As the four Slytherins arrived to the quidditch pitch, they were stopped by Professor Flitwick.
The small professor smiled at Harry and informed.
"Mister Potter, I'm here to inform you that all the champions are expected in the champions tent" He turned around and pointed at a small tent adjacent to the stadium. "You'll receive all the information regarding the task there."
"Thank you, professor" answered Harry, smiling back at his charm's teacher.
"The rest of your friends will have to go to the stands, as only champions and judges are allowed inside." Having completed his job, Flitwick was prepared to leave them when he blurted out "Oh and good luck to you Mister Potter. I'm sure the entire school is cheering for you."
"I wouldn't be so sure professor," the memories of the death stares he constantly got from Hufflepuffs very present in his mind "but I appreciate the sentiment. Thank you."
Turning to his friends with a grim look on his face, Harry joked.
"This might be the last time you guys see me before I turn into a human barbecue. Thank you for these three amazing years." He smiled, but you could see his anxiety was going through the roof.
"Don't you even dare joke with something like that." Said Tracey, giving him a tight hug. "Tonight, we will celebrate your victory over a dragon."
Blaise was next, saying goodbye with a simple "Good luck, mate". Despite the few words, the look exchanged between both boys meant a lot to Harry. He was lucky to have found Blaise, he knew he could count on him for everything.
"I will be very angry if you die out there to the dragon and I don't get the chance to kill you later." She said, with a tear threatening to escape her eyes, as she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I'll do my best, can't wait to be killed by you Daphne!"
They parted ways, with Harry going to the champions tent and his friends to the stands, to support him.
He was the last one to arrive to the tent, his goodbyes to his friends taking some time.
Harry looked around, seeing the other three competitors not holding up much better than him. Cedric presented a greenish look, appearing to have parted ways with his breakfast not long ago. Krum was, as usual, brooding in a corner, but even his closed expression couldn't hide his nerves, his feet tapping the floor in a frantic way. Fleur looked the worst, her radiating beauty shadowed by an apparent lack of sleep and a nervous almost crazy look in her eyes. He gave her a brief smile she was barely able to return.
"Harry! Good-o!" said Bagman happily, looking around at him. "Come in, come in, make yourself at home!"
Bagman looked somehow like a slightly overblown cartoon figure, standing amid all the pale-faced champions. He was wearing his old Wasp robes.
"Well, now we're all here - time to fill you in!" said Bagman brightly. "When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag" - he held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them - "from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different - er - varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too...ah, yes...your task is to collect the golden egg!"
Harry glanced around. Cedric had nodded once, to show that he understood Bagman's words, and then started pacing around the tent again. Fleur Delacour and Krum hadn't reacted at all. Perhaps they thought they might be sick if they opened their mouths; that was certainly how Harry felt. But they, at least, had volunteered for this...
And in no time at all, hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet could be heard passing the tent, their owners talking excitedly, laughing, joking... Harry felt as separate from the crowd as though they were a different species. And then - it seemed like about a second later to Harry - Bagman was opening the neck of the purple silk sack.
"Ladies first," he said, offering it to Fleur Delacour.
She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon - a Welsh Green. It had the number three around its neck.
He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had a number two around its neck. He didn't even blink, just sat back down and stared at the ground.
Cedric put his hand into the bag, and out came the blueish-gray Swedish Short-Snout, the number one tied around its neck. Knowing he would be fourth, Harry put his hand into the silk bag and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail with the number four. It stretched its wings as he looked down at it and bared its minuscule fangs.
"Well, there you are!" said Bagman. "You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I'm going to have to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr. Diggory, you're first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right? Now...Harry...could I have a quick word? Outside?"
"Er...yes," said Harry blankly, and he got up and went out of the tent with Bagman, who walked him a short distance away, into the trees, and then turned to him with a fatherly expression on his face.
"Feeling all right, Harry? Anything I can get you?"
"What?" said Harry. "I - no, nothing."
"Got a plan?" said Bagman, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Because I don't mind sharing a few pointers, if you'd like them, you know. I mean," Bagman continued, lowering his voice still further, "you're the underdog here, Harry...Anything I can do to help..."
"No," said Harry so quickly he knew he had sounded rude, "no - I - I know what I'm going to do, thanks."
"Nobody would know, Harry," said Bagman, winking at him.
"No, I'm fine," said Harry, wondering why he kept telling people this, and wondering whether he had ever been less fine. "I've got a plan worked out, I -"
A whistle had blown somewhere.
"Good lord, I've got to run!" said Bagman in alarm, and he hurried off.
