Chapter 19 – One Step Closer
High above the Quidditch pitch, Harry sat searching for any sign of the elusive Golden Snitch. In the final weeks leading up to the Third Task, it was decided that the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff rematch would take place on the day before the task. Finding replacements was easy enough, as all of the previous year's Hufflepuff team was still in school, meaning that the only player who needed a replacement was Wood. After meeting with the rest of the team, it was decided that a full tryout wasn't necessary and Ron was chosen to fill in for the graduated Keeper.
The match was just as competitive as it was last year, but with the maze drawing near, neither team wanted to risk their champion getting injured right before the close of the tournament. Both teams managed to keep it fairly even, with the score never straying for from a 20 to 30 point lead.
A movement to Harry's right caught his attention, alerting him to the approach of his opponent Seeker and fellow champion Cedric.
"Not a bad match 'eh Harry?!" He shouted over the roar of the crowd below. Even though the game was an unofficial one, all of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had turned up, with some of Ravenclaw and the visiting school deciding to make an appearance. Slytherin however, was noticeably absent.
"Yeah! Looks like it's down to you and me!"
"And this time, there won't be any dispute when I out fly you." The smile on Cedric's face told Harry that he was only slightly joking, causing a similar grin to sprout onto his own face.
"That confident are we?"
Before the conversation could continue, a quick flash of gold flew between the two, resulting in both of them rocketing off after the Snitch.
As their race continued, Harry was immediately hit with a sense of déjà vu, as the tiny ball was darting upwards into the clouds much it had during the previous match. The only differences this time was Harry's broom, the clearer weather and the lack of Dementors.
Almost as fast as it had flown past them, it changed direction and began a nosedive down back towards the pitch. Both Harry and Cedric forced their brooms forward in an effort to grab it before it decided to change directions again. At first they were evened up but ever so slowly, Harry began to pull ahead until he was able to clasp his fingers around the Snitch about 50 feet from the ground.
Holding up his prize, his ears were met by the deafening cheers from the Gryffindor section as well as a few smatterings from elsewhere. He searched the crowd for two particular individuals, and was fortunate enough to find them sitting together.
Looking up proudly at him were Hermione and Fleur. Though it was initially a rough start due to their preconceived notions, the two were slowly making their way to becoming friends. At least at this point they were at least friendly with each other, but he had figured that it would be a while before they progressed much further than that.
A gasp from the Hufflepuff section alerted Harry to something being wrong. Searching around, he saw Cedric flying some feet above him, apparently losing control of his broom. Flashbacks to Harry's first year when his broom had once acted the same gave Harry the presence of mind t act quickly.
Shortly after he had noticed, Cedric lost his fight for control and was cast off of his broom and began tumbling towards the ground some 40 feet below. Thinking quickly, Harry willed his broom forward in an effort to try and catch the older boy. What he didn't account for was the weight imbalance that the feat would cause, which led to both harry and Cedric to fall about 10 feet to the ground once Harry had intercepted him.
Moments after their landing, Hermione, Fleur, and Cedric's girlfriend Cho Chang came running out onto the field to check on him.
"Cedric!"
"Harry!"
"'Arry!"
Once the girls had arrived, they had found that neither boy was injured as Harry's intervention had stopped most of Cedric's fall.
"What 'appened to you two?"
Cedric was the first to answer. "I'm not sure. I was hovering after Harry caught the Snitch and all of a sudden, my broom seemed like it was determined to buck me off."
Cho immediately wrapped her arms around him and immediately began thanking him for being okay. Not wanting to interrupt the moment, Harry turned to talk to the other two.
"What about you Harry?"
"Yeah I'll be alright. I saw Cedric was in trouble so I had to do something." It was after this that Hermione's brows furrowed as a thought entered her mind.
"What is it 'Ermione?"
"Nothing." When neither Harry nor Fleur bought it, she reluctantly continued. "Oh alright then. I didn't want to say anything because I can't be too sure but-" her gaze tuned directly to Harry, "-I believe we've seen something like this before."
"What do you mean you've seen something like this before?" Fleur new that she was still in the early stages of friendship with Hermione but she knew that she and Harry had faced many things in the years before she met them.
