A/N: Hello everybody! Just my luck, isn't it? Now I've finally finished this chapter, and now ffnet breaks down so I can't update! Thanks for being so patient with little ole me. I had been a bit stuck about ideas how to fill in the long time between the second and third task, and I do hope all of you will be satisfied with what I have come up with. SilverMoonset – How do you get the idea I don't like Ron? I may not take him quite seriously, true, but I like him all right. Sorry for those typing errors, I run the spell check over the whole thing, normally, so there shouldn't be too many, but the computer is a weird machine, sometimes. And concerning Iphigenie and Margaux – just wait and see.
DJ Rodriguez – happy to oblige, there's more in this chapter
Bexis - The things I use about the Celtic Calendar and animal signs can be found on various websites. There are animal AND tree signs, and animals are so much more – lively, aren't they?
LT 2000 – Yes, "tall leggy blonde" is how people usually picture Fleur; but I imagine Harry about the same height by now (teenage growth spurt, see?), more or less, and so to kiss his forehead, she'll have to stand on tiptoe.
General question to all of you, gentle readers: I'm beginning to feel sorry for Cho, so what do you people say about an amnesty for Cedric?? Give me your ideas REAL FAST, so I can work them into the next chapter, where they will be needed!
Well, R, (hopefully enjoy) and R again! (And I'm full of the best intentions about updating soon!)
Chapter 28 CountdownMay 23rd, 1995
I've taken out a book about the Celtic calendar from the library. I know, of course, that I'm short of time anyway, with all the homework and stuff, but Luna has made me curious. Naturally, the first things I looked up were Harry's and my birth signs, and I'm quite fascinated by what I found.
According to this book, Harry's animal is the cat; cat people are "loyal and trustworthy, affectionate and creative". Now I'm sure he is all these things, no question about that. And I can't help being shocked by the brutal irony that cat people have a "deep devotion to family," knowing how desperately he misses exactly this. But the book also comes up with "sensual", and I admit it gave my insides a strange feeling...
Luna has been quite correct about my birth sign. It IS the owl. I'm not altogether sure I like all the things it says about owl-people. I mean, it's nice enough when it says things like "wise", or "highly imaginative and passionate" (and it gives me a shudder to think of it together with "sensual"). But when it goes on to "can both attract and overpower sensitive people", I don't feel this is a very nice thing, really.
But what leaves me both excited and scared is that the owl is supposed to have "harmonious relations with the signs of the cat and bear". Now I don't know any bear people, but I certainly know one special cat guy...
May 24th, 1995
Exactly one month to go until the Third Task. Still no idea what it is going to be. We've been doing fire and water already, and as in a way dragons are also connected with air, the logical thing would be something to do with earth. Great! Just what I like best - underground tunnels and caves again... But perhaps I'm just being paranoid.
May 27th, 1997
So it's not underground tunnels, that's something, I guess. This evening, Maxime told me to go down to the Quidditch pitch after dinner.
"They'll explain what the final task is about," she said.
So after dinner, I went down to the place. Although the light was fading rapidly, I could still see that there was something different. A labyrinth of low hedges had appeared where the pitch used to be.
Bagman, the ministry official, was already there, together with Viktor Krum, and the contrast between the two, Bagman in his exaggerated, ludicrously exuberant good mood, and Krum's scowling airs could not have been greater.
"Bon soir, mademoiselle," Bagman said, beaming, in what he thought was excellent French, while Krum, apart from an indistinct grunt, gave no sign he had even noticed my arrival.
"Hello there!" Bagman suddenly called cheerily, and turning, I saw Harry and Cedric approaching in the gathering gloom, clambering over the hedges towards us.
"Well, what d'you think?" Bagman's voice was dripping with enthusiasm. "Growing nicely, aren't they? Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty-foot-high."
Harry's and Cedric's faces were a good deal less enthusiastic; apparently they were worried about their quidditch pitch. So he went on, grinning:
"Don't worry, you'll have your quidditch pitch back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?"
The question was so childishly stupid that nobody bothered to answer. Finally, Krum spat out,
"Maze."
"That's right!" Bagman was not to be daunted by the general lack of enthusiasm. "The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the centre of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."
What a counterpoint after dragons, wailing eggs and merpeople! As if somebody's imagination had run out, and they hadn't been able to think of something original any more. A maze, indeed! One of the oldest and most boring ideas!
"We simply have to get through the maze?" I asked disbelievingly.
I shouldn't have asked. It just set him going again. Bouncing up and down, almost like a rubber ball, he went on.
