Harry Potter, Air Bender
by Roff

CHAPTER TWO

"Harry, I know you didn't put your name in the cup so how in the world did it come out and name you as the fourth champion?" Neville asked his best mate very confused. "I mean there are only supposed to be three champions, one from each school. What school are you supposed to represent since Cedric is representing Hogwarts?"

"I'd like to know the answer to those questions too, Nev. Obviously, the goblet was messed with and the piece of paper that came out of it is in my handwriting. In fact, it looks like someone tore off a piece from one of my tests or homework assignments that had my name on it."

"Surely it wouldn't be one of the teachers, Harry. Why would they do such a thing?"

"I know it's difficult to suspect Mad-Eye Moody, but you know as well as I that I've had the worse luck with our Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. You remember the first one, right?"

"How could I forget Quirrell and the fact you had to kill him in self-defense?"

"Don't remind me. He was possessed by Voldemort, you know. Makes me wonder if Voldemort is behind this too," he pondered that last part out loud.

"I wouldn't put it past him, Harry."

"Then we had the prancing-ponce, Lockhart. He vanished all the bones in my arm after a Quidditch match and then at the end of the year he also tried to obliviate you, Ron, and myself."

"Except he tried to use Ron's wonky wand to do it," Neville replied. "He ended up down the hall from my parents at St. Mungos. He constantly stops me when I go to visit and wants to give me his autograph. The nurse has to get on to him and take him back to his bed every time he does that."

"Yeh, he stopped me once too, Nev."

"Lupin was not a bad defense professor last year. He was actually the best we've had so far, although this year Moody has been teaching us quite a bit too."

"I agree that Lupin was our best defense teacher but even he turned into a werewolf and tried to kill me. You weren't with us that time but Sirius had to protect us in his grim form and drive him away from us. That was the night Ron got his leg hurt by Sirius. Sirius bought him that little owl to apologize."

"Wasn't that also when you knocked out Snape with a stunner?" Neville asked grinning.

"Yes it was, Nev. Ah, good times," Harry said smiling.

"But to suspect Moody, Harry?" Neville turned back serious. "He's a decorated auror and has the reputation of being the best dark wizard catcher ever. He even fought in the war against Grindelwald."

"I know. I know. It's just none of the other teachers have ever set me up like this. Plus the rest of them have been here since before we started. But we know the defense position is cursed so we get a new professor each year for that class. I don't know for sure if Moody is guilty of putting my name in that cup, but for now he, Crouch, and Bagman are at the top of my list of suspects."

"I don't see Crouch doing it either, Harry. He's a big stickler for the rules. He put his own son in Azkaban for being a Death Eater. Bagman, on the other hand, is known to have a gambling problem. Maybe he's hoping for a big payday?"

"Possibly, I just doubt Bagman has enough smarts to pull something like this off. He acts like he took too many bludgers to the head."

"I see your point."

"But I won't rule him out quite yet. I need to see how this plays out more and how my suspects behave in the meantime. Perhaps the guilty one will slip up and give me a clue."

"I'll keep my eyes open too."

"Thanks, Nev. I really didn't want to be a part of this tournament, but since I have to compete then I'm going to try to win while making sure I stay safe."

"You've always had my back, Harry. I plan to return the favor. What are friends for?"


Harry was wondering what the organizers of the Triwizard Tournament were thinking when they decided to use nesting mother dragons in the first task.

Based on a selection process, he was going last and was not able to see what the other champions did during their turn. After hearing the reactions of the commentator, Ludo Bagman, and the audience, he was quite certain all of his competitors were successful but injured in one way or another.

Dragons, really?

He knew he was going to have to use his air element to survive but he still was not keen on revealing that ability to others. Neville was his best friend in the world and he hadn't even let him in on the secret. He would have to point his wand while using his element to hopefully fool them. Either way it goes he wasn't willing to die or be permanently maimed by this dragon just to keep that secret.

When it was his turn he took off out of the tent in a dead run. He rounded the rocks that separated him from the dragon. He looked and spotted the eggs and his goal in the middle of them. It was a golden egg that the dragon evidently could not tell it was a fake. Speeding up more he sprinted toward the eggs as fast as he could run.

When he was about halfway there he heard the dragon suck in a big breath so he stopped and turned toward the dragon. He was right out in the open with no rocks for protection. He raised his wand and his left hand out in front of him.

He started hearing the commentator and audience questioning what he was doing and worrying that the dragon was about to roast him alive.

Harry just waited.

When the dragon released a whole torrent of fire from its mouth, many in the audience screamed. Harry flicked his wand while at the same time he sent a very powerful gust of wind with his other hand toward the dragon.

