Chapter XXXI: The TriWizard Cup
(Harry P.O.V)
Whatever Harry had been expecting as he dove into the maze, it certainly wasn't what he saw. In fairness, however, what he 'saw' was nothing. The inside of the overly large hedge-sided maze was filled was nothing but darkness, and it was only the shallow breaths of his fellow champions that filled the void. The three looked at each other, each of their brows furrowed as they lifted their wands. Lumos, Harry thought, his wand igniting as he turned back to face Fleur and Cedric.
"Our voices may echo in here," He whispered, instantly confirming his suspicion as his remark traveled down the dark corridor. "I'll take point," Harry continued his voice as low as he could possibly make it, "You two watch my flanks."
Cedric and Fleur nodded as Harry pressed forward, his illuminated wand just bright enough to keep the space ten feet out in front of him in view. How the hell did they make this? He pondered, his heart pounding in his chest as he and his fellow champions came across their first intersection. Silently, with his off-hand, he pointed his thumb to the left and the right before turning to find both Cedric and Fleur's thumbs pointing right. Right it is.
Each step had made it feel that they were sinking deeper and deeper into the depths of hell, the intense silence becoming almost mindnumbing. He'd never really considered himself claustrophobic, but this maze was quickly changing his stance on that opinion as part of him had just wanted to scream out to relieve the pressure. They'd come across another intersection, and once more took a right, but if they'd been hoping for a maze that made sense, they were wrong, as somehow, as if laughing in the face of the rules of geometry, the three champions had found themselves in the exact same spot where they'd first begun their journey.
"What the hell?" Cedric whispered, "Weren't we just hear?"
Harry nodded as Fleur spoke out, "This is more like a labyrinth than an ordinary maze. The only way we could have ended up back where we started after just two turns means that the maze is changing."
Labyrinth, Harry thought to himself, He'd read about the great Labyrinth in Greek Mythology before, during his muggle classes, he was certain there was a possible clue in there. How did Theseus escape the Labyrinth? Come on Harry, think, think, think… "That's it," He whispered his eyes widening, "Ariadne's thread."
"Whose thread?" Cedric whispered his eyes glossy and dull.
"Ariadne's," Harry repeated, "I read about it back when I was in muggle school. The myth goes that when Theseus, a Greek hero had to go through a labyrinth he brought along with him a woman named Ariadne who dropped a thread behind them ensuring they wouldn't retrace their steps even if the Labyrinth moved. We just have to make sure we leave behind a trail bright enough for us to see from a distance to make sure we don't end up going the same way we came."
"Brilliant," Fleur whispered, "Okay, I'll drop the thread, you two lead." There was a moment of silence before she continued, "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm worried about Krum as well, this place looks far from safe to travel alone."
Harry hated to admit it, but he was sharing a similar sentiment regarding the Bulgarian boy. For as much as he despised Krum for his interactions with Daphne, this maze was making him antsy, and he had company. He wasn't quite sure how confident he'd feel if forced to enter alone. "If we come across him," Harry started with a sigh, "We'll invite him to tag along, but I'm not going out of my way to look for him."
Fleur nodded followed by Cedric, the three champions once more in a triangle formation to guard each other's backs pressed forward. It had felt like they'd been walking for miles, but it was appearing as if their strategy was working. For as far as they must have walked, they'd never once ended up in the same place. Suddenly, Harry felt Cedric's hand on the back of his head, before with a shout he pushed him to the floor.
Both he and Fleur hit the ground with a thud as a flash of fire raced over their heads, the tip of Cedric's nose singed from the heat. "Reducto!" Cedric roared sending a blue jet of magic down the dark hall, but whatever had shot the fire had dodged the attack with ease as once more a fireball rushed towards them.
"Protego!" Harry growled, a clear-blue shield forming before him, large enough to cover both Fleur and Cedric as this time, three flaming red orbs jolted towards them. Harry reached his off-hand forward Kreacher's voice echoing in his mind, Kreacher channels his magic into his fingertips and casts with a snap. He closed his eyes the feeling of the magic in his fingers causing a warm tingle. Accio, he whispered gently, then, snap! On command, Harry found a creature flying towards him, suspended hopelessly in the air and using his conjured shield like a metallic one, he slammed the monster against it, it's body hit the conjured shield like a mallet to a gong, and with a crack, it hit the ground lifeless.
