A/n: So, skipped a Chapter, because it was all Harry, and because Josh wasn't there. And I think you may like this one, hopefully. If I wrote any kind of mistakes, let me know, I will fix them ASAP.

Chapter 28: The Third Task

Later that day, back in the Gryffindor tower Harry told Josh, Ron, and Hermione what he had learned when he had went to Dumbledore's office. He told them about his adventure through a Pensieve and what he saw, learning all about Igor Karkaroff, Bertha Jorkins, Ludo Bagman, Barty Crouch Jr., and how Snape is a death eater. Most important Dumbledore spoke to Harry about how Voldemort was getting Stronger.

"Dumbledore reckons You-Know-Who's getting stronger again as well?" Ron whispered.

Josh, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat up late in the common room once again that night, talking it all over. Ron stared into the common room fire. Josh thought he saw Ron shiver slightly, even though the evening was warm.

"And he trusts Snape?" Ron said. "He really trusts Snape, even though he knows he was a Death Eater?"

"Yes," Harry said. Josh looked into the fire. Snape a death eater? He'd seem like one, but lately, the way Snape had been treating him, was father-like or like Dumbledore's relationship towards Harry.

Hermione had not spoken for ten minutes. She was sitting with her forehead in her hands, staring at her knees. Josh thought she looked as though she could have done with a Pensieve.

"Rita Skeeter," she muttered finally.

"How can you be worrying about her now?" said Ron, in utter disbelief.

"I'm not worrying about her," Hermione said to her knees. "I'm just thinking…remember what she said to me in the Three Broomsticks?' I know things about Ludo Bagman that would make your hair curl.' This is what she meant, isn't it? She reported his trial; she knew he'd passed information to the Death Eaters. And Winky too, remember…'Ludo Bagman's a bad wizard.' Mr. Crouch would have been furious he got off, he would have talked about it at home."

"Yeah, but Bagman couldn't have passed on the information on purpose, did he?" Josh said.

"And Fudge reckons Madame Maxime attacked Crouch?" Ron said, turning back to Harry.

"Yeah," said Harry, "but he's only saying that because Crouch disappeared near the Beauxbatons carriage."

"We never thought of her, did we?" said Ron slowly. "Mind you, she's definitely got giant blood, and she doesn't want to admit it-"

"Of course she doesn't," said Hermione sharply. "Look what happened to Hagrid when that cow found out about his mother. Look at Fudge, jumping to conclusions about her, just because she's part giant. Who needs that sort of prejudice? I'd probably say I had big bones if I knew that's what I'd get for telling the truth."

Hermione looked at her watch. "We haven't done any practicing!" she said, looking shocked. "We were going to do the Impediment Curse, Harry! Josh has it well enough, but we'll have to really get down to it tomorrow! Come on, you two, you need to get some sleep."

Harry, Josh, and Ron went slowly upstairs to their dormitory. Josh pulled on his pajamas, and climbed into his four-poster. Lying in the darkness, Josh wondered about Harry's words from the other day and today. Everything was strange, and Josh still didn't know why someone would put his name in the Goblet of Fire. He wasn't the boy-who-lived, and he wasn't the one who nearly destroyed Voldemort. That was all Harry. Josh then fell asleep.

Josh leaned down against something that was made of stone once again. He felt tired and wondered why he was so tired. He wasn't just tired either, he was in pain all over his body, but his left hand was what was in pain the most. He lifted his left hand and looked at it to see his ring finger was missing as if it had been cut off. But what happened to his finger, why was it gone? And then, he heard a voice.

"Ah, Young Black. You have helped brought me back to full life."

Josh looked up at a shadowy figure that he couldn't make out, but he could see red eyes and black robes. He looked around which was a dark graveyard and there held up on a large stone monument, was Harry.

"Now that I'm back, young Black, I can see that you're a very powerful wizard. Having Slytherin blood in you makes you a powerful wizard, just as I am. Now join me." And a pale, skinny, and skeletal looking hand reached out in front of Josh. "Join me."

Josh stared at the skeletal hand, and then reached for it with his own hand and grabbed it. Josh was pulled up to his feet by the figure who was the only one that noticed that Josh's eyes too were now red...

Josh jerked awaked and sat up in bed, covered in sweat, wondering what the hell kind of dream was that.

Over the days, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Blaise, and Daphne were all supposed to be studying for their exams, which would finish on the day of the third task, but they were putting most of their efforts into helping Josh prepare for the third task.

"Don't worry about it," Hermione said shortly when Josh pointed this out to them and said he didn't mind practicing on her own for a while, "at least we'll get top marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts. We'd never have found out about all these hexes in class."

"Good training for when we're all Aurors," said Ron excitedly, attempting the Impediment Curse on a wasp that had buzzed into the room and making it stop dead in midair.

Hermione nodded with a smile and glanced over at Josh and Daphne who were laughing as Josh helped her with the Impedimenta Curse. Her heart sank a little and turned away towards Harry and Josh who were shooting the same curse at one another for fun.

The mood in the castle as they entered June became excited and tense again. Everyone was looking forward to the third task, which would take place a week before the end of term. Josh was practicing hexes and jinxes at every available moment.

