Here the chapter, enjoy it, I had some problem for Harry's part of the first task when he flew on his broom but I did it and her it is.
Ace was once again in the library, this time, with a good novel, when someone sat in front of him. He raise his eyes from his page to see a very nervous Harry, before him, taking out his homework.
-Well, Potter, I didn't know you liked my presence so much… you're not with Lu' making Granger gone insane ?
Harry shook his head and looked around, as if to assure himself that nobody was listening to them.
-Do you know what the first task of the Tournament is? Whispered Harry, fretting.
-No, not at all.
-Dragons.
Ace stayed an instant closed face.
-We will have to pass before dragons… gritted Harry another time between his teeth.
-How… forget that, I don't want to know. Are you sure of your source?
-I saw it with my own eyes.
Ace rubbed his shin pensively.
-Well, it would explain why I saw Charlie Weasley at Hogsmead, the other day. But why are you telling me?
-Madam Maxime and Karkaroff saw the dragons, too. There were only you and Diggory to warn.
-So ka, thank you for being fair play, Potter. Diggory knows?
-Not yet.
-I'll do it, you should concentrate on how you'll pass your dragon.
-You're not worried?
-Was there a dragon who spit ice in there? Or Venom?
-No.
-Then Hiken doesn't risk anything, but that stay between us.
Ace gave him a knowing smile and gestured toward the homework of the younger boy on the table.
-You want some help?
The next hour, Ace was taking a break in the corridors when he met Kidd who was bothering Cedric.
-Intimidation doesn't work with me, Tulip, let me go to class, huffed Cedric.
-Not before you stop calling me Tulip and you apologized, little twat…
Kidd took some more steps toward Cedric before freezing, sensing a hand closing on his neck.
-Give me one good reason to not burn you alive, Tulip… hissed Ace.
-Hiken, growled Kidd.
-You dead, Luffy will have one less rival for the One Piece. So? What do you chose? You calm yourself or I burn you?
-Tch. You're lucky I don't want to have Shirohige on my ass even before I enter the Shin Sekai.
-A smart decision.
Ace released him and stared as Kidd walked away with a murderous glare.
-Be careful, he doesn't seem to think to let this go, noted Cedric.
-Don't worry, I saw worst than him. Oi! Kidd! Take some class with Kaidou's men! They are better than you at intimidation!
Kidd gritted his teeth and disappeared in the corner of the hallway.
-You have five minutes? Asked Ace.
-Not really, I'm late for Flitwick.
-And after?
-I was going to join my girlfriend in the park. Why? It's important?
-Oh! Ace said with a wondering face. I don't know, really… The issue is whether you find yourself stronger than a dragon, then if it's the case, what I will tell you won't change anything…
Cedric frowned.
-Potter found out what the First Task is. He told me the precedent hour. There are four dragon. One for each champion. Female with their eggs from what he told me. Each champion will have to bypass a dragon.
Cedric opened wide eyes.
-You're not serious!
- Very serious. I recognized Charlie Weasley the other day at Hogsmead and usually he is in Romania with Dragons.
-But why are you telling me?
-Like this, we are all equals. Krum and Delacour know apparently. I'm going! Good luck!
And Ace rushed off running, leaving Cedric to go to class.
-Portgas…
Ace pulled up and turned to see Mad Eye who had caught Harry's shoulder. The Boy-Who-Lived seemed to be panicking.
-I wasn't expecting so much Fair-Play in a pirate…
The mouth of the ex-auror pulled up in a smile.
Ace walked toward the man and in a sudden move, hit his arm, forcing him to let Harry go who took cover behind him.
-You chose your allies badly, Potter… commented Moody.
-I know Ace better than you. You'll forgive me, professor, commented Harry.
Ace stayed an instant looking at the man, searching his eyes, but gave up seeing the man staring obstinately at Harry.
-Let's go, Potter, I'll explain why you're late to Sprout.
He took Harry by the shoulder and escorted him to class.
-He wanted to know if I knew how to pass the dragons… breathed Harry.
-There is more way than one, believe me. Look at where you're good and use this for yourself.
Hermione sighed when Harry told him of Ace's calm about the dragons.
