Chapter 7

- Dragons! -

"So wait, explain to me what happened?" Teddy's head was whirring and Hermione explained for the second time.

"The other day Ron told me to tell Harry, that Seamus told Pavarti, who told Dean, who told Ron that Hagrid was looking for Harry."

"Right." Teddy said, still slightly confused. "What did Hagrid want to see Harry for?"

"Apparently, he wanted to show him the first task, for the tournament."

"And?"

"It's dragons."

Teddy stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide and mouth slightly open. Then he ran to catch up with Hermione. "Dragons? Like, actually Dragons?"

"Yes, Teddy. Actually Dragons."

"Are they crazy?"

"Apparently, so." Hermione sighed before spotting Harry. He was walking through the courtyard looking tense, angry and scared. "Harry, wait up!" They caught up, even though Harry didn't wait for them.

"Why so tense Potter?" Teddy looked up. Draco was sitting in one of the trees, surrounded by his gang like usual. "My father and I have a bet you see. I don't think you're gonna last ten minutes in this tournament." He jumped down and Teddy bawled his fist at his side. "He disagrees. He thinks you won't last five."

"Bugger off, Malfoy!" Teddy growled.

"Oooh." The blonde-haired boy smiled. "Maybe you should put a muzzle on that dog of yours, Potter."

"Drop dead!" Teddy spat.

"Bite me!" He returned.

"Don't tempt me!" Teddy took a step forward but Hermione put up her hand to stop him.

"You know what, Malfoy?" Harry finally hissed. "I don't give a damn what you or your father think. He's vile and cruel, and you're just pathetic."

Harry began to walk away. Draco was fuming and had begun to pull out his wand. "How dare you talk about my father like that-"

Suddenly, Professor Moody appeared from nowhere. He flicked his wand and a white ferret had replaced the angry boy. Teddy grinned bursting out into fits of laughter, that were soon joined by other students. "I'll teach you to cast a spell when someone's back is turned."

With a flick of his wand, Ferret-Malfoy was tossed into the air and landed into Goyle's jumper. He panicked trying to pull the squeaking, frightened ferret out. When he finally did Moody levitated the ferret, causing it to spin in the air over and over again. Teddy knew that his father would not be impressed by his son's enjoyment of the situation, but he couldn't help himself.

Professor McGonagall pushed past the students and looked confused when she saw Professor Moody levitating a ferret. "P-Professor Moody, what are you doing?"

"Teaching." He responded and the Professor turned white.

"I-is that a student?"

"Technically, it's a ferret."

Teddy let out a small uncontrollable laugh before covering his mouth and pretending to cough. Once more Professor Moody put the ferret in one of the gang's pants and once more the courtyard exploded with laughter. Then there was a crack!

Professor McGonagall had levitated Ferret-Malfoy out of the boys pants and returned him to normal. Draco stood on his feet, shaking. "My father will hear about this!"

"Is that a threat!?" Moody limped forward and soon the two of them were running around the tree. Malfoy gave off a pitched scream. "I could tell you stories about your father that would curl even your greasy hair boy!" Moody yelled in his grouchy voice.

"Professor-" Professor McGonagall said.

"It doesn't end here!"

"Professor!" Moody stopped chasing the boy. "We never use transfigration as a punishment, surely Dumbledore told you that?"

Moody had a guilty look on his face and his blue eye twitched. "He might've mentioned it.

"Well you will do well to remember it." She said before walking off, shooing away the students. Moody pulled a funny face behind the professor's back. Teddy covered his mouth again, turning his laughter into a series of coughs. "Potter, come." Moody ordered and Harry followed behind him.

"Wait, Harry-" But he was already gone. "I wanted to see if I could help." Teddy sighed next to Hermione, who patted him on the back before motioning for them to leave. "So, when's the first task?"

"Tomorrow."

"I don't think you allowed back there, Teddy." Hermione watched helplessly as Teddy pushed through the crowded stands towards the champion tent.

"Don't care."

"You could get in trouble."

"I might."

The two finally were standing outside the tent. Teddy peered in. Harry was passing back and forth, outside a low roar made Teddy's ears ring. "Psst, Harry." He whispered. Hermione looked behind them to see if anyone was coming their way.

"Teddy?"

"How are you feeling?" He asked from behind the thin sheet.

"Fine."

Hermione pushed closer towards Harry. "The key is to concentrate. After that you just have to..."

"Battle a dragon."

Teddy glanced at Hermione and pushed back the tent sheet. "You got this, Harry."

Hermione enters the tent after Teddy, hugging Harry.

Suddenly, Teddy had to blink as a white camera flash obscured his vision. Rita Skeeter, followed by a journalist, approached the group. Everyone's head turned in their direction.

"Young love! Ohh how... stirring." She said, pausing to think of the right word. "If everything goes unfortunately today you might make the front page."

Suddenly, her path was blocked by a tall figure.

"You have no business here. This tent is for champions and friends." Rita looked Viktor Krum up and down, her eyes hungry.

"No matter. We've got what we wanted." She moved to the back of the tent. Teddy stood awkwardly beside Harry and Hermione. He spun around as Dumbledore and the other school Headmaster's walked into the tent.

"Good day champions. Gather round please." Dumbledore sounded slightly excited. "Now you've waited, you've wondered and at last the moment has arrived. The moment only four of you can fully appreciate-"

Dumbledore had noticed the two extra people in the room. "Mr Lupin? Miss Granger? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, sorry um... we'll just go." Hermione stammered, tugging on Teddy's arm.

"Good luck, Harry." Teddy whispered as they exited the tent. They searched the stands, that circled around a large stone pit, for somewhere to watch the tournament and were able to find some space at the back. They jumped at the bang of cannon and the tournament begun.

Dumbledore's voice echoed on the loud speaker. "Welcome! Welcome! To the first challenge of the Tri-Wizard Tournament!"

The three schools whistled, clapping their hands and chanting their champion's name.

"Each of the four champions must collect the egg that will be guarded by one of four dragons." Teddy's stomach curled. "Let the tournament begin!"

Teddy rung his hands in worry as he watched Cedric, Viktor and Fleur retrieved their eggs.

"Three of our champions have now faced their dragons and so each one of them will proceed to the next task. And now our fourth and final contestant. Harry Potter!"

"I can't watch!" Hermione said, covering her eyes.

Teddy, on the other hand, was too scared to look away. Harry had entered the pit when a large brown dragon attacked him from above. The golden egg sparkled in the center of the pit, but no matter what Harry tried he couldn't get close enough.

"Your wand, Harry! Your wand!" Hermione screamed.

"Accio Firebolt!"

Teddy heard Harry yell over the crumbling of rocks and the roar of fire. There was a sharp whistling sound and something flew into the pit. "Brilliant!" Teddy clapped as Harry mounted his broom. "Go Harry!"

CLANG! CRACK!

The sound echoed over in Teddy's ears like a broken record. His eyes went wide and he ceased clapping. The dragon's chain, which had kept it tied to the ground, had snapped and it was soaring after Harry towards the castle. "This is bad isn't it-"

"This is horrible!" Hermione screamed.

The crowd soon became quiet. Everyone was trying to either see or hear what was happening. The Professors, who had been talking nervously among themselves, had also gone dead silent.

There was a distance roar and a loud bang. Teddy could barely hear it over the thumping of his heart. He took a few breaths to calm down, but it barely did anything. "I can't see him." Hermione whispered.

Whoosh!

Something flew over their heads and a panting, scratched and bruised Harry grabbed the heavy golden egg.

"Harry! Harry! Harry!"

Teddy let out a tense breath and joined in on the chanting, relieved that his friend was alright.