Hey everyone,
IMPORTANT UPDATE! This will be the last month where I will be updating all 14 stories at the end of every month. I am just going to do the same thing everyone else does; either fully finish a story and then post the full thing or finish a chapter and then post it once it's written. However, there are stories, like to Read Into The Universe, where I will probably try to finish the whole thing and edit out the mistakes and whatnot and only then post the finished product.
I'm sorry if this upsets some of you, but I know about myself that I NEED to do this. Over the course of the last few months, I just haven't felt as if I have given these stories the attention they deserve and while I am happy with some stories and how some chapters are written, do I just feel lost and disappointed looking back on others. I'm just starting to feel like thinking: "I could have done better." when looking back at some of the chapters I wrote, so I made this decision. Onto the story.
THIS IS IT! After a chapter that was, to be honest, completely unexpected and not planned for when I was first planning out this story, we are finally here! I know that this story started with the Choosing of Champions and part of me feels amazed that I managed to get to the Third Task in only 27 chapters, but at the same time I am glad to have reached it. This story is probably going to end sometime between chapter 30 and 35.
So close,

Venquine1990
PS. I made a mistake last chapter. First I said it was Starlight who checked the pony forms of the Weasleys and then made it Celestia. I plan to change Starlight to Celestia later for story reasons. Sorry about that.
Shout-Out To:
Jostanos
Yaw613
Deadtoke14
WhiteEagle1985

Chapter 28
The Third Task

24th of June 1995
Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts
Harry's POV

Mum and dad actually demanded that I spend the week after they reunited with their friends with them and while I had really wanted to just continue training, did I still really enjoy myself as we took the time of the whole week to get to know each other even more than we did the past few months. And afterwards, when I started training again, I discovered that picking up the pace was a lot easier than I expected and that I got a lot stronger a lot quicker.
It made me realize that the way I had been pushing myself had actually almost caused a backwards effect and I had made sure to thank my parents for their sudden intervention. Yet the closer we get to the Third Task, the more I hate it with each passing minute as it makes Amber want to spend less and less time with me. "I don't want my bad luck to affect your chances at preparing." She had constantly told me and while I very much doubted that she had that much bad luck, had I lovingly accepted her need to do this, yet not without a compromise.

"I don't want you being alone either, it could make people like Crouch or worse try something similar to the Second Task. Promise me that you will be with someone, anyone, at every waking minute. The only location I want you on your own is the bathroom. I'm sorry, but if you won't let me be near to protect you, you have to agree to these terms. I won't risk you, not again." I had firmly told her and the girl had begrudgingly agreed.
Luckily enough Professor Sprout had been in full agreement with me and had understood where I was coming from. She had made sure that Amber made some new friends and even Cedric had promised me to keep an eye out for my Special Somebody – or marefriend as I have started calling her after Princess Celestia did her Pony-test – whenever he had the chance. And slowly but surely, everyone else in Hufflepuff started doing the same.
Amber was a little annoyed with this, but also told me she felt touched that suddenly she was cared for by so many people, people who had previously wanted nothing to do with her. And while she had also admitted that she felt the same way about the many friends of my parents, did we all understand why it was so special and important to my marefriend that these people were of her own House. And that knowledge had reassured me a little bit more.

It's now the twenty-fourth, Cedric, Fleur and Viktor have spent the day with their families, my dad actually had to have an argument with Mr. Diggory about me being bested by Cedric and the Weasleys had also visited. Yet they had come with some bad news. Percy wasn't willing to come along; he wanted to stay in England and become the Minister's Assistant. It had really broken Mrs. Weasley's heart, but Mr. Weasley had helped her accept it.
"There will always be ways for us to visit, Molly. This isn't goodbye forever. You know we'll be back to watch Fred, George and Ginny off to Hogwarts next September. We can visit him after doing so." The man had gently told his wife and the twins had actually amazed both of them. "Here. We made this. Lord Discord, Sirius and Professor Lupin helped us. They're Two-Way mirrors that actually work between Earth and Equestria."
Fred had told his mother and George said: "You can give the other one to Percy. We already tested it and it works perfectly. Princesses Luna and Celestia use them as well to keep in contact when they're both awake and all. So do Applejack and her grandmother, Granny Smith. We had some start-up issues, but those were a month ago." At this Mrs. Weasley had looked at her sons and they shrugged: "We wanted to use them to help convince you."

