Chapter Six, The Third Task

Previously on The Little Fox:

After the interruption of that morning it had spread all over Hogwarts, what Molly and Ronald had done and tried to do, resulting in the woman being all but thrown out of the front gates by Minerva herself who then banned her from the school grounds. If an issue appeared with any of her children it was now down to Arthur to deal with. Molly even had a threat of a restraining order hanging over head which was the only thing that made her leave. But Khalida hadn't found out any of this until she joined her friends at the Slytherin table with her family, along with Luna, Neville, Fred and George joining them as well, as they sat opposite Pansy and the others.

She had spent the day having a picnic beside the lake with her family or in the duelling chambers showing what she learnt and even being taught some new spells from the Potter, Peverell, Khan and Black Grimoires.
"You've got to eat something Khali." Fred, who sat next to her with KP painted on one cheek in blue and an eagle on the other in bronze, said coaxingly.

"He's right sweetheart." Dorea added, squeezing her niece's hand. "You need your strength for this task, but you need food for your potions and so your magic can replenish safely. You know you have stronger and more powerful magic. If you don't eat your magic will look for energy elsewhere in your body, and if you have to fight your way through that maze then you could end up collapsing or burning out your Core."

Khalida knew what her aunt was saying was true as she had taken Healing as an elective and that was the first thing they learnt in class. Conceding, despite her queasy stomach, Khalida slowly ate her tomato, herb and cheese pasta that would be light but filling enough as her family and friends talked softly around her; she didn't even bat an eye when the other Champions joined them just offered them a shaky smile before going back to fighting with her stomach as she tried to eat. Feelings of love and safety washed over her; it seemed they had set a trend as the other Slytherins went and sat with their friends from other Houses, soon it was four mixed tables instead of four separate tables by the time all of the teachers and Ministry workers had filled the hall.

It was peaceful until a nervous Professor Flitwick approached them. You could easily see he didn't want to interrupt the peace that had washed over them and that he was trying- but failing - to hide how nervous he was. Everyone knew there was a reason why she had been entered into this blasted tournament and no one wanted to find out what that reason was as tonight was the last time they could do so.

"Miss Potter, it's time." Professor Flitwick uttered; his voice strong despite his obvious nervous countenance.
"Good luck sweetheart." Her family whispered as she climbed from her seat downing her potions as she went. As she joined her professor's side on shaky legs, various shouts of 'good luck Khali!' were floating around the Great Hall after them.

But it was, of course, Chaos and Mayhem's shouts that boosted her confidence as a soft laugh tumbled from her lips as they stepped over the threshold of the Entrance Hall, "Knock 'em dead Mischief!" Maybe she would survive this after all?

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Chapter Six, The Third Task

The four Champions were sat waiting for the signal to enter the transformed Quidditch pitch after they had been dropped off by their Heads of House – for Cedric and Khalida – and Headmaster/mistress for Victor and Fleur. Just before he left to help his colleagues see everyone into the stands and make sure the band was in place, Flitwick cast the Screening Charm on the four Champions, the same charm he had applied for the previous two tasks. This charm would create four screens showing the four Champions and would allow everyone to see into the maze and would not end until they reappeared in the Quidditch pitch.

The time seemed to creep by slowly and simultaneously fly by before they know it as the door was pushed opened by Fleamont Potter with Amos Diggory, Headmistress Madam Maxime and Headmaster Igor Karkaroff behind him.
"Good luck." The four champions whispered to each other as they each followed behind their sponsors towards the pitch.
"Everything is going to be alright, sweetheart." Monty whispered to his granddaughter, pulling into a hug.

Faintly they could hear the band playing different trumpets conducted by Professor Flitwick, and the cheers rising from the stands. "You're going to do well, and we will be proud of you no matter what, all you have to do is try your best." He encouraged, pulling back with his hands on her shoulders. Khalida noticed that her grandfather had face paint matching to what was on her friends, and it brought a smile to her face while easing the tight knot in her chest. But she had to confess her fears before she was forced into the maze; she had a bad feeling which had been building all day.

