Chapter 28

Growling in frustration Harry whipped his wand in a circular motion blasting apart the hedges that would lead him into the next area. It had been nearly an hour since they entered the maze, and he had obliterated every obstacle in his path. He had not seen or heard any of the other champions since the start of the task, nor could he detect the magical signature of the cup. The maze was saturated with magic at every fundamental level overwhelming even his acute abilities.

Voldemort and his followers had entered his brother into this tournament, and if there was going to be a desperate final play to get to him then tonight would be their last chance. Harry wanted to believe that stopping Moody before the first task would have been enough, but a small part of him feared that they had missed something critical along the way.

The scream of a familiar female voice had the older boy ripping through the maze faster than it could reform. It took him longer than he would've liked, but when he arrived at the source of the screaming, Aimee was under a body bind curse and being wrapped up by Devil's Snare. With quick and decisive spell work Harry freed the girl with a blast of light. Her eyes were wide with fear as if she expected him to attack her, but instead, he waved his wand over her body allowing her muscles to relax, "Merlin's mercy, Harry. I thought the Devil's Snare was going to get me. Someone hit me from behind, but I didn't see who."

Taking a deep breath feeling his adrenaline begin to slow down a bit he sighed, "Must have been one of the Bulgarians. My brother wouldn't have attacked you from behind."

"Nor would Fleur. I am going to withdraw. I fought with a sphinx earlier, and it used legilimency on me. It wasn't a pleasant experience, and after that encounter…this isn't worth my life." Aimee explained not looking him in the eyes.

The silence of the maze had Harry pondering what he should do next. The thought of eliminating all the champions was suddenly quite attractive. At the very least he could subdue all of them, and finish the task without ever giving Voldemort or his followers a chance to act. With Aimee already out his main concern would be finding Fleur and Justin to ensure their safety. At the same time, however, he did not want to allow the Bulgarians to win. Their arrogance of attacking his back on Valentine's day was still a fresh agitation on his mind, but he could also concede that such a petty grudge was not the life he would go the furthest to protect.

Aimee was looking at him expectantly, and he realized she had said something to him, "I'm sorry what was that?"

The girl shook her head, "I just said thank you for saving me. I didn't want to believe all the things they were saying about you."

"You shouldn't read everything you read in the papers," Harry said with a slight grimace.

"I do not believe Fleur would be with a murderer," Aimee admitted.

"I didn't murder Marcus Flint or Igor Karkaroff. You have my word on that. Though I have killed many others. Some were cowards hiding behind a mask. Some were out to harm my family. Some were even attempting to subject Fleur to a fate worse than death. However, none of them were innocent."

A hard moment of silence fell over the two before Harry spoke again, "I believe this whole thing has been a setup since my brother's name came out of the Goblet of Fire. I won't lie to you, I am worried about what happens next."

"It is for that reason I will withdraw. I have seen the power of those that are in this tournament, and now realize why the Goblet did not choose me. Good luck, 'Arry Potter. I hope you can find the others and keep them safe." Without even a final glance toward him, she raised her wand and fired red sparks into the air.

Taking that as an invitation to leave, Harry surveyed the area for danger one last time before continuing deeper into the maze. Several minutes passed, and he had to wonder what was happening between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. He was certain many expected a fight to break out between the two, but Harry knew better. Gellert had no plans to fight his old friend today, and Albus would never fire the first spell. The ward that Harry had designed would block out anything the ICW would be able to throw at it. It was a perfected version of a blood ward he had designed to stop a killing curse so absolutely nothing would penetrate the ancient magic of the Peverell family that the master and apprentice had finished. Particularly considering that it was cast by the Elder Wand.

The sounds of spell fire tore his attention from his thoughts as he blasted his way through an acromantula to close in on a site that made his blood boil. In the distance, the cup could be seen. Along with his brother holding off both Durmstrang Champions with a look of absolute focus. The two Bulgarians were trying to stop the younger champion from closing the remaining distance to the cup, but Justin was holding his own. His wand was a certifiable blur as he deflected, and redirected spell after spell slipping his curses into their defenses. Harry wanted to intervene immediately, but instead, he watched with pride as his brother spun around a dark hex Krum had fired with stunning precision. The backs of the two Durmstrang champions were open to him, and at the slightest drop of Justin's defense, he could be on the two aggressors in a flash. This was a test beyond anything Harry thought his little brother was ready for, but it was clear the young man had continued with his training in the absence of his brother.

Justin was transfiguring at a speed that his father would have been jealous of while his elemental charms were a level of power that was simply beyond his two opponents. Krum and Volkoff were beginning to realize that the boy was not going to be intimidated by them, and only increased the level of magic as the duel progressed. Something that Justin seemed supremely unphased by, and merely matched them as they did so.

A familiar magical presence entered the area behind him, but he did not even turn to face the arrival instead he spoke, "He's going to beat them both. He is close enough to the cup at this point that there is no stopping him."

"You could stop him." She said calmly, before adding, "As could I."

