Chapter Sixty Three - The Third Task... Finally
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!
Chapter Sixty Three - The Third Task... Finally
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
To make sure Justin was no longer left alone, except for when he was in his apartment at night, Harry called, "Willy."
When the Pottermore major domo elf appeared, clearly pleased to have been called, it brightly asked, "Yes, Master Harry?"
"Willy, with the exception of Dobby and Betsy, which of the Potter elves is currently the least busy and would appreciate some more work?"
"That be Raggy," Willy immediately replied. "With no guests at Pottermore, he been feeling... unwanted."
"Excellent," said Harry. "Raggy!"
When the elf appeared, Harry dropped to one knee so he wasn't looking down so much and explained what he wanted Raggy to do.
"Raggy no longer be a Potter elf?" the elf worriedly asked.
"Of course you'll be a Potter elf. You'll be a Potter elf for as long as you want, Raggy," he explained. "I'm asking you to do this because Master Justin does not yet have elves of his own. As such, you're on temporary loan. You can also return to Pottermore as often as you wish as long as Master Justin does not need you at that time. Is that helpful?"
Raggy grinned back, clearly both relieved and happy for the work he knew would be coming his way and replied, "Yes, Master Harry."
Harry 'presented' the loan of Raggy to Justin at the conclusion of dinner that night.
The boy was, of course, stunned at the generosity.
After dinner and the other Heirs had left for the evening, Daphne whirled on Harry and said, "Damn, Harry! Loaning Justin an elf was a bloody clever idea."
Surprised Daphne had used 'vulgarity', Harry was a moment before he quietly replied, "Thank you. Raggy will keep an eye on him and protect him, it'll give Justin the chance to get used to having a house elf personal servant and Raggy gets to help someone and not feel unwanted."
She nodded and said, "I know. You've done good."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
With only a few days to go until the final Task and with all the Heirs - including Justin, now - involved in 'magical combat' training in the Come and Go Room on the seventh floor, more of the others were trying to press Harry for what his tactics would be for the Task.
He just kept smirking and saying, "Read the rules of the Task."
On the night before, he finally relented. However, Fleur had to either tell him if she'd already figured out what he was getting at, or wasn't allowed to copy him.
She had no idea and agreed not to copy him.
So, with a grin, he told them.
That had almost all of them groaning in dismay they'd not figured that out for themselves.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
On the ninth floor of the Ministry, within a wizard-spaced section of the Department of Mysteries, three sections of combat Unspeakables were hard at work training for 'who-knew-what' 'not-sure-when' 'if-at-all'. Such was the nature of their job.
"So," said one to a team mate. "Intel has it this will be a night op, it will occur on the night of the Third Task of the Tri-Wiz, it will likely be in the British Isles and it must be kept small and quick. That's all we've got?"
"We also know we're likely facing an extremely dangerous and powerful individual with a great wealth and depth of knowledge of the dark arts," his partner added. "Plus, likely others."
"In other words, a probable wannabe dark lord."
"Yep."
The first sighed and said, "Join the Unspeakables, they said. You'll get to meet new and interesting people, they said. You'll delve into the ways of new and powerful magics, they said. They just never said those new and interesting people were likely to use those new and powerful magics to kill my arse."
His partner, clearly full of love and care, snickered back.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The day before the Task saw the return of both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang representatives, along with Victor Krum.
Again, they'd be accommodated in the castle for the night. However, because the Task the next day would be well into the evening, they'd be staying that night, as well.
The original planned Feast for Friday, though, had been cancelled. It was supposed to mark the return of the two foreign schools to their home countries. However, since they weren't staying in Britain for the entire time after all, holding a feast to say goodbye seemed a bit pointless.
Fleur was most eager to see who from Beauxbatons was attending and was both surprised and delighted to see her sister, Gabrielle, among the Beauxbatons contingent. As soon as they saw each other it was a dual squeal of delight, with both running into the arms of the other. Quick, almost babbled, French was swiftly spoken between them.
Finally, Fleur led Gabrielle over to introduce her to Harry, Hermione and Daphne. And all three individually received big hugs from the three year younger, clearly Veela, girl.
That night, though it was a 'school' night being a Wednesday night, Hermione slept with Harry in his room. She was desperately worried about the Third Task the next evening and needed to sleep in his arms.
Gabrielle, without even asking permission - Fleur had to go do it for her - decided she'd be staying with her big sister, that night, in Fleur's room and shared her big sister's bed with her.
Apparently, it was something they'd used to do quite often when they were both younger, before Fleur started at Beauxbatons or when she would come home on breaks.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Expecting to just have a normal school day during the lead up to the Task, Harry was surprised when both he and Fleur were approached by Professor Babbling and told to meet with the 'other champions' after breakfast in the ante-chamber, where the champions had all met on the night of the draw. She then seemed to think about it for a moment before she added that Hermione and Daphne could join him there.
Walking in while holding Hermione's hand he was met by Sirius, Remus and the Grangers.
On seeing her parents, Hermione let out a happy squeal and practically jumped into a three-way group hug with both.
