Chapter 15: The Last Task.

3 days later, Kat awoke to Sirius pacing around the room looking very worried and muttering under his breath. She leant up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before crossing over to Sirius and stopping him in his tracks.

"What's wrong?"

"It's the last task today. It doesn't start until 2 o'clock but I'm still worried. People change in that maze and it's never for the good"

"Sirius, Harry has made it this far. He's strong and he knows how to prepare himself. He'll be fine but you need to go there not looking worried otherwise it'll worry him, okay?"

Sirius nodded and placed a soft kiss on the corner of her lips but Kat wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard, not parting until they had to breathe. Sirius ran his hands through Kat's messy morning hair and down her back, resting them on her hips.

"Oh Kat, what would I do without you?"

"Starve. Come on, let's go get breakfast"

Sirius laughed and he made breakfast while Kat went to feed and clean Buckbeak. She entered the room slowly and the giant Hippogriff lifted its head at the sound of the door. Kat bowed and Buckbeak bowed back.

"Buckbeak, stand"

The hippogriff looked at her and slowly, almost reluctantly, got up. Kat put the food in a bowl and grabbed a brush from the back of the room. She began to slowly brush Buckbeak's feathers and check his wings to make sure they were healthy.

"Hm, you could do with some exercise. I'll get Sirius to take you flying next week"

Buckbeak gave a small screech which Kat took as a thank you. She cleaned her hands and went down to the kitchen where Sirius had cooked breakfast. Kat was just about to sit opposite Sirius but seeing how worried she was she grabbed their plates and they sat on the sofa together.

"I'm going to have a shower and then we can get ready together. We're spending the morning next door, ok?"

Sirius merely nodded and Kat left. She dumped her pyjamas on the floor and stepped into the steaming shower. Meanwhile, Sirius was still sitting on the sofa when Hedwig came flying in through the window and landed on the table. She dropped a letter on the table and stood patiently waiting for Sirius to reply. Sirius opened the letter with haste.

"Dear Padfoot,

A couple of things I wanted to say. Firstly, I will have to ask the Dursley's if I can attend both weddings next year even though I would be honoured to. I would also be honoured to be your best man if I am allowed to come. Secondly, Ron asked me to tell you that his family (minus Bill and Charlie) can attend both weddings as well and Mrs. Weasley sends her congratulations. Lastly, I was wondering if you had any last minute advice on the last task as it would be a great help. Hermione's had me reading every book about the Tri Wizard Tournament she can find but nothing's been very helpful.

From Harry"

Sirius smiled and wrote a reply.

"Dear Harry,

Thank you for letting me know about the invites and tell Ron to tell Molly thank you. As for the task, they will always put things in there to not only test your magical skill but things that target your weaknesses, personal and general. Boggarts, Dementors and other magical creatures. Parts of the maze are also rigged to confuse you, the hedges swallow you up and you end up somewhere else in the maze. If you feel a sudden wind in the part of the maze you're in, run. That's all I really know, I hope it helps. We will see you later on today. Good Luck.

Padfoot"

Sirius gave the letter to Hedwig and then went to tell Kat about the letter before remembering she was in the shower. He then smiled and carried on upstairs. Like that was going to stop him.

Kat was just rinsing shampoo out of her hair when Sirius pulled back the curtains, standing there in only his boxers. Kat screamed but was soon over come with giggles as Sirius joined her in the shower.

"Sirius! I'm having a shower!"

"So am I"

Sirius smiled at Kat's disturbed expression and pulled her in for a hug, his boxers soaked, the water cascading over them as he tipped back her head and gave her a lustful kiss, water dripping off his eyelids and down her cheeks. Sirius pulled away and grabbed the shampoo and squirted some onto his hand and began to massage it into his hair. Kat did the same with the conditioner, occasionally squealing when Sirius blew bubbles in her face. Kat turned away to wash the conditioner out but stopped and moaned as Sirius began to massage body wash into her shoulders. He ran his hands down her back and back up to her shoulders. Kat leant her head back on Sirius' shoulder and her eyes locked on to his.

