Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter or Eragon universes.

As always thank you to Bearsona09 for betaing and the discussions on this chapter and JBacken for looking the chapter over.

The Pensieve

"I feel like I've aged ten years in one go," Sirius groaned, pressing his hands into his lower back.

"Oh, you poor old man," Thiora said, patting him on the shoulder repeatedly.

Sirius furrowed his brow. "I didn't say I was old. Just look at those curls!"

He shook his head dramatically, causing his hair to fly wildly around.

"I've never seen a man so obsessed with his hair," Eragon laughed.

"Then let me give you some good advice, young man! If you ever want to impress a woman, make sure you have a well-groomed appearance," Sirius said. "Don't be like Harry! His hair is worse than a bird's nest."

Thiora rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to him, Eragon. It's much more important to have a good sense of humour and to connect with the person on a level you don't with anyone else. That's also why I chose Sirius," she said, smiling.

"Yes, humour is important," Sirius agreed, then turned to Thiora. "Wait a minute - what does that mean?"

While the two were engaged in a verbal sparring match, Eragon gently pulled a lock of hair in front of his eyes. It had grown so long that it reached below his ears, with the ends curling into light brown ringlets.

Would Niduen prefer shorter hair on him? Maybe he would need to trim it a bit in the future.

Eragon's gaze shifted to a memory of Harry's, focusing on an old man. He stood at the base of a rickety staircase.

"Who is that?" Eragon asked Harry.

"That's Frank, a Muggle," Harry replied. "He was the gardener for the Riddle estate and was arrested for the murder of the Riddle family."

Arya raised an eyebrow. "The Riddle family? Not the family of Tom Riddle?"

Harry nodded. "Exactly. Frank was accused but later released because the Riddles had no signs of injury."

"They were killed with magic," Eragon deduced.

"Yes, but remember, Eragon, magic always leaves traces," Harry warned. "But in this case, you're right. They were all killed with the Killing Curse, which usually leaves no trace."

Eragon's eyes darted to Harry's forehead, where only a few hairs covered his scar.

Frank's footsteps were muffled by the thick layer of dust as he slowly ascended the stairs.

"I'll show these fellows what happens when they dare to break into the old estate," he muttered softly.

At the top of the stairs, he stopped and turned toward the door behind which a faint light flickered. The door was slightly ajar, and as he approached, he heard a strange, high, cold voice.

"Bring me closer to the fire, Wormtail."

Oromis's eyes widened. "So, Pettigrew found him."

"That damned rat," Sirius growled.

"Where is Nagini?" Voldemort asked.

"I-I don't know, my Lord," Wormtail's voice trembled. "She might be exploring the house."

"I really don't understand why the Sorting Hat sent him to Gryffindor," Sirius said, shaking his head.

"I can't say much about the Sorting Hat's magic, as I don't know it well, but I do know a person's nature," Oromis sighed. "And especially at a young age, one's nature changes continuously. I wouldn't be surprised if Pettigrew, through one significant or many small experiences in his life, had his entire moral compass overturned and became the person we see before us."

"How long will we stay here, my Lord?" Wormtail asked.

"Perhaps a week or a little longer. It would be foolish to start with the plan before the Quidditch World Cup."

"A Quidditch World Cup?" Thiora asked, looking confused.

Harry and Sirius both nodded enthusiastically. "The best event ever," Harry said. "A Quidditch team represents its country and plays in a tournament against another country. The winner advances to the next round, while the loser is out of the tournament. And the final was held in England back then."

Eragon brightened up. "A tournament sounds like something amazing."

"It is," Sirius said with a grin, holding his arms as if he were holding a bat. "Tickets for the Quidditch World Cup were always highly sought after. James and I would sit anxiously in front of the old radio. The Syrian Quidditch team had the best beaters of all time! That's also why I became a beater."

"So, you're still determined, my Lord?" Wormtail's squeaky voice piped up.

"Of course I'm determined, you imbecile," Voldemort said threateningly.

Wormtail's eyes darted around, and he kept licking his lips nervously. "It could be done without Harry Potter, my Lord."

"What do you mean, without you?" Arya asked sharply.

"Without Harry Potter?" Voldemort's voice was barely audible.

"Master, I'm not saying this out of concern for the boy!" Wormtail squeaked.

"I wonder if Pettigrew carries a spark of guilt within him," Oromis murmured, eyeing the traitor sharply.

"Don't lie to me!" Voldemort hissed, and Wormtail flinched, a dull thud echoing. "I notice everything, Wormtail! You regret coming back to me. I see you recoil when you look at me, I feel you tremble when you touch me-"

"No! My devotion to your Lordship-"

"Silence, you vermin!" Voldemort hissed.

"He really treats him cruelly," Thiora said.

"And he deserves nothing less," Sirius grunted, his voice betraying no trace of sympathy.

"I found you," Wormtail retorted. "I was the one who found you and brought Bertha Jorkins to you."

"You're right about that," Voldemort said with amusement. "But be honest, Wormtail… you had no idea how useful she would turn out to be, did you?"

Wormtail frowned. "I-I thought she could be useful, Master."

"Liar."

"How does he always know when Wormtail is lying?" Eragon asked.

"Voldemort is a Legilimens, which means-" Harry began, but was interrupted by Arya.

"He can delve into the thoughts and memories of others. It's similar to entering another person's mind with your own," Arya explained, giving Harry a wink, to which he nodded in satisfaction.

"And Voldemort was one of the greatest Legilimens ever. He mastered it so well that he could immediately tell when a person was lying or telling the truth," Harry continued with a frown.

"And this Bertha Jorkins?" Oromis asked.

Sirius covered his face with one hand. "She was at Hogwarts in my time, and she was a complete idiot, but also very curious."

"That can be two very dangerous combination for traits," Thiora said, and Sirius nodded in agreement.

"And apparently, that eventually led to her death," Sirius murmured.

"One more curse… my loyal servant at Hogwarts… Harry Potter is as good as mine, Wormtail. It is decided. No more arguments. But be silent… I think I hear Nagini…"

"It should have been clear to me that the 'Heir of Slytherin' would have a snake with him," Arya said, shuddering.

"Nagini has some extremely interesting news, Wormtail," Voldemort said, amused.

"R-really, Master?"

"Indeed, yes," Voldemort said. "According to Nagini, an old Muggle is standing outside the door, listening to every single word we speak."

"Why doesn't the Muggle move?" Eragon asked, distressed. "They'll kill him if he doesn't get away!"

"Fear can paralyze even the strongest body," Oromis explained.

"So, you're a lord, huh? Why don't you turn to me and look me in the face, like a man?"

"I am not a man, Muggle," Voldemort said, his voice barely louder than the crackling fire in the hearth.

"I am much more than that… However, why not? I will return the favour and look you in the face… Wormtail! Come here and turn my chair around."

Wormtail turned the chair until it faced Frank, and Frank saw what was sitting there. He let out one final scream so loud that he didn't hear the words the figure before him spoke. A green flash of light, and his body fell lifeless to the ground.

"That is… disgusting," Oromis said, covering his mouth with one hand. "I have studied the Gramarye for many years, but I have never seen such an abomination."

"How far has this wizard fallen to be capable of such things?!" he asked angrily.

"I mean, Voldemort's body is repulsive, but-" Eragon began, but was interrupted by Oromis raising his hand.

"That is not what I'm referring to, Eragon! Look closely at the body! Look at it!"

Eragon leaned forward. Voldemort's head looked similar to when it had grown on Quirrell's skull. But the rest of the body resembled-

"That's the body of a newborn baby. He has taken on the body of a baby!" Oromis snarled, cursing in the ancient language.

"Bah! Now I'm polluting the air myself," Oromis grunted, taking a deep breath.

Harry gave Oromis a sad half-smile. "There's a reason Voldemort was one of the greatest dark wizards. He delved so deeply into dark magic that he spared no boundaries. Killing something innocent like a newborn? That won't stop him."

Harry shook his head. "If you thought Voldemort was just evil, then you're gravely mistaken, Ebrithil. Galbatorix might have killed the Riders and dragons, but he still ruled his people in a way that allowed some to live in peace. Voldemort would have spared no one."

Oromis pursed his lips but said nothing, as he was interrupted by Eragon's excited shout.

"Eragon!"

Eragon turned to Oromis. "What? I've never seen something so grand! Harry, what is that?"

"That's the Quidditch stadium for the World Cup," Harry replied. "Mr. Weasley won tickets to the VIP box."

"Insane," murmured Eragon, staring down at the multitude of wizards and witches.

"Wait - Harry, is that you?" Arya asked, her voice carrying a note that Harry didn't like at all.

He turned to her, and she held her hand over her mouth, though he could still see her smile.

"Y-Your hair, H-Harry!" Arya laughed, leaning on Harry's arm.

"What? Everyone had their hair that long," Harry retorted, pointing at Ron, whose hair also reached his shoulders.

Sirius and Thiora exchanged smiles, while Arya wiped tears from her eyes. "P-Please, do me a favour and never let your hair grow that long again."

Harry mumbled something unintelligible, but Arya nudged him with her shoulder, making him smile despite himself.

Harry sat down in the VIP box and looked surprised to his right. "Dobby? Is that you?"

The house-elf spread his fingers in front of his face. "Did sir just call Winky Dobby?"

"Sorry," Harry said. "I mistook you for someone I know."

"But Winky knows Dobby!" Winky squeaked. "You must be the great Harry Potter!"

"The great Harry Potter? I thought only Dobby was that eccentric," Eragon said, grinning.

"But apparently, all house-elves like you, Harry."

Harry snorted. "Not all of them."

"But why is the house-elf there?" Thiora asked suspiciously. "She seemed afraid of heights."

Sirius slapped his open hand with his fist. "Now I remember. That's the Crouch's house-elf! She was supposed to keep his seat, wasn't she?"

Harry nodded, but his eyes were not on Winky but on the seat next to her.

"Oh no, not him," Sirius groaned as he saw Lucius Malfoy and his family climbing the stairs to the VIP box.

"I really didn't miss to see the face of this ponce."

"My goodness, Arthur," Lucius whispered. "What did you have to sell to get seats in the VIP box? Surely your house wouldn't have been enough."

"He is truly one of the most obnoxious people I've ever seen," Oromis murmured. "And I have seen a lot."

"Hello, Mr. Malfoy," Harry said just as quietly. "How's your back? Dobby asked about you, as you seemed to be in real pain the last time when you left Hogwarts."

"Lucius? Ah, there you are," Fudge said, standing next to the Malfoys. "I see you've already met young Mr. Potter. Let me introduce you to the Bulgarian Minister."

