Chapter 21 of 30
The Third Task
“I tried talking to Winky,” Chris sighed. “But I got nowhere there. She just said she kept her master’s secrets.”
“Can’t Dumbledore order her to talk?” Wyatt asked bending over the library table they were sitting at and making sure no one was listening in.
“She’s not a bonded elf anymore,” Ron explained. “No one can order her. But on the other hand she’s not compelled by elf magic not to tell her master’s secret’s anymore. That’s all her.”
Hermione rubbed her head, “Do you think she knows?”
“No idea,” Chris shrugged. “But Dumbledore said he was afraid she might still be bonded to Crouch Jr. So he had to send her away-oh don’t look at me like that Hermione! He sent her to take care of some remote estate he has and said that once this whole mess is sorted he’ll see what he can do for her. But he can’t risk it. Crouch Jr. could order her to poison someone you know?”
“She could have been the one to poison Crouch,” Wyatt said.
“No, she can’t,” Ron shook his head. “If she was still bonded to the Crouch family her elf magic wouldn’t allow her to hurt her master directly.”
“Which means, we still don’t know how he was poisoned,” Hermione deadpanned.
“I still vote for Snape,” Ron said and Chris and Wyatt nodded but were glared down by Hermione.
“For the hundredth time, the Headmaster vouched for him. Let’s just focus on the task shall we,” Hermione gritted her teeth.
“Poppy’s and the medical examiner’s findings were final,” Dumbledore told Leo and Piper in his office. “It was a fast acting poison, probably instant. Poppy found the remains of what must have been a capsule that was put inside Barty’s body by whoever might be controlling him. The capsule was ruptured and he was killed.”
“Could they determine how the capsule was ruptured?” Leo asked.
Dumbledore shook his head, “No, the remains of the capsule were too small to determine the magical signature of what ruptured it. It could have been many things, a charm triggered to act if he entered a specific ward, a time spell that had to be renewed or else it would rupture the capsule- so that if he got away and his captor didn’t renew the spell he would be killed or maybe a direct spell, but that would mean that whoever activated the spell had to have come in contact with Barty and that was not possible. Poppy assured me the poison killed in a matter of minutes.”
“Still,” Piper frowned. “The dream Chris had in Divination yesterday leads us to believe that whoever activated the spell had to have access to inside information. The Ministry is keeping Crouch’s death in a tight lid but Voldemort still found out about it.”
“How long did it take for you to get to the Hospital Wing?” Leo asked.
“Not long,” Dumbledore frowned.
“And did you check Crouch or did you just put him on the bed?” he asked.
Dumbledore’s eyebrows shot up in realization, “I had no reason to. He didn’t seem injured, just out of his mind. And he was unconscious. You think whoever activated the capsule might have been on the grounds?”
“And when you got the Hospital Wing he might have already been poisoned. Which means that maybe we were wrong and what we thought before, about whoever put Chris’s name in the goblet being at Hogwarts might be right. Maybe Crouch Jr. was acting with someone else,” Leo said.
“If you’re thinking of Karkaroff, Severus assured me he is terrified-“
“Terrified enough to try and prove his loyalty?” Piper asked. “I would feel better if we keep a close eye on him.”
“Fair enough, we will,” Dumbledore accepted. “How is Chris doing?”
“He is training hard,” Leo said. “Thanks for making it possible for Sirius to come disguised so regularly. He can help Chris in ways that the kids and us can’t. But we’ve also been training his active powers. Since no one will be able to see inside the maze we’ve decided he should use everything at his disposal.”
Dumbledore nodded satisfied. He knew Sirius had been flooing to the Halliwell quarters disguised as Remus and had been meeting with the kids in the Room of Requirement, all of them helping Chris train. Since no one here knew Remus had been working at Magic School no one found it odd for him to be here when he should be there.
“And you’re student? I hope she is not wanting for anything to prepare,” he asked. They wanted Chris to survive yes, but neither Dumbledore forgot about Cedric, giving him plenty of opportunity and nudges to where to look for nor should Leo forget Olivia.
Leo smiled, “Oh, don’t worry about that. Olivia has basically every one of our students helping her. And when she’s not with them I’ve seen her and Krum training together.”
“Really?” Dumbledore asked amused.
