Chapter 19: Third Task

June 9, 2002 – Sunday

Buffy's Suite

As June approached, the atmosphere in the castle grew increasingly excited and tense. The anticipation for the third task, scheduled for a week before the end of term, was palpable. Harry and Dawn dedicated themselves to practicing hexes at every available moment, determined to sharpen their skills. During lunch breaks, they often gathered in Buffy's room, where Buffy watched their practice sessions with keen interest.

However, both Dawn and Harry were encountering difficulties with the Shield Charm, struggling to master its intricacies. Hermione, always the voice of encouragement, managed to shatter their shields with a well-placed Jelly-Legs Jinx.

"You both are still doing really well, though. Especially you, Dawn, since you're doing fourth-year spells and you're technically a first year," Hermione said with a supportive smile.

Buffy nodded in agreement, her pride evident. "Hermione is right, Dawn. You're doing pretty well. I'll have to get Hermione to teach me some of those this summer. Speaking of which, Hermione, have you decided where you're staying for the summer?"

Hermione sighed, a hint of conflict in her expression. "Mom and Dad wrote to me, telling me to stay with you, because we have so much lost time to catch up on. But at the same time, I want to spend some time with them. They may be my parents by my adoption, but they're still my parents, and I do love them."

Buffy nodded in understanding, recognizing the dilemma Hermione faced. "And you should. Dumbledore has agreed to keep the Floo open for my fireplace in Sunnydale as well as the ones at the Grangers. So you can come and go there anytime you want. In fact, I was thinking Dawn and I could go for at least a week or two and meet your parents and get to know them."

Hermione's smile was warm and appreciative. "They suggested that in their last letter. I think they want to get to know you and Dawn also."

Just then, Ron called their attention to something outside the window. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing in the shadow of a tree below, with Crabbe and Goyle smirking while Malfoy held his hand up to his mouth, as if speaking into it.

"He looks like he's using a walkie-talkie," observed Harry with curiosity.

Hermione shook her head, dismissing the idea. "He can't be. I've told you, those sorts of things don't work around Hogwarts. Come on, Harry, Dawn," she said briskly, leading them away from the window and back to the center of the room, "let's try that Shield Charm again."

Dawn nodded, and together with Harry, they refocused their efforts on perfecting the Shield Charm, determined to master it before the upcoming third task.

June 24, 2002 – Monday

Great Hall

Breakfast at the Gryffindor table on the morning of the third task was a boisterous affair, filled with chatter and excitement. The post owls made their appearance, delivering a good-luck card from Sirius to Harry and Dawn, which brought smiles to their faces. Hermione, on the other hand, received her morning copy of the Daily Prophet via a screech owl.

Hermione unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the front page, but her reaction was anything but composed. In her shock, she spat out a mouthful of pumpkin juice all over the paper.

"What?" said Harry, Dawn, and Ron in unison, their attention fixed on Hermione.

"Nothing," Hermione said quickly, attempting to shove the paper out of sight, but Ron was quicker, snatching it from her.

Ron's eyes widened as he read the headline, and he exclaimed, "No way. Not today. That old cow."

"What?" Dawn and Harry asked in unison, exchanging puzzled glances. "Rita Skeeter again?"

"No," said Ron, attempting to push the paper out of sight just like Hermione had done.

Harry, however, had a sinking feeling. "It's about me, isn't it?" he asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"No," Ron replied, and then he looked at Dawn.

Draco Malfoy seized the opportunity to taunt Dawn, shouting across the Great Hall from the Slytherin table, "Hey, Summers! Summers! How's your head? You feeling all right? Sure you're not going to go berserk on us?"

Malfoy held up a copy of the Daily Prophet, and Slytherins up and down the table joined in the mockery, sniggering and watching Harry's and Dawn's reactions closely.

Dawn, growing increasingly concerned, demanded to see the newspaper. "Let me see it," she said to Ron. "Give it here."

Reluctantly, Ron handed over the newspaper, and Dawn turned it over, her eyes falling upon the shocking headline:

DAWN SUMMERS

DISTURBED AND DANGEROUS

It has come to the attention of this reporter through an anonymous source that Ms. Dawn Summers, sister to Hermione (Granger) Summers. And sister to Hogwarts Professor Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer. That Ms. Summers maybe delusional. She seems to believe according to sources that she is a magical creature known only as the Key which is able to open the portal between dimensions. And that a Hell God named Glorificus is looking for her.