He felt more confident about this task than either of the others. Difficult and dangerous though it would undoubtedly be, but he had managed to find his way past monstrous creatures and enchanted barriers before now, and this time he had some notice, some chance to prepare himself for what lay ahead.

Tired of walking in on Josh, Harry, Blaise, Daphne, Tracey, Draco, Hermione or Ron all over the school, Professor McGonagall had given them permission to use the empty Transfiguration classroom at lunchtimes.

Josh had already mastered the Impediment Curse, a spell to slow down and obstruct attackers and mastered the Reductor Curse, which would enable them to blast solid objects out of their way; and the Four-Point Spell, a useful discovery of Hermione's that would make their wands point due north, therefore enabling Josh to check whether he was going in the right direction within the maze. He also master stronger shield spells and a few spells he looked up on his own, ones that Cyrus had use on him.

Everything was going great and Josh's Gryffindor and Slytherin friends were getting along well enough, with the exception of Ron and Blaise or Hermione and Daphne for personal reasons and Draco, but they tolerated one another. Only Hermione was nice enough to carry on small talk with Draco, but Josh knew it would take time with Harry and Ron to accept that Draco has changed. There was also another strange bond going on which was Ron and Tracey. At first, their relationship was like Ron and Hermione's but it turned out that Ron thought that Tracey was pretty funny, but he was still holding back because she was a Slytherin.

To see if he was good enough, Josh had Harry, Ron, and Blaise all attack him at once, which was a stupid idea as Josh did a little horrible and was injured by Harry, who Josh didn't see coming. Harry hit his wand hand, breaking it.

"You're still doing really well, though," Hermione said encouragingly, looking down her list and crossing off those spells they had already learned. As everyone else practiced the spells, Draco, who also took Healing classes, helped Josh who was taking a break. "Some of these are bound to come in handy."

"Come and look at this," said Ron, who was now standing by the window. He was staring down onto the grounds. "What's Nott doing?"

Harry, Josh, Hermione and the other Slytherins went to see. Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing in the shadow of a tree below. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to be keeping a lookout; both were smirking. Nott was holding his hand up to his mouth and speaking into it.

"He looks like he's using a walkie-talkie," said Harry curiously.

"He can't be," said Hermione, "I've told you, and those sorts of things don't work around Hogwarts. Come on, Harry," she added briskly, turning away from the window and moving back into the middle of the room, "let's see you try that Shield Charm again."

Sirius was sending daily owls now. Like Hermione and Daphne, he seemed to want to concentrate on getting Josh through the last task before they concerned themselves with anything else. He reminded Harry and Josh in every letter that whatever might be going on outside the walls of Hogwarts was not their responsibility, nor was it within their power to influence it.

If Voldemort is really getting stronger again, he wrote, my priority is to ensure both of your safety. He cannot hope to lay hands on you two while you are under Dumbledore's protection, but all the same, take no risks: Joshua, concentrate on getting through that maze safely, and then we can turn our attention to other matters.

Josh's nerves mounted as June the twenty-fourth drew closer, but they were not as bad as those he had felt before the first and second tasks. For one thing, he was confident that, this time, he had done everything in his power to prepare for the task. For another, this was the final hurdle, and however well or badly he did, the tournament would at last be over, which would be an enormous relief.

Breakfast was a very noisy affair at the Gryffindor table on the morning of the third task. The post owls appeared, bringing Josh a good-luck card from Sirius. It was only a piece of parchment, folded over and bearing a muddy paw print on its front, but Josh appreciated it all the same. A screech owl arrived for Hermione, carrying her morning copy of the Daily Prophet as usual. She unfolded the paper, glanced at the front page, and spat out a mouthful of pumpkin juice all over it.

"What?" said Harry, Josh, and Ron together, staring at her.

"Nothing," said Hermione quickly, trying to shove the paper out of sight, but Ron grabbed it. He stared at the headline and said, "No way. Not today. That old cow."

"What?" said Harry. "Rita Skeeter again?"

"No," said Ron, and just like Hermione, he attempted to push the paper out of sight.

"It's about me or Josh isn't it?" said Harry.

"No," said Ron, in an entirely unconvincing tone. But before Harry could demand to see the paper Theodore Nott shouted across the Great Hall from the Slytherin table.

"Hey, Potter! How're your head? You feeling all right? Sure you're not going to go berserk on us?"

Nott was holding a copy of the Daily Prophet too. Most of the Slytherins up and down the table were sniggering, twisting in their seats to see Harry's reactions.

"Let me see it," Harry said to Ron. "Give it here."

Very reluctantly, Ron handed over the newspaper. Harry turned it over and Josh leaned in was staring into a picture of Harry.

'HARRY POTTER DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS'

The boy who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is unstable and possibly dangerous, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Alarming evidence has recently come to light about Harry Potter's strange behavior, which casts doubts upon his suitability to attend Hogwarts School.

