Author's Note: Sorry for the huge delay. This chapter was just not working, so I had to rewrite the whole final task segment all over again from yesterday. This new one was much more fun writing. Hope you enjoy it. And now that this impossible bit is done, I hope the next few chapters flow at a better pace. Please write a review, I'd like to know your thoughts on this chapter, especially the later half.
Chapter 9 - Path of a Warrior
'Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is victory over lesser men.' - Miyamoto Musashi
The days leading to the Final Task were weary for all the Contestants. For Harry and Ginny it was made even more trying due to the Weasley brothers' indirect show of contempt towards Harry. It appeared as if whatever inroads had been made with the twins had started to wane once again with Rita Skeeter's article, despite their show of indifference during the Second Task.
Ginny believed it was because of something other than just the article. She told Harry that her mother had sent her a letter advising her to not limit herself to few friends and perhaps date other boys.
'But I sent her letter to daddy. I hope he explains to her that by blaming you she is insulting her own dead brother,' Ginny added to Harry's approval. 'He promised to keep them from bothering us.'
'What bothers me is how this Rita Skeeter managed to find out,' Harry responded quietly. He was sitting in his Transfiguration class and receiving some very nasty glares from many Gryffindors and a few Ravenclaws, which he pointedly ignored. Beside him, Neville glanced apologetically when Ron Weasley threw a paper ball at his direction.
"Ten points from Gryffindor," came the stern voice of Minerva McGonagall as she glared at Ron angrily. "And if I see you doing that again, Mr. Weasley, it will be detention with Professor Snape. If that is all, then class is dismissed for today. Make sure I receive your homework before end of this week. Mr. Potter from Ravenclaw, please stay behind for a moment."
With some surprise, Harry lingered behind after his class mates started leaving. He did manage to whisper to Neville to stay back for him. After the class had completely emptied of all students save him, he walked to the desk of Professor McGonagall.
"First of all, I'd like to apologize for the conduct of my house towards you lately. Please understand that though it is partly their fault, it is also the fault of the society and the environment they have been brought up in."
Harry nodded, indicating he was aware of that and waited for the teacher to continue, as she didn't seem to expect any response from him as yet.
"That said, I wish to congratulate you once again on your masterful self-transfigurations," McGonagall said pleasantly with a rare smile.
"Thank you, Professor," replied Harry respectfully, running her conversation from the Yule Ball in his mind, where she expressed her desire to see Mat and Ginny together. He couldn't bring himself to warm up to her. 'What does she want?' Harry asked irritably to Ginny in his mind.
'Patience, dear.'
"Seeing your aptitude in that particular field," began McGonagall, leaning forward, "I am going to offer you something I haven't to any other student in your year save two Gryffindors. Would you like to be an Animagus, Mr. Potter?"
'Something tells me I know who the other students whom she offered to train are,' thought Harry icily. 'And only one of them deserved it.'
"Unfortunately, Miss Granger tested negative as an Animagus, and despite finding his form, your brother has been showing slow progress in the actual transformation itself. I wonder if that particular skill transferred to you in your family.'
'Don't be jealous, Harry,' came Ginny's response. 'Say - no thank you, you're already an Animagus as your mother helped you when nobody else seemed to care. I'm with her, and I'll tell her to cover up for you.'
"No thank you, Professor," responded Harry out loud to Professor McGonagall. "I'm already an Animagus as my mother helped me when nobody else seemed to notice my talents. You could ask her, if you like."
Moments later, Harry was outside the classroom, having been one of the precious few students who could claim to see the prim Minerva McGonagall acquire an expression of pure shock, disbelief and sadness at the same time. He saw Neville lingering ahead, talking to Cedric. Both of them turned to him and waited for him to approach them.
"It's about the final task," began Cedric without preamble. "I need to hurry so I'll make it short. Bagman dropped by in Hogwarts earlier today and told me, avoid the goblin camps at all cost. What do you think?"
Harry frowned and thought for a moment before responding, "The message seems clear. There will be goblin camps in the final task, and that will be a dangerous obstacle. He wants us to avoid them. But why is he cheating so blatantly?"
"That is what's bothering me as well," replied Cedric with a nod. "He has done this before as well. Do you think we should complain to Dumbledore?"
"Funny, Cedric," said Harry with a wry chuckle. "Dumbledore's been doing as much, if not more, in aiding Mat. He would probably support Bagman."
"You're right," came a voice floating from in front of them and Mat Potter appeared from around the corner. He ducked in to stand between Cedric and Neville, facing Harry, and said urgently, "You're right. Dumbledore told me to avoid the goblins as well. He told me they will be easy to defeat but their main aim is to delay us by capturing some of the team members and escaping, making us weaker and weaker with each step. Avoiding them is the best option."
Harry, Neville and Cedric shared a look and nodded. "Very well," said Cedric with a frown. "I just hope all this unlawful advice doesn't create any problems for us later." But then he shook his head and said, "I have to go now. I'll see you later."
As Cedric retreated, Harry and Neville glanced at Mat warily, not sure of what to expect, and Mat appeared to be hesitating as well. Finally, he looked at Harry and said, "Can I speak to you privately?"
Harry was surprised but glanced at Neville and nodded. "I'll see you in Flitwick's class in a few minutes." When Neville left, Harry followed Mat to a secluded classroom and asked, "So?"
