– Chapter Twenty –
The First Task
Romi figured she'd at least be able to sleep in on Sunday morning. Instead she woke up at the crack of dawn when everyone else in her dorm was fast asleep. She sighed and closed her eyes, hoping that she'd be able to get back to sleep again.
Ten minutes later she was downstairs heading towards the Great Hall. Romi arrived and saw that she wasn't the only one up early. The Great Hall was completely empty aside from Professor Dumbledore who was sitting at his chair at the head table, poking his spoon distractedly into his porridge.
Romi paused for a moment, but then walking straight up to his table. Professor Dumbledore looked up at her approach, and gave her a little smile.
"You're up early," he said, watching her grab a chair and pull it right in front of him.
"Yeah," Romi replied, "I had quite an interesting day yesterday, but it seems I'm not allowed to sleep this morning."
"I understand the feeling," Professor Dumbledore replied, he watched for a long moment. "What were you doing that was so interesting yesterday?"
Romi was quiet for a moment and then smiled. "I went to Hogsmeade with Neville, Ginny and Luna, of course."
Professor Dumbledore's eyebrows narrowed. "Why do I get the feeling that you're keeping secrets from me?"
"I have no idea," Romi replied. "What's keeping you up?"
Professor Dumbledore smirked, "you keep your secrets, Romi, may I not keep mine?"
"I suppose," answered Romi, "Are you worried about Harry?"
"Yes, aren't you?" said Professor Dumbledore.
"Yes," Romi replied. "But I'm not sure what to do about it. I've been busy with… other things."
"As have I been," Dumbledore responded. "Keep in mind Romi that this oddness with the tournament may not be a fluke. Please keep your eyes open, sometimes you see things that others don't."
"I will," Romi replied.
Just then the doors to the great hall opened and the other early risers in the school came in.
Romi got up and put her chair back before going to sit at the Gryffindor table. She was there for fifteen minutes before Hermione and Ginny showed up. Ginny wasn't looking any worse for wear from her experience with Pestilence yesterday. Hermione looked slightly worried, but nothing too out of the ordinary considering the First Task was only two days away.
A few minutes later passed and Harry appeared looking extremely dishevelled and distracted.
"Hi Harry," Romi said as he arrived.
"Hi," he replied, but looked like he was extremely woozey. "Can we talk when you're done?"
"Sure," Romi replied, glancing Hermione and Ginny. Hermione looked more worried, Ginny just shrugged.
Harry didn't eat a thing and as soon as Hermione and Romi were finished, Harry dragged the two of them outside to walk around the lake.
"What did Hagrid want to show you?" Hermione asked immediately. Harry looked a little paler as soon as she asked.
"Hagrid was showing you something?" Romi asked, looking between the two of them.
"Yeah," Harry replied taking a breath. "Last night he asked me to come and see him with the invisibility cloak. And Sirius was going to come talk to me last night too."
"How did manage that?" Hermione asked.
Harry sighed, "how about I start from the beginning. So, what Hagrid wanted to show me was what we have to face for the first task – and it dragons."
"What?!" Hermione demanded looking terrified. "Dragons."
"Be quiet," Harry insisted looking around, "Hagrid might get into trouble if someone finds out he told me!"
"What do you have to do to them?" Romi asked, "A dragon is an extremely powerful creature…"
"I think I just have to get past it, I don't have to kill it or anything," Harry said quickly. "Still, not exactly the most pleasant thing I've had to do."
"I'll say," Romi muttered.
"Sirius said that a simple spell should work," Harry said sighing, looking out into the lake.
"Right, okay, what did Sirius say?" Hermione said, sounding very businesslike again.
Harry repeated all of Sirius' conversation, including his warnings that Karkaroff used to be a Death Eater, and his suspicions that something else was going on in the Castle.
Hermione was nodding through the entire story but didn't say anything until the end.
"Okay," she said finally, "Let's just try and keep you alive until Tuesday evening, and then we can worry about Karkaroff."
"That sounds practically impossible," Harry muttered.
"Don't be ridiculous," Romi said, trying to be cheerful, "You're great at getting yourself into ludicrously dangerous situations and not dying."
"Thanks," Harry said sarcastically.
"What I'm saying is Harry," Romi said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You'll get through this one too. I mean, we're finally sort-of friends, how could I let you off so easily."
Harry smiled, "Well, my sort-of friend better tell me all she knows about dragons if she wants to help."
"Hmm," Romi said with a sigh, "unfortunately I don't know too much about them. I know how to deal with a Manticore or a Dementor – but not dragons."
