The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness

by the22nddoctor

Many things have changed in Alexander s life, his mother is in Azkaban and he have learned that he is the son of Sirius Black. This year Alex has to battle both his inner darkness that is growing stronger inside him, and the outside darkness that is returning stronger than ever, not even Hogwarts is safe. Beside that, he have to deal with being a teenager. Have been rewritten.

32. Chapter 32 The challenge of the maze

The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness.

Chapter 32: The challenge of the maze

…

As the date for the third task came closer so did the date for the exams. They would be finished on the day of the task. Alex didn´t had to take them, but his friends did and that meant they had to study for it.

However, Daphne, Harry, Hermione, Blaise, Draco, and Erik, were putting most of their efforts in helping Alex get ready for the third task.

"Don't worry about it," Hermione said shortly when Alex pointed this out to them and said he didn't mind practicing on his own for a while.

"Yeah" Daphne added "and at least we'll get top marks in Defence against the Dark Arts. We'd never have found out about all these hexes in class." Daphne were very insisting that Alex should spend his free time training, so the couple time she and Alex normally did were cancelled.

"Beside it is good training if we want to be aurors. I know that I do." Harry said as he casted the Impediment Curse on a wasp that had buzzed into the room and making it stop dead in mid-air.

Alex nodded, "Okay, but promise me that you will take the time to study."

The mood in the castle as they entered June became excited and tense again. Everyone was looking forward to the third task. Alex was now practice hexes and jinxes at every available moment.

He felt more confident about this task than he had with either of the others. Difficult and dangerous though it would undoubtedly be, but he had managed to find his way past monstrous creatures and enchanted barriers before now, and this time he had some notice. This time he had good time to prepare himself for what lay ahead.

Tired of walking in on Alex, Harry, Blaise, Daphne, Tracey, Draco, Hermione or Erik all over the school, Professor McGonagall had given them permission to use the empty Transfiguration classroom at lunchtimes.

Alex had mastered several branches of charms, jinxes, hexes and curses. Magic like the Reductor Curse, which would enable them to blast solid objects out of their way. The Four-Point Spell, a useful discovery of Hermione's that would make their wands point due north, therefore enabling Alex to check whether he was going in the right direction within the maze. Alex mastered some good shield spells and a one that abled him to send the spell back at the caster. Alex had also leaned a fire-shooting spell, one that casted acid, the one Silan had used on him and a few others.

Everything was going great and Alex´s Gryffindor and Slytherin friends were getting along well enough, with the exception of Ron, Harry and Draco. Hermione had been a little warry of Daphne or maybe a bit jealous, but the girls tried to get along. It was worst between Harry, Ron and Draco. Although there was no open fighting, was it clear that there were bad blood. Hermione was the only Gryffindor beside that talked with Draco, but even that was only out of politeness, Alex had expected it of course and even Draco had told Alex that he wasn´t surprised after all, he had acted like a git for three years.

In order to test how much Alex had leaded and how good his reflexes were had Harry, Draco, Blaise, and Ron all attack him at once, which was a stupid idea as Alex did a little horrible and was injured by Harry, who Alex didn't see coming. Harry hit his wand hand, breaking it.

"You are still preforming quite well, most wizards have problems when facing four opponents." Daphne said encouragingly, looking down her list and crossing off those spells they had already learned. As everyone else practiced the spells, Erik, who also took Healing classes, helped Alex who was taking a break. "Some of these are bound to come in handy."

"Come and look at this," said Ron, who had walked over to the window. He was staring down onto the grounds. "What's Nott doing?"

Everybody walked over to Ron to see Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing in the shadow of a tree below. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to be keeping a lookout; both were smirking. Nott was holding his hand up to his mouth and speaking into it.

"He looks like he's using a walkie-talkie," Erik said curiously, making Harry nod in agreement.

"He can't be," said Hermione, "I don´t know if electronics worked around your old school, but they doesn't work here at Hogwarts."

"Sorry I forgot." Erik said, "But yeah they did work at my old school."

Hermione looked interested in that fact, but instead of asking, she looked at Harry. "Come on," she said, moving back into the middle of the room, "we should continue our work."

As the third task came closer, Sirius was sending daily owls now. Like Daphne and Hermione, he seemed to want to concentrate on getting Alex through the last task before they concerned themselves with anything else. He reminded Alex and Harry in every letter that whatever might be going on outside the walls of Hogwarts was not their responsibility, nor was it within their power to influence it.

If Voldemort is getting stronger again, he wrote, then it is my priority to ensure your safety. He cannot hope to lay hands on you two while you are under Dumbledore's protection, but all the same, take no risks: Alexander, concentrate on getting through that maze safely, and then we can turn our attention to other matters.

Alex's nerves mounted as June the twenty-fourth drew closer, but they were not as bad as those he had felt before the first and second tasks. For one thing, he was confident that, this time, he had done everything in his power to prepare for the task. For another, this was the final hurdle, and however well or badly he did, the tournament would at last be over, which would be an enormous relief.

Breakfast was a very noisy affair at the Gryffindor table on the morning of the third task. The post owls appeared, bringing Alex a good-luck card from Sirius. It was only a piece of parchment, folded over and bearing a muddy paw print on its front, but Alex appreciated it all the same. A screech owl arrived for Hermione, carrying her morning copy of the Daily Prophet as usual. She unfolded the paper, glanced at the front page, and spat out a mouthful of pumpkin juice all over it.

"What?" Harry, Alex, and Ron asked together, staring at her.

"Nothing," said Hermione quickly, trying to shove the paper out of sight, but Ron grabbed it. He stared at the headline and said, "No way. Not today. That old cow."

"What?" Harry asked. "Rita Skeeter again?"

"No," said Ron, and just like Hermione, he attempted to push the paper out of sight.

"It's about me or Alex isn't it?" said Harry.

"No," said Ron, in an entirely unconvincing tone. However, before Harry could demand to see the paper Theodore Nott shouted across the Great Hall from the Slytherin table.

