Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all rights to Harry Potter
Authors Note: Special thanks to snapping tiger who is the latest person to follow my story. Thanks also to everyone else who has supported so far by reading, reviewing, favouriting and following.
Chapter Thirty Eight:
The next few months were tense inside Hogwarts as Aurors were brought in to protect the staff and students and a comprehensive search undertaken of the castle and grounds led by Professor Moody and the Heads of House in conjunction with the Aurors.
Not many people could say they were sad to see the back of Mr Barty Crouch but even so it had been a major shock for everyone within Hogwarts and for Harry in particular who was on edge for weeks after Crouch's death, jumping at every sound and reaching for his wand several times.
Even now, as the end of May approached, Harry was not feeling completely at ease inside the place he considered one of his homes.
That morning, Friday the twenty sixth, Harry was busy eating dinner in the Great Hall with his cousin, friends and girlfriend as they chatted about Quidditch.
"I tell you England have a real chance at the Euro Quidditch Cup next year!" Ron continued to insist through a mouthful of chicken and potatoes.
Harry shook his head "I just can't see it Ron mate" he said.
"Yeah Ron, England couldn't even beat Albania and they're outside the qualifying places right now" Neville added despondently "what makes you think they'll win tonight against Ireland?".
"Well they've got Oliver Wood in goal now haven't they!" Ron declared, as if that should make the rest of the team play any better.
Harry still found it incredible to think that his old captain had just received his England call up and would be in goal against Ireland.
"Are we still on for listening to it on the wizarding wireless later?" Daphne asked no one in particular.
"You bet!" Ron said "I just know I'm right and I don't want to miss it!".
"Well I'm not so sure but count me in to listen anyway" Harry added.
One by one the others said they'd listen along as well, all except for Millicent who didn't care for Quidditch, and Hermione who said that doing her homework was more important, much to the dismay of Ron who argued that nothing mattered more than Quidditch.
As the bushy haired girl and the redhead argued back and forth Harry spotted Professor McGonagall approaching the table and gestured for them to quiet down. After a moment, they did so, just in time as their Head of House reached the table.
The stern witch raised an eyebrow at Ron's red face and Hermione's glare that was directed at the redhead, but said nothing to them as she turned to inform Harry "Mr Potter, all the Champions are gathering down at the Quidditch pitch as arrange previously with Mr Bagman".
Harry nodded, took a final bite of his toad in the hole, swallowed it and said "thanks for letting me know Professor".
He stood up, kissed Daphne on the cheek and said "see you guys later". To Daphne he said "see you later love".
He exited the hall behind Professor McGonagall wondering just what he and the other Champions would be shown in relation to the third task. He could still barely believe that the tournament itself was nearly at an end.
He still held suspicions about Karkaroff and his mind turned back to an incident the previous day where he had been walking past a broom cupboard and had heard arguing.
Now Harry was normally not the type to listen in to things, but when he'd recognised the voice of Professor Karkaroff and noted how panicked the man sounded, he had decided that something big must be happening.
Harry had pressed his ear against the door and listened as the Durmstrang Headmaster said loudly "it's getting clearer! you cannot deny it Severus!".
Harry hadn't been able to understand why Karkaroff would be talking to the sour faced potions master and so kept listening hoping to hear more.
"I see no evidence of it Karkaroff. The mark is acting the same as always".
Harry had heard a scuffle and then Karkaroff shouted "there! see? the mark is turning black again!".
"If it changes completely and if we are called, then I will come, but not until then. Leave me alone Karkaroff, we cannot be seen meeting together".
The door handle to the cupboard door had begun to turn and Harry had taken off at a run. He decided that hiding round the corner would be the best course of action and it was from this corner vantage point that he had observed Karkaroff as the Durmstrange Headmaster exited the broom cupboard, looking left and right before storming off in the opposite direction to Harry.
The man had looked very ruffled and rather excitable.
Harry had watched further as Professor Snape had exited the cupboard and leaned against the door breathing heavily.
