Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Twenty four days, that’s how long it had been since Harry’s name had come out of the goblet of fire and his life at Hogwarts had changed forever. Really, it was an annual event, at least according to Blaise Zabini who had noted that Harry’s time at Hogwarts was almost painfully predictable. Every year, without fail, Harry would end up at the center of something going wrong on Samhain, or as Harry knew it Halloween. From there, things would slowly spiral out of control before reaching their eventful climax towards the end of the year.
The only exception to this rule was second year, though that was because Hermione, being a muggleborn, had gotten involved directly to end the Heir’s reign of terror. Harry still wasn’t sure exactly what she’d done. Nobody else seemed to know either, except Ginny who Harry wasn’t about to ask. The Slytherin trio, consisting of Daphne, Tracey and Blaise had been quick to inform him that she had her own trophy, stored in the trophy room for special services rendered to the school for her actions and that if he really wanted to know he could try asking McGonagall. Unfortunately Harry had more pressing concerns, like training to survive against a dragon.
“Ah, there you are.” Hermione’s voice cut through Harry’s rather pathetic attempt at escapism. He’d been unable to force himself to head into the great hall, instead making his way through the school to astronomy tower which was absolutely deserted at this time of day. Turning, Harry found that Hermione wasn’t alone, in fact quite a few of her study group had come looking for him.
“You know, one of my step fathers died from a fall. Can’t recommend it, really nasty way to go.” Blaise informed Harry with a sly grin. The slytherin teen laughed as Harry quickly shook his head and stammered out a denial. “Good to know you’re not thinking such thoughts. I was afraid we’d have to stun you silly and then puppet you through the first task.”
“I appreciate the support.” Harry replied tersely though he could feel himself grinning. Blaise gave him another charming wink before nodding to Hermione.
“The capo brought you food. You should be honored.” Blaise drawled as Hermione set her bag down, a picnic blanket and several baskets of food flying out of it along with enough plates for everyone present.
“You alright Potter?” Tracey asked, dropping down next to him as she picked up a plate and summoned a few scones. For the first time Harry registered that she had a distinctive American accent, New York perhaps. He’d never really spoken with her before and was surprised by how friendly Tracey seemed. He’d never really known anyone in Slytherin to be anything other then vile, but he’d only ever dealt with Draco Malfoy’s gang of sycophants.
“Not really hungry.” Harry answered only to find a croissant shoved under his nose. He blinked at the pastry before following the arm holding it straight to Hermione, whose face was set in a familiar stern expression. The silent order to force himself to eat was heard loud and clear and Harry took the food, forcing it down before emptying the glass of water that was offered to him. “Thanks I guess.”
“You’ll need the energy. If I didn’t think you’d just throw it up, I’d give you an invigorating potion.” Hermione informed him as she sat down and prepared her own breakfast. Harry let out a tired sigh, feeling an odd mix of happy and uncomfortable as Ginny and Colin settled down on his left, Daphne joining Tracey on his right.
“You’ll be fine Potter, you’re a natural at magic and worst comes to worst just summon your broom. I’ll even carry it down to the arena for you.” Tracey’s tone was almost dismissive, not of Harry but of the danger he’d be facing. It was obvious she was trying to impart confidence on him, minimizing the challenge and he appreciated it even if it wasn’t exactly working.
“Thanks Tracey.” Harry murmured and the girl pretended to swoon, draping herself over Daphne dramatically. The american halfblood laid her hand over her forehead as if she was faint and let out a dreamy sigh.
“Did you hear that Daph? He called me by my name! How utterly romantic! I think I felt my heart flutter.” Tracey declared, earning a chorus of chuckles as Daphne cocked a very unimpressed eyebrow at the girl. Harry was fairly sure they were a couple but all doubts to the contrary were silenced when Daphne smirked and then grabbed Tracey’s head, leaning down and kissing her before the other girl could escape. Tracey’s face went crimson as her pupils dilated and her eyes watered with embarrassment.
“That’s what a fluttering heart feels like Tracey.” Daphne purred as she released the other girl’s lip, smirking happily as she summoned her own breakfast while Tracey burrowed into her side, trying to hide her embarrassment from the rest of their friends.
“Never a dull moment eh?” Ginny asked, looking at the two witches and shaking her head while smiling. Harry wasn’t exactly sure how wizards viewed same sex couples, but he knew how that would be taken in the muggle world, yet the muggleborn present all seemed fondly amused. “Yeah I was there for that conversation. Hermione can be very convincing you know?”
“I do, she stood up for them then?” Harry asked, drawing Hermione’s gaze as she ate her breakfast. The girl dipped her head in a nod.
