24 November 1994
Finding out that Harry didn't have to slay the dragon did little to calm the boy's nerves. If anything, it sounded even more daunting, after reading through so many books on dragons, he was terrified. Nesting dragon mothers were some of the most ferocious predators known to man and if anyone came close to their clutch, they would be torn limb from limb in the most brutal fashion. Sirius wasn't able to come to the school during the week, so they wouldn't be able to see him until the day of the task. Harry tried to act more confidant then he felt as Hermione worked herself into a frenzy, tracing runes over and over until they were absolutely perfect.
The next morning, it was obvious all of the champions knew what was coming for the first task. Even Warrrington, who would normally strut through the halls confidently was looking ashen and sick to his stomach. Fleur Delacour, wilted visibly as she glided through the halls, her hair was lank and there were traces of bags under her eyes. As the epitome of all feminine beauty, the stress was obviously taking a toll on her. Krum avoided entering the castle at all costs, opting instead to practice a very destructive spell along the tree line of the forbidden forest next to Black Lake.
"Hermione, I think that's enough." Harry said patiently as Hermione painted another rune onto his exposed upper body. They spent the last two hours in the corridor while Hermione painted his body in protective runes. She was only in the second year of ancient runes but she was able to find some interesting combinations in the corridor library.
"I'm...it has to be perfect." Hermione said sharply as she crouched down to paint a fire resistant rune on his lower back. She spent two weeks brewing the potions for the salve she was currently using. Not only was it water and magic resistant, it was also meant to cover his scent.
"Hermione, we need to head to lunch soon and then it's time to head down." Harry said softly, forcing himself not to fidget and squirm as her warm fingers painted his body. The salve made his skin tingle pleasantly and his hormone driven thoughts made him blush as he watched her.
"Last one." Hermione said softly as she blew on the rune to dry the salve, Harry shivered and closed his eyes tightly, making himself focus on the man eating dragon he would soon be facing.
"Thank you." Harry said sincerely as he pulled her to his chest, he wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her familiar scent, cinnamon and vanilla.
"You don't have to thank me, Harry." Hermione smiled shyly up at him and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She pulled away slowly, looking over his runes to make sure they weren't smudged.
"Come on, lets go. I want to enjoy my last meal and with Charlie in the castle, I can't be alone with you too long with out him asking questions." Harry flushed, thanking Merlin he was able to avoid the ginger dragon tamer so far.
-0-
"Psst" Harry paused for a moment from his anxious pacing of the length of the campions tent when he heard hissing coming from the other side of the tent flap. "Harry?" The feminine voice hissed again, Harry looked around nervously before walking towards the voice.
"Hermione?" Harry whispered, feeling his already erratic heart flutter.
"How are you?" Hermione whispered urgently but didn't allow him to answer before she pushed on. "It'll be fine, brilliant, absolutely fantastic. I know you will Harry. You're smart and powerful, you have nothing to worry about-"
"Hermione?" Harry whispered nervously as she rambled, her voice wavering. Suddenly, Hermione pushed the tent canvas aside and launched herself into his arms. The red head was shaking as she clung to him tightly, burying her face into his chest as she took deep breaths.
"Ha-" Hermione looked up at him, her brown eyes filled with worry and fear but she was cut off as a bright flash of light filled the tent.
"Ah, young love!" Rite Skeeter swept into the tent with a wide smile, her acid green quick quote quill floating beside her as it made long flourishing swipes across the note pad. "Harry dear, it is lovely to see you again and with your girlfriend, little Miss Hermione Weasl-"
"You are not allowed in here. This tent is for champions...and friends." Victor Krum stepped forward scowling.
"Oh, Bozo and I have everything we came for, just hoping we could get a quote from your...friends." Rita's smile grew feral as she watched the youngest champion and his girlfriend blush furiously, still holding each other.
"Ha, as if anyone would believe anything you wrote! The whole school already knows that Harry and I are together, what are you going to write about that? Some scandalous love triangle?" Hermione scoffed, glaring daggers at the blonde woman who pursed her mouth.
