her, she had too many people watching her for me to approach her directly. All her bodily senses knew it was me, but she could not remember. I knew it was only a matter of time…"

"What did you do with your father's body?"

"I covered it with the Invisibility Cloak, watched on the map as Harry and Dumbledore came to the forest and doubled around behind them and went to meet them. Dumbledore then told me to go and look for my father. When everyone was gone, I transfigured my father's body into a bone and I buried in the freshly dug earth in front of Hagrid's cabin whilst wearing the invisibility cloak."

Winky was now uncontrollably sobbing. The rest of the room was silent.

Then Dumbledore spoke, "And tonight?"

"I offered to carry the Triwizard Cup into the maze before dinner and turned it into a Portkey. My master's plan worked. He has returned to power and I will be honoured by him beyond the dreams of wizards." He smiled insanely.

I let out a sigh.

Dumbledore stood up and cast ropes around Barty's body to bind him. He then turned to McGonagall, "Minerva, could I ask you to stand guard here while I take Harry upstairs?"

"Of course." She looked like she was about to throw up, but whenever she lifted her wand, her hands were perfectly still.

"Severus, please tell Madam Pomfery to come down here. We need to get Alastor Moody into the hospital wing. Then go down to the grounds, find Cornelius Fudge and bring him up to this office. He will undoubtedly want to question Crouch himself. Tell him I will be in the hospital wing in half an hour's time if he needs me." Dumbledore said and Snape left, before turning finally to myself and Harry, "Come."

I gave Harry a hand up. He placed the majority of his weight on me and I supported him. He was no longer bleeding, I reckoned he had a broken ankle. We walked up to Dumbledore's office where we were to see the big black dog. Sirius. Harry didn't speak a word during the walk. I knew it was best to remain silent. As we climbed the stairs up to Dumbledore's office, Harry asked, "Professor, where are Mr and Mrs Diggory?"

"They are with Professor Sprout," his voice shook for the first time that night, "she is head of Cedric's house, and knew him best."

At the oak door, Dumbledore pushed it open as I continued helping Harry. I could see Sirius standing there, just as pale as he was when he had escaped Azkaban. In one swift motion he crossed the room and took the majority of Harry's weight off me, "Harry, are you alright? I knew it – I knew something like this – what happened?" Sirius lead Harry to one of the three chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk and asked more urgently, "What happened?"

Dumbledore started to explain what we had just witnessed with Barty Crouch Jr. Completely exhausted I sat at Harry's feet, he was in another world completely. I took a proper look at Harry's leg and put it in a splint, just like Lupin had done with Ron the year before using the spell ferula. I summoned my first aid kit and used antiseptics to clean up Harry's wounds. I didn't know what else to do with myself. Harry didn't budge. Fawkes flew over from his perch and landed on Harry's knee.

"'Lo Fawkes." Harry whispered and stroked his feathers.

Dumbledore stopped talking and rounded his desk to talk to Harry. Harry's eyes were focused on a point past Dumbledore, unable to maintain eye contact, "I need to know what happened after you touched the Portkey in the maze, Harry."

I stood from where I was sitting on the floor, "Oh, come off it."

"We can leave that 'til the morning, can't we, Dumbledore?" said Sirius harshly, putting a protective hand on Harry's shoulder. "Let him have a sleep. Let him rest."

Harry looked up into Dumbledore's eyes, pleading.

"If I thought I could help you," Dumbledore began, "by putting you into an enchanted sleep, and allowing you to postpone the moment when you would have to think about what has happened tonight, I would do it. But I know better. Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it. You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you. I ask you to tell us what happened."

Fawkes let out a soft, quivering note and Harry nodded. He knew he had to talk sooner or later. Putting my warm hand on top of his to comfort him, I pulled a chair in closer. He took a deep breath and spoke, "Cedric and I landed in a graveyard, we took our wands out as we heard someone coming. It was Wormtail carrying Voldemort. They stopped in front of Tom Riddle's marble tombstone and my scar exploded with pain. All I could hear was Voldemort's cold voice saying, Kill the Spare, and Cedric was dead…"

I couldn't help the tear that fell as I gave Harry's hand a squeeze. Sirius looked down at Harry with an expression of feeling helpless as he continued, "Wormtail then conjured ropes and tied me from neck to ankles to the headstone. I couldn't move. He put something into my mouth and scurried off, Voldemort in what seemed like baby form lay at the foot of the gravestone. I saw a gigantic snake slither through the grass and it circled me. My scar hurt more and more. Wormtail returned, pushing a huge stone cauldron full of liquid towards me, big enough for a full grown man to sit in. He lit the bottom of the cauldron and it let off fiery sparks…" Harry tailed off before forcing himself to continue, "Wormtail uncovered Voldemort's body… it was the shape of a crouched human child with no hair and dark raw scaly skin, his face was snakelike with red eyes. Wormtail put Voldemort's body into the cauldron and then started speaking… Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son. Then the grave opened and a bone went into the cauldron. Then Wormtail said, Flesh of the servant willingly given, you will revive your master. He then cut off his right hand into the cauldron. Then Wormtail said, Blood of the enemy forcibly taken you will resurrect your foe. Then he pierced into my skin and took some of my blood." Harry grasped his right arm in memory.