Harry walked back to the tent and saw Cedric emerging from it, greener than ever. Harry tried to wish him luck as he walked past, but all that came out of his mouth was a sort of hoarse grunt.
He returned to the tent finding that the scenario hadn't changed a bit while he was gone.
He sat on one the couches provided, with Fleur moving closer to him. They shared a look filled with concern, with Harry then remembering the kiss Fleur had given him the last time they had seen each other and blushed a little.
Daphne was seated between Blaise and Tracey when Cedric entered the arena. The Swedish Short-Snout sat calmly in the middle of the arena, right in front of a dozen eggs. One of the eggs, the one on top, was of a golden color.
Cedric paled even more when he saw the actual dragon. The dragon was around twenty-five feet of pure muscle.
Cedric immediately tried the most obvious solution "Accio golden egg". Nothing happened.
"It was a good try" Commented Blaise. "Imagine they had forgot to put an anti-summoning charm on the egg. That would be hilarious."
Daphne found none of it hilarious. Cedric was taking a serious risk facing the dragon.
The Hufflepuff then opted to transfigure a couple of dogs and set them to run around the arena trying to see if the dragon would chase them. The dogs run just a few yards when a jet on very intense flames hit them, leaving just a piece of burned floor as proof they ever existed.
Cedric looked quite lost about what to do next, deciding to start shooting what seemed random curses at Swedish Short-Snout. They had no effect on the dragon except making him turn to the boy and shot another burst of flames. Cedric dodged them in time, but the situation didn't look good for the Hufflepuff.
Daphne was starting to feel fearful of the older boy's life.
Cedric shoot a couple of really overpowered stunner at the dragon a make a run for a closer rock.
The red beams hit inoffensively the skin of the dragon, and another jet of flames was sent his Cedric's direction. Covered behind a rock, he was able to dodge most of the effects of the flames, but the feeling of intense heat made him cough a lot.
Feeling desperate, he once again transfigured some of the rocks, this time into several eagles, who immediately launched into an attack at the dragon.
Taking the distraction, Cedric decided to make a run for the egg.
Daphne watched in horror as Cedric approached the eggs. At the same time, almost in slow-motion, as the Swedish Short-Snout make quick work of the eagles and turned to the Hufflepuff who was now in open view of the dragon.
The dragon opened his mouth at the same time Daphne hid her head in Tracey's shoulder. Close to where she was sitting, a very disturbed Cho Chang emitted a scream that was heard all around the stadium. On the other side of the stadium, Dumbledore was up, pointing his wand at his student.
In the next moment, the flames hit the Hogwarts champion dead on.
Harry, Fleur and Victor Krum all changed looks when they heard the scream.
Neither of them was allowed to watch Cedric's go at the dragon, so they wouldn't cheat.
The tension in the room palpably increased and Krum, knowing he was the next on the line, clenched his fists so hard that small lines of blood was visible coming out of his hands.
They all waited in silence for around twenty more minutes.
Then the sound of the canon signaling Krum's turn to go into the arena was heard loudly.
Taking a very deep breath, he slowly left the tent leaving Fleur and Harry alone.
The moment he left, Fleur started crying. Harry moved closer, sitting on the same sofa as her, trying to comfort her.
"We are going to die out there, aren't we?"
"Of course not Fleur, Cedric probably just got injured or something. I'm sure he's fine and we will be too. And you're a Vella, you're fire resistant, right?"
"A little" she answered, "But not to a point I could withstand dragon fire."
"Fleur look at me" At this point Harry realized that the important was not to console the crying girl, but to motivate her to do her best. The intensity of her look on his eyes was burning, and for a moment their entire world was just the two of them. "You are going to defeat this dragon. You are a very powerful witch, you have seven years of training, and you prepared for this. We knew it was dragons, we prepared. You have to trust whatever strategy you decided to go with."
"But what if I never see my parents again? What would my sister do without me? What about poor Luna? What happens to all of them if I die out there? Why did I enter this stupid tournament?"
Harry couldn't stop himself from smiling. The first thing that made him smile was seeing that Fleur did have a softer side, a vulnerable one, and that she actually cared about people. She would be facing death in a few minutes and her worries were her parents, sister, and a girl she had met a few days ago. That told a lot about her priorities. The people Fleur loved were way above her own life. That was a very different side of what most people got to see, the arrogant beautiful Veela. Harry felt honored to get to see this side of her. The other thing that made him smile was the fact she had finally agreed with him. This tournament was indeed stupid.
"Fleur, they will be just fine. You know why? Because you are going to survive this. You will be going out there, get the egg and get out unscathed. I want you to promise that to me, okay? I've always been told promises are to keep, so you will have to do it. Understood?
