The group walked in silence which just allowed Emma's thoughts to start running away with her without the distraction of any external stimuli. The Final Task was finally upon them and they had no idea what was going to be happening. They could be being led to the Task without any preparation and they would be thrown in the deep end, having to face the unknown straight away.
However, as they walked up the first flight of stairs, Emma realised something. They couldn't be starting straight away. It was barely two o'clock and the Headmistress had previously advised that it would commence at three.
They reached the fifth floor and reached a usually deserted classroom. It had had a bit of a tidy up, but it still looked very unused. It was definitely nothing special and didn't look like the starting place of the Final Task, the one everyone was looking forward to.
As they entered, the judges were already waiting for them at the front of the classroom and Harry was standing just to the side of his best friend and sister-in-law of quite a few years. He flashed Emma a warm smile as she entered which she returned. She wanted to run over and talk to him, but she realised that wouldn't be wise, so she continued to stand beside her Head of House.
"So here we are, Champions," Professor McGonagall said as she moved to the front of the classroom to stand with the judges. "You can sit down for the moment."
Emma glanced to her Head of House who nodded as they both took a seat at the desk they were standing behind as the others did the same by other desks.
"Before we go into the Final Task, we wanted to ask how everything has gone," Professor McGonagall said. "To see if it would be something that you'd recommend we did again or even have any suggestions for another Tournament such as this."
Elsa raised her eyebrow before speaking. "I mean, shouldn't you ask that at the end? Something could still go wrong today and change our minds."
Emma couldn't help but agree with her cousin. It did seem like a very odd time to be asking but then again, this was Hogwarts and nothing ever went how they thought it would.
The Headmistress considered Elsa's statement before she nodded. "That is a fair comment, Miss Nolan. Perhaps I should rephrase then? Instead, I will ask how have you found it so far before the Final Task?"
"I haven't hated it," Elsa replied. "I would have preferred more information about this Task, but aside from that, it hasn't been too bad."
Mary Margaret scoffed but didn't speak.
"All opinions are valid, Miss Blanchard," Professor McGonagall murmured encouragingly despite knowing that the Hufflepuff Champion had been reluctant from the very beginning. Although Emma wasn't sure why the Headmistress was encouraging her when she knew it would be naught but negative.
"I just think you should have asked who wanted to compete," she replied, her tone bitter. "I didn't want to compete and I never would have, so you shouldn't have the right to put people's names in without their consent even if you see something in them that they don't. It's the same for her," she pointed at Emma rather than referring to her by name which just made Emma roll her eyes. "She was too young and you still entered her which was unfair."
"Emma is still doing better than yourself, Maggie, despite that," Regina murmured, emphasising Gryffindor Champion's name to prove her point.
Mary Margaret turned, ready to pounce on her stepsister, but Emma jumped in before she could speak.
"We thought that it would be better as a group event if were to happen again," she said quickly, preventing Mary Margaret's response to Regina. She ended up having to bite her tongue as Emma's statement was taken into consideration as she'd completely changed the direction they were heading in and Emma hoped it wouldn't return anywhere near it.
"We didn't think of that," Professor Flitwick muttered. No surprises there.
"I just know that I've only got through this with the help of my friends and they get nothing out of it," Emma replied. "Other than just helping me win. Whereas if it was a group who could help each other during each Task, they'd all get the glory." She shrugged. "Just an idea. Although, I don't think it should happen every year because it's tiring and perhaps it should be only open to Fourth and Sixth Years so that the large exams aren't affected. I'll never be able to sit my OWLs despite preparing for them for five years and knowing I'd have smashed them. Just a comment."
The Headmistress and her Deputy glanced at each other for a moment before Professor Flitwick spoke.
"I think Fourth Years may be a bit young. They haven't learnt everything that we would throw at them."
It was then Harry who coughed quietly. "I beg to differ, Filius. I think I did quite well."
There was a quiet chuckle that broke out at the Chosen One's comment which made the Charms Professor blush.
"You're quite right, Harry," he muttered quietly. "Apologies."
Harry laughed. "Don't worry about it, I wouldn't advocate it normally, but my point is that students may surprise you. Although, I think Emma is right to suggest a group version. Competing on your own is very lonely and isolating. I also agree that it shouldn't be every year and perhaps if it continues, don't make it so grand otherwise Hogwarts will run out of money quickly."
"I agree there," Professor McGonagall said. "Well, we'll take the feedback we've been provided with and run with that. I suppose all that's left to ask now is who wants to find out what the Final Task will entail?"
The four Champions' ears all pricked and they sat up to full attention as one. In any other circumstance, it would have been quiet amusing to witness, however, the severity of the situation took priority to listen to what the Headmistress had to say.
