Chapter 89: 7-1

Until the day of the Third Task, I put my final exam studies on the back burner and devoted myself entirely to tutoring Harry. I was desperate for him to learn as many spells as possible, improve his accuracy, and increase his chances of winning—and his chances of survival. Ron and Hermione helped out as much as they could, but they had their own exams to worry about. Of course, I did too, but I fully intended to get through them by taking full advantage of the fact that I had already experienced them once.

"Harry, listen to me. You can't show any mercy."

I repeated it over and over. You absolutely have to be the one to grab the Triwizard Cup.

The day after I thoroughly drilled offensive and defensive spells into him. On the morning of the actual task, Harry was called away by Professor McGonagall. When we reunited in the Great Hall after surviving the morning exams, Mrs. Weasley and Bill, the eldest Weasley son, were standing with him. Seeing Fred and George rush over to surround Harry, it felt as though the entire atmosphere of the Burrow had been transported directly into Hogwarts. While Harry prepared for the task, our afternoon exams finished, and we all gathered together for dinner. Everyone was smiling. Cedric, Fleur, Krum, and all their families—everyone.

"Harry, Harry, don't forget."

"I know. No ties. I'm definitely going to take the Cup. I remember."

"Harry..."

"My goodness! Maria looks much paler than Harry does. Calm down, dear, Harry will be just fine."

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley. But—"

"It's all right. You sweet children, I'm sure everything will go beautifully."

"...Yes."

Embraced in Mrs. Weasley's warm, plump arms, I finally let out a breath. Following the Champions who had headed to the pitch ahead of us, we entered the spectator stands, and to my surprise, Sirius was there.

"Sirius!"

"Hello, Maria. Sorry I'm late. Those fools at the Ministry of Magic stalled me until the last minute. Even though I have every right to rush here as your guardian. Hmm? Have you grown a bit taller?"

"Don't say things you don't mean."

"Haha, girls are complicated."

When I ran up to him, he roughly ruffled my hair. My careful brushing was completely ruined, but even that made me so happy I couldn't help but smile.

"I already went and greeted Harry earlier. Maria, why didn't you tell me about the dress for the Yule Ball? I received a photo of you—that boy, Colin Creevey, is quite excellent—but I could have provided you with a much more magnificent dress. Oh, no, I don't mean to say it didn't suit you. You were beautiful. I've never known a beauty quite like you."

"What about Mum?"

"Lily was beautiful too, of course. But, well... she's no match for you, Maria."

I laughed heartily at Sirius's bluffing. He was always exaggerating. He was the very embodiment of parental bias.

"I'm sorry about the dress. I really hadn't intended to go to the ball at all. But, well, Harry—you know? And it was so sudden, so... I just threw something together."

...It was probably best not to mention that Draco had gotten it for me. I knew perfectly well that would only cause trouble.

"Will you let me buy you a present next time?"

"...If there's an opportunity."

Having absolutely no intention of ever attending another dance, I brushed the comment off vaguely. I'd had enough of skirts. Their defense rating was way too low. Just tripping would leave you covered in scrapes.

Ludo Bagman's opening remarks drew the students' attention to the maze. After the task instructions were explained, the whistle blew. The showdown between Harry and Cedric, tied for first place, had begun. Whistle after whistle followed, and the figures of all the Champions disappeared into the maze. Having entirely lost sight of the competitors, the spectators excitedly entertained themselves by discussing, placing bets, and predicting who would win the Cup. Amidst the chatter, we lowered our voices and exchanged information.

"—Which means this tournament really was set up by someone, then?"

"Without a doubt. —It's going to happen today. The moment Harry grabs the Cup."

"...A prophecy?"

"Please. Why does everyone think I can make prophecies? I'd love to show you my Divination grades. ...I just know, that's all."

I simply knew. I had no power to change things. No courage, either. I just wanted to—salvage things, just a little bit.

"Maria... you're— No. I will believe you. I'll believe in both of you, no matter what happens. Because you two don't have to survive on your own anymore."

He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me in tight. As if soothing a child unable to hide her anxiety—as if a father embracing his own child, his large arm was reassuringly strong.

"Sirius..."

"From the day you cried and asked me to live with you, my heart was captured by you two. If I were to make you cry a second time, James really would haunt me. Lily, too. Remus would give me a severe lecture. And then—Harry would draw his wand on me."

"He wouldn't do that!"

"Oh, yes he would. That boy would draw his wand on God himself for your sake. —He is James's son."

I didn't quite understand. Seeing my confusion, Sirius patted my shoulder twice and continued with a sorrowful smile.

"And you—you really are James's daughter, too."

"...Are you saying I'm a handful?"

"You two are sweethearts. But James and I were a much bigger handful!"

"That's nothing to brag about like a heroic saga, Sirius."

I gave him a light nudge, and he laughed cheerily out loud. The only other time the Sirius "I" knew had laughed like this was on the first Christmas we spent together. He'd even hummed as he decked out that gloomy House of Black in full Christmas decorations—and then, the next time...

That shadow wasn't in the Sirius standing before me now. That alone was my salvation. —It would be entirely misplaced to feel lonely about it.

"...Sirius, believe in him. In Harry. No matter what. Harry's going to be put in a terrible position after this. So, you have to be the one—you are his emotional support."

"...Maria? Are you under some strange misunderstanding? That boy is—"

A murmur rippled through the stands. Red sparks shot up into the sky from somewhere inside the maze. It was the signal that a Champion was withdrawing. Nearby teachers rushed in for the rescue, and Bagman shouted the name of the fallen competitor. It was Fleur Delacour.

I bit my lip. —It had begun.

"Maria, calm down. What are you in such a panic for? Times are different now. Safety measures have been taken into consideration..."

"Even so, someone might die."

"Maria, I know you're worried about Harry, but—"

"It's a possibility!"

I spun back to face Sirius forcefully. His gaze was far more serious than I had expected.

"Understood. We won't let our guard down. But you need to stay calm. Understood?"

"...Yeah."

The tension left my back, and I leaned against Sirius. He caught me against his broad chest and gently rubbed my shoulder.

"If this results in any casualties, the Ministry of Magic will sink even lower. Serves them right. Rita Skeeter ought to write a scathing piece about them."

"Ah... hehe, that's impossible, Sirius."

At my suppressed chuckle, Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"

"Skeeter won't be writing any articles for a while. —Hermione and I taught her a lesson."

Right about now, she's probably shedding tears of frustration inside a little glass jar, listening to the sounds of the stadium. ...Though I don't know if beetles can actually cry.

The next shower of sparks went up. Krum. As expected, it was down to Harry and Cedric. Oh, Harry, please...

Unable to sit still any longer, I stood up. I told Sirius I was going to move and made my way down the coliseum-style stands. I wanted to be close—at the very least, close enough to be the first one to rush to his side when he returned terrified after facing Voldemort.

On my way toward the entrance of the maze, I saw something glinting on the ground. —A necklace. Did someone drop it...? As I got closer and saw it clearly, I instinctively looked around.

The necklace was in a shape I knew very well. A jewel with a mysterious flame trapped inside, attached to a delicate chain. —It was the enchanted item Draco had given me.

Why was it here...? I usually kept it tucked safely away inside the jewelry box Lavender had given me as a hand-me-down.

I crouched down. I reached out my fingers.

Someone called my name.

I touched the jewel.

The scenery violently twisted around me.