Tri-Ferret Tournament -The Third Task, Submissions Options

[Department_of_My...]

The Third Task

The Third Task for the champions involves a great maze, creatures, puzzles and pitfalls. The champions must compete with each other to reach the centre, and the Tri-Wizard Cup, first.

In our third task, ferrets must complete their choice of one of the top three rated story lines carried through the second task (Padfoot Undercover, Return to Hogwarts or Into the Depths). Any loose ends from the First Task of that storyline must also be tied up.

To make it interesting ~
There are icons scattered around Project Ferret again, each representing a mission element that will earn you extra ferret points towards your total.
Each element will earn you one point.
You may use as many mission elements as you think you can fit in, BUT you MUST write them into your submission in the order in which you found them (this info is recorded when you click your icons).

The icons will look something like this:

Submissions must be between 2000 and 5000 words, posted in this topic and have a title. EDIT: The deadline for submissions is just before midnight on Friday, December 2nd. Voting will carry on until Sunday night.

P.S.
The Department of Mysteries will be looking at the "appropriate use" of the mission elements, and any found lacking will actually cause a point to be DEDUCTED from your totals..




Edit!


With the first submission in this Task, it has suddenly come to the attention of the Department that we didn't specify, that as in the past two Tasks, please include the Title of the Second Task you are continuing,
your missions in order,
and highlight the places in your entry where you have placed them or tied up a loose end from earlier parts of the story, at the bottom of your entry.

This post has been edited by McGonagall's Cat: Dec 28 2006, 10:06 PM

[chad13]

For A Good Story

Sirius awoke to a rather fierce head pat from Hagrid. “Come on Elmer, come on. We’ve got a bit to do before the third task today.” Wagging his tail, Sirius jumped from his spot on the floor to follow Hagrid to the door. “Got a few things to get in the forest today Elmer, gotta get them to the Quidditch pitch nice and early, before anyone’s awake. Quite an important job you know, but Dumbledore knows I can ‘andle it. Great man Dumbledore.”

Sirius followed Hagrid obediently into the Forbidden Forest; it was all rather eery, the sun was not yet visible and a few stars still remained.

***

“Hagrid! Hagrid! Open up, it’s us!”

“Come in, come in, quickly!” It was Sirius who answered the door, “Hagrid’s been out since very early this morning, preparing for the third task.”

“The third task ...” but Sirius cut Ron off.

“Sit down, and listen, all three of you, this is very important. The third task as you know will take place tonight, it’s a giant maze.”

“A maze!”

“Ron, shhhh!” Hermione whispered.

“It’s not just a maze, it’s going to be full of spells, and creatures that the champions must all face. The Triwizard Cup is placed at the center of the maze, and the champion who reaches it first is the winner.”

“But what if they get into trouble, I mean ...”

“Red sparks means danger,” Sirius replied, turning to Hermione, “If the champions find themselves in a situation they can’t get around they just need to shoot red sparks into the air, and they will be rescued.”

“Wicked,” Ron whispered. Sirius began pacing.

“What? What is it?” Harry asked.

“I went with Hagrid to, well, round up some of the creatures in the forest early this morning. When we reached the maze, I saw Bagman. He was the only other person around that early.”

“You don’t think ...” Harry paused.

“I do think, he’s got this whole tournament in his pocket. He knows what’s going to happen, and when. This task is the last one, it’s supposed to be the most challenging; Cedric and Krum are going to need a bit more help if they’re going to have a chance this time.” Ron looked up.

“Krum and Cedric?,” Ron said, mostly to himself. "But Fleur .." he continued louder.

"Ohh would you get over Fleur! She's not interested." Ron looked dumb struck at the outburst. "Fleur walked right through the second task, didn't you notice? That would never have been possible with out help.“

"I knew that!" Ron spat quickly. Hermione just turned to Sirius.

Sirius,” Hermione began, “I don’t understand, why Fleur? Why would Bagman choose Fleur?” Sirius paused a moment.

“To win? Don’t take this the wrong way Hermione, but she’s a girl, the only girl in the tournament. I’m betting she had the worst odds, gambling wise, to begin with. “

“So if Bagman put his money on her in the beginning, and she wins, he comes out with the most profit.”

“Exactly,” Sirius said. She was very sharp, Hermione.

“What?”

“Betting Ron,” Hermione said, “Bagman’s got a wager on Fleur.”

“A wager with who?”

“Goblins.”

“How do you know that?”

“Honestly Ron, don’t you read? It was in the paper, small article, in the back.” Ron simply shook his head.

“But I don’t understand,” Harry interrupted, “Krum did better than Fleur in the first task, far better. How come Bagman didn’t help her until the second task?”

“What if he did help her and it just didn’t turn out well?” Hermione asked Harry.

“It’s possible,” Sirius muttered, nodding to Hermione, “But the fact is the stakes are high, and this tournament is getting out of hand.”

***

“And what are we supposed to do?” Ron hadn’t stopped talking to let any of them think since they’d left Hagrid’s. Harry had not wanted to leave Sirius alone, but he had class and it would be far worse for someone to come looking for him and discover Sirius’s hiding place.

“Maybe Bagman hasn’t gotten to Fleur yet, maybe she doesn’t know.”

“Don’t be naive Harry,” Hermione said, “Of course she knows, the task is this evening!”

“What if Krum knows?” Harry asked.

“What?” Hermione stopped walking.

“What if Krum and Cedric know too? I mean, what if we, evened things up a bit?”

***

It took quite a bit of teamwork to get both Cedric and Krum on their own. Ron and Harry had to make excuses to Professor Flitwick so Hermione could talk to Krum, and Hermione and Ron had to distract Cedric’s fan club while Harry spoke to him alone. It took quite a bit of convincing, Cedric for one did not know why Harry was telling him anything, or where his information had come from; but the task was that evening and he was in no position to turn down any type of assistance.

“They were going at it all blind, I mean, they really had no idea?”

“No Ron, they didn’t have any idea! For heaven’s sake, can’t you just believe us? Ouch! Harry!” Hermione stared down the stairs over Harry’s shoulder which she had just walked in to. “What’s going on?” A crowd had formed in the entrance hall below where Mr. Bagman’s voice could be heard booming above all the rest.

“This is an outrage! I say, take your hands off me! Special treatment, illegal gambling, falsified results! I say, you gentlemen do have quite active imaginations!” Edging closer Harry caught sight of four or five ministry officials and a pair of goblins. One of the Goblins holding a letter in his hand.

“Ludo Bagman, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law ...”

***

“Well, I guess we don’t have to worry anymore. I mean, Bagman’s in custody and Krum, Cedric, and Fleur should all be on even footing now.” Hermione sounded right, but something was still bothering Harry.

“Hermione, why now? I mean, why not arrest Bagman before?”

“Well, he’s been betting all along hasn’t he? But I don’t think they had enough evidence he was actually adjusting the tasks you know, and passing information to champions to skew the results. Now, from the looks of things, the goblins had a letter, or paper with evidence and ...”

“But, Fleur, she’s been cheating the whole time, why don’t they disqualify her?” Hermione bit her lip.

“That does complicate things a bit.” Hermione muttered.

***

Hermione was relieved to see Viktor was not in the library that afternoon. He was preparing for the final task she thought, or hoped really. With any luck Rita Skeeter was not badgering him again, she loved to write about Krum, and Cedric. Every free second either of them seemed to find Rita could almost always be found with them.

Needing to get her mind off the chaos of the day she settled down to do her Transfiguration homework. Harry and Ron were still in the common room due to the fact that they “Won’t be able to do an adequate job on any of our assignments due to lack of concentration,” according to Ron. Hermione set to reading about advancements in switching spells.

... in 1137 mass switching spells were introduced in agricultural areas for specific crop changes as the seasons progressed. (More recently switching spells were seen in the high profile Triwizard Tournament, when contestant Andrew Keebler switched a dragon’s teeth for wine gums.)

Scanning a foot note Hermione caught Keebler’s name again:

More on the incidents including Andrew Keebler can be found in Highlights and Mishaps in Great Games and Sports.

Incidents? Hermione quickly got up and scanned the shelves until she caught site of a brown leather book, Highlights and Mishaps in Great Games and Sports.

Sitting down Hermione quickly flipped to the chapter on the Triwizard Tournament.

... despite accusations Keebler was allowed to finish the contest due to lack of evidence. “It wasn’t clear he knew he was being passed information, there’s no proof ...

***

Harry and Ron shook their heads. “You study to much Hermione,” Ron said, “It’s just not healthy.”

“Ron, it doesn’t matter, the fact is now we know why Fleur is still aloud to compete this evening!”

“Good thing too!” George said, coming up behind them.

“What are you two on about?” Ron said scowling.

“Well little brother, we’d lose a lot of profit if a third of our wagers were no good,” Fred grinned.

“We’re not the only ones who’d be out a galleon or two,” George continued.

“Met a few other unhappy blokes, I mean, in the state of things,” said Fred.

“The state of things?” Harry asked.

“Yeah, Goblins mate!” Fred continued.

“Got Bagman dragged off this morning, thought it was a right wonderful idea; but now, they can’t get a knut from him!”

“None of us can afford to refund,” said George.

“Or organize a refund if a champion gets,”

“Expelled you might say,” George finished.

“Interactions at the task tonight will be,"

“Interesting,"

"To say the least,” Fred finished.

***

Sirius paced back and forth near the back of the maze. He wandered near the front only long enough to see that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were safely seated in the stands. Now he waited for the cannon, something was up, something else. With Bagman’s arrest everything seemed not better, but just a little bit worse. If anything went wrong there was no explanation, that’s what scared Sirius most of all.

BANG

With that Sirius clambered on all fours through the hole in the gigantic hedge on which he’d been working all day. If anything went wrong this time, he'd be around to see it. The inside of the maze was like a different world. Sirius felt the fur on his back stand on end. It was oddly silent. Slowly he made his way down the first path.

It was much easier, being a dog, Sirius simply had to sniff his way towards the champions, only the occasional wiff of a certain beast obscuring his way. The way seemed to darken as he went, further, and further, and further. It was a second before Sirius realized what it was that was lying in front of him, but, as was best to do in the maze, he approached it with caution. It was a wand.

Sirius looked up, his ears perked up on the top of his head. Something was wrong. Taking the wand in his teeth Sirius continued forward, silently, cautiously. There was something there, someone there. Approaching slowly Sirius, had his mouth been free to, would have let out a bark. Cedric Diggory was lying motionless on the ground. Poking at him gently with his nose Sirius felt a pulse, he was alive. With a quick turn of his head Sirius, using Cedric’s wand, sent red sparks into the air, and dropped the wand back by Cedric’s arm. He then continued on his way, there was nothing more he could do for the boy.

It took some time before Sirius encountered anymore of the champions. On his way however he had to duck a Hinkypunk, a Manticore, and a Blood Sucking Bugbear. However, when he did reach another contestant they were again in peril. This time it was Krum, the star seeker Sirius had read about in his scraps of newspaper. A gigantic spider, the same one Sirius had watched Hagrid escort to the maze that very morning, was looming over the Bulgarian Quidditch player.

Sirius stood staring right around the hedge, without a wand he didn’t see how he was going to help the boy. He was a Triwizard champion after all, maybe he could handle it. But it didn’t look as if Krum had expected anything like an Acromantula. The beast swung out one leg flinging Krum against a wall. Running around the corner Sirius began to bark, running straight under the spider’s legs. The distraction seemed to be enough for Krum to gather his senses, a spell hitting the spider’s eyes right as Sirius sprinted out from underneath.

There was still a sent to follow, and that couldn’t be good. That meant Fleur was ahead, and perhaps Bagman’s cheating had extended beyond passing information. It was only minutes until the glow of the Triwizard cup, obscured by Fleur’s silhouette, met Sirius’s eyes. Krum had been so close.

He couldn’t interfere, it was over. He’d just come to check the facts, make sure no one played to dirty. No matter what, it was over.

***

The cheering grew as Fleur exited the maze, cup in hand, followed by Krum. Harry clapped politely along with most of the other Hogwarts students. It wasn’t until he caught site of the black dog slinking out of sight behind them that he stood. Poking Hermione he motioned to her, grabbing Ron by the sleeve they made their way out of the stands.

“Sirius!” Harry cried, catching site of the dog behind the nearest hedge. “What? I ...” Sirius did not respond right away; but turned around heading for a group of near by trees, obviously intending for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to follow. “What were you doing in the maze!”

“Shhh,” Sirius hissed, transforming, “When Bagman got arrested this afternoon I got suspicious. It was just, odd timing.”

“You got to see the task in action! Wicked!” Ron was grinning. Sirius glared at Ron, but did not respond.

“What happened?” Hermione urged.

“Cedric and Krum didn’t look like they knew what to expect at all. I sent up the red sparks for Cedric and helped Krum out with a giant spider.” Ron went white, “I don’t think it was just information Bagman was passing.”

“But Bagman’s gone, it shouldn’t matter!” Harry said.

“Well apparently it did matter. The tasks may be over, but I don’t think the tournament has ended yet.”

Sirius was found and led off a few minutes later by Hagrid as the crowd around the maze began to disperse. Harry, Ron, and Hermione however, were under strict orders from Sirius to find out whatever else they could about the tournament results. Catching site of a bandaged Cedric Harry and the others headed off.

“Now, just a few pictures, a few comments, come now.” Rita Skeeter's screeching voice was unmistakable. Harry knew her from an attempted interview before the second task. She had spotted his scar and forgotten almost completely about the champion questioning she was in the middle of. Crouch, Dumbledore, Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime were also present with the three champions. Harry, Ron, and Hermione approached the group slowly. “Harry!” the voice stung his ears, “How are you!”

“Uh ... fine thanks. Um, congratulations Fleur,” he finished, looking at his feet. Fleur simply nodded in thanks. Cedric and Krum seemed to shoot Harry very dirty looks.

“We were just interviewing for an article about the tournament Harry, perhaps you’d like to comment from a spectators perspective."

“Uh ... I ... I’ll just let you finish with the champions first .”

“Well, if you insist. Boys,” she spat, turning back to the battered Cedric and Krum, “What was it like to be beaten by a girl? I mean, it doesn’t look like you even knew what you were up against in there.” Krum and Cedric looked at each other, but did not respond. “Come now boys, don’t be shy.”

“Ve did not know what ve were up against until dis evening,” Krum mumbled.

“I thought, I thought you told him,” Harry said, turning to Hermione.

“I did,” she whispered.

“What was that Harry?” Dumbledore had taken a step back.

“Sir, it’s just, we ... we warned Cedric and Krum about the maze.” Dumbledore studied Harry a moment. But the slight glimmer in his eye made Harry feel no explanation was necessary.

“What? Did you expect the maze itself to attack you?” Rita continued, laughing. Cedric’s eyes flickered.

“The maze itself? But ... but, that’s what you said!” Rita looked over her glasses at Cedirc.

“Said that? Dear boy what are you talking about?”

“You ... you said that the maze was going to attack us. I ...” Cedric paused and looked at Krum for backup. Krum blinked at Cedric, as if he was trying to work something out in his head.

“Krum,” Harry turned to Viktor, “Do you remember talking to Hermione this afternoon?”

“Yes, but not everything,” Krum replied.

“Krum, you know what the maze was supposed to be like, we told you.”

“Vat?” Krum looked at Harry.

“Harry, darling, what are you talking about?”

“Cedric,” Dumbledore said turning to him, “When did you talk to Ms. Skeeter?”

“I don’t remember seeing you before the task today Cedric,” Rita said smiling, a little to broadly. Harry looked at Hermione and Ron. Dumbledore was looking at Rita.

“Cedric, look at me please.” Cedric turned awkwardly to Dumbledore who waved his wand, its tip alight, in front of his eyes. Dumbledore’s mouth curled slightly. “Modified Memory Charm. Rita?”

“Dumbledore, what are you talking about?

"Cheating Ms. Skeeter."

"What? Who revealed such a thing?”

“You did.” With that, a small misty image exploded from Dumbledore’s wand tip to reveal an image of Rita, Cedric, and Krum, her wand tip placed at Cedric’s temple.

“But why?” Harry said it more to Hermione than anyone else, but it was Dumbledore who answered.

“A good story.”

“A good story! I wouldn’t skew an international tournament for a story!” It was Dumbledore’s turn to look over his spectacles. Rita’s mouth narrowed. “All right, but if you want to know the whole story, it was Bagman who chose.”

“Chose ...” Krum looked confused.

