I'm back with another update! Hope you enjoy!

Jace POV

How much longer will this go on? Jace wondered. He had given up running due to exhaustion and was walking at a brisk pace.

It had been a long day. After escaping the flooding room, Jace had to get past a sleeping dragon—a dragon that was a very light sleeper—figure out a riddle about keys and doors, fight himself (now that had been a strange challenge), and mount a broom to catch a snitch (which, needless to say, was the easiest part of the whole tournament for Jace). He ran through what had to be miles and miles of tunnels, practically faced on all four elements, and used a good majority of all the spells he knew. He really needed a break.

However, in all that time, he hadn't seen a single other competitor. On one hand, that could mean that he was ahead of them all, meaning there was a good chance he could win. On the other hand, the others could be far ahead of him. One of them could already have the cup. He didn't know what was to happen to the other competitors once one won, if they would all immediately get sent back to the school, or if the tunnels would shift so that they were led back, or if he would still have to find where the cup originally was, only to find the cup gone and a way back. So, really, he could be running for no reason. He had no way to tell. Still, he held on to the hope that he would win.

He was just nearing a turn when he heard it.

"Expelliarmus!"

Without a second thought, Jace sprinted ahead, wand at ready, turning the corner, prepared for whatever was next.

Around the corner, the tunnel widened to a clearing. Towards the center, the cave ceiling reached an end, opening up to the sky above, which was painted in pinks, purples, and oranges of the fading sunset.

Jace's feet touched grass as he slowed down and registered the scene in front of him. He stood at the edge of a garden, filled with flowers and plants of every color and species, and at the center an elegant glass fountain rose from the ground, golden water spilling on all sides.

But that's not what caught his attention.

On one side, wand raised, a victorious grin on her face, was Viria. But she didn't have just one wand. In her other hand, she held Jean's wand, whose owner stood on the other end of the clearing, empty handed and shock clear in every part of his face. His eyes darted between her and the fountain at the center of the garden. He looked ready to make a run to it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Viria said warningly, pointing her wand at him.

They were so focused on each other that neither of them noticed Jace, who took the time to see what Jean was looking at.

"I'm sorry Jean, but only one of us can win," Viria told Jean, but Jace barely registered her words. Something else had his attention.

Right there at the center, floating above the fountain, was the Triwizard Cup, glowing an eerie blue, its silver handles reflecting the light. Jace couldn't believe it. He was so captured by it, the way a moth is entranced by a lamp light, he remained frozen in place, starring up at it.

It's so close.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Viria casted, jarring Jace's focus. But it wasn't he who was the target of the spell. Jace turned his head just in time to see Jean's body freeze up, his arms sticking to his sides, legs glued together, and he watched as the Beauxbaton champion fell to the ground.

"And now, to victory," Viria said to herself, heading forward.

I don't think so, Jace thought. Quickly, he took out his wand, casting, "Stupefy!"

He missed Viria by a hair, just in front of her, but it was enough to get her attention. She jumped back and turned to him, a fire in her piercing blue eyes.

Her face broke into the same grin she gave Jean, and that was the only warning Jace had. He darted back to his tunnel just as a disarming spell shot his way, missing him by a fraction of a second.

Not wanting to give her a chance to run to the cup, Jace speedily recovered, using the same disarming charm back on her, forcing he to retreat.

Before long, both had their backs to their respective tunnel walls, sending quick spells anytime they looked and saw the other moving.

No one was making progress. Neither could get a direct shot at one another, and neither had a window of opportunity to make a dash for the cup. The air filled with poorly aimed spells, and parts of the garden were considerably destroyed.

Both had attempted using Accio on the cup, but there must have been protections on it that prevented it because, alas, both were still empty handed.

Jace just took cover again when he saw where Viria's last spell hit. The tunnel wall gained a crack from the blast.

It was then the idea came.

Not wasting another second, Jace took a few steps out and turned to Viria's tunnel but he didn't point his wand where Viria was most likely hiding. He aimed to the cave ceiling above her.

"Confringo!"

Viria had moved towards the center of her tunnel just when the explosion hit. She looked above her, where the rock ceiling was cracking rapidly. The ceiling started crumbling, a few pebbles raining down, and Jace saw Viria back up, staring at what doomed her chances of victory.

Jace, about to make a dash for the cup, smiled. His plan was working… But the look in Viria's eyes said otherwise.

Time slowed.

As the rocks fell, Viria ran towards the solid rain instead of away. Her entrance to the clearing was quickly closing but that didn't defer her course. At the last second, she jumped, and Jace watched, frozen in surprise, as she changed form right before his eyes, getting smaller and smaller, fur growing all on her body, until, as a small gerbil, she made it through a small gap in the piling rubble.

Not two seconds later, she transformed back, just in time to hit the ground running, not looking back.

