Chapter 5- Dragons and Eggs

It was three days before the first task when Ron brought Harry a note. "He wants you to meet him at his hut, bring your cloak." Ron said. Hermione was reading over her homework when Harry sat next to her. "Fancy a moonlight walk with me tonight?" Harry asked, showing her the note. Hermione smiled. "Of course good sir. I wouldn't miss it." Hermione said.

Ron sat with Lavender by the couch, she was helping him with his potions homework. Harry smiled at the pair as he headed for his dorm room to grab his cloak. As he got to his trunk, he was confronted by Seamus.

"Ya know, you don't act like you didn't put your name in the Goblet." He stated. Harry just shrugged. "I was told if I didn't compete I would lose my magic. I am trying to take this seriously. If you haven't noticed, my competition are older and better trained than me." Harry said. Seamus looked over Harry and stalked off. Harry honestly didn't have time for the accusations that flew his way.

That night, Hermione joined him in the common room and they headed out towards Hagrid's hut. "Hey There, Harry, 'Ermione. Good ya see ya both." Hagrid said. Harry smiled at his large friend. He looked over and Hermione seemed to have a few tears in her eyes. When they left England in the future, they didn't know what became of Hagrid. All they knew he was the last Order member in England and the last Professor to stay at the ruin of Hogwarts.

Hagrid directed them to get under the cloak and he bade them to follow him as he met Madame Maxime. "Bonjour 'Agrid, eet iz a beautiful night tonight, no?" The large woman said. Hagrid smiled. "Not nearly as beautiful as you mi'lady." Hagrid said. Harry could see the blush on Madame Maxime as they walked into the forest.

The night was illuminated with flames of the dragons. Harry held Hermione's hand as they strolled behind the two half-giants. "If it weren't for this coming from dangerous lizards, this would be a nice evening." Hermione said. Harry smiled as they found the area where the great beasts were hidden.

Harry saw the Chinese Fireball thrashing about, and Madame Maxime exclaim loudly at seeing the Horntail. Harry wondered if that was always part of the tasks or if someone really wanted him dead. Harry had the benefit of hindsight and now felt bad for the poor nesting dragons.

The pair slipped away, headed back to the castle to find Ron, Lavender and Ginny in the Common Room. "Dragons" Both Harry and Hermione said together. Ginny and Lavender paled and Ron to his credit did a good job acting like he didn't already know.

"What breeds were there?" Ron asked. "Chinese Fireball, Norwegian Shortsnout, Welsh Green, and Hungarian Horntail." Harry explained. Ron nodded, remembering both the original timeline and his own studies. "Well, I can find a decent book on dragons. Kind of wish we can pick Charlie's brain on this though." Ron said. Ginny looked at her brother curiously, his study habits were unusual as of late.

"Well, we can study tomorrow, right now I am exhausted." Harry said as he went up to his dorm.

The next day, Harry went to the Great Hall with Hermione and looked for Cedric. "Still have to warn him?" She asked. Harry nodded. "I still feel guilt over his death." Harry said. Hermione hugged him and whispered in his ear "This time we will save a lot of people." She said. Harry nodded as they made there way to breakfast.

As they went to class, Harry ran to Cedric and called to him. Roger Davies turned with Cedric and both looked amused. Harry was wearing a button that said "SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION" but Harry had it set to its alternate function saying "POTTER STINKS". Malfoy was selling them a few weeks ago and offered one to Harry. What surprised the entire school was when Harry bought three and gave them to Ron and Hermione. Malfoy walked away confused about Harry not losing his temper.

"What's going on Potter, joining the Seventh Years?" Cedric asked good naturedly. "No, got information about the first task." Harry said. Cedric nodded and indicated to Roger he would catch up. They went off near a window and Harry looked around to make sure Beauxbatons or Durmstrung were not around. "Dragons. The first task is dragons." Cedric looked wide eyed and shocked. Harry then pulled out a book. "Read the marked chapters and study a few spells indicated." Harry said handing him a book on dragon handling. Cedric nodded, not bothering to ask where he got it and slipped it in his bag. "Thanks Potter. Next time I hear you are a cheat or something, I'm going to hex them." He said. Harry laughed. "Just tell them I stink." Harry smirked.

A few days later, it was the day of the first task and Harry was slightly nervous. The previous night he thought he went to bed relaxed but somehow woke up anxious. Ron and Hermione looked at him carefully. "It's okay mate. We got back up plans on back up plans." Ron said. Harry nodded but still could barely eat.

Colin walked up to him and passed him a note. Harry took it and opened it. Inside was Dumbledore's handwriting, "Call the sword" Harry looked to the head table and nodded to Dumbledore.