"There will be obstacles. Hagrid is providing a number of creatures... then there will be spells that must be broken... all that sort of thing, you know. Now the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze." He indicated Harry and Cedric. "Then Mr. Krum will enter... then Miss Delacour. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending on how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?"
He looked around at us expectantly, but apparently nobody wanted to do him the favour to ask anything.
"Very well," he said at last, sounding disappointed, "if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly..."
He scuttled over towards Harry, but just before he could reach him. Krum tapped Harry on the shoulder, saying something to him I could not catch. Harry, looking surprised, nodded, and after he had said something to Bagman, who looked slightly put out, he and Krum went off.
"So it's creatures of Hagrid's?" Cedric said to me after Bagman had ambled away towards the castle.
"Probably from the forest?" I suggested, only half joking.
"Very likely. And I don't think it will be unicorns, either. Well, see you tomorrow, then."
And he started off to the castle at quite a quick stride. He seems to be anxious not to stay away from Cho any longer than is absolutely necessary.
May 28th, 1995
This weekend, Margaux and Iphigenie have decided not to make themselves scarce. After I had told them about the last task, they agreed that we should take up a practising programme together.
"Of course, there could be just about anything in that labyrinth," Iphigenie said. "Curses to break, you said?"
"Spells," I corrected, a bit weakly.
"That's a relief," she replied in a sarcastic tone. "So I believe we can rule out an automatic Avada kedavra..."
"And creatures," I told her. "Don't forget the creatures."
"A blessing the place is too small for dragons," Margaux put in. "But then, you know, even this isn't necessarily true..."
"Thanks, I needed that."
"Pity you didn't ask more questions, bet he'd have given you some hints, he's just the conceited idiot that would, just to show off. But it can't do any harm to go through the most common counterspells. I'll draw up a timetable for you..."
This is what Margaux is really good at, and in no time she had organised my free time for the next four weeks, leaving me a couple of hours for eating and sleeping, mercifully.
"Anyway, you'll be wearing that necklace, won't you," Iphigenie said. "So there shouldn't be too many problems, anyway."
She saw the expression in my face.
"Don't start telling us you aren't going to use it! You can carry the idea of fairness too far!"
But I'm really not sure about this. The last thing I want is an unfair advantage over Harry.
At dinner, Harry and the others seemed to be quite nervous and distracted. Even Ron wasn't giving his food his usual attention. It could have something to do with what Viktor Krum told Harry yesterday. But I'm not going to ask.
May 31st, 1995
We have been practising spells, hexes and counterjinxes almost every free minute the last two days, and it is really quite exhausting. It is especially tiring because there is no idea what to look out for, it's just a random accumulation. I'm making a point of not wearing the amulet during practise; there wouldn't be any use in practising countering spells that don't get through to me, anyway, or at least that's what I keep telling Iphigenie, and she hasn't brought up the subject again.
June 1st, 1995
After dinner, Hermione came up to me, looking worried.
"I'm not sure if Harry would like me to do this, but I simply have to tell you," she said breathlessly.
"What is it?"
"He collapsed yesterday in Divination. Had a dream or something, and woke up screaming with pain in his scar..."
"His scar? That means..."
"That means it's something to do with You-Know-Who, yes. Saw him in his dream, together with Wormtail..."
"Wormtail? Funny name."
"An animagus, who can turn into a rat," she said, loathing in her voice. "He betrayed Harry's parents to You-Know-Who."
"Oh."
"Yes, and in this dream, there was a snake Harry was going to be fed to... "
"A snake? But that's-"
"You-Know-Who's pet, yes. Of course, he pretends to be all right, but I've known him for years now, and I'm sure it bothers him no end… You know I don't care so much for dreams, normally, and I wouldn't about this one, too, if it wasn't for the pain in his scar."
"It does seem to prove it was more than just a dream, you are right. Do you think there's anything I can do?"
She looked at me thoughtfully.
"You might go flying with him, don't you think? Take his mind off things. It's about the only thing that can really make him forget… I'd do it myself, but, see, flying just isn't my thing…"
So I said I would meet Harry at the (former) quidditch pitch tomorrow after lessons. I hope I'll be able to get some time off my practising with Margaux and Iphigenie.
June 2nd, 1995
Grudgingly, Margaux gave me the afternoon off.
"Fraternising with the enemy, that's what it is," she grumbled, and I had the impression she was not entirely joking. "At least sound him out on his strategies…"
I didn't bother to answer and went over to the pitch, or the labyrinth, as I ought to say now. The hedges have grown a good deal in the few days, and are already almost two metres high. Harry was already waiting for me, and I was shocked to see how pale he was. There were dark rings round his eyes, as if he hadn't slept properly for days. But his smile was the same.