“Yes, chose Fleur to win!”

“Monsieur Bagman!” Madame Maxime looked shocked.

“You cheated!” Karkaroff yelled.

“But zis is a problem! Ve did not cheat! It was Monsieur Bagman!”

"I do not understand Dumbledore," Karkaroff grimaced angrily.

"Why don't you talk to Ms. Skeeter Igor." Rita did not look as if she was prepared to answer, but Karkaroff was up in arms.

"Ludo was in trouble Dumbledore," she began, "He needed a sure win in this tournament, I agreed to help. Whether he lost or he won, I had a story. Goblin gambling skews tournament, or Goblins kill ministry official." Rita smiled, it was a bit scary really.


“Well, I do believe this is a problem for you Barty,” Dumbledore said, turning to Crouch.

***

"Harry Potter," Harry turned around to see Krum behind him, "I want to thank you vor your help. The tournament would have been unfair much more if not for you."

"Uh, you're welcome," Harry replied awkwardly. He felt very small next to Krum. An awkward silence fell over the two as they continued back towards the castle.

"I hear you are a very goo flier," Krum said.

"Yeah ... who said so?"

"Her-my-o-ninee," Krum replied grinning, "I hear you have Firebolt."

"Yes," Harry replied.

"As do I," Krum said, "But I was always liking the old Nimbus."

"I used to have a Nimbus, a 2000 model actually." Krum smiled at this.

"A good model." Harry nodded back. A private conversation with the best seeker in the world, Harry could think of no better thank you for his efforts towards fairness. He did not say so, he doubted Krum would understand; his english was only so good.

***

“So Fleur keeps the title and they split the winnings?” Sirius asked, back at their meeting place in the forest.

“Yeah,” Harry replied, “It was all kind of disappointing really.“

“I don’t think this tournament is going to come around for a long time again.”

“It could come back,” Ron said looking at Hermione.

“It was all very dangerous Ron! I mean, with a memory charm on, Cedric and Viktor could have gotten killed had things gone terribly wrong!”

"But things didn't!"

“Yes,” Sirius broke in, “But everything could have gotten very out of hand, and luckily enough it didn’t. And I’ll be rather relieved if this tournament never comes back.”

“Why?” Ron asked, "It kept things rather exciting." Harry nodded at this, Hermione glowered.

“Because," Sirius began, "A trophy and any amount of galleons is never worth a loss of character. You have to have your limits, and prizes are often to blinding.” That was pretty deep, Sirius thought of himself, failing to add his greatest fear: his fear for Harry's life. If Harry ever found himself involved in anything resembling the Triwizard Tournament, (especially what had transpired this year,) Sirius doubted he would be able to stand the worry.

------------------------

Your Mission is to:

Build from Return to Hogwarts

Elements to Include:
red sparks means danger
teamwork solves a problem
Ludo Bagman bagged
Hermione finds a clue in her Transfiguration homework
Goblins and Twins have a run in
A wand is found on the ground
A spider holds up a champion
Rita Skeeter reveals a cheater
Madame Maxime has a problem
A Firebolt and a Nimbus

[nundu]

A New Path

Where had Madame Maxime disappeared? For the third night in a row she had not returned to the carriage with them, and Fleur was perturbed. Apparently she had become more interested in that oaf, Hagrid, since he had provided her with supposedly secret information concerning both tasks. Fleur had not failed to notice their exchange of glances during the celebration supper ‘entertainment’ which had the pitiable choir of ghosts wailing a ballad that bemoaned ‘Oh, my poor heart, where has it gone? It’s left me for a spell…’ Hagrid had followed the lead of several pimply faced boys and dragged the statuesque headmistress from her seat for a round on the improvised dance floor.

Now, two nights later, Madame Maxime was absent again. Did she not realise this Hogwarts professor was using her? No doubt he would weaken her defences and at the critical moment, jeopardise Fleur’s last task. It was no time for dalliances. It was time for strategy.

Fleur glared out the window over the darkening lawns. An eagle owl winged it’s way over Hagrid’s hut, growing huge in the darkening sky. It startled Fleur by landing on the window ledge. It tapped the glass forcefully and stepped inside, ruffling it’s feathers importantly when Fleur opened the casement. Fleur took the parchment from its beak. It spread its massive wings and soared out the window.

Fleur broke the seal and read the unrecognisable script.

‘Be careful. Your victory is Bagman’s defeat.’

~*~

The days passed in a haze of lessons. Fleur knew her studies were important, but the third task hung like a guillotine over her slender neck. She felt helpless, unable to prepare. She observed to other two champions, Cedric and Victor. They did not seem to mind the wait. Cedric spent the days in the company of housemates, laughing and joking as they traversed the lawn. Victor preferred solitude, but even so, seemed to spend long evenings within the castle walls. Fleur had seen him lurking in the library. He never seemed to be focussed on a particular book, but rather on a particular table. She was sure it was not the two boys, but rather the wild haired girl that captured his attention. There was no accounting for taste, Fleur decided. Obviously, the librarian’s distaste for foreigners did not extend to him, because she noticed as she was driven, yet again from the stacks at the sound of the supper gong, that Victor was allowed to stay.

It was no matter, Fleur thought with a defiant toss of her silken head. Without knowing the final task, there was little to keep her in the library. She was as well off studying in her carriage without the distraction of the knot of giggling girls that seem to follow Victor incessantly. She gathered her books and headed, once again, for the over cooked repast that awaited her.

~*~

Fleur took her usual place at the long table. She was joined almost immediately by Gabrielle, who was clutching bright spring flowers. Fleur had enjoyed having her young sister here.

‘Where have you found those?’ Fleur said, admiring the small nosegay.

‘Madame Sprout let me in Greenhouse one. It is filled with beautiful plants, and none of them dangerous,’ Gabrielle added in a rush, seeing her sister’s eyes widen with anxiety. ‘I have been spending every afternoon tending to a bed of spring bulbs and today the first of them bloomed,’ she finished with a sigh, sinking her nose into the trumpet of the delicate paper white.

‘Fleur,’ whispered Suzanne, from her other side, ‘did you hear what is being said? Monseur Bagman, the Tri-Wizard judge, is taking wagers against the champions.’

‘Non!’

‘Oui!’ Suzanne hissed. ‘And everyone is betting against you.’

Fleur straightened her back. ‘I will show them.’ She attacked her veal with a vigour that made Suzanne withdraw with a start.

Two younger boys reached the doors to the Great Hall just ahead of Fleur and Gabrielle a half-hour later. Seeing their approach, the lanky red head pulled the door open and the bespectacled one gestured them ahead. Gabrielle peaked out from underneath her lashes with a blush and the boy gave her a small smile. Gabrielle suddenly thrust her fist out, proffering the bouquet to the dark haired boy.

‘Uh, thanks,’ he stammered.

With a final glance, Gabrielle followed her sister out. ‘They aren’t so bad, these English boys,’ Gabrielle thought.

~*~

‘Well, it’s your choice. We have several newer Clean Sweeps and a Nimbus 100. Take your pick.’

‘I will prefer the Nimbus, s’vous plait,’ Fleur told the hawk-nosed woman.

‘It’s your Knut,’ Madam Hooch snorted, reaching into the back corner of the broom shed. ‘Just mind those sharp turns. A two hundred-year-old broom can be cantankerous, even if it is a Nimbus.’

‘I will be careful.’

The day was glorious. The bite of the late March breeze still held a promise of spring. The sun warmed Fleur’s face as she rose into the air. To be out enjoying a beautiful day was a wonderful thing. She could almost forget the Third Task, looming ahead when she was in the air.

Suddenly she was buffeted by the tail wash of a Firebolt as it streaked out of the stand of trees that had sheltered Fleur from the prying eyes of the castle. Fleur’s shriek must have alerted the flyer of her presence, because he dove to the ground immediately, waiting for Fleur to join him after regaining control of her broom.

‘Imbicile!’

‘Sor..’

‘Have you no regard for others? A rude child whose parents buy him the fanciest, most expensive toy, but do not bother to teach him how to fly? I should…’ his dropped eyes and mumble stopped her. ‘Pardon?’

‘I said I’m sorry.’

A red haired boy on a wobbly Shooting Star fell out of the sky next to them, goggling at Fleur.

‘You are the boy from the Great Hall, who held the door, yes?’

Ron nodded his head, slackjawed.

‘Well, at least your parents taught you some manners, unlike this,’ she thrust her thumb at Harry, ‘hooligan.’

Ron came out of his stupor. ‘Hey, you’re being ruddy rude yourself. Don’t you know…’

‘Forget it, Ron,’ Harry said, stepping astride his broom. ‘I’m sorry I sideswiped you. I’ll be more careful in the future.’ With that he bound over the trees and out of sight.

Fleur snorted and mounted her broom, but Ron grabbed her arm. She turned to him with a haughty look. Ron quelled, but seemed determined to say something.

‘What?’

‘Well, Harry doesn’t have parents, you see.’

‘Oh,’ Fleur said, having the grace to blush. ‘I did not know.’

‘Didn’t know? Don’t you know who he is? I thought everybody knew Harry Potter.’

‘’Arry Potter? Not the one who…’

‘Yeah, that’s the one.’

‘Why didn’t he say?’

‘Well, that’s why he’s different. He wouldn’t say. He doesn’t like the attention, you see.’

‘And you are his friend?’

‘He’s my best friend, and not because of who he is,’ Ron added with a rush.

‘Yes, this I can see,’ Fleur said with a thoughtful smile. ‘He is lucky to have you.’

Fleur could see his ears glow red as she flew high over the lawn, leaving him standing alone in the grass.

~*~

Finally, it had arrived. Tonight the champions would be told their third task. At last the meal was finished. She, Krum and Diggory met by the front doors. They glanced at each other nervously.

‘We might as well get it over with,’ Cedric said.

Krum acknowledged him with a grunt and shoved the massive door open into the cloudy night.

They walked down the dark lawn to the Quidditch stadium, turned through a gap in the stands, and walked out onto the pitch.

‘What’ve they done to it?’ Cedric said indignantly, stopping dead.

The Quidditch pitch was no longer smooth and flat. It looked as though somebody had been building long, low walls all over it that twisted and criss-crossed in every direction.

‘Hello there!’ called a cheery voice.

Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Barty Crouch. The trio made their way toward them, stepping over the hedges.

‘Well, what d’you think?’ said Bagman happily as they climbed over the last hedge. ‘Growing nicely, aren’t they? Give them a month and Hagrid will have them twenty feet high. Don’t worry,’ he added, grinning, spotting the less than happy expression on Cedric’s face, ‘you’ll have your Quidditch pitch back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we’re making here?’

No one spoke for a moment. Then –

‘Maze,’ grunted Krum.

‘That’s right!’ said Bagman. ‘A maze. The third task’s really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the centre of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks.’

‘We simply have to get through the maze?’ said Fleur, sure it couldn’t be so innocent.

‘Well, of course there will be obstacles,’ said Bagman happily. ‘Hagrid is providing a number of creatures and there will be charms and spells to be broken…all that sort of thing, you know. Now the champion who is leading in points will enter the maze first,’ he nodded an acknowledgement at Fleur. ‘Then Mr Krum, followed by Mr Diggory. But you’ll all be in with a fighting chance, depending on how well you get on with the obstacles.’ Bagman leered at Fleur with an almost indecent grin of glee. ‘Should be fun, eh? Mr Crouch, have you anything to add?’

‘Ah…what?’ he asked, confused. ‘Oh…no. Um…I think you covered it all sufficiently. Thank you, Ludo.’

‘Well, if there are no more questions, we’ll go back to the castle, shall we, it’s a bit chilly.’

The champions made their way back over the low hedges towards the lights of the castle. Just as they rounded a stand of fragrant evergreens, Mr Bagman called out.

‘Mr Diggory, might I have a word?’

With a quick farewell to Fleur and Krum, Cedric turned to wait for the gone to seed athlete who was panting up the hill towards them.

~*~

Fleur sat on the steps of the Beauxbaton’s carriage pouring over the pile of books her headmistress had provided. Whenever she found something that seemed helpful, she tapped it with her wand. The page would shudder, then take on a pale blue glow.

She heard the door to Hagrid’s hut open and out stepped Harry and Ron, calling their good-byes. They turned and spotted Fleur. Ron raised his hand in greeting, but Harry just grabbed his arm and rushed down the two steps, striding across the grass intent on avoiding her. Unfortunately, none of them saw Mr Crouch coming out of the nearby wood, and the boys knocked him off his feet in their rush to get away.

Fleur jumped to her feet with a small cry of distress. She hurried over and helped Ron and Harry pull Mr Crouch to his feet. The boys were stammering apologies.

‘Not to worry. I’m quite all right. Thank you, young men…and lady,’ he tipped his hat to Fleur, leaving the three of them standing awkwardly as he strode purposefully towards the castle.

Fleur turned toward Harry. ‘I am sorry. I was very rude to you when I met you. I should not have…’

‘It’s alright,’ Harry mumbled, looking for a way to escape.

‘Don’t be a git,’ Ron hissed, elbowing Harry in the ribs.

‘No, I insulted your parents, and that was rude.’ Harry looked up at Fleur and for the first time, she noticed the lightning bolt scar marring his forehead. ‘You were flying like an idiot, though,’ she said with a small smile.

Harry grinned. ‘It’s nearly lunchtime. Wanna walk up to the castle with us?’

‘I must put my books away.’ The boys followed Fleur to the carriage and helped her collect the books she had abandoned.

Crossing the lawn they fell into easy conversation. Ron was having less trouble with stammering around her as long as he didn’t look directly at her, but stayed focussed on walking forward. They were soon in a pleasant argument about possible challenges Fleur might face.

‘Hagrid has a pretty dodgy opinion on creatures. Things we call terrifying monsters, he considers cuddly pets. He tried to raise a dragon once.’

‘Mon deiu! You do not think there will be a dragon in the maze, do you?’

‘You never know,’ Harry replied happily.

They walked along in companionable silence for a few moments, until Fleur decided to broach the subject that had been worrying her.

‘I have heard there are wagers being placed against me,’ she said hesitantly.

‘Um…yeah. I mean,’ Ron added hastily, ‘I heard that too.’

Fleur stopped. The boys turned to face her.

‘Why does he do this, this Monseur Bagman. He is a judge. Is it not wrong that he is betting against me? Should he not show favour to Cedric?’

‘Cedric,’ yelped Ron. ‘We heard he was hedging for Krum!’

‘He took Cedric aside after showing us the maze,’ Fleur said flatly.

‘Bagman’s trying to get us to bet on Krum. I’ll bet…’ Harry looked excited. ‘I’ll bet he’s trying to get everyone to bet on Krum, but is telling Cedric what’s in the maze, so Cedric will win. Then, everybody looses their bet except Bagman!’

Fleur looked confused, but Ron nodded slowly. ‘Yeah, that makes sense. Seamus told me that Bagman is having money troubles. Mr Finnigan made a wager with him at the World Cup, and Bagman couldn’t pay up. It would be just like him to try to cheat and make up his losses on this tournament, wouldn’t it,’ Ron ended with a snort of disgust.

Fleur drew herself up. ‘Then he will be very surprised. I have no intention of losing.’

~*~

‘The Tri-Wizard Cup has been placed in the maze by our head judge, Mr Crouch,’ Bagman reminded the raptly listening audience. ‘The first champion to reach the cup will be declared the Tri-Wizard Champion.’

A roar of approval reached into the night sky. A surge of adrenaline coursed through Fleur’s veins. She was ready. She had spent the month since learning of the task preparing and studying.

Fleur heard the whistle. Her brain told her to move, but it took a moment for her to force her feet forward, into the maze.

Once within the confines of the twenty-foot hedges, the noises of the crowd disappeared. Wrapped within a cocoon of silence, Fleur’s mind cleared. She hurried forward, taking a right turning, then left. As she hurried instinctively, turning this way and that, she remained alert, waiting, yet anxious to reach the centre.

As she rounded another corner, she was confronted by the most unusual creature she had ever seen. It looked almost like a cross between a crab and a scorpion. There was no identifiable head, and it’s tail was held high. Fleur backed up several steps, thinking. It had a hard shell so ‘Stupify’ would ricochet. There was only one thing.

‘Reducto!’

The spell shot towards the centre of the massive creature, hitting square in its chest. There was a sizzling sound and the smell of scorched shellfish. The behemoth scuttled forward, pushing it’s arched tail menacingly. Pointing her wand again, she shouted ‘Stupify!’ The creature took another step forward. It had not worked, Fleur panicked. Just as she raised her wand again, unsure of which spell to use next, the great creature swayed slightly and collapsed.

