Chapter 34

November twenty-fourth was a gloomy day. Sometime under the cover of darkness stormy clouds filled the sky, obscuring the sun from view. A bitter cold northern wind swept over the castle grounds adding to the layers of frost on the browned sloping lawn. Only the pine trees in the Forbidden Forest were green. Every other plant appeared dead. But he knew that despite their appearance that they were merely dormant until spring's warmth awakened them. The yoko would've joined them were it not for the designs of others and his own love for his ningen mother.

"Shuichi, are you okay?" He jerked out of his thoughts, as dismal as the grey sky above, and turned to see Ginny giving him a concerned look.

"I'm fine." he replied with a smile he didn't quite feel. Ginny nodded before going back to her conversation with Luna. Next to them Ron and Hermione seemed to be having another row about something with a rather nervous Neville caught in the middle of it once more. Fred and George prowled the crowded stands taking bets from others and from the grins on their faces they were going to make a killing. The gigantic colorful tent snapped and shuddered around them as the wind battered it. Amazingly it remained standing. Down below in the earthen arena witches and wizards scurried about with the final preparations for the First Task. Nervousness, anticipation, excitement all charged the air warring in his sensitive nose like opposing factions out for blood. It made him a little lightheaded. Dumbledore along with the Heads of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons in their best robes walked out into the arena a little too confidently, sending a few stragglers hurrying out of sight. The buzzing crowd hushed.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore boomed. "Today our three Champions will be attempting to collect a golden egg that contains a clue to the next task from one of the most dangerous creatures in the world!"

As if on cue a team of wizards lead out a relatively small copper dragon. A collective gasp went up as it thrashed against the thick metal chain around its neck spewing out fire and trying to bite the handlers as they hurried to secure it to the stake in the center of the arena. One wizard quickly placed a clutch of mottled eggs nearby with a polished golden one hidden in the middle.

"Don't worry." Dumbledore continued. "As you can see we have enlisted the help of a team of professional dragon keepers to help the Champions should they need it. Our very own Madame Pomfrey is standing by to tend to any injuries." Students looked at each other nervously. "The Champions shall be judged by myself, Headmaster Karkaroff, and Madame Maxine. Points will be distributed based on technique, skill, and difficulty. Now first up from Beauxbatons, the lovely Miss Fleur Delacour versus the deadly Peruvian Vipertooth!"

The three judges retreated to a large oaken table set up safely to the side. Fleur walked out in shimmering baby blue robes with her head held high. Shuichi saw more than a few males drooling around him. Students from Beauxbatons cheered wholeheartedly. Slowly, Fleur turned towards the dragon and…

…began singing?

It was soft and melodious like a lullaby. Everyone in the stands sat there, transfixed. The dragon's eyes began to droop and its body swayed to the beat. Tears came to a few eyes out of joy at the beautiful sound. For the longest moment no one appeared to breath. Then the dragon dropped to the ground with a rumbling sigh and fell asleep. No one dared to move. Carefully yet gracefully Fleur walked around the sleeping dragon to its nest.

Suddenly the dragon let out a loud snore as a jet of flame escaped through one of its nostrils. The hem of Fleur's shimmering robe caught fire. Acting quickly she pulled out her wand. With a word water poured out of the tip, dousing the flames into oblivion. Everyone sighed as she collected the golden egg and beat a hasty retreat. Loud applause broke out among the stands waking the dragon. The dragon keepers came out of hiding to lead the cranky beast away. Dumbledore stood up from his place at the judge's table.

"Well done Miss Delacour!" he cheered. Raising his wand he sent a silky ribbon into the air snaking into a number six. Karkaroff followed suit with a four. Madame Maxine gave her an eight. Fleur bowed amongst more cheers and left the arena proudly if a little singed.

The dragon keepers emerged with the giant metallic grey dragon lumbering along attempting to crush one of the keepers. Large wings fluttered in irritation sending a great blast of air buttering a section of the stands. Once in place the keepers had to dodge flailing limbs to safety as one unlucky soul set its clutch of eggs nearby.

"Next, we have Mr. Victor Krum of Durmstrang against the gargantuan Ukrainian Ironbelly!"

Victor strode stoically into the arena in blood-red robes in a hail of cheers. He lifted a fist into the air eliciting even more joyous cries. Females swooned. Males sat on edge, eager to see how their Champion would deal against the scaled beast. Both Ron and Neville looked nervous. Victor raised his wand at the dragon causing the spectators to quiet down. The dragon turned to Victor as if daring him to attack.

A beam of colored light shot forth from the wand hitting the dragon right into one of its eyes. It gave a pained roar that rattled teeth, twisting and writhing like a snake. Legs easily the size of tree trunks stomped the ground. Suddenly it fell over, on top of the eggs. Just about everyone moaned. With another jerk of its body the dragon rolled off them. Only the golden egg was intact. Quickly and perhaps with a little embarrassment Victor scooped up the golden egg and retreated leaving the dragon keepers to somehow calm down and remove the incensed creature.