"Well, if I come across any Manticores, I'll be sure to call on you," Harry answered.
"Can we focus on dragons right now?" Hermione asked. "You said Sirius suggested a simple spell?"
They walked three times around the lake, trying all the while to think of simple spells that would subdue a dragon. Nothing whatsoever occurred to them they decided to try the castle library instead to look up anything that could help them. Here, Harry, Romi and Hermione pulled down every book they could find on dragons and they set to work searching through the large pile.
"Talon clipping by charms… treating scale rot… this is no good, this is for nutters like Hagrid who want to keep them healthy…"
"Dragons are extremely difficult to slay, owing to the ancient magic that imbues their thick hides, which none but the most powerful spells can penetrate… but Sirius said a simple one would do it…"
"Let's try some simple spell books then," said Harry, throwing aside Men Who Love Dragons Too Much.
He returned to the table with a pile of spell books, set them down and began to flick through each in turn, Hermione was whispering non-stop at his elbow. "Well, there are Switching Spells… but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine gums or something that would make it less dangerous… the trouble is, like that book said, not much is going to get through a dragon's hide… I'd say Transfigure it, but something that big, you really haven't got a hope, I doubt even Professor McGonagall… unless you're supposed to put the spell on yourself? Maybe to give yourself extra powers? But they're not simple spells, I mean, we haven't done any of those in class, I only know about them because I've been doing O.W.L. practice papers…"
"Hermione," Harry said through gritted teeth, "will you shut up for a bit, please? I'm trying to concentrate."
Hermione fell silent. Romi had her head in her hands, leaning her elbows against the table. She was practically asleep, not even looking at the book that was spread out in front of her. Harry dropped a book open in front of her, trying to make room in front of himself and she startled awake.
"Sorry," he said, looking at her.
"It's okay," she replied, taking a deep breath and stretching. "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."
"That's fine," Harry muttered. "At least one of us can sleep."
Just then Viktor Krum slunk into the library and started to skulk through the stacks.
"Oh great," Hermione said irritably, "he's back again. Why can't he read on his stupid ship?"
Romi watched Viktor Krum moving through the stacks. Twice he glanced over his should at them, giving a surly look and then settled himself in a distant corner with a pile of books.
"Come on," Hermione said with a sigh, "we should go back to the common room… his fan club'll be here in a moment, twittering away."
Hermione was right, just as the three of them left the library a gang of girls tip-toed past them, one of them was wearing a Bulgaria scarf tied around her waist.
Despite the upcoming First Task, Romi couldn't help but feel a little pleased. It was clear that Neville, Ginny and Luna too were feeling very good about the events on the weekend. Although Romi couldn't remember anything past seeing Pestilence standing there, Neville had told her everything about Luna's awesome defeat of him.
Luna smiled pleased but almost embarrassed whenever Neville praised her, and he seemed to be happy to tell Romi and Ginny how well Luna had done.
With everything that had happened, Romi was happy that at least one horseman was dealt with. She was getting the feeling that maybe, perhaps, they might actually stop the other ones. Though she tried not to get cocky about it. Romi still had Pestilence's necklace which she kept in her pocket.
It was Monday part way through Herbology did Romi realise that Harry hadn't figured out, until just then, how to get past his dragon. He hurried into Herbology whispering to Hermione that he needed her help.
"Harry," she hissed back, "what do you think we've been trying to do?"
"I found a way," he answered, pulling his books out beside Romi. She took them off his hands in case he squished the small bulbs they were working with, and passed them immediately to Neville, who patiently took them.
"What is it?" Romi whispered.
"I need to learn how to do a Summoning Charm properly by tomorrow afternoon," he answered.
Romi glanced at Neville. He passed Harry his books back, "you'd better start practicing then," he said.
And so they practised. Neville joined them after lunch, seeing as they didn't appear, he decided to bring the three of them something to eat. Harry tried with all his might to make various objects fly across the room towards him. He was still having major problems. The books and quills kept losing heart halfway across the room and dropping like stones to the floor.
"Concentrate, Harry, concentrate…" Hermione said.
"What do you think I'm trying to do?" said Harry angrily. "A filthy great dragon keeps popping up in my head, for some reason…"
"Try thinking of a clean one," Romi said unhelpfully. Neville tried not to laugh, he sat on a desk, watching Harry try and pluck things out of Hermione and Romi's hands.
"It doesn't mean grimy," Harry said through gritted teeth. "Okay… try again."
