Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction based on the best selling novels by J.K Rowling, I own none of the characters. This is solely written for entertainment.
Unbeta'd version
Chapter 9 - The Whore of Abbadon
Part I - Malevolence
As he looked into the eyes of the dragon Harry's body went rigid. His jaw clenched and fear rooted him to the ground, like his bones had turned to lead.
"It appears the boy has lost his voice. Speak up… Champion." The Ghostscale's voice was gentle, her slivery tone drifted through the air. She folded her large bat-like wings, each scale catching the sun and glistening at him.
Harry felt his throat run dry. His brain scrambled to find words. "Well... It's not exactly often I find myself talking to a dragon. Much less one as intimidating and magnificent as you are." He offered, the familiar speech returning to him.
"Is that so?" The pale dragon mused with a sceptical eye.
"You are stunning - in a terrifying sort of way. I did just witness you outclass her over there, so yeah. You're pretty scary." He gestured with his chin in the direction of the Horntail, now guarding its nest and glaring at them. "I suppose I really ought to be saying thanking you."
The realisation came suddenly to Harry, he was actually talking to a real live dragon; even by his standards this was getting insane.
Another laugh tore through the air. "Such humble manners for a human, I do so enjoy flattery. Perhaps you could tell the others of your kind to stand down?" She growled, her head turning to the stands around them with a threatening stretch of her vast wings.
Harry scanned the edge of the arena. Everyone was staring. All the dragon handlers stood with their wands nervously trained on the Ghostscale, ready to put her down at any second. Slowly Harry raised a hand to them and waved them off.
"You don't lack all sense it seems." The dragon shook her neck and the thorn like spines around her head stirred.
"I have friends who would probably argue with that." Harry replied.
"Wise friends. You are the one from two nights past; who walked without footsteps unseen in the dark, are you not?" She said as she looked down on him.
"You recognise me from the forest?" Harry approached her with caution.
"I could not see you, but your scent I know it, you were there, whispering… with another – a female, I heard your heartbeats and held breathes. Why do they call you Boy-Who-Lived, mage?" The dragon asked with a flick of her tail.
"My name is Harry Potter and I'm a wizard." Harry replied shortly.
The dragon laughed again crouching low as she eyed Harry closer. "Mage, wizard, warlock, sorcerer, wise folk and cunning folk - all the same. We are all many things and one thing, child."
"Do you have to speak without making sense?" As he took a step forward with one claw she also stepped closer.
"Maybe not… perhaps if Harry Potter answered my question he would receive more sincerity." She countered.
Harry watched intensely as a thick plume of black smoke rose from her nostrils.
"Long story short, a man tried to kill me when I was a baby, needles to say he failed miserably. People found out and I became famous." He complied with a grimace.
The Ghostscale paused for a moment thoughtfully as her eyes like searched his for any trace of a lie. "Sounds like quite the fascinating tale."
"I was a baby, it isn't like I can remember." He said sourly. "So, do you have a name?"
"I do." She said simply. "But 'Ghostscale' is fitting enough for the present. It is quite the title, I believe I have you to thank for that."
"How did you know that was my name for you? You can't read minds can you?"
"No, but I have excellent hearing. Even now they are whispering, all of them." The dragon gazed across the faces of the gawking crowd before her head snapped back to him as he tried to edge away. "Many are fearful of you. According to some it seems you are here as much against your will as I am. Isn't that an interesting turn of circumstance?"
Harry narrowed his gaze. "I find circumstance has very little to with events around me. So maybe you could answer how it is you can understand me but the Horntail couldn't?"
"Who is to say she couldn't?" The Ghostscale retorted.
Harry had to fight rolling his eyes. "So was she deaf or just not as friendly as you are? It would have been polite of her to have not tried to turn me to ashes until I had at least tried to explain the situation." Harry bit back.
"That this is a test and they are using us for sport? She couldn't listen, nor could she speak or understand. It seems fortuitous for you that it has been a very long time since I had someone… intelligent to speak with." She confessed.
"So, can I take it by that you aren't going to turn me into your next meal then?" Harry asked hopefully.
"But it would be a waste if I had to dispose of such an amusing soul. No, I will provide you with an opportunity to complete your test, child. But I need something from you before you take that which does not belong to me."
Harry met her gaze as she lowered her head to his level. "I'm guessing in return you want out of this whole captivity situation?" He gave the Ghostscale a resigned look.
"Clever youngling, help should always be given to those need it, should it not?" Her bright golden eyes gleamed as she spoke.
Harry's gaze fell to the wreath of black metal like thorns sat at the base of her neck and his heart beat faster with unease. He had heard similar words before, but how he could possibly break her out in front of all these people?
He supposed it was hardly unreasonable from the dragon's perspective. It wasn't like hadn't exactly done something similar for Dobby and Buckbeak, freeing magical creatures was practically a pastime for him now, adding a dragon to that list would hardly hurt anyone, right?
He tried to put the fact dragons were on an entirely different level out of his mind.
You can't seriously be considering actually freeing her can you? Harry groaned inwardly and wondered what it was that made his conscience sound uncannily like Hermione. But with the possible threat of learning exactly what it meant to be in the belly of a beast Harry saw little other option.
"Why do I have the feeling that this is ten different kinds of stupid?"He wondered out loud.
The dragon evidently heard him and hissed in anger, making Harry raise his hands defensively.
