Thick Of It

The graveyard, a desolate expanse of moonlit earth, became a battleground. Harry and Cedric, ripped from the safety of the maze, found themselves facing Augustus Rookwood, a Death Eater. The fight was fierce, a desperate struggle for survival. Rookwood, a skilled wizard, quickly overpowered Cedric, knocking him unconscious. He held Cedric captive as a spare and use harry for ritual .

The air crackled with dark magic as Voldemort's resurrection ritual commenced. Bones from His father, unwillingly provided, mingled with the flesh of a Loyal servant and the blood forcibly extracted from Harry himself. The scene was a grotesque spectacle, a blasphemous mockery of life.

With a chilling scream, Voldemort rose from the cauldron, a skeletal figure wreathed in emerald flames. He turned on Harry, a malevolent grin twisting his lips. While battling the resurrected Dark Lord, Harry witnessed the agonizing torture of his fallen opponent. Desperate, he fought back, their wands a blur of motion. Finally, their wands connected, a power of his family throwing Voldemort back.

Cedric, regaining consciousness, instinctively called for the portkey. It flew towards them, a beacon of hope in the face of overwhelming odds. As the Death Eaters swarmed, a shadow ball erupted from the ground, casting a chilling Explosion that momentarily scattered their ranks. Seizing the opportunity, Harry and Cedric grabbed the portkey and vanished in a blinding flash of emerald light.

The chaos began as Harry and Cedric appeared in the courtyard, battered and bleeding, their faces pale as parchment. The Triwizard Cup clattered to the ground beside them, its magical glow dimmed.

Harry: "He's back. Voldemort… he's back!"

The crowd froze, whispers spreading like wildfire.

Amos Diggory rushed forward, gathering Cedric into a fierce embrace, tears streaming down his face.

Amos: "My boy, my boy! What happened to you?"

Cedric, barely coherent, managed to mutter, "Graveyard… Death Eaters… the Dark Lord."

Nearby, Professor McGonagall steadied Harry, her stern face uncharacteristically soft.

McGonagall: "Potter, you're hurt. Come with me to the castle. We'll sort this out."

As they moved, Cornelius Fudge appeared, flanked by Ministry officials. His expression twisted into one of denial.

Fudge: "This is madness! Voldemort? Back? and two brat wet behind their ear escape from him !"

Sirius: "You blind fool, Fudge! Do you think Harry would lie about this?"

Fudge: "I won't have it! Spreading panic with these baseless accusations!"

The argument escalated, but McGonagall cut through it.

McGonagall: "Enough! Potter and Cedric need care. Sprout, take Diggory. The rest of you, get out of my way."

She whisked Harry into the castle, leading him to her office.

The atmosphere in McGonagall's office was thick with tension. Harry sat on the edge of a chair, his hands gripping the armrests, while McGonagall moved with unusual distraction, checking his injuries and fussing about the room.

Harry: "Professor, I'm telling you the truth. Voldemort's back. I saw him."

McGonagall: [calmly] "I believe you, Potter. You wouldn't say such things lightly. But tell me… what was it like? Standing in his presence?"

Harry's gaze dropped, his voice barely a whisper.

Harry: "It was like a nightmare come to life."

As McGonagall worked, she began searching her shelves, her movements becoming increasingly erratic.

McGonagall: "Were there others in the graveyard?"

Harry's brow furrowed.

Harry: "Professor, I didn't mention the graveyard. How did you—"

He stopped, his eyes narrowing as he watched her fumble through vials and papers. Her composure cracked as her hands shook.

McGonagall: [to herself] "Dragon… marvelous creatures. Do you think that oaf would've led you into the forest if I hadn't suggested it? Cedric wouldn't have told you about the egg if I hadn't nudged him. Neville wouldn't have found that book on Gillyweed without a little… guidance , i give it to him after he was traumitised by moody."

Harry: [horrified] "You… you put my name in the Goblet, didn't you? You bewitched Krum.But You… "

McGonagall's lips curled into a cruel smile as she dropped the facade.

McGonagall: "But- , But- Oh, but you won, Potter. Because I made it so. And now… the deed is done."

She waved her wand, pulling back a curtain to reveal Jason, bound , slumped in a chair.