"Now listen here you si-" Rita tried to move past the Bulgarian to tell the girl exactly what she would write about the little tart but the tent flap opening made her pause.
"Champions! Champions!" Ludo Bagman's voice shouted out as he entered the tent with the ministry officials, the school heads, and Sirius Black. He paused as he saw Rita and her photographer standing toe to toe with the Bulgarian champion.
"Ludo, how lovely to see you!" Rita purred as she pushed forward, smiling flirtatiously at the head of magical games and sports. "I've heard the strangest rumors..."
"Miss. Skeeter, a pleasure to see you again but as I've said before you are not allowed on school grounds unless you are in the media section." Albus stepped in front of the sputtering Bagman, his blue eyes twinkling but there was some steel in his words.
"Oh, of course Albus. Must have slipped my mind." Rita simpered as she sauntered out of the tent, her photographer following close behind.
"Now, for the-" Albus stopped as the champions gathered around and he noticed Hermione still holding Harry's hand. "Hermione?"
"Sorry, good luck Harry!" Hermione blushed scarlet as she dashed from the tent, the ministry officials openly chuckling at her.
"Now in this bag, I have a miniature version of the first task and it will provide the order in which to proceed." Ludo smiled happily as he opened the purple, velvet drawstring pouch. The champions stood stiffly around him, none of them wanting to move. "Ladies first."
"Merci." Fleur attempted to smile gratefully but it appeared as more of a grimace on her pale face. After a deep breath she stuck her hand into the bag and withdrew a miniature dragon with a number plaque around its neck.
"Oh, the Welsh Green!" Ludo exclaimed jovially, a bright smile on his face as Fleur stared at the little fire breathing miniature in her hand.
"I'll go." Warrington said quickly, cutting off Krum. He closed his eyes as he reached into the bag and spent a few moments feeling around for something. "Bugger!" He exclaimed and pulled his hand out to see another tiny dragon biting the Slytherins knuckle. He tried to shake it off but the dragon refused to let go, professor Snape stepped forward and grabbed the reptile by its jaw. Rolling his eyes, the potions master applied pressure and the dragon released his student.
"Swedish short snout!" Ludo clapped happily as Professor Snape dropped the dragon with a # 3 on its plague into Warrington's hand.
"I go." Krum grunted, glaring at Harry as he shoved his hand into the sack. He immediately pulled out a red and orange dragon with a #2 hanging from its neck.
"Chinese-" Ludo clapped but Krum's sneer cut him off.
"Fireball, I am aware." Krum grunted and turned away from them, sitting heavily on one of the cots.
"Well, then...ah, Harry, my boy!" Ludo offered Harry the bag after an awkward pause. The ministry officials held their breath as Harry reached into the pouch, already knowing what was left.
"Hungarian Horntail." Ludo breathed, his eyes watching Harry's reaction hungrily. Harry swallowed nervously as dragon in his hands sneezed, snorting a small puff of fire and smoke.
"Each of your dragons will be protecting a golden egg, you must get the egg from the nesting mother's catch to have any chance of completing the second task." Crouch said after a tense silence.
-0-
"Sirius! How wonderful to see you on your feet!" Fudge smiled widely as they took their seats to watch the first task. Sirius scowled as he clenched his fists, glaring furiously at the stands full of happy, cheering students. "How goes your recovery?"
"Fine." Sirius said shortly, trying to reign in his temper.
"Oh, this is exciting, months of planning have gone into these tasks!" The minister clapped eagerly. The stands erupted in applause as Fluer Delacour glided gracefully into the arena. "I've heard rumors about her, didn't believe them of course. Her father works in the ministry no way she could be..." The minister trailed off as his eyes became glassy.
Fluer's white blonde hair flared out around her as she began to sing and sway, her voice and movements enchanting the spectators in the stands. As the males and some women were totally enraptured but Fluer's thrall, the dragon was not pleased. The mother dragon fully extended her wings before breathing a torrent of flames at the beautiful blonde. The French champion screeched, an inhuman sound that made the enchanted crowd shudder as they were ripped from their magical daydream.