"Hey, Potter! How're your head? You feeling all right? Sure you're not going to go berserk on us?"

Nott was holding a copy of the Daily Prophet too. Half of the Slytherins up and down the table were sniggering, twisting in their seats to see Harry's reactions.

"Let me see it," Harry said to Ron. "Give it here."

Very reluctantly, Ron handed over the newspaper. Harry turned it over and Alex leaned in was staring into a picture of Harry.

'THE DANGEROUS STUDENTS OF HOGWARTS'

At the first glance Harry Potter the hero that defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named seems like a normal boy. However is really as they seams or is the Boy-That-Lived unstable and possibly dangerous, asks Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Alarming evidence has recently come to light about Harry Potter's strange behaviour, which casts doubts upon his suitability to attend Hogwarts School.

Potter, the Daily Prophet can exclusively reveal, regularly collapses at school, and is often heard to complain of pain on the scar on his forehead (relic of the curse with which You-Know-Who attempted to kill him). On Monday last, midway through a Divination lesson, your Daily Prophet reporter witnessed Potter storming from the class, claiming that his scar was hurting too badly to continue studying.

It is possible, say top experts at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, that Potter's brain was affected by the attack inflicted upon him by You-Know-Who, and that his insistence that the scar is still hurting is an expression of his deep-seated confusion.

"He might even be pretending," said one specialist. "This could be a plea for attention."

The Daily Prophet, however, has unearthed worrying facts about Harry Potter that Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, has carefully concealed from the wizarding public.

"He can speak Parseltongue," reveals Theodore Nott, a model Hogwarts fourth year. "There were a lot of attacks on students a couple of years ago, and most people thought Potter along with Black was behind it after they saw them lose their temper at a duelling club and set a snake on another boy. It was all hushed up, though. And Potter made friends with werewolves and giants too. We think he'd do anything for a bit of power."

Parseltongue, the ability to converse with snakes, have long been considered as a Dark Art. Indeed, the most famous Parselmouth of our times is none other than You-Know-Who himself. A member of the Dark Force Defense League, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that he would regard any witch or wizard who could speak Parseltongue "as worthy of investigation. Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anybody who could converse with snakes, as serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers." Similarly, "anyone who seeks out the company of such vicious creatures as werewolves and giants would appear to have a fondness for violence."

Theodore Nott also expressed concern about one of Potter´s close friends, who is none other than the Fourth Triwizard Champion Alexander Alphard Black, the son of the mass murderer Sirius Black and Azkaban attendant, was with Potter in the attacks. We at the Prophet had Professional Scholars look up the history of young Alexander Black and they learned that the boy is related to Salazar Slytherin making him the hair of Slytherin. A title that have been held by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as well, making our champion related to one of the most feared wizards in history.

As our readers remembers Mr. Black used his Parseltongue abilities during the Triwizard tournament first task to control a dragon. However, we can only guess what Black said to the dragon, but I ask our readers should a boy like Mr. Black be allowed to be uncontrolled. Especially if we take in consideration that the boy is very disturbed.

"Who is she calling disturbed!" Alex growled as people who were reading the Prophet looked up at Alex. Ron was looking very uncomfortable at the moment.

Yes, dear readers truly we should be worried at Alexander Black´s intentions.

Our source tells us that, Young Black has begun to follow in the Dark Lord's footsteps as seen using unknown dark curses and even going as far as attacking his cousin, Silan Ambrosious.

"I was the best cousin I could be to Xander," Silan, a top student of Durmstrang explains. "But he snapped and he attacked me for no reason. I was shocked and terrified. He put me in the Hospital Quarters for a month. I am just grateful that I wasn´t killed.

The attack on Silan Ambrosious was previously covered by the Prophet, but I must sadly say that my college had been blinded by Alexander Black´s charm and trapped in the boy´s lie that the act was motivated in saving a girl, that might not even had been in danger.

Considering the boy´s aggression, Albus Dumbledore should surely consider whether a boy such as this should be allowed to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. Some fear that Alexander Black might resort to the Dark Arts in his desperation to win the tournament, the third task of which takes place this evening.

Perhaps Hogwarts headmaster should even consider if Harry Potter should be allowed to remain at the school or if he and Alexander Black would be better served in others institutions.

"Gone off us a bit hasn't she?" said Harry lightly as Alex folded the paper and shoved it back to Hermione.

Over at the Slytherin table, Nott, Crabbe, and Goyle were laughing at them, tapping their heads with their fingers, pulling grotesquely mad faces, and waggling their tongues like snakes.

"How did she know your scar hurt in Divination?" Ron said, as Alex sat still looking around the Great Hall at the many faces reading the Daily Prophet. "There's no way she was there, there's no way she could've heard -"

"The window was open," said Harry. "I opened it to breathe."

"Yeah but we were at the top of the north tower." Alex said. "Even if we had been shouting, she wouldn't had heard you from the school grounds." Alex felt extremely angry at Skeeter´s article not only because she wrote trash about he and Harry, but she because she printed Silan as a good person.

"Fine then, but Hermione, you're the one who's supposed to be researching magical methods of bugging!" Harry said. "You tell me how she did it!"

"I've been trying!" said Hermione. "But I…but…" An odd, dreamy expression suddenly came over Hermione's face. She slowly raised a hand and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Are you all right?" said Ron, frowning at her.

"Yes," said Hermione breathlessly. She ran her fingers through her hair again, and then held her hand up to her mouth, as though speaking into an invisible walkie-talkie. Harry, Alex, and Ron stared at each other.

"I've had an idea," Hermione said, gazing into space. "I think I know…because then no one would be able to see…even Moody…and she'd have been able to get onto the window ledge…but she's not allowed…she's definitely not allowed…I think we've got her! Just give me two seconds in the library - just to make sure!" With that, Hermione seized her school bag and dashed out of the Great Hall.

