Chapter Nineteen: The Hungarian Horntail

The next morning, at breakfast, Hermione met up with Harry. Before she could tell him about her teeth and working with Jillian, he handed her a letter. It read:

Harry,

I can't say everything I would like to in a letter. It's too risky in case the owl is intercepted – we need to talk, face-to-face. Can you ensure that you are alone by the fire in Gryffindor Tower at one o'clock in the morning on the 22nd of November?

I know better than anyone that you can look after yourself, and while you're around Dumbledore and Moody I don't think anyone will be able to hurt you. However, someone seems to be having a good try. Entering you in that Tournament would have been very risky, especially right under Dumbledore's nose.

Be on the watch, Harry. I still want to hear about anything unusual. Let me know about the 22nd of November as quickly as you can.

Sirius

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"What do you mean, 'what am I going to do?'" Harry asked. "I'm going to meet him on the twenty-second."

"Don't you think that would be risky?" Hermione asked.

"At one o'clock?" Harry asked stubbornly. "Doubtful."

"Just be careful, Harry."

"Aren't I always?"

"No," Hermione said simply, passing him the toast.

"Fine," Harry said. "What do you propose I do to make sure I can safely talk to Sirius?"

"Well, we need a way to get any late-night stragglers out of the Common Room," Hermione said.

"Dungbombs?" Harry said with a grin.

"Let's keep that as our worst-case scenario," Hermione said. "Filch would kill us."

"Better Filch than whoever put my name in the Goblet," Harry muttered. "Or the first task, for that matter."

"Any ideas on what it is yet?" Hermione asked.

"No, but I did have to get my wand weighed yesterday with the other Champions," said Harry.

"Oh?" Hermione vaguely remembered Madam Pomfrey saying something about that to Viktor when he helped her to the Hospital Wing. "What did that entail?"

"Bagman called it a Wand Weighing Ceremony, and Olivander was there to check that our wands were fully functional and whatnot," Harry explained. "I felt bad because the other Champions all polished their wands, and mine looked shoddy as usual."

"I'm sure no one noticed."

"Oh, they noticed. Especially Cedric," Harry said. "But, before the Wand Weighing Ceremony, I had to meet with Rita Skeeter to be interviewed. She's the-"

"The reporter from the Daily Prophet!" Hermione finished for him.

"You've heard of her?"

"Of course," Hermione said. "She was the one that wrote those awful things about Ron's dad."

"Oh, right," said Harry, taking another bite of his toast. "She seems like a dreadful person. I looked at the quick quill she was using to write the article, and she was making up all kinds of things."

"Like what?"

"She kept writing that I had tears in my eyes thinking about my parents and that I entered the Tournament myself."

"She's a hack journalist," Hermione said, shaking her head. "Total Red-Top."

"You're certainly making me excited to read the whole article when it's published," Harry said sarcastically.

"You're welcome," Hermione replied dryly.

As much as they joked about Rita Skeeter's article's potential awfulness, nothing could have prepared them both for the outrageous lies penned by the so-called journalist. Some of the "highlights" included:

I suppose I get my strength from my parents. I know they'd be very proud of me if they could see me now. Yes, sometimes at night, I still cry about them. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I know nothing will hurt me during the Tournament, because they're watching over me.

And:

Harry has at last found love at Hogwarts. His close friend, Colin Creevey, says that Harry is rarely seen out of the company of one Hermione Granger, a stunningly pretty Muggle-born girl who, like Harry, is one of the top students in the school.

Both Hermione and Harry had to endure people - Slytherins, mainly - quoting it at them whenever they would pass and make sneering comments.

"Want a hanky, Potter, in case you start crying in Transfiguration?"

"Since when have you been one of the top students in the school, Potter? Or is this a school you and Longbottom have set up together?"

"Stunningly pretty? Her?" Pansy Parkinson had shrieked the first time she had met with Hermione after Rita's article had appeared. "What was she judging against – a chipmunk?"

