After Limbo
Chapter Eight
The champions had all agreed that doing a deal with the quibbler was better than having the daily prophet print lies, so they each signed a contract and Luna sent the contracts to her father. Luna would take pictures and write stories about the tournament and then send them to her father. This would hopefully increase their sales.
It was soon time for the tournament. The crowds were cheering and people were taking bets.
Harry was pacing inside the champions tent. Hermione walked into the tent and threw her arms around Harry. He hugged her tightly
A bright camera flashes, and Rita Skeeter approached.
"Young love! Ohh how.. stirring. If everything goes unfortunately today you might make the front page" She said, enthusiastically.
"You have no business here" Viktor said. "The daily prophet is unauthorized to publish any information about us" Rita scowled, but left the tent as Dumbledore entered.
"Good day champions. Gather round please. Now you've waited, you've wondered and at last the moment has arrived. The moment only four of you can fully appreciate" The champions gather around him in a circle. "What are you doing here Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asked. Harry glared at him.
"Oh um.. Sorry I'll just go" Hermione ducked out. Barty Crouch Sr. held up a bag.
"Champions, in a circle around me. Miss Delacour over here, Mr Krum, and Potter over here. Right. Miss Delacour, if you will..." He held up the bag. Fleur took out a little green dragon. "The welsh green. Mr Krum..." Viktor took another out "The Chinese fireball. Oooooh" Cedric picked one. "The swedish short-snout. Which leaves..." Harry sighed and took the last one out which was "The Hungarian horntail. These represent very real dragons, each of which has been given a golden egg to protect. Your objective is simple, collect the egg. This you must do, for each egg contains a clue without which you cannot hope to proceed to the next task. Any questions?" Barty asked. No one said anything.
"Very well. Good luck champions. Mr Diggory the sound of the cannon..." Dumbledore said. The cannon fired immediately.
Since Harry was the youngest, he was the last to go, just like last time. But this time, he had a better plan of action. He had studied dragons and learned that they were considered giant snakelike creatures and those who conversed with snakes could converse with dragons.
Three of our champions have now faced their dragons and so each one of them will proceed to the next task. And now our fourth and final contestant" Harry heard Dumbledore say. He entered the rocky arena. The crowd was cheering his name. He looked around for the dragon and saw her guarding her next. He muttered a spell so that everyone in the stadium could here his voice. He walked over to the Dragon and bowed low.
"Greetings Great Mother" Harry said in parseltongue. "I am Harry Potter, Prophesied One"
Everyone in the stands was speechless.
"What's he doing?" Lavender Brown whispered.
"No idea" Her best friend, Parvati Patil replied. The Dragon looked down at Harry.
"What is it that you seek, Prophesied one?" She asked.
"I seek that which is in your nest. The Golden Egg" Harry replied.
"That I can give you" The dragon replied. "It has been many years since I have last spoken with a human. The last one was evil most foul"
"I know" Harry replied. "He killed my parents"
The dragon used her claws to pick up the Golden Egg and she handed it to Harry.
"Listen to me, Prophesied one. The time of the Dark Lord draws near. You alone can defeat him" She bent down her head and Harry stroked it. "Farewell, Child" Harry walked out of the arena carrying the egg, to much screaming and cheering.
