Chapter 11

The first task was in the afternoon on November 24th. and of the champions only Rose seemed to have an appetite.

Ron chuckled and said "good to see the coming task hasn't thrown your appetite off."

Rose smiled at him and said "if it is going to be my last meal I am going to enjoy it. Not like the rest of these nervous Nellie's. Come on Harry eat something you are going to need your strength."

Harry shook his head and said "I'm not hungry."

Rose frowned and hugged him and said "Look just clear your mind and focus on what you are going to do. Don't think about anything else. Not the crowd or the dragon just what you have to do to get passed it. Block everything else out and you will be fine."

Rose turned to Fred and George "When Harry beats all of us I expect both of you to make sure there is plenty of food and drinks for Harry up in the common room when you all celebrate his victory. He can't seem to eat right now but I am sure he will be starving once it is over. If you don't I will give you both donkey ears."

George said "You can count on us Rose we won't let Harry starve. But you might win not Harry."

Rose chuckled and asked "Me? What makes you think I am going to win? It isn't like seeing the future is going to help me any to actually get past my dragon. I can't confuse and amaze a dragon like I do people by telling it what is going to happen to it. All they care about is things like food, territory, danger, mates and babies. You know animal like things."

Fred said "you better do well we are betting on both you and Harry."

Rose asked "what are you betting with I thought you lost everything when Bagman wouldn't pay you."

George said "we had a little left and we are still working on getting what he owes us."

Rose said "We'll if I were the gambling type I would bet on Harry. But then he is my twin and betting on ones self is conceeded and besides I am not the gambling type."

Fred said "Yeah but we are and we expect to make it big today. So go out there and win."

Rose said "we will just do our best not to die."

Harry looked at her worried and Rose shook her head and said "I was just joking we are all going to be just fine."

Harry asked "are you sure?"

Rose said "yes a few of us will get some minor injuries but nothing sever just a few cuts and burns nothing Madam Pomfrey can't fix. After all Harry Dumbledore and the others aren't going to let anyone get really hurt or killed. There will be people there to control the dragon if the need arises. You remember they said there are safety measure put in place this time it wasn't just the age limit. I am sure there are other things too. It is dangerous but I am sure everyone is going to be just fine. Oh looks like it's time here comes Madam Maxime and Professor McGonagall. Last chance to eat something Harry."

Maxime went to Fleur then Rose and they left with her but Harry left with McGonagall at the same time so Rose took his hand and walked with him.

Fleur said "You do know you are a Beauxbatons student not a Hogwarts student? You are not acting much like it."

Rose said "I was Harry's sister long before I was a student at either school. He is my twin brother and family comes before any school allegiance. Of course that isn't going to stop me from trying to beat you Harry. And we are both going to wipe the floor with everyone else. We are Potter's and no one is better then we are no matter how much older, more experienced or better looking they are to us. In the end it is what you are made of that counts and we are the best. It doesn't matter what school I am going to. I am and always will be a Dovewing and a Potter. No matter what the future holds that will always be true."

Harry smiled and put his arm around Rose and said "My brave little sister even Dragons don't scare you."

Rose smiled and said "no they don't Harry after all Dragons are not that much different then Snakes."

She winked at him and he laughed and said "you are not going to do what I think you are going to do."

Rose spoke parsel tongue to him saying "I told you I have a gift with languages. Parsel tongue is a more modern version of Dragon language. I have been working on it and I am pretty sure I have it down now. I am simply going to explain to the dragon what I need to do and hope it cooperates."

Harry asked in English "and what if it doesn't?"

Rose said "then I run as fast as I can out of there."

Harry shook his head and said "I hope it works."

Rose said "me too. We are here at the tent just remember what I said concentrate on what you have to do and block out everything else. I will not lose you to a Dragon."

Harry said "I am more worried about you. At least I am actively going to be doing something."

Rose said "never underestimate the power of the mind Harry. I have never been in a situation I haven't been able to talk myself out of I am sure this will be no different."

McGonagall asked "Miss Potter am I to understand that you plan on reasoning with the dragon. They are not intelligent beings it will not understand you."

Rose said "It will be a bit more then that but yes that is the general idea and in the words of a trusted and wise wizard dragons are vastly misunderstood creatures. It is possible that we believe they are unintelligent and untrainable simply because we do not know how to communicate with them. I plan on changing that today. At least at the most basic of levels."

Maxime said "Mademoiselle Potter I advise against it."

Rose said "I know I expect everyone will. But I think I will be able to do it. and believing in one self is the key to success in everything. Well we are here. Hopefully we will see both of you again soon and unharmed."

Harry, Rose and Fleur went into the tent Victor and Cedric were already there pacing back and forth looking serious and worried.

Crouch, Bagman, Skeeter and her photographer came in and Harry groaned. Skeeters last interview had been a nightmare she had left Cedric out completely and only mentioned Fleur and Victors names had written a bit about Rose and Harry was the main focus but nearly the entire thing was false.

But this time after getting a couple pictures the two of them left then Bagman left too leaving Crouch he presented a squirming bag.

Crouch said "in this bag is a model of what you will face and in what order. You each will put your hand in and take one model. Miss Delacour if you would please go first."

Fleur tentatively put her hand in the bag and pulled out a model of a welsh green with the number 2. Rose went next and pulled out a Romanian Longhorn with the number 5.