"I'm sorry," stated Mat, his eyes on the ground. When Harry didn't reply and stared at him stonily, Mat spoke again. "I'm sorry for being such a jerk towards you. Can you ever forgive me?"
Harry looked at his brother's honestly pleading face and asked, "Why now?"
Mat appeared to waver somewhat before saying resolutely, "Please Harry. I always thought I acted like I was supposed to, father never seemed to be against it."
"Then why now?" asked Harry again. 'Ginny?'
'I don't know, Harry.'
Mat tore his gaze away from his brother and walked to the door without any response. Looking back, he said with some anguish in his voice, "I hate the way mum looks at me since the duel, as if she's disappointed in everything I say and do. I would give anything to change things, everything, since we were little. Please believe me. I want mum back."
Harry nodded but didn't say anything for a long time, both brothers staring at each other and unsure of what to say. Finally, Harry shook his head and said, "I'm sorry. I can't forgive you. But I'll help you with mum if I can."
Mat sighed and nodded glumly, before he opened the door and walked away.
'Harry, what are you thinking now? You're hiding it from me,' came Ginny's swift and distressed voice in his head.
'Nothing important,' Harry replied. 'Wait for me. I'll be with you in a moment.'
Soon, he was in Flitwick's classroom with Ginny, Neville and Luna. The Duel Master was working with Neville at the moment, while Luna was sitting with Ginny, working on her sprained ankle. Harry promptly took the seat next to Ginny and leaned back, closing his eyes. He wished to become one with the element that was his inner core and relish in the openness of air.
Concentrating hard, he extended his awareness in all directions, trying to get a grip over the element that floated all around him. Both he and Ginny had managed to identify their elements and summon it the first day they had tried. But since then it had become much harder. The notes they had collected from Malfoy and Slytherin's Library claimed that to be normal. It took quite a long time for one to be able to master an element so thoroughly that it simply bent against their will.
Harry tried again but to no avail and he growled in aggravation.
"You're trying too hard," Luna's voice floated into his awareness. "I can feel the frustration in you, Harry. Let it go."
Opening his eyes, Harry turned to Luna with slight annoyance. "How can I? I want to be able to do this before the Final Task!" he said with determination.
"I know," Luna said tenderly. "I want you to be able to do it too. But you are trying too hard. You won't succeed this way. Let me help you, Harry."
"Very well."
Closing her eyes, Luna moved closer to Harry. She breathed heavily for a few seconds and took Harry's hand in her own. "You are afraid," she said finally. "You fear something… what, I cannot tell. That is hindering your control over your element."
Harry gaped at her in surprise and turned to Ginny. The redhead also looked at Luna in surprise.
Harry opened his mouth but Luna squeezed his hand.
"Hush. Let me find what ails your heart." Her eyes squeezed tighter and her grip over Harry's hand loosened somewhat. After several minutes, she let go and opened her eyes. They were misty. "Such fear, such a lonely child…"
Harry stared at her in bemusement and spoke to Ginny. 'I don't know what she means. How can I be afraid of something I am not aware of? How can I be lonely with you within me?'
'Hush, Harry,' Ginny said urgently. 'You know of Luna's ability. Let her heal you.'
Luna got up and looked at Ginny. "Ginny, his feelings towards you is covering everything else. Can I ask you to leave us alone for a while?" When Ginny nodded in confusion and got up, Luna shook her head. "I mean completely leave us. Can I ask you to shut your entire awareness from Harry for fifteen minutes?" Turning to an indignant Harry, she sighed. "I know you don't want this, but please trust me."
'Ginny?'
'I suppose it comes down to whether we trust Luna or not, doesn't it?' Ginny mused thoughtfully. 'I say we do as she says.'
When Harry nodded in acquiescence, Ginny walked away towards Flitwick and Neville. After a couple of minutes, Harry said crossly, "She is completely closed to me, Luna. What is so important that we had to do this?"
Luna sat beside him where Ginny was a while ago and hugged Harry, her tears soaking his neck.
"Luna," Harry said kindly, patting her back. "Luna, what's wrong?"
Sobbing silently, Luna said, "You. Your grief. Your fears."
"What are you talking about? I do not know what I am afraid of."
"You are afraid, you are very afraid," she repeated. "You are afraid Ginny will leave you the next time someone tries to separate you two. You are afraid to be weak when Ginny needs you to be strong. You are afraid to follow your vision as it may drive a wedge between you and her. You are afraid of many things, my dear Harry."
Harry froze but Luna continued.
"But most of all, you are afraid Ginny will hate you because you want to forgive your brother."
Harry tore her away from his grasp and said harshly, "How can you say that! I will never forgive him! I saw Ginny nearly die in front of me… Do you think I can ever forget the sight of her blood… her pain… her not… responding to me…" he asked in a broken voice, thrown back in time among his memories. Dampness came to the corners of his eyes as he recalled the horror and fear of seeing his best friend lying in a pool of her blood, a sword stuck on her side.
He was broken from his reverie when Luna patted his back affectionately. He looked up to see her bend forward and kiss his forehead.
"How can I forgive him?" he said again. "And yet…"
"I know," she said vacantly in her faraway manner, but Harry knew that at that instant she was correct, she indeed knew. She could feel the very emotion that he himself was feeling. With trembling hands, he reached around her and leaning forward, he rested his head on her shoulder. She was a sister to him in every way that mattered. And he was at his most vulnerable then.
