Chapter 3
November 17th James got a letter from mum and dad, telling him that they are coming to support him in the first task and were going to stay at Hogsmeade till then. They must have known Hogwarts students were going to the village next day, but James was going to meet them either way.
James rushed to hug them from the door of Three Broomsticks, not bothering to care if it looked too childish. He did miss them, and after all, the closer first task got, the harder was to suppress his restless energy. James knew he should be more nervous and prudent in the face of approaching unknown danger, but what could he do, if it was more exciting to not know, to face the task fresh and prove himself there and then?
“It’s only few days left, why didn’t you come at 24th?” James said when they were sitting at the table already, and Remus came back with mulled mead for them all.
“We couldn’t wait.” father said, reaching over to hold his shoulder. Mom was nodding with a smile that felt surer. Oh Merlin knew James could not wait, too.
He looked around the room, full of students enjoying the afternoon. Many cheered him, waving and smiling, and with a warm push in the chest James saw that it was not only Gryffindors. Surprisingly, James could recognize a couple of foreign students in the crowd, Beauxbatons and Durmstrangs sizing him up with highlined indifference. He almost wanted to double-check, but it was apparent from the first glance that Sirius Black was not here. Spike of disappointment was sharp but too brief. After all, James wasn’t going to ask him to join his friends and parents, and besides, it’s not like they exchanged more than greetings now, after the article. James could tell all this strange uncertain tension called for a talk, but by Merlin was he bad at this, and the closer the task was, the harder was to think about anything else.
“What is the first task?” mother asked with amused half- conspirational tone. “Or do you want to keep it a surprise?”
“More or less,” James chuckled, leaning closer to his cup to breath the spicy vapor. “For myself, too. We’re not supposed to know, it will be a test of fast thinking in the face of danger. ”
Only Peter was grinning like James after those words, Remus didn’t look too reassured. Mother’s smile was a little tense, father openly frowned in worry. It made James feel wrong footed for nonchalant tone, he never wanted them to worry, just didn’t know how to comfort them, to explain that they really have nothing to be afraid of.
“This will be only a showy task,” James said, quieter. “I have an ‘Outstanding’ at Defense against Dark Arts O.W.L.s, I’m a Quidditch captain and have good reflexes. I can do it.”
Mother smiled broader, with pride, but father still looked unsettled when they were saying goodbyes. Walking back towards the castle, James was still thinking about his worry, for the first time in weeks after the Goblet chose his name he was not over the moon at the very prospect.
“Do you think I act like overconfident idiot now, with the first task?” he asked Remus and Peter finally, not too good now at holding his doubts closer to his chest. Peter shook his head with incredulous expression, and Remus bit his lip. But before he decided on how to express his opinion, indignant voice distracted them.
“I sure think you do!”
Lily Evans caught up with them. It’s been a fair while since James last saw her this angry at him. It was sudden and puzzling, few hours ago she smiled in quite friendly manner when he greeted her in the porch of Three Broomsticks.
“Fancy to see you too, Evans. What did I do this time?” James huffed, turning to look at her.
“Was this true? You’re not looking into what the first task is?” Lily asked, not bothering to even roll her eyes at his tone. She was not just irritated, real anger made her voice uneven.
“I’m not supposed to, the terms of first task - ” he started, still smiling, but she cut in.
“Since when do you care about what you’re supposed to do? This all is just another chance to show off for you, is it? James, tradition requires tournament to be dangerous, that’s why it was stopped before…”
James just wanted to lighten the mood, to make her finally huff, throw hands and get off this topic, that’s why his tone was probably a bit too teasing.
“Oh, you are worried about me. Should have known it’d took the mortal peril -”
“Right now I want to strangle you!” Lily’s eyes flashed. “Mortal is the point. There were Tournaments when the only surviving champion was declared the winner. I’m sure you’d love to die some big stupid death. But your parents, James, do you want them to see this?”
She shook her head and then she was walking again, fast and determinate, fire-red hair messed by the wind.
The cold in James’ chest was getting stronger now, but not because of Lily’s words, not only. She just had shown him in stark possibility that he did not know if the challenge he was supposed to complete was dangerous to audience. James didn’t think of it much before, but now mum and dad were going to be up among the watching crowd, and he had to know how to beat first task and not endangering them in the slightest.
