A/N: It has been an interesting and busy week. Did you ever have a week like that? I was sitting at my computer proofreading this chapter one last time since I planned on posting it tomorrow morning. About twenty minutes ago, more or less, I remembered that it was already tomorrow. So, here is the chapter and a needless apology for any errors as I probably would have missed them anyway. And I lied. It wasn't an interesting week. It was only busy.
Chapter 24: The Second Task
Draco picked up the letter that the owl dropped. Breakfast was ignored for the present. The letter was from Mick. The election was over and now Draco was to learn the result. It was what he expected.
Mick lost. Big. He received a total of 923 votes. The man in the car received more than 3,000. It was not a large turnout and Mick's letter said that was a good thing. He could have lost by a lot more. But. There was always a but. Mick said that something wonderful had happened. He enclosed a clipping of the victory speech.
In his speech, the Minister praised Mick, claiming that the lopsided vote did not reflect the difference of policy positions, but of experience. He also claimed that the small campaign helped put out a large message: to remind the people of the need for reform. Draco showed Hermione the article and where the man mentioned Saint Brutus and the necessity to make sure the institution never opened its doors again. The man also announced his intentions to have CID reopen its investigation into the operations of the Academy, with the stipulation that anyone found guilty of any criminal activity be prosecuted to the fullest.
Hermione agreed it was wonderful. Especially when Draco pointed out in the letter where Mick wrote that he was to be involved in some way. He was vague about what that way was but that it wouldn't be just for show, and that he would be paid. Draco knew that things had changed for Mick No more attacks on his character.
"He's becoming a politician for real," Hermione joked. "Seriously, he did make an impression. He ran against the man and the man turned around and gave him a job. A job doing something."
Justin, sitting with his back to them, groaned. When they turned around, he was looking at them. "Father wrote to me about that job. Do you know what that Minister did? He stole the party's best tool in the district."
"Mick?" Draco asked.
Justin nodded. "Father says Mick has an earthy charisma. He can speak to people as though he's on the same level with them, that he understands them. Did Mick send you a copy of his last speech? Even the party hacks said it was great."
Draco did remember reading that speech. Mick started out by saying he was a thief. He stole anything he could. He described his skills and how he was teaching them to others when he was barely fourteen. And he told them where he learned them. Then he mentioned Janice, how she stole from him. His heart. And gave him a purpose. He is still a thief, except now he steals the hidden truths and throws them out into the open for all to see. The best part of the speech was that it made people look at Mick as a man they could trust.
The worst part of the speech, according to Justin's father was that the Minister said that if he weren't running, he would vote for Mick himself, that this was the type of man the country needed. That remark let people reelect him without feeling guilty about voting against the reformer.
Justin bemoaned that "the party will never have a chance in that district for the next fifty years".
Hermione agreed with Justin that it was a terrible thing. Draco tried to agree but he couldn't. Mick, in his letter, was happier than he had been since Janice agreed to marry him. His comment made Justin scowl. "It's only politics."
"ONLY POLITICS? WE . . ." Justin stopped. "We could have made a difference."
"They," Hermione reminded him. "We live in a different world."
Justin sighed and turned back to his breakfast. Draco thought it was a good idea and did the same. The second task was getting closer every day. And Ludo Bagman said he was on his own. It wasn't going to matter in the end. Arrangements were almost complete for the third task and then Draco would know everything he needed in order to win.
It was during the most interesting class ever of History of Magic that Draco had a brilliant idea.
Professor Binns had been convinced to give up his class for the week. Professor Adrem was teaching the class on the colonization of the New World by wizards and witches. She touched on the Roanoke settlement and its disappearance then shifted to the first arrival of magic folk in New England. The main subject was the Salem Witch Trials.
No one tried as a witch in Salem had any magical heritage. It was all the result of hysteria. It was magic, however, that brought the trials to an end. After much arguing about the need for secrecy, it was decided that too many people were being murdered. A group of seven witches confronted the judges and the chief witnesses. They revealed themselves for what they were. They also revealed a special potion they had brewed for that occasion. Veritaserum.
The chief witch took the potion first and dared the muggles to ask any question that they chose. The first question was if they were servants of the devil. The second question was how they could be sure she was telling the truth. The witch said that she had a great punishment for all of them. Each was to be given the potion. For the next hour, everyone would have to tell the truth. No one would be able to lie. And she would be the one to ask the questions.
