The third event took place at the end of the year and Harry, for some reason he didn't understand, was the first to enter the maze. Having no points from the previous two events, he should've been the last to enter. But he wasn't which practically screamed this whole thing was nothing but a set-up for the end of the year event. He walked in a daze, constantly trusting his instincts to lead him in the right direction but not really caring if he got to the trophy first or not. He didn't want to win this damned event. Hell, he hadn't even wanted to be a part of it. All he wanted to do was get an education so that someday he could get a job and earn a living for himself. Somewhere. Preferably where people were few and far between.
He heard Fleur scream and knew she had been knocked out of the competition though he had no idea what she'd encountered. That left only him and Diggory. Diggory who still refused to admit Harry hadn't willingly entered a Tournament he was forbidden by the rules to be in. About five minutes later Cedric let out a hoarse yell of surprise and then a red flare went up indicating he was also out of the competition. Again, Harry had no idea what had befallen the older contestant. What he did know was that flare meant if Harry reached the cup, he'd won the match-up whether he wanted to or not.
Sighing, Harry moved to where he knew the center of the maze to be and, even though he recognized the cup for the portkey it was, picked it up whispering to himself, "All right, you damn evil Geppetto. Let's see what horror show you have planned for me this year." He knew the old man had some sort of method of listening to events that played out around him when he was playing his games. How else could the old man plan his moves and make his plays? So he had no doubts his words had been heard. But he no longer cared. He wouldn't have been surprised at the flash of surprised consternation on the old man's face over his choice of words though. An expression that had quickly been masked lest anyone see it and ask uncomfortable questions.
He was teleported to the graveyard and got a front row seat for the resurrection of Voldemort. Pettigrew was waiting for him with the malformed infant that was currently playing host body for Voldemort and that only proved two Marauders had survived the night Sirius Black had died. Which meant Lupin most likely was every bit the traitor to Harry and his parents Pettigrew himself was. And further confirmed what a liar the old man truly was because Harry didn't have a doubt in his mind the old man knew the rat had escaped his fate. And really with this event being enacted, Harry knew exactly why Pettigrew had been allowed to escape. He'd still been needed.
The rest of that night passed in a blur of one horror upon another until suddenly he found himself back at Hogwarts with the cup in hand and throwing up on the grass outside the maze. Minister Fudge wanted to charge him with Victor Krum's death because an autopsy had revealed Harry's magical trace on Victor's remains. This was supposedly to appease the upset Bulgarian contingent who wouldn't have been appeased at all since that trace had also revealed exactly what magic Harry had performed on their champion. So even the judges said no to that idea, pointing out there was no way in hell Harry Potter could've stopped Victor Krum's death from occurring.
Then he wanted to charge him with the death of Cedric but again the judges said no as Cedric had willingly entered the contest knowing full well death was a possible outcome of the events. Furthermore investigation made it clear his death was in no way Harry's doing or fault as Harry hadn't been anywhere near the seventeen year old in the maze when Cedric had perished.
Nor was he responsible for the life threatening injuries suffered by the French competitor which she'd made certain to relate before she passed out. Her sister had been very angry at her for forcing her to lose control over Harry's owl at the end of the second event and she was trying in her own way to protect the boy now to make up for not doing so then. She did respect the boy for his efforts in this tournament and the daily hardship he'd been forced to endure during the year. As far as she was concerned he was the only British wizard she'd met this year worthy of respect and admiration. She was also trying to appease her little sister and get back into her good graces. Because Gabrielle Delacour was very upset with Fleur for making her fail in her appointed task of protecting that pretty owl for her hero, Harry Potter.
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