"Yes, you're right. I have to do this for them. I put myself in this situation, now I have to get out. And yes, I promise you, Harry. I'll do it." And then, without even a warning sign, Fleur leaned in and gave him a very small kiss on his lips.
The canon sounded again, and it was Fleur's time. She gave him a weak smile and made her way out of the tent.
As Fleur left the tent, Harry stood completely still right where she had left him. His body was on fire. His mouth was burning so hot he felt he was already under the fire of the dragon. His hand slowly touched his lips, feeling the exact place they had connected. He didn't know what to feel or what to do. It had been his first kiss, one he had thought about doing with Daphne.
'Daphne!' he thought 'What will she say to all of this?'
With the reassurance he was going to die either way, either by the fire of the dragon or at the hands of the Slytherin girl, Harry resigned himself to the task ahead.
Once he heard the canon again, he stepped out to face whatever fate had reserved for him.
Fleur stepped outside of the champions tent to a very silent crowd. No cheering, no friendly banter, nothing. Just stunned silence. The Welsh green was a small dragon comparing to some others, but was still massive to fleur, measuring at about fifteen feat. The dragon was curled up around the eggs.
Fleur, remembering Harry's words, followed the plan she had come up with Madam Maxime.
She fully released her allure, powering it up with some of her magic. The effect was immediate. Men and boys all around the stands were completely enticed by her, some even trying to jump into arena.
Feathers started showing up around her neck and arms, but Fleur hid her embarrassment, fueling more and more magic into her allure.
The dragon, feeling the effects of a familiar presence, the affinity to the warmth and fire, started to relax, and a few minutes later, with the constant exposure to the intense allure, started to fall asleep. Fleur waited a few more minutes to be sure, not wanting to wake up the dragon when she would be so close to him. Still fueling her allure, and feeling her magic beginning to feel frailer, she reached her now or never moment.
Slowly she walked to the eggs, grabbed the golden one, and slowly made her way to the exit. She safely arrived there, no injuries at all, just with her jacket a little burnt, due to a small flame that left the dragon's nose when he was sleeping.
She was radiant and with an enormous feeling of accomplishment when she was sent to the med bay, as it was procedure for all the champions. She found a brooding Krum, who seemed to have a small limp on one of his legs, but nothing worse. She found no signal of Cedric, and that brought all her fears back, Harry still had to do his run, and his dragon was the worst of all.
Once she got cleared by the Hogwarts med witch, a lady who presented herself as Madam Pomfrey, Fleur ran towards the arena's exit to try and see how Harry was doing.
When she arrived and was able to see what was happening, she was stunned. The display of power and brilliance were both incredible. With the show Harry was putting on, he was presenting himself as a real contestant to win the tournament. Damn, if this was the extent of his power, Fleur thought this would put him at least in the same level as she and the others.
Harry stepped onto the arena knowing this could be the last few minutes of his life in case his plan didn't work. It was risky, be he felt confidence in his capabilities and his family's gift.
He saw the dragon. The black Hungarian Horntail was just like the miniature dragon he had taken from Bagman's bag, but this one measured more than thirty feet. His tail was just like the name indicated, filled with horns, with the bigger being almost the size of Harry. One hit from that tail and Harry would be done for.
He remembered the lessons he had with Salazar. The focus of magic was intent, and Harry focused his. Closing his eyes, he focused all his intent in what he was trying to create. Slowly, the ground between him and the dragon started to shake. Gasps from the audience started to be heard, as people started to understand what Harry was doing. Fear and amazement ran through the crowd, some people taking a closer look and others trying to run out of there.
The dragon looked at him, mixed with curiosity and a hint of fear, as he felt the amount of magic right in front of him.
Studently the ground started shaking, and Harry opened his eyes and satisfied contemplated his creation.
A forty feet Basilisk stood right in front of him, taking a defensive stance in front of his creator.
The Hungarian Horntail was now fearful and started to release jets of fire in the direction of the giant snake, but the Basilisk shook them off as if they were nothing. He slithered away from Harry, obeying his commands, with the dragon following behind him. The Hungarian Horntail now saw the Basilisk as the biggest threat to him and his children, so he forgot about Harry.
Feeling the drain of the magic he had used and knowing he couldn't keep it forever, Harry ran towards the eggs as the Basilisk and the Hungarian Horntail got involved in a brutal fight, the snake biting the dragon multiple times and the dragon hitting the snake multiple times with his horned tail, both sustained serious injuries but kept fighting. The dragon desperate to protect his children and the Basilisk obeying to his creator.
