Thursday, February 25, 1995 – Evening
The Tournament committee had met for most of the afternoon after the second task. The movies captured by the divers were given to the committee. Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Bagman and Percy Weasley wanted to ignore the movies and the diver’s evidence. Madam Maxine from Beaubatons, and Professor Dawes argued that the committee should see the movies and examine the diver’s reports. Bagman finally stated that the task was over, and the points awarded would not be changed. The movies and the other evidence were declared to be the property of the Tournament committee and they were not to be released to the public without the committee’s permission. What that meant was the Ministry of Magic’s permission.
The Ministry did not want the committee to get involved in the diplomatic incidents which had already started with the magical governments of France and Bulgaria. Both France and Bulgaria had demanded formal investigations of the Tournament and the officials running it.
The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was in full panic mode. The formal complaints from France and Bulgaria were on the way. The Delacour sisters had given their memories to the French ministry. Viktor and his much younger brother gave their memories to the Bulgarian ministry. Copies of the underwater movies and the memories of the divers were also given to French and Bulgarian ministries. This all happened before the British Ministry tried to claim ownership of the evidence.
Permission had been given by the families involved to let the younger children participate in the competition in some way. What really happened was that Bagman, Dumbledore, and Percy Weasley, who had organized the task, had failed to tell anyone of how ridiculously dangerous the task was for the contestants and the hostages. They had given the parents the impression that their younger children would be safe and dry for the whole time.
Formal complaints and investigations are sometimes satisfying but usually deliver their kicks and punches long after the disaster is over.
Secret messages were sent and received. A private meeting was convened in the Beaubatons carriage after dinner on the night of the second task.
“We shall leave you to talk among yourselves. Express what your feelings are about this thing that is happening. Don’t worry about coming up with some kind of plan for the future. We can do that later. We have time. Let each other hear and see what you are really feeling.” Professor Dawes looked around the cabin. The four champions were seated at the one small table. Madame Maxine waited in the corridor.
Professor Dawes closed the door and moved along to another cabin where High-master Karkaroff and Professor Sprout were waiting for her and the Beaubatons headmistress.
Karkaroff spoke first, “I still think that this is a bad idea. I am only doing this because Viktor insisted. He is no longer someone whom I can easily influence.”
The others listened and managed to keep their mouths shut. There was no sense in insulting him at the start.
“We are only here to let the champions express some of their feelings in an ‘off-the-record’ way. There will be no permanent consequences from anything that is discussed.” Professor Sprout had not become involved in the Tournament proceedings before now. She had recently had some unpleasant revelations about the way things were being managed in the castle and was now on the warpath.
“The way things get done around here is going to have to change. That is my problem along with the other Hogwarts Heads of House and teachers. That will have to happen soon. In the meantime, we have to get this stinking Tournament finished without getting anyone killed.” The Hufflepuff Head of House looked uncomfortable.
“It’s obvious now that the promises of safety for the champions are worthless. If we don’t do something, someone could die in the last task.” The three school representatives nodded.
“They are saying that everyone is safe and hoping that nothing goes wrong. Gabrielle could have died. Dumbledore and the Ministry men ignored the Merfolk chief. The divers were following the champions and didn’t see Gabrielle until Fleur and the others did. Dumbledore and these Ministry fools are making empty promises.” Madame Maxine looked permanently angry.
‘The Krum family is very private. Viktor is an international Quidditch star but there is no talk of his parents and his brother in the press. This because Mr Krum would gut any media boss who let a mention the Krum family come out. When I say gut, I mean that people who have displeased Boris Krum have had a way of disappearing without a trace.
No one knows how much influence Boris has. Dumbledore, Bagman, and the Ministry are well on the way to finding out in ways that will not end well for them. I, myself, would like to stay out of the blood spatter radius if something happens to Viktor or his brother.” The others looked at Karkaroff and shifted uneasily.
“Very interesting, High-master, of course, we in Merlin House are cut off from this sort of concern. Our concern is with Harry Potter and his supporters. The way that Merlin House came into being, and the support that Harry has received are the subject of a lot of silly gossip.
My concern is to not let Harry’s supporters down. His supporters are the not sort of people who would go out of their way to shorten my allotted life span.
They don’t have to, because in the end, they can arrange it with Hades to make my afterlife very unpleasant, and they will not hesitate if I fail Harry.” Miriam Dawes stopped talking. The others stared at her and suddenly felt uncomfortable.
--ooOOoo—
Harry didn’t want to say too much. It seemed that none of the others did as well.
At last, Fleur started talking. “When we first heard about this Tournament, we were told that it would be a series of exciting, challenging magical tests. They said that it would be spectacular and entertaining. The sort of thing which would get the attention of the magical world for us and our school. The reality is that we are all in fear for our lives and now the lives of our families and loved ones. What will they do to try to kill us in the third task?”
“My father will take terrible revenge if I or my brother are harmed. These British Ministry people are stupid to think that no one can touch them.” Viktor was gloomy.
Cedric snorted. “Harry can make them feel a sting if he wants to. Accidentally, of course.”
“Oh, of course!”
“My, my, yes! It was just an accident.”
Harry blushed lightly. “Thank you. It was the least I could do.”
“I would like us to think about co-operating instead of competing. That was the only way we all got out of the Black Lake without bad things happening.” Harry looked at each champion as he spoke. They all nodded.
“I will continue to train and learn new magic. I am planning on learning spells for healing and survival. I want to be able to keep someone who is injured alive until proper medical help arrives.” Harry looked around the room again. Again, all heads nodded in agreement. “I also want other people around who can do the same for me.”
“Skill at avoiding danger and dodging spells is also what we need.” Cedric said.
Fleur made a growling sound. “Friends, family, loved ones can all be made dangerous. We must arrange it with all our teams to set up traps for us. When we are walking around in our carriage, our ship, and in our common rooms, they are to suddenly turn on us and knock us down with magic and physical strength. We in turn, must learn to assess our situations at all times. We must be constantly looking, listening, reaching out with our senses. We must become suspicious of everything. That way, in the third task, we will be harder to trap.”
Harry responded, “I overheard that on a TV program that my cousin was watching. They called it ‘Situational Awareness’.”
“There is another thing that I have to tell you about.” Harry said. “Cedric and I are now certain that someone in the castle is trying to hinder us with magic. That someone would be a powerful witch or wizard, possibly someone like Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape. They are expert at mind magics and we know for certain that someone skilled with the Confundus charm has been using it on Cedric.”
“Why would they do that to their own champion?” Fleur asked.
“They have two champions; they want only one of them to do well.” Viktor stared at Harry.
“I am the weakest competitor. I don’t expect to win or even do well. I have had advantages in the first two tasks. I don’t apologize for that; I will use any advantage that I am given to survive and to make sure that there are no deaths or horrible injuries.” Harry shuffled in his seat.
“If anyone wants me to win, it is because of some plan for me that I have no knowledge of.”
Harry took a breath.
“The Gods of Olympus have been feeding my team information. Sometimes it is a lot, and sometimes it seems just strange. They are not concerned with the Tri-Wizard Tournament or any of you. It is all to do with some other person who wants to do me a lot of harm and they are not going to let him get away with it.”
Cedric murmured in a sing-song voice. “The Boy-Who-Lived.”
Harry glared at Cedric. “Shut-up!”
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