Ink and Parchment ~ blood and bone

30

“Looks like you’ve made the front page again Potter” Barty said chucking an issue of the daily prophet at Eliza as she stepped into his office. He wasn’t polyjuiced as Moody today thank merlin. It was always strange to hear Barty’s voice coming from the old grizzled auror.

Eliza rolled her eyes and slumped into the comfy armchair she had claimed as her own as she looked through the Prophet. On the front page was a picture of Eliza and the kelpie (which she had privately taken to calling Nyctaeus) when they had just reached the docks. She had to admit it really did make for a cool story. Eliza wasn’t going to say no to being known as Hogwarts’ resident kelpie tamer.

“Well let’s hope Voldemort doesn’t keep up with the papers” Eliza commented before throwing the paper back to Barty who caught it with an indignant squawk.

“Why? Were you planning to set the kelpie on him?” Barty asked sardonically.

“No but you can see Tom in the back of that photo – we wouldn’t want Voldemort catching on too soon” she said as she began rooting through Barty’s cupboards for a celebratory butterbeer. Her court were all still back in the slytherin common rooms recovering from hangovers. She doubted they would even notice she’d gone. Besides she had really wanted a butterbeer and Barty was the only person she knew who kept them in stock.

Letting out a victorious ‘aha’ Eliza grabbed a butterbeer and popped the cap off turning back to Barty who had remained oddly silent, a guilty look on his face.

“You didn’t mention Tom to Voldemort did you?” Eliza asked.

“I don’t think so?” Barty squeaked. Eliza debated if it was worth hexing him for a few moments before she sighed taking a sip of her butterbeer.

“Good enough”

She was so tired of dark lords.

“You won’t tell my lord will you?” said Barty hesitantly.

“Scared of Riddle Barty?” Eliza drawled.

“Fucking terrified”

Eliza almost choked on her butterbeer.

The door slammed open but neither Eliza nor Barty went reaching for their wands – there was only one person who could disable the wards they had on the office door.

“Hello peasants” Tom drawled as he swept into the room and settled into the chair behind Barty’s desk.

“You’re in an awfully good mood” Eliza remarked raising an eyebrow at Tom’s cheerful and slightly manic smile.

“I’ve just found out what the third task is”

“And who did you end up torturing for that piece of information?” Eliza asked curiously before belatedly realising.

“Karkaroff” all three of them said in varying levels of exasperation.

“The cup is going to be placed in the centre of the maze which will be filled with all sorts of dangerous traps and creatures – make it all that bit more exciting. And Barty will rig the cup to deliver us straight to Voldemort where I will finally become whole” Tom explained with a wistful smile of his face.

“Which means Little Star you’re going to have to start duelling training” Tom said and there was no mistaking the sadistic glee in his voice.

“I already know how to duel” Eliza pointed out just to annoy him “I beat you in a duel”

“It was a tie”

“Wait you two duelled”

Tom and Barty spoke at the same time and Eliza took another sip of her butterbeer to hide her growing smirk.