Darkened Light

by Venquine1990

Preventing Trouble V2 - sort of. After they beat Xehanort, the adventure isn't over. Lea actually has two Soul Mates and both live in a world that is on the road of Darkened Light. In order to save this world - and Sora from fading - 7 books about one of his mates need to be read. WARNING MalexMale, Male threesome and mentions of various forms of abuse! Set in GoF and after KH3.

4. Reading With Tension

Hey everyone,
Now I'm sure that I'm going to get a lot of hate and flames over the fact that this "rewrite" doesn't have HarryxViktor in it. But like I said, I'm kind of done with that ship and would prefer to keep it to just Preventing Trouble. And I know that I am becoming known for my HarryxLea ships, but that's why I added Cedric into the mix. I wanted something familiar and yet something new at the same time and this just felt right.
Also, just like in Preventing Trouble, I am going to be adding bits of text to the original book texts. However, this time around I am not going to bash Molly as horribly as I did in the original. Don't get me wrong, I'll still have the readers point it out when the woman does something wrong, but that will only be cannon mistakes. When it comes to the added texts, I am going to use those to show Molly for the loving mother that she is.
Clear? Good,

Venquine1990

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Chapter 04
Reading With Tension

24th of June 1995
Great Hall, Hogwarts
Aqua's POV

Things really haven't gone the way I had expected them to go. After Sora, Donald and Goofy took down Master Xehanort, Master Eraqus helped him pass on and we all closed Kingdom Hearts, I had hoped and expected that I could return to the Land of Departure with Terra and Ventus. I hadn't expected Sora to use the Power of Waking to go find Kairi or Lea to suddenly disappear on us. And I definitely hadn't expected the rest either.
And while I have lived almost my whole life in the Land of Departure and have seen beautiful castles in the Land of Dreams and the Enchanted Dominion, Hogwarts castle has something about it that the other three, somehow, lacked. I felt awed the minute I laid eyes on the ancient looking structure and as I walked through its halls, it wasn't the moving pictures that amazed me. It was the fact that almost every brick felt like it was filled with ancient magic.

What had been less amazing and even mildly annoying was how quickly the majority of this school's student body seemed ready and willing to put all the blame of something and even scapegoat just a single student within their midst. While Harry had been making his Floo-calls, Hagrid had explained Harry's fame to us and what had happened to his parents almost 14 years ago now. Yet to me and my friends that really isn't an excuse.
Something else that upset is me, or better said someone, is Albus Dumbledore. The man may be the Headmaster of the school and obviously deeply liked and respected. But the minute I laid eyes on him, I gasped as I felt as if I was looking at a white, bearded version of Master Xehanort. Just like the former Keyblade Master turned Seeker of Darkness, this man has an air about him that just says It's either my way or no way.

I studied the man the entire time I saw him and I noticed everything. I noticed his horror and disbelief when he heard that Harry has a soul mate. I noticed that he was okay with a student of his drawing their wand on Harry, but not Lea defending Harry. And I noticed his annoyance when Bill offered his help, when Chirithy let Harry chose the reading location instead of him and when Professor Sprout took charge in explaining the situation to the Great Hall.
The man has a need to be in charge, to be seen as the one doing the great things and be the leader or to be known as the one who guided others into doing great things. The man has a huge ego and an even bigger desire to be the center of the world's attention. And right now I feel confident that these desires and beliefs of his will play a vital role in the world going down the path of Darkened Light. Though I'm also curious as to how he'll achieve this.

Still at the same time, I don't care as much about Dumbledore as I care about Harry. Not just because he is Lea's soul mate or because the student body seems strangely eager to scapegoat and belittle him. It's because, in the last hour or so, I got to know Harry and he has a personality that is very likable. At the same time he is obviously very strong and has been through a lot. Yet he also has a sense of vulnerability to him that attracts me.
When Chirithy explained to the Herbology class that time would be frozen and that the fates of people stuck in time and whether or not they'd be saved from dangerous situation wasn't up to Harry, it wasn't just Hagrid who got upset over Chirithy addressing Dumbledore directly at the end. Though it upset me because, unlike Hagrid, I had seen Dumbledore glance at Harry while Chirithy spoke and know this is why the little critter addressed him.
"This man is incredibly powerful and wants to be in the spotlight and be known by everyone, yet at the same time he expects the near impossible of a teenager. He also seems to fake his emotions just because he thinks people expect him to feel those emotions and that it can get them to like him even more. A man that manipulative is definitely just like Master Xehanort and is more than probably responsible for this path the world is on."

I think this to myself as a student seated at the table with the yellow trim asks what happens now. I had taken the books with me and pull the book that Chirithy recommended while we were still outside from the pile. As I do this, Professor Sprout speaks up. "Now we will start reading. Miss Aqua will be the first to read as she is already at the Owl Stand and she will focus on the Antechamber, the Great Hall, the kitchens and the Entrance Hall and Courtyard.
This will make sure that, once she starts reading, these five rooms will be exempt from the Time Freeze spell that the rest of the world will be under throughout the duration of the reading. And once we know what is going to happen during the Third Task and afterwards, the staff and I will act accordingly and make sure it doesn't go wrong in any way that we can." Yet at this a man with blond hair and blue eyes speaks up:
"Just a minute, Miss. If that's the plan, then please permit me to summon the Minister for Magic. I know he wasn't planning to come until later tonight, but I think it would be essential for him to be here. The Tri-Wizard Tournament is, after all, as much his baby as it is mine and the late Barty's, may he rest in peace." It troubles me that someone died sometime after this Tournament began, yet I nod in agreement with the man nonetheless.

The man, whose whole body proves that he was once an athlete, but that he has let himself go since, almost wobbles out of the Great Hall and through a door behind the Staff Table. I realize that this must be the antechamber that Professor Sprout mentioned and a few minutes later he returns with another. The other man is portly, has grey hair and wears a pinstriped cloak and a green bowler hat. For some reason, the man looks uneasy.
"I – ahem – I hear that you and your – your friends are – not from this world?" The man asks and I note both a hint of trepidation and a slight hint of disbelief in his tone. I nod and summon my Keyblade once again as I say: "I am Master Aqua, the Keyblade Master of the Land of Departure. It is an honor to meet the leader of this country." And this last statement seems to put the man at ease as he introduces himself as Cornelius Fudge.
The man follows his compatriot back to the Staff Table and yet he takes a seat that is set close to the center of the table, while the other man simply retakes his seat. I notice that a few of the teachers frown at the Minister and realize that he must have taken Professor Sprout's seat. Yet the woman doesn't seem to care for this and she just heads out to take a seat next to Cedric's parents at the yellow-trimmed table. I take this as my cue.

I page through the book and when I reach the end, I find a chapter of which the title is The Third Task. I put the book down on the Owl Stand while open on these two pages and want to start reading. But as I scrape my throat, the pages suddenly light up and a beam of pink, blue, white, soft yellow and purple light shoots from the pages. Chirithy reminds me to focus and I mentally chant: "Entrance Hall, Courtyard, kitchens, Great Hall, Antechamber."
Over and over I think these five chamber names as the beam of light hits the enchanted ceiling. There the light spreads through the enchantment, looking like stars that shoot through the bright sunny sky. And when it reaches the walls, the lights turn into a transparent wall of light that flows down the walls like water. It reaches the floor and seeps in between the bricks on the floor. And like water that flows between rocks it flows through the floor.
Finally the magic reaches the center of the floor and it seems to gather every last bit of itself before suddenly it shoots out like bullets. The lights shoot back for the walls and shoot straight through. And instantly I know that each shot of light is now heading for someone on the planet, to put them under the Time Spell until we're done reading the book. I gaze through the windows for a moment longer and then I start to read.

The Third Task
"Dumbledore reckons … Ron whispered.

Yet just this one sentence makes the Minister shoot up behind me and shout excuse me, what? I ignore him and turn to the boy in question. The boy looks befuddled and yet Harry mutters: "This must be that conversation we had after my failed Divinations class a few weeks ago, at the end of May." Ron seems to remember this conversation as he and Hermione nod at their friend. And while the Minister continues to sputter, I read on.

Everything Harry … Dumbledore's office. And just out of a precaution, Harry had made a quick detour to the kitchens to get him checked over by his little friend. This had resulted in certain spells now being stuck in Harry's robe, but unable to actually affect him.

This statement makes me want to look behind me, but instead I look up. I look straight at Terra and while we may have been apart for years, we still know each other inside out. Terra nods at me and I know what that nod means. Dumbledore had tried to hide a grimace of annoyance behind my back while the members of staff turned to him, startled, shocked and confused. He had been the one to cast these spells.
Yet at the same time I wonder why this bit of text and the word Snuffles is written in a different font from the rest. For a moment I wonder if perhaps Dumbledore might have been able to cast some kind of magic on the books, but then I spot something else. From behind where Terra is seated, Chirithy has his little paw to his mouth. And while he fakes to be whispering something to Ventus, his message is clear. And so I just read on.

Harry, Ron … them off. Yet at the same time they didn't share everything as they knew that the portrait hanging above the fireplace was watching them, even if the knight was faking to sleep. Harry and Ron would discuss their true thoughts later on in the safety of their beds and then, when it was convenient, either Harry or Ron would share these same thoughts with Hermione.

