Here it was, the day had come. Every task, every hurdle, and everything that has happened this year and it's finally coming to a crescendo here. Funnily enough, it felt a lot like the first task, the champions sat in a tent, and outside was an impromptu amphitheater which of course was filled with the majority of the student body, the professors, and other people that had made time to observe the last task.
In the tent with the champions were family and loved ones to wish them luck before the start of the last task. Krum was with his girlfriend Clara, Cedric was talking with his father while Cho stood next to him holding his hand. Fleur was talking animatedly with Gabrielle who would constantly steal very obvious glances at Harry and giggle. Her mother was already there and her father wasn't able to attend seeing as he still had the election to contend with which was going swimmingly so far.
Harry was surrounded by his girlfriends and Sirius, his other friends were undoubtedly on the front row of the amphitheater by now. If he was right with what he thought Jones was carrying he could expect a large obnoxious sign when he came out.
"Ready for this Pup?" Sirius asked his face showing confidence but with a layer of concern that he couldn't hide.
"Absolutely." Harry said with no hesitation in his voice. He felt as confident as he could. He trained mastering as much as he could from his Grimoire, they had yet to announce the rules of the task but he could guess what they would be. Even still he was confident in his ability, more than he had ever been.
"Good, I've gone all-in on this, make me a rich man please." Sirius said putting his hands together in a begging motion. Hermione swatted his arm.
"Sirius!" She exclaimed with a roll of her eyes.
"Of course I am, I wouldn't joke about this." Sirius joked getting a groan from the girls who had yet to get used to his Sirius pun jokes.
"Jones bet on you as well, obviously," Daphne said.
"Of course she did." Harry said with a shake of his head.
"Just focus on coming out in one piece alright." Susan said.
"That's the plan." Harry smiled.
"Gather Champions." Moody said as he along with Amelia and the other organizers entered along with the Headmasters.
Harry kissed each of his girlfriends before walking toward Amelia and Moody.
"The rest of you should go and find your seats." Amelia said as they nodded and left the tent. Fleur, Krum, and Cedric joined him as they waited for the rules of the task.
"Hope you are all ready for this." Amelia said "Know that unlike the other tasks your lives will not be in true danger. We have Aurors standing by to protect you if needed. Now that if you feel you cannot continue with this task you need to cast periculum and fire up into the air. My people will extract you and bring you to safety. Moody?" Amelia said handing it off to Moody who came forward.
"There are a number of creatures and other traps that have been placed in this task. You will not be killed but you can likely be injured so keep your wits about you. For this task, the only thing you may bring with you are the clothes on your back and wands in your hands. So Potter, get rid of it." Moody said looking down at Harry's shadow. Harry nodded expecting this.
"Go." He ordered simply as Demona in her smokey shadow form lept from his shadow to go find one of his girlfriends to be with.
"Good, another thing, no lethal force is to be used against your fellow champions, defending yourself from the creatures is just fine but if any of you fire anything meant to kill at one of your champions you will be disqualified immediately and depending on your actions very well could be placed under arrest. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir." The champions chorused together.
"There are also been some limits placed on you, Potter. Not my Idea." Moody said looking over to Crouch who stepped forward his lips pressed thin and his mustache trimmed as ever. Why he thought that nazi stache was a good look was a mystery.
"Yes, mister Potter keeping the other champion's safety in mind you are not to use any spells or techniques that can cause widespread damage to an area. Especially that... blue flame spell you use." Crouch said as he looked for something besides dark or evil to describe Harry's Protego Diabolica spell. Harry shrugged, again this was expected.
"So potter that means anything you cast can not spill out over the maze walls, or in any of the lanes. Short bursts in front of you are fine but that's it. The last thing you would want on your conscious is that one of your spells accidentally roasted one of our friends here." Moody said indicating to the other three champions. Harry pouted and snapped his fingers.
"Dang it, and I really wanted to just light this whole place up too." He said with an exaggerated sigh at the end. The other champions chuckled at that.
"Please refrain from doing that." Amelia said.
"Beyond that, do what you must." Moody finished as he looked over the champions seeing determined expressions set on their faces.
"Very good Champions Follow me." Amelia said as she led the four out of the tent and they were instantly bombarded with cheers and band music fanfare as they walked.
"Crush 'em, Victor!"
"We love you Fleur!"
"Cedric!"
"Let's go, Potter!"
The cheers came from all around as they were led down to the center of the Ampitheatre setup. A single stand was at the very bottom, a platform really. And at the end opposite the Amphitheater was a large easily fifteen-foot tall wall of leaves and thorns. Despite the well-lit nature of the stands the dark foreboding wall didn't seem to reflect any of it, with bits of fog seeping out of the bottom of the wall but never going far past it.
"Welcome everyone to the final task of the Tri-Wizard tournament!" Amelia announced getting thunderous cheers from the audience. Harry looked around before spotting his girlfriends and Sirius in the lower stands with the other champions' families and friends. A quick little bit of sensing and Harry could tell that Demona had jumped into Daphne's Shadow. And Harry couldn't help but laugh as he looked a few rows up seeing Jones had strong-armed the rest of their friends to hold up a larger than necessary sigh with his name painted in Slytherin colors with the Gryffindor crest crossed out on the bottom and next to it the Slytherin crest with a check next to it. Harry shook his head at that, he honestly didn't know where he was going to end up staying after this year as he could see himself either going back to Gryffindor or just fully transferring to the Slytherin dorms.
"The goal for the champions will be to retrieve the Tri-Wizard cup from the center of the Maze and once they have obtained they will be Portkeyed here making them the winner," Amelia explained to the crowd gesturing to the platform she was currently standing on. "Champions, there will be many challenges awaiting you within the maze. Be prepared. Using the scores from the previous tasks will decide how you enter the maze. Cedric Diggory shall enter first, followed by Harry Potter. Then it shall be Victor Krum followed by Fleur Delacour." Amelia announced as Cedric was ushered forward to stand in front of the imposing wall.
There was a moment before Amelia sent a spell up to the air that exploded in golden sparks.
"Go!" She yelled and the wall parted allowing Cedric in who hesitated for a moment before taking off at a run a chorus of cheers seeing him off. Just as quickly the wall closed again as Harry was directed forward. As he walked he took one last look towards the stands where he saw his friends and loved ones wishing him luck with gestures as he smiled and got into position ready to run. There was a silence before he saw a flash and heard a bang from Amelia's spell.
