Lockhart was very interested to hear about Barty Crouch when next he met Dudley. Dudley felt surprised he hadn't the news already.

"Albus has kept a lid on that," Lockhart said, once Dudley had finished telling him. "And he really said You-Know-Who is getting stronger?"

Dudley nodded.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm around. If You-Know-Who is planning a move against Hogwarts then Albus will need all wands on deck.

"Do you think he'll move against the school then?" Dudley asked.

"Undoubtedly," said Lockhart. "Albus beat You-Know-Who before. He'll want Albust out of the way quickly, mark my words—and by striking at Hogwarts he'll get rid of some of his most dangerous foes—myself, Professor McGonagal, Professor Moody."

"He's going to return isn't he?" Dudley said. "To full power, I mean."

"Undoubtedly," said Lockhart. "Why, if I were Fudge, I would have the Aurors scouring the country now, ready to strike."

"How can he return though, if Dumbledore killed him?"

"Many ways, Dudley, many ways—none of which are suitable for your ears," Lockhart said, knowingly.

"Like what?"

"Don't ask me, I won't speak of them. You-Know-Who knows enough dark magic to make your hair curl! Spells that even mighty wizards like Albus and myself would never dream of using! We could, of course, but there are some forms of magic no decent wizard would ever use."

Dudley contemplated these words for a few minute.

"Do you know much of Barty Crouch?" Lockhart asked.

"Not much, just he works for the Ministry,"

"Very powerful wizard is Barty. I was at Hogwarts during the First Wizarding War, and I remember reading about him—he led the fight against You-Know-Who as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Why, he was personally scouting me to join the Auror department—wanted me immediately after my seventh year, I would have been the youngest Auror of all time, but I saw my talents being global ..."

Lockhart went on one of his usual tangents about himself and his exploits, and the topic about Barty Crouch was dropped as Lockhart regaled Dudley with tales of fighting hags and werewolves and yetis. He paused occasionally, to drop a hint about what to do if one of the creatures appeared during the maze ("Very thick-headed, trolls are, Dudley—in more ways than one! If you can, do what I did! Use transfiguration and trap it!"). Dudley hoped the hints and tips would prove useful, but they all seemed to require a level of magic that he hadn't attempted and that Lockhart had yet to even attempt to teach him. Their classes basically consisted of Lockhart talking about ways to combat dark beasts and then practicing various hexes and curses. Whenever Dudley asked to learn some of the tricks and techniques Lockhart claimed to have used, Lockhart said they were too advanced magic and that they better stick with the basics.

Still, Dudley felt the spells he was going through would be useful, and Lockhart had taught him a useful spell called Flagrate which would allow him to mark his path by drawing a fiery cross in the air. "That way you won't go the same route," Lockhart said. "And it might also delay some of the others—if they think it's a trap or spell, they won't want to pass."

It was a simple charm to use and Dudley managed it pretty quickly. He filed it away for future use.

Dudley felt thankful that he had been excused from exams. Since he had Lockhart helping him, Ron and Dean could devote themselves to their studies and revision. Hermione, however, continued to mix her time between helping Neville prepare and studying. Dudley had no idea how she managed it. He felt he would go mad, having to juggle so many different things at once.

Dudley felt confident about this task. He had gotten through similar in his first year, albeit with the help of his friends. Plus, he had done well during Lupin's year of Defence Against the Dark Arts was top of the year in Care of Magical Creatures, so he felt a maze full of monsters would be right up his alley.

Neville was looking determined, Dudley noticed. He spent every spare moment practicing spells and charms and enchantments to use. He barely spent any time with Lavender, something which she looked very perturbed about. Dudley noticed she kept shooting jealous looks at Hermione for getting to spend so much time with Neville.

Dudley, too, hadn't spent much time with Luna as of late. She had her own exams to study for and whenever she did appear in the Gryffindor Common Room, she spent most of her time huddled over her books with Ginny Weasley and Demelza Robins.

The day before the third task, he and his friends decided to take a break from studying and spend the evening relaxing by the lake. Dudley felt he needed a day doing nothing to relax and unwind.

Ron and Dean immediately agreed to join him, as did Ginny and Luna. Hermione reluctantly did, as long as they promised to not stay out past curfew. Fred and George, too, agreed to join and also invited the three girls from the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"I better invite Cho, too," Ron said, at breakfast that morning and hurried to the Ravenclaw table to invite her. So, all-in-all, it was quite the crowd who went to the lake once the final class of the day had finished.

