Hey everyone,
HERE WE GO! Things are about to get very interesting and the bond between Harry and Amber is about to really be proven – as well as tested. I'm sure you're all already aware of what is going to happen next and I can only imagine how excited you all might be for this. I know I am. If anything this chapter actually helped me put the rest of the story to mind and paper in the form of story notes. Yes, I almost have the rest of the story all planned out.
Also, I am aware that Article 13 has been accepted by the European Parliament - or whatever - but I do not care, at least not yet. This whole act is not going to count for us for another two years, so until then I am going to continue posting updates every month. At least until as many of these stories are completed. Though I am hesitant to start new stories because of this as well, sorry.
Hope you understand,

Venquine1990
PS. This story is inspired by the works of DisneyFanatic2364. Check out their works, both fanfiction and Youtube.
Shout-Outs To:
Sam Steward (guest)
Jostanos
WhiteEagle1985

Chapter 25
An Unfortunate Task

24th of February 1995
Great Hall, Hogwarts
Harry's POV

The last few months have been quite the blast. I did indeed get in trouble for sending a student flying, but Professor Dumbledore, Sprout and McGonagall could all also understand how annoyed and disgusted I was with one of my own House accusing my Special Somebody – my little sweet as I have started calling Amber – of a murder she didn't commit. I still served a week's detention and Gryffindor lost a lot of points, but most were taken from the Third year.
He was also the one most of the other Gryffindors went after to punish for the heavy point loss, but after a week, did I tell them: "Alright, that's enough." And this startled everyone. "You don't want to make the same mistake with him as you did with me. Yes, Rivers was in the wrong, but he's learned his lesson. He repents. You're not teachers or Prefects, so don't act like it." And the others had reluctantly agreed and just left the boy to his own devices again.
Yet when Rivers had tried to thank me, had I just felled him with a stare and said: "I resent anyone getting that same treatment I got in my First, but I resent bullies even more. You learned the truth, now leave my Special Somebody alone. If you don't want to be her friend, then fine, but don't try to hurt her. I regret that you had to go to the Hospital Wing for that arm, but I don't regret making you regret your actions. Are we clear on that, Rivers?" And Rivers had nodded in vehement understanding.

Amber herself has definitely been the highlight of the last few months. The girl has yet to admit that she's in love with me, even though Aunt Twilight does tell me she senses a bond stronger than just friendship between us, but the girl has, at least admitted that she likes-likes me and that she thinks certain aspects of my new looks to be either cute, adorable or handsome. And while some would find the first two offensive to their manliness, do I just take them for the compliments they are.
I also have a ton of fun with all of mum and dad's friends, especially Trixie and the Crusaders. Trixie is a right laugh and is actually quite gifted with wizarding magic, constantly raving through various spell books and learning spells that are, already, way out of my own league after only a few tries and some explaining from either Starlight or Twilight. She and Hermione have also really hit it off and are often seen having heavy discussions over the use of various spells.
I myself also grew a very nice friendship with both Cedric and Fleur, having found that I have a love for the DADA class with Fleur and of course being able to have endless talks about Quidditch with Cedric. And while Hermione had been a little annoyed with this, had Applejack and Rarity taught her how to enjoy the hobbies of your friends can help your bond grow closer, while scoffing at them can cause nothing but trouble, arguments and hardships.

There were, however, a few instances where Amber's bad luck would indeed cause a few problems, like me actually forgetting where a trick step in the staircases was or Hermione accidentally dropping one of her essays in the fire. But while it had been Aunt Twilight who had saved the burning paper, had I just laughed at my misfortune and said: "Now I know how Neville feels."
And I had used the same kind of humor for other instances, Amber slowly but surely starting to see something in her bad luck she never had seen before; an opportunity to laugh at her friends' misfortune. There were definitely two instances where I had to go to the Hospital Wing, but I had just repeated my earlier statement to her: "Story of my life, sweet one. Nothing out of the ordinary here." And Madam Pomfrey had actually agreed on this, making my Amber giggle.

Yet the last time this happened is more than a week ago and since about a fortnight after the Ball have Amber and I come to a scheduled pattern where we would always meet for breakfast on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at around eight to eight fifteen, but by now it's almost nine and neither Hermione, Neville or Amber are here and this really, really worries me.
"Why aren't they here? Where are they? Why haven't I see Neville since we studied for Potions last night? What is going on here?" I wonder to myself as I prance back and forth in front of the doors leading into the Great Hall doors, causing some of the students who are sitting closest to it to look at me annoyed as they constantly spot me from the corner of their eye, but I don't care for this.
"Harry, sweetie, what's wrong?" Mum asks, her and dad having been held up earlier this morning and flying over to me. "Mum, something's going on. It's the day of the Second Task, I only know that the task is at the lake, but I haven't seen Hermione, Neville or Amber yet. And I haven't seen Neville since last night when we were studying." Instantly mum looks greatly worried and dad looks annoyed and suspicious as he turns from me to the Great Hall and says:
"Let's go ask the ones responsible for all this; the Headmaster and the organizers of this Tournament." I nod, some of my concerns gone now that I am starting to wonder if the disappearance of my friends might have something to do with the Tournament and the three of us move over to the Head Table, the students that had been staring at me annoyed, now looking curious as they see where I'm heading.

