Four Ferocious Mothers

24th of November, 1994.

It was the day of the first task. The sun lay dormant beyond the horizon. Harry was out on the grounds running like he had been ever since he got back from Skyrim. He wished he could have someone to spar with, but considering how witches and wizards were, he doubted any of them knew how to fight hand-to-hand. Though he guessed some might know how to fence, not that fencing would even compare to what he was capable of. But at least it would be something.

As he ended his run, he sat down by the Black Lake to meditate. There was no wind, and it wasn't that cold outside. He had lessons until lunch and then it was time for the task. He wasn't worried about that. The dragons wouldn't hurt him.

The Black Lake, thankfully, was nothing like Lake Illinata. Had it been, things would have been harder for Harry. There wasn't much around Hogwarts that could remind him of the people he had lost. He was grateful for that.

Eventually, Harry got up and headed inside. He went up to the Gryffindor Tower to shower and get dressed. His new clothes from Madam Malkin's had arrived the day before with a very cheery note. For now, he would have to dress in school robes, though. He would go back up and change before the task.

"Hello Neville," Harry said as he sat down next to him in the great hall for breakfast.

"Hi, Harry… How do you feel? The first task is today it must be scary," Neville said.

"I'm a little nervous, but I think it will be fine," Harry said.

Neville shook his head and muttered something about crazy Gryffindors before getting back to his porridge.

Hermione walked into the Hall and raised an eyebrow. Harry was eating merrily next to Neville as they talked about something that made them both laugh. That was strange. Usually, Harry was so nervous that she had to force him to eat whenever he was about to do something like the task. She had noticed a shift in his behaviour lately, but she hadn't commented on it since all the changes she saw were positive. He studied more. He paid attention in class. He finished his homework as soon as possible. He didn't mind going to the library. He interacted more with people in their house and even some people outside of their house. She wondered what had happened to cause this change though.

"Good morning, Hermione," Harry said as she joined them.

"Good morning, Harry. Neville," Hermione said.

"Good morning."

"You are eating," Hermione commented. "Usually we have to force dry toast into you. Don't tell me dragons are less scary than quidditch games.

"Dragons aren't Oliver Wood," Harry said and Katie Bell who sat a little further down the table laughed. "He has a point," she said before focusing back on her own group of friends.

Hermione just looked between the two with disbelief written on her face before she grabbed a book from her bag and started reading it.

Harry once again did not ask McGonagall about dropping Divination, but this time Hermione seemed fine with it considering all the other things going on that day.

History of Magic was a boring class but an interesting subject. Part of Harry wished that he didn't have to sit there and listen to Binns though. "Hermione, when we get to drop classes, can we drop History and just self-study it instead? I'm sure you and I could do much better just reading books and researching than Binns can teach us," he said as they were walking to the greenhouses.

Hermione considered it for a moment. It didn't sound like that bad of an idea to be honest. "Why not," she said. While she didn't really want to drop any subjects she could see his point. They could probably learn History better on their own.

"Do you think I could join too?" Neville asked.

"Of course. If that is what you want," Harry said. "I mean we could probably just make it into one big study group, but we'll see."

Neville smiled as he walked there next to Harry. It was nice to not just be ignored and left out. Once down by the greenhouses, Harry paired up with him rather than Hermione, and Neville was overjoyed.

"It is kind of like a non-magical sunflower, but it is poisonous if you eat too much of it," Neville said halfway into the lesson. "The flowers are just stunning, and they are really easy to care for."

"As long as you wear gloves when handling them I take it," Harry said.

Neville nodded and smiled. "At least if you are sensitive or you have a lot of them," he said. "Repeated exposure could cause similar reactions as digesting too much of them. Or they can give you rashes." He was so happy that Harry was so interested in plants. He wasn't sure why Harry was suddenly showing such interest, but he was so glad to have someone to talk to that would listen and come up with ideas. Hermione was great sometimes, but she tended to start spouting facts. Now there was nothing wrong with reading about plants, but if you really wanted to learn you had to work with them, and Harry understood that. They finished replanting the flowers and got cleaned up. Most of the class had gotten so dirty they wanted to shower so they headed for their common room to clean properly and switch clothes. Harry came back down wearing clothes that were just a bit sporty with the Hogwarts crest on his chest and the Gryffindor lion on his back. He headed down to lunch with Neville and Hermione. Everyone was so loud. People were excited while the Champions looked a little green. Even Harry, though, his nerves came more from fear of messing up and using the powers he wanted to hide than from the task itself. At least it seemed to calm Hermione that he wasn't quite as eager to eat and laugh as he had been that morning.