"I have a bad feeling about this task, grandfather." Khalida confessed softly, not wanting the other champions to hear her. "It's been building all day, but it feels worse now, its like a knot in my chest. Like there's this charge in the air." Only his willpower kept Monty from showing his fear at her words, it was the same feeling that he and his brother had been feeling all day while the rest of their family couldn't sense anything but were no less concerned at that proclamation and it was then that the Peverell and Potter Magicks was the cause of them feeling this way.

The honed senses of the Death Magicks from their Peverell lineage and the honed senses of the Battle Magicks and Mage of their Potter blood gave the three a keen insight to what was brewing on the horizon; and that troubled Monty and Charlus deeply. However, Monty wanted Khalida to have a clear mind for the task ahead and eased her fears with only the ease of their deep bond could afford him. Although, he did promise her that several teachers along with Charlus would be patrolling the edge of the maze throughout the task but made her swear that if she ever felt like she was in danger to cast Periculum with her wand and she could leave the task with either he or Charlus coming to her location which seemed to calm the rising anxiety within her, at least for the moment.

"Ready?" Monty asked.
"Ready." Khalida agreed, nodding her head. Monty nodded pulling her in one last hug before they followed behind Cedric and Amos Diggory, Headmistress Maxime and Fleur Delacour, and Headmaster Karkaroff and Victor Krum. In the middle of the pitch stood Headmistress McGonagall with each of the champions stood around her (Cedric and Victor to McGonagall's right and Fleur and Khalida to her right. Little Gabrielle Delacour stood in between her sister and Khalida holding on to both of their hands, pulling smiles onto both older girls' faces).

"Sonorus!" McGonagall chanted, using the charm to increase the volume of her voice and causing everyone in the stands to quiet down and take their seats. Once she was sure she had everyone's attention, including Minister Fudge who was sat in the front row with Severus and Filius, but the bumbling Minister often thought everyone should cater to him even though they were trying to get on with the task. Plus he had ignored her warnings about this whole tournament even when Barty Crouch Sr was killed on Hogwarts grounds after the Second Task back in February.
"Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard Cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now, as Mr. Diggory..." she had to pause as cheers for the sixth year Hufflepuff wrenched the air.

"...and Miss Potter..." this time cheers for Khalida wrenched the air. The cheers were not only from her family and the Ravenclaws that wrenched the air but from Fleur and Gabrielle beside her as well as Cedric and Victor (to Karkaroff's anger), but her friends in Hufflepuff (Neville), Slytherin and Gryffindor and some polite cheers from some of the other Hufflepuffs.
"...are tied for first position...they will be the first to enter the maze, followed by Mr. Krum..." cheers from the three champions, some Beauxbâtons and Hogwarts students filled the air, with the students from Durmstrang being egged on by Karkaroff.

"...and Miss Delacour." This time only the three champions, Gabrielle and Beauxbâtons students cheered for the eldest Delacour. "The first person to touch the cup will be the winner!" As McGonagall continued to addressing the stands, each of the champions move to a different entrance to the maze, standing beside their designated coloured flag. Royal blue for Khalida, light blue for Fleur, yellow for Cedric and brown for Victor. "I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter. Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from the task or are no longer able to compete for any reason...he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands and the closest member of staff will immediately assist them.

Contestants! Quickly gather around for a moment!" McGonagall called to the four of them, turning her back on the stands as she addressed them. "In the maze, you'll find no dragons or creatures of the deep. Instead you will be challenged intellectually and magically. You will find puzzles and riddles you will need to solve correctly before you can access a path to further your journey towards the middle of the maze. However, there will be other enchantments or even other creatures you may face so be very wary." With her warnings of what they may face given the four turn back to own entrances only for Khalida to let out a soft oomph as Gabrielle ran into her hugging her tightly.