But while it had definitely been fun to be around the Weasleys and my own family and while Dad had actually snapped everyone who wasn't going to help with the Task home early, had I been tense with anticipation and concern the entire time, even though I did try to hide it. But now I'm at the Pitch, standing at the entrance of the maze, and no longer feel the need to do this. And so a stern frown of concern is on my face.
My horns are also shaking in anticipation and it takes a lot of out of me not to snap them together and cause something to happen. I had a few times while waiting here even wanted to just snap them and make the whole maze disappear, but I wasn't even sure if I was strong enough for that. And so I decided against it and to just use my magic for whatever the maze would throw at me. Still, I have one factor that helps me calm down somewhat.
Fleur, Krum and Cedric all have the same frowns on their faces as I do and the fact that they are taking this just as seriously makes me feel a little more confident, reassures me that I am not alone in this, even if some people might want me to feel like that. "Voldemort is definitely at the top of that list." I think to myself, but then suddenly get shocked when I feel a strong and familiar form of magic float up high above me.

All four of us look up and I notice a dome of cotton-candy pink settling itself over our location. "Looks like your dad put the dome up. Guess that means that, even if the Cup is messed with, we won't be taken who-knows-where." Cedric mutters and I nod, yet the fact that my dad is now out for the count makes my stomach feel as if it got tied in a knot. I take a deep breath and think: "It's one for one. Their Port Key for my dad's ability to move about."
Dumbledore, who banned both Crouch and Bagman from attending after they continuously refused to take responsibility for their actions and actually got the Goblet of Fire to agree to this, then takes his position at the owl stand that has been set in the middle of the small bit of the Quidditch Arena that is still left and amplifies his voice, summarizing everything that happened in the last two tasks before he asks: "Champions, are you ready?"
Instantly I bend down through my hooves and take a position that will allow me to dash ahead and take a running leap, at which point I will fly through most of the maze. This was something mum asked me as there might be magical creatures coming from every angle and by standing in the center of the pathway I would be better able to combat or, if possible, avoid them. And because of my end goal, do I prefer the latter.

Yet while I take this stance, do I know that I am going to have to enter last as I have the lowest amount of points out of us all. And to see the other three dash into the Maze, only for the magical shrubbery to then grow up and block the entrance from them makes the knots twist themselves even more inside of me, making it harder for me not to snap my horns.
I look up instead and take solace and reassurance at seeing Rainbow Dash, Spitfire, Soarin, Silver Heart, Cadance, Starlight and Trixie up there, even if most of them are enchanted to be visible only to my eyes and that of the other champions. I know mum also wanted to be up there, but dad asked her to stay with him. And because mum worries over us both equally, did she agree, yet the Crusaders promised to keep the contact between us going.
And while I try to keep my mind on the plan, on the fact that Cedric and the others agreed to help us, on the fact that Amber is safely away and inside the trunk awaiting my return, on the fact that I have so much help in keeping me and the others safe and on the fact that there is a dome of dad's magic protecting me, do I still feel uneasy as I enter the maze myself at last.

A little while later
Cedric's POV

I have been regretting entering my name in this blasted tournament for a while now. I knew this Tournament wasn't going to be easy and I knew this maze would be the pinnacle of difficult, but there was one thing in particular that made me hate my decision. Harry was right. Someone is trying to get him to be the first to reach the end of the maze and then use the Cup to abduct him. And while we planned to work together, has that plan already failed.
Viktor, a few minutes after we all split up after meeting various paths that forced us to do so as otherwise we'd just be backtracking or ending up on dead ends, actually met up with me again. He had forced himself through a horrible bush that had tried to strangle him while he did so, but while I had helped him pass, had he tried to attack me right after. And only a metal hoof to the head from Soarin had knocked the man out.
I had wanted to attack him, but Starlight had been with Soarin and shouted: "DON'T! HE'S UNDER SOME KIND OF SPELL! HE'S NOT HIMSELF!" And instantly I shouted back: "The Imperius! It's a Mind-controlling spell, highly illegal! Warn the teachers!" And the Unicorn had used her magic to teleport straight to the edge of the maze while Soarin had asked me: "You know what this means, right?" And I had grimly said: "Yeah, we're not alone here."

