Chapter 8: Reaching Emotions

Over the next few months, the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor really began to spark. Posters for both Jason and I appeared all over the school. Even the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs joined the rivalry, although most of them were on Gryffindor's side.

Minerva was refusing to tell us what our next task was. She just said it was going to be emotional. All other information was kept secret. There wasn't much we could do to prepare.

While the students had a bitter rivalry, Jason and I had more of a friendly one. We remained close friends, and still went to each other's classrooms if we wanted someone to talk to. Now, we just had more to tease each other about. Our conversations often went something like this:

"I'm sure to win this contest Luci, you can count on it!" Jason would say.

"How can you be so sure?" I would ask.

"Because I'm a man, and men are less emotional than women. Besides, I'm a Gryffindor!"

"Not necessarily!" I protested. "And as I recall, a couple of years ago, you told me you were not brave when it came to emotions."

"Yeah, well…." Jason was clearly stuck. Suddenly he smiled. "You may have won this battle, Luci, but I will win the war."

"Don't bet on it! Or else you'll lose some money too!"

These conversations continued on until June 14th, when Minerva had scheduled the task to be held. Jason and I both were specifically instructed to go to the quidditch pitch at ten o'clock sharp, so that's what we did. Once outside, we discovered the quidditch pitch had been transformed into a giant maze, similar to the one Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, and Viktor Krum had to find their way though during the last triwizard tournament.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!" Minerva said into the microphone. "I would like to welcome our two finalists, Professor Clearton…" Jason ran into the quidditch pitch just as Minerva had instructed the day before. Applause and cheers rose up from the stands, and when it quiet down, Minerva spoke again. "And Professor Pasen!"

I followed Jason into the quidditch pitch. Like Jason, I also received applause, but not as much as he did. Well, what did I expect? I was the Head of Slytherin, after all.

"Welcome, finalists!" Minerva called and waited for the applause to die down again. "As you both know, your emotions will be tested in the third and final task. At the end of this maze is a trophy. Whoever gets to the trophy first is the winner of the tournament. But getting there will not be easy. You will encounter your worst fears inside this maze, and your emotions will be toyed with. This task is the most dangerous in the tournament, and since we don't to lose any of our best professors, a red flair will automatically be launched if either of you are in the slightest bit of trouble, and someone will come to your aid immediately. Only the two of you will know what goes on in the maze, and you may share only what you wish. I wish both of you the best of luck. You may begin."

The crowd cheered. The entry to the maze opened, and Jason and I ran inside. At the first fork in the path, Jason curved to the left, while I went right.

Things were going fine until a came around a sharp corner and found my brother hunched over in the middle of the path. He was sobbing, and was obvious in pain and grief. I wanted to do something, but was frozen in place. Suddenly, my brother got to his feet. He appeared to be fine, but then his eyes were filled with fear. A large, venomous snake had appeared on the path, and it was about to strike. Just in time, I realized what was happening. It was my boggart! Of course!

"Riddikulus!" I shouted pointing my wand at the boggart. My brother grabbed the snake and began to jump rope with it, singing a nursery rhyme as he skipped. I laughed and continued on my way.

I followed the twist and turns of the maze, turning when I thought necessary. About ten minutes after leaving the boggart I nearly ran into Jason.

"Jay?" I asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Jason laughed, but the laugh didn't sound right. "Same reason as you, Lucianna, only, I'm actually going to succeed, unlike you, you pathetic little bitch!"

I gasped. "What did you just call me?" I whispered, on the verge of tears.

"You heard me." Jason snarled. "I only pretended to be your friend. I didn't mean anything nice I said to you. Now, I'm going to win this contest, and become popular with everyone at Hogwarts. Then, I will overthrow you and become deputy headmaster, and eventually headmaster. Once that happens, you'll be gone, and I won't have to deal with you, a sorry excuse for a Slytherin. What do you think of my plan?"

"You prat!" I screeched. "I trusted you!"

Jason laughed. "You are incredibly foolish, Lucianna. I do believe you are the most gullible person I've ever met."

Suddenly, I couldn't take it any longer. "Get out of my way!" I screamed, and rushed past Jason as fast as I could, leaving only the sound of his laughter behind me. Tears were streaming down my face, and I could no longer concentrate. It wasn't until I became lost and disoriented that I realized what I was doing, and stopped.

Why would Jason say those cruel words to me? It just wasn't like him, or at least I thought it wasn't. Then it came to me. Minerva had said our emotions would be toyed with. Perhaps Jason was only a hallucination. Yes, that was it. Feeling much happier, I continued on my way.

After a few more minutes of running, I finally saw the trophy at the end of the path. I was almost there, when suddenly, a dementor swooped down in front of me. I was frightened for only a moment, but then leapt into action. Surprisingly, I found myself thinking of Jason, and how happy he made me feel. I thought of my treasured Slytherins, and how proud they would be if I won them five hundred free house points.

"Expecto Patronum!" I exclaimed, and a silvery fox shot out from my wand, chasing the dementor away. I ran for the trophy with all of my power. Once I reached it I heard someone running towards me. I turned to my around, and saw Jason running down the path, trying desperately to get to the trophy in time, but failing miserably.

"I won." I said with a smile, and then grabbed hold of the trophy for the win.

Immediately, Jason and I were transported to the front of the maze. The crowd cheered as we appeared, and my Sltherins cheered even louder when they saw I had the trophy.

"The winner of our Tournament is Professor Pasen!" Minerva announced. "Five hundred points is awarded to Slytherin!"

That was the proudest moment of my life.

A day after the tournament, I decided to make sure the words Jason said to me in the maze were really just a hallucination. When I knocked on the door of the Defense room, Jason opened the door immediately.

"Hello, Lucianna." He said with a smile. "Come in."

I followed Jason into the room, and he shut the door behind him.

"Is there any particular reason for this visit, or are you just here to talk?" Jason asked.

I hesitated. "Jay… are you really my friend, or is this all fake?"

Jason stared at me. "Of course I am, Luci. How could you ever doubt that?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't know. Just thought I check."

Jason sighed. "Luci, you're my best friend, and you always will be. Do you understand me?"

I nodded. In my heart, I was comforted. Jason was right. Why should I ever doubt him?

"And you're mine." I said, and I knew he was.