Potter, the Daily Prophet can exclusively reveal, regularly collapses at school, and is often heard to complain of pain on the scar on his forehead (relic of the curse with which You-Know-Who attempted to kill him). On Monday last, midway through a Divination lesson, your Daily Prophet reporter witnessed Potter storming from the class, claiming that his scar was hurting too badly to continue studying.

It is possible, say top experts at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, that Potter's brain was affected by the attack inflicted upon him by You-Know-Who, and that his insistence that the scar is still hurting is an expression of his deep-seated confusion.

"They might even be pretending," said one specialist. "This could be a plea for attention."

The Daily Prophet, however, has unearthed worrying facts about Harry Potter that Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, has carefully concealed from the wizarding public.

"He can speak Parseltongue," reveals Theodore Nott, a model Hogwarts fourth year. "There were a lot of attacks on students a couple of years ago, and most people thought Potter was behind it after they saw him lose their temper at a dueling club and set a snake on another boy. It was all hushed up, though. But he's made friends with werewolves and giants too. We think he'd do anything for a bit of power."

Parseltongue, the ability to converse with snakes, has long been considered a Dark Art. Indeed, the most famous Parselmouth of our times is none other than You-Know-Who himself. A member of the Dark Force Defense League, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that he would regard any witch or wizard who could speak Parseltongue "as worthy of investigation. Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anybody who could converse with snakes, as serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers." Similarly, "anyone who seeks out the company of such vicious creatures as werewolves and giants would appear to have a fondness for violence."

But that's all we found out about theories of a Parselmouth and an Heir of Slytherin. Rumors are said that there is a true of Heir of Slytherin attending the school of Hogwarts. Rumors are said that his person is none other than the Fourth Triwizard Champion, Son of Azkaban Escapee and Azkaban attendant, Joshua Malcom Black! We had Professional Scholars look up the history of young Joshua Black and did indeed find that he was related to not just Salazar Slytherin, but to He-who-must-not-be-named as well!

"How in the hell did they get this information!" Josh growled as people who were reading the Prophet looked up at Josh. Ron was looking very uncomfortable at the moment.

Our source tells us that like his distant cousin, Young Black has begun to follow in the Dark Lord's footsteps as seen using unknown dark curses and even going as far as attacking his first cousin, Cyrus Emrys.

"I was the best cousin I could be to Joshua," Cyrus said, a top student of Durmstrang. "But he snapped and he attacked me for no reason. I was shocked and terrified. He put me in the Hospital Quarters for a month."

Albus Dumbledore should surely consider whether a boy such as this should be allowed to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. Some fear that Joshua Black might resort to the Dark Arts in his desperation to win the tournament, the third task of which takes place this evening.

"Gone off us a bit hasn't she?" said Harry lightly as Josh folded the paper and shoved it back to Hermione.

Over at the Slytherin table, Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle were laughing at them, tapping their heads with their fingers, pulling grotesquely mad faces, and waggling their tongues like snakes.

"How did she know your scar hurt in Divination?" Ron said, as Josh sat still looking around the Great Hall at the many faces reading the Daily Prophet. "There's no way she was there, there's no way she could've heard -"

"The window was open," said Harry. "I opened it to breathe."

"You were at the top of North Tower!" Hermione said. "Your voice couldn't have carried all the way down to the grounds!"

"Well, you're the one who's supposed to be researching magical methods of bugging!" said Harry. "You tell me how she did it!"

"I've been trying!" said Hermione. "But I…but…" An odd, dreamy expression suddenly came over Hermione's face. She slowly raised a hand and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Are you all right?" said Ron, frowning at her.

"Yes," said Hermione breathlessly. She ran her fingers through her hair again, and then held her hand up to her mouth, as though speaking into an invisible walkie-talkie. Harry, Josh, and Ron stared at each other.

"I've had an idea," Hermione said, gazing into space. "I think I know…because then no one would be able to see…even Moody…and she'd have been able to get onto the window ledge…but she's not allowed…she's definitely not allowed…I think we've got her! Just give me two seconds in the library - just to make sure!" With that, Hermione seized her school bag and dashed out of the Great Hall.

"Oi!" Ron called after her. "We've got our History of Magic exam in ten minutes! Blimey," he said, turning back to Harry and Josh, "she must really hate that Skeeter woman to risk missing the start of an exam. What're you going to do in Binns's class, Josh – take another nap?" He asked uncomfortably.

Exempt from the end-of-term tests as a Triwizard champion, Josh had been sitting in the back of every exam class so far, looking up fresh hexes for the third task or catching up on some rest.

"Most likely," Josh said to Ron who Josh noticed that he was uncomfortable towards him; but just then. Professor McGonagall came walking alongside the Gryffindor table toward her.

"Mister Black, the champions are congregating in the chamber off the Hall after breakfast," she said.

"But the task isn't till tonight!" Josh said.

"I'm aware of that, Mister Black," McGonagall said. "The champions' families are invited to watch the final task, you know. This is simply a chance for you to greet them." She moved away. Josh gaped after her.

"Is she serious?" Josh asker Harry and Ron. "My parents can't be here and my Grandfather's missing. What, is Dumbledore going to just allow Snuffles in through the front door?"

