This is NOT Sirius Black's Second Chance!!! See above post for details!!!
*** Padfoot Undercover
Sirius shivered despite his many layers of winter fur as a draft of icy February wind invaded the confines of his small cave. Buckbeak, for his part, ruffled his feathers and tucked his head under his wing. It was often difficult on the pair, as it was too dangerous for Sirius to light a proper fire, the risk of detection was too great. But he was willing to deal with it, as there was no place in the world he’d rather be then here right now. Harry needed him. Not only was this tournament rapidly on it’s way to getting out of control, but Ludo Bagman’s interest in his godson was discomforting to say the least.
“I’m going out to Hogsmeade,” Sirius growled to his companion who “cawed” once in response, as if to say “suit yourself.” Sirius was feeling restless again and he craved more news, paltry as it often was. He hated the fact that he could only watch from afar. He felt completely useless to Harry out here, and he had not heard from the boy in weeks.
The trip down to Hogsmeade was uneventful. In the town itself, few people were braving the freezing winter weather, as most quickly darted into the warmth of the shops that were their destinations. Sirius sighed, knowing that it would be slim pickings today. Quickly, he set out to find something,
anything, that might have some information about what was going on at Hogwarts. In the end, he managed to grab hold of a mangled copy of
The Quibbler that was stuffed under the door of a shop.
Upon returning to the cave, Sirius assumed his human form. Just then, a snowy owl flew in to the cave bearing a letter and a small package.
“It’s about time!” Sirius complained, his voice somewhat gravelly from disuse.
Hedwig looked rather offended by the implication that she might be slow with her deliveries.
She, after all, wasn’t in charge of writing the letters. She hooted at the inhabitants of the cave as if to say just that, and Buckbeak cawed back a greeting.
Sirius ripped into the package first and tossed the owl treats that he found inside to Hedwig and a sausage to Buckbeak. His companions thus satisfied, he ripped open
Harry’s letter.
Dear Snuffles,
Things have been awfully busy here lately. The second task of the Tournament is today. The whole school is set to meet up at the lake. Now I’m definitely glad that I’m not a champion! Ron figures they will be wrestling the giant squid and I don’t envy anyone having to go swimming today!
Not very much has happened since I last wrote to you. Bagman is still taking bets from the students and once we saw him talking to Karkaroff in the dungeons on the map. We are sure he is still cheating. Ron, Hermione and I have been keeping tabs on the other champions as well.
I hope that you and Buckbeak enjoy the food we sent. We’ll try to get up and visit you again next Hogsmeade weekend.
Harry
Sirius swore softly under his breath. Harry’s letter was short and not very informative. Sirius suspected that there was a lot Harry wasn’t telling him. Irritated, he tossed the letter aside. A portion of an article on the mangled front page of
The Quibbler caught his eye.
The article read:
Bagman: The Plot Thickens Ludo Bagman, the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports at the Ministry of Magic, is involved in a lot more then organizing the Tri-Wizard Tournament currently being held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. As previously reported, Bagman is known to be in communication with high ranking goblins, and is bent on a plan of world domination.
But how far is he willing to go to achieve these ends? It has come to this reporter’s attention that Bagman has also been secretly meeting up with none other then Igor Karkaroff, known Death Eater, and head of Durmstrang Institute. One can only imagine what this means for the participants of the Tri-Wizard Tournament! After the ease of the Durmstrang champion’s win in the first task, we can be sure that information about the tournament is being passed on.
But could there be other sinister plans afoot? After intense investigation, we now know that the second task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament will involve the champions retrieving something of great value. Of value to whom? Could Bagman, in league with Karkaroff, be on the verge of attaining a powerful magical item? Only time will tell, but this reporter fears for the safety of all in attendance at today’s task…
Sirius swore again, this time much louder. He needed to get to Hogwarts. He had to get closer to Harry. It now seemed obvious to him that the champions would be retrieving something potentially dangerous from the bottom of the lake. But what could it be? Was Bagman simply using the kids to do his dirty work for him? Sirius couldn’t stand by and wait to find out. Quickly he grabbed a quill and parchment and jotted down a message.