"That feels so nice"

Sirius smiled and Kat washed the rest of her body before washing off and turned to Sirius, body wash bottle in hand. She clicked the top and without warning, squirted Sirius on his chest, making him jump back and yell in surprise. Kat laughed and rubbed her hands against Sirius' chest until it was covered in foamy white bubbles. Sirius sighed and pulled her hands away and pulled her into another passionate kiss. Kat wrapped her arms around his neck and didn't pull away until her lungs burnt from lack of oxygen.

"Come on, we need to get ready"

Sirius left the room and came back five minutes later with some clothes. Kat laughed but the fact that Sirius wouldn't even leave her to change in his room warmed her. Once they were both ready they disapparated and landed with a loud crack in the kitchen of next door. Remus was reading the Daily Prophet at the table and jumped at the noise but Ali, who had been stroking Kurama, jumped and yelled, Kurama dashing under the seat for cover.

"What the bloody hell was that for? You want to give me a heart attack?"

Kat giggled and patted Ali on the shoulder.

"I would never do such a thing!"

Kat giggled and Ali could not help but laugh along. Sirius had sat down with Remus and was now reading the Prophet but Ali was smiling broadly and before Kat could ask why, she grabbed her hand and pulled her upstairs. Kat sat down next to her and looked at the book in her hands. Ali was excitedly pointing at a white dress. Kat smiled and hugged her.

"I'm guessing you've been looking at these for quite a while then?"

"Yeah, I must have gone through tonnes of these little book thingies and this is the one I like the look of most"

Kat smiled. It was unusual for Ali to get so excited over something where she had to wear a dress but it was her wedding. It was an exception.

"I think you would look really pretty in it"

"Aw, thanks"

Ali smiled enthusiastically and bounded back downstairs where Remus and Sirius were talking about the Tournament. The clock on the wall said half past 12 so after a hurried lunch, Sirius and Kat disapparated to the designated apparition point in Hogsmeade Village, closely followed by Ali and Remus. The four set off up the hill and arrived at the castle with 45 minutes to spare. Ali and Remus carried on walking but Sirius looked up at the castle with a small smile. Kat took his hand, bringing him back to his senses.

"I'm finally getting to walk through these doors again as a free man"

Kat smiled and leant against his chest, her fingers curling around his shirt and his arms wrapping around her, his nose nuzzling in her hair. Ali turned round and huffed.

"Hey! Save it for later, yeah!"

Kat smiled and turned to go but Sirius pulled her back into his arms. Kat smiled against his shirt and Ali huffed again. Remus placed a hand in her shoulder and pulled her round to face him. She looked at him with a disgruntled expression that soon faded when he pulled her into a hug and kissed her lightly.

"Ali, you and Remus go on, we'll meet you there!"

Kat turned back to Sirius with difficulty as he was still holding her in his arms. Kat placed her hands on his chest and leant back.

"Sirius, I can tell you're worried. I've said this a hundred times, don't be. Harry will be fine. Come on"

Sirius smiled and gave Kat one last kiss before they followed Ali and Remus up to the castle where they were met by the caretaker, Argus Filch, who at first looked shocked to see Remus and Sirius back but then told them where to go. They followed the directions and found themselves in a huge outside arena with a giant maze surrounding it. Harry was nowhere to be seen so the four sat at the top next to Ron and Hermione. Ron smiled and said hello but Hermione launched into a full documentary about Harry's performance during the Tournament. Sirius laughed gently.

"I know how Harry has been doing Hermione; he's been sending me letters, but thank you for the update anyway"

Hermione blushed and turned back round just as the band began to play and the contestants came out of the little tunnel. First Cederic Diggory followed by Fleur Delacour, Victor Krum and then Harry who by far got the most applause. He looks around and when he sees Sirius he smiles. Sirius smiles back and Dumbledore gathers the contestants into a circle. After a moment the four contestants go to their designated tunnels and on the sounds of the cannon they enter the maze. As soon as they had gone far enough in, the maze closed up and the last task began.

