Chapter 7.2- Doom Days

“Ahem.” He said, coughing to gather himself and get everyone’s attention. His eyes darted from place to place as he switched his hat from one hand to another and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“So the original plan for this task had been dragons. We had already secured three dragons from a Romanian reserve before the naming of the champions. With a sudden fourth champion, we had to make changes. The Reserve did not have any extra dragons that did not take the level of danger to such a degree that the competition would be untenable. Instead of being forced to continue with such means, we received an influx of capital and a donation from a Greek family that would rather remain anonymous. Their donation has allowed us secure the creature we have.” He said with a smile on his face that failed to reach his eyes.

“Instead of each champion facing a dragon to secure the clue for the second task, all four champions are to face the same creature at the same time. Your goal will be to subdue the hellhound. Whether you work together or not is immaterial. You might find that you need to do so to survive, but failure to cooperate with the others will not incur any penalties. Each and every one of you will be judged on your actions within the arena.”

“What kind of ‘ell’ound is eet?” Fleur asked, eyes fixed on Crouch Snr, but right hand clasped tightly around her wand.

“I would say that it is a surprise, but it matters little whether you know or not. You will be facing Cŵn Annwn today, Champions. Have your wits about you and pray to whatever gods you hold dear to have mercy on you for the dog of hell will not” he said, and swept away from the centre with a nod to the ICW brunette who took the centre again. Her smile was easy and calming. Too easy, part of me felt. It reached her eyes, but it was still. Too still. Like the smile did not care what happened around it. Like it would remain even as it watched each and every one of us be torn to shreds by teeth the size of swords and claws sharper than the sharpest knives.

“Like Mr. Crouch just said, you will be facing Cŵn Annwn. As the head of the ICW safety division for Magical Games, Sports, and Competition, I have a few things to inform you about. First of all, each of your robes is charmed with a special portkey. The Supreme Mugwump has been kind enough to give us some allowance within the wards. It is a single use portkey charmed to take you to the medical tent right next to this one. Please do not fall into the temptation of attempting to modify the charm. You will die, and you will do so painfully. Secondly, if at any time you feel the ned to surrender or cease your participation in the task, send up red sparks with your wand and your portkey will be activated remotely. It will also be activated if any if the support staff judge you unable to continue with the task or at overwhelming risk of death.” She said easily to nods from all four of us.

“Now, you have fifteen minutes before you will be called into the stadium to begin. Cŵn Annwn will be released into the stadium after you. It will not be able to travel through the shadows as a means of keeping this sporting and entertaining. It will also be confined to a fixed perimeter. That is up to you to figure out. Good luck, Champions. Magic bless you all” She said as she left. With her, went the entire team of judges and staff. Before she’d left, Mcgonagall had placed a hand on my shoulder in a silent show of support.

I turned to the other champions and found each of them had begun to walk to different ends of the tent, almost by silent agreement. Part of me wanted to make the offer to work together, but common sense won out. I could not trust them as far as I could throw them and getting betrayed with Cŵn Annwn on the prowl was a death sentence. Speaking of Cŵn Annwn itself- it was another can of worms.