With Hermione's parents occupied, Harry walked over and got a hug each out of Remus and Sirius. As he stepped back, thinking to head over to the now 'Hermi-Hug'-released Grangers, Daphne gave a startled yelp as Sirius reached out, snagged her and dragged her into her own hug; which had Harry snickering.
Not intent on 'rescuing' his concubine from the recidivist 'glom-hugger' named Sirius Black, knowing she was safe, Harry moved over to the Grangers. Monica received a hug, but also a surprising kiss on the cheek, before he moved across and gave Wendell a 'manly' hug. It seemed to delight both when he initiated such.
"Not that we mind," said Harry, "But, how and why are you here?"
Wendell replied, "The 'why' is because we were told it was tradition for family to join the champions for the day leading up to the Third Task."
"And the 'how'," said Monica, "Is a bracelet given to us by Sirius via Lady Marchbanks that excludes us from the anti-muggle wards on the school."
And both showed off their clearly rune engraved bracelets.
Wendell, added, "Clearly, your headmistress considers us part of your family."
"Good," Harry firmly stated. "Because, I do too."
That had both Grangers again smiling.
Turning to look back at Sirius, he could now see the man had enveloped Fleur into a hug for a long moment and was just in time to catch him releasing her.
"So," he asked, "What's the plan for the day?"
"We get to give my parents a tour, at least," said Hermione.
Harry nodded and said, "Sounds good. How about we start with our apartment?"
"Also sounds good," said Sirius, coming closer. "I've not seen your new one and Moony's not seen either."
No one was against that.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
With Hermione leading the way, they all trooped up to the fifth floor and the Lords' Quarters wing, entering about ten minutes after leaving the ante-chamber.
Opening the door for everyone, Hermione ushered them inside.
"This is the Potter apartment," said Harry, waving a hand about.
After a quick look about, Monica and Wendell found themselves dragged to Hermione's bedroom door.
"Mum, Daddy," she said, opening the door and gesturing within. "This is my room."
Her father stepped within and asked, "Where's the desk?"
"In the office," she replied. "But, we tend to sit on the couches and use lap tables anyway, so we can chat whenever."
She then showed them the office and explained, "Harry asked Dobby to organise a selection of books be brought over from the Potter family library. These ones are all related to the subjects we're studying."
"Someone works in here, though," said Monica.
"Harry," said Hermione. "He prefers to do House of Potter work in here, but sits out in the living room with the rest of us when doing homework. He's trying to keep the two current facets of who he is, separate. I do too, at times, but only when working on getting a handle on being the Lady of a Noble House."
After the apartment tour, they headed up to the Come and Go Room. And they were all taught the secret of the room and shown some of the configurations they used.
"So, you train up here?" asked Sirius.
"Yes," replied Daphne. "Here's where Harry trained for the Second Task and both Harry and Fleur have trained for the Third Task."
"In-credible," said a stunned Remus. "We never found this room when we were students here."
"We'd have not known of it, either, if it wasn't for Dobby volunteering the information about it to Harry," said Hermione. "Apparently, the castle's elves are all fully aware of the room and what it's capable of."
"Yes," said Daphne. "And Harry only learned of it because he's specifically ordered Dobby to treat him in a certain way; to speak up when he believed it was warranted."
After a slow tour of a lot of the rest of the school, they headed down to the Great Hall for lunch. They had morning tea in the apartment.
This time, they sat at the Gryffindor table. Partly, that was because the Gryff's would be more accepting of muggles.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After an afternoon spent walking around the grounds, with Remus and Sirius telling reminiscing stories of their times at the school and the teens telling of their times over the past nearly four years, they finally ended up back in the Great Hall for an early dinner.
Finally, Headmistress Marchbanks stood and got everyone's attention.
"In less than an hour the four competitors - three willing and one not - of the Tri-Wizard Tournament will be undertaking their Third and final Task," she explained. "At this time I ask those four to accompany Deputy Headmaster Goodstone down to where a hedge maze has been erected near the Quidditch pitch for the Task.
"The rest of us will be making our way down in five minutes, giving the four and their escorts plenty of time to arrive before they are mobbed by well-wishers... or those who stupidly might wish to interfere."
She gave a wave to the Hall and waited as the Deputy Headmaster rounded up the four and escorted them out. No one noticed a missing student. Especially as that student had been keeping their head down and staying quieter than normal of late.
When the rest were permitted to head down to the stands erected to watch the Task, Hermione held right back with Daphne. She had a specific task to do, first.
Ducking aside and out of sight, she whisper-called, "Dobby."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
While the four competitors waited in the open space before the 'grand' entrance to the maze in the middle along one side of it, they were given instructions and further information from those tasked with watching over them. Unlike the Second Task, they had been made aware there were quite a number of people - aurors and professors - spaced both outside the maze and at some places within.
Harry, from where he was standing, gently rubbed his arm where he was bitten by the basilisk. Inside that, deep within, was a tiny mithral pellet, which was engraved with near microscopic runes. It was a 'tracker', or so Croaker had informed him before he magically injected it into his arm, that would allow the Unspeakables to instantly home in on him if, as Dumbledore suspected, he'd be kidnapped some time during the Task.