"Merde!" Fleur shrieked as her body began to slowly shift, wide pure white feathered wings tore through her uniform. Her normally beautiful face became more bird like as her teeth lengthened into sharp fangs and she opened her mouth in a silent scream. Fingers that were once long and graceful became hard, black talons as she raised her arms to hurl a ball of flame back at the enraged dragon.
"Merlin!" Minister Fudge breathed as he watched the fully transformed veela fly up to the dragon. An involuntary shudder passed through the crowd at the inhuman screeching coming from the veela as she darted forward, intent to claw the dragons eyes.
"Nej! Inte skada draken!" Gunther shouted in rage as he lead the dragon tamers towards the arena with their wands ready. The guards in magenta robes rushed forward to head them off.
"Until the end of the tournament, these dragons are property of the participating ministries of magic." A tall man shouted above the roar of the dragon. Fleur managed to blind the Welsh Green and it was stumbling blindly, accidentally crushing its clutch.
"Holy shite!" Charlie exclaimed as Fleur dove, snatching up the undamaged golden egg from the remains of the nest. The stands erupted into applause as the veela landed on the platform, slowly changing back into her human form.
"Let 'em through!" The head guard shouted once Fluer was safely on the platform. The dragon tamers wasted no time in rushing past them to subdue the raging mother dragon.
"Now, that was entertainment!" Ludo cried exuberantly as his eyes trailed down Fluer's form, her robes torn and singed, her beautiful face cut and bleeding.
"Madam Maxime!" Fluer cried out weakly, waving down her headmistress who was pushing past the ministry officials.
"Tres bon, Fluer!" Olympe threw a large robe over her student, hiding her exposed curves from the ogling spectators. "The scores will be announced after the last champion."
"Crouch!" Gunther's furious voice carried over the screaming spectators. The Swedish man stalked forward, seething as the head of the international cooperation department sneered. "You said the dragons would not be harmed!"
"Mr. Andersson, I can assure you that any damage will be minimal." Crouch said imperiously as he waved his hand dismissively. The dragon tamers were busy pulling the welsh green from the arena and replacing it with Chinese fireball. The spectators roared in approval as the ferocious ruby beast threw back its head and roared, shooting huge balls of fire fifteen feet into the air.
"Adara will be lucky to see again!" Gunther bellowed, advancing on the pompous department head. "Do you have any Ide-"
"Mr. Andersson, is the next dragon ready for our Bulgarian champion?" Crouch cut him off with snide drawl. Gunther seethed silently and gave the man a curt nod before turning on his heel to storm away, cursing fluently under his breath. "Well, Ludo? Get on with it!"
"Right...right." Ludo cleared his throat before applying the sonorus charm to his vocal cords. "FROM DURMSTRANG VICCCTTTTOOOOR KRUM!"
"What do you reckon he's going to do?" Fred asked excitedly as Krum entered the arena.
"Dunno, be a shame if he doesn't fly though." Ron said absently as he leaned on the railing anxiously. Krum stood before the large than life reptile stiffly as if waiting for something. As the dragon lowered its head to breath round balls of flame at the champion, Krum sprang into action.
"SCHMERTUM!" Krum exclaimed, waving his wand in a complicated pattern, the crowd watched eagerly as the fire was stopped only a meter before him and thrust back towards the dragon. "SLEPOTA!" A purple jet of light ignited from Krum's wand, hitting the dragon between the eyes.
"Buggering hell!" Ron exclaimed as the dragon rocked back, it's wings covering its face protectively while Krum dashed towards the clutch. He stumbled slightly on the uneven ground and the dragon's tail swiped the quidditch player hard in the right shoulder.
"SLEPOTA!" Krum snapped as he held his dislocated shoulder and rolled to the side, avoiding another swipe of the dragons tail. The dragons pained roar was the loudest yet as it stumbled back from the spell that hit its eyes. On the ground, the dragon tamers looked feral, trying to get to their abused dragon. Krum waved his wand in a large arch, brandishing a strange fire whip that snapped viciously at the dragon as he raced forward. He snagged the golden egg from the partially destroyed nest before dashing towards to the platform, the dragon tamers passing him in the arena.
