A Year at Hogwarts

chapter 13

 "This is the final task. Earlier today, the Triwizard Cup was taken out here to the Black Lake. No-one knows its exact location. Our champions have one hour in which to find the cup. The one who gets to the cup first is the winner." Mr. Crouch said. Students, family and staff members and Ministry staff were on platforms which were standing above the middle of the Black Lake. There were also Australian and French Aurors on guard duty. Harry stepped forward. "Judges, for medical reasons, I have to forfeit this task." He said. "What is the problem?" Mr. Crouch asked. "Salt water is hazardous to the recovery of my leg," Harry answered, "I have notes from my Healer in Australia, Hogwarts' own Poppy Pompfrey and a Healer from St. Mungo's." During the previous Hogsmeade trip, Harry had arranged to meet a Healer from St. Mungo's. Harry passed three bits of parchment over to Crouch who read them. "These are in order." Mr. Crouch said. Snape decided to step in. "Just like his father, Potter is so arrogant, first he thinks he's too good for my class and now he things he is too good to finish the tournament he put himself in for. That so-called leg injury is just a play for attention and those notes are probably forgeries, financed by the Potter vaults!" Harry had finally had enough of Snape. "Listen here, Snivellious," he said (Sirius had taught him that name), "I am sick to high heaven of you comparing me to my father, a man who has been dead for nearly fourteen years. No wonder Slytherin House think they can do what they want, when they want and how they want, when their Head of House is so pathetic, he bares a grudge

against a child just because of their father. Well I've had enough of you and your stupid grudges!" Snape raised his wand at Harry and started to speak a spell. People would later swear they heard him start to cast the killing curse. Then, without warning, Harry pushed Snape with all his strength and the teacher fell off the platform and into the lake. He attempted to grab hold of Dumbledore and the Headmaster fell in too. Many students started laughing. Both Dumbledore and Snape climbed back onto the platform soaking wet. "Albus – I demand you have that boy arrested!" Snape said, "He assaulted a teacher!" "If it wasn't for you and your pet ferret," Harry said, "my leg would have recovered by now!" Snape started to turn purple. Before Dumbledore could say anything, Headmistress Daniels stepped in, "I believe he was acting in self-defence – you were about to cast a spell on him." She turned to Harry, "Mr. Potter, I know you've done what many students have wished to do, and it may seem funny, but stooping to his level of behaviour is not the way to go. Because you've suffered his digs and jibes for nearly a year without retaliation, I won't punish you." "Thank you." Harry said. Snape was about to lose his temper, "Albus – do something!" he shouted. "I'm afraid for this exact moment, Mr. Potter is Professor Daniels' student and she has overall authority." "If there are no more interruptions," Mr. Crouch said, "Earlier today, the Triwizard Cup was placed in the Black Lake. All our champions will have to do is find it. When they touch it, they will be transported back here by Portkey. For medical reasons, Mr. Potter has to forfeit this task, so his point total remains at 153. As Fleur Delacour is second with 140 points, she will go first. Then Mr. Diggory and then Mr. Krum." Krum was told he could be excused from the task aswell but he decided to try it, he wasn't going to forfeit. A canon sounded and the three remaining champions dived into the water. Nearly an hour later, Cedric and Krum appeared on the platform, but there was no sign of Fleur or the Triwizard Cup. Cedric had used the Bubble-head charm and Krum managed a partial transfiguration into a shark. "One of the champions is missing," Dumbledore said, "We must look for her at once." Just as Dumbledore was going to send a signal for help, Fleur appeared on the platform, carrying the Triwizard Cup and a bundle. A splash could be heard – everyone looked at the lake and saw six people in Death Eater robes all tied together. "What is the meaning of this?" Ambassador Ramsey asked, "Where in the task description did it say that the champion would be taken somewhere to face Death Eaters?" "I do not understand," Dumbledore said, "I turned the Cup into a Portkey myself and it was supposed to bring the champion straight back here." For once, his expression was of genuine surprise. "A student volunteered to drop the cup in a random location in the lake." "What happened?" Ramsey asked. "That Cup took me to a graveyard, where I saw them and this bundle. It was obvious dark magic was being practiced there so while they were distracted, I cast a lassoing charm on them, summoned that bundle and used the Cup to return here." Fleur said, breathless. The prisoners and the bundle were taken to Dumbledore's office to be questioned in the presence of British, French and Australian Aurors along with Ambassador Ramsey. Soon afterwards, a student vanished.