"Go!" The maze opened and he sprinted in the cheers being cut off rather abruptly as the wall closed behind him. It was eerily quiet, He knew the people were just on the other side but he couldn't hear them. He couldn't hear anything. Shaking it off he continued running slowing to a jog as he went wanting to conserve as much energy as he could just in case.
If they were going for a creepy and unsettling setting they more than succeeded. The walls towered over him and there was a constant layer of fog coating the ground just about ankle high. It was dark but it was the silence that was really getting to Harry the most. Not hearing anything around him was disconcerting and the only reprieve was from his own breathing and footsteps.
Harry continued on his way making turns trying to find anything that he could use to help navigate this maze. He began to look around, the sky was out since he couldn't see anything. Just black like they but a dark blanket of the maze itself.
He stopped to look at the walls and aimed his wand.
"Colorvaria." He cast making the leaves turn bright yellow. He waited for a few moments and grinned as they did not change back. He quickly returned the color back to normal and when he came upon his next turn he cast the spell at the lower corner of the wall. Just high enough to be out of the fog but hidden enough to not be noticed unless you knew it was there. Now if he got turned around he could tell where he has already been.
He continued until he felt his foot catch on something like a string. It was too late to stop as he felt the string snap and out from the wall of leaves a beater's bat came flying out. It was only thanks to Harry's quick seeker reflexes that allowed him to fall to his knees and slide under the trap. Turning he took another look and saw that the bat had some padding on it. It would hurt but wouldn't have been fatal.
Looking back he had to do something about the fog. He couldn't use Metlojinx to conjure a small storm to whip up the fog. He started thinking, the fog was basically just dense moisture like a cloud right? So what helps disperse a cloud?
Heat! Heat could do it. Taking his wand he took aim just above the fog and cast a wordless normal Incedio and a blast of flames erupted from his wand as a sudden burst of light and heat lit up the lane he was in. It took a couple of puffs before the fog began to disperse slightly showing off another tripwire.
He fired off a cutting charm and when he did another bat that would've hit his legs came flying out and a second after that a blunted stub rose from the ground that was probably meant to knock him out. Moving around the trap he continued sending out puffs of flames periodically to lighten up the fog so he could see any more traps waiting for him.
He came across a few of them as most of them were meant to knock him either off his feet or out of consciousness completely. As he went he noticed that the lower-left corner was yellow meaning that he had just completed a circle. He growled as he instead took the right path in hopes that gave him better progress. After a few turns, he came upon a slightly wider path which oddly had a higher layer of fog as well. Looking back there were no other turns to choose from as he raised his wand and sent a jet of flame through the fog but unlike before this fog didn't dissipate or lighten. He did hear a sudden screech and the pattering of feet.
Steeling himself he entered the path keeping his eyes open but with the fog density, he had to rely more on his ears instead. Again he heard the patter of feet and a low hiss that came closer to him. Whipping around to face the source of the sound he shot a stunner out towards the sound and heard a screech before a thump. Walking towards it he felt around with his shoes before nudging something. Bending down he found that he just stunned an Acromantula.
He had no time to relax as he heard more steps and hissing heading his way. Sticking close to the maze wall so as to not get turned around, he quickly put up a shield and held it as he moved forward. He picked up his pace a bit as the first Acromantula pounced into his shield but was repelled. Then a second one tried its luck by going low but it didn't have any better results. What really unnerved Harry was that he couldn't see them until they got too close for comfort. Every time they tried to attack it would make him jump and want to lash out but that would leave him open for attack by the others.
Keeping his shield up he started running determined to get out of this lane and he got his wish as he suddenly lost his footing on a descending slope and he tumbled out of the lane. When he came to a stop he was quick to get back on his feet and look back ready to defend himself. But the tall fog didn't spill out leaving only the normal layer of fog at his feet. The Acromantula didn't leave either which was a blessing.
Now he had to deal with a split path one going left and the other going right. The one on the left was slightly more illuminated than the one on the right so he decided to try that path first. The second he started down the walls of the left path began to shake before they began to crash into each other at the end and were making their way over to him.
"Shit!" He cursed as he turned and headed over to the right at a sprint the sound of the crashing hedge right on his heels as he ran. He pushed himself far from anything he had ever done before. He was so fast now, the potion regiment did wonders for his body and he was glad of it. Coming around the bend he quickly lept to the new path as the path behind came to an abrupt close and looking back there was no proof that there ever was a path, to begin with.
"Brilliant." He muttered sarcastically, nowhere to go but forward. Following the new path, it eventually led him to a large circular area. Besides the path that he had just come out of there were three more in front of him. Going forward, right or left. There was also no fog in this clearing so he could see the dirt on the ground.
Before he could make a decision on which path to take a large sphinx came crashing down from above. Harry immediately got his wand ready to defend himself as the sphinx snarled. Her face was human and if he guessed correctly with this poorly lit space it was tanned and held an Egyptian look. Her hair was straight, long, and black with beads decorating a few of the strands and a golden headdress resting in a ring around her temple.
That was the only human part of the beast as it began to pace side to side revealing the giant lioness body with its golden brown fur and a pair of large golden eagle wings. The sphinx towered over Harry and if he had to guess she was larger than Demons in height.
"If you wish to pass you must answer my riddles three, lest you fail then your life shall be my fee." She said with a growl ending her sentence. Harry took a moment looking left to right and noticed how the Sphinx took more of an interest in guarding the middle path. Harry didn't have much of a choice since the path back was just a dead end now.
"Ask your riddles." Harry said and the sphinx growled and pawed around for a moment.
"I never was, am always to be. No one ever saw me, nor ever will. And yet I am the confidence of all who live and breathe. What am I?"
'Crap.' Harry thought to himself not wanting to voice his displeasure out loud since he didn't need the sphinx to attack him thinking her was giving the wrong answer.
'Never was, always to be.' What does that mean? Never was but always to be. Always coming? Something that is coming but never arrives? But it's not visible since no one sees it and can never see it. Confidence of all who live and breathe? Confidence... knowing, so everything that lives and breaths know it's coming, but they can't see it and it never arrives but is always on the way.
What does everyone know is on the way but is not visible and never actually arrives? The Sphinx growled lowly as her pacing became less and less as she slowly started to inch her way towards Harry licking her lips and revealing her fangs as she snarled.
Everyone knows it, never arrives. Everyone knows it... knows it but it never arrives it is always on its way... the future? That never arrives but everyone knows of it. You can't see the future... that's it!
"I have it!" He shouted as the Sphinx snarled but stopped her advance waiting for his answer.
