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DRACO MALFOY AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

By Lady Lestrange

The First Task

Chapter 6

Tuesday seemed to fly by. It was time for the task and Professor Snape led him to the tent. On the way, Snape asked him if he had everything he needed.

Draco nodded. The tiny vial of the Sleeping Death was in his pocket. It was wrapped in a glob of mud and covered with blood. According to his reading, his spies reconnaissance and what he saw when he visited the dragons, all of them were perpetually hungry, especially nesting mothers. They instinctively ate anything that smelled like prey that came into attacking distance. Draco's plan was to throw the mud ball, which the Dragon would probably eat. The judges would think he was just getting the dragon to look at him, so he could do the sleeping spell. Draco was good enough at the sleeping charm that he could have probably done it without the potion, but a back up plan was always a good idea. Anyway, the potion was considerably faster than the sleeping charm.

"Mr. Bagman will tell you the procedure." Said Professor Snape.

"Thank you Professor," said Draco and he entered the tent. All of the other champions were there except Potter.

As soon as Potter arrived, Mr. Bagman gave them their directions. "First," he said, "I will be letting each of you pick a model of what you will face from this bag. You have to get the golden egg."

"Ladies first," Bagman said offering the bag to Fleur. She drew the Welsh Green, with a number 2 around its neck.

Krum pulled out the Chinese Fireball with a number three around its neck.

Cedric pulled the Swedish Short snout with a number one.

Only two left, thought Draco—the Norwegian Ridgeback, the biggest or the Horntail, the most deadly.

Potter picked the Horntail with the number 4, leaving Draco with the Ridgeback and the number 5.

Then it started. Bagman left to commentate the event. The cheers of the crowd told Draco that Cedric Diggory was face to face with the dragon. The oo's and ahh's just made him more nervous. Suddenly he heard a yelp. Was that a dog? What on earth had Cedric done? Then the clapping told him whatever it was it was, at last, successful.

Fleur's attempt was very quiet at first. Draco wondered if she was using a sleeping spell too. He hoped not. Then the crowd started to tell their story. Gasping and crying out! That meant that if she did do a sleeping spell, it didn't work very well. The dragon had awakened—or breathed flame in its sleep. At last the applause told him that it was over and Fleur had retrieved her egg, but it had taken her quite a while.

Moments after Krum entered the enclosure, the dragon screamed in pain. Draco knew exactly what that sounded like.

"Draco," Harry said hesitantly. "Thanks for telling me—"

Draco could feel the vibrations of the earth as the giant animal stomped around in agony.

"About the Dragons."

Draco knew which spell Krum had done. He had tried the blinding spell. Conjunctivitis. It was a mistake.

A spattering of applause told that Krum was finished.

"Sure." Said Draco. "Good Luck."

Potter went out of the tent and Draco was left alone.

"Luck has nothing to do with it," Draco muttered to himself.

"Acchio Firebolt!" he heard Potter yell.

Well that was certainly a simple spell. There was a long silence. Draco wondered if the broom was coming. Maybe it wouldn't. He sneered. That would be a nice ending to Potter's time as a champion. Draco heard the cheering. Apparently, the Firebolt had arrived.

Draco was glad that he decided against using that same spell to get his broom. His Nimbus would look sick next to the Firebolt. He really had to talk to his father about a new broom.

"Great Scott, he can fly!" yelled Bagman "Are you watching this Mr. Krum?"

Draco started to pace. How fast could he do the sleeping spell?

A moan from the crowd followed by cheers and then, Bagman saying: "Our youngest Champion is the fastest to get the egg."

It was Draco's turn. He walked to the enclosure as Bagman was announcing his name. The Norweigian Ridgeback, apparently rattled by the other champions' antics, immediately reared up on her hind legs and beat her wings like some giant bat.

In that split second, Draco raised his wand to begin the sleeping spell, and changed his mind. The golden egg was clearly visible beneath the Dragon's legs.

"Acchio egg!" he cried, and the egg flew to his hand before the Dragon had a chance to react.

"Oh Dear," said Mr. Bagman. "I think Mr. Malfoy was so quick to get the egg that I missed it."

Draco couldn't quite wipe the smirk off of his face, as he joined the other Champions—not that he wanted to.

Three of them had sustained injuries and he found out that Krum's dragon had smashed half of the eggs with her stomping around. He was the only one that had gotten his egg without mishap, and he did it in just under 5 seconds. He didn't even break a sweat. He would look great for the pictures in the Daily Profit.

He was in first place, with Potter and Krum tied for second.

Rita Skeeter was asking Potter for a quick word.

"Yeah you can have a word," said Harry savagely. "Good-bye."

"Some people have no respect," Draco said mildly. "You might question his upbringing: muggles—giants—"

Rita Skeeter turned a smiling face toward Draco. "Well, Mr. Malfoy, you are the undeniable winner in the contest so far. You made it look so easy—"

"Yes," said Draco. "As easy as squishing a bug."

"I quite understand," she said nervously.

"Good," replied Draco, posing for his picture. "This is what you can write."

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