Fire On Fire

Chapter Fourteen ~ Maze

For the last few days Harry has been avoiding me, I'm not sure why, but that isn't the worst part. the worst part is that I haven't heard back from my mother since I rescued her from the lake and today is the third task so its been a few weeks.

With the ever growing feeling of danger creeping into my mind I kept myself busy experimenting with magic in hopes to find a way to protect myself in the case of such a thing, although I have yet to see solid results. Lets just hope I wont need to find out today.

I emerge from the dressing rooms to begin the third task, the music is much too loud and cheery for my mood, my worry for my mother and Harry, plus the fact that this is the last task.

"Earlier today Professor Moody placed the tri-wizards cup deep within the maze. Only he knows its exact position. Now as Miss Karkaroff-"

The crowd cheer on hearing my name, with my school being the loudest.

"Is in first position she will be the first to enter the maze. Followed by Mr Diggery-"

The crowd cheers again with the Hogwarts students going nuts.

"-And Mr Potter being tied for second. The first person to touch the cup will be the winner. I've instructed the staff to patrol the perimeter, if at any point should a contestant wish to withdraw from the task he or she need only send up red sparks with their wands. Contestants, gather round."

Dumbledore's attention goes straight to us.

"In the maze you'll find not dragons or creatures of the deep. Instead you'll face something more challenging. You see, people change in the maze. Oh find the cup if you can, but be very weary you could just lose yourselves along the way." He warns

"Champions! Prepare yourselves" Moody announces

Cedric hugs his father. I look to see my father preparing Victor instead of me, his only child. My heart sinks slightly realising I still wont ever surpass his favourite student in his eyes, I look into the crowd for my mother in one last attempt to raise my spirits, but she isn't here. I do however see Fred, George and Ron cheering me on along with Hermione looking nervous for us. Seeing them supporting Harry and myself makes me feel a little better, but I wish my blood could be more like them.

I push those negative feelings down as I face the maze with my fiery hair hanging over my face hiding my glossy eyes.

"On the count of three... ONE-"

The cannon goes off. Mr Filch shrugs comically while Dumbledore groans.

I enter the maze with a strong stride, determined to finish this championship. I look back at the entrance as it closes itself back up as though it was never there and a heavy mist sets in, I look up at the tall maze walls before I start traversing the maze with the sound of creatures wandering the maze all around me.

Not ten minuets into the task, a red spark lights up in the sky, while observing the distress signals location the wind starts blowing heavily and walls around me begin closing in. I run as fast as I could in the only direction that isn't trying to kill me, the vines on the ground reaching out to me attempting to swallow me whole, tripping me up a few times, but I continued on. I manage to reach an escape from the hungry maze walls by taking a sharp right, however I managed to run, very hard, into two figures backs making us fall over onto each other.

"Cedric! Harry!"

"Alex?" They ask

"Are you alright?" Cedric pulls me to my feet

"Yeah, just a little shaken. The maze almost swallowed me like a tasty meal."

Cedric let out a short chuckle while catching his breath, He and harry are covered in dirt. Before I can ask about what happened to them, I catch a glimpse of the cup ahead of us.