Chronicles Of Arth: Prince Of Shadows

Arth had many things on his mind. One of it was related to the third task. He still didn't know what he would have to do. Finally, Professor McGonagall held him back in Transfiguration.

"You are to go down to the Quidditch field tonight at nine o'clock, Kingscrown," she told him. "Mr. Bagman will be there to tell the champions about the third task."

So at half past eight that night, Arth left the Gryffindor Tower and went downstairs with Corvus fluttering around him excitedly. As he crossed the entrance hall, Cedric came up from the Hufflepuff common room.

"Cute bird you have there," said Cedric with a smile.

"Thanks."

"What d'you reckon it's going to be?" he asked Arth as they went together down the stone steps, out into the cloudy night. "Fleur keeps going on about underground tunnels; she reckons we've got to find treasure."

"That is unlikely," said Arth, with a bored expression. "Too much effort, ruins Hogwarts grounds. Dumbledore wouldn't allow it."

"What do you reckon it is then?"

They walked down the dark lawn to the Quidditch stadium, turned through a gap in the stands, and walked out onto the field.

"What've they done to it?" Cedric said indignantly, stopping dead.

The Quidditch field was no longer smooth and flat. It looked as though somebody had been building long, low walls all over it that twisted and crisscrossed in every direction.

"They're hedges!" yelled Cedric, bending to examine the nearest one.

"Hello there!" called a cheery voice.

Ludo Bagman was standing in the middle of the field with Krum and Fleur. Arth and Cedric made their way toward them, climbing over the hedges. Fleur beamed at Arth as he came nearer. Her attitude toward him had become . . . . Intimate?

"Well, what d'you think?" said Bagman happily as Arth and Cedric climbed over the last hedge. "Growing nicely, aren't they?"

"Is this the Endless Hedge?"

"Why it is indeed! Give them a month and Hagrid'll have them twenty feet high. Don't worry," he added, grinning, spotting the less-than-happy expressions on Cedric's faces, "you'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over!"

"Ahahaha. . . . Don't worry, we have the firepower to finish the deed."

Ludo effectively ended the conversation and switched to a new topic.

"Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?"

No one spoke for a moment. Then —

"Maze," grunted Krum.

"That's right!" said Bagman. "A maze. The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."

"We seemply 'ave to get through the maze?" said Fleur.

"There will be obstacles," said Bagman happily, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Hagrid is providing a number of creatures . . . then there will be spells that must be broken . . . all that sort of thing, you know. Now, the champion who is leading on points will get a head start into the maze."

Bagman grinned at Cedric. "Then Arthur will enter followed by Mr. Krum then Miss Delacour. But you'll all be in with a fighting chance, depending how well you get past the obstacles. Should be fun, eh?"

"I hope Hagrid brings in a wyvern or a Wyrm! A Manticore would be great too! Oh I can't wait!"

"Ahahaha. . . . Very well . . . if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit chilly. . . ."

Bagman hurried away as they began to wind their way out of the growing maze.

Suddenly, Krum tapped Arth on the shoulder.