A/N: HLB, for expressing continual concern for Molly Weasley's daughter, I dedicate the first section of this chapter to you. It is a small thing, but you made me happy that I wrote it.
Chapter Forty Six: The Third Task
Jenny sighed as she took her place in the line. It was a short line but it was the last one she would have to stand in. This was to confirm her travel plans to New England. Her turn came quickly and the clerk asked for her to wait. Another clerk appeared and asked her to follow him. He was very polite and even asked if she needed help with the baby.
"You could tell me what's wrong."
"There is nothing wrong, Goodwoman Planck. I am given to understand that this is an interview. I was told that you teach reading."
Jenny raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She was led to an office and told to take a seat. The clerk left and another man entered.
"Goodwoman Planck, Permit me to introduce myself. I am Lord Bontriomphe." At Jenny's reaction, he smiled. "It appears you have heard of me, but I am not surprised. After all, I have heard of you." He sighed. "Please do not be frightened or worried, Ginny. I only wanted to talk to you."
"How did you find me? Oliver?"
"The urchin? Not at all, although we know about him. We did it the hard way. We examined every legal record from the time of your disappearance. Your marriage certificate gave you away. Would you like some tea or caffe?"
"No, thank you," Jenny said feeling depressed.
"And now for my question. Do you need anything?"
"What?"
"Do you need anything? Under the circumstances we can not send you home. If I am correct, you would refuse to go. I will therefore make the effort to help you. If there is anything I can do, please tell me."
Jenny thought. "There is something, but not for me. You said you knew about Oliver. He needs a home."
Lord Bontriomphe smiled. "That has already been done. He has a home, although he may not appreciate it. He told me you taught him to read."
Jenny was surprised and suspicious. "You talked to him?"
"I had to. I had to be certain you did not tell him or anyone about your origins."
"I didn't even tell Henry." For some reason tears began to form.
"Ginny?" Lord Bontriomphe asked in concern.
"It's Jenny. J-E-N-N-Y," she said with a sob. "Ginny Weasley doesn't exist anymore."
"I did not mean to hurt you."
"You didn't. It's just that there never was anyone I could talk to before."
Harry chose that moment to wake up. Then he started to cry. Ginny looked at Lord Bontriomphe. "He's hungry."
"Then I will excuse myself. With your permission I will send a woman you can talk to. She also knows all about you."
"Do I know her?"
Lord Bontriomphe smiled. "You do. And she has traveled a long way to be with you. Consider this a going away present." He opened the door. "Goodwoman Weasley, you may enter now."
Ginny controlled herself, unsure of what to expect, when she heard Fred's voice. "What about the rest of us?"
"You will have to wait. Your mother will tell you when you can enter."
Lord Bontriomphe left the room and Molly Weasley entered. Six Weasley men were left waiting in the antechamber as she closed the door behind her.
"What's going on?" Ron asked.
"The baby stopped crying," George answered. "But I can't hear anything else."
"Boys," Arthur scolded. "Your sister has had a very difficult time. I think she needs to talk to your mother alone for a while." He paused as yelling could be heard outside. "Whatever is that noise."
A man came rushing into the antechamber. "Lord Bontriomphe? Excuse me, Goodmen." He headed for the office door.
"He's not in there," George warned.
"And Mum will give you what for if you open the door," Fred added.
The man looked amused and thanked them for the good council. Then Bill dared to ask about the noise. The man brightened.
"The word came through from Dover. Our Fleet. A stunning victory!" He left to continue his search.
"That must be the war Colin was talking about," Ron said.
"It sounds like they're winning," Arthur replied, trying to sound impressed.
Percy had to say something. "Colin Creevey is in their Navy. He is from Gryffindor, you know. Ron, do you think he was involved in the victory."
Ron paused. He couldn't help but remember Captain Grissom explaining Naval warfare. He remembered other things as well. Robert telling about the ship that blew up, and about how Colin received a commendation for saving a man's life after a shell hit HIS ship. These thoughts and a hundred other details flashed through his mind. "I hope not," he said, and wished fervently it was true.
Arthur tried to keep his smile. "If he was, I'm sure he came through all right." He looked at the door and changed the subject. "Whatever do you think they're doing in there?"
