Sirius once again found himself floundering in water. At least this time as he got himself onto hands and knees the water ended there, but his skin was tingling all over even as his eyes glanced around.

It was dusk, only the faint hint of light kissed the horizon and even that was going fast, giving him the glimpse of large hedges surrounding him on both sides, one way forward and back, both of which seemed completely dry to his indignation. He just simply seemed to find himself in a ditch, or puddle...that was still making his skin tingle more every second- in the maze!

He made a guttural noise that was in no way a scream as he tried to leap to his feet and get to dry ground, when he stopped at the sound of what was undeniably a scream behind him.

His skin now felt like he was fizzing all over, only his feet remained in and it was making him jittery, right on the edge of pain. Alice Smith though had the brilliant idea to try and climb right onto the hedge, and she was now white-knuckling the foliage, completely free of the water, and screaming.

He instantly lunged back towards her, unsure of what he could even do to help, but as the buzzing along his skin soothed the farther back into the water he went, his gut took over and caught her around the waist, dragging her back in forcefully.

She caught her breath in relief the moment her rump splashed back into the water, and he gave one of his own.

"Well hi there," he said cheerfully to her dazed expression. She was running her hands up and down her arms, Sirius understood the feeling, his were still tingling slightly, but he had no desire to lie down flat back in the water even to alleviate the feeling. "Fancy meeting you here," he finished with a Cheshire grin that made many a girl's hearts melt. She could probably do with the distraction for the time being.

Alice finally dragged her eyes up to see Sirius Black grinning down at her, every bit the prodigal hero he thought himself, and honestly was to her. She'd been locked in pain and terrified to let go even if she could have. She couldn't help it, she smiled back. "Thanks," she breathed.

"You're quite welcome!" He said with zero traces of humbleness, it was almost impressive. It almost reminded her of Lockhart in a way, the notable exception being she knew he was much deadlier with his wand. His expression started to falter though as she kept watching him, and he turned his face back to examining the area again, as did she.

The first thing they both noticed was, there were no sounds of approach. It made both of them even more uneasy than their watered entrapment. Both of them knew the dimensions of the Quidditch Pitch this was supposedly taking place in, so their companions most certainly should have heard her screams of pain, but there was no sound echoing back.

"Frank? Lily!" She called, already knowing it to be in vain.

There was no returning answer, except from Sirius Black again, who was eyeing the water with distaste, his fingers each tapping against his thumb in a pattern of agitation. "Do me a favor and don't scream again," he said abruptly, before he almost vanished into the night. She held back a scream by just the tip of her tongue as instead her eyes had to struggle for several moments to see she wasn't suddenly alone though, but a great black dog stood before her.

The last two times she'd seen the ferocious beast, it had been getting ripped up by a werewolf while he held it down, and cowering away from fire-breathing dragons. Neither happy memories to be sure, and this wasn't likely to make the list either. It only seemed slightly smaller now in comparison, and even then the great black dog blended so well with the shadows of the hedges she could only just make out the glimmer of teeth and eyes in the bright moonlight.

Then her blood chilled caused by no magic, as she looked up at the sky once more, and saw why he may have taken this particular precaution. It was a full moon.

Padfoot took a few experimental steps away from her, she wanted to cry out for him not to leave her and just barely held that in as well, as he took one paw out of the water and onto the dry grass beyond.

His sharp yelp of protest sounded louder than a blasting hex as he staggered back into the water, and suddenly Sirius stood before her once more, shaking his head in the exact same way as the wounded dog from moments ago.

"Well that bloody didn't work," he said sourly as he walked back towards her, and sunk into the water to sit cross legged beside her with a visible pout. "Some enchantments don't work as well when we're Animagus' but we've only just started experimenting with which ones, and I haven't even a clue what we're stuck in, do you?"

Alice wasn't even sure she could get herself to answer now she'd kept her throat so jammed quiet, but finally after several deep breaths she managed in a whisper, "should we be talking? What if, I mean your -well the werewolf-"

She couldn't figure out how to phrase the question politely, what if the bloodthirsty monster found them while they chatted.

Black's whole demeanor changed in the blink of an eye. His face tightened, and she was given the chilling look she'd seen him directing at Frank several times. "It's not a full moon, relax. The big bad Moony won't come out to play tonight."

She looked frantically from him, to the seemingly full moon to her, and back several times, but he didn't seem up to elaborating. Taking one more deep, painful breath, she forced herself to believe he must have better knowledge of this than her, so nodded slowly and instead answered at normal volume, "nope, have no idea what we're stuck in. Not meant to for several years I suppose," as if any of them had forgotten Harry was stuck in this tournament several years too young.

He watched her now like she'd just started babbling away in mermish. "You, believe me?"

She couldn't help but laugh, just a bit, at the genuinely surprised look on his face, coupled with some residual relief her fear had immediately been abolished. "You seem to be an expert on the subject," she pointed out. "How can you tell anyways?"

