The rest of February passes quite swiftly while many Champions, and some hostages, spin all manner of heroic stories regarding the second task. This includes Harry who loses track of the amount of times he retells fending off many grindylows to save Fleur Delacour. A classic structure of 'hero saves the girl' seems to elicit much approval throughout the Slytherin majority.

Without Quidditch to occupy his time, Harry is left to forgo practice and simply keep up with his coursework instead. Regardless of having no exams, he still tries to prepare as much as he can for what he's been told to be a maze ahead. Bagman's tip-off regarding all manner of creatures being in there has Harry spending many afternoons working his spells. Even better, in his opinion, is Moody soon taking a joint class on one Wednesday afternoon in mid-March with Gryffindor and Slytherin.

"Hex-deflection!" says Tracey quite excitedly. "What an opportune moment to practice for your next task."

"Uh, Champions aren't allowed to attack each other and I'm pretty sure there's not gonna be any people we're up against," says Harry, as he and the girls soon reach Classroom 3C. "But why should I say no to watching everyone get hexed like hell?"

Just as he'd expected, Harry barely enters the classroom before hearing Moody give a laugh to his far right. This is followed by a blast of light headed his way.

"Protego!"

The hex ends up being deflected to the left, hitting the ceiling with a bang.

"Excellent! Fifteen points to Slytherin for being on your guard, Potter. Now we all see some of why he's on top of the Tournament, ninety-three out of a hundred."

"Big deal, Viktor Krum will end up winning this whole thing. Don't count him out," says Nott irritably, before Harry swears at him quite loudly.

"Alright, break it up boys...hmm, actually, have at it then! A little entertainment before we get down to business." Moody's encouragement of letting the two Slytherins fight has quite a few Gryffindor girls gasping in disbelief. The boys (and Slytherin girls) eagerly watch the action unfold as Harry and Nott both launch spells at each other.

"Think you're pretty special don't you, Potter?" Nott fires a Leek Jinx which Harry evades before taking aim.

"You like that pumpkinhead don't you? Well, what you see is what you get... Melofors!"

Everyone but the other Slytherin boys now roar with laughter as Nott's head is encased in a pumpkin, though Hermione seems to catch on with Harry's joke. She seems unamused but also in slight pain from the bandages which Harry only now notices on her hands.

"Stupefy!"

"Expelliarmus."

After smashing the conjured pumpkin, Nott finds himself swiftly disarmed. Harry then tosses his wand back to him as Moody settles down the class. It seems the Professor would personally be flinging hexes at everyone today, which they would have to deflect. Midway through the lesson (with many students suffering from twitchy ears), Harry whispers while standing beside the annoyed Hermione.

"What happened to your hands?"

"As if you even care."

"Fine, be like that then, but I guess it's a waste trying to be nice to you again, Viktor's BreadKrum."

Harry hurriedly casts a counter-hex right as Moody takes aim at him. But as they spend over an hour being put through their paces, many students eventually end up being hit including Harry, though he fares better than most today. Once the lesson concludes, he spots Hermione discussing something with the Professor.

"Come on, let's leave Granger alone. She's still going nuts over all her hate mail following Rita's article," says Pansy, leading Harry away from an upset Hermione who's questioning Moody.

With nothing but homework, Triwizard preparations, and classwork to get through, Harry finds himself quite occupied as March turns to April then eventually May. Even his free time in empty classrooms with Fleur seems slightly more academic than romantic. This is particularly evident in the days following Harry tipping Fleur off about magical creatures in the maze.

"Zey are putting even a dementor in ze maze? Surely zat cannot be right... maybe Bagman was mistaken because zat is far too dangerous. Even more dangerous zan a dragon!"

"I'll have to double check with him when we're 'officially' told about it. But for now let's see your Patronus, I've always wanted to see it."

What follows is a breathtaking display of one silvery unicorn gracefully galloping across the room, eliciting a most proud expression from Fleur.

"Is she not beautiful, 'Arry?"

"Just like its caster, yes. But mine's wicked and wild... and I think it's time you saw something amazing." Harry begins casting his Patronus while Fleur seems puzzled.

