3rd Person POV

Harry landed on the grass, clutching the bodies of Y/N and Cedric as the cheers erupted from their arrival, the crowd thinking that Harry had won.

"Y/N, we're here, mate." Harry smiled, shaking his shoulder.

"Come on Y/N, wake up!" Harry shouted, tears rolling down his cheeks, seeing that his friend wasn't moving.

A pair of hands seized Harry's shoulders. Turning around, Harry saw Dumbledore, whose gaze was completely focused on the two boys.

"Harry.....what happened....?" He asked.

"He's back," Harry cried. "Voldemort's back! We have to do something! Y/N can't be dead!"

The crowd went into a state of shock, realizing that Y/N and Cedric were unresponsive.

Hermione shot up from her seat, sobbing as she rushed to her boyfriend, shoving her way past everyone who stood in her way.

Thomas followed behind her, alongside a young woman with purple hair, and Steven in his eagle form.

"No......no.....no!" Hermione sobbed, crashing down onto Y/N's chest as she cried. "Y/N, please wake up!"

"You promised!" She exclaimed, now being comforted by the older L/N. "You promised you'd come back to me!"

Amos Diggory had now arrived, sobbing as he held his supposedly dead son.

"Minerva! Alastor! Ludo! Severus!" Dumbledore called. "Keep the crowd back, please!"

They did as they were told, despite having their own concerns. Especially Professor McGonagall, who was wanting to see her godson.

The Weasley's had found their way onto the grass, followed by Tom, Selena, Sam, Mia, and Pansy.

Cornelius Fudge followed them as well, waddling his way over the the center.

"My God!" He said. "Diggory and L/N, they're dead!"

"No! Don't say that, he can't be dead!" Hermione cried, crying into his chest as Fudge tried pulling her off.

"Young lady, let go of him." He persisted, trying to pry Hermione from her boyfriend. "You can't save him, he's already gone."

"Leave her alone, Fudge." Thomas snarled, glaring angrily at the short, portly man.

Seeing the L/N man's angry demeanor, Fudge stepped aside, allowing access to everyone.

"They can't be dead!" Harry cried. "Voldemort wanted me, only me!"

"You Know Who?" Fudge exclaimed. "What nonsense are you talking about? You Know Who has been dead for thirteen years!"

"Voldemort's back! We saw it!" Harry shouted, gesturing to himself and the boys. The tears streaming down his cheeks as he yelled.

"You've lost your mind! Perhaps you've stumbled across a Boggart in the maze-"

"Don't even go there." Thomas growled. "Harry's already seen enough tonight."

"Tom." The purple haired girl said, calling the older L/N over to Cedric.

"This boy's hand just moved."

Thomas and Dumbledore shifted their attention to the Diggory boy, and by a miracle it seemed, he had a pulse.

"But how?" Fudge asked. "He was dead not one minute ago."

Thomas looked towards his nephew, smirking subtly as he figured it out.

"A sleeping death spell." Thomas chuckled sadly. "He knew this would happen all along."

"How could this happen?" Amos said, in amazement and in curiosity. "Will Cedric be alright?"

"I can explain everything later Amos." Thomas said, looking back at his nephew.

"Your always saving everyone." Hermione said sadly, kissing Y/Ns lips gently. "Why couldn't you have just saved yourself for once?"

"I love you so much Y/N L/N."

And suddenly, as if God himself made a miracle happen, Y/Ns hand grabbed Hermione's, causing everyone to gasp in shock.

"Did anyone else just see what I saw?" Hermione asked the others, who nodded intently.

"He must be unconscious." The purple haired woman said. "We should take Y/N and Diggory to the hospital wing."

"I want an explanation for all of this!" Fudge demanded. "This seems rather fishy!"

"Here's your explanation Fudge, they're alive." Thomas said sternly, turning towards Hermione.

"Hermione, Harry, would you help us take Y/N and Cedric to the hospital wing?"

"Absolutely." Hermione said, now relieved that her boyfriend wasn't dead, but concerned about his unconsciousness.

Casting a levitation spell, Hermione conjured Y/Ns body into the air, impressing just about everyone.

"Wow, you really are the brightest witch of your age." Thomas said in amazement. "My nephew's a lucky one."

Hermione smiled at the comment, thanking the L/N man as they walked towards the hospital wing.

Steven took flight into the sky, leading everyone towards the castle.

Before Harry could join them however, Moody gripped Harry's arm, taking him away from all the commotion.

"You need some rest." He gruffed. "The whole ordeal has taken its toll on you."

"But what about Y/N?" Harry asked as he was being ushered out of the Quidditch Pitch.

"Don't bother with it." Moody grumbled. "We'll talk about him later when you are resting in a bed."

Moody ended the conversation, checking every which way as they strode up the staircase.

"What happened, Harry?"

"The cup was a Portkey." Harry explained. "It took the three of us to a graveyard. Wormtail was there- Peter Pettigrew, you may know him as. He made a potion and threw Voldemort into it....there were sparks and flames everywhere and that's how Voldemort got his body back." M

"That Dark Lord got his body back, you say?" Moody asked. "You mean he's returned?"

"Yeah......and some Death Eaters came, he strapped Y/N to a tombstone with chains and they tortured him. We ended up dueling him..."

"The both of you dueled with the Dark Lord?"

"Yeah." Harry nodded. "As soon as Y/N broke free the both of us dueled him."

"How did L/N break free?"

"I'm not sure exactly, I saw his eyes change a bright red, and he just snapped his chains. I don't think I've ever seen him like that before."

"And then what happened?"

"Y/N just beat up some Death Eaters, and used some spells on them, and after that we ended up dueling Voldemort."

"And then what happened?" Moody asked aggressively. "I don't have all day."

"My wand did something funny, our spells clashed, and my Mum and Dad came out of his wand, Y/Ns Mum was there too."

"In here, Potter......in here and take a seat," Moody said, opening the door to his classroom and making way to his office.

When he returned, he brought back a cup of clear liquid, pushing it into Harry's hands. "Drink it, you'll feel better......come on Harry, I need to know exactly what happened?"

Moody helped Harry shove the drink into his mouth, which the Potter boy felt was a bit odd.

Moody had given Harry a calming drought, which never eased his worries about Y/N and Cedric.

"You said that Voldemorts back Harry, Are you sure? How did he manage it?"

"Bone from the father, flesh from the servant, and blood off me." Harry explained. Raising his arm slowly to reveal his bleeding arm.

"And the Death Eaters? They returned, you said?"

"Yeah, loads of them." Harry replied. "Fenwick Hawthorne, Jakob Grindewald, and some other man I can't remember."

"Grimwood." Moody clarified. "Oh he hates L/N, more then one could imagine."

Harry raised his eyebrows in confusion, what would Moody mean by that?

"How did he treat the Death Eaters?" Mood continued. "Did he forgive them?"

"Wait a minute! There's a Death Eater at Hogwarts!" Harry explained, sitting up from his seat. "I have to go find Dumbledore-"

But before Harry could exit, he was pushed back onto the seat by Moody.

"I know who the Death Eater is." He said quietly.

"Is it Kakaroff?" Harry asked. "Where is he? Did you get him? Is he going to Azkaban?"

"Kakaroff?" Moody laughed. "Kakaroff fled tonight, he felt the Dark Mark burn on his arm. He betrayed too many faithful supporters of Voldemort to wish to meet them....I doubt he'll get far. The Dark Lord has a way of tracking down his enemies."

Yeah, no kidding.

"Kakaroff's gone?" Harry asked. "But that wouldn't mean he didn't put our names into the Cup."

"No....no he didn't. That was all me."