I had never seen Dumbledore move so fast in his life as he walked around the desk and told Harry to stretch out his arm. "This wound is-"

"I didn't want to get infected, it looked nasty." I said, "I know what it's like to have sepsis-" I stopped myself from talking any more as Sirius looked at me, his expression softened slightly before looking back to Harry.

"He said my blood would make him stronger that if he'd used someone else's. He said the protection my mother left in me, he'd have it too. And he was right, he could touch me without hurting himself, he touched my face." Harry said.

Dumbledore, seemingly happy with his inspection of Harry's wound, returned to his desk, "Very well, Voldemort has overcome that particular barrier. Harry, continue, please."

"Voldemort emerged from the cauldron. He was whiter than a skull, his eyes were bright red, with a nose as flat as a snake's with slits for nostrils…" he shuddered, "He summoned the Death Eaters. He told me that I was standing on his father's grave and that the house on the hill belonged to his father's family, that his father left his mother before he was born, that he was raised in an orphanage because his mother died in childbirth. He killed his father, Tom Riddle. Then a load of hooded and masked men started apparating to the graveyard. They couldn't believe their eyes. They formed a circle, but there were load of spaces that weren't filled. Voldemort wasn't very happy. He said he could smell guilt and asked why none of them came looking for him. They knew the steps he had taken to guard himself against mortal death. The Death Eaters were falling at his feet, asking for forgiveness… Voldemort gave Wormtail a replica human hand in silver as a reward for returning his body."

Harry paused, but Dumbledore urged him to continue, "So Voldemort started making his rounds around his death eaters, talking to Lucius Malfoy about him running away from the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup. He moved on and said The Lestranges should stand here. They were faithful, they went to Azkaban rather than renounce me. When Azkaban is broken open, the Lestranges will be honoured beyond their dreams."

Sirius shuddered. He must have known them.

"Voldemort also mentioned getting allies… giants, Dementors, creatures whom all fear… He talked to Macnair, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott…" He struggled to remember, "Voldemort then told Wormtail to untie me and give me my wand, we had to duel. He used the Cruciatus curse on me, then the Imperius curse when I refused to bow and answer him. I fought it and we duelled… The two beams met in the air and… connected… it was as though there was an electric charge vibrating through my wand and a golden beam formed. Our feet lifted off the ground. I could hear a phoenix song, then Cedric came out of the wand… he didn't look like a ghost, he was more solid. A distant voice that was Cedric's told me to hold on, told me to bring his body back to his parents. Then a man emerged from Voldemort's wand, Bertha Jorkins, mum, dad…" his voice broke.

"The wands connected?" Sirius asked the question on my mind, "Why?" he looked to Dumbledore for answers.

"Priori Incantatem." Dumbledore murmured.

Sirius spoke sharply, "The reverse spell effect?"

"Exactly," Was Dumbledore's response, "Harry's wand and Voldemort's share the same cores. Each of them contains a feather from this phoenix, in fact." Dumbledore pointed to the brightly coloured red and yellow bird that had been sitting on Harry's knee this entire conversation.

"My wand's feather came from Fawkes?" Harry sat amazed and petted the phoenix again.

"Yes," Dumbledore replied, "Mr Ollivander wrote to tell me you had bought the second wand, the moment you left his shop four years ago."

"So what happens when a wand meets its brother?" Sirius asked.

"They will not work properly against each other. If, however the owners of the wands force the wands to do battle… a very rare effect will take place. The wands will force each other to regurgitate spells it has performed – in reverse. Which means that some form of Cedric must have reappeared, but no spell can reawaken the dead Harry, I hope you realise that. It was a reverse echo you heard. Tell me Harry, what did these echo's, these shadows… what did they do?"

Harry looked exasperated. He couldn't continue. He looked to Sirius for help. Fawkes fluttered from Harry's knee to the ground and started shedding thick, pearly tears on Harry's injured leg, healing it completely. Dumbledore told Harry that he had been very brave and had faced many things full grow wizards wouldn't be able to. Harry got to his feet, no longer swaying and we walked to the Hospital Wing. Sirius was to stay with Harry for the night. He transformed into the big, black dog. I followed the three men into the Hospital Wing.