Yet I had denied his offer to have me fly further on his back and said: "Go watch the others. Join them in watching Fleur. If I'm right, then the culprit will try and deal with her next, because they'll think she's alone." Soarin had not been happy and had waited until Starlight had teleported back before following with my request. And just a few minutes ago, I had heard news that confirmed my beliefs and my fears at the same time.
Trixie, Cadance and Soarin had joined Starlight and Trixie told us that someone had cast a spell to tie Fleur up just as she was reaching a part of the maze that was filled with Devil Snare. Cadance had used her Crystal Magic to dispel the vines and Trixie had teleported the poor Veela, who had in her fear lost control of her own fire magic and gotten badly burned all over, straight to the Hospital Wing before teleporting back here.

And while I am sure that some might call it cheating, had I been very grateful for all of their help after this, especially with the Accromantula that had tried to sneak up on me. Yet while Soarin had managed to knock it into the air and Trixie had kicked it into another path, had we cringed and grimaced later as we suddenly heard someone very familiar cursing up a storm. "Crap, we knocked that thing straight into Harry's path."
I thought and Trixie had whimpered: "Discord is going to kill me!" But I had reassured her and said: "Harry can handle it. You know as well as I do how well he can transfigure something into something else. He probably turned that beast into a daisy or something." And this image had cheered us all up. Yet the thought that, now, it's just Harry and me is a sobering one and then suddenly a pathway opens to my side.
I hesitate at this, but then Cadance says: "Take it. It leads straight to the Cup! It's safe, Cedric!" And on that reassurance do I dash through. Yet halfway through the path do I notice how some of the leaves in front of me look sharper than others and are sticking out from the rest of the hedges of the maze. This worries me and I aim my wand as I shout: "Arresto Momentum!" And just in time as, upon me trying to pass, the leaves try to shoot out.
And behind them I notice razor sharp vines and branches. Yet while my spell makes the vines slow down in their attack, do I still crouch and slide down underneath them all. I feel my robe tear and my skin sliding over the gruffy underground and wince at this. And when I reach the other side, do I turn around and quickly snap: "Evanesco Blood!" Not willing to leave any of it behind as dad always warned me about Blood Rituals.

"Sorry about that Cedric." Cadance apologizes, but I shake my head and say: "At least this will prove that I am getting to the Cup on at least some of my own strength and skill. Let's go. I'm kind of hoping to get there before Harry and yet not at the same time." The four equestrians nod and then suddenly Trixie and Starlight lower themselves. "We want to preserve some of our energy, in case it comes down to a fight or something."
Starlight explains and I give them both a grateful smile. We then all start dashing for the Cup and to my slight relief I indeed spot not sign of Harry upon arrival. I look at the Cup and feel the urge and need to go reach for it, only to have Starlight reach her hoof out. "Remember, we need to wait for Harry to come. It's him they want." This annoys me and I ask: "Then why wait? Why not take the Cup and save him?"
"Because he trained for that fight, you trained for this maze." Trixie says and I sigh as I give the mare right. And luckily enough Harry arrives only a few minutes later, yet he is panting as he does. "I – I took out Pettigrew. He was – was the one to – to attack Fleur. He – he tried to escape in – in his rat form, but – but passed my path on the way. I – I struck him down and – and when that – that beast appeared, I – I used him as bait."

