How to Get Away From a Nesting Dragon
Summary: What happens in the days leading up to the first task? Will Harry survive? And will Lily have a talk with Ron about friendship and loyalty? The second task is at hand.
AN: Contains content from Goblet of Fire.
The first task was drawing steadily near with each passing day. Harry felt as though it was crouching ahead of him like some horrific monster, barring his path and waiting to attack. He could picture it in his mind as he remembered the monster from Where the Wild Things Are. Only scarier than what he remembered from the book.
Harry had never suffered from nerves like these. They were way beyond anything he had ever experienced before a Quidditch match, not even the last match he played, which would decide who would win the Quidditch cup and they had played Slytherin. Thinking about the upcoming task made his stomach twist and turn, making him unable to eat much. Lily had to brew more stomach soothers as Harry had nearly cleaned out her supply.
Harry was also finding it hard to think about the future, past the first task. He felt as though his whole life had been heading up to and would finish with the first task.
It was now needless to say that the shock of finding himself a school champion had worn off slightly by now and the fear what was facing him had started to sink in.
He was scared and he tried to hide the fact from his parents. But they were concerned and scared themselves and tried desperately to hide the fact from Harry. They didn't want him to see their fear, thus making everything worse.
Ever since Hagrid had taken James and Harry to the Forbidden Forest to get a peek at the dragons, Harry had been feeling queasy, despite the stomach soothers Lily had been giving him. If he was terrified now, what will he be when Tuesday gets here? He didn't want to know. He really didn't want to know.
Harry had been staying in Lily's quarters since his name came out of the Goblet of Fire. No one knew this outside of Gryffindor, knowing that Harry was staying there for safety reasons, which was a lie that Harry came up with to hide the real reason he was staying with Lily. The real reason why Harry was staying with Lily was because Harry didn't feel safe in Gryffindor tower, even though his own housemates, minus Ron, and was supportive of Harry. Ron was the second reason Harry was staying with Lily.
He had tried to talk to him, but Ron wasn't having it.
It was now Sunday, and Tuesday was the first task. Harry couldn't sleep as every time he closed his eyes, he dreamed about the first task and how badly it would end for him. At one point Harry had jolted awake after a terrifying dream of being burned to a crisp by the dragon he was handed.
Harry sighed, lying on his back, staring at the ceiling of his room in Lily's quarters. He didn't think he'll make it to classes tomorrow, knowing what Tuesday was going to bring.
Sighing once more he turned his head towards the clock and groaned. It was two in the morning.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Lily called from the half-open door.
"I'm fine, Mum," Harry replied.
Lily pushed the door open and approached her son's bedside, sitting down on the edge. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"I can't sleep," Harry answered, figuring it was best, to be honest with his mother.
"Roll over," she ordered.
Harry obeyed her without question and turned to lie on his stomach. He didn't question her when he felt the duvet being pulled down and his shirt being pulled up. Soon he felt her soft hands rubbing his back. He as relaxed instantly, knowing that Lily had magical hands, or at least that's what James had claimed.
It didn't take long for Harry to fall asleep and this time stay asleep. He didn't fight to stay awake as he knew that was a battle he wouldn't win.
"Thanks, Mum," Harry murmured.
"You're welcome," Lily replied, her hands moving up to Harry's shoulders.
When Harry's eyes closed and his breathing evened out, Lily stopped her massage. She sat there, watching Harry sleep. She knew he was thinking about Tuesday, it was something she couldn't get out of her own mind.
To say she was worried was an understatement. She had even done something she hadn't done since she was a little girl. She prayed. She prayed that Harry wouldn't not only make it through Tuesday, alive and well, but also through the whole Tournament in its entirety. She prayed for protection over her baby and prayed that he would come out of this, unharmed and alive.
The more she heard about previous Tri-Wizard Tournaments, the more she prayed. She hadn't prayed this much or hard in her life.
Her parents had taken her and her sister to church every Sunday, her mother made sure of that. When she received her letter for Hogwarts, her mother had told her that God had given her a special gift and for reasons, they may never know. They were proud of her being the first witch in the family.