-Obviously, Harry! Ace is the fire! He as an unspeakable advantage compared to the others!
-I forgot that…
Harry looked out of the window to see Kidd and Luffy outside, they looked to be in an argument if he judged from the fact they were sending blow to each others.
-But I don't understand… Ace told me to look at my strong points and to use them… but I'm not particularly good at anything.
Hermione opened big eyes and told him:
-But you are! In Flying!
-Flying?
-You are the youngest seeker of Hogwarts, Harry with the best broom there is!
-I'm only authorized a wand…
-Are you a wizard or not?!
-Honestly… what would be the best solution? Asked Kennichi to his commander as they looked at the first dragon in the stadium, waiting for Bagman to show up.
-The rocks there… they could be transfigured into baby dragons. If you chose the same specie, game over, yoi. You transfigure another one into a chosen predator, and the female dragon will be in alert. She prefer the life of already hatched eggs, to those who may never come to term. It's the animal instinct, yoi.
-Of course, the Flying Pineapple is still the expert on the animal field… remarked Sabo behind them.
- If you keep bothering me, I'll throw you in the arena, Sabo, warned Marco.
-You wouldn't do that, I'm too lovelable for that. Excited, Luffy?
Luffy moved on his seat, one raw in front of Marco and turned toward his brother.
-Nii-chan will have a lot of fun!
The amused snort of all the pirates around said it all.
Harry entered in a tent where McGonagall escorted him.
The others champions were there.
Fleur Delacour was sitting in a corner, on a wooden stool. The forehead sweating, she had lost her assured air and seemed rather pale. Viktor Krum seemed more grumpy than ever, which must be his way to express his apprehension, pondered Harry. Cedric was pacing. When Harry entered, he made a small smile. Harry answered with a small smile of his own, but he sensed some stiffness in the muscles of his face, as if he wasn't used to this move anymore. Ace, for his part, had taken a bench for himself. He would have the air of a totally normal young man who was killing time, with what looked like a manga between his hand and an earphone on his ears, if not for the knife he had tied to his waist. When Harry entered, he winked at him and went back to his reading.
-Ah, but who is here! Harry! Exclaimed Bagman in a happy voice turning toward him. Come in, come in, make yourself at ease!
In the middle of all those champion with livid complexions, Bagman looked like a character of a very colorful cartoon. This time again, he wore his old robe of the Hornets team.
Albeit… Ace still didn't seemed nervous. He seemed to not care what was going on around him, too obsessed with his reading.
-That's it, everyone is here. So it is time to inform you! Bagman said. When the public will have taken place, I will ask you to pick each in turn in this bag.
He showed them a little purple bag made of silk that he waved before their eyes.
-You will take a miniaturized version of the thing you will have to face later! There are different… hum… variety, you will see. I also have another thing to tell you… yes… here… your task will be to seize the golden egg!
Harry glanced around him. Cedric nodded to show that he understood and paced again. He was slightly green. Fleur Delacour and Krum showed no reaction. Maybe they feared that the sole act of opening their mouth would make them sick. Anyway it was what Harry himself was feeling. But them, at least, had volunteered for the tournament…
And suddenly, hundreds of students flooded outside. We could hear the sound of their steps outside of the tent, their overexcited talks, their laughter, their joking… Harry felt he was so far from them that he had the impression of being of another specie. Between the arrival of the public and the moment Bagman opened the purple silky bag, he seemed to him that only a second passed.
-Ladies first, Bagman said presenting the bag to Fleur Delacour.
She drove her shaking hand and took out a tiny model of a dragon, perfectly imitated – it was a Welsh Green. The number "two" was attached around his neck. Before Fleur's expression, which showed no surprise but a resigned determination, Harry knew that he had guessed right: Madam Maxime had told her what was awaiting her.
The same thing happened with Krum. He took out the Chinese Fireball with a scarlet color. The number "three" was hanging around his neck; Krum didn't even bat an eye, he just stared at the ground.
When it was time for him, Cedric slid his hand in the bag and took out the Swedish Short-snout, with blue-grey colors. He had the number "one" around the neck. Knowing what was still there, Harry put his hand in the bag and took the Hungarian Horntail, who had the number "four". When Harry looked at it, the miniature dragon spread his wings and showed his little fangs.
