When Neville came within sight of his house, two Aurors standing outside the front door snapped their wands up and began to advance on him. He froze.

"Neville Longbottom?" called out an Auror with short, wiry gray hair.

"Yes?"

"You don't sound too sure."

"I was just surprised. I'm Neville Longbottom."

"We're going to need to verify that. We have reports of the use of Polyjuice in the commission of various crimes today. Remain calm, and if you're who you claim to be, everything will be fine." Keeping his eyes and wand fixed on Neville, he turned slightly to address his partner. "Go get Moody. He says he knows the kid."

While the second Auror hurried back to the house, the first asked, "You want to tell me where you've been today?"

"I got kidnapped. Is my grandmother alright?"

At that moment, she came running out of the house. "Neville!"

More Aurors came with her, and moved to block her path. Professor Moody also came out, and headed towards Neville.

The Auror guarding Neville called over his shoulder, "Mrs Longbottom, I need you to stay back until we confirm the boy's identity."

"Don't you think I know my own grandson? Let me through," she demanded.

"Gran, it's okay!" Neville called to her. "It's me, and I'm fine. Did Crouch hurt you?"

"Oh, Neville! Thank heavens you're safe. That horrible man was telling me about how you could be in danger, and the next thing I know, I'm coming to with Dumbledore standing over me."

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes. It'll take more than that to keep me down."

Neville turned his attention to Moody, who had come to a stop a few feet away, wand held ready.

"Longbottom. Have you and I ever shared a beverage?"

"Have we what, sir?"

"I'm trying to confirm your identity by asking a question only you would know the answer to. Take a breath, relax, and think. We're in no hurry here."

"Tea! You offered me a cup of tea after class. Hermione was there too. I was… uncomfortable with the curses you'd shown us."

"How did Granger take her tea?"

"Sir?"

"Don't give me that. It didn't take a magic eye to see you were sweet on the lass even back then. And you're telling me you still don't know how she takes her tea?"

Neville felt himself turning red. "We're just friends!"

Moody gave a gruff chuckle. "Relax, lad. Just wanted to see how you'd react if I threw you a wobbly Quaffle. You've convinced me. You got the first question right. As for the second, I doubt many Death Eaters can blush on command."

Moody called to the Aurors behind him. "It's him. Let the poor woman through to see her grandson."

When they didn't move quickly enough, his grandmother pushed her way through. Reaching him, she pulled him into a hug, then stepped back to look him over. "Are you sure you're–Oh, your arm!"

Neville glanced down. "They took some blood."

Moody stepped closer to examine the wound. "Doesn't look too deep. Hold still."

He cast a series of spells, and Neville sighed in relief as the pain eased.

Moody told him, "You should get it checked by someone who knows more than basic field first aid, but I stopped the bleeding, and I can't detect any Dark magic. You might have a small scar, but scars give a wizard a bit of character. Take it from me."

"Thank you, sir. Crouch used a knife rather than a spell, and I didn't even think about a cursed blade."

The Auror who'd first questioned Neville stepped forward. "Hold on. You're claiming Barty Crouch assaulted you with a knife?"

"Not the one you're thinking of. Barty Crouch Junior."

His grandmother gasped.

"I'm sorry," he told her. "I know it's a shock, but he's alive. He attacked you today, not his father. He said his father broke him out of Azkaban years ago, using Polyjuice."

Moody said, not unkindly, "We still don't understand everything that's going on today. I don't doubt there's Polyjuice involved, but someone could have gotten a sample of Junior's hair before he got locked up."

"No, sir. Barty Crouch Junior has been posing as his father all year, while keeping the real one hostage. I'm sure of it. Someone has to rescue him. The father, I mean. If he's even still alive."

"Dumbledore is checking out Crouch's house now. He left as soon as we arrived to take over the scene."

"Voldemort could be there waiting to ambush him! You have to warn him! I mean, I know it's Dumbledore, but if he's not expecting it…"

Everyone fell into shocked silence at this.

Moody said, "You want to run that by me again?"

"He's back. Voldemort is back. I should have said so before, but I was worried about my Gran, and then nobody believed I was me, and so much happened today, and might still be happening, and I'm feeling sort of light-headed, and–"

"Alright, stop and take a breath," Moody interrupted. "Are you saying you actually saw Voldemort?"

