Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 8

"The Race Is On"

The screen flittered on again as Gabrielle Hinault's Humming Bird Spy was activated. Neville Longbottom stood in front of her and opened the door to let her through.

"Good luck Gabby."

Harry surmised that it was the voice of Titus Ogden. He wondered how his niece, Josephine, would feel about that. The French, Beauxbatons' Champion was led to the same first door that the previous champion had started at. On it was the same very large grim looking brass door knocker. This time Neville spoke the words,

"Good Luck, Begin."

Once again a small clock appeared in the corner of all the screens. Harry was sure at this point that the door knocker was the likeness of Salazar Slytherin.

Gabrielle grasp the knocker and rapt twice on the face of the knocker.

"You will do well to remember that one tap will do, thank you. So young lady, for your first room I have two riddles for you. They should help you discern what you need to pass through to the next door. With out further ceremony, the first riddle;

Each morning I appear
to lie at your feet,
all day I will follow
No matter how fast you run,
yet I nearly perish
in the midday sun

And the second riddle;

I am always hungry,
I must always be fed,
the finger I lick
will soon turn red

Now keep in mind Miss. that I can indeed repeat them as many times as you like, but the clock will be ticking.

Hinault reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill, as Tormes had done before. Harry now found it very suspicious that both had gotten so luckyGabrielle tapped the knocker again without hesitation. Salazar came to life again.

"Much better that time, good to know you can learn. What can I do for you?"

"I would like both riddles again, please."

She asked with her parchment and quill at the ready.

"Certainly,

Each morning I appear
To lie at your feet,
All day I will follow
No matter how fast you run,
Yet I nearly perish
In the midday sun"

And of course;

I am always hungry,
I must always be fed,
the finger I lick
will soon turn red

Now get moving. You're wasting time."

The lovely young girl thanked him, and proceeded to open the first door. The room looked as it had before, all signs of the water removed. Gabrielle had drawn her wand as she walked in. She cautiously stepped forward one deliberate step at a time. As her foot landed on the first red line, the gem in her hat glowed brightly. She then took a half step back as she heard a growl from where she was about to pass. Harry saw her close her eyes and deeply breath in through her nose, she did it again.

Hinault approached the line again. She pointed her wand out towards the far wall and spoke

"Farina!"

Harry laughed out loud as a thin white powder flew from her wand it landed in the fur of the Demiyeti, making them very visible. Harry knew the spell from his time spent around the kitchen at the Burrow. It was a baking spell that produced flour.

"Roar…., Roar….ROAR!"

The beasts were not pleased. Being breaded like a cutlet seemed to have really pissed them off. Gabrielle walked over to one of the far walls with her back against it she cast out with her wand.

"Incendio… Incendio...Incendio!"

She continued to fire off spells until she had crossed the red line at the far end of the room. The light on her hat went dark. She opened the door and exited. A scant 9 minutes had passes so far. Harry wrote just a few words down on a fresh piece of parchment. Smell? Patience.

Harry returned to viewing the screen. The Beauxbatons Champion stood in front of Helga Huffelpuff's likeness in the visage of a brass door knocker. Once again with a light singular tap, she brought the knocker to life.

"Ah another student, glad to see a young lady. Let's see here I have two riddles for you as well. It will come as no surprise to you to know that their solution can aid you in passing through to the next room, I will recite them now, if you're ready?"

The young girl smiled and nodded her readiness quill touching paper.

"Well then, the first riddle,

I am a box without hinges, locks or lid

Yet golden treasure inside is hid.

And the second riddle,

My love, when I gaze on thy beautiful face,
Careering along, yet always in place --
The thought has often come into my mind
If I ever shall see thy glorious behind.

I'm sure by now you know you can have your riddles repeated."

As she finished the sentence and fell silent Gabrielle quietly deciphered the riddles in front of her. After a long 2 minutes she swung the door open and deliberately walked cautious step by cautious step into the room.

Harry noticed that all the boxes and been returned to their closed form.

"Lumos"

Gabrielle spoke immediately trying to bring light into the room. She too appeared to notice the plant twitch as the room got brighter. She cast the moonlight spell in response.

"Luna Lumos"

She watched as the stalk climbed up wards she heard it hit the ceiling and push against the obstruction. She ceased her spell but the plant remained where it was. Looking a bit confused she turned to the boxes against the wall. One by one she cast her wand and looked.