Harry wanted to skip Divination to keep practising, and though Romi and Neville were up for it, they weren't nearly as adept as Hermione who refused to skive off Arithmancy. And so Romi, Neville and Harry made their way up the tower to endure over an hour of Professor Trelawney, who spent half the lesson telling everyone that the position of Mars in relation to Saturn at that moment meant that people born in July were in great danger of sudden, violent deaths, all the while looking at Harry, Romi and Neville's table.
"Well, that's good," said Harry loudly, his temper clearly getting out of control. "Just as long as it's not drawn-out, I don't want to suffer."
There were a few smiles of people trying not to laugh around the room.
"You shouldn't take it so lightly, my dear," Professor Trelawney said, frowning slightly. "Then end of July is a very dangerous time to be born."
"I guess this whole table is just doomed then," Neville said, trying to sound light hearted. Romi snorted and she and Harry broke down in laughter.
At the end of the lesson, Romi said goodbye to Neville, who was going to the library with Ginny and Luna. Then she and Harry hurried to the Great Hall, forced down some dinner and then returned to the empty classroom with Hermione, using the Invisibility Cloak to avoid teachers. They kept practising until past midnight. They would have stayed longer, but Peeves turned up and, pretending to think that Harry wanted things thrown at him, started chucking chairs across the room. They left before they were caught by Filch.
At two o'clock in the morning, Harry stood near the fireplace, surrounded by heaps of objects – books, quills, several upturned chairs, an old set of Gobstones and Neville's toad, Trevor. Only in the last hour had Harry really got the hang of the Summoning Charm. Romi had nearly fallen asleep in the chair beside Hermione, Zhi curled up in her lap.
"That's better, Harry, that's loads better," Hermione said, looking exhausted, but very pleased.
"Well, now we know what to do next time I can't manage a spell," Harry said, throwing a Rune Dictionary back to Hermione, so he could try again. "Threaten me with a dragon. Accio Dictionary!"
"Brilliant, Harry," Romi said, trying to stifle a yawn. "Can we go to bed now?"
"I need to make sure that I have it for tomorrow," Harry said, throwing the dictionary into Romi's lap winding her slightly and scaring Zhi away. She gasped and then glared at him.
"I think you've got it!" Romi said, standing up throwing the book back at him. He let it fall the side. "And besides if you don't sleep you won't have enough energy to summon anything."
Romi was nearly late for her classes the next day as she'd slept in more than she meant to. She missed Harry at breakfast, crashed into Severus in the Entrance Hall, and only made it to History of Magic as Professor Binns floated into the room. Neville filled her in that although they did not make any progress on the other horsemen, he did get to research a new kind of carnivorous plant, which clearly made him happy. Time moved quickly today, despite History of Magic being the dullest class ever and soon they were sitting down for lunch in the Great Hall. People kept whispering to Harry as they passed some saying good luck, others offering tissues. Harry sat dully at the table, seemingly oblivious to everyone. Neville, Ginny and Romi sat with him and Hermione, trying to keep Harry's spirits up.
"Eat," Romi stated firmly, putting a great spoon of Sheppard's pie onto his plate. He looked at it as though he couldn't remember what to do.
"I'm not hungry," he said after a moment of staring at it.
"I will force feed you if I have to," Romi said. "Eat."
He picked up his fork, managed three spoonfuls and then Professor McGonagall hurried over to him in the Great Hall. Everyone craned their necks to see.
"Potter, the champions have to come down into the grounds now… you have to get ready for your first task."
"Okay," said Harry, standing up, his fork falling onto his plate with a clatter.
"Good luck, Harry," Hermione whispered.
"You'll be fine," Romi said, giving him a squeeze on the arm before Professor McGonagall led him out of the hall. Romi watched him go and then turned to look at Hermione, who was sitting biting her nails.
"He'll be fine," Romi said firmly to her.
"How can you be so sure?" Hermione asked.
Romi looked back to where Harry had just disappeared.
"He'll be fine," Neville repeated.
There was a creak in the bench as Ron took Harry's place beside Romi.
"I suppose that you know what he's up against," Ron said bitterly, taking a new plate and starting to eat.
"You know," Romi said testily, "one of these days you might realise that this is not a game, no matter what they've called it."
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked and even Hermione gave her a strange look. "That's exactly what it is – a game."
"A sick and twisted one, and you had better make up with Harry when this task is finished," Romi said. "If you get the chance."
"Oh?" said Ron, narrowing his eyes. "What if I don't want to?"
"Well then, you might not get another chance after the second task," Romi stated. Just then Dumbledore stood up at the head table and the entire Great Hall fell silent.
