The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness

by the22nddoctor

Many things have changed in Alexander s life, his mother is in Azkaban and he have learned that he is the son of Sirius Black. This year Alex has to battle both his inner darkness that is growing stronger inside him, and the outside darkness that is returning stronger than ever, not even Hogwarts is safe. Beside that, he have to deal with being a teenager. Have been rewritten.

21. Chapter 21 Day of The Dragon

The Alexander Chronicles Year 4: The Return of Darkness.

Chapter 21: Day of The Dragon.

…

Sorry about the late update, I have no excurse other then I have been a bit unmotivated, but it helps when people add my story to their favourite list and leaves a review. Anyway a new chapter is ready and I hope you will enjoy it.

…

Alex woke up early the following morning He was so nervous first of there was the deal with the fire-breathing dragon that he had to deal with in a few days, but it was also because he had plan to take Blaise to the chamber in attempt to repair their friendship. Alex quickly jumped into his pants, grabbed his green t-shirt and old hoody, and went to the Great Hall to get some breakfast.

There was already many students sitting, eating their breakfast. He saw that Neville were sitting with Hermione most likely waiting for Harry and maybe Ron to wake up. Chris was there too, the older Gryffindor smiled. However, Alex ignored him, since he had bigger problem and didn´t really care. Instead he walked past the Gryffindor table and towards the Slytherin table scanning it for Blaise. He quickly found him sitting alone, and not with Tracey and Daphne as he usually did. Alex walked over where Blaise was sitting he stopped eating and looked at him as Alex sat down and grabbed a bowl of porridge. After some minutes of silent eating Alex looked at Blaise again opening his mouth to speak but no words came out. However, Blaise noticed that Alex was looking at him. "Yes?"

"Uh I uh" Alex took a deep breath and gathered all his Gryffindor courage. "I was wondering if we could talk."

"Maybe about what?"

Alex finished his porridge and drank his orange juice. "Well first I have to show you something." He said getting up.

"Show me what?" Blaise asked.

"You have to see it, but I promise it will be good."

Blaise nodded and stood up and followed Alex, but grabbed some bread to go. Malfoy who had been sitting at the other end of the table decided to follow them, since he had an idea where they were going.

Alex led Blaise out of the Great Hall and towards the dungeons. The two boys walked deeper and deeper down until they came to a small passage. "I have seen you here before, but you just disappeared."

Alex nodded, "yup you see where in a moment." He said walking towards the broom closet.

"So what? There is some sort of tunnel in the closet?"

"Nope."

"So how? It is a dead end."

"It is, until I say this " Alex paused for dramatic effect and then said "open," in parsseltounge before walking though the now open passage dragging Blaise with him to the old room.

"So is this it?" Blaise asked, "Granted it is nice to have a hidden room, but we already had that."

"Well yes, but this isn´t what I wanted to show you. This is just the way to get down there." Alex walked over to the painting of the lake. "Follow me," he said before walking though the painting and found himself in corridor that would take him to the chamber. Seconds later Blaise was with him as well therefor none of them saw that Draco Malfoy was in the room they just had been in.

"How far are we going down?" Basie asked after they had walked in the tunnel for some minutes.

"We will be there soon, but yes it is pretty far down." Alex answered and looked at Blaise. "Don´t worry it will be worth it." The two boys walked in silence until they reached the dead end that in reality what would take them to the chamber. Alex looked at the caved in serpent and hissed, "open". Blaise gasped as the wall slid open, making a doorway to the chamber. Alex smiled at this and stepped aside, "so this is what I wanted to show you."

"Nice!" Blaise said as he stepped in, "so given that you were speaking Parseltongue. I take it that this is the Chamber of Secrets?"

"Well it is a part of the chamber. It is not the one that I was in when I was twelve, but if you ask me this is much more interesting."

"What is it I hear have you brought another visitor?" the portrait of Slytherin said, making Blaise jump in fright.

"Who was that?"

"That would be this guy." Alex said pointing at the portrait where Slytherin was in. Alex looked as Blaise when he looked at the portrait and smirked at bit when he saw the Slytherin´s shocked face. "Of course you might know him as Salazar Slytherin." Alex paused for a dramatic effect, "so welcome the most awesome part of the chamber."

"Yes it is amazing is it not?" Slytherin said. "To be in my presence, it must be an honour."

"It is sir," Blaise answered. "I mean to meet your in person."

Slytherin laughed, "A polite one. You could learn from that, my heir."

Alex rolled his eyes and snorted, "tsk you wish."

"So is this here where you have been going!" Blaise asked as he looked around.

"Yup," Alex said pupping the p.

"It is amazing."

"It is," Alex, said smiling a bit then his smile faded a bit. "Uh Blaise."

"Yeah"

Alex took a deep breath before continuing. "Uh I just wanted to say that uh that I am s-sorry, that I have been such a git."

"It should be me who had said that Alex." Blaise looking uncomfortable.

"Why I mean you are right, I am a git, I am arrogant and selfish."

"No you are not." Blaise said, making Alex look at him. "I was just angry when I said all that – well okay maybe you are a bit arrogant sometimes, but it is part of the fun. I didn´t mean the other things."

"You should, because it is the truth. And you had a good reason for being angry – heck you have a right to hate me. I mean the things I said to you."

"It was me that started it Alex, calling you a liar and all that." Blaise signed. "Look what I am saying is that I have been a git too."

"But I-"

"Look Alex, "Blaise interrupted. "How about we say that we both have been acting like gits, and know that we both have said sorry."

"Yeah then we could like oh - be friends again," Alex asked hopefully, even though he tried to keep it casual. However, Blaise didn´t seem to have noticed it.

"Right I was thinking the same. So uh what do you say best mates again?" Blaise said as he offed Alex his hand. Alex grabbed it with a big smile.

"Yes best mates for sure."

The two boys grinned at each other as they shocked his other hands in a rather exaggerated way.

"So the chamber," Blaise said as he looked around, "told you that it was secrets in plural."

"Yeah you did, and I got to tell you that the knowledge that is here is incredible."

"So who else knows about this place?" Blaise asked as he walked around in the office, whistled at the lab and library.

"Beside you? Just the ones that found it with me."

"Oh is it the Gryffindors?" Blaise asked, and Alex was unsure if he detected some jealously in there.

"No, uh it wasn´t them – it was Erik Jensen and uh well –"

"and me," a voice sounded from the hidden door. Acting by instinct Alex spun around with his wand raised, but relaxed when he saw who it was. "Hallo Blaise," the blond Slytherin smiled.

