Chapter 265: "Before the Maze"

The early summer afternoon sun bathed the Hogwarts grounds in golden light, casting long shadows across the castle lawns. Harry found himself surrounded by the warmth of family, enjoying a rare moment of peace before the evening's challenge. The Black and Delacour families had gathered near the lake, creating a private spot with conjured blankets spread across the grass. The gentle sound of the lake's waters lapping at the shore provided a calming background to their gathering.

The dangers of the upcoming third task seemed momentarily forgotten as laughter and joy filled the air. Aries and Gabrielle, fast friends despite their language barrier, darted around the lake's edge, their youthful energy infectious. They paused occasionally to peer into the lake's depths, hoping to catch a glimpse of the giant squid. Their excited squeals echoed across the water whenever a tentacle broke the surface.

Harry watched them with a content smile, finding their innocent enthusiasm more calming than any potion could be. In these precious moments, thoughts of the tournament and Voldemort's resurrection seemed distant and unimportant.

"Papa!" Gabrielle called out suddenly, running back to the group with flushed cheeks and bright eyes. "Can Harry show us some magic? S'il te plaît?"

Monsieur Delacour chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I don't think we should tire out our champion before his big task, ma petite. He needs to save his strength."

"Oh, I don't mind," Harry said warmly, drawing his wand with a flourish. With precise movements born of years of practice, he conjured a flock of tiny, glowing butterflies that danced through the air, leaving trails of sparkling light in their wake. The children's delighted gasps made the simple display worthwhile, their faces lighting up with wonder as the magical creatures swirled around them.

The afternoon passed in a pleasant blur of conversation, laughter, and impromptu magic demonstrations. Harry found himself truly relaxing for the first time in weeks, surrounded by people who loved him for who he was, not just for what he could do. As the sun began its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and pink, the group made their way back to the castle for the evening feast.

The Great Hall was already buzzing with excitement, its usual grandeur enhanced by the presence of visiting dignitaries and ministry officials.

"Look who's graced us with his presence," Sirius muttered under his breath, nodding towards the staff table where Minister Fudge had taken a seat, looking self-important in his pinstriped robes and lime-green bowler hat.

As they settled at their respective tables, Sirius cast a subtle privacy charm around himself and Harry, the ambient noise of the hall fading to a muffled hum. His expression grew serious, the playful demeanor from the afternoon replaced by genuine concern.

"Harry, there's something you should know," he began, his voice low despite the charm. "Things have been... strange at the Ministry lately. First Bertha Jorkins vanishes without a trace in Albania, and now Crouch..."

Harry's head snapped up, instantly alert. "What about Crouch?"

"He's gone missing," Sirius replied grimly, his grey eyes dark with worry. "About a month ago. Fudge has been keeping it quiet—you know how he is about public image. With Jorkins already missing and that mess at the World Cup, they're desperate to avoid causing panic. But something's not right about it all."

Harry felt his stomach drop, a cold sensation spreading through his chest. If Crouch Sr. was missing, then where was Junior? The impostor who was crucial to Voldemort's resurrection plans... Harry's mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. Not knowing Junior's location or current disguise complicated everything. Without this crucial piece of information, Harry had no way of knowing how Junior would get to Charles or how he would transport him to Voldemort.

Without Crouch's disguise, there seemed no obvious way for Junior to tamper with the cup's portkey, leaving endless possibilities for how Charles might be taken from Hogwarts to Little Hangleton for the ceremony. The carefully laid plans Harry had made based on his foreknowledge suddenly seemed inadequate.

"There's more," Sirius continued, unaware of Harry's internal turmoil. "Word from Azkaban is that the Death Eaters are restless. They're saying their Dark Marks are getting stronger, that their Lord is coming back. What do you make of it?"

Harry chose his words carefully. "I've had suspicions that something's not right with this tournament. Charles being entered, the dragon breaking loose... it feels orchestrated. But I can't be certain."

"Be careful tonight, Harry," Sirius warned, his grey eyes intense with concern. "I've got a bad feeling about this task." He paused, then added, "Speaking of bad feelings... did you notice anything odd about Mad-Eye at school? When I spoke to him before the feast, something felt... off. Can't put my finger on it, but something wasn't quite right."

Harry's heart skipped a beat. Could the timeline be correcting itself? Had Junior somehow managed to take Moody's place despite the changes? With practiced casualness, he pulled out the Marauder's Map, activating it under the table while keeping his expression neutral.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he whispered, scanning the map for Moody's location. The dot labeled 'Alastor Moody' simply sat at the staff table, nothing apparently amiss.

Sirius peered at the map, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Well, everything looks normal. Maybe I'm just jumpy with everything that's been happening. The map doesn't lie, after all. It's never wrong about these things."

"Can it be fooled?" Harry asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Hidden from, yes," Sirius replied thoughtfully, stroking his chin. "But showing a false name? Never heard of it being done. And Moody's resistance to the Imperius Curse is legendary—no one's ever managed to control him. No, this must be the real Moody. I'm probably just being paranoid."

At the staff table, the subject of their discussion was watching them intently through his magical eye. Barty Crouch Jr. suppressed a triumphant smile. The stone Voldemort had enchanted and the real Moody in a trunk in his pocket was doing the job perfectly, fooling even the notorious Marauder's Map. His earlier slip with Black had been concerning, but it seemed their precautions had paid off.

As the feast drew to a close, Dumbledore rose from his seat, his silver beard gleaming in the candlelight as his voice carried across the now-silent hall. "Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes' time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now."

Harry rose from his seat, immediately surrounded by well-wishers and family. Sirius pulled him into a tight hug, his voice rough with emotion. "Show them what you're made of, pup. We're all proud of you, no matter what happens."

Aries tugged at Harry's robes, his small face serious as he looked up at his godfather. "You'll win for sure, Harry! You're the best wizard ever!"

Fleur appeared at his side, her presence calming and familiar. Together, they made their way towards Bagman and the other champions, exchanging quiet words of encouragement. The four champions shared knowing looks, each understanding the gravity of what lay ahead.

"Good luck, everyone," Harry said softly as they walked. "Whatever happens in there, let's make sure we all come out safely."

Krum nodded solemnly, while Charles managed a weak smile.

As they walked through the Great Hall towards their destiny, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far more dangerous than what he had planned for. The variables had changed, and he needed to be more careful than ever to ensure Charles and the others got out of this safely. The fact that Charles didn't have the brother wand to Voldemort's meant he would never survive a direct confrontation in the graveyard without Harry's intervention.

Looking around at his fellow champions, each lost in their own thoughts as they followed Bagman towards the stadium, Harry silently prayed his preparations for the night would be enough. The maze loomed ahead, its dark hedges a stark reminder that sometimes the greatest dangers lie not in what we can see, but in what remains hidden until it's too late.