Regardless of whoever was making the comments or who they were directed at, Hermione would say the same thing. "Ignore it," Hermione said in a dignified voice, holding her head in the air and stalking past the sniggering Slytherin girls as though she couldn't hear them. "Just ignore it, Harry."

She knew neither she nor Harry could dignify their comments with a response, or else the ridicule would get worse.

However, that was different from knowing that Ron actually suspected she and Harry had a relationship other than the sibling-like one they shared.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Ron spat one afternoon at lunch while Harry was off taking a break from the taunts and hiding in his room.

"Oh, come off it, Ron," Hermione said. "You know quite well that there is nothing between Harry and me. He's like a brother to me."

"That's not what it says in the Daily Prophet," Ron said as if Hermione needed to be reminded.

"So you're going to trust the woman who made all kinds of stuff up about your father over me?"

Ron didn't have a comeback. He just stuttered a few words and then slumped in his seat.

"Can't you just talk to Harry? He could really use your support too."

"No!" Ron said. "He's being a bloody git about it all."

"So are you!" Hermione retorted. "You both are being total arses and need to get over your damned selves!" Hermione didn't often swear and nearly giggled like a schoolgirl at the cute, flabbergasted look on Ron's face.

"I'll talk to him when he apologises."

"For what?"

"For everything," Ron said.

"You're impossible," Hermione sighed.

Hermione had a very similar conversation with Harry that afternoon during their lunch break. Harry had some mental block over the Summoning Charm, and they were in the library looking up the theory and etymology.

"Can't you just talk to Ron?"

"I'll talk to that prat when he admits he knows I didn't put my name in the Goblet of Fire," Harry said crossly. "And apologise for calling me a liar."

"Yes, but if you could just-"

"I didn't start this. It's his problem," Harry interrupted her.

"You miss him!" Hermione said impatiently. "And I know he misses you-"

"Miss him?" said Harry. "I don't miss him."

Hermione knew it was a lie. She could tell both stubborn friends missed each other, but they were dead set on continuing their collective misery. Usually, she wouldn't care and let them both work it out on their own, but their misery also affected her. She felt as though she was always the middle man and was, frankly, quite tired of it.

Another thing she was quite tired of was Viktor Krum's seemingly constant presence in the library. She had no idea what he was doing, but his mere existence in the library stacks attracted multiple groups of giggling girls trying to spy on him from behind bookshelves. Madam Pince, likewise, was incensed at the intrusion and tried to ban Viktor from the library, but Dumbledore had reminded her she couldn't prohibit a student from learning.

"He's not even good-looking!" Hermione muttered angrily, glaring at Krum's sharp profile. "They only like him because he's famous! They wouldn't look twice at him if he couldn't do that Wonky Faint thing –"

"Wronski Feint," said Harry.

"Yes, that," Hermione said. "I'm sure he's nice and all, but does he really have to be here day after day?"

"Maybe he knows something about the first task," Harry suddenly said, now much more engaged.

"Well, that wouldn't be very fair, would it?" Hermione said.

"Obviously not, but why else would he be here day after day?"

"Maybe he just likes learning?" Hermione said, not really understanding her own intentions of defending Viktor Krum's reasons for being there.

"Nah," Harry said, shaking his head. "He may be a brilliant Quidditch player, but I think that's where his talents end, if you catch my drift."

"You don't know that," Hermione said, inexplicably defending Viktor again. Perhaps because he was nice to her when Malfoy hexed her? Or did she just want to be contradictory to Harry for some reason?

"I guess we'll see at the first task," Harry said miserably.

On the Saturday before the first task, all students in the third year and above were permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade. Hermione told Harry that it would do him good to get away from the castle for a bit, and Harry didn't need much persuasion.

"What about Ron, though?" he said. "Don't you want to go with him?"