Fleur dropped her wand hand, and carefully stepped around her nemesis, avoiding the tail and hurrying forward.

Fifteen minutes had passed. Where was the other two? Ahead of her? She sped up, rounding corner after corner, relying on an inborn sense of direction to guide her.

A clicking noise behind halted her. Turning, she beheld the largest spider she had ever seen. Its long legs moved in horrid synchronisation as it crept towards her, clicking its pincers.

‘Wait,’ Fleur told herself. ‘Wait until it is almost upon you, so you can get its vulnerable underside.’

The creature moved closer. Fleur fought against the instinct to run and the rise of bile in her throat. Just as the creature reached down, Fleur threw her wand arm up, sending a stream of red light rocketing into the juncture of the mandible. The spider folded into a horrible tangle of legs, knocking Fleur to the ground, unharmed.

Suddenly, overhead a stream of red sparks arched into the sky. Someone was in danger. Either Cedric or Krum had signalled for help. While concerned that they might have been seriously injured, she still couldn’t help but think, ‘One down.’

She scrambled to her feet. The maze was growing darker. She did not know if it was because the night was getting darker, or if the maze it’s self was becoming denser. She hit an occasional dead end and would have to double back, but she was sure she was still heading the right direction. She turned right and saw it at the end of the long path. The trophy lay straight ahead. She had not gone more than ten metres when a most amazing creature materialised before her. A sphinx sat proudly on its lionesque haunches, watching her through it’s long, almond shaped eyes. Fleur skidded to a stop. The sphinx spoke in a deep, hoarse voice.

‘You are very near your goal. The quickest way is past me.’

‘What must I do, oh great sphinx?’ Fleur asked, with a slight genuflection.

‘Answer my riddle. Answer on your first guess – I let you pass. Answer wrongly – I attack. Remain silent – I will let you walk away from me unscathed.’

Fleur nodded in understanding. A riddle. She could see no harm in trying.

‘Please, may I hear your riddle?’

The Sphinx smiled its mysterious smile and recited:

‘First think of the person who live in disguise,
Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
Next, tell me what’s always the last thing to mend,
The middle of middle and end of the end?
And finally give me the sound often heard
During the search for a hard-to-find word.
Now string them together, and answer me this,
Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?’

Fleur’s heart sank. A riddle. In English. Conversation was one thing, but the nuances for such a riddle was virtually impossible to comprehend.

Fleur paced and muttered to herself, trying different words to answer the different parts. A person in disguise. Imposter, oui, en Francais, but what in English? Her mind was a muddled mess. There was nothing else for it, she would have to back up and go another way.

She turned to Sphinx.

‘J’regrets. Your riddle is beyond my comprehension. Adieu.’ With a curtsey, Fleur turned and hurried back down the path from which she had come, turning one last time to look longingly at the trophy, so tantalisingly close, yet so far from reach.

Three turns later put Fleur on a path that she estimated to be on a parallel path to the one she had left. She hurried forward, determined to find another way to the Cup. A rustling in the bushes to her right made her turn, wand at the ready.

‘Who is there?’ Fleur asked, shakily.

There was no answer. The movement stopped, but Fleur could feel the presence of someone or something, just on the other side of the hedge.

‘Who is there? Show yourself!’

Suddenly a feel of complete and utter calmness overcame Fleur. She felt as if her mind had been wiped completely clear. Without knowing why, she turned and began to glide down the path, turning and turning, following a guide she neither saw nor heard, but simply knew. She thought to herself, ‘I should be finding the trophy,’ but a gentle feeling urged her in the other direction. No matter how hard she tried to resist, her feet were leading her further and further away from the centre of the maze.

Fleur stepped out into the lawn of the school, facing the stands packed with the students and guests. A cheer greeted her appearance. Fleur blinked in confusion. She was out of the maze. Something had lead her out of the maze.

Madame Maxime hurried to her side.

‘Madame, I do not know what happened. I was in the maze suddenly, something was forcing me to leave. I did not want to, but I could not stop myself.’ Fleur broke into tears. ‘I saw the trophy, but I could not answer the Sphinx. I am sorry, Madame. I am so sorry,’ she sobbed.

Madame Maxime wrapped her arms around Fleur’s shoulders, looking around at Professor Dumbledore, who stood behind her and had heard Fleur’s tale.

‘She has been cursed! The Imperious Curse. Someone placed an Unforgivable Curse on my student! I demand an investigation!’

‘Yes, Madame. It would appear that is so. We will launch an immediate investigation.’

A blaze of blue white light erupted from the heart of the maze.

‘It appears we have our Tri-Wizard Champion,’ Bagman’s voice boomed. ‘Mr Diggory has reached the centre of the maze. The light you see indicates he has touched the Tri-Wizard Cup. He should be returning to the judges’ table as soon as the maze opens for him. Meanwhile, let’s put our wands in the air for our other two champions. Miss Delacour overcame several obstacles, but failed to defeat the Sphinx. Mr Krum was unable to disengage himself from the enchanted mist. An admirable effort by all.’

Multicoloured sparks lit the night air, as everyone in the stands waved their wands, cheering. The sound died away and everyone waited anxiously, watching the maze, expecting Diggory to walk though the opening proudly hoisting the trophy.

Minutes passed, with no sign of Cedric. A murmur of concern passed over the crowd. Hagrid hurried around the corner of the maze and bent to confer with Dumbledore.

A burst of red light at the entrance to the maze blinded the crowd. When the light died away, there was silence. There, lying on the damp green grass, was Cedric Diggory. The trophy was clutched in his hand, his arms and legs were sprawled in an unnatural posture, but he did not move.

Fleur, abandoned by Madame Maxime, who, like the other judges had hurried over to Cedric, strained to see what was going one. She saw Ludo Bagman step backwards from the scrum, look about panicked and turn on his heel, running towards the opening of the pitch. A line of Goblins seem to materialise out of thin air to block his escape. Bagman stepped back, only to be surrounded by the wizened creatures and escorted through the entrance.

Fleur became aware of Hogwarts teachers directing the students, sending them back towards the school. A buzz of confusion hung over the students, as they continued to crane their necks towards the clump of wizards that remained on the pitch.

Soon, only Fleur, Victor, the group of officials and the parents of the champions remained within the Quidditch pitch. Fleur’s mother and Gabrielle were standing with their arms around Fleur. Victor’s parents were bracketing him and Mr and Mrs Diggory were standing, holding each other and awaiting word about their son. Dumbledore moved from the small crowd and spoke quietly to the Diggorys. A keen of anguish filled the night air and Mrs Diggory collapsed on the ground in a faint.

Madame Maxime and Karkaroff broke away and approached their students.

‘There has been a terrible accident,’ Madame Maxime explained to Fleur and her mother and sister. ‘Cedric Diggory has been killed. We do not know why. There is a terrible gash on his arm, but it appears that the Killing Curse was used on him.’ Fleur gasped and her mother tightened the grasp on her shoulder. Gabrielle buried her face in Fleur’s robes, crying softly.

‘Furthermore, Mr Crouch appears to have disappeared. He is nowhere to be found.’ Madame Maxime shook her head in puzzlement. ‘It has been a long night. Let us go back to our carriage. A bit of wine I think will help. And sleep.’

~*~

Breakfast the next morning was a quiet affair. Many puffy, tear stained faces surrounded each table. The word about Cedric had rapidly passed through the school.

As Fleur left the hall, she saw Harry and Ron talking to the girl with wild, brown hair. Harry broke from the trio and came to Fleur.

‘I’m glad you’re alright, Fleur.’ Behind him, the girl scowled slightly.

Fleur gave him a weak smile. ‘Thank you, Harry. I am sorry about your schoolmate. You had better go back to your friends.’ She nodded towards Hermione and Ron.

‘No, please, we’d like you to join us. We’re going for a walk around the lake.’

~*~

‘So Fred and George told Sankort that a minimum of three hundred galleons of Bagman’s booty was theirs by right. The goblins aren’t too keen on the idea, but if I know Fred and George, they’ll weasel it out of them. The goblins have met their match with those two!’

Fleur laughed. It was good to laugh about something, after yesterday.

‘Do you know what has become of Monseur Crouch?’ Fleur asked.

‘His body was found in the Forbidden Forest, I heard. They don’t know why, but he seems to have been on the receiving end of a Killing Curse, too,’ Hermione said.

They all sat quietly for a moment, digesting this latest news.

‘Something is going on. I don’t know what, but Voldemort,’ a hiss interrupted Harry, ‘is involved. I know it. He has been messing with my head all year, but last night I thought my scar was going to explode just before Cedric came back.’

Fleur looked puzzled.

‘Harry seems to have a connection with You-Know-Who.’ Hermione explained. ‘He gets flashes of pain occasionally. Usually when You-Know-Who is nearby.’

‘You think he was nearby last night?’ Fleur gasped.

‘I don’t know. All I know was I could barely walk back to the castle.’

‘D’ya think Karkaroff had anything to do with it? I mean, he was a Death Eater…’

‘Non!’ Fleur gasped.

‘Yeah. Siri…I mean, Harry’s godfather told us. ‘Course, he’s got other problems to worry about. Word’s got out how he was getting inside information about the tasks. That’s how come Krum got through the first two tasks so easy. There’s gonna be an investigation into it. Karkaroff’s gonna have a lot of explaining to do.’

Fleur blushed. What would they think if they heard about how Madame Maxime had helped her? Suddenly she was ashamed of the help she had received. Fleur stood up and dusted off her robes.

‘I need to return to the carriage. Madame Maxime will be concerned.’ Fleur hurried towards the edge of the wood and the questions she knew were waiting.

The roar of anger made her jump. Fleur broke into a run. Was someone in danger? She threw open the door of the carriage, to find Madame storming about, muttering and cursing. The carriage was otherwise empty. No doubt the others had abandoned it hurriedly when they saw their headmistress’ wrath.

‘Madame, what is wrong?’

‘Wrong? What is wrong? I have been insulted! My heritage has been slandered! I shall not stand for it!’ A vase flew across the carriage, smashing in the enormous fireplace. ‘He toys with my affections, then this!’

Madame Maxime looked around at Fleur’s frightened face. ‘Oh, I am sorry!’ She collapsed into a chair, pulled out an embroidered handkerchief the size of a tea cloth and buried her face in it.

Fleur sank onto the arm of the chair, patting the enormous arm of her headmistress. ‘What has happened, Madame?’

‘It is that Hagrid. He has insulted my parents and me. C’est horrible’

Fleur rolled her eyes. She knew her mentor had been spending an inordinate amount of time with the enormous Hogwarts professor, but had not realised anything had come of it.

‘He insinuated that I am part Giant! Moi!’ The sobs redoubled.

Fleur stifled a smile. Madame had never said anything, but Fleur was sure Hagrid had got it right. Of course, being part Giant had societal stigma, so it was understandable that she was upset that her secret had been guessed. But Fleur also was sure that Hagrid was of the same heritage. They seemed a good match to her.

‘But Madame, what does it matter? He is only one man. Surely his opinion means little.’

‘But if word gets out, I am ruined!’

Fleur patted her arm. Soon the sobs became sniffs and Madame Maxime daubed at her eyes. Fleur knew the storm had passed, for now.

~*~

‘This reporter can now reveal that cheating was rampant throughout the Tri-Wizard Tournament. No Champion entered a single task without foreknowledge. Did young Cedric Diggory die a hero’s death, or was he a victim of corruption. We may never know.

Fleur threw the paper aside in disgust. This woman, this Rita Skeeter, was simply using poor Cedric’s death to further her career. Empty accusations did nothing to help solve the question of Cedric’s death. It simply fed the mobs more sensationalised rumours.

Fleur looked around the Great Hall, spying Ron’s red hair and heading for the Gryffindor table. As she came up the aisle she encountered Hermione, who scowled slightly as she realised where Fleur was heading. Fleur then surprised Hermione by saying, ‘Can we take a walk, Hermione?’

‘Um…all right.’

The trip through the entrance hall was made in silence. As they pushed through the front doors Fleur turned.

‘Just sitting here on the steps will be fine.’ The girls settled themselves on the cold marble. ‘I am not after your Ron, Hermione.’

‘My Ron!’ Hermione sputtered. ‘He’s…’

Fleur patted her on the arm. ‘I am not blind Hermione. Anyone can see you love him.’

Hermione made a sound of disbelief.

‘Give him time. He will realise too.’

Hermione turned away and mumbled something under her breath.

‘Pardon?’

‘I said, he’ll never see me with you around,’ Hermione repeated, face flushing. ‘When you’re around he looks like a fool, always goggling at you, blushing, hoping for your approval. How can I compete with you?’

‘You do not need to compete with me, Hermione. I am sorry Ron looks at me that way. I do not see it anymore. It is part of who I am. My grandmother was veela. I have long ago learned that men see that part of me instead of who I really am. I am not interested in your Ron, Hermione. Please, I would like to be your friend.’

Hermione sighed. ‘I don’t think it’ll make a difference with Ron. I will try, but please understand if I get put off.’

‘I understand, Hermione. Most women do not make an effort. I have very few friends.’

Hermione turned to look at her and Fleur knew that Hermione was seeing her in a different light. Fleur smiled and held out her hand. Hermione grasped it.

‘Friends?’

‘Friends,’ Hermione agreed.

~*~

The front lawn was filled with students of all three schools, exchanging farewells. Fleur approached Hermione, Ron and Harry as they stood on the steps leading the great castle.

‘I suppose this is good-bye,’ she said to the three younger students. ‘Thank you for your friendship.’

Ron flushed. Fleur glanced quickly at Hermione, who rolled her eyes and shrugged.

‘Could I half a vord, Herm-own-ninny?’

This time it was Hermione’s turn to flush, as she followed Victor Krum away from the group.

‘You’d better hurry up,’ Ron shouted after her. ‘The carriages will be here any minute.’

‘I do not think you need to worry, Ron,’ Fleur said with a nod in the direction they had disappeared.

A gaggle of giggling girls was swarming Hermione and Victor, interrupting their conversation. Krum looked annoyed and Hermione looked embarrassed as they pushed their autograph books towards the Quidditch star, jostling her in the process. As they separated her from Victor, Hermione gave him a little wave and laugh over their heads. Victor tried to push towards her, but was overcome by the throng.

Hermione returned to the group, shaking her head with amusement. ‘Didn’t you want Victor’s autograph, Ron?’ she asked. Ron was unable to reply. His mouth was crammed full of candied kumquats that Fleur had presented him and Harry as a farewell gift.

‘Here,’ Hermione said, thrusting a bit of parchment towards him. ‘He wrote it personally to you. ‘To Ron, a real Quidditch fan, Victor Krum.’’

Ron unstuck his jaw and in attempting to speak, bits of gooey candied fruit flew, spattering them.

He flushed furiously. ‘Omssowy,’ he said, attempting to brush the mess off the front of Fleur’s robe.

‘Ron!’ Hermione said as he flapped his hands in an inappropriate area.

It was Fleur’s turn to blush. She waved her wand hurriedly and the kumquat was gone.

Harry doubled over with laughter. Then suddenly, the laughter turned to a moan, then a scream of pain. Harry collapsed on the step. Ron, Hermione and Fleur knelt beside him.

‘Harry!’

‘ ‘arry, are you alright?’

‘Harry, mate, what is it?’

‘It’s…’ Harry retched.

Dumbledore pushed the growing crowd apart and knelt by Harry’s head.

‘Harry, tell me,’ he demanded.

‘Voldemort,’ Harry gasped. ‘It’s Voldemort,’

Dumbledore strode through the now panicking crowd. Screams of terror sounded as Harry’s words were repeated. The staff rushed to Dumbledore’s side as he marched down the long drive towards the gates in the distance. A great, black dog bounded over the hedge lining the drive. Dumbledore turned to it.

‘Go to him. Protect him.’

The dog galloped towards the castle, as if he had understood every word.

‘What is it, Albus?’ Professor McGonagall asked.

‘I fear the worse. I fear Voldemort has returned.’

The collective gasp made Dumbledore realise the group that surrounded him.

‘He is coming. I expect he and his followers are just beyond the gate. We must not let them on the grounds. Filius, please strengthen the protections.’

‘Certainly,’ the Charms professor replied, striding off towards the gate.

‘Severus, you must take your place.’

