AUTHOR'S NOTE: I want to thank you all again for all the kind reviews I've received, they really light me up! :) We will be heading into the arena in the next few chapters and I hope you all enjoy. It wasn't easy to come up with the tasks and I literally stayed up for about 40 hours straight one weekend when I was writing these chapters so I hope they turned out well. I have about 60 more typed pages to edit, and the total number of chapters will be 173. I'll continue posting one or two chapters a day until it's over - I worry about posting two chapters at once though because I'm worried some of y'all might not realize and miss the first of the two and I don't want to confuse anyone. I also considered posting them all at once when I'm finished editing, if y'all want that just let me know.
I've also written one chapter of a sequel just to see how it felt but I'm not 100% sure yet if it will come to fruition. After all it took me a year and a half just to finish this story! I don't want to promise a sequel when it may end up being long and drawn out like this and I worry I won't finish it.
Anyway, thanks for reading and please leave me some more lovely reviews (and if you don't have anything nice to say, maybe just don't? It doesn't do anyone any good, especially me, and it won't change anything as this story is completed and I doubt I'll change anything). Thanks all and enjoy!
~RedPandaPrincess
Freddie still did not feel nervous as their boat joined the others on the bank, she only felt excited. Ada seemed to be anxious enough for both of them. She had to pry the girl's fingers from hers so she could get out of the boat. Snape got out first, then helped each of them out in turn. He didn't have to pick Ada up this time, but the young girl still blushed when she took his hand to step out onto shore.
"If you have anything other than your books and your wand, now is the time to divest yourself of those items," Benoit said to the small crowd. "Either leave them in the boat or give them to your Potions Masters."
Freddie dug the bundle of flashcards out of her pocket and handed them to Snape. She checked the pockets of her robes twice, just to make sure she didn't have anything else she shouldn't.
"Do you have my books?" Freddie asked him. He nodded slightly and reached into his other pocket. He'd shrunk them to fit all five books in his pocket and he used his wand to return them to normal size now.
"Thank you, Professor," she said as he handed them over.
Lady Karen was digging through her bag, handing five large textbooks to Ada one at the time, until the small girl could barely see over the stack of books in her arms. Freddie glanced at the books, curious which ones she'd decided to bring, but the titles were all in french.
Of course it doesn't really matter what books she has with her physically, Freddie thought. Her whole head is a library.
"I have bags for you to carry your books," said one of the other French Ministry wizards, whose name Freddie didn't know. "Just so you know, they are Charmed to prevent you from taking any additional items into the arena. They can also detect any spells you might have placed on your books."
All the competitors stepped forward to take one of the bags from him. They looked like plain canvas bags to Freddie.
"Here," Snape said, taking the bag from her. He held it open so she could dump her stack of books inside.
"Thanks," Freddie said, taking the bag from him. She nearly dropped it as a loud noise rang out across the island, almost like a train whistle. Everyone turned to look at Andrei. It was his bag making the noise and he dropped it suddenly as if he'd been burned. The bag moved like something was alive inside of it, then it belched out a flaming piece of parchment. The paper hit the ground and Karkaroff quickly stomped out the flames.
"What is this?" Monsieur Benoit asked, walking over to pick it up. "Mr Petrov?"
"I do not know," Andrei said, his voice surly but Freddie could see the fear in his eyes. "It must have been stuck in the pages of one of my books, some old class notes or something. I did not know it was there."
Yeah right, Freddie thought as Benoit inspected the paper. It was too burnt and crushed from Karkaroff's stomping to tell what it might have been, but she was sure Andrei had been trying to cheat somehow.
"Mr Benoit," Karkaroff said cordially. "Surely my student will not be disqualified just because he was careless and did not check every single page of his books? It was an honest mistake, it could have happened to anyone."
"I suppose," Benoit said slowly, nodding his head. "It could have happened to anyone."
And he gets away with it, she thought incredulously. Karkaroff is such a sleazeball. It was probably his idea to sneak some extra notes or whatever in that way. He shouldn't get away with it.
She caught Snape's eye and he shook his head slightly.
"Now," Benoit said, clapping his hands together. "Now that everyone has their bags and we don't have any more surprises, please follow me to the gate."
They all followed him along the high stone wall for several minutes. Freddie couldn't see a gate, but she could see where the island ended now and it looked like the wall curved around the other side. Maybe the gate was on the other side. Snape was walking alongside her and he nudged her slightly to get her attention.
"Your friend looks like she is going to faint," he said quietly where no one else could hear.