"Headmaster, do you know where my friends are?" I gently ask the man, showing him how concerned I am for them, but also remaining polite as I know just how much the man cares for his students and the man gently answers back: "I'm afraid I do, Mr. Potter. Tell me, have you figured out your mysterious egg yet?" This, especially the man's sorrowful tone, instantly sets my nerves aflame with a renewed strength of concern and I mutter:
"Yeah, Cedric helped. Like I did with the First Task, did he keep talking about taking a bath every time we passed for classes. It took him doing so for three times before I got it." The man nods and his gaze is very clear. I look down and mumble: "Come seek us where our voices sound, we cannot sing above the ground. An hour long you have to look and –."
And instantly I get it all and my concerns instantly replace themselves for a furious rage, one that courses through in the same powerful manner as the Chaos magic is still doing. Yet I keep my earlier knowledge in mind and so I hiss: "Who? Who in their bloody bright mind decided on this? Who is the mastermind behind this?" And Dumbledore aims a finger to Mr. Bagman, who is trying to smile at me in vain, but whimpers and reels back in fright when he sees my raging glare.
"They better –." I want to growl at him, but Dumbledore says: "I enchanted them, Mr. Potter. No harm will befall them. Just please, head for the lake and await us there. It's obvious you are too furious to wait and your magic is making it impossible for the other students to break their fast." Only then do I indeed hear the clanking of various bits of metal ringing against wooden surfaces.

I send one last raging glare at Bagman, silently warning him not to take too long, and then use the Popping ability as dad calls it to get to the lake's shore, my rage growing even bigger when I see several towers, made of several floors, stick out over the surface of the Black Lake, of which the calm surface really ticks me off as I think: "I can't even see if they're alright; if she's alright." I huff at this and fly over, knowing I need the extra time it takes to do so to keep myself collected.
And when I reach it, do I instantly go to stand at the side that looks out over the rest of the lake, my hearing – which grew slightly better after I changed form – able to pick up on a couple of voices that are coming from the direction of the castle and slowly growing in number. Knowing it will still take them some time before they will reach where I am, do I remember what Aunt Twilight told me: "There is an incredible bond of love and friendship between me, Amber, Neville and Hermione."
I close my eyes and focus inward, focusing on the bond Aunt Twilight said she sensed between us and trying to use it to reach and locate my friends and my Special Somebody. I tune out all other sounds, including the rising sound of more and more voices, and focus on the area before me. I feel some kind of barrier trying to hold me back, but realize that this is the surface of the lake and angrily break through. And instantly upon doing so, do I sense them, all three of them and one other.

"You ready, Harry?" Someone then asks me as they put a hand on my shoulder flank and I open my eyes as I say: "Perfect timing, Cedric. If you'd been one minute sooner, you would have broken my concentration. I found them." The older teen looks at me in relieved gratitude and he asks: "Are they alright? I know Dumbledore said he enchanted them and all, but –." I nod, understanding that it's not just the lake that worries the lad, but also the fact that it's still late winter.
I then notice Bagman trying to get everyone's attention, looking at me as if I ruined all of his hard-worked plans or something, but this thought infuriates me and I feel my Chaotic magic reacting to that, reaching for the bond I just used to find my friends. "Ladies and Gentlemen!" The man then shouts, his voice magically amplified, but when he wants to shout: "Welcome to the Second Task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament! Now, like the First Task, the Second was meant to be kept a secret until the very start of the event, but –."
Do I put my full power into my horns, slapping them so hard it actually slightly hurts and makes a small part of me wonder if I might not break one of them if I slap them harder. But I ignore this thought and just focus on the biggest problem right now; the barrier and distance between me and my Special Somebody. And the surface barrier of the Black Lake yields to my power, causing for a huge rift to break through, creating a path between our platform and where I sensed my friends.