In a movie, the door would have opened at that moment. As it was, they had to wait another twenty minutes.
Molly finally opened the door. "You can come in now and see the baby. But every one of you had better behave."
Colin woke up and wished he hadn't. The headache from hell still lodged in his head. He grunted, and the healer leaned over and gently stroked his forehead. With each wipe of her hand the pain eased. Finally he could open his eye.
"Thanks, Ma'am. I feel a lot better."
"I am a Sister of Saint Luke," the healer said with mock anger. "But you are welcome. You have a guest."
Admiral Grissom was standing there when Colin turned his head. "Sir," he said as he saluted.
Grissom laughed. "You are in your sickbed, Mister Creevey. You do not need to salute."
"I'm bored lying here. I have to do something." They shared a laugh and Colin felt better. "How did you know I was here?"
"It is one of my duties to review the casualty reports. And I was very upset to find your name on it. Do not let this happen again."
"I promise, Sir. I hate to ask this but . . . Did we win?"
Grissom frowned. "We did. It was a great victory." Vivid memories surfaced of the submersible ships firing their underwater shells. The sight of a half dozen enemy ships sinking before His Majesty's ships even came into range. People would compare it with '39. They would celebrate this day and probably build a statue of him.
Colin noticed his change of mood and knew the reason. He had also seen those ships sink into the water once the Turkic fleet came into sight. "It was a dirty trick we played on them."
"It was war, Mister Creevey. There is no evil in war because war is the evil."
Colin gave a grim smile. "I know. It was them or us, and we were able to make sure it was them." In the silence he asked another question. "Sir, what was it like? My friend Colm said you were there, on the Bristol. It was your first ship."
Peter Grissom expected the question. He always did. And it was finally asked. If it were anyone but Colin he would have shrugged it off.
"I was a full Lieutenant. The Bristol was my first ship as an officer, as you already know. And because I showed up early, I was ranked ahead of the other two new officers. I think you met one of them. Peter de Valera ap Smith."
"The Lord High Admiral?" Colin's voice showed his surprise.
"We were close friends. We still are. But that is beside the point. Or perhaps that is the point." Grissom walked around the bed and sat in the chair so Colin would have an easier time looking at him. "Most of what happened you know about. People died. I saw the pilot's station take a direct hit. I knew the Captain was there. And I knew he was dead. But I kept to my duties until we ran out of shot. I scattered my crew to the other guns to lend a hand and I went to find who was in command. I found the Third Lieutenant. He was being helped from the deck. His right leg was missing and part of his right arm. I asked him who was Captain. He told me he was Captain as ranking officer. He then told me that he was passing the command to me. Then the bastard died."
Grissom took a deep breath. The memories swirled in his head. The noise from the guns were everywhere but growing ever rarer from the Bristol. Only one set of guns were still firing. He heard Colin say something. "I should apologize. I had not thought about it for quite some time." It was an obvious lie. "He died, and left me as the ranking officer. And I was only a Sixth Lieutenant, no more than two months from being a midshipman. Then I heard Val speak. He said clearly and distinctly, 'Your orders, Sir.' I looked at him blankly. He looked back. We stood for a second, eye to eye. 'You are the Captain. You must command. Give me my orders. SIR.'" Grissom held his hand apart. "And that is how I achieved my first command."
"And what happened?"
"I gave all the proper orders, demanded damage reports, ordered anything that was not needed to be thrown overboard, including the bodies. All those little things that you are supposed to do. And everyone listened to me. They followed my orders even as they kept dying." He looked at the boy lying in the bed. "That is why we survived, Colin. Even as things looked grim, we kept to our tasks. We did our duty. And my duty was to tell them what to do. But I only did it because a better man than I ordered me to."
"You're wrong," Colin said. "He's not better than you. He just got lucky."
The Admiral gave a wry laugh. "And how, my little Sub-Lieutenant, was he lucky?"
"Well, Mister Grim Admiral, he was the one who didn't have to take command. All he had to do was keep following the orders."
Surprise filled the man's face. "Colin? I have honestly never thought about it just that way." He clasped the boy's hand warmly. "I will tell you this. If I can, I will make them give you a knighthood. We need to keep you around."
Colin smirked. "Could you get me a Barony? My mum would like that."