At the end of that hour, one of the judges openly wept. Charms were used to prevent anyone present from speaking about what happened, and to prevent anyone from forgetting. The result was that the remaining trials to be held resulted in acquittal. The hysteria disappeared. And the judge who wept, Samuel Sewall, issued a public confession.
One other thing that happened was that the witches warned that they would remain in the area to keep an eye on things. They became the founders of the Salem Witches Institute.
After the class was over, Draco approached the American teacher and asked his question. Hermione insisted on joining him.
"Could you cast a silencing spell?"
The Professor waved her wand.
"Do the Americans have any experience in trying to, um, resurrect the dead?"
Professor Adrem smiled. "If I taught Defense instead of history, I would be able to answer that question." She managed to drawl one word. "Why?"
Draco explained his earlier thoughts about Voldemort and what he knew about the man's plans. He was trying to figure out why an outsider was needed for the restoration process and he had no one he could ask. He looked at Hermione as he explained that it would be too suspicious if he or his friends started looking.
Professor Adrem agreed. And because she was here, she would cause suspicion as well. She would mention her regrets when she sent her next report to Doctor McCudgeon. She told Draco he was paranoid, that he had every right to be and that they would never have another private conversation again. Before she removed the spell, she added that she needed a good excuse for casting the spell in the first place.
She waved her wand. And laughed. "It won't make any difference. Let Fred and George try using butterbeer in the cup. And let me know if they have any luck."
Hermione smiled as Draco made it a point to eat a hearty breakfast. The day of the second task had finally arrived.
"Do you remember the spells we studied?"
"All of them, Hermione. And I know which ones I'm good at and which ones to use if I'm desperate."
"And remember," Hermione whispered, "you are a dragon."
Draco's lip curled in appreciation. Hermione would remind him of his greatest strength. If all else failed, he could burn everything in his path.
"I'll remember."
As classes were cancelled for the day, he and Hermione and Justin visited a few people. First, and not by popular choice, was Professor Snape. Uncle Severus surprised them by first asking Hermione how well prepared Draco was. He was smiling when she said better than they had hoped. Justin whispered to Draco that Snape actually liked someone from Gryffindor.
"Mister Finch-Fletchley, if you showed more interest in helping Draco than joining in his escapades then you might find me liking someone in Hufflepuff. At least Miss Granger appreciates the need for Draco to learn as much as possible."
Next was a brief visit to Professor Lestrange. He smiled as always. He was polite as always when Draco was with his friends. And he assured Draco that he did not need to rely on luck when he had friends. As they left, Justin asked Draco if they were the friends the professor was referring to.
As they left the castle to visit Hagrid, Rita Skeeter was waiting outside. She smiled at Draco, Justin and Hermione and told Murray the photographer to take their picture. It could end up on the front page if a certain someone won. She assured the three young teenagers that she wasn't waiting for them. She also asked Draco if he had seen Sirius Black.
Hagrid was happy for the visit but insisted it had to be short. He had things to do before the task began. He did have the most experience in the dark forest. He had to make sure the tasks were set up properly. He wasn't smiling when he wished Draco good luck.
After lunch, Professor Duracam came for Draco. She was his escort to the start of the Second Task. Her first question was if she should ask if Draco was prepared. Should she ask if he was nervous? Should she ask what the odds where that he would win this round? Did he know anyone who could give her the odds and let her make a last minute bet? Draco advised her to talk to the Weasley twins and not to bet on him. Her questions did have their effect. He wasn't the least nervous when he arrived at the meeting place with the other champions. He was almost eager to begin.
Fleur kissed him on both cheeks, wishing him luck. Angelina, with an impish grin, did the same. Viktor laughed and asked Draco if he minded that they only shook hands. Draco wished them luck as well. The pleasantries done, they turned to face Ludo Bagman who was facing the makeshift stands built behind Hagrid's hut and at everyone who had gathered to watch.
