Chapter 23
Harry glanced up at the stands, barely hearing the noise of the songs and the cheers as he searched out the faces of his friends and family in the crowd. He saw them all and took a deep breath as he turned to look at Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman, McGonagall standing next to him and Cedric, the other headmasters standing next to their own charges.
“In the centre of the maze is a cup,” Mr. Crouch began, and Harry swallowed past the sickness. He just wanted all of this to be over. “In order to win, you must reach it, and upon taking up the prize, you will be declared winner, and the tournament at an end.” The man impressed, what Harry had come to realize was a customary scowl in place.
“Now, if you find yourself in trouble, send a signal into the sky. Help will be sent for you.” His visage grew grim as he met the gaze of each champion. “You have never experienced anything like the maze, and you will not again. Many have gone mad within its confines.”
Harry grit his teeth against the fear, and felt McGonagall’s hand tighten on his shoulder. He lifted his hand to cover hers.
“Let’s get this over with.” He muttered, and though Mr. Crouch glared at him, he didn’t argue.
“Very well then. Let the final task begin.”
>>>
Steve glanced up at the full moon as he looked over his friends - his family. Tonight they were more than that though, tonight they were a team, and their mission was to protect their kid and all the other children being put in danger alongside him.
He tapped the device in his ear, checking the channel, and listened to all the confirmations.
“Alright. Remus, Sirius, Newt, head for the maze. Clint, Sam, let’s get up into the stands. Natasha, James, you know what to do.”
There was noises of confirmation and Steve’s gaze swept over the crowd, watching the members of his team fan out and disappear.
“Bruce, Tony, I want you on the far side. Something isn’t sitting right.”
“Roger that.” Came Tony’s voice, and he watched them disappear as well. Steve frowned, watching the proceedings down below, and had no idea the dread he felt was the very same Harry was feeling.
He braced for the worst.
>>>
Newt followed Remus and Sirius until they were far enough along the side of the maze to change without detection. Remus was sweating and pale, but he was managing well.
“Alright then, my friend, here we are.”
It was with a barely concealed cry of relief that Remus doubled over, form stretching almost instantaneously.
Sirius shifted in the same instance, and they both watched as Remus finished the transformation, sniffing the air before grunting at them both. With a wave of his wand, Newt guided the nano frame to shift, creating an opening for the three of them to slip inside the maze.
It hadn’t been Newt’s original intention, to go in with them, but his intuition told him he’d be needed. He’d never doubted his intuition before and he wasn’t about to start now.
>>>
Natasha’s eyes scanned the people at the base of the stands, those special few allowed closer to the champions than most. She could feel that sense of something off and she just knew that if she could find it, she could solve the puzzle of just who’d been throwing all the curves at Harry.
Motion caught her attention at the edge of her senses and she turned towards it, watching something - no, someone - step deeper into the shadows under the stands.
She waited a beat, not wanting to be seen following, before slipping into the shadows, senses alert for any danger.
It was barely a whisper - more of a sixth sense than anything - but Natasha spun, knife in hand - but it wasn't enough. Two spells hit her one after the other, the first a stunner that scraped over her nerves, but she pushed against it, baring her teeth.
“Imperio.” The word curled through her thoughts even as her limbs froze in place, and she screamed, but no sound comes out. She felt her body go slack, saw the ex-auror Moody step from the shadows, but she couldn't move.
The sound of the horn sending the contestants into the maze sounded but she couldn't so much as turn around. Moody approached and something in his face shifted - skin rippling like water, and she realized with some horror that her suspicion had been right. She’d known something was off about the man, but with all the stress of the tournament and preparing Harry, they hadn’t looked as deep as they would have otherwise.
Terror unlike anything she’d felt in decades slipped through her as he stepped right up to her, regarding her with all the interest of a cat intent on playing with its food.
“This should keep you out of the way for now.” He muttered, teeth showing in a mockery of a smile. Natasha screamed again, but again, no sound came out.
>>>
James saw the moment Natasha slipped off, following something, and his instincts screamed to follow her. He could see her, just an outline, but enough to know her position.
He watched her go still - too still - even as the first horn went off, and he wanted nothing more than to go to her - to help - because something was clearly wrong.
Even as he took a step in her direction, the second horn went off, and he glanced back in time to watch Harry dart into the maze.
He cursed, hands clenching in fists even as he turned on his heels, stalking towards the maze and the entry point they’d prepared just for this occasion.
He wanted to slip into the stands - wanted to see what had made her stop dead like that, but he knew without a doubt what her choice would be if he were to ask her what she’d want him to choose. And damnit, he liked the kid. Cared for him too.
With that in mind, he headed into the maze, mouth set in a grim line.
He promised, both himself and her, that if she wasn’t alright when he returned, he’d make the one responsible pay in blood.
He didn’t deny himself the truth behind the promise. He’d enjoy every second of it.