"Fine, alright I'll get you out, but tonight though. Away from the eyes of every single person in my school, the other schools and what looks like half the ministry, if that is alright with you?" Harry said fiercely. Even though he knew she needed him for something he felt no more at ease.
"Your condition is…acceptable." The Ghostscale huffed out a cloud of black smoke. "You are unlike any others I have met, such tenacity for a speaker. There is a fire burning inside you, wizard, you have spirit and touch of darkness too." Her eyes bored into him with curiosity as she grinned at him with her long fangs.
"Now who's using honeyed words? Is that everything?" Harry asked with narrow eyes. Merlin she really likes the sound of her own voice. He thought.
He didn't need to hear any more of the dragon's assessments of him. He had that enough from the world around him and he was all too aware that this conversation was the centre of everyone's attention as it is.
He briefly wondered how it must look to them all, watching him just standing still facing such a monster.
"I believe we have reached terms, child. At the hour of the witch you will find me. Better you hurry before I change my mind." The dragon commanded and began to back away, her footsteps rattling the stones beneath them.
Harry tentatively followed with heavy legs, keeping his eyes on the dragon. The audience above waited with baited breath. There was no doubt now, whatever happened after the task was sure to become very complicated.
As he climbed the towering rocks up to the nest the great dragon began to circle him and the nest, when he reached his goal she stood very still in anticipation.
Harry stopped. "Wait." He stood on the edge to face her directly; they were just about at the same height now. "Just to be sure, you're not going to rampage and kill everyone once I free you, are you?"
He felt stupid for not asking that earlier.
Well it's better late than never.
"Hmm… a good question but you needn't fret, child. I have little quarrel with your kind." She raised her head high above him again her scaled neck stretching, looking down on him with a calculating stare.
"And I'm just supposed to believe that?" Harry asked.
"Are you suggesting I am not as good as my word?" Her maw curled into what could be a smile or snarl.
"I have no past experience to know how much your word is even worth." Harry countered.
He was so dangerously near he could feel the heat and reverberations of her breath. He could see each individual scale on her head and the ridges on her horns. What frightened him more was the sharpness in her eyes, he found almost impossible to believe he had managed to hide from those black diamond pupils under his cloak. She let out another growl.
"I shall not betray my promise, the keepers are kind to their charges. Your concern for others shows you have a good heart speaker. Pray it does not betray you one day." She warned with another foreboding laugh that made the hairs of Harry's head stand up on end.
Harry turned bitterly and took the half egg from the clutch, and set his eyes on the finishing tent.
To the astonishment of the entirety of the student populace he survived the encounter with his dragon without as much as another scratch. The audience stared in stunned silence, but soon Harry heard a single person clapping. Slowly the rest of the student body followed, even the ministry spectators and the foreign ambassadors joined in with wild applause.
Harry sighed in relief and shook off the smile that threatened to make an appearance and turned back to face the Ghostscale. "So tell me honestly, why it is that only you seemed to be able to understand me? It's the reason you saved my life isn't it?
The dragon shook her head and laughed again. "You are speaking my tongue child, is that not obvious?"
"But the Horntail… " Harry began.
"Her silence is a curse, one born upon all dragons. Their hearts and minds reduced to that of mere beasts or else the world would have burned long ago. Such knowledge and secrets have long since passed from memory." The dragon's thin black forked tongue flicked out as she spoke.
"You talk as if you're that old, is that why you're different - not affected by this curse?" Harry's pursuit for answers was only making him feel more unsatisfied. The Ghostscale gave a loud rumbling laugh again.
"An astute theory. A thirst for understanding you have Harry Potter. I wonder what other desires you possess hidden beneath all those burning questions. You truly are a child worthy of the cunning folk. Perhaps I have your answers, if the stars favour us. The hour of the witch. Do not forget."
"Until later then, and thanks again… for not eating me." Harry said and cast the summoning charm once again, watching as his broom come soaring towards him immediately from the finishing tent.
"Your gratitude is most welcome. Harry Potter, boy-who-lived." She gave him what he sincerely hoped to be a friendly smile.
Harry briefly looked down at the half-egg that was now in his hand; appearing to be cut down the middle the inside looked like it was filled with glass that glowed with blue and gold tendrils. His assessment was interrupted by the arrival of his broom which hovered faithfully at his side.
Harry nodded at the dragon and remounted, kicking off into the autumn wind. As he left her behind he cast her one last look. The handlers had urgently begun to subdue the angry and wounded Horntail, and Harry saw Charlie with the group that was leading away the seemingly pacific Ghostscale.
When he touched down at the finishing tent he was greeted by Professor McGonagall, Hagrid and Professor Moody.
"Can you believe it ladies and gentlemen our youngest Champions have retrieved their eggs! Bagman practically sang, the excitement in his voice warbling over the speakers . "This will certainly turn the odds in their favour!"
As soon as Harry jumped off his Firebolt Hagrid pulled him in for a bone crushing hug making him squirm in pain. Harry didn't care, he was alive and that was enough.
"Yeh did it Harry! Just about took 'em both on yourself!" Hagrid howled excitedly, as if there had been very little to it.
"Thanks Hagrid." Harry breathed as he was set back down; hoping his friend wouldn't blunder and reveal he had tipped him off about the dragons.
"Well done Potter. Unorthodox talent you've got yourself there, good to see you're still kicking." Moody growled with a disturbing smile, looking very pleased. Harry gave him a rigid nod and a grin.