"Tomorrow, the answer is tomorrow. Everyone knows tomorrow, It's always coming but it never arrives since tomorrow becomes today." Harry answered and the Shinx snorted as she made her way back.
"You have answered one of three, yet the trial shall not end for thee. My next riddle you must master or else I shall rend your innards hereafter." She threatened her eyes glinting like a cat. She was silent for a moment before asking her second riddle.
"What creature, walks with four legs come morn, strides with two at days peak, and three at days end?" She asked resuming her pacing her eyes never leaving Harry's form. Harry sighed in relief he knew this one, Hermione had asked him this same riddle while they were relaxing once.
"The answer is a human. At the beginning of our lives we crawl on all fours, during our prime we walk with two and when we get old and reach the end we walk with a cane." That wasn't exactly accurate but he wasn't going to complain. The Sphinx snarled angrily at her riddle being answered so quickly.
"Two of three you have overcome, yet one remains which can lead you to be undone. My final riddle." She growled and stopped pacing instead facing him ready to pounce at a moment's notice.
"Who is this father who has twice six sons? These sons have thirty daughters apiece, particolored, having one cheek white and the other black. They never see each other's faces nor live more than twenty-four hours each." The Sphinx asked grinning sure that Harry would be unable to answer and Harry agreed.
Father has twice six sons? So twelve in total, a father with twelve sons, and each of these sons had thirty daughters. They were a productive family that's for sure. No, Harry couldn't think so literally, it was a way to trick him. The daughters had two colored faces, white and black but they can't see each other and they only live for twenty-four hours. So one father, twelve sons, each son had thirty daughters each that would be three hundred and sixty daughters in total. So one, twelve, and three hundred and sixty.
He had the numbers but now he had to add the clues to the numbers the daughters only lived twenty-four hours, so a day. Day... one day. That was something since twenty-four hours was a day. So did that make the daughters something that lasted only one day? Or were the daughters themselves the days? Then if that was right, wouldn't black and white face mean day and night? And they wouldn't see each other because when one day ends another begins but they never intermingle.
So if the daughters were the days... then the sons had to be months, it wasn't exact but there were about thirty days in a month or close to it. That's twelve months and the father of the sons...
"A year!" Harry shouted causing the Sphinx to stop and growl at him. "The answer is a year as it has twelve months and each month has thirty days. The black and white face is the day and night cycle for the daughters and the sons are the months. So the father is a year." Harry said as the Sphinx snarled and swiped at the ground angrily her teeth were still bared and she was practically frothing at the mouth.
"Riddles three you have answered to satisfaction, choose a path lest I take action." She threatened as she pawed off to the side and Harry took the middle path as that was the one she was being the most protective of. He wasted no time putting as much distance between himself and the sphinx as he could. When he was sure there was a good distance between them he took a moment to catch his breath.
When he made it back he would give Hermione a bit of extra appreciative attention for giving him the answer to the second riddle. Taking in his new surroundings he saw it was more of the same paths covered in a low layer of fog. Though if his hunch was right, this path was the best option. Taking his time and looking out for traps he found a few, most of them meant to either harm or impair him. Or to knock him out entirely, He even ran into a pitfall trap, it was deep but didn't have anything like spikes at the bottom.
He hadn't seen any of the other champions yet, no sign of Fleur, Cedric, or Victor. He hoped they were doing alright, Victor was a brute and would try to charge through this maze haphazardly. Most likely he had fallen victim to some of the traps but he was tough enough that he would walk away with only a few bruises for his trouble. Then there was Cedric who would be more careful than Krum. If Harry had to guess, given his first task, Cedric would probably transfigure some dirt or rocks into animals that would search for traps that he wouldn't see.
Fleur would probably have the hardest time out of all of them from what he had seen. She was talented with charms, being able to put a Dragon to sleep attested to that. But she didn't get to show off anything for the second task, she was too panicked to think straight. He hoped she was doing alright but he couldn't focus on that right now.
Harry had been navigating marking his path to keep his bearings in the maze when he saw something that made him grin. A straight path to the cup. He could see it, standing on a podium and illuminating the surrounding area and the path he was on. Not taking a moment to hesitate he began to run towards the Cup but was suddenly tripped as something began to wrap around his ankles.
Looking back he saw familiar vines begin to snap and snake their way up his legs holding him in a vice-like grip. Looking further back he saw the end of the path began to crash together closing up and if he didn't get free he would be swallowed up too.
"Lumos Solem!" Harry cast and just like with the Grindylows a brilliant flash of light illuminated the path he was in and the vines flinched as they began to retreat from his body and went to hide from the light under the walls.
Quickly getting to his feet he had no time to the waist as he began to run as quick as his legs could carry him. The vines had made this close as he could feel the crashing walls of vegetation right on his heel and gaining on him. He pumped his arms pushing his new body to the limits as he reached the end he had to dive going into a roll as the path he was in closed off.
Taking a moment to breathe he smiled as he approached the cup ready to claim it. And just then the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he felt a sudden increase of magic. Acting on instinct he dropped to the floor as a red stunner sailed over him and he turned to see that Victor had made it to the center as well.
"Ha, almost had you." He jeered, Harry took in his appearance and saw that his guess was spot on, he was battered and bruised from the traps but it seemed his plan worked somewhat. His bruiser plan made it so he reached the maze center relatively quickly but he was worse for wear for it.
"Almost, not quite. I see that you and the maze had some disagreements." Harry said getting to his feet with his wand at the ready.
"Da, it vas a challenge."
"But as being a big quidditch star you're used to getting hit aren't you!?" Both wizards turned to see Cedric entering the clearing wand up and ready.
"How'd you do Cedric?" Harry asked curious to see how he got through.
"Oh, you know the drying charm?" Cedric asked and Harry wanted to smack his forehead. Of course, the charm sent out a blast of hot air from the caster's wand. Why didn't he think of that?
"And you?"
"Incendio." Harry said
"'Arry, 'onestly, I expected better." And now the four champions were together again as fleur also entered the clearing.
"Well, I was in a rush, what did you do?" Harry asked the French champion.
"A neat little charm that lets me use echolocation." She said, "After that, those Balet lessons came in very 'andy."
"Brilliant." Harry complimented as the four champions began to slowly circle the cup trying their best to keep the others in their lines of sight. You could feel the tension in the air as their eyes flicked from one another each waiting to make the first move. And it would seem in true Krum-like fashion he would be the first aggressor as he sent a red stunner at Fleur who quickly conjured a shield to block. Cedric reacted by casting at Victor hoping to get him with his guard down.