Bagman began with the announcements of the existing scores. Angelina Johnson was in the lead with 50 points. Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour were tied for second with 45 points. He turned to Draco and smiled. When he turned back he announced that Draco Malfoy originally had no points for the first task. Because of extenuating circumstances, the judges had revised their original scores. He stood in fourth place with 30 points. And because he was the one to discover the secret of the cups, the judges have awarded him an additional 10 points. His total stood now at 40.
Ludo Bagman went on to explain the task. Arrangements had been made to use the forest with appropriate difficulties in place. Each contestant would have their own path and goal. Points would be given depending on how quickly each champion completed his or her task. Being the first to finish would not mean automatically winning the round. Each champion would also be judged on their skill in dealing with . . . any problems. He said the last line just right. The audience laughed in appreciation.
"Let the task begin."
Professor Dumbledore led Angelina Johnson to one of the paths. He gave her his best wishes and let her know to follow the path to the end. As Angelina disappeared into the forest, the remaining champions waited. After one minute, Ludo Bagman announced it was time. Professor Karkaroff and Madam Maxime led their champions to their own paths.
Now it was only Draco and Professor Duracam. They waited for two more minutes. When Bagman told them it was time, Professor Duracam walked Draco to the fourth path. She gave him one last piece of advice. "If you find yourself in trouble and you can't get out of it, swear like hell. It WILL make you feel better."
Draco loosened his old brown coat to pull out his wand. It was a warm day. But it was also February. Warm meant that it was above freezing.
"If they wanted me to feel better, they would have held this task indoors."
Draco carefully walked along the path, remembering the last time he had entered these woods. The trees looked as gnarly and threatening as they had before. And dark. Even though it was a sunny day, the trees already made it look as though it was almost dusk.
He made the assumption that there would be no traps until after he was out of sight, which didn't take long. Once he turned the first bend in the trail, he stopped. There was a long straight trail ahead of him. Everything looked normal, but that meant nothing. He took out his wand and cast a spell.
"Ostendo."
Nothing happened. He cast the spell again, aiming it at a tree that came close to the path. Oddly, the tree gave a faint glow. A glow that Draco recognized from practice. When casting the reveal spell, the various hidden hexes and jinxes and what not all had tell-tail glows, similar to the colour of the light that would come from one's wand when casting the active spell. The faint glow showed that the set spell had been broken.
Draco smiled to himself. He would be careful, but it was obvious to him what had happened. Since they knew what path he would take, certain people removed the placed spells to make his trek easier. He would still be careful in case they didn't get everything.
He was walking along at a fairly brisk pace. He was also casting the Ostendo spell at anything that looked like trouble. He found two spells that were intact. He didn't know what one spell was but the other looked like a form of Impedimentia. Being wrapped up in ropes would definitely make the task harder. He also found three more faint glows. Three more spells that had been removed from his path.
"Just wish I knew how far I had to go," Draco said to himself as he reached the second turning. He stopped and slowed. The path wasn't straight at all but wove around several large trees. He cast Ostendo at everything he could. And he saw it. A bright golden glow that stood a good meter off the ground, only a hand span away from the tip of his wand.
To be safe, Draco crawled under the spell trap on his hands and knees. He even cast the spell above him before standing up. Walking slowly, he cast a few more spells to make sure the path was clear. He rounded the last tree with a sigh of relief and paused to stare down the long wooded corridor in front of him.
Something growled on his right. Draco turned his head. He couldn't see what it was but he could see glowing yellow eyes in the shadows. Two pair of them. Moving slowly toward him. Draco wasn't worried. He pointed his wand and growled back. A burst of flame came out of his wand, hurting nothing but making a spectacular show of light.
The eyes were still there, but they were no longer moving. He let out a shout, almost a bark. The flames came out again, not enough to hurt but stronger than before. And the heat of the flames was noticeable. When the last wisp disappeared, Draco saw that the eyes were gone as well. The only noise to be heard were padded feet fading into the distance.
Then there was another noise. Almost as though someone was crying. Draco nodded to himself. The first stretch was for the traps. The second stretch would be the attacks. The first attack he took care of, but what of the others? Would he still have to face them or have they been taken care of as well. When he heard the crying noise again, Draco felt a pang in his heart. Some of the spells had been broken for him. Perhaps some of the animals were driven away as well. His fear was that he wouldn't be facing an animal trying to attack him but the opposite. An animal that had been wounded trying to flee those who were helping him.
