Chapter 51

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN1: So, I've written more today than I have in the last week, so I'm feeling pretty good, but I will continue to only update every second day for a few more days. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT. PLEASE REVIEW.


November 23rd 1994

It is the day before the First Task and Harry and Hermione spent most of the night before out at the Quidditch pitch practicing flying in tandem and even though they are better than they were they plan to sneak out again later to get more practice in.

It's just after dinner and Hermione, Harry and Neville are just arriving in the Hospital Wing to spend some time with Sirius and Remus before going back to the Tower, and then a little later Harry and Hermione will sneak out.

"No change?" Hermione asks as she sits next to her Father.

"No, not yet." Sirius says as Harry and Neville sit down too.

"Shouldn't he have woken up by now?" Hermione asks worried.

"The specialist was back today. He said Rem should be awake at any time." Sirius explains to everyone.

"Good, so he could be awake by the First Task tomorrow?" Neville asks, being pretty sure that that is something that Remus would never forgive himself for missing, even though he can't control it.

"The First Task?" Sirius asks, sounding surprised, "That's tomorrow?" he asks as he's completely lost track of time.

"Yes, after lunch." Harry confirms.

"Oh gosh, I'm sorry." Sirius says, looking between Harry and Hermione, "I should have been helping you."

"It's okay, Dad. We know how worried you've been about Papa." Hermione assures him, "And we've figured it out. We know what we're going to do." Hermione says.

"Good, that's good." Sirius says, feeling incredible guilty that he hasn't been helping Harry and Hermione, "What….." he start to ask, but he is cut off by a moan coming from Remus, "Rem? We're right here, Me, Mione, Harry and Neville, open your eyes for me Baby." Sirius begs and seconds later Remus's eyes flicker open, "Hey." Sirius says, sounding amazed.

"Siri?" Remus asks, confusion and pain in his voice.

"Yeah, Rem, I'm here. You're okay." Sirius says, as Remus tries to push himself up into a sitting position, "No, don't. You're still hurt." Sirius says, stopping Remus from sitting up.

"Mione's gone to get Madam Pompfrey." Harry explains, "I'm really glad you're awake Remus." He says as Sirius sits down on the edge of Remus's bed.

"So am I." Neville adds.

"How long was I unconscious for?" Remus asks, curious, his mind foggy though he can feel the pain he's in.

"Almost a week." Sirius reveals, "It was bad, Moon, really bad." Sirius explains and as he looks at his mate Remus realises just how afraid Sirius is.

"Remus, I'm glad to see that you're awake." Poppy says, walking over.

"So am I." Hermione tells her Papa as she walks over to him, "How are you feeling?'

"Okay." Remus says being pretty sure that he is lying.

"No, you're not." Poppy says, "You may be awake, but you're still going to need a few days to recover." She says, "You're going to have to be careful and take things slow."

"I will." Remus assures him.

"I'll make sure of it." Sirius says, making it clear to Remus that Sirius is going to be in protective mode for a while.

"Good. There are potions that you need to take now that you're awake, I'll go get them." Poppy says before walking back to her office.

"I'm so happy you're awake, Papa." Hermione says, "Can I give you a hug or will it hurt?" she asks worried.

"You hugging me will never hurt." Remus tells his daughter and Hermione walks over and gently hugs her Papa.

"I love you, Papa, so much." Hermione whispers as he hugs her Papa.

"I love you too, Hermione." Remus responds and he and Hermione break apart, "Now, I'm sure that you three have better things to do than sit here."

"We want to be here." Neville comments.

"We do." Harry confirms.

"We really do." Hermione adds.

"I know, and it means a lot, but it's okay if you leave." Remus says and Harry, Hermione and Neville exchange looks.

"Okay, Love you Papa, Dad." Hermione says.

"Night Remus, Sirius." Neville says.

"Love you, Remus, Sirius." Harry says and the three fourth years leave.

Once they leave Remus, slowly, as it's rather difficult, reaches out and uses his hand to wipe tears off Sirius's cheek.

"I'm okay, Siri." Remus assures him.

