Chapter 49 Before the Final Task
The morning of the final task finally arrived and everyone seemed to be in great spirits. The Slytherin House in particular seemed extremely Malfoy sat several seats away from me snickering at something in The Daily Prophet.
"What's Malfoy so happy about?" I sneered as I sat down next to Emily.
"I'm guessing you haven't read the paper this morning?" She questioned before handing me her copy of the morning paper. I really should have stopped after reading the headline, I was getting so sick of this Skeeter Woman, no wonder Hermione was so determined to do her in.
POTTER TWINS DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS: The Children who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named are unstable and possibly dangerous, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Alarming evidence has recently come to light about Harry Potter's strange behavior. Potter, the Daily Prophet can exclusively reveal, regularly collapses at school, and is often heard to complain of pain in the scar on his forehead (relic of the curse with which You-Know-Who attempted to kill him and his sister). Your Daily Prophet reporter witnessed Potter storming from the class, claiming that his scar was hurting too badly to continue studying. It is possible, say top experts at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, that Potters brain was affected by the attack inflicted upon him by You-Know-Who, and that his insistence that the scar is still hurting is an expression of his deep-seated confusion.
"He might even be pretending," said one specialist. "This could be a plea for attention." The Daily Prophet, however, has unearthed worrying facts about both Potters that Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, has carefully concealed from the wizarding public.
"Alice Potter can speak Parseltongue," reveals Draco Malfoy, a Hogwarts fourth year. "There were a lot of attacks on students a couple of years ago, and most people thought she was behind them after they saw her lose his temper at a dueling club. It was all hushed up, though. But they've both made friends with werewolves and giants too. We think they'll do anything for a bit of power." Parseltongue, the ability to converse with snakes, has long been considered a Dark Art. Indeed, the most famous Parselmouth of our times is none other than You-Know-Who himself. A member of the Dark Force Defense League, who wished to remain unnamed, stated that he would regard any wizard who could speak Parseltongue "as worthy of investigation. Personally, I would be highly suspicious of anybody who could converse with snakes, as serpents are often used in the worst kinds of Dark Magic, and are historically associated with evildoers." Similarly, "anyone who seeks out the company of such vicious creatures as werewolves and giants would appear to have a fondness for violence." Albus Dumbledore should surely consider whether a girl such as this should be allowed to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. Some fear that Miss Potter might resort to the Dark Arts in her desperation to win the tournament, the third task of which takes place this evening.
"What a load of rubbish." I crumpled up the paper and tossed it down the table at Malfoy. "Grow up Malfoy!" I called before storming out of Great Hall. There was a swirl of black marching behind me I rolled rolled my eyes at Severus knowing there was going to be a lecture about my "Inappropriate behavior at the breakfast table" coming. Before he could begin disciplining me I started off with an apology.
"I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have thrown the paper at him, and yes I realize how childish I'm being, and I know I shouldn't storm out of breakfast like a child but..."
"Miss Potter I was not going to address your deplorable table manners. I simply wish to inform you that the champions are to meet in the chamber off the hall after Breakfast."
"But Professor the task is not until tonight!" I whined.
"I'm aware of that Miss Potter. However the champion's families are invited the watch the final task, this is a chance for you to greet them."
"Oh I wasn't aware that families were invited to watch the final task. I suppose I ought to go back in there?"
"I suppose you ought to." He held the door open and stared intently at the inside of the Great Hall.
"I'm going, I'm going." I told him reluctantly. Back inside the Great Hall I walked the the Gryffindor table and wedged myself between Ron and Harry.
"Ah Alice, I was sitting there." Harry grumbled as I shoved him aside.
"And now you're not." I moodily replied stealing a piece of his toast.
"What's gotten into you?" Ron asked as he studied me.
"Oh Alice you didn't read the paper this morning did you?" Hermione said sympathetically.
"What's wrong with the paper?" Harry reached across the table and picked up Hermione's copy of The Daily Prophet. "How does she keep finding the stuff out?"
"I've had an idea," Hermione said gazing into space. "I think I know...because then no one would be able to see...even Moody...and she'd have been able to get onto the window ledge...but she's not allowed...she's definitely not allowed...I think we've got her! Just give me two seconds in the library-just to make sure!" With that, Hermione seized her school bag and dashed out of the Great Hall.
"Oi!" Ron called after her. "We've got our History of Magic exam in ten minutes! She must really hate that Skeeter woman to risk missing the start of an exam."
"If I know Hermione, she'll make it back in time for the exam and still unearth whatever that Skeeter woman is up to." I said. "Speaking of which shouldn't you to be off the your exam?"
"No point in rushing." Ron shrugged, "We know we're going to fail."
"Probably doesn't help to be late though, let's go." Harry stood and tugged at Ron's elbow. Ron stared longingly at his breakfast plate for several seconds before begrudgingly following Harry to their History of Magic exam. With Harry and Ron I decided it was time for me to make my way over to the chamber where the champions families would be waiting. There was a spring of hope in my step as I began to wonder if Remus would be waiting inside the chamber with the other families. Opening the door slowly I couldn't help be smile as my favorite uncle smiled back at the door expectantly.
"Remus!" I exclaimed jumping into his arms. "I'm so glad to see you hear!"
"You didn't think I'd miss the chance to see you perform in the last task did you? I'm so proud of how well you done so far." He glanced over his shoulder briefly to make sure no one else was listening in on us before dropping his voice. "Severus and I are both very proud of you." Raising his voice back up to a normal level Remus spoke again. "There are a couple more people hear to support you tonight." He stepped aside and I could see Mrs. Weasley and Bill Weasley seated against a wall waiting to say hello.
"Surprise!" Mrs. Weasley burst as ran over embracing me.
"Wow um, thanks for coming , both of you!"
"Charlie wanted to come, but he couldn't get time off." Bill told me. "He said you were incredible against the Horntail."
"I'm sure he exaggerated just a bit." I answered awkwardly.
"Well it sure feels great to be back here!" Bill said stretching his arms over his head. "Haven't seen this place for five years. Is that picture of the mad night still around? Sir Cadogan?"
"Oh yeah, Harry mentioned him to me once." I told him.
"And the Fat Lady?" Bill questioned.
"She was here in my time." Mrs. Weasley chirped. "She gave me such a telling off one night when I got back to the dormitory at four in the morning..."
"What were you doing out of your dormitory at four in the morning?" Bill asked his mother. Mrs. Weasley grinned.
"Your father and I had been for a nighttime stroll. He got caught by Apollyon Pringle, he was the caretaker in those father's still got the marks."
"Alice what do you say we take Bill and Molly on a tour of the castle?"
"Yeah that sounds like a great idea Remus. Follow me everyone!" I waved at Cedric and his dad as we passed them on our way out. Mr. Diggory seemed put off about something and came marching over to me.
"There you are! Bet you're not feeling quite as full of yourself now that Cedric's caught up on points are you?"
"I'm sorry what?" I looked up at Cedric.
"Ignore him." Cedric said back to me. "He's been angry ever since Rita Skeeter's article about the Triwizard Tournament, you know when she made out you were the only Hogwarts Champion."
"Didn't bother to correct her, though, did she?" Mr. Diggory said crossly. "Still you'll show her Ced."
"Rita Skeeter goes out of her way to cause trouble Amos!" Mrs. Weasley quickly came to my defense. "I would have thought you'd know that, working for the Ministry." Mr. Diggory didn't say anything more on the subject and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Remus and I left to walk the castle.