Slowly, he walked forward, ever closer to that muted crying noise, ever fearful of what he might find. Then he heard the cry again. From a bush next to the path, just ahead of him.
It was a funny looking bush. It had leaves that seemed to be wrapped up around itself. And a leafless branch that stood out of it.
"Ostendo."
The bush glowed with a reddish light. Except around the branch. The branch? Draco took a closer look, trying to be as careful as possible.
"Bloody Hell!"
As Draco said that, the muffled crying became almost frantic. He stepped back and pointed his wand at the odd looking bush.
"Finite Incantatum." Nothing happened. "Depulso."
The bush unraveled itself rapidly and flung itself away from its victim. It looked like a small tree now that it was back in its proper form. But Draco didn't care. He was looking at the branch that was not a branch. And the little American girl in front of him that was holding a wand. The wand that belonged to her brother, Jack. She was also dressed in pink. Pink corduroy pants and pink fur lined boots, a fluffy pink jacket with a fur lined hood that matched the boots. She may have been scared but she wasn't cold.
Draco knelt on one knee to look her in the face.
"Abby?"
On that verbal cue, she jumped forward and threw her arms around his neck, crying all out. In between sobs she whimpered about how scared she was.
He rubbed her back, hoping that it would make her feel better, hoping that it would get her to stop crying. And it did. Eventually. Finally he was able to ask what she was doing in the forest.
"I just wanted to look," she said after Draco pulled out a handkerchief and let her blow her nose. (He also let her keep the handkerchief.)
"And you stole Jack's wand in case you ran into any trouble?"
Abby's mood changed to indignant. "I was holding it for him so HE wouldn't get into trouble. That southern lady wanted to talk to him and . . ."
"Abby," Draco said forcefully. "I'll take your word for it. But I need to know why you're here in the forest. Did they ask you to come in here?"
Indignant changed to funny. "No. They told me to stay away. But they weren't looking. Nobody told me it was booby trapped."
"Those traps were for me," Draco told her. "I'm supposed to get past them." He paused as he remembered the gold spell hanging in the air. "How did you get this far?" His lip curled as he realized the answer. Abby was short enough to walk under that last spell. And he guessed the rest. "You heard those animals and pulled your wand out as you backed away?" Abby nodded. "And right into that tree?" She nodded again, smiling and blushing at the same time.
"Did you use your wand on any of those traps?"
The scared little girl was gone completely. She had been replaced by a little braggart. "The first one spun me around. I wasn't hurt or anything but I knew to be careful." Her voice became excited. "It's like a real live video game. So I just shot some spells like Jack showed me. I hit a couple of things." She whispered conspiratorially, "It was great when they sparkled."
Draco sighed to himself. He now had the most difficult part of the task ahead of him. Convincing a girl of seven to walk back out of the forest so that he could get on with his task. Abby wanted to follow now that Draco was here to protect her. Draco explained that there were even greater dangers ahead. Abby promised to stay behind him. Draco told her she should go back. Abby said no, not without him. What if she ran into something that she missed earlier?
Draco knew she didn't mean it. He knew she was just making an excuse. He also knew that there were at least three active traps on the way back, and anything he had missed. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a Galleon coin.
Abby took the coin and asked why. Draco explained it was a portkey. He then explained what a portkey was. She was to use it became it was dangerous in the forest. It would take her to a safe place, a wizard hospital. Once there, the doctors would let her parents know she was safe.
"But." As dangerous as things were, Abby didn't want to go. Draco was here. He could protect her. Any other excuse she could think of. And finally, the truth. She was afraid. Draco made her feel safe.
Draco made sure she put the coin safely in her coat pocket. He could have tricked her into using it but, for some reason, the thought never entered his mind. He told her how to activate it. He told her not to be afraid to use it if he ordered her to. And Draco both warned and promised her that if he gave that order it was because he could not protect her. He also warned her not to hold on to him or he would go with her. He had to stay here. He was in the competition.
"Even if you're hurt?"
"Even if I'm hurt. It's part of this task. How I handle it. Now, stay behind me." He gave his deliberate smile. "We're going to find out how good a wizard I really am."
Draco started walking forward to find Abby directly behind him. He started to say something but caught movement to one side. Rapid movement but far away.