Harry had no intention of being kidnapped, so was happy with his plan to solve the Task far quicker than anyone even thought could be done. Leastwise, it should cause any plan to kidnap him to come to naught. However, he wasn't that foolish he'd not accept the tracking pellet for what it meant.
Once all the brand new bleachers had filled and the judges sat their table, it was Headmistress Marchbanks who made the announcements. Harry looked across and saw Bagman sitting at the table with a scowl on his face, refusing to look at anyone.
Marchbanks went through how 'the Champions and Lord Potter' (thankyou, for that) would enter, before ensuring everything was ready.
On the mark of 7.00pm Krum, who had the most points, was sent in. Two minutes later, Cedric was sent in. Ten minutes after that, Fleur went in.
Before she left, though, she kissed Harry on the cheek and said, "I know I've not got a chance. So, I'll be making sure I'm safe."
He gave her a smile and a nod.
That left Harry waiting outside. As soon as Fleur entered, he conjured a recliner, sat in it and relaxed.
Finally, and after quite some time, Marchbanks said, "Ten seconds, Lord Potter."
Harry gave her a nod, stood up, vanished the recliner and waited the last few seconds.
"Time, Lord Potter!" barked Marchbanks.
He smiled, walked over to stand just inside the maze, turned back and raised his wand.
Softly, he muttered, "Accio Firebolt." And his broom soared from the stands where Hermione had 'stashed' it and into his hands.
He deftly caught it and, as he heard loud gasps of shock and not a few cries of dismay.
Casting a Sonorus on himself, he looked to the stands and judges and said, "Come on! Who didn't see this coming a mile away? Seriously? Oh, that's right! Ludo Bagman and co, that's who.
"The rules of this event state I must enter the maze and then make my way to the Cup, hidden somewhere within. Nowhere does it state I must remain in the maze, while I'm doing that."
Cancelling the charm, he mounted the broom and took off into the sky. He had really wanted to snark at the organisers of the events some more, but had promised his ladies he'd keep it to the minimum this time.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Just outside the wards of the school and hidden inside a Fidelius charmed tent, a team of Unspeakables were monitoring both Harry's tracker and watching and listening to what was happening through some of their hidden 'observation' mirrors, plus through direct observation using omnioculars.
Just about all of them immediately burst into the Unspeakable form of gales of laughter, 'light snickering' for everyone else, as Harry took to the sky.
The only one not laughing barked, "Watch the boy! If it's going to happen, it will happen soon after he reaches the Cup, or just before."
That quietened them all down again.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry soared right up into the sky and used his now excellent vision to look down on the entirety of the maze.
Surprising even him it only took him a moment to spot the Cup. It was situated right in the very middle of the maze in a small courtyard. And even right in the middle of that. And, further, it was softly glowing with a gentle blue light. Around it and deep into the maze he could barely make out some movement he thought were either the other champions or were some of the traps or 'foul beasts' he and the others were supposed to get past.
Giving a snort of amusement, he dove directly down into the courtyard, coming to a rump sliding halt right alongside the Cup.
Total time since he started, including the Sonorus message; fifteen seconds.
As he landed, however, he heard a gasp of shock. Quickly abandoning the broom he rolled across the grass and was quickly to one knee with his wand drawn.
He waited a good ten seconds, looking about and not finding anything out of the ordinary, before he carefully walked over to grab his broom.
Just as his hand reached for it, he could see the reflecting of a flash of red light off the damp leaves of the surrounding hedges and tried to dive out of the way. He didn't make it.
Slumped on the ground and unconscious, he didn't see Draco Malfoy doff an invisibility cloak from in the corner. Nor did he see him walk over to grab a fistful of his collar before then dragging him closer to the hip-height eighteen-inch-square hedge on which the Cup sat.
Checking to make sure his grip on Harry's robes was secure, Malfoy slid his wand into his pocket, then reached out and grabbed the nearest handle of the Cup.
The whirl-flash of an activated Portkey later and Harry, Malfoy and the Cup were gone.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Over in the hidden tent, the lead Unspeakable, the one who told them off less than a thirty seconds earlier, said, "Right. He's gone. Track him. Let the combat teams know the White Knight was stunned when he was taken. I want that arrival point now, people."
"On it!" one of the others barked back.
And messages were quickly sent.
On a huge metal map of the British Isles and much of the western portion of Europe, a single white dot was slowly moving south east.
A quick swish of wand by the Unspeakable closely monitoring the map and the map zoomed in on southern Scotland and northern England. And the dot rapidly increased speed as it moved across the metal.
"Come ooooonn―" muttered the team lead.
A few moments later, the dot suddenly stopped.
"Zoom!" he snapped.
Another wand swish of the Unspeakable controlling the map and the area that the board covered zoomed in close enough streets and the like appeared.
"Hangleton... no! Little Hangleton!" cried the map monitor. "The graveyard of Little Hangleton!"
"Confirmed!" said another, tasked with monitoring the information coming from the tracker. "I've got co-ordinates!"
