Chapter XIV
The Final Task
The third task was upon them faster than Hermione expected. The late spring evening was still chilly enough that Hermione wore a woolen jacket. The whole thing was more of an end-of-the-year party than any sporting event. Once the contestants were sent out into the maze, there wasn't much to be done in the stands other than socialize. People mingled and moved about, but the whole thing felt a bit deflated to Hermione. The culmination of the Tri-Wizard Tournament and they were just sitting in a semi-circle of bleachers, waiting.
There were many people about that weren't part of any of the three schools. There were goblins, scruffy looking people standing near empty cages, and a number of spectators just there for the show, such that it was, including the Malfoys. Narcissa took Draco into a hug and began talking to him. Mr. Malfoy stood a bit apart from them, standing in a pose that showcased his stylish black robes.
Draco was released by his mother and Narcissa waved at Hermione, who waved back. She then beckoned Hermione down from the stands. Reluctantly, Hermione walked down.
Narcissa placed her hands on Hermione's shoulders, kissing both her cheeks warmly. "Lovely to see you, dear," she said. "How are you?"
"My exams went well," said Hermione.
"Oh, I'm sure. But I want to know how you are, not how your exams went."
"It's been…" Hermione bobbed her shoulders, "Difficult."
Narcissa clicked her tongue. "It is such bad form, publicizing children's private lives."
"I don't even know – half of it isn't remotely true, and the other half is taken completely out of context."
"I've tried to have Lucius talk some sense into Ms. Skeeter. Once her claws get into a story, though, she doesn't usually stop. But I want to hear things from your perspective."
"What's to say?"
"It is a difficult situation, I am sure. And perhaps not one you fully understand. We, in your view, might be a bit antiquated. But what you do have to understand is that we aren't muggles, and what you might believe is right may not apply."
"I… I've come to understand the differences," said Hermione. "Somewhat."
"I must say I'm not pleased with how Draco has handled everything. Nor Lucius, but that is beside the point. He told me he didn't inform you until after an arrangement with Daphne was agreed."
"Yes," said Hermione sourly. "He didn't want to tell me."
"Nor should he, but he should have told you nonetheless. Things like this have no place being kept secret, especially from those we love."
"Love?" Hermione snorted. "I suppose love is for muggles."
"On the contrary," said Narcissa, "I feel like love is inherently magical. It does make you feel quite, hmm… elevated."
"Hardly seems room for it here."
"My sister had an arranged marriage," she said. "but I did not. I met Lucius on my own and I fell in love with him. It wasn't the most popular match in my family," she paused, slightly, "but Lucius proved himself a worthy man. I wanted him, and I got him. I see no reason why two intelligent young people can't choose for themselves who they wish to be with."
Hermione wasn't going to reveal that she had already seen Narcissa and Bellatrix's story. She got the same feeling in her gut that the Polyjuice had stirred. A feeling perversion, of intruding upon someone else without their knowledge or consent. Narcissa's life was her own, and Hermione had already seen some things she ought not to have.
"It doesn't seem that Draco is choosing for himself."
"No, but he is young and Lucius is insistent. I assure you, though, Hermione, that Draco will make the right choice. He does love you."
Hermione tightened her jaw and looked away. "Maybe I don't care anymore."
Narcissa sighed. "Hermione, don't your parents ever try to make a path for you? Don't they present you with options that you do not desire? It is hard to say no. If my father had insisted I let Lucius go, at your age, I don't know if I would have defied him. Yes, eventually I think I would have decided I knew best, but parents have a way of getting what they want in the short term."
Yes, Hermione had felt the weight of her parents' wishes. Vacations, dinners… but never betrothals. They would never press something like that on Hermione. "It's not the same," said Hermione. "He… he never even considered saying no."
"It was a school dance," she said, "when you were fifteen. Years down the road, it will mean nothing. Draco may not be the most intelligent when it comes to us girls, but he has a good heart, Hermione. Before you're all out of Hogwarts I am certain he and Daphne will come to some agreement. I don't know how she feels about all this, but I doubt she will be thrilled when Draco's feelings become obvious to her."
"Daphne isn't the problem," said Hermione, crossing her arms and looking away.
"Oh? Have you spoken with her, then?"
"A bit," said Hermione. "She doesn't want it, either."
"Then the whole thing will collapse on its own. You just have to remain patient."
