Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
$Parseltongue$
Chapter 83: The Goblet of Fire
The Headmaster organized a great feast that night, to welcome the other two schools and to explain the method of selection for the champions.
When Dumbledore unveiled the giant cup, there were many gasps around the hall.
"This is the Goblet of Fire, an ancient artifact of goblin origin. Everyone who wishes to participate will write their names on a piece of parchment and throw it into the Goblet. But be mindful."
Dumbledore's face grew serious.
"Once you do so, you will enter a magical contract of which there is no way out. If you are selected, you will HAVE to participate. And the Triwizard tournament is no trifling matter. Students have perished in the past…because of that, only those students of the sixth and seventh year are allowed to participate."
After the Headmaster was finished, the hall was filled once more with the excited voices of the students.
"How are they going to prevent younger students from putting their names in ?" Hannah asked.
"Look at the floor around the goblet," Harry said.
Hannah and a few others looked intensely, trying to find what Harry was talking about.
"Those marks on the floors?" A fourth-year student asked.
"That's an age line. Anyone below the set age will not be able to cross it." Harry explained.
Harry's eyes scanned the teacher's table and notticed that Moody was staring at Him with intensity.
Harry frowned slightly and Moody turned towards McGonagall and started to talk with her.
'There is something off about him.'
Harry had only interacted with the man a few times but He seem a bit different compared to when they met during the summer.
His thoughts were interrupted when one of the french students addressed him.
"Excuse me, could you pass me the bouillabaisse sauce if you are done with it?"
Harry turned to address the speaker when He noticed a slight tug on his occlumency shields. It felt like the one during the Quidditch finals.
'A veela?' He thought.
Before Harry could answer, He noticed Luna grabbing the bowl of sauce and pushing it towards the french girl.
"Here you go, you can have it all." Luna then made a motion for the girl to leave.
The French student frowned. "How rude," She took the sauce and left.
Harry raised one eyebrow and Luna just shrugged at him and smiled.
Susan whispered something at Hannah and this one giggled.
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That same night, before going to bed, Harry felt the two-way diary stir, signaling a message.
He opened it and read the contents.
'Moody is fake, plans to put your name in the tournament, be careful.'
Bellas's messages were always short, but this one confirmed his feelings about Moody.
'So He is an impostor. But why would He want to put my name in the tournament?...I guess I will have to ask the man himself.
'
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The next day Harry saw the perfect opportunity. After the classes were over, Harry waited until everyone left and approached Moody.
"Profesor, I was wondering if you could help me answer some questions."
Moody looked at him and smiled.
"Oh, of course, Potter, what is it."
"Well...here is the thing." Harry pulled his wand from the holster and with a swift motion, He pointed at Moody.
"Imperio"
Moody did not have time to react before his eyes became glazed and lifeless.
Harry turned towards the door and cast some privacy spells. This was the last class of the day, but He didn't want to risk someone overhearing their conversation.
"Then, Professor, let's start with. Who are you?" Harry's voice became cold.
"Bartemius Crouch jr." He answered without showing any emotion.
"I see." He remembers Batywell enough, He was one of the most fanatics of his old followers.
"What is your mission?" Harry asked.
"My Lord instructed me to capture Alastor Moody, take over his position as Hogwarts teacher, and put Harry Potter's name in the Goblet of Fire," Barty said.
"Put my name in the tournament… with what purpose?"
"I was to interfere during the tasks and organize the death of Harry Potter, making it look like an accident" Barty answered.
'That's a very convoluted way to kill someone…'
Harry thought for a moment before addressing Barty again.
"What about the real Moddy, did you kill him?"
"No, I need him alive for the polyjuice potion. I keep him locked inside a briefcase in my office." Barty answered in a robotic manner.
"Very well…this is what I want You to do. Go to your office, release Moddy and stun him. Then, walk to the top of the astronomy tower…and jump off."
Harry saw that there was no change in Barty's expression or any sign of resistance.
"Yes, Ill do that," Barty said.
"Go then, be quick about it."
Barty left the classroom at a brisk pace.
'The little fragment is going to have to use a more direct approach if He wants me dead. ' Harry smiled and left the classroom.
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Later, that night
Dumbledore was sitting on his desk with his right hand extended and Snape was analyzing the cursed wound.
The wound has changed since the last time. The Slytherin symbol was still present on the palm. From the symbol, there were now many black lines that ran from Dumbledore's palm, all the way through his arm, until reaching his shoulder.
Upon closer inspection, the black was actually runic symbols, very small ones.
"How is the pain?" Snape asked.
"More or less tolerable during the day, but it gets worse at night." Dumbledore looked very tired.
"I may be able to improve the potion for the pain, but…I can't do much to slow down the curse. I tried everything I could, but this is way beyond my knowledge." Snape said.
Dumbledore smiled gently.
"I know, Severus. It's ok, I know my time is coming soon."
Snape and Dumbledore were startled when they heard someone banging on the statue that serves as the entrance to the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore covered his black hand and opened the door.
"Come in"
A familiar voice was heard coming from downstairs.
"Am sorry Headmaster, I forgot the password, you see"
Argus Filch's figure appeared at the entrance of the office, He seem to be struggling while carrying something.
Snape's eyes opened wide in surprise and rushed to Filch's side to help Him.
Dumbledore gasped in surprise when He saw Snape and Filch carrying the very damaged body of Alastor Moody.
"I heard a ruckus coming from his office while doing my rounds, and I found him struggling on the ground, with one leg and one eye missing," Filch said.
"You should have taken him to the infirmary." Snape pointed out.
"No.." The voice of Moody sounded faint, but He was still conscious.
"Alastor, what happened to you?, were you attacked?" Dumbledore said with concern.
The two men helped Moody to a seat and Dumbledore instructed Filch to bring Pomfrey to his office.
Moody looked at Dumbledore with obvious anger in his expression.
"Albus…You have an impostor in Hogwarts"