"Draco!" Bastila called down the corridor.
Draco turned, saw Bastila, and stopped walking.
"Today's the day! Can you believe it? The Final Task is at hand!" Bastila said excitedly, swooping Draco into a fierce hug.
"Yeah, great, but you don't have to choke me to death over it." Draco said gruffly, pushing her away.
"How have you been?" Bastila asked, calming down a bit.
Draco hesitated a moment, then said, "Not so good, actually."
"Why?" Bastila asked, surprised.
Now Draco looked uncomfortable. But he met Bastila's eye and started to speak in a quiet, upset voice. "You've been reading the Prophet, right?" At Bastila's nod, he continued. "Some vigilantes have been killing off all the former Death Eaters. It's only a matter of time before my father's name is the next one they decide to cross off on their list."
"But all the Death Eaters that have been killed so far have had solid evidence delivered to the Ministry by the vigilantes that proved the Death Eaters were all still secretly murdering and torturing innocent people." Bastila countered evenly. "Men. Women. Even children. Do you really think people who torture and murder children deserve to live?"
Draco was silent. His face flushed. He looked away from Bastila. "Of course not! That's...Sick. But my father isn't like them! He's given back to the Ministry and to the Wizarding world! He's more than made up for the things he was forced to do under the Imperius Curse!"
"Well...If your father has truly repented, and he isn't still doing the things he was...Forced to do, then I don't see why the vigilantes would go after him. They'll leave him alone." Bastila said carefully.
"What makes you so sure?"
"Look, Draco, I just think these vigilantes are trying to set the world right."
"Right." Draco sneered. "Did you see Nott, or Pansy, or Crabbe and Goyle when they were all told their parents were killed? Is that setting things right by taking away their parents?"
"It's doing them a favor, actually." Bastila answered calmly. "Do you even realize how messed up they all are? How cruel, how sadistic? They're bullies. Because of what their PARENTS, their child murdering parents, did to them. How they were all raised. What they were taught."
"You don't know anything about that!" Draco snapped.
"She knows a hell of a lot more than you do. And so do I." Said the familiar voice of Daphne, who had come up beside Bastila. Daphne stared at Draco with cold eyes. "My parents, my pureblood parents, TORTURED ME, tortured my little sister. With magic, with knives, with poison, it didn't matter. They brought me and my sister to the brink of death time and time again just so they could heal us within a few minutes and do it all over again. And they weren't even Death Eaters. Now imagine what goes on with the children behind the closed doors of those Death Eater's homes."
"In a way, I feel sorry for them. But on the other hand, they can make the choice to not be so cruel, to NOT be bullies, to NOT follow in the footsteps of their parents." Daphne continued. "Every day, I choose to be everything my parents weren't. Nice, loving, kind, happy, caring, sensitive. The children of the Death Eaters can make that same choice. And I'll be waiting for when they do." Daphne took a calming breath, her eyes still on Draco. "But from what I've seen so far...I won't hold my breath about it."
Without another word, Daphne grabbed Bastila's hand and pulled her along the corridor, leaving Draco behind.
Once they had reached the end of the hall and rounded the corner, Daphne came to a halt. She spun around and shoved Bastila up against the nearest wall.
"Don't you ever let me see that weak, disgusting little shit again, because if I do I'll beat the living daylights out of him with my bare hands." Daphne hissed, her face harsh. "How DARE he make those pathetic excuses for his own assholish behavior, how dare he make excuses for his murderous father, for all the children of the Death Eaters who don't have hearts! THERE IS NO EXCUSE, NOT WHEN I'M RIGHT HERE, AFTER EVERYTHING THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, AND I'M NOTHING LIKE THEM!" Daphne was shouting at the end of her rant, and Bastila wasn't sure if Daphne realized it or not.
"Do you understand me, Bas?" Daphne whispered with ragged breath, her chest rising and falling heavily.
Bastila could only nod in reply, stunned as she was at the display of raw emotion from Daphne.