"Listen to me, Harry. I understand your distress better than you do. You may hide parts of your mind from Ginny but nothing in your heart is hidden from me. You may allow your heart to confuse you but nothing in your heart confuses me. Listen to me," Luna said firmly. She raised Harry's chin to look at her. "You do not want to forgive your brother for what he did to Ginny. You are merely forgiving him for being the cause of your childhood loneliness. There is a difference between the two. All right?"
Without removing his head from Luna's shoulder, Harry nodded. He felt oddly peaceful when Luna kissed his head again.
"I have not forgotten, Luna," he said finally, parting from her. "I have merely kept everything hidden in our mind, even from Ginny. I do not want her to remember that pain… or be affected by my rage… not while we are in this Tournament!" He was sitting on the cold floor, looking vacantly at the duel in the distance and Ginny's curious gaze at their direction, almost lost in his own mind. "I hate him for what he did to her. I hate him, our father and Dumbledore."
"But we are brothers," he continued when Luna remained silent. "For our mother's sake, I will treat him with a certain regard, though I will never look at him with a friendly eye! But how can I blame him for my neglect? How can I blame him for many things when he is as much a product of Dumbledore and James Potter's creation as am I?"
"Indeed," Luna said gently. "Blame him for the things he is guilty of, no more and no less. But do you know what else you fear, my dear friend?"
"What?"
"You fear yourself," Luna said quietly. "You fear you might become another Tom Riddle. You fear you will become someone not worthy of Ginny."
Slowly, Harry nodded his head. "Now that you mention it, I could become just that," he said with a frown. "Do I really have so many fears within me that I am unaware of?"
Luna smiled dreamily. "We all have fears we are unaware of, Harry. But do you know what separates you from everyone else?"
"What?"
Touching Harry's cheek tenderly, Luna said, "Nearly all your fears are a product of your love for Ginny, and to a lesser extent, me, Neville and your mother. You fear to lose that love. Even your fear is pure, my dear Harry, as the phoenix and the griffin that you are. I know. I can tell."
"And do you know what?" she continued. "It is for that very reason that none of your fears will ever come to pass. Your love will keep you from following Riddle. Your love will keep you from losing Ginny, and your love will keep you strong even as it will keep her strong."
"But how do I stop fearing?" Harry asked suddenly. "How do I overcome my inability to control my element?"
Luna smiled affectionately. "Harry, give me your hand."
Harry raised his hand and gaped in disbelief. Small sparks of electricity were buzzing at his fingertips. Unwittingly, he had been controlling his element all this while. He took a deep breath to clear his emotions and flicked his fingers. A sudden gust of wind emerged and shot up to the ceiling. Smiling gratefully at Luna, he turned to Ginny, who was still looking at him from a distance and blew a kiss to her, literally. When the redhead touched her cheek and smiled back, he got up and walked towards her. Looking back, he gave a last smile to Luna, knowing he didn't have to express his feelings to her. She would understand.
"For you, my dear Harry, to understand your fears is all you need to do to overcome them," she whispered quietly when she knew Harry was a safe distance away.
'So what was that all about with Luna?' Ginny asked a few hours later. They were both outside, enjoying the sun beneath the shade of a tree. Harry was lying with his head on the redhead's lap, and Ginny was playing with his hair.
'Luna is amazing, Gin,' he responded. Harry's eyes were closed and he was completely lost in the bliss of the simple and innocent contact that they had.
'Should I be envious of anything?' she asked, and smirked when Harry rose his head up in indignation. 'From what I saw…'
'Stop teasing, Gin,' he said, swatting the girl's hand in annoyance. 'Luna managed to read my fears better that I could myself. If you want, you can see my memory.'
'I already have, Harry dear,' she replied. 'You think I could see you cry and then not try to find out why?' Stroking his hair tenderly, she continued, 'I'm glad Luna can look after you when I cannot. But I do not want you to hide anything - your fears, anger, sorrows, desires, anything… from me ever again. Do you understand?'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Good. I found this really neat modification of the Bat Bogey Hex. It has the additional benefit of ringing your ears with splitting bat screeches. You wouldn't want me to experiment volume control on you, would you?"
'No, ma'am.'
'Good boy.'
--
The mood in the castle was upbeat, excited and tense on the day of the final task. As the days progressed, many Gryffindors began to realize that Harry Potter was just a student, like the rest of them, and not evil incarnate. So things were becoming slightly more bearable. During the day of the final task, however, Harry received a summons from the Headmaster. Slightly tense, Harry informed where he was going to Ginny, in his mind, and found himself waiting at the stone statue of the gargoyle outside the Headmaster's Office.
But before he could enter, Harry heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Lily Potter rushing towards him. "Mum?" he asked curiously.
"Come on," said Lily, whispering the password to the statue. "I'm not letting you see him alone. Ginny told me."
On entering the office, both Harry and Lily were surprised to see that the Headmaster wasn't alone. Sitting in the room were several other people - Minister Fudge and Pierre being two of them. The others, Harry couldn't recognize, but had seen them during the course of the tournament as they handled various aspects of the organizing.