"What is that thing?" Fleur cried out in disgust.
Harry eyed the creature, the shiny grey armor that covered its pale grey scorpion-crab like body made him think of only one creature. The monstrosity that Astoria reported Hagrid had created as with a sigh he whispered, "Blast-Ended Skrewts."
"Blast-Ended Whats?" Cedric echoed the confusion on Fleur's face perfectly, but Harry didn't have time to answer as yet another barrage of fireballs raced towards them.
"Fine," Fleur whispered in frustration, "Two can play at that game." Harry hadn't even had a moment to ask as a light blue glow erupted around them, each of Fleur's palms dancing with wisps of blue heat. With a ferocious snarl, she shot her blue flames at the Skrewts, and despite their natural resistance to fire, Fleur's must have been on another level as screeches of agony erupted from the mouths of the monsters.
Harry shot Cedric a look and the Hufflepuff prefect quickly nodded, one thing was for sure, they were glad Fleur wasn't an enemy. Before the two boys could even move from their position, however, Fleur wrapped her fingers around Cedric's nose, instantly healing the mild burn before shrugging, "I use to burn myself a lot learning about my Veela power, it's the one healing spell I know."
Cedric whispered his thanks before once more, Harry led the way deeper into the maze, his eyes fixated on the ash piles that remained in the place of the Skrwet's corpses. Damn, He thought with fearful admiration, And I thought my kill was brutal. Harry quickly pushed that thought aside though, there were certainly more important things to focus on, and he wasn't exactly planning to show mercy to any other creatures that attacked him in the dark either.
The three of them had soon found themselves at a crossroads once more, though this time, it had expanded into three paths, each of which too dark to even see past their noses. That was until suddenly, everything became cold, deadly cold. "W-what's happening?" Fleur whispered through chattered teeth.
"I-it can't be," Cedric hissed, his off-hand rubbing his chest to keep warm as a cool vapor left his lips, "After everything that happened last year they let another one in."
"Get behind me," Harry snarled, the three backing into the corridor from which the came as, from the dark hall that resided right before them, a black wraithlike creature coated in black grim-reaper like robes with black skeletal hands emerged. Kill me, His mother's voice rang once more in his mind, Kill me instead! Please kill- The anger of hearing his mother plea for his life filled Harry's heart with rage as with ferocity he chanted, "Expecto Patronum!"
Instantly, his crow erupted from his wand it's pure white vapor slashing through the dementor's pit, but to his great confusion, his spell did nothing as right before him, the figure changed forms, becoming a man that Harry recognized, though looking far less jolly than before. "Cedric," The man whispered, "Why?"
"Father," Cedric whispered his voice filled with confusion.
"We all had so much faith in you," Cedric's father spoke, "Your mother and I wanted so much from you. Hufflepuff Prefect, Head Boy, and yet you amounted to nothing. You're a worthless failure. I just wanted a son to be proud of. Is that so much to ask? Why are you always such a disappointment? Do you have any idea how much my friends at the ministry tease me about-"
"Riddikulus," Harry snarled pointing his wand at the figure he knew now to be a boggart, the shape-shifted form of Cedric's father inflating like a balloon and flying off into the distance. Without a moment's hesitation, Harry turned facing Cedric who looked down at the ground with contempt, a slight tremor in his body. "Are you alright?"
Cedric nodded but didn't say a word as Harry trudged towards his fellow Hogwarts champion resting his hand on his shoulder, "You'll never be a failure Cedric. You're one of the best wizards I know and I would bet every last galleon I have that you're going to be someone that makes your parents proud, hell, I bet you already are."
