Dragons, in more ways than you expect!

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Chapter 11: Dragons

"They want to make us fight fucking dragons?"

"Not just dragons, nesting mother dragons."

"Eez zat supposed to make us feel better? Becoz eet eez not working." Fleur's accent became more pronounced in her agitation. In the past weeks both her and Viktor's English had improved a lot, making them almost fluent. When in high spirits however their language regressed to how it had been before.

"I'm only relating what Charlie wrote me! Don't kill the messenger!"

Charlie had sent his little brother a letter telling him that his reserve had had to prepare four nesting mothers for the Triwizard Tournament. He wasn't comfortable with keeping this from Harry, who was after all something of a little brother. Upon reading the letter aloud, there was pandemonium. Everyone was outraged at putting students in such a dangerous situation with no warning whatsoever. In a normal situation at least a dozen adults were needed to subdue a dragon and nesting mothers were known to be especially vicious and aggressive.

A note had been added about golden eggs that had been placed in every nest, one for each. It stood to reason that taking those eggs was the objective of the First Task. None of the champions were very eager to do such a thing; to risk a dragon mother's wrath usually meant instant death via incineration.

"Guys! Will you shut up for a moment?"

Harry seldom raised his voice, so when he did they all listened. He went to the centre of the room, while the others gathered round and sat down.

"Panicking isn't going to help us in the slightest. If we want to survive this task alive, we need to research things thoroughly. As we only have two days to prepare, it's useless to focus on originality. It's not like no one knows we have become close friends. Let's move to the library to research dragons' weak spots and fire proof spells."

Hermione brightened considerably at the prospect of research and Neville was murmuring under his breath. Luna was once again staring into space, absorbed by the Unseen.

In the library they crowded around two tables, pushed together, in the back. Hermione, Neville and Cedric went to look for books, while Harry, Luna, Fleur and Viktor sat down and assembled paper and ink. Hit by an idea Harry wandered off to the Ancient Runes section, knowing exactly what book he needed. He had stumbled across the pentagram some weeks ago, but it was still fresh in his mind.

By the time he had found the book and had walked back to their table, Hermione was organizing the collection of books she, Neville and Cedric had deemed useful.

"The biggest problem we're facing here is a lack of time. If we had at least a week, we might have asked Charlie for help or ordered more specific books. As it stands, we will need a healthy doses creativity to make a working strategy. We need to consider two aspects: own protection and distracting the dragon. At the same time no other eggs should be damaged."

"I think I know a useful plant that is available in the greenhouses. Agni's web is related to Devil's snare except it is attracted to extreme heat. It cannot be burned by any known fire except perhaps fiendfyre, which is Dark magic. If Harry or Cedric asks for it, I'm sure professor Sprout would agree to give them some."

"Thanks Neville. That is a really helpful piece of information. I've found a runic pentagram, which works as a fire-absorbing charm, though far more powerful. Its complexity makes it too difficult to use if you have no real talent for Ancient Runes so that's out of the question for Fleur and Cedric."

"What if we fly? The nesting mothers won't leave the nest, most likely, and it would make us more agile. That way we can make combinations with the different strategies, maybe coupling them with charms or transfiguration for distraction."

They all nodded at Viktor's interesting proposal; they would probably lose points for originality, but nobody really cared. Ron had been browsing Fantastic beasts and where to find them in an effort to get information on the dragons Charlie had named.

"If you get the Welsh Green, you are lucky. They are the most subdued of all and transfiguring sheep will do well as distraction. The Chinese fireball has a double flame and prefer pigs. They are faster and rather clever. The Swedish Short-Snout had a flame hot enough to reduce stone and bones to ash in seconds. They are very agile when flying. Pray you don't get the Hungarian Horntail; they are by far the most dangerous breed ever. Its flame can reach fifty feet and retains its high temperature. They also have spikes over most of their body, are very aggressive when protecting their young and prefer humans above other mammals in their diet."

Serious expressions all around, they set to work to look for the right transfiguration spells and charms. Fleur expressed delight when she discovered Bewitched sleep, which puts the target into an enchanted sleep and stopped breathing for the same time. It would work better than the normal sleeping charm, but was beyond Harry's current level. Eventually they retreated to their room to practice some before dinner.

"Did you find the agreement, Lucius?"

