Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter One Hundred Four

The Third Task

The days seemed to pass by so quickly that before Harry knew it the night before the third task was upon him. In his head he listed all the spells he had learned, and was pleased when he remembered them and was confident that he could performed them all. He thought of all the extra training that he and his friends have done, mainly going through the mock maze they created in the Room of Requirement. The twins had also started attacking him in the corridors, testing his reactions. Or at least that's what they told him they were doing, but Harry thought they were enjoying themselves a little too much. Still he was grateful because he was actually able to block them a few times.

The twins had also decided to make two maps of the maze, one for Harry and the other for the rest of them. They wanted a map this time saying that watching the second task was boring because they had no idea where Harry was. Harry, however, was convinced that the map wouldn't work for this task. It was a maze after all, and the chances were slim that Dumbledore would let someone have a map of the maze. After finishing the maps, Fred flew, as a crow, to the maze that was still growing on the Quidditch pitch taking one of the maps with him.

"See, told you it would work!" George said to Harry as they watched Fred's dot enter the maze and walk around a little before he left.

"Mm," was all that Harry said; he was sure even then that it wouldn't work when the task actually started. When Fred got back to the common room though, he realized he wouldn't have to wait that long.

"Well that sucked," Fred announced as he joined the rest of the group.

"What?" George frowned; he had been walking to his brother about to congratulate him.

"The map burned in my hands when I took it out," Fred said holding up a small piece of paper that had burnt edges. "I nearly got burned myself."

"Well the map worked perfectly for us, we were able to see you," Ginny said to Fred.

"Then I guess we'll be able to see what Harry's up to, but unfortunately he won't have the map," Fred sighed. "Sorry mate."

"It's okay, I was convinced that this wouldn't work anyway," Harry shrugged. "At least you won't be as bored watching this time."

"Yeah, at least there's that," Fred agreed just because there was nothing else to be said.

After realizing that Harry couldn't use the map, Hermione found a nice spell that would make sure he at least knew what direction he would be going. Harry was grateful for the spell and even the twins' effort for making the map, it allowed him to know that he prepared the most that he could for this task. He still had a hard time drifting off to sleep, he was still wary about what was going to happen in and/or after the task, but he felt that he had prepared the best he could for that too.

"So, what are you going to do today?" Ron asked as they ate breakfast, since Harry didn't have to take final exams this year, he had been reviewing his spell list.

"Probably the same thing I've been doing," Harry shrugged. "That is if I can concentrate on it."

"You know, this last week, I've really been wishing that my name had came out of the goblet," Ron sighed dreamily, "I would love getting out of exams … and studying for them, too. I almost wish that you didn't have so many people helping you, that way I could have ditch studying."

"Ronald! We need to study … how else would you prepare for the exam?" Hermione huffed.

"First of all Hermione, you would do just fine on every exam, study or no, and second, I did study. I just wish I didn't have to," Ron grumbled.

"I do to need to study," Hermione complained before turning to Harry, "are you nervous?"

"Not really," Harry shrugged. "I'm as ready as I can be. Though by lunch time I might start to get nervous again … you know how I get when I have to wait for something."

"Then perhaps I might have something that would be of assistance to you, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said from behind them, and when Harry looked at her confused, she almost smiled, "the champions are congregating in the chamber of the Hall after breakfast."

"What? But the task isn't until this evening?" Harry said even more confused than ever.

"Yes, I'm aware of that," McGonagall said, the smile threatening more than ever. "But the champions' families were invited to watch the task."

"Oh," Harry said smiling, he would like to see Sirius and Remus right about now, he had talked to them a lot in the mirror, but in person would be better. Then he frowned, he wasn't sure if Sirius and Remus could come, after all they weren't known to be his guardians. "Right, I'll be right there."

"Very well," McGonagall nodded her head and then walked away.

"You don't think Padfoot and Moony will be here, do you?" Harry asked and his friends shrugged.

"There's only one way to find out," Hermione said as the three of them finished eating and left the Great Hall.

Entering the Hall, Harry saw the other champions where already there talking to their families. Fleur's little sister waved at him and he smiled in return before he looked to see who had come for him. Sirius was there grinning at him and standing next to him was Mrs. Weasley and Ron's oldest brother Bill.

"What's up pup?" Sirius laughed, giving Harry a quick hug. "Didn't know what to expect did you?"

"Nope," Harry admitted. "But I'm glad you came," he added to all of them.

"What are you doing here Mum?" Ron asked tactlessly.