The great thing about trying to create a map of all Hogwarts in their fifth year was that James could monitor where Filch and Snape were while they were sneaking out at night in Hogsmeade or he and Peter were leaving the castle on full moon. The bad thing was that map was unstable, whole floors were missing sometimes, or names were doubling themselves. They never could polish this project, but James still had hopes, and it still proved useful. That was why James took the map with him in the dormitory every evening after the Hogsmeade visit, checking it again and again for unfamiliar names or strange headmasters’ activity. Something was bound to appear now when it was only fife – four - three days till the task.
People tended to think that James had no patience whatsoever, but they never tried to become an Animagi. If anything could build his character, three years long preparation did. So James could concentrate hard on his goal, and he could be meticulous. At the late evening of Tuesday, almost two days before the task, James finally happened upon unfamiliar names gathering near the lake.
He’d prefer to take Remus or Peter with him, but the Cloak could well hide only one seventeen year old wizard, so James whispered that he will check the discovery quick then slipped out of the portrait entrance.
The evening was dark and cold for November, the ground under his feet hard and gleamed with frost in the lights coming from the castle windows. the place on the lakeshore was empty despite the fact that James clearly saw names marking a wizards who had be there. Map never failed them so badly before, and James only shook his head, putting it away and contemplating if they should destroy it or continue to work. It was easier than think now about the possibility that James will not figure out the task in time –
Suddenly he saw the patch of silver light fall on the ground, and shadows of three or four wizards stepping out of it into the night.
“Florish, the light! Somebody might see…” one of them exclaimed in agitation, and the light patch disappeared. Florish shrugged.
“You think tomorrow no one will stumble upon the construction hidden by Disillusionment Charm? The more mysterious, the better. It’s too strong for students to crack, anyway, they will lose their mind trying to guess what’s inside… ” His laughter was tired and dry.
“Their luck they won’t crack it.” another wizard added. “And our luck the thing’s asleep. Whose idea was it, anyway, to bring the creature that can breathe poison?”
James felt his heart freezing. Florish shook his head.
“The stands should be protected. Champions, well… if they’re fast, they’re good.” He pulled out the watch and sighed.
“I’ll better be back, Perks will hex me if the thing wake up while he’s there alone. Don’t forget, your turn in two hours.”
Wizards who were free to leave the Disillusioned place at least for a while looked quite happy, while they turned away and hurried to the castle. Florish looked after them wistfully, and when the front doors closed after them, sighed and opened the entrance again. James moved right behind him, now he just needed one glimpse to be sure what exactly the creature was… He did not have too good of a view over Florish’ shoulder, but he had enough.
Inside Disillusioned walls of a tent, in the watery pit enclosed by charm shields laid Hydra. Forty feet long, acid green snake-like body, from its neck grew nine reptilian heads. Its eyes were misty under transparent horizontal eyelid, black irises with yellow narrow pupil unfocused, dim.
Florish already closed the door when James started to slowly back away. His breath was still stifled, his mind racing. Hydras were vicious, and their poison could leave a lasting damage… But if he’d move fast and kept it distracted, hitting different heads with different spells -
He barely made two steps, when few things happened in quick sequence. James walked into something solid, this something grunted and pushed him backward. The fall made the Cloak slide away over his head, and next moment James was on his feet , thrust his wand forward and hissed Lumos. He wanted bright light to distract whoever was there from the cloak still behind him on the ground, but there was no one seen before James. If it was one of Hydra guards, why did they walk the grounds invisible?
The cold night air before him looked rippled, trembling in familiar way. The second after darkness chuckled and James knew who it was even before he moved away Disillusionment Charm.
“Wonderful weather for a late stroll,” Sirius Black said, half-smirking, half-wincing at the light thrust right in his face. James grinned, raising it a little higher before he put it out and looked back at where the cloak was right under his feet. Just one more distraction while Black’ eyes were not used to dark yet.
“So, the Hydra, huh?” James asked, nodding towards the invisible tent stood, and summoning the cloak behind his back. But Black followed the swirl of the fabric with the corner of his eyes, and then looked back at James’ face. James raised his eyebrows, biting his grin. Hell if he knew why, but he was not chagrined that Black did figure out the invisibility cloak existence, it felt more like a thrill up his spine. Hint him at what you have up your sleeve, keep his eyes on you, make him stay enough to talk and open up something about him in turn…
Sirius Black chuckled, looking away over James’ shoulder. “They’re starting the Tournament with a bang.” He looked back right into James’ eyes then, and his smile turned more sly. “Must admit I’m impressed.”
