Hey everyone,
So I can't guarantee that a lot about the next few chapters will be changed when it comes to GoF. I don't think I will change anything about the chapter in which Voldemort summons his Death Eaters and holds his speech, but I will make some alterations to the battle between Harry and Voldemort. However, I won't change anything about what Harry reports to Dumbledore. I think by now you can all understand why.
Let's do this,

Venquine1990

Chapter 05
Clearing The Tension

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

I feel as if there is something about these books that Chirithy hasn't shared with us yet. One reason I believe this is because they apparently kept me from fading away after we arrived on Earth. Yet at the same time, because of what we just read, I don't really feel like focusing on this little mystery. Instead, I decide to cheer everyone up and lighten the mood, just like I always love to do. I turn from Aqua to Bill and ask him:
"Hey Bill, what do you say you cast that same spell from before on two friends of mine? See if there are other Soul Mates among my group of friends?" Bill smiles and says that it might be a nice change of pace and a chance to break the tension in between chapters. He asks the Hall at large if they're okay with this and mostly those in Harry's year and younger all nod vigorously. Bill nods and asks me if I have any suggestions.

I think of this for a moment and while I might not really know Terra, Aqua and Ventus all that well, I suddenly remember everything that Roxas shared with me while I was in the dream-version of The World That Never Was. And as I take a good look at everything that Roxas and Axel were willing to do for each other, I realize that they might already have strong feelings for each other. This makes me curious about their actual bond and I suggest their names.
The ginger and the blonde look shocked, yet Lea smirks and says: "That certainly would make sense. And it would be like a proper secondary reason as to why you and I split when I went to save Harry. I was meant for Harry, but if I have to pick between Roxas and Xion, I would definitely pick Roxas." Instantly Roxas turns to Xion as if he feels like Lea's words offended her. Xion, on the other hand, smiles to prove that she agrees with Lea as well.

Bill waits for all of this to be done and when Axel and have gone to stand up, he snaps his fingers once again. And the two start to shine a mix of fire red and a checkered black and white. Yet while this worries me, I don't see anyone else of our friends lighting up and realize that the black-white checkered portion of the aura is really purely Roxas. And because of everything Roxas has been through, I can understand the coloring.
Roxas looks awed at his new soul-mate and Axel smirks back at him. The ginger, like Lea and Harry, is almost half a head taller than Roxas and he softly runs a gloved hand down Roxas' cheek as he says: "We'll take it slow, at a secure pace of your own choice. Okay Roxy?" The nickname amuses me and yet Roxas seems like it as well as he nods. I realize that Roxas might not even notice that he has others watching him right now.
Axel continues and whispers: "Please Roxas, promise that you will never leave me again." Axel sounds desperate as he almost begs his soul mate to make the promise and Roxas steps over to him. Axel tucks Roxas' form underneath his chin and Roxas whispers back that Axel can never lie or keep secrets from him again. Axel smirks and whispers that he won't keep secrets, unless it's a surprise. Roxas accepts this with a smile.

Then, while I get the feeling that the two are behaving as if they're in a world of their own or something, Axel pulls Roxas up to face him. Slowly and tentatively, with Axel surrendering control of the situation to Roxas halfway through, the two faces move closer and closer together and their lips meet. Instantly the auras around them flare up and the lights of the two soul mates start to move around frantically.
As they kiss, Roxas' black and white colors move to surround Axel and the same happens with Axel's red aura, but then in reverse. And when the two colors have moved to the bodies of their opposite partner, the auras seep into the skin of the two. The whole event is utterly mesmerizing, yet at the same time I get the feeling that Roxas and Axel aren't even aware of what's happening around them, as if they're lost in the kiss they share.