Rose said "just great I have to wait until last."

Harry said "better then going first."

Cedric went next and got the Swedish short snout with the number 1. Then Victor pulled out the Chinese Fireball and the number 3. Then it was Harry's turn he of course got number 4 and the Hungarian Horntail.

Crouch said "now that you know what you are facing and in what order each dragon has a clutch of eggs within the clutch is a golden egg. You goal is to get the golden egg and get out of the area with it. Those that do this in the quickest time without suffering injury will get the highest points once everyone is done your points will be awarded. Mr. Diggory you can go on the whistle. Good luck to you all."

Crouch left and a few minutes later the whistle blew and Cedric went out to face his dragon.

Bagman was keeping commentary on how each person was doing.

Cedric had transfigured a boulder into a dog to distract the dragon it worked for a bit and he was able to get his golden egg but was badly burned when the dragon lost interest in the dog and toasted Cedric's face as he was leaving the area.

Fleur used a sleeping spell she too was able to get her egg but the dragon snorted in it's sleep setting her skirt on fire and burning one of her legs slightly.

Victor used the conjunctivitis curse blinding the dragon he was able to get the golden egg but the dragon stumbled around so much it crushed half of it's own eggs.

Then it was Harry's turn he summoned his broom and taunted his dragon to take flight then swooped in and got his egg but his shoulder was injured in the process.

Finally it was Rose's turn she calmly walked out to where the dragon was her wand in hand but at her side. She then met the dragon's eyes and opened her mouth growling and grunting in a strange language. No one really knew how to react and Bagman was speechless but the dragon simply laid down peacefully and let Rose approach the eggs remove the golden egg and leave the area without a fuss.

The crowd burst into applause as she exited the arena smiling smugly but never losing eyesight from the dragon.

Charlie Weasley ran up to her and asked "how did you do that. It was amazing I have never seen a dragon act like that."

Rose said "I asked her for the golden egg."

Charlie wasn't unbelieving "You asked a dragon for the egg and she just let you take it?"

Rose said "I asked very nicely."

Charlie laughed and said "you are amazing."

Rose said "if I only grew scales and wings you might notice that more often. You only pay attention to Dragons."

Charlie chuckled and said "I guess that is true. Wait until I tell mum about you and Harry I have never seen anyone fly like that."

Rose said "he wasn't the youngest seeker in a century for nothing. I hear you aren't half bad on a broom yourself and I am passably alright maybe if you come by this summer we could fly together."

Charlie asked "Are you asking me out on a date Rose?"

Rose giggled and said "take it how ever you like it but I am loyal to the man I love and you are loyal to your dragons. Speaking of you should probably go help rangle them up. It is the reason you are here."

Charlie asked "are you sure it wasn't to come see you."

Rose laughed and said "yes now go do your job."

Charlie went to go help with the dragons and Harry said "I think he likes you. Snape better watch out he has competition."

Rose said "you wish."

Harry nodded and said "yes I do."

Rose said "you can just keep wishing. I love him Harry and he loves me so just learn to deal with it. It doesn't matter in the long run anyway."

Harry asked "what do you mean by that?"

Rose said "nothing. Maybe I will tell you someday but now isn't the right time. Look they are revealing our scores. Well that isn't how it is supposed to be. You are supposed to be in first not me."

Harry said "I got injured Rose they took points for that and you were great enjoy your win besides I got second that isn't bad at all and only 20 points less then you."

Rose sighed and said "I am going to have to deal with everyone making a fuss over me aren't I?"

Harry nodded and said "yes you are. And if this task is any indication you are going to have to get used to it."

Rose said "let me know if you haven't figured out your clues to the next task by Christmas, I might be able to help you figure it out."

Crouch and the other judges came forward and said "well done all of you in each of your eggs are clues to the next task you have until February 24th in the morning to figure them out and prepare for the second task as always until then good luck."

Crouch and the judges left and Rose said "Well I am sure Gryffindor is going to want to celebrate you making second and I am going to go take a long hot bath."

Harry said "you just want to do that so you can get out of having to go to a party for you."

Rose said "Mostly I also just want to take a long hot relaxing bath where no one will bother me."

Rose ran off as everyone seem to be heading to the other champions to congratulate them. She just got away in time. Rose hated people making a fuss over her.

She was nearly all the way back to the castle when someone called her name "Potter wait."

Rose turned around and waited for him to catch up he hobbled to her as quickly as he could then looked at her with his falsely scared face.

Rose said "Hello is there something you want?"

He asked "how were you able to do that."

Rose said "it is rather complicated I used a combination of my gifts for languages, Legellemancy and my knowledge of Parseltongue to form a basic communication with the dragon. It was not a complex conversation I simply let her know the golden egg was a false egg and I was there to take it away so it wouldn't harm her other eggs and that I was no threat to her or her real eggs. It of course wasn't in those words but it was the idea I gave her and that was why she was calm and didn't react to me. basically, it was just one mother to another making sure her babies were alright. There are many powerful magics in this world but few if any are stronger then the magic of a mother's love. Just because she wasn't human doesn't mean she doesn't love her babies. Oh god they are catching up I have to go. I will talk to you later."

Rose turned around and ran as fast as she could and soon there was a crowd of students running after her simply wanting to congratulate her and celebrate her win.