He turned towards his brother, only for Dylan to grab him in a death grip, his body trembling. "Dylan, I'll be fine," said Harry, smiling slightly. "I'll be back before you know it."
"Just - just be careful, please," said Dylan desperately. Harry smiled as he kissed his brother's forehead affectionately. Breathing deeply again, he walked to the entrance of the maze; something made him turn around and he couldn't help but smile back at his adopted parents - Sirius and Amelia were looking at him in determination, each of them trying their best to remain strong for the boy they considered their own son. Harry sent a reassuring smile to Amelia whose face looked pale.
"Good luck, Harry," whispered Amelia softly as she watched him in the large mirror. "Come back safe and sound."
" Lumos! "
Lighting his wand, he walked forward, using a spell to check where he was going. Harry turned north at a corner, only to suddenly scream; his voice echoed throughout the maze. He was falling from the top of a tower. Uncle Vernon was punishing him again, locking him in his cupboard at Privet Drive, leaving him broken and hungry. Hundreds of Dementors were closing all around him. A giant Basilisk was lunging at him. The tortured, mangled bodies of Daphne and Dylan were looking at him with empty, dead eyes. The shade of Tom Riddle was becoming clearer as he raised his wand. Lily Potter screamed in agony and there was a blinding flash of green light…
" Riddikulus! "
" Bombarda Maxima! "
Panting loudly and still shivering, he walked forward, cursing himself for not expecting such hidden traps; it had been a powerful boggart coupled with an illusionary enchantment hidden under several advanced concealment wards. He reached a dead end, so he turned back, only to be assaulted by hundreds of Cornish pixies. Waving his wand over his head, Harry conjured a full-body shield to protect himself, followed by a wide area stunner. Leaving the stunned pixies behind, he walked forward, checking the direction he was taking using the Point-Me spell.
Just as he took another bend, he felt oppressive coldness envelop him. Bad memories started to form in his mind, as he saw two Dementors in front of him, inching closer. Harry pointed his wand at the Dementors, thought about Daphne and how much he loved her and mentally said, " Expecto Patronum!"
The enormous silver thunderbird shot out of his wand and attacked the Dementors, driving them away. The sound of his boots against the hard ground echoed throughout the path as Harry made his way forward, disabling more wards and curses. It would have been difficult had he not been so well versed in the subjects. Dumbledore was right; anyone under the age of seventeen would stand no chance in this maze. It was only because of what he had learnt in the N.E.W.T. curriculum and also from Voldemort's memories was he able to use his warding and curse-breaking skills effectively.
"Looks like Viktor Krum too has encountered the illusionary ward," said Bagman. "As you remember, Harry Potter encountered one as soon as he entered the maze. He seemed to have fallen victim to it until he blasted the ward to pieces."
"Harry Potter has gotten past the Dementors, but no surprises there," said Bagman as the crowd cheered. "His Patronus takes the form of a thunderbird; very unusual, I must say."
When he turned in another direction, Harry was suddenly pushed from the back, making him fall on the ground several feet away, scraping his knees. His shirt was smoking as he was attacked by the Blast-Ended Skrewt. Harry fired spells, but it was no use. The end exploded, making him wince in pain. His eyes darkened in anger; a ripple of magic left his wand and the armour wasn't enough to stop the curse this time. The skrewt shrieked in pain as the curse tore through its body, cutting it into several dozen pieces.
After battling the skrewt, Harry was surprised to find three Thestrals in the middle of the path. Harry smiled at them. Conjuring a dead animal, he tossed it at the creatures as he moved forward to pet them. They really were fascinating creatures and Harry was honoured that he could see them. Giving them one last look, he moved forward.
"Harry Potter can see the Thestrals?" asked Bagman in disbelief. "Oh my!"
Harry realised now that he was close to the cup. He could see the dim light coming from the middle of the maze. He encountered a Sphinx, but he was able to get past it by answering her riddle. Harry smirked. The Triwizard Cup was just twenty feet away. As he began walking, in his excitement, he didn't notice an Acromantula that was silently inching closer to him from behind. With a screech, the large spider lunged at Harry when it was close enough. Harry grimaced in pain as he twisted his leg in avoiding it; he had lost patience and with a furious slash of his wand, he decapitated the Acromantula, killing it. He closed his eyes in pain as he realised that he had a sprained ankle, making it difficult to walk. Looking at the severed pieces of the large spider in disgust and anger, Harry walked towards the Triwizard Cup, trying not to limp. He smirked in triumph. This was the moment. His enemies had underestimated him as he had won the tournament without being killed in the process.
"Harry Potter has reached the Triwizard Cup!" yelled Bagman as people yelled and cheered in delight.
Just as Harry grabbed the handle of the cup, he felt the usual jerk behind his navel. As his feet touched the ground, he had barely even managed to get a glimpse of the place he was in before a jet of scarlet light impacted him as he fell down to the ground, unconscious.