Ch. 24: The Tasks of the Triwizard Cup

In the wake of the departure of the students and faculty from the rival schools, the Hogwarts staff, Jon included, lingered in Dumbledore's office, ensnared in a tense discussion.

"This cannot continue, Albus! First, the Dark Mark's ominous appearance in the sky, and now this," Professor McGonagall voiced her concerns to Dumbledore, her tone laced with urgency.

The Dark Mark she referred to had previously materialized at the Quidditch World Cup, inciting widespread panic.

At that juncture, Jon had been engaged in a deadly battle with Death Eaters in Azkaban!

Currently, Dumbledore was hunched over a gleaming basin, cradling it with both hands. This was a Pensieve, a basin for storing significant memories. Should one forget a crucial detail, the Pensieve could serve as a tool for recollection.

"And what course of action do you propose, Minerva?" Dumbledore inquired, his visage mirrored in the luminescence of the Pensieve.

"Terminate it!" Professor McGonagall retorted without hesitation, "Exclude Potter from the competition."

"Barty's words were unambiguous. The rules are set in stone," Dumbledore responded, his tone icy.

"To hell with Barty and his rules!" McGonagall retorted, her anger palpable, "Since when have you been so compliant with the Ministry's whims?!"

Before McGonagall could complete her thought, Snape interjected, "Headmaster, I too find it challenging to dismiss these occurrences as mere coincidence. However, if we are to decipher the true implications of these events, perhaps we should allow them to transpire, at least for now." Professor Snape's inscrutability remained intact. His sentiments aligned with Jon's, albeit Snape's apparent target was Harry, he was, in reality, safeguarding him behind the scenes.

However, this situation could potentially endanger Harry. Snape's suggestion seemed to imply using Harry as bait to draw out the true perpetrator. Jon was puzzled by Snape's rationale.

"What? Stand idle? Use him as bait?!" McGonagall challenged, "Potter is a child, not a sacrificial lamb!"

"I concur... with Severus. Alastor, could you keep a vigilant eye on Harry?" Dumbledore requested, his gaze fixed on the Pensieve.

"I can manage that," Jon assented without a moment's hesitation, eager to undertake the task.

"Ensure he remains oblivious, though," Dumbledore instructed, pointing his wand at his temple, and added, "He must already be fraught with anxiety... anticipating what lies ahead. Then again, aren't we all?" Dumbledore extracted a memory from his mind with his wand and deposited it into the Pensieve.

Jon recognized the memory. It was a recollection of the real Mad-Eye Moody incarcerating Barty Crouch Jr. in Azkaban, under the watchful eye of his father, Barty Crouch.

.....

Days later, as the inaugural challenge of the Triwizard Tournament loomed, the Hogwarts campus buzzed with an unprecedented vibrancy.

During this time, Jon dedicated his efforts to the task of exploring Hogwarts. After venturing into the Room of Requirement and the headmaster's office, he discovered that his progress was only at 54 out of 100.

Subsequently, due to a shortage of ingredients for the Polyjuice Potion, he pilfered some from Professor Snape's office. A visit to the restricted section of the library saw his progress surge to 91 out of 100.

Just as he was pondering over the unexplored areas, he remembered a clandestine chamber that could only be accessed through Parseltongue. In the entire wizarding world, only Voldemort and Harry Potter were known to speak Parseltongue. Fortunately, after destroying several of Voldemort's Horcruxes, Jon had absorbed some of Voldemort's magic, including the ability to speak Parseltongue. He used this newfound skill to unlock the secret chamber.

Ultimately, he completed the side quest, albeit with 500 penalty points.

...

Post Potions class, Harry exited the classroom, his heart heavy. His unexpected selection as the Triwizard Champion had led to whispers of deceit, creating a rift between him and his close friend, Ron.

"Harry."

A voice halted him in his tracks.

"Professor Moody?" Harry turned to see Jon.

"Follow me," Jon instructed, leading Harry to his office.

Once in the office, Jon settled into his chair, "Tell me, Harry! How would you tackle a dragon?" Jon cut to the chase.

