And this is it! The end of Goblet of Fire! Can't believe we made it this far. While I enjoyed writing about events of the fourth book, the Order of the Phoenix is hands down my favourite book so I can't wait to share chapters and snippets from this book next week :)

24 June 1995

Minerva looked away from the body of Cedric Diggory, the sight of it and Amos and Juliet Diggory hugging their son making her feel even more nauseous. People were still screaming and crying. Fudge was still talking loudly and Albus was trying to make him stop so that the Diggory family could properly be taken care of. In all of this chaos however, Minerva had noticed that Potter had vanished.

"Albus," Minerva said weakly, reaching out to touch Albus' arm as she continued to search the crowds. "Albus," she said more firmly when he didn't turn.

This time Albus turned towards her and Fudge stopped talking. "Minerva not—"

"Potter has gone," she interrupted. Saying it out loud only made her feel even more anxious. Albus' faced paled and he looked through the crowd as well, searching for Harry who, it became apparent, was no longer on the Quidditch Pitch.

As they looked, Minerva then spotted Severus battling through the crowd to reach them. "Moody," he panted when he got to them. "He's taken Potter back up to the castle."

Before Minerva could properly feel confused, Albus had already straightened and his expression darkened significantly.

"Follow them, Severus," he instructed sharply, seemingly understanding something Minerva and Severus did not yet. "We must get to them before anything happens."

Minerva blanched. "You think Alastor is the spy?"

Albus did not answer but instead reached out to hold her hand and bring her along with him.

"Dumbledore! Minerva!"

Albus ignored the Minister calling them back and Minerva did too, her sense of apprehension and worry increasing with every step.

"I don't believe Alastor Moody has been the one teaching our students, Minerva," Albus said darkly.

It was four o'clock in the morning and Minerva's ears twitched as she heard someone knock at the door. Instantly, in one smooth motion, she unfolded her legs and stood up from the armchair she had been sitting in. A moment later, and she swung open the door to her private quarters. Albus stood behind them and as soon as she saw him, Minerva leaned in to give him a hug. Albus wrapped his arms around her and they stood like that for several minutes.

"I can't believe it," she whispered into his shoulder. "Those—those poor boys..."

Albus let go of her as she began to cry. He gives her a handkerchief and slowly they walked into her quarters and sat down opposite each other in Minerva's red armchairs.

"Are you all right, Minerva? The dementors..."

Minerva shook her head before he could finish his sentence. She sniffed and wiped her eyes one last time before folding the handkerchief again. "I'm fine," she said hoarsely. "The dementors went straight for Crouch. I should have stopped them but—but Cornelius just pushed me aside and..." She stopped as a few more tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them away with her hand. "It was awful," she said. "His whole body, his eyes... And it went on and on and on. I thought it would never stop"

She took a shuddering breath as she was reminded of the way the Dementors had come swooping up the corridor. Minerva had tried to argue but Fudge, too intent it seemed on seeing Barty Crouch Jr, had pushed her aside without batting an eyelid. By the time Minerva had produced a patronus, not only to protect Barty Jr but also to protect herself, as the Dementors had identified her as trying to protect a fugitive, Barty Jr soul had already been sucked out of him.

Albus reached out to hold her free hand. He squeezed it. "I am sorry you had to witness that."

"I have witnessed many terrible things in my life, Albus. But none is so short a space of time," she said. "Potter seeing Diggory murdered—and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named reborn..." she trailed away as she recalled the memory of Diggory landing on the lawn with Potter. Then, Amos Diggory's scream.

She had only heard that sound once before when Gideon Prewett had seen his twin brother being killed right in front of his eyes. She had never forgotten the wail that had emitted from Gideon's mouth. Amos' cry would also be one scarred in her memory forever. "Those poor boys," she repeated finally. "What has happened to—to..." Minerva couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence.

However, Albus seemed to understand to whom she was referring to. "Amos and Juliet have taken Cedric home," he said quietly. "They will be back for a collective funeral at Hogwarts this week."

Minerva shook her head. "I thought we had managed it," she said quietly. "I thought Ludo had been right to send Alastor into the maze to supervise the competitors. But it wasn't even Alastor. How could we not have known?"

"It was a very cleverly executed plan," Albus replied. "Barty Jr. had clearly been planning this for quite some time. He knew we would trust Alastor fully."

Minerva rubbed her eyes with her fingertips. "And now You-Know-Who is back... And he used Potter's blood," she said quietly. She paused for a moment as a thought occurred to her. "Does that mean the protection around his aunt and uncle's house is now ineffectual?"

"I do not know," Albus admitted. "However, it may be the case that it has indeed disappeared."

Minerva closed her eyes.

"We will have to put additional protections around the house," he said.

Minerva opened her eyes again and looked up. "Should Potter even return?" she asked. "He may be safer remaining in the Wizarding World."

"I do not think so," Albus replied. "But we have time to think about this before Harry has to return. For now, we must think about our next steps."

Minerva watched as Albus stood and began to pace.

"Cornelius has refused to discuss the possibility of Voldemort's return."

Minerva's expression hardened. "I gathered as much when I last spoke to him," she said, her nostrils flaring slightly. "Though I thought he would come round to the idea eventually," she added. "He does not believe it?"

Albus shook his head. "I doubt that he will, Minerva," he added, sounding worried for the first time. "Not yet at least. But if we do not act now it is almost certain that Voldemort will be able to overpower us as he almost did the last time." He paused, then turned to look at her again. "Could you do something for me?"

Minerva nodded. "Anything, Albus," she said.

"I need you to contact members of the Order," he said, causing Minerva's eyebrows to rise. "We must get as many people on board as we can; before Cornelius uses his power to persuade us that Voldemort has not returned."

Minerva nodded and began to stand. "I can do that," she said. "I can speak to my niece as well. If we can get some of the Ministry..."

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed before she could finish. "But discreetly," he added. "It may be that Cornelius will want to get rid of any opposition within the Ministry."

Minerva nodded.

"I have sent Sirius to meet Remus and speak to Arabella and Mundungus," he told her. "But I believe it may be easier for you to speak to some of the other Order members."

Minerva nodded. "I will go now," she said. "Before a copy of the Prophet is released tomorrow morning."

"Thank you," he said sincerely, reaching out to hold her hand. "Could you also make sure Sirius has arrived at Remus' safely?"

Minerva nodded. "Certainly," she said, before pausing. "What about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"I think he will attempt to lie low for a while. If Cornelius continues to refuse to believe that he has returned, Voldemort will be able to continue working in peace."

Minerva sighed and shook her head. Albus squeezed her hand.

"I will be back tomorrow," she said after a moment.

Albus nodded. "I have given you the power to disapparate within Hogwarts," he told her. "Travel safely, Minerva," he told her seriously.

Minerva nodded and she let go of his hand to collect her hat, cloak and wand. "See you later, Albus."

He nodded and Minerva then twisted on the spot and disapparated.