Chapter 10

Harry stood staring at the great wooden door leading to the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom. He tried to sum up the courage to knock at the door and ask for the Marauders Map. It had been a couple of days since Moody had asked him to borrow the map and those days had passed excruciatingly slowly without the map. Harry brought his hand up to the door and knocked on it waiting for a response.

When no response came he pushed the door slightly and peered inside. The classroom was empty so he decided to check Moody's office located at the back of the classroom. As Harry walked through the empty classroom he heard muffled voices. "Yes, as you wish," Moody's voice came from the classroom. Harry cautiously tiptoed his way over to the door and put his ear close to the door.

"I am working on it, surprisingly enough the boy does not seem to need much help," Moody said.

"Good, I want you to help him if you fell he is falling behind. If all goes well I will have a body once more." The other voice croaked as Harry absentmindedly rubbed his scar.

Harry slowly backed away from the door, sensing that the conversation was ending. Just as he was about to step out of the room he heard a voice behind him. "Mr Potter, may I ask what you are doing in my classroom." Harry froze, his heart pounding, had Moody known he was standing outside the door? After all his eye could see through his cloak. Harry slowly turned around, hoping Moody had not seen him eavesdropping. The professor stood tensely looking at him, his spinning blue eye looking hastily put on. "I had come to the classroom to ask for the map, but did not see you so I decided to leave." A pale Harry stuttered out and to his relief, Moody seemed to relax.

"Come on in then," Moody said turning around and limping towards his office. Harry slowly followed trying to decide between running out or joining Moody. Realizing that running away would only serve to make Moody more suspicious he followed the ex-auror. Harry entered the office to see the professor taking a seat behind his desk, the map laying on the professors desk. It was open to Dumbledore's office, the headmasters footsteps moving around mimicking his movements. Harry looked up to face Moody, who currently sat adjusting his eye.

"Sorry, thought there was an intruder so I had to rush to put the eye on." Once the eye was adjusted, Moody looked at him, "Now why is it you need the map back? It is a very important resource."

Harry had worried that Moody would refuse to return the map. "Well I needed it for the task," Harry told Moody hoping to convince the man.

Moody nodded, "So you have deciphered the clues then, well then what's your strategy?"

Harry felt himself cornered, he had not thought that the professor would be interested in the task.

"Don't tell me that you don't have a strategy, how are you going to win if you do not plan beforehand." Moody looked at him slightly frustrated by Harry's actions.

"Well I had thought that the map would help me lead the way to wherever the objects are hidden."

"Thats a good start, you will get through the forest. But what happens when you reach the water? How will you breathe underwater?" Moody asked Harry, purposely informing Harry of the tasks.

Underwater? There was an underwater part to the task? He had thought that the task would be on land, perhaps in the Forbidden Forest. "What are your strengths?" Moody asked Harry interrupting his thoughts. Harry decided not to tell Moody of his strengths, he just could not trust the man. "You have the map which will help you find the thing which will be taken, you just need to find a way to use it underwater if necessary. "

Harry just nodded, he would have to talk to Flitwick and Sirius about the task to get a better idea.

"Now just head to library and look for some spells to help you underwater and if you require anymore help just come to my office." Moody said dismissing him.

Harry stood up from his chair and cleared his throat. "Sir, the map?"

"Oh yes, here you go Potter," Moody picked up the map and handed it to him with a grin, making his face look more frightening. Harry took the map and walked out of the office, heading for the library.

Harry sat at a desk, several books open in front of him. He had been trying to decipher the clues. While Moody had given him much of the task, Harry still had to decipher the rest. He looked to the parchment upon which he had scribbled the clue down.

Come to where the ground meets the sky

To start your journey before you fly

Something has been taken of yours

Guarded by creatures of old lore

If time comes to a stop

Perhaps its time to give it up

Th first line had taken some time for him to understand but he now knew it referred to the forest which could be seen at the horizon from the castle. The task itself was timed and whatever would be taken would be guarded by creatures much like the first task. He needed to find out what would be taken and what would guard the thing.

He tried to remember what Moody had said, he had to use the map underwater. So whatever would be taken would be on visible on the Marauders Map, meaning most likely a person would be taken. But what would be guarding the person? He had tried to find a copy of A History of Hogwarts but the only copy had been checked out by Hermione.

