Chapter 437 - Third Task Ⅲ (1/2)

Rather than fighting the Inferni and wasting her time, Rowan transfigured Igor's robe into a long rope and swung it like a lasso. With a three failed attempted her heart jump into her mouth each time until her pulse was dangerously high. Knowing that with each passing second Riddle and his Death Eater's were getting closer to finding her, she takes a deep breath to steady her nerves and aim.

Trying once again, Rowan swung her arm as the lasso whistled overhead, before hurtling towards the golden trophy. Unable to breathe, she seems to watch in slow motion the rope falling just barely around the trophy. Not wasting any more time, she pulled the lasso tight, and hefted the rope as rapidly towards her via using a nearby branch as a pulley.

The rope whirling against the tree branch sounded particularly loud to Rowan's ears. But suddenly the trophy fell off right off the ledge causing the rope in her hands to surge forward giving her rope burns. Despite the pain she doesn't wince as with her heart in her mouth, she struggles to hold the weight of the heavy tournament trophy.

The rope is pulled taunt as the golden trophy bounces once in the air and swing just over the pool of water by mere scant centimeters from the surface of the pool. Rowan remains so very still holding her breath trying to hear and see if anything was making its way up from the depths of the pool of water. Unable to hear or see anything, she braces herself and begins to pull the rope as fast as she can straining her arms and her rope burned palms.

Thankfully the heavy golden trophy steadily rose up at a quick pace until Rowan was able to reach over the pool of water and grab hold of one of the arms. Frowning, she found that nothing happened causing her to spew a string of curses in her mind. And no, she wouldn't have felt too bad about leaving Igor Karkaroff behind as it was his fault, they were in this mess in the first place!

Nevertheless, still the tiniest bit optimistic about the present situation, Rowan removed the rope from around the Golden Trophy hoping that the rope might just be the problem. She highly doubted it, but she could dream, couldn't she?

”Vat's going on?” Igor dizzily asked as he sat up.

In a fit of fury, Rowan tossed the golden trophy at Igor in anger. For Igor to catch it in his arms and merely stare at her, when he suddenly was pulled away. ”Well, sh*t,” was the only thing she could say at this point. Quite adequate really considering the circumstances. Well, at least Igor Karkaroff wouldn't die on her watch. She'd one upped the yet unborn Potter. Then again, he was a Gryffindor and not a Slytherin.

The sound of splashing caused Rowan to hastily close her eyes to pull up her mapscape. Red dots were all about, but she found a spot were only one death eater was patrolling. Without any other thought she teleported in that direction.

A minute or so later loud footsteps can be heard as a Death Eater arrives and gapes at the empty rock. Pointing his wand in the air, red sparks shoot up for the rest to gather. Voldemort in particular suddenly transforms into a dark ashy cloud form and zooms through the fog. Being the first one to arrive, Voldemort yells, ”Where is she?!”

”I don't know, Dark Lord,” the Death Eater fearfully said. ”But the cup is gone!”

”Fool!” Voldemort snapped as he pointed his wand at the Death Eater and threw the robed masked figure into the pool. Screaming, the Death Eater cried out for mercy as the pale, grotesque Inferi dragged him down into the depths of the pool of water. The air bubbles that are vigorously bubbling on the surfacing of the water quickly fade away until the last of the bubbles popped and none rose to the top anymore. The surface of the dark pool is completely and utterly still again.

Death Eaters begin to quickly appear on the edge of the pool as Rodolphus did as well including Wilkes. Voldemort's crimson eyes hiss, ”Find the girl, she's still here. It's nothing but a trick. The cup was enchanted not to be able to take her back.”

The Death Eater's hurriedly spread out as Wilkes says, ”Dark Lord, please allow me to speak using the voice spell. Perhaps, I can convince her to join our cause or at least fool her into revealing herself.”

”Go ahead,” Voldemort replied in approval. At least one of his followers was still useful.

”Sonorus,” Wilkes said as he pointed his wand at his throat and began to speak.

”Rowan, this is S.R. Wilkes, won't you come out to speak with us? I can assure you the Dark Lord bears you no ill will, but simply wishes to speak to one of the household members of the Prince's. Your grandfather nor your aunt hasn't been willing. Won't you come out for old time's sake? I thought we were friends.”

The response is rather swift as a Death Eater screams into the night, ”The brat slashed McCann, real bad! But he's still alive. Healer!”

”Quickly, she must still be nearby!” Voldemort roared into the night as he motions for Wilkes to cease his actions. ”You've done well, Wilkes.”

Wilkes removes the spell and says, ”It is always my pleasure to serve, Dark Lord.”

Voldemort doesn't reply as he dashes in the direction of the wounded. His prey would not escape him this night!

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