“I don’t like bullying or bigotry. As you can imagine, I wasn’t exactly popular in my muggle schools and then being sorted into Slytherin…” Hermione shrugged, her eyes almost becoming wistful as she looked out over the castle grounds. A slight smile tugged at her lips and she shook her head. “When I have the chance to be there for others, to be the hero I always wished would be there for me, how could I not step up?”
For just a moment, Harry could see that angel again. Hermione’s hair and eyes didn’t change but he felt like he truly saw her, as if a veil was lifted from his eyes. The teen’s mouth went dry and his heart clenched almost painfully as he looked at her. Her intelligent eyes quickly met his and Harry looked away abruptly, his cheeks flaming as he realized he’d been caught staring.
“Thanks, for everything.” Harry stammered quickly and he heard a soft sigh slip from the girl’s lips.
“You’re part of this study group now. You’ll return the favor I’m sure, so don’t worry about it.” Hermione replied and Harry relaxed, his eyes returning to her only to find the same bookworm he’d never known but recognized. ‘Stupid hormones.’ Harry thought as his heart continued to race, the terror of the first task momentarily forgotten as he focused on not blushing. He was so distracted he missed Blaise slipping him another croissant which he ate reflexively to occupy his mind on something other then embarrassment. It went without saying that he also didn’t catch the high five the italian shared with the american while Hermione watched with a pleased smile.
***
Harry walked into the champions’ tent in surprisingly good spirits. He was nervous, sure, but he’d spent the entire morning with his friends. Friends, plural, something he’d never been able to claim before. It was one hell of a silver lining to this whole tournament fiasco and Harry found himself almost smiling as he sat down in a folding chair.
A quick survey of the room showed that Harry was the only champion in anything approaching a good mood. Fleur was deathly pale, looking off into the distance while muttering rapidly in french. Harry was fairly certain she was praying though he couldn’t be sure. Viktor Krum was scowling, and though that did seem to be his natural state, today it was even more pronounced then normal and his face was pale. Cedric wasn’t any better, looking almost faint as he sat in his chair, his eyes slowly moving to Harry, guilt flashing through them briefly.
“Hey Harry,” Cedric said, trying for a smile but only managing a strained rictus. Harry felt his mood sink slightly, but he remembered the confidence his friends had given him and his spirits reignited.
“Hey Cedric.” Harry was surprised by how firm his voice was. He sounded confident, perhaps he could even pull this off. None of the study group seemed to acknowledge limits and he was a member. Perhaps, if he just believed in himself he’d survive this and if he couldn’t quite find the confidence in himself, he could certainly trust Hermione’s advice.
“So, dragons huh?” Cedric asked and Harry nodded, wondering if anyone had told Cedric. The older boy had family in the ministry, according to Daphne. Harry was clueless about such things but said knowledge was common among the Slytherins in the study group and they provided it readily, if not freely. He owed favors, favors he’d have to return but he knew they wouldn’t ask anything of him he wasn’t willing to give.
“Yeah,” Harry nodded in agreement and Cedric grimaced. A roar in the distance broke the silence and all four champions startled. A moment later, Ludo Bagman walked into the room along with a few ministry officials. The man was wearing a massive smile and immediately made his way over to Harry.
“Harry! Looking confident, I like that and Cedric, you two will take this home for Hogwarts I’m sure.” Ludo declared jovially and thumped Harry on the shoulder. “You got a plan?” Ludo whispered and Harry blinked as the man grinned at him. Despite the oddness of the situation he nodded and Ludo let out a laugh that sounded a bit too relieved. “Good, excellent even! You’ll do fine I’m sure.”
Ludo stepped away from Harry and grinned at the room.
“Now then, time to select your dragons, for champions, for dragons. You’ll be drawing your dragon from the bag, along with the order you’ll be challenging them in. Let’s see, ladies first.” Ludo offered the bag to Fleur, putting on his most charming grin. The witch ignored the man, instead eyeing the bag as if it were her death sentence. To her credit, the french woman stepped forward and put her hand in the bag, withdrawing a miniature dragon which belched fire and flapped its wings angrily.
“Ah the common welsh green! A lucky pick!” Ludo declared as the tiny dragon growled and snapped at the man. It seemed every bit as angry as the real thing and Ludo immediately turned to Cedric. “Here, go on and pick one.”
“Alright,” Cedric managed, looking like he was about to keel over as he shoved his hand into a bag and flinched. He withdrew a small swedish short-snout between his bloody fingers, the miniature dragon having bit him rather hard.
“Looks like you’re up first Mr. Diggory, good luck! Fleur’s second of course, now Mr. Krum!” Ludo turned to the boy who scowled and withdrew his dragon, the chinese fireball. “Third! And that leaves… oh.” Ludo offered the bag to Harry who gingerly retrieved the hungarian horntail because of course he’d get the most dangerous of the lot. “Well at least you’re going last?”
