Fate's Request: A Harry Potter FanFiction

David finally got back into a rhythm with his training, he was still utilising the Room of Requirement for now even with his Room in the Chamber only needing a few finishing touches that he was taking his time with and getting it spot on.

He hadn't worked on it yet, but he had plans to leave behind the room at Hogwarts once he was done, hiding it in the Chamber of Secrets potentially forever, or he could pass the information on to someone. Or who knows, maybe a student could figure out a way into the Chamber all on their lonesome and find the Room he built.

But those were things he had over two years to focus on and right now, he'd been feeling his skills were stifling and wanted to progress with his spell casting in the area of battle.

He felt he was extremely skilled with spells such as Incarcerous, which conjures thick ropes out of thin air and binds whoever or whatever the caster wishes. Stupefy, which could render someone unconscious with a direct hit.

With thoughts of those spells and more, David trained them further, becoming faster at casting them even if the improvements were incremental now that he could be considered to have mastered them.

With thoughts of the fights to come, especially the long drawn out skirmishes with Death Eaters and Snatchers that would most likely occur when he fought back against their hunting of muggleborns, David thought it would be best to be able to cast Rennervate as best as he could.

While his enemies would be fighting to kill, they couldn't power a constant stream of Killing Curses, as they drained a person immensely, they would mix it up and throw in stunners and hexes.

While countering each individual hex would be difficult during a battle if he got better at reviving a stunned person he could add another weapon to his arsenal of spells that could help him and his allies.

The Rennervate spell thankfully was not only the counterspell to spells like Stupefy, but it also worked with reviving an unconscious person who either fell asleep or was knocked unconscious via mundane means.

The spell wasn't difficult, but not practising and getting it down to an art would be foolish, for his enemies would be powerful witches and wizards who had years of more experience than himself, even with some of the locked away in Azkaban for years, they were a deadly force and would only be energised by their Lord coming back from the 'dead'.

---

David didn't hang out with Hermione too often when she was with Harry and Ron, but it seemed Harry wanted to get a little closer to him, so every other week or so Harry and Hermione, along with a Ron who didn't want to be there all that much hung out in the Great Hall or other such places.

He'd even been introduced to Hagrid, the loveable half-giant sometime after he'd returned to being a Hogwarts Professor after Rita's article that outed him as a 'half-breed'.

Hagrid had been surprised that David knew so much about the care of magical creatures and would have loved to tell the man about his Griffins, but one, he had a loudmouth and would probably mention it to someone he didn't want knowing about his home.

Secondly, while Ron had calmed down with his hatred of David, which was more a smouldering annoyance that he kept to himself for they only met up every week or two for a couple of hours, David could pick out his thoughts easily and didn't feel like sharing his life with the man.

"What have you been doing for the Third Task?" David asked Harry as they sat in the empty stands of the Quidditch Training pitch as various students threw a quaffle around or just flew for fun.

Quidditch may have been needlessly cancelled for the year, but it didn't stop people from flying their brooms.

"Uhh. Well, they didn't give any information, so I've just kinda been waiting I guess," Harry explained.

Hermione and surprisingly Ron both shared a secret look with each other in judgment of Harry for not doing at least something to prepare.

Hermione because, she liked to over-prepare and Ron because if he was in Harry's position, would be doing everything in his power to win.

But the redhead understood that Harry didn't exactly want to be in the Tournament, so he kept quiet.

"You should probably at the very least keep fit," David said.

"Why's that?" Harry asked curiously.

"The two other tasks have been physically demanding in nature. First getting by a dragon, even with a broom that must have taken a lot out of you. And the Second, you had to swim in a freezing lake," David explained.

"From what I've read, the Triwizard Tournament has always been very physically demanding Harry, and with no Quidditch this year you haven't been able to keep as fit as you usually would have been," Hermione added.

"Oh," Harry said, realisation hitting him.

"You can join David for runs in the morning," Hermione helpfully added before she could stop herself, immediately giving David a look in apology.

David didn't mind her offering Harry to join them. It would allow him to make sure Harry was a little more prepared for the physically gruelling Final Task and if he couldn't keep up, that was no skin off David's back, he would just continue at his pace.

"Why do you do that? There's no Quidditch this year and you don't even play," Ron asked, unable to keep in his curiosity.

"Well. I like to stay fit. A healthy body and all that and the Hogwarts food, while great isn't exactly light," David said with a smile, noticing the flash of sadness on Hermione's features.

