I've created a bunch of spells for this series already... Do I really need to answer? But I suppose I would make a spell to kill spiders because spiders are the bane of mankind and I'm actually terrified of them. The incantation would be necarachnoides.

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When Colette woke me up in the morning, it was to tell me that I'd slept through my alarm and her throwing a hairbrush at me (it had hit my stomach) and if I didn't hurry up I'd be late for the task. A lovely way to start what was potentially my last day on earth. I didn't even have time to grab breakfast, not that I wanted to. My stomach was churning so much I was afraid I would vomit.

"Just remember the spells," Colette said as she rushed me outside. "Augamenti and Fumarenaris. Do you remember the motions for them?"

"Of course." I breathed in a breath of cold air, trying to push down my nausea. Colette walked with me down towards the Quidditch pitch. We passed a hedge, which blocked most of the view, and stopped in our tracks.

Colette whispered something in French that may have been cursing, but I wasn't sure. I could only stare. Right next to the Quidditch pitch, a large enclosure had been erected over night. And it looked like there had been in a rift in the world, and the fiery depths of Hell had spilled brought.

The entire thing was on fire. I could see the heat rising up above it, making the trees of the Forbidden Forest I could see behind it shimmer like they were underwater. There were quite a few trees burning in the enclosure, as well, though I was pretty sure they hadn't been there before, and had been erected with the enclosure. Stands surrounded it, and Colette pointed out an almost invisible protective bubble surrounding them. Of course. Otherwise, being that close to such a huge fire would probably melt everyone else's face off, as well as mine.

"Hurry, let me see your shoes," Colette said quietly, staring out at the next task. Frowning, I lifted my foot up, and she muttered a spell.

"What's that for?" I asked as she did the next one.

"Heat protection. Can't have you burning through the soles of your shoes as your walk."

"Oh. Right. Thanks."

There was a large tent directly in front. Colette walked me down to the entrance, whispering possible spells to keep me from getting over heated. The only one I really heard was one to make an icy blast of wind, Glacies Ventus, though she listed about thirty. I was a bit too preoccupied by the inferno before me to listen to a walking spell book.

We paused at the entrance to the tent, staring up at the flames in silence. I couldn't feel the heat of the flames, even this close. There was some sort of protective enchantment over the whole area, probably.

"Please be careful." Colette said finally. "It really wouldn't be nice if you died in there. Albus would cry for at least a month."

"Thanks," I said dryly. "Wish me luck."

"You don't need luck. You're brilliant on your own." Before I could say anything at this unaccustomed praise, Colette turned abruptly back towards the castle. I watched her walk away for a few seconds, then turned back towards the tent. It took a few seconds to steel myself. With a deep breath, I walked in.

The other champions were already there. Faith and Étienne were in a corner, holding hands and talking quietly. Every so often, one of them glanced towards the closed flap on the opposite side of the tent from where I was standing. Kirsten was talking with Professor Eide, who looked more worried than she did, honestly. Pouri and Madame Maxime were near the other tent flap, listening gravely as Felicity Eastchurch whispered something or other. I stood in the entrance for a few moments, feeling very alone. No one seemed to notice that I'd come in, so I slipped over to a bench and sat down, suddenly cold. That won't be a problem for long, I thought grimly. 

After just a few minutes, I heard the sounds of laughter and talking approaching. It never got very close, though I did hear silent footsteps pass by. The fire seemed enough to quiet the whole school. I briefly thought of Albus and Wren and Marcus, who I hadn't seen before Colette had hurried me out here. What would they be thinking, seeing that? Suddenly, I wanted very much to see Albus and tell him I was sorry, even if he wasn't. I didn't want to die with my best friend hating me. But it was too late for that now.

Davies bounded into the tent, through the opposite flap. "Well, champions, are you ready?"

Felicity Eastchurch frowned at him. He'd startled her coming in, I could tell. "Where've you been? You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago."

"Oh, last minute prep," he said, brushing off the question. "What's important now is our champions!" He gestured at the four of us, who had slowly gathered around him. "Are you all ready?"

Oh yes, quite ready to die, I thought, but I only nodded along with everyone else.

"Okay. Well, you all got your clues, so you should know what you're supposed to do. You've got an hour, remember! Come along." The other three champions followed him out the flap he'd just come through. I glanced nervously at Pouri before following them. The headmaster looked very grim.