There was only one left.
Ace plunged his hand in the bag and took out a dragon with a serpentine form, with wing and short legs, of a golden color. He had the number "five".
-Kinryû… whispered Ace with a big grin. Hajimemashite…
The tiny dragon slammed his jaw before Ace's eyes who slid it in his pocket.
-Well, here we are! Said Bagman; You each drew a dragon that you will have to face and the number that each has around their neck indicate the order in which you will accomplish this first task. Now, I will have to leave you because I am the one doing the commentaries. Mr Diggory, you are the first. When you will hear the whistle, you will come out of the tent and enter the enclosure, okay? Harry? Could I talk to you an instant?
Harry followed Bagman outside.
-Enough, said Krum. I give up.
-Why? Fleur asked him.
-Karrkarrrof told me what the tasssk would be beffore the time…
-Everyone is even here, Krum, pointed out Ace. Maxime told you, didn't she, Delacour?
Fleur nodded.
-Potter discovered it and warned me.
-And it's you who told me, pointed Cedric. We are all even, no need to give up.
-I'm more worried for Potter.
Cedric sighed.
-In what way? Inquired Fleur.
- He is the Boy-Who-Lived! Pointed Cedric. I think that his participation is a tentative of elimination. Effective, as an idea, after all… a dragon. And one of the worst, a Hungarian Horntail…
-I didn't think about that… muttered Krum.
A whistle resound at the moment when Harry came back. Ace exchanged an accolade with Cedric who walked out, face green.
Some seconds later, they heard the cheering of the crowd, which meant that Cedric had just entered the enclosure and was facing the dragon, who was not tiny at all, now…
It was worst than everything that Harry had imagined. Sitting there still, he heard the crowd's cry, yell… exclaim… hold their breath in front of the efforts of Cedric to bypass without damage the Swedish Short-snout. It was like the spectator were only one person with multiples heads reacting in the same voice. Krum was still looking at the ground. Fleur had began to pacing too around the tent, like Diggory before her. And the commentaries of Bagman only made things worse… Horrible pictures formed in Harry's head when he heard "oh, there! It was close, really close… We can say that he is taking risks, this one! Very nice tentative. Too bad it didn't work!"
In the end, after fifteen minutes, Harry heard the deafening roar of the crowd which could only mean one thing: Cedric had succeed in passing by the dragon and take the golden egg.
-Congratulation! Really good! Bagman was yelling. Now let's see the score of the judges!
But he didn't announce the notes. Harry supposed that the judges must write them down on some board that they showed the public.
-Still four concurrent to go, now! Shouted Bagman as another whistle blew. Miss Delacour, please!
Fleur was shivering from head to toes. When he saw her going out of the tent her head high, her hand tight around her wand, Harry felt more sympathy for her than he ever had until now. Ace whispered an encouragement in a french with a very strong spanish accent, before there was only him, Krum and Harry, each on his side, avoiding each other's eye.
And everything began again…
-Oh, maybe it wasn't very wise! They heard Bagman yell in a thrilled voice. Oh, there, there… almost! Attention, now… My god, I thought that it was done!
Ten minutes later, Harry heard the crowd explode again in a thunder of clapping… Fleur must have succeed too. There was a silence as the notes she got were showed… and then another wave of applaud… and finally, a third whistle sound.
-And now come Mr Krum! Exclaimed Bagman.
Krum walked out with his dragging step, leaving Harry alone in the tent with the pirate.
He had a bigger conscience of his body than normal : his heart was beating faster, he sensed like his fingers were throbbing with needles under his skin, as if the fear was flooding in his veins… however, he had like the sensation of being somewhere else, out of himself. The canvas of the tent, the reaction of the crowd seemed so far to him…
-Everything will be alright, Potter, smiled Ace.
-Talk for yourself, I'm not immunized against fire…
-Very daring! Screamed Bagman.
Harry heard the Chinese Fireball emit a horrible scream as the crowd held back their breath.
-You can say that he isn't afraid… and… But yes, he took the egg!
The applauds came with so much force in the icy atmosphere of the winter that they seemed to break it like crystal. Krum had done it. At any time, it would be Harry's time.
