[OG] Champion of Ravenclaw: Inheritance

He Returns

The third challenge was a trial by Earth. They had to make it through the maze to the triwizard cup. To Harry it was the pain in the arse that started the whole thing. Harry was quite fed up by this point, but there wasn't much that could be done about it. He hadn't seen Viktor since the ball, that was mainly because when ever the older boy came near Cedric would pick Harry up and take an alternate path with Luna glaring at Krum like he was a disease. To try and calm Luna's nerves he gave his third gift early. Luna had bonded quite well with Junior, the owlet would fly to her shoulder as soon as she entered Harry's apartment. So outside in the field one day, he told Luna to close her eyes.

Snape walked in to see Harry and Luna under the oak, Harry had his hands behind his back. "Just close your eyes. Please?"

"Oh, but I want to see now." Luna sighed closing her eyes.

"Luna my third and final promise is that where ever life leads us, where ever we go, you have the freedom to be your own person, your own life separate from me if that is your wish.' He said. "Which is why I give you, this."

Luna opened her eyes and squealed with delight as Junior jumped into her hands. "Oh Harry! I love him." She cried. Luna didn't have an owl, when she wanted to send letters she usually borrowed her father's or the school's. With Junior she was certainly free to communicate to who ever she wished. "Thank you so much. I love you."

She leaned against his chest listening to him purr. Both unaware of a certain potions master watching from afar. Snape remembered when James had started courting Lily, he'd promised to stop teasing Snape. And he had, the two started to get along because Lily had wanted the freedom to talk to Snape despite Jame's obvious dislike. Snape was surprised that Harry's promise was freedom. Luna opened a locket around her neck and Snape was surprised even more to hear Harry's voice play out in a song. And it was a lovely song. He watched as Harry began to sing along with the locket making Luna look like the happiest girl alive. And perhaps she was.
---

Harry stood outside the maze, the walls were high and it was so dark he couldn't see more than a meter in. His sharp hearing picked up something moving which made him nervous since the final trial hadn't started yet. He'd spoken to Fleur who'd been disqualified for not completing the second trial. She said she hadn't said thank you because she wasn't sure how to show as much gratitude as she felt. Harry had replied the same way he had to Krum, stating he hadn't been looking for thanks. Jessie Finch, the girl who'd been exempted during the first trial due to horrific burns congratulated him on getting so far. Leveret had promised not to make the maze too easy for the 'wonder child' because finding lost things was Leverets specialty.

After a long and nerve inducing speech from each of the head masters, who'd shown no regret about the second trial which still pissed Harry off, they got to explaining the rules. A spell was taught and explained for those who wished to quit early. And something told Harry that'd be something they'd want to do. And then the final task began.

The maze set Harry's senses on fire, things moving where he couldn't see them, things slithering around his feet, it was dark and cold and Harry honestly wanted to return to his room and never come out again. He heard a scream, it was Leveret, Harry rushed towards the sound, something he'd berate himself about later if he got the chance. He came by Krum who was about to hex him but stopped and walked away, his eyes clouded over and a disembodied look on his face. Harry shook of the creeped out feeling he got and turned the corner to watch helplessly as Leveret was dragged away by vines. He knew that once he used the spell that said they give up the area around him would close off. He didn't care, Leveret couldn't stay there. He lifted his wand. "Protego!" He shouted and then ran after the beacon activated the area. He managed to dive through when he heard Cedric shout. He ran towards the sound only to have Cedric push him down out of the way of a spell. Both of them hurried around several corners away from the larger boy.