“I need you to deliver this right away,” he told Hedwig, attaching the letter to her leg. The snowy owl ruffled her feathers in disdain, but flew off immediately after hooting a farewell to Buckbeak.
“I’m going down to Hogwarts for the second task,” he informed the hippogriff who cawed at him in surprise. “I need to get closer to Harry,” was all he gave himself time to say before assuming his animagus form and running out of the cave. There was no time to spare.
* * *
Sirius arrived at the arranged spot at the edge of the Forbidden Forest rather out of breath, but on time. He hoped that his contact would be as well. He was not disappointed, however, as Alastor Moody’s form came in to view. The man’s back was toward him, but the retired auror made a sudden turn of direction and limped directly over to Sirius’ hiding place, his magical eye swiveling about in his head.
“Taking a bit of a risk coming out here, aren’t ya?” Moody growled by way of greeting.
Sirius stared at the man and then at the castle meaningfully.
Moody followed the animagus’ gaze and grinned in understanding, “you want in, do ya?” he asked. “It’s certainly warmer, no mistake.”
Sirius nodded his head in agreement and wagged is tail once emphatically.
“Right then,” Moody raised his wand and muttered a spell.
To Sirius, it appeared that Moody had suddenly grown to an enormous height, but he quickly realized that it was himself, rather, who had shrunk to a size no larger then a doll.
“Easiest way to do it,” Moody grumbled and picked up the now toy-sized Sirius and tucked him in to one of the many pockets of his coat before making his way back up to the castle.
When they reached the professor’s office, Moody put Sirius down and reversed the spell. “So what brought you up here on a day like today?” he asked, settling himself at his desk.
Sirius assumed his human form, grateful of the warmth coming from the nearby fireplace. “The second task of the tournament…” he started.
“Aye,” agreed Moody, “it starts in less then an hour.”
“…and I’ve been hearing about potential dangers to the students. I heard Bertha Jorkins mention a creature that could get out of hand…”
“Bertha?” Moody scoffed, “she doesn’t know what she’s on about. The second task is in the lake. Unless there’s a chance of the giant squid running amok,” the man’s grotesque features spit into a grim smile.
“Then what about the object the champions are meant to retrieve? That it’s valuable or potentially dangerous? And Bagman in league with Karkaroff to get it?” Sirius countered.
“Old Bagman is up to his ears in trouble, no mistake.” Moody said thoughtfully, “you’ll have heard that he is working to pay back the goblins?” he didn’t give Sirius time to answer,” aye, he’s in deep, Bagman is,” he nodded, “well he’s been giving tips to champion’s heads of house, especially that Death Eater. He’s fixing to skew the results of the tournament.”
“So you think this is all about Bagman and his money problems? There’s no significance to the object in the lake?” Sirius asked skeptically.
Moody clamped his teeth on a pipe he had withdrawn from his desk. “Well we can’t rule that out, can we? I don’t trust Bagman and I certainly don’t trust Karkaroff, reformed or not. Either of them will do anything to get what they want, and it doesn’t matter who gets their way.”
“Even students,” Sirius replied grimly.
“Even students,” Moody agreed, leaning back in his chair.
“I need to be there, at the tournament. To protect Harry,” Sirius said, determined. “There’s no telling what could happen if the champions retrieve something dangerous.”
“Aye, it would be useful to have another man on the field today,” Moody reached into another draw of his desk, “I have an idea,” he placed a small vial on his desk. “Do you know what this is?”
Sirius shook his head in bewilderment.
“Polyjuice Potion,” he declared.
Sirius raised his eyebrows in response, but had a feeling he knew where Moody was going with this. “I’ve heard of it before.”
“Very useful little potion, and I’m not potions man myself,” he perused the object, “you can pose as a student.”
Despite expecting this, Sirius’ bark-like laugh filled the room, “how are you going to get a student?”
