Matthew paced, going back and forwards, in front of Dumbledore's great desk. He had a grim look set upon his face, clutching a copy of the Daily Prophet in his left hand. He'd held it so tightly that the paper had been scrunched up so much that it barely resembled a newspaper anymore, though the picture of the Tardis was still poking through. Even the headmaster appeared grave, watching the student in front of him. He'd been discussing the final security measures of the final task with Moody just before they'd been interrupted. The former auror remained in the room, also wanting to discover how someone was wandering through the halls of Hogwarts so easily. He stood in the corner, his scarred face unmoving.

Harry and Hermione had followed their friend to Dumbledore's office as soon as they'd digested the news. All of Harry's lethargy left his body as he focused on this latest problem. He would have thought that, with barely two days to go, his priorities would have been set on the challenge that was waiting for him. But his friends always came first. And, perhaps, he felt guilty for what was happening. It was, after all, technically his fault. He was the one who had challenged Rita Skeeter earlier in the year, refusing to give her the time of day, and she had come back with a vengeance, taking it out on Hermione and Margot first, before setting her sights on Matthew.

The newspaper was thrown onto the desk with a little bit too much force, a sort of act that Dumbledore normally wouldn't have allowed in his office. He'd always made special exceptions for the three students in front of him though. He watched their differing reactions. Matthew was glaring at him, justly so. He was supposed to keep the school walls tight and secure. Harry was fidgeting, unable to sit still on the chairs that had been provided. Hermione, meanwhile, was gnawing on her lip, that brain of hers working away as she attempted to solve this latest conundrum. Whether she was looking into how it had happened or how to put it to an end, Dumbledore couldn't tell.

"How's she done this?" Matthew asked, gesturing at the front page as if they didn't already know what he was talking about. "It was in an abandoned room, in a part of the castle that no one visits anymore. Either she got lucky and stumbled across it…"

"Or she's been following us," Harry finished solemnly. "Watching what we've been doing. That has to be it. Because she knows that the Tardis is connected to us."

"The rumours are already starting about what it's for," Hermione added, standing up to join Matthew by his side. "Some of them are rather unsavoury, following on from the awful gossip we'd just moved on from."

Matthew nodded his head. "The good thing is that it's only rumours for the time being. No one knows what it's actually for. Because how could they? The only comfort I can take right now is that I know Skeeter won't have been able to get inside. For now, let people speculate. They're jumping to conclusions when, in reality, it's just a wooden box to them. There's nothing wrong with that."

"I'd quite like to know what it is though," Moody grumbled from his corner.

"That's confidential, Alastor," Dumbledore told him. "It's strictly on a need-to-know basis."

"I'm supposed to be running security for this place and I don't even know half of what's going on! Why is the box so special? It's certainly got these kids all worked up."

"If you were running security properly, we wouldn't have this problem, would we?" Matthew pointed out.

Moody stomped towards him, his wooden leg banging against the floor. "I'd watch that mouth of yours if I were you, Mormont. You're a great wizard. All the professors say so. But you say the wrong thing to the wrong person and none of that skill is going to help you."

Dumbledore held up a weary hand, seeing the conversation get away from him. "Now isn't the time to be threatening the students, Alastor." Harry wondered when the right time was. "As you have pointed out, Mister Mormont, the truth of the object is still unknown. As everything, this will eventually leave the news cycle and be a curious story that people chuckle at lightly."

"It got dangerously close though," Matthew reminded him. "Maybe I've become too relaxed over the past year. But this has reminded me once again that I can't let people know what's going on."

"Are you regretting telling us?" Harry asked worriedly. He couldn't take it back, could he? He thought back on something Dumbledore had mentioned towards the end of his first year, discussing his ability to erase memories. Would they do that to him and Hermione to ensure the truth remained a secret?

"You and Hermione are better than people ." Matthew gave them a reassuring smile. Harry allowed himself to breathe once again. "But I'm making some changes. For at least the rest of the school year, not that there's much left, I won't be keeping the Tardis here. And that means your…training will have to stop for a bit."

Harry's eyes went wide. "No! I need it! I'm getting close to finally figuring it out! And there's still time before the task to figure it out. I might need that to get through it."

"Training?" Moody barked, not appreciating still being out of the loop. "What have you got these kids doing, Albus?"

"Need-to-know," the headmaster reiterated. "Perhaps it would be prudent if you were to assess the final procedures for the upcoming task. I doubt you can add much to this conversation going forward."

