First Task

A month passed quickly. Harry continued taking classes, making friends, and practicing his Chinese once a week with Cho and Su. Quatre's time was spent in magical combat training and helping the Order with strategies. After intense deliberation with the Tamers in Innoxia, a final list of ingredients were agreed upon for the master communication wand, and Trowa was off in the magical forests of the world, helping the Tamers acquire the needed wand materials from mythical beasts.

Wufei was also extremely busy. He was assisting Dumbledore with the First Task, Commander Une with military strategies against magical warfare, and Doctor Po with potential treatments to magical injuries or curses. He was also corresponding regularly with the London Chang family.

Then there was Heero. Heero assisted Wufei and spent a few days a week at Hogwarts so that Duo could relax for a few hours and get true rest. He also continued to make frequent trips out into populated Wizarding areas in order to get a feel for the way magical people moved, thought, and reacted. When confronted with a new culture, his training as an assassin required him to know as much as possible about his targets. Success often required split-second reactions and the knowledge of which way the target would jump before they actually moved. This understanding was often the difference between life and death.

And lastly there was Duo. Duo taught the kids about the non-magical world, spied on the staff, kept his eye on Harry, and basically ran amuck in the school. He was having the time of his life.

Finally, it was a week before Halloween and the Champions of each House would be announced by the House Heads. Because of the attack the Order knew was planned for Halloween, they decided to have the First Task the night before Halloween. Dumbledore gave the excuse that pushing it up a day would mean the Task wouldn't get in the way of the Halloween feast and that Hogwarts would have even more reason to celebrate.

In truth, however, Heero and the others were worried about Harry's reaction to the attack. So far their boy had painful, graphic visions whenever Voldemort launched a full scale attack, and they didn't want Harry competing in some Task if it was going to happen again. So far only Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus were the only wizards who knew about the violent visions, and Dumbledore only knew because they had hoped he would know how to break the connection. None of them had found a solution yet.

"Welcome students!"

Dumbledore stood at a podium on a raised dais where the head table usually sat. He wore brilliantly shinning lavender robes and a tall, pointed mage's hat. His beard was clean and fluffed, falling elegantly to his waist. Fawkes perched majestically on the blackened staff held steady in the Headmaster's right hand. The bird made of living fire lifted his wings briefly and let out a piercing cry that silenced every single person filling the Great Hall.

Eyes wide and bright, the students seemed to hold their breath as they gazed on the impressive figure standing before them. Harry stood among them at his place at the Hufflepuff table. Even with the lingering dislike and distrust he had for the Headmaster, Harry couldn't help feeling awed as well. Dumbledore's eyes were bright and power seemed to radiate from him. In fact, only two people seemed unfazed.

Severus Snape stood against the back wall on the dais where the staff stood lined up behind Dumbledore. He stared soullessly out at the crowd of teens, a slight sneer tightening his thin lips. And then there was Duo Maxwell who stood with his hands linked behind his head, grinning widely, his eyes crinkled into crescents as if he were barely containing boisterous laughter. He even bounced on his toes slightly, nearly bursting with energy.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore boomed once more. He lifted his free hand and gestured across the vast room before him. "We are gathered here on this very auspicious evening as the sun sets to begin the Hogwarts Tournament. Amongst us is a worthy candidate waiting to be welcomed into one of the four honorable Houses of Hogwarts. Those in the same House become a type of family. The bonds formed here at Hogwarts lasts throughout one's lifetime and on into the future." The Headmaster lowered his chin to beam out at his students, eyes sparkling over the top of his silver, half moon glasses. "I ask the Head of Hufflepuff, current host to our worthy Harry Potter, to step forward and announce the Hufflepuff Champion!"

Dumbledore sharply lifted the staff, launching Fawkes into the air. The phoenix gave another piercing cry, snapped his wings open, and soared over the Great Hall. He shed embers down over the watching heads of the students, but they didn't singe clothes or hair or skin. Those embers gave off a comforting warmth and dissolved as if they were made of pure light instead of flame.