He stood up with the impression of having legs in marshmallow. Some instants later, the whistle came.
-Gambatte! Smiled Ace, calm. I know that you will do it.
-Good luck to you too, mumbled Harry.
And he walked out of the tent in a crescendo of panic. He passed before the bush of trees, then passed an opening in the fence surrounding the enclosure.
Everything he saw around him seemed to come out of a dream with blinding colors. Hundred and hundred faces were looking at him in the stands that had been constructed with magic since the night they had came for the first time. The Hungarian Horntail was facing him, on the other side of the fence. The dragon – or the female dragon – was incubating her eggs, wings half closed, her yellow eyes, fierce, fixated on him. Like a monstrous lizard with black scales, she was stirring her spiked tail who was marking the ground with deep and long marks. The crowd was shouting loudly in a big tumult. Harry ignored if these cry were favorable to him or hostile, and he couldn't care less. The moment came to do what he had to do… to concentrate completely, his mind on what represented his only chance.
He raised his wand.
-Accio Firebolt! He screamed.
Then he waited, hoping, prying, with every cell of his body… and if the spell failed… If the Firebolt didn't come… Everything he saw around himself seemed to be deformed by a sort of see through ward, sparkling like a warm mist, behind which the hundreds of faces who were around him seemed to strangely float…
In the end, he heard it, ripping the air behind him. He turned around and saw the Firebolt get around the edge of the forest, rush toward the enclosure and stop at half-length, just beside him, waiting for him to mount it. The tumult of the crowd amplified… Bagman yelled something… but Harry's ears were in no state to hear what he was saying… There wasn't any meaning in listening to him…
Harry mounted his broom and took off immediately. Something like a miracle happened then…
When he took off in the air, when he sensed the wind tousle his hair, when the face of the crowd were only pins below him, when the dragon was reduced to the size of a dog, he realized that it wasn't only the ground he left, but also his fear… Brusquely, he found back his familiar element…
It was a new game of Quidditch, nothing more… a simple game of Quidditch and this dragon was an opposing team particularly repulsive…
He looked at the eggs that the Hungarian Horntail was protecting between her feet and spot the golden egg sparkling in the middle of the others who looked like gray stones.
"Good, though Harry. A little tactic of diversion… let's go..."
And he dove. The head of the dragon followed his trajectory. He knew what she was going to do and he went up vertically just in time : a jet of flames appeared at the place where he was at one second before… but Harry wasn't worried… it wasn't harder than to escape a bludger…
-Thousand of Medusa! This is what is called to know how to fly! Yelled Bagman, as the crowd cried out and then stopped breathing. Did you see that, Mr Krum?
Harry took some altitude and flew in circle. The dragon was still following him with her eyes, her head turning on her long neck. If he continued like that, it wouldn't be long before she had the vertigo, but it would be best to not continue like this for too long, or she would blew some fire again.
Harry dove the second she opened her mouth. This time, however, he was less lucky. He managed to escape the flames but the spiked tail hit like a whip and, the moment he turned to the left, one of the long spike touched his shoulder, tearing a part of his wizard's robe.
He sensed the pain, hear the cries and groans coming from the public, but the wound didn't seem too deep… he flew around the Hungarian horntail and had an idea…
It seemed that the dragon didn't want to take off, she loved her eggs too much. She was twisting on herself, her wings flaring and folding, her horrible yellow eyes still staring at him, but she was scared to go far from her eggs… but he had to make her go away from it, or he would never be able to approach the golden egg… he had to act with prudence, progressively.
He began to change endlessly of direction, staying far away to avoid the gush of flames but approaching enough that she felt threaten and continued to follow his with her eyes. The head of the creature was leaning on one side, then the other, showing her fangs, her vertical pupils fixing him…
He flew a little higher and the head of the dragon raised with him, her outstretched neck swinging like a cobra before a snake charmer…
Harry elevated himself a little more and she let escape an exasperated roar. For her, he was like an annoying fly, a fly that she was anxious to plumber. Her tail swing in the air again, but Harry was out of reach… she spit some fire that he avoid… The monster opened wide her mouth…
-Come on, come, gritted Harry between his teeth, turning around her head from above to attract her. Come on, come get me… Move…
She straightened on her back legs then, unfolding finally her wide black and shining wings, as large as a small plane, and Harry dove. Before the dragon could understand what he was doing and where he went, he went toward the ground with all the speed of his broom, in the direction of the eggs she wasn't protecting anymore with her long clawed feet.