“Really, they’ve seemed to turn the competition into a turn on for their relationship. I’ve heard comments about how the loser has to treat the winner to a very classy dinner of their choosing,” Piper smiled. She had been worried, once she realized Olivia and Krum’s relationship was going further than that one date for the Ball, that being rivals in the competition would end up in broken hearts but she was actually surprised at how both teenagers were making it work to the point they could help each other train. That was truly cooperation. Some of the Magic School students, the same that had given Wyatt grief for helping Chris, tried to do the same to Olivia but the girl had spunk, and put them in their place. And they had inspired the other champions to do the same. Realizing that training with a partner was easier than alone. Cedric and Fleur had paired up for occasional trainings and they had even established that once a week all five champions would train together. Making two teams that varied each week to help each other get over obstacles that the Room of Requirement provided them. She was surprised Dumbledore hadn’t known, but then again he had spent a lot of time in the Ministry lately because of Crouch’s death on Hogwarts’ grounds.
Time flew, as it’s prone to do when you are dreading something, and the morning of the Third Task loomed over them sooner than they would have liked it. With the pretense of bringing Olivia’s parents, Paige and Phoebe had come to Hogwarts too. Phoebe saying she couldn’t miss the chance of seeing the last Task. So when McGonagall called Chris to meet the Champion’s families Chris was surprised to see them talking to Remus who had come as his family accompanied by his dog.
“Nice dog professor,” Cedric had exclaimed petting the dog that was waggling his tail. “Has he been yours for long?”
“Oh yes, I don’t even remember a time without Padfoot, unfortunately he isn’t house trained so I was afraid of leaving him alone at home and find no house when I’m back.”
Chris could swear Padfoot gave Remus a doggy glare and bit his lips to stifle a laugh.
“So how are your partners in crime?” Remus asked.
“They’re off for finals, though Hermione had to stop by the library. She said she had an idea about how Skeeter could be getting on the grounds. Did you read the papers today?” he asked wincing and Remus nodded frowning. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault,” he ruffled Chris’s hair.
Somehow Rita Skeeter had found out about his dream in divination and had decided that the tragic hero angle wasn’t selling anymore. So she went off with Chris being probably mentally unstable, and had gone on telling about his dark tendencies. How he was a parselmouth that befriended werewolves and half-giants. They hadn’t named Remus but after how Snape had outed Remus last year everyone knew they were talking about him. Chris had made light of the article at breakfast but he had seethed inside. Why couldn’t they leave his friends out of it?
“I think we need a tour of the castle,” Phoebe said lightly. “I’ve only been in Piper’s and Leo’s quarter,” which was not true, she’d been in the Room of Requirement helping Chris learn how to fight. “I think we need a gentleman to show us the way,” she said looking pointedly at Cedric who smiled sheepishly. “Sorry Mrs. Halliwell, but I think I better give the tour just to my parents,” he said looking warily at his father who was glaring daggers at Chris and ushering them away.
“Okay, but don’t be a stranger. Wyatt is always talking about you. He might want to invite you over the holidays.”
“Thanks! I’d love that!” they heard him cry from outside the doors.
“Actually, ve vould love a tour,” Victor Krum said from where he was standing introducing his parents to Olivia’s parents. “If you don’t mind. Ve have been around but no one ever explained us the history behind everything.”
“That’s right,” Olivia said and Fleur nodded.
“I don’t know the history-“ Chris started but Remus cut him off.
“But I do,” he smiled. “Shall we,” he said pointing to the door and while all the other students were taking their last finals Remus lead the group that consisted of the Krums, the Delacours, Olivia’s parents, Paige, Phoebe and Chris, trailed by his dog to a very nice tour of the caste and grounds explaining the history behind the halls and armors and sometimes even explaining in details some of the Marauder’s most memorable pranks as his dog would bark and whine in some specific spot. They had just separated for lunch and resumed their tour afterwards. Chris loved it. He had never had the patience to read Hogwarts a History and there was just something about how Remus explained it that made you feel part of the story. And to learn more about his adoptive parents, both of them, since Remus never failed to explain of how Lily would scold James even if the teachers hadn’t been able to prove he was behind a certain prank, was priceless.
