The Cuckoo in the Nest and The Talk
The smooth grey river stone flew into Minerva McGonagall's hand. She slid it into her robes in one fluid motion and flicked her wand toward the shadows. "Where are you, Mr. Potter!?"
A Stunning Spell illuminated the cemetery, knocking a Death Eater backward into a headstone. Harry let out an anguished scream, and Minerva moved toward the sound like a storm. Another stunner flew, followed by a tombstone rising from the earth to intercept a Killing Curse that nearly clipped her shoulder.
She reached Harry, seized the Triwizard Cup, and the world twisted.
They slammed back onto the Hogwarts grounds. The crowd surged forward in a wave of noise, but the atmosphere turned to ice as the reality of their condition set in. Harry rolled to the grass, clutching his arm; Professor McGonagall rose to her full height, her face a mask of cold fury. The grey pebble flew from her robes and spun in the air, expanding and shifting until a dazed, trembling Cedric Diggory stood in its place.
"Professor McGonagall?" Albus Dumbledore was already striding toward them, his eyes sharp. "Didn't you ask for leave…"
"A trap, Dumbledore! The Dark Lord set a portal trap within the Cup."
Dumbledore's stance shifted instantly. "We need to find Harry."
"Wait. I will answer to the Ministry later, but I have a new acquisition from Tan." Minerva adjusted the gold and diamond monocle over her eye. The lens glowed, projecting paths, geometries, and the ghostly "echoes" of those who had recently passed through the area.
"Harry was just—Ah. Mad-Eye." She watched the smoky form of Alastor Moody approach Harry to help him up. Her eyes widened. Through the monocle, the "Moody" figure was a hollow shell; the lens highlighted him in a sickly yellow, with the word Polyjuice appearing in fine, illuminated script. She looked to Dumbledore. "Polyjuice."
Dumbledore's nod was grim as he led the way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
They burst into the room. Dumbledore went straight to Harry, while McGonagall and Snape flanked "Moody." With a sharp Transfiguration Bind, Minerva turned the man's own wooden leg into heavy iron shackles that bound his wrists and ankles. Snape summoned the man's wand and shoved it into his robes, his own wand leveled at the imposter's throat. As the Polyjuice wore off, the man began to cackle, his features Melting into the pale, frantic face of Barty Crouch Jr.
"Barty Crouch Jr.," McGonagall hissed. "Where is the real Alastor Moody?"
Crouch only laughed—a hollow, mad sound.
"Use your monocle, Professor," Dumbledore urged.
Minerva adjusted the dial on her lens. The shadows of the room's history played out before her, focusing finally on the seven-locked trunk in the corner. She frowned. "Professor Moody is in the trunk."
Later, in the quiet of the Headmaster's office, Harry sat on a stool. Fawkes sat on her perch, watching him with an intensity that suggested she was standing guard. His arm still stung, though Madam Pomfrey had already worked her charms.
Dumbledore turned to the phoenix. "Fawkes. Please call our friends, Shylah and Hazel."
Fawkes let out a melodic cry. An enthusiastic call echoed in reply, followed by a fall of starlight that shimmered like fine dust over the office floor. A purple portal tore open above the door; Shylah swept through, landing beside Fawkes, followed immediately by Hazel.
Hazel didn't wait for a greeting. She rushed to her brother, taking his arm. Shylah and Fawkes both fluttered down, each claiming one of Hazel's shoulders. Fawkes leaned in, allowing a single, pearly tear to drop onto Hazel's arm. A shadowy black line shimmered on her skin and then vanished; Harry let out a long, shuddering breath as the phantom ache finally died.
Dumbledore watched them closely, then flicked a knowing look at Hazel. She nodded subtly. A purple haze rose from the floorboards, sealing the room in a Tan-dimension silence. Dumbledore smiled in approval.
"You can block out the universe, but your brother cannot," Dumbledore noted softly.
Hazel looked at Harry with a frown. "En-Dimension is so terrified of new magics. I could create a talisman, or..." She trailed off, glancing at her mother. "But you are right." She looked back at Dumbledore. "Voldemort's snake has contacted me and pledged her allegiance. She is the reason I escaped his notice, and why he did not take blood from us both."
Minerva straightened her back, her lips thin, but Dumbledore spoke first. "This proves it, doesn't it?" He gestured to the purple haze. "You can block his efforts, especially with Nagini's help, but Harry is vulnerable. Create the talisman; we will present it to the Ministry. They have already certified the techniques used for the Longbottoms." He narrowed his eyes. "Though I doubt they will ever certify the process for Lycanthropes."
"I think Harry should stay with me or Sirius," Hazel stated firmly. "We have—"
"Out of the question!" Minerva's voice was shrill with protective instinct. Dumbledore offered a small, sad smile.
"Your mother is right. If I thought you two would obey, I would tell you to stay in Tan and cut all contact with this world."
Hazel shrugged. "Fine. Then let him stay with his godfather."
"Hazel! What about you?" Harry asked, his voice low.
"En no longer believes in other dimensions, for the most part. Voldemort doesn't know how to access me, and if he did... Tan is a dimension of war. He isn't ready for that." She looked at her brother, her expression darkening. "Unfortunately, I have problems of my own. The Emotion Doll wants me—or something I have."
Harry sucked his teeth in frustration. Hazel looked at Dumbledore, her gaze hardening. "We will do things your way, for now."
She waved her hand, and the purple haze turned a deep, shimmering blue. "He will see only what you and Mother want him to see." Threads of blue magic laced around Dumbledore and McGonagall, beginning to alter the memory of the scene for any outside observers.
Hazel sat next to her brother, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Things are getting difficult."
Harry put his arm around her, pulling her close. "We'll be okay."
End of Arc four: The Emotion Doll Awakes