The morning of the First Task, Alex and Hermione didn't go for a run, they didn't go to breakfast, all they did was stay in bed together, wanting as much time together to reassure each other that everything would be alright. Penny had realised what was happening, and went about her day normally, only exercising with Faye and Neville as the other champions were also still in bed. Dobby was called in from Sirius' place, and delivered breakfast to the 5 people, nothing substantial as everyone's stomach were already in knots. The tasks weren't to start until lunch, and nothing short of a dragon getting loose and coming after the students would get them out of bed before then.
"I'm terrified Alex, what if Siofra doesn't remember you? Or you aren't to face her?" Hermione whispered, afraid that speaking too loud would cause time to speed up.
"Mia. I am going to do everything possible to get Siofra, no matter how they decide who gets which dragon. As for her not remembering me, I find that hard to believe as dragons have longer memories than elephants," kissing her, Alex tried to feel the confidence he was sending through his words.
The witch looked down at her left hand, at the ring that hadn't left her finger since she put it on there, she smiled, "Mum asked me before we left for the World Cup if I was ever going to explain to you why I put my ring on my left hand. Do you know why Alex?"
He shook his head, the teen had no idea that it meant something different than being on her right, "Not a clue."
"Engagement and wedding rings are placed on the left ring finger love, something that Mum noticed immediately but Dad is pointedly ignoring. I've loved you since I was a 6 year old, and I didn't care that we were young, I was wearing this ring as my engagement ring. If we weren't so young, I'd be booting your butt to get you to an altar because I know, deep within my soul, that you and I are meant to be together until the end of time. What I'm saying is, don't go getting hurt or killed on me before I get the chance to be walked down the aisle at least 3 times by 3 different father figures," her brown/green eyes welled with tears as she looked deep into her love's eyes.
Alex was speechless, he hadn't thought she had considered herself his fiancée, not that he hadn't thought of her as that way numerous times since giving her the ring, but hearing the words and the images of three weddings, one for Wade and Kelly in the Muggle world, one with Severus in the Magical world, and one with Poseidon in Olympus, his lips spread into a soft smile, "Mia, I'll make sure that you get those weddings, even if I need to flap my arms to get you to Olympus for Poseidon to walk you down the aisle before the Immortals."
That earned the wizard a deep kiss followed by another and another, the couple just revelling in their love until the ominous announcement came across the speaker system, "All champions, please make your way to the tent by the arena. All spectators, you may now go to the stands to watch the First Task."
Pulling themselves away from the other, the couple got dressed, before clinging to each other as they walked to the newly constructed arena. Along the way they ran into their Gryffindor friends, who were with Penny in the Great Hall, and a very green Cedric, who Alex clapped on the shoulder in a way to calm his nerves. Outside of the tent, Hermione had tears of worry going down her face, but it didn't stop the toe-curling passionate kiss that she gave him, "You come back to me Olympius, you owe me a proper proposal. I love you."
"Love you too," now Alex's mind was scared for more than the dragon, he had to propose to his love, finding the right words were what freaked him out.
Walking into the tent, he spotted his friends standing together, all three had silently moving lips, they were praying. Joining them, Alex thought his prayer, "Father, please don't let my friends be hurt whilst in this task. I'll be fine, the gift of Ares will make sure that the dragon does not hurt me, but my friends, they are not the same. If you could give me a clue how to propose I'd be really grateful."
In that split second, up in the collecting area, Zeus heard his son's first ever prayer and called for the gods, "Alexander has prayed!"
"What was it for?" Artemis asked.
"To not let his friends be hurt in some sort of task; he said he would be fine thanks to Ares' gift," the god then smiled proudly, "He also asked for help on how to propose."
There was laughter and a few cheers, but Ares asked, "What gift?"
"He's up against a dragon; Alexander must be able to speak to serpents"
"How can we help his friends? We can't even find him," Demeter sighed.
