A/N- The first task! Yay! This should be fun. More Hermione and Fleur friendship, Hermione transforming in Defense class, and Draco Malfoy vs the dragon. I think I can guess what almost everyone wants to see/read the most. There's an homage to Harry Potter and the Champion's Champion in how Draco takes on the dragon ;-)
The day of the tournament arrived sooner than expected and Harry and Hermione made their way outside with the rest of the students. They climbed into the stands, sitting with Ginny and Cho on one side and the twins on the other. Cho was noticeably nervous and no one could calm her down. Hermione understood. If it was Harry she'd have been just as upset. Upon seeing the first dragon enter the stadium Harry gave a sigh of relief. He didn't think he could get past that thing.
Draco Malfoy stood in the champions' tent. The other three were nervous but he expected them to be. They were lesser beings, after all. His victory today would be one for the pureblood agenda. It would be glorious.
Moody, aka Crouch Jr., was still trying to work out how to get Potter into the third task. He knew the lad wouldn't help Malfoy out but he seemed to have a friendship with the other three champions. So long as one of them was in the maze he figured he could get Potter into it and to his master. At least, that was what he'd assured Voldemort. Truthfully Crouch wasn't certain it would work. Potter's Veela scared him. Still, Voldemort was not someone to confess uncertainty to; although his master had been in a much better mood since Potter had ceased being a horcrux he was still happy to cast the Cruciatus first and ask questions later. As he sat in thought his mind drifted back to seeing Hermione Granger's Veela powers first manifest in self-defense.
-Flashback-
Dumbledore had given him permission to cast the Imperius curse on the students. Even as a Death Eater that perplexed Crouch. Willingly subjecting students to Unforgivables? It was unconscionable. But then, he was Dumbledore. The old man could get away with anything. He could, in a way, understand casting the spells on spiders to show what they did. But to cast them on children? Even Death Eaters went straight for the killing curse. Well except Bellatrix but she was utterly insane.
Crouch cast the spells on each of the spiders and he ceased the Cruciatus when Granger called his attention to Neville. The boy looked ready to either faint, vomit, or some combination of the two. Actually from where Granger was standing with Potter as well it was obvious that they were what was keeping Longbottom upright. He ceased and pulled out some chocolate from his desk, breaking off a portion of the candy bar and handing it to Neville, "Here you are lad. Your parents were excellent aurors. Incredibly brave."
Neville just nodded mutely. Crouch then went into a lecture about each of the three Unforgivables before casting the Imperius curse on each of them. Potter broke the curse and that impressed Crouch. He moved his wand to Hermione and cast the spell. He knew she was a Veela, the whole school did at that point, but Veela were not common in Britain and it was unknown what would happen when he cast it on her.
The result was painful, pleasurable, and deadly. She had blasted out a potent dose of targeted allure that rendered him paralyzed. The complete paralysis Granger had had him under was shooting so much pleasure over his body it actually was hurting. His nerve endings felt like they were on fire as his body was overwhelmed. The rest of the class was at first unaffected before a few moans could be heard. Those with the weakest minds like Ron Weasley were responding to the leaking of the allure from her body even as she continued her assault of Moody/Crouch. Not even five seconds had passed as Hermione transformed into the harpy that was so feared and launched a fireball in an arching motion toward him. At the last second Crouch saw her hand freeze. The blackboard behind Crouch had been left a smoldering pile of ash. Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione who transformed back easily and leaned into his touch even as Harry drew his wand and pointed it toward Moody/Crouch.
Crouch leaned against his desk, "And that is why Veela are often feared. Fifty points to Gryffindor Miss Granger."
"For what? The blasted mudblood creature nearly killed you!"
"That's right Mr. Malfoy," Crouch said, "she nearly killed me. I was at her complete and utter mercy after inciting the Veela to protect itself and Miss Granger regained control enough to decimate the blackboard instead of me. Surely many of you saw the movements of her hand? She brought it to a stop before it was over me. That takes tremendous control and force of will. Thus the fifty points. Magical creatures and part-creatures have the best forms of defense against mind magic and she has just demonstrated why you never want to attack a Veela."
Upon the point awarding Harry lowered his wand and sat down with Hermione again. He looked rather proud of her. A feeling Crouch could understand. One thing was certain. He never wanted to piss off Hermione Granger again.