Just then, Dumbledore appeared with a crack of Apparition, looking deeply troubled. When he saw Neville, he smiled, and the crease in his brow smoothed.

"Ah, Neville. I'm delighted to see you back home safe and–" He faltered when he saw the blood which had seeped through Neville's sleeve. His smile fell away and his shoulders slumped. For a moment, Neville thought he glimpsed an expression he never would have expected to find on the face of the great Albus Dumbledore–a look of defeat.

Dumbledore straightened, cleared his throat, and continued. "Ah, safe and at least relatively sound. Alastor, I assume you've confirmed this is the real Neville Longbottom, and checked his injuries?"

"It's him. One minor wound I already patched up. You're going to want to hear his story right away."

"That much is certain. Neville, I'm glad you're alright, but I'm afraid I must ask you some questions. Let's start with whose company you've been unwillingly keeping today."

"Barty Crouch Junior, sir, and… Voldemort."

The first time he'd said the name, it had brought stunned silence. Now, he heard skeptical murmurs from the Aurors.

Dumbledore looked grim, but not surprised. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"You believe me?"

"I do. Besides my high opinion of your trustworthiness, your story is consistent with what Barty Crouch Senior told me. He said his son overpowered him at the Quidditch World Cup, and has held him captive ever since. He also claimed Voldemort has returned… though in a rather strange form."

Neville's grandmother turned pale. "That monster is really back? And he had my grandson?"

"He's really back," Dumbledore confirmed. He frowned as his eyes returned to Neville's bloodied sleeve.

Neville's grandmother resumed her anxious inspection of him. "Did either of them use… any curses on you?"

Neville knew which curse she feared most–the one that had taken his parents.

"No, Gran. Crouch stunned me and tied me up, but that was the only magic. He used a knife to take some blood, but mostly they just wanted to talk." He turned to Dumbledore. "Sir, I haven't told you the worst part yet. Crouch used a ritual to create a new body for Voldemort. He's back to his full power."

Dumbledore nodded gravely. "I see."

"Hold on," objected Moody. "After Voldemort got what he wanted, why would he leave Crouch Senior alive for us to question? Or Longbottom, for that matter? Seems out of character."

Dumbledore replied, "They probably counted on having more time to tie up loose ends. If not for Miss Granger uncovering the deception, it might have taken quite some time for our investigation to lead us to the Crouch residence, given all the turmoil and confusion at Hogwarts today."

Neville said, "Oh! Crouch didn't tell me the details, but I'm pretty sure he was behind everything at Hogwarts too, using Polyjuice and the Imperius. I don't believe any of the champions attacked each other willingly. You won't let the Ministry throw them in Azkaban, will you?"

"I assure you no hasty actions will be taken before we have a full picture of today's events."

Neville nodded. "Good. Also, Voldemort told me why he was letting me go. He wants to recruit me."

His Gran made a sound of outraged disbelief, but Neville didn't let it stop him. He had to confront the headmaster before he lost the nerve to do so.

"He said he knows I'm his enemy right now, but hopes I might change my mind. He also said there's a prophecy about me, and that you knew he might come for me some day."

Dumbledore stiffened at this, and glanced around at the Aurors. "We should retire inside to discuss this further. I'm sure these gentlemen have other business to attend to."

Up to that point, the Aurors had seemed willing to allow Dumbledore and Moody to lead the questioning. Now, the Auror who'd first questioned Neville spoke up. He acted like he was the team leader.

"Just a minute. The Minister needs to hear this. It's best if we take the boy with us until we sort this out. We don't want to start a panic with unsubstantiated rumors."

"You're not taking him anywhere," declared Neville's grandmother.

Dumbledore turned his attention to the Auror. "You have no cause to detain this young man. He's been through quite an ordeal today, and belongs at home with his family. You've heard the essential points of his story. Surely the finer details can wait until tomorrow. You can send someone to meet with him at Hogwarts. Since he is a minor, his grandmother and I will be present as well–assuming that is acceptable to Neville and Mrs Longbottom?"

Both Longbottoms indicated their agreement.