"Yeah," Cedric said, gripping his wrist in an attempt to control his pulse, "I- it's just when it got out to my family that I was supporting you, my father was livid. He claimed you had enough fame and that it was a competition, not some friendly gathering. He told me people back at the ministry were ridiculing him because of my decision to stand up for you. I just-"
Once more Cedric went quite as Harry nodded, his throat feeling hot at Cedric's confession. He didn't know what to say, the fact that Cedric had chosen to stand up for him against his own interest was one thing, but to do so without the support of his own family had meant so much to him. Harry swallowed hard as he whispered, "Thanks, for sticking up for me all this time," Harry had felt as if the admission was stupid, Cedric had his back from the beginning when nobody else outside of his friends did, thank you was nowhere near enough to explain his appreciation, "If I'd have known how many problems this was causing you, I-"
"Forget about it, Potter," Cedric said, steadying himself as he forced out his confident smile, "We're friends, after all, we look out for each other, no matter what."
"Right," Harry said with a nod, "No matter what." Harry's eyes turned back to face the three-way fork in the paths and sighed, "But I don't see a reason we can't kill two birds with one stone. Let's keep moving to find that cup. I think that Cedric Diggory, Triwizard Champion has a pretty neat ring to it after all."
"I was thinking that Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour, the first-ever Co-Triwizard Champions, has an even better sound," He said with a laugh, "Let's keep moving," Cedric said, "Time to make history."
The little conversation had made Harry feel more motivated than ever before, as, with a quickened-pace, Harry rushed through the walls of the maze, his fellow champions right behind him. Part of him was amazed at the number of magical creatures that Hogwarts had managed to collect and stuff into the maze ranging from pixies to erklings, but the fact that each of them seemed willing to try and kill him didn't exactly make him a fan. Of all the creatures he'd faced, however, the one he stood before now had left Harry at a complete loss for words.
It was a creature that Harry had never even dreamed of making contact with before. The creature had the body of a lioness, thought its frame met the height of the seemingly ever-expanding maze hedges. Its head, however, was that of a woman's, the face looking almost identical to the drawings of Cleopatra in the history books as the beast snarled down before them. It was unquestionable, the monster that Harry and his friends now faced was a creature seemingly as old as magic itself… the Sphinx of Egypt.
Harry raised his wand, though he was completely at a loss for any idea on how to combat the enormous creature. Yet, the beast didn't move, it simply sat there staring at him, "Lower your wands wizards, for this is a challenge of brains, not brawn. Though death awaits those who are wrong."
Fantastic, Harry growled in his head as he gently began to lower his wand. "A riddle I will give to thee, though only to one of the three." Harry swallowed, he didn't quite consider himself dumb, but he certainly wasn't one for riddles. "Beyond my frame is the prize you seek, though my questions are not for the meek." The Sphinx smiled, "Should you wish to proceed this way, my game you will be forced to play."
"Though to make sure no one interferes, I have drawn help from far and near." Harry spun as from the bush charged a beast that Harry had never seen. Its body resembled a rhinoceros though it was larger and rounder than the muggle variety. Beyond that, the top of its head and horn glowed an ominous orange that looked about ready to explode.
"An Erumpent," Fleur whispered, "These are very rare, and even more dangerous."
"I'm not good with riddles, I guess that means I'm out," Harry called back, his eyes never leaving the giant-horned beast.
"I'm the only one who has studied this creature," Fleur called out, "I'll stay back here with Harry. Cedric, the riddle is up to you."
The sound of Cedric's hard swallow echoed through the room but nevertheless, he pressed forward. "So you have been selected as my treat," The sphinx said, licking her lips, "I warn you my riddles are not easy to beat."
"Can you please stop rhyming," Harry growled beneath his breath as he lifted his wand once more towards the rhinoceros-like figure, but the sphinx clearly hadn't heard him as it continued its less than mediocre rhyme scheme.
"First think of the person who lives in disguise, Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies. Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend, The middle of middle and end of the end? And finally give me the sound often heard, During the search for a hard-to-find word. Now string them together and answer me this, Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?"
Harry had wanted to help, but the moment the riddle had left the sphinx's lips, the Erumpent charged. Quickly, he rolled, avoiding the strike of the horn, but the relief hadn't lasted long as Harry found himself flying through the air, the blast of the Erumpent's horn sending him skyward. Fleur caught him in mid-air, breaking his fall as his feet securely touched the ground, his eyes resting upon the giant beast who'd just managed to withdraw horn from the hedges. "Any plans?"
"One, but I don't like it," Fleur called out, "I'm going to have to transform."
"Okay," Harry called out, rolling once more out of the way of the Erumpent's strike, "What's the downside?"