"To support Harry, of course," Mrs. Weasley answered, giving her youngest son a hug as Bill patted him on the back. Bill's eyes than traveled back to where Fleur and her family were and Harry noticed that she was looking back at him with an approving smile.

"So we're here to distract you today, pup," Sirius said and Harry turned back to him.

"And I've got to take a test … this is so not fair," Ron grumbled before leaving with Hermione.

"So pup, what are you going …?" Sirius started to say but was interrupted by Mr. Diggory.

"There you are, are you?" he said, "I bet you're not so full of yourself now that Cedric had caught up with you?"

Harry didn't say anything, but frowned at Mr. Diggory.

"Dad don't, Harry didn't put his name in the goblet, he didn't even want to be in this tournament," Cedric said, he was frowning too.

"You're too nice son …" Mr. Diggory started to say as Sirius glared at him gritting his teeth and Harry was sure if he was in his dog form he would have been growling.

"No I'm not, Dad," Cedric cut in with a tone that seemed to say not to argue with him.

"Thanks Cedric," Harry smiled and Cedric nodded his head. Harry and the others quickly left the room, though everyone could see Mr. Diggory's pouting expression as they left.

"Why isn't Remus here?" Harry asked as soon as they were alone, walking near the lake.

"He wanted to come but he thought it might be awkward and bring up too many questions," Sirius shrugged. "He'll be here to watch the task though, with Tonks and Em too."

"Good," Harry smiled, "but don't you bring up awkward question too?"

"Yep, but at least I wasn't your professor last year," Sirius shrugged. "We've been seen in public a few times so it should be okay."

"Whatever," Harry shrugged finding that he didn't really care about that right now, he was just happy that Sirius was there. Mrs. Weasley and Bill also helped him feel like this was just another day, maybe at the Burrow where he had nothing to worry about. After lunch it was even better because Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and George joined them and it felt almost like a party.

Before Harry knew it he was walking down to the Quidditch pitch alone, having just said goodbye to his friends and family. The sense of dread that had been at bay since he saw Sirius and Mrs. Weasley, was coming back to him the closer he got to the maze. He instinctively knew that something bad was about to happen.

"Nervous?" Cedric said from behind him.

"Yeah, you?" Harry asked in returned and Cedric nodded his head. "Thanks for defending me …"

"My dad was out of line," Cedric shrugged, "sorry about that."

"It's okay," Harry said. "He just wants you to get the recognition that you deserve."

"It's not your fault that I didn't," Cedric pointed out fairly and Harry shrugged, there was no point in discussing this anymore. They chatted a little about other thing as they went to the pitch where they were joined by the others. Neither Fleur nor Viktor said anything to them or visa versa, but they all nodded their heads to the competitors. It wasn't long after that Bagman started to make his announcements, telling everyone the scores and places of each of the champions, and allowing the crowd to cheer for them.

A whistle suddenly blew signaling Harry and Cedric to start making their way through the maze until a fork in the road and they went their separate ways. Harry had his wand out the whole time, excepting some kind of creature to come at him at any moment, but he had traveled quite far into the maze before he was faced with anything. It turned out to be a boggart, that had turned into a Dementor but he easily remembered to use the right charm on it and moved on.

The lack of creatures made Harry uncomfortable. He was almost hoping that he would have to fight more because then at least the task would be as difficult as it was supposed to be. But things seemed too easy. Which either meant that he was about to be attacked by some terrible monster or something even worse was coming.

It was then that he heard the scream … the high pitch suggested that it was Fleur.

He immediately started running toward the scream, for he sure that whatever it was that attacked her, wasn't the normal creature or spell that was supposed to be in the maze. Maybe he was just projecting his fears of the unknown but he was convinced that this was true and he wanted to discover whatever it was that attacked Fleur. However, before he got there he ran into an eerie mist and his world turned upside-down. A panic filled him when it felt like he was no longer standing on the ground and he tried to struggle to break loose from the spell. It took everything he had to take a deep breath and relax; knowing that panicking wasn't going to help him. And just like that he tried moving and found himself freed from the spell.

By the time he was freed from the enchantment, he no longer knew where Fleur's scream came from, nor did he think whatever it was that attacked her was going to be around. He didn't know where he was either so he used the spell that Hermione taught him that told him which way was north and having nothing else he could do, he started heading for the center of the maze. Again the fact that he did not face any creatures unnerved Harry, but he continued to move on. The thought of getting through this task (and yes, the idea of actually winning the tournament) driving him forward.