"Oi!" Ron called after her. "We've got our History of Magic exam in ten minutes! Blimey," he said, turning back to Harry and Alex, "she must really hate that Skeeter woman to risk missing the start of an exam.

Harry nodded, "yeah. Uh Alex What're you going to do in Binns's class?"

"Relax I think." Normally Alex had looked up new hexes when the others had been at their exams. Harry was about to ask another question when Professor McGonagall came walking alongside the Gryffindor table towards Alex.

"Mister Black, the champions are congregating in the chamber off the Hall after breakfast," she said.

"But the task isn't till tonight!" Alex said.

"I'm aware of that, Mister Black," McGonagall said. "The champions' families are invited to watch the final task, you know. This is simply a chance for you to greet them." She moved away. Alex gaped after her.

"What family?" Alex asked Harry and Ron. "I don´t have anyone left. My parents can´t be here. My mother is in prison and my father is on the run. I really doubt that Dumbledore will allow him to just waltz in here.

"Dunno," said Harry with a shrug. "Come on Ron, we'd better hurry, we're going to be late for Binns. See you later."

"It can´t be grandpa either, because he is missing." Alex said softly to himself. Alex finished his breakfast in the emptying Great Hall, noticing all the ugly stares some of the other kids were giving him. He saw Fleur Delacour get up from the Ravenclaw table and join Cedric as he crossed to the side chamber and entered. Krum slouched off to join them shortly afterward. Alex stayed where he was. He really didn't want to go into the chamber. He had no family left - no family who would turn up to see him risk his life, anyway. He was just alone, and going in that room would prove it.

But just as he was getting up, thinking that he might as well go up to the library and do a spot more hex research, the door of the side chamber opened, and Fleur stuck his head out.

"ey are waiting for you."

Utterly perplexed, Alex got up. His parents or his Grandfather couldn't possibly be here, could they? Well his grandfather could just have decided to surprise him.

Alex walked across the Hall and opened the door into the chamber. Cedric and his parents were just inside the door. Viktor Krum was over in a corner, conversing with his dark-haired mother and father in rapid Bulgarian. He had inherited his fathers hooked nose. On the other side of the room, Fleur was jabbering away in French to her mother. Fleur's little sister, Gabrielle, was holding her mother's hand.

However, there was no sign of his mother, father (even in his dog form) or his grandfather. There was some people that stood by themselves. The youngest was a woman, with dark, twinkling eyes, a pale, heart-shaped face and short hot-pink hair; then the man who was a fair-haired, and big-bellied; and lastly, and older woman with light brown hair instead of dark, with softer and wide eyes. They were all smiling and beaming up at Alex.

"Surprise!" The younger woman said as Alex walked up to the three, clueless.

"Uh sorry but who are you guys?"

"I am Sirius´ cousin." The older women said. "I have wanted to see for some time now, and when Albus wrote and asked if we would come, it seemed like the prefect time."

"So you are related to my dad?" Alex asked a bit amazed to see people that was related to his father."

"Yes," the women with the pink hair said. "Uncle Sirius was so fun to be with, when he babysitted me. It nice to meet you cousin, I am Tonks, by the way."

"Tonks?" Alex said, thinking that was a strange name.

"Her name is Nymphadora Tonks," the older woman corrected. "Dora likes to complain about not liking her name." She then gave Alex a soft smile. "Hallo Alexander, I am Andromeda Tonks and this is my husband Ted Tonks."

"A pleasure to meet you young man." Ted said shaking Alex´s hand.

Andromeda nodded, "yes it is indeed, and as my daughter said, we are related to Sirius."

Alex smiled. "That is wow, and you just decided to come here."

"Well we couldn't let you stay here alone could we?" Nymphadora said. "You're our family after all."

Alex smiled again. He didn´t know them, but they seemed like good people. "That is brilliant. So what do you guys do?"

"I have just finished my auror training." Nymphadora said, "It is pretty excreting. My mother is working as potioneer and dad works in the portkey office."

Suddenly, the doors opened to the chamber. Alex turned around and was shocked to see Silan walk in. "Are we late?" he said, confusedly.

"We?" Alex said eyeing his cousin, it was the first time they had seen each other since Alex had stood up to him. Alex got his answer to we were as he saw the person behind Silan.

It was a man in with different coloured eyes and dark hair. He had an arrogant smile on his face. "Hallo my dear nephew. Did you really think that your old uncle Adrian would miss seeing you bring honour to the Ambrosius family?" Alex backed away looking in in horror at his uncle. He didn't noticed that Nymphadora laid a protective hand on his shoulder. Adrian was ten times worse than Silan. "Don´t you want to give your dear uncle a hug?"

Alex didn't move, and unfazed, Adrian and Silan walked up to Alex and the Tonks Family. "Hello, I'm Adrian Ambrosius," Adrian introduced to the Tonks family. "And this is my eldest son, Silan, and there is my youngest. Selene, come and say hallo."

Behind Adrian, a 13-year-old girl with dark hair and deep blue eyes shyly walked out.

"Selie?" Alex was surprised to see Selene, it had been so long since he had last seen her, but unlike Silan and Adrian, it was nice seeing her again. She was a half year younger then Alex, so the two of them had often played together. Without knowing, Alex took a few steps towards her.

"Hallo Alexander." Selene asked a bit formally then Alex remembered her, she had always been unformal when she and Alex were alone. "I trust that you are well."

"Yeah Selie" Selene looked irritated at the use of her nickname. "Sorry Selene. Yes, I am quit fine. I trust that you are as well."

"I am."

"Yes, it have been a while since you last saw each other." Adrian said pulling Selene away from Alex. The girl flinched a bit, but followed her father´s orders. Adrian then looked on the Tonks family. "We are young Alexander´s family on his mother´s side."

"It is a pleasure." Andromeda said.

"It is. You are Narcissa´s sister isn´t you? I expected she would be here as well."

