Percy Weasley held his head high as he stormed through the Forbidden Forest.
He looked over his shoulder and monitored the individuals assigned to him — a tall boy from Durmstrang's first year and a stout old lady, barely walking one step at a time, using the cane she held in her hand.
"Can you not walk faster?" the boy asked with a thick accent, staring down at the lady. Then, he looked up at the Tournament's candidate. "Can you not levitate her?"
Percy frowned, but not before looking forward again.
Then, taking a deep breath, he looked back, bringing a smile to his face.
"You are only a first year," he explained softly. "If something attacked us, taking us by surprise, I will have to defend us at a moment's notice. If she falls, or if I lose my focus, then she will get injured… leaving you to fend for yourself."
"So?" the boy ballooned his chest, almost reaching Percy's chin. "I can save myself. I am very strong. Here. Let us duel here, and I will prove…"
Percy felt a headache coming.
He had already completed his Preliminary Auror Training based on his performance in last year's Triwizard Tournament. After graduating, he could easily apply to become a formal Auror at the Ministry without any further examination.
That made his participation in this Intercontinental Tournament of Magic redundant.
However, Percy had decided to join the Tournament anyway, given that it was a great stage to hoard further merit for his resume and would help his career down the line.
He wasn't aiming to win the Tournament.
Of course, it had nothing to do with Darcie in the Senior slot.
Percy was aiming to prove to the Ministry and Lord Black Phoenix that he was ready to take on a role much higher than a mere entry-level Auror.
In a way, more than winning, making sure that he followed all the rules and passed the stages with good scores was more important to him, Percy believed.
For that, he needed to keep the individuals assigned to him safe.
For that, he needed to deal with the Durmstrang kid without letting him botch the job.
After giving the boy an excuse that he couldn't cast the levitating charm properly, and then hurriedly stopping the boy from casting the spell on the old lady by himself, Percy resumed his journey, heading toward the Checkpoint assigned to him.
Suddenly, a growl echoed in their surroundings.
"Behind me!" Percy shouted, lifting his wand high and putting himself in front of the boy, who had also taken out his wand, and the old lady. "Do not cast any magic until I say so!"
The boy tsked.
Percy ignored that, focusing entirely on the threat.
A blur shot out of the bushes, taking the shape of a massive cougar-like beast — a Wampus Cat!
The Wampus Cat was native to America, Percy remembered.
Which meant this one was deliberately released in the Forbidden Forest for the Tournament's purpose.
"Oh… my…" The old lady hid herself behind Percy. "Save me, young man…"
"What are you doing?!" the boy shouted with a thick slur. "ATTACK!"
"Keep yourself behind me…" Percy began.
The boy, getting red at the cowardice, stormed out from behind Percy, raising his wand toward the cat.
"No!" Percy shouted, grabbing the boy's robe and pulling him back. "Close your eyes!"
Too late.
The Wampus Cat's yellow eyes reflected the prey in front of it.
Instantly, growls, hisses, and a maddening savageness overwhelmed Percy's and the first-year Durmstrang boy's minds, making them wince.
A Wampus Cat was not only fast and strong, but it also had the powers of hypnosis and legilimency. It was said that once the creature marked someone as its prey, that prey was as good as half dead.
"Ahhhhhh!" The Durmstrang boy grabbed his head and let out a scream.
Then, with a thud, the boy fell, his face striking the layer of dirt and old leaves.
"Oh… Oh… What's happening?!" the old lady quivered behind Percy, not able to see anything. "Is it a tiger? A lion? What is it?! Here… Here. Take it. Use my cane…"
Percy, gritting his teeth and relying upon Occlumency, snuffed the Creature's magic out of his mind.
Not giving him any more time, the Wampus Cat lunged, going for the fallen boy's head.
Percy was faster than that, though.
Because he knew how much emphasis Dumbledore put on these Battle Workshops, and his Triwizard Tournament experience at hand, he had dedicated the entire last semester to impress the Headmaster even more.
And that had led to him becoming not only the best student, but also a better wizard.
Taking pride in his skills, Percy flicked out his wand with the speed of lightning.
A BANG resounded as the spell hit the cat, sending it rolling backward.
That was indeed a shocking feat, as the creature was known to be fast enough to never be hit by a spell.
The Wampus Cat growled, less in pain and more in annoyance.
It got up and shook its head, baring its teeth at Percy before lunging once again, much faster than before.
Percy had been waiting for that to happen, though.
This time, his wand didn't even move when he cast the spell… making it pause midair as an Impedimenta Jinx hit it.
With half a step forward, Percy finished the job, casting the Body-Bind Curse.
The Wampus Cat, one of the deadliest creatures in the magical world, fell like a log.
Percy let out the widest smile, gaining several inches of height as he straightened his spine in pride.
Then, his head jerked.
Then, he fell.
Thud.
Standing alone in the Forbidden Forest, the old lady looked around, clueless.
She walked toward Percy and nudged him using her cane.
"Young man…" she called out. "Young man…"
Suddenly, a figure walked out from the bushes, spooking the old lady. It was a man, dressed in a camouflaged army uniform, and armed with a rifle.
Silently, the soldier approached Percy, keeping the barrel pointed toward him. He kicked the wand out of his hand and sat down to check the pulse, nodding to himself.
Then, as swiftly and silently as the soldier had appeared…
… he walked away, disappearing in the bushes after a successful hunt.