Professor Sprout stepped forward, blushing at being made center of attention in such a showy ceremony. However, she spoke strongly and her hands were steady as she indicated one of her students. "By unanimous agreement, we name Cedric Diggory as Hufflepuff Champion."

Fawkes came to land on Cedric's shoulder as the seventh-year stood. Smiling a charming grin at the applause coming from not only his House but also his many friends in the other Houses, Cedric left the table and climbed up to the platform to stand next to Sprout. He gave a simple wave before Dumbledore quieted everyone down.

"Head of Ravenclaw, name your champion!"

Fawkes took to the air again, and where he sat upon Cedric's shoulder, he left behind a large emblem of a phoenix in flight, marking him as a Champion.

Professor Flitwik was small, but he stepped calmly forward. His high pipping voice reached across the room clearly. "After much debate, Cho Chang was decided as our Champion!"

Cheers went up from the Ravenclaw table as Cho rose gracefully to her feet and accepted Fawkes weight on her shoulder. She walked up to the platform and offered a bow first to her Head of House and then toward Ravenclaw table. Fawkes balanced perfectly during the movement, remaining on the slender girl's shoulder.

Smiling happily, Dumbledore raised his voice once more. "House Gryffindor, name your Champion!" Again Fawkes took to the air, awaiting the answer and leaving behind the phoenix emblem on Cho's robes.

Professor McGonagal stepped forward. She looked as stern as ever at first, but then she gave a fierce, proud grin. "House Gryffindor recognizes Neville Longbottom as earning the right to be House Champion!"

A wild loud cheer went up as the boy with blushing cheeks got to his feet. He was much steadier, his strength and health improving every day, although he still looked thinner and paler than normal. Fawkes gave a singing chirp and nuzzled the teenager's cheek, making Neville grin sheepishly as he stood with his teacher. The cheers went on for another minute before subsiding.

Dumbledore smiled benevolently on the young hero before turning to Severus. "House Slytherin, name your Champion!"

Fawkes took flight, Neville bearing his emblem as well.

Professor Snape stepped forward the required amount and intoned in a monotone drawl. "Draco Malfoy has won the right to stand as Slytherin Champion."

Only those at the Slytherin table clapped. There were no other cheers as Fawkes landed on the blond's narrow shoulders. Except Harry Potter, who clapped and gave a cheer, just as he had when every other Champion had been named. The Hufflepuffs around him sighed, but they were undisturbed since they had become accustomed to Harry's weird, unwavering determination to treat the Slytherins as if they weren't evil.

As soon as Draco was in place, Dumbledore slammed his staff three times down on the podium. "I acknowledge and accept these worthy students as Champions of Hogwarts. Hogwarts welcome your Champions!"

The students erupted with loud cheers, screams, whistles, and cries. They stomped their feet and banged their fists on the tables. The noise was deafening!

Dumbledore gazed landed on Harry and his voice magically boomed out over the roar. "Now come forward Harry Potter!"

With the students falling silent around him, Harry stood and made his way to stand in front of the platform and Dumbledore. His long braid swung lazily as he walked, his deep green eyes were calm as he gazed up at the Headmaster. Fawkes launched from Draco's shoulder and came to land on his own. Harry had braced for the bird's weight, but found the phoenix weighed nearly nothing. The heat from his fiery feathers felt soft and warm against his cheek.

Dumbledore stared solemnly down at the young man who hadn't fit any of his expectations. "You will test yourself against Hogwarts's finest. In turn, they will test you. Good luck and may you find where you truly belong!"

Harry bowed and climbed the platform to stand among the Champions. Cheers went up and Dumbledore lifted his hands to still them.