Then again, Emma should have known that it wouldn't be as much information as she desired. It was Hogwarts after all.
"When the time is right, you will walk out of this classroom and across the hall," Professor McGonagall began. "There are four separate doors where you will enter separately. You will be on your own for the entirety of the Task, but should you come into any difficulty, just cast red sparks above, even if you think you will not be seen, and someone will come to help you."
Unintentionally, Emma glanced right to where Regina was sitting with her eyes wide. The brunette's expression matched hers. What could be so dangerous or difficult to make them need to cast red sparks to help?
"I will not tell you the full details of the Task," Professor McGonagall continued, again, no surprises there. Emma saw Elsa flop in defeat out of the corner of her eye, personally, Emma felt that her cousin should know better by now, she was in her Final Year after all and it was Hogwarts. "The key thing to remember is that you are all students of Hogwarts. The Task is designed to put all of your knowledge to the test, it is not there to trick you. Just follow the tasks set out and you should not fail. There is no time limit but remember it is a race. The final aspect of the Task will prove that. Now are there any questions?"
Unsurprisingly, it was Elsa who raised her hand. "You said we would be alone for the entire Task, so how will the judges be judging this one if they can't see what is happening?"
Professor McGonagall turned to allow Hermione to take over. Whilst the judges had been selected to play equal rolls, the rumoured future Minister for Magic was the only one to speak on their behalf. Emma had no idea why as she knew the others were just as capable of speaking.
"As Professor McGonagall said, this is a race," Hermione replied. "There will be no points for how well things are carried out, but it will simply be four points to whomever arrives first and so forth."
Emma frowned and raised her hand. "What was if things are done wrong, but we still manage to do them quickly? Also, isn't it going to be really boring for those watching if we're just trapped in a classroom for it?"
Hermione chuckled quietly before she walked forward to the front table. Up until now, Emma hadn't noticed the four boxes as they had blended in with the wood underneath, but now her full attention was on them as Hermione opened the first box.
Gently, she lifted out a small black pendant.
"These have been designed especially for this Task," Hermione said. "The Unspeakables have been working endlessly on this for the past four months when the Task was finally approved by the governors. There were a few parts that needed ironing out before the Head Governor signed it off."
Emma had to keep her chuckle to herself. She couldn't wait to hear what they had proposed for the Task that her grandfather had refused or changed until he approved of whatever was about to happen.
"But here we are and they're ready to be used," Hermione finished.
"What's a necklace going to do?" Mary Margaret interrupted rudely. Her Head of House shot her a glare, getting ever more irate with her student as the tournament went on, but Hermione remained calm and didn't rise to the bait, evidently years of training from Hogwarts to the Ministry made Mary Margaret little more than an irritant to the older witch.
"It's a Pensive Pendant," Hermione revealed. "Unlike the Pensive where it shows you your memories that you've put aside, this will project what you are seeing to the audience who will be waiting for you at the end destination. This way, the judges will be able to see what happens to ensure no cheating happens to try to win dishonourably, and it's also entertainment for the guests and for them to see how well you succeed."
"I'm assuming you won't be telling us where the end destination is?" Mary Margaret huffed and Emma could see Professor Bones centring herself so that she didn't hex her own pupil. Emma admired her resilience as she herself would have probably been sent to Azkaban for cursing a student if she were in her position.
Hermione smirked, which just angered the Hufflepuff Champion further, but Emma was thankful as it was entertaining to watch.
"Of course not," Hermione said. "Where's the fun in that? Any more questions?"
The room stayed silent as the Champions tried to think if they had anything else to ask, but each one came up empty and Mary Margaret was forced to stay silent from the death glare sent her way by the usually patient Headmistress.
"Then all that is left to say is good luck from us and we wish you all the best. May the best Champion win," Hermione said before turning back to Professor McGonagall. "Professor."
The Headmistress returned to the centre to take over the speaking. "As you're all aware, the scores stand as follows: Miss Blanchard has twenty points, Miss Nolan has thirty and Miss Mills and Miss Swan are tied in first place with thirty-three. Therefore, to even the playing field, Miss Blanchard will start first, followed by Miss Nolan and finally, Miss Mills and Miss Swan."
"What?" Emma cried, unable to keep the emotion in as the surprise hit her. Her outburst had clearly surprised the Headmistress as she looked taken aback out the response. "The one with the lowest score starts first? How is that fair after what we've done to be in the lead in the first place?" Her sense of justice had always been strong and this flared her usually calmer temper to higher than usual levels.
"There has been some consideration and we believe this is the fairest way for you all to start on the same level," Professor McGonagall replied calm, but Emma wasn't happy.
"To create better entertainment?" Emma muttered under her breath but quiet enough for the Headmistress not to hear or just to not pay attention to as she didn't comment on it.
