Chapter 11

The First Task

Harry

Harry woke up on Monday morning, groggy, as he didn't really get much sleep. The tournament was more stress than Harry really expected. Dragons, dragons! Harry was worried for himself.

"Morning," Romania, equally as groggy, said.

He wondered if Cedric and Arthur knew about the dragons. He decided they didn't, and that he had to tell them for fairness of battle.

Before class, he spotted Arthur walking pass

"Arthur!" Harry called, and he stopped.

"Hi, Harry, it's nearly class- we should get going…" Arthur said.

"The first task, it's dragons," Harry said.

"…What?" Arthur said.

"Dragons," Harry repeated, "There's five of them. One for each of us, I suppose. Krum and Fleur already know- Karkaroff and Maxime already toldthem, I think- they knew it was dragons, and you've seen how they are... I just thought it's only fair if all of us knew."

"That sounds very 'less dangerous,'" Arthur commented sarcastically, Harry recalled the ministry saying that it'll be 'less dangerous, "Thanks, Harry."

He then checked his watch, "Bloody hell, he really don't have time now. Bye, Harry! And thank you again."

Then Arthur ran off to class. Meanwhile, Harry went to alert Cedric. He used a spell to pierce his bag, and talked to him when his friends left.

After that, he was called into Moody's office, who gave Harry a tip. The Summoning Charm.

Harry told Hermione about it, and she helped him master the spell.

-0-0-0-

The next day afternoon, Harry stepped into the Champion's tent, and saw Krum, Fluer, Cedric and Arthur.

"Harry! Good-oh!" Bagman happily spoke, "Come in, come in, make yourself at home!"

"Well, now we're all here – time to fill you in!" Bagman said, excited, "When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag, from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different – er – varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too … ah, yes … your task is to collect the golden egg!"

"Ladie first," Bagman said, and opened the bag. Fluer put her shaking hand inside of the bag, and took out the common Welsh Green with the number 2 around its neck. Fluer did not show any sign of surprise- nor did Krum. They knew, just as harry expected.

Next was Krum, who got the Chinese Fireball (number 3). Cedric picked the Swedish short-snout (number 1). Harry was next, and Harry pulled out the Hungarin Horntail. Arthur stared at it in surprise, and then at Harry with worry.

Arthur went next, and pulled out the last one; the Ukranian Ironbelly. Arthur cursed, and Bagman told him: "Language, Mr Kirkland. Anyway, champions. You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I'm going to have to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr Diggory, you're first, just go out into the enclosure enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right? Now... Harry… Arthur… could I have a quick word, outside?"

"Er… Yes," Harry said, and he and Arthur stepped outside with the man.

"Feeling alright? Anything I can get you two?" Bagman asked.

"What? No- nothing," Harry stuttered, Arthur shook his head beside him.

"Got a plan?" Bagman asked, and he lowered his voice, "I don't mind sharing a few pointers, if you'd like them, you know. I mean, you two are the underdog here… anything I can do to help."

"No," Arthur and Harry said too quickly in unison that it might've sounded very rude.

"No- no thanks, sir," Arthur said, "I have a plan."

"I do too, sir," Harry said.

"Nobody would know, Harry, Arthur," Bagman winked.

"We're fine," Arthur said, then a whistle blew somewhere.

"Good Lord, I have to run!" Bagman said, and hurried off.

"Exactly why I hate the ministry," Arthur muttered, and the two returned to the tent.

The older champions successfully made it without dying, and it was finally Harry's turn. Arthur wished good luck to him, and Harry went out to where he'll face the most aggressive dragon.

He ducked near a rock as he faced a jet of fire straight away.

"Accio Firebolt!" Harry shouted, his wand raised.

He was the quickest to get his egg using his flight on his firebolt.

"Great Scott, he can fly!" Bagman said, "Are you watching this, Mr Krum?"

Harry made the Horntail fly after him, off the ground so that the egg was clear. Harry dived for the egg, and grabbed it successfully.

"Look at that!" Bagman yelled, "Will you look at that! One of our youngest champions is quickest to get his egg! Well, this is going to shorten the odds on Mr Potter! Let's see if Mr Kirkland can beat this record!"

-0-0-0-

"That was excellent, Potter!" Professor McGonagall cried, "You'll need to see Madam Pomfrey before the judges give out your score … over there, she's had to mop up Diggory already …"

"Yeh did it, Harry!" Hagrid said, "Yeh did it! An' agains' the Horntail an' all, an' yeh know Charlie said that was the wors' –"

"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry spoke loudly to stop Hagrid from revealing that he showed the dragons to Harry.

"Nice and easy does the trick, Potter," Moody growled.

"Right then, Potter, the first-aid tent, please …" McGonagall said, and Harry took off the the Wing, while Arthur prepared to face his dragon; also known as the biggest dragon out of all.

-0-Romania-0-

Romania thought it was a shame that one of his dragons weren't put to use. But Romania thought it was for the best, as they were short in numbers. The Romanian Longhorn was currently under sepical care as they were endangered.

When Harry made it alive, Romania cheered loudly. He watched the Dragon handlers swap the dragon into the Ironbelly- the one England would be facing.

"The Ironbelly," Norway said, "He's going to have a hard time."

"Let's think positive," Romania said, just he slightly was worried, not worried for England's life, but because if he is hurt, he'll heal quickly, and their secret would again be risked at getting out. Norway's friends already knew of their semi-immortality, they could not risk more.

But Romania knew England was fine. As soon as he was informed about the task, he had gone off to figure out a plan- and he did find a great plan. He would be doing something similar to Harry- he would be using the summoning spell and summon something of his own.

