Chapter 33: The Pharaoh's Gambit — Final Task Gambit
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The air at Hogwarts grew heavier with anticipation. Whispers echoed through corridors, not just of the final task of the Triwizard Tournament but of something greater—a presence, a tremor in fate that only the most attuned could feel. Harrison Strange Potter stood on the balcony of the Astronomy Tower, his eyes tracing constellations only he understood. A breath of wind tousled his black, shoulder-length hair, brushing across the silver embroidery of his tailored robes.
Behind him, Bellatrix Lestrange stood silently. Not the wild, manic woman known to the wizarding world, but a figure of grace and clarity, her once-shattered mind healed and tethered to a new cause.
"You're sure it was the last one?" she asked, her voice even but edged with tension.
Harrison nodded. "Yes. The soul fragment was indeed in the cup of Helga Hufflepuff, hidden in a vault in the Lestrange family bank. You brought it to me, and I passed it through the Veil of Souls. It screamed as only a fragment severed from its master could. That was the last. Voldemort is now whole. And vulnerable."
Bellatrix bowed her head. "Then he will strike."
"He must," Harrison said. "And he will aim for both me and Harry. It is the only way he can tether himself to this world anew, by undoing the ones who threaten his myth of immortality."
He turned to her, his amethyst and sapphire eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "You will keep an eye on Harry. No one gets close to him."
Bellatrix placed a hand over her heart. "I swear it."
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Preparations of the Pharaoh
The days leading up to the final task were unlike any Harrison had experienced at Hogwarts. The tournament grounds were reshaped to house the vast labyrinth, its hedges enchanted with ancient spells, monsters, riddles, and shifting paths. But for Harrison, the Labyrinth was but a child's game compared to what he had seen, where he had been.
He had walked the maze of the Duat in the Egyptian underworld, traded wisdom with Thoth, and fought a duel of fates in the Labyrinth of Daedalus. The magical traps within Hogwarts' maze felt simplistic in comparison, though he respected the layers of enchantment added by Flitwick and Dumbledore.
He spent his days quietly observing the magical resonance of the maze, whispering incantations of foresight under his breath. His friend circle rallied behind him—Fred, George, Lee, Neville, Daphne, and Luna. Penelope and Clarissa, as always, stood closer than shadows.
"We know you've got this," Clarissa whispered one evening in the common room, cupping his face between her hands. "But come back to us."
He kissed her forehead. "I always do."
Penelope, more solemn, added, "If the prophecy is to be fulfilled, then this is the turning point, isn't it?"
Harrison nodded. "This is where the old world ends. And a new one begins."
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Unrest at Hogwarts
While the final preparations were underway, unease brewed in the castle. Professor McGonagall caught several Durmstrang students whispering with one another, casting nervous glances toward Harry Potter. Harrison suspected some of them were spies—not for Voldemort directly, but for his network. He kept a protective ward around Harry, and Bellatrix—under glamours—stalked the castle unseen.
Rita Skeeter had published another article.
"The Real Champions: Harry and Harrison Potter"
This time, her tone was one of reverence. In it, she described Harrison's previous lives, his dueling tournament victories, and Harry's unshakeable courage.
"The world may not deserve them," she wrote, "but it surely needs them."
Hermione folded the paper, frowning. "Something's happening. Something big."
"You're right," Harrison said. "And it begins at the final task."
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The Prophecy
That night, Harrison retreated to the Chamber of Secrets. In his hand, he held a scroll aged beyond imagination—a forgotten prophecy, spoken by Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor on their deathbeds, lost to time.
"When the World is wrapped in lies, A soul of many lives shall rise. A Pharaoh, a Guardian, a God-born flame, Shall wield the truth, and end the game. From chaos born, in stars he stands, To cleanse the blood from cursed lands."
Harrison stared at the verse, etched into his memory, into his soul. He was the one they foretold.
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The Third Task Begins
The day of the final task dawned bright and cloudless, the sky holding its breath. The stands around the massive hedge maze were filled with spectators from across Europe. Magical banners floated through the air, bearing the faces of the champions: Viktor Krum of Durmstrang, Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons, and Harrison Strange Potter of Hogwarts.
Harry sat in the front row with Clarissa, Penelope, Luna, Cedric, and the Weasleys. Hermione leaned close to Ron. "You feel it too, don't you?"
"Yeah," Ron said. "Something's about to go down."
Bagman's magically amplified voice boomed across the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen! Wizards and witches of all ages! Welcome to the final task of the Triwizard Tournament!"
Cheers erupted. Fireworks exploded into shapes of dragons and hydras.
"Our champions will face the Labyrinth—a test of cunning, courage, and heart! Inside are traps, illusions, and perhaps their greatest fears. The Triwizard Cup waits at the center!"
Harrison stood before the maze's entrance. Beside him, Fleur exhaled slowly, her silver hair braided tightly. Viktor Krum rolled his shoulders, his wand already gripped tightly.
"Wands at the ready," said Bagman.
The air trembled.
"Begin!"
The hedges split open with a rumble, and the champions rushed in.