The First Task

Harry and Hermione entered the Champions' tent the morning of the first task hand-in-hand. Harry had, with Hermione's help, modified his quidditch robes to be more form fitting yet still supply their light armor quality. He saw that Cedric was similarly attired, while Fleur was in a light weight, form fitting, blue garment and Victor wore his Durmstrang uniform without the cloak. The other three looked up as they entered but returned to their own contemplations once they saw who it was.

"Harry," Hermione whispered to him, trying not to disturb the others. "I'm scared."

"I am too Hermione," Harry admitted softly, then looked into her eyes as emotion etched his next words. "But I have something to live for, someone who will bring me back just to kill me for dying on her, and I have no intention of letting her down."

Hermione blushed nicely at his comment and folded herself into his waiting embrace. They stayed there for several minutes, before a bright flash shocked them out of it. Standing at the entrance was the Skeeter woman again, her acid green quill floating behind her, rapidly writing away.

"This is for Champions only," Victor told her loudly, then glancing at Hermione, "And Friends. Vhy are you here?"

"To tell the story, you simple boy. To tell my readers what goes through the Champions' minds before the big event, how they prepare." Rita said airily, waving off his objection.

"Mrs. Skeeter," Harry growled, moving between her and Hermione, "Remember what I warned you of."

"You think your little outburst matters?" Rita scoffed.

"I did notice you actually stuck to the facts in your report of the Wand Weighing." Harry noted, "Now if you'd please leave, we would like to prepare."

"Of course, of course," Rita paled slightly at the reminder. "But first, Miss Granger, care for an interview?"

"That actually sounds like a good idea," Hermione said with a grin, "I wonder if that other paper sent a reporter, what's its name? The Quiver? The Quiller?"

Harry barely restrained a laugh as Rita looked ready to explode with outrage at being ignored. The other Champions gently guided the reporter from the tent, and when that didn't work, they stopped being gentle.

A few moments after expelling Skeeter, the doorway opened, and the Headmasters and Headmistress, Bagman, and Crouch entered the tent. They gathered the Champions, and Bagman held forth a smoking bag.

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said before Crouch could start, "I understand and welcome your presence, however I must ask that anything you learn here, you keep to yourself until it is announced to the other spectators. We also require you to exit before the first Champion and remain in the arena until the end."

"Yes, sir," Hermione said softly beside Harry, trying to remain as unobtrusive as possible.

"Very good Dumbledore," Crouch thanked the old wizard, "Now in this bag you will find a representation of the creature you shall face in the arena. Don't worry, you needn't kill it, merely retrieve an object in its protection. A Golden egg, your clue to the second task, lays in the middle of the arena. You simply need to retrieve it and exit the arena again. How you do so is up to you." Harry felt uneasy at the eager grin on the man's face as he held the bag to Fleur. "Now, ladies first."

Fleur reached into the bag, flinching, then pulled out a small, 10 cm long, green dragon with a tag labeled "2".

"The Welsh Green, very nice," Crouch commented, then held the bag to Victor.

Victor pulled a similar sized, reddish dragon with the number "3" on it.

"The Chinese Fireball, very good, very good." Crouch held the bag over to Cedric.

Cedric put on a brave face as he slowly withdrew a dark brown dragon with the tag labeled "1".

"The Swedish Short-Snout, good selection," Crouch continued his commentary as he held the bag to Harry, "Which leaves…"

Sighing to himself, and praying Hermione didn't crush his hand with the force of her grip on his other hand, Harry bravely pulled out the miniature Horntail with the tag "4".

"The Hungarian Horntail. Good luck, Champions." Crouch stepped back, allowed Dumbledore to take his place before the Champions.

"Now each of you will face your task in the order presented. Mr. Diggory, at the sound of the cannon you may proceed to the arena." Dumbledore instructed them. "At the sound of each successive cannon, you may enter in order." He turned to Hermione, "Miss Granger, would you care to join us on our way to the Stadium?"

Hermione looked at Harry, then Dumbledore and nodded. Turning back to Harry, she pulled him into a soft, sweet kiss, then hugged him tight.

"You'd better come back to me Harry," she demanded in his ear, her voice quavering. "You survive and come back to me, you hear?" And left with the judges.

Victor had left a while ago, out to face his dragon, and Harry was feeling the pressure. At first, he and the other Champions had been subjected to the oohs and ahhs of crowd and Bagman's less than helpful announcing. The remaining Champions had silently agreed and cast silencing charms on the walls of the tent. Fleur had amazed both the boys by altering one of the charms to allow only the sound of the cannon through, allowing them to know when it was their time.

