The Forging of the Bonds

Chapter 28. Entry Below.

"Mike? You all right?"

"Yeah. Just nervous."

"Come on," Kate said.

"Mate, you'll do fine. You did figure it out, right?"

"I think so," Mike said. Carrying his half of the staff recovered in the first task, they headed downstairs. The second task was to take place in the dungeons.

"Elizabeth!" he shouted across the crowd of students. His partner smiled and headed over. "It's ready," she said, holding a flask filled with dark green liquid.

Mike looked around. Professor McGonagall was talking to Aunt Gabrielle while Potter was engaged in an animated discussion with Padma Patil. Gunther von Klausberg was whispering something to the Krum twins, and his uncle Percy was engrossed in a book and appeared aloof.

The two Beauxbatons girls walked up to the front of the room, grinning. The Krum twins joined them a moment later. Elizabeth and Mike glanced at each other.

"If she isn't back in one piece, Weasley," Nadine Zabini said, "I'll kill you."

"Now, Zabini," Kate said. "That's not very nice. Now he might leave Elizabeth there just to spite you."

"Hey!" Mike and Elizabeth shouted in unison.

"Good luck, you two," Laura Whittle said. "I just wish there was more for us to see."

"We'll tell you all about it," Mike promised. "Come on, Elizabeth."

They stood next to the other champions, in front of a wall engraved with gargoyles. A shiver came over Mike.

"Will everyone please quiet down," McGonagall said. The voices all either fell silent or hushed to whispers. Mike looked at the other champions. Fatima and Veronique were looking around the room, nervous. The Krum twins might as well have been stone statues, for all the emotion they showed.

"You got glasses, Elizabeth?"

"Yes," she replied.

In this room, Padma Patil didn't need the Sonorus charm to be heard. "Champions, students, and guests! Welcome to the second task! The staffs you received should have been a clue and an aide for this." Looking at the other champions, Mike saw that the Krum twins still had the whole staff, while Fatima and Veronique had none. He hoped that he and Elizabeth had made the right decision.

"The dungeon is completely dark," Patil said, "with the exception of the fires burning in the heart of it. The fires are burning blue, green, and red flames." She pointed at three bronze lamps positioned on a stand behind them. "You are to bring back and light your lamp with the blue flame, without disturbing the red or green ones." She paused.

"Sounds simple enough," Mike said to himself.

"Based on the performance in the first task, the Durmstrang champions will enter the dungeon first, followed by Beauxbatons and then Hogwarts," Padma finished.

"That's not fair!" Elizabeth complained.

"They're not going to change it," Mike answered.

"It's still not fair."

"The entrance to the dungeon is in this room," Patil said. "But the exits--and there are several--are elsewhere, and you'll have to find them. Good luck."

"Excuse me," one of the Krum twins said, turning to the panel, "but vere is the entrance?"

Potter stood up and raised his wand. Pointing at the wall, he said something, and hit a gargoyle carving straight in the eye. And then... a gap appeared in the middle of the wall, with two enormous stone doors swinging outward. There was nothing but darkness inside.

"Right there, Mr. Krum," Potter said. "Any more questions?"

Krum turned away.

"On the crack of my wand," Patil said, "three, two, one..." CRACK! The sound echoed in the dungeon. The Krum twins headed to the door and vanished inside.

Mike was getting impatient. Every second hurt their chances. He barely noticed the Beauxbatons champions enter the dungeon. Elizabeth tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey!" she said. She thrust a glass into his hand. "You ready?"

Mike nodded. Elizabeth poured the potion into his glass.

He looked at her. "Cheers," he said. They clicked the glasses, and drank. Mike forced himself to swallow the very thick and very sour liquid.

CRACK! Padma Patil's wand made the exploding noise. Mike set aside the glass, drew his wand, and headed towards the dark opening.

As soon as they were inside, the stone doors slammed shut behind them.