"Hermione insisted I go flying again," he said to me. "She says it will be good for me. She's always worrying about me, you know, for no reason whatsoever. Thought I'd go, just to please her."
I didn't tell him that the way he looked showed only too clearly that Hermione's worrying was very much justified.
"And here I was thinking you enjoyed seeing me," I said, and the hurt tone of my voice was only too real. (I hope I didn't pout childishly, but I'm not really sure.)
He looked embarrassed and blushed immediately, in that typical way that I love so much about him.
"But of course I like you, - I mean I like seeing you…" he stammered.
"I'm glad to hear it," I said, grinning at him. I was not going to ask him about that dream, if he felt like talking about it, he would in his own time.
We kicked off, and flew around the labyrinth for some time, finally going into hovering mode side by side above the centre.
"Looks quite harmless, doesn't it?" Harry said to me. "Easy to remember."
"Don't be so sure," I replied. "There are plenty of magical ways to change it, before you enter, or even while you are in it. It doesn't even have to be the same shape for each of us. It would be much too easy otherwise. Anybody could get the idea to fly over it and draw a map or something."
"I guess you are right. Seems a bit too simple, anyway, after all those dragons and things."
"Exactly."
Suddenly, he did a few mad loopings.
"Look here," he panted when he reappeared by my side. "I don't want to… I mean it's nothing really serious, but… The other day, we were talking about those dreams I keep having, remember? Well, I don't know if you want to hear about this…"
"Oh Harry, don't you still know you can tell me everything? What is it?"
"Well, a couple of days ago, in Divination… But let's sit down somewhere, shall we?"
So we flew over to the stone bench by the lake and sat down on the soft mossy seat.
"So, what is it you want to tell me?"
"Oh, it… well, it was a dream I had the other day, see… It was in that old fraud Trelawney's class, y'know, it's always so stuffy and she gets her room full of those weird scents, and she was showing us something about – what was it? – Mars, I believe – well, anyway – "
He broke off. I just looked at him in what I hoped was a detached interested way, and did not say anything.
"I – I had this dream, see? I was riding on the back of that huge owl – silly, isn't it, how can an owl be that big? – and then, suddenly I was in that dark room – "
Again he stopped, looking at me in a strange way, and again I didn't press him to continue. This was clearly important to him, and I was sure that any comment from me would put him off.
"And there was that chair with its back to me, so I couldn't see what was in it, but on the floor, there was that huge snake, and – and – oh, I'd recognize him everywhere! – "
"Who?" I ventured to ask.
"Wormtail!" The word sounded like a curse. "Wormtail, the rat!"
I didn't think it a good idea to let him know that Hermione had already told me about Wormtail, so I just looked at him expectantly.
"He betrayed my parents!" He almost shouted it. "Betrayed them to Voldemort! He as good as killed them himself! Oh, if I had only – "
I put my hand on his harm in a soothing gesture, but felt strangely scared to say anything.
"And he, - Voldemort, I didn't see him, but I knew it must be him, in that chair, he tortured him… it was horrible… I mean, he deserves it, but still… no, I can't imagine anyone deserves this kind of thing… oh, I don't know… and then… he said to his snake – I don't remember exactly, but something about me… as if the snake was to eat me or something… and then the pain in my head got so terrible I must have broken down, screaming, because the next thing I know is that I'm lying on the floor everybody standing around me, horrified…"
All this had come out in short gasps, and I could feel him tremble by my side. Hearing him tell his story himself shocked me a lot more than Hermione's vague narrative had, especially as I saw how intensely affected he still was by everything.
"A very stupid dream, really," he said after a pause, with a forced weak smile. "I'm sure there is nothing in it at all…"
But from the tone of his voice it was clear that he didn't believe it himself. I took his hands in mine and pressed them silently.
"Thanks for listening to my rant," he said after another pause, and this time his smile was more relaxed. "These dreams really scare me, they are so real, you see, and still I have no idea what they mean."
"I don't know," I finally said. "They could just be images of your own mind, of course, when for some reason or other certain thoughts come to the surface, but that wouldn't explain the pains in your scar, would it?"
"Probably not. This is what Hermione seems to believe too. But could I be seeing things that actually happen?"
"I have no idea. But the point is, rather, WHY are you having these dreams at all? Could it be that - Vous-savez-qui WANTS you to have them?"
He paled.
"You mean – but then – he would be able to enter my mind!"
I had not thought of this implication, and was shocked myself.