"I've already used up too much magic!" She shouted out, "My transformation's going to be short, and once I come out of it, I won't be able to move."
"Fuck," Harry cursed diving to the left as the now frustrated Erumpent slammed his body down upon the Gryffindor seeker. "Just do it! We don't have a ton of other options!"
"R-right!" Fleur called out with a stutter, ducking the swing of the Erumpent's horn as it switched its target. Harry had been woefully unprepared for what he had begun to see as he shot a stunner towards the beast hoping to gain its attention. Fleur's hair had begun to flicker as it rose against gravity, a white mist surrounding her. The French Beauty's face had begun to distort, becoming more birdlike in appearance as beads of sweat poured down Harry's face.
A cawing sound erupted from Fleur, as the white mist completely evaporated, the veela's hands now coated in glowing white fire and Harry watched in amazement as the Erumpent stepped back, a look of fear crossing the beast's face for the first time. A sinister hiss left Fleur's 'beak' as she shot her orb of white fire at the feet of the Erumpent the beast releasing a squeal as it stood paralyzed behind the new firey line.
Come on Cedric, a little faster please, Harry thought to himself frantically as he lifted his wand once more, "Tenebris Vincula!" Harry bellowed as black chains rose from the ground wrapping themselves around the Erumpent its knees buckling under the pressure Harry was forcing through his chains. Suddenly the heat beside him had vanished and Harry's focus shifted just in time to watch the bright white glow leave Fleur, her body falling limply to the ground, her conjured fire evaporating.
"Fleur!" Cedric called out in fear as the Erumpent no longer afraid of the white fire began fighting against Harry's chains.
"She's fine Cedric!" Harry called back, "Solve the damn riddle! I can't hold this thing forever."
"It is true the boy's magic grows weak," The Sphinx said sinisterly, "And he will die if you fail to speak."
Come on, Cedric. Come on, Cedric. Come on, Cedric, Harry chanted madly his magic flowing like a river out of his body, his muscles screaming under the strain. "Spiders!" Cedric called out desperately, "The answer is spiders!"
A snarl left the Sphinx's mouth as it rose once more to his feet, its massive body dwarfing the size of even the Erumpent as Harry, Cedric, and Fleur all resided under its cast shadow. Harry swallowed hard as the Sphinx's paw floated over his head, but before he could even think about moving, the Sphinx's paw slammed down onto the Erumpent pinning it in place as it glared down at Harry and his friends. "That answer is correct. Now go on, you will find what you seek just beyond this hedge."
No rhyming now, Harry thought to himself as he scooped down, leaning Fleur's exhausted frame against his shoulder, Guess she's a sore loser. He pushed his disdain for the beast's rhyming ability aside, his focus set upon the single corridor that led towards a light glow in the distance. Cedric quickly appeared at his side, taking Fleur's other arm and wrapping it around his neck as the two Hogwarts Champions carried the French Veela towards the glowing cup.
Despite the cup being close enough to see its glow, Harry had begun to feel as if they were never going to reach it, as the undergrowth had begun to claw at their ankles. Fleur had protested for them to drop her, but Harry knew that wasn't an option, as far as he was concerned, Fleur had become more than just an opponent in which he had a truce with, she was an ally, and he'd be dammed if left her behind. Yet, with Cedric and himself casting at the growing vines with every step, the two boys had begun to feel just as exhausted as the Veela. Though that quickly changed as a shot of adrenaline rushed through their tired veins as finally, Harry's eyes had fallen upon the Triwizard Cup, the shimmering trophy resting proudly upon its marble stand.
"We made it," Cedric whispered out in relief, "I can't believe this nightmare is finally over."
The weakest smile appeared across Fleur's tired face as she too spoke out with joy, "I can't wait to go home."
Harry had wanted to run towards the cup, to claim it with his comrades and get the hell out of the maze, but suddenly he'd felt a flash of foul magic, and instantly, he fell to the ground taking Cedric and Fleur with him as a dazed voice muttered out, "Avada Kedavra." Harry felt a chill raced down his spine as his eyes made contact with the caster. Standing in the corner, his body coated with the red hue of caked-on blood was none other than the Bulgarian champion.
