Chapter 11: The Big Finale

The nighttime air was chilly on that fateful day, as we all stood in a row, facing Dumbledore.

"Behind us is a large maze. The champions final task is to find their way through the maze and retrieve the Triwizard Cup. If they should need help, need they only send up red sparks with their wand. Champions take their places. Miss Phillips will enter the maze first followed by Mr. Diggory, then Mr. Krum and Miss Delacour. At the sound of the cannon-" Suddenly the cannon went off and Dumbledore frowned at Filch.

"Champions start the walk." I faced the maze and turned around. I saw Moody look at me and pointed his finger to the left. I nodded and then walked forward. Soon the opening closed behind me. The final task had begun.

I walked forever, looking for some clue. Soon I heard a scream. I ran towards it and saw Fleur being pulled by roots under a hedge. She was tightly bound and instantly I knew I needed help.

"Riducto!" I yelled and red sparks flew from my wand into the sky. I couldn't wait though, so I kept on running. I got to a turn and stopped. I heard twigs snap and held against the hedges. Suddenly a wand was pointed at me. Viktor's eyes were green, a look of a person being hexed. But he dropped his arm to his side and grinned. He wend on his way. So did I.

As I rounded another corner I heard shouts. I ran to them.

"Stupefy!" Cedric yelled. A yellow bolt hit Viktor in the chest and he fell, unmoving. Cedric looked like he was going to kill him.

"Cedric stop!" I yelled, grabbing his arm.

"He tried to kill me!" he protested.

"He's bewitched." But there wasn't time to explain. A sudden gust of strong wind came our way. We looked down the maze and saw a thick fog coming our way. Cedric began to run and I followed.

I followed close on his tail when he stopped. We looked down the maze and could see a glowing, magnificent trophy. We both took off for it. He ran ahead of me, but a bunch of roots jumped from the ground and pulled him to the ground. I ran ahead as I heard him yell my name.

"Eleanor!" I turned around and saw that the roots had taken his wand. I deliberated in my mind. But I didn't have the time, I ran over to him.

"Incendio!" I yelled and the plants shriveled up and died. Cedric picked up his wand.

"Thanks. For a moment, I thought you were going to let it get me." He said.

"For a minute so did I." Suddenly another gust of wind came and we ran for it. As we neared it, inches away, he stopped.

"Take it!" he yelled over the wind. "You saved me, take it!"

"Together!" I yelled. "1, 2, 3!" We both grabbed the handles of the trophy. We were instantly teleported somewhere, far from Hogwarts.

I looked up, and got up as soon as we touched ground. We were in a graveyard. Many tombs lay around. Cedric stood up too.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"I have know idea." I said looking around.

"The cup was a portkey." He said.

"Where is the cup?" I asked in a panic.

"Tom Riddle." Cedric red off a tomb. I turned to him.

"What did you say?"

"This tomb says Tom Riddle." He said looking at me.

"Cedric, we need to get back to the cup." I urged. I looked around for it. Suddenly a door to a crypt opened loudly. Cedric ran to me, picking up his wand. We both drew our wands and pointed them straight ahead. A man with large teeth, and an almost rat like disposition came towards us holding a bundle. He snapped his fingers and a black cauldron, full of bubbling goo, was lit and started to boil.

"No!" I yelled. It wasn't possible.

"Kill the spare." I heard a voice say. The rat man, known to me as Peter Pettigrew, drew his wand.

"Avada Kedavra!" He yelled and a green bolt shot forward to Cedric's chest. He felt against the ground, eyes open. Dead.

"Cedric!" I yelled too late. I turned back to them still not understanding. Tears streamed down my face.

"It's time…" that voice said again. Peter pointed his wand at the statue behind me. A grim reaper with a scythe. It opened its arms and grabbed me. I held up my hands, trapping my hands by my face. My wand was knocked out of my hand. Peter set down the bundle revealing the very small, almost baby like form of the Dark Lord. I still didn't understand. Peter pulled out a knife.

"The blood of the servant, willingly." He said and cut off his hand. It fell into the boiling pot. He screamed and cried then turned to me. "The blood of the father, unwillingly." He levitated a bone that sat on the tomb stone below me. He dropped it into the pot, and the goo consumed it. "The blood of the enemy, sacrificed." He said and pulled out a knife. He cut through my sweater. He dug into my exposed skin with the knife far enough to reach my bone. I screamed in agony, but the Reaper held me in place. Finally, he took out the knife dripping with my blood and he let several drops of it fall into the pot. "The Dark Lord shall rise again." He said and picked up the bundle, dropping it into the pot. The cut in my arm began to burn. As the pot bubbled more and more, my cut began to burn harder. Finally, a large green ooze fell over the pot, melting the cauldron down to nothing. Something inside it moved around, trying to break free. It finally exploded, and a hazy mist befell the graveyard. I couldn't see a thing. As it started to lift, there stood a hooded figure cloaked in black.

