Fleur, Harry and Cedric (who had been invited to the party as well) waited until the last minute, but at eight-forty they had to leave the Gryffindor Common room where the party was being held. Fred and George along with Hermione promised to keep it going until they got back.
As they walked down to the pitch they started chatting about what the third task might be, but as they turned and walked between a gap in the stands Cedric stopped and cried indignantly. "What've they done to it?"
The Quidditch field was no longer smooth and flat. It looked as though somebody had been building long, low walls all over it that twisted and crisscrossed in every direction.
"They're hedges!" said Harry, bending to examine the nearest one. He realized this was what he had seen that night he and Gabrielle were flying on Buckbeak.
"Hello there!" called a cheery voice. Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Krum by his side.
"Well, what d'you think?" asked Bagman happily as Harry, Fleur and Cedric climbed over the last hedge. "Growing nicely, aren't they? Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high. Don't worry," he added, grinning, spotting the less than happy expressions on Harry's and Cedric's faces, "you'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over! Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?"
No one spoke for a moment. Then –
"Maze," grunted Krum.
"That's right!" said Bagman. "A maze. The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."
"We seemply 'ave to get through ze maze?" asked Fleur.
"There will be obstacles," said Bagman happily, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Hagrid is providing a number of creatures . . . then there will be spells that must be broken ... all that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze," Bagman grinned at Harry and Cedric. "Then Miss Delacour will enter . . . then Mr. Krum. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?"
Harry, who knew only too well the kind of creatures that Hagrid was likely to provide for an event like this, thought it was unlikely to be any fun at all. He looked over at Fleur "Hagrid likes dangerous animals."
"Yes, Gabrielle 'as mentioned several of zem and others I've seen in your memories," She smiled at her bondmate but Harry could feel her nervousness as she could feel his.
"Very well. . . " Ludo said. "If you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly..."
Bagman hurried alongside Harry as they began to wend their way out of the growing maze. Harry had the feeling that Bagman was going to start offering to help him again and moved closer to Fleur and started chatting with her. They had only walked several feet when Krum tapped Harry on the shoulder.
"Could I haff a vord?"
"Uh...it's my...my girlfriend's party right now, can we talk another time?" Harry replied slightly surprised at the request.
"Girlfriend…but…it vill only take a minute."
Harry looked at Fleur who shrugged. "Want me to go with you?" She queried.
"Yeah, all right," replied Harry to Krum and then to Fleur. "No, I'll be alright, go back to the party, I'll be there shortly."
Harry could tell she wanted to stay near him, but also wanted to go to her sister's party. She finally turned and started toward the Castle with a final "Be careful."
"Vill you valk vith me?" Krum asked Harry.
"Okay," replied Harry curiously.
Bagman who was listening and acting like he wanted to talk to Harry looked slightly perturbed.
"I'll wait for you. Harry, shall I?"
"No, it's okay, Mr. Bagman," said Harry, knowing he had guessed correctly about Bagman. "I think I can find the castle on my own, thanks."
Harry and Krum left the stadium together, but Krum did not set a course for the Durmstrang ship. Instead, he walked toward the forest.
"What're we going this way for?" said Harry as they passed Hagrid's cabin and the illuminated Beauxbatons carriage. "Remember I need to get back to the Castle. Gabrielle is waiting for me."
"Don't vant to be overheard," said Krum shortly.
When at last they had reached a quiet stretch of ground a short way from the Beauxbatons horses' paddock, Krum stopped in the shade of the trees and turned to face Harry.
"I vant to know," he said, glowering, "vot there is between you and Hermy-ownninny."
Harry, who from Krum's secretive manner had expected something much more serious than this, stared up at Krum in amazement.
"Uh...well…uh…What do you mean? I mean she's my best friend."
"She spends all of her time vith you and the Beauxbaton Champion. She doesn't come to the library to talk with me as often as she did," Krum said. "I've even seen you flying with her over the lake, but when I mention it to her she says she doesn't want to fly vith me."
"HERMIONE!" Harry let out a mental yell as this was not a conversation he was comfortable with.
"Yes Harry?"
"Krum wants to know what's there is between you and me. He thinks you haven't been spending enough time with him. He likes you Hermione," Harry quickly explained but her mental laughter wasn't helping any.
"Outside of the fact that I'm madly in love with you and never had interest in him outside of friendship?"
"But I can't tell him that yet can I?"
"No," She agreed. "Just tell him that I really like him as a friend but felt he wanted more than I wanted."
....
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