"No," Hermione argued, surprising them all. "I want him here. He's in charge of security. So he's the one who should know how a reporter is capable of moving around the school unseen." She half expected the retired hit-wizard to bristle at her thinly veiled criticism of his capabilities but, if anything, he seemed impressed at her nerve to call them into question in the first place.

"Maybe she has an invisibility cloak," Harry suggested, knowing how much that came in handy.

"And how would you know about them, Potter?" Moody peered at him with both his beedy brown eye and the whizzing blue one.

"I do a lot of reading." He was thankful that he'd been able to come up with something so quickly. "Seeing as we spend so much time in the library. They're not exactly a secret."

Moody didn't seem convinced by his bluff. Harry wondered whether his strange eye allowed him to see through lies as well as people. "It won't be an invisibility cloak. I could spot them as clearly as looking through a window."

"There must be spells," Hermione put forward. "The disillusionment charm, perhaps."

Moody tapped his eye, growing frustrated that they weren't following. "Same again, Granger. Skeeter doesn't have the power to fool me."

"Evidently she does," Matthew countered. He held up a hand quickly before the older man responded. "Yes, I know, I should keep my mouth shut. But it's two years in a row now that we've had someone getting into the castle without anyone knowing how. And, after what happened with the goblet probably being tampered, I would have thought that this problem would have been fixed by now."

"Alas, the increased media presence that the tournament has brought means that there are more people to monitor," Dumbledore explained. "Making it easier for someone to slip through unseen."

"Yeah, but there's getting into the castle, and then there's being able to follow us without us realising. She must be really light on her feet."

"That's it!" Hermione exclaimed.

Harry looked at her. "What? Skeeter being light on her feet? Maybe she put a cushioning charm on her shoes." Then again, the heels she'd been wearing the first time he'd interacted with her were so large that even the strongest of spells wouldn't have been able to soundproof them.

"No, silly. We need to look at this like last year. Who was able to get in and out of the school undetected? Who was able to actually get into Gryffindor Tower before anyone knew something was wrong?"

"Sirius. Though I'd like to remind everyone that he wasn't doing anything wrong in the end."

"Mister Black's innocence is nothing that needs to be disputed," Dumbledore assured him. The old headmaster appeared to be looking at Hermione in great interest as she put the puzzles together.

"How did Sirius manage it?" she asked the group.

Matthew's eyes lit up. "Oh, Hermione…you are brilliant. I could kiss you!"

She blushed. "Maybe later." Even Dumbledore chuckled at that.

Harry was quickly following their line of thinking. "You can't mean…"

"It's possible. Sirius never registered until this year thanks to his trial. Pettigrew and your father did the same without the Ministry knowing. If they could, then surely Skeeter could too."

"Blast it, Dumbledore!" Moody growled. "What are you teaching these kids? Making them talk in riddles! Someone better bloody well tell me what they're thinking!"

"If Rita Skeeter was an unauthorised Animagus, would that be something you could pick up with your…um…eye?"

"I can't say it would." He looked taken aback by the notion, pondering the ramifications. "And no one would think to question an animal, depending on what it is. Not even me."

Matthew tapped Harry on the shoulder. "And what would help us track someone across the entirety of the school grounds?"

Harry's eyes went wide. "That'd work! Though Lupin still has it, somewhere in his office."

"I'm sure he'd be willing to loan it for a short period for his favourite students. And it is technically yours to inherit."

Dumbledore had steepled his fingers together as he leant forward in his chair. "I'd prefer it if you left this matter to me. If Miss Skeeter has been roaming the school as an unlawful Animagus, a claim that has its merits but is still quite unsupported, then that is an incredibly serious matter to attend to. And, as I'm sure you're well aware of, you already have something rather pressing to deal with within the week. Not to mention the exams that Mister Mormont should be concerned about."

"As if I'm bothered about them," Matthew muttered. "How am I supposed to concentrate when my friends are facing certain danger and some reporter wants to bring my life into disrepute? Not that it was very reputable to begin with."

"As a professor, I see it as my duty to remind you of the importance of these tests. As an old man, I understand your sentiments."

"Can't we do both?" Harry pleaded. "We can help you find Skeeter. And we'll still make sure that we're ready for the task."

