Caleb Wittebane

I really like this one because it features Gus, and deals with his emotions/trauma after seeing inside Belos's mind! Gus is one of the most underrated characters, and he totally deserves more appreciation!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ugHvXd1UOc

The Mind Electric - The Owl House AnimaticYouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUl2SbJwvq0

The Tale Of The Wittebane Brothers - fan animationYouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck64OfC06d0

Wittebane SHORT 1 - Carving Memories - Owl House Fan AnimationYouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMRftJ0WGIc

Drifting Apart - Owl House Wittebane Brothers Fan AnimationYouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_DumEe0oE

Mourning Innocence - Wittebane Episode 1 - Owl House Fan AnimationYouTube

Tw: murder

Chapter Hub: https://theowlhouse.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000000195081

The Pentawizard Tournament Chapter hub | FandomIt's just links to all of the chapters, rather…theowlhouse.fandom.com

The office door opened.

“Hello, Harry. Hello, Luz” Beamed Dumbledore,clad in a large pink, blue, and white robe. It was flowing marvelously, despite them being inside, and no windows being open. He’s using magic to make his robes flow like that, Harry figured. Of course, he is.

Harry walked inside, he had only been in Dumbledore’s office once before; it was a very large and beautiful circular room, lined with pictures of the previous heads of Hogwarts, all of whom were fast asleep.

Cornelius Fudge was standing beside Dumbledore’s desk, wearing his usual pinstripe cloak and lime-green bowler hat.

“Harry!” Fudge cried jovially, “How are you?”

“Fine,” Harry lied.

“We were just talking about the night when Mr. Crouch turned up by the woods,” Fudge explained, “It was you two who found him, correct?”

“Yes,” Luz said, “But Krum was there too,”

“And I didn’t see Madame Maxime anywhere,” Harry added, thinking it pointless to try to pretend he hadn’t overheard what they had been saying, “And she’d have her work cut out for her if she wanted to hide anywhere,”

“Yes, well,” Fudge said, looking embarrassed, “We’re about to go for a short walk in the grounds, if you’ll excuse us… perhaps you two should head back to your classes.”

“We wanted to talk to you, Professor,” Harry said quickly

“Wait for me here,” Dumbledore said, “Our examination of the grounds will not take long,”

They hiked out the door silently, leaving Luz and Harry alone in the room.

“Ohmygosh is that a phoenix!?!?” Luz blurted as soon as the door closed, she clearly had spotted Dumbledore’s phoenix. “¡Ay, que lindo! What’s your name?”

“His name is Fawkes,” Harry told her. Sure enough, she was petting the large scarlet phoenix that lived in Dumbledore’s office.

Harry took a seat in front of Dumbledore’s desk. For several minutes he sat and watched the old Headmasters, Headmistresses, and Headmagisters snoozing in their portraits, hearing Luz coo at the phoenix.

Harry looked around the room and saw the hat that had sorted him into Gryffindor on his first day at Hogwarts. Sitting next to it in a large glass case was a large silver sword with red rubies encrusted in the hilt. Harry recognized it as the same sword he had pulled from the sorting hat when he was in the Chamber of Secrets. He was gazing at it, wondering how it had come to his aid just when he needed it,when he noticed a patch of silvery light beaming onto the glass case.

Looking to find the source of the light, Harry spotted a large amount of light emanating from a large black cabinet that was tucked into the corner, whose door had not been closed properly. Harry hesitated, but eventually, curiosity got the better of him and he got up and opened the door all the way.

A small stone basin lay inside the door, lined with odd runes that Harry did not recognize. The light seemed to be coming from the odd contents of the basin, the likes of which Harry had never before seen. He couldn’t tell if the substance was a liquid or a gas. It was a bright, whitish silver, and was moving ceaselessly.

Harry wanted to touch it, but four years of magical experience told him that touching an unknown magical substance was a very stupid idea.

Luz, however, did not seem to have such inhibitions, as she declared, upon noticing what Harry was doing, “Hey, you found something magical. I'mma put my face in it!”

“Luz!” Harry screamed, but it was too late, she had stuck her face in the substance and fell in as though there was no bottom to the bowl. Harry, not wanting her to be left alone in there, dove in after her, silently scolding himself for how stupid it seemed.

His head did not hit the stone bottom. Instead, he felt like he was being dragged downward through ice-cold molasses.

He seemed to land in a large room, unlike any he had ever seen at Hogwarts, somehow, no one seemed to notice the two teenagers that had just fallen from the ceiling into the room. Instead, they were all silently staring at one corner of the room, as if they were waiting for something or someone.

Harry looked up at the ceiling, expecting to see the circular window through which he and Luz had fallen, but it wasn’t there. The ceiling was nothing but dark, solid stone.

Harry noticed Luz seated at his right, looking somehow much less bewildered than he was. On Harry’s left was one Albus Dumbledore.