I really can't blame them as I felt the same way when Riku finally kissed me earlier before the chapter was read. It annoyed me when Riku mentioned Kairi, even if I can understand why he would think that, considering the cray drawing Kairi and I made in the Secret Place. Yet at the same time, I can't understand how he wasn't able to see how our long bond and years of knowing each other made me slowly fall for him.
Yet then I remember how he had been behaving when Master Yen Sid suggested that we should go for our Mark Of Mastery exams, how he had believed he should be tested as there was still darkness in his heart. However in a way it's that darkness that, like an allure, lures me in and it makes me want him even more than I already did before Ansem and Maleficent brought it out in him. Truly, Riku just doesn't see him the same way I see him.
I silently promise to myself that I will help him with this and my grin extends a little as I imagine all kinds of ways I can do or things I can say to help him with this. I know I didn't tell anyone, but it wasn't just the threat against the Seven New Lights or the return of my friends that motivated me to fight Xehanort. My secret motive behind wanting his end – was because I wanted to put his chapter in my life behind me.

Like Axel and Roxas, like Xion, like Aqua, Ventus and Terra, I wanted to start over. I've wanted this for some time now and I also started to feel as if I wouldn't be able to have this new start back on the Islands. Yet at the same time I felt homesick the longer I stayed away from the Islands. Still, now that we're at Hogwarts, I feel as if Destiny has answered my desire for this new start. I'm not sure if it'll be in this new world, but I don't really care either.

Axel and Roxas break their kiss and Bill informs them that, like Lea and Harry, they took the first step and reminds them that they need to have constant physical contact for the next hour. With a playful grin, he tells a few of the other students to get their minds out of the gutter. Some of the students around him and seated at the table behind him snicker and giggle. Axel, in the meantime, seems to have an idea on how to do this.
He turns Roxas around and while the blonde is confused, he lets Axel guide and direct him. The two move over to Axel's seat and Axel spreads his legs a little as he keeps his arms around Roxas' torso. He pulls Roxas down slowly and Roxas' face lights up a little as he realizes what's happening. Yet he doesn't say anything and instead he relaxes his form and leans into Axel's form, a content smile slowly growing on his face.

Yet that smile is wiped off his face – and many other faces – a moment later as suddenly a student screams. We turn to her and see her staring at the man in the ice. My eyes widen as the whole man's form seems to bubble, twist and contort something horrible. Someone yells that the Polyjuice Potion must be wearing off. Dumbledore turns to Aqua and begs her, yet he also orders her: "Miss Aqua, you have to defrost the man right now.
As his leg regrows, the ice and his form will break the pegleg that he was wearing. I had that handmade myself for my friend during the last war as he lost his foot saving the lives of some of my students. Please, defrost him and save that leg!" But while Aqua understands the severity, Terra joins her even before she can turn to call him over. The two prove, yet again, that even after years of separation, they are still a team.
They nod at each other and rush for the changing man. With a strong slash of her Keyblade, Aqua breaks a portion of the ice. Instantly after Terra drops down on his back, slides underneath the table and pulls the apparent pegleg from the person. Yet as soon as the leg comes loose and Terra moves away, Aqua aims her blade and casts the spell once again. Instantly she refreezes the bit of the man that she had previously freed.

"Sorry Headmaster, but I saw no reason in giving this man a chance to escape, not when we had other ways we could acquire the gift you made for your friend." Aqua tells Dumbledore as the man opens his mouth, obviously to ask the question she just answered before he could. The man seems reluctant to accept this, yet by now the transformation has finally ended. In my own honest opinion, Crouch doesn't look much better than Moody.
The man might not be scarred, but he has a haunted look on his face and his features prove that he has let himself go a long time ago. Strangely enough, for a second, the haunted look on the man's face reminds me of the dog now standing defensively in front of Harry and growling menacingly at the Head Table. I discard this thought for now and the man, Crouch, suddenly starts to laugh. His laugh is as deranged in sound as the look on his face.