"The First Task will begin as soon as the sun sets in exactly fifteen minutes!" Dumbledore gestured toward the magical dome over their heads that revealed the sky was painted golden with the coming sunset. The Heads of House and staff slowly filed off the platform and went to stand along the side walls, leaving the Champions to stand alone with Dumbledore. "They each will be given a list of items that can be found on Hogwarts grounds. They have until the sun rises to find as many of these items as possible. The Champion with the most items wins! If a Champion is not back on this podium at dawn's first light, they forfeit! If they seek help from anyone else to gain an item, they forfeit that item." Dumbledore turned to look at the Champions. "Any questions?"

"Do we all have the same list of items?" Cho asked, eyes bright and intelligent as she stared seriously at the Headmaster.

Dumbledore smiled. "No. Each list is unique. Each list contains an equal number of items chosen by each Head of House and myself. Some will be simple and out in the open. Others will be behind barriers and traps."

"How many items are on each list?" Cedric asked next.

"Each list contains seventeen items. Four chosen by each House Head and a single item chosen by me," Dumbledore answered calmly.

"Can we help each other?" Harry wanted to know.

Dumbledore shook his head. "No. Each Champion must collect the items alone." When no one else spoke up, the Headmaster lifted his hands, one still holding firmly to his staff and materialized five rolled up scrolls floating in the air before the Champions.

"Harry, come forward and choose your list."

Harry grabbed the one closest and stepped back. Dumbledore called each of the Champions by name and they all randomly chose a list before stepping back. Just then the ceiling painted red and orange went dark and Fawkes leapt into the air off Harry's shoulder with a war cry that set everyone on edge.

"Go!" Dumbledore boomed, and the five Champions bolted off the stage and out of the Great Hall filled with now cheering students.

Harry followed the other Champions who came to a stop at the front doors of Hogwarts.

Neville gave him a friendly smile. "Doesn't seem fair. We know the castle and the things in it better than you."

Harry grinned back. "I might surprise you."

"Besides, some of the item names come with locations," Draco informed them. He already had his scroll open, but he was holding it carefully, making sure no one else could see what was written on it.

"Those will be the trapped ones, I bet," Cedric guessed. His eyes were on Cho.

She gave him a small smile as she tied her hair back into a tight bun. It was clear she didn't plan on losing. Her eyes were clear and Harry knew just how intelligent she was. He wouldn't be surprised if she beat them all. "May the best Champion win," she told them before turning and striding down the left hallway.

Cedric finally tore his eyes from his girlfriend as she quickly faded into the shadows. He was smiling widely. "Good luck," he said, tossing them a wink and a wave before making his way down the right hallway.

Draco eyed Harry curiously. "Who do you think will win?"

Neville seemed just as curious about Harry's answer.

Harry toyed with the scroll, still not opening it as he thought about it. "Well, we're the youngest. So that gives Cho and Cedric an advantage. Cedric most since he's been here longest. However, I'm pretty sure Cho is more observant."

Draco's grey eyes looked silver in the torch light. His expression was serious as he said with absolute certainty, "I'm going to win. I'm going to show everyone just how formidable House Slytherin truly is. And you're going to be one of us, Potter."

With that he turned and strode out the front door and out onto the grounds.

Harry and Neville shared a look before breaking into giggles. Still smiling, Harry tossed his scroll into the air and caught it. He flashed Neville his best devil-may-care grin. "Actually, I'm going to win. And I'm going to choose my House, too."

Neville laughed. "Good luck! With as much sneaking around and poking into stuff as Hermione and I do, I'm sure to win this Task."

Harry was really glad to see Neville in such good spirits. He wouldn't mind if Neville did win this one, but he was definitely going to do his best. Games were more fun when you played to win! So he gave Neville a wave goodbye and ran lightly up the staircase to the second floor. He found a nook under a torch, so he'd have good light, and opened his scroll to see his list.

Chapter End

A/N: I need your help once more! Can you give me ideas of items they could be searching for and where they could be hidden or stored? I need as many as you can come up with! LOL