Chapter 27 – And the Winner is…
Harry wanted to spend the week leading up to the speed race finals in intensive flight training, but the teachers seemed to have got together and come up with a plan to prevent it. Instead, Harry found himself inundated with schoolwork. Essays from McGonagall; an ingredients case study for Snape; even a research project for Moody requiring use of the library archives. So Harry felt like he'd been literally grounded.
Harry found himself sat at a groupwork desk in the library, staring at a stack of books while he imagined being up in the air instead. He wanted to practise his emergency rolls since he knew Krum force him to make some in the finals. If Harry could master the roll-into-loop manoeuvre, he thought that—
"Oi!" said Blaise, flicking a wad of parchment at Harry. "Listen, would you?"
"What?" said Harry. He swatted away the parchment. "I was just…"
"I don't care," said Blaise. "You've got the custody interview from the Dolohov case. I need it."
Harry glanced down. So he did.
"Right. I was meant to be reading it but, er—I didn't," Harry said. "Give me a minute and you can have it…"
"No," said Blaise. He leaned over to grab the archive copy of The Daily Prophet which had Dolohov's custody interview in it and pulled it away. "You've had it ages already."
"You can have this one," said Theodore, slipping another copy of the Prophet to Harry. "I'm finished with it."
"Thanks, Theodore," Harry said. He copied down what he needed from the interview. Blaise had interrupted his brainstorming session anyway, and Harry didn't think there was any point dwelling on rolls and loops.
At least not until he could actually get up in the air on a broom.
Harry sighed.
"I wish Moody could just… take a day off. For once. This has to be one of the biggest bits of homework any teacher has ever given us," complained Harry. "And right before the speed race finals, too."
"Mate, Moody doesn't give a shit about the Triwizard Tournament—not the Gauntlet, Pariturium, or Aerobaticum," said Blaise. "You're lucky he's not giving you extra work just because of it. And anyway, it could be worse—you could be Draco. He's got to give five reasons why his dad's defence was bollocks." Blaise paused. "And then fly in the standard speed finals. So, you know."
That was true, Harry supposed. Moody's assignment had been to come up with five defences and five attacks for three separate individuals – one of whom was Lucius Malfoy. Draco would have to research and find five reasons why his father was a genocidal, lying, terrorist.
"Yeah, fair enough," said Harry. Draco was even in the library. Harry could see him across the room, sat with Vince and Pansy and the rest of his little gang – although he sat a short distance from the others, surrounded by a towering stack of books. "But I bet Krum and Giovanna don't have to bother with anything like this. I bet Karkaroff has them up flying day and night."
"With Karkaroff for a teacher they wouldn't need to do this research, anyway," said Theodore. "He was there. They could just ask."
"I suppose," said Harry. It didn't matter.
"You know, if you spent less time day dreaming—or complaining about homework—you could be done faster and you'd have more time to fly," pointed out Blaise. "Just saying."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Alright. Thanks for the support."
Blaise grinned.
"Here's my outline," he said, pushing a bit of parchment across the desk to Harry. "Go on, have a look at it—it should make it go faster for you."
Harry glanced at it.
"Thanks," he said.
"You can have mine as well," Theodore said. "I'm nearly finished, anyway. Just have to go over the introduction again, but… I can do that later. I've got time. Want to have a read of my work before you start?"
Harry considered it, then nodded. That would certainly speed things up. With any luck, he could even get some late-evening flight time in… before the curfew, anyway.
Over the next week Harry managed to scrape as much time in the air – and time sparring with Tracey outside of Duelling Club – as was humanly possible without the aid of a Time-Turner. The combination of help from his friends when it came to homework and some other cut corners meant that although Harry felt pressed for time, he also felt ready for the speed race finals.
And even if he hadn't felt ready, it wouldn't have mattered, as the last Saturday in January came, and with it, the finals.