Molly, Bill, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Fred and George grouped around Harry along with a particularly harassed looking Madam Pomfery. Molly let out a muffled scream, "Harry! Oh, Harry!" she wrapped her arms around him she was pale and exhausted looking.

"Molly," Dumbledore held up his hand, "Please listen to me for a moment. Harry has been through a terrible ordeal tonight. He has just had to relive it for me. What he needs now is sleep, and peace, and quiet. If he would like you all to stay with him," Dumbledore looked at each of us, craning his neck to see me, "you may do so. But I do not want you questioning him until he is ready to answer, and certainly not this evening."

Molly rounded on her children and Hermione, "Did you hear that? He needs quiet!" it was as though they were being noisy, but they were standing just as silently as I was.

"Headmaster," Madam Pomfery's eyes caught eyes with the dog in the room, "May I ask what…?"

"This dog will be remaining with Harry for a while. I assure you, he is extremely well trained." Dumbledore said simply, "Get yourself into bed, Harry, I will be back to see you as soon as I have met with Fudge." He turned to me, "I would like you to remain here with Harry until I have spoken to the school tomorrow."

I nodded and Dumbledore left.

George rounded his family and put an arm around me, "You okay? You look like you've been crying…"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I whispered as Harry went behind the curtains of the middle bed, the one opposite where the real Moody was lying asleep behind his own curtain. I could see him through a slit.

"What did you do to him?" George whispered, he saw me looking.

"You wouldn't believe me, even if I told you." I smirked.

George smiled for the first time from me entering the room, "Try me."

"Perhaps when Harry gets over to sleep?" I said, seeing Molly, Ron and Hermione go in through the curtains, taking a seat around Harry. Sirius let himself in and sat directly beside the bed, in line with Harry. I, taking certain liberties to the extreme, walked past everyone and sat on the side of the bed beside Harry. I tried fixing his hair slightly, "Oh, what's the use?" I smiled. Harry tried to smile back.

"I'm alright," Harry told everyone, "just tired."

Molly burst into tears beside me and smoothed the bedclothes unnecessarily. I faced her and took her hands, but she got off the seat and held me tight.

Madam Pomfery pushed past Ron, Ginny and Hermione at the other side of the bed with a potion and a goblet. "You'll need to drink all of this, Harry." She said, "It's a potion for a dreamless sleep."

"Hey, Harry?" I asked and he looked up at me, goblet in hand, "I can tell them, if you want?"

"Please." He nodded before knocking back the contents of the goblet. He was fast asleep within seconds. After helping tuck Harry into bed and taking his glasses off, I turned around to see everyone staring at me expectantly. George held open his arms for me and tapped his knee.

"Are you sure I'll not squash you?" I spoke quietly.

He shook his head, "Come here." So I climbed off the bed and sat on George's knee where he wrapped his arms tight around me. I felt so safe in his arms, I always had.

"We heard you were quite the hero." Molly spoke first, "Professor Snape was singing your praises."

I shook my head, "I highly doubt that. Or if he was, it was sarcasm."

Ron smirked, "He said that you blasted down Moody's door and stunned him, you saved Harry's life."

"He didn't even see me coming." I said.

Hermione, Ron, Fred and George all smirked. They knew exactly what I meant. Hermione then asked, "So what happened to Moody? Why did he hurt you? Is he going to be alright?"

"Woah." I said, putting a hand up, "First off, that man in the bed over there is the real Moody, the Moody who has been teaching us all year was Barty Crouch Jr on polyjuice potion."

Molly dropped whatever was in her hand. I further explained what had happened in the forest, then explained what happened with Barty Crouch, then in Dumbledore's office. I told them everything I knew and answered the questions I could. I could see Snuffles the dog nodding. "I suppose now I ought to tell Fleur and Krum…"

"In the morning, dear…" Molly whispered, "Fred, George, Ginny, off to bed. Go."

"But mum-" George began to argue.

"That is not a request, George. It's already 0330."

Fred and Ginny both gave me a hug before leaving and George kissed my forehead. He looked pale and tired, "Night, mum." he said before leaving with one longing glance back at me. I didn't realise how cold it was without having George's arms around me.

"I know I had little chance of getting you three to leave, but I'm sure Madam Pomfery will let you use the spare beds." Molly said motherly.