Of course, it wasn't that easy as Krum block it and entered a duel with Cedric as they began to trade spells each looking for an opening to capitalize on. Fleur took this chance to run for the Goblet but Harry was quicker.
"Glacius!" Harry cast as a jet of frost shot from his wand and soon after a wall of ice came and blocked Fleur's path. Having been cut off she faced Harry and sent a disarming charm toward Harry which he blocked.
"Teneflagellum!" Harry cast letting the cold unsettling feeling that accompanied the spell spill out as the dark purple and black energy balled up at the tip of his wand which he flicked out forming a whip and sending it to Fleur's feet. She was taken off guard by the sudden chill that hit her so when the dark whip connected to her feet she was knocked off of them and fell to the ground.
Harry had to duck away as Krum and Cedric called an unspoken truce to deal with Harry viewing him as the biggest threat at the moment. He kept his spells low powered so as not to hurt anyone but they still packed a punch. Harry ducked behind his ice wall using it as cover.
He couldn't stay there as the Cup was on the other side with the others.
"Serpensmaiora!" He cast conjuring a large Runespoor snake.
"Keep those two busy!" He hissed out and the Runespoor wasted no time slithering out and engaging the other two wizards. Like other magical creatures, it was resistant to spells which meant it could give them a lot of trouble. Plus it had three heads to worry about.
"Incarcerous!" Harry heard Fleur cast but was unable to face her as he felt ropes bind his legs. He fell over as he saw Fleur scramble to her feet and make her way around the ice wall.
"Corvius!" Harry cast as an explosion of shadow ravens erupted from his wand and he directed them to the other side of the wall to cause as much havoc as they could. Judging by the surprised yelp from Fleur he had succeeded at stalling her. He cast a quick cutting charm on the ropes and got to his feet.
His Runespoor had wrapped up Cedric who struggled uselessly in its coils while the three heads snapped at Krum. Fleur was firing off spells to keep his ravens at bay and he had a straight shot at the cup and went for it. It was just within reach when all of the sudden a feeling like being punched in the gut hit him and all the air escaped his lungs as he was flung back.
Krum had sent a Bludgening hex at Harry to stop him from getting to the cup but that cost him as one of the Runespoor heads caught his arm, it wasn't biting him so much as it was holding him.
Harry desperately sucked in air as he tried to regain his bearings. Looking around he breathed in seeing Krum and Cedric were still busy with his serpent but Fluer had started using Incedio to keep his ravens at bay as she made her way to the cup.
Struggling to his feet he gripped his wand and pointed it away from the other champions he didn't need to hit them with this spell but he needed it to be just right so he had time to cover his ears.
"Terrafracta!" Harry cast and the golden-brown energy shot from his wand but before it hit he covered his ears and opened his mouth. When it did hit just like before a thunderous boom rang out catching the champions completely off guard as they clutched their ears as best they could. Harry didn't waste any more time as he ran as fast as he could to the Cup and reached out to grab it. When he did he felt like a thousand pins and needles pierced his palms but before he could let go he suddenly felt like he was being yanked forward.
Like he was being squeezed through a tube, the world around him began to twist and swirl as he remembered feeling this way before. At the world cup with that mangy old boot. The cup was a Portkey, but when Harry came out of it he wasn't at the Amphitheater. No, where ever he ended up it was dark. He was facing the sky but he couldn't look around his body felt numb. He couldn't feel anything not his legs or arms and he could barely move his head. It was like weighted ropes were keeping him still.
"Get him up Wormtail!" He heard a voice, a voice he recognized all too well. After a second he saw the face of Peter Pettigrew enter his vision. And he tried to summon any strength to choke the traitor but his body refused to answer his commands.
"It is useless, Harry Potter," Voldemort said as Peter propped a limp Harry against a stone. Being upright he could move his eyes around to see he was in some kind of graveyard. He didn't recognize it but he didn't need to. He could still feel his magic, so that means that even though the cup had taken him somewhere outside of Hogwarts he officially won the tournament the second he grabbed it. So he knew he wasn't anywhere near Hogwarts.
He then focused on his connection to Demona, it was weak, incredibly so. They must've been very far away but the connection was still there and he began to pour anything he could to call her to him making himself a beacon she could track.
"The venom from the Mongolian Deathworm is amongst the most potent in the world." He wheezed out as Harry's eyes found the ghoulish form being cradled by a statue of an angel. Harry would've laughed at that but couldn't due to the venom.
"You see, the Deathworm paralyzes its prey with this venom, and then when they are immobilized it uses an acidic substance to melt its prey and swallow the liquidized flesh. Very nasty business." Voldemort explained as Harry's eyes darted to the Cup.
"Yes, when you touched the cup you were injected with a dose. You won't be able to move for some time yet." He said as Wormtail took his master and used his wand to move Harry to a stature that moved to hold him in place.
Harry had to think of something, he saw his wand near the cup but the issue was that he couldn't move. He tried to flex his fingers and they twitched but he couldn't properly feel them. It was like his muscles had been replaced with cotton balls or something.
"AGGH! MASTER!" A new voice screamed out which was accompanied by a familiar pop. Harry couldn't turn his head but thankfully the figure had apparated in his line of vision. Peter turned as the figure stumbled out and Harry was shocked to see it was Barty Crouch complete in his ministry robes but missing his bowl hat. Though his leg was missing as well as he fell to the ground holding the bloody stump that periodically gushed out a jet of blood as he screamed.
"Wormtail!" Voldemort hissed and peter was snapped out of his shock by his master's voice as he shakily made his way to the injured man. He waved his wand and the bleeding began to lessen. Crouch growled his face twisted into a mix of pain and annoyance.
"Give me that, you useless lump!" He growled snatching Peter's wand and proceeding to crudely heal himself.
"Where is the girl Crouch?" Voldemort demanded his voice cold with no concern for his injured subordinate.
"I tried my Lord. I swear I had the Mudblood in my hands but then his beast," Crouch said glaring over at Harry. "Attacked me, it took my leg!" He said as he finished his crude healing but didn't stand. Voldemort hissed in displeasure.
"I will deal with your failure later, Wormtail we must begin." Peter nodded as he retrieved his wand from Crouch and walked over to a pot that had been set up. With a wave, the pot ignited and he could see a dark bubbling liquid boiling within. He stood over the pot and raised the small form of Voldemort over it before dropping him in. He then turned to Harry and summoned something. It wasn't until it was within Harry's vision that he saw it was a bone.