“Well that would be easy, wouldn’t it? Here comes one now,” Moody raised his wand and suddenly the office door crashed open. A broom standing in the corner sprang to life and suddenly threw itself into the hallway and into the path of a student walking by. The
student tripped on the broom and landed in a heap with a muffled “
oooffff” as the wind was knocked out of him.
Moody strode purposefully out to the hallway, the claw on the end of his wooden leg clanking against the stone. He leveled his wand at the prone figure on the floor and muttered a sleeping spell. He then dragged the limp figure into the office and closed the door.
“Let’s see what we got!” Moody said cheerfully as Sirius looked on, rather stunned at the man’s casual abduction of a student. “Aha!” he exclaimed, turning the boy over,” it looks like we caught us a Weasley!”
Sirius looked down at the unconscious form of Harry’s best friend, Ron, “is he alright?” he asked with concern.
“Aye, to be sure, he’s undamaged. I was almost hoping to catch us a champion, but I don’t suppose you’ll be wanting to take a swim today?” Moody laughed gravelly, “but this one will do very nicely indeed,” he stated as he bent to clip a few of the Weasley boy’s fiery locks. “You’ll be able to get closer to Potter like this.” He stumped over to his desk. “Take his robes,” he added.
Sirius bent to obey, as Moody added the hair to the potion. “Drink it quickly,” Moody suggested thrusting the vial into Sirius’ hand, “it’s easier that way, and you don’t have much time.”
It was true, the tournament would be getting underway shortly. Sirius tilted his head back and took a swig of the foul tasting stuff. Immediately he started to feel very strange, as though his insides were trying come out. He felt himself double over, and it was a few moments before his head cleared sufficiently to stand up.
Moody looked on in approval, “you’re his spitting image. “ ’Course I can’t show ya, I’m not much into keeping a mirror.” he smiled ironically. “Do you think you can sound like him?”
Sirius hurriedly pulled on Ron’s robes, “of course I can,” he declared confidently in a very good imitation of the boy’s voice and accent. Impersonations were his forte back at school.
“You’ve got an hour with that dose. Take the rest with ya, you’ll get at least a few more hours out of it,” Moody handed Sirius the vial. “Well off with ya, then. I’ll clean up here,” his gesture took in the inert form of Ron.
Sirius didn’t stop to say more as he rushed out of Moody’s office to join the throng of students headed downstairs toward the castle entrance.
“Where have you been?” a somewhat tart voice asked him.
Sirius turned to see a bushy-haired girl standing beside Harry at the foot of the stairs. Hermione didn’t give him time to reply, “we’ve been looking for you
everywhere,” she stated.
“Well I had to…” Sirius began.
“Make way! Make
way!” a voice called out, “champions coming through!” Percy announced with a self important air, as he lead the three champions out of the castle. Krum, stoic as ever, was unreadable. Fleur had a decidedly pinched look to her lovely features. Cedric followed them, trying to smile as a loud cheer rose from the crowd as he passed by.
Sirius became aware that his companions were observing him as he watched the champions leave ahead of them. “What?” he asked in bewilderment as he apparently had not lived up to expectations.
“Did you see Fleur pass by?” Hermione asked.
“The French girl? What of it?” Sirius was confused.
“Nothing…” Harry stated casually, but shared an amused look and a shrug with Hermione. “We’d best hurry up so we can get good seats.”
Outside, the air was crisp and cold, but less windy. The trio made their way into the stands and got seats up front.
“You were sure to put the gillyweed where Cedric could find it, right?” Hermione whispered as Bagman began making the announcements from the teacher’s box.
Sirius suddenly became aware of a small bundle in the pocket of his robes. He had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn’t the Weasley boy’s pocket money. “Yeah, I did!” he bluffed.
Down on the shore of the lake, the three champions were preparing to dive into the murky water as Bagman announced overhead that they were to have one hour to retrieve a cask from the bottom of the lake. The champion who could return within that time, with the cask in hand would be declared the winner and the possessor of a very rare object. A shrill whistle then pierced the air as the champions set off to their task.