"Dunno," said Harry with a shrug. "Come on Ron, we'd better hurry, we're going to be late for Binns. See you later."

Josh finished his breakfast in the emptying Great Hall, noticing all the ugly stares some of the other kids were giving him. He saw Fleur Delacour get up from the Ravenclaw table and join Cedric as he crossed to the side chamber and entered. Krum slouched off to join them shortly afterward. Josh stayed where he was. He really didn't want to go into the chamber. He had no family left - no family who would turn up to see him risk his life, anyway.

But just as he was getting up, thinking that he might as well go up to the library and do a spot more hex research, the door of the side chamber opened, and Cedric stuck his head out.

"Oi, Black, come on, they're waiting for you!"

Utterly perplexed, Josh got up. His parents or his Grandfather couldn't possibly be here, could they? Josh walked across the Hall and opened the door into the chamber. Cedric and his parents were just inside the door. Viktor Krum was over in a corner, conversing with his dark-haired mother and father in rapid Bulgarian. He had inherited his fathers hooked nose. On the other side of the room, Fleur was jabbering away in French to her mother. Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle, was holding her mother's hand.

And then he saw them. Three unfamiliar faces. The first face he noticed was a woman, with dark, twinkling eyes, a pale, heart-shaped face and short hot-pink hair; then the man who was a fair-haired, and big-bellied; and lastly, and older woman with light brown hair instead of dark, with softer and wide eyes. They were all smiling and beaming up at Josh.

"Surprise!" The younger woman said as Josh walked up to the three, clueless.

"Who are you?" Josh asked.

"Oh, he looks just like Sirius, doesn't he?" The older woman said, smiling at Josh.

"Hello, there son," The man said, holding out his hand. Josh shook it. "You're probably wondering who we are, and well, we are you family!"

"What?" Josh said as his eyes widened.

"It's true," the younger woman said. "We're your cousins, but you can call me Tonks."

"Tonks?" Josh said, thinking that was a strange name.

"Her name is Nymphadora Tonks," the older woman corrected. "Dora likes to complain about not liking her name. Hello, Josh, I'm Andromeda Tonks and this is my husband Ted Tonks. And like my daughter said, we are your family, related to Sirius."

Josh stared at the trio and then he smiled. "I have more family? Better than Cyrus?"

"Who?" Dora asked.

"Nothing, never mind," Josh said, his mood better than ever. "This is great!"

Suddenly, the doors opened to the chamber. Josh turned around and was shocked to see Cyrus walk in. "Are we late?" he said, confusedly.

"We?" Josh said.

And then a man in black suit walked in with different colored eyes and dark hair. "Oh, you don't think you're good ole' Uncle Silus would miss you win this tournament, would you?" Josh took a step back into Dora, staring in horror at his Uncle Silus. "Now, come over and give your Uncle a hug!"

Josh didn't move, but unfazed, Silus and Cyrus walked up to Josh and the Tonks Family. "Hello, I'm Silus Emrys," Silus introduced to the Tonks's. "And this is my eldest son, Cyrus, and may I introduce to you my second, Rina." And from behind Silus, a 13 year old girl shyly walked out from behind Silus. Josh was surprised to see her as it had been a long time since he'd seen his younger cousin. We're Josh's family from his mother's side."

The doors opened again, and Draco entered, but he wasn't alone, he was with his mother and walked up and joined the group. Josh was surprised to see Draco and his mother.

"Andromeda," Draco's mother said a bit coldly.

"Narcissa," Andromeda greeted just as coldly.

"You know each other?" Josh asked.

"Yes," Andromeda said. "She's my sister."

"You're sisters?" Josh said, and then looked at Draco. "You didn't tell me that?"

"I didn't know," Draco said, glancing at Cyrus, Silus, and Rina. "Who are they?"

"My mom's family," Josh said, sighing.

"Well, it looks like you have a big family here, Joshua," Narcissa said, smiling, though Josh could tell it wasn't genuine. "It's a shame your mother and father aren't here to this for themselves." Josh didn't say anything but stared at the older woman.

"I agree," Silus said. "It's a very shame my younger sister couldn't be here today since she's in Azkaban. Oh, and your father, on the loose like a mad man."

"My father isn't a mad man," Josh growled.

"Oh? And how would you know? You never met the man," Silus said, and then smirked, while Josh looked away, clenching his teeth and his fists. "Unless you've been in contact with him, and you know exactly where he is."

Josh shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "I just know from what my mother told me."

"Oh, right, of course," Silus said, nodding. "But there is one matter that we need to discuss."

"What's that?" Josh said.

"About you attack my eldest son, young Joshua," Silus spoke, smiling smugly. "You'll be happy to know that I reported you to the Department of Law Enforcement. And once the year is over, you'll be happy to know that over the summer, you'll be under surveillance."

"You're lying," Josh said.

"No, Josh," Dora spoke up. Josh turned to look at her. "He's telling the truth." Josh sighed and turned back to Silus, who moved next to Josh and whispered in his ear.

"And know this, young Joshua," he whispered. "You attack my family again, you will have to deal with me, and I'm very sure you know what I'm capable of."