"Good morning, Lily," stated Dumbledore politely, with a smile. "I assumed you would be busy this morning with the setting up of the final task."
Lily nodded but kept her hand on Harry's shoulder, looking at the Headmaster with a slight defiance. She wouldn't insult him in front of foreigners but her stance left nobody in doubt that she was protecting her son from him.
"Ah, Harry," greeted Dumbledore when Lily failed to respond to him. "How are you today, young man?"
"Fine," said Harry. "How may I help you?"
Before Dumbledore could respond, Minister Pierre turned to Harry and said, "I have a proposition for you, Mr. Potter." It appeared he too was somewhat weary of Dumbledore's long windedness, and he cut straight to the point. "This summer, I'd like to employ you as an intern to aid in my presentations to the magical governments of Europe. You come well recommended to me by your teachers and some notable members of the Wizengamot."
"But I'm sure Mr. Potter isn't too keen on politics, Monsieur Pierre," remarked Dumbledore with a bright smile. "After all, this is the age when summer is the time to empty one's head of all that has been learnt during the year."
Harry looked at Dumbledore strangely and turned to Monsieur Pierre, who had completely ignored the Headmaster. "What kind of presentations, sir?"
"Oh, you know," the Frenchman smiled and twiddled his moustache. "In proposition of a pan-European magical government, and gradually fading barriers to secrecy between the magical and non magical world."
'Go for it, Harry,' came Ginny's advise. 'You know you want it.'
Harry's eyes widened he nodded eagerly, ignoring the Headmaster's sharp glance. "I would love to intern with you."
"That is well," stated Pierre with a smile and turned to Fudge. "I thank you again, Cornelius, for lending me the brightest young mind in Britain."
"Only for a summer, Pierre," chuckled Fudge, but looked sharply at Harry. "Only for a summer. Run along now, Harry. Let us not keep Hogwarts and Britain wait too long for your arrival."
As Harry left with his mother, she kept her arm around Harry constantly. "What's wrong, mum?" he asked, sensing the anxiety on her face.
Lily shook her head and smiled pleasantly. "Nothing. Just promise to be careful tonight."
Harry stopped and frowned at his mother. "Tell me what's wrong," he repeated.
Lily sighed and said, "Call it a mother's intuition. I fear something big might happen tonight. I would have kept you, both you and your brother, away from tonight's task, if it were in my hands. As it is, I do not even know what is being planned for you inside the fortress."
"Huh?"
"Don't tell anyone I said this. Mr. Bagman has taken the inside of the fortress completely under his wing. I have no clue why he wouldn't let others, save two personal aides of his, look into it, or why Dumbledore permitted him to take such massive control, but as it… I hope I'm just being foolish. Do take care, will you?"
"Of course, mum," said Harry, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. "I'll keep an eye on Mat too. You know, I will." Harry saw Lily smile at him brightly before he parted from her and walked towards the Hogwarts camp.
"You missed the first few instructions," stated Cedric. "Bagman announced it just now. The first bit will be harsh terrain, with hostile forces. I suppose that means goblins and the magical creatures we saw in the map. Then we reach the walls of the fortress, heavily guarded by towers. Each team is given a handicap to cross the walls. We cannot fly over it. Durmstrang cannot simply protect Krum while he destroys it. And Beauxbatons must work as a complete team to get around it."
"Okay," said Harry, nodding. "Anything else?"
"Yes. The fortress belongs to goblins, who will attempt to maim us rather than kill, but Bagman said, not to trust the goblins. Our flag is inside the tent, and we need to plant it in the flag post inside the keep."
Harry nodded and turned warily towards the Weasley twins and Angelina as they emerged from the tent, carrying the flag between them. But it was Mat who settled issues by grinning at Harry, and whispering, "Good luck."
"You too," said Harry, and felt Ginny's fingers slink into his.
'I'm not angry,' she thought with amusement.
"Right," said Cedric, seeing everyone assembled together. "Fred, you'll be the Standard Bearer. Shrink it and keep it safe at all times. Without it, we cannot win. George and Angelina, your prime aim is to protect Fred and the Standard. The rest of us… Harry, do you have any ideas?"
"Our terrain has hippogriffs and eagles. Ginny and I should remain in our griffin form, and two of you, say Draco and Neville, can ride on us until we near the walls. We'll scout the land and keep the rest from encountering the goblins. Cedric, you'll lead those in the ground, and keep an eye out for signals from above. Mat and Hermione, you are good duelists and know a lot of spells. Aid Cedric in avoiding the goblins. Is that fine?"
"Yes," said Cedric. "Anybody with any objections?"
Hermione and Mat looked at each other and shook their heads. Angelina appeared hesitant and said, "One of the griffins could show us the way while the other keeps a lookout for the goblins. This way we'll not waste any time."
Harry nodded. "I'll lead with Neville, and Ginny and Draco can scout around you guys. Draco?"
"Hand signals," Draco said, moving his hands and fingers in a specific manner. "This is for wait. This is for enemies. This is for move. This is for turning in specific directions - left, right, forward, backward. This is for hide."
"Those are good," muttered Cedric. "Remember them, all of you." He bit his lip when the trumpets blared and everybody took a deep breath. "For Hogwarts and Britain," he stated boldly and took the first step towards the Simulation Zone.