“Professor!” Harry said in a sort of strangled whisper. “I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to, I was just looking at that stone basin in the cabinet of your office, then Luz…” He trailed off.

“Where are we?” Luz asked.

“I’m not sure,” Harry answered, then turned back to Dumbledore, “Professor, where are we?”

Dumbledore didn’t move or speak. He ignored Harry completely. Just like everyone else, he was staring at the far corner of the room, where a large door stood closed.

Harry gazed, bewildered, at Dumbledore, then around the room, then back at the professor. Then it finally dawned on him.

“I think we’re in a memory!” Harry and Luz said in unison.

Luz decided to prove this by getting up, walking into the center of the room, and shouting “Azura/Hecate is a more canon-compliant and better ship than Azura/Lucy!”

No one reacted.

“I knew it,” She said, sitting down.

(The memory stuff proceeds as it does in the book, I ain’t typing all that)

“Take them away!” Barty Crouch Sr. roared at the Dementors, spit flying from his mouth, “Take them all away, and may they rot there!”

“Father! Father! I wasn’t involved!” Barty Crouch Jr. pleaded, “No! No! Father, please!”

“Harry, Luz,” A soft voice said in his ear, “I believe it is time to return to my office,”

Harry, startled, turned around. There was an Albus Dumbledore to his left, watching the younger Crouch get dragged away, and there was an Albus Dumbledore on his right, looking directly at him.

He took Dumbledore’s arm, and Luz took the other. The world around him dissolved into blackness, and Harry felt himself rising into the air. He felt as though he did some sort of slow-motion somersault, and he landed, disoriented, in Dumbledore’s office.

“Professor,” Harry gasped, “I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have- the cabinet door was sort of open and-”

“I quite understand,” Dumbledore sighed, lifting the basin and carrying it to his desk. He motioned for Luz and Harry to follow him. “Curiosity is a very powerful thing,”

“What is that thing?” Luz inquired.

“This? It is called a Pensieve,” explained Dumbledore, “I often find, and I’m sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts crammed into my head. At times like these, I can use the Pensieve to siphon the excess thoughts from my mind, pour them into this basin, and examine them at my leisure.”

Harry couldn’t truthfully say that he had ever felt anything of the sort.

“You mean that stuff’s your thoughts?” Luz blurted.

“Certainly,” Dumbledore clarified, “Let me show you,”

Dumbledore drew his wand out from his robes and placed it near his temple. When he took the wand away, a strand of his silvery hair seemed to be clinging to it. But Harry soon realized that it was, in fact, a glistening strand of the same strange, silvery-white substance that filled the Pensieve.

Harry saw his own face in it. Dumbledore placed his wand in the bowl and swirled it around, his face transformed into that of Snape’s, who was saying something about his Dark Mark getting clearer.

“I was using the Pensieve when Mister Fudge arrived for our meeting, and I put it away rather hastily. It is quite unsurprising that it caught your eye.” Dumbledore said.

“I’m sorry, professor,” Harry mumbled.

“Curiosity is not a sin,” Dumbledore said, shaking his head, “But we should exercise caution with our curiosity.”

“So, children, before you got lost in my thoughts,” Dumbledore said quietly, “you wanted to tell me something,”

“Yes, err, we both had dreams-” Harry started.

“Were these dreams connected in any way?” Dumbledore interrupted.

“I’m not sure, professor,” Luz admitted, “I don’t know what Harry’s was about, but I doubt they were,”

“And why do you doubt that, Miss Noceda?” Dumbledore gently inquired.

“Well, this was the third time I’ve had this dream, and it’s the same every time.” Luz explained, “It starts with something similar to a past event, but never happened like that. It’s like back in Halloween of ‘22 when Belos possessed my friend Hunter… You know who Belos was, right?”

“Yes, I thought it wise to learn a bit about the Boiling Isles when your principal decided to enter this tournament.”

“Well, he possessed my friend Hunter and forced us to fight him. And the first part is much like that. But instead of being in a Human Realm graveyard, it seems to be in the Throne Room, but it looks like it’s been abandoned for some time. And also Hunter is with us, but also fighting us.”

“As in there are two of him?” Harry asked.

“Yes,” Luz answered, “Then, the Hunter we’re fighting makes a fatal blow on me, and then I open my eyes inside of Belos’ mind. Then things go just as they did when I was actually in his mind in August of that year, until the very end, where Hunter doesn’t save me from Belos’ scythe. Then I wake up, always at four thirty AM.

“Interesting,” Dumbledore said, clinging on to every word. “And as for you, Harry?”

(Harry explains his dream, then asks Dumbledore about his scar and stuff. Again, I don’t really wanna type something that would be word-for-word from the book)

“Professor,” Luz inquired, “Do you think perhaps you could explain why I have been having my dreams?”

“Hmm,” Dumbledore sighed, “That is less clear to me, as I know less of your situation. Is there anything one of you has done that could have bonded your souls?”