When Lily was really sure that Harry was asleep and would remain asleep, she left the bedroom, placing a charm on the room to alert her the next time Harry woke up.
Standing at the door, she watched her son sleep. She smiled at the sight of her son and closed her eyes, whispering "Watching over my baby, God. Please, watch over him."
With that, she returned to her bedroom and went to sleep until her alarm woke her the next morning.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily walked in between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables, stopping when she reached where Ron was sitting with Seamus and Dean.
"I want a word with you," she said. To her surprise Ron obeyed. He got up and followed Lily to a nearby classroom, which had been unused for some time.
Ron knew the tone of voice Lily used. It was the stern tone she used when Harry was in trouble and usually Ron was in involved somehow
"Do you know why I asked to speak with you?" Lily asked.
Ron nodded, looking down at the floor. He figured this would happen.
"Look at me." Lily's tone made Ron's head jerk up. "Did it ever occur to you that your friend needs you right now? He didn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire. No matter what you think. He couldn't have done it. It's impossible. You saw what it did to your brothers, didn't you? Wouldn't have it done the same thing to Harry? He even sat on the couch in my quarters and you and Hermione were there when he said that he didn't want to enter the tournament and here we are. Someone put his name in because they're trying to hurt him or possibly kill him."
Lily paused for a second. She needed a minute to get the thought of someone trying to kill her son out of her head.
"You two have been friends since you were six years old. You should have known that Harry doesn't like being in the center of attention, like this. Think for a moment, would Harry have told you that he was going to put his name in the cup if there wasn't an age limit?"
Ron thought for a moment and realized how true Lily's words were.
"You're right," Ron whispered.
"Instead of being supportive and concerned for your best mate, you've been whining because why? Jealously? You should be ashamed of yourself, treating your best friend like that."
"Yes, ma'am," Ron said, blushing furiously.
"I'm not going to force you to make up with your friend. I know it wouldn't do any good if I tried, but I would advise you use your brain and do it on your own and soon."
"I will," Ron promised.
"I thought once about writing Molly, but decided to wait and see how this talk went."
Ron nodded, understanding the meaning behind Lily's words.
"You may go." Lily motioned to the door. Ron left and headed to Gryffindor tower. Upon entering the common room, he found Harry sitting in an armchair.
"Harry?" Ron called. He thought about what Lily had said on the way up to Gryffindor tower.
"Yeah?" Harry said.
"I'm sorry," Ron said, "I let my jealousy cloud my judgment and I let it almost come between us. I also had forgotten how much you hate the attention."
Harry nodded.
"Can you forgive me?" Ron inquired.
"I forgive you," Harry said, after a slight pause.
"Friends?" Ron asked shyly after a moment.
"Always," Harry agreed.
They then did the secret handshake they created when they were six making them laugh afterward.
Hermione came down to the common room to see Harry and Ron talking. She gasped, drawing attention from the boys.
"Did you two make up, finally?" She asked, approaching them,
"Yes, we did."
"There's something I need to tell you two," Harry said, "But not here."
Hermione and Ron followed Harry out of the portrait hole and down the stairs. They didn't question where they were going when Harry turned down the corridor heading to the hospital wing and Lily's private quarters. They had been there a few times for some peace and quiet, which was hard to find in the common room or to visit Harry when he was sick and staying in Lily's quarters.
Lily told them they were welcome any time and she allowed Harry to come and go as he pleased. As a result, sometimes Harry, Ron, and Hermione would come down to Lily's quarters to study or to get something else for lunch or dinner. If they overslept and missed breakfast, Harry and Ron would go down and get Dobby to bring them what was for breakfast or what they wanted.
Entering Lily's quarters, Harry found it empty as, according to the Map, Lily was in the hospital wing.
"What's going on, Harry?" Hermione asked.
Harry proceeded to tell Ron and Hermione what he found out about the first task. Hermione gasped, covering her mouth, while Ron went pale, almost stark white.
"How did you find out? No one was supposed to know?" Ron inquired.
