Incandescence
Part Fifteen
The Final Task
Disclaimer: One again, I still don't own Harry Potter. For the obvious reason that I am poor, for the not so obvious reason that my name and JK's has very little in common.
Warning: Like the previous story and fourteen chapters, this is slash. Watches bored readers warnder off. Apparently, everyone knows this. Good.
Author's Note: Well, this is it. The next-to-last chapter. It's early because I'll be gone the rest of the week, so you'll just have to deal. Don't look so disappointed. . . I have enough of year five to make it through the rest of the summer, though my beta hasn't see it yet, poor thing. She's sick so I haven't been pressuring her too much. Hopefully we'll revisit year three and get that edited before putting out year five. Unless the uproar is too big, but I hate to overwork her, and two years at once is a big undertaking. Oh, and before I forget, thank you sooo much, PrincessXXMoonXX, for being an amazing beta!
I've also got a new LJ account with slight AU of this. It's wife swap between Petunia and Chara when the boys are nine. Cyrrus is there too, and if you read it, you'll get to meet Phy's father, Connor! I've been considering turning it into something a bit bigger (three or four parts) to post here, so let me know what you think. Also, go read what I have. Phy wants people to meet his dad.
And, while I'm thinking about it, yes, I know Chara breaks the hippocratic oath. However, keep in mind what she's doing while it happens.
And thanks to all my reviewers. I'm nearing two hundred and amazed. I never thought it would be so popular! Thanks to all of you!
To She Who Cannot Be Turned: I'm really glad to hear you don't read with your eyes closed. Really. Sorry about not having much with Leon, I've just never made a character that's gained a fangirl before. Sorry. I've been trying to write a short about him and Sev since They don't ahve much time, but I have to decide on a topic yet. And since I need to work on year five, it's not something really high on my list (but high enough because I think it'd be fun to write) so hopefully I'll be able to work that out this summer sometime.
To Night Air: Thank you for reading! I'm glad you like the Lugovaloses. They were orginally a plot bunny, and I never thought it'd get this far! I guess you can't ever limit yourself, ne? There's one more chapter after this, to wrap up year four, then on to year five, if all goes well. About that description thing, I'd love for you to e-mail me and tell me what parts you'd like to be more descriptive. I may or may not do it, but I love to have these things pointed out to be taken into consideration. Other people might want the same thing, and I won't know unless you tell me, so please, do! I love criticism to make it better!
To Fae Child19: River and Rayne know a lot of things. . . the rest you'll find out in this chapter! Happy reading!
To phoenix catcher and Lady Halaia: Thank you very much! You both made me feel warm and fuzzy inside!
To Everyone: Thank you all so much! I'm so glad you've loved reading this as much as I've loved writing this! This has been more popular than I ever imagined, and thank you so much for the reviews, and the people tha tput me on alerts and favorites. It's an amazing feeling. But now, enjoy the next chapter!
oOooOo
The last few weeks of school passed with more stress than any of the students were willing to admit. Harry and Phyrrus had a small spat--since Harry seemed to spend more time with the champions than his boyfriend and Phyrrus felt left out--and had the rest of their friends lock them in a room until they made up. Hermione resolved it by moving their meeting to the room of requirement so they could all study together. Even with all the studying and extra help, though, Harry found himself growing more and more nervous as the task approached.
"Try the spell, Harry," River ordered, watching Harry flick his wand.
"Point me," Harry muttered, wondering why the little twins knew the spell. They had a wide array of spells at their disposal, though many were too weak to be of much use. Harry had only just realized how low their reserves were and how much trouble the two would have later in life. No matter how many spells they learned, anything beyond a seventh year level would be almost impossible for them to master, with a few of the mind spells the only exceptions.
Harry watched his wand spin and used his compass to find north. Both pointed the same direction. "I guess it works," He grumbled, canceling the spell. "Thanks, you two."
"We use it all the time." River grinned.
"Only because River gets us lost in the cornfields," Rayne confirmed, glaring at her twin. "Uncle Leon made us learn it so we could get out."