Harry didn't think he'd ever seen the potions master looking distressed before and was surprised to see it now. The man ran a hand through his greasy black hair and began muttering to himself as he walked down the corridor, sweeping past Harry not even noticing him.
"He can't be coming back" Snape was muttering over and over "he can't be back" and seemed to be very worried.
Harry had had no idea who "he" was, but he was suspicious of the potions master for conversing in secret with a Deatheater and made a decision to be on his guard against Snape from now on.
Harry snapped back to the present just as he and Professor McGonagall arrived inside the Quidditch Stadium.
Harry stared in horror at the Quidditch pitch, or rather, where the Quidditch pitch should be. For the vast majority of the pitch was covered in a hedge maze that, already, seemed taller than Harry.
'How dare they do this to the Quidditch pitch?' was his first indignant thought, though he didn't express it as he hoped for some reasonable explanation for such a travesty.
Harry looked over at Victor Krum and the older boy caught his eye. He too looked shocked at the state of the pitch and was shaking his head.
Cedric also looked furious at it while Fleur didn't seem in the least bothered.
"Good evening Champions!", Ludo Bagman said in his usual boisterous tone. The former Quidditch star looked at each of them in turn and smiled. "Now I'm sure the four of you are wondering just what we've done to the Quidditch pitch and why".
The four of them nodded but didn't speak. "Well. Simply put, this is your final task" Bagman told them.
Harry eyed the tall hedge but couldn't see how this could be the task. 'What do we do?' he thought 'prune it?'.
"In just under a months time, on the twenty fourth of June, this hedge will be as high as the spectator stands and will have been shaped into a maze".
Bagman grinned "I must caution you that the maze will be alive and trying to close off pathways to you, while all manner of creatures lurk within".
The rotund man gestured. "Your objective will be to navigate all of the dangerous using whatever magic is at your disposal and whatever other skills you possess, in order to reach the centre of the maze and this". Bagman pulled a cloth away from an object that was in his hand.
It was one of the most beautiful trophies Harry had ever seen. It's highly polished silver glinted in the evening light.
"Once one of you places a hand on this, you will be the Triwizard Champion. The maze will disappear and the task and tournament will be over".
Before any of the four Champions could speak, Bagman ploughed on "the order in which you shall enter the maze is determined by the current standings. Therefore, Mr Diggory, you shall enter first. Mr Potter, you shall enter two minutes after, Miss Delacour, two minutes after him and Mr Krum, you shall enter last after another two minutes".
Bagman smiled "are there any questions?". Harry didn't speak and neither did the others. Clearly, they had been planning to ask about the timings just as Harry had and since the question had already been answered there would be no need.
"Good" said Bagman "in that case Champions, I shall see you all on the twenty fourth of June for the third and final task. We will go over safety information shortly before the task begins".
Bagman began to walk over to Harry only to stop feet away from him as Victor Krum approached Harry. "Harry, may I have a word?" the Bulgarian asked.
He seemed tense. Harry nodded "of course Victor". He turned to Cedric "wait for me?".
Cedric nodded "sure. See you in a minute".
Harry and Victor exited the stadium with Cedric not far behind. Cedric hung back as Harry and Victor walked away from the stadium.
For a short time they were both silent and then Victor spoke "Harry, I wanted to talk to you about Hermione".
Harry was surprised that Victor had finally got her name correct.
He was wary as he replied "oh, right. Ok".
"You see Harry, I have feelings for her and wanted to know, what there is between you" Victor said simply.
Harry blinked in surprise. This was the last thing he had expected Victor to say. He was quick to reassure the older boy "we're just friends Victor. Honestly. I think of her as a sister more than anything else. I always have".
The relief was palpable of Victors face as he smiled "good. That is good. I was hoping to correspond with her over the summer, perhaps with a view to dating you see".
Harry smiled "I hope it works out" he said. The pair of them shook hands and Harry walked over to Cedric who was standing with his hands in his robe pockets and whistling loudly.