As Emma glanced to the far side of the classroom, Mary Margaret was looking very pleased with herself which just added to her sudden frustration but Regina was also nodding in agreement with her girlfriend, but she was able to keep her comments to herself.
"Stay calm," Professor Longbottom whispered to her. "You don't want to start even later as a punishment."
"The difference will only be thirty seconds between each of the three start times," Professor McGonagall added.
Emma still wasn't convinced but then again, what could Mary Margaret do in a minute that Emma couldn't catch up to? Simply answered, nothing, she believed.
Quickly, she glanced down at her watch and saw that there was still another half an hour until the Task started. Why they needed to be there so early, she never knew. She hated having excess time which is why she tended to arrive either just in time or even a few minutes late to everything.
"We will give you ten minutes to talk to each other, should you wish to," Professor McGonagall said, "then we will pair you with your pendant before you are taken to your chosen door. The Task will then begin."
Immediately, Emma was out of her chair and heading over to where Regina was sitting. Her girlfriend had barely stood up from her chair when Emma was speaking.
"I can't believe that!" She whispered harshly. "We do everything the best and then we start last in the Final Task. How is that fair?"
"Calm down," Regina replied gently. "I understand that it's unfair but think about it, Maggie only has a minute head start, she won't be able to do much with it though. You know she's pretty useless. Anyway, is everything okay? I saw you having an emotional hug with your parents earlier."
Just as Emma was about reply, Elsa walked over and had heard the latter half of Regina's question.
"Yeah, I saw that too, are you okay?" She asked.
Emma knew they were just trying to be kind. She wanted to tell Regina what had happened as she was part of the reason for the hug, and she wanted Elsa to know the truth, but she couldn't find it in herself to come out to her cousin at that moment. It was definitely not the right time and she didn't want to distract her cousin during the Task.
"They were just wishing me luck," Emma said instead. It wasn't completely false. "I'm completely fine. I just want all of this to be over and then we can just chill."
Elsa sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I agree and then I can graduate and never think about school again."
"Any ideas to what you're going to do next week?" Regina asked which made Emma laugh. She turned to her girlfriend with a raised eyebrow. "What?"
"Is now the time to be discussing life plans?" Emma asked, her voice light with laughter.
Regina shrugged. "It passes the time until we have to start. I'm surprised they're letting us talk this time. They haven't before."
"There's no information we can pass this time," Elsa pointed out. "It's the blind leading the blind."
"I guess," Emma said.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "It's time for me to leave to greet the spectators at the end destination. Professor Flitwick will start your Task. May the best Champion and House win."
She bid her head before exiting the room. However, Emma could swear she saw her Headmistress flash her a sly smile and a wink before she turned her back and left the classroom entirely.
The Deputy Head stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Can you all join your Heads of House once again?" He made sure to keep the request broad as Mary Margaret had not moved when she had been allowed. Instead, she remained firmly in her seat. Even her Head of House had moved away to speak to the other professors.
Emma smiled at her girlfriend and cousin.
"Good luck," she murmured and the gesture was returned by the other two before they all walked back to their tables. Emma reached her own just as Professor Longbottom returned after speaking to Harry and Hermione.
"I will now start handing out the pendants," Professor Flitwick squeaked. "However, the spectators will not be able to see what you can see until the Task commences, so don't worry."
Professor Flitwick then slowly started making his way around the classroom, handing out the pendants as he went. As he reached Emma, she dipped down and allowed the necklace to be placed around her neck. The actual pendant was cool against her skin despite the fact that the fabric of her top was in between the gem and her body. It was heavy so she wouldn't be able to forget that it was there so she would have to make sure her language was clean whilst competing so that her grandfather didn't disapprove of her.
Emma glanced down at her watch once more and saw that they still had fifteen minutes until the Task was due to start but now that the pendants were around the next, what was at stake was back to their forefront of their minds. There was no point being nice to each other and chatting aimlessly. There was a trophy to win and it would be decided in the next hour.
"You may spend the next ten minutes discussing tactics with your Head of House," Professor Flitwick said as he returned back to the front of the classroom.
"What is there to discuss?" Emma asked as she turned towards Professor Longbottom. "We still don't know what's going to happen so there's nothing you can tell me surely?"
Professor Longbottom smiled softly. "You get to ask one question about the Task that we can tell you the answer to."
"Oh," Emma muttered as she quickly thought about what she could possibly want to answer to and have it be something that would give her a tactical advantage; it was a bit like playing chess. Then she remembered what Professor McGonagall had said. The final aspect would point out that they were in a race. "What's the final aspect of the Task?"
At the question, the Herbology Professor's smile widened as he leant further forwards so that no one around them could hear them. It was meant to be an advantage after all.
"You're going to be happy," he whispered. "A flying race."