"What's with the damned secrecy? Why are these three so dang suspicious? They're practically like Moody over there." Someone states loudly while seated at the table with students who have a green trim on their robes. A lot of students look at where the trio is seated. Harry calmly crosses his arms and answers: "Quirrell was a thief, Lockhart a fraud and the staff kept what happened on the night of Halloween a secret from me for over half a year.
I have my reasons. And I don't care what you think about safety, Professor. You had no right to keep secrets from me about my parents and you certainly didn't have the right to then, afterwards, share those same secrets with all of the Three Broomsticks. And if you want to know, I was the only student not allowed to go." Harry emphasizes this by angrily pointing a finger at his two friends. The woman in question winces and I read on.

Ron stared … said Harry, who felt anger rise up within him each time he himself thought about this. Dumbledore was willing to vouch for a "reformed" Death Eater and trust him implicitly afterwards, but he didn't care two knuts for someone who was known to be on the side of Light and yet was thrown in Azkaban without a trial.

This bit of text makes even more people jump up, shout and exclaim in shock and horror. Yet then the Minister suddenly speaks up and asks if we can really trust these books to be truth-based. I look at the man as if he suddenly declared himself to wanting to marry Xehanort or something and then Chirithy retorts: "That depends, do you want to call Lady Destiny a liar by chance, Minister?" The man turns a deep shade of red and I want to read on.
But then a girl who looks to be Harry's age curses and mutters how she should have called on her aunt before the Time Spell was activated. Then she turns to Harry and says: "Harry, would you be willing to meet with my Aunt after the Third Task? She's the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she'll want to know about this." Harry looks cautious, yet he nods in acceptance to her invitation and I read on afterwards.

Hermione had … at home."

The man who had gone to fetch the Minister earlier winces at this and at the many shocked looks that he gets from the younger students. The Minister himself turns to Dumbledore and asks why the man was reviewing such memories. The Headmaster smiles benignly, though I notice a hint of disdain in his gaze as he says: "The best way to save the future is to learn from the mistakes of the past." I suppress a snort and read on.

"Yeah, but … the truth."

The huge woman in question had turned red while I was reading and to my dismay and disgust a few students had snickered at the sight, while others had nodded in agreement when it was mentioned that Fudge suspected her. Yet Terra shortly studies the woman and says: "You know, if that's true then you would make for one brilliant training partner for people who train on more experienced levels." And this silences all the snickering as I read on.

Hermione looked … Neville s parents.

The boy in question looks shocked at suddenly being mentioned even though he's obviously in Harry's year and House. Yet before more than a few students can turn to him curiously, he seems to take a silent decision. He stands up, even goes to stand on his chair, and loudly declares: "Three nights after Halloween 1981, the Lestranges attacked my family.
Ever since that fateful night, my parents have been declared insane and have been confined to a single large room inside St. Mungos. It's the whole reason I am always seen with my gran and no other. And as for why I never told anyone? Two reasons. Why should I share my backstory with total strangers? And two, you lot turn everything you hear into food for the grapevine and twist it beyond recognition. Ehm, no thanks."

A lot of students, even two girls that sit near his own seat, wince. Yet most of them also miss the look that Neville sends to Harry. And because I heard Hagrid's story about Harry's own past, I easily discern the meaning behind that glance. Neville never spoke of his parents, because he didn't want it broadcasted and twisted like Harry's fame had been over the years. That had been his motivation behind hating the grapevine.
Again I want to look behind me as I just can't understand why such a large body of teachers isn't doing anything to keep such a venomous grapevine under control. Yet instead of that I decide to just leave it for the time being. But this is mostly because I notice Harry sending a quick, hidden wink at the two girls that had winced. The girls look past him as he does this, yet I notice them tilting their heads in a nod as I read on.

As Harry … these lives…
Yet as sleep took Harry, he knew. He knew it wasn't just Voldemort. That there was another. One who played with the lives of innocents just as much, but in a much crueler way. And yet again this year, Harry's last conscious thought was: "Just three more years to wait."

A lot of students and staff members turn to Harry at this, but the boy keeps looking my way. Then someone challenges him and asks him if he has something to say or share. But Harry coldly replies in the negative and says: "Not until you see for yourself the evidence that led me to this belief. Just wait, the books will reveal. They will reveal all, I'm sure." The boy's voice is void of tone or emotion and this worries me deeply as I read on.

Ron and … in midair.

A tiny man with a long curly beard behind me compliments the boy in question over this and continues as he says: "You are the first in your family to get that spell in your Fourth year. Even before your brother William, who got it early in his Fifth." Ron looks at the elder Weasley in awed interest and Bill proudly ruffles his younger brother's hair. He confirms the man's words and also congratulates his brother as I read on.

The mood … available moment. He also snuck out of the castle one night a week to practice more obscure hexes and spells in the Shrieking Shack, away from prying eyes.

"How do you even get in there? And how did you even get there without being seen? The Shrieking Shack is on the other side of Hogsmeade!" Someone in the Hall yells and yet Harry shrugs and says: "I know how to tame the Whomping Willow and the tunnel underneath it leads into the Shack." Yet while he sounds callous, I notice that he is tense and annoyed, probably because his secret training spot got revealed. I feel for him as I read on.
Or I want to, but then the same dour man as before, apparently named Professor Snape, speaks up and asks Harry exactly what kind of spells he has been learning. I notice that a lot of students start to look uneasy, as if they think that Harry might use these spells on them. But Harry keeps his voice toneless and answers: "Like it said, obscure spells and hexes. I have been entered into this Tournament against my will, after all." And instantly I read on.

He felt … the maze.
And whenever he was in the Shack, he would study up on spell books that were provided to him by his little help and he would also work on using the spells he already knew in different ways, tried to see if he could use them in ways that others might not expect.
So far he had managed to cast the Lumos charm with the same brightness as a Patronus, learned to use the Wingardium Leviosa spell on only certain parts of an object and managed to transfigure objects into small animals like snakes and rats and then order them around. Though he would also provide them with a treat for following orders and then have his help send them off. He knew there were spells to vanish them, but he refused to cast those on them – for now.

"Potter, that sounds as if you expect to duel at some point during the Task. You need to pass through a maze and reach the Cup, remember?" Someone on the yellow trimmed table sneers, but Harry just coldly retorts: "And I am one of four contestants trying that. Not to mention that I might encounter whoever even entered my name in this blasted death-trap for anyone not off age. I'd like to be ready, thank you." I feel proud of his answer and read on.

He was … in handy."
Harry really wanted to tell her and Ron what he was doing once a week, but the three of them had agreed last year. Each of them would do one thing secret and not tell the others in case they were being overheard. This way, once they were ready, they would be able to use skills no one knew about to keep themselves – and each other – safe.

"Seriously, what is your guys' problem? Even Moody seems uncomfortable with how paranoid you three are. And what are these skills anyway?" Someone who sits on the other side of the Gryffindor Table asks loudly, but Harry coldly retorts: "I already explained our reason for being cautious. As to what these skills are, I'm sure that the books will reveal this sooner or later." A lot of students grumble at this vague answer and I read on.

"Come and … Charm again."
Harry knew that this wasn't true. In the summer before last he had had a single venture into the Muggle world and had bought himself a second-hand Walkman alongside a few cd's that looked to have songs that he felt like he might enjoy.
These days, he shared his Walkman and cd's with his dorm mates and they would all use the Walkman one night a week before bed. Dean would use the Walkman on Sunday night, Harry on Monday, Ron Tuesday, Neville Wednesday and Seamus on Thursday. Over the weekend the Walkman would be hidden underneath Harry's pillow.

The Minister wants to berate Harry for his venture, but Harry interrupts him and tells him: "The store was right next to the Leaky Cauldron and I had Tom with me. We were in and out within less than ten minutes and back in the Leaky Cauldron before rush hour started within the bar. Plus Tom wrote it down in the report you asked him to make up of my actions, comings and goings. You not knowing about this is not my fault."
The man looks flustered at the fact that he got called out like this, yet I personally feel amused. Mostly at the fact that Harry wasn't even looking at the man while he was talking. Food had appeared near Harry and he was busy spreading some jam on a bit of bread while he talked. And the idea that Harry thought his small lunch more important than his manners towards the Minister both amuses and intrigues me as I read on.

Snuffles was sending … other matters.
Harry made sure to sent owls back with care-packages as well as constant reassurance that he was following Snuffles' directions. Yet he also sent Snuffles other stuff through his help, including reports that were written in code about what he was doing while training. His help even made sure that Snuffles would forget what he read if someone asked, but remember otherwise. He had hinted at this in one of his first coded letters.

Examiners, teachers and other people who ask me stuff always make me nervous. Whenever this happens, I just forget the topic about which they question me. But when the questioning is done, I remember. So stupid, but I try not to worry about it. Like you said, Tournament.

"Should I be worried that you're already this experienced with writing coded letters?" Mrs. Weasley asks Harry, though her eyes also convey her pride at the fact at the same time. Harry grimaces and shrugs at her before he says: "Let's just say it became a necessary evil, one I hope I can forget about once this is all over." The woman nods and smiles at him, yet I notice something. Harry was looking at the dog as he spoke. I take note of this and read on.