"Is that so?" Lucius said with a growl in his voice, and slowly his eyes left Harry's face.

Sirius wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "I'm so proud of you, Harry!"

Harry rolled his eyes, but Arya saw the slight twitch of his lips that indicated Harry was pleased with himself.

"Shall we begin, Minister?" Ludo Bagman asked the Minister.

"By all means, let the games begin," Fudge said with delight.

"Oh, this is going to be great," Sirius said, rubbing his hands together with the excitement of a child.

"And now I'd like to introduce our guests… the Bulgarian team mascots!"

"Oh-oh," Harry murmured.

Hundreds of the most beautiful women Harry had ever seen glided across the field. Their skin seemed to radiate the moonlight as they danced, their golden hair flowing in the wind…

"Wow," Sirius gaped with his mouth open, only to feel a sharp pain in his shin moments later.

"Ouch!" Sirius yelped, hopping on one leg.

"Hmph, serves you right," Thiora said, pulling her leg back. She joined Arya, while Harry looked sympathetically at Sirius.

"W-What are those creatures?" Eragon asked through gritted teeth. His face was red from the effort to keep a clear mind, but the longer the dance went on, the harder it became for him. Only when Sirius pinched him on the arm did he manage to fully shake off the enchantment.

"Focus on the pain in your arm," Sirius advised.

"These are Veela," Harry explained. "They can enchant those who find them attractive with their magic… Those who fall under their spell will try to impress them no matter what."

"That's why you were able to keep your head during the Dagshelgr," Arya said, her green eyes sparkling sharply. "Even if you didn't fully manage it the first time, I saw you trying to climb that railing."

Harry swallowed and tried to catch Arya's gaze, but her face was firmly fixed on the memories before them.

Harry watched the Malfoys when suddenly someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and saw a girl his age. She had strikingly deep blue eyes and ebony-dark hair that fell in soft waves over her shoulders.

"Not bad, Potter."

Harry blinked. "Er-thanks, Greengrass. What are you doing here?"

"Eloquent as always, Potter," Greengrass smiled. "I'm here to finally see some good Quidditch while my father builds connections."

"Well, you didn't mention her," Sirius said with a broad grin.

"Wait a minute - what do you mean by 'finally seeing some good Quidditch'?" Harry asked, sounding upset. He was good at Quidditch… Right?

"Oh Harry, you still have a lot to learn about dealing with the fairer sex," Sirius continued with a laugh, while Harry rolled his eyes.

"Shut up, Padfoot."

"That was the best thing I've ever seen!" Eragon beamed as they made their way back to the tent.

"It really was a fantastic final," Sirius grinned. "I'd only read about it in the Daily Prophet before, but Krum is truly brilliant!"

They rushed out of the tent, and Harry pulled Hermione and Ron back by their sweaters as a red flash zoomed past the spot where they had just been standing.

"What's happening?" Ron asked over the screams coming from witches and wizards running toward the forest.

Mr. Weasley stepped in front of them as a spell ignited a few tents ahead, illuminating people floating in mid-air with the fire's light.

"Those are the Muggles from the entrance," Hermione said, her face pale, as they saw through a gap in the crowd the youngest child being tossed around on the ground.

"That's disgusting," Ron muttered.

"I agree," Oromis said with disgust. "It's appalling to witness."

"Why are they doing this?" Eragon asked, upset.

Sirius threw his head back and growled loudly. "The Death Eaters find this fun! The idiots probably drank too much last night."

They faced Draco Malfoy, who was lounging casually against a tree. "Shouldn't you lot be getting out of here? You wouldn't want anyone seeing this, would you?" he asked, nodding toward Hermione. His eyes sparkled with amusement.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione said defiantly.

Malfoy's mouth slowly twisted into an amused grin. "They're after Muggles, Granger. They're coming this way, and if you get in the way-"

"Hermione is a witch," Harry interrupted with a growl.

"As you say, Potter. But if you think they wouldn't recognize a Mudblood, then stay where you are."

Oromis sighed. "The young man is clearly lacking in manners and education. He links his entire existence to his worldview, which was probably instilled in him by his parents. He's never learned to think for himself," he said, looking at Eragon.

"I understand now, Master," Eragon said.

Oromis smiled. "Understanding is always the first step toward wisdom."

"Malfoy, come down here and I will give your mother a real reason to frown!" Harry shouted, raising his fist.

"Setting your temper aside, I appreciate how you stand up for your friends, Harry," Thiora said with a smile.

"Morsmordre!"

"Who's there?" Harry shouted into the darkness as Hermione grabbed his arm from behind.

"Come on, Harry! Move it!"

"Why?" Harry asked, confused.

"It's the Dark Mark, Harry!" Hermione gasped. "The sign of You-Know-Who!"

"Ugh," Harry groaned. "I really am an idiot."

"Was?" Arya grinned as she leaned forward, peering around Thiora to catch a glimpse of Harry.

"Funny," he muttered under his breath.

Plop. A dozen wizards appeared in a circle around them, and Harry yanked Hermione and Ron to the ground just in time as dozens of red lights flew overhead.

"Good grief, Amos Diggory really isn't the sharpest tool in the shed," Sirius said, shaking his head. "He's going to trip over his own feet."

"And apparently, he's anything but kind to non-magical people," Thiora scolded. "I really feel sorry for Winky. I understand that the bond with her family helps her survive, but it's still cruel to see how Crouch treated her."

"It makes what happened to Crouch later seem less tragic," Sirius said.

The forest they were in gave way to the Great Hall. The many conversations among the friends, who were sharing their summer experiences, fell silent as Dumbledore rose.

Arya had to stifle a snort when she saw Harry's furious face as the headmaster told them that the Quidditch season for the coming school year had been cancelled. For a fleeting moment, her thoughts wandered to what her life might have been like if she hadn't been constantly surrounded by war and death.

Would Arya, like so many other elves before her, have tried to find a hobby? She probably would have spent a few years with Rhunön and learned, but eventually, the desire to explore Alagaёsia would have become too great.

She shook her head. There's no point in dwelling on things that never were.

A flash like a snake formed on the ceiling of the Great Hall and illuminated the room as the entrance door was flung open with a bang, revealing a man with a wooden leg. Arya raised an eyebrow when she saw his face. His face was scarred from many battles, and his eye-

Something was odd about it; it moved unnaturally fast in every direction.

When Dumbledore introduced Moody as the new professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts, Arya felt a shiver run down her spine. So far, Harry had had very little luck with his teachers. Only Lupin had taught them something worthwhile.

But Arya perked up as Dumbledore began his speech again, introducing a magical tournament - the Triwizard Tournament.

As she was accustomed to, the memory shifted, showing Harry in Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Moody paced back and forth, explaining what a curse was.

Arya already knew this. She had learned from one of Harry's evenings that curses are essentially spells, but with the difference that they inflict harm in a malevolent and damaging way.

And when Moody started taking out the spiders from the glass and testing curses on them one by one... The green light she had barely managed to dodge still haunted her. But nothing surprised her more than when Moody began making the students come forward one by one and casting the Imperius Curse on them. Each of them was overwhelmed by the spell, all except one…

Then Arya had to shield her eyes from the sunlight. She looked around and saw they were outside. All of Hogwarts was outside, waiting for something.

Arya frowned as she spotted something over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest. It was a flying carriage, drawn by magnificent, winged horses. As the horses landed before them, they bore a great resemblance to elven horses, so graceful was their light brown fur.

But Arya quickly changed her opinion of them when she heard that the horses only drank whiskey.

The door of the carriage opened and out stepped the largest woman Arya had ever seen. Arya had only read about female Kull in scrolls, as the Urgals kept their villages hidden from everyone, and only the male Urgals and Kulls left the village to prove themselves in deadly combat. But this woman seemed even larger than Hagrid; she believed she might even surpass Hagrid, who had the blood of a giantess, as Harry had confided to her.

Giants… who, according to dwarf myths, had once lived in Alagaёsia and had fallen in battle against their gods.

Madame Maxime and her entourage of students eventually went into the Great Hall while Hogwarts remained outside, waiting for Durmstrang.

It wasn't long before the waves of the Black Lake grew stronger, and finally, the tip of a ship's mast broke through the murky water.

The Durmstrang students were all dressed in heavy clothing, likely to protect them from the cold, but their faces reminded Arya more of a particular type of people. Mysterious. Power-hungry. Unpredictable.

Together they entered the Great Hall, and there was a lavish feast. During the feast, Arya detached herself from the others and walked through the rows of students. It was something special to see so many people sitting side by side, coming from such different cultures and speaking different languages.

Even though Surda was still separated from the kingdom and the people had other traditions, like in the North, it was still part of Alagaёsia. A homeland.

Arya interrupted her train of thought when she overheard part of a conversation.

"She's a Veela!" Ron gasped.

"Of course not," Hermione said sharply. "I don't see anyone else staring at her like an idiot."

Arya saw the jealousy in Hermione's face as Ron looked at her obsessively and had to agree with Ron to some extent. Many boys turned their heads towards the girl, staring at her as if entranced.

"I'm telling you, she's not an ordinary girl! You won't find something like that at Hogwarts!"

"You might," Harry responded involuntarily. Arya followed his gaze and saw his eyes flicker for a moment to a dark-haired girl.

The evening went on, and the Goblet of Fire was ignited. Dumbledore rose from his chair, and it took only a moment for the roiling fire inside the goblet to turn red and eject a slip of paper.

The goblet selected Viktor Krum, which didn't surprise Arya much. Given how he had been presented by his school, the other students seemed like mere appendages. For Karkaroff, it was about prestige, and what could be better than someone who had already proven himself?

For Beauxbatons, Fleur Delacour was chosen, the same girl Ron had talked about. As she walked to the front, she radiated immense arrogance.

Then it grew quiet again, and Arya stared intently at Dumbledore as he read out the name of the Hogwarts champion. Cedric Diggory.

An unexpected tension released in her shoulders as the name was called. It wasn't Harry's. After the dream with Wormtail and Voldemort, she had feared they would try…

Her eyes met Harry's from the memory, who was looking around. Arya glanced over her shoulder and saw the Goblet of Fire again eject a red flame. This time the fire was much more intense, forcefully sending a fourth piece of paper into the air.

Arya closed her eyes. She had to accept that Harry simply couldn't lead a normal life. He was like a fox, blundering into every trap without realizing it.

Quiet as a whisper, Dumbledore read his name from the piece of paper.

"You can't take a break either, can you?" Arya asked sarcastically.

Harry laughed. "Well, fate has certainly done its best to make my life difficult. It's not always my fault."

