Chapter 11
He had this. He had to do this. He could make it, he could survive. The past couple days had been a blur of activity. The death of Barty Crouch Sr. had shook the school but now it was nothing but a buzz about the task. He was already in the tent waiting to be led to the maze. The stands were packed and even parents had been allowed to attend. He was dressed in his latest gift from Marcus. Battle robes. They were a dark green with black trim and runes sewn into the fabric. Thick dragon hide boots and gloves made up the outfit and he felt like he could fight a dragon. He wasn’t the only one dressed like this either. Viktor wore similar clothing and Fleur’s appeared to be made out of some sort of shimmering silk. He checked his blade and wand before touching the necklace he always wore.
Viktor stepped over and looked at him, “Are you ready?”
“Yeah, as ready as I can be.” He smiled up at the larger seeker and started his stretching. “I don’t really want to win. I just want to survive.”
The other nodded and smiled at him and left to do his own warming up. Harry’s stomach was flip flopping about and he was glad he had decided not to eat lunch before this. He would probably be seeing it again if he had. The sound of the crowd cheering and someone stepped in and began directing them out of the tent and towards the entrance of the maze. Even though the sun hadn’t set, the maze looked dark and menacing.
Viktor went in first giving a wave to the cheering crowd before entering. A few moments later and Diggory was heading in then finally him. He didn’t wave to the crowd he remained focused and stepped into the maze and took a right making his way through without much fuss at first. It grew darker as he made his way through. He felt like he was dragging himself through soup. Things tugged at his arms and legs that he couldn't see. It wasn’t until he felt something brush the back of his neck he whirled and eight beady red eyes met his gaze.
He fell back casting a quick blasting curse sending the giant spider sliding back and Harry took the moment to get his barrings on his surroundings. He cast another spell and the fog cleared some and he noticed the webbing on the floor and walls, clinging to his clothes and skin. Another spider crawled toward him and he slashed at it with a spell. They began crawling from the ceiling and walls, launching at him. Fangs snapping and legs climbing up him. A searing pain in his left calf had him looking down and he shook the spider off before throwing another off his shoulder. He had stepped in it.
His head spun as the venom took effect and he blasted two more away and sliced another's legs off with his dagged. Breaking free of the small nest of Acromantulas to duck around the corner and get away. His leg burned and he reached into his pouch pulling out the antivenom. He had never been more grateful for Terrence and his foresight to give him a few potions. It wouldn’t work completely and wouldn’t heal the bleeding bite but he wouldn’t die either. Downing it quickly he bound his wound with a quick word. He settled a hand over his familiar and started heading down the path further, hearing a scream and a flash of sparkles in the air. Fleur. She was out.
He shuttered and worked his way further into the maze. He turned the corner and a deep cold began to settle into his bones. He looked up to see the dark wispy cloaked figure heading towards him. He raised his was, “EXPECTO PATRONUM!” The silver mist appeared then a creature burst from his wand and ran its way to the dementor. Harry stared in awe at the strange lizard that hissed and spit silver white flames from its mouth that lapped and ate at the dementor. The creatures screamed and fled and the lizard turned back to him. Its bright frill swishing in non non-existent wind. Harry reached out and the lizard made a soft growling sound and rubbed up against him. “You're not my Prongs.. How.” He rubbed under its chin the creature coming up to his knee. “A mystery for another time.”
He dismissed the spell and continued along the path until he had to jump back and dodge a ball of fire. He glanced again. Blast-Ended Skrewts. Seriously. A quick severing charm and the creature screamed and began to hobble about without a couple legs long enough for Harry to turn the corner and move on. Then came the screaming. Harry cussed and debated on following the screams or taking the other fork in the road. But the guilt ate at him and he turned towards the screaming.
Viktor stood over Cedric casting a spell over him that had the other champion screaming and writhing. The glazed look in the others eyes made a shiver run along his spine. He cast a quick stunner and sent up sparks before taking off further into the maze. Was he the only Champion left now? He didn’t know if they would pick up both Cedric and Viktor or just one. He didn’t care he wanted to get this over with. A few more turns and he came to a large circular space. He stopped looking around calmly.
A soft smooth laugh had him turning and Harry tok a few steps back raising his wand. The large creature was beautiful. With the body of a lion and the head a woman. It simply looked to him a few moments before speaking.
“A fellow lion at my door, how lovely it is to see.” The creature crossed its great paws, “What you seek lays behind me and beside you there the exit. To get past me you must answer my riddle or take the path back. Know this. If you choose my riddle and do not answer correctly, I will kill you.”
Harry took a deep breath. He could walk away right now. Be done with the maze and the tournament. Would Marcus be disappointed if he turned back now? He took a few minutes to think it over, “Alright. Tell me your riddle.”
The creature smiled lovingly,
“ First think of the person who lives in disguise,
Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,
The middle of middle and end of the end?
And finally give me the sound often heard,
During the search for a hard-to-find word.
Now string them together and answer me this,
Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?”
Well that was helpful. A person who lived in disguise and dealt with secrets. A spy. The middle of middle and end of end. D… was in the center and the end but the last one he wasn’t sure. During the search for a hard to find word. Er that was.. Wait. Er. Spy, D, Er. “Spider”
The Sphinx nodded to him and stepped to the side revealing a path head not seen before, “Well done little cub. Be careful on your journey.”