“Gee, thanks.” Harry replied with faux cheerfulness. He ignored the confused look Bagman shot him and settled back into his seat, focusing on the miniature dragon in his palm. It was covered in spines, with dark scales and burning orange eyes. It puffed out a tiny gout of flames and flapped its wings angrily before racing around his palm and letting out an adorably high pitched roar.
‘It’s almost cute.’ Harry thought, looking at the miniature beast.
“The first champion! From Hogwarts’ house Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory!” Harry looked up as Cedric left and applause erupted from beyond the tent. The reminder of his own impending fight was nerve wracking and Harry decided to shelve such thoughts for now and pulled out the notebook Hermione had given him. He began reading through the various plans she’d made when the distinctive clomp of wood on stone announced Mad-Eye Moody’s arrival. The man looked around the tent before walking over to Harry.
“Got a plan Potter?” Moody asked, his electric blue eye whirling about and focusing on the notebook. The man frowned and he narrowed his good eye at the book. “Where did you get that? It’s got some strong privacy enchantments on it.”
“A friend.” Harry answered quickly and Moody shot him an undecipherable look.
“Well I hope it’s got some sage wisdom in it because you’re going to need a good plan to survive this.” Moody rasped and Harry nodded in agreement. He knew that without a plan he’d probably die, but he had more then just a good plan, he had several.
“I think I’ll manage professor.” Harry answered and Moody shot him another look before nodding and walking off.
“And Cedric get the golden egg! What a performance!” Outside the crowd went wild and soon enough Fleur was called out. Harry felt his pulse slowly begin to increase, every second it grew louder in his ears. “And she put it to sleep! Oh damn, it just hit her with some fire but she’s alright!” Harry didn’t really hear the running commentary as he rolled his wand between his fingertips. He knew this was due or die but he’d faced down death before, hell he should be dead several times over but his luck just didn’t work that way. No, instead it would hurl him into situations he had no right surviving and then it’d yank him out by the skin of his teeth.
“Viktor Krum!” The last champion looked at Harry, offering the younger wizard a nod before he strode out, grim face and determined. It was a silent show of solidarity, a moment of genuine understanding between champions as they faced down one of the greatest threats in the magical world. “And he’s blinded it! And now he’s on his broom!”
Harry heard a bit more of Krum’s match as the man blinded the dragon with a few curses and then turned the match into a death defying show of aerial maneuvers. He’d lost points for several crushed eggs but in the end he’d still succeeded and faster then the other champions. Then it was Harry’s turn. He didn’t hear his own name, at least he didn’t remember hearing it. Instead he suddenly found himself standing at the end of a long trench leading up from the champion’s tent and entering into an arena with several large boulders between him and an absolutely massive dragon.
On all sides, the crowds shouted and screamed. Applause, jeers and whoops of excitement filled the air, whipping the dragon up into a frenzy as the announcer’s voice boomed and thundered, overwhelming the roar of the audience. Countless witches and wizards, students and adults, members of all three ministries and staff from Hogwarts all looked on excitedly. Harry could feel hundreds if not thousands of eyes on him and knew that many thousands and perhaps millions more were listening in over the radio.
Searching the crowd, Harry’s eyes almost instantly landed on his friends. Blaise sent him a smirk and nodded while Tracey punched the air and roared her encouragement, her voice lost amid the storm of noise. Beside the American witch, Daphne gave Harry a thumbs up, a gesture she’d no doubt picked up from her muggle raised girlfriend. Last but not least was Hermione who looked utterly untouched by the enthusiasm and emotion in the air. She was the picture of serenity and she met Harry’s eyes despite the distance separating them.
‘Someone put you in this tournament to die. Your false friends abandoned you in your hour of need. Your peers have treated you like a circus attraction for four years without consequence.’ Hermione’s voice rang out in Harry’s head, her tone lined with iron and burning with the force of her command. There was no magic behind her words other then what carried them to Harry’s mind, just raw passion. ‘Harry James Potter, show them what you can do, show them who you are.’
Hermione’s words left no room for doubt, no space for indecision. Her meaning was clear and Harry had spent the better part of a month preparing for this. A single moment suddenly snapped into focus within his mind. Hermione had just finished explaining how she’d go about teaching him to use his magic to enforce his presence. She’d look into his mind with legilimency but rather then reading his memories, she’d send him the feeling of calling on his power, mentally guiding him until he could accomplish the feat on his own.
“How do you know I have enough magic to even make a dragon notice me?” Harry had asked and amber eyes flicked to him. A sly smirk crept over the witch’s face and Harry had to remind himself she’d see any thoughts he had about her while they practiced.