"Nicely done." Headmaster Dumbledore praised. "But I'm afraid that the destruction of the eggs is going to cost you." He raised his wand and a number seven slithered out. Madame Maxine gave him a five while Karkaroff gave him a nine. Victor stalked off, unmoved by the applause.

This time a larger group of dragon keepers came out wrestling with a fairly good sized black dragon that had wicked bronze spikes protruding around its head and tail. It yowled and screeched, pulling against its chain. The dragon keepers dug in their heels nearly getting blasted by fifty foot flames. Somehow they managed to stake it in place and set its nest nearby without getting killed.

"Finally, we have Mr. Cedric Diggory Of Hogwarts with the ferocious Hungarian Horntail!" Cheers went out as Cedric walked into sight wearing the house colors of Hufflepuff. He gave a friendly wave before turning his attention to the dragon that was watching him suspiciously.

Without fanfare Cedric transfigured a plain rock on the ground into a somewhat hyperactive golden retriever. It barked and jumped causing the dragon to focus on it. Then Cedric and the dog sprinted in opposite directions. The dragon hesitated for a moment before going after the dog. Everyone cheered Cedric on as he neared the eggs. Suddenly the dragon changed direction and turned on Cedric. He'd just grabbed hold of the golden egg when the flames descended on him. Gasps and screams erupted. The dragon keepers rushed out to drag the furious dragon away while others rushed to Cedric's side. Once the flames were extinguished they hauled the Champion away for immediate medical attention. It took a minute for Dumbledore to calm everyone down.

"Mr. Diggory will be fine." he assured them. "He performed admirably." A seven twisted out of his wand. Both Karkaroff and Madame Maxine gave him a four. "That puts Victor Krum in the lead."

Dumbledore rambled on but Kurama wasn't paying him much attention. It felt like he could finally breath. He wondered if the Headmaster knew how lucky he was.

xXx

"You're kidding! Those ningens bypassed those things and lived?" Hiei looked at Kurama disbelievingly. The yoko nodded sluggishly, emotionally drained from the barely controlled mayhem of the First Task.

"I knew this tournament would be dangerous but this almost puts it on the same level as the Dark Tournament." Kurama said from his reclined position against a naked oak. Hiei sat cross-legged in front of him in the small clearing in the Forbidden Forest staring at him as though he sprouted another head. He snorted.

"The only thing missing are the lesser yokai, greedy crime lords, and piles of rotting corpses." Kurama gave the jaganshi a tired look.

"That is one visual I could do without at the moment." Hiei gave him a questioning look.

"Why do you care about these people so much?" he asked.

"It's hard to explain." Kurama replied with a sigh. "When you spend so much time around people you're bound to develop a bond with them no matter how small."

"Couldn't you just not like them?" Hiei gave him an annoyed look. It was no secret that the jaganshi didn't think much of ningens. Kurama was very much the same way before he became Shiori's son. They were weak, fragile, but still fought amongst themselves in such a way that left most yokai scratching their heads. Much of their behavior was puzzling. Ningens may say one thing yet do another. Even after spending so much time among them Kurama still didn't understand how they worked part of the time.

"Like I haven't tried? Things just don't work that way Hiei. Surely you know that…"

They lapsed into an uneasy silence. Hiei stared at Kurama with an unnerving look. The yoko avoided his eyes by taking an interest in a tree root protruding from the icy soil.

"Something's bothering you." Hiei stated matter-of-factly. "And it not the tournament." Kurama was quiet for a moment.

"It's just a bad feeling is all." he admitted. Ruby red eyes narrowed.

"About what?" Hiei pressed on. Kurama sighed.

"I don't know."

xXx

Omake

Fred and George sat in silence in the Great Hall. Fleur and Victor were swamped with fans and admirers while Cedric's entourage had to visit him in the Hospital Wing. At first it was rather civil. Pats on the back, congratulations, and a few compliments here and there.

But then the Butterbeer began flowing.

Butterbeer was a sweet drink that could either be served hot or cold and had a slight alcohol content. It may not faze a hardened drinker but for pubescent teens and creatures who couldn't process the alcohol very well it was plenty enough to cloud their judgment.

Before the teachers' knew what was happening, more than half of the student body was competing for the adoration of their Champions. Boys and girls alike showed off, flirted, or simply threw themselves at the Champions. A few fights broke out among rivals sending the teachers racing to contain the inferno before it spread to engulf the entire school.

It was a sight that the Weasley twins saw fairly often having started quite a few impromptu parties in Gryffindor Tower. But it wasn't the near riot breaking out before their eyes that got their attention. It was the fact that Ron was practically hanging off Victor Krum's neck that had them staring. Ron was as red as his hair giggling madly like so many other girls but the Champion of Durmstrang stood there as if nothing was happening. Fred and George shared a look.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking Fred?" George asked his twin with a devilish smirk spreading across his freckled face.

"Blackmail?" Fred asked, returning the smirk.

"Exactly."

Translations:

Yoko- demon fox

Jaganshi- one who possesses a jagan or third eye that enhances mental powers.

Yokai- demon

Ningen- human

AN: Yes I know I used different dragons that in the books but they sounded cooler. Anyway, sorry for the late update. Hopefully the next one will go faster. Review!