The Auror glared. "That's not your call. You may be Chief Warlock, but the DMLE doesn't answer to you."

Moody said, "Give the kid a break, Dawlish. His parents were Aurors. You going to treat their son like he's a damn Death Eater?"

Dawlish hesitated, but then scowled and said, "That was a long time ago, and it's got nothing to do with the job I have to do today."

He raised his wand, not quite pointing it at Dumbledore, but at the ground between them.

Dumbledore glanced at the wand. In a mild voice he inquired, "And just what do you intend to do with that, Mr Dawlish?"

Dawlish blinked at the question. He looked around at his fellow Aurors. They were watching the confrontation, but none had joined him in raising their wands.

Moody told him, "Don't be a fool, lad."

"We don't take orders from you anymore either, Moody. You're retired, and here solely in an advisory capacity, in case you forgot."

"Wasn't meant as an order. Just basic good advice. Like you said, it's what I'm here for."

Dawlish grimaced. "Fine. Tomorrow, then."

"Very good," Dumbledore agreed with a pleasant nod. "In the meantime, you can question Barty Crouch Senior. I brought him to St Mungo's. And I'm afraid someone will have to take on the unpleasant task of going to Azkaban to exhume the supposed grave of Barty Crouch Junior."

Dawlish gave a tight nod, looking unhappy about Dumbledore telling him how to do his job.

As the Aurors were about to Disapparate away, Neville called out, "Wait! I just remembered. Peter Pettigrew might have escaped too. They mentioned something about him running away."

"Pettigrew," Moody muttered in disgust. "I never bought Crouch turning all sentimental over Enid Pettigrew. They must have used her for another Polyjuice swap." He shook his head. "Should have seen it."

Dumbledore said, "It seems Barty Junior fooled us all, and none more than me. I was all too eager to believe Barty Senior was genuinely trying to come to terms with the sorrows of his family's past." He sighed, then told the Aurors, "While you're at Azkaban, I suggest you also check the identity of the prisoner in Peter Pettigrew's cell."

Dawlish gave another terse nod and Disapparated away. The rest of the team followed.

Moody asked, "Did they say anything else about Pettigrew? Like what he might do next?"

Neville searched his memory. "Oh! Voldemort said Pettigrew ran away because Crouch tried to kill him with the other hostages. Who else did Crouch take today? They're still in danger!"

Moody raised a calming hand. "Easy. My guess is they were talking about the hostages for the second task. Crouch took Enid Pettigrew to visit her son in Azkaban just days before. If there was a swap, it had to have been then. Which would mean Peter Pettigrew was at Hogwarts with Crouch, right under our noses."

"Yes," mused Dumbledore, "though the picture remains just as puzzling when taking these new facts into account. We never announced this to the public, Neville, but an unknown person somehow administered Draught of Living Death to the hostages. This merely added a redundant layer of protection to the suspension charms I had already cast to keep them from awakening underwater."

"Bah," growled Moody. "I say we still don't know the whole story. Potter and the Weasley girl were cagey when I questioned them about it. Granted, Weasley never gives a straight answer to anything if she can help it, but Potter's a terrible liar. They know something they're not telling. That whole bunch just can't stay away from trouble."

"Perhaps. Though since everything worked out for the best, I'm not too concerned with any actions they may have taken to ensure a happy outcome."

Moody nodded, conceding the point. "It's far from the most pressing question we've got. Like why would they break out Pettigrew, rather than someone half competent?"

"Do not underestimate him. Peter Pettigrew's ability to appear inconsequential is what made him such an effective spy."

Moody grimaced. "Don't remind me. He's useless for that now though, since getting exposed last year. We're missing something."

Neville asked, "Are you sure Crouch didn't take anyone else today?"

"We're still looking for Delacour," admitted Moody. "Don't suppose Crouch dropped any hints about where she might be? Or at least whether she's still at Hogwarts?"

"No, but he said he couldn't kill any of the champions without breaking the Goblet's magical contract."

"That's good news at least. Anything else they let slip? Even if it didn't seem important at the time?"

Neville thought for a moment. "Voldemort made a big deal about getting his original wand back. It's the first thing he said to me."

