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braveclementine · 4 months

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Chapter 18

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (However they are very few so those under the age of 18 can still read a majority of this book. However please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

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𝖂𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝕴 𝖆𝖜𝖔𝖐𝖊, it was because there were heavy footsteps on ladder rungs. I went to open my eyes, but they remained closed. I wondered if I was under the imperius curse, unable to move, and then realized I must have the full-body bind curse on me. My wrists, felt like there were circles of cold around them. I felt wood between my right hand. My wand- most likely. There was also a thin, silky feeling over me but I wasn't sure what that was.

Then, the voice that spoke was not Moody's or Crouch Jr.'s, but Dumbledore's and if I could've moved, I would've given a start. "Stunned- controlled by the Imperius Curse- very weak. Of course, they would have needed to keep him alive. Harry, throw down the impostor's cloak- he's freezing. Madam Pomfrey will need to see him, but he seems in no immediate danger."

There was a whooshing sound so I supposed Harry had dropped the cloak down. Why didn't Dumbledore see me? Then it occurred to me- If Crouch Jr. knew there was a possibility he'd get caught tonight, he'd want to hide me so that the Dark Lord would still get access to me- to my visions. Clever, too clever.

I heard footsteps on the ladder again, this time ascending but there was no sound of the trunk closing. I heard something like liquid splash against the floor.

"Polyjuice potion, Harry, you see the simplicity of it, and the brilliance. For Moody never does drink except from his hip flask, he's well known for it. The impostor needed, of course, to keep the real Moody close by, so that he could continue making the potion. You see his hair, the impostor has been cutting it off all year, see where it is uneven? But I think, in the excitement of tonight, our fake Moody might have forgotten to take it as frequently as he should have done. . . on the hour. . . every hour. . . we shall see."

There was silence and I supposed they were waiting to see if Dumbledore's prediction was true. Meanwhile, I tried to remember back to First-year Charms for the counterspell to the Body-bind Curse. Would I even be able to reverse it nonverbally? I wasn't so sure, I couldn't do many nonverbal spells- only the simple ones.

Then I heard a voice, Snape's voice say, "Crouch! Barty Crouch!" There was a scratch of what sounded like paws.

Then Professor McGonagall's voice, which was slightly high-pitched said, "Good heavens."

Then there was a squeaky voice that said, "Master Barty, Master Barty, what is you doing here? You is killed him! You is killed him! You is killed Master's son!" It must've been Winky, from the sound of it.

"He is simply stunned, Winky. Step aside, please. Severus, you have the potion? McGonagall did you find her?" Dumbledore asked.

There was silence from Snape, so I guessed that Professor Snape handed Dumbledore something. Professor McGonagall said, "No, no one has seen her since lunch time."

There was more silence and I wasn't sure what was going on and then Dumbledore said, "Ennervate."

"Can you hear me?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes." Barty Crouch Jr. muttered, so softly, I could barely hear him.

"I would like you to tell us, how you came to be here. How did you escape from Azkaban?" Dumbledore asked.

"My mother saved me. She knew she was dying. She persuaded my father to rescue me as a last favor to her. He loved her as he had never loved me. He agreed. They came to visit me. They gave me a draft of Polyjuice Potion containing one of my mother's hairs. She took a draft of Polyjuice Potion containing one of my hairs. We took on each other's appearance."

"Say no more, Master Barty, say no more, you is getting your father into trouble!" Winky proclaimed but Barty continued to talk.

"The dementors are blind. They sensed one healthy, one dying person entering Azkaban. They sensed one healthy, one dying person leaving it. My father smuggled me out, disguised as my mother, in case any prisoners were watching through their doors. My mother died a short while afterward in Azkaban. She was careful to drink Polyjuice Potion until the end. She was buried under my name and bearing my appearance. Everyone believed her to be me."

"And what did your father do with you, when he had got you home?" Dumbledore asked.