“Ummm,” Luz stopped and stroked her chin, “Well, the only thing I can think of is when he possessed the Heart of the Titan, he killed me. I came back later, but he did kill me for a bit. Could that have done it?”

“Yes, especially if it was via magical means, taking a life with magic leaves the souls intertwined, this normally does not have any sort of effect, but if something were to bring back the victim, it leaves their souls tangled together.”

“Is that how I got linked with Voldemort?” Harry inquired.

“That is exactly how you got linked with Voldemort.” Dumbledore exclaimed, “The Killing Curse does that, but your mother’s sacrifice saved you, tying your souls together.”

Luz yawned, “Oh, I guess I should get back to my girlfriend,”

“Yes, I have kept you for much too long. Good luck on the Third Task next week!” Dumbledore called as Harry and Luz left the office.

“I can’t believe it! You’re going to help me make a Palisman of my own!” Hermione gushed excitedly as they neared the grand Palistrom tree in Forearm Forest, luckily, it was not too far from the Owl house.

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” Hunter admitted, “Have you decided what animal you want to make it?”

Silence.

“Hermione?” Hunter asked, concerned.

He looked around and didn’t see her anywhere.

“Hermione!” He called, getting a bit scared.

She was nowhere to be found. He kept calling her name but kept being met with the same eerie silence. As though even the birds had disappeared.

The next thing he knew, he was falling.

“Hunter!” Hermione called, “There you are! I tripped on a root or something, but when I got up, you were nowhere to be found.”

“That’s odd, you seemingly disappeared,” Hunter added.

He looked around them, they had clearly been moved to somewhere else via magic. The trees were not in the same layout, the grand Palistrom tree that all carvers held sacred was missing, in the rough spot Hunter thought it should be, there was a familiar blue sapling.

Hunter decided to question his surroundings “Where-?”

“Caleb!” An unknown voice called out. A woman came into view, she seemed to resemble the Clawthornes in many ways, the same wild hair, the same paper-white skin. She wrapped Hunter in a tight hug, “There you are! I was getting worried when you weren’t at home! What has happened to your face? Are you alright?”

“Uhh,” Hunter managed, but Hermione was quicker, her wand was out in a flash.

“Let go of him,” She warned, “Or you will learn why I am considered the most gifted Witch of my age,”

The woman released Hunter, allowing him to breathe, “And just who are you? I thought I knew everyone on the Boiling Isles,”

Hunter tried to interject, “I don’t mean to be rude, but-”

“Not now, Caleb,” The woman said, getting out her cardinal Palisman, “Let me handle this,”

That Palisman, Hunter knew it all too well. It looked just like, no, it couldn’t be.

“Flapjack?” He asked, placing his hand on his heart, right where Flapjack had sacrificed himself for Hunter.

The cardinal animated itself and fled into Hunter’s hands, Waffle came closer to say hi to his fellow songbird.

“I-I don’t understand…” He mumbled, “H-how are you-”

“Evelyn?” a new voice called, “Where did you go? Philip came over for supper!”

The woman, Evelyn, stared at Hunter in disbelief, they stared at each other in stunned silence until the new voice walked all the way to them.

“Evelyn?” he asked, “What are you doing? And who are these two?” He gestured to Hunter and Hermione.

“Hermione Granger,” She answered quickly, “And this is Hunter, erm, I don’t think I ever actually heard your last name.”

“Clawthorne,” He said, choosing to take the name of the woman who had basically adopted him.

“If you’re a Clawthorne, then why haven’t I seen you at any family reunions?” Evelyn said, “Actually, you look so much in appearance like the Wittebane twins, I’m willing to bet good snails that they’re who you’re really related to,”

“Are you joking? He looks nothing like me!” The real Caleb objected.

“Hast thou looked in a mirror?” Evelyn countered quickly, “You two are identical! The only difference is the scarring on “Hunter”’s face”

“Caleb! Evelyn! Aren’t you two going to come back? I brought Caesar salad” An all too familiar voice called.

“No, that voice, it can’t be…”

“That’s him, isn’t it?” Hermione asked.

Hunter nodded solemnly.

Caleb and Evelyn left the two time-travelers alone as they approached an all-too-familiar house.

“Is that the Owl House?” Hermione asked, seeming to recognize the building.

“I think so,”

“May we join you for supper?” Hermione asked politely.

“Well, of course!” Caleb replied, “What kind of hosts would we be if we turned away guests?”

Hermione followed Caleb inside, Hunter trailing close behind her.

Hunter looked around and was amazed at just how different the Owl House looked. Obviously, Eda’s wanted posters and other assorted items weren’t present. But it was almost unrecognizable. Hooty wasn’t even at the door. Hunter doubted that the building had its nickname without the residence of Hooty or Eda.