Harry entered the Simulation Zone as a griffin, Harold, the black and silver griffin. He growled at the darkness of the night that was surrounding them but tarried long enough for Neville to jump over him. With a sturdy move, he ran a distance of twenty feet, and looked around. They were in rocky terrain, a broad cliff that stretched for miles and miles. The cliff seemed to be free of any goblin camp, but he could sense other creatures around them. He raised his head and peered at the distance. The rock gave way in an ascending path to greener terrain, with heavy foliage that could hide enemies from sight. That was the path they had to take.
"To the air, Harry and Ginny," said Cedric, his wand held protectively in front of him. "We'll take care of things down here."
Harry gave a light roar and kicked off, soaring to the skies, and aware that Ginny was a short distance behind him, but while he kept soaring up and dashing forward, Ginny hovered around the others, keeping an eye out for danger. From above he had a better view of the terrain, and quickly determined the best route towards the black speck of the fortress in the distance.
"There are a handful of goblins over there," whispered Neville against the breeze. "I think they are. The earth doesn't look natural there, more like camouflage. Tell Ginny. The others will encounter it in ten minutes, at their pace."
Harry nodded and allowed Ginny to see the image in his mind, before continuing ahead. By then they had outdistanced the others by a fair bit, and Harry was beginning to feel a bit nervous about them, but at that very moment, he dived down, his instincts taking over.
"Hippogriffs!" Neville spat as a herd of hippogriffs raced towards them from ahead. "And goblin archers," he added when a bolt of arrow came towards him. "Dodge the arrows, while I get the goblins. I do not wish to hurt the hippogriffs."
Harry did as Neville said, moving in a zigzag between their foes, avoiding the arrows with great precision, as Neville yelled curse after curse, binding the goblins. Seeing himself outmatched by sheer numbers, Neville yelled, "To the ground. There are dozens more approaching from the right."
Harry nodded. The ground was thick with trees and not all the hippogriffs would be able to launch a successful attack on them. But the moment he reached down, he realized that wasn't Neville plan. For, the moment they reached down and the hippogriffs followed after them, the branches of the trees started smacking and hitting their pursuers. Neville had leapt from the griffin's back and was standing in the middle of the glade, his hands outstretched as he commanded the earth and all that grew in it to come to his aid. Broken branches and rocks charged towards the goblins, knocking them out, as Harry observed with fascination, often bringing down a goblin with a stunner himself. Finally, when the air was clear, Neville turned to Harry with a grin.
"We should get going," said Harry as they clasped their hands together. "The others will be getting quite close."
Meanwhile, nearer to the others, Draco signaled for everyone to wait and hide until the goblins walking near them were safely gone. From his forward stance, it appeared he had little concern for his own safety or the warnings from Bagman and Dumbledore, trusting rather to his training and abilities to face the band of armed goblins, if required. But he decided to stick to the plans made earlier and kept spying on the goblins from overhead until they had gone beyond range. From beneath him, the growling form of Ginny as a golden griffin whirled around and brought him to face Neville, also airborne but miles away on a black griffin. He nodded when Neville signaled that the way was clear, and he observed the goblins below him had passed through different routes. The path was clear for the time being.
Receiving the signal, the other Hogwarts Contestants wasted little time in tarrying. Led by Cedric, the others followed in a swift and disciplined line. They ran along a pathway just wide enough for two people to move side by side, flanked by a thick growth of trees. Hermione went abreast with Cedric, breathing hard to keep in pace with him, while the twins followed after. Mat and Angelina were last, Mat constantly checking over his shoulder to see if they were being followed, his wand held securely in his fingers. As they hurried down the narrow lane, sheltered for almost a mile by tall grass like plants, the sky above was beginning to lighten. Mat called for the others to halt. "Wait."
The others turned and Mat said in a low voice, "Listen."
The air was still and only the distant sounds of night insects punctured the silence. Then a distant piercing growl from above them signaled the approach of their other teammates. Just then, the dark form of a black griffin landed beside them, transforming into a human the instant the rider jumped off.
"How far?" Cedric asked Harry and Neville.
"Another twenty minutes of brisk running will bring us to the gate, at which time we must either decide to circle it along the wall to find a weakness while risking the towers, or to launch an attack on the gate itself, risking the other teams getting us from behind. Durmstrang is headed in that direction as well, and only a short distance further from it than us."
"What about Beauxbatons?" asked Angelina to Ginny as she approached behind Draco.
"Not a big problem right now. Half their team is trapped by goblins in some cage and the others are trying to release them. I think they are taking their handicap too literally," muttered Ginny as she gave Harry a quick hug. 'I'm glad you're safe.'
'You should have seen Neville's fury,' replied Harry with an impressed tone before turning to the others. "There are goblins behind us, they aren't following us yet, the darkness hid us when we were airborne, but I think they will make for the gate as well, unless they find some other team."
"The gate sounds dangerous," stated Cedric plainly. "It is approaching dawn - anyone moving close to the guard towers near the gates will be an easy target for their archers. We will be trapped between the towers and Durmstrang and perhaps goblins as well, and any progress we make will be open to them as well but without going through the necessary risks."
"Cedric is right," agreed Draco whole-heartedly. "I suppose a Slytherin way would be to wait for Durmstrang to reach the gate first." He ignored the shocked faces of Fred, George and Angelina and turned to Mat and Hermione. "Unless you can think of another way in without breaking your Gryffindor honor," he ended sardonically.
