Sorry for the long delay, it was double xp weekend on Runescape and then the new skill so my free time has been consumed elsewhere. We finally meet Daphne in this chapter for those who have wondered. Enjoy.
The days leading up to the first task were mundane yet exciting at the same time for Harry. He had fallen into a routine of sorts, devoting most all of his time to training. At some point, and Harry struggled to remember exactly when it was, Hagrid had taken him on a random stroll through the forest only to show him four very grown dragons in an enclosure not too far from the school. In typical Hagrid fashion, the half giant hadn't exactly explained why he brought Harry here but instead gushed about each of the breeds and their traits. Though he didn't realize it exactly at the time Hagrid had actually helped Harry; he knew little of dragons other than they were mean as hell and breathed fire, and it turns out that not all of them did that.
With that knowledge in mind, Harry spent some of his free time learning more about each of the breeds and developing a strategy for each. He didn't feel like the task would involve slaying the dragon, as that would be rather inhumane, but he planned for that possibility as well.
Finally, the day was upon him and he found himself sitting in a tent where the quidditch pitch once was. Fleur Delacour was sitting in a corner on a wooden stool. She didn't look nearly as composed as usual, but rather pale and clammy. Viktor Krum looked even surlier than usual, which Harry supposed was his way of showing nerves. Cedric was pacing up and down. When Harry entered, Cedric had given him a small smile, which Harry returned, feeling the muscles in his face working rather hard, as though they had forgotten how to do it.
"Harry! Good-o!" said Bagman happily, looking around at him. "Come in, come in, make yourself at home!"
Bagman looked somehow like a slightly overblown cartoon figure, standing amid all the pale-faced champions. He was wearing his old Wasp robes again.
"Well, now we're all here - time to fill you in!" said Bagman brightly. "When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag" - he held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them - "from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! 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 glanced around. Cedric had nodded once, to show that he understood Bagman's words, and then started pacing around the tent again; he looked slightly green. Fleur Delacour and Krum hadn't reacted at all. Perhaps they thought they might be sick if they opened their mouths; that was certainly how Harry felt. But they, at least, had volunteered for this. . .
And in no time at all, hundreds upon hundreds of pairs of feet could be heard passing the tent, their owners talking excitedly, laughing, joking. . . . Harry felt as separate from the crowd as though they were a different species. And then - it seemed like about a second later to Harry - Bagman was opening the neck of the purple silk sack.
"Ladies first," he said, offering it to Fleur Delacour.
She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a dragon - a Welsh Green. It had the number two around its neck And Harry knew, by the fact that Fleur showed no sign of surprise, but rather a determined resignation, that he had been right: Madame Maxime had told her what was coming.
The same held true for Krum. He pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball. It had a number three around its neck. He didn't even blink, just sat back down and stared at the ground.
Cedric put his hand into the bag, and out came the blueish-gray Swedish Short-Snout, the number one tied around its neck. Knowing what was left, Harry put 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. Of course he would get the most dangerous beast by a long shot. He felt like if he hadn't cheated-no it wasn't cheating, it was… maybe it was cheating, but if he hadn't found out about the dragons and studied them ahead of time he was sure he'd have the same chance as a snowball in hell.
It was worse than Harry could ever have imagined, sitting there and listening. The crowd screamed. . . yelled. . . gasped like a single many-headed entity, as Cedric did whatever he was doing to get past the Swedish Short-Snout. Krum was still staring at the ground. Fleur had now taken to retracing Cedric's steps, around and around the tent. And Bagman's commentary made everything much, much worse. . . . Horrible pictures formed in Harry's mind as he heard: "Oooh, narrow miss there, very narrow". . . "He's taking risks, this one!". . . "Clever move - pity it didn't work!"
And then, after about fifteen minutes, Harry heard the deafening roar that could mean only one thing: Cedric had gotten past his dragon and captured the golden egg.
"Very good indeed!" Bagman was shouting. "And now the marks from the judges!"
But he didn't shout out the marks; Harry supposed the judges were holding them up and showing them to the crowd.
"One down, three to go!" Bagman yelled as the whistle blew again. "Miss Delacour, if you please!"