Harry had let go of the handle of his Firebolt and he had just taken a hold of his golden egg…
He took some altitude and then, with a new quick acceleration, flew toward the stands, his golden egg in his arms unharmed. Then it was as if someone had raised the sound to the maximum; For the first time since he entered the stadium, he took conscience of the noise of the public who yelled and applauded as loudly as the Irish supporters at the World Cup…
-Look at that! But look at that! Bagman was yelling. Our youngest champion was the quickest to retrieve his egg until now! Here is something that will raise the bet on Mr Potter!
Harry saw the dragon's handler rush toward the dragon to neutralize the Hungarian horntail. There, at the entry of the enclosures, the professor McGonagall, the professor Moody and Hagrid were quickly coming toward him with big hand gestures and smiles so larges that we could see them from far away. He turned around above the stands, the racket of the mass of people resonated in his ears, and landed softly, the heart finally light… he had passed the first task, he had survived…
Ace opened his eyes, cutting his concentration from Harry, a smile tugging his lips. The kid had talent. Maybe if he did his puppy eyed to Marco, he would make the Phoenix fold and accept to give the Boy-Who-Lived some intensive class of flying. What is better than a Phoenix to teach that?
-And now, the wanted man of the tournament, we are waiting for our last contestant, Mister Portgas!
Ace stood up with a sigh and took out his headphone from his ears. On his way toward the enclosure, he rolled them around his Tone Dial and his manga that he had in his pocket, before entering in the arena.
The Kinryû was already there, impatiently waiting for him, several meters long, rolled in a protective way around his eggs, his golden scales shining under the sunlight.
Ace glance during one instant at the public, spotting his siblings and his friends. In a quick motion he took off what was molesting him and threw the package to Marco. The Phoenix leaned forward and caught everything with one hand, before going back to his seat.
-What is preparing our dear Portgas? Asked Bagman.
Ace stretched one moment, approaching slightly the dragon and put his hat on his head. He accentuated his concentration on his Haki, making his eyes pass in a silver color. Around him, everything became black and white. The world was an infinity of shade of gray; In this universe, the wary dragon stuck out with her golden color with even more sharpness. Between his rings, Ace saw his objective: the golden egg. Further, in color, the way out stood.
-Hajimemasho ka? Asked Ace.
And he put a step forward, entering in the area which show him as a threat for the mother.
The dragon straightened slightly and blew a tongue of fire toward the pirate who didn't make a move to avoid it, despite the cries of the public. He held his right hand in front of him and the fire collected itself in it, climbing his fist to his chest, as he took his favorite position. When the fire reached his left arm, he began to add his own flames, making his fist redden.
-What is he preparing? Asked Bagman.
-Hiken, murmured Rayleigh for himself.
-HI-KEN chanted the pirates. HI-KEN! HI-KEN!
A huge grin split the face of the pirate, making the dragon unconsciously gulp.
-HIKEN!
And the fire fist was projected on the dragon, becoming a immense ball of fire who hit the beast full head on. Carried away by the impact, she flew away unrolling her body, and landing a little further away. Ace rushed toward the nest and picked up the golden egg.
-Good work! However… ohoh, that's bad…
The dragon had recuperated faster than excepted, and to see Ace in her nest wasn't helping her mood. She was going to swallow him whole when Ace huddled on himself to jump high enough, passing above the head of the dragon and hit her with a kakatogueri in the head, sending her nose percuting violently the ground. Ace landed on her head and went on his way.
-That's what is called to tame a dragon! Will Portgas reach the exit?!
With a moaned of pain and rage, the dragon rushed toward the thief who was two steps away from the exit. The team of tamer was going to intervene when Ace turned around, staring the dragon in the eyes.
-[ Down.]
The dragon immobilized herself, her mouth shut, her body shivering sweating. She laid down slowly, whining softly in fear.
