Chapter 9:

First Task

The day of the first task dawned bright and, for Phoenix and the Champions, far too quickly. Cedric had joined Harry for breakfast to show his support for the young Champion. Neither spoke as they picked at their food, too nervous to keep down anything substantial. Before too long, the Champions were sitting in a tent waiting for the judges to show up and tell them their task.

Phoenix was sitting off to the side "visiting" with Harry and Cedric.

"Harry you need to calm down." Phoenix said as she watched her friend pace.

"I'm calmer than you are." He said.

"Want to bet?" Phoenix retorted. The other champions watched in amusement. For the past ten minutes Phoenix had been telling them about her summer to help them prepare for the task ahead.

"Look, I'm not going to hurt it." Harry promised.

"That would be appreciated." Phoenix smiled.

"You're welcome." Harry smiled.

Krum made his way to the girl and sat in the empty chair across from her.

"Have you ever come face to face with a dragon?" he asked.

"Plenty of times and if she is here, the Reservation manager is going to get an earful this summer."

"Why?" Cedric asked.

"My aunt is bonded with a dragon named Dani. We were born the same year and became very fast friends when I was two."

"How did you come face to face with a dragon when you were two?" Harry cried earning a grin from the girl.

"It was really hard," Phoenix said. "But after a year of Dani insistently begging to meet the child her friend always talked about, Gale finally convinced Anton to let her bring me in just to shut the baby dragon up."

"You are an impossible child," Cedric muttered.

"An impossible child that has told you more about dragons in half an hour than you learned in seventeen years," Phoenix shot back.
"You win," Cedric sighed.

"If you are so smart, 'ow do you beat a dragon?" Fluer asked.

"You don't," Phoenix said. "You have to spend a year as a Trainee to even be considered as a Handler. Trainees learn how to gauge a dragon and how to best avoid life-threatening situations. You don't learn how to "beat" a dragon until you have experience because the spells you use are highly complicated and incredibly dangerous."

"Then what 'elp are your stories?" Fluer scoffed.
"My stories help explain the temperaments of certain dragons, and could help you formulate a plan. I'm not here to give you the answers, I'm here telling you what I can so that these dragons can return home with as little scathing as possible."
"So 'oo are 'ere for the dragons?" Fleur demanded.

"The less scathing to the dragons, the more likely you are to be alive in the end."

"Calm down you two, before the judges overhear this conversation," Cedric hissed.

"No worries," Phoenix stated. "I have to go now anyway."

"What? Why?" Harry asked.

"They're bringing the dragons in, which means the judges are going to be showing up soon."

"How do you know the dragons are here?" Harry wondered, hoping she was wrong.

"Secrets," she smirked. "You'll do fine Harry, I know it."

"I'm not so sure," Harry replied.

Phoenix smiled and hugged him tight.

"Good luck, and believe me, you'll be brilliant," she promised and ducked out of the tent before Harry could say another word.

"She seems to know you well," Cedric chuckled as the judge walked in.

"Almost too well," Harry muttered. Cedric snorted and quickly turned his attention to the judges. Crouch quickly explained the task as Bagman pulled out a velvet bag.

"What you chose from this bag is the thing you will face." He said and offered the bag to Fluer.

"Ladies first."

Her choice was a green dragon.

"A welsh Green, very good choice Miss Delcour. Krum?" Krum chose a Chinese Fireball, Cedric got the Swedish Short-Snout, which left Harry with the Horntail. Harry was last of the Champions. When his name was finally called he walked out and saw Phoenix and Hermione in the stands. He was glad Phoenix was there; she gave him the confidence he needed. Then his dragon came out.

"Damn it, I hate being right." Phoenix muttered from her place beside Hermione.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"The dragon out there is my aunt's." Phoenix replied.

Dani felt her heart being pulled towards the stands and saw Phoenix watching her, but then she saw a boy going towards her eggs. She became fully focused on the boy and the eggs. She snapped at him and he ran to the other side of the stadium, away from the eggs. She did what she could to break free of her chains, but couldn't break them. As she shot fire at the boy, he dodged behind rocks and inched closer to the eggs and got her even more worked up.

"Stay away from my eggs!" She yelled and flung three fireballs at him.

Phoenix grabbed her head as Dani's voice thundered through her skull.

