Here's Chapter Twelve. :)
The next couple of weeks were stressful and nerve wrecking for Harry and Melissa because November 24th was drawing nearer. Professor McGonagall had allowed Harry and Hermione to use a spare classroom so Harry could practice spells that might be useful for taking on his dragon, and she had also allowed Melissa, Fred, and George to use a spare room as well. Harry and Melissa had decided to work separately because the judges might find it a bit odd if they came up with the same idea for getting passed their dragons.
Melissa was so lucky to have a boyfriend and a best friend who knew so much about dragons because their brother Charlie worked with them in Romania. The three of them were at the library right now looking through books about dragons and writing down spells that might come in handy. They had been there all day looking at books and Melissa was starting to get exhausted from reading so much. She turned to the twins and saw that they looked pretty exhausted to.
"Hey guys why don't we call it a night," Melissa said with a small yawn. "Besides Madam Pince will be closing up the library in a half an hour anyway."
"Good idea," Fred said as he leaned back in his chair and stretched.
"Not to mention I think we've got enough spells to practice anyway," George said.
With that said, Melissa gathered up the rolls of parchment and Fred and George put away the books that they were looking at. They left the library and headed up to the Gryffindor Common Room to go to sleep for the night.
After breakfast the next day Melissa, Fred, and George went to the spare class room to practice the spells that they had found. The first spell that they were going to practice was the Aguamenti Charm, which produced a jet of water from the tip of the caster's wand. Fred thought that spell would be useful seeing as how most dragons breathed fire. The second spell that they thought might come in handy would be the Deprimo spell. That spell creates a very powerful wind that can loosen and/or soften a variety of things, it can also be used to detach things. The third spell they practiced was Glacius and that spell produced ice. They also practiced a spell called Obscuro and that caused a blindfold to appear over the victim's eyes. And finally they practiced the shield charm called Protego.
Before Harry and Melissa knew it, the day of the first task arrived. Melissa got up and dressed in the uniform that she would be wearing during the first task. She put on a dark red long sleeve shirt, black jeans, black boots with grips on the bottom, black leather gloves without finger slots, and a long black leather robe with yellow streaks running through it and the Hogwarts Coat of arms badge. After making sure her gold charm bracelet that George had given her was on her wrist she pulled her hair into a ponytail and then left the dorm.
When she walked into the Common Room she saw Harry, Hermione, Fred, and George waiting for her. Harry was in his uniform as well which was the same one Melissa was wearing.
"Morning," Harry said.
"Good morning," Melissa said. "Tell me something Harry. Are you as nervous as I am?"
"I'm terrified," Harry told his sister.
"Don't worry you two," Hermione said to her friends. "You'll do just fine."
"Yeah," George said. "Just remember the spells that we practiced."
"Yeah if you do that you'll get through the task just fine," Fred assured them.
Harry and Melissa smiled and they walked out of the Common Room and to the Great Hall for breakfast. While their friends were enjoying their breakfast Harry and Melissa just picked at their bacon and eggs. Fred turned to Melissa and spoke.
"Would you please eat something Melissa," Fred asked his friend.
"Yeah you're going to need your strength for the first task," George said. "And you'd better eat something to Harry."
"They're right," Hermione said. "You won't be able think straight on empty stomachs."
"I don't really have that much of an appetite," Melissa said after taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.
"Yeah I'm too busy freaking out here," Harry told them.
"At least have some toast," Hermione said with concern in her voice.
Hermione held out a plate of toast to Melissa and she took a piece. Harry took a piece as well when she held out a plate to him. As they were putting jam on their pieces of toast the last person that they wanted to see walked up to them with a large smirk on his face.
"Well, well if it isn't the Potter twins," Malfoy said. "I can't believe you two are actually going to show up for the task. I'll have to make sure to get a good seat so I can watch you two fail miserably."
Before any of them could throw an insult back Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle left the Great Hall.
"Don't pay any attention to what Malfoy said," Hermione told them. "You are not going to fail."
Harry and Melissa smiled at her and they quickly finished their breakfast. After eating they left the Great Hall and headed outside towards the champions tent. Fred gave Melissa a hug and George kissed her. The twins gave Harry a pat on the shoulder and headed off to the bleachers to get a good seat. After Hermione gave Harry a hug and Melissa a hug she followed the twins to the bleachers.
Harry paced back and forth in the champion tent while Melissa sat on a chair and bounced her right knee nervously. Fleur was also sitting on a chair and she had a terrified look on her face as well just like Cedric who was sitting in a chair next to Melissa. Krum however looked unfazed by the task. He was standing up with his arms folded as he waited patiently for the task to start.
"Good luck out there," Cedric said to Melissa.
"Thanks you to," Melissa said.
Melissa turned her head and saw Harry talking with Hermione. "I thought she left already," Melissa thought to herself. She then looked down at the charm bracelet on her right wrist and she smiled. "I hope that four leaf clover works," Melissa thought to herself.
Just then she heard a click and there was a bright flash in the room and a little cloud of smoke. Melissa looked up and saw Rita Skeeter and a man with a camera standing in front of Harry and Hermione who had just parted from a hug.