Harry decided to answer her question first. "During my first match, my broom started acting the same way, I was nearly thrown off from about 100 feet in the air."
"What would cause your broom to act in such a way?"
Hermione was now looking at Harry, as if asking him if they should divulge any more before she appeared to relent.
"It was because someone was cursing Harry's broom. I managed to stop them and Harry was able to finish the match."
With that information out in the open, the three of them began to look around the Quidditch pitch for anyone in particular. No one who seemed like they would do such a thing was found amongst the sea of faces that is until Fleur noticed a peculiar sight over towards the path back to the castle.
Harry and Hermione followed her gaze and was met by the sight of a visibly irate Krum walking away from Professor Moody, who had an unsettlingly neutral expression on his face.
-HP-
"Mr. Potter. Miss Delacour."
Fleur's thoughts were interrupted by the approach of the Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress. Realizing that he hadn't been paying attention, she quickly righted herself and turned her attention to the older witch.
"Yes Professor?"
"Mr. Potter, you and Miss Delacour are needed in the chamber behind the staff table at once."
Fleur noticed that Harry's face paled at that. Ever since Cedric had nearly fallen off his broom, he had voiced his opinion that something didn't feel right. His constant nervous and edgy demeanor did nothing to calm her own frazzled nerves.
"Does zis 'ave somezing to do wiz ze task?"
"In a manner, yes. The champions' families have been invited to watch the Third Task, so you have the opportunity to see them." Both Fleur and McGonagall noticed the sudden somber turn in Harry's expression, and it was easy to determine why he had it. "Don't worry Mr. Potter, a certain ex-Professor of yours has come to watch along with his dog."
Harry's mood instantly perked up at that, requiring no further prompting from Harry to go off and see the two individuals. Bidding Ron and Hermione goodbye, the two champions strolled up the hall and into the chamber.
No sooner had he entered the room, Harry found himself on his back having been pounced on by Padfoot.
"Oi Padfoot. Cut it out!" The dog immediately relented and Harry began to pet and speak to the dog while Fleur watched curiously. It almost seemed as though the dog could somehow understand what he was saying.
"Hello Harry." Fleur turned her head to see a man in shabby robes strolling towards them, obvious joy in his eyes at seeing how the other two were behaving.
"Moony! It's good to see you. How've you been?"
"I've been fine Harry. I hear you're doing well yourself. Tied for first place and all." The man than leaned forward so that no on else could hea the next part. "Been keeping up with your training?"
"I have Moony," looking around briefly he also lowered his voice, "it's okay Moony Fleur knows all about my "condition"."
The man turned towards her and appeared to size her up. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure. Remus Lupin."
He extended his hand out, promptly Fleur to delicately take it. His grip was surprisingly fragile, but had the ghost of raw power being held back seemingly.
"Fleur Delacour. So you are a-"
"Yes I'm sure after what you just heard, that you have correctly deduced my condition. If it's not too much trouble, I'd rather not have said out loud. Some people might not like the idea of my kind being around a school full of children."
"I understand Mr. Lupin. My grandmozzer was a Veela so I am used to being looked down upon by many."
"Ahh I thought I smelled something different about you. Nevertheless, it's nice to meet someone who is a friend of Harry's."
The dog had now started to dart around playfully, knocking into Harry occasionally, causing him to chase after it for several minutes. The laughter from it only died once Fleur noticed her parents and Gabrielle walking toward them.
"Fleur!"
Like a platinum haired dart, the youngest Delacour launched herself into her sister's arms, hugging her with all she had.
"It is good to see you Gabrielle. Mama. Papa." She stepped up and gave her parents each a hug as well before introducing them to Harry's family.
"Mama, Papa, zis is Harry Potter and-"
"Remus Lupin. I was a friend of Harry's father. It is a pleasure to meet you both."
Her father shook the man's hand before introducing himself. "Likewise Monsieur Lupin. I'm Sebastian Delacour and this is my wife Apolline."