The massive flame of fire that was rushing toward Harry was completely stopped in its tracks and reversed direction, bathing the dragon's face in her own flames.

She sputtered and shook her big scaly head as the fire dissipated about her.

She stared down at the upstart as she squinted her eyes in anger. Then she did it again and sent an even bigger, more powerful blast of fire toward Harry.

The audience was quiet as a mouse after what they saw Harry do the first time. They could hardly believe it. They were watching very closely to see him do it again or would he amaze them with something even more spectacular, they were thinking.

Harry flicked his wand again and the flame turned back on the dragon once more, only this time the dragon was pushed a few feet back away from Harry, its claws leaving grooves in the stone as it slid but tried to stay put.

It then decided to use its spiked tail to kill Harry. The tail came around quickly toward Harry but he just flicked his wand again and the tail was pushed back the other direction. It went so hard the other way that it spun the dragon around and she fell flat when she landed from the out of control spin.

Harry walked over and picked up the golden egg, put it under his arm, and walked off to the exit with the dragon just eyeing him but not moving a muscle. She continued to lay there until he left completely. She then got up and went to check on her eggs.

The audience erupted in applause and yelling when he stepped out of the arena ending his task.

Harry would have received a perfect score if it weren't for Karkaroff scoring him lower than his own champion. Harry was still in the lead though. He was also the only champion that didn't get hurt. Madam Pomfrey didn't get to see Harry perform in his task. She was too busy in the medical tent healing the burns and other injuries for the older champions.

When she looked at Harry and cast a quick diagnostic spell at him, even when he told her he was not injured in any way, she was flabbergasted. How in the world did a fourteen year old face the worst dragon and not get injured while the three 17 year olds faced lesser dragons and did get injured.

"Only you, Harry Potter," she told him and let him go.

Harry walked over to see how the other champions were doing, making sure they were going to be okay. They seemed to be alright after Pomfrey fixed them up.

"How did you guys fair?" Harry asked holding up his golden egg.

They all reached over and held theirs up for him to see.

"Good! I guess it's on to the next challenge then," he told them.

"How did you not get injured, Harry?" asked Cedric.

"Lucky, I guess, Cedric."

"You are one to watch, Harry Potter," Krum said in his heavy accent. "Only fourteen, but you had the biggest, meanest, and most deadly dragon out of all of us, but yet you were faster with your time and did it without getting hurt. I will not underestimate you again. You really didn't put your name in that cup, did you?"

Harry shook his head no.

"Congratulations on your win, Harry Potter," he continued. "I'm looking forward to competing with you again. In fact, that goes for all of you. We are all champions for completing our task. We now move forward. Yes?"

"Yes!" the other three said together.

"I never thought you were lying, Harry," Cedric told him after a slight pause. "I believed you when you said you didn't enter. I just wanted to make sure you knew that."

"Thanks, Cedric."

"I do not think you are a cheater either, Harry Potter," added Fleur with her French accent. "I believe you too."

"Thanks, guys. That's means a lot to me. I'm trying to figure out who put my name in but I haven't narrowed down the list of possibilities yet. Whatever the reason, I'm quite sure it's not intended to be good for me."

"Let us know if we can help," Krum offered.

"I will. Thanks again."


They had just finished the dancing lesson with McGonagall where she explained the Yule Ball. She also told Harry to wait after the lesson. When they were alone with Neville waiting on Harry outside the door, she told him he would have to get a date for the ball. Harry and Neville were then walking down the hallway after she finished telling Harry what he needed to know.

"Who are you going to ask to go to the ball, Harry?" asked Neville.

"I've been giving that some serious thought ever since the Professor informed us. I'm not sure yet, but I'm trying to figure it out."

"I'll leave you to it then. I'm going to go catch up with Hermione and ask her before someone else does." He started walking away but then stopped and turned back. "You weren't considering her were you?"

"No. You go ahead. That'll be great for the both of you," Harry told him then continued on thinking on this new dilemma.

He was walking and thinking about possible girls while looking down and didn't see where he was going. He accidentally ran into someone before he knew it. Turns out it was a group of three girls talking in the hallway together. He ran right into the back of Sophie Roper from his own house. She was talking with Fay Dunbar, her dorm mate, and Sally Smith from Hufflepuff. They were all three fourth years like Harry.

When Harry bumped into the back of her it made her stumble forward into Sally who reached out to grab Fay to steady herself and it nearly took all three girls down to the floor. If it hadn't been for Harry's quick reflexes steadying Sophie and Sallie they likely would have fallen.

After he had them stabilized he looked at them closely to make sure they were all okay.

"Are you alright, Harry?" asked Sophie who was very concerned as she stepped up closer to him. She knew this was something not like Harry at all, to go bumping into people.

