𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀 𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇. A twenty-foot-high hedge ran all the way around the edge of it. There was a gap right in front of where the Champions stood: the entrance to the vast maze. The passage beyond it looked dark and creepy.
"Oh Gods," she whispered weakly. "This is — I can't — it's too hard to look at."
"There, there," Kayse muttered, patting her back.
A cold feeling settled in Raya's bones, and she wanted nothing to do with the third task. Thinking about it made her feel worse, but she needed to support Cedric.
"I'll be back," she said to her friends, running down the stands and to where the Champions were standing.
"Hey, what are you doing down here?" Cedric asked.
"Just—" she stared at the maze behind him, suppressing a shiver. Technically it was the easiest task, but it made her feel more uneasy than the rest. She threw her arms around Cedric, "Be safe. If you have to forfeit, but it means you'll make it out alive, do it. Give Hogwarts its glory some other way."
"Okay, okay," he told her, hugging her back. "I'll be safe."
"Safe," Raya repeated, pulling away. She stumbled with the silver bracelet, pulling it off and giving it to Cedric. "Wear this."
"Uh..."
"Not to interrupt this," Ludo Bagman interrupted, "but the task is starting soon. If you could go back to your seat—"
"—Five minutes," she said, pushing his face away. She turned to Cedric, "Wear that, and don't take it off. It's a shield. My dad—" she motioned to the sky, hoping Cedric would realize she meant Apollo "—gave it to me. It'll keep you safe."
Cedric looked hesitant, but at Raya's pleading glance, slipped it on. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck," Raya hugged him once more, the cold feeling in her bones barely settled.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin!" Ludo Bagman's magically enhanced voice echoed through the stands. "Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each — Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School!" The cheers and applause sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky. "In second place, with eighty points — Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute!" More applause. "And in third place — Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!" Another set of polite applause.
Raya waved at Harry and Cedric, who were both looking a little less nervous than before.
"So... on my whistle, Harry and Cedric!" said Bagman. "Three — two — one—"
He gave a short blast on his whistle, and Harry and Cedric hurried forward into the maze.
Raya watched as they seemed to be hidden completely by the maze the second they stepped in. Something about this bothered her way more than it should.
"And now, Viktor!" Bagman blew his whistle.
Viktor sped past him, entering the maze and disappearing entirely.
"Is it just me or does the maze seem a bit... creepy to you?" Kayse whispered.
"Oh thank Gods," she muttered. "I thought no one else saw it, so I didn't say anything. That thing gives me the heebie-jeebies!"
"Heebie-jeebies?" Kayse repeated, holding back a laugh.
"Oh, damn those Weasleys," Raya muttered. "Fred and George have been saying that way too often, and now I've caught on. I hate this."
"And now, Fleur!" Bagman blew his whistle once again.
Raya cheered Fleur on, silencing as she disappeared as well.
The crowd waited, some kids starting up random chants in hopes the Champions could hear them. In all honesty, Raya couldn't see any sound leaking through the walls of the maze.
The teachers patrolled the edge of the maze, watching for anyone sending up red sparks.
Kayse, Elias, Emmet, and Nathaniel began game of Exploding Snap, hiding whenever a teacher looked in their direction.
"You sure you don't want to play?" Nathaniel asked. "We can do girls against boys."
"It'll be girl against boys," Raya said, peering up at the maze.
"Oh, right," he muttered. "How about—"
"You guys play," she insisted. "I wanna watch the task."
"It's literally just a hedge maze, but okay," Nathaniel shrugged to himself.
At that moment, a stream of red spark were sent up from one of the corners of the maze. The students moved to the edge of their seats, trying to see what had happened.
Moody — who was on guard at that point — waved his wand and stepped through the maze. Raya held her breath, nearly collapsing with relief as he returned with Fleur.
Cedric was still in.
Fleur didn't look very hurt. Maybe she was stunned? Raya couldn't be sure because Madam Pomfrey whisked her away to the Hospital Tent.
"I stand corrected," Nathaniel muttered, whistling before going back to his game.
Raya turned her attention back to the hedge maze, jumping whenever the Exploding Snap cards... exploded. The weird feeling in her bones hadn't settled, not even when another series of red sparks appeared.
Professor McGonagall brought Viktor Krum out of the maze. He was looking a little pale, but Madam Pomfrey whisked him away as well.
Cheers erupted from the students as they realized Harry and Cedric were the only two left. No matter who won, the Champion would be from Hogwarts.
The students paid attention now, waiting for something — anything to happen. Red sparks which would disqualify a contestant, or something else that would announce the winner.