The nurse and several patients look over as Grissom fell to the floor, laughing.
Ron was looking down at the baby he was holding. It kept smiling at him every time he made one of those stupid noises. It made everything seem normal. He looked up. His sister was telling their parents about New England. And his face changed.
"Ron?" Fred asked, as Percy took the chance to finally hold his nephew. He began making the same noises that Ron made, while the twins pulled Ron into the corner.
"Fred, George, I just realized. This is it."
"What is?" the twins asked.
"We're never going to see Ginny again, and we just found her."
"Of course we will," Fred assured him. "As long as we muzzle you, we can come and visit all we want."
"A bit of a drag not having our wands," George noted.
"No, we won't," Ron told them. "Next week's the Third Task. After it's over, they're all going to leave. They're going to destroy the stones."
"How do you know this?" George asked. "Harry or Robert?"
"Hermione. She told me. I confronted Harry about it. He said they had to."
"He said that?" Fred asked. "He said, 'they had to.'?" Ron nodded.
"Then Harry is staying?" George asked. Ron nodded again.
"Then they can't mean it," he assured Ron. "They wouldn't leave Harry behind."
"They have to," Ron told them. Then he told them about the prophecy.
Fred and George looked at each other. They made it a point to go over to Ginny and each gave her a hug.
Harry was with Robert when Professor Quirrell relayed the report of the battle. Their first question was about Colin. They did not like the news.
"Did you tell his parents?" Robert asked.
Quirrell shook his head. "I am hoping that Father Maurice will accept that task."
"I will," Harry said as he stood up. "I am the reason that Colin is not here. I should be the one to tell them."
"Oh, noble virtue," Professor Quirrell said. "Lord Henry, you are the last person who should give them such news. But you are right about one thing. The person who tells them should be wearing a uniform. If you will excuse me."
The Professor reached into his pocket and quietly faded.
"They are going to hate me."
"Nonsense, Harry. They are going to hate both of us. Because they can not tell us apart."
"That is not funny."
Robert smirked. "You are right, Harry. None of this is funny. But someone has to tell Colin's parents that he is not perfectly fine. And do not expect them to be happy. You entered the war and received an all expense-paid tour of Europe and North Africa. I managed to pick up a nifty scar while doing acrobatics in the middle of combat. What shall we say about Colin?"
"We could tell them . . . " Harry paused in mid thought. "It is this way, brother, they will be told that Colin lost an eye, and it will not matter how they were told."
Both twins looked up when they heard a noise at the door. Dennis Creevey was staring at them.
"Damn," Robert muttered for giving the boy permission to stop by anytime. And Dennis looked ready to run.
"Dennis," Harry said softly, "Should we tell you everything we know?"
The boy nodded and closed the door behind him. As he sat in the chair, Harry couldn't help but think how much alike he and Colin were.
"He's only a boy," Mrs. Creevey kept saying.
"It is his only injury," Harry found himself saying, not that it would help. He wished he had talked Dennis into waiting. The choice of who would tell had come down to one of them.
"Do you know the details?" Mr. Creevey asked, mostly because he needed to say something.
"Someone should be arriving with the details. I do not know how soon. Please, I want you both to know how sorry I am that this happened. I know these things do happen but it always hurts when it happens to someone you know."
"And you would know," Mrs. Creevey said sarcastically.
"I would," Harry said sadly. "There was Nathan Brenner. We trained together. He was onboard the Victorious when it sank. There was the Nautilus, of course. I was told only one other survived. Then there was . . ." He looked up with moist eyes, and Mrs. Creevey was sharing his sad smile.
"You do know, Harry."
Mister Creevey grabbed his wife's hand. "But Colin"s alive. We should be thankful for that."
Harry was grateful for the chance to leave. He now had his own demons to fight.
Robert chose to find Hermione while his brother was facing his onerous task. Hermione was always able to find a way to make everything better. He turned a corner and found himself face to face with Alistor Moody.
"Ah, Lord Somerset, just the man I'm looking for. I need to ask you a few questions. About the tournament."
"I will answer what I can, Professor."
"I know we both have our agendas. My job right now is to keep that brother of yours alive until this contest is over. I was curious of exactly what your orders are."
"I will admit, Sir, that our duties are the same."