"Alahomora…Alahomora…Alahomora…Alahomora…."

Finally some 30 or 40 painful casts along she found the egg. She looked up toward the ceiling and cast a strong Lumus spell. It appeared she could see the door hidden behind the stalk of the plant. She cracked the egg open with the edge of the plant. She looked a bit disappointed as a key fell out. She stood silently in thought. Right as was about to reach for the door she came in through, she cast the "Nox" spell. The stalk returned to the ground she climbed up cast her moonlight spell and was soon through to the other side. She looked very disturbed that her progress had been impeded. Harry noted that 22 minutes had elapsed on her screen clock.

Harry made no other notes.

Gabrielle ran up to the next knocker and hurriedly rapt. The brass image of Rowena Ravenclaw animated instantly.

"In a hurry I see, least you forget patience and planning. It is my job to inform you that you are now past the half way point of this task. Along with that bit of information let me also recite the lone riddle I have for you.

My life can be measured in hours.
I serve by being devoured.
Thin, I am quick.
Fat, I am slow.
Wind is my foe.

God speed."

Hinault seemed to open the door the second she finished the riddle. Harry surmised that she had solved it easily.

Again the square room with the off set pillars stood as it had before. Four stone wizards again cam to life and shifted into a dueling stance. As the red light on the cap on Gabrielle's hat illuminated, Harry heard.

"Arm your self!"

Gabrielle's wand had been drawn as she entered the room. She dashed behind a pillar as a set of stunners from each marble wand jetted toward her. After they crashed against the column, she eked her head out and looked up at the Runes on the wall, obviously she did not see what she was looking for as she darted out from behind the pillar and sprinted toward the adjacent stone protection. Four more spells rang out from across the room. Three crashed just behind her the fourth sent her crashing against the back wall. She landed hard, but aware. The pillar she was running towards now stood between her and the 4 marble deterrents. She crawled behind it and again looked around the edge. She spotted one wizard moving off to the side to get a clear shot at her. She also spotted her target, the Rune on the wall, which was obscured from her view at her last vantage point. From behind her stone shield she fired.

"Stupefy!"

One of the three Wizards guarding the door crumbled. As it did the fourth Wizard that had come off the door fired at her.

"Impedimenta"

"Protego!"

She shouted. The spell scattered off her shield. She ran straight through the room firing at the Kaunaz Rune on the wall.

"Stupefy…Stupefy…Stupefy…Stupefy…Stupefy…Stupefy"

Finally all three remaining marble wizards crumbled. The light on the Clabbert Hat went dim and she crossed through another door. Her clock read 41 minutes; Harry realized she was still 5 minutes ahead of Tormes.

Harry again made no new notes. Gabrielle approached the last brass door knocker. With a flip of the handle it rose and fell and Godric Gryffindor greeted the young girl.

"Yes, yes my second visitor today. Doing well I hope young lady. I'm your fourth and last aid in this trial. Ahead of you lies the last task you must complete in this leg of your journey. I present you with my Riddle:

When young, I am sweet in the sun.
When middle-aged, I make you gay.
When old, I am valued more than ever.

Nothing personal you know but I hope not to see you again, today at least. On your way you go, do well dear."

She stopped writing and rushed in the door.

This room too had been returned to its original state. The bowl again sat on the table, the wine bottle full as it had been before. Gabrielle looked very frightened of the Sphinx, who wouldn't be, but as her hat was not glowing she did not raise her wand.

"Very wise of you to keep your wand at your side girl."

The Sphinx said in tone of superiority.

"A simple question to start with. What is it you offer me from this table? Choose well or it's back out the door you go and a new and more difficult riddle to solve."

Gabrielle peered down at her parchment, then walked to the table and poured the wine into the bowl and presented it to the Sphinx. Again the Sphinx motioned for the bowl to be left at her feet. She bent down and enjoyed the entire contents of the bowl.

"Even nicer then the last bottle, you have earned the right to be given my Riddle."

Gabrielle grabbed her parchment and quill from her robes, but in the time it took her to put her wand away and dig into her pockets the riddle had started. Though Harry saw and heard the whole riddle again Gabrielle only heard

………………………………………….. After which you will be sent back to the beginning of the task, to start over, if your statement is false. Or if your statement is true, you will be held for an additional 10 minutes, and then be allowed to pass. Be clever and pass right through. What is your statement?"

Hinault finished her writing and looked up from the paper and spoke.