Dawn stopped reading at that point, her face a mask of alarm and urgency. She stood up and walked up to the staff table, standing in front of Buffy with a grave expression. "We're in trouble. I'm talking apocalypse trouble."

"Dawn, what are you talking about?" Buffy asked, her concern growing.

Dawn laid down the newspaper in front of Buffy, her expression tense. "This. Looks like I made the news again. If Glory didn't know before, she does now."

As Buffy read through the alarming article, her apprehension deepened with each passing sentence. "This is not good. Really not good."

Hermione joined them at the staff table, her worry mirroring their own. "What are we going to do?"

Buffy shook her head, her mind racing with possibilities. "I don't know. I really don't know." She turned to Dumbledore, her expression serious. "Professor Dumbledore, can we have a moment of your time?"

Dumbledore nodded, and they exited the Great Hall, entering a side chamber where Buffy showed him the newspaper. "This puts us in a dangerous situation. But we don't know if Glorificus has access to the Daily Prophet or not, and we're not sure if anyone in the wizarding world has contact with her either. Also, we're not sure if she even knows Dawn's the Key. All we can do for now is to proceed with the third task. To my knowledge, she can't get through the wards. So Dawn should be safe for now. The question will be, what do we do this summer?" Dumbledore said, his voice filled with concern and thoughtfulness.

Buffy nodded thoughtfully, considering the options. "Maybe we should remain at Hogwarts through the summer?"

Dumbledore nodded in agreement. "That can be arranged."

Dawn, Hermione, Buffy, and Dumbledore left the side chamber, joining Harry and Ron as they sat together. Ron was eager to hear their decision. "So?" he asked.

Buffy took a deep breath and spoke with determination. "We go on with the tournament. As Dumbledore said, we can't be certain Glory knows Dawn is here. We don't know if she has seen the Daily Prophet. We don't know if anyone in the wizarding world has contacted her. Besides, Dumbledore thinks the wards will hold against her. So Dawn should be safe for the most part. Harry, you will need to get to Dawn as quickly as possible once you're in the maze. Stay with her no matter what. If either of you get into trouble, I want you to shoot up green sparks. This will tell me it's you two instead of the other champions, as it's a different color than what the others will use. You two will be my only concern during the task today."

Their discussion was interrupted by Professor McGonagall, who approached them. "Summers, Potter, the champions are congregating in the chamber off the Hall after breakfast," she informed them.

"But the task is not till tonight!" protested Dawn.

"I'm aware of that, Summers," Professor McGonagall replied. "The champions' families are invited to watch the final task, you know. This is simply a chance for you to greet them. Oh, and Hermione, you're excused from your exams. Since you're Dawn's sister…"

Hermione nodded gratefully. "I understand, Professor McGonagall," she said as McGonagall walked away.

Harry expressed concern as he watched the preparations for the meeting of the champions' families. "She doesn't expect the Dursleys to turn up, does she?" he asked, a hint of unease in his voice.

Ron, focused on his own schedule, replied hastily, "Dunno, Harry. I'd better hurry, I'm going to be late for Binns. See you later." With that, he finished his breakfast and departed.

With Ron gone, Harry, Dawn, Buffy, and Hermione remained at the table, finishing their breakfast as the Great Hall began to empty. They observed Fleur, Krum, and Cedric making their way to the side chamber for the pre-task meeting.

Dawn suddenly broke into a smile, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "Hey, Harry, I have a crazy idea."

Harry looked at Dawn with curiosity. "Yeah?"

Dawn's smile widened. "How about we be your family for the little meet and greet thing?"

Harry's eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced between Hermione and Buffy, who both nodded in agreement. "I'd like that," he said with a grateful smile, touched by their offer of support and solidarity.

The side chamber door swung open, and Cedric's head appeared, urging them to come inside. "Dawn, Harry, come on, they're waiting for the both of you!"

Harry, Dawn, Buffy, and Hermione rose from their seats and made their way to the side chamber. Inside, Cedric and his parents were waiting near the door. Viktor Krum was engaged in a conversation with his parents in rapid Bulgarian in one corner, while Fleur chatted away in French with her mother. Fleur's younger sister, Gabrielle, waved enthusiastically at Dawn and Harry, who returned the greeting with grins.

