Ugh... This snow is not stopping! (drops my head on the desk) Meh, more for writing. (lights up horn and yanks over the Disclaimers)

Disclaimers: You know already, I don't own these, as per usual.

The next day, Val and Harry were with Neville as he was examining some water plants and getting excited. "Amazing. Amazing!"

"Nev, you're doing it again, buddy." Val smiled at him a little bit.

"Oh. Right, sorry." Neville smiled at her sheepishly.

Val smiled and picked up a rock, skipping it across the Black Lake and listening to Harry ask about the book while she thought about how much danger the challenges would bring. What could be ahead for her?

Suddenly, she heard Ron's voice and looked over to see him beckoning her and Harry over.

She headed back to the shore and went to him and Hermione as Harry joined her.

Ron looked at them seriously. "You two need to see Hagrid tonight. He's been looking for you, says he's got something to show you. Bring the Invisibility Cloak with."

Val looked at Harry in confusion, but the half blood wizard nodded to his friend in understanding.

Later that night, the half bloods walked through the forest with Hagrid as the Dhampir drank some blood from a bag with Harry asking about where they were going and noticing Hagrid's appearance.

Val looked over and smiled. "Well, I won't lie, Hagrid, you certainly know how to clean up well."

Hagrid chuckled lightly. "Well, I suppose if it comes down to it..." He fell silent as the three heard what sounded a roar, the teens looking at each other in slight fear.

"Hagrid?" Suddenly, a deeper feminine voice called out, catching their attention.

Harry got his Cloak out and threw it over himself and Val, both of them following Hagrid from a distance as he walked to Madame Maxine. "Bonsoir, Olympe."

"Oh, Hagrid. I thought perhaps you weren't coming. I thought perhaps... you had... forgotten me." Maxine told the half giant.

Val smiled slightly and cooed quietly. "Aww, Hagrid's in love with Madame Maxine!"

Harry couldn't help but gag. "That's disgusting!"

Val saw the taller adults starting to move and grabbed Harry's arm, pulling him with her and the two stopped when they saw a group of tamers trying to handle some massive dragons.

Harry pulled the cloak down quickly. "Dragons?! That's the first task?! You're joking."

Val shivered. "Man, and I thought these tasks couldn't get anymore dangerous."

"Oh, come on, you two. These are seriously misunderstood creatures." Hagrid told them.

Suddenly, the Hungary Horntail roared and unleashed a flame that was headed their way, ducking to avoid the flame.

"Although, I have to admit, that Horntail is a right nasty piece of work." Hagrid admitted.

Val laughed nervously. "No doubt. I bet this is probably gonna top the crazy that'll happen tomorrow." She couldn't help have been more right.

The next day, Val saw students passing by her and wearing badges that had Cedric's face on them and stated Cedric Diggory: Hogwarts Champion or they would swap to show Val's face and the words Valerie Tod: Ilvermory Champion.

Harry looked at the badges as he walked beside her and smiled a bit. "Looks like you and Cedric are popular for representing your schools."

Val nodded a bit and headed off to find the boy in question, Harry following her quickly as they came up to a group that was lounging with the brunette, the former asking the elder student, "Can we talk real quick?"

Cedric shrugged a little bit. "Alright." He got up and followed the half-bloods around a tree.

Val looked around and saw they were in the clear before she lowered her voice and spoke seriously. "Dragons. That's the first task. They have one for each of us."

Cedric looked around and then to her. "Y... You're serious?"

Val nodded. "Dead serious. Madame Maxine saw the dragons too, and I'm certain I heard Karkaroff near the area as well, so more than likely they already told Fleur and Viktor."

Harry looked around while they were talking and something caught his eye; Mad-Eye Moody watching the conversation. He frowned in confusion and tapped into the telepathy that his Dhampir friend had taught him the previous night to talk with her. 'Val, Professor Moody's watching us.'

Val heard Harry's thoughts and she and Cedric looked over to see the professor by the hallway pillars.

"Why is on us like that?" Cedric frowned in confusion.

Val shook her head. "Dunno. I get a feeling it's not just to watch over us though."

Cedric nodded. "Right." He looked at her again. "Listen, about the badges. I've asked my friends not to wear them, but..."

"Don't worry about it." Val told him with a smile and patted his shoulder gently.

Cedric blushed slightly and nodded as he headed off to join his friends.

Harry chuckled lightly and walked with Val as they left the area. "I think you've got an admirer."

"Shut up!" She punched his arm lightly, feeling the punch on her arm as well as they chuckled.

"Why so joyful, Tod?" Draco Malfoy's voice suddenly cut through the air and made them look up at him as he continued, "My father and I have a bet, you see. I don't think you're gonna last ten minutes in this tournament." He got down from the branch and smirked at her. "He disagrees. He thinks you won't last five."

"Pfft, like I care what you or your dad think?" Val snarked at him as she walked over. "I'm not scared to do this stuff. Unless you forget, we did something equally as dangerous last year. So don't tell me I'm gonna die in this tournament. If anything, it makes you pathetic for saying that. And seriously, what happened to your attitude? What happened to the boy who was willing to learn about the transfer student? Has he finally gotten bored of me? If so, that just means you're more idiotic than I realized." She turned away, snapping her hair in his face and walked back to Harry.

Draco growled a bit. "I'm not an idiot!" He went for his wand, but a voice shouted out: "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!"

Joss came around the corner of a pillar and shot a spell at Draco, tying him up in ropes and making him fall as the American marched over and glared at him. "THAT should teach you not to curse a woman when her back is turned."

Draco sat up and scooted back as best as possible, Crabbe and Goyle running over and pulling him back.

Val giggled at seeing Draco squirming around. "He's like a big inchworm now."

Harry laughed with her, then he stopped when he saw Moody walking over and passing them as the professor grunted, "You two, come with me."

Val heard Moody and followed him, Harry in hot pursuit as the three went to his office.

Well, this just got interesting. We'll see what happens next chapter.