It was just Harry, Krum, and Giovanna racing that day. As the three finalists to have come out of the first two rounds, they stood at the starting line that morning in front of the crowd of students, teachers, and members of the public who'd come along to watch. Along with a healthy number of press representatives, as the speed race final that morning would be the first of the Triwizard Tournament events to produce an actual overall winner.
Harry had some small hope that Rita Skeeter wouldn't get up to her usual tricks when doing her write-up of the event, but he'd prepared himself for the worst anyway. And at least if he won, he'd be in the papers for good reasons.
"Witches and warlocks!" shouted Bagman from where he stood to commentate on the event. "Today we're going to witness the thrilling culmination of the Aerobaticum's free speed race! After the first two rounds we're left with Viktor Krum—that's right, the Viktor Krum—of Durmstrang Institute, along with Harry Potter—the very same!—of Hogwarts School, and Giovanna Fantoni also of Durmstrang Institute!"
Bagman paused to wait out the cheers from the crowd, then continued.
"Today's race is the big one, folks! These lads—and lass—have got through to the finals so we know they're all fantastic flyers, but there can only be one winner today! So let's cut right to it, shall we?"
Harry gripped the shaft of his Firebolt tight. He had to be up and off the very moment Bagman counted them in, or he'd give Krum too much of a lead. Giovanna had proven she could snatch a win, but Harry thought with just the three of them competing, he could keep a much better watch over her – and do it while keeping up with Krum. The semi-finals, with its six competitors, had been a bit chaotic. The finals should be easier.
No, would be easier. Harry knew exactly what he was getting in for. Not in terms of the course itself – it was slightly different from the previous two. But Harry knew how Krum flew. Had been training tricks to directly counter Krum, even.
So, as long as Harry kept aware of where Giovanna was, he felt sure enough he could outpace her on his Firebolt.
Eventually.
Bagman counted them down.
Harry gripped his broom and prepared to move.
All three competitors shot off as soon as possible, lightning fast.
As Harry prepared to accelerate to top speed, Giovanna cut across his flight path with a tricky little swerve, cutting into Krum's way, too. Harry jerked his broom and veered off to the left while Giovanna righted herself with ease and sped off into the distance.
Harry righted himself with considerably more difficulty than Giovanna on her Hayami, but saw Krum have much the same trouble, too. The Firebolt was built for speed, not manoeuvrability at the end of the day, and against a broom like Giovanna's, that showed.
Harry brought his broom back on course and drew up next to Krum. After the first two rounds, Harry felt much more comfortable the professional's tricks, and had even managed to adopt some of them into his own repertoire. Harry knew his best chance at winning was to prevent Krum gaining any lead at all, because as hard as it was for Harry to admit it, Krum was the better flyer.
But that didn't mean Harry couldn't win.
Bagman's prattling faded into the background soon enough as Harry sped away from the stands and the starting area. The course was similar to the ones he'd flown in the first two rounds, but more complex. It even edged into Hogsmeade itself, headed out into the hills.
But none of that would be a problem. The speed race wasn't quite as simple to fly as a marathon, but it was still easier than a hazard race. And Harry had flown two competition-quality speed courses already.
The markers led away from the stands at a smooth, easy pace at first. Several markers had been placed along the tops of Hogwarts's inner wall, and Harry navigated those with ease. Just needed a slight angle up, and…. Harry cleared the inner wall. The markers wound around the wall, some above it, some on either side – and none in an easy pattern to fly through.
Krum was just ahead of him, but close enough Harry thought he could crowd him out. Or make him go wide, anyway.
Krum edged ever closer to Harry's broom. He needed Harry to slow down, wanted to try out the exact same tactics on Harry that Harry was using on Krum. Harry didn't let him. Instead, Harry leaned in towards Krum, angling for a collision unless the other flyer veered away hard.
It worked. Krum took a hard left to regain some distance, and Harry gained a precious few seconds over the Bulgarian professional. Harry righted his course and accelerated closer to top speed, although Krum was right on his tail soon enough.