Then Professor McGonagall clasped his shoulder, her hands were shaking slightly still. "Magnificent flying as usual Potter." She said with an uncertain but relieved smile, coming from her that was high praise. "You will need your arm looking at before you receive your marks, Mr Malfoy and the other champions are already in the medical tent. No doubt Madam Pomfrey will be unhappy see you. We will speak tomorrow about your detention for the incident with Mr King."
Harry nodded with a faint smile, not that he cared. All he could feel was exhaustion and relief creep up on him as his head of house led him into the next tent beneath the stands of the arena where Madam Pomfrey stood waiting.
"Dragons!" she said in disgust, pulling Harry inside, as if the creatures were something truly revolting.
The medical tent he found himself in was separated into cubicles; Cedric was sat on a makeshift bed nursing several cuts and gashes himself with a smoking purple liquid, his leg looked like it had been savagely mauled but was healing quickly thanks to Madam Pomfrey.
Next along was Viktor who looked like he hadn't been badly injured, he was sitting up at least. That was until he turned and Harry saw the right side of his face, neck and forearm was layered with an orange paste.
The two champions stared at him for a second before looking away uncomfortably. At least the matron seemed unperturbed by Harry's display of Parseltongue, although she had very different ideas of what was disturbing, like children being made to face such lethal and dangerous creatures.
Harry couldn't fault her priorities but was forced to remember that the others had actually volunteered for this. He wondered if they were having second thoughts at this point.
"It's about time you finally showed up Potter." Harry heard the familiar drawl of Draco stood near the end of the tent. "Did you know?" He asked in a cold manner. He was half robed; his shoulder appeared to be fine but was sporting the same orange paste as Krum on his own arm with his half of the egg safely in hand.
Harry shook his head "No, it was just... luck."
Draco huffed indifferently. He knew there was no way Harry wanted the fact he had an ability strongly attributed with dark wizards becoming headline news. He would have much preferred to keep that piece of information in the realms of idle school gossip.
Harry was sure that the sight of him using Parseltongue was sure to bring back some unpleasant emotions and memories for many of the students.
"As much as it depresses me to say it, but … thank you for saving my neck out there Scarhead." Draco looked away awkwardly, his ears tinged with pink.
"No problem." Harry waved him off with a smirk. "Sorry about your broom."
"It's just a broom, I can get another." He shrugged.
Next to Draco, Harry could see Fleur stood completely unhurt unlike the other champions. Harry imagined she had probably been fussed over by Madam Pomfrey all the same. Her bright blue eyes full of questions never left him. The quarter-veela looked like she was about to say something just as the matron reappeared, striding over to him.
"Last year dementors, this year dragons! I fear to think what they will think up next. You have the luck of the devil Mr Potter." Madam Pomfrey said as she vanished his sleeve with her wand.
"And here I thought fortune favours the brave." Harry grinned. In the next cubicle he could hear Cedric snickering.
"Indeed…The burn area is quiet minimal, nothing too serious. Hybrids. Just wait until I get my hands on that fool Bagman." The matron ranted as she examined his arm. "The burn will need cleaning before I treat you, this may be a little painful but I know you've had worse." She said dryly.
She cleansed the burns, dabbing the inflammation with the same purple liquid that Cedric had been using; it smoked and stung causing Harry to hiss in pain.
"Now, just sit quietly for a minute - sit! And then you and Mr Malfoy can go and get your score." She then hurried out. Harry could hear the clinking of glass as she asked "How does it feel now, Mr Krum?"
Ignoring her instruction Harry got to his feet, wanting to see what was going on outside, but before he reached the mouth of the tent, one person came darting through.
In front of Harry stood Hermione out of breath and visibly distraught. Fingernail marks had marred her face from where she had been clutching it in fear.
"HARRY – DON'T – YOU – EVER – DO – SOMETHING – SO – PIGHEADED – HAIRBRAINED – AND – RECKLESS – AGAIN!" She cried as she hit his chest before she lunged into his shoulder and hugged him tightly.
Harry chuckled softly as he wrapped his good arm around her. "You know that promise is as good as broken before I even make it." He answered lightly.
"Jumping off that broom in front of a dragon to save him, what on earth possessed you to put your life on the line like that? What were you thinking?!" She sniffed and dabbed her eyes on her sleeve.
"He is right over there you know. Besides…" Harry then then turned to look at Draco and smirk, "now he owes me a life debt, technically I saved his sorry arse twice today." making Hermione chuckle and Draco groan audibly.
"Miss Granger, I should have expected you'd arrive sooner or later. Will you please let go of my patient or perhaps you want to help me treat him?" Madam Pomfrey said sternly as she appeared to see the cause of the disturbance. In her hands a wide rimmed jar of the carrot coloured paste.
Harry was ushered back to the bed by Madam Pomfrey who passed Hermione the jar of what he assumed was a liniment for dragon burns. "Apply it to the inflamed skin generously, it will numb the pain and replace the damaged skin, unfortunately there will be some minor scarring. It will not need to set so wrap his arm in these bandages if you would – And here are your school robes Mr Potter." She instructed, leaving Harry in Hermione's care.
Hermione swiftly shut the curtains of the canvas cubicle closing themselves away from the rest of the champions so Harry could remove his half burnt clothing.
Her eyes quickly looked over the collection of ugly white lacerations that marked his back, souvenirs of his childhood.
"You had to forget your glamours today didn't you?" She noted passively.
Harry felt himself go cold. "I was a little distracted this morning." He gave Hermione a weak smile as she took her place next to him. "What do you think is taking them so long?"