"Hagrid snuck me and Dad down a few nights ago. I saw Charlie and he described each one. The one that I fear I will get is the Horntail."
"The Hungarian Horntail!" Ron exclaimed. "Mate, they are one of, if not the most dangerous sort of dragon there are."
"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know," Harry admitted. He collapsed on the couch in the sitting room. "All I know is…" he trailed off. "I'm scared."
Hermione and Ron glanced at each other. Never, in all of the adventures they had gotten in, did they ever hear Harry say the words, 'I'm scared.'
"It will be okay, Harry, we'll help you."
Harry glanced up at Hermione and then Ron. "Thanks," he whispered.
"It's what friends are for," Hermione said.
"You're our best friend, Harry. We'll help you through this," Ron assured him. "The whole bloody thing."
"Thanks, guys," Harry murmured.
Hermione got up from where she was kneeling in front of Harry and said, "Now, let's go to the….."
"Library," Harry and Ron finished. They glanced at each other for a second before roaring with laughter.
Hermione sighed. "Come on, boys. Let's go."
"Can we stop by the kitchens for something to eat?" Ron asked. "I'm hungry."
"When are you not?" Hermione inquired.
"Actually, I was about to ask the same thing," Harry said. "Although, the thought of what I'm facing makes me queasy."
Hermione sighed. "We'll stop by the kitchens. I can ask Dobby to make you something that will be easy on your stomach."
"Okay," Harry agreed.
They left Lily's quarters and began to walk towards the kitchens. As they approached the end of the corridor, they didn't realize they were being watched by a certain redhead.
Lily smiled at seeing Harry, for the moment, carefree.
As they left her sight, she sighed contently and headed back to the hospital wing.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Concentrate, Harry, concentrate. . . ."
"What do you think I'm trying to do?" said Harry angrily. "A great big dragon keeps popping up in my head for some reason. . . Okay, try again. . ."
Harry tried to summon the book he had been trying to summon towards him for the last four hours with no success.
"Again," James ordered.
Harry sighed. Sirius could tell that Harry was beginning to get frustrated. His main problem was he had a lot on his mind, most of which the dragon he would be facing tomorrow. Tensions were already high between James and Lily, both understandably worried about their son.
"Break," Lily called, carrying a tray of coffee for James and Sirius and hot chocolate for Harry. "How's it going?"
"Horrible," Harry admitted.
Lily glanced at Sirius and James, holding up a finger telling them to give her a minute. She approached her son, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"Harry, what's going on?" She asked.
"I can't stop thinking about tomorrow," he whispered. "I'm afraid I'm going to fail and…" He trailed off, not really able to explain fully how he felt.
"Harry James Potter, you are a very smart and bright young man. I have every faith in you making it through this. You can do this? Remember what I told you when you were a first year and struggling in Charms?"
Harry nodded. "Clear your mind and focus. Be patient and calm."
Lily was surprised to hear that Harry remembered what she had told him four years ago.
"You did remember."
James handed Harry his mug of Hot Chocolate. "We'll try again after a short break."
Harry nodded. He sat down in the armchair in the corner, noticing something was missing from his Hot Chocolate. Deciding to try again, using Lily's advice, he picked up his wand.
"Accio Marshmallows," He called. The bag of marshmallows flew from the cupboard and sailed straight to his hand.
James, Sirius, and Lily sat frozen on the couch.
"Did he just…?" James asked, trailing off.
"He just….."
Realizing he did it successfully, Harry smiled. "I did it," he whispered.
Lily shot out of her seat and toward her son, pulling him into a hug.
"I'm so proud of you!" She exclaimed.
James smiled with pride and approached his son, behind his wife. "Good job, son."
Harry smiled widely back, first time since his name came out of the Goblet of Fire.
"Thanks, Dad."
Now that Harry had summoned something successfully, James and Sirius worked with him for another hour before they headed out to the Quidditch pitch. Sirius knew how far the Firebolt would be from the area where the First Task was to take place. The point of this was to ensure, mainly James that the Firebolt could make it to the arena.
"Accio Firebolt," Harry called, hoping that this would work. James timed how long it took for the broom to arrive, his heart pounding wildly as he waited.
