Viktor and Harry will be facing their dragons! And what of the audience? How will they react?
Please enjoy!
Chapter 12: Lady Luck
(Viktor's pov)
Viktor threw one last look at Harry before stepping out of the tent and into the enclosure. He despised the thought that soon Harry would face certain death; despite all the training they had done with him, the Horntail was too far out of his league. A miracle was the only thing that could save him now and Harry didn't seem particularly lucky today, or any other day for that matter. Although… he did have a knack for making the best of dreadful situations. If normal people made lemonade of the lemons Life gave them, he somehow made chocolate of them and left everyone around him wondering how he did it.
He shook his head; it was time to concentrate on his own dragon, who could prove just as deadly as Harry's should he become distracted. The Chinese Fireball was observing him, but did not see him as a threat just yet. A quick summoning charm and he was sat on his trusty Firebolt, ready to take to the sky. Time to let them see just what an international top seeker was made of.
First he needed to confuse the mother; she needed to see him as slightly more than an annoyance, but not dangerous enough to go all out. Viktor needed to preserve the delicate balance between staying just out of reach and dodging the double balls of fire coming his way. This breed had no spikes, giving him the advantage of only needing to watch out for her head.
He danced before the head: flying this way, than the other. The head swayed, like a snake before its charmer. Slowly he flew further back and higher. The neck stretched to its fullest extent and he backed away a littler more. With a roar of frustration she fired again, but this time Viktor didn't dodge. Instead he quickly wrote the runic shield in the air before him with his wand. Flames collided with the shimmery screen before they sizzled out.
Another few feet, and the Chinese Fireball reared up, spreading her magnificent wings. At the same time she took off, Viktor dived and grabbed the golden egg from between the others. Taking a sharp turn he flew back to the entrance. The crowd was roaring and cheering, they had enjoyed his performance. He was able to ignore Bagman's commentary with his experience on the quidditch field and landed directly before the judges. A forty-six landed him solidly in first place, but he didn't care about his score. Shoulders high he went to join his friends, all looking decidedly more ill than for their own turn.
(Harry's pov)
Using the meditation techniques Severus had thought him, Harry had managed to keep his nerves to a minimum during the long wait. As he entered the arena (for that it was in his eyes) the Horntail shrieked and he somehow understood what she was saying. It was all he could do to prevent his shock from being visible. The dragon spoke Parseltongue! Granted she had a bit of an accent, but was still very understandable.
"I demand my return to my nesting lands and mate immediately! Measly humans, I do not exist for your entertainment! What is this? Is that puny human my opponent? He looks barely out of his hatchling years himself!"
Taking a quick decision, Harry disillusioned himself and then made a rune chain that would act like a modified, widespread privacy charm. The spectators would not hear any noise below a certain decibel level and for good measure he spoke the smell and sound cancelling charm loud and clearly (without actually doing them). He then carefully approached the grand creature before him and bowed. He knew that the Horntail would see him without actually seeing him; dragon's eyes were so extremely sensitive because they could see magic.
"Great Lady, an unimaginable injustice has been done to you! To be taken from your home and mate and put against magic folk in a completion that has nothing to do with you! Please let me explain the details of this task I must complete."
"To find a speaker here! And such a smart and respectful one as well! I will listen, hatchling, if you tell my human servants that I wish to return to the nesting lands at once."
"I will my Lady. In your nest a golden imposter has been placed. My objective is to retrieve it in as little as possible time and without injuries."
"A golden egg! Between my precious hatchlings! Take it out little one and you will have my eternal gratitude. As a reward for handling this situation as you did, I will allow you to call on me, if you ever find yourself in trouble. Just call my name, Cala, and I will come to your side."
Ever so gently Harry made his way between the eggs and took the golden one. It was heavier than he had expected. He turned back, but before he walked out of the enclosure he bowed one last time. Reaching the entrance he lifted the privacy ward and the disillusionment charm. The audience went wild when the saw him there, unharmed with his prize and having needed only five minutes, the shortest time of all.