"If you please," he said to the stillness. "The first task is about to begin, would you all make your way outside where Professors McGonagall, Moody, Flitwick and Hagrid will lead you to the viewing arena."
There was a great scraping of benches and excited nervous chatter filled the Hall. Ron, Romi, Neville, Ginny and Hermione made their way down the Hall, through the Entrance Hall, and then down the stone steps out into the lawns.
"This is exciting," said Seamus Finnegan on Romi's other side, as he and Dean Thomas reached them walking outside. "I wonder what they'll be facing! Should be excellent."
"Yup," Romi said with lack of enthusiasm. She was feeling much more nervous than she thought she would be. "Great fun." They walked towards the Forbidden Forest, following the students ahead of them.
"We're not going in the forest are we?" Ron said, craning his head to look ahead.
"Nope," Romi answered, "just around it."
"How is it that you know so much?" Dean asked, leaning past his friend.
"Because they're not entering the forest," Romi said, pointing ahead. They passed Hagrid's house, beyond the Beauxbatons carriage, towards a large tent. However they bypassed the tent to where an opening to a large arena was setup. Romi felt a wave of something very much like panic as they passed the tent heading for the arena.
She was certain that four very nervous, and desperately trying to hide it, champions were inhabiting that little tent. Their party entered the arena and climbed to one of the higher seats, squeezing in beside Lavender and Parvati. Romi sat between Ginny and Neville, looking out into the stadium. Everyone was chattering excitedly around them, peering over the edge to see what exactly was waiting for the champions.
Romi squinted into the opposite side of the clearing where a group of wizards were carrying out large grey eggs. Most of the crowd was standing up to look over at them.
"Hey, that's Charlie," Ron said, watching his brother. "What's he doing here?"
"Are you really telling me that you have no idea what those eggs might be?" Romi said, leaning around Neville to look at him. "Or what their mothers might be?"
"What?" Ron said surprised looking at her.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Dumbledore cried from the judges' stands, interrupting Ron and Romi. "The first task is about to begin, and our champions to face a great danger. To start off this First Task, we have a special guest speaker to make a brief introduction."
"Guest speaker?" Romi repeated, frowning.
Dumbledore moved aside and held out a hand to allow a young girl in her twenties with long curly brown hair step up to the front of the judges' stand.
"Is that Phoebe Capello?" Romi asked incredulously. "Why is she literally popping up everywhere?"
"She is not popping up everywhere," Neville replied, "You knew that she was covering the Triwizard Tournament, why are you so surprised?"
Romi didn't answer, just stared at Phoebe Capello.
"Good afternoon!" Phoebe called out, smiling prettily. "It is my honour to introduce the First Task!" there was a fair amount of cheering and clapping, which Romi very determinedly did not join in. "All our champions have a difficult challenge ahead of them, to retrieve the golden egg from their… er… guardians. Rest assured, I foresee that all the champions will continue onto the next task with nothing more than a burn, a fire, a pierced sight, and a poisoned scrape."
"And without further adieu, let us put our wands in the air for our first guardian and our first champion!"
There was great gasp as a compact brilliant blue-grey dragon made its entrance into the arena with a bellow and sprouting fire. It charged over to its eggs, roaring and glared at everyone with smoke rising from its nostrils.
"That's a dragon," Ron said dully, staring at it.
"Yes, Ron it is," Romi said. "Nesting mothers. Never underestimate women with children – ever."
The mother dragon roared again and huddled protectively over her eggs, spreading her wings. Romi could then see the brilliant shine from the golden egg underneath them.
There was whistle blown somewhere and a few minutes later Cedric Diggory walked into the arena. The crowd roared nearly as loud as the dragon when Cedric walked in. He waved a hand quickly and then gripped his wand facing the dragon.
"What's he going to do?" Ron said, leaning over.
"Shut up and find out!" Romi said, her teeth gritted.
"You're a little grumpy this morning," Ron said, looking at her.
"I hadn't noticed," Romi answered, watching Cedric with great anticipation. Cedric walked forward his eyes fixed on the egg underneath the Swedish Short-Snout's right wing. He moved forward using the rocks that scattered the ground as shelter for the massive pillars of flames coming out of the Short-Snout's maw.
Bagman, whenever he had appeared, was giving commentary up in the judger's booth.
"Oooh! Narrow miss there! Very narrow!" he shouted into the crowd as a column of fire rippled past the rock that Cedric had only just managed to duck behind, sending some sort of spell at the dragon as he went. It missed it entirely. "He's taking risk, this one! Clever move – pity it didn't work."