"Good luck." Gabrielle wished, hugging Khalida tightly, she had been besotted with her ever since she saved her in the lake.
"Thank you Gabby." Khalida whispered her voice tight as she returned the hug, nodding to the others as she didn't think she could speak.

"Champions, prepare yourselves!" McGonagall shouted, signalling the task would begin very shortly. At that Gabrielle ran back to Madame Maxime and her older sister while Khalida looked into the stands spotting her Grandmother Farrah, Aunt Dorea, Uncles Sirius, Remus, Charlus and Aziz and Regulus sat in the stands amongst her friends Luna, Neville, Fred, George, Draco, Blaise, Theo, Daphne, Astoria, Pansy, Millicent and Tracey. All of them decked out in colours to cheer her on either wearing Ravenclaw colours or face paint, and with banners that read 'Khalida to win' and 'GO KHALI!' And all of them giving her some form of encouragement which brought a smile to her face as she joined her grandfather over by her flag.

"Good luck sweetheart! You have trained relentlessly for months and have improved greatly. Just believe in yourself and you will do amazing!" Monty whispered, pulling her into a tight hug with his voice tight. He pulled back looking her over to make sure she was truly okay and would be warm enough in the black trousers and long-sleeved black and royal blue shirt. The shirt was half black on the right side with a blue sleeve and the opposite on the other side. The Hogwarts crest on the front left breast and read 'POTTER' in block lettering on the back in blue.

To make sure she wouldn't be in pain and collapse and give a fighting chance against the other champions who didn't have her condition, Monty passed her a pain potion. The las thing he wanted her was to be forced to leave the tournament due to a spike in her pain brought on from all the running.
"Thanks Grandfather, I'll see you later." Khalida croaked, trying and failing for a cheerful response. Monty hiding his fear and nerves, kissed her forehead as McGonagall spoke once again as cheers filled the air from all over the stands.

"On the count of three. One –" yet again Mr. Filch fired the cannon far too early, only shrugging unrepentantly when Minerva gave him a look. Taking a deep breath, Khalida summoned her wand from her wand holster on her arm and entered the maze while Cedric entered at the same time to the right of her.

"Point Me!" Khalida chanted, holding her wand in the palm of her hand. Ignoring Moody was trying to get her to cheat by telling which path to take. Immediately her wand spun in her palm directing her towards the most direct path that would lead her towards the middle of the maze while the hedges behind her closed up and with it swallowing up all noise from the stands.

As the hedges swallowed up his granddaughter, the screens appearing and showing the paths Khalida and Cedric were taking, Monty moved towards the stands taking a seat beside his wife while sharing a troubled look with his brother as they both hoped and prayed the feeling they were getting was wrong, and that James and Lily would watch over their daughter from Death's Realm and protect her as much as they could.

Although Monty was beyond proud of her for ignoring Moody. He was starting to get suspicious of the man as he wasn't acting like the man he used to know). Vaguely he noticed Krum and Delacour entering the maze and the screens appearing showing what they were up to, but for Monty and everyone else who loved and cared for Khalida Potter they were only focused on what she was going through. They cheered as she successfully got passed a Boggart by using a Patronus Charm – the hearts of Monty, Charlus, Dorea, Farrah, Sirius, Aziz, Remus and Regulus clenching as a silver stag appeared as they knew James was protecting his daughter in the form of her Patronus - tripped the Boggart before Khalida used Riddikulus to finally banish it.

"GO MISCHIEF!!!!" Fred and George roared, jumping to their feet and clapping as loud as they possibly could. Hoping she would hear their cheers from within the maze and that it would give her strength to get through this maze. Everyone close to her how much the Dementors troubled her, Boggart or not. It would bother anyone after having their presence the previous year cause her to remember the deaths of her parents. The further she got into the maze the more the feeling that Monty and Charlus had increased, but so far Khalida has handled everything that was thrown at her perfectly.

