Okay it's been a while since I've been back here. Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt messages over the recent weeks. It's been a very tough time since the devastating loss of my grandmother and the messages I have received from you have helped immensely. Secondly I fully appreciate the time you have all waited for this update and I hope it is worth it. Thirdly enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Summary: Percy's coming back for his last year at Hogwarts. It's time for the Tri-Wizard tournament! Combine that with best friends, relationships, family and someone who seems to have it in for him I think Percy's in for one hell of a year. (WARNING: May contain slash in later chapters)

Chapter Sixteen:

By Rosa241

Oliver POV:

As I watch Fleur head off with her egg my heart begins pounding wildly yet again. Oh God it's time. This is actually it. All that preparation, all that time spent practicing spells and now it's finally here. My best friend is about to step into a stadium with a giant fire breathing monster. He's really going to do it.

"Promise me you'll look after the others, just in case."

Percy's words keep replaying in my mind. To anyone else it would seem he was thinking perfectly logically, being responsible, but to me it's just another reminder of how much danger he's in. I don't want to think that anything's going to happen to him, I don't want to think that he could get hurt…or worse. I don't want to think that any of that could happen but the fact is it could.

"…everyone's avoiding the subject and I really need you to hear me out."

I get why he needed to say it. Given what he's going to be doing I suppose it's only normal that he'd think about what could go wrong. I haven't stopped thinking about it since his name was drawn out of the hat. People always say that not knowing is hell, that uncertainty is the worst thing in the world. Those people have clearly never found out that their best friend has to go up against a dragon. I'll tell you right now it'll put the fear of hell into you.

As a cheer goes up around the stadium I'm drawn out of my thoughts and focus my eyes on the doors in front of me. My voice catches in my throat and my breathing halts as they open to reveal Percy. From this distance he looks confidant but I know that's not true. Percy is just about the least confidant person I've ever known, which I can thank Marcus Flint for. People don't realise just how hard he finds having to act like he's confidant and so sure of himself. Shaking my head I force myself to focus on the events about to unfold in front of me.

Stop day dreaming and concentrate!

The silver and blue beast lets loose a deafening roar as the whistle blares out. Bursting into life it moves faster than anything I've ever seen. I can feel the heat of the fire even from this distance! Christ that's hot! All I can do is hope Percy got out of the way in time.

"Well…that was close, almost got him there."

"Oh shut up you complete moron!" I mumble as the commentator attempts to liven things up. For a few moments the dragon looks around the arena, its tail crashing into the rocks as it spins around. Raising its giant head it sniffs the air and, in a split second, lets loose another cannon of fire towards another set of rocks on the opposite side of the arena.

"Clever thinking there, casting a protection spell."

A protection spell just like we planned. He's remembered the plan, he's sticking to the plan and (most importantly) he's not panicking. A protection spell means that the flames aren't hurting him. He's okay. As the flames subside nothing happens. I try to block the murmuring of the crowd and focus on the arena.

"Well…er…he doesn't seem to be doing anything. Perhaps he's stumped?"

"Shut up!" I snap, rather louder than I had intended which draws a few strange looks (as well as a few shushes) from the crowd around me. Ignoring the glares I focus on the arena. "Come on Perce."

I can't help but smile as I see the little yellow birds flutter up in the air. Of course this draws some laughter from the crowd but I tune them out. They'll see, in just a moment Percy will make his move and they'll all realise how brilliant this plan is. The dragon holds it gaze towards where it knows he is hiding for a few more seconds before an explosion at the base of its tail draws it attention. The dragon spins round in anger at the same time that Percy comes out from behind the rocks.

"Oppungo!" This time I catch the words he shouts out. The crowd gasps in shock as the birds head straight for the dragon, attacking it's head viciously.

"Genius!" A girl behind me shouts out, only to be shushed mere seconds later by the surrounding crowd.

As Percy utters another spell (Impedimenta I note to myself) the entire scene before me falls into slow motion. It takes only seconds for the spell to break but by that point the egg is firmly in his hands. The breath I had unintentionally been holding is released as the keepers rush into the arena at the same moment that the crowd roars into life once more.

Arthur's POV:

My heart's about ready to burst out of my chest as Percy exits the arena. The roar of the crowd passes me by as Molly shoots through the crowd, only one place in her mind right now. It feels like hours before we make our way through the hordes of people and out into an open space. Neither of use says anything as we walk, our pace quickened through worry, down to our son.

Pride flows through me as I think over what just happened. I will always be proud of all of my children, no matter what they do, but right now my chest if about ready to swell. Of course we'd known that Percy was perfectly capable of doing just about anything he wanted to, that was something we'd always known but believing it and see it are very different things. His plan was intelligent there was no doubt about it. Krum had gone in there wand raised and curses ready, Fleur had tried to be too clever but Percy…Percy had the perfect mix. He'd been clever but brave at the same time. That was what he was really good at. He was intelligent but not afraid to get stuck in if he needed to. Mind you the amount of times he'd had to 'rescue' Fred and George from one of their schemes it was hardly surprising.

"Percy!" Molly moves faster than I ever thought possible as she catches sight of our son. "Oh my darling." I don't need to see her face to see the tears running down her cheeks.

"Mum I'm alright." His voice shakes slightly as he speaks. My wife pushes him at arm's length as she reigns her eyes over him. Aside from the blood stain on his side he looks to be in relatively good health.

"You had us so worried." I mutter as I engulf him in a hug, within seconds he squeezes me back. I hold onto him longer and tighter than I have for years before letting him go. "Good plan."

"Really?" Something inside my chest tightens as he questions the praise. When did his self-esteem plummet so low?

"Yes dear. We never doubted you for a second." And it's true, we never had for even a second. Before we get chance to say anything else Professor McGonagall rounds the corner.

"Mr Weasley if you're ready we'll need you to come outside to receive the scores." Ideally I'd like more time with my son but I can't argue with the tournament. As he wanders outside I can't help the smile stretch across my face, I've got one hell of a son there.

Percy POV:

"And now the scores for Percy Weasley please!" Somewhere between the medical tent and the arena my heart starts pounding once again. I don't expect to be in the lead or anything but not being last right now would be a bonus.

"8!" My eyes go wide as Madame Maxine holds up her card. Although I'm not sure what I was expecting I can safely say I didn't expect that.

"9!" The stadium erupts into cheers as Mr Crouch holds up his card. Maybe this won't be so bad after all…

"9!" Professor Dumbledore's voice causes a bigger eruption from the crowd, despite the distance between us I can see the smile he sends my way.

"8!" Another cheer as Ludo Bagman adds his score to the total.

"5!" The voices around me explodes in a flurry of furious boo's as the final score is help up. Above the crowd a few choice words reach my ears, the voice they're from sounding surprisingly like a certain Scotsman, and I can't help but smile.

"That gives Mr Weasley a final score of 39 points, putting him in second place behind Mr Krum on 40 points and Miss Delacour on 36 points." Second place! How the hell did that happen?

As the noise around me rises once more and I'm led from the field I'm fairly certain my face is on fire. How could I be in second place?

Kind of a short chapter but I should be back with an update before too long I hope you enjoyed it!