"You're the one that gets us lost!" River protested, crossing her arms.
"That is enough, both of you." Cyrrus put his foot down. "You've argued for three days, consecutively. What are you arguing about?"
"None of your business!" Both twins snapped at once, leaving the room in a huff. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Nice job, Cye," Phyrrus commented, bent over an essay for Severus. Cyrrus made a face at his cousin and continued on his own essay. Harry sat next to his boyfriend and pulled out his own, waiting for Cedric and the other champions to get out of class. They had promised to work with him for a little while in preparation for the task that was barely a week away. Harry swallowed heavily, trying to keep his belly in place. He didn't want to do this!
oOooOo
"Champions, if you'll come with me, please?" Dumbledore touched Cedric's and Harry's shoulders lightly in the Great Hall the night before the final task. "Your families have come to cheer you on."
"Really?" Harry's face lit up in delight. He was not expecting anyone to come for him, and raced from the room to see who had arrived. Cedric laughed, shaking his head sadly. He had to wonder what Harry's early life had been like if the idea of having family come to see him was such a novelty.
Phyrrus caught the look on the elder's face and shook his head. "You don't want to ask that question." Phyrrus told him firmly, gathering up the twins to follow Harry. "Trust me."
"Huh?"
"You want to know about his family. . . before. Don't ask that question, Cedric. It's a dangerous one." Phyrrus offered a sad smile, then followed his boyfriend from the hall to go see his family, Cedric following closely behind.
"Mum Chara! Sirius! Remus!" Harry threw his arms around all three at once, making them laugh and hug him back, holding him tightly.
"Hey, kiddo!" Sirius ruffled the black locks before him, smiling brightly. Remus was checking him over, as though to make sure Harry still had all his limbs, and Chara was laughing lightly. Leon chuckled, leaning against the wall. Molly Weasely approached for own hug, to Harry's shocked surprise. The entire Weasely family was there as well, as was Anders and both Grandma Carlisle and Grandma Lugovalos.
"Grandma! Grandma!" Harry laughed in delight as he was wrapped in their arms.
"Did you think we'd miss one of our babies competing in one of the biggest tournaments in the world?" Grandma Carlisle asked, kissing his forehead over his scar. Molly tensed. Harry hated people touching his scar! But to her surprise, he didn't seem to mind Grandma Carlisle's caress. She blinked in surprise. Apparently having parental figures had changed a lot about Harry.
"Mommy!" Rayne threw herself at her mother, followed closely by River. The two clung to the fully recovered Chara, grinning fiercely.
"Oof! Hey, girls," Chara hugged them both, then Phyrrus and Cyrrus, greeting Ginny cordially, and looking her over as the girlfriend of one of her babies. Ginny apparently passed muster when Chara gave her a hug as well. "Now, let's go find a place to catch up," Chara order. Harry grabbed one of her hands and dragged them from the room, more than happy to do so.
A smile lit Harry's green eyes. He loved having a real family.
oOooOo
Stars twinkled in the sky as the champions gathered at the starting point of the maze. Harry gulped, staring up at the foreboding hedges when Cedric and Krum clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll do great," Cedric told him. Harry flashed him a grateful smile, only turning when Phyrrus called his name.
Racing to the barrier where the students stood, watching, Phyrrus leaned down, pressing a quick kiss to Harry's lips. "For luck," Phyrrus whispered, and Harry raced into the maze as the whistle blew. Phyrrus sat back in his seat, hands clasped nervously. He knew Harry would need it.
Harry followed Cedric for a time before branching off, holding out his wand. "Point me," He muttered, smiling as he felt his bond thrum. He was going the wrong way, and he resolved it by turning the next corner. The maze was silent and empty, with no sign of the other champions. Harry bit his lip nervously. Surely he should have at least heard them by then. . .
Continuing on his way, Harry slowly realized there were no obstacles in his path. He should have met up with something at least, but nothing appeared. Pausing at a strange golden veil across his path, Harry held his breath. He had to pass through it. The world inverted as he stepped through, and Harry thought he'd fly into space for a single, dizzying moment.