The dark-haired Potions master bowed, and turned towards the forest.

‘Minerva, Poppy, please get the students back in the castle. All of them. The Beaubaton and Durmstrang students cannot risk being in the open.’

‘What is your plan, Albus?’

‘We cannot afford a confrontation at this time. We will protect the students. We will protect Harry. That is who he is after. Voldemort,’ the Transfiguration professor shuddered, ‘cannot yet be strong. We can discourage him, for now.’

~*~

The Great Hall was still draped in the black banners that had been hung in Cedric’s honour for the leaving feast. The tables were filled with students. Some were leaning on their classmates, crying in fear. Others simply looked confused. Some, primarily at the Slytherin table, sat with a smirk of knowledge on their faces.

All jumped when the doors to the hall slammed open and the Headmaster strode down the aisle towards the head table. He turned and faced them with a stern look.

‘We now know why Cedric Diggory was murdered.’ A muttering filled the hall. ‘He was murdered by Lord Voldemort.’

Gasps and cries filled the hall at this pronouncement.

‘He was murdered for three drops of his pure blood. Voldemort used him and destroyed him. Voldemort used Cedric’s blood to regenerate his own body.’ Now the sobs in the hall were threatening to over power Dumbledore’s voice.

‘Voldemort is ready to resume his reign of terror that ended thirteen years ago. With the help of his followers, he placed Bartimeus Crouch under the Imperius curse. From that position, he was able to force Mr Crouch to skew the Tri-Wizard Championship.’ By now the hall had once again fallen into silence, as the students listened raptly to Dumbledore’s tale.

‘Voldemort needed the blood of a wizard who was too good and noble to be influenced by him. When he completed this unspeakable act, he destroyed those he had used. He murdered Cedric. He murdered Bartimeus Crouch. We know this because we found Mr Crouch’s abandoned wand lying on the ground outside the maze. We examined his wand and found he had attempted to fend off Voldemort. But stronger wizards than Mr Crouch have found themselves helpless in his presence.’

Dumbledore looked around the hall at the scared, pale faces. ‘The Ministry for Magic does not want me to tell you this. Many of your parents would agree. But you must know. You must realise what you are facing.’ Dumbledore took a great breath.

‘Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.’

~*~

Once more the carriage pulled by the mighty winged horses waited by the stairs. Very few Hogwarts students were outside to say farewell to the representatives. Many had been taken by their parents and others sat huddled in the safely of their common rooms, waiting for their own carriages.

Ron, Hermione and Harry stood, once more, talking to Fleur.

‘Take care, all of you,’ Fleur said with a shaky voice. She gave each boy a light kiss on each cheek. Ron turned a brilliant shade of red. When she got to Hermione, she grasped the English girl in a tight hug. ‘Take care of our boys,’ she whispered in her ear. Hermione nodded mutely, swiping at her eyes.

Fleur glided down the stairs to the waiting carriage. As it pulled away from the entrance, she looked back at the three standing on the steps, waving. Everything had changed, but she knew, no matter what, there was someone willing to stand in the way of evil. She knew the wizarding world lay safe in the heart of a little boy. She waved once more, and was thrown back in her seat as the mighty Abraxan tore the carriage away from the road and into the sky.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Continuation of ‘Into the Depths’

Loose end: How information on first two tasks was given to Fleur.

Missions:
1. The Ghost Choir sings a Celestina Warbeck cover during dinner.
2. An eagle owl soars over Hagrid's hut
3. Gabrielle gives Harry a flower
4. A Firebolt and a Nimbus
5. Mr. Crouch gets knocked off his feet as they rush by
6. Red sparks mean danger
7. A champion is cursed
8. Bagman is bagged
9. Goblins have a run-in with the Twins
10. Karkaroff is humiliated
11. Maxime encounters a Giant Problem
12. Rita Skeeter reveals a cheater
13. Teamwork solves a problem
14. Krum's Fanclub makes an untimely appearance
15. Ron can't answer because he's got his mouth full of candied kumquats.
16. Padfoot bounds over the hedge
17. A wand is found lying on the ground

[cherabela]

Where Ends Meet

Since it was such a beautiful day, the trio decided to go down through the grounds and enjoy a bit of sunshine as they prepared for the next day’s final exam. They sought the shade of the large tree under which they often sat. Hermione quickly started reviewing on her own as it was apparent that the other two weren’t really up to studying. History of Magic was such a bore anyway!

Ron looked in the direction of where the Quidditch Pitch had once been. Now it was covered with growth and surrounded by hedges surpassing even Hagrid’s height.

“Looks like a maze doesn’t it?” Ron said craning his neck to see better. Access to the pitch had been closed for all students since April.

“That’s probably why they said there wouldn’t be any Quidditch this year,” Harry said.

As he scanned the area quickly, Ron spotted something lying on the ground which caught his attention.

“Is that a-” he began but before he could continue, Harry had summoned the object. Ron quickly took it from his hand only to find, to his dismay, that it was a licorice wand. He examined it slightly and sniffed it as if to see if it was edible. Hermione took her eyes off her notes only to shoot Ron a rather disgusted look.

Just then a loud bark came from behind them and a big black dog bounded over a small hedge. It ran over to Harry and wagged its tail at him, its eyes sparkling. Sirius had probably escaped from Hagrid’s over-loving grips just in time.

Simultaneously, a scream came from behind them. Gabrielle Delacour, who had been passing by, trying to catch up with a group of Beauxbatons students, had turned ash pale and she was pointing, terrified. None of the other French students seemed to have noticed her state of terror, and many Hogwarts students who were enjoying a spot of sunshine were looking at her questioningly.

Hermione, the good soul that she was, got up and went over to comfort the girl as Ron and Harry started petting the dog and ruffling his fur to make her realise that Snuffles was completely harmless. Ron, not knowing what else to do, threw the licorice wand a small distance and the dog went over to catch it like any canine would do. Sirius proceeded by making his way slowly towards Gabrielle, who was still shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. Ron and Harry soon followed.

“He’s quite harmless, see?” Hermione cooed, as Sirius played the lovable pet and turned over on his back. The two boys rolled their eyes at this.

Slowly the girl seemed to relax as Hermione continued comforting her. Sirius kept ridiculing himself, sometimes by chasing his own tail, and at others trying to catch a butterfly passing by. Gabrielle eventually giggled once or twice. This seemed to be the cue Snuffles had been waiting for because he walked closer to her and stroked her hand with the top of his head. She in return tickled the dog under his chin. He seemed to like that.

“Ma pauvre Gabrielle!” came a cry as they saw Fleur rushing to her sister’s side. “J’étais très inquieté quand je ne t’ai pas vu!”

“Regarde!” the young girl said excitedly as she caressed the black dog. She must have been feeling quite proud of herself.

Her sister looked at her fondly and spoke sweetly in French again. Although Ron hadn’t understood a single word she was saying, he realized that when she had refused to go to the Yule Ball with him, it had been due to his approach. He had gone up to her all of a sudden and in his rush she hadn’t understood a single word he had said. He had startled her.

Fleur gave, what appeared to be her first thankful look towards them. This made Ron swoon. Just before she left, Gabrielle knelt back down and gave the licorice wand to Snuffles to eat. She then got up and bringing out her own wand said, “Orchideous!”

Three flowers appeared and she gave one to each of them. As she gave Harry the last flower she said, “Merci!” and left quickly with her sister.

As soon as they were out of sight Harry turned to Sirius. “What was that all about?”

But Sirius seemed to be having some trouble of his own. He was brandishing his teeth at them, rubbing his paws on his muzzle. He kept making odd noises as if he couldn’t breathe properly, too. He thrashed about as if he had gone mad all of a sudden.

In an act of confusion Harry pounced on him and held him down. “Padfoot what’s wrong?”

“Speaking to animals, Potter? You never fail to surprise me,” said a sleek and sarcastic voice from behind them. With a flurry of black robes, Snape was glowering at all four of them. His eyes spotted the dog which, with its teeth apparently stuck together, was making every attempt it could to appear menacing and to show its hatred towards him.

“And breaking the rules again I see,” said the foul Potions Master. “Clearly it isn’t enough for you to know that dogs aren’t allowed in the grounds.”

“It’s Hagrid’s!” Harry said quickly. He held his onto Sirius for fear that he might actually attack Snape. “Calm down, Elmer,” he whispered into the dog’s ears.

“Perhaps I should remind Hagrid then that it is unwise to leave a potentially dangerous creature in the care of meddling students,” Snape said looking directly in the dog’s eyes. Suspicion was clearly brewing in his mind.

“We were just taking it back to him,” Hermione interjected at once, getting up.

Ron followed suit and started leading the dog back towards Hagrid’s hut. They could feel Snape’s eyes still on them as they led Sirius back down the path. Once they were out of earshot Ron exclaimed, “The slime ball! Why doesn’t he mind his own business for once? He should go wash that greasy hair of his! I bet Fred and George would love to play with his shampoo. They’ve been experimenting with some stuff lately,” he mused.

“Honestly Ron, I thought he’d see through the animagus form,” Hermione said worriedly.

Sirius seemed to have calmed down by now, though he was still showing his teeth as if someone had petrified his mouth in that position.

As they arrived near Hagrid’s hut they spotted an eagle owl soaring over the roof.

“Elmer!” the groundkeeper greeted them or rather the dog, as he looked up from the pumpkin patch. Sirius turned his head to give Harry a pleading look, although the huge grin on his face made this very difficult to understand. In frustration the dog darted off into the forest and rubbed his mouth on a branch trying to unstick his teeth.

Hermione was looking thoughtfully at Snuffles and kept looking pensive, even when Ron asked, “Hagrid what is that?” He was inclining his head towards the eagle owl which had taken to circling round the tip of the hut’s roof.

Hagrid puffed his chest slightly and said, “That Ron is a very rare type o’ owl. Ye brother Charlie had promised te send me one from his lot. They’re dead useful. Help me tend te lost creatures in the forest. Yup. They can see far ye see?”

Hermione who had remained silent, walked over to Sirius who was still trying to fight his jaws apart. She took out her wand and muttered something under her breath. Hagrid spotted her and yelled, “What are ye doin’ te him?”

But the spell seemed to have done its magic. The dog was licking Hermione’s face tenderly and barking happily.

“I think it was that licorice wand he ate,” Hermione explained. “It must have been hexed or something.”

As the large eagle owl cawed, a bell was heard ringing from the castle.

“Lunch! I’m starving!” said Ron as Hermione gave him a very irritated look.

“For your information Ron, house elves work all day to feed your appetite! The least you could do is thank them!”

“Not now, Hermione,” Ron said, starting to make his way back to the castle. She would probably pester him all the time while he ate, about laws to protect elves’ rights and how they were cruelly treated. Hermione was hot on his pursuit, clearly not too happy with his dry response.

Harry said a hurried goodbye to Hagrid and Elmer, and followed Ron and Hermione to the castle.

~***~

Their last exam had finally passed and Harry and Ron were walking down a hallway going back in the direction toward their Common Room. Hermione had stayed behind to recheck her paper.

Suddenly a voice called out from behind them, “Make way! Coming through!”

As the two boys turn to look behind them they saw the twins rushing by on a Nimbus 2001. It halted by their side.

“Where’d you get that broom?” Ron asked astonished.

“We borrowed it,” said Fred promptly.

“From Malfoy,” continued George.

“Well he didn’t really want to part with it."

“I guess he probably fancied a run after us, to celebrate the end of the exams.”

“Never knew he was so hot-headed,” Fred said.

“Yeah, or with such hot-feet,” George snickered. He patted a small red bag tied to his waist. “We’ve been working on these for ages,” he said as he took out a handkerchief and with it a small red bolt from his bag. “This little brother, is a Firebolt.”

With that he threw it for Ron to catch. As it landed in his open hands he let out a scream and let it fall to the floor, while jumping up and down blowing at the palms of his hands. They had turned the same scarlet of the Gryffindor banner. A blond Ravenclaw gave him curious looks as she passed by.

“’Course that’s not all it does. Look,” said Fred, taking out two bolts from his own bag with a handkerchief. He threw them up in the air and as they hit each other they formed a nebula from which red shooting stars started flaring. Ron could feel the heat it emanated as it passed near his legs, in pursuit of a Slytherin who was coming down the corridor.

“Best be off little brother!” said the two of them in unison and instead they sped off down the corridor.

They had just disappeared from sight when Harry and Ron heard a crash. Running to see what had happened, the two boys saw Crouch groaning on the floor and the twins petrified in mid-air on Malfoy’s broom. Snape rushed up behind them, holding his wand aloft and helped Crouch get up. The latter had been knocked off his feet as the twins passed by.

“Please excuse their delinquent behaviour, Minister,” Snape was saying. “I dare say as from the day those two passed through Hogwarts’ doors they have been causing havoc. If it were up to me they’d have been expelled long ago, but I’m afraid such power is not in my hands.”

“Yes, thank you Snape,” said Crouch, brushing dust from his robes. “I hope these students will get some form of punishment, as they certainly deserve something.”

“But of course, Minister. I will see to that immediately.” Just then, Snape caught sight of Harry and Ron standing not too far away.

“Caught red-handed, Weasley?” Snape said spotting the colour of Ron’s hands.

“We were just passing through this corridor. Not illegal is it?” Harry said, as both of them hurriedly continued on their way with one last look at the twins’ grinning faces as they sat on the Nimbus.

“They’re both mental!” Ron cried once they were back in Gryffindor Tower. “It really is a wonder how they always get through with just detentions.”

“Did you see how Snape was playing along with Crouch?” Harry grumbled.

Neither of them were really listening to what the other was saying. At that moment the portrait hole swung open and Fred and George entered the common room, both laughing and each with an arm around the other’s shoulder.

~***~

That evening the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament was to take place. After their meal in the Great Hall, all of the students went down to wait in the stands for the task to commence.

Hermione joined the boys not too long afterwards, blushing profusely and with an expression midway between a smile and a worried look. She didn’t reply when Ron asked her where she had been.

She was still seeing Krum! She only liked him because he was an international Quidditch player! He was probably just trying to get help from her for the task! Ron felt like turning on Hermione and telling her Krum’s real intentions, but he wasn’t given a chance as at that moment Bagman’s voice could be heard above the crowd.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to this final task of the Triwizard Tournament! It has been an exciting adventure for our three champions and tonight we shall see which one of them will earn eternal glory for his or her school. As you see before you, they will have to face this maze in the centre of which is the Triwizard Cup. The first one who touches the cup will win the Tournament!”

“But let me remind me how they stand. Miss Delacour of Beauxbatons Academy is in first place, followed by Mr. Diggory of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry-” he had to stop at this as shouts and screams erupted from the Hogwarts students in the stands.

“Excitement is running high tonight!” he cried enthusiastically when the whooping had subsided. “And the champion currently in last place, though certainly not least, is Mr. Krum of Durmstrang Institute. Now the champions will be journeying into the maze according to their placing. Therefore Miss Delacour will go in first, then Mr. Diggory and finally Mr. Krum. And here come our three champions!”

They emerged from a tent behind Bagman, looking very pale in the lights reflecting on them.

The Heads of School took each of their respective students to one side for a couple of minutes and when a whistle blew, Fleur ran into the maze. Soon the whistle blew again, and, again. All three champions were inside the maze.

From their high place in the stands the trio could see the top of the champions’ heads as they moved around the maze. Bagman explained to the audience how their representatives would have to face numerous magical creatures and spells as a final test. Cedric seemed to be faring along quite well, hexing anything which came in his way and once nearly hitting Fleur by mistake as well. Krum seemed to be having a bit of a more difficult time.

He had encountered one of Hagrid’s Blast-Ended Skrewts, although this one was much larger than the ones the students had tended to in Care of Magical Creatures. He managed to dodge the skrewt’s first blast, and Ron couldn’t help not snicker slightly when the tip of Krum’s robes caught fire. Ron could feel Hermione holding her breath by his side. Then suddenly Krum muttered some kind of spell which sent the skrewt flying to the left. Due to its gigantic proportions and to the force of the spell, the skrewt passed right through the hedge and landed outside of the maze on McGonagall, who happened to be patrolling that area at that moment. Krum meanwhile had continued on his way and the hole in the hedge had magically recovered filing in with new growth.

“Quite an unfortunate accident,” Bagman commented as the skrewt was petrified. McGonagall was immediately helped by other members of the staff and taken to be tended to by Madam Pomfrey.

“I’m sure she’ll recover in a jiffy. But wait! Are those red sparks I see?”