“Have you dealt with hydras before?” James asked, stepping closer and to putting the cloak in the pocket better hidden from view. It was more fun if the bit of mystery remained, and then again, he wanted to know if Black was ready for the task, at least for personal score. “Magical monsters and how to slay them, or other special Durmstrang subject like that?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Black grinned. They were walking over the lakeshore now, in the direction of Durmstrang ship. In the dark it looked even more ghost-like, and James wanted to explore it only more keenly. “How about Hogwarts champion? Do you have a winning strategy ready?”
“You’ll see,” James leaned back a little, affecting the haughty look Black mastered so well. Honestly how did he do it so effortlessly when they were the same high? “Can’t promise you won’t like it.”
“Does it have to do with brooms?” Black asked, narrowing his eyes, but his tone was so unusually light. “I hope not. Regulus tried to get me excited for Quidditch for years, by now I’ve seen every possible feint…”
“You have not seen me.” James laughed, and Black laughed too. There was something about the sound of it, short and almost surprised, like he was not used to laugh out loud. Or was the thing that he was with a stranger, a rival? James didn’t feel this way about him now.
“But I will, won’t I? In two short days.” Black sighed, feigning the annoyed resignation. James almost elbowed him to shake this expression and get to the amusement underneath, see him laughing again, longer, up close – but they did not do that. Strictly speaking, they were not supposed to discuss first task either. So he just stopped, looking a little aside from Black, on the lake behind his back, its cold water started freeze by patches already, thin, so very fragile film of ice.
They were looking at each other then, long quiet moment. It was close to the held gaze after duel, and now James knew what it meant exactly. They were trying to see through each other– they wanted it to be possible and safe.
“I guess we’d both stick to guessing.” James said, quieter than before, but his smile still felt wide. “Just two days, you think we’d handle the anticipation?”
Sirius black huffed, nodding his agreement, allowing the moment to slide away.
Back in Gryffindor tower Remus and Peter waited for James in the chairs by the fire. At the word ‘hydra’ they both opened eyes wide in stricken horror. It was startling, with Black James forgot that hydra meant deadly danger and not something easy and fun.
At the breakfast next morning Remus still was concerned and got frustrated with him, even left the table alone, not waiting for James and Peter to finish. Peter did not wait up too, but the reason was more prosaic – he forgot transfiguration essay and was running to fetch it from Gryffindor Tower. James was left contemplating his plan on first task alone. Remus was worried for him and that got him upset, James knew, but he was not giving up the tactic he came up with. Dangerous as it was, he could make it work, and he was more sure in it than in conjuring Firestorm he never tried before or try to fly over hydra. Hydras were very aggressive, and could start a rampage if they felt cheated. Florish said the stands should be protected, but a magical creature that can regenerate and breathe poison will break the spell barrier if it wants to. James was better to stay closer, be seen, be in reach…
James was so glad to see Black by the exit doors, his breathing became easier. Would he understand James’ reasoning, would support his choice? James huffed at this thought, both because it was unfair that he could not just share the tactic with his rival, and because it was stupid to regret that he couldn’t.
“In good spirits this morning?” Black asked, half-smiling in greeting. “I take it no disturbing revelations broke your sleep?”
“Rest your worries,” Jams grinned in response. “I’ve never been better.”
It felt like they never stopped the talking yesterday, with Black he just felt so on ease, made only smoother by this constant tickling current underneath. They drifted aside the main door to not stall the movement of students. It was even amusing how shocked some of them were that James Potter and Sirius Black were having amiable talk, sending round-eyed looks their way.
“Do you think she knows?” James nodded at Ravenclaw table. Pauline Maxime still hasn’t finished, picking around her scrambled eggs with frown expression. “Doesn’t look like it.”
“Why, because she’s not shaking and crying? Neither of us do.” Black chuckled, contemplating her.
“No, but that’s the thing, isn’t it? We know, and it makes us more confident.” James loosened the belt of his bag. Pauline did not look uncertain per se, rather displeased, and the reason could be something far away from Tournament, and still it bothered James. All champions should have been equal at least on the start.