He tipped his head to the side in an almost bird like way as he studied her, his long dark hair falling across those bright gray eyes. It wasn't hard to see why most of the girls at school swooned over him. She however still saw the quiet, calculating look of someone who'd lived through far too much in a short amount of time, the same look they'd all been carrying for...days? Weeks now? Time was so nonlinear during this mess.

He answered, to her surprise, in a politely cordial way, almost scholarly, like Remus had back when she'd managed to talk to him around all those Quidditch tents.

"Takes practice, but you can see the glimpse of it waining if you study its edges. You're not entirely wrong, it's barely a day old, Moony's probably dead on his feet," he finished in a quiet voice that housed more worry in one name than she'd seen him display their entire time together.

There'd barely been time amongst the shock in the beginning of all this mess for him to show proper mourning for his best friend's future. During the entire third book's run, he'd been either cocky with assurance or worried for himself, until there at the end, where he'd just been downright murderous, and since then, just aloof to everyone. Now she saw the clear worry as he, like her, looked around once more for any signs of approach from the others.

The two never actually spoke to each other, though at least Regulus had a good excuse. Lily on the other hand just had questions she wasn't sure she even wanted to know the answer to from him. The two had landed only feet away from each other, and both took to their feet instantly and drew their wands, but not at each other. In mutual agreement, they just waited wearily, knowing exactly where they were and expecting the promised dangers any second.

Instead, Regulus moved first, cautiously crouching down and never letting his eyes rest in one place for a second as he dug the book out of the hedge's base. The two had landed where the maze split into three pathways, open in front of each of them, and the third being a dead end, where the book's cover was peaking out. Lily hadn't even seen it in the gloom. Shivering with distaste, he kept his back firmly pressed to the wall and began reading what they all knew, The Third Task.

Lily didn't even recognize the look that crossed his face several times while he read, but he kept his face low to read, so it was hard to make out his expression regardless as she kept careful watch.

It wasn't that he didn't trust the Muggleborn to forewarn him if something did head their way, she'd had plenty of reasons to turn on him in the past and yet hadn't, but he couldn't deny how vulnerable he felt, holding his wand aloft for light to read the print rather than having a spell on the tip of his tongue.

Only as he read through the first couple of paragraphs of the trio talking did it really occur to him, he was putting his trust in her. It hadn't even crossed his mind to turn away and forge this place on his own, but he stood here actually trusting her competency instead of visa versa. He wasn't sure if he had asked her to read instead how she'd have taken it, but he knew he wouldn't have just left her here unguarded, it didn't feel right to even think it. What was right and wrong anymore, he'd just have to keep coming up with himself, slowly.

For two people who had never actually directly spoken to each other during all this mess, Frank and Peter found themselves surprisingly enjoying the verbal sparring they were doing as they traversed the maze. The argument was simple in theory, but not so much for them given past experiences. Would Muggle technology work, if any of them actually had any? What with their little 'bubble' keeping them trapped from the school that blocked technology, neither seemed able to convince the other to his side even if they'd had proof.

Listening to Malfoy doing something bizarre and the trio talking about it may have broached the subject to the two, but it hadn't started so easygoing. They'd landed right next to the Triwizard Cup, a useless prize to the pair, and had merely stood in uneasy silence as each debated departing on their own to go find their friends. Rustling on just the other side of the hedge though, something far too large to be human judging by the jostling at the very top of the barricade, had both of them deciding it was possibly best to stay where they were. The maze was designed to attack someone going through it after all, and they'd both come to the silent conclusion if they didn't move, it wouldn't register them.

That particular theory though, was proved wrong, though neither of them knew it.

"Moony, come on mate, open your eyes."

Remus groaned miserably and twisted away from whatever was pulling on him. His eyes felt like heavy weights were wearing them down, he could feel the sleep crusting them together double as he even considered lifting them.

"Remus, please do not force me to set this whole ruddy place on fire just to get you moving, because you know I'll do it."

"Go away Prongs," he knew his voice slurred terribly, but the threat had to carry nonetheless, because James's voice quieted for a blessed moment. His mind was already lulling back into a peaceful dream, he was running just to run, even on an empty stomach, it felt good...

There was a soft rustle of leaves, as James apparently gave up for the moment and leaned back against a bush. He must have fallen asleep out under the tree, again. Hopefully they'd let him miss this next class...

Even this calm bit of dream was interrupted by a flaring irritation though, Sirius's kid brother's voice reading that blasted book, and nothing pleasant. Another Skeeter article all about how wrong in the head Harry was. Curled on his side and still burying his face in the soft grass wasn't comfortable persay, and a small part of him did want to check on Prongs, who could in no way be happy about this. He really should at least try to help him laugh it off, but oh, talking would eventually force him to sit up, and open his eyes, and even as the dream was slipping away he clung stubbornly to at least a half-conscious...

"Remu-!"

Adrenaline dumped into his system before he was even fully upright, his wand drawn and looking in all directions. James had done many a thing to get him awake, but never shouted like his life depended on it. His eyes took too long to adjust, despite how highly heightened they were, by the time he saw his friend, the hedges had already lashed him tightly in place and were dragging him backwards.