"Wormtail," The figure spoke. "My wand." Peter 'Wormtail' handed his wand over to him. He suddenly raised his facet to me. His eyes, nose, and mouth were all features of a snake. His sinister smile gleamed up at me.

"Eleanor Phillips. We meet at last." He looked over at Cedric's body. He walked over to him. "Such a pretty boy." He said, putting his foot on his face smearing dirt on him.

"Get your filthy feet off him!" I yelled.

"Oh, a friend of yours? How delightful. My, the world has changed. You're probably wondering why you're here, and not the fabled Harry Potter." He asked me smoothly.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I muttered.

"Of course not. We'll talk about that later. First…" He turned from me and looked at Wormtail.

"Give me your arm, Wormtail." He said and Wormtail showed him his missing hand.

"Thank you my Lord." He said.

"The other arm Wormtail!" he hissed. I saw a tattoo on his arm which Voldemort put his wand on. He then shot his wand into the air and the same thing happened in the sky. A skull with a snake coming out of it's mouth; his mark. Suddenly black smoke clouds appeared from the sky and landed on the ground. They shaped into black hooded figures, forming a half circle around us.

"My friends. Thirteen years it's been and yet, here you stand." Each of the figures stood with masks on, hiding their identities from me. "But, not one of you looked for me. Not one of you tried to find me." He started going around the circle whisking away their masks and called their names. "Crab! Goyle! Draco! Macnair!" He said. He stopped at the last person. "Lucious." He said and whisked away his mask.

"If I had even heard whisper of your return-"

"Oh there have been more than whispers my slippery friend." He looked over to me, grinning evilly. "I suppose you are beginning to wonder why you're here. Well, everyone knows the story of The Boy Who Lived. And he may have been The Boy Who Lived, but I wasn't after him." He drew up close to me. "I was looking for you. You see, there was a prophesy that for told of a child with great destiny. At first I was led to the home of the Potters. But, because of an unreliable source I only found out after I had lost all my powers that you were the one I wanted." My face showed great fear and confusion. "Since I am going to be disposing of you, I believe it prudent to share with you the reasoning's for your demise." He turned to his followers. "It was through the same prophesy that Potter was mentioned, but the unheard part included Eleanor." He turned back to me. "You are the only thing standing in my way of becoming the most powerful wizard of all." He flicked his wand and the arms of the reaper released me. He threw my wand to the ground. I picked it up, staggering from the loss of blood. "I assume Dumbledore has taught you how to duel. First, we bow." I just stood there. "Oh Eleanor, Dumbledore would be ashamed, bow!" He flicked his wand and a sudden force pushed on my back, forcing me to bow. "Now, we duel. Crucio!" He cried sending me to the ground in a fit of pain. I tossed and turned, the agonizing pain of a thousand knives stabbing me at once. But the moment it stopped, I jumped back on my feet and shouted "Expelliarmus!" A red bolt shot towards Voldemort but he flicked it away like a buzzing mosquito. Suddenly, he fired a white bolt of light at my wand. I fired back with "Prior Incantato!" and in the middle I could see my streak pushing through his. Soon, little white lights flew out of his wand and morphed into people, like spirits. I saw an old man, and Cedric. I also saw a couple, who looked like Harry's parents. They were the people whom Voldemort had killed. More appeared, surrounding us. Voldemort didn't seem to notice.

"Eleanor, we'll be able to hold them off for a second but only one second. Do you understand?" Mr. Potter asked. I nodded.

"Tell him we love him, Eleanor." Mrs. Potter said.

"Eleanor," Cedric said. "Take my body back to my father. Know that I cared about you deeply, and this isn't your fault." I nodded again and turned my attention back to the duel. Mr. Potter nodded and in an instant I pulled back my wand, breaking our connection. I ran to Cedric and yelled, "Accio cup!" the portkey shot to my hand and we disappeared.

We landed at the start of the maze, the music blaring along with loud cheers. But, I was not happy in the least bit. I was bawling when I raised my head. Cedric was so cold, his eyes wide open. I closed them, leaning over his body, sobbing. I heard Dumbledore and someone else running to my side. The music had ceased and teachers were trying to block the students from getting to close to me. I suddenly felt Dumbledore's kind hands trying to gently pull me off. I heard myself yelling 'No!' when suddenly Mr. Diggory came over.