"I always wondered what happened to that wand when we didn't find it at the scene back in '81. Pettigrew must have taken it. Seems like a big risk to break him out of Azkaban just for that though. Then again, Voldemort has never lacked confidence in his mad schemes."

Dumbledore said, "In any event, I don't look forward to informing Harry, Sirius, and Remus of Pettigrew's escape. Or the Weasleys. Though I suppose the news pales somewhat in comparison to today's other events."

Moody snorted. "That's an understatement. At least with Pettigrew, I expect he'll run as far and as fast as he can, with no friends left on either side now."

"Indeed. If he has been free since the second task, and has yet to turn up, he may have left Britain altogether. I will ask the ICW to notify all the member states of a possible fugitive Animagus."

"And I should get back to Hogwarts. We still need to find Delacour, and that business between Krum and Diggory and his friends has tempers up all around. I don't like leaving Minerva to handle everything herself, even with Aurors swarming the place."

"Agreed," said Dumbledore. "Thank you, Alastor."

Moody nodded and turned to Neville for one last question. "Did they say where they might be going or what else they have planned?"

"I don't think so, Professor. They mainly bragged about the things they've already gotten away with."

"Yeah. Figured it wouldn't be that easy." Moody shook his head and Disapparated away.

Neville asked, "So the person in Peter Pettigrew's cell is actually his mother? The same as what Crouch said his parents did?"

Dumbledore replied, "I don't see any other way. The Ministry took precautions to ensure Pettigrew could not use his Animagus abilities to escape like Sirius Black did."

"They should be able to confirm it's not him and get her out quick though, right?"

Dumbledore looked grave. "Helping a prisoner escape from Azkaban is itself a crime, though I will argue for leniency in her case."

"I wonder how many other times this has happened."

"I suppose The DMLE will need to verify the identity of the occupant of every cell, but I wouldn't worry too much. Accomplishing an escape of this nature is no easy task. It requires the access privileges of a high-level Ministry official, which is a short list of people. More precautions are clearly needed, but I don't believe any more escaped Death Eaters will be showing up to cause trouble."

"That's good to know, but I was thinking more of other people getting stuck in Azkaban who don't belong there."

"Ah. Your compassion does you credit. As I said though, I find it unlikely it has happened in more than the two cases we know of."

Neville's grandmother had remained quiet, absorbing the day's revelations, but chose that moment to speak up. "Well. It sounds like other people are handling all the immediate crises. That leaves you free to explain why we were never warned of a prophecy about Voldemort coming after my grandson."

Dumbledore looked abashed. "When Voldemort attacked the Potter family, I believed he'd decided against involving Neville. I never considered the possibility he might change his mind. It's unlike him to second-guess his decisions. For this failure on my part, and all you have both endured today because of it, I apologize."

Neville said, "Thank you for saying so, but I still want to know the prophecy. I need to understand why this happened. With all due respect, sir, if you're truly sorry, I think I deserve that much."

"Yes, it's the least you owe us," insisted his grandmother.

"I doubt the answers would bring much comfort," Dumbledore told them. "And since Voldemort has chosen to release Neville, I don't believe we need fear that he will come for him again. He has already achieved the goal he needed him for."

"You've been wrong before," she said pointedly. "If there's a prophecy connecting my grandson to that maniac, it's not your place to keep it secret from us. Even if there's nothing to it, he believed in it enough to take Neville once. You can't possibly guarantee he won't try again."

"Very well. If the time has come to reveal what I can, there is someone else who ought to hear it as well. May I use your Floo?"

"I suppose. Who else is mixed up in this?"

"Harry," answered Neville. "Voldemort said the prophecy could also be about him."

Dumbledore gave him a thoughtful look. "Correct. It seems Voldemort was in quite the mood for sharing today. I wonder why… By the way, I noticed you don't hesitate to say his name."

"Avoiding it didn't keep him away today, and I don't believe it will keep him away in the future. If he does come for me again, I expect it will be because he already has a reason. I'd like to know what it is, sir."

His grandmother put a hand on his shoulder. "As would I. Let's go inside."

Author's Note: Sorry for the long gap between updates. Voldemort's return is a significant turning point, and the chapters dealing with the aftermath are complicated enough that I wanted to get them mostly sorted out before posting any of them. I should have everything back on track now though.