Sorry for the late update, guys. It's allergy season and I'm, well, completely miserable. I love nature but why does it have to make me so stuffed up and miserable? Going to class feels like an uphill battle and doing anything afterwards is nearly impossible. But oh well. I need to buy a few bottles of allergy medicine, I guess. Any advice for how to deal with allergy season so I don't miss anymore update dates?

Anyway, I know I left you guys ALL knowing what was coming up next so this shouldn't be a surprise. Here is the first task.

:D

The First Task

After what felt like hours of waiting, Bagman showed up. He brought a bag with him and had all the Champions pull out a miniature dragon with a number around its neck to both decide the order they were going to go in and the dragons they were to face. The real things, of course, would be much more lethal and Cedric looked like he was going to hurl when he saw the number-one draped around the dragon he'd pulled out.

One by one, the champions were called out. First Cedric, then Fleur and finally Victor. Waiting was torture, even for the athlete used to being scrutinized as he did dangerous tasks. By the time his name was called, even the famous Quidditch player looked a little green, clutching his wand so tightly that he worried it might snap.

"I got a plan, don't worry about me." Harry stated when he saw Phoenix's eyes finally show her worry that he suspected she'd been hiding until the 4th whistle sounded.

Phoenix heaved a heavy sigh and waved as he left, finally alone. The commentary and reactions of the crowd outside were the only clues as to what was happening. Eventually, Harry was also successful in completing his task and, more importantly, surviving it.

Phoenix wore a uniform of her own making. In fact, most of her fighting-clothes were of her own design. This was a light material somewhat between spandex and leather, altered to represent Slytherin because the usual red wasn't exactly appropriate considering that was a Gryffindor color. It was a tight sleeveless green dress and black spandex down to her knees. A similar spandex material covered her elbows and she wore tight dragon-hide fingerless gloves. The skirt of the dress went down to mid-thigh and was slit up the left leg. Instead of her usual pouch of goodies, there was a strap on her left leg for her wand. Her hair was tied up, a bandana covering it aside for the bun in the back that stuck out the back.

"And our last contestant, Phoenix Malfoy. Facing off against a Hibridean Black, she must retrieve the golden egg." Bagman stated. "Oh, and she's on the move."

Phoenix ignored the crowd and the annoying voice telling her every move. She bolted to hide behind a rock, taking out her wand and drawing in the air. She drew a diagram, an intricate one that engraved into a rock. It glowed a bright red and then the rock and nearly twenty others morphed, transfiguring into the shape of Phoenix's body. Though they had no color, the small army was enough to register as a threat in the dragon's mind.

Phoenix took off into a sprint, all of her rock-copies doing the same. The dragon roared loudly, smashing them with its huge tail, pissed that more kept on getting closer. Eventually, it got lucky and one of those hit by the lethal tail was Phoenix rather than another rock copy. Though, she wasn't that injured, grabbing onto the lethal spikes and going for a ride instead of being smashed with all of her copies.

Half of the crowd was screaming in horror and fear for her, the other half chanting 'Angel-Angel-Angel' over and over again. Those cheering her on were those that knew that she was completely fine. In fact, Phoenix was having fun as she slowly made her way up the dragon's tail, unnoticed because it was paying more attention to smashing the rock figures. The spikes made it easy to climb even as the tail thrashed around, smashing her copies.

Then the dragon found her. It looked down her in shock as if not believing what it was seeing. Then its mouth glowed red-hot with flames waiting to be blasted at her. But then it stopped, its eyes going even wider. The dragon got scared, waves of some kind of blast dissipating and somewhat reaching the crowed, though very few recognized what it was.

And then the dragon collapsed, landing with a crash, unconscious. Phoenix hopped down and grabbed her egg, the crowd too dumbstruck to realize what had happened for nearly an entire minute. But then they were so loud that Phoenix wondered how she'd tuned them out until then. Instantly, her ears were ringing.

"Bloody hell, I do believe that's the best we've seen yet. Surely the fastest." The commentator, Bagman, stated.