"Get them to the teams and tell them they're entering a hostile environment," said the leader. "White Knight is down; alive, but believed stunned. He cannot withdraw as planned."
As more messages were quickly sent, complete with apparation and portkey co-ordinates, others wearing the Unspeakables robes within and without the maze, suddenly dropped disillusionment charms and charged in.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
For those watching of the judges and spectators, they saw Harry mount his broom and take off into the sky. While it was night, there was still sufficient light from the moon in the cloudless sky to watch him.
They saw him soar up high, hesitate a bare moment and then dive down into the middle of the maze.
At the judges table, Bagman saw Potter summon his broom, yet again call him an idiot via a Sonorus and take off into the sky.
He didn't see the rest, as he had turned back forward and was in the process of slowly and repeatedly banging his forehead off the table in front of him at which he sat.
Less than thirty seconds later, all the hedges collapsed with a soft 'Whump!', seemed to whither away and disappeared. Even all the hazards and traps disappeared. It left three competitors standing in various areas where the maze had sat, clearly in the process of navigating said maze.
There was no sign of Harry Potter, except for his broom. It was hovering at hip height approximately where he'd disappeared from sight after diving into the centre of the maze.
They then also saw other wizards and wizards charging towards the broom, with even aurors dropping disillusionment charms and the like and running towards the same spot.
Marchbanks's announcement had informed them all that the maze would disappear once the Cup was grabbed. However, she'd also told them that a portkey on the Cup would instantly transport that person to the middle of the winner's stage, so they could accept their prize.
And he wasn't there.
It took only a couple of seconds before there were shouts and demands for information.
Minister Brunt, who was there to present the winner with their one thousand galleons prize money, immediately whirled on the judges table and loudly demanded, "Where is he?"
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When Harry was harshly enervated, it was to look into the face of Lucius Malfoy. The man was standing there in full Death Eater regalia with silver mask; but, of course, his long blonde hair gave him away.
As soon as Harry tried to move, he realised he'd been tied, arms spread out wide, to something.
"You're not going anywhere, Potter," Malfoy sneered. "You're early, but the Dark Lord anticipated you would be."
Harry began to look around and realised he was in an old graveyard of some form. Nothing looked relatively new, so it had to be one that was no longer in service. He also spotted Draco, watching over the largest cauldron Harry had ever seen and tending a fire underneath. Standing next to 'Mini-Malfoy' were two others, also in death eater regalia. The short little fat one was carrying a bundle of some form.
Turning back to Malfoy senior, Harry said, "Hey, Lucy. If you wanted to have a chat, you should have sent me an owl."
Malfoy glared back and seemed on the edge of cursing him before the an forcefully willed himself relaxed and said, "You're here at the Dark Lord's invitation, Potter. You're to witness his rebirth. Then he's going to kill you."
Before Harry had a chance to snark back, just as he opened his mouth, Malfoy shoved something deep within. Looking down, Harry could see it appeared to be a dark grey or black glove of some form.
'Well; how rude,' he thought.
Without another word, Malfoy turned and walked away from him, towards the cauldron.
Harry spat the glove back out again. 'Sticking charms, silencing charms, a tongue-locking charm, all sorts of magic available to him and he uses a glove as a gag? Moron.'
As soon as Moron - err, Malfoy - reached the cauldron, a ritual was begun.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The combat Unspeakables were gathered in their section within Level 9 on 'alert'. That meant they were supposed to remain ready to go at any moment, but spent almost the entire time just... waiting. For similar events, sometimes they'd go, but most times they'd not.
As their Mission Commander walked in they all knew this was a 'go' time.
"On yer feet!" he barked. "If you're too muddleheaded because you've been sitting on yer arses for so long, me being here means we have a 'Go' for an insertion into a probable hostile environment. You're insertion point is just outside a disused graveyard in the muggle town of Little Hangleton up near the border between England and Wales.
"This has become a rescue op with kill all hostiles on site. The victim is one Lord Harrison James Potter... yes, him. He's believed to have been stunned unconscious.
"We suspect this will be some ritual to resurrect one Tom Marvolo Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort. The big-wigs want the ritual to go ahead with the dark wanker terminated again as soon as he wakes up. I suggest you do it before he gets a wand in his hand.
"It's also suspected a soul anchor will be used as part of the ritual, or will be in the vicinity. A team of soul magic experts will accompany you in, but will remain out of the combat area until they can move in to verify. Don't let any of them get dead.
"The big-wigs would also appreciate it, very much, if you don't let Potter get dead either."
As he was speaking, Portkeys were distributed to the teams of five.
"Your portkeys will drop you one hundred yards south of the graveyard and ten yards apart. Disillusion now.
As soon as they were all disillusioned, he barked, "Ready?... Departing in three... two... one... Execute!"
As one, all the portkeys activated. The sudden loss of that much mass in one room at one time cause a sudden drop in air pressure, which gave a decent yank forward on the robes of the Mission Commander as air rushed into the room from the open door behind to fill the space. Used to it, he barely had to take a short step forward against the pull.