Harry dove behind a rock and Dani finally broke free of the chains. She started attacking the rock and watched Harry summon something. She tried to grab it and smash it, but it was too fast. She watched him mount whatever the thing was and tried to catch him as he flew towards the eggs. While she missed him initially, she was able to chase him to the castle, away from the eggs.

Phoenix was freaking out in the stands.

"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit." She chanted.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"That's Dani, the Horntail I told you about it." Phoenix told her trying to breathe. "Let's hope our connection works both ways."

Hermione stared at the girl in confusion as Phoenix closed her eyes.

Phoenix tried to even out her breath and search for the gold thread like Gale had taught her.

"Please….please….please…."

Finally Phoenix caught a thin gold thread and precariously followed it to Dani. She could see Harry and Dani flying around the castle towers and had to catch herself before she broke the connection.

'Dani…Dani, can you hear me?" Phoenix called tryig to connect to her friend, remembering the feeling of the connection.

'Leave me alone!' Dani growled and threw Phoenix out of her head.

"Like hell she is going to do that." Phoenix muttered angrily.

"You can talk to it?" Hermione asked.

"Talk to what?" A kid asked.

"None of your business McLaggen," Phoenix stated.

"You alright there Black?" Dean asked.

"Righ now I have a pissed off Hungarian Horntail that is about to get ripped a new one," Phoenix growled and shut her eyes. She easily found the thread and shove her way into Dani's head.

'Listen up Dani!'

'Go Away!'

'Like Hell you are throwing me out of your head when I'm trying to help you!'

'How are you going to help me Hatchling?'

'Do me a favor and don't hurt the boy. If you look at your eggs, one is gold and it smells like humans. Just let him go and don't get in his way. Just let him have the gold egg, that is all he wants.'

'How do I know his motives? I will not sacrifice my eggs and I won't let you convince me otherwise!'

Phoenix held on tight as Dani tried to shove her out again.

'Not this time Dani. Now think about who you're you talking to. I promise if he hurts any of your eggs, I won't stop you from eating him. I can't say the same for the Handlers that brought you here, but I will let you.'

'What is he to you? Why do you care so much?'

'He is my friend, Dani, just like you're my friend.

'Fine, I won't kill him.'

'Thank you, I promise, when this is over, I will speak to Charlie and Anton about this. You never should have gone through this, I promise, this will never happen to you again.'

'I trust you.' The dragon said.

Harry watched the dragon stop and stare at him. He could feel the disdain and froze. He had no idea what would happen if he tried to run. Before Harry knew what was happening, the dragon had grabbed the scruff of his shirt and placed him on its head. Before the dragon could fly off, Harry quickly summoned his broom and held it tight.

To Harry's surprise, the dragon started back towards the stadium, landing gracefully at the center. When she bowed her head to let him slide off, Harry found himself right by the nest of eggs.

"What…"

The dragon snorted and pushed him closer.

"Are you…giving me the egg?" Harry asked. He really didn't want to aggravate the dragon any more than she seemed to be. The dragon seemed to move her head in a nod and backed off just a little. She was far enough to help him relax, but still close enough she could eat him if he touched an egg that, in her eyes, wasn't part of the task. He could tell that the other eggs were fakes, albeit really good fakes, but still fake. However he highly doubted the dragon knew, so he grabbed the gold egg from the edge and backed away from the nest.

Phoenix smiled down at the scene and relaxed as she slipped easily in Dani's mind.

'You didn't have to give it to him, but thank you.'

'I felt that if I let him have it without much of a challenge, he would be less likely to harm my eggs.'

'Thank you Dani, and I am sorry you've had to go through this, if I had any clue, I wouldn't have allowed it.'

'I understand.'

'Good, now what's this Hatchling business? I am no Hatchling.'

'I was mad and it is an insult as you kind calls it.'

'Please call me Nix.'

Bagman's booming voice disrupted the conversation before Dani could reply.

"What a spectacular sight! What did you do Mr. Potter?" Bagman cried as Dani was taken out of the stadiumso the audience could see Harry's scores:

Madam Maxine-8

Mr. Crouch-9

Dumbledore-9

Bagman-10

Karkaroff-4

As soon as the crowd was allowed to leave the stands to congratulate the Champions, Harry was happy to see his two best friends at the front of the pack.

"Great job Harry." Phoenix smiled hugging him tight. Hermione did the same, almost bowling the pair over.

"Amazing job Potter!"

"What a show!"

"How'd you do it Potter?"