"What are you doing Malfoy? Are you following us?" Blaise hissed not having lowered his wand.

"No, well yes if you ask like that. However you could also said that I just where heading the same way."

"Right so how did you know where we were going?"

"I told you, I was with Alex when he found it."

Blaise looked at Alex in disbelief, "You brought that guy! Why?"

"He told me that he had changed."

Blaise looked like he was about to tell Alex that he was wrong, that Malfoy never would change, and they should curse him. However, he had just opened his mouth when he paused and looked at Draco as he was trying to read him. "He has been less of a jerk lately. Still it could be a trap."

"It is not, I just wanted to change." Draco said, "I want to be my person - a better person."

Blaise looked at Alex in a few seconds then back at Draco. "Okay Malfoy I trust you, but if you betray Alex. If you even think about it, then I swear I will destroy you. Got it? Not even your Daddy would be able to protect you."

"I understand and I am telling you that it won´t matter. I won´t let my father fight my battles for me, and I won´t betray Alex."

That seemed to satisfy Blaise as he lowered his wand, "so you are telling me that Draco Malfoy have been here, but not the Gryffindors?"

"I don´t even think they know this place exist. I still don´t know if I should tell them, I actually like to have a secret base, but maybe some of them can know."

"Well if you ask me I am not overly fond of more Gryffindors running around down here." Slytherin said out of the blue, giving the boys a slight scare since they had forgotten he there. "They are just too noisy." He added making the three boys laugh.

"Hey Alex been thinking," Blaise said after a while, "if you didn´t placed you name in the Goblet then who did? It clear it is not a friend, but the only enemy I know you have is Nott and well Weasley."

"It don´t think it is Nott either. I mean he was pretty angry about the whole thing and he is not that good of an actor."

Alex nodded, "I agree. My uh father thinks it is Karkaroff who is behind all of this."

"Why he is the Drumstang headmaster. So why would he want to help Hogwarts?"

"He might be working for someone, that doesn´t care about that. Someone who would want me gone."

"You mean the Dark Lord?" Draco asked a bit surprised.

"Maybe – I mean he could be."

However Draco shocked his heard, "no I don´t think so. I mean I overheard my father talking about him once. Karkaroff isn´t the person that risk anything without a higher power backing him up. Beside why would the Dark Lord be interested in you?"

"Whoever it was Alexander," Slytherin cut in. "You need to be prepared. Those tasks you have to compete in a dangerous and the person would have a good chance of killing you."

Alex paled a bit, "Yeah that is what I needed to hear."

"It is just how it is," Slytherin said looking at Alex, "I am not happy about it either, but it doesn´t change the fact that you need to be prepared."

"Yes about that," Alex said looking at Blaise and Draco, "the first task is dragons. One for each champion. So I agree that I need to worry about them before anything else."

"Maybe we can help you," Draco said walking towards the door to the library, "do you have any books on dealing with dragons?"

Slytherin was silent for few seconds, "I have books about dragons, and yes one of them have some information about dealings with dragons. "Yes, check the bottom shelf in section 3," Draco nodded and left, "Alexander you should read in the one I have about defence against creatures, It should be on the top self in here, and in the illusion charm that you been practicing might work as well." Alex nodded as Blaise got the books and seconds later Draco came from the library.

"So we deal with the dragon and then we find the one who did this and make him fight one himself." Blaise said as he handed Alex a book.

Alex nodded and the three boys began looking through the books while Slytherin watched, having nothing else better to do.

"Let's see," Blaise said, looking through a book on Dragons. "Talon-clipping done with charms… treating scale-rot… There's nothing here, only stuff for insane people who'd want a dragon for a pet."

"You know, dragons are extremely difficult to slay," Slytherin began to say while the three boys read on. "Owing to the ancient magic that imbues their thick hides, which none but the most powerful spells can penetrate..."

"Yes but Sirius mentioned a spell that would be prefect against them. Alex said, "but Weasley interrupted him before he could say anything." He added in a bitter voice as he whipped his face with his hands.

"I don´t if was them but there is a lot spells in here that could work, but I won´t called them simple." Draco said looking up from a book. "Just look at this one. It is a spell that gives control of roots and vines. You point either under the target for roots and over for the vines and they will bind the target. That could work, I mean the vines would only works if there is vines. The roots however could bind the dragon. The incarnation is Praeligo Radi."

"Yeah maybe, wait here is a good one, it sends a great flash of light that blinds the target for few minutes depending on how strong it is called the Lingus charm there is a similar one it gives produces a smaller flash also blinds and also cause the some pain it is called Solais Excandescunt. Hmm well, the last doesn´t sounds too smart. The dragon would be even more angry when it is in pain."

"Yes and either way I doubt blinding the dragon would be a good idea." Draco said looking at Blaise,

"True it might start to panic." Blaise said both he and Draco had been complete unaware that Alex had gotten paler and paler each time they had mentioned a new spell. Alex gulped and his breathing started to quicken. That finally caused Blaise to look at him, "hey Alex are you okay?"

However, Alex didn´t heard him, he just felt the panic in grew bigger and bigger and with it came the feeling of hopelessness. He could not learn all that stuff, not in that time – he was going to die, but he didn´t want to. Alex felt even more panic and began hyperventilating. "I-I c-can´t" he managed to whisper.

"Alex snap out it." Blaise said grabbing Alex´s shoulder, but it didn´t help all there was in Alex´s mind was a fire breathing dragon that ended his life."

"I-I am j-just f-fourteen!" Alex said whispered in a so low voice so his friends couldn´t hear him

"What?"

"I am just fourteen year old. I can´t do this. I am just a kid."

"Yes you can."

"No!" Alex snapped getting on his feet, but then felt very dizzy. "What if I can´t? What if I die? "I don´t want to die!" he added in whisper.

Alex felt that he was on the edge of breaking down, when he felt Blaise slap him. "You won´t die Alex." he said as he forced Alex to sit again, "now just take some deep breaths."

Alex did as he was told, and it did help. A lot of the fear had passed, but it was still there. Of course it had always been there. "How do you know that, people have died before?"

"I just know it. I mean look at the things you have done, the things you have survived. You're the guy who knows how to fight off a hundred dementors; the guy who's faced a giant snake, the guy who can perfect any spell just like that. You can fight off this dragon, because I believe you can!"

