Hermione sighed and muttered, "Daft morons."
Harry grinned and kissed her on the cheek. "Now you're getting it."
Ted then cut in and said, "On to other matters you have me researching, while I'm here."
That had everyone, especially Harry, focus on him.
"I believe I have an idea to carry out what you requested of me regarding aid for the young Misses, Luna Lovegood and Ginevra Weasley," he began. "I'll be contracting a Mind-Healer and placing them on retainer under a pseudonym account. That Mind-Healer will be charged with contacting both Xenophilius Lovegood, your Miss Lovegood's father, and Arthur Weasley, Miss Weasley's father.
"From there, he or she will work directly with both young ladies. And, because it is improper to receive information of just what they talk about, I will only be requesting information that will not breach Healer-client confidentiality; such as if both fathers accept the offer, the young ladies co-operate and treatment is progressing. And then to let me know when treatments end and why.
"That will be information proper to determining payment, not matters breaching privacy."
Harry nodded back, knowing Ted still had more.
"Second, the important one," said Ted, as expected. "The Tri-Wizard Tournament."
He then sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Lord Potter, I have no way to determine whether or not you're actually bound by the Goblet. I have no way to determine if anyone is bound by the Goblet. The magics involved are beyond the knowledge of anyone, anywhere, that I can call upon.
"I can, however, tell you that you're not legally bound by the actual contract. From what I can tell, none of the competitors are. And that's because none of the competitors, including you, were given copies of the contract within twenty four hours of 'signing' it, as required by magical law."
"Damn!" said Sirius. "But, how does that work?"
"They're bound to the contract by the Goblet," explained Ted. "However, that binding is not legal. As such, any... for instance... disclaimers included in the contract that protects the Ministry from being sued if the competitors or spectators are injured is void. That, for a start, I can easily successfully argue."
Harry was thinking hard about it and asked, "Does the contract state what the Tasks will be?"
"Yes," replied Ted. "The First, you already know about. It was to be held on the twenty fourth of November and was to be collecting a false egg out of the nest of a nesting mother dragon.
"The second is to be held on the twenty fourth of February and requires the champions to rescue a hostage out of the Black Lake―"
Harry wasn't the only one to react to that information, just the fastest. He surged to his feet and barked, "Like, Hell!"
As everyone got upset, Ted just held his hands in a placating gesture. "Take it easy," he softly said. "No hexing the messenger."
As everyone else settled Harry almost snarled, "What has it said regarding who are to be the hostages?"
"It doesn't say, specifically," replied Ted. "It says it is to be something the competitor would miss the most."
Both Harry and Sirius growled as Hermione gasped in shock.
"If anyone comes anywhere near Hermione―" started Harry.
"It will be Alliance-wide blood feuds." finished Sirius.
Ted nodded and said, "I suspected as much. That's why I'll be going in to see our good friend, Ludo Bagman, and informing him that if anyone is taken as a hostage without written and signed consent of their guardians I'll be standing ready to aid them in pressing charges of kidnapping, at minimum, against all those involved. And also stand ready in aiding them in seeking financial restitution against each individual organiser in any way involved."
Sirius declared, "And tell him my threat still stands and goes double for any hostage. Especially, if they plan on attempting to use Miss Hermione Granger, my magical ward and Lord Potter's betrothed. The organisers do not have my permission to use her as a hostage."
"That I can do," nodded Ted.
Moving on, he said, "The Third Task is a maze that will be filled with puzzles, traps and dangerous creatures. The Tri-Wizard Cup will be left somewhere within the maze and the first to grab it will be declared the winner."
"Well, that doesn't sound so bad," said Sirius. "But, it's going to be creatures dangerous to seventh years, so it's still going to be bad enough."
"Then I'm just going to have to do like I did in the first task," said Harry. "Prove the organisers to be daft morons."
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