A few minutes later, George returned holding his 'G' jumper, giving it to me, I put it on and breathed in his smell. I followed him out the door. "Georgie…" I tried to hold back the tears that were coming despite my efforts, "I feel like if I had just remembered a few hours before, then this wouldn't have happened. Cedric wouldn't be dead and Voldemort wouldn't be back. I feel awful…" I shivered.

George lifted my chin and looked at me, "Katy… you saved Harry's life. You were there for him whenever he needed you most, that's what matters!" he wrapped his arms around me, warming me up. "I know you've had a lot thrown at you today but… Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." I nodded.

"What's with the dog?"

"I guess there's no good time or easy way to tell you this…" I said and George looked at me with an expression of confusion, I took a hold of his hand and made the conversation completely private, "You know the way McGonagall is an Animagus?" George nodded, I could see the cogs turning as he tried to work out who it was, and not what, "Sirius Black is an unregistered Animagus." I said and George nearly jumped out of his skin, "He's completely innocent of all crimes he had charged against him. It was Wormtail who sold Harry's parents to Voldemort… Not Sirius. We found this out at the end of last year whenever Ron broke his leg." George had a look of realisation, "Lupin, Sirius, James and Wormtail were best friends at school. Sirius was named Harry's godfather. Anyway, Sirius has been on the run from escaping Azkaban, but we've been in contact with him about all the goings on in the school this year. He's a good guy."

"Oh." George said, "And I'd bet my life he was staying up in the mountains you four were exploring?"

I grimaced, "I'm really sorry… They begged me not to tell you, it tore me apart. I was so close to telling you, I swear, but it was complicated…"

"So I don't know any of this?" he asked.

"No."

"Okay, well, thanks for telling me."

"You know I would have told you, right?" I put my hand up to his cheek and stroked it. He looked exhausted.

"I know you would have." He nodded, "And in the spirit of telling each other everything, Fred and I wrote to the Ministry of Magic about Bagman, whenever you were in hospital. He lost the bet last night, he disapparated once Harry and Cedric returned."

"I'm sorry…" I said, "I know it was your life savings… I'd give you the money if I could."

"I know you would." He held me, "Right, mum will be wondering what we're up to. You know where I am if you need me."

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, "Night!"

Whenever I walked back in to the Hospital Wing, the lights were dimmed significantly. Hermione was in the bed to the left of Harry's, Ron was on the right, both of them were fast asleep. Molly was asleep on her chair and Bill was sitting, eyes flickering. I grabbed blankets from Madam Pomfery's linen store and put them on the two of them. Bill opened his eyes to smile before closing them again. I put a blanket on the seat closest to Harry, ready to sit down. "Can I get you anything, Snuffles?" I whispered to Sirius, who was still sitting upright, alert. The black dog walked over to me and I scratched behind his ears. I sat down on the chair and the dog leaned its head on my lap after I covered myself in the blanket and put my feet up on the chair, "What a day…" I whispered and Sirius' ears perked up, "You know, at one point, I genuinely thought I was going to kill Barty Crouch Jr. He taught us all about the killing curse in class. I knew exactly what to do, I hated him enough to do it. He was seconds from killing Harry…" I trailed off, "But I didn't do it, because I'm not like that, I'm not like them, I'm not a killer."

Sirius turned his head and looked up at me, his eyes were wide.

"If you want to transform, I can make you invisible, if you like? If it's more comfortable? I'll get you a blanket and I'll pull this chair over? They won't see anything. Promise." Sirius lifted his paw. I accio-ed a blanket from the store and lifted a chair beside mine and took Sirius by the paw as he transformed into a man and sat beside me.

"Can I talk to you without them hearing, too?" He whispered.

"Yeah," I said, "you're free to say whatever you like."

"Do you think Harry will be okay?" he asked me, "I see the way you are with him. You're-"

"He'll be fine. I know it won't be easy, but he's strong. And before you ask, I'm not in love with him." I said.

Sirius smiled, his face immediately looked years younger, "I wasn't going to ask. Besides, you look very comfortable with the twin."

"George? Yeah, he's great. Harry's like my brother. I'd like to think he considers me his sister. I know he's lost his parents, I've basically lost mine too, yet I'm glad I've gotten rid of mine. I'd love to have met James and Lily, they seemed like great people."

"They would have liked you," Sirius said, his face full of wonder, "James would totally have high fived you for blasting Barty Jr and Lily would have hugged you like Molly Weasley did. I remember them with Harry, planning for their future together. I would have done anything for Harry to have more time with them."

"Here, but now he's got you." I said, looking down at his hand on mine, "I'm glad you didn't turn out to be the raging murderer they were warning us all about."

Sirius rolled his eyes, "You'd have given me the old one two."

