Chapter 4: Dragons

The next day was the first trial of the Tri Wizard Tournament. Harry was a bundle of nerves since he knew what the first trial was: dragons. He could hardly relax. Claire was sitting in the Gryffindor common room next to Hermione and Ron while Harry paced nervously. "Harry, you must relax. You can take whatever they throw at you." Hermione implored to Harry, but to no avail.

Claire watched Harry pace, her trained hunter eyes watching his movements. Swiftly she rose up, caught Harry by the arm and spun him into a chair. She began to work his tense shoulders with her hands. Harry was still tense but Claire's gentle work with her soft hands ebbed some of the nerves away. "Harry, you can do this." Claire whispered in a rather tempting voice, "I believe in you" she pecked him on the ear just as they called for the Champions.

Harry felt his nerves ebb away a little more at Claire's words. However, they returned with a bounding vengeance when he pulled out the Hungarian Horntail. They also blazed with more fury when he was instructed that he would be last. He heard the fighting of the other three contestants. While he waited, a familiar pale yellow wolf came creeping into the tent. "Claire!" Harry exclaimed.

'Hello Harry. How are you feeling?' Claire asked, staying in her wolf form, and rocked back onto her haunches.

"I'm very nervous Howl…" Harry said, using Claire's wolf name.

'Harry, if I could, I'd take your place… I know that you can do this, as well as anything that you set your mind to. Harry, you're brilliant… and it doesn't take any of my wolf senses to know that.' Claire said before bidding him luck and away she left.

Harry was called into the arena, Claire's words clinging to his psyche. After he summoned his Firebolt, he made out Claire's pale blonde hair. They locked eyes for a moment before Harry heard 'I believe in you.' just before the Horntail broke free of his chains and took off after Harry.

Harry flew as fast as his Firebolt could fly but the dragon gained on him. He flew close to the castle, trying to avoid the buildings, but the dragon merely and gracefully stayed on his tail. Before he knew it, Harry was falling.

Claire looked around for Harry or the dragon, but even her keen wolf senses couldn't find them. A soft whimper escaped her lips, but it turned into a howl of excitement when Harry came flying low and slow. If she had had her tail out, it would be beating wildly when Harry grabbed the golden egg. She joined in with the partying in the Gryffindor common room. "Go on Harry! Open it!" one of the Weasley twins shouted above the noise.

"You want me to open it?" Harry asked the crowd which responded with a resounding
"YES!"

Harry opened it and a screaming sound came blasting out of it, piercing everyone's ears. Many shied away from it, but Claire dropped to the floor, yelping in sheer pain. Even after Harry closed the egg, Claire continued to whimper and curled up in a ball. "Claire, are you alright?" Harry asked, making his way over to her.

"My ears…" Claire said, removing her hands from her ears, a smear of blood on her palm.

"We've got to get her to the Hospital Wing, Harry!" Hermione said, rushing over to them.

Without even thinking about it, Harry scooped Claire up and rushed after Hermione. "Hang on Claire." Harry whispered to Claire.

They burst into the Hospital Wing, startling Madame Pomfrey. "Good gracious! What is it children?"

"Please Madame. It's my friend, Claire. She… her ears…" Harry tried, putting Claire on the nearest bed.

Pomfrey rushed over to the whimpering girl while blood pooled at her ears. "Ruptured eardrums." Pomfrey said before whipping out her wand and chanting a healing spell.

"She'll be fine, but she should rest now." Pomfrey said before shooing Harry and Hermione out of the Wing.