Chapter Twenty One
It wasn't long before the clock ticked round till just before half twelve. The common room was empty, students wanting to get some sleep so they could make the most of the next day, most had a lot of homework to catch up on.
Harry got Draco to fetch his invisibility cloak and stuffed his bed with a spare couple of pillows in case the soundly sleeping other boys in the dorm should wake up and spot Harry's bed empty.
Harry covered himself with the cloak and checked that he was covered; every year he was a little bit taller, and it was that much harder to hide under the cloak. Pansy and Daphne said they'd stay up and wait for him to make sure he could get back all right. Draco was also going to stay up, but in the dorm room to make sure Crabbe or Goyle didn't mess anything up.
It was eerily quiet in the corridors. Harry stopped and let the bloody Barron float past, Harry had a horrible feeling that he could see through the invisibility cloak but he didn't say anything so Harry just kept going.
It wasn't long before he was outside Severus's office and knocked quietly. The door opened and Severus slipped out, dressed in a travelling cloak.
"Follow me." Severus whispered, "And stay covered."
Harry nodded, although Severus couldn't see him and followed his father silently down the corridor.
"Where you off too at this hour Snape?" Professor Moody asked as he stepped out of the shadows.
Severus smiled politely, "I'm just off home, Lily is never happy when I get home so late, but sometimes the homework marking just can't wait."
Professor Moody grunted, his magical eye drifting over Harry and he smiled, "You thought 'bout what I said then."
Harry was amazed at his father's ability to be completely calm when Moody clearly knew Harry was there.
Severus shrugged, "Lily said something along the same line. Anyway I must be off, better get home."
Moody nodded and let both Severus and Harry past before continuing down the corridor. Harry wasn't sure where they were going but followed Severus out he castle and down towards Hagird's softly glowing hut.
Severus knocked on the door and waited. Hargid was clearly expecting someone; as he was dressed up once again.
He had at least abandoned the attempt to calm his hair but was still wearing his hairy suit, which had a large sunflower tucked into the button hole.
He nodded at Severus and looked behind him.
"I just thought I'd let you know I was going home. Marking is all done at last." Severus said, like it was perfectly normal for him to announce where he was going to Hagrid.
Hagrid nodded, "Good fur you. I'll see you tomorrow mornin'."
Severus smiled and turned to where he thought Harry was, he reached around until he caught Harry's arm and pulled him slightly to the side. He ducked under the invisibility cloak so he and Harry were both covered.
"We're going to follow Hagrid into the forest." Severus whispered, "You need to see this."
Harry nodded and they waited just to the side of Hagrid's hut. It wasn't long before Harry saw why Hagrid was so dressed up. Madam Maxime stepped elegantly from her carriage and walked over to Hagrid. She was also all dressed up, she'd swapped her black dress for a floaty, midnight blue one that swayed softly in the breeze. She looked very pretty.
They had a slightly awkward meeting where Madam Maxime moved in for a kiss but Hagrid unsure ended up kissing her cheek for a strangely long time.
"I was unsure why you asked to see me tonight 'Agrid." Madam Maxime said, "What do you 'ave planned?"
"Got a little surprise for yeh. I think you'll really like it." Hagrid beamed.
He offered his arm to Madam Maxime who managed to giggle like a young girl before taking it. Harry felt Severus pull him forward as they started towards the forest.
It was dark and there were a lot of roots. It was cramped under the invisibility cloak and Severus often had to catch Harry to stop him falling and they stumbled along.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked, as quietly as he could.
Severus slowed slightly so he could talk to Harry with less risk of being over heard. Madam Maxime and Hagrid were walking, arm in arm and heads bent low. Every once in a while Madam Maxime would laugh at something and pat Hagrid playfully on the hand.
"We're helping you." Severus whispered, "We're going to show you what the first task is, to give you time to prepare."
Harry stopped for a moment before the invisibility cloak wrapped around him pulled him forwards.
"Dad that's against the rules!" Harry hissed, "They said that no teachers where allowed to help. What would Mum think?"
The look Severus gave him told him that Lily already knew, she might even have been the one who suggested it. It crossed Harry's mind that he could just tell the judges that he'd cheated that he had had help from two teachers, three if you include Professor Moody, who Harry had a sneaking suspicion had something to do with this as well.
