Hogwarts
As night began to fall, everyone started making their way to the Quidditch pitch. The pitch itself was totally unrecognizable, covered in twenty-foot hedges.
From the stands, they were visible as being a maze.
The stands had been magically enlarged, and even so, were absolutely packed. All of Hogwarts was there, of course, as well as the families of the champions, and the few people who managed to get tickets.
Lucius Malfoy was there, along with Narcissa. They were sitting in the judges' box, alongside Fudge.
' At least it'll give him a strong alibi. Not that anyone who suspects him will care too much'
The noise from the stands reached a roaring crescendo as the champions walked forward, stopping at the entrance to the maze.
Bagman stood there, talking to them, and a few of the teachers around them walked away.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Bagman's voice filled the air around them, and the crowd stilled. "Welcome to the third and final task of the 125th Triwizard Tournament! This promised to be a most exciting evening ahead of us!"
' If only you knew'
"Tonight, our champions will race each other through the maze, attempting to be the first to reach the center and the Triwizard Cup which awaits. The first to touch the cup will be our winner! Of course, it won't be as simple as navigating a maze, no. They will have to contend with many obstacles, dangerous creatures, and barriers to cross. Now, the points currently stand at:
Mr. Cedric Diggory, of Hogwarts, in first place, with eighty-two points.
Mr. Viktor Krum of Durmstrang coming in next, with eighty points.
And finally, Ms. Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons, with seventy-one points.
The champions will be entering the maze based on their current points. So Mr. Diggory will go in first, followed by Mr. Krum, followed by Ms. Delacour.
On my whistle, the task will begin"
The whistle blow. Dimly, from the high vantage point, they could make out Diggory running into the maze.
"Great. Another task where we can't see what they're doing. This should be so much fun"
Daphne pushed him lightly. "Stop being a spoilsport"
"But it's pointless! We're literally watching the hedges grow!"
The whistles sounded again, and Krum ran in.
"Poor Delacour. Hey, Blaise. What're the odds on her?"
Blaise crossed something out on his parchment and looked up.
"Eight to one"
"Put me down for five galleons on her"
"What a waste! There's no way she'll win!" Daphne whispered furiously to him.
"I know. Already put ten on Diggory. Blaise asked me to try to get people to bet on her"
The whistle blew again, cutting out Daphne's response. Fleur strode into the maze, her hair shining in the rising moonlight.
"Now we wait," Harry said, leaning back.
' I wonder if they've started yet?'
Ministry of Magic
They apparated right in.
The security wizard stood up from his chair, mouth open in shock at the sudden appearance of the large group of people.
He hadn't even raised his wand.
' Fool'
From the way he paled and backed away, clutching at his chest, he realized who he was facing.
"No-you-n-"
' Enough'
Lord Voldemort twirled his wand in the man's direction.
There was the barest fraction of an instant, where nothing happened.
Then he exploded, dark blood and organs showering the floor. A drop landed on his face. His tongue shot out and lapped at it.
"Gather everyone still in the Ministry. Have them kneeling in the atrium"
His followers cheered as they ran to do his bidding.
Lord Voldemort smiled and stepped through the mess that had once been a man.
Hogwarts
"Such a fucking waste of time!"
"We know. You've been telling us since it started"
He scratched his arm, wishing he could feel it burn. Wishing he could feel himself being summoned.
He glanced over at Lucius. They weren't sitting too far away from the judges' box. Close enough that he could still make out the expressions on the man's face.
He saw him smile at something Fudge said, while Narcissa laughed.
' He hasn't called them yet, then. Fuck, I just wish I knew what was happening!"
Someone cast something in the maze, lighting the hedges up with an eerie crimson glow. It faded after a few seconds.
"Fuck"
"Stop it. You'll find out later, same as all of us"
"I know, I know. I just wish I knew what was happening"
Ministry of Magic
He heard someone shouting, screaming about injustice.
He heard Bella, joy evident in her voice, responding.
His smile grew as the screams rose.
He didn't turn around.
He stood, facing the fountain, as the screams died down to whimpers.
The fountain was truly a work of art.
The wizard and witch, in their rightful places, with the subordinate species gazing in awe at them.
But there was something missing.
His wand flashed, and he turned, leaving the bronze muggles prostrated, their lips touching the feet of the witch and wizard.
His eyes skimmed over the captives. They were kneeling, shaking. None of them would meet his gaze.
' In their proper places'
"You may have heard of me," He said, causing some of them to look up, and one to vomit. Bella, of course, immediately crucio'd that one.
Once the screams died down again, he continued.