"You almost weren't, Remy. Albus, Snape, Minerva and Poppy all worked on you and Poppy got a specialist from Saint Mungo's and they were all saying it wasn't good, and I thought it wasn't good, I thought I was going to lose you." Sirius reveals, his voice breaking.

"I'm okay, Siri, you didn't lose me." Remus assures his mate as Poppy walks back over.

"Drink these." Poppy says, handing Remus potions and he just take them and drinks them, "Good, you may have just woken up but you still need rest, you both do." Poppy says, "I'll be in my office if you need anything." She says as she takes the empty potion bottles form Remus and heads back to her office.

"You haven't left, have you?" Remus asks Sirius.

"Of course not, I needed to be here." Sirius explains, "I needed to be here with you."

"Lay down, Siri." Remus says, actually noticing how exhausted Sirius is.

"I don't want to hurt you." Sirius says.

"You won't."' Remus says as he, with a lot of difficulty, pulls Sirius down next to him, "I love you, Siri."

"I love you too, so much." Sirius says as he gently places a kiss on Remus's lips before lying himself down right next to Remus, making sure that he is in a position that won't hurt his mate and before long they are both asleep.


November 24th 1994

It has been more than a few hours since Harry, Hermione and Neville left the hospital wing after Remus woke up and Harry and for the last couple of hours Harry and Hermione have been out on the Quiddtich pitch.

"I think we're a good as we're going to get." Harry comments as he and Hermione land on the ground.

"Yeah, we are." Hermione says, "I think we should just head back up and gets some sleep."

"Yeah, sounds good." Harry responds and the two of them collect all their stuff before heading back to the castle.


"Rem, no, you need to rest." Sirius tells his mate as it's just before lunch and Remus has just informed him that he's going to watch the first task.

"I need to be there supporting them." Remus tells Sirius, "I can't not be there."

"You need to rest to! You're still hurt!" Sirius says worried.

"I know that." Remus says, forcing himself to stand up, "But I need to be there for them. I promise I will rest after the task is over." He says, taking a step but he almost falls over, in fact if it wasn't for Sirius hurrying over and catching him he would have fallen.

"You can't walk." Sirius points out.

"I can if you help me." Remus says, "Please, Siri. I need to be there for Hermione, and Harry, I need to." He says, desperation in his voice.

"Okay." Sirius says, being pretty sure that he is going to regret this, "But you're coming straight back here, or to our quarters, after the task is over and you're going to rest."

"I can agree to that." Remus says and with a nod he and Sirius start to make their way downstairs, going very slowly as Remus leans on Sirius as otherwise he wouldn't be able to walk.

(line break)

Down in the Great Hall Harry and Hermione are sitting with Neville eating their lunch, when they notice Minerva hurrying towards them as a lot of people watch.

"Harry, Hermione, the champions have to come down onto the grounds now. The two of you have to get ready for your first task." Minerva explains.

"Okay." Harry says as he and Hermione stand, causing their forks to fall to their plates.

"Good luck, Mione, Harry." Neville whispers to them, "You'll be fine!"

"Thanks Nev." Hermione says, her voice shaking and the two of them follow Minerva out of the hall. As they walk Hermione and Harry both realise that Minerva is clearly nervous.

"Now, I don't want either of you to panic." Minerva says putting a hand on each of their shoulders as they walk out onto the grounds, "Just keep your heads cool. We've got wizards standing by to control the situation if it gets out of hand. The main thing is just to do your best, and nobody will think any worse of either of you, are you both all right?" she asks.

"Yes." Hermione confirms.

"Yes, we're fine." Harry adds.

Walking in silence Minerva leads Harry and Hermione to the place where the dragons are, around the edge of the forest, but as they approach the clump of trees behind which they know the enclosure is clearly visible Harry and Hermione see that a tent has been erected.

"You're both to go in here with the other champions." Minerva says with a rather shaky sort of voice, "And wait for your turn. Mr Bagman is in their he'll tell you both the procedure. Good Luck."

"Thanks Minerva." Harry and Hermione both say as they walk inside the entrance of the tent.

When they walk in Harry and Hermione find Fleur sitting on a stool in a corner, Cedric is pacing up and down and Krum is standing all them of them looking just as worried and afraid as Harry and Hermione feel.