He nodded to her and walked past, following a long path that seemed clear of any trap or creature for the most part. The path opened to a room with a large pillow in the center. Atop it was a trophy of gold. There it was. The end of the line. He looked around and saw that no one else was there. He took a deep breath and walked forward reaching for the cup and picked it up firmly. The sickening pull at his stomach and Harry was jerked through a straw or that is how it felt until he spilled out onto the dirt. Did it take him to the front of the maze?
He sat up and froze, this was not the maze. Deep rich earth and the scent of decay filled his nostrils. Headstones surrounded the area but where he was seemed to be cleared of them. There was a large fire and a cauldron sat above it bubbling. He had only just looked up to see a large angel statue when a hissing sound came from behind him. He turned and saw a large snake, deep greens and grays making up the scales. It could easily swallow a full sized man whole if it wanted to. He could feel his own serpent companion perking up in interest. He never left without the snake anymore but had asked him not to get involved during the tournament. “Wait don’t. I won’t hurt you.”
The snake tilted its head before giving a hissing laugh, “Silly hatchling can speak. Master was right. Silly hatchling will give Nagini his wand now.”
Harry frowned, “Why am I giving you my wand?”
“Master wishes to speak. You will speak to the Master. Give Nagini the pretty stick.”
The horned serpent around his neck hissed and hooded up, “Araphel will hold Master's wand and come with Nagini.”
The snakes watched either other a moment before the large female snake coiled, “Is acceptable. Come little night hatchling. No harm.”
Harry took a deep breath and handed his wand to his familiar and watched the snake touch the wand with the jewel on his head and the wand seemed to sink into the gem before he slid off Harry and joined the snake. The two scent and curl around each other. He had a feeling who her master was. There was only one other speaker.
“Well well, my loyal follower was speaking the truth.”
Harry turned and took a step back, his body tensing. Peter stood in front of the statue holding a bundle of cloth that spoke in soft hissing words. “You turned the trophy into a portkey? I am guessing you were the one who had me entered into the tournament?”
“Indeed. I needed your presence and away from that old fool. Originally I was going to take what I needed and simply kill you. But it seems my loyal servant wishes for us to speak. So I will give you a choice.”
Harry frowned, “What are the choices?”
Peter didn’t say anything. He simply held the bundle shaking like the scared rat he was. The bundle spoke again, “You will assist in the ritual tonight and give what I need. Or I shall take what I need and kill you as planned.”
That wasn’t a choice at all. “What do you need me to do and what do I get in return?”
The Dark Lord chuckled, “You will give me your blood. Not much. Enough for the ritual and after we will talk. Perhaps not tonight but we will speak under the old laws of a peace pact.”
Harry shifted uneasily. Blood was important. He knew that. So many things could go wrong with giving him blood. But that chance of being able to sit down and maybe get neutrality from the war. Something in Harry wanted this chance, “Alright, I will help you. But I would like you to answer a question tonight as well. One not related to our later talk.”
Silence met him and Petigrew looked like he wanted to curse the young wizard on the spot. Then finally the laugh returned, “Alright Potter. Ask your question.”
The Gryffindor took a step closer, “Why did you try to spare my mother?”
“Curious. How did you know I tried to spare her I wonder. An interesting event to remember. I did try to spare your mother. One of my followers asked for her safety. I am not blind to mercy or to the hearts of my followers, despite what Dumbledore claims.”
Harry closed his eyes and gave a small smile. Things were a little clearer but the swirling questions didn't want to relent. He wanted to ask everything. Why him? Why his family? But he had been given permission for one. Maybe when they spoke he could ask more. “Thank you, for trying to let her live. What do you need me to do?”
Voldemort made an interested sound, “You will stand at the North point until Pettegrew gives you the signal to place your blood in the cauldron. We need enough to turn the mixture blue then you may stop. If you do not know a spell to stop the bleeding, one of us will be able to help you.”
Well that was well spoken and kindly told. He was seeing less of the crazed psychopath he had been told about. “I can bandage it.” He took a few deep breaths and walked to the spot that was marked North. He was glad he had been learning about this kind of stuff from Marcus. Marcus loved his runes, arithmancy, and numerology. He said the numbers and runes were something that came more easily to him. Words and general information just seemed to go in one year and out the other he claimed. Harry thought he was just brilliant. How animated Marcus became when he began talking about a new rune he learned warmed him.
“Now Potter.”
Harry jumped and blinked a couple times from spacing out. They were already so far in the ritual. He walked forward and pulled the hidden blade at his calf and walked up to the cauldron and sliced his palm, holding the bleed hand over the cauldron as Wormtail watched.
“We need more blood, Potter.” He swiped his own knife and the sharp blade sliced clean through the flesh along his forearm.
“Ah fuck! What the hell I was giving it willingly.” The cut stung and burned but Harry bit his lip and hung in there. He was starting to get a bit light headed before the liquid finally changed color and he pulled back reaching for his wand forgetting it had been taken. Shit. He looked up at a cry of pain and watched Wormtail cut his hand off into the cauldron before dumping the bundle into it next. Harry gasped and backed up till it touched the large stone angel. Watching as it bubbled and churned thick smoke billowing from the cauldron. It took all his will power to fight the spotting in his eyes.
A tall figure emerged from the cauldron cloaked in black. It was hard to see features as his vision blurred.
“Wormtail, why did you cut him so deeply? The child agreed to help!” A snarling sound hit his ears as his vision went black. He felt cold and heavy. “Potter.” Hissing was the last thing he heard before the darkness claimed him.