"We all already know your one is ze snake, but what can be so amazi— MERDE!" She almost shouts upon seeing Harry speaking in Parseltongue to the silvery length of serpent. "Y-You are what zey call ze Parselmouth? But 'ow can zat be? Do you 'ave any family 'oo speaks ze tongue?"

"No, and that's what makes it weirdly cool, huh?"

"But zat is 'eredity! I 'ave done some reading when you said you are in Slytherin 'Ouse. Eet is only people 'oo come from Meester Slytherin 'imself 'oo can speak zat tongue."

"Well maybe I'm just so awesome that I just can? No sense in stressing over something that doesn't make any sense."

Fleur suddenly folds her arms and looks quite crestfallen as she makes a sudden realisation. "Zen I guess you win zis maze so super easy since ze Patronus can fly and you can speak to yours, o' well."

"You're a genius, Fleur! That's a hectic tactic even I never thought of!" Harry grabs the fairly sulking girl into a tight hug. "Friggin hell, why struggle when I can just send my snake up and ask it where to go?"

"You nevair zought of it?" Fleur adopts an incredulous look. "Now I feel so stupid for telling you! Where is ze fun of getting lost in a maze eef you can know where to go?"

"Ugh, fine." Harry leans on the desk beside Fleur. "I tell you what: since you've practically given me the win I... well... maybe I'll wait for you at the finish?"

"Do whatever you want, nobody is going to be friends in ze maze. I 'ope zis does not affect our friendship zereafter?"

"How can I ever hate a sweetheart like you?"

"Very good, my leetle snake mouth." She grabs Harry into a brief kiss before both Champions take to duelling in the classroom. If not for Fleur's constant use of nonverbal attacks, Harry knows he'd be winning against her. But he takes being disarmed in stride before surprising Fleur with his remarkable Shield Charm as, eventually, their final round sees Harry getting a win.

"In your face!"

"O' look, 'e is growing up so fast and actually disarming me, 'ow cute."

Their afternoon ends with both Champions casting Patronuses one more time, though Harry soon hears a voice as he smiles at Fleur.

"Ssstop ssstanding around and kiss the babe already. You know you wanna."

"What is zat Patronus saying? All I 'ear is 'issing," says Fleur, while watching Harry face-palming himself as the snake slithers nearby.

"Let's just say that a Patronus is like an extension of one's personality."

With his friends thoroughly stressed over the impending exams, Harry decides to leave them be and spend more time with Fleur towards the end of May. She doesn't seem to mind the extra attention and happily accommodates Harry during her preparations in empty classrooms. Even Alyssa happens to join in on occasion and it's clear that she's a far better duellist than Harry's expected.

"Well, my parents are very supportive, you know. Taught me a fair bit of skills and that's why I've won so many duelling trophies over the years," she says proudly, while Fleur scoffs.

"Do not forget zat I 'ad beaten you in a few competitions as well, so you 'ave not always won."

Alyssa laughs at this. "Oh please, most of the time it was me who won first place because I'm just so badass."

"Well, 'Arry over 'ere is probably going to win zis Tournament outright, do not underestimate 'im."

"Huh, is that right?" Alyssa folds her arms and gives Harry another appraising look. "Top score doesn't mean it's over yet. There's still one more task to go and I'm pretty sure there's a Cup for a reason. I'm coming for you, Harry, hehehe."

"You can bring it on because I'm not scared," he replies firmly, while Fleur also nods.

"May ze best man or woman win zis Tournament and zen we can all celebrate together. Party much, yes, before it is back to France for us both. Per'aps 'Arry can come and visit? Eet will be lovely to 'ave 'im at our graduation ceremony. O' yes eet will be so fancy!" Fleur cups her hands on her cheeks while staring wistfully into the air. "'Ave you bought your ceremony dress yet?"

"Meh, that stuff can wait until the Triwizard Tournament's done and dusted. So, they'll be telling us more about the third task tomorrow which gives us one month to finalize our preparations. You two better watch your backs for when I let loose!" Alyssa grins smugly while Fleur smiles with Harry.