"Bones of the father, unknowingly given. You will renew your son!" He said dropping the bone within the pot and the flames flared becoming a venomous green color as the magic began to take effect and Harry could feel it. It was like walking into a room full of corpses, it was sickly and filled Harry with a sense of dread. The magic felt toxic. Peter then drew a dagger but Harry could see how badly the hand holding the blade was shaking.
"F-flesh of the s-servant, willingly g-given, you will revive your master." There was a moment of hesitance before Peter took the dagger and sliced clean through his arm at the wrist letting his hand fall in getting another flair of magic. Peter fell to his knees whimpering while holding his now bloody stump of an arm close.
"Stop whimpering idiot and finish the job!" Crouch snarled from his position. Harry was very confused, everything he had heard about crouch told him just how much he hated anything that could be considered Dark Magic. Not to mention how ruthless he had been with the death eaters during the war. This was a total change of character.
Peter got to his feet and he made his way over to Harry as he got the dagger and drew it across Harry's arm. Harry could feel something like a phantom pain but with the venom in his system, he couldn't properly feel it. Harry's and Peter's eyes met for a moment and Harry poured all the hatred he felt for the man into his eyes and if Peter's flinch was anything to go by he was successful at conveying the emotion.
Peter quickly retreated from Harry back to the pot taking the bloody dagger and flicking it into the pot. To Harry, every drop that hit the liquid sent out a wave of foul magic energy like an ocean of toxic sludge crashing into him.
"Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe!" Peter finished flicking the last bit of blood from the blade. Now the venomous green flames erupted even further causing Peter to stumble back as the cauldron was consumed. For a moment the ball of flames remained at ground level for a moment before it began to slowly rise a few feet into the air.
Eventually, the green flames flared for one last time bathing the graveyard with its light and Harry with a final wave of disgusting magic as it disappeared revealing a blob of flesh that convulsed and writhed in the air. Slowly the blob began to take form and harry could see something like a body beginning to form within it. Bones and muscles pressed against the surface as the blob began to expand and stretch with the bones.
It finally came to an end as the blob took on a human shape and began to thicken into the skin. Pale hairless skin is what greeted Harry as the figure began to roll his head around and flex his hands getting a feel for his new body. Suddenly the shadows around the graveyard began to creep towards him and slither up his body forming black robes around his frame.
Voldemort then turned to look at Harry, those eyes that he had seen so many times in his dreams glinted even in this darkness, clear and crimson with slit pupils. Voldemort's face then split with a horrid smile, his lack of a nose did him no favors. From Harry's guess, Voldemort wanted to look as much like a snake as he could.
"Harry... how nice to see you again. Properly that is." Voldemort said his voice sounding smooth but wrong like tiny bugs crawling into his ears. Harry couldn't do anything though, the venom keeping him limp like a dead body.
"Oh goodness, where are my manners. Wormtail, the antidote if you please." Voldemort requested as Peter fumbled with his remaining hand before retrieving a vial. Going over to Harry he uncorked it before forcing it down Harry's throat. Almost immediately it felt like a wave of ice flowed through his body and he was assaulted with a feeling of pins and needles over his entire form. But he could feel again and with Peter still so close to him he snarled as he raised his knee despite his discomfort and nailed the pathetic man right in his groin. The strike caused Peter to squeak in pain as he tumbled to the ground.
"You're going to get worse than that trust me." Harry threatened Voldemort chuckled and Harry turned his attention to him. "And you, I'm going to kill." Voldemort grinned.
"Why, Harry, what would your parents say about you being so ready to kill."
"Probably somewhere along the lines of my turn next!" Harry sneered doing his best to impersonate Snape at the moment. Voldemort laughed at that.
"It is really spectacular how deeply Dumbledore has failed with you. Quick to kill and to violence, he must be beside himself."
"I really don't care," Harry said he needed to keep this banter up as much as he could. His connection with Demona was strengthening by the second telling him she was getting closer to finding him. Harry thought about summoning Dobby but he couldn't risk his life. He was quick but all it would take would be a moment of hesitation and he could die and Harry wouldn't have that.
"I suppose you wouldn't after everything he put you through. I dare say he put you through more pain and suffering than I have."
"Well, seeing as how he did everything he did because of you then wouldn't that still be all your fault?" Harry asked.
"Perhaps, but was it truly just about me? Or was it about control? We both know the Dumbledore can't stand not being in control. Oh, how he must be torturing himself right now, trapped within his old childhood home." Voldemort mused.
"Tell me, Harry, how does it feel to use such dark magic? Crouch has kept me quite informed on your machinations during this tournament. Not to mention the daily prophet has been very helpful on that front as well."
"Magic is magic, it is just idiots who try to feel better about themselves that label it as such." Harry replied invoking what he had learned from Grindelwald's Grimoire.
"Indeed, even the ritual I've just performed?" Voldemort asked.
"It's just magic, if it wasn't for you I would say it would be a pretty useful ritual." Harry said, he would never use the ritual himself but he had to hold firm to his opinions. Voldemort chuckled before going to Peter.
"My wand." He said and Peter quickly pulled a wand from his coat. It was white like ash and shaped like a bone. The handle was something like the end of a small femur on the end where the joint would be meeting the hip and it was adorned with some spikes while the rest of the wand shaft appeared to be whittled down making it look more like a bone spike than a wand. Voldemort took it into his hand and breathed in deeply.
"Now your hand."
"Ah, master thank you!" Peter spluttered raising his bloody stump.
"The other hand Wormtail!" Voldemort hissed his eyes flaring as Peter quickly fixed his mistake offering his other hand and arm. Voldemort roughly gripped it before pushing up the sleeve revealing the dark mark on Peter's arm. With a cruel smile, Voldemort pressed his wand to the mark as it began to writhe on Peter's skin. He held it for a few moments before releasing the man and moving over to Crouch.
"You have failed in your task, but have been overall successful in your mission. For that, you will be rewarded." Voldemort said and with a wave of his wand, he conjured a silver leg for Crouch to stand on.
"Thank you, my Lord!" Crouch said as he went to stand.
"Crucio!" Voldemort suddenly cast causing Crouch to begin to convulse in pain as he fell to his knees unable to scream due to the pain.
"Failure, however, is still a failure and will not be tolerated," Voldemort said as he held the curse for a moment longer before releasing the man.
