A/N: Well here is the next chapter and one of the tests that you have been waiting for. I hope that you enjoy it, and that you will review with any comments you have about it.
Thanks to Lucy-Lollipop, Silverscale, Pleione, and RainingInsanity for reviewing, and thanks to anyone that I might have missed.
DJ Rodriguez: Thanks for reviewing, and I would say that Tonks wears the pants in the relationship, but we will have to wait and find out.
"Wolf are you ready for the test today?" Quake asks as Harry makes his way into the dinning hall after his early morning workout with Tonks.
"Sure Panther and I are both ready to face whatever you are throwing at us today." Harry says as he sits down waiting for Tonks to come in for breakfast.
"Where is Miss Panther this morning?"
"She went up to change out of her training outfit, she will be down shortly." Harry says as he begins to get his breakfast on to his plate.
"I am sure that you both will do fine, but I hope that you are both prepared for what I have planned, because this test will surely test all that you have learned so far." Quake says as he piles up his own breakfast plate.
"I am sure that we will do just fine during your test Quake, or at least I hope that we do." Harry says as he waits for Tonks to arrive.
A few minutes pass and then Tonks walks in looking ready for the test ahead. She makes her way over and gives Harry a kiss on the cheek and then sits down beside him. "So Quake any hints as to what we will be facing today?"
"Panther so nice to see you too, as for any hints, you will find out soon enough what I have in store for you. I must say that I have taken a lot of care to make this a very well rounded test to see how you both do as a team." Quake says as he looks at Tonks.
After completing their breakfast Quake leads Harry and Tonks out of the mansion and to a section that had been otherwise blocked off from view. As they enter Harry feels his heart drop, as memories come flashing back about his third task in the Triwizard tournament.
Before them a twenty-foot-high hedge fills the whole back section of the mansion. It looks exactly like the hedge maze that Harry had to enter for his third task, and it doesn't make him feel to secure about entering it.
"Wolf are you alright you look like you seen a ghost?" Quake asks not knowing anything about Harry's past.
Tonks on the other hand knows full well why Harry looks the way he does and she wraps her arms around him trying to comfort him. "It will be okay hun, we will get through this."
Harry is lost in memories of what happened before, and isn't really paying attention to the world around him.
"What's wrong with him?" Quake asks getting even more concerned as all the color leaves Harry's face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each - Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School!" The cheers and applause sent birds from the Forbidden Forest fluttering into the darkening sky. "In second place, with eighty points - Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute!" More applause. "And in third place – Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!"
Harry falls to his knees and screams out though he is lost in his memory. "No not again!"
Tonks drops down beside Harry and tries to comfort him as Quake takes off in search of Spade or Blade because he had no idea what was happening as Harry knelt on the ground pleading with images before his eyes.
"So ... on my whistle, Harry and Cedric!" said Bagman. "Three - two - one -" He gave a short blast on his whistle, and Harry and Cedric hurried forward into the maze."No I can't let him die again!" Harry says as he jumps to his feet trying to go after the ghostly images of his younger self and Cedric Diggory.
Tonks holds on to Harry with all her strength but Harry manages to pull free and runs into the maze trying to catch his younger self and Cedric.
The towering hedges cast black shadows across the path, and, whether because they were so tall and thick or because they had been enchanted. Harry tried desperately to follow after them, but lost them in the darkness. Harry quickly grabs his wand and holds it in front of him. "Lumos!"
Tonks stands outside of the maze for a moment and then rushes in to find Harry with his wand in hand. "Harry!"
Harry is frozen as he searches for himself and Cedric but slowly comes back somewhat to reality as he hears Tonks voice. "Tonks help me I have to prevent him from dying."
"It's too late Harry Cedric is dead, it was only your memory playing tricks on you." Tonks says as she places her hand on his shoulder. "come back out with me Quake is worried about you and so am I."
Slowly Harry's head begins to clear up and he realizes that it was just in his mind, and he follows Tonks out of the maze to find Quake, Spade, and Blade waiting for them on the outside.
"Harry are you alright?" Blade says as he runs up to check on Harry.
"Yeah." Harry says weakly as he looks down at the ground.
