Harry was unable to move. It was scary, knowing there was someone who just used a total body binding spell on him and not being able to see them, much less defend himself. "Wingardium Leviosa." Someone whispered and Harry felt the floor moving away. Someone was levitating him away and all Harry could do was let it happen. He was panicking.

The ceiling had never seemed higher to Harry. Artful arches spanned over the brown, grey stone architecture. At the same time, he had no idea how far above the ground he was floating. Arch by arch passed above him and he lost all feeling of distance and time. It occurred to him what horrible things could be done to people in a vulnerable, helpless position like this. He could feel his heart speed up in his chest. If he could at least see who was having him under his spell.

The warning Neville had given him came to Harry's mind. "I think something terrible is going to happen in that maze. Like, deadly terrible." Was this it? Was this how Harry was going to die?

Harry heard someone whisper, "Alohomora." From this whisper, Harry could not tell anything about the persons voice, not even the gender. He felt his body being rotated 90 degrees and soon he could see a door frame, followed by a much lower ceiling, typical for a classroom. Except there were tons of spiderwebs sticking around. He could only see that for a second though, because the next moment, Harry heard the door click closed and everything went black.

Harry panicked even more. He wanted to protest. He could not move, he could not see anything and he could not even say anything. Judging by the ceiling, this room had not been visited for ages so if he was just left here, he would die a slow, painful, helpless death. Surprisingly gently, Harry hit the floor. "Incendio." Someone whispered and Harry saw the room light up. "Evanesco." They whispered and the spiderwebs disappeared from Harry's sight.

Harry's heart rate slowed down a bit down. Instead, curiosity and confusion replaced his headless panic. What was the purpose of cleaning the room the person had kidnapped Harry into? Harry heard footsteps coming closer. Careful to not move into Harry's sight, the person crouched down beside him. Hands rummaged through Harry's robes. They seemed to have found what they were looking for because Harry sensed them standing up again. Next thing Harry heard were footsteps moving away and a click indicating that the door was opened again. Harry's heart rate speed up again. Was this person going to leave Harry here, helplessly laying on the cold caste floor?

"Finite." Harry heard a whisper shortly before the door fell completely closed. It took him a few seconds to realize that the feeling of the full body-binding spell was gone. Quickly, he jumped up and looked around. As expected, his attacker was gone. The classroom was completely empty. Judging by the lack of windows and the slightly moist odour, Harry guessed it was located in the dungeons.

Hurrying to the heavy wooden door, his hand went to his pocket. It grasped at nothing. His other hand gripped the doorknob and jiggled. Locked. He checked his other pockets but it was no good. The kidnapper had taken his wand. Harry was trapped.

Hoping someone would hear him, Harry pounded against the door, but he had little hope. His kidnapper must have thought this through. They probably cast Muffliato or something, thus even if someone would walk by, they would not hear him.

So what was their aim? If they wanted Harry trapped, why did they not keep him in Petrificus totalus? And why would they want him trapped in the first place? Probably to keep him away from the Third Task. But why? So they had a better chance of winning? That was a dangerous accusation.

Whoever it was with whichever goal, Harry's biggest worry was what they wanted from him. Did they just want him gone? Starve to death in a room no one would look for him in? Or would they come back with a more powerful wizard or witch to defeat him, torture him...

Harry shook his head. He could not afford thinking about all the evil things people could do to him while he was wandless and defenceless.

What had happened to Neville?, Harry wondered.

Wondering and pacing, that was how Harry spent most of the next three hours. Anticipating, trying to relax, pondering. He wanted so badly to take action, but without wand he did not even know how to try. Listening had also gotten him nowhere. Everything outside was deadly silent.

He was so lost in his own thoughts that he did not hear the whisper of "Finite Incantatem". Only the following click on the door made him look up. Had he heard right? He stood up and hurried to the door, just in time to hear fast footsteps hurry away. Wasting no time, Harry yanked the door open. But looking left to right down the hallway, he saw no one. He left the room he had been locked in, following the deserted hallway to where he had heard the footsteps leave.

After turning one corner and a few more meters, he found himself in the Entrance Hall. A few groups of students trickled in. They were talking animatedly and headed for their respective common rooms. His abductor was nowhere to be seen.

Judging by the increasing number of students entering the castle, the Triwizard Tournament was probably over. What had the people made of Harry's absence?, he wondered. 

Harry decided to inconspicuously go to the Gryffindor common room and wait for Ron and Hermione. Fortunately for him, no one paid attention to the missing Champion. Harry picked up a few snippets of conversations. Apparently, Harry not appearing was not the most exciting thing that had happened during the Third Task. At least no one was even mentioning it.