Freddie looked around quickly and saw Ada a few yards back, behind everyone else. Her face was so pale she looked like a corpse and even from a distance Freddie could tell she was trembling. Dimitri was smirking, looking back over his shoulder periodically. Even Akinyi was shaking her head.
"I knew she could not handle it," Freddie heard Karkaroff say smugly to Andrei as they passed by her. "She is cracking already."
She scowled at Karkaroff's retreating back then looked around for Lady Karen, who should have been doing her job, reassuring her student. She was walking alongside one of the Ministry wizards, asking him questions in French.
"Bitch," Freddie muttered under her breath.
"Winifred," Snape hissed. "Language."
"Sorry. I'll be right back."
She turned around and walked past Dimitri and Akinyi and their respective teachers. She wanted to glare at them, say something disparaging to Dimitri, who still had jam on his uniform, but she didn't. She kept her face impassive as she went to join Ada.
"Hey," she said softly to the redhead.
"H-hey," Ada said shakily.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-y-yeah. F-f-fine," she stuttered but then tears filled her emerald eyes. "I'm trying to b-be excited like you s-said, but I...I feel like I can't breathe."
"Easy," Freddie said, putting her hand on her back. "Take slow, deep breaths."
Ada inhaled sharply, then exhaled in a slow, shaky breath.
"Good. Keep doing that," Freddie murmured. Dimitri had turned to look at them again and this time she did glare at him. He stumbled slightly and quickly turned around. "Ada, you need to be confident. Even if you don't feel it, act like you do. Don't let them see you as weak because once they do, they won't see you as anything else. And you're about to show them all up, I know you will. I believe in you."
"R-really?" she asked, taking another deep breath.
"Yes, of course. Everything I've said to you is true. You are smart, you're brilliant, and you're skilled. You've brewed more complex potions than I had at your age. You have more talent than any of the others."
"You're not just saying that to make me feel better?"
"I wouldn't do that. That's not something I do, believe me," she said as they followed the group of people around the turn of the wall. "Now dry your eyes, quick, while no one is looking. No more of that. Clear your mind of emotion, I know it isn't easy – you can try reciting recipes in your head, like I do, or – what about song lyrics? Something to keep you calm. Whatever you need to do, just keep your face clear, okay? You belong here, Ada, you've earned a spot in this challenge...so act like it."
She said this firmly and she hoped it didn't come across as mean. Ada's breathing had slowed and some of the color was coming back to her face. She nodded slightly, setting her mouth in a firm line, looking determined.
"Attagirl," Freddie said, squeezing her arm lightly before letting go. "Think of your favorite Beatles song, your favorite potion, your favorite book and keep your face just like that. I've gotta go."
"Thank you, Freddie," Ada said quietly and Freddie nodded to her before jogging back up to where Snape was walking.
She could see their destination now, a set of wrought iron gates set into the brick wall. An old woman in pale yellow robes was waiting next to a small wooden table set up outside the gate. As they got closer she could see there were five glass bottles full of clear liquid sitting on the table.
"Everyone, this is MadameGarnier from L'hôpital de Fontaine in Paris," Benoit said as they finally reached the gate. "She is the guérisseur, the – ah, what's the word?"
"Healer," provided one of the other Ministry wizards.
"Yes, that's it, thank you. Madame Garnier is a Healer. She will be here to treat any injuries you may sustain during your challenge but first she is going to test a sample of blood from each of you before we head inside."
"Bonjour! Competitors gather around here please," the old woman said. She was smiling a crooked smile, but her face was kind. She had laugh lines that crinkled at the corners of her pale blue eyes when she smiled. Freddie took a place next to Ada in front of the wooden table as Madame Garnier walked around to the other side. She picked up a small sharp instrument that looked sort of like a hat pin.
"Your finger, please," Garnier said to Dimitri. "This will only hurt for a second."
Dimitri held out his hand and the Healer quickly poked his forefinger with the pin. She held his finger over one of the bottles until a drop of blood fell into it.
"If the potion remains clear after 30 seconds you will be allowed to continue to participate in the challenge," Garnier said. They all waited, watching the bottle, and Freddie wondered about the potion inside. What was it? How could it determine what was in their blood?
"You are cleared to continue," the woman said, smiling at Dimitri, and he went back to join Professor Devin. "Next."
She stepped over in front of Andrei and Freddie watched, curious if the Durmstrang boy had taken anything to try to give himself an advantage. He had a sour expression on his face as he held his finger out.
"Ow!" he said sharply as she gave him a quick stick.