The headmaster chuckled softly. "I don't think I could stop you even if I wanted to."

xxxxxxxxxx

The two days went by far too quickly for Harry's liking. With Matthew indisposed with revision, and the task rightly taking precedence at the forefront of their minds, their plans with Skeeter had gone on the back burner for the time being. The negative impact of that was that it meant Harry had nothing to occupy his mind with, instead being forced to worry about what the maze would invariably hold. It was strange. A month ago, when he had seen it first as it was starting to grow, he'd barely felt any nerves. He'd believed there was nothing now that could get to him as long as he kept it simple and safe. With the task now being right upon him, it was safe to say that the anticipation had made sweat considerably.

They'd been taken to the quidditch stadium, as expected, led by an escort of professors. Harry stuck close to Hermione's side, seeking comfort in her presence, though he nodded his head at Cedric once they arrived, and smiled pleasantly at Fleur. The French girl had grown to be much warmer towards him since the second task, which he could understand. Krum, as usual, kept to himself, though Harry was surprised to see him at least acknowledge their presence. Maybe the experience had mellowed the Durmstrang Champion out somewhat. Perhaps Harry hadn't made the effort beforehand to see what the boy really was like. It wasn't something he could worry about at the moment.

The stadium had been completely transformed. The hedges, that had been nothing more than mounds a month ago, towered over them, obscuring the pitch impressively. If it was someone's first time visiting, they would scarcely believe what it was supposed to look like normally. Harry focused on the singular entrance that gave a slither of an insight into what was to come. Within the maze, it looked cramped and ominously dark, a place where shadows ruled. He wasn't looking forward to going inside. He was just excited to get this over with.

The stands were full, people all dressed up to support their favourite Champions. Some were bedecked in lions, others dressed head to toe in badger images. A few were waving French and Bulgarian flags, showing their support to the foreign competitors. Harry noticed a few people wearing badges that were designed to mock him, but the sting of their ridicule had been severely dampened over the year. He was just amazed that some people wanted to cheer him and Hermione after the way things had started. Though he would have preferred it if the brass band could have been a little quieter. He could barely hear himself think, not that he had too many thoughts running through his head.

He smiled when he spotted a familiar pair in the stands. Sirius and Lupin were sitting together, trying to look more confident than they were feeling as Harry approached them. His godfather ruffled up his hair playfully and, as much as he should have been embarrassed by the act, Harry couldn't help but smile. Kids would complain about a public show of affection from a family member, but he'd missed out on it for too long to ever grumble about having it.

"You know, nearly a year has passed since the trial, and I still get on edge when I'm in such a public setting," Sirius remarked. "I feel like, if people aren't geeing themselves up for the show, they're looking at me to see if I'm real."

"You normally love being the centre of attention," Lupin pointed out with a smirk. "Don't be shy now."

"Maybe I just need to get used to it after being locked up for so long. I got plenty of attention from the dementors, but not the sort you'd want to write home about. And…anyway…today is all about Harry!"

"And Hermione," the boy reminded them, not wanting to overshadow her achievements.

"As much as I love that girl for being your friend for so many years and doing her best to keep you out of trouble…" He grinned as he said that, knowing she'd failed spectacularly in that mission. "...my allegiances are always going to be with you."

"I've said it before but I'm not allowed to pick favourites," Lupin said. "I just want everyone to be safe. And, if you happen to come out triumphant in the process, then I'm not going to complain."

"That's right. Safety is obviously paramount." Sirius had never looked so serious in Harry's view. "Someone put your name in the goblet. You've survived up to this point but they might still be playing the long game. If the tournament is their way of getting to you, then tonight is their last chance of seeing it through. Stay on your guard at all times. Moody has a saying he likes to bark: constant vigilance. And that hasn't been as important for you as it is tonight."

"I'll be careful, don't worry."

"No." Sirius grabbed his arms, almost shaking him. "You need to understand. I don't want that sort of automatic response where you tell me you'll listen without even thinking about it. You need to promise me, Harry. If anything seems remotely wrong in that maze, you get yourself out of there immediately. No funny business. Once you've stepped inside, that should see out the contract you made. Only go as far as you want. You've already won in my eyes."

Harry nodded his head, his bottom lip quivering. He hadn't had an adult talk to him this passionately at a time when he'd actually been able to understand what was being said. "I promise. I really do. You know me…I'm not interested in winning. Once I've started, I'll see how far I can go. There's a bit of me that wants to test how much I've learnt recently, but if things turn sour, I'll be grabbing Hermione and leaving."

"Good. Then we won't have any problems. And, afterwards, we can discuss you finally moving in with me. As a sort of reward for doing so well. Most kids get chocolate. You get a new house."

"Are you sure that's not a punishment?" Lupin asked, getting a kick in the leg for his troubles from his friend.