"And after the contest?" Moody smiled when Robert did not answer. "I thought so. I've noticed all those people returning to the school and going back to your world. Are you taking your brother with you?"
Robert shook his head.
"I'm glad. He's more useful to us. My Lord, don't expect me to be sympathetic. You have your world and I have mine. We need Harry Potter in this world. You might remember that Voldemort is still out there."
Robert nodded. "I do understand, Sir. Nor do I regret that he has to stay here except that I can not do the same."
Moody nodded but his smile didn't fade. "Just remember. Constant Vigilance. Neither of us has finished our jobs yet, and I don't want it to end badly."
"Nor do I, Professor," Robert replied. He bowed lightly and proceeded on his way.
Harry sat at the table drinking his butterbeer. Susan sat with him as he looked around the Three Broomsticks. "This is a nice place."
"I'm glad they finally let you come, Harry. Most of the times that Ron and I came here we usually talked about you. And now we can finally talk to you. Except that Ron's not here."
"You should have gone with him."
"He asked me, but it's family."
"You should still have gone."
They both looked up as someone called his name.
"Harry Potter! I've not seen ye since the Hermes. Be this yer lass?"
Harry stared at the strangely dressed boy his age. "Jamie?" The boy grinned, and Harry's jaw dropped. "Susan, this is Jamie Tarr. We trained together."
"Anether round of drinks, Lassie," Jamie called out, "and I'd no mind somethin' stronger than tha' beer ye serve."
Harry and Jamie sat down and stared at each other, surprised to meet in this way. Harry had to ask. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm on leave," Jamie said. "Tha' Lord Darcy owed me a favour."
Harry was surprised. "You know my uncle."
"Aye, an' a smart man he is. Him an' tha' sorcerer of his."
Harry gave Jamie a confused look. "Where did you meet Lord Darcy?"
"Righ' here," Jamie said with a grin. "In our world, o' course."
Harry stared, and Susan had to ask. "You met Lord Darcy in The Three Broomsticks."
"Aye. In me own world, me da owns it."
Susan's jaw dropped. "Your father owns the place?"
Jamie nodded. "I's no this big, mind ye, but it's th' same name and same spot."
"And you knew about Harry."
"That I did, but I didna ken it was Harry til after our trip."
The three of them talked through the afternoon. It was mostly stories of family but it finally centered on what each had been doing. Jamie gave the smile of a conspirator. "Ye should know, Harry. I was sent ta the Firth of Forth, just two days aft' ye sailed. Am the one who figured out why yer ship blew up."
Harry listened eagerly, while Susan tried to hide her surprise. She had just found out what type of ship Harry was on.
"Ye see, Harry. Ye loaded the shell into th' tube, an' sealed it shut."
"I know that."
"Then ye opened the front port ta flood th' tube."
"I know that, too."
"An' all tha' fine sea water rushed in as fast as it could."
Harry slapped his forehead. "Of course. The shells were designed to explode on impact. The incoming water must have hit them with enough force."
"Aye, it did," Jamie Tarr said happily. "An' fer tha' little feat, they gave me this trip."
"They should have made you an officer," Susan said. "Like Harry."
"They did tha' too," Jamie said. "Am the only sailor with an army sword."
"I wish you could meet him," Jenny told her father. "He reminds me of you. He talks to me the way you talk to Mum."
"I'm sure he's a fine man." Arthur smiled at his daughter and wished he could turn back the clock. The child was gone, and a woman had taken her place. He heard the tolling of the hour. "Honey, it's time. Promise me that you will live a full life."
"I promise."
Three days later, Lord Darcy found himself in Dumbledore's office.
"You were correct. Our faux Defense Professor did not use the imperious curse on Lord Somerset. When I questioned My Lord, he informed me that it was a matter of comparing notes. This man was very happy to hear that Lord Henry would be staying behind."
Dumbledore nodded. "I should ask if Barty Crouch is comfortable."
Lord Darcy snorted. "The man has destroyed his career and sits in his rooms waiting to die. His only happiness is that none of his friends know of his treason, yet. I have not told him our plans for his son." He paused. "We could confront the son and end this charade. I do not need to remind you that the end results of our plan are only conjecture."