Fleur was trembling from head to foot; Harry felt more warmly toward her than he had done so far as she heft the tent with her head held high and her hand clutching her wand. He and Krum were left alone, at opposite sides of the tent, avoiding each other's gaze.
The same process started again. . . . "Oh I'm not sure that was wise!" they could hear Bagman shouting gleefully. "Oh. . . nearly! Careful now. . . good lord, I thought she'd had it then!"
Ten minutes later, Harry heard the crowd erupt into applause once more. . . . Fleur must have been successful too. A pause, while Fleur's marks were being shown. . . more clapping. . . then, for the third time, the whistle.
"And here comes Mr. Krum!" cried Bagman, and Krum slouched out, leaving Harry quite alone.
He felt much more aware of his body than usual; very aware of the way his heart was pumping fast, and his fingers tingling with fear. . . yet at the same time, he seemed to be outside himself, seeing the walls of the tent, and hearing the crowd, as though from far away.
"Very daring!" Bagman was yelling, and Harry heard the Chinese Fireball emit a horrible, roaring shriek, while the crowd drew its collective breath. "That's some nerve he's showing - and - yes, he's got the egg!"
Applause shattered the wintery air like breaking glass; Krum had finished - it would be Harry's turn any moment.
He stood up, noticing dimly that his legs seemed to be made of marshmallow. He quickly stretched the tension out of his legs and arms. And then he heard the whistle blow. He walked out through the entrance of the tent, the panic rising into a crescendo inside him. And now he was walking past the trees, through a gap in the enclosure fence.
He had seen the dragons that night with Hagrid albeit from a distance, and he had studied each of the four breeds extensively as he could in preparation for this moment. He had faced Voldemort, and even slain a basilisk. But none of that compared to the feeling he got from staring down the dragon across the field from him. It was roughly the same length as the basilisk he had killed, but it was several times wider and it's presence was far greater.
As if the dragon knew Harry was fighting back the fear in his stomach, it let loose a mighty roar and the ground seemed to shake. It followed immediately with a torrent of fire that washed over the ground as it sped in Harry's direction. Harry pointed his wand directly at the flames and poured as much power as he could into a flame freezing charm (thanks Hagrid and Professor Flitwick).
The flames passed over him with nothing more than an irritating burning sensation before he started to run towards a large boulder for cover. "Accio Firebolt." He thought as he reached his destination. He paused, listening for any signs of movement and was relieved to hear none. A moment later his broom came whizzing into the stadium and he mounted it without it even slowing down.
No sooner than he moved from behind the rock he was targeted by another jet of fire, but this time he was mobile and far faster than the flames could follow. He dodged his way around the stream and bolted straight for the dragon and well above it, being sure to stay out of reach of the tail that was flailing madly around. He made rapid circles for a moment hoping to confuse the dragon, but all he seemed to do was infuriate it more.
He changed his strategy and made a rapid dive straight at the dragon's head, swerving at the last minute as it's tail nearly clipped him. He had hoped to cause the dragon to hit itself, but it hadn't worked. He noticed now that the dragon was hesitant to leave it's eggs however mad it may be; this was both a blessing and a curse. If the dragon didn't move away from the eggs he wouldn't be able to reach them, but if it chased him he'd be in far more danger. He assumed he would have to just outmaneuver it to the end of the chain then hastily get back to the nest to claim his prize.
That thought in mind, Harry took out his wand and fired several stunners at the dragon's face only for the large tail to swat them away with a mighty roar. He tried again, this time spreading them out so they couldn't all be blocked at once only to watch them absorb into the dragonhide not causing so much as a flinch. He then flew closer to the ground and levitated a boulder into the air before launching it at the Horntail's face again. He rocketed off barely behind the boulder, leaning flush with his broom for maximum speed. As he had hoped the rock was batted away by the creature's tail leaving an opening for him to get underneath and grab the egg, but he had underestimated the speed of the dragon. He made it barely ten feet from the dragon before having to swerve hard right to avoid being stomped only to pull straight up to dodge being impaled by the tail. He pushed his firebolt to the limit in a straight vertical climb until he was certain that he was out of the dragons reach only to turn around and stair into it's open mouth.
Apparently, he had pissed it off and gotten close enough to the eggs to be registered as an actual threat, causing the Horntail to take flight.