She easily got passed a Sphinx, answering it's riddle correctly which opened up a pathway deeper into the maze. She then got passed Hagrid's Skrewts without any injury whereas Cedric was left with some mild burns, and she cleared the golden mist that would turn its victim upside down with a spell from the Peverell Grimoire. He didn't know what possessed him, but he looked over at the screen that was attached to Viktor Krum and saw him creeping up on Fleur Delacour with milky-white eyes. She didn't stand a chance when he attacked, knocking her unconscious with a Petrificus Totalus and a spell no one had heard of (apart from Karkaroff, if his smirk was anything to go by).

"HE'S BEEN BEWITCHED!!!! SOMEONE CAST THE IMPERIUS CURSE ON HIM!!!" Sirius roared, fear oozing from every semblance of his being as he jumped to his feet.
"N-Now, Lord Black... we do not know that!" Cornelius Fudge spluttered, his face a ruddy red.
"What more evidence do you need!?" Aziz demanded. "You need to cancel this tournament and pull them out."
"We will not be cancelling the tournament as I have already told Minerva back in February!" Fudge shouted annoyed.
"Then you will be the cause of someone getting killed!" Amos Diggory shouted.

"Someone has already cast the Imperius on the Durmstrang champion to attack the other champions! We just saw it! What more proof do you need!? My son is in that maze! Heiress Potter is in there! A fourteen-year-old witch, who never should've been allowed to compete! Especially as she never entered her own name!" Amos shouted, feeling disgusted that he worked with such people at the Ministry.
"The tournament will not be cancelled and that is the end of it!" Fudge insisted, returning to his seat just as they saw Krum kick Fleur's wand away from her and the brambles started to entwine around her. On the screen showing Khalida they saw her pause at Fleur's scream and look behind her, worry creasing her brow.

"No don't go towards her!" Draco complained, knowing exactly what his best friend would do, but that did nothing but increase the fear rising within him.
"Annd... she's running towards it!" Blaise sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as the screen showed Khalida running in the direction Fleur's scream came from; while ignoring the looks he was getting from those from Beauxbâtons and Hermione Granger.

He didn't care what they thought he only cared for Khali, same as how they only cared for Fleur or that their school would win. Their hearts jumped into their throats as breaking twigs and thudding footsteps caused Khalida hide around the corner; however, the branches of the hedge behind her causing the bewitched Krum to point a wand into her face with a lethal expression shining gruesomely in the wand-light.

A tense moment as Khalida held her breath, the wand-light almost blinding her in the encroaching darkness as she slowly pointed her wand at Krum's legs, preparing to defend herself against her bewitched friend if it came down to it. But the moment passed, and Krum slowly lowered his wand from Khalida's face and stalked away down another path, leaving behind a terrified Khalida pressed against the hedges trying to calm down her racing heart. After getting herself under control Khalida ran down the path that Krum had come from, feeling he had been the cause of Fleur's screams even though he was not in control of his faculties.
"Fleur?" Khalida gasped, spotting her unconscious friend being dragged under the hedge by the vines and brambles.

"Fleur! Periculum!" Khalida shouted, sending the red sparks into the air for her friend. At once the hedges started shifting trying to close down that pathway, alarmed Khalida ran as fast as she could, pushing herself to the limit. Spotting an open pathway to her left that was about to close Khalida ran faster and dived through it landing with a thud that knocked the wind out of her and pain to shoot up her back and down her legs causing her to yell in pain. But that wasn't the only shocking revelation that was thrown onto her as it would seem this pathway had led her to a battle between Cedric and Krum.
"GET DOWN!!" Cedric yelled, hearing Khalida's yell of pain.

"STAY DOWN!!!" He yelled again when he noticed she was getting up to help him as Krum was throwing spells at him in his own language, so he had no idea what the spells were nor what they did if they were to hit either of them. "STUPEFY!!!" Cedric yelled, throwing Krum backwards knocking him out. Not wasting a moment Cedric ran up and kicked Krum's wand away from him and pointed his wand at the unconscious teenager, in the stands Amos gasped spotting the rage in his son's eyes and the fact he was about to curse an unconscious teenager until Khalida ran up to him.

