Chapter 38 :
Leaving the stadium, Harry was immediately captured by the school's nurse, Poppy Pomfrey.
"Who puts children against XXXXX classified beasts and calls it « safe » !?" She cussed out, dragging him to the Medical Tents with no regard to his opinion. "Those disgusting, despicable, benighted assholes ! They want « safety » ? Let me show them why my Hospital Wing is the safest place in the safest place of Magical Britain ! The Magical Hippocratic Oath has more than a few loopholes, you cretins ! I'll teach you to endanger my patients !"
The poor boy tried to place a word, but the matron was way too incensed and worried to listen.
"I can't believe Dumbledore agreed to this bullshit..." She continued under her breath. "Must be all that sugar he eats... It probably decayed more than his teeth... Idiotic man ! Doesn't he know that you can't regrow a brain as well as you'd regrow your dentition !? See if I help him the next time he shows up with cavities ! Humph !"
Once inside the tent, Harry barely had the time to look around that the nurse caught him by the armpits and lifted him up to put him on an hospital bed, Fleur nodding in approval in the background.
"How are you, Mr Potter ?" She then asked. "Where does it hurt ?"
"Uh ? Oh, I'm okay, ma'am Pomfrey. Not hurt anywhere this time !"
She snorted in derision, clearly not believing him at all.
"Really, I'm fine ! I swear !" Insisted the young Gryffindor.
"That's for me to decide, Mr Potter." Finally relented the woman, still subjecting him to a battery of tests and magical diagnostics.
"Oh my !" She exclaimed when seeing the results. "You are fine indeed, my boy ! Not even a bruise in sight !"
Harry sighed in relief, even as she covered him in a shock blanket and gave him a bowl of hot cocoa with tiny marshmallows, like she had done to the other Champions after healing them.
"Get some rest now, dear." She said gently. "Let those dastardly Tournament committee members wait in the cold a bit more." She added before mumbling. "They deserve it anyway."
Outside the Medical Tents, unseen by anyone, Rita Skeeter transformed into a small green beetle to sneak in in the hope of uncovering a scoop.
Unseen, but not really. Colin was a fan of Harry Potter, it was essential for him to stay available for his idol without being in the way. He was therefore hiding in a nearby bush, waiting to be called upon. Smelling something fishy when the professional sensationalist appeared, he put his camera on the ready and discreetly took a picture of her transformation.
Rita wouldn't conceal the fact that she was an unregistered Animagus much longer. And she would never bother Harry Potter ever again if Colin had anything to say about it. Nor anyone else in fact.
Let's make a proper journalist out of her... He thought, grasping the pigtails wig in his pocket to confirm his resolve.
Malfoy was having a very good day, leaving his seat without even waiting for the results of the First Task, with a skip in his step. Pansy had seen the wrong of her ways and they had reconciled -though they chose to stay friends for now-. The whole Slytherin House had conceded that he was right about Nott and Potter's friendship and aknowledged his superiority. The dragon species was still in existence and would be for years to come. Potter survived, so the World was safe from Nott at the moment. Weasley was too occupied celebrating his best friend's survival to bother him... Yeah. What a good day to be alive !
After the Champions were finally released from Matron Pomfrey's tender care, the scores were given by the Judges -the Headmasters and Headmistress, as well as Crouch Snr and Bagman- and the resulting ranking was announced. Let's be honest : the crowds went wild. For the underdog to take the first position... They couldn't contain neither clamouring nor cries of joy.
Many lost money by the galleons, enriching both the more hazardous gamblers and the few who had faith in the youngest Champion. The wealthy gloated... The poor coveted... It obviously became a battle of untold savagery, until the Matron herself put an end to it by breaking more bones than even the dragons would have dared. This First Task would be remembered in History as one of the bloodiest.
Later, in the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry was welcomed by a beautiful Mexican wave as well as a lot of hugs and accolades.
"I always believed in you !" Claimed a tiny First Year that looked like a Creevey.
"Me too ! Me too !" Added Colin, that was actually a Creevey, with his camera taking photos incessantly.
"Me three !" Proclaimed a random older girl.
Soon, the whole House was assuring Harry of their unfailing support, laughing and singing in pride and happiness of having him as a Champion. The young Potter stared at them silently, bitterly... They had been quick to change sides once he actually won. He wouldn't be unfair to them : he knew that some of them had truly believed in him. But what about the others ? Those that had mocked him and bullied him ? Those that had made him an outcast, ignoring him even when he talked to them ? It hadn't lasted long of course -Hermione had seen to that-, but it didn't change that it happened... and they never apologized for it.
Ron put a hand on his shoulder, upset for him. Hermione's Hair looked ready to kill and Hermione herself was about to remind these fair-weather House-mates how hypocritical they were. But Harry stopped her before she could bleed them dry with her sharpest words.
"I'm tired." He stated plainly to the crowd. "You don't need me to celebrate, do you ?"
And the whole House exploded in merriment, taking out the snacks, the Whisky and the Butterbeer. Harry let them, retiring to his dormitory with the brother and sister of his heart, the only that really mattered.
"Ugh, I'm spent..." He groaned, letting himself fall on his bed.
"Let's hope the next Task will be better..." Agreed Ron, curling around him listlessly.
Hermione took a deep breath to calm herself down. She was angry at their House-mates, yes, but her friends didn't need to pay for it.
"Did they say what it will be about anyway ? The Second Task I mean." She asked softly, laying against Harry's other side, not noticing her Hair outright cuddling him.
"« The Egg will be the clue. » is what they said." He answered, too exhausted to be weirded out.
Ron took the Golden Egg from him to examine it. He rolled it between his hands, admired the runes on it, but gave up quickly.
"I dunno." He conceded, shrugging without a care.
"Have you tried opening it ?" Queried Hermione.
The boy obeyed and regretted it just as soon, a strident screech immediately deafening the whole tower, interrupting even the fiesta downstairs.
AN : Poppy is hilarious to write ! I would love to write her again ! ^^