CHAPTER VII

When James and Sirius entered the tent, they found Rita already sitting on a wooden stool in the centre, her legs crossed and the lie of a smile firmly on her face. With a slight flutter, the bright green quill she’d taken out of her purse earlier flew up higher from where it was gently levitating next to her, the room soon filling with a sharp scratching sound as the tip of the quill started to rapidly move along the page. 

“Please sit down, dears,” she said, gesturing towards the seats with her carefully manicured hand. “I have some questions for you, though less than I’d like with the time passing by so fast.”

‘Not fast enough’, James thought, and glances at Sirius whose lips twitched as if he had the exact same thought, a glint of amusement in the grey of his eyes as their gazes met before they both turned their heads away. 

“So,” Rita started as she crossed her legs and leans forwards in her seat, her eyes on them with sudden sharpness. “You’re both from Gryffindor, is that correct?” 

Sirius looked at her, expression back to impassive and unreadable. “It is.” 

“That is fascinating don’t you think! That you two of all the people in Hogwarts were chosen? It must have been a shock.”

“We were lucky, but it’s not that surprising,” James said with a slight tilt to his mouth. 

“I see,” Rita smiled and the quill picked up its speed, “It’s clear you don’t lack confidence, but one must wonder if it’s earned.” 

“There’s no need to wonder,” Sirius responded, evenly. “We’ll show what we can do soon.” 

“And we’re all looking forward to it! I just hope you survive it in one piece, it would be such a tragedy if something happened to two such good looking boys and I’m sure my readers will agree. But I am curious if you even know who you’ll be standing up against? Do you know anything about the other champions?”  

“That’s a strange question,” James voiced slowly, while Sirius measured her with a distrustful look, his eyes narrowed. 

“Ah, no need to worry! I just feel like you should be prepared. It would be a great advantage to know more about them, no? I could—”

“Are you serious right now?” Sirius asked plainly, crossing his hands. “Are your questions really so boring you have to resort to digging up dirt?” 

Rita blinked, then laughed, clutching her hand to her chest. “Ah! How funny. Now, Mr. Potter.” Her eyes flitted to him, reminding James of a vulture seeking its next prey.

“I’ve heard you’re both still taking part in your school’s Quidditch Tournament. One could call that almost greedy, of course, but I must wonder if you think it’s…responsible to try to compete in both? Especially when you are the captain.” 

“Responsible?” James gave a quiet scoff. “Yeah, I think it is.” 

Rita blinked. “You do?” 

He tilted his head, eyes unreadable. 

“Of course. It is responsible to not leave my team just because I’m also competing in the Tournament, isn’t it?”  

“...I suppose, yes.” She glanced at Eddie in the corner of the tent, who continued to eat his sandwich, blissfully ignorant to whatever looks she was sending him. A small frown appeared between her brows, then smoothed out as she clapped her hands together. 

“I must of course ask you, what led you two to join such a dangerous Tournament? I’m sure you must have heard about the last year of this competition. All terrible accidents really, but it shines light on why this Tournament was banned in the first place, doesn’t it?” 

James glanced at Sirius in case he wanted to answer, but the closed off expression on his face makes it clear that he’d rather be anywhere else but here. It was a feeling that James wholeheartedly shared. The giants were starting to sound way more preferable with every second spent in the tent.

 “We wanted to prove ourselves,” he said as Rita lifted her brow, the damned quill still continuing to scratch at the paper. “The Tournament is a great opportunity to try to use all the things we’ve learned in a more practical way and test our skills.”

“So you’re only after glory.” she stated, the light of a candle glinting off one of her golden teeth.

James shrugged, levelling her with a calm gaze. “Not only, but sure. Everyone is in a way, if they entered this Tournament.”

Rita seemed almost disappointed he didn’t rise to her bait.

“Interesting, would you say that is a good reason for joining?”

James opened his mouth, but she’s already continuing, “I mean, of course there could be other reasons, ones you’re afraid to share, am I right?”

She leaned even further forward on her  stool, as if to tell them a secret, her eyes full of eagerness. “One could for example assume, Mr. Black, that you joined to get back into the good graces of your family.”

“What?” James scoffed, and Sirius’ eyes grew sharp. 