Also, apparently the dragon handlers had underestimated the strength of a pissed off nesting mother Horntail, causing the chain that was to hold it to break.
Also, apparently whatever asshole that had entered him into this Merlin be damned tournament had tampered with the wards that wouldn't allow the dragon or competitor out, causing them not to allow the handlers in.
Harry cursed his life and whatever deity he could think of as he rolled right at top speed to avoid another jet of fire. He was searching his mind for something in his arsenal that would be strong enough to penetrate the dragonhide and stop the beast, bonus points if it didn't kill the dragon he supposed.
For such a large creature, it was surprisingly agile, and it cut him off with it's tail after he dodged the flames. There was no way to dodge at this distance and speed, so Harry did the only sensible thing and leapt from his broom at nearly two-hundred feet in the air. He rolled around just in time to see the firebolt smashed into little more than dust and splinters and felt a pang of sorrow. That broom had been his prized possession, though he supposed it wouldn't matter in a few short seconds when he hit the ground anyways.
He rolled back over and scanned the ground for anything soft to land on with no luck; none of the pointed rocks appeared any softer than the others from this angle. His mind was racing for a solution when he thought of something he had seen on the television once that Dudley was watching. Muggles enjoyed jumping from things with a glider or something they had called it. He had seen the picture on the tv and hoped it would be enough as he ripped his robe off and began weaving magic into it.
He was approaching thirty feet when the robe shifted form into a rudimentary black hang-glider/parachute hybrid. It by no means made him gracefully float like a broomstick or even how the muggles had looked then using it, but it redirected and slowed his fall. He crashed into the ground and pain flared up across the entire left side of his body. "Beats dying I reckon…" He muttered to himself as he wasted no time getting up and running to hide behind a formation of rocks.
Apparently, the dragon had seen him run in there because soon he felt intense heat washing over him from the other side of the boulders. His skin nearly instantly started blistering again before he was able to cast another flame freezing charm and reveled in the relief. He slumped down hoping for a moment to think without the dragon's interference as the ground shook nearby. It would seem his foe had landed to begin a search, meaning he didn't have very long.
Dragons had very few weaknesses due to their thick hide and scales, leaving the eyeballs his only real choice to subdue the dragon. Although it was trying to kill him now, Harry still didn't want to seriously harm the dragon though. Harry once more cursed his life before ducking out from behind the rock to find himself standing a mere thirty feet from the dragon. He quickly cast an aguamenti with all the force he could muster, shooting a geyser of water in hopes that it would dampen the flames or weaken the skin or… something. He followed it up with another few overpowered stupefies aimed this time at the dragon's eyes. At least one of them hit it's destination, causing the beast to rear back in pain and release another mighty roar while smashing its tail through the rocks Harry was just hiding behind.
As it once more turned to stare at him, Harry steeled himself and with regret plaguing the back of his mind he pointed his wand back at the creature's eye and muttered "Confringo."
The result was near instant; A loud explosion rang out, and as the spell went in the left eye, the entire skull bulged briefly before the right eye was also blown out. The dragon roared a brief, mighty roar as both eyes exploded, showering the nearby area with what Harry assumed was brains, blood and bone fragments before it fell to the ground unmoving. He didn't even try to fight the sickness that welled up inside him; he fell to his knees and emptied the contents of his stomach on the ground violently.
He sat there in a daze staring at the dragon for an unknown time before he was brought back to reality by a hand on his shoulder. He quickly snapped his head and wand around to find that it was only Sirius. He immediately turned and wrapped the man in a hug. "I didn't want to kill it Sirius but I had no choice. I'm sorry."
"It's okay Harry, it's not your fault. The handlers were supposed to be on standby incase something like this happened but when they tried to intervene they discovered they had been warded out. We just now got through the wards." He paused a minute as he helped Harry to his feet. "Look, you did excellent; there's not an excess of wizards out there that could go toe to toe with a pissed off Horntail like that. Now let's go get you checked by Madame Pomfrey yeah?" as he finished he had already started guiding them out of the stadium as the dragon handlers began cleaning up the mess.