"Staged my mother's death. A quiet, private funeral. That grave is empty. The house-elf nursed me back to health. Then I had to be concealed. I had to be controlled. My father had to use a number of spells to subdue me. When I had recovered my strength, I thought only of finding my master. . . of returning to his service."

"How did your father subdue you?" Dumbledore asked.

"The Imperius Curse. I was under my father's control. I was forced to wear an Invisibility Cloak day and night. I was always with my house-elf. She was my keeper and caretaker. She pitied me. She persuaded my father to give me occasional treats. Rewards for my good behavior."

"Master Barty, Master Barty. You isn't ought to tell them, we is getting in trouble." Winky sobbed above.

"Did anybody ever discover that you were still alive? Did anyone know except your father and the house-elf?"

"Yes, a witch in my father's office. Bertha Jorkins. She came to the house with papers for my father's signature. He was not at home. Winky showed her inside and returned to the kitchen, to me. But Bertha Jorkins heard Winky talking to me. She came to investigate. She heard enough to guess who was hiding under the Invisibility Cloak. My father arrived home. She confronted him. He put a very powerful Memory Charm on her to make her forget what she'd found out. Too powerful. He said it damaged her memory permanently."

"Why is she coming to nose into my master's private business? Why isn't she leaving us be?" Winky continued to sob.

"Tell me about the Quidditch World Cup." Dumbledore said.

"Winky talked my father into it. She spent months persuading him, I had not left the house for years. I had loved Quidditch. Let him go, she said. He will be in his Invisibility Cloak. he can watch. Let him smell fresh air for once. She said my mother would have wanted it. She told my father that my mother had died to give me freedom. She had not saved me for a life of imprisonment. He agreed in the end. It was carefully planned. My father led me and Winky up to the Top Box early in the day. Winky was to say that she was saving a seat for my father. I was to sit there, invisible. When everyone had left the box, we would emerge. Winky would appear to be alone. Nobody would ever know. But Winky didn't know that I was growing stronger. I was starting to fight my father's Imperius Curse. There were times when I was almost myself again. There were brief periods when I seemed outside his control. It happened, there, in the Top Box. It was like waking from a deep sleep. I found myself out in public, in the middle of the match, and I saw, in front of me, a wand sticking out of a boy's pocket. I had not been allowed a wand since before Azkaban. I stole it. Winky didn't know. Winky is frightened of heights. She had her face hidden."

"Master Barty, you bad boy!" Winky said.

"The only one to suspect anything was wrong was Elizabeth Kane. She had seen my foot under the Invisibility Cloak and had started to suspect that my father was hiding anything. She didn't say anything."

"Why didn't she mind her own business!" Winky sobbed. Party of me wished I had.

"What did you do with the wand?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

"We went back to the tent. Then we heard them. We heard the Death Eaters. The ones who had never been to Azkaban. The ones who had never suffered for my master. They had turned their backs on him. They were not enslaved, as I was. They were free to seek him, but they did not. They were merely making sport of Muggles. The sound of their voices awoke me. My mind was clearer than it had been in years. I was angry. I had the wand. I wanted to attack them for their disloyalty to my master. My father had left the ten; he had gone to free the Muggles. Winky was afraid to see me so angry. She used her own brand of magic to bind me to her. She pulled me from the tent, pulled me into the forest, away from the Death Eaters. I tried to hold her back. I wanted to return to the campsite. I wanted to show those Death Eaters what loyalty to the Dark Lord meant, and to punish them for their lack of it. I used the stolen wand to cast the Dark Mark into the sky."

There was a pause and then, "Ministry wizards arrived. They shot Stunning Spells everywhere. One of the spells came through the trees where Winky and I stood. The bond connecting us was broken. We were both Stunned. When Winky was discovered, my father knew I must be nearby. He searched the bushes where she had been found and felt me lying there. He waited until the other Ministry members had left the forest. He put me back under the Imperius Curse. He was interrupted by Elizabeth Kane. She told him that my master would come for someone- him- and that he had to be careful. She told him that Bertha Jorkins was dead and that everything she knew would become my master's. I don't think she realized it was me they were coming after. My father didn't take heed in her warning and took me home. He dismissed Winky. She had failed him. She had let me acquire a wand. She had almost let me escape."