Then there was zooming sound and James murmured a "Lumos!" He sighed when he saw the broom. Harry caught it and took off on the broom. Using a flashlight, James washed his son as he flew on his broom, almost practicing for tomorrow. As usual, when he watched Harry fly, James beamed with pride.
Harry landed after flying for ten minutes next to James.
"Good job, son. I'm very proud of you," James said.
Harry smiled back at his father. He could never fully explained how he felt when he heard his parents and even Sirius and Remus, say that they're proud of him.
They walked back to the castle, listening to the nighttime noise. They walked in silence and headed back to Lily's quarters.
Lily was waiting for them when they came in.
"I sent a patronus to Minerva to tell her Harry is staying with me," She told James. "It's three in the morning he needs to get some sleep."
"I don't know if I can," Harry admitted.
"Alright, go get a shower and then meet me in your room," Lily directed.
Harry nodded, heading to the bathroom for a shower. He knew he couldn't sleep knowing what he was facing tomorrow. He stepped in the shower, trying to clean his mind. He hoped whatever Lily had in mind would help him get at least a few hours of sleep.
Once he finished in the shower, Harry stepped out, noticing that there was a clean pair of boxers and pajamas. Lily or James must have put them there.
He dressed quickly and stepped out of the bathroom, heading to his bedroom. Lily was waiting for him.
He walked over to the bed, laying down and letting Lily tuck him in. She then started to rub his back, as she knew this would help him sleep.
"I could give you a potion if you need one," Lily informed him.
"I'm alright right now," Harry murmured.
Lily continued to rub his back, noticing that Harry was getting sleepy. When his eyes closed, she kept rubbing his back until she was sure that he was asleep.
When she was sure he was asleep, she kissed his forehead and tucked the covers to the shoulders. She leaned over and whispered, "Good night, sweetheart. I love you."
As quietly as she could, she left the room and shut the door behind her. She just hoped that things would go well tomorrow. She walked into her bedroom as James was in the bathroom. She walked over to the window, looking out at the night sky.
"Watch over my baby, God," She whispered. "Keep him safe."
She just hoped that Harry would be okay and that she still had a son this time tomorrow.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
The nerves returned in full force the following morning. Harry could feel the butterflies in his stomach, fluttering around, so much so that he choked down a piece of toast, despite it tasting like cardboard.
He could tell that James and Lily were concerned, as they were looking at each other with looks of concern with each other, obviously worried about the events that were going to take place.
When Harry walked into the Great Hall to meet Ron and Hermione, the atmosphere was that of great tension and excitement. Lessons were going to stop at midday, after lunch, to allow all the students time to get down to where the first task was going to take place, only the students didn't know that there are dragons awaiting each of the champions.
Harry had asked Lily when he found out there was still going to be morning classes if he could not just go. Lily had told him that going to class could be a distraction for him and keep his mind off what he would be facing that afternoon. He wasn't sure as the dragons were all he had on his mind since the day he found out dragons were part of the first task.
He felt oddly separate from everyone around him. Some of the students, mostly those from Gryffindor, wishing him good luck, of course, Fred and George were taking up bets on who would win the task.
Then there were those who hissed, "We'll have a box of tissues ready, Potter," as he walked by them.
This made him go into a state of nervousness so advanced that he wondered whether he might not just lose his head when they tried to lead him out to the first task and to the dragon that he would be facing, and start trying to curse everyone within reach. Of course, Lily might have a thing or two to say about that, but she might understand giving the circumstances.
When they went to class, it seemed as if time was behaving in a peculiar fashion, rushing past them like a wave. It seemed like he was just sitting down in History of Magic and then he, Ron, and Hermione walked to lunch. Harry couldn't bring himself to eat anything
He was questioning just where did the morning go? Was this the last of the dragon free hours?
Then suddenly, Professor McGonagall approached him, telling him it was time to head down for the first task.
Ron and Hermione followed him out of the Great Hall. Once outside the door, Ron and Harry hugged in a way that James and Sirius hugged, one-handed with the other patted the other's back. Hermione gave him a bone crushing hug.
