Chapter 47: Disease
Adrian woke up one fateful Thursday to a loud rumble of activity down the hall.
Normally, he wouldn't be bothered to get out of his bed, especially since he had equipped the locking charms on his door in place.
"Master?" Lutain inquired, poking his head out from his box.
Adrian ignored him, and curled tighter into his sheets.
Adrian heard the silky noise of Lutain's small scales sliding over the woven blanket around his shoulders.
"Master, they are closer."
"I don't have classes until this afternoon," Adrian mumbled back, voice thick with sleep as he didn't even bother to open his eyes.
"It is after noon," Lutain hissed back pointedly, voice deadpanned with the noticeable trace of concern.
Was it? He had slept through Charms.
The loud grumble of voices and many feet paused, standing quietly outside his room.
The door burst open with a rattling bang which impacted against the stone of the wall behind it, bouncing free and nearly closing it once more. Adrian startled, lifting himself onto one forearm as the other rapidly rubbed his eyes.
His lights were forced on and two imposing figures stormed across his room, grabbing his arms and hoisting him from his bed. Adrian protested with a squawk, sounding like Blaise's strange bird he had smuggled in.
"Let me go!" Adrian struggled, legs flailing behind him as he was dragged out of his room into the hallway, "What the bloody hell do you-"
Adrian's protests faltered weakly when he saw what the ruckus was about. Adrian's Head of House, Professor Snape, was standing with both arms crossed wielding an expression of downright umbrage.
Adrian struggled upwards once the two students released him (prefects, he recognized). He sniffed, trying to form some sort of decency with his disorderly hair and sleep glazed expression.
Snape's lip curled, his eyes almost narrowing as he observed Adrian's ill-composed self.
Adrian's scars itched from the scrutiny. Especially towards his left side, just along his chest.
"What do we have here," Snape spoke, each word soft and gentle. In Adrian's sleep suffocated brain, he almost giggled at the comparison to lacewing fly wings.
"Something funny, Mr. Selwyn?" Snape asked softly, "because I am not seeing any humor in this situation."
Adrian's smallest smile slipped off his face, "No sir."
"Then what, exactly, were you doing in your bed? Certainly not fulfilling those eight assignments you've failed to turn in."
Adrian's stomach twisted, pressing against his sternum painfully. He swallowed convulsively, trying his best not to show just how uncomfortable he was.
Snape was a teacher, he knew exactly how to see it anyways.
"No…" Adrian cleared his throat quietly, noticing how his first attempts to speak came out a whisper, "No sir."
"And what, were you doing then, Mr. Selwyn?"
Snape was much worse than Bellatrix ever was.
Adrian's heartbeat raced in his ears, almost drowning out his shakily replied, "Sleeping, sir."
"Sleeping." Snape repeated, as if he hadn't heard him. Everyone knew he heard just fine.
"Isn't that peculiar, as you've been skipping classes all throughout the morning for the past...how long?"
Adrian swallowed, his skin itched. "... couple weeks, sir."
"Past month," Snape corrected, finally showing his first snap of anger, "but that's not why I'm here."
"It isn't?" Adrian asked impulsively. The second after he spoke, he froze, mentally berating why did he say that.
Snape stilled, chewing his cheek in justified anger at being interrupted.
Adrian froze, nearly trembling. Snape paused to compose himself.
Lutain slithered out from the room quietly, sticking to the edges of the wall and not venturing into the commotion. Adrian only saw him from his peripheral, although he relaxed considerably with his familiar at his side.
"I am here, because I have been informed of some rather...disappointing rumors." Snape's tone sent shivers down Adrian's spine.
Stay calm, he'll only shout for a while and then he'll go away.
"The Headmaster has asked me why, Mr. Karkaroff is accusing you of being an illegal artifact and potion dealer, Mr. Selwyn, especially one who sold illegal goods to a Triwizard Competitor."
Oh. Krum.
Adrian bit his tongue so he wouldn't bite out how the potion wasn't illegal.
"Do you have any idea, how I must feel, Mr. Selwyn." Snape drawled, just shy of ice cold.
Adrian blinked twice and weakly offered, "Disappointed?"
There was a low hush of voices, people who had been watching the altercation without actually being close enough for Adrian to notice.
Oh Merlin, was the entire common room here?
Snape's nostrils flared and Adrian instantly knew he had said the wrong thing.
"Disappointed," he echoed with a click of his tongue, "How...unfortunate. I would have expected you to defend yourself with something more, especially as you see yourself above classes, Mr. Selwyn. Perhaps you feel that you are above your fellow peers?"
Adrian's heart plummeted and he shook his head, too afraid to verbally speak up.
"Or," Snape paused, eying Adrian with a coolly dismissive expression.
Adrian braced himself, he knew it was going to hurt.
"Or," Snape continued, almost oozing satisfaction, "perhaps your temporary dwelling over the summer has gifted you a sense of superiority instilled by James Potter, and the great Skylar Potter himself?"
Oh, oh no.
"Perhaps," Snape's lip twitched slightly, "you would prefer I escort you to the headmaster to have you resorted immediately. Something more...fitting, for your outlandish behaviour and idiotic mindset."
A knut dropping could have been heard across the entire room.
"You are lucky, that the Headmaster finds it in himself to repay the late Professor Lupin for his service here at Hogwarts. Otherwise, I along with many others would gladly offer our position in regards to your continued education at Hogwarts. You remain here not because you are unique, or through a sense of compassion for your personal difficulties."
Snape pulled his arms behind his back, leaning forward to tower over the still shorter boy, his lips curled back like an angry dog. "You stay here, due to luck. Best you know that, Mr. Selwyn."
Adrian breathed shakily, ignoring the weight on his chest to the best of his ability. His hands felt cold, his shoulders shook ever so slightly.
Adrian hung his head, staring down at his bare feet as his voice whispered over and over through his skull in an uncontrolled mantra 'You messed up, you messed up, you messed up…'
Snape seemed satisfied, Adrian couldn't quite tell but he could hear the gentle swishing of his robes as he walked towards the exit to the castle.
"Mr. Selwyn," he called over his shoulder intentionally, "you are required to meet Madam Pomfrey for a potions test, as well as report to Professor Moody who has graciously taken control of your detentions. You will report to him every day, after dinner. If you fail to show, the Headmaster will have no choice but to intervene. You are fortunate the Triwizard Tournament has him occupied. Do I make myself clear?"
Adrian's hands were shaking; terribly so.
"Yes sir," He repeated, still not lifting his head. It couldn't have been loud enough for Snape to have heard, yet the man made a small noise of satisfaction.
Adrian felt and saw the drops land, just shy of his big toe. They reflected the light in a way similar to Lutain's scales.
"...Selwyn, mate," Adrian heard Theo say quietly. His words were pinched, as if they pained him to even speak up in the quiet.
Adrian didn't say anything, he just turned and quietly padded down the hallway, back to his room. The quiet click was almost a joke after the deafening bang.
Theo visibly wilted, his entire body sinking as he curled in on himself.
