A/N: Hey everybody, here's the next task! Yea, woo hoo, come on, Scorpius! I'm borrowing some ideas from JK Rowling and The Philosopher's Stone.
Ch. 21 The Second Task
Scorpius sat down on the bench in the waiting area. He had just finished putting on his Hogwarts shirt and waited to be called down to complete the task. All four of the Champions were currently sitting on their own benches waiting as well. Thankfully, someone put Kevin on the opposite side of the room from Scorpius.
The four Champions heard the tent ruffle and in walked Hermione Granger Weasley. "Excuse me, Champions, if I could have everyone's attention, please?" All four turned their heads looking at the witch.
"Lady and gentlemen, I have some special instructions for this next task. You will each be taken separately to the platform for the task. You all received the clue, so I will not give you any indication as to what the task requires. Instead, you will all reach into this pouch," Hermione pulled a bag out from her robes, "to determine the order in which you all compete. Please, gather round. Loren, how about you pick first?"
Loren put her hand in the bag and grabbed a number, "Let's see, oh, yes, okay Loren, you will go second. Kevin, how about you next?" Kevin drew the number 4 and Marko pulled a 2 which meant Scorpius would go third.
"Great. I'm glad we were able to get that out of the way. Loren, if you'll follow me we will get started," The two ladies walked out from the tent and toward the Quidditch stands.
Twenty minutes later, Hermione came back to the tent. It was covered in silence as none of the boys were talking. "Marko, it's your turn." Marko looked back at the two boys left and smiled. 'Man, dis out to get interesting,' thought Marko.
Scorpius turned his back away from Kevin. 'Stay stronger than that, that, really bad person,' Scorpius tried to censor himself. 'Stop thinking about him hurting Lily. Stop thinking about him hurting Lily,' was Scorpius' mantra.
"Do you really have nothing to say to me, Malfoy? We're all alone and you're seriously going to stay quiet?! Huh, you truly are weak," Kevin moved closer to Scorpius.
'Ha,' Scorpius thought. 'The nerve of this guy.'
"You are going to call me weak? Look, Williams, I'm not the one who had to attack a girl to get her to kiss me. I didn't have to try to take advantage of her. You are clearly so disgusting that no woman wants to touch you so you have to force yourself on them. Does that make you feel like a big, tough guy, huh?" Scorpius was furious.
Kevin stood up, "Says the man who stole my girlfriend." Scorpius followed Kevin's lead by standing, but he didn't stop there. Scorpius made his way over to Kevin and stood nose to nose with him.
"You listen right now, Kevin Williams, you have no claim on Lily. Fact is, Kevin, she's my girlfriend and funny enough, that's a decision she made on her own, without anyone forcing her to," then Scorpius got closer to Kevin, if that was even possible, "And mark my words, if you ever hurt Lily again I promise what I do to you will pale in comparison to what the Potters will do to you. I know you're not stupid, you know Lily's father defeated Voldemort, I'm guessing the head Auror will have no problem disposing of a Yank like you. And then think of what help he could get from the Malfoy family."
"SCORPIUS! Are the two of you okay in here?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, yes Mrs. Weasley, Kevin and I were just chatting," Scorpius explained as he smirked at Kevin and then winked. "See you later, Kevy-poo."
Scorpius and Hermione walked out of the tent. "Mr. Malfoy, I can't condone intimidating other champions, but, Scorpius, as Aunt to a beautiful, young lady you tell that loser anything you need to so he knows his place. And if you ever tell anyone we had this conversation, I'll completely deny it." Hermione winked at Scorpius and a sly smile crept on her face.
"Scorpius, follow me and we'll head to the judges table for your instructions." As Scorpius passed through the Quidditch pitch entrance he noticed Marko being levitated towards the exit. Scorpius was puzzled because Marko was unconscious and the nerves settled in.
Hermione took her place at the judges table. "Scorpius Malfoy, Hogwarts Champion, the instructions for this next task will be read by an old friend of Hogwarts," she motioned down to the stool and Scorpius smiled as he saw the Sorting Hat.
And in his usual drawl, the Sorting Hat began, "Ah, Mr. Malfoy, nice to see you settled well into your House and you doubted me when I placed you there. Tsk, tsk, Mr. Malfoy. To win this challenge you must be wise. Here are your instructions,"
"Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here for evermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onwards neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight."
"Good luck, Mr. Malfoy."
Scorpius gulped at the sight of seven different potion bottles lined up on a table. 'Well,' Scorpius thought, 'here's to hoping I don't end up like Marko and dead. He wouldn't really be dead, right?'
A/N: I don't know, could he die?! Sorry to cut the chapter here, but it felt fun to stop here. And thanks to JK Rowling for the first book!