"It won't," Hermione murmured. "Because as much as she doesn't like it, she's set on going through with the whole thing."
Narcissa frowned. "Whatever do you mean?"
Hermione cleared her throat. "She sees it as protecting Astoria from worse."
"Dear me," said Narcissa, putting a finger to her chin and tapping. "I would never think Nicolas and Olivia would do anything without their girls' consent."
"It's not about consent, it's about their loyalty to their parents. If Draco said no to Mr. Malfoy, what would happen? Would he force Draco into it?"
"I would never allow that," said Narcissa.
"But he hasn't said no."
She nodded.
"Because he thinks it is important to your family."
"I suppose."
"Daphne, too."
"Children," she shook her head. "They never think quite right."
"It doesn't help when their parents force their hand."
Narcissa looked pensive, staring out at the vast maze. Many moments went by, and Hermione decided the conversation was over. She slipped away behind Narcissa and moved along the front of the bleachers. Many people were out of their seats and milling around. The smell of barbeque floated on the air, though Hermione couldn't see any pillar of smoke around.
She drifted around until she was nearer the empty cages than anything else. Though she was intrigued with what exactly had been in them, she didn't relish going near any of the seedier handlers. The best dressed among them wore a worn blazer with giant holes showing through to his mud-smeared shirt beneath.
Next to the cages a collective of goblins huddled together. One held a ledger and a quill and the others were dictating and placing gold coins on it. The goblin with the ledger marked with his quill and slid the coins into a large bag. The practice continued for a long while, and some goblins exchanged coins without conferring with the bookie. Side-action, perhaps. Hermione watched intently until one of the goblins looked up at her and hissed.
"Granger," he said, making a gesture with his clawed hands that Hermione guessed was something rude. After a thought, she remembered him from Borgin and Burke's in the summer. He had the scars on his face and the iron earring. The goblin spat on the ground and walked off. The rest of the group eyed her cautiously before shuffling a few paces further away.
The thought of returning a rude gesture crossed her mind before a gentle hand patted her back. "Ignore him," the man said. He was tall but not lanky, with bright red hair pulled into a pony tail. He smiled warmly at her, and something about him made her lips curl in return. "Did I hear him call you Granger?"
"Uh," she stammered under his smile, "Yeah, yes, he did. I'm Hermione Granger."
"Ah. Then you know my brother Ron?"
Hermione's smile faltered. "Ron… Weasley?" She looked to his red hair.
"Yes. I've heard some things about you, I suppose." Hermione tried to find words to respond, but he continued. "I wouldn't pay him much mind. Boys are dumb, right?"
Hermione let out half a snort, then thought it undignified and flushed. "We aren't friends, if that's what you mean."
"Unfortunate," he said, "But not unsurprising. He's the youngest boy of six, so he's used to stoking confrontation. Bill Weasley, by the way. Sorry for not introducing myself." His handshake was strong, but not crushing.
"Nice to meet you," she said. "So… what was with that goblin? That's not the first time he's done that."
"Oh, Galmor? He's not having a great time of it. Gotten into some money trouble, some debts haven't come through for him. Mostly his own fault, but he's been on edge for a while now."
"So, uh, how do you know him? I didn't think goblins got chummy with wizards."
"Chummy? No. But I've done some work with him. I'm a Gringotts curse-breaker."
"Oh," said Hermione, suddenly rethinking her assumptions about the Weasleys. They weren't all losers, after all. "So, you're coworkers?"
A flash of red lit the evening sky. Sparks from the maze. "Oh, I hope that was Krum. Or Diggory," Bill said. "But Galmor managed one of my projects a few years ago. Not saying he wasn't good at it, but the Bank moved him to Account Management for a reason. Artifacts tended to go missing under his watch. Now he just oversees the L accounts. Langley, Lestrange, Longbottom, Lowe. Accounts with protections against theft, even from insiders."
"Huh," said Hermione. "I first met him at Borgin and Burkes."
"Yeah, that would figure," said Bill. "He got caught cheating at cards and owes some big money. Ludo Bagman owes him more than enough to cover it, but Bagman is a slippery fella and hasn't paid his dues. Galmor probably pilfered some trinket off the streets and pawned it off for some extra coin. Oh, damn."
Wizards on brooms had returned from the maze carrying the silvery robed figure of Fleur Delacour. They set her down in a chair and Madam Pomfrey revived her from her stunned state.