And then it was over. Daphne let go of Bastila and stepped back, blushing and looking extremely nervous and wringing her hands together. "We should go get lunch, I'm starving." Daphne said quickly. "I mean you're probably starving too, right? With the big maze coming up this evening."
"Daphne..."
"I know, I know, you might just throw it all up, but it's still better to eat before you try and take on the Final Task-"
"DAPHNE!" Bastila said loudly.
Daphne startled and went quiet.
"Are you okay?" Bastila asked softly.
Daphne just grinned in response, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I told you, I'm starving! So let's get going!"
Bastila stared at Daphne for a long time, then she nodded. "Alright. I'm hungry too." She said honestly.
Lunch passed by quickly, and Bastila and Daphne spent the rest of their day skipping class and hanging out at the lake. As she had taken to doing over the past few weeks, on account of the beautiful weather, Bastila went swimming in the lake. Daphne sat on the shore, watching.
Bastila tried to convince Daphne to join her in the lake, but she refused, telling Bastila that she wouldn't be able to handle being in the lake after what had happened to her during the second task.
But Daphne had been more than happy to blast Bastila with jets of water from afar using the spell Aguamenti. And of course, Daphne didn't think it was so funny when Bastila returned fire.
"Cheater!" Daphne cried from her cover behind an old tree. "You can always just go underwater and my spell won't even hit you!"
"You're hiding behind a tree! Who's the real cheater?" Bastila was treading water, her wand poised and ready to continue the battle.
As it happened, their water battle continued on for several hours. Unfortunately, the battle couldn't go on further still, as Nyssa flew in and landed on the shore.
"What's up?" Daphne grinned at Nyssa.
*It's dinner time. You need to eat before you are to go down for the Final Task.* Nyssa told Bastila, ignoring Daphne completely.
*I'm glad you came to get us.* Bastila replied after she had gotten out of the lake and dried herself with a quickly cast spell. *I need you to help me with the Final Task.*
Bastila quickly told Nyssa her idea.
Nyssa wasn't pleased. *That would be cheating in the extreme!* She hissed loudly.
*Would it be any more cheating than when you helped me in the First Task?* Bastila countered.
Nyssa was silent.
Bastila sighed. *Well...If you won't help me, I can always find a spell or potion that will do what I want. I just wanted YOU to do it because I trust and love you so much...We've been through a lot, and I'd rather rely on you than some stupid bit of magic to keep me safe. But then again, I doubt I can find anything that can help keep me alive within the next half an hour-*
*Alright, I'll help you!* Nyssa hissed, exasperated.
Bastila smiled to herself. She knew appealing to the serpent's protective nature would work.
"Hey! Are you just going to leave me all wet here?" Said a drenched Daphne.
"Didn't you JUST complain about that very same thing last night?" Bastila said with a saucy smirk.
"Oh my god!" Daphne blushed deeply and looked torn between wanting to bury herself in a hole or hit Bastila with a blunt object.
"You said that too." Bastila giggled.
"That's it, you're dead!" Daphne, soaked with lake-water, threw herself at Bastila, wrapping her into a hug and dragging her down onto the grass.
Bastila shrieked as she tried to get free. But Daphne already had the advantage, and had gotten atop Bastila and pinned her to the ground with ease. Bastila was still shrieking and squirming under Daphne a few minutes later, even though Daphne had Bastila's arms trapped in the grass and held over Bastila's head, and was straddling her legs to keep Bastila from kicking at her.
Finally, Bastila gave up. She lay under Daphne, laughing and taking deep breaths.
"Hah! You have nothing funny to say now!" Daphne gloated, her slender body bent over Bastila's so they were face to face.
"Yes I do..." Bastila broke laughter again, tears of mirth streaming down her face. "Because now it really IS just like last night!"
Daphne shook her head and sat upright on Bastila, biting her lip to keep from laughing herself. "I'm pretty sure you weren't laughing when I had you like this last night."
