For a microsecond, there was utter silence across the field, as people registered - or attempted to register - that the Champion of the Triwizard Tournament had just disappeared before their eyes, before outrage even louder than before broke out immediately. Confusion, shock, worry, anger - every negative emotion under the sun could be heard, but Dumbledore wasted no time with crowd control now.
"We've no choice, Cornelius," he said, any trace of diplomacy or asking gone from his voice as he grabbed the imposter by the scruff of his robes, holding his wand to his chest.
"Rennervate!"
The imposter awoke with a gasp and a jolt, looking around wildly. Upon seeing the faces of Dumbledore, the Minister of Magic, the Head of the Aurors, and also Blake Renshaw, he cackled wildly.
"So it worked!" he laughed maniacally. "The Dark Lord has returned!"
Upon hearing his words, Fudge seemed to be near fainting, and he stepped back from the false Moody in shock and terror.
Suddenly, Snape appeared beside Dumbledore clutching a vial of what Blake recognised as Veritaserum.
"Unfortunately not, Barty Crouch Jr," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes piercing into the imposter's as he pushed his head towards the vial and forced him to drink. The imposter struggled wildly, trying to resist, but there was nothing he could do.
"Incarcerous!" Moody growled (apparently having stolen back his wand from the fake), and ropes appeared from thin air, binding the imposter.
"What is your name?" Dumbledore asked.
"Barty Crouch Jr."
"Did you put Harry Potter's name in the Goblet of Fire?"
"I did," he said with a grin. "Took a while, but the Confundus Charm worked well - I convinced the Goblet there was another school - a fourth - and put Potter's name in it."
"Why?"
"To get him to win the tournament, so that he could be Portkey'd to my Master."
"Your master?" Scrimgeour asked sharply. "Your Master is dead."
"No," Crouch cackled, "he is not! Today - in a short while - he will be risen! And there's nothing-"
"Where is the revival happening?" Blake interrupted. For the first time since being discovered, the imposter gritted his teeth, trying to prevent an answer.
"Severus," Dumbledore commanded, and Snape force fed another vial of Veritaserum down the man's throat.
"The - the graveyard. Li- Little Hangleton," Barty Crouch Jr forced out with great difficulty.
Dumbledore's eyes widened with recognition.
"I know the place," he announced, before Stunning the imposter again and turning to Fudge and Scrimgeour.
"Is that proof enough for you, Cornelius? Rufus, call your Aurors here, and Side-Apparate with me. You too, Cornelius. And Alastor, can you-"
"I'm fine," he said gruffly. "He's going to pay for this."
"Wait, Dumbledore," Fudge said, backing away slowly, "I - I believe you! Surely there's no need-"
"Oh, but there is, Cornelius," the Headmaster said, moving surprisingly fast for someone as old as himself, and grabbing the Minister by the arm. Scrimgeour, Moody and 5 other Aurors were present too.
"Ready?" Dumbledore asked, getting ready. Just as Dumbledore was about to leave, a silvery shadow appeared from the corner of Blake's eyes.
That's got to be Harry's, Blake realised. Now's my chance, he thought, quickly and discreetly grabbing onto one of the Aurors robes.
As the message relayed, Dumbledore wasted no time or words, Apparating immediately, to face the Death Eaters.
/
That was sh*t, Blake thought immediately after landing. Like being put in a washing machine.
Despite himself, he got up quickly, hearing fighting and jeering not too far away.
"Everyone up!" Dumbledore whisper-shouted. "Wait - Blake?" he said, incredulously. The Slytherin couldn't help but relish Dumbledore's shock. "I told you-"
"There's no time, Professor," Blake said.
"Dumbledore!" Scrimgeour snapped quietly. "You allowed a child to come here?"
Scrimgour attempted to Body Bind Blake, hoping to incapacitate him until the fight was over, but Blake just flicked it away.
"We're wasting time," Blake hissed. "I can defend myself. Let's go!"
"W- Wait," Fudge almost cried out, prompting everyone else to shush him. "Let the boy stay back here and protect- I mean, stay safe with me."
"Have you no shame, Minister?" Scrimgeour said through gritted teeth. Fudge had nothing to stay, instead choosing to stay frozen on the spot.
Silently seething, he and Dumbledore both turned.
"I'll take care of him," Dumbledore commanded as they crept forward. "The rest of you, focus on capture and rescue - the main target is Peter Pettigrew and rescuing Harry Potter, but ensure you make a note of all recognisable faces. And Blake, do not engage-"
Dumbledore's words were cut off by a stray spell whizzing towards them, smashing into the pillar in front.
"Wait!" a voice cried out. "There- there's people there!"
Sh*t, Blake thought, as Dumbledore rushed forward.
"Dumbledore!" a cold, high-pitched yet horrifying voice screamed. Blake shuddered in recognition, as did the elder Aurors there too, even though they'd been prepared. There was no denying it now. This time, it was real.
Lord Voldemort had returned.
"Hello, Tom," Dumbledore said, nothing pleasant in his voice.
"How- how did you-"
As Dumbledore and Voldemort quipped back and forth, seemingly circling each other, Scrimgeour caught his Aurors - and Moody's - attention with a set of hand signals that Blake didn't understand, until he began a countdown with his fingers.
2. 1.
All at once, the Aurors rushed the scene from multiple angles, and immediately, screams and shouts of rage and pain coursed through the graveyard. Blake followed them.
There were 20 Death Eaters, by his head count, and Blake could immediately recognise several faces.
Crabbe, Goyle, Avery, Nott, Malfoy - Wormtail! The cowardly man was at the corner, not fighting anyone.
These odds aren't great, Blake analysed. There were 20 Death Eaters, but only 8 of them. Although none of the Aurors had been struck down yet, the way things were going… But Dumbledore and Voldemort have each other deadlocked - wait - that's not true! Voldemort's deadlocked by Dumbledore, but Dumbledore's still attacking Death Eaters! Wait - is he - is he protecting Harry too?
Harry was in the opposite corner to Pettigrew, clutching his injured leg as he tried his best to follow the battle. It seemed that Dumbledore had placed some type of protection spell on him - every attempt by a Death Eater to attack proved fruitless. Blake rushed towards him.
"You!" he suddenly heard from behind him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up immediately, and Blake felt a cold tingle down his spine.
As he turned, his eyes met the red, snake-like eyes of Lord Voldemort.
"It's you! Again, it's you!" he screeched. All eyes, Auror and Death Eater, turned to Blake as Voldemort seethed. "You filthy, unworthy mudblood who dares to sully the name of Slytherin! Kill him, NOW!"
All at once, Blake felt the wands of 20 Death Eaters trained on him, all moving their wands in a way that he recognised immediately.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Well, sh*t.
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