"I doubt anyone even knows what to make of your performance to be honest." Hermione informed him.
"Really?" Harry responded grimly.
"Well at the start, you were both the best by far if everyone's faces were anything to go by. But after the Ghostscale attacked the Horntail I think everyone was probably more frightened of you than anything else. Remember when everyone thought you were the heir of Slytherin?" She said, cleaning her hands with a spell and dipping her fingers into the jar.
"How could I forget?" Harry replied darkly.
"Well, I tried to read up on Parselmouths back then. There was little on it to begin with and there was nothing on any of the famous ones being able to speak with dragons. If Voldemort could you would think he would have, with dragons being as powerful as they are. As far as we know you might as well be the first. I'm sure Dumbledore is aware of this." Hermione said as she gently began to apply the liniment to his burned arm.
Harry shivered at the contact. He was thankful Madam Pomfrey let Hermione do this, he liked Pomfrey but he hated hospitals and for good reason.
Memories of being crammed into the boot of Vernon's car by Petunia and driving out to a faraway ER resurfaced, hidden under a blanket with the pain of broken bones or a burning fever from infection.
Harry felt nauseated. He had tried to seal those memories in a place where they could never be revisited again, but whenever he woke up in a hospital bed it brought it all back.
"So I'm the first person to survive the killing curse and the first to speak to dragons, brilliant. I bet they all thought I was going to set a dragon on them didn't they?"
"Well, it's not all that surprising considering the way everyone has been treating you this month. You know how prejudiced they can be, I expect you'll be given a wide berth after this at least, or not… depending on how smart or stupid they are." She said trying to make him laugh.
But Harry only grimaced in response. "And how did the others do?" he asked.
"Well, Cedric is second at the moment. He transfigured a rock into a Labrador and took his egg while his dragon was distracted. However it finished it rather quickly and then came after Cedric, his leg was injured - he lost points for that. He got away by getting hit by his own rebounding banishing hexes on purpose, which was rather clever actually. Krum didn't even think to fly." Hermione smiled to herself. "He is in last place despite being favourite to win. He charged straight in with absolutely no tact, sending conjunctivitis curses at the Fireball, which worked… seeing as he did partially blind it. It was looking good for him until he got caught in one of its explosions that destroyed half the nest, several real eggs were destroyed and he acquired some serious burns in the process. He lost the most marks despite being the fastest."
Harry relaxed the more Hermione talked. As his mind wandered he could feel his arm cool as the pain subsided significantly, withdrawing into an uncomfortable ache. With deft hands she began to wrap the affected area in the soft white bandages.
"Fleur's attempt was by far the cleanest though. She managed to sing her Short-Snout into an enchanted sleep. Her task took the longest but she managed to come away without any injury and didn't damage any eggs, so it is her score to beat. Not that any of that is really important, I'm just glad you are okay." Hermione said quietly.
"I know," Harry smiled and held his breath. "The Ghostscale… she wants me to free her." He whispered low enough just for her to hear him.
Hermione looked at him alarmed studying his expression for a long time. "You're actually considering it, aren't you?"
"I don't know. I said that I would." Sighing Harry stood up and stretched before buttoning up his shirt and robe.
"We'll talk about this later." Hermione said.
Harry nodded in response."Malfoy let's go get our scores, I'm tired of waiting." He said loudly as he exited the cubicle, making Draco sit up from his bed.
Leaving the medical tent Harry followed a set of steps that led up the stands and before the panel of judges. He could hear the loud buzz of excited chatter die immediately as they came up into the view of the audience.
Both Harry and Draco stood impatiently with Hermione hovering behind them.
On the panel Crouch, Bagman, Maxime, Karkaroff and Dumbledore sat on raised seats draped in gold. Even they seemed to be in deep discussion. Fortunately it wasn't the same the all-out arguing that had occurred the night they had been chosen as Champions. When the judges all caught sight of Harry and Draco, who stood not looking happy, their voices died down too.
Harry met Dumbledore's twinkling gaze, he was wearing his usual vacant smile like it was all fondly amusing. Harry had worked out that this was just an excellent poker face, one that belied much deeper thoughts.
"It's marks out of ten for each." Hermione muttered nervously, realising she probably looked very out of place on the platform on the edge of the arena with the two champions, but she retained her grip on Harry's good arm nonetheless as she shrunk behind him.
Madame Maxime was the first judge to raise her wand in the air. A long silver ribbon shot out of it and curled itself into a large figure eight. Many of the crowd applauded but again Harry didn't care.
Next was Mr Crouch who was looking at him with a deep scowl, Harry could see he wasn't even trying to hide the contempt in his eyes. The department head held up his wand shot out a number eight into the air and those applauding clapped even louder.
Crouch was followed by Dumbledore. The Hogwarts headmaster in his bright magenta robes sent up a nine and gave both Harry and Draco his trademark grandfatherly smile.
It was Ludo Bagman who proceeded to shock everyone. Despite both of them getting hurt he awarded them a ten without hesitation. More of the crowd began to cheer, Harry and Draco shrugged, they weren't going to argue with him if he really wanted to give them maximum points.
Finally, Karkaroff with a pained look and gritted teeth took out his wand and to everyone's further surprise sent up a silver number seven. Even Harry was dumbfounded, expecting the most bias from him out of all the judges. There was some jeering like there had been at the start, but it was drowned out under the growing volume of approval coming from the majority of the crowd.
