Disclaimer: I own nothing. HP belongs to JKR
Thank you all so much for the reviews!
Hurray for updates!
So um, I don't have a beta for this story. If any of you readers would be interested in helping me catch spelling/grammar errors, plot holes, and maybe if you have any ideas or suggestions you'd like to share to make this story a bit more polished, drop me a review or send me a PM. I'd really appreciate it!
Now on with the story!
--
Chapter 11: The First Task
--
Harry shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. The November air was chilly with the scent of snow on the wind. Winter was fast approaching and he could feel the excitement from the water element as it was coming into power.
The reason Harry was wandering around on this cold morning was to spend some time with the elements, but mostly he wanted to avoid the negative attention of jealous students and their sudden urge to hex him on sight.
"I don't know how I survived all those years without you." Harry sighed and leaned a little into the wind, "Just knowing that I'm not alone… means so much to me. All those times when no one would tell me anything, when Ron abandoned me, when Dobby had taken all my letters… I thought I was going to go insane if I had to stay in that house much longer. If I had been a mage then… if I had known about you…" Harry continued to ramble on, taking a seat on a large rock so he could look over the lake. The stone warmed under his skin and Harry pressed his forehead against the rough surface in thanks. He curled his hands around his knees and lay on his side to rest as he watched the reflection of a gray sky become distorted on the surface of the water.
The calm that settled over the grounds was relieving, but Harry knew it wouldn't last. The first task was to happen on Monday. Harry wondered how Neville was going to handle facing the dragons, what spells he would use. Maybe he would try to find Neville in Hogsmeade and make sure he would be able to survive the task. He hoped the Hogwarts faculty had been subtly helping Neville, though he was rather irritated that not one of the teachers had bothered to drop a hint his way. Not that he needed it.
Sighing, Harry slid to the ground and rolled onto his back to stare at the sky. Cold bled through his robes and he closed his eyes, shivering, listening to the water lap at the shore. He only had a few hours left before he planned to leave.
Harry was grateful that it was a Hogsmeade weekend so at the very least he could get out of the castle and escape the constant torment of the students. He had a small amount of spending money, although it was barely enough to buy a dinner at the leaky cauldron. Window shopping was likely the only shopping he would be able to afford.
"I have a question, though I do not expect an answer," Harry mulled over how to word his quarry. The elements were constantly surprising him and he wished that he could better understand them. "I… why did Fire manifest as a person, as a reflection of me? Can Water and Earth also take the shape of a human? What of Air?"
There was silence, but Harry was patient. He had quite a bit of time to waste before the rest of the school decided to wake up and breakfast.
'difficult,' A whisper of thought floated through his mind after some time had passed, 'against the laws to manipulate without a conduit,' He waited, knowing there was more, and after ten minutes of quiet another whisper came, 'need named dominion over a place. The goblet… is Fire's.'
"I see," Harry ran his fingers over the chilled blades of dry grass, "Then, say I found a goblet of earth… Earth could also manifest?"
'Would I, only before my servant… only before my patient one…' the thought was so gentle and loving that he nearly drifted from his consciousness to bask in the feeling. He shook his head slightly and resumed, still curious about the manifestation.
"Can you manifest as a human other times?" Harry asked, waiting for twenty minutes in silence before receiving an answer.
'Should you ask, should you will… should I wish… I may… Exhausting… Limiting…'
"I would like to see all of you," He closed his eyes and breathed, "eventually."
The magic hummed in a pleased response and he felt warmth spread through his extremities, and then suddenly the energy from his body left him, any tension became loose and his breathing became dangerously shallow. His body went strangely numb, as if all his limbs had fallen asleep, and he had yet to feel them tingle.
"You will be very tired I'm afraid," A voice whispered from somewhere near by. But Harry could not move his head to see, nor could he form words to communicate his distress. Who was it? The voice could have been a boy's or a woman's the tone was low, but not low enough to be a man's.
A whine or strained noise managed to escape from between Harry's lips and his eyes fluttered open to see a long curtain of snow-white hair draped over him, its owner leaning over him, blue-gray eyes like rain. Harry would have thought the face to belong to a young girl, maybe thirteen or fourteen by the looks, but rather oddly, there was nothing to distinguish the being as male or female.
