Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development.
M rating for sexual content anticipated to start in year 4.
** I apologize for the extended hiatus. Life has a way of keeping me very busy. But we are starting with the part of the series I am really looking forward to. I hope you all enjoy! **
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The Doting Rival
Chapter 27
"Adelyn, please eat something." Hermione was practically begging.
"I'm not hungry." Adelyn's reply was halfhearted. She was resting her chin on her hand leaning over the table lost in thought. She stared blankly at the food spewed across the Gryffindor House Table.
"You need your strength. Please."
"Here." Draco motioned Hermione to scoot aside, allowing him to sit beside Adelyn. Without asking, he created a small sample plater and placed it in front of Adelyn. He nudged her gently, pushing the plate closer. She obliged him and started picking at the food.
Hermione scoffed, tossing her hands up in defeat. "Honestly? I've been trying for the past ten minutes! Then you show up and she just eats."
"I haven't given her much of a choice, have I?" Draco added a few more strawberries to the plate.
"I can hear you two, you know?" Adelyn leaned back, eyeing them from the side.
"Yes, we know. So, finish eating and we can go to the library." Draco gave her a smug smile.
Once in the library, the trio pulled down every book they could on dragons. They set to work searching through a large stack.
"'Talon-clipping charms . . . treating scale rot . . .' This book is for nutters like Hagrid who want to keep a dragon as a pet." Draco tossed the book at the foot of the table with the other non-helpful finds.
"Hey," Hermione scolded him.
Draco put up his hands signaling he was submitting to any potential argument. He still didn't care for Hagrid personally, but wasn't going to say anything against someone who was helping Adelyn.
"'Dragons are extremely difficult to slay, owing to. . .' of course! . . . 'ancient magic the imbues their thick hides. Only the most powerful spells can penetrate . . .' But Si – uh, Hagrid said a simple one would do it . . ." Adelyn began tapping her fingers on the book.
Hermione made subtle eye contact with Adelyn. She knew whom she was referring to. Sirius knew something that could help them. "Let's look through some spell books, then."
Each index Adelyn skimmed through left her more defeated. None of the jinxes would have any effect on a dragon. And most of the hexes would probably increase their danger, such as pepper breath or horn tongue. As if she was not struggling to concentrate as it was, Viktor Krum's entrance was announced by a gang of whispering and giggling girls following him.
As if reading her mind, Hermione irritably announced, "I think a break would do us good. Shall we head to the Great Hall for dinner?"
As they descended to the second floor, Adelyn saw Cedric Diggory approaching from a hallway. "I'll meet you both there. I forgot something in the library." She turned back up before either Draco or Hermione could interject.
Once out of view, Adelyn watched Cedric. He was about to reach the staircase. She pulled out her wand and carefully aimed. "Diffindo!"
Cedric's bag split open, spilling the contents of parchment, quills, and books onto the floor. He waved off his friends' offers to help and was left alone to clean the mess. Just as she wanted.
Adelyn hurried down the third story stairs, hiding her wand in her robes. "Let me help." She began picking up some ink bottles that rolled the furthest from him.
"Oh. Thanks. Don't know how my bag split. . . brand new."
"I'm glad I've got you alone, actually." Adelyn fumbled with parchment paper, nervous and bidding time.
"Why's that?" Cedric asked cautiously, accepting his supplies she handed him.
Adelyn looked around to ensure no students were nearby before answering. "The first task is dragons."
"What?" Cedric looked up, making direct eye contact. He clearly did not doubt what she was saying.
"Dragons. One for each of us. We've got to get past them."
Adelyn could see panic in his eyes. She had been feeling it herself since finding out.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I've seen them myself."
"But how did you find out? We're not supposed to know."
"Doesn't matter how. What matters is I'm not the only one who knows. Maxime and Karkaroff both saw the dragons too. You can bet they've already told Fleur and Viktor by now."
"Why are you telling me?" Cedric asked, a puzzled look prevalent on his face.
Adelyn was taken aback. Surely, he did not think she had malicious intent. "It's just fair, isn't it? We're all on even footing now."
They heard a familiar rhythmic clunking noise grow louder from the corridor. Mad-Eye Moody emerged.
"Come with me, Potter." He turned, expecting to be followed. "You can go, Diggory."
Adelyn and Cedric met eyes for a moment before Moody become more demanding. "Potter, my office."
She complied and followed him down the hall. He closed the door behind them as she took a seat at his desk.
"That was a decent thing you did back there." Both his real and magical eye were on her. "How'd you find out about the dragons?"
Adelyn hesitated. She was most worried about this. She didn't want Hagrid to get in any trouble.
"It's alright. Cheating is normal in the Triwizard Tournament. After all, everyone wants to win."
"I didn't cheat," Adelyn said pointedly. "It was. . . sort of an accident that I found out."
"I wasn't accusing you, Lassie." He grinned and leaned back in his chair. "So, have you figured out how to get past your dragon, yet?"
". . .No." Adelyn was sad to admit it.
"Well, I don't play favoritism, so I'm not going to tell you. What I CAN do is give you advice. Play to your strengths."
"I haven't got any," Adelyn replied abruptly. She has been thinking about this for weeks, wondering why the Triwizard Cup chose her to begin with.
"Think now. What are you best at?" Moody coaxed.
That was an easy question. "Quidditch."
"You're a damn good flier from what I've heard."
"Yea, but I'm not allowed a broom. Only a wand."
"My second piece of advice. Always use a simple spell that enables you to get what you need."
Adelyn stared at him blankly. She had been trying to answer this question all day.
"Come on, girl. . . put them together."
Then it clicked.
A few minutes later, Adelyn approached Hermione out of breath in the Great Hall. "Hermione, I need your help."
"What is it?" Draco leaned in to hear the exchange.