"I believe you too, beside you have to make it, so you can show your defiance to whoever who did this to you."

"See we both believe in you, and I know for a fact that Tracey and Daphne believes in you as well."

Alex looked at his two Slytherin friends and smiled a bit. If they believed in him, then he should believe himself.

…

Alex barely slept despite knowing that his friends had faith in him. Of course he had spent a lot of time in the chamber finding spells that could be used against the dragon and practicing them, but it was only spells that would partly useful. He had of course found some that could kill the beast, but they were way advanced and he wasn´t supposed to kill.

When Alex awoke that mooning, he felt sleepy and for the first time in his life, he wanted to ran away. But where to? Home? Alex of course loved his grandfather, but he were always busy and was hardly at home. The houseelves were great but not the same. Beside all that he didn´t really wanted to run away, he didn´t want to give the one who did that to him that satisfaction. Beside he remembered how much it had sucked missing his first year at Hogwarts, and there was no way he could miss anymore years. As he accepted that fact, Alex felt oddly more clam about the whole thing.

Alex slowly eat his breakfast as he watched the others students just as Harry sat down beside him Cedric walked by.

"Are you going to tell him?" Harry asked looking at Cedric.

"Tell him what?"

Harry leaned closer to Alex, "about the dragons. He should know as well."

Alex paused, Cedric was most likely the only champion that didn´t knew about the first task and thus about the dragons. Maxime and Karkaroff had more than likely told Fleur and Krum. "I don´t know Harry." He said in a low voice.

"Look I know that you doesn´t like him."

"I don´t have an opinion."

"Yeah but still."

"Look it isn´t that simple. Cedric might tell Dumbedore that I know and then he would know that Hagrid have told me."

"No, he wouldn´t do that."

"How can you be sure, we are fighting against each other."

Harry signed, "It is still the right thing to do Alex. He should know so he have a chance, like the rest of you." Alex closed his eyes knowing that Harry was right, he couldn´t really let Cedric go to the task unprepared. It would be as good as kill him. And if he chose that option then everybody who had called him dark would be proven right, But did he wanted to help Cedric because it was the right thing to do or because others would see it that way.

"Well even if I told him, he wouldn´t believe me."

"Then I could tell him too." Harry offered, "I could say that I saw them with you, it wouldn´t be a lie since I sort of saw them the day after you did,"

Alex nodded and signed "fine."

Harry smiled and stood up, "great then come on. He has just left." He said making Alex stood up as well.

"Hey Nev, I see you at the greenhouse okay," Alex said to Neville, before he and Harry ran off.

By the time the two Gryffindor boys reached the bottom of the marble staircase, Cedric was at the top. He was with a load of sixth-year friends. There was no way Alex would talk to Cedric in front of them. If Cedric had been bad they were worse; they were among those who had been quoting Rita Skeeter's article at him every time he went near them. So, he followed Cedric at a distance and saw that he was heading toward the Charms corridor.

It was then Alex got an idea of how to stop the Hufflepuff seeker. Pausing at a distance from them, he pulled out her wand, and took careful aim. "Diffindo!"

Cedric's bag split. Parchment, quills, and books spilled out of it onto the floor. Several bottles of ink smashed, causing Cedric to sign loudly. Alex smirked and ignored Harry´s disproving stare.

"Don't bother," said Cedric in an exasperated voice as his friends bent down to help him. "Tell Flitwick I'm coming, go on…"

This was what Alex really had been hoping for. He slipped his wand back into his robes, waited until Cedric's friends had disappeared into their classroom, then nodded at Harry and the two boys hurried up the now empty corridor to Cedric that quickly noticed them.

"Hey Cedric!" Harry greeted.

"Oh hallo Harry and Black you are here too," Cedric said, picking up a copy of A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration that was now splattered with ink. He looked up at the two boys "Can you believe it Harry, it a brand new bag."

"Yeah it sucks," Harry said, eyeing Alex slightly.

"Right," Cedric said eyeing Alex as well, "anyway did you want something Black?"

"The first task is dragons."

"What?"

"Dragons," said Alex, speaking quickly, in case Professor Flitwick came out to see where Cedric had got to. "They've got four, one for each of us, and we've got to get past them."

Cedric´s eyes grew suspicious, "is he serious Harry?"

Harry nodded, "afraid so, I seen them as well. Four nasty dragons."

Cedric stared at them, and Alex saw some of the panic he'd been feeling since Saturday night flickering in Cedric's grey eyes. "H-ho-how do you know all that stuff? I mean the champions isn´t supposed to know."

"That is not important." Alex said not wanting to involve Hagrid. "I just knew and what matter more is that Fleur and Krum knows as well."

"How?"

"When I saw the dragons I saw Maxime and Karkaroff there as well, and I am sure that they have told their students."

"Yes, they would have told them." Cedric straightened up, his arms full of inky quills, parchment, and books, his ripped bag dangling off one shoulder. He stared at Alex, and there was a puzzled, almost suspicious look in his eyes. "Why are you telling me?" he asked. "I thought you don't like me."

"We may be fighting against each other. " Alex said. "However I don´t want you to be responsible for your death, and you don´t deserve to be the only one that doesn´t know."

Cedric still looked at them, he seemed to believe it, but it was properly thanks to Harry. Alex was about to leave when he heard a familiar clunking noise behind her. He turned around and saw Mad-Eye Moody emerging from a nearby classroom.

"Mr. Black could you come with me please, Mr. Potter Mr. Diggory you can go now."

Alex stared apprehensively at Moody. Had he overheard them, but then why did he only wanted to talk with him. "Er - Professor, I'm supposed to be in Herbology -"

"Then Mr. Potter can tell Professor Spout that you are with me. Now my office please."

Alex looked at Harry who gave a reassuring smile, then followed Moody, wondering what was going to happen to him now. What if Moody wanted to know how he'd found out about the dragons? Would he go to Dumbledore?

Alex followed Moody, wondering what was going to happen to him now. What if Moody wanted to know how he'd found out about the dragons? Would Moody go to Dumbledore and tell on Hagrid? Moody led Alex to his office once inside the defence professor closed the door and turned to look at Alex "That was a very decent thing you just did, Black." Moody said quietly.

Alex raised an eyebrow, not knowing what to say. It wasn't the reaction he had expected from Moody.

"Sit down," Moody said and Alex did las he was told while looking around.