Dudley, Dean, Ron, Ginny, Luna, Demelza Robins (Who Ginny had invited), Lavender, Parvati, Seamus, Neville, Fred, George, Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnett, Katie Bell, Cho Chang and Cho's friend, Marietta Edgecombe were all there.

Lee Jordan had a wizarding wireless, so they relaxed by the lake to the sounds of The Weird Sisters. Fred and George hadn't been idle either, they had skipped their final class of the day (Charms) and snuck to Hogsmeade, returning with piles of food and snacks and butterbeers which they dished out to all.

They spent a pleasant evening talking, laughing, playing games and listening to music. Fred and George were the life of the party, cracking jokes and doing impressions of the teachers. As the evening wore on, the large group seperated into smaller ones.

Ron and Cho disappeared without a word, as did Neville and Lavender. Demelza Robins (who was talking quidditch with Angelina, Katie and Alicia) kept shooting hopeful looks towards Dean who was playing exploding snap with the twins and Lee Jordan, but he never noticed.

Dudley found himself sitting by the edge of the lake with Ginny and Luna.

"The big day," Ginny said. "Then it's all going to be over."

"Yeah, at last," Dudley said, feeling relieved that come tomorrow, he wouldn't have to worry about the tournament.

"All prepared?" Ginny said.

"Yeah, I've practiced a lot," Dudley said with a shrug.

Ginny looked suddenly serious. "Just be careful, Dudley," she said. "If Moody is right and someone put yours and Neville's names in the Goblet to kill you, then this has got to be when they make their move."

"That's what Ron said," Dudley said. Ron had brought up that same thing last night and had advised him to steer clear of Victor Krum.

Ginny looked impressed. "He's not a complete moron then," she said. "Just be careful."

"Dudley will be fine," said Luna. "He's a very capable wizard."

"Thanks, Luna," Dudley said, suddenly feeling awkward. He was never too sure how to react to compliments.

They stayed silent for a few minutes, staring out over the lake where they could see the giant squid swimming along the surface.

There was a sudden explosion behind them. Half expecting to see Death Eaters appearing, Dudley spun around to see a burst of stars above the party. It was the twins, setting off a jumbo box of Dr. Fillibuster's fireworks.

Fred had stood up to make a toast. "I see Neville has slinked off to get some good luck kissing in," he said, grinning. The others laughed. "And Ronniekins too—I never expected our little brother would grow up."

Everyone laughed again.

"But, seriously, I think we all want to wish Neville and Dudley good luck for tomorrow ..."

"By cheering," George added. "Not by giving them a good luck kiss. Though, Luna ... if you want to, there's some private bushes over there."

Dudley glared at George but next to him, Luna was grinning, she seemed to have found George's comment amusing.

"So ..." George trailed off. Neville was returning, holding Lavender's hand. They had evidently bumped into Cho and Ron somewhere on the grounds as they returned together.

"Speak of the devil," said Fred. "Now the gang's all here. Good, you almost missed our speech."

"It was a good one, to say we didn't practice at all" said George. "Where was I?"

"About to wish them good luck," Angelina reminded him.

"Right, cheers," said George. "So, tomorrow is the big day, and we all want a Gryffindor victory ..."

"A Hogwarts victory!" Cho Chang corrected, glaring at him.

"That too," George agreed.

"But mainly a Gryffindor one," Fred added.

"So, let's give our champions three cheers," George finished. "Ready? One ..."

Dudley felt Luna give his hand a quick squeeze.

"...two ..."

Dudley looked at Neville and saw he was blushing, but also looked pleased.

"Three—hip hip!"

"Hooray!" the crowd cheered, even Marietta Edgecombe who, until now, had looked like she wanted to be anywhere else.

Dudley looked down at Luna and grinned, suddenly feeling quite touched at the support shown by his friends and classmates. Even Seamus, who he had never got along with much, and even Lavender and Parvati, who he had also never got along with, came up to him afterwards to wish him luck in the contest.

Note from author

I just realised I Demelza's name is actually Demelza Robins, not Demelza Bobbins-I've been calling her Bobbins all this time. Whoops.