"What?" Harry asked quietly, not knowing if he heard correctly.

"You heard right." Moody said, using his magical eye to observe the door. "He forgave them, then? The Death Eaters who went free? The ones who escaped Azkaban?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Moody pulled out his wand, aiming it towards Harry as he casted a spell.

"Expelliarmus!" He shouted as Harry ran towards the back, ducking behind a table.

"Who are you really?" Harry asked in anger.

"I asked you a question Potter." Moody snapped. "Now answer it!"

"No!" Harry shot back. "You're the reason Y/N and I almost died, you're the reason we were even in this bloody tournament to begin with!"

"Quiet! I asked you whether or not he forgave the scum who never went to look for him."  Moody shouted. "Those treacherous cowards who wouldn't brave Azkaban for him. The faithless, worthless bits of filth who were brave enough to cavort masks at the Quidditch World Cup, but fled at the sight of the Dark Mark in the sky."

"That was you?" Harry asked.

"If there's one thing I hate more, it's a Death Eater who walked free. They turned their backs on my master, when he needed them the most. I expected him to punish them. I expected him to torture them. Tell me hurt them, Potter."

Moody smiled evilly, making his way towards Harry.

"Tell me he told them that I, and I alone remained faithful. Prepared to Rick everything to deliver him the two things he wanted the most.....you and L/N."

"Someone surely would have noticed!"

"There were some close calls....I put your names into the Goblet of Fire under a different school. I even told everyone how I did it. I frightened off every person I thought might try to hurt you or prevent you from winning the tournament. Who do you think nudged Hagrid into showing you the dragons? Remember that? It hadn't been easy, you know, guiding you and L/N through these tasks without arousing suspicion. I didn't even think a bloody Romanian Demonskull would be at the tournament."

"You were a Slytherin weren't you?"

"Silence!" Moody ordered, getting impatient. "Dumbledore would have been very suspicious if you managed everything very easily....."

"The second task... that was when I was most afraid we would fail. I was keeping watch on you, Potter. I knew you hadn't worked out the egg's clue, so I had to give you another hint-" '

"Cedric gave me that hint-" Harry began.

"Who d'you think told him to open it underwater!? I did, that's who! Decent people are easy to manipulate, Potter. I was sure Cedric would want to repay you for telling him about the dragons, and I was so sure the plan had failed when he helped you against Krum... but no, 'he who has a heart of gold' decided that wasn't enough and helped you once again anyway. But even then, Potter, even then you seemed likely to fail. I was watching all the time... all those hours in the library-"

Couldn't think of anything else to spend your time?

"It's too bad, L/N is too smart for that." Moody continued. "That boy gave me some close calls at times."

"Didn't you realise that the book you needed was in your dormitory all along? I planted it there early on, I gave it to the Longbottom boy, don't you remember? Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties. You were there when he got it. I was sure you would have realised, having seen a few pages of it when you were walking down the halls with him. It would have told you all you needed about Gillyweed. I expected you to ask anyone you could for help-"

"But you didn't.....you and L/N have a streak of pride that could have ruined it all! So what could I do? Feed you information from another innocent source. I overheard that Heather Weasley at the Yule Ball saying that a house elf called Dobby had given you and L/N a Christmas present. I called the elf to the staff room to collect some robes for cleaning. I staged a loud conversation with Professor McGonagall about the hostages who had been taken, and whether the Potters would think of using Gillyweed. And your little elf friend ran straight to Snape's stores and hurried to find the both of you."

"You were so stupid to return into that Lake after you recieved Mr. Weasley. You should have realised that, pure and wise, Albus Dumbledore wouldn't allow for anyone to die in those waters. But luckily, Dumbledore and the other judges, minus Karkaroff of course, took your stupidity as nobility, and marked you high points for it. I had to play my cards as they were dealt."

"I was patrolling the outskirts of the maze, able to see through the hedges with my eye, able to curse many of your obstacles out of the way. I put the Imperius Curse on Krum, he took down Fleur, then he went after L/N and Mr Diggory."

"It wasn't necessarily hard to have Krum go after L/N, considering the number he put on him in the Great Hall. Very impressive I must admit. I now know why the Dark Lord wants L/N off the board, the Heir of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw house, a prodigy by which the likes nobody has ever seen before. He is powerful, even powerful enough to take down the Dark Lord is he so pleased, as you saw tonight."

"The Dark Lord didn't manage to kill you tonight, Potter, and he so wanted to... imagine how he will reward me, when he finds I have done it for him. I gave you both to him - the thing he needed above all to regenerate - and then killed you both for him. I will be honoured beyond all other Death Eaters. I will be his dearest, his closest supporter... closer than a son..."

"The Dark Lord and I," Mad Eye continued. "Have much in common-"  '

Like long, drowning monologues that don't need to be said? Because if so, then yes, you have more in common then anyone thought.

"Both of us, for instance," Moody pressed on. "Had very disappointing fathers... very disappointing indeed. Both of us suffered the indignity, Harry, of being named after those fathers. And both of us had the pleasure... the very great pleasure... of killing our fathers, to ensure the continued rise of the Dark Order!" 

"Now I understand why they call you Mad Eye...."

"Mad, am I? We'll see! We'll see who's mad, now that the Dark Lord has risen again, with me at his side! He is back, Harry Potter, you did not conquer him - and now - I conquer you! And when I'm done, I'll kill L/N myself!"

Moody raised his wand, preparing the killing curse, but before he could say anything-

"Bombarda!" Steven yelled, shooting sparks out of his wand as he knocked Moody onto the ground.

"You're not laying a hand on Harry, or my son."

"Dammit Steve." Thomas said annoyingly. "You were supposed to wait for my signal, you always do this."

"Do you expect anything less of me, little brother?"

"As much as I'd like to agree with Thomas, Steven was right in doing so." Dumbledore emerged calmly.

But Albus Dumbledore was anything then calm, there was no glimmer in his eyes as he stared at the unconscious Moody, he was angry. Angry at everything he had just heard from outside the door.

"Come along Potter." Professor McGonagall ushered. "Come along......Hospital Wing for you."

"No." Dumbledore said simply, causing Professor McGonagall to look at him in shock.

"But Headmaster, he ought to. Look at him." She spoke, gesturing towards his cuts and bruises. "He's been through enough tonight."

"That may be, Minerva but he needs to understand. Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery. He needs to know who has put Y/N and him through this ordeal they have suffered tonight, and why."

"It was Moody." Harry spoke. "He told me so."

"This is not Alastor Moody. You have never known Alastor Moody. The real Moody would not have removed you from my sight after what happened tonight. The moment he took you, I knew - and I followed." Dumbledore explained, bending down to the supposed imposter, pulling out the hip flask out of his pocket.

"Severus, please fetch me the strongest Truth Potion you possess, and then go down to the kitchens, and bring up the house elf called Winky.

"Minerva, kindly go down to Hagrid's house, where you will find a large black dog sitting in the pumpkin patch. Take the dog up to my office, tell him I will be with him shortly, then come back here.

"Steven, Thomas, go back upstairs to the hospital wing, Y/N will want to see you all when he wakes up."

Steven nodded, glaring at the unconscious imposter as he turned to leave, but not before turning his attention towards Snape, who clearly did not want to see one of his school time bullies in the same vicinity of him.

Steven turned into his eagle form, perching himself on his brothers shoulder as they took their leave.

"Will Y/N be alright?" Harry asked as Dumbledore nodded.

"He is merely unconscious from what happened tonight." Dumbledore informed. "I will speak to him when he wakes."