"Stop it," Harry cut in when Mat was about to retort in response. "We don't have time for this argument. That is a good idea, Draco, but what if they use that advantage we give them to reach the flag post before us?"
Everyone drifted into silence for a few moments, pondering the question when suddenly Hermione spoke out. "A beginning. We should reach as close to the gate as possible and decide from there on."
Harry nodded and turned to Ginny. "As wolves, we'll lead our pack of warriors." And so they ran through the rising path, covered in grass and thick growth, spiraling towards the cliff.
'I prefer rock when it comes with grass,' commented Ginny as she jumped from one rock to the other, while digging her claws in the mud for support. Often, she would jump a few meters in front of Harry, before he would overtake her with his steady but swift running.
'And I have no preference as I prefer running to jumping,' replied Harry with a hint of amusement. 'But all that training with Professor Flitwick paid off and…
But Ginny cut him off with an urgent, 'There! Over to the right is a stone path leading upwards.' She followed the trail, and Harry followed after her.
'Don't let the silence mislead you. There are eyes surrounding our every move, waiting for us to reach… To your left! Look out!'
A bolt of arrow shot from a projectile and nearly struck Ginny, who however, managed to dodge sideways just in time. The next instant dozens of arrows appeared at the same instant, Harry felt one graze his front limb but managed to dodge the rest, moving back slowly, to test the range of the towers. Finally, the number of arrows receded and only one appeared at the horizon, coming towards him. Then Harry jumped backward, and raced towards his team, who were a few hundred yards behind and growled, making them stop. Transforming back to human, he chanced a glance at Ginny, who was hiding in a glade underneath the covering of a rock, and said, "A short distance ahead falls in range of the towers. There are several towers. The arrows aren't of magical energy, but wooden sticks with metal heads."
Draco and Cedric nodded and instantly conjured shields. Mat and Hermione turned to the boulders around them and transfigured them to passable shields for themselves. Seeing them, the two Weasleys and Angelina used their own means to protect themselves. The twins transfigured wooden sticks to what vaguely resembled a beater's bat with a wide head while Angelina charmed a medium sized stone to whirl around her protectively, to knock out any arrows that came her way, while the twins were ready to beat the arrows to death.
Harry nodded in approval and said, "Spread out. We do not know if they have any other weapons, so I'll lead. A wolf will be able to dodge better than humans."
'I'm a few steps ahead, Harry. Take your own advice,' came Ginny's voice as she sprang from her hiding place and leapt from one landing spot to another, dodging several arrows at a time.
Horrified and slightly numb with fear, it took Harry a gentle shake from Neville and Mat to move. Cedric, Draco and Hermione had moved on after Ginny with the twins and Angelina shortly behind. Harry nodded and said, "Take cover. I'm flying up and seeing how the land lies." Saying so, he kicked off from the ground and soared as Swiftwings, shooting straight up above the forest enclosure and to the growing daylight and gasped.
The fortification of the fortress was in full sight, an ominous dark barricade, tall and mighty, jutting up like mountains on the plains. Towers were visible at every ten meters, with a crossbow in the middle, seemingly enchanted to attack trespassers. Harry gazed inside the walls and saw a magnificent skull shaped fortress with wide jaws that formed its entrance. Goblins stood at the entrance, menacingly. Keeping that in mind, Harry glided dangerously close to the towers, fully aware that he couldn't fly to the other side without being disqualified. The arrows didn't move towards him, it appeared the enchantment was only for those in the ground.
'That would explain them not wanting us to fly in as griffins,' Ginny said in his mind and Harry's attention instantly turned to her.
'Why are you as a human and unprotected?' Harry asked in confusion and anxiety. 'And why aren't you being attacked anymore?'
'I'm too close for the walls. They cannot fire straight down,' replied Ginny with a triumphant glee. 'Come down, Harry. We need to do this from the ground.'
Agreeing to her point, Harry descended to the ground, and in the last twenty meters of descent, had to dodge arrows that suddenly started firing at him. But he landed safely next to Ginny and waited for the others to arrive. He faced the others and gasped at seeing Hermione and Mat wounded. Hermione was being helped by Draco, carried on his back, as he slugged forward, a step at a time, but with two shields holding the arrows at bay. They had all scattered, to minimize the effect of the arrows, and only three arrows came towards Draco and Hermione at a time, thus making it manageable for him to evade them.
But it was Mat that worried Harry. He had lost his shield and was too busy dodging the two arrows that came to him in close succession that he was unable to do any magic or move forward. Harry touched Ginny's shoulder, relaying without words that she should stay there, and leapt forward, a grating gust of wind behind him, throwing astray all arrows that came in his direction. Often one would pass through, but Harry's sharp instincts allowed him to dodge them. Finally, he reached his brother and in the few moments that Harry kept the arrows away from them, Mat transfigured a nearby boulder to another shield, a bigger one this time, and then another one. He handed the second to Harry with awe written all over his face at his twin's command over air.
"Brothers," Harry said simply, taking the shield, and grinning slightly at the smile on his twin's face. Together the two marched side by side to cover the final fifty yards or so. When they reached the safety against the wall, Neville instantly took to looking at Mat's wounds, having treated Hermione already.
