A/N: For some reason, fanfiction didn't send out a notice that I added another chapter yesterday, so for those that missed it, it's there! *points*

A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any character thereof. I just like to play with them! =)

Chapter 68

Friday, November the 25th, looked to be a nice cool - but not too cold of a day.

Harry, however, didn't notice any of this. He was walking around like a zombie.

During his Herbology class, he was pulled out by McGonagall. As he was leaving the room, he heard Susan whisper, "Good luck Harry."

Hermione smiled at him but he was saddened that Ron wouldn't even look his way.

"Deposit your books up in your room. There you'll find a poncho with your name on it. Bring it down with you when you come to join us in the side room off of the Great Hall. You won't be able to return to the dorm until after the task tonight, so make sure you have everything you'll need."

Harry nodded. Once in his dorm, he changed clothes and put on a different - older - set of robes. He did however put jeans and a sweater on that he had gotten during the summer before his third year. He would wear his school robe over them until later. He also put on his tennis shoes.

After placing his poncho in a robe pocket, he laid his broom on his bed and opened a window. He then left a note for his dorm mates asking them not to bother either.

Taking a deep breath, he headed down to the room off of the Great Hall.

Harry was in a meditative trance when Mr. Bagman entered into the Champions tent that had been erected near the Quidditch Pitch.

He listened, along with everyone else, as the rules were explained.

During the drawing of dragons, he saw Cedric give him a slight nod. He had indeed managed to warn him about them. Seemed the Hufflepuff had a plan.

After the final things had been said, Harry returned to his corner to begin to calm his mind again.

Severus was sitting in the stands. His face was a mask of impassivity but inside he was worried. Okay, actually he was terrified but he was trying desperately not to admit it to himself.

As a form of distraction, he scanned the crowds. The Gryffindors all had a flashing banner to cheer on Potter. Severus was fully aware that Weasley was still upset with Harry. Harry's work had dropped in quality a little because of this. The Hufflepuffs were naturally cheering on Diggory. There were a few signs in the crowd that showed that.

The Slytherins were also cheering on Diggory. The badges proclaiming 'Potter Stinks' showed that. As he scanned the area where the Ravenclaws were sitting, he frowned. It seemed that only the Gryffindors were supporting Potter.

It appeared that everyone either still believed that he had put his own name into the Goblet or the rumor of the hat wanting to put him in Slytherin had put them off.

Oddly enough, his Slytherins had not confronted Potter (to his knowledge) about that rumor. His 4th year potions' class had been quiet the past couple of weeks because of this.

Eventually Albus joined the judges down on a platform below him. Even from where Severus sat, he could see the panic in his eyes.

"Welcome to the first task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament! Each of our champions will have to face a dragon and retrieve a golden egg!"

Everyone started cheering.

"Without this egg, they cannot hope to complete the second task. Now. About thirty minutes ago, each of the Champions drew a mini replica of each of the dragons that they will be facing. They will be judged on how efficiently they get the egg and the technique they use to get it. If they or the dragon becomes injured, they will have points deducted."

Everyone cheered again.

"Our first champion to face his dragon is Cedric Diggory. As soon as we bring the dragon in, we will begin."

Harry was pacing back and forth in the tent. Victor Krum had just left so he was all alone.

His nerves were officially shot. He sat down and took several deep breaths. He had almost got his heart to quit racing when he heard, "Well done!"

Harry began pacing again. Eventually he heard, "Our fourth and final champion is Harry Potter and he will be facing the Hungarian Horntail!"

Ten minutes later, he heard the canon go off, signaling for him to enter the rock quarry that had been built to mimic the dragons' habitat.

Harry glanced around the stands. He saw a shimmering protective barrier around them to shield the spectators. He desperately wished he was on that side of the barrier.

Then he saw the dragon. It was standing guard over the eggs. He briefly wondered how he had not seen it first.

It was huge.

Harry pulled his wand out and put himself behind one of the rocks, out of the Horntails' line of sight.

Pulling in his power and focusing on his Firebolt sitting on his bed, he yelled, "Accio Harry Potter's Firebolt!"

It would work or it wouldn't but for the time being he needed to take evasive action.

It seemed that the dragon didn't like losing sight of its prey.

Severus watched as Potter came out onto the quarry. He looked so small, especially opposite the dragon.

And the dragon. Leave it to Potter to draw the Hungarian Horntail.

He watched as the boy took in his surroundings then heard him summon his broom. Hell, he felt Potter summon his broom. The magic washed all over the stadium. Even those that were not sensitive to feeling magic most likely felt that.

It appeared that the dragon felt the wave of magic too and started looking for its source.

He watched as Potter dove behind a rock - narrowly avoiding a jet of flame.

It was perhaps two minutes later when the broom flew straight to Potter. Severus watched with trepidation as the boy hopped on it in midair and circled the dragon - barely out flying another jet of flame.

Severus merely shook his head. Only Potter would treat this as a Quidditch game.

Albus watched as the boy flew left and right, trying to get the dragon to leave the eggs.

He, along with everyone else, gasped when the dragons tail swung and sent Harry flying. He was really impressed when he had managed, in midair, to regain his balance and get the dragon to finally leave its perch.

The second he grabbed the egg, 30 dragon tamers leapt forth and cast simultaneous stunners at the Hungarian Horntail.

While they were removing the dragon, Harry got his scores.

Harry was in second place. He grinned, completely oblivious to the fact that his shoulder was bleeding. As he was leaving the pitch, he was ambushed by Madam Pomphrey.

"In the medical tent. Now!"

Sighing in resignation, he entered the tent and sat down in a chair. The other champions must have already been released by her.

"Take this Mister Potter. Honestly! Dragons! If I could strangle Albus I would," huffed Madam Pomphrey.

Harry shook his head at the school nurse as she closed up his wound.

As she bustled away to get who knows what else for him to drink, Hermione came around the curtain followed by a shaken Ron. She leapt at him.

"You did it Harry! Your summoning charm was perfect!"

"Ow! Hermione!"

"Sorry," she said grinning as she pulled away.

Harry looked over at Ron as he cleared his throat. "I reckon whoever put your name in that Goblet really is out to kill you."

"Finally caught on have you?"

Ron turned red. "I'm sorry that I acted like such a prat. I should have known that you didn't put your name in the Goblet of Fire. It's just that ... well ... I kind of got ... jealous of all the attention you always get ... " By the time Ron was finished speaking, he was mumbling so low that Harry had barely heard him.

Harry grinned and realized that it didn't matter. He desperately missed Ron's friendship. "I'm sorry too. Tell me what the others did."

As Madam Pomphrey came back with another blood replenishing potion, Harry heard Hermione mutter, "boys" while shaking her head.

That night found Severus downing a glass of fire whiskey in one gulp. He had a suspicion that all this worrying about Harry was going to give him a heart attack, but he supposed that it was something that all parents went through.

Except that no one else was the father of a boy that attracted more trouble in an hour than anyone else he had ever met - which really was saying something.

He eyed the bottle of alcohol then sighed in frustration. He needed to sleep, not get drunk. After one more small glass, he headed off to bed.

A/N: I had a lot of fun writing the next chapter and I promise that it more than makes up for these past couple of short ones, at least in length. I should have it up in a couple of days. I just need to do some editing and a bit of fine tuning to it before I post it. =)