Dumbledore walked over to a large trunk, which had several different locks, fitted the first key into the lock, turned, and opened it. This specific compartment contained only a few spell books. He closed the trunk, and began to unlock the second lock, finding that the spell books had disappeared and been replaced by a bunch of broken Sneakoscopes, some parchment and quills, as well as an Invisibility Cloak.

Dumbledore continued unlocking the chest, finding all sorts of things inside, until he reached the seventh, and final lock to open a large pit.

Harry looked over the threshold of the trunk, peering deep down into the underground room. At the very bottom, apparently fast asleep or knocked out cold, was a very thin and starved Mad Eye Moody.

His wooden leg was missing, along with his magical eye. It was not a pretty sight to see without the magical eye, very morbid. Tons of his hair had also seemed to be missing, with large chunks of it clearly torn from his scalp.

Dumbledore jumped in. He fell for a moment, before landing at the bottom next to the real Mad Eye Moody. He bent over him, opening
his one good eye.

"Stunned," Dumbledore spoke. "Controlled by the Imperius Curse... very weak. Of course, they would have needed to keep him alive. Harry, throw down the impostor's cloak, Alastor is freezing. Madam Pomfrey will need to see him, but he seems in no immediate danger."

Harry yanked the cloak off the back of Moody's chair, dropping it down into the pit. Dumbledore tucked it tightly around the freezing man, and climbed back out of the trunk. He picked up the hip flask, unscrewed the cap, and spilled the drink onto the floor.

"Poly juice Potion." He said simply. "I figured as much. Moody never drinks from his hip flask, he's well known for it. The imposter needed, of course( to keep the real Moody close by, so he could keep making the potion."

"You see his hair....the imposter has been pulling it out all year, see where it is uneven?" Dumbledore continued.

"I think, in the excitement of tonight, our imposter might have forgotten to take it frequently as he should have done....on the hour.....every hour."

Dumbledore took a chair, placing it carefully on the floor as he sat next to Harry.

"I'm afraid, Harry, that we may be here for a while." Dumbledore spoke.

"It's fine, like you said, I need to understand to recover right?"

Dumbledore nodded, watching intently as Moody's features began to change.

His scars had disappeared. His skin had become smoother, his nose had regained its lost chunk, and then shrank. His hair went back into his scalp, turning into a deep black color.

This seemed like someone very familiar.

His wooden leg fell to the floor, as a normal leg began to grow in place. The magical eyeball fell out of his socket, and in its place, a real one grew.

And finally, sitting before them, was the same man Y/N and Harry had seen being taken away by Dementors in the Pensieve.

The same man who had supposedly died in Azkaban.

The son of Barry Crouch himself.

Barry Crouch Jr.

"Crouch!" Snape exclaimed, returning to the office with Winky and Professor McGonagall. "Barty Crouch!"

"Good Heavens," Professor McGonagall said, stopping at the doorway.

"Master Barty! Master Barty! What is you doing here?!" Winky shrieked, flinging herself onto the unconscious man. "You is killed him! You is killed him! You is killed master's son!"

"He is simply stunned, Winky," Dumbledore spoke. "Step aside, please. Severus, you have the Potion?" Veritaserum. Snape handed it to Dumbledore, who promptly poured three drops of it into the man's mouth. "Rennervate." Crouch's son opened his eyes, spotting Dumbledore knelt before him. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes," Crouch said.

"I would like you to tell us how you come to be here. How did you escape from Azkaban?"

"My mother saved me," he said in a monotone voice, emotionless and flat. "She knew she was dying. She persuaded my father to rescue me as a last favour to her. He loved her as he never loved me. He agreed. They came to visit me. They gave me a draught of Polyjuice Potion, containing one of my mother's hairs. She took another, with one of mine. We took on each other's appearances."

"Say no more, Master Barty, say no more, you is getting your father into trouble!" Winky cried.

"The Dementors are blind," Crouch's son continued, ignoring Winky's sobs. "They sensed one healthy, one dying person entering Azkaban. They sensed one healthy, one dying person leaving Azkaban. My father smuggled me out, disguised as my mother, in case any prisoners were watching through their doors."

"My mother died a short while afterwards in Azkaban. She was careful to drink Polyjuice Potion until the end. She was buried under my name, and bearing my appearance. Everyone believed her to be me."

"And what did your father do with you, when you got home?" Dumbledore asked.

"Staged my mother's death. A quiet, private, closed-casket funeral. That grave is empty. The house elf nursed me back to health. Then I had to be concealed. I had to be controlled. My father had to use a number of spells to subdue me. When I had recovered my strength, I thought only of finding my master... of returning to his service."

"How did your father subdue you?"

"The Imperius Curse. You wouldn't think, would you? The man who was so against the Dark Arts, performing an Unforgivable Curse on his own son? I was completely under my father's control. I was forced to wear an Invisibility Cloak day and night. I was always with the house elf. She was my keeper and carer. She pitied me. She persuaded my father to give me occasional treats. Rewards for my good behaviour."

"Master Barty, Master Barty!" Winky sobbed. "Say no more! You isn't ought to tell them, we is getting in trouble..."

"Did anybody else discover that you were still alive?" Dumbledore asked. "Did anyone except your father, and the house elf find out?"

"Yes," Crouch said. "A witch in my father's office, Bertha Jorkins. She came to the house, with papers for my father's signature. He wasn't home. Winky showed her inside and returned to the kitchen, to me. But Bertha Jorkins heard Winky talking to me. She came to investigate. She heard enough to guess who was hiding under the Invisibility Cloak. My father arrived home. She confronted him. He put a very powerful Memory Charm on her to make her forget what she'd found out. Too powerful. He said it damaged her memory permanently."

"Tell me about the Quidditch World Cup," Dumbledore said.

"Winky talked my father into it," Crouch said, in the same monotone voice. "She spent months persuading him. I had not left the house for years. I had loved Quidditch. 'Let him go', she said. 'He will be in his Invisibility Cloak. He can watch. Let him smell fresh air for once'. She said my mother would have wanted it. She told my father that my mother had died to give me freedom. She had not saved me for a life of imprisonment. He agreed in the end."

"It was carefully planned. My father led myself and Winky up to the Top Box early in the day. Winky was to say that she was saving a seat for my father. I was to sit there, invisible. When everyone had left the box, we would emerge. Winky would appear to be alone. Nobody would ever know."

"But Winky didn't know that I was growing stronger. I was starting to fight my father's Imperius Curse. There were times when I was almost myself again. There were brief periods when I seemed outside his control. It happened, there, in the Top Box. It was like waking from a deep sleep. I found myself out in the public, in the middle of the match, and I saw a wand sticking out of a boy's pocket in front of me. I had not been allowed a wand since before Azkaban. I stole it. Winky didn't know. Winky is frightened of heights. She had her face hidden."

"Master Barty! You bad boy!" Winky whimpered.

"Soo you took the wand," Dumbledore pushed. "What did you do with it?"

"We went back to the tent," Crouch continued. "Then we heard them. We heard the Death Eaters. The ones who had never been to Azkaban. The ones who had never suffered for my master. They had turned their backs on him. They were not enslaved, as I was. They were free to seek him, but they didn't. They were merely making sport of Muggles. The sound of their voices woke me. My mind was clearer than it had been in years. I was angry. I had the wand. I wanted to attack them for their disloyalty to my master. My father had left the tent, he had gone to free the Muggles. Winky was afraid to see me so angry. She used her own brand of magic to bind me to her. She pulled me from the tent, pulled me into the forest, away from the Death Eaters. I tried to hold her back. I wanted to return to the campsite. I wanted to show those Death Eaters what loyalty to the Dark Lord meant, and to punish them for their lack of it. I used the stolen wand to cast the Dark Mark into the sky.

