AUTHORS NOTE! :P

Hello my lovelies!

Well, here it is- The Third and final task!

My own little devious plot starts making itself known in this chapter, and everyone who asked what was Max's involvement in the Third Task was, well you shall find out with this chapter!

Now I shall answer some reviews...

Cookie Spasms: Yeah, I'd love to say that to some of my teachers... Thanks :)

Arkell26: I always got confused with that, is Butterbeer meant to be alcoholic? I mean, the word beer in there kinda makes it sound slightly alcoholic...but then there are thirteen year olds drinking it...I'm so confused about Butterbeer, but I still wanna drink it! o.O

Random Person: Well, right now Gazzy is around 8/9, but he'll be arriving at Hogwarts when the gang are in sixth year, and Angel won't be attending Hogwarts, because she'll only be nine when this story finishes. And I don't recognise any of those references haha :P

PatrickNotStar: (hehehe I love your name) I think you might like this chapter than... ;)

Thanks to everyone else that reviewed, and to everyone that alerted and everything :)

Now on with the chapter!

Max's POV

"So Dumbledore thinks that You-Know-Who is getting stronger again?" Iggy asked.

Everything me and Harry had seen in the Pensieve, and everything that Dumbledore told you afterwards, we had now told Ron, Hermione, Fang, Iggy and Nudge- and Sirius of course, to whom we had sent a letter to the moment we left Dumbledore's office. The seven of us stayed up late that night in the common room, talking it all over.

Ron was sitting in the chair closest to the fire, and he was staring into the flames. I thought I saw Ron shiver slightly, even though the room was warm.

"And he trusts Snape?" Iggy went on. "He trusts Snape? Even though he knows that used to be a Death Eater?"

"Yup," I said, lying on my stomach on the carpet. "I reckon he's completely bonkers."

Hermione, who hadn't spoken in nearly ten minutes, looked up from where she had been staring at her knees, and said, "Rita Skeeter."

"How can you be worrying about her now?" Ron said in disbelief.

"I'm not worrying about her," she said, looking back at her knees. "I'm just thinking...Remember what she said to me in the Three Broomsticks?`I know things about Ludo Bagman that would make your hair curl.' That had to be what she meant, right? She reported that trial, knew that Bagman passed information to the Death Eaters. And Winky too, remember...`Ludo Bagman's a bad wizard.' Mr. Crouch would of been furious that he got let off, so he would of talked about it when he got home..."

"Yeah, but Bagman didn't purposely pass on that information, did he?" Nudge said.

Hermione shrugged.

"And Fudge thinks that Madame Maxime attacked Crouch?" Fang said, turning to me.

"Yeah, but he's only saying that because he went missing by the Beauxbatons carriage."

"We never thought of her, did we?" Iggy said. "She's definitely got giants blood, she doesn't want to admit it-"

"Of course she doesn't want to admit it," Harry said. "Look at what happened to Hagrid when Skeeter found out that he was half-giant. Look at Fudge, jumping to conclusions about her because she's half-giant. I'd probably say that I had big bones if I knew that's what would happen to me if I told the truth."

Hermione looked at her watch and gasped. "We haven't done any practising!" she said, looking shocked. "We were supposed to practice the Impediment Curse! We're really going to have to get down on it tomorrow! Come on, Harry, you need to get sleep!"

We were all supposed to be studying for our exams, which would finish on the day of the third task, but we were putting more effort into helping Harry prepare for the task.

"Don't worry about it," I said one day when Harry brought it up. "Hermione has the two of us studying in our rooms whenever we have time. And besides, we're going to get top marks in Defence Against the Dark Arts. We'd never have learned these hexes otherwise, not with the teachers we've had..."

"Good training for when we're all Aurors," Ron said brightly.

"I dunno, I'd rather be a Healer," Iggy said. We all stared at him.

"What?" he said, his pale face going slightly pink.

"You? Wanting to help other people? Who are you and what have you done to Iggy?" I said, my mouth hanging open.