“So, what do we do? Stroll to her and ask?” Black looked over at James and huffed when he saw that James already bended over rummaging in his bag.
“You can try, but my idea is different.” James said through the quill he was holding in his teeth, handing Black a textbook he was going to put the parchment on.
When the note was ready, James sent it to fly to Pauline and nudged Black closer to the doors. One look back was enough – when Pauline read the words first task is the hydra, she took startled breath and visibly flinched. Before she could look around the hall and suspect them, James and Black already left, pretending they were just walking near each other and had no conversations whatsoever.
“See? I was right.” James grinned only brighter when he saw Black mirroring his expression.
“You were lucky. Let’s hope it will happen again on Friday.” He said, stopping before the main entrance, and James already wanted to walk out with him when the bell reminded him he had Transfiguration. James lapped his forehead with exaggerated startle and turned on his heels to run. He heard Black laughing at his mime, and it filled his chest with warmth.
Remus accepted that James was not going to bow with his first task idea, but kept insisting that he should practice the spells he was going to use. James understood how serious he was when offered Snape as test subject (mostly a joke) and Remus gravely said “Go for it, I don’t care as long as you train.” In the end James made a list of incantations he was going to perform in the very order, and agreed to attempt them on Remus and Peter – all but Conjunctivitis because he was never going to risk his friends’ eyesight. James told Remus he’d replace it but knew he would not, it was too good of a tool.
The morning of the task James woke up feeling both excited and tense. It was like tiny sparks cracking under his skin. The task was scheduled at ten o clock. In just few hours he will see if his spells are good enough to hold him against hydra. He will see what Sirius Black will do to pass the task.
James could barely calm down enough to eat something at breakfast. At the Slytherin table Sirius Black looked even more disinterested in his surroundings than usual, only he was much paler. His brother was telling him something fast, expression anxious. He stopped mid-word, looking up on headmistress Gregorovitch who just approached the table.
James was so distracted he didn’t feel at first how Remus tapped his shoulder. He was paler too, as was professor McGonagall who stood behind them, beckoning James to join her.
“Good luck!” Peter exclaimed, many Gryffindors were cheering too. Smiling absentmindedly, James reached to hold Remus’ shoulder.
“I’ve got it. I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, you will be.” He nodded decidedly, though his lips were still pressed thin, nervous. Lily Evans too looked troubled rather than excited, but following Mary she too wished him good luck and didn’t roll her eyes when James winked at her.
It seemed like McGonagall knew about hydra, judging by her shaken gestures.
“Do all you can, don’t panic… We’ve got wizards standing by to control the situation if it gets out of hand…” she was saying while they were walking down the stairs in starkly cold grey day.
“Professor, you can be sure you’re not getting rid of me today.” James smiled, and he was not trying to be flippant, but he always got like this when he was too caught up with anticipation and adrenaline. McGonagall sighed, for a few moments more exasperated than worried.
“Mr. Potter, I’m glad you have such uplifted mood. But when you get there, please concentrate on remembering defensive spells, and not playing for the crowd!”
Where Disillusioned tent stood before were now hovering walls of strands, hiding the enclosure from eyes. McGonagall led him to the marquee on the opposite side from the main entrance.
“You and other champions will be told the specifics of task inside.” She said, and added quieter, patting him on the elbow. “Be careful, Mr. Potter.”
“I’ll try,” James said, nodding, and walked into the marquee before he blabbed something else insensitive on a high of thrilled agitation.
James was the last champion to arrive. Pauline was walking back and forth with expression of strong concentration and barely noticed him. Sirius Black was lounging on the wooden stool in the middle of tent, looking like he was promised a spectacle and nothing exciting happened yet. Then Black looked up on James, and thrilled, avid grin alight his face. Feeling rather breathless and lightheaded with all the exhilaration, James grinned at him too.
“Well, everyone’s here.” the wizard in the corner stepped forward, and James recognized Florish. “I’ll make this short. Behind those curtains you will have to face the hydra. Your goal is to walk past it and get to the other side of the enclosure. So, when all public will take the seats, you’ll be drawing lots who’s the first to go.”