The other champions reached him first, laughing and crying, and drew him into a group hug. The relieve of seeing him unharmed at having such odds stacked against him was overwhelming. Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna followed shortly after, having dashed down the stairs of the stands.
Seeing Charlie between the other dragon handlers, he extracted himself and jogged over to him. "Hey, Charlie."
"Hey Harry. You did an amazing job with the Horntail. Congratulations!"
"Thanks! I was just wondering what is going to happen with the dragons now their part is over."
"We'll be going back to Romania tonight. We don't want them gone from their territory and mates too long. "
"I like that. They seem awfully agitated. It can't be healthy to take mothers this close to birth from their home and familiar habitat."
With these wise words Harry was of again, leaving a pensive Charlie to stare at his back. His friends didn't ask what he needed to talk about with Charlie, assuming it was just saying hello to Ron's brother and Harry didn't bother to correct them. He had kept his promise to Cala, only now was he worthy of her gift. They escorted him to the jury's platform, where he would receive his score.
Madame Maxime gave a ten, her example followed by the three others. Even Karkaroff gave him a seven, grudgingly acknowledging his use of magic beyond his level and clever tactics. The disillusionment charm, smell cancelling charm and modified silencing charm were all Newt level. The runic sequence was master level, but hadn't been observed and therefore didn't count in this instance.
Severus had invited Remus and Sirius to the First Task, knowing they would be as worried and anxious as he was. Harry had refused to tell him anything, though his long meetings with his friends proved they were at least preparing for something. Remus and Sirius were exceedingly civil and polite as they met up just outside the doors of the Great Hall, taking pains to include him in the conversation as they flanked him. It greatly confused his already befuddled heart, so he pretended not to notice the courtesy.
When they entered the arena and saw the first dragon, Severus swore his heart stopped beating for a few seconds. Dragons, no wonder his son had looked rather pale this morning. How was he ever to survive this afternoon with his sanity intact? Sirius was glowering in the direction of the jury and Remus' eyes had turned golden. He took both men by the shoulder and directed them to Harry's friends, who were keeping places for them. On the way they passed the Weasley twins, who had set up a mobile betting stand.
(Fred, George, both)
"Messrs Weasley. Setting up a lucrative business?"
"Hello professor! Would you like to place a bet? Current odds are ten to one that Harry survives his task, hundred to one that he actually manages first place."
Sirius piped up at this. He wasn't an addict at gambling, just very proud of his brilliant godson. In the short talk he'd had with Harry he had learned that he took more after his mother than most people believed. It made him happy to know that Lily would live on in such a way. In seventh year she had become their big sister, guiding and caring for them. They had made a promise of frequent letters and visits, though only as long as Sirius respected Severus.
"I'll take them. Fifteen galleons that Harry gets first place and comes out uninjured."
"What are you doing Sirius?"
"Why Moony, can't a godfather be proud of his godson? I have full confidence in Harry."
"As do I, but he's up against a DRAGON!"
"Sorry to butt in, but did we hear that right? Are you, professor Lupin, Moony, part of the magnificent Hogwarts prankers, the Marauders?"
"Indeed I am. And this is Sirius Black, better known as Padfoot. How do you now of us, Messrs Weasley?"
They went to their knees, bowing before their idols. They had not only found the Marauder's map, but also a casebook in which the Marauders had recorded many a prank from their later and more experienced years.
"We are your greatest fans. Through the years we have not only found the Marauder's map, but also a book with pranks you pulled."
"You managed to crack the map? What an accomplishment! How old were you at the time?"
"At the start of first year, in our first detention with Filch. We took nearly six months to figure out the activation phrase, but in the end the clues you left, paid off handsomely. We gave the map to Harry in his third year so he could sneak out to Hogsmeade. Though he never told us that he knew the Marauder's in person."
"Didn't he now? And to think that he is not only the godson of two, but also the son of a third Marauder. James, Harry's dad, was known as Prongs."
