AN – Aaaaand we're back.
I think that from now on I will try for a chapter a week; it should be manageable with work and the Masters degree. Thanks for the reviews and I hope every one is still enjoying the ride
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Chapter 21 – The second task
"Did you tell anyone else about the clue" Marie asked Tom as they walked around the school
"No, after a discussion with Harry over the Christmas break and we decided to share it with you because you're part of our group now" Tom said taking a turn and heading past the bathroom that always caught his attention
"You always look at that door with an excited gleam in your eyes, why?" She stopped their walk
"Because there's an entrance to what I believe is Salazar Slytherin's chamber" He explained
"And you don't go and see because it is the girl's bathroom?" she asked curiously
"Partly, partly because there might be a Basilisk inside" he shrugged and dragged her off
Outside Harry was training against Neville and Terry while Daphne watched; Harry had his wand out and his sleeves were rolled up as he cast at half speed and concentrating on increasing the power of his spells. He stopped so that the two boys could catch their breath and walked over to Daphne
"Are you any warmer?" he asked Daphne now that she had on his jacket
"A little" she said through a scarf wrapped around the lower part of her face
"Let me cast a warming charm on you" he pleaded for the fourth time for the morning
"No, we shouldn't solve all our problems with magic" she argued causing him to shake his head
"Ok, but if you shake any more I'm going to cast one whether you like it or not" he walked off toward Neville and Terry "I think it's time I went full speed, I'll only use stinging hexes okay?" he said and both boys gulped and nodded
Harry took off like a demon and fired off silently stingers as fast as he could against the two boys who threw up shields and tried to dodge but were only blocking about a quarter of the spells. A half an hour and many stinging hexes later the four walked back into the castle
"More training later?" Daphne asked Harry
"NO!" both Neville and Terry shouted and started running away from them
"Why don't you ever duel with Tom?" Daphne asked as they walked into the great hall for lunch
"It serves very little purpose, we used to in that first year we were gone but we weren't learning anything new from duelling each other. Also we know one another quite well so the fight is slow because we're trying to out think one another" he said helping her remove both jackets and her scarf
"I see, so why do you train with Neville and Terry? Aren't they worse then Tom?" she asked dishing a plate for the both of them
"They are, but training with them allows me to practice other facets of my casting. Like today, I was working on increasing the power of my attacks and it's easier to do if you cast slower"
"So when are you going to duel against me?" she asked
"Hopefully never" he smiled and started eating
"Are you ready for next week?" Hermione asked sitting down on Harry's other side
"I think they are, they understand the clue and I think that they'll do well" Daphne answered
"You still think that it's centaurs in the forest?" she asked
"Let's revise shall we" Harry said "There were three lines; we are not man nor beast and to the stars we look, We possess the key to the final round, Come and search for us on forbidden ground. Clearly it's the forbidden forest and centaurs are half human and half horse or unicorn if you follow some peoples theories"
"So Harry and Tom figured they'll have to fight their way through the forest to the centaurs and get the key to the next stage" Daphne finished
"I guess" Hermione said picking up her things once more "I have to help the twins with some homework. See you two later" she said rushing off
"Where is she rushing to?" Luna asked in her usual cheery tone
"Helping the twins with homework apparently" Harry answered "Sorry I beat up your boyfriend today" he grinned
"He'll be okay" Luna laughed causing the couple to laugh as well. More of their friends joined them for supper and soon conversation flowed quickly but it all went by and everyone retired for the night, Harry and Daphne later than the rest because they had discovered their fondness for broom cupboards
Tom sat on the edge of his bed cleaning his sword after dinner and thought that the weeks leading up to the second task were as impatient as Harry and Tom were for the second task because they all flew by. He watched Harry enter the room and unstrap his holsters and toss them on the bed
"Krum has figured out the clue as well" Tom stated plainly
"How do you know?" Harry asked pulling off his shirt
"Marie and I saw them poking around the woods"
"Ok so we're all on level footing, shall we speed through it again?" Harry smirked
"I know you're all for ending this as quickly as possible but can you try and enjoy it too?" Tom asked irritated
"Why? I'm trying to make sure we survive"
