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IT'S CHANGED (SNILY)
CHAPTER 28 The first task

He took a deep breath and approached the tent that seemed to have erected near the Forbidden Forest just a few minutes ago. Slughorn was waiting for him there.

"Ah-Severus, here you are" he kept a hand on Severus' shoulder. "No need to be afraid of anything, Severus, you know that. You are an amazing wizard… I have heard that you can cast a Patronus Charm"

Severus blinked, he wasn't actually paying any heed to what he was saying, his stomach was already feeling ready to puck. "Y-Yes, sir"

Slughorn smiled proudly. "I knew, my boy. Now, if the situation gets out of hand, there are specialists… who will help, so, don't worry"

Severus nodded, distantly.

"Then go in, my boy, with the other champions and then I know a Slytherin like you would make us all proud" Slughorn's chest puffed with pride.

Severus gave a forced smile. He didn't know if he would be able to anything. "Thank you, sir" he said and walked in the tent.

There in a corner Fin was sitting on a stool, looking out of the small window and shaking her leg, anxiously. Looking at her made Severus even more anxious. He looked further around.

In another corner, Elias was bent on a bucket, already had sicked up. He had chosen for this but still was so apprehensive. Severus rolled his eyes, despite of himself. That remained Potter.

Where was he? Ah… in the third corner, making a map or a plan on the ground with his wand. Hell… he practicing and Severus had just not done that. His brows furrowed with the stupidity of himself. Shouldn't he had practiced even more? But then Lily said that he had worked more than enough.

James lifted his head up and smiled at him while he just nodded.

Mr. McFarlan and Ludo Bagman walked inside the tent from the other end.

"Severus!" Ludo Bagman patted Severus' back. "Good, all are here" he smiled.

"Now, the time for the first task and instructions for it" Mr. McFarlan smiled, happily to all of them when they all collected around him and Bagman. "After all the audience are collected, you all will be getting a model of what are you going to face out of this"- he held a purple bag in front of them – "and yes, you'll have to collect a golden egg"

They all nodded and sighed, waiting for the crowd to fill in. They wanted the crowd to fill in fast and then just get over with the task, but also never wanted the time to come. The time slipped soon enough after the students were settled and Karkaroff and Madam Maxime came in the tent.

"Yes, so, let's get it started with" Mr. McFarlan held the pouch open in front of them. "Let's start with the lady. Miss Ivet"

Fin swallowed and dipped her hand in the pouch that came out with a model of a scarlet Chinese Fireball dragon that had the number 'one' wrapped around its neck.

Then Elias pulled out a model of the Welsh Green, that had the number 'three' around it. James was a bluish-gray dragon, the Swedish Short-Snout with the number 'two' around its neck. The last turn was Severus'. He pulled out a Hungarian Horntail with the number 'four' around its neck. Well, this one had vicious looking fangs and thorny wings.

"Very well, you all know, now, what you are going to face" Mr. McFarlan said. "The order you'll go to face the dragons and acquire the golden egg are tied around the models you have. So, Miss Ivet, you are going to be the first one, and be ready because just after you hear a whistle, you'll be coming out"

Karkaroff gave a last squeeze to her shoulder and left with Madam Maxime and Mr. McFarlan.

Ludo Bagman patted both James and Severus' backs before leaving himself.

The space within the tent was filled with tension, all of them going through the plan they were going to follow just after a few minutes.

The whistle rang. Fin's head shot up. She took a deep breath, placing a bold face very skillfully, she left. The others looked more and more apprehensive for what was about to come. Elias positively looked ready to puck once more due to nervousness.

A few minutes later… the crowd started to make all sorts of noises that were killing the other champions. Damn. Facing the actual dragon would be way difficult than just thinking of doing so.

Bagman was commentating and making their nerves just worse. Whatever he was saying was just set all of their imaginations to fire. "Yes… Miss Ivet, that was a great idea… Oooh, don't get disappointed, she'll get it… Yes, just there, Miss Ivet, you can do it…"

Then came the deafening roar of the crowd, pronouncing that Fin was successful. "Impressive, Miss Ivet" Bagman shouted. "Now time for the points"

He didn't shout the points out. He definitely wanted the champions to stay under the hold.

"The next one" Bagman yelled. "One of the Hogwarts Champions- James Potter!"

James rubbed his eyes and mentally readied himself for the Gryffindor bravado, though, his fingers twitched with the anticipation.