"Harry! Hermione! Good-o!" Bagman says happily, looking around at them, "Come in, come in, make yourselves at home!" looking a lot like a cartoon figure as he wears his Wasp robes again, just like he was at the cup, "Well, now we're all here, time to fill you in!" Bagman says, brightly, "When the audience has assembled, I'm going to offer you each this bag, Harry, Hermione you'll have to decided amongst yourself which of you will draw." Bagman says holding up a small sack of purple silk, "And you will each selected a small model of the thing you're about to face. There are different, er, varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too, ah, ye, your task is to collect the golden egg!" Bagman says and looking around Harry and Hermione see Cedric nod and while the others continue to pace, as they see how worried they look Harry and Hermione both can't help but think that at least they volunteered for this, "Harry, Hermione, you have to work together to collect it." He explains.

"Do you want to draw or me?" Harry ask in a whisper.

"You." Hermione answers and Harry nods, and in no time at all, hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet can be heard passing the tent, their owners talking and laughing, joking. As they hear that Hermione reaches out an takes Harry's hand it being clear that both of them feel completely separate from the crowd that is assembling above.

Seconds later, or at least that's what it feels like to Harry and Hermione, Bagman opens the neck of the purple silk sack.

"Ladies first," He says, offering it to Fleur who puts a shaking hand inside the bag and draws out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon, a Welsh Green that has a number two around its neck, showing no surprise at all, and like Fleur Krum doesn't show any surprise when, seconds later, he pulls out a Chinese Fireball with a number three around its neck. After Krum Cedric puts his hand into the bag and pulls out the Swedish Short-Snout that has the number one around its neck.

Exchanging looks as they know what is left Harry reaches his hand into the bag and pulls out the Hungarian Horntail, that has a number four around its neck.

"Well, there you are!" Bagman says, "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, Hermione, could I have a quick word? Outside?" he asks, causing them to exchange looks.

"Um, sure." Harry says and he and Hermione get up and head out of the tent with Bagman, who walks them a short distance away, into the trees, and then he turns to them with a fatherly expression on his face.

"Are you both feeling alright? Is there anything I can get either of you?" Bagman asks curious.

"No." Hermione answers.

"Have you got a plan? Bagman asks, lowering his voice, "Because I don't mind sharing a few pointers, if you'd like them, you know, I mean you two are the underdogs here, anything I can do to help."

"No." Hermione quickly says, not caring that it sounds rude as it's that definitely would be cheating.

"What Hermione means is that we know what we're going to do, but thanks." Harry explains, wanting to make Hermione's quick refusal sound less rude.

"Nobody would know." Bagman says, winking at them.

"No, we're fine." Hermione says.

"We've got a plan worked out, we…." Harry starts to say but a whistle suddenly starts to blow from somewhere.

"Good lord, I've got to run!" Bagman says in alarm before he hurries off.

As Bagman runs off Harry and Hermione head back to the tent just as Cedric walks out, greener than ever, trying to be polite Harry and Hermione try to wish him good luck but neither manage much more than a grunt.

Once they walk back into the tent Harry and Hermione sit back down away from Fleur and Krum, and once they are sitting around they once more take each other's hands, both trying, though not really succeeding in giving each other comfort, as they listen to Bagman's commentary and the crowd's reaction to what is going on.

A while after they returned to the tent, each minute feeling like it last longer than the last, Hermione and Harry are finally the only ones left in the tent as they listen to Bagman and the crowed reaction to what Krum is doing.

Suddenly applause shatters the wintery air, breaking like glass making Harry and Hermione realise that Krum is finished and that it would be their shot any moment.

"It's time." Hermione says and she and Harry stand up, both of them feeling like their legs are made of marshmallows. After a little bit of waiting, each second feeling like it lasts a lifetime, they hear the whistle blow and they walk out through the entrance of the tent, panic rising, as they walk past trees and through a gap in the enclosure fence.

Looking around at the crowd Harry and Hermione sees hundreds of hundreds looking down at them from stands and even though they are clearly yelling Harry and Hermione have no idea whether idea it is friendly or not.