“Please, take a seat,” Evelyn insisted as she led them to the dining room, (which Eda used as a storage room). “Caleb and I will have dinner prepared shortly.”

Hunter and Hermione both sat at the round, mahogany table. Philip sat next to Hunter.

“So,” Philip started, “Why do you appear identical to my brother?”

“I can assure you, it’s merely a coincidence,” Hermione insisted, “Hunter and I are from very far away. We were brought here by some strange magic. It’s very kind of your brother and Evelyn to allow us to stay for the night.”

“Well, of course, we’re giving you room and board,” Caleb insisted from the kitchen, “No honest man of God would turn away those in need.”

Philip didn’t seem to like Hermione’s answer but seemed to decide that it wasn’t worth bothering with.

A few minutes later, Caleb and Evelyn emerged from the kitchen, both of them carrying plates of food. Evelyn seemed to be struggling to carry all of her plates, she had one in her left hand and two in her right. Hunter stood up to take one, but Hermione was faster. She drew her wand and whispered, “Wingardium Leviosa” just in time. One of the plates slipped out of her hand, but instead of clattering to the floor, it floated in the air.

“Thank you, young lady,” Evelyn said, undisturbed by the magic.

All of the plates got set at the table, Evelyn and Caleb took seats next to each other. They held their hands together and stared into each other’s eyes. Evelyn rubbed her other hand on her belly.

The food was delicious, as far as Hunter was concerned. It tasted oddly nostalgic, even though he had never had it before. Caleb said that it was one of his mother’s old recipes from back home.

“Now that we have a baby on the way, I guess I’ve been feeling nostalgic from when Philip and I were boys,” Caleb admitted, “Mom always made the best food. She always ended up in charge of the village potlucks back in Connecticut.”

“You have a baby coming?” Hunter asked, “Well, congrats!”

“Thank you,” Evelyn said, “We weren’t sure at first if it would even work, him being a Human and all,”

“But by the grace of God above he has given us the miracle of life!” Caleb exclaimed, almost preachy in tone.

“Have you thought of a name yet?” Hermione asked.

Evelyn replied, “Unlike where Caleb and his brother come from, here in the Boiling Isles, we do not name a child, we allow them to name themselves at the age of six. It’s a bit of a rite of passage for young witchlets.”

“Now,” Caleb added, “If we did it my way, they would be named Ruth for a girl, or Joseph for a boy, and then the middle name after one of Evelyn’s parents. Could you imagine it? Ruth Ophelia Clawthorne, or Joseph Claudius Clawthorne. They have a nice ring to them, don’t you think?”

Clawthorne… Hunter thought, no wonder she seems so familiar. She’s an ancestor of the Clawthornes.

Eventually, long after the sun had set, Evelyn went upstairs to bed, that was when the real show began.

Philip left through the front door, Caleb rushed after him to wish him a good night.

Philip used his brother’s kindness as his downfall.

“Good night, Philip!” Caleb said after hugging his brother. Caleb turned around to return inside to his wife.

Pulling a jagged knife from his pocket, Philip raised his hand to strike his brother in the back.

“No!” Hermione yelled, “Expelliarmus!”

The knife flew out of Philip’s hand, soaring toward Hermione, who caught it with ease.

“What have you done?” Philip begged, “I was going to save his soul! Now he is sure to be sent to Hell!”

“Philip?” Caleb asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Your soul!” Philip insisted, “I was trying to save your soul! You associate too closely with these Witches and heretics! I was going to save you before it was too late!”

“What are you talking about?” Asked Hermione.

A burst of green vines emerged from Philp’s hand, grabbing the knife out of Hermione’s hand.

“You Witches are too far gone. In order to save your souls,” He said, raising the dagger once more. Hunter and Hermione were too shocked to react. “Decisive action must be taken.”

He brought the dagger down. Deep red blood burst forth from Caleb, who screamed in agony.

“Why?” He begged with his dying breath, “Why would you kill your own brother?”

Caleb went limp, nearly a minute passed before anyone reacted.

“You’re-” Hunter accused through tears, “You’re a monster,”

“No,” Philip insisted, “I’m not a monster, I’m a savior! I will cleanse this world of sin if it’s the last thing I-”

“Stupify” Hermione shouted, “Come on, Hunter, let’s find our way back to where we belong,”

She dragged Hunter through the woods, and they eventually found the time pool that had brought them back in time.

Hunter went first. When he came out the other side, it was as though no time had passed. The sun still shined in an orange sky, and Dell was still patiently waiting for them by the Palistrom tree.

Hermione came behind him, looking thoroughly scarred for life.

“He…” She muttered, “He… he kill- he killed his own brother…”

Hunter was speechless.

“Hermione!” Dell called cheerfully, “Are you ready to carve your Palisman?”

Hunter looked back at her. Hermione’s eyes were full of shock.

“Hermione? Hunter?” Dell asked, “Is something wrong? You look like you saw a ghost,”

“He…”

Dell’s face grew increasingly concerned, “Who?”