"And I don't think you were QUITE this wet-"
Bastila's words were cut short as Daphne leaned down again and pressed her lips to Bastila's.
*You don't have time for this right now! The Final Task starts in half an hour!* Nyssa hissed frantically.
Both girls froze. Daphne rolled off of Bastila and got to her feet. She held out her hand and helped Bastila up. They both started laughing again.
"Right...Sorry." Bastila said, wiping away her tears. She flicked her wand at Daphne, and Daphne was instantly dry again.
Daphne looked at Bastila. "So..."
Bastila stared back at her. "Yeah...Dinner..."
Daphne gave a completely fake cough. "Right. Dinner."
They went up to the castle, with Nyssa flying around overhead and complaining about how slow they were walking.
"I think she's more anxious about the Final Task than I am." Bastila had joked when they finally reached the Great Hall. Daphne had nodded her agreement and shot Nyssa a look of annoyance.
The serpent was laid out along the length of the bench at the Slytherin table, her eyes glued to Bastila and Daphne. Nyssa didn't even flinch when a passing Ravenclaw girl with blond hair patted her firmly on the head and said, "Look out for Nargles." before continuing on her way.
Bastila and Daphne both grinned at that, and they teased Nyssa endlessly about it throughout the entirety of dinner.
And then, all too soon, the food disappeared, and Albus Dumbledore stood and announced that the champions were to go down to the start of the maze, and that the rest of the students would follow them shortly.
Bastila gave Daphne an extremely passionate kiss that lasted for a full ten seconds before pulling away. "See you after the maze." She told Daphne, feeling slightly dizzy from the kiss.
"I better." Daphne said, her face split in a wide grin.
Bastila gave Nyssa a very pointed look as she rushed out of the Great Hall to catch up with the other champions. Nyssa stared back at her until Bastila was nearly out of sight, and then she turned invisible.
"So this is it. This is the big finale. Where it all ends!" Bastila said cheerfully, falling into step beside Cedric Diggory.
Cedric smiled and shrugged. "Yeah. Let's just hope we all make it out of the maze alive."
"Oh come on, you and I faced Voldemort together. A little maze full of enchantments and magical creatures is NOTHING compared to that." Bastila said, trying to be encouraging.
Cedric just shook his head. "It was you who did all the work. I won't be surprised if you come out of the maze first. I'm expecting it to happen, really."
Bastila frowned. "It's still anyone's contest."
"If 'anyone' means you, then yeah." Cedric laughed.
"Cut it out with the defeatist talk!" Bastila said, laughing as well. "I won't be able to enjoy crushing you if you've already resigned yourself to that fate!"
Cedric grinned. "Takes all the fun out of winning?"
"Exactly."
"Seriously though, Bastila, I'm rubbish at dueling. I don't think I'll make it through this." Said Cedric softly. "I might make it through any of the enchantments and traps, but if I come up against any dark magical creatures I'll be done for."
"Um. Okay...How about if I see you in any trouble, I'll help you out?" Bastila said quietly, thinking of her plan with Nyssa.
Cedric gave her a look of surprise. "Really?"
Bastila raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. We're friends, aren't we?"
"I- I guess so." Said Cedric, looking as if he had never thought about it before.
Bastila smiled. "Stop thinking about me as a Slytherin, and start thinking about me as a PERSON."
"I wasn't!" Cedric protested. "Thinking you were just a Slytherin." He added quickly.
"Right." Bastila said, feeling amused.
They continued on across the grounds, walking along as the sky grew darker and darker until they reached the entrance to the maze. Several stadium-like stands had been put set up around the maze's entrance, and Bastila wondered why they were even there if nobody would be able to tell what was happening inside the maze. It had been the same with the second task!
All the teachers, and Ludo Bagman, were already milling around the entrance. Albus Dumbledore, who had somehow gotten there ahead of the champions, Severus, Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and the others, and then there was Madame Maxime and Headmaster Karkaroff, and, finally, Mad-Eye Moody.
Wait, what?