"Eet is getting a bit late now, yes? Let us walk back to ze carriage while zere is still light. 'Arry, would you like to join us? And no, we will not do anything to 'urt you along ze way."

"Alright, lemme just check if the coast is clear because I'd rather people not see us all three together now..." Harry opens the Marauder's Map to assess from the second floor all the way to the castle's grounds. "Again?"

"What's got my cousin's boyfriend so stumped, huh?" Alyssa leans to try and see what's piqued Harry's attention on his Map.

"This is the fourth time I've seen them together in that office, seriously!" He glances once again at Bartemius Crouch and Alastor Moody in the latter's office. "What the hell can they be discussing today? And shouldn't Mr. Crouch be at work now or is Percy Weasley really that keen on sucking up?"

"What if they're like... you know... I mean... man-on-man?" Alyssa's eyes widen as she gives this some thought. "Ugh, no! Not Moody and Crouch, they're too damn old to think about, yuck."

"What's going through your mind?" asks Harry, while looking up at the amused girl whose eyes almost gleam with mischief.

"She is always like zis in school, making ze same naughty jokes like you, 'Arry."

"Hey, here she comes! I told little P we'd be here now. See? She knows how to move about without drawing attention." Alyssa points out the dot of Pansy approaching this very classroom now. "Oh yeah, forgot you don't want anyone actually knowing about this Map."

Harry nods in agreement before concealing it once more. "Yeah, Mischief Managed. No offense intended, even if Pansy's a good friend but we all have our secrets."

The door soon opens as Pansy beams with a smile. "I didn't expect you'd still be here, Alyssa. Thought you might play a trick on me and hurried back to the carriage. Everything alright? What you ladies, and prettyboy, practicing today?"

"What do you think?" Alyssa ruffles her giggling cousin's hair. "Some Patronus stuff, duelling where I came out tops again, and just going over some spells."

"Curfew's a bit later for us all near Summer. Care to go for a stroll around the corridors, just for fun?" asks Pansy. "It's near eight now anyway."

"I don't see why not, and nobody can suspect a thing if it's just us two." Alyssa greets Harry for the night before exiting the room with Pansy.

"I zink zey are wanting to see ze sunset together again, 'ow vairy cute. Eet is easy for me to understand why Alyssa likes 'er cousin so much. She probably sees ze Pansy girl much like I see Gabrielle."

"Yeah, yeah, don't get all happy. Bet it's gonna turn nasty when we're all fighting each other in the maze, huh?"

"Maybe I will not fight you... maybe." Fleur gives a slight yawn before suggesting that they also head off to see the sunset. "Where 'as all ze time gone zis year?"

Harry laughs as the two Champions exit the classroom and begin making their way down the corridor.

"Who's the one that said there's so much time still left? Remember around the end of last year when you mentioned January, February, etc? It's bloody May already!"

"O' I 'ave an idea! 'Ow about we quickly go walk in ze entrance 'all to see zose big hourglasses again? 'Oo is leading ze 'Ouse Cup total I wonder?" Fleur leads Harry by the hand as they descend the grand staircase on their way to the entrance hall.

"Gotta be Slytherin, gotta be Slytherin... come on." Harry crosses his fingers before soon stopping at the hourglasses and groaning. "Awww crap! Gryffindor's actually in the lead with 425 points."

"What about ze Quidditch points you 'ave all gotten?"

"If you weren't laughing at Professor Dumbledore during his opening speech you'd remember that this year's been different. Because of how condensed and slightly unfair everything was they decided to half the Quidditch points in these hourglasses. So Gryffindor got 295 while Slytherin got 300 from our finals. Hufflepuff on 200 and Ravenclaw on 150. That's before whatever other points came and went throughout this year. Check out how hard Ravenclaw students have been working... they're actually sitting on 365 total points now. Hufflepuff's also making a push on 335 while Slytherin's on 411."

