AN: Life's been crazy so I hope the wait wasn't too long. A Ngagsa is a creature I made up, a chicken-like bird who nests on the tops of high buildings, and whose eggs are lethal. Thanks to Seakays for being my lovely Beta. This is for Hyacinth Girl, for her friendly reminders that I needed to work on this. So without further adieu, let the games begin…
Chapter 6- Games
The sight of Hermione eats away at Harry's heart. Her eyes are huge, still and shiny. Edred is ignoring her, his recent solicitude towards her now superceded by his excitement at the impending bloodshed.
"The games will consist of two trials. There will be one to test the physical, and one to test the spiritual. Which one is which, is only known to myself," the goblin says in the megaphone looking smug, "and our King."
The crowd cheers at the mention of their ruler. Small children are scurrying for refreshments and their parents are chanting impatiently. The competitors stand, stone faced and ready as a trumpet is blown and a reverent song is sung by a pixie wearing a silver gown with blue beads and too much makeup.
Hermione looks around for Ron. She spots a wolf with a head of red hair and their eyes meet.
Ron? Hermione? Are you all right? Is that PANSY? Long story…
The ground below them trembles, and club- like feet thrust out from the earth. Black soulless eyes in the center of five outstretched arms are pulled into the air; coming towards the participants like something dislodged from Hell and sent careening to the surface.
"A Quintaped? How can it be? They are only found on the Isle of Drear," Pansy says, stunned.
"Harry!" Ron cries out, frantically looking towards the Imps who are standing against the railing, as much in shock as anyone else.
Dergon releases a groan, "I hope your friend is as skilled as he is brave."
"Poor dumb wolf," James says somberly, taking his hat off and shaking his head.
"Wait and see!" Imran protests, thinking of his thirty-coin bet.
The competitors stare helplessly, clutching their modest weapons. In the rows of creatures surrounding them, voices begin to cry out, the noise escalating quickly to what it was before the monster's dramatic entrance. The Quintaped moves more swiftly now, lifting its first victim into the air, devouring the male troll in three bites. Harry scrambles, along with the others. His wand is tied to his waist, disguised as a small pickaxe. He thinks of a spell that isn't too obvious. Confundus Charm would confuse the monster, giving him more time at least.
"Confundo", he whispers, holding the "pickaxe" in front of him, as if readying himself to fight.
The goblin that the creature is holding is suddenly dropped onto the ground with a solid thud. The crowd recoils from the sound of shattering bones. The monster is looking around, dazed. The spell is working.
Hermione recognizes the expression on the beast's face.
'Be careful, Harry!' she thinks.
The remaining ten competitors attack, managing to cause some injury to their confused enemy. Rocks, stones, axes, swords. Harry holds back, as two more are tossed aside by the creature. One poor, unfortunate centaur is stepped on, squashed into the ground like a hamburger patty on a grill. Harry is sprayed by the blood, and wipes it from his eyes. The crowd cheers.
"You owe me for the centaur Max!" Patrick says.
Max grumbles about 'dumb luck' and hands Patrick the money. "I should have known not to bet on him. Too damn confidant those things are, don't you agree sweetie?" he says, looking up at Pansy.
"Bug off, you annoying little pest," Pansy replies.
"So feisty …do I light the fire in you?" Max says, raising his eyebrows.
Ron can't just sit and watch Harry get attacked. He looks around the arena, his eyes falling on a large nest near the back wall.
"I have an idea, come on." Ron stands. Naya and Dergon nod in agreement. Pansy groans and stands up as well. "You too Imps!" Ron commands, annoyed at their lack of response.
"Why us?" Imran protests.
"Look, do you want Harry to get squashed out there? You are the only ones small enough not to get noticed." Ron asks.
James shrugs. Patrick yawns. Max whistles. Imran looks around frantically for the goblin selling peppermint humbugs.
Pansy laughs. "I'd say they are all genuinely apathetic."
Ron flinches as another competitor is eaten. His body goes stiff, and he jerks his head towards the Imps again.
"If you don't help Harry, you won't get the money."
The Imps pay attention.
~~~~~~~~
Harry screams as a burst of hot saliva comes from the monster's mouth, searing his right hand. He draws his hand away, shaking it in the air as he runs to get out of the creature's line of vision. He almost trips over something. A severed head. "Christ!" There are only three of them left to fight, and the arena is beginning to look like a mass grave. He doesn't even want to think about what would have happened if he hadn't used the confusion spell. He has to think of something else.