"Maybe it's because you Potters have such hard heads," Sirius grumbled.

"Oi! Says the right person," Harry retorted.

Sirius patted his chest proudly. "Of course! What do you think, how else did I win the heart of this beautiful lady?"

Thiora rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the grin that spread across her face.

"But it won't be that bad this time, will it? I mean, you're a Champion!" Eragon said.

"Well, young Hermione made it very clear how dangerous the tournament was," Oromis reminded them. "They said certain safety measures had been taken… but since the issue with Sirius, I have little faith in the Ministry."

"You can judge for yourself how great it was this time," Harry said.

Harry was with Ron in the Gryffindor dormitory. "Listen, I didn't put my name in that goblet. Someone else must have done it."

Ron raised his eyebrows. "Why would someone do that?"

"I don't know," Harry lied.

"Why didn't you just tell him the truth?" Arya asked, frowning.

Harry shrugged. "It sounded odd to me; hey someone is trying to get me killed."

"I didn't put my name in the goblet!" Harry snapped.

Ron shrugged. "Fine. You just said this morning that you did it last night. I'm not stupid, you know."

"Ah, please don't say anything dumb, Harry," Eragon said.

"But you play the fool pretty well!"

"Don't underestimate Harry's temper," Arya warned.

Harry looked helplessly at the ceiling. "I was 14!"

"You probably want to go to sleep now. You need to get up early tomorrow for a photo shoot or an interview…"

"Ugh, Ron really doesn't make it easy either," Sirius said, covering his face with a hand. "If I were you, Harry, I would have slapped him ages ago."

"Then we should be glad that Harry, as young as he was, managed to control himself better," Oromis said.

"But what about Hermione?" Thiora asked. "Has she also let you down?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I only saw her at breakfast."

"What about the other students?" Sirius asked. "You never told me about them."

"There's the scar-faced guy!"

"He's already famous enough! Why doesn't he let others have the spotlight?"

"Potter stinks!"

"I understand that the Slytherins would take advantage of it, but from the other houses too?" Sirius shook his head. "They're all just idiots."

Thiora gave him a look. "At the end of the day, they are still just kids, Sirius."

"They're probably jealous," Oromis added.

"Just because they're kids doesn't mean they aren't idiots," Sirius muttered softly. "After all, we were too."

Harry and Hermione were sitting at the edge of the Black Lake.

"Now eat something, Harry."

Harry sighed. "I'm not hungry."

"But-"

"You should follow Granger's advice, Potter. We don't want our Champion collapsing from weakness, do we?" asked a third voice.

They turned around to see who was standing in front of them.

"Greengrass? What are you doing here?" Hermione asked with a penetrating look.

"A word alone with Potter, if you please," she said, staring at Harry.

A feeling spread in Arya's chest, and she didn't like it at all. She wasn't sure what it was, but she didn't like it one bit.

"I don't like her," she said quietly. Thiora, standing next to her, was the only one who heard and gave her an amused smile.

"Don't worry, Hermione. I don't think she'll do anything to me," Harry said.

"Only in your dreams, Potter."

Hermione pressed her lips together but stepped aside. Though out of earshot, she wasn't far enough that she couldn't assist Harry with a spell if the situation escalated.

"So, what do you want, Greengrass?"

The girl in front of him raised an elegant eyebrow. She wore her black hair loose, cascading down her back in gentle waves.

"I just wanted to tell you that I believe you, Potter. No Gryffindor with that kind of intellect would be able to manipulate such an old magical artefact."

Harry snorted but gave her a wide grin. "I'll take that as a compliment. Thanks, Daphne."

Daphne blinked for a moment but then gave him a mischievous grin. "You should. Would you like to hear some advice from me?"

"A piece of advice from a Slytherin? I can hardly think of anything worse," Harry said thoughtfully, though his eyes betrayed his amusement.

"You'll survive… If you want the others to leave you alone, show them magic that leaves them speechless," Daphne replied, turning on her heel and giving a last glance over her shoulder. "Oh, and Harry? I'm glad nothing happened to you at the Quidditch World Cup."

"Ah, young love," Sirius said, leaning against Eragon while clasping his chest with one hand. "It really breaks through everything, even the hate between Gryffindor and Slytherin!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up, Padfoot." He muttered under his breath, "It wouldn't have worked anyway."

"Potter! There you are at last," McGonagall called out, gasping for breath, who had followed them outside.

"Professor McGonagall!" Hermione exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

McGonagall straightened up. "I'm not as young as I once was," she admitted. She fixed Harry with a stern look over her glasses. "I've been searching for you all day, but I should have known you wouldn't be inside the castle."

Harry's eyes darkened, but Hermione cleared her throat. "Professor, can't you do anything about the insults?"

McGonagall's eyes sharpened. "I've already spoken with Professors Flitwick and Sprout. They'll talk with their students tonight, just as I will."

Hermione's shoulders relaxed in relief, and she nudged Harry intentionally.

"Er, thank you, Professor," Harry murmured, looking down.

"I don't think it will stop entirely, but hopefully it's a step in the right direction… Lily and James would never have forgiven me if I hadn't helped you, Harry," McGonagall said with a faint smile as Harry's head snapped up.

"Oh, Minnie," Sirius sniffled into his sleeve.

"I would have liked to talk to her," Oromis said with a smile. "At heart, Professor McGonagall truly tries to help her students. A wonderful person."

"Good, now both of you come with me. Quickly."

Harry looked at Hermione questioningly, but she shook her head. "Where are we going, Professor?"

"To the only person in the entire castle who can probably help you and isn't hundreds of miles away," McGonagall said.

Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione. McGonagall knew about Sirius!

"But the tournament rules state that no teacher can help Harry!"

McGonagall smiled. "Indeed… but those rules are more like guidelines if you understand what I mean. And when have our rules ever stopped you?"

Harry grinned brightly while Hermione began to stutter. "So, it's not a teacher?" Harry asked curiously.

McGonagall pursed her lips. "No, and no, it's not Hagrid or Mr. Filch, Potter. But don't worry, Potter. You know the person very well."

It wasn't long before they were walking through a door leading to a place Harry knew very well. It was the Hospital Wing!

"We've seen her a few times in earlier memories," Eragon emphasized. "But I don't see what it will do for you to learn from a healer."

"Eragon," Oromis chided. "I know we live in dark times but being a dragon rider is much more than stabbing your enemies with a sword and winning battles. We are also scholars and healers, roles that you and Harry will truly understand only after the war against Galbatorix is won."

Eragon blinked. "Me as a teacher? Never."

Harry grinned. "Oh, come on, Eragon. It's not that bad."

Eragon lowered his gaze. "You weren't a farm boy either."

Harry raised an eyebrow, and Eragon made a face as he remembered Harry's earlier life. "Sorry."

Madame Pomfrey looked up. "Minerva? Is something wrong?"

"You've surely heard what happened last night?" McGonagall asked.

Madame Pomfrey nodded quickly. "Poor Potter. I wish Dorea were still here… she would give the Ministry a piece of her mind if she knew what her grandson is going through."

Harry looked past McGonagall. "My grandmother?"

"I still can't believe no one told you about your family," Sirius said dejectedly.

"Didn't anyone tell you-" McGonagall began but broke off with a light cough.

"We have more important matters to discuss, Poppy. I want you to take Potter under your wing for this school year."

Madame Pomfrey raised an eyebrow. "Train Potter as a healer? Don't you think that will be too much?"

McGonagall shook her head. "Potter needs all the help he can get, and I know how far-reaching a healer's expertise is, especially yours, Poppy."

Madame Pomfrey blushed. "W-Well, I haven't had anyone sent from St. Mungo's this year. If Potter is willing, we can start right away."

McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey looked at Harry expectantly. Harry swallowed but was nudged forward by Hermione.

"I will be grateful for any help, Madame Pomfrey," Harry said with a lowered gaze.

Madame Pomfrey pursed her lips. "Harry, look at me."

Harry slowly raised his head until he met her eyes.

"You won't become a trained healer this year, Harry, but we will delve into many different areas of magic, and it will be very demanding for you. But you will learn a lot that can help you if you promise me to do your best," Madame Pomfrey said.

Harry lifted his head and said firmly, "I promise."

Madame Pomfrey clapped her hands in satisfaction. "Wonderful, then come to me."

As Harry walked over to Madame Pomfrey, Hermione followed McGonagall outside. The last thing McGonagall heard were Poppy's words: "Harry, I know everyone says you look like James, but I have to say, you look just like your grandmother Dorea. She and I were at Hogwarts at the same time..."

"That was really kind of her," Thiora said. "Did she teach you how rituals work?"

Harry looked at her thoughtfully. "Not exactly. She explained them to me, but I never actually performed one with her. Most of what I know about rituals came from Arcturus."

"And about runes?" Sirius wanted to know.

Arya met Harry's gaze. She knew that Madame Pomfrey had taught him everything about runes.

"Why do I have to learn this?" Harry groaned; nose buried in a book about runes.

"I don't even have Ancient Runes!"

Oromis smiled. "The short-sightedness of youth."

"I can't teach you rune magic yet, Harry, and I hope I never have to," Madame Pomfrey said.

Harry lifted his head from the book. "Why?"

Madame Pomfrey pursed her lips and went to a side room. She reappeared a moment later with a stone in her hand. She handed it to Harry, who took the stone. It had a kind of lightning bolt engraved on it, very similar to the mark on his forehead.

"What is this?" Harry asked, touching his forehead with a finger.

"This is why you need to learn runes, Harry. This is Sowilo, the rune for the sun and the light of the world. It's somewhat ironic that the killing curse gave you this rune as a scar," Madame Pomfrey said thoughtfully. "Do you feel anything when you hold the rune in your hand?"

Harry shook his head and returned the rune to her. "Should I?"

"No," Madame Pomfrey said with relief. "Only someone who has experienced deep pain is capable of working with and feeling runes. I'm glad you can't do it."

Thiora turned to Arya. "Arya, you-"

But Arya raised her hand. "What happened in Gil'ead is in the past."

Eragon just shook his head. "When I think about what Harry has been through so far and it still wasn't enough to learn runes, what was it then?"

"Welcome to the first task!" Harry said with a grin. They were all standing in a large tent supported by a wooden beam in the centre.

Sirius looked around in confusion. "Wait, you forgot something!"

Harry leaned forward and put a finger to his lips. "Shh!"

Sirius's eyes widened and he grinned. "This is going to be great! I hadn't noticed it myself."

"You two are idiots," Thiora murmured.

