Hidden In These Walls

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I felt something was off with Moody since my first run-in after the World Cup. I knew he was acting strange. Moody was a hardass for sure. He had an air about him that made it hard to "like" him for most around him, but in truth he was a man who cared deep down. Calloused by war and the Ministry he had witnessed so much death and despair. When I first met him, directed to him by Remus, I was surprised to find that we had plenty in common, and he helped push past those soft walls I built up. Now I was impenetrable, and it was thanks to him that I had gained quite a bit of confidence.

This man, however, the one I watched yank Harry into his office, couldn't have been him. I knew that for a fact. All year, he had been aggressive and teaching things I knew the real Moody would never show children in the first place. I remembered slowing my pace outside of the door and listening closely, my ear almost pressed against the door.

"You alright?" Moody asked quietly. He didn't seem to care one bit. I could hear the sarcastic undertones through the barrier of the large oak door. I didn't hear Harry in return, but I heard him continue, "Good. Now tell me what happened."

There was a silence that filled it but was quickly shaken away with a large metal rattle coming from inside. That startled me so badly that I jumped back, and when I did my back hit another's chest. I whirled around my wand drawn out and my eyes wide and fear-filled, but quickly my hand was pushed up over my head, Remus silently shushing me with his finger to his lips. I calmed down for a moment, noticing behind him stood Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall (who looked at me with a firm nod). I sighed and nodded back to them. I was thankful that McGonagall and Remus had listened to me.

"Potter!" Moody shouted.

"The Cup... The Cup was a portkey..." Harry stuttered. The poor boy was so shaken from the events he had to witness. I could only begin to imagine what he went through with the small visions I had, something I still reeled over. Remus thankfully let my hand down and we all stood on the other side, waiting patiently for the right time.

"Yes," Moody started with a hum that sounded mystified. I had bet myself that he looked quite smug, "Clearly someone bewitched it. But what happened? Tell me what happened."

"It was...wrong. From the start. Someone attacked Fluer. Krum, I suppose..." Harry began with a pained grunt, "His eyes when I looked in his eye... he wasn't there... not really. It was as if he had been cursed. Like he was a puppet or something... like the Imperius Curse," Spot on, Harry. I could hear the cogs turning in his head from the other side.

I turned to Remus and muttered, "We should go in there now! He's all alone with him!" I gave him a desperate look. He looked just as shaken as I did. For a moment I had hoped that he would agree, but instead, he slowly shook his head, "We can't..."

"Not yet Emerson," Dumbledore made his way to the front, interrupting the two of us, "We have to wait for the precise moment."

How could he sit here and do nothing? He wouldn't listen and now he was 'waiting for the perfect moment'? I huffed, "The precise moment is now-!"

"Shh!" Snape snipped and strode over, "Quiet down, Emerson!" I gave him a hard glare, I still wasn't too happy with him after the comments he made to me last year.

"I had to know..." Moody's voice garbled and gurgled, "What it would be like... to see... the famous... Harry Potter!"

That was enough for me. I pointed my wand at the door, "Reducdo!" The door blasted open and I threw myself in front of Harry. The others quickly followed suit, Dumbledore took hold of Moody's neck and slammed him against the chair across from us. I quickly turned to Harry, checking his shoulders, his hands, and his face, for any sort of sign of harm, "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"