The Ghosts of Our Past

The Third Task & Enemies Rise Again

Fourth Year-

The day of the third task had officially arrived and for some reason Hally found herself more anxious about this one as she had been for the rest of them.

Hermione and Ron had her practicing defensive spells all weekend after Snape had mentioned that the final task involved the champions needing to navigate a large and enchanted maze to retrieve the Triwizard cup.

Hally of course had to force herself to drop the discussion about his reasoning for joining the death eaters but she still wanted to know more about his childhood— especially about his parents, but pushing Snape like that never led to anything good. It would only make him shut down and she didn't need the stress of that before this task. She had enough discernment to see that the subject was quite upsetting for him and he had already calmed her fears down enough about his past choices for her to drop it.

At least until after the third task.

"Are you ready for this ?" Snape asked quietly as everyone had started to make their way down to the quidditch pitch.

Hally looked up at him briefly before shrugging. "I s'pose so. Though...something feels off about this task.' She exhaled while trying to keep the shaking her body was doing at bay. 'I don't know what it is but—"

—"It is simply your nerves playing up. This is the final task and then there is no need to worry about this wretched tournament any longer." He replied in a way that expressed his desire for the tournament to come to its finale at last, just as the tips of their fingers lightly grazed against each others while they walked side by side down the steps.

They were aware of the fact that they couldn't embrace with everyone around them as there was no privacy, so Hally appreciated his attempt at providing her with some physical comfort.

"Yes, you're probably right. I think I'm just anxious to get it over with. I don't even care about winning at this point." She partially complained as they walked through the archway and onto the quidditch pitch.

Hally gazed at the twenty foot high hedges that surrounded the whole expanse of field. As her eyes trailed upwards she could see how especially dark the sky appeared to be tonight— no moon shinning down nor a star in sight. An eerie observation that settled badly into her gut. Like an omen of what was to come.

There were four openings into the maze— one for each of the champions and from where she stood Hally could see the mist that covered each pathway.

A warm hand placed itself on her shoulder quickly tearing her eyes away from the hazy darkness that awaited her.

"You will get through this, Potter. It will be alright."

Snape's eyes softened as he watched the smile appear on her lips that didn't quite reach her eyes. "If you insist." She replied cheekily even though her brain was screaming for her to just ditch this task and make a run for the dark forest or the school.