In the last week of May, Professor McGonagall kept Harry behind after a Transfiguration lesson. Orli calculated the timing—by now, the champions should know what the third task entailed.
Sure enough, that evening when Harry returned, he told the three of them everything.
"The Quidditch pitch!" Harry took a large gulp of ice water before continuing: "They're building walls all around it—Bagman says Hagrid will have them up to twenty feet high within a month."
"What for? Some kind of arena?" Ron asked in amazement.
"Not quite, but close enough—they're creating a maze, and it'll be filled with obstacles. Charms, traps, magical pitfalls... and of course, Hagrid's creatures." Harry let out a long breath.
"So now we know what those Blast-Ended SkrewtsHagrid's been raising are for," Hermione observed.
"Yeah... The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. Whoever touches it first gets full marks." Harry continued: "The person with the highest score enters first. Cedric and I go in together, then Krum, and finally Fleur Delacour."
"That gives you a head start, Harry! Maybe we could fly over on broomsticks, scout the maze from above, and work out a route beforehand..." Ron suggested eagerly.
"Don't be ridiculous—the judges will definitely have safeguards against that," Hermione countered. "Just some fog and a few Confundus Charms, and I bet your broom would be spinning in circles before you even got close."
"So how can we help Harry this time?" Ron asked, frustrated.
"I don't think anyone can help this time." Harry sighed. "Unless I suddenly become Hagrid—then all those strange creatures might just let me pass."
"I'll prepare extra potions for you—I'm planning to convert them into sprays so you can use them more easily in the maze," Orli offered. But her mind was elsewhere—she hoped Dumbledore would remember not to let Harry get injured and bleed, and that he'd thoroughly inspect everything in the maze. Back when Harry's name had first shot out of the Goblet of Fire, she and Snape had already warned Dumbledore to check all the tournament equipment. Surely the Triwizard Cup wouldn't be swapped for a Portkey again? If that happened, she'd seriously start suspecting Dumbledore himself was Voldemort's spy!
"Is Professor Moody still giving you extra lessons? He hasn't called for you in ages, has he?" Ron suddenly asked.
"No... Around the time of the second task, he said he was too busy and suspended the lessons." Harry shrugged. "He really did seem swamped—sometimes he looked absolutely exhausted, like he could never get enough sleep. His eyelids were drooping, and the scars on his face looked even stranger than usual."
Orli remembered how Moody had appeared when she'd seen him in the Headmaster's office. Indeed, it matched Harry's description. Perhaps he was helping Dumbledore search for Avery and had no time for Harry? She couldn't be certain.
After learning about the third task, Harry wrote to Sirius. Sirius replied with this advice:
"Harry, your name appearing in the Goblet of Fire wasn't coincidence. If someone wants to attack you, this is their final opportunity. Stay with your friends and don't leave Gryffindor Tower after classes. Prepare well for the third task—practice the Stunning Spell and Disarming Charm, and learning a hex or two wouldn't hurt either."
"Hexes?" Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"Brilliant," Ron whispered.
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