Ace went toward her, the egg under his arm and went to pet her scales.
-[ Good girl… now, go back to your nest.]
The dragon went back to her nest like a good little dog, leaving Ace show the golden egg and go out.
The golden trio was staring at him eyes wide and McGonagall rushed toward Ace.
-By Merlin's beard, mister Portgas! How could you scare me like that! I thought the dragon was going to swallow you whole!
-I'm indigestible.
-I don't see why we persist in having this Tornament… sighed Harry. You will do all the tasks in a heartbeat!
-I don't know all of them, I don't knouf!
Ace almost fell when a kid made of rubber run into his arms.
-That was so cool, Ace! Exclaimed Luffy. And you did a super thing, Harry! Marco propose some lesson for acrobatic fly, if you want!
-No thanks, I would like to live until the second task… smiled Harry.
Marco arrived with Sabo, Kennichi and Kali. Ace was covered with congratulations and Harry too, before the judges gave their notes.
-Each judge give a note on ten; The record to beat is Forty-nine, yoi. It's Potter's and Krum's.
-Not bad, Potter! Smiled Ace.
-Mister Silver gave me a nine.
Madam Maxime raised her wand and gave a ten, with some regrets. Dumbledore did the same. Bagman gave a seven which made the public boo and Karkaroff a five who almost caused a riot. Rayleigh raised his own wand to give a ten.
-It's not fair! Yelled Harry. You did better than me! You should have better note!
-I don't give a damn, Potter. I had fun, that's all, commented Ace.
-Harry is right, Portgas, you should have better. Wait…
Apparently, the vocal disagreement of the public had reason of Karkaroff who rectified his note. From five, Ace passed at eight.
Now he had forty-five points, but it didn't mean anything to him;
-It's a little better… sighed the teacher. The champion are excepted in the tent there.
-We're going? Ace asked at Harry.
-Let's go.
In the chambers that were given to them, everyone was gathered around Ace and the egg which was taunting them.
-What tell us that they won't give the solution to this school? Asked Kidd showing Sabo and the Mugiwara.
Several pirates nodded.
-It may be because we are pirates too and that we would like to see one of us win, proposed Robin, making Marco roll his eyes.
-He isn't a pirate him, pointed out a girl showing Sabo with a head gesture.
-Ace is my brother. I'm for him, responded Sabo.
Nami was crouched before the egg examining it attentively, before going back to her feet with a disappointed sigh.
-What is it, Nami-san? Inquired Sanji.
-It's flagrant that they only are golden paper… it's not worth a dime, sighed Nami.
-Kuso baba… muttered Zoro.
-Don't insult Nami-san!
Bam!
Bam!
Nami gave both of them a blow to their head, instantly calming them.
-So, Ace, you open it? Asked Luffy who was playing with the mini-dragon that his brother gave him.
-Go on, encouraged Rayleigh.
Ace shrugged and took the egg. He slid his nails in the slot and opened it…
The ears blowing sound coming out of it made more than one grit their teeth!
Ace hurried to close it, livid.
The silence fell.
-Even Killer singing in his shower, is more musical than that, grunted Kidd shaking a finger in his ear.
-It seems like the old man when he drank too much… commented Sabo as livid as his older brother.
Luffy stood up and pat Ace's hair.
-It was good knowing you, Ace. If you have to attack Garp when he is drunk, you will die!
The remark made more than one laugh.
-That sound familiar, said Rayleigh thinking.
-Me too… It remind me of the way the mermaids in lake scolded me when I went to swim at the beginning of the year, pointed Zoro.
-Fresh water mermaids are rare… I would have never though of it, confessed Marco.
-Attention everyone, cover your ears! Stated Kali taking the egg.
Everyone covered their ears. Pitying her, Robin made a pair of hand bloom to protect the ears of the Shirohige who opened the egg. This one continued his interpretation of musical saws, before Kali placed her wand in the hole and threw a spell. Soon, the hole of the egg was full of water, and the noise changes, becoming a riddle.
-Yep, mermaids… said Marco.
-I'm in deep shit… Ace stated clearly.
-It was nice knowing you, Hiken! Mocked Kidd.
The glare Ace threw him said it all.