That aggravated the dozen immortals to no end, even after sending Penny they were unable to even see the kids, even when the satyr was talking to them. It was the Goddess of Wisdom, Warfare and Divine Intelligence who had the answer, "Didn't we get word from Zaria that one of her Veela had a daughter who was their friend? We find her and see if she's the friend that Alexander meant."
"Everyone, they're in Scotland, SEARCH!" There was a great scramble as the Immortals went about finding the Veela teenager.
In the tent, Fleur felt a rush of power, the type she felt when Zaria first contacted her, only greater, different. She was sitting as they waited for the selection to begin, and looked over at her demigod friend, "Alex."
"Everything okay Fleur? You look like Nearly Headless Nick flew through you," Alex joked.
"Did you ask for help?"
His eyes darting about, the teen nodded, "For you, Viktor and Cedric. Why?"
"Because I've just been found by a god, but not one of mine," seeing the look on his face, the Veela rose and hugged her friend, kissing his cheeks, "Thank you my friend. I'll go make sure the gods know who else to watch over."
The second she was gone, Alex softly spoke to the universe, "Thanks everyone, that's one issue down, one to go."
Zeus smiled to himself, having heard the words, and looked at the large display ball that was above the table in the room. Inside was an outer view of a gorgeous blonde talking to an invisible Alex, and then heading towards two sickly looking boys, "Cedric, Viktor, you should know, Alex prayed for his father and the other gods to watch over us. They found me and I'm introducing you, as it were, so that they can track you both down to make sure the dragons don't kill us. Perhaps I should do the same with Madam Maxime so that they can watch Alex during the tournament."
The two wizards shuddered as the presences hit them, and Viktor replied, "Yes, every father deserves to watch their son, but could they even watch properly? Hermione said that they were unable to see them even if watching someone talking to them."
"There is that, but mighty Zeus is still his father," the Veela embraced her friends before heading off.
Poseidon whacked his brother over the head, "Don't get ideas brother, Hera is on a tight rope as it is, and she's a friend of our children."
"I would never…" seeing the quirked eyebrow, the man rolled his eyes at his older brother, "I haven't in a long time brother but I can still admire."
"Should have taken Amphitrite when you had the chance," the God of the Sea whispered to the younger man before moving off to his seat, joining the others in watching the display ball.
Alex watched as Fleur went over to the wizards, who shuddered and then shot him thankful looks, and then she went over to her headmistress, who also came under the presence but nodded in understanding at the explanation the Veela was giving. His peace was broken though as Ludo walked in and held a bag in his hands, "Ah, you're all here already, good. Now, in my hands I have the selection method for the, umm, type of challenge you will face. We will go by age, Mr Po-Olympius, just pop your hand in and pull one out."
Smirking, Alex did so, holding his hand near the opening inside, and silently summoned the Norwegian Ridgeback into his hands. Removing it, he was surprised to see it was a miniature dragon, a number 4 around her neck. As he watched, the dragon sniffed his hand before turning as a dog, and going to sleep in his hand, puffing steam clouds from her nose.
"She is cute," Fleur commented, taking the dragon into her own hands for a moment and then returning it, "Give them a chance to see beforehand."
The wizard just shook his head in laughter, "Right. You know, I'll be pleased when they can actually see Mia and I, this is getting slightly old."
Laughing herself, Fleur reached in next and grabbed out the Common Welsh Green, with a number 2 around its neck. This dragon looked about before following mini-Siofra, falling asleep, "Okay, maybe it's the models."
That was shot down when both Cedric's Swedish Short-snout with number 1, and Viktor's Chinese Fireball with 3, both spurted flames at the wizards, bringing laughter, "Or not. Don't worry you two; you don't have to handle the big ones."
The laughter that followed seemed to unnerve Bagman, who went to leave before coming back and saying, "The objective is to get the golden egg."
All four teens, now alone, burst out in laughter, forgetting for the moment that they were about to face dragons. Unfortunately it all came rushing back when Bagman began announcing the event, and called out, "Going first is Hogwarts' very own Cedric Diggory."
"Don't worry mate" "Easy as pie" "Don't take your eyes from the dragon" and the Hufflepuff was gone.