He couldn't though, he was in this now and getting disqualified would not only make him look bad but also Slytherin house and Hogwarts in general. He couldn't do that to everyone else.
It wasn't much further into the forest when Harry started to hear shouts and calls up a head. It was then Harry heard the ear splitting roar.
Hagrid and Madam Maxime had stopped just at a clearing up a head. Madam Maxime was looking forward in awe.
Harry crept forward with Severus, already knowing what was in the clearing. Dragons. Harry could see them clearly now, four huge and angry looking dragons, fighting with a large group of wizards.
Severus pointed to one of the wizards who was trying to control a large black dragon. It's bright yellow eyes were blazing with anger and it had a distinctly snake like look about it as it thrashed it's head, shooting flames out at the people around her. Harry knew the wizard, it was Ron Weasley's older brother, Charlie.
"It's no good!" Charlie shouted, "Stunning spells, on the count of three!"
There was a blast of light as several stunning spells hit the dragon at once. It gave a final, mournful roar before slumping to the ground.
Charlie wiped his forehead and walked over to Hagrid, "Good to see you Hagrid."
"Aye, you too Charlie. You got some real beauties 'ere."
Charlie grinned and nodded, he knew how much Hagrid loved dragons, "Well they should all be all right now. We gave them a sleeping draught to get them over here, thought it would be best to wake them up after dark. You can see it didn't go exactly to plan."
Harry was close enough to hear what they were saying as he looked at the four sleeping dragons which lay on the ground like four small hills.
Hagrid was also staring at the large black dragon closest to them, "Wha' breeds you got 'ere Charlie?"
"This one is a Hungarian Horntail." Charlie said, pointing to the large black one, "Over there is a Common Welsh Green, she's the smaller one. The blueish grey one is a Swedish Short-Snout and the red one is a Chinese Fireball."
Charlie looked worriedly at Madam Maxime, "Hargid, she's going to tell her students isn't she? She's bound to and the students aren't meant to know what's going on."
Hagrid shrugged, "Jus' thought she'd like ter see 'em."
Charlie laughed, "Very romantic date there Hagrid."
"They're goin' ter get one each? There's four righ'?" Hagrid asked, Charlie nodded, "Wha' they gotta do? Fight 'em?"
Charlie shook his head, "Just get past them I think. And we're all going to be there, at the ready, in case anything goes wrong. They wanted nesting mothers, we don't know why but I'll tell you this; I don't envy whoever gets the Hungarian Horntail. That thing is vicious, I've never known one so bad." he sighed, "Look, it's back end is as bad as it's front."
Charlie pointed to the large spikes that stuck out menacingly from the dragons tail. They were a deep bronze colour that glinted in the light from the fires scattered around the clearing.
Harry watched as a large number of huge, granite looking eggs, were placed around the sleeping Horntail.
He thought it was almost cruel that they had made them bring nesting mothers. It was a lot of stress to put them through and if his million and one trips to the zoo had taught him anything there would be a lot of abandoned dragon hatchlings as a result of the stress the mothers had been through.
"We've got them counted Hagrid." Charlie grinned, "How's Harry doing?"
Hagrid pulled his eyes away from the eggs and shrugged, "'E's brave and strong. His Ma would kill jus' about everyone involved if anythin' happens to 'im."
Charlie nodded, "Mum was worried when she found out. Ron hasn't stopped ranting about how unfair it is. Mum thinks he put his name in the Goblet though, I'm not so sure."
" 'E didn't." Hagrid said firmly, "I know 'Arry. 'E wouldn' 'ave done somethin' so stupid."
Charlie nodded, "That's what I thought. That Skeeter woman isn't helping the issue though, going on about him crying in his sleep about his father and feeling like he has no family. Mum's all but ready to adopt him if she could get Ron to agree."
Hagrid scowled, "It ain't true either. 'Arry loves his Ma and Severus, thinks of 'im as a Dad. 'E'd never leave little Danica neither, though she's growin' up quick." Hagrid smiled fondly.
"Yeah I met her just before the Quidditch World Cup, and during." Charlie smiled, "She was so well behaved, perfect little angel."
Hagrid grinned, "Aye, when she wants ta be."
Harry couldn't pull his eyes away from the dragons, he'd faced a lot in his time at Hogwarts but trying to get past a dragon seemed impossible, let alone with the whole school watching.