Harry closed the book in frustration, there was not a single mention of creatures at Hogwarts. He already knew about the centaurs and acromantulas as well as unicorns, but surely there had to be more. He got up from his chair deciding to decipher the rest at a later time. As he picked up the books, something caught his eye. He looked up and found the sun shining off of shiny blonde hair. Upon closer inspection he discovered the hair to belong to Fleur, who currently sat in the library madly scribbling notes on a piece of parchment.

Interested in what she was writing he grabbed the book he needed, leaving the rest on the table and walked over to Fleur. "Good Afternoon Fleur," Harry said startling the french champion. After much thought Harry had decided to give her a second chance, after all he had given Ron and Hermione many before. It had been Sirius' words which had convinced him, he did not want to push away everyone and become friendless. After all he had been friendless for the better part of his early life.

"Ello 'Arry, please have a seet." She said motioning towards the seat facing her. Harry sat down, trying to see the what book she was reading. "'Ow are you?" she asked, a smile visible on her face.

"I'm fine, just doing some research." Harry said to her, "How's your research going?"

"Eet's good, much better than ze first task. Thees one requires some theenking." She said happily.

Harry nodded agreeing with her assessment of the task. While researched he had read up on previous tasks and had discovered that the first task relied on courage and quick thinking. The second was dependent on deciphering clues and working under a time restraint while the third was a task that the host school would decide.

"So what is Beauxbatons like?" Harry asked Fleur trying to make small talk.

Fleur got this look in her eye and started describing Beauxbaton in detail. As she told him about the palace like school by the river Harry strained his eyes trying to read her notes. Her writing was in french but there were some odd words that seemed familiar to him. He turned his attention instead to the book's title, 'Magical Creatures of Europe'.

"'Arry?" Fleur asked making Harry look away from the book and at Fleur instead.

"Sorry just lost in thought," Harry said as he noted the name of the book to read it on a later date.

"Eet's alright," she said to him.

"I have to get back to research now," Harry said as he raised himself from the seat. He was eager to get his hands on the book if another copy was available.

The House elves all ran around busy preparing the evening feast while Harry sat watching them amusedly. He took a treacle tart off of the plate lying in front of him and took a bite out of it, savouring the taste.

As he was about to put the small tart back onto the plate, he suddenly felt a whack on the back of his head forcing him to jerk forward. Harry saw something blur above him and in an instant he drew his wand and pointed it at the object.

It was then he realized that the object was just an owl who now glaring at him. It gave a hoot and lifted its legs which had a package tied on it. Harry took the package from the owl and tried to rufflw its feathers only to be bit by the owl.

The brown barn owl gave an indignant hoot before flying off trying to hit Harry again. Harry ducked his head and turned his attention to the package. It was in wrapped brown paper with a string keeping the paper in place. Between the paper and the string was a piece of parchment with his name written in Hagrid's untidy scrawl. Harry untied the knot and grabbed the letter, eager to read it.

Dear Harry,

I hope the preparation for the task is going well. I found out you were looking for a book or two to on the magical creatures of Britain. In the package I sent you, you'll find a book which I used in my first couple of years at Hogwarts. It is what made me interested in monsters. Hope you enjoy the book and come visit me seometime.

From Hagrid,

P.S. Be sure to attend next class I have something fun planned.

Harry groaned at the thought of what Hagrid had planned. His idea of fun tended to be something dangerous. Harry put the letter down and opened the package and found a well used book. He opened it to a random page and found the margins to be littered with Hagrid's writing. Harry searched through the pages and found a section on Hogwarts and started scanning through the pages.

Hagrid's notes provided much insight on creatures at Hogwarts. Harry was surprised by the amount of creatures who called Hogwarts home, Before Harry knew it, it was time for him to go to his lesson with Flitwick. He closed the book and shoved it into his bag. He raised himself from the wooden chair, walking to the edge of the kitchen and made his way up the narrow staircase.

The hidden door opened and Harry found himself facing his former friends. At the sight of them he felt all his emotions from that night return. Before either could utter a word, Harry walked between them. "Harry wait," Hermione's voice came from behind him.