Bastila froze in front of the group of adults. Her wand instantly ejected out of its holster and slid into the palm of her hand. She raised her wand and pointed it right at Mad-Eye Moody. Or at least a man Bastila could ASSUME was Mad-Eye Moody, and not just-
"Miss Phoenix, put that wand away!" McGonagall shouted, her eyes flashing.
Everyone else looked at Bastila now. Bastila didn't lower her wand as she advanced on Mad-Eye Moody.
Mad-Eye just looked back at her calmly. But his face held a slightly prideful look.
"What are you doing here? I haven't heard any word about you being here." Bastila said quietly, her eyes narrowed.
"It was a last minute change." Said Mad-Eye, his voice as calm as his demeanor.
"Right." Bastila laughed sharply. "Who authorized it? Why hasn't anyone said anything about it?" Her eyes rounded on the other teachers. "Who made sure you aren't just another Death Eater trying the same old Polyjuice trick? It would be a pretty smart move. Send someone in doing the exact same thing as Crouch Jr. No one would suspect it. No one would POSSIBLY think that the Death Eaters would try and impersonate Mad-Eye Moody a second time in a row, and so they wouldn't think to even check for it."
Mad-Eye let out a little chuckle. "You've got the right stuff, kid. That very well could be a possibility." He looked over at Albus and the others. "She's right you know. None of you even bothered to check." He looked back at Bastila. "To answer your questions, it was authorized by Albus Dumbledore, who conferred with the Minister for Magic two hours prior to my arrival. The reason no one has said a word about it is that they wanted to keep my being here a surprise. It was thought that my presence here would dissuade any Death Eaters from trying anything tonight, once they saw me. At the same time, it wouldn't give them any time to react, and alter their plans."
Bastila looked at Dumbledore. He nodded seriously in confirmation. She began taking slow steps backward, and she only lowered her wand when she was out of Moody's lunging distance, in case he tried to get her wand.
"It won't matter if you are a Death Eater or not." Bastila said, still not taking her eyes off of Mad-Eye Moody. "The last one had me in a room alone full of students. You're going to be out here in the open with all the teachers and Heads of schools, not to mention the entire student body. One person against hundreds. You'd never get out alive, much less pull anything off to begin with."
"You've definitely got the right stuff, Miss Phoenix."
Bastila finally tore her eyes away from Moody. She walked over to Severus and hugged him with all her strength. Severus wasn't even surprised or embarrassed about it anymore. He hugged her back just as tightly.
"It is my dearest wish that you come back out of that maze after you-" Severus began softly.
"Try not to die, I got it dad." Bastila interrupted.
Severus paused, then he smiled. "Yes. Try not to die, my daughter."
"I fought a dragon and lived. I fought Voldemort and lived. I seriously doubt that there's anything in that maze that could kill me." Bastila suddenly burst into laughter. "Oh, wow, if something DOES kill me in there then that's going to be the most anti-climatic death ever!"
Severus laughed as well. "Indeed. So I expect you to do your best to avoid such a thing."
Bastila smiled and glanced up into the sky. But of course Bastila wouldn't see her, since she was invisible... "It won't be a problem." Bastila said confidently.
"At the sound of the cannon, our five champions will enter the maze and begin their journey to reach the Tri-Wizard Cup, which lies in the very center of the maze!" Albus said loudly, addressing the students and their parents. "The first person to touch the Cup will be instantly returned to the start of the maze."
"If a champion wishes to withdraw from the task, or gets into any sort of danger that they cannot handle, they need only hold their wand over their head and cast up red sparks. A teacher will be along to retrieve them within moments, as they will be patrolling the outside of the maze and watching for any sign of trouble."
Albus paused and nodded at Mad-Eye. "In addition, we have the renowned Auror, Alastor Moody, here to provide extra security around the maze."
"Now!" Albus shouted, turning to Cedric, Harry, Bastila, Fleur, and Krum. "The first champion to enter at the sound of the cannon will be Bastila Phoenix, followed by Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter, who tied for second place, then Victor Krum, and lastly, Fleur Delacour."