"Cedric stop! He's bewitched!" Khalida hurriedly shouted, trying to push Cedric's wand arm down and away from their friend.
"GET OFF ME!!" Cedric yelled.
"HE'S BETWITCHED!!! HE'S BEWITCHED!!!" Khalida yelled once more. Finally it seemed her yells were getting through the rage that clouded the older teen's eyes as he lowered his wand and sent up the red sparks this time for Krum to be collected, once more, the hedges tried to close on them. The pair ran as fast as they could not looking where they were going until they dived into another path, at the other end of the pathway they spotted the Triwizard Cup.

Both were enthralled with the sight of it and the end of this tournament in sight until the hedge at the other end closed over that path, resulting in only being a tantalising image. As they stood there catching their breaths and planning their next move they never noticed the Acromantula creeping along the top of the hedge behind them until it picked Khalida up from behind her causing her to scream in fear.

"KHALI!!" Cedric's yells blended in with those in the stands who could only watch fearfully as the two teens tried to get the giant spider to release its grip on Khalida, that it until it's fang caught her shin of her right leg; another scream pulled from her lips as blood poured profusely from her leg and Acromantula venom entered her blood stream. "HOLD ON!!" Cedric yelled fearfully.
"RELASHIO!!!" Khalida yelled at the same time as Cedric causing the spider to drop Khalida, but she fell painfully onto her already injured leg that crumpled beneath her.

That didn't stop her, however. She pointed her wand at the spider that was advancing upon them and used the spell that she had used in her second year, again the same time as Cedric cast Stupefy.
"Arania Exume!" Khalida shouted, breathing heavily. Finally the spider was knocked unconscious and Cedric helped her over the tumbled legs of the creature. Again the race towards the cup started again – Cedric refusing to leave Khalida behind and helped her run - as the path ahead opened up, but halfway there vines sprung up from the ground and beneath the hedges and wrapped around Cedric's feet, but as he had been helping Khalida run, it sent the pair crashing to the ground.

"REDUCTO!" Khalida shouted, pointing her wand at the vines and brambles breaking their hold on Cedric. Acting quickly she pulled the rest of them off of him, freeing her friend.
"Th-thanks." Cedric panted, getting to his feet quickly, offering a hand to Khalida. "Some game this is. Huh?"
"Some game." Khalida muttered, a far away look in her eyes as the feeling within her was increasing as she feared what was going to happen next.

She didn't think her leg could take much longer as it was shaking as she stood there and if she wasn't leaning against the hedge while grasping Cedric's arm she would have crumpled once more as she guessed she had also sprained her ankle when the Acromantula dropped her, Merlin only knows what the venom was doing to her.

"GO!" Cedric yelled as the wind picked up and the branches started popping behind them. Despite the pain, Khalida ran-hobbled with Cedric towards the Cup, both pausing before it but neither taking it as the popping branches crept closer and the wind got stronger. "Go on, take it. You saved me, take it!" Cedric encouraged her but Khalida didn't take it.
"You saved me as well." She protested. "You take it!" to the stunned silence of the stands.
"You take it!"
"Together!?" Khalida decided.
"Together!" Cedric agreed.

"One, two...three!" Both chanted together and touched the Triwizard Cup but instead of the hedges melting away signalling the end of the Third Task it was revealed to everyone's horror that the Triwizard Cup had been turned into a Portkey as it whisked the two teens away from the safety of Hogwarts. It was silent as everyone tried to process what was happening until Amos and Amy Diggory and Fleamont exploded in fear and anger.
"WHERE IS MY SON!!!"
"WHERE IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER!!!"