"Your conjecture, My Lord, and that carries a great deal of weight. Or did they lie to me when they told me that you determined what happened to Lord Somerset within a month of his disappearance, and within a week of when you first started your investigation "
Darcy smiled appreciatively. "I thank you, Professor, for your generous words but I must disagree. What you have mentioned involved the simple connection of facts. What we are planning involves conjecture of the 'probable' results based upon a scientific theory. While Master Sean has shown us that what he and Professor Flitwick are proposing can in fact be done, it is something that has never before been tried in the field."
"Perhaps you are right." Dumbledore's eyes had a twinkle in them. "This is too great a risk, and the risk is not to either one of us. On the other hand, we could ask Lord Henry to decide?"
"We both know he would agree, even if he understood the risks. And he does know that the time will come when he must confront Voldemort." Lord Darcy smiled. "But he might also tell his friends and we can not risk that. Lord Henry has never been able to keep a secret unless he felt that someone ELSE would be hurt by its revelation."
"Then the choice is mine after all, My Lord. Let us proceed with this plan and hope nothing goes wrong."
Hermione kissed Robert for luck, then watched as he left the Great Hall to join the other champions. She turned to face her two guests, Lord MontClaire and The O'Connell. She deliberately ignored their ranks, as she had all through dinner.
"Ernie, do you want to sit with me and Owen or with the Hufflepuffs?"
Ernie grinned, remembering The O'Connell's initial reaction. Owen was a name the Irishman had not heard in over a year. He then looked over to the Gryffindor table. "I will choose Hufflepuff. You will find me with Susan and Ron."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "They told me they would be sitting with Gryffindor." With a shrug of her shoulders, she led the way. "Owen, are you and Ernie here for moral support?"
"Quite the opposite, Hermione. We are here as part of the escort for when the two of you return."
Hermione's smile faded at the reminder that Harry wasn't coming with them. Owen had his arm around her at once.
"He did agree to this. He knew that this was one of the possible endings. All of us can wish for a different ending but it would make no difference."
"Harry is still my friend."
"Then why will you not stay with him?" Owen did not let her answer. "This is not a perfect world, nor is my world a paradise. Reality is the hardness that wrecks our dreams. We must live with it. But we still can dream."
"It still hurts," Hermione admitted.
"Perhaps we should spend the time making good memories to take home with us."
Owen and Hermione smiled, then frowned when Ernie laughed. "You know he fancies you."
"I know," Hermione said. "Robert told me."
Owen smiled at her. "But he never told me. How is it he won your heart?"
"He almost died." The smile was gone again. "Owen, it's no fun talking to you. You always remind me of the worst things in my life."
They took their seats, and looked out in the darkness. Above the Quidditch field they could see a projection. An outline of the maze. At the entrance were five dots, each a different color. A white dot marked the trophy that Professor Moody had put in place earlier today. One by one, the names of the Champions were called and the dots began to move as each entered the maze. The last Champion to enter was Robert, Lord Somerset.
His name was called, and Robert entered the maze. His first task was to find Harry. Pulling out his wand, he cast the directional charm Master Sean had taught him, which pointed slightly to the left. He headed down the left-hand path in a run until he came to a splitting of the ways. After another directional charm he chose the right path. It ended twenty feet and two turns later. He went back and took the other path.
That was when he heard the scream. It was the girl, Fleur Delacour. But she was not Robert's concern. Harry was. He did the pointing spell again and it gave Harry's position. The same direction as the scream, or near enough. His brother was going to investigate, and now it was his duty to help. Except that he was in a dead end in the maze.
"INCENDIO," Robert called out, and burned a hole through the hedge. He followed this with a freezing spell to put out the flames, and stepped through to find another hedge wall. Undeterred, he repeated the process. This time he was at the beginning of a new path. Running quickly he heard yelling in the distance, and increased his pace. Suddenly he ran into a glowing mist, and the world went askew. Up became down and he felt as though he was falling into the sky. His momentum carried him through the mist and Robert went sprawling into the hedge. He mentally thanked Harry for the contact lenses. He would surely have lost his glasses.
"That was clever," Harry said as he looked down. "Can you move? Cedric is in trouble."