Bastila's eyes searched the stands in the ensuing silence until she found Severus. To Bastila's surprise, Sarah was sitting next to Severus. Bastila smiled at them both and waved. Severus sent her back a smile and a wave of his own. After a light prodding from Severus, Sarah did the same.
Next, Bastila's eyes sought out Daphne. Daphne was sitting not far from Severus, next to her cousin and guardian, Elsa. Elsa, a spectacularly pretty woman with long blond hair, was smiling brightly and looking around at everyone else. Elsa had an arm thrown lazily around Daphne's shoulder, and Daphne didn't look at all uncomfortable with it.
Bastila stared at Daphne, and stared some more. Then Daphne's eyes met Bastila's, and Daphne grinned and waved energetically.
The cannon sounded just then.
Daphne's wave turned into a bunch of shooing motions toward the entrance to the maze.
Bastila stuck her tongue out at Daphne before she turned around on her heel. She looked up at the maze walls. The hedges were even taller up close, Bastila decided. But she didn't go in just yet. She stood still and closed her eyes, blocking out the world around her. She took a few calming breaths, then she opened her eyes and ran into the maze.
Bastila ran, and ran, and ran, going forward, then left, then right, and then straight ahead again. It went on and on and on. She was sure she was deep in the maze now. Still, she went further. She went right, then left, then left again. Then she slowed to a stop, and she waited. Sure enough, Nyssa appeared in front of her.
*Where to?* Bastila asked.
*Continue going straight along this path, then turn right. Take the first left path, and you will find a Boggart. You will have to get past it before I can give you more directions.* Nyssa explained softly.
*And you're sure you can lead me to the Triwizard Cup?*
Silence. Nyssa stared at Bastila.
*Right! Of course you can! I wasn't doubting you, it was a rhetorical question.* Bastila said quickly. *I don't have any problem with your directions. Sorry.*
More silence.
Another cannon sounded off in the distance.
*Uh..Nyssa?* Bastila prodded.
Nyssa seemed to snap out of some kind of trance. She shook her head at Bastila, a learned Human gesture. *You should hurry. I smell something...Very dark, outside the maze. It is coming from the direction of the forest, and it's coming closer.*
Bastila sighed. *That doesn't sound good. Go see what it is, then get back to me after the Boggart. I'd bet a thousand Galleons that it has something to do with a Death Eater plan.* Bastila added as she started off again through the maze.
*That's what I fear as well.* Nyssa replied. Then she flew up into the sky and turned invisible once more.
Bastila followed Nyssa's directions, and when she turned down the maze corridor where she would find the Boggart-
Bastila froze.
She was staring at a mirror image of herself. With a few differences.
Boggart-Bastila's face was gaunt. Her skin was pale. Her eyes were dark as black. She was completely naked, and she was crouched down on the ground. Her long, hideous fingernails scraped away at the dirt. The expression on Boggart-Bastila's face was one of pure, complete...
"Insanity." Bastila murmured, staring at her twisted doppelganger. "Of course..."
Boggart-Bastila's head snapped up, tilted at an obscene angle as she stared at Bastila. Boggart-Bastila's long, black hair was bundled up on the ground around her, so long had it grown.
Animal howls sounded in the distance, coming from the direction of the forest. Bastila listened intently. The howling wasn't from one single animal, but MANY.
Bastila's eyes seemed to be drawn up into the night sky.
It was a full moon.
Bastila had a sinking feeling that she knew exactly what animals were howling. And they weren't really animals at all.
Boggart-Bastila seemed to be listening, too. Her lips twitched and shuddered at random. Her tongue lolled out.
"Any other time..." Bastila took a step forward, bringing her wand up. "You WOULD be my worst fear. I'd be paralyzed."
She took another step forward.
"I'd be terrified. I'd be in shock. And you'd get the better of me." Bastila's voice was soft. Her eyes never left Boggart-Bastila's face.
