Harry Potter and Morpheus's Plea

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Occasional bad language, action violence, fluff, spoilers for those who have not read the books & ooc main characters.

Standard Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling and do not own any of the copyrights to any borrowed characters or locations used in this work and this is not written for profit. All other known characters and locations borrowed in this work belong to their respective copyright owners.

Authors note: Let me just say, WOW! 9 reviews in 24 hours. That is totally crazy and beyond belief as well as any expectations I had when I started posting this story up and is the best response I've ever seen to something I've written, so I guess I'm onto a winner here. Thanks to all of you who left reviews and favs/follows. That's just the motivation we all live for. I liked the points made in a few of the reviews that left feedback and those points are going to be covered later on in the course of the story, but I won't give out any spoilers. So just stay tuned for more.

Chapter 2: Here be Dragons

Harry awoke the morning after seeing the dragons full of determination. He was all but certain Cedric was the only champion who was going into the event without any warning or knowledge of what was coming. Deciding that he didn't deserve to go into a potential life or death situation unaware Harry waited until he saw Cedric finish his breakfast and then walked up to him, ignoring the few militant Hufflepuffs who were close to him.

'Cedric, a word? It's vital.'

Cedric nodded and followed Harry out into the entrance hall and then once he was sure nobody was nearby, he began.

'Cedric, the first task is dragons, and there's one for each of us.'

Harry saw him swallow nervously, the shock clear to his sight before he said.

'Are you sure? How do you know?'

Harry quickly began, 'I knew the task was likely to involve dangerous creatures, I did a bit of reading after the bloody stupid goblet spat my name out. But I knew for certain by last night when I got tipped off and went to see them. They're nesting mothers, really pissed off and freaking huge.'

Cedric looked pale and wasn't saying a word and so Harry continued. 'Madam Maxime knows and I think Karkaroff does too, and I've read just how corrupt the judges in this thing can be so I'd bet good money that Fleur and Viktor both know what's coming. The very least I can do is to give you an even chance, I don't think I could ever forgive myself if you got killed and I knew I could have saved you.'

Cedric smiled, 'thanks Harry, I really owe you for this.'

Harry waved him off, 'no problem, at least this way it's an even contest.'

Before Cedric could say another word, Professor Moody interrupted 'Potter a word, Diggory off you go.'

Harry walked away from Cedric and followed the grizzled man into his office which was filled with a whole heap of strange objects that the Professor explained were used to detect untrustworthiness and dark wizards. A tall mirror showed Harry the face of a young man, not entirely in focus but clear enough to see his straw coloured hair and prematurely aged features.

The ex auror settled into the chair behind his desk and said.

'So you found out about the dragons eh? Don't worry laddie,' he said as Harry's face began to look panicked, 'you're absolutely right about how corrupt the judges can be and I've been telling Albus that the whole time, but have you thought of what to do about the dragon?'

Harry took a deep breath, 'fighting a dragon one on one is suicide, I watched the dragon keepers last night and it took thirty of them to overcome just one of them. So I think the best way to do this would be to create some kind of distraction and then sneak past it somehow.'

Moody looked impressed, 'good thinking there Potter, Albus always spoke highly of you, and I can see he isn't mistaken in his praise. But the real trick here is to play to your strengths, you've got power, but what's the one thing that really sets you apart?'

Harry said, 'quidditch?'

Moody growled, 'that's right, now while you can't bring a broom, you can use a wand.'

It clicked to Harry what he was suggesting he should do and so and so he told Hermione later that day.

'That's a dangerous plan Harry, dragons are flying creatures. Yes, it could work as a backup plan but I'd try and think of something else as well.'

Harry had a sudden idea and said, 'Dragons are closely related to snakes so Parseltongue might work, or I could try and transfigure some rocks into animals or something.'

Hermione smiled, 'those are some clever ideas Harry, but you'll need to practise hard to make them work.