Smiling, he watched in admiration as Justin lifted his wand into the air for the briefest moments and lightning fell from the sky blasting Krum into the ground effectively knocking him out of the fight. In a fluid motion, he swiped a blasting hex aimed at his chest, while spinning his wand rapidly to fight with the Bulgarian girl without hesitation. As the two traded spells with ever-increasing speed Harry offered consoling words to the girl who held his affections, "No, you couldn't."

With a roar of power, Justin launched a blasting curse and fired them repeatedly as she tried to shield, but the barrage of power the youngest Potter was putting on the Bulgarian proved too much as the shield broke, and she was launched painfully into a nearby hedge hitting the ground already unconscious.

Fleur's eyes widened at the display of power, and she began to raise her wand to attack the boy, but Harry put a hand on her elbow gently, "Wait. If you attempt to fight him he will hurt you. I am proud to say my brother is now beyond you in terms of dueling, Fleur. Trust me. He had a good teacher."

Glancing at the two fallen Durmstrang Champions Fleur frowned. She struggled against both of them, and had many doubts that she could've taken them both together, "You should be the winner. You are the better wizard."

"The win would be tainted by everything that has happened recently. If Justin wins he will be honored by the Wizarding Community. He has come a long way in the last two years, and he has earned this victory. Besides at this range, I would have to hurt him to stop him from taking the cup, something I am unwilling to do." Harry said as his eyes met his brother's.

They were easily 100 meters apart, and the young man's eyes widened as he turned and sprinted the remaining distance to the cup, and dove towards it as if he were expecting an attack from behind. When the young man touched the cup he disappeared in a swirl indicating the activation of a portkey. Harry took a deep breath as Fleur looked disappointed by the loss. Pulling the girl into a hug he kissed her on the head, "It seems my brother could be quite insufferable now. Let's go congratulate him."

Nodding her head in acceptance Harry pushed an opening in the wards with a show of force, and apparated the pair back to the front of the maze where they had left nearly two hours before. Their arrival was not what he was expecting. Harry had assumed people would be in an uproar of celebration over his brother's win, but as his eyes took in the area tension was all he could see. The ward was still separating the outside world from the maze, and his brother was nowhere to be seen. Aimee was standing off to the side with Professor Vector both looking apprehensive over the current situation, while Harry tried to assess further what was happening.

The look Grindelwald gave Harry made a terrible feeling fall into his gut, "Gellert, where is Justin?"

The man looked questioningly at his apprentice, and the Elder Wand flashed in Harry's hand pointing it at the headmaster of Hogwarts, "Dumbledore, where is my brother? He grabbed the cup, and I thought the Portkey was supposed to bring him back here!"

Gellert immediately stepped between the two sensing his apprentice's rising fury, "Harry, breathe. Your brother has not returned to us. You say you saw him take the cup, and it was a portkey? This was not our plan."

"He defeated the two Bulgarian champions, and I did not believe Fleur was a match for him either. I could not have stopped him without hurting him, so I let him take the cup." Harry explained, panic rising faster and faster into his chest.

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed, "The cup was indeed a portkey, but your brother should have arrived back here in an instant. Something has gone wrong."

Grindelwald closed his eyes entering a deep concentration and those inside the ward felt a sharp saturation of magic enter the area. Harry on the other hand was not idle. He quickly began waving his wand around in an intricate pattern, but quickly became angry, "He must be behind some powerful wards. The tracking charms I've had on him since Christmas are not functioning properly. Dozens of them are all failing. I can't get a lock on him."

The crowd was clearly getting restless, and spells once again began to probe Harry's ward. The older teenager looked into the crowd, however, and saw the concerned faces of his parents. His father was on his feet with wide eyes, and he mouthed Justin's name making Harry's stomach turn as he shook his head slightly. The man seemingly fell into his seat as he put his hands in his face. Lily quickly seemed to be putting together the problem while rising to her feet and verbally shouting something at the other two marauders who jumped to their feet, desperate to assist in any way they could and avoid the infamous Lily Potter temper.

Harry's mind was swirling as Fleur's voice registered with him, "There has to be a way we can track him or the portkey."

"We would have had to be on the spot where he used the portkey within seconds. Precious minutes that we can't get back have passed at this point, and there is no hope of tracking him that way anymore." Harry admitted with frustration clearly overwhelming his sense of reason.

Glancing towards Grindelwald, Harry saw the man was still in a trance while he looked to Dumbledore in hope the man had an inkling of an idea of how they might be able to find the youngest Potter, but the man offered no solutions. A loud swear word escaped his lips causing Fleur to flinch back in surprise, but he hardly had time to consider the young veela's feelings. He needed a solution, and quickly if he was going to save his brother. How could this have happened? Harry had heard Dumbledore say that McGonagall had placed the cup in the maze this morning. Someone had to have tampered with it beyond that, but who, and how?

