The First Task

To Doclover- Thanks for reviewing! :D

Disclaimer: I'm not J. .

The next day, in Potions, Kitty told Vandyll and Luna, everything that Hagrid showed them last night. Professor Snape, who hardly noticed whether Kitty was paying attention or not, let them hold a whispered conversation at the back of the class, after Kitty had brewed her Swelling Solution. "Remus reckons a Conjunctivitis Jinx ought to do the trick," she said, as Vandyll shook his head in disbelief. Luna said dreamily, "But there's no way he can master that, it's beyond the standard of a sixth year." "Yeah, and besides, how on earth is Harry going to aim at its fifty- foot high head," said Vandyll.

Kitty was impatient to talk to Harry and ask him what Sirius had said, but she could not find him at break, and set off for Transfiguration, twenty minutes later. As, Ravenclaws and Gryffindors had Tranfiguration together, Kitty did get a chance to talk to Dennis, who surprisingly had a large number of suggestions. "All he needs," said Dennis, "is a leg-locker curse—" Kitty shook her head impatiently, "Dennis, that won't work, a dragon can still fly. And besides no wizard can successfully stun a dragon, or for that matter any part of it, it requires at least ten stunners."

"Well then, how about a Disillusionment charm or better still, an invisibility charm so that the dragon cannot see Harry," said Dennis. Kitty shook her head again saying, "No, a disillusionment charm does not fool a dragon. It's eyes are specially equipped to detect movement, and an invisibility charm is NEWT standard."

"A Time Freezing Spell?" offered Dennis, but Kitty said, "That is only taught at Auror level studies." Unfortunately, they were no longer able to discuss any further, for Professor Mcgonagall gave a deathly stare in their direction.

After lunch, Kitty and Vandyll rushed towards the library, the only place they thought Harry could be. They passed Krum sitting behind a large stack of books, casting glances sideways towards a table in the right corner. Kitty thought he looked rather pale, as he waved at her and smiled.

Kitty made her way, towards Harry and Hermione, whom she had spotted in a corner. She smiled weakly as Harry greeted her and sat down on a chair, pulling Dragonkeeping through the Ages towards her. A brilliant idea struck her, as she remembered the words of a Rita Skeeter article. "Vandyll," she said suddenly, "Your great grandfather was a dragon slayer, wasn't he?"

"Yes, I know what you're thinking but no. Dragon slaying is an extremely rare and advanced piece of magic. Dragon slayers are specially trained by the Ministry, given all sorts of extra powers, and years of training in combat. They are taught advanced defensive magic and not many live to tell the tale, after a few assignments. My great grandfather, himself died on his eighth assignment. It's not a career one usually chooses, there aren't many dragon slayers left any more."Kitty was disappointed as they made their way back to the Great Hall, hours later.

After dinner, Harry got Kitty aside, and said to her, "Listen, Moody reckons, I can summon my firebolt and get past the dragon on that. So if you want, you can come into Mcgonagall's empty classroom now, where Hermione is helping me learn a Summoning Charm. Kitty nodded and followed harry and Hermione into the empty classroom.

Harry was rather annoyed that Kitty had got the hang of the charm on her first go, but Harry could not summon even a quill, let alone his broomstick. They practiced for an hour without success, and then Kitty said to Harry suddenly, "Listen, do you think you should try using my wand? Ollivander did say it was good for charms." Harry said, "I don't think so Kat, you see your wand is good for charms for you, not me."

At two o'clock in the morning, Harry stood near the fireplace, surrounded by heaps of objects: books, quills, several upturned chairs, an old set of Gobstones, and Neville's toad, Trevor. Only in the last hour had Harry really got the hang of the Summoning Charm. "That's better, Harry, that's loads better," Hermione said, looking exhausted but very pleased.

"Well, now we know what to do next time I can't manage a spell," Harry said, throwing a rune dictionary back to Hermione, so he could try again, "threaten me with a dragon. Right..." He raised his wand once more. "Accio Dictionary!" The heavy book soared out of Hermione's hand, flew across the room, and Harry caught it.

"Harry, I really think you've got it!" said Hermione delightedly. "Just as long as it works tomorrow," Harry said. "The Firebolt's going to be much farther away than the stuff in here, it's going to be in the castle, and I'm going to be out there on the grounds..."

"That doesn't matter," said Hermione firmly." Just as long as you're concentrating really, really hard on it, it'll come. Harry, we'd better get some sleep...you're going to need it."

Next morning, Kitty woke up earlier than usual, and sped down to the Great Hall with Luna, to be joined by Vandyll and Dennis. She saw Professor Mcgonagall marching up to Harry at the Gryffindor table. She dropped her fork with a clatter, and ran across the hall to Harry. "Potter, the champions have to come down onto the grounds now...You have to get ready for your first task," Professor Mcgonagall was saying. Kitty hugged Harry tight, wished him good luck and watched him leave the hall with Mcgonagall.

An hour and a half later, all students were being led to the dragon enclosure, around which huge pavilions had been erected to accommodate the students. Kitty managed to find a seat in the front row with Vandyll, Dennis and Luna, and waited for the Tournament to begin.

Very soon, an army of wizards were leading a vicious dragon into the enclosure, which according to Luna, was a Swedish Short-snout. Seconds later, she saw Cedric Diggory emerging out through a gap in the enclosure fence, his handsome face unusually pale, and his wand out.

The Short-snout snarled as it saw Cedric who pointed his wand at a large rock to his right. He gave his wand a complicated sort of wave, and the rock transformed into a Labrador dog. The dragon, looking confused, darted towards the dog who yelped in terror. Meanwhile, Cedric seizing his opportunity, slipped behind the dragon, and tried to summon, a large Golden egg that was kept, amidst a few other Quaffle sized brown eggs.

The dragon seemed to have noticed Cedric, and changed course. The dragon breathed a large jet of fire at Cedric, who leapt aside. The flames, however, grazed the right side of Cedric's face and the crowd winced. But Cedric had got the egg, and soon enough, Kitty saw the about a dozen wizards entering the enclosure and pacifying the dragon. Cedric was lead away by a dark haired witch and he disappeared into a tent.

Please review and tell me how you like the story so far. Constructive criticism is welcomed.