This makes me wince and Soarin asks: "Did it work?" And Harry regains his breath as he says: "Yeah, though he survived. I changed the beast into a part of the hedge maze just as he took his first bite out of Pettigrew. Though I'm sure the guy's dying anyway, that Accromantula obviously had its poison strengthened by something." This makes me both glad I didn't have to face it and feel even worse that we put Harry up with it.
Harry himself turns to the Cup and sighs as he mutters: "So, I guess this is it." And while it's not worded as a question, do I still find myself nodding. Harry turns to the others and says: "Go. Tell dad. Now that I took care of Pettigrew, Junior might try to take his rage out on him. I know mum's protecting him, but –." The boy falters here and we all understand instantly. And while I can tell that they don't like it, does Starlight teleport them away.
"Was that really the best idea?" I can't help but ask and Harry sighs as he says: "It was. I've been feeling uneasy ever since I entered this maze. And its magic is working havoc on mine. I'm exhausted not because of the challenges, but because I'm on the verge of losing control. Cedric, I – I'm sorry, but I can only allow you – and yes, I will fight you if you force my hoof – to take the Cup under one condition." This really annoys me and I grumble:
"What?""That you allow me to use the last bit of magic that I still control to create a forcefield around you. I'll then move that forcefield towards the Cup and make this a – sort-of – Hogwarts victory. I know I represent Equestria, but considering I'm going home right after this, I might as well do my best to make it a Hogwarts one. It's the least I can do now that Crouch and Pettigrew have ruined my plans for a school-wide victory." The boy grumbles in the end and I feel myself agreeing with him as I think: "This is for Viktor and for Fleur."

Harry's POV

Cedric nods at me and I notice a look on his face that proves that there is a small side of him that just wants to fight and take the Cup and with that the glory for Hufflepuff. Still I can't help but feel grateful for the fact that, even now, with the chance to elevate the honor of his House so close to being in his grasp, he is still able and willing to take this situation – and the situation that surrounds it – as seriously as he is.
I feel my magic coursing through me, tingling every sense and nerve inside me and trying to reach out wherever possible, making my whole body be constantly tense as I fight back on this need, trying with all my might to keep the belief strong that we are this close to being safe, this close to being done with all of this. I take a deep breath and grunt as I try to breath out just when my magic tries to spike again and mutter: "Alright, here goes."
And while forcing as much of my hazardous magic back and focusing on only a small portion of it and willing that portion to submit to my will, do I give the softest of taps of my horns to make sure I only release the bit of magic that I still control. A forcefield made of sky-blue magic comes to swirl around Cedric, making him shortly lose his footing, yet he regains himself. And to my relief, does the forcefield go all the way round, even below his feet.

"Alright, Cedric, you ready? If I'm wrong and all this is safe now, then I'll release the forcefield as soon as we get back to the pitch. If I'm right, I need – need – you to cast an extra shield spell in my direction, power up the side of the forcefield that is aimed at me, got that. I only used a small bit of my magic, so I can't say for sure if the forcefield will protect you against the rest of it." Cedric nods at this and I move myself beside him.
And with my wing stretched out to the side, do I start to push his ball towards the cup. Yet as we get closer, do I feel like a voice is whispering inside my mind. "Leave him. He's powerless. He's a burden. He's a loser. You're the winner. Take the cup. Claim your victory." I shake my head at this and growl as I think: "Damnit! It's Crouch. He must be somewhere nearby." And this reminds me of everything that has happened so far.
My name in the Cup, the Dragon, my friends and marefriend ending up at the bottom of the Black Lake, this damned maze, that Accromantula that had its poison worsened, Fleur and Krum. Even Ron springs to mind and for a second I find myself wondering if perhaps Junior was behind my former best friend ending up the way he did. But this thought gets negated by the next: "No, Ron was growing horrible even after Junior Apparated to escape the Dementors.