"Harry!!!" Ron screams, his voice hoarse from trying to get his friend's attention. "Move to the right!"
Harry nods, and runs to the right side of the creature. The other two competitors follow him, wanting to benefit as well from this unsolicited help.
Hermione breathes a small prayer as Edred watches intently. The pet he has raised just for this occasion is behaving strangely. He wonders if the trade with the secret keeper of that unplottable Isle was worth all of the effort.
Something falls from the sky. Something- no, two somethings - drop to the dry, stony ground right at Harry's feet. The Quintaped doesn't take notice right away, which is very fortunate for the remaining competitors.
Harry's throat tightens, and his stomach twists with nausea as at once, unflinchingly, he picks up one of the smelly eggs and tosses it towards the beast's open mouth. It snaps it up. He tosses the other, and the Quintaped gulps it down without hesitation.
It only takes a second to begin working. The Quintaped's movements grow vigorous. Staggering drunkenly around the arena, it spits out a mouthful of something indescribably vile. Then it bends over, retching up half-eaten flesh.
'Please let this work,' Hermione thinks, trying to mask her hopeful expression.
A chunk of meat suddenly protrudes from between the Quintaped's teeth. Its tongue.
"Fall, you bastard!" Harry screams.
The beast stumbles, howls, and then collapses like a punctured lung; finally succumbing to the poison of the Ngagsa eggs.
~~~~~~
"Yes! All right!" Ron cries out. Dergon manages a smile. Naya is busy chomping on a grilled niffler someone dropped onto the ground.
"You know, we were the ones to actually slay the beast. Don't I even get a kiss for scaling that wall for your friend? Those eggs were pretty heavy." Max says to Pansy.
"Harry - I mean Potter - is not my friend. And no, I would die before I'd be willing to kiss you."
Max looks at her thoughtfully, taking in Pansy's features again. "I'm patient."
"Grrrrr…" Pansy says, bearing her teeth at him.
"Hey! I was the one who convinced James to use his slingshot!" Imran says. Patrick trips Imran, and the Imp falls. The Imps all point and laugh. Imran stands, leaping onto Patrick's back and wrestles him to the ground. More laughter.
"God, I hate Imps!" Pansy complains.
Ron's celebratory mood changes abruptly to revulsion as the Quintaped's cadaver begins to jerk reflexively. "I can't imagine what's coming next," he says finally.
"Hey! There they are!" A goblin yells, pointing in their direction. "They killed the King's pet! Get them!"
"What do we do now?" Pansy asks.
The Imps race off towards the gate without warning. "I think maybe they have the right idea!" Ron says, grabbing Pansy's hand and taking off behind them. Dergon stops Naya from following.
"We have paid our debt," Dergon says, as the goblins race past them in pursuit of the Imps, Ron, and Pansy. Dergon and Naya back away into the crowd, Dergon muttering 'Good luck' to his young friends.
~~~~~
-Escape? Why would you want to do that?- the chair says to Hermione- You will be Queen soon!
'You don't understand.' Hermione answers, not taking her eyes off of Harry.
There is a team of pixies clearing off the field for the next event. Harry and the other two competitors sit silently against the back wall. Hermione can no longer find Ron and Pansy in the crowd.
The carcasses are tossed indifferently into the back of a large wagon. Hermione cringes as Edred focuses his attention back onto her. She takes her top lip between her teeth to keep from grimacing.
"Do not be disappointed, Hermione. There is more entertainment to come," he says with the utmost sincerity, crawling under her skin again, and taking control of her.
The field is clear now, and a startling tunnel of wind blows, lifting dust and rocks into the air. It swirls in the center, dancing; proudly displaying it's grace and skill. There is applause from the crowd. The stones come crashing down like rain.
Edred smiles, he would have the pleasure of using his most powerful weapon after all. The competitors are directed to the center of the arena again. Harry, a goblin, and a troll are the only ones left. They have exchanged no words, formed no alliances. All must die but one.
Movement flickers behind him, and Harry turns around, his heart speeding up, adrenaline causing his temples to pulse, but there are no monsters, no beasts to slay. It is only a gust of cold wind against his chest.