"You disgusting wrench! It doesn't matter what you do to me! That filthy little mongrel over there was too late! Read these stupid little books! All it will prove to you is the return of the mightiest wizard who has ever lived. The Dark Lord shall return and there's nothing any of you can do about it! Oh, how he will reward me! He will see that I am his most loyal, his most faithful! He will honor me in ways only the Dark Lord can.
And once he has truly seen me for the son that I am and can be, I will be only too happy to present all of you filth and vulgar little Mudbloods and scums to him on a silver platter. And don't worry, mutt, I'll make sure that it's pure silver when I cage you and bring you to that ratty little traitor of your dear, silly little friends. Oh how Potter betrayed everything our noble blood stood for. Dirtying himself with that skank of a Mud –."

The man groans and his head lolls forward as Terra hits him in the back of the neck. The man seems to feel genuinely guilty and he says: "Sorry that took so long. His looks and voice reminded me of Xehanort for a bit. For a moment I had a flashback and thought I was back on top of that mountain. It was that weird Mud-insult of his that caught me off guard and made me realize I wasn't up there. So I decided to just silence him."
Most of us nod and Lea jokes: "No one blames you, Terra. To be honest, he reminded me of Xemnas. Thought Xemnas had a much wider vocabulary. Seriously, how many times did that guy use that term anyway? You'd think after the first time, he'd realize that we got the term memorized." I want to snicker with the rest of my friends, but instead I notice that a lot of the other students are gaping and gazing at us in utter shock.

"I'm guessing that term's not entirely well-liked?" Kairi asks tentatively and Mrs. Weasley shrieks that it's the worst kind of thing you can call someone who isn't a Pureblood. Instantly Naminé is writing more stuff down, yet I carelessly shrug and say that, if that's the case, the people here are easily insulted. Mudblood? Really? More people gape at me and I shrug again as I explain that it just sounds bloody unoriginal, is all.
Bill sighs and says: "You don't understand, Sora. But we shouldn't expect you to understand. You're not just from the Muggle world. You're from a whole other world. I'm going to assume that your enemies called you much worse." I nod at this and explain that Xehanort wouldn't even acknowledge me by name and just called me boy. Both Bill and Harry wince, yet I instantly feel as if Harry's reason differs from that of his older friend.

"So yeah, would you rather have people insinuate that you've got a bit of dirt in your blood or that your existence just doesn't matter whatsoever. Because trust me, Xehanort, Xemnas and Ansem were all very good at both stating that and making you feel that way. And so were the ones working for them. To them, it didn't matter if you worked for them or not. You either did what they wanted you to do – or your existence stopped being relevant."
Axel's voice easily proves that he has personal experience with this, yet at the same time – while he still has Roxas on his lap – he pulls Xion close against his form while he says this. The look on his face speaks volumes. Xion received this kind of treatment much more and a much higher level than he ever did and he remembers how much that had hurt her in the past. The girl remembers as well if her trembling body is anything to go by.

And thanks again to Roxas' memories, I know that he's right. Not just Xemnas, but Saïx treated Xion the same way. He called her useless, a failure, a waste of their time and existence and much worse. He constantly bullied her and talked down on her, even if she did a good job for the Organization and he often threatened to turn her into a Dusk if he felt that she wasn't living up to his extremely high standards. Again I wonder what Lea saw in him.
Yet because Isa is currently being reborn on another world, I decide to just leave it be, though I also silently remind myself to have Axel and Lea head for Radiant Garden later, if only to give Isa stern talking to about his behavior towards Xion. The guy might have admitted to his jealousy, but even I don't forgive people that easily. After a few minutes Xion pulls away from Axel with a grateful smile on her face.

Aqua is still standing at the Owl Stand and she gazes at the trio for one last quick second before she looks down at the open book. Her eyes widen slightly and momentarily and she calls Bill over. He reaches her and she says: "I think you best read this next chapter. The title sounds like it might be within your realm of expertise." Bill looks at the title himself and instantly his expression proves one thing: Aqua's right.
The man sighs and says: "I have good news and bad to share when it comes to this title. The good news is that Aqua's right and that I know of a few ways we can sabotage this and prevent Voldemort's return. The bad news is that, in book, this ritual is going to make Cedric a liability in Voldemort's eyes. And I don't think I need to explain whatVoldemort does with those he considers a liability." The man is right as his tone speaks for itself.
Again I feel the urge to make things better as I already realized that these books are not going to do that for me. And so I ask: "So how would you sabotage the ritual?" Yet William shakes his head and says: "There are many ways, but – I can't determine what the best method would be until I know exactly how Voldemort plans to use this ritual. I guess I'll just have to read and find out." And instantly the man puts his words into actions.

