28. The Maze

Callie read from the Daily Prophet on the day of the third task. Rita Skeeter's latest trashy article had accused Harry of being "disturbed and dangerous," but it was something else that had affected Callie more so than the attempts to disgrace her friend.

"'Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anybody who could converse with snakes,'" she read aloud to Neville in greenhouse three, "'as serpents are often used in the-" she hesitated "-worst kinds of Dark Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers." She had started off in a mocking tone, but the longer she'd read, the less animated she'd become.

When she paused, gazing off into the distance pensively, Neville asked, "What's wrong?" turning from a pot of fanged geraniums to face her.

Rather than replying, she continued to read. "'Similarly, anyone who seeks out the company of such vicious creatures as... werewolves and giants... would appear to have a fondness for violence.'" She paused, throwing down the paper. "I have a fondness for violence."

Neville grinned incredulously. "What are you talking about?"

She explained, "This year alone, I punched Malfoy, hexed him, turned him into a rabbit... I even shoved Snape once in his office."

"You went at Snape?" he asked in awe.

Callie nodded. "He'd pushed me a little too hard, so I... pushed back, only literally."

Neville pondered that and said, "Surprised he didn't..." He trailed off in thought. "Wait, what did he do?"

"Nothing," Callie replied. "It was A.D.D."

"What's A.D.D.?"

"'After Dad Died,'" she explained. "Snape's been going pretty easy on me ever since."

"Oh. Good." After a second, he said, "You're not violent."

"I can be. But that's not the only thing. 'Serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark Magic. Historically associated with evildoers'?"

"So?"

"So the bloody Slytherin mascot is the serpent," she said. "It is the house of the wicked, and I'm in it!"

"It's just a symbol. Doesn't mean that everyone in Slytherin is wicked. Not you specifically, at least."

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that Snape was - or that he had been - a Death Eater. But the boy was already afraid of Snape. How would he react to learning that the man had run with the same kind of people, maybe exactly the people, who'd tortured his parents into insanity?

"I've always had a thing for the Dark Arts," she said instead. "Not that I want to practice them, but... they fascinate me."

After considering it, Neville said, "But you wouldn't use dark magic on anyone." She didn't know if that was a statement or a question.

She answered it anyway. "No. Of course not."

"So what's the problem, then? You know who you are. You know you're not an 'evildoer.' Besides, nothing that bitch says holds any truth to it."

He went back to his geraniums, and a wide grin spread across Callie's face. "Neville Longbottom just said 'bitch,'" she remarked. He so rarely cursed, it was odd and amusing to hear coming from him.

He bowed his head, and although his back was to her, she just knew he was blushing. "Sorry," he said.

"Oh, please, don't mind me," Callie insisted.

"No, that was wrong," he said. "I don't like her, but... you don't talk about a woman that way."

She stood up and went over to him. "Such a gentleman," she teased, resting her head on his shoulder.

They stood in silence for a moment, before he asked, "What are you wearing?"

With a puzzled expression, she looked up at him, and then down at her own form. "Uh... jeans and a white blouse. Are you all right?"

Chuckling and shaking his head, he said, "No, I mean your perfume."

"Oh! It's jasmine. Astoria lent it to me, she said it's supposed to be uplifting."

"Is it working?"

"I don't know. But she said it was fifty galleons a bottle. Figured I'd take advantage." They both chuckled at that. "You're not going to believe this," Callie went on. "She asked if she could visit me this summer."

"Astoria did?"

"Mhm. Think she wants to explore Muggle Town like it's some kind of a zoo."

"What'd you tell her?"

"I told her her parents would probably whip her if she asked them to let her summer with muggles. Besides, I don't want them knowing where I live." Where Mum lives, anyway.

"Why not?" Neville asked.

Shit, she shouldn't have said that. The girl's family were pureblood supremacists, if Daphne was any indication. That would've been enough on it's own, but now that Callie had an idea what was coming, she definitely didn't want to expose her mum that way. Just in case.

"Well..." she began hesitantly "...remember the riot at the Cup last year? Sorry, but I don't want purebloods coming into muggle territory. Not when my Mum's there."

There was a moment of silence before Neville asked, "Just prejudiced purebloods or any of them?"

She furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

He kept his eyes on the plants as he said, "Well... last year on the train you said that maybe I could visit."

She remembered now. "Ah, yes. But I'm sure you're all right. Not gonna slaughter my mum, are you?"

"Hmph." He shook his head to himself. "Long as she doesn't cross me."