Minutes turned to nearly an hour, but nothing happened.
Professor McGonagall whispered something to Moody, which Raya had to amplify to hear.
"Where are Potter and Diggory?" she asked him. "Can you see them?"
Moody's mechanical eye — which was already trained on the maze — seemed to lock in on a position. "Oh yeah. They're both getting close. This can go either way."
That sentence caused alarm bells to ring in Raya's head. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to think of what the hell could be taking them so long.
Slowly, Moody's eyes swiveled towards Raya. He stared at her bright grey eyes, but unlike all the other times, it felt sinister now. Like he was finally going to be winning a generations old argument.
Raya turned towards the maze, trying to forget about Moody and his oddly triumphant look.
A whoosh sounded, and in front of the maze entrance appeared a tangled up figure and a glowing blue cup.
Raya — along with half the others in the stands — stood up to see what was going on.
It took her a minute to realize the tangled up figure was actually Harry and Cedric. One of Harry's arms clutched Cedric, while the other hand held onto the cup.
Teachers rushed forward, and Raya followed, pushing her way through the crowd to reach the front.
"Raya, wait—" Kayse tried to follow her.
She didn't wait. Cedric wasn't moving.
Dumbledore appeared in front of Harry, turning him over. Slowly, Harry opened his eyes. He was alive.
Cedric remained unmoving on the ground — his eyes closed, and an almost peaceful expression taking over his face.
"My God, Diggory!" Cornelius Fudge said at the sight of Cedric. "He'd dead. Dumbledore — Diggory's dead!"
The news spread throughout the crowd, whispers and sobs reaching Raya's ears. Her vision tunneled.
"No," she choked out, running towards him. She fell to her knees on the other side of Cedric. Fudge tried to pull her away, but Dumbledore stopped him. "No, no, no, no, no."
Raya was just barely aware of Harry clinging to Cedric, of Dumbledore trying to console him, and Fudge wondering how he'd break the news to his parents.
Raya sobbed, dropping her forehead on Cedric's chest.
The shield was supposed to work. He was supposed to keep it on the whole time, and it was supposed to keep him safe. He was supposed to be okay.
Thump.
Raya lifted her head, searching Cedric's face.
"He's dead," kids wailed. "I can't believe — Cedric's dead—"
Raya pressed her ear back to Cedric's chest — Dumbledore had finally gotten Harry off — and held a hand up for silence. She didn't think anyone except Dumbledore noticed, but Raya didn't care.
Thump. Thump.
"Holy shit, holy shit," she muttered, rummaging for her wand. "Lumos."
She cracked open one of Cedric's eyes, placing the tip of the wand close to it. At the sight of his pupil constricting, Raya let out a sob.
"Miss Newbrooke," Dumbledore said. Harry was gone now. "Can I ask what's making you cry like this?"
"He's not dead," Raya muttered. "Cedric's not dead. His heart's beating, and his pupil's are responding to light. He's breathing, Professor. Maybe he's in some sort of coma, I don't know. But he's not dead."
Amos Diggory had made his way to the front. He paused at the sight of Cedric, swallowing back a sob.
"He's alive," Raya told him, wiping her tears. "He's unconscious, but he's alive."
"Hey, come on," Kayse said softly to her, pulling her back. "We've got to give Pomfrey space."
"He's alive," Raya repeated, almost hysterically.
"Yeah, but Pomfrey still needs to check him, right?" he told her. "We've got to let him go to the Hospital Wing. She'll help him."
Raya allowed Kayse to lead her away from Cedric, her heart shattering at the sight of the silver band on his wrist.
"Don't take it off," she told Pomfrey, barely making sense to her own ears. "It's the only thing that can save him."
Pomfrey nodded solemnly, whisking Cedric away.
Raya waited outside on the cold grass. She waited until all the students had gone back inside. She waited until the parents and teachers left the Quidditch pitch, casting Raya pitying glances. She waited, and waited.
And Kayse waited right next to her.
"By all accounts, he is no loss!" blustered Fudge. "It seems he has been responsible for several deaths!"
Raya entered the Hospital Wing hand in hand with Kayse. Professor Flitwick had found Raya the next morning, and told her Dumbledore was asking for her. Since Kayse was with her, and she didn't want to go alone, the two went together.
Cedric had been sent to St. Mungo's for further care and treatment. It was confirmed that the Killing Curse was cast on him, but there was some sort of hesitation on the caster's part, or some sort of protection from Cedric's. He hadn't been killed, but he was in a deep state of unconsciousness. A coma of sorts. No potion or spell was successful in reviving him so far.