Eventually, Harry could see Professor McGonagall come walking down the length of the Gryffindor table towards him. "Potter, the champions have to come down to the grounds now," she said as she reached them. "You need to get ready for your first task."

"Alright," Harry said as he stood up.

"Good luck, Harry," both Hermione and Neville said.

"Thanks, guys," Harry said. "I'll see you after." He smiled and waved as he followed McGonagall out of the hall. He came to realise as he followed his Head of House that the people around him that seemed to care about him were more nervous than he was. Even McGonagall was tense. She stopped halfway down the stone steps going to the grounds and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Now don't panic," she said. "Just keep a cool head. We have wizards on hand to control the situation in case it gets out of hand. The main thing is to just try your best, and nobody will think any less of you. Are you alright?"

"I'm okay all things considered," Harry said.

They had slowly started walking again and were getting closer and closer to where the dragons were.

They had built a stadium where the dragons had been just the night before. All Harry could see was a big tent which he was ushered into by Professor McGonagall. "Mr Bagman is in there and he will explain things to you," she said somewhat shakily. "Good luck."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said. He saw her walk away out of the corner of his eye as he entered the tent. Fleur Delacour was pacing in a circle, and Cedric Diggory was slowly swaying back and forth where he stood. Viktor Krum looked like someone had destroyed his favourite teddy. Harry figured that he was the calmest of the bunch. Cedric looked up and smiled faintly at him, and Harry smiled back reassuringly.

"Harry! Good-oh," Bagman said happily as Harry walked further into the tent. "Come in, come in, make yourself at home!"

Harry could see the glare that Viktor Krum cast at Bagman's back. He was pretty sure that Bagman was the one who had destroyed Viktor's teddy from that look, and now Viktor was plotting his grim revenge. He knew that none of that was true of course, but it was more interesting fantasising about insane scenarios than actually listening to Bagman talk. The man looked ridiculous in his too-small black and yellow quidditch robes. Harry faintly remembered him wearing them to the World Cup as well, and he had looked just as silly then.

"Well, now that you are all here it is about time to fill you in," Bagman said brightly. "When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag," he held up a small sack made of purple silk, "from which you will each select a small model of the thing you're about to face."

Harry considered letting Bagman know that they were all well aware of the fact that there were four dragons, but he decided against it. He might throw the poor man off entirely if he did that.

"There are different, er, varieties, you see. And I have to tell you something else too… ah, yes… your task is to collect the golden egg!"

Harry rolled his eyes. He couldn't stand the man, and he wasn't the only one. He walked over to a corner of the tent and sat down. He took a deep breath and fell into a meditative state. He noticed as the students walked across the grounds to take their seats in the stadium. He drifted slightly, and he reached out without realising it and softly calmed everyone's nerves.

Harry's eyes opened as Bagman started talking again. He noted how the other champions moved from him to Bagman. He almost grimaced. What had he done now? He stood up and joined the others. Fleur pulled out a miniature Gravuun. While Viktor grabbed Britkrein. Then it was Cedric's turn and he pulled out Dufo. So there was Ninriik left in the pouch, and Harry pulled the little model out. He didn't mind; it might be better that he got the grumpiest of the four dragons. Each little miniature had a number around their necks and Harry was going last.

He walked over to Cedric who was the first to go out as Bagman walked up to him. "Could I have a word?" he asked.

"No thank you," Harry said. He reached out and grabbed Cedric's shoulder. "Breathe in. Breathe out. You'll be fine," he said.

Cedric looked at him a little wild-eyed, but he felt better and right now that was all that mattered. The whistle sounded and Cedric turned green as he headed out of the tent. Harry walked back to Fleur and Viktor and sat down. His eyes closed as he listened to the crowd cheering.

Bagman introduced Cedric.