"What's the first task?" Eragon asked eagerly, with the elves staring at Harry in anticipation.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Bagman said cheerfully. "Once the spectators are seated, I'll give them a bag from which they'll draw the... um, small version of what they'll be facing. There are different types, and... oh, I've forgotten something. Yes! Your task is to retrieve the golden egg!"

Arya frowned. "A golden egg? What's that for?"

"I'm much more concerned about what exactly Harry and the others are going to pull out of the bag," Oromis said anxiously. "This Bagman seems very excited, and I'm not sure if I should find that reassuring."

"Well, ladies first," Bagman said to Fleur Delacour. With trembling hands, she reached into the bag that Bagman was holding open and pulled something out.

"That's a dragon!" Eragon's eyes went wide.

"To be more specific, it's a Welsh Green," Harry said with a grin.

"You have to face dragons?" Arya asked with a stony expression. "That's just barbaric. Lives are at stake here- both… the dragon's and yours!"

Harry shrugged. "I had no choice. I had to compete."

"I'm not saying that, Harry. It's these wizards... these people are just - Argh!" She grabbed at her hair, her green eyes flashing. "These idiots should be glad they never have to face me."

One by one, they followed Fleur's example and drew their figurines from the bag. Harry cursed his luck as he pulled out the Hungarian Horntail - the most vicious of the four.

Sirius leaned forward to get a better look at the dragon figurine. "I'm glad they didn't show a picture of the dragon in the Prophet back then. I think I would have lost it."

Oromis stroked his non-existent beard. "It's incredible how misfortune seems to follow you, Harry. In my entire life, I only know of one other person who has such bad luck. And that's Brom."

"Brom?" Eragon asked.

"Yes, Brom, although that's not entirely accurate. Brom achieved much in his life, though some would disagree. But I regret that he still hasn't managed to pursue his own happiness," Oromis said, looking at Eragon as if hoping for an answer that Eragon couldn't give. Eragon sadly didn't even know the question.

The tent shook violently, and Harry turned pale as his name was called. He took a trembling deep breath and followed the path that Cedric, Fleur, and Krum had taken before him.

Once outside, the roar of the crowd reached Harry's ears, but he barely noticed. The arena was filled with huge rocks, and on the other side, he could see the golden egg. But there was no sign of a dragon. He decided to do what he thought was right and made his way toward the golden egg.

Thiora covered her eyes with her hands. "Harry, just because you don't see the dragon doesn't mean it's not there!"

Harry's ears turned red as he rubbed his neck. Together, they watched as the Horntail dove from above and struck Harry with its tail.

Eragon flinched. "Ouch! That must have hurt."

Harry laughed at the memory. "The bruise was enormous. Madame Pomfrey refused to help me when she saw me coming into the arena. She called me an idiot several times."

"Rightly so," Arya murmured to herself, but Harry heard her and smirked in response.

Harry picked himself up and jumped behind a rock the size of Hagrid as a hot flame hit the boulder.

"The flame is beautiful," Oromis said with a beaming smile. "And look at the legs! It supports itself on its wings, like a bat. And the spikes are as sharp as swords! And those scales! She truly is a magnificent specimen."

"She?" Arya, Eragon, and Thiora asked in unison.

"She," Harry, Sirius, and Oromis nodded in unison.

Oromis's eyes sparkled with tears of joy. "Ah, it's been more than a hundred years since I've seen a wild dragon. I'm filled with such joy, but also with anger that I'd love to go straight to Ûru'baen to decapitate Galbatorix. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Harry, for giving me this memory. It means a lot to me, and I know Glaedr will feel the same when he sees it."

Harry was glad to see the old Rider so animated again. Healing the body is one thing, but the mind… Harry swallowed. "I was happy to do it… Master."

Oromis's smile widened, and deep understanding showed on his face. It had taken time, but both Harry and Oromis were glad to have overcome this small obstacle.

"Accio Firebolt!" Harry called out.

Arya spun to Harry. "Please tell me you're not planning to fly against a dragon with a broomstick?!"

When she saw Harry's embarrassed look, she just sighed and watched with concern as Harry's broom came zooming in and he mounted it at the last moment.

"Who put the idea in your head?" Arya wanted to know. "Neither Hermione nor Madame Pomfrey would ever suggest such a thing."

"It was Moody," Harry replied tersely, and Arya's jaw dropped.

"Of course," she murmured.

Harry soared down on the Firebolt, trying to grab the golden egg as the Horntail opened its mouth and spewed a massive stream of fire at him. Harry had to give up on the egg to avoid the blast, and just then, there was a loud clatter. The entire stadium went silent as everyone watched the destroyed chain that was supposed to keep the Horntail from flying away break apart and fall to the ground. The dragon let out a deafening roar.

"That was the roar of an angry, wild dragon protecting its eggs from an intruder," Oromis said.

"Show them, dragon!" Eragon shouted with delight as the Horntail's tail smashed into the box of the Ministry wizards and witches.

Harry sniggered. "Whose side are you on, exactly?"

Harry lay flat on his Firebolt and rolled sideways to avoid the dragon's bite, then flew towards Hogwarts.

"I think Saphira would have caught you by now if she were the dragon," Eragon said, and Harry laughed.

"Believe me, that was the first thing Artemis told me when she went through my memories."

Thiora grabbed Arya's arm in panic as Harry was hit by the dragon's tail and knocked off his broom.

Harry was thrown against the roof of one of Hogwarts' towers and screamed in fear as he slid down the roof tiles. With his last ounce of strength, he managed to grab onto a window. Luckily, the Firebolt was only one window below him.

"Merlin, someone help him!" Thiora shouted, only using such a strong word when she was truly upset.

The Horntail was getting closer to Harry. It jumped from roof to roof as Harry frantically pulled on his trapped broom.

"Come on!" Harry shouted, and just at that moment, the broom came free as the dragon bit into the roof. Harry plummeted down with his broom.

"That is going to hurt a lot," Sirius winced.

Eragon, Oromis, and Sirius flinched as Harry landed hard on his broom. Arya and Thiora looked at them with raised eyebrows.

"What? You can't imagine how much that hurts!" Sirius replied, with Eragon nodding in agreement.

"I know that Sirius. After all, I once killed a soldier by kicking him in the groin. He dropped his weapon, and I decapitated him," Arya answered.

That ended the topic for everyone.

The dragon continued to chase Harry, but he needed to shake off the Horntail somehow or he would never reach the golden egg. Harry leaned to the side and, for a fleeting moment, saw a bridge out of the corner of his eye.

Harry ducked under the fire stream and smelled the burning. He glanced over his shoulder and saw the ends of his broom were on fire. He focused intently ahead and flew towards the viaduct.

The dragon roared with fury behind him, its eyes fixed solely on Harry as he flew like a pesky fly. The Horntail was now within reach and snapped at Harry again but missed by only a few inches. Harry flew through the viaduct while the dragon slammed into the building with full force, shrieking in pain as it broke its wing and plummeted down.

"You did it!" Eragon burst out, while Arya sighed in relief. "Even though I thought for a moment you might end up as a roast chicken," he added with a smirk.

Sirius just shook his head. "I wish James could have seen that... But I can't imagine what Lily would have done. I just know that both of them would be incredibly proud of you, Harry."

Harry nodded wordlessly, as a lump formed in his throat.

Oromis sighed. "I only wish nothing had happened to the dragon lady... but a fall from such a height with a broken wing-"

Harry raised his hand to stop Oromis. "Don't worry, Ebrithil. She survived. The dragon handlers found her, and Charlie assured Hagrid that the Horntail was doing fine. The poor guy was completely distraught when he heard what had happened."

Oromis's eyes lit up. "I'm glad. Very glad."

"I still can't believe you escaped from a dragon, and on a bloody broomstick!" Sirius laughed.

"It can certainly be said that Harry has always had a yearning for flying," Arya stared at him, and something seemed to glimmer in her eyes - was it pride?

Harry couldn't be sure, but he felt his mouth turn into a grin.

"Harry Potter!"

Sirius flinched as Madame Pomfrey's voice rang out. "Uh-oh."

"I'm fine, M-Madam Pomfrey!" Harry complained as she examined him from head to toe.

"I'll be the judge of that," she said. "But with the amount of whining you're doing, you're probably really okay."

Madame Pomfrey then smiled and pulled Harry into a tight hug, while he awkwardly held his arms in the air.

"I've never seen anyone give such terrible hugs," Eragon and Sirius laughed.

"It's not like anyone had given me any hugs up to that point," Harry retorted, causing Eragon and Sirius to lose their smiles. "Besides, I've gotten much better," he muttered to himself.

Thiora patted Harry on the shoulder. "Don't mind them, Harry. Sirius is a fool, and Eragon is still young."

"Which shouldn't be an excuse," Arya added, giving the two a sharp look.

"Sorry, Harry," both said, looking down.

Madame Pomfrey released Harry. "Now you can help Diggory apply the burn salve to his burns."

"But-"

"No buts! Off you go," she waved him toward Cedric, who was grimacing as he desperately tried to apply the salve to his burns.

"I just fought a dragon, and now this is for you, Potter!" Harry muttered sarcastically to himself and grabbed the salve from Cedric's hand.

"What-?" Cedric asked, but Harry silenced him by pressing his hand firmly on the burn.

"Oops."

"I'll give you an 'oops,' Potter," Cedric gritted his teeth.

"Oh, stop being so dramatic, pretty boy," Harry said with a grin.

Thiora had to wipe a tear from her eye as she laughed. "After all that fighting, I really needed that."

Harry was suddenly overwhelmed by Hermione, who burst into the tent with a beaming smile, closely followed by Ron, who looked pale.

"Harry," Ron said, gulping. "Whoever it was who put your name in the Goblet of Fire, I-I bet they were trying to take you out!"

"In the face of danger, he's finally come around," Oromis said. "Better late than never, I'd say."

"You took your time, didn't you?" Harry said dryly.

"You can be quite unforgiving," Eragon remarked.

"It's okay," Harry said as he saw Ron's uncertain face, which was opening to force out an apology.

"Or maybe not," Eragon quickly added.

"If you two have patched things up, can you continue, Potter?!" Cedric groaned.

Harry turned to him with a grimace. "Oops, I accidentally forgot about you, Ceddy."

"I think the adrenaline is wearing off for you after the fight," Arya said with a grin. "It seems like the emotions you've been unconsciously suppressing during the fight are coming to the surface."

"Aside from the feelings," Eragon said. "What place did you come in?"

Harry looked at his fingers and wiped his knuckles on his shirt.

"First," he said proudly.

"Wasn't Krum in first place with you?" Sirius asked, confused.