"Too right I would have." I smiled, "I don't take shit from anyone these days." I winked at him, but my smile faded, "Moody only saw me because I panicked, my invisibility went, I have no idea how… That's how he saw me and took my memory away. Could you imagine how differently tonight would have been if I caught him?" I shook my head.

"Don't beat yourself up about it, almost fourteen years later and I still blame myself." Sirius said, "Merlin, Harry told me you were easy to talk to, but I didn't believe him until now." He smirked at me, "How do you do it? What's your secret?"

I shook my head, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I gather you're not going to sleep?" he asked me.

"Not a chance." I said, "Madam Pomfery lets me keep a bottle of the dreamless potion beside my bed."

"Do you find it difficult to get to sleep or…?"

I nodded, "Sometimes, yeah, but it's usually nightmares that catch me. It used to be a lot worse when I was a kid, but I thought it wasn't fair on the other four girls in my dorms when I was particularly bad."

"What happened?" he asked.

"Lupin didn't want to know, I doubt you do." I said.

Sirius sat forwards, "Try me."

"As an eight-year-old I watched my Auntie kill my Uncle then proceeded to try and kill me."

"You're joking, right?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" I said, "But that's only the half of it, but I'll leave those delightful stories for another day."

He looked as though he was bursting to ask me a question, so I granted him the opportunity, "So your parents, you said-"

"They're in muggle prison. They deserve a lot worse. But as I said, another day…"

His eyes studied me with one of understanding, "My parents weren't mother and father of the year, either." He said, "They make you learn to fight for yourself, I see that strength in you."

My eyes left Sirius' as I lifted out my wand, "Want a cuppa?" I changed the conversation, I pointed my wand at Madam Pomfery's tray of tea, coffee and biscuits, "Tea? Coffee?"

"Whatever you're having." Sirius said.

So I made two cups of strong coffee and filled a plate of biscuits from Madam Pomfery's selection. "The perks of being in the Hospital Wing a lot, are that you know where to find the goods." I said simply, summoning the cups and the plate, Sirius took a cup and I took a cookie from the plate and gave the rest to Sirius.

"You like your coffee strong." His eyes nearly popped out of his head as he ate the biscuits, "Thanks."

We sat in silence for a while until we heard an abrupt slamming of a door and arguing voices. Sirius set down his cup on the ground and quickly transformed into a dog again. He sat beside Harry on the floor, on the alert. Molly and Bill were now awake again. Ron and Hermione were undisturbed. I lifted the cups and plate and put them back to be washed, out of sight.

"Have you not slept, dear?"

"No." I whispered.

Molly sat up and stretched, "You should have asked for a sleeping potion…"

"Don't you worry about me, Molly." I said, "I'm perfectly alright keeping watch."

"Do you know what's going on?" Bill asked.

"No idea. I only heard them when you both woke up." I said, the sounds of the voices got increasingly louder. Hermione woke and so did Ron, the two of them walking sleepily over to Harry's bed, wondering what was going on. Molly got to her feet, peaking through the curtain.

"They'll wake him up, if they don't shut up!" I said, looking over at Harry, who appeared to be stirring, but I don't think anyone else noticed. I gave Sirius the dog a quick look to tell him.

"What are they shouting about? Nothing else can have happened, can it?" Molly said, "That's Fudge's voice, and that's Minerva McGonagall's, isn't it?"

Bill was on his feet now too, "What are they arguing about?"

The footsteps got much louder, it sounded as though they were running. There were more than two people. I cautiously lifted my wand out of my pocket. The voices were clearer now, "Regrettable, but all the same, Minerva-" Fudge said loudly.

"You should never have brought it into the castle!" McGonagall yelled, I had never heard her shout that loud before, "When Dumbledore finds out-"

The Hospital Wing doors flew open. I grabbed Harry's glasses and chucked them to him as he sat up. Bill pulled open the curtains. Fudge strode onto the ward with Snape and McGonagall close behind. Spotting Molly, Fudge demanded, "Where's Dumbledore?"

"He's not here," Mrs Weasley said angrily, "This is a hospital wing, Minister, don't you think you'd do better to-"

"I'll blast him out of the way, too, if you want?" I joked in a whisper to Harry and Sirius.

The Hospital Wing door opened again and Dumbledore entered, "What has happened?" he said sharply, looking from McGonagall to Fudge, "Why are you disturbing these people? Minerva, I'm surprised at you – I asked you to stand guard over Barty Crouch-"

McGonagall shrieked, "There is no need to stand guard over him anymore, Dumbledore. The Minister has seen to that!" her cheeks were blotchy, her hands were in fists, she was trembling with fury.