As each of the foreign Champions left, they wished Harry luck. Harry was of two minds over that. He wasn't sure if they were pitying him, or thought he needed it after being forced into this three years undertrained. Either way, Harry was fairly sure they were sincere.

He reviewed the plan he and Hermione had come up with. Moody had attempted to convince him to use his broom, why in the world would he want to face a dragon, an Apex Predator, on a broom? They instead decided on using a tactic that didn't place him at perfect biting height. A bit of input from Sirius, several late nights in the library, plus a book on dragons Charlie Weasley had passed on through McGonagall, and Harry felt he had a chance to survive.

Dragons were much more than flying lizards, as most wizards assumed. They were highly intelligent creatures with senses humans didn't and a rather organized social structure. Apparently you can actually negotiate with them, even speak to them, if they let you live long enough. Their hides were extremely magic resistant, and could see most invisibility through the heat one's body emitted. The plan was to use that to their advantage.

While Harry couldn't cast a full disillusionment charm, he could use an obscuring Charm. Combine that with a LOT of Hermione's Bluebell flames, and actual flames, to raise the ambient temperature and the dragon would have a hard time seeing him. They'd thought about using a Conjuntivitis curse, but figured that'd just piss the dragon off.

BOOOM

Harry turned to the sound of the cannon, his heart suddenly in his throat. Rising slowly, trying to gather his wits, he slowly made for the entrance to the arena. The plan was sound; now he just had to execute it.

As he entered the arena, he paused. Before him was a large rocky area about a 150m around. The ground was uneven and crumbling in places, making movement haphazard. In the center, on a raised outcropping, was not one Golden egg, but a dozen more eggs besides. Nesting Mothers. Bloody hell, he had to steal an egg from a dragon's bloody nest? Where they trying to get him killed? Wait. Where's the…

His mental process cut off as instinct caused him to jump forward, out of the way of the blast of fire the prowling Dragon sent his way. Scrambling up, he moved quickly away and behind a large boulder. Just as he got behind it, sparks licked around it as another burst of flame pursued him.

He hastily cast his obscuring charm, then began setting flames alight around him. Quickly he was surrounded by a dozen flames, and he could feel the heat rising, but not enough for comfort. He tried to peek around, only to duck back to barely miss getting hit by another inferno. Thinking swiftly, he looked around, spotted another boulder. Casting the strongest Incendio he could in the opposite direction, be bolted for the other boulder.

The dragon was distracted momentarily by the pyre to one side but turned in time for his fire breath to catch Harry as he made it to the boulder. A hasty Protego Solarus prevented any fire from hitting him, but it was a near thing. So distracted by the near miss from the dragons front, Harry missed the attack from the rear. The dragon's tail swept from the opposite direction, demolishing the boulder. The great stone slowed and turned the impact, sending Harry flying across the terrain.

A hasty Arresto Momentum kept him from taking much damage from the impact, but is left side was coursing with pain from the tail impact. Harry dove for cover as he heard his name screamed from the crowd. Turning he saw Hermione flying over the wall of the Arena, crashing into the rubble piles and moving towards him at a run. He saw the Dragon had spotted her as well. Reacting without thinking, Harry rolled over, pointed at the dragon's head, and bellowed Periculum Maxima!

Dozens of red sparks shot from his wand, each flaring bright as it arced around the dragons heard. It reared back, snapping at any that passed too close.

Fortunately, it worked enough to allow Hermione to make it too him. He heard noises from the crowd but couldn't discern what was being said. Even Bagman's commentary was ignored as he pulled her close.

"What are you doing?" He demanded

"I couldn't stand it, I had to help you."

"You could die!"

"So could you, and I couldn't let that happen."

"Stupid impulsive… Never mind, where is that…"

The world exploded. Again.

While the pair had checked on each other, the dragon had struck again. This time they were tossed together, Harry rolling in midair to land underneath Hermione. The Harry grunted as they landed, taking the impact on himself. Driving the breath out of him.

Hermione pulled herself off of Harry and turned to face the dragon. It was looking down at them, as if considering them, then turned and swung its tail at them again. Hermione didn't think, didn't cast, she just acted. She threw herself between Harry and the approaching blow.

Several things happened at once. The crowd gasped in fear. Hermione closed her eyes, kissed Harry, and accepted that at least she and Harry would be together, even in death. Harry, grabbing Hermione's hand, tried to move Hermione aside to get between her and the strike.

As the first spike of her tail struck the couples joined arms, the world exploded in a golden burst of magic. The barbed spike, severed from the tail it was attached to, still pierced their arms, sliding between each arms forearm bones, pinning them together. The pair started to scream, but the pain was muted. They could tell it hurt, but it wasn't uncontrollable. Harry looked at Hermione, standing before him, ready to take the death blow meant for him. Hermione saw Harry, moving to protect her as he always did. And the golden glow burst around them.