-End Flashback-
That day had been educational for Crouch. Harry hadn't been affected by the allure, meaning he was probably her true love or mate. Little was known about Veela but upon learning Granger was one he'd read a few rare books on the subject. He knew enough to know that if Voldemort drew his wand against either of the couple it would without a doubt be the last thing he did. The Veela would make sure of that and he was certain Granger wouldn't stop the fireball's course that time.
Ludo Bagman entered the tent, "Now then this first task is simple. You will get past a dragon and get the golden egg!"
Draco was too busy fantasizing about his victory stance and checking his hair to listen to Bagman. He vaguely heard, 'get the egg' but didn't even register it as he continued to work on his hair.
They drew from a bag with Fleur going first. Krum and Cedric both stopped the blonde fool from reaching in first with a mumbled 'ladies first'. In the end Cedric would go first, then Krum, then Fleur. Draco was going last. 'Why is it a dragon?' He thought, 'Oh because it's a dragon's egg. Of course. Probably some sort of obstacle course.' He vaguely recalled hearing that Potter and Granger were working on an obstacle course for the champions to practice on. 'Pathetic cheaters need a mudblood creature and a stupid fame-seeker to practice. Just wait until I show them.'
When Cedric came out Cho was squeezing the bench so hard that Ginny wasn't sure if she'd hurt herself or the bench if she squeezed any harder. Cedric transformed a rock into a dog and cast a spell to have it run the opposite direction that he did. As the dragon's attention turned to the dog Cedric sprinted to the egg. He grabbed it just as he heard a roar. He glanced up to see the dragon's firebreath coming at him. Hermione Granger's fireballs had been instantaneous. She cast with speed that had repeatedly singed his clothes until he got better and better at dodging them. That training swiftly kicked in as Cedric dived to the ground and twisted to see the fire blast miss him before the dragon's head began to move. Cedric sprang to his feet and ran out of the enclosure before that could happen. As soon as Cedric was out of harm's way and looked unharmed Cho visibly relaxed.
Next up was Krum. Over the past weeks Harry'd become close to the older boy. He was a good friend and seeing him face a dragon worried him. He held Hermione's hand and squeezed as Krum entered the enclosure. Krum's idea, and one he'd practiced with Harry, was to summon his broom and use his skills in the air to get past the dragon. Harry thought using a broom to get past a dragon seemed utterly insane but Krum was confident.
Krum's Firebolt flew into his hand and he was off like a shot. Krum soared vertically up before whizzing around the dragon's head, weaving up and down to avoid the fire blasts, and then suddenly diving straight down. It was a fantastic Wronski Feint as Krum picked up the egg with one hand and flew out of the arena not wasting any time. The stadium erupted in applause as the young man landed with his egg. He watched the scores being given. Full marks meant he tied with Cedric.
Harry looked at Hermione, "I still think it was crazy to do that."
"I agree," she nodded. "I hope Fleur does well."
The friendship of Hermione Granger and Fleur Delacour had surprised and baffled everyone in Hogwarts at first. All save for Harry. It wasn't just their shared Veela-ness (Harry still wasn't sure how to phrase that), it was their similar interests. Both girls loved the beach, books, and disliked quidditch. They were both incredibly intelligent and neither was quick to make friends. They traded books to read and would sit and talk about them or about their lives in their respective countries and about being Veela. Fleur invited Hermione to visit France that summer and promised that with her own mother's help Hermione's parents would understand what being a Veela meant in no time.
Harry was elated they were so close. Hermione's only other real close female friend was Ginny and the youngest Weasley just didn't get Hermione. She liked her very much but Ginny's interests were a stark contrast to Hermione's. Harry was certain that at their wedding Fleur would be maid of honor. The two simply clicked in a way neither had experienced before. It was a friendship that would last a lifetime.
Hermione was very worried for her friend. She didn't want Fleur to get hurt competing against a dragon. Fleur meant almost as much to her as Harry did.
-Flashback-
Hermione was sitting with Fleur out by the Black Lake. Harry and Krum were off flying again. "So I'll change more?"
"Yes but not as noticeable as the initial changes," Fleur nodded, "and over the years you will age very, very slowly. Which my muzzer says is a very good thing," her English had improved greatly as they became close. "Do your parents know about you and 'Arry?"
"They know we're dating. I don't think telling them my libido is like a forest fire that can't be put out unless I'm with Harry is a great way to introduce him as my boyfriend. My daddy can be a bit overprotective. How did you cope?"
