Chapter 10 – Boom Bada Boom

Disclaimer:

All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners i.e. J.K. Rawlings, etc. the original characters and plot are the property of their author i.e. J.K. Rawlings, etc. this work is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Not for sale or profit but at least I can give it away, maybe?

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"Harry I need to inform you that I have received a school owl notifying you that the third task will be held on June 24th after the evening feast." Ragnot handed over the scroll that was addressed to Harry Potter.

"It was nice of them to at least tell us when but I guess they want to wait till last minute to tell us what the third task is going to be." I was definitely getting the feeling that someone at Hogwarts wanted me kept in the dark"

"Well harry maybe you will get lucky and the task will be in the lake again." Daphne giggled

"Yeah, I still haven't learned how to swim."

/Scene Break/

We flamed into the entrance hall courtesy of Hedwig who said something to the effect, "I want to be there see you get your ass kicked. Oh! And you have a very important meeting as soon as you finish with that last task."

We were almost going to open the Great Hall's doors when we both seemed to have the same idea the same time. "Which table are we going to sit at as the whole bloody school hates our presence?" Daphne said the same thing I was thinking.

"Well, which table would make the most people upset?"

"Well I believe that would be my table my dear."

We entered and walked holding hands to the Slytherin table. While we both got stares and glares we safely made it to the Slytherin table. Daphne pulled me over so we can sit next to her friend Tracy.

"Where have you two been? You've missed out on all the fun."

"We will tell all but first give us the gossip Tracy before you burst a seam." Daphne chuckled.

"Well you see Draco and that Ron Weasley got into it all out cursing war in the middle of the hallway. As you know neither one of them are very useful with their wands. Anyhow, McGonagall snatched them up and drug them to Dumbledore's office and he actually suspended both of them…"

"I thought that hall was awfully quiet." I mumbled.

"Well then you should have been here to hear the real fun. Molly Weasley stormed in and gave Dumbledore what for, even the ghosts hightailed it out of the hall. I swear the goblets on the table were shaking…"

"It couldn't happen to a nicer bigot but was Draco whining that he was going to tell his father as he was leaving?" Daphne giggled.

"Merlin did he ever because the next day Lucius comes storming in dragging Fudge. They had a jolly good threatening match but Draco stays gone, at least for now."

"Mr. Potter it's time to head over to the maze as the third task will be beginning soon." Professor McGonagall turned and headed for another champion.

"The Third task is a maze? I'm glad somebody let me know as there is bound to be some spells to help a person navigate through a maze." I groused.

Dumbledore started with a speech about the cup being in the middle of the maze and if we ran into problems to send up red sparks with our wands. I was only halfway listing because I was going to be the last one entering the maze. I came in last on the first task by performing the task as an illegal animagus but also dropping the egg half way to the finish line. Then I lost total points for having someone else rescue my hostage from the lake. I was wondering why Snape was not appointed as my one and only judge, that way it would make my point count in the minus and that would not surprise anyone.

At this point in time, unless everyone got lost in the maze, I had no real chance of getting to the cup first, although I would try. At least Dumbledore would save the winner a walk back as the cup was a portkey to the stands and the dignitary stage. Bagman's whistle blew sending Krum and Diggery into the maze as they were tied with the most points. The next whistle sent Delacour charging in and of course finally, myself.

The interior was dark and eerie; I planned to take the paths to the right at any intersection. After several twists and turns and the lack of obstacles, it was beginning to bug me. The maze was supposed to be full of dangerous creatures, traps and unknown obstacles. At least that's what Bagman stated in his announcement before we entered this stupid maze.

The first obstacle I found was a Boggart and a simple "riddikulus!" ended its career. On the next turn I found Fleur unconscious in the path. As I stepped over her, set up red sparks and continued.

Now Hagrid's blast-ended Skrewt sent me in full reverse making me take the pathway on the left. There was nothing in the rules the required the contestants to commit suicide or volunteer for serious bodily injury. On that pathway I found Cedric unconscious so I stepped over Cedric and sent up red sparks.

One would have to be slow witted not to know somebody was playing unfair. A few turns later and finding Krum, apparently stunned, confirmed my thoughts about a Kneazle among the pixies. After I sent up the red sparks I started asking myself why Harry Potter was doing this. This was confirmed as a couple of turns later I ran into a Sphinx. I backed away as there was no reason to deal with the Sphinx as I was the de facto champion assuming I got to the cup. Besides, Sphinxes loved meat especially if it was alive when it was eaten. This gave me a 'what the hell attitude' and I started throwing 'diffindo' around quite liberally at the hedges, and there was the cup!