Professor McGonagall came to him and told him it was time. Harry nodded and followed her out of the Great Hall. As they walked to the tent, a voice called to him . "Harry wait!" Came the voice of Hermione. McGonagall smiled as the bookworm ran up to them. She pulled Harry into a massive hug and whispered to him "Good luck." And kissed him on the lips. The Professor turned and pretended she didn't notice her students snogging in front of her but she was very amused.

Once they separated. Harry smiled at her as she walked off to the stands. Since they returned, the pair were affectionate but not to affectionate, mostly because they were still getting used to their teenage bodies.

McGonagall led him inside the tent where he was joined by the other Champions. Fleur was giving him a knowing smile while Viktor and Cedric nodded to the young man. "All right, now, for your first task, you are to get a golden egg." Ludo Bagman said as he pulled out a bag. "Nothing to challenging, except we brought in nesting dragons. Get the egg past the dragon, get a clue for the next task." Bagman said. Dumbledore clearly did not like how unconcerned Bagman was about safety but he remained silent.

"Now why not let the youngest pick first." Ludo said. Harry rolled his eyes and indicated to Fleur. "Ladies first." He said. She smiled at him and pulled out the Welsh Green. Next came Viktor with the Chinese Fireball, then Cedric with the Swedish Short Snout. Harry got the Horntail again and looked at Bagman like he was crazy when he smiled more. "The most dangerous goes to the youngest." Bagman said. Fleur looked angry. "I wish to switch." She said. Bagman shook his head. "No trades." He said as he walked off. Maxime regarded her student proudly and Karkaroff glared at the retreating Bagman. He then started saying things in Russian that Harry was sure were cuss words. Maxime was doing the same in French.

They were separated in the tent and Harry could hear flame bursts and cheers as the other champions fought their dragons. Harry went over the plans in his head, trying to keep his nerves from overtaking him. An attendant came to him after a few hours. "It's time." He said, sounding like Harry was going to his execution.

Harry walked to the entrance and waited for Bagman. "And now, our surprise fourth champion, HARRY POTTER!" He said as Harry walked out. There were many cheers from the stands but just as many boos, especially from Slytherin. Harry just focused as he saw the great dragon, who had an insane look in her eyes. Harry exhaled his held breath and ran from the flames that shot from her mouth. Diving behind a boulder. The dragon stormed around the arena as Harry fired off spells that just made noise.

The dragon went looking for the noises as Harry concentrated and held out his hand, thinking of the sword of Gryffindor. As he felt the sword come to him, Bagman interrupted his thoughts. "Another exciting development!" He said. Harry looked up and saw Blaise Zabini had fired a curse at the dragon. The boy had a wicked smile that turned to shock as the dragon turned to face the audience. "Oh hell." Harry said as the creature rammed the stands. The shield held, hut Harry wondered how long it would hold against dragon fire.

The beast launched flames at the shield and to his horror, it was quickly failing. Harry ran to the stands and grabbed a rock. Thinking quickly, he inscribed a rune onto the stands then he used his want to enhance the shield.

A great barrier bagan coming up, but Harry feared it wasn't going to save the students fast enough. He looked up and Ron, Hermione and surprisingly Ginny assisted with speeding the shield, at the top box, Dumbledore used his wand to enhance the shield. Before the initial shield failed, the stands were supported by the Heaven's Shield and stopped the dragon's attack. The horntail then looked at Harry and he could see that her eye was hit with a stinging hex. The large creature roared and ran at him. Harry again raised his hand and called for the sword with his mind.

At that moment, he felt something solid in his hand and he readied the sword. The dragon then came to a dead stop and recoiled from the sword. Harry moved forward as the dragon backed away. Harry then walked to the eggs and grabbed the golden one. Keeping the sword up, he backed away tot eh tent entrance, as the dragon stayed away from the sword.

Cheers erupted once Harry left the arena and Madam Pomfrey grabbed him into a hug. "Of all the stupid things, you scared the life from me." She shouted. Harry was surprised by the normally stoic woman embracing him.

She rushed him into a medical room and examined him. "I told Dumbledore this was a bad idea. He said the Ministry was forcing the idea because that fool Crouch needed to win back his former glory. Maybe he should enter a Hitler look alike contest instead of trying to kill my charges." She growled. Giving Harry a clean bill of health, Ron entered, carrying Ginny in his arms. "What happened?" She asked.

"When that dragon attacked, we all put up a shield, well Ginny never did it before, she just copied us and it took a lot out of her." Ron explained. Pomfrey nodded and had Ron take her to a bed. Hermione came in after and ran to Harry and jumped into his lap. "That was bloody brilliant!" She exclaimed. Harry smiled. "Language Hermione." He said. She gently swatted his shoulder then pulled him into a full kiss.