Narcissa looked at her husband's smug smirk, smiling in contentment. As soon as she had heard of Severus' adoption of Harry Potter, she had known she wanted him as son-in-law. Draco and Harry would make such a cute couple and their babies would be so beautiful! He was much better suited for her little dragon than that Parkinson girl.

When Lucius told her about that drunken promise, she had thrown etiquette out of the window and squealed. Her Lord's orders were only icing on the cake.

"It isn't a formal, binding betrothal, but we expected Severus' cautiousness even when inebriated. He had agreed to a courtship between heirs however and that is all we need."

Through the years Draco had informed them about his interest in Harry Potter, although not in so many words, and more recently they had received a letter from his friend Zabini that the muggleborns might be open to help his campaign if they allowed it to start.

Draco paled and blushed at the same time; how in the name of Merlin's pants did his parents find out about his small crush (read: full-blown infatuation) on Harry Potter? He was extremely excited at the prospect of wooing the delicate boy, contract or no contract, especially now they had become closer. Nevertheless he was sure he had never given anything away to anyone, except for his best friends, Blaise and Pansy.

Pansy and he had never liked the idea of marrying each other; they were too much like brother and sister to even consider it, the consequence of growing up together. Add to that his homosexuality, though after four years of pining after the one person he couldn't get, his friends had dubbed it Harrysexuality, and you've got yourself a recipe for disaster.

When he had first seen Harry at Madam Malkins, dressed in rags yet sparkling with enthusiasm, he had fallen and fallen hard. He had been so happy and nervous to see him again on the train that he had made the vital mistake of donning his pureblood mask, something that happened far to easy for his liking whenever he saw Harry. The Weasley had made his jealousy flare and he had forever lost his chance (or so he thought).

So he settled for being Harry's enemy and keeping his attention that way. It hurt to hurl insults at the beautiful boy, yet he saw no other option to keep his place in Harry's life. In the past years he had feared for his crush multiple times, as the adults at Hogwarts seemed content to allow three young students to solve their problems.

Storming into the Common Room, he swiftly located Pansy and Blaise and dragged them out again, regardless of their protests. They made their way to an empty room, not far from the entrance of the Slytherin Dungeon.

"Who talked to my parents? They have written me that a courtship contract was made between the Heirs of Prince and Malfoy and have given me permission to act on it. If my parents believed me to hate Harry Potter they would never have written such a thing, whatever binding power the agreement may have. "

His friends looked at each other, clearly uneasy, a clear sign of their guilt. It was Blaise who finally took the word.

"You see Draco, you haven't been as surreptitious about your crush as you may have liked. It was your parents who wrote us to ask for confirmation and we have been keeping them up to date. Some weeks ago Granger approached us and she proposed a conspiracy of a kind. Potter hasn't been as immune to your charms as we believed him to be."

"Re…Really?"

"Yes Dray. We have spoken with her about the possibility of courtship and we have given her the appropriate books so that she may explain things to Potter when you start."

"Fine, but I'm still angry for going behind my back!"

The four champions sat huddled together at the Gryffindor table at noon on the day of the First Task. They were going over some last details, but without much enthusiasm. Ever since they had received Charlie's letter they had been practicing to get the timing and spells right to the very last second. Reviewing wouldn't help anymore, but at least it gave them something to do.

Just past one o'clock Professor McGonagall hurried over and asked them to follow her to the grounds so they could get ready for the task. They stood, said goodbye to the others, who would be cheering from the stands, and left in unison. Harry was put between Fleur and Cedric, while Viktor followed them.

The enclosure of the dragons had been placed at the edge of the forest, and was now obscured by a tent. They were directed inside, where Bagman was already waiting. He looked far too happy for the event, especially if the dragons were taking into consideration.

"Now we're all assembled, I'll fill you in on the specifics of the challenge you are to face. When the audience has assembled, you will take a model, from this sack, of the thing you are going to confront. Your objective is to get the golden egg, which will contain a hint about the next Task."

They all nodded and withdrew to different corners of the tent, needing a bit of solitude to calm their nerves. Talking about their strategies was a no go with Bagman still in the room and it wasn't a good time for small talk.

Soon hundreds of people were passing by the tent, talking excitedly, laughing and generally being happy. Harry felt slightly disgusted at their enthusiasm when soon four students would have to risk life and limbs for their pleasure. What felt like seconds later, Bagman opened the purple sack and offered it to Fleur with a "Ladies first".