Flesh, Blood, and Bone
Harry felt … ground; his body still recovering from the extensive spell-use, and he … slightly eerie, but Harry was sure it wouldn't stay that way for long. "Is this … being watched. And this time he knew that it wasn't just the camera spell, though at the same time he was very grateful for that. If the spell was still active that meant that help might be coming soon as the audience ought to have come to the same conclusion as him by this point.

"That would have been the case if not for two problematic facts. One, there were already wards around the area you arrived in that muddled with the camera spell and two, the spell wasn't meant to let the audience see your actions." Chirithy's words chill me to the bone and a student asks if the same was true for the other Champions. Yet we all get shocked when Chirithy explains that Dumbledore only cast the spell once.
Everyone turns to the Headmaster and the man states: "Harry is the youngest of the Champions. I would have cast the spell to ensure that he would make it through the Maze safely and so I could warn the patrolling staff if something was amiss. Though Chirithy's words about the wards are most unfortunate as otherwise I would have instantly attempted to, subtly, guide some of my staff towards the gates and attempt a rescue."

The man might sound as if he regrets the existence of the wards, but at the same time it sounds as if he's blaming Chirithy for their existence. And while his tone is mostly reassuring, there is an underlying tone of resignation to his words. All in all, the man's tone contradicts what he is actually saying. It angers and disgusts me that the man seems to have already given up on a potential rescue of his students and Bill seems to agree on this.
"Headmaster, that doesn't make sense. If that Port Key was able to get past the Hogwarts wards then that means that something is going on with the Anti Port Key ward. And seeing how close the maze is to the ward line, I can only imagine that Crouch worked those before he put the Cup inside the maze. But at the same time that means that we don't even need to leave the grounds. I just need to get to the Port Key point and I'd be able to trace it.
Surely you know that. I wrote you about a similar adventure just a few months ago, just like I always do at the end of every month." Dumbledore's reaction troubles me. The man may try to hide it most valiantly, but his annoyance over the fact that his statement got denounced and questioned irks him immensely. And the man declaring that he has, unfortunately, not had the time to read the letters has Bill read on annoyed.

"Someone's coming," … robes? Harry's gut churned unpleasantly and glanced … quizzical look. Harry saw that Cedric had lowered his wand slightly and this alarmed him. Cedric saw where Harry's gaze was aimed and he hurried to raise his wand again.
They both … one another. Harry, for a second felt as if he could almost identify the cloaked figure and hoped that the camera spell was getting good look at him.
And then … "Avada Kedavra!"

Bill's voice was dead and void when he spoke those three horrid words and his voice breaks in horror when he speaks the last two words. And all around me, it's obvious what this spell does. Horror, disbelief, pain and heartache are so strongly felt by everyone around me that the emotions are almost tangible as they hang in the air. My desire to lift everyone's spirits is stronger than ever before, but for the first time ever – I don't know how.
Yet while he needs a moment to collect himself, Bill looks up and looks straight at Cedric's parents as he speaks: "I, William Arthur Weasley, Curse Breaker for Gringotts Egypt and wizard's employee for Gringotts England, swear upon my magic that I will use the best course available to sabotage this ritual and save both Harry James Potter and Cedric Diggory from the events written within this test. So I swear, so mote it be."
The words might only be meant for the Diggory parents, but many of those on the other tables also show relief and gratitude. The vow has done what I wanted to do. The air around us feels lighter and it almost feels as if I can breathe a little easier. The Minister stands up and says that Bill, Bagman and he himself will discuss alterations to the Third Task later. Bill nods and continues reading. Yet I smirk as I notice that Dumbledore was excluded in this plan.