A shriek from their left caused all their heads to turn, only for them to witness Gabrielle chasing Padfoot around the room. This caused laughs from all the families, and the group continued to converse for several minutes, none of them noticing the glares being directed at them from the Bulgarian Champion across the room.
-HP-
The Great Hall was buzzing with activity as the excitement of the Third Task seemed to infect every student that inhabited the castle. It was because of this that Harry decided to use his extensive knowledge of the secret passageways, to find his way out of the castle and to the Quidditch pitch.
His days up until that point had been one of the best he had had all year. The fact that Sirius and Remus were both here to support him had temporarily evaporated the nervousness that had permeated through his body ever since the Quidditch match the day before. As he got closer to the maze however, the nerves had come back tenfold.
Despite Hermione and Ron's persistence that he would do fine, he couldn't help but feel that something was off. Everything from Professor Moody, to Krum's behavior, to Cedric almost being thrown off his broom made it see that something big is about to happen.
Just outside the stands, the trio stopped before it was time for them to split up. The apprehension was clear on everyone's faces. Ron was the first to make his way to the viewing area, calling out a good luck to Harry as he went to sit with his family, who had also come to show their support.
Leaving just himself and Hermione, the two just stared at each other for several minutes. The fear in her eyes was as evident as his own fear probably was in his own eyes. Their expressions told them all they needed to know, before Hermione launched herself at him in one of her trademark hugs.
"Promise me you'll make it back."
Harry knew that despite what she said, she was just as apprehensive about the task as he was. Her fear for her best friend was never more evident as it was now. He wanted to promise that he would, but he couldn't shake the feeling of dread he kept feeling.
"I'll try."
With that, she disengaged from him and took off towards the stands, not glancing back once. Harry knew that if she stopped, she'd never be able t go through with it and once again marveled at the courage of his best friend.
Entering the arena himself, Harry positioned himself at the second entrance to the maze right next to Krum, who seemed to be trying for a world record in scowling. To his right stood Cedric, who unlike the previous tasks, had found his nerve and appeared to be relatively calm in the face of the ensuing danger. He turned around to see Fleur approach and judging by the paleness of her face and was much like Harry, a nervous wreck. She too felt uneasy about all that had transpired before the task, to the point where she had all but abandoned trying to win and was just trying to survive.
She walked over to where he was standing, her features changing to a more determined expression.
"Good luck "Arry."
"Good luck to you too Fleur."
"I 'ope to see you after all zis is over", and to Harry's surprise she placed a quick kiss to his cheek. Blushing slightly, she then retreated to her spot before Harry could question her about it.
Ludo Bagman then made his way up to them before amplifying his voice to address the crowd.
"Tonight is the final task of the Triwizard tournament!" the statement was met by the thunderous roar of the crowd. After waiting for it to settle down after a few moments, he continued. "Tonight, our champions will have to navigate their way through the maze in order to reach their final goal. The Triwizard Cup!" The crowd cheered even louder at that and took much longer to settle down.
"The order our champions will enter the maze is as such. Viktor Krum and Harry Potter are tied for first and will enter the maze at the same time. Next in third place, Cedric Diggory will enter, followed finally by Fleur Delacour."
Harry briefly scanned the crowd and found the Weasley's sitting close to next to Remus and Padfoot, all of them smiling proudly at him. He specifically saw Ron, who gave him a quick thumbs up in an attempt to instill confidence. Obviously, it didn't work.
Next to him was the person he needed confidence from more than anyone. Hermione still had the look of fear n her face but it was now much more subdued. Noticing his gaze, she locked eyes with him and gave him a small smile. It was a small gesture but it was enough for him to divert his attention back to the maze in front of him.
"Mr. Krum. Mr. Potter. At the sound of the cannon you may enter the maze."
Not one moment later, the sound of a cannon blasted into the air, and Harry sped into the dark depths of the maze.
Author's Note:
Alright, here we go! Next chapter is obviously the maze but I've added a few things to change things up but also to further future plot points that I have planned out.
As you might have noticed, I've portrayed Krum as a little more sinister than he is in the books. In my opinion, Krum is a very one dimensional character so I decided to change hi up to make it more interesting.
As always, thanks for reading!