“It would be a great story of course,” Rita continued, her face a mask of obliviousness. “An estranged son, ready to do anything to be taken in again and regain his parents’ love. It writes itself, doesn’t it?” 

James balled his hands into a fist, digging his fingers into his palm as her lips turned slightly down, as if in pity.

“I’m sure they’d be proud of you winning the Tournament.” 

“I don’t care,” Sirius said, his brows frowning a little, voice cold. “They weren’t the reason and never will be, for any of my actions.” 

Rita pursed her lips, as if displeased. James sort of wanted to wipe that look off her face with a hex.

“I see,” she conceded. “That is good for you then, I suppose. But I must wonder if you are still secretly hoping for them to praise you for entering, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

For a moment Sirius was silent. Then he tilted his head slightly to the side, levelling her with an unimpressed look. “Are they really paying you for these?” he questioned. 

“You have a brother here as well, yes?” she tried again, undeterred, though a muscle on her face gave a slight twitch. “Regulus Black?”

From the corner of his eye, James saw the way Sirius minutely tensed and though the motion was small, barely noticeable, something in Rita’s eyes seemed to glint.

“That was his name, wasn’t it? The one that followed your family's legacy and went to Slytherin. Your parents must have been so relieved—” 

“Can we move on?” James interjected harshly and Rita’s smile grew wider.

“Of course,” she said mildly, her lips slightly pursed as she glanced at him, then back at Sirius. “I just imagine it must be incredibly hard now, living without a family. Did it ever cross your mind to go back? Do you think your brother wants—”

“He has a family,” James interrupted her, his tone hard. “He’ll always have a family.” 

Sirius’ frame next to him tensed even further, and James leaned closer, curling his fingers around Sirius’ shoulder in reassurance. Black hair fell to the side as Sirius tilted his head slightly to look at him, eyelids lowered, but James’ gaze stayed on Rita, eyes burning, daring her to say anything to dispute that.  

He didn’t move his gaze, not even after Rita had shifted in her seat, then glanced off to the side as she set her leg down. The high, sharp heel dug into the grass below, tearing up the ground as she twisted it around. The quill picked up its speed again, another parchment falling to the ground and new takings its place, rolls of paper already lying on the floor around it, forming a circle.  

“Alright,” she granted, the manufactured smile sliding easily back onto her face. “I see it is a bit of a touchy subject for you, both of you.  I understand that, of course, it’s no wonder.”

She glanced at the hourglass she had set up nearby, the sand of it long gone from the upper part. “Ah, it seems like we went a little over time! I’m very much looking forward to interviewing you in the future if we ever get to it, we still have so much to talk about!”

James levelled her with a glare as they got up. Rita brightened even more. 

“Be dears and tell the Beauxbatons champions to come in!” she called after them, and then the side of the tent fell shut. The quill didn’t stop writing. 

When Professor McGonagall came to get them a few minutes later, Professor Sprout and Flitwick close behind her, the low chatter from the nearby tribunes had already turned to shouted conversations. Loud exclamations in different languages filled the air, mixing with excited whispers and fired-up discussions. Above it all rose the sound of multiple feet shuffling by as the last students hurried to their seats. 

“The Tournament is about to begin,” she told them as soon as she was close enough, folding her hands in front of her while the champions exchanged expectant glances, their faces hardening with determination. Bokorova squared her shoulders and James noticed she was already holding her wand. 

Professor McGonagall gestured to the other two teachers besides her. “This is professor Sprout and professor Flitwick. I believe some of you are already acquainted. Each champion pair will follow a teacher to their starting position.”

She gave a curt nod in their direction. “Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, you’re with me.” 

With a swish of her cloak, she turned on her heels and marched forward. The other pairs moved towards their teachers and James made a step forward as well, but Sirius's grip on his arm brought him to a halt.  

“Hey,” he said quietly, looking to the side and evading James’ wide-eyed gaze. “The thing inside—” 

The surprised look on James’ face faded away to understanding. He watched as Sirius closed his mouth, a small frown appearing between his brows as he tried to find a way to say something, the expression on his face conflicted, a little lost. The sight made James’ heart clench painfully.  

He lifted his free hand and placed it against Sirius’ fingers on his arm, squeezing a little. 

“I know.”

With a grateful look in his eyes, Sirius nodded, slowly releasing him. James sent him a small smile, their eyes locked into each other. James swallowed, then looked away, moving a step back and motioning towards the way McGonagall left.