Everything went on again. The shouts… the crowd roaring… the terrified yells… and the worse, Bagman's commentary…

"Mr. Potter has come up with a brilliant plan… a little more there… you are excellent at this, Mr. Potter… Ah… there… Yes… Mr. Potter gets the egg!"

The crowd roared again. Then there was the marking time before which Bagman yelled again.

"Beauxbatons Champion- Elias Amedee, now"

Elias stood up from his place, entirely shaken. Each of his muscle was trembling and Severus had never felt this compassionate towards the most annoying face he had seen. He was the last one left in the tent now… he concentrated on the noises outside than his own self which terrified him even more.

The yells of the crowd again… the pitiful voices… and Bagman's commentary.

He just hoped Elias had not sicked up, in front of the entire crowd. That would be damn embarrassing.

"Oh, Mr. Amedee… I have to admit you are intelligent… not very difficult… Okay, not that easy either… just there… and he got it!"

The crowd's roar this time gave Severus almost a heart attack. His breath was quick that he had kept under control externally. His heart was hammering on his ribs and his fingers were trembling. He fisted them. I am not nervous, he thought resolutely.

Severus waited. It'll soon be his turn. The whistle blew in no time and Bagman shouted. "Our last and fourth Champion, the second from Hogwarts, the one I was most excited for- Severus Snape!"

Severus took a deep shaky breath and stepped out of the tent. His legs and arms felt as rigid as a brick, they seemed to be wanting to crumble down somewhere and never come out.

He walked through the trees and the fence and then came in view the thing he dreaded most. Hundreds and hundreds of faces staring back at him. The dragon sitting just there looked less scary than those eyes were. But after, once he saw the dragon properly, the little command he had on his senses left. He froze. The fiery beast had its malicious yellow eyes, dark scaly body, sharp wings and spiked tail that could even pierce the Hogwarts castle's walls… and it clutched on the eggs, between which Severus saw the golden one.

The crowd was making less than friendly noises but he didn't care a bit, now. He had to just get the fucking egg and escape. He raised his wand.

"Stultus In Escam" he whispered, lest get the dragon's attention. A huge piece of meat appeared on the very opposite side to him. If Lily can be fooled by illusionment charms, a dragon certainly can.

The crowd was again making some noises and Ludo Bagman shouting something, but he didn't pay any heed. His eyes were on the dragon's, who roared as soon as the meat piece appeared. The dragon's vicious eyes turned to the meat and it looked fascinated by it.

Good. Severus took another deep breath and climbed up the small hill behind him that made him almost level with the eggs.

"Accio Golden Egg" he pointed his wand on the egg, but nothing happened. He knew it wouldn't work, but it was worth a try. The crowd made all sorts of discouraging noises. Severus closed his eyes for a second and then opened them. The dragon was still distracted? Yes.

The dragon rolled his tail in the air and Severus instinctively ducked down, though he didn't even touch the tail. He straightened again.

The next part happened too fast.

He pointed his wand to the ground. "Wingardium Leviousa" he levitated a small rock and held it the direction of the egg.

"Depulso" he banished the rock on the egg.

And before the rock touched the surface of the egg he muttered. "Haereo"

The rock stuck on the egg and he almost laughed with glee. It was simple, now. The crowd gasped.

"Accio Rock" he yelled. And the rock that was stuck on the egg soared to him… taking the egg with it!

It came to his hands so forcefully that it knocked him to the ground. But he got the egg!

The crowd was pin-drop silent. They all were shocked by the trick. The dragon handlers had come and knocked the dragon out, while the others were still quiet. This made Severus question his own plan. Did he do something wrong?

The second he stood up, the crowd roared in appreciation and applause.

"Mr. Snape, I knew you had brains but this just muted us all" Bagman said in a bemused voice.

Severus grinned. He had done it, without a single cut that drew blood. Err… a scratched knee though. But that didn't count.

"Our fourth champion was the quickest… he took no more than 3 minutes and forty-three seconds to complete this task"

The nausea in his stomach subsided. He didn't even care for the stupid scores now. He was pulled by McGonagall to the tent again.

"Mr. Snape, I have to admit this but if people say, Slytherins are cunning, I just got a full-blown demonstration" McGonagall praised with pride. "Marvelous"

"Thank you, ma'am" Severus gave her a shy smile.

Slughorn came into view. "Severus, my boy, you did it. I had expected no less" he patted Severus' back while red streaks took over his cheek bones.