“Magic is like a muscle. The more you use, the more of a reserve you’ll build up. With enough time and effort anyone can reach Merlin’s level of strength, though it would take a will of iron and decades of dedication to get there.” Hermione paused and her eyes smoldered as she looked at him. “But you, somehow you have that much magic within you, at your fingertips. The proof was how strong your silent spells were. Most beginners need a few tries to get them to have an effect, but you got it down just like that.” Hermione snapped her fingers for emphasis and Harry blinked, surprised by her words.
“But I thought-” Hermione’s playful smirk cut him off.
“Oh I didn’t lie but most wixen need to practice. There is a difference between easy and effortless after all.” Hermione had pointed out and Harry realized she’d never mentioned how many tries it should take, just how long she expected him to practice. “You have enough power within you Harry, you just need to believe in that fact.”
A deafening roar echoed over the stadium and Harry let go of his memory, refocusing on the dragon before him. He flicked his wand towards the egg and moved it in a careful arc, after all if he was going to attempt to overpower an enchantment he needed the extra oomph as Hermione put it.
“Accio golden egg.” Harry intoned clearly and felt his magic shoot out, racing across the arena and then gripping the golden egg only to slide off, unable to retrieve it. “Worth a shot.” Harry sighed and then focused on the dragon which snarled angrily. Taking in a deep breath, Harry called up his magic and aimed his wand at the beast. Wands were a magical focus, allowing a wizard to more easily access their magic and command it. He hadn’t nearly mastered creating a sense of presence yet but with the help of his wand he could focus it on a target, though those nearby would still feel some of the pressure he was exerting.
The dragon reacted immediately roaring angrily and lunging forward, only to snag against the chains holding it in place. Harry ignored it, knowing exactly how far away it was and confident its flames couldn’t quite reach him from here. It’d be unbearably hot, but he wouldn’t get burned and that was all that truly mattered. The Horntail let out another earsplitting roar and strained against its restraints. Harry could feel his magic rising up, answering his call as the first chain snapped.
Emerald eyes met burning orange and the dragon’s restraints exploded. Chain links spun through the air, cutting through the sand at Harry’s feet and flying passed him, but he ignored it all in favor of forcing the dragon to its knees. The beast charged forward, its wings flaring up as it reared back, intent on crushing him. It was too late to run, no shield would stop those claws and the only way was forward, Harry was committed and this dragon was going to learn exactly what that meant.
“Down!” Harry shouted, ordered, putting his all into his magic and willing the command into existence. The dragon’s magic was crushed beneath his own, its survival instincts kicking in as it realized it was facing a much larger predator, one that could kill it easily and destroy its eggs if it dared draw his ire. The dragon slammed into the ground, pressing its full length against the dirt as Harry’s presence erupted from within him, his magic saturating the ground and pressing down on the sand around him so hard it left ripples around his feet.
“Stay, I need the fake egg.” Harry informed the dragon, walking passed it but not daring to turn his back on the creature. He kept his eyes trained on the dragon’s, trying to push his will through them in a crude mimicry of Hermione’s legilimency. He wasn’t sure if it was working, or it it was simply his raw magic but the dragon didn’t so much as twitch as he retrieved the golden egg. Harry didn’t let up though, instead he continued on his way out of the arena and then, finally let his magic go, his legs giving out on him a moment later only for strong arms to catch him from behind.
“Very well done.” Hermione complimented, shifting Harry so one of his arms was slung across her shoulders. Behind them, Harry realized the arena was deathly silent, not a word being spoken until the announcer finally recovered his voice.
“I, I think I just had a heart attack. I don’t know what Potter did but damn if it didn’t scare the daylights out of everyone present, dragon included! Bloody hell, can I see Madam Pomfrey?” Harry finally recognized Lee Jordan’s voice as he made his way into the medical tent. Everyone within was deathly pale, as if they’d just walked into a room with Voldemort himself.
“What happened?” Harry asked, earning a chuckle from Hermione who set him down on one of the cots.
“Your presence was, perhaps, a bit more than I expected and you hit the whole damn stadium with it. You ordered everyone present to stand down and stay.” Hermione’s voice was lined with humor and her eyes arced into happy crescents as she looked over at Madam Pomfrey who was just coming out of her shock. Harry blinked in surprise and opened his mouth to ask how he’d possibly be able to manage such a thing only for the room to spin violently and an agonizing ache to appear in his core. “The answer is you used everything all at once. Hysterical magic, think of it like a muggle’s hysterical strength. You used 100% of your power in one go and exhausted yourself.”
“Oh,” Harry murmured as Madam Pomfrey rushed over, wand out and diagnostics spells already flying his way. The mediwitch quickly shoved a potion in his mouth and a moment later Harry’s world went black.