So Harry spent the remaining time before the task practising his plans, finding a few spell books and practising the spells he found to transfigure rocks and perfecting the summoning charm with Hermione's assistance. As the spells flowed with more precision over the time he spent practising, he felt his confidence grow. So much so that even Hermione commented on it,

'You know Harry, if you keep this up you might actually win this. You're getting a lot better at your precision and control. If you tried, I bet you could probably do a lot better in class as well.'

Harry looked thoughtful and said, 'something to think about for sure, maybe I'll switch out of Divination, take something better over the summer.'

In time the day of the task dawned and Harry felt his nerves increasing as the time ticked closer. Professor McGonagall came over as Harry finished lunch and said.

'Potter, the champions have to come down to the grounds to get ready for the first task.'

The professor looked just as nervous as Harry felt as she led him down towards the enclosure where a tent had been erected. Turning to face him she began,

'Now don't panic, we have wizards ready to handle the situation if it gets out of hand, just do your best and nobody will think the worst of you for it.'

Harry swallowed and walked into the tent where he found Ludo Bagman in his old quidditch robes looking rather cheerful standing amongst the champions who all looked scared. He bade the champions to gather round and told them all to take a model from a bag he was holding and when Harry's turn came, in a true display of Potter's law, he picked out the model of the Hungarian horntail.

'Why do I get the most vicious one of the lot?'

Ludo Bagman drew Harry aside and asked.

'Feeling alright Harry? Need anything? Got a plan worked out?'

Harry looked defiant, 'I know what I'm doing, thank you.'

'What's he playing at trying to help me? If he wants a Hogwarts win, why hasn't he been talking to Cedric, unless he did it before?' Harry thought suspiciously.

Ludo Bagman left and soon Cedric was called out and what began was one of most anxious times of Harry's life as he listened to the commentary and the noise of the crowd as Cedric did whatever he was doing. Eventually with a roar and a torrent of cheers, Cedric finished and the scores were shown to the crowd.

Fleur had walked over and sat beside him as they listened and asked,

'Are you scared 'Arry?'

Harry saw the concern in her eyes and decided to be honest, 'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't Fleur.'

'Do you 'ave a plan?'

Harry smiled, 'yes, I've got several.'

'Bon, just… Be careful 'Arry, you don't deserve to be úrt for someone else's stupidity.'

Harry grinned, 'thanks.'

He felt her hand squeeze his as she got up when Ludo Bagman called her name.

'Good luck Fleur, and stay safe.'

She smiled at him as she left the tent, and Harry felt his heart lurch in concern as he watched her walk out.

The agony began again as Harry listened to what was going on, unable to see anything. Viktor was next and he seemed to go fairly well as Harry heard no groans from the crowd though the dragon didn't seem to be enjoying what was going on judging by the noise it was making. Finally after a time the crowd silenced and Harry heard the whistle, walking outside and feeling somewhat like a gladiator heading into the arena.

'Hail Caesar! We who are about to die salute you.'

At the other end of the enclosure sat the horntail, crouching low over her clutch of eggs, a glint of gold sticking out from among its granite coloured fellows.

The dragon looked him in in the eye and began to growl as Harry came closer, stopping just outside of flame range. Harry looked around and spotted the crowd, hundreds and hundreds of faces in a blur, all silent as the grave as they waited for him to cast his attack.

Harry concentrated, just as had been rehearsing for days preparing for this moment as he began to hiss.

'Honourable dragon, one of the eggs you guard is false, please allow me to remove it for you.'

The dragon locked eyes on him and hissed back.

'Puny human, why are you any difference than the arrogant ones who humiliated us so.

'Like you I have been forced into this contest. I have no desire to participate in this farce, they should not have involved you in such a way.'

The crowd was shocked, few speaking at all as they watched Harry talk to the dragon.

'The speech of serpents is a rare talent among humans and typically those who speak it are among the darkest users of magic. Yet I sense more about you little human, your aura is different to most speakers who have gone before you and most other humans who walk this world. A great capacity for goodness, and yet you have been touched by a great evil power, hatred and a will to dominate. Yet that evil is being slowly forced from your aura by another greater magic, as poison is drawn from a wound.

