What is Professor Moody hinting at? Maybe Harry will find out! Thanks for waiting, updates were postponed because I was at someone's house and I was busy. I could not find how you recite the Conjunctivitis Curse so I kind of made it up.

"Harry, what's the problem?" Hermione asked tiredly.

Harry had gotten Hermione to agree to let him into her common room earlier that day.

"I spoke with Professor Moody and he gave me a hint, I think I understand what he wants me to do now!" he explained excitedly.

Hermione rubbed her eyes and looked at him.

"What was it?" she asked, a bit more curious.

"He said I should play to my strengths for the task and brought up Quidditch," Harry replied.

Hermione looked quizzical.

"But you can't use a broom, it's against the rules," she protested quietly.

"I know," Harry answered in frustration, "that's why I came to you."

Hermione didn't know what to say. It touched her in an odd, warm way that when he didn't understand something he came to her. Well, he usually did anyway but it still made her happy.

"I guess... you could use a Summoning Charm!" Hermione realized excitedly.

Harry stared at her for a second, and then he understood.

"Exactly! You're brilliant, Hermione! Because I technically wouldn't have brought it with me into the arena but I'd get it during the task! That shouldn't break any rules!" Harry said.

Hermione flushed pink at his compliment. She felt joyous. But then a sinking feeling overcame her.

"Harry.. you haven't even learned how to accomplish a Summoning Charm in class. How will you do it on the spot?' she asked gently.

Harry looked crestfallen. He knew she was right, he didn't even know how to Summon things. He pinched the bridge of his nose for a second.

"Why don't we practice?" he asked.

Hermione looked at the large clock by the fireplace. It was already past midnight. She faced him, prepared to say no. In fact, she'd already had a plan. She decided to use the Conjunctivitis Curse to blind the dragon she got. But she was a better friend than that.

"Alright," she agreed with a forced smile. Harry grinned and that made it all the more worth it. They decided to go to the Gryffindor Common Room to practice, considering Slytherins would be more malevolent to a Gryffindor in their common room then some Gryffindors finding a Slytherin in theirs.

"Try again," Hermione instructed weakly.

Harry felt himself losing focus due to lack of sleep. It was already two in the morning. Hermione picked up the book he'd tried to Summon previously. She tried to watch, but her eyelids were dropping and she was swaying on the spot.

"Accio Herbology book!"

Just as Hermione forced her eyelids to rise once more the book flew off the table and straight at Harry. He caught it and stared at it in amazement.

"I did it!" he said in disbelief.

"You did it!" she squealed.

Hermione flung herself at him and squeezed him. He hugged her back happily. He'd accomplished it!

"Now, let's get some sleep," she said, looking tired again.

Harry nodded in agreement and with a whip of her past the shoulder length, bushy hair she disappeared through the portrait hole.

The next morning seemed to pass too fast. At least, the champions thought so. Lunch came around to quickly and Hermione tried to eat slowly, butterflies attacking her internally. She played with her food, hardly eating anything.

"And now! The first task ensues! Champions please follow Minister Crouch out of the Great Hall. Students prepare to leave!" Dumbledore announced.

Hermione's heart pumped at a fast pace. There was no more stalling. She followed the other champions. Harry looked nervous. She squeezed his hand quickly, hoping it would help. Harry clenched his jaw and nodded at her. She was dressed in protective gear and had her wand. Then they were all moved to a tent in the arena and Hermione could hear everyone cheering and talking in the stands. It was almost too much to handle.

"Harry, you can do this," Hermione told him as they waited.

"I don't know Hermione, maybe Summoning that book was just luck," Harry argued.

Hermione shook her head.

"No, Harry, just stick to the plan and you'll be okay... just focus... then all you have to do is-"

"Battle a dragon," he finished for her.

She whimpered and threw herself into his arms. They hugged for a moment when a flash sounded and a bright light landed on them. They pulled away to find themselves staring at Rita Skeeter and a man with a camera next to her.

"Young love," she sighed dramatically, "how- touching."

"You are not allowed in here," Viktor said stepping up to her with a harsh look on his face,"this tent is for champions, and friends."

Rita made a small laugh.

"No matter, we've got what we need," Rita sniffed.

