▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘, Harry had quickly explained to them everything that had happened last night. Fudge had been in Dumbledore's office throwing a fit before Harry had walked in and he left. Harry had accidentally put himself into one of Dumbledore's memories that showed Barty Crouch Jr. being a proclaimed Death Eater and when Harry was leaving he saw Karkaroff and Snape talking with Karkaroff showing snape a mark on his arm. After that, Snape had accused him of stealing things from his supplies.

Juniper let out a breath. "That was a lot of information."

They were all outside on the bridge between two parts of the castle. Ron was leaning against the wall in front of Harry who was pacing back and forth, Juniper had her back pressed to the railing of an open window and Hermione was sitting on the inside of an open window. "What do you suppose is on Karkaroff's arm?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Harry answered.

"Boomslang skin and lacewing flies?" Hermione asked. "Are you sure those are the two ingredients Snape mentioned?" Hermione stood, walking over to Juniper.

"Positive. Why?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Juniper asked.

"Would I be asking why if I thought it were obvious, June?" Harry asked her and she cracked a smile.

"They're ingredients for Polyjuice Potion." Juniper told him, turning to Hermione and fixing her scarf.

Hermione blushed at the action before forcing herself to look at Harry. "He thinks we're brewing Polyjuice Potion, doesn't he?"

"I don't care what Snape thinks." Harry answered. "We've got bigger problems than detention." Harry walked forwards, walking down a set of steps before sitting on one of them. Juniper pulled away from Hermione and sat down beside him. "Something's coming closer. I can feel it." A hand went up to his scar and Juniper couldn't help but frown.

Juniper softly sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. Harry rested his head on top of hers. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out." She grabbed his hand, giving it a small squeeze. "We always do." Harry squeezed her hand back. Juniper softly sighed as she stood up. "I'll catch up with you lot later. I told Fleur I'd spend some time with her today before the next trial."

"If I didn't know any better, June, I'd say you were replacing us with Fleur." Harry said, a small smile on his lips.

"Oh please, as if she ever could." Hermione scoffed. "You need us and you know it."

Juniper rolled her eyes. "I do, I do. But, in reality, you need me. You guys would go fall apart without me around."

"What would we ever do without you." Harry joked.

Juniper began walking backwards, shrugging her shoulders as she smiled. "Go insane probably." The trio laughed and Juniper smiled at them before walking away.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐓. The last task was here and Juniper was practically bathing in anxiety. They were sitting in the stands in front of the maze, surrounded by joyful music and crowds cheering, but Juniper felt anything but joyful. Her arms were crossed over her chest, a worried frown on her face. Her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth and her knee was bouncing up and down nervously. Hermione watched the girl and gently reached over, placing a hand over her knee making it stop moving.

Amos Diggory ran in first, proudly raising a hand as Cedric followed in after him. Next was Fleur and Madame Maxine. After them was Krum and Karkaroff. Lastly, Harry walked in with Dumbledore. Dumbledore walked up to a podium in the middle of the field below. "Sonorus!" He yelled and the music was abruptly cut as were the cheers. "Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard Cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now, as Mr. Diggory. . ." This earned cheers. ". . . and Mr. Potter. . ." More cheers. ". . . are tied for first position they will be the first to enter the maze followed by Mr. Krum. . ." Cheers from the Durmstrang. ". . . and miss Delacour. The first person to touch the cup will be the winner."

People stood up cheering and Dumbledore continued, "I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter. Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from the task, he or she only need send up red sparks with their wands." Dumbledore turned. "Contestants! Gather around. Quickly!" He said words to them that the rest of the crowd couldn't hear. He walked away from them. "Champions, prepare yourselves!" The four walked to a different opening to the maze. "On the count of three. One. . ." And then the canon went off.

"They always leave Filch the job to shoot off the canon, but every time he's always messed something up." Juniper mumbled. She watched as Harry entered the maze and she let out a shaky breath. "Here we go."

They waited, and waited, and waited for what felt like forever. Two sets of flares went up and Fleur and Krum came out. They waited longer, the music still going, the crowd watching and waiting anxiously. Night had fallen and then Harry appeared. He was bent over a body and Juniper realized he was crying. She shot up in her seat. Everyone stood and started going down the steps but Juniper was just trying to get to Harry. When she heard Fleur scream, she knew.

Dumbledore was trying to pull Harry off but Harry refused, not wanting to leave Cedric who was now dead. Fudge yelled, "For God's sake Dumbledore, what's happened?"