"Ready?" Cedric asked as Harry walked over to him. Harry nodded and the two of them waved at Victor as he headed back to the Durmstrang ship for the night.
As they walked, Harry and Cedric talked on the tournament and the final task. Both were outraged at the state of the Quidditch pitch even after being reassured by the professors that it would be restored soon, but talk soon turned, inevitably, to who would claim the cup.
"Well I think that whichever one of us gets there first, should take it" Harry declared.
"Makes sense" replied Cedric, "after all, it is still a Hogwarts victory either way". Harry nodded and the two lapsed into the silence for a time.
As they reached the doors to the castle Cedric told Harry something which stunned him "I've asked Cho to marry me" he said.
Harry stared at Cedric in surprise for a moment before his face split into a wide grin. "What did she say?".
Cedric grinned. "She said yes!" he revealed happily.
Harry clapped him on the shoulder "I'm really happy for you Cedric. So, when's the wedding?".
"Once we've both finished Hogwarts. So, two years" the older boy told him.
The pair of them said goodbye to each other as they reached the grand staircase in the Entrance Hall and Harry headed off to Gryffindor Tower.
The remaining time until the third and final task went by surprisingly fast as spring gave way to summer and while many students worried about end of year exams and their grades and studied hard, Harry turned his attentions to preparing for the third task by learning spells, spell work and working on his speed and reactions.
After much time of preparation, the twenty fourth of June finally arrived and with it the tense anticipation of all those eagerly awaiting the third and final task.
All throughout and the morning and afternoon Harry was too nervous to do more than stare out of the dorm room window into the sunny grounds.
The grass was lush. The flowers were varied and vibrant and the sky was a cloudless blue and yet, Harry did not feel as if he could enjoy it. All he could focus on was the idea that in a few hours from now he would be entering the maze and plunging into the unknown.
All of Harry's friends, his cousin and his girlfriend, tried in vain to get him to relax. They managed to get him to eat a bit however.
At twenty to nine that evening, just as dusk was nearing, Professor McGonagall arrived in Gryffindor Tower to escort Harry down to the Quidditch pitch.
The group informally know as the New Marauders parted with him in varying ways. Ron of course, famous for struggling with showing emotions except anger or happiness, merely clapped him on the shoulder, grinned and wished him good luck, though Harry could tell his best friend was worried.
Neville, looked nervous and gave Harry the tip of aiming for the legs of anyone larger than him "they'll be easier to beat that way" he explained.
Ginny's eyes were wet with tears but she didn't cry as she hugged him fiercely and murmured "you're like a brother to me, you know? come back safely".
Harry hugged her back equally fiercely and said "as if a madness inducing maze could stop me".
Astoria and Millicent both hugged him and maintained brave faces as they wished him luck.
Hermione hugged him so tightly Harry thought he might have cracked a rib or two. "What Ginny said, ditto for me" she told him in a choked voice "you come back to us in one piece Harry Potter, or else".
Harry grinned and nodded "roger wilco skipper". He mock saluted.
The worst two partings were with Daphne and Lauren.
Daphne threw herself at Harry and would not let go. She clung to him like a drowning sailor hanging to a life raft and sobbed. When her tears had at last subsided she said "you had better come back to me Harry, if you died..." she shook her head and blinked away fresh tears "just come back to me love, ok?".
Harry nodded, his voice was choked as he murmured "I'll be alright love, I promise, it's just one final task and then this whole thing is over, done with".
After Harry had kissed Daphne passionately and his girlfriend had moved over to stand with the others, Lauren just stared at him with a shaky smile.
In moments as they continued to stare at each other, the shaky smile fell and she began to cry. Harry crossed the space between them and drew her into a tight hug. "Hey, no need for that Lolo" he said softly using his occasional nickname for her.
"I'll be alright, you know me, I'm tough. I fought a basilisk off remember? and defeated a shadow of Tom Riddle. And dementors and Voldemort, twice".
