Haru couldn't help but feel a little bit bad about this event. She found it cruel to use a mother dragon like that, but there was nothing she could do about it. She had to do everything she could in order to win. So she rushed towards the dragon with no hesitation.
"Hello there, it's Hashiri Nio, squib of the year, here to comment on the third task! Wow, a dragon! Sounds dangerous. Is someone's going to die in this task? I hope s...not. Anyway, let's see what the participants' strategies are going to be!"
Haru suddenly stopped when she was near the dragon. A strategy...she hadn't one. She realized that it was too reckless to just charge at the beast with no plan. She looked around her to see how her opponents were doing.
Shiena approached the dragon from behind, but before she could reach the eggs, the dragon turned back and glared at her. The brunette froze in fear and the creature flapped its wings, creating a gust that hit Shiena, sending her to fly away and landed harshly on the ground.
"Shiena Granger on the ground! Looks like she won't get up anytime soon," Nio exclaimed.
Mahiru looked like she had no intention of going near the dragon and stayed as far as she could from it. The others carefully approached the dragon. Haruki took advantage of the dragon being distracted to rush towards the eggs and grabbed a silver one, before running away.
"Oh, Haruki Weasley managed to steal a silver egg and brought it back to the Hufflepuff basket!" Nio said.
Haru understood what she had to do. But for that, she'll need Tokaku's help. So she looked around, searching for the blue haired girl. In the meantime, Otoya and Hitsugi were casting spells on the dragon, with not much effect. Both Sumireko and Isuke managed to get their hands on a silver egg.
"Hanabusa-san and Isuke-sama both stole a silver egg, two points to Slytherin!"
Suddenly, a silver fox made of light appeared in front of the dragon, while Kouko approached the eggs and grabbed one, before going to the Ravenclaw basket.
"Percy Kaminaga used her Patronus to distract the dragon and brought back an egg to her house basket. Clever move!"
The dragon suddenly let out an angry roar. It was mad, terribly mad. It suddenly became more violent, making it hard to approach it. It even started to spit fire, which only made it more complicated to get near it.
"The dragon is furious! How are the participants going to deal with an angry mama dragon?"
Chitaru and Suzu were trying to approach from the eggs, but the fire stopped them. Otoya managed to go past the fire and grabbed an egg, but before she could bring it to her basket, she received a wing hit that violently threw her on the ground.
"Otoya Malfoy managed to grab a silver egg, but lost it before she could bring it back to the Slytherin basket!"
No one seemed to be able to approach the dragon in its current state, it was too berserk and dangerous.
"Ichinose!"
Haru turned her head to look at the person who was calling, whom she had recognized just with her voice.
"Tokaku-san, I was looking for you."
"Sorry, I was analyzing the situation. Right now I don't see how we can approach it. I may be able to, but it's too dangerous for you."
"But I have a plan. There's a way a could steal an egg. But you need to help me. You need to distract the dragon when I approach the eggs. It's the only way."
Tokaku looked like she hesitated for a moment.
"Okay, but don't be reckless. If you feel in danger, ran away. I'll try to keep its attention," the blue haired girl finally agreed.
Tokaku rushed towards the dragon and cast a spell on it to get its attention. The beast glared at her and started to spit fire in her direction. Tokaku avoided the gust of fire easily, still distracting the dragon. Haru used it as an opportunity to discreetly approach it, heading for the eggs. But when she barely touched on, the dragon suddenly turned back. It saw her. It tried to hit her with his wing, but Haru managed to avoid it. But she nearly fell and instinctively grabbed the one thing that was close to her...the dragon's wing.
The creature immediately flapped its wings, Haru still clutched to one of the wings. She was terrified, screaming in fear of falling and hurt herself, or worst, dying.
"Haru!" Tokaku shouted.
The blue haired girl rushed towards the dragon as Haru's hands slipped from the wing, causing her to fall. Tokaku jumped and managed to catch her, before safely landed on the ground. But the dragon was not over with them. It immediately spat a gust of fire in their direction. Tokaku reacted quickly and pull out her wand, casting a protection spell. A magic shield blocked the fire.