The course wound away from the castle proper and towards the hills, with markers spaced unevenly. Glancing ahead, Harry saw the course wound around the hill and up towards the Old Owlery, the disused tower that sat near the edge of the grounds. An easy enough approach. Nothing overly complicated there, although several of the markers rotated.
As Harry crossed over the inner wall once again, rain fell. In spots at first, but on the approach to the Old Owlery, it poured. Fortunately Harry had on his flight goggles and new gloves, along with a basic Impervius Charm on his robes courtesy of Theodore. Even so, flying with a slippery shaft was never fun.
The Ministry does love a fiddle with the weather, Harry thought.
Harry slowed just a little for smoother and easier control. As he did so, Krum came hurtling right at him at the Firebolt's top speed. Harry dove to avoid a mid-air collision and watched, helpless, as Krum kept going heedless of the rain and wind – and the tower up ahead.
Harry threw caution to the winds – almost literally, given the conditions – and followed after Krum. He couldn't afford to be risk-averse, not when flying against Viktor Krum, an absolute nutter in the sky.
And it was only a bit of rain, anyway.
Harry pushed his Firebolt forward. Dipped down, moved through the markers along the top of the inner wall, looped up and around for a bit of flourish… then sped off towards the Old Owlery.
Krum hadn't managed much of a lead. Harry watched him wind around the Old Owlery tower in a series of tight arcs.
Arcs that Harry would have envied a few weeks ago – but which he knew now that he could manage himself, too. Harry coaxed more speed from the Firebolt. It was all a matter of timing. Knowing when to lean into the turn, knowing when to slow down. Knowing what the broom was capable of.
All things Harry had learned over the weeks of the competition.
He caught up to Krum as they crested the Old Owlery roof, came down on the other side. Harry glanced back, checked on Giovanna.
She was close. One marker behind.
But not as close as Krum.
Harry zipped through a series of rotating markers, then pushed his Firebolt out towards the hills where the course went on to Hogsmeade. Markers sat atop the hills at the edge of the Hogwarts grounds leading into Hogsmeade itself.
That could be tricky for Harry. Depending on how exactly the course was laid out, Hogsmeade was full of obstacles that would prevent the Firebolt from reaching its top speed. In fact, the course had probably been designed to give Giovanna's Hayami a proper outing, provide a good bit of challenge for Harry and Krum's Firebolts.
Think about that later, Harry reminded himself. He still had to outfly Giovanna on the approach, had to come up with a way of overtaking Krum…
Harry zigzagged through a trio of wobbly markers at the top of a hill, then dipped down to fly through the one at its base. He glanced back at Giovanna, mindful that she had just as many tricks up her sleeve as Krum but kept most of his attention on the markers ahead.
Harry followed the markers along the route, pressing forward through the farms ringing Hogsmeade, and then into the village itself.
The village itself was empty. Or, well, empty of foot traffic – people of all ages watched the race out of the their windows, stood at their doorsteps… Harry even saw one witch poke her head out of the chimney.
Markers went right up the main thoroughfare. One, two, three – each at a different height. Harry flew through the first, swooped upwards for the second, dove down for the third.
Krum was just ahead.
The next marker was right on top of the roof of a particularly tall and wonky house, so Harry angled his broom upwards to meet it. Inside the village was too cramped, the buildings too haphazardly pushed together, for Harry to approach top speed – so he had to be careful.
But so did Krum.
If Harry took just a little risk – pushed just a bit more power, coaxed a bit more speed –
There! Harry thought. He pulled a sharp turn through the next marker and nipped past Krum.
Harry accelerated away.
First place!
But Harry knew he couldn't celebrate. Not yet, anyway. He still had to finish the first lap, then had to make his way through the course again – twice. But he could do it. Could stay at the front if he was careful. And smart.
The course went through the streets, tracked the line of the rooftops towards the Hogsmeade Bell Tower, even went past the Shrieking Shack.
Harry cruised at top speed. The course wound back to Hogwarts along the Hogsmeade road. Simple enough, nothing especially complex. Not even any rotating markers. In fact, it seemed designed to tempt Harry and Krum especially into going along at top speed.