"PROTEGO."
What looked like a tree branch came whipping out at him but hit the shield and bounced away. He heard it say in a strange voice, "that hurrrt".
"Are you injured?" Draco asked in parseltongue.
A large green snake raised its head and hissed, "I had to attack you. Tricked by bad men. Bad magic."
"Are you safe, now? I can cancel the spell if I have to."
"Spell already broken. I am only weak. I will recover."
"I can help," Draco said. He pointed his wand. "Rennervate."
The snake hissed its thanks loudly as it was filled with newfound strength. It then quickly disappeared into the forest. One angry green-eyed boy was going to have words with whoever set up this tournament. How dare they do such a thing to a snake.
Abby was staring wide-eyed at Draco. "You were talking to it? You can do that?"
"Yeah," Draco said, deliberately giving her a smile. "And maybe you should walk next to me."
Abby was happy to be walking with Draco. She was also nervous. Something Draco could understand. She mentioned it was like being in a video game. And she understood now that traps and things could hurt.
As Draco continued to cast the Ostendo charm, discovering another trap, Abby showed how she did it. "REDUCTO". Draco admitted it was pretty the way the spell sparkled as it dissolved. He was also curious how a girl of seven had managed a spell that wasn't taught until the third year.
And Abby was useful. She spotted one of the flying trees, her term for the trap that grabbed her, and she pointed out another potential animal attack. After he cast a flame in that direction, she asked him to teach her to shoot fireballs. She also let him know about another problem, but she didn't tell him.
Abby screamed.
Draco looked up to see two arrows flying in his direction. Ha grabbed her as he dropped to the ground. The arrows passed overhead and to one side. Looking up, he saw two centaurs, both brown, pulling back on their bows. Almost in reflex, he held up his wand. "FLAMMUS ERRECTOR." A wall of flame threw itself in front of them. The arrows burnt completely before they could pass through the shield. He stood up, casting a protective shield between him and the centaurs. He checked to make sure Abby wasn't hurt.
"Use the port . . ." Draco started to shout when he was suddenly hit from the side. He went sideways into a tree, grunting in pain. It was an effort to hold onto his wand. Not that it helped.
It was a centaur, a palomino if he remembered his horses correctly, that was standing over him. The spear in his hand was pointed at Draco's throat. He called out, "he is ours," as his companions came into view.
"Foolish wizard. The elders may have given Dumbledore permission to use the forest but that doesn't mean all of us agreed with him. Now we will teach you the price of going where you do not belong."
"Draco?" Abby asked in a frightened voice.
The centaur laughed. "We will be fair. We will let the youngling run for her freedom. We will not chase her until we are done with you." He raised the spear in preparation to strike when Abby suddenly stood up. She was holding the Galleon in one hand. Before the centaur could react, she put her hand on his flank and shouted.
"Saint Mungo's"
A small whirlwind whisked them away in an instant.
Draco reacted without hesitation. "IMPEDIMENTIA" Ropes shot out of his wand and bound one of the centaurs. He pointed his wand at the other centaur who was notching an arrow in his bow.
"Don't," he threatened. "You saw what I did to the last two arrows. And this time, I promise, I'll make more than a wall of fire. You'll be a pile of ashes before you can raise that bow."
The centaur smiled. His voice was mocking. "Then why do you hesitate? Bind me as well and be on your way."
Draco smiled. "It's all about being tricked. Either that friend of yours was telling the truth, or you are part of the task. I need to know which."
The centaur laughed. He took the arrow from his bow and made to return it to the quiver on his back. Instead, he lashed out, not at Draco but at his fellow centaur. The binding ropes were cut. In a very short time, the second centaur was free of his bonds. The first centaur went to notch the arrow to his bow, again. "And now you have twice the problem."
"Down from three. I'm still ahead." It was a firm voice. His wand was still pointed at them. His tone let them know he would use it if threatened. They stood there for ten minutes.
"Here's the deal," Draco said, breaking the silence. "You don't try to stop me. I grab what I came for and I leave nice and quick. Or we fight a duel and waste more time."
"Why should we deal with a human?"
Draco lowered his wand. "Because you're part of the task. If you weren't, wizards would be all though these woods by now. Your friend did go someplace. I'm sure someone would have noticed a centaur in a hospital." Draco had a fleeting thought that he did the same thing with a spider. Making a deal.
