Chapter 3

'Oy Potter!'

Harry and Hermione both turned as Draco came sauntering down the corridor.

'Got yourself a body guard to compete for you Potter. Pathetic'.

Crabbe and Goyle sniggered on cue.

Harry rolled his eyes and sighed.

'Sure Malfoy. A body guard. And of course that's allowed in the rules'.

Draco scowled, his wand hand twitched.

'Couldn't stand the thought of having to get your precious robes dirty Potter? Had to pick a teacher to do it for you?'

'Not really Malfoy, I'm just following the rules. Julian is old enough to compete, isn't a teacher or judge, and unlike some, actually believes I wasn't the one to put my name in the goblet. I'm more than grateful he and Hermione were able to help. I figured you'd be happy someone formally from Slytherin was competing Malfoy'.

Hermione had spotted what Harry hadn't.

'Actually Harry, Malfoy wanted a chance to show off his new badge. You can see it pinned onto his shirt. It's been shifting between "Support Cedric Diggory, the real Hogwarts Champion" and "Potter stinks" while you were talking. Malfoy's just upset that he's not able to use it' she pointed out.

Draco sneered and lashed out with a curse. Harry pulled Hermione out the way and whipped his wand out ready to retaliate.

'Now what is going on here?'

They all turned as Julian appeared.

'Potter attacked me!' Draco exclaimed.

'I didn't! Malfoy threw a curse at Hermione!' Harry defended.

Julian examined the scene.

'Well… Now I may not have heard what was said. But I did hear Mr Malfoy launch a curse'.

Then he smirked.

'I know where we could get a pensive. We could watch the scene in that and see who did what'.

Draco scowled at the man.

'You don't have any authority!' he sneered.

'And what is all this noise about?' came a soft deadly voice.

'True…but he does' Julian remarked.

Professor Snape had arrived. Draco took the opportunity to pour out his version of the incident.

'Crabbe, Goyle and I were just minding our own business, then Potter and Granger started yelling and throwing curses at us!'

'Malfoy nearly hit Hermione with a curse!' Harry exclaimed.

Severus looked coldly at him, and went to open his mouth.

'Of course to ensure we got the truth, I offered to let them put their memory in a pensive. However I did hear Mr Malfoy throwing a curse. Whether he did so because Mr Potter stuck first I cannot say' Julian remarked.

Severus turned to the younger man, who gave him a look. Inwardly he sighed. Ever since Julian had come to work at Hogwarts they'd been at odds about the way Severus treated of some of the students. Julian accused the older man of bullying and even abuse, which Severus didn't take well to at all. After quite a bit of arguing he finally relented and had calmed down in class. It was a start, but he was still firmly against treating Potter like a celebrity. Of course Julian wasn't happy, and they were currently at a stale mate over the issue.

'Very well. Since we have little evidence, a warning will be given. Potter! You and Miss Granger had best remain out of Mr Malfoy's way, unless you wish to have detention for the rest of the year'.

He turned and headed down the corridor. Draco glared at the trio and left with Crabbe and Goyle, muttering to himself about mudbloods and half breeds.

Hermione sighed and looked to Julian. The man was giving the retreating potions professor a dark look as he stormed out of sight.

'Thank you'.

Julian blinked and turned back to them with a smile.

'No problem. I do try to be fair to all of the students, but I have to admit Mr Malfoy is somewhat…frustrating. Very much like his father'.

'Agreed' Harry muttered.

'Who is going to represent you as a judge?' Hermione asked, changing the subject before it could get out of hand.

'Well, it was agreed that the Headmaster Dumbledore would represent me since I work in Hogwarts. The others fussed over it for a bit, until I reminded them that if they weren't happy with it, then I would have to ask a Demon to come here. They were quick to agree after that' Julian replied with a grin.

'You wouldn't have actually brought a Demon here, would you?' Harry asked nervously.

Julian shrugged.

'Most wouldn't have bothered to come to a "boring old contest" like this. But if I really needed someone to come, I guess Sebastian might have volunteered. He would have got some amusement out of humans baiting other humans for sport' he replied.

The two looked at him like he was mad. Hermione quickly changed the subject again.

'I heard the champions gathered for a wand weighing. What exactly is that?'

'Really it was just Mr Ollivander checking the wands to make sure they are in good condition. I got a chance to talk with the other champions and get to know them, well Miss Delacour and Mr Krum since I already know Mr Diggory. There were also some pictures taken. Miss Skeeter seemed disappointed that you weren't there Harry' Julian replied.

'She writes for the Daily Prophet doesn't she? I've heard she slanders people. You should probably watch out Julian' Hermione remarked.

'Not to worry. After the weighing and the photos she was most insistent on spending some private time with me, mostly she was crawling around me trying to find out what kind of relationship I had with Mr Potter to make him choose me. She also wanted to speak with Mr Potter. I was able to firmly tell her that if I caught her creeping around spreading her lies, I would be quite upset' Julian replied.

'I get the feeling she didn't take that well' Harry said.

Julian grinned.

'Not really, but I was able to get my point across. She won't be bugging anyone for the duration of this tournament. Well, I had better get going. Enjoy the rest of your day' he said and continued down the corridor.

Harry turned to Hermione.

'He's hiding something'.

Hermione shook her head and pointed.

'Harry look. Bugging people, creeping, crawling, that's what he said'.

Harry glanced down the corridor to where she was pointing. On Julian's belt was clipped a small clear tank.

'I noticed it when Julian was talking, it's got a beetle in it with markings that look like glasses. And Rita Skeeter wears glasses. I'll bet Julian found out she was an animagus, and caught her to stop her making up lies about the champions. Why else would he be carrying around a beetle?' Hermione explained.

'Oh. I knew Julian was hiding something' Harry replied.