Severus tugged gently on his sleeve, letting Harry know it was time to go. Harry let Severus guide him back out the forest. They hadn't gone far though when Harry felt Severus grab his arm and pull him to a stop.
"What is it?" Harry whispered, but Severus put a hand over his mouth and shook his head.
Harry fell quiet and watched where Severus was pointing slightly ahead of them. There, moving quickly through the trees was Karkaroff, looking worriedly around him.
Severus waited until he was sure that Karkaroff was gone before they started moving again. It wasn't hard to work out why he had been in the forest so late at night, he was following Hagrid and Madam Maxime to find out what they knew about the first challenge. Karkaroff would now, almost certainly, run off to Krum and tell him what they were facing.
Harry also wasn't as naive about Madam Maxime telling Fleur as Hagrid was. Now the only champion have no idea what they were facing come Tuesday was Cedric; that at least made Harry feel a little less guilty for letting Severus and Hagrid help him.
Severus escorted him, still under the cloak, until they reached the Slytherin common room. Harry let him keep the cloak so he could get back out the castle and home without being seen. The common room was empty apart from Daphne and Pansy who were sitting next to the fires that were slowly going out in their heaths.
"Everything OK?" Pansy asked.
Harry nodded, "Yeah. I'll fill you in, in the morning. Thanks for staying up."
Daphne smiled and gave him a quick hug, "Not a problem. You should get some sleep."
Daphne and Pansy waved goodnight and walked up to the girls' dorms.
Harry wasn't sure he would be able to sleep as he slipped up the stairs to his own dorm room. He cracked the door open and prayed that the creaking wouldn't wake up Crabbe or Goyle. It didn't, Draco however sat, blot up right in bed.
"Harry, you're back." he whispered, "How did it go?"
Harry looked over to make sure the other three boys were sleeping, "It went OK."
Draco nodded, "What did Professor Snape want?"
Harry started to get changed into his pyjamas, "I'll tell you tomorrow." he said with a look towards the other boys.
Draco nodded and ran a hand though his hair, "Ok. Good idea, we can tell the girls that way as well."
Harry smiled and climbed into his bed. It was warm and cosy, the blankets pushing down on him making him feel secure. His brain was spinning with idea of how he could possibly fight a dragon but now he was safe, he just wished that that night would never end.
It did, however, as Harry knew it would and he was woken by Draco shaking him gently awake. The sun was streaming through the windows but it was a Sunday and all Harry wanted to really do was stay in dream land a while longer.
He knew he couldn't though, he owed it to his friends to tell them what he was going to face. It was going to be easier for him with his friends help anyway.
So he got up and pulled on his clothes as quickly as he could. Hermione, Pansy, Daphne and Neville were waiting down in the Great Hall and jumped up when they saw Harry and Draco enter. Hermione was carrying a large stack of toast, already covered with butter and jam and wrapped neatly in a paper towel.
"Shall we go for a walk?" Daphne said, "Lovely day to eat breakfast outside."
Harry nodded and the six of them wondered out into the grounds. It was a chilly day with a cold wind. Harry glanced over to the forest and thought about the dragons, concealed by the trees, waiting for him.
"Lets walk this way." Harry said, pointing in the opposite direction.
They walked along, munching toast and chatting about school stuff until they were sure they were far enough away from the castle not to be over heard.
"So, what did Professor Snape want?" Pansy asked.
"He showed me what the first task is." Harry said.
Hermione looked shocked, "That's against the rules."
Harry shrugged, "Madam Maxime was there as well, and we saw Karkaroff sneaking out the forest on the way back to the castle. It's not like I'm the only one who know."
Hermione frowned but nodded, it was too late to do anything about it now anyway "So? What is it?"
Harry took a deep breath, he wasn't sure they were even going to believe him, "It's dragons."
They looked at him stunned,
"You have got to be kidding me!" Neville exclaimed, "You have to fight a dragon?!"
"Charlie said we would just have to get passed them." Harry said, "Still, not brilliant."
"How are you planning on getting passed a dragon?" Pansy asked, she was as white as a sheet, "I mean really? It's… it's a dragon! Norbert gave us enough trouble and he was only a baby. I can't imagine that they're giving you baby dragons to lull to sleep."