Harry stopped in his steps, his grip on his anger releasing. "What do you want?" He asked, already regretting on choosing to stay to hear them out.

"We wanted to apologize," Hermione started, "What we did was wrong."

Harry snorted, "And it took you this long to figure it out."

"Look mate-"

"We are not mates Ron. We stopped being mates when you decided to kick me out of the Gryffindor Common Room. When you decided that I was lying to you. When you decided to leave me alone." Harry said, each sentence more forceful than the other.

Ron's face became red with embarrassment but before he could say a word Hermione spoke up. "But Harry we're your friends, you have to forgive us."

The already loose grip on his anger started going away. "I have to forgive you?" He asked rhetorically. "And why should I do that," Harry's said to her in a cold voice. "You know Hermione I expected better from you. I could understand Ron but you, I never expected this from you."

Hermione stepped back, as if struck by Harry's words. "When we became friends I never expected any of you would abandon me, after all I never did. But this is it, I am sick and tired of you guys leaving me when I need you the most and coming back when you find it convenient. So please just do me a favour and leave me alone." Without waiting for another word Harry turned around and stormed down the hallway to the Room of Requirement.

By the time Harry reached the entrance of the Room of Requirement his anger had only increased. He walked past the door three times, trying hard to ignore his anger but failing to do so. It took longer then usual but eventually the door appeared. Harry grabbed the handle and yanked it open. He took his bag off his shoulders and tossed it across the room.

Professor Flitwick sat on a couch reading a large book, everything already set up for the lesson. "Ah Mr Potter your here," he said as he put the book away. "I was waiting for you. What do you want to start with?"

Harry took out his wand from his holster, "Target practice." Harry moved to the target area and readied himself.

Flitwick flicked his wand causing the targets to start moving around. He turned his attention to the boy watching the targets with calculating eyes. Harry was troubled if his tenseness was any clue. Something had happened and Flitwick would have to find out what it was.

"Mr Potter, less power more precision." Flitwick shouted as Harry cast spell after spell at the various targets moving around in the room. He tried to do as Flitwick told but flashes of his meeting with Ron and Hermione kept repeating in his head, further angering him. The last target was blown up by an overpowered reducto, changing the solid object into dust.

All of a sudden the tiredness caught up with him and Harry felt the exhaustion take over. He continued to breathe hard trying to catch his breath and made his way over to the couch, slumping onto it. "Mr Potter if you continue like this you will exhaust yourself during a duel and lose." Flitwick said to Harry as he sat on the couch beside him.

Harry nodded, unable to speak. "What happened Mr Potter, you normally are good at following instructions."

"It's nothing professor," Harry said to a concerned Flitwick.

"Something must-"

"It nothing," Harry interrupted the professor. He closed his eyes and massaged his temple. The meeting had affected him more than he had wanted to admit. Why could they just not leave him alone.

"Harry listen to me, I am here to help. Tell me if something has happened." Flitwick said to Harry, trying to convince the boy.

Harry sighed, maybe the professor was right. Perhaps he was trying too hard to do things which he would do better in leaving alone. Wanting to avoid telling the professor of his meeting, he told him instead of his meeting with Moody. Flitwick listened on with interest, surprised by what he was hearing.

"I will keep an eye on him Harry, theres no need for you to worry. By what you are telling Moody does seem suspicious so please be careful around him." Flitwick said to a nodding Harry. "Now perhaps we should talk about the second task, have you deciphered the clue?"

"Well Moody did give much of it away and looking at the clue it was pretty obvious. Hagrid sent me a book on creatures so I am hoping that that will help." Harry said to the Ravenclaw Head.

"I would advise you to come up with a strategy quickly and as Alastor said play to your strengths. Do not worry about what the creatures are, just focus on the spells." Flitwick advised Harry, "Now shall we move onto some new spells?" Flitwick asked as he took his wand out.

AN1: I know I promised this chapter a long time ago, but complication with the chapter and real life caused me to put it on hold. On top of that it was just a pain to write this one, after many rewrites, this version came out. I am sorry for the wait, hope you guys enjoyed this one. I wanted to give you guys warning that Chapter 11 will take some time as it is the second task but I will work hard to not take to long. Please read and review, thanks again.