The audience was now looking back at the maze. Fleur had cast red sparks into the air.

“It seems Miss Delacour is in a spot of trouble. Ah, and I see that Madame Maxime has volunteered to go to her rescue,” he said as the Headmistress entered the maze. “Of course, the champions were informed beforehand that if in danger, or should they wish to give up, they can shoot red sparks up. But what is going on?”

At that moment a jet of light had shone where Fleur was waiting, and she had fallen to the ground. Murmurs spread through the crowd. Some said she had been attacked unawares, other suggested that she had probably fainted.

Just then Madame Maxime reached her student’s side and picking up her limp form shouted, “She has been cursed! Ma chère Fleur!” She was looking positively furious. Someone had definitely done all they could not to let her champion win.

“Hum, well we definitely should see into this,” Bagman said, more to please Madame Maxime than for want of actually doing it. “Cheating is of course illegal in this Tournament.”

Ron snorted at this. If there was anyone cheating in this Tournament, Bagman was the first of the lot. *Cheating wasn’t the only thing he was attempting in this competition either. Sirius had flipped when they told him the reason behind Bagman’s sudden interest in Harry. He had promised the Golbins they could use Harry as a spokesman to fight for their rights.*

“I’m sure it is simply a misunderstanding and that she was caught unawares by-” the Commentator stopped short again.

A voice by his side was heard saying, “Oy! Youz the one who stole me pot o’ gold!”

As exciting as the events of the task were, many eyes turned to where Bagman was sitting. A leprechaun had climbed onto the table in front of him, and with its bowler hat askew, was waving its finger at Bagman’s face. “Ye’ll pay you!” it was heard squeaking. “Nobody touches me gold!” With that the leprechaun twirled its hand and threw gold dust in Bagman’s eyes. The Judge, blinded for a second, wasn’t given enough time to realise what was going on as the creature used Bagman’s own yellow robes to tie him up in a bag with a knot at the top. The leprechaun gave the bag a kick, which made Bagman howl in pain, and with that, it carried him away.

Though lacking a commentator, the air soon filled up with the buzzing of the students whispering to each other. Madame Maxime and Fleur were still making their way out of the maze when a humungous man appeared out of nowhere and he stood, arms at his sides, staring down at the Headmistress. People screamed and some were already leaving the stands, although the teachers tried all they could to restore order. He was definitely taller than anyone in the vicinity though he seemed to resemble the French woman a lot. He just stood there without saying anything, although it seemed as if the two of them were having a silent conversation.

Ron realised that his left arm was numb. He looked down and saw a pair of hands clinging desperately to it; Hermione was watching the scene with frozen eyes as she kept digging her fingernails into his flesh. Ron looked back down at the maze, with a slight smile on his face.

Just when it seemed like the quiet exchange between the two would take forever, Madame Maxime took out her wand and shouted, “Riddikulus!” The giant man turned into a small ferret and without any further ado the woman rushed out of the maze. She rushed Fleur to the hospital tent.

“Who do you reckon that was? Blimey! A giant!” said Ron, still feeling astonished and not just because of the huge man’s appearance.

“It was her boggart!” Hermione replied promptly. She now had both her hands clasped on her lap.

“Do you think it could have been, her father?” Harry asked.

“Must be,” Hermione nodded.

“Guess who went and told Hagrid she had big bones?” Ron said. He and Harry had overheard a rather private conversation between the grounds keeper and Beauxbatons’ Headmistress. Madame Maxime had kept insisting that she had no giant blood in her.

The hubbub started once more around them; the Third Task was still going on. Krum and Cedric were in a tight race against each other now. The Hogwarts champion seemed to be faring on far better than he had done in the previous tasks.

Suddenly a voice called up to him, “Psst! Ron! Ron!”

That voice was unmistakable. It was George’s.

“Choodle fan!” it called. That did it! He had had enough of them making fun of the Chudley Cannons.

“What?” Ron yelled, although this caused many to turn on him and tell him to be quiet.

The voices called again. Frustrated, Ron told Harry he’d be back soon and descended onto the crisp grass where the twins were waiting for him with huge grins on their faces.

“What the bloody hell do you want?”

“Bloody indeed! Come along little brother. We need to start showing you what the real world’s made of. We can’t have you prancing around like Percy,” Fred said.

Without another word, they led him away from the stands and the maze and over to the oak tree under which he had sat that very morning with Ron and Hermione. A small lantern was hanging from a branch and under it were a group of goblins. Some of them had bruises and gashes on their faces and arms, while another was sporting a bloody nose.

“What happened?” Ron asked.

“Bagman,” George said simply.

“He got away from that leprechaun. Managed to send bowtruckles after it. But then he met up with this lot, and well…you know Bagman.”

“There’s two sides to a galleon,” George mused.

“Where be Bagman, sly dingbat!” cursed one of the Goblins who seemed to be the leader.

Fred put his arm slightly round the Goblin’s shoulder, as if in a business-like fashion, and started muttering something which seemed to please the other greatly. Ron edged closer to try and listen in when a loud screaming sound shook the area, and fireworks shot up in the sky.

“The Task!” Ron said to nobody in particular. Either Krum or Cedric had won. He ran back to the stands leaving the twins and the Goblins behind him.

Harry, who hadn't seen where Ron had gone, was coming to look for him. “We won! Cedric got the cup! We won, Ron!”

The first though to come to Ron’s mind was, ‘Take that Krum!’, but it was quickly interrupted by the figure of Moody passing by with Karkaroff. He seemed to be holding the Headmaster by the hem of his robes and as he got closer they heard him say, “I warned you Karkaroff! There’s to be no cheating while I’m around! And hexing a champion! How low could you go?”

“What are you talking about?” Karkaroff was trying to retain the little bit of dignity left to his status.

“Alastor,” said a different voice from behind them. It was Dumbledore.

“We have a cheater Professor!” Moody said promptly.

“I will not stand for this!” Karkaroff roared, shaking.

“Iz zis true?” Madame Maxime said as she too arrived on the spot.

“Really! Just because Hogwarts has won Dumbledore, you cannot expect to go further to call this a night. I have not cheated!” He stamped his foot.

“We’ll see about that!” Moody said once more, grabbing Karkaroff’s wand. He muttered, “Priori Incantato!” A small form came out of the tip, and a jet of red light seemed to issue forth and hex a small ghost.

“I, I can explain,” Karkaroff stuttered as the others all turned on him. He had turned very pale. Madame Maxime was looking positively furious and dangerous.

“Alas,” said Dumbledore. “It seems that this Tournament might still be nothing more than a strife between our schools, as it has been for many years past.”


“Come on Ron,” Harry said finally. “I’m sure the others are already starting to head back to the castle for the feast.”

~***~

It was truly a triumph. With Hogwarts Triwizard Champion, Karkaroff unmasked, and Bagman gone, it was a night to truly remember.

While they enjoyed a magnificent feast that night, the Hogwarts Ghost Choir was singing in the background. It seemed that since the last time they had sung, they had taken a liking to Celestina Warbeck’s music because as they ended one of her songs, they promptly started another. Fleur had taken to criticizing some of the surroundings again, and she kept saying how horrible the music being sung actually was.

‘Well it isn’t that enjoyable,’ Ron agreed.

In the end, Peeves, who felt pretty jovial, swooped down upon the choir and caused disarray among them. He kept popping into the Great Hall now and then to check that they didn’t come back.

Gryffindor Table also had an unexpected visitor. When Viktor Krum sidled next to Hermione, Ron nearly choked on his shepherd’s pie. The Durmstrang student started whispering in her ear, and she was blushing deep red, and trying to look as if he wasn’t telling her anything important. Then he stopped, and was about to return next to the other Dursmtrang students, when suddenly a voice called, “Hey! Can I have your autograph?” It was when Krum turned to look directly at him, that Ron realised he had spoken. “Well, er, I mean, yeah,” Ron muttered foolishly.

But rather than walking away, Krum turned and smiled at him. “Vot is your-” he began but was interrupted for the umpteenth time that school year, by the horrid sound of giggling. Krum’s fanclub had returned for their last visit. Giggling they asked Krum to sign an autographs for them with lipstick. Ron sulked back down in his seat and stuffed candied kumquats in his mouth. Peeves seemed to be annoyed at the girls as well, because before Krum could say another word, the poltergeist had come rushing towards the girls who dispersed immediately. He played with their hair and cackled in their ears.

Slightly dumb-founded, Krum turned back to Ron.

“Vot is your name?” he asked him politely.

Ron looked up at Krum and tried to swallow the whole load in his mouth. But the sticky mixture wouldn’t go down, and he found he couldn’t speak either. Both his jaws were stuck together!

Hermione was looking at him, seeming thoroughly disgusted.

When he tried to open his mouth, all he managed to do was grimace. He could feel many others looking on him, especially Hermione whose expression had turned from annoyance, to a slight dawn of comprehension. Krum had been called away from their table.

He closed his mouth, because at least, it wouldn’t attract as much attention. Hermione meanwhile, had dived her hand into her pocket and produced a piece of parchment. As she pore over what turned out to be her Transfiguration homework, her smile kept broadening until she looked back at Ron with a look of satisfaction.

“I think I’ve figured it out! Ron hold still,” she said as her face edged closer to his. He felt as if time was mysteriously slowing down now, as her face came ever nearer. He could even see some small freckles on her face. Then she whispered, “Finite Incantatem.”

At first he didn’t realise what she had said. He thought it was something she only wanted his ears to hear. When reality sadly dawned on him, he realised that he had regained the use of his mouth.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

“That would explain what happened to Sirius the other day,” she said triumphantly. “Fred and George must have put a spell on these. My bet is that they transfigured them with some sort of sticky mixture. Kind of like dentists use.”

“Them?!” he shouted in frustration. They had made him look like an idiot in front of everyone, Krum, and Hermione.

“Weren’t they the ones who brought those kumquats to the table?”

At that moment Bartemius Crouch got up, and announced, “Now it is time for the awarding of the Cup. It is with great pleasure that we declare Hogwarts, Triwizard Champion!”

Shouting and clapping commenced as Cedric was called forth and he slowly made his way up to the group of Ministers. Ever since he had been attacked by spiders in the maze, his actions had been slowed down by the spiders’ poison. Madam Pomfrey had been unable to remove all the venom, and he was still moving slowly and painfully.

“Where’s Harry?” Ron asked suddenly, as Cedric was helped lift the cup for all to see. In all the excitement, Ron and Hermione had failed to realise their friend had slipped out of the hall.

~***~

While the three schools were enjoying the grand feast, Harry had snuck down to Hagrid’s hut since its inhabitant was up at the castle. As he took out a bag laden with food from under his invisibility cloak, Sirius changed into his human form. Since it was stiflingly hot in the hut, they decided to go outside and ventured into the forest, right in the spot where they had met that night before the Second Task. There they sat down, and as Sirius devoured all the food that Harry had brought for him, they shared that moment together, alone; happy that for that moment, everything was perfect.

---------------------------------

Continuation of 'Return to Hogwarts'.

Loose ends:
- Bagman’s interest in Harry

1. A wand is found lying on the ground
2. Padfoot bounds over the hedge
3. Gabrielle gives Harry a flower
4. An eagle owl soars over Hagrid's hut.
5. A Firebolt and a Nimbus
6. Mr. Crouch gets knocked off his feet as they rush by
7. McGonagall has an accident during the third task
8. Red sparks mean danger
9. A champion is cursed
10. Bagman is bagged
11. Maxime encounters a Giant Problem
12. Goblins have a run-in with the Twins
13. Karkaroff is humiliated
14. The Ghost Choir sings a Celestina Warbeck cover during dinner.
15. Krum's Fanclub makes an untimely appearance.
16. Ron can't answer because he's got his mouth full of candied kumquats.
17. Transfiguration homework gives Hermione a clue
18. Spiders in the maze slow down a champion

[Amaranth]

Padfoot the Hero

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...

**...A black, wooden statuette, the very sight of which sent shivers down Harry's back. Its surface seemed to writhe even as Cedric held it in his hands, looking paler by the moment.** Without warning, a first year Hufflepuff girl fainted clean away, and her friends were looking little better.

"Put it back in the box!" Harry yelled, pushing forward through the crowd. The moment the lid had been closed, a huge wave of relief washed through all affected by the statuette. A few people laughed nervously, while Cedric seemed unable to tear his gaze away from the cask, suspicion and fear on his face.

"Well done! Well done!" Bagman called cheerfully, finally making his way through the crowd towards Harry and Cedric. "Have you opened it?" He looked as excited as Ron when Madam Rosmerta was behind the bar in The Three Broomsticks. He didn't seemed to notice the incredulous looks on the students' faces as he peered eagerly at the cask in Cedric's hand.

"Um... no, sir," Cedric replied shakily. "I'll, uh, I'll open it later." With that, he snatched up the cask and walked away as quickly as was possible without openly running and fleeing from the crowd. Harry watched him leave with a great feeling of pity welling up inside of him. Whatever that figurine was, it was going to be trouble.

"Harry!" Ron called, his voice oddly hoarser and deeper than usual. "Inside! Quick!" Harry and Hermione chased Ron back up to the school, but rather than heading for the Gryffindor common room, made a beeline for an empty classroom instead. Ron shoved his back against the door to wedge it shut once they were inside, then shuddered as he seemed to grow before their eyes.

No, not seemed- He WAS growing taller! His hair was becoming darker, longer and shaggier, his eyes were turning black and lines were etching themselves across his face, ageing him. After only a moment, the only trace left of Ron was his school uniform, stretched and ill-fitting on Sirius Black.

"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, a grin breaking out on his face, despite his worries over the figurine. "What are you doing here?" Another thought occurred to him. "And where's Ron?"

"He shouldn't be here!" Hermione struck up angrily. "You could have been caught! Bad enough you've been hiding in that cave, what on earth made you come up here?" Sirius looked from Harry to Hermione, unsure of whose questions he should answer first.

**"Well, ah, that is, Ron is fine. Moody's looking after him. I expect he'll turn up in the common room in a bit," Sirius replied. "And as for why I'm up here, I've been trying to get closer to Bagman, see what he's up to. I don't suppose it's escaped your attentions that he's been acting rather odd?" Harry and Hermione looked at each other.**

"We think he's cheating. I mean, it's a bit odd, isn't it, the organiser of the tournament taking bets on the challenges when he already knows what's to come. Maybe he's even tailoring them to favour Cedric," Harry replied.

"It doesn't excuse what you're doing!" Hermione said shrilly. "You could have asked any of us to do that!"

"Not if Karkaroff is involved," Sirius growled. "Who knows where Bagman's loyalties really lie? His pocket or-" Whatever else Sirius was going to say was interrupted by a loud commotion in the corridor outside the classroom. Harry and Hermione looked at Sirius anxiously, but he had already become a loveable, stray dog. Before either of them could say a word, the classroom door burst open and Fred and George burst in, carrying an angry, cussing goblin between them. As Harry and Hermione gazed at the goblin, Fred and George stared at the dog. At the same time, all four exclaimed:

"What's that?!"

"A dog," Hermione answered swiftest. "He followed us here."

"Can we keep him?" Harry asked, unable stop himself from grinning. "Anyway, what are YOU up to?"

"We had a bit of a run in with some goblins," Fred said.

"Nothing to worry about. Just a bit of friendly competition," George added.

"Business," Fred continued. "Mr. Snubfist here has been taking bets on the tournament."

"Shameful practice, really," George said, shaking his head sadly. "Especially when he knows he's taking money away from decent, hard-working young schoolboys."

"I hope you don't mean yourselves!" Hermione snapped. Fred and George looked wounded.

"At least we haven't been trying to fix the tournament!" Fred replied.

"Except for tripping up Krum," George added. "Repeatedly."

"It's so easy, how can we resist?" Fred answered. "Anyway, I reckon it's best that this conversation never happened, don't you?"

"What are you going to do to him?" Harry asked. Fred and George exchanged mischievous looks.

"Nothing permanent," they replied carefully, looking at Hermione. She rolled her eyes, grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him towards the open door.

"Come on," she said irritably, before suddenly remembering Sirius was still following them. "Um... here boy?" she added weakly. Fred and George looked at her suspiciously as the large black dog trotted out of the classroom, tail wagging enthusiastically.