"Oh, well," Hermione went slightly pink. She didn't think Harry would call out her plan this quickly. Knowing she wasn't good at lying or hiding the truth, she decided to come clean. "I thought we might meet up with him in the Three Broomsticks."

"No," said Harry flatly.

"Oh, Harry, this is so stupid –"

"I'll come, but I'm not meeting Ron, and I'm wearing my Invisibility Cloak."

"Oh, all right, then," Hermione snapped, "but I hate talking to you in that Cloak. I never know if I'm looking at you or not."

Harry grinned, ran to his dorm, and met her back in the Common Room. Together, they set off for the Wizard village.

Hermione noticed most of the students in the village were sporting Support CEDRIC DIGGORY badges. She was sure Harry was happy to have the anonymity of the cloak, but it didn't change the fact that talking with him while he was wearing it was incredibly awkward for her.

"People keep looking at me now," said Hermione grumpily as they came out of Honeydukes Sweetshop later, eating large cream-filled chocolates. "They think I'm talking to myself."

"Don't move your lips so much, then."

"Come on, please just take off your Cloak for a bit. No one's going to bother you here," Hermione pleaded.

"Oh, yeah?" said Harry. "Look behind you."

Hermione did as Harry asked. Rita Skeeter and her photographer friend had just emerged from the Three Broomsticks pub. Talking in low voices, they passed by Hermione without looking at her.

When they were gone, Harry said, "She's staying in the village. I bet she's coming to watch the first task."

"She's gone," said Hermione. "Why don't we go and have a Butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks? It's a bit cold, isn't it? You don't have to talk to Ron!" she added irritably.

The Three Broomsticks was packed, mainly with Hogwarts students enjoying their free afternoon, but also with a variety of adults from various walks of Wizarding life. Harry whispered that he would sit at the table in the corner, and Hermione went to buy drinks. She noticed Ron sitting with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan with a pang of regret for not being able to sit with them.

Hermione joined Harry a moment later and slipped him a Butterbeer under his Cloak.

"I look such an idiot, sitting here on my own," she muttered. "Luckily I brought something to do."

She pulled out a notebook in which she had been keeping a record of S.P.E.W. members. It was, most certainly, much smaller than it should be. It gave her an idea.

"You know, maybe I should try and get some of the villagers involved in S.P.E.W.," Hermione said thoughtfully, looking around the pub.

"Yeah, right," said Harry. "Hermione, when are you going to give up on this S.P.E.W. stuff?"

"When house-elves have decent wages and working conditions!" she hissed back. "You know, I'm starting to think it's time for more direct action. I wonder how you get into the school kitchens?"

"No idea, ask Fred and George," said Harry.

Hermione bit her tongue. She could ask Fred and George if Harry would only sit near Ron.

After a few minutes of silence and looking through her S.P.E.W. notes, she looked up and recognised a familiar shape. "Look! It's Hagrid!" she said.

Hagrid was leaning low, talking to Professor Moody at a table closer to the front. He had his massive tankard in front of him, but Moody was drinking from his hip-flask. Madam Rosmerta, the proprietor of the Three Broomsticks, seemed annoyed that he wasn't buying any drinks from her. Hermione wondered what the unlikely pair were talking about.

She then watched as Hagrid and Moody got up to leave but stopped midway, turned towards them, and walked over to the table.

"All right, Hermione?" said Hagrid loudly.

"Hello," Hermione said, smiling back.

Moody limped around her and stood next to Harry as if he knew he was there. Then, suddenly, he whispered, "Nice Cloak, Potter."

Hermione heard Harry whisper back. "Can your eye - I mean, can you - "

"Yeah, it can see through Invisibility Cloaks," Moody said quietly. "And it's come in useful at times, I can tell you."

Hagrid bent down near where Harry was sitting and winked at Hermione as he ran his finger across her S.P.E.W. notes. He whispered something in Harry's general direction that Hermione couldn't hear. Then, straightening up, he said, "Nice ter see yeh, Hermione." He winked at her and left with Moody.