"No, I believe that my sister is busy." Andromeda responded a bit coldly.

Adrian looked around. "Yes. It is too bad that my sister couldn't be here as well. But she has to pay for her crimes of course." Alex clenched his fist at his uncle comment. "It is a shame with your father as well on the loose like a mad man."

"My dad isn´t a mad man." Alex growled.

"I am curious you can say that. You have never seen the man since you were a baby or am I mistaken?" Adrian asked, and then smirked, while Alex looked away, clenching his teeth and his fists. "Or maybe you have talked with him and you know where he is. Just like your mother."

"I don´t know what you are talking about." Alex lied. "I know what mum told me."

"Yes, so you knew about your true father of course. I still do not understand why Cyrina would lie and say that she had gotten a child with a puny muggle."

Alex noticed the Tonks family tense up, Alex himself felt anger at his uncle comment. "Just shut it."

"Is that how you talk to your uncle?"

"You're not, remember what grandfather told you?"

Adrian growled, "Yes we had our disagreement. Nonetheless, I wouldn't give up seeing you winning this tournament. However, we must discuses something."

"Yes."

"The attack on my son." Adrian growled, "I am still not sure you were properly punished for that. And it is surely no way of treating your family." Alex didn´t respond as his uncle took a step closer. "Sadly your Ministry have taken your side." Adrian moved even closer, and whispered something in Alex ear. "But know this if you ever attack my family again, then you won´t get so easy. Is that understood?"

"And you should know that I only attack when I or the people I care about are threatened." Alex whispered.

Adrian smirked, "Yes, well I suppose you needed getting some aggressions out. Silan Selene we are leaving. Adrian turned on his heal and walked away. He had reached the door when he turned. "We be rooting for you of course."

Silan gave a mocking smile before leaving with his father. However, Selene remained she just looked at Alex. "Hey," she said softly, "you will be careful? You-"

"Selene! I said we were leaving." Adrian yelled, having re-entered the room.

Selene nodded, "Y-yes f-father." She said before hurrying after her father.

"Well they were unpleasant," Nymphadora said.

"Dora!" Andromeda scowled. "They are Alexander´s family."

"Yeah and muggle hates" Dora growled as her hair turned red. Alex was a bit surprised. Dora must be Metamorphmagus. "Dad is a muggle-born mum."

"It is okay Mrs. Tonks, Nymphadora is right, my uncle is an ass."

Dora laughed, "I knew I would like you kid so you get a free pass for calling me Nymphadora. See mum, they are nasty."

"I agree," Ted said. "How about we try and make the best of it, yeah, Andromeda?"

Andromeda sighed heavily but smiled. "Of course," she said, placing a hand on Alex´s shoulder. Alex looked up to the Tonks', already liking them.

"So Alex will you take us for a tour." Ted asked.

Alex nodded, as the family passed Amos Diggory, he looked around. "There you are, are you?" he said, looking Alex up and down. "I suspect the arrogance have passed now that my Cedric have caught up with you."

"Excuse me?" Alex asked stopping up.

"Dad" Cedric said. "Cut it out."

"I am talking about that you stole my Cedric´s role in this tournament. You were quick to steal the fame in your interview with Skeeter."

"Amos, come on," Ted interrupted, "you know how she is like; you are working in the Ministry after all. And I have yet been presented any evidence on how Alexander tricked the cup. I must say even though I wish Huffepuff glory blaming a fourteen-year-old boy is disgusting."

Amos looked a bit uncomfortable at Ted´s comment. "Yes of course, my apologizes Mr. Black."

Alex nodded before leaving with the Tonks family.

…

Alex had a very enjoyable morning walking over the sunny grounds with the three adults, his new family, showing them the Beauxbatons carriage and the Durmstrang ship.

Mr. and Mrs. Tonks were intrigued by the Whomping Willow, which had been planted after they had left school. In return, they told Alex about their time at Hogwarts. Andromeda had been a Slytherin while Ted had been a Hufflepuff. Nymphadora Tonks who had been a Hufflepuff also told some stories. Alex was surprised to learn that she had been a member of The Circle of Khanna. Alex had enjoyed reading about them in the papers. It was also interesting of hearing Dora´s stories with the aurror training.

"You have a pretty interesting file," Dora said. "Especially considering your age. Your friend Harry´s file is pretty interesting as well."

Alex laughed, "Well it been some exciting years. So do you know other things about the Ministry´s affairs?"

"I do, but a good deal of it is classified."

"I want to know about Barty Crouch and his family and what's going on," Alex instantly said.

"Well, things aren't so great, really," Dora started. "The Ministry wants to keep Mr. Crouch's disappearance quiet. His assistant Percy Weasley's been hauled in for questioning about the instructions Mr. Crouch has been sending in. They seem to think there is a chance they weren't genuinely written by him but by someone else. Weasley been under a lot of strain. His role as filling in for Crouch is done, so Cornelius Fudge is going to be doing it."

"Oh great," Alex mumbled.

Alex and the Tonks family wandered around the castle until lunch. As they entered the Great Hall, they saw the Golden Trio waiting for them.

"Alex?" Hermione said as the Gryffindor Trio joined them. "Who are you friends?" she asked.

"My family," Alex said with a huge smile on his face. During their walk, Alex had really grown fond of the Tonks family. "This is Ted Tonks, Andromeda Tonks, and their daughter Nymphadora Tonks. They are my family on Sirius' side."

"It is nice to meet you," Harry said. "So you guys knows Sirius."

Dora nodded. "Yes. And we know you of course Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Ganger. The paper once said you were my cousin´s girlfriend Hermione. "

Hermione blushed, "You shouldn't believe what you read."

"Ha I was only joking nah I don´t believe what Skeeter writes."

"Okay," Hermione said, "and it is nice to meet you."

"You as well." Mrs. Tonks said.

"So why are you here?" Harry asked.