"I've never seen him that angry," Draco muttered as the slow buzz of the room started up again, "He was furious."
"You think he did it? Sold potions to Victor Krum?"
Draco paused, "I hope not, it would be bloody awful if Krum was disqualified. Worse if Potter won."
The two boys waited, both seeming to come to a similar statement that drew their attention.
"You think Selwyn actually lived with the Potters?" Theo questioned, peering down the hallway as if Adrian would emerge once again, "Lived with the Golden Boy?"
Draco snorted, "No wonder he's been acting like a broom's up his arse. Bet he's jealous of all the attention, I've heard of dozens of wizards going bonkers with potions after something like that."
Theo looked uncertain, "But...But Adrian's always been so nice."
Draco rolled his eyes, "Priorities, Nott. Selwyn might get expelled, if Professor Snape wants him gone, we should too."
Theo worried his bottom lip between two teeth, "I dunno mate, something doesn't seem right."
Draco rolled his eyes and looked somewhere between disgusted and annoyed, "Merlin knows I wouldn't want Greengrass to dig that closely either then. Lestrange did him a favor, marking him up like that."
Theo's brow furrowed but he didn't say anything else.
"Here you go, dear." Madam Pomfrey tittered, passing over a clear potion held in a crystal goblet, "just spit, like you boys always are."
Adrian didn't say anything. He waited, gathering enough saliva to satisfy the woman before hacking it into the goblet. On contact, the potion fizzled slightly and shifted to a light turquoise.
Madam Pomfrey hummed slightly, taking back the cup and setting it on the cart. She poured the slightest bit into a smaller vial before she sealed it, setting it into a small storage box that looked brand new.
Adrian didn't miss the way on the lid it had in bold print, Selwyn, H.
"Sorry for such a messy test," Pomfrey apologized sincerely, "potions sink into the gums, saliva is far better than hair, harder to fool too!" She continued friendly.
Adrian didn't say anything, he didn't look at her.
"Are you alright, dear?" Madam Pomfrey frowned, peering at him concerned. She paused, worrying her bottom lip gently before she grabbed the nearest stool. It made a loud racket as she tugged it across the stone floor, close enough to take a seat on.
"Mr. Selwyn, I'm sure there's nothing to be worried about." she assured gently, tilting her head to try and meet his eyes with her own, "I've heard you've been oversleeping. Nightmares?"
Adrian sighed quietly, meeting her eyes and looking away slowly, "No, Ma'am."
Pomfrey's face softened. "Has your scar been bothering you? Mr. Lupin was quite concerned that it would pain you."
Adrian swallowed thickly, "No, Ma'am."
Pomfrey frowned, looking at Adrian a bit closer, "Mr. Selwyn, you look a bit thin, are you eating alright?"
Her heart lurched when she spotted the smallest tensing of the younger boy, already thin as he was.
"Everything we talk about will be just between us, you know that?" She assured softly, "It's alright, you can tell me, Mr. Selwyn. I won't tell your Head of House."
"Or Dumbledore?" Adrian asked back, voice almost listless as he fumbled his fingers together.
"Or the Headmaster, unless you're in danger." She assured, eyebrows knitted together as worry began to gnaw at her.
Adrian exhaled heavily, his entire body moving to hunker forward.
"...I haven't been hungry."
Pomfrey nodded slightly, "That's alright, Mr. Selwyn. It's important to have three meals a day, how many do you think you've been managing?"
Adrian shrugged, "...one?"
That was concerning, especially with his peculiar sleep schedule. If he had been eating more, she would have suspecting an oncoming growth spurt.
"How many hours do you think you've been sleeping? Or do you have problems falling asleep?"
Adrian shrugged one shoulder, disinterested with the conversation, "I don't know, maybe twelve."
"Are you tired now? After waking up?" Pomfrey inquired, already thinking of various dreamless sleep potions she could offer the boy.
Adrian finally looked at her, although it was one of confusion as if her question was rhetorical, "...yes? I'm always tired."
Pomfrey nodded slowly, "Boys your age often grow, it's possible you're anticipating a growth spurt."
Adrian scoffed and swung his leg sourly, "I wish It would just happen then. My bones hurt."
Alarm bells rung in Pomfrey's mind.
"...I remember Hagrid telling us about you helping him, have you talking to him about this?"
Adrian rolled his eyes as if the question was stupid. Then he paused, and looked as if he considered it seriously, "No, I haven't seen Hagrid in a while."
"I thought you helped him with various creatures he housed near the forest? He has a new Hippogriff, after the unfortunate accident last year."
Adrian's face twitched, "I didn't know that…"
Pomfrey's breathing paused, "He's had it since the start of this year, Mr. Selwyn."
Adrian gave a small uninterested shrug.
Pomfrey stood up with a false smile painted on her face. Adrian spotted it and scowled, almost instantly she removed it.
"I have a few questions more, Mr. Selwyn, then you can be on your way."
Adrian sighed heavily, then he pulled his legs up and turned to occupy the entire space of the cot instead of sitting on it halfway. He folded his arms, closing his eyes as he waited for her.
She fumbled for the book in question, trying not to think too much on it. She slid through the table of contents, trying to find the pages describing Youth Magical Diseases of the Mind.
She cleared her throat uncomfortably, trailing one finger over the parchment as she reached symptoms.
'Well, he certainly described fatigue and exhaustion,' she thought solemnly.
"Please answer my questions honestly, Mr. Selwyn, and feel free to elaborate or ask me to if you don't understand."
Adrian's face twitched again and she received the impression he was annoyed with her.
"Do you always feel tired, Mr. Selwyn?"
He scoffed, adjusting himself on the bed, "I always feel tired, no matter how much I sleep. I thought we already went over that?"
"Just checking," she soothed, "is your room messy? Is that why you have missing assignments?"
He was quiet, eyes fluttering open although staring upwards at the roof of the hospital wing, "...yes. It's messy, but...that's not why I haven't done the assignments, I mean, I lost one but I just…" he struggled to think of words, "...I can't concentrate, and It's not worth it."
"We can work on that, you're a very intelligent young man."
Adrian dismissed it with an eye roll, "Right, is that why I'm always getting into trouble then?"
"Are you?"
Adrian's jaw twitched, locking as Pomfrey hurried to change the questions, "What about your friends? Do you go out often with them?"
Adrian looked at her dryly with one eyebrow raised, "What friends?"
"I'm sure you have friends, Mr. Selwyn. I'm sure they miss doing things with you."
"Oh, you mean getting interrogated and annoyed by them again? They just...ugh." He groaned, entire body tense at the concept.
Pomfrey turned the page of her book quietly, "Do they frustrate you? Is is because of your appearance?"
Adrian huffed something that could have been a laugh, "I don't feel like taking care of my appearance. Not that it would do anything with…" he waved one hand over his face, close enough to brush one of the largest veins of painful looking scar tissue, "I'm ugly. I don't care, people are irritating and classes are irritating and…" Adrian grunted sourly, already looking agitated.