“Philip…” Hermione muttered, “He… he…” She shook her head. “How could anyone be so horrid?”

“What did Philip do?” Dell asked.

“He killed… He killed his own brother.”

Dell’s face went from worry to comfort, “You’re okay Hermione. You’re safe, I’ll make sure of it,”

He silently called his Palisman and signed for it to find Eda.

“It’s okay Hermione,” He reassured, “You’re safe here,”

Chapter hub: https://theowlhouse.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000000195081

The Pentawizard Tournament Chapter hub | FandomIt's just links to all of the chapters, rather…theowlhouse.fandom.com

“Hunter… Hunter… Won’t you help out your poor Uncle?” A voice clearly said, “Please, Hunter, help me… help your dear, helpless Uncle…”

No one around Hunter seemed to react to the all-too-familiar voice calling for him. Luz and Amity kept embracing each other on the couch. Willow kept snuggling next to him. Gus and Hermione continued comparing each other’s realms. Harry and Ron continued to play exploding snap at a nearby table.

“Guys?” Hunter asked, “Did you hear that?”

All of his friends gave him the same confused look.

“Hear what?” Luz asked.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Gus admitted.

“Hunter, are you okay?” Willow asked. Hunter’s hands were starting to shake. That voice, it couldn’t be…

“What did you hear, Hunter?” Amity asked.

“Bel-” Hunter’s voice stopped, the word got caught in his throat. Nothing came out.

“B-” Hunter tried again, to similar failure.

“Belos?” Luz filled in.

“Y-yes,” Hunter choked.

Willow held his hands softly, reminding him that his friends, and girlfriend, were still there and that they cared about him.

Harry looked at Hunter as though he knew exactly what he was going through.

“Hunter, I have an unfortunate amount of experience when it comes to hearing voices no one else can,” Harry consoled, “Do you want to talk to me about it?”

Hunter nodded, and Harry got over to him and sat next to him.

“What did he say? Do you think it was directed at you, or was it just a general thing?” Harry asked.

“He, he asked me for help. Specifically,” Hunter got out,

“Well, remember,” Harry said, “We’re all here for you. Even if he comes back, you’re safe.”

“Yeah, I-I know,” Hunter said.

Harry stayed right there for Hunter, even though neither of them said a single thing. Slowly, the afternoon drew into the evening, which then drew into the night.

“Harry, you need to come back to Hogwarts with Ron and I,” Hermione nagged, “Curfew is soon, and Filch’ll have our heads if we’re late.”

Harry sighed, then got up, and joined his human companions.

“Hunter,” said Harry, “If you ever need someone to talk to about voices in your head, just remember that I get them too, I can relate. You know where to find me.”

And with that, the three British Humans returned to the castle for the night.

Soon, Willow, Amity, and Gus all had to go back home before their fathers got worried. Vee and Luz departed for their room, leaving just King and Hunter in the living room.

“Hey, you still seem kinda shook,” King noted, “Is this still about the voice?”

“That’s-!” Hunter started, his voice much too loud, so he quieted himself, “None of your business.”

“So it’s a yes!” King teased.

“I should’ve dropped you in the Boiling Sea when I had the chance,” Hunter joked.

“If you’d done that, neither of us would be here, Eda would’ve killed you immediately,” King stated.

That was a fair point.

“I’m…” Hunter said softly, “I’m going to bed,” He got up and went upstairs to his room. Hunter couldn’t begin to verbalize just how grateful he was to Eda for letting him stay with her for as long as he needed. It had started as a temporary thing, but after eighteen months, Hunter was starting to think it might just last until he finally got a home with just him and Willow, but that was still a long way away.

Of course, he couldn’t sleep. The horrible, manipulative voice that had pretended to care for Hunter was the only thing on his mind.

Deciding that he had had enough insomnia for now, he got up and grabbed Waffle.

“Hey buddy,” He whispered to the blue jay, “I just need to see something, just to be safe,”

Waffle, reading his mind, went into staff form. Hunter opened the window in his room, no sense in trying the front door, Hooty would wake the entire house, literally.

He slowly climbed out of his window and glanced at the stars above. One constellation, Gemini, the twins, was shining brightly. He stepped one leg over the staff and kicked off from the roof. The thrill of the chilly May air in his hair was impossible to match, but Hunter couldn’t focus on that, the only thing his mind could focus on was that haunting voice, begging for his help.

He eventually landed at the bridge connecting the castle to the land surrounding it. Hunter took one step onto the bridge and it collapsed, nearly taking him with it!

The rusted metal clearly was not suitable for use anymore. Hunter watched as the steel, once pristine and shiny, now rusted away and collapsed from just him placing a single foot on it.

Re-mounting Waffle, Hunter flew to the other side of the bridge, where the reinforced concrete was much less likely to be unstable after less than two years.

