Shifted: Book One

Chapter Twenty Eight - Labyrinth

At last, the final task of the Triwizard tournament had arrived. The students and teachers all crowded round in the stands and looked into a large block of pine leaves before them. Hazel and Harry stood by each other, nervously. Then Cedric approached them.

"Good luck, both of you, may the best champion win", he said with a smirk as he winked at Hazel and chivalrously nodded his head to Harry.

"Good luck, Cedric, I'll see you back here with the trophy in my hand", Hazel winked. Harry and Cedric chuckled as he walked away and approached his father who left the stands to wish him luck.

A joyous sound echoed from the golden instruments, composed by Professor Flitwick, that were played by the band on the far right of the stands, it was upbeat and jolly. The crowd consisted of students jumping up and down whilst holding cloths and hand-made posters with the representative colours of the champions, they cheered and clapped and chanted, excited for the task to begin.

Dumbledore stood up in front of everyone on a short podium and held his wand to his neck, acting as a megaphone speaker.

"Silence!", he roared deeply.

The band quietened down and the cheers and applauds became silent, the audience then took their seats.

"Earlier today, Professor Moody placed the Triwizard Cup deep within the maze. Only he knows it's exact position", Dumbledore declared.

Hazel slowly wandered to Harry and brushed her cold hand against his, they were soft and warm, despite the chilly weather. Hazel got a swarm of butterflies in the pit of her stomach, her heart skipped a beat.

"Good luck, Harry", Hazel whispered whilst Dumbledore explained the task.

Harry nervously took ahold of Hazel's hand and placed his other one on top, trapping out the cold and warming them up. Harry blushed at the touch of Hazel's hands, he felt nervous around her, he had never felt like this around anyone.

"We'll be alright", Harry reassured before taking his hands away and facing the maze that stood behind him.

"Now we've summoned the staff to patrol the perimeter, for any point a contestant wish to withdraw from the task, he or she only need to send up red sparks with their wand", he suggested, demonstrating with his wand pointed up to the miserable sky.

Dumbledore walked back and gathered the five champions around. His voice switched to something deeper and serious, almost as though he was giving them a warning.

"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. Find the cup if you can, but be very wary, you could just lose yourselves along the way", Dumbledore spoke before walking through the five champions and walking towards the entrance of the maze.

"Champions, prepare yourselves", he said, motioning his hands and guiding them to their entrances. Fleur was on the very left hand side, then Harry, then Hazel, who was sandwiched between him and Cedric, then Viktor on the end. The band began to play again and the audience were back up on their feet, cheering and clapping and chanting out names exuberantly. Mood stood beside Harry and patted his back before he entered the maze, however something was very off with Moody, Hazel could sense it. Hazel leaned forward to see Cedric, who was tightly embraced with his father.

"On the count of three... One-", Dumbledore spoke before being abruptly interrupted by the early shot of the canon stood beside Filch.

Harry and Cedric were first to enter the maze. Cedric and Harry nodded at each other reassuringly before Harry turned his head to Hazel. She had a twinkle of worry in her hazel eyes, she didn't fear for her own safety, she feared for Harry's. Harry smiled at Hazel and lip synced an encouraging "Good luck", before walking in the maze with the prickly edges closing him in. A minute flew by when it was time for Hazel to enter the maze. She looked back in the audience and scanned the crowds for Hermione and Ron. They caught her attention by waving their hands in the air with happy yet subtly nervous expressions. Hazel smiled to herself awkwardly before stepping into the hedged maze.