Chapter 186: Third Task (1/2)
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The link is also in the synopsis.
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If the overhead projection that reflected the image of the artificial eye from Project: Drone Vision was a spectacular sight in the early blue evening sky, then its sight in the dark night sky was nothing less than stunning. The bright lights contrasted so well with the inky black background that every neck was craned up towards the sky.
”Dear viewers, the third task is a special one; unlike the first two tasks, the third task has the aspect of champion aggression — meaning that the champions have the opportunity to take each other out,” said Quinn to all his viewers, ”now, you might be thinking, the second task had the same opportunity; the champions could've attacked each other — but didn't because they were working under a time constraint and the pressure of losing their loved ones.. . trying to mess with your competition doesn't really enter one's mind.”
”But here, they don't have that proverbial sword hanging over their head; the champions can work as freely as they want,” he grinned, ”that is if they can find their way inside the maze.. .. because let me tell you, mazes could be a real pain-in-the-butt.”
And Quinn was right; the four champions were totally lost, and that too in different directions of the maze.
The audience saw Harry Potter at a fork in the maze, trying to figure out which split to take. He waved his lit wand tip in either direction, and after what looked like a serious contemplation, he decided to go left.
The eye overhead turned into a different direction and zoomed in to show Fleur Delacour walking on a straight path, covered with towering hedges cast black shadows across the way; she was constantly looking towards her back as if worried about a tail.
The illusion shifted and focused on Cedric, who was running through a path full of odd silver mist floating above him. He was shooting spells left and right. But the fog remained intact, not being fazed at all.
”About that silver mist,” laughed Quinn, ”it's completely harmless — does nothing at all, absolutely nothing. But in a pressure situation like the current one, it does wonders — ah the charms of the human mind.”
Quinn moved the artificial eye to the next champion, where they saw Krum walking slowly along a pathway with a golden mist overhead. He seemed to take every step after thinking thrice.
”The gold mist, on the other hand, is a completely different monstrosity,” announced Quinn, ”right now, with every step Victor Krum takes, his perception of direction changes — he could be feeling like the sky is below him, or the world has shifted to his side,” Quinn had once subjected himself to the golden mist for fun — turned out, pretty not fun.
”The champions seem to be doing just fine right now, but I have to be honest, I'm looking forward to a confrontation.”
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Two men sat in their chairs, looking up above at the illusion in the sky.
”Your speculation turned out to be correct,” said one of the men.
”It was sort of obvious, don't you think?” replied the second.
The first man glanced at the second for a moment before speaking, ”Are you prepared for it? You understand that if you fail your task, this entire thing is doomed.”
”You don't have to be worried about me,” said the second, ”I'm prepared for this — among our little group, I'm the one most capable for this one.”
”And why's that,” scoffed the first, ”I've been here for months, I'm better than you — I don't know why he chose you for this.”
The second man rested his chin on the back of his hand and spoke with a bored expression on his face, ”I know Hogwarts more than you can ever imagine — but you already know that, don't you? I'm the reason you're still here. If I wasn't here, you would've been found by the Potter children by now.”
The first man grunted unpleasantly. ”So, why are you still sitting here? Shouldn't you be doing what you're supposed to do?”
”I'm already done. I had the entire evening to do so.”
”Then why are you still here?”
”Don't worry, I'm leaving. Just needed to give it a little time.”
The second man got up and fixed his cloth before putting on a weak smile and turned to a person sitting a few seats from him, ”Minister, unfortunately, I'll have to leave — I'm feeling under the weather.”
Cornelius Fudge turned his eyes away from the sky, ”Oh, Crouch, your sickness is acting up again? You've been like this for months. Have you gone to the hospital to see what is it?”
”Barty Crouch Senior” smiled weekly and shook his head, ”I should do that, Minister. I've been putting it off because of the tournament.”
”See that you do,” said Fudge.