Harry's nerves ... enormous relief.

"Mr. Potter, why are you making the Tri-Wizard Tournament sound like a bad thing?" Mr. Bagman asks the boy, who huffs and answers: "Because I was one of the few people who actually listened when Dumbledore mentioned the death-rate of the previous Tournaments and because I don't consider risking my health against a dragon, my friends in the middle of a frozen lake or my sanity in the middle of a huge maze fun.
Regardless of what you, Skeeter and about 80% of this school seems to think, I am not a comic book hero, I was not the cause behind my survival all those years ago and I do not willingly risk my neck and health all willy-nilly unless I have already exhausted all other options. It's just that the last two times I tried that, both in my first and my second, those other options didn't exist. And when it comes to this Tournament?
Well tell me sir, would you rather rely on adults to create tasks that you might have a modicum of a chance of getting through safely – and I really use the term safely very loosely seeing the last two tasks – or lose your magic entirely. Because regardless of what this lot might want to think, that is still, according to every source available, the price I would have to pay if I didn't compete." Bagman gapes at Harry and I read on.

Breakfast was … third task.

"Hey, that was this morning. That means we'll be reading about the future soon, right?" A girl who appears to be one of the youngest in the whole hall squeals and Chirithy flies over to me as he says: "Yes, and before we read about that I want to make two things clear. One, there was a 50/50 chance of the vampire choosing Hogwarts as his next feeding ground, as he would have called it. For the sake of all this, Destiny upped those stakes to 90/10.
Sorry Harry." The young lad in question has turned eerily white and instantly both Cedric and Lea have him wrapped up between the two of them. Their very presence seems to pull Harry from his fearful state and he mutters: "It may have been one of the most frightening and horrifying experiences of my life, but it got me on the path Destiny set out for me. Plus, Destiny made up for it by not just sending him, but Lea my way too.
That's what matters." I listen to Harry speak and feel conflicted about it. On one hand I feel proud and awed over what he says, on the other I feel concerned and worried over how mature he sounds about it all. Chirithy sighs and says: "Right. Number 02, whether the vampire showed up or not doesn't matter. The events of these books would have happened. The only difference is Lea's presence in them." Harry winces and nods as I read on.

The post … card from Snuffles. It was … Harry's reaction.
Already Harry's mind was coming up with half a dozen different ways he could get back at the blonde ponce, who obviously believed it his right to spread lies and falsehoods about him. Why Malfoy didn't just outright duel Harry and get it over with, Harry didn't know. But he did know that, now that Malfoy had made the whole thing public, him reacting publicly as well was necessary.

"And how, pray tell Mr. Potter, were you going to get back at my student?" The dour Professor Snape asks Harry and just the tone of his voice proves that he expects Harry to hurt Malfoy in some kind of gruesome manner. I really wonder how the man can see someone like that in Harry, who shrugs and says: "Simple sir, I would have him raise his voice next time he says something that Professor Sprout considers against the rules."
I turn my head and hold back a snort and a grin at how astounded the man looks. Professor Sprout, who sits next to him, grins at the statement, yet at the same time I can't help but wonder something. Just by what little I have read so far, it sounds as if Malfoy is going to get away with this article scam of his unpunished. I turn back to the book in front of me and think: "Why should Harry be the one to punish Malfoy for this? Why not the staff?" As I read on.

"Let me … this evening.

Anger, rage and disbelief sound through my voice as I read this disgusting portion of the chapter. I slam the book down on the owl stand and want to summon my Keyblade. But Master Yen Sid suddenly appears besides me and grabs me at the wrist. "Let us dissect this article one portion at a time, shall we?" The man asks. Yet while his tone is calm, the power that he almost radiates proves that he too is livid.
The man turns to Harry and asks: "Harry, you do not want to be part of this tournament and have not wanted this since it was first announced, correct?" Harry nods solemnly, yet I notice that even a few students on his own table look unconvinced about this. The sight fuels my anger as Harry only just earlier stated the exact same thing. Yet Master Yen Sid still has his hand on my wrist and I use that hold of his on me to keep my cool.
"And no form of magic that could keep you from lying will make you speak otherwise, correct?" The Master asks again and Harry answers that he would swear an oath on the essence of his magic or take something called Veritaserum. Instantly the Headmaster jumps up and states that this will not be necessary, yet I only need to look at some of the students from before to doubt this. Yet Harry's words also seem to have swayed a few others.

"Next point, the article claims that you had this supposed pain in your scar on the Monday of last week, yet the rest of the book so far has made it seem as if at least a fortnight if not an entire month has passed. Which is true, Harry?" Master Yen Sid asks and Harry grins almost ferally as he says: "As most of my classmates, Professor Moody, Headmaster Dumbledore and the Minister can attest, it was now 5 weeks ago."
The master indeed turns to the Head Table and all three adults nod in acknowledgement. The master hums and states that this certainly lessens the credibility of the article as a whole. As the man speaks and works, my anger and rage abate. In its place I slowly feel satisfaction and amusement as well as pride over how efficiently the man is debunking everything we just read. And I notice that the avid readers of this reporter are now also doubtful.

"As for your scar, Harry. Perhaps magic that is not from this world can help with that. I suggest that, once the reading is done, you let me call on a few friends of mine and let them examine you. Is that agreeable? Or perhaps there are experts of magic and healing here in this hall that could take a secondary look at your scar and perhaps find a solution to the problem." Harry nods in happy agreement to this and Bill offers his services.
"I've been working in Egypt as a Curse Breaker for almost seven years now. I deal with all kinds of things, from stones that turn into chimaeras to jewelry that acts as soul containers. Don't ask." His twin brothers pout at the end. Yet while it is almost soundless, I heard an old voice gasp in shock at the end of Bill's statement. And while Harry thanks Bill profusely for his offer, I don't need to look behind me to know Dumbledore gasped.

"Now onto the matter of Miss Skeeter witnessing you fleeing from class. Tell me, Harry, did you see her at all in that class?" The Master asks while I silently wonder what Dumbledore might know about Soul Containers and why hearing about it shocked him. Harry shakes his head and Hermione adds to that that Skeeter is supposed to be banned from the grounds and that Divinations takes place in the North Tower, the second highest tower in the school.
Instantly all of my friends are on high alert as we all wonder the same thing. How did Skeeter get up there without being seen? And our concerns are confirmed when the Master asks the rest of the class if they saw the woman and they all answer negatively. Then I notice Riku looking at Axel, Roxas and Xion and all three of them nod in acceptance. I remember reading the journal about the three and know they'll do recon on this sometime soon.

"Very interesting. A reporter that needs to hide herself to get a story. It almost sounds as if she doesn't trust the person she wants to do her story about to be honest with her. I wonder what might have happened to make her think that. Either way, onto the expert. Perhaps it was my hearing running away with me, but the wording made it sound as if the expert was only working with theories, not actual evidence. Harry, have you ever met these experts?"
Harry shakes his head and says that the only medical expert he ever met was Madam Pomfrey and that he doesn't even know where St. Mungo's is located. The Master hums and mutters that it's interesting that an expert would make a statement based on dated evidence and the word of an apparently secretive reporter. A few students wince at this, as if they feel personally attacked and a few others glare, as if they feel personally offended.

"Either way, we should consider the statements made by these experts circumstantial at best, at least until they personally come here to request with Harry if he will help them either prove or disapprove their supposed theories. And next to that, theories are always more credible when published in a book than when printed in a newspaper. But that's merely an old man's opinion, I suppose." The Master mumbles off at the end.
"Onto the gifts and the friends you seem to have made. I am going to assume that the giant in question is our own Professor Hagrid? Nothing wrong with forming a relationship between student and teacher, of course. Granted, there is nothing wrong with that as long as the staff member in question is capable enough to be impartial and not let said friendship cloud his judgement in regards to your scores. Professor Hagrid, can you confirm this?"
The man in question is a little red and says: "Well, it is true that I like to have Harry assist me with some of my classes, but it was part of my contract that Professor McGonagall does the scoring. And she's always been fair in her scoring, so I don't see a real problem, sir." The Master gives the giant man an agreeing nod and Harry stands up as he says: "And as for that werewolf. I only have this to say. Expecto Patronum!"

To my utter awe a beautiful silver white stag that is almost as tall as Hagrid bursts out of Harry's wand and canters around the hall for a bit before it dissipates. A lot of students look awed and amazed and Harry quips: "And if you want further evidence of Lupin's skills, maybe you should check last year's OWL and NEWT results. I'm willing to bet 200 Galleons that they're the highest in the last decade." A lot of students yelp at this.
Bagman, interestingly enough, instantly takes the bet, but Fudge snarls that he better not. Bagman winces at the man and Fudge says: "Potter, the Ministry – and all its employees – see no reason to take you up on that bet. However, I will be checking the general scores as you suggested and come back to you on that later. If Lupin really is as talented a teacher as you say, perhaps he can help us forward in these upcoming dark times."
Lupin himself turns a furious shade of red at the potential praise and Cedric stands up as he says: "To be honest, Minister. Most of us already knew of Lupin's illness long before it was revealed to us by Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy, again without the man's consent. At least three-quarter of Hufflepuff already knew and none of us cared. Same with Gryffindor and Ravenclaw." A lot of students nod and the Minister looks shocked at this.