Iggy snorted. "Oh shut up. I knew I shouldn't have said anything."

I walked over to him. "Don't be silly, Iggy. I was only joking. You'd make a great Healer." He smiled brightly at me. "Thanks Max."

The atmosphere in the castle changed again when we entered June. It became tense and excited. Everyone was looking forward to the final task, that would take place a week before the summer holidays. I noticed that Harry was practising hexes at any available moment, and that Hermione was studying whenever she could get her hands on a book. I was studying every evening and morning before breakfast, as was the rest of the flock and Ron, but none of us were as entangled in it as Hermione was.

Tired of walking into classrooms all over the castle and finding us there, half of us studying, and the other half helping Harry practise, Professor McGonagall let us use the empty Transfiguration room at lunchtimes and sometimes in the evenings. We had all soon mastered the Impediment Curse; a spell that slowed down and obstruct attackers; the Reductor Curse, that could blast solid objects out of the way (I believe it was one of Iggy's personal favourites); and the Four-Point spell, a useful discovery of Hermione's that would point your want due north. Harry was having trouble with the Shield Charm, though. It was supposed to cast a temporary, invisible wall between the caster and the attacker, and it deflected minor curses.

"You're still doing really well though, Harry," Hermione said, crossing the Reductor Curse off the list of curses and hexes we we made in the library. "Most of these are bound to come in handy."

"Come and look at this," Fang said from where he was standing by the window. "What's Malfoy up to?"

The rest of us went over to the window and looked out at the grounds. Mafloy, Crabbe and Goyle were standing in the shadow of a tree below. It looked like Crabbe and Goyle were keeping a look out, and both of them were smirking. Malfoy was holding his hand up to his mouth, and it looked like he was whispering to it.

"Looks like he's using a walkie-talkie," Harry said curiously.

"He can't be," Hermione said. "I've already told you, Muggle technology can't work in Hogwarts."

"So what's he doing?" Ron asked, frowning.

I shrugged. "Beats me. It's Malfoy. That bloke is weirder than us."

I wouldn't dismiss this that fast, Maximum.

Ah, Voice. Where have you been lately? Holidaying in someone else's head?

This is no joke, Maximum. Something terrible is going to happen, and you need to be ready.

What's going to happen? Does it involve the Tournament? Harry?

Be careful, Maximum. Stay on guard and stay focused.

Oh, for the love of God! Can't you just tell me what's going to happen? Do you even know what's going to happen? Or is it just a feeling? Does Voices even get feelings?

Of course I know what's going to happen.

So tell me!

Silence.

I wasn't surprised.

"Max? You okay?" Harry asked, putting his hand on my bare arm (it was too warm to wear our jumpers- and besides, everyone knew about our wings, so why hide them?) and I jumped, feeling as if electricity was surging through me.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah I'm fine. Come on, let's keep practising the Shield Charm."

Sirius was sending daily letters now. He too, like Hermione, seemed to want to only concentrate on getting Harry through the last task before we even concentrated on anything else. He reminded us in every letter that whatever was going on outside the castle walls was not our responsibility.

If Voldemort really is getting stronger again, Sirius wrote, my priority is to ensure your and Max's safety. He cannot hope to lay on either of you while you are under Dumbledore's protection, but all the same, take no risks. Harry, concentrate on getting through the maze safely, and then we can turn our attention to other matters.

Breakfast was very noisy in the Great Hall on the morning of the third task. The post-owls arrived, giving Harry a good luck card from Sirius, and a letter to me from Sirius as well, just asking how I was, how my exams were going, and apologising for focusing on Harry so much these past few weeks. He even made a few crappy jokes about living in a cave. I grinned, re-reading the letter. Sirius was an awesome dad.

A screech-owl arrived, bearing the Daily Prophet for Hermione. She took it off the owl, gave it the money, then unfolded the paper, looked at the front page and spat her pumpkin juice all over it.