"I am really sorry Wolf I didn't know that this would effect you like that or I would have never made it part of the test." Quake says as he looks at Harry from a distance.
"Its not your fault, you didn't know Quake." Harry says weakly.
"Come on Harry lets go back to the mansion and you can rest." Blade says as he tries to get Harry to walk with him.
"No, I have to do this. If this is the test for Panther and I then we have to complete it." Harry says in a more determined tone.
"Wolf its okay I will design a new test for you to do tomorrow, I understand that you want to pass but I wont subject you to this." Quake says in a soft tone feeling terrible about what had happened.
"No I have to do this or I will always be haunted by my past. I can't change that, but I can change the way I am affected by it, so we will do the test as planned Quake." Harry says now in full control of his mind and body.
Tonks walks over and puts her arm on Harry's shoulder. "Are you sure you can do this?"
"Yes with you by my side I will get through this." Harry says as he holds on to Tonks.
"If your sure that you can do it Wolf, then I say that the test shall commence at once, but only if you are absolutely certain that you are able to do it." Spade says as he looks at the determined expression on Harry's face.
"Its fine Spade I can do this."
"Okay you heard him Quake, he still wants to do it, so explain the test and begin it as soon as they are ready." Spade says as he looks over Harry one last time before promptly heading back to the mansion to finish the business that he was doing.
Quake looks at Harry and then at Tonks. "Are you sure that both of you will be able to do this, because in order to pass you both must make it out of the maze."
Harry looks at Quake as he holds on to Tonks hand. "Yeah we can do it Quake."
"Okay here is the run down of the test then. The maze is protected with wards that prevent Apparating. In the center of the maze is a square that is the Apparition point, you are to make it there and then Apparate out to complete the test. However there are obstacles inside the maze that will slow you down and try to prevent you from escaping. If that wasn't enough to make it a challenge I have also arrange to have someone hunt you both down once your inside the maze. If the person finds you he will try to prevent you from escaping the maze. As I said before you both must escape the maze by Apparating out here, or else you will fail."
"Is that all?" Harry asks not sure that he really should ask.
"Yes that is all there is to this test. The "hunter" will enter into the maze a minute after you, so any delay on your part will result in him trying to prevent your escape." Quake says as he looks at the concerned expression on Tonks face.
"Can we try to "eliminate" the hunter?" Tonks asks as she looks at Quake with a bit of concern in her eyes.
"I wouldn't advise confronting the hunter, but alas if you have to you may use stunners to prevent the hunter from eliminating you. Actually once you're inside the maze all rules are forgotten, and survival is the key. The only thing I will state is that no Unforgivable curses are permitted to be used since this is only a test."
"So basically can use whatever necessary to get through the maze provided that it is legal right?" Harry asks just clarifying the rules of engagement.
"That is correct. Any other questions before we start the test?" Quake asks and as Harry and Tonks both shake their heads no he directs his attention to the maze. "Then good luck and get ready, get set, GO!"
Harry and Tonks run into the maze and both shout "Lumos" at the same time as they make their way through the beginning of the maze until they come to the first T-section in the maze.
"Which way?"
"I think that we need to think about the "hunter" before we go getting trapped in this maze." Harry says as he looks around the maze.
"What do you have in mind because we are down to thirty seconds before the hunter comes in?" Tonks asks as she looks at the determined look in Harry's eyes.
Harry looks at Tonks and grins. "This test is about two things, first is brains and second is stealth. We have to make the hunter become the prey."
Harry quickly casts a concealment charm on Tonks and himself, and then casts a silencing charm on each of them. "Now we wait for the hunter."
Harry and Tonks stand waiting against the hedge waiting for the man that is hunting them. It doesn't take long for the "hunt" makes his way up to the T-section where Harry and Tonks are waiting for him.
Harry looks in disbelief as he realizes that the hunter is known other than Blade. 'This will be interesting to see if he is able to track us down.' Harry grins as he watches Blade start to walk down the path to the left.
Harry and Tonks begin to follow Blade down the path until it comes to a dead end. As Blade turns around Tonks aims her wand at him. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Blade falls to the ground paralyzed by the full body bind. Harry then undoes the concealment charms on him and Tonks. "You really need to learn not to try and follow us."