Unbeknownst to a number of people including myself Madeye Moody was causing all the mayhem in the maze so that I would be the only one arriving in the graveyard. I snatched up the cup and the cup snatched me up as it was a portkey. Then the real fun started.

"Madam Bones an illegal portkey was just activated somewhere in the middle of the maze."

"Put a tracker on its path and I want a team sent to its destination point immediately. Dumbledore is this one of your games?"

"Not at all Madam Bones I am shocked just as you are."

One thing I've got to say about the magical community and that is they have no common sense. When I arrived I was in a graveyard but the lights were turned off as I was immediately stunned. Apparently during the time I was out cold some blood was taken from me as my arm hurts and is obviously bleeding. I also noticed that I was tied magically to a marble statue by magical ropes. All the idiots looked the same being in black robes and white masks except for one who had a silver hand. Stupidly they had used a weak wizard to cast the spell because the stunner had already worn off. The best of their actions was they apparently had not searched me very well as I still had my focus ring along with my other toys. My wand was lying on the ground not six feet in front of me and none of about thirty death eaters are paying the least bit of attention to me. Not only were they not paying attention to me but apparently hadn't noticed to a couple of white and black phoenixes perched on a tombstone.

I wiggle the focus ring finger and fell to the ground as the magical ropes disappeared. Summoning my wand and dashing behind a large tombstone and I'm still not noticed. There was some kind of activity going on around the cauldron but my interest is elsewhere. I'm too busy pulling items from the belt that Ragnot gave me, the one that none of the Death Eaters had bothered to remove. It's starting to turning dark making the tomb stones even eerier. What I'm preparing is something I hope will keep me alive, because I can clearly see, Voldemort is definitely back. Another quick peek over my tombstone I see Voldemort is impressing his troops over his greatness and having conquered death. The goblin knife puts a slit in the plastic allowing the detonator to be inserted and the timer attached. Now I need a little bit of shrapnel so I summoned the tri-wizard cup with my focus ring but even in the falling darkness Voldemort notices the cup as it is flying toward me. "Kill him!" Voldemort shouted as he started looking for a wand that apparently wasn't in his possession. I am now in deep dragon dung.

A number of things start happening almost instantaneously. Thirty curses are flying in my direction that will eradicate this headstone and me in a heartbeat. I banish the still flying Tri-wizard cup at Voldemort and gave the timer a little tweak of the dial. All this commotion causes the phoenixes to flame as I transform into my silver phoenix form. Grabbing the plastic in my talons I flash just as the curses arrive. The headstone exploded into dust along with most of the surrounding area.

/Scene Break/

Dumbledore, Minister Fudge and Madam Bones were in a heated discussion as to what had happened and who was to blame. What Fudge and Dumbledore were proposing was a cover-up and what they would tell to the Daily Profit was fabrications. Madam Bones was objecting most strenuously. That's when Voldemort arrived holding the Tri-wizard cup which was probably the portkeys original destination. The spectators at first did not grasp who was holding the Tri-wizard cup. Voldemort had an announcement to make but started poorly, "I Lord Voldemort…"

Screams erupted and the people scattered, "Fools, your precious Harry Potter died tonight regardless what any prophecy says. He died at the hand of my faithful followers. His death tonight will start me on my path as supreme ruler of this land." With that Voldemort activated a portkey and disappeared. A number of curses flew through where he just stood from a couple of brave Aurors, the Tri-wizard cup fell to the ground unnoticed.

"Dumbledore you told me…you said this place was safe for Potter. Now you and your stupid Tri-wizard tournament has gotten him killed. Now how am I supposed to explain that to the public, they'll have me out of office…"

Daphne interrupted, "I wouldn't worry about Harry, he's perfectly safe, in fact he's on his way back right now."

I swear my tail feathers got cursed just as I flashed over the cauldron, and dropped my block of Semtex-h into the cauldron and flashed to Hogwarts.

As the three ministry officials turned to Daphne for an explanation on her comments I arrived behind them and transformed back into my handsome self.

"Hi Harry have a good trip? Hope you got a lot of the bad guys in the graveyard." Daphne had that ice queen persona going causing confusion, at first.

