* * * Option One: The Four Challenges * * *

Unintended Spectator

After a good bit of calming skin contact (his arms around her and nose buried in her hair) and reassuring conversation (including an explanation of what actually is going on out there), all the while worrying over when the final anticipated summons was going to call him away with her again (because: since they didn't even imagine her to still be alive, he certainly couldn't let them abandon her to this dangerous place where they wouldn't even be looking into her protection!)… and even worse: where it would take them when it did (What would happen, for instance, if they transported us to Antarctica? I wouldn't have any way to keep her warm!)… at last he decides it would be safest for her to relocate out of the forest, within range of where the agitated crowd is not-so-comfortably observing. Perhaps, if they could identify someone within it who was trustworthy – very reluctantly letting go of skin contact would be a safer option than leaving the imminently expected transport to chance.

Thus, it isn't long before Edward & Bella have sneaked up into the stands carefully behind everyone in order to watch the event (irrevocable as it is once all the vampires have been summoned), and disapprovingly comment on the scene. All the while, never losing contact.

Meanwhile, in response to the supremely concerning update report that remote summoners have tried all manner of designations unique to the rogue vampire's location, and still been unable to produce a result – the headmaster has initiated numerous local tracking spells in an effort to keep appraised of the vampire's movements within school grounds. Thus, Albus is magically and warily drawn to notice when the both of them appear at the top of the stands (triggering a spectacularly unprecedented double-take, to see her with him, being gently set down upon her feet…), and with shock (What does this mean?!), promptly listens in more closely (via a discreetly localized spell) to get a feel for what is really going on. After all, her presence proves that she did not become his meal to disqualify him from the original summons (doesn't it?)… suggesting that he might still be the thirstiest of them after all… and yet – not only is he handling her harmlessly (in fact: entirely comfortably, it would seem) and conversing with her freely (on the topic of vampires no less, while she stands there unafraid), but he is not attacking anyone.

Briefly and with abrupt shock, as black eyes meet blue… unquestionably Albus knows that the vampire is aware of his attention. But other than that he's not reacting, seeming instead to ignore the intrusion; perhaps inexplicably hoping not to create alarm, though he's been given every reason to do so. Unexpectedly confused, it's hard for Albus to know what to think. How to ensure the safety of his school?

As the unlikely couple continues what must have been an earlier conversation, the first thing Dumbledore overhears through his Listening Link… is the vampire's clear fury over the fact that "…they made me drop you."

Indeed, Edward has realized – with significant frustration – that the wizards are totally oblivious to the danger this action could have portended. Bella hasn't recognized it yet, either. This way both of them can understand. "If I had been running at the time…" he quietly explains to her in clarification, though the ire in his voice is clear, "if I hadn't stopped merely a half-second earlier than they summoned me again – you would have been catapulted into the nearest tree. They nearly killed you, Bella!" the growl in his voice softens and trembles with that final declaration, and his pain at the very idea is clearly evident as he pulls her close. "…and at my hands," he whispers finally, into her hair, the low rumbling in his throat merely hinting at the surge of absolute devastation and fury this would have brought on.

"There's no telling what I would have done to the lot of them in such a state," he warningly reveals to both pairs of ears, as he protectively and defiantly maintains skin contact with her, so that they won't be accidentally separated again. She hugs him tightly. "But the most frustrating part of it all is that they don't even know that it would have been all their fault. They would have assumed that I had done it… injured or k-killed you…" he shudders, "and any subsequent act of well-deserved retaliation on my part – would have been chalked up as nothing more than the anticipated violence of uninhibited vampire nature. Nobody would have ever listened to me," he lapses into silence. "Not that it would have mattered anymore," he whispers as an afterthought, hugging her tightly.

"I'm alright; they didn't hurt me," she soothingly reassures him, and with his nod of acknowledgment, the vampire is comforted.

Momentarily following this, as they watch the tournament proceedings in enlightened calmness, Edward's comments become more and more clearly geared toward calling the wizards out on their foolishness. Their listening ear will eventually pass it along. "They need to amend their folly quickly, lest it comes back to bite them," Edward observes, unwilling to make the challenge easier for those so ignorantly willing to endanger her life. Nevertheless, because their subjects don't deserve the inconvenience, he does inform them of where each was taken from when it crosses their minds (or, in lieu of that, what area the dialect of their thoughts points out their recent wanderings to be). At least, they'll be able to be released again somewhat reasonably close to home.

Not surprisingly, most of the corralled vampires are confused and annoyed by the mysterious and absolute interruption of their lives… though in apparent isolation, they're voicing none of this out loud. Only Edward can tell (and definitely not disclose!) that the natural inclination is to believe another vampire's talent is at work. Undoubtedly, the lot of them would be seriously angry if it ever came to their attention that they were being treated like lab rats, by a magical subset of humans. Neither would anyone appreciate the wizarding world learning any more about them, than they can painstakingly find out on their own.

