Under the Deck

by Louis IX

There are many ways to predict someone's death, as Harry knows quite well from his experience in the Divination classroom. Meeting a taromancer should not be that high on his wish list, then. But life has a way to force your hand. And death, too.

21. The Sun

UNDER THE DECK, by Louis IX

Check first chapter for disclaimers and warnings.

XIX – The Sun

The sun is a star, a burning ball of hydrogen floating in the void of space, around which flies a ball of lava whose exterior is cold enough to have solidified and formed earth and oceans. And life happened, creating trees and animals, and humans.

Or, you know, it might be that the sun is a light bulb on the ceiling, and the earth is flat and sits atop four elephants, the whole thing created by the snapping of fingers from an all-powerful entity. Since the metaphysics escape our reality, we can only imagine, but we can never confirm.

Still, the sun is bright, and its light and warmth is good for the earth. For some creatures more than others.

Those made of light or fire are particularly invigorated, while those of darkness and cold and water are at a disadvantage. Fleur Delacour excelled in her First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. The dragons too.

Harry was a creature of air. He lived to be on a broom, and he had decided to put his skill on the test. He hadn't thought that the Ministry would make a blunder so mindboggling that he'd be forced to play chase over the whole grounds.

And he hadn't thought that some people were definitely cretins. Malfoy, for instance. The stupid inbred blond boy had brought a mirror (to discuss with other people, because mirrors were the current hype among Hogwarts students, wouldn't you know?) and amused himself turning it this ways and that. He had already reflected the sun in the eyes of Fleur's dragon, almost awakening him from its slumber. He couldn't have done so with Krum's, because the dragon was already blinded. He had done so with Cedric's dragon, though, making him change his course and burn the Hufflepuff – making him laugh.

And now, with Harry on a broom course heading back to the pitch, he amused himself with reflecting the light… in Harry's eyes.

Temporarily blinded, the Champion slowed. And the dragon swallowed him whole, broom and all. And crashed into the stands afterwards, killing the Slytherins immediately. The others tried to escape the domino effect of the wooden structures falling one after the other… with various results.

But since Harry's already dead, we won't go there.

To be continued in next chapter: Judgement

Author's Notes: Think twice before blinding the thing heading your way.