-----

**Sirius spent the months between the second and third tournaments back in the cave. Ron's forgiveness had been bought when Sirius had bitten Malfoy on the rear one time when the Slytherin boy had followed them to the cave, but otherwise, his stayed was peaceful- far more peaceful, in fact, than he'd been comfortable with.**

All the time, he watched the hedges of the maze growing taller and taller, positively lapping up the spring sunlight and condemning the lost Quidditch pitch beneath them to perpetual gloom. As the Third Task drew nearer, more and more people began to come to Hogsmeade to stay: reporters, supporters and spectators. The reports in "The Quibbler" were sporadic, the most recent theories surrounding the mysterious absence of goblin bookies taking bets for the tournament. Mr Lovegood blamed Fudge, of course, or else Bagman, which was more reasonable, but Sirius rather suspected it had more to do with the Weasley twins than anyone else.

It wasn't until the evening before the Third Task that he received an unexpected visitor - Hermione, alone. She peered into the entrance of the cave cautiously, before smiling at Sirius and hurrying inside. Buckbeak lifted his head hopefully from under his wing at her approach but, seeing no ferrets, squawked and went back to sleep, disappointed.

"I can't stay long. There's so many Aurors around the place that it's really hard to get out. Harry and Ron already got detention for trying. Someone's worried about this tournament." Sirius shivered as he resumed his usual, long-haired human form.

"More than just someone, I reckon," Sirius replied quietly. "It's been too quiet. Barely any staff have been down here since the Second Task, and you know what that tells me? They're in the castle," he said, jerking his head in Hogwarts' general direction. "Preparing themselves. That statuette's trouble anyway."

"If it even is a statuette," Hermione said enigmatically. "It was my Transfiguration homework which gave me a clue." She hefted a large but well-kept book out of her bag, running her fingers along to a bookmark and opening it at the marked page. "Here, this man Colfer wrote loads of advanced texts on Transfiguration."

Advanced was hardly the word for it. Near-indecipherable was closer, yet he, James and Peter had studied this very same book, he was sure, when they had been working on becoming animagi. Very complex stuff indeed. This chapter, however, seemed more concerned with the Transfiguration of people into objects.

"It's a good theory," Sirius began. "But the charm would have to be renewed every few weeks or so. Transfigured objects never keep their shape for long, especially if they're living. Besides, what would be the use?"

"Dumbledore's been keeping that statuette in his office! If it is a person, then it's most likely a spy."

"For who? I hardly think Voldemort's in a position to do anything, is he?" Sirius said incredulously.

"I hope not," Hermione replied. "I hope I'm wrong." Sirius and Hermione looked at each other with equal expressions of concern: it was rare, if ever, that Hermione Granger was wrong about something.

The faint sounds of a commotion came drifting into the cavern. Sirius quickly dropped back into his canine self and followed Hermione as she dashed to the cave entrance and peered down into the village of Hogsmeade. Several uniformed wizards were escorting Ludo Bagman through the streets, while all the visiting journalists and spectators were crowding around, impeding their progress and setting the evening alight with flashing bulbs.

"We'd best go see, hadn't we?" Hermione said, turning to look at the loveable stray, but he had already bounded off ahead of her.

"This is probably just some prank by the boys at the office!" Ludo was calling jovially to the crowd, waving at them and smiling. "Quite absurd, the very idea of it and all that!"

"They've got you bang to rights, Ludo!" one of the photographers sneered.

"Are you saying you didn't do it, Mr Bagman?" another called, as Hermione followed Sirius into the crowd and tried to get closer to Bagman.

"Absolutely! I mean, quite how they can suspect me of cursing one of the champions, when I organised this Tournament!" Ludo laughed, before the uniformed wizards started clearing the crowd away from around him.

"Reckon here's far enough, Shacklebolt?" one of the wizards asked.

"Should be out of the way of the anti-Disapparition charms now," he answered. With a loud bang and a bright flash, the group had vanished, leaving a slightly sheepish crowd to mull about in search of something else to gawp at.

"Excuse me," Hermione asked, touching the sleeve of one of the photographers. "What's happened? Why has Mr Bagman been arrested?" The photographer looked at Hermione gleefully.

"Haven't you heard?" she grinned, revealing a glinting, emerald tooth. "Fleur Delacour was found wandering the Hogwarts corridors in a daze with Diggory's statuette. Apparently someone tried to put her under the Imperiatus curse, though not very successfully." Sirius whined softly and peered up at Hermione anxiously. The photographer was soon distracted by one of her colleagues suggesting that now would be an excellent time to visit Madam Rosmerta, so Hermione and Sirius dashed into a dark alleyway, where Sirius could briefly change shape.

"Bagman may have fallen in with the wrong crowd," Sirius said. "But use an Unforgivable Curse? That's not like him."

"Someone must have wanted him away from the Tournament," Hermione mused. "Maybe Karkarov said something he didn't mean to and set Bagman up!"

"Karkarov seems the most likely to be behind it. Go to Moody, get his opinion and - ah!" Sirius had been forced to change shape rapidly as a few of the crowd wandered past the entrance of the alleyway. With an apologetic look at Hermione, he dashed off towards his cave, mind racing with what he had just heard. What did it all mean?

-----

The day of the Tournament dawned, and the sky was awash with soothing yellows and greens - at least the weather boded well for the Task. Sirius' tail wagged as he stretched and padded sleepily towards the cave entrance.

"You're a heavy sleeper, Black," Moody said softly. Sirius gave a small yelp of alarm, before trying to playfully bite Moody's arm. "Don't bother changing. Just follow me and keep your eyes and ears open." The two of them began to make their way towards the school. After a few moments, Moody spoke again, the eye of his name frantically scanning their surroundings for eavesdroppers.

"Miss Granger told me her theory and if she's right, we can't let any of those statuettes leave the castle. I take it you heard about the Beauxbatons girl?" Sirius barked again. "I'll take that as a 'yes'. Of course, Bagman never cursed her, but then, Miss Granger told me you were unconvinced of his guilt. But he has been tampering with this Tournament, no matter what he says. He's up to his second chin in debt with the goblins. Surprising I haven't seen them around of late, keeping an eye on him. He made bets with them over the outcome of this Tournament. From the way he's been behaving, I'd say he fancied Diggory as the overall victor, so obviously the goblins have been trying to get more money from his by turning the tournament in the other champions' favour. With Bagman and his goblins gone, we might just stand a chance of a fair contest."

They had reached the gates of the school, where two Aurors were stood guard. Both were young - the man had numerous piercings all over his face and a shaved head, while his female colleague had a shock of bright pink hair. Sirius thought she was rather familiar.

"Wotcha Moody," the female Auror said brightly, moving to open the gates.

"Not so fast!" Moody barked, so suddenly that even Sirius jumped. "Password!"

"Password? But I let you out of here only five minutes ago!"

"She's uh, right, you know," sniffed the male Auror.

"Tonks! Monkton!" Tonks rolled her eyes as Sirius grinned a canine grin. So, this was his cousin Nymphadora. He wondered if she was as clumsy as her father. "Now you listen to me, you wet-behind-the-ears, sad excuses of recruits! I could be anyone! I could be a spy under Polyjuice! Did you think of that?! CONSTANT VIGILIANCE at all times!!!" Moody yelled. Tonks sighed.

"Like that's ever going to happen," she muttered. "Don't you think we'd notice if you started walking around not shouting at us every five minutes? What's the password then, Moody?"

"Buried Fire," Moody growled.

"Amazing," Monkton said sarcastically. "I guess it really must be Moody after all." He opened the gates, letting Sirius and Moody through before shutting them fast behind them.

"Cute dog," Tonks added as the former Auror and the ex-convict made their way up to the school.

"You say that now, but he's a vicious killer," Moody growled. Sirius let his tongue hang out the side of his mouth and wagged his tail. Both of Moody's eyes fixed on him in a glare and they continued towards the maze.

"Three things you ought to know about this contest," Moody said. "One: the champions must take their statuette to a plinth in the middle of the maze. The first one to place their statuette on the plinth wins the cup. Obviously there's things in there to obstruct them, charms, hexes, traps, and whatever Hagrid dug up. Two: the champions may not use any magic to impede one another. That's what I'm listening out for. If someone's tried to put Delacour into a trance once, they've probably tried it again, maybe on one of the other champions. Three: red sparks mean danger. If we see red sparks, that's our cue to go into the maze and sort things out. Now obviously you can't do much like that so hopefully- ah, right on cue." They had reached the first of a number of tents at the edge of the maze. Sirius could see nothing, but caught a familiar scent in the breeze. Harry was around here somewhere.

With a small flourish, Harry appeared from under his invisibility cloak and handed it and his Firebolt to Sirius.

"Sorry about last night. McGonagall has us trying to catch all these half-Transfigured teacups from her third year class so she could put them right," he said, as Sirius returned to his usual, untidy self.

"Shameful behaviour, Harry," Sirius scolded him. "Getting caught! Your father and I never would have allowed that to happen."

"Moody's got the map!" Harry replied. "So it wasn't really our fault. Anyway, I'd better go. Knowing Ron, he'll have eaten all the pastries by now, but I might still be able to grab some toast." Sirius watched him go with a sigh.

"But he didn't think to bring me breakfast now, did he?" he said as he pulled the cloak around him.

"Staff get their own breakfast down here," Moody told him. "Follow me and keep quiet. And remember- constant vigiliance." Sirius followed him to the staff tent, where various members of the Hogwarts staff were being given red sashes to wear. Moody picked his up with a look of extreme distaste, and tied it around his upper arm. McGonagall gave him a withering look before turning to the assembled Tournament wardens.

She gave them a long speech about the purpose of the Tournament, and went over all the issues about suspect activities, though she said nothing of the statuettes themselves. All three of these had been kept in Dumbledore's office, and were to be given or, in Cedric's case, returned to their champions to be carried through the maze. Sirius only half-listened as he helped himself to some piping hot coffee and a couple of fresh-baked muffins. He had just been wondering if he could also sneak a few pancakes under the cloak when a huge shadow loomed over the tent. A moment later, a huge woman ducked inside and nodded graciously to McGonagall.

"Forgive me, Professor Mah-Goniggle," she said. "But I weesh to 'elp in ze patrolling of ze maze. Kindly 'and me a sash." Another figure hurried into the tent behind her.

"And if the Beauxbatons patrol, then I haff the right to patrol also! That is, of course, if this is to be a fair contest." McGonagall held up her hands in a placating gesture.

"Olympe, Igor, this is quite irregular!" she said. "But I understand, I really do. The attack on Miss Delacour shook us all." Wary looks spread around the tent as each person looked at the others suspiciously, except for Snape and Karkarov, who locked stares. For a moment, no one moved, and then McGonagall took a sash in each hand and offered them to the two headteachers.

"If I may-" Snape said, stepping forward with a look of mild concern on his face, but McGonagall glowered at him.

"No you may not, Professor Snape. This is my decision, and I expect you to abide by it." The faintest flicker of a smile crossed Karkarov's face, noticed only by Snape and Sirius, who had to press himself against the table to avoid being caught up in the potions master's wake as he swept out of the tent.

"I'll just be taking some air, Minerva," Moody said swiftly, his blue eye quickly meeting Sirius' invisible gaze. With an almost imperceptible nod, Moody left the tent, holding the flap open behind him just long enough for Sirius to duck outside.

"So," Moody began gruffly. "We'll be joined by Karkarov. I'd hoped McGonagall would refuse them, but there you have it. I'll keep an eye on him, but I want you flying over the maze itself, try and keep an eye on our champions and be first on the scene if those sparks go up. Understand?"

"One thought, Moody," Sirius said, just as the wizened ex-Auror turned to leave. "If there's Dark wizards behind this, don't you think someone should be keeping an eye on Harry?"

"Per'aps," Moody replied. "But I find it doubtful they'd attack him in the middle of a crowd of students. Now get up there before anyone else comes out here!" Sirius resisted the temptation to scowl at Moody ? that eye was still fixed on him. Instead, he mounted Harry's broom and shot up into the air, the breezes playfully tugging at the invisibility cloak to reveal his feet as he ascended.

Not a few moments later, the champions were escorted by Aurors to another tent. The red-sashed staff were spreading out around the maze's perimeter, and the stands over-looking the maze were rapidly filling up. Sirius quickly swooped overhead and spotted a group of redheads among the red and yellow crowd. Where the Weasleys were, it was most likely so were Harry and Hermione.

He'd been tempted to swoop a little lower, but a huge amount of noise had erupted over the entire maze - a fanfare declaring the task had begun. Sirius swooped back towards the entrance and watched as Diggory raced into the maze and vanished. Sirius rubbed his eyes, but no, he had gone. Another fanfare sounded and Krum ran in the same way. This time, Sirius watched him closely, and saw him fade away into shadows in the maze. Clearly, he was not meant to be able to see them unless they sent up the red sparks. He sighed with annoyance and began a lazy circuit around the maze, keeping fairly high.

The first excerpts of commentary started to reach him as he flew towards the spectators' stands-

"It would seem that Delacour has triggered the topsy-turvy trap at the far western end of the maze. Let's hope she remembers which way is up and gets moving again quickly." The deadpan voice was one which grated against Sirius' nerves - it was Bartemius Crouch, the heartless former head of Magical Law Enforcement. Rather too fanatical in his search for Dark Wizards, that one.

Suddenly, red sparks shot up into the air.

"I believe that's Krum down there. I've been informed that there are some sort of magical creatures down in that area. I think one of the champions has been slowed down by the spiders" Sirius didn't wait to hear what kind of creatures. Moody had wanted him first on the scene, and so he dived into the maze, weaving the broomstick's flight around the hedges until he could get close to the source of the sparks.

All he could see ahead of him, having flown through some unusually thick cobwebs, was a mass of black, spindly legs and the chattering of annoyed arachnids. At first he thought that Krum must have escaped, until he spotted a pale, wand-wielding hand shoot up through the mass of monsters. Sirius flew over the top of the spiders and reached down, grabbing Krum's hand and pulling him forcibly out of danger. Dangling beneath the invisible broomstick and its rider, Krum clawed thick cobweb from his face and shot a few hexes at the spiders.

"Thank you!" he called to his invisible rescuer. "I can continue alone!" Sirius dropped him without warning which, as it happened, was a mistake as Krum panicked and snatched at thin air before dropping. He caught the cloak and pulled it away. Sirius, revealed, swiftly changed shape for what seemed like the tenth time in two days, but now found himself unable to control the broomstick, which began to veer about randomly forcing Sirius to bound over a hedge to avoid colliding with it.

Well now he found himself in difficulty. He could see no way to head back to the entrance, or even to Krum, and even if he could have done, the chances of encountering Moody rather than, say, Karkarov, were slim and meeting anyone else would have given rise to awkward questions.

And yet a thrill of excitement rushed through him, and his tail wagged more enthusiastically than it had in months. He was in the tournament, perhaps not as a champion, but he would be facing the same challenges, and if he hoped to get out of here, then finding that plinth and sneaking out with the winner was his best chance. He dared not become human again - as a dog, his hearing and eyesight were better, and he was quick enough to avoid many obstacles, rather than draw attention to himself by taking on the obstacles directly. It also occurred to him that his face had been plastered all over the newspapers quite recently, and would therefore be fresh in people's minds. He doubted the good old Diggory boy would hesitate in stunning mass-murderer Sirius Black.

So, with an excited bark, Sirius charged deeper into the maze.

-----

"Krum has been found unharmed," Crouch droned loudly to all the spectators. "But has forfeited his place in the tournament for using the red sparks. This leaves Fleur Delacour for Beauxbatons and Cedric Diggory for Hogwarts to compete for first place." The Durmstrang crowd groaned as they watched part of the maze open up to allow Krum, escorted by Karkarov and Moody, to leave and head for the healers' tent.

"What I wouldn't give to be Sirius right now," Harry sighed to Ron. "I bet he's got a great view flying over the maze."

-----

Sirius' first mistake had been to run through the maze. No wonder the Delacour girl had triggered a trap so quickly! After chewing his way out from the grip of a Devil's Snare, he had slowed down quite considerably. Then there had been the Streelers - Streelers, for goodness' sake! - which had been incredibly frustrating. On the one hand, their venom was burning through all the vegetation, and on the other, he couldn't follow the "paths" they made (a discovery he'd made to his cost- one of his front paws was covered in blisters).

Eventually, he'd ran into Diggory, quite literally. As the two had crashed into the other, only Sirius' very best puppy-dog expression stayed Diggory's hand. It seemed the boy was still debating whether or not Sirius was a trap, as he neither wanted Sirius leading the way or following him. Instead, Sirius walked beside him obediently.