"Away. Stay back maljul, little human," Dufo roared. "You shall not touch zu kiir, my eggs."

"Oooh, narrow miss there, very narrow," Bagman commented.

"Stand back," Dufo roared.

"He is taking risks, this one!"

"Mey julle, foolish humans Krinahkro told us they would try something. Wants to get near. Have the other ones placed something with my eggs?"

"Yol Toor Shul!"

"Clever move, pity it didn't work!"

Harry really hoped that the dragons had listened to him and would keep their promise.

Then finally the crowd cheered.

Cedric had done it.

Fleur was up next. The poor girl was shaking from head to toe as she stepped out in the arena.

Gravuun roared at her. "Back away little girl," she said. "These are my eggs. What do they want with them? Krinahkro! You better explain later."

Harry wouldn't mind explaining things as long as everyone made it out alright. He listened to the fight, and he didn't like what he heard. He hoped Fleur was alright.

Harry saw Viktor leave the tent. He stood up and walked over to the exit. Britkrein's roar moved through him and her anger was real. At first, she cursed the people around them. Then that changed.

"Niiiiid! Hi bruniik, you savage. You vile speck of dirt. Zu fen ag hin qethe wah denek, I will burn your bones to dust!"

What had Viktor done? Harry's fists clenched. He was the one who would have to try to mend this damage later. He took a deep breath. It was his turn next. He walked outside. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear cheers from the audience.

"What did they do to Britkrein?" Ninriik asked angrily. "I will tear them apart." She roared and flames danced out towards Harry who had simply summoned his broom as soon as he stepped foot in the arena. He could tell that everyone was holding their breaths. He cast a few fireproofing spells just to show that he could, and then he grabbed his broom as it appeared.

"You will not touch my nest," Ninriik roared.

Harry took to the air and the crowd was breathing again. "There is a false egg in your clutch," he told Ninriik softly. He knew she would hear him. "I will take that away. Don't do anything that could harm your eggs, but let me get close enough to get it."

"Come then," Ninriik roared.

Harry flew in. He spiralled around her and flew over and under her wings. He felt a little like a baby dragon showing off to his mother and the thought made him laugh. They had to put up some kind of a show or it would seem strange and Ninriik was cursing all kinds of creatures as she followed him.

Then Harry miscalculated. He was pushed down as her massive tail slammed into him and one of the many spikes on it cut into his back. He had to stop himself from healing it, but he also stopped playing around. He dived down and grabbed the golden egg from the nest before flying up into the air and showing it off.

The crowd cheered.

"Look at that!" Bagman yelled. "Will you look at that?! Our youngest champion is quickest to get his egg! Well, this is going to shorten the odds on Mr Potter."

Harry sighed. He didn't like Bagman. He could see Hagrid, Moody and McGonagall come walking across the field below him. He angled his broom and headed down to meet them.

"That was excellent, Potter," Professor McGonagall said.

"Thank you, Professor," Harry said. "I need to go see Madam Pomfrey. The Horntail hit me with one of her spikes."

"Ah, of course. It is right through there. Get yourself looked at, at once," Professor McGonagall said sternly as she motioned towards a tent.

"Yeh did it," Hagrid said hoarsely. "Yeh did it against the Horntail."

"Yeah, I know. It went alright," Harry said. He received a half-smile that looked more like a grimace from Moody before he entered the tent

Madam Pomfrey didn't look happy and Harry could understand why. If he were the healer dedicated to a bunch of children, he wouldn't like dragons on the grounds either. "Dragons!" she said in a disgusted tone. She pulled Harry inside with her. He looked around. The tent was split into cubicles. Harry could see Cedric's silhouette through the canvas. He was well enough to sit up at least.

Harry pulled his shirt off so Madam Pomfrey could take a look at the wound on his back. She shook her head. "Last year there were Dementors, and this year they have dragons. What are they going to bring into this school next? You are very lucky it didn't hit anything vital, It will need some thorough cleaning before I can heal it. Stand still," she said. Harry shifted so she would have an easier time cleaning the wound and then he relaxed. He was so glad that all his new scars were hidden under the glamour. She probably wouldn't be impressed by the orc wedding scars he had no matter how impressive they were to orcs. Pomfrey poured some kind of liquid into the wound. Harry did his best not to react to the stinging sensation he felt. Then there was a soothing feeling and the wound was healed. "Now, just sit quietly for a minute! And then you can go get your score," Pomfrey said She bustled out of his section of the tent and walked over to Cedric. "How does it feel now, Diggory?" she said.