Cedric pointed his wand at a rock on the opposite side of the dragon and after muttering a spell, a large golden Labrador dog appeared. The Swedish Short-Snout turned its attention on the dog as it barked and wagged its tail happily. The dragon cocked its head, as though stunned, yet curious and started to move towards the dog.
It was agonizingly slowly, and Romi checked Neville's watch, barely ten minutes had past. She leaned against the rail watching the dragon slowly inch towards the dog, but still trying to keep all of her eggs covered.
Just then Cedric made his move, he darted towards the dragon and reaching under her wing, made a grab for the egg.
The Swedish Short Snout reared at its invasion of space and twisted round to face Cedric, letting out an ear-splitting roar and then blasting a plume of fire at him.
Cedric only just managed to jump out of the way, landing heavily on his side. The dragon's flames scored alongside his face, causing him to writhe out of reach, putting up one hand to the burnt side of his face. But in the other, tucked up under his hand was a large golden egg.
The roar through the stands was incredible as the Dragon Tamers came running out to subdue the infuriated Swedish Short Snout.
"Very good indeed!" Bagman shouted over the cries of the dragon and the crowd, as Madam Pomfrey hurried out trying to get Cedric to follow her back to the medic's tent. "And now the marks from the judges!"
Romi looked up towards the judges' box and watched Madame Maxime put her wand in the air. A second later and a large silvery ribbon erupted from it and formed itself into an eight. There was a wave of cheering from the Hufflepuff section of the stands. Crouch was next and a minute later a seven appeared in the air. Dumbledore raised his wand and another eight appeared. Ludo Bagman sent out a nine much to the delight of the Hufflepuffs and it ended with Karkaroff setting off a six into the air. Romi clapped distractedly. A moment later and Madam Profrey, Professors McGonagall, Moody and Hagrid had hurried Cedric off out of the arena, fretting over the burns on his face.
"That looks nasty," Ginny said, watching him go.
"One down, three to go!" shouted Bagman as the whistle blew again. "Miss Delacour, if you please!"
As Fleur walked into the stadium the dragon tamers had set out another set of eggs, including a golden one, this time with a large Welsh Green standing tall and protective over them.
Fleur looked determined, entering the arena and starting forward. The Welsh Green flexed its muscles and its nostrils as Fleur took steps forward. With a deep breath Fleur raised her wand and started to chant. The dragon in front of her watched her with beady little eyes, following the slow enchanting movements of Fleur's wand.
Romi watched closely, she couldn't hear what Fleur was saying but it was certainly having an effect on the dragon. It started to sway gently as though in a breeze.
"What she doing?" Ron asked leaning forward.
"It looks like she's enchanting it," Ginny replied. She too was leaning forward, trying to see what Fleur was doing. "It might work if she manages to keep it in its trance for long enough."
"I don't think the dragon is that only thing she's enchanting," Hermione said, grabbing Ron's belt and dragging him back into his seat. "You lean any farther and you'd might as well join the dragon."
"What?" said Ron, looking at her slightly dazed. Hermione tsked and then looked back at Fleur. She was nearing the dragon now, her wand outstretched. The Welsh Green's head was almost level with the ground, its eyelids falling, Fleur had almost beaten it. She took a step forward when the dragon gave an almighty snore and flames shot straight towards her lighting the end of her skirt on fire. Fleur, cool as ever, pointed her wand at the fire climbing up her skirt and with a jet of water extinguished it.
"Oh, I'm not sure that was wise!" Bagman cried. She had to stop her charm to put out the fire. The Welsh Green was quickly shaking off the enchantment and from the increasing smoke that furled out of its nostrils, it was clearly getting angrier by the second. Fleur was within reach of the Golden egg, but had to quickly dodge as the Welsh Green, furious, sent a spiral of flames in her direction.
"Oh… nearly! Careful now… good Lord, I thought she'd had it then!" Bagman cried over the gasp of the crowd. Fleur quickly regained composure and straightened up again. She held out her wand and started to chant again. The dragon wavered, its eyes red with anger, but Fleur's spell was too strong and it began to weaken. She darted forwards in bursts, making her spell stronger and stronger until finally the dragon acted as though it was a new born puppy and Fleur darted in grabbing the golden egg and retreated quickly dropping the spell.
The dragon roared furiously and Fleur ran far away from its fiery breath, the egg under her arm, and a beaming smile on her face. The crowd roared with utter delight around them.
The Dragon Tamers hurried out onto the field to subdue the dragon, at least twelve stunners to take the Welsh Green down.