"Severus, see? What did I tell you about just using what's on your plate!" Raquel clapped. "I knew you would get this. Excellent"

Severus gave a smile but it was forced. He was still trying to deduce what was Raquel's plan.

"Severus!" Madam Pomfrey ushered him in the tent. "These all people have to get all those dragons to harm my kids. Now, sit here, Severus" she commanded.

"But I am fine, Madam Pomfrey" he whined as a little kid and shut up just after a glare from her.

"Your knee. Who asked you to climb up the hill!?" she pointed towards his slightly scratched knee. He rolled his eyes. Trust Madam Pomfrey to fuss over it.

He roamed his eyes around where the other champions were sitting, nursing their injuries. And Severus' was nothing in front of them.

James had a long slash on his shoulder and on his cheek. Disturbed his pretty face.

"Those are battle scars, Severus" James said proudly.

Severus rolled his eyes. "Well, isn't it better to win the battle without scars"

"Nah… I can't be as subtle as a Slytherin, you know"

Severus shook his head. Stupid Potter.

Elias was sitting in another corner, looking way happier than before. He had gotten the golden egg, after all. Though, half of his robes and a little part of his leg seemed burnt. He at least didn't vomit in front of everyone.

Fin was grinning ear to ear. She had the golden egg in her lap that she was rubbing like a mother would. She had scratches on her face and a gash just beneath her breasts. That one looked nasty but it was covered with a sticky paste.

"Severus!" A loud excited mix of many voices met his ear and he saw all of his friends hurtling in the tent, without Madam Pomfrey's permission who kept hissing at them.

They all came running and hugged Severus at once, knocking him back down.

"Ahh… What?" he groaned under the pressure.

They all backed away, muttering apologizes but grinning just too much. They were happy for Severus.

"You did it!" they all yelled and then laughed.

"I did" he grinned.

"Charm even sicked up in the nervousness for you" Austin informed, winking at her, who blushed in turn.

"I-well… it was all nerves, wouldn't you say?" Charm countered.

Severus chuckled. "Elias sicked up too here. Twice" he told while Charm tried not to look into Elias' direction.

Lily came and snaked her arms around him from the back. "I knew you would do it, perfectly well"

"I just thought that if my illusionment charm can fool you, obviously it can to the dragon too" he teased gaining a smack on the shoulder.

"When did you fool me, Mister?" she narrowed her eyes.

"Ah… let me remember, when you insisted on me to buy those stupid robes"

She gasped. "So, you don't have the robes now?"

"Who, said I don't? My mum gave the Prince's robes to me… so, I have them, without wasting money, Lils" he looked at her smugly, touching her nose.

"She'll be proud of you" she kept her chin on his shoulder from the back.

"You think so?"

She smacked his cheek lightly. "Obviously"

"I hope" he smiled sadly and then cleared his throat. "Raquel wasn't able to kill me, Selene"

Selene burst into tears. "I am glad" she hugged him tightly.

"Ah… Selene, I am fine" Severus patted her back, awkwardly. She wasn't behaving at all like herself.

"I love you" Selene mumbled. "I don't want you to any harm"

Severus felt more and more uncomfortable with the open show of thoughts. "Well… I love you too, Selene" he said unsurely. "And I say again, I am fine"

Shane pulled her away from him and she instantly wrapped her arms around him. "I love you, Shane. I won't stop talking to you ever again"

Shane smiled but looked confused. "Well, love you too, Selene… hope we ever fight on something so stupid again"

"That means you want us to fight again!" Selene pulled away sharply and looking at him with accusing eyes.

Shane pulled her into a hug again. "No, never"

Charm cleared her throat. "You have no idea, how weird you both are. Especially Selene…"

"Whatever has happened to her?" Austin asked, frowning.

"She is acting weird" Lily quirked her lips. "Totally unlike herself"

"Severus!" Slughorn came in. "You need to come again to see the results"

Severus nodded and followed him after picking up his golden egg and throwing the rock from it, followed by his friends.

Slughorn kept blabbering through the entire way. "You were the quickest one, Severus, just three minutes and forty-three seconds… with the simplest of spells… Mr. Potter had done it brilliantly too, he flew his broom… he is an excellent flyer. Got just behind you, five minutes. Though he got the tail quite badly… Mr. Amedee, tried to put the dragon under sleep, though he couldn't target the chest of the dragon properly… soared closer and got half his robes and leg burnt… poor child… took seven minutes fifty-seven seconds… then Miss Ivet, she tried to blind the dragon… the dragon would have died of agony but she got the egg in just six minutes eleven seconds… her target was better than Mr. Amedee's, she struck it straight in the eye… but nothing surpassed yours, Severus… Now, go get your scores"

Slughorn pushed Severus ahead to get the scores, and well, his friends stood behind him in support.