"I'm amazed you are still conscious." It smiled like a cat, "I will not remain long for your sake." Harry wished he could reach out to it, touch him, or her, and he ached deeply for reasons he could not begin to fathom. A moment later the blue eyes shuttered closed and pale lips pressed upon his forehead. And then, while whispering to him a story of depth and movement, of cold and beauty, Harry drifted off to sleep, his thoughts deep below the earth in a dark pool of cool water and thousands of kilometers above the world, floating and freezing and then falling, and falling, falling…
XXXXX
Harry had come awake sometime around noon, still desperately tired but uncomfortable in a way that forced him into awareness. His body ached horribly, limbs prickling as though they had too long been denied circulation, and he was shivering with cold.
It hurt to move, but he managed to stagger to his feet, wincing as he nearly stumbled over his own limbs.
"And I still have to walk to Hogsmeade," Harry mumbled as he walked back to the castle. He was torn between needing a pepper-up potion and wanting to avoid Madame Pomfrey. She would probably try to detain him for the whole day. "There's always Snape's stores…" Harry considered the risk of getting caught by the Slytherin Head of house and decided that it was better than trying to get by the mediwitch. At least there was the chance that Snape would be somewhere other than his potion store room, and creating a distraction was easy enough.
XXXXX
Even after consuming a large dose of pepper-up potion, Harry still felt tired and emotionally raw. Snape would know someone had raided his stores, but there would be no proof. Harry didn't have money enough to afford a replacement, so unfortunately that meant stealing.
On the bright side, he had finally arrived in Hogsmeade, trailing behind a group of excited Hufflepuffs. They still ignored him, or shot him accusatory glances, but by now, Harry had grown immune to the rumors and looks and Prophet articles that claimed outrageous stories about him and Neville.
No, today he would try to enjoy himself.
He decided to spend his money on lunch at the three broomsticks.
There were a number of students eating lunch in booths and poor Madame Rosemefrta was hurrying about, trying to serve her customers. Harry took a stool at the bar and patiently waited for her to finish up.
Before long Harry had a steaming bowl of soup set in front of him. He smiled and thanked the woman before sipping at his low-cost meal and wishing there was someway to access his bank accounts more easily. He left a sickle on the counter for his soup and drained the bowl before hopping off the stool and walking towards the exit.
"Harry!" Hermione's voice grabbed his attention and his head swiveled in her direction. "Harry, come here." She was waving him over. Neville and Ron sat across from her in the large booth and were twisted in their seats to look at him. Harry hesitated for a moment, then shrugged and shuffled over.
"Have a seat." Ron offered.
"Sure, thanks," Harry slid in next to Hermione and glanced between the Gryffindors. They looked suspicious, that was certain. For one thing, Harry was surprised to see Ron speaking to Neville again. It hadn't even been that long…
"How are things going?" Hermione leaned in a bit closer than Harry would have liked.
"Fine, I guess." He shrugged.
"You look kind of tired." Neville said, concern etched in his tone.
"Yeah… didn't uh, sleep very well last night." Harry lied. He watched them exchange a look.
"Are you worried about Monday?" Hermione's hand brushed Harry's in a gesture of comfort. Harry went very still, disbelief evident in his expression, although not for the reasons that the golden trio were assuming. The task had hardly crossed his mind. His plan was simple and easy. Break the anti-summoning charm, cast the summoning spell, and then walk away with the golden egg without breaking a sweat.
"The first task is Dragons." Neville stated rather suddenly, "I don't know if that will put your mind at ease, but I thought you should know." The boy-who-lived fidgeted in his seat. Harry blinked, and then started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Ron scowled.
"You don't believe me?" Neville asked with an offended look.
"No, I believe you," Harry continued to laugh, clutching the table for support.
"He's gone mental," Ron said, wide eyed. Harry could not stop. The sheer irony, the whole bloody statement was, on some morbid level, highly amusing. That Neville could have been so much different from the one he knew, that he would say something like that…
"I already knew it was dragons Neville, but thank you. Maybe I can help you out on the second task?" Harry was still stifling his chuckles. "Don't concern yourself with me about dragons. I can handle those."
The trio gave him a weird look before Neville was distracted by two figures who walked into the bar.
"Remus!" Neville jumped out of his seat and went to greet the man. Harry glanced up at the old marauder and felt his heart rate speed up. Next to him was a great black dog, tail wagging, tongue lolling.
'Oh God,' Harry thought, choking back a sob. It was his godfather, but not his god father, and he was alive. Tears fell easily onto the table before he was aware of them, his hands shaking.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered curiously. He numbly turned at the sound of his name. "What's the matter?"
