Colours - h.potter

imposters in red

The couple had returned, with Cedric's body, as promised. 

People cheered, not knowing of the situation, or why Lyra was sobbing into Harry's chest, who had also been shedding tears. 

The blood curdling scream from Fleur had send everyone into the realization as Dumbledore attempted to pull Lyra away from the lifeless body of her friend. "He's back. Voldemort's back. Cedric asked us to bring his body back." Lyra sobbed, letting go of Harry and being welcomed into the warm arms of Minerva McGonagall. "Keep everyone in their seats! A boy has just been killed."

The cries of Amos Diggory were heard as he mourned over the loss of his son, everyone else mourning with him too. 

Alastor Moody had grabbed Lyra from McGonagall's arms, forcing her away from the scene, his free hand gripping Harry's. The pair had been brought to the familiar office. "You alright?" Both teenagers had nodded, their intertwined hands bringing the familiar feeling of home. Harry had described how the cup was a Portkey.

"What was it like? What was he like? The Dark Lord? What was it like to stand in his presence?" Harry answered his the questions as Lyra had noticed Alastor struggle, he had been feverisly looking for something.

"Were there others? In the graveyard, were there others?" Lyra's eyes darted to Harry, she knew something wasn't right. "Sir, we never mentioned a graveyard." Lyra watched as Moody stepped into the room. "Marvelous creatures, dragons, aren't they? Did you think that miserable oaf would've led you into the woods if I hadn't suggested it?" Moody continued to frantically look for something, "Do you think Cedric Diggory would've told you to open the egg underwater if I hadn't told him first? Did you think Neville Longbottom, the witless wonder could've provided you with gillyweed if I hadn't given him the book that led him straight to it?" 

Lyra's eyes widened in realization. "It was you from the beginning. You put our names in the Goblet, you bewitched Krum!" panic had sunken in.

"You won because I made it so, Flexson. You ended up in that graveyard tonight because it was meant to be so. And now the deed is done. The blood that runs through these veins runs within the Dark Lord." Moody pressed on Harry's cut. "Imagine how he will reward me when he learns that I, once and for all, silenced the great Harry Potter."

The door had burst open, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape stood with Moody bound to a chair. "Severus!" Snape had poured the familiar vial of Veritaserum down Moody's throat as McGonagall had wrapped her arms around Lyra, both witnessing what was happening. "Do you know who I am?"

"Albus Dumbledore."

"Are you Alastor Moody?"

"No."

"Is he in this room?" The imposter eyed the the chest in the corner of the room. Lyra had pulled Harry out of the way as Dumbledore opened it, revealing a very small Moody. "Alastor!" Lyra froze. "That's Moody, but then who's the imposter?" Snape had smelled the flask 'Moody' had been drinking from, confirming it was Polyjuice potion. "Now we know who's been stealing from your stores, Severus."

The imposter had begun to morph back to its original form, thrashing in its chair. Lyra shrieked as Barty Crouch Jr had lunged for her, being held back by Snape. "I confessed my love for you! And you left me!" Lyra stepped away, back into the arms of McGonagall. 

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours." He'd lifted his sleeve to reveal the dark mark, Dumbledore lifted Harry's sleeve, "Yu 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."

"I'll be welcomed back like a Hero!"

"Perhaps. Personally, I've never had much time for heroes." the teachers had ushered the teenagers out of the room, leaving Snape with Barty Crouch Jr.

-----

All the students of Hogwarts were gathered in the Great Hall. Lyra stood, blinking back tears as she remembered what Cedric said. She remembered how Cedric didn't want her dwelling on the sadness of his passing. 

"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. Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort. The ministry of magic does not wish for 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 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. And we'll celebrate a boy who was kind and honest, brave and true, right to the very end."