Bagman yelps, frightened and shocked and I notice Cedric, Krum and Fleur gaping at the sight. I ignore this and just spread my wings, snarling: "Secrecy be damned, Bagman. You're putting lives at stake and I won't have it!" And after a bit of a run to catch speed do I flap my wings and take flight, my magic still coursing through my horns and keeping the watery walls at bay.
I hear Cedric, Fleur and Krum all cast the Accio charm, obviously summoning their brooms, but ignore this as my path, thankfully one that is just straight, leads me straight to a large village that seems to have been sunken underneath the surface of the lake. On my way there do I notice a few unfortunate underwater creatures, like Kelpies and Kappas, that are flapping about and getting back into the water, but I ignore this.
And when I reach the village, do I feel renewed concern course through me as my three friends and the girl that is obviously Krum's girlfriend are all awake and looking around amazed. I then suddenly start to feel the magic of Hogwarts trying to push against the walls from both sides and think: "Has that castle gone crazy or something?" And instantly I dive down, glad that the merepeople are away as I bite and tear through the seaweed tying their legs to a huge statue.

I go to stand sideways in front of Amber and yell: "Hop on! Hermione, Neville, Cedric, Fleur and Krum are on their way! Tell them to get above the surface level when they do. Hogwarts is, for some beyond absurd reason, trying to negate my magic – and she's overpowering me fast. If I hold this much longer, I won't have enough power to fly Amber back to the platforms."
The two look worried, but then Hermione spots Cedric in the distance and nods at me, telling me silently she has things covered. I smile at my best and closest friend, glad that she really came back to herself after Ron got expelled, and then soar off, quickly shouting at the three flyers: "Hurry, my magic is being fought by that of Hogwarts. I need to undo it before I lose my strength." And the three all push their brooms to fly towards the statue even faster.
"Eneverate." I then hear Amber whisper and feel a surge of power go through me. I smile at my sweet one and flap my wings harder, determined to get her out of her cloths, that are obviously soaked from the amount of time she must have been down there and quickly reach the platform, using my horns to summon one of the many blankets towards my special Somebody. And when Bagman wants to shout: "Harry Potter is the first to have –!" Do I fell him with a ferocious glare of towering rage.

The man yelps and whimpers and I growl: "No points. Don't you freakin dare give me even a single point. Headmaster, I'm going to assume that the enchantments were only going to last as long as the hostages – as that's what they are, nothing more or less – were underwater?" The ancient man nods, even though I'm not looking at him and I ask: "Then would you mind explaining to me why Hogwarts was trying to negate my magic creating the path to the merepeople village?"
"Probably because it caused so many other creatures to suddenly live on dry land, my boy. Something that isn't healthy for many of them. Hogwarts was merely trying to right a wrong she thought was done against some of its more permanent residents. As for why she would endanger her students, as I'm sure you believe, I believe Hogwarts was under the impression my enchantments would reactivate upon Mss. Mercuria and the others. Though I can't say for certain they would have."
This really aggravates me and I feel the magic of Hogwarts slamming harder and harder against my spell, making me grunt just when I hear Cedric and the others land. I sigh in relief at this and click my horns softly this time, undoing the spell and making the watery walls slam back together. This does cause some of the water to rise up, but then the surface calms down again.

I notice more blankets flying past me and sigh in relief at this, smiling slightly when Amber, who is already wrapped in two, lies herself down across my back, allowing for the sides of her own blankets to fall over my body. I smile at her gratefully and then turn to the judges, determined to not feel like this again at anymore point in time this year.
"Headmaster, I appreciate the enchantments you put on my Special Somebody, my friends and Krum's girlfriend. I also feel quite certain that you warned Mr. Bagman ahead of time how much of a bad idea this would be, seeing as how he now included three people I care greatly about. However, I am beyond done with this whole surprise until the Task scenario of yours and his.
I was put in this Tournament by someone fanatic enough in the Dark Arts he believes defeating me can bring back his long lost master. And while I am well aware that the bastard was caught, do I no longer feel comfortable taking that fact for granted, not when the organizers – you not included – create events that endanger the life of students. So I have but one question and I hope you will respect my point of view here enough to answer it."
The man nods and I glare at both Crouch Senior and Bagman, showing them exactly what I think of their idea of entertainment before I hiss: "What is the Third Task? And don't give me that crap of you're not supposed to know yet. I am not going to give you sorry lot another chance to endanger those I love. The students wouldn't have been able to see a damned thing anyway if I hadn't cast my spell, seeing as how the surface of the lake is like ice, not transparent.
You lot were so focused on testing and trialing your Champions, you completely forgot your audience as well as various safety rules. I doubt any of you even thought to ask people – like Neville's Grandmother, Lady Longbottom – for permission. Not meant offensively to you, Headmaster. If I know you, you were ordered not to by these two." And the man nods again to prove me right. "Now there is something I am going to love to fix, Albus. Leave it to me."