"Thanks for not hurting her." Phoenix whispered.

"The dragon?"

"Her name's Dani."

"Your Aunt's Dani?"

"No, my Dani, she's been mine since August." Phoenix smiled.

"I thought…"

"I know, but she bonded to me."

"That is brilliant." Harry said.

"You will be seeing her again," Phoenix told him.

"Will she be as scary?"

"No, I promise, you'll love her." Phoenix said.

"I'll take your word for it," he sighed. "Can we go back to the castle and hide the rest of the day?"

"You go ahead, I'll meet you later." Phoenix said as the Gryffindors pushed their way through and lifted Harry onto their shoulders.

"Where are you headed?" Hermione asked.

"I need to see her, she'll no doubt be having a fit," Phoenix said.

"Be careful," Hermione begged.

"Charlie will right there."

"Will they even let you in?"

"If they know what's good for them," Phoenix muttered angrily. Hermione hugged her quickly and left her friend to do what she needed.

Phoenix sighed heavily and put on her darkest glare. The students got out of her way, refusing to ask what she was doing as she glided over to the red head she needed.

"I know you are mad, but…"

"Charlie, mad was when Mike switched my bras with Kate's. Mad was when Gale put me through that damn initiation of hers that nearly killed me. This is not mad, as you so calmly put it." Phoenix hissed. "You people know damn well Dani is mine. You know damn well we bonded this summer. This is not mad, I am fucking pissed off to all Hell!"

"Look, I didn't have a say, they chose Dani without my consent or Anton's."

"Bull shit! Anton has to approve…"

"He signed for Vanessa's Ridgeback in Sector 2, but her eggs hatched the night before we were due to leave and Anton was out of town. Christopher signed the release, and I assure you, he will be on probation when I speak to Anton," Charlie promised.

"You will come find me before you leave," Phoenix demanded. "I will have a very strongly worded letter for Anton I want you to deliver personally."

"You have my word if it is written before I leave, I will put it in his hands myself."

"You better," Phoenix stated. "Now. I want to see her."

"What! Phoenix, not only are you only an intern, but you…"

Phoenix cut him off with a dark glare.

"I want to see her, now," she growled dangerously.

"See who?" A blond asked.

"That Horntail you brought without proper consent!" Phoenix snapped at the Handler. "My dragon, Dani, where is she?"

"Put these on and follow me." Charlie sighed handing her his extra cloak and gloves.

"Wait, Charlie, what are you doing?" the woman cried as a slim Bulgarian woman walked out.

"Miss Black, I thought I heard your voice," the woman greeted. "Those gloves will never fit you, here, try these."

"Hello Yolanda," Phoenix greeted. "I wasn't aware you were here."

"Anton said I should be allowed to watch my nephew go against one of our dragons," she said in a heavy accent. "He certainly gave Fiona a good challenge, although he could have been a little smoother in his delivery."

"I'm sure," Phoenix replied not having met Fiona yet, though she'd heard enough about the young Chinese Fireball.

"Dani is right through here Phoenix, Larissa, give the girl your cloak, you will get it back before you have to take your Shortsnout back to America."

"Mrs. Krum, this girl is…"
"Bonded to our most dangerous dragon and probably the only one that will be able to calm her right now," Yolanda cut her off. "Give her your robe."

"I cannot allow a student…"

"Unless you want to deal with that Horntail in there yourself, you will give Miss Black your robe. You will then return to your team and if you try and complain to your manager about this incident, Anton will have a very long conversation with your manager."

"She is not…"

"She can have my cloak," another woman said. "It will be a little long, but it's better than swimming in Charlie's."

"Thank you Kendra," Yolanda sighed. "You can go now Larissa."

The American woman stormed off, aware that her arguments were never going to be heard.

"Thank you Kendra," Phoenix smiled.

"I always bring an extra," the woman shrugged as if it was no big deal.

"I still appreciate it," Phoenix told her making the woman blush. Charlie laughed at the woman embarrassment.

"Oh shut it you big buffoon," Kendra snapped at the red head as the man shuffled Phoenix into the forest.

"That's Kendra," Charlie smiled. "She's a bit gruff, but once you get used to her she's a good handler. A lot of people don't like her because she's a bit of a…loner. She got into the business young, like you did."

"How young?" Phoenix wondered.

"She became a trainee fresh out of school and was certified six months later. I think if she could find a leader she'd work well with, she would make a great addition to the res."
"I guess I'll meet her this summer," Phoenix replied. "She seems nice enough."

