A.N. Another early chapter since I'm going camping again this weekend. Woohoo. Enjoy :)
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The two and a half weeks before the Third Task were some of the busiest days Harry could remember having ever had. He wasn't sure who had been the one to decide to schedule the Third Task in the middle of their exams, but they were clearly an idiot. Admittedly, as a Champion he had been given the option of not taking his exams, but Harry wasn't sure what good that would do. Sure he would have more time to prepare for the Third Task, but it wasn't as though doing well in the task was going to guarantee him good grades.
Still, as Harry sat through class after class of exam review he found himself regretting his decision to take the exams. The spells they were reviewing were so much simpler than the ones that he was studying for the task. Turning a hedgehog into a pincushion seemed so pointless when he knew that he would spend the evening learning to manipulate water and fire into a dragon shape and then control it.
The only subject that he felt particularly invested in was Ancient Runes, since he would be taking his OWL exam with the fifth years three days before the Third Task. Still, he found himself getting frustrated at the theoretical nature of the subject. According to Professor Babbling they wouldn't start learning how to infuse their magic into the runes they drew until seventh year and even then it was unlikely they would ever be proficient enough to use them often unless they continued studying them after they left Hogwarts.
It made Harry glad that he had started studying for his exams months previously, since he was barely able to find the time or inclination to study in the final few weeks before the exams. When he wasn't in classes, he was in the Come and Go Room reading about new spells; practising new spells; and participating in practise duels with his friends. The practise duels weren't nearly as useful as they would have been if he had been duelling Sirius, or even Remus, but his friends were improving in their technique. Unfortunately, Harry was also improving and, after having been beaten by him every day for two weeks, his friends were becoming less and less enthusiastic about the idea of duelling with him.
"A fire dragon, Harry?!" Draco complained from the floor after Harry had rennervated him. "What if it had actually hit me?"
Harry offered his hand to help his cousin to his feet. "I made sure it wouldn't. It was just a distraction so that I could hit you with a stunner."
"You could have killed me!" Draco protested, straightening down his robes.
Harry rolled his eyes. "You're the one who tried to hit me with the rock."
"You did it first." Draco pointed out.
"I cushioned the rock when I did it." Harry told him, moving towards where Daphne was lying unconscious a few feet away.
"Really?" Draco turned to him, surprise written on his face. "Why?"
"So that we wouldn't need to visit Madam Pomfrey again." Harry told him. "You should have seen her expression when she saw Blaise's broken arm last week. She was furious."
"And yet you used the fire dragon." Draco commented pointedly.
Harry crouched down beside Daphne. "Rennervate! This is our last practise. I wanted to make sure I could use it in a combat setting." He smiled as Daphne opened her eyes. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine." Daphne allowed Harry to pull her to her feet, before raising a hand to check her hair. "How did you sneak up on me so easily?"
"Invisibility cloak." Harry admitted.
"I thought you were only allowed to take your wand into the task." Draco commented curiously.
Harry led them to a boulder a few dozen feet away where Theo was lying unconscious on the stone floor. "I've been thinking about trying a Summoning Charm." He admitted, crouching down beside his friend. "Rennervate! My invisibility cloak would be a big advantage."
"Merlin, Harry." Theo groaned, as he pulled himself upright. "I think it hurts more every time. I pity your opponents in the actual task."
"Sorry." Harry patted his friend on the shoulder. "It's all over now."
"Yes," Draco frowned. "Why exactly was this our last practise? The task isn't for another three days."
"Our exams start tomorrow morning." Harry reminded him. "Sirius says that if I haven't learnt enough in the last two weeks then three more days isn't going to make much of difference and we need to concentrate on sitting our exams."
"Speak for yourself." Theo told him cheerfully. "My first exam is tomorrow afternoon."
"And you're pleased about this why?" Draco asked him. "That just means that you'll still be sitting exams after the rest of us are finished."
"It means I get to sleep in." Theo told with an unrepentant grin. "I do better at exams when I'm allowed to sleep in first."