"Put your proper face on, I tire of looking at that man's image." Voldemort said turning with a flourish. Crouch was panting as he caught his breath but followed his lord's orders. Taking a vial he drank it and after a moment his skin began to morph and his body began to shift. After a few moments in place of Barty Crouch and in his place as a man with dark brown hair and to Harry's eye held some resemblance to Crouch.
"Who are you?" Harry asked, he thought he recognized the man, perhaps from his dreams.
"Harry, meet Barty Crouch Junior." Voldemort introduced as the man raised himself on shaky legs.
"Junior?"
"Yes, you see when I had learned of the tournament I knew I had to have someone on the inside. Someone who could pull the strings as I saw fit. Crouch here was perfect." Voldemort said.
"My father might've been an arse but I knew him best, it was easy to play the part. His spot on the Organization staff for the tournament was just what we needed to put our plan in place." Crouch said grinning at Harry.
"And of course as an organizer, you had unlimited access to the Goblet which is how you got my name into the Goblet." Harry said figuring out the rest. He did play the part of the uptight ministry official well.
"So you killed your father because I can't imagine he would be pleased with his death eater son stalking around with his face."
"You would be correct, but ironically enough, he was the one who smuggled me out of Azkaban. My mothers dying wish you see." Crouch laughed "The fool!"
Any further conversation was cut short as dark shapes came flying in through the air. Like streams of black smoke, they came in one by one into the Graveyard. As they landed the smoke dissipated to reveal cloaked figures wearing silver skull masks.
"Ah, it has been too long my friends." Voldemort said addressing those that had just arrived. "So many years and none of you made any effort to find me." Voldemort snarled going to the nearest Deatheast and ripping off his mask.
"Crabbe! Goyle! Nott!" He yelled out ripping off mask after mask and Harry could feel something like a pulse of magic every time he did causing his servants to fall to their knees. He continued until the six figures fell their faces revealed and Harry made it a point to memorize their faces and commit them to memory.
"Even you Lucius." Voldemort said before ripping at his mask as well revealing the familiar face of Lord Malfoy. And just like the rest of them, he fell to his knees.
"My Lord, you must understand. If I had heard of anything I would..."
"Silence, you had more than enough proof to seek me out."
"You have no idea what it has been like, to kiss up to those of lesser status. Forced to smile and wave for the public who should be kissing my boots." Lucius growled and Harry rolled his eyes.
"Oh yes, living in luxury and complete comfort is such a travesty." Harry snorted and Lucius shot him a glare.
"Silence boy!" Lucius spat out before getting smacked by Voldemort.
"Learn to speak to your betters more appropriately Lucius." That surprised Harry, it also made him feel incredibly violated at the same time.
"My Lord?" Lucius questioned looking completely caught off guard by his master.
"Harry Potter is a boy no longer. After what he has done, what he has achieved, I will not make the mistake of treating him as such." Voldemort said and Harry felt ready to puke at having Voldemort's approval.
"As expected, after all, you are the same." A death eater spat out in either a bout of bravery or stupidity.
"You have an opinion to voice, Parkinson?" Voldemort addressed the man who Harry guessed was Pansy's father.
"You lied, you're no Pureblood. You're nothing but a filthy, unworthy Halfblood." Parkinson said getting to his feet and everyone had their eyes switching from the Dark Lord to Parkinson.
"When did I ever claim to be Pureblood?" Voldemort asked as Parkinson looked taken aback.
"You claimed to be the heir of Slytherin!"
"Yes, and I am. But when did I claim to be a Pureblood?" Parkinson looked frustrated as he tried to rack his brain for an event where Voldemort had made the claim but couldn't recall one.
"That's right, you followed me without any need to know of my blood status. You couldn't wait to get your hands dirty, I just pointed you, and like a rabid dog, you attacked where ever I pointed. But this changes nothing, do you know why?"
"I won't follow a filthy Half-Blood!" Parkinson screamed but was silenced as in a burst of supernatural speed Voldemort closed the distance and sank his wand into the gut of Parkinson like a blade.
"You will follow because I command it." He said no longer addressing Parkinson but the other Deatheaters. Parkinson then began to pant and scream as he began to smoke and the area was blanketed by the smell of burning flesh as Parkinson began to burn from the inside out. The glow of the internal flame became more and more visible as the torture proceeded.
It was a slow death and ended with Parkinson letting out one final scream of agony before fire split his skin and flicked out of his mouth and melted his eyes. When Voldemort withdrew his wand the charred body of Lord Parkinson was no more as it crashed to the ground and exploded into black ash.
"Are there any other opinions that I should hear?" Voldemort asked tapping his wand into his palm like a teacher scolding a classroom. The Deatheaters said nothing as they averted their eyes.
"My Lord...?" Peter said shakily coming forward "I returned to you." He said hoping to earn some favor and Voldemort fixed him with a stare.
"Out of fear, coward. However, you did serve a purpose." Voldemort said before waving his wand and Peter's hand like Crouch's leg was replaced with a silver hand.
"Yes, yes very nice. Got them all back on a leash?" Harry asked snarkily doing his best to emulate Jones.
"You can understand Harry, how aggravating it is to be surrounded by... lesser minds," Voldemort said approaching Harry again. "After all didn't you have to deal with that Weasly boy for years now? Look where that got you. You know, my offer still stands for you, Harry. You witnessed my return just now. Join me, and together we would rule with an iron fist. None would oppose us, no muggle, no wizard or witch. we'd be untouchable."
"Except for how advanced the muggles have become, you do know what a nuke is, right?" The Deatheaters looked at each other confused having never heard the word before. Voldemort chuckled.
"Of course I do, I may have no love for the muggles, but I am not so arrogant to pretend they do not pose a threat. I can hate rabid dogs but I am not going to ignore the danger they are. That is why they need to be ruled, imagine if Grindelwald was successful in his noble conquest. A world ruled by Wizards and Witches. He could've prevented so much death and pain." Voldemort explained swinging his wand widely giving the illusionary sounds of bombs and gunfire ringing through the graveyard.
"And as I have said, you saw me return. We could bring back your parents. I will admit, that I acted out of haste and half-hearted information. The death of such talented and powerful Wizards and Witches is always a travesty."
"And yet you didn't even think twice about killing him." Harry said looking towards the pile of ash. He then focused back on his bond with Demona, she was getting closer so close just a few more minutes. He could stall for a few minutes.
"Well, I did say talented and powerful." Voldemort repeated and Harry laughed at that which caused Voldemort to grow a wide snide smile.
"Can't argue with you there, but you did kill my parents, and because of that Dumbledore took me and stole away any hope I had in a childhood when he placed me with my relatives."