"What is it?" we all asked. She shook her head. "Nothing," she said, shoving the newspaper out of sight, but Fang grabbed it. He stared at it and his dark eyes widened. "No way. Not today. That old cow."

"What?" I asked. "Rita Skeeter again?"

"No," Fang said quickly, and just like Hermione, he tried to shove the newspaper out of sight.

"It's about me, isn't it?" Harry asked.

"No," Fang and Hermione said together in a very unconvincing tone. But before he could grab the paper, Draco Malfoy shouted from across the hall, "Hey, Potter! Ride! How are you feeling? Sure neither of you are going to go insane on us?"

I turned around and faced Fang and Hermione. "She wrote about me too?"

"Let me see it," Harry said. "Now. Give it here."

Reluctantly, Hermione handed the paper over to Harry. I leaned over his shoulder to see the newspaper. I saw my own face, beside Harry's, staring back up at me, beneath the headline:

Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and Maximum Ride, The Girl With Wings- Disturbed and Dangerous!
Harry Potter, the boy who defeated You-Know-Who, and Maximum Ride, daughter of mass murderer Sirius Black, and the girl who was born with wings, are both possibly unstable and dangerous, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Startling evidence has recently come to light about Potter and Ride's strange behaviour. This behaviour has cast some doubt on Potter's suitability to compete in the demanding competition of the Triwizard Tournament, or even for Potter or Ride to attend Hogwarts School.
Both Potter and Ride, the Prophet can reveal, regularly collapses at school. While when Potter collapses, he complains about pain coming from the scar on his forehead (left from the curse when You-Know-Who attempted to kill him), it seems that Miss Ride does not have much to complain about- she just collapses. On Monday last, halfway through a Divination lesson, this Daily Prophet reporter witnessed Potter and Ride storming out of class, after both collapsing, stating that they both felt too ill to remain in the classroom.
It is possible, says top experts at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, that Potter's brain had been affected by the attack from You-Know-Who when he was a baby, and also that Ride has some lasting damage too, from her time in America, where she was kept for most of her childhood being cruelly experimented on.
"The two of them could be pretending," said an anonymous source, "This could all be just one big plea for attention. They both get so much for a few months, then it starts to die down. They want more."
However, the Daily Prophet has unearthed a worrying fact about Potter, one that Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, has managed to keep very quiet.
"Potter's a Parselmouth," revealed Hogwarts fourth year, Draco Malfoy. "There were a lot of attacks on students a few years back, and most people thought Harry was behind it because he lost his temper at a dueling club and set a snake after another student. It was all hushed up though, of course. Him and Ride have both made friends with werewolves and giants as well. We reckon they'll do anything to get some power."
Parseltongue, the ability to speak to snakes, has been considered a Dark Art for years. Indeed, the most famous Parselmouth of our time was You-Know-Who himself. An Auror, who would wish to remain unnamed, stated that "anyone that can talk Parseltongue are worthy of investigation. Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anyone that could talk to snakes, as serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark magic, and are historically associated with evil people. Anyone foolish enough to make friends with werewolves and giants and such vicious creatures would appear to have a fondness of violence."
Albus Dumbledore should really consider whether or not the Potter boy is fit to compete in the Tournament, or whether him and Ride are even fit enough to be in Hogwarts with other young witches and wizards, and the other children with wings. Some fear that these children, along with Potter, will eventually turn to the Dark Arts, and that Potter might resort to Dark Magic to win the Triwizard Tournament, the third and final task of which takes place tonight.

"Skeeter's starting to lose her touch," I said as Harry folded up the newspaper.

Over at the Slytherin table, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson were tapping their heads, pulling mad faces (some of which actually made Pansy face look slightly better) and waggling their tongues like snakes.

"How did she find out what happened in Divination?" Nudge asked, who read the article, along with Iggy and Ron, over me and Harry's shoulders. "There's no way she could of been there, she's not allowed in the grounds, and besides someone would of seen her if she was in the classroom, I mean, how big could the room be-?"