A quick check with a snap-cast revealing charm and he couldn't see anything that wasn't supposed to be there, gave a grunt of satisfaction and walked out again.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Back at the school, the aurors were trying to order information out of those they knew to be Unspeakables. They were ignored until Madam Bones stormed over.
"Why are you here?" she demanded.
One, off to the left, replied, "We're determining how a portkey was created that worked through the wards of Hogwarts that was not created by Marchbanks."
Turning her attention to that person... and it was annoying not being able to address them by gender... she said, "We believe a second portkey was overlaid on the first."
"Nice theory," the Unspeakable drolled. "However, that would make it a separate portkey charm. And, as portkeys can only be made by the Headmistress, it would not get through the wards."
That had her stumped. "Then, what's your theory?" she demanded.
"The existing portkey charm was modified," the Unspeakable immediately replied. "They've been clever in being able to arithmetically pull the original charm apart and rebuild it in place with a different destination."
That surprised Bones. That took a high level of education and training. It also represented a huge security breach if existing portkeys could be modified that way. That meant, portkeys created by her for her aurors, could be used by the bad guys.
"So, if you've deduced that," she said, "Where'd the portkey take him?"
"Our people are already on that," replied the Unspeakable.
While their voices and appearances were blurred as a result of their Unspeakable robes, the confidence in the person's voice bled through clear.
"I want in," said said. "This is, after all, the kidnapping of One of the Seven. That makes it fall within my purview."
The Unspeakable stood still for a few moments before they said, "You; and you, alone. Come with me." Then began walking towards the school main gates."
Bones spun and stared at one of her Masters. "Hammer. You're in command here. See what you can discover as to who took our boy. Start with a head count of students and staff."
"On it, boss," replied Hammer, who was nearby and listening in.
As Hammer hurried off back towards the stands, Bones turned and strode quickly to catch up with the Unspeakable.
Hammer grabbed another auror and said, "Grab someone else, disillusion, silence, scent mask, everything... and follow the Boss."
"Yes, Ma'am!" replied the young auror.
The Boss did not go anywhere without backup and bodyguards.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
While Harry waited, tied to what he now knew to be a grave-site gargoyle marker, the ritual had gone ahead.
The potion in the cauldron, for that was what it clearly was, had reached the stage it was steaming. What looked like a disgusting, deformed toddler with red eyes was then lowered into the potion by the fat death eater, whom he now recognised to be Pettigrew.
After that, some bone had been ripped from the soil under his, Harry's, feet and dropped into the cauldron. Then Malfoy - the Elder, that is - had cut off his pinky finger on his off hand and let that drop in. And, finally, Draco had taken the knife out of his father's hand, come over, slashed Harry on the cheek with the tip of it and used a vial to collect blood that seeped from it. That was then poured into the cauldron.
Once they were done, all four - Draco and the three adults - had backed away and waited. The resultant steam coming from the cauldron obscured everything from sight.
When the steam finally cleared, a very naked, ritual-enhanced Tom Riddle stood before the cauldron and was slowly checking himself over, running his fingers and hands over himself.
Harry thought, 'Ewww... not in public!'
Moments later, Riddle sneered, "Robe me."
A few moments after that, all Hell let loose.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Arriving on site south of their target location, the Unspeakable combat teams were quick to immediately scan the surrounds to ensure they weren't spotted. Then immediately began checking over themselves and their equipment. Once done, they masked themselves from unwanted eyes, ears and noses and moved north.
They arrived where they needed to be and could see the anticipated ritual was already in full swing. The White Knight was clearly alive, though firmly secured to a grave marker of a large winged angel carrying a scythe; and wasn't that all sorts of wrong.
Through their ear bugs, the teams were given their orders.
One team of four immediately faded back and quickly circled around, coming at their target from the rear.
However, they nearly came undone when they were accosted by a dirty great big magical snake. That got stunned, bagged, had a portkey affixed to it and was portkeyed away.
That had them a little late on the site of their target, but within timeframes.
A tap of his ear bug by their team leader, informing the others and the on-site commander they were in position, and they waited; ready.
As the magically enhanced steam from the cauldron dissipated, they were looking at what was very clearly a very naked Tom Riddle - Voldemort - copping a feel of himself.
Riddle sneered, "Robe me."
The on-site commander took a final report of readiness from his people, then sub-vocally snapped, "Now!"
Almost as one, the Unspeakables moved.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Tom Riddle stood there, naked, taking deep breaths of fresh air into his lungs for the first time in almost fourteen years. He allowed his fingers to wander over his body, checking to ensure all was as it should be; smooth skin, but with an underlying texture of snake skin to it.
After a long few moments of enjoying just being back in a proper body again, he opened his eyes, not even realising he'd closed them, and looked to Pettigrew.
He sneered, "Robe me."
As Pettigrew scurried forward with his rune enhanced robes of old, he had only one and a half seconds of warning before they were attacked.
Even with his enhanced speed and agility, it had been almost fourteen years since he'd been used to it. He'd still managed to duck one curse, but not the second.
He felt blinding pain and then... nothing.