Then, Harry spotted Mrs. Weasley and Bill standing in front of the fireplace, their faces filled with warmth and pride. He led the sisters over to them.

"Surprise!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "Thought we'd come and watch you, Harry!" She bent down and kissed him on the cheek.

Bill greeted Harry warmly as well. "You all right? Charlie wanted to come, but he couldn't get time off. He said you were incredible against the Horntail. And who are these lovely ladies? I recognize one of them, or actually two of them, I guess you could say. Hello Hermione, have you gotten a friend to drink Polyjuice Potion?" he teased with a grin.

Dawn laughed at Bill's playful remark. "No, she hasn't," she replied. "I'm Dawn, Hermione's twin sister. And this is our other sister, Buffy."

Buffy nodded warmly. "It's nice to meet you all."

Harry, still touched by their presence, muttered, "This is really nice of you. I thought for a moment - the Dursleys-"

Mrs. Weasley nodded in understanding. Her eyes then fell on Hermione and Dawn, and she seemed to put two and two together. "Dawn Summers?"

Dawn confirmed with a nod. "That's me."

Mrs. Weasley leaned in a bit closer to Dawn and whispered, "Just so you know, I don't believe a word that Rita Skeeter woman wrote about you."

Dawn's smile widened at Mrs. Weasley's kind words. "Thank you," she replied, appreciating the support.

Amos Diggory approached their group, his tone clearly confrontational. "There you are, are you? Bet you're not feeling quite as full of yourself now Cedric's caught you up on points, are you?"

Harry looked puzzled by Amos's comment, prompting Cedric to step in. "Ignore him," Cedric advised Harry. "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."

Dawn frowned at the mention of the Rita Skeeter. She couldn't help but voice her frustration. "The one that made me out to be his girlfriend. And the one that just called me delusional. If she knew the truth of the matter, she would never have printed that article."

Amos Diggory seemed unfazed by Dawn's remark, and he continued to taunt Harry. "Didn't bother to correct her, though, did he?" he said. "Still… you'll show him and Ms. Summers, Ced. Beaten him once before, haven't you?"

However, Mrs. Weasley, clearly angered by Amos's behavior, spoke up in defense. "Rita Skeeter goes out of her way to cause trouble, Amos!" she said with frustration. "I would have thought you'd know that, working at the Ministry!"

Mrs. Diggory intervened and pulled Amos away, effectively ending the confrontation. Cedric nodded towards Harry and Dawn before following his parents, leaving the situation behind.

Harry, Dawn, Buffy, and Hermione turned their attention back to the Weasleys after the confrontation with Amos Diggory.

"How's Percy?" Harry asked, showing concern for the Weasley brother.

Bill shook his head with a troubled expression. "Not good," he replied.

Mrs. Weasley chimed in, her voice filled with worry. "He's very upset. The Ministry wants to keep Mr. Crouch's disappearance quiet, but Percy's been hauled in for questioning about the instructions Mr. Crouch has been sending in. They seem to think there's a chance they weren't genuinely written by him. Percy's been under a lot of strain. They're not letting him fill in for Mr. Crouch as the fifth judge tonight. Cornelius Fudge is going to be doing it."

Buffy took a moment to express her gratitude. "So, Mrs. Weasley," she began, "Hermione told us a little about you and your family. On behalf of my sister, I would like to say thank you for looking out for Hermione these last few years."

Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly at Buffy's words. "It was my pleasure, Ms. Summers," she replied. "Hermione is a wonderful young lady. A delight to have around."

Hermione blushed, appreciative of the kind words from Mrs. Weasley.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Buffy, Harry, Dawn, and Hermione joined Ron for lunch at the Gryffindor table. Ron was surprised to see his mother and Bill there and asked, "Mum - Bill! What're you doing here?"

Mrs. Weasley replied with enthusiasm, "Come to watch Harry in the last task! I must say, it makes a lovely change, not having to cook. How was your exam?"

Ron shrugged and replied, "Oh… okay. Couldn't remember all the goblin rebels' names, so I invented a few. It's all right, they're all called stuff like Bodrod the Bearded and Urg the Unclean; it wasn't hard."

Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You should really study more, Ron."

Soon, Fred, George, and Ginny joined them at the table, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Mrs. Weasley, you didn't believe that rubbish Rita Skeeter wrote in the Daily Prophet , did you?" Harry asked with a touch of concern in his voice, his brow furrowing slightly. "Because Dawn's not my girlfriend."