That was all him." And yet I catch myself feeling a pang of pain and hurt over this, making me realize that a small part of me, probably spurred on by Mrs. Weasley telling us of Ron's good deeds over the past few months, still really misses the boy who was not only once my closest friend, but also the first person my age to be nice to me. "Focus, Harry. Remember, Ron got offered a spot at Celestia's school. And unlike Percy, he didn't decline."
And with that thought, do I cross the last bit of distance between myself and the Cup, making sure to give Cedric's ball the push it needs to reach the Cup just as I reach for it myself with my other wing. Yet as I do, do my eyes widen as I also notice a hand appearing out of nowhere and grasping the cup alongside my wing. "HARRY!" Cedric yells, but it's too late and the next thing I know a world of swirling colors overwhelms me.
Yet while it only lasts a second and gets stopped by a forceful push against something that feels magically solid, do I also feel something else. All of the magic that I had pushed back to conjure Cedric's forcefield breaks through my control and rushes to my head. And as I fearfully realize that I had snapped my horns upon spotting the hand, do I yell: "CEDRIC, NOW!" Before my world becomes a myriad of colors – again.

Cedric's POV

Everything happens so fast. I spot the hand, feel the sensation of a Port Key overtake the forcefield I'm in, but luckily enough not break it and hear Harry yell my name just as we get blocked from traveling further by his father's forcefield. And because I had turned to him upon yelling myself, do I instantly see why he yelled at me. His whole body is alight with the same sky-blue color as the forcefield around me and his eyes are glowing.
Instantly I cast a shield spell to increase the strength of the forcefield and not a minute to soon as Harry's eyes shine so brightly, his pupils and the sclera of his eyes have vanished and been replaced with a bright light that comes from his very eyeballs. And a second later a burst of incredibly powerful, dangerous and chaotic magic bursts out of the young colt, breaking my shield, but luckily enough not the forcefield around me.
I recast my spell, this time putting in more power, if only so I can further reassure Harry that I kept myself safe from his magic and then notice it. Harry's magic hasn't just rushed at me, it also rushed at the hand, which I now see is attached to a man who's eyes actually have a strange and hollow look to them. Yet it takes me a bit to realize that while this isn't Harry casting the Imperius Curse or something, it's still the colt's magic at work.

I want to turn to Harry and do something to calm him down, reassure him and let him know that the danger has passed, but my forcefield is being moved away from him. And because I don't want to lower my shield in order to reverse this, do I suddenly stop moving. I look behind me and notice that I have reached one of the outer walls of the arena. This makes me remember what Lord Discord covered his forcefield with; just the Quidditch pitch alone.
I sigh in relief and think: "Okay, I'm probably far away enough from Harry now that, with or without the forcefield, his magic can't harm me. So I should be able to lower my wand and cast some kind of magic to calm Harry down." Yet just when I lower my shield to do exactly that, do my eyes widen as suddenly Princess Luna appears behind Harry. I want to yell at her and scream at her to look out for Harry's magic, but she seems unaffected.
The Alicorn princess lights up her horn and touches Harry's head with it as she mumbles: "Sleep, little colt." And to my astonishment does Harry collapse on himself, his breathing steadying out and proving that he is indeed fast asleep. Princess Luna looks up and spots me. And with her horn lighting up again, do I feel the forcefield popping out around me. "You've done well to make it this far, Cedric Diggory. Now, care to help me with my charge?"
I nod at her, feeling incredibly grateful and at awe for how she flawlessly helped Harry end his magic getting the better of him. The ethereal mare motions for the Cup and Crouch and says: "Take this man back to the pitch and tell the staff what happened. Do not speak of Harry losing control of his magic. Tell them that Harry protected the both of you and that it was me who broke Crouch's mind. As the Princess of dreams, I have that power. It will be believable."

I nod at this, not at all feeling any guilt or shame over lying to officials and the mare smiles at me gently as she says: "You may, of course, tell those close to you of what truly happened, but only in close quarters and only if you are 220% certain that you will not be overheard." I nod again and walk over. But when I reach Crouch and the Cup, do I notice that Luna is still standing over Harry protectively, but hasn't moved.
"Ehm, aren't you coming?" I ask and the Princess shakes her head as she says: "I'm taking Harry back to the trunk. We are leaving Hogwarts tonight. We will return for England on his birthday, when he comes to pick up those who have decided to try their luck in life in Equestria instead of continuing here. Harry himself might return on the First of September, unless he so desires to indeed take my sister up on her offer to enlist in her school."
This shocks me and the mare smiles as she says: "Your parents were also given this chance, Cedric Diggory, though we assured them that we did not desire to enact these plans until after this treacherous tournament was over. We will be visiting your home as well on the thirty-first of the seventh month. For now, please do as I asked. The longer you stay here with that Cup, the longer Discord needs to keep up this forcefield of his to ensure your safe return."