He had visited this office each year he had been at this school. In Professor Lockhart's day, the walls had been plastered with beaming, winking pictures of Professor Lockhart himself. When Lupin had lived here, you were more likely to come across a specimen of some fascinating new Dark creature he had procured for them to study in class. Now, however, the office was full of a number of exceptionally odd objects that Alex supposed Moody had used in the days when he had been an Auror.

On his desk stood what looked hike a large, cracked, glass spinning top; Alex recognised it at once as a Sneakoscope, because he owned one, though it was much smaller than Moody's. In the corner on a small table stood an object that looked something like an extra-squiggly, golden television aerial. It was humming slightly. What appeared to be a mirror hung the wall opposite of Alex, but it was not reflecting the room. Shadowy figures were moving around inside it, none of them clearly in focus.

"Like my Dark Detectors, do you?" said Moody, who was watching Alex closely.

"What is that?" Alex asked, pointing at the squiggly golden aerial.

"Secrecy Sensor. Vibrates when it detects concealment and lies… no use here, of course, too much interference - students in every direction lying about why they haven't done their homework. Been humming ever since I got here. I had to disable my Sneakoscope because it wouldn't stop whistling. It's extra-sensitive, picks up stuff about a mile around. Of course, it could be picking up more than kid stuff," he added in a growl.

"Then what is the mirror for?"

"Oh that's my Foe-Glass. See them out there, skulking around? I'm not really in trouble until I see the whites of their eyes. That's when I open my trunk."

He let out a short, harsh laugh, and pointed to the large trunk under the window. It had seven keyholes in a row. Alex wondered what was in there, until Moody's next question brought him sharply back to earth.

"So… found out about the dragons, have you?

Alex hesitated. He'd been afraid of this - but he hadn't told Cedric, and he certainly wasn't going to tell Moody, that Hagrid had broken the rules.

"It's all right," said Moody, sitting down and stretching out his wooden leg with a groan. "Cheating's a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and always has been."

"I wouldn't call it creating," Alex mumbled as he rubbed his arm, "I oh just happen to-"

"What you were just walking around and ran in to the dragons?" Moody said sharply.

"Kind of I was told to be at a certain place at a certain time, but I didn´t knew I was shown the dragons."

Moody grinned. "I wasn't accusing you, lad. I've been telling Dumbledore from the start, he can be as high-minded as he likes, but you can bet old Karkaroff and Maxime won't be. They'll have told their champions everything they can. They want to win. They want to beat Dumbledore. They'd like to prove he's only human. But you know Dumbledore always follows the rules and wouldn´t help even if he knew what the task would be."

Alex felt some anger rush up inside him, it wasn´t fair why wouldn´t Dumbledore help him, after all unlike the others champions Alex hadn´t chosen this. So he should have gotten help fair play or not.

Unknown to Alex Moody could see this and gave a harsh laugh and his magical eye swivelled around so fast it made Alex feel a little queasy when he looked up to watch it. "Yes it doesn´t really seem fair to have the fair headmaster does it?"

Alex clenched his fist. "Not really no." he hissed.

"So… got any ideas how you're going to get past your dragon yet?" Moody asked.

"Uh I have some spells, but not sure they will help me that much," Alex said.

"Well, I'm not going to tell you," said Moody gruffly. "I don't show favouritism, me. I'm just going to give you some good, general advice and the first bit of advice is – play to your strengths."

"I know, Professor Moody," Alex replied, determination in his eyes, "I just wonder what strengths I can use."

"I know you have some."¨

Alex looked at the ground, "I knew sir. I am good at magic, so I just have to figure out how to beat that thing, no matter what it takes." He said standing up.

"That is the sprit but remember you don´t have to beat something if you can get past it another way."

Alex smiled, "yes your right sir. Thanks for the general advice." He said before leaving the office, with a plan about using spells that could trap the dragon, so he could past it.

"Neville!" Alex hissed, when he had sped into greenhouse three minutes later, uttering a hurried apology to Professor Sprout as he passed her. "I need you to help me." He said, settling next to him. Neville looked from Hermione to Alex and gave him a look as if he was crazy.

"Me?" He said. "You do know who I am, right?"

"I do," Alex said. "That's why I need your help, because you're pretty good at charms and a genius in Herbology."

Neville blushed a bit, "I am not that good."

"You are Nev."

"But why?"

"The first task is dragons," Alex whispered making Neville's eyes whined. "And I read about a charm that allows me to roots, so I am thinking to use it to bind the dragon, but I am on unsure if I can do that."

Neville nodded. "Okay, I help."

"Hey Hermione." Alex called making the Gryffindor witch look at him. "I could use your help as well."

"Yes, it is about the first task isn´t?"

Alex nodded in thanks and began working. Once the lesson had finished, he found Daphne and asked if she could help him as well. So the three of decided the skip the last lesson so they could focus on Alex´s spell work

"Where are we going Alex?" Neville asked as Alex led them towards the dungeons. "I thought we were training at the grounds."

"No, I know of a better place." Alex said walking deeper down the dungeons.

"Where and why here? Are we meeting with the Slytherins?" Hermione asked.

"You will see and yeah we are meeting with Daphne. Is that a problem?" Alex asked stopping up.

But before Hermione could answer that Alex saw Daphne turn a corner, when he saw her he smiled and waved at her. "Hey Alex, you wanted me to help." She said as she walked over

"Yes, but lets us take that later."

Daphne said her hallo to Neville and Hermione, the four of them began moving towards the hidden pathway, and soon after they stepped in to the chamber once inside Alex heard, his friends gasp in amazement.

"So this is where your boys have been hanging out?" Daphne asked looking around. It was clear that she was impressed.

"Yep it is the chamber of secrets."

"Is this really the chamber of secrets? From what Harry have told me, I thought it was bigger," Hermione said while walking around, but stopped at the door that led to the library. "And he never mentioned that there was a library in here."

Alex shrugged, "that is because Harry doesn´t knew about this place."

"Wait you said we were in the chamber?"

"But it is. Harry and I was just in another part of the chamber."

Suddenly the portrait of Slytherin coughed making everyone beside Alex jump in shock. "You knew if you keep bring people here it isn´t a secret chamber much longer." Slytherin said making Daphne, Hermione and Neville look at him.

"Relax; it is only six people that knows about, well seven if you count me."

Slytherin eyed Hermione and Neville or more precise their Gryffindor colours, "yes, but two of them are from Godric´s house."

Alex rolled his eyes, "Yes I know that since I am a Gryffindor myself."

"Yes but you are my heir and is therefore above average." Slytherin said, "those may not be."