"I haven't seen the others you know," Diggory mused. "Not heard anything either. I saw the sparks go up, but that could be anything couldn't it" Maybe I'm the only one left. Wouldn't that be weird? Racing along when actually I've all the time in the world. It's all a bit crazy, isn't it?" Cedric laughed, then stopped as he stared at the dog. "I'm talking to a dog," he moaned. "I've gone mad."

Sirius merely whined. Cedric's statuette was in a bag slung over his shoulder. Everything about it felt far worse to him as a dog than it ever had done as a man. Now he wondered exactly was it was both and the boy were getting into. It wasn't long before he and Cedric were charged by an angry Nogtail, and Sirius had to suffer the indignity of being turned pure white for the purposes of scaring it off, despite the fact that the creature was only a real threat to pig farmers. After that, there was more of a companionable silence between them.

When they reached the centre of the maze, they stumbled across it like one of the many traps or hidden creatures. The bright light had Cedric ready with his wand and Sirius' hackles up, growling softly. It was a few moments before they realised they were safe. The plinth stood before them, empty. They had to have arrived first!

"Suppose I've got you to thank for this," Cedric said graciously, stepping up to the plinth and taking the statuette out of its bag.

You can thank me by putting a good word in for me at the Ministry, Sirius thought to himself, watching warily as Cedric slotted the statuette into a recess on the plinth's surface. At that moment, Fleur came bursting out of the hedges behind them. She saw Cedric and stamped her foot.

"Zut alors!" she exclaimed. "I 'ave lost, non?" Cedric turned grinning to answer her, and so didn't see what was happening to the statuette.

Dumbledore's been keeping that statuette in his office! If it is a person, then it's most likely a spy.

Sirius growled and let out a warning bark as the statuette writhed and stretched, glowing red for a moment before exploding, sending sharp splinters in all directions. Something from inside it was continuing to grow, taking on the form of a man, a short, round, balding little man. His wand was out, pointing at Diggory, but Sirius leapt up and bit Wormtail's arm ferociously, keeping hold like a terrier with a rat. Diggory and Fleur reacted quickly, but not quickly enough; as the path opened to the winners' podium, the strange, balding man turned into a rat and fled, with the peculiar white dog chasing it the entire way. Fleur shook her head as though trying to clear flies from her vision.

"Zat man put me under ze Imperius curse!" she cried indignantly. "'E 'ad me turn 'im into that statue!"

Dumbledore approached the champions with a slightly bemused smile on his face.

"Well now, something unexpected has been happening here," he said, indicating that the champions should follow him. Suddenly, there was a shriek and a burst of laughter from the crowd. As the champions followed an anxious Dumbledore to the maze's perimeter, they saw a most peculiar sight. Madame Maxime had somehow been launched up into the hedges and was quite stuck.

"Dear Madam, what has happened to you?" Dumbledore called concernedly.

"Eet was an 'airy man! An 'airy man with white 'air, chasing a rat! 'E 'it me with a spell and left me 'ere!!" Maxime called down to him.

"My dear Olympe! We shall fetch you a ladder at once!" Dumbledore replied.

"No chance, Professor," Filch said, hurrying up to the group ahead of the rest of the red-sashed wardens. "We 'aven't got a ladder strong enough for her."

"Oh dear," Dumbledore sighed. "It would seem we have a bit of a problem."

"A bit? I'd say it was huge," Filch said nastily.

"I'll call for Hagrid, Albus," McGonagall said, waving her wand in the air and sending a silvery white eagle owl soaring overhead and off towards the groundskeeper's hut, where it circled a few times above it before diving down the chimney.

"But for now," Dumbledore said, turning to Diggory and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I think it best we inform the rest of our schools that we do indeed have a Triwizard Tournament winner."

-----
-----

Your mission is to build from "PADFOOT UNDERCOVER"

LOOSE ENDS

**had to say what was in the cask**

**explain where Ron had been all this time**

**get to the Third Task**

MISSIONS (IN ORDER)

Goblins have a run-in with the Twins

Transfiguration homework gives Hermione a clue

Bagman is bagged

A champion is cursed

Red sparks mean danger

Spiders in the maze slow down a champion

Padfoot bounds over the hedge

An eagle owl soars over Hagrid's hut.

Maxime encounters a Giant Problem

[timeturner]

The Final Task

Harry was more grateful than usual when Charms class ended. After working on the Engorgement Charm all week, half of the class was still having trouble with what Hermione had deemed “a very simple spell”. Given the fact that Professor Flitwick had spent the last ten minutes of class shrinking unintended targets including Harry’s shoe, Neville’s toad, and Lavender Brown’s head, Harry felt inclined to disagree with Hermione’s assessment.

Deciding to take a shortcut to the Great Hall for lunch, Harry, Hermione, and Ron slipped past a tapestry and into one of the lesser-known corridors. Ron was just finishing a long-winded joke that ended with the punch-line, “Orange you glad I didn’t say marmalade again” when they heard angry voices coming from somewhere up ahead and out of sight.

Harry tiptoed silently down the corridor with Ron and Hermione at his heels. The three of them peeked around the corner and saw Bagman and Karkaroff in a heated discussion.

* “We had a deal, Igor,” Bagman yelled. “You can’t back out now.” *

“I’m not backing out as you say. It’s Victor. He does not want to cheat,” Karkaroff said disdainfully. “I told him what to do in the last task. He refused to listen to me and did the opposite out what I said out of spite. Do not blame me. He is stubborn”

“Honestly, Igor,” Bagman whined. “You need to do something. If the bets don’t go my way-”

Harry never got to find out what would happen if the bets did not go Bagman’s way, because at that very moment Mad-Eye Moody chose to make an appearance. Even with a clunky wooden leg, he had snuck up on the whole lot of them without anybody noticing. Harry couldn’t help but admire the old Auror’s stealth.

“Fancy a flutter, eh?” Moody said, shoving Harry, Ron, and Hermione back against the wall before pulling his wand on Bagman and Karkaroff. “I told Dumbledore you were cheating. Looks like I caught you red-handed this time.”

“What are you going to do?” Bagman asked, his eyes wide.

Moody’s gash of a mouth morphed into something that vaguely resembled a smile. “I’m going take out the trash, sonny.”

Moody raised his wand and conjured a rubbish bin and a huge burlap bag from thin air. Within seconds, he had bagged a struggling Bagman and magicked him into the bin.

“That’s better,” Moody growled. “Now it’s your turn, Karkaroff.”

But, having apparently snuck off when nobody was looking, Karkaroff was not around to take his turn.

“No matter,” Moody said, turning to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. “I’ll catch up with that slippery bit of scum later on.”

“What are you going to do to him?” Hermione asked.

“Whatever I feel like,” Moody replied, his magical eye spinning in its socket and falling on Hermione. “Got a problem with that, Granger?”

“Um…no,” she squeaked, looking everywhere but Moody’s face.

“Then off you go,” Moody said, his voice softening just slightly.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn’t need to be told twice. Speeding down the corridor, they headed to the Great Hall where they spent the entire noon meal gossiping about the Tournament and everything they had heard. They were still hashing things out when they reached the Gryffindor common room some time later.

“I still say we’ll never see Karkaroff again,” Ron said, pausing to give the Fat Lady the new password (belch powder). “That old nutter’s gonna kill him.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Ron,” Hermione argued as she crawled through the portrait hole. “Professor Moody is a retired Auror, he’s not a murderer.”

“Mad-Eye out to get you, Ron?” Fred asked cheerfully, looking up from the parchment that he and George had been poring over.

“Not me. Karkaroff,” Ron answered. “Moody caught him and Bagman talking about the third task.”

George raised his eyebrows and shot Fred a meaningful look. “Bagman has gotten himself in a spot with everyone, hasn’t he?”

“What do you mean?” Harry asked.

“Nothing,” Fred answered smoothly.

“That’s rubbish. You two know something. What gives?” Ron demanded.

“Better watch that big nose of yours, Ronniekins. It’s getting in other people’s business again,” George warned in a sing-song voice.

“Ron’s right. If you know something, you should tell us,” Hermione interjected tartly.

Fred smirked. “Why? You three bent on saving the day again?”

“Somebody has to,” Hermione said in the most dignified voice she could muster.

The twins laughed.

“Looks like we better tell them, Fred,” George said mockingly. “Wizardkind depends on it.”

“So, what do you know,” Harry interrupted, ending the banter before it could go any further.

“Not much, really” George admitted. “Just that goblins are going mad looking for Bagman. We had a run in with them just a minute ago out on the grounds.”

“Nasty lot,” Fred added. “They stopped us and demanded to know where they could find Bagman.”

George laughed. “It was funny, because we had just seen good ol’ Ludo leaving the castle. He was all red in the face and looking as grouchy as Mum on a bad day. Don’t know what his problem was. It did sound like he was mumbling something about Mad-Eye Moody though.”

“Course, we didn’t tell the goblins that we’d seen Bagman,” Fred said.

“Why not?” Hermione asked.

“Didn’t like their attitude. Plus, we figured Bagman might be grateful enough to return the favor someday,” Fred admitted.

Hermione opened her mouth, no doubt to begin a lengthy lecture, but George interrupted her.

“Don’t start, Hermione. We spilled our guts, so scat.”

“Unless you feel like sampling our new products,” Fred added, grinning wickedly. “We can’t seem to get our recipe for eye-popping éclairs quite right. A new pair of lookers may be just what we need to straighten things out.”

“C’mon, Hermione,” Ron said, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her away from the twins. “You need your eyes.”

Hermione frowned at the twins, but followed Ron to one of the tables where they spent the time before dinner playing Wizard’s Chess.

The hours went by rather quickly and soon it was time to head downstairs. When they reached the Entrance Hall, they were met with quite a scene. Karkaroff was standing in the center of a huge cluster of laughing students.

“What’s going on,” Harry asked Ginny, who was standing near the edge of the crowd.

“It’s Karkaroff,” Ginny giggled. “Someone must have jinxed him. Every time he opens his mouth and tries to talk, his goatee grows longer.”

Harry stood on his toes and craned his neck. He finally spotted Karkaroff in the center of the crowd. His silver goatee had grown so long that the tip of it now touched the floor. Amused, Harry watched it grow a bit more as Karkaroff tried to sputter a few more words.

“The git just can’t seem to keep his mouth shut,” Ginny said disbelievingly, still watching Karkaroff. “He’s humiliating himself in front of the entire school.”

Harry felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to find Mad-Eye Moody leering at him.

“What you think of Karkaroff’s beard, Potter?” Moody asked.

“Nice,” Harry said. “Your handiwork?”

“Aye,” Moody replied. “Figured he’d keep his mouth shut if there were consequences. I see that’s going to require more of a miracle than a jinx though.”

“How long will it last?” Harry asked.

“He’s stuck that way until I decide to perform the counter-curse.” The gash in Moody’s face twisted into a smile once more. “So, in other words, it’s permanent.”

The crowd of students suddenly parted as someone else made their way into the Entrance Hall. It was Dumbledore. With the exception of a whisper hear and there, everyone was quiet, waiting to see what the headmaster would do. For a moment, he did nothing, and then he chuckled.

“That is a fine beard, Igor. One might say that it puts mine to shame,” Dumbledore said, gesturing to his own long white beard.

Karkaroff looked furious. He opened his mouth to retort and his ridiculously long goatee sprouted even more silver hair, which began to inch along the floor towards a throng of Hufflepuffs, all of whom backed away very quickly.

“I think silence may serve you better for now,” Dumbledore told Karkaroff. “And, if you are interested in a trim, perhaps a member of our staff could assist.”

Dumbledore looked up to where Harry stood and nodded at Moody, who mumbled something about the jig being up. Once Karkaroff had been led from the Entrance Hall, the crowd dispersed. There was nothing more to see.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched Moody stump off after Dumbledore before entering the Great Hall. They found seats at the Gryffindor table and filled their plates with ham pie, golden potatoes, and treacle tart. Soon the owls started to arrive, delivering the evening mail.

Harry looked to the staff table to see if Karkaroff, Moody, or Dumbledore had returned, but their seats remained empty. He did see Hagrid though, who waved cheerfully. Harry waved back, noticing that Hagrid had once again secured a seat next to Madam Maxine.

The Beauxbatons Headmistress was currently in the process of untying a large package from between the feet of two eagle owls. She kept looking at Hagrid while she did it, clearly assuming it was him who had sent it. Harry nudged Hermione and pointed out the scene.

“Look, Hagrid sent Madam Maxine a package,” Harry whispered.

Hermione frowned. “I don’t think Hagrid sent that, Harry. He looks just as curious to see what’s in that package as she does.”

Harry realized that Hermione was right. Hagrid’s eyes were narrowed and he was intently watching Madam Maxine. Had someone else fallen for the Beauxbatons Headmistress?

Apparently not. Madam Maxine screamed as a giant spider leapt at her from inside the unwrapped package, landing directly on the top of her head. Hysterical, she stood and began to run in circles screaming, “Get it off! Get it off!”

Hagrid reached out to help her, but Madam Maxine’s flailing arms knocked him to the floor.

“I can’t believe she’s scared of that spider,” Ron said. “Compared to her, he’s nothing but a speck of dust.”

Hermione snorted. “You’re one to talk.”

Harry watched as Hagrid hoisted himself to his feet, only to be knocked to the ground once more.

“Oh honestly,” Hermione said, getting to her feet and pulling out her wand. “Why does everyone always panic and forget that they know magic. Accio spider!”

The spider zoomed from Madam Maxine’s head into Hermione’s outstretched hand. Ron, who was sitting next to her, made a strange sound and bunched closer to Neville. Using a freezing charm, Hermione immobilized the spider and placed it on the Gryffindor table. It took a moment for Madam Maxine to realize that she had been rescued, but when she did, she promptly fell into Hagrid’s arms and began sobbing.

“Who would have sent something so horrible?” Harry wondered aloud.

*“A Quibbler reader no doubt,” Hermione replied peevishly. “Things like this have been happening ever since that ridiculous article appeared telling people to protest the Tournament by whatever means possible. Such rubbish.”*

More owls began to fly into the Great Hall and for a moment Harry wondered if Quibbler readers had sent them, but it turned out to be the evening delivery of The Daily Prophet. One of the owls swooped and landed in front of Hermione, who paid for the service with several Knuts and a small piece of ham from her plate.

“Let’s see what’s in the real news,” Hermione said, snapping the Prophet open and then laying it on the table immediately. “Oh my, look at that!”

Harry and Ron leaned over her shoulder to read.

Bagman Exposed

Once again, scandal has arisen at the Ministry of Magic, writes Special Correspondent Rita Skeeter. Ludovic "Ludo" Bagman, current Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, has come under scrutiny for incidents that occurred in his days as a professional Quidditch player.

An unnamed source close to Bagman reveals that the once celebrated Beater for the Wimbourne Wasps used to throw games for personal monetary gain. “That Ludo was a no good cheater. He fixed games every chance he got. If it came down to it, he’d hit a member of his own team with a Bludger just to take them out,” says the source.

Bagman is currently supervising the Tri-Wizard Tournament being held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. One must speculate that perhaps this appointment is out of order given Bagman’s questionable past. When contacted, Ministry officials refused to comment, leaving this reporter to wonder if a cover-up is in the works.

“They’re a bit behind on the times, aren’t they?” Ron asked sarcastically. *“We already knew that Bagman was a no good cheater.”*

“Yeah, but now everyone else knows too. That should keep Bagman in line for the third task,” Hermione said.

“Don’t be so sure,” Harry said, remembering Sirius’ words. “Desperate men do desperate things.”

“Oy,” Ron said, pointing towards the door. “There’s Fleur. She’s a bit late for dinner, isn’t she?”

Harry followed Ron’s finger and saw Fleur as she was walking past their table. She was with another student from Beauxbatons. Both girls were frowning towards members of the Ghost Choir, who were in the midst of enthusiastically belting out a Celestina Warbeck cover tune.

“Zes choir is simply ‘orrible,” Fleur said. “The dinner music at Beauxbatons is so much better.”

Harry saw Hermione suddenly straighten in her seat and wondered what she was doing, but then he saw that Viktor Krum was approaching their table. Ron didn’t look too happy about this and covered his displeasure by pretending that it wasn’t happening and shoving a handful of candied kumquats in his mouth.

“Hermy-own-ninny,” Krum said, ignoring Harry and Ron. “I haff not had a chance to speak vith you lately. I vas vondering if you might vant to take a valk vith me tonight?”