James was getting restless, but he could not join Pauline in the pacing, they would inevitably cross and knock foreheads. He huffed, image so comically vivid, and Black raised eyebrows. But before James could decide if he should just walk up to him and whisper in his ear, the other wizard opened the curtains on the entrance and nodded to Florish. He cleared his throat and pulled the green sack. Pauline was the first to reach inside.
She got number three on golden token, and James let Black forward with chuckling “Laws of hospitality, guests first.” Two was engraved on Black’ token, and James took a breath, feeling at the same time drunk and doused with cold water. The token felt so light on his palm.
“I’ll wear hydra down for you.” James said, almost not recognizing his voice, and Black shook his head, his grin wide and radiant, the most beautiful expression James could ever see.
“Don’t overstretch yourself, I’ll manage.”
A cannon shot somewhere outside, and with no glance back James stepped to the entrance drapes.
He felt like he weighed nothing at all when he walked out on the enclosure, ground wet and slippery under his feet – swamp, its favorite habitat. James didn’t even had time to look up and find his parents on the stands, because not only public welcomed him with cheers and yelps. High piercing roar cut into them and halted all other sounds.
It was hydra screaming, very awake and very furious with being a means for someone’s entertainment. Strong snake body was furling into rings, coiling before the attack, heads raising higher, necks spreading wider to block any move. James pulled his wand, saw dozens of black eyes zeroing on it.
Let’s make this show quick, shall we.
“Impedimenta!” James could almost feel Remus cursing inwardly when he aimed at hydra’s body and shouted the spell that was not in the beginning of their list. It jostled the beast from its curling, and hydra drew itself back, preparing to strike him with all its might. Then James ran.
He was right before hydra in a few slowered ductile moments, and got the perfect position to shoot first few spells. Obscuro – Confundus – Stupefy. Only six heads to go, fine score, and James moved for the opening at the right when hydra coiled on itself, some of her maws bellowing, some hissing on a sound wave that made his blood freeze.
James got another head with Sleeping charm and tied the tongue of the second that tried to circle him from the back. Four to go. Hydra whipped her tale and he dived to get away, but it made him to get too close. Dark jaws were stretching over him for a whiff of poison, and James shot Incendio even before he could think about it. Fire made it bark a cough, and James could get back enough to aim better and give the hydra the best Conjunctivitis he could. It shrieked from pain, and James glanced sideways to make sure tail could not push him on the ground. He was so close to the silver line glowing bright on the ground… Hydra darted forward and James threw the Banishing Charm at it. One of the heads staggered, but the last one dodged and pushed forward, knocking him down.
It was over him, writhing tangle of incapacitated heads, wailing and roaring with crushing volume. The last head laughed, grinding sound, and blew on him before he raised the wand high enough.
It felt like hot bitter fluid was flowing down his throat. The vision blurred, ears were stuffed up, through clammy heavy fever James heard hydra slur with raspy contempt S-s-stupid.
James felt smirk stretching his numbing lips and with all there was in him he thought Depulso Maxima.
It worked, it made the creature stagger back. Still as moving through water, James crawled from under the hydra that was going hysterical and stood up, unsteady but straight. He stepped over the finishing line and turned around, waving into blurry crowd he barely heard, and next thing he knew he was half-dragged from the field by healers.
“Potter, what were you thinking! Getting this close to hydra… you were astonishingly lucky!” cried McGonagall over him in the healers chamber, while James was drinking deliciously soothing antidote potion. The world was going back into focus, his arms and legs cooperating again.
“I’ve told you, Professor… No getting rid of me today.” James said, turning his head left and right so he could be sure the vision and hearing cleared. Then he looked at the healers. “Can I go now?”
“You should rest, Potter!” McGonagall said, inhaling sharply, and healers were nodding along. James sighed and tried again.
“Yes. But ‘can I go’, as in ‘am I capable’? Is there a danger for my life or others?”
Mum and dad could be here any moment now, and all that mattered to James was reassure them as soon and completely as possible.
“There is no immediate danger, but you are quite exhausted after exposure…” Healer said, and James beamed at him and stood up. He managed to leave the chamber just when his parents reached the door, Remus and Peter in tow.
Father was very pale and looked almost haunted and James pulled him in hug immediately.
“You were so reckless” mother said when James reached for her. “But so daring and so fast…”
“I tried to make it faster for you.” James said into her shoulder. And then he smiled to Remus and Peter, opening arms for them. “And a little bit of a good show, too.”