"That's alright, Mr. Selwyn." Pomfrey was struggling to remain calm, "Just a few more questions I'm afraid. Do you ever feel like you have a racing heart?"
Adrian glanced at his fingers, playing with them intently as if to avoid the questions.
"...sometimes, it's…" he struggled, fingers twitching noticeably, "...it's loud, and it's hard to breathe. It's dizzy, like when you fall off a broom."
Pomfrey nodded slightly, closing her book and sliding it further away from both of them, "I can offer a few Pepper-up potions, only for sparse use, and Draught of Peace, Merlin knows you students need them with your O.W.L.s," Pomfrey smiled, reaching for her quill to scribble something on an official looking piece of parchment, "And One of the Euphoria Elixirs, but only when needed."
Adrian looked baffled, almost as if Pomfrey had suggested he take a draught of the Living Dead, "Euphoria Elixir? Why do I need that?"
'Oh you poor child,' Madam Pomfrey thought solemnly, "I have more in stock than Invigoration Draught, I really do need to contact St. Mungos, Merlin knows they haven't been returning my owls."
Adrian nodded, although still looked puzzled by her description, as if he hadn't realized something was wrong.
Pomfrey jumped slightly when she realized that the poor boy likely didn't think anything was wrong, that he was there simply for a potions test.
"Off you tot, I'll have these sent to your bed later tonight." Madam Pomfrey clicked her tongue, knowing full well his later engagement with Professor Moody just after dinner, "Go! Go on! Go have dinner! I don't want to see you back here unless you're coughing slugs!"
Adrian smiled slightly, a much lesser reaction than she was hoping for. "Thank you, ma'am."
Such a sweet child. It almost pained her to see him turn and walk away so stiffly, verging on the border of too slow although she doubted he was aware of it.
He walked on, closing the door behind him.
She sighed heavily, looking at the locked cabinet where she stored the school's supply of potions for medical purposes.
Well, it wouldn't hurt to give him one Invigoration Draught.
"You said the Quibbler used to run political articles?" Adrian asked blandly.
Luna hummed, swinging her feet back and forth as they sat in an abandoned classroom. Luna somehow found him only minutes after he secured the door.
"We did," Luna confirmed, trailing a bubble the size of her head on the tip of her wand, "nobody wanted to read it, they were much more fascinated by all of the magical creatures."
Your paper lost legitimacy Adrian realized with a sour taste in his mouth, knowing you, you must have been too accurate.
"So you know about politics?" Adrian asked carefully, "or just the idea?"
Luna peered over her shoulder at him, "I know a bit, more than most I think."
"I've been thinking about the war," Adrian confessed quietly, "There's a lot that I don't understand."
Luna nodded sympathetically, pushing the sparkling bubble through the air before it popped with a dazzling array of sparkles. She smiled, delighted at the colors, "What a strange thing, war."
Adrian nodded absentmindedly, "It's confusing."
"It isn't. Not really." Luna sighed quietly, looking far too insightful for someone wearing bottle cork's in her hair, "It's all about power. The world is chaos, don't you know?"
Adrian paused, "I...that's rather pessimistic to say. I thought you'd be more happy."
Luna shrugged a small roll of her shoulder, "I'm right. Everyone in this world is scared. People, groups, governments, countries…" She trailed off, conjuring another bubble to float above her, "Everyone demands power, because they think that'll protect them most."
Adrian's mouth twitched slightly, "But not you."
Luna's mouth quirked into something sardonic, it looked strange on her features.
"I think, that in the effort to help those we love, we stumble onto things far worse than what we would have done originally."
"That's insightful."
She shrugged, twirling a bubble on the tip of her wand.
"If not through power, how else?" Adrian prodded curiously, "I mean like, you said that power isn't the way to rule."
"I didn't say that." She bit out sharply, pausing as if considering her words carefully, "I...believe, that it's better to be loved than feared by your people."
"Are you saying you love the minister?"
Luna gave him an expression so annoyed, Adrian cracked a small smile at the expression. It was strangely endearing.
"I think that people are the way to ruling," She clarified quietly, "I mean- I don't think we should be discussing this. People may get the wrong idea."
"People already have the wrong idea."
"But…"
"Oh honestly, you think anyone else hasn't thought about how they'd rule the world? Find their way to global conquest?"
Her bubble popped, and she paused a frightening amount of time. Adrian felt something cold press on his lungs- had he pressed too far? Had he said something abhorrent to her?
"I suppose you're right." Luna tentatively added, "I mean, I hear from my housemates all about the minister."
Adrian nodded and with his own wand, cast one of the large bubbles Luna had been entertaining herself with. She looked touched at the offering.
"Well, first we need to get rid of Fudge." Luna huffed, crossing her arms as she craned her neck back to watch the bubbles drift around, "He's so...so…"
Adrian tilted his head in thought, "I thought he was terrified of Dumbledore?"
Luna looked in thought for a second, "You're right. Maybe you keep Fudge."
"Oh, that'd be an idea." Adrian teased with a small smile, "You looking for a puppet in office?"
Luna rolled her eyes playfully, "Well, you don't need power to take over I don't think. I wouldn't want to hurt anyone. A peaceful revolution."
Adrian snorted at the thought, "I don't think that will ever happen."
"It's a nice thought," Luna defended, "Keep Fudge, maybe spread propaganda."
"Through the papers?"
"No no, they'd be obvious to track. Through the peddlers, and the street stalls in Diagon." Luna listed on her fingers, "Through the bar keepers and the potion suppliers, through students on holiday until everywhere is buzzing with what you want to say."
Adrian's mouth twitched slightly, "And what would your propaganda say, free the vampires?"
Luna scoffed at the idea, "Of course, I'd run a campaign and my promise would be equal loo rights for mermish."
Adrian laughed, a startled noise that made Luna smile slightly. She shook her head, thinking seriously for a second, "I think i'd make people panic."
"That seems counterproductive." Adrian paused, blinking in surprise, "I mean- don't you want to praise yourself-"
"No," Luna chewed on her lip in thought, "If...If I really was trying to do something...I'd spread panic. I'd make everyone worry and afraid until they look to a single figure, and then I'd have them discredited."
Adrian tilted his head, encouraging her to continue as she gained momentum, "They'd...they'd be discredited, and nobody would know what was real or fake. And you could step forward with the truth, and when people tried to see if you're lying well...you're not." She blinked in thought, "They'd only find out you were right all along."
Adrian felt almost chilled by the viciousness of the girl, "How would you discredit them?"
"I'd find a secret, or a mistake they made." Luna chewed on her lip in thought, "I'd find something that they'd consider their greatest mistake, and I'd show everyone like my sheets on my clothesline."
Oh.
The third task was a maze, at least that was public knowledge.
It wasn't like Adrian would be watching it.
Karkaroff, the Headmaster of Durmstrang, was furious over Dumbledore's refusal to expel Adrian. The only condition that Dumbledore seemed to soothe the man over with was Adrian's monitoring during the third task.
So he couldn't 'intervene'.
(Adrian didn't care.)