There was a wail of despair from Winky.

"Now it was just Father and I, alone in the house. And then. . . and then. . . My master came for me, just as she had said. He arrived at our house late one night in the arms of his servant Wormtail. My master had found out that I was still alive. He had captured Bertha Jorkins in Albania. He had tortured her. She told him a great deal. She told him about the Triwizard Tournament. She told him the old Auror, Moody, was going to teach at Hogwarts. He tortured her until he broke through the Memory Charm my father had placed on her. She told him I had escaped from Azkaban. She told him my father kept me imprisoned to prevent me from seeking my master. And so my master knew that I was still his faithful servant- perhaps the most faithful of all. My master conceived a plan, based upon the information Bertha had given him. He needed me. He arrived at our house near midnight. My father answered the door. It was very quick. My father was placed under the Imperius Curse by my master. Now my father was the one imprisoned, controlled. My master forced him to go about his business as usual, to act as though nothing was wrong. And I was released. I awoke. I was myself again, alive as I hadn't been in years."

"And what did Lord Voldemort ask you to do?"

"Two things. First, he needed me to go to the Potter's house in Godric Hollow. He had heard from Wormtail that there was a possibility that Elizabeth Kane was Harry Potters sister. He wanted me to find out for him. . . he didn't trust Wormtail's information. But as it turned out, Kane never really was Harry Potters sister, though he had one at one point. But she died in April and so my master did not bother with the idea anymore. Second, my master said he needed a servant at Hogwarts who would guide Harry Potter through the Triwizard Tournament without appearing to do so. A servant who would watch over Harry Potter. Ensure he reached the Triwizard cup. Turn the cup into a Portkey, which would take the first person to touch it to my master. But first-"

"You needed Alastor Moody." Dumbledore said in a calm voice.

"Wormtail and I did it. We had prepared the Polyjuice Potion beforehand. We journeyed to his house. Moody put up a struggle. There was a commotion. We managed to subdue him just in time. Forced him into a compartment of his own magical trunk. Took some of his hair and added it to the potion. I drank it; I became Moody's double. I took his leg and his eye. I was ready to face Arthur Weasley when he arrived to sort out the Muggles who had heard a disturbance. I made the dustbins move around the yard. I told Arthur Weasley I had heard intruders in my yard, who had set off the dustbins. Then I packed up Moody's clothes and Dark detectors, put them in the trunk with moody, and set off for Hogwarts. I kept him alive, under the Imperius Curse. I wanted to be able to question him. To find out his past, learn his habits, so that I could fool even Dumbledore and, as it turned out, his niece, Elizabeth Kane. I also needed his hair to make the Polyjuice Potion. The other ingredients were easy. I stole boomslang skin from the dungeons. When the potions master found me in his office, I said I was under order to search it. But there was another problem."

"Let me guess, Elizabeth Kane." Dumbledore said and though he hadn't given off emotions in his tone of voice before, this phrase was said in a slightly cooler tone.

"Yes, Elizabeth Kane." he said simply and I would've shivered if I could. "Wormtail had alerted my master and I that she could see the future- to a very successful end. This worried my master and intrigued him at the same time. He did not want her interfering with his plan, but he wanted her for himself. The way to keep her alive and not tell Dumbledore about the future was to make her believe that her visions were starting to go the wrong way. Under the guise of Occlumency lessons, I was able to see some of her visions, and change them. Small things like telling Hermione Granger to change the name of her House-elf club or turning Draco Malfoy into a polecat instead of a ferret. She started to lose faith in herself. I told you to use her as a hostage instead of Ron Weasley but she'd already lost faith in her visions before then- when Fred Weasley and Cedric Diggory asked her to the Yule Ball instead of the girls she saw them asking. That was when she finally decided not to look into her visions anymore. But she would never had predicted Fred and Cedric asking her to the Ball because she doesn't have visions about herself- only other people. . . except for one."