"We are here to cheer on Alex for the third task." Mrs. Tonks said. "It is nice to be back. Now Alex here told us that you have had your exams. Might I ask how they went?"

"Brilliant," Hermione answered with a bright smile, while Harry just shrugged.

"Okay but I couldn't remember all the goblin rebels' names, so I invented a few. It's all right," Ron said, helping himself to a Cornish pasty, "they're all called stuff like Bodrod the Bearded and Urg the Unclean; it wasn't hard."

"Hmm, I recall a certain girl who did the same," Mrs. Tonks said, looking over at her daughter who was ignoring her mother's stare.

"Yes, well I passed anyway."

"Alex?"

Alex turned to see Daphne, Blaise, Draco and Tracey standing there looking curious. "Who are they?" Daphne asked giving Alex a cute smile.

"My family on Sirius´ side, Nymphadora, and Mr. and Mrs. Tonks," Alex said. "Tonks family, meet my Slytherin friends, Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, and Tracey Davis."

"It is a pleasure to meet you." Daphne said with a warm smile as she shock each family members hand. "I am happy that Alex will have some family rooting for him."

Mrs. Tonks smiled, "the pleasure is ours my dear.

"So did your exams went okay?" Alex asked his Slytherin friends.

All of them nodded.

"Why don´t we all eat lunch here?" Alex asked and they all did. Gryffindors, Slytherins and two old Hufflepuff were sitting at the same table. Soon after Erik Jensen and Susan Bones came and joined them. Nobody made any fuss although a lot of Gryffindors like Ron looked uncomfortable while some looked annoyed.

Alex and the Tonks Family whiled away the afternoon with a long walk around the castle. When there was a little over an hour before dinner, Alex excused himself. Not that he wanted to leave but Daphne had slipped a note in his hand during lunch, telling him to meet outside a certain classroom.

When Alex arrived there, he saw he was the first or he thought he were as someone grabbed him and dragged inside the room. "It is about time." Daphne said.

Alex smiled a bit as he watched her closed the door behind them. "So what is up?"

Daphne smiled as she walked over to Alex and laid her hands on his cheeks. "I just wanted to wish you good luck."

"Okay," Alex smiled, "and you wanted to do that in private? Why not do it in public?"

"You know why." Daphne said before pulling Alex in to a wonderful kiss. Alex responded by laying his hands on Daphne´s back, and the couple´s lips moved tenderly each other. Alex completely lost track of time as he kissed with his girlfriend. When they pulled back, both of them were slightly out of breath. "Good luck my beloved." Daphne whispered.

"That was some good luck kiss," Alex breathed out, stilling having his arms around his girlfriend.

"Well it have to be. We have to make sure that it works."

"Well it is certainly gives motivation to come back." Alex smiled giving Daphne a small peck on the lips.

"That wasn´t a motivation kiss my love."

"It wasn´t? Well then I would like to see-"

"This is a motivation kiss." Daphne said pulling Alex in and began snogging him senselessly. The couple exited the classroom ten minutes later as they fixed their hair and robes before they began walking back to the great hall.

They had just made a turn when they ran in to Nymphadora.

"So did you enjoy your alone time?" She asked in a teasing voice.

Alex felt his face growing hot. "I don´t know what you mean?"

"Don´t you?" Dora smiled, "you seem to have gotten a bit lipstick on your face."

"What?" Alex said as he began whipping his face, before looking at his hands. "I don´t have any lipstick in my face."

Dora smiled even more. "No you hadn´t, but you guys are together isn´t you."

"It is a bit oblivious Alex," Daphne said as she grabbed Alex´s hand as a tiny blush appeared on her cheeks. "Yes we are Miss Tonks."

"Just Tonks."

"Dora you have to promise not to tell anyone." Alex said.

"Dora?" Daphne asked.

"It is a nickname for Nymphadora." Dora said, "Normally it is my parents who can call me that. It seems my cousin can as well," she paused. "Just like his girlfriend. And yes I promise to keep your love story to myself. By the way you love birds should know that the dinner is starting soon, and the champion is expected to be there Alex."

…

As Alex, Daphne and Dora joined everybody else in the Great Hall. Daphne smiled at Alex before leaving towards the Slytherin table. As he sat at the Gryffindor table, Alex saw that Ludo Bagman and Cornelius Fudge had joined the staff table now. Bagman looked quite cheerful, but Cornelius Fudge, who was sitting next to Madame Maxime, looked stern and was not talking. Madame Maxime was concentrating on her plate, and Alex thought her eyes looked red. Hagrid kept glancing along the table at her.

The feast had more courses than usual, but Alex, who now was starting to feel really nervous now, didn't eat much.

"Oh no," Harry said as he checked his pockets while his friends watched. "No no where is it?"

"What?" Alex asked.

"I can´t find my wand."

"Harry!" Hermione said, "You should be more careful."

"I know. Wait I left it on my bed." Harry said as the enchanted ceiling overhead began to fade from blue to a dusky purple. "I need to go get it, try and save me a seat will you?" He asked Ron who nodded, and then quickly ran off. Soon after Dumbledore rose to his feet at the staff table, and silence fell.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now?"

Alex got up. The Gryffindors all along the table were applauding him; the Tonks' and Hermione all wished her good luck, and he headed off out of the Great Hall with Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor.

"Feeling all right, Alexander?" Bagman asked as they went down the stone steps onto the grounds. "Confident?"

"Enough, I hope," Alex said. It was sort of true; he was nervous, but he kept running over all the hexes and spells he had been practicing in his mind as they walked, and the knowledge that he could remember them all made him feel better.

They walked onto the Quidditch field, which was now completely unrecognizable. A twenty-foot-high hedge ran all the way around the edge of it. There was a gap right in front of them: the entrance to the vast maze. The passage beyond it looked dark and creepy.