"Well, yes, I suppose it would mean something like that."
"But what would be the point? Why would he want me to see these things?"
"To frighten you, perhaps; would just be like him, don't you think? Makes you unable to think straight, so you can't defend yourself properly. And, moreover, I'm sure if there is anything he really enjoys, it's people being scared of him. So he may just be showing off, perhaps."
"I do believe you have a point here. But I won't let him scare me with stupid dreams! He'll have to do a lot better than that!"
He jumped up with these words, his eyes flashing.
"I feel a lot better! Thanks for listening!"
He grabbed his broom and dashed off into the air at a mad speed. I knew better than to follow him, and slowly returned to the carriage.
I really think there is more to those dreams of Harry's than he (or I) realises. If I only knew what it is!
June 5th, 1995
After disappearing again during most of Saturday, Margaux and Iphigenie have made a point of taking me into the village with them this afternoon.
"You need a break from all that practising," Margaux told me. And indeed, I have barely had a free moment these days, what with all the training my two friends are putting me through. It seems that they are taking me through most of the curriculum of the entire eighth year, just leaving out divination and potion brewing.
So we went into the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer. There were only a few of the local village people there as it was no Hogsmeade weekend for the students, and so the place was not crowded at all. We sat down at on of the tables, and gazed around us lazily.
"Look," Iphigenie suddenly said, pointing at a table at the opposite side of the room. "Hair almost like yours."
Indeed, the man was an impressive sight. Although he was sitting, it was clear that he must be quite tall. His pale face was pointed, with a cruel mouth, a prominent nose and cold pale blue eyes. And his hair was of an almost white blond, really not so much different from mine, although it lacked the silvery lustre.
But what really surprised me was the man sitting there with him. It took me a second or two, but then the thin colourless hair and the rodent-like features fell in place, and I realised it was the same mysterious stranger that had been talking to my mother in the garden pavilion.
My friends saw my surprise.
"What is it?" Iphigenie inquired.
"Something's going on," I answered, whispering without intending to. "See that other guy? Yes, the ratty type. He was talking to my mother a couple of weeks ago…"
"And so what?"
"Well, you are not telling me it's a coincidence he turns up here now, are you?"
"Hm, but it just could be… This is not a book, you know, where every small incident carries a deeper meaning. What do you know about him, anyway?"
"Nothing," I had to admit.
"See?"
"But… but he did have such a furtive way about him, he was definitely up to no good…"
"People just can't help the way they look, you know. But we can watch out for him, if it makes you feel better."
I didn't like her patronising tone at all, but chose not to say anything more. At any rate, the two men got up from their table presently. On their way out, they passed us, and the smaller one gave me a glancing look. I froze. I was sure I had seen those eyes before; that look of a blend of fear and hatred, I had seen it before, I was sure. It lasted less than a second, then the two left the pub, and I felt myself relax.
No matter what my friends say, I am sure there is something that is very far from all right.
June 11th, 1995
Another week has passed, and I feel pretty exhausted, what with all the homework and the practising sessions with my friends. But at least I don't have any exams coming up, something the others are pretty full of at the moment. Especially as it's leaving exams for Iphigenie and Margaux, who has even had to relax on supervising my practising sessions.
"But I trust you'll be taking this seriously," she told me this afternoon, before retiring into our bedroom with a pile of books very unusual for her. "Even without me checking on you all the time."
I muttered something noncommittal and went out of the carriage into the warm afternoon sun to practise a few more spells and jinxes.
A loud spitting and screeching caught my attention. Next to the carriage, an orange streak was rushing through the high grass, apparently in hot pursuit of something a lot smaller. I recognised Crookshanks at once, there was no mistaking his bottlebrush tail. But I couldn't really see what he was after, some mouse or other small animal probably. In a flurry he was gone again, and I returned to my exercises.
Strange though, normally that cat is a rather inert lazy ball of fur, I have never seen him so agitated before. Whatever he was after must have excited him no end.
June 15th, 1995
Exams have started today, and I have nothing to do all day long. I thought shortly about sitting together with my friends taking theirs, but Maxime wouldn't allow it. She says it's no use to me, as the subject matter is a year above me, and I wouldn't understand much of it anyway, and so I'd better prepare myself for the Task.
Today was Potions for Margaux and Iphigenie, and they are in two minds about it.
"Horrible to have the most difficult subject first," Iphigenie complains, but Margaux says, "But we ought to be glad that it's over already, aren't you?"
It's quite useless to try to enter into their discussion, so I don't, although I tend to think Margaux has logic on her side a lot more. They both try not to speculate about their results, though, which I think is pretty clever of them.