Alex glared at Slytherin, "look you got one thing right, I am you heir and therefor I have the right to bring whoever I want down here." Slytherin growled and left his portrait, "don´t worry he be back soon, anyway I wanted you here because I need help to deal with the dragon." Alex had told Hermione about the nature the first task so she didn´t looked surprised, but Daphne and Neville did.

"Dragons?" Daphne whispered looking a bit pale, "are you telling me that you have to fight a dragon?"

Alex nodded "I have to get past one and maybe get something from it. That is why I need your help." He said as he picked up the book, that described the root spell and handed it to Neville. "I was thinking that this one could help."

Neville was silent as he read, "it depends on the environment?"

"Most likely a rocky ground," Hermione cut in, but Daphne nodded in agreement.

"Then we might have a problem, you could summon roots, but it will take a lot of magic and time, and even then the roots wouldn´t be that strong. I doubt they would be strong enough not do hold a dragon anyway."

Alex´s smile dropped as he gulped in fear. "Yes but surely it can hold it for a while." Hermione said.

"It depends, where the area is." Daphne answered. "But Alex if you have to get something from it, we have to conclude that it something the dragon would want to protect. However I been thinking; Alex have you ever heard the story about Slytherin and the dragon?"

Alex nodded. "What is it about?" Hermione interrupted.

"It is a bedtime story." Daphne answered. "Slytherin was out hunting his enemy, in order to prevent him in hunting Dragon eggs. However before he found the man Slytherin walked in a cave that housed a dragon. However before it could eat him Slytherin showed his magic and talked to the dragon and it listened. Now the dragon was impressed with the founder´s power and it agreed to help. Now Slytherin´s enemy was aware that he was hunted and had planned an ambush. However Slytherin had a dragon now and all his enemies were killed. Slytherin told the tale, and other parselmouths wanted the same power. However, none of the others had the cunning and intelligence Slytherin had, and were all eaten, burned or worse. I will save you of the details of Palkus."

Alex whined having been told that story many times, but now being crushed didn´t sound so fun. "It was stories like that you were told as children?" Hermione exclaimed looking at Alex and Daphne. "It is horrible."

"Then you have misunderstood the tale Ganger. Look the moral is that blind ambition is bad, and that you have to treat your allies with respect." Daphne explained calmly as she looked a Hermione. "And then it explains how the parselmouths almost got extinct."

"Yes, but it is a story Daphne! I mean it is just a rumour that Slytherin could talk to a dragons. We don´t know it is true."

"Yes I know it is a long shot, but a dragon is close to a snake. So it might work."

"You could always ask the one the story is about," Hermione cut in making Alex and Daphne look at her and Neville smirk.

Alex nodded, "Hey Salazar," he called "could you come out for a second."

It took about a minute for the old founder to appear, "you called?" He said in a superior voice.

"Yes, we wanted to ask you about a legend that involves you." Hermione said in a polite tone.

"Ah yes my girl, but you have to be more specific. There is a lot of legends about me."

"Yes I am sure there is," Alex said quickly before Slytherin begun talking about his life. "We are interested in the one about the dragon."

"Dragons eh now there is a few about dragons."

"And is there one where you talked to one. Where you used your parseltongue?" Daphne asked.

Slytherin smiled, "ah yes, although the tale have been exaggerated over time I did talked to one, and got it to help me."

"How did you do it?" Alex asked, "I mean why didn´t it burn you?"

"Why all the interest?" Slytherin asked but then it seemed to catch on. "ah you are planning to use it in the tournament, but it won´t help you defeat it."

"I only have to get past it?"

"Yes then it could work." The founder said while rubbing his chin. "However your abilities have to be devolved be matured if you will."

Alex blushed a bit as Daphne and Hermione giggled. "Well there was a time where he couldn´t control his parseltongue, speaking it at random all the time." Daphne said.

Slytherin smiled at this, "yes he can do it." He said making Alex smile, "but getting the dragon to listen might be hard. Some of them only listen to wizards they have respect for, and you even then it had to know it will be in its own interest."

"How do you get their respect?" Alex asked eager to get information.

"Politeness and some require one to show ones power."

"So what use magic?"

"Yes, I know you have learned how to make illusions. I would lean the root spell and some spells protect you from fire and possibly let you control it. It more or less those spells I used when I had to defend myself from the dragon before I got to listen. So make sure to lean the spells and uh well be yourself just more respectful."

"Right then we better begin." After they had gathered some books. Alex led his friends out of the chamber and to the one where he had Harry had fought the basilisk. None of them talked as they walked. Both Hermione and Daphne appeared to be lost in thought, and Neville looked determined.

Once they stepped inside the basilisk chamber. Alex was once again hit with the foul smell of a rotting snake.

"Oh dear Merlin," Hermione said, covering her nose, Daphne and Neville did the same. "That smells bloody awful!"

"I know," Alex said, covering his nose. "It's the basilisk."

Daphne signed. "Honestly Alex, it is really not a hard thing to fix." She said though her hand, then she pulled out and waved at the dead snake and said, "Flora Ordo!" The effect was instantaneous and a smell of flowers spared in the room removing the smell of decay.

"Flowers?" Alex asked.

"Well we can breathe now can´t we?" Daphne answered looking at Alex with her hands on her hips.

"That was an interesting spell," Hermione said, "where did you lean it?"

"My mother, anyway should we begin."

"Yes uh I was thinking that uh me and Nev could work on root spell since there are some roots here," Alex said, "then I was thinking that you Daphne and Hermione could try finding the spells that Salazar was talking about."

"Work with her?" Hermione said eyeing Daphne, who eyed her back.

"Uh yes." Alex said, a bit confused about the hostility. "You know with the two brightest witches working together then I am sure it will work. Both girls blushed, but were still eyeing each other. "I mean it would really be helpful for me."

"Right I do it for you." Hermione said.

"Yes, but you better survive that task then."

Daphne and Hermione looked at each other before being to work.

Alex turned to Neville who trying not to laugh. "What?"

Neville rolled his eyes a bit and smiled, "oh nothing."

Alex couldn´t really see what were funny but nodded anyway. "Right so shall we find some roots that we can use?"

Within four minutes Alex and Neville found some roots in the ceiling and wall near the entrance to the Chamber. "Alright, these should be good enough," Neville, said, opening the book and examining the roots. "Okay this should be a good place."

Alex nodded and moved over to the roots and pulled out his wand. "You are the expert", he muttered.