"I was rooting for her," said Bill. "Of course, only because I'm not sure Harry's up for it. It's a silly thing for a fourth year to compete in the Tournament."
"I don't know," said Hermione. "I think his problem is that he's too thick, not that he's too young."
Bill chuckled. "You are pretty cutthroat, aren't you? Ron was right."
Hermione frowned. "Don't listen to anything that boy says," she said, but Bill kept laughing.
"It's not all bad. He says you're wicked with a wand."
Hermione bit back a comment along the lines of 'a snail would be wicked compared to him'. That was Bill's brother, after all, and it would be a little rude to say such a thing.
"Ah, Miss Granger, how is the event treating you?" Ludo Bagman had appeared out of nowhere. "I was worried that our Harry had some trouble, but it was only Miss Delacour."
"It's fine," she said stiffly. Hermione suddenly remembering that the Daily Prophet was read by nearly the entire wizarding population, and that Bill Weasley had probably read about her in the newspaper, not heard about he from his brother. "I have to go," she said, walking away without a look back.
Hermione stopped in the shadow of one of the bleachers and just stood, watching people. Up in the stands the Gryffindors were being led by Seamus Finnegan in a chant supporting Potter. She saw Cho Chang babbling about Cedric Diggory to anyone who would listen, and the Beauxbaton section was arguing against Delacour's exclusion from the rest of the task.
Things settled down for a while until the headmasters converged with little fanfare, heads leaning together. Hermione watched them speak, Karkaroff making violent motions with his hands until another pair of wizards on brooms deposited Victor Krum and Karkaroff streaked over to him. The Durmstrang headmaster interrogated a dazed Krum.
Hermione heard Ludo Bagman gasp, holding his arm. "An old Quidditch injury," he reassured Bill Weasley, mocking a beater's swing with his left arm while still clutching it. "Still gives me some problems. Let me step away for a minute."
At the same time, Karkaroff abandoned Krum, beelining past Dumbledore to Snape. Moody was watching him, and took a pull from his flask. Karkaroff said a few words to Snape, and Snape responded just as shortly. Karkaroff stomped his foot, then, glancing around, sped off.
Snape and Dumbledore came together and spoke in low voices. Dumbledore turned to look at the maze several times. Moody limped to their side, pointing at where Karkaroff had run off. Dumbledore shook his head.
Lucius Malfoy announced loudly that he had a meeting at the Ministry. He kissed Narcissa's cheek and began walking away from the stands.
Minutes passed. The crowd continued just as before, but Hermione was watching the professors keenly now. Dumbledore had not taken his eyes off the maze. She wondered if he could see through the maze, if he was watching Harry right at this moment. It was Cedric against Potter now, with Krum and Delacour out. A Hogwarts victory was ensured, but Dumbledore did not look happy.
Hermione kicked a divot into the dirt. Other than Dumbledore's behavior, everything was going swimmingly. The Hogwarts sections were in full voice, cheering their champions on to the win. Rival chants for Harry and Cedric battled each other for audio supremacy, until there was a flash at the entrance to the maze.
Harry and Cedric both appeared, Harry holding the Tri-Wizard Cup.
As if the chants before were only a whisper, the stands exploded in rampant cheering, so loud Hermione winced. The Gryffindors redoubled their efforts and screamed Harry's name. Harry himself was kneeling over a laying Cedric, grabbing at his shirt, cup forgotten next to him.
Dumbledore hurried to his side, as did the other professors. More and more people rushed forward, and then there was a piercing scream that cut through the bouncing atmosphere. Amos Diggory pushed forward from the stands. Dumbledore and Moody pulled Harry off Cedric. The Hufflepuff champion was still laying in the dirt, unmoving. Madam Pomfrey rushed to his side and collapsed to her knees.
The chants and cheers began to waver, turn to other noise. There were shouts, screams. The voice of the crowd drained to a whimper. People pressed forward, trying to get a look through the bodies of the professors and support staff. Someone began wailing at the center of the mass of people around Harry and Cedric.
Around the stands, students were looking to each other, covering their mouths. Hermione could feel her heart beating beneath her chest. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew it was something bad. Hermione saw Professor Moody pull a tearstained Harry from the growing circle of people, wrestling him away and out of the semi-circle of stands and up towards the castle.
With one last look back towards the maze, Hermione followed.
Just making sure you know this is rated M. For future chapters. Warned