Harry sighed in disappointment. "We had the same score, but just because Karkaroff is a biased idiot."

Harry stared at Madame Pomfrey and McGonagall with wide eyes. "I'd much rather face a dragon."

"What is it this time? Please don't tell me something else has happened," Arya murmured.

"Don't talk nonsense, Potter," McGonagall said in her usual stern tone, though an amused glint sparkled in her eyes.

"Dancing is as much a part of the Triwizard Tournament as everything else. I'd even argue it's the most important part, as it's when international relations-"

"But I'm not dancing!" Harry interrupted.

Oromis and Thiora snorted, while Eragon looked at Harry with sympathy. Since Aunt Marian had passed away, he and Roran had attended very few parties. Uncle Garrow had increasingly refused, and when they were young, Garrow had said they would 'only cause mischief' without supervision. So Eragon had learned very little about dancing.

"You're a champion, Harry, and you will dance! Even if I have to drag you from the darkest hole you've hidden in, I won't stand by and watch you disgrace Gryffindor's honour," McGonagall said, upset, and left through the door of the infirmary.

Harry collapsed backwards onto the bed as the door opened again and McGonagall poked her head back in.

"Oh yes, before I forget. The champions open the ball with their partners, Potter!" She slammed the door behind her.

Sirius managed to get a smile on his face. "The mighty warrior who fought a dragon is losing his courage when faced with the challenge of dancing with the opposite sex!"

"Ha-ha," Harry mocked, but he couldn't miss the snickering coming from those around him.

"But I can't even dance! And who would go to the ball with me? They all hate me anyway!"

Madame Pomfrey shook her head and sat beside Harry on the bed. "Are you blind, Harry? Since your battle with the Horntail, the students have been treating you much better, and I'm sure there will be plenty of girls who would love to go to the ball with you."

Harry snorted. "They only want to go with me because I'm a champion or because of this ridiculous scar on my forehead."

Arya bit her lip. She looked at Harry and wanted to say something, but she couldn't.

Madame Pomfrey raised an eyebrow. "Then let me give you some advice, Harry. Ask someone you think you'd have a great time with, and now get up, we have a lot to do."

"Are you finally going to teach me Auxilium? The spell that transfers a person's energy to another? Or more runes?"

Madame Pomfrey clicked her tongue impatiently as she summoned a radio from her office with a flick of her wand.

Harry's eyes widened. "Oh no."

Madame Pomfrey grinned wickedly as the music began playing from the radio.

"Oh yes. You just said you can't dance."

"I wish I had a camera," Sirius said, tears streaming down his face as he started laughing again every time Harry stepped on Madame Pomfrey's toes.

"We absolutely need to make a Fairth as soon as we're done with your memories."

Arya's eyes also sparkled as she watched Harry struggling with dancing. She wondered if he would still feel the same aversion to dancing, but the thought vanished as quickly as it had come. She wasn't going to dance anyway. The time in Gil'ead had destroyed something in her that prevented her from enjoying such simple pleasures. It was also why she sometimes became so impatient and angry.

'But with Harry and Lily, you could still play and laugh.'

Arya shook her head and tried to control her thoughts with a question. "What kind of music is this? The rhythm is beautiful."

"This is Mull of Kintyre. One of the best songs for learning the waltz," Harry said with a grin and added, "At least that's what Madame Pomfrey told me. She liked Muggle music much more. According to her, wizarding music is dull and clunky, like chewing on leather."

Sirius nodded. "That's true. When Lily first played me music by The Scorpions, I fell in love for the first time. 'Is There Anybody There?' is still my favourite song."

Oromis tapped his foot up and down. "The melody is indeed lovely. Ah, it reminds me of how much we have lost from you humans since Galbatorix took the throne."

"Not just lost, but also what was never created," Thiora added.

Harry shook his head as he walked down the corridor on the first floor. Who could he ask for the ball?

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice he had bumped into someone as he turned the corner.

"Hey, watch where you're going, you four-eyed freak!"

Harry grimaced. The guy smelled as if he hadn't bathed in ages and had a face that begged to be punched. Obviously a Slytherin.

Harry's eyes fell on the second Slytherin standing behind the first one. It was Nott. At his feet lay a girl on the floor. Probably a first year.

"What's going on here?" Harry growled, reaching for his wand.

"This doesn't concern you," the first Slytherin grinned. Harry now recognized him by the crooked teeth. It was Marcus Flint.

"I wasn't talking to you, troll on two legs," Harry said, addressing Flint. "I'm talking about the girl."

"So, this is Nott, the one who attacked us in Farthen Dûr," Arya said, her face hardening.

"I-I fell," the girl stammered, not looking up.

Nott grinned at Harry. "See, Potter? The Mudblood was just too clumsy to put one foot in front of the other-"

Harry shoved Flint aside and punched Nott squarely in the face.

"Well done, Harry. He deserved that," Arya said.

Flint attacked Harry from behind, but suddenly he cried out. Harry glanced over his shoulder and followed Flint's gaze, which was fixed on his groin. A huge block of ice had formed around Flint's nether regions.

"What the-" Harry began as he was thrown by Nott and landed hard on his shoulder.

Before he could do anything, a flash of light flew over him and hit Nott right in the face.

"AH!" Nott screamed in pain as welts began to form on his skin. He pressed his hands to his face, his wide-open eyes staring past Harry. Harry turned to see Daphne standing in front of him with her wand drawn.

"Why her of all people?" murmured Arya.

"You dare?" Nott gasped, flinching as Daphne pointed her wand at him.

"Yes, I dare, you fool," Daphne fumed. "And now get out of here before I go get a professor."

Nott shot her a hateful look and, whimpering, left with Flint.

"Such a pathetic loser," Sirius said. "I once duelled his father as a Death Eater, and he was the same. All talk when he had the upper hand. As soon as he lost it, he begged for his life."

"Did you kill him?" Harry asked.

Sirius shook his head. "No, another Death Eater got to him first."

Harry sighed. "Too bad. It might have spared us from Nott Junior."

Sirius's eyes widened. "True, he's here too!"

Arya nodded. "Exactly, and he's changed a lot since then. His eyes were filled with madness."

"Are you okay?" Daphne asked the girl, helping her to her feet.

"Yes, thank you," the girl said in awe.

"I'm still here," Harry grumbled from the floor.

"Don't be such a baby, Potter. After all, you're a champion who has defeated a dragon," Daphne grinned at him.

"Uh, yeah, thanks," Harry said, now standing as well.

Daphne's grin faded. "Considering that Nott asked me to the ball," she shuddered dramatically, "I'd rather have gone with a dragon."

Harry stared at Daphne. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Daphne asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Wouldyougototheballwithme?" Harry blurted out, biting his tongue at the same time.

"What?"

"Sorry, Harry!" Eragon shouted with laughter.

"I think it's sweet how nervous Harry is," Thiora said, casting a warning look at Sirius, who was biting his lips to not start laughing.

Harry caught Arya out of the corner of his eye and saw her arms crossed tightly around her chest.

Harry took a deep breath. "Would you go to the ball with me?" he asked again.

The girl beside Daphne clasped her hands excitedly in front of her mouth while Daphne stared at him with her mouth open.

"Can you even dance?"

"No, but I'm learning," Harry admitted.

Daphne's eyes lit up. "Alright, Harry. I'll see you at the ball."

Harry couldn't believe his ears. "Wait - really?"

"Really!" Daphne called back as she disappeared down one of the corridors.

"Oh, that was so romantic," the girl still standing next to Harry giggled.

Harry rolled his eyes, but a broad grin spread across his face. "Now piss off."

Harry stood with the other champions and their partners at the entrance to the Great Hall.

"Where is she?" Harry murmured, nervously adjusting his collar.

"I'm here."

Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and Harry turned around in surprise. Daphne stood before him, looking stunning. Her blonde hair was styled into a loose knot at the back of her head, with several strands gently entwined. She wore a green dress that magically accentuated her figure, with a subtle, pointed neckline.

"You… wow," Harry said a bit dumbly.

"Looks like someone's smitten," Sirius winked at Harry.

"I was young, and she looked really pretty that night," Harry replied.

"That's true, but you look very good yourself, Harry," Thiora said with sparkling eyes. "Imagine how our daughter would look in a dress like that, darling."

Sirius's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I know what you're up to. Over my dead body will I let that happen."

Daphne smiled at Harry. "As charming as ever, Harry, but tonight you're forgiven. Ready to be seen with a Slytherin?"

"I don't think people will even notice me next to you," Harry said in return.

"Very charming," Oromis praised him.

"I'll have to remember that one," Eragon murmured.

Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Not bad… where did you get that from?"

"I read it in a book from Madame Pomfrey," Harry admitted with a grin.

A small smile crept onto Arya's face.

They sat together at the end of the table, where Harry could avoid the most attention.

"We've certainly given people something to talk about," Daphne murmured to Harry, her eyes scanning the menu. "A Gryffindor and a Slytherin together…"

"They'd have found something to say regardless," Harry grumbled.

Oromis shook his head. "All these prejudices that come with the houses, and that are passed down from adults to children, are what fuel such hatred against Muggleborns."

Sirius nodded. "That's only partly true, Oromis. You have to understand that the hatred for Muggles didn't develop overnight. It's grown over centuries, probably since the founders of Hogwarts, and is deeply embedded in people's minds."

Before Harry knew it, the meal was over, and he was standing in the middle of the Great Hall. The students had left enough space around them, so the champions had room to dance.

Sirius straightened his collar and approached Thiora without breaking eye contact. When he stood before her, he knelt and said, "Thiora, my love for you knows no bounds. Would you honour me by sharing this dance?"

Thiora's eyes sparkled. "With pleasure."

She extended her hand to Sirius, who gently kissed it and positioned himself with Thiora in the room as if they were the fifth champion.

"Don't step on my toes, Harry," Daphne murmured.

Harry swallowed as the music began and he stepped forward with his right leg.

As the other champions danced slowly to the music, Sirius showed his inner Marauder and started whirling around the room with Thiora. The couple joyfully leapt in perfect synchrony, with unbridled laughter filling the air with each graceful twirl and step they took together.

Eragon laughed and began clapping, soon joined by Oromis.

Harry glanced at Arya, but she watched the dancing couples with a stony expression. Yet, he could see a hint of amusement in her eyes as Harry stepped on Daphne's foot.

"Ugh, watch where you're stepping!" Daphne hissed.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on their feet.

Sirius and Thiora returned to them, both slightly out of breath but with radiant faces.

"We should do this again soon," Thiora said, kissing Sirius on the cheek.