Harry had been watching the nose-less bastard feeling himself over. Then the man, if that was a true designation for whatever Riddle had become, lowered his gaze to stare at Pettigrew.
"Robe me," he'd demanded in a raspy, somewhat high-pitched voice.
Just as Pettigrew moved forward, from slightly off to his right Harry caught what he thought was movement. Then spell fire launched almost as a barraged volley.
He'd barely had a chance to draw breath before he felt his bindings dissolve and he was yanked sideways and down.
Then there was the feeling on a wand tap on the top of his head followed by the feel of 'runny egg' wash down his body. 'Disillusionment,' he thought.
Still without a chance to even make an utterance of sound, he heard an almost whispered, "Unspeakables, Potter." And he was half-dragged, half-carried, away from the scene until they rounded a large tomb, where he was then dumped on the ground.
Harry felt a charm impact him on the cheek where he'd been cut by mini-Malfoy and the slight stinging sensation he was feeling from the laceration disappeared. He raised his hand and felt no sign of it.
Four Unspeakables suddenly materialised before him. One firmly said, "Potter. Sit! Staaaayyy... Good boy."
Harry quietly snarked, "Woof."
Then the four, with matching grins, disillusioned again as they clearly began heading back the way from which they'd just come.
However, Harry could no longer see the reflection of flashes of spell fire, or the sound of battle. Actually, he couldn't hear a damned thing. Not even talking.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Bones had just walked out the gate after the Unspeakable when the Unspeakable turned to her and offered her a piece of parchment.
Not being the trusting sort, Bones drew her wand and cast over it first; not finding any magic on it at all.
Taking it, she could see in the dim moonlight there was something written on it. A quick Lumos and she could read it.
As she finished, she noticed something off to the side and turned to look. 'A tent, of all things,' she thought.
As the Unspeakable plucked the note back out of Bones's fingers, Bones realised just what that slip of parchment meant. "Fidelius," she muttered.
The Unspeakable nodded and led the way into the tent.
The following aurors saw their Boss stop to read something, then turn to the left, walk forward and disappear.
"Shit!" muttered young auror Watkins. "Hammer's going to be pissed."
"Watkins," called the female Senior Auror with her. "Go back and get Master Hammer or another Master and let her or them know what's happened. Tell them I suspect she's disappeared directly out the gate under what appears to be a Fidelius. I'll wait here."
"Yes, Senior," she replied, before running back in through the gates.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Inside the tent, the senior on-site Unspeakable immediately greeted her. "Madam Bones." s/he said.
"What's all this?" she demanded.
"Monitoring," s/he replied. "You'll be pleased to know we've already found your boy and dealt with the situation. He'll be returned, soon."
"Potter's safe?" she demanded.
"He is."
"What happened?"
"A kidnapping, of course," replied the Unspeakable. "Potter was taken to use his blood in a dark ritual to resurrect the one known as Voldemort."
When Bones let out a small gasp, the Unspeakable added, "Don't worry about it. The situation, as I said, has been dealt with."
"Where?" she demanded.
"As I said, don't worry about it," replied the Unspeakable. "As it was a muggle area, our people are dealing with the scene and cleaning it as we speak."
Knowing she'd get no information the Unspeakables didn't want her to have, no matter how much she tried to bluster or threaten, Bones let out an annoyed sigh and said, "When do I get Potter back?"
"After a short debrief," s/he replied. "I suggest you return to where the Minister is currently berating the judging panel of the Third Task and let him know."
"He's unharmed?" she asked.
"He received a small cut to his left cheek, which has since been healed," s/he replied. "He might even be back by the time you get back down there."
She gave a nod and muttered an almost unwilling, "Thank you." Then spun about and walked back out of the tent.
As she cleared what was clearly the Fidelius boundary, one of her senior aurors dispelled a disillusionment charm and asked, "Ma'am?"
"I'm fine," muttered Bones. "Let's get back to the stage and judges." Then put deed to word by walking back to and through the gates.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
When an Unspeakable returned to collect Harry, it had been about two minutes and Harry was getting a bit 'antsy'.
"Lord Potter," said the Unspeakable. "The situation is resolved. It's now safe to move you. Please, follow me."
Harry climbed back to his feet and followed the person back the way they'd come.
As they approached, he could see a few Unspeakables doing various tasks. A couple were taking a very close look at the giant cauldron, others were checking over what were now clearly dead bodies, others were overseeing the removal of marks and damage to the terrain and markers caused by the very short and very one-sided battle.
Walking back past the grave marker on which he was tied, one of those doing the overseeing turned to him and asked, "Lord Potter, how's your fortitude?"
"It's fine," Harry replied.
The Unspeakable nodded back and gestured him over to where four bodies laid under black sheets. He moved to one at the end, the smallest, and asked, "Think you can identify someone for us? We believe he was a student at your school."
Harry took a breath and nodded. He already knew who it would be.
With a flick of his wand, one part of the sheet was flicked aside.
In barely a moment Harry recognised him. He immediately said, "Draco Malfoy, Heir Primary to the Magical House of Malfoy; a scion, but not an Heir, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black."