"Of course, though I must argue that again that was the fault of Dumbledore. According to the information at the time, he believed I was dead. He learned the truth later on but at the moment he had no use for you. So he dumped you as soon as he could, and he cut you off from the wizarding world. He knew what sort of power and influence the great Boy-Who-Lived would possess and he wanted to ensure he was not threatened."
"So he put me in an environment that would stunt me, physically, emotionally, and magically." Harry finished connecting the dots to Voldemort's argument.
"Yes, you have been lied to your entire life, Harry." Voldemort said placing a hand on his shoulder and Harry was surprised that he could as the last time he tried to touch him he turned to ash. Seeing his surprised look Voldemort answered his unspoken question.
"There was more reason to using your blood than just being my enemy. A few drops of your blood and I am allowed to touch you despite the old Magic your mother invoked. But Harry, my point is that I am trying to rectify a wrong, I am being honest with you. For the first time, I will be the one to be genuine in my intention for you. No scheme, no trap, no trick." Voldemort said pulling his hand away and raising his wand.
"I, Tom Marvolo Riddle, do hereby swear on my magic that my offer to Harry James Potter is genuine. So mote it be." Voldemort said and send a blast of magic into the sky to show his magic had not been taken. That surprised Harry more than he could ever admit. Why? Voldemort had always been trying to kill him or to remove him from the equation. And now he was making an honest offer of partnership, and even offering to bring back his parents.
"Join me, Harry, just think of what we could accomplish together as Dark Lord Voldemort and Dark Lord Potter." Voldemort said and Harry was sure that there wasn't a surprised person present. Especially Crouch, the whole point of his secondary mission to kidnap the Mudblood was to torture her before the Dark Lord killed Harry. Why would he order him to do that if that was his intention all along? It didn't make sense what had his Lord planned if he was successful? Or had he known all along that he wouldn't be successful? Crouch was shocked and confused and had no answers.
"I... have to admit I am surprised. Despite what I have done to you already you would accept me as an equal?" Harry was mainly stalling for more time as he could feel Demona was practically right on top of them now but he was also genuinely curious.
"You are my equal, or at least well on your way. I rule because I am powerful, I do not wish to waste time by fighting you, and I feel that you are tired of fighting me as well. Not to mention that the first time we had an altercation you were not but a baby, the second time we only came to blows due to Dumbledore's manipulations of you. The second time was not truly me, but a younger more foolish version of me. And now here we stand, I will admit that I had you entered into the tournament. But Barty was there to ensure you were never in any true danger. As he was sworn in as an Organizer he was fully within his rights to intervene and protect you should it become necessary. But you proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it wasn't."
"And the girl you ordered Crouch to take? I can only guess that it was Hermione since he called her a Mudblood. What were you going to do with her?" Harry asked.
"A show of good faith, I was going to allow her to take you away from here. You feel it don't you, the ritual was taxing on all parties involved." Voldemort explained and Harry did feel a bit winded despite having not moved very much. Looking over at Peter he looked dead on his feet at the moment.
"Harry, your answer?" Voldemort asked and this was it. Harry couldn't stall anymore but he didn't need to, Demona was lying in wait.
She had arrived and he caught a peek of her burning eyes in the shadows of the graves. He took another look and saw the cup and his wand on the floor. He would have to act quickly so he gave a few mental commands to Demona and she waited for his signal.
"Well, shit I didn't expect this. Maybe if you were lying it would make this easier." Harry said as he looked around everyone waiting for him to give his answer.
"I can see a few really good reasons for me not to join you though. Their names are Susan, Daphne, and Hermione. Oh and also DEMONA!" Harry shouted as the Hellhound lept out of her the shadow and sprayed her crimson Hellfire across the ground. She would've roasted Voldemort if he wasn't so quick to react and apparated back a few feet. The other Deatheaters scattered to avoid the flames and Demona wasted no time in destroying the statue that held him. Harry fell to the ground and grabbed his wand and reached for the Cup before it was flung away.
Looking back he saw Voldemort had done it as he stared at Harry from across the flames.
"This is your answer then? I do not give second chances." Voldemort warned his eyes glinting in the glow of the flames.
"It is, I won't join you." Harry said, even with Voldemort being genuine in his offer Harry could never accept. Even if he didn't have people to go back to there was no way Harry could go down that road. Not with Voldemort, not with anybody, or for any reason. No, they would always be enemies.
"Well, I must admit that is disappointing. Such a waste." Voldemort sighed before he raised his wand.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" He cast and a familiar green bolt of energy flashed and Harry quickly raised his wand.
"Glacius!" Harry cast summoning a thick wall of ice that blocked the spell.
"Really Tom? Such a one-trick pony!" Harry jeered as he scanned the area trying to spot where Voldemort banished the cup. "Demona, attack!" Harry ordered as Demona Snarled her fangs glowing as her eyes flared. She released her fierce roar that shook the earth and every soul that heard it as she jumped into the shadows to flank the Deatheaters.
They didn't know what hit them as Crabbe suddenly screamed bloody murder as Demona clamped down on his arm needing only a single bite to sever the limb from his body. The sound and smell of burning flesh became apparent as her burning fangs seared the flesh they touched. She then clamped down across his torso and bit down hard the sickening sound of crushing bone echoing across the graveyard.
She shook him for a few moments and tossed him away as he collapsed into a limp bloody mess against one of the graves. The other Deatheaters after seeing their comrade killed so easily focused their attention on Demona but she was quick to melt back into the shadows.
Harry, quickly cast a summoning charm on the cup and it came sailing to him but Voldemort was quick to banish it again.
"No Harry, you will not escape! You will face me!" Voldemort said as he blasted the ice wall Harry had conjured into pieces and Harry got knicked in the shoulder by a chunk and quickly moved to find new cover as Voldemort fired another killing curse at him.
"Tenelusus!" Harry cast as he summoned the cold dark energy and it blasted out from his wand in a wave and Voldemort summoned a shield to defend. But just like Grindelwald had said the magic of the spell was different than normal spells and the shield was ineffective in blocking the magic as it hit Voldemort sending him flying.
However, Voldemort was still a skilled wizard as he righted himself in the air and floated back to the ground. Harry could see that his robes were singed with that unique purple color but not his skin. Whatever ritual that Voldemort performed must have done more than just return him to a proper body. It must have enhanced it.