"Sirius, where did you learn to dance like that?" Eragon asked in amazement.

"Harry's grandmother, Dorea, made James and me dance until our feet nearly fell off," Sirius laughed. "But I still can't believe Madame Pomfrey taught you to dance!"

Harry laughed too. "Believe me, the only person who knew about it was Hermione, but only because she nagged me until I gave in."

"But you weren't that bad," Thiora countered. "You only stepped on Daphne's foot once. It happens to everyone!"

She looked expectantly at Arya, who just crossed her arms over her chest.

"If you can't stand it, then you know what you have to do, right?" Hermione shouted at Ron.

"They're even worse than James and Lily!" Sirius grinned.

Suddenly, Daphne and Harry stopped. "Maybe you should intervene before Granger remembers she has a wand."

Harry sighed. "I suppose I should. Thanks for coming tonight, Daphne."

Daphne's blue eyes sparkled, and she moved closer to him. She smelled like strawberries.

"I had a wonderful evening, thank you, Harry," she whispered and kissed him on the cheek.

Harry rubbed his cheek and watched her leave until she disappeared.

"I think this evening was one of the last times things seemed uncomplicated," Harry sighed.

Eragon blinked. "You call fighting dragons uncomplicated?!"

It was the evening before the second task. They were in the library, and Arya watched as Harry and Ron desperately tried to figure out how to hold their breath for an hour. Arya had an inkling of how to approach it with the Old Language, but she wasn't sure if there was a spell for it.

To make matters worse, Hermione had to go to McGonagall's office, leaving Harry and Ron alone as they continued to sift through dozens of books. It was only in the morning that a glimmer of hope arrived with Dobby, who suggested a Dianthus herb to Harry.

Harry and Ron ran to the Black Lake, where the task was to take place. When it began, Harry stuffed the herb into his mouth, and Arya grimaced in disgust. It looked far from appetizing.

As Harry transformed and plunged into the dark water, Arya had only one thought: which idiot had come up with this task? The spectators wouldn't be able to see anything for the entire hour. It was once again a testament to the incompetence of the witches and wizards in the Ministry.

But it was still an incredible experience. Arya had never been so deep underwater. Small fish darted past Harry's body, and once she could have sworn, she saw something larger.

Harry swam towards the centre of the lake when suddenly a voice spoke beside him. "How's it going?"

It was Myrtle. Arya took a deep breath to calm herself. The murky waters made her nervous enough without having to be startled by a perverted ghost.

There was a silver lining, though. Myrtle showed Harry the way to the merpeople. It took a while longer, but soon they could hear the singing of the merpeople. The merpeople's houses reminded Arya somewhat of those she had seen in small human villages.

But in the centre of the square, there was a huge statue of a merperson, and her expression twisted into a grimace as she saw the four people shackled at the base of the statue. One of the four was a young girl, and it made Arya angry once again that they even exploited young children for their amusement. But what tasted like a bitter berry in her mouth was the sight of the blonde girl next to her. It was Daphne, and there was only one conceivable reason for her presence. She was Harry's hostage.

But Harry surprised her again. He took a sharp rock and began hacking at the ropes. It took only a few minutes, but eventually, they broke, and Daphne was free. Instead of returning to the surface, however, Harry stayed at the bottom of the lake to wait for the other champions.

Cedric arrived soon after, closely followed by Krum, but Fleur was the one who didn't show up.

Harry hammered again at the rope binding the girl to the statue. He wrapped his arms around the girls' waists and kicked with his legs through the water to ascend.

Arya watched as Harry swam with all his might, but the girls were like two sacks of potatoes trying to drag him down. Moreover, he was slowly transforming back and showed his selflessness again as he threw the girls upwards with his last strength. The girls broke through the surface while Harry sank deeper as a tentacle wrapped around his torso and threw him out of the water.

The scene blurred and shifted to the dungeons, to Snape's classroom. He stood before the class, reading from a copy of the Witch Weekly. "Harry Potter's silent heartache… we can only hope that next time he will give his heart to a worthier candidate."

With one last sneering grin at Harry, Snape tossed the magazine into the air and set it alight before Harry's eyes. Daphne sat silently in her seat, her head bowed so her hair fell over her face and hid it.

Arya wished she could stuff Snape's crooked nose under a pile of horse manure. How could an adult, a teacher, be so cruel to his students?

The memory changed once more. It shifted to Harry with Krum, walking at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Arya's mouth turned up slightly as Harry glared at Krum, who was questioning him about his friendship with Hermione and had to repeatedly make it clear that he and Hermione were just friends.

But behind them, the branches rustled, and Crouch stumbled out of the underbrush. Arya frowned as she took in his rambling. Looking into his eyes, she could see the missing light in them. This man had been tortured beyond his limits. He had lost his mind.

The only thing he seemed to keep a clear head about was that the Dark Lord was growing stronger.

Eragon stared at Sirius with a mix of disgust but also admiration. "You ate rats?"

Sirius's face turned to stone. "I had no real choice. Harry was more important, and I couldn't risk drawing unwanted attention."

Thiora reached out and placed her hand around Sirius's waist, pulling him closer to her.

"I will make you your favourite later," she murmured.

Sirius rested his head against hers and kissed her cheek.

Oromis turned to Harry. "That memory in the Pensieve that you… accidentally saw. Who was that man?"

"That was Barty Crouch Jr.," Harry said darkly. "He was sent to Azkaban because he and someone else tortured Neville's parents into madness."

Arya wrapped her arms tightly around herself and bit her lip.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The final round of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! On my whistle, Harry and Cedric…" Bagman called out.

"I'm somehow nervous, even though I'm not the one who has to run through that labyrinth," Eragon said.

Harry plunged into the maze. "Show me the way!" His wand spun in a circle until it pointed towards the impenetrable hedge on his right. He continued running until a chilling cold enveloped him after a turn.

"A Dementor! Are they insane?!" Sirius shouted angrily, and everyone sighed in relief when Harry conjured his Patronus and sent the Dementor stumbling.

"Wait, that's a Boggart!" Arya said, remembering his last year at school.

Harry kept running until he had to stop. Before him was a golden mist.

"Lucky you didn't walk into that," Eragon said as a shrill scream echoed through the night, and Harry ran into the mist.

Everyone except Harry looked at Eragon reproachfully. "Sorry," he murmured.

The world tilted, and Harry found himself upside down from the ground. Every step could send him falling into the infinite depths of the sky.

"Think… think," Harry murmured to himself.

Oromis stared at the Harry in the memory. It was wonderful to see how Harry, at such a young age and in dangerous situations, was ready to use his head. He truly had the potential to become one of the greatest of their order once they freed him from this remnant.

Gathering all his courage, Harry took a step forward and the world righted itself.

"That must have been one of Flitwick's," Sirius said. "He's cunning enough to cast such a spell."

Harry continued through the corridors until he had to throw himself to the ground to avoid a jet of fire. He looked up and saw one of Hagrid's giant Blast-Ended Skrewts.

"Hagrid, if I get out of here alive…"

"Impedimenta!" The curse ricocheted off the Skrewt's shell. He tried again, but the spell had no effect, and the Skrewt came closer. Red light shone on Harry's face, and he was sure the Skrewt would turn him into a grilled Harry any moment now.

"Harry, do something already!" Arya said irritably.

"IMPEDIMENTA!" Harry shouted, and the Skrewt froze.

Arya ran a hand through her hair and gave Harry a disapproving look. "Do you always have to leave things until the last second?"

Harry grinned at her. "What's life without a little excitement?"

"Much more relaxing," Arya muttered.

Harry sprinted past the Skrewt and took a left when he heard a scream ahead. Krum was standing over Cedric, his wand pointed at him.

"Crucio!"

"Why is he doing that?" Eragon wanted to know. "It can't be…"

"That bastard," Sirius clenched his fists. "I wish I'd known it was him. I would have killed him with my own hands."

"Sirius don't say that! This Krum is still just a boy!" Thiora scolded, but Sirius shook his head.

"I'm not talking about Krum."

Thiora frowned. "Then who-?"

"Stupefy!" Harry shouted, and the spell hit Krum squarely in the back.

"At least I'm accurate," Harry joked.

He helped Cedric up. "Are you alright?" Harry asked.

"He just got hit with a Crucio, of course he's not alright," Thiora said.

Cedric took a gasping breath. "I think I'm okay."

Sirius snorted, and Thiora rolled her eyes. "Boys."

"Come on, Harry… We should keep going," Cedric said.

Harry blinked. "Oh, right…"

"Why don't you stick together? Krum has already shown that something about this task is different from the others!" Eragon groaned.

Harry gave Eragon a hard look. "Says the one who you used magic to fight Urgals, without knowing anything about it!"

Harry kept running into dead ends until he was sure he must be very close to the cup. But then something moved and blocked his path. It was a Sphinx.

"The quickest way is past me."

Eragon shivered all over. "I didn't expect that deep voice."

"Would you let me pass?" Harry asked.

"Only if you solve my riddle. Answer correctly and I'll let you pass, stay silent and you must retreat, but if the answer is wrong-" She didn't need to finish the sentence. Harry knew what it meant.

"Alright, can I hear the riddle?"

"That's a nice riddle," Oromis said with a smile. "It really makes you think."

Eragon frowned. "Do you know the answer?"

Everyone around nodded. Harry and Sirius already knew the answer, and the elves had quickly figured it out.

"A creature I wouldn't want to kiss… A spider!"

"Don't say anything," Harry warned, seeing that Sirius was about to speak but then just chuckled.

"Ugh, I hate those big spiders," Thiora shivered as they watched Harry and Cedric fighting the full-grown Acromantula.

"Harry!" Cedric called out. "Are you injured? Did that thing fall on you?"

"No," Harry groaned, looking down at his leg. It was bleeding heavily, and he tried to stand, but his leg was shaking badly.

"That doesn't look good," Cedric said, and Harry swung his wand, tearing a piece of his cloak and wrapping it tightly around his leg.

"Now take the cup," Harry grunted. "Then it will all be over."

But Cedric didn't move. "No."

They stood before the cup. "Both of us?" Harry asked.

"What?"

"Finally, it's over," Thiora murmured.

Harry closed his eyes. "I'm such an idiot. I should have just grabbed the cup, and none of this would have happened."

Arya furrowed her brow as they both touched the cup at the same time, and the maze vanished from their sight.

They landed in a graveyard, and as she looked up, she heard two voices.

"Kill the spare."

"Avada Kedavra!"

Arya's eyes widened as the green light appeared, which she had seen once before in Farthen Dûr, and there was a dull thud as Cedric's lifeless body hit the ground.