McGonagall: "And it would've been perfect if not for this rat sniffing around where he doesn't belong."

Her wand snapped to Harry, her voice dripping with venom.

McGonagall: "Time to finish this."

Suddenly, Jason stirred, his voice hoarse but steady.

Jason: "Now, Blood Mary and Ghastly… ."

From Jason's locket emerged a translucent figure—a ghostly woman clad in crimson. From Harry's shadow, a dark, amorphous figure slithered forward, taking shape as a sinister creature with glowing eyes.

Bloody Mary launched herself at McGonagall, shrieking. McGonagall fired a Killing Curse, shattering the ghost into wisps, but Ghastly struck next, hurling a shadowy orb that knocked McGonagall into her desk.

Harry: [scrambling to Jason's side] "Jason, are you alright?"

Jason: [groaning] "I've had better days, Potter."

The commotion drew attention from the corridor. The office door burst open as Dumbledore, Moody, and Snape entered.

Dumbledore: "Expelliarmus!"

The spell disarmed McGonagall, but before she could be restrained, she grabbed a nearby hat—revealed to be a portkey—and vanished.

The room fell silent, save for the sound of heavy breathing.

The room was filled with an almost palpable tension. Dumbledore stood tall, his wand still raised, pointed at the shadowy figure known as Ghastly, which loomed ominously next to Jason.

Jason: [ his voice steady despite his disheveled appearance] "He's with me, Professor. Found him in the forest."

Dumbledore's sharp eyes softened, and with a slight incline of his head, he lowered his wand.

Ghastly, sensing the tension dissipate, slid silently back into Jason's shadow, leaving an eerie calm in its wake.

Moody, ever the paranoid Auror, moved forward, flask in hand, and began sniffing the air like a bloodhound on a trail.

Moody: "You've got a knack for attracting trouble, Bourne. should have Constant vigilance, "

Jason, too drained to retort, simply pointed at a box sitting on the desk.

Jason: "Professor… open the box."

Before anyone could act, Harry, who had been standing near the box, stepped forward.

Snape, as quick as ever, yanked Harry back by the collar.

Snape: [dryly] "Do try not to get yourself hexed, Potter."

With a flick of his wand, Snape fired an unlocking spell at the box. The locks clicked and clattered as they opened, revealing a complex system of compartments.

Dumbledore, peering inside, leaned forward, his face a mask of concern.

Dumbledore: "Minerva… is that you?"

From the box, a faint voice emerged—McGonagall, bound and weary.

McGonagall: "I'm sorry, Albus. I… I wasn't strong enough."

Moody sniffed the flask he found , narrowing his magical eye at the remains of a potion inside.

Moody: "Polyjuice Potion. It all makes sense now."

Dumbledore's gaze shifted to Snape.

Dumbledore: "Well, Severus, it appears we've found our culprit who was pilfering your potion supplies."

Dumbledore turned back to McGonagall, his voice gentle but firm.

Dumbledore: "We'll get you out of there in a moment, Minerva. First, we have other matters to address."

Harry: [his voice cutting through the air] "If the real Professor McGonagall was in there… then who was she?"

The room turned to Jason, who stood a little straighter, his face pale but resolute.

Jason: "Barty Crouch Jr."

Dumbledore's eyes hardened, a rare flash of fury breaking through his usual calm.

Dumbledore: "Moody, send an owl to Azkaban. I suspect one of their prisoners has gone missing."

From the box, McGonagall's voice, hoarse but steady, called out.

McGonagall: "Albus!"

Dumbledore: [turning his attention back to her] "Yes, Minerva?"

McGonagall: [sharply] "Take Jason to the hospital wing. Now."

Dumbledore turned to Jason, his demeanor softening.

Dumbledore: "Jason, what happened to you?"

Jason, shaking his head, avoided Dumbledore's piercing gaze.

Jason: "I'm sorry, sir. I… I don't want to talk about it."

Dumbledore hesitated, then nodded, respecting the boy's choice.

Dumbledore: "Severus, take Jason and Harry to the hospital wing. Ensure they are both looked after."

As Snape gestured for them to follow, Jason and Harry trudged toward the door.

Harry: [to Jason, his voice low] "What really happened, Jason?"

Jason: [barely audible] "Not now, Harry."