Harry tuned them out. Cedric's health wasn't his business. He rolled his shoulders and healed what little was left of the wound to heal. Then he put his shirt back on.

"Harry!"

Suddenly Harry had an armful of bushy-haired Hermione. "You were brilliant," she said. She could understand now how he'd been so calm. He had done great. "That was just amazing."

Harry looked down at her with a smile. "Thank you, Hermione," he said. He hugged her back. "You helped a lot."

Hermione stepped back from him and looked over her shoulder. Ronald was standing there. "Harry," he said very seriously. "Whoever put your name in that Goblet… I reckon they're trying to do you in."

Harry tilted his head to the side. Frankly, he didn't care that much about Ronald. He guessed the guy didn't have to run around thinking that he hated him though. He shrugged. "That has occurred to us a couple of times I guess," he said.

"I'm sorry," Ron said. "I was an idiot."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, you were," he said. "Everyone does stupid things sometimes. But you know… You should have known me better than to think that I wanted to be in this tournament. I forgive you though." He looked over at Hermione. "I guess I should go out there and hear what they have to say," he said.

Hermione nodded. She looked over at Ron as Harry walked out. "He has forgiven you," she said. "I guess he just wants you to realise that you have to think before you act next time."

Ron nodded and sighed. "I really messed up this time," he said. He walked with Hermione after Harry. They stopped before they entered the enclosure. They could hear just fine from where they stood.

Hermione did her best not to listen to Ron's commentary as Harry was given his scores. It looked good. It didn't even matter that Karkaroff only gave him a four. He was tied for first place with Krum. She raised an eyebrow as she watched Charlie Weasley come running over to Harry. She couldn't hear what they said to each other, she was too far away. Harry seemed to be heading back into the champions' tent after he'd spoken to the second oldest Weasley though. She figured they could meet him in the common room. She had a book she wanted to read.

Harry stepped into the tent. He smiled at Cedric, Delacour, and Krum as they came walking in together. He wished he could just heal Cedric's face. He was pretty used to dealing with fire burns - especially from dragons. "Good one, Harry," Cedric said.

"You too Cedric," Harry said.

"Well done all of you," Bagman said as he bounced into the tent. "Now, just a quick few words. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth, but we're giving you something to think about in the meantime!"

Harry stayed behind in the tent after Bagman left. He looked down at the egg. The egg held the clue. He moved it around in his hands. He wanted to go see how the dragons were doing. Poor Britkrein needed some comforting.

"You 'ave changed."

Harry looked up. He hadn't realised that he wasn't the only one left in the tent. It was Miss Delacour. The part Veela was looking at him intently. "The others might not notice, but I do," she said.

"Really?" Harry said. "What makes you think that?"

"I don't think," Fleur said. "I know. I can tell that you are different." She walked up to him. Her allure was coming off her in waves. No fourteen-year-old boy should be able to resist that unless they were gay." She knew Harry had been affected just weeks ago. So what had happened? "You shouldn't be able to ignore this?" she said.

Harry wasn't sure what to say to that. He could feel her just fine. His mind was just stronger than her power. He heard Britkrien cry out. "The information you are asking for isn't something I'm willing to share just willy-nilly," he said.

Britkrein roared again.

"And I really have to go right now," Harry said.

Fleur followed Harry out of the tent. He weaved past the handles and looked around. "Are you going to continue following me?" he asked Fleur.

"What are you doing 'ere?" Fleur asked.

Harry sighed. He went back to her and took her hand before pulling her along to the dragons. Fleur was staring at the scally beasts. She swallowed thickly as Harry pulled her along into one of the cages. "They won't hurt you," he said before he knelt next to Britkrein.

It took Fleur a little while to realise that it sounded like Harry was talking to the dragons and they were answering him. "Dragons can talk?" she asked.

"Yes," Harry answered. "They are quite intelligent as a matter of fact."