As they walked past the tribunes, James’ eyes trailed amongst the crowd, automatically searching for the rest of the Marauders, but neither Remus or Peter were anywhere to be seen. It wasn’t that surprising, James had expected that Remus would sleep through most of the day, but that Peter was missing as well was a bit strange. Usually he loved to cheer during Quidditch matches and today even students that didn’t usually come to games, except maybe those at the end of the year, seem to be arriving to watch. 

Professor McGonagall stayed silent during the journey, leading them between the trees with her wand raised, showing her the way, and for once, James wasn’t keen on starting any conversations either. Sirius looked to be thinking along the same lines, his face unreadable except for the slight tension James noticed in his jaw and between his eyebrows. 

James pushed a stray branch out of his face. 

The material of the t-shirt clang to his skin, cold and warm at the same time, slightly uncomfortable.

“We’re here.” The professor finally told them after a few minutes as she stopped in the middle of a small clearing.

James slowed down and looked around. A large red flag with the Hogwarts’ crest was struck down in the middle of the glade, the edges of it fluttering in the wind and shining with red sparks, but otherwise the place was empty, filled only with grass and wildflowers. 

“When the horn sounds, signalling the start of the Competition, go north until you make it towards the part of the forest that is only made of oaks. This Task’s objective was given in the Riddle, and the time limit for fulfilling it and returning with it back here is set for two hours. If you’re unable to do it before then, you won’t be able to advance in the Tournament.”

There was a quiet sound of wings flapping and James turned his head, eyes zeroing on one of the devices that will be projecting the tournament. He had almost forgotten about those. Professor McGonagall glanced towards it as well, then back at them.

“Any questions?”

“No, Professor,” Sirius replied evenly and Professor McGonagall gave a satisfied nod. 

“Good. I will once again remind you that the Tournament is dangerous. Should you at any point feel the want to withdraw, you only need to release red sparks from your wand to the sky and we will try to get to you as soon as possible.” 

She paused, almost hesitant, then pressed her lips together. “You have a few minutes left to prepare. Make Hogwarts proud. Good luck.” 

With that she turned and walked away, disappearing between the trees in a few quick strides. 

James let out a breath and rolled his shoulders backwards. A small sting of pain hitting him, no doubt coming from the bruises and aching muscles, and the still healing wound on his shoulder. Still, it was bearable, almost an after-thought with the Competition only a few minutes away, his body humming with adrenaline.

“Ready?” Sirius asked, glancing at him to his side and James exhaled, then gave a resolute nod. 

“Ready.” 

Wordlessly, Sirius lifted his fist and James grinned, pressing his chuckles against his. Sirius  smiled, holding his gaze even after he let his hand fall. 

The thrill running in James’ veins intensified, turning almost electrifying.  

A horn sounded through the air, long and drawn out. It was loud enough that it felt like the sound of it reverberated through their bodies all the way to the soles of their feet. Without another glance at each other, they took off.

The grass swished past them, a stray branch of a bush digging into his skin as they sprinted forward and into the trees, and then further, picking up speed. 

James wasn’t sure for how long they’d been running, but it reminded him of yesterday’s Full Moon so much he could almost hear the echo of his hooves resonating around the forest. 

The oaks they were meant to get to were easy to spot, towering over the other trees in the forest by a huge margin. For a moment, James' mind filled with thoughts about the trees moving, attacking them like the Whomping Willow, and he was already thinking of different counter spells, but the trees stayed blissfully still, the leaves only slightly swaying in the wind. 

They slowed down by the edge of it, moving more carefully forward, catching their breath.

The golden leaves of the oaks rustled above them as they continued further, a few of them falling on the ground in gentle spirals. The whole forest was almost deceptively serene, quiet. 

Sirius’ eyes trailed carefully along the treeline and James did the same, glancing from time to time behind them, just in case there was anything that decided to sneak up on them. Even if they were supposed to face giants, the Forbidden forest was still dangerous and there was no telling if a different creature might accidentally bypass the competitions’ borders, intrigued by their presence. They both knew the Forest well enough to not fully trust it. 

A loud rustle of the leaves sounded somewhere on their right and James turned his head, fingers curled tight around his wand, but the space was empty. With a lingering look, James turned back forward, carefully putting one leg in front of the other. 