"That was close," Hermione said watching Fleur reach Professors McGonagall, Moody, Flitwick and Hagrid. Fleur straightened herself up and smiled like the whole world was taking her picture. Romi frowned and leaned against her arm. The judges were deliberating and Ron was staring at Fleur as she waited patiently for her marks. Madame Maxime went first a large silvery nine went into the air. Crouch send up a seven, Dumbledore another eight, Bagman put up a nine and then after a contemplation Karkaroff sent up a six.
"This one's clearly playing fair," Romi muttered, staring at Karkaroff.
"That's why they have two judges that aren't headmasters or mistresses," Hermione said. "So things like that won't happen."
"Whatever you say Hermione," Romi said watching Fleur leave the stadium. "I'll be happy when this is over."
"I think we all will," Neville said, squeezing Romi's hand. The Dragon Tamers were currently setting up the Chinese Fireball. It writhed its long scaly body like an angry eel as the dragon tamers placed its bright red eggs beside it.
"That one looks nasty," Hermione said. "I wonder if it's Harry's or Krum's."
"It's Krum's," Romi said immediately.
"Then which one is Harry's?" Ginny whispered. Romi didn't reply.
"And here comes Mr Krum!" cried Bagman and Krum slouched into the arena. He was clutching his wand looking at Fireball with in intense eyes.
He went forward and it there was same dance of move forward and backwards trying to get closer to the dragon that Cedric and Fleur had done. And then Krum held up his wand and a large bright orange dart shot out of it and hurtled its way towards the Dragon. The dart hit it smack in the eyes and the Fireball roared in completely agony. Krum shot forward to grab the egg and only narrowly missed getting stamped on by the giant feet.
Romi heard a little gasp beside her and she wasn't entirely sure whether it was uttered by Ron or Hermione.
"That's some nerve he's showing – and – yes, he's got the egg!" shouted Bagman.
The crowd cheered as Krum went in and grabbed the egg, however he was splattered with gooey red and gold residue from the real eggs that the Chinese Fireball was protecting. The Dragon Tamers hurried out with haste to stop the dragon before it destroyed any more of its own eggs.
There was a great cheering as the judges put up the marks for Krum. There was a seven from Madame Maxime. A six from Crouch, Dumbledore put up an eight, then Bagman sent up a nine, he didn't seem to want to give anything lower than that. And after a moment Karkaroff sent a ten into the air. There was a flicker of whispering among the crowd but it was stifled as the Dragon Tamers were currently hauling in the meanest tempered looking dragon yet. It strained at the rope and snapped its jaws angrily.
"Harry has to face that?" Ginny asked worriedly looking to Romi. Romi just let out a breath, and stared at the entrance to the arena, she was so nervous it was almost like she was entering the dragon infested ring not her brother.
A whistle blew and a second later a very pale and shaky looking Harry entered. Everyone around her cheered loudly and screamed, but Romi didn't say a word holding her breath, and squeezing the crap out of Neville's hand as Harry started to walk forward.
The dragon snorted and crouched low over the eggs, snarled and flicked its tail dangerously.
"Ohnoohnoohnoohnoohno," Hermione whined.
"Shut up," Romi said through gritted teeth. The Hungarian Horntail looked around, taking its eyes of Harry for a quick second. Romi watched Harry put his wand in the air and shout the summoning spell. The Horntail stretched out backwards, keeping her front legs over the eggs while the back legs inched backwards.
"What are you doing?" Romi whispered to the dragon. Suddenly it flicked its tail and it impacted with a large rock that went hurtling through the sky towards Harry. There was a gasp and Harry looked as though he had frozen, just watched the rock.
"Fragor," Romi whispered suddenly, pulling her hand out from Neville's and flickering her wrist. The rock split up in mid-air and showered smaller and much less lethal bits of stone onto Harry. He shielded his head and everyone was just about to be in an uproar.
"You're not supposed to help him," Neville whispered in her ear, frowning at her.
"Sorry," she answered, "it was automatic."
"That spell is not an automatic kind of spell," Ginny said on Romi's other side, looking at her up and down. "That's an advanced kind of spell."
Romi looked at her two friends and then shrugged.
"Sorry," she said again. Neville opened his mouth to say something else when the sound of whistling reach their ears and they all looked in opposite directions.
Romi was turning to look with the crowd when she noticed that Dumbledore, even though very far away, was staring straight at her. She schooled her face to give nothing away and stared solidly back at him until the Firebolt came whizzing into the arena. It soared around the stadium and straight to where Harry was standing, waiting for him to just climb aboard.