After coming with him every Monday to visit Poppy, she now knew why David went for morning runs. It wasn't just to stay fit, it was to have a healthier body to stave off his malediction as well.

"Also, you're welcome to join Harry. I get up fairly early though," David explained.

"Oh. Sure, I think I'll take you up on that. Thanks…" Harry said and after taking a moment asked, "How come I've never seen you running out in previous years then? Wood makes us train pretty hard sometimes."

"I take a route with fewer people around and I think I have seen you guys out in the morning a couple of times last year, but you were already running drills on your brooms," David explained.

Harry nodded at that and the topic changed to Quidditch, which David didn't have much to contribute so it was mainly Harry and Ron speaking with David and Hermione listening.

---

By the end of May David had finished the books his vault had on Rituals. He found an awful lot and now had most of the knowledge required to build the ritual to sacrifice the Elder Wand to keep himself alive.

There was the issue of it being Deaths wand and all, but something was telling David to do it and not worry.

Whenever he felt that he knew it was the presence of something greater and immediately accepted that the wand would most likely work, but he didn't enjoy that presence one bit, so he made sure not to think of it and just focus on the ritual.

He'd written out a few in a personal journal, which he made Mel keep back at home, not wanting anyone to gain access to a journal that held some fairly dark and advanced magic.

Mel was also reading and learning all she could about rituals, but on top of her job in decoding Thieves Downfall and sorting through the now very full vault of House Cross in Gringott's she was a little behind David in progress.

But they had the time and David planned on buying more books in the matter of rituals during the school break, for who knows what kind of advances had been made in that field in the years since Aquilla had left behind the magical world to become a muggle.

---

By about mid-June, David got a report back from Dawlish pertaining to the Triwizard Tournament security.

It wasn't good news at all, for Madam Bones had interfered and taken away operational oversight from Rufus Scrimgeour and beefed up security immensely after doing so.

The Minister of Magic and Bagman weren't happy and tried to stonewall it, thinking it overkill and sending a bad message to their international guests. But after the fiasco with Crouch going missing, which David knowing he was actually dead and buried as a bone, Madam Bones had Wizengamot support and overruled their injunctions and got her way.

Thankfully, it seemed Mad-Eye was still somewhat trusted and at Dumbledore's request, the ex-Auror was allowed to help police the maze during the task.

David's interference came back to bite him and almost ruined everything, for Harry would have lost the tournament to any of the other contestants without Crouch Jr running interference for him.

David's plan of slowing down Cedric himself while Crouch was messing with Krum was out the window, for with the extra security and Mad-Eye's magical eye it would be almost impossible to get around unseen.

David just hoped that what he'd done to lower Cedric's points and up Harry's was going to be enough to save him.

At least David knew that his decision to not interfere with events before all this had come good, this was a perfect example of a butterfly effect and of events changing from what they were meant to be.

With only about week until the final task, David convinced Harry to run through some spells with him, putting aside his own training to help Harry with the task.

Hermione didn't have time to help, for she was doing her usual pre-exam cramming, which David didn't like to do at all. He definitely re-read his notes from the year a couple of times but not to the extreme level Hermione took it.

She was almost religious in her note-taking and revision that it was a little worrying to be around her, so David hid some extracurricular books with his usual Hogwarts issue ones while he 'studied' with her.

With Harry excused from the exams, David gave him some tips and left him to it, checking that he actually was training with his Map. He was a little surprised Harry hadn't refused, for he knew the connection with Voldemort was growing and if he knew the books well enough, he'd recently viewed a Pensive memory with Dumbledore, only igniting his worry over the dreams he was having.

---

As the Champions were given time with their families and friends, Cyrus Greengrass' request to come to see David regarding the matter with Ministry was accepted and David was soon in his Head of House's office again meeting with him and his wife.

"Maybe I should assign you an office of your own, Mr Cross," Professor Flitwick chuckled good-naturedly.

David smiled and said, "Thank you, Professor. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime, David. Good day, Mr Greengrass, Mrs Greengrass," Flitwick said with a short nod and closed the door behind him.

"David, so good to see you, my dear. You've already grown so much since I've last seen you!" Penelope said while holding David by his shoulders and smiling warmly.

"Good to see you too, Mrs Greengrass," David replied, smiling back.

"David," Cyrus said with a nod and small smirk.

"Mr Greengrass," David replied.

"Well, shall we get to it?" Cyrus asked, indicating the couch that was prepared for them in the Professors office.

