Pheobe and Marc raised their wands at the same time.
"Incendio!"
Two jets of flame gushed from their wand tips, intertwining into a blazing dragon that lunged at the nearest stone statue.
The flames licked at the statue's body. Cracks began spreading across the rock with sharp popping sounds, and its movements slowed, but it still swung its stone sword and advanced on them.
"Let's finish this one first! Keep going, it won't take much longer!" Pheobe shouted as she dodged, fine beads of sweat already forming on her forehead.
Marc gritted his teeth. Waves of heat from the burning statue washed over them, scorching their faces until they hurt.
At last, the statue's surface began to flake away. Chunks of stone fell from its body, hitting the ground and raising clouds of dust.
"Water! Use water, quick!" Pheobe shouted. "Now!"
They both switched spells at once. "Aguamenti!"
Two jets of icy water struck the red-hot statue.
The sudden change from heat to cold shattered the rock's internal structure. With a dull rumble, great sections of the statue broke apart, starting with its upper body, which crashed to the ground and sent dust billowing everywhere.
They dealt with the other statue the same way. Cracks spread from its base to its head, and after swaying a few times, it too collapsed.
Pheobe and Marc panted as they stared at the two heaps of rubble. They exchanged a glance, each seeing relief in the other's eyes.
In the stands, the Beauxbatons students cheered wildly—though they were behind, their champions were still pressing on.
"Let's go," Pheobe said.
They skirted the rubble and continued onward, heading deeper into the maze.
Deeper in the maze, the light grew dimmer.
Will had been walking for a long time. The hedges around him grew taller