"Ministry wizards arrived. They shot Stunning spells everywhere, which were rebounded off of a large shield. One of the spells came through the trees where Winky and I stood. The bond connecting us was broken. We were both stunned.

"When Winky was discovered, my father knew I must be nearby. He searched the bushes where she had been found, and felt me lying there. He waited until the other Ministry members had left the forest. He put me back under the Imperius Curse, and took me home. He dismissed Winky. She had failed him. She had let me acquire a wand. She had almost let me escape.

"Now it was just father and I, alone in the house. And then..." a devilish smirk spread over Barty's face. "My master came for me..."

"He arrived at our house late one night, in the arms of his servant, Wormtail and assisted by Hawthorne and Grindewald. My master had found out that I was still alive. He had captured Bertha Jorkins in Albania. He had tortured her. She told him a great deal. She told him about the Triwizard Tournament. She told him the old Auror, Moody, was going to teach at Hogwarts. He tortured her until he broke through the Memory Charm my father had placed on her. She told him I had escaped from Azkaban. She told him my father kept me imprisoned to prevent me seeking my master. And so my master knew that I was still his faithful servant... perhaps the most faithful of all. My master conceived a plan, based upon the information Bertha Jorkins had given him. He needed me. He arrived at our house near midnight. My father answered the door."

"It was very quick. My father was placed under the Imperius Curse by my master. Now my father was the one imprisoned, controlled. My master forced him to go about his business as usual, to act as though nothing was wrong. And I was released. I awoke. I was myself again, alive as I hadn't been in years."

"And what did Lord Voldemort ask you to do?" Dumbledore asked once more.

"He asked me whether I was ready to risk everything for him. It was my dream, my greatest ambition, to serve him, to prove myself to him. He told me he needed to place a faithful servant at Hogwarts. A servant who would guide Harry Potter and Y/N L/N through the Triwizard Tournament without appearing to do so. A servant who would watch over the boys. Ensure they reached the Triwizard Cup. Turn the Cup into a Portkey, which would take the first person to touch it to my master. But first-"

"You needed Alastor Moody."

"Wormtail and I did it. We had prepared the Polyjuice Potion beforehand. We journeyed to his house. Moody put up a struggle. There was a commotion. We managed to subdue him just in time. Forced him into a compartment of his own magical trunk. Took some of his hair and added it to the Potion. I drank it, I became Moody's double. I took his leg, and his eye. I was ready to face Arthur Weasley when he arrived to sort out the Muggles who had heard a disturbance. I made the dustbins move around the yard."

"I told Arthur Weasley I had heard intruders in my yard, who had set the dustbins off. Then I packed up Moody's clothes and Dark detectors, put them in the trunk with Moody, and set off for Hogwarts. I kept him alive, under the Imperius Curse. I wanted to be able to question him. To find out about his past, learn his habits, so that I could fool even Dumbledore."

"I also needed his hair to make the Polyjuice Potion. The other ingredients were easy. I stole Boomslang skin from the dungeons. When the Potions master found me in his office, I said I was under orders to search it."

"What about Wormtail? What happened to him after you attacked Moody?"

"Wormtail returned to care for my master, in my father's house, and to keep watch over my father."

"But your father escaped."

Yes... after a while he began to fight the Imperius Curse, just as I had done. There were periods where he knew what was happening. My master decided it was no longer safe for my father to leave the house. He forced him to send letters to the Ministry instead. He made him write and say he was ill. But Wormtail neglected his duty. He was not watchful enough. My father escaped. My master guessed that he was heading for Hogwarts. My father was going to tell Dumbledore everything, to confess. He was going to admit that he had smuggled me from Azkaban."

"My master sent word of my father's escape. He told me to stop him at all costs. So I waited and watched. I used the map I had taken from Harry Potter. The map that had almost ruined everything."

"Map? What map is this?"

"Potter's map of Hogwarts. He saw me on it. Potter saw me stealing more ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion from Snape's office one night. He thought I was my father as we have the same first name. I told him my father hated Dark wizards. Potter believed my father was after Snape."

"For a week I waited for my father to arrive at Hogwarts. At last, one evening, the map showed showed my father entering the grounds. I pulled on my Invisibility Cloak, and went down to meet him. He was walking around the edge of the Forest. Then Potter came, and L/N, and Diggory, along with Krum. I waited. I could not hurt any of them, my master needed them, but Harry Potter stayed when L/N and Diggory left. I Imperiused Krum."

"I killed my father."

"Nooo!!" Winky cried out. "Master Barty, Master Barty, what is you saying?"

"You killed your father?" Dumbledore asked. "What did you do with the body?"

"Imperiused him to walk away from the argument between Potter and Krum, then carried him into the Forest. Hit him with the Killing Curse and covered his body with the Invisibility Cloak. I had the map with me. I watched Potter run into the castle. He met Snape. Dumbledore joined them. I watched Potter bringing Dumbledore out of the castle, now joined with Diggory and Pomfrey. I walked back out of the Forest, doubled round behind them, went to meet them. I told Dumbledore Snape had told me where to go."

"Dumbledore told me to go and look for my father. I went back to my father's body. Watched the map. When everyone was gone, I transfigured my father's body. He became a bone... I buried it, while wearing the Invisibility Cloak, in the freshly dug Earth in front of Hagrid's cabin."

"And tonight..." Dumbledore continued, knowing where this was going.

"I offered to carry the Triwizard Cup into the maze before dinner. Turned it into a Portkey. My master's plan worked. He is returned to power and I will be honoured by him beyond the dreams of wizards..."

"We've already won, old man."

********************

Harry had been led to the hospital wing, where he was led to a bed next to his unconscious friend Y/N, who had an anxious Hermione cuddled into his side, not wanting to let go.

Sirius had also arrived, only in dog form as a way of comforting Harry.

Harry had retold the story of what happened in the graveyard to Dumbledore, including the part about the ghosts of his parents along with Y/Ns mother.

Dumbledore explained the spell, "Priori Incantium."

When a wand meets another with the same core, they will not work properly against each other. Instead, a very rare effect will take place. The wands will regurgitate spells it has performed, in reverse.

The most recent memories first, and so on and so forth.

Steven teared up at the mention of his beloved wife, he missed her, but was happy that his son got to speak to his mother for the first time, living or not.

After being given a sleeping potion, and some peace and quiet, Harry went to bed. Only Hermione, Steven, and Sirius remained in the hospital wing, with the Granger girl clutched to her unconscious boyfriend.

**********************

Harry's POV

"Regrettable, but all the same, Minerva-" a voice called angrily, waking me up.

It was Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.

Great.

It was the following morning. Y/N was still in stable condition with Hermione sleeping next to him, but Cedric was nowhere to be found. He must have gone over to St. Mungo's.

"You should have never brought it inside the castle!" Professor McGonagall yelled bitterly. "When Dumbledore finds out-"

The hospital wing doors swung open, causing Hermione to jump awake.

"Where is Dumbledore?" Fudge demanded of Madam Pomfrey, who was skimming down the rows of patients.

"He's not here, obviously." She said sarcastically. "This is a hospital wing, Minsiter, don't you think you'd be better to-"

The door swung open yet again, revealing itself to be the man himself, Professor Dumbledore.

"What has happened?" He asked sharply. "Why are you disturbing these poor people? Minerva, I'm surprised at you- I asked you to watch over Barry Crouch-"

"There is no need to stand guard over him any more, Dumbledore!" She shouted. "The Minister has seen to that!"