The quiet of the forest seemed more oppressing here, as if everything around was holding its breath. James looked around, slowly realising that all of the usual sounds of the forest were absent. He hadn’t heard an animal make a sound or run past for the last five minutes, the distant singing of birds gone. Except for the strange movement a moment ago, the forest had been almost deadly quiet, eerily so. As if something had scared all the other life in the forest away. 

He turned to Sirius, opening his mouth when the ground suddenly trembled, moving under their feet so violently it threw them forward. James stumbled a little, and Sirius instinctively grabbed at his arm, steadying them both. 

“Guess we’ve found them,” Sirius said, a wicked grin spreading across his lips as he lifted his head, locking eyes with him.

James gave a wry chuckle, Sirius’ fingers tightening around his arm as the ground shakes again. “Seems like it.” 

“Then let’s get closer.” 

James nodded, eyes searching between the trees before he moved forward, Sirius next to him. 

The leaves crunched slightly under their feet. 

Every second now, he thought, fingers curling around his wand. 

A movement on the right. Something large.

James reacted before his brain could even properly recognise what he was seeing, and pulled Sirius with him behind one of the trees. 

Grey eyes went a little wide in surprise then filled with understanding as James moved his head slightly in the direction he had seen the figure in. 

The ground trembled again, and this time they were close enough to hear the steps that cause it, branches snapping. 

“Watch,” warned a loud, booming voice, the way the tongue wraps around the syllables harsh and unpracticed. “Wizardlings smart.” 

A set of low growls answered him. 

Sirius tugged at James’ sleeve to get his attention, then glanced at a tree slightly up ahead before turning to look back at him, lifting his brows. James nodded. Carefully putting one leg in front of the other, they sneaked in closer to the voice, then ducked behind another large trunk.

Another set of tremors. 

“No sleep,” continued the first voice. 

“Kili knows,” answered another voice, sounding almost petulant. 

Before he could finish talking, Sirius carefully edged towards the end of the tree to get a better look ahead. Their gazes metas he turned back, and James lifted his brows in a silent question to which Sirius lifted his hand, showing him three fingers. 

James bit his lip in thought. Three giants at minimum then, not counting any that might be patrolling around or that are out of sight. 

He pressed a hand against Sirius’ shoulder as he leaned over him to get a look on the situation as well, not noticing the sudden tenseness to Sirius body as he pressed him further into the bark, hazel eyes focusing on the giants in the trees before them. 

From this angle, he could clearly see ahead, the trees parting to reveal three enormous giants, each of them looking into a different direction. The one on the left stood tall, towering over the other two with an imposing mace, his watchful eyes locked onto the trees to the side, a set of fangs peeking out from his bottom lip. Two others were standing in the centre, guarding what looked like a pit covered with leaves. 

The two other giants were armed as well, James realised as he got a proper look at them. The one on the left was holding an enormous wooden hammer, a large beard full of leaves hiding half his face. The other, slightly shorter was leaning against a sharp looking branch that looks like it was only recently snapped off from a tree. James felt a little shiver run up his spine as he realised the branch is almost as wide as his body, yet it was obvious the giant had easily snapped it in half. 

They were all much larger than James had imagined from the books, towering over them like large mountains, their arms wide as tree trunks and bodies covered in rags, pieces of wood and animal hides. 

“How long?” asked the one with the large branch, shuffling his feet and sending tremors running through the earth. His voice sounded younger, less thunderous and James recognised it as the one that spoke before, the one who called himself Kili. 

The frown the giant next to him made was so deep it was  clear to see even through the large beard covering half his face. 

“Wait.”

“Only wait,” Kili murmured, digging his branch into the ground. “Wait boring, Rix.” 

Well, Kili, James thought, that’s about to change. 

“Quiet!” boomed Rix. 

Fingers tightening around his wand, James turned his head, meeting Sirius’ determined gaze. 

“Plan A?” he mouthed and Sirius nodded, his eyes lingering for a second longer before darting away from his lips. James waited until he disappeared in the trees on the right, then silently started to make his way in the opposite direction. 

He stayed behind one of the trees until he was sure Sirius had enough time to get closer, then moved further, his clothes catching slightly on the harsh bark of the tree, stinging his arm. James ignored it and readied his wand, eyes flitting across the three giants, before they zeroed in on his first target.