"Any other night...And you might have gotten me. You might have attacked me. Even killed me."
Bastila kept up a steady pace toward Boggart-Bastila, who was now holding her hands up in front of her, clawing at the air as if she didn't know how far away Bastila was to her. Or maybe she was swiping at something that wasn't there at all.
"But tonight..." Bastila leveled her wand at Boggart-Bastila's face. "With that howling...If I know what it is, and I'm sure I do, then everyone in and around this maze is going to have a really, really traumatic night..."
Boggart-Bastila let out a little mewl, reaching her hand out to Bastila, as if pleading with her.
"So tonight..." Bastila whispered, closing her eyes. "You're not my worst fear."
Bastila felt Boggart-Bastila's hand grip her sweater.
"Avada Kedavra."
Boggart-Bastila's grip slackened, and Bastila heard a light thud.
Bastila opened her eyes. She lowered her wand. She didn't look at the dead Boggart-Bastila that still retained its grotesque form. Bastila stepped over it and continued on down the maze corridor.
*BASTILA!* Nyssa's voice shouted as she came flying in. *YOU NEED TO GET OUT RIGHT NOW!*
*I heard the howling. Is it what I think it is?* Bastila asked, fighting to stay calm.
*Werewolves.*
Bastila felt her heart plummet. *I thought so!* She spun around and started back the way she had come, back to the entrance to the maze, only to be stopped by a shout from Nyssa.
*Wait! You cannot go that way! There are three Werewolves running around back there.*
Bastila turned back to face Nyssa. *How many are there in total?*
*A little over twenty five.* Nyssa replied, her voice full of anxiety. *I stopped counting when I came back here for you! I have to tell you that...Karkaroff let them into the maze. I saw him blowing holes in the hedge walls. That is how the Werewolves are getting in.*
Karkaroff? Was he a Death Eater, or a Death Eater impersonating Karkaroff?
Did it matter?
*What about the other teachers patrolling the outer-* Bastila began.
*Karkaroff timed in perfectly. The entire wall facing the forest has holes along it, and ONLY that wall. But the other teachers are all near the front of the maze. They don't know, Bastila, they didn't see it!*
*Okay well, I'll just ride you out of here like we did in the first task, no problem.* Bastila said, hoping that SOMETHING she said wouldn't be instantly shot down by Nyssa.
Nyssa nodded her head and lowered herself to the ground. *Climb on.*
*How are things in the front of the maze?* Bastila asked, throwing a leg over Nyssa's backside as if she were preparing to ride a horse. She slipped her legs back, putting her feet snugly against the points where Nyssa's large wing joints met her scales.
Nyssa sensed the unasked question in Bastila's voice.
Are Severus, Sarah, Daphne and Elsa okay?
Nyssa didn't hesitate to answer. *The Werewolves on the outside are still making their way along the side of the maze. But they will reach the front VERY SOON. As it is, the teachers HAVE noticed those Werewolves, and are going to do their best to protect the students and their families.* Nyssa paused. *Bastila...With how many Werewolves there are still coming from the forest...I don't think that everyone will escape this night unscathed. There are simply too many to keep back.*
*Let's go then.* Bastila said strongly. Though she didn't at all feel strong right now. She felt as if she were going to be sick.
Nyssa, with Bastila on her back, rose up into the air and out of the maze.
*Do you think you can carry a few people at once?* Bastila asked loudly over the rushing wind as Nyssa began soaring over the maze, toward the front entrance.
*Two or three, maybe.* Nyssa replied.
*Okay, then turn around.*
*What?*
*Go back over the rest of the maze!* Bastila shouted. *I promised Cedric that if he got into trouble in the maze that I'd be there to help him out! I'm going to keep that promise!*
Nyssa didn't say word. She simply banked left, floating over the maze.
Bastila's eyes frantically searched through the maze below. She was near the center now when two things caught her attention.
One was Cedric Diggory, who was running through the maze with a Werewolf far behind him, though Bastila could tell that it was gaining on Cedric, no matter how far apart they were.