Something which made Harry wary of what was up ahead.
It's got to be a trap, he thought. There has to be something coming, something I'm not meant to handle…
Harry glanced behind. Krum wasn't far. Barely a second behind.
But up ahead was the gatehouse… and the next marker. The marker was narrow, moved up and down. Most of the time it sat just above the gatehouse roof, but sometimes it dipped below. Harry would have to slow on the approach, give himself enough time to—
Krum shot past, followed by Giovanna, as Harry slowed down.
"Ah, shit!" said Harry. He'd lost the lead. Gone from first place to third, and now the stupid marker was hovering in front of the bloody wall. While Harry floundered back at the gate he watched Giovanna and Krum speed off into the distance across the inner grounds.
Harry scrambled to catch up. The course carried on along the path to the Entrance Hall, up through the lawns, then along the main battlements.
Harry remained at the back, Giovanna and Krum just ahead. The trouble with the Hogwarts part of the course was all the stupid towers. The battlements. The exterior bridges and walkways and all the rest of the little details around the castle that got in the way. It didn't help that the markers varied in size, behaviour, placement.
Up ahead, Harry saw Giovanna pass into the lead more than once, her broom's superior turning abilities – and her skill in using it – edging out Krum's speed advantage.
And all of that with Harry left behind.
He followed them up and around the Bell Tower. Dropped into a sharp dive towards the Transfiguration Courtyard. Joined the carousel around the statue at its centre as the markers wrapped it once, twice, three times.
At the third time around the course went straight up into the air. Harry pulled himself into a vertical climb. Pushed the Firebolt towards its top speed.
If I just…
Cleared Giovanna. Shot past her, edged his broom just close enough to knock her off course without committing a foul.
Harry kept climbing.
Krum had made it past the Astronomy Tower by then, was already approaching the finishing stretch. Harry followed. Now that he knew the course, had flown it once – with several mistakes – Harry thought he could catch up to Krum on the second lap. Maybe even maintain a first-place lead now that he knew where all the trickiest bits would be.
Harry gripped the end of his broom, leaned in closer. Crossed the rest of the course along the Hogwarts rooftops to catch up to Krum – or at least, got as close as possible.
Bagman grew audible once more as Harry approached the stands.
"…Krum on the approach, followed closely by Potter. I wonder if…"
Krum crossed into his second lap moments before Harry made it to the line, but Harry wasn't worried. There wasn't much complication with the course until it reached Hogsmeade, and Harry had overtaken Krum there once before.
He just needed to not bottle it at the gatehouse the second time around.
Harry followed Krum across the grounds, around the inner wall. Up to the Old Owlery and the hills beyond until they reached Hogsmeade again. Krum had to be careful at points, Harry knew. Couldn't risk his suitability for the Gauntlet, couldn't risk his professional career – couldn't make as many risks as Harry could. Harry didn't mind shattering all his bones and a lengthy regrowth – he had the time. Didn't have a Quidditch contract looming, either.
So when Harry and Krum reached Hogsmeade, Harry didn't slow down. He sped up.
Harry left Krum behind at the Hogsmeade Bell Tower.
He was determined to maintain his lead. Now that he knew the gatehouse marker moved, he wouldn't hesitate this time. Wouldn't allow Krum – or Giovanna – to catch up to him. Harry zipped through the markers along the Hogsmeade road, sailed through the moving marker at the gatehouse, and dropped into a leisurely cruise across the grounds. Through the lawns, up towards the Entrance Hall, and then on to the battlements.
Not a bad day's flying so far, Harry thought to himself. He glanced back.
Giovanna had Krum doing a roll manoeuvre. Some sort of blocking tactic. Harry couldn't afford to figure out which one, so he kept on going. Pointed himself towards the markers leading to the Owlery – the new one, the one attached to the castle. Zipped through the jagged line, pulled up into a steep climb towards the top.