She turned and walked out and I Hermione smiled at Viktor gratefully. He nodded with a half smile. Dumbledore and the Minister entered the tent.

"It is time for you to choose your dragons," Minister Crouch announced.

He pulled out a small pouch and held it out to Fleur.

"Miss Delacour."

She reached inside, winced, and pulled out a miniature version of a dragon. It walked around her hand and she watched it, a scared look on her face.

"Ah, the Welsh Green. Now Mister Krum?"

Viktor stuck a hand in the bag and pulled out a scarlet dragon with spikes around its face.

"Mhm, the Chinese Fireball. Particularly fiesty," Minister Crouch said lightly.

The bag was pushed near Hermione. She reached in and felt heat on her hand. She tried not to wince as she pulled out a silvery-blue dragon.

"The Swedish Short-Snout," Crouch relayed, "an agile flyer and it's fire is extremely powerful and dangerous."

Hermione nodded, her eyes transfixed on the dragon. It was small now. She didn't want to see what the real version looked like.

"Mister Potter?"

She looked over in time to see Harry pull out a vicious looking black dragon. It had a spiked tail that looked like it had the ability to kill in seconds. She glanced at Harry's face, hoping it didn't show the horror she felt for him inside.

"The Hungarian Horntail... the most dangerous breed of dragons," Crouch said quietly.

The others looked at Harry with pity. Hermione bit her lip so hard she tasted blood.

"Well! Let us begin! Ms. Granger, you're up first I believe!"

Hermione let out a quiet cry of nervousness, then she nodded. She glanced at Harry one last time before exiting the tent. What she saw before her made her nearly throw up. The dragon stood twenty-two feet on its legs, the large wings flapping heavily. It breathed furious blue flames that could kill.

Everyone watched in silence, which made it all the worse. Hermione took a single step forward and as soon as her foot hit the stone ground the dragon turned at roared loudly in her direction. It started running towards her quickly. She started sprinting and it got closer. It snapped at her and she head-dived behind a rock, rolling forward in the process. The hair in her ponytail began to come out, the frizzy curls framing her face.

"HERMIONE!"

She flicked her head up to see Draco watching with a shocked look on his face. He was looking behind her. She peered around the rock and just saw the Short-Snout open it's mouth when she knew what is was going to do. She jumped away from the rock as the blue fire engulfed it and it exploded. Debris flew everywhere and a piece of rock skidded past her face, brushing her cheek sharply. She pulled out her wand and aimed at the dragon shakily.

"Conjunctivito!" she yelled.

The effect was immediate. The dragon roared in pain as it's eyes swelled shut and it stumbled, falling onto its front. Hermione breathed out and started sprinting again. But the dragon wasn't done, and since it couldn't see, it was going mental. It heaved itself up with great difficulty and began moving in odd directions, trying to sense Hermione. It breathed again, hoping to hit her. She ducked just in time but her arm wasn't so lucky. Fire burned her forearm and her sleeve caught in fire. In a hurry, she ignored it, hoping it would go out. She rolled on the ground and smoldered the flames. Her arm stung badly, but she was so close!

That's when she spotted the golden egg in the small nest. She dashed towards it as she dragon blundered around stupidly, crying out. She felt terrible in the back of her mind for hurting an innocent creature but she didn't want to die just yet. Hermione reached the nest and was about to scoop up the egg when a random wing smacked against her, causing her to fly fifteen feet away. With a loud grunt she smacked against a boulder. Her torso cried out in pain as did her arm but she refused to give up. She sprinted once more in a mad race for the nest and before the fire could hit her once more, she dived and scooped up the egg.

Immediately the dragon was retained by chains erupting from the Dragon Trainers' wands. Hermione shut her eyes in relief and clutched the egg tightly. She'd done it. Adults ran over to get her out of the arena and she was taken back into the tent. Her body ached and it took all her willpower to not cry or scream in pain. But as much as she was hurting, a sense of accomplishment engulfed her. She'd done just what everyone had thought she couldn't.

"Hermione!" two voices said in worry. She opened her eyes as she lay on a cot in the tent to be attended to by Healers.

Draco and Harry were hurrying towards her cot, anxiety on their faces.

"Relax you two, I'm alive," she chuckled weakly. Another person entered and ran towards her cot. It was Ginny. She looked terrified.