Draco scoffed. "You say that about everything."
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The first two days of exam week were very busy for Harry. He had his Magical Theory and Potions exams on Monday, and his Ancient Runes OWL and Transfiguration and Astronomy exams on Tuesday. It was enough to make him glad that he had taken Sirius' advice to not practise his duelling during the week, though he still ran through different strategies in his head whenever he had a free moment.
When Wednesday arrived, Harry wasn't sure that he was going to be able to sit through his exams knowing that the Third Task would be that night. After breakfast, Professor Flitwick directed him into one of the Great Hall's ante-chamber where the other Champions were already greeting their family members.
Harry was glad to see Tonks, Cousin Andromeda and Ted, though he found himself missing Cousin Narcissa and Lord Malfoy who were still in hiding. He was sure that, if circumstances had been different, Draco's parents would have come to watch the Third Task too. Unfortunately, given the timing of his History exam, Harry was forced to say goodbye to his visitors only minutes after greeting them, and then had to sit through his History exam and concentrate on remembering the details of the various wars, treaties, and Wizengamot laws that Remus had put in the exam.
After lunch, during which Cousin Andromeda, Cousin Ted, and Tonks joined Harry and his friends at the Slytherin Table, Harry took his Herbology exam, and then it was time for the evening feast. It felt strange to be eating calmly when the Third Task would start in just a few minutes, but Harry made sure that he ate enough to give himself energy for the duel ahead of him. Cousin Andromeda's presence helped as he could only imagine the lecture she would give him if he decided not to eat. Cousin Andromeda was a lot like Cousin Narcissa.
There were more courses that there usually were at the evening meal – something that Harry thought was clearly for the benefit of the audience rather than the Champions. He doubted the other champions were any more interested in partaking in two dessert courses than he was.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" Tonks asked, as she liberally spooned chocolate mousse into her bowl. "Going to put on a good show for us I hope?"
"I hope so." Harry answered, trying to ignore the way his stomach was twisting nervously. "I'm just hoping that I don't get eliminated first."
"I doubt the likelihood of that, lad." Cousin Ted told him encouragingly. "Not if half the things Sirius says about you are true."
Harry smiled weakly. "Thanks."
"e'sides," Tonks started, before pausing to swallow her mouthful of chocolate mousse. "You've had me as a strategic advisor. You'll be fine."
"Nymphadora." Cousin Andromeda frowned disapprovingly. "I think I speak for everyone when I ask that you swallow your mouthful before attempting to speak."
Tonks grimaced. "Thanks for that, Mum."
Harry grinned, before spotting Draco's melancholy expression. He knew that Draco was missing his parents – especially since he had been forbidden from exchanging letters with them in case someone intercepted them. Hopefully they would be able to come out of hiding soon – except that would take Voldemort being defeated and, according to the prophecy, that would mean Harry would have to defeat him.
Which reminded him that he still had no idea what Voldemort's reason had been for having Barty Crouch Junior enter him into the Tournament. One of his theories – or paranoid hunches, as Sirius had started calling them – was that Voldemort had been planning on ensuring that Harry died during one of the Tasks. Which, since Harry was still alive, meant that tonight was Voldemort's last chance to see that plan come to fruition. Though Harry had no idea how Voldemort would do it – especially since he couldn't imagine any of the other champions agreeing to try and kill him. Not even Aceline, though Harry doubted that she would mourn if he actually died.
"You alright, Harry?" Daphne's hand rested on top of his hand. "You're quiet."
"Just thinking." Harry explained, twisting his hand around so that he could wrap it around her smaller hand. "Have you got my cloak?"
"Yes," Daphne assured him. "It's in my bag. I'll take it out when I get there."
"Thanks," Harry smiled down at her. "Draco?"
Draco looked up from his bowl. "Yes?"
"Do you have my sword?"
"Not yet," Draco admitted. "I thought bringing it to dinner would be too conspicuous. I'll get it on my way out to the Quidditch Pitch."