"Which was?" Dumbledore asked.

Barty Crouch laughed and said, "The only vision she's ever had of herself is marrying Snape."

So that was why anytime I tried looking for my future I saw my 'mother' and Snape getting married. Because that was the only vision of myself.

There was a stunned silence and then Dumbledore asked quickly, perhaps to get back on track asking, "And what became of Wormtail?"

"Wormtail returned to care for my master, in my father's house, and to keep watch over my father."

"But your father escaped."

"Yes. After a while he began to fight the Imperius Curse just as I had done. The conversation that we saw take place was Elizabeth Kane urging my father to throw off the Imperius Curse. She suspected he was already under it. Because of her, he started to fight it. There were periods when he knew what was happening. My master decided it was no longer safe for my father to leave the house. He forced him to send letters to the Ministry instead. He made him write and say he was ill. But Wormtail neglected his duty. He was not watchful enough. My father escaped. My master guessed that he was heading for Hogwarts. One look in Elizabeth Kane's mind confirmed that suspicion, for while she no longer trusted her visions, I knew they were correct. My father was going to tell Dumbledore everything, to confess. He was going to admit that he had smuggled me from Azkaban. I was ready for when my father came through the forest, and yet another complication with Elizabeth Kane."

"Elizabeth knew who you were, didn't she?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes." Crouch said. "She had discovered my secret back in April, after a visit to her Godfather, Sirius Black, though she had started piecing it together with conversations with my father. Black had shared some of my history with her and she managed to piece together from the Quidditch Cup, to his illness, to mine and my mother's deaths. I had slipped up during class as well, saying that I had received a letter from Professor Lupin, her father. But Moody had gone to her father over the summer, she knew that. She wrote to her father, asking if he'd sent me a letter. He said he had not. She realized that every memory that had been different- I had been apart of. She went into my office at dinner one night, looking for Harry's map."

"Map? What map?" Dumbledore asked.

"Potter's map of Hogwarts." Crouch said. "Potter saw me on it. Potter saw me stealing more ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion from Snape's office one night. He thought I was my father. We have the same first name. I took the map from Potter that night. I told him my father hated Dark wizards. Potter believed my father was after Snape."

"Continue about Elizabeth."

"She found the map and realized who I was. She was going to go straight to you and I barely made it to the office on time. She was just leaving. I put her under the Imperius curse. She was under it for weeks. But she was strong- too strong and she threw it off after Snape cornered her in the Astronomy tower. She attempted to kill me. I tortured her under the Cruciatus curse multiple times." Here, there was a sound of a dog growling and I realized Sirius was above me with the others. "The only thing that really worked at controlling her was threatening Snapes' life. She didn't dare say anything to Dumbledore if his life was on the line. When my father came, she attempted to change the future by trying to carry my father out of the forest. She nearly did it too. I had the map with me. Potter was in the castle, getting Dumbledore. I stunned Krum and Kane. I killed my father."

"Nooo!" Winky wailed. "Master Barty, Master Barty, what is you saying?"

"You killed your father." Dumbledore said in a hard voice. "What did you do with the body?"

"Carried it into the forest. Covered it with the Invisibility Cloak. I watched Potter run into the castle. He met Snape. Dumbledore joined them. I watched Potter bringing Dumbledore out of the castle. I walked back out of the forest, doubled around behind them, went to meet them. I told Dumbledore Snape had told me where to come. Dumbledore told me to go and look for my father. I went back to my father's body. Watched the map. When everyone was gone, I Transfigured my father's body. He became a bone. . . I buried it, while wearing the Invisibility Cloak. I tortured Elizabeth Kane again for interfering. I put her back under the Imperius Curse."

"And tonight?" Dumbledore asked over more growling from Sirius.