"Young love how lovely," Rita said with a smile on her face. "If everything goes unfortunately today you two might make the front page."
Harry and Hermione glared at Rita and Krum walked up to them.
"You have no business here," Krum told Rita. "This tent is for champions and friends.
"No matter," Rita told him. "We got what we wanted."
With that said she and her camera man left the tent but they hung around to see if they could get anymore good shots. Just then Melissa heard George's voice calling her name from outside the tent.
"Melissa," George said from behind her.
Melissa jumped in her seat and she stood up and opened the tent.
"George," Melissa asked when she saw him. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see how you were doing," George told her as he walked into the tent.
"Quick get the camera ready," Rita ordered her camera man.
He nodded and the two quickly rushed to the tent.
"I'm a little nervous," Melissa said answering George's question.
"Just remember the spells we practiced and you'll be fine," George assured her.
Melissa smiled and she kissed them. But the moment they kissed there a bright flash and a little cloud of smoke appeared. George and Melissa quickly parted and they turned to see Rita Skeeter and a man holding a camera.
"Ooh this is even better than the first picture we got of your brother," Rita said with a smile on her face.
George and Melissa glared at her as Professor Dumbledore and Barty Crouch enter the tent. Dumbledore spoted Rita and her camera man there and he spoke.
"Miss Skeeter would you kindly leave the tent," Dumbledore said in a polite voice.
"Of course Professor Dumbledore," Rita said as she walked out of the tent along with her camera man.
"Good day champions," Dumbledore said with a smile on his face. "Gather round please."
Harry and Melissa walked over to Professor Dumbledore along with the other champions and so did George and Hermione.
"Now you've waited, you've wondered, and at last the time has arrived," Dumbledore told them. "The moment only five of you can fully appreciate."
As Dumbledore looked at all of the champions he noticed that Hermione and George were in the tent.
"Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley what are you two doing here," Dumbledore asked them.
"Oh um," Hermione started to say but George cut her off.
"We were just leaving Professor," George said.
Hermione and George then rushed out of the tent to take their seats. Once they were out of the tent Dumbledore turned to Barty Crouch.
"Barty the first bag please," Dumbledore said.
"Champions in a circle around m," Barty said holding up a small black bag.
The champions formed a circle around him and Barty continued.
"I have placed five pieces of parchment with a number on each of them," Barty told them. "Each champion will reach into the bag and take out a piece of parchment. Whatever number is on your parchment will be the order in which you are to do the task. Does everyone understand?"
The champions nodded and he turned to Fleur. "Miss Delacour you're up first."
Fleur reached her hand into the bag and she took out a piece of parchment with the number 2 written on it.
"Mr. Diggory you next," Barty said.
Cedric reached into the bag and pulled out a piece of parchment with the number 1 on it. His face turned pale when he saw that he would be going first.
"Mr. Krum," Barty said as he turned to Krum.
Krum went up to Barty and he reached into the bag and pulled out a piece of parchment with the number 3 on it. Barty then turned to Melissa.
"Miss Potter you're next," Barty said.
Melissa stepped forward and she reached her hand into the bag and she pulled out a piece of parchment with the number 4 on it.
"And finally Mr. Potter," Barty said turning to Harry.
Harry reached into the bag and he took out the last piece of parchment with the number 5 on it.
"Now that we have the order in which you will be doing the task it is time to find out which dragon you will be facing," Barty said. He then took out another small black bag from his coat pocket and he held it up. "In this bag are small models of different types of dragons. And since there are five of you I have placed two of one kind of dragon in the bag. Miss Delacour if you first," Barty told Fleur.
Fleur reached her hand in the bag and she pulled out a Welsh Green.
"Ah you'll be facing the Welsh Green," Barty said. "Krum you next."
Krum reached his hand into the bag and he took out a Chinese Fire Ball.
"Ooh the Chinese Fire Ball," Barty said. "Mr. Diggory," Barty said to Cedric.
Cedric reached into the bag and he took out the Swedish Short-Snout.
"And you'll be facing the Swedish Short-Snout," Barty said. "Mr. Potter your turn."
Harry reached into the bag and he took out the Hungarian Horn Tail.
"And you'll be facing the Hungarian Horn Tail," Barty said. "And finally Miss Potter lets see which of those four dragons you'll be facing."
Melissa stepped forward and she reached her hand into the bag. When she took her hand back out her eyes grew wide when she saw the model of a Hungarian Horntail in her hand.
"And you'll be facing a Horntail as well," Barty said. "Each of the dragons you will be facing will be guarding a golden egg. Your objective is simple, collect the egg. This you must do, for each egg contains a clue without which you cannot hope to proceed to the next task. Any questions?"
The contestants shook their heads and Dumbledore spoke.
"Very well," Dumbledore said looking at the champions. "Good luck to all of you. Mr. Diggory at the sound of the cannon," Dumbledore started to say but stopped as Mr. Filch fired the cannon. Dumbledore groaned and Cedric took a deep breath and he exited the tent.
And the first task begins! I'll try and have chapter Thirteen up soon. :)