Remus pocked him in the ribs, but held just as tight and smiled as bright as Peter.
He assured them that he was feeling healthier than ever and insisted on getting back on strands. Nothing is a better proof than demonstration, after all.
They were just in time – regeneration powers allowed hydra to shake off the spells with no intervention from wizards, but it still took a little while. James just sat down between his parents when the cannon shoot and hydra turned to face another opponent. It was sentient enough to realize it was a part of competition, and now decided to change tactics, looking more collected and cunning than angered.
Sirius Black stepped on the ground to roars of cheering – even Durmstrangs were as loud as Slytherins today, deciding that whatever hostility they felt to him could be forgotten for the honor of their school. James joined the applause too, so passionately he made Remus and Peter double take, but next second Black pulled out his wand and James could not see anything but him.
Black conjured vast shot of fire, it stung the hydra, making it roar and bellow and hiss, then the flame encircled the creature. Bright, dancing, strong stream of fire made hydra curl into itself, twisting and squirming in rage and horror. Black was walking past hydra slower than it was safe, and it looked like he strutted for the show, but James knew how much concentration Firestorm demanded, especially this perfectly casted, on the move with moving target.
Hydra screamed, desperate at the sight of another wizard besting her and mad with fury, enough to make her try and break through the fire. The sounds it was making then were nightmarish, indescribable, it was shrieking and howling in high and low octave at the same time, it was trashing around, burned and even more frenzied by pain. Then hydra was laughing as loud as it was screaming before, and in a heavy strike it broke the fire rope. It tried to get Black, but the fire splintered into few crimson spurts of flame that were whipping and biting hydra, making it stand back while Black was getting closer to the finish line. Then he was behind it and dropped the spell.
James realized that he was standing only when the crowd bombed with applause and triumphant cries. He was running down the stairs as if caught by this gleeful deafening noise, and was at the exit from the arena just when Sirius Black leaned on a wall, supported by his brother. He looked thoroughfully tired, droplets of sweat on his white temples. When Black saw James, he stood straight but it seemed to be more of surprise than pride.
“Holy hell...” James breathed out, laughing a little at open admiration in his own voice. “You were alright.”
Sirius laughed in response, this already familiar, already needed short and bright sound.
“You were not too bad yourself,” he said, stepping closer. “We saw with Pauline. Bit careless, but otherwise…” His eyes trailed over James’ face, his whole body. James looked him over too, and too was joyous about absence of injures.
“Come sit with us,” James breathed out, still riding out the high of Sirius’ victory. Regulus looked almost scandalized at the offer, but Sirius grinned wider even while he was raising his eyebrows. “Me, my parents and my friends, we have great seats. Unless your parents want you to sit with them…” he looked around. Maybe they just waited for Sirius to join on the stands, maybe it was too unbecoming for noble house to rush and hug their son even after he was so brilliant.
“They're not here. And either way, all the family I care about is here with me” Sirius said, more curt and cold than before, drawing Regulus closer. James nodded, holding his gaze. He felt so happy and so stupid at the same time, he should have realized sooner. Sirius Black was not to be measured by anything other than himself.
Now they seemed to see each other through at last, and they both liked what they found out because Sirius nodded too and smiled. “Lead the way.”
Regulus huffed loudly but followed James and Sirius up the stairs to the seats his parents and Remus with Peter were taking. They were greeted with various degree of astonishment. But James was still on the roll, and barely acknowledged it, sitting down between Sirius and mother. Just when they managed, the cannon shoot.
While they were watching Pauline dance around the hydra, keeping it distracted and scared with magical blue lightning, James was wonderfully, acutely aware of Sirius Black sitting next to him, his keen eye, his smiling cheek. It felt like a wave of delightful heat, his presence at the same time exciting and anodyne.
Pauline walked past the beast unscratched, and then judges declared the scores. Sirius Black was first, and James took the second place because he was faster than Pauline – faster than Sirius, too, if they were honest, but injury was still a contra point.
When the stands boomed with applause for Sirius, he looked at James, his triumphant smile so loose and alive.
“Two chances yet to beat me,” he whispered, and it beat all the hurricane of screams and cheering.
“I’m just giving you a head start,” James whispered back, smiling just as widely and clapping, the only one in their row, and just so elated.