The dragon leaned forward slowly and seemed to size Harry up, judging him somehow to some measure unknown to him. He must have passed the test though as the dragon hissed.

'End this game little one, take this fake from my nest and be done with this.'

Trembling, Harry slowly walked forward feeling a morbid sense of familiarity as he remembered the day he first met Buckbeak the hippogriff. The closer he walked to the dragon, the bigger it seemed to get until it finally towered over him as he reached out and picked up the egg before retreating slowly out of flame range.

Turning to face the crowd he noticed that all of them were still shell shocked, none moving a muscle, no noise coming from even Ludo Bagman. Guessing he had done enough he snarled.

'Are you not entertained? You chain down sentient beasts like wild animals for fun? They want to be left in peace to look after their eggs and you force them here for entertainment. Take them away from here this minute!'

That seemed to break the spell that had gripped the crowd as Ludo Bagman addressed the audience, his usual jovial commentary style gone in the shock.

'Our youngest champion has retrieved the egg in the fastest time of the day and has escaped unharmed.

Turning to face Harry, Bagman began, 'I'll send our best man to get those dragons freed at once and they will all be escorted back to Romania at the first opportunity.'

Turning to the dragon, Harry said.

'They're going to take you away from here. I'm sorry they did this but hopefully it will be the last time they involve dragons in such a humiliating way.'

Harry walked away and was met by a stunned Professor McGonagall, a beaming Hagrid and a calculating Professor Moody.

'That was astonishing Potter, a true marvel of the age, your name will go down in history for this, who knew that Dragons can speak parseltongue?

Moody was much less overawed, 'nice and simple does the trick Potter.'

Hagrid pulled him into a massive hug before he choked out, 'yeh did it Harry, yeh proved dragons aren't mindless monsters and against a horntail too, yeh know Charlies said that was the wors.'

Harry finally broke loose and gasped, 'No problem, only now all the sheep will start thinking I'm a dark wizard again, it said a few interesting things too.'

Professor McGonagall seemed to regain her composure, 'right first aid tent, come on this way Potter.'

'But I'm not hurt Professor.'

Professor McGonagall smiled, 'no, but it'll be a little while before they put up your scores and you can keep Diggory company while you're waiting, Madam Pomfrey already had to patch him up.'

So Harry made his way into the tent where he found Cedric sitting on a bunk where Madam Pomfrey was attending to him, he didn't look to be badly hurt but one half of his face seemed to be covered in some sort of orange paste which looked to be mending burns.

He looked up and said jokingly.

'Nice work Harry, but how come you got the talkative dragon?'

Harry grinned, 'the dragons are obviously smarter than anybody knew, and aren't happy with most wizards, and I can sort of see why to be honest. Since being able to talk to them is such a rare gift, that's probably why nobody ever bothered to try and do that.'

Madam Pomfrey let Cedric go and he hurried off after waving goodbye and just as he left, Hermione hurried in, her face and hair were a mess, and her voice bore out just how worried she was as she threw herself into his arms.

'Oh Harry, that was unbelievable! I can't believe that actually worked, making you go up against that thing was just wrong in so many ways…'

Just as she drew away, Fleur hurried in and incredibly, she hugged him just as tightly as Hermione. Her face clearly showing just how scared she'd been as she looked him up and down as if scanning him for any injuries. Harry noticed that the fabric of her skirt looked a bit singed, as well as damp but otherwise she seemed unharmed.

''Arry, zat was….' Harry smiled at the adorable look on her face as she searched for a word, 'Incroyable. Zere is no doubt at all zat you were ze best, to walk out zere and speak to ze dragon? And seemply take ze egg? I knew zat you were brave mon Chevalier but zat took more than mere courage.'

Harry felt his face burning as Fleur continued to heap praise on him, before Hermione simply smiled and said.

'Don't worry about him Fleur, this is just what he does, he'll do something totally crazy and then shrug it off, it drives me mad sometimes. While he always seems to attract trouble like a magnet, he has an unbelievable talent of achieving the impossible to get out of it.'