Fluer's scream and Krum's shout made him run in the direction of the commotion, and he and Cedric met, watching Krum hold the only female champion under the Cruciatus curse. "What the hell?" Cedric gasped. But Harry was already moving. "Protago!" Harry shouted, snapping his wand toward Fluer's prone form, blocking the curse. Shifting his body, he launched into a flying kick Phyrrus had shown him, hitting Krum in the head.
"Something's wrong with them both!" Harry shouted to his companion. "Krum would never do that!" He raced to check on Fleur as Cedric shook Krum roughly awake.
"What happened?" Krum asked blearily. Fluer flopped limply against Harry's side.
"You held Fluer under the Cruciatus curse," Cedric told him tightly. "What happened?"
Krum's eyes widened. "Is she all right? I would never--!"
"I know. What's the last thing you remember?"
"I came around the corner, and somebody whispered a spell. . . I can't remember what, though from the feeling I am assuming it was the Imperious curse. Is she all right?"
"Yeah, she should be. I'm sending up sparks. Are you coming with?" Harry rose to his feet, placing Fluer against one wall.
"No. I don't know what happened, but I am stopping here. If I don't. . . what might I do next time?" Krum shook his head. "I will send up sparks. You two go. I will watch her."
"All right." Harry and Cedric separated, racing different directions. Harry turned back, watching Krum send red sparks into the air. Turning back, he nearly ran face first into a terrible creature of some kind. Green eyes widened as Harry recognized the blast ended skrewts that Hagrid had been raising. He had been so proud of the monsters.
"Shit." The teen muttered, dodging a pincer. "Stupify!"
The spell ricocheted off the armor and nearly took out Harry instead of the monster. Dodging another pincer, Harry aimed at the underbelly and recast it, knocking the thing senseless while he scrambled away to the relative safety of another part of the maze. "Point me," Harry muttered, watching the spell send his wand pointing in the opposite direction he was going.
"I have to be close," Harry muttered, canceling the spell and running faster, grateful for the self defense lessons Chara had forced Cyrrus and Phyrrus to give him over the summer. Not much, but it helped his endurance.
A figure blacked his path, and Harry skidded to a halt. It was a strange half-lion half-human creature that Harry thought existed only in legend. "Sphinx." Harry breathed, before offering a low bow.
The Sphinx straightened regally, looking the boy over. "Your goal is beyond me," She told him, her strange eyes glittering in the dimness. "You must pass me to obtain it."
"That what is my riddle, fair one?" Harry knew he was flirting, but Fluer had said that when he met a female magical creature they enjoyed flirts. The sphinx smiled slightly, tilting her head.
"First think of the person who lives in disguise,
who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,
the middle of middle and the end of the end?
And finally give me the sound often heard
during the search for a hard to find word.
Now string them together and answer me this,
Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?"
Harry frowned, pondering when the sphinx added, "You have one chance to answer. If it is right, you have safe passage. If it is wrong. . ." Her smile was frightening, and Harry eyed her claws for a moment. She had such a way with words.
"Can you. . . er. . . repeat it?" Harry finally requested. The Sphinx shrugged, doing as he asked. Harry's brows furrowed in thought.
"A person in disguise. . . telling lies. . . Uncle Severus! So, a spy. . . But what's that middle part? Hm. . . er. . .oh, er! Um. . . spy-er. . . spy-er. . . spider! It's a spider!"
The sphinx smiled at him, and Harry found himself afraid of her large, liquid gold eyes, but she only bowed her head slightly and moved out of his way. Harry smiled at her and rushed past to find the clearing holding the Triwizard cup. Harry paused for a moment to look at it. Every thing he'd gone through, all for a stupid little cup.
Cedric broke into the clearing, panting, and grinned at Harry. Harry grinned back, the smile falling from his face as a shadow appeared. "Cedric! Duck!"