"Good luck, Harry," they said in unison. They shared a look between the three of them, thinking that this might be the last time they see each other. This was a dangerous task, the Tri-Wizard Tournament was dangerous. There was a reason why there was an age-limit.
"You'll be fine," Hermione added.
Harry followed Professor McGonagall towards the tent where he would change into the uniform. She didn't seem to be herself. She looked nearly as anxious as Lily. As she walked down the stone steps and out into the cold November afternoon, she put her hand on his shoulder. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, she stopped, making him stop.
"Good luck, Harry," She said. Then in an act usual for Professor McGonagall, she pulled Harry in a hug.
"I love you, Aunt Minnie," Harry whispered. McGonagall felt her heartbreak. This was a boy she had, literally, watched grow up. She was close to James's family and Lily was among her favorite students. Because of these two reasons, they kept in touch following James and Lily's graduation. She was among a handful of people who seen Harry after he was born and held him in her arms. When he started to talk, James and Lily taught him to call her Aunt Minnie.
He only called her that now when they were in private
"I love you too," She whispered back. "Now, don't panic. Just keep a cool head. There are wizards standing by to control the situation if it gets out of hand. The main thing is just to do your best and no one will think the worse of you. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry heard himself reply.
She led him towards the place where the first task was taking place and the dragons were, around the edge of the Forbidden Forest. When they approached the clump of trees, Harry saw a tent had been erected, its entrance facing them, screening the dragons from view.
"You're to go in here with the other champions," McGonagall explained, in a rather shaky sort of voice. "And wait for your turn. Mr. Bagman will tell you the procedure. Good luck."
"Thanks," Harry murmured, in a flat distant voice. She left him at the entrance of the tent. Harry went in the tent's changing area and changed into the uniform. He came out to the waiting area, seeing Krum, Fleur, and Cedric, dressed in their uniforms and waiting.
Fleur was sitting in the corner on a wooden stool. She didn't look nearly as composed as she usually did, rather pale and clammy. Krum looked even surlier than usual, which Harry assumed was his way of showing nerves. Cedric was pacing up and down. When Harry entered, Cedric gave him a small smile, which Harry returned, feeling the muscles of his face working rather hard as if they had forgotten how to do it.
"Hi Harry," Cedric greeted.
"Hi, Cedric."
Ludo Bagman entered the tent, making the champions all glance his direction.
"Well, now that we're all here, time to fill you in!" Bagman said, brightly. "Now when the audience is assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag." He held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it. "You each will select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different, um, varieties, you see. I have to tell you something else: your task is to collect a golden egg."
Harry glanced around. Cedric nodded once, to show that he understood Bagman's words, then resumed his pacing around the tent again, looking slightly green. Fleur and Krum hadn't reacted at all. Maybe they thought they would be sick if they opened their mouths. That was exactly how he felt. But they, at least volunteered for this, he didn't.
It seemed like it was no time that hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet could be heard passing the tent, their owners talking excitedly, laughing and joking. Harry felt a little separate from the crowd as though they were a different species.
What felt like a second later, was really minutes, Bagman was opening the neck of the purple silk sack.
"Alright, ladies first," he said, offering the bag to Fleur.
She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model a dragon, a Welsh Green. It had a number two on its back. Harry knew, by the fact Fleur didn't show any sign of surprise, but rather a determined resignation, that he had been right. Madam Maxime had told her what was coming.
Krum also had shown no sign of surprise on his face when he pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had the number three on its back. He didn't even blink, just sat back down and stared at the ground. He was right that Igor Karkaroff had told him about the dragons as well.
Cedric put his hand into the bag and came out with a blue-gray Swedish Short-Snout, the number one on its back.
Harry's stomach dropped and his heart stopped when he realized what was left. Swallowing thickly he put in his hand into the silk bag and pulled out the Hungarian Horntail, and the number four. It stretched its wings as he looked down at it, and bared its minuscule fangs.
"And there you are!" Bagman exclaimed. "You have each pulled out the dragon you will face, and the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons. Now, I'm going to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr. Diggory, you're first, just go out into the enclosure when the canon, all right?"