There is a buzzing noise to his right. He moves again. Wings appear in mid-air, hovering above them all for a moment, and then breaking apart into feathers, disappearing before they hit the ground. There is a meaty thud. Then a brief scream, as the goblin is dragged into the air, vanishing from sight. Harry and the troll stand their ground.
'Please let Harry survive this,' Hermione prays. Although she imagines the horror of it, feels it; she can't even scream for him.
Harry looks over his shoulders, peering into the empty space. There is a brief flutter, a flash of brown. Eyes. Harry picks up a stone and tosses it towards the nothingness. It falls to the ground, tossed in vain. The troll scratches his head. Harry holds his breath, focusing his intense concentration on staying alive.
There is whispering and shuffling. More frenzied buzzing in his ears.
"Flesh…blood…uncooked…" it says. Harry shudders, afraid.
Something tightens like steel bands around Harry's wrists, pulling his arms above his head.
For a second, Harry is weightless, and the wind has him. He is imbued with a sudden feverish energy, but he doesn't give in to it. If he dies, it will be because of his own all-devouring fear. Harry closes his eyes, willing himself back to the ground, saying come on, come on to his unseen captor. He pictures the beast as translucent, colorless, and then shapeless; falling away and disintegrating into nothing. The grip is loosening, as he continues with this train of thought.
"You are nothing," Harry whispers. He suddenly ascends to the ground, landing on his back. The crowd grumbles, confused.
"We can't see it because it isn't really there," Harry says to the troll.
The troll shakes his head. "You want win! You lie!"
"If you believe it's there, it will kill you," Harry says calmly, drawing his breath and closing his hands on nothing.
The troll doesn't believe him, and the being can sense it.
The buzzing, which had never really stopped, reasserts itself, quickly rising to a roar. The troll, who is still on his feet - turns towards it, instinctively raising his club. Harry backs away slowly. The troll is knocked to the ground, screaming through a grin of pain. Blood bursts from the troll's eyes and nose as he is squeezed, the invisible entity wrapping around his thick middle.
Harry sits, exhausted. The crowd is in awe, and their screams soon turn to cheers.
"Wolf boy has done it!" someone yells.
~~~~~~~~
"Wolf boy has done it!"
Hermione opens her eyes. Harry is being lifted to his feet, cheered on and led towards the platform. Edred nods approvingly at the young victor. The goblins direct him up the stairs and when he brushes by Hermione, it is all she can do not to reach out to hold him. She is fighting back tears of relief.
"Congratulations young wolf, this is most surprising," Edred says.
"Thank you sire," Harry says, his words containing pain and contempt in equal measure at the brutality of what he has just witnessed.
Edred draws closer to Harry, taking his hand, examining it for a moment. "I wonder if you understand just what sort of path you have chosen." Edred's skin feels like stale bread.
"My life will be to serve you," Harry says, his eyes glancing over at Hermione, "And your Queen."
Edred laughs. "Don't be so nervous. You won't be tested again, for which I'm sure you are suitably grateful."
Harry doesn't allow a flicker of response to cross his face, his feigned indifference causing Edred some concern. "You do realize however that if you once fall out of line, I will kill you myself. And I will make you long for the battle with the Quintaped if that day ever comes."
"I understand, your Highness," Harry says through gritted teeth, his fatigued frame rigid.
"What is your name?"
"Harry," he replies, not having thought to make up another.
Edred smiles, now satisfied with Harry's response, and turns toward Hermione.
"You will be my honored attendant tomorrow at my wedding." Edred points to a goblin standing nearest to the stairs. "Lell will be your servant, and he will tell you all that you need to know."
Edred takes Harry's arm and raises it into the air. The crowd roars.
"Harry the werewolf!" Edred calls out.
Harry looks around for Ron and the others. When he doesn't spot them, he looks over again at Hermione.
'Soon Hermione, I promise,' he thinks.
She nods her head, and he thinks that perhaps she has heard him.
~~~~~~~~~~
"What is this place anyway?" Pansy asks.
James and Max are peeking out of the crack in the door. The goblins have gone.
"It's the morgue, James has the key because he did some work for them last week," Patrick explains.
Ron looks at James. "Are you the only one of them who actually does any work?"
James nods, "Yep, pretty much."