"Look zere!" Fleur points out a few rubies dropping through as Gryffindor moves to 430 points. "Someone 'as gotten zeir Gryffindor 'Ouse some points."

"Probably Hermione doing some extra work or something somewhere. Oh, what? Come on..." Harry sighs as sapphires trickle down to put Ravenclaw on 375.

"O' no, look at zem going back up now," says a giggling Fleur, as emerald jewels are seemingly sucked back into the top glass with Slytherin now sitting on 405.

"Whatcha guys looking at? Ah, I almost forgot to come and check these beauties out," says Alyssa, who approaches with Pansy from behind Harry and Fleur. "Oi, little P, why aren't you helping your House retain the Cup?"

"What? I was walking around with you, duh. Look at 'em badgers trying their luck!" Pansy points out the yellow diamonds trickling down to put Hufflepuff on 340 now.

Fleur glances quizzically at her before laughing. "I 'ave noticed zat you always make fun of zat 'Ufflepuff 'Ouse, why?"

"They're just so silly and think they're better than what they really are," replies Pansy haughtily. "Right, Harry? How about you t—"

"POTTER!"

Moody's sudden appearance has Harry nearly jumping up in fright before turning around. It hardly helps that Moody looks even wilder than usual as his magical eye looks over the startled girls.

"Professor Mo—"

"Not you, Parkinson, certainly NOT YOU! Potter, come with me right now. There's something of the utmost importance we have to discuss."

Fleur now adopts a suspicious look. "Are you 'elping 'im more with the To—"

"Be quiet, lass! This isn't so much about cheating. Come!" Moody limps over to grab Harry by the shoulder before hauling him off to the grand staircase.

"P-Professor? What's happening? What's wrong with you?"

"Be quiet, Potter, you won't believe what I have to show you."

"What?"

"I said be QUIET!"

They soon reach Moody's Office on the second floor where he almost kicks open the door and shoves Harry inside.

"Take a seat NOW."

With a confusingly bewildered expression, Harry takes a seat in the chair while watching Moody take a sip from his hip flask.

"Bartemius, talk, and I don't care what you think! Potter deserves to hear this goddamn rubbish."

Only now does Harry notice Mr. Crouch sitting on another chair nearby, and he certainly looks beside himself.

"Are you mad? In front of him? I thought you promised to keep this a sec—"

"Secret from suspicious individuals, like Parkinson's family. But Potter's clearly on the right side so start talking before I get Professor Dumbledore to come down here," growls Moody, while sitting in the third chair in his office.

"Fine..." Mr. Crouch gives Harry a long, appraising look before carrying on through heavy sighs. "My son, Bartemius, is alive and out there. He never died in Azkaban as everyone thinks because I...well... I used Polyjuice Potion to have my wife take his place. So she's the one that died and got buried at the prison. As for Bartemius... I'm ashamed to say that I've kept him under the Imperius Curse all these years... until he broke free over last Summer and killed my house elf, Winky. She was ordered to keep him restrained and take care of him while I've kept him under an Invisibility Cloak all that time. It was my wife's dying wish not to let him perish in Azkaban."

Harry's mouth falls open from shock as he's heard before, from others, that Bartemius Jr. had been a loyal Death Eater. A fist slammed against the nearby table soon brings Harry out of his thoughts as Moody shakes his head.

"Can you believe this man? You know I've always respected you, Barty, but this is just... I don't know. Do you realize what'll happen to you if the Ministry finds out?"

"OF COURSE I REALIZE AND THAT'S WHY I'VE KEPT IT A SECRET!"

"Don't you dare yell in my office! Look, sentimentalities aside, we have got to inform Professor Dumbledore immediately. I'm telling you, Potter, that Crouch Jr. was... is... one clever, conniving kid. Almost reminds me of you in some way. If he's really out there then I'm certain he's got something to do with this Tournament."

"How can you be so sure?" asks Harry quite suspiciously.

"Because Professor Dumbledore insists that Voldemort's still out there, and if he does then so do I. We can't rule out the possibility of Crouch Jr. having reunited with his master and planning who knows what now. You'd better do your explaining real good in the Headmaster's office, Barty."