"Look at you, becoming all cheeky!" she teased.

"Wonder where I got that from."

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Callie's mood had improved over the last few weeks. She was hoping the worst was over regarding her depression, and was looking forward to just enjoying the final leg of the tournament and the last week of school.

"Managed an A on the history exam," she informed Neville as they made their way to the stands to watch the third task.

"Nice," he replied.

"Just barely passed. Fell back to an A in Herbology, too."

He looked a bit guilty. "Sorry," he said.

"It's not your fault, I blew you off for two months. It was bound to drop without your help. By the way, how'd you do in Potions?"

"A."

"Right on. Only one more year and then you can drop it."

"Thank Merlin for small favors," he said.

"Oi, Warbeck, Longbottom!"

They turned to find Fred and George running towards them.

"Who ya got?" George asked. "We're taking final bets."

Callie only thought about it for a second, then handed over her ante. "Ten galleons on Harry," she said. "He seems to have a way of getting into sticky situations and coming out on top."

Neville put five galleons on Harry, and the four of them joined their usual Gryffindor group in the stands.

For the final task, the champions would have to make their way through a maze full of different obstacles and locate the Triwizard Cup. The first one to do so would receive the most points. Harry and Cedric were currently tied for first place, with Krum in third, and then Delacour.

"Way to represent for the women, Frenchie," Callie said sarcastically, mildly disappointed that the only female champion was in dead last.

"Eh, she could still take it," Parvati suggested a few seats away.

"Nope," Callie shook her head. "It's going to he Harry. It's always Harry."

The boy stood at the edge of the maze with the other champions and the judges. He caught Callie's eye and she gave him a thumbs up.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Ludo Bagman called out, "the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin!" He reminded the crowd where the points stood; Harry and Cedric would get a head start, since they were in the lead. He blew a whistle and the two Hogwarts champions were off. Soon Viktor Krum was permitted to enter, then Fleur Delacour shortly after.

"This is stupid, we can't even see them!" Callie commented. The inside of the maze wasn't visible to the crowd.

"Couldn't see them underwater in the second task either," Neville said.

"Wish somebody would've told me," Callie replied. "I could've watched it from my dormitory."

She really thought this wasn't nearly as thrilling as everyone made it out to be, but the crowd was roaring with excited chatter about what must be going on in that maze, and who would come out victorious. A man selling butterbeer made his way through the stands, and Callie grabbed two for her and Neville. "Cheers," she said, clinking her bottle against his.

Neville noticed her left wrist and said with a smile, "You're wearing the bracelet."

Callie shrugged. "Figured it was a special occasion."

He took her wrist to admire the piece of jewelry, and she wondered if he was thinking of his mother.

"How would you feel about a trip to the States this summer?" she asked, seemingly out of the blue.

He furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

Trying to appear casual, she explained, "I was thinking... seeing as how it might be a bit depressing staying in my house for two months, maybe I could convince my mum to take a vacation. If she says yes, I'd like it if you joined us."

"Why the States?"

She shrugged. "Just seems like a good place to get away for a while. We could stop by Ilvermorny and egg it."

He smiled to himself, but then said, "This isn't just a ploy to... keep the pureblood out of Muggle Town?"

She turned to face him. "No. You could come to my house before and after if you want."

Satisfied with her response, he said, "I'll see what Gran thinks."

Another half an hour went by, and Callie groaned, "Come on, Harry, find the bloody thing already."

"Think anyone's bit it in there?" Fred joked from behind her.

"Not with the all teacher's patrolling it. They'd have pulled 'em out if something happened."

Sure enough, a Stunned Fleur was pulled from the maze shortly after. Some time later, the same happened with Viktor. The crowd roared as a Hogwarts victory was guaranteed. Callie even joined in the excitement, hugging and high-fiving those around her.

"Come on now, Harry, I've got money on this!" she cheered. Her boredom turned more to impatience, and she was almost jumping out of her skin waiting for the winner to emerge. Any minute now... any minute...

"What the bloody hell is taking so long?" Fred - or George - called out behind her.

"How long has it been since they pulled Krum out?" Callie asked.

"Half hour, maybe," Neville said, checking his watch.

Callie was so antsy she was just about to get up and move around a bit, and that's when the crowd went absolutely wild. "Who is it?!" she screamed.

"I can't see!" Neville yelled back, craning his neck.