"First of you always need to have a connection to the roots by touching the ground, and you have to keep that connection until the roots have found their target."

"Wait you mean touch the ground with my hand?"

Neville looked at the book again. "Yes uh from what I understand then you let the magic go to the ground and let it pull the roots, that process are is made harder because of your shoes so you have to use your hands."

"Right but the shoes only slows my connection to the ground, so couldn´t make the spell work anyway?"

"It would, but it would be harder just like it is when you are rocky ground. So in the tournament I would recommend that you have a good connection, and then you also have more power to use on your defence."

"Right then," Alex said placing his hand on the wall.

"Now, point your wand at your target, and say Praeligo Radi", Neville said. "It says here, that this part needs the most concentration, and then when you have it, you just wait, with your hand on the wall, until your roots to bind your target. This is also the part where you can use other spells."

"Alright," Alex said, "I just need a target," he said, looking at Neville.

"Yeah," Neville said, noticing that Alex was looking at him. "You are not using me I tell you that, you can use uh I don´t know uh." Neville looked around, "hey there is a large rock over there." He said, while pointing.

Alex followed Neville's finger and saw the rock, "Right then stand back then - Accio Rock." Alex said as he summoned the stone to him it landed next to him and Neville with a loud bang that echoed in the chamber. Alex then pointed his wand at the rock and said, "Praeligo Radi" but nothing happened. Alex signed loudly and tried again but it was the same.

"You have to feel the roots, how they are filled with energy and picture them moving and bind."

Alex nodded, and tried again, but still nothing happened and a few more attempts Alex kicked the ground in frustration. "Dammit it doesn´t work!"

"Are you sure you concentrate enough."

"Yes!" Alex snapped.

"Are you sure?"

"I told you Yes! Alex paused for a minute. "Or wait maybe not – look it is just every time a dragon pops into my mind. I mean it doesn´t matter that I just have to get past it. It still a dragon." Alex signed annoyed that he still was scared even after what Blaise had said.

"Look I get that you are scarred, but if any of us would have a chance it is you." Neville said as Daphne and Hermione got over having heard everything.

"Nev is right Alex." Daphne said, "just looked at the things you done and the spells you have mastered."

"It is true Alex you fought against a basilisk when you were twelve and dementors when you were thirteen." Hermione added.

Alex nodded, "okay I try."

Alex looked at Hermione and nodded as he pointed his wand at the target. It was nice that his friends believed in him. Blaise had said the same thing. So he should believe in this, he had to. Alex took a deep breath and said, "Praeligo Radi"

Alex felt the magic soar through his arm and hand, and into the wall, and seconds later, the roots shot out of the wall, snatched up the rock, and bound it. Alex wanted to jump up and shoot. Instead, he had a big smile. "It worked."

After some hugging, Hermione began teaching Alex a variant of the shield charm that worked against fire, and Daphne had found one that allowed him to control fire as defence or offense, called Drac Igis. Alex found that the new spells came relatively essay, which were good giving the troubles he had lately.

They continued to train for the rest of the day. After lunch, Blaise joined in. Alex soon was very adapt in the three new spells. Hermione had come up with a combo using the two fire defence spells; he would first use the shield then use the fire as a weapon.

"Let us stop now, so your magic can rest." Daphne said as Alex had blocked a combined fire attack by her, and Hermione and sent the fire up the air.

"Yes that is a good idea." Alex said panting slightly. Daphne gave Alex a hug, before she and Blaise left.

After Alex and his fellow Gryffindors went to their tower to relax. Alex quickly found a chair near the fire where he sat trying to gather all the thoughts that was running though his heard. He didn´t really knew how long he had sat there, but he looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Hermione and she was now smiling softly at him. "It is past midnight Alex."

Alex blinked and looked around to see that the common room was empty. "Right I better heard to bed then."

"So do you think you are ready for the dragon?"

Alex shrugged. "There isn´t really much more I can do now."

"You be fine, just as long you don´t panic."

Alex smiled a bit. "Thanks Hermione. I better get some rest." He said being to walk away.

"Alex wait up." Hermione called making Alex stop up. "Are you feeling okay? I mean we been so focused on your spell work, so we have forgotten about your stress about the whole thing."

Alex rubbed his arm a bit, as he thought about it. He was still feeling a bit overwhelmed, but not as much as he used to. "I don´t know how I am feeling. I mean how would you feel if you should face a dragon?"

"Not as calm as you are, I am really impressed."

"Well I wouldn´t say I am calm right now." Alex grinned, "I am just hiding it."

At the same moment, Hermione flung at Alex and hugged him. Alex was a bit surprised about the whole thing, but slowly he returned it. The hug lasted about a minute, but when Hermione let go she didn´t stepped away. Alex felt slightly awaked at the closeness and his eyes whined as Hermione leaned closer to him with her eyes closed. At first, Alex felt prettified but before any lips could connect, he managed to push her away. "Hermione I uh sorry t-this isn´t a good idea."

Hermione´s eyes began to tear up. "Alex?" but she didn´t finish the sentence instead she turned at her heel and ran, before Alex could say anything.

Not that he knew what to say. Alex signed loudly as he rubbing his neck. He had hoped that Harry had been wrong when he had told her of Hermione´s feelings, but given what just had happen that wasn´t the case. Alex closed his eyes this was bad. He was in love with Daphne not Hermione. Sure Hermione was pretty and he was sure that he liked her, but not in that way. The question was why did Hermione suddenly like him in that way and did she thought that Alex felt the same. Had he given her any indication to think that – no he didn´t think so. Now he just had to find a way to tell Hermione that what she wanted couldn´t happen. However, it had to wait; he had to keep focused on the first task. After all had a dragon to fight. So Alex decided to think on Hermione later, and head to bed.

…

When he awoke the flowering morning, he was surprised that his nervous wasn´t worse, not that it wasn´t bad, but knowing it would be over soon was nice.

The atmosphere in the school was one of great tension and excitement. Lessons were to stop at midday, giving all the students time to get down to the dragons' enclosure - though of course, they didn't yet know what they would find there. It was a state of nervousness so advanced that he wondered whether he might just lose his head when they tried to lead him out to his dragon, and start trying to curse everyone in sight.

Time was behaving in a more peculiar fashion than ever, rushing past in great dollops, so that one moment he seemed to be sitting down in his first lesson, History of Magic, and the next, walking into lunch… and then, Professor McGonagall was hurrying over to him in the Great Hall. Lots of people were watching.