What a great way to start my morning.

"When we told Mr. Fudge that we had caught the Death Eater responsible for last nights events," Snape spoke. "He seemed to believe his personal safety was in question. He insisted on summoning a Dementor to accompany him into the castle. He brought it up to the office where Barry Crouch-"

"I told him you would not agree Dumbledore!" McGonagall spoke. "I told him you would never allow Dementors to set foot inside the castle, but-"

"My dear woman!" Fudge yelled once more. "As Minister for Magic, it is my decision whether I bring protection with me whenever I am interviewing a possibly dangerous man. By all accounts, he is no loss! It seems he was responsible for many deaths!"

And once again, the doors slammed open, to reveal one angry Thomas L/N, with Steven in eagle form perched on his shoulder.

I swear, those doors are going to break if someone else storms in.

"Yeah, and now he can't give testimony, you bloody idiot!" He roared. "Crouch was a major piece of evidence we had about why he killed those people."

"Why he killed them? Well that's no mystery, is it? He was a raving lunatic! From what Minerva and Severus have told me, he seems to have thought he was doing it on You Know Who's instructions!"

"Lord Voldemort was giving him those instructions, Cornelius." Dumbledore spoke. "Those peoples deaths are a byproduct of a plan to restore Voldemort to full strength again. The plan succeeded. Voldemort has been returned to his body."

But Fudge didn't seem willing to believe it.

"You Know Who has not returned! Come now, Dumbledore! Think clearly!" Fudge exclaimed.

"As Minerva and Severus have doubtlessly told you, we heard Barty Crouch confess. Under the influence of Veritaserum, he told us how he was smuggled out of Azkaban, and how Voldemort - learning of his continued existence from Bertha Jorkins - went to free him from his father, and used him to capture Y/N and Harry. The plan worked, I tell you. Crouch has helped Lord Voldemort to return." Dumbledore explained calmly.

Although like last night, he was anything but calm.

"See here, Dumbledore, you - you can't seriously believe that. You Know Who - back? Come now, come now... certainly, Crouch may have believed himself to be acting upon You Know Who's orders, but to take the word of a lunatic like that, Dumbledore..." 

"When Y/N, Cedric and Harry touched the Triwizard Cup tonight, they were transported straight to Voldemort. They witnessed Voldemort's rebirth. I will explain it all to you if you will step up to my office... I'm afraid I can't permit you to question the boys tonight. Especially not when Y/N wakes up."

"You're... prepared to take Harry's word on this... aren't you, Dumbledore?" Fudge questioned.

"I am." Dumbledore nodded. I heard Crouch's confession, and I heard Y/N's account of what happened after he touched the Cup. The two stories make sense, they explain everything that has happened since Bertha Jorkins disappeared last Summer."

"And is there any evidence that you did, in fact, meet He Who Must Not Be Named? Only the word of a lunatic murderer, two clearly unconscious and delusional boys, and a boy... a boy who... well..."

"Do you want to finish that sentence?" Thomas asked dangerously, Steven glaring at him in eagle form.

"You've been reading Rita Skeeter, haven't you, Mr. Fudge." I asked, gaining everyone's attention. "I believe you were planning to say disturbed and dangerous?"

"So what if I have? So what if I have discovered that you've been keeping certain facts about the Potter very quietly? A Parselmouth, eh? And having funny turns all over the place-" 

"I assume you are referring to the pains Harry has been experiencing in his scar?" Dumbledore asked.

"You admit that he has been having these pains, then? Headaches? Nightmares? Possibly hallucinations?" 

"Harry is not insane!" Hermione cried from the bed, clutching Y/N tightly in her arms, who was moving slowly. "I believe them when they said Voldemort came back, look at what happened to my boyfriend!"

Boyfriend? Looks like I won our bet.

"Young lady, don't meddle in the affairs of people who clearly know more about the situation then you do." Fudge spat. "Don't you have classes to attend?"

"Ms. Granger has been excused from her classes today." Dumbledore informed. "Y/N will want to see her when he wakes up."

"If he wakes up, Dumbledore." Fudge tutted. "We don't know if he will for sure."

Hermione began to sob, making Thomas look at Fudge in pure hatred.

"I saw the Death Eaters!" I announced, breaking off the tension. "I can give you their names!"

"Oh really?" Fudge questioned. "Let's hear them then."

"Lucius Malf-"

"Malfoy was cleared!" Fudge argued with me. "A very old family......donations to excellent causes."

"I can just smell the bullshit coming off of him." Thomas grumbled, causing the golden eagle to chortle.

"That was all an act to get on your good side-"

"Preposterous!"

"Macnair!"

"Also cleared! Now working for the Ministry!"

"Avery, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle!"

"Those are merely the names of those who were acquitted of being Death Eaters thirteen years ago!"

"Hawthorne, Grindewald, Grimwood!"

"Fenwick Hawthorne and Jakob Grindewald are high authority figures! Countless donations were made in their names. Grimwood has been locked in Azkaban for thirteen years!"

"Rosewood-"

"Enough!" Fudge shouted. "For Heavens sake, Dumbledore - the boys were full of some crackpot story at the end of last year, too... their tales are getting taller, and you're still swallowing them up. Potter can talk to snakes, L/N has powers beyond our comprehension, Dumbledore, and you still think they're trustworthy?"

"You idiot!" Thomas shouted, enraged by the man. "Those deaths aren't the random work of a lunatic!"

"I see no evidence to the contrary!"

"Because you and your stupid guard got rid of the evidence!"

Hermione and I looked at the man in shock, we had never seen Y/Ns uncle so upset. He looked as if he wanted to punch Fudge right then and there.

And frankly, I don't blame him.

""Voldemort has returned," Dumbledore repeated. "If you accept that fact straight away, Fudge, and take the necessary precautions, we may still be able to save the situation. The first and most essential step is to remove Azkaban from the control of the Dementors-" 

"Preposterous! Remove the Dementors! I'd be kicked out of office for suggesting it! Half of us only feel safe in our beds at night because we know the Dementors are standing guard at Azkaban!"

"Cornelius, for once in your life, use your head!" Thomas exclaimed. "Even if Voldemort hasn't been returned to his body, we need to act quickly. My nephew and his friends were brutally attacked! The Dementors will not remain loyal! I don't think you remember, but Voldemort can offer them so much more scope for their powers and their pleasures then we can!"

"You must take-and at once, to send envoys to the giants." Dumbledore remarked.

"Envoys to the giants?" What madness is this?"

"Do it before it's too late." Dumbledore said. "Voldemort will persuade them, as he did before, that he alone among wizards will give them their rights and freedom."

"You - you cannot be serious! If the magical community got wind that I had approached the giants - people hate them, Dumbledore - end of my career-"

"Stop thinking about your bloody career!" Thomas roared. "You place too much damn importance on the so called purity of blood! It doesn't matter how someone is born, but who they grow up to be! You and your stupid Dementor just destroyed the last shred of evidence we had on those deceased individuals!"

"Listen here, Thomas." Fudge said, getting into his face.

"I will not undo the work we have vigorously worked for these last thirteen years, on the words of one clearly insane boy, and your unconscious nephew. I just won't! Who's not to say they did this all for the attention? Eh? That's all they crave for nowadays from what I've seen. Two deranged, idiotic children who should be nowhere near this school! You should be lucky your nephew didn't end up like his blasted mother!"

We gasped, I knew Fudge was a pompous arse, but I never expected him to go so low.

Thomas looked furious, his face was contorted in anger as he balled his fist.

"I am the Minister of Magic! Whatever I say goes! You are just an Auror, who is beneath me!" He exclaimed, before inching closer to his face.