Harry wondered if it was because they had genuinely been impressed or if they were now terrified to anger him or a combination of both. But then again they had all witnessed what he and Draco had to face. There could very well have been a shift in the schools support of them. He and Draco were as much Hogwarts Champions as Cedric, even if it was a little late for them to realise it.
"Not bad I guess," Harry said lightly glancing up the many faces of the crowd around them.
"Could have gone worse, could be dead…" Draco agreed, feeling the same glad sentiment that it was now finally over.
"Harry, you're both in first place." Hermione said brightly. "Fleur only got forty one points."
"Well, that's good news too I suppose." Harry gave her a lopsided smile before following her and Draco towards the steps.
Just as they were about to leave the platform, a woman in a long black expensive dress and coat approached them gracefully. She was fair and dignified, even as she threw her arms around Draco. With her blonde hair spun like pale gold and icy blue eyes, Harry immediately recognised her from their previous run-ins as Draco's mother, the Lady Malfoy.
Before he could move past he and Hermione were confronted themselves by Bill and Charlie Weasley, and a stranger. The new face had tanned skin, dark freckles and untidy russet hair, proudly wearing the same burns as Charlie on his forearms.
"Bill, Charlie it's good to see you." Harry beamed at them.
"And you Harry, congratulations on placing first, how are you doing?" Bill clasped his hand.
"Well I'm alive, still figuring the rest out though." Harry said lightly making the eldest Weasley chuckle.
"That's the main thing." Bill then lent down and said quietly "Glad you made it out of there."
Before Harry could respond Charlie grasped his shoulder. "Bagman said he needs you to stay behind in the starting tent for a few minutes before you can go. You were brilliant by the way mate, not just the flying obviously - I mean staring down that dragon like that! I've never seen anything like it. You need to visit the sanctuary one summer; there are so many possibilities." Charlie shook with excitement.
"She had some interesting things to say, I'd like to know a little more about her if I can actually."
"That won't be a problem, Snow's a new addition to the sanctuary, we've only had her less than a month but she has a file. I expect a lot of people will have questions, but is it true what some people were saying, you and her are Parselmouths?" The other young man spoke.
Harry nodded as he looked at the stranger before him, "And you are..?" he inquired.
"Sorry, this is my friend Rolf. He works at the ministry in the Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau, he's actually the liaison to the sanctuary but he spends most of his time with us." Charlie introduced.
"Rolf Scamander. Sorry, after seeing that I really wanted to introduce myself in person. We've met before, though it was very brief. I helped out with the Norwegian-Ridgback a few years ago." Rolf whispered with a sly grin.
"Scamander? As in-" Harry's eyes grew a little wider, beside him he heard Hermione's thrilled intake of breath.
"Grandson of Newt Scamander. Author of- "
"I know, it's one of my favourite books." Harry spared him.
"If you are all quite done admiring each other, we had better be quick Potter." Draco interrupted them, his mother stood protectively over him, ignoring the presence of the two Weasleys entirely.
"Ah, sorry… I really should go." Harry said regretfully to two brothers and Rolf.
"It's alright, we need to send Mum an Owl telling her what happened - before the prophet spins their story and she dies of fright, we'll see you later Harry." Bill agreed and with a swift farewell the three departed.
As they disappeared into the stands Harry was left in front of the figure of Lady Malfoy looking down at him. She stepped closer. Unexpectedly though, she was not looking at him as if he was something foul. Instead her previously cold blue eyes held something else - warmth.
"Thank you for saving my son's life." She breathed. "Rest assured Mr Potter my husband is doing all he can to uncover who is behind this disaster." Her voice was perfectly clear and soothing.
Harry watched her in silence as she turned back to Draco and held him again before she walked off the narrow platform.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Hermione asked him, seeing his stunned expression.
"I can't believe I never noticed it before." Harry shook his head.
"Noticed what Scarhead?" Draco said turning back to them.
"Malfoy, I'm really happy I'm the one who gets to tell you this. Your mum, she's a Milf." Harry informed him and cracked a wide smile, making Hermione cough into her hand to disguise her laughter.
"A what?" Draco looked at him confused and angry, thinking Harry had just insulted his mother. But Harry was too busy appreciating Lady Malfoy, life sometimes did have its bright sides.
"Nevermind, it was a compliment." Harry smirked and patted Draco on the shoulder reassuringly as they walked to the champion's tent.
Fleur, Cedric and Viktor had already taken their seats at the centre of the tent. Victor was covered in bandages.
It felt vastly different to the first time they were in there. Before it had been an uncomfortable place to wait nervously minute by minute until they were called out. Now it appeared to be relaxed, welcoming and hospitable.
"So how does it feel to come second to a pair of 'little boys'?" Harry sent Fleur a wink.
She responded in kind with a grin and crossed her arms. "I don't zink you will be so lucky in ze next task, ma chérie. I shall steal ze lead back." she gave him a smouldering look in return with a teasing flare of her allure that sent chills down Harry's spine.
It was at that moment Bagman decided to burst in once again bouncing towards them, "Well done, all of you!" he said, clapping his hands together and rubbing them excitedly, looking as though he had just got past a dragon and passed the task himself. "Now, just a few words before I let you go and celebrate. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth - but we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! Now Harry, Draco could you pass me your two halves?"
Reluctantly the two fourth years complied with the department head. The champions all watched as Bagman held the two segments close and like a pair of magnets they suddenly joined.
"There, if you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding, you will find that they open. . . see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg - because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! Are you all clear? Sure? Well, off you go then!" Bagman then passed their egg back to Draco and made a dash for the exit.
