Chapter 17 – Leaving the Maze, and Harry and Cedric's Reaction
"So… on my whistle, Harry and Cedric!" said Bagman. "Three- two- one-" He was about to give a short blast on his whistle, but Harry snatched it away from him with his Seeker's reflexes. "Hold on!" he said. "Regardless of who gets the Cup, how do we get out of the maze once one of has it?" Bagman's jaw dropped. "I can't believe I forgot!" he said. "It's a Portkey. Whichever of you grabs the Cup will be brought back here." Fleur scowled at Bagman. "Zat only works for ze winner," she said pointedly. "What about ze rest of us?" Bagman put on what he hoped was a reassuring tone. "It is a very complicated spell, but once the Cup has been touched, the maze has been bewitched to provide you with a safe path out. Now, Harry and Cedric, on three- two- one…"
*Time skip*
Harry felt his feet slam into the ground; his injured leg gave way and he fell forwards; his hand let go of the Triwizard Cup at last. He raised his head. "Where are we?" he said. Cedric shook his head. They had left the Hogwarts grounds completely; they had obviously travelled miles – perhaps hundreds of miles – for even the mountains surrounding the castle were gone. They were standing instead in a dark and overgrown graveyard; the black outline of a small church was visible beyond a large yew tree to their right. A hill rose above them to their left. Harry could just make out the outline of a fine old house on the hillside.
Cedric looked down at the Cup. "This isn't part of the Task." he said. Harry nodded in agreement. "We'd better grab the Cup again, before whoever messed with it to send us here shows up." They hurried the few steps to the Cup – it had bounced away from them when Harry let go of it – and once again took hold of it. The now familiar hooking sensation returned, and when it stopped, Harry and Cedric found themselves back on the Quidditch pitch, right in front of Bagman, who gaped at them before announcing "A draw! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a draw between two of our Champions!"
As the crowd cheered, Harry let go of the Cup and dashed over to Professor Dumbledore, who was coming across the pitch with Karkaroff and Madame Maxime. "Professor, the Cup didn't bring us straight here," he said. "It took us to a graveyard first." Dumbledore frowned. "Indeed, Harry." he replied. "It appears that whatever plot had been devised was predicated on you being taken elsewhere." Harry noticed that both Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked uncomfortable. "We found Mister Krum and Miss Delacour in the maze, and found Mister Krum to have cast the Cruciatus Curse upon her. More worrying is the fact that Mister Krum did not do it of his own will, as he was found to be under the Imperius Curse. No doubt whoever was controlling him wished you to be the one to touch the Cup. I would be grateful if you and Mister Diggory would both come to my office to discuss your brief disappearance."
*Scene change – the Little Hangleton graveyard*
Pettigrew cowered before the diminutive form of Voldemort as his master berated him. "You fool! You incompetent, slow-witted fool! Potter was right there, and your delay in reacting was enough to let him get away! Be thankful I am not yet reborn, or you would be writhing under the Cruciatus yourself!"