Master Yen Sid and I smile at this display of unity, even if I silently wish that the same could be said for Harry. Then Bill stands up and says: "And back in Egypt, it's forbidden to start an expedition into a new or undiscovered tomb without at least two werewolves, a vampire and a Parsletongue. The strength of the werewolf and the senses of the vampire are invaluable and it almost goes without saying that some kind of snake is used to guard said tombs.
Not taking even one of these guys with you means instant resignation. I got to admit, it was a bit of a shock when I found out about this, but I quickly became fast friends with the werewolf and Parsletongue in my own team. Not the vampire, but that's more because the clans only hire the vampires out to Gringotts. They arrive if there is a mission and once the mission is gone, they leave. Not much room for social interaction."
The reaction to this statement troubles me as a good majority of the student body – bar those who are from the other two schools – all look at Bill in sheer disbelief, as if they just can't comprehend what he's telling them. Personally I really don't see the problem as it's obvious that these beings are conscious and sentient enough to understand the importance behind having an official profession and working in a team.

"Well, I do believe we covered all of the important points addressed in this here article. The only question that remains is – what will Mr. Malfoy's punishment be for intruding upon Mr. Potter's privacy and sharing secrets that were not his to share?" The Master asks at the end as he turns to the staff table. Malfoy asks if the Master humiliating him like this isn't enough and Master Yen Sid asks the same of Harry in return.
Harry shrugs and says: "Normally, with any other student, I would say yes, it is enough. But, like Cedric said, this is the second time that Malfoy pulled a stunt like this, this time even nation-wide whereas last time was just school-wide. Plus, I have a rivalry with him and I don't trust him not to pull the same dirty trick a third time over. So in this case, I would rather have the assurance that the staff will unleash a suitable punishment."
Malfoy in question glares furiously at Harry from across the hall and I can't help but whisper at the Master that, if this had been any other world, the hate the boy feels would have turned him into a Heartless. Master Yen Sid nods in grave agreement to my statement and Dumbledore loudly declares: "The staff will reconvene later to decide what punishment is suitable to the problem Mr. Malfoy has caused you, Harry."

Yet Harry stands up, Lea instantly following him and says: "That's fine, sir. As long as you stay out of it." Instantly silence rings through the Great Hall and all eyes are upon the boy. The young man in question stands firm and says: "You've already given me a reason why. Any other teacher would say suitable to the rules Mr. Malfoy has broken. You calling it a problem proves that you don't take this case seriously.
I want assurance that Malfoy will be punished in such a way, neither I, my friends or any other student here at Hogwarts will have to worry about him pulling the same stunt a third time. You would just have him write lines, give a few words of admonishment that he won't listen to because we both know he doesn't respect you enough for that and then send him on his merry way. I can't accept that. So stay out of this, sir. This doesn't concern you."

A lot of students nod in solemn agreement before they all turn to the Head Table. Because of how close I am, I can easily see that Dumbledore is trying very hard not to show how furious he is at Harry's statement. And while she looks troubled for a moment, the woman next to him stands up and says: "Mr. Potter, do you trust me to take the Headmaster's place in this decision?" Harry asks her if she'll ensure he stays out and when she promises this, he consents.
Snape jumps up and snarls: "I demand to be present when this happens!" My friends and I all stare at the man and Harry states that he never denied him this right. The man falters and gapes at Harry who shrugs and says: "I know you'll be biased as he is your student, but because he's your student, I don't see why you shouldn't represent him in this. I don't care." And Dumbledore seems even more enraged at this, yet I quickly read on.

"Gone off … the paper. He knew a reaction was necessary, but he had the Tournament to worry about. He felt that him being seen reading the article would be sufficient for the time being and that the date being what it was could serve as an excuse as to why he wasn't raging or anything.
Over at … like snakes. Harry looked around and suppressed a smirk as the whole thing made a lot of students, both older and younger years, look at them oddly and in disbelief. Malfoy was digging his own grave with what he was doing and that gave Harry the right to focus on other things and ignore the whole event.
"How did … Great Hall.

Instantly the same girl as before jumps up and asks: "Hermione, would you like to come with Harry when he reports the whole thing with that other case to my aunt? She and a large portion of the DMLE have been dying to find out how Skeeter keeps managing things like this." Instantly Hermione grins and says that she would be only too delighted to accompany Harry. She also calls the girl Susan and I memorize this name as I read on.

"Oy!" Ron … third task.
Harry would much rather be at the Shack practicing, but he knew that, during the day, he was constantly being watched. Not just by the ghosts, House-Elves and staff, but by his fellow students as well. And Harry was still adamant to prove to them that, regardless of everything he had done and gone through the last few years, he was still human and was still a student of Hogwarts, just like them. He had not yet given up on convincing them of this.

"Potter, you are such an enigma. Do you want to be a student or not? Because this book makes it sound as if being a student is like a role for you to play or something." One of the older students on the yellow trimmed table says. Harry sighs and says: "The book also says regardless of everything I have seen and done. As in, the things I've done to keep Hogwarts open are what I had to do, not what I wanted to do.
When I first came to Hogwarts, I thought I could fit in. I thought I could make friends, have fun, talk about my interests and have people help me with my homework if I struggled. But most of you keep proving that this chance was taken from me even before I turned eleven. Because even some of you who are in Fourth year with me, when you approach me, look at my scar before you look me in the eye. What am I supposed to think?"
Lea raises his arm up, yet Cedric beats the other guy to the punch and comfortingly pulls Harry close against his side. Harry sighs as he cuddles into the embrace. I look around and notice that, even though Harry didn't call out any names, the students he was talking about still realize he meant them as they look distinctively uncomfortable. And the lad who had asked the question nods in soft understanding as I continue to read.

"S'pose so," … after her.
For a single moment fear engulfed him as he wondered if she meant Snuffles, who – as happy as Harry would be to see him – really shouldn't risk coming on a day where Ministerial officials were also going to be present. Yet then Harry remembered the note that he had received earlier and he felt reassured that Snuffles wouldn't risk himself like that, not on a day with an event like today.

"Wait, a sec. Harry, is this Snuffles person the one who never got a trial?" Susan asks Harry and the boy tenses in feared shock for a moment at her question. Lea puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder and Harry releases a breath as he relaxes before he says: "Yes, he is. But I am not willing to divulge his true identity. Not unless the book does so first." And finally I get why the name was written in just Italics the whole time as I read on.

"She doesn't … life, anyway.
After his name had come out of the Goblet of Fire, he had expected to hear something, anything, from his former DADA teacher, Remus Lupin, yet the man had been shining in his absence all year.

"I BEG YOUR PARDON!" A loud voice behind me suddenly shrilly shrieks. "REMUS JOHN LUPIN, HOW DARE YOU! You dare to show up to our annual tea parties every Tuesday afternoon, bar when the full moon was either the previous night or the upcoming, and yet you can't bother even greeting the child of your late best friend? I cannot even begin to express how disappointed I am in you right now, Remus."
Professor McGonagall is so infuriated over all this, she rages on regardless of Dumbledore trying to get her to calm down and quiet down. The man makes several attempts to talk to her, yet he is interrupted by her shrieking each time. Yet they're not the center of my focus. My focus lies with Harry, who is glaring at Lupin with a heart-broken look that I can see even from where I stand and who is valiantly fighting back tears.

"Do I even mean anything to you? DON'T ANSWER! I don't want a hasty, rushed answer that goes without proper thought. I want to know exactly what I mean to you and who I am to you. And for you to answer that, you need to think about that question yourself first. But know this, Lupin. Your answer – is also the last chance I am willing to give you. I was willing to let the Ministry be your excuse to not show up at all this year, but now – no."
Lupin closes his eyes in obvious heartfelt pain over the boy's words and I just can't help but wonder why the man is so two-sided. He obviously deeply cares for Harry, yet he seems incapable of showing this to Harry – or perhaps even unwilling. Yet at the same time he taught Harry that one spell that was clearly very powerful and this lets me know that they did spent private time together at some point in time. I mull over this as I read on.

But just … his hand. Harry's face was beet red. He felt like a first-class jerk. He always considered the Weasleys his honorary family in his heart, yet they hadn't even come up in his mind when he heard that family was visiting. He blamed it on the fact that McGonagall had startled him with the news.

This calms the woman's anger down significantly and while she keeps a stern look on her face, I notice her eyes shining in mirth. A few students also laugh and Bill jokes: "I asked that question because I thought you were going through that awkward teenage phase where you hate being shown affection by your family or friends in public." But Harry shakes his head and says: "I instinctively skipped that phase." I laugh at this and read.

"Charlie wanted … were mentioned.
Harry always had secret fantasies of her loudly voicing her actual opinion of the Muggles to Dumbledore, the only person who knew Harry and who still held the illusion that Harry even so much as liked it there. He would pay gold to watch that happen.

And before the Headmaster can voice his disagreement on this, Hermione, Ron, the twins, Angelina, Alicia and a few others all chorus: "So would we." Harry bursts out laughing at the statement. Yet his soul mates don't share in his humor and I don't either. Instead I store the notion that Harry is living in an unhappy home environment away for later and spare a quick glance at the other books. I silently hope they will divulge more before I read on.

