Harry Potter and the 30 Tasks
Chapter 2
The Rules and Task Number One
The three stood looking at the sign, until Hermione pointed her wand at the ground, where the shards of glass that used to be the spherical portkey that had brought them to this place lay. She bent down, and reached out a hand to pick them up, but they disappeared into the sand that they were standing on. She dug through the sand, but found nothing. She straightened herself into standing position, and exchanged worried glances with Harry and Ron. Harry looked back at the sign and read the rest. The print was small and smushed together, making it hard to read. Some letters were weathered, as the words had been carved into the wood with a knife of some sort.
"You have unknowingly stumbled upon a challenge. A challenge that was born years ago by three wizards. Three wizards who, like many others had a nemesis. They built this place, wanting to see if their nemesis could get through thirty full tasks alive. This challenge exists still today, not only for the reason that it is completely indestructible, but also because the only way you can get here is a single portkey. This portkey exists in a wooden chest, that obviously, you have unlocked. Some who unlock the chest find nothing but bareness, or if in luck, a shred of lint. The portkey is made to appear every thirty years, thus, only who is lucky (or unlucky) to get into the chest and actually find the key may participate in the challenge. The portkey, like it's destination, is also indestructable. After being damaged or destroyed, thirty years later, if you open the chest, you'll find it there...without a scratch. First, you must choose your leader. But, you alone do not choose your leader, but a nymph does. An air nymph. If you are alone, you do not need to worry about choosing the leader, for you are your own leader. Up to four people can play the game. If you are here with more that four people, you are out of luck, for your leftover players are stuck in this place for eternity. Your leader's duty is to first, announce the answers to riddles. There are many riddles in this game...in fact, there are over thirty. You have three chances to answer a riddle, but on the last one, only a single chance, much like the chest that you have unlocked to get here. Riddles, also like the chest, allow you access to each task. There are thirty tasks you must complete. If you do not complete all thirty, you are again, stuck here. If you do not gain access to a task, you are stuck here. If you do not complete a task after your three chances to do so, you are stuck here. At each task there are directions for it. Rules for each one. Also, by being the leader, you can decide who participates in each challenge. The leftover player(s) will have to complete the task on their own after the first group finishes. The other player(s) are allowed help the leader in completing tasks, and riddles. The Air Nymph that will be choosing the leader is also available to call on if you have a question, or need a rule repeated. Also, she is allowed to give hints in tasks or riddles. In the unfortunate event that someone should die during a task, you are allowed to carry their body (if it is intact) through the remaining tasks, though it will weigh you down and it is possible that you could lose it as well. Any other questions shall be directed to the Air Nymph who will now pick your leader. When you finish reading this preamble, run your pointer finger over the bit of limestone attached to the bottom of this sign.
"I wish you luck. You will need all 100% of it, as these tasks are indeed challenging and will test all of your strengths, and unfortunate for some, weaknesses. There is no turning back now, no other way to get out, than to travel through the tasks. Again, good luck and godspeed.
Very truly,
Mr. Gregory C. Delmore, chosen leader of the three founders of the '30 Tasks.'" Ron's face was entirely inexplicable, looking as though he would vomit into the sand in front of them at any moment, while Hermione's was plain, adding a wrinkled nose. Harry's face was entirely plain, though a little scared.
"What was that bit about dying?" asked Ron, his voice shaking, "And the bit about not being being able to turn back? And the bit about dying? And the bit about needing luck? And the bit about dying?" He went on like this for some time, until Harry interrupted.
"So, what are we doing?"
"Do we really have a choice?" asked Hermione, "There's no other way to get out than to go though the tasks, according to Delmore. We have to make it through all thirty, alive."
"Who cares about being alive? My dad will have my head anyway when we get out of this!" exclaimed Ron.
"Now, hang on. There are three of us," said Harry encouragingly, "We have lots of help, okay? If one of us gets in danger, there are still two of us left to help that one."
"Unless one dies before that happens. No doubt it'll be me," said Ron.
"Harry's right. We should be more optimistic about this. We can get out. How hard can the tasks be?"