"Black, the champions have to come down onto the grounds now…you have to get ready for your first task."

"Yes Professor," Alex said as he stood up, dropping his knife and fork so they landed on the table with a clatter.

"You can do Alex!" Harry said giving him the thumbs up.

"Yes you will do great." Neville added.

Alex smiled as he began to walk away, he noticed that Daphne, Blaise and Tracey all were waving at him. Erik patted him on the arm as he passed the Ravenclaw table

And soon Alex had left the Great Hall with Professor McGonagall. She didn't seem herself either; in fact, she looked nearly as anxious as Alex. As she walked him down the stone steps and out into the cold November afternoon, she put her hand on Alex´s shoulder.

"Now, don't panic," she said, "just keep a cool head…we've got wizards standing by to control the situation if it gets out of hand…the main thing is just to do your best, and nobody will think any the worse of you…are you all right?"

"Yeah," Alex heard himself say. "Yeah, I'm fine."

He was being led toward the place where the dragons were, around the edge of the forest, but when they approached the clump of trees behind which the enclosure would be clearly visible, Alex saw that a tent had been erected, its entrance facing them, screening the dragons from view.

"You're to go in here with the other champions," Professor McGonagall said in a rather shaky sort of voice, "and wait for your turn, Black. Mr. Bagman is in there…he'll be telling you the - the procedure…good luck."

"Thanks," said Alex, in a flat, distant voice. He was left at the entrance of the tent. Alex went inside.

Fleur Delacour was sitting in a corner on a wooden stool. She didn't look nearly as composed as usual, but rather pale and clammy. Viktor Krum looked even surlier than usual, which were his way of showing nerves, apparently. Cedric was pacing up and down. When Alex entered, Cedric gave him a small glance, and then continued to pace.

"Alexander my man," said Bagman happily, looking around at him. "Come in, come in, make yourself at home!"

Bagman looked somehow like a slightly overblown cartoon figure, standing amid all the pale-faced champions. He was wearing his old Wasp robes again. "Well, now we're all here - time to fill you in!" said Bagman brightly. "When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag" - he held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them - "from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different - er - varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too… ah, yes… your task is to collect the golden egg!"

Alex glanced around. Cedric had nodded once, to show that he understood Bagman's words, and then started pacing around the tent again; he looked slightly green. Fleur Delacour and Krum hadn't reacted at all. Perhaps they thought they might be sick if they opened their mouths; that was certainly how Alex felt. But they, at least, had volunteered for this, and they were older.

It really felt like Alex had only blinked two times, but soon hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet could be heard passing the tent, their owners talking excitedly, laughing, joking…Alex felt as separate from the crowd as though they were a different species. And then – it seemed like about a second later to Alex - Bagman was opening the neck of the purple silk sack.

"Ladies first," he said, offering it to Fleur Delacour.

She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon - a Welsh Green. It had the number two around its neck and Alex knew, by the fact that Fleur showed no sign of surprise, but rather a determined resignation, that he had been right: Madame Maxime had told her what was coming.

Krum went next. He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had a number three around its neck. He didn't even blink, just sat back down and stared at the ground.

Cedric put his hand into the bag, and out came the blueish-grey Swedish Short-Snout, the number one tied around its neck.

Bagman then held the bag out for Alex, and he knew exactly what menacing Dragon was in there. As he tried not show the terror he was feeling, he dipped his hand in the bag and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail with a number four around its neck. He felt his stomach wrench with panic as it nipped at his fingers. It was just his luck getting the worst dragon in the pool.

"Well, there you are!" Bagman said. "These figurers represent real dragons. Dragons that you have to face soon. The numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons. Do you see? Now, I'm going to have to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr. Diggory, you're first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right?"

A few minutes later, a whistle had blown somewhere.

"Good lord, I've got to run!" said Bagman in alarm, and he hurried off. Alex crossed his arms and watched Cedric leave, greener than ever.

Seconds later, they heard the roar of the crowd, which meant Cedric had entered the enclosure and was now face-to face with the living counterpart of his model.

It was worse than Alex could ever have imagined, sitting there, listening and just waiting. The crowd screamed… yelled… gasped like a single many-headed entity, as Cedric did whatever he was doing to get past the Swedish Short-Snout. Krum was still staring at the ground. Fleur had now taken to retracing Cedric's steps, around and around the tent. And Bagman's commentary made everything much, much worse… Horrible pictures formed in Alex´s mind as he heard: "Oooh, narrow miss there, very narrow"… "He's taking risks, this one!"… "Clever move - pity it didn't work!"

"I wish ´e ´ould stopped talking." Fleur said, as she passed Alex. He tried giving her a reassuring smile, and was a bit surprised that she smiled back.

Finally, about fifteen minutes, Alex heard the deafening roar that could mean only one thing: Cedric had gotten past his dragon and captured the golden egg.

"Very good indeed!" Bagman was shouting. "And now the marks from the judges!"

But he didn't shout out the marks; Alex supposed the judges were holding them up and showing them to the crowd.

"One down, three to go!" Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again. "Miss Delacour, if you please!"

Alex smiled at her one more time. Fleur was trembling from head to foot but smiled back before she left the tent with her head held high and her hand clutching her wand. Alex and Krum were left alone; at opposite sides of the tent, avoiding each other's gaze.

The same process started again…"Oh I'm not sure that was wise!" they could hear Bagman shouting gleefully. "Oh… nearly! Careful now… good lord, I thought she'd had it then!" Every now and then Alex felt as Krum were looking at him, but when he looked, the Bulgarian seeker turned away.

Ten minutes later, Alex heard the crowd erupt into applause once more… Fleur must have been successful too. A pause, while Fleur's marks were being shown… more clapping… then, for the third time, the whistle.

"And here comes Mr. Krum!" cried Bagman, and Krum slouched out, but not before giving Alex a small nod.

Now it was Alex that was walking back and forth. He could feel his heart was pumping fast, and his fingers tingling with fear. He kept going over the spells he could use, and what he should say to the dragon.

In the meantime, Krum was busy with the dragon. "Very daring!" Bagman was yelling, and Alex heard the Chinese Fireball emit a horrible, roaring shriek, while the crowd drew its collective breath. "That's some nerve he's showing - and - yes, he's got the egg!"

Applause shattered the wintery air like breaking glass; Krum had finished – it would be Alex´s turn any moment. He hold his wand tight and kept muttering. "Show no fear – show no fear." Then he waited and waited and then the whistle sounded.