Five minutes later, the stands had begun to fill; the air was full of excited voices and the rumbling of feet as the hundreds of students filed into their seats. The sky was a deep, clear blue now, and the first stars were starting to appear. Hagrid, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick came walking into the stadium and approached Bagman and the champions. They were wearing large, red, luminous stars on their hats, all except Hagrid, who had his on the back of his moleskin vest.

"We are going to be patrolling the outside of the maze," said Professor McGonagall to the champions. "If you get into difficulty, and wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one of us will come and get you, do you understand?"

The champions nodded.

"Off you go, then!" said Bagman brightly to the four patrollers.

"Good luck, Alexander," Hagrid whispered, and the four of them walked away in different directions, to station themselves around the maze.

Bagman now pointed his wand at his throat, muttered, "Sonorus," and his magically magnified voice echoed into the stands.

"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. Alexander Black, 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!"

Alex looked into the stands, and could just make out Mr. and Mrs. Tonks, Dora, his girlfriend and the rest of friends applauding Fleur politely, halfway up the stands. No wait he couldn't see Harry anywhere, but he was properly on his way from the Gryffindor tower.

"So… on my whistle, Alex and Cedric!" said Bagman. "Three - two - one -"

He gave a short blast on his whistle, and Alex and Cedric hurried forward into the maze.

The towering hedges cast black shadows across the path, and, whether because they were so tall and thick or because they had been enchanted, the sound of the surrounding crowd was silenced the moment they entered the maze. Alex felt almost as though he were underwater again. He pulled out his wand, muttered, "Lumos," and heard Cedric do the same just behind him.

After about fifty yards, they reached a fork. They looked at each other. Alex exhaled and then ran right.

Alex heard Bagman's whistle for the second time. That meant that Krum had entered the maze. Alex sped up. His chosen path seemed completely deserted. He turned right, and hurried on, holding his wand high over his head, trying to see as far ahead as possible. Still, there was nothing in sight.

Bagman's whistle blew in the distance for the third time. All of the champions were now inside.

The maze was growing darker with every passing minute as the sky overhead deepened to navy. Alex reached a second fork.

"Point Me," he whispered to his wand, holding it flat in his palm.

The wand spun around once and pointed toward his right, into solid hedge. That way was north, and he knew that he needed to go northwest for the centre of the maze. The best he could do was to take the left fork and go right again as soon as possible.

The path ahead was empty too, and when Alex reached a right turn and took it, he again found the path unblocked.

Alex was beginning to worry about the lack of obstacles. Surely, he should have met something by now. It felt as though the maze were luring him into a false sense of security. Then he heard movement right behind him. Alex held out his wand, ready to attack, but its beam fell only upon Cedric, who had just hurried out of a path on the right-hand side. Cedric looked severely shaken. The sleeve of his robe was smoking.

"Problems Diggory?"

Hagrid's damn Blast-Ended Skrewts!" Cedric hissed. "It would wise to take another rute."

"Right then." Alex said and then he watched Cedric run off again.

Alex sighed heavily through the nose, at least he knew where he shouldn't go , so he hurried off again in a different direction. Then, as he turned a corner, he saw a dementor gliding towards him. Twelve feet tall, its face hidden by its hood, its rotting, scabbed hands outstretched, it advanced, sensing its way blindly toward him. Alex could hear its rattling breath; he felt clammy coldness stealing over him, but he smiled nonetheless, knowing what he had to do.

Alex summoned the happiest thought he could, concentrated with all his might on the thought of his girlfriend, Daphne, raised her wand, and cried, "Expecto Patronum!"

A silver eagle erupted from the end of Alex´s wand and soared toward the Dementor, which fell back and tripped over the hem of its robes… "What?" Alex had never seen a Dementor stumble.

"You've got to be kidding me!" he shouted, advancing in the wake of his silver Patronus. "You're a bloody Boggart! Riddikulus!" There was a loud crack, and the shape-shifter exploded in a wisp of smoke. "But why are you a Dementor? That is Harry and Blaise's fear not mine. Why didn´t you turn in to that thing?" Alex couldn't say that it was himself the boggart should turn into, he was happy that it hadn´t though. Maybe the teachers had used the spell that forced a Boggart to be a Dementor, like he had when he trained Harry. Deciding it wasn´t important Alex continued through the maze, briefly followed by the silver eagle until it disappeared.

Alex continued his run though maze heading north he took a turn left, then another then right. Every now and then, he cast a Four-Point Spell to see if he was going in the right direction. Even he manged to end up at a few dead ends. Alex had just doubled back from a dead end when he was face to face with a big troll. It was only luck that abled Alex to jump aside from the troll´s attack. Alex quickly casted two stunners that had no effect. The troll attacked again and Alex had to cast a shield charm, but the impact send Alex flying back. Seconds after he had hit the ground Alex casted an Impedimenta, before getting on his feet and ran. Ten seconds later, he could hear that the troll followed. Alex cast another Impedimenta over his shoulder, but from the sound he had missed. Alex ran faster and casted one more Impedimenta curse. This time the curse hit and Alex used the time get a good distance from the troll. Alex turn on his heel and screamed "Solais Excandescunt" the troll screamed in pain as it was blinded. Alex whipped his wand and casted the shockwave curse making the troll fall though one of the hedges. Alex smiled before hurrying away before the troll could recover. Once he had gotten a good distance, Alex used the Four-Point Spell to see that the troll had gotten him to Far East. There was one path that led west, so Alex sprinted that way. As he ran, Alex could hear someone scream.

"Fleur?" What had happened to her? Her scream seemed to have come from somewhere ahead, making Alex run faster. The path led Alex to a weird golden mist that was blocking the path in front of him. Alex knew from the Four-Point Spell that it was the right way and he hadn´t time to find a new one, and Fleur´s scream had come from that way.

Alex approached it cautiously, pointing the wand's beam at it. This looked like some kind of enchantment. He wondered what it was and if he could blast it out of the way.

"Reducto!" he said.