Emma's eyes widened in excitement. "Seriously?"
Professor Longbottom nodded. "Yes. Now don't be too excited otherwise you'll give it away. The others may not ask the same question."
"I do have another question," Emma murmured, hoping if she phrased it correctly so that her Head of House would be able to answer it. "Will the end destination be obvious?"
"Technically you haven't asked a very specific question so I can answer it," Professor Longbottom said after contemplating it for a moment. "It will be obvious, or so I've heard. Just do what's shown."
"Right?" Emma said. "I'm assuming that will become clearer at the time?"
The Herbology Professor nodded. "Now that's the last bit of information I can really give you from your questions. All that remains for me to say is good luck. Just remember that you're a fantastic witch and you have so much knowledge in your little finger that you have no need to panic. Stay calm and think clearly and cleverly. There's no way you can fail. Got it?"
"Definitely," Emma said. "Thank you for all your help this year, Professor."
"It's my job," Professor Longbottom said. "I'm sorry I entered your name without telling you."
Emma shrugged it off. "I don't mind really; I've quite enjoyed it actually and it's something to tell the kids one day."
Unable to help it, Emma glanced over to where Regina and Professor Gold were chatting when she mentioned kids, she was extremely fortunate that Professor Longbottom did not follow her sudden gaze. Besides, it was far too early to think about that, but the possibility stirred deep inside and made her happy.
She was pulled out by her thoughts by Professor Flitwick calling the room to order.
"Judges, where do you wish to watch the Task from?" He asked.
Hermione cleared her throat. "The pendants only show in one place so we will have to go to the end destination to watch."
"Oh," Professor Flitwick squeaked in surprise. "You'd better get going then! Quickly!"
The judges nodded and filed out of the room, each one of them grinning in the direction of their Champion. However, as Penelope walked out, she turned last minute and winked at Emma too before she left.
So Mal had told her partner that Emma knew about them, it was the only explanation. However, it just filled her with more confidence.
"We shall give them five minutes to head down and then we shall start the Task," Professor Flitwick said. "We should start filing you up by your door. Heads of House, please escort your Champion to their door. There must be no communication once you leave this room."
Professor Longbottom coughed quietly. "Just remember, you have your wand. If something isn't going as well as you want, you can use your wand. Every spell used for your gain and not against others counts. Just remember that."
Emma glanced at her Head of House, very confused, but he was no longer looking at her as the rest of the Champions were being led out of the classroom. The two Gryffindors stood up and left the classroom last and headed towards Emma's starting point.
They reached the hallway and started to approach the starting point. There were four doors, each separated by just a few metres, but they just looked like they were going to lead to four ordinary classrooms. She didn't see the big deal at all.
As they stood in their position, Emma realised they were in place order with Mary Margaret on the far left and she on the far right with Regina beside her and Elsa between the others. Secretly, Emma took that to mean that she was just ahead of Regina by winning the previous Task as Mills was definitely before Swan in the alphabet. Then again, it really didn't matter as they were starting at the same time, but it was a small internal boost nevertheless.
Glancing left, Emma smiled at her girlfriend who had just glanced to the right, sensing eyes on her.
"Good luck," Emma mouthed, hoping they wouldn't get caught for trying to communicate. Now was not the right time to be disqualified when it was this late in the game.
"You too," Regina mouthed back before looking back at the door so that they wouldn't get caught.
Suddenly, a flash of red shot over the school. It was clearly the signal to start that hadn't been passed on to the Champions. Emma tried not to roll her eyes.
"It is time," Professor Flitwick stated and he nodded towards the door in front of Mary Margaret. "Miss Blanchard, you may begin."
The Hufflepuff smirked before she walked through the opened door. That was the strangest reaction she had. Up until this Task, Mary Margaret had been angry and frustrated at the start of each one, yet now, she was acting very cocky and it set alarm bells ringing in Emma's head. However, as the door snapped shut behind her, Emma was pulled out of her thoughts just as the sound of a lock twisting echoed down the hallway.
So, once they entered the Task, they had to complete it. There was no way back.
A second flash of red shot over the school. Thirty seconds had flashed by so quickly, Emma could barely believe it.
"Miss Nolan, it is now time for you to commence," Professor Flitwick said.
Elsa visibly took a deep breath to centre herself before she nodded and soon enough, she was entering her own door. Again, the lock twisted as she entered, trapping the Ravenclaw Champion into her own Task.
However, the final thirty seconds seemed to last forever. It felt like an age before the next and final red sparks flashed up in the sky. It was time.
The final two doors opened simultaneously to allow the final two Champions to begin. This was echoed by Professor Flitwick clearing his throat once more. "Miss Mills and Miss Swan, please enter through the door. It is time for the Final Task to begin."