"Merlin.." Minister Fudge breathed for the umpteenth time since the task started. He was grinning maniacally as he watched the press practically tear each other apart for the best shots. Sirius remained silent by his side, nodding absently whenever the minister would bring up new charitable endeavors.
"That had to be dark magic." Sirius grumbled crossly as Madam Pomfrey tended to the Bulgarian's many wounds. Fudge was practically salivating as the second injured dragon was removed from the stadium, enraged after finding only one of her eggs survived the task.
"Even if it was, the champions have diplomatic immunity for the duration of the competition." Fudge said absently as his eyes widened, taking in the majestic creature being hauled into the arena. The Swedish short snout was the largest thus far and seemed the most furious, her great wings glistening like emeralds in the sun.
"Diplomatic immunity?" Sirius repeated slowly as if unsure if he heard correctly. He turned to face the minister for the first time that afternoon.
"Oh yes, had to. What with the dangerous tasks." Fudge hummed, nodding his head eagerly though his eyes were glued to the arena.
"So, I could be teaching Harry dark magic for the tournament?" Sirius gaped at the minister incredulously.
"No!" Fudge exclaimed loudly, tearing his gaze from the majestic beast to look at Sirius in horror. "Do you see the media? Oh no, no dark magic for The-Boy-Who-Lived. He can only be seen as Hogwarts golden champion. Like that? Spoke with some advisors, Harry Potter, Our Golden Champion."
"What about Warrington?" Sirius asked through gritted teeth, trying to keep his emotions under control. Although at the moment he was curious if he could get away with smacking the minister without being carted off.
"Well, Warrington's from a good family...I'm sure any magic he uses will fall under the blanket immunity. So long as he doesn't use unforgivables!" Fudge chuckled as he turned back to watch the Slytherin champion stalk into the arena. He didn't quite make it to the center before he cast a disillusionment charm over himself. The crowd groaned as the contender disappeared from sight and he transfigured some rocks into a flock of pigeons.
"Oh, that's disappointing." Fudge groaned as the pigeons attacked the dragon. The Swedish Short-snout was not to be distracted as it seemed to zero in on Warrington's position and flicked its tail out. The only indication that she landed the blow was the sickening crunch and trail of blood that appeared on the rock wall.
"Confundus!" A shaky voice called but it only enraged the dragon more, bowing its head it breathed a torrent of flames in a wide arch. Warrington's scream echoed out as his robes caught fire, a quick augumenti put them out and he set to work, transfiguring rocks into small animals. A dog, a pig, and a rooster flanked the invisible Slytherin as he rushed forward, towards the nest. The dragon took the bait, rushing for the animals that split off and rushed in opposite directions.
"Fuck!" Warrington hissed as he slipped, landing on the nest. The crunch of broken eggs made the dragon freeze in her tracks. As the Slytherin scrambled to his feet, golden egg in hand, dripping in yolk from the dragon eggs, the dragon stalked forward. Drawing in a large breath, the dragon roared a torrent of flame licking the ground surrounding the nest. Cassius Warrington screamed in pain as the fire burned away at his robes, clutching the egg tightly to his chest. He lost consciousness as the dragon handlers rushed the arena.
"Wow." Sirius breathed out in amazement as the Slytherin was carried from the arena. "Who's fucking idea was it to use dragons?"
"Oh, that would be my senior undersecretary, Deloris. Incredibly loyal to the ministry, she is." Fudge smiled cheekily as he pointed out a short pudgy woman sitting with the other ministry officials. She stood apart from the the other officials in their stark black robes, not only did she have a toad like face, she also dressed completely in shades of pink head to toe.
"It was her idea to pit fully grown nesting mother dragons against seventeen year old students?" Sirius exclaimed, not bothering to keep the disgust from his voice.