Dived down for the approach to the Astronomy Tower. Circled the tower base, climbed upwards slowly. Methodically, as the spacing between the markers was odd. Too varied. Couldn't risk dropping any points for a foul—
And Krum zoomed past, inching into the lead and sending Harry off-course.
Harry sighed. The lead had been nice while it lasted. He glanced back.
Giovanna wasn't far.
Harry pushed his broom forwards, angled the nose into the climb at the Astronomy Tower. He was not going to lose. Wasn't even prepared to come second. It was first or… well. There was no alternative.
Harry kept a careful eye on Krum as they both entered the third lap. There wasn't much in it. Seconds at most. Harry reckoned he could deploy some of his hard practised blocking manoeuvres, even. He just needed to drift left, edge closer to Krum.
Harry drew ever closer to Krum, although the other flyer remained just ahead – but tantalisingly close. Literally within touching distance. Harry matched his speed to Krum's and settled in while he thought of ways to get ahead. They'd only just passed the stands.
He could probably pull off a ramming, but as well as being an unsportsmanly thing do, it was an illegal manoeuvre in the speed race. And a risk to Harry's broom.
Harry thought his best bet was to try and cut underneath and loop around Krum, throwing him off his course.
And doing it before they got to Hogsmeade.
So he did.
Harry dipped the nose of his broom slightly down. He needed to slip underneath Krum without touching the other wizard… Harry dipped, brought himself back up in a tight loop just in front of Krum. The manoeuvre worked, but not nearly as well as Harry would have liked – all it really accomplished was making Krum wobble a bit.
The Bulgarian went smoothly on towards the Old Owlery almost as if Harry wasn't there. Like he was out for a pleasant afternoon's flight, no pressure and nothing exciting about it.
Harry followed. He couldn't allow Krum any sort of lead, and the approach to Hogsmeade was where Krum could get one.
Harry drew his broom next to Krum's, leaving enough space for manoeuvre in case Krum got tricky. Krum pulled closer to Harry, attempting to crowd him out. Force him through the edge of a marker. Harry adjusted the nose of his broom just slightly to avoid a foul, but otherwise didn't allow himself to be drawn off-course. They were too close to the finish line for that, and with brooms as fast as theirs there was no room for mistakes.
Not so close to the end, anyway. Not with Giovanna waiting for the smallest mistake.
Krum dipped below Harry and came back up on his other side, mirroring Harry's own loop earlier on. Harry was ready for something like that, so shot through the gap left by Krum's looping movement. Krum didn't let that stop him and fell in beside Harry once again.
Harry and Krum carried on like that through Hogsmeade, trading places as they sped through marker after marker – Giovanna always just a touch behind. That was the disadvantage of the Hayami, Harry supposed. Especially on a speed course. She made up for lost time in Hogsmeade itself, and along some of the trickier stretches above Hogwarts, but on the simpler bits… well, with Harry and Krum going all-out on Firebolts, she didn't stand a chance.
Harry pushed forward. He navigated the moving marker at the gatehouse. Zipped through the markers arranged across the lawns and the gardens on the approach to the castle. Harry cut across Krum's path at they pulled into twin vertical climbs. Flew a complex loop to push Krum off course, then sped away.
Harry flew through the markers above Hogwarts with ease. Or, more ease than his first go, anyway – there were still some tricky spots. He slowed to pass the dancing gargoyles over the West Wing, pulled off a little wiggle and—
Krum came barrelling at Harry. Harry rolled left, hard. Dropped into a recovery loop and followed after Krum, in second place once again.
Krum kept his lead over Hogwarts. Kept up his blocking manoeuvres, even threatened a ram. Most of the time, Harry flew a counter, tried blocking patterns of his own. He ignored the ram. Krum wouldn't risk his win for a foul. Harry grew increasingly frustrated as they made their way closer to the finish line.
Krum wasn't budging.
How can I overtake? Harry wondered.
With the finish line in sight Harry wasn't about to draw. He had one last trick to try.