"That's my son! That's my boy!" He kneeled beside me and held Cedric in his arms. Dumbledore finally pulled me away.

"He's back," I said crying. "Voldemort's back. Cedric, he asked me to bring him back. I couldn't leave him, not-not there!" I cried.

"You're both back, Eleanor. You're safe." He turned back to some people when Moody came up to me.

"Come on, let's get you out of here." He said, taking me up the steps to Hogwarts.

He took me to his office where he handed me a tissue box and a wet cloth.

"Thank you." I said pulling my jacket off. The cloth soothed my wound.

"You know, we were all very impressed Miss Phillips."

"About what?" I asked through my tears.

"That you made it this far. You are the first girl to ever win."

"At the cost of my dear friend." Suddenly Moody got up and started searching for something. "The cup, it was a portkey. It too us to him, so he could live again." He began shaking a little, causing him to drop a jar.

"Were there others?" He asked.

"Sir?"

"In the graveyard, were there others?" He asked again.

"Um there…" I stopped and looked at him. "I don't think I mentioned a graveyard, sir." I slowly reached for my wand in my back pocket. He drew his.

"Girls always seem to figure things out quicker than boys. But I half expected Dumbledore to catch me. I guess he was too slow. And I'm just too good." I need to stall.

"Why?" I demanded. Before he could answer, the door burst open and Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall stood there wands at the ready.

"You alright Eleanor?" Dumbledore asked as McGonagall took me out of the way.

"Yes sir." Snape picked up a bottle off the nightstand.

"Polyjuice." He said.

"Now we know who's been stealing from your stash Severus." Dumbledore said. Suddenly, we watched as the last of the potion emptied from Moody's system. We saw him melt back into his true self.

"Barty Crouch Junior." Dumbledore said. I stepped forward, Snap and Dumbledore pressing their wands to his neck.

"You," I muttered "It was you who started all of this!" I lifted his coat sleeve and saw the tattoo. I dropped his hand instinctively like it was hot. I ran out the back doors, never looking back.

I ran down the stairs, reaching the main corridor. All of the students had been sent to their dorms and the teachers were taking care of Crouch. I slowed down my pace to a walk looking out the stain glass windows up at the night sky. The moon was full, glowing bright white. I began to cry again. This year was supposed to have been great. It was supposed to have been the year of good change: of first dances, first crushes, first kisses. But instead if was full of misery, dread, regret. I couldn't understand why; why he had to die, why I had been so special.

I turned to the sound of footsteps. My support group stood there with their sad looks. My siblings and my three best friends. My siblings all hugged me at once. I couldn't remember a time when we had all been so full of emotion. Hermione and Ron hugged me both at once, leaving Harry for last. All he did was hug me and I immediately broke down in his arms. I sobbed all of my hurt, until finally my tears ran dry. I wiped the remaining tears and we sat on the floor beneath the windows. My family gave us a moment and I put my head on his shoulder. I listened to his slow breathing, his chest rising and falling. We said nothing, because nothing needed to be said. At least, not then.

I sat on the edge of my bed, feeling the softness of the sheets. The bright red and gold of the dorm room splattered about, neatly of course, gave it the flavor of the school. How had the end come so quickly? How had my life turned upside down so suddenly? Where was the justice in the evens that occurred only the week before? Where was the guilty one? I knew where he was, yet I could do nothing. But I couldn't help thinking how had I gotten to this point in time? Much had been lost, much had been gained.

I finally got up and looked at my trunk, locking away my memories. I turned to Athena, gazing at her black feathers. She hooted softly as I stroked her head. I thought of the year, realizing it had passed quickly, and yet…not quick enough. I heard a soft knock at the door, and turned to see Professor McGonagall come in.

"The Headmaster would like to see you dear." She said kindly. I nodded and she led the way.

The griffin showed us the stairs and we ascended up to greet Dumbledore. He stood by his desk, looking at a book. When he saw us he nodded to Professor McGonagall and she left us alone.

"Please, sit Eleanor." He said, gesturing to the chair in front of him. I sat down and he smiled sadly at me. "I do believe you've sat in this chair at least once every year since you've arrived here, Eleanor." I nodded.

"What did you need to see me about sir?"

"Two things. The first, that what you found out in the graveyard must be kept between the two of us."

"But sir, it's about his parents! Shouldn't he know?"

"Harry is not ready to find out the truth just yet. I will not further discuss it with you. The second, at the feast this morning, I would like you to do something for me, something that might be hard: I would like you to talk to the students about Mr. Diggory's death." Before I could protest he continued. "Not the details, but of his bravery and courage."

"Why, sir?" I asked, new tears returning to my eyes.