"Hold on a second." Harry said as he walked over and knelt beside the dragon, placing his hand on it's snout. "I'm sorry it came to this, I know you were only acting on instinct, as was I. May you rest in peace." With his apology over, Harry walked to the nest and grabbed his golden egg before following Sirius once again; who knew what that egg might mean for the next round of this damned tournament. As the pair made it to the hospital tent, Harry had finally calmed himself enough to listen to Bagman once again. "And for Mr. Potter's EXTRAORDIANARY performance he receives full marks! Fifty points to Mr. Potter of Ambrosia Academy!"
"You got the best score of anybody pup, congratulations." Sirius said with a pat on his back.
The pat on the back hurt far more than it should have. Harry figured now that his adrenaline was wearing off the pain was making itself known in spades. As a matter of fact, he noticed that there was a constant stabbing pain emanating from his left shoulder and with a quick glance the nausea came back full force as he noticed his left arm was twisted in a very awkward manner. He forced the bile back down from his throat with some effort and looked towards Sirius. "I don't give a shit about the points; I just want to survive this damn mess."
When Harry awoke sometime later, he noticed that his room was rather crowded with worried looking people. Hermione was sitting right next to his bed with her hand wrapped around his and looked like she had been crying, Sirius was in the corner with his chair leaned back against the wall staring at the ceiling while Dumbledore and Moody were quietly talking in the other corner.
Hermione was the first to notice that he was awake and nearly squealed. "Harry! Oh thank Merlin you're okay we were so worried about you!"
Before he could even reply Madame Pomfrey peaked her head around the curtain that made his doorway. "Mr. Potter, I'm glad to see you awake so soon, and a little surprised I must add."
"How long was I out?"
"A little over four hours. You had a very serious concussion, amongst other things. I would like to, in my normal fashion, comment on how stupid and irresponsible you were, but I believe you weren't left with much choice. You are lucky not to have been killed."
"As was the intent." Moody barked from his corner. "You've heard it already, but damn fine job in there Potter. Doubt I coulda done any better myself."
"Harry, as you are already aware, someone tampered with the wards that were set up by the ministry and ensured that no help would be given to you in the event you needed it. It would also seem, from the preliminary report by Mr. Charlie Weasley, that the Horntail had been given a potion or confounded to increase it's rage and strength." Dumbledore added softly.
"The bottom line." Sirius said as he dropped his chair back to the floor. "As you already knew, someone is trying to kill you and we need to figure out who it was."
Harry tried to nod his agreement but was unable to move. He turned his eyes to Madame Pomfrey expectantly.
"Besides your concussion, you fractured two of your vertebrae, your entire left arm, three ribs which led to a punctured lung, and cracked your hip." I have healed most all of it, but your neck still needs to be immobilized as the healing completes over the next couple of days. Necks are a very touchy part of the anatomy, after all."
Harry was surprised at the list she just gave. How the hell had he managed to finish the fight with all that going on. "Lucky I didn't end up dead or paralyzed then, huh." He mumbled though everyone in the room heard him clearly and agreed for that matter, even if they didn't particularly want to say it aloud.
The days following the event and his subsequent release from the hospital gave birth to a new attitude around the castle. Where previous to the task nobody had believed he didn't put his own name in the goblet thinking him to be seeking ever more glory, now he noticed a certain level of respect directed his way. Most of the "Potter stinks" badges were AWOL now, with only a small part of Slytherins still wearing them. Harry was even pleasantly surprised to find that Draco wasn't sporting said badge; his warning on the train must have stuck.
He was further surprised that even beyond the general respect he was also receiving longing looks from several girls that he had never noticed before. Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, Susan Bones, a younger girl named Romilda something or another that he had only met in passing, and several more that he didn't know their names. Maybe it had something to do with the yule ball that Dumbledore had announced following the first task. It made him happy in a way as his only real female interaction had been Hermione, and while he thought she was pretty and nice he wasn't sure if she could be more than a friend or if she could even think of him that way. At the same time though it made him angry that some of these people had been firmly against him a mere week ago; not that any of the few he could actually name were in the Potter stinks club- maybe that was why he knew their names.