"Really? It seems we need a little talk with Harrykins."
"Perhaps we should take our seats. It looks like the show is about to start."
They watched the first three champions with interest, but without real attachment. Only Severus knew Cedric Diggory somewhat (a bright, hardworking young man without any pretention), none had even spoken to the foreign students. Ron, Hermione and Neville were far more nervous on the row before them, though Luna was smiling dreamily.
A rather fetching performance had been put up. All champions played on their strengths without truly giving anything away. Cedric was well known for his gift at transfiguration and professor Sprout would go through fire for any of her students. Ms Delacour merely performed a charm not much beyond Newt level and Mr Krum was a famous quidditch player. All in all no real surprises.
Then the most terrifying dragon ever was brought in. Its scales were black and spiked all over. Its eyes gleamed with unusual intelligence. Severus didn't recognize the breed, but its viciousness was clear. He prayed to the Old Ones for his son's survival. If he came out of this unharmed, Severus would ask Narcissa if they could join her Yule celebration, so they could give their proper thanks for the good fortune that had befallen them.
There his son stood, dressed in the Gryffindor colours that didn't really suit him anymore. His hair was kept back in a long braid, so it wouldn't get in the way. His stance, while confident enough, betrayed some unease. He didn't cut a very imposing figure based on this alone, but his magic, let free from their constrains was felt throughout the stadium.
Not hesitating a second, Harry cast the disillusionment charm on himself and disappeared. The removal of scent and sound was a clever thing and soon his son was at the entrance once again, safe and sound. The Horntail made a ruckus when she noticed the missing egg, roaring and stamping around, but the cheers of the audience drowned her out.
The relief Severus felt when he realised that Harry had completed his task without even so much as a scratch was enough to weaken his knees. He would have made a disgraceful face plant if Remus hadn't caught and steadied him. The only thing he could think was "He's alive" over and over. He completely missed the marks of the jury, was deaf to the noise of the audience around him. He wanted to go to Harry, take him in his arms and keep the world away, but that wasn't to be. The champions were called back to the tent at the entrance. Sirius, Remus and he made their way there though, to catch up as soon as possible.
Harry felt like he was floating as he walked back into the tent. The long wait had been the most difficult part; waiting here as his friends risked life and limbs, while he had to stay, unable to do anything at all. His mind had spun the most horrendous scenarios, for them, but also for himself…
Bagman welcomed them back with a big grin on his face. Harry was disgusted at his ease with the horrors they had just gone through. His satisfied demeanour almost implied that he had been the one to face a dragon.
"Well done, all of you. I only wish to give you some practical information for the next task. You'll have a long break as it is planned for February the twenty-fourth. We are expecting you at half past nine, though the location as well as the objective is hidden inside your golden egg. Understood? Very well, off you go then."
Harry was greeted by his father and godfathers outside the tent. He hugged Remus and Sirius first, because he wanted to stay longer in his father's arms. A scolding would probably follow soon for keeping his knowledge of the task to himself, but for now they just rejoiced in being alive and whole. Far too soon they had to let go of each other and walked back to the castle, followed by friends and family.
Near the castle they were met with the sight of Rita Skeeter in acid green robes. A quick, polite word of Severus and they walked past her. In the weekend she would be welcome to have an interview with all the champions about the First Task, now however they wanted to relax in company of friends. A suggestion to look into the dragons proved sufficiently distracting to be able to walk on.
Instead of going to their respective Common Rooms or carriage/ship, the students went straight to their usual room, after having gone to the kitchens for food that is. A few transfigured sofas later and they were all relaxing in each other's company. The clue in the egg would be kept for later. Now was a time of food, laughter, music and tightening bonds.
I hope you all like it! As for the parseltongue: Lily was a squib descendant from the Slytherin line, so when the ability, her raw magic and the Potter's family magic mixed in little Harry, it was awakened once again. I'm operating here on the theory that magic is a genetic ability, rather than a gift from a goddess. I like both but genetics suit me more in this instance.