"Because I believe that dark times lie ahead of us, and who better to speak to students than one of them."

"But, you're an adult. You can give them more comfort than I can. I'm just a girl."

"You're not just a girl, you're the girl. Everyone knows the great sacrifice that came with going into this competition. And now, they will see you as a beacon of hope. You will prove to them that it's alright to be afraid, but within that fear to find that sliver of hope." I nodded. "Now, let's go down to the feast. I do believe that the house elf's have prepared a delicious breakfast."

All three schools crammed together, no one really caring about protocol. Everyone talked and ate together, and finally it came time for Dumbledore's speech. The tables disappeared and the benches took the forms of long rows. We all faced the front and he began to speak.

"We came together at the beginning of this year, with new hearts and spirits. We end this year, with tragedy and heartache." I looked up and saw that the banners were the Hufflepuff colors. My tearducks were getting their share of use this year. "We have suffered, a really terrible loss. The Ministry of Magic has asked me not to speak to you about this, but I think it would be an insult to Cedric Diggory's memory. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered; by Lord Voldemort." Many of the students lightly gasped, some burst with tears. Many of the Hufflepuff's were in tears long before this started. Dumbledore nodded to me and continued as I walked to the front.

"One of our own students witnessed the event, and I would hope that you would all stand by her and listen to what she has to say." Dumbledore said as I walked up to the podium. I looked out at the audience of students, but I didn't feel anything. I felt numb.

"What Headmaster Dumbledore has said is true." I started. "I was there, and I saw what happened. And the only thing I can think about is: why? Why did I let him grab the cup with me? Why didn't I try to save him? Why, why, why?" I asked. I looked at my three best friends. "But asking why isn't going to bring him back. Thinking about the past, isn't going to change it. All we can do, is look to the future, with Cedric Diggory in our hearts and minds, and know that he died for a cause. He died because of his bravery and courage to stand up to the evils of this world. We must unite, as we have been asked to do. This year we have made new friends from far away places. We must remember them, and we must remember him." I pointed to the banner above the teachers table that said 'Cedric Diggory'. Many of the students nodded or shed more tears. "His death must not be in vain." I said, the tears spilling over the podium. "He will forever be remembered in our hearts, but I hope that he will be the beginning of our fight for good. That we will follow his exampled and continue in the quest for good. This is not the end, my friends, this is only the beginning." After I said that, I felt like I had made a prophesy of sorts. I could feel the power of my words hitting every single student in that room. Even the Slytherins I could see were stunned. We all stood to watch the schools depart.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed my gaze as we watched the Durmstrang boys hop onto their ships. They sank back into the waters, leaving the way they came. The Beauxbatons girls all climbed into their carriage and took off into the sky. I smiled a the beauty of the world Hogwarts had brought about. As the students left to go to the station we four were left standing.

"Everything's going to change now, isn't it?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, it is." I responded.

"Promise you'll write this summer, both of you." She said to the boys.

"Why doesn't Eleanor have to promise?" Ron complained.

"Because she always writes to me." Hermione explained.

"Come on Hermione, we'd best head for the train. It won't wait forever." Ron and Hermione took off, leaving Harry and I alone. Again. We both sat on the stone bridge, admiring the high sun over the Black Lake.

"Eleanor, I-"

"Harry-" We both blushed.

"You first." He said.

"I've been meaning to tell you something, and I want you to understand that I'm telling you this because you are my friend." He nodded. "When I was in the graveyard, the Dark Lord told me some things. He said that he was never intentionally after you; he was after me. He said something about a prophesy and my destiny." He looked at me confused.

"But, I was the one to get the stone. I rescued you from the Chamber of Secrets." He didn't understand.

"Harry, you're not listening to me. Even though you did all those things, in the end he was after me. And he would have had me if it hadn't been for Cedric and your parents."

"What do my parents have to do with this?" He asked.

"When I dueled with him, I used Prior Incantato. It makes spells from the previous wand be know. He'd used the Killing Curse a lot and these spirit forms appeared. One of them was your parents."

"I-I don't understand."

"I know, you're not meant to. But, I wanted you to know they talked to me for a brief moment. They said they loved you, very much." He suddenly jumped down on to the ground, almost enraged. "What's the matter?"

"Everything!" He exclaimed.

"I thought you'd be happy you knew this." I said.

"Happy? How can I possibly be happy knowing that my parents died for no good reason?" He bellowed. "Would you be happy?"

"I don't know." I muttered.

"No, you don't know. You don't know how this feels, to have your life ripped apart all for it to be a mistake!" I stood up and faced him, but afraid I might say something I might regret I took my things and left him there.