The Horntail, one of the most intelligent species of dragon, recoiled in shock as a blinding golden shield deflected most of her tail. One spike had been severed, but mostly the strike was merely shunted aside, but that was secondary in her brain. She stared at the golden nimbus surrounding the pair of humans before her. An aura she knew, understood even, though never thought to see.

The Bell of Hogwarts, unheard in Generations, pealed unnoticed in the background.

The arena doors burst open and the Dragon Handlers charged in, ready to subdue the rampaging dragon, only to slow and stop in confusion. The giant Dragon placed herself between them and their intended rescuees. Then they watched in shock as the angriest, most temperamental Dame they had ever worked with, was docile. Then stunned silence reigned as the Dragon slowly squared herself to the couple in the golden aura, and bowed.

$$Great Ones$$ The dragon addressed Harry and Hermione, shocking them that they could understand, $$I apologize for attacking you, I did not know you and only saw a danger to my Nest. $$

$$We understand$$ Hermione paused in shock as she responded in the same language, though she knew not what it was. Shaking herself, she continued, $$You were merely defending your young. $$

$$It is we who should apologize. $$ Harry intoned again, noting in the back of his mind that everyone had fallen silent in the stands to watch, $$You were taken from your home by others that merely saw an opportunity. We wish we could have stopped it, left you in your home, but we could not for we did not know and had no power to do so even if we had. $$

$$You couldn't…$$ The dragon paused, appraising them, $$You don't know, do you? $$

$$We don't even know what you're referring to, $$ Hermione admitted. $$Would you educate us on our obvious lack of Knowledge? $$

$$It is not my place to say, $$ The Horntail informed them, $$But once you understand, call on us, and one shall come to help you. $$ She paused, then turned to the Harry, $$Why did you seek my nest? $$

$$I am forced to participate in a dangerous competition. The Fools in charge hid a false egg among your eggs, a clue to the next task they have prepared. I sought that clue. $$

Slowly, the Horntail moved to her nest, inspecting the eggs within. The Dragon handlers backed up as she approached closest to them, waved back by Hermione. Inspecting each egg, she found the dead one, the one of metal. Carefully extracting it, she carried it over and placed it upon the ground at Harry's feet.

$$Here is your clue, Great one$$ she looked at their arms and her barb joining them. $$The barbs of my tail are poisonous, I can aid you with that wound if you allow me. It will be painful, but less so than your clumsy healers. $$

After a nod from Hermione, Harry turned to the Handlers.

"Leave us be," He yelled at them, "You placed us in this danger, so you have no place here." Turning to the judges, he called "You screwed this up, let someone else fix it."

The Horntail careful, slowly approached the pair. She gripped the point of the barb, braced them, and pulled. Their screams of pain as the barb finished its way through their arms caused the Handlers to start forward again, only to stop as Harry waved them off.

Carefully placing the barb aside, the Horntail leaned back on her haunches, a pricked her own finger pad, causing a small drop of blood to seep from the wound. Carefully coming back down, she spoke again. $$Let me see your arms$$

As they presented their ravished forearms, she allowed a single drop of her blood to fall on each open wound. Drawing her claw back, she leaned down, and slowly exhaled.

A wave of warm, tingly air washed over them. Aches eased, scratches closed, the mild burn Harry had from being around so much fire eased. And as they watched, the gaping holes where the barb had pierced their arms, healed. The sensation they felt was like a lot of static electricity, an ambient force, but it was more than that. Harry felt this force had a wild feeling to it, untamed, like Hermione's hair.

$$It is done$$ The horntail intoned as she withdrew.

$$Thank you$$ Harry bowed, $$is there anything i can do to repay your kindness? $$

$$Fulfill your calling, keep your heart true, and tell the little frightened ones I prefer pig to cow.$$ She chuckled.

$$We don't know this calling you speak of, $$ Hermione stated, then smiled. $$But my heart stands beside me, and we shall inform the others of your preference as well. $$

The Giant Horntail nodded, then turned and lumbered over to her nest, curling around the fragile eggs within.

Harry turned towards Hermione, and noting the look in her eyes as she returned the glance, started bracing himself for the conversation he was sure they'd have later. Taking her hand, he picked up the golden egg from the ground, and turned to exit the Arena.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

The judges seemed to be arguing for a long time before they turned to the gathered Champions.

They'd each been looked over by Madam Pomphrey, treated for their injuries, and released for the scoring. They now stood, or in Victor's case sat, on the dais where the judges had observed the task.

"It appears, we have an issue we must address before scoring." Dumbledore stated, his voice amplified so all could hear. "Miss Granger, come forward please."