Moody hurriedly leads both Harry and a nervous Mr. Crouch across the second floor towards the end of the gargoyle corridor. After muttering the password, he enters the Headmaster's office where Professor Dumbledore seems quite surprised to see them.

"Alastor, Bartemius... Harry? Can I be of assistance?"

"Barty, talk, now!" orders Moody, before using his staff to smack Mr. Crouch over the arm.

"I, well, where to start..."

Harry sees Dumbledore's usually smiling expression swiftly drop as a trembling Mr. Crouch tells everything he's been hiding over the years. From the Azkaban deception to Crouch Jr. being on the loose, it's clear that things are far more dangerous than previously thought.

"But... why tell us all now?"

"That is a very good question, Harry," says a thoughtful Dumbledore.

"Perhaps I've given this entire scenario some thought and come to the conclusion that the Tournament's might've been tampered with?" Mr. Crouch seems quite ashamed from his earlier confession.

"Or have you finally realized your mistakes in neglecting your own family — your own son?" Dumbledore seems as stern as Harry's yet seen him this year. "Afraid to bear the weight of knowing something might happen to our resident underage Champion here? Does Harry Potter remind you of Bartemius Junior?"

"Since when have you ever had a heart, Barty?" asks Moody quite condescendingly. "Suddenly grown one now? Bah! You're probably just worried your son's going to be coming after you soon. After all, he did spend some time in Azkaban."

Mr. Crouch simply looks ashamedly at the ground, unable to give a proper response as Moody continues to berate him for his past actions.

"That's enough, Professor Moody," says Dumbledore. "Harry, go get Professor Snape and meet us at the Quidditch stadium."

"What?" Harry's expression turns to surprise as he looks up at the pensive Headmaster.

"Whatever we're planning to do now, please bear in mind that Mr. Potter still has no choice but to compete in this Tournament. He cannot simply go down there to quit," says Mr. Crouch firmly.

"I still say the safest option would be to let Potter enter the maze, immediately shoot up red sparks, then be escorted out. We'll keep a close eye on him after that as the Tournament gets done. And what of the Parkinson girl?" Moody narrows his eyes while appearing quite bemused. "I still don't understand why she's in here? How could somebody fool the Goblet twice? Could she be in on whatever plan too? Perhaps Snape ought to prepare some Truth Serum for her."

"No." Dumbledore's words come steadfast and firm. "There's no proof at all that she's 'in on whatever plan'. I refuse to subject our guest student to an interrogation based on a mere hunch. Harry, you've grown to know her a fair bit, so what's your impression of Miss Parkinson?"

"I'm not sure really—"

"See!"

"Quiet, Alastor, and let Harry continue."

"—well, she's decent enough as a friend and very loving of her cousin. I dunno, but she just doesn't strike me as a conniving, evil girl."

Moody gives a derisive laugh before slapping Harry on the back. "Have you learnt nothing? That's the perfect cover for probably a spy or conspirator... or assassin or something. This is Bartemius Jr. and possibly Voldemort too we're talking about here. Harry Potter's name coming out of that Cup is a clear sign there's something amiss in this school this year."

"Oh there's something amiss every year..." Harry laughs softly until seeing Dumbledore shake his head.

"Now's not the time for jokes, Harry. Go get Professor Snape as I've asked, then we'll do a thorough inspection of the Third Task."

"What?" Mr. Crouch seems taken aback by this suggestion. "With Potter as well? That's essentially gifting him the Cup right there!"

"I still say he should give up early after starting the task. That ought to satisfy his conditions of participation to avoid breaching the contract," says Moody.

"I'm not gonna just give up, not with most of my House backing me to win! How would that be fair on me?"

"I agree with Harry," says Dumbledore. "Even with all this uncertainty we cannot deny that he's put in a tremendous amount of effort thus far. Besides, everyone's basically cheated in this Tournament, it's tradition. What's a simple thing like knowing the path and obstacles compared to a potential trap on Harry's life by Lord Voldemort?"