"The window was open," Harry said. "Would of suffocated in that room if it was closed."

"You were at the top of the North Tower!" Hermione said. "Your voice couldn't have carried all the way from the open window down to the grounds!"

"Well, you're the one that's meant to be researching magical methods of bugging a place!" I said. "You tell us how she found out!"

"I've been trying," she said, "But I haven't...I haven't..."

An odd, dreamy sort of look suddenly came over Hermione's face. She ran her fingers through her hair and let out a slow breathe.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked, frowning at her.

"Yeah, fine," she said breathlessly. She ran her fingers through her hair again, then held her hand up to her mouth as if speaking to a walkie-talkie. We all stared at her.

"I've just had an idea," she said quickly. "I think...I know...because then no one would be able to see...even Moody wouldn't...she would have been able to get on the window ledge...but she isn't allowed...she most definitely isn't allowed...I think I've got her! Just give me two minutes in the library!"

Hermione grabbed her bag and raced out of the Great Hall.

"Oi!" Iggy cried after her. "We've got our History of Magic exam in fifteen minutes! Whoa," he said, facing us again, "she must really hate that Skeeter woman if she's willing to miss the start of an exam. What're you gonna do in Binn's class, read again?" he asked Harry. Because Harry didn't have to do the end of year exams, he had been sitting at the back of every class during each exam so far, reading up on new hexes and jinxes.

"S'pose so," Harry said, but just then Professor McGonagall came walking along the Gryffindor table towards us.

"Potter, the champions are meeting in the chamber off the Hall after breakfast," she said.

"But the tasks not till tonight!" Harry said, spilling his scrambled eggs down his front.

"I am aware of that, Potter," McGonagall said. "But the champions families are arriving to watch the final task. This is just a chance for you to meet them, and spend the day with them."

She started to move away, but then McGonagall turned back and said, "Oh, and Miss Ride, Professor Moody wishes to see you by the Quidditch pitch after your History of Magic exam. He needs a student to help him with the final preparations for the task."

I nodded. "Yeah, sure Professor."

She moved away, occasionally stopping to talk to other students. Harry gaped at us.

"Does she expect the Dursely's to show up?" he said blankly.

"Dunno," Ron said. "We better hurry, we're going to be late for History of Magic. See you later."

I stood up and started to head out of the Great Hall, but I stopped halfway and turned back around and faced Harry. For some reason, I just had to say something to him.

"I don't know how long Moody's going to want me to help him," I said, sitting down beside him. I motioned for the others to keep going. "I just wanted to say, er, good luck. But I'll try my best to see you before the task...Harry, I know you're going to do great in the task, you have nothing to be nervous about and-"

"Max, you're babbling," Harry laughed.

I blushed. Why was I feeling so nervous? "Er, right...sorry."

Harry frowned at me, his emerald green eyes searching mine. "Are you feeling okay? You're acting...strange."

"I'm fine, really. I just...I guess I'm just worried for you," I admitted, staring down at my hands. I looked up at him when I felt him put his hand on mine. He was grinning at me. "What?" I mumbled, embarrassed.

Harry opened his mouth as if he was going to say something, but then he closed his mouth again. "Come on," he said, grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the Great Hall.

"Wait, Harry, where are we going? I have History of Magic is like, five minutes," I said.

"I know, there's just something I want to do," Harry said, opening the door to an empty classroom.

"Harry, what-?" I started, but stopped when Harry stepped closer to me.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

I nodded without hesitation.

"Good," he said.

Then he kissed me.

He kissed me.

Oh my God. I'm kissing Harry Potter.

After the initial shock, I started kissing Harry back, wrapping my arms around his neck, occasionally running my fingers through his untidy dark hair. He wrapped his arms around my waist, mindful of my wings, and kept kissed me.