Of course, Moody had taken interest in the boy, something Dumbledore was quite amused by, given Adrian's track record of stealing the hearts of Defence Teachers.
(Professor Lockhart was a train wreck, and Professor Potter's interactions was the personified visage of a blasting hex.)
It wasn't as if Adrian could correct him, especially with how sad the phoenix looked, perched on its roost above.
Adrian didn't say anything during the meeting, only a quiet 'yes Sir,' and after that, his detention with Moody.
Who was actually Crouch. What a strange concept, that Adrian knew something that the Headmaster didn't.
The Third Task was to begin at dusk, which left Adrian knocking on Professor Moody's office just before the students began to file out to the quidditch pitch. The door swung open instantly, Moody looked more suspicious than usual.
"You alone?" He grunted out, voice gruff as his fake eye lolled around.
"Yes?" Adrian asked, voice rising in confusion, "Not Lutain, he's shedding and doesn't want to move much."
Crouch paused and frowned, "Who the bloody hell is that?"
Adrian shifted his weight uncertain, "My...my familiar?" the snake?
Moody gave a grunt and grabbed Adrian's shoulder, yanking him inside. Adrian stumbled through, barely catching his balance as the office door behind him clicked and rattled with an obscene number of locks.
"Alright, that basilisk beast of yours, from the forest-"
"Adalonda?" Adrian interrupted, already feeling off balance with the situation, "What about her? She's not in the task-"
"Forget about the task!" Moody blustered, stumbling past Adrian towards a heavily locked chest. Already he was struggling to open the many locks into a secret compartment, "I'm not waiting here to babysit a brat, take this and go to the chamber or wherever that thing lives."
"What?" Adrian struggled to keep up, it felt as if his brain was only working at half the speed it usually would.
"Go!" Moody hissed, stumbling once more, nearly into a cabinet as he blinked rapidly and off guard. One hand flew to his head, pressing against his temple with a grimace, "go, take this and get out of here."
Adrian fumbled and held the black bottle, something larger than a standard potions vial and completely black. It had a cork stopper, and felt cold like stone.
"What is this?" Adrian stumbled over his own tongue, "Where are you going? Crouch? Crouch!"
"Bollocks!" Crouch cursed as he teetered, knocking into a cabinet as if he was struck with vertigo, "get out of here, brat! I've got Potter to deal with! Go!"
Adrian flinched but nodded, grasping the stone cold bottle with clammy hands. The scene was similar to Bella, often when she was in a similar state Adrian hid himself away until the worst had passed. He didn't think Crouch had episodes, he seemed impressively composed the entire year. Maybe Adalonda would have an idea, she would have to have an idea.
He stumbled out of the room after Crouch, hesitating once with a low sound as he glanced at the dungeons.
Lutain was shedding, he wouldn't need to be disturbed over Crouch helping him, besides, Lutain had always been a bit skeptic of Crouch's help. Adalonda would have a better idea.
Adrian ran, his boots slapping on the floor as he hurried up the staircases and twisted through groups of students already descending to the quidditch pitch.
"Watch it!" One group shouted, nearly pressing themselves to the wall as Adrian barreled past, breaths coming heavy in his chest. His lungs burned with the exertion- he was terribly out of shape.
Adrian's bag swung and hit the back of his thighs with every stride, rattling the objects within. He was lucky Lutain wasn't with him.
Adrian skittered past a suit of armor, trying to steady his breathing and make sure that no students were nearby. The portraits were watching him in confusion, already murmuring to one another over his strange actions. His skin prickled and something made his blood cold and yet burn him with pulses of discomfort.
It was probably nothing, he just needed to follow what Crouch said. If Crouch was running or off to do something, it meant that they'd know Adrian wasn't with him. For all intensive purposes, Adrian was being hunted.
Adrian hurried inside the girl's loo, closing the bathroom door behind him. He nearly keeled over, trying to inhale through the harsh gasps he made as his heart thundered in his chest.
The ghost didn't appear, she tended to avoid him like the plague.
"Open," He gurgled out, shucking off his outer robe as the humid hot air of the tunnel buffeted the cold washroom like a sauna. The mirrors fogged up instantly, obscuring his features and hiding his pale clammy face.
The Chamber was more tolerable, a comfortable warmth that was different than the biting cold it once was. Adalonda must have activated some ancient wards, or found a way to change the climate itself.
"Adalonda!" Adrian shouted, running across the stone and shallow puddles as fast as he could, "Adalonda!"
There was a skitter of something running, a small squeaking. A second later a thin beady eyed man peered back, squinting at him anxiously.
"Oh!" Wormtail jumped, looking almost savagely around and then at Adrian, "Did you bring food?"
Adrian froze, staring at Wormtail in disbelief, "You've been here all this time?"
Wormtail nodded so fast his head was a blur, he paused, blinking rapidly as his nose twitched, "food?"
"Leave him be, Cerestes, I fear I've driven him mad from fright." Adalonda spoke, her voice a reassuring deep grumble as she emerged from the darkness with glowing eyes. "You smell different, and you come alone."
"I didn't bring Lutain, he's shedding. And...and I was told to come here."
"By whom?" Adalonda hissed interested, already trailing her large bulk around the perimeter of the chamber, trapping the terrified Wormtail in a ring of scales, "your father?"
"No, the uh, the man who was in the forest. The one who said could help me become stronger, and make me useful for my father." Adrian spoke, a breathless smile twitching at his lips, "a potion, I think it's some sort of potion that makes my magic stronger."
Adalonda stopped moving, her body shifting with her deep inhales and exhales.
"A potion?" Adalonda hummed, her voice impossible to read, "Interesting, high hopes to make yourself useful, Cerastes."
Wormtail made a small wounded noise and skittered away. Rat feet sprinted back to the shade and protection of a tunnel. It was a marvel he hadn't run off.
"Do you hunt for him?" Adrian asked curiously, he had forgotten about the man.
Adalonda's slightly clouded eyes stared at Adrian as if able to peer through his mind, maybe Basilisks did have legilimency.
"The filth feeds on vermin's prey." Adalonda explained, her voice distorting slightly as her jaws split in a massive yawn, "let me scent the potion, Cerestes."
"Of course," Adrian agreed happily, fumbling with the cold black bottle. He held it up to her, staying perfectly still as her long forked tongue kissed the flesh of his fingers and the black stone.
She tasted twice more, staring forward pensively.
"So?" Adrian grinned, already he was feeling anticipation flow through his body.
"Open it," Adalonda commanded, her voice controlled and calm.
Adrian scrambled, his short nails dug into the cork as he struggled to pull it free. It opened with a pop, as well as a strong smell of something rotting.
Adrian gagged and nearly dropped the bottle. Adalonda reared back as if something had bludgeoned her snout. Her body twisted, skittering in a reflexive coil which nearly knocked Adrian to the floor.
"What is this thing?" Adrian gagged, holding the bottle as far away as possible, "It smells like a dead blast ended skrewt."
Adalonda's eyes were locked on the bottle, her tongue moving almost frantically as it tasted the air.