Instead, he gathered that Fleur Delacour had made the best performance but Cedric had gotten to the goblet, the target, first. And a hot topic seemed to be Dumbledore and Professor Moody disappearing after the Tournament was over. Reaching the common room, he hurried up to his dormitory, grabbed his Invisibility cloak and went back to the common room, waiting for Ron and Hermione. He did not want anyone else to find him first. He needed to talk to his friends.

Not a lot of Gryffindors had returned to the Tower when Hermione and Ron slipped through the portrait hole. Harry pulled the Invisibility cloak off and pulled his friends into a corner. "Harry!" Hermione pulled him into a hug. "Are you okay?" She pulled back to look at him.

"Where have you been, mate?" Ron asked. "You have been disqualified."

"That's the smallest concern, Ron." She glared at him, then looked back at Harry. "We were so worried. Especially after Cedric vanished."

"What do you mean he vanished?" Harry asked. "I thought he won?"

"He did." Ron said. "But after he touched the goblet at the finish, he disappeared."

"I suspect it was a Portkey." Hermione said. "And I'm pretty sure that wasn't planned. Everyone was so confused. Dumbledore and Professor Moody probably left to find Cedric."

"Yeah, I heard something like that." Harry said.

"Where have you been?" Ron repeated his question from earlier. "You didn't really hide to escape the Third Task, did you?"

"No." Harry said, deeply offended. "Why would you think that?"

Ron shrugged. "Malfoy told us. He saw you coming up here and called you a coward for running from the last task."

"I didn't run away." Harry said. "I was abducted."

"By whom?" Hermione asked.

"I have no idea." Harry said and proceeded to explain what had happened.

"That's curious." Hermione said. "Whoever abducted you merely wanted you gone for the task, but not harm you."

"I thought maybe it was someone from the other schools." Harry said. "I bet these stuck-up Beauxbatons."

"You just don't like them because they were hanging out with Slytherins." Hermione said.

"I think that explanation makes the most sense though." Ron said. "I mean, one of the other schools. So they have at least one competitor out of the way."

"But then why Harry?" Hermione said. "No offence, but the other three are more experienced sorcerers."

"Because I'm not a real Champion." Harry said. "It was a mistake by the goblet of fire. I'm too young. I'm not allowed to participate."

Hermione nodded like she approved of the theory, but something was still bothering her. "Well, whoever it was and for whatever reason, we need to tell Dumbledore what happened."

Harry and Ron nodded. The boys followed Hermione out of the portrait hole and side by side, they headed for the headmaster's office. Reaching the gargoyle blocking the entrance, Harry sighed. "Do you happen to know the password?"

Hermione and Ron shook their heads. Harry knew it was some kind of candy, but it was always another one. "Even if you did," A voice piped in. The three Gryffindors turned to find Neville heading towards them, "You wouldn't find him."

"Neville." Harry gasped. "How have you been? Where were you? Did you see our attacker?"

"No, I have no idea who it was." Neville hung his head low like a child who just disappointed his parents. "They took me somewhere to the dungeons and then the spell just suddenly stopped. When I was able to move again, you and the attacker were gone. I tried to tell someone about it but it seems like everyone has more important things to do."

"Was the task already over when you were Finited?" Hermione asked.

Neville shook his head. "I wasn't body-binded for long. Just took a while to find the way. I have never been in the dungeons before. It's like a labyrinth down there."

"And how do you know Dumbledore's not here?" Ron said.

"I tried to talk to him," Neville said. "But he disappeared somewhere with Professor Moody. And I know they're not done because when I tried to talk to Professor McGonagall she got an owl. I could catch a glimpse on the parchment. It said something like Code Phoenix. And she said 'Oh Merlin, Albus' and hurried away. I suspect the other heads of the houses got the same message because I can't find them anywhere."

"And how do you know they're not here?" Ron asked.

"Because McGonagall went to the Great Hall." Neville said. "You know, that little backdoor where the Champions went after they got chosen by the Goblet of Fire."

"Then we'll look for them there." Hermione started to walk without waiting for their response.

"We can try." Harry followed her. "But that sounds like the teachers have a lot more important stuff to do."

"More important than the kidnap of a Champion?" Ron asked rhetorically.

"It's not like I was hurt." Harry said. They were moving down the stairs quickly. It was a habit the three of them had picked up after the stairs had moved in first year, which had lead them to the forbidden corridor. In hopes of avoiding another incident, they always tried to pass the staircases quickly.

"Still." Hermione said. "You could have been."

