Victor and Cedric did their run at the task after Harry had left, he didn't know how they did, or what tactics they used, but what he did know was that he was alive, safe, and uninjured.

When the scores came back, surprisingly, Fleur wasn't last. That shame fell to Cedric, who blinded the dragon permanently, above Fleur was Victor and above him was Harry, who was the only one to receive a perfect score.

Cedric ended up with 21 points, Fleur with 22, Victor had 31 and Harry ended up with 50.

When Harry got back to the Slytherin common room later that day, he was greeted by a party in his honour. He had people that had never interacted with him before shaking his hand and pulling him into hugs, he even got a kiss from Daphne Greengrass which shocked him and led to gentle ribbing from his friends. As soon as he got a moment where he wasn't being accosted by someone, which went on for nearly an hour, he went to his bedroom, not wanting to be celebrated anymore, especially not after Fleur nearly died.

He sat down to begin some homework when Blaise came over to him and began talking to him.

"That was quite a plan. If you'd have told me you intended to just walk out and talk to the dragon like that, I'd have slapped you."

"Yeah, that or you would have sent some earth at me."

"Ouch Harry, you wound me. I would never use that against my friends. Even friends that I've lied to about elemental abilities, I'm sorry about that by the way. The lies don't end there though, sorry. You see, I'm able to move earth as well as I can for the same reason Fleur can conjure fire, one of my ancestors is a magical creature, in the same way that Fleur is half Veela. The fact that you've managed progress at all without creature blood is unexpected, though during our falling out I did a bit of research on those Echani techniques that you've been using and their origins. Did you know that the Echani were a breed of creature-human Hybrids, and that your familiarity with their techniques may have allowed you to take advantage of their abilities? In this instance you have learned a very mild form of self-propelled flight, though I now know how to help you improve upon it, if you'll let me."

"Blaise mate, I forgave you about two minutes after I saw Fleur being rushed in for medical help. I would love to learn how to control my flight ability."

"Brilliant! You'll have to read this." Blaise said as he pulled out a massive tome that nearly weighed more than Harry, and made a louder thud than he could possibly make on his own.

"Oh… thanks…"

"Don't worry, it's only 150,000 words… per chapter… and it's only the first of four books."

"Oh brilliant," Harry responded, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Now you've got the right mindset, Harry," Blaise joked, causing the two to laugh before Blaise dragged Harry back into the party.

/_-_/

The first task had ended a week ago and Harry was still receiving praise for how effortlessly he had dealt with the threat of a dragon. Even Igor Karkaroff had offered his praise and had thanked Harry for letting Victor know about the dragons.

There was at least one person who didn't wish to offer him any congratulations. When Harry had gone to visit Fleur in the Hospital she was dejected and miserable, and in a lot of pain, as the process of regrowing her legs would take until January at the earliest, due to the complex nature of a dragon attack and the cauterizing effect of its breath.

"Have you come to gloat? To mock me about my being second to last."

"Of course not, contrary to what you believe, I'm not mean or vindictive. I warned you about the dragons and your pride refused the help, maybe now you'll be prepared to accept help in the future."

"Get out of here, you cannot help me," Fleur shouted at Harry, hatred clear on her face.

"Oh really?" Harry closed his eyes and began to glow slightly, before reciting a healing charm in Parseltongue. Its effect was instant and Fleur began to feel relief from the pain, though her legs wouldn't be fully healed that quickly.

"I'll let you get some sleep," Harry said as he left, as Fleur began to change her opinion of the boy a bit.

/_-–—–-_/

"Harry, I couldn't have done as well in the task if it wasn't for your help. I know you didn't have to help me but I appreciate it." Victor shook Harry's hand and left to go workout.

This left Harry walking through the Transfiguration Courtyard, heading to find somewhere quiet to relax, when he was stopped by Cedric.

"Hey Potter, why did you tell Victor and not me?" He sounded hurt by Harry's withholding of information.

"I don't know, Cedric, what reason would I have to do so? Maybe wearing a badge that insults me would do it."

"It's just a bit of harmless fun, Potter, why are you being like this?"

"How can you be a prefect and ask me what's wrong with bullying? That's oxymoronic, or just straight up moronic." Harry walked away, ignoring Cedric's shouts of his name.

"How dare he treat me like that and act as if he's innocent," Harry thought to himself angrily, not expecting to hear Tom reply.

"Why don't you do something about it?" the voice of Tom sounded in his head.

"Leave me alone Tom, I'm really not in the mood for this right now."

"Whatever you say, Harry."

When he found an area behind the Owlery to sit down, it wasn't a particularly nice area, he began to meditate on his Animagus form, which had changed yet again, resembling a snake now, something that he knew he could achieve if it didn't shift again.

/-_-_-/

Hermione was scared. She didn't want to keep writing and researching over and over again anymore. She wanted to talk with someone about what was happening to her. She didn't however, she simply couldn't.