Josh grinded his teeth and then whispered back, "And if Cyrus told you everything, I'll have you know that I'm willing to do anything to stay alive."

Silus smirked and stood up. "Come along, Cyrus, Rina," he said. "We'll be rooting for you," he said sarcastically to Josh and then the three Emrys left the room.

"Yes, I have to go as well," Narcissa spoke, "Come along, Draco," she said, and then walked off.

"Good luck," Draco said, and then followed his mother.

"Wow, that was intense," Dora said.

"I agree," Ted said. "How about we try and make the best of it, yeah, Andromeda?"

Andromeda sighed heavily but smiled. "Of course," she said, placing a hand on Josh's shoulder. Josh looked up to the Tonks's, already liking them more than the Emrys or Malfoys with the exception of Draco.

Josh had a very enjoyable morning walking over the sunny grounds with the three adults, his new family, showing them the Beauxbatons carriage and the Durmstrang ship.

Mr. and Mrs. Tonks were intrigued by the Whomping Willow, which had been planted after they had left school, and reminisced at length about the gamekeeper before Hagrid, a man called Ogg. He also learned that his cousin, Nymphadora Tonks was finishing up her last year of Auror Training and would soon become a full Auror in just a few short months.

"Yes, and I have read your file," Dora said, "And it's very interesting than most other kids your age. Harry's is just as unique."

"Yeah, things kind of get out of hand sometimes," Josh said, smiling a little. "So you know some stuff in the Ministry, right?"

"Depends on what you want to know," Dora said.

"I want to know about Barty Crouch and his family and what's going on," Josh instantly said.

"Well, thinks aren't so great, really," Dora started. "The Ministry wants to keep Mr. Crouch's disappearance quiet, but Percy Weasley's been hauled in for questioning about the instructions Mr. Crouch has been sending in. They seem to think there's a chance they weren't genuinely written by him but by someone else. Percy's been under a lot of strain. They're not letting him fill in for Mr. Crouch as the fifth judge tonight. Cornelius Fudge is going to be doing it."

"Great," Josh mumbled.

They returned to the castle for lunch. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all surprised to see Josh sitting with three unfamiliar faces.

"Josh?" Hermione said as the Gryffindor Trio joined them. "Who are you friends?" she asked.

"Guys, meet my extended family," Josh said. "Ted Tonks, Andromeda Tonks, and their daughter Nymphadora Tonks, family on Sirius's side."

"Don't worry about introducing yourselves," Dora said, "Harry Potter, of course, who doesn't know you, and you're the best friend, Ron Weasley, and you're Joshua's girlfriend, Hermione Granger."

Hermione blushed. "You don't believe everything you read in the papers do you?" she said.

Dora laughed. "I was only joking," she said.

Hermione nodded and smiled. "Well, it's nice to meet you," she said sweetly.

"Likewise, dear," Mrs. Tonks said.

"So what are you all doing here?" Ron asked.

"Come to watch young Joshua in the last task!" said Mr. Tonks brightly. "I must say, it makes a lovely change. How were your exams, if I may ask?"

"Brilliant," Hermione answered with a bright smile.

"Yeah, they were okay," Harry said with a nod.

"Yeah, but I couldn't remember all the goblin rebels' names, so I invented a few. It's all right," he said, helping himself to a Cornish pasty, "they're all called stuff like Bodrod the Bearded and Urg the Unclean; it wasn't hard."

"Hmm, I recall a certain girl who did the same," Mrs. Tonks said, looking over at her daughter who was ignoring her mother's stare.

"Josh?"

Josh turned to see Blaise, Daphne, Draco, and Tracey standing there looking curious. "Who are they?" Blaise asked, sitting down, next to Josh.

"Guys, meet my extended family, Nymphadora, and Mr. and Mrs. Tonks," Josh said. "Tonks family, meet my Slytherin friends, Blaise Zabini, Daphne Greengrass, and Tracey Davis."

"Hi," Daphne said to Dora as she and Tracey sat down, no one in the group caring that some Slytherins were there, though they had some nasty stares from other Gryffindors.

Josh, and the Tonks Family whiled away the afternoon with a long walk around the castle, and then returned to the Great Hall for the evening feast. Ludo Bagman and Cornelius Fudge had joined the staff table now. Bagman looked quite cheerful, but Cornelius Fudge, who was sitting next to Madame Maxime, looked stern and was not talking. Madame Maxime was concentrating on her plate, and Josh thought her eyes looked red. Hagrid kept glancing along the table at her.

There were more courses than usual, but Josh, who was starting to feel really nervous now, didn't eat much. As the enchanted ceiling overhead began to fade from blue to a dusky purple, Dumbledore rose to his feet at the staff table, and silence fell.

"Oh no," Harry said as he checked his pockets while his friends watched.

"What's the matter, mate?" Ron asked.

"I left my wand in my bag in the tower," Harry answered with a sigh. "I need to go get it, save me a seat will you? "He said to Ron who nodded, and then quickly ran off.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now?"

Josh got up. The Gryffindors all along the table were applauding him; the Tonks' and Hermione all wished her good luck, and he headed off out of the Great Hall with Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor.

