I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, and it is the copyright property of its owner(s).
Chapter 11-Albus Dumbledore
Albus nervously approached the gargoyle that guarded the headmistress's office.
"Chocolate Cauldrons!" He said, and watched as the gargoyle hopped out of the way so that he may climb the winding stairs. When he arrived in her office, he saw the tabby cat sitting on a high shelf. "Morning, Professor." He said.
It leapt from the dresser still in cat form, and landed in human form. "Morning, Potter. How are you today?"
"Fine, thanks." He replied politely. "My father told you I'd be here, didn't he?"
"He did." She said. "Right this way, please."
He followed her around the corner, examining all sorts of trinkets and machines. His dad had told him that a good chunk of what was in this office was made by Dumbledore himself.
He had been here once before-when he was nine years old. He came with his father to watch James in his first ever quidditch match, and afterwards, Albus, James, and Harry had tea with Professor McGonagall, Hagrid and Neville. Dumbledore had been asleep then.
But now, as Albus turned the corner in the office, he looked upon the old man with half-moon spectacles, gazing down upon him as if he had known him all his life.
"Hello, Albus," Said Dumbledore.
Dumbledore's portrait was larger than every other one. Next to it, Albus saw an empty portrait, with a plaque below the read Severus Snape.
"Er, hi." Said Albus, to the painting. "Nice to meet you, professor Dumbledore."
"You too, Albus." Said Dumbledore, in his low, wise voice. "It seems odd that I've never met you, considering we share a name." Albus Potter beamed up at him. It was nice to be compared to the great, Albus Dumbledore, even if it is just by name. "It seems like just yesterday I was talking to your dad, about this very tournament. Of course, I hope this time it won't have such a sad ending."
"Let's hope so, professor." Replied Albus, who had just noticed that McGonagall had left them.
"I think I am correct in saying that, since over a month and a half has passed since you were declared champion, that you know a fair bit about the first task?"
Wow, this guy was a genius, thought Albus. "You could say that, yes." Said Albus, smiling.
"And I'm assuming you have spoken with your father about how to face such a task?"
"Yes, sir. But he couldn't tell me everything."
"Well, that can be fixed. I think, that some knowledge you may require, I can give you. I was the transfiguration teacher here at Hogwarts for quite a while."
"I couldn't ask you to help me cheat!"
"Actually, I won't be. The rules say the teachers cannot assist a student in anything involving the tournament, it says nothing, however, about paintings. I think, that you wish to make a distraction that would steal the attention of a Norwegian Ridgeback?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Well, I think the best way to do this would be to create a group of small animals. Have you ever succesfully transfigured an animal?"
"I can turn animals into objects pretty well, but turning objects into animals is a little bit more difficult."
"Well, I can tell you right now the spell you need is Lapifors, which turns an object into a rabbit. Avifors could also be helpful; it changes objects into small birds. Say them with me,"
"Lapifors," They said in unison. "Avifors."
"Good!" said Dumbledore. "Now try it. Use a book from the bottom shelf of that chifferobe."
Albus grabbed a book that said Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart. He placed it on the desk, pointed his wand at it and said, "lapifors!"
The book sprouted rabbit legs and ears and hopped off the desk, before being caught and returned to its normal state by Albus.
"While transfiguring living beings, it is better to speak the words softly. Try the other one now."
Albus pointed his wand at the book and said, "avifors," much softer this time. The book sprouted wings and flew out the window. Albus chased it, but was too late.
"The book was rubbish anyway," Said Dumbledore. "It shall not be missed. Now, before you go, have you ever heard of the room of requirement?"
"Sir?" Asked Albus.
"The room was first revealed to me by your grandfather, James Potter the first. It is a room that will transform into whatever you may need, depending on your specifications. All one must do to access it is walk by it, thinking of exactly what they need. For example, if I really needed to use the lavatory, I would approach the room, think 'I really need a lavatory' and one would appear in the empty wall. It's as easy as that. Use it to practice.
"And one last thing Albus. On your way out, there is a book on professor McGonagall's desk entitled; the keys to defeating twenty breeds of southern-hemisphere dragons. I think the page you require is two-hundred and fourteen. Off you go, now."
That Afternoon, Albus, and the regular group of six other people he spent the vast majority of his time with, went to the Room of Requirement to work on helping Albus with the first task. Colby and Rose helped him with Transfiguring rocks into Rabbits and Birds, while Lily and Victoria searched the book Dumbledore, (or rather, McGonagall) had given him for clues on how to beat the Bulldragon. Naturally, Colby and Rose could both perform the Transfiguration flawlessly, where as Albus had managed to succesfully turn a rock into a bird one time, all afternoon. It would take a lot more birds in a lot less time to distract the ridgeback.
Lily and Victoria had managed to find something on the Bulldragon, however. The clue was obviously in the nest, and the dragon never strayed more than ten feet from the nest, and never let anything between it and the nest. They also discovered that its skin did not handle heat well, which is why it tried to refrain from using its fire breath.
"Perfect!" Exclaimed Albus. "I can use Flagrante or Incendio for that."
"Also," Colby began, "I would suggest using a geminio charm on yourself, and keeping it for each dragon. It will force the dragon to look at you to figure out which one is the real you, thus exposing its eyes."
"Good idea." Despite not being able to perform the transfiguration, Albus was feeling surprisingly confident, and therefore decided to call it a day. On the way back to the Gryffindor common room, he spotted Coralie, and realized she still had no idea what the first task held.
"Coralie, can I have a word, please?" he asked her, trying to separate her from her group of friends.
"Oh, okay," She said nervously, in her heavily accented english. "Yes?"
He took a deep breath, and started. "The first task is dragons. We don't need to fight them, just get past them." He said, registering her worried look. "There's five in total, for each of us."
" 'Ow do you know zis?" she asked.
"It doesn't matter, just listen, I don't want to be overheard. Theres a Latvian Longshot, a Norwegian Ridgeback, a Chinese Fireball, a Hungarian Horntail, and an African Bulldragon, in that order. The Bulldragon is guarding the clue. I've gotta go, I just needed to know that each champion had an equal shot. Vinschtein already knows, so don't worry about it."
He turned to leave, but she grabbed his arm. " 'Sank you, Albus." she said, before getting up on her tippy toes to swiftly peck him on the cheek.
She left just as quickly, leaving a red mark on Albus's face.