The truth dawned on Jace, who still was too shocked to move. After all, it's not every day you see someone turn into a rodent.

She's an Animagus, he thought, all the pieces falling into place in his mind. It all made sense. That's how she finished all the tasks so fast without anyone seeing her. That's how she got past the dementors, how she must have free'd Trya. And the flooded room… it did require all three contestants! It was Viria who caused the flash of light, the one who cast the spell that saved Jean and him.

The sight of Viria halfway to the cup brought Jace back from the shock. He ran, only having enough time to yell "No!" and a final stunning spell before she repeated the same trick, shrinking to avoid the spell, and transforming back—

Just in time for her hand to land on the cup.

Jace watched as Viria looked back at him, a smile splitting wide on her face, throwing him a mischievous wink as she and the cup disappeared.

Magnus POV

It happened so suddenly, without any warning. Anyone not looking probably regretted glancing away. But Magnus was one of the lucky few who saw, as he happened to be looking in the right direction.

There on the ground below, about 50 feet from the entrances of all the tunnels, appeared Viria, stumbling on her landing, but managing to stay upright. And clasped tightly in her hand was the Triwizard Cup.

The winner had arrived.

A loud burst of cheers exploded from the Durmstrang students who saw her first, getting the attention of everyone in the stands. It wasn't long until everyone joined in a polite applause, whilst all of Durmstrang found their way to their feet, screaming so loud Magnus predicted they'd all lose their voices.

Speaking of, Magnus, who had taken a liking to the red-head after their talk on Christmas, was one of the few from Hogwarts who found themselves standing as well, a smile on his face. Even though Hogwarts didn't win, he couldn't help but feel happy for her.

Magnus watched as Viria was soon surrounded by her closest friends. A pair of adults, a woman with hair like Viria's who was holding the arm of a man, that Magnus guessed were her parents stood a few feet away from them. Viria looked up and spotted them, her smile faltering. Her friends backed up, giving her room to approach her parents, but Viria didn't move, her fists clenched.

Magnus realized that this was the first time he saw them. They hadn't showed up to congratulate Viria like the other champions' families had.

A few unheard words passed between them. Then, hesitantly, Viria made her way forward and wrapped her arms around her father. Breaking away, she gave a polite nod to her mother, before returning to her friends and the rest of her peers, ready to welcome their champion.

Magnus had been so focused on the little family reunion, he hadn't noticed the surge in applause from the Hogwarts students until Alec gently shook him. Turning, Magnus saw Jace a few feet in front of his tunnel, slightly out of breath, looking in Viria's direction. But he didn't look disappointed or upset. Instead he had an amused smile and a look of profound respect, one Magnus had learned he rarely gave anyone.

A few seconds later, Jean arrived, and the Beauxbaton students joined the rest of the audience on their feet. Although they didn't win, both losing school were proud of their champions, and glad to see they made it back alive. It wasn't so long ago that they had lost someone to these games.

Alec, who has been tense all day, wrecked with worry, was bouncing on his feet and Magnus laughed to himself. He could tell he probably wanted to rush to Jace but didn't want to leave Magnus alone in the stands.

"Go to him," Magnus told him. "Go on."

Alec looked at him gratefully before placing a quick kiss on Magnus's cheek and bounding down the steps as fast as his feet could take him. He smiled to himself as he saw Alec wrap Jace in a hug, followed quickly by a searching look for any injuries, which Jace laughed and brushed off. They were joined by Clary and Izzy who took turns hugging Jace, the former of which adding a kiss on his lips. By the wide smiles on their faces, you wouldn't have guessed Hogwarts lost.

Looking around himself, Magnus saw that everyone had similar looks of glee. Durmstrang had gotten Viria on their shoulders and were parading her around the grounds laughing. Hogwarts and Beauxbaton kids watched them and grinned, their happiness so incredibly infectious. Magnus cheered them on. A giddy Tessa grabbed onto his arm and Magnus looked at her, finding his joy reflected in her face. The two hugged, laughing like idiots. Looking up, Magnus saw Raphael, and even he had a slight upturn up his lips. He walked over to him and crushed him in a hug, one Raphael struggled to get out of, before giving up with a look of defeat and a light laugh in his throat.

Magnus felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around, only to be pulled by the front of his robes by Alec into a searing kiss. Magnus tugged him closer, reciprocating with equal intensity. When the two broke away, Magnus rested his forehead on Alec's, who still had his face split in a wide smile.

"You're awfully happy for someone who's best friend lost," Magnus joked.

"That doesn't matter," Alec told him quite simply, honest. Magnus found him agreeing rather easily. Even though Hogwarts didn't win, he felt like the happiest man alive.

Disappointment would come later, but tonight was a night of celebration.

I hope to have this story done by the end of summer. There's only one or two more chapters! As always comments are appreciated :)