He didn't pay the girls much mind, assuming it was just a reaction to the event and that it would wear off soon. After another week or so had passed he was proven right, as he noticed that most of the looks had stopped but at least they didn't start wearing the badges again. He did notice, though, that both Daphne and Susan still glanced his way when they had a chance; it stuck him as odd, seeing as those two- Daphne in particular -had a reputation for being somewhat cold towards possible suitors. And there was definitely not a shortage- Harry thought Daphne's beauty rivaled even Fleur, and Susan was very pretty herself.
As the days wore on and Harry became completely healed, he started back on his training regimen. He would occasionally pass Daphne or Susan in the hall and throw a wink their way when he caught them looking, usually soliciting a red face from them. Romilda had actually approached him on one occasion in the common room, and they had spoke for a while but Harry didn't feel any real interest in her, so he didn't make it a further habit. This had him wondering about a date for the ball. His first choice was obviously Hermione, though he wasn't sure about taking her as a date. He was worried that she may take it wrong and it could put a strain on their friendship.
Hermione had also noticed the interactions between Harry and the girls but didn't confront him about it. She wasn't entirely sure why it upset her when they looked at him and blushed but it did. He was just her best friend it wasn't like she had claimed him as a boyfriend, and she wasn't sure she even liked him that way, thinking that he probably couldn't see her as more than a friend. With any luck he would ask her to the ball and that would lead to a profession of undying love, though she wasn't holding her breath.
Finally a Hogsmeade weekend was upon them and Harry had decided to go and buy some new clothes as he was close to outgrowing the ones he had not to mention the couple of pairs that had been destroyed in training or by dragon. Hermione had decided to stay in and work on an essay, so Harry made his way to the village with Neville who had no destination in mind and just wanted some time away from the castle. Harry decided that he would stop and get fitted for his new clothes first so they would be ready to pick up by time they left.
As Harry stood atop a stool in nothing but a pair of black trousers allowing the seamstress to get his measurements, the door opened and a couple of chatty girls walked in. He had his back to the door so he couldn't see who it was, but he noticed they had quickly stopped talking. He then got the feeling he was being watched before he heard a wolf-whistle and then giggles from the girls. He now felt the need and turned enough that he could see who it was and a small smirk popped on his face as he saw Daphne Greengrass' face light up red and Tracey began to laugh even harder.
"Like what you see then?" Harry asked with mirth in his voice.
Daphne half nodded before catching herself and going even redder, while Tracey who was always more open said "Hell yes we do!"
"I thought so." Harry replied with a big smile. "What about your friend there?" He asked tilting his head towards Daphne. Obviously, he already knew she had something for him but he was enjoying the teasing, his confidence being boosted lately from his success in the task and his training. He was also quite aware that he had filled out from the lanky boy he was last year and was among the most fit of his year.
"Oh, don't mind her. I think she's just too shy to speak because the is smitten with y-OWW what the hell!" Tracey started and then screamed in pain as Daphne slapped her in the arm.
"Oh really now?" Harry said as he directed his look toward the dark haired girl.
"Uhh…" Daphne tried and failed to come up with something to deny it but really couldn't think of anything after her friend had thrown her under the bus.
"It's fine that you do, really. I happen to think you're quite beautiful as well."
The seamstress now had to suppress a chuckle. "Alrighty Mr. Potter, I think I have you fixed. Check back in a couple hours, now go buy these ladies a drink.
Harry pretended to think about it for a moment. "Don't mind if I do, so long as you lot are up for it." He said looking from Neville to Tracey before lingering on Daphne.
They all nodded their agreement after some hesitation on Daphne's part before departing from the shop.
The group made their way slowly towards the Three Broomsticks, window shopping as they went. When they arrived Madam Rosmerta greeted them and gave them one of the more isolated tables in the back, apparently thinking they were on a double date. She took their orders and soon came back with four butterbeers before departing again.
"I can't help but notice," Harry started before pausing to take a sip of his drink. "That several people have changed their opinion of me recently; specifically, after the first task." He glanced at Daphne and Tracey with a smirk as he finished.
Tracey giggled as he passed over her. "Well, being that you are from Gryffindor and us from Slytherin, I personally never paid you any attention. The only time we ever noticed you was when you and Malfoy had a pissing contest or when Snape yelled at you. I mean sure you're the boy who lived but until we saw you fight a dragon and win you just flew under the radar, now I think of you more as a man who lived." She finished in a saucy tone and winked at him causing him to blush.