"But how can we truly know for certain that Voldemort's involved with a Tournament which I'vehelped to set up?" asks Mr. Crouch.

"Have you ever mentioned it at home?" asks Moody.

"I might have, yes, with Winky..."

"Then at some point your son, who you've foolishly kept prisoner like an idiot, could've overheard. You said he 'broke free and killed his way out', people start getting aware when they're resisting the Imperius Curse. Thought a clever man like you would've known that!" Moody frowns at Mr. Crouch before Harry hurriedly exits the office.

With sunset casting many a golden light through the corridors, Harry continues sprinting towards the dungeons while ignoring any passersby. Soon, he reaches Snape's office before knocking quite loudly on the door, which swings open.

"I knew it had to be you—"

"Professor Snape, sir, the Headmaster's sent me to call you urgently. We've all got to meet at the Quidditch stadium immediately!" Harry leans against a wall to briefly catch his breath while Snape glares at him.

"This had better not be a joke, or—"

"I will get detention or end up sleeping out in the corridors, yes, sir."

While keeping up with Snape's speedy strides, Harry wonders if Professor McGonagall would also be informed of tonight's events. But then he reckons she might not take too kindly to having the Slytherin Champion practically waltzing through the growing maze now.

By the time the pair of Slytherins reach the Quidditch stadium, the sun seems to have set a fair bit, darkening the grounds only slightly. After turning through a gap in the stands, Harry and Snape make their way to a vastly different Quidditch pitch. No longer smooth and flat, there certainly appears to be well-grown hedges resembling a maze, though it feels a bit unfinished.

"You're only supposed to be brought here tomorrow, Potter, so what is the meaning of this?" Snape gives Harry a glowering look before Moody, Dumbledore, and Mr. Crouch approach.

"—as I've said, I fully trust Severus, Alastor."

"Well I certainly do not!" Moody shoots an equally sour look at Snape now, before nodding at Harry.

"Professor Snape," says Dumbledore. " Events have transpired that require our immediate attention. Bartemius, go ahead and explain to Harry's Head of House."

Snape's expression turns from surprise to worry and then pondering before he shakes his head at Mr. Crouch. "Idiot fool! Do you have any idea how talented your son really was... is?"

"That's what I've been saying this whole time." Moody sighs before continuing. "How many little chats haven't we had, Barty, and yet only now do you choose to reveal such a crucial bit of information!"

"But aren't there other 'Death Eaters' still free as well?" asks Harry, who spots the brief frown by Snape.

"Why, there sure are!" Moody briefly darts his eyes to Snape before continuing to speak. "But most of 'em are certainly cowards and liars too scared to seek out their master... assuming he's still alive as Dumbledore suspects. Crouch Jr. though... well.. he's as dedicated and nasty as even the Lestranges! If Voldemort's out there then Crouch Jr. would definitely seek him out, and that's what's got us concerned."

Mr. Crouch, while still highly ashamed, soon speaks. "We're guessing that this Tournament's been tampered with—"

"Not guessing, it's right-in-your-face obvious that someone's got it in for Harry Potter," retorts Moody, before Dumbledore replies.

"And our fifth Champion, Alyssa Parkinson, could be at risk too, lest we forget. Now, Harry, you are to be escorted throughout this maze by Professor Snape. At the slightest sign of something amiss, send up red sparks. Don't worry though, this isn't anything official so you'll still be in the Tournament," says Dumbledore.

"How very convenient for you to travel through this maze, Potter. Perhaps we should leave him here and search it ourselves?" asks Snape.

"You of all people should know how some of the darkest traps might work! If they've got it in for Harry Potter then we need to personally bring him into the maze. Leave nothing to chance before he has to go in alone next month," replies Moody. "Or are you trying to hide your master's plans?"

"That's enough!" Dumbledore swiftly defends the unamused Snape. "I will not repeat what I've said earlier. Now, Professor Moody, stay here and keep watch over Mr. Crouch while we're busy."

"Oh, I sure will keep watch over this idiot." Moody shoots Mr. Crouch a disapproving look.

