November 24th, 1994.
The following morning, an unusual sense of calm washed over me. Throughout my morning classes, my mind was solely focused on the subject matter at hand. Not even Professor Binns' typically lengthy lecture about the Witch Trials could bore me. In fact, as the class neared its end, I found myself unexpectedly engaged, eager for more intriguing insights into the topic.
After changing out of my uniform, Amelia practically dragged me along to lunch, while Graham went over our plan. The night before, we had dedicated time to crafting three distinct scenarios in which I would confront the dragon. Each scenario was tailored to address a different possible outcome.
My personal favorite was the fourth scenario. In that version, the dragon would somehow sense my benevolent intentions and graciously permit me to complete the task, its majestic form providing a striking backdrop to the scene.
''Miss Nott,'', Professor Snape's voice broke the quiet ambiance at our table. ''It is time for the first task. Follow me.''
I nodded in acknowledgment and rose from my seat, trailing after him as he led the way. Our journey took us down the stone steps to the castle grounds. The trees arched above us, forming a natural canopy that swayed gently in the crisp breeze. Beneath our feet, the ground was painted with fallen leaves in an array of autumn hues.
As a chilly gust brushed against me, I instinctively pulled my scarf closer around my neck. Despite the gravity of the task that awaited me, I was still enveloped in that unexpected sense of calm. Our steps were loud on the stone steps, mixing with the sound of leaves and birds in the distance.
The sun played a game of hide-and-seek with the passing clouds, sending patches of warm light across our path. It made the scene look like a magical painting, switching between bright spots and shadows.
Beside me, Professor Snape exuded an air of authority as his robes moved with each step. We were coming closer to our destination and despite the coolness of the air, a sense of enchantment hung over the area, an aura of ancient spells and protective wards. We arrived at a large tent that, I assumed, was hiding the dragon from our sight.
''I trust you are prepared for the task ahead,'' he stated, I nodded in understanding. ''There are professional dragon handlers near if anything is to go wrong.''
Charlie was among them. I imagined him, his fiery red hair all messed up by the wind, clad in leather work attire, his vest bearing faint scuff marks, a testament to his hands-on interactions with creatures. Underneath, a simple but sturdy shirt visible, its sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing muscular forearms. He looked like a man who was both at ease in the wild and dedicated to his craft, he too concentrating on the task ahead. A few freckles on his cheeks adding to his boyish appearance. It felt embarrassing to admit, but the knowledge that he was nearby and observing fueled my desire to excel in this task even further.
''Inside you will find Mr. Bagman. He'll provide additional instructions,'' he said and turned to leave. ''Good luck.''
—
The first dragon in the lineup was the Swedish Short-Snout, its scales reflecting the sunlight in a dazzling display. Despite its majestic appearance, I knew all too well the ferocity of its flames. This particular dragon, a female, crouched over her clutch of eggs in a protective stance.
While not the most dangerous dragon of the task, a twinge of apprehension still tugged at me as I watched her enter the arena.
Rose looked ghostly pale, which only added fuel to my nerves. As I watched her, I was struck by how different she seemed, her skin was delicate, which made her seem vulnerable, especially next to the towering dragon. Still, I couldn't help but be struck by her ethereal beauty.
She carried herself with a certain elegance, like she had practiced every step. Dressed in all black, from the turtleneck and leather pants to her boots, her green cloak flowed behind her, swaying as she walked, as if each step was part of a carefully choreographed dance. Her light brown hair caught the sunlight, giving it a cool, shimmering quality that resembled the dragon's scales. But it was her eyes that really held my attention – the deepest brown eyes I had ever seen, almost black. They held a mystery and intensity that intrigued me.
Yet, I knew there was more under the gentleness. Despite her delicate appearance, she had a temper and certain resilience that contrasted with her sensitivity. I recalled her stubborn limp on the night of the Death Eater attack at the Quidditch camp, her smile shining through bloodied teeth.
And then I saw her in action, circling the blue dragon with a determined resolve. At that moment, any doubts about her toughness vanished. She ran with such strength, holding her ground with fierce determination. The contrast between her delicate beauty and her inner strength was captivating, and I found myself drawn in.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from her as she faced the dragon head-on, her determination unshakeable. The dragon moved quickly, its size and power showing as it came at her. But she didn't back down. She kept a safe distance, moving carefully around the dragon. Her strategy became clear – keep the dragon's attention away from the eggs.
When the dragon lunged at her, she managed to dodge its attack smoothly and then quickly made a move for the eggs. The dragon, however, was persistent. It jumped at her aggressively, trying to stop her. In a split second, she summoned a boulder with practiced ease, sending it crashing into the dragon's path. The collision was powerful, the impact causing the dragon to roar in frustration.
Unfazed, the dragon unleashed a wave of blue fire, and Rose's quick reflexes kicked in. She hid behind a boulder, shielding herself from the scorching flames. Amidst the chaos, an illusion of the dragon's eggs and the coveted golden egg materialized in one corner of the arena. A brilliant strategy – Rose's way of diverting the dragon's attention off her.
From the opposite corner, Rose conjured a group of small blue birds, capturing the dragon's interest and redirecting its focus toward the illusion of its eggs. It was a smart move. Still, the dragon's massive tail struck dangerously close to her, sending her crashing to the ground. The crown erupted in yells, but her determination shone through even as blood gushed from her nose. I winced as I saw her spit out the blood before she rose to her feet again, unyielding.