"I offered to carry the Triwizard Cup into the maze before dinner. Turned it into a Portkey. Elizabeth tried to interfere. She knew Cedric was going to die. She was going to take the Cup herself, and go to where my master and Wormtail was waiting. She had the foreknowledge. She was going to kill Wormtail and destroy my master's body. I dueled with her in the middle of the maze. She nearly reached the cup before I stunned her. I used the broom that she had used to bring her back up to the castle. I would've killed her then except for the fact my master needed her. I erased my memory of where I put her, sending a message to Wormtail about her whereabouts if I got caught and couldn't deliver her to my master. But she doesn't matter now. My master's plan worked. He is returned to power and I will be honored by him beyond the dreams of wizards."

I heard a sound of frustration, that I was pretty sure came from Professor Snape. I wish I could make a noise, let them know where I was, but I couldn't.

"How are we going to find her?" Professor McGonagall asked in a strangled voice.

To my surprise, but also pleasure, it was Harry who came up with the solution. "The map!" he exclaimed quietly, his voice sounding dead. "If we can find the map and she is on Hogwarts grounds, it will reveal her location."

"Where is Harry's map?" Dumbledore asked Barty Crouch Jr.

"Top drawer of the dresser on the left." Barty Crouch's voice said. It still sounded rather unemotional, so he must've still been under the truth potion.

I heard footsteps, either Professor Snape or Professor Dumbledore's, crossing across the room. A drawer was opened, parchment was riffled through, and the drawer was closed.

"Harry? How does this work?" Professor Dumbledore said.

Another set of footprints crossed the room and there was a bit of silence. I supposed Harry was searching for me. I waited anxiously. I knew that Harry could find me- I had found Uncle Moody on the map- but would they realize that I was in the trunk? Especially after Dumbledore had already been down here- checking on Uncle Moody?

It took maybe three minutes before Harry said, "It says she's in this room."

"But that's not. . . the only place she could be is the trunk and Dumbledore's already been in there." Professor McGonagall said, her voice sounding faint.

There was another pause of silence. I wondered if they were looking around the room.

"He could've transfigured her into anything!" Professor Snape exclaimed, spitting angrily.

There were loud sniffing noises and I wondered if Sirius was trying to sniff me out. I think I would've laughed if I could've.

"I don't think so Severus." Dumbledore said calmly. "Moody had an invisibility cloak and I didn't explore the entire trunk."

I heard hurried footsteps on the ladder again. Someone was on their hands and knees searching. From above, there was a concerned whining sound. Then, someone's hand found the invisibility cloak and pulled it off. There was a tap of a wand and my body relaxed, free from the curse.

"Elizabeth?" Professor Snape's voice whispered, "Elizabeth?"

I moved my lips, my eyes fluttering open. Professor Snape's face was closest to me. Above, looking down into the trunk, was Professor McGonagall, Harry, Dumbledore, and a familiar black dog's face. I turned my attention to Snape. "Cedric?" I asked hoarsely. "Where's Cedric?"

Professor Snape hesitated and said, "Come on." He scooped me up in his arms. I clutched my wand as he hauled me back up out of the trunk. Professor McGonagall helped me out, her face white. Dumbledore looked furious. I stood on shaky legs, leaning against Professor Snape. Sirius came up to me, whining, and prodded my leg with his nose. I put a hand on his head and then dropped down next to him, unable to stand any longer.

"Minerva, could I ask you to stand guard here while I take Harry upstairs?" Dumbledore asked, his voice almost trembling with anger.

"Of course." Professor McGonagall said, looking nauseous.

"Severus, please tell Madam Pomfrey to come down here; we need to get Alastor Moody into the hospital wing. Bring Elizabeth with you. Then go down into the grounds, find Cornelius Fudge, and bring him up to this office. He will undoubtedly want to question Crouch himself. Tell him I will be in the hospital wing in half an hour's time if he needs me. And then send a letter to Remus Lupin- he'll want to come up to the school immediately."

I looked up from Sirius's eyes and choked out, "No! No, he'll be so upset and angry. I don't want him to know!"

Dumbledore knelt gently in front of me. "It's alright Elizabeth. Your father has to know."

My fingers tightened in Sirius' fur and he nudged my ear in encouragement. I struggled to my feet, grabbing Snape's arm for support.