"Do you know what it is?" Adrian gagged, hopeful that maybe it tasted better than it smelled. He sincerely doubted it.
"Yes. I thought it gone, dead to the lands." Adalonda bent her head, her slight crest catching the light as she stared at the bottle intently, "He spoke no lie. It will strengthen your magicks."
Adrian shook the bottle, the sloshing inside indicated it was something very very viscous.
"Drink it." Adalonda spoke abruptly, eying Adrian with a look that sent small nagging doubt in the back of his mind.
"Drink it, Cerestes." She hissed, jaw opening and saliva dripping from her teeth in something accidentally terrifying.
Adalonda wouldn't try to scare him.
"Alright, Merlin it smells horrid," he grimaced, setting his bag down on the ground before he settled himself on the slightly warmed stone. "Here goes."
He tilted the bottle, waiting and waiting for the liquid to reach his lips. He kept tilting until the bottle was nearly vertical, before something slimy and absolutely disgusting slowly slid into his mouth. It looked like something molded, pitted with globules like rancid milk.
He had to chew it.
Which promptly forced him to jerk his head away and vomit onto the floor. The potion looked dark reddish, almost black yet resembled a moldy peach.
Adalonda made a low rumbling noise of disapproval, watching as Adrian gasped and retched once more. There went the small traces of dinner he managed to force down.
"Drink it," Adalonda ordered.
Adrian nodded, exhaling slowly through his nose trying to stop his gag reflex for the next try for the potion.
He fumbled for the bottle, grimacing and lifting the rim to his mouth with a shaking hand.
Adalonda cooed something lowly as Adrian struggled to hold the potion in his mouth, the texture of meat so far rotten it had begun to melt. It tasted worse.
Adrian flailed slightly, making a pained noise as tears welled from the corners of his eyes, cascading over his cheeks and towards his clenched jaw.
Merlin, it was so bad.
"You will be so useful," Adalonda crooned, lowering her head to lay flush to the floor as she encouraged further, "Your kin will be so pleased. You will be so strong, so fast."
Adrian whined, and struggled to keep the bile down and swallow the disgusting assault on his palate.
Adalonda drew her head close, flicking her tongue to kiss across his tear tracks, "Swallow, Cerastes. Swallow and you will be loved."
Adrian swallowed.
Adrian curled on his side moaning pitifully as one hand traced around his stomach and the other was clutched in his hair.
"Adalonda, I'm dying." Adrian gravely informed her.
Adalonda hummed, having heard the same thing multiple times in the past hour.
"No, for real. You'll have to find Lutain and tell him I died from eating a moldy peach."
"It wasn't a peach," Adalonda informed him amusedly, "It was blood."
Adrian froze from his prone position on the ground, "Blood? Adalonda I had to chew it, it wasn't blood."
"It was congealed, Cerestes," Adalonda sighed, watching as Adrian paled and gagged although thankfully, kept it down.
Adrian thumped his head back onto the floor, staring up at the ceiling blankly, "Do you think Crouch checked to see if whoever it was had a disease? I really wouldn't want to catch something."
Adalonda snorted something which almost sounded like a laugh.
Then Adrian yelped, hands flashing to his shoulder as something tore away, sliding over his neck towards his chest.
"I...father?" Adrian asked confused, tearing his shirt open to look at the tattoo, slithering almost frantically over his exposed skin and distended stomach.
"A message?" Adalonda inquired, not bothering to slither over further, "What message do you bring, Nagini?"
The moronic tattoo struggled to comprehend and respond, "Master ask why Potter at manor."
Adrian paused, baffled and not understanding, "I...pardon? Potter? They found the manor? Is there a raid? Is my father okay?"
"Settle yourself, Cerastes." Adalonda scolded, peering at the tattoo calmly, "What word, little one?"
The tattoo slithered uncertain, "Small. Hatchling at manor. Portkey."
Adrian surged upwards, wincing as his stomach gurgled loudly, upset at him. What was Skylar Potter doing at the manor? And with a Portkey? How did Skylar Potter even get there?
Unless.
"Oh no. Crouch. Crouch made the cup into the Portkey, before he knew that my Father was around, I thought...I thought that he didn't do that. But Crouch ran off, I- I don't know where he is."
The Nagini tattoo paused, absorbing the words before it dug through his skin and out of sight. Adrian would never get used to how disturbing it felt.
Adrian waited, one hand wrapping around his unhappily gurgling stomach as he waited for the tattoo to come back.
It didn't, and it left Adrian reeling with the sudden sense of abandonment.
Thank Merlin he took the potion, maybe if he had taken it sooner and proved himself, his father would be in contact more. He hadn't felt so worthless in a long time.
He sighed and drew his legs to his chest, resting his chin on his bony knees. If he had a practice dummy, he could have at least practiced spells. Maybe he could try and find Wormtail again.
"I must have something," Adrian sighed, dragging his bag towards him to rifle through. He had a sealed inkwell, a textbook, a half finished essay due a week ago, a half dozen quills, and a ratty leather book.
No, it was the journal Crouch had thrown at him, ordered him to write in after taking the potion. He pulled it out, glancing at the stained cover consideringly.
It wasn't like the chamber's dirt would make it look worse.
He flipped it open, snatching his wand to cast a small light charm to peer at the paper a bit better. It wasn't even the high quality paper he preferred, he could tell he'd have to write carefully and large, else the ink smear.
Short paragraphs and updates then. He could do that.
He fished for a quill, drawing it out and peering at his inkwell. There was enough left in there for his essay and then some, he could easily jot down a few notes.
"What should I write, Adalonda?"
Adalonda grumbled wordlessly, somewhere in a doze and unwilling to answer.
Adrian smiled and shook his head fondly, at times Adalonda seemed larger than life, then other times she was as docile as a kneezle.
He opened the inkwell and dipped his favorite quill inside, pausing as he considered what to write.
He didn't want to make it a diary, so to speak. It wasn't, it was something to document like Crouch had said.
'It was one of the most disgusting things I've ever experienced.' Adrian wrote carefully, watching as the paper took longer than usual to absorb the ink due to its low quality. 'Adalonda says it was blood. Whatever it was, good thing it came in a black bottle. I'd have lost my nerve if I had to see it.'
Adrian hummed content with his writing. He didn't really have anything else to say.
"I should probably return back to Lutain, I didn't tell him I'd be down here." Adrian explained to Adalonda, gathering his things and testing to see if the ink had dried.
"Leave the potion." Adalonda grumbled, opening one eye as she watched his movements carefully, "The tunnel to the belly of the castle."
"I know the one. I'll put it over by the entrance then, I'll be back soon." Adrian promised, smiling at Adalonda and stroking her scales lovingly.
Adalonda watched him a second longer than he expected, "Yes, do return, Cerestes. I do worry for you so, little one."
Adrian grinned, "I'll miss you. Take care!"
Adalonda grumbled and watched as he gathered his bag and made his way across the chamber, finding the tunnel in question before hiking his way up and out.
He returned to the cold hallways of the dungeons behind a metal grate, far enough away from the common paths to know he had time to return to his room. If anyone asked, Professor Moody sent him back and left to watch the task himself.