Harry nodded. "Thanks."
"Did you decide to wear the duelling robe I got for you?" Tonks asked quietly.
"Sirius says that I'm not allowed to take it into the arena with me." Harry explained. "So I'm going to use a Switching Spell once I'm in there. That's why I'm wearing this robe – it's almost identical to the duelling robe, except it doesn't have any dragon skin. I have gloves in my pocket that I'll put on, so that I can use can switch them out too."
"Clever." Tonks looked impressed. "I presume you've got them all laid out somewhere to make the spell work better?"
"Yes," Harry assured her. "And I practised it until I could get it perfect every time."
"Harry?" Daphne squeezed his hand gently, before nodding towards where McGonagall had stood at the head table.
"I hope you have all been enjoying this delightful meal as much as I have." McGonagall told them. "We will begin making our way to the Quidditch pitch in a few minutes so, if you've forgotten anything, now is the time to go and fetch it. I suggest that you all ensure that you have your winter cloaks and scarves with you as the air is rather chilly this evening. Now, if the champions would please follow Mr. Bagman outside so that they can start their final preparations for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament."
Harry looked around at his friends and family, taking courage from their encouraging expressions, before standing up and following Bagman and the other Champions out of the Great Hall.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked Cedric, taking in the other boy's pinched expression.
"Fine." Cedric answered quickly, before clearing his throat. "You?"
"A bit nervous." Harry admitted honestly, with a smile. "But eager to get this entire Tournament over and done with."
Cedric chuckled. "Yes, I can't disagree with you there. I've spent the last few weeks trying to remember why I thought putting my name in the Goblet was a good idea."
"I can relate." Harry told him. "I've spent the last few weeks trying to figure out why Voldemort decided to put my name in."
Cedric faltered. "You think You-Know-Who entered you into the Tournament?"
"I know he did." Harry answered seriously. "I just don't know why."
"Merlin!" Cedric exclaimed quietly. "That's…"
Harry waited a few seconds and, when Cedric didn't finish his sentence, nodded gravely. "I know."
The Quidditch Pitch turned battle arena looked the same as it had for the last two weeks – which was a relief. Harry had spent so much time practising on an identical arena in the Come and Go Room that he thought it would have been rather off-putting for things to have been changed at the last minute.
"Excellent." Bagman rubbed his hands excitedly as they came to a stop next to the Pitch. "Well, here we are. In a few minutes each of you will be led to the place in the arena where you will start. The last one of you standing will be the Triwizard Champion." His gaze swept across them. "You may only take your wand into the arena with you."
"And robes, I presume." Harry commented with a small smirk.
Bagman's eyes widened. "Yes, yes, of course."
"What about gloves, sir?" Harry asked, ignoring the sideways glances the other champions were giving him.
"What sort of gloves?" Bagman asked carefully.
Harry pulled his gloves out of his pocket. "Woollen gloves, sir. To keep my hands warm."
Bagman nodded, his expression confused. "Certainly, certainly."
Harry swallowed down a pleased smirk as he pulled on his gloves. Perfect.
The students, and other spectators, began arriving and Harry found himself much more relaxed at the idea of an audience than he had been during the first two tasks. After all, even if he made a fool of himself the school's opinion of him was unlikely to get any lower than it already was.
Harry watched Professors Flitwick, Snape, Hagrid, Vector, Babbling, and Remus all walked purposely towards them. They were all wearing large, red, luminous stars on their hats, except for Hagrid whose star was on the back of his vest. The difference in height between Flitwick and Hagrid was comical and Harry faked a cough into his gloved hand to hide his amused smile.
"We will be leading each of you to your starting positions." Professor Snape explained sternly. "If you want to resign from the duel make your way out of the arena and send up red sparks and we will come and find you. When you are knocked unconscious we will summon you out of the arena and take you to the Healing Tent. A horn will blow when you resign or are knocked unconscious to signal your elimination from the duel. Potter, you're with me."
