If Only//Harry Potter [4]

19

Cheers and music from the crowd was the only thing Autumn could hear. She could barely even hear her thoughts over the crowd waiting for the four Triwizard Champions to enter the maze that was set out in front of them.

Autumn, Hermione, and Ron sat in the stands, cheering along with the crowd. The three felt nervous for Harry. Although he had passed the previous tasks, this last one was meant to be the hardest and Harry was years younger than the other champions. 

The crowd roared with excitement as the four champions walked out to the maze.

"Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard Cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now, as Mr. Diggory. . ." The crowd cheered as Dumbledore mentioned Cedric. ". . .and Mr. Potter. . ." Autumn, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny cheered. ". . .are tied for first position, they will be the first to enter the maze, followed by Mr. Krum and Miss Delacour."

"Come on! Krum! Krum! Krum!" The Durmstrangs chanted.

"The first person to touch the cup will be the winner! I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter. Should, at any point, a contestant wish to withdraw from the task, he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands." Dumbledore instructed. "Contestants! Gather around. Quickly!"

The crowd went silent as they tried to hear what Dumbledore was saying.

"In the maze, you'll find no dragons or creatures of the deep. Instead, you'll face something even more challenging. You see, people change in the maze. Oh, find the cup if you can. But be very wary, you could just lose yourselves along the way. Champions, prepare yourselves! Good luck."

The four champions walked themselves towards their designated entrance to the maze. Harry looked at Cedric and gave him a look that said good luck.

"On the count of three. One—" The cannon interrupted Dumbledore, starting the third task.

Moody gave Harry a shoulder pat, motioning Harry to go into the maze. Harry walked into the maze, and when Harry looked back, Autumn was shocked to see Moody direct Harry in the maze before it closed behind him.

Autumn couldn't help but think of the polyjuice potion. If someone were actually using it to get Harry, the third and final task would be the way to get him. But the more Autumn thought about the potion, she couldn't help but think it couldn't be Igor Karkaroff of Madam Maxine. They were both headmasters of their schools and their students would know them better than that. Not to mention, Dumbledore seemed to know them very well.

And why would Moody want Harry to win? Of course, Autumn wanted him to win as well, but a teacher shouldn't have favorites — and after the stories of Moody that Ron had shared from his dad, Moody didn't seem like the person to have favorites. So, why did Moody want Harry to win? Unless. . . Unless Moody was the one to put Harry's name in the Goblet in the first place — and possible have the Polyjuice Potion! That would explain why he kept drinking from his flask. It wasn't even Moody, it was someone else. Everything fit.

"It's Moody." She whispered.

Autumn quickly stood up from the stands and made her way down to the ground, trying to tell Dumbledore the news. Rushing down and around the stairs, she crashed into her boyfriend.

"Hi," Autumn panted. "Matt. I need to tell Dumbledore something very important."

"What?" Matt asked, looking concerned. 

"Moody's not Moody — someone's impersonating him. He's the one with the Polyjuice potion, and he's the one who put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire!"

Instead of the expression of shock that Autumn thought Matt would have, he had a mischievous smile that made Autumn feel sick.

"Wow, you really are a smart one, aren't you?"

"What's that supposed to mean—" Autumn felt something collide with the back of her head as everything faded to black.