Exchanging looks Harry and Hermione look at each other and Harry nods at Hermione, who focuses on nothing other than what she has to do, raises her wand and yells,

"ACCIO HARRY'S FIREBOLT!"

Once she does Harry and Hermione just wait, hoping and praying that it has worked, Hermione feeling pretty confident that it did, and then seconds later the two of them hear it, speeding towards them and they turn to see Harry's firebolt hurtling towards them through the woods, soaring into the enclosure and it stops dead in mid-air beside them.

As it stops the crowd start to go crazy but Harry and Hermione don't hear. Harry swings his leg over the broom and then pulls Hermione on behind him. Once the two of them are on the broom, Hermione having her arms wrapped around Harry's waist Harry kicks off the ground.

"You've got this." Hermione tells Harry.

"Once I get us in position, you grab the egg." Harry tells Hermione.

"Will do." Hermione responds as they soar upwards into the air.

As they fly upwards, causing the crowd's faces to become mere flesh-coloured pinpricks below and the Horntail shrinks to the size of a dog Harry feels like he is finally back where he belongs and he feels his fear disappear and even though she really doesn't like flying Hermione feels completely safe as she is with Harry.

Looking down at the clutch Harry notices the gold one, gleaming against its cement colored fellows, residing safely between the dragon's front legs.

"Okay, hold on." Harry tells Hermione, "We've got to do diversionary tactics, move when I do."

"Will do, let's go." Hermione responds pushing aside her fear to focus on what they have to do.

Hearing that Hermione is ready Harry drives, feeling Hermione tighten her hold as the Horntail's head follows them; knowing what it is going to do Harry pulls out of the dive just in time, dodging a jet of fire that would have hit them if they had not swerved away.

"Great Scott, he can fly!" Bagman yells, as the crowed shrieks and gasps, "Are you watching this, Mr Krum?"

Soaring higher in the air Harry starts to circle,

"You know what you're going to do, right?" Hermione says, directly into Harry's ear.

"Course." Harry responds as the Horntail continues to follow their progress, revolving on it's long neck, Harry and Hermione both hoping that it will become dizzy soon.

Just as the Horntail opens its mouth again Harry drives again, but this time they are less lucky as even though they don't get hit by the flames the Horntail's tail comes whipping up and as Harry swerves them to the left, Hermione moving in perfect unison with him, one of the long spikes grazes both their shoulders, ripping their robes.

Feeling the stinging Hermione looks at her shoulder and then Harry's and sees that neither of the cuts seem too deep, which is good, and while Hermione is doing that Harry zooms around the back of the Horntail.

"Mione, I don't think it wants to take off." Harry realise.

"We'll we're going to have to give it a reason too." Hermione says back, knowing it is their only chance.

"Okay, think, gradually, that's the key. We'll just do it gradually." Harry realises.

"Sounds good." Hermione responds.

"Gradually it is." Harry says and he begins to fly, first one way, then the other, Hermione moving perfectly with him as Harry makes sure that he doesn't fly them close enough for the horntail to use fire to stave them off, but still posing enough of a threat to ensure that she keeps eyes on them as its head sways one way and then another.

As they fly higher the Horntail head rises with them and her neck stretches to its fullest extent, still swaying. Flying even higher the Horntail lets out a roar of annoyance as her tail thrashes again and she once more sets fire into the air that Harry dodges as her jaws open wide.

"Come on." Harry says, "Come on, come and get us, up you get now."

"We may need a plan B soon." Hermione comments but as she does the dragon rears, spreading her great, black leather wings at last, "Okay I take that back." Hermione tells him.

"Hold on and get ready to grab the egg." Harry tells Hermione as he dives before the dragon knows what they have done or where they have disappeared to. Speeding to the ground as fast as Harry can go they head towards the egg and once they are close enough Hermione removes her arms from around Harry's waist and grabs the golden egg.

"Go, go, go." Hermione says once she has the egg, and Harry speeds off, faster than before, over the stands, and while Harry flies Hermione tucks the egg under her uninjured arms as she holds onto Harry's waist, both of them being able to hear the deafening yell from the crowed.

As Harry flies closer to the stands they see Remus, Sirius, both of whom are looking terrified, but proud, Minerva, Moody and Hagrid waiting, Remus looking like he wouldn't be standing if it wasn't for Sirius.