"I am Lord Voldemort. And I have returned to take what is mine"
Hogwarts
"How the hell are you just sitting so calmly?" He hissed. "I'm freaking out, wondering what's going on. How are you doing it?"
"There's nothing you can do," she said lightly. "Just relax, or you'll make yourself noticeable"
Draco tapped him.
"What?"
"Try splitting your mind. Works for me"
"That's cause you're fucking gifted" Harry grumbled but did give it a try.
And it really did help.
Ministry of Magic
One of them was crying.
"Why the tears? Is this not a joyous day?"
She just sobbed harder. Dolohov laughed, his staccato cackling dragging the rest of the Death Eaters along with him.
"Did you all truly believe I was defeated by an infant? Did you think it wise, to stop fearing me?"
"Harry Potter beat you! And Dumbledore will beat you!"
He spun, coming to face the one staring at him.
His arm shot to the side, stopping Bella as she raised her wand.
There was fear in those eyes, yes. But there was courage, and hatred there too. He recognized that hair though. And he recognized the face from his time with Quirrell.
"Percival Weasley" he hissed, and the boy-no, the man flinched.
"Have you joined your father in his quest to destroy the values of the wizarding world? To make us love the poor, mistreated muggles?"
His followers laughed, one of them kicking one of the captives in the side.
He ignored them, focusing on the flush rising up Weasley's neck.
"My father's a better man than you could ever be!"
He didn't stop Bella that time.
Weasley shrieked, and the shaking among the captives increased.
The sharp scent of urine filled the air.
He raised his hand, and Bella stopped.
"Gryffindor. You've wet yourself"
Tears flowed down his face, but he still found the strength to stare his death in the eyes.
He straightened his back.
"Thirteen years it has been, since last I walked this land. I will have the payment due to me"
Pleading eyes rose toward him.
"I'll give you everything, please, just-"
"What is your name, one who will give me everything?"
"Dirk Cr-Cresswell. Of the-the Goblin Liason Office. Pl-please!"
"Goblin. Liaison. Office" his lips curled into a sneer. "Tell me, friend of the goblins. Do you enjoy pandering to the lower races?"
"PLEASE!"
"Silence"
"Thirteen years. I will take thirteen lives. Weasley and Cresswell have volunteered already. Bella"
She snapped to attention. "My lord?"
"Choose eleven of them. Randomly, of course"
"It will be my pleasure, my lord. Thank you for this honor, tr-"
"Today, Bella"
She walked forward, chest heaving with her deep breaths.
She began pointing, singing a little nonsense song.
"Eeny, meeny, miny, Mo-"
Cresswell seemed to have gone into shock, staring into space, face pale.
Weasley closed his eyes, tears streaming out and over his freckles.
"You're it!"
A bright light appeared over the head of a witch.
"Eeny, meeny, miny, mo-"
"No! I'm one of you!"
His eyebrow raised. He cocked his head to one side, examining the squat witch who had dared interrupt the proceedings.
"I've been trying to ban mudbloods, I've been doing all sorts of stuff! Please, I'm one of you!"
"Are you truly?" He said softly.
She nodded, her jowls shaking.
"But I don't recall ever meeting you. And I have an excellent memory. Particularly when it comes to my friends"
"I never-I never joined, but-"
"And why not? You were clearly old enough, during the war. Why have you never searched me out, searched my friends out, told us of your desire to join?"
"Because, because I was-"
"Would you kill for me?"
"Gladly!"
"Would you die for me?"
Her throat worked. Eventually, she squeaked "gladly!"
"Good. You shall have your chance, tonight. Continue, Bella"
"But-I'm the senior undersecretary! I can be useful!"
She screamed as his Crucio hit her. Regretfully, he let the curse drop.
"And useful you shall be. Your death shall be part of those announcing my return to the wizarding world. What nobler end could you wish for? Now, be silent. Bella, continue"
Weasley's eyes were open now, glaring at him with such delicious fear and hatred, even as his body shook with the force of his sobs.
"You're it!" Bella shouted gleefully, and the light marked out another doomed to die.
Hogwarts
Diggory appeared at the entrance to the maze, with the Triwizard Cup held in his hand.
There was a moment of stunned silence, and then the stands shook with the roar of the crowd.
"Ladies and Gentleman, we have a winner! Cedric Diggory, of Hogwarts!"
Diggory raised the Cup, the triumph in his face clearly visible even from the stands.
Harry saw Dumbledore sending a Patronus into the maze. A moment later, he saw McGonagall doing the same.
It took a while, but eventually, Krum and Delacour both exited the maze.
They shook hands with Diggory, and the applause grew even louder.
"Will the judges and Minister Fudge please come down? It is time to present the winnings!"