Harry walked quickly to keep up with his professor's fast paced steps. Snape was only about four inches taller than he was, but he had a long stride. Harry grinned, if Snape about four inches taller than him then he was almost half a foot taller than Sirius. He could only imagine how mad that made Sirius.
"How do you feel, Potter?" Snape asked sharply, as they walked around the outside of the arena.
"Nervous, sir." Harry admitted. "But as prepared as I'll ever be."
"Good," Snape stopped suddenly near one of the small boulders than were scattered near the edge of the arena. The large ridge that was made out of stones and small boulders was about ten feet to their left, but the majority of the arena was to their right. "You will start from here."
Harry looked into the arena, his stomach twisting when he realised how dark it was getting. Why had he never considered that? What if he couldn't see anything?
"Ladies and gentlemen," Bagman's voice suddenly boomed around the Quidditch Pitch. "The third and final task of the Triwizard Cup is about to begin – or perhaps we ought to call it the Sexwizard Cup…" His laugh was made all the more awkward by the dead silence around the arena.
"Dunderhead." Snape growled quietly.
"…Anyway," Bagman said, with so much cheer that Harry was sure that it had to be fake. "Let me remind you how the points currently stand! In first place, with ninety four points, is Mister Harry Potter of Hogwarts School. Then Miss Nina Viserova of Durmstrang Institute sits on eighty three points, Mister Cedric Diggory of Hogwarts School has eight four points, Mister Viktor Krum of Durmstrang Institute has seventy three points, finally Miss Moreau and Miss Delacour, both of whom are from the Beauxbatons Academy, are currently in fifth and sixth place on sixty seven, and sixty points respectively. The Champions will be engaging in a duel and the last Champion able and willing to continue will be our new Triwizard Champion. Now, Miss Delacour and Miss Moreau will enter the arena on my whistle…one…two…three…"
Harry took a small step backwards as, at the sound of Bagman's whistle, the three pillars of fire suddenly exploded out of the ground. Ah, that had been why he hadn't worried about seeing in the dark – the pillars lit up the entire arena.
He took advantage of the light to search the stands for his friends, nodding in satisfaction when saw that they were sitting relatively close to where he would be starting from. That would make it easier to summon his cloak and sword – though he still wasn't sure that the Summoning Charm would work.
He turned back to the arena and searched for any sign of Fleur or Aceline, but couldn't see anything. He didn't even know where they had started from. The seconds ticked by and then Bagman's whistle blew again and Harry knew that Viktor would be entering the arena.
"Not the most exciting event so far." He commented.
"No," Snape agreed dryly. "Nevertheless, it is likely that this task will be more entertaining than the second one."
Bagman's whistle blew again and Harry smiled in satisfaction as he saw Cedric suddenly enter the arena about two hundred feet to his right. Good, at least he had some idea where one of his opponents was.
A few seconds later, Harry saw Viktor creeping out from behind a rock about a hundred feet in front of him. Harry quickly crouched down, hoping that Viktor wouldn't see him. He didn't want the older boy to be lying in wait for him when he entered.
Bagman's whistle blew again and Harry let out a deep breath. That meant that Nynke was now entering the arena and he had less than a minute until it would be his turn.
A blue light appeared suddenly out the corner of his eyes and Harry turned towards it to see another spell fly towards Viktor from behind the ridge. That was good, not only did he now have a vague idea where three of the other champions were, but Viktor was likely to be too distracted to spot Harry.
Bagman's whistle blew again and, with a quick glance towards where Snape was standing, Harry slowly moved into the arena – still in a crouched position. He crept forward until he was directly behind the small boulder, before bringing his wand up in preparation. He could do this.
First things first, he quickly performed the Switching Charm that he had been practising the last to week. He nodded in satisfaction as he felt his new duelling robes settle over his body replacing his other robes. These robes, though definitely heavier, would deflect the most basic of spells – including stupefy – and, possibly most importantly, were flame-proof. That done, Harry turned towards the stands.
"Accio invisibility cloak! Accio sword and scabbard!"
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