Undeterred by the impact, she pushed through, her goal clear as she reached for the real golden egg. But the dragon turned its attention back to her, a fiery determination mirrored in its eyes. As Rose ran with the golden egg, the dragon prepared to spit fire once more. I gripped my wand, ready to interfere. What followed was a moment of magic unlike anything I'd seen – she halted the flames with a redirecting spell that was both enchanting and astonishingly beautiful.
However, the frozen flames erupted in a burst of energy, sending her hurtling through the air. She flew towards the exit, and my heart raced as I watched. The arena's exit was her salvation, and I held my breath in anxious anticipation while she successfully managed to escape. The dragon, dazed by the explosion, turned towards the real eggs and hurled at them, hissing back at Rose.
She looked straight at the crowd, blood dripping from her chin, and held the golden egg up triumphantly. Her lips formed the widest smile I had ever seen on her face as the crowd cheered.
I couldn't help myself – I covered my face with my hand and mirrored her smile. It was as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, my tense muscles finally relaxing as she made her way out of the arena.
—
''Well done, Miss Nott!'', Professor McGonagall's voice reached my ears as I moved away from the dragon enclosure. Her eyes briefly fell on my arm, which bore a deep cut from my second fall. While I continued to wipe the blood off my face, she offered a look of sympathy, saying, ''Madam Pomfrey have you patched up in no time.''
''You were BRILLIANT!'', Graham launched himself at me.
''Let's not suffocate our champion, Mr. Montague,'' Snape's voice cut through from behind him. ''Outstanding performance,'' he added. Moody, standing alongside him, concentrated his magical eye on me, ''Impressive.''
Graham paid no attention to them and kept on squeezing me all the way to the first-aid tent.
''Graham... Merlin, I didn't even look!'' A slightly hysterical laugh escaped me, a blend of shock and relief, and I found myself impulsively smacking my forehead in disbelief. ''What were my scores?''
''Thirty-eight in total, you see they deducted some points for...''
Sitting on the chilly metal cot, I tuned out his explanations, my ears buzzing from the leftover excitement. The scene around me had a blurry edge, the rush of adrenaline still coursing through my veins.
''Where—''
Amelia was dragging my brother into the tent by his hair, which looked rather amusing due to their height difference. ''Hold still you little—'' Theo managed to wriggle free from her grip and hurriedly knelt in front of me.
''Never. Do. That. Again.'', his voice held an urgency, his worried gaze darting between my face and the cut on my arm. I held onto him, his trembles matching my own.
''I was so afraid for you,'' he murmured into my hair.
''I know,'' I whispered back, my fingers softly stroking his hair, reluctant to let go.
As Madam Pomfrey tended to my injuries, the sounds of excitement from outside the tent drew me back to the present moment. The other champions were surely finishing their tasks. Graham's voice carried over, recounting my actions with a mix of awe and amusement, particularly focusing on what he referred to as my god-like flame redirection.
Once my injuries were patched up, I made my way back to the Champions' tent. It turned out that all the champions had come through their dragon challenges. There was a palpable sense of accomplishment in the air. Potter's name was on everyone's lips, his impressive broom trick earning him quite the admiration. Despite the smudges of dirt and ash, our faces lit up with smiles as we exchanged congratulations and shared in the camaraderie of our shared victory.
''Well done, all of you!'' exclaimed Bagman, entering the tent with a bounce in his step, as if he had personally overcome a dragon himself. ''Now, just a quick few words. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth— but we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! If you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding, you will see that they open... see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg— because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go, then!''
We scattered, each of us heading in different directions. As I started making my way to where my brother and friends were, I was caught off guard by Felix, who intercepted me. Charlie followed close behind him.
''Kid, I've got to say, you should've kept that broken nose,'' Felix said, slinging his arm around me and giving my hair a tousle with his other hand. ''You did great. Knew you had it in you.''
''If you say so,'' I rolled my eyes and chuckled, giving him a shove. He grinned and walked away, leaving Charlie and me alone outside. The brisk wind felt refreshing against my flushed skin.
''I apologize for my previous statement. You definitely had to fight the dragon,'' Charlie spoke up, falling into step beside me as we walked. ''I'm glad that it didn't tear you to ribbons.''
A small smile tugged at my lips, and I took a slight step away from him. ''Thanks, Weasley.''
With that, he turned and walked back in the direction of the dragon enclosure, leaving me to continue on my way with a mixture of triumph and newfound hope for the days to come.
—
The celebration that followed my dragon victory was nothing short of wild.
Our common room was jam-packed with more students than I ever recalled seeing in our house before. I could've sworn there were a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws mixed in with us. We laughed, sang, and raised our cups high in cheers for days on end. The celebrations just kept rolling through the week. We showed up for our morning classes looking like a group of crazed Inferi—well, at least those of us who bothered to show up.
As I strolled down the hallways, people greeted me left and right. Hell, even the girls who were always trailing after Krum asked me to sign their books!
Theo, on the other hand, remained distant and often slipped away, but at least we weren't fighting anymore. I figured I'd give him space and let him come to me when he was ready to share. I had faith he would.
My life suddenly felt like it was falling perfectly into place, if only for a little while.
My worries seemed to vanish, replaced by thoughts of homework and wondering if my owl would find a certain dragon researcher.