Then something strange happened. Gradually the cheering died down, and was replaced with much quieter murmuring. Then all around, people were saying "Oh, my God," and "What's happened?" A couple of people screamed, and someone was crying.

"My boy! Oh, God, my boy!"

"What's going on?" Callie asked no one in particular.

"Harry's out," one of the twins said.

"He looks hurt," Parvati added.

Everyone was trying to get a good look at the scene outside the maze.

"Moody's taking him away," Neville informed the group.

"Who, Harry?" Callie asked. And then Lavender Brown, "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know, but..."

"Oi, Christ, Cedric..." one of the twins uttered.

She heard people down the stands saying "Cedric's hurt" and "Something's wrong." And then she heard, for the first of many times, "Cedric's dead."

"What?" Callie exclaimed, turning to Neville.

"Bloody hell," he breathed, his eyes wide.

"He's not dead," Callie said, half stating and half asking.

"He's not moving."

It was Ludo Bagman who called out, "Everyone please remain calm. We have a situation here." The man didn't sound so calm himself. He sounded panicked. "If everyone would please exit the stands and return to the castle. Thank you."

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Callie banged on Snape's office door, but the man either wasn't there or wouldn't answer. "Oh, to hell with this - Alohomora!" she incanted, and swung the door open to enter.

"He's not here," Neville said as they both looked around. "What's going on?" he asked the girl.

"Something's wrong," she said. "Really, really, really wrong."

"Well of course, something's wrong, Cedric's..." He couldn't say the words.

"No, I mean..." Callie trailed off, turning to him and shutting the door with her wand.

Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to be discussing things in Snape's office - the idea that he'd placed some sort of listening device in there occurred to her. But it was as good a place for the two of them to be alone as any. Nobody would barge into Snape's office if he didn't permit them. Except her, apparently.

"Listen," she began, "I don't think... I mean I have a feeling... Cedric's death wasn't an accident."

"What are you talking about?" Neville asked.

She started to pace around the room. "I think it had something to do with You Know Who."

"You Know-" he paused. "What? Why?"

"Because it's always You Know Who. First year, Quirrell tried to steal the Sorcerer's Stone for him. Then it was the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets - that was You Know Who too. Then last year Sirius Black was trying to kill Harry... because of You Know Who. He may even have been doing it on You Know Who's behalf for all we know."

"But- How could he have...?"

"I have no idea. But no one was inside that maze but the champions - that we know of. Maybe... maybe You Know Who or somebody working for him was in there too. Maybe they were trying to get Harry and got Cedric instead."

"Whoa, hold on," Neville said, holding up his hands to stop her. "I think you're getting way too far ahead. We don't even know what happened to Cedric."

"He's dead, Neville! Somebody killed him, it wasn't anything in that maze. Nothing the designers would've put in there anyway."

"It's supposed to be dangerous, that's where the glory and honor comes from."

"Dumbledore wouldn't let Harry compete if it was deadly. He wouldn't have let anybody compete."

He didn't know how else to argue and was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "What's any of this got to do with Snape? Why'd you wanna see him so badly?"

"Because-" she began, pausing, "Because Snape would know if You Know Who was back."

"How would he?"

Callie hesitated and sighed. "Because Snape used to be a Death Eater. He's got the Dark Mark."

Neville's eyes widened; he was stunned. "What?" he asked.

Callie explained, "During the war, he was a Death Eater. He's not anymore. Dumbledore said."

Still in complete shock, Neville asked, "How did you find this out, did he tell you?"

"No. I saw him arguing with Igor Karkaroff a couple months ago. I saw the Mark on his arm, and Dumbledore confirmed it." A realization suddenly occurred to her. "Oh, my God, that's why he's been being no nice to me." She paused. "Well not nice, but... lax."

"Why?"

"Because I know this about him. I don't think anyone else does. He doesn't want me telling anyone." She looked at Neville, and added, "This never leaves this room."

He scoffed. "You think I'm going to go telling everyone Snape's a Death Eater? He hates me enough already, I'm not going to do anything to piss him off more. I wish I didn't know." They stood in silence a moment, before he asked, "You said he used to be a Death Eater?"

Callie nodded. "Apparently he turned traitor. Apparently."

Neville caught on. "You think he didn't? You think he's still...?"

"Dumbledore said he would trust Snape with his life. Said he's not a danger to anyone."

"But?" Neville prodded.

"But somebody connected to You Know Who was in that maze." A new idea hit. "It could've been Karkaroff. He was a Death Eater too." Please, she thought, let it be Karkaroff.