It was then that Harry's eyes shifted back to the crowd and saw a very unwelcome sight. Roger Davies and Investigator Chase were having seemingly whispered words in the stands, and a very grim picture seemed to be painted in his memories. To his own horror, Harry quickly realized that he had missed the play. His enemies had been conspiring separately from the beginning in such a way that he had completely missed it. It was like watching a train wreck inside his own mind with horrid fascination; he seemingly couldn't pull himself out of the line of thought that he was currently on.

"Dumbledore," Harry said softly. The headmaster stepped beside Harry in question as his green eyes never left the Ravenclaw Prefect, "The Davies family originates from France don't they?"

"I don't under-"

"The Davies family originates from France don't they?" Harry asked sharply, cutting the man off.

Dumbledore nodded his head in reply. This was something that Harry caught in his peripheral, "When we were on the train to Hogwarts back in September, Roger Davies approached me quite angry that I was allowed to walk free following my defense of Fleur. I asked him if he was mad that I killed his mum or dad, and he nearly attacked me. I now realize I probably did in fact kill one of his parents that night. Which, if I am not mistaken, led us down the path we find ourselves on now. When the body of Marcus Flint was discovered it was Angelina and Davies that found him in the Astronomy Tower."

"Mr. Davies was quite aware of the animosity between the two of you." The headmaster whispered softly, "His family also may have been able to identify the cursed flames you used in the first task. What about-"

"Karkaroff? That Death Eater was beyond the skills of Davies, I have no doubt he had help." Harry said with fury continuing to rise through his body, "With the knowledge of how I became so powerful, and who my teacher was in the magical arts, Davies framed me. Carved the Deathly Hallows into his victims, and contacted the ICW with all the information he had gathered. Perseus Chase told me that I had been careless, and he was right. I let an enemy go unchecked, and now my brother is going to pay for my short-sighted behavior. I became so focused on the threat of the ICW contingent I forgot about the original ploy that led to Justin and myself being entered."

Harry's throat tightened as he turned to face the blue eyes that were missing their usual twinkle that annoyed Harry many times over his years at Hogwarts, "Headmaster, I failed my brother, and if he is not returned to my side by the night's end there will not be a safe place on this Earth that you can hide Davies from me."

Before Dumbledore could speak a raven flew into the area immediately flapping in front of Harry. The young man was stunned by the arrival of a creature that was identical to his own patronus, and he wondered if he had meddled with time for a moment, before the creature spoke in the voice of his brother, "Graveyard. He is back."

The sinking in Harry's stomach felt crippling at this point, but not a moment passed before he whirled on the headmaster, "Voldemort is back, and he is at a graveyard. Think Dumbledore, where could that be?"

Dumbledore looked surprised by the question, and seemed to flounder for an answer when Grindelwald's eyes shot open both flashing a golden color before returning to normal, "Our time is very limited, and we face a threat that the world has never seen before. The fight of our lives awaits us at where Tom Riddle Sr is buried."

Harry frowned at the words of his master before Dumbledore's eyes widened, "Little Hangleton Graveyard."

"The Dark Lord and his allies await us," Grindelwald said with certainty.

Harry looked skeptically at the older man, "They are no match for the three of us."

"The four of us, you mean," Fleur said fiercely.

Immediately Harry protested, "Fleur, this is going to be a fight between four magical Titans. You can't be there. You would only-"

"Get in the way." Grindelwald finished for Harry who didn't want to insult the proud veela.

Before Harry could half-heartedly defend the girl Dumbledore chimed in, "I would not even allow the other Potters to join us in this fight, my dear. Let us handle this. I can apparate the three of us there, but Mr. Potter you must undo your own admittedly impressive ward before we depart."

Nodding in understanding Harry turned to the blonde woman beside him, "Tell my parents what is happening, but don't tell them where we are going. Tell them I have never failed to protect my brother before, and I won't start now."

Fleur, looking frustrated and worried nodded her head, "You have one hour, then I will tell them, and I will come for you."

Giving a nod of assent, he pulled the girl in by her waist offering her a soft kiss. She whispered soft words in his ear, but he merely nodded in understanding, not registering anything beyond the comfort of her tone. Turning to face Dumbledore and Gellert who were finishing up a quiet discussion, Harry offered them both a determined look, "Headmaster, you told me that it would be a historic day when we all fought side by side. We end the Dark Lord here and now making a new mark on history. A new step forward for all of us. Together."

Gellert and Albus traded looks before nodding in agreement. Albus spoke, "I will apparate all of us, but I am uncertain of what odds we will face when we arrive. We should be prepared for anything."

"Anything," Gellert said in agreement, looking at his apprentice with a look that Harry did not quite recognize.

Wanting to question the man's words, Harry was instead prompted by the headmaster to take down his ward so they could depart. He took a deep breath as he created a circle with the Elder Wand then made a large diagonal slash. The ward seemed to split diagonally and slowly begin to crumble into pieces, and before the contingent brought by the ICW could attack the three titans disappeared in a swirl across the country to face their destiny.