"Feeling all right, Joshy?" Bagman asked as they went down the stone steps onto the grounds. "Confident?"

"Enough, I hope," Josh said. It was sort of true; he was nervous, but he kept running over all the hexes and spells he had been practicing in his mind as they walked, and the knowledge that he could remember them all made him feel better.

They walked onto the Quidditch field, which was now completely unrecognizable. A twenty-foot-high hedge ran all the way around the edge of it. There was a gap right in front of them: the entrance to the vast maze. The passage beyond it looked dark and creepy.

Five minutes later, the stands had begun to fill; the air was full of excited voices and the rumbling of feet as the hundreds of students filed into their seats. The sky was a deep, clear blue now, and the first stars were starting to appear. Hagrid, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick came walking into the stadium and approached Bagman and the champions. They were wearing large, red, luminous stars on their hats, all except Hagrid, who had his on the back of his moleskin vest.

"We are going to be patrolling the outside of the maze," said Professor McGonagall to the champions. "If you get into difficulty, and wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one of us will come and get you, do you understand?"

The champions nodded.

"Off you go, then!" said Bagman brightly to the four patrollers.

"Good luck, Joshua," Hagrid whispered, and the four of them walked away in different directions, to station themselves around the maze.

Bagman now pointed his wand at his throat, muttered, "Sonorus," and his magically magnified voice echoed into the stands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each - Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Joshua Black, both of Hogwarts School!" The cheers and applause sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky. "In second place, with eighty points - Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute!" More applause. "And in third place – Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!"

Josh looked into the stands, and could just make out Mr. and Mrs. Tonks, Dora, and all his friends applauding Fleur politely, halfway up the stands, someone was missing, and that someone was Harry, which Josh remembered that he had left his wand back in Gryffindor Tower, which would take a little time for him to get back.

"So… on my whistle, Josh and Cedric!" said Bagman. "Three - two - one -"

He gave a short blast on his whistle, and Josh and Cedric hurried forward into the maze.

The towering hedges cast black shadows across the path, and, whether because they were so tall and thick or because they had been enchanted, the sound of the surrounding crowd was silenced the moment they entered the maze. Josh felt almost as though he were underwater again. He pulled out his wand, muttered, "Lumos," and heard Cedric do the same just behind him.

After about fifty yards, they reached a fork. They looked at each other. Josh exhaled and then ran right, but not before something caught him around the ankles and pulled him to the ground. Josh quickly sat up and turned around, see Cedric disappear through the other path.

"Wanker," Josh growled, and stood up and began making his way down his path.

Josh heard Bagman's whistle for the second time. Krum had entered the maze. Josh sped up. His chosen path seemed completely deserted. He turned right, and hurried on, holding his wand high over his head, trying to see as far ahead as possible. Still, there was nothing in sight.

Bagman's whistle blew in the distance for the third time. All of the champions were now inside.

Josh kept looking behind her. The old feeling that he was being watched was upon him. The maze was growing darker with every passing minute as the sky overhead deepened to navy. He reached a second fork.

"Point Me," he whispered to his wand, holding it flat in his palm.

The wand spun around once and pointed toward his right, into solid hedge. That way was north, and he knew that he needed to go northwest for the center of the maze. The best he could do was to take the left fork and go right again as soon as possible.

The path ahead was empty too, and when Josh reached a right turn and took it, he again found his way unblocked.

Josh didn't know why, but the lack of obstacles was unnerving him. Surely he should have met something by now? It felt as though the maze were luring him into a false sense of security. Then he heard movement right behind him. Josh held out his wand, ready to attack, but its beam fell only upon Cedric, who had just hurried out of a path on the right-hand side. Cedric looked severely shaken. The sleeve of his robe was smoking.

"Hagrid's damn Blast-Ended Skrewts!" he hissed.

"Where?" Josh asked.

Cedric didn't answer but shook his head and dived out of sight, along another path.

Josh sighed heavily through the nose, annoyed at Cedric's unhelpful silence, but Josh still obviously knew that he shouldn't go the way Cedric came, so he hurried off again in a different direction. Then, as he turned a corner, he saw a dementor gliding towards him. Twelve feet tall, its face hidden by its hood, its rotting, scabbed hands outstretched, it advanced, sensing its way blindly toward him. Josh could hear its rattling breath; he felt clammy coldness stealing over him, but he smiled nonetheless, knowing what he had to do.

Josh summoned the happiest thought he could, concentrated with all his might on the thought of his girlfriend, Daphne, raised her wand, and cried, "Expecto Patronum!"

A silver raven erupted from the end of Josh's wand and soared toward the Dementor, which fell back and tripped over the hem of its robes…Josh had never seen a Dementor stumble.

"You've got to be kidding me!" he shouted, advancing in the wake of his silver Patronus. "You're a stinking Boggart! Riddikulus!"

There was a loud crack, and the shape-shifter exploded in a wisp of smoke. The silver raven faded from sight. Josh was glad that that boggart didn't change into him, and then he'd have a real problem, nonetheless, Josh continued through the maze.