"Woah, Aku...Azuma-san saved Haru Potter! She gotta take care of her queen like a true chivalrous hero!" Nio declared.
The crowd clapped and cheered in admiration.
"Namatame, get an egg, now!" Tokaku shouted.
Chitaru immediately reacted and took advantage of the fact the dragon was busy to steal an egg and brought it back to the Gryffindor basket.
"Chitaru Diggory managed to steal a silver egg!"
Tokaku and Haru recoiled from the dragon. But before anyone could do anything else, Mizorogi suddenly spoke.
"Time's out! The task is over! 1 silver egg for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, and 2 eggs for Slytherin! Each egg brings 50 points to their house, which means Slytherin wins with 100 points! Congratulation to the winner!"
The Slytherin supporters immediately cheered enthusiastically upon their victory. Sumireko elegantly waved at them with a soft yet satisfied smile on her face. Isuke looked like she didn't really care, while Otoya went to check on Shiena, who was still lying on the ground.
Haru was a little bit sad to have lost, especially since she didn't get to retrieve any silver eggs for her team. Even though she worked with Tokaku, her plan didn't work. But in the end, it helped Chitaru to get an egg, so perhaps it wasn't that bad. Mizorogi spoke again.
"Students, you have all day to decide which participants of your house you want to elect as your champion, and only the champions will be allowed to participate in the next task. The vote will happen this evening. Choose wisely, since it's on your champion that your victory depends."
Haru signed, currently at the cafeteria, thoughtful.
"Ichinose-san, is there something wrong? You barely touched your food," Suzu commented.
"Ah, it's nothing...I just come to the realization that I won't be able to win Class Black."
She took a bite of her lunch.
"I mean, next task is only for the champions, all the others are eliminated. There's no way I'll be voted as champion, I performed so poorly during the task," Haru explained.
"I guess it's the same for me. I didn't do much during the task either," Suzu replied.
Both of them sighed.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault," Tokaku said as she joined them. "If I had distracted the dragon better, it wouldn't have attacked you."
"No, no need to apologize, it's not your fault. It's my plan that failed, not you. And you saved me, so thank you. And who knows, maybe you'll be the champion. People seemed pretty impressed when you saved me."
"I feel like it would make more sense if it's Namatame the champion. After all, she's the one who stole an egg," Tokaku replied.
"Only because you were distracting the dragon," Haru argued.
"Perhaps the students won't just vote because of the third task. Maybe they'll take into consideration the other tasks. Well even so, I have no chance. I wasn't really good in the first two either. But you Ichinose-san, you won the second task. So perhaps there are still chances for you," Suzu said.
"I doubt it. The students will probably make their choices based on the third task," Haru replied.
"Oh, you seem pretty dynamic. What are you talking about?" Chitaru asked.
She sat next to them, with Hitsugi. Haru smiled a little when she saw both of them together.
"About who's going to be champions. Azuma-san seems to think you have your chances," Suzu replied.
"Me? But I didn't do much," Chitaru replied modestly.
"Nonsense, you retrieved a silver egg," Tokaku said.
"Only because you created a good opportunity for me. You should be champion Azuma."
"No no, you should."
Tokaku and Chitaru continued to argue about who should be the champion, under the amused gaze of Suzu and Hitsugi. Haru smiled softly. She was convinced that either Tokaku or Chitaru will be voted as Gryffindor champion. She kind of wish it will be Tokaku, since the latter said her wish was hers too. This way she may still have a chance to have her wish granted. But she would be fine if Chitaru became champion too. Thinking of that, it made her wonder something.
"Chitaru-san, if you win, what would be your wish?" Haru asked.
"Oh, uh...I don't know. Maybe more strength?"
"Uh? But you're already quite strong," Haru reacted.
"Not strong physically...I mean strong emotionally," Chitaru replied as she quickly glanced at Hitsugi.
It took a few seconds for Haru to understand what it could possibly mean. It seemed to be related to Hitsugi. Which meant...could Chitaru's wish be to be able to fully forgive Hitsugi? It seemed like a plausible possibility, which would fit being stronger emotionally. Even if Haru could sympathize with such a wish, she considered that it was something Chitaru should accomplish by herself.
