Working the Jammed Gears of their Brains
Harry
Harry got up on Sunday morning and dressed so inattentively that it was a while before he realized he was trying to pull his hat onto his foot instead of his sock. When he’d finally got all his clothes on the right parts of his body, he hurried off to find his friends, locating them at their respective house tables in the Great Hall, eating breakfast. Feeling too queasy to eat, Harry waited until they'd all finished, telling them all (telepathically) to hurry up.
When he'd dragged them out onto the grounds, he told them all about the dragons while they took a long walk around the lake. Sera decided that the dragons were now their first priority.
“Let’s just try and keep you alive until Tuesday evening,” she said desperately.
They walked three times around the lake, arguing about the strategies and spells they could use to subdue a dragon. Till the end, they'd drawn up six techniques, though the usage of the Congictive Curse was absolutely a last-resort. It was very risky, because they were sure that Harry would have to get past the dragon, and steal something most probably, but not kill it, and blinding it would just add to the ire.
Switching Spells were an option, too, but only, again, if they had to steal something. Transfiguring near objects could work, or they could try putting it to sleep, but that would be too difficult. Harry could create a fire-defence or water shields around himself, or even wear some fire-proof clothing...
The next day Harry was reminded that he had a brother as well by Fred and George, who made an offhanded comment about Charles looking paler than usual. Harry felt a pang of guilt; he had been so self-centred lately that he hadn't even thought about how stressed his brother must be. Charles was a fourth year and didn't know as many spells, and he was unlikely to have any idea how to face his dragon. Harry wondered why Charles hadn't approached him till now, but decided that Charles was probably just uncomfortable.
So, Harry approached Charles in the common room after dinner, where the boy was writing on a parchment with Hermione and Bianca, their heads together as they whispered back and forth.
"Hey," Harry greeted.
Charles jumped, not having noticed Harry's arrival. "Yes?"
Harry bit his lip; why did talking to his brother feel so awkward? "I just wanted to check on you. How you're, uh, holding up. With the, uh..." he looked at the girls.
Charles just waved his hand dismissively. "They both know 'bout the dragons. And yeah, I'm fine."
"So... do you need any help? I've already figured out many strategies-"
"No thanks, I already know what I'm gonna do."
Harry blinked in shock. "What?"
Charles looked annoyed. "No need to sound so surprised. I can figure things out on my own, you know. I don't need your help to do every little thing."
Harry tried not to feel hurt or stupid as he nodded. "Uh... sure. I mean, of course I know you don't always, uh, need my help. I'll just..."
And with that, Harry quickly escaped.
Charles
"That was harsh," Bianca commented, frowning after Harry.
Charles sighed and rubbed his temple. "Sorry, I just..."
"Yeah," Bianca nodded. "Be gentle next time, though. He just wanted to help."
"I know!" Charles cried. "I feel bad for being so short, but I'm so frustrated! He couldn't be bothered to ask after me or offer me help yesterday. No, I bet someone forced him to come to me. He spent the whole day working things out for himself, and then he comes over here, expecting me to jump at the chance of receiving help from my bloody git of a talented brother..."
Hermione pursed her lips. "I'm sure he didn't mean it like that, Charles. He's also stressed, if you didn't notice. And he's always helped you. It's not only hard on you, but him and the other champions as well."
Charles winced a bit; that was true. He knew he was being unfair and petty, but, well, he was angry. And he needed to take it out on someone. Harry just happened to be an unfortunate target.
Charles hadn't lied; he did have an idea what to do. The other day before Herbology, Moody had cornered him and told him that he knew Charles knew about the dragons; that cheating was a traditional part of the tournament. Moody had then proceeded to help Charles, and, with the hints he'd been given, Charles knew what he had to do. He'd try to outfly the dragon.
Hermione had been appalled at the mortifying amount of risk and stupidity in this plan, but, well, it was a Gryffindor's idea, right? But it was horribly original, and points would be given for show as well. It was also within Charles' skill-level, because he was confident in his talent at flying.
Bianca, of course, supported the idea. She was like a mixture of Hermione and Ron, with the right amount of daring and caring. It was uncanny, really. She was a bit worried, but it wasn't like they were going to let Charles die. Besides, in Bianca's words, 'this ought to be the most epic and idiotic strategy in history.'
They were currently working on Summoning Charms, which Charles had to master by the next afternoon. They had been practising the whole day, missing classes and meals and using free classrooms with the consent of the teachers. Charles was pretty decent at them now, having much dedication and motivation not to die.
Bianca and Hermione, his teachers, were both very proud of his success and congratulated him heartily. Bianca couldn't help but boast like a proud mother, and Hermione just suppressed smiles at her friends' antics.