"When we told Mr Fudge that we had caught the Death Eater responsible for tonight's events," Snape explained in a low voice, "he seemed to feel his personal safety was in question. He insisted on summoning a Dementor to accompany him into the castle. He brought it up to the office where Barty Crouch-"

"I told him you would not agree, Dumbledore! I told him you would never allow Dementors to set foot inside the castle, but-" McGonagall stormed.

"My dear woman!" Fudge roared back at her, "As Minister for Magic, it is my decision whether I wish to bring protection with me when interviewing a possibly dangerous-"

But Professor McGonagall's voice drowned Fudge's, "The moment that – the thing entered the room," She screamed, pointing a finger at Fudge, trembling all over, "It swooped down on Crouch and – and -" she couldn't finish the sentence, but we all knew what she meant. The Dementor had performed the kiss on Crouch, he was worse than dead.

"YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT!" I stood up so fast that those surrounding me jumped, "I can't believe you could have been so stupid!" I tried to make my way towards Fudge to give him a proper piece of my mind, but Ron and Hermione, who were both looking at me in shock, held me back, "That man – he –" I fought off Ron and Hermione's restraints and looked Fudge square in the eyes, threateningly, "He had me in the Hospital Wing for a week, put a memory charm on me, gave me sepsis that almost killed me, put the Imperius Curse on me tonight and – and that was only to me! He almost murdered Harry! He led Cedric to his death, lead Harry and Cedric to Voldemort! And you brought a Dementor here, all because you were afraid a man bound in ropes was going to hurt you? You're pathetic." I said, blowing my hair off my face, "Well done, you just killed off our evidence." I said.

"Now, now." Fudge said, a glint of fear in his eyes, "That is no way to speak to your Minister for Magic."

"I'd have more respect for you if you gained it first." My heart raced and my hands shook with anger as I held onto my wand with such frustration, "Right now, I couldn't care who you are."

McGonagall put a hand gently on my shoulder and tugged me back a few steps, "She's tired Minister…" I looked at my teacher in shock, she wasn't defending me, "But what she said is not wrong." I turned my head back around and smiled. Ker-ching.

Dumbledore nodded slightly, his eyes met Fudge's, "He cannot give evidence about why he killed those people."

"Why he killed them? Well, that's no mystery, is it?" Fudge blustered, now even more shaken up, "He was a raving lunatic! From what Minerva and Severus have told me, he seems to have thought he was doing it all on You-Know-Who's instructions!"

"Lord Voldemort was giving him instructions, Cornelius." Dumbledore said plainly, "Those people's deaths were mere by-products of a plan to restore Voldemort to his body."

Fudge looked as though someone had just punched him in the face, unable to believe what Dumbledore had just told him, "You-Know-Who… Returned? Preposterous. Come now, Dumbledore…"

"As Minerva and Severus have doubtless told you, we heard Barty Crouch confess. Under the influence of Veritaserum." Dumbledore then explained to Fudge exactly what we heard. How Crouch was smuggled out of Azkaban, Bertha Jorkins' capture and torture, Barty Crouch Sr's role in imprisoning his son, the plan devised to capture Harry and how tonight, the Triwizard Cup was turned into a portkey which lead Harry and Cedric straight to Voldemort for his rebirth. "I am afraid I cannot permit you to question Mr Potter tonight."

"You are – er – prepared to take Harry's word on this, are you, Dumbledore?" Fudge smiled incredulously.

Sirius growled and bared his teeth at Fudge. I would have given Sirius every bit of money I had to jump at Fudge and rip his body to shreds.

"You've been reading Rita Skeeter, Mr Fudge." Harry spoke quietly. Those around the bed clearly hadn't realised that Harry was awake.

"And if I have?" Fudge's face reddened slightly, but a defiant look came over his face, "You have been keeping certain facts about the boy very quiet, a parselmouth, eh? And having funny turns all over the place, headaches, hallucinations, nightmares?"

"Look, I saw Voldemort come back!" Harry yelled, he tried to get out of bed, but Molly held him back, "I saw the Death Eaters! I can give you their names! Lucius Malfoy-"

Snape's eyes made a sudden movement.

"Malfoy was cleared!" Fudge was visibly affronted, "A very old family – donations to excellent causes-"

"Macnair, Avery, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle-" Harry named, just like he had before.

Fudge was back to being angry again, "You are merely repeating the names of those who were acquitted of being Death Eaters thirteen years ago! You could have found those names in old reports of the trials! For heaven's sake, Dumbledore – the boy was full of some crackpot story at the end of last year, too – his tales are getting taller, and you're still swallowing them – the boy who can talk to snakes, Dumbledore, and you think he's trustworthy."

