Third Task And Chaos
As per tradition, they continue with the maze.
According to the foolhardy Ministry, this required more traps and obstacles.
This resulted in mass arguing, bodily-harm and name-calling, lots of swearing, and Snape being drugged.
(Hedwig didn’t do it this time, she vows!)
Bodies were flung everywhere. Was it the students causing this? No. It was three grown adult men. This has become personal for Voldemort, the Minister, and Dumbledore. Each one has a different goal. Their pride is on the line.
(They were pushing children out of their way left and right. Poor Dennis never saw that boot coming.)
It was quickly becoming a three way tie, over a hundred students having been wiped out by them.
The pentad played it safe and stuck together, Hedwig scouring the air. They moved with their wands out and bodies close.
(Each one of them has seen a student be flung through the air today.)
Ron goes down first.
He was caught unprepared. In an instant, a mystery spell from over a yard away hits him.
(Dumbledore and Voldemort were competing head to head, the only battle they will ever have without intentional murder. Intentional murder, not bloodlust.
Voldemort sends a spell at Dumbledore meant to cover one with hot and gooey soap frothing, encasing them whole and halting their movements.
Dumbledore deflects.)
The Minister came fumbling through the maze bush, mouth open wide with drool drops flying everywhere, his big belly popping out from the bottom of his shirt. Jiggle up. Jiggle down.
Draco was taken out next.
They almost saved him, but it was too late.
He laid there under the Minister, hand weakly twitching. Harry ran over to him and kneeled.
“Draco! Draco, no!”
Still underneath the overweight Minister, Draco weakly coughs, his one free hand reaching out and grasping Harry’s own. He looks Harry in the eye.
“You must go on without me.”
Harry begins to tear up behind his glasses. “You’ve become a good guy, Draco Malfoy.”
In a moment of vengeance, Harry takes out the weak Minister.
Hermione is standing in the distance with her back facing the scene, arms crossed and staring off into the dimming sun.
(She wants to go home again.)
Why didn’t Hedwig prevent this? Well, she wanted to win, of course.
It’s Harry’s fault for what happens next. Or is it?
Dobby appears in front of them, an unusual look on his face. He looks like he’s been practicing whatever facial expression he’s trying to currently make. It’s not reassuring at all.
Hermione latches onto Harry, spooked.
(Dobby stood in front of the mirror, pushing his lips into certain positions to figure out what looked most comforting. A wrinkly hand landed on his shoulder.
“Let me help you.”
Kreacher and Dobby have formed a team.)
“Harry Potter.”
Dobby looks up at his closest friend. The sun has went down, only brief lighting left to show his face.
“Are you constipated?”
Dobby shakes his head. Hermione groans. Hedwig watches.
“Harry Potter Sir.”
Dobby looks unsure. He takes out a pen from his pocket and stares at it. He looks at it reluctantly.
And then he throws it at Harry Potter.
Harry catches it on instinct while Hermione has a hold on his arm.
They disappear.
…Okay then.
Dobby stares at the spot. He very slowly turns around to face Hedwig, those big bulging eyes staring into her so deeply that she was sure he could see the memories of her first life where someone wrote a Dobby and Hagrid smut.
She gets him before he can get her.
Hedwig sends him flying and then she herself flies away.
No thank you. Not today.
——
Right as the battle between the last two contestants began, it ended. No one saw it coming.
Dobby stands on top of Dumbledore’s limp body with his chest puffed, one foot on the ground and the other one on the man’s head.
“Now! Now is the time! Go!”
Behind him in the mist is over one hundred house elves walking forward, a scene similar to that of a movie where a biker gang is revealed and ready to dominate.
—
Harry and Hermione stand staring.
A group of sphinxes stare back.