"Alright big head" Lauren muttered before laughing shakily. His cousin gazed at him through her blue eyes and said "I know you'll survive the task but..." she sighed "I just can't shake this awful feeling that something bad is going to happen".
"Hey, good thoughts only...sis" Harry said strongly.
Lauren nodded "probably just me being stupid".
"No more than usual" Harry smirked.
Lauren slapped his arm playfully "just take care of yourself and come back safely, alright?".
Harry nodded, kissed her on the forehead and, with one last look at his friends, exited the common room.
"Ready Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked him as they walked down the staircases.
Harry noted a worried tone to her voice. He answered "you know me Professor. I've fought off worse than this maze before".
"I hope that's true Potter. I hope that's true" his Head of House murmured in response.
As Harry entered the Quidditch pitch he looked up into the stands. The Hogwarts school band was playing, the judges were sat at a long table, all except Dumbledore Harry noticed.
Harry frowned as he saw Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, sitting down alongside the rest of judges. Harry had thought Percy would be the Ministry representative at this final task.
As Harry gazed at the judges table he saw Professor Karkaroff rubbing his arm madly. Obviously the dark mark was causing him pain.
Minister Fudge caught his eye and smiled in what he seemed to think was a genuine way, though Harry felt different.
Harry turned his eyes to the stands where the students of Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbaton's were sitting. All of the students looked excited.
Harry looked over towards the maze and saw that Cedric, Fleur and Victor were already waiting by it, as was Professor Dumbledore.
"Ah Harry" Dumbledore said warmly.
"Hello Professor" Harry replied. He nodded greetings to his fellow Champions who greeted him back.
"Now Champions" said Dumbledore seriously "you shall begin to enter the maze in five minutes time. As Mr Bagman has explained, Cedric shall enter first, followed by Harry two minutes later, then Fleur and then finally Victor".
The Champions all nodded as Dumbledore continued "the Triwizard cup has already been placed at the centre of the maze by Professor Moody".
The elderly wizard brandished his wand "if you wish to exit the maze, it will of course mean you forfeit the task, but if you wish to do so, then you need only throw up vermillious, or red sparks as it's otherwise called and assistance shall come to you".
Dumbledore spoke in a whisper as he drew the Champions together "I am sure that Mr Bagman has already warned you but beware of the maze for it can turn a person mad if they linger too long within".
Dumbledore patted each of them on the back and spoke louder "teachers including myself, shall be patrolling the outside of the maze if you should need to be rescued. Good luck Champions".
Dumbledore walked away and Harry heard the commentary of Ludo Bagman boom out around the stadium "good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the third and final task of this, the one hundred and twenty fourth Triwizard tournament!".
The roar from the crowd was deafening as Ludo Bagman looked at the Minister of Magic.
Minister Fudge smiled, nodded and sat back in his seat. "Let the task, begin!" Bagman declared loudly.
"Good luck Cedric" Harry whispered to the older boy as Cedric Diggory prepared to enter the maze first.
The maze opened up and Cedric stepped in as Ludo Bagman declared "the first Champion, Mr Cedric Diggory!". Harry swallowed nervously and tapped his finger on his wand as he awaited his turn.
"Whatever happens in the task, I hope we can become friends" Harry said to Fleur and Victor.
Victor nodded and Fleur spoke "I think I speak for both Victor and myself when I say, that we would both like that also".
She smiled warmly at him. Harry grinned.
The two minutes seemed to drag by as Harry's nerves grew. Soon however, the loud, clear voice of Ludo Bagman announced "and now, the second Champion, Mr Harry Potter!".
Harry blew out a breath and stepped through the opening into the maze. As Harry stared around at the high hedges and the darkness within, he heard a noise behind him and turned just in time to see the entrance disappear.
Squashing down his nerves, Harry turned around and began to walk through the maze. At first everything was normal aside from the darkness which he was able to alleviate with lumos. After a short time however Harry came face to face with his first test. And boy was it a big one. A very big one in fact.