Left… right… left again… Twice he found himself facing dead ends. He did the Four-Point Spell again and found that he was going too far east. Josh turned back, took a right turn, and saw an odd golden mist floating ahead of him.

Josh approached it cautiously, pointing the wand's beam at it. This looked like some kind of enchantment. He wondered what it was and if he could blast it out of the way.

"Reducto!" he said.

The spell shot straight through the mist, leaving it intact. Josh sighed as he should have known better; the Reductor Curse was for solid objects. What would happen if he walked through the mist? Was it worth chancing it, or should he double back? There had to be a way, he didn't want to turn back.

He was still hesitating when a scream shattered the silence.

"Fleur?" Josh yelled, whipping around.

There was silence. Josh stared all around. What had happened to Fleur? Her scream seemed to have come from somewhere ahead. Josh took a deep breath and ran through the enchanted mist.

The world turned upside down. Josh was suddenly hanging from the ground, with his hair on end, threatening to fall into the bottomless sky. He hung there, terrified, and tried to think of a way down. It felt as though his feet were glued to the grass, which had now become the ceiling. Below him, the dark, star-spangled heavens stretched endlessly. He felt as though if she tried to move one of her feet, she would fall away from the earth completely.

"Great," Josh said to himself. Think, he told himself, as all the blood rushed to his head, think

But not one of the spells he had practiced had been designed to combat a sudden reversal of ground and sky. Should he dare move his foot? He could hear the blood pounding in his ears. He had two choices - try and move, or send up red sparks, and get rescued and disqualified from the task.

No, he wasn't just going to quit like that. Josh shut his eyes, so he wouldn't be able to see the view of endless space below him, and pulled his right foot as hard as he could away from the grassy ceiling.

Immediately, the world righted itself. Josh fell forward onto his knees onto the wonderfully solid ground. He felt temporarily limp with shock, and then smiled in relief. He took a deep, steadying breath, then got up again and hurried forward, looking back over his shoulder as he ran away from the golden mist, which twinkled innocently at him in the moonlight.

Josh paused at a junction of two paths and looked around for some sign of Fleur. He was sure it had been she who had screamed. What had she met? Was she all right? There was no sign of red sparks - did that mean she had got herself out of trouble, or was she in such trouble that she couldn't reach her wand? Josh took the right fork with a feeling of increasing unease…but at the same time, he couldn't help thinking. One champion down…

The cup was somewhere close by, and it sounded as though Fleur was no longer in the running. Josh had got this far, hadn't he? What if he actually managed to win? Fleetingly, and for the first time since he'd found himself champion, he saw an image of himself, raising the Triwizard Cup in front of the rest of the school…

He met nothing for ten minutes, but kept running into dead ends. Twice he took the same wrong turning. Finally, he found a new route and started to jog along it, his wandlight waving, making his shadow flicker and distort on the hedge walls.

Then he rounded another corner and found herself facing a Blast-Ended Skrewt and it was enormous. Ten feet long, it looked more like a giant scorpion than anything. Its long sting was curled over its back. Its thick armor glinted in the light from Josh's wand, which he pointed at it.

"Stupefy!"

The spell hit the skrewt's armor and rebounded; Josh ducked just in time before he was hit with his own spell. The skrewt issued a blast of fire from its end and flew forward toward her.

"Impedimenta!" Josh yelled. The spell hit the skrewt's armor again and ricocheted off; Josh staggered back a few paces and fell over.

"That's it," he growled out in frustration, and kneeled down, touching his hand to the ground and then pointed his wand at his hand. "Natorus Mokta!"

Josh felt as the magic soared through his arm and hand, and through the ground, and within seconds, branches, roots, and vines appeared from the hedges and wrapped around the skrewt and was pulled into the hedge. Josh smiled and then quickly ran passed it before it set the hedges on fire.

Josh took a left path and hit a dead end, a right, and hit another; forcing himself to stop, heart hammering, he performed the Four-Point Spell again, backtracked, and chose a path that would take him northwest.

He had been hurrying along the new path for a few minutes, when he heard something in the path running parallel to his own that made him stop dead.

"What are you doing?" yelled Cedric's voice. "What the hell d'you think you're doing?"

And then Josh heard Krum's voice.

"Crucio!"

The air was suddenly full of Cedric's yells. Surprised, Josh began sprinting up his path, trying to find a way into Cedric's. When none appeared, he tried the Reductor Curse again. It wasn't very effective, but it burned a small hole in the hedge through which Josh forced his leg, kicking at the thick brambles and branches until they broke and made an opening; he struggled through it, tearing his clothes, and looking to his right, saw Cedric jerking and twitching on the ground, Krum standing over him.

Josh pulled himself up and pointed his wand at Krum just as Krum looked up. Krum turned and began to run.

"Fulgur!" Josh yelled.

The curse hit Krum in the back, sending him flying forward and hit the ground with a thud, and lay motionless, face down in the grass. Josh dashed over to Cedric, who had stopped twitching and was lying there panting, his hands over his face.

"Are you all right?" Josh said roughly, grabbing Cedric's arm, and knowing what it was like to take that curse.