"WE WARNED YOU MINISTER!!!" Farrah exploded in apoplectic rage, her eyes burning. But Sirius and Regulus only had their eyes on Mad-Eye Moody who was trying to slink away unnoticed amongst their family, Amos and his wife Amy, and the two missing teenagers' friends rounded on the Minister.
"STUPEFY!!!" Sirius Regulus shouted, pointing their wands at Moody. His eyes widened almost comically before the curses struck him, lifting him off of his feet with the force of the spells.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!!!" FUDGE roared at the pair, but his and Severus' – who was about to make a scathing comment – eyes widened, and their words died in their throats as Moody's visage started to contorting and morphing until it melted away revealing an unconscious, sweaty Barty Crouch Jr.
"Expelliarmus! Incarcerous! Duro!" Minerva cast quickly, revealing the unconscious man of his – or rather Moody's wand – and bound him before turning the rope into unbreakable chains.

She would have him dealt with and find out where the real Alastor Moody was when she located her two missing students. Quickly she sent a Patronus Message to Madam Bones letting her know what was going on and that she needed to come to Hogwarts with a team of Aurors as there were two missing students.
"LOOK!" a student shouted, pointing to the two screens that were still up and running showing the Portkey had transported the two missing students to some sort of graveyard.

"You okay?" Cedric asked as they both stumbled to their feet.
"Yeah. You?" Khalida asked, her eyes rapidly trying to take in everything at once.
"Yeah." Cedric groaned, rolling his shoulders. "Where are we?" He asked confused, his wand hanging limply at his side. Khalida looked around only to freeze when she spotted a tombstone beside them. The weathered stone reading, 'TOM RIDDLE.'
"I've been here before." Khalida whispered to herself as Cedric moved away from her, dropping to his knees to assess the Triwizard Cup. "In a dream." Khalida muttered, fear and alarm rising within her like a volcano.

"It was a Portkey. Khali, the Cup is a Portkey." Cedric realised, while Khalida froze as she noticed a large black cauldron. Large enough for a man to sit or stand in.
"I've been here before, in a dream." Khalida muttered louder, coming closer to Cedric. "Cedric! We have to get back to the Cup. Now!" She said, alarmed. At the fear and alarm in her voice, Cedric quickly got to his feet hurrying over to her.
"What are you talking about?" Cedric asked, alarmed but also confused.

In the distance a creaking door could be heard as a large, balding man left the little house with something in his arms. A white abnormal-looking baby-type creature shrouded in black fabric. At his appearance a fire erupted beneath the cauldron that stood in front of the two teens and a pain unlike anything Khalida had ever felt erupted from the scar on her forehead causing her to yell out and fall to her knees blinded by the pain.
"KHALI!!" Cedric shouted worriedly, hurrying to her side. "KHALI! What is it?" he asked, dropping to his knees beside her.

"Get back to the Cup! Get out of here!" She insisted.
"Not without you!" Cedric refuted, climbing to his feet he stood in front of Khalida, his wand pointing at the two approaching them. Those watching at Hogwarts held their breath fearing what would happen to the two teens who had their whole life ahead of them. Their friends and family had tears falling down their cheeks as they prayed Amelia Bones and Aurors would get here soon, but they also couldn't help but wonder if they would make it in time.

That is until Remus and Sirius noticed who the man approaching their cub, threatening her was as he came into the light of the fire beneath the cauldron. A man they unfortunately knew all too well.
"That's PETTIGREW!!!" They shouted glaring at the Minister who had failed to find the man who ruined their life. Ruined the life of their cub.
"What does this mean for Khali and Cedric?" Neville asked fearfully, his eyes on the screens that showed Khali in unimaginable pain trying to convince Cedric to leave her, but his fellow Hufflepuff refused.

Instead he stood in front of Khalida wand pointed at Pettigrew.
"Nothing good." Pansy muttered fearfully. "Where the hell are the Aurors and Madam Bones?" She demanded, scared for her friend.

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Author's note: DO NOT ask me to update!!!! There are other ways to say whether you liked this chapter or not!