"I am fine," Robert said as he picked himself up. He had the sudden fear that something might happen to Cedric because Harry stopped to check on him. He followed his brother through the hole in the hedge that Harry had made. (Great minds think alike.) On the other side of the hedge was an open area and a sight neither twin would have expected: Viktor Krum was pointing his wand at Cedric Diggory who was writhing in pain.
Harry began to draw his wand but Robert stopped him. "Never Attack With Magic," he reminded his brother. Drawing his sword instead, Robert raced for the Dumstrang Champion. As expected, Krum broke off his attack to hurl the curse at his attacker. As he did, Robert made the gesture with his hand.
Robert paused to sheath his sword. Viktor Krum would harm no one until the spell was cancelled. He then ran to Cedric. Harry was already by his side.
"How is he?" Robert asked.
"Bad," Harry said, as he raised his wand. "I think that last spasm broke the bone in his leg."
"Leave me be," Cedric told Harry. "I can handle myself. You two get going."
"It is my fault," Robert told a panting Cedric. "He heard you yell, but then he stopped for me when I fell."
Cedric grinned then grimaced in pain. "If it's your fault, then you have to take my place. Win it for Hufflepuff." He raised his wand and waved them away.
As he stood up, Robert tried to smile. "I can not, Cedric. I am not playing to win."
"I will do it," Harry said. "At least now I know whom I represent."
As the twins turned to go, Cedric called out the spell to send the red flare. As far as they knew, it was only the two of them. They discussed this as they kept walking
"Harry, have you run into many traps?"
"Only the one where I found you, and one of those Blast-Ended Screwts that Hagrid raised."
"I did cheat, but that was the only trap I have seen. I think someone is making your pace exceptionally easy."
"Moody?" Harry asked, and received a nod. "But why?"
Robert shrugged. "We talked earlier in the week. He wants you to finish the task alive. Neither he nor I care if it is called cheating." He grinned at his brother. "Shall we head for the trophy?" He held up his wand. "I do believe it is this way."
"You are wrong," a third voice said. Both boys turned to see a monstrous creature: a Sphinx. "But if you answer my riddle then you have a clear path to your goal." She looked at them. "Which of you wants to go first?"
"We will guess together," Harry replied.
"We are a team," Robert explained.
"But you each have to answer a riddle."
"Then we will answer two riddles," Robert suggested.
"It would only be fair," Harry pointed out.
"This is not the way it's supposed to be. You're supposed to come one at a time."
Robert grinned and looked at Harry. Together, they said, "You only have one riddle."
The Sphinx looked miffed. "I would only need one riddle if you would play according to the rules."
"It does not matter," Robert said, reflecting her anger. "Harry is the only Champion left."
The Sphinx gave him a disbelieving smile. "Then who are you?"
"His bodyguard. Just in case."
The Sphinx nodded thoughtfully. "We'll make it easy then. Follow me. If there's any trouble I'll take care of it."
"Um, Thank you," Harry said in surprise. "But why are you helping us?"
The Sphinx paused. "I'm not. You're the only contestant left, but the contest isn't over until you take the trophy."
Harry and Robert followed the Sphinx and found themselves facing the trophy cup.
"Go ahead, Harry." Robert was grinning ear to ear.
"Robert." Harry had a look on his face. "I have had an idea. We could both win. We could share the Championship. And you would be fulfilling Cedric's request."
"Harry, this is not my contest. This is your contest. I only want to make sure nothing happens to you before . . . before I leave."
"That is why. This is the last thing we will ever do together. Then you will be gone, and I will be alone again. Except this time I will know that I am alone."
Robert wiped his eye, then tried to look as though he had never done it. He understood what his brother was feeling. If he took the cup he would win, and Robert would bow politely and disappear from his life forever, But if they took the cup together, then there would be one final gathering, one last celebration. They would have their last hurrah.
"I would like that, brother mine. To do this, together."
"If anyone asks," The Sphinx said, "the answer was 'a spider'."
Both twins walked up to the trophy and counted, "One; Two; Three." At Three, they each grabbed a handle of the cup. Then the ground was pulled away from them as each boy felt like his stomach was being twisted inside out. When the world righted itself, the two found themselves standing in a cemetery, surrounded by darkly robed figures. A vaguely familiar voice spoke.
"Kill the spare."