Without question, Cedric collapsed, barely dodging the pincers aimed for his head. "Bloody hell!" The skrewt hissed in rage, moving to hit the teen with the explosive part, and Harry gripped his wand tightly. Tapping into his bond, he sought to shield Cedric. The bond thrummed at his question, power flowing through his body.
"Protego!"
Fire seemed to race through his body, joining his magic as he sought to give the spell enough power to stop the large explosion. Fire hit fire as the shield erected in front of Cedric, the shape of a Phoenix. Harry's eyes grew wide in awe. Cedric scrabbled to Harry's side, staring at the skrewt. Together, both of them knocked it unconscious.
"Now what?" Harry panted, glancing to a dirt-streaked Cedric.
"Now we take it together," Cedric offered, grinning at Harry. "Tie for Hogwarts."
Harry grinned in reply, carefully walking towards the cup. Cedric nodded, hands poised over the handles. "On three. One. . . Two. . . Three!"
A hook tugged at his navel, the world spun, and the maze disappeared.
oOooOo
Both boys landed in an unfamiliar cemetery, rolling to their feet even as they landed. "Part of the task?" Cedric asked, eyes wide. Harry hissed as his scar burned in pain.
"I doubt it," Harry grunted. "Wands out?"
"I recommend it." Cedric eyes the old cemetery. Tall gravestones reached towards the sky, and mist swirled around their legs. Both pulled out their wands. Harry mentally tugged the bond. It thrummed at him, soft Phoenix song echoing in his mind. He sent a calming thought to Phyrrus, carefully stepping around the gravestones when his senses screamed at him. Slamming into the ground, he barely missed the green light of the avada kedevra.
"Cedric!"
"Kill the spare!" The voice was high and cold. Harry screamed, whirling as green light washed over the cemetery, but it was too late. Cedric was falling.
"You bastard!" Harry screamed, leaping to his feet. "I don't know who you are, and I really don't care, but you're going to pay for that!" Harry nearly sighed after the rant. Clearly Phyrrus was rubbing off on him.
"How cute," The voice sneered. "You think you can defeat me?"
Ropes sprang forward, tying him to a headstone. "We'll see once my body is returned."
Harry's face went white and he sent a flash of panic along his bond to Phyrrus. Wormtail appeared, dragging out a large cauldron, and Harry felt his eyes grow wide. When had Wormtail escaped? Harry missed most of the ritual that Wormtail used, only trying to get away as Wormtail put a knife through his elbow. Harry growled.
Then he realized what was going on. Wormtail lifted the creature in his arms higher before dumping him into the cauldron. "Let it die," Harry breathed, not sure who he was begging. "Please, just let it die."
But the waters swirled around, lifted and changing until a tall, snake-like man tumbled out, naked. Robes were brought to him, and Harry stared in disbelief as he gave Wormtail a silver hand. Then he called his followers. Harry hissed in pain as his scar flared, and gasped as they began to appear. Voldemort stared at the incomplete circle for a moment, pondering the missing Death Eaters. He named several, mentioning their place, but paused at one spot. "The traitor," Voldemort sneered. "Severus Snape. He must die."
The other death eaters murmured to each other, and one finally stepped forward. "He is traitor?"
"He is with a dirty American wizard. Related, I believe, to that one's boyfriend," Voldemort gestured to Harry.
Harry growled low in his throat, but Voldemort approached, running one long finger down Harry's cheek. "I have found a way to destroy that pesky curse from your mother," the creature hissed. Harry barred his teeth.
"You and I now share blood," Voldemort smirked. "Let's see how you fare against me without her protection."
Harry was released and given his wand, which he gripped tightly. "Shall we duel?" Voldemort asked, stepping lightly around him. Harry sneered.
"Tsk, tsk," Voldemort clicked his tongue. "You need manners, boy. Bow." Harry refused, but Voldemort waved his wand, forcing him to bend.
"Fuck you," Harry grunted, forcing off the spell. "If you can't make me bow to you without a spell, you must be a poor dark lord."
