Harry looked at Fleur both remembering Krum attacking them. Harry looked both left and right and could not find a path in that direction.
"Crucio!" Krum's voice called.
As Cedric's screams started, Harry turned to Fleur. "We've got to help him."
"Oui, but how? There is no path."
"Well make one," Harry exclaimed. He raised his wand and aimed it at the hedge a few meters from where the screams were coming from. "Reducto!" A small hole appeared. It wasn't large enough to get through so he sent another blasting hex and another. By then Fleur was sending cutting charms into the same spot as well. Finally the hole was big enough to scramble through.
Harry wasted no time in struggling through the branches of the hedge. When he stood on the other path he looked toward Cedric's screams and saw Krum standing over the writing body with his wand raised. A distant look was in his eyes.
"Stupefy," Harry yelled and this time the red beam connected with the Durmstrang Champion and he collapsed.
While Fleur pulled herself through the opening in the hedges, Harry rushed over to Cedric.
"Thanks," Gasped Cedric when he saw Harry then glanced over at Krum's unconscious body. "What the hell's got into him? He crept up and had his wand on me before I could do anything."
"Here let me help you stand," Harry offered and with Fleur's help they pulled the other Hogwart's Champion to his feet. He could tell that Cedric's legs were still shaking.
"I…I thought he was alright," Cedric said still looking at Krum.
"E attacked us earlier," Fleur said.
"Us? Are you two working together in here?"
"Something like that," Harry replied. "Good thing to. I'm not sure I'd have got through that hedge in time without her."
"I'm not complaining Harry," Cedric said. He nodded over to Krum. "Should we leave him here?"
"No; let's take his wand and send up red sparks," Harry replied.
"Take his wand?"
"If he comes around before they rescue him, I don't want him still able to attack us," Harry explained.
"True. Good idea; though right at the moment I think I would prefer to feed him to the skrewt."
"Can't," Harry replied. "We killed it."
"Good. Hope it was the only one in this damn maze," Cedric said. With unsteady legs he stumbled over to Krum and grabbed the wand that had rolled a couple feet from his hand. Once he had pocketed Krum's wand, he pulled out his own and sent up red sparks which hovered over Krum's body.
"Are you going to be alright?" Harry asked.
Cedric nodded. "Thanks and good luck." With those words he turned and moved down the path; his stride becoming stronger and stronger with each step.
"What's going on Harry?" Hermione asked. "Red sparks just went up over the maze."
"Krum. He attacked Cedric. Used an unforgivable. I was able to stun him and we sent up the sparks so they can get to him. What about Crouch?"
"Dumbledore is talking…wait...Moody or Crouch or whoever just tried to hex Dumbledore," Hermione replied. "That was a mistake. He's down. I have no idea what spell Dumbledore just cast but Crouch or Moody collapsed on the spot. I'm going to see if I can find out what's going on…but let me see where you are," About ten seconds later she continued. "You're only about ten yards from the center. It's left of forward to you right now."
"Thanks love," Harry replied. "Go see what Crouch was doing and let Dumbledore know about Krum. He might want to talk to Karkaroff," Harry then directed his thoughts to his youngest bond mate. "Gabrielle, can you let Sirius and Remus know we are alright, but that Krum attacked us."
"Of course 'Arry."
Harry turned to Fleur and pointing in a particular direction. "Ten yards that way. If we can't find a way soon, I'm just going to blast my way through. I am not going to let anything happen to you."
It only took them three minutes to find the right pathway. Along the way Hermione told them that Dumbledore was taking Moody to his office.
When they made a turn they were sure would take them directly to the center of the Maze they found themselves confronted by a Sphinx. Harry was mesmerized by sight of a head of a beautiful woman sitting on the body of an enormous lion. The creature was pacing back and forth across the path, blocking the way. She stopped, and flicked her tail as she regarded Harry and Fleur. The stare lasted for a few seconds before she finally spoke.
"You are very near your goal and the quickest way is through me."
"What must we do to pass?" Fleur asked.
"You must answer my riddle. Answer on your first guess - I let you pass. Answer wrongly - I attack. Remain silent – I will let you walk away from me unscathed."
"What is the riddle?" Fleur asked and then asked all of the bond mates to listen so they could help.
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