"It's great … previous year.

"WORST PORTRAIT EVER!" Almost all of Gryffindor choruses in perfect sync. A lot of students yelp and shriek in shock or fright at the loud chorus, but then Lupin speaks up and says: "Actually I might know of one who's worse." The whole table stares and gapes at him and he says: "Walburga Black. Sirius Black's mother. That woman was universally disliked, even by Death Eaters. And she was an avid Voldemort supporter."
A lot of those around the hall wince or flinch, like they do every time the name Voldemort is mentioned and some of them even whisper that Lupin shouldn't say the name. This intrigues me, yet I'm more intrigued in the answer to Hermione's question of what Walburga Black was like. Lupin actually smiles at Harry fondly and says: "To put it simply, Lily often compared her to the Nazi's." And a lot of students wince in horror at this.
Harry's lips tilt upwards slightly to show that, regardless of how he feels about Lupin's actions, he still appreciates the man sharing something like this with him. Then suddenly I notice that Naminé has her head down. Xion spots me looking and soundlessly she tells me: "She's writing down notes for research later." I grin at this as, as short as the chapter has been, it's been filled with things I've never heard about. And with pride, I read on.

"And the … turned away.
Harry seriously wondered what he had done to give Mr. Diggory such a low opinion of him. Was it the fact that they hardly shared two words when meeting at the Portkey point? Was it because he had hardly shared two words with him or Cedric the morning after the World Cup had ended? And how was he even supposed to correct Skeeter? He had no idea how one handled the press and he had been worrying his hair out of his head over the approaching First Task at the time.

The man in question winces with a look of guilt each time one of Harry's questions comes up. His wife sends him a reprimanding look for a moment and then turns to Harry. "You'll have to forgive your future father-in-law, Harry dear. He's always been too open with his emotions and more in tune with his heart than his mind. He's a brilliant worker, but not a brilliant conversationalist when it comes to private conversations."
Yet Harry seems to have hardly heard a thing she said as, after she called her husband Harry's future father-in-law, the boy's jaw dropped and he just stares at her without blinking after. Someone at the table the Diggories are seated at jokes that the woman might have broken Harry. Lea looks up at Cedric at this and mutters two words: "Your turn." And Cedric needs only a minute to realize what Lea seems to mean with that.
Gently he moves Harry's face his way and then pulls it closer to his. Yet while he lowers his own head, suddenly he seems to spot something. His eyes dart up to Lea for a moment and then he changes direction. And while it had looked as if Cedric was going to kiss Harry on the lips, instead he pecks the boy on the forehead. Lea nods in pride at this and suddenly I wonder something. "Who will have Harry's first kiss?" I think this and read on.

Harry had … called Ogg.

"And we have officially moved into the other potential timeline. Now please remember, everything after this still has a 70 to 90% chance of happening and it's still going to be up to most of you – or at least those of you who have the desire and means – to change all that is bad, wrong and hurtful about these upcoming events. You are reading of your upcoming future, but that does not mean it's set in stone." Chirithy loudly declares before I read on.
Yet as I read on, I also send a subtle gaze upwards into the hall at large. I notice a lot of younger years being comforted by those slightly older than them, who seem to be in either Harry's year or just below that. I also notice some of those in Harry's year whispering with each other. Yet it's the older years that draw my attention as most of them look strong-willed and determined. And this goes for all students of all three schools.

"How's Percy?" … doing it."

"Oh dear, we should have contacted him before we started reading. He would have wanted to be here for this." Mrs. Weasley moans and Bill winces as if he also regrets not contacting his younger brother. But Harry smiles and says: "No, this is fine. Now the members of the Ministry will have someone to contact once we're done with the books. Percy can turn everything they learned into a report or something. He is good at that."
Yet while it's obvious that Harry had expected either Bagman or Fudge to have been writing notes or something about what they have learned so far, I hear rustling behind me. I suppress a grin at this as it's obvious that the two men hadn't even thought that far ahead. Then, discreetly, I hear Professor Flitwick whisper that he has already been writing small notes for the Minister to pass down to the Ministry later. I suppress a snort and read on.

They returned … wasn't hard."

"Mr. Weasley, those two names are the most important for fourth year exams. If you managed to put those down under the right questions, you assured yourself at least and 80% score on your test. Though I'm sorry, Mr. Weasley, but for the sake of future tests, I will not be telling you which questions those are. You'll just have to wait and find out." Professor McGonagall quips at the end and I notice her lips twitching as I read.

Fred, George … after that.

Everyone in Harry's group groans at this and the woman in question turns red with shame. Yet Lea grins cheekily and asks if he and Cedric passed muster in her eyes. The woman's eyes widen for a moment, but then she catches on. "You would have had my approval whether you had saved Harry's life or not. And that goes double for the whole matter of the soul-bond. You three just look brilliant together." The trio smiles gratefully and I read on.

Harry, Bill … evening feast.
Harry really enjoyed the fact that, while they were eating, most of the attention of the Great Hall was either on the other Champions, the Head Table or on Bill.
He desperately wished that, in regards to the latter case, the other students would do the same with his friends. That the other students would see how incredibly intelligent and magically gifted Hermione was or what an incredibly loyal and empathic friend Ron was.
Both of them had skills that made them invaluable to Harry and he wished that those traits of their were as famous as his scar. He had gotten used to the attention and the staring after four years, but by now he desperately wished that the staring would be equally divided between him and his friends, that this was something he could share with them, because they deserved it.

I halt in my reading at this and silence reigns across the Great Hall. The students from the other schools now look at Harry with incredible amounts of respect and honor. The youngest of the students seem to have realized something vital about Harry. And most of those who are around Harry's age or older all gape at him, yet it's for different reasons. The majority gapes as if they can hardly believe what they heard.
Yet Harry's friends are staring, because they seem to have suddenly realized how much Harry really values them. This action slightly befuddles me as Harry had shown great pride when he saw that King Mickey's world motto was My Friends are My Power and so far he has shown that he values his friends a great deal. Yet then one student who seems to be in either his last year or just below that shouts: "BUT THEY'RE NOT YOU!"

And instantly the whole atmosphere around Harry seems to change. The boy had been smiling genuinely at his friends as if to convey through his smile how much he agreed with the statement. Yet the smile disappears off his face as the words are yelled and a look of disgust and snapped patience replaces it. Harry takes and releases a very deep breath and stands up. Yet he even goes to stand on his seat before he turns to the student in question.
"No, and neither are the comics, the history books, the action figures, the biographies or anything else. Because let me remind you all one last time. From 1981 to 1991, I spent every waking and sleeping hour of my life in the Muggle world. And the Muggle world is separate from the Magical world through the Statute of Secrecy. This includes merchandise and people who are famous only in the Magical World.

In other words, for the past fourteen years, someone has been making money off of the deaths of my parents behind my back and without my consent. Why? Because, even now, I am a minor who was never told about any of this or told their rights or received any help or guidance about any of this. I might as well have been a recluse, I was left that deeply in the dark about all this. And please remember this as well.
Dragons, vampires, werewolves, ogres, dark wizards and the likes live in the Magical World. I repeat, I lived Muggle. In other words, nothing that was ever written about my so-called heroicsis based on truth or facts, regardless of the fact that every adult and their mother knew I was in the Muggle world. They may not have known where, but they did know that. And they still wrote those lies, sold stuff that, supposedlywas made in my image, the works.

And do you lot want to know the worst of it all? History of the Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts. That book is self-updating and has, according to my own research and that of a friend of mine, about 99% of the events of the last war correct. What is the one percent, you may ask? Halloween 1981. If you read that book, as of last summer, you will grow the belief that, on the night in question, my parents – didn't exist.
There is no mention of them. No mention of them being there, no mention of them being killed. The author didn't even bother to make it sound as if they had gone out to buy groceries or something and accidentally left the front door ajar or something. No, just nothing. Well then excuse me, but if my title – Boy-Who-Lived –is meant to indicate that I survived what my parents did not – then where were they that night?"

Harry might sound genuinely curious as he asks this, yet anyone who pays attention to him can easily see how deeply hurt and offended the boy is, how disgusted he even feels with himself as he asks these vital questions. And these questions also spurn a lot of students who wear robes with a blue trim, to pull said book out of their bookbags and page through the copies. For a few minutes silence reigns as everyone lets these students read.
And one student at a time, either their eyes widen, they gasp in horror or their jaws drop in shock. "He – he – he – he – HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?" One of the students shrieks in horrified disgust and Bill growls that he's going to see if he can set the Goblins on this. Harry smirks at this yet then he says: "Don't bother. My friend researched the latest author. He's Rita Skeeter's younger brother." A lot of groans are heard as I continue to read.

Ludo Bagman … good luck, Alicia and Angelina gave him a sideways hug as he passed them and Neville winked at him, which Harry responded to by patting Neville's shoulder gratefully, and he … and Viktor.
Harry had hoped to be able to rely on one other source to boost his confidence, but the opposite was the case. Even as they left the castle, Harry was hardly able to feel the magic of Lady Hogwarts herself. It had been worrying him all year. He had expected that the magic of the foreign students would be boosting her reserves and he wondered where this could have been syphoned off to. He had his suspicions, but he remembered Snuffles' constant warnings. This was a mystery that would have to wait.