I walked out of the tent, and everything in front of me was on fire.

"Astra, over here!" Davies called from my right. I hurried that way, careful not to go near the shimmering bubble that was between me and the inferno. I could feel the heat now. The other three champions were spaced about ten feet apart along the edge, and Davies led me to the end of the line.

"Wait until you hear the whistle!" he shouted, fighting to be heard over the sound of the raging flames. Then he was gone.

I glanced around. Étienne, the closest to me, was crossing himself and saying something in French, probably a prayer. I couldn't see Faith or Kirsten, but I had a feeling they were just as nervous. Looking the other way, I saw the edge of the stands they'd erected. There were several younger kids leaning over the edge to see me. I quickly looked away, my stomach doing backflips like it was practicing for the Olympics. I'm going to die, I thought. I'm actually going to die.

Faintly, I could hear Davies' voice over the fire. I couldn't make out what he said, but even if I had been able to hear it, I didn't think I would've been listening. I tended up, waiting for the whistle to blow. It would be any second now. Could I actually run in there? Really? I didn't know.

I could hear my heartbeat. Time seemed to still.

Thu-Thump.

I took a deep breath.

Thu-Thump.

I couldn't even hear the fire now.

Thu-Thump.

Maybe time had actually stopped, and I was stuck in this moment forever.

Thu-Thump.

The whistle blew.

My feet moved before I could stop them, carrying me through the bubble and into the flame. As soon as I'd stepped through, I could feel the heat. It was like I was in an oven. I felt my eyes drying out. Fire was literally inches from me, and for a second, I blanked. What was I supposed to do?

I faintly heard Étienne shouting "Augamenti!" That brought at least that spell back to my head. I raised my wand and concentrated on the spell. I could feel the smoke from the flames in my nose, and didn't want to open my mouth.

A jet of water came out of my wand, soaking the burning tree in front of me. I hadn't known it would be that powerful, and almost stumbled backwards, but I held my ground. After a few seconds, all that was before me was a dripping, steaming, blackened tree. I stepped around it, my head clearing. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad.

I didn't know what I was looking for, but I assumed it would be closer to the middle. I had come in facing south, I knew. Every few minutes I did the Four-Point Spell, just so I didn't get turned around. Colette's modifications to the spell Faith had showed me were a lifesaver as I worked my way farther into the fire. The smoke was so thick that I could hardly see. It stung my eyes, and sparks from the fire stung my hands. I had to be careful not to step on any salamanders, which were running rampant. I stumbled upon a horse made entirely of flames at one point. That was terrifying, especially when it reared up in fright upon seeing me and almost came down on top of me. Luckily, it didn't seem hostile, so I quickly backed away and continued around, giving it a wide berth. I saw some larger footprints a few times. Perhaps there were dragons here, as well. I would do well to stay away from one of those.

I had been fighting off flames and smoke for about twenty minutes when I heard a scream next to me. It sounded like Faith or Kirsten, though I couldn't tell which. Before I could even think about investigating, i saw movement off to my right.

Oh dear Lord, please not a dragon, I prayed, watching the flames to my right for any more signs of movement.

Right in front of me, a tree exploded.

Okay, it didn't explode, but that was what it felt like. I screamed and stumbled backwards, falling into the smoldering ashes of a fire I'd put out just seconds before. I felt sparks on my hands and arms and legs, but that didn't matter right then. What mattered was that the tree had not exploded. No, it had been sucked up into a fiery tornado. And that fiery tornado was headed right for me.

I had a split second. I couldn't use Augamenti—this was much too big. Fumarenaris wouldn't be much help, either. What else could I do? I reached for my wand, which had fallen into the fire next to me. I saw the flames licking my hand, but it was as if it was happening to someone else. I couldn't feel it. I didn't even know what spell I was going to do as I raised my wand.

I didn't know exactly what would happen as I yelled, "Glacies Ventus!" I couldn't remember what the spell did, only that Colette had told me about it. I hadn't even known I'd remembered it. But as soon as the words had left my lips, a blast of snowy air came out of my wand, blowing the fiery tornado apart and scattering flames everywhere.

