HP: Harry From The Ancient House Of Black [ Chapter 64 ]

The night was dark as Aries walked down to the Quidditch field. It was no longer smooth or flat, but rather looked as if someone had been building long, low walls that twisted and crisscrossed all over it.

Fleur was already there, pointedly ignoring the odd looks Bagman was giving her and attempting to stay as far away from the rather large man next to him.

Diggory's loud swearing at the condition of the pitch signaled his and Potter's entrance.

"Don't worry Mr. Diggory, Mr. Potter." Bagman said at their offended faces. "You'll have the pitch back to normal once the tournament's over! Now can anyone guess what we have here?"

"A maze." Aries offered. It shouldn't be much of a surprise, it was a common final task for the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

"That's right! Our final task will be very straightforward. The Tri-Wizard Cup will be placed in the middle of the maze. The first champion to reach the cup, wins the tournament."

"Zat's it?" Fleur asked.

"Well there will be obstacles of course." The rather large man seemed to beam at that. "Hagrid, Hogwarts' Care for Magical Creatures professor, will be providing creatures to challenge and hinder your progress to the cup."

They all nodded, though Potter looked rather unhappy. Aries had heard of Hagrid's love for dangerous creatures and resolved to look over some of Draco's homework from the class.

"Now if there are any questions? Good, we can be going. It is rather chilly."

The four began their walk back to their respective common areas, but Aries pulled Potter back for a moment.

Fleur looked disappointed though she continued on her way, choosing to talk to Diggory who looked flustered by the French girl's attention.

"Look Potter, this is embarrassing." Aries rubbed his temples. "Viktor wants to know if there is anything. . . Romantic between you and Granger." Krum had been very interested in the muggle-born girl, mostly because she had never cared about his fame at all, something he was not used to.

The recent article from Rita Skeeter calling her a 'heart-breaker' had worried him. He did not believe everything Skeeter said, thanks to Aries, but he worried that there was some truth to the article.

That was how Aries found himself now being involved in the romantic affairs of a Quidditch superstar and an annoying muggle-born.

"Oh! Um, no not at all." Potter seemed a little put off at the idea and Aries believed his assumption to be correct, that he viewed Granger as more a sister than anything remotely romantic.

"Good, Viktor will be ecstatic."

"Did he believe the article?"

"Not entirely but. . ." Something caught Aries' attention.

"What is it?" Potter turned confused.

"Get behind me Potter." Aries' wand was already in his hand as he pulled Potter behind him. Was this the Dark Lord's plan? A midnight assassination?

Suddenly a man staggered from behind a tall oak. Aries was about to cast a curse when he recognized the man. It was Barty Crouch Senior. He looked as if he had been traveling for days.

His clothes were clearly worn out and there were spots of blood all over it. That was not the worst of it. Crouch was muttering and gesturing widely.

"Mr. Crouch?" Potter asked curiously.

"Weatherby?" Crouch said madly. "Send a note to Madame Maxine, will you?"

"Potter go get Dumbledore." Aries could see signs of memory loss, no a memory charm. Something was wrong with his mind and he saw an opportunity to fill in some of his own missing information.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Do as I say Potter!" It took a moment but finally Potter turned away, running towards the castle.

Aries tentatively touched the mind of Crouch and upon seeing it a jumbled mess, dived in searching for his answers. It didn't take long before memories came to him.

~Crouch walked along the dark halls of Azkaban. The dementors haunted him with memories of his son's trials.

Barty Crouch Junior sat against the far walls, muttering pleas for the Dark Lord to save him. His wife wailed as she saw her son's fragile state, pleading and begging her husband to do something.

The flask was filled with Polyjuice potion and Mrs. Crouch drank eagerly underneath the invisibility cloak. The Imperious Curse fell over Barty and his mother took his place.

A glass shattered at the news of Barty Crouch Junior's death, but the man himself sat stoically, underneath the control of the Imperious Curse.

Suddenly Barty was free, and blackness took him as the Imperious Curse came over him. ~

Aries pulled from his mind as a twig snapped. He moved quickly dropping Crouch and erecting a shield just in time to block a stunner. A man walked forward slowly, into the dim light the castle gave off.

"Barty Crouch Junior." Aries greeted. "Nice of you to join the party." Barty licked his lips quickly.

"Black." Barty had a crazed look to his eyes and he seemed as if he could not decide to have his wand pointed at Aries or his father. "My master is eager to meet with you."

"No doubt he is." A duel here would end in his victory, but he had a feeling Barty would die before he gave up any information.

He had been a member of the Dark Lord's Inner Circle, and few had been anything short of dangerous and powerful.

Barty Crouch Junior had been an exceptional duelist and while Aries felt confident, he continued his play of letting the dice roll.

"Go. Take your father and leave." Barty raised an eyebrow before placing the Imperious Curse on his father again.

"Your father's mind is gone. I destroyed whatever was left. I'd recommended dumping his body somewhere far away."

"Why are you doing this?" There was a sincerity of confusion in Barty's voice.

"No one should be caged." Aries answered simply. "Especially by their family. Tell your master I look forward to meeting him as well. Though, I'm afraid the meeting will not meet his expectations."

"Oh, I think you'll be seeing him far sooner than you think Aries Black." A flash of green ended the life of Bartemius Crouch Senior as they left the Hogwarts' grounds.

Aries began to form a plan for how he would explain Crouch Senior's disappearance and waited for the arrival of Potter and Dumbledore.

Aries had the answers he sought and now the foundation was set for a rather interesting conversation with the Dark Lord. His pieces were set, now he just had to wait for the game to begin.