Blocking the passageway was a giant. It was one of the tallest creatures Harry had ever seen as well as being very wide.
Harry's eyes widened and he halted in his tracks as he pondered just how to get past such an imposing opponent.
"Giant crush!" the giant declared with an evil grin as it hefted it's club, larger than Harry's head, above him and slammed it down towards Harry.
Thinking fast and using his finely honed reflexes, Harry threw himself backwards and away from the club moments before it slammed into the grass at his feet.
The giant bellowed in fury and lumbered forwards. Harry recalled Neville's advice "go for the legs".
Harry grinned, aimed his wand at the giants foot and yelled "rictusempra!". The giant was paralysed with laughter as he hopped from foot to foot. The distraction gave Harry time to run at high speed and slide under the giants legs and through to the other side.
As soon as the spell wore off, the giant gave a bellow of rage and stormed after him. Harry could hear the heavy footsteps and felt the ground shake beneath him.
Turning back briefly, he aimed his wand at the giant one more time and shouted "incarcerous!". Thick rope like cords flew from his wand and wound themselves around the giants feet causing the tall being to crash to the ground heavily.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Harry reached the end of the passage and found himself at a crossroads. He paused gazing left to right, unsure of which direction to take.
In the end, he settled on going right and took off at a running pace down the right hand passage. He hit the right hand passage without issue and decided to turn left hoping it was correct.
He had just entered the right hand passage when he heard an ear piercing, heart rending scream. He could tell by the voice that it came from Fleur. Feeling concerned for her, he ran as fast as he could in the direction of the sound and after turning left he found himself in another passageway.
Directly in front of him, was Victor Krum. Krum was staring down at a figure who was being grabbed by several hedge roots. Even from this distance Harry could tell that she was out cold.
He raced towards Krum and yelled "what the hell are you doing?!". He was furious with the boy from Durmstrang.
He fired a few spells at the roots and got Fleur away from them before using her wand to fire sparks up into the night sky.
He then turned his attention to Krum and shoved him. The older boy turned to face him and at once Harry could see that Krum's eyes were glazed over. Someone had placed the imperius curse on him and Harry would lay money that that same someone had directed Krum to attack Fleur.
Harry was surprised that Krum didn't attack him, but not wanting to take any chances he yelled "cwsg bewitched!". The older boy pitch forwards and fell to the ground snoring.
Feeling that he had done all he could, Harry set off along this new passageway. He turned right halfway down and found himself in front of a creature he'd never faced before. It was shaped like the sphinx statues he'd seen on his holiday in Egypt but it has the head of a human woman and it was...alive!.
"Wh...what are you?" he stuttered as he halted before it.
"I am a sphinx" the creature answered. It had a high and warm voice.
"What do I have to do to get past you?" Harry enquired.
"Simple young man" the sphinx replied "you must answer a riddle. If you answer correctly, I shall let you pass. If you answer incorrectly I shall be forced to attack and if you do not answer at all then you are free to turn back and try another direction".
Harry nodded as he absorbed the information. "I see" he said at last "very well then, ask your riddle". He could feel his heart beating loudly against his chest.
"First think of the person who lives in disguise, Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,
The middle of middle and end of the end?
And finally give me the sound often heard, During the search for a hard-to-find word.
Now string them together and answer me this,
Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?
The sphinx ended her riddle and sat down patiently, awaiting his response.
Harry, for his part, asked for the riddle again and once he'd heard it a second time he began to string it together.
"Tells naught but secrets and lies. Hard to find word. Unwilling to kiss".
Harry thought for awhile longer and then it hit him "is it a...an...acromantula?" he asked eventually.
The sphinx smiled, stood up and said "correct". She stepped aside and said "good luck, young wizard".
Harry thanked her and hurried down the remainder of the passageway.
