chapter 23 : Life and Death

A few months passed and the snow had already melted when the day of the second round of the Triwizard Tournament arrived.

Fred and George had already started taking other people's bets to make money while Luna and Ginny were on the platforms.

Ron and Neville were supporting Harry as he waited and Ron had to slap him on the chest to calm him down.

Harry: HEY IT HURTS!

Ron: Excellent, that's a good thing and now stop stressing like a virgin in a brothel.

Neville: A brothel?

Harry:????

Ron: I heard that expression from muggles! By the way Neville, are you sure your plant is effective? If Harry dies it will be your fault...

Neville:…

Ron: AHAHAHAH!

Harry: You're not helping us here, what if you were in my place?

Ron: I'd be totally relaxed, you've progressed pretty smoothly thanks in part to me! Imagine what it would have been like if I was a competitor, a real ride. Well, more seriously, you don't need to stress!

Harry: Where the hell is Hermione?!!

Ron: I don't know, man. You guys have gotten pretty close lately...

Harry: Why are you talking to me about this?

"To occupy your mind…" he said as the candidates were asked to be ready.

Alastor Moody asked Harry to swallow the plant, Harry did so when the cannon fired and he pushed Harry into the water.

Ron: Easy Professor, he was already stressed enough as it was!

Moody: Trust your friend, Weasley (drinks).

Ron: But I trust him, as for you it's another matter. Why do you seem so involved with Harry?

Moody: The other teachers are right about you, you really are cocky and fearless. Dumbledore himself charged me with looking after young Potter.

Neville was panicking for Harry before seeing Harry acrobatically jump out of the water and dive back in. It had gills and its feet had become webbed.

Ron: Bragging!

They waited a few dozen minutes and Dumbledore announced that Fleur Delacour could no longer participate.

Cedric went out first with Cho Chang who was held underwater, Viktor followed with his oldest friend in Durmstrang who was also underwater.

Hermione came out later with Gabrielle, Fleur's little sister who had abandoned the test earlier, apparently someone had freed them both and it was Harry who came out last, he had a few scratches and mark of bites on him.

 « Well done Harry. » Ron said passing her a towel and Fleur thanked him for helping her little sister.

Hermione: Thank you for saving me Harry, you behaved admirably (she gave him a kiss on the cheek)!

Fred and Georges: Yeah, admirable!

Ginny: You took the bets against him!

Fred: We had to think about our interests...

Georges:…and Harry won admirably, we also bet on him just in case.

 « He succeeded. » Luna said as she moved closer to Ron.

Ron: Of course he succeeded, I'm a bit of his coach in this tournament, my dear!

Dumbledore declared Cedric the winner with the fastest time and Viktor followed but because Harry had shown selflessness by saving two people, second place was awarded to him much to the displeasure of the people of Durmstrang.

A few days passed and in the meantime, an event shocked the school because Bartemius Crouch Sr had been found dead in the forest and even the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge had to travel because of this affair.

Harry had spoken to Ron and asked him if he made polyjuice because Snape had accused him of stealing ingredients from him and Ron replied that he didn't need that.

However, this element sparked a few things in his mind and there, like an explosion, he finally realized something. The smell of the drink Moody was drinking was the same smell as polyjuice.

It was the final event of the tournament and as people started to head to the maze location, Ron went to Moody's office and started going through his things for potion materials and he There was a strong smell of polyjuice.

Suddenly the black chest in the room shook again and a muffled scream was heard from inside but the moment he wanted to get closer to it, the door immediately opened and Moody entered the room . Because Ron was quick, he already had his wand pointed at him.

Ron: Come in professor, slowly and without sudden movements...

Moody: May I know what you are doing in my office young man? If you know my reputation then you know that it is very dangerous to point your wand at me.

Ron: Please spare me your gibberish and start by telling me who you are. I've read a lot about Alastor Moody and never once has it been mentioned that he was addicted to polyjuice like you and the only reason for anyone to drink it as frequently as you is is to look like of someone permanently. So I ask my question again, Who are you?

Moody: Severus warned me, you are smart and arrogant. Way too smart for your own sake, kid.

Ron: You have exactly 5 seconds to answer my question otherwise I will hurt you a lot and there is no point in trying anything because I will be faster than you. 5…4…3…

The usurper tried to attack with his wand but...

"Fractum" Quickly, Ron said the spell and several sounds of breaking bones were heard from Moody's body who immediately fell to begin screaming in pain.

