Harry awoke early the next morning. He ate a simple yet solid breakfast and headed out to the grounds to warm up. Soon enough 9am rolled around and Harry made his way to the champion's tent. He was the first of the champions to arrive. Harry took a seat in the corner and waited. Just before 10am the final champion showed up prompting Bagman to call everyone over. Once he explained the rules of the task the champions drew from the bag. Fleur pulled the mini–Chinese Fireball with a two hanging from its tag. Viktor pulled a small Peruvian Vipertooth with a one on its tag. Cedric pulled a tiny Norwegian Ridgeback with a three on its tag. Harry knew what he was left with as he withdrew the miniature Hungarian Horntail. Naturally he was also going last.
Harry took a moment to analyze all the dragons. The Chinese Fireball was one of the more temperamental dragons. The older ones also had a nasty habit of setting themselves on fire as a sort of defense mechanism. Fleur definitely had her work cut out for her. Viktor also had his hands full with the Peruvian Vipertooth. Sure, it was relatively small but they were the fastest breed of dragon. They also had this nasty corrosive spit that they could spray up to 15 feet. Cedric actually had the least to worry about. Norwegian Ridgebacks while still dangerous are incredibly lazy. Though if provoked enough they can throw razor sharp spines from its tail with deadly accuracy.
Harry though was more concerned with his own dragon. While technically not the biggest or the fastest it held the number two spot in both those categories. It was also the most aggressive and dangerous species in the world. Super thick hide, flames reaching upwards of forty feet, razor sharp spines lining its back and tail. If it was old enough it could also shoot these blue balls of plasma like fire, it was also said they could manipulate lightning to a degree. Harry was wishing that with any luck this horntail wouldn't be too old.
One by one the champions left to face their dragons. Several minutes ago, they called for a delay as the Horntail was being quite uncooperative. This extra wait time was starting to make Harry doubt himself and his plan. But when they called his name, it was too late to change plans now. Stepping out into the arena Harry immediately set eyes on the dragon. As the canon fired signaling the start of his turn he didn't move. For several moments he stared the dragon down before slowly raising his wand to his throat and applying the sonorus charm.
"Ladies and Gentlemen,' his voice rang out through the arena silencing everyone, 'you are all witnessing history here today. You all are a part of the 126th Triwizard tournament. Everything that happens here today will be forever remembered. So, I hope you enjoy the show." Harry felt a certain amount of giddiness at what was about to happen. Harry was about to put on quite the show for everyone. He dropped hints to the twins during the previous week about having something big planned for the task if they were interested in making a tidy sum. From all the bustling in the stands it seems like many people made bets and were eager to see if it would pay off.
Stepping further into the arena Harry's eyes never left the dragon. The dragon watching his every move waiting for the right moment. As soon as he stepped close enough, she sent a gout of white-hot flame straight for the last champion. Harry stood still, with a quick prayer that his runes held the fire engulfed him. Several people in the stands cried out. Seconds later the flame dispersed showing Harry standing perfectly fine. With a discreet check, his runes were holding strong, Harry let out a guttural cheer. The crowd it was in triumph, but the dragon understood it for what is really was, a challenge. With a frenzied roar in response the dragon accepted. The Horntail spewed another gout of flame. Harry did not stand idly still this time; he met the dragons flame with his own. What surprised everyone was that Harry's flame was also coming from his mouth just like the dragon. The flames clashed and fought for dominance. After a full minute both flames died out the battle ending in a draw. The dragon was enraged that this tiny thing wouldn't die. She would make it pay for challenging her.
With another roar the Horntail launched three blue fire balls the crackled with electricity. Harry had no chance to run, once again praying his runes would hold he braced his arms in front of him. He realized how screwed he was when he saw the blue fire and lightning. This was an elder horntail, one that he just challenged. Harry was so screwed that he almost laughed. When the fire impacted his arms the first thing he thought was 'hot'. Even through his fireproof runes the flames burned. Thankfully it barely singed the hair on his arms. The lightning was a different story as it burned against his arms and shocked him as it coursed through him. Feeling a little shaky after blocking that attack Harry reassured his challenge with another roar, this one full of anger and determination. Many were surprised that Harry was roaring at a dragon, others were confused.