For a moment, I sat in silence, my heart beating wildly as I tried to get my bearings again. After a few seconds, I became aware hat I was still sitting in smoldering embers, and jumped to my feet, brushing myself off, ignoring the pain coursing throughout me. Someone nearby had gotten hurt by that tornado, I was sure. I dashed off in the direction I'd heard the scream come from, not even bothering to clear a path.

I broke through to a clearing, the first place I'd seen that wasn't completely on fire. It was about twenty feet across, and right in the middle was something I had not expected at all. Two forms were slumped against each side of a rock. Marcus and Wren. I almost dropped my wand in surprise, but dashed over to them.

"Wren?" I shook her. She didn't stir. I tried Marcus as well, but with the same result. The area around them was unburnt, so they weren't harmed. It was a magical unconsciousness, then. I let it a sighed of relief. My treasures... Apparently, the clue had meant my friends. At least I could try to get out now.

I glanced around. No champions were about. Neither Wren nor Marcus were conscious; they couldn't have screamed. I didn't know where that scream had come from, or why, but I was grateful. I would've gone right past my friends and not even known.

Now, there was the problem of getting them out. The flames seemed to be staying on the edges of the clearing, and not coming nearer, so I had time to think. The smoke was still surrounding us, unfortunately. I blasted it off with another icy gust of wind, fresh air. I hadn't realized how hot I was.

How could I get two unconscious people out of here? It had been hard enough making my way through by myself. I would have to levitate both of them. I'd levitated multiple objects at a time before, but never multiple people. I hadn't even levitated one person before, except for Albus one time when he'd fallen asleep in the common room, but that had been one time. And now I was going to have to do two, making sure they stayed clear of the fire and blasting a way out without losing my concentration.

Better start now, I thought grimly. I didn't know how much time had passed, but I knew it would take longer to get back. I didn't have time to waste. The rock they were leaning against; it was fairly large. I gently laid both my friends on the ground, then tried to levitate the rock out of the ground. After a few tries, it came, and I let it drop to the ground. It would not only make it easier to carry Marcus and Wren, but it would hopefully protect them. I levitated them on, then used Incarcerous to secure everything. With that complete, I slowly levitated the large rock, then started back into the flames.

I was right about one thing—it was much harder making your way through a fiery inferno on your own than when you've got to do it levitating a giant rock after you. I couldn't concentrate on my spells as much, and after a few minutes I completely gave up on Fumarenaris. Who needed fresh air, anyway? What was more important right now was that I protected my friends.

The fire had grown more dangerous as time went on. I had to watch for falling branches as the flames burned through tree limbs. I stepped on a salamander and almost fell face first into a burning tree as it scuttled out from under my foot. At least Colette's heat protection spells on my shoes seemed to be working—my clothes were singed and filled with holes, but my shoes had stayed intact, protecting my feet from the burning embers.

Every so often, I heard crashes around me as whole trees fell. Once, one crashed down almost on top of me, sending a shower of sparks over me. I could smell my hair being singed.

I remembered a shielding charm that would at least give my friends a supply of clean air. It only worked when there was stable ground underneath you. I was walking, so it wouldn't help me, but with a rock underneath them, I thought it might be different for them. I tried it, and it worked, taking one burden off of me. At least they wouldn't die from smoke inhalation. I couldn't say the same for myself, unfortunately. 

As we continued on, I could hardly see. The smoke wasn't just clouding my vision, but my head. My throat burned, my lungs protesting this abusive air I was breathing. But jay didn't matter. Just a little farther, I told myself. Just get Marcus and Wren out.

My mind was growing fuzzy. I couldn't concentrate on much, though I tried my hardest to keep the stone up in the air. Was it just me, or was the light ahead brighter? More like daylight than firelight? I could make it. With one last burst of energy, I ran through the fire, not even caring if I got burned, and crashed through the protective bubble, into the light of day.

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Tried some new writing techniques in this chapter. Did it seem better than normal? Worse? Cliche? Or maybe your couldn't tell any difference, which is okay as well! Let me know!

Question of the Day: What do you think the gender of Teddy and Toire's baby will be? (Thanks to _Innocent-Bystander_ for this question!)

Vote and comment! Is this a cliffhanger? I don't think so, though it's definitely what's considered a hook to keep you guys interested. Anyway, hold out! A new chapter is just days away!

~Ellie