"Time for the scores!" Bagman shouted and pointed towards the five judges sitting there on golden seats, whom Severus hadn't even noticed earlier.

"It's marked by each out of ten" Charm whispered in his ear. Severus saw Madam Maxime raising her wand in the air and in a swift motion made an eight of silver ribbon in the air.

"What?!" All of them exclaimed except for Severus. "She could have given an entire ten"

"She got marks for the scratched knee or what?" Selene huffed.

Mr. McFarlan raised his wand next and made a ten in the air. Everyone behind Severus roared, almost deafening him.

"Does he actually think, a ten is appropriate?" Severus frowned.

Lily slapped his shoulder. "It is certainly appropriate"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled like a full stary sky and Severus rolled his eyes. Potential. He made a nine in the air and the crowd cheered like hell.

"I always knew Dumbledore possessed a full brain" Austin whispered excitedly and Severus rolled his eyes once more.

Mr. Crouch made a nine in the air and the crowd clapped their hands off. This was fair.

The last was Karkaroff's turn. He raised his wand and paused as if thinking of the least number allowed to be given. He shot a number five out of his wand.

The entire crowd made strange noises, describing unfairness.

"What a fucking idiot?!" Selene growled. "What is five for? He gave a ten to Fin"

"Who cares what Karkaroff thinks?" Severus dismissed it.

"For him a scratched knee is more than a whole gash on your torso" Shane muttered angrily.

"Fucking stupid scumbag!" Lily shouted.

"Hey! Lily! Stop yelling!" Severus pressed one hand on her mouth to stifle her yells and the other around her waist to hold her tight.

She huffed and crossed her arms on her chest.

Even from this distance, Dumbledore's incessant eyes twinkled and the crowd made some teasing noises. Severus and Lily broke apart just instantly, flushing till the tips of their hair. More he wanted to keep distance from her, more he wasn't able to.

All the Slytherins stood up then and cheered for him, showing their shining badges of SEVERUS ROCKS on their chest pockets. Though the colors looked so absurd and ridiculous, he felt mesmerized by them. He didn't care then what the fucking Gryffindors were going on about. This was the most satisfying moment for him. He felt accepted.

"Mr. Snape, a word please" a voice came out of nowhere that made Severus twist his face in scorn.

"What if I say, no?"

"Just a word, Mr. Snape" Rita Skeeter said as if giving an attractive offer of selling one cauldron free with the other.

"FUCK YOURSELF!" Austin yelled, showing his middle finger and stormed away.

The others just stared where he stood before stomping away and then dissolving into a fit of laughter after noticing Rita Skeeter's insulted face.

Hufflepuff's were so much weird and… fun.

Back to the tent there were another set of instructions been given. The Champions had all collected there. Ludo Bagman kept bouncing beside Mr. McFarlan who kept smiling like always.

"You all completed the task greatly" Mr. McFarlan stated. "Now, instructions for the next task. So, for that you've got a long break till February the twenty-fourth, nine-thirty in the morning. But… you'll have another task at hand for the meantime…"

The champions looked at him confusedly.

"You all see that egg? And the hinges over it? Yes, so, what you need to do is solve the riddle of the egg which is going to be the hint for the second-task. If you're able to solve it… you can be prepared for the next task"

The champions took a little time but they eventually nodded.

"Okay then. Any questions? It's absolutely clear? Of with you then. Good luck to all"

*Page Break*

Severus was standing on the couch of the Slytherin common room, grinning, holding the golden egg up high in the air and surrounded by all the other cheering and howling Slytherins. The springs of the couch, bouncing under his feet just felt like so much fun.

"Come one, Severus, open it" Parkinson yelled, earning another set of cheers.

"He is just being pricey" Charm rolled her eyes.

"Could there be candies inside it?" an excited firstie asked.

"Obviously, not. There's something going to pop out, perhaps" Mulciber grinned.

"Okay, fine, people, I am going to open it" Severus placed his fingers on the hinges.

A loud cheer rang out in the room.

"He is supposed to work out the entire clue on his own, so, it will be better if you all keep your suggestions to yourself" Selene scoffed, standing too stiffly, that earned her a loud mock-cussing voices.

"Selene, could leave and never say a word in suggestion" Severus winked cheekily.