He flicked his wrists, murmuring an incantation. 

The giant on the right let out a startled yell, and the hammer in his hands twitched, tugging out of his grip. It flew into the air, spinning widely and the giant growled, the sound loud and vicious before it got suddenly cut off as the hammer froze in the air, then fell right onto his head.  It didn’t take him down, but then James didn’t expect it to. 

A furious roar teared out of the giant’s throat, the leaves on the trees fluttering violently. 

“Wizardling!” 

James fired another hex, sending it towards the one with the branch. The spell hit, exploding the branch in his hand which has the giant tossing it away with surprised noise, stumbling. James ducked behind a tree, grinning even though the giants had no way of actually seeing it. 

“That’s right!” he called out. “This wizardling is here to kick your ass.”

“You’re dead!”

James gave a short laugh. “Not today!” 

The giant ran at him, swinging his hammer. 

James rolled to the side, the hammer instead hitting into one of the trees. The force of the impact made it give a loud croak and the tree tilted, splintered, then started to fall. James quickly moved away, casting another hex to the side, then behind him. 

Kili swiped his fist at him. James felt a gust of air as the fingers almost grazed him before he evaded, jumping backwards. 

Kili reached out again, then growled as James’ spell hit him straight in the face, clutching at his nose with a pained whelp. 

James ran around him, weaving through the trees. 

“Still not dead, sorry!” 

He’d made it a few paces away when a loud roar suddenly came from somewhere behind him, the ground trembling. James turned, his eyes widening as he saw another giant, one he hadn't seen before, sprinting straight at him, a thorned mace held tightly in his fist.

“Stupefy!” he cast, and then again, but the hexes only burrowed into the giant’s skin with no visible effect.  

“Confrin—” 

He had to duck down to evade the rock another giant threw at him, the spell broken. 

Merlin, he eyed the mace, narrowing his eyes. The giant’s large arm gave him way too much reach, even if he rolled out of the way now, the mace would still get him. 

James took a quick, steading breath. There was only one option.

“Getting tired yet?” he called out, grinning. 

The giant fumed, quickening his pace. He was almost in front of him, the grand trembling hard under his feet with each running leap he took, the tremors so hard that James’ teeth almost hurt from it. 

He didn't move, still smiling wide.

Just a little more. 

The giant opened his mouth, wide pointy teeth revealing themselves in a vicious smile. He swung his mace, and James threw his body forward to roll under the mace and beside the giant’s large legs.

His leg hit a rock, a sharp pain running through his body, but James gritted his teeth and pushed it away, quickly pointing his wand at the giant’s back as he staggered to his feet. 

“Expulso!” he called out.

The giant stumbled, the mace falling into the ground. 

“You should really take a rest.” James advised him, and sent him to sleep with another stunning spell. 

He looked around, trying to see if Sirius had already made it to the pit, if he  was alright, but the trees made it hard to see. He turned to his left to go join him, but something dark registered in the corner of his eye. 

The hammer flew above him, then back in a wide arc. 

James ducked. 

The giant growled in frustration, huge tusks digging into his mouth. He brought the hammer back, raising it high above his head, then slammed it down. James rolled out of the way just in time, casting a curse before he properly got up from the ground. 

The giant stumbled for a moment, swatting his large hand at him and sent James flying to the side, crashing into a tree with a painful thud. The force of impact rattled his shoulder even more, the branches digging into his bruises and scratching at his skin. 

James lets out a pained grunt and moved to his feet, wiping at his mouth. The back of his hand came away bloody.

The giant jumps closer, hammer swinging again and James squeezes his fingers tighter around his wand— 

“James!” he heard Sirius shout from somewhere behind him and the next moment the giant’s back erupted with flames. James hit him with a spell right between the eyes and the giant let go of the hammer, wailing. 

“I have it!” Sirius yelled. “Go back!” 

He yelled in affirmation and turned around, casting a quick jelly-legs jinx towards Kili with a flick of his wand, then ran. The spell wouldn’t do much against giants, but it would give them some time. Or at least he hoped. 

Sirius’ form finally came into view and James fought to not let out a relieved sight. Even if the separation had been effective, it didn’t mean he had to like it. 

The giant Sirius had been fighting swung with his mace once more, and James pointed with his wand in a sharp zig-zag motion, eyes narrowed. 

