Chapter 7
In the intricate web of rules and strategies surrounding the Triwizard Tournament, the clause mandating the binding of all non-student adults to the Goblet of Fire presented an opportunity that Harry, under the cunning guidance of Moody, couldn't ignore. The person who immediately came to Harry's mind, the one adult wizard not yet bound by the Goblet's magic, was his godfather, Sirius Black.
Sirius, far more prudent and astute than his portrayal in other tales, understood the gravity of Harry's situation. With the help of Remus Lupin, his old friend and a werewolf of great intellect and experience, Sirius sent Harry a magical communication mirror. This wasn't just any mirror; it was a lifeline, a means for Harry to gain advice and support from someone who had survived against all odds.
Their conversations weren't the lighthearted banter one might expect from a godfather to his godson. Instead, Sirius imparted wisdom on guerilla warfare tactics and the art of survival, drawing from his and James Potter's schoolboy pranks transformed into lethal traps against Death Eaters. Sirius had once been an Auror, a magical law enforcer akin to Moody, and his insights into magical combat were invaluable.
Under the dual mentorship of Sirius and Moody, Harry's approach to the tournament shifted. He embraced cunning, vigilance, and a level of self-reliance that he'd never known before. This wasn't the Harry who walked the halls of Hogwarts in previous years; this was someone forged in the anticipation of battle, ready to utilize every advantage at his disposal.
One evening, during a reconnaissance mission cloaked in his invisibility cloak and perched on his broomstick, Harry stumbled upon a scene that would shape his strategy for the first task: dragons. The sight of these majestic, terrifying creatures sparked a flurry of ideas between him, Sirius, and Moody. Could they subtly influence the dragons' condition to tilt the scales in Harry's favor? Poisoning or overfeeding were considered but ultimately dismissed for fear of crossing the Goblet's strict rules on interference.
The strategy they settled on was simple yet daring:
Enter the arena and immediately seek cover.
Summon both his broomstick for mobility and Moody's borrowed body armor for protection.
Take to the skies, drawing the dragon's attention away from the golden egg.
Deploy a barrage of pranking items provided by the Weasley twins, designed to create noise, smoke, and bright lights, disorienting the dragon.
The plan was executed with precision. Harry's flight through the arena was a blur of fire and chaos, his heart pounding in his ears as he narrowly evaded the dragon's flames. With the dragon distracted by the cacophony of sounds and the smokescreen Harry conjured, he seized the golden egg and made his escape.
The moment he crossed the arena's boundary, the adrenaline that had sustained him evaporated. Harry collapsed, his body bearing the marks of the ordeal but alive, the egg secured. He would spend the next week unconscious in the hospital wing, recovering from his injuries, which would leave scars but also a testament to his courage and ingenuity.
The other champions weren't so fortunate in escaping unscathed. The Hogwarts champion, in particular, suffered a grievous injury, losing a leg and emerging from the task magically diminished, their recovery a long and arduous journey.