"What the fuck?!" Eragon shouted, aghast.

"The cup was a Portkey," Arya whispered, her hand instinctively going to her hip where her sword usually hung. She had to remind herself that this was just a memory, and she couldn't intervene. She had to watch as Pettigrew bound Harry to a gravestone.

The light from the wand illuminated the gravestone, revealing a name.

"Tom Riddle," Oromis whispered.

"Get your filthy hands off me," Harry shouted, and as the moonlight fell on the graveyard, it revealed Pettigrew's face beneath the robe.

"You!"

Pettigrew shoved a piece of cloth into Harry's mouth, silencing him.

"That rat," Eragon hissed. "So, the dreams with Wormtail were real!"

"But where is Voldemort?" Thiora whispered.

Harry lifted his hand and pointed to a bundle of clothing lying on the ground next to a cauldron. "There."

Arya stared in horror at the bundle as something inside it moved, and the fabric shifted enough to reveal a head.

Her eyes widened in shock. It had the body of a child, but she had never seen anything so grotesque. The face was flat and snake-like, with burning red eyes.

She unconsciously took a step back and jolted when she bumped into Harry.

Harry's scar suddenly burned, and he would have screamed in pain if he could. At his feet, a massive snake slithered around them in a circle.

Sirius's knuckles were white. He pulled Thiora closer to him and remained silent.

"It's ready, Master."

"Then begin," Voldemort said. Wormtail gathered the bundle and plunged the creature into the cauldron.

"Please drown," Arya heard Harry whisper.

Wormtail drew his wand, his voice trembling with fear. "Father's bones, unwittingly given, you will renew your son!"

"Why Pete… why?" Sirius croaked.

Blue sparks flew from the cauldron as Tom Riddle's bones fell into the brew.

Wormtail now wailed loudly.

"What is he doing?" Eragon asked.

Oromis frowned. "He wouldn't-"

"Flesh of the servant - willingly given - you will revive your master."

A high-pitched scream pierced the night's silence, and Harry, who had closed his eyes, could only hear something hitting the water.

"He's insane," Eragon said with a pale-green face. He struggled to keep his food down and suppress his nausea. "But why?"

"It's a ritual," Arya answered quietly. "He's trying to regain a body."

Wormtail gasped and groaned in his pain. When he felt his rattling breath on his face, Harry knew he was right in front of him. In his hands, he held a silver dagger.

"Blood of the enemy - taken by force - you will restore your foe."

"That's why he wanted you! He wanted to use your blood to regain his body," Oromis said, recalling the conversation between Voldemort and Wormtail at the beginning of the year.

The cauldron bubbled as Harry's blood dripped into the brew, sending sparks in all directions.

"No," Arya said, shaken, and instinctively reached for Harry's hand. Her fingers intertwined with his, which felt icy cold.

The sparks died out, and suddenly a white mist poured from the cauldron, filling the entire graveyard with a white void. Harry's scar burned, and with wide-open eyes, he could make out a dark figure emerging from the cauldron.

"My cloak, Wormtail."

"You filthy, soulless pile of shit!" Sirius screamed at Voldemort, but the dark lord only grinned as he looked at Harry.

"Harry Potter, you stand upon the remains of my father," Voldemort hissed softly. "But just as your mother, so was my father of use, was he not? Your mother died to protect you, and I killed my father, yet even in death he proved his usefulness."

"That's not the same! Harry's mother died out of love for her son, while he acted out of vengeance and greed," Oromis growled.

"But I won't get sentimental," Voldemort said quietly. "For behold, Harry! My true family returns…"

"Family," Eragon snorted. "They all kiss his feet as if he's their master! That's no family."

"Welcome, Death Eaters," Voldemort said. "Fourteen years… fourteen years since our last gathering… and so we are still united under the Dark Mark, are we not?"

Voldemort tilted his head to the side, his snake-like nostrils flaring. "I smell guilt," he said finally. "The stench of guilt fills the air."

"He's going to punish them," Arya realized. "He will-"

"Master! Forgive me! Forgive all of us!" one of the Death Eaters shouted.

Voldemort began to laugh. "Crucio!"

"So much for family," Eragon murmured.

"You beg for forgiveness, Avery? I do not forget. I do not forgive. Fourteen long years… I want fourteen years back before I forgive you," Voldemort hissed.

"If you had learned to forgive, you would never have become Voldemort," Oromis said quietly.

"But Master, how did you accomplish this… this miracle?" Lucius Malfoy asked.

"I will never understand those kinds of people who give up their own power to follow a madman," Thiora said.

"That's quite easy to understand," Harry replied. "These people and elves have madness deeply hidden within them. Only those like Voldemort and Galbatorix allow this longing to harm others to surface."

Thiora's eyes narrowed. "Elves would never do that, Harry."

Harry raised an amused eyebrow. "Is that so? Perhaps you'd like to tell me the names of the elves who joined Galbatorix? In the roles Oromis gave us, at least four elves were mentioned."

"I-"

"There's a bit of madness in all of us," Harry continued softly, his eyes fixed firmly on the scene before them. "It's very easy to give in to that voice of madness… far too easy. And that's the struggle we must face again and again, and always win. The difference is that we won't give up, and that sets us apart from them. Our choices are different."

Arya stared at Harry with wide eyes while Oromis smiled proudly at him.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I forgot our own misdeeds," Thiora said, lowering her head.

Sirius looked at Thiora in bewilderment, as if he couldn't understand how she could forget such things. But all this faded into the background as Voldemort began to speak again.

"You all know that after I lost my power and my body, I tried to kill him. His mother died because she wanted to save him - and thus unwittingly protected him in a way I, I admit, did not foresee… I couldn't touch the boy."

Voldemort raised one of his long, white fingers and brought it very close to Harry's forehead. "His mother left the marks of the sacrifice on him… that is ancient magic. I should have known, but it doesn't matter now. I can touch him."

Eragon swallowed hard, his face turning pale as they all heard Harry's silent cries of pain.

Arya tightened her grip on Harry's hand.

Voldemort took a few steps back, not taking his eyes off Harry. He snapped his wand, and the cloth from Harry's mouth flew away in a high arc. Voldemort smiled as Harry gasped for air and raised his wand.

"Crucio!"

Arya's breath caught as her mind relived the pain, she had endured in Farthen Dûr and now saw Harry suffering. She looked down at herself and saw her whole arm trembling, but it wasn't her own. It was Harry's.

Harry hung limply from the ropes binding him and stared through the white mist into the red eyes.

"That hurt, didn't it, Harry?" Voldemort whispered softly.

Harry spat blood at Voldemort's feet. "Y-you fucking bastard."

"Show him, Harry!" Eragon urged.

"You truly have inherited your parents' courage," Voldemort whispered. "But you don't even know them, do you? Maybe we should change that. What do you think, Harry?"

Voldemort smiled and looked Harry straight in the eyes. "Legilimens!"

He walked down the street, and his goal was finally in sight. The Fidelius Charm had been broken, even though they didn't know it yet. Over the hedge, he saw through the windows into the living room, where a large, black-haired man with glasses was puffing colourful smoke rings from his wand, much to the delight of a small boy. A door opened, and the mother with long red hair and bright green eyes entered...

"No, no," Sirius shook his head and fell to his knees. His face was ashen, and cold sweat ran down him. His wide-open eyes flickered towards the people inside the house.

"Sirius! Love, can you hear me?!" Thiora cried, falling to her knees and holding Sirius's face with her hands.

"Who are they?" Eragon asked, confused.

Harry looked at Eragon with cold eyes. "Those are my parents."

His pale hand drew his wand from under his cloak and pointed it at the door that had burst open. He had just crossed the threshold when James came running into the hallway.

"Lily, take Harry and run! It's him! Run! Quickly! I'll hold him off-"

He only laughed before casting the curse… "Avada Kedavra!"

"JAMES!" Sirius cried out, weeping, and he pounded the ground with his fists. Over and over, until he buried his face in Thiora's arms, sobbing.

He could hear her screaming upstairs as he stepped over James Potter's body. She was trapped, and it amused him to hear her trying to barricade herself.

Arya froze as the door to the room shattered, and Lily stood in front of Harry's crib, her arms outstretched.

"No, not Lily, please," Sirius croaked, his voice failing him.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" Lily begged.

"Get aside, you foolish girl…"

"Have mercy… I'll do anything, but please not Harry!"

Arya felt Harry's hand gripping hers tightly, and she knew he needed her at that moment. With a revulsion she had only felt towards Galbatorix before, she cursed Voldemort, but it changed nothing. Arya could have looked away when the green light filled the room again, but she couldn't. If she wanted to truly understand Harry, she had to keep watching.

The child had not cried the entire time. The boy clung to the bars of his crib and stared at him. He aimed his wand carefully at the child's face. So focused was he that he did not notice the lights outside the house. The child began to cry - he hated it when the children in the orphanage whined - it became glaringly bright, white light poured through the windows, and…

"Avada Kedavra!"

Sirius's whole body trembled, and he finally bent forward and vomited.

"Let it out," Thiora whispered to him with a pale face, gently rubbing his back.

"I'm sorry," Sirius gasped, taking shuddering breaths.

Oromis's face was like stone, but something made him uneasy, and he whispered to himself, "What was that light?"

Arya turned her gaze away and placed her hands on Harry's face, resting her forehead against his.

"Look at me," Arya whispered.

Seconds passed, and only when Arya gently stroked Harry's cheek did, he open his eyes and look into hers. Arya could see the pain in those eyes that were usually filled with strength.

"I can't do this anymore," Harry whispered.

"Yes, you can, Harry," Arya whispered. "I've never seen anyone with as much inner strength as you. I know you can do it, not because you're a Dragon Rider, or the boy who lived."

"You're Harry Potter… the partner of Artemis and Lily's godfather… and my friend," Arya whispered as quietly as the rustling of leaves.

Harry's eyes widened, and he closed them. He took a deep breath that steadied his trembling heart, and when he opened his eyes again, Arya saw the light slowly returning to them. She released him.

Harry squeezed her hand. "Thank you."

Arya shook her head. "Not for this."

"That was terrible, wasn't it, Harry? Seeing how pitifully your parents died?" Voldemort asked, a smile on his face. Thick tears ran down Harry's cheeks.

"Would you like to see it again?"

Harry mumbled something incomprehensible. "What was that?" Voldemort asked.

Harry lifted his head and looked at Voldemort with steely eyes. "I-I'd rather see anything else than your ugly face."

"You really know how to get under his skin," Sirius croaked proudly, now standing and leaning on Thiora.