He was about to approach Harry, but a voice stopped him.
"I will remind you Mr. Bagman, my son is underage. I do not want anyone talking to him without me or his father present."
Bagman left to reveal Lily standing at the entrance of the tent. She approached her son, with James behind her. As Harry was underage, James had made it clear to the officials that he and Lily would be granted access to their son before and after each task. Considering James's stature in the Ministry, they were afraid of a lawsuit or something of the like.
"Are you alright?" Lily asked.
"I'm okay," Harry murmured.
Lily and James shared a look between them, not sure how truthful Harry was being.
"We just wanted to make sure you're alright," Lily assured him.
"You do know that there are wizards on standby if it gets out of hand, right?" James asked.
Harry nodded.
Bagman's voice filled the air, announcing the beginning of the first task, telling those gathered in the arena what was to take place.
"We better go," James whispered. Lily nodded and turning to Harry, pulling him to her, hugging him tightly.
"I love you," she murmured.
"I love you too, Mum."
James hugged his son, whispering reassures and patted his shoulder. They walked out of the tent, trying to keep from looking back at their son, knowing it would make it harder. As they passed the stand where Bagman was standing commentating the first task. Lily gave him what James called a death glare.
They climbed up the wooden stairs and sat down in the area next to where the professors and the officials were sitting to watch the first task. Sirius and Remus were saving them seats, beside them. Where they were sitting they had a good view of the arena and could see each champion easily, especially when it was Harry's turn.
"He's last," James told Sirius and Remus.
"How's he doing?" Remus asked.
"Nervous," James replied.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Sirius said. "Hopefully."
Back in the tent, Harry started to pace. When Cedric left the tent for his turn, he sat down on the bench feeling like was waiting for an execution. But little did he know what was about to happen.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
It seemed like time had passed very fast for Harry as it seemed like no time he heard that Krum had gotten the egg and it was his turn.
He stood up, noticing dimly that his legs were made of jelly. He waited. Then he heard the whistle blow. He walked out through the entrance of the tent, the panic rising into a crescendo inside him. As he walked out of the tent and into the rock-filled arena, he saw everything in front of him as though it was a very highly colored dream. There were hundreds upon hundreds of faces staring down at him from the stands.
Then there was the Horntail, at the other end of the enclosure, crouched low over her clutch eggs, wings half-furled, her yellow eyes looking at him, evilly, thrashing her spiked tail, heaving yard-long gouge marks in the hard ground. The crowd was making a great deal of noise, but whether friendly or not, Harry didn't care or didn't know.
It was time for him to focus his mind, entirely and absolutely, upon the thing that was his only chance.
Quickly, he raised his wand.
"Accio Firebolt! He shouted.
Harry waited, with every fiber of his being, hoping that this works. Despite the preparation, he had done for a few days leading up to the first task. What was he going to do if this didn't work all of a sudden?
Then suddenly, he heard it, speeding through the air above him. He saw his Firebolt hurtling toward him around the edge of the woods. It soared towards him, stopping beside him. With the skill of a seeker, he caught it, mounted his broom and zoomed off. As he soared upward, as the wind rushed through his hair, as the crowd's faces became mere flesh colored specks below him. The Horntail shrank to the size of a dog, he realized that he had not only left the ground behind him, but he also left his fear behind.
He was back where he belonged. He was his happiest when he was on a broom.
"Okay. This just another Quidditch match and the Horntail is just the opposing team."
He looked down at the clutch of eggs, spotting the gold one, quickly, gleaming against its cement colored fellows, residing safely between the dragons front legs.
"Alright," Harry said to himself. "Diversionary tactics. Come on, Harry. Get your head in the game."
He dived. The Horntail's head followed him. He knew was going to do and pulled out of the dive just in time as a jet of fire had been released exactly where he would have been had he not swerved away. But Harry didn't mind, that was similar to dodging a Bludger.
"Great Scott, he can fly!" Bagman yelled, as the crowd shrieked and gasped. "Are you watching this, Mr. Krum?"