Raya knew they just had to give time for the shield on her bracelet to heal him. She didn't know how long, but as long as he was alive, she was willing to wait.
"But he cannot now give testimony, Cornelius," said Dumbledore. He was staring hard at Fudge, as though seeing him plainly for the first time. "He cannot give evidence about why he killed those people."
"Why he killed them? Well, that's no mystery, is it?" blustered Fudge. "He was a raving lunatic! From what Minerva and Severus have told me, he seems to have thought he was doing it all on You-Know-Who's instructions!"
Raya knew enough to piece together the bits of their conversation. It turned out that Moody wasn't the real Moody, and was actually Barty Crouch Jr.
Apparently, he's dead now.
"Lord Voldemort was giving him instructions, Cornelius," Dumbledore said. "Those people's deaths were mere by-products of a plan to restore Voldemort to full strength again. The plan succeeded. Voldemort has been restored to his body."
Fudge looked as though someone had just swung a heavy weight into his face. Dazed and blinking, he stared back at Dumbledore.
He began to sputter, "You-Know-Who... returned? Preposterous. Come now, Dumbledore..."
"As Minerva and Severus have doubtless told you," said Dumbledore, "we heard Barry 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 Harry. The plan worked, I tell you. Crouch has helped Voldemort to return."
"See here, Dumbledore," said Fudge, and Harry was astonished to see a slight smile dawning on his face, "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 Harry touched the Triwizard Cup tonight, he was transported straight to Voldemort," said Dumbledore steadily. "He witnessed Lord Voldemort's rebirth. I will explain it all to you if you will step up to my office."
Fudge glanced at Harry, who was now awake.
Before he could speak, Dumbledore continued, "I am afraid I cannot permit you to question Harry tonight."
Fudge's curious smile lingered. He looked back at Dumbledore and said, "You are — er — prepared to take Harry's word on this, are you, Dumbledore?"
There was a moment's silence, which was broken by a large black dog growling. His hackles were raised, and he was baring his teeth at Fudge.
Raya managed a faint smile at the sight of Sirius.
"Certainly, I believe Harry," said Dumbledore. His eyes were blazing now. "I heard Crouch's confession, and I heard Harry's account of what happened after he touched the Triwizard Cup; the two stories make sense, they explain everything that has happened since Bertha Jorkins disappeared last summer."
Fudge still had that strange smile on his face. Once again, he glanced at Harry before answering.
"You are prepared to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, on the word of a lunatic murderer, and a boy who... well..." Fudge shot Harry another look.
"You've been reading Rita Skeeter, Mr. Fudge," Harry said quietly.
Ron, Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, and Bill all jumped. None of them had realized that Harry was awake.
Fudge reddened slightly, but a defiant and obstinate look came over his face.
"And if I have?" he said, looking at Dumbledore. "If I have discovered that you've been keeping certain facts about the boy very quiet? A Parselmouth, eh? And having funny turns all over the place—"
"I assume that you are referring to the pains Harry has been experiencing in his scar?" said Dumbledore coolly.
"You admit that he has been having these pains, then?" said Fudge quickly. "Headaches? Nightmares? Possibly — hallucinations?"
"Listen to me, Cornelius," said Dumbledore, taking a step toward Fudge, and he began to radiate a sort of power that made Raya feel like he was untrustworthy. "Harry is as sane as you or I. That scar upon his forehead has not addled his brains. I believe it hurts him when Lord Voldemort is close by, or feeling particularly murderous."
Fudge had taken half a step back from Dumbledore, but he looked no less stubborn. "You'll forgive me, Dumbledore, but I've never heard of a curse scar acting as an alarm bell before..."
"Look, I saw Voldemort come back!" Harry shouted. He tried to get out of bed again, but Mrs. Weasley forced him back. "I saw the Death Eaters! I can give you their names! Lucius Malfoy —"
Snape jerked, and Raya nearly jumped as she just now saw him standing in the corner.
"Malfoy was cleared!" said Fudge, visibly affronted. "A very old family — donations to excellent causes—"
"In other words, they've paid you off," Kayse muttered under his breath.
"Macnair!" Harry continued.
"Also cleared! Now working for the Ministry!"
"Avery — Nott — Crabbe — Goyle—"
"You are merely repeating the names of those who were acquitted of being Death Eaters thirteen years ago!" said Fudge angrily. "You could have found those names in old reports of the trials! For heaven's sake, Dumbledore — the boy was full of some crackpot story at the end of last year too — his tales are getting taller, and you're still swallowing them — the boy can talk to snakes, Dumbledore, and you still think he's trustworthy?"