He shot off into the air and Romi slouched into her seat. She felt relieved as though Harry had already got his egg. She felt confident now that Harry was in the air, someplace very comfortable in. The crowd gasped and cheered as Harry darted in and out of the Horntail's reach.
"Great Scott, he can fly!" shouted Bagman sounding completely awed and Romi felt a surge of pride as the crowd acknowledged his words with a roar of cheering. "Are you watching this, Mr Krum?"
Harry soared high in a circle watched the Horntail's head rotate on its neck as it tried to keep its eyes on Harry.
"Come on Harry," Romi whispered and Harry dove and dodged again. Suddenly the tail of the dragon came whipped around and Harry swerved but it caught him on the shoulder. Romi hissed as though she'd been cut and Hermione let out a little squeak of terror. Harry ducked down again, it looked like he was tempting it to fly
Suddenly, in the stillness that sounded as though the entire stadium had taken a breath the Hungarian Horntail spread its wings and with a pump lifted off the ground. Then Harry dived as fast as he could and swooped up under her wings grabbed the egg and just missing the flames that she shot after him.
The crowd erupted from the silence and even Romi screamed this time, hugging Neville and Ginny who were both cheering loudly. Hermione had nail marks in her cheeks and Ron as pale as Harry did when he had walked in the stadium. The crowd was roaring as Harry did a victory lap around the stadium and then landed in front of Professor McGonagall, who clearly insisted that Harry go and see a doctor before getting his marks.
"Come on!" Romi said, grinning uncontrollably. "Let's go down!" She made her way past all the people. Bagman was talking about such a spectacular bit of flying and going on about how fast Harry managed to get his egg. Romi didn't listen to it and hurried to the exit of the stands and then to the healer's tent. She burst in first just as Harry was about to empty it and she threw her arms around his neck hugged him tightly. He was clearly relieved too, and he hugged her tightly and practically swung her around.
"You were brilliant," she said letting go of him.
"Thanks," Harry said beaming. "Couldn't let you be an only child now, could I?" he added in a whispered.
"That would be terribly inconsiderate of you," Romi whispered back, grinning and then let go of him so that Ron and Hermione could congratulate him. There was suddenly and intense awkwardness in the room. Romi and Hermione exchanged a very potent glance. Ron then cleared his throat.
"Harry," he said very seriously. "Whoever put your name in that Goblet – I – I reckon they're trying to do you in!"
"Caught on, have you?" said Harry coldly. "Took you long enough."
"Harry!" Romi scolded.
Ron opened his mouth to apologise but Harry interrupted him.
"It's okay," he said, glancing to Romi. "Forget it."
"No," said Ron, "I shouldn't've-"
"Forget it," Harry said forcefully.
Ron grinned nervously at him, and Harry grinned back. Hermione burst into tears.
"There's nothing to cry about!" Harry told her, bewildered.
"You two are so stupid!" she shouted, stamping her foot on the ground, tears splashing down her front. Then, before either of them could stop her, she had given both of them a hug and dashed away, now positively howling.
"I'll second that," Romi said, watching Hermione go. "You guys are idiots."
"Barking," said Ron, shaking his head. "Both of you." Romi shrugged in response. "Come on Harry, they'll be putting up your score…"
Harry picked up his Firebolt and the golden egg and the three walked out of the tent onto the field. Ron started talking fast about the other three and Romi let him go on about it. Neville and Ginny had clearly waited in the stands.
"You were the best, you know, no competition," Ron was saying. "Cedric did this weird thing where he Transfigured a rock on the ground… turned it into a dog… he was trying to make the dragon go for the dog instead of him…"
Romi stopped listening as Ron prattled on about Fleur and Krum as well. She looked around the now empty ring with all of the crowd still cheering Harry on.
"Though weird that Phoebe was right," Ron said, as they made it to the arena.
"What do you mean she was right?" Romi asked suddenly, looking back at him.
"Well, she said that they would all live, one of them would get burnt that was Diggory, there was a fire that was Fleur, the pierced sight was Krum's dragon after he blasted it with that spell, and a poisoned scrape was Harry's arm – no offense mate."
"Hey, as long as it's healed," Harry replied. "They had Phoebe Capello here to talk about what was going to happen?"
"Yeah, she was opening the First Task or something," Ron replied, "She got it all right."
"Oh, please," Romi said with a disgusted sigh and the two boys looked at her confused. "It's not hard to guess that there will be burning and fire and scrapes in a freaking dragon arena. Anyone could have made those predictions."
"Then how do you explain the pierced sight?" Ron asked, raising his eyebrows.