"What a baby," Freddie muttered to Ada and the girl smiled quickly.
She was expecting the potion in front of Andrei to change color, certain that he or Karkaroff would try and cheat this too. She was almost hoping he had, so that he could be barred from competing. Not because she was threatened by his skill, but because she still didn't trust Karkaroff not try and do something to her or Ada before or even during the challenge... and so she could laugh in Andrei's smug, cheating face when he got caught.
Come on...turn a different color, she thought, staring at the bottle, but nothing happened.
"Cleared! Next," Garnier said and Freddie held her hand out as the woman stepped in front of her. The stick of the pin was painless and the healer squeezed Freddie's finger in between two of her own wrinkled fingers. Freddie watched as the drop of her blood plopped into the potion. Nothing happened, of course, and when Garnier cleared her Freddie went to stand beside Snape. Everyone was watching Ada now and Freddie saw a blush spread over her face, but she held the determined look on her features and didn't even flinch when she was stuck with the pin.
"And cleared!" Garnier said finally, putting down the pin. "Congratulations, everyone. You are certainly smarter than the batch of contestants during the last Championship. We will always catch the cheaters, it is best not to even try."
"Exactly right, Madame Garnier, thank you," Benoit said with a nod to her. "Now we can continue."
He pulled out his wand and waved it in an intricate pattern before the gate. The gate glowed for a moment, then there was a loud metallic creaking as it swung open. Everyone followed him inside, including Madame Garnier, and the gate shut behind them. They had stepped into a small courtyard, surrounded on all four sides with the tall brick walls. There were six wooden doors on the wall opposite the gate. A tent was set up to one side of the courtyard with two picnic-style tables in the shade beneath it. And in the middle of the courtyard, elevated on a pedestal, the gold cauldron sat glittering in the sunlight.
I am going home with that cauldron, Freddie thought, determined.
"Here are the potion kits each of you will use during the competition," Benoit said, leading them over to the tent where five boxes sat on top of one of the tables. "Everyone take one, you can put it in the bag with your books. Each of them contains the same standard equipment and a few ingredients you may find you need."
Freddie took one of the kits. She wanted to open it, to see what was inside, but she dropped it into her bag instead. She saw Andrei hold his kit up to his ear and give it a shake. She cringed slightly. He could easily damage any sensitive herbs or break any vials that might be inside. What an idiot!
"Everyone got their potion kit? Excellent. As you all know first prize is this handsome gold cauldron we have sitting here. It is made of the highest quality gold and finely crafted by the foremost blacksmiths in the French Alps. The winner will also receive 500 Galleons in prize money. The second place prize is 250 Galleons."
I didn't know there was money involved, Freddie thought. Or that there was a second place.
It must be a recent addition to the Championship, said Snape's voice in her head, startling her. There was no prize money when I won.
"Now," Benoit said, clapping his hands together. "The Enchanted Garden is on the other side of those doors. There are several arenas, each one a different challenge. There is no way for you to know which area you'll be taken to. There's no telling what sort of situation you'll find yourself in so you need to be prepared for anything. One of you will go in at a time while the rest of you wait here with Madame Garnier. The other judges and I will be watching whoever is in the arena – you won't see us, but we will see everything you do, every decision you make, and we will rank you accordingly. Also no two competitors will have the same challenge, so there is no point in trying to ask whoever comes out about what lies ahead. You can discuss it, of course, if you want to, but it will not help you in your own challenge. Each one is unique. There are three parts to the challenge where you will face a situation that you have to assess and determine how to proceed. At the end of your third challenge you'll find a door that will lead you back here to wait with the others. You will not find out how you scored until the last competitor leaves the Garden. If at any time you need serious medical assistance or if you cannot complete a challenge for any reason, send up red sparks with your wand and someone will come remove you from the arena."
Akinyi raised her hand and Benoit nodded to her.
"What happens if we cannot complete one of the challenges?" she asked. "If we get all the way to the third one but we have to leave?"
"Each challenge is weighted equally so I suppose, hypothetically, if you really impressed us in the first two challenges – and your competitors did poorly – you could still win...but that has never happened before in the history of this Championship. I suggest you be absolutely certain that you cannot continue before sending up sparks because once you are out of the Garden you cannot go back in, understand?"
Everyone nodded and Akinyi said 'yes sir'.
"It should take each of you an average of 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the entire course and rejoin your peers. While you are waiting you are not permitted to leave the courtyard. If you attempt to leave you will be immediately disqualified. Madame Garnier will be here with you, if you need anything at all you can ask her."