"Because I'd like to win and not because I blitzed through every obstacle but because I earned the victory" Tom shouted
"Ok Tom" Harry got into bed and turned over and went to sleep
The week went by without a word spoken between Harry and Tom; the group felt the tension between the two and tried to get them talking but neither said what the problem was. They found themselves watching from the stands next to the parents of the two boys
"Does anyone know what's going on between those two?" Lily asked
"No one knows, on Sunday everything was fine at dinner then we all went our different ways. Harry took Daphne to her common room and came through ours smiling. When I went up to bed Harry was sleeping and Tom was reading one of his books" Neville reported
"This tournament was a bad idea" Daphne said to Astoria
"I agree, but Tom couldn't have chosen anyone else to be his partner" Lily interjected
"Looks like they're starting" James said pointing to the champions
"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the second task, the champions will enter the forbidden forest and retrieve an item hidden with some of the creatures. There are only two items hidden in the forest so only 2 teams will qualify for the next challenge. At the sound of the canon all three teams will enter the forest" Hellsbee announced and the canon went off a minute later
Tom took the lead on this one and made his way deeper into the forest stopping at various points to glance up at the roof of the trees to find opening. They delved deep into the forest where it looked untouched by wizard; the trees looked healthier and there were fewer paths to follow so you had to make your own. Harry followed at Tom's pace and was constantly looking around for clues that would lead them to the centaurs. Tom held out his hand and stopped him; a unicorn was grazing in a meadow bathed in sunlight. They watched for a while until Krum and partner held down the unicorn and cut off its horn and slit its throat trying to get as much of its blood into a few vials. Harry couldn't stand it anymore and threw a knife at Krum's partner and caught him in the thigh, pulling his other knife he ran forward
"You idiot, you will pay for that" the wounded boy bellowed throwing Harry's knife back at him
"No you will, that knife is poisoned" Harry said wand in one hand and knife in the other "Give me the horn and I'll give you the cure" he offered
"That will be enough" a centaur stepped forward "Here" he threw two trophies at the teams "Get out of my forest" he said and grabbed the horn and vials from the Durmstrang team
"Thank you" Harry struck out his hand
"No need, I saw your bravery young one. Hogwarts truly has a worthy Champion" he lifted the unicorn corpse and galloped away
When the Durmstrang pair exited the forest Lily thought something was wrong and when Harry and Tom followed a few minutes later she knew something was wrong.
"Congratulations to our Champions from Hogwarts and Durmstrang, they will face off in a duel to first blood as the final task which will take place two weeks from today" Hellsbee said excitedly
Krum spoke quickly to Grindelwald and pointed at his partner's leg which looked terrible
"It seems Mr Potter poisoned my Champions partner" Grindelwald shouted
"And it seemed like those two were killing a unicorn" Harry retorted
"Beasts are of no consequence, what poison did you use?" Grindelwald stepped closer to Harry who had drawn his wand already and Harry simply shrugged
"You're going to let him die Mr Potter?" Madame Pomfrey asked trying to tend to the boys wound
"Beasts are of no consequence" Harry mimicked Grindelwald
"Very well, I will try my best to heal him but I fear my effort will be in vain" she said levitating the boy to the hospital wing
Walking towards his parents Harry knew he was in for a verbal lashing from his mother because she looked like she was ready to explode. Unfortunately Tom looked the same, and James looked disappointed.
"Give them the cure Harry" Lily said containing her fury
"No" he stood his ground
"He is going to die Harry" her voice softened
"And he and Krum killed a unicorn or doesn't that matter?" he shouted
"Of course it does, but you aren't a murderer Harry" James said sternly causing Lily to do a double take because he had never spoken that way
Harry conjured a vial and blade and cut his finger dropping some blood into it, he pulled off his necklace which had another vial
"Here, heal him" he shoved the vials in Lily's hands and walked away
Lily turned to Tom and watched his reaction
"What's going on between you two Tommy?" she asked
"Nothing" he stormed off
"James there's something seriously wrong with Tom, I don't think it's Harry's fault. He is rightfully angry at Grindelwald's lackeys but Tom is angry at Harry and I can't imagine why" she looked sadder than James had ever seen her
"They'll be alright. They're our boys remember" He comforted her as they made their way up to the medical wing
AN- As always your reviews make this whole writing process so much more fun and enjoyable