A lot of questions were being asked but first I was going to enjoy the embrace Daphne was giving. "Come on dear list let's get back up to the castle. After what this place has put us through it should be able to provide us at a cup of tea before we leave." In a low whisper, "You can explain how you knew later and why the act just now."

"Mr. Potter follow us to my office we have a lot to discuss." This was not a request from Dumbledore.

"I'm sorry Mr. Dumbledore I'm no longer a student here and since the Tri-Waco tournament is over, I have fulfilled your magical binding contract. So Mr. Dumbledore, as they say in the vernacular, you and the Minister can bugger off!" That started all the important people to start yelling and screaming at me but in a bit they were arguing among themselves. After all Daphne and I were unimportant in these serious matters so they were ignoring us, happily we slipped away.

We got our cup of tea but the Minister and Dumbledore arrived but before we got to dash out the Great Hall Kingsley Shacklebolt arrived with a story. Apparently some powerful 'bombarda' type curse had used in a graveyard and there were bodies everywhere. Everybody's attention was on his thrilling tale; we figured we would get the information in the morning from the Daily Profit, so we snuck out.

/Scene Break/

We definitely got a fantastic tale with few actual facts from the Daily Profit the next morning. According to the Daily Profit, "The chosen one" was a true hero who after overcoming severe and dangerous obstacles in the Tri-wizard tournament, secured the cup and was portkeyed to a graveyard. There waiting for me, their hero, was He-who–must–not–be–named and thirty of his minions. According to witnesses a horrendous fight broke out and "The chosen one" hurled an overpowered 'bombarda' curse killing, injuring or incapacitating the Death Eaters. They played down Voldemorts return but made a big production of the Minister's vow to protect the public and Harry Potter. They then went on to make a list of the Death Eaters which died and those who were just injured which included Lucius Malfoy.

"Well it's not like Draco is not only not at school anymore but he definitely has no one to complain to unless he wants to visit Azkaban." Daphne giggled.

"Well it's time for us to wander over to Gringotts and see if they have more tutors to beat me to a pulp. Oh! Remind me to tell the goblins that we will not be there for training Friday as we do need to pick up Wendy at Kings Cross. Now, would you care to explain how you knew about bad guys in the graveyard?"

/Scene Break/

Two days later in the Minister of Magic's office, Fudge, Dumbledore and Madam Bones were having a discussion…

"Dumbledore what are we going to do with the return of Voldemort? We hardly have enough Aurors or law enforcement personnel as it is and the Ministry is not ready to fight another war."

"Cornelius the simplest answer is to hire more people."

"Dumbledore the Ministry does not have those kinds of funds, in fact the Ministry is just about broke."

"You could start by spending some of the money you received accepting bribes over the last few years." Madam Bones added.

"How dare you…I never…making false accusations like that could lose you your job madam."

"I think were going to need to have a little discussion later Cornelius. the main topic will be the financial ledgers we found in Lucius Malfoy's manor."

"Money or no money we don't have enough qualified people to effectively fight a war. That Potion Master of yours Dumbledore only graduates a handful of qualified people each year and most don't want anything to do with becoming an Auror."

"Then might I suggest Cornelius that you change the standards or do away with that particular requirement."

"Fine Dumbledore I'll take your comments under consideration. I must insist that the Ministry gain control over Harry Potter so we can ensure…"

"Minister I wouldn't recommend you even thinking along those lines. Your going to be dealing with a lord controlling several houses and basically under the protection of the Goblin Nation. That's not pointing out that he is legally an adult." Madam Bones just shook her head as she had stated this before to the two blockheads.

"I'm the Minister of Magic and if we have to I will change the laws and Harry Potter will fall under Ministerial control!"

/Scene Break/

The next mornings news paper:

Minister Fudge declares Harry Potter a Ministry asset and vows protection and training for "The Chosen One".

Minister Fudge revealed today a prophecy showing that Harry Potter is the only one who can kill the Dark Lord who must not be named. Minister Fudge assured the public that Harry Potter will receive training from the best of the best seeing that Potter is the only one that can kill the Dark Lord. Harry Potter has been directed to report to the Ministry immediately.

We at the Daily Profit obtained a copy of that prophecy from the Minister which reads:

"The one with the power to vanquish the - Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the dark lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"

Your intrepid reporter has also learned that a pickup and detained order has been issued for "The chosen one" by Minister Fudge.

(The prophecy is an excerpt from J.K. Rowlings: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)