"You dare insult me?" Voldemort hissed, Harry smirked. The bond thrummed. "Now, we duel."
The two danced, deadly and precise, for several moments before Voldemort sighed. "I grow weary of this stupidity. Avada kedevra."
"Stupify," Harry hissed. Red met green, and then they burned gold. Phoenix song began as the heavy golden rope connected their wands. The bond thrummed louder. Golden beads formed.
"Pathetic," Harry grunted, concentrating on the beads, ignoring the vibration of his wand. He had to get them to Voldemort's wand. Something was telling him, perhaps it was in the song that was building around them. The gold rope splinted, creating a cage of light, protecting them. No one could interfere.
The beads reached the end of the line.
Voldemort screamed as ghosts began to drop from his wand. Cedric. Some old man. A young witch. His parents. Mother first, then father. "M-mum? D-dad?" Harry gasped, only half concentrating.
"We're proud of you, son." Lily told him, smiling.
"Very much so, my son." James agreed. "We can buy you a few seconds. Use it to get out of here. We will distract him. When we say now, break the connection."
"I will. But I have one more surprise." Harry smirked as the ghosts of his parents approached Voldemort.
"Take my body back," Cedric pleaded. Gray met green.
"As you wish." Harry reached out to touch Cedric, their hands passing through each other's. Then Cedric went to help his parents.
"Now!"
Harry wrenched his wand away, running towards Cedric's body. He grabbed it, holding tight as he summoned the cup. Just before he was whisked away in a blur of color, Harry held out a hand. "Incendio!"
Fire roared as a Phoenix appeared, destroying the graveyard and sending everyone in it running for their lives. Harry smirked at the chaos before he was returned home.
oOooOo
The ground was hard and unyielding as he appeared, the cup bouncing off his head and Cedric landing on his chest. The teachers raced onto the field, pulling Cedric away, even as Harry sobbed, reaching for the body and shaking. Moody grabbed his arm. "Come on, Potter, up you get. Let's get away from these people."
Flashbulbs caught Harry's attention and he balked, sticking close to Moody's side. Tears continued to streak down his face as Moody led him towards the school. He didn't want pictures. . . not of this. He pressed closer, wondering where Phyrrus was when a thin voice, Rayne's, he thought, screamed. "Get away from Moody!"
"Get Harry, Phyrrus!" River shouted, and Harry was aware of thundering feet. Moody barely dodged Phyrrus' flying kick and countered Phyrrus' jab to his head, dropping Harry. Phyrrus gathered Harry up in his arms, jumping back as Leon appeared, in full uniform, fox face snarling. Moody went white as the interrogator slammed into him, sending them both to the ground. Leon palmed a knife, pinning Moody's hand to the ground as he tried to grab the other's mask and spinning backward to avoid a blow with the man's good leg.
Harry gulped, watching Leon, barely aware of Chara approaching. "What the hell is going on?" Chara demanded, making Mrs. Weasely mouth silently in shock.
"That man wants to kill Harry!" River and Rayne screamed, pointing to Moody. "And he's not Moody!"
And that was when Harry learned why no one ever makes Chara angry.
"Is that so?" Chara hissed, approaching, her eyes burning with fire. "We'll see about that."
Leon moved at the sound of his sister-in-law's voice, and Harry could see his hands shaking. Harry raised an eyebrow, burrowing into Phyrrus' side. Why was Leon so afraid?
Chara's wand made a snapping movement in the air, and Harry realized why. Medi-witches know how to heal people. But to do that, they must also know what hurts them. Chara knew spells to break bones so they could re-set them properly, and where pressurepoints and veins and arteries were to disable and kill. The Moody imposter--because Harry had no doubt if he was being attacked--arched and screamed as Chara vanished the bones in one leg and arm, and then snapped the bone in his opposite arm.
Well, that certainly explained why Leon hadn't wanted to be in the way.
Harry turned away. He didn't want to see this. When Grandma Carlisle and Grandma Lugovalos ushered them away, Harry made no move to protest. He didn't want to be there.
oOooOo