Landing right in front of their support group Harry and Hermione jump of the broom and hurry over to Sirius and Remus, who pulls them both into a tight hugs.

"That was incredible." Sirius says.

"You were both amazing." Remus says as he places a kiss on his daughter's head.

"You also scared the crap out of us." Sirius reveals.

"We didn't know what else to do." Harry explains.

"Well you were excellent." Minerva tells them as Remus and Sirius reluctantly let go of Harry and Hermione, "You'll both need Madam Pomfrey before the judges give out your score. Over there, she's had to mop up Diggory already."

"We'll take them." Sirius comments, neither he nor Remus planning on leaving them any time soon.

"Good idea." Minerva says and the four of them head over to the medical tent, Remus looking like he can only walk because he is leaning on Sirius.

Walking out of the enclosure Harry and Hermine see Madam Pomfrey standing at the mouth of a second tent, looking worried.

"Dragons." She says in a disgusted voice as she pulls Harry and Hermione inside, even though the tent is divided into cubicles she leaves Harry and Hermione into the same cubical, "I will be dealing with you in a minute Remus Lupin." Poppy says as she starts to examine Harry and Hermione's shoulders, one after the other, "You're both luck, these are quiet shallow."

"Good." Sirius and Remus say together.

"I'll need to clean out both the wounds before I heal you both, though." Poppy comments as she cleans Harry's cut, and then Hermione's with purple liquid that smokes and stings. Once she does that Poppy pokes Harry's shoulder, then Hermione's, both of them feeling their wounds heal instantly once she does, "Now, I want both of you to sit quietly for a minute, and then you can get your score."

"How are you feeling?" Remus asks the two as Poppy leaves.

"Better than I was a few hours ago." Hermione answers.

"Same."

"Well, even though you terrified us you also made us very proud." Sirius tells Harry and Hermione.

"Thanks Sirius."

"Thanks Dad."

"You two deserved it. You did very well and you got the egg quicker than anyone." Remus, who is swaying slightly on the spot, says, as Harry and Hermione both stand up, both feeling too much adrenaline to sit, "You two should rest."

"So should you." Hermione comments as two people come darting into the tent Neville, followed closely by Ron.

"You two were brilliant." Neville says, his voice squeaking, "You both were amazing! You really were."

"Thanks Nev." Hermione says as Harry looks at Ron who is staring at Harry and Hermione as though they are ghosts.

"Harry, Hermione." Ron says, very seriously, "Whoever put your names in the goblet, I reckon they're trying to do the two of you in." he says.

"It's about time." Sirius says bitterly, as he's watched how much Ron's treatment has hurt Harry and Hermione over the last few weeks.

"I know, I'm really, really sorry." Ron says, looking between Harry and Hermione, "You both deserved better."

"Yes, they did." Neville comments.

"Forget it." Harry comments.

"So…?" Ron asks nervously.

"We're okay." Hermione says, though honestly she isn't sure how much more patience she has for Ron's behaviour, she isn't she could forgive him if he acts like how he's been acting again, and judging by the hesitation in Harry's eyes he is thinking the same thing.

"Harry, Mione, come on they'll be putting up your scores soon." Neville says, breaking the awkward tension that is still in the room.

Exchanging looks Harry picks up the egg while Hermione picks up Harry's firebolt the two of them ad out, with Neville, Ron, Sirius and Remus.

"You were the bet, you know, no competition." Ron says.

"Cedric did this weird thing where he Transfigured a rock on the ground, and turned it into a dog, he tried to get the dragon to go for it instead of him." Neville explains.

"That sounds interesting." Hermione comments.

"It was a cook piece of Transfiguration, and it sort of worked, because he did get the egg, but he got burned as well." Ron explains.

"Fleur did a sort of charm, it looked like she was trying to put the Dragon into a trance and that sort of worked too it went sleepy but as it snored it sent a jet of fire at her and caused her skirt to catch fire." Remus explains.

"Krum went for the dragon's week spot, it's eyes, hit it with a spell, it was good but it caused the dragon to go trampling around in agony and squashed half the eggs, which lost him marks as he wasn't supposed to cause any damage to the real ones." Sirius explains.

