2 | CONFESSIONS° HARRY POTTER

17 | THE THIRD TASK

ACT THREE, the returned
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN, the third task

    When Iris finally managed to find Harry waiting for her in the Astronomy Tower late at night he informed her of everything she had missed since she had last seen him in the Astronomy Tower. During Divination he had seen visions of Voldemort torturing Wormtail. His "trip to the nurse" had actually been a trip to Dumbledore's office where he found Dumbledore's pensieve. He was transported to the past and had first seen Karkaroff giving names of Death Eaters to Mr. Crouch and Council of Magical Law.

They were the same ones that Iris had grown up hearing about from her family members her entire life. Antonin Dolohov—murderer of Fabian and Gideon Prewitt, torturer of Muggles. Evan Rosier—Cordelia's younger brother who had died during a struggle. Cordelia hardly ever spoke of her younger brother. There was a large portrait of her alongside him and their parents in her study that Iris would sometimes catch her looking upon with an unreadable expression on her face that Iris could never decipher. 

He mentioned Travers, who had murdered the McKinnons. Iris had briefly heard of the McKinnons growing up but she heard Calypso and Sirius speak fondly of their old friend Marlene McKinnon. Iris was nearly positive that Sirius and Marlene had dated at some point but Calypso had said Sirius and her wouldn't have realized their feelings for each other so soon if it wasn't for her. They would get the same look in their face when they talked Marlene that they always got whenever they spoke of the past, immense sadness and grief. 

Harry mentioned that they also talked about Finnick and that Karkaroff had been the one to give them his name along with Mulciber and Augustus Rookwood of the Department of Mysteries. The last name Karkaroff had mentioned was Severus Snape but Dumbledore quickly defended Snape, saying that he was no longer a Death Eater. Iris didn't understand why Dumbledore had been so quick to defend Snape and assure Harry that Snape was on their side.

 Ludo Bagman had been on accused of being a Death Eater according to Harry. It was put to vote but no one raised their hands to imprison him. 

"Then, I was at the trial of Crouch's son. Did you know about Neville's parents?" Harry asked Iris. Iris tilted her head.

"Neville Longbottom?" Iris asked. Harry nodded his head. "About how his parents were tortured with the Cruciatus Curse? Yes. I learned about it a while ago but Calypso and Sirius talked about it once. They used to be friends with Alice."

"Did you know that Sirius and Calypso have been talking to Dumbledore?" Harry asked. 

"No, but I'm not too surprised. Dumbledore was part of the reason why I found out where my mum was last year. Harry," Iris said. Harry glanced down at Iris's fingers and noticed that her ring was gone. His shoulders sagged a bit before he looked back up into her eyes. "What did Dumbledore have to say about Voldemort? Does he think he's getting stronger?"

"He said when Voldemort came ascended to power that it was marked with disappearances. Bertha Jorkins, Mr. Crouch, and a Muggle by the name of Frank Bryce have disappeared. Fudge thinks Madame Maxime attacked Crouch." Surprise registered on Iris's face.

"Madame Maxime?" She asked incredulously. She crossed her arms over her chest to warm herself up when the wind started blowing a little harder. "Why?"

"Because he disappeared near the Beauxbatons carriages."

"Well, for all we know, Julietta probably attacked him." Iris said dryly.

"Your... cousin? I mean, I suppose but—"

"I was just kidding, Harry." The corners of Iris's lips turned up when his cheeks turned pink. Silence fell between them and a troubled look crossed onto Harry's face. "What's wrong?"