Ron came in after Ginny was settled and was joined by Lavender. They stood in the room while Harry and Hermione were snogging. "They seem like they are trying to become one person." Lavender said. Ron snorted with laughter. "We should call them Harmony." Ron suggested. Hermione broke the kiss to turn and glare at Ron. "Do it and I'll feed you to the giant spiders." Hermione said. Laender giggled.

"And here is our youngest champion." Bagman said as he entered the tent. Harry groaned. "You passed the first task and even saved the students from an unexpected hiccup." Bagman said. Harry glared at him. "Hiccup? That's what you call a student pissing off a nesting dragon? I hate to see what you call a catastrophe you giant tosser." Ron said. Bagman just ignored him. "Well, if you want you can dismiss your fangirl there." Bagman said but was interrupted by Dumbledore.

Albus had a look of absolute fury as he held a beater bat in his hand. "You said the stands would be properly warded from the dragon!" He snarled. Bagman just smiled. "Just a little hiccup." He said. Dumbledore wasted no time and swung the bat and hit Bagman in the head. He went down in one hit. "Now where is that Hitler look alike?" He said looking around. Crouch came in looking terrified. "The foreigners are trying to kill me Albus!" He said.

"Oh they get to wait in line!" Dumbledore growled and ran at Crouch who then ran off intot he grounds, being chased by an angry Dumbledore.

Lavender, Ron, Harry and Hermione looked out and saw Dumbledore chasing Crouch throughout the grounds. "God I hope I am as spry as that when I am his age." Lavender said. Harry nodded as Dumbledore caught up with Crouch and started beating him with the beater bat while yelling obscenities.

"Quite a mouth on him." Harry said. The others nodded as they went inside and moved the knocked out Bagman out of the room.

"Well, we are going to check on the others." Ron said as he and Lavender took each others hands, both not really realizing they did it as they left the pair alone.

A few hours later, Albus returned, looking more refreshed. "I am glad you thought quickly to enhance the spectator shield with the Heaven's Shield rune and charm." Albus said as he took a seat. Harry nodded with Hermione in his lap. "Professor, how did you know the sword would do that to the dragon?" Hermione asked. Albus smiled as he took the sword from Harry. "There is a rune on here that in the previous timeline I had no idea about, my time in heaven allowed me to find it and it is an old norse rune for Dragon's Bane. Dragons fear it and I decided that instead of Harry trying to outfly the Horntail, he would summon the sword." Albus said returning the blade to Harry.

"It is yours now. Not even the ministry can take it from you since you technically used it to protect the school twice. You are hereby named the Defender of Hogwarts." Albus said with a smile. Harry and Hermione looked at the sword and awed at it.

Snape entered a moment later. "Headmaster, Zabini is in your office." He said. Albus nodded and hardened his features. "Well, time for some discipline." He said as he walked with Snape out of the tent.

In Dumbledore's office, Zabini sat and tried to look remorseful. His father said just look like your sorry and the old fool will buy it. Dumbledore entered and sat at his desk, not even bothering to offer his lemon drops to Zabini, but Snape took one. "Mr. Zabini, can you tell me why you thought firing a stinging hex at an angry nesting dragon was a good idea?" Dumbledore asked with a hard edge in his voice.

Zabini looked down. "I thought it would be funny, make the dragon a little angry. I didn't know he would attack us." He said. Dumbledore snorted. "Madam Maxime and Master Karkaroff both saw you firing the hex. Right now I am expecting the Board to come down and demand answers." Dumbledore said.

A moment later, Karkaroff and Maxime entered, both looking furious. "Zhat iz zhe boy Dumby, 'E waz ze one." Maxime said pointing at him. Karkaroff merely glared as he stood by Severus. "Your wand Mr. Zabini." Dumbledore said. Blaise pulled it out, figuring he was going to be banned from his wand for a month. He was shocked when Dumbledore snapped it. "You are hereby expelled from Hogwarts. The other Headmasters also indicate you would not be welcome in their schools either." Dumbledore said as the other heads nodded.

"You can't do this to me old man!" Zabini snarled. "I just did." Dumbledore said. Blaise stood up and pointed at Dumbledore. "I will make you pay for this old man." He snarled. Dumbledore smirked. "Get in line boy. But first, I want you out of my school. Severus, escort him out." He said to Snape. Snape nodded and grabbed Zabini by the arm and walked him out.

Snape did not want to show surprise at Dumbledore expelling a student, usually he gave second chances, but this time he was more than prepared to remove a dangerous student. Severus was going to have a house meeting tonight to explain the new normal to them.

AN: Okay, this is early but I have something important to say. This month one of my eyes has blurred vision, so I went and got it checked out. I have diabetic retinopathy, meaning if I don't get it treated I will go blind. I will continue to post act one but writing is going on the back burner. I can't lose my eye sight. I am sorry for anyone invested in this story but I need to get better.