"Well even if they are easy, there are still thirty of them. Thats adding a zero to the Triwizard Tournament. If they're harder than that, well...I mean considering I knew what each one was going to be...and how to prepare for it..."
"That doesn't help a bit," said Ron, "Though I think Harry should be leader."
"Thanks, Ron," said Hermione.
"Well I, for one, think Hermione should be leader. She's better at these logic things," said Harry.
"I'm more book-smart, Harry. You're better at all of this action stuff. Be leader. You'll still have me for riddles and logic."
"Until you die," added Ron. Hermione ignored this.
"What does it matter anyway...the leader doesn't get much else than the other players. I guess it's just the title that makes it sound more important," said Hermione, "Besides...we don't get to pick who's leader anyway. That Air Nymph has to pick the leader."
"Where is that thing anyway?" said Ron, looking around the darkness.
"We have to rub the limestone," said Harry, "That's what the sign says. I guess that sort of calls the Nymph. You do it, Ron."
"No, you do it," protested Ron.
"If we keep arguing like this, we're not going to make it through the tasks! We have to be a team!" exclaimed Hermione, becoming frustrated.
"Then we'll die," said Ron.
"Not if we act like a team. And Ron, we're not going to die anyway. So stop it. It's just putting us down. Harry, rub the blasted rock." Harry reached forward, pointer finger outstretched, and touched it to the limestone. At that, a globe lit up underneath the sign. It was a glass globe, and lit a five foot radius of the sign. Inside it was a tiny woman. She was sleeping, but her eyes flit open when her bedroom was lit. She looked positively excited about this, and flew straight through the glass that contained her. She flew around the area whooping, and landed herself on Ron's shoulder.
"Thank you!" she said loudly.
"For what?" asked Ron, dumbfounded.
"For coming here!" she exclaimed. "I can only come out when someone comes to travel the tasks! It's been 90 years since I came out last!"
"Merlin's beard!" said Ron, looking at Hermione.
"Aren't you supposed to choose who's leader?" asked Harry.
"Yes," said the Nymph. "I think I already know who's going to be that."
"How?" asked Hermione.
"I'm a nymph...but I was chosen specially for the job, for my ability to read people's minds and souls instantly. I've concluded already that that boy," she pointed to Harry, "should be the leader. But you don't know my name," she said, as though it was a big mystery. "I'm Fredora. You've obviously read the sign that Master Delmore put here, and you know already that I'll be like your little guardian angel - answering your questions, giving you hints and clues. I'd like to know your names first. Starting with the leader, and first and last names."
"Er...Harry Potter."
"Hermione Granger."
"Ron Weasley."
"Nice to meet you all! Welcome to my home! Welcome to the Thirty Tasks of Gregory Delmore!" Fredora outstretched her arm to the darkness behind them. When she did, the darkness turned to light illuminating a beautiful landscape. It was of a large waterfall, that seemed to be spilling into a small lake. It was quite a ways away, and a large path led to it. At the head of the path, where they were standing near, stood a sign that said: "Task #1" Hermione lifted a hand to her forehead and squinted a bit. There was also a sign near the waterfall, meaning that there was a task inbetween the waterfall and the Rules sign.
"Um...Fredora?" she asked.
"Yes?"
"Where's Task #1?"
"You'll find out once you get into it. It's going to sound easy, but it's really not," she responded. "Okay, let's get started then."
"Wait...so there's absolutely no other way to get out of here?" asked Ron.
"Nope," said Fredora, "And I'm being entirely honest. If I were you, I'd want to get out of here as quick as possible, no questions asked, and no hassle in doing so. If there was a loophole, I'd tell you. But, there isn't. So! Onto the game." She clapped her hands together excitedly, and a huge smile crawled across her tiny, beautiful face. "I'm the one to ask you the first riddle. Here it comes...ready? Okay...I'm thinking of something that's more powerful than God. This is more evil than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it, you will die. What is it?"
"Well," said Hermione, "What would make you die if you ate it?"
"Some kind of poison," said Ron, shrugging.
"I don't think the rich need poison," said Harry.