"He's back." Harry cried, looking at Dumbledore. "He's back. Voldemort's back. Cedric, he asked me to bring his body. I couldn't leave him. Not there."

"It's alright, Harry. It's alright." Dumbledore told him. "He's home. You both are."

"Keep everybody in their seats." Fudge ordered Snape and McGonagall. He whispered, "A boy's just been killed." Fudge walked back over to Dumbledore. "The body must be moved, Dumbledore. There are too many people."

"Let me through." Amos said, pushing his way through people. "Let me through!" He got past the crowd and ran down the steps. He ran up to them and when he saw Cedric he screamed, "That's my son! It's my boy!" He fell to his knees beside his sons body as he cried. "It's my boy!"

Juniper felt tears fall down her cheek as she started to force herself through the crowd. Hermione grabbed her, holding on to her with the help of Ron. She struggled in their grips. "Let me go! I need to get to Harry! Let me go!" Juniper pulled away from them and shoved through the crowd with Ron and Hermione following after her. By the time she got there, Harry had been dragged away by Moody. "Where is he? Harry!"

"He's fine. June, he's fine." Hermione tried to console her.

"He just watched Cedric die. He is not fine!" Juniper snapped, tears running down her cheeks. "I need to get to him. I need—Hermione, I need to get to him." Hermione grabbed onto her and pulled her into her arms, hugging her. She couldn't help but cry. She cried for Cedric, she cried for Harry, she cried because so much was happening and Harry had just confirmed that Voldemort was back.

"Moody has him," Hermione whispered into her hair. "He's safe."

Juniper sniffed, looking up at her. That's when it all clicked. Moody's entrance and the way the ceiling had acted up. The way he was always drinking something from the flask that would make his entire body shake. Snape accusing Harry of stealing ingredients for a Polyjuice Potion. Moody's sudden attachment to Harry. It all clicked. In that moment Juniper realized that Moody wasn't who he said he was. She snapped her head around before spotting Snape and McGonagall. She pulled herself from Hermione's arms and ran over to them.

"Minnie, Snape." Juniper called to them, causing the two professors to turn to her. "Listen to me." She looked at Snape. "I know who's been stealing your supplies. It's Moody. He's not who he says he is and he just took Harry." The two professors exchanged looks. "Please. I know I sound crazy, but you have to listen to me. Harry is in danger. Please."

The two professors quickly left, grabbing Dumbledore as they did so. Juniper felt her heart slam in her chest. Hermione and Ron ran up to her. "June, what's happening."

"I'm an idiot." Juniper hissed, closing her eyes as she placed her hands in her hair. "I knew there was something off about him but I didn't say anything because I thought I was being paranoid. Oh God, what if I was too late? What if he's already killed him?"

Hermione placed her hands on Juniper's shoulders. "Juniper, you're not making any sense."

"Moody." Juniper said. "He's an imposter."

"Blimey," Ron mumbled.

"And Harry's with him."

They made it back to their common room and Juniper couldn't stop pacing. Ron and Hermione were sitting on the couch, watching as the girl walked back and forth. When the door opened and Harry walked in, Juniper ran to him and threw her arms around him. Harry tightly hugged her back and they stood like that for a moment, just holding onto each other. No one could speak and Juniper finally pulled away and looked at him.

Tears were in her eyes as she looked at the cut on his arm. "Harry, I'm so sorry. This is my fault."

Harry shook his head. "How could this possibly be your fault?"

"I should've said something about Moody." Juniper whispered. "If I would have said something, maybe none of this would've happened."

"Or maybe it would have happened either way." Harry gently told her. "June, look at me." Juniper did. "This is not your fault." More tears fell down her cheeks and Harry wiped them away before pulling her into another hug. "It's not your fault."

The next morning, they were all sitting in the Great Hall. There was a solemn air hanging around the room, no one was talking, there wasn't any laughter, there was only grief. Dumbledore, who usually stood at the podium to talk, was sat in his chair. "Today, we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard-working, infinitely fair-minded, and most importantly a fierce, fierce friend. Now, I think, therefore, you have the right to know exactly how he died."

Dumbledore stood and walked towards the podium. "Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so, I think would be an insult to his memory. Now, the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, reminds us, that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events the bonds of friendship we've made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will have not died in vain. You remember that and we will celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true right to the very end."