"You were kidnapped?" Neville asked incredulously from behind Ron.

"Long story." Harry said. He did not have the nerve to tell the story again. They were reaching the bottom of the stairs, entering the Entrance Hall. Hermione barely paid attention to her surroundings and briskly crossed the Hall to reach the Great Hall. Harry had no choice but to adapt her pace. Hearing Neville and Ron following him, he held the door open and let them pass before he entered the Great Hall after them.

The Great Hall looked so much larger without students filling it with chatter and life. Usually, students were not allowed in the Great Hall at this time in the evening, but this was an emergency. Their hurried steps sounded lonely and loud in the empty big Hall and the flickering shadows caused by the few torches that were still lit created a spooky atmosphere.

Soon they reached the small door at the side of the teacher's table. "Harry." Hermione said quietly. "I think you should go in first. You're the one involved after all."

Harry nodded, although he felt a bit uneasy interrupting whatever was going on behind this door. "You know what?" Harry said, pulling his hand back from the door. "I think this can wait until tomorrow."

"No." Hermione said. "What if the abductor comes back tonight?"

"Come on, mate." Ron said. "You're a lot of things, but you're not a coward."

Harry bit his lip. They were right. That did not mean he had to like it. Tentatively, he knocked the door. He heard some voices inside, but he could not make out a word they were saying. He knocked a bit firmer. Hearing footsteps come closer, he took a step backwards.

The door opened just enough to reveal a stressed looking Professor McGonagall. "Mr. Potter, it's such a relief to see you unharmed." She nodded at her students. "Give me a second." She closed the door. A mumbled conversation reached the Gryffindors, but Harry could not understand a word they were saying. Finally, the door opened again and Professor McGonagall looked back at them with a deep frown. "This is really not a good time."

"We have a report to make." Hermione said.

"What is going on in there?" Ron asked what Harry did not dare to say out loud. He was trying to peer past McGonagall but she was shielding most of the view. All Harry could make out was a bunch of people, probably teachers, pointing their wand at someone sitting in a chair. They were probably restricted, but the room was only illuminated by a fire and was too dark for Harry to make out more than a few shapes.

"This is none of your concern, Mr. Weasley." Professor McGonagall said strictly. She was using that tone she always used when she got impatient, normally when her students took too long to pick up on a transfiguration technique. "Is this important? We're really busy in here."

"Yes-" Hermione said at the same time as Harry said, "No, Professor." Harry glared at his friend who glared back. "No, Professor." Harry repeated, still glaring at Hermione. "We'll come back tomorrow."

"I appreciate that, Mr. Potter." Harry felt incredibly sorry for the woman. He did not know what exactly was going on, but she seemed stressed and tired and worried, and he knew she was feeling guilty for not being able to be there for her students right now. Professor McGonagall sent them all one last reassuring smile before she closed the door.

"Harry-" Hermione scolded.

"Leave it, Hermione." Harry said. "They obviously have something important to do in there. And it's my decision to make, not yours." Hermione did not look happy, but she stayed silent. The four Gryffindors started walking through the empty Great Hall again, this time towards the exit. "What do you think was going on in there?" Harry asked.

"I couldn't see anything." Neville said.

"I could." Ron said, looking a bit nauseous. "And if I saw right then this is terrible."

"What?" Harry pressed.

"The teachers were all pointing a wand at one person. I think he was bound, but they were still scared of him." Ron said.

"I saw that too." Harry said. "How do you know it was a he?"

"Because," Ron said. "I think I recognized his face. Bill had a report with him about the Death Eaters that might still be alive, you remember?"

"Death Eaters?" Hermione almost shrieked and Neville's eyes widened.

Ron nodded. "Bill was telling me about this one guy who was the son of Crouch, you know? The one who was also a judge at the Tournament."

"Oh yeah, I remember him." Harry said grimly. "He was the one imprisoning Sirius."

"Who? Crouch or his son?" Neville sounded confused.

"Crouch." Harry said.

"Well yeah." Ron said. "Sirius isn't the only one he imprisoned. Apparently, he imprisoned his own son." The other three just looked at him, shocked. Ron nodded. "Crouch Jr. turned out to be a Death Eater. That's why. Apparently he died in Azkaban. But people have reported seeing him. No one knows if that's true though. And the one in the room," He pointed behind himself where they had left the teachers behind, "That looked like him."

They all were quiet, mulling over the events until they reached the exit. Harry pushed at the heavy door and held it open for his friends, who all mumbled out thank you's.

"Such a gentleman, aren't you, Potter?" Harry heard an all too familiar voice. His stomach fluttered with excitement as he let the door fall closed and turned around.

