Task Two
“Alright, because they are our guests, the Hogwarts champions will draw their partner.” Bad said. It had taken nearly a month for Tommy to heal in full, and now the four champions were back for their second task.
“You go on and pick Tommy.” Wilbur said quietly. The younger nodded, delving his hand into the box.
“Dream.” He said aloud. Dream gave the younger a high five.
“Let’s fuck em’ up.” He smirked.
“Yeah, let’s get em’ Big D.” Dream laughed at the nickname, and the two began to prepare for battle, coming up with strategies.
“Well then I guess I’ve got you.” Technoblade said in his usual monotone voice. “Your the mind one right?”
“Yeah. If it’s a person I can hold back and get in their head while you go on the offensive.” Wilbur said.
“Sounds good to me.” Techno said. “Those two are gonna get in each other’s way, so I’m not worried.”
“I think they’ll do fine.” Wilbur replied, turning to grab tools to arm himself. He didn’t notice the saddened look Techno gave his figure from behind. Wilbur wouldn’t know what it was anyway. He wouldn’t be able to remember. And yet, there was something familiar about Technoblade that he just couldn’t put his finger on.
The two looked out to see Dream and Tommy had entered the arena, set to face whatever game out of the other side. To pretty much only Wilbur’s surprise- since Dream had briefed Tommy- Ari stepped out with her wand drawn and white dove wings spread wide.
“Our champions will be facing the one and only Ari X!” Karl yelled over the speaker. “If they can both remain conscious for twenty minutes, they’ll have completed the task.” That was annoying. Both had to be fine. Techno was certain he could tough it out, but he didn’t know about Wilbur. He knew his teammate’s mind was fragile, and Ari was a force to be reckoned with.
“Alright kiddies, let’s see what you’re made of.” Ari said with a smile, wand whipping around to summon a thick fog. Tommy and Dream stood back to back, each ready to attack. The could barely hear Ari moving, wings allowing her to be light on her feet.
“We need to get above it.” Dream said, Tommy nodded stepping back a bit for Dream to turn into a dragon. Only for him to turn around to see Tommy had disappeared. He growled, beating his wings heavily to clear the fog. Dream saw Tommy struggling in Ari’s mental hold, resisting falling to sleep as he was told. Dream roared, charging at Ari to break her concentration and whipping his tail between her and Tommy.
“Bombarda!” Ari yelled, sending small explosions to knock Dream back, although not harming him because of his thick dragon scales. Tommy, knowing he couldn’t beat Ari in a wand duel, charged at her with his sword. Ari began to dodge and spin, but he managed to land a gash on her arm. Ari growled, transforming into a bird and flying above the two.
And then she cast what Dream had been waiting for. Her patronus shot out, a raven and a ram circling around the two above them. And then the two began to transform, shifting into two humans. They were blurry, and Dream couldn’t tell who they were, but each held their own wand. As the dove hovered above the boys, the two figures attacked, each casting various spells.
They were outmatched- clearly- and began to try their best on the defense. Ari transformed back into her human form, closing her eyes and allowing her mind to wander through the two around her. Each boy began to grow hazy, and both seemed ready to give in.
“TIME’S UP!” Dream could’ve kissed Karl at that moment- but like who doesn’t kiss the homies. The two boys got up to see all of Ari’s machinations had disappeared.
“Good fight. You are both skilled young wizards.” She smiled, going back into her chamber to get her arm healed where Tommy had cut it.
“They didn’t work together enough.” Techno muttered to Wilbur, “She split them easily with her patronus.” Wilbur nodded as the two entered the arena. Techno held a sword and a wand whilst Wilbur’s wand sat in his pocket.
“And now let’s welcome our two other champions!” Karl yelled. Wilbur could tell Techno was already calculating in his mind.
“If you can give me a mental shield, she’ll be forced to duel me. I can hold on for twenty minutes and we’ll be fine.” Techno said. Wilbur nodded. Seems they were going on the defense. Ari began her assault on Wilbur’s mind at once. She knew if she took him out of the equation Techno would be vulnerable. Wilbur immediately cried out, but kept his focus.
“Something's been locked away in here.” Ari’s voice felt like needles piercing into his mind. “Something’s missing. Pieces are missing.” What? What did that even mean? Then her voice became quieter. Wilbur opened his eyes to see Technoblade had moved onto the attack to distract Ari. Techno’s eyes blazed with an anger and possessiveness the other two hadn’t seen in him before.
“Come on n’ fight Ari.” He growled, barring his tusked teeth with his ears pinned to his light pink hair. He gripped his sword tightly and his red eyes flicked around prepared for any attacker.
“So protective all of a sudden. I wonder why.” But a look in Ari’s eye said she knew exactly why, and that was something Technoblade couldn’t let stand. He charges aggressively, forcing Ari to yet again transform into a dove to get away.
“I know you can fight me! Come on n’ do it! You’ve only got ten minutes.” Technoblade yelled. The dove morphed back into Ari and she fell to the ground and launched herself at Techno. Whilst the pig hybrid had technique, Ari played dirty- years in and out of prison teaching her to fight hand to hand.
Technoblade was clearly physically stronger than Ari, but she fought with that in mind, redirecting blows instead of blocking them. With her focus shifted to the fight, Wilbur was able to push on the offense mentally, prying into her mind.
“What were you talking about?” he asked. “What am I missing!” Ari’ mind responded in blurs- she was clearly trying to hide the truth. But one image stood out. It was a picture frame that had been shattered. Voices whispered around it with the memory.
“This is stupid! They will get hurt! They could die!”
“I will protect them. They weren’t in any more peral now than before.”
“Put them in an orphanage. Get someone else to take the two.”
“Who else could?”
“I- I’d do it.”
“Yes I’m gonna give two kids to a killer.”
“I- you know that was long ago. I was just confused. I didn’t- it wasn’t intentional.”
“You can’t talk me out of this.”
“Then you're a fool.”
Wilbur couldn’t discern one of the voices, but the other was clearly Ari pleading to take someone. The frame had two young boys in it. Everything was blurry, but one looked oddly like Wilbur- yet he couldn’t remember taking a picture like that. The boy next to him had pink hair. Pink. Was it T-
“TIME’S UP! Karl yelled out. Wilbur came back into reality to see that Technoblade was having to be pried away from Ari, as he was still attacking her. The crowd was cheering and WIlbur was ushered away. His thoughts sinking back into his mind.