It was certainly no Devil's Snare, it wouldn't hold him until he moved no more, but Remus wasn't going to sit around and find out what it was going to do as he sent a blasting hex dangerously close to his friend.

His aim was true, the plant withered where he'd hit, but several more feelers were already creeping back out. He half lunged, half scrambled forward on numb limbs to grab James and haul him away, thankfully Prongs hadn't been so caught off guard that the fight had been knocked out of him. He thrashed wildly, almost hitting Remus in the face, the ingrate, but finally he was free. The two wasted no time finally getting to their feet and instantly breaking into a run.

They kept sprinting, Regulus's voice almost chasing them as a reminder of why they couldn't stop. By the time Remus began to slow, Mrs. Weasley and Bill had arrived, and when Dumbledore finally called the feast to a close, he stopped altogether, hands on his knees, and panted with exhaustion.

James quickly slowed his pace, barely winded, and hurried back to his side, patting him on the back and muttering whatever soft reassurances he could while keeping an eye on the ground. It hadn't moved to attack them again though, still he worried if they stayed in one place too long, it would happen again. He reached down and grabbed his arm gently, still politely coaxing, "I know Moony, you're exhausted, I'm so sorry mate. We really have to keep going though."

Remus nodded miserably and allowed himself to be towed a few more turns before the rest of his mind finally caught up to him, and he asked in concern, "we should have run into someone else by now," or something, lingered in the air between them.

James knew exactly what he meant and was very worried about the exact same thing. This maze had been described as being full of lethal traps, surely the hedges weren't the only thing in here after them.

Regulus at least sounded alright, with any luck everyone else had landed right beside each other and were having a gay old laugh, and the two of them had just been plopped a few feet away. Right, and Evans would declare her undying love for him next.

By the time Fleur, the last place contestant, was entering the maze, Remus was starting to sway dangerously as he kept with James's ever slowing pace, and Prongs caught his arm and slung it over his shoulder to keep him steady and moving. Despite the circumstances not exactly being in their favor, James cast a grateful eye to the moon once more. Better a day old than full, having to worry about Moony really finding someone in here on top of everything else going on wasn't a concern he needed right now.

James stopped so suddenly, that Remus's drooping eyes were forced to snap open even as his legs almost gave out on him from exhaustion. He didn't need to ask what was wrong now though, he could hear it just under Regulus's voice. Something large was approaching them, shuffling the hedges right on the other side, and there was a gap not twenty feet ahead. It could have been any number of things, but they'd barely had time to shuffle back a dozen feet with their own horrid ideas when a Blast-Ended Skrewt came scuttling out.

Half of Remus's mind found himself watching it with something akin to appreciation, certainly a hint of longing he'd never get another chance to see such a miraculous beast. The rest of his brain was yelling at him to shut up and keep moving before James left with only his arm and nothing else attached.

There was no sense in fighting it, both knew that without having to discuss a thing. It was as big as the largest acromantula they'd come across in the forest, and prior experience told them how useless it was sending any old spell at those things. So they simply kept running, as hard and fast as they could, adrenaline burning away everything except the fire that lit James's leg.

He cried and took a painful slide through the grass another three feet, smothering the worst of the flames. Even as he demanded his arms haul him back upright though, his leg wasn't having it. Remus unbelievably stayed on his feet, casting useless hexes and curses, but refusing to move another foot. James was about to use the very last of his energy to shout at the idiot to keep running regardless, when something went sailing over both of their heads.

For one delirious moment as it landed on all fours in front of them Remus thought it was Padfoot to the rescue, but the golden color was all wrong, and then the Sphinx let out a primal roar. It wasn't quite human or animal, but some terrifying combination of the two, and it froze their hearts in place as if they'd already accepted their death. She was not facing them though, likely all that saved them of a heart attack, but the skrewt, who came forward only a few more feet to lash its stinger in disapproval, before scuttling backwards for easier prey.

The sphinx sat down and began licking her paw before running it through her hair, only her still twitching tail giving away her true displeasure of the situation. Once she'd properly groomed herself back, she turned to them with an almost kind smile.

Remus's knees did give out then, and he sunk to the grass beside Prongs, hardly daring to hope at this rate Regulus would hurry up already and finish. If they couldn't answer whatever riddle the Sphinx was about to offer, they may as well have let the skrewt finish them off.

Regulus's voice was a blur to them, they vaguely heard Harry and Cedric finishing a fight against an acromantula, but their immediate concern was the Sphinx chanting her riddle at them. Neither had the oxygen left to answer even if they'd dared to figure it out, and were simply grateful when Harry and Cedric's bickering over the cup came to an end and they were teleported away.

HPHPHPHP

I was originally intending for all of them to run into different parts of the maze Harry had to deal with, but decided the majority of these guys deserve a break, and so put James and Remus through the ringer of a little bit of everything. I'm a bit cruel and it made me laugh.

There's an AU to this chapter about Prongs and Moony dealing with this maze as originally intended rather than James and Remus, PM me for details if you'd like to read that too.