"Malfoy does," said Ron. Harry nodded, agreeing.
"It's more powerful than God...well...nothing is. And nothing's more evil than the devil. But, the answer can't be 'nothing'..." She went over the rest of the riddle in her head.
"The poor have nothing...the rich need nothing - " said Harry.
"-and if you eat nothing you will die!" concluded Ron.
"That's right! The answer is nothing!" exclaimed Hermione. Fredora applauded them.
"Don't get too used to this...the riddles get harder. Now, step forward past the "Task #1 sign and don't move. You won't be able to after a few seconds anyway. And, don't do anything to save the victim until you get directions. Good luck!"
"Wait...we won't be able to move?" Harry's voice trailed off at the end, because the nymph had waved goodbye, and vanished into the air above Ron's shoulder, where she had been standing.
"Come on, guys," he said, and led his two friends to the sign. They paused for a moment, then stepped a few feet down the path. Harry looked around, then saw Hermione and Ron start to get taller.
"Oh no..."
"Harry!" yelled Hermione. Harry looked down at his feet...but he didn't see his feet, just some thick, watery, light brown sand that was now up to his ankles, and rising.
"It's quick sand, Hermione! Don't get any closer!" He continued sinking, and it was now up to his shins. "Besides...we're not to do anything without getting directions!"
"I don't care!" she shouted back. "You're sinking!" At that, a sign rose out of the ground.
"Task Number One: Quick Sand Pit," read Ron, "Rescue the victim without touching the quick sand. If you do touch it, this is not a real violation. It only makes it harder, given that you will have to get your entire party, or whoever gets stuck, out of the sand. You are not to leave the path."
"Okay," said Hermione, panicking, "We have to think of something. A rope. A stick, something."
"Unless you want to hold my ankles and swing me off the path to get a stick, there's no way. We're not allowed to leave it, didn't you hear me?" asked Ron, also beginning to panic.
"Ron, that's it!"
"What's it?"
"A little help here, maybe," said Harry, the sand now nearing his waist, "Or you could just stand there a few more hours...whatever suits you. I'll be here until this is above my head."
"We're working on it, Harry! Okay, Ron...I'm going to hold onto the back of your pants - "
"What?!"
"Just go along with it! I'm going to hold onto the back of your pants and tilt you down to Harry. Grab his arm and I'll pull you as hard as I can. All you have to do is keep in the place you are and hold on to Harry as tight as you can. Ready?"
"No - " Hermione grabbed the back of Ron's belt and tilted him down. He whimpered and grabbed onto Harry's arm."
"Hold on!" shouted Hermione. She began tugging as hard as her arms would allow, and Ron began squeezing Harry's upper arm, and Harry, Ron's upper arm. Hermione continued holding onto Ron's belt until the worst happened; his belt split in two, sending him headfirst into the quick sand next to Harry. Hermione panicked and only one thing came to mind. She grabbed onto his ankles and pulled his head out, and he began gasping and coughing.
"Harry, hang onto his arms tight!" Harry did as he was told, and Hermione pulled harder, stepping back. Only one worry was in her mind now and that was if Ron's shoes slipped off. Harry was almost out, the sand now only to his knees. After a little while longer, he popped out and the three fell in a wet mess on the dirt road. Harry lifted his head and watched the quick sand pit slowly dry up, then he stood up along with Ron and Hermione.
"We did it," said Herrmione with a deep sigh of relief.
"One down, 29 more to go," said Ron, beginning to wipe the dirt off of his face.
"Ron, you don't have to do that," said Hermione, looking at her hands.
"Well, I'm not about to leave it there, he said, offended.
"No, it's going away by itself," said Harry. Ron stopped and felt his hair. It was perfectly clean, as was Harry's pants and shirt.
"Hm...that's convenient," Ron said, putting his hands down.
"Come on - Task Two," said Harry. He began walking down the remainder of the long path towards the sign near the waterfall, Ron and Hermione following.
A/N: Thanks so iRiddler for the riddle for task #1. I'm sure most of you know that riddle, anyway. I'll get some good ones for the later tasks.