With Dumbledore swiftly patrolling the perimeter of the maze (whose hedges have grown to be over half their full height) Harry sets off with Snape.

"Don't expect me to hold your hand now. This is probably nothing like the finished product. No beasts nor tests, nothing... a shame really."

"Maybe we should do a test and duel each other in here? See what happens when spells are cast, mine specifically, since Professor Moody reckons I could trigger stuff." Harry looks questioningly at his Head of House before the latter raises his wand.

"Try not to cry when you get hurt," sneers Snape, before nonverbally firing a stunner which Harry blocks with a shield charm.

"Everte Statum!"

Snape easily deflects the spell back at Harry, sending him flying backwards. "Weak, Potter, shame. Expelliarmus."

Rolling to evade a superbly cast disarming charm, Harry gets up and grins.

"What's with that stupid smirk on y—"

Trying his best to concentrate through the taunts, Harry manages to fire off a nonverbal banishing charm which Snape swiftly blocks. The sudden silent casting has Snape simply looking at his student, while Harry reckons he'll never ever be complimented by this man.

"Enough! Let's move on."

Carrying on through the mostly-finished maze, they stay on high alert with each step taken. Snape also seems to be casting many spells to sweep over the layout of the maze, perhaps hoping to reveal some sort of trap. But try as they might, even after racing through practically the entire task, they find nothing amiss. Eventually, Harry and Snape reach the centre of the maze where the Cup is meant to be placed. However, there are still no signs of foul play.

"Not a single bad thing, and it's the third task already. Then why were Alyssa and I even forced into this Tournament?"

"There's still one whole month until the task officially takes place. So don't drop your guard, Potter."

"You really like saying my surname, don't you..uh, sir?"

Using a spell that he states is forbidden for Champions to try during the task, Snape creates temporary holes in the hedges as they begin to exit. Once out of the maze, Harry spots Dumbledore, Mr. Crouch, and Moody inspecting the Triwizard Cup.

"Nothing at all here," sighs Moody. "Take it through the maze if you'd like to be extra certain, but it's clean as well."

"It seems that everything is in order," admits Dumbledore. "However, I do suggest we perform weekly checks on the maze right up until the 24th."

"Yes, very good idea indeed. I also suggest that nobody comes here by themselves... never know who or what might be lurking in the shadows," says Moody.

"Well," says Snape in a condescending manner. "Let us also hope that whatever obstacles are placed in the maze can prevent Potter getting bored since he's already gotten a thorough preview."

"I'm leaving nothing to chance. However, we should head up to the castle and discuss things further. Barty, what are your plans?" asks Moody, though Dumbledore spots the notably worried look on Mr. Crouch's face.

"Let us see this Tournament to its end before making any rash decisions. Knowing Cornelius Fudge, he'd swiftly throw Bartemius here in Azkaban for what he's done," says Dumbledore.

"And that would be very ironic," adds Snape, while looking at Mr. Crouch before Dumbledore nods.

"Your son is dangerous, Bartemius, and there can be little doubt of that. If you could put in sufficient leave at work then I can arrange for you to stay at Hogwarts for the time being. Until we know exactly what's happening around here I don't suppose we should leave anything to chance."

Mr. Crouch sighs in relief. "I have no idea how to confess this story to Fudge without getting dumped in Azkaban. Can you imagine the scandal of that?"

"Nevermind the scandal," says Harry. "You're probably hated in that prison... I'd feel sorry if you were to end up in there with all those people you're responsible for imprisoning."

"Yes!" Mr. Crouch nods most nervously. "That as well! Even the hardiest of wizards succumb to the terrors of Azkaban... whether it be external or in your own head."

As the group of five exit the stadium, Harry spots the staff laying down a few spells to prevent entry to the maze.

"We'll drop these defences come the day of the task," explains Moody. "In the meantime, anyone else looking for access will have to request permission and be kept under observation."

Grateful for the efforts being put in to ensure every Champion's safety, Harry soon follows the group back to the castle. Still pondering in thought, he spends the rest of the night in his dormitory without informing anyone of this evening's events.