Meanwhile, the others had been discussing on how to proceed. Seeing Harry, Cedric turned to him. "Didn't you suggest we circle around the wall to find a weak link?"
Harry shook his head. "We've lost too much time in this last dash to the wall. Durmstrang, if they had a better strategy to move forward, would have negated our advantage. Is there any way we can enter from here?"
"Reducto!" shouted Mat with his wand pointed at a segment of the wall a short distance from them. But the moment the curse hit the wall, black metal spikes shot out in all directions.
"Protego!" several voices cried out in time, creating a shield dome to keep the spikes from hitting them. The spikes faded, leaving that segment of the wall slightly thinner.
Harry and Cedric looked at each other, both getting the same idea. Harry spoke first, "Hermione, Mat, Neville and Angelina, take position in front and be prepared to create a shield. Make it a dome. The rest of you, take position behind each of them. Cedric, protect them from the left, while I do that from the right. The ones in the middle will throw a reductor curse at that spot in the wall, while the others hold the shield. Keep changing positions with the person in front of you to keep a constant flurry of curses."
Harry observed while holding a steady shield as the formation worked and the wall kept getting thinner and thinner while the shield never wavered with the constant change in the person casting it. Who would have thought the way in could have been so simple. Soon, they would have an opening.
Just then, Cedric called out in alarm. "We have company!" And sure enough Harry heard them. A cacophony of inhuman screaming erupted the moment light came through the dark barricade of the wall before them. "Stop!" he shouted, and the curses halted, but an explosion came from the other side and the rest of that segment of the wall was blown to smithereens, revealing behind it a rather ferocious looking troll. It had a chain around its neck as it raised the spear in its hand and pointed it towards the Hogwarts team. Smirking goblins could be seen behind the troll, guiding it with the chain around its neck.
"Hold still!" yelled Cedric. "Remember the towers!"
"Will the towers attack our enemies?" asked Ginny suddenly and Harry smiled.
"Great idea, Ginny. Let's find out. Cedric and Mat, destroy the chain around the troll's neck and lure it out, remember its hide is impervious to spells."
Several curses resonated through the air and the chain split from around the troll's neck who halted for a moment in confusion and then, showing intelligence far surpassing those of his species, smirked gloatingly and threw a goblin out of the wall and into the ground before the invaders. A dozen arrows rained instantly and the stunned goblin could barely move before several had pierced its body.
Harry grabbed Ginny's arm and shielded the gory sight from her, but not before she responded, 'Why do you bother? I can see with your eyes.'
Harry didn't respond as he saw the other goblins scamper away behind the troll, who seemed to take particular delight in chasing the goblins instead of the students.
"He recognizes us as the one who liberated him from the goblins. The goblins must have been horrible to him. The poor troll," stated Hermione with concern and the others chuckled as they walked towards the opening in the wall.
"We lost a trick back there," muttered Cedric to Harry, who nodded.
"We could have walked as a shield wall to cover the blows of the towers," Harry explained on seeing the confused faces of the others, "Like we did with those spikes shooting of the wall."
"That can't be helped," said Neville. "Let's march on."
The moment the first person entered, it was Cedric, a loud horn started blowing from the tip of the fortress in front, sending a chill down the spines of all the ten invaders. "Be prepared," said Cedric as he took a step forward, gazing at the towers warily. But when no arrows came, he sighed and took another step forward. "We cannot be lax. Shields up. Make a wall with your shields in all directions and from above. Fred, you have the banner? Revert it to its size and stay in the middle with your wand out but hold the banner high. Let our enemy see who comes against them."
Harry looked at Cedric with awe and hastily followed his instructions. There was a fire in his eyes that enthralled him but before he could say anything, Cedric turned to him.
"Harry, you have any ideas?"
"You have everything under control," Harry replied, walking to the front and bringing his shield ready in front. He nodded when Ginny and Neville joined him and cast their shields in each direction, and Cedric cast one overhead.
"Mat, Hermione, Draco and Angelina, do the same a few steps behind us. Fred stand in the middle. George, stay with your twin, and protect him at all times. He's the standard bearer," Cedric ordered swiftly, often glancing ahead as the sound of drums resonated.
"The front entrance of the keep is opening," muttered Harry, shifting his wand from one hand to the other, and slipping the other around Ginny's waist for a quick squeeze. When a sea of goblins emerged from the keep, charging ahead, Harry brought both his hands to his wand. Arrows rained on them from above and fell to the ground harmlessly on encountering the wall made by the students of Hogwarts. After two rounds of arrows, there was a slight pause as the goblins reloaded their bows, and Harry yelled out, "All right, people. This is it. Under this shield wall, let us march as one. For the glory of Hogwarts and Britain!"
"Hogwarts and Britain!" the rest echoed as one.
Harry took a quick step, and halted, allowing another bout of arrows to fade harmlessly, and another step and then another, and smiled when nearly everyone stayed in position, echoing his movement as if reading his mind. "Stunners!" he shouted when the archers lowered their bows yet again.
"Stupefy!" ten voices yelled, some at the same time, others a moment before or after, but the result was the same. Several of the goblin archers fell to the ground.
