[Panic]
Dragons.
That was what the first task was, when Headmaster Karkaroff had mentioned that people had died in the tournament before, Viktor had believed that it was due to something that was their own mistake. Some silly mistake.
Being killed by a dragon was definitely not something that could be passed off as trivial, and Viktor wished that, for once, he had bothered to research exactly what he had been getting himself into. Not because he would be able to avoid the situation, but to be more prepared to meet possible death.
Viktor really doubted he was going to survive this. It was tempting to write a letter to his parents, apologising for being sent home in a matchbox as he was certain he would be.
"Still moping over the dragons?"
"I'm going to die!" Viktor groaned.
Harry had the audacity to laugh at him. Viktor turned to glare at the other boy, not caring that Harry himself could probably send Viktor home in something smaller than a matchbox. Not everyone was as composed as Harry!
"That would depend on whether or not you know your strengths, Viktor. Surely you don't think I would waste my energy on someone who will fail."
Viktor knew that, but the knowledge of that fact didn't help hold the panic of facing a dragon at bay. Viktor wondered how the dragon tamers did it, knowing that they could die at any moment.
The soft sigh Harry released caught Viktor's attention, and suddenly there was a wash of magic that rolled over Viktor's body, causing him to shiver slightly with the added effect of calming him.
"Walk up to a dragon that tense, and you'll definitely die."
By the time Viktor opened his eyes again all that he could see of Harry was his disappearing robes.