"Malfoy." Harry said, letting a lazy smirk spread on his lips.

"Where have you been?" Malfoy said, and for a second Harry wondered if he had been worried about him. "Shouldn't you have been out there, playing the hero no one asked for?"

"Missed me, did ya?" Harry smirked.

"You wish." Malfoy said disdainfully, but there was a light pretty blush on his cheeks that sent a thrill through Harry.

"Oh," Harry took a step closer. "I do." He said in a deep voice, not letting his eyes leave Malfoy's grey ones for a second. Defiantly, Malfoy looked back, but he could not prevent the heat spreading delightfully across his cheeks. Malfoy looked down at his hands, then looked back up at Harry with a mean glare again.

"It's not the honourable Gryffindor way to lie, Potter." Malfoy turned around and walked away, probably to the Slytherin dorm. Harry looked after him. A giddy smile replaced a smirk and something went crazy in the pit of his stomach. How could a person walk so adorably haughty?

"I wonder," Hermione said. "When you stopped lying to yourself."

"Hm?" Harry said, still not tearing his eyes from where Malfoy was disappearing into the hallway leading to the dungeons. The Gryffindors started moving into the general direction of the stairs. "Ow!" Abruptly, Harry's eyes were on the stairs and his hands darted out to avoid hitting his head.

Harry glared at Ron from the ground. His best friend was laughing at him for tripping. But somehow, the look Neville and Hermione gave him were worse. Silently amused, trying to not let it show, with a hint of pity. Hastily, Harry stood up, looking around furtively to see how many people had witnessed his embarrassing trip. Fortunately, Malfoy was already gone.

Harry looked back at his friends, and he could not help but laugh along with Ron. Hermione and Neville finally joined in. "Are you okay?" Hermione asked between her laughs. Harry nodded. His knees and his hands hurt a bit from breaking his fall, but it was nothing he could not handle.

"Maybe next time, you should look where you're going." Ron teased. Harry rolled his eyes. He was probably right. That did not mean Harry would show it. He looked back to where Malfoy had disappeared, the reason Harry had fallen. He remembered the pretty blush Harry had conjured on Malfoy's pretty face. A soft smile formed on Harry's lips. Ron would never understand.

"Harry!"

Called boy looked up, seeing his friends already two flights of stairs ahead of him. Quickly, he caught up with them. He did not realize he was humming until Neville pointed out, "For someone who just got abducted today, you're in a strangely good mood." Harry just shrugged.

They were approaching the portrait. "Flubberworm." Hermione said and the boys followed her through the hole. Before turning to her own dorms, she told them, "Wait here for a second."

Neville, Ron and Harry looked after her running up to her room, then at each other and shrugged. "Neville." Harry remembered something. "Before the spell hit us," Harry waited for Neville to nod as a sign that he knew what Harry was talking about. "What were you going to say?"

"Oh." Neville said. "Right, umm. I heard some Slytherins talking. They said something about terrible things in the maze and about You Know Who. That he was in there trying to get Harry. They were laughing about it. They said he was coming back to get you. And they said they were hoping he would kill... you, Harry."

Ron and Harry looked at him, aghast.

"I know, I know." Neville said. "Maybe they were just talking and maybe it was stupid to believe them, but I just, in case they were not just talking nonsense-"

"No, you did right, trying to tell Harry." Hermione said. Ron and Harry looked at her, surprised. They had not noticed her coming back.

"Who was it, Neville?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Neville said. "I just overheard it when I came back from the greenhouses. I couldn't see them. But I'm pretty sure I recognized Malfoy's voice."

"Malfoy?" For some reason, that information felt like someone rammed a knife into Harry's heart. Malfoy wanted him dead? Harry bit down on his lip firmly. Somehow this pain made it more bearable.

"Harry." Hermione said. "When everyone in your dorms has gone to bed, put this in front of the door." She handed him a brown inconspicuous looking doormat. Harry turned it over twice, then looked at Hermione questioningly. "It's a doormat from Fred and George." She explained. "If someone steps on it, it expands and closes around them."

"Why do you have it?" Ron wondered.

"I took it away from them when they were planning on pranking a first year." Hermione said. "She was already frightened enough."

"Fred and George would be honoured to know their invention saved Harry Potter." Ron grinned.

"I'm sure they would." Hermione said. "Do you promise?"

"What?" Harry asked.

"That you put that in front of your door." Hermione specified. "I would sleep better if you would. Just this one night. Tomorrow we can tell Dumbledore. Before classes."

Harry nodded. "Promise."