Hunter carefully made his way to the throne room, there was a specific, hidden room that he wanted to check. Faded graffiti and the occasional small animal lined his vision as Hinter took the familiar path from the front gates to the throne room.

Finally reaching the throne room, Hunter made his way to the secret door, which was hidden from prying eyes. It was the one room in the entire castle that Belos had directly told Hunter not to enter, and Hunter was about to enter it.

The first thing he noticed about the forbidden room was the smell, a pungent odor of rot and decay oozed from the room. Hunter had to cover his nose to even barely tolerate the chamber.

The next thing he noticed was that it had several pools of a red liquid, half of which had bones covered in green, rotting flesh sticking out of them. Hunter thought he was going to be sick from seeing, and smelling, that.

Before he could fully process the rest of the hidden laboratory, he saw an arm twitch in one of the pools. Curious, Hunter came closer to that one.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” A voice behind him said. It was eerily familiar, eerily similar to his own.

Hunter turned around and nearly fell back in shock. It was like looking in a strange mirror. It was his face staring back at him, a hundred times over. The same magenta eyes, the same blond hair with the one hair noodle in front that Belos forced Hunter to have.

“Who-?” Hunter started, before being interrupted by one of the ghosts.

“I am Caleb Wittebane,” The ghost in front introduced, “And those you see behind me are the former Grimwalkers.”

Hunter was shocked, to say the least, but the ghost kept talking.

“Whenever one of us finally realized the depravity of Philip’s ideals, we rebelled. Every single Grimwalker eventually rebelled against him. But you, Hunter, you are the only one to have survived.”

“By Philip, do you mean-?” Hunter began to ask, before being interrupted again. Seriously? I’m a clone of someone with these manners? Hunter thought.

“Yes, you call him Belos,” Caleb explained, “He has gone by many names in his centuries of life. He needed some way to make inconspicuous on how he was emperor for three hundred years. Before he was Belos, he was Oberon, before that, Pupa. And so on.”

“Well, thank you,” Hunter said, “This has given me… some peace of mind. Belos isn’t back… right?”

“Not as far as any of us know,” one of the grimwalkers said, he had a scar much like Hunter’s that went across both of his eyes, which seemed to have been gouged out.

Hunter, not wanting to bear the putrid scent of the Grimwalker room anymore, left to go back to the Owl house before anyone noticed his absence.

When Hunter left and the ghosts dissipated, a distinctive crack could be heard coming from the nearest vat. The arm that was sticking out had gone from fully extended to bent at a forty-five degree angle.

Normally, since it was May, Harry would be spending his time preparing for the last quidditch match of the season. This year, however, it was the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament that Harry needed to prepare for. Unfortunately, he still didn’t know what that would entail. Finally, in the last week of May, Professor McGonagall told him to go to the Quidditch pitch at nine o’clock on the night of the twenty-fourth.

And so, at eight-thirty that night, Harry made his way out of Gryffindor Tower and went downstairs. As he crossed the entrance hall, Cedric came up from the Hufflepuff common room and joined him.

“What d’you reckon it’ll be?” Cedric asked Harry as they went together toward the field, “Fleur keeps going on about underground tunnels, she reckons we’ve got to find treasure.”

“That wouldn’t be too bad,” Harry noted, thinking he could just ask Hagrid if he could borrow a niffler.

They walked through the dark lawn toward the Quidditch pitch, Harry soon saw the portal door open, and Luz walked out of it. He also saw Fleur and Krum coming from their respective directions as well.

“What have they done to the field?” Cedric asked indignantly, stopping dead in his tracks.

The Quidditch pitch was no longer smooth and flat. It looked like someone had been building low, flat, green walls all over it, twisting and criss-crossing in every direction.

“They’re hedges!” Luz noted, examining one of them closely.

“Hello there!” A cheery voice called. Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field. The five champions soon made their way over to him.

“Well, what d’you think?” Bagman asked in a cheery tone as the champions climbed over one last hedge to get to him. “Growing nicely, aren’t they? Give them a month, and Hagrid’ll have them twenty feet high. Don’t worry,” He added, spotting the less-than-happy faces on Harry and Cedric, “You’ll have your Quidditch pitch back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we’re making here?”

No one spoke for a moment until Krum finally answered. “Maze,” he grunted.

“Yes!” Bagman exclaimed, “A maze. The third task is really straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The First champion to touch it will receive full marks, sixty points. Scores will then be distributed based on how far everyone else is from the cup when the winner gets it. The second closest gets fifty points, third gets forty, fourth gets thirty, and fifth gets twenty points. Any questions?”

“We simply ‘ave to get through the maze?” Fleur asked.

“Well, there will be obstacles, of course.” Bagman explained, “Hagrid is providing several creatures, then there will be spells that must be broken, all that sort of stuff. Should be fun, eh?”

Harry, knowing far too well what kind of creatures Hagrid might provide, thought it very unlikely that it would be any fun. However, he nodded politely with the rest of the champions.