"I'm so sorry, Sophie. I was thinking so hard and not paying attention to where I was walking. I walked right into the back of you and nearly caused a catastrophe with you and your friends."

"We're all fine, Harry. But, what's making you think so hard?" she asked as her friends just watched and looked curious.

Harry stopped and just looked at her. He was not wanting to reveal what he was thinking about but as he looked at Sophie, a beautiful girl in his year with light brown hair and dark brown eyes he suddenly realized that he needed to be completely honest.

"Sophie, I was thinking about the Yule Ball and the fact I have to have a date to open it. The champions, you see, have to open the ball with a dance. I was trying to figure out who to ask and if they would be willing to teach me how to dance so I won't look like an idiot at that blasted ball."

Sophie's brown eyes grew bigger as she stood right in front of Harry Potter, the same boy she has had a crush on for about a year. She didn't run in his circles or hang out with the same people so didn't think she would ever have a chance at dating him.

"So, the question is, …my dear Sophie," he said her name after a slight pause and with a lilt to it, "do you know how to dance?"

"Um, …yes. As a matter of fact I do," she said a little bit shocked at the conversation.

"Would you be interested in teaching me?" he asked.

She nodded her head in the affirmative, still not sure where this was going.

"Now, for the big question," he informed her.

Sophie's eyes widened even more even though she tried to keep from doing that.

"Sophie, if you're willing to teach me to dance and spend all that time with me to accomplish that, then would you also be interested in seeing the fruits of your labor up close by accompanying me to the Yule Ball?"

Sophie's eyes lost the wide-eyed look as a smile came over her pretty face.

"I would love to, Harry," she said calmly while inside she wanted to jump up and down in jubilation.

"You would?" he asked disbelieving. "I mean, …that's great! I'm glad I got that taken care of. Let's discuss this after dinner. I'll meet you in the common room, okay? Maybe we can figure out a schedule then?"

"Sounds good, Harry. I'll see you then."

Harry smiled and walked off with Sophie watching him leave. But he then stopped before going very far, turned around, and hurried back to her.

Harry grabbed both her hands in his and leaned in close.

"I forgot one thing," he told her seriously.

"What's that?" she asked nervously with his seriousness and him leaning in so close.

"Thank you so much for doing this, Sophie," he said very sincerely then leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

With that he left again but did not come back this time. He continued on to the Great Hall to join his friends for dinner.

Sophie stood there in shock. Her friends had to help get her moving down the hall so they could eat.

During dinner the two would take every chance to look over at each other and smile as they ate with their own friends.

After dinner, they met in the common room and decided to find an empty classroom close by to practice in. They left through the entrance and headed around the floor they were on to see if any rooms were available.

They came upon an old classroom that was a bit dusty but a few cleansing charms by Harry and Sophie made it more habitable for them.

Sophie then started explaining to Harry about different types of dancing and what she believed would be the ones they used at the Yule Ball. She explained about waltzes and how that likely would be what the champions would have to dance to for the opener.

She also surmised that since this was a dance for teenagers she suspected they may bring in a band to play more contemporary music to enjoy and dance to. This would be more of a freestyle instead of the formal waltz style.

She went over several more things, explaining a lot more, but then looked around and noticed something.

"Harry, what are we going to do for music?" she asked. "We'll need something to dance to, you know."

"I forgot about that," he said thoughtfully. "McGonagall used an old phonograph. I suppose a stereo is not going to work since there's no electricity. It has to be something that works around magic," he said still thinking it over. He then popped his head up and said, "Oh, I have an idea. I'll call a friend and see if he can help us."

"A friend?" she asked.

"Dobby?"

Suddenly a funny dressed elf appeared before Harry with a soft crack sound.

"Harry Potter is calling Dobby? What can Dobby do for the great Harry Potter?" he asked excitedly.

"Hi, Dobby. Thanks for coming. This is Sophie," he said gesturing to her, "and she is going to teach me how to dance for the Yule Ball. We were going to practice in here but we realized we have no music. Do you know where we could get some music?"

"Dobby, will be right back, Harry Potter, sir." He then popped out.

"You have your own house elf at school?" Sophie asked.

"No, not really. Dobby's not my house elf. He's just a good friend that works here at Hogwarts."

"How did you become friends with a house elf?" she asked curiously.

"Oh, he used to be owned by the Malfoys, but he was horribly abused so I tricked old Lucius into setting him free at the end of our second year. Mr. Malfoy wasn't happy about that either. In fact, he started to curse me for it but Dobby sent him flying down the hall before he could cast a spell at me. We've been friends ever since."

"Only you, Harry," she said chuckling.

"He'll do pretty much anything for me now after I got him away from the Malfoys."