Almost everyone in the hall, bar the foreign students, gape at Harry at this. I peek behind me and notice that the same counts for the staff. And the look on Dumbledore's face concerns me as he looks as if he had his worst fears confirmed or something. Yet then Harry asks: "Guys, did you forget Second Year when – after the Feast? Who do you think encased me like that?" A lot of nods are his answer as I continue to read.

"Feeling all right … feel better.
Still at the same time he was also constantly strategizing and mentally deciding when he should use what spells, specifically the spells that he had taught himself while in the Shack. Those would be his "Emergency-Only" spell-set and he went over various potential combo's as he got closer to the location of the Third Task.
They walked … and creepy.
Normally Harry didn't do well in tight, narrow spaces as they reminded him of his earlier years and his first bedroom. But he was constantly chanting to himself mentally and reminding himself of the spells he had learned to get in and out of the maze. "In record speed, if I can manage it." Was one such thought running through his mind like a mantra.

"Wait, the bedroom we broke you out of before your Second – wasn't your first? Harry, that thing was like a glorified walk-in closet or something, not an actual bedroom, even by our standards. How much smaller could your first bedroom have been to be smaller than that?" One of the Weasley twins asks, his other twin too stunned to speak in sync. Yet Harry grumbles that the books will reveal all shortly and I read on, just to appease him.

Five minutes … Hagrid whispered though he also nodded at Cedric quickly as well, and the … at him. Upon closer look he also noticed that the rest of his friends – the twins, the Chasers and Neville – were seated a bit further away and all waving or giving him a thumb's up. So … on … upon him.
Under his breath Harry cast a spell to detect magic that might be cast around him and he grimaced. Somehow Dumbledore managed to cast a spell on his person that allowed the students to watch his every move, almost like there was a video camera hidden within the walls of the maze.
Harry didn't know what annoyed him more; that Dumbledore had managed to cast this spell on him or that it meant that he couldn't use his full arsenal of spells and curses without showing his hand too early on in the game.
Still, this was why he had practiced with the spells he already knew. No one would look at him strangely for using First, Second or Third year spells in extraordinary ways. Or at least not more than most students already did.

"That is definitely true, though I would like to see your full arsenal myself, Mr. Potter. Perhaps you'd be willing not to let this – ehm – setback limit you this time around?" The smaller Professor who sits next to Minister Fudge asks the boy. Harry's eyes flit over to Dumbledore so quickly that I don't think many people noticed it. Yet for some reason Chirithy suddenly giggles and says: "Keep that charm in mind. It'll be important soon." And instantly I start reading.

The maze … of security.

"It's the bastard that put my name in the Goblet. He wants me to reach the Cup. He did something with it and now he's making sure that I can get there undisturbed. It's not the Maze that I need to be worried about; it's whatever this bastard has planned for me once I reach that blasted cup. That was the plan right from the start, from the minute my name was entered." Harry growls, his voice conveying how disturbed he is about this.
Others also look shocked, disturbed or worried and then a young woman who sits with the other females of the other school asks: "But what if either Fleur, Diggory or Krum reach the Cup before you?" And Harry seems to know the answer before she even finishes her question as his face whitens something horrible. Lupin also seems to have guessed the same answer as he says: "They won't. The culprit will keep them away." I worry as I read.

Then he … got away!"

"That's what I mean. Though that does raise one question. The only people who were at the maze before the Champions were Hagrid, Alastor, Minerva and Filius. But someone moved almost all of the obstacles of one path onto the other paths." And as the man talks, Harry seems to have another brainwave. The only sign of this is the fact that his eyes are widened, yet just by looking at them, I can almost see the wheels in his head turning.
Slowly the boy starts to move and mutter under his breath. He tilts his head just slightly in the direction the Head Table and this allows me clearer sight of what he's muttering soundlessly, even if I can't hear him. The attack on the first … his expertise with those curses … all those hints … the foe glass … the two Crouches … the missing ingredients …. And this last one seems to do the job as Harry seems to have figured everything out.

The next second a spell whizzes past my ear, yet it ricochets off of something transparent. I turn around and see the man with the huge number of scars and the fake eye aiming his wand at Harry. Instantly my Keyblade is in my hand and I shout: "STOPZA!" And before the man can go any further than Cru he is halted in his tracks. Just for good measure I sent a flurry of ice crystals his way and freeze him from his feet to his upper arms.
Harry comes to stand next to me as I work this and snarls: "That's not Moody. It's someone disguising themselves as Moody. That's why Moody got attacked on the morning of the First. No one would ever suspect the paranoid best friend of the Headmaster, who always drinks from only his flask. But Professor Snape has been missing various ingredients for some time now. Ingredients that, if mixed together, create Polyjuice Potion.

And the Foe glass in Moody's office. I thought I had seen a long flick of white in it as well as a brown circle or something. Professor Dumbledore's beard and Professor McGonagall's bun. The fake must have put some kind of spell on the Foe Glass to keep the glass from becoming clear, regardless of how close the two of them are. That would only further enhance Moody's belief that someone was after him and justify his paranoia.
All of it makes sense, including Moody suddenly appearing when Krum and I encountered Mr. Crouch. The imposter had seen Crouch come onto Hogwarts through the Map I lent him and knew that Crouch wanted to confess to Dumbledore. Crouch had somehow discovered who Moody really was, probably because whoever was holding Crouch under the Imperius or something had worked together with the imposter to capture Moody.
There is just one part of this whole mystery that I still don't get. On the night I discovered the hint within the Egg, I saw the thief inside Snape's quarters on my map, stealing the ingredients, the same map the imposter later used to spot Crouch. But the thing is, by the time I spotted said thief, Crouch must have already been under the Imperius as he had already started working from home. So why was the name of the thief, on my map, also Crouch?"

I feel deeply amazed at how the boy seems to have used all kinds of random hints that were given to him over the last year – if his words are anything to go by – to come to these conclusions. The Minister wants to object to this, but then Lupin comes to stand with us and says: "Because this year wasn't the first time our little imposter used Polyjuice Potion. He used it once before, twelve years ago, to escape Azkaban prison.
You know I'm right, Minister. The deaths of both Mrs. Crouch and her son are only a few days apart. Yet while you and I were both invited to the funeral, the coffin remained closed the entire session. Even then that was considered unusual. But it really wasn't as opening the coffin would reveal it to be empty. Mrs. Crouch died in Azkaban, freeing her son in the process by letting him take her place and Crouch held a funeral for a woman already buried.

And this, Harry, is the son she died in prison for. The son she died for so he could have a normal life, be redeemed and turn away from the path that led him to being arrested alongside the Lestranges. Only instead of honoring his mother's death and final wishes, he returned to his master and worked alongside that murderous beast to get you away. The cup, in the book, is a Port Key, one meant to take you straight to Voldemort."
A horrified silence echoes through the Great Hall, only broken by the Minister muttering absurd … you're insane … impossible. But then Hermione and Ron step up to stand with us and Hermione stares the Minister down as she snarls: "Excuse me for my rudeness, Minister, but were these not your words just last year Christmas? His master defeated, horribly weakened. Didn't you state those words in the Three Broomsticks to Madam Rosemerta?"
Fudge cringes alongside Professors McGonagall, Flitwick and Hagrid and the woman asks how Hermione knows this. The female teacher cringes again when Hermione carelessly answers that there was a Christmas tree between their tables. Yet while this conversation is going on, my focus is on Dumbledore as something Chirithy said now makes me very suspicious of the man. Keep that charm in mind. It'll be important soon. Again I read on.

He shook … and Hermione,

By now the trio has returned to their seats and the two aforementioned kids smile at their best friend. Yet Harry instead smiles at Cedric and Lea, as if silently telling them that he wants to celebrate with them as well now that he knows they're his soul mates. And of course the fiery ginger happily pulls Harry closely against his form in response to this. Cedric also grins and nods as an answer to Harry's unspoken words before I read on.

Raised his … once more.

"I have to admit, Mr. Potter, if I had not seen you cast that same spell earlier on in the reading, then Madam Aqua reading about you casting it here would have really surprised me. Though that you are able to cast it so quickly in the presence of a supposed Dementor is even more impressive." The giant woman named Maxime compliments Harry. I suppress a smile as Harry actually turns a soft shade of red before I continue reading.

Left… right … double back?
He had learned a few spells that could dispel stuff, but he wasn't sure if he could use those, seeing that he still had the "camera" spell on him, as he had dubbed it.
He was still hesitating and coming up with what spell he could use that was already part of his known arsenal when a … champion down…
Instantly he shook his head as that was just not his style. Instead, he sincerely hoped that he wasn't the only one who heard Fleur scream and that the teachers wouldn't just stick to their "Send up sparks" rule.
The cup … the running though he strongly hoped that she was alright. He'd got … the school… He knew it wouldn't do his need to be accepted by his peers any good, but perhaps it could gain their respect long enough that they'd leave him be for a bit.