The Unspeakable gave a nod and flicked his wand again, causing the sheet to flick back over the body of Harry's so-called school yard nemesis.
"Thank you, Lord Potter," replied the Unspeakable. "We already knew the identity of the other three from previous records."
"Lucius Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew, I recognised," said Harry. "But, who's the other? And, what happened to Riddle?"
The Unspeakable hesitated a moment before he replied, "The other is, or was, Walden MacNair, a ministry employee in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. As for Riddle... we've already taken him back to the Department. You no longer need to worry about him."
Without even waiting for Harry to respond, the Unspeakable looked over Harry's shoulder and said, "Debrief him and send him back."
Harry turned to where the (wo)man had looked and saw another of the Unspeakables. "This way, please, Lord Potter."
Harry was led clear of what was going on and had a few 'facts' explained to him.
While he was grumbling about it, the Unspeakable indicated to another, who brought over the Tri-Wizard Cup. S/He offered it to Harry.
As he accepted it, the Unspeakable said, "Remember, Lord Potter. Not a word of this to anyone. We don't want any other wannabe dark lord or lady to know there exists a revivification ritual they could use if they die."
"Yeah, yeah," he snarked. "I'll be a good little lordling and use the story you lot have concocted."
The Unspeakable gave a nod back and raised their wand to tap the Cup. "Execute."
And Harry was portkeyed away.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
At the starting point of where the maze existed, the bleachers, the judges table and the now lonesome stage, no one had left except for aurors who'd been sent off to deal with unknown matters. Everyone else had been forced to remain where they were.
Around the judges table, where even the judges except Marchbanks were now standing, were Minister Brunt, Master Auror Scrimgeour, two of his Seniors and four Lords of the Seven - Sirius Black, Frank Longbottom, Robertus Flack and Basil Clearwater. Around them were others; including, Samuel Greengrass, Eugene Abbott, Heathcliff Davis and other aurors; the last of whom were waiting for further orders.
Hermione and Daphne were in the stands. The other Heirs, now including Finch-Fletchley, formed a protective human shield around the pair of them. They'd only recently also been joined by Fleur, who'd hurried off the lawns to her family first before joining them with her family, who'd come with her. That then brought over the families of the heirs to form an even bigger human protection shield centred on Hermione and Daphne. Even Hermione's parents were part of that.
As some tried to demand answers of the three 'Potter' ladies, those shielding them snarled back ordering those trying to demand information to back off or be... dealt with. That left them alone.
While they waited and anxiously watched Sirius, Frank, Samuel and the others, Hermione was in the process of slowly worrying her bottom lip to shreds with her teeth.
Both Sirius and Frank were ripping verbal strips off Bagman and Snodway. Flack and Clearwater were tag-teaming the Minister.
There was a lot of bickering, but no action. Some, like Bagman, were trying to lay the blame at the feet of Headmistress Lady Marchbanks, who was simply ignoring them back. She, for one, was calm.
Frank, seeing her lack of reaction demanded, "Why are you so calm? One of the Seven has been kidnapped by persons unknown."
"Because I expect this matter to be rectified within a few short minutes," she replied.
"You know something," he accused.
Other arguments began to peter off as they all started to realise 'news' was in the offering.
"I do," she replied. "However, I may not speak of it. Those we do not speak of have forbidden it."
"The Unspeakables?" demanded Brunt. "What do they―"
That was as far as he got before there was the flash of an arriving portkey in the middle of the stage. And Harry appeared, holding the Cup, before he immediately fell over.
"Oh, bloody Hell!" he irritably called. He had no idea a Sonorus ward had already been cast on the stage.
Quickly climbing back to his feet he was about to say something when her heard Hermione cry, "Harrison James Potter!"
"Oh, poop!" he muttered, startled. Again, because of the Sonorus, it was heard by all.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After having almost three dozen people then storm the stage, all demanding information, he just stood there, looking dejected.
It took Hermione breaking through the crowd that surrounded him, with Daphne and Fleur in tow, for him to stop ignoring folks. Instead, he just paid attention to them. Thankfully, Hermione only demanded one question, saw the look on his face and immediately blushed, looking away as she hugged him.
Harry let the crowd burn itself out of questions, which had gotten progressively louder until they finally realised he was answering none of them and began to shut up, one by one. That took about three minutes.
When he did finally have silence. He said, "Well, are you all done being absolute idiots, yet?"
That immediately had people berating him and yell questions at him again. And, again, he just stood there, looking around.
Eventually, he raised a hand before his face, began peering closely at his nails, before buffing them on his chest and having another look at them. He made it as obvious as he could get he was paying them no attention, whatsoever. Only then did they finally realise he would not be answering any questions, that way.
When they again shut up he asked, "Are you all done, this time?"
Yet again, a couple of people arced up and again he raised his hand before his face to peer at his nails. That had those couple of people shut up again.
"For the third and final time, before I decide I'm done with the fucking lot of you and simply leave, are you all done... now?"