The spell shot straight through the mist, leaving it intact. Alex sighed, as he should have known better; the Reductor Curse was for solid objects. What would happen if he walked through the mist? Was it worth the risk, or should he double back? There had to be a way, he didn't want to turn back, it would take too much time.

Alex took a deep breath and stepped though the mist.

The world turned upside down. Alex was suddenly hanging from the ground, with his hair on end, threatening to fall into the bottomless sky. He hung there, terrified, and tried to think of a way down. It felt as though his feet were glued to the grass, which had now become the ceiling. Below him, the dark, star-spangled heavens stretched endlessly. Alex didn´t want to move afraid that if he did, he would fall away from the earth completely.

"What can I do?" Alex said to himself. "Come on Alexander think! There have to be a way think!" He could feel the blood rushed to his head, "just think!"

None of the spells Alex had practiced had been designed to combat a sudden reversal of ground and sky. There was the possibility that it was an illusion and Alex could break it but simply taken a step. However if he was mistaken and the ground and sky had been reversed then it would be fatal. So should he move his foot? Alex could think of two options - try to move, or send up red sparks, and wait to be rescued and disqualified from the task.

No, he wouldn't give up like that. Alex shut his eyes, so he wouldn't be able to see the view of endless space below him, and pulled his right foot as hard as he could away from the grassy ceiling.

Immediately, the world righted itself. Alex fell forward onto his knees onto the wonderfully solid ground. He felt temporarily limp with shock, and then smiled in relief. He took a deep, steadying breath, then got up again and hurried forward, looking back over his shoulder as he ran away from the golden mist, which twinkled innocently at him in the moonlight.

Alex paused as he came to a junction of two paths and looked around for some sign of Fleur. He was knew it had been her who had been the one that screamed. What had happen? Had she made it? Alex had seen no red sparks, but that didn´t mean anything. It could mean that she had got herself out of trouble, or was she in such trouble that she couldn't reach her wand? Well he couldn't do anything to help her now. Alex walked down the right fork with a feeling of increasing unease…but at the same time, he couldn't help thinking. That one champion was down.

Alex knew that the cup was somewhere close by, and if Fleur was out then - Alex could win this. He had gotten this far. He had beaten every task and for the first time since he'd found himself champion, he saw an image of himself, raising the Triwizard Cup in front of the rest of the school. Alex knew that he wanted that. Ambitious as ever Alex continued through the maze.

He met nothing for ten minutes, but kept running into dead ends. Twice he took the same wrong turning. Finally, he found a new route and started to jog along it, his wandlight waving, making his shadow flicker and distort on the hedge walls.

Then Alex rounded another corner and found herself facing a Blast-Ended Skrewt and it was enormous. Ten feet long, it looked more like a giant scorpion than anything. Its long sting was curled over its back. Its thick armour glinted in the light from Alex´s wand, which he pointed at it.

"Stupefy!"

The spell hit the skrewt's armour and rebounded; Alex ducked just in time before he was hit with his own spell. The skrewt issued a blast of fire from its end and flew forward toward Alex, who used the fire-controlling spell to send the fire back at the skrewt that was unharmed.

"Impedimenta!" Alex yelled. The spell hit the skrewt's armour again and ricocheted off; Alex staggered back a few paces and fell over. "Impedimenta." Alex yelled again. This time the spell it the skrewt´s underbelly and the skrewt froze. Panting Alex got on his knees and planted his left hand on the ground "Praeligo Radi" Alex felt as the magic soared through his arm and hand, and through the ground, and within seconds, branches, roots, and vines appeared from one the hedges and the ground and wrapped around the skrewt and was pulled into the hedge. Alex smiled as the ran in the opposite direction of the skrewt and in the next second it recovered from the hex and set the hedge on fire in an attempt to get free, but Alex was gone by the time it did.

Alex took a left path and hit a dead end, a right, and hit another; forcing himself to stop, heart hammering, he performed the Four-Point Spell again, backtracked, and chose a path that would take him northwest.

He had been hurrying along the new path for a few minutes, when he heard something in the path running parallel to his own that made him stop dead.

"What are you doing?" yelled Cedric's voice. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Then Alex heard Krum's voice.

"Crucio!"

The air was suddenly full of Cedric's yells. Surprised, Alex began sprinting up his path, trying to find a way into Cedric's. When none appeared, he tried the Reductor Curse again. It wasn't very effective, but it burned a small hole in the hedge through which Alex forced his leg, kicking at the thick brambles and branches until they broke and made an opening; he struggled through it, tearing his clothes, and looking to his right, saw Cedric jerking and twitching on the ground, Krum standing over him.

Alex pulled himself up and pointed his wand at Krum just as he looked up. Krum turned and then to Alex surprise began to run.

"Stupefy!" Alex yelled, sending a stunner towards Krum.

The curse hit Krum in the back, sending him flying forward and hit the ground with a thud, and lay motionless, face down in the grass. Alex stunned Krum before he walked over to Cedric, who had stopped twitching and was lying there panting, his hands over his face.

"Are you all right?" Alex said roughly, grabbing Cedric's arm. Alex felt a bit of sympathy at Cedric knowing what it was like to put under that curse.

"Yeah, I'm fine," panted Cedric and Alex let him go. "Yeah… I don't believe it…he crept up behind me…I heard him, I turned around, and he had his wand on me…."

Cedric got up. He was still shaking. He and Alex looked down at Krum. "I can't believe he did that." Cedric said looking at Krum. "I mean that curse.

"I don´t think it Krum was himself, his eyes looked weird." Alex said looking at Cedric. "Did you hear Fleur scream earlier?" Alex added.

"Of course I did," said Cedric. "You don't think Krum got her too?"

Alex nodded. "Yes"

"Should we leave him here?" Cedric muttered.

"No," Alex said immediately. "well maybe but I suppose we should send up red sparks. Someone'll come and collect him…otherwise he'll probably be eaten by a skrewt."

"He'd deserve it," Cedric muttered.

"Didn´t you hear Krum was under some kind of spell, that is why he didn´t attack me."