Harry didn't know whether he could speak. "You're…serious? I can move in this summer? You still want me to?"

Sirius looked aghast at the notion that he'd want anything different. "Of course I do! I suggested it a year ago and I stand by it, as long as you're up for it. Obviously, we had to wait until my trial was over before we could plan anything, and then you weren't allowed to leave Hogwarts over Christmas thanks to this ruddy tournament. I had a big celebration all prepared. I even bought a tree. Dumbledore still has his reservations but, frankly, I'm your guardian, which means I make the decisions now. If he wants to complain, he can kiss my big, fat, hairy…"

"Sirius," Lupin growled before he went too far. "You know the headmaster just wants the best for Harry. As do you. You're not competing against one another. I, for one, am very excited to see you try to look after a teenager when you've still got the mind of one."

"I suppose I'll need you around for support every now and again, to check that Harry is still alive. I've got to remember to feed him, haven't I? Or has he already figured that out for himself?"

"You know I'm not a toddler, right?" Harry asked, knowing what his godfather was doing.

"A toddler would be easier. I've got responsibilities now. Because I hope you'll come to me with any sort of problem and I'll never complain about you wanting advice. It is a little bit daunting. I reckon there's going to be a period where we're both learning how to live with one another. But it's something I do want to learn."

Lupin smiled softly at his friend, seeing a side to him that not many were treated to. "I look forward to hearing about the advice you give him. And, Harry, remember to always come to me afterwards to double check what he's telling you to do. Or, if you want, just cut out the middleman and come straight to me for help."

"What use are you going to be if he starts asking about girls? Or boys. I'm not one to judge."

"He might need some advice now. It seems that the young woman he's taken a fancy to is making her way over to us."

Harry froze. Lupin was right. Margot was walking towards them, looking nervous as she approached. He hadn't spoken to her in weeks, their relationship (if one could call it that) coming to an abrupt close before it had even properly begun. The article by Skeeter had pushed her away, the fire stoked by the hurtful comments she'd received as a result. As quickly as they'd stopped the post getting to her, letters still got through the blockade, bringing with them insults and slurs. If Harry felt guilty about anything, it was inadvertently bringing her into the public mess that was his life.

And yet she smiled at him. It was shy and small, but a smile all the same.

Sirius coughed quietly. "I don't suppose you need much advice right now. You'll want us to get out of your hair. And I, for one, don't want to be here when the awkwardness hits." He shuffled along the bench, looking for new seats that didn't come with teenage angst.

Lupin patted Harry on the shoulder. "By the way, I know it's the last thing you're thinking of right now, but I gave Matthew you-know-what to help with your little…investigation. Though that can wait, I'm sure." He watched Harry nod his numbly, not really listening to his words, and smiled sadly. The boy was so very much like his father. "Good luck."

Harry didn't really acknowledge him leaving, so focused he was on the girl. He didn't know what to do. His legs felt heavy, his arms felt useless, and he was convinced his hair had never looked worse. There was the option of running, telling her that he had to concentrate on the task so that he could avoid her inevitably breaking up with him. Not that they'd officially started dating. They'd only shared one kiss, for goodness sake. But it was more than Harry had experienced in his life, so he felt he was allowed to have some nerves. He didn't have to be brave all the time.

"Hello," Margot said quietly as she stood in front of him, tucking a loose strand of her black hair behind her ear.

"Um…hi." Harry had suddenly lost the ability to put coherent thoughts together, it seemed. Just his luck. How many times had he performed miracles under pressure? And now his mind decided to shut down. No wonder he'd struggled so much with Matthew's rigorous training regimen.

"I just wanted to wish you luck for the task. I know…we haven't spoken for a while. But I wanted to know that I'm still rooting for you."

"Oh…um…thanks. That's nice." He fiddled with his hands, wondering whether he could just run inside the maze and hide. It didn't matter if he got disqualified for doing so, even if he lost his magic as a result.

"It'll probably get me into trouble, not supporting our Beauxbatons representative…but I think it's worth it."

"Look…Margot…I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what happened."

She looked confused. "What do you have to apologise for? You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't write that article. You didn't send me those letters."

"Maybe but…it's still because of me that that all happened. If you hadn't been seen publicly with me, you would have avoided all that. I didn't want to tell you about that side of my life because I knew it would probably make you run away. In the end, I still ended up with that result."

"Perhaps I could have dealt with it better." She placed a soft hand on his cheek and he savoured the touch. "But we're still children. We shouldn't have to deal with stuff like that."