David nodded and took a seat and they got to discussing what David had found in the journal.

David handed them transcripts of the journal, for them to read over for it was protected against anyone other than him reading it.

He agreed to July for removing the curse and after discussing David's curse, they promised to help him with his own and agreed to give him any books they had in the library pertaining to rituals and curses for David to read over and learn from.

Their conversation ended after that, with Cyrus leaving their journal with David and said they would collect it from him come July.

And after that, David knew it was time for the Final Task and Voldemort's return.

---

"So… on my whistle Harry!" Bagman shouted, excited for the event to start and his potential winning bet in the lead, "Three… two… one!" he finished, blowing his whistle to start the Final Task.

With the whistle, Harry sprinted off into the maze, this time alone.

Hermione was gripping David left hand tightly with her right as Harry disappeared into the maze of overgrown hedges.

The crowd was cheering all around them, but Hermione was worried and even Ron didn't seem that enthused just yet, clapping but not with the usual enthusiasm.

Not too long later, the whistle blew again, and Bagman shouted, "Off you go, Krum!"

The Durmstrang students along with a large amount of varied Hogwarts students joined in with the cheers, seeing the greatest seeker in the world sprint off into the maze.

David couldn't help but look at Igor Karkaroff as Krum entered the maze, the man looked like he hadn't slept in a week and was a little twitchy sitting with the other judges.

The man would be dead in a year and David wouldn't bother to save him, for he was a Death Eater who only got out by selling as many as his fellow murders to the authorities as he could and was still a raging racist who'd murdered innocents.

It was no skin off David's back to not somehow hunt down the man while at Hogwarts before he could be run down by Death Eaters and somehow convince him to stay under a Fidelus Charm.

Shaking his head, David looked back at Cedric, who was jumping up and down on his long legs, hyping himself up and getting ready to make up some ground, ground that he lost to Harry and Krum as they were in the maze first.

Bagman soon let Cedric in with another blow of his whistle, to the loud cheers of three-quarters of Hogwarts, a couple of Gryffindors politely clapped, but most were silent.

David let out a breath as Cedric ran off with a determined look. He could have interfered and made Cedric unable to compete but the Aurors and Teachers would have started to investigate the attack of a Champion and if David was found out as the attacker, it would not look good at all and have some major repercussions in the now and the future when he tried to save people from dying to muggleborn hunting groups.

His hands were tied, and he couldn't do any more for the guy here and now, only hope he'd done enough, subtlely changing things.

Eventually the final Champion, Fleur was let in with a whistle, who David clapped for, one reason was the Beauxbatons students sat with them over on the Ravenclaw table a lot and David had even chatted with her a couple of times.

And the second was that he honestly thought her a pretty powerful and skilled witch, she might have performed badly in the Second Task and would have done better in the Final Task if Crouch Jr hadn't stunned her himself. Giving Harry the win but David felt she proved herself with charming a Dragon into sleeping on her lonesome, a task that Dragon Handler's needed teams to achieve.

The cheering was over after that and everyone in the stands was chatting away quietly while they waited for something to happen.

David watched with rapt attention as a red spark was fired off into the air and after the teachers had recovered a student, clenched his free hand into a tight fist.

It was Cedric. He didn't seem harmed, just dirty and clearly unconscious.

Whatever changes David had wrought were taking place, for it seemed that Crouch Jr had chosen to knock out Cedric himself this time instead of Fleur.

"Our first Champion has been eliminated! Please give a round of applause for one of our Hogwarts Champions, Cedric Diggory!" Bagman announced, with groans of disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e from many in Hogwarts and polite clapping from most people.

Hermione was biting her thumb in anxiety and David seeing that, stopped her and kissed her on the cheek, "He'll be okay. Stop biting away at your thumb."

Hermione nodded and gave a few claps for Cedric before they completely died down.

David's eyes were glued to the maze as finally, another set of sparks flew off into the air and just twenty or so seconds after that another set of sparks flew up.

The first to be brought back was Krum, who was bleeding a lot and Madam Pomfrey rushed over immediately to perform first-aid.

As she was doing so a trembling and furious looking Fleur emerged, assisted by a few teachers and Aurors.

David saw Madam Pomfrey speak to her and indicate a tent as she patched Krum up.

She was about to refuse, but Madame Maxine appeared swiftly and brought her to the safety of the tent, whispering quickly to her in French.