A blast … eyelids, and while his head was in pain, his body still moved on instinct. It jumped in the direction he had seen Cedric. He felt his body collide with the other's and felt that same spark once again, yet he also saw the green light closer than ever and saw it get brighter for a split second, as if it had hit something. Terrified of … He was dead.

Again Bill's voice has become void of all emotion. Again the atmosphere feels thick and oppressive. And what's worse, this time I feel like I'm the one who's stuck in a flashback. My eyes are full of tears as I feel, not as if I'm listening to Bill's reading, but as if I'm back in the Keyblade Graveyard, just minutes after Kairi was struck down. "Why her?" I whisper as I look up and above me, I can even see him, Xehanort, standing.
But then my face is roughly pulled to the side and I see Riku instead. "Sora, focus. We're not in the Keyblade Graveyard. We're at Hogwarts. Kairi is safe. You saved her. This is a reading, nothing more. Focus, Sora. Come back to me." And again I see it. The fire in his gorgeous crystal-colored eyes and the light that surrounds him. That breath-taking sight of warm, earthy brown that seems to envelop Riku from all sides.

The sight of this reminds me of what we did just before we started reading. I feel an instinct rear up inside me and realize what's about to happen. Happily I let my instinct guide me. I grab Riku's hand, which is cupping my cheek, and whisper four words: "The Road to Dawn." Riku's eyes widen for a fraction, but it takes only a second before he returns the sentiment. We smile at each other and Riku pulls me close, pressing a kiss into my hair.
I feel it. I feel the intensity of his power and his might. I feel the dept of his emotions and the strength of his heart. I feel all of it as if it were my own and I happily accept it, I lovingly embrace it, I irrevocably let it become part of me. And the way that Riku sighs in satisfied content proves to me that he experienced the same thing and that he feels the same. My grin widens and I whisper the words again, but different this time.

"My Road to Dawn." I whisper softly, only for Riku to hear. His arms tense around me for the shortest second, almost fast enough that I don't notice it, but then he relaxes and whispers: "My Guardian of Light." My grin expands at these words and my heart sings in loving delight. Then Bill softly starts to read on, yet suddenly I notice something. His tone is full of hopeful emotion again as he reads and I realize that our act cheered him up. I smile at this.

For a … slightly surprised. His hand was still clutching Cedric's arm, yet he didn't feel anything, not even that same spark as before. And then… TOM RIDDLE

Someone asks if that name should mean anything and Harry stands up. I glance quickly at the headmaster and he looks as if he had just wanted to tell the student to wait and see. The guarded look on his face also slightly betrays a hint of annoyance. More and more this man disgusts and annoys me as he seems as if he is against anyone doing anything without his consent, especially Harry. Yet Harry himself seems unwilling to care.
He raises his wand and writes the name down in burning letters, though he puts the name Marvolo in between the first and last name. He uses his wand to guide the letters and moves the first and last letter of the first name around before he puts the R of Riddle behind the O. He continues to move the other letters and puts the Vol of Marvolo and the De of Riddle in front of the word Mort. And just like that the boy spells the name Voldemort.

Almost everyone around me looks shocked horrified, though the Beauxbattons and Durmstrang students look more shocked than horrified. Harry firmly speaks and says: "The Tom Riddle described in the book is Voldemort's father. Voldemort made an anagram of his own birthname after he disappeared all those years ago. Because there was so much time between Tom Riddle's disappearance and Lord Voldemort's appearance, no one ever made the link.
And for those of you wondering how I know this? I met a – I guess you can say – version of Tom Riddle down in the Chamber of Secrets back in my Second. He showed me this same trick before he sacked the Basilisk on me." Yet while he says this pretty casually, Lupin jumps up and frantically asks him how he survived an encounter with a beast like that. And thanks to my encounters with Cerberus and the Hydra I can understand the man's fright.

