If Only//Harry Potter [4]

25

"Expelliarmus!" Dumbledore's voice boomed louder than the door that swung open.

Autumn followed the other Professors inside 'Moody's' office and bee-lined to Harry, pulling him away from the imposter.

The two said nothing as Dumbledore grabbed 'Moody' by the throat.

"Severus." 

Snape handed Dumbledore a vial of sorts, and Harry recognised it as the bottle of Veritaserum — the same bottle Snape had shown him weeks ago. Dumbledore shoved it down 'Moody's' throat.

"Do you know who I am?" Dumbledore asked, his voice violent. 

"Albus Dumbledore." The imposter spat out, clearly trying not to talk.

"Are you Alastor Moody? Are you?" 

"No." 'Moody' answered.

"Is he in this room? Is he in this room?" Dumbledore asked another question, to which 'Moody' had to answer. 

'Moody's' eyes trailed to the chest Autumn and Harry were standing next to. Autumn widened her eyes. She connected her hand with Harry's and quickly pulled the two away from the trunk.

The three professors walked towards the trunk as Snape opened it. The five of them looked down at the trunk to see the real Moody at the very bottom.

"You all right, Alastor?" 

"I'm sorry, Albus." Moody shouted from the bottom.

"If that's Moody. But then who's—?"

"He used a Polyjuice Potion." Autumn stated, handing Professor Snape the flask 'Moody' always drank out of. "Here."

Snape took a whiff of the potion, and looked back at Dumbledore. "She's right."

"Now we know who's been stealing from your stores, Severus." Dumbledore said to Snape. "We'll get you up in a minute, Alastor." 

The fake Moody made demonic grunts and groans from behind them, and the five of them looked. 

'Moody's' once rough, scarred skin was now getting smoother and stubble appeared. The long blonde hair of Moody's was now short and dark. The glass eye was now on the ground.

"Barty Crouch Jr." Dumbledore stated in a soft tone.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours." Barty Jr. said darkly to Harry as he showed everyone the tattoo on his arm of the Dark Mark.

Autumn, who's hand was still enwrapped with Harry's, pulled him away.

Autumn's actions were useless because Dumbledore pulled Harry away from her. "Your arm, Harry."

Harry unfolded the cloth of his shirt and showed Barty Jr. his gash. 

Barty laughed darkly. "You know what this means, don't you? He's back. Lord Voldemort has returned."

"Send an owl to Azkaban. I think they'll find they're missing a prisoner." Dumbledore said to Snape.

Snape nodded, then walked out of the office.

"I'll be welcomed back like a hero." 

"Perhaps. Personally, I've never had much time for heroes." 

>>>

Everyone sat together in the Great Hall for an emergency assembly. Most students were confused and scared as to why Dumbledore had called the assembly, even though most had heard the news of the dead boy. 

Autumn's heard felt completely and utterly destroyed. In just one night, she lost everything. Of course she still had her friends, but she had lost family. Cedric Diggory represented everything that could've been — everything that should've been. Tears came out of her eyes as she looked at her feet. She wasn't supposed to be there that night. Matt was the one to take her away. She kept trying to tell herself there was nothing she could do. . . but there was.

Harry took her hand in a friendly gesture and gave it a squeeze. She squeezed his hand back and listened as Dumbledore finally spoke.

"Today, we acknowledge a really terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know exceptionally hard-working, infinitely fair-minded, and, most importantly, a fierce, fierce friend. Now, I think, therefore, you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered. . . by Lord Voldemort! The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so, I think, would be an insult to his memory. Now, the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me and reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues our hearts beat as one. In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we've made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. You remember that and we'll celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true, right to the very end."

Autumn tried to be silent, but she knew she couldn't keep in her cries for that much longer. She quietly sobbed and Harry pulled her in for a hug, his lips trembling as well. Autumn could only feel guilt when she saw Cho Chang start to cry as well. 

>>>

Harry sat on his bed in the dormitory. He had barely gotten any sleep, because all he saw when he closed his eyes was the graveyard and how Cedric died. He was supposed to be packing his things, but he didn't have any motivation to do anything.

Without a knock on the door or anything, Dumbledore slowly walked into the room. 

Harry was caught off guard at first, but then realized it was only Dumbledore. His fingers lingered on the cloth that hung around the beds. "I never liked these curtains. Set them on fire in my fourth year. By accident, of course."

Harry kept standing, not sure what to say. Dumbledore walked closer to Harry and rested his hands on Harry's bed.

"I put you in terrible danger this year, Harry. I'm sorry. "

"Professor. . . when I was in the graveyard, there was a moment when Voldemort's wand and mine sort of connected." Harry stated, trying to understand what had happened.

"Priori Incantatem. You saw your parents that night, didn't you? They reappeared."

Harry nodded.

"No spell can reawaken the dead, Harry. I trust you know that. Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy. But remember this: You have friends here. You're not alone."

Harry solemnly looked at the ground. He just thought. . . he just thought that maybe his parents came back that night.