"As I told Dawn," Mrs. Weasley replied, her tone warm and reassuring, "no, I don't." Her eyes met Dawn's, conveying a sense of trust and understanding.

'Not yet. Or at least I hope someday I will be,' Dawn thought, her heart fluttering with a mix of hope and excitement, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

Harry, Buffy, Dawn, Hermione, Bill, and Mrs. Weasley whiled away the afternoon with a long walk around the castle. The air was crisp and the scenery breathtaking, a perfect backdrop for their moments of camaraderie and lighthearted banter. Each step they took together, sharing laughter and stories, felt like a cherished memory in the making.

After the feast, Dumbledore rose to his feet at the staff table, and a hushed anticipation settled over the Great Hall. Dawn's heart raced as she listened intently.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now?"

With a sense of purpose and determination, Harry, Dawn, and Buffy rose from their seats. The Gryffindors all along the table erupted into enthusiastic applause, their cheers echoing through the hall. The Weasleys, with encouraging smiles, wished Harry and Dawn good luck, their unwavering support a source of strength.

Hermione, however, lingered for a moment, her eyes locked onto Dawn's. She enveloped her sister in a heartfelt hug, an unspoken bond of sisterhood and love palpable in the embrace. And then, with a secretive smile, she slipped something into Dawn's robes.

"For luck," Hermione whispered, her voice filled with affection and hope.

Dawn nodded, touched by her sister's gesture, and smiled back. Her fingers found the object in her pocket, and as she pulled it out, her eyes lit up with gratitude and joy. It was a bracelet, similar to the one she had given Hermione and Buffy at Christmas. Holding it up, she met Hermione's gaze, and Hermione delicately placed it on her wrist.

Quidditch Stadium

As Buffy, Harry, and Dawn made their way out of the Great Hall alongside Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, there was a palpable tension in the air. The weight of the final task of the Triwizard Tournament hung heavy on their shoulders, and Bagman's question only served to highlight their unease.

"Feeling all right, Harry?" Bagman inquired, his voice carrying a hint of concern as they descended the stone steps onto the grounds. "Confident?"

Harry's response was measured, his emotions masked beneath a facade of determination. "I'm okay," he replied, trying to project confidence even though he couldn't entirely shake the nerves.

The Quidditch field they now stepped onto was a far cry from its usual appearance. A towering hedge, twenty feet high, encircled the field, obscuring everything beyond it. The entrance to the massive maze gaped before them, its dark and eerie interior a stark contrast to the familiar Quidditch pitch.

As time passed, the stands began to fill, and the atmosphere crackled with excitement. The eager chatter of hundreds of students and the sound of shuffling feet reverberated through the air, creating an electric buzz of anticipation.

"We are going to be patrolling the outside of the maze," Professor McGonagall explained to the champions, her voice steady and reassuring. "If you get into difficulty and wish to be rescued, send red sparks into the air, and one of us will come and get you. Do you understand?"

All the champions, except for Dawn and Harry, nodded in acknowledgment of Professor McGonagall's instructions. Dawn and Harry had already been briefed Buffy on the procedure for sending up sparks if they found themselves in trouble within the maze.

"Off you go, then!" Bagman exclaimed with his usual cheerfulness to the patrollers. He then turned to Buffy with a reassuring smile. "Buffy, you can wait until Dawn enters the maze if you like before you start patrolling outside."

Buffy returned his smile, her gratitude evident in her eyes. She knew the real reason Bagman was allowing her to delay her patrol. It was the only time during the task that Dawn would have two people watching over her. "Thank you, Mr. Bagman. That is much appreciated," Buffy replied with a nod, her determination to keep her sister safe shining through.

As the champions prepared to enter the maze, Hagrid leaned down and whispered words of encouragement. "Good luck, Harry, Dawn," he said, his voice filled with warmth and genuine care.

Dawn's eyes scanned the stands, searching for Hermione among the crowd of onlookers. When she finally spotted her twin, a surge of emotion filled her heart. She waved to Hermione, a radiant smile on her face. In the distance, Dawn could barely make out Hermione's words, but their meaning was crystal clear.

"Good Luck, Dawnie. I love you," Hermione mouthed, her love and support for her sister evident in every syllable. It was a message that resonated deeply with Dawn, fueling her determination as she prepared to face the challenges of the maze alongside Harry.