Lea turns his head so that he slightly looks down at Harry as the boy is still tucked under Lea's armpit. I also noticed that Harry had tensed a few times during my reading. When this happened. Cedric would jump in and rub circles across Harry's back in a comforting manner. And while Harry's not looking at Lea, he feels the gaze and mumbles not now. Lea nods, yet he's not the only one who is concerned as I read on.

He met … any moment.
Before he rounded the corner, he quickly aimed his wand at a few branches that stuck out of the hedges and cast Mobilicorpus on them. He moved the branches around the legs and the tail end of the Skrewt and then made himself scarce. The whole thing wouldn't keep the beast for much longer once his spell wore off, but it would buy him a few precious extra minutes, at the least.
Harry knew that, if not for the camera spell, he would have done much worse. He probably would have cast a spell to blast the Skrewt straight out of the maze or he would have used a cutting curse onto the one weak point of the creature. Though he quickly discarded the latter option as it would, most likely, leave him covered in Skrewt intestines or worse.

"Harry, you can't just go off and kill that poor little thing." Hagrid's words astound me and Axel voices my disbelief as he asks: "I'm sorry, what exactly is poor or little about a fire-spewing scorpion that was minutes away from eating someone who was smaller in size than it? And besides, aren't you a teacher? Shouldn't you put your student's safety above the safety of a single creature?" Hagrid grimaces at his words and I read on.

He took … voice. "Crucio!"

I realize that this must have been the spell that the fake Moody wanted to use on Harry and falter for a moment. And this is enough for the majority of the school, both in front of me and behind me, to either gasp or shriek. I look around and notice that mostly those in Harry's year and older are either looking horrified or glaring at Krum in disgust and rage. Especially the ones on Cedric's former table. I grimace at the sight and read on.

The air … none appeared, he cast four over-powered cutting curses on the few root bases of the hedge that he was able to see. A powerful Banishing charm followed and made an opening; he rushed through it, the edges of the other hedges tearing his … said Harry. It had been only a moment, but Harry had been able to see a glazed look in Krum's eyes, thus he was pretty sure that Krum was being controlled. "I reckon … around them.
For some reason Harry felt stronger and more secure around Cedric. He may not have been growing close to the other Champion, but Cedric was naturally likable. Yet even though they hardly spoke over the last year, Harry felt almost just as at ease around Cedric as he did around Ron, Hermione and Snuffles.
He didn't know why, but he wasn't going to question it. There'd be time for that once they were both out of this retched maze and blasted Tournament. Still, the idea that he would now get a chance to celebrate a Hogwarts victory with Cedric was very pleasant to Harry.

"The bond. It was trying to start forming. It must have been trying to do that all year." Cedric happily tells Harry while Lea smiles over at the both of them. Harry also smiles and asks if Cedric would have tried to take the first step of the bond right there and then. Yet Cedric shakes his head and says that his book-self would probably rather they both just get out of there. Harry's smile lessens slightly, though he still agrees as I read on.

Then Cedric … to Harry, even though he didn't really see the point behind that. They were both Hogwarts students, why not try and share the victory?
But then Harry realized the reason. Even if they ended up winning together, Harry's fame would make people try to pull a Skeeter. Cedric wanted to win, because he wanted to prove himself against someone world famous.

Cedric shakes his head and says: "That's not the reason, Harry. When I was around six years old, I had this really bad feeling within my gut. I didn't know what it was about until an hour later and just thought I was feeling ill or something. Instead, it turned out that my grandfather had died of a heart attack and that he could have been saved if I had answered my gut feeling. It – it traumatized me. I never wanted to feel something like that again."
Everyone looks at the boy in awe and concern. His voice had been hollow and almost void of emotion while he spoke. Yet after he's done, he turns to Harry and smiles at the younger boy as he says: "But to be honest, that's another reason I'm so happy about this Soul Bond. It proves to me that not all magical sensations are bad. It can help restore my faith in my gut and my instincts. Thank you, Harry." Harry nods and takes Cedric's hand as I read on.

The two … without speaking though in Harry's case that was moreso because he was against silently raging against his own status, then Harry turned left, and Cedric right.
Cedric's footsteps soon died away and the sensations of content and calm faded to the background as Harry focused his attention back where it belonged.
Harry moved … sped up as he remembered the look in Krum's eyes.
The notion that, whoever had put him in this Tournament was strong enough to put an Imperius Curse on someone like Krum terrified him more than most of what he had seen in the maze so far. But then again, the person had to be powerful or he wouldn't have been able to trick the Goblet to elect him as Champion in the first place.
Harry both cursed the fact that he and Cedric had separated and blessed it. Either this would give the person another chance to try and sabotage Cedric's track to the Cup or it would make the person put his full focus on getting Harry to the Cup. As Harry progressed, he silently prayed it would be the latter and stay that way.

I turn my head as I hear something crack behind me. For a moment fear strikes my heart as I notice that the fake Moody has woken from my Time spell and that he is trying to make the ice-cage he is in break – and succeeding. Instantly my Keyblade is back in my hand and I firmly tell the staff members sitting near him to move aside. The sick and twisted man grins at me, yet I also sense Terra and Ven coming to stand on both my sides.
I nod at each of them, Terra first and Ventus second, and both nod back at me. Both also already have their Keyblades ready and just like always Ven is holding his up behind his back. I aim my Keyblade at the monster of a man and say: "This should slow you down if nothing else. Graviga!" A huge dome of black, grey and purple energy forms around the man and pushes down. And instantly the man looks flat as a pancake before he pops up.

A lot of students and teachers gasp at the sight, but I only smile. For one because the spell didn't affect the ice-cage that the man is in and two, because I can tell that the man has lost a lot of his health. Terra and Ventus follow my example one at a time. the man gets flatted twice more and pops back up twice more. And after the second time the man looks as if he's seconds away from losing consciousness. I grin at this and turn around.
One of the students gasps and asks me how we did that and I answer: "Gravity. It creates a dome around an enemy that increases the gravity around a person to the extend that their body gets leveled with the surface they're on. It won't, when cast on human beings, harm them internally, but it does drain their energy levels, regardless of who you cast the spell on. Though each time you cast it on the same enemy, half of its still existing energy is drained."
I hear Terra snort beside me and turn to him before I turn my head to where he's looking. And I grin myself as the teachers that had moved away from Moody have returned their seats to their original spots. Yet the teacher on the left of the fake Moody now leans back to her former seating position, while originally, she had been leaning closer to fake Moody. And the fact that the man is now out cold proves what happened before I read on.

Every so … not him. Again he wished that he and Cedric hadn't split as he was sure the older student would have an easier time with this. Though at the same time, there was always a chance that both of them would get a riddle respectively, not that answering one riddle would let them both pass.

"Sorry Harry, but you're quite wrong. I suck at riddles. One of my friends over there loves doing a scavenger hunt for her birthday, but I always suck at them and just tag along. Most scavenger hunts require 20 clues being solved to find all six items and I usually only get one or two right – and even then I usually get lucky with the second one." Yet while he's clearly taking the mickey out of himself, Cedric still laughs in the end before I read on.

He weighed … dashed forward.
At that moment he was actually kind of glad that the camera spell was still active. He could only imagine how the students out in the stands were reacting to his way of thinking out loud just now. He was sure that Mrs. Weasley, Hermione and the twins were probably very proud.

I halt in my reading to send the boy a smile of pride of my own as I consider his accomplishment worthy of pride. Yet someone at the other table grumbles about how unfair it is that we're only hearing about Harry's side. A few other students at the table roll their eyes at this, but then Harry speaks up: "How about Cedric, Fleur and Krum write their own little biography once we've done the actual task?"
The student who had grumbled looks startled, as if he hadn't expected Harry to suggest such a thing. I try not to roll my eyes or show my annoyance with him. We may not have even read a whole chapter so far, but I personally believe that I already got a good idea on what kind of person Harry is like. And even several times over during the chapter, the boy had been proving that he would prefer to share the spotlight, not hog it. I sigh and just read on.

He had … upon Cedric.

"WHAT IN THE NAME OF MAGIC IS AN ACCROMANTULA DOING IN THAT MAZE?" William suddenly shouts in shocked rage. We all look at him and he turns to the staff table as he furiously demands to know who authorized that. Hagrid, apparently not afraid of the redhead's temper, stands up and says that he offered the spider as part of the maze. Yet a moment later he's shot against the wall behind him.
"RUBEUS HAGRID, YOU UNBELIEVABLE, UNETHICAL, DISGUSTING DOLT OF A MAN! Accromantulas are the worst kinds of magical predators. They outrank even Bloody Dragons as Dragons have been proven to be tamable. Accromantulas are NOT! They see prey, they hunt it and they won't back down unless either the prey is dead or they are. And considering that they can attain human levels of intelligence, that makes them even more dangerous!

Do you not know the story of Marcus Renolds? Or Gaia Lewis? Or even the legendary tale of how a mysterious voice turned a docile werewolf pack and a peaceful vampire clan against each other? Don't you bloody know that Accromantulas have been confirmed to be the source behind the feud between those two kinds that razed fourteen cities in Southern England back in the 1400's? What were you thinking? Where did you even get that thing?"
A lot of students look white as snow and some are trembling in their seats by the time William stops reprimanding the man. Yet Hagrid's face says it all. He indeed didn't know any of this. What also worries me is how white Harry and Ron are and how they're sharing a look between each other. One that clearly states We got lucky. Ron also looks as if he can pass out at any moment and Terra notices this. He pulls Ron close as I read on.