"Not bad Harry, truly. You are making the act of killing you more regrettable by the second." Voldemort said before flicking his wand and from it, a bolt of lightning shot out. Harry was fast enough to block but not fast enough to do it as effectively as he would've liked as he was sent skidding across the ground staying on his feet.
"Tenelancea!" Harry cast and shot the spear of darkness at Voldemort and having learned his lesson from the first time Voldemort didn't try to block but instead dodged. Harry cast the spell three more times but Voldemort was quick to avoid it and then countered by banishing two of the gravestones toward him. Harry blocked that using Protego Duo.
"Fulmunis!" Harry cast shooting out a blast of lighting empowering it from the residual magic in the area and Voldemort met his lighting with another Avada Kedavra. The white bolt met green and from their connection, a blast of power and light filled the area with a resounding boom.
Harry took this moment to check on Demona but she was making short work of the Deatheaters present, Crabbe was definitely dead, Goyle was well on his way missing both of his legs and bleeding out on the floor. Nott and Malfoy were singed and had a few gashes on their bodies with Lucius having a large gash across his face. But they pressed into each other back to back to minimize their openings.
Peter was nowhere in sight, no doubt having fled as soon as Demona showed up. Crouch was missing his leg again and cursing at Demona as he cast blasting curses blindly into the dark and every shadow he could see.
Returning his attention to Voldemort he inched his way over to a nearby tall gravestone and broke of his spell and ducked under it. He then began to summon as much magic and power to himself as he could pulling on all the magic he could find within the earth and the air. Even from the dead bodies around them. He then focused on that connection that was always prowling in the back of his mind and summoned it to action. Stepping out of his cover he aimed his wand as his spell burn scar began to glow with an eerie blue color.
"Protego Diabolica!" Harry cast and a sudden blast of azure flames raced out from his wand consuming the grass and headstones it touched. Voldemort's eyes widened at seeing the vicious flames he had heard about firsthand. Raising his own wand he performed his counter.
"Flamma Damnatorum!" Voldemort yelled out and a wave of flames with a sort of reddish hue accompanied by orange sparks flowed from his wand. They twisted and had a wildness to them but flowed differently to harry's own blue flames. Where the flames of purgatory flowed with a sort of ravenous appetite consuming all that it came across, Voldemort's flames lashed out and attacked not looking to consume but to destroy.
It wasn't long before the Skull of the purgatory beast formed accompanied by its unsettling roar. And Voldemort's flames twisted into the body and head of a serpent as it let out a loud angry hiss. The two spells raced towards each other and clashed but unlike before there was no connection, it was as if both combatants had unleashed beasts to maul each other.
The Purgatory beast roared furiously as Harry directed it to attack the flaming snake that Voldemort had summoned. It bit and spewed its azure flame with abandon, he wasn't sure if either beast could feel pain but the roars and hisses of anger were clear. Every snap of the Purgatory Beasts' maw was like the falling of a guillotine. The Serpent snaped as well sounding more like the crack of a whip as it shot forward and reared back to attack and avoid.
The serpent coiled itself around Harry's beast many times but each time the Purgatory beast would just let its body be consumed by its own flames and then reform and resumed its attack. Harry took this chance to spot the cup which he found easily due to the power of the battling spells having destroyed much of the graveyard giving him a better view.
Harry could feel the malice from Voldemort's spell and the pure hunger that flowed off his own. They clashed, one looking to devour the other seeking to destroy. Interestingly enough the flames never merged they were always separate as they tried to dominate the other.
It was here that Harry could start to feel a slight drain on his magic, and from the tingling feeling from his extremities he still had some of the Mongolian Deathworm venoms in his system and all this movement and blood flow was causing it to circulate making his movements more sluggish as he fought. On top of that, there was the ritual he took part in that unwillingly sapped a bit of strength from him.
He had more than enough to keep his spells powered up but for how long was the question. He had no idea if other Deatheaters were on the way and while he believed in Demona's ability he didn't know how she would react to being hit with the killing curse and didn't want to wait around for one of the Deatheaters to get a lucky shot in.
He needed to retreat, he wasn't prepared properly for this fight and he needed to get back. He wouldn't be able to kill Voldemort here, and with his apparent increased durability from the ritual, Harry didn't want to take the unnecessary risk. It was better to live and fight another day with more spells, more power, and better training.
So he took this chance to look around and spotted the Tri-Wizard cup laying on the ground. Giving his Purgatory beast an extra boost in power he cut off his spell letting it exist on its own for the moment before aiming at the cup.
"Demona!" He called and received a loud guttural bark in response as she bounded through the flames he couldn't see very well given her dark fur but he was sure her fur was matted with blood from her fight. He didn't bother to check what she had achieved as he mentally ordered her back into his shadow. Following his orders, she did so melting into shadow and smoke and began going into his shadow before Harry summoned the cup to him.
That was when he saw it and everything began to move in achingly slow motion for him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of green pierce the blue and the red of the flames as he turned his head. Voldemort's Serpent had been bested but not before bashing the purgatory beast off to the side with one last flail. That single moment, that small opening was all Voldemort had needed as he fired off the killing cure at Harry who had his back turned at the time.
Normally Harry would've been able to block or dodge quite easily if not for the damned venom coursing through his system and Demona was right in the middle of merging with his shadow and didn't have time to intercept or knock her master over. Harry raised his wand magic flickering desperately at the tip as he summoned all the debris from the shattered tombstones and statues to him to try and block the incoming bolt.
It was in vain as Harry used his wand in a crude attempt to stop the bolt but it did nothing as the green spell arced straight through and in the slow-motion that his mind was perceiving this event in he could see the individual cracks as they formed on his wand and the splinters as it shattered under the spells force.
The spell got closer and closer, inches, then mere centimeters and Harry could feel his other hand come in contact with the cup but it was too late as in a flash of green the last thoughts Harry had were of Hermione, Daphne, and Susan on the night of the Yule Ball before his world went black.
_SCENE_
Here it is the last task, which I hope I was able to portray well. Now I understand that it might be a bit hard to swallow that all the champions just happened to appear at the same time, I felt that it would've been cool to have a bit of a free for all at the end. It wasn't really a big fight but it was just a fun scuffle between the champions. Then there was a Voldemort's resurrection and his talk with Harry, I know that's got some of you either triggered or confused as all hell but trust me it's going somewhere… hopefully... or maybe I just got way too into and cursed myself in the foot. Get it? like shot myself in the foot? But with magic. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoyed the chapter and let me know what you think until next time this has been your Average, Ordinary, Everyday Fallen Angel!