"Why does he want me to meet him at midnight?" Harry said.

"Does he?" said Hermione, startled. "I wonder what he's up to? I don't know whether you should go, Harry…" She looked around nervously and hissed. "It might make you late for Sirius."

Tonight was the night Sirius had asked for a meeting in the Common Room. Hermione wished she could see Harry's face to figure out his thoughts. She sighed in frustration when he didn't respond and angrily returned to her notes. She couldn't help him if he didn't tell her anything. It wasn't Hermione's fault if Harry was, in the words of Ron, a stubborn git.

That evening, Hermione agreed to keep Ron occupied while Harry prepared to sneak out for his meeting with Hagrid, whatever that turned out to be. Ron should have realised something was up when she volunteered to play Wizard's Chess - Ron always beat her, and Hermione hated to lose. Ginny decided to come down and watch.

"Oh, look who's gracing us with her presence," Ron said, studying the board after Ginny sat down on the comfy chair Hermione was leaning against while sitting on the floor.

"Sod off," Ginny said. "Who's winning?"

"Who do you think?" Hermione said crossly.

"I don't know why you do this to yourself," Ginny said. "You know he's going to win. It's one of the only things you can count on in life."

"I did almost beat him once," Hermione said in feigned offence.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that," Ginny giggled. She started braiding Hermione's hair. "I wonder if Mum made any headway on hair potions," she said. "Maybe we can ask Charlie tomorrow."

"What do you mean, ask Charlie?" Ron asked. "Are you mental? Going to Romania, are you?"

"Charlie's here at Hogwarts," Ginny said simply.

"He's what?" Ron looked up from the board, confused.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Ronald," Ginny said.

"Why on earth would Charlie be here?" Ron asked again. "Unless…"

Hermione tried to follow his train of thought and then suddenly gasped, jerking forward, causing Ginny to pull back her plait. "He must be here for the Triwizard Tournament!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Which means-" Ron said excitedly as the realisation dawned on him.

"The first task must have something to do with Dragons!" Hermione finished, mirroring his excitement.

"Does Harry know?!" Ginny asked, fear creeping along her face.

"Don't ask him," Hermione said, nodding towards Ron. "Mr Stubborn over there still won't talk to Harry."

"Are you serious?" Ginny asked. "Ron, stop being daft. You know that Rita Skeeter tosser is full of it."

"Don't pretend you didn't get angry when you read that Hermione and Harry were snogging," Ron retorted.

Hermione turned around in shock. "Only for a minute," Ginny said. "And then I read the by-line. I swear."

"We should tell Harry," Hermione said, going back to worrying.

"I think he already went up to bed," Ginny said. "He was talking about how tired he was all through dinner."

Hermione knew perfectly well he was probably already on the way to Hagrid's but nodded her head. "I'll tell him first thing in the morning," she said. "Unless you want to tell him when you go up, Ron."

Instead of answering Hermione, Ron went back to looking at the Chessboard before moving his piece.

"Checkmate," he said.

Soon, the Gryffindor Common Room was empty except for the two Weasleys and Hermione. She pretended to go to bed so Ginny and Ron would follow her lead with every intention of coming back downstairs to meet up with Harry and hear what Sirius had to say. The first part of her plan worked flawlessly - both Ron and Ginny agreed it was time to turn in for the night and went up to their respective rooms.

Parvati and Lavender were both still awake when Hermione went to her room. Hermione gave them a curt nod and pretended to go to sleep, pulling the curtains around her bed. Hermione hoped they would go to bed soon; Sirius would be there in a half hour.

Unfortunately for Hermione, she soon drifted off to sleep and only awoke as the beginnings of the Sunday morning sun crept through her curtains.

"Damn!" she swore, throwing her blankets off and jumping out of bed.

She ran down to the Great Hall for breakfast, hoping to see Harry already there but knowing he would never be up that early, even with everything going on. Ginny, however, was already there, and Hermione sat down to join her.