"I've been saying that for years," Harry remarked with a rueful grin.

"You and your friends must be better suited to it than I. Maybe…one day…I'll know how to cope with it. But I wanted you to know…I don't…regret anything. I don't regret saying yes to be your date. I'd still answer in the same way. I wouldn't change a thing. Because we got to have that evening together, something those jealous people can't take away from us. And if you ever need someone to take to another dance…you know who to ask."

"I do." Why did this feel like a goodbye? Why did it have to be this way? Why was it always doomed to end like this?

"You better win," Margot said, pulling away a touch. "Just so I can see the look on Madame Maxime's face when you do. And that Karkaroff…"

"I'll do my best. For you."

Her lips curled into one last smile and she leaned in, planting the softest of kisses on his lips. "Be safe, Harry Potter."

He had his eyes closed as she walked away, made dumbstruck by the quick embrace. By the time he managed to open them, her form was retreating away. "Just so you know!" he shouted, making her turn around. "I don't regret it either! And I'm going to make Skeeter pay for what she did to you!"

Margot laughed, a beautiful sound despite the distance between them and the way it was obscured by the band. "I don't doubt that you will! You can do anything you set your mind to, Harry. You were brave enough to come say hello to me, after all. I hope we can say hello again some day."

xxxxxxxxxx

Harry trudged over to where he knew Matthew and Hermione were sitting as they waited for the task to begin. As a champion, Hermione had the right to have her parents with her for the spectacle, and they sat beside her in the stands, marvelling at the scene around them. They could scarcely believe what they were seeing, the magnificent castle standing in the background, shrouded by the growing darkness, the true stand out. And yet they couldn't ignore the bundle of nerves as they acknowledged what their daughter was about to do. They'd already tried pleading with her to quit as soon as possible, but she didn't seem receptive at all to their arguments. She'd always been stubborn once she made a decision.

"Everything alright, Harry," Matthew wondered as he watched his friend sit down.

"I think Margot just broke up with me," he replied in a monotone sort of voice.

"Oh, Harry." Hermione rubbed his shoulders comfortingly. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"She could have picked a better time," Peter remarked. "Right as you're about to do this?"

"It's okay," Harry told him. "We weren't really dating. I missed my chance for that, thanks to other people."

Matthew tapped the side of his cloak. "And we've got the perfect way to catch Skeeter in the act for what she did once you two have dealt with this."

"You make it sound easy," Hermione commented.

"Because it should be!" Katherine argued. "From the very beginning, you've sworn to do the bare minimum when it comes to this tournament. Do the same tonight. There's no pressure!"

"Mum…"

"You know I'm going to side with her," her dad added. "We want to see that you're safe."

"I'm tired of having this argument. If it's really bad, I'm not going to do anything risky. But if I feel like I've got a real shot at winning this…why should I stop? Someone wanted us in this tournament so that we'd fail. The perfect way of making them pay is by winning!"

"I like your spirit, Granger." McGonagall had popped up out of nowhere, standing by their bench. "Hopefully you can continue with that sort of endeavour right now because the task is about to start. You too, Potter. Come with me."

Hermione looked at the others one last time. "I'm going to be fine."

"You better be," her mum said. "Or you'll have him to deal with." She pointed at Matthew, who waved innocently at her.

She didn't like that look. "Have you two been talking to each other?"

"Is that a crime?" Matthew asked. "We're gonna have plenty of time to catch up whilst you do this. Unless you quit right away, which I strongly advise. But don't worry about us! Go and win! Both of you! One of you! Neither of you! Let's just get this show on the road so we never have to think about it again."

The other champions looked incredibly serious as Harry and Hermione joined them by the entrance to the maze. It looked more imposing than ever. McGonagall was giving them instructions, telling them to shoot red sparks into the sky if they needed assistance and to end their chances in the task. Harry was contemplating doing that right away. Hagrid was there, patting him heavily on the back and giving him some words of encouragement that Harry couldn't quite make out. All the noise was coming together as one: the band, the crowd, McGonagall, Bagman explaining the rules once more to the fans. It was all a blur until Harry looked at Hermione. She nervously smiled at him and he focused on her, returning the favour, drawing strength from the fact that they were going to do this together. He could manage it if he had her by his side.

Until she was heading into the maze before him, just after Krum. He watched her round the corner and disappear from view, leaving him achingly alone in a massive crowd. He gripped his wand tighter before his name was shouted and he was heading inside, the thick walls of the hedges closing him off from the outside world.