"Come on, now, open it, Severus" people yelled.

Severus dud his fingernails into the groove and ran all the way around it, and split it open. The egg was completely empty, but before anyone can do anything more than give a frown, a horrible loud screeching noise, rang in the room. It was as if a vase was being dragged through a very smooth marble floor or someone running their nails down on a blackboard.

Severus shut it immediately and the others sighed in relief.

"Now, that can't be the hint, because I can make that stupid noise anytime" Parkinson said irritably.

"Perhaps, the next task in a… classroom?" Rosier frowned.

"Only because the noise is like that, doesn't mean it's going to be in a classroom" Avery rolled his eyes.

"It was kind of a torture… if you all have to escape the Cruciatus Curse" Mulciber gulped, his eyes wide.

"They are definitely not going to do that" Charm came up protectively.

Severus rolled his eyes. "You all actually believe that they would use something like that"

"Then what is it?" Afroze asked.

Severus shrugged. "I just hear something like a banshee screeching, but of course, it's something else"

"A banshee" a firstie cried. "That's scary"

Selene huffed and almost mumbled with her mouth closed. "We just need to figure out the screeching" she twirled her fingers.

"Yeah… so people back to your own works… the gold came out to be stone" Bennet lost all the previous enthusiasm.

"A banshee rather" Afroze rolled his eyes.

The firstie whimpered and Bennet patted his back, urging him to walk. "Come on, now, it's not that scary. You are a Slytherin"

"Shove away, Sawyer!" Selene shrieked in urgency, all of a sudden and then ran to her dormitory.

Severus and Charm looked at each other and then shrugged. Selene's been behaving weird.

*Page Break*

"YOU ARE NOT OPENING IT AGAIN!" Selene, Charm and Lily yelled at once.

Severus backed up, and Shane and Austin huffed.

"Why would you not allow us to see it too?" Shane pouted.

"Because we have already heard it, Shane" Lily sighed. "Potter's golden egg wasn't very good"

"Perhaps, Severus' one is" Austin prompted.

"That's no good, it's just a banshee screeching" Charm shivered and refrained from closing her ears with her hands.

"I have never heard any of that, it will be interesting" Shane grinned.

Selene scoffed. "Is this just the boys? Then Severus can show them how stupid they are"

Severus' eyes widened. "Then I am a girl for the time being. Hell, if I am hearing that again"

"Severus, you are losing the team" Austin narrowed his eyes. "Fine. Give it to us and close us in the privacy charm"

"Good Idea" Shane banged the table.

"That's not a good idea but I am fine with it, unless I have to open the damn thing" Severus handed them over the egg. "Come one, girls, we will leave the brainless beings here"

"Now, no need to be insulting, Severus" Shane gave a mock-offended look.

Severus smiled exaggeratedly. "You'll know"

Severus, Charm, Lily and Selene walked away from the table and he brought down the privacy charm around Austin and Shane. They all watched them eagerly, while they opened the egg.

Just after a part of a second, both Austin and Shane could be seen with their hands pressed on their ears, their legs edging away from the table and their face twisted in a very funny way. Well, the other four were having a good time laughing at them. The screeching might have been too high and forceful for Austin and Shane, because just after a few seconds they even crossed the Muffliato line and came out panting.

"So, how much did you like it, boys?" Selene said in a sweet voice, that absolutely wasn't genuine.

"Rough" Shane came and kissed her. "I thought I was going to die"

"Cut the dramatics, Shane" she rolled her eyes.

"Oh… helling, I still hear the buzzing in my ear" Austin muttered, rubbing his ears.

"Well, that's the Muffliato, Austin" Charm shoved his shoulder playfully.

"What do you think is he doing here?" Lily frowned, pointing towards a table, not very far away from theirs.

"Elias?!" Charm frowned.

"So, now it's Elias?" Severus teased.

"NO!" the reply came too quickly and soon color was creeping on her cheeks. "I mean, no. It's just that we are friends, now. I have always called you Severus too"

Severus smacked her head lightly. "Absolutely, Charm" he rolled his eyes.

"No, actually we are just friends" she insisted.

"So, is he here to spy on Severus?" Shane kept a side-eye on Charm.

She frowned. "No. Why would he do so? He obviously, can get the hint himself"

Shane rested his arm on her shoulder. "Isn't that a little weird coming from you. The person who was irritated by the fool"

Charm shoved his arm away. "Go to hell, Shane"

They laughed and went to their works, not noticing Elias Amedee's red face.