"Krum?" Harry called out, the man's wand pointed at Fleur's head, "Krum what are you doing?"
"Kill the spares," Krum whispered as he once more commanded the killing curse from his wand. As quick as he could, Harry slammed his wand against the ground, summoning a stone pillar to rise from the ground blocking the green flash that had been aimed at the Veela behind him.
"Something is wrong with him," Harry called out.
"You think!" Cedric shouted, "He's trying to kill us!" Harry's eyes had fallen upon Fleur as Cedric ducked out behind the pillar, "Immobulus!" Cedric called out, but Krum had quickly put up a shield blocking Cedric's spell. "What are we going to do with Fleur?"
"Kill the spares," Krum had whispered out once more as he shot an exploding charm towards Harry's conjured pillar forcing Harry and Cedric to roll, the two moving in opposite directions from the pillar. Shit, Harry cursed as he saw Cedric wand laying discarded on the ground, the boy unarmed standing in the open over Fleur's exhausted body.
"Reducto!" Harry bellowed, blowing up the ground beneath Krum's feet, sending the Bulgarian flying backward as he watched Cedric desperately try to move Fleur to cover. "Bombarda! Stupefy! Harry through spell after spell, yet the seeker's reflexes had proved a challenge. He'd never been forced to face anyone as fast as himself and Krum's speed had begun to make Harry that at least in terms of physical ability he was in a mirror match.
Yet, for all the spells Harry had cast in Krum's direction, the Bulgarian had not yet turned to even face him. Trudging forward against his onslaught towards the defenseless Cedric and Fleur. He's not aiming for me. He's not even trying to harm me. Kill the spares, Harry whispered in his mind, They're the spares, he wants me alive, but why? Harry watched as Krum slowly approached Cedric standing firm in front of Fleur even without his wand as Krum continued his approach. Damn it! Harry cursed swallowing the though of his stupid idea. He had felt as if his calves were on fire thanks to the speed at which he'd thrown himself in front of Cedric and Fleur. He'd been expecting a curse, and charm, anything at all, but Krum hadn't moved, his wand pointed at Harry yet inactive.
"Cedric," Harry whispered, flicking his wand back towards the sixth year, "I don't know what Krum's talking about, but it seems that you and Fleur are the spares, he's not willing to attack me." Harry had sensed Cedric's desire to protest, but he silenced the older boy pushing forward. "I'm going to rush him, disarm him and stun him after I do, it's the only plan I've got that doesn't involve me directly killing him."
Cedric swallowed though the nodding of his shadow confirmed their plan as with a snap, he raced towards the Bulgarian boy, ramming his shoulder into Krum's torso forcing him to gag as he toppled the larger man. Though he didn't have time to waste as Harry quickly pinned the stronger boy's wand arm down. "Now!" He roared as with a flick of his wand in Cedric's hand, Krum was quickly disarmed. Harry rolled knowing what was coming next, and before Krum could even rise to his feet, a stunner had landed right in Krum's chest falling him once more.
Harry stumbled from the ground, the maze had been long and his magical reserves were beginning to feel at an all-time low as he watched Cedric retrieve his own wand before racing towards him. The larger Hufflepuff boy helped Harry steady his footing as he slid Harry's wand back into his pocket, the three of them now standing over Krum's stunned body. "What's going on? Why did he try to kill us?"
"Not sure, but he wasn't sounding normal," Harry said through panted breath before he raised his arm casting red sparks from Krum's wand, watching in abject horror as the ground seemingly swallowed up the boy. Yet, for as concerned as Harry was over Krum's condition, his own exhaustion was quickly winning out as he turned to face the cup. "I'm sure the Auror's can figure it out later. For now, let's just go home."
Cedric and Fleur nodded, as he and the Hufflepuff boy dragged Fleur closer to the cup. Fleur dropped her arm from around Harry's neck, using the larger Cedric as a support beam as the three stared exhaustively at the glowing cup. "On the count of three, we all grab it, okay?" Cedric called out soliciting a nod from both Harry and Fleur. "One, Two, Three!" With a jolt, the three champions grabbed the cup, and with a sensation, Harry had only felt through the use of a portkey, the three vanished.