"Who do you think will be the other champions?" Suzu suddenly asked. "For Ravenclaw, I'm pretty sure it will be Kouko-chan, since it certainly won't be me and Kirigaya-san...no offence."
"None taken, I know I didn't perform well during the task," Hitsugi replied.
"Hufflepuff it's obvious too. Banba did nothing and Kenmochi was knocked out right at the beginning. Sagae will be champion for sure," Tokaku said.
"What about Slytherin? Both three managed to take an egg, Even if Otoya-san lost hers. I think they all have a certain chance to be champion," Haru added.
"I think Inukai has more chances to be voted since she's on the Quidditch team and brought back a silver egg," Chitaru said.
"Uh, I think Hanabusa-san will be the champion. She also managed to steal an egg and she's prefect, she has more popularity," Suzu argued.
"Takechi-san is also quite popular, so perhaps it will be her. She's also on the Quidditch team after all," Hitsugi added.
It seemed that whoever was going to be the Slytherin champion was up to debate, while it seemed pretty obvious for Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. For Gryffindor Haru was only certain of one thing, that it won't be her.
"I wonder what will be the fourth task," Suzu said.
"A battle among the four champions?" Hitsugi proposed.
"Then what will be the fifth task? I heard there was going to be five," Chitaru replied.
"A personal quest for the inner perhaps?" Haru said.
"Or a fight between the two best champions," Suzu added.
"I guess we'll have to wait to see what it is," Hitsugi said.
They continued to eat their lunch while talking about the Class Black event. Haru was happy to be able to chat like that with her friends, and even if she was sure she won't participate any more in the event, she was still curious for what was coming next.
The day ended and every student were summoned in the Great Hall for the vote. Even the Class Black's participants were allowed to vote. Haru decided to vote for Tokaku. Every student went to put their vote in a box, and the last one to go was Sumireko. The latter remained there for a moment, and as she put her paper in the box, Haru noticed that she slightly brushed the box.
Students went to sit at their respective table as Mizorogi began to count the vote, helped by the other Head of House. After a few minutes, they were done.
"Four champions representing each house had been chosen by the majority," Mizorogi began to say. "I'll now announce who the Hufflepuff champion is. My house decided to elect...Sagae Haruki!"
The Hufflepuff table cheered and Haruki rose up with a wide smile, waving at her classmates. Even Mahiru and Shiena where clapping, seemingly okay with their defeat.
"And for the Ravenclaw house, the participant chosen as the champion is...Kaminaga Kouko!" Irena declared with a proud smile.
The Ravenclaw students cheered as Kouko stood up, with a solemn expression on her face. But Haru could see there was a slight smile on her face. Suzu seemed happy about it.
"As for Slytherin, the champion will be...Hanabusa Sumireko!" Kaiba announced.
Sumireko rose up with her usual elegant smile as her classmates cheered on her. Otoya didn't seem to have resentment and clapped too, but Isuke looked quite annoyed by this. Haru deduced that despite how she acted, the pink haired girl probably wanted to win the competition.
"And as for Gryffindor, the champion will be…," Mako began to say.
Haru wondered who it was going to be. Tokaku or Chitaru?
"...Ichinose Haru!"
It took her a moment to realize what happened. She didn't stand up like the rest of the champion, in fact, she nearly fell from her chair.
The Gryffindor table cheered at first, but stopped upon the fact Haru wasn't reacting the way she should be.
"Uh...Ichinose-san, you may stand up now," Mako said, unsure.
Haru finally rose up and her classmates clapped again, but it sounded awkward. Both Tokaku and Chitaru seemed happy about this result. Haru suddenly had a bad feeling and looked around. Haruki gave her a friendly smile while Kouko nodded. As for Sumireko...she seemed to have smirked in a malicious way for a split-second, before being back at smiling politely. Haru wondered if she just had imagined that.
But more importantly, Haru had a question in mind.
How the hell did she end up being the Gryffindor champion?
The four champions are Haru, Kouko, Haruki and Sumireko. What do you think of this, and what do you think will be the next task for those four? Be sure to let me know, I'm always interested in my readers' opinion!