"What now" Ali asks.

"We wait" Kat replies. Ali looks at her, mouth slightly open.

"That's it?! Great big mighty last task and that's it?!"

Kat shoots her a look and Ali retreats into the safety of Remus' arms. Hermione and Ron turn to the four and they begin to talk. For the first hour it's just talking and everyone seems to have forgotten about the task until red sparks fly up into the air, causing everyone to be silent.

"Look. Who do you think it is? I hope Harry's alright!" Hermione gasps.

Kat grips Sirius arm and he pulls her close to him. There's a disturbance at the front near the maze and Fleur Delacour is thrown out onto the plain. Dumbledore helps her up and breaks off the vines that were wrapped around her. Her headmistress, Madame Maxine, came rushing down from the steps and enveloped her in a huge hug.

"Oh my dear, are you alvight? It doesn't matter, you are zafe now, come on. Up here, your seester iz waiting for you"

"Oh thank god Harry is alright. I mean, I'm sorry for Fleur being thrown out of the competition but still" Hermione rushes.

Sirius gives a ghost of a smile because although there was some truth to Hermione's statement but he was half hoping it would be Harry sending those sparks, so he would be out of that maze and safe. Kat was still wrapped in Sirius' arm because she too had wanted it to be Harry that would come out to safety. Ali was resting her head against Remus' shoulder with his arm wrapped around her.

"Hello again"

The four turned to see Dumbledore and Minerva standing next to them.

"Hello Albus" Remus replied. Ali shook his hand and so did Sirius. Kat turned around and smiled as Dumbledore shook her hand.

"Kat and Ali, I wished to ask you if you were returning to Hogwarts next year to resume your old teaching posts."

"We are Albus" Kat replied.

"Good, good and Remus. There is a part time post for Defence against the Dark Arts. Would you be interested in it?"

Remus' face lit up.

"Yes sir, I would be honoured to"

Dumbledore smiled.

"Excellent. Well we must go now. My congratulations to you all on your engagements as well"

"Thank you"

Dumbledore and Minerva went back to the teacher's stand and Kat went back to hugging Sirius. A couple of hours later, there was another disturbance and the Durmstrang contestant, Victor Krum, is thrown out of the maze. His headmaster grabs him roughly by the shoulder and drags him up to where the rest of his school are waiting.

"Wait, he didn't shoot up any sparks. How did he get out?"

"Someone must have reached the cup"

"Ok, so where's the other person?"

Kat began wildly searching the plain but no one emerged from the maze. Sirius pulled her back into her seat but Kat was still frantic.

"Sirius, what if Harry didn't get the cup and he's stuck in the maze!"

"Calm down Kat, I'm sure... I'm sure Harry's fine"

Another half an hour later and Harry, Cedric Diggory and the cup landed on the ground in a crumpled heap. The whole stadium erupted into applause and the band began to play.

"He did it Sirius! Harry did it!"

Kat and Ali began to cheer and clap but it was short lived. Fleur Delacour let out a loud scream and the realisation that Cedric Diggory wasn't moving hit everyone like a ton of bricks. Kat shoved past Ali and ran down the steps, closely followed by Sirius.

"Albus, what's happening?"

"A boy has just been killed. Don't worry, Harry is safe. Alastor has him inside so he can be away from all this"

"Ok" Sirius lead Kat back up to the others and explained what had happened. The students and staff retreated to the Great Hall and the supporters slowly left in groups, pausing to give their condolences to Amos. The four apparated back to Grimuald Place and sat in silence for hours on end, too shocked to say anything.

"I'm going to bed"

Kat got up and left the room but the others stayed in the kitchen, staring at nothing until a knock at the door jolted them back to reality.