chosen - harry potter

Chapter 11 - The Final Task

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

On the day of the third task, Cassia could not focus at all on her exams. Her mind was on the task, and she even caught herself sorting through her memories, trying to put puzzle pieces together of the odd moments of the year. Her new skill helped her with her History of Magic exam, however, picking through her memories to remember what Professor Binns had taught.

She walked with Hermione and Ron to lunch, hoping to see Harry before the task began. 

"Mum - Bill!" Ron said, looking stunned as they approached the Great Hall. "What're you doing here?"

"Come to watch Harry in the last task! Hello, Cassia, dear. Hello, Hermione," Molly said, rather stiffly.

"Hello," Hermione said, her smile fading.

"Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, looking between them, "you didn't believe that rubbish Rita Skeeter wrote in Witch Weekly, did you? Because Hermione's not my girlfriend."

"Oh! No - of course I didn't!"

Fred, George, and Ginny joined them at the table, and, to Cassia, it felt as though they were back at the Burrow. She stopped worrying about the last task for a bit, and she smiled a great deal more than she had been for the past few weeks. 

After lunch was over, they returned to their exams, Cassia using her Occlumency skills through her Charms exam. 

They returned to the Great Hall for the evening feast, and Cassia was beginning to feel nervous. Though there were more courses than usual, she didn't eat much. She smiled at Harry, who was also not eating, and he smiled nervously back at her. The task was the most unpredictable; the champions would be the most vulnerable to outside dangers.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Dumbledore spoke from the staff table, "in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now?"

Harry stood. The Gryffindor table broke into applause. Cassia grabbed his sleeve, and he looked into her eyes, worry lacing his face.

"Good luck, Harry," she said with a small smile.  "Don't die."

He looked at her, seeming to consider something for a moment. He reached out and placed his hand on her upper arm, speaking quietly. "I'll try, Cassie."

Harry and the other champions left the Great Hall, and, five minutes later, everyone went to the Quidditch field, filling the stands. The field was nearly unrecognizable, a tall hedge running around the edge of it. Cassia sat with Ron and Hermione, the three of them sharing nervous looks as the champions prepared to enter the maze. Ludo Bagman pointed his wand at his throat, magnifying his voice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each - Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both from Hogwarts School! In second place, with eighty points - Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute! And in third place - Miss Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons Academy!"

Cheers rang out for each of the four champions. Cassia could see Harry standing in the grass; he waved up at her, and she waved back happily.

"So...on my whistle, Harry and Cedric!" Bagman said. "Three...two...one!"

He gave a short blast on his whistle, and Harry and Cedric darted into the maze. After a couple of minutes, he whistled again, and Krum stomped toward the entrance. Shortly after, Fleur entered, and the entrance of the maze closed up, leaving a wall of hedge.