All in all he had a great day and when the families separated at dinner he had almost forgotten why they were there. That didn’t last much as when he looked up at the staff table he saw Bagman and a new addition, Cornelius Fudge.
“He’s here to replace Crouch,” Remus whispered in his ear and Chris nodded, he noticed Fudge looked stern and Madam Maxime was looking at her plate and her eyes looked red. “Fudge has been advocating that Maxime might have had something to do with it, because of you-know?”
Yeah Chris knew. Maxime might deny it but anyone with two brain cells knew she must be half-giant like Hagrid. But oddly enough Chris never thought she might have done it. He never sensed anything bad from her. Annoyance at Hogwarts having another champion, yes, but no hatred or any bad feelings toward Chris. Chris also noticed that Piper wasn’t eating either, just shakily playing with her food. He hadn’t been able to talk to her or Leo that day because they were giving their students exams, but Phoebe had told her they were very nervous. No one would be able to see inside the maze and anything could happen. Piper looked up and met his gaze and gave him a shaky smile, he tried to smile back. He looked back at the table and met Wyatt’s blue eyes, Wyatt was nervous too but tried to smile. He had only seen Wyatt at meals, because he had exams too, but he had known how steadily more nervous his brother was getting throughout the day and it had nothing to do with his exams. Chris had realized a while ago that he could feel Wyatt even if they weren’t close by. And realized Wyatt must have been able to also, he hoped Wyatt was able to keep his parents calm.
“I’ll be alright,” Chris said tightly. “You just let them know.”
Wyatt’s eyes widened but he just nodded.
Okay, so alright was not what he was. Most assuredly not as he looked around and saw tombstones. How had he gotten here? Everything had been looking up a few seconds ago. He and Cedric would bring the cup to Hogwarts.
After Dumbledore had asked the Champions to join Bagman at the maze Chris had gotten up and seeing that his parents were already up he straggled behind a bit. That was enough for Piper and Leo to catch up to him. They didn’t say anything, scared someone could catch them but Piper had taken his hand and squeezed it tightly as Leo squeezed his shoulder.
“Good luck,” she whispered in a husky voice and kissed his cheek. He nodded and joined the others. Bagman tried to pep talk him but Chris wasn’t really listening. He met with McGonagall, Hagrid and Moody and McGonagall had told them the rules, Bagman had announced their points and positions in entering the maze and at his turn Chris went into the maze loosing track of his rivals.
The Maze had been surprisingly easy to overcome. The biggest surprise had been when he had to stop Krum from cursing Cedric. He had been quite shaky after that. Krum had used the Cruciatus Curse on Cedric and Chris had felt it. For a second the pain had paralyzed him but Chris pushed it away using the techniques his Aunt Phoebe had taught him to close himself off and help Cedric. He also recognized how Krum was feeling, it was the same way Barty Crouch was feeling when talking to Weatherby. He had stunned Krum and sent red sparks up. He was afraid Krum had done something to Fleur too as he had heard her scream, but if he had, he had either stunned her or she had been too far from him for Chris to feel what she was feeling. By that point there were only him, Cedric and Olivia in the race. And somehow he had been the first to get to the cup. He had been almost there when he spotted Cedric running towards the cup, closer than him and an Acromantula going straight towards Cedric. He had yelled and without thinking orbed the Acromantula to another part of the maze he had been before. Cedric just goggled at him:
“Uh- er- could you forget you saw that?” Chris asked sheepishly.
Cedric looked at him and the spot the Acromantula had been. Then he looked up. “Considering I’d be dead if you hadn’t, I think I just might. Makes sense though now,” he smiled.
Chris winced, “It’s a secret.”
“I figured as much, don’t worry,” he extended his hand to Chris and Chris shook it. “Go on,” he motioned to the cup.
“What?” Chris asked. “No, I can’t, you were going to get there before me. It’s yours.”
“I would have been spider food if not for you.”
“You’re exaggerating. I’m sure you would have thought of something.”
“I’m sure I wouldn’t,” Cedric looked at the cup and then at Chris. “What do you say we take it together? A Hogwarts win?”
Chris smiled and nodded, “A Hogwarts win.” And they walked to the cup and counted down to three, and as soon as they touched it they were transported to where they were now, but where were they?