Harry winces and explains: "I showed my loyalty to Hogwarts by openly defying Voldemort to his face. This brought Fawkes to my side and he had the Sorting Hat with him. From that I summoned the Sword of Gryffindor and I stabbed the Basilisk with it after Fawkes blinded it." Lupin seems mollified by this explanation, yet at the same time it seems to increase Bill's horror. And with a broken voice the Curse Breaker explains why.
"Harry, the – the only way – the – the only bit of a Basilisk that – that you'd have been able to – to stab with any sword – even one made of Goblin Silver – is – the mouth." Harry gives the elder redhead a solemn nod and Bill's eyes widen. He wants to ask Harry something, but Harry beats him to it and repeats the name of the phoenix. There might be a bit of an unspoken conversation going on between the two, but Bill gets the message.
He sighs in relief and asks Harry if he'd be able to get him, Bill, into that Chamber. Harry asks him why and Bill answers: "Basilisk poison would be the perfect way to sabotage that damned ritual we're about to read about. Also, Fred, George, I'd like some fake wands of yours. Both ones that are still wands and ones that have been changed. I can use those in place of the bones." His twin brothers eagerly accept and Bill reads on.

The cloaked … was Wormtail.

"WAIT! WHAT?" Two voices shout in perfect horrified sync and every face turns to the Weasley twins. Yet at the same time I notice Dumbledore looking strangely furious and McGonagall as well as a few other teachers looking astounded for reasons that I don't think align with the one that made the twins yell out. And the two prove this as they shout: "But Wormtail is a Marauder! Are you telling us that one of our idols is – is – is –?"
The twins seem unable to finish their sentence and McGonagall whimpers something about a man named Black. Yet Harry seems to suddenly see his chance as he jumps up and shouts: "For Merlin's sake, Professor, think for a moment! Why would my parents risk my future by making the man responsible for me in case something happened to them the one who can make something happen to them? How does that make sense?
My parents were intelligent! They were Head Boy and Head Girl! My father was a Quidditch Captain and my mother a Prefect! Not to mention that my parents were able to defy Voldemort several times and that my father was a prankster. Can you really not see what actually happened that night? What is actually going on here?" And while the woman indeed seems too flabbergasted to form a coherent answer, Susan gasps and says:

"Your parents switched Secret Keepers, but didn't tell anyone. Or better, they claimed to the world to hear that Black was your Secret Keeper as that was the ruse, the prank they wanted to pull on You – oh, to hell with that, on Voldemort. But Pettigrew betrayed them and framed Black. He was the one who was sent to Azkaban without a trial. Then he found out where Pettigrew was hiding and he escaped. Black is Snuffles, isn't he?"
Harry's smile is full of relieved pride as he nods to confirm Susan's answer. Yet my focus isn't just on the two teens. I twist my head just enough that I can watch Dumbledore without it being noticeable and instantly I feel conflicted. Dumbledore's face is contorted in a very, very fake smile, yet the smile hides the annoyance shining in his eyes. Yet then suddenly the dog that was with Harry moving away and changing form startles me away from this.

The fur recedes into skin or turns into a long, loose hanging robe and cloths. Other bits of fur lengthen and turn into long, matted black hair that looks to be slowly regaining a healthy glow. The grey-blue eyes become more human and change in shape just slightly. The claws and paws change into a pair of hands and clothed feet. The being's back arches backwards as he goes from standing on four legs to standing on two feet.
"I said it before and I'll say it again. As long as my innocence is guaranteed, I will happily surrender myself to the authority figures. So if you can guarantee that with your aunt, Miss Bones, I will gladly let you escort me to her once this book is read. Though for now, I just want to stay close to my godson. The idea of him in the hands of that filthy traitorous rat is too much for me to handle in my other form."
Susan nods in understanding with this and tells him that she will Floo Call her aunt after the reading is over. I might not know what that means, but Naminé quickly writes the word down while Sirius takes a seat between Harry and Cedric. Though he also apologizes to Cedric, the young man shakes his head and says: "You only want Harry safe and in-book, right now, he's not. I understand." Snuffles – no, Sirius – smiles at him and Bill reads on.