Harry smiled, and with a flick of his wand, the vomit vanished.

The smile disappeared from Voldemort's face. "Release his bonds, Wormtail, and give him back his wand."

"You're not going to duel him now, are you?!" Eragon said. "You're completely spent! You can't win this."

Harry smirked. "I don't need to win."

"And now face me, like a man… upright and proud, just like your father did -now let's duel."

Arya gasped as she heard Harry's screams again, suffering under the Cruciatus Curse.

"This is simply horrendous," Thiora said with her hand over her mouth, as Harry stumbled to his feet and into the Death Eaters, who laughed as they pushed him back.

"A short break," Voldemort said. "Would you like a break, Harry?"

Harry did not answer. He would not give Voldemort the satisfaction.

"I asked you if you wanted a break," Voldemort said softly. "Answer me! Imperio!"

"So brave," Oromis murmured.

"I WON'T!" Harry screamed.

Sirius stared at Harry with his mouth open. "I know you told us, but seeing it yourself… Bloody hell, Harry! After everything you've been through, you still have a stronger will than Voldemort! You're just insane!"

Harry lifted his arm to awkwardly rub his neck, but Arya gripped his hand. "No, he's right, Harry. You need to learn to accept praise."

"Easier said than done," Harry grumbled, making Arya grin.

Harry crouched behind a tombstone. "We're not playing hide and seek here, Harry. Are you tired of duelling? Do you want me to finish it right here? Come on, Harry… come out and play… it'll probably be quick… maybe even painless… I can't know - I've never died."

"Harry, you're not going to-" Oromis began, but he trailed off as Harry stood and faced Voldemort.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Whoa," Eragon gasped as the spells collided.

A deep furrow formed on Oromis's brow, his expression shifting from worry to surprise as Harry's and Voldemort's wands began to vibrate strongly, and a golden thread bound them together.

Harry and Voldemort rose into the air, and thousands of new golden light threads burst from the spells, forming a dome of light around them. Then a beautiful sound filled the air that Harry had heard before.

Arya's eyes shone. "Fawkes!"

"Don't break the connection." It was a voice that sounded both distant and near. It was ancient and deep, filling Harry with strength.

The golden thread changed, and golden lights appeared along the light beam.

"Are those ghosts?" whispered Eragon.

"No, I don't think so," Oromis replied, though his voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

"This is Priori Incantatem," Harry explained. "The reverse spell effect. It happens when wands with the same core fight against each other."

Arya's eyes lit up. "Fawkes gave two feathers, right? One is in Voldemort's wand and the other in yours."

"But what does reverse spell effect mean for Voldemort's wand?" Thiora asked cautiously. They all knew she was referring to the victims of the killing curse.

Harry pushed the light beads with all his strength towards Voldemort until they touched the tip of his wand.

Arya's almond-shaped eyes widened as a hand and then screams of pain emerged from the wand. They were Harry's screams. But then a body appeared. It was Cedric's.

He stood up, and his voice came from afar. "Hold on, Harry. They're coming."

"Who's coming?" asked Eragon.

One by one, the victims of the wand appeared, until another body emerged. The shadow had tousled hair, wore a crooked pair of glasses, and smiled at Harry.

"He looks so much like you now," Arya whispered, unable to believe her eyes as James's face scanned around, searching for something, until he momentarily stared in Sirius's direction and winked.

"James," Sirius whispered.

"Your mother is coming," James said softly. "She wants to see you... everything will be okay... hold on."

And she came. First her head, then her body... Harry had eyes for nothing else but to imprint every inch of his mother's face to his memory.

She was as beautiful as in the portrait Sirius and Thiora had seen. Arya gasped as Lily, Harry's mother, looked around like James and for a fleeting moment locked eyes with her. It seemed like an eternity before Lily gave her a warm smile, and Arya felt a comforting warmth spread through her.

"If the connection breaks, we will only have a few seconds left... but we'll give you time... you must reach the portkey, it will take you back to Hogwarts... do you understand, Harry?"

"Yes," Harry gasped.

"Harry," Cedric said. "Take my body back. Bring my body to my parents."

"Don't make promises in a situation like this!" Eragon murmured.

Harry snorted and gave Eragon a long look. "Who among us makes promises as soon as we barely leave you alone?"

Eragon blushed, and Oromis gently patted him on the shoulder. "We'll work on that."

"I will," Harry said.

"Do it now," said Harry's father. "Get ready... do it now..."

"NOW!"

"How can you still run on that leg?" Thiora asked, watching as Harry landed on his injured leg and dodged every spell thrown at him.

"Honestly, at that moment, I was focused solely on reaching Cedric's body," Harry said. "I blocked everything else out."

"Get out of the way! I will kill him! He's mine!" Voldemort screamed.

Harry threw himself over Cedric's body and looked back at Voldemort with a grin. "Accio Triwizard Cup!"

The cup flew high through the air, and Harry grabbed it by the handle and vanished.

"YES!" Eragon and Thiora shouted, and Oromis sighed in relief.

Arya let her shoulders sag in relief and leaned exhaustedly against Harry, who did the same with her.

"These memories are bloody exhausting," Sirius groaned, wiping the last of his tears from his face.

"But those figures that appeared, were they-?" Eragon asked longingly, unconsciously thinking of his uncle.

"Eragon, no spell can bring the dead back," Harry said in a subdued voice. "While we walk this earth, we all leave our marks... in the ground... in the wind... they are echoes of the past, of who we once were. The world remembers who you were."

"Sit down, Harry," he heard Madame Pomfrey's gentle voice. She guided him softly to his bed and gave him something to drink. He grimaced but drank the cup empty. As he lay down, he could see the real Moody lying across from him on the bed.

"I still can't believe Dumbledore was outwitted for a whole year," Sirius grumbled.

"As Dumbledore himself said, Sirius, none of us are perfect," Oromis said. "Even the greatest among us make mistakes, and especially those mistakes are greater than those of a young lad."

"Try to sleep, Harry," Madame Pomfrey said softly. "I've given you a potion for a dreamless sleep. You needn't fear dreaming."

Harry leaned back into his pillow and closed his eyes as a golden white light appeared in his hands.

Madame Pomfrey gasped and covered her mouth. Gently opening Harry's hand, she saw that he was clutching a piece of stone. Carved into the stone was a symbol resembling an arrow pointing upwards. It was-

"Odins Rune, Ansuz," Arya gasped. "Is this how the runes came to you?"

Harry nodded faintly. "I don't know how it works, but the suffering I went through that night granted me this ability. From then on, I could use rune magic."

Sirius cleared his throat. "There are only a few witches and wizards who study rune magic, and only a handful who can use it. It remains a great mystery even to magical scholars. There were experiments where witches and wizards deliberately inflicted pain on themselves, but that's not how it works. In the end, will and intent are what matters for magic, nothing else."

"So not everyone can learn it?" Eragon asked, disappointed.

"Learning yes, but using it, no. Those are still two different things."

It was the end of the school year, and as usual, the owls were arriving. Harry's eyes followed a grey owl that landed on Daphne's shoulder. She unfurled the scroll, and her eyes widened as her face turned pale upon reading the message.

Daphne bolted from the Great Hall, and Harry ran after her.

"Why did she storm out?" Thiora asked curiously.

"Daphne! Wait!" Harry called out as she stopped in the courtyard.

She turned around, her robes swirling in the air. "What is it?" Her eyes were red.

"What's wrong?"

Daphne lowered her head and crumpled the letter in her hand. "My father... he's learned about what happened."

"That's not good," Sirius said.

Harry frowned, and Daphne's mouth twitched as she saw his expression.

"I mean you, Harry. He knows about what happened in the third task."

"And what's the problem? Am I not good enough for you?"

Daphne shook her head. "No, and my father knows he should stay out of my affairs... but this is about family."

"Your family?"

Daphne growled. "Don't be dense, Harry. Everyone knows what Dumbledore told us about how Cedric died."

"That was cruel," Eragon said.

"Well, everyone's upset and agitated," Oromis replied.

Her eyes suddenly widened as Harry looked down. "Harry - I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine," Harry murmured as he lifted his head. His eyes seemed a dark green.

"It's not 'fine,'" Arya growled, her eyes narrowed.

Daphne swallowed and turned away. "My father isn't an idiot," she continued. "He knows that Dumbledore... that you're telling the truth. That You-Know-Who has returned, so he made a decision."

Harry smiled upon hearing that Daphne believed him. "Wait - what decision?"

Daphne turned to face Harry, looking into his eyes. A tear ran down her cheek, and her voice trembled as she said, "My father decided that we will leave Hogwarts and move to America. This means that my sister and I won't return to Hogwarts. He wants to protect our family."

Harry felt as though he had been punched deeply in the stomach.

"Not... return?" Harry murmured.

Daphne sniffed and wiped the tear from her face. "I'm sorry, Harry."

Then an idea came to Harry. "You could stay here, Daphne! I'm sure I have enough gold for both of us-"

"Please don't," she said, trembling. "I can't put my family at risk. He would track them down and use them against us... and my family is more important to me, Harry."

"I understand," Harry murmured.

"I'm really sorry," Daphne whispered with downcast eyes, running past Harry, who tilted his head back and felt the sunlight on his face as a shrill voice broke the silence.

"After all this, it feels strange to see my godson getting rejected," Sirius said with a frown.

"I didn't get rejected," Harry protested. "We weren't even together."

"Good grief, Potter, did you just get dumped?" Nott snickered, but before he could say another word, Harry strode up to him and punched him in the nose, hearing the satisfying crack of knuckles.

"Well done, Harry!" Sirius suddenly cheered, laughing for the first time in a long while.

"So that's why he has such a crooked nose," Arya smirked.

"Thank you, Nott! I feel much better already!"

"Oh, Harry," Oromis murmured, though he too was smiling.

"Potter! How dare you!" Professor Snape roared, striding through the entrance hall. "Detention, Potter!"

Harry shrugged and looked down at the bleeding, unconscious Nott.

"Totally worth it."

A/N: I am currently writing the next chapter (5 & 6 year) and I have to be honest I am so tired of these memory chapters and I will be very happy when this part is over. The start was fun to write, but it is getting really tiresome, sadly it needs to be done for this is going to set up the final part of the story.

I was thinking about changing the tasks, but in the end decided against it, because it doesn't really impact the story if it's a different one. And before anyone asks, no, Arya & Harry will be the only pairing.

Don't expect too much for the next chapter. The chapter after that is probably going to take a little more time, because life is getting more busy and I will have to act on the changes that I have mentioned so far in the story for the 7th year.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and had fun reading!