Headmaster Karkaroff was not amused at the sight of Krum and looked on glumly.

David assumed one of them was imperioused, he thought the likely victim was Krum, for while he was the unconscious, it was evident looking at Fleur that she didn't have the glazed look in her eye the imperious would impart. She was quite furious actually, barely able to hold from what David had seen before she'd gone into the tent.

The Gryffindor's were ecstatic as they saw Harry was still in the maze and David spied on Bagman, who was doing his best to hide his glee.

It seemed this time around, his bet with the goblins would prove fruitful thought David. Of course, the man had a gambling problem and would soon be in debt again.

After that, there was the long wait for Harry to arrive with the Portkey and most obviously without the dead body of Cedric Diggory.

David was watching Karkaroff and Snape intently, alternating between the two when Hermione asked, "What are you looking at, David?"

David whispered, "Karkaroff looks twitchy, I don't know."

Hermione just stared at Karkaroff for a few seconds, but soon turned her head back towards the maze, wondering how Harry was doing.

Then David saw it, Karkaroff eyes bulging in fear and gripping his left forearm tightly, clearly a sign that the Dark Mark was completely back, and the Death Eaters had just been called back to their lord.

Snape seemed to have more control, as his left arm merely twitched for a second or two before steeled himself and kept his cold demeanour in place.

---

Eventually, the time that David was waiting for came with bated breath as Harry appeared out of thin air, spinning and gripping the Triwizard Cup.

Cheers erupted as Harry stayed on the ground twitching from the aftereffects of his duel with the Dark Lord.

Hermione was cheering along with everyone else, but David wasn't, he was watching to see if anyone was making their way over to Harry, seeing if he needed to do it himself or not.

Thankfully Professor Dumbledore was moving and with Snape behind him dutifully following.

Professor McGonagall seemed to notice something was wrong as well and was rushing over and David was scanning the grounds looking for Crouch Jr as he knew the Professors could handle Harry for a bit.

Originally, the Headmaster would be busy dealing with the Minister and such due to dead body but this time around, David didn't know if the Headmaster would still leave Harry's side again.

"David. There's something wrong with Harry," Hermione said to him, noticing the Professors moving to him.

"Ron, we need to get to Harry," She said before David could reply.

Ron was a little stunned, but he also saw the Professor's crowding him and nodded and they left with Hermione in the lead.

The entire time David continued to look for Crouch and thankfully found him, with the rest of the Professor's that were with Harry, who was currently being moved to some privacy so Madam Pomfrey could look him over.

From the stands, David also saw Madam Bones and Cornelius Fudge waddling over, trying to find out what the commotion was all about.

Eventually, they made it to the tent, which had now been emptied of Krum and Fleur.

Professor McGonagall was guarding the entrance and said, "Not right now. The Headmaster and Madam Pomfrey are looking him over.

Before Hermione could interject, the Minister and his ministry employee's arrived and started speaking, "Just what is going on, Minerva? Reports of the unforgivable being used by the Durmstrang Champion, accused by another Champion no less! I need to speak to Dumbledore!"

"He's assessing Mr Potter, Minister," McGonagall said curtly.

"Now look here, I'm the Minister of Magic and I think the matter at hand is more important than dealing with that deranged boys sprained wrist!" Fudge shouted in barely contained anger.

"Minister!�� Madam Bones shouted, not at all liking his calling of a student deranged.

Before McGonagall could also interject, Dumbledore appeared with Snape behind his back and said, "Cornelius, how can I help you?"

"Good, good. Come Dumbledore, we need to speak to the other headmasters about this mess. Lies of an Unforgivable being used by that French woman. Ridiculous, you need to speak to them," Fudge demanded.

"I'm afraid, Minister that -," Dumbledore tried to say, but Fudge was having none of it.

"Now look here! This could be the start of an international incident! Right here on Hogwarts grounds, which you have direct jurisdiction over Dumbledore. The Ministry does not need this mess on top of everything else!" Fudge said, moustache bristling and bowler hat about to slip off his head.

"Very well, lead the way Minister. Minerva, let the children see Harry. I'll be right back," Dumbledore said sighing and keeping his anger in.

She nodded and allowed an annoyed Hermione and Ron inside. With David following behind the two.

Inside, they found the tent almost empty with the exception of Madam Pomfrey who was looking quite annoyed.

"Where's Harry?" Ron asked her.

Shaking her head at them, she said, "Ridiculous. Professor Moody took him away! I was still in the middle of my treatment. The nerve of the man."