“Very well, if you haven’t got any questions, we’ll go back up to the castle, it’s a bit chilly,” Bagman said.

Bagman hurried to join Harry as he walked quickly back to the castle. Just as Harry was getting the feeling that Bagman was about to offer to help him again, Krum tapped on his shoulder.

“Could I haff a word?” Krum asked.

“Sure,” Harry said, a bit surprised.

“Vill you walk with me?”

“Err, okay,” Harry said curiously.

Instead of going toward the Durmstrang ship, Krum led Harry towards the forest, past the Beauxbatons carriage and Hagrid’s hut.

“What’re we going this way for?” Harry asked.

“I don’t vant to be overheard,” Krum said shortly.

He finally stopped when they reached an empty clearing by the forest.

“I vant to know,” He said, glowering, “What is there between you and Hermione?”

Harry, who expected something much more serious than teenaged romance from someone who was as secretive as Krum, stared up in amazement.

“Nothing,” he said. But Krum continued to glower at him, and Harry, somehow struck anew by how tall Krum was, elaborated, “We’re friends. She’s not my girlfriend and she never has been. It’s just that Skeeter woman making things up.”

“Hermione talks about you very often,” Krum said, looking at Harry very suspiciously.

“Yeah, because we’re friends.” Harry spat back.

Harry couldn’t believe that he was having this conversation with Viktor Krum, the famous international Quidditch player. It was as though the eighteen-year-old Krum thought he, Harry, was an equal, a real rival.

“You haff never… You haff not…”

“Nope,” Harry said very firmly.

Krum looked slightly happier, which, considering how unexpressive he was, probably meant that he was ecstatic. “You fly very well. I vos watching you at the first task.”

“Thanks,” Harry said, grinning widely, suddenly feeling a bit taller himself. “I saw you at the World Cup. The Wronski Feint, you really-”

Harry lost his train of thought, he saw something move in the trees behind Krum. Harry, having some experience with what kind of creatures called the forest home, instinctively grabbed Krum’s arm and pulled him around.

“Vot is it?”

Harry shook his head, staring at the place where he’d seen movement. He grabbed his wand from his robes.

A man staggered out from behind a rather tall oak tree. For a moment, Harry didn’t recognize him, then he realized who it was… Barty Crouch.

He looked as though he had been traveling for days. The knees of his robes were ripped and bloody; his was face scratched; he was unshaven and gray with exhaustion. His strange appearance, however, was nothing compared to how he was behaving. Muttering and gesticulating, Mr. Crouch seemed to be talking to someone he alone could see.

“Vosn’t he a judge?” Krum asked, “Isn’t he with your Ministry?”

Harry nodded. With hesitation, he began to walk towards Mr. Crouch, who did not seem to notice him, rather he continued talking to a nearby tree. “...and when you’ve done that, Weatherby, send an owl to Dumbledore confirming the number of Durmstrang students who will be attending the tournament, Karkaroff has just sent word there will be twenty…”

“Mister Crouch?” Harry said cautiously.

“...and then send another owl to Madame Maxime, because she might want to up the students she’s bringing, now that Karkaroff’s mad it a round twenty… do that, Weatherby, will you?” Mr. Crouch’s eyes were bulging. He stood at the tree. Then he staggered sideways and fell to his knees.

“Mister Crouch!” Harry said loudly, “Are you alright?”

Harry knew the answer to that question. Crouch’s eyes were rolling in his head, he was almost limp in Harry’s arms.

“You should probably go get some help,” Harry told Krum.

“Dumbledore!” Crouch gasped. He reached out and seized a handful of Harry’s robes, though his eyes were staring way over Harry’s head. “I need… see… Dumbledore…”

“Okay,” Harry said, “If you get up, we can go get hi-”

“I’ve done… stupid… thing…” Mr. Crouch muttered. He looked like he had gone completely mad, luckily, Harry managed to free himself from Crouch’s grasp.

“You stay here, I’ll go get- Luz?” Harry said, shocked to see the Hexside champion running towards them.

“I heard noise, is everyone okay?” She asked quickly.

“I need to find Dumbledore,” Harry said, “You two stay here with Mister Crouch.”

Harry sprinted as fast as he could towards the castle, which was deserted. Five minutes later, he was hurtling toward where he remembered Dumbledore’s office to be.

“Sher-sherbet lemon!” He said breathlessly.

That was the password to his office, or, at least, it had been two years ago. The password had evidently been changed.

“Move!” Harry shouted fruitlessly at it.

Harry wondered where else Dumbledore could be. Perhaps the staff room? He started running as fast as he could toward the staircase-

“POTTER!!”

Harry skidded to a halt as Snape’s voice snapped at him.

What are you doing here, Potter?”

“I need to see Professor Dumbledore!” Harry yelled, “It’s Mister Crouch, he’s in the forest, he’s talking mad-”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Snape snapped.