Sirius then says and I notice both men whitening something horrible before Dumbledore smiles at the man and then says: "The Third Task, Harry my boy, concerns a gigantic maze, which will be grown out of part of the Quidditch pitch – which will naturally be restored to its natural state after – and where you will have to reach the center, where the Tri-Wizard Cup is located."
And while the man's tone is pleasant and forthcoming, do I feel my ire and rage grow to new heights and Amber derisively asks: "Let me guess, their idea as well?" Dumbledore nods and I shout at the two: "YOU LOT ARE BLEEDING IDIOTS!" Before, Amber instantly grabbing a tight hold on my mane, I flap my wings and soar up, past the platforms and back to the dorm.
I make sure to take the most direct route there as I know that flying just isn't going to help me calm down right now and that only the inside of the trunk and the chaotic magic that created its insides are strong enough to withstand the raging chaotic magic I can feel about to burst out of me. And when I land in the dorm, do I try to say: "Don't follow." But it comes out as an angry hiss.

Amber looks at me worried, but nods and I fly into the trunk, where everyone else is waiting as we agreed that the Task would probably not accommodate to that many new members in the audience. "Leave, keep Amber company. I need to rage and –." And Starlight is the first who recovers from her shock at seeing me, nods and says: "Come on, everypony, let's give him some space."
And she and Trixie use their magic to help everyone out of the trunk as fast as possible. They then send me an understanding look before using their magic to levitate themselves out. And the minute I hear the lock of the trunk snap shut, do I let loose, shouting, screaming and raging as I just cannot believe the lack of intelligence that is being shown by professional adults.
My magic escapes me and attacks everything around me, causing for the chess tiled floor to suddenly start to shine with various neon colors, for the windows to start showing all kinds of natural disasters, for the ceiling to turn into a cloudy sky that rains butterbeer and various other liquids and of which the lightning bolts actually turn magical, causing for all kinds of things to grow out of the floor at all the points it hits.
I stomp, jump, run and fly around the room, somehow easily evading every lightning bolt strike and my magic so erratically coursing through me that it actually escapes through my hooves as well as my horns that are slapping together over and over and over again, causing them to hurt, but I don't care for this as my anger blinds me to everything else.

Outside the trunk
Amber's POV

I watch in concerned pain as the trunk actually jumps up and down, actually going through the entire dorm room and hitting the walls several times as well as the grate in the center of the room. "Wow, he is really angry. What got him so riled up?" Applebloom asks and Sweetie belle goes on: "And why are you so wet? What happened?" I sigh and then Discord pops the others in.
The Draconequus takes only one look at the raging form of the trunk, which probably has his infuriated son raging inside it and nods as he says: "Yep, saw that coming.""What happened?" Trixie asks again and Twilight answers: "They used three of Harry's friends, Amber included, as hostages for the Task, keeping them out cold underneath the lake. And they are planning a huge maze with the cup in the center for the Third. Harry got it out of them, Dumbledore told him."
"Ehm, how big are we talking here?" Scootaloo asks and Rainbow answers: "Probably big enough that only we Pegasi will be able to see anything. They did the same for this Task. The surface of the lake makes it impossible for anyone to see anything, but they were actually angry at Harry for creating a path to the village where they kept Amber and the gang. Like Harry said, they were so focused on him and the Champions, they forgot about their audience, the morons."

"And apparently they forgot about the danger Harry was in too. Think about it, ya'll. If Harry has to go to the center of the maze, he will probably be out of sight of everyone, even Moody and his crazy eye. Meaning that, whoever Junior was working with, could probably enchant the damned thing and take Harry out of Hogwarts without anyone knowing."
"And who knows what they'll do to the other Champions to see that happen." Discord then adds before motioning for the trunk that is still raging around the room, though I do notice that it's jumping slightly less now and he goes on: "Which is exactly what is fueling my boy's anger right now. Combine that with how concerned he has been over his friends all day and the fact that his emotions are still very closely tied to his chaotic magic –."
"And you get two wizards who can be lucky that Harry decided to spare them and just rage for himself." Neville then says, suddenly appearing in the doorway and only looking startled as he sees the trunk making another jump, this time actually flipping halfway over and landing on the opening flap, yet Discord instantly snaps his fingers, turning it right side up again while others nod with Neville's statement.

Yeah, I agree too.
So yeah, that happened. Harry is now aware of what the Third Task ensues and is pretty pissed. But once his anger calms down, you bet your flank he is just going to plan the living hell out of himself to make sure that Voldemort's little plan for him won't come true. Also, I have a few surprises planned when it comes to Crouch Junior, Pettigrew and one other.
Guess who,

Venquine1990
PS. This story is inspired by the works of DisneyFanatic2364. Check out their works, both fanfiction and Youtube.