"I need to learn how to properly do a Summoning Charm by tomorrow afternoon."
They spent the remainder of the day in an empty classroom. Adelyn tried the spell on objects of various sizes. The books and quills would stop halfway across the room.
"Concentrate, Adelyn. . ." Hermione encouraged.
"What do you think I'm trying to do?" she replied in exasperated. "I just keep picturing those dragons in my head. . ."
By the time curfew hit, Adelyn had so far only caught a fly. She wasn't convinced it was all her skill that made the spell successful. Hermione continuously yawned.
"I can take over from here." Draco showed up with refreshments.
"Where did you get these?" Hermione asked as she readily accepted one.
"I have my ways."
"Never mind. I don't want to know." Hermione gathered her things. "Don't stay up too late. You'll need your rest before tomorrow."
Draco and Adelyn continued practicing well until past two o'clock in the morning. It was in the last hour that she truly got the hang of it. "Accio Dictionary!" A rune dictionary shot from Draco's hand into hers.
"You've really got it, Adelyn."
"Just as long as it works tomorrow. The Firebolt's going to be much farther away. . ."
"That doesn't matter." Draco approached and grasped her arms in confidence. "Just concentrate really hard on it. It'll come. Now, you best get some sleep."
The next morning, the atmosphere in the school brought back all the panic Adelyn had managed to forget practicing the Summoning Charm the previous night. Tension and excitement hovered around her. She felt isolated and separate from everyone else, even amongst the well wishes or jeering comments.
Classes were to end at midday. Time moved oddly for Adelyn. She couldn't recall her two classes leading up to lunch. She had a hard time deciding if this was fortunate or not. The Gryffindors surrounded her at the table, patting her back and offering words of confidence or encouragement. She felt numb to it all.
Professor McGonagall hurried over toward her. "Potter, the champions have to come down to the grounds now to get ready for the first task."
"Okay." Adelyn stood to her feet trembling.
"Good luck, Adelyn. You'll be fine," Hermione whispered.
As she was led from the Hall, she heard her name muffled across the crowd of students. She looked up to meet eyes with Draco who was forcefully pushing his was towards her. She paused a moment, wishing she could just run towards him, away from this damn tournament.
"Come along, Potter." Professor McGonagall motioned her out of the hall. She did as instructed.
They made their way toward the place Adelyn had seen the dragons two days prior. A large red tent was erected just before the bend in the trees that would reveal the dragons.
"You're to go in here with the other champions," Professor McGonagall explained. "Mr. Bagman will be by shortly to tell you the procedure. Good luck." She patted her shoulder with a shaky hand.
"Thanks," Adelyn replied dejected, before entering.
The tent was much large inside than it appeared from the outside, similar to the time at the Quidditch World Cup. It had multiple sectioned areas and a large hall cutting straight through it with an exit on either end. Closest to the farther exit was the nursing station where Madame Pomfrey was organizing her supplies. Each champion had a designated are with a partial barrier for some privacy.
Many witches and wizards were buzzing about for final preparations. It was a slight distraction for Adelyn. Only slight. She saw Fleur sitting in her corner on a wooden stool, looking paler than usual. Krum looked glum, standing with his arms crossed at his chest, observing the people mulling about. Cedric paced back and forth, lost in thought.
In no time, hundreds and hundreds of feet could be heard passing the tent. Reality was sinking in and Adelyn grew more nervous. She went to her section of the tent to try and collect herself. She took a few deep breaths. "Concentrate. Concentrate," she whispered to herself. Her exhales were still shaky.
"Adelyn?" A low, smooth voice whispered from the outside of the tent. A shadow danced on the wall of the tent as the wind rippled through it.
"Draco?" Adelyn stepped up to the wall, pressing her hand up to the shadow.
"I meant to catch you before you left. How are you feeling?"
"Well. . ." Adelyn sighed with nerves, unable to answer.
"Just remember all we practiced last night. Concentrate on the Firebolt."
"And avoid a dragon in the mean time. . ." She made an audible gulp.
Draco huffed and flung back the flap of the tent. He quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed him in response. They rested their heads on each other's shoulders.
A loud hissing click startled them apart.
"Ah! Young love!" Rita Skeeter approached gooey eye with her camera man in tow. She smiled as her Quick Quotes Quill scribbled on a notepad in the air beside her. "Should today end unfortunately, you two may still make the front page."
"You have no business here, you prat!" Draco stepped towards her, standing between her and Adelyn.
"This area is for champions. . . and friends," Viktor Krum added.
"No matter. We've got what we came for." Rita smirked coyly and motioned her crew to leave.
Adelyn grabbed Draco's sleeve, tugging him back toward her. Her turned around, grabbing her hand. "Don't worry about her, okay? Just focus on the task."
"Alright, Champions! Gather round, gather round." Professor Dumbledore entered the tent, followed by Ludo Bagman and the other headmasters. "Mr. Bagman will fill you in. Come this way – Mr. Malfoy. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, uh. Sorry. I was just leaving." He gave Adelyn's hand one more squeeze before he left.
"Time to fill you in!" Bagman stepped forward with a velvet purple bag. "In this bag is a miniature model of what you are about to face. Your task is to collect the golden egg. Each model has a number that will determine the order in which you will go. Ladies first."
He held out the bag to Fleur. She withdrew a tiny Welsh Green dragon with the number two around the neck. Adelyn was offered the bag next: Hungarian Horntail, number four. Krum's selection was the Scarlet Chinese Fireball, number three. Which left Cedric the Swedish Short-Snout, number one.
"There you have it! Once the whistle blows, Mr. Diggory, please make your way through the other exit to the enclosure. Good luck, champions!" Mr. Bagman beamed with excitement and hurried off with the headmasters, leaving the four champions alone with fear and anticipation.