As he reached another crossroads he was confronted by a horrifying sight. A huge acromantula was standing over Cedric clicking it's pincers menacingly and advancing on Harry's fellow Champion.
"Cedric!" Harry yelled. He wasted no time in running down the passage towards the Hufflepuff and the acromantula but before he could reach him his fellow Champion, having fired a misplaced spell, had been picked up in the acromantula's pincers and was being shaken about.
As Cedric cried out in pain and tried to get free, Harry aimed his wand at the giant spider "bombarda!" he bellowed in fury. The legs which he had been aiming for, were blasted off the creature which sank to the floor howling in pain and rage.
As the creature fell, it dropped Cedric to the floor of the passage and Harry heard a distinctive "crack" as the older boy landed on the ground.
He ran over to Cedric but was forced to duck as the acromantula aimed a spit of venom at him "bombarda!" Harry yelled again, this time aiming for the head. The spell hit it's mark and the head of the creature exploded into a thousand pieces, showering the two boys as well as the grass and hedges.
Cedric tried to stand up "thanks...argh!" he sank back down "thanks Harry, I don't think I'd have survived much longer".
"No worries" Harry said "just glad you're alright". He gestured to Cedric's leg "how's the leg?".
Cedric gritted his teeth and shook his head "don't think I can walk". He gestured ahead at something Harry had not seen before now. It was the centre of the maze and within the centre stood a small table and on top of said table, stood the Triwizard cup.
"Go and grab the cup" Cedric told him "after what you did, you deserve to be Champion".
"But you could have grabbed it yourself if you weren't hurt" Harry protested "we should both claim it. Be joint Champions".
"No, I...".
"Don't argue" Harry said firmly. He hauled Cedric to his feet and helped the older boy along the passageway.
As they went along, they were forced to move very fast for the passage began to close up behind them.
They reached the end of the passageway and with one, final, supreme effort, they flung themselves into the centre of the maze.
Harry looked around and found that they were closed in by the hedges. He recalled what the Champions had been told before and realized that the only way to get rid of the hedges would be to grasp the cup.
"We grasp it together, ok?" Harry said as he helped Cedric over to the table. The older boy gritted his teeth and nodded "right" he replied.
"On the count of three" Harry instructed. "One, two, three". The pair of them grasped one handle each. Harry had just enough time to register surprise and alarm as a familiar pulling sensation tugged at his navel and he and Cedric were transported from the maze.
They travelled for some considerable time, before they landed with a heavy thud on solid ground. The cup bounced away and lay on the grass out of reach.
Harry was the first to regain his senses as he blinked, pushed himself to his feet and stared around in bewilderment. 'This isn't the Quidditch Stadium' he thought desperately.
He shook his head and then helped Cedric to his feet. As he held Cedric up, the older boy asked a very pertinent question "where do you think we are?".
Harry shook his head "no idea, but judging by the gravestones and monuments, it's some sort of cemetery".
"Then the cup..." Cedric looked at the nearby cup "it must have been a portkey".
Harry nodded.
"What's that?" Cedric said sharply.
Harry could hear it too. Approaching footsteps. Soft and light.
He looked towards the sound and saw a figure approaching them, hood up and gloves obscuring their hands. The figure was carrying something that looked like a bundle of rags.
"What the..." he began to say just as a hoarse voice declared "knock out the spare, he'll give us some sport later".
"No!" Harry shouted. But it was too late as Cedric was hit first with the cruciatus curse and then a stunning spell, before being bound up and left on the yellowing grass.
"Flippendo!" Harry yelled as he aimed his wand at the robed figure who easily dodged the spell and shouted "expeliarmus!".
Harry's wand flew from his hand and into one of the hands of the robed figure. He recognised that voice. He'd heard it in his dreams and he'd heard it two years ago when said person had tried to kill him "Wormtail!" he shouted.
He charged towards the figure "I'll kill you!" he bellowed only to be hit with a spell.
Harry fell to the ground as darkness claimed him and his last thought was of what a failure he'd been.