Harry really wanted to use one of the spells he had learned while in the Shack, but at the last minute he remembered the camera spell and changed tactics.
"Stupefy!" Harry … hairy legs.
For just a moment Harry felt a spark of unfamiliar but comforting magic within him and, somehow, he knew Cedric had felt the same spark within him. An instant later, while the spark was gone, Harry realized that he had, somehow, sensed Cedric's magic spark within him.
"Harry!" he … his weight.
At that moment Harry didn't care that the camera spell was still going. He aimed his wand at his leg and cast several spells that he had been practicing during his nights in the shack. A Mobilicorpus to remove the secretion from his leg and a spell to make the tip of his wand burn searingly hot. He winced and bit his tongue as he used the searing heat to burn the skin closed.
A cutting curse on his robe tore enough of it to make a makeshift bandage and a sticking charm would keep the fabric tied together.

I feel my stomach churning against the mental image the story plants in my head and I look up instead of at the pages in front of me. Several students, mostly those in Harry's year and younger, all look like I feel or worse and a few have even thrown up in empty goblets or glasses. The students sitting near these are now rubbing comforting circles on the backs of their peers and others offer them a glass of water, which they accept gratefully.
Terra, on the other hand, is stone faced and tells Harry to come with him. Instantly I know what the man is planning and my pride helps me recover from how disturbed I felt earlier. Harry and Terra move back to where I'm standing and stand in front of me. Terra turns to face Harry fully and while the boy might not know what's going on, he follows my best friend's example. Terra summons his Keyblade, holds it out for Harry to take and chants:

"In your hand, take this key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking … its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend – no limits will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love."

For a single moment I feel like I'm back on one of the parapets that surround the front courtyard of the Land of Departure, on the day that Terra used a toy sword to make the same declaration, even though he obviously changed the wording a little. Then I notice that Riku is also grinning at the sight, while a few others are looking on curiously. Harry, on the other hand, has a look on his face that proves he's mesmerized by what he sees before him.
Yet while the boy seems awed at what he just heard, he grips the handle of Terra's Keyblade with great firmness and strength. And while I'm sure that it's only my friends and me, I feel the magic of the Keyblade passing from one worthy owner to the next. And for just a short moment, the green in Harry's eyes lights up. Harry lets go again and Terra instructs him to look deep inside and pull out the power within himself.

Harry stares at his hand for a moment after the instruction is given and then stretches the hand up and out in front of him. For a moment, nothing happens. But then stars and sparkles of light sparkle in front of Harry and a Keyblade appears in his hand. A pastel blue guard surrounds a deep indigo colored handle. The Keyblade itself is light-blue and rounded, ending with an orb past the teeth. The teeth are shaped like a five-pointed star.
Harry stares at the weapon in awe and Terra smiles as he says: "All Keyblade wielders can cast spells based on various elemental forms of magic. You've also seen Aqua use an advanced form of the Time and the Gravity spell. Those are way out of your league at the moment. However, seeing your skill described so far, I'm sure you'll learn the simple healing spell in no time. The incantation is simple. Just say the word cure and you're good."
Most of the students in the hall seem to be in disbelief that the spell is that simple and a few of them even scoff at the simplicity. Yet Harry takes Terra's words to heart and gives my best friend a solemn nod. The look in Harry's eyes proves that he will take Terra's advice and that he will train with the spells he's been taught so far, whether by watching us work or by what Terra just told him. Again I feel proud of the young man as I read on.

He leaned … support himself as the quick succession of spells had drained his reserves a bit. Cedric took … leg was mended, though the method had been very painful … to it, which for some reason made him feel like he had failed the other lad.

Lupin mutters that the last part I read isn't good. We all turn to him and he looks at Harry and Cedric as he says: "Most soul bonds are either entirely neutral – as in both parties are equal – or have a clear Dominant partner and a clear Submissive partner. But if Harry feels as if he failed Cedric that can mean either one of two things. Either Harry wants to claim Cedric's dominant role for himself or feels instinctively unwilling to submit."
And just by the look on Harry's face, it's obvious that it's the latter of the two. But then Lea pulls Harry close and whispers: "Remember what happened between us. You instinctively, to an extent, submitted to my belief that you were precious and asked to be mine. How is Cedric any different?" Yet Harry proves that things aren't that simple as he says: "Don't forget what happened before we took that first step.

You don't know what it was like, Lea. When that – that Vampire had me under its hypnotic control – I felt as if my whole being had been pulled within my own mind. As if there was a white empty room within my mind with not one, but two mental versions of me. But where I was in control of one, the other – the vampire – was in control of my body. And there – there was this – this magical barrier – created by the vampire's incredible magical power – that was keeping us apart.
I – I tried to fight it, but – when it spoke of punishment, suddenly I felt – naked, vulnerable, as if there was some kind of weight pushing down on me and hurting me. I felt as if I knew where the weight was coming from, but – but I couldn't quite figure it out. The whole experience terrified me so much. I – I resorted to just acting on instinct.

Don't – don't get me wrong, I – I don't – regret taking that first step with you, but –." Harry falters and shuts down, but Lea doesn't need him to continue. He gently pulls Harry so close the boy might as well be on his lap. Yet Lea keeps Harry from going that far and just whispers: "You wouldn't have done it yet, if not for that bloodsucker's actions. You would have waited longer. I understand. I got it memorized." Harry sighs in relief and smiles at him.
Then suddenly Cedric just about ruins the whole moment as he asks Harry about an engagement period. Instantly both of his other mates stare at him and Cedric explains: "It's what most Purebloods do before they draft up a marriage or bondage contract between their Heirs or Heiresses. It gives both parties a chance to get to know each other and see if they really are compatible and if they could work together in a solid relationship or marriage.
It can also help said couple set boundaries and rules, which are then afterwards implemented into the contract. And while you might not have a Magical Representative – if the last four years and our darling Miss Skeeter are anything to go by – but you are old enough to be in charge of your own part of the contract and a portion of the period. What do you think?" Harry seems thoughtful about this and says that he'll think about it as I read on.

"The one … any races with how drained I feel."
Cedric took … of here."
Harry had no idea what would happen to him once Cedric took the cup, but he had a faint hope that the patrolling staff would come for him once that happened.
Cedric watched Harry steadying himself, slowly letting go off the hedge … Harry snapped, vanishing the blood that had been spilled with a quick spell and flick of his wand. "You helped … leg gingerly; a searing pain coursed through his veins as he put weight on it; the heat of his wand had entered his bloodstream somehow.
"You should've … in centuries.
Yet as Cedric got closer, that same sensation overcame Harry again. He felt warm, he felt safe, he felt calm. His irritation over Cedric's stubbornness faded and gratitude over the fact that the Hufflepuff wasn't leaving him behind replaced it.
Again, he felt the spark of Cedric's magic hit him from within and he welcomed it.

Lupin sighs in relief while Harry has moved away from Lea and closer to Cedric. Yet he doesn't sit as closely against Cedric's side as he was previously with Lea. Cedric seems at ease with this and even whispers that Harry can take all the time he needs. Harry sighs in response and replies that Cedric and Lea will just have to be patient with him, that his instincts are very mixed and might fight each other on occasion. Both elder teens nod and I read on.

"Go on," … crowd, saw the faces of his friends shining with … grabbed Harrys hand and the two walked side by side toward the … his side.

To my utter horror the chapter ends there and I gape at the last line. The way it is written proves everything we've deduced so far. Instantly I feel terrified for the two young men, who in the book have no idea what's going to happen. After a few minutes the others in the hall seem to realize why I'm staying quiet and one of them shouts: "You can't be serious! It ends there?" I nod, even though I don't really know who shouted.
"But what about Cedric? What about Harry? Where are they going? What's going on?" Hermione asks in hurried speed, her voice full of the same terror that agonizes my own heart. I shake my head, yet Harry mumbles two words darkly. To Voldemort. And yet, while his voice is dark and angered, his face is full of anguish as he stares at Cedric. The look on his face almost breaks my heart. Harry believes that, in the book, Cedric will die.

---

Eeeeeh, no!
Yeah, you heard me, I have plans for our young Champion friend. Though those plans aren't going to reveal themselves for a while to come. Not until chapter 10. Sorry not sorry. Oh, and after that, don't really expect Cedric to make another book appearance until the end of the seventh book. Though at the same time – hoo-hoo-hoo BOY! Do I have plans for Deathly Hallows. And those plans will be implemented in both Darkened and Preventing.
Still, I'm sure some of you are wondering why I'm not developing the bond between Harry, Lea and Cedric in the same way I developed the bond between Harry and Viktor. Between the latter, the two of them were already hugging and kissing right after the actual Third Task. But this time around I want to develop the relationship a bit more tentatively and slowly. Harry wants to be loved, but he has his issues, as I displayed in this chapter.
Just be patient,

Venquine1990
PS. Yes, made my goal this time.

Wordcount: 16.979 words