Snape led me out of the room as I struggled to walk. I wasn't sure what was wrong with my legs. I also couldn't tell if Snape was angry or relieved. I looked down at my legs. There were holes in my pants and blood across both the knees. I stumbled again. Professor Snape scooped me up into his arms.

"Are you angry?" I whispered.

"Extremely. Why the hell did you think you should take the Cup? What made you think you could kill him?"

"To protect Cedric." I whispered. "To save both his and your life."

"Damnit Elizabeth, I can take care of myself." He said, his arms tightening.

"Is he. . . is Cedric.. please, I need to know." I whispered.

"He's gone." Professor Snape said softly. "I'm so sorry Elizabeth."

I let out a sob, clamping my hand over my mouth. It was all my damn fault. Professor Snape just pulled me closer and brought me into the hospital wing. Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Ron, and Hermione were in there, asking for Harry. They all looked up when Snape entered and their eyes fell on me.

Professor Snape set me down on an empty bed and turned to Madam Pomfrey. "Dumbledore needs you to go to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. You will find Minerva in there. Alastor Moody needs your care. Come back and take care of Elizabeth Kane. Give her whatever you give someone whose been under the Imperius and Cruciatus curse."

Madam Pomfrey, Bill, Hermione, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley's mouths all dropped open. "Also, probably something for stress and something to help her sleep." Professor Snape continued. "I must go get Fudge, excuse me." He swept out of the room.

I took a look at myself in the mirror. My face was pale white and thin, dark shadows under my eyes. I looked like a ghost. Madam Pomfrey hurried over to me, putting up a privacy curtain and had me change into the infirmary robes. Mrs. Weasley helped. Then Madam Pomfrey healed my knees and told Mrs. Weasley to stay with me and went off to get professor Moody.

"Elizabeth?" Hermione asked hesitantly. "What happened?"

Slowly, I told Bill, Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley piece by piece about what Barty Crouch Jr. had said and a bit extra from what I had pieced together. I choked up over Cedric again and brushed away the tears angrily. By the time I was finished talking, Madam Pomfrey had brought Alastor Moody back and had listened to the end of my story.

"Where's Harry?" Ron asked after I was done.

"With Dumbledore and S-Snuffles." I said quickly.

Bill and Mrs. Weasley looked confused by this, but Hermione and Ron nodded.

Some time later, Harry, Dumbledore, and Sirius in dog form came into the hospital wing.

"Harry! Oh Harry!" Mrs. Weasley screamed, running towards Harry. Dumbledore moved between them.

"Molly, please listen to me for a moment. Harry has been through a terrible ordeal tonight. He has just had to relive it for me. What he needs now is sleep, and peace, and quiet. If he would like you all to stay with him, you may do so. But I do not want you questioning him until he is ready to answer, and certainly not this evening."

Mrs. Weasley nodded, looking nearly as white as I was. She rounded on Ron, Hermione, and Bill and hissed, "Do you hear? He needs quiet!"

"Headmaster, may I ask what-" Madam Pomfrey said, looking down at the black dog.

"This dog will be remaining with Harry and Elizabeth for a while. I assure you, he is extremely well trained. Harry- I will wait while you get into bed. I will be back to see you as soon as I have met with Fudge, Harry. I would like you to remain here tomorrow until I have spoken to the school. Elizabeth, I will speak with you sometime tomorrow or the day after with your father."

I patted the bed and Sirius hopped up on it and he lay down with his head on my chest. I hugged him as Dumbledore left the hospital wing.

"Is he okay?" Harry asked.

"He'll be fine." Madam Pomfrey asked so I assumed that she meant Moody. She came over to Harry, giving him pajamas and pulling a privacy screen around him. Meanwhile, she came over and gave me a potion. "This'll help you sleep."

I took it with trembling hands, nearly dropping it. Sirius whined with worry. Bill hurried over to help me drink it and it trickled down my throat. My eyes fluttered and Bill laid me down on the bed and I fell fast asleep.

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