Snape ran faster than he had in his entire life, getting to his goddaughter in record time. He surveyed every inch of her before settling for wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Very good, Phoenix." He stated.

"Very good indeed!" McGonagall agreed, dashing up and accompanying them to Madam Pumfree's tent. "You've made us all proud, Miss Malfoy. Exhalent show of transfiguration skills, as usual."

"Well, looks like you need a good bath." Madam Pumfree chuckled as she walked over. "And a nap." She waved her wand a little, using it to check Phoenix's body. With a muttered spell that Phoenix didn't bother to catch, she snapped back a couple broken ribs and mended some torn ligaments. "There you go. Right as rain. Just a bath and a nap. Perhaps Mad-Eye would be willing to transfigure Mr. Malfoy into a pillow."

Cedric, covered in bandages after being burned rather badly by his angry dragon, started to snicker.

Phoenix went back outside to see her scores. Snape kept an arm draped around her as they stood. After a minute, the judges stood up one by one. Robins shot out of their wands into the air, forming huge numbers visible to all.

"Don't be surprised if Madam Maxine and Karkaroff don't give you high scores." Snape stated. "They are biased to their schools. It's why we have two unbiased judges."

Madame Maxine raised her wand, a large nine appearing. Phoenix grinned happily. Even if they were biased, no one could admit that her show was pretty cool. And coming from the judge that was supposed to be supporting her own school, a nine out of ten meant she'd been quite a show.

Crouch came next, shooting another nine into the air. The crowd roared in approval and Phoenix resisted the urge to cover her ears. Dumbledore stood up and shot out a ten, making the crowd roar even louder. Even though the Gryffindor students who were supposed to be on Harry's side and the Hufflepuff students on Cedric's… they were all cheering Phoenix on. She wasn't sure if it was just because she had friends in all the houses or if her show was really that good.

Bagman shot out of his seat faster than the other judges, shooting out a ribbon that bolted to form another ten. Karkaroff stood last, hesitating for a second.

"He gave me a four." Harry told Phoenix. "Don't expect much."

Karkaroff put his number up. Six. The Hogwarts students were furious with the low number.

Snape looked ready to kill. "Damn biased bastard, I'll…"

"Oh stop, you just said yourself not to be surprised." Phoenix laughed.

As if flipping on a light, Snape's eyes softened. Harry grinned inwardly. He'd always known the Potions Master to be a heartless guy incapable of any show of positive emotion but he was happy to be wrong. Snape was actually bearable to be around when he had his goddaughter in his arms where she was safe.

The champions were call back to the tent to be given a few words from Bagman. Fleur and Victor seemed fine, Harry scratched up a bit but otherwise fine. Cedric was covered in orange paste that was mending his burns. Phoenix grinned upon seeing him.

"Hay Cedric, if the paste was yellow you could claim it was to represent the Huffelpuffs, huh?" She called.

Cedric grinned widely. "That I could." He agreed. "How about you? Anything lasting?"

"I'm all good." Phoenix told him.

"Congratulations, all of you!" Bagman boomed as he walked in, Skeeter coming in behind him unnoticed. "First place is Phoenix, though I dare say that stunt shaved a few years off my life. Do hope you're alright. In any case, you all get a long break until the second task. Second place is a tie between Victor and Harry. Third is Fleur and forth is Cedric. Not to worry, my boy, you tried your best and that's what matters most."

"I'll do better in the next task." Cedric stated, getting out of his glum at placing last.

After stating that the second task will be in February and that there was a clue in the eggs, he let them leave to their own separate victory parties. Skeeter sped off to corner Cedric and Phoenix grimaced as the thought of how his words would no-doubt be twisted. But as soon as her little sister dove into her arms, she forgot completely about saving the poor guy.

I'll try not to be late again. I'm already working on the next chapter. The pole is still up on my profile about a possible romance for Phoenix. If you don't feel like clicking over to my profile, then review and tell me who you want to see. What about the 2nd task? Phoenix needs a hostage. Who do you want to see dragged to the bottom of the lake?