Consequently, further comments by Edward remain guarded when it comes to explaining about dangers the wizarding world wouldn't have known to consider. Only in relation to addressing the clear threat against Bella's safety – and secondarily, towards the specific interests of their unwilling captives – does he do so at all. Albus certainly can't blame him for the uncooperative attitude. On the contrary – astonished and pleasantly intrigued by what he's hearing in spite of it, as well as entirely thankful for the… gift of what has been shared, the headmaster finds a way to inconspicuously relay any immediately useful information to the champions and unsuspecting wizards in charge.

First and foremost, it is significantly troubling to Edward that the new 'thirstiest' vampire has appreciatively noticed his and Bella's fresh scent inside the corral. In fact, it offers the only (and quite appealing) lead he has for finding out who could be behind what change of scenery has unexpectedly taken place around him. Such an innocent but oh-so-dangerous association; the last thing Bella needs is someone else hunting her! It's pure luck that he doesn't hail from anywhere nearby where they live.

Clockwise from his successor's warded pen, Edward can tell that the newest vampire (the only female among them, coincidentally matched up with the only female champion) hasn't actually fed on anything yet (effectively keeping her from fully realizing what she is), and wonders if she might be amenable to trying out the animal diet before it's too late. How many times has Jasper wished he'd been presented that option? It even sounds like she might have been changed for the same purpose. Even averse as Edward is, at this point, to giving the wizards a freebie – this is an opportunity that the incarcerated party might potentially appreciate.

"She doesn't know what she is!" he realizes to Bella, as well as to Albus. "She has no conscious desire to hunt anyone… or at least, not yet… which means she might accept an animal instead… if her mindset will allow it." With a sigh he amends, "Not that it's likely."

When it becomes clear in the newborn's thoughts that the champion witch's initial attempt at providing sustenance is doomed to failure, in exasperation Edward quietly exclaims: "Oh, for heaven's sake. Not a rabbit! What do you think we are?!" Bella giggles next to him, and he smirks at her humor. "The least they could do is offer her something remotely palatable," he reasons. "Give her something worth her interest," he directs: "A large predator." Presently the rabbit is replaced by a panther. "That's better," he finally approves.

Nevertheless, in her innocence, the newborn is not-at-all recognizing the animal as something that could be suitable to eat. Instead, now believing it could mortally wound her if it came too close, she keeps trying to run away from it in the small space… such that no gain is ultimately accomplished. "She's too afraid to realize what appeal it could have," Edward observes, "and it's not appealing enough to instinctually overcome her fear." Maybe that's even a good thing, Edward reluctantly supposes, because who is to say whether drinking even just one animal would allow her to see past their human-drinking-creature wards, as I did? (Shudder, at the mental image of her going ballistic on the mass of humans gathered all around.) I couldn't want that.

Meanwhile the 'oldest' vampire, an aged Chinese fellow still sitting in the meditative position he was summoned in – remains outwardly ignorant of every distraction his champion has sent his way, in the effort of getting him to move. Not even the twitch of an eyelash. Unabashedly amused by this happening within the expectant tournament setting, and entirely unwilling to disturb the gentleman's focus – Edward is intrigued by his thought processes… surprisingly enough to consider making a special trek out to meet him, one of these days in the not-so-far-distant future.

At last, Edward notes of the hungriest vampire that it seems his hunger takes the form of revenge. Because, of course, "we don't get hungry for food." It's a curious observation, which suggests that a simple shift in the summoner's attitude – from political to competitive, say – might have brought in an entirely different subject. This remarkably ancient one hails from Romania, and is quite perturbed about having been separated from his long-time companion. Not that his magical observers have any clue.

As the tournament progresses in this stalemate condition, despite each champion's very best efforts: everything significant that is learned about any vampire subject ultimately is totally dependent upon what awareness Edward is inclined to offer them, rather than any champion's ability to stimulate his charge to reveal something of their own accord. Eventually, the effort flops so badly that it has to be entirely aborted (and every vampire sent home [the fifth and his companion by discreet portkey, courtesy of Albus]) in shamefaced favor of reconvening at a later date for the first task to recommence with dragons in their stead. An extreme embarrassment for the wizarding world, and all but one newly enlightened member of the triwizard council.


* * * Option Two: No Barriers Between Them * * *

In real time, rather than in the fleeting vision of some magical seer's mind, eventually the debating council realizes that keeping them all separated from each other is simply not going to work. What incentive would any of them have – or could a magically impermeable creature be given – to even just talk aloud? Let alone show the magical populace even a fraction of what secrets they have in store. The plain fact is that isolation severely cuts off the biggest avenue of learning available. And so, for this task to produce the valuable learning effect it was chosen for: grouping them all together is the only way to go.

Which is why, come Tournament day: each vampire will be simultaneously summoned into one large common area, into the corner nearest where their champion will be stationed.