"You!" he … of him.
Yet he had taught himself to wandlessly detect magic around him and a quick scan proved that the camera spell was still going. Yet this time, if only to distract himself from what was going on around him, Harry took a closer look. He bit back a gulp and swallowed a curse.
The spell was only attuned to Dumbledore and it was being blinded by magic that was all around them. Dumbledore might be able to, in time, determine where Harry was, but he wasn't able to see anything that was going on. And knowing the man, Dumbledore would just let events that he didn't have complete control over play out.

A few students and some of the teachers are shocked that Harry is actually able to cast magic like this wandlessly. Yet this shock is quickly replaced with annoyance and a sense of agreement. The Headmaster also seems deeply annoyed that Harry discarded the option of the Headmaster coming to his rescue so easily. And this annoys my team and myself as we all noticed his hypocrisy earlier on when his tone belied his words. Bill grimaces and reads.

Cedric's body … Cedric's feet. Harry was entirely on his own. Though while with others that might install a sense of fear and dread, Harry fought the urge to grin. As long as it was just Harry, Wormtail and – he bit back another gulp – potentially Voldemort, Harry could go all out and use every spell in his arsenal. He didn't need to hold back anymore.

This time most of the adults are staring at Harry in awe, as if they can hardly believe that Harry is growing confident in such a potentially dangerous situation. Harry grimaces and says: "Whenever danger comes around, my mind seems to clear up. I think my instincts have just been attuned to danger ever since I was born or something." Some of the staff nods in understanding, yet Sirius grimaces at the explanation as Bill reads.

The bundle … bundle opened…

Bill looks up and says: "Harry, before anything else. Before we head down into the Chamber, before I go and sabotage that ritual and before the Third Task commences, I am inspecting that scar of yours and I am going to see if I can't fix it." Harry nods in grateful acceptance and Lea suggests that he does this once we reach the point in the book where Harry escapes from the graveyard. Both Harry and Bill nod at this and Bill commences to read.

He cursed the fact that he was wandless or he would cast a silent rotting curse at the blankets, potentially even at the small section where the blankets were folded as if they were wrapped around something's head.

"That alone would have been a major blow to the ritual. Though it would have more long-term effects, it would actually make the whole thing pointless in the end. This ritual, even after it's performed, requires the construct to remain mostly untouched for a total of six months. The rotting curse would make the construct rot and decay from within. It would probably have fallen apart before the time-limit was met." Bill explains gleefully before he reads on.

He could … sit in.

Bill keeps on grinning, obviously growing more and more confident as, while he reads, his mind must be coming up with ways to sabotage this ritual. He turns to the Minister and says: "Let me take that Port Key once I have the Basilisk venom. I'll replace the bones with the wands, leave a glamoured bottle of Basilisk poison behind and smear mud on the handles of the cauldron. That way Wormtail will cover Riddle in mud if he puts him into the cauldron.
The mud will basically have the same effect on the ritual as a rotting curse. And with the Time Spell currently in effect, I can do this long before either Wormtail or Riddle will expect someone to arrive, so I should be able to get in and out before they detect me. I'll even use a few Curse Breaker spells to guarantee this before I leave." The Minister seems astounded that the man is planning ahead like this and nods in consent before Bill reads on.

The thing … red eyes.

Bill had been growing confident and reassured the more he read before. But now, as he reads this part, the grin slowly seeps of his face and a frown mars it instead. "That's not good. Even if someone ends up being reverted back to such a form, they should retain some of their old looks. The less human they look, the more that indicated – oh, that monster didn't." The man gasps at the end, clearly horrified. Yet before we can question him, he reads on.

The thing … poisonous-looking blue.

"Okay then. Fred, George, I'm sorry, but if you're still willing to let me use a few of your fake wands, you'll have to accept that I'm going to have to grind them to dust as well. We want to trick Voldemort into thinking that the plan failed, but that Crouch managed to assure them a last minute victory before he got caught, aka the Basilisk Poison disguised as blood. For that trick to work, I need to keep the bone consistent." The twins nod and Bill reads on.

