Chapter 14:
Tasko Numero Uno"Poor, poor Harry," Tanya sighed, tossing aside the crinkled, much-read issue of the Daily Prophet and taking a sip of butterbeer. "I don't think he realized what he was getting himself into when he put his name in the goblet. I mean, did you read this article? It doesn't even sound like him!"
"And now he's on the very edge of the first task," said Hannah, who was now back healthy and hale.
Seamus nodded. "I'm bloody tired of this whole Triwizard Tournament business already."
"Why's that?" Katelyn asked. "I think it's cool!"
"It would help if Ron and Harry started speaking to each other again," Dean answered. "Men aren't supposed to talk about our feelings and all, but you can imagine how uncomfortable it is having to share a dorm with them."
"Ron's a good mate, don't get me wrong," Seamus put in, "but he does get tiresome after a while, especially when he's in a foul mood."
"Which is nearly always," Dean added.
"Don't look now, then," said Rachel, as the door to the Three Broomsticks opened with a blast of cold air, "but here he comes."
Indeed, Ron Weasley walked towards them, his brows drawn together over his eyes in a very unnerving manner. Dean and Seamus resignedly made room for him, but he kept walking and chose a seat with Fred, George, and Lee Jordan.
"That was close," Dean sighed.
"Oh, and here come the Durmstrang lot," Rachel announced, and a good number of red-robed Bulgarians swept past them on their way to the back.
"They prefer the dark," Hannah sniggered.
Rachel shushed her, but had difficulty masking her own grin.
"Excuse me," said someone in a thick accent just then, and everyone started. It was Nickolay, whom they'd hardly seen since he and his classmates had arrived in October.
"Hello, Nickolay," Rachel said cordially. "How've you been?"
"Very vell, tank you," he replied, flashing white, enviably even, teeth. "I haff your pen, Vrachell." He pulled her precious Muggle PaperMate out of his pocket and handed it to her. "I had to borrow eet because my vriend Anton had a book he vanted me to read and vrite a summary ov. Very odd, I tought, but I do it vor my vriend."
"What book was it?" she asked conversationally, and Seamus and Dean reluctantly made room for Nickolay, groaning silently as they did so.
"It is called, in Eenglish, 'Ze Crystal Bower.' Haff you read it?"
"I'm assuming not, if it's in Bulgarian."
"Duh," Seamus muttered under his breath, and Katelyn gave him a swift kick under the table.
"What's it about?" Rachel went on.
"Eet is about a snow queen who, every year, takes young maidens vrom ze nearby town and locks them up in a vroom of crystal. A young shepherd boy tries to set them vree."
"Does he succeed?" Rachel asked, rather breathlessly.
"Zat I cannot tell you," Nickolay replied with a grin.
"Need I remind you that I don't—speak—Bulgarian?"
"Ah, ha, ha, how funny I vorget," Nickolay said, flashing another winning smile. "The shepherd boy does succeed but, alas, perishes tragically in ze attempt."
Rachel scowled and flipped her frizzy hair back over her shoulder in an irritated way. "What an awful ending!"
"Eet is a hallmark of Bulgarian literature. Ve often—"
Nickolay broke off as one of his classmates approached. "Vat is it, Poliakoff?"
They began speaking in rapid Bulgarian, and soon Nickolay excused himself from the Funny Farm and went to sit with the other Durmstrang students.
"Thank goodness he's gone," Rachel breathed as soon as he was out of earshot, slumping back in her seat.
Seamus looked over at her, his jaw hanging slightly open. "What do you mean? I thought you…fancied him." He said 'fancied' with obvious difficulty.
Rachel blushed and hid her face in her arms. "I should bloody well think not, Seamus!" she exclaimed nevertheless, her voice slightly muffled by the mounds of brown hair and sweater covering her mouth.
"Did Sushi just say…bloody?" Katelyn asked incredulously.
"Yes," was Rachel's annoyed reply.
"Shall we leave it at that, then?" Seamus said.
"Oh, let's."
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The day of the first task dawned bright and clear, and after lunch, the entire school trooped down to the arena where the event would take place. Seamus, Dean, Ron, and Hermione clustered together in one of the rows, with four extra seats for Katelyn, Tanya, Hannah, and Rachel. The stands quickly filled; but the girls still did not appear.
"Where are they?" Dean asked worriedly, and Seamus stood up to scan the crowds.
"Have no fear," someone called, and Seamus and Dean turned to see Rachel picking her way towards them. She had a long Muggle parka on over what looked to be her old cheerleading uniform—except now it was a bright hodgepodge of yellow, blue, green, and scarlet, and a large, vividly black 'H' was emblazoned on her blouse.
"Bloody hell," Seamus said slowly.
"I know, I know," she sighed. "Katelyn designed it. But Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have cheerleaders, and how better to raise school spirit than having Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Gryffindors cheering on the same platform?—Slytherin didn't want anything to do with it."
"You really don't look the part of cheerleader, you know," Dean said.
Rachel nodded. "I never really took to it, anyway," she said, slapping Seamus' hand away as he innocently attempted to tug her parka aside in order to see the rest of the patchwork uniform. "You know me—more a bookworm than anything…but to the point. Here, Seamus." She handed him a Muggle camera. "Do me a favor, will you, and take pictures?"
"Of you?"
"No, of the champions."
"Sure."
"Thanks," she said with a grin. "Press this button to take the picture, and wind the wheel before the next. See you later, then. Hermione, I can count on you if no one follows the cheers, right?"
"Of course." Hermione gave her a thumbs-up, and Rachel went back down to where fourteen other multi-colored cheerleaders were animatedly discussing a Muggle whiteboard.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?" Ludo Bagman's magically magnified voice rumbled through the arena. "Welcome to the very first task of the Triwizard Tournament! Our four champions are currently being instructed on what this task will require of them, so may I direct your attention to the three platforms in front of the north stands. Here we have the lovely Beauxbatons cheerleaders! The lovely Durmstrang cheerleaders! And the lovely Hogwarts cheerleaders!"
Seamus stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled shrilly.
"These girls—oh, pardon me, I see they have a few male assistants—will be leading their respective schools in cheering on the champions! Now, remember the rules, girls: please refrain from cheering when your champion is not in the arena.
"Well, I have just been informed that the four champions are ready. And so please welcome…the first task!"
There was a simultaneous gasp from the crowds as a giant, green, snakelike dragon entered the enclosure. Hermione screamed, and several Hufflepuffs fainted from sheer terror.
"If you will notice," Ludo said above the roaring of the dragon and shouts from the crowds, "the dragon is sitting atop a nest, in which is housed four eggs: three natural and one golden egg. The champions' goal is to recover the golden egg without destroying either the natural eggs or themselves in the process.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Hogwarts champion…Cedric Diggory!"
The Hogwarts side of the stands burst into wild cheers as Cedric staggered out, looking very white and frightened. The dragon roared, and Cedric gave a very obvious start of fear before plunging his hand into his sleeve and pulling out his wand. He took a shuddering breath, then closed his eyes and began muttering. A rock nearby quivered, lurched, and suddenly leapt up and began yapping at the dragon! The beast was momentarily confused; its head weaved between Cedric and the Transformed rock.
"He might just have a chance!" Ludo said gleefully.
Cedric managed to get the egg…Fleur came out…she got the egg, too…then it was Krum's turn…he got the egg…and then Harry came out.
He stood at the entrance to the enclosure, pointed his wand at the sky, and bellowed, "ACCIO FIREBOLT!"
There was absolute silence for a long time, while dragon in the enclosure paced and occasionally blew smoke. Harry looked small and green.
And then—
"Good lord! Is that a broom?"