The other Imps agree. Imran begins to say something, but then changes his mind. Footsteps begin to shuffle past.
"Its over, there is a winner."
There is silence as they all listen to the voices outside. Max opens the door a little more.
"The werewolf looked so scrawny, who would have thought…" someone says brushing past.
Ron exhales with relief. Pansy does as well.
"We're rich! We're rich!" the Imps laugh, dancing around.
Ron eyes Pansy suspiciously. "If I wasn't convinced you were pure evil, I'd say you were happy that Harry won."
Pansy licks her lips. "Not happy, just relieved that we might soon be able to get out of here."
"Does the winner stay at the King's estate?" asks Ron, looking over at Imran.
Imran scoffs "No, the winner gets his own house in town."
"So how are we going to get to Hermione before this wedding?" Pansy asks.
James raises his hand. They all turn to look at him. Max snickers, kicking Imran in the shin.
"The competitors are all given honored graves behind the King's house for their display of loyalty. I think I know a way you can get there," James says, "but it won't be fun."
James points towards two empty caskets. Pansy throws her arms into the air. "What a surprise!" she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ron exhales, "I guess we'd better go find out where Harry is then."
"If he's the winner, I know exactly where they've taken him!" Imran says smugly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione knows that Harry has no choice but to play along for now, but his absence pains her terribly. In the ride back to the house, she is silent among the noisy celebrations erupting throughout the village. Edred stays behind, the honored guest of some pre-marital ritual planned by one of his wealthy associates.
Her arms feel heavy at her sides. She is escorted into the house where she is greeted by strange goblins holding a wedding gown, needles and scissors lying neatly on the table.
They are preparing her; being loyal bridesmaids. They are fitting her for the dress she will wear the next day, if she doesn't escape.
They go to work immediately, stripping her down to her slip. She cooperates as they push the gown over her head. The goblin women tug on her sleeves, and then pull her dress into place, lowering the white veil, smoothing the long train behind her. Hermione is numb, and she blocks out their chatter and bickering over whether to hem the gown or not.
Her eyes are red with weeping.
- Don't you like me?- the gown asks.
'You're lovely.'
Hermione is unwilling to give away any more thought than this. She closes her eyes, blocking out all of the voices. Her subconscious, unsympathetic to her confinement, taunts her with images of freedom.
"Too much room in the waist! I told you!" a goblin snaps.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You have visitors," Lall says to Harry.
Harry stands when Ron and Pansy walk into the room.
"You did it! Lucky Bastard!" Ron says, patting Harry on the back. Pansy ignores him, admiring a vase on the shelf.
"So this is what the winner gets, huh? Nice place," Max says, kicking the table to test the wood.
Harry looks over at Lall. "Please excuse us Lall, I'd like to have some private time with my uh…friends."
Lall sneers, and then promptly exits.
"Listen, we have a plan to get to Hermione tonight," Ron says.
Harry nods, "Good, lets hear it."
"Well, the ones who died today will be buried tonight in the graveyard behind the Kings house, honored graves. James thinks that we can sneak onto the property that way."
James nods in agreement. Patrick and Max are fighting over a silver statuette on the side table.
Harry looks at James, confused. "How?"
"In coffins," Pansy says, putting down the vase.
Harry is surprisingly unaffected by this news. "I guess it beats walking there," he says
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione soaks in the warm water of Edred's opulent bathroom, and tries to ease the images of the day's slaughter from her mind.
- What will you do? - the bathtub asks - will you escape, leaving us here?
Hermione shuts off her thoughts. The water grows cool. The bathtub, angry at her refusal to reply, stops putting any effort into heating the water. Hermione stands and dries off, putting on her nightgown. She knows what she will do. She will go to his secret room again. It is a risk, but she needs to see.
She walks down the hallway, ignoring the whispered warnings.
'Please, I need to see again,' Hermione says.
The door opens, and her thoughts become curiously selfish as she rushes to pick up a vial.
'I need to see Harry!'
- Our king will kill you for your betrayal- a tree says
She stops, the blue vial temporarily forgotten as she notices the window in the room is open.
- Climb out and run like Hell - a tree says - so he can catch you and have you for dinner -
She stifles the urge, and lets the magic take over her mind. She sees, but it isn't what she hopes to see. She begins to panic.
Edred is coming.
~~~~~~~~~