And now … your master."

Bill lets out a sigh of relief and explains: "Thank lady magic, he won't be as strong as he was last time around. The voice of the servant needs to be either fully submissive or full of devotion when they perform this bit. Pettigrew was terrified, that will weaken Voldemort's ability to cast magic." A lot of people sigh in relief, yet Dumbledore ruins it all as he says that Voldemort is crafty enough to work around this. I groan at the man as Bill reads on.

He stretched … the cauldron.

Bill sighs in relief and says: "The hand was in the dirt. It might not have been there for very long if the book is anything to go by, but it was there. If nothing else, that will make Voldemort sluggish for the first hour or so. Which will give Harry an increased chance to get out of there." Instantly everyone, especially those seated around Harry, share in the man's relief. Yet I also notice Dumbledore studying Bill as Bill continues to read.

Harry couldn't … into it.

Bill smirks after he reads this. He steps away from the Owl stand and walks over to the table closest to him. There he seems to ask the table itself – or I guess he asks the kitchens – for a bowl of tomato sauce. The bowl appears and Bill pulls a small vial from a pocket of his. He dips two fingers into the bowl and smears the sauce across the vial in several rough patterns. He pulls his wand and casts a spell on the vial.
To the shock of those near him, the sauce dries up and turns to crust that almost looks like dried blood. "There. Now, once the Basilisk poison is in this vial and we deliver it to Voldemort, he'll think that it was Crouch's last successful action. That he was able to overwhelm Harry and steal the blood and then send the vial off with the Goblet before he got caught. My plan is coming together" The man pockets the vial and returns to his reading.

He staggered … the cauldron.

Bill's eyes widen as he reads this last part and he mumbles: "Something else went wrong. The thinness proves it. Even if Voldemort did that horrible thing that I suspect him to have done, he wouldn't be skeletally thin. Something else went wrong." Quickly the man pages back and his eyes rush across the pages. Yet the man seems unable to spot it and he shakes his head. He mumbles that he'll study it again later and read on.

"Robe me," … risen again.

"But he's not going to this time." Bill states firmly and with incredible determination. Yet behind him, I notice that a lot of the adults don't seem to share in his confidence. Dumbledore stands up and warns the man not to underestimate Voldemort's ingenuity or his skill with magic and planning. Yet Bill counters this with the argument that, right now, he's not dealing with the same monster that terrorized England all those years ago.
"Plus, they might not be Dark Lords like Voldemort, but I have dealt with Dark Wizards and even Black magic wizards almost twice a month for the last five years, Headmaster. And whenever I wasn't, I was either studying up on Dark wizards and Lords of the past or I was using Goblin made simulations of historic battles against such wizards. Trust me, sir, outside of tombs, battling against dark and black magic has been my bread and butter for years."

Both Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley seem most displeased for this, yet I can't help but feel as if they're displeased for different reasons. Mrs. Weasley obviously doesn't like the idea that her son has been working such a dangerous job for so long, yet at the same time I can see her pride shining in her eyes. Dumbledore, on the other hand, seems almost stubbornly against the very idea that William even knows how to work a job like that.
More and more the man works on my last nerve. More and more I feel sure that he is the one who will guide this world down the path of Darkened Light. More and more I fear that he might even use these innocent students to see that done. And worse, more and more I fear that Harry is his main target when it comes to seeing these plans to fruition, as if he thinks Harry can be his scapegoat or something. More and more he reminds me – of Xehanort.

Indeed, Sora, indeed.
So yeah, Dumbledore is getting his true side revealed early, simply because he has encountered people who have fought against a Manipulator like him before and know what to look out for. Maybe Sora sounds a little too experienced in all this, but I'd like to think that, after everything the whole gang has gone through, they've all gained equal amounts of experience in this field. And Sora especially after Dream Drop Distance.
All clear? Good,

Venquine1990
Wordcount: 7146 words