"I need you to repeat the riddle again for me please."

Instantly she was struck motionless. Gabrielle could neither speak nor move and she stayed that way for 10 minutes. Once the allotted time had passed she regained her freedom as was allowed to pass by the Sphinx. As she reached the door her clock stopped at 1 hour and 50 seconds elapsed. She would not win. The screen again went blank as she grasped the door handle.

Harry had a few minutes to jot down some notes, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his flask and enjoyed a nice long pull of pumpkin juice that was inside today. He intended to be as fair and impartial as possible, but he knew he hoped that Titus would win.

"I'm already so proud of you."

Were the first words heard by Harry and the stadium as the picture showed Professor Tofty, the librarian, leading Titus Ogden out of the waiting room and to the first door. They reached the first door and Tofty uttered the same phrase as both times before.

"Good Luck, Begin."

The clock in the lower right hand corner of the screen appeared again.

Titus waited ever so briefly, and then knocked on the door three times with confidence.

"What in the world is wrong with you boy. Do you find my face that offensive? And a Ravenclaw from the looks of your robes, I thought you were supposed to be the smart ones. It will serve you well to knock once politely each time you use the knockers, it's not as if we have far to travel. Humph… won't Rowena be proud. At least it's not a Gryffindor. Well I think that is enough time lost for your rude three bangs on my face. For your first room there are two riddles that should help you discern what you need to pass through to the next door knocker. The first riddle;

Each morning I appear
to lie at your feet,
all day I will follow
No matter how fast you run,
yet I nearly perish
in the midday sun

And the second riddle;

I am always hungry.
I must always be fed.

The finger I lick
will soon turn red.

Now keep in mind young man, that I can indeed repeat them as many times as you like but, each time takes just that time. And if you bang on my face three, one… two… three… times again I might choose not to speak at all."

Ogden reached for the knocker and tapped it against the harsh brass face, lightly, once.

"Excuse me sir. Would you please read the first riddle again?"

The old brass knocker cleared its throat.

"Certainly,

Each morning I appear
To lie at your feet,
All day I will follow
No matter how fast you run,
Yet I nearly perish
In the midday sun"

Apparently Titus did not carry spare parchment and quills in his robe pockets, as he looked to be stuck just hearing the riddles. Harry felt that this might be worth a point in itself.

The Hogwarts champion smiling pulled his wand and entered the first room. His hat glowed red as he passed into the room and neared the red line. He looked around and with in seconds cast a spell at each of the 4 windows that were allowing light into the room.

"Infusco…Infusco…Infusco…Infusco."

One after another each window went black. The screen went black as well. There was just enough light from the hat to make out the outline of the boy. Harry could see him raise his arm and cast a spell.

"Lumos Fulgeo"

A beam of light much like a muggle flash light, thought Harry, cut through the darkness. The shadowed outlines of the beasts cast against the walls behind each one. All three were clearly visible. Titus quickly cast another spell.

"Incentego"

Harry was proud a spell he created when he was 17 had been learned by this student, though he was not sure how. A shield of flames was coming out from Titus' wand. He kept the shield in front of himself as he ran through the middle of the room. The light of the fire showed one of the Demiyeti almost catching him from behind but he made it to the other red line and out the door. An amazing 5 minutes had passed. Ogden had a large early lead. Harry could hear Lee Jordan in his mind.

Titus deliberately tapped the knocker of Huffelpuff. She smiled as the knocker came to life.

"A Hogwarts student at last, hello young man. I have two riddles for you. As a reminder solving them correctly will help you to pass through to the next room. Listen carefully.

"Your first riddle,

I am a box without hinges, locks or lid

Yet golden treasure inside is hid.

And the second riddle,

My love, when I gaze on thy beautiful face,
Careering along, yet always in place --
The thought has often come into my mind
If I ever shall see thy glorious behind.

Let me know if you need them read aloud again. If not, best of luck."

Titus knocked immediately again. As Helga image was animating Titus spoke.

"Would you please repeat the second riddle slowly for me?"

"My pleasure young man.

My… love…, when… I… gaze… on… thy… beautiful… face,
Careering… along…, yet… always …in… place --
The… thought… has… often… come… into… my… mind
If… I… ever… shall… see… thy… glorious… behind."

Apparently Helga took the request very literally as she slowly spoke each word. When she finished Titus laughed and thanked her and opened the door wand in hand.

"Accio Moon!"