"But I?" Blade starts, but is quickly silence and then bounded with ropes to keep him from following them.
"Now lets find our way out of here." Harry says as he turns to leave.
Harry and Tonks run back to the T-Section and quickly run down the other way. As they make their way down the path they come to another section that splits off to the left and right.
"Harry do you think we should have done that to Blade?" Tonks asks as she looks at the two paths before them.
"We are in this to win, and it isn't like we hurt him. Quake will find him once we get out, but now we have to worry about getting out of here first."
Tonks just nods in agreement and starts off after Harry as he makes his way down the left path. They make their way down the path until they come to what looks like a blanket of fog blocking their path.
"Dead end?" Tonks asks as she looks at the cloud in front of them.
"Possibly." Harry says as he looks at the fog like cloud in front of him. Harry brakes off a piece of the hedge is beside and then aims his wand at it. "Serpini!" the twig from the hedge turns into a small snake. In Parseltongue Harry tells the snake to enter the fog.
The snake enters the fog and instantly is reverted back to the twig it was formed from.
"Interesting." Harry says as he watches the snake revert back.
"Mind telling me what just happened?"
"I think it is a fog form of Finite Incantum, which will nullify any charms or incantations that are placed on an object or person. Basically I think it is suppose to reveal us if we tried going through it under the concealment charm." Harry says as he walks up to the fog.
"Harry wait! If you're wrong then it could be dangerous lets look for another way."
Harry stops and walks back to Tonks. "okay if you want to, but I really do think it is harmless."
Tonks doesn't like taking the risk so she makes Harry follow her back to the split in the path and they begin to make their way down the other path.
Harry stays in front of her as he slowly makes his way down the path trying to listen for any signs of danger.
"Stupefy!"
Harry turns just in time to see Tonks follow down on to the ground having been struck in the back with the stunner.
"You!" Harry calls out at the attacker. "Stupefy! Stupefy!"
The attacker puts up a shield to block the stunners and then quickly ducks off to the side of the path that lead down to where Harry and Tonks were.
"I thought Blade was the hunter!" Harry yells out as he looks down the path waiting for the attacker to come out.
"He was the decoy, because I expected the ambush. Tonks is down and now I will eliminate you."
"Forget it Tiger I will not allow you to stop us from completing this test." Harry yells as he picks up Tonks and slowly begins moving backwards keeping his eyes straightforward watching for Tiger to come out of his hiding place. He finds that he can't go back any further as he backs into a dead end.
Harry knows that he is trapped and with Tonks out it will be impossible to get by Tiger without being stunned. Harry carefully places Tonks down on the ground and then mumbles a silencing charm around him and Tonks and then he aims his wand at Tonks. "Enervate."
Tonks begins to come to and looks horrified. "Harry?"
"Tiger is the real hunter and he has us pinned down." Harry says as he sends a stunner up the path hoping to keep Tiger on his toes.
"Give it up Wolf I have you, I know you came to the dead end and I wont allow you to get past me!"
"This guy is pissing me off!" Harry says as he sends another stunner down the path.
'Harry we are fully trained Aurors we should be able to over come this." Tonks says as she climbs to her feet.
"That's it we will just have to out think this egomaniac. We can get him with the old bait and switch." Harry says as he looks at Tonks and grins.
Tonks grins back as he aims her wand at Harry and mutters a spell that makes a clone of him. It isn't a perfect clone but it is good enough that it could just fool Tiger.
Harry has Tonks get back down into the position of that she was in when she was stunned and then Harry performs the spell to make a clone of her. Tonks then stands up and Harry quickly cast a concealment charm over them. "If you want me Tiger come get me you bloody git!"
Harry quickly casts the silencing charm over him and Tonks and slowly make their way up the path towards Tiger. Both of them keep their backs pressed against the hedges as they move up the path just in case Tiger does attack.
Tiger glares down at the ground as he hears Harry's voice. "I'll show you Wolf." Tiger carefully sticks his head around the edge of the hedge and looks down the path. He is unable to see in his current state so he decides that it is best to use another means of tracking them. Tiger slowly transforms from a man into a large tiger. In his new form he is able to see down the path and can see Harry standing over Tonks. Tiger quickly returns to his human form and casts a silencing charm on himself, as he moves silently out in the path. "Stupefy!"