Tomorrow is Transfiguration, probably the second most difficult subject, so they are both rather nervous and try to get as much revising into these last few hours as they can. I believe this last-minute cramming can do more harm than good, as it will probably make you aware of all the stuff you DON'T know, and have no chance to get into your head at such short notice, but again, it's no use mentioning this to them.
June17th, 1995
Transfiguration is over, and so is Charms, which took place today. Now at least Charms is something both of them feel very secure at, and for the first time they seem to be more relaxed. Also, there's the weekend now, and then only Animaux fantastiques on Monday, and, finally, Histoire de Magique on Wednesday. Both of these are not really subjects they are worried about, although they expect History to be a horrible mass of dates and battles, and other long past boring things.
"But I know a good memory enhancing spell for that," Margaux says confidently. "It helps you to remember the most absurd data rubbish for exactly three hours, and the good thing is you don't even have to understand any of it. So it will be a walk-over, really."
Like every day during these last two weeks, Harry and I said a few words to each other after dinner, but as always, he was in rather a hurry to get away. Hermione is coaching him for the Task, he says, and he needs all the time he has for practising. Of course, being only fourth year, there is a lot more he will need to learn and practise. The problem with spells and jinxes is, moreover, that you can only learn them through practice, and that means repeating the same routine over and over again. I also don't envy Hermione or Ron; they'll have to serve as objects in his training, like those sandbags Muggles use in their boxing training, and this won't be much fun, either.
June 19th, 1995
During this weekend, Margaux and Iphigenie have found some time to do some more practising with me again, for which I am grateful. They had a hard time with the more violent hexes, and so after about three hours we gave it up again.
"If you don't win this stupid tournament, Fleur Delacour," said Margaux grimly, picking herself up from the floor where my last Repulso Hex had slammed her, "I'll… I don't know, but there will be hell to pay! I feel like I have no sound bone left in my entire body!"
I tried hard to hide my smile from her.
June 20th, 1995
I have decided not to use my amulet during the Task. It would be too unfair an advantage for me. But I'll try to hide this from my friends, they'd never understand.
June 21st, 1995
The last exams are over, and we had a little celebration together. Of course, the results will only be out in two or three weeks, but on the other hand, it's perhaps better to celebrate now, because you never know how much there will be left when you get the results.
June 22nd, 1995
Was woken up in the middle of the night by that stupid cat, Crookshanks galumphing across my bed screeching madly. He must be getting crazy, and it's not even full moon, or something.
June 23rd, 1995
I needn't have worried about the amulet, it's GONE! I only noticed this morning, when I was sorting through the things on my dresser. I don't even know when I last saw it, it might have been gone for days already. Of course I searched all of the room, I even tried the Finding Charm, but to no avail.
"Are you SURE it was in this room that you saw it last?" Margaux insisted, and I had to admit I couldn't even be sure of that. So it can be pretty much anywhere, and my chances to ever find it again are minimal.
"Can it have been STOLEN, do you think?" Iphigenie suggested.
"I don't know, really. Who would do such a thing?"
"Well, I imagine there'd be loads of people that would be interested in a thing like that," she said, quite sarcastically. "The question is, who knows about it?"
"Hardly anybody," I replied slowly. "There is us, of course, and Maxime, and Harry and his friends, - and, yes, Luna, but that's about it, I believe."
"Now I hope you don't suspect us," Margaux was only half joking, "And we can exclude Maxime, too, I think…"
"No!" I interrupted angrily, seeing the direction her argument was going. "Not Harry and the others! You can't be serious!"
"So how about that Luna girl? You said yourself she is quite strange…"
I had to admit that she was.
"But I can't imagine her sneaking up into this room to steal the stone, no, impossible!"
"She might have meant it as joke, or something. You've been talking to her before, why not ask her straightforward?"
I said I'd see what I could do. In the evening, however, I found the very idea so ridiculous I did not say anything to Luna.
After dinner, Harry came up to me. He looked pale and tired, but there was also a look of determination in his eyes that I hadn't seen for some time.
"Well, tomorrow at this time we'll know the outcome," he said, offering his hand. "So good luck and everything, I guess."
"Thank you," I replied happily, and ignoring his hand, I embraced him and kissed his cheeks. It must have been quite some exhibition, and there was a surprised murmur starting among the people around us, but I did not care.
A/N: So Fleur is ready for the Third Task now. I'm afraid the next chapter will be pretty long, and so it will probably take some time to write, too. Try not to be too angry with yours truly. And, what do you think happened to Fleur's amulet???