Bagman, his magically amplified voice reverberating through the stands, addressed the gathered spectators, building the anticipation to a fever pitch. The cheers and hushed whispers of the audience filled the air as he recapped the current standings of the Triwizard Tournament.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin!" Bagman declared with enthusiasm. "Let me remind you how the points currently stand! In first place with 90 points is Miss Dawn Summers of Hogwarts School! Tied in second place, with eighty-five points each—Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School! In third place, with eighty points—Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute! And in fourth place—Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!"

As Bagman signaled the start of the task, Buffy gave Dawn a supportive squeeze on her shoulder, her voice filled with encouragement. "Good luck, Dawnie."

With the echoing sound of Bagman's countdown in her ears, Dawn wasted no time. "Three… two… one..." Bagman's whistle cut through the tension, and Dawn hurried forward into the maze.

The moment she stepped into the labyrinthine passages, the noise from the surrounding crowd was abruptly muffled, and an eerie silence enveloped her. It was a stark reminder of her solitude in this perilous challenge. Clutching her wand tightly, she muttered the incantation, "Lumos."

Dawn's heart raced as Bagman's whistle signaled the entry of Harry and Cedric into the maze, and she quickened her pace along her chosen path. The eerie silence and the growing darkness of the maze added to the tension in the air, making every step feel like a leap into the unknown.

As the distant sound of Bagman's whistle echoed once more, Dawn knew that Viktor Krum had now entered the maze, joining the other champions in this treacherous trial. She couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of needing to stay ahead.

Dawn continued to glance over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the maze's winding passages for any sign of Harry. The growing shadows overhead seemed to mirror the growing sense of uncertainty that surrounded her.

Upon reaching a fork in the maze, Dawn whispered, "Point Me," to her wand, her gratitude for Hermione's spell echoing in her thoughts. The wand responded by spinning around once and pointing to her right, directly into a solid hedge. She knew that going north was not the right way, as she needed to head northwest to reach the center of the maze. Dawn made the decision to take the left fork, intending to correct her course as soon as she could.

Yet, the path ahead remained empty, and when Dawn reached a right turn, she took it, only to find her way unblocked once again. The absence of obstacles was beginning to unnerve her, and a sense of foreboding settled in the pit of her stomach.

A sudden rustling behind her sent Dawn's heart racing, and she swiftly extended her wand, ready to defend herself. Her wand's beam illuminated none other than Cedric, who appeared to be in a state of severe distress. His robe sleeve was smoldering, and he spoke with urgency.

"Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts!" Cedric hissed, his voice filled with apprehension. "They're enormous - I only just got away!"

Dawn nodded in gratitude for the warning, her eyes reflecting understanding. "Thanks for the heads up, Ced."

Cedric managed a faint smile, his determination unbroken. "Anytime, Dawn." With that, he swiftly veered off along another path, eager to put as much distance as possible between himself and the dangerous creatures. Dawn knew she needed to put as much distance as possible between herself and the dangerous creatures.

However, just as she turned a corner, an unsettling sight greeted her—a dementor, gliding ominously toward her. Dawn held her wand aloft, her voice steady as she invoked the incantation, "Riddikulus!"

With a deafening crack, the dementor shape-shifted and dissolved into a wisp of smoke, dissipating into the air. Dawn couldn't help but smile, knowing that Dumbledore would never allow a dementor near Hogwarts, not after the events Harry, Ron, and Hermione had recounted from their third year. She carried on along the path, her confidence bolstered by her successful dismissal of the dark creature.

Left, right, left again—Dawn navigated the maze's twists and turns, her determination unwavering. Twice she found herself confronted with dead ends, prompting her to employ the Four-Point Spell to reorient herself. She realized she had ventured too far east and corrected her course, taking a right turn.

As she pressed forward, an unusual sight lay ahead—a peculiar golden mist floating in the air.

Dawn approached the mysterious golden mist with caution, her wand's beam directed at it. Her voice rang out with the incantation, "Reducio!" But to her surprise, the spell passed right through the mist, leaving it undisturbed. She realized that the Reductor Curse was meant for solid objects, and she should have known better.

Before she could decide on her next course of action, a blood-curdling scream tore through the silence, causing Dawn's heart to leap in her chest. The voice belonged to Fleur, and Harry's urgent shout confirmed the source.

"Fleur?" Harry's voice called out, filled with concern.