"Well, originally we wanted chimeras but we could only acquire one so..." Fudge trailed off with a bright smile, his eyes glued on the most ferocious of the nesting mothers, the Hungarian Horntail.
"What...how cou- I can't. You absolutely disgust me." Sirius sputtered before quickly dashing away from the minister, surprised he lasted as long as he did in the man's company.
"Bugger..." Harry whispered as he walked nervously into the arena, the cheers and jeers from the spectators became a dull roar as the he faced a fully grown, enraged dragon. The dragon tamers quickly left him alone and all Harry could do was stare up at the dragon who was curled around her nest protectively.
"Your wand, Harry!" A familiar scream broke him out of his stupor as he stared at the dragon. Slowly he positioned himself close to a large Boulder before pulling his wand.
"Accio egg!" Harry whispered shakily, the golden egg trembled slightly but it was the real dragon eggs that came souring through the air towards him. He was able to snatch one from the air but the others crashed into the Boulder and at his feet. The dragon lurched forward in a vain attempt to rescue her young, her obsidian eyes stared down the boy who held her last egg. "I'm sorry!" Harry hissed, making the dragon still and tilt its head to the side as if understanding him. He slowly lowered the egg to the rocky, uneven ground and stepped away only for the egg to roll to its side.
"He's going to die!" Hermione wailed as she held her face in her hands, her nails piercing her cheeks but she could not draw her eyes away from the egg slowly rolling down the rock face.
"He can do it." Ron said confidently as he held his sister, his face ashy white as he watched his best mate face down a dragon. The crunch of the egg falling and landing on the rock face seemed to echo through the stadium. The Hungarian Horntail stood at its full height and raised it scaly wings as it reared back to rain fire down on the youngest champions head.
"Accio Firebolt!" Harry shouted in a panic before he ducked behind the large boulder, flames licked the sides, singeing his robes. He quickly divested himself of the burning uniform, tossing it to the side in hopes the dragon would follow its scent. The Hungarian Horntail didn't take the bait, instead used its spiked tail to sweep the Boulder and Harry out of the way. Harry landed hard on his side and it took him a moment to catch his breath from the pain that erupted his chest. From the corner of his eye, he saw his Firebolt racing towards him. Reaching out he was able to swing himself up onto his broom just as the dragon advanced in him, Harry's side throbbed as he twisted the broom to fly higher, out of the range of dragon fire.
"Fucking go, Potter!" Hermione shrieked, jumping out of her brothers arms to lean eagerly over the railing. She tried to see her boyfriends face but he was too fast, twisting through the air, trying to draw the dragon away from its nest. The Horntail stilled, following Harry with her snout, breathing deeply, a moment before lunging forward to snap at him with her jaws. He suddenly twisted his broom and dove to the ground, heading right for the nest. Just as Harry pulled the golden egg to his chest, the Horntail used her tail to swipe at the seeker. A pained yell was the only indication he was hit because Harry flew all the way to the platform as dragon tamers swarmed the arena.
"Wait!" Ron shouted as he fought to keep up with his sister who didn't even pause, as soon as Harry got the egg she was rushing down the steps towards the medic tent. Luna was dancing along the crowds beside her friend, her wand already out.
"Bloody wanker!" Hermione snarled as she forcefully shoved Crabbe out of her way as she fought to get to down the stairs. A pale red light flew over her shoulder, hitting Goyle in the chest. The large boy shrieked and held himself in panic as Hermione turned to see Luna with a serene smile on her face, her wand in hand.
"What the-" Malfoy stepped in their path to berate them for hexing his friend but Hermione cut him off.
"Ictus!" Hermione snapped, hitting the blonde in the face. Instantly his pointed face started to swell and distort, looking like he stuck his head into a beehive. The redhead barely paused to see her handy work, as she hexed anyone in her way to the med tent.
"Dragons! First dementors now dragons!" Madam Pomfrey muttered angrily as she cut Harry's trouser leg off at the knee to expose a black scale sticking out from his calf. She already wrapped his torso and threw his left arm in a sling.
