Death is but the Next Great Adventure

The Third Task & Blushing Boys

In the last chapter: Rumors start up about Harry and Anthony due to Rita Skeeter. Bagman gives the champions information on the third task and the maze that will be grown on the quidditch pitch. Barty Jr kills an escaped Barty Snr who'd been held captive by Voldemort, and Harry gets rid of evidence. Anthony and Harry finally have their heart to heart and Harry reveals all his secrets to Tony.

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Moisture hung in the still air, coating everything in its dampness and stale fragrance. Cool black stone gleamed muted green and wet with the slow drip of water in the enormous chamber, flickering with the light of a single fire near the end of the chamber. The fire was no ordinary fire, though, instead of burning its usual organic orange, the flames were a deep ruby red, burning higher and flicking about slowly like feline tails. The fire should not have been able to burn, as it seemingly came from the wet stone floor and had no wood to sustain it.

The reason for the fires life sat only two feet away, staring entranced into the flames as low, rolling words dripped incomprehensible from the boy's dry lips in a chant made quietly thunderous by the magic coagulating in every syllable.

Harry felt the low pulse of power through his body as he continued with his ritual—which was meant to strengthen his body and magic for a short amount of time, just long enough to get him through the third task and whatever may follow. Harry braced his hands against the floor as the magic overwhelmed him and wrapped around him in an embrace that was both constricting and exhilarating. Warmth curled deep in his gut and though normally he might have been embarrassed by the knowledge of just what that sensation was and how the magic was affecting him, he was still too deeply entrenched in the ritual to hesitate even a moment.

Harry reached the peak of the ritual and the invocations stilled on his tongue as his head fell back and his eyes stared wide and unseeing at the distant ceiling. His spine arched to its limit and his body was taut with the strain as Harry tried to cope with the flood of ambient magic into his system. For a moment Harry thought that perhaps his body wouldn't be able to handle the strain on his muscles and that something would give, painfully, but then the magic settled to a low buzz and he nearly collapsed when every muscle relaxed at once.

Harry panted and wiped away some of the sweat that had collected on his face. The fire had gone out and the ritual was complete. Harry was now ready to bring back Tom Riddle when they finally met. The third task was set for the very next day after dinner. The magical maze had been grown, the champions had—assumedly—prepared, and everyone else was anxiously anticipating.

Once Harry had composed himself and cleaned up the remnants of the ritual, he promptly made his was back up to the Ravenclaw dorms. The common room was relatively empty, as many people were decompressing after having just taken their final exams. Harry spotted Anthony alone by a large window, book in hand. Harry took a seat in the armchair across from the blonde and he looked up at Harry with an inquisitive raised brow.

"Just some last-minute preparations for the task." Harry answered his silent question. He had told Anthony enough for him to know that Harry didn't just mean practicing defensive spells, and that it wasn't really the task that he was preparing for per se. Anthony closed his book and set it to the side.

"You know, perhaps it would be a little easier if you'd let me help you?" Anthony prodded, it not being the first time he'd asked to assist Harry in any way he could ever since finding out just what Harry was up to. Harry leveled his friend with a knowing look.

"We've been through this already Tony, I can handle this on my own. I've been preparing for a very long time and I won't be alone, I have help on his end as well, so everything should go smoothly. Besides, there really isn't much to do. I'll do my part and then be out of there before the dust even settles. If you really wish to help me, then keep yourself safe and don't get into any trouble. Everything is laid out according to plan and we just need to let the pieces fall where they may." Harry assured, still feeling the dull hum of magic in his limbs from the ritual he'd done.