I looked over to Sirius, closed my eyes and sighed. Fudge had already made up his mind and nothing Dumbledore or anyone else has said or will say is about to change his mind. McGonagall, who had been standing behind me this whole time cried out in exasperation, "You fool! Cedric Diggory! Mr Crouch! These deaths were not the random work of a lunatic!"

"I see no evidence to the contrary!" Fudge shouted back, now purple in the face, "It seems to me that you are all determined to start a panic that will destabilise everything we have worked for these last thirteen years!"

"Voldemort has returned," Dumbledore spoke quietly, "If you accept that fact straight away, and take the necessary precautions, we may be able to save the situation. The first and most essential step is to remove Azkaban from the control of the Dementors-"

"Preposterous!" Fudge shouted again, he was having none of it. Dumbledore made suggestion after suggestion and Fudge refused to listen. This included getting on side with the giants by extending the hand of friendship. That was shot down.

"You are blinded," Dumbledore's voice rose, "by the love of the office you hold, Cornelius! You place too much importance, as you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognise that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be! Your Dementor has just destroyed the last remaining member of a pure-blooded family as old as any – and see what that man chose to make of his life! I tell you now – take the steps as I have suggested, and you will be remembered, in office or out, as one of the bravest and greatest Ministers for Magic we have ever known. Fail to act – and history will remember you as the man who stepped aside, and allowed Voldemort a second chance to destroy the world we have tried to rebuild."

Fudge started backing away, "Insane…" he whispered.

"If your determination to shut your eyes will carry you as far as this, Cornelius, we have reached a parting of the ways. You must act as you see fit. And I – I shall act as I see fit."

Fudge mumbled, throwing out threats to Dumbledore about the running of Hogwarts, "But if you're going to work against me-" he waved his fat finger around.

"The only one against whom I intend to work is Lord Voldemort. If you are against him, then we remain, Cornelius, on the same side." Dumbledore said simply.

Fudge took a minute or so to reply, "He can't be back, he just can't be…" there was a hint of pleading in his voice.

Snape strode forwards, past Dumbledore and pulled up the left sleeve of his robes as he went. He stuck out his forearm and showed it to Fudge. It was the Dark Mark. Fudge recoiled as though disgusted. "There." Snape said, "It is not as clear as it was, an hour or so ago, when it burnt black, but you can still see it. Every Death Eater had the sign burnt into him by the Dark Lord. It was a means of summoning us to him. When he touched the Mark of any Death Eater, we were to Disapparate, and Apparate, instantly, at his side. The Mark has been growing clearer all year. Karkaroff's too. Why do you think Karkaroff fled tonight? We both felt the Mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears the Dark Lord's vengeance. He betrayed too many of his fellow Death Eaters to be sure of a welcome back into the fold."

Fudge backed away from Snape as well. He was shaking his head. "I don't know what you and your staff are playing at, Dumbledore, but I have heard enough. I have no more to add. I will be in touch with you tomorrow, Dumbledore, to discuss the running of this school. I must return to the ministry." He walked towards the door, stopped and walked back, stopping at Harry's bed. "Your winnings." He said shortly, taking a large bag of gold out of his pocket and dropping it on Harry's bedside table, "One thousand galleons. There should have been a presentation ceremony, but in the circumstances…" He put his bowler hat back on his head and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind himself.

I returned to the chair I was sitting on and slumped into it. The sun was starting to rise in the distance. Dumbledore turned his attention to the group around Harry's bed. "There is work to be done," He said, "Molly… am I right in thinking that I can count on you and Arthur?"

"Of course you can!" Molly said. She was white to the lips, but she looked resolute. "He knows what Fudge is. It's Arthur's fondness for Muggles that has held him back at the Ministry all these years. Fudge thinks he lacks proper wizarding pride."

"Then I need you to send a message to him," Dumbledore said, "All those that we can persuade of the truth must be notified immediately, and Arthur is well placed to contact those at the Ministry who are not as short-sighted as Cornelius."

"I'll go to Dad," Bill stood, "I'll go now…"

"Excellent!" Dumbledore said, "Tell him what has happened. Tell him I will be in direct contact with him shortly. He will need to be discreet, however. If Fudge thinks I am interfering at the Ministry-"

"Leave it to me." Bill said, clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder, kissed his mother on the cheek, pulled on his cloak and strode quickly from the room.

McGonagall stepped closer to Dumbledore, "Albus…" she said, turning her back to us, "Do you think it's safe? Do you think she'll be alright there?"