Harry, who had come to trust Jon, appreciated the direct approach.

The first challenge of the Triwizard Tournament had been revealed - a test against a dragon. Harry was tasked with retrieving a golden egg from a nest guarded by a lethal dragon.

"I..." Harry faltered, "I think I should..."

Clearly, Harry was unprepared.

Creak!

Jon kicked a chair towards Harry.

"Sit," Jon commanded.

Harry complied.

"Listen, Potter," Jon began, "Your friend Diggory? At your age, he could transfigure a whistle into a watch that sang the time. Miss Delacour? She's as much a fairy princess as I am. As for Krum, his head might be filled with sawdust, but Karkaroff's certainly isn't."

Harry absorbed Jon's words, understanding the intent behind them - to make him aware of his formidable opponents.

"Consider this, Potter, what are your strengths?" Jon probed.

Harry pondered, then admitted, "...I don't know!"

"Okay, I can fly! And I can fly well, but..." Harry hesitated.

Jon nodded, then praised, "Better than well, from what I've heard!"

Indeed, Harry had a natural aptitude for broom-riding, becoming a Quidditch player in his first year, an unprecedented feat.

"But I am not allowed to use a broom!" Harry protested.

Jon smiled, "That's correct, but you can use a magic wand!"

***

Two days later, the first challenge of the Triwizard Tournament arrived as planned, and Jon stood in the auditorium, awaiting Harry's entrance.

The crowd was abuzz with excitement, enthusiastically cheering for their favored champions.

A cannon fired, signaling the entrance of Diggory, Hogwarts' representative. Amidst the roaring applause, he skillfully evaded the fire dragon's assault and secured the golden egg.

Krum and Fleur followed suit, successfully completing their tasks.

Finally, it was Harry's turn, pitted against the most formidable of the four dragons, the Hungarian Horntail.

Initially flustered, he gradually regained his composure. Using the device Jon had given him, his magic wand smoothly slid from his sleeve into his hand. With a wave of his wand, a broom from outside the arena flew in.

"What's happening?! How did he retrieve his wand?!" The audience murmured in confusion.

After a seemingly endless struggle, Harry, astride his broom, successfully outmaneuvered the dragon and claimed the golden egg.

Amidst the audience's cheers, Jon nodded in satisfaction and exited the auditorium.

***

The following day.

Harry sat on a stone bench in one of Hogwarts' corridors, contemplating the golden egg in his hand.

This golden egg held the clue to the second task. Unlocking this clue would provide him with an advantage in the next challenge. However, the egg emitted such a grating noise upon opening that he couldn't discern anything.

"Harry!" Jon appeared behind Harry.

"Professor Moody," Harry greeted respectfully.

"Have you deciphered the clues within?" Jon inquired.

"No, nothing, sir!" Harry shook his head.

"Don't lose heart!" Jon patted him on the shoulder, then suggested, "Could you open it for me to examine? Perhaps I can provide some insight."

Harry was slightly puzzled: "Professor Moody, I don't think that's a good idea, as soon as this thing is opened..."

Before he could finish, Jon interjected: "I'm aware of it, I've heard from others. Open it, let me see!"

"Alright then!" Unable to resist Jon, Harry complied.

Upon opening the golden egg, it bloomed like a flower, releasing a piercing noise that made Jon's ears ring.

"Alright, close it quickly!" Jon instructed.

After Harry closed the golden egg, Jon pondered, then said: "This sounds like sonar!"

"What?" Harry was confused, unfamiliar with the term.

"Never mind!" Jon dismissed, then suggested: "How about this! Go back and submerge it in water. Generally, such sounds can't propagate in water. See what you discover!"

Upon hearing Jon's advice, Harry nodded, "Okay, thank you, Professor Moody!"

"Off you go, boy!" Jon patted him on the shoulder, adding, "By the way, I recommend the Prefect's bathroom on the fifth floor. It's quite a luxurious spot for a bath, and it's conducive to thinking!"

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A/N: I know this work is still very new, but your opinions matter a lot to my progress, please write a review 🙏.

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