Harry's lip curled at the man's odd behaviour. "So how do you want to do this, take it in turns and try and figure it out?" Harry suggested as he turned to Draco, idly picking up the sleeping miniature Ghostscale from the table and looking at it with interest.
"Seeing as you did at one point literally carry me through this task, I don't mind taking it first." Draco said.
"Really?" Hermione asked, making no attempt to hide her surprise.
"I'll let you know when I have something." He said with a sneer aimed at Hermione.
Draco left the tent, vanishing through the gap. For an instant camera flashes from the press outside cast a blinding inside and a dark silhouette of Draco standing before them.
At dinner the young Malfoy found himself at the edge of his peer group again while students swelled inside the great hall. The students were all still in deep conversation about the day's events, with the amount of awe it seemed like there was only one champion, and he decided he wasn't going to be dining with them that evening once more, not that Draco could blame him. Eventually everyone seated themselves and grew silent and Dumbledore gave his congratulations to the champions as they waited for their food.
Like Theodore next to him, Draco was barely paying attention and Pansy saddled herself beside him possessively once more. Then finally their meals appeared before them and the chatter of the table continued from what must have been a long exchange since the start of the task.
"For what it is worth I thought you were really brave out there today." Pansy said in small voice. Her eyes were still red and she looked slightly pale.
"Its unfortunate bravery isn't worth much unless you're an insane Gryffindor." Draco stabbed into his steak with his knife.
He was happy to be alive and glad he was mostly out of the spotlight, but Draco didn't appreciate being made to look like a feeble first year. It made him look weak, it made him feel weak and he hated it.
His first reaction was to somehow get revenge on Harry somehow, but he knew stabbing him in the back at this point wasn't the best course of action, no matter how satisfying. His mother's advice had proven helpful so far, there was no point ruining that work now. No, he could swallow his pride for the sake of staying on Harry's good side. He'd just have to work out the clue for the second task and prove himself next time.
"He'll get what's coming to him, Draco. He isn't invincible." Pansy responded with conceit.
"As it stands it almost looks like he is, in case you haven't seen the recurring pattern in his life." Daphne remarked dryly as she sipped her pumpkin juice and set her goblet down on the table.
"And we all know that's who you saved your applause for now, don't we Greengrass?" Draco sneered back at her.
"Really, Daphne? Potter?" There was a brief flash of anger across Pansy's face. "Your family will be so disappointed in you." She criticized.
"I think I am in a better position to judge who is appropriate for me to acquaint myself with." Daphne intoned with an obscure smile.
"You don't just make 'acquaintances' with the other side… but I suppose he is very rich, and somewhat powerful." Pansy said in her usual flippant tone.
"And handsome. You could do a lot worse." Tracey chimed in and stuffed a large helping of shepherd's pie into her mouth, much to the disgust of Pansy and Draco.
"You can't seriously be putting handsome and Potter in the same sentence can you Tracey?" Pansy looked at her with further disdain.
"Wasn't that the reason you nearly fainted when he saved Draco?" She said silkily enjoying watching Pansy blush in embarrassment. "He literally tamed a dragon right in front of all three schools, how can you not find that incredibly sexy? My panties are still wet." Tracey grinned manically.
"Keep the state of your underwear out of the conversation please. And Pansy don't I remember you saying something about wishing he was pureblood when everyone thought he was the Heir of Slytherin in second year?" Daphne joined in with a thin smile.
"Thats n-not true!" She spluttered in alarm, nearly choking and looking worryingly to Draco.
"Is your little project all we are going to be talking about?" He scolded, completely ignoring Pansy's distress.
"No need for jealousy Draco, just because I know how to make the best of an opportunity when I see it." She shrugged casually, ignoring the death glare Pansy was giving her.
"Unlike a certain someone who couldn't even tell the tail of the dragon from its mouth." Tracy quipped, licking gravy from her lips.
"And I'm sure Potter will have so many girls chasing him now he won't have time to think of hexing your girlfriend again if she ever gets too close." Daphne smirked.
There was a collective sigh from Theodore, Stephanie, and Iris, the sixth year older sister of Pansy. The two senior students sat close by observing the discord between the fourth years, if only to make sure nothing got out of hand. Draco had already received several insults, insincere congratulations and back-handed compliments on surviving from some of his house mates. They were all aware of his temperament in regards to open abuses.
"Not to worry Draco, you came out alive after going against two dragons. Potter or not, that's nothing to laugh about, we all recognise that as an impressive accomplishment." Iris placated before he could retort. "Come on, don't you feel just the least bit satisfied you proved everyone in the school wrong today?" She gave him an approving smile.
Draco put down his knife and fork at the centre of his plate. "Fuck this and fuck you all." He said and stood up abruptly to leave the table.
"Drama queen. Potter's language habit is rubbing off on him too." Daphne tutted with a frivolous smile as the heads of several students turned to watch him exit the hall.
"Why are you always such a bitch? I wouldn't go near that filthy half-blood if he was the last wizard on earth, he's all yours." Pansy snapped at her.
Tracey dropped her fork with a dark look.
Without noticing, or caring about the attention she was drawing to them, Pansy whirled round and rushed out of the hall after Draco.
Daphne sighed heavily as she watched.
"Draco?" Pansy called out tentatively round the door of the Slytherin boy's dormitories.
He was idly lounging on his lavish bed in the empty dorm, inspecting the hinges of the egg. With a pale finger he traced the edges as Pansy stepped forward and timidly shut the door behind her.