"I think she offered the robe because of Dani, not to help you, but you've intrigued her."

"I have?"

"You said thank you and meant it."

"Oh, that's a thing?"

"Come on," Charlie laughed.

"Charlie! The Horntail won't calm down! We can't move her! McGreggor is down, and the others won't go near her."

"Come on Phoenix." Charlie said and rushed deeper into the forest. Phoenix followed, throwing the fire resistant cloak and gloves on his she did.

"Charlie, what is that fourth year doing here?" The Handler growled when Phoenix walked over a glare worthy of death set on her features.

"Move," she growled and pushed past him looking for Dani. She spotted her attempting to get away from the Handler trying to subdue her.

'Dani?' Phoenix moved slowly, easing her way to Dani so she wouldn't startle the Horntail more.

'Phoenix, help me! They've taken my eggs! They've taken my eggs!'

'Shh, Dani, Shh. Listen to me, you have to calm down.'

"What the hell are you doing kid?" One of the Handlers screamed grabbing her arm. Phoenix spun around and punched the man in the gut.

"Touch me again I'll do worse," Phoenix growled. "You want her to calm down? Want her to relax so your team can get her home?"

"You shouldn't be back here kid, who allowed you…"

"Dani gives me the right to be here. Dani, my dragon! Who the fuck are you?"

"McGreggor, get back!" One of the Handlers cried as Dani's foot came crashing down where the man had just been standing.

'Leave my Nixen alone!' she snarled at the Handlers, making them all back away further. Not even Charlie could get close.

'Dani, I'm fine, I can handle myself."

'She wanted to hurt my Nixen. Can't lose you too, not you too.'

Phoenix was heartbroken listening to her friend. Dani was so scared and upset.

"Oh Dani, everything will be okay. I promise, your eggs will be safe."

'I have to find them, where are they!' Dani cried suddenly remembering her eggs.

"Who are you?" McGreggor yelled.

Phoenix rubbed Dani's scale soothingly as McGreggor rushed over to pull her away. McGreggor's hand had only just grabbed Phoenix's robes when the girl elbowed him in the stomach.

"Stop taking me away from Dani! She is my dragon, mine. If you people had any inkling of how to communicate, you would have known this and she would not be like this, and I wouldn't be pissed off!"

'Nixen! Help them! Please help my babies!'

Phoenix took a deep breath and turned back to Dani. She could not be angry when she spoke to Dani, she had to be calm.

'Dani calm down, I will find them and I will get them to you. I promise they are not being hurt, I wouldn't allow that.'

'Promise me.'

'I promise, now will you calm down so I can talk to Charlie?'Phoenix watched the distressed mother curl into a ball and close her eyes tight.

"Charlie! What is this student doing back here?" Another Handler cried.

"Seeing my dragon you bumbling Imbecile! My dragon which you brought here without my permission. Gale Matthews would have told you she was mine. I never got a single letter asking my permission!" Phoenix yelled finally having enough of the stupid people surrounding her. "I had to come back here to calm her down so she doesn't kill you, and you have the audacity to try and stop me! Unless your name is Charlie, Yolanda or Kendra, I want you away from me and Dani and I want you to keep your mouths shut! Do I make myself clear?"

"Charlie…"

"Listen to her," Charlie growled. "Tell everyone else and you can also tell them the next person to make Miss Black's blood boil will get a write up on Anton's desk when we return. If that happens, I will be shocked if that person gets anything less than probation!"

"Miss Black, you seem to 'ave calmed 'er down, can you tell us what was wrong?" Yolanda asked.

"Her eggs, she wants her eggs with her, she is scared for them, frankly, so am I." Phoenix snapped angrily.

"Kendra, as you know, this is Phoenix Black, Romania's newest Intern and Trainee starting this summer."

"This is Black?" The woman asked curiously, unaffected by Phoenix's glare.

"She has the Black temper and the skill to back it up." Charlie warned.

"Charlie, can you her eggs please, she is very distressed and it worries me." Phoenix stated.

"Her eggs are safe, the ones from the arena were glass props for the tournament." Charlie sighed. "The American's brilliant idea because they didn't seem to think the task was dangerous enough already."

"Then where are her eggs?" Phoenix demanded.
"Safe in Romania, Anton would never risk unhatched eggs for a stupid game," Kendra stated.