"You're all blinded by her so-called talent," Romi replied venomously.
"I'm sensing some hostility towards Phoebe Capello," said Harry, smiling slightly. "What did she ever do to you?"
Romi huffed, crossed her arms and didn't reply.
"Its marks out of ten from each one," said Ron, after a silent moment, "for your score." Madame Maxime stood up an eight spirally into the air.
"Not bad," Ron said, as the crowd applauded.
"I expect she took marks off from the cut on your shoulder," Romi said. "Did you get that cleaned by the way?"
"Yes, Romi," Harry said in a tone slightly exasperated. Mr Crouch was next and he shot a nine into the air.
"Looking good," Ron yelled thumping Harry on the back. Next, Dumbledore. He, too, put up a nine, the crowd was cheering even harder. Ludo Bagman shot out a ten.
"Ten?" asked Harry in disbelief. "But… I got hurt… what's he playing at?"
"Don't complain!" Romi said happily, as Ron jumped up and down out of sheer joy.
Karkaroff shot a four up into the sky.
"What?" Ron bellowed furiously. "Four? You lousy biased scumbag, you gave Krum ten!"
Harry just beamed and Romi watched him happily. She sighed a sigh of relief and looked into the sky. One task done, two to go – for Harry, at least.
Romi turned head and was back in the stadium with the crowd cheering loudly at all sides. Charlie Weasley came bounding up to them as they started to leave for the school.
"You're tied in first place, Harry! You and Krum!" he said. "Listen, I've got to run, I've got to go and send Mum an owl, I swore I'd tell her what happened – but that unbelievable – with that rock and everything, she might have kittens at that part – oh yeah and they told me to tell you you've got to hang around for a few more minutes… Bagman wants a word, back in the champions' tent."
"We'll wait," Ron said and Harry returned to the tent.
"I should really go find Neville and Ginny," Romi said. "Tell Harry where I went, kay?"
"Sure," Ron replied and Romi took off towards the Hogwarts. She didn't really plan on going to find Neville and Ginny. They probably figured that Romi would be spending the rest of her time with Harry. However, there was one person that she hadn't seen recently, and with the horseman and the dragon, she definitely wanted to be just curled up with him.
Most of the students were still milling about the Entrance Hall but Romi thought that for sure Draco would be in the Slytherin Common room especially after Harry had beaten the dragon. She hurried down the steps into the dungeons and headed for the Slytherin Common Room. Before walking down the corridor that lead to the room, Romi looked in all directions to make sure that no one was watching her and then slipped down it.
The common room was mostly empty when she walked in. Though a group of first years were chatting excitedly in the corner and stared at her as she walked past them to Daphne. Daphne was with her sister, Astoria and Tracey Davis, a fourth year Slytherin girl with glasses Romi wasn't too fond of. They were presumably talking about the first task.
"Hey," Romi said, sliding into a seat beside Daphne.
"Oh my goodness, Romi!" Daphne said, taking her arm right away. "Wasn't that just completely breaktaking?"
"You have no idea how accurate you are," Romi muttered.
"You're not supposed to be in here," Tracey Davis said with a sigh, looking at Romi.
"Too bad," Romi replied. She looked at Daphne and Astoria. "Where's Draco?"
Astoria gave Romi a pitying face as her sister said;
"Pansy took him off somewhere."
"Oh," Romi said, "did she? Well, wasn't that nice of her," Romi replied sarcastically.
"I'm sure they will be back soon, Romi," Astoria said, giving her a little smile. "He won't want to be out to late."
"Thanks," Romi replied. "I but I guess I'd better go back to Gryffindor Tower," she glanced at Tracey Davis. "We actually have something to party about."
Astoria smiled and tried hard to drop it when Tracey Davis glared at.
"Let him know I came by," Romi said, looking at Astoria. She nodded. "See you later, Daph."
"Bye, Romi," Daphne replied. Romi made her way back out of the common room again. She didn't really want to, she definitely missed Draco's company. She was just outside the corridor when she ran into Blaize Zabini.
"Hello, Romi," he said, smiling when he saw her. "What are you doing down this way."
"Oh, I was looking for Draco," Romi replied. Blaize considered her for a moment, as though trying to decide something, and then said;
"He's off with Pansy," he said finally.
"Yeah, that's what Daphne said," answered Romi.
"Sorry," said Blaize. "I know you don't like her."
"Is there anybody that does?" Romi asked, smiling.
"I'm sure someone does," replied Blaize. "Maybe. I'll see you around?"
"Yeah," Romi said, grinning. "See you."