Harry released another torrent of flame followed by several fireballs that pelted the dragon. Seeing the Horntail shakily get back to its feet, Harry suppressed a smirk. He was so happy he found that book on spells the replicated different dragon fire. He was even happier that they barely required a wand to use, let alone incantations or wand movements. Before the dragon could fully get its footing Harry unleashed another barrage. Harry watched as his attack splashed harmlessly against the creature's midnight wings. He watched as small amounts of electricity arced between the spines on its back. Once again Harry found himself staring into the eyes of the beast. He was then reminded of and old passage describing Elder Horntails, it had described them as the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Despite everything Harry couldn't give up now for he would surely be killed by the great dragon.
The Elder Horntail was in a great frenzy. The small being was strong and would earn her begrudging respect having fought a worthy battle. But she still considered the being too weak to ever best her. She was quickly growing tired of all this back-and-forth posturing, so she aimed to end this challenge. Faster than anyone could react the great beast bellowed in anger causing everyone to cover their ears. What was heard next sent fear shooting through every person in attendance. The sound of metal tearing and snapping. The audience watch in horror as the Horntail broke free and rushed the champion.
Harry was already moving but he wasn't fast enough as the dragon swung its tail around catching him right in the chest. Harry crashed into the arena wall with a thud leaving a small crater. Trying to catch his breath he checked his runes. The strengthening runes were almost shot. He could take maybe one more hit before they would fail, and he would be incredibly vulnerable. Luckily the flame runes were still strong. Having caught his breath Harry settled into a fighting stance. While Harry didn't know any sort of proper fighting style, he read in a book from knockturn alley about how you could channel magic into your muscles making you faster and stronger. This method however could be incredibly dangerous if used for too long. Harry's plan was simply, dodge everything and keep punching till the dragon gave up or died.
After landing several blows and dodging several attacks Harry was beginning to doubt this plan. Sure, each blow had definitely left its mark on the beast, but the dragon didn't seem like it was going down any time soon. He had also been forced to block several more plasma balls and the electricity was wearing him down further each time. After blocking the last plasma attack Harry dropped to one knee. The dragon capitalized and swung its tail catching him right in the chest again. A single spine broke off leaving itself partially embedded under Harry's collarbone. Harry let out a grunt of pain at the spine piercing him and once again colliding with the rock wall of the arena.
Trying one last avenue, Harry stuck his hand out and moments later his firebolt slapped against his palm. Later he would realize he silently and wandlessly summoned his broom. Instantly Harry took off towards the skies. The dragon followed suit not daring to let her challenger escape not when she was so close to killing him. The audience was still in fear and shock at the dragon getting loose but also in awe of the aerial display Harry was providing. The other three champions were all shocked in silence at how the last of them was competing. To stand face to face against the dragon, sure he was technically losing right now but to still have lasted this long at almost 30 minutes is insane to think of. And now to be challenging an apex predator in its own domain. For there was no arguing that the sky was the domain of all dragons.
Yet there he was, Harry Potter aged 14, outflying the most dangerous dragon in the world. Everyone was entranced as Harry ducked and dived, how he twisted and turned not quite able to shake the dragon off but always just out of reach. When they got high enough Harry darted in and out of the clouds landing massive punches to the beast. The Horntail tired of these games, she released a massive continuous gout of flame in every direction. While Harry's anti-flame runes held his broom had no such protection and caught fire. Immediately diving towards the ground, the Horntail followed the burning broom serving as a homing beacon. Harry pulled up at the last second before shooting straight up once again. The dragon while a natural flyer slammed heavily into the ground crying out in pain before roaring again. the dragon pushed off the ground and began climbing after the broom. Harry made it to about 300feet before his broom gave out.
Pushing off the dead broom Harry plummeted back towards the arena. Pushing magic into all his muscles and praying for what felt like the nth time that his runes held. As he dropped the dragon rose to meet him. Grabbing one of his anti-flame runes at his belt he overloaded it with magic and threw it at the dragon's head. Upon contact it exploded throwing the dragons head aside. Harry finally impacted the dragons neck pile driving back into the ground, snapping its neck and killing it. Both Dragon and Harry crashed to the ground. Smoke and dust were everywhere, and from within they heard a roar of victory. When the dust settled, they were surprised to see Harry standing atop the dead dragons head. Not even bothering to wipe any sweat, blood, dirt or soot away he looked up to the silent stands and spoke.
"Are you not entertained?" Not waiting for any sort of response of reaction Harry left the arena and slowly made his way back to the castle. He headed straight for the infirmary hoping to deal with his injuries quickly and quietly. He was never aware of the eyes that watched his every move.