The whistle blew and England stepped out of the tent. People cheered, as England ducked behind a rock. England held his wand closely to his chest, before sighing out a deep breath and pointing his wand towards the castle and shouting: "ACCIO ENFIELD NO.2!"

"What's that?" Bagman exclaimed, "What's a 'Enfield No.2?'"

Everyone seemed equally as confused to what it was, minus the nations, of course… and a couple of muggle-borns seemed stunned, questioning what they just heard.

'Must be maniacs,' Romania thought.

England waited and waited with the audience for 'Enfield No.2' to fly into the arena and into England's hand. The Ironbelly had run out of patience and instead of breathing fire, it had turned to chasing England. England was currently hidden behind another rock as his original rock was crushed into bits.

"Mr Kirkland, running won't do you any good!" Bagman shouted, then something small and black flew through the air and into England's hand, "What in Merlin's name is that?"

"A gun?!" Hermione exclaimed.

"What's a gun?" Ron asked, clueless.

"Oh, you wait and see," Romania told him, "Oh the faces are going to be priceless. Where's Collin- ah, Collin! You take a photo of Ron's face when Arthur fires that gun!"

"Of course!" Collin Creevy, a muggle-born who was fully aware of what a gun was, shouted back, and he aimed the camera at Ron's face.

Romania turned his attention back to the arena and saw England getting ready. When the fire stopped, England quickly turned around, popped up the rock aimed, then fired the gun at the dragon's right eye.

"Sorry, dragon!" England exclaimed, as the dragon roared as the bullet hit its eye. England had fought in many wars - of course his aim was good.

"What was that?!" Ron exclaimed, his face priceless as Romania expected, and Romania could hear Collin's camera go off. Romania gave him a thumb up.

"Get me a copy of that photo one day," Romania smiled, and Collin smiled back. He also took a photo of the priceless face of his own wizard friend who had no idea what a gun was. Along with a photo of Bagman, who also had 'Merlin's beard' written all over his face. He wasn't even commentating right now, he was utterly shocked.

"What is this?! What just happened?!" Bagman exclaimed, coming back into his senses, just as England shot the dragon's other eye, "He just… blinded the dragon!"

The dragon started to roar madly as it could only the darkness. Romania did feel bad for it. And he did think England's plan may be a bit too cruel. England spent the other bullets on the dragon's legs- though those tiny bullets barely had an effect on the giant dragon.

"Does anyone know what that thing is?" Bagman asked the teachers around him.

"That, I believe, is a muggle weapon," Professor McGonagal spoke, "A very, very, dangerous weapon I do not know how Mr Kirkland has. Mr Kirkland, you're seeing me after this!"

Ah, there comes trouble. The gun England was using was one he used during WW2 and the Korean War. It was old, but because it was old, it did not break inside Hogwarts. England bad brought it with him for 'safety measures.'

After the dragon lost its vision, it had starting to use its hearing for detect England's position. But the sound of the crowd was disturbing its hearing. England used that to quickly run to the egg, snatch it and run back into his hiding spot.

"Arthur Kirkland has got the egg! I still have no idea what that thing is supposed to be but it is very strong!" Bagman exclaimed, and the dragon handlers pulled the blind dragon away, "And don't worry, the dragon will be fine everyone. I think."

Romania saw England get back into the tent, and Romania raced down the stand to where England would be.

"Oi! Arthur!" Romania exclaimed, as England came into view, "That was great!"

"I feel bad for the dragon, though," England said, "Oh, bugger," he added as he saw someone coming from behind Romania. Romania turned to see McGonagal.

"Mr Kirkland, could you explain to me why you have a gun?" McGonagal asked sternly.

"My mother left it to me before she passed away," England made up, "It was the gun my grandfather in my mother's side used in world war 2."

"Mr Kirkland, but bringing a gun into school is highly dangerous."

"...I got special permission from Professor Dumbledore."

"I'll check with him in a short while," she went off to find Dumbledore. England did get permission from Dumbledore. England thought there was a limit to magic sometimes, so that a muggle weapon can help.

While that was going on, Harry and Ron had made up. They were in good conditions again, which was good.

"Boys," Hermione muttered, then the two young (one not-so-young) champions returned to the tent.

The final scored had Harry and Krum tied for 1st place. England was in 2nd place, tied.

After a few moments, the champions came out of the tent, and Skeeter went to ask them questions.

"Congratulations, Harry!" she said, "I wonder if you could give a quick word? How you felt when you faced that dragon? How you feel now about the fairness of scoring? And Arthur, what was that thing called a gun?"

"Yeah, you can have a word," Harry told the woman savagely, "Goodbye."

Then the group walked back to Hogwarts, leaving a dumbfounded Skeeter behind.

"Savage…" Ron said, smiling. And the group laughed.

-0-0-0-

I think this chapter was a bit weird. I could have made England use normal spells but hey, a gun is way more interesting right? And I wanted to write the wizard's reactions to a muggle weapon. Hahah... um...

The next chapter should come up soon. I'm going to start stocking up chapters during the holidays, and before Y10, where I'll probably only be able to write a little? I don't know. I heard Y10 the start of the four deadly years. KS4...

When I became Y11, I'll have to stop Fanfiction until I actually get into university. Y10 is the only year left I am allowing myself to spend time writing Fanfiction. Even then (Y11) I might write some for English practice and trying to use new stuff I learnt. I think. But definately not when I'm doing MOCK exams in Y12. No. That's a big no-no. But in Y13 I might be able to write a little.

-PotterheadNo.04