"You fool!" Professor McGonagall cried. "Cedric Diggory is in a coma! Mr. Crouch is dead! These were not the random work of a lunatic!"
"I see no evidence to the contrary!" shouted Fudge, now matching her anger, his face purpling. "It seems to me that you are all determined to start a panic that will destabilize everything we have worked for these last thirteen years!"
"Voldemort has returned," Dumbledore repeated. "If you accept that fact straightaway, Fudge, and take the necessary measures, 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!" shouted Fudge again. "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!"
"The rest of us sleep less soundly in our beds, Cornelius, knowing that you have put Lord Voldemort's most dangerous supporters in the care of creatures who will join him the instant he asks them!" said Dumbledore. "They will not remain loyal to you, Fudge! Voldemort can offer them much more scope for their powers and their pleasures than you can! With the dementors behind him, and his old supporters returned to him, you will be hard pressed to stop him regaining the sort of power he had thirteen years ago!"
Fudge was opening and closing his mouth as though no words could express his outrage.
"The second step you must take — and at once," Dumbledore pressed on, "is to send envoys to the giants."
"Envoys to the giants?" Fudge shrieked, finding his tongue again. "What madness is this?"
"Extend them the hand of friendship, now, before it is too late," said Dumbledore, "or Voldemort will persuade them, as he did before, that he alone among wizards will give them their rights and their freedom!"
"You — you cannot be serious!" Fudge gasped, shaking his head and retreating further from Dumbledore. "If the magical community got wind that I had approached the giants — people hate them, Dumbledore — end of my career—"
"You are blinded," said Dumbledore, his voice rising now, the aura of power around him palpable, his eyes blazing once more, "by the love of the office you hold, Cornelius! You place too much importance, and you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be! Your dementor has just destroyed the last remaining member of a pure-blood family as old as any — and see what that man chose to make of his life! I tell you now — take the steps I have suggested, and you will be remembered, in office or out, as one of the bravest and greatest Ministers of Magic we have ever known. Fail to act — and history will remember you as the man who stepped aside and allowed Voldemort a second chance to destroy the world we have tried to rebuild!"
"Insane," whispered Fudge, still backing away. "Mad..."
And then there was silence. Madam Pomfrey was standing frozen at the foot of Harry's bed, her hands over her mouth. Mrs. Weasley was still standing over Harry, her hand on his shoulder to prevent him from rising. Bill, Ron, and Hermione were staring at Fudge. Raya and Kayse watched Fudge, unsure of what was going to happen now.
"If your determination to shut your eyes will carry you as far as this, Cornelius," said Dumbledore, "we have reached a parting of the ways. You must act as you see fit. And I — I shall act as I see fit."
"Now, see here, Dumbledore," he said, waving a threatening finger. "I've given you free rein, always. I've had a lot of respect for you. I might not have agreed with some of your decisions, but I've kept quiet. There aren't many who'd have let you hire werewolves, or keep Hagrid, or decide what to teach your students without reference to the Ministry. But if you're going to work against me—"
"The only one against whom I intend to work," said Dumbledore, "is Lord Voldemort. If you are against him, then we remain, Cornelius, on the same side."
It seemed Fudge could think of no answer to this. He rocked backward and forward on his small feet for a moment and spun his bowler hat in his hands. Finally, he said, with a hint of a plea in his voice, "He can't be back, Dumbledore, he just can't be..."
Snape strode forward, past Dumbledore, pulling up the left sleeve of his robes as he went. He stuck out his forearm and showed it to Fudge, who recoiled.
"There," said Snape harshly. "There. The Dark Mark. It is not as clear as it was an hour or so ago, when it burned black, but you can still see it. Every Death Eater had the sign burned into him by the Dark Lord. It was a means of distinguishing one another, 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 fellow Death Eaters to be sure of a welcome back into the fold."
A part of Raya felt accomplished for getting that part right. They had been discussing their Dark Marks that day.
Fudge stepped back from Snape too. He was shaking his head. He did not seem to have taken in a word Snape had said. He stared, apparently repelled by the ugly mark on Snape's arm, then looked up at Dumbledore and whispered, "I don't know what you and your staff are playing at, Dumbledore, but I have heard enough. 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."
He had almost reached the door when he paused. He turned around, strode back down the dormitory, and stopped at Harry's bed.
"Your winnings," he said shortly, taking a large bag of gold out of his pocket and dropping it onto Harry's bedside table. "One thousand Galleons. There should have been a presentation ceremony, but under the circumstances..."