Dumbledore, Maxime, Karkaroff, Savoy, and Fudge all rose, turning and leaving the judges' box. Lucius and Narcissa still sat there, watching events unfold.
Ministry of Magic
They were lined up before him. All of them shaking, terrified.
"I'm sure they will find a way of removing your corpses eventually"
The Senior Undersecretary tried to shout something, but the silencing charm held.
He met Weasley's eyes for a second.
He raised his wand with a smile.
The Burrow
"And Perkins didn't even do anything about it! Merlin, Molly, sometimes it just rattles me so much, the way people look down on my department! We're doing such important work, but it just isn't so glamorous, and-"
Molly nodded her head, helping herself to another few dumplings.
She cherished these times with Arthur when it was just the two of them.
She loved her children dearly, couldn't imagine life without them, but sometimes she just wanted time alone with her husband. Where they could talk without being interrupted, or having to go and mediate between the children.
She stood up, to go and move the pie off of the fire, and out the corner of her eye, she caught movement from her clock.
' Percy must be on his way home, finally. If I've told him once, I've told him a hundred times that they're working him too hard, but-'
Her thoughts came to a sudden stop as an icy hand squeezed her heart.
She couldn't speak. Couldn't move. Couldn't do anything but look at where her son's hand was pointing.
She tried to speak. Tried to shout her husband's name.
It came out in a raspy whisper, the way voices sound in nightmares.
"Arthur"
"And then, that Umbridge woman has the nerve to-"
"Arthur!"
He turned to her, and when he saw her face he stood up in such a hurry that he knocked the table over.
"What, what's-"
"Look" she raised a trembling arm, finger outstretched, to where her son's hand was pointing firmly, resolutely, at the point on the clock labeled: Mortal Peril.
"Wha-but-He's at work? How-how could-what?"
Arthur just sounded confused.
She knew she should be doing something, contacting someone. She knew she should do something.
But she couldn't.
"Molly? I-I think we need to contact law enforcement, and-"
"I-Yes. We. We should. But-"
He took her, putting his arm around her.
"Come. We need to-"
She shrieked, shouting so loudly in his ear that he jumped back.
He turned to look at the clock, fearing, knowing.
Percy's hand was spinning around the entire face, gaining more and more speed as it went.
As they watched, it fell off the clock, landing on the ground with the finality of a coffin nail.
Molly Weasley fainted.
Ministry of Magic
Lord Voldemort stepped back, watching his handiwork swing above him.
Blood dripped down, adding to the growing pool that was slowly spreading. Slowly covering the floor of the entire Atrium.
"You will report on what has occurred here tonight?" He asked, not turning his head.
One of the surviving captives swallowed their tears for long enough to answer him. "Yes, whatever you want"
"So obedient"
His followers tittered.
He still didn't move his eyes from the decorations he had placed.
' It would be difficult for them not to be obedient, after seeing coworkers, friends, acquaintances flayed. And hung by their skins'
He paused for a moment, as he was about to turn and give the order to leave.
' They will get these down. However, I can leave them something they won't remove, not so easily'
"Morsmodre!"
The Dark Mark cut its way into the floor, it's every line and curve clearly visible.
Smooth letters cut their way underneath it, leaving a message.
The grooves began filling with blood.
' Yes. Let them dwell on that'
He gave the order, and his loyal followers disapparated.
He took one last glance at the scene he had created and left.
Hogwarts
Fudge was just finishing his speech, his rambling monologue about the glory and honor of the Triwizard Tournament coming to a close when the Aurors arrived.
The ran into the square, and that was the moment that everything changed.
Dumbledore was the first to react. Even from the stands, the change in the way he held himself was clearly visible. In a fraction of a second, he went from being the grandfatherly headmaster, proud of his student's accomplishment, to the warrior who had defeated Grindelwald.
Fudge didn't notice the change in Dumbledore's posture, the way the old wizard's body language was screaming wariness and preparation. He didn't even notice the Aurors until one tapped him on the shoulder and started whispering urgently to him.
His startled exclamation washed over the crowd before he remembered to remove the Sonorous.
Daphne squeezed Harry's hand tightly. He let out a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding.
Mutters and mumbled conversation rose around them. Near the maze, Dumbledore had joined Fudge and the Aurors in conversation.
After a few minutes, Dumbledore beckoned to McGonagall.
She came forward, and whatever he told her must have shocked her. She raised her hand to her mouth, and her whole body dipped forward as if she was about to fall. She straightened up though, nodded to Dumbledore, and walked away.
People were getting louder now, confusion and fear growing in the stands.
Some first-year shouted hysterically.
"What's happening?"
Harry smiled and whispered to Daphne.
"It's beginning"