A summoning charm, very sharp, Harry thought, though nothing happened.

"Accio Egg!"

The egg flew out of its box and to his hand. Titus scanned the room. He climbed up the plant and peered at the ceiling. He raised his wand.

"Lumos!"

The screen showed the far off image of the door in the ceiling. The Humming Bird was also back far enough to catch the stalk of the plant raise an inch or two. Ogden reacted quickly. Aiming his wand at the base of the plant he shouted.

"Luna Lumos!"

The Stalk took off quickly, the egg still intact. The red light on the hat glowed for a split second. Titus ended the spell just in time to stop from being crushed against the door. He cracked the egg and just caught the key before it plunged to the ground. He opened the door and climbed through. 15 minutes had passed he still had a big lead.

Harry made a couple of very short notes.

Titus approached the third brass door knocker, Titus definitely recognized this one. He straightened his robes and knocked. Ravenclaw's features came alive.

"I was so hoping that it would be someone from my house. I hope your representing us well. But I must remain impartial; your smarts should be advantage enough."

She said this with a smirk on her face.

"Here is the only riddle I have for you.

My life can be measured in hours,
I serve by being devoured.
Thin, I am quick
Fat, I am slow
Wind is my foe.

Get going young man."

Titus seemed to heed her words as he did not, for the first time ask to have a riddle repeated. He entered the third room.

Titus seemed to notice the Runes as soon as he entered the room. As with each champion before him his Clabbert Cap glowed red and the four marble statues came to life and readied for battle. In unison they warned.

"Arm your self!"

Titus' wand was out. He continued to search the walls for the Rune he was looking for. Harry saw the stone wizards wave their wands and fire there stunners.

"Protego"

The first volley of stunners bounced off the shield. Harry followed each ricochet. He was amazed that none hit a Rune. Ogden appeared to spot what he was looking for on the wall as he fired off a spell at a Rune.

"Inflatus!"

The blasting spell was aimed at a different Rune. This symbol was shaped a bit like Harry's faded scar. It was a zig zag. This particular rune, though Harry didn't know it was the symbol for the sun, Sowulo. Titus waited behind a pillar for something to happen, nothing did. He fired spells after spell at the wizards. He ran from, hid from, and shielded himself from their spells like an accomplished duelist. The stone likenesses had eventually cast spells at the Runes themselves, giving them more speed and strength and size. Time was passing and Harry thought Titus was in big trouble. Then with little to no warning he fired up at the Kaunaz Rune. The first of the four marble wizards crumpled. It took a bit longer but eventually Ogden got three more shots to hit their mark while keeping himself unharmed. Appearing very winded and tired he exited the room. Harry glanced down at the clock 39 minutes had passed. The Hogwarts Champion was still in the lead.

Harry no longer concerned himself with notes. Upon the screen Godric Gryffindor's door knocker was addressing Ogden.

"Not a Gryffindor I see. Well the Hogwarts Champion none the less. This is your fourth and last aid in this event. I present you with my Riddle:

When young, I am sweet in the sun.
When middle-aged, I make you gay.
When old, I am valued more than ever.

I hope to not see you again young man, finish well."

Again Titus did not wait to have the riddle repeated, though maybe he should have the last time, thought Harry. Titus lowered his wand as he saw the Sphinx, and headed straight for the wine.

The Sphinx spoke'

"It appears you have already chosen what you will offer me from this table? Be sure of your choice or its back out the door you go and a new riddle to solve. But do pour my drink for me soon."

Harry wondered about a Sphinx's tolerance for alcohol as this would be her third bottle. Titus didn't flinch as he poured the wine and presented the bowl.

"Place it here at my feet please."

This time the bowl was drained in one fast long gulp.

"Almost wish you had gotten it wrong young wizard, as some brandy would have hit the spot right now, but you have earned the right to be given my Riddle."

Ogden looked focused and poised, and maybe even a bit worried to be in a room with a drunken Sphinx. She spoke again.

"This is your riddle.

Champion this is your final task. You will be allowed to make one statement and one statement alone. After which you will be sent back to the beginning of the task, to start over, if your statement is false. Or if your statement is true, you will be held for an additional 10 minutes, and then be allowed to pass. Be clever and pass right through. What is your statement?"

Titus Ogden thought for no more than 20 seconds then spoke.

"I will win today's contest."