Cedric nodded and raised his wand and shot a shower of red sparks into the air, which hovered high above Krum, marking the spot where he lay.

Alex and Cedric stood there in the darkness for a moment, looking around them.

Then Cedric said, "Well…I s'pose we'd better go on…"

"Yeah," Alex said. "You're welcome by the way."

"Yes thanks, but why help me?"

"Again you have been wrong about me Diggory." Alex said.

It was an odd moment. He and Cedric had been briefly united against Krum – now the fact that they were opponents came back to Alex.

The two of them proceeded up the dark path without speaking, and then Alex turned left and Cedric right. "It is just us now." Alex said. "I want to win this."

Alex moved on, continuing to use the Four-Point Spell, making sure he was moving in the right direction. It was between him and Cedric now. His desire to reach the cup first was now burning stronger than ever. He wanted to win, wanted be prove that he was better. He wanted to prove to everyone how strong he was. He wanted to prove that he was a hero.

Every so often, he hit more dead ends, but the increasing darkness made him feel sure he was getting near the heart of the maze. Then, as he strode down a long, straight path, she saw movement once again, and her beam of wandlight darkness. Alex was amazed of what he saw; it was a beautiful creature. Alex had only seen one pictured on Monster book of Monsters. It was a sphinx It had the body of an over-large lion: great clawed paws and a long yellowish tail ending in a brown tuft. Its head, how however, was that of a woman. She turned her long, almond-shaped eyes towards Alex. The sphinx didn´t looked ready to attack, but pacing from side to side of the path, blocking his progress. As Alex approved, she spoke, in a deep, hoarse voice.

"You are very near you goal young one. The quickest way is past me."

"Well you let me pass?" Alex asked.

"No." The sphinx said, "Unless you can answer my riddle."

"Okay, so I have to answer a question. What happen if I fail to answer?" Alex asked knowing the answer

"I will attack you, you can chose to remain silent and then I will allow you to leave."

Alex paused, he wasn´t bad with riddles, but he was no Ravenclaw. However, he had to take the chance. Cedric would win if he didn´t "Can I hear your riddle?

The sphinx smiled and nodded. "What does man love more than life, fear more than death or mortal strife, what the poor have the rich require, and all contented men desire. What misers spend and spendthrifts save and all men carry to the grave?"

Alex gulped, "c-could I have that again? More slowly please?"

The sphinx blinked, smiled and repeated the poem.

Alex closed his eyes and repeated it to himself. He knew he could do this. What do men love more than life and fear more than death? Well for Alex it was his loved ones. He would rather die than lose them. However, that didn´t fit with the rest. A rich men would have everything and poor man didn´t. Then there was the next part of the contented men. It sounded like the mirror of erased. A man truly happy man could see nothing but himself.

Alex opened his eyes. Was that the answer? Yes, it fitted with the rest. Misers spent nothing and spendthrifts saved nothing. And the rest yes it all fits. Also the first, it was exactly that men like Voldemort acted. "Nothing! The answer is nothing."

The sphinx smiled and before moving aside. "Thanks," Alex was and sprinted forwards. Alex knew that he was so close. From the Four-Point Spell he could see that he was in right part. He just had to be quick, hope that he didn´t run in to something and that Cedric did. As he turned a corner, he ran in to another problem, a giant Acromantula appeared in front of him it had menacing eyes and pincers. Alex stepped back in horror, it looked even worse than Harry had described.

Alex raised his wand and was about to shoot a curse when a smaller acromantula appeared from behind the bigger one. It growled and jumped towards Alex who ducked under the spider, which landed behind him. Alex the pointed his wand at the smaller spider, and shouted, "Reducto!" And the spell hit the smaller spider which exploded into many pieces of guts and purple blood. Alex then turned to the bigger spider, which was outraged at what Alex had just done.

The Acromantula hissed and quickly ran towards Alex who lifted his wand towards the spider, and summoned up a lot of his magic, and shouted, "REDUCIO!" The charm soared and hit the giant spider, and within moments, the giant Acromantula shrunk down into a tiny spider, no bigger than his thumb. Alex walked forward and stepped on it, killing it.

Alex then broke into a run. He had a choice of paths up ahead. "Point Me!" he whispered again to his wand, and it spun around and pointed his to the right-hand one. He dashed up this one and saw light ahead.

The Triwizard Cup was gleaming on a plinth a hundred yards away. Alex saw Cedric ending another Acromantula as he run passed him. "See you later Diggory."

Cedric growled as he sprinted as well before he tackled Alex to the ground.

"Give this up Black I am the true champion," Cedric said as he got to his feet, and then began running towards the cup. In anger, Alex rolled around, and pointed his wand at Cedric, tripping him with a Tripping Jinx.

"I don´t care anymore!" Alex roared as both he and Cedric got to their feet.

"Just give up Black." Cedric hissed, "Expelliarmus!"

Alex raised his wand and shouted, "Returnus!" Redirecting Cedric's disarming spell towards him, but it didn't hit as Cedric ducked from the spell. "Why do you hate me?" Alex screamed as he ran forward and tried to jump over the Hufflepuff, but he was caught into the air and slammed onto the ground.

Alex had the wind knocked out of him, and couldn't breathe. He opened his eyes to see Cedric smile and stand up to his feet and slowly walk towards the cup. "I don´t hate you Black. I just want to win this."

Alex growled as he got to his feet holding his stomach as he watch Cedric near the cup. No, Alex wouldn't let him win like that. No he needed to win. Taking in all his pain, Alex ran in full sprint, as fast as he could towards Cedric and the Cup, and within moments, and at the same exact time, Alex and Cedric both grasped a handle.

Instantly, Alex felt a jerk somewhere behind his navel. His feet had left the ground. He could not unclench the hand holding the Triwizard Cup; it was pulling him onward in a howl of wind and swirling colour, Cedric at his side.

….

Chapter end.