"Yeah, I'm fine," panted Cedric, shrugging Josh off of him. "Yeah… I don't believe it…he crept up behind me…I heard him, I turned around, and he had his wand on me…" Cedric got up. He was still shaking. He and Josh looked down at Krum.

"I can't believe he did that… I thought he was all right," Josh said, staring at Krum.

"So did I," said Cedric.

"Did you hear Fleur scream earlier?" Josh asked.

"Of course I did," said Cedric. "You don't think Krum got her too?"

"I don't know," said Josh.

"Should we leave him here?" Cedric muttered.

"Yes," Josh said immediately. "But I suppose we should send up red sparks. Someone'll come and collect him…otherwise he'll probably be eaten by a skrewt."

"He'd deserve it," Cedric muttered, but all the same, he raised his wand and shot a shower of red sparks into the air, which hovered high above Krum, marking the spot where he lay.

Josh and Cedric stood there in the darkness for a moment, looking around them.

Then Cedric said, "Well…I s'pose we'd better go on…"

"Yeah," Josh said. "You're welcome by the way."

It was an odd moment. He and Cedric had been briefly united against Krum – now the fact that they were opponents came back to Josh. The two of them proceeded up the dark path without speaking, one trying to outrun the other, and then Josh turned left, and Cedric right. Cedric's footsteps soon died away.

Josh moved on, continuing to use the Four-Point Spell, making sure he was moving in the right direction. It was between him and Cedric now. His desire to reach the cup first was now burning stronger than ever.

Every so often he hit more dead ends, but the increasing darkness made him feel sure he was getting near the heart of the maze. Then, as he strode down a long, straight path, she saw movement once again, and her beam of wandlight darkness.

Josh moved ahead, and his light hit a black mound structure. Cautiously, Josh tapped it with his wand, which gave off a thudding sound. He then touched it with his hand with was bumpy, cold, and strange.

"What the heck it this?" He said to himself, and then to get his answer, the mound moved, sprouting eight legs, turning around where Josh saw its menacing eyes and pincers. Josh stepped back in horror as he looked at the second biggest acromantula he had ever faced.

Josh raised his wand and was about to shoot a curse when a smaller acromantula appeared from behind the bigger one. It growled and jumped towards Josh who ducked under the spider, which landed behind him. Josh looked between to two spiders, trapped and not knowing which one to take care of first; or maybe he could do both in at once.

And suddenly, the two spiders advanced towards Josh. Josh quickly threw is wand straight up and twirled in a circle, and then bright it down to the ground, stabbing it, and shouted, "Offensio Fluctus!"

Red circular waves of magic sprouted from around Josh and spread out and towards the spiders knocking them back. Josh then pointed at the first and smaller spider, and shouted, "Reducto!" And the spell hit the smaller spider which exploded into many pieces of guts and purple blood. Josh then turned to the bigger spider which was outraged at what Josh had just done.

The Acromantula hissed and quickly ran towards Josh who lifted his wand towards the spider, and summoned up a lot of his magic, and shouted, "REDUCIO!" The charm soared and hit the giant spider, and within moments, the giant Acromantula shrunk down into a tiny spider, no bigger than Josh's thumb. Josh walked forward and stepped on it, killing it.

"Nice try," he said.

He had to be close now, he had to be…his wand was telling him he was bang on course; as long as he didn't meet anything too horrible, he might have a chance…

Josh broke into a run. He had a choice of paths up ahead. "Point Me!" he whispered again to his wand, and it spun around and pointed his to the right-hand one. He dashed up this one and saw light ahead.

The Triwizard Cup was gleaming on a plinth a hundred yards away. Suddenly a dark figure hurtled out onto the path from the left and tackled Josh to the ground. It was Cedric, who stood to his feet.

"I'm not letting the son of a murderer win this tournament," He said, and then began running towards the cup. In anger, Josh rolled around, and pointed his wand at Cedric, tripping him with a Tripping Jinx.

"My father isn't a murderer!" Josh growled, standing up to his feet the same to Cedric did.

Cedric quickly turned towards Josh, shouting, "Expelliarmus!"

Josh raised his wand and shouted, "Returnus!" Redirecting Cedric's disarming spell towards him, but it didn't his as Cedric ducked from the spell. While he ducked, Josh took his chance and ran forward and tried to jump over the Hufflepuff, but he was caught into the air and slammed onto the ground.

Josh had the wind knocked out of him, and couldn't breathe. He opened his eyes to see Cedric smile and stand up to his feet and slowly walk towards the cup. Josh slowly stood up while grabbing his stomach, and watched as Cedric was about to grab the cup.

No, it wasn't ending like this, Josh wasn't going to lose. Taking in all his pain, Josh ran in full sprint, as fast as he could towards Cedric and the Cup, and within moments, and at the same exact time, Josh and Cedric both grasped a handle.

Instantly, Josh felt a jerk somewhere behind his navel. His feet had left the ground. He could not unclench the hand holding the Triwizard Cup; it was pulling him onward in a howl of wind and swirling color, Cedric at his side.