Harry angled his broom just slightly lower than Krum's, then veered hard into Krum. Almost as if threatening to ram. At the last moment Harry swung himself and his broom around so that he was flying upside down. He just missed crashing into Krum. Then, flying right under Krum and his broom, Harry pointed the nose of his broom slightly upwards, but with enough of a gap so that he wouldn't hit Krum unless Krum accelerated. If Krum didn't pull up by the end of the course, it would be Krum's foul if a collision happened.
Krum waited it out until the very last moment when he jerked his Firebolt upwards. Harry sailed across the finish line first, just seconds ahead of Krum, to raucous applause.
"And there we have it, folks! Potter snatches the win!" shouted Bagman over the crowd. "Krum comes in second! What a result! Who would have ever thought—and Potter, not long on a broom—snatches the win and—"
Harry landed his broom after making an admittedly rather showy loop and roll manoeuvre, and then stood to take in the feeling of a cheering crowd.
Now that, Harry thought, is nice.
Krum landed only moments later.
Giovanna wasn't too far behind – a few seconds, perhaps, although Harry lost track of the time in front of the crowd. After that there was all the formality of announcing the winner properly, and photographs with the press.
At the end of the race Crouch awarded the prizes to the three finalists. Harry received a small golden trophy and a first-place ribbon for his efforts – in addition to the monetary prize and a place at a respected flight school in the summer. Once all the fuss with that was done, Harry took the opportunity to speak with Krum and Giovanna before they got drawn away.
"You are a very good flyer," Krum said once the press attention had turned elsewhere for a moment. "Do you play Quidditch?"
"Not yet," Harry said. "I actually wanted to start this year but... er, this happened instead."
"Vell, you are even better than I thought, then," Krum said. "At the end, that vas a very brave trick. I enjoyed it very much. It vas hard to counter! I vould like to fly vith you again, Harry Potter."
"I—any time," Harry said. That seemed like a rare kind of compliment to get from someone like Viktor Krum.
It seemed like Krum wanted to say something else then, but he was interrupted by a reporter instead.
"Ah. Ve vill talk again, perhaps," Krum said. "Good luck in the rest of the competition, Harry," he said before turning away to give a comment to the press.
"Congratulations, Harry," Giovanna said once Krum had gone. "You deserved to win. It is very difficult to fly against Viktor. And I am not so bad, either."
"You were really good," agreed Harry. "Like, really good—the way you did those turns..."
Giovanna smiled.
"I know. It was not good enough for the speed race, but you had better watch for the hazard racing—I will win this. You'll see." Giovanna walked away when called by a reporter for a comment, leaving Harry to deal with his own reporters.
"Mr Potter! What's it feel like to win against a flyer like Viktor Krum?" asked one reporter.
"Monsieur Potter!" said another. "A comment please for—"
"Mr Potter! Mr Potter—Harry! A word for our readers at The Daily Prophet?" called Rita Skeeter, elbowing her way through the rest of the reporters. "How did it feel, beating your girlfriend in the finals? Winning against the Viktor Krum? Our readers would like to know!"
Harry felt like telling her where she could stick her comments but thought the better of it. Not in front of representatives of all the major European press outfits, anyway. Instead, Harry turned to her.
"Giovanna isn't my girlfriend," he said. "But that's not relevant at all. She's a really good flyer. There were points where I thought she'd win. I thought Krum was going to win, actually. It wasn't until the end that I… well. It's a really good feeling knowing that I came first in a race against Viktor Krum. Is that all? Only, the reporter from, er, Le Mon… that French paper wanted to ask me a question and I don't think it's fair to make him wait."
Harry turned away from Skeeter. He'd given her a comment, hadn't even been rude. She could wait her turn for another one… and if Harry never got around to giving it, he wouldn't lose any sleep.
Harry spent a good chunk of the rest of his afternoon having pictures taken and dealing with reporters from various countries and publications across Europe, but the feeling of winning was enough to get him through it without too much irritability.