The centaur responded by raising his bow. He let loose the arrow. Draco stood there. He flinched only slightly as the feathers of the arrow grazed his ear in passing.
"You're part of the game," Draco said, forcing a laugh. "You can't hurt me or kill me. You can only try to stop me."
Draco ran toward the centaurs. The two waited obligingly for him to come to them, as they did block the path he needed to take. As he neared, he raised his wand and pointed it between them. Then he copied Abby. "REDUCTO". Being older and better trained, his version of the spell had more power. It forcefully pushed the two centaurs apart, clearing the path ahead.
Draco was now running. Alternately casting his flames and the reducto curse. At least three more traps were dissolved. And one attack was thwarted by the simple fact that Draco was running. It was a scorpion-like creature that stood behind a tree. Its tail came down to sting him but he had already passed it. Not being foolish, he stopped and turned around, quickly making sure that there would be no further attacks. Satisfied it was trapped in that one spot, (and reluctant to free it,) he continued onward to the next turn in the path.
It was anticlimactic. There was the coin, sitting on a rock in a little grassy clearing. There were no magical traps on it or around it. Draco even cast the revealing charm on the air in front of him. There were no animals on guard. It was a simple matter of walking five meters and picking it up.
Draco made it halfway there. There was a sudden tug and his feet were forced from under him. Not that he ever hit the ground. As his legs went up, so did the rest of his body. Except the wand. That went down as Draco let go of it in his surprise. When all motioned stopped he found himself dangling by one leg from a long rope attached to a tree.
Draco laughed. He had seen the same trick in too many American westerns and British comedies. The animal trap used to capture a man. It was the perfect trap for a wizard. It did not use any magic.
Escape was simple but it wasn't easy. Draco began swinging for momentum. It took time until he could grab a branch on the tree the rope was tied to. Then the physical part of climbing onto the branch and making sure the rope was slack enough so that he could remove it. This was followed by the need to get down from the tree with two very amused centaurs now standing guard. His only advantage was that neither of them had noticed his wand lying in the grass. His biggest disadvantage was that one of the centaurs was standing over it.
"Come down, little one," The centaur with the bow called out. "We will walk you safely out of the forest. You can come back for your coin at a later time."
"If it were only me," Draco said with mock politeness, "I would say yes. Except I am not alone." He made to spring. Just before he leaped out of the tree, he shouted, "NOW, JACK". He jumped directly at the centaur standing over his wand. The centaur stepped back, both to let him fall and to look for the other attacker. Draco hit the ground hard, happy he wasn't too high in the tree. He reached out, grabbed the wand.
"ACCIO COIN."
The bronze coin, slightly smaller than a Galleon, flew into his free hand. The centaur reached down and grabbed the coin out of his hand. Draco shouted, "STUPIFY." He turned quickly as the centaur fell over, fortunately away from him. He turned to look at an arrow. An arrow almost touching his nose. It was notched and pulled back in the bow, ready to be let loose by an angry centaur.
"Put your wand down."
Draco paused. He was so close. The centaur repeated himself.
"Put your wand down."
"NO."
Draco pointed his wand at the centaur. "You won't kill me."
The centaur smiled. "If you attack me, I COULD let loose the arrow. Will you risk that?"
"No," Draco admitted. He lowered his wand so that it was pointed at the arrow.
"REPELLO".
The arrow and bow were forced from the centaur's hand. As the arrow was released, it was already being pushed away. It hit the ground at an angle some two meters away. The bow flew into the trees. But Draco wasn't watching. He was casting his next spell. "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS."
The centaur froze into place. And Draco sighed in relief.
As Draco neared the last turn in the path on his way out of the dark forest, he sighed. From what he could see, he had taken two hours to complete the task, maybe more. He could see most of the stands in front of him and they were empty. Someone, a student spotted him and gave a shout. He limped out of the forest to find out that most everyone had stayed. They just hadn't stayed seated.
"Three hours, eighteen minutes," Ludo Bagman called out. "That is the official time."