His stomach gurgled loudly and a flash of stabbing pain resonated deep in his gut, leaving him wincing slightly and hurrying back to the common room.
He slipped inside, the entire room vacant for the first time Adrian could remember.
He walked across the room, his footsteps echoing and slipped inside his room. Lutain didn't stir, likely far into the depths of sleep.
Which sounded absolutely fantastic.
Adrian shucked off his shirt, changing quickly and wincing as his stomach gave another angry pang. His mattress felt sinfully good compared to the stone floor of the chamber, already the ever prominent exhaustion swept through him.
Adrian dazed, drifted in and out of sleep until once again he stirred due to the chaotic rumble of voices outside his door, growing louder although hushed.
Adrian propped himself upright as the door opened, not fueled by anger but this time with hesitation, as if they were unsure what they would find.
Theo blinked skittishly, his pupils growing in the dark of the room, "Mate? Oh, thank Merlin."
Adrian tensed his jaw to withhold a yawn, "Theo? What do you-"
"The Headmaster wants you!" Theo blurted, shifting his weight anxiously, "He...Mate, something went bad."
Adrian's chest twitched as he stumbled to his feet, rapping his knuckles against Lutain's box to get the serpent alert and moving. He hurried and grabbed a robe, throwing it over his sleep clothes, "What happened?"
"I...I don't know...something with Professor Moody and...Adrian," Theo's body sagged, shaking in the light of the hallway, "Adrian, Cedric Diggory is dead."
Adrian stilled a second, hands freezing at the buttons of his cloak before they resumed fastening it closed.
Lutain slithered free, cold and slow as he glanced around, pausing and trying to come to an idea of his own.
"Why am I needed?" Adrian asked quietly, dread increasing rapidly, "I didn't do anything."
"No! No, nothing like that," Theo assured, easily seeing where Adrian's anxiety was stemming from.
"They need you for something, Headmaster's office. I…" Theo began rubbing his upper arm as his voice quieted, "I was worried that something happened to you, Dumbledore looked right angry. I'm...I'm glad you're okay."
Adrian gave a small nod, looking away from Theo as he gathered Lutain in the front pocket of his robe.
Adrian didn't know what Crouch had done, but he had a feeling it was only bad news.
He hurried out the steps, through the hallways. Nobody talked to him, the castle felt quiet and solemn like it had back in his second year. Mourning.
He remembered the Headmaster's office, already open to the staircase. Adrian dread pooling in his stomach, walked up the steps, Lutain twisted restless.
Adrian didn't even knock, he walked through the open door cautiously, glancing at the strangely decorated office tentatively.
"Mr. Selwyn," Dumbledore greeted, his voice deeper and without the welcoming warmth. It was cold, not intentionally but rather through exhaustion.
What had Crouch done.
"Sir," Adrian acknowledged walking towards the high backed chairs. He assumed the discussion was going to take a while, he'd rather do it sitting.
"Potter?" Adrian mumbled, spotting the Triwizard Champion curled up on the velvet seat with one arm cradled carefully to his chest, "What...what happened, sir?"
"We need your recollection of this evening, Mr. Selwyn. It was our understanding you would be monitored by Professor Moody for the duration of the task."
Adrian nodded, sliding one hand into his pocket to stroke Lutain as a nervous tick, "I...I did, Sir. Go to him, at his office. He was...he was busy? He ah, he told me to go to my room, in the dungeons."
Dumbledore folded his hands together and peered at him through half moon spectacles, "And he left?"
Adrian nodded, "Yes, Sir."
Dumbledore looked at him, even as Adrian glanced around the office instead. The Phoenix was there, sitting on its roost above as it stared at Adrian.
It recoiled, looking as if it had smelled something foul.
Adrian carefully stroked Lutain, keeping him out of sight.
"Mr. Selwyn, Professor Moody was an imposter." Dumbledore informed him carefully, "It would ease our troubled minds, for you to visit the Hospital Wing for any malicious curses."
"Yes, Sir." Adrian nodded. Skylar didn't budge, still comatose on his chair.
"Then that will be all, Mr. Selwyn." Dumbledore smiled thinly, waving towards the door.
Adrian nodded, standing up to walk out.
"Your snake," Skylar muttered, voice hoarse as if he had been screaming, or crying, "It speaks English."
Adrian paused, "I...Lutain understands it, I think."
Skylar didn't say anything else. Neither did Dumbledore.
Adrian left.
Earlier.
Skylar felt his feet slam into the ground, his hand let go of the Triwizard Cup at last.
He groaned, lying prone for a few seconds before stirring, looking immediately for Cedric.
"Where are we?" Skylar asked.
Cedric shook his head. He got up, pulled Skylar to his feet and looked around, absentmindedly brushing turf off his legs.
They had left Hogwarts grounds, no doubt. Skylar thought the Portkey had lasted a bit longer than usual. They had traveled far, perhaps hundreds of miles, for even the mountains surrounding the castle had vanished. They were standing instead in a dark and overgrown graveyard, desolate and empty except for the overgrown bushes and a large yew tree.
"Up there, a house." Cedric pointed, beginning to take the first steps towards the hill while mindful of the many graves. Skylar had heard horror stories of softened ground over caskets in the ground; of people falling through the turf like the corpses were trying to suck down anyone who walked across.
"Think this is still part of the tournament?" Skylar asked, side stepping to avoid an old rotten log on the ground, "I thought the cup was supposed to take us back to the start?"
Cedric looked at Skylar in surprise, "Someone told you that the Cup was a Portkey?"
Skylar shrugged, looking around nervous, "Wands out?"
"Yeah," Cedric agreed, he sounded just as nervous as Skylar was.
They walked through the darkness, nearing the hill and beginning to traverse its slow incline. Cedric shivered violently, shaking his head as he passed through something invisible.
"A ward! Who would put a ward up out here?" Cedric asked out loud, eyebrows high to his hairline. "I mean- that ward looks advanced."
"I don't like it," Skylar muttered, passing through it with no resistance. "Maybe a muggle repelling charm?"
Cedric snorted, "I think the graveyard and the house does that enough,"
Skylar managed a small laugh, one that was still filled with nervous energy. They walked, drawing closer and closer to the house.
The closer they got, the stranger it appeared to look. From the distance, it looked like a ruin, supported by broken beams and mossy rock. Up close, it seemed intact, pristine and in perfect condition. Even the lawn mysteriously became pruned and watered.
"Bit wonky, isn't it?" Cedric laughed, glancing at Skylar and trying not to look as scared as he felt, "Pureblood house out with muggles?"
Something struck Skylar, a niggling feeling that something wasn't right.
"Maybe...Maybe we should head back to the Cup," Skylar licked his lips, "Go back, send sparks that we got it."
Cedric looked like he considered the idea, before he looked back at the house.
"Think about it, maybe something's in there, something we're supposed to get." Cedric urged.
Skylar shifted on his feet, looking around in the fog, yet he couldn't see anything approaching. "Wands at ready?"
