|In The Dark|

24

Everything Goes According To Plan

ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

It was time for the Final Task. I was walking over to the destination and it was rather cold. I had my wand tucked in my coat and my camera hanging by the strap on my shoulder. All the champions and adults were in a tent while waiting for it to begin. I walked in and looked around. Krum and his headmaster, and Fleur and hers were sitting in separate places talking. My dads were talking to Dumbledore. Cedric stood in a corner talking to Julia and his father. Harry sat on a bench bouncing his leg up and down. I walked over to Cedric first. I hope he wins. Him or Harry, I don't care.

"Hey Anna!" Julia said. I gave her a hug and then Cedric. "Hi Mr. Diggory, excited to watch Cedric win this thing?" I said nudging Cedric. His father laughed. "I hope so." he said. His father walked over to the adults and left us to talk. "I'm betting on you Cedric." I said. "Shouldn't you bet on Harry?" he said. I chuckled. "Maybe, it doesn't matter. You can take Julia on a romantic couples getaway with your winners' money." I said. They laughed and he kissed her. "I think I already won when you said yes to going out with me." Cedric said to her. She smiled and blushed and they hugged. I decided to leave them so they could have their moment. I hugged Cedric and Julia again. 'Good luck." I said. Then I walked over and sat next to Harry.

"Nervous?" I asked. He nodded. "I love you Harry. I know this year was different than we expected and I know we have drifted but you are still my brother and I will always love you." I said. He smiled and hugged me. "I love you too." he said. Then dads walked over. "Annabelle, can we talk to you?" Sirius asked. "Depends, are you going to bash my friends again?" I said. "Annabelle-" Remus said sternly, giving me the look. "Fine." I mumbled. We walked to a corner.

"We're sorry." Remus said. I raised my eyebrows and looked at Sirius. "I didn't mean what I said about your friends. I was just concerned. For you." he said. "But they didn't do anything. They were just-" I started. "That's not why." Remus said. "Then why?" I asked. "You know." Sirius said. I looked at my feet. "You've changed Anna. After everything that happened, we understand. But we are also worried. It's painful to watch our daughter shatter in front of us and not be able to do anything." he said. "I'm sorry." I said. "You don't need to be sorry. You are allowed to be hurt but we don't want you to go dark. To see the world in shades of grey. We want you to be happy and not under the influence of whatever booze you drink or weed you smoke." Sirius said. "Ok." I said. "Ok?" Remus said. "You are right. It was one person, one thing that happened. I can't let that taint my whole view on life." I said. They smiled and hugged me. When we stepped back, I smirked. "For the record, Theo, Draco, Blaise, Pansy, they are still my friends. That won't change." I said. "That's fine. You can be friends with whoever you want." Remus said. I nodded. "Good." I said. Then Dumbledore walked over.

"It's time." he said.

I found myself standing under the bleachers with my dads watching the start of it all. I could sit with my friends but I wanted to stay with my dads so I would be able to know what's going on. I watched Harry looking at the maze and I smiled at him. "It's ok." I mouthed to him and he nodded. He'll be ok, He'll be ok, He'll be ok. Then the canon went off and they ran into the maze. The green vines closed and I couldn't see him anymore.

He better come out of that maze unharmed.

It's been 15 minutes since I noticed something strange about Professor Moody. His skin was almost bubbling. He took a sip from the flask and it stopped. My brain began to think of medical conditions but then it hit me. Polyjuice Potion. Professor Moody whispered something to Dumbledore and started to leave. I decided to follow him. There was always something off about that Professor. Unforgivable curses in class and now he uses Polyjuice Potion?
It's about time I find out what's going on.

I could hear his stick hitting the floor as he hobbled down the hallways. I tiptoed after him and tried to stay quiet. We were heading for his room Dumbldore gave him. I kept my wand drawn and ready to go. I didn't know what was going to happen but I would be ready.

Suddenly a flash of light hit me and I fell back. My wand clattered to the side and my back collided with the floor. Professor Moody turned the corner with his wand trained on me. My wand was out of reach and everyone was at the task. My heart started to race. I was helpless. I was helpless & defenseless even though I swore to myself I never would be again.

"You shouldn't have followed me Annabelle, or should I say Daliah?" he said darkly.
Who the hell is Daliah?

"What are you doing?" I asked. My voice was shaky and full of fear. "Stand up," he said sharply. I did what he said and stood to my feet. He walked over and stood behind me. He dug his wand into my back and pushed me forward. "Walk," he demanded. I let my feet carry me and we went inside. "What do you want? Why did you call me that?" I asked. He pushed me into a chair and pointed his wand at me.

"Incarcerous" he said. Ropes wrapped around my wrists and tied my arms behind my back. Then he tied each ankle to the leg of the chair. I began to panic and I struggled against the ropes but they just got tighter. "Mufflito" he said and the room was silenced. No, no, no.

This- This was too familiar. Not again, I can't do it again.

"Let me go." I said. "Now why would I do that?" he asked. Everytime I struggled, it tightened.

"I want to get to know my daughter," he said smugly.

My face dropped. Then the Polyjuice Potion began to fade away and he started to morph. His skin bubbled and the prosthetic eye fell to the floor. I watched in horror. He stumbled into the other room and I heard the clattering of objects. I looked around trying to figure out how to escape. Then he came back in. The Polyjuice potion was gone, and I saw him.

"You- You're Barty Crouch Jr." I said. He gave me a smug grin. "Very good," he said. "What-why?" I asked. He yanked up his sleeve and I saw the dark mark. "I had to make sure Potter gets into that maze tonight," he said. I tried to jerk forward at him and he just laughed. "What did you do to him?" I yelled. "I did nothing. But I can't speak for the Dark Lord when he returns." he said. My heart stopped. "Ah yes, tonight, in that maze, he will face him once more. This time Potter won't survive." he said. Tears escaped my eyes and fell down my cheeks. He wiped them away and I pulled back. "Don't touch me." I spat. "Darling, I'm your father. Your real father." he said. "You're lying. My parents are-" I started. "Muggles? Who died in a car accident. Yes, I know the cover story. The one my pathetic father put together with the help of the Ministry and the Order." he said. My mind was going a mile a minute. "I knew who you were the moment I came here," he said. I was speechless. "They lied to you. All of them. Would you like to know the truth of who you are, Daliah?" he asked. Do I? I was afraid to answer. I just nodded.

"Good, I would never lie to you...Besides, everything has gone according to plan." he said.

Then he began.