"Toys mostly," Fleur answered. "My mother also prepared me for it and taught me to meditate. Eet helped very much. Also I am a part-Veela. The desire ees not as strong for me as eet ees for you."
Hermione smiled, "I love being with Harry. It feels like we're so much closer since figuring out just how deep our love goes for each other."
"You two are very cute togezher," Fleur smiled, "how do you spend time togezher though?"
Hermione grinned, "We have a special room in the castle. It shifts to become our bedroom. We have our new clothes hidden too so no one can intrude."
"You suspect someone would?"
"Every summer Harry is sent back to the Dursleys, muggles who are afraid and frightened of magic. They made Harry live in a cupboard under the stairs for ten years. They never bought him clothes and only got him glasses when the school informed them Harry needed them." Hermione sighed, "Headmaster Dumbledore placed him there and forces him to go back every summer. He knows but does nothing to stop it. Harry and I have talked about it and decided we don't trust him." Fleur nodded in understanding. "Then at the announcement of the champions we saw it. He wasn't surprised the fourth slip of paper appeared but he was utterly shocked at the name on it. He thought it would be Harry's name."
"Zat ees not a good zhing," Fleur shook her head, "at least Apollo granted your request."
"I've thanked him many times since," Hermione smiled. "If it weren't for him my Harry…well he could have been hurt or worse."
"I do not think you should worry too much. You can control the harpy and no one could stand against ze 'arpy for long."
Hermione smiled at the thought of the Defense class where that had been shown. Hermione pre-Veela would have been horrified. That hadn't been the case when it had happened. Harry had been outraged that Moody had seemingly wanted what had happened to happen. Still, it had successfully shut up Malfoy. If anything every time he tried to say something about her he became the one mocked and teased; Hermione had asked him once if he wanted to know if fried ferret was a delicacy. The Weasley twins had heard this and immediately it was spread around the castle. Occasionally you could hear him being asked in classes or the hall if he would rather be charred or lightly broiled.
"Harry will be spending this summer with me," she gazed at Fleur, "would Harry be invited to France?"
"Of course. I would not want to separate you. My muzzer will make sure zat you 'ave connecting rooms."
Hermione smiled at that thought, "We talk about my love life all the time. Now we get to talk about yours." Fleur flushed in protest only for the two of them to get lost in a laughing fit. The blonde was single and the desire of almost every boy in school. She had to turn down boys every day. The proposals and flirting were varying degrees of hilarity.
-End Flashback-
Fleur was the first girl she met that she could just be herself with and let her guard down. Hermione leaned into Harry who slid an arm around her as Fleur entered the stadium. "She'll be fine Hermione. She's probably better off than the boys."
"Well of course she is," Hermione said, "but it's still a dragon Harry." Harry just rubbed her back.
Fleur entered the arena and noticed that the badges on the students had all changed to her name. She smiled. Hermione had made them and she was sure she'd spelled them all to do that. When the signal to begin went off Fleur immediately went into action, casting fireworks from her wand which served to distract the nesting mother. Unlike Cedric she moved slowly to avoid detection until she was close to the nest. She plucked the egg straight out and then cast a spell to send birds out of her wand. The birds circled the dragon's head and the dragon snatched them out of the air one at a time, giving Fleur a chance to escape.
Hermione was standing and cheering as her scored came out. Like the other two, she received full marks. "How do you think Malfoy will do?"
"Not sure," Harry said. "Dead or nearly dead I think."
Draco Malfoy stood in the tent, his wand drawn and at the ready. He'd heard the commentary but it wasn't descriptive enough for him to know what was to come. He had to prove his supremacy to the half-breeds and blood traitors. He'd show them all. Especially his parents.
-Earlier that day-
Draco was eating breakfast when his parents arrived. He looked up to see them entering the Great Hall, "Draco," Lucius Malfoy said, "Are you ready for your first task?"
"Of course I am. I'm superior to them. Krum is a blood-traitor and he has creature blood in him. Diggory comes from blood-traitors too. And then there's the Veela…"
Lucius pinched the bridge of his nose, "Draco they are chosen competitors. You cannot discount their skills. The cup has clearly identified them as qualified champions."
"They aren't worthy of the title."
Lucius glanced at his wife who closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Draco, dear, you really must control your words."
"Why should I kowtow to them?" Lucius Malfoy was speechless at his son's words. And grateful that the boy was out of their hair for nine months of the year.