Harry soared higher in a circle. The Horntail was still following his progress, its head revolving on its long neck. If he kept this up, it would be nice and dizzy, but better not push it too long or the Horntail will be breathing fire again.
Harry plummeted just as the Horntail opened its mouth, but this time he was less lucky. He luckily had missed the flames, but the tail came whipping up to meet him instead. As he swerved to the left, one of the long spikes grazed his shoulder, ripping his shirt. He could feel it stinging, he could hear screaming and groans from the crowd, but the cut didn't seem to be too deep.
Now he zoomed around the back of the Horntail, and something occurred to him. The Horntail didn't seem to want to take off. She was too protective of her eggs. Though she writhed and twisted, furling and unfurling her wings and kept her yellows on Harry. She was afraid to move too far from them, but he had to persuade her to do it, or he'd never get near the eggs. The trick, he figured out, was to do it carefully and gradually.
He began to fly in one direction and then the other, not near enough to make her breathe fire, but still posing a sufficient threat to ensure she kept her eyes on him. Her head swayed this way and that, watching him out of those vertical pupils, her fangs bared.
He flew higher. The Horntail's head rose with him, her neck now stretched to its fullest extent, still swaying.
Harry rose a few more feet, and she let out a roar of exasperation. He was like a fly to her, a fly she was longing to swat, her tail thrashed again, but he was too high to reach now. She shot fire into the air, which thankfully he missed.
Suddenly, she reared, spreading her great, black leathery wings at last, as wide as those of a small airplane. Harry dived.
Before the dragon knew what he had done, or where he had disappeared to, he was speeding toward the ground as fast as he could go, toward the eggs now unprotected by her clawed front legs. He had taken his hands off his Firebolt and he had seized the golden egg.
Then, with a huge spurt of speed, he was off. He soared over the stands with the heavy egg safely under his uninjured arm, and it was as though somebody had just turned the volume back up. He became aware, for the first time since, of the noise of the crowd, which was screaming and applauding as loudly as the Irish supporters did at the World Cup.
As he landed, he saw that the dragon keepers rushing forward to subdue the Horntail.
He flew over the stands, the noise of the crowd pounding his eardrums, and came in smoothly to land. Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody, and Hagrid hurried over as he landed his broom, their smiles evident even from this distance. He felt lighter than he had in weeks.
"That was excellent, Potter!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed as he got off his Firebolt. This was extravagant praise. He noticed her hand shook as she pointed at his shoulder. "While I would say to go see Madam Pomfrey, but knowing your mother, she'll want to see that. Go on to the First Aid tent."
"You did it, Harry!" Hagrid yelled, excitedly and hoarsely. "You did it. And against the Horntail. You remember that Charlie…"
"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry said, loudly, so that Hagrid would blurt out that he had shown Harry and James the dragons.
Harry walked towards the First Aid tent. When he entered the First Aid tent, he looked around for Lily.
"And Mum will show up in three, two..." He barely made it to one when he felt himself being pulled into a hug.
"My baby!" Lily exclaimed, thankfully not so loud that it would draw attention. "Are you…" Lily didn't finish the question when she saw Harry's shoulder.
"Follow me," She ordered. Harry followed Lily to a small area with a bed and Harry sat down on the bed, without being told to and then without warning Lily vanished Harry's shirt.
"Mum!" Harry shouted. "Warn me when you do that!"
James laughed from the other side. He knew Lily was going to do that. She had been known to banish clothes without giving any kind of warning.
"Is he okay?" He called.
"He's fine James. Just a scratch," Lily answered. "Alright, I'm going to treat this now and then again after you take a shower."
Then suddenly, Harry was pulled back into an embrace. "You scared me to death, Harry James!" She whispered. "I'm going to be white headed before my time and I'll have you to blame."
Outside the tent, James looked at Sirius, when he asked, "Does Lily have Firewhiskey or do I need to make a trip to The Three Broomsticks?"