"What do you want Pans?" He directed his grey eyes at her.
"I-I wanted see how you are doing." She faltered, sitting down on the edge of his bed she began fiddling with her hands.
He cursed the sinking feeling in his stomach, a thick swirling composition of guilt and regret. "As you can see I'm fine, so you can leave." He said through a grimace putting the egg down.
"You aren't fine; you're barely speaking or eating well. I've been worried… I've missed you." She edged in closer.
"Is that right? Well, you did a fine job of showing it didn't you?" Draco bit back.
He tried to stand up from the bed but Pansy held onto his sleeve and was dragged up from the bed with him.
"You left us first and that was because of your damned pride, it was only after that the circle wanted to keep you isolated.." She protested. "You know I wanted to be there for you, but the others... I was scared, okay? We can move past this and get back to how things were between us, can't we?"
Pansy gripped onto the front of his robes, her eyes pleading with him. Their faces were barely inches apart. He could see her eyes were still bloodshot and sore from watching the first task, evidence that she had agonised over his situation.
She was so close to him now, close enough for him to count the freckles on her small nose. He could even smell the lingering fragrance of elderflower juice on her shallow breath. Draco knew what was coming but made no attempt to push her away.
Like a flood he felt a surge of self-loathing as her soft lips pressed against his. He let her continue out of indulgence for only for a moment. Then Draco gently pushed her down and withdrew from her.
He wished he could have carried on. He wanted nothing more than that. Draco really had come to care for Pansy a great deal; they had shared much with each other the years. She had been a friend, a confidant - everything he had needed. But he had been blinded by his self-important existence and stubbornness; he always knew he was just using her for his ego, because she worshiped him.
But what feelings did he have for right now? He asked himself. The answer for this moment, none. She had again kissed him and he felt nothing but sadness for her.
"You shouldn't have done that." Draco said.
"Why not?" She challenged holding on tighter, her brown eyes were beginning to water.
"I can't be doing this with you anymore Pansy."
"If this is about what everyone is saying-" She started, unease creeping into her high voice.
"Not everything revolves around him. This tournament is meant to kill either one of us – or both of us." He said clearly, looking into her eyes, trying to make her understand. "I can't be doing with any distractions." It was a lie that came too easily.
"Just tell me what is going on with you." She tried to hold onto his arm again.
"Are you deaf?" Draco demanded, pulling himself from her grip.
"No- "
"JUST GET OUT!" He roared at her, hating the way she flinched away from him.
Standing in silence he watched as she and bolted out of the door in a flurry of tears.
Still feeling repulsed, he eventually went to lie back down on his bed, tempted to smash the back of his skull on his headboard in frustration.
It was still difficult enough growing accustomed to life without having Vincent and Gregory everywhere, though it was much less of a burden for him now; he had always thought he had no one among his contemporaries, that he would prefer to be alone. He realised now how wrong he was in that. Now he was pushing away one of the few people he could actually stand for more than five minutes at a time.
From his school bag he pulled out the effigy of the Horntail. Images of flames and its open jaws rushed through his mind, causing him to stiffen slightly. He hated how there were those who liked to remind him of how brave he had been. He hadn't felt brave.
His mother, Pansy and the others… they had no idea about the terror he felt.
Draco had barely been able to keep up with the picture of focus Harry maintained. If it wasn't for his godfather and head of house subtly reminding him it would not do well to be outdone by Potter he doubted he would have been able to match him. It turned out Harry was a far better actor than anyone could credit him with.
It reminded him of that night in the forest, when they faced that dark shrouded creature Potter had stayed behind as he ran away. Throwing the Horntail into his trunk, he growled at the thought, he didn't want to be a coward.
"So, you finally dropped your favourite toy." A silky voice came from the doorway.
Draco turned to see Daphne, arms folded and leaning against the doorway of the dormitory.
"What do you want now Greengrass?" He asked with a voice void of feeling. He was already physically and emotionally exhausted.
Daphne tilted her head. "I hope there is a good reason I just found Pansy in a pool of tears."
"You don't give a shit about her, so don't even pretend to care." Draco muttered, looking away from her.
"That isn't true. You should have seen how hopeful she was when you decided to join us again." Daphne looked down.
"There is no 'us'. Now don't make me ask again. If you're going to be a nuisance I need to know why." He glared at her with an intensity that would put the Horntail to shame.
She gave him a coy smile that infuriated him further. "You know why. It is because she needs you alive. Now stop asking questions you already know the answers to Draco, it only makes you look more foolish than you actually are. As to why I am here right now, Steph has requested your presence in the forum room. It's mandatory."
"You're bloody unbelievable you are."
Harry felt a slight chill in the dormitory and heard the door swing open with a loud groan. It was a voice he hadn't heard in a while, but a tone Harry recognised immediately. He turned to see Ron stood with an unpleasant gaze fixed on him.
"Would it hurt you to say something positive Ronald?" Hermione looked up from her homework from where they were sat on Harry's bed.
"He'll have enough people telling him how amazing he is - doesn't need it from me as well." Ron scowled not moving an inch inside.
Harry instantly closed his book. "I am right here you know." As if he hadn't been through enough today but now Ron wanted to have a go at him as well.
"You heard me. So you can stop pretending like you aren't enjoying every minute of this." He growled throwing his cloak onto his bed, looking from Hermione to Harry repeatedly.
"Right. Because nearly getting eaten by huge mythical creatures is just my favourite thing to do." Harry's matched his harsh tone.