Immediately, Krum, using some sort of transfiguration spell, sprouted the gills and head of a shark. Quickly he dove into the water. Fleur cast a spell that caused a bubble to form around her head, and then she too dove into the water. Cedric on the other had, was hesitating, as though trying to get his spell right. “Looks like Diggory is having some trouble,” Bagman’s voice boomed overhead.
“Why isn’t he using it?” Hermione asked desperately.
“Look!” Harry shouted.
Suddenly, a bubble not unlike Fleur’s, formed around the Hogwarts champion’s head. Cedric dove into the water to thunderous approval from the stands.
The next hour was passed listening to Bagman speculate on what the champions were facing beneath the depths of the lake, as it was impossible to see what was actually going on. “Grindylows, merpeople and perhaps the Giant Squid itself are all obstacles to the champions’ goal!” Bagman sounded cheerful at the prospect.
“What do you suppose is in the cask?” Sirius ventured by way of conversation.
“Well I don’t expect it’s anything too important,” Hermione stated.
“But that article…” Sirius started.
“In The Quibbler?” Hermione asked derisively, “Ron, you know that paper is rubbish.”
“But you have to admit there could be something else going on,” Harry interjected. “That day we saw Bagman and Karkaroff meeting in the dungeon. Bagman seemed desperate for something, and Karkaroff was awfully interested in what lay at the bottom of the lake.”
“Karkaroff wants to
win, Harry,” Hermione said thoughtfully. “It could be nothing more then that.”
Sirius’ hour was almost at it’s end, he could feel it. But he was saved from having to distract his companions so he could take a sip from the vial unnoticed, by a commotion in the center of the lake. Large bubbles were beginning to form there and the crowd was on it’s feet shouting. Quickly, he turned to drink the potion, and when he looked back he could see the giant squid begin to surface there. It raised one of it’s enormous tentacles and everyone could see that it clasped the form of Viktor Krum. With a mighty whoosh, the squid flung Krum toward the shore. The boy landed with a loud
splat. The Durmstrang delegation and a number of mediwizards swarmed to help him, though Karkaroff seemed to be berating his champion more then anything.
“Krum is back empty-handed!” Bagman’s voice boomed overhead.
Seconds later, the giant squid raised another tentacle and Fleur was deposited unceremoniously onto the shore as well.
“Delacour is also empty-handed!” was the announcement as the girl was cared for.
All eyes turned to the lake as Cedric’s head finally broke surface. Unlike the others, he was swimming toward the shore under his own steam.
The Hogwarts students swarmed to the lake edge to greet him. As he got closer and could stand up, he raised his arms triumphantly. Clasped in his hands was the cask! The cheer was deafening. Sirius, Harry and Hermione made their way to the front of the joyous crowd as the mediwizards started to attend to Cedric. Bagman was hot on their heels. “The Hogwarts champion has returned with the prize!” he announced. “Now he must open it for us all to see!”
“Open it! Open it!” the crowd chanted in response.
Sirius, Harry and Hermione shot each other identical looks of worry. “No! Don’t do it!” Hermione screamed, but too late. Cedric had already opened the cask to reveal…
Buahahahahahahahaha... evil cliffie...
So...uhm...when you posting next Lissy? *pestering* 
Seriously...or should I say Siriusly... 
Oh, Sirius, you're soooooooooooooo cheeky... 
I could so see that. You've captured his character magnificently, no wonder the readers are clamoring for your return. 
You don't just pull refined art like this out of your achoo. *In best Professor McGonagall voice* Now stop whinning and start suggesting! 
Or I'll throw the lot of you into detention! 
Waiting for your comeback.... 
x12 
x12
*glomps the readers* *singsong voice* But I'm not hearing any suggestions? 
She'd totally recognize him... 
But I digress.
yeah what he said i think!?!
But I will clue you in on another project of mine! I have entered the Tri-Wizard Tournament at Project Ferret! What does that mean to you guys? Well it means that I have a Sirius Ficlet to show you! 