Shaking slightly Fleur withdrew a model of the Welsh Green with a number two on the neck. Cradling the tiny, animated figure close, she retook her earlier place. Viktor pulled out the Chinese Fireball with a three, eyes blazing with determination. When Cedric put his hand in, he came out with the Swedish Short-snout, number one. Harry sighed softly in resignation; of course he would get the worst possible choice. He carefully pulled the Hungarian Horntail out. Holding it carefully in his hand, the dragon nearly looked cute as it nuzzled his thumb.

"Very well. The dragon you pulled out of the bag is the one you will face and the number refers to the order you will go in. I'm commentating, so I'll leave in a moment. When you hear the whistle, you just step into the enclosure. You have five minutes to prepare, Mr Diggory, use them wisely. A word, Harry?"

"Please address me as Mr Potter, Mr Bagman. I hardly know you well enough to allow such a level of familiarity. And no you cannot speak to me without my guardian present, unless it is in your capacity as organizer of the Tournament. Don't you have need to be in the commentating spot?"

Bagman looked taken aback, but Harry was in no mood to humour the man. He turned back to his friends and Bagman slunk away. Quickly they divided the different strategies they had prepared for each scenario, reminding each other of the key point. Then the whistle blew and Cedric walked to the other entrance of the tent, looking greener than ever. A quick look back and he entered the enclosure.

(Cedric's pov)

Ignoring the hundreds of people in the stands, he focused on the mother dragon before him. The Swedish Short-snout was a rather pretty dragon to look at, having slivery blue scales. Focusing on Neville he cast his first spell "Accio Agni's web!" and then ducked for cover behind a large rock formation. The dragon hadn't yet recognized him as threat, but he shouldn't wait too long with making a distraction.

The plant flew into his left hand as he cast the transfiguration spell. A few feet to his left and closer to the dragon some rocks became a pack of moose. Immediately the Short-snout was distracted for eyeing his rocks and seemed to debate whether she would leave her nest to eat. The moose had appeared just out of her range and were multiplying.

Cedric crept closer to the nest, keeping out of the wind and clutching his living shield tightly. His progress was slow, but as the dragon hadn't attacked the pack yet, he still had time. He was but ten feet away, when she noticed him and reared up. Acting on instinct he threw. The plant was nearly in the dragon's mouth when she released her fire. The effect was instantaneous: Agni's web multiplied in a matter of seconds to ten times its original size and squeezed the dragon tightly.

Not hesitating Cedric sprinted to the nest, grasped the golden egg and sprinted to safety once again. At the entrance professor Sprout greeted him and sent him of to Madame Pomfrey, after congratulating him very warming. The Mediwitch stood at the entry of a second tent, looking rather peeved. A quick once over proved his lack of wounds and she sent him of again.

At one of the enclosure the judges sat on a raised platform, the chairs draped in gaudy looking gold. One by one they conjured ribbons forming figure: an eight from Madame Maxime, a nine from Mr Crouch, two more nines from Dumbledore and Bagman and a five from Karkaroff, making a nice score of forty. He was pleasantly surprised at Madame Maxime's professionalism. Karkaroff had been expected, he wanted Viktor to win not matter what.

He wasn't worried for Fleur and Viktor at all, both would be fine with their respective strategies. Harry on the other hand… They had all tried to grab the spikiest model, but the sack had been enchanted and they had felt no difference between the dragons. As a result Harry would have to face the Hungarian Horntail with spells he had only just managed to learn in time. A whistle blew and Fleur entered for her own challenge.

(Fleur's pov)

She felt calm as she gazed upon her opponent. The Welsh Green eyed her, but made no move to attack. A deep breath and she started on the long and complicated enchantment that would be her ticket to the golden egg. The hardest part of her strategy was that she needed to keep her target in sight while casting and that meant exposing herself for some time. Had she gotten any other dragon, it would not have worked.

Finally she spoke the last word, made the last twirl with her wand and the dragon swayed. Eyes fallen closed it sank down, slightly to the side of the eggs. Thanking her ancestors for her good fortune, she approached the nest and took her prize. Moments later she left the enclosure and lifted the enchantment. No trip to the medical tent was needed, her score received immediately. She smiled at her 41, it was a good score. She sent a quick prayer to her ancestors, Viktor wouldn't need it, but little Harry needed all the luck she could sent his way.