"It sure looks like it since it got you back right where you want to be." Ron snarled back.
"You're an idiot Ron. It's pretty simple; in case you haven't noticed, I spend most of my time trying to get away from most people. What does that tell you?" Harry asked him.
"That you're an uppity git."
"It tells you he hates the attention Ronald. You would think after being one of his best friends for four years you'd know that already." Hermione snapped.
"I'm not so sure I can even believe that, after saving bloody Malfoy I don't even recognise you anymore. What were you thinking?" Ron demanded.
If only Ron knew how little thought had actually gone into that decision, in fact it wasn't even that. Harry just knew instantly it would have been wrong to have let Draco get swallowed whole. Ron might apparently have been okay with that, but it would have had a lasting affect on Harry. Everyone would have blamed him for the death of a student and there would have been no going back from that. It'd have been a black stain on his conscience he would have to live with for the rest of his life.
"Malfoy might be a disgusting excuse for a human being but even he didn't deserve getting eaten." Harry sighed.
"What in Merlin's name, why not? He has been nothing but a wanker since the day he was born, last year he pretended to be a dementor to fuck with you, think about what he nearly did to Buckbeak! And all the times he called Hermione a, well, well – you know what." Ron tried to reason his face turning more scarlet with every word.
"I haven't forgotten. But those things don't warrant a death sentence. Would you really be okay with letting someone die when you could have done something?" Harry argued back, utterly frustrated with Ron's attitude.
"Ron, he wouldn't be Harry if he just sat by and did nothing" Hermione said gently. "It's same reason he went after me because of the troll – just like he saved Ginny from the diary. Which you seem to have conveniently forgotten about." Hermione replied pointedly.
Ron looked at her helplessly as she continued to stand in Harry's defence.
"I haven't forgotten anything. I'm just sick of him getting involved with everything and now your best mate Malfoy too! Because it's always you Harry! Always." Ron raged.
And there it was - the heart and truth of the matter, Harry thought. The bubbling resentment must have been stewing inside of him for years, only surfacing after the Goblet of fire, now soon to erupt.
"You're insanely rich, famous, the best flyer in school, you're a champion and now you have Hermione! I was - I mean - you could have least told me, how long have you two been together behind my back? And as if all that wasn't enough now you just started talking to a Dragon. You're a bloody freak of nature Harry."
Outside it began to rain. Ron was panting out of breath like he was fatigued from the sheer number words he managed to expel.
"I don't belong to anyone Ron. And if I was with Harry like that it would still be none of your business." Hermione said quietly, her face was hidden by a curtain of hair as she hung her head. Her entire body was shaking.
But Harry was completely still. As he stood up he looked up at the ceiling, all he could hear was 'freak' over and over, echoing the voices of the Dursleys. He had promised himself never to let the memory of them haunt him while he was at Hogwarts.
"I never thought I would find any one more spoilt than Malfoy." He said finally. "I really must have been blind, because here you are and under my nose this entire time." Harry's words came out hard and cold. "Don't you remember the mirror of Erised Ron? Do you remember what we saw? There's only one thing I want in life that I'd trade for the world and you – all you do is take it for granted and get jealous of what I don't need. I don't know how or why the things that happen to me happen. You haven't changed a bit. If you weren't such a greedy git you wouldn't get pissed at me for of your own shortcomings. So stop using me as someone to blame for you own mediocrity. You have a problem."
Harry didn't spare his feelings, he was tired of having to tiptoe around Ron's inferiority complex. He needed to hear it.
Ron's face contorted and turned a dark shade of red. His blood ran hot, temper at breaking point. "You're the one with the fucking problem! Loads of people died in the war, so what if you have no parents. Is that why you entered the tournament, trying to off yourself? I supposed I should have realised that sooner, guess I didn't because I'm so thick. Now I know the reason behind all your stupid shitty ideas that nearly got us killed though! Because that's what you want more than anything, right? To be with your dead parents!"
"Ron! – Harry, NO!" Hermione cried she tried to reach out for Harry.
Outside there was a flash of lightning and a sudden loud crash of thunder. It was far too late. Before anyone could even draw a wand Harry had flung himself across the room. His fist smashed into Ron's jaw with a crunch. The force of the blow knocked him straight to the ground.
They struggled for minute, rolling on the floor. Ron was stronger and tried to kick back but Harry managed to pin him down. He hit him several more times using all the strength he could.
"HARRY STOP IT!"
Harry turned to a tearful Hermione and looked back down at Ron with a terrifying glare. Ron could only stare wide eyed and spluttering.
"I was going to forgive you if you had just apologised. Everything you've said since the start of this tournament would have been water under the bridge. Not anymore. Don't ever think we can be friends again, not after that." Harry said in a low voice.
Ron with a glazed expression sluggishly nodded, blood gushing from his broken nose.
"I won't tell any of your brothers or your mother about what you just said or what happened. I suggest you don't betray my trust and rethink your outlook on life if you want to salvage whatever relationship you still have with Hermione. But that's entirely up to her." Harry hissed.
Hermione just watched hand over mouth. Harry then let go of Ron's collar, dropping him to the ground.
AN - Sorry this was a long one to update, I must have rewritten parts of it so many times and I wanted to get it right. the funny thing is its still technically being written. so much needed to happen in this chapter that I got to 16k words and realised I'd have to split it into two parts.
Apologies for any mistakes or typos, I have edited this myself so I may have missed things.