Madam Pomfrey was already at Draco's side, examining his ankle, making him sit down on the ground while she made sure it was nothing too serious. He told her it happened when he jumped out of the tree. She called him childish for taking time to climb trees and said that he deserved it. Her smile told him she was happy it wasn't worse. As she cast a healing spell on the ankle, Professor Duracam walked up.
"You never do anything by half, do you? Do you know, another five minutes and you would have taken longer than all the other champions combined?"
Arthur Weasley was there as well. "None of the other champions had a companion, either."
By this point, there was a crowd around Draco.
While waiting for the fourth champion, the others related their experiences in the forest. Fleur Delacour suggested it as a means to pass the time. She never expected to finish her explanation. Nor did anyone expect all three to have enough time to relate their adventures. Angelina, going third, had barely started when Arthur Weasley rode up in a carriage with an excited young girl.
After Angelina finished, everyone wanted to know what happened with Abby. Everyone around her had heard her mention Draco. By the time Draco had stepped out of the forest, everyone knew about meeting the centaurs. As he helped the boy up, Arthur concluded his explanation by asking about the other two.
When Draco later checked his coat pocket, there was a gold Galleon in it.
Ludo Bagman made his official announcement. Because of the lateness of the hour and the need to talk with the observers, the results would be announced at the end of the evening meal.
That left Draco in the hands of a pair of American parents expressing their gratitude. He was saved by Professor Duracam who asked them if they might consider sending their children to the Roanoke school. They are a bit young for boarders but . . .
The conversation trailed off as they walked away. Draco did notice that Professor Duracam was holding Jack's wand.
Hermione was there, eventually, telling him as she hugged him that it took her forever to get through the crowd. Viktor was telling her that everyone wanted to hear his story. Draco could only be honest. He had sprained his ankle. Badly. Half the time he spent in the forest was in trying to walk out.
Angelina teased him about rescuing the little girl. Fleur told her not to tease. It only showed how noble Draco was. To his surprise, no one laughed.
"I lost," Draco said to the small crowd of two dozen or so in the common room. "The centaurs had stopped me. Then this little girl, seven going on eight, has this brill idea and saves my arse. Anyone who thinks I won this round, go see Minnie (Professor Adrem). She has a bridge she wants to sell." He took a sip of the hot cup of tea and said how happy he was to be warm.
When he finished the tea, he checked his ankle to find it had completely healed. With that, he joined his house mates for the trip to the Great Hall. It was going to be a feast.
Draco was the center of attention, mostly because everyone had heard all the other adventures. Even Potter admitted he was curious. All the others were the same, yet different in their own ways. He tried to tell his story. It came out in pieces.
Abby had become a child prodigy instead of the very lucky girl she was. The other centaurs were caught by surprise. He tripped and sprained his ankle, thus tripling his time. The task was too easy.
As the desserts faded away, it was time for the scores to be announced. Ludo Bagman began with Angelina Johnson. He complimented her on her creative use of the leg-locker curse and the jelly legs hex. She was awarded 40 points in the round, her total now 90.
Fleur Delacour was next. She was complimented on her escape from the binding bush by the simple use of a floating spell. "Such a simple solution. She floated it out of her way." She was also commended for her use of a sleeping charm on the centaurs. She also received 40 points and remained five points behind Angelina.
Viktor Krum received 45 points and was tied with Angelina. This was because he has the fastest time as well as how he made it past the centaurs. He used the mobiliarbus spell and moved a tree between them. He also used the tree to force them off the path. Bagman added that Viktor also placed the tree back in its original spot when he was done.
And then there was Draco. "Oh, what to do with you. Brilliant and brainless all in one go." The litany began. Rescuing the girl. Defeating the snake. And helping it recover. Protecting the girl from the arrows. Defeating the centaurs. All these were good. Taking the girl with him. Letting the girl rescue him. Getting caught in the tree. Having to defeat the centaurs a second time. (Impressive but needless.) And the long walk out of the woods. These were all on the bad side.
Draco Malfoy received only 30 points for the Second Task. He now had a total of 70 points. He was firmly in last place. Despite the condolences that everyone gave him, Draco was not sad. He already knew one thing that none of them knew. Each of the Champions would have a different challenge for the final task. Which challenge they had would be determined by each in turn choosing one of the four parchments. What Draco knew was that the champion in last place would be the first to choose.