Harry and Tonks see the light come from Tiger's wand and know where he is.
When Harry doesn't send a curse back at Tiger he believes that he hit him. Tiger carefully begins to move down the path.
Once Harry and Tonks get by Tiger they stand behind him and grin and Harry yells. "Stupefy!"
The stunner nails Tiger right in the back and drops him down to the ground. Tonks and Harry quickly bound Tiger and make sure that he can't get free before they make their way back towards the fog.
They don't hesitate as they run into the fog this time and sure enough all charms on them are nullified, but it doesn't matter as they quickly run down the path and follow it to the next section junction. They hesitate for a moment before running down the left path hoping that it will lead them to freedom.
As they come running down the both however Harry freezes in place in shock as he stares at a giant spider in the middle of the path. Instantly memories come flashing back at him again from that dreadful night so long ago.
Cedric looked around just in time to hurl himself past the thing and avoid colliding with it, but in his haste, he tripped. Harry saw Cedric's wand fly out of his hand as a gigantic spider stepped into the path and began to bear down upon Cedric.
"Stupefy!" Harry yelled; the spell hit the spider's gigantic, hairy black body, but for all the good it did, he might as well have thrown a stone at it; the spider jerked, scuttled around, and ran at Harry instead.
Tonks watches Harry and can tell that he is once again lost in his memories and she tries to get him to come out of it before it is too late. "Harry!"
Harry still trapped inside his memory does the only thing he can do as he watches Cedric and his younger self be attacked by the spider. "Stupefy!"
The spider in front of Harry and Tonks continues to come at them as if the spell has no affect on it. Tonks sends numerous stunners at the spider but they all rebound back at her.
The spider brings down its giant pincers and grabs Harry lifting him into the air, successfully bringing him back to reality. "Tonks aim for the underbelly it's the only way!"
Tonks is scared to death as she watches the spider lift Harry into the air, but hearing Harry's voice she regains her composure and aims for the underbelly of the spider. "Stupefy!"
The stunner hits its mark and both the spider and Harry fall to the ground. Tonks quickly runs over to Harry. "Harry are you alright?"
"My leg! I think I broke my leg!" Harry screams as the pain rushes through his entire body.
Tonks helps Harry to his feet trying to help him walk, though the pain in his leg is tremendous. "Harry we have to get to the Apparition point do you think you can make it."
"I have to!" Harry says through clenched teeth as the pain is intense.
With Tonks help Harry manages to make it to the end of the path, which lucky lead them into the center of the maze. In the center of the small clearing they could see the Apparition point. Tonks helps Harry over to the point and then sits him down to allow him to rest a moment.
"Harry can you Apparate?" Tonks asks looking very concerned at this point.
"Yeah just give me a minute to clear my head and try to block out this pain!"
Tonks turns to watch the path they came out of and after a few seconds she hears the spider beginning to stir. "Harry I don't think that stunner worked to well on that spider."
"Let's not wait and find out!" Harry says as he motions for her to help him up.
They both then hold on to get other as they Apparate out of the maze and land beside Quake. As soon as they land Harry screams out in pain and falls to the ground.
"What happened?" Quake says as he rushes over to Harry.
"What do you mean what happened? It was that blasted spider you put in there, it broke his damn leg!" Tonks says out of anger and rage.
Quake looks a bit confused as he begins casting spells to begin mending Harry's leg. "Spider? I didn't put any spiders in the maze."
"Then how in the hell did a giant spider get in there?" Tonks asks as she looks down at Harry.
"Panther I swear I didn't do it, I put some obstacles in there like a nullifying fog and some quicksand but nothing that would really hurt either of you." Quake says a bit worried about how something as dangerous as that could have got loose inside his maze.
Tonks doesn't say a word as she continues to kneel by Harry.
"I patched him as best as possible, Panther take him back to the mansion and let Spade finish mending him. I am going to go find out where Tiger and Blade are." Quake says as he gets up and runs into the maze.
Tonks stands up and then helps Harry to his feet. "Lets get you back to the mansion you need to rest." Tonks walks towards the mansion helping Harry to get there.