"I have full faith that Miss Pink will be of excellent use to us." Dumbledore looked at me, "Minerva, I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as possible. Also – if she will consent to come – Madame Maxime." Without a further word, McGonagall nodded and left.

"Poppy," Dumbledore looked to Madam Pomfery, "would you be very kind as to go down to Professor Moody's office, where I think you will find a house-elf called Winky in considerable distress? Do what you can for her then bring her back down to the kitchens. I think Dobby will look after her for us."

"Very – very well." Madam Pomfery left.

Dumbledore made sure the door was closed and that Madam Pomfery's steps had died away before speaking again. "And now it is time for two of our number to recognise each other for what they are. Sirius… if you could resume your usual form."

Sirius transformed from the black dog into a man again.

Molly nearly fell off her chair, "S-Sirius Black!" she pointed her finger.

"Mum! Shut up!" Ron yelled, "It's okay!"

Snape had a look of mingling fury and horror on his face, "Him!" he stared at Sirius in disgust, "What is he doing here?

"He is here at my invitation," Dumbledore looked between them, "as you are, Severus. I trust you both. It is time for you to lay aside your old differences, and trust each other." It was as though Dumbledore was asking for a miracle, so he continued, "I will settle, in the short term for a lack of open hostility. You will shake hands. You are on the same side now. Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth stand united, there is no hope for any of us."

Snape and Sirius stepped closer to each other, looking as though they wish each other nothing but horrible, long suffering deaths, shook hands. They let go extremely quickly.

"That will do to be going on with," Dumbledore separated the two by standing between them, "Now I have work for each of you. Fudge's attitude, though not expected, changes everything. Sirius, I need you to set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher – the old crowd. Lie low at Lupin's for a while, I will contact you there."

"But-" Harry spoke.

"You'll see me very soon, Harry, I promise you! But I must do what I can, you understand, don't you?" Sirius looked apologetic yet determined.

Harry nodded, "Yeah, yeah… course I do…"

Sirius grasped Harry's hand briefly, nodded to Dumbledore, transformed again into the black dog and ran the length of the room to the door. He opened the handle with his paw.

"Severus," Dumbledore turned to Snape, "you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready… if you are prepared…"

"I am." Snape said. He looked paler but he clenched his jaw he was a man on a mission.

"Then, good luck." Dumbledore watched Snape leave with a trace of apprehension. Grasping onto the back of the chair Bill had sat on, Dumbledore looked as though he was in deep thought. I placed a hand in Harry's and he nodded appreciatively. Then finally Dumbledore spoke, "I must go downstairs, I must see the Diggorys. Harry – take the rest of your potion I will see all of you later."

Dumbledore left and Harry slumped back into his pillows. He looked straight ahead. Ron and Hermione looked to me, both of them shrugging their shoulders. Molly reached forwards, her hand nudged the bag of gold as she grabbed the goblet with the remainder of Harry's potion. "You've got to take the rest of this." She said, handing it to him, "You have a good sleep. Try and think about something else for a while… think about what you're going to buy with your winnings!"

"I don't want that gold," Harry said in an expressionless voice, "You have it. Anyone can have it. I shouldn't have won it. It should have been Cedric's…" Harry's voice cracked. Hermione got up off her seat and stretched, taking a walk towards the ajar window to get some air. I saw a beetle on the windowsill.

"It wasn't your fault, Harry." Molly whispered. I squeezed his hand gently.

"I told him to take the Cup with me." Harry blinked back tears, staring at the ceiling. Molly set down the potion and put her arms around Harry and held him tight.

There was a loud slamming noise as Hermione's hand collided with the windowsill. Harry and Molly's hug broke apart. Hermione clutched something tight in her hands. I couldn't see the beetle any longer. "Sorry…" she whispered.

"Your potion, Harry," Molly said, handing it to him, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Harry gulped the liquid down and quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.

"Right you three, off to bed." Molly ordered, "He'll be asleep until after lunchtime." On seeing the looks on all our faces she put both hands on her hips, "He'll be fine. I'll wait for Madam Pomfery to return and I'll go and sort a few things…" she kissed Ron on the cheek, making him go red and hugged him tight.

Hermione and I found ourselves in our Dorm a few minutes later. We formed a sign for our door which said, "DO NOT WAKE US, UNLESS AN ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY OR KATHRYN WILL KILL YOU."

"Do you reckon that's threatening enough?" Hermione held the door open and showed me.

I rolled my eyes, "Take the darn potion, 'Mione." I gave her a bit of my dreamless sleep potion and she fell straight to sleep, seconds later I was in a deep sleep. My mind completely free of thoughts and worries of what was ahead.