"What are you doing?" Harry heard Cedric say from the other side of the hedge he was standing by. "What the hell are you doing?"

And then he heard Viktor's voice. "Crucio!"

The air was filled with Cedric's screams as Viktor tortured him. Harry acted without thinking, he used the blasting charm on the hedge so that he could get to where the others were and he could help Cedric. The blasting charm worked but the hedge seemed to be trying to grow back, not liking that he was making a shortcut through them. He pushed his way through the hedge anyway, and came out with his wand pointing at Viktor's back. The Hungarian champion was still cursing Cedric and Harry stunned him immediately.

It was only then that Harry let his shock over what was happening overtake him. It didn't make any sense that Viktor would suddenly attack Cedric. After talking with him a bit during the Yule Ball, he didn't seem like someone that would curse … or use an Unforgivable Curse … on a fellow champion or anyone else for that matter.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked then.

"Yeah," Cedric answered even though he didn't really look okay. "I don't believe it … he just crept up behind me and when I turned around … he was cursing me."

"I don't get it either," Harry grimaced at the unconscious Viktor. He thought about the Polyjuice Potion ingredients that had been stolen and wondered if maybe this wasn't really Viktor. He wished that he could use a map and check to see … but he pushed that from his mind as he sent up red sparks to get Viktor (or whoever this might be) out of the maze.

"I thought he was a good guy," Cedric grimaced at the man that had just tortured him, his eyes were uncommonly hard, but that was understandably.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, not wanting to voice his concerns.

"Did you hear Fleur's scream?" Cedric asked and he nodded his head. "I wonder if Krum got her too."

"It seems likely," Harry had to admit and he wondered if this explained all the odd things were happening in the maze. Was Viktor the something in the maze that he had to be worry about … had Viktor been looking for him?

"Well … guess we should get going," Cedric said, breaking into Harry's thought.

Harry agreed and soon he was by himself again forcing himself not to think about Viktor and what had just happened because there were still dangers in the maze that he had to worry about. Harry kept moving towards the center of the maze. He was met by a Sphinx that asked him a riddle. Harry took a few minutes before he came up with the answer; spider.

Harry supposed he should have realized after that clue what the creature he would meet next would be, but it had still came as a surprise to him to be faced with the gigantic spider. Harry had been running his eyes focused on the cup when he heard something approach him quickly from his left and that's when he saw the spider. He tried to stun it but the spell wasn't strong enough. He then hit the spider on one of its leg and it was knocked to the ground. The spider then hit Harry on one of his leg and he was knocked to the ground. Harry was about to use one of the stronger curses he learned on the spider when he heard Cedric yell.

"We can stun it together?" he had said and though Harry wasn't exactly sure where Cedric was, having kept his eyes on the spider, he did as the other boy suggested and used the stunning charm. When the spider rolled on the ground, clearly unconscious, Harry looked up to see Cedric was twenty yards away.

He could see Cedric looking at the cup that Harry knew wasn't far behind him. Cedric then looked down at Harry and grimaced, he seemed too long to run for the cup but wasn't sure if he should. Harry could see the calculation in his eyes. He might be able to get there before Harry since he was taller and Harry had to get up. Harry on the other hand was thinking about everything that happened so far, both in the maze and before that.

Someone had it in for him that was for sure. He had now gotten through the three tasks and nothing had happened to him. Was Viktor going off and attacking Cedric the thing that Harry thought would explain everything? No … that didn't make sense somehow. Viktor would have attacked him … that was what he was supposed to do. Harry was the one that was added to this tournament … he was the one that was supposed to be attacked. So why had Viktor attacked Cedric?

"I'm sorry Harry … it's a game right," Cedric said from his position only ten yards away he had been walking forward as Harry had been thinking. "And I'd like to win."

"Win," Harry repeated, you win the tournament when you touch the cup … If Viktor was attacking Cedric … taking them both out of the game … then Harry would be the winner. "Cedric, don't!" He tried to warn but Cedric had already started running for the cup and Harry found himself acting before he could think everything through. All he knew was the he couldn't let Cedric touch the cup …

Cedric passed him as he got off the ground, but Harry still ran as hard as he could, thanks to his speed he was able to catch up to him. Harry pushed Cedric out of the way, trying to keep them both away from the cup but as he did so he tripped and found himself falling … his hand moved out reflectively to catch himself … his fingertips hitting the Triwizard Cup.