The Cupboard Series 4: The Fourth School

Chapter 22

A sea of dark red uniforms filled the room, their badges in the shape of a golden shield glittering from multiple breasts. Amelia Bones, Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Division surveyed her officers, checking and double checking that every one that she'd tapped for this mission was there. Finally, she was satisfied.

"Alright, people, listen up!" she bellowed, causing instant silence and all eyes to snap to hers.

"As you all know, the First Task of the TriWizard Tournament is today. Four names came out of the Goblet of Fire – three Champions plus the one that had Harry Potter's name on it. The experts have agreed that the magical contract that the Goblet has enacted will be between itself and the person that signed that piece of parchment, not Harry Potter. Our job today is to capture that person.

"With all of the media coverage this has garnered, you can be assured that our perpetrator knows that their magic is on the line. It's either be there and compete or become a squib. There is no other option for them.

"And the second that they reveal themselves, I want them taken down. I don't care if that means that they fail to compete and that they lose their magic. Get them secured and back here as soon as possible so that we can fill them to the gills with veritaserum and find out the full extent of the plot.

"And questions?"

A soft rustling indicated the dozens of aurors shifting slightly, but no hands were raised or voices called out.

"Alright," Madam Bones continued. "You'll be split into four teams. Team One. Shaklebolt, I want your team around the Champions' tent. More than likely, that's where the target will turn up. Team Two. Dawlish. Your team will patrol the dragon pens. Team Three. Jacobs. Take your team undercover into the stands. Keep an eye on the crowd and watching for trouble from that direction. I will lead Team Four. We'll be roving the entire stadium, free to move about and help wherever it's needed."

She watched carefully, making sure that all knew their assignments for the day.

"Grab your equipment," she ordered. "We move out in twenty minutes."

-oOoOo-

He'd been feeling their eyes on him all day. Ever since he'd walked out of his room, they'd been there, watching him from the corner of his eye, turning away whenever he looked at them, and going back to whispering amongst themselves the second that he turned away. But he knew. And it was making him jittery.

Today was the First Task at Hogwarts. The Task that Dumbledore and the other idiots from the Ministry had wanted him in. As bait, no less. A way to flush out the git who'd put his name in the blasted Goblet. It was impossible not to know what was either happening or about to happen – he had no way of knowing what time the event was supposed to start. Oh, sure, he could have asked, but the words had always died in his throat anytime that he'd considered voicing his question.

Currently, he was sitting on one of the chairs in the library, a book held in his hands so that the words actually stayed still. He'd tried resting it on his knee, but the way that it was bouncing with nervous anticipation, it'd been a bad idea. He was supposed to be studying for a Potions pop quiz. At least, he thought that that was what the book was about. But really, it could have been about anything, it wasn't like he'd been able to actually read any of it.

Slow, gradual movement in his direction snapped his head up and he squashed the urge to jump up and run. It was only Hermione. One hand reached out and took the book from him, closed it and placed it on the table beside him. Then, just as cautiously, she turned him in his chair until there was enough room for her to sit in his lap.

Automatically, his hands came up around her waist. Her weight stilled his knee and he blew out the breath that he didn't know that he'd been holding.