“Mister Crouch! From the Ministry! He’s ill or something, he wants to see Dumbledore!” Harry shouted.

“I heard my name?” A wise, old voice said.

“Professor Dumbledore!” Harry said, relieved beyond belief, “It’s Mr. Crouch, he’s in the forest, he wants to speak with you!”

Luckily, Dumbledore didn’t question it, instead asking Harry to lead the way.

“What did Mr. Crouch say?” Dumbledore asked as they swiftly walked down the marble staircase.

“Said he wants to warn you… said he’s done something terrible.” Harry explained, “He’s not acting normally. He doesn’t seem to know where he is. He keeps talking like Percy is there, then he changes and begs to see you. I left him with Viktor Krum and Luz Noceda.”

“You did?” Dumbledore asked sharply, “Do you know if anyone else saw him?”

“No,” Harry said, “Krum and I were talking, Mr. Bagman had just shown us the third task, and we stayed behind, and then we saw Mr. Crouch come from the forest, the Luz came running when she heard Crouch’s panicked yelling.”

“Where are they?” Dumbledore asked as they passed the Beauxbatons carriage.

“Over here,” said Harry, moving to where they had been. He couldn’t hear Crouch’s voice anymore, but he knew where they had been; it hadn’t been much past the Beauxbatons carriage, somewhere around here.”

“Viktor?” Harry shouted, “Luz?”

No response.

“They were here,” Harry said, “They were around here somewhere.”

“Lumos” Dumbledore said, lighting his wand.

Its narrow beam of traveled from trunk to trunk, until it landed on a pair of feet.

Harry and Dumbledore hurried forward. Krum was sprawled on the forest floor, Luz was next to her. They both seemed to be unconscious. There was no sign of Crouch at all. Dumbledore lifted one eyelid of Krum’s.

“Stunned,” He said softly, his half-moon glasses glittered in the wandlight.

“Should I get someone?” Asked Harry, “Madam Pomfrey?”

“No,” Dumbledore said, “Stay here.”

He raised his wand and lifted it in the direction of Hagrid’s cabin. Harry saw something silvery dart out of it and streak away. Dumbledore bent over the two champions and muttered “Renneveate” to them both.

They both opened their eyes but seemed rather dazed.

“He attacked me!” Krum muttered, putting a hand on his head, “The old madman attacked me! I vos looking to see vare Potter had gone and he attacked me from behind!”

“No,” Luz said, “It wasn’t Crouch. I don’t know who it was, but Crouch was lying helplessly on the ground, and a red light seemed to come from over there,” She pointed near the cabin. “Next thing I know, I’m on the ground twenty feet away.”

Hagrid came running, Fang right at his heels.

“Hagrid,” Dumbledore said urgently, “I need you to fetch Professor Karkaroff and Principal Bump, once you’ve done that, I need you to alert Professor Moody-”

“No need, Dumbledore,” said a wheezy growl. “Would’ve been here sooner if it weren’t for my damn leg,”

“I don’t know where Barty Crouch went,” Dumbledore admitted, “But it is essential that we find him,”

“On it,” Moody said, limping away into the forest.

Neither Dumbledore nor Harry spoke again until Hagrid returned with a disgruntled-looking Karkaroff and an annoyed Bump.

“What is this?” Karkaroff cried out upon seeing Krum still on the ground.

“I vos attacked,” Krum said, sitting up and rubbing his head, “Mr. Crouch or votever his name was…”

“It wasn’t Crouch!” Luz reminded, “How could you blame this attack on such a poor, defenseless man?”

“Treachery!” Karkaroff shouted, “This is a plot! You and your Ministry of Magic have lured me under false pretenses. This is not an equal competition! First, you sneak Potter in as a second champion! Now one of your Ministry friends tries to pull my champion out of service! You know what? Here’s what I think of your ‘equal competition’!”

Karkaroff spat at Dumbledore’s feet. In an instant, he was being pinned against a tree, his feet dangling a full meter off the ground.

“Apologize,” Hagrid snarled, “Or else,” Hagrid’s massive fist was right at Karkaroff’s throat.

“Hagrid, no!” Dumbledore shouted.

Hagrid begrudgingly let go of Karkaroff, letting him fall to the ground.

“Kindly escort Harry to the castle, please,” Dumbledore said to Hagrid. “And Harry,” Dumbledore said, turning his attention to the youngest person present, “When you get back to Gryffindor tower, I want you to stay there, any owls you might want to send, anything you want to do, it can wait until morning.”

Hagrid angrily marched with Harry back to the castle. He wasn’t in a good mood and kept complaining about foreigners the entire time, so Harry wasn’t very upset when they had to part ways at the portrait of the Fat Lady. Harry clambered through the portrait hole and into the common room. He hurried for the corner that Ron and Hermione were sitting in, wanting to tell them every detail.