 « They never listen to me, it's incredible! » Ron said as he moved closer with his wand still pointed at him and took the usurper's wand from him before tapping the tip on the fake Moody's forehead on the ground...

"It's not good to steal other people's identities," he said mockingly. He turned back to the chest to wave his wand…

*clack-clack-clack*

...several locks opened and Ron saw inside the magic chest the real Alastor Moody completely naked and curled up on himself. Moody saw the light and Ron's face.

Ron: Alastor Moody, you are free...

Before helping him out, he went to undress the imposter lying on the ground leaving him only in his underwear and came to help the real Alastor out before putting some clothes back on him.

Moody: Who are you kid?

Ron: The best student at Hogwarts and someone who doesn't like being taken for an idiot. Sorry to bother you with this, I know you must be exhausted but can you please keep an eye on your impersonator? I have to warn someone because this tournament seems like a front to me.

He handed him the wand and left without giving Moody a chance to speak to him again.

At the scene of the last test, Ron was almost there when he heard the cannon that announced the start of the test so he quickened his pace.

Once he arrived at the scene he saw Dumbledore already sitting with the Minister and McGonagall, the only one who wasn't there yet was Snape who was already going there.

"Pssst, professor! " Ron called out furtively and Snape turned to look at him sternly.

Snape: Mr. Weasley, I don't know what you're up to, but do you think for a second that I'm one of your-(interrupted)

Ron: Professor, it's urgent! I don't like you and I wouldn't have come to see you if it wasn't important. We have to stop this tournament and quickly, something is brewing.

Snape: What are you saying there?

Ron: You remember the polyjuice ingredients that went missing and-(stops) Ah shit, it's better if I show you. Follow me…

 « WEASLEY…! WEASLEY! » He called as he watched Ron leave and followed him as well.

A few minutes later, the two were in front of the usurper who had returned to his original appearance and Ron told him about his investigation, Moody also told him how he had been trapped by B. Crouch Jr lying there on the ground .

Snape: How could you Weasley overpower this man so easily?! And what spell did you use? He has almost all his bones broken.

Ron: Why are you asking me that like I'm supposed to be weak? I remind you that I already beat you in a duel.

Snape: Insolent child...

Ron: The spell I used was one of my creations, it doesn't matter. We need to tell Professor Dumbledore about this because I'm sure he's the guy who put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire and there's definitely something seriously wrong with this.

Moody: He's right Severus, Bartemius Crouch Jr is a death eater who has remained completely loyal to Voldemort! If he took the risk of infiltrating here for this event it is because he is acting under orders from his master.

Snape left there and went to tell Dumbledore who immediately returned with the other headmasters.

He and McGonagall saw Ron who was in the room with his arms crossed and saw Bartemius Crouch Jr, Snape had already told them everything.

"It's too late…it's too late ahahahah ! I have already done my task...my lord will soon be back and more powerful than ever" Crouch Jr said as he stuck out his tongue like a snake every now and then to speak.

McGonagall: Albus we have to stop this competition, right now!

"We have to stop it !"

"Our students are in great danger there"

Dumbledore: Unfortunately my friends, we cannot intervene until the cup has been seized by them. They are completely alone in this maze.

Ron: THERE HAS TO BE A WAY!!

Dumbledore: Even for me it is impossible, my child. You have to wait and trust Harry. We should go to the great room to wait, the cup is a powerful portkey and will bring them back.

Ron: Who was the last one to touch it?

Dumbledore: (sighs) I tasked who I thought was Alastor with putting her in the center of the maze...

Ron: First Quirell in first year, the Chamber of Secrets in second year and now an imposter you hired to be Harry's teacher!!? How far does your negligence extend, professor?

McGonagall: ENOUGH WEASLEY!

Ron: I swear if anything happens to Harry or Cedric then I won't forgive you!!

Snape: We are used to your sass, young man, but this time you have gone too far. Please…get…out of here, Right away.

Ron looked at Dumbledore with great anger before leaving to wait in the Great Hall, Dumbledore was too preoccupied to deal with his case or his emotions and silence reigned for a few seconds in the room.

"Who was that kid?!" Moody asked in confusion.

...

Ron waited in the great hall as Fleur and Viktor had already been thrown out of the maze, he waited stressing over Harry and Cedric with Luna by his side who noticed his anxiety.

Dumbledore and the Headmasters also returned to wait with the rest of the spectators who saw the serious look on their faces.

Luna: Ron, is something wrong?

Ron: Something terrible may be happening right now, sweetheart. Harry and Cedric are certainly in great danger. I hope that like the other two they will fail and be ejected from the maze.