Hermione rolled her eyes with a smile and took his hand, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

'Thanks for pulling me out the way of Malfoy's curse. Come on, it's too good a day to stay inside'.

OOO

'Hello Mr Potter, Miss Granger. I suppose Hagrid asked you two here as well?'

They turned to see Julian leaning against Hagrid's hut.

'Julian? Yes Hagrid asked us here. Do you know why?' Harry asked.

The man shrugged.

'Not in the slightest'.

He grinned at Hermione, who was looking nervous at being out after curfew.

'Not to worry Miss Granger. I won't say a word'.

She relaxed slightly and they knocked on the half giant's door. It opened and a bearded face appeared.

'Good, yer all here'.

Hagrid came out and closed the door behind him. He'd clearly made an effort to clean himself up, and had a huge flower of sorts in his buttonhole.

'Big date tonight?' Julian asked a little teasingly.

The large man blushed but gave him a smile.

'Hope so Julian. Harry you got yer cloak?'

Harry blushed slightly and held up the invisibility cloak, giving a sheepish look to Julian.

'Well, now I know how you managed to sneak around. My lips are sealed' the man remarked with an amused smile.

'Julian you best be turnin into Vixie, yer gonna like this. Harry, Hermione, get under that cloak. All of you follow me and best be keepin quiet' Hagrid instructed, brushing his hands nervously over his clothes.

He started walking towards the forest. Julian shrugged and turned into Vixie, the fox taking off after the half giant.

Harry and Hermione shared a look then Harry threw the cloak over them and they hurried after the two. They lost sight of Vixie as Hagrid drew up next to the Beauxbatons' carriage and knocked on the door. The school's headmistress stepped out, arranging her fur scarf round her neck.

'Madame Maxime' Hagrid greeted with a bow, offering her his arm.

'Olympe please monsieur Hagrid' she replied with a smile, accepting his arm.

Harry and Hermione followed the pair as they walked deeper into the forest, listening in to their conversation while trying to spot Vixie. Hermione stifled a gasp when there was a roar and a sudden flash of fire.

'Dragons!' she whispered furiously.

And indeed when they reached the clearing Harry looked in awe as the magnificent beasts prowled their cages. He spotted a red head and recognised him as Ron's brother Charlie. The pair snapped out their shocked state and glanced over as they heard Hagrid speaking, obviously replying to Madam Maxime.

'Been brought in fer the first task. Champions have tae get past them. Lovely creatures Dragons. Charlie tells me they got eggs wit' them'.

Harry ignored Madam Maxime's reply and looked to his girlfriend.

'I'm glad you and Julian got me out of this. You think Julian will be ok?' he whispered.

Hermione didn't know how to reply. They both started when there was a voice behind them.

'I'm going to enjoy this task. I've always wanted to meet a Dragon'.

They turned to Julian in disbelief.

'Are you related to Hagrid?!' Harry exclaimed quietly.

Julian chuckled.

'Nah. I just really like critters. I spotted Karkaroff sneaking around on the other side of the clearing. He'll probably tell Mr Krum. Looks like Mr Diggory's the only one not to know about the Dragons. Not very fair of us to have an advantage over him now is it?'

The two smiled, relieved that Cedric would be given a heads up. Harry suddenly had a thought.

'Why Vixie? I meant to ask earlier but the subject never came up?'

Hermione too looked curious.

Julian laughed.

'Funny story. My mates and I were out clubbing one night and the subject came up of names for animagus forms. Someone made the comment that they wished I was a girl so they could call my form Vixen. The joke was made that I looked like a girl anyway so why not. After a few more drinks the nickname was shortened to Vixie. Tried to protest but I was outvoted'.

He smirked.

'Could have been worse. One of my mates was landed with the name Cuddles. He's a komodo dragon. I won't tell you who, but let's just say his form being a kind of dragon was irony of the best sort'.

He nodded his head at one of the dragon handlers, and the pair giggled when they realised which one he was indicating to.

'You didn't hear it from me. He'd kill me otherwise' Julian said, making a motion as if to zip his lips.

Grinning the pair nodded, though Harry did wonder how long it would take for word to reach Charlie if the twins were to be told. They watched the Dragons for a bit longer before Hermione decided it was time to go back. Julian said he was sticking around and waved them off as Harry covered them with the cloak.

'I'm really starting to like Julian' Harry said quietly.

Hermione grinned at him as they headed inside.

OOO

Back at the clearing, Julian had waited until the handlers had turned in for the night before approaching the cages. The Dragons grumbled but he hushed them with soothing noises. His eyes flashed a multitude of colours and they sat up with interest.

'Hello there Great Mothers' Julian greeted.

One of them grunted in reply. Not many people realised just how intelligent Dragons were. The fact that most could understand human speech not long after hatching was mainly ignored except by the handlers. This human though was different. They all sensed nature's magic in him. All creatures instinctively recognised an Elemental, for an Elemental was said to have been born from the womb of Mother Nature herself, Queen and Mother to all creatures on Earth. This human was to be respected, for he was one of them.

All four Dragons bowed in greeting. Julian smiled and bowed back.

'I'd like to ask you a favour. Myself and three others have been tasked to face you in a tournament. We are to take a golden egg that will be placed with your own. I ask that you allow us to take these eggs, and we shall leave you and your clutch alone'.

The four mothers looked to each other, conversing with snorts and grunts. The biggest one turned back to Julian and nodded with a noise of agreement. Julian smiled and gave all four a low bow of respect.

'Thank you Great Mothers'.

And with that he turned into Vixie and hurried back to the castle, leaving the Dragons to formulate a plan of action. They didn't like being dragged from home. Worse still that their eggs were taken with them. However they did know from listening to the humans talk that the handlers weren't responsible for the move. If these humans wanted a show, they would be disappointed.