Before Hermione could respond, a gaggle of girls made an appearance behind Krum, all of them giggling and whispering. Much to Harry’s amazement and Hermione’s consternation, they continued to stand there openly staring at Krum.

Hermione’s face turned an alarming shade of red. “I suppose that depends on whether or not your fan club will be joining us.”

Krum looked embarrassed and mumbled a hurried no.

Hermione stared at him a moment and seemed to soften. “Actually, a walk sounds nice. I’ll meet you in the Entrance Hall in a few minutes?”

“Until then,” Krum said, smiling slightly before nodding a curt good-bye to Harry and Ron.

Ron snorted and Hermione rounded on him. “Do you have some sort of problem with Viktor?”

Harry could tell that Ron was dying to tell Hermione exactly what his problem was, but he had unfortunately stuffed too many candied kumquats in his mouth to muster a response. Rolling her eyes, Hermione got to her feet and stalked away from the table without a backward glance.

“You know,” Harry whispered, hoping to take Ron’s mind off of Hermione and Krum. “We should go to Hagrid’s and see Sirius. He’s probably going mad in that hut.”

“Alright,” Ron agreed, though somewhat reluctantly.

Ron continued to brood the entire trip to Hagrid’s. Harry managed to cheer him up slightly by pointing out an eagle owl that was soaring over Hagird’s hut and speculating about the type of package it may be carrying.

“Maybe one of those Quibbler nutters are sending something to Snape. I wouldn’t mind seeing him being attacked by spiders,” Harry joked.

“I think I’d rather see him covered in bubotuber pus myself,” Ron said, finally cracking a smile when Harry laughed.

Ludo Bagman, who leapt quite suddenly from behind a hedge and into their path, cut Harry’s laughter short. Pure instinct caused Harry to pull out his wand.

“Now, now. Just hoping to have a word,” Bagman said, quickly holding up his hands to show that he wasn’t armed. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you, Harry.”

This was news to Harry, who had noticed Bagman staring at him, but had certainly never anticipated an ambush.

“About what?” Harry asked, keeping his wand aloft.

“I was hoping we could talk in private,” Bagman said, glancing at Ron.

“I don’t think so,” Ron said, pulling out his wand as well.

“Whatever you want to say to me, you can say to him too,” Harry said.

Bagman looked uncomfortable at the thought, but plunged ahead anyway. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about your Quidditch career. I hear you’re quite the Seeker. You were the youngest in a century, they say. I assume that you will of course continue the game after Hogwarts?”

When Harry didn’t respond, Bagman began to fidget. He had obviously been hoping for a more receptive Harry.

“See the thing is, I’ve been there. I could help train you, prepare you for matches, whatever it takes.”

“What’s in it for you?” Harry asked suspiciously.

“Nothing, nothing. Only the simple pleasure of helping a student pursue his dream. Well, that and a small monetary fee, of course. Nothing much. A deposit will do for now.” Bagman added quickly.

“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think so,” Harry said.

“Come now, Harry,” Bagman said with a bit more desperation. “You’ve got the money. Parents left you plenty of gold from what I hear.”

“Who told you that?” Harry asked, feeling irritated that someone was gossiping about such things.

“Does it really matter? No, Harry, I don’t think it does. What’s important is that you follow your dream. I can help you with that,” Bagman said, almost pleading now. “What do you say, Harry?”

“I say no. Now please, move out of our way.”

*“You drive a tough bargain, Harry,” Bagman said, showing no signs of moving anywhere. “I didn’t think you’d be so savvy. Here’s the truth. I need the money and I need it now. The goblins are after me. I’ve got nowhere else to turn.”*

“You work for the Ministry of Magic,” Harry reasoned. “Can’t they help you?”

*Bagman laughed. “I tried sending an anonymous owl to the Ministry.* Thought maybe they could investigate the goblin enforcers, get them off my back. But that didn’t work. I tried making a quick Galleon by betting on the Tournament, and all I did was dig a deeper hole. See, Harry, that’s why I need you. If you slip me a bit of your gold, I can hold off those greedy goblins. Maybe make a fresh start.”

“Look, you seem like a nice guy,” Harry said. “I just don’t want to get involved.”

“Then you leave me no choice,” Bagman said, reaching for his wand.

Before Harry or Ron could respond, a big black dog bounded over the hedge. It was Padfoot. He charged straight at Bagman who turned and began to run towards the forest, Padfoot nipping at his heels the entire way.

“Ha! Look, Bagman was so scared he dropped his wand,” Ron said, pointing to a wand, which had been abandoned on the ground.

Harry said nothing. The incident had left him momentarily speechless. Sirius had been right about Bagman all along.

“You know,” Harry said. “We almost went a whole year without being attacked.”

“There’s always next year,” Ron said, though not very optimistically.

Sirius returned a moment later and led Harry and Ron back to Hagrid’s hut. Hagrid must have been out, because he was nowhere to be seen when they entered the house. Sirius shed his animagus form as soon as they were all inside.

“Good timing,” Harry said with a grin.

“I’ve been waiting for him to make a move. Lucky I was around when it happened. Dumbledore came by the other day and asked that I stay put in Hagrid’s house. Said he didn’t mind me staying, but didn’t want me drawing attention to myself. He’s just paranoid,” Sirius said, waving away the worried look that Harry and Ron exchanged. “I’m still coming to the third task tomorrow. Can’t miss that.”

The rest of the evening was spent in enjoyable conversation. Hagrid returned shortly after nightfall, almost catching Sirius in his human form. Luckily Ron had been peeking out the window at the time looking for some sign of Hermione and Krum and spotted Hagrid’s approach. Harry and Ron shared a cup of tea with him before returning to the castle and retiring for the night.


***


The excitement throughout the school was almost palpable on the morning of the third task. Most of the students were seated before the elaborate maze that had been erected on the Quidditch Pitch long before the task was set to start, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were no exception. They had arrived early and found seats down in the front row. Shortly afterwards, they were joined by Hagrid and Padfoot, a.k.a. Elmer.

Harry was looking forward to the champions’ arrival. A rumor had spread through the school this morning that Cedric, Fleur, and Krum would be entertaining the crowd with a short performance before the task started. Nobody was exactly sure what this would entail, so anticipations had been running wild. Personally, Harry was hoping for another demonstration of the Wronski Feint.

A booming voice suddenly got the attention of the crowd. It was Percy Weasley. He announced, quite pompously, that he would be commentating during the third task. Harry noticed that Percy did not mention Bagman’s absence or the reason behind it.

“Please join me in welcoming the school champions,” Percy announced. “Fleur Delacour, Cedric Diggory, and Viktor Krum.”

A deafening sound of applause rang through the crowd as the champions made their appearance. Each rode a racing broom that left a colored trail of sparks in the air as the dipped, dived, and zoomed. Fleur flew by on a Cleansweep, leaving bursts of blue and silver in her wake. Her sister Gabrielle walked on the ground beneath her, handing out white roses to students in the crowd. When Gabrielle reached Harry and handed him a flower, her pale face flushed pink and she bowed her head shyly.

Krum and Cedric were awing the crowd with dangerous stunts and tricks. It seemed that Krum was giving a slightly better performance on his Firebolt than Cedric was on the Nimbus that he was riding, but both were impressive never the less.

Like Fleur, Cedric and Krum had also solicited pre-match support from others. It seemed that the entire Hufflepuff House was handing out yellow badges that displayed the words “Support Cedric”, while the Durmstrang students were tossing miniature figures of Krum into the crowd. Harry saw Hermione discreetly pocket a Krum figure that she had caught.

When the display finally ended, the champions landed and discarded their brooms. After receiving last minute instructions from Dumbledore, Cedric, Fleur, and Krum each took a place at one of the maze entrances. All three of them looked nervous and even younger than usual.

“The order in which the Tri-Wizard Champions enter the maze is based on their current point position. *As the leader, Fleur Delacour will enter first. She will be followed five minutes later by Cedric Diggory and Viktor Krum, both of whom are tied for second place.* The first champion to reach the Tri-Wizard Cup will be declared the winner,” Percy called. “There will be many dangerous feats to overcome within the maze. Every time a champion encounters an obstacle, red sparks will be shot into the air. This is meant to help spectators track the progress of the champions. If the obstacle proves too great to overcome, the champion may forfeit by shooting green sparks from their wand. They will be rescued promptly.”

Fleur entered the maze and almost instantly, the crowd was treated to a shower of red sparks. From where he was sitting, Harry heard Fleur scream.

“Did you hear that?” Hermione hissed into Harry’s ear.

“What, Fleur’s scream? How could you not,” Harry replied.

“No,” Hermione said sharply. “I heard a man’s voice come from inside the maze. Harry, I think someone just cursed Fleur.”

Finally cottoning on, Harry said, “Do you think it was Bagman?”

“I don’t know,” Hermione said, biting her lip nervously. “What should we do?”

“What are you two going on about,” Ron asked.

“We think someone just cursed Fleur,” Hermione explained.

Harry felt someone nudge his leg and looked down to find Padfoot staring up at him. He had his head cocked to the side in a very dog-like way. Harry leaned over and told him everything in a whisper. Padfoot growled, leapt from the stands, and charged the maze.

“Elmer, no!” Hagrid yelled. “Come back!”

But Padfoot did not come back. He had disappeared within the leafy walls of the maze. Much of the crowd had seen the big black dog enter and a roar of conversation swept the crowd as a result.

“Oh dear,” Hagrid said. “Elmer shouldn’t ‘ave done that.”

Padfoot reappeared a moment later, dragging an unconscious man by the robes. It was Bagman. As soon as he was visible to the crowd, Padfoot let go of Bagman’s robes and ran back into the maze. He was back again a moment later, this time dragging an unconscious Fleur. Madam Maxine, Madam Pomfrey, and Dumbledore all rushed to Fleur’s side. She was revived soon afterwards. Harry saw her point at Bagman, as she told Madam Maxine and Dumbledore what happened.

“If I could have everyone’s attention please,” Dumbledore yelled to the chattering crowd. “The task will be delayed for a short time while I confer with the other judges. Please feel free to remain in the stands and talk amongst yourselves.”

Padfoot bounded back to Harry’s side and sat back down as if nothing had happened. Hagrid, however, did not intend to ignore such heroics. He scratched Padfoot behind the ears, and began talk of all the treats that would be had later on back at the hut.

Professor McGonagall, who was sitting next to Hagrid, was also impressed and won over by Padfoot. She leaned over to offer him a scratch behind the ears, and promptly fell out of her seat. Harry tried very hard not to laugh at the sight of the prim Professor McGonagall flat on her back with her legs in the air, her tartan hose exposed for the entire world to see. Hagrid soon had her reseated though and there was no real harm done. Not long afterwards, Dumbledore reappeared with the champions at his side.

“My humble apologies for the most unfortunate delay,” Dumbledore called to the crowd. “It has come to our attention that Miss Delacour was faced with an unplanned obstacle within the maze. Therefore, it has been decided that the third task will begin anew.”

Everyone cheered as the champions once again took their places at their respective maze entrances. Fleur entered first; Krum and Cedric followed five minutes later. Fleur seemed to be having better luck this time, but Cedric was not as lucky. Red sparks were being shot into the air from his side of the maze.

“That’ll be the spiders. Put ‘em there myself,” Hagrid confided to Harry. “Might slow Cedric down some, but don’ worry, they’re Aragog’s offspring. They won’ hurt ‘im.”

Harry silently hoped that Cedric was not scared of spiders. Apparently he wasn’t, because the red sparks ceased after a few moments. Soon, red sparks were flying from every part of the maze. It looked like Fleur had somehow gotten lost, as she was no longer moving towards the Tri-Wizard Cup, but Krum and Cedric were steadily making there way to victory. The sound coming from the Hufflepuff section of the crowd was almost deafening. Harry felt himself being caught up in the excitement and desperately hoped that Cedric would win for Hogwarts.

And win he did. Afterward, Krum and Fleur were both good sports, congratulating Cedric and shaking his hand. Karkaroff, however, stomped away without a backward glance.

The celebratory feast that occurred afterwards continued well into the night. Harry, Ron, and Hermione snuck out of the Great Hall to visit Sirius, who greeted them in human form. Hagrid was out, consoling Madam Maxine. This was probably a good thing, considering Sirius, or Elmer as Hagrid knew him, would be leaving Hogwarts tonight.

“Hagrid will be disappointed. I think he liked having a dog,” Harry said.

“I wish there was a way that I could repay Hagrid for his kindness,” Sirius said. “He’s a good man.”

“Get him a dragon. He’d like that,” Ron said with a laugh.

“Not a real dragon?” Sirius asked.

“Ooh, that gives me an idea,” Hermione squealed, pulling a piece of parchment from her ever-present bookbag.

“Is that your Transfiguration assignment?” Ron asked disbelievingly. “You planned on doing homework tonight?”

Hermione blushed, “Not exactly. I just wanted to polish it up a bit before I hand it in tomorrow. But, nevermind that. I wrote down a spell that permanently transfigures statues. We could use it on the Norwegian Ridgeback statue that Hagrid keeps on his mantel. Hagrid will love it!”

“That’s brilliant,” Harry said grabbing the statue and bringing it over to the table.

“There’s only one problem,” Hermione said. “I’ve never actually done the spell before.”

“Let’s try it together,” Sirius reasoned. “Two wands are better than one. Between the two of us, I bet we can do it. What’s the incantation?”

“Draconis,” Hermione replied.

“On three, then,” Sirius said.

Sirius and Hermione aimed their wands at the Norwegian Ridgeback and together they cast the Draconis charm. The statue sprang to life instantly, but thankfully did not grow any larger, or breathe fire. It did, however, bite Ron’s finger as soon as the opportunity arose. They all had a good laugh and even Ron joined in.

It was at that moment that Harry realized he had enjoyed this year more than any other in his life. It was a good feeling.


*******************************************************************

Continued From
Padfoot Perturbed (Round One)
Return to Hogwarts (Round Two)



LOOSE ENDS

* “We had a deal, Igor,” Bagman yelled. “You can’t back out now.” *-- Explains which champion Bagman has been rooting for. (2nd Task)

*“A Quibbler reader no doubt,” Hermione replied peevishly. “Things like this have been happening ever since that ridiculous article appeared telling readers to boycott the Tournament by whatever means possible. What rubbish.”* --Elaborates on the Quibbler article which exposed Bagman’s plot for world domination and encouraged readers to protest the tournament. (1st Task)

*“We already knew that Bagman was a no good cheater.”* --Ties up the loose end from the conversation in the forest that Harry, Ron, and Hermione started with Sirius in regards to Bagman (2nd Task)

*“You drive a tough bargain, Harry,” Bagman said, showing no signs of moving anywhere. “I didn’t think you’d be so savvy. Here’s the truth. I need the money and I need it now. The goblins are after me. I’ve got nowhere else to turn.”* --This line, along with the paragraphs surrounding it, explains why Bagman was staring at Harry and asking around about him. He wanted to embezzle…er, I mean borrow money from Harry’s vault (1st Task)

*Bagman laughed. “I tried sending an anonymous owl to the Ministry.* --Answers the question of who sent the anonymous owl to the Ministry, as reported in the Daily Prophet (1st Task)

*As the leader, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons will enter first. She will be followed five minutes later by Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts and Viktor Krum of Durmstrang, both of whom are tied for second place.* --Clarifies the place status of the three champions (2nd Task)



MISSION ICONS/REQUIREMENTS (In order)


Bagman is bagged
Goblins have a run-in with the Twins
Karkaroff is humiliated
Maxime encounters a Giant Problem
Rita Skeeter reveals a cheater
The Ghost Choir sings a Celestina Warbeck cover during dinner.
Krum's Fanclub makes an untimely appearance.
Ron can't answer because he's got his mouth full of candied kumquats.
An eagle owl soars over Hagrid's hut.
Padfoot bounds over the hedge
A wand is found lying on the ground
Gabrielle gives Harry a flower
A Firebolt and a Nimbus
Red sparks mean danger
Icons you've found:
A champion is cursed
McGonagall has an accident during the third task
Spiders in the maze slow down a champion
Transfiguration homework gives Hermione a clue
Teamwork solves a problem



AUTHOR NOTE
This segment was written from Harry's POV because Dumbledore made Padfoot stay in Hagrid's Hut. As much as I love Hagrid, his hut is not exactly a hub of activity. Plus Harry's POV served the story much better in this particular case.