"Remember who you work for L/N."

And suddenly, Thomas did something that we frankly did not expect to come from him.

He punched Fudge.

Directly in the face, knocking him onto the ground.

"You know, Fudge." Thomas said dangerously, hovering over the cowering man. "I can take whatever you throw at me, I've been putting up with your shit the last five years. But when you bring up my family. That's a different story."

Thomas grabbed his Auror badge off his chest, throwing it onto the ground in front of Fudge.

"Do whatever the hell you want." Thomas said once more. "You'll act as you see fit, and we will all do the same. But just know, that when Voldemort gets a second chance to destroy the world we worked so hard to rebuild, it's going to be all on you."

Thomas walked over to Y/N's bedside, glaring at the stumbling Minister as he did so.

"Oh and by the way, Fudge." He said. "I quit."

"Go fuck yourself."

Fudge climbed off the ground, glaring at his now former employee as he turned his attention back towards Dumbledore.

""He can't be back, Dumbledore," he whispered. "He just can't be..."

"And why not, Cornelius?" Dumbledore retorted.

"There," Snape stepped forward, sticking out his forearm. "There. The Dark Mark. It is not as clear as it was an hour or so ago, when it burnt black, but you can still see it. Every Death Eater had the sign burnt into him by the Dark Lord. It was a means of distinguishing each other, and his means of summoning us to him."

"When he touched the Mark of any Death Eater, we were to Disapparate and Apparate, instantly, at his side. This Mark has been growing clearer all year. Karkaroff's too. Why do you think Karkaroff fled tonight? We both felt the Mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears the Dark Lord's vengeance. He betrayed too many of his followers to be sure of a welcome back into the fold."

"I don't know what you and your staff are playing at, Dumbledore, but I have heard enough," Fudge said, backing away from Snape while staring at the Mark on his arm. "I have no more to add. I will be in touch with you tomorrow, Dumbledore, to discuss the running of this school. I must return to the Ministry."

Fudge had almost reached the door of the Hospital Wing, when he stopped, turned around and marched straight towards Y/N's bed.

"His winnings." He said, placing down the bag galleons on Y/Ns bedside.

Fudge then glared right up at Thomas.

"You've made a massive mistake L/N." He said simply, before taking his leave of the hospital wing.

"Well, that was something." Hermione shrugged.

"Yeah, no kidding."

"Minerva, I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as possible," Dumbledore said. "Also, if she will, Madame Maxime." Professor McGonagall nodded then followed behind Fudge.

"Poppy, would you be very kind, and go down to Professor Moody's office, where I think you will find a house elf called Winky in considerable distress? Do what you can for her, and take her back to the kitchens. I think Dobby will look after her for us."

"Very well." She replied, leaving the Hospital Wing.

"And now, it is time for two of our members to recognize each other for who they are." Dumbledore said, gesturing for Steven and Sirius to transform.

"What are they doing here?" Snape growled.

"I could ask you the same question, Snivellus."Steven sneered as Snape turned red with anger.

"They are here at my invitation, as are you, Severus. I trust the three of you. It is time for you to lay aside your old differences and trust each other. I will settle, in the short term, for a lack of open hostility. You all must shake hands. You are on the same side now. Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth stand unified, there is no hope for all of us."

After probably the most awkward set of handshakes I've ever seen, Dumbledore sighed.

"Close enough...." He said. "Now, I have work for each of you. Fudges attitude, although not unexpected, changes everything. Sirius, Thomas, Steven, I'd like you to set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Isabelle Marshall and her husband, Mundungus Fletcher-the old crowd. Lie low at Lupin's for a while, I will contact you there."

"What about Y/N and Harry?" Steven asked.

"Unfortunately there is no time to waste." Dumbledore said. "Now that Thomas is no longer working for the Ministry, he is more of help to us."

Sirius transformed into a dog, letting me pet him before he left the room.

Steven and Thomas turned to the unconscious Y/N, watching him as he slept soundly.

"I'll be back soon, kid." Steven smiled, turning towards Hermione.

"He's lucky to have you, you know?" He asked. "I can't think of anyone else he cares about more then you, Hermione."

"He's the best thing that's ever happened to me." Hermione smiled, cuddling into Y/N tightly.

"Take care of his for us, okay?" Thomas asked as Hermione nodded. "We'll be back."

Steven transformed into eagle form, flying out of the room as Thomas followed close behind.

"Severus, you know what you must do." Dumbledore spoke. "If you are ready.....if you are prepared..."

"I am...." Snape nodded.

"Then good luck." Dumbledore said as Snape walked outside.

"I must go speak to the Weasley's, so this is where I leave you all." He said. "Please get some rest."

"We will sir, thank you." Hermione said, allowing Dumbledore to take his leave.

"He'll wake up soon, Hermione." I said, noticing her sad demeanor. "I know he will."

********************

Y/N's POV

I woke up the next morning, laying in a comfortable bed in the Hospital Wing.

How did I end up here?

When I tried to sit myself up, I noticed a slight tugging to my side.

It was Hermione.

I smiled, stroking a strand of hair to the back of her ear as I saw her eyes flutter open.

"Wake up sleepyhead." I whispered, causing her eyes to widen.

"Oh my god." She cried, hugging me tightly as I cringed with pain.

"Mione, as much as I love you, this hurts really bad." I said as Hermione loosened her grip.

"I'm so sorry." She said. "I was just so worried."

"You don't have to worry anymore." I said softly. "I kept my promise and I came back to you, and I'm okay now."

Hermione smiled, crashing her lips onto mine as we began to kiss, smiling into each other's mouths without a care in the world.

"Ahem." A voice called, causing Hermione to groan as we broke apart.

It was Harry.

"As much as I hate to break this up, I really don't want to see the two of you kissing six feet away from me."

"Sorry Harry." Hermione said sheepishly as she pulled herself into my side.

"Don't worry about it." He chuckled. "But now that you two are dating, just be sure to get a room whenever you want to snog."

"No promises, Harry." Hermione smirked, kissing my cheek gently.

"What even happened to me?" Y/N asked, his eyes widening.

"Oh God, the graveyard!" I exclaimed, remembering the events of what happened, causing Hermione to tighten her grip.

"Voldemort, the chains, Death Eater's, my Mum."

"Mate it's fine." Harry said. "We're all a bit shaken up, but we are all fine."

"Is Cedric okay?" I asked. "I didn't even think the spell would work."

"He just woke up." Harry said. "His Dad was in here earlier, he was thanking you profusely as you were unconscious."

"What spell?" Hermione asked intently, narrowing her eyes. "What did you do?"

"It's a sleeping death charm." I explained. "It allows for one to go into a comatose state for a short period of time so they pose as being dead, with them waking up in a few short hours."

"That's very complicated magic." Hermione said. "Only 7th years could accomplish that."

"Well I managed to figure it out in two days." I smirked as Hermione rolled on top of me.

"My boyfriend is extremely brilliant." She said, kissing me on the lips. "It is kind of hot."

"Only for you, love." I said as I kissed her again.

"How cute." Another voice appeared, causing Hermione and I to break apart yet again.

I just want to kiss my girlfriend, is that too much to ask?

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to check up on you before I head back to the Ministry." The voice said, revealing itself to be a young woman with pink hair.

"Well, thanks!" I said kindly. "But who are you?"

"Nymhadora Tonks." She replied. "But if you call me by my first name, I might have to hex you. So just call me Tonks."

"That's a mouthful." I joked. "Nice to meet you, Tonks, I'm Y/N."

"Likewise." She replied. "Thomas has told me all about you, I also heard about your little beat down of Krum, that was wicked!"