"I'll bet. I don't think I would be happy with them either."

"No, I seriously doubt it," Harry said shaking his head.

Dobby appeared a couple of minutes later with a phonograph and many records.

"Wow! Thanks, Dobby!"

"Anything for the great Harry Potter," he told him.

They looked through the records and found some they could use. Dobby started cleaning up the room while they did that. He had all the dust removed and the room looking very clean in just a short time. He came back over and offered to play the records for them so they took him up on the offer.

Sophie went over the steps for the waltz again with Harry then had Dobby play the first record they picked out. After she had Harry listen to the music and feel the rhythm, she then had him dance with her using the steps she showed him.

He wasn't sure at first but he caught on quickly. He was definitely light on his feet, Sophie noticed.

They made good progress but ran out of time so Harry asked Dobby if he could provide the music each time they needed it. Dobby promised to do just that.

"Just call for Dobby and Dobby will come," Harry was told by the excitable elf.


The two teenagers were getting along quite well as they continued to practice dancing and spending more time together.

Sophie informed Harry that they needed to coordinate their colors for the ball so she asked him what he planned on wearing. He let her know that he only had one formal and it was black. He had a white shirt and black bow tie to wear with it.

"Well, that should be easy to work with. I'll need to go to Hogsmeade to see what I can find for myself though."

"Then please allow me to accompany you on our next Hogsmeade weekend," he told her. "That is if you think you would like that. Would you?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I would, and thank you for asking," she said with a smile.

"No problem. I have to make sure no one steals my dance instructor," he said and then gave her a flirtatious wink.

"Are you trying to make me blush, Harry?" she asked as she looked away from him.

"No, but I'll take it if I can get it," he told her grinning.

She turned back and looked at him, her cheeks with a rosy glow. She saw his grin and her cheeks reddened even more.

"Wow! Your cheeks are really red!" he exclaimed.

Sophie frowned and narrowed her eyes at him.

"But you look really cute that way," he said quickly.

She smiled and asked, "Can I ask you a question, Harry?"

"Sure."

"Did you ask me to the ball simply because I was someone you ran into first?" she asked worriedly.

"No. I was already thinking of you as a possibility. In fact, you were the first one to come to my mind when I started pondering who to ask. Then when I ran into you in the hall and saw your lovely face, I knew I should not waste that moment."

"Did you know I've had a crush on you for about a year?" she confessed.

"I may have had a suspicion but no I didn't fully realize it. I've had to deal with several silly crushes over the years from girls simply because of who I am. I've learned to ignore them because they were crushes on the subject of those fictional Harry Potter books and not on me personally. They never got to know me so it was silly crushes at best.

"Just so you know," he continued, "I tend to be too distracted by other things that take my focus. Dating was not even in my thoughts with my name coming out of that cup and having to face a dragon in the first task. Then I was told I had to attend the Yule Ball and I had to have a date on top of that. I'm just trying to keep up, Sophie. I'm also working on figuring out who is trying to kill me by entering me in this dangerous tournament."

"I can help you with more than just dancing, Harry," she told him as she stepped closer. "That is if you don't mind spending more time with me. I'd be glad to help you any way I can," she said sincerely.

"I like spending time with you so you are welcome to join me in figuring all this out."

"Thanks, Harry. I like spending time with you too."

When it was time for the Hogsmeade weekend, Harry and Sophie ate breakfast in the Great Hall before heading out to the all wizarding town. Neville was going to Hogsmeade with Hermione who he was also taking to the Yule Ball.

Sophie wanted to go first to Gladrags to see if she can find a dress for the ball. If not then she would have to get her mum to take her shopping after the semester ended and before the ball to get one. She would much rather stay at the school with Harry helping him with his dancing and preparing for the second task.

They arrived at Gladrags and Sophie started looking around at all the formal dresses. Harry promptly found a seat close to the front of the store and near a window and waited patiently.

Sophie wandered around looking at all the possible choices but she did not look to be having much luck from Harry's perspective. The proprietor went over to her and asked if she needed any help. Sophie then explained what she needed.

The lady took a good look at Sophie then told her to wait and she would get a dress from the back. The dress she came out with was beautiful in a dark blue. Sophie tried it on and let the lady size it for her so it fit perfectly. She showed Harry and he had no problems with it at all. She was beautiful in it.

Sophie then told the lady she would take it but needed it in black instead of dark blue. She had the couple wait a little longer as she took the dress to the back. When she came back out it was a silky black, sized for Sophie, and ready for purchase.

After Sophie bought the dress, Harry had Dobby come and take it back to the castle for her. They then went about exploring Hogsmeade together.

They met up with Neville and Hermione in the Three Broomsticks and had lunch with them.