"Protego!" Harry shouted, warding off the brunt of the next bout of arrows, and for the most part, others managed to follow, but Hermione's scream pierced the air. Harry took a deep breath but knew he couldn't move from his position or else the result would be much more dire. "Draco! Stay in position!" he yelled, barely in time before the pureblood could rush to aid Hermione. "George, shield up! Replace Hermione!" Another bout of arrows came but George managed to block the hole in front of Hermione.
"Neville, give me your wand," shouted Ginny from next to Harry, shifting a step closer and standing almost behind Harry. "I'll take both sides."
"Yes," said Harry suddenly. "We stop here! There is good visibility and range. Fred, plant the banner! Neville, treat Hermione! The three of you stun the goblins while we keep the shields up!"
He was right. The front entrance of the skull shaped keep was right in front, the jaws open and goblins kept pouring out of it but not just in their direction.
"The red flag! Beauxbatons is here! We do not have much time!" shouted Cedric.
"On three we all stun again!" yelled Harry over the din of goblin war cries. "One - two - three - Stupefy! One - two - three - Stupefy! One - two - three - Stupefy!" A number of goblins fell but the rest charged at the group of invaders, seeing their shield wall to be impenetrable while their own forces kept depleting. Seeing them approach, Harry shouted, "Spread and fire at will! Hermione and Neville, guard the banner! If injured, others will come to you!" Harry ended, turning to Cedric. "Shall we hunt again?"
Cedric grinned at Harry, his smile intensifying the moment Harry transformed into a griffin. He jumped on the black beast and grinned at Draco, who was riding a similar golden creature. Both waved their wands at each other before the griffins jumped up and raced towards the goblins, many of whom started running off in the direction of the Beauxbatons team. Cedric and Draco took care of the precious few that were brave enough to face two rampaging griffins. But for the most part, the entrance was cleared and the griffins landed on the skull face of the keep. They landed jubilantly on the other side of the drawbridge, at the foot of the skull face of the fortress. But turning back, they were aghast. The field was littered with goblins behind them, cutting them from the rest of their team while Durmstrang had snuck behind the Hogwarts Standard, their wands raised and pointed towards the Hogwarts Standard.
'Oh my!' thought Ginny in disbelief, looking at the havoc that was around the Hogwarts Standard, shaking her griffin head vigorously. 'I like that troll!'
'Should I be jealous, Miss Weasley?' Harry said humorously, observing the troll they had freed from goblin captivity earlier kick two of the only standing Durmstrang team. Several were on the ground, out cold, smashed by a charging troll's body, while one had a spear wound that Neville was treating, after stunning the injured. The rest were easily taken care of by Hermione and the twins, who had returned to the Standard on seeing it under attack.
'Is Hermione trying to pat the troll's snout?' asked Ginny in disbelief.
'I think a better question would be, is the troll blushing?' echoed Harry in an equally awestruck manner.
"Shall we proceed inside?" asked Cedric after shaking his head at the sight near the Hogwarts Banner.
"Without the banner?" asked Draco curiously, but with a frown on his face. "Well, we could defend the flag post…" He stopped and stared at the field with wide and completely incredulous eyes. "No way!"
'Oh Harry!' thought Ginny calmly. 'Now I know this is just a dream. I mean… come on, there is no way that Hermione and Mat could be riding on a troll's shoulders, carrying the Hogwarts banner and leaving a litter of goblins behind. Will you pinch me? I don't want to miss breakfast.'
Harry laughed loudly which emerged as a mix between a roar and a growl that shook Cedric, who jumped off Harry's back cautiously. "Sorry, Cedric," Harry said, reverting to his human form and laughing, he walked to the golden griffin and thumped her ear. 'This is very real, Gin. Hermione is really something.'
"There is something off about that troll," muttered Draco finally. "It's eyes. It is enchanted."
Harry whirled his head to the troll and sent his awareness at it. A troll's mind was considerably harder to enter but the moment Harry did, he saw an image of Bagman with a wand, muttering some incantation. "Bagman!" he spat. He looked to Cedric with a troubled gaze. "I don't like this at all."
"At least… at least it is aiding Hermione and Mat," said Draco but he held a troubled look on his face as well.
The four of them were standing tall at the mouth of the skull shaped keep and observing the field that lay before them. Durmstrang was completely out of the equation while Beauxbatons was being slowly overwhelmed by the remainder of the goblin army - about fifty goblins still remained and battered against the few Beauxbatons students that remained standing. Victory could only go to Hogwarts from that point. But only if they managed to overcome the final hurdles inside the fortress.
"Hermione!" Draco called out and ran forward to embrace her when she jumped from the troll's shoulder.
"Say hello to Treebeard!" said Hermione ecstatically. "He likes that name."
"Treebeard?" yelled Draco in disbelief. "Treebeard? Treebeard! Hermione! I was so scared when I…" He stopped when Hermione grabbed him and kissed his lips.
Harry and Cedric exchanged a look and then Harry turned to Ginny, grabbing her and planting a kiss on her lips as well. As the two couples remained clasped in each other's embrace, Cedric took a deep breath and turned to Mat, who handed him the flag with a short inclination of his head.
"Can you smell that?" Cedric asked with glinting eyes. "Victory, it will be ours," he muttered as they all faced the ominous skull face.
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Endnote: Here ends Part 1 of the final task. I'm working on Part 2 and hopefully it won't take more than a few days or a week to post it. Until then.
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