"Thanks!" I laughed, she seemed really cool. "You know my Uncle?"

"He works with me and the Ministry." She replied. "Well, used to anyway....He was kind of a mentor to me."

"Wait, what do you mean used too?" I questioned. "Did he get fired?"

"No, he quit actually." Tonks replied, giggling. "Not before he gave Fudge a nice swollen lip."

"Oh wow." I gasped, I honestly wish I was awake to see that.

"It's kind of unfortunate but I get why he did it." Tonks shrugged. "We worked alongside each other as he helped with my training."

We continued to talk to Tonks for a few minutes and before long, she had to go back to the Ministry.

"Well, I do need to head back to the Ministry." She smiled. "Glad you're alright, kid."

"Thanks Tonks, it was nice meeting you."

"Same." She nodded. "I do think we'll all be seeing a lot more of each other soon."

I wonder what she meant by that?

The entire day went by, and I received a multitude of visitors. Tom had arrived with Daphne, Mia, and Pansy, who had snuck me a few bottles of Fire whiskey that Hermione confiscated immediately.

Oh well, it's the thought that counts.

Tom left before his other friends did, as Dumbledore wanted to speak to him about a private matter.

It sounded really important, but I didn't get way too into it.

Sam, Thea, Axel, and Leo arrived next, all giving me a basket of sweets from Honeydukes. Which I was extremely grateful for.

Selena and Andy had also arrived with Kieran, who told me all about the last Arsenal match that was played while I was in comatose.

And one by one, all of our friends had stopped by at different times of the day, all expressing how happy they were I was okay.

I heard that my Dad and Uncle were on a mission from Dumbledore regarding the events of the Graveyard, and as much as I would like to see them, it sounded serious.

Towards the end of the day, as I was playing Ron in a game of Wizards Chess, a single figure walked into the Hospital Wing.

Cedric.

He walked over to our side of the wing, smiling as he saw us playing chess.

"Ced, how are you feeling?"

"Still a bit shaken up, but overall not too bad."

"Glad to hear that." Hermione replied.

"Listen Y/N." Cedric said. "Your Uncle told me everything about what happened, and as much as I don't like that you put a charm on me without saying anything, you saved my life. For that, I'm extremely grateful. I know my Dad is as well."

"I appreciate that, mate." I replied. "I only did what I had to do to make sure everyone was safe."

"It's like Hermione said, you're always saving everyone." Cedric laughed as Hermione kissed my cheek.

"I did want to tell all of you something before I go, however." Cedric said, spinning our attention towards him.

"What's up?" Harry asked.

"I won't be at Hogwarts next year." Cedric explained, causing all of us to look in shock.

"Why not?"

"My Dad and I were talking." Cedric replied. "After what happened, he thinks I should transfer elsewhere for my own safety at least for my last year, and as much as I don't want to leave my friends, I have to agree with him, so I'm going to Ivermorny for my last year."

"Damn, sorry to hear that." I replied as Cedric shook his head.

"Y/N, I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you." He said. "But my Dad is right, I think for my own safety I'll spend a year in America, I have some friends at Ivermorny so it won't be all bad. Plus, Cho's fine with trying long distance."

"Well, we're all gonna miss you Cedric." Ron said.

"Me too." Cedric nodded. "Don't worry, we'll all see each other again. But I wanted you guys to be one of the first to know my intentions."

"Appreciate it, mate."

After talking to Cedric for quite some time, he took his leave alongside Ron and Hermione, who had to be shooed out by Madam Pomfrey.

After kissing Hermione goodbye, I fell back into sleep. Harry and I would be getting out of here tomorrow morning.

********************

Dumbledore had gathered the students inside the Great Hall after I was released, probably wanting to tell them about the events of the graveyard.

Hermione sat to my right, clutching my hand tightly as Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"There is much I would like to say to you all tonight," he began. "But first, let me make it clear to you all, before the rumours start to spread, that Cedric Diggory is not dead. He was in a magically induced coma at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, he will be alright."

"Many of you will be wondering how this came to be, and know this, it was nothing to do with the challenges we, the Professors, set in the maze... but Lord Voldemort." 

Whispers spread through the hall as everyone began to panic quietly.

"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, hushing us once more. "Does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so, either because they will not believe it themselves or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you all are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies and secrets. 

"Cedric Diggory, Y/N L/N, and Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort. Y/N L/N and Harry Potter fought him, showing, in every respect, the sort of bravery very few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honour the both of them." 

Dumbledore turned to face Harry and I, raising his goblet into the air as the staff table followed suit, even Snape raised his glass.

Our friends who sat around us did the same, raising their cups high into the air as Dumbledore continued his speech.

"To Y/N L/N and Harry Potter." Dumbledore stated, raising his glass as others followed.

"To Y/N L/N and Harry Potter." The hall followed.

The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding," Dumbledore continued once everyone returned their goblets to the table. "In the light of what has happened - of Lord Voldemort's return - such ties are more important than ever before. Every guest in this Hall will be welcomed back here, at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again - in the light of Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.

"Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open. It is my belief - and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken - that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you, in this Hall, have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder."

"Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, and remember what happened to the boys who were good, kind, and brave. Who made it out with their lives, who fought Lord Voldemort with immense courage and bravery by which no wizard has ever managed."

"Remember this, and remember that there is strength in numbers."

************************

The next day, I woke up early to pack up my things. Gracie climbed onto my shoulder as I packed away my broomstick.

I stroked her soft fur as she purred, but not before the door creaked open to reveal Hermione, who came to check on me.

"Are you almost packed?" She asked, stroking Gracie. "We'll need to get ready soon."

"Yeah, just about done." I said, closing the top of my trunk.

"Are you doing okay?" She asked, putting her hands on my shoulders. "From the last few days?"

"Better then I was." I replied. "But I promise, after this, I will never leave your side ever again."

"I'll hold you to that." Hermione smiled, kissing my lips quickly as I leaned into it.

Both of us smiled into the kiss, with Hermione pushing me onto the bed as Gracie jumped off my shoulder. Darting off towards the Common Room.

Hermione climbed on top of me, using a spell to push the door closed as we continued to snog shamelessly. One of our last chances to do so before the year ended.

A/N: They snogged and that is all. No sex yet.

************************

"I can't believe you guys decided to start dating this year." Ron said annoyingly. "Now I owe Harry 30 galleons."

After I had been discharged, Hermione and I had told everyone that we were now dating. Most of our friends were extremely happy for us, aside from Terry Boot, who looked as if he wanted to hex me into oblivion.

Tough luck pal.

Hermione and I walked out of the Common Room hand in hand, a little disheveled after our small event in my dormitory.

Gracie climbed up my leg, resting herself onto my shoulder as we met up with the other Weasleys.

After saying goodbye to the other students, we made our way to the Delacour family, hugging them as Fleur talked to us.

"I'm going to miss you all very much." Fleur said in her French accent. "Please do write to us, we would love to hear from you all."

"Please?" Gabrielle asked in a cute voice, which was hard to say no to.

"We will definitely write to you." Hermione replied softly as we nodded, Ron in awe of the older Delecour.

"We must get to the carriage, they will be waiting for us." Fleur replied. "Please take care of yourselves."

Fleur took her leave, waving goodbye to us as Gabrielle followed.

Antoinette arrived shortly after, hugging me goodbye as she followed Fleur to the carriage.

She also mentioned something about how we're going to see a lot more of her really soon, smirking after Heather as she did so.

Wonder what that's about.

As I waved Antoinette goodbye, a gruff voice followed behind me.