Barty Senior walked past the panel of judges when he was stopped by a voice, ”Bartemious, if you're feeling unwell, how about letting Poppy take a look.”
Barty turned towards Dumbledore and shook his head, ”Thank you for the offer, Dumbledore, but I would prefer to go home and take a rest before going to the St. Mungos tomorrow morning.”
”Ah, if that's what you would prefer,” said Dumbledore, ”I just hoped you'd stay till the end.”
Barty looked up at the illusion. ”I would also like that, but I'm feeling fragile. I think it would be better for me to just leave.”
”I see, then I hope you feel better soon.”
'Thank you.”
Barty walked down from the judge's panel, and as he passed through the general seating area, he caught a glance of James and Lily Potter, and immediately he turned his face away.
He couldn't keep his expression from turning neutral or his eyes from turning bloodshot. He feared that if he kept looking at them, he would chop their heads off with severing charms, for he was Peter Pettigrew and the sole motive of his life was to kill the Potters.
'Keep calm, Peter, keep calm. Your time will come soon.'
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- (Scene Break) -
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In the maze, the champions made their way through the dark hedges — all were trying to move north, where they knew the Tri-wizard cup waited for them.
Cedric Diggory emerged at a point in the maze, where including the path he entered through, eight paths lay in front of him, all going through different directions. His first instinct was to head straight north and take the path pointing north, but his feet halted — Cedric kenned that there was no way the north-facing course headed north.
'Where should I go?' he thought; the only way to find out was to pick a route and work it till he reached the dead-end. 'Let's go with that one,' he decided on a path, but just as he stepped, Cedric heard a snap — his eyes widened and immediately ducked and rolled on the ground as a spell shot over his head, burning a hole into the maze hedge; the damage was instantly recovered.
He looked behind and saw the offender. ”Fleur, it's nice to meet you as well,” Cedric smiled as he got up with his wand pointed at her.
”If so, then you should've accepted my greeting,” said Fleur.
”And let you have all the fun?”
The two stared at each other for a split second before their wands ripped out spells directly at each other, meeting in the middle momentarily — again and thrice, every time their spells met — canceling each other out.
”Looks like we're equally matched,” said Cedric.
”I would disagree,” smiled Fleur, ”I haven't even started yet.”
Just as they were about to go for another bout, they heard a rustle of the leaves. They looked to sound to see a barrage of small rocks rocketing towards them. The two champions pulled up shield charms for protection; the rocks bounced off harmlessly against the transparent barriers.
”Come out, Potter,” yelled Cedric, pointing at one of the passageways, ”I know you're there, come out, or I will open fire,” his wand started to glow in a violent red.
Harry Potter walked out with a smile on his face, with his wand in front of him, ”The rocks gave it away, didn't they?”
”They did,” said Cedric, ”you used that one a bit too much during the dueling club.”
”How about we two Hogwarts boys team up and take out the enemy,” suggested Harry nudging his wand towards Fleur, ”I'm sure we can work something out, but for now, it would make more sense to increase the chances of Hogwarts winning.”
Fleur became extra vigilant as she backed up a few steps and stared at Cedric; her chances weren't good if Cedric and Harry teamed up.
Cedric contemplated for a second before glancing up, ”You know, Quinn is probably — definitely — watching us right now and with him, the entire school. It wouldn't be chivalrous for us to gang up against a lady.”
Harry shrugged in response, ”And if Quinn was standing here, he would scoff and laugh at you.”
”That he would,” laughed Cedric and then pointed his wand at Fleur, ”sorry Fleur, but it's nothing personal.”
”I'm offended, nevertheless,” said Fleur as she cautiously gazed at the two wands pointed towards her, ”you two boys really lack manners,” she sighed, ”but a lady needs to look out for herself, so don't blame me.. .. it's nothing personal.”
She flicked her wand in a circular motion, and seven flaming orbs of blue-red fire appeared around her. She shifted her head to push her hair back and spoke, ”Veelas can be vindictive when threatened.”