Harry Potter - Fanfiction

Year 4 - The Third Task

The start of summer finally comes around with the third task dauntingly hanging in the air.

Usually this time of year everyone in Hogwarts would be preparing for the last match of the Quidditch season. The Champions are more on edge than usual with not having heard yet even a clue to what the last task might be.

Speculations float around the castle the entire month as to what it could be, some sounding more bizarre than the next; some are saying that they will have to battle their wits with a series of tests where others are saying that they will have to survive out in the Forbidden Forest for a full two nights battling off harrowing creatures.

The last week of May the twins send a letter attached to Styx while he was roaming the castle grounds on Monday evening before bed; I am to meet them in the courtyard at the crack of dawn.

So, Tuesday morning I wake up and creep out of the dormitory whilst everyone is still asleep, meeting up with George and Fred as arranged.

As I approach, I hear them arguing in hushed whispers.

"This is so embarrassing! I really didn't want her to know," says Fred as I walk up towards the corner of the passageway.

"Nyx is part of our team, it's only fair Fred. She'll understand," George tries to reason with his brother.

"I know but that's why it makes it worse," answers Fred.

I round the corner and whisper, "hello boys. Care to share?"

The boys jump in fright as they look over to me.

"Hey Nyx," they say as each one takes a turn in hugging me.

We all look at each other as silence falls over us.

George elbows Fred in the side, causing him to groan, as George speaks, "Fred has something he would like to share with you."

"Yes," moans Fred as he rubs his ribs where George elbowed him.

He clears his throat. "I am sorry Nyx, for keeping a secret from you."

George and I wait on with raised eyebrows for Fred to continue.

"Fine," he moans again. "You remember how George and I gambled on the outcome of the Quidditch World Cup. Well... We later discovered that Ludo Bagman paid us with that leprechaun gold that disappears after a few hours."

"And so, Fred and I have been trying to get our real money out of him, but he keeps avoiding us like the plague," George carries on.

I punch Fred hard on the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For being a git! Yes, you got duped out of money from Ludo Bagman, but that is no reason Fred Weasley to keep it from me! And even though you, George, have tried to get him to tell me. This is a grudge I will be holding against both of you for as long as I live, you hear me!" I quietly shout out, trying not to raise my voice too high to alert any teachers.

The twins cower slightly at my scowling.

"We're really sorry," they chorus.

I nod. "Now where are we going this early in the morning?"

The twins and I begin walking as George answers, "the owlery. We want to send him a letter."

Luckily where I met them is not far off from it.

"What is exactly in this letter?" I ask as we near the door for the owlery.

"I don't know, Fred wrote it and refuses to let me read it," answers George.