He turned towards Daphne next. "Well?"
"Same as her basically. We see you get bitched at in potions or whatever, but I never really noticed you and how handsome you were until recently. It does help that you were able to slay a dragon singlehandedly at only 14." She replied with her own grin. Harry was glad to see her smile finally, as it made her look even more stunning.
"I didn't want to kill it honestly. I just wanted to do the task and make it out alive, but someone sabotaged it and I had no choice." Harry replied a bit downtrodden.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that." Daphne quickly said. "It's just the fact that you have the strength to fight a dragon by yourself. I doubt anyone here short of Dumbledore could do it."
Neville shook his head. "I would be dead right now. I wouldn't even have made it a minute."
"You'd be surprised what fear and adrenaline can make you do." Harry said with a chuckle. "Besides, you've been doing loads better since you started training with me. I bet once you get a matching wand, you'll be terrific."
"Maybe but Gran wanted me to use Dad's wand and I don't think she would buy me another."
"Well it'll be my treat, a late birthday gift." Harry said with a smile at his friend.
"So" Tracey said looking between the two boys. "Have either of you gotten a date to the yule ball?"
After they both shook their head to the negative, she wagged her eyebrows and continued in a saucy tone. "Well… there's two of us and two of you, and you're both fine enough. Maybe we go to the ball as a group and we can swap partners? And then after maybe we can have some more fun swapp-OWW!" She screamed out as Daphne slapped her again, this time in the back of the head. Harry, Neville, and Daphne's faces were all a brilliant shade of red while thinking about what Tracey said.
"You cunt we can't do that!" Daphne nearly shouted.
"And why the hell not? I bet they both though it was a good idea!" She pointed towards the boys as she finished, both of whom were now sporting an expression somewhere between wonder and horror.
"Now you broke them you damn pervert. Good job. Honestly."
"Not my fault. I just think it means they liked my idea." Tracey said as she quickly ducked under Daphne's hand that was aimed at her head.
"They are teenage boys any talk of sex will do that especially talking about some sort of orgy."
Tracey finally consented and held her hands up in defeat. "Fine then. You get Potter and I get Longbottom, and we'll reevaluate the swapping idea later."
After a glare from Daphne she muttered "Fine, fine. Probably no swapping."
Daphne then looked at Harry and Neville who were both still red-faced and silent. "Potter will you take me to the ball? Just me, not Tracey."
Her question finally brought him back to reality and he nodded. "Oh yea. Of course, I'd love to escort a lady as beautiful as yourself."
"What about you Longbottom, would you mind accompanying me?" Tracey said looking at the other boy.
Neville, who hadn't managed to shake off the embarrassment yet, simply nodded blankly.
They stayed a while longer, ate lunch and had a couple more drinks before deciding it was time to leave. Harry thanked Madam Rosmerta and threw some coins on the table before leading them out onto the street. Harry and Neville parted ways with the girls with promises from Harry to do it again sometime before making their way towards Ollivander's small shop up the road. Luckily enough Ollivander himself was in today as Harry wanted to check on getting a custom-made wand.
Custom wands were much more expensive and could take a while to source the ingredients depending on what was required, but they were much more responsive to one's magic. Sirius had told him once that the average person wouldn't notice a difference but once you got to a certain level a premade wand wouldn't perform as well any longer.
After talking with Ollivander and going through a series of tests, Ollivander was confused and excited about something that came back in the test results. He had told Harry he would be in touch by owl soon to discuss the findings after he had time to do some research. Harry agreed and then watched as Neville tried several wands before finding the one that fit- cherry wood, 13 inches, unicorn hair core. Harry then paid Ollivander the 7 galleons for the wand before leaving with Neville.
Next they made a quick stop by the quidditch shop so Harry could replace his broken Firebolt. It was a quick, albeit expensive, stop as he loved his firebolt and it was still the best broom money could buy so he didn't have to shop or debate he simply got it and left.
The remainder of the day was spent lolling around in the various shops while Harry bought Hermione a new self-inking quill and some other trinkets. They ran into Daphne and Tracey once more and Harry flirted a bit before moving on. Finally, they checked back in to see that his robes were finished and with all his packages shrunken in his pocket the pair made their way back to the school.