"Which way Madam Pomfrey?" David asked immediately.

"Into the castle, David… I'd better go tell Minerva and gather my things. He needs sleep," she said with a shake of her head, "The absolute nerve of the man…"

All three left the tent through the flap in the back and quickly made their way to Hogwarts Castle.

"How do we find him? They could have done anywhere," Ron said out loud.

"Point Me, Mad-Eye," David said, using the very handy spell.

His wand spun in his palm and pointed towards the left but up towards the higher levels of Hogwarts.

"Right, let's go!" Ron said, trying to sprint off.

"Wait," David said, pulling him back by his robes.

Before Ron could ask why or complain, David used the spell again, "Point Me, Harry Potter.

He looked back at them and quickly added, "They couldn't have gotten that far into Hogwarts. Somethings up."

This time the wand pointed down the hall they were in, towards the direction of a storage room.

David gripped his wand tightly and ran off in the direction, leaving the two behind.

He cast a 'Muffaltio' as Hermione and Ron ran to catch up to him as he arrived before the door that led to Harry and Crouch.

He turned to them and put a finger to his mouth, indicating for them to be quiet and cast 'Alohomora' on the doorknob.

It clicked open in-audibly and David slowly walked in, seeing Mad-Eye and Harry in the corner, unable to see them held his free hand to the side stopping the two from passing as he listened to their conversation.

"You're sure the Dark Lord is back, Harry?" Crouch asked with an awed voice.

He heard a gasp from both of them, but the 'Muffaltio' was still in effect and didn't give away their presence.

Behind David, Hermione saw David wasn't going to announce himself and she knew him well enough that his posture was preparing for a duel, so she drew her wand too, ready for anything as they listened.

Harry nodded and explained the ritual, about how Wormtail was there and how they took his blood.

"And the Death Eaters, they returned?" Crouch asked, his voice going a little weird.

"Yes. Loads of them," Harry said, nodding weakly.

"How did… How did he treat them? Were they forgiven?" Crouch asked, gripping Harry's hand tighter.

"There's a Death Eater at Hogwarts!" Harry suddenly shouted, remembering that part of Voldemort's boasting due to the conversation moving onto Death Eaters.

"I know. I know who the Death Eater is," said Crouch, his voice now switching between his own and that of Mad-Eyes.

"Karkaroff?" Harry asked, confused.

Crouch started laughing madly, but eventually said no, "No, not Karkaroff. I saw him flee just as you returned."

"He's gone? Why? But he was the one who put my name in the Goblet," Harry questioned, confused now.

"No. No, he didn't Harry. It was I. I put your name in the Goblet. I am the Death Eater and I -," Crouch explained, voice growing more deranged as he continued, but he was stopped before he could finish.

Hermione and David fired off stunners at the same time, Hermione one and David three.

Hermione's hit him square in the back, along with two of David's, with his final one battering in the back of the man's head.

He crumpled to the ground, out cold form the multiple stunners and David removed the 'Muffaltio' with a flick of his wand as he made his way over to Crouch and flipped him over and took his wand in his free hand.

"What? What's going on?" Harry asked in confusion, voice dripping in hoarseness.

"Oh, Harry. Are you okay?" Hermione asked as she went to check on him, but not before looking over to David and 'Mad-Eye'.

"Merlin's beard Harry. Did you hear all that? Are you okay mate?" Ron asked in a shaky voice.

As David wrapped the Death Eater up with ropes, Hermione and Ron checked Harry over and during their conversation, David felt a powerful magical presence arriving.

The door blasted open and he was about to attack but saw the body on the floor which was tightly wrapped up and secured along with Harry safe with his friends.

Everyone in the room could feel Dumbledore's presence now and the burning heat of magic he was giving off. It was fading now, but it was still felt.

McGonagall and Snape arrived right after him, wands also drawn, but the situation was in hand.

"I see you've subdued him… thank you, Mr Cross," Dumbledore said with a nod.

"Professor? What's going on? He was talking rubbish, things about being a Death Eater and putting my name in the Cup. Why would Professor Moody do that?" Harry asked, looking to the greatest authority figure in the room.

"I'm afraid, Harry. That, that is not Mad-Eye Moody," Dumbledore explained.

"But. But then who is that?" Harry asked, just as everyone saw the man's glass eye pop out of his head and roll on the floor before Dumbledore's feet.

"Morgana's tits! What is that!" Ron shouted in surprise.