Alex walked out through the entrance of the tent he was walking past the trees, through a gap in the enclosure fence.

There were hundreds and hundreds of faces staring down at him from stands that had been magicked there since he had been on this spot. And there was the Horntail, at the other end of the enclosure, crouched low over her clutch of eggs, her wings half-furled, her yellow eyes upon him, a monstrous, scaly, black lizard, thrashing her spiked tail, heaving yard-long gouge marks in the hard ground. The crowd was making a great deal of noise, but whether friendly or not, Alex didn't know or care. It was time to do what he had to do… to focus his mind, entirely and absolutely, upon the thing that was his only chance.

Alex exhaled, and walked further into the arena, keeping a close eye on the Horntail. The crowd watched in anticipation as Alex faced the dragon. "Oh noble dragon," he hissed in parseltongue.

The dragon didn´t listen instead it shoot a blaze of fire towards Alex, who barely had time to jump away from the fire, he landed on his but so close to the fire that he could feel the massive heat from the blast.

"It appears that the dragon have our young champion backed in a corner." Bagman shouted in his magically enhanced voice, Alex cursed as he got to his feet – he had forgotten to enhance his voice.

The dragon roared again and without warning it swung it giant tail towards Alex, just as he had gotten up. He quickly dodge and quickly got ready to counter attack, before he could do that, the tail was back and smashing into Alex´s right upper arm. Alex yelped, and the audience screamed as he flew and hit the ground a few feet away. The crash was pretty bad, his right arm, his wand arm, was in an intense amount of pain and was bleeding thanks to the spikes on the dragon´s tail. Alex cried but quickly crawled behind a rock, as Bagman´s comments got easier to ignore. Behind the rock Alex took a deep breath and peeked over the rock. The dragon was now nearing the rock, and Alex knew that he needed to get the dragon´s attention away from him. Alex whacked his brain for an idea.

A planed quickly formed in his mind. Alex stood up from his hiding place and looked the dragon in the eyes. The breast sneered at him. Alex took a deep breath hold his damaged arm to his chest and sprinted away from it. The dragon followed him, Alex zigzagged around the arena moving past the stones. He soon realized that running around wasn´t the best idea, each time he tried going for the nest the dragon blocked him and chased him away, leaving Bagman to yell that he should be careful. Every now and then the dragon would try slashing him in half with it´s claws, making the crowd gasp, but it was then Alex speed up. However the fast pace had its consequence and soon Alex began panting and gasping for air. Each time Alex tried stopping to catch his breath he started running in the same second. Alex soon got slower and the distance became closer. The dragon roared as Alex stumbled and as he turned, the dragon swung its sharp claw at him. Alex raised his arms in a hopeless attempt to protect himself as claw got nearer. The crowed screamed in horror and Bagman yelled for it to be stopped, but then as everybody thought that Alexander Black was finished the dragon´s claw simply passed though as if he hadn´t been there.

"How amazing" Bagman shouted after a minute of silence at the same time the crowd began to cheer. "It appears that our young champion so how have created an illusion of himself – I tell you that kid is full of surprises."

In the meantime Alex had moved behind a different rock, under the cover of the illusion spell `Lokium`, that had worked just as planned. He had gotten his breath, giving his arm a small bandage and most important there was now distance between him and the dragon. He would have wished that he had had time to get his next spell ready, but the dragon had been a bit quicker to destroy the illusion then he had hoped.

But the new place were Alex was did have some roots near the surface, so it might just work. Alex placed his right hand on the ground and carefully aimed his wand at the dragon that looked around for him. "Praeligo Radi." Alex felt a small strain on his magic, but the roots soon flung towards the dragon. Just before the roots could it, the dragon sent a flame that burned all but one root in a blink of an eye. The root that made it tangled around the dragon´s left front leg, Alex smiled in triumph and stood up. However the success didn´t last long , as the dragon made a movement that snapped the root. It freed itself from the root and looked in Alex direction and roared before sending a blast of towards Alex. Alex quickly formed the shield that protected him from the fire. While the fire still surrounded the shield, Alex flicked his wand and whispered "Drac Igis." A dragons fire was a lot harder to contain then a normal one. However the combo training paid off as Alex still was protected from the fire even though the shield was gone. Alex smiled slightly and directed the fire at the dragon´s feet, making everybody cheer.

The dragon roared in panic and swung it tail violently Alex narrowly ducked an attack, but as he ducked the dragon tail hit a nearby rock. The impact made the rock collapse and Alex watched in horror as the falling rock headed to the dragon´s nest treating to destroy the eggs. "Oh no, it appears that young Mr. Black have put the eggs in great danger." Bagman shouted, and the crowd stopped cheering. Alex reacted without thinking as he flicked his wand and used the Reducto curse to destroy the rock. In the same moment the rock was destroyed, Alex realized that he had let himself be open to attack, he gulped and prepared for the flames. However, it never came, instead the dragon just looked at him, growling slightly.

Alex saw this as his only chance and casted the Sonorous charm on himself. "Oh great dragon," he hissed, and was glad that he wasn´t attacked this time. "I am sorry about attacking you, but it was the only way I could defend myself."

The dragon growled a bit and some steam hit Alex who had to use all his willpower from running. The crowd was silent and Bagman was no longer making comments, everybody was staring at Alex, wondering what he was saying and why. "Now I came to your nest to give you a warning that one of the egg you guard are not your own." This time the dragon roared and flew over to it nest where it sniffed, then roared again. Alex walked slowly towards it, his hand raised to show that he meant no harm. "Now as you just have witness I mean no harm to you and your young and if you allow me. I will remove the fake egg so that your young will continue be safe." The dragon growled again and sniffed at Alex, who tried to be his breathing normal. The dragon was so close that it could eat in one bite. "Please I allow me to keep your nest safe, by removing the golden egg that isn´t yours." Alex could swear that the dragon nodded before it returned to the nest grabbing the egg with its mouth and spat it out at Alex´s feet. Alex blinked in surprise as he looked at the golden egg. He had done it he had the egg. Alex slowly grabbed the egg; lifted up the air and slowly very slowly the first applauds came.

…

So Alex have survived the dragon thanks to his parseltongue but was that a smart move? After all parseltongue is considered a dark ability. So how will everybody say, now that Alex have reminded everybody that he have that power.

Anyway Alex can now relax until the second task, that if he hadn´t a bit personal problems to deal with.