This makes me cringe as I had completely forgotten about that while listening to her tale and I think to myself: "Three, two, one." As I reach one arm out to Crouch and the other to the Cup. My world dissolves into color and a crazy amount of sounds once again, this time taking much longer, and when it stops, does it get replaced with a new cacophony of sounds only a minute later, one that makes me let go of both and slam my hands on my ears.
"WINNER CEDRIC –!" But before the Headmaster can finish, do I yell over him: "HARRY POTTER OF EQUESTRIA!" And this silences everyone before someone in the audience yells: "But Potter's not even here!" And I yell back: "No, but if it weren't for him, his dad and Princess Luna, NEITHER WOULD I BE! JUNIOR WOULD HAVE KILLED ME!" This makes a lot of those around me shriek in shocked fright and Dumbledore states:
"Explain, Mr. Diggory." I take a deep breath, trying to regain myself after the sudden trip and the craziness of the last few minutes and state: "We reached the Cup almost simultaneously. Harry knew that this was it, this was going to be the whole reason he had been put into the Tournament. He suspected a Port Key, like his dad, and wanted me safe, so he cast a forcefield around me and then guided that to the Cup.
But as we both reached for it, so did someone else. And that someone turned out to be Crouch as, upon him bouncing off against the forcefield, his invisibility cloak or spell or whatever also fell off or got cancelled or something. And upon him realizing we weren't where he wanted us to be, he tried to kill me. I'll just kill the spare and then take Potter outside this forcefield. Can't have witnesses to my master's return, after all. He said."

Another wave of screams and screeches and while I can barely believe that I can think of a lie that sounds this believable this quickly, do I just continue: "But Harry wouldn't let him. He kept trying to change his wand into something else, forcing Crouch into the defensive. He also used his wing to blow me to the other side of the pitch, out of sight and reach of Crouch's spells. This made Crouch want to reach for Harry, but then Princess Luna arrived. She recognized Crouch and decided to, as she called it, pay him back for what he did to people she named F and A."
This makes some of those who have come to stand around me, Fleur and Krum included, who both seem to have healed just fine, nod in understanding and Professor McGonagall, who I feel should be heading for the Common room to check up on her lion or something, asks: "Then what happened?" And while I wonder if there will ever be magic powerful enough to prove what I have to say next wrong, do I just go on:
"She – I'm not entirely sure, but – she said she used magic that made Crouch be so far stuck in his own dreams or maybe the dreams within his dreams or something, that he'll never be able to come out. She said it was – it was magic even Lord Discord wouldn't dare to try and undo, though she also said that she didn't think he would want to either." And taking a quick look around, I try to hide a smile as it seems I convinced others of the same.

I take a deep breath and say: "After that she took a protective stance over Harry, who had been magically drained in his effort to keep Crouch distracted and she told me she would take Harry safely back home. She told me to go back with both Crouch and the cup and I did. But, it's still a fact. If it weren't for Harry, Lord Discord wouldn't have put up that forcefield and if he hadn't then – who knows where I would have ended up."
"But it's also because of Potter that you were almost taken, Mr. Diggory. So I think that properly negates any rights –." Fudge actually tries, yet telling my story has given me the chance to get some of my strength back and so I jump up and push myself to be nose to nose with the man as I yell: "ARE YOU BLEEDING SERIOUS! ARE YOU ACTUALLY DARING TO BLAME HARRY FOR THE ACTIONS OF A MADMAN!
Crouch was working for a murderer, I would have been dead if it weren't for him! How dare you try to slander his act of heroism like that! Harry won the Tournament! End of story, end of discussion, I am not accepting that trophy or anything else. Give it to Lord Discord, so he can give it to his son! It will be a nice official way to thank Harry for saving my life." And while the man splutters and stutters, do I storm off away from him.
Yet as I storm out of the pitch, which is still dead silent after I started explaining what Princess Luna had done, do I faintly notice two things. The forcefield above us splatters apart and actually drops down in the form of raindrops that suspiciously enough smell like chocolate. And the trophy of the Tri-Wizard Tournament flickers before it suddenly vanishes. This makes me leave the pitch and the tournament with a smile of triumph.