With that Harry snapped back to him self, wiping away his tears in embarrassed haste.
"Nothing, sorry, I guess I'm more tired than I thought." Harry bolted for the door, but before he could leave Harry was snagged by Neville.
"Harry, you remember Remus right?"
"It's good to see you again Mr. Potter. How is your shielding charm coming?"
"Fine Mr. Lupin," Harry looked askance at the large dog, heart beating as if to hammer its way out of his chest. He was certain that Remus could smell his fear and hurt, and if not, his beating heart made more than enough sound to be heard. Inwardly, he swore at him self for having such pitiful control.
"Padfoot's a good dog, he won't bite you," Remus said reassuringly. Harry nodded, swallowing slowly. Sirius sat back on his haunches and played the part of a timid dog to show that he did not mean any harm. Harry managed a weak smile and shifted awkwardly closer, fighting the urge to smother the poor dog in hugs and kisses and apologies.
"It's good to meet you Padfoot." He choked. Sirius huffed in a soft reply, pressing his nose into Harry's palm. His fingers ran easily over the dog's face and ears, and he found him self kneeling in front of the animagus and petting him and trying to mask the trembling in his hands. His throat was caught on the edge of a thousand sorry's, his mind repeating the word like a mantra in his thoughts.
When it all became too much, Harry hastily stood, said good bye, and left the Three Broomsticks.
He had wanted to leave Hogsmeade in a hurry, mostly to avoid speaking to or seeing anyone else for fear he would collapse and start crying. The last thing he needed right now was a pity party. Harry just wanted to go back to Hogwarts as fast as he could, but as he turned the last corner out of the small town he ended up plowing into someone else.
Strong hands gripped his shoulders to steady him and Harry could not stop the tears from spilling over. Hastily he wiped his eyes and looked up to see…
"Charlie?" He whispered a bit perplexed.
"That's my name, do I know you?" Charlie Weasley asked.
"Oh… um. No sorry…" Harry backed away and ran his sleeves quickly under his eyes. "Er… I just go to school with your younger brothers…"
"You're in Ron's year right?" the elder boy smiled gently. Harry shrugged and nodded. "What's your name?"
"Harry," he shifted wondering how he might escape, "Er… Harry Potter."
"Ah, so you are the other Hogwarts Champion." Charlie pat him on the shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry. You'll do fine."
"T-thanks" Harry tilted his head to one side a bit bewildered. This was the longest conversations with the second oldest son of the Weasley Family he had had, and Harry was surprised how mellow and reassuring he was.
Then Harry remembered that he worked with Dragons. It was probably why he was here in the first place.
"Want to get a bit to eat?" Charlie glanced at his watch. "Unless you've already eaten?"
"Er… I had some soup," Harry shrugged, and flushed when his stomach growled reproachfully.
"Well, I guess your stomach's made up its mind. What about you? Up for something substantial? My treat."
"Um… thanks." Harry offered a tentative smile.
"That's better," Charlie grinned, "No time to be sad on a Hogsmeade trip."
XXXXX
Charlie sat across from Harry at a small pub Harry had never been in before. It wasn't quite as busy as the Three Broomsticks, and for that Harry was immensely grateful.
"What's that?" Harry asked, noticing a large, white fang wrapped with leather and hanging about his neck. "Is that a dragon's tooth?"
"Yep. I work with dragons. This," Charlie fingered the incisor fondly, "this is a Norwegian Ridgeback's baby tooth, one from his second set of teeth."
"Second set?"
"Yep, Norwegian Ridgebacks have three sets of teeth and their permanent teeth only come in after they are about three or four years old. They grow pretty fast."
"Cool." Harry wanted to touch it, but didn't dare ask, "I didn't know that."
"Do you want to see it?" Charlie reached up and pulled the leather cord from his neck. "Here."
Harry held the tooth carefully, running his index finger over the edge and then traced the sharp point. A thrill went through him, and he felt his magic briefly sweep over the fang before fading. Harry handed it back before the magic became too interested in it.
"Thank you. I can't imagine how interesting it must be to work with dragons. But it's probably pretty dangerous too."
"It can be, especially if you don't know what you're doing."
'Good thing I'll know what I'm doing then.' Harry thought as he nodded to the older man.
XXXXX
It was early. Too early to fight dragons.
And it was loud.