Harry shook his head, "No. I saw them last night. They're huge, even the smallest one was massive. And I have no idea how I'm going to get passed them."
He slumped against the castle wall and slid down to a sitting position.
"You can do this." Daphne said, pulling him up, "You have faced worse."
Harry raised his eyebrows at her, "Really? Like what?"
"How about You-know-who? Or a Basilisk? Or fifty million Dementors?" Draco pointed out.
Harry felt his heart sink even further, "I was never alone then. I always had you guys to help."
"You're not going to be alone now either Harry." Neville said, "Look, I know we can't be in the arena with you but we will be there to watch and help out if you need it."
Harry smiled, even if he did get burned to a crisp Tuesday at least he'd have died with a lot of good friends.
"Thanks guys." He grinned.
They wondered back towards the castle, they all had more homework to do and were going to meet up in the library so they could study together.
"You know I was walking back from Hagrid's the other day and I saw the most horrific creatures crawling around. They look like lobster, scorpion things." Pansy shuddered.
"Blast-ended Skrewts." Harry and Draco said together.
Pansy looked at them confused, "What?"
Harry shook his head, "I have a horrible feeling that Hagrid…. invented them. They're not nice."
"I'm so glad Mum and Dad pushed me towards Arithmancy." Neville said, "Grandma wanted me to take Care of Magical Creatures but Mum and Dad were right when they said I'd be better off with something else."
"Seconded." Pansy said, she wasn't a fan of even the thought of touching something so icky, "Although my parents did want me to take Care of Magical Creatures. It was Lily that convinced me Arithmancy would be better. She took it, which convinced my parents you could actually use it in real life and I find it very interesting."
Harry nodded, they were near the entrance to the castle when he saw Cedric, hanging out with his friends by the lake.
"I'll catch you up." Harry said.
"Harry?" Hermione asked, she wasn't sure that going over to Cedric alone could possibly be a good idea.
"I'll just be a second, I'll find you in the library." Harry assured her.
They nodded and left Harry to walk across the grass towards Cedric.
"Oh joys." a Seventh year Hufflepuff said rolling her eyes as Harry came over.
"He's not all that bad." Cedric smiled.
"Couldn't let Hufflepuff have all the attention though could he?" another of Cedric's friends muttered, narrowing his eyes at Harry.
Harry walked over, far more confidently than he felt, "Hi...um… I was wondering if I could have a word with you Cedric?"
"We should be getting to study group Cedric." The girl said, snatching up her bag.
"Well..." Cedric looked at Harry and between his friends, clearly not wanting to be rude.
"Just ignore him Cedric, he's not worth your time." the boy said.
Harry was stung by the words, it wasn't his fault he was also a champion, if he had the chance to stop his name from ever ending up in that infernal Goblet he would have.
"Look I just need a minute." Harry said, if Cedric wasn't going to come with him now he could face the dragons unprepared.
Cedric nodded and followed Harry, much to the annoyance of his friends, further down the lake side.
"What can I do to help you Harry?" Cedric asked.
Harry blinked, "Nothing, no I… I'm actually here to help you."
Cedric looked slightly surprised by this news, "Ok..."
"I wanted to give you a heads up, the first challenge is going to be dragons." Harry said, he couldn't think of a way to sugar coat it so thought it best to just get out in the open.
Cedric looked at him as the information sunk in, "Is that a joke?"
Harry shook his head, "I don't think we have to fight them, just get by them somehow, anyway Krum and Delacour know so I thought it best that you did as well. That way we're all back on a level playing field."
Cedric nodded seriously, "You're sure that Viktor and Fleur know?"
Harry nodded, "Yeah I'm sure."
"Well, thank you Harry." Cedric said, holding his hand out for Harry to shake.
Harry took it, "Don't worry about it."
"I don't believe what they're all saying, about you putting your name in the Goblet of Fire." Cedric said, "People are just frustrated. I do try and stop them..."
Harry smiled and waved his hand, "Don't worry about it. If it had happened the other way round I'd be annoyed as well."
There was an awkward moment of quiet before Cedric said he should really be getting back to his friends and thanked Harry again. Harry had no idea how he was going to face the dragon still but he felt a lot better in himself now he'd told Cedric what was coming as he wondered back into the castle.