He was immediately stiff unable to move or speak, it was 10 of the most glorious minutes of his life as he realized that his answer must be true. As the time passed a he was able to move again, Harry could swear that the Sphinx winked at him as she stepped to her side and gestured for Titus to pass. As he did so the clock stopped at 56 minutes and 15seconds. The second his hand touched the doorknob it glowed blue and the screen went blank.

Harry was so excited he almost forgot to score his part of the competition. He sat back down and awarded 2 points to Ogden for his brilliant final answer, his ability to solve all the puzzles without aid of a quill and parchment, and his ability to act with the riddle clues in mind first each time. He awarded 1.5 points to each of the other two champions as Tormes had displayed some amazing magic, and Gabrielle's only real blunder was at the very end.

As Harry was about to exit the tent Hermione peeked her head in.

"So any questions from Mr. Perfect?"

She loved to tease Harry about his fame just a bit. Harry didn't let it faze him one bit.

"Yes a few actually. The beasts, Demiguises and Yeti? Hagrid?"

Hermione quickly answered him.

"That's two you got right there Potter, what else you got."

"The red lines on the floor, how did that keep them from attacking the champions?"

Hermione shook her head slightly.

"You missed that one Harry, the red lines were nothing more then that warning lines. The

Yeti were chained to the wall, the chains prevented them from roaming too far. Anything else?"

"Actually a couple of anything else's. The Plant had to something of Neville's. The Rune it meant candle?"

Hermione smirked, as she replied.

"Good things these champions all have study Runes, torch might be a literal translation, but in this case lets just say candle. I'm sure you gathered that some of the other Runes were charmed to assist the marble wizards. They were McGonagall and Flitwicks work, rather brilliant actually. Is that it Harry?

Harry laughed at asked his final question.

"How much can a Sphinx drink anyway?"

Hermione with out missing a beat answered Harry.

"As much as she wants."

Hermione collected Harry's scores and informed him, that he was due on stage for the awarding of the scores.

As Harry stood on stage the three champions, the three Heads of each School and the three Ministers of Magic stood awaiting the results. From a podium just off to the right Lee Jordan's voice roared over the crowd.

"In Third place receiving 6 points for here third place time. One and a half points from Harry Potter. One point from Minerva McGonagall. And one point from Nikola Vulchanov, for a total of 9.5 points, Gabrielle Hinault from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic."

A warm round of applause rang out from the crowd, as the Madame Maxime consoled her very disappointed student.

"Currently with 8 points for finishing with the second fastest time. Again one and a half points from Harry Potter, one point from Minerva McGonagall and one point from Olympe Maxime, for a total of 11.5 points and in second place is Tormes Meliflua from Drumstrang Institute.

Another round of even louder applause boomed through the arena. Harry noticed a very defiant looking Tormes standing purposefully a few steps in front, of Vulchanov and Tzar Oblansk. Lee Jordan's voice seemed to ramp up a notch.

"Finally In first place with 10 points for the fastest finish. 2 points from Harry Potter. 2 points from Olympe Maxime, and WHAT! ZERO points from Vulchanov?"

Lee Jordan simply stopped at this point and let the crowd do his talking, he stayed quite for close to 45 seconds allowing "the boos", and vulgarities to rain down from the crowd.

"And an additional 2 points for the Clabbert Hat Bonus. In first place with a total 16 points, from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Titus Ogden."

Ogden beamed as applause rang out. Harry had hoped to spend a few moments with each Champion. He found consoling Gabrielle by sharing his enjoyment of her use of a kitchen spell in the first room, a bit of a task in its self. He turned to find Tormes had left the Stage and was no where to be seen. Harry spent a few minutes with Titus and made a point of mentioning the others use of paper and quill. Ogden shrugged it off and thanked Harry for his full 2 points. Harry also asked him about his decision to claim his victory for his statement to the Sphinx.

"Well Mr. Potter if it was false then I was not going to win, finishing second is really no different then finishing third really. If it was true then waiting 10 minutes wouldn't hurt at all. If I had to start the task over, well I knew all the answers by now, it would not have been that tough."

Harry remarked that his conviction and bravery were very admirable and he wished him continued success in the tournament. He said as many polite good byes as possible. He informed Minerva he would be skipping the feast to get home and spend some more time with Ginny and the boys. He apparated home, from off school grounds. Knowing today was going to be going right into a pensive for the boys to see.

Please feel free to review, criticize and correct as much as you want. This is a first for me and just some fun.