Luna: But why? Please explain…

He wanted to speak when suddenly Harry and Cedric appeared in the room with the cup and he immediately got up to go towards them as did Dumbledore.

The others, unaware of the situation, played the music to the cries of celebration but when Ron arrived there with Luna, a chill hit his body.

Cedric was limp on the ground and Harry was crying over him, Dumbledore wanted to talk to him but Harry continued to cry while holding Cedric's body against him.

Ron: Harry...?

Harry: HE HAS RETURNED...HE HAS RETURNED, VOLDEMORT HAS RETURNED. CEDRIC, HE ASKED ME TO BRING HIS BODY BACK, I COULD NOT LEAVE HIM THERE.

Harry shouted while crying so that everyone understood and in the stands, silence reigned.

Arthur and Amos, Cedric's father, froze when they heard this and they went downstairs.

"Cedric, no..." Ron whispered shakily as tears began to fall from his eyes and Luna herself was already in shock.

" Let me pass ! That's my son...that's my boy..." Amos came near Cedric's corpse to grab it while Harry was crying and apologizing when Snape came to take him away from the body.

"Meow" Lucius meowed at Ron's feet who looked at him and remembered something.

Ron: Forgive me Merlin but I have to take the risk, he was my friend.

He went straight to Dumbledore.

Ron: Professor, do you trust me...?

Dumbledore: What do you have in mind my child? The situation is at its most serious...

Ron: Get everyone away from Cedric's body, right now.

Dumbledore looked at him for a long time before granting his request, he came to comfort Amos and picked him up while asking everyone to move away.

Amos: Dumbledore, he's my little...my son! Do something…

Dumbledore: He's at home, we'll do what's necessary, Amos...

He looked at Ron and nodded and Ron looked Luna in the eyes.

Ron: Whatever happens to me now, know that I will always be here...

He let go of Luna's hand before running towards Cédric's body which he grabbed to the astonishment of everyone before pronouncing a whole series of rapid incantations in a very ancient language while very quickly, he was entered into a trance.

People wanted to intervene but a barrier of light and shadow rose and threw them backwards, the wind started to blow and very quickly a big storm broke out outside.

 « DUMBLEDORE WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHAT IS THIS CHILD DOING? » The Minister of Magic asked but Dumbledore didn't tell him anything.

"RONALD NO ! ROOOOONAAAALD" Arthur outside the barrier shouted to his son and tried to break the translucent barrier but to no avail.

Suddenly before everyone's eyes, two creatures were generated out of nowhere. Both looked like Dementors, they were specters but where one was made of the purest light there was, the other was made entirely of darkness.

The darkness entity in front of everyone approached Ron and sucked in some light which came out of his mouth.

The entity of light, she stood near Cedric and Harry as everyone saw the thing of light bring his soul back into Cedric's body who sucked him in through the breathing voices.

When this exchange ended, both entities disappeared and the translucent barrier exploded.

Ron who was on his knees gave a weak exhale before collapsing next to Cedric while Arthur came near his completely unconscious son.

Dumbledore remembered Ron asking him to trust him earlier and moved towards Cedric's body with Amos when after a small moment of examination, his gaze went blank.

"It's impossible...it can't be..." He said as Cedric had a pulse again.

Amos also noticed this and began to shout that his son's heart was beating again but on the other side, Arthur was crying over Ron's body whose eyes were open.

However, there was no life left in Ron's eyes, his skin had gone cold and his heart was barely beating although it hadn't stopped.

Luna felt distress throughout her being as she looked at Ron lying there and began to cry for him while Hermione hugged her also in tears.

Fred and George were there kneeling next to their father with Ginny who was crying for her brother.

Harry, who had already cried for Cedric, fell into an even more violent state when he saw his friend, his brother in this state.

"Albus...not him..." McGonagall said tearfully as she looked at her favorite student lying there. Dumbledore himself was speechless and quickly had Ron and Cedric evacuated from there.

Three days later, Ron's condition had cleared up and he was in a very deep coma on the verge of death. As for Cédric, he had already woken up.

Although traumatized and confused, he did his best to answer the questions he was asked and was told what Ron did for him before he isolated himself to mourn him.

Ron was lying somewhere in the school's safest room while Dumbledore and the entire school staff devoted themselves to his care.

His family was settled in the school also Harry, Hermione and Luna like many other students did not want to return home for the summer and stayed with the hope that Ron would wake up.

(END of Goblet of Fire events)

[Entities] 

Eternity: DAMN! Not like that!!! 

Reality : F

Death : F