“Confringo!” 

The giant howled in pain as the spell hit him, then Sirius’ own. He swung blindly with his mace in a large arc and Sirius ducked, the wood swishing above his head. 

James pointed his wand at the mace. “Reducto!” 

The wood exploded into thousands of splinters and the giant shielded his face with his hand, then growled, eyes burning with anger. 

“Guess that one was his favourite,” Sirius quipped as he jumped back to evade the giant’s fists and James laughed, the sound a little wild. 

He cast another spell and the giant stumbled, then fell forward as a blast from Sirius’ wand hit him in the chest. With a loud thud, he dropped down on his face, the ground thundering. 

“Let’s get out of here,” James panted, grinning and Sirius nodded, twirling the wand in his hands. 

There was movement between the trees, one of the giants approaching, growling, the others not far behind him. James set off running.  

A loud enraged roar followed them, but the giants were slower, hindered by the trees. 

As soon as they made it to the clearing, the red flag grew vibrant crimson, shooting a large beam of coloured light towards the sky. 

James laughed, barrelling into Sirius who grinned, wrapping his arms around him as well. 

“We did it! We really did it!” 

“We did,” Sirius confirmed, a free, unrestricted laugh escaping him as well.  

James pulled backwards, beaming, his hands still on Sirius’ shoulders, eyes sparkling. 

“Did you get there okay? I tried to pull as many of them as possible.” 

“Yeah, they were so pissed at you I slipped by practically undetected.” 

“It’s an art, you know.” 

“Pissing off people?” Sirius asked, a wide smile playing at his lips and James punched him to the shoulder. 

“Being the distraction.”

Sirius laughed. “Sure. Either way it worked. I got close enough to the pit and then only had to fight with two of them when trying to get away.”

“They probably wouldn’t have noticed you at all if you didn’t help me,” James told him and Sirius shrugs, glancing away.

“It’s whatever. I wanted to fight anyway, just sneaking around would be boring.” 

As if reminded, his eyes snapped back to James, suddenly intense. “Are you hurt?” 

“Eh,” James startled a little, then shook his head. “Not too bad. Just a few scrapes. You?”

The intense look from Sirius’ face slowly faded. “I’m good.” 

James nodded a little. “Then the pit. How did you know what to take?” 

“There was a giant sapphire right on the top, but it seemed too easy,” Sirius said, shrugging. “There was a lot of other gems too, gold as well but…” 

He brought up his fists, then slowly opened it.

“This seemed like the right choice.” 

Of course, James thought, his eyes widening. The riddle never said to take something valuable. It said to take their everything. 

On the centre of Sirius’ palm laid a small, golden acorn. 

James grinned. “You’re brilliant, you know that?” 

Sirius blinked at him, and James thought he noticed a small redness to the tops of his ears before he was scoffing, a confident smile spreading across his lips. “Of course I know that.” 

“Mr. Black, Mr. Potter!” came professor McGonagal’s voice from behind them and they turned, exchanging grins before she came to stand before them. Her hat was a little askew, as if she hurried on the way here, her eyes shining as bright as they did when the Gryffindor Quidditch team won the Cup. 

“I must admit that was quite extraordinary,” she remarked, a small smile at her lips. “You’ve finished first. The other teams are still competing.” 

She gestured towards the way she came, her cloak ruffling in the slight wind. “I’ll lead you back, please follow me.” 

“Yes, Professor,” they echoed. 

When they made it back, the whole tribune erupted into loud cheers, the sound almost deafening.  

“Yes!” James heard Frank’s loud voice rising above the crowd. “We won!”

And then from his side, Gideon Prewett grinning widely, waving a flag with a lion in the air, “That’s right! Griffindor strikes again!”

James slid his eyes across the crowd, noticing Peter and Remus were still absent. He glanced at Sirius, but found he was looking to the side as well, and James followed his gaze, sliding past the green side of the tribunes. Among the clapping students and excited faces, James notices the still figure of Regulus, who continued to stare at the projection, his face blank. 

James fought a sigh and nudged Sirius with his shoulder, giving him a small smile when Sirius turned to look at him. 

“Wanna watch the rest of it?” he asked and Sirius nodded, the far away look in his eyes fading away.

“Yeah... sounds good.”