Okay so here we are again. I apologise for the delay but I broke my laptop and have only just been able to afford to get a new one. Not only did I have to wait to get one but I lost all the progress I had on my old one. Anyway let's try this again.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter Twenty-Nine
By Rosa241

Harry POV:

Watching Pavarti glare at me again I couldn't help wincing.

Why me?

Why did I have to do this stupid dance?

I can barely walk in a straight line let alone dance!

"Ow! Will you stop standing on my feet!?" She hisses at me as I pull her in close. I whisper a quick sorry and attempt to focus on the moves.

Is it left or right…

Thankfully the whole thing is over before long and a grateful Pavarti darts back to the table sending a glare my way as she does. Dropping back to the table I can hear the snigger going on behind me and I would love for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

"That was the most humiliating thing in the entire world!" Pavarti quickly nods her head as she bends down to check on her feet which are probably broken given the amount of time I spent standing on them.

"It wasn't that bad." I can see that Ron doesn't actually believe the words that he's saying but in his defence he's at least trying to cheer me up.

"Why do I have to be so bad at dancing? Hermione actually looked like she belonged up there but me…I think I looked like bambi on ice!" My friend gives me a confused look at my words before shaking his head.

"So are we going to dance?" Padme offers Ron what I'm sure is a hopeful smile apparently she doesn't know Ron as well as she thinks she does. He shakes his head, looking almost as if he's being tortured as he does, before turning back to me.

"It wasn't that bad." His words do nothing to reassure me.

"Well done Potter, well done." The all too familiar voice of Draco Malfoy laughs from behind me as he passes the table.

"Do you know what Percy's lucky." The words come out of my mouth before I really think about what I'm saying. The moment I've said it I can't helping wincing as I realise exactly what it is I've just said. "Ron I'm-"

"Lucky? What the hell is wrong with you? He's lucky? Lucky that he's stuck up in the hospital wing because some lunatic-" He cuts himself off as he glances at the girls sitting at the table. Without another look my way he storms passed the table and is out of the room far too quickly. From her position across the room I can see the concerned look that Hermione sends my way.

Well isn't this night a barrel of fun.

Percy POV:

Okay so dad was completely right about this. Being poisoned does have one upside, no yule ball for me and judging from the way both Harry and Ron had paled at being teased by Fred and George earlier I'd say I'm glad that I'm not there. Obviously if there were a choice between attending and being poisoned I know which one I'd choose. I still can't believe…

"Oi!" Olivers fingers clicking in front of my face bring me out of my thoughts. "I can see what your thinking and we'll be having none of that. No dwelling tonight. I didn't spend two days trying to convince McGonagall to let me off going to that stupid ball to sit here with you moping."

If anyone else were to hear him it would sound harsh but his words draw me out of my brain and force me to push everything else behind.

"How exactly did you convince Professor McGonagall to let you stay here. She was pretty determined that every single person had to attend the yule ball." Just as he did before he shakes his head and smirks. I don't think he'll ever tell me.

"What were your mum and dad like leaving?" It had taken more time than it should have for Dumbledore to convince them that it would be safe to leave. Mum had been furious the first time he'd mentioned it after all it was in the school that I was poisoned in the first place. Both of them had argued with Dumbledore for hours that I should be allowed to go home but in the end he'd managed to convince them that they couldn't pull me from the tournament. In the end Mum had cried and Dad had glared angrily at the professor before they'd finally left.

"They weren't happy." Isn't that an understatement.

"I don't blame them. You'd be safer at home where whoever poisoned you can't reach you." Shaking my head I can't help my mind going back to yesterday.

Flashback:

Watching the tears building in mums eyes is enough to start me off. I didn't think it would be so bad that she would cry I really didn't.

"Mum I'm going to be fine. With everyone watching my every move I'll be fine." Deep down I'm not sure that I believe the words but ultimately I'll say anything to stop her crying. "Besides there's no way that whoever did this is going to be stupid enough to try again, not with everyone watching."

"Didn't think anyone would try the first time." Dad mutters with a sharp glare towards the headmaster who seems unaffected by everything although he does avert his eyes. "Now you make sure you take care of yourself. Watch out and don't let anyone near you who you don't trust."

"Dad I'm going to be fine. I promise I'll be careful." It took almost another twenty minutes but eventually they both make their way through the fire place. Watching them go I almost want to reach out and join them but I don't. This stupid tournament has me staying here.

End Flashback

"I just don't understand why someone would poison me. I just…don't get it." Oliver shakes his head as he stretches and yawns. It's getting late…

"Well I'm willing to be that whoever did this is probably the same person who put your name into the Goblet." He's got a point and the thought has crossed my mind already. "But why go to the lengths of getting your name in the Goblet only to then poison you."

"I don't know. I just don't understand who would do something so…" Trailing off I can feel my mind drifting. Over the last few days my mind has been working a mile a minute to try and figure this out, it's part of the reason why Oliver had been so harsh with me tonight. He's trying to get me to stop thinking about it.

"You don't…you don't suppose it could have been one of the other contestants." I'd thought about it of course but one thought keeps coming back to my mind:

Would any of them really stoop to this?

Moody POV:

Sitting down at the desk I can't help but sigh. I had everything all worked out, every single thing, it should have worked. It should have worked. That stupid potions master I shouldn't have underestimated him so badly. I shouldn't have let myself believe he wouldn't notice but I honestly didn't think he would. Of course he was always going to notice that his stores had been pillaged but I never thought he'd know about such an obscure potion.

Shaking my head I push those thoughts from my mind. I won't be making that mistake again.

I'll have to leave the kid alone for now, going after him would raise too much suspicion and would be far too risky. Now that they know he was being poisoned they'll all watching him like hawks. I could probably get round it if it was just the stupid head master. He's far too concerned with the Potter boy that ultimately he'll let his watch slip at some point. It's that pathetic transfiguration teacher. Unlike Dumbledore she's not watching Potter her eyes are far too focused on the Weasley boy. I doubt I'll get anything past her any time soon.

I've thought about it long and hard but there's only one thought that comes back to my mind now. It would be far too risky to try anything before the second task with everyone watching. I'll have to leave it until the final task and take care of both boys then.

Until then I'll have to keep a low profile.

Okay so there we are. I'm sorry it's been so long but I hope this goes someway to make up for it. Truth be told this is kind of a filler chapter since I had to get the Yule ball out of the way.

Now just to clear one thing up. In the books Dumbledores entire focus always seems to be on Harry, now I know that the man is brilliant but even he can't be in two places at once. Watching over Harry so closely and watching over Percy would be a big ask plus I wanted to get Professor McGonagall involved since she's so awesome. Honestly I'd love to see him try to take her on. Between McGonagall and Molly I don't really know who he'd have more chance against.

Until next time.

Bye x