"See if Rosmerta has something stronger."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily watched her son sleep, sitting on the side of the bed. She was comforted by the steady, even breaths, she heard. She asked him to stay in her quarters, one more night, before moving back to Gryffindor Tower. Harry didn't object, but ask if he could go the party he knew would be taking place to celebrate the first task was over.
She agreed, asking that he be back before curfew. Harry came back five minutes before curfew, looking exhausted, trying and failing to cover yawns behind his hand. She ordered him to shower and she would apply more potions to his cuts and then he was going to bed.
Her mind went back to the day's events. She sat in the stands and watch her baby, her little boy, although he wasn't very little anymore, compete in a competition that wasn't supposed to include him. She sat there in the stands, shaking as she watched Harry dodge the dragon again and again. James kept reminding her that Harry had been on a broom since before he could walk.
He had the talent on a broom, as Bagman exclaimed. James beamed with pride, for an only second before he turned his attention back to his son. Lily had wrapped her arm around James's arm, clasping his hand in hers, squeezing tightly. She nearly pulled his arm out of the socket.
She gasped when the tail hit Harry in the shoulder and nearly screamed when Harry nearly got burned towards the end.
Sirius and Remus watched in silence, but the look on their faces shared the same fear and concern James and Lily's did. It was no secret, Harry was their world. He meant a lot to each person sitting in the stand in Harry's support, whom Harry called family.
"Come on, Harry," they would whisper as he kept getting the dragon to move.
Finally, the dragon moved and Harry swooped down and grabbed the egg. While the school cheered, James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus celebrated for a different reason. Harry had made it through the first task. They watched as he flew over the crowd and then land a little ways away from the enclosure. For the first time since Harry stepped out to take his turn in the task, Lily felt that she could breathe.
The relief was evident on her face and on James's as well. Sirius and Remus were just as relieved, but they were busy hugging each other and pulled James into it later, then James and Lily hugged.
"Is he okay?" Sirius asked. This reminded Lily that the dragon's tail hit Harry in the shoulder.
Lily was the first one up and was back on the ground before James, Sirius, and Remus passed the first step.
"Well, James looks like I owe you a galleon," Lily heard Sirius say to James. She learned later that Sirius and Remus had betted on whether or not Lily would the first one up and to wherever Harry was at.
She saw her son in the first aid tent, knowing that was where he would be. She grabbed him gently and hugged him to her, almost shouting 'my baby'. She was thankful that Harry had to show for his trouble of the first task was a few cuts on his shoulder. He could have been hurt worse, much worse.
She agreed with Madam Pomfrey as she grumbled about dragons and had warned the matron to be careful what she wished for as who knows what the next year would bring. Madam Pomfrey agreed.
As she and James walked back up to the castle, watching Harry walk back up with Hermione, Ron, and Neville, they shared a look between them. They had made it through the first one and there were still two more to go.
Before Harry left to go to Gryffindor tower, James, Sirius, and Remus all hugged him, telling him how proud they were and how good he did in the first task.
While Harry was gone to Gryffindor tower for the party, James, Sirius, and Remus had some firewhiskey and she opted for a bottle of wine that James had brought up in case she wanted a glass in the evening. Lily had told James that if he kept her in wine, she'd keep them in Firewhiskey.
To no surprise, James agreed.
"Lily?"
She turned at the sound of her name, seeing her husband standing at the doorway of Harry's bedroom in her Quarters.
"I'm coming," she whispered.
James nodded, knowing she needed assurance that Harry was fine, he was safe, and he had made it through the first task.
Lily turned back to her son, watching him sleep. She pushed away his hair from his face and leaned over, kissing his cheek.
"I love you," She whispered. She has already said her good nights when he went to bed hours ago.
She tucked the duvet around him and kissed his head one last time before quietly walking to the door. She turned, standing in the doorway, watching him sleep. She feared that the last time she had done this, the night following the Quidditch World Cup, would be the last time she watched Harry sleep.
But thankfully, he had survived.
"Thank you, God," She whispered. "For looking after my son."
She closed the door, heading back to her bedroom, feeling that she could sleep unlike the night before. The first task was behind them, with only two more to go and Lily just hoped and prayed that Harry would survive.