Cedric grinned, "Ready, mate. I got your back."
They pressed forward, pushing open a well oiled iron gate that separated the path to the front of the house.
The lawn was immaculate, yet entirely quiet. Not a single bird around.
There was a rattling bang, and the two boys jumped, pointing their wands at the source.
"What is that?" Cedric blurted, peering at the odd bird like creature. It hopped around, jerking its head like a rooster as it observed them with dim yellow eyes. A reptilian tail dragged along, parting strands of grass as it pecked at the soil.
"I have no idea," Skylar admitted, tilting his head as he observed the weird beast, "Maybe it's friendly?"
The chicken-lizard clicked its tongue and awkwardly scrambled away, between two artfully positioned boulders. Something translucent hung from the boulder's ridge.
"Cedric, take a look at this," Skylar called over, squatting as he gently pulled off what he thought was tissue paper, only to feel the slight patterning.
Cedric felt it, running his calloused fingertips over the thin paper, "That's skin, like from a lizard."
Skylar dropped it and looked around quickly, "It looks big."
"They wouldn't repeat dragons," Cedric assured him, although it sounded more like to sooth his own nerves.
"Wish I knew bloody magical creatures," Skylar anxiously laughed to himself, drawing a snort from Cedric.
"Yeah well, we aren't Selwyn." Cedric muttered under his breath, a fluidity to the expression.
The two held the wands slightly tighter.
A bird shrieked, a falcon cry that pierced the night. Skylar swallowed thickly, he cast lumos to have a little area to see.
"That window, looks like it might open." Cedric pointed, shifting into a slow jog as he neared it, "Might have a way inside-"
Skylar spotted the slightest hint of movement and screamed, "Cedric no-"
Something lunged, jumping through the air and tackling Cedric to the ground. Cedric screamed, thrashing as whatever monster it was, moved tighter and tighter.
Skylar thought at first it was a tentacle from the Giant Squid, as long as a house and looping over and over again. As he drew nearer and instantly fired off stunners, he realized that it was a snake.
A very, very large snake.
"Skylar! Help!" Cedric screamed, his voice piercing with horrifying fear as the large boy struggled against the beast.
It moved, uncoiling and undulating just enough for Skylar to understand that he had found its head. Large bulbous eyes on a triangular head, already its jaws were opening to unreal proportions with gigantic hooked teeth.
Skylar screamed a blasting curse at its face, unable to even hear himself over the pounding of his ears.
It recoiled and hit the ground with an angry hissing noise, already shifting and recovering as Cedric screamed out a spell that must have turned him slippery- that was the only way he could have practically leapt from the beast's coils.
It realized that they were free instantly, thrashing out with unnerving intelligence to try and knock out their legs. It didn't looked damaged from the blasting curse, it was magic repellent.
"Skylar!" Cedric shouted, warning him of the thick stocky tail trying to get him from behind.
The snake nightmare hissed, lifting itself upwards until it was equal to their eyes, and still had many, many feet to go before it ran out.
"Do we run?" Cedric whispered, looking more pale than a snowy owl.
The snake watched them carefully, looking far far too smart.
Skylar's breathing hilted as he remembered, Adrian Selwyn had a snake, a familiar. The long black one that was much less horrifying than the behemoth in front of him.
Adrian said that the snake knew English, that it was some sort of bond or other.
"Cedric," Skylar's voice wavered as absolute terror made his limbs numb, "Cedric, we have to get back to the Cup."
"But- Sky, the snake, what do we-"
The snake's mouth opened, a long broken hiss parted from its maw, pausing before beginning once more as if speaking.
As if speaking.
"Oh Merlin," Skylar whimpered, holding his wand with both hands as a surge of terror burst forward, "Cedric, we have to go now."
Cedric hesitated one second, then sent a shot of red light at the snake, turning and sprinting across the grass.
Skylar followed, his muscles screaming in protest as he forced himself to go faster.
He could hear the snake chasing them, the rough scales sliding over the pathway and the loud hisses it gave as it opened its jaws once more.
Through the mist in front of them, the air warped, then exploded upwards in bright red fire.
"Get back!" Skylar shouted, grabbing Cedric's arm and yanking backwards as the Fiendfyre morphed into the hungry maw of a wyvern, its searing teeth snapping shut just before them.
Cedric gasped, spinning his arms and collapsing as he tripped. Skylar fell as well, nearly landing on him.
The snake was getting closer, closing the distance with a hungry intent.
"Stay back!" Skylar shouted, pointing his wand at the snake before alternating it to the Fiendfyre, trying to protect Cedric.
"That's enough, my dear." said a high, cold voice from beyond the fog.
A thin man emerged from the fog, staring at Skylar and Skylar stared back. Whiter than a skull, with wide, scarlet eyes, and a nose as flat as the snake's, with slits for nostrils…
"Oh Merlin," Cedric choked out, finally catching his breath back and he struggled over to see the approaching figure.
"Stay back!" Skylar screamed, entire body rattling like a leaf in the wind. He could feel terrified tears twist the corners of his mouth, cascading down his jawline as he held eye contact.
"Who are you?" Cedric shouted, tensing his jaw as he pointed his wand at the fire, still glaring at the new man.
The man slipped one unnaturally long-fingered hands into a deep pocket, withdrawing a wand. He handled it carefully, reverently yet with a confidence that suggested years of use.
The snake hissed something. The man hissed back to it.
Cedric's face paled until it was almost as white as the man's.
"Skylar Potter." Lord Voldemort spoke softly, his voice cutting through the air like a razor blade, "...we meet, at last."
"Sky, Sky who-" Cedric choked out, his entire body was taught as a rope.
Skylar shook his head, swallowing rapidly, "You're dead," He protested, as if stating it would cause the man to vanish, "You're dead- I killed you!"
Voldemort tilted his head, his red eyes, whose pupils were slits, like a cat's, gleamed still more brightly through the darkness.
"You'll find," Voldemort began, words smooth and quiet yet saturated with power, "That I am very much alive."
Voldemort raised his wand, thin lips twisting into what could have once been a smile, "How kind, to bring me an offering."
Cedric's breath hitched.
A swishing noise, and the man screeched the words to the night: "Avada Kedavra!"
A blast of green light blazed through the air and illuminated the light. It hit, and Cedric rolled, stumbling down the hill through the fog. Skylar screamed, a single wordless sound of horror and fear.
Then, Skylar too rolled and sprinted down the hill.
He could hear the Fiendfyre snapping, slowly burning and imploding until it was nothing more than an ember. Skylar's breaths came laboured, his mouth dry and every sense on high alert as the mist obscured everything in the fog.
The Dark Lord looked surprised, as if he hadn't expected Skylar and Cedric to be there. There was a chance that he didn't know about the cup.
Skylar sprinted, his legs moving beyond his control as his momentum carried him further than he wanted. He tumbled, flipping head over heels, catching his weight on his left wrist which snapped under his weight like a twig.
Bright hot pain burned through him, yet he couldn't feel it through the adrenaline running through his system.
