Melody Riddle and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 39: My Reveal

 "How long have you known?" Severus asked as we crossed the grounds to the gate.

"Long enough," I replied curtly, reaching the gate and pushing on it. It creaked open and I moved a bit further away from it before turning and standing still.

Severus closed the gate and walked over to me. "Are you going to answer fully?"

"At the moment, I don't trust your temper enough to say the whole truth," I said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Melody...!" he growled.

"Look, you don't have all day. Let's just go and get it over with."

"If you both know that he's your father, then how do I know you're not going to tell him about my true intentions?"

For that moment I blocked my emotions, not only for the trip to see dad, but also so that the look Severus was giving me wouldn't make me realize all the sooner that I'd just lost his trust. "You have no other choice at the moment except to trust me... please...."

He took a deep breath, let it out, and nodded.

"Damn it, princess, you were supposed to come get me!!"

We turned in surprise, watching a figure bolt toward us. Crap, I almost forgot, I thought with a nervous giggle as I scratched at the back of my neck.

"What is Mr. Flint doing here?" Severus asked suspiciously.

"Um.. yeah... that's not Marcus.."

The figure of Marcus Flint drew nearer until he stood right in front of us, glaring furiously down at me. "I don't want to be stuck here any longer than I have to — and take all of this off of me! "

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The plan... had been oh so simple, and yet oh so effective. Immediately after Marcus had agreed to do whatever my plan was — since he had no idea — I pulled my wand out and silently stupefied him.

He'd fallen to the floor in a crumpled heap.

I turned to Barty, a grin still plastered to my face as he warily leaned back. 'Moody's' body could only move so far.

"What are you doing, princess?"

I leaned back as well, both to calm his nerves and to relax against the chair. "Just here to tell you about my plan. In the end, he —" I gestured to Marcus, "just helps tie everything together. Here's how it's going to happen...

"First thing's first, you need to lay off the Polyjuice Potion. You won't personally need it anymore. For this to work, your father can take your place using the potion... all he needs is his memory wiped, and your memory in his place. We'll transfigure him to look younger, I mean since you are a spitting image of him. No one has seen you since before you went to Azkaban, so no one can say for certain that he isn't you when the Polyjuice of Moody wears off."

He relaxed slightly as he stared back at me. "What gave you such a bright idea?"

"Your Polyjuice storage running low poses a problem, Barty. If I don't fix it, and you get caught..." I glared pointedly at him, "then my secrets run the risk of exposure."

As he stared solemnly back at me, I wondered if anybody else would've cowered in fear at my tone of voice.

"So," he said softly, looking down at Marcus. "What's the kid for?"