"You're going to tell Harry, right?" Ginny said, a look of concern crossing her face.

"Of course," Hermione said, spooning herself some porridge for breakfast.

"Good. And don't mind Ron," Ginny said. "He's a prat, but he'll get over himself soon."

"I know," Hermione sighed.

"I know you like him," Ginny said bluntly.

"What? No! Ron's my best friend!"

"Best friends make the best boyfriends," Ginny said. "The sooner you realise that, the happier you'll be."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hermione said.

"Uh huh," Ginny grinned. "Sure you don't. That's why you blush around Ron almost as much as I do with Harry. Speaking of whom," Ginny trailed off as they both caught sight of Harry speed-walking into the Great Hall.

He looked horrible. His face was almost grey, and it looked like he was starting to get a slight shadow of a beard. Hermione didn't know why she was so surprised to realise Harry probably shaved every day (and, therefore, so did Ron), but it just made her feel like they were suddenly much more mature than they were even the day before.

Harry refused to eat anything, and Hermione could tell he was anxious to get her alone. She was going to bring up the dragons at the table, but Cedric Digory had just come in, and she didn't want to be overheard. Ginny kept looking at her expectantly, but Hermione nodded in Diggory's direction so she would understand her silence.

Finally, Hermione finished her porridge, and Harry stood up. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?" he asked without much pretence. Hermione stood up, said goodbye to Ginny, and followed Harry outside onto the grounds.

"Hermione, it's dragons. That's the first task," Harry groaned.

"I figured," Hermione said. "I was going to tell you the same thing."

"How did you know?" Harry asked.

"Ginny let it slip that Charlie was here at Hogwarts, and I put two and two together."

"Smart," Harry said, looking deep in thought. "Yeah, Hagrid took me to see them last night - that's what he wanted to tell me. But, get this," Harry said. "He invited Madame Maxime too."

"He what?"

"Yeah, I was so confused to see her there, but there she was. And I also saw Karkaroff on my way back."

"So both of the other school's heads know?" Hermione said. "That's not fair at all!"

"Hermione, focus!" Harry said. "There were four of them. They all breathed fire at least fifty feet in the air. It was mad! Then Charlie came over and told Hagrid their breeds: Hungarian Horntail, Common Welsh Green, A Swedish Short-Snout, and a Chinese Fireball. All nesting mothers."

"Nesting mothers?"

"Yeah, I don't know. But Charlie and all of the others were trying to stupify them and could barely control them. If the professionals can't even control them, how the hell am I supposed to? Sirius was saying there was a simple spell to subdue them, but Ron came down and interrupted us."

Harry started pacing back and forth.

"Harry, I'm sure there is a very logical-"

"And that's not even the half of it, Hermione," Harry continued as he paced next to the lake, glancing at the Durmstrang ship at every turn. "Not only do I have to worry about dragons, but I also have to worry about Karkaroff. Sirius says he thinks Karkaroff is the one who put my name in the Goblet."

"What? Why?" Hermione asked.

"Karkaroff was a Death Eater. Probably why Dumbledore wanted Moody here this year. You know, have an Auror at Hogwarts to keep an eye on him? But I guess Karkaroff repented and got out of going to Azkaban by ratting out all kinds of other Death Eaters. Sirius says that a lot of Death Eaters are starting to come out of the woodwork and that he reckons it's because that missing Ministry official, Bertha Jorkins, ran into Voldemort, and he probably tortured her into telling him about the Triwizard Tournament. So Karkaroff is here to attack me and make it look like an accident with the tasks or something."

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione cried.

"So, we need to keep an eye on Karkaroff. Maybe I can wear my Cloak and sneak onto that ship-"

"Let's just try and keep you alive until Tuesday evening," Hermione said desperately, finally accepting that the first task was coming up quickly, "and then we can worry about Karkaroff."