"Excuse me." It said, revealing itself to be Viktor Krum.

"What do you want?" I asked angrily as Gracie hissed loudly.

"Nothing." Krum said. "A talk vith you in private."

"Alright." I nodded, looking back at Hermione as I handed her my cat, following Viktor to a corner.

"I vanted to apologize for all the trouble I caused you." He said. "I acted beyond my bounds, and as a result I caused trouble for you and your friends."

You can say that again.

"What are you trying to say here, Krum?" I asked.

"You are clearly the better man then I." Krum replied. "I see that now, and I will vish you the best of luck going vorward."

"While it doesn't excuse you for what you did to my girlfriend." I started. "I appreciate the apology."

I shook his hand, before Krum took off towards his ship.

"Goodbye, Y/N L/N." He said before finding his friends.

"Ever think we'll have a quiet year at Hogwarts?" Ron asked us.

"No." Hermione said simply.

"Nope." Harry said.

"After what happened this year, I don't think so." Heather followed.

"That's a question I ask my self every year." I said as the others laughed, walking towards the Hogwarts Express, ready to return home.

*******************

"There's nothing in there by Rita Skeeter." Heather said as we sat in our compartment. "Just says you guys won the tournament."

"They'll never keep her quiet." Harry said. "Not on something like this."

"Who says they kept Rita quiet?" Hermione winked in my direction, pulling out a large jar with a beetle inside.

"Rita Skeeter isn't going to be writing anything for a while. Not unless she wants me to spill the tea on her....."

"Wait, is that-"

"This is how she's been listening in on provaye conversations." Hermione said. "It's because-"

I cut off Hermione with a kiss, one that lasted a few seconds as we broke apart.

"Because she's an animagus!" I exclaimed. "My girl is exceptionally brilliant."

"You know it, love." Hermione smirked, kissing me once more.

"Are we going to have to deal with this now that you two are dating?" Ron asked. "Please just find a room next time..."

"I think it's cute!" Heather said in awe. "Just because a girl doesn't want to go two feet-"

"You've made your point." Ron grumbled.

"That's clever, Granger." Draco smirked, standing next to his two henchmen.

"Why are you smirking, ferret face?" I asked. "We all know the truth about daddy dearest."

"So?" Malfoy asked. "You caught some pathetic reporter, L/N and Potter are once again Dumbledore's golden boys. Big deal."

"Are you jealous, bleach boy?" Heather asked. "Dear old Dad won't bribe Dumbledore into giving you special treatment?"

"I'm not jealous." Draco said, winking towards her as she groaned in disgust.

"Just get out." Harry growled.

"You've picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you! I told you you ought to choose your company more carefully, remember? When we first met? I told you not to hang around with riffraff like this!"

"Say that again." I sad angrily. "I dare you."

"It's too late now! They'll be the first to go, now the Dark Lords back! Mudblood' sand Muggle-lovers first! Diggory was only meant to-"

A loud sound filled our compartment as the three Slytherins were knocked unconscious. We had all used a hex to do it, but we weren't the only ones participating.

"Thought we'd see what those three were up too." Fred said, pulling his wand out while his brother walked over their bodies.

"Why do you guys tend to show up always at the right time?" Heather asked amusingly.

"Do you expect any less of us, little sis?" George asked as Heather shook her head.

"Who used the Furnunculus Curse?"

"Me." Harry said.

"Tooth-widening hex?"

"Yours truly." I spoke. "Poetic justice at its finest."

"Well then," Fred said as Ginny joined us. "Exploding Snap anyone?"

"Count me in." Ron said, gathering the game as I grabbed my winnings.

"Fred, George." I said, gathering their attention. "Take it."

"Mine too." Harry replied. "For the Joke Shop."

"I knew it, they've gone mental." Fred told his brother.

"You need this more then us." I said. "You want to open a joke shop? Go open the joke shop, we could all use more laughs in our lives. Especially now."

"Just don't tell your Mum where you got it.....although she might not be so keen for you to join the Ministry anymore, come to think of it......." Harry replied.

"Guys." Fred began before we stopped him.

"Just take it, or your getting hexed." Harry said. "Buy some new dress robes for your brother while we're at it, and say they're from you."

After a lot more persuading on our end, Fred and George accepted the money gratefully.

The rest of the ride was filled with us playing exploding snap and having fun, for once in the last few days we needed it.

After a long while, we arrived back at Kings Cross Station, where we unloaded our things off of the train.

We said goodbye to the Weasley family, who suggested that we would be hanging out a lot more over the summer.

Hermione grabbed my hand, leading me over to her parents who were waiting patiently.

"Hi Mum and Dad." Hermione greeted happily. "We have something we would like to tell you."

"What is it sweetheart?" Monica asked as Wendall nodded.

"Y/N is my boyfriend now." She said, clutching my hand. "We've been dating since Christmas."

Monica's face broke into a wide smile. "Well, that's wonderful!" She exclaimed. "It's about time as well."

"I couldn't agree more." Wendall said as he shook my hand. "But, whenever you want to come over....make sure the door stays open."

"Dad!" Hermione blushed in embarrassment.

"Just saying honey." Wendell smirked as he turned to me.

"Now that you're dating my daughter, I would hope you'd do nothing to hurt her."

"I would never think of that sir." I said, kissing the top of Hermione's head as she leaned into me.

"I know you wouldn't." Wendell chuckled. "It's like I said this past summer, I'm rooting for the both of you."

"Thanks, you guys." Hermione smiled, kissing my cheek. "Could we go say goodbye to Harry?"

"Of course dear." Monica said. "We'll be waiting right here."

We walked towards Harry, who was getting his things ready to go back to the Dursley's.

"If you need me to break you out again, just let me know." I smirked, helping Harry gather his stuff.

"Thanks, mate." Harry said. "I'll be looking forward to it."

"Take care, mate." I said, shaking his hand as he set off towards the horrible Dursley's.

Suddenly, Hermione dragged me into a corner, smashing her lips onto mine as we began a heated snog.

"Hopefully, we can do a lot more of that this summer." I smirked as Hermione slapped me playfully.

"Don't get too cocky mister." She smirked back. "But yes, I would love to see you more over the summer."

"How about we go on a proper date?" I asked. "We could go around the Muggle world, just be regular teenagers and spend time together."

"I would love that." Hermione smiled, kissing me back.

"Hermione, we need to go!" Monica shouted, smirking in our direction.

"I don't wanna go." Hermione whined. "I want to stay and kiss my boyfriend."

"Baby, we'll see each other in the summer." I said. "We can do a lot more of this then."

"Alright." Hermione sighed, kissing my cheek once more before bringing me into a right hug.

"I love you." She mumbled into my shoulder.

"I love you too, pretty girl." I smiled, giving her one last kiss before I sent her off.

I watched Hermione leave with her parents, we exchanged glances the entire way until she was beyond range.

I sighed, making my way over to my uncle and dad, who were waiting for me at the crossing.

"So, where to now?" I asked as my Uncle smiled.

"You'll see." He said simply, holding out his arm for me to take.

I took his arm, warping away from the train station before appearing in a quiet London street. In front of us were a set of dark townhomes.

"Dad? Uncle? Why are we here?" I asked.

"You'll be spending a lot of time here this summer." Uncle Thomas nodded, gesturing towards my Dad who handed me a sheet of paper.

"Read that for me, if you please." He said simply as I read the words on the sheet.

"The Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London."

The building shifted outwards, revealing a grey house that stood in between.

"Whoa....."

A/N: And with that, Goblet of Fire is officially finished. My longest chapter yet!

Hope you enjoyed! See you in Order of the Phoenix!