AUTHORS NOTES: No warning in this chapter but that doesn't mean it isn't good! This is one of those in between chapters that just has to happen before bigger and crazier things can happen. Happy reading!
Chapter#7
Right before the first task the international press completely flooded the Hogwarts stadium for the first task. Although in previous tournaments, the participants had worked together to form a sort of competitive camaraderie, nothing of this magnitude had ever occurred. No champion was ever seen alone without the company of a fellow champion, and all of them banded around to protect the youngest ever triwizard champion. Also, in attendance, in public, for the very first time since the dismissal of all charges against his person by the international court of wizarding justice, above and beyond Dumbledore's insubstantial protests— was said youngest champion's godfather and legal guardian, Lord Sirius Orion Black. No self-respecting reporter was going to let a chance like this just pass them by. In the great hall, the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students ate together amicably at every meal, forming an impenetrable phalanx of international elite about young Harry Potter. Cedric Diggory was the only Hogwarts student welcomed at the table, although gradually Luna Lovegood became an integral part of the triwizard quartet. Although Dumbledore had tried to protest Luna's presence, claiming that if one Hogwarts student could speak to Harry Potter without breaking international treaty, so could another; and the Hogwarts students could, so could he by extension as part of the Hogwarts staff, but Viktor coldly rebuffed him with the words: 'Haff you ever seen Luffgood speak vith Harry Potter?' and Dumbledore honestly couldn't say that he had. Luna was more often seen side-by-side the lovely Veela, the presence of two luminous blonds causing people to stop and stare more often than not. Luna was flourishing, too, in their company. When a Ravenclaw in her year tried to harass her in the corridors, the girl suddenly found herself held at wand point by a very irate Veela champion. Even Flitwick, who'd been a witness, couldn't deny that Fleur was in the right. Perhaps what was worst of all was that Flitwick had never before even noticed the abuse heaped onto the tiny blonde. Dumbledore suspected that Luna was closer to Harry even than she was to Fleur Delacour, but he couldn't find a shred of proof. But to return to the first task. The international press had been eating Britain alive for the past month for allowing such a travesty as the election of a minor to the triwizard tournament to occur, let alone continue. They greedily lapped up each subsequent faux pas: the declaration of political asylum, the continued attempts by the British to privately contact Harry Potter, the dismissal of all charges against Sirius Black. And now they couldn't wait to see just how much deeper of a hole the British would dig themselves into. Ludo Bagman entered the champions tent nervously. The four teenagers were lounging together on couches and pillows in the corner of the tent pitched against the wall of the stadium, in a perfect vantage point to see who would enter. They were all casually holding their wands in their dominant hands. Bagman began sweating buckets the moment the flap closed behind him
"Ah, gentlemen and lady! If you would please insert your hands into this velvet bag, you will draw out the creature you will face, and the tag attached to it will tell you which of you will go in what order" Bagman said. He held the bag to Fleur first with a wilting smile "ladies first?" Fleur frostily stretched out her hand. She never once broke eye contact with Bagman. His robes were starting to stick to his paunch, slick with sweat "rather humid in here, eh?" he chuckled nervously. She drew out a Chinese Fireball dragon. Around its neck there was a tag that read #2 "Mr. Diggory?" Cedric was plain and straightforward. He shoved his hand in, rooted around a bit, and pulled out a Welsh Green. There was a #3 about its neck "Mr. Krum!" Viktor glowered at Bagman, and the poor man was beginning to develop a nervous tic above his right eye. He snatched the first thing his fingers brushed. A Swedish Short-Snout snarled lazily at him, its winding tail lashing. A #1 tag hung around its neck "that means our youngest champion will go last!" Bagman crowed anxiously "Mr. Potter"
He held out the bag to Harry, but before he could reach the boy, Viktor's arm shot out like a bar across his chest, preventing him access to the youngest Champion
"As international delegate for Bulgaria, all dealings vith Harry Potter vill be through me" Viktor said. Bagman blustered
"This is a triwizard matter! It's part of an international tournament! As part of the council of wizards heading this project I have every right-…" Bagman started
"You lost your right when you allowed an underage boy to compete and let your press slander 'is name" Fleur spoke up testily "if you would like Arry to compete, you will let Viktor draw 'is challenge for him. Ozzerwise, step aside"
Bagman fumed. He'd never been given such a dressing down since before he'd joined the Wasps. But these four teenagers clearly knew their international law, and he couldn't stand in their way. He shot a glare at the boy, but it was entirely lost on him, since Harry was looking idly past to the stands outside. Bagman also snuck a glance at Cedric Diggory – he knew Amos, and surely the man couldn't approve of the tomfoolery his son was engaging in – but Cedric was studying his nails with a cool calm exterior on the outside, even though he was nervous as hell on the inside. Bagman hid a snort of disgust and turned away. Viktor plunged his hand into the velvet bag for the second time and retrieved the last challenge. It was a hissing Hungarian Horntail, with a '#4' hanging about his neck. At once the faces of the three older champions shuttered close. Harry reached out and gently pried Viktor's hands from the Horntail model before he impaled himself on one of its tail spikes. Bagman quickly retreated from the tent before the Bulgarian's wrath was unleashed. He met Dumbledore a way from the tent, in route to the announcer's cabin. He was still mopping the sweat from his brow with a large spotted handkerchief
"You should've never let the boy compete!" Bagman snapped at Dumbledore "Britain will never live this down. I'll never live this down!"
"Which dragon is young Harry facing?" Dumbledore asked calmly, choosing to ignore Bagman's vitriol.
He was also trying to ignore the presence of a recovered Sirius Black decked out in the official Black house robes, sitting in the stands chatting amiably with all manner of reporters, one of them the father to one of his student's and the owner of the wizarding tabloid, The Quibbler
"The Horntail" Bagman spat. He smiled thinly with triumph when Dumbledore lost his twinkle for a moment there "perhaps this will teach you to stop manipulating people's lives!"