"She wouldn't 'ave known that," Yolanda stated. "She was not allowed to be part of the official planning since she is a student of 'Ogwarts."

"Kendra is right Phoenix. You can tell Dani her eggs are safe back home."

"If you are lying, I will know." Phoenix warned.

"I understand the bond better than you think." Charlie said.

"Thank you." Phoenix said and turned back to Dani.

'Charlie and Kendra said your eggs are back home. They promise me they are safe and the eggs you are worrying over are just glass replicas.'

'They are safe?'

'I trust Charlie and Kendra has done nothing but help me get here.'

'Thank you Phoenix.'

'You're welcome, dani. I have to go now, but I will see you this summer when school is done for the year.'

'Promise?'

'I promise.'

'Alright, good bye Phoenix, thank you.'

'You don't need to thank me, you're my friend Dani, always have been. I'm sure your hatchlings will be beautiful.'

Phoenix smiled and touched Dani's snout.

"Thank you Miss Black, you've saved us a lot of paperwork," Kendra said.

"I hope next time I won't have to do this," Phoenix stated.

"Anton will make sure Dani is left in peace," Charlied promised. "He'll not be happy when he finds out she was brought here."

"Good," Phoenix stated. "I'm leaving now, Yolanda, Kendra, your things. Thank you for lending them to me. Charlie, don't forget to find me before you leave, I'll have the letter done before the end of an hour. Feel free o warn those idiots, that their names may find themselves in my letter."

"Of course." Charlie nodded. "And I will be given Anton my own report about today. He will not fault you for your help since you went through proper channels."

"Why don't we have Charlie escort you?" Kendra suggested as the small group left the caves. "He can visit his brothers while he waits for you to write you letter.

"I will be fine on my own thanks, unless he wants to come."

"I'll see them at breakfast," Charlie said. "Dumbledore invited us to come and who am I to turn down free food?"

"Then I will see you tomorrow morning with the letter. Thank you for letting me see her. I will see you all next summer. Good bye." Phoenix said and left the caves her gaze slightly eased.

The party in Gryffindor tower that night was amazing. Fred and George had nicked food from the kitchens and everyone was having a blast. There were mountains of cakes and flagons of pumpkin juice and butterbeer on every surface; Lee Jordan had let off some Filibuster's Fireworks, so that the air was thick with stars and sparks; and Dean Thomas, who was very good at drawing, had put up some impressive new banners, most of which depicted Harry riding on the Horntail's head, though a couple showed Cedric with his head on fire.

"Blimey, this is heavy," said Lee Jordan, picking up the golden egg, which Harry had left on a table, and weighing it in his hands. "Open it, Harry, go on! Let's just see what's inside it!"

"He's supposed to work out the clue on his own," Hermione said swiftly. "It's in the tournament rules..."

"I was supposed to work out how to get past the dragon on my own too," Harry muttered, so only Hermione could hear him, and she grinned rather guiltily remembering the training they had done.

"They just want to guess, how much help will they actually be?" Phoenix added.

"Yeah, go on, Harry, open it!" several people echoed.

Lee passed Harry the egg, and Harry dug his fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around it and pried it open.

It was hollow and completely empty—but the moment Harry opened it, the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the room.

"Shut it!" Fred bellowed, his hands over his ears.

"What was that?" said Seamus Finnegan, staring at the egg as Harry slammed it shut again. "Sounded like a banshee...Maybe you've got to get past one of those next, Harry!"

"It was something being tortured!" said Neville, who had gone very white and spilled sausage rolls all over the floor. "You're going to have to fight the Cruciatus Curse!"

"Don't be a prat, Neville, that's illegal," said George. "They wouldn't use the Cruciatus Curse on the champions. I thought it sounded like Percy singing...maybe you've got to attack him while he's in the shower, Harry."

"Want a jam tart, Hermione?" said Fred.

Hermione looked doubtfully at the plate he was offering her. Fred grinned.

"It's all right," he said. "I haven't done anything to them. It's the custard creams you've got to watch-"

Neville, who had just bitten into a custard cream, choked and spat it out. Fred laughed.

Phoenix just rolled her eyes.

"I am going to the dorm Hermione, I have a letter to write." Phoenix said.

"I'll come with you." Hermione said and they made their way through the crowd. They changed quickly and sat talking for a bit as Phoenix wrote her letter to Anton before falling asleep.