The second thing was the Tri-Wizard Cup. Bastila remembered Dumbledore's words before she had gone into the maze.
"The first person to touch the Cup will be instantly returned to the start of the maze..."
*What?* Nyssa hissed, flying over the maze corridor where Cedric was running below them.
*We have to grab the Tri-Wizard Cup real quick!* Bastila exclaimed. *Dumbledore said the first person to touch the Cup would be returned to the start of the maze. I'm betting he made it into a Portkey! We can throw it down to Cedric and get him out!*
*What about Harry, Krum, and Fleur?*
Bastila hesitated. *We'll deal with that after we get Cedric to safety. Maybe we can use you as a ferry. You know, carry one person out of the maze, then go back for another and so on and so forth.*
*I could manage that.* Nyssa answered. She veered off to the right, away from Cedric and the pursuing Werewolf in favor of the glowing blue Cup in the center of the maze.
They touched down next to the Cup. Bastila started to reach out for it, but drew her hand back. *Damnit...How do I carry this thing without setting it off?*
*You're a Witch, Bastila. Use the Locomotor spell to pull it along beside us, or you could use Incarcerous and tie ropes around it.* Nyssa suggested.
*Right, right. Thanks. Okay. Um...* Bastila pointed her wand at the Cup. "Locomotor Triwizard Cup."
The Cup rose up into the air, hovering in place.
Nyssa flew up high, and the Cup followed them. She flew back to where they had seen Cedric. He wasn't there anymore. Nyssa flew higher still, and she located him again after a few tense moments.
Cedric was face to face with two massive Blast-Ended-Skrewts. The same ones Bastila had been taking care of all year in Care of Magical Creatures class. Four Werewolves were coming up behind him.
He was trapped between two different kinds of deadly creatures.
*GO!* Bastila shouted, clapping her feet against Nyssa's wings like a horse.
Nyssa needed no extra encouragement. She bolted down, down through the air toward Cedric, going faster than Bastila had ever known the serpent to be able to fly.
Bastila ALMOST broke her spell's hold over the Tri-Wizard Cup.
They flew down between the hedges, into the maze again. Nyssa surged forward, ahead of the Werewolves.
The Blast-Ended-Skrewts began to shake and stamp their feet in place. They were preparing to fire a burst of magical flames that would incinerate Cedric.
Bastila saw Cedric throw up a shield charm, but she knew it wouldn't be enough. Bastila KNEW, because she knew that even HER strongest shield charm couldn't have stopped those flames.
"CEDRIC!" Bastila screamed.
Nyssa slowed down almost instantly. She wrapped herself around in a half-circle in the air in front of Cedric. Bastila flicked her wand at Cedric, sending the Cup at Cedric with blinding speed.
The Cup hit Cedric in the stomach, and he caught it before it hit the ground.
There was a flash of blue, the world twisted around Cedric, and then he was gone.
Nyssa uncurled herself and darted forward, going right between the Blast-Ended-Skrewts just as they fired their flames.
And just as the Werewolves were coming up behind Nyssa and Bastila.
The result?
Bastila didn't dare to look. But she was pretty sure they were DEAD Werewolves now.
Nyssa and Bastila were up in the air again, flying high above the maze.
Bastila dared to look toward the front of the maze. She could see people, distantly, running around like little ants. Swarming over each other, panicking. Most of them were heading back up toward the castle.
Bastila could see flashes of light here and there. Spells to hold back the Werewolves. To kill them. But now that Bastila could REALLY see it all, she saw all of the Werewolves. Inside and outside the maze. There was just too many to count. And she could see many, many Werewolves getting past the teachers, going for the people who were running up to the castle.
It was too much. Too much for Bastila to see. Too much to comprehend.
'Damnit...I've got to do something...Something...No, anything.' Bastila thought, her mind reeling. 'Mom taught me that...Swallow your fear, and DO SOMETHING! It doesn't matter how big or small, it doesn't matter WHAT, just do SOMETHING!'