Once Sirius finishes explaining the group reaches the edge of the enclosure, and now that the Horntail has been taken away Harry and Hermione can see where the five judges are sitting.

"It's marks out of ten from each judge." Neville explains, and as he does Harry and Hermione squint across the field, while taking each other's hands in support, and sees the first judge, Madame Maxime, raise her wand into the air and as she does what looks like a long silver ribbon shoots out of it, and twists itself into a large figure eight.

"Nice." Sirius says with a proud grin.

"That is a pretty good mark." Remus says, also smiling proudly.

"She probably took marks off for your shoulders." Ron guesses.

"Probably." Neville confirms.

Next Crouch raises his wand and he shoots a number nine into the air.

"Well done." Sirius and Remus, both sounding proud as Ron thumps Harry on the back and Neville smiles at Hermione.

After Crouch Albus puts up his wand, also giving them a nine, causing the crowd to cheer harder than ever. Second to last is Bagman, who puts up a ten.

"Ten?" Harry and Hermione ask together, both sounding disbelieving,

"But, we got hurt." Harry says sounding shocked.

"I know, what's he playing at?" Hermione asks, finding something odd about Bagman's behaviour.

"Who knows." Harry says as he and Hermione exchange looks.

"Don't complain, Princess, Pup, it's a good score." Sirius tells them and as they do Harry and Hermione both decide, without words, that they will tell Sirius and Remus about all the help Bagman has been offering.

Finally, the last judge, Karkaroff, raises his wand, and after pausing for a moment he shoots the number four out of his wand.

"Of course." Sirius mutters, bitterly not even surprised by the low mark.

"What?" Ron yells, sounding furious, "Four? You lousy, biased scumbag, you gave Krum ten!" he yells, but Harry and Hermione don't care they just hug both being amazed that they managed to get through the First Task.

As they break apart Harry and Hermione look up at the stands and see that not only are Gryffindors cheering but most of the school are as much on their side as Cedric's.

"You're tied in first place, Harry, Hermione! The two of you and Krum." Charlie says as he hurries over to meet them as they turn to head back to the school, "Listen, I've got to run, I've got to go and send Mum and owl, I swore I'd tell her what happened, but that was unbelievable! Oh yeah, and they told me to tell you you've got to hang around for minutes, Bagman wants a word, back in the champions' tent."

"Don't worry, we'll wait." Remus says, and the others nod in agreement.

"That's if Poppy doesn't hunt you down." Sirius tells his mate, "But baring that we'll be right here, waiting." Sirius explains and the others nod in agreement.

"Okay, we'll be back as soon as we can." Hermione says and she and Harry head back to the champions tent that is now looking much more welcoming than it did.

Hermione and Harry have only just walked into the tent when Fleur, Cedric and Krum all walk in together. One side of Cedric's face is covered in an orange past, but despite that he grins at Harry and Hermione,

"Good one, Harry, Hermione." Cedric says to them.

"And you." Harry and Hermione say together, both returning Cedric's smile.

"Well done, all of you!" Bagman says as he bounces back into the tent, looking pleased, almost like he personally got past a dragon.

"Now, just a few words. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty fourth." Bagman says, causing Hermione and Hermione to exchange glad looks, both being glad about that fact, "But, we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! If you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding you will see that they open, see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go, then!"

Hearing that Harry and Hermione head out of the tent and meet up with Remus, Sirius, Neville and Ron and they start to walk slowly back to the castle, because of how much Remus is struggling they walk slowly so that they can walk in a group.

Just as the group rounds a clump of trees Rita Skeeter leaps out from behind them,

"Congratulations Harry, Hermione!" she says, beaming at them, "I wonder if you two could give me a quick word? How did you feel facing the dragon? How do you two feel now, about the fairness of the scoring? And Remus, what's wrong with you? Why have you been in the hospital wing for a week?"

"Yeah, you can have a word." Hermione says, angrily.

"Good-bye." Harry adds and the two of them set off with their family towards the castle, Harry and Hermione feeling much better than they have in weeks now that the First Task is over.


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