There was a loud crack in the air. Skylar's heart hammered as he peered around in the mist, squinting and breathing heavily.
Had Cedric gotten to the cup? Had he left with it already?
Was Skylar….trapped?
'The Boy Who Lived…' A voice trailed, something whispered gently as if right behind Skylar. It echoed, muted yet still jarring down to his bones.
Skylar couldn't help the helpless sound that slipped past his lips, his chest felt far too tight.
'Do you think you can hide from me?' It asked, bitingly cold.
Skylar ran, pushing his legs as he stepped in mud and nearly tripped over one nasty clump of heather.
'You cannot escape me, child.' The voice taunted, and Skylar clamped one hand over his ear, it didn't help.
'In the end, you will always die.'
Skylar ran, barely able to see through the tears.
He saw a figure emerge, tall and hunched and looking around calmly although on guard. Skylar recognized him instantly, and relief flooded through his body, "Professor Moody!"
The man spun, magical eye able to pierce the mist.
"Potter!" Moody grunted, leaning on his walking stick as he wielding his one wand into the mist carefully.
"Cup was a Portkey," Skylar said, swaying as everything slammed into him, "Took me and Cedric here….and….Him, Voldemort-" Skylar choked on the word, tears cascading as well from the fear and the pain, "...Lord Voldemort…"
Moody stared at him with a lopsided grimace, "The Dark Lord is here? Where?"
Skylar shook his head, swaying. He grabbed Moody's arm, tugging him pathetically through the mist in the direction of the graveyard, "We...We have to go, he's here."
They emerged, and Moody yanked his arm away, peering around once more with a grimace.
"Cedric," Skylar gasped, raising his hands to his mouth as he screamed, "Cedric!"
Moody frowned, "That boy is long dead, Potter."
"No," Skylar shook his head, his throat filled with cotton, "No, He..I just saw him-"
"The Dark Lord is here and you think that boy stands a chance?" Moody huffed what could have been a laugh, "He's dead."
"No! We...we have to save him!"
Moody sighed, as if the information was boring him, "You aren't getting out of here, Potter."
Skylar heard him, but didn't believe.
"No, no the Portkey..."
"Was one way," Moody said slowly, his magical eye swung into the fog, "It won't be taking you back."
Skylar felt numb. It had to be a bad joke.
'Do you truly believe, that you are special?'
Skylar gasped, shaking his head and pressing his hands hard into his ears, twisting until it ached and ground his broken wrist together.
"Do you hear him?" Moody demanded, rushing forward to grab Skylar's shoulders, "What does he say? Answer me!"
'How I have longed for your death, Skylar Potter.'
Skylar stumbled backwards, tumbling over the grass and tripping once his ankles kicked something laying on the ground.
For a second that contained an eternity, Skylar stared into Cedric's face, at his open grey eyes, blank and expressionless as the windows of a deserted house, at his half-open mouth, which looked slightly surprised. Before Skylar's mind had accepted what he was seeing, before he could feel anything but numb disbelief, he felt himself being pulled to his feet.
There was another crack, something loud and singular just out of sight.
"Unhand him,"
Skylar could have sobbed in relief.
Moody's lopsided grimace turned to a snarl, he pointed his wand at Dumbledore. The older man's eyes were not kind, even as they looked over Skylar.
"Skylar, are you alright?" He asked quietly.
Skylar nodded, stumbling away as Moody shoved him and drew his wand.
"Moody-" Skylar stumbled, still in a state of complete disbelief.
"This is not Alastor Moody," said Dumbledore quietly in the night, "You have never known Alastor Moody. The real Moody would not have argued my direct orders, and apparated beyond the wards. The moment he abandoned his position, I knew. I followed."
Moody snarled, "You're too late, if you think that this will stop anything."
"Sir," Skylar whimpered, "Voldemort, he's here-"
Dumbledore stilled, "Are you certain?"
Skylar swallowed, exhaling as he tried to compose himself, "as certain as I've ever been."
Dumbledore gave a small nod.
'How touching,'
Skylar whimpered and once more ground his wrist into his ear.
"Skylar?" Dumbledore asked, voice urgent, "Skylar, you must ignore him."
'If only you had found that boy in time, before I watched the life leave his eyes.'
"Cedric," Skylar choked out, before tears cascaded down his face.
Moody watched, holding a standoff between the two wizards.
Then, something strange happened.
Moody faltered, a full body flinch and a shift as if struck with a dizzying spell. He stumbled, just one step before Dumbledore's stunner sent him crashing to the floor.
Dumbledore paused a moment, before he lowered himself to the ground near Skylar.
"Skylar, I need you to be brave. You said you saw him?"
Skylar nodded, running one arm under his nose to stop the snot and wipe his tears, "He- he was walking. And- and the snake…"
Dumbledore looked deep in thought, "Nagini," he murmured under his breath.
He lifted his wand, spinning it in a circle. The mist swirled, and melted through the ground.
The house on the hill had vanished.
"The end, of another year."
Dumbledore paused, his eyes falling onto the Hufflepuff table. Theirs were the saddest and palest faces in the Hall.
"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should by all means be sitting here," he gestured towards the Hufflepuffs, "enjoying our Feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand and raise your glasses to Cedric Diggory."
They did it, all of them; the benches and plates clattered as everyone in the Hall stood. Even the Slytherins stood, silent as statues.
"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities which distinguish Hufflepuff house. He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all. I think you have the right to know exactly how it came about."
Skylar raised his head, and stared at Dumbledore.
"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."
A panicked whisper swept through the Great Hall. People stared at Dumbledore in horror, and disbelief. Dumbledore remained calm, even as the whispers drew to a silence.
"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so - either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief that the truth is generally preferable to lies. Any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident is an insult to his memory."
Lutain shifted, resting his head over Adrian's hand. All eyes were on Dumbledore, captivated.
"There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection to Cedric's death. I am talking, about Skylar Potter."
A ripple crossed the Great Hall. Heads turning quickly to spot the student before locking on Dumbledore.
"Skylar Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort, he risked his own life in attempts to save Cedric. He has shown in every respect the bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort and for this, I honour him."
Dumbledore turned gravely to Skylar and raised his goblet once more. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit. Adrian did not.
When everyone returned sitting, Dumbledore continued.
"It is my belief, and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken, that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some worse than others. Some of you, in this very Hall, have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Some of you bear the memories of struggles, some of you bear the wounds and scars for everyone to see."
Greengrass turned, staring at Adrian with a somber expression.
"A week ago, a student was taken from our midst. Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."
"Things will not be easy, will they?" Lutain asked quietly.
Adrian stroked his back, over the ridge of his spine and down his flank.
Something in Adrian's stomach gurgled angrily, twisting and jabbing him like a knife.
He glanced to his left; across the distance of the Great Hall his eyes caught and latched onto Skylar Potter.
Skylar picked up his goblet, holding it aloft in a silent toast.
Adrian lifted his with a nod.
They exchanged toast built on no words; and for the first time, the two boys needed none.
End of Part 1
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