Harry quickly grabbed the golden egg and ran toward the exit, feeling his energy rapidly disappearing as the Basilisk demanded more and more magic to stay alive against the dragon.
Dark spots appeared around his vision, and Harry knew he couldn't take it any longer. He dispelled the Basilisk, seeing the dragon immediately going back to the eggs. He felt how close he was and made a desperate push, running the last few yard and collapsing as soon as he felt himself cross the protective wards around the arena.
Daphne was terrified. She had seen Harry's performance with a mix of amazement and fear. She saw how he transfigured the ground in from of him into a Basilisk, and the fear that followed. People fled the stands at a great number, but she felt herself incapable of even moving one inch. Tracey and Blaise stood by her side, the trio watching as dragon and Basilisk fought the most intense battle any of them had ever seen. Then they saw Harry running to the egg, grabbing it, and running towards the exit. They watched, in horror, as the Basilisk disappeared and the dragon going after Harry. When Harry collapse just behind the protective wards the trio panicked and made their way to the med bay.
When they arrived, they found two aurors protecting the entrance.
"Anyone but the judges, the champions and Amelia Bones has the right to enter this space until new orders arrive" was what the younger auror, a girl in her mid-twenties with pink hair, told them.
"Our friend is inside, we saw him collapsing on the floor. We just want to know if he's alright, please!"
"I'm sorry" The younger auror said, feeling for the desperate teenagers in front of her "But there's nothing I can do until I'm told otherwise."
Tracey was so worried she decided to try and make a run for it, but the senior auror, a tall dark-skinned man quickly grabbed her and pointed his wand to her head.
"Do you want to spend a few months in jail girl?" He said in a very calm tone, but the impending threat very noticeable in his words. When Tracey shook her head, he said "Thought so. I'm sorry for your situation, truly, but this are orders from the head of the DMLE, and I won't break them even for the minister himself, imagine for a few kids. You can stay there and wait, but you will not be entering this room."
The man had a deep soothing voice, but the feeling of danger came with every word. The Slytherin trio decided to wait, and a few minutes later Fleur Delacour came out of the room.
'Why does it have to be her?' thought Daphne, but she was able to swallow her pride and ask the girl if she knew anything about Harry's condition.
Fleur smiled and replied "He's fine. He exhausted all his magic with the transfiguration of the Basilisk and whet into a state of coma provoked by magical exhaustion. A few days of recovery and he will be fine."
The relief those words brought to the Slytherin students was visible, with Daphne managing a "Thank you" before grabbing Tracey and starting to cry of relief for his housemate.
They later got the information that Harry had already been transferred to the Hogwarts Hospital Wing and he would only be allowed visitors in the next day. Seeing no point in standing there, the Slytherins made their way to the castle, exhausted after a very emotional day.
"So, isn't it incredible that Harry is winning?" Said Theo Nott, as he joined their table at dinner
"What do you mean?" Asked Blaise, confused.
"Haven't you guys heard? The Judges announced the scores minutes after Harry finish his run."
"No, we had other concerns in mind" explained Tracey "but how is the score?"
"Well, they gave Cedric 10 points, but I think it was more out of mercy, as he didn't complete the task and needed Dumbledore's intervention not to die. Krum got thirty-eight points, because the dragon smashed some of the eggs when he got blinded. Fleur got thirty-eight as well, even though she had the cleanest run, she used her allure, and advantage over the others, so they took some points for that."
"Well, what about Harry?" Asked Tracey, exited for her friend.
"Well, Harry got forty-one. The magic he employed was incredible, even Dumbledore was impressed, but Karkaroff took a lot of points with the excuse he endangered the crowd with the Basilisk."
"That's so unfair, no one in the crowd got hurt due to the Basilisk, only some people trying to run away got some minor injuries."
"Well, that and one of the idiots from the visitors stand, who decided to try and disapparate inside the school, and he spent a few minutes bouncing off wards. But that was his own fault I guess."
"So, Harry is winning, who saw that one coming?"
AN: So, this one closes the first part of this story, the road leading to the first task. Harry gave away the dimension of his power, and the romance with Fleur is gaining ground, as they share a lot of the same situations. But to the Daphne fans, don't worry, she's not done.
I know I promised this chapter Sunday, but I have a very important and difficult week ahead of me, just as my Beta. I probably won't be uploading more this week, but the regular (mostly daily) uploads will return next weekend. Stay tuned.
Thanks to my Beta Noam for his important feedback.
Thank you for all the reviews, follows and Kudos. I really appreciate it.