The basis of this chapter is Goblet of Fire. I do not own said book.
"If we have no clue what we're doing next, how will we prepare?" Harry wondered. Emily snorted.
"Harry, you're already at a sixth-year level or above for casting spells," Matthews pointed out. "I dare say you're as prepared as you can be until the task is announced. Now, how are you doing in catching up in your nonmagical subjects?"
"I'm doing pretty well in Chemistry," Harry began. "Not as good the Weasley Twins, but well. It's actually pretty simple. Um, I think I'm doing well in Algebra but I kinda feel like I'm pushing the symbols around on a piece of paper."
"A lot of people feel that way, Harry," Emily pointed out, "including me. I loathe math. I don't like science all of the time but I have a special hate in my heart for math."
"I understand a lot of the history stuff in how it connects to the world but I can't remember the dates."
"Neither can many people. If you don't believe how much history people forget, I'll pull up Jaywalking segments for you. You've got the big picture, which is encouraging."
"Okay. I've got to the part of The Count of Monte Cristo where Morrell's been rewarded and Dantes has declared it's time for the killing."
"Okay. That's a long book, Harry. I'm proud of you for getting that far. Catch up on whatever schoolwork you have and then relax. You deserve peace."
"You are to go down to the Quidditch field tonight at nine o'clock, Potter," McGonagall informed Harry. "Mr. Bagman will be there to tell the champions about the third task." Harry nodded, packed up, and steeled himself for what was to come. The third task would not be pretty.
"Worried?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded. "Just be careful, okay? I don't like how you're going to be facing death at night, either tonight or in the third task. Promise me you won't die, please. I couldn't stand losing you."
"Of course, Hermione," Harry replied. "I promise. I will be as careful as I can. Tomorrow, we start planning for real. I will not meet my end inside this bloody death trap."
"Language, Harry. You don't want to come off as not the Golden Boy of Gryffindor."
"You're one to talk, little Miss Brew-An-Illegal-Potion-In-Second-Year."
"I'm not glued to the sheeple's pedestal."
"Sheeple?"
"Sheeplike people. You know, easily led? It's generally used by conspiracy theorists to refer to non-conspiracy theorists."
"So, the entirety of pureblooded magical Britain."
"Basically."
"What d'you reckon it's going to be?" Cedric asked. "Fleur keeps going on about underground tunnels; she reckons we've got to find treasure." That was actually a fairly good idea; it would both be challenging and not explicitly life-threatening.
"That wouldn't be too bad," Harry commented. "What do you think it'll be?"
"Oh, I think it'll be a race or something." Harry struggled not to roll his eyes as the approached the Quidditch field, which wasn't quite so flat and neat anymore. "What've they done to it?" Harry squinted to focus on the hedges.
"They're hedges!" Harry said, excited. He'd always been good at hedge mazes…
"Hello there!" Bagman called cheerfully. "Well, what d'you think? Growing nicely, aren't they. Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high. Don't worry," Bagman comforted as he looked at Cedric's indignant frown, "you'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?" The champions looked at Bagman for a moment, wondering if he was kidding. They weren't four-year-olds, after all…
"Maze," Krum grunted finally.
"That's right" Bagman replied. "A maze. The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."
"We simply have to get through the maze?" Fleur asked, disbelieving.
"There will be obstacles," Bagman said with the same cheerful tone he had used to announce the dragons and merpeople. "Hagrid is providing a number of creatures… then there will be spells that must be broken… all that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze. Then Mr. Krum will enter… then Mr. Diggory… then Miss Delacour. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending on how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?" The champions had learned by now that Bagman's definition of fun was objectively awful. "Very well… if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly…"
The champions quickly left. None of them saw the babbling shadow of the man Barty Crouch used to be or the face of the man claiming to be Alastor Moody lit up with emerald green eyes; their thoughts were instead dedicated to plans and hedge mazes and sleep. It would be five weeks before Fang dug up the corpse-bone; by then, of course, the whole tragedy was over. The time and place were set; the ending was predetermined.
Predetermined by who, it was hard to say. Was is the Ministry's doing, through their unwillingness to change or prosecute the Death Eaters? Was it Voldemort's doing, through his scheme to get his body back? Was it Hogwart's doing, through letting a Death Eater (well, two actually) into the school unwatched and undetected? Was it the doing of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, through encouraging the Triwizard Task to begin anew? Was it Liberty's doing, through forcing the Triwizard into an even bigger and more insane spectacle? Was it Dumbledore's doing, through failing to prevent the entry of Harry? Or was it the doing of Harry himself, through refusing to die and failing to find a way out of the tournament?
There was plenty of blame to spread around after the fact. However, the fact was already set in stone; on June 24th, 2015, Voldemort would rise. Someone would die. The Boy Who Lived would escape to fight another day. There would be outrage. There would be denial. There would be a funeral. Only the little details were still up in the air as the champions began to plan in earnest.
Welcome back! The usual policies are in order, of course. So, without further ado:
Jaywalking segments involved Jay Leno asking random people on the streets of New York City questions about the US government, Constitution, and history.
This is a legit part of CoMC but the revenge getting takes a while after it.
And that also is totally not foreshadowing!
See you next week! Review!