"Hermione! Thank god you're alright, that was so scary!" the thirteen year old spilled out.

"Well, it seems you're loved a lot, Miss Granger," a Healer commented as she pulled out her wand and some potion.

"What are the injuries?' Draco asked quickly.

"She has a second degree burn on her inner forearm and she fractured a few ribs," the Healer answered as she applied Burn Healing Paste to Hermione's arm. The latter sighed in relief. The Healer poured some Skele-Gro into a and handed it to Hermione. The latter sat up with difficulty, but with some help from the three friends she was leaning against some pillows.

"Bottom's up," she said weakly as she tipped the potion into her mouth. She gagged but forced it down. It burned.

"Tastes vile, doesn't it?" Harry asked.

She nodded and burrowed into the pillows.

"Draco, you should go back and join the others," Hermione said in a muffled voice.

"No, why don't I-"

"Yeah, Malfoy. You should go," Harry suggested with a slight edge to his voice.

Draco glared at Harry before sweeping out of the tent. Ginny sat next to Hermione and Harry walked away.

"I'm not going anywhere," she warned her friend.

Hermione smiled and listened to Ginny talk.

"So, there's apparently a Yule Ball coming up near Christmas for fourth years and older," Ginny said in a low voice.

"Oh yeah?" Hermione asked, not really interested but the girly side of her wanted to know more.

"Yeah. I hope Harry asks me, though I'm only in my third," Ginny whispered with a giggle.

Hermione suddenly snapped back to reality.

"Oh, I don't think you'd want to, he has a thing for Cho Chang," Hermione informed her a bit quickly.

Ginny's eyebrows furrowed.

"Maybe I'll still have a chance," she shrugged. "How about you?"

"What about me?"

"Who do you want to go with, silly!" the girl said rolling her eyes.

Hermione didn't know what to say. She didn't think she liked anyone in her year or anyone else for that matter.

"I don't know," she answered.

Maybe she could go with Harry, as friends of course.. but Cho Chang was in the way. What? No! She wasn't 'in the way' just... Hermione wasn't quite sure. What about Draco? No, Pansy would be dying to go with him, she practically worshipped him. Viktor? She didn't know how she felt about the Bulgarian boy. She decided to just let what would happen, happen.

Ginny watched her carefully, as if scrutinizing her.

"I'm sure you'll get asked by many boys," Ginny said a bit enviously. She had less chance of going being in her third year. Hermione snorted.

"Yeah, right."

Ginny didn't say anything.

"HARRY POTTER!"

Hermione jumped up, causing pain, then got off the cot.

"What're you doing?" Ginny asked in alarm.

"Watching my best friend succeed," Hermione panted.

Ginny tried to stop her but Hermione refused to be held back. The Healers were too occupied with the other champions. Hermione stood at the flap of the tent and watched Harry step out. Immediately the Horntail began to attack and Harry jumped to hide behind a rock, which the dragon breathed fire on.

"YOUR WAND, HARRY, YOUR WAND!" she shrieked.

He pulled out the wand and cried out, "ACCIO FIREBOLT!"

Nothing happened.

"ACCIO FIREBOLT!"

Then something zoomed into the arena. Harry ran out from behind the rock and jumped on the broom, kicking off into the sky.

"YES!" Hermione cheered, pumping her good arm.

Bad idea. It hurt like hell. But she kept cheering. Just when she thought Harry was going to grab the egg the Horntail broke its chain. She screamed in terror as it flew towards Harry, who dived out of the way and flew out of the arena. The dragon chased him and its tail dragged on a stand up above. Shrieks surrounded in the arena as the Horntail and Harry disappeared. All was in chaos and Hermione had tears streaming down her cheeks. Minutes seemed to pass like forever. Then, as she peered closer, something flew in from the distance.

HARRY!

The dragon behind him, he zoomed back into the arena, dipping down... down... down... he grabbed the egg!

"YES!" she screamed so loud her throat hurt.

The Horntail was captured and it cried out in anger and pain. Hermione pitied the poor creature as they took it away. When Harry was brought back in she squeezed him, though it hurt.

"Great job!"

She kissed him on the cheek. He stared at her for a moment, as if frozen, then grinned. Task one: accomplished.