-End of earlier that day-
He heard his name announced and he exited the tent, strutting into the ring confidently to see the meanest looking Hungarian Horntail dragon ever. His eyes widened in terror. He had to get around THAT? Those others must have cheated! Still, he had to prove that he was superior.
Draco pulled out his wand and cast a stinging hex at the dragon's nose. That would work. Unfortunately Draco's aim was quite off and instead the stinging hex went into the dragon's eye. This served to royally piss off an already angry nesting mother dragon. An angry nesting mother dragon who was also of the most aggressive dragon species in the world. And she had one blonde human in her sights. She growled and blew fire onto the blonde to watch him run around the enclosure like a human match stick. She waited until he was in just the right spot and WHAM! the large spiked tail swung home with perfect timing and astonishing power and Draco Malfoy was sent flying out of the enclosure with a scream and into the Black Lake.
The entire stadium fell silent. Even Ludo Bagman had nothing to say. Harry zoomed in on his omnioculars and Hermione followed suit. They watched as Draco landed in the lake and then they suddenly saw him being held aloft by a very familiar tentacle. A tentacle they had often tossed fish and bread to. And it was swinging Malfoy around not unlike how they swung the gnomes at the Burrow around before launching them over the hedge. Ginny and Fred, sitting on Hermione and Harry's other sides respectively asked what was going on. Given the silence of the crowd Harry's voice was clearly heard by all, "The giant squid has him!" Suddenly Draco Malfoy was flying through the air again as the squid released him, though this time he landed directly in the nest. He slammed into the golden egg head first and the dragon roared and blasted fire onto him again.
With a nod from Ludo the dragon handlers put Draco out and set about trying to control the dragon. They struggled but calmed the dragon down after around five minutes and led it out of the area. Draco Malfoy was unconscious. This was without a doubt a good thing. Sticking out of his arse was one of the poisonous barbed spikes of the dragon's tail. It was easily two feet long and Madame Pomfrey would soon discover it was actually lodged in his rectum. With help from Severus Snape Draco was removed from the arena. Fred and George were already whispering to each other.
Upon seeing where the barb was, and the dent in the egg from Malfoy's head's impact, snickering was heard. And as is often the case in group settings the snickers grew to become laughs and as one person laughed another joined. And then another. And another. Draco Malfoy had just been hit like a ping pong ball by two massive creatures. He had a two foot long spike embedded in his arse. And the laughter just kept coming.
In the tent Snape magically disrobed Draco to see where the spike had entered. He and Pomfrey both winced when they saw it. "He'll need an antidote Severus," she said. "Right away."
"I will dispatch an elf to get it immediately."
"We should probably talk to his parents as well. Let them know the extent of the damage." The damage, all told, was a ruptured rectum and colon, poison, lungs full of water, burns to his head and all of the hair on his head burnt off including his eyebrows, a concussion, and a large goose egg from the impact with the golden dragon egg which was dented beyond repair.
Back in the stadium Draco's scores were revealed. Dumbledore sent up a '3', Maxime a '1', Crouch a '1', Bagman a '2', and Karkaroff a '-3'. Hermione snorted. Out of a possible 50 points Draco Malfoy had received 4. He would never live that down. She closed her eyes and leaned against Harry as she offered up another thank you to Apollo. He had made an excellent choice to replace Harry. "Let's go down and see our friends," she said to Harry, who nodded and stood before giving Fred his omnioculars to replay the last event and watch it up close. He and George were mumbling something about new action figures to create.
Cho followed them down to see the three unharmed champions. She immediately attached herself to Cedric and the other four moved away to give them privacy. "You two did great."
"What happened to Malfoy?" Harry and Hermione looked at each other and burst into laughter as Hermione handed her omnioculars to Fleur who soon joined them in the laughter while passing them to Viktor.
Ron Weasley sat in his bedroom. His mother had let him listen to the first task. It sounded amazing. Krum's skill, the hot Veela, and Draco Malfoy embarrassing himself. He really wished he was there. "If you finish your homework, Ron, your father and I will consider letting you return to Hogwarts. So long as you promise to leave Harry alone." Ron thought to himself for a long while before picking up his books. He had thought coming home would be fun. It wasn't. His mum was making him do all the chores and he hated it. And he was lonely. Even when no one was talking to him at Hogwarts he still had other people his own age around him. Ron decided doing his homework was a better option than staying at the Burrow with his mother. Often he'd wished he was an only child. Now he hated feeling like one.