Akinyi raised her hand again.
"Yes, Miss Barasa?" he asked, looking faintly amused.
"What do we do while we wait?" she asked curiously. "Also, what if we need to use the bathroom? We will be here for hours."
Several people laughed and Freddie grinned at Akinyi. She had a good point.
"Both excellent questions," Benoit said, chuckling slightly. "You can use your books to study while you wait – you can never be too prepared. If you need to use the restroom at any time, Madame Garnier can take you there."
"How do you decide who will go into the Garden first?" Andrei asked impatiently, his face set in a scowl.
"Another excellent question," Benoit said. "To ensure a fair competition, you will be drawing numbers. In this hat there are pieces of parchment numbered 1-5. That will determine who goes first, second, and so on. Now, everyone gather round and take a number."
He held out a pointy wizards hat and gave it a shake. Andrei was the first to stick his hand in, bumping Freddie out of the way in his rush to be first. She scoffed and waited while he drew a number.
"Five," he said dryly after he unfolded the parchment. He didn't look happy to be going last, but then he never looked happy. Freddie wondered if he'd have been happy to go first. She didn't think she wanted to be the first one to enter the Garden and as she reached into the hat she felt the first flutter of nerves she'd experienced since before breakfast.
She could feel Snape standing close behind her as she drew her number. He was looking over her shoulder when she unfolded it.
"Three," he said softly and she nodded. Three seemed like a good number. Not first and not last.
Dimitri drew his number next – 4. Then Akinyi drew the number 2. Everyone turned to look at Ada, who didn't approach the bag. Her face looked pale but she kept a serious expression on her face. At least she wasn't visibly panicking anymore.
"First," Ada said quietly. "That means I go first."
"Tres bien," Benoit said brightly. "I will give you all a few minutes with your Potion Masters before they go through the door with myself and the other judges. Once we are in place, one of the doors will open and Miss Leroux can enter the Enchanted Garden. Good luck everyone!"
Freddie grabbed Ada's hand quickly before she went to talk to Lady Karen.
"You can do this," she told her friend quietly.
"Freddie, I have to go first," she said, sounding dazed.
"That's good. Going first is good, you can get it out of the way and then it's over. It's a good thing," she said. She wasn't lying – she thought it was best for Ada to go first, so she wouldn't have to spend the next however many hours worrying. "You can do this, Ada. Que sera, sera. Good luck."
Lady Karen had reached them and Freddie quickly walked away to where Snape was waiting for her a little ways away from everyone else. She stood before him, waiting for him to say something, but he just held her gaze. She couldn't read his expression but his dark eyes were glittering oddly.
"Well?" she said finally. "Aren't you going to wish me luck? I won't see you again until this is over."
"You do not need luck, Miss Gray," he said softly. "You are brilliant. Skill matters far more than luck and you are extremely talented. You have the best of all my knowledge in your head now and you will do well. I have trained you well."
"Way to make it all about you," she joked lightly, then grew serious. "Thank you, Professor. For everything. I would never have made it this far without you."
"That is true. And you are welcome."
"Judges, time to go!" Benoit called out and Freddie felt another stab of panic.
"Severus," she said quickly. "What if I can't-?"
"Hush," he said. "You can do this, Miss Gray. Trust your instincts. After all...you are the Potions Princess."
Freddie smiled and a blush stained her cheeks as he walked away, joining the rest of the judges as they left the courtyard through the middle of the six doors along the wall. The other competitors went to sit at the tables, but Ada was standing like a statue in the middle of the courtyard, alone. She looked like she hadn't moved a muscle and Freddie went back over to her.
"What did Lady Karen say to you?" she asked her curiously.
"She just wished me luck," she said tonelessly. "And told me that I am a smart girl and that I am going to win. She said with a brain like mine I have to win."
"Hmm," Freddie said with a slight frown. She hadn't expected much from Karen, but she knew that had been the wrong thing for her to say to Ada. "It will be okay, Ada, even if you don't win. Even if neither of us wins. Whatever happens, happens."
"Que sera, sera," she repeated in a whisper.
A bell rang out from somewhere and one of the wooden doors swung open.
"You have to go in now, cherie," Madame Garnier said kindly and Ada looked up at Freddie, her eyes wide.
"You'll be fine, I promise," Freddie vowed. "Be confident. Hold your head high. Go on."
The girl nodded, she squared her shoulders, and strode confidently across the courtyard. Freddie knew she was probably still freaking out inside, but she felt proud of her. She stood there watching until Ada had passed through and the door immediately slammed shut behind her.