In the mean time
Inside the maze
Mysterious POV

I've been hiding myself this whole time, using the Time Turner I stole from McGonagall after finding out that she had never returned it to the Ministry upon Granger handing it back to her, to live three lives at the same time. One to train and observe so I can serve my master, one to fool others and one to get the sleep I need for both lives. This does mean that I can't exactly sleep in my own bed, but needs must when you want what I do.
And while the forcefield above me had annoyed and confused me, had it taken me only a few minutes of thinking before I realized its purpose. "It's to keep Port Keys from leaving the premise. This is Dumbledore messing with the Dark Lord. No, this is that filthy monster working for Dumbledore to mess with the Dark Lord." And while the thought of anyone messing with the Dark Lord aggravates me, do I try to keep my temper.

I cast magic to keep myself hidden, even from those filthy beasts that fly above the maze and are obviously meant to keep Potter and his loser cluster of friends/adversaries safe. "Too bad they're not keeping him safe from me." I think, yet I know why. I'm not after Potter himself, I'm just following him, making sure to step into his footsteps as to not leave any of my own and leave a mark that might be picked up on by those beasts.
Yet Potter has obviously been preparing himself and he actually beats every task and challenge that this wretched greenhouse lays out for him. To make matters worse do I spot him capturing Peter in his rat form and I curse the dumb beast for not checking his surroundings on his way out. Yet as the last few miles stretch out in front of me, do I suddenly feel as if a stroke of luck has finally come my way as Potter gets ambushed.
The beast attacks Potter or tries to, forcing Potter to crouch through his own filthy hooves and avoid the attack before he actually proves himself for the savage that he is. He throws Peter at the beast, distracting it long enough to give him a chance to curse it. And yet, as it turns to become part of this crazy tropical garden and as Potter just leaves Peter to die from the poisonous bite that the beast got onto it before being changed, do I smirk.

And after being super confident that Potter has turned the corner and left, after watching the filthy beasts fly away and out of sight, after making double sure that neither of them are close enough to spot me or sense my magic, do I release myself from my disguises and head over to my trophy. And while it's almost dried up, do I happily scoop up the few drops of blood that Potter lost from the branches that were on the path beneath him.
I spot Peter drawing his last breath and sigh as he could have helped and had been a useful spy from time to time, even listening in to those idiots to make sure I would know how to act around them. Yet I just move away, back the way I came and leaving the maze, the forcefield and Hogwarts all together. As I do the latter, do I actually feel something crazy and powerful happening behind me, but I ignore it, my mind on my mission. "My Master needs this blood."
And while I had planned to just do this as soon as I got the blood and while I grumble at the fact that my travel past the forcefield and all the way through the Forbidden Forest and past the boundary line of the Hogwarts wards gave me both a chance to be spotted and caught by someone on the loser side or spotted and caught by one of the beasts living in this crazy forest, do I just take my Port Key and leave Scotland behind, blood in hand.

Ehm, excuse me?
Who was that? Well, I know who it was and I am sure some of you do as well. But for the sake of not spoiling yourself or others on the rest of the story, I must ask those that do to not write their knowledge down in the review section. Next chapter is going to cover the aftermath of the Tournament – and Harry's magical outburst – and after that we are going to cover important bits of summer, so just relax and sit back.
We cool? Good,

Venquine1990
PS. I promise, this story is close to the top of my list of stories to write first when it comes to the new schedule. Read update up top.