It could have been just minutes, or it could have been years. But it didn't matter. Erasers could have been banging the door down and I wouldn't have cared. All I cared about was the feeling of Harry's soft lips against mine. I never wanted it to end.

But, you know, people have to breath.

I broke away, breathing heavily, staring into Harry's eyes. Emerald green meeting chocolate brown.

"Well...that was something," I said eventually.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, it was."

We smiled at each other.

"Oh crap!" I exclaimed a few minutes later. "The exam!"

Harry laughed, the first real laugh I've heard from him in weeks and he said, "I'll see you before the task?"

I nodded. "Definitely." I smiled at him again before leaving the room, and racing towards History of Magic, my lips still tingling, and a stupid smile on my face.

I walked out of the stuffy classroom, brushing my hair out of my face. While that wasn't the most difficult exam we've had, it had definitely been the most frustrating. Maybe it was because I couldn't remember all of the goblin rebel's names, or maybe it was because I couldn't stop thinking about Harry...

I smiled that stupid smile again. It was like I couldn't stop myself.

"What are you smiling at?" Ron grumbled beside me.

I blushed furiously, remembering the way Harry's arms had felt around me. "Nothing. Just glad that our tests are finally over."

"You said it," Iggy said, who was twirling in circles in front of us, smiling like a madman. "We're FINISHED!"

We all laughed at his antics. When we reached the Great Hall, I briefly looked in, and saw that Harry was sitting beside none other than Mrs Weasley and Bill. I started to walk toward the Great Hall, but Fang stopped me. "You have to meet Moody, remember?"

I sighed. I wanted nothing less than to sit right beside Harry, and talk to Bill and Mrs Weasley, but I also didn't want to keep Moody waiting. And honestly, how long could it take to set up some extra stuff?

"Yeah. I'll see you later on," I said. "Will you take my bag?" I asked. Fang nodded, and he took my bag. Checking that I had my wand, I headed out of the entrance hall and out into the grounds.

I arrived at the Quidditch pitch five minutes later. Moody was waiting for me outside.

"Bout time you showed up," he growled. "Come on. You're going to help me put the Triwizard Cup in the maze."

I nodded. "Sure, Professor."

We walked into the Quidditch pitch and my jaw dropped. The pitch was completely unrecognisable. The hedge that Harry had described had now grown to at least twenty foot high, and ran the entire way around the pitch. There was a gap right in front of us. The passage behind it looked dark and creepy. At that moment, I was not jealous of Harry.

"Are we going into the maze, sir?" I asked.

Moody nodded. "Chose you to help me because I knew you could handle it. Of course, nothing in there will try and attack us, we're not champions. We'll be going to the very centre of the maze with the Cup."

I looked around. "Where is the Cup?"

"I need to go get it over there. Didn't want to leave it where someone could get it easily. Wait here," Moody grumbled, and he limped off, taking a large swing from his hip flask.

I stood in the middle of the Quidditch pitch, waiting for Moody to come back. It was eerily quiet. I thought I kept hearing growling and screeching coming from far off in the maze.

Out of nowhere, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head. I dropped to my knees with a loud cry of pain, my eyes screwed up tight but then I felt someone place a well placed kick to my stomach. I cried out again and dropped to my back. The last thing I saw before the blackness consumed me was Moody's face grinning up at me.

TA-DA! THEY KISSSSSSSSSSSSSED! :D

Was it a good kiss scene? I'm not very good at romance :P speaking of which...HAPPY THURSDAY...I MEAN VALENTINE'S DAY!

Anyway, how was the chapter in general?I know it's shorter than normal, but this chapter was more of a filler chapter than anything :P and trust me, the next chapter is going to be looooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooong...I think ;)

this was mostly a filler chapter, but, as I'm sure you are all aware of, the next chapter is very eventful. It will be going between Max's POV and Harry's, until they go to the graveyard.

Anyway, you guys know the drill. For a faster update, you guys need to review...and if you want cookies and butterbeer, you need to...

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-Rach ;)