He crammed his bowler hat onto his head and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The moment he had disappeared, Dumbledore turned to look at the group around Harry's bed
"There is work to be done," he said. "Molly... am I right in thinking that I can count on you and Arthur?"
"Of course you can," said Mrs. Weasley. She was white to the lips, but she looked resolute. "We know what Fudge is. It's Arthur's fondness for Muggles that has held him back at the Ministry all these years. Fudge thinks he lacks proper wizarding pride."
"Then I need to send a message to Arthur," said Dumbledore. "All those that we can persuade of the truth must be notified immediately, and he is well placed to contact those at the Ministry who are not as shortsighted as Cornelius."
"I'll go to Dad," said Bill, standing up. "I'll go now."
"Excellent," said Dumbledore. "Tell him what has happened. Tell him I will be in direct contact with him shortly. He will need to be discreet, however. If Fudge thinks I am interfering at the Ministry—"
"Leave it to me," said Bill. He clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder, kissed his mother on the cheek, pulled on his cloak, and strode quickly from the room.
"Minerva," said Dumbledore, turning to Professor McGonagall, "I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as possible. Also — if she will consent to come — Madame Maxime."
Professor McGonagall nodded and left without a word.
"Poppy," Dumbledore said to Madam Pomfrey, "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 — very well," said Madam Pomfrey, looking startled, and she too left.
Dumbledore made sure that the door was closed, and that Madam Pomfrey's footsteps had died away, before he spoke again.
"And now," he said, "it is time for two of our number to recognize each other for what they are. Sirius... if you could resume your usual form."
The great black dog looked up at Dumbledore, then, in an instant, turned back into a man.
Mrs. Weasley screamed and leapt back from the bed.
"Sirius Black!" she shrieked, pointing at him.
"Mum, shut up!" Ron yelled. "It's okay!"
Kayse, who also recognized him stared blankly, gripping Raya's hand and pulling her back.
"It's fine," Raya told him. "He's a friend. I'll tell you everything later."
"He's... not a murderer?" he asked.
"Long story," she said. "But no. He went to Azkaban on false charges."
Kayse was still quite pale, but he managed a nod, "Alright. So we're friends with a criminal who's not really a criminal. That's totally cool."
Snape had not yelled or jumped backward or tried to run away, but the look on his face was one of mingled fury and horror.
"Him!" he snarled, staring at Sirius, whose face showed equal dislike. "What is he doing here?"
"He is here at my invitation," said Dumbledore, looking between them, "as are you, Severus. I trust you both. It is time for you to lay aside your old differences and trust each other."
Raya thought Dumbledore was asking for a near miracle. Sirius and Snape were eyeing each other with the utmost loathing.
"I will settle, in the short term," said Dumbledore, with a bite of impatience in his voice, "for a lack of open hostility. You will shake hands. You are on the same side now. Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth do not stand united, there is no hope for any of us."
Very slowly — but still glaring at each other as though each wished the other nothing but ill — Sirius and Snape moved toward each other and shook hands. They let go extremely quickly.
"That will do to be going on with," said Dumbledore, stepping between them once more. "Now I have work for each of you. Fudge's attitude, though not unexpected, changes everything. Sirius, I need you to set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher — the old crowd. Lie low at Lupin's for a while; I will contact you there."
"But—" Harry froze.
"You'll see me very soon, Harry," said Sirius, turning to him. "I promise you. But I must do what I can, you understand, don't you?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "Yeah... of course I do."
Sirius grasped his hand briefly, nodded to Dumbledore, patted the top of Raya's head, transformed again into the black dog, and ran the length of the room to the door, whose handle he turned with a paw. Then he was gone.
"Severus," said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, "you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready... if you are prepared..."
"I am," said Snape. He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely.
"Then good luck," said Dumbledore, and he watched, with a trace of apprehension on his face, as Snape swept wordlessly after Sirius.
"Miss Newbrooke," Dumbledore said to her, causing her to jump slightly. "I know we may not be on the best of terms, but I also know that you believe Harry. You know Voldemort's back."
Raya nodded.
"Then I must ask you to convince your father — Alphanso — to stay this time," he told her. "Last time Voldemort rose, he left with you and mother. I need him to stay. I need you to convince him to help us."
"Yeah, I got it," she told him.
She just hoped she didn't sign her dad's death warrant.
REY WRITES!
thanks for reading!!!
i'm making a luke castellan fic (charlie bushnell version)
that's NOT connected to this, but yeah. it's gonna be
sad and it's gonna hurt and it's not very happy loll
but if you'd like a dedication, comment here and i'll add you <3
thoughts?
comments?
questions?
headcanons?
theories?