Fleur looked around. "And they just put their eggs in danger?" she said.

"They did and the dragons are not happy about it," Harry said. "Viktor had Britkrien crushing her own eggs. She is devastated."

Fleur turned around and looked the Welsh Green in the eyes. "I'm sorry if I hurt you or your eggs," she said with a bow.

Harry translated for her. Then he smiled as Gravuun answered. "She is thankful for your concern. Her eggs are fine and you did not hurt her," he said.

Fleur nodded slowly. She knew he could be lying to her, but considering that the dragons were not trying to turn them to ash or eat them, she was inclined to believe that he could speak to them.

Harry grabbed Fleur and turned them both invisible. He wasn't entirely certain why he was using his power so openly in front of Fleur. Then again she was in there because of him so he would protect her.

"I don't think that I will see you again for now," Harry said. "Be well. Kaan be with you."

"Kaan is peaceful," Dufo responded.

Harry led Fleur back out of the pen. He let go of her and they turned visible again as they rounded the forest.

"You 'ave many secrets," Fleur said.

"That I do," Harry said. He wasn't certain that he wanted to let her go knowing what she knew. It made him feel uneasy.

"You regret this," Fleur said. "It's alright. That 'appens a lot. People think it is so great to be a Veela. It is 'orrible. You 'it puberty and everyone either 'ates you or wants to get in your pants. It is awful."

Harry stopped walking. He could tell that this was something she wanted to get off her chest. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "We live in 'orror for years until we learn to control it," Fleur said. "No one but other Veela understands what we 'ave to go through. No one is taught about it. One day it just is and we 'ave to live with it."

"I'm not being cautious because you are Veela," Harry said.

Fleur took a deep breath. "I know," she said. "I just…"

Harry smiled. "I think I get it," he said. "You are tired of people only seeing that and nothing else about you. They stop at your good looks and allure and don't bother to go further."

Fleur nodded slowly. She walked over towards a tree and sat down.

Harry followed her. "I know what it is like to be treated badly because of something I cannot control. I know it isn't the same as what you are describing because no one wanted to assault me, but…" he fell silent.

"What I really wanted," Fleur said, "was to ask if you wanted someone to talk to."

Harry smiled softly. Would he want someone to talk to? He was considering telling Hermione; he just didn't know where to start. With Fleur, he wouldn't lose anything. They hadn't known each other before now. With Hermione, he was scared of losing her that was why he hadn't told her yet. "My story is a long one," he said. "I don't think we have the time right now."

"Then we will meet some other day," Fleur said.

"How is your schedule on Saturday?" Harry asked.

"It would be nice to have a friend," Fleur said. "Mine are back in France. They weren't interested in the Tournament."

Harry smiled. "I go running around six in the morning," he said.

"I'll meet you then," Fleur responded.

As Harry was heading back up to the castle after saying goodbye to Fleur, he felt like a weight was slowly lifting off his chest. There were plenty of people he didn't want to reveal his secrets to, but everyone needed someone to talk to. He wasn't sure he could trust Fleur. She could take everything that he said and go to the papers with it, but who would believe her? He could tell that he needed this, and it looked like Fleur needed it too. She had seemed much happier after her little outburst.

He opened the portrait and walked into the common room only to be accosted by his housemates. He had tied for the win in the first task and everyone was cheering. Gone was that dark mood that had been hanging over the common room since he was chosen as a champion. Harry did his best to talk to everyone that wanted it. Seamus begged him to open the golden egg and he did. His eyes watered from the horrible noise and he closed it up quickly. He would have to figure that out later.

The Weasley twins handed out canary cookies that would turn you into a human-sized canary for a few seconds before you dropped feathers everywhere and people laughed. And someone had smuggled in alcohol. Hermione left the rowdy party downstairs and headed up to her dorm.

Harry managed to force his dorm mates to bed just before midnight with Neville's help, and they tucked them all in. "Their hangovers will be a sight to see tomorrow," Harry said.

"Good thing we have Herbology. Professor Sprout will at least not scream at them," Neville said.

"I'm just glad we are not them," Harry said and Neville laughed. They cleaned up and headed off to bed themselves not long after that. Harry fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. He was exhausted.