Hermione strode defiantly forward from the nearest seats, where she'd been forced to remain when Harry ascended the stairs to the judges' platform. When she arrived, she stood beside Harry, taking his hand in hers.

"Miss Granger, why did you interfere in the task?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

"Because no one else was going to." Hermione said defiantly, "You lot forced a fourteen-year old to confront one of the most dangerous creatures known to wizard kind. He'll be fine, you thought, while he was being batted around the arena. He was outmatched from the beginning, yet you sat there and watched. When would you have stopped it? After he was dead? As the dragon was swallowing pieces of him? He's the most important person in the world to me, of course I was going to help him, once I saw you weren't."

The crowd murmured at the young women's disdain. The judges seemed taken aback at her vehemence. They looked back and forth between them, Dumbledore at least looked abashed. Madame Maxime appeared contemplative, and Karkaroff was obviously disdainful. Crouch and Bagman were odd though. Bagman seemed like it was all good, very entertaining, while Crouch looked upset his event had started such controversy.

"Be that as it may," Dumbledore said sadly, "You aided your school's Champion and as such…"

"No I didn't." Hermione cut him off defiantly.

"I beg your pardon?" Dumbledore looked perplexed.

"Sir, I am a Hogwarts student," Hermione explained slowly, as if to a small child, "The Hogwarts Champion is Cedric Diggory," She pointed at Cedric, "Harry is not the Hogwarts Champion, therefore I did not aid my school Champion."

"I…" Dumbledore paused, then turned for a conference with the other judges. Despite the obvious silencing spell, Karkaroff was obviously not liking the decision. As they returned to face the crowd, Dumbledore continued. "Your logic is impeccable as ever Miss Granger, However you did interfere in the task."

"How, sir?" Hermione once again cut him off, "Anyone could have entered to aide a champion; I was simply the only one who chose to do so." She glanced at Harry apologetically, "And I did it despite the Champion in questions desire for me not to."

"Is this true, Harry?"

"Yes," Harry admitted, "While I accept her reasons, if it were my choice, Hermione would never have entered the arena, never been in danger."

"I see," Dumbledore sighed. "Very well then, on to the scores. First, Cedric Diggory."

Behind Dumbledore, each judge raised his or her wand, and a number appeared above them. A "5" from Karkaroff, "8" from Maxime, "7" from Crouch, "9" from Bagman, and Dumbledore an "8".

"Mr. Diggory receives a total of 37 points. Now for Miss Delacour," Dumbledore announced over the boos aimed at Karkaroff.

Again numbers appeared above each judge, another "5" from Karkaroff, an "8" from Maxime, another from Crouch, Bagman gave her a "7" and Dumbledore a "9".

"Miss Delacour receives 37 points. The scores for Mr. Krum please."

The roar of the crowd was almost as loud as during the event, only hostile, as Karkaroff raised a "10" above his head. The other scored were a "7" from Maxime, and "8" from Crouch, "7" from Bagman and a "7" from Dumbledore.

"A total of 39 for Mr. Krum." Dumbledore sighed, then overpowered the crowd to announce, "And finally the scores for Mr. Potter."

The judges each indicated their scores, Maxime, gave an "8", Crouch a "7", Bagman a "7" and Dumbledore a "7". The crowd pushed against the barrier, trying to reach Karkaroff as he raised his score last with a sneer, a "0". The other champions looked at each other, before holding a quick conference.

"May I Speak?" Asked the amplified voice of Krum.

Looking quite surprised, Dumbledore nodded.

"I object to the obvious bias in the judging of this event. Certain individuals are obvious in their manipulations of the scores, therefore, ve vish to do something about it." Krum indicated Fleur and Cedric, "Harry Potter did amazing things for one in only his fourth year. Not only did he survive, but vhen he exited the arena, he had no injuries and did no damage to the other eggs. To recognize what others obviously missed, ve each vish to transfer 2 points from our scores to his."

The crowd cheered.

"As noble a gesture as this is, Mr. Krum." Dumbledore sighed, "I'm afraid that you cannot. The scores given are the scores you must accept."

The crowd booed, several items of unmentionable quality were thrown at Karkaroff.

"In zat case," Fleur raged, "We wish to censure Headmaster Karkaroff for violating the intent of this tournament and blatant manipulation of the scoring."

"Unfortunately, you are not allowed to do so." Dumbledore informed her. "A Champion cannot institute censure against the other schools' judges as it is often considered to the initiating Champion's benefit."

"Am I?" Asked Krum, "If I'm calling for my own Headmaster to be censured, I obviously can't be doing so for my benefit."

"It shall be… discussed." Dumbledore sighed.