When no one said a word, he said, "Well, it appears the witches and wizards of wizarding Britain can be taught. Now, if you want to get information from me as to what happened... get off this stage and give me and mine room!"
As people, with some muttering imprecations, finally moved to obey, he saw Madam Bones standing there, off to one side, with an eyebrow cocked back.
"Madam Bones," he said, "Please use your supposedly highly trained and capable aurors, supposedly trained in handling crowds, to do their job by controlling this..." he waved his hand at those still leaving the stage. "... rowdy mob."
She gave a slight smirk back and set four aurors between the stage and those who'd crowded him, getting them to force people back and away.
When they finally had everyone complied, whether willingly or not, he said, "Great. Now that I have a chance to explain things, without having idiots wasting their energy and breaths yelling questions at me, I can get on with it.
"Firstly; you all saw me take to my broom and soar into the air over the maze to spot the Tri-Wizard Cup. I soared into the air and had the Cup spotted within a few seconds. I immediately dived back into the maze where the Cup was located. As I landed right next to it, I heard what I thought was a gasp of noise. I hesitated with my wand drawn, thinking I was about to be attacked.
"When I couldn't locate that threat I then moved to grab the Cup, thereby being the winner of the Tournament. As I reached for the Cup I was hit in the back by a stunner.
"Sometime later, I was enervated by Lucius Malfoy."
That had a lot of people gasp in shock before someone yelled something at him.
Yelling back he said, "For failing to remain silent while I explain what happened, that's a ten second delay of time penalty!"
Then he flicked back the hem of his left sleeve by thrusting his arm forward and brought his wrist up so he could look at his watch.
Then he counted out the ten seconds.
As soon as it reached zero, he said, "The next interruption will be a fifteen second penalty; and the next after that, twenty! If you want to hear what I have to say, make sure you stay silent and those around you also stay silent!"
He gave a wide sweeping glare, before he resumed. "As I said, I was enervated by Lucius Malfoy. He was dressed in full Death Eater regalia, including the mask. If you wonder how it is I knew it was he, I remind you that the man has long, straight, white-blonde hair. I then confirmed it was he when he spoke to me.
"I was tied to a grave marker in what appeared to be an old and disused cemetery. Looking past Lucy Malfoy I also spotted who I knew to be his son, Draco, and Peter Pettigrew. There was a fourth person there, also in Death Eater regalia, but I did not recognise him at the time."
He then went on to tell them what had happened with the modification the Unspeakables wanted him to make, that the ritual had failed.
He only had to issue the fifteen and twenty second penalties, one each on two further instances of being interrupted, before he was interrupted no further.
Finally, he said, "So, their attempt to resurrect the dark wizard Tom Marvolo Riddle, who self-styled himself Lord Voldemort, spectacularly failed. Those who attempted the ritual all died in the attempt. They are... or were... Lucius Malfoy; his son, Draco Malfoy; Peter Pettigrew and Walden MacNair.
"Because of the attempted necromantic ritual, the Unspeakables have taken control of the scene. No one is permitted there. Together with the components of the ritual, I believe they have also recovered the bodies and took them to the Department of Mysteries, where their loved ones may collect them later for burial.
"That is all I have for you. I have now given you all the information I have on this matter. Barking your questions at me like cur dogs will gain you nothing, but a very pissed off Lord of the Seven, with his wand drawn, in your face. You do not want that, I do not want to do that. However, I will if you push me.
"That is all."
Surprisingly, no one then arced up at him again.
Madam Bones then walked up and onto the stage with a wry smile on her face.
She leaned in on Harry and whispered, "Take yourself and your ladies and go to your apartment. I'll handle things from here."
Harry gave a nod as she stepped back and softly called for Dobby.
As soon as he appeared, he told the elf what he wanted to happen. Dobby nodded back and got right on it.
Before everyone's eyes, Harry and his three all disappeared, right off the stage. That had people utter cries of dismay, shock or anger.
Then, others started to disappear, too - Hermione's parents, the Delacours, Sirius, Moony and the Greengrasses.
As Madam Bones, still standing on the stage, didn't seem surprised by the disappearance of the 'Potter four' from the same stage. People didn't, once again, panic.
She stepped forward and said, "That's it for the information. As such, that's also it for the night. For those who are current residents of the castle, please start making your way there. For those who are not, please start making your way to the main gates. Aurors, assist them with that, please."
Then she walked off the stage, herself. As she did, the Minister stomped over and barked, "Amelia! I have not had a chance to present the boy with his prize money!"
"Do it tomorrow morning, Minister; in the Great Hall, here at Hogwarts," she returned. "You'll have a greater chance of you presenting Lord Potter with his winnings appearing on the front page of the Prophet, if you do that instead. Clearly, it won't if you try to do it tonight."
The Minister, thought about it for only a moment before he said, "Merlin damn it; you're correct. Thank you."
She just gave him a nod before walking away. She had lots more to do tonight. Part of that would be seeing the Unspeakables to confirm the deaths of four 'upstanding citizens', before then having to inform their remaining families.
She just thanked Merlin it would only be Narcissa Malfoy, as neither of the other two had remaining close family members still alive.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