"That was a damn good show, Harry." Sirius said with a fake smile, his eyes were vacant of its usual mirth as he watched the mediwitch work on his godson.
"Good show?" Hermione shrieked as she sent a stinging hex at Sirius, hitting him on the bum. The marauder yelped, quickly moving to cover his sore bottom. Hermione turned her attention to her boyfriend who was dirty and wrapped tightly in bandages.
"Myne?" Harry whispered anxiously as his girlfriend just stared at him. Suddenly her face crumbled and she launched herself at him, burying her face into his neck, mumbling incoherently. Harry stifled a pained gasp as Hermione held him tightly, he patted the redhead on the back gently with his good arm, as his other was strapped tightly to his side in a sling.
"Miss. Weasley." Madam Pomfrey said sternly, trying to get the hysterical witch's attention. Hermione's response was to mutter obscenities into Harry's chest.
"Mina, Harry still has a bit of dragon stuck in his leg." Luna said nonchalantly as she ran her fingers through Hermione's curls.
"What?!" Hermione jerked away from Harry's chest and grimaced at the pitiful state he was in. "I'm sorry! Did I hurt you? I'm so-"
"'Mione! Let the bloke breathe!" Ron chided her with a small smile. He looked down at Harry uncomfortably before clearing his throat. "Must be a right nutter to put your name in the cup."
"Yeah, downright barmy, innit?" Harry said through gritted teeth as Madam Pomfrey yanked the scale from his leg. Ron lost all the remaining color in face as he watched watched Harry flinch.
"I've been a right prat about it, mate. I'm-" Ron started to apologize awkwardly but Harry waved his hand dismissively, cutting him off.
"Yeah, you have." Harry shrugged a small smile on his face as he reached out to hold Hermione's hand.
"I'm really sorry, mate." Ron sighed regrettably as his sister didn't even spare him a glance as she watching the medi witch like a hawk.
"You came around, it's fine just don't be such a prat next time, right?" Harry chuckled, the pain potions finally taking away the pain. He turned to Hermione and frowned at the claw marks on her cheeks. Tenderly, he reached forward and ran his thumbs over her cheeks. "What happened?"
"It's nothing." Hermione said dismissively, seeing Madam Pomfrey already eying the red head speculatively. "Just nerves watching you outfly a bloody dragon!"
"Yeah well, I kind of panicked when I had the biggest bloody dragon ever in front of me." Harry grumbled, Madam Pomfrey finished bandaging his leg before she pounced on Hermione. The mediwitch was quick in applying the dittany to the scratches on her face.
"Potter, they are waiting on you to award points. Warrington will be in the infirmary for at least a week recovering." Madam Pomfrey shook her head sadly as she motioned to the cot hidden behind a screen as she offered another pain relief potion with her free hand. Once Harry's shoulder relaxed Hermione smacked him lightly on his uninjured arm.
"Bloody prat! A month you've been working on those ruddy spells and you use a summoning charm?!" Hermione demanded as Harry smiled sheepishly.
-0-0-0-
Sorry I haven't updated as frequently lately, have I mentioned how much I hate plot bunnies. I've got quite a few stories started because I can't get them out of my head! I might have also gotten ahead of myself and started on the second task before I wrote out the Yule ball and all that. Thank you all for the feed back and encouraging reviews!
Allwaswell07: I figured with such a small school only a couple students per house would be able to enter. They only went over a couple in the books. Also, I kind of wanted emphasize the house divide. After all, I'm sure that Slytherin would work with in its own house to somehow pick the best of the lot!
JuliSt: if it were any school but Hogwarts, I would totally have written some ridiculous detention for the little confrontation with Draco. Not to mention, the students never seem to tell on each other...even Hermione stops eventually because the professors do nothing. I actually had a friend like Eloise in school, she was an awful person now that I think about it. Her name was Crystal :)
Bah, Eloise is such a bitch...I know but I promise, things will happen...eventually...I guess. I just like having a petty spiteful character...see how far it can go before she can not be redeemed.