*We need to get down there at the front and help them!*
*But what about the other champions?* Nyssa reminded.
Bastila scanned the maze below them. She could see the Werewolves running around down there, She could see the other dark creatures milling about. Some were even fighting with the Werewolves. But what Bastila couldn't see, were Humans.
*They must've all gotten out of the maze. I can't see any people in there.* Bastila said finally, shaking her head.
'But if those three Werewolves got behind me when this all started, then they had to have taken another path through the maze...And that means they had to have run into Krum or Fleur or Harry.' Bastila thought.
She pushed those thoughts from her mind. *To the front.* She told Nyssa. *I'm sure the other champions are out.*
Nyssa obliged.
As they got closer, Bastila saw the horrifying, chaotic nature of the Werewolves' attacks in excruciating detail.
People running everywhere. Werewolves leaping at people, holding them to the ground and tearing into their necks. Clawing deep, fatal wounds into people's backs. Biting and ripping off flailing arms and legs.
Biting out the throats of screaming, terrified children. And then not STOPPING.
Nyssa flew low over the panicked crowd. Bastila searched and searched, looking desperately for Severus, or Daphne, or Sarah, or Elsa. She found all of them. They were huddled together in a tight group, throwing up shield charms, casting curses and hexes of all kinds at any and all Werewolves around them.
Ninety-nine percent of the spells coming out of Severus's wand, Bastila didn't even recognize.
Bastila pointed Severus and the others out to Nyssa, and Nyssa flew over to them, dodging and weaving around Werewolves that tried to jump up and bite Nyssa's wings, or grab hold of her body with their claws.
Bastila slid off of Nyssa, right beside Severus and Daphne.
There was no time for pleasantries. No time for "Oh my god you're alive!"'s.
Bastila was right there with the people she loved and cared about. She looked around at the Werewolves, at the chaos, and for a moment, she was overwhelmed. How could she even decide which one to attack? Which one to kill? How could she save someone from being-
"Bastila!" Severus shouted. He shoved her aside and shot out a dark purple jet from his wand. It formed into a long blade and speared a Werewolf through the face that had leapt at Bastila.
Bastila blinked. 'Pay attention...It doesn't matter what Werewolf you kill. Killing any one of them, ALL OF THEM, will save people.'
She raised her wand, took aim, and sent a Confringo at the nearest Werewolf.
The spell struck the ground near the Werewolf and exploded. The blast of flames and air pressure tore the Werewolf apart. As well as the student running past it at that moment.
Bastila's mind froze up. She was beyond horrified with herself. She couldn't look away. She couldn't think. She couldn't...
"Bastila! Leave it!" Said Severus, his eyes flickering to where the mutilated Werewolf and student were. "This WILL happen in battle! It cannot be avoided! You must simply-" He sent an Avada Kedavra at a Werewolf, which struck home. "Do the best that you can to avoid it, but do not become hung up on it when it DOES happen!"
Bastila almost sank to the ground. Almost dropped her wand. Almost threw herself forward to be torn to pieces by the Werewolves just like she had done to that innocent child.
Then she heard the oh so familiar whispering in her head. But this time...It was as clear as day.
Everything around Bastila seemed to go into slow motion.
'Don't think.' Said a whispered, female voice.
'I...I can't help it! I...I MURDERED that little boy..That kid...I...'
'Do you want me to help you?' The voice replied. 'If you can't handle this, I can help you.'
Bastila nodded her head. 'Help me...Help me save everyone, help me kill the Werewolves...'
'I will. Close your eyes.' The voice said softly. 'It will all be over faster than you can blink. And everyone you love will be alive and safe when you open your eyes again.'
Bastila nodded again. Without even hesitating, she closed her eyes.
The world around her changed. Sound. Smell. Sense of direction. The feel of her feet in the grass. Her sensation of standing. The hand holding her wand.
Bastila opened her eyes, and gasped.