Students and faculty crowded together with reporters and Ministry officials in the stands above the Quidditch pitch. The field had been converted into a makeshift stage for the first task. Transfigured rocks and boulders dotted the area making for mediocre shelters against jets of searing flame. The area was practically humming with protective spells and wards.
Harry and the three other champions waited anxiously, or in Harry's case, impatiently, for an official of the Triwizard tournament to direct them into the tent to select their dragon and order of appearance.
Finally the champions were lead into the tent where Rita Skeeter began to assault them with seemingly innocuous questions that she would later twist to suit her story. Harry and Neville ignored her and waited for Bagman to explain the task and let them draw their dragon miniatures.
After having the task explained, Bagman held out the purple silk sack and Fleur drew first.
It came as no surprise when Harry pulled out the Swedish Short-Snout, and of course that left Neville with that horrid tempered Hungarian Horntail.
Harry went first.
The crowd cheered, though most of it was profanities of one sort or another. And Bagman began to make with the commentary.
Harry ignored them and stood very still.
The Swedish Short-Snout was beautiful. She had a long, graceful neck and an almost bird-like head with three pairs of horns, a striking eggshell-white against her silvery blue scales. Her blue eyes watched him warily as he approached. When she let out a warning hiss, he stopped.
Wand at the ready, he flicked it casually, although no magic left the wand itself. The gesture had been more for show, to keep away some invasive questions and unwanted articles by a certain beetle animagus.
Wandless magic tore open the anti-summoning charms placed on the false egg and the dragon shuffled uneasily over her nest. He knew she could feel what he was doing, but he remained calm and kept watching her.
The crowd had become silent and even Bagman only whispered, though he had little to comment about anyway since he had no idea what Harry was doing. His lack of movements and non-verbal spell work left the spectators in the dark.
He wanted to subdue her somehow for he had no desire to watch a mother dragon rage about loosing a child, no matter that it was false. Harry knew better than to try legilimency on a dragon. Their minds were so wild that they could drive a person insane if the connection lasted too long, rather he thought to send her asleep. This way no harm would come to anyone.
With another vague flick of his wand he willed the beast into dreams, her head drooping to tuck under her wing. The crowd gasped collectively.
"Accio golden egg." He intoned with a practiced flick of the wrist, his only true spell. The egg zoomed over to him and in less than five minutes he had won his prize.
"A-And Potter has the egg, without even… not a scratch, he hardly moved to… How?" Bagman rambled. The crowd erupted in exclamations and cheers.
Harry barley glanced at the judges.
They gave him tens across the board, except for Karkaroff's nine point five; but he was a coward and a Death Eater anyway. Not important. Harry was not competing for glory; rather he was complying with the magical contract to ensure his continued stay at Hogwarts.
Following him was Fleur and the Welsh Green. The crowd was far more animated as the girl ducked and dodged the sporadic fireballs sent after her.
Harry supposed that in comparison, his display had been boring and uneventful. The crowd really ate up the danger and suspense, but little did he know several of the adults eyed him with interest and awe.
Krum came next, facing off with the Chinese Fireball and then it was Neville's turn.
Harry watched in interest as the boy nervously walked out of the tent. Cheers and hoots roared through the crowed and Harry might have been a little jealous.
Neville's retrieval of the egg was clever, if not a little dangerous. He had cast a smell masking spell over a small clump of something, possibly some sort of plant material, and levitated it over to the dragon's nest to fall on top of the golden egg. Harry was impressed at the accuracy and knew that his aim was likely very important. As soon as the clump settled onto the gold egg, Neville cast finite incantatem and Harry quickly recognized the clump for what it was.
Dragon's bane.
The boy had brought dragon's bane, of all things. Harry was torn between feeling impressed and wanting to shake Neville for his inconsideration of the mother and her eggs.
However, there was more than just dragon's bane in that lump of mashed herbs. The concoction had been fortified with what smelled to Harry like mint and peppergrass. It was like a dung bomb for dragons, worthy of the son of a marauder.
It truly was a brilliant plan, save for the danger to the real eggs.
The Dragon went into a fit, vacating the area of the nest. She hovered over her eggs, trying to figure out a way to protect them, but her disgust and aversion to the concoction forced her to hiss and turn away.
That was when Neville bounded forwards to snatch the egg.
Idiot that he was, he seemed to forget that the beast breathed fire, and he had to dodge several times before getting close enough to steal his prize.
But he did manage, and there was a deafening roar from the crowd as he succeeded.
Harry added to the noise excitedly, glad that Neville and the eggs survived.
The first task was over.