'Hey!' Said a mildly peeved Harry. 'I never once went looking for trouble Mione.'

Fleur looked mischievously at him, 'non, but you definitely 'ave a talent for finding eet 'Arry.'

Hermione grinned at the sheepish expression on his face, 'she's right Harry, you do.'

Ron came in, looking both scared and very apprehensive as he began, 'Harry, I'm sorry, whoever put your name in, I think they're trying to do you in.'

Harry felt his eyes narrow as he looked towards Ron as he fidgeted under the combined glares of Hermione and Fleur, 'aaah, so you caught on I see, took you long enough.'

Ron's ears began to turn red and his eyes seemed to be hypnotically drawn towards Fleur before he mumbled, 'I said I was sorry didn't I? Can't we just forget this?'

Harry sighed, 'look Ron, while it's nice that you've finally seen the truth, I can't just forget this. I trusted you, and you broke that trust when you didn't believe me in the first place. While I can forgive you for it, I can't forget it just like that alright.'

Ron seemed to have no answer and huffed and walked away, his eyes seemingly undressing Fleur as he did so.

Hermione looked sadly at Ron's retreating form.

'That was quite mature of you Harry, now come on they should be putting your scores up.'

Hermione brought the subject back onto the task. 'Fleur was right, there's no way you could possibly lose this now. Cedric was clever as he had a similar idea to your first back up plan, he transfigured a dog and tried to sneak past, only catch was he got burned in the process as the dragon changed its mind halfway through. Fleur used some sort of sleep spell on the dragon and then snuck past it, problem was the dragon snored and set her skirt on fire and she had to use her wand to put it out.'

Harry looked alarmed and turned to Fleur who waved off his concern, 'I'm fine 'Arry, I put eet out before I was urt.'

Hermione continued her summary.

'Krum, he hit the dragon in the eyes with the conjunctivitis curse, only it went on a rampage and squashed half the real eggs.'

Harry winced, 'That's terrible, and I hope he lost points for that.

Both witches smiled before Hermione commented 'its marks out of ten from each one.'

Harry watched the first judge, Madam Maxime flick her wand and saw a silver ribbon fly out of it and saw it form itself into the number ten, to a roar of applause.

'Hardly surprising there, I doubt she had much choice.'

'Oui, eet was ze only fair score.'

Harry grinned as he saw the next judge, Mr Crouch fire a number, another ten.

'Wow, he was pretty harsh on the others.'

Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman were next, both firing tens into the air as the crowd cheered louder than ever. Finally came Professor Karkaroff as the crowd booed when he shot a number five into the air, in fact the noise got so loud, he finally relented and fired a second number, a six into the air.

'I cannot believe him,' fumed Hermione, 'he gave Krum a ten and his dragon squashed half her eggs.'

'To be honest Mione I really don't care, I doubt he scored Cedric or Fleur any fairer.'

He turned to Fleur and saw her nod.

''E gave me un quatre.'

''That's four,' translated Hermione

Harry's eyes widened, 'he took six points for a superficial burn?'

'Oui, but eet was not surprising.'

'How did Ludo Bagman judge the others?' Asked Harry

'Reasonably fair, took a few points off everyone for their mistakes so you're the only one he gave a perfect ten,' said Hermione.

After quickly meeting Charlie Weasley who was full of praise over both Harry and Fleur's performances Ludo Bagman drew Harry and Fleur into the tent where he gave the briefing for the next task, Harry paying little attention as he found the man's enthusiasm rather grating. Finally it was over and he and Fleur walked out together and towards Hermione who was waiting nearby. Madam Maxime beckoned Fleur towards her, and so Fleur quickly pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek and Harry watched her retreating form as he felt his face burn and noticed an odd tingling sensation in his scar as she waved at him. Hermione grabbed his arm, jerking his attention back to his surroundings and led him back towards the castle.

'Come on lover boy, the twins have probably set up a party, might as well let them get it out of their systems.'