Dawn wasted no time; she knew she needed to reach Fleur quickly. With determination, she sprinted through the enchanted mist, and in an instant, the world around her twisted and turned. She found herself hanging from the ground, her hair defying gravity, standing on end.

Her heart raced as she clung to her hair and hung there, a sense of disorientation and fear coursing through her. It felt as though her feet were glued to the grass above her, which had now become the ceiling. The night sky spread out below her, a vast expanse of stars.

Terrified by the vertigo-inducing view, Dawn squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the sight of endless space below her. She mustered her courage and, with all her strength, pulled her right foot away from the grassy ceiling, desperate to regain her footing and escape this disorienting enchantment.

As Dawn regained her footing and fell onto her knees, the world around her righted itself, and she felt the blessed solidity of the ground beneath her. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she got up once more and hurried forward, her heart pounding in her chest. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, hoping to see Harry not too far behind her.

Pausing at a junction where two paths intersected, Dawn scanned her surroundings, searching for any sign of Fleur. She was convinced it had been Fleur who had screamed. With a growing sense of unease, she chose the right fork, determined to press on.

For the next ten minutes, Dawn encountered nothing but dead ends and frustratingly familiar turns. She retraced her steps twice, feeling the minutes slipping away. Finally, she found a new route and started to jog along it, the urgency of the task pushing her forward.

However, her progress was abruptly halted when she heard something from the path running parallel to her own. She stopped dead in her tracks, straining to listen.

"What are you doing?" Cedric's voice rang out in anger. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Then, to her horror, she heard Krum's voice utter a chilling incantation. "Crucio!"

Dread gripped Dawn's heart, and she couldn't move. But just as despair threatened to consume her, she heard Harry's voice cry out, "Stupefy!"

Relief washed over her like a tidal wave. Harry had intervened, and Cedric was safe for now. With renewed determination, Dawn pressed forward, knowing that the dangers in the maze were very real and that they had to stay vigilant to succeed in this harrowing task.

Dawn pressed on, determination fueling her every step. She continued to use the Four-Point Spell to ensure she was moving in the right direction, acutely aware that the competition was narrowing down to just her, Harry, and Cedric. The stakes were higher than ever.

The increasing frequency of dead ends only served to reinforce her belief that she was nearing the heart of the maze. The encroaching darkness, which seemed to swallow the path ahead, heightened the tension in the air.

Finally, the sight she had been yearning for came into view: the Triwizard Cup. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward it, the weight of the task and the hopes of her schoolmates propelling her forward.

Footsteps echoed behind her, and a quick glance revealed Cedric and Harry chasing after her. The urgency of their pursuit was evident as Harry called out to Cedric, "On your left!"

Dawn looked back for a moment, and her heart skipped a beat as she saw what Harry had warned Cedric about—a giant spider looming menacingly, its hairy legs reaching for Harry. Without a second thought, she raised her wand and pointed it back toward the spider, her voice ringing out, "Stupefy!"

But to her dismay, the spell had no effect on the massive arachnid. Panic welled up within her as she considered her next move. Then, a spark of inspiration ignited in her mind.

"Expelliarmus!" she shouted, directing the Disarming Spell at the spider. Miraculously, it worked—the spider released Harry, its grip broken. Dawn watched with bated breath as Harry, Cedric, and herself aimed their wands high, shouting "Stupefy!" in unison.

The combined force of their spells struck the spider, causing it to keel over sideways, its massive form flattening a nearby hedge and scattering a tangle of hairy legs across the path.

"Harry!" Cedric's concerned shout cut through the tense air. "You all right? Did it fall on you?"

"No," Harry called back, his voice tinged with relief.

Dawn let out a sigh of relief as she reached the Triwizard Cups, her heart pounding with anticipation. A moment later, Cedric and Harry joined her, their faces filled with determination.

"Dawn," Harry and Cedric said in unison, their voices carrying a tone of respect and acknowledgment. "One of them is yours. You were the first one here."

Cedric nodded in agreement, and Dawn, feeling a mixture of excitement and pride, nodded as well. Without hesitation, she reached out and grabbed one of the cups.

In an instant, she was whisked away from the maze, leaving Harry and Cedric behind. Their expressions shifted from determination to concen. Harry raised his wand and fired green sparks into the sky to let Buffy know something had gone terribly wrong. Then he and Cedric grabbed the second cup together and they too were ported away.