Bab 73: The First Task
The night before November 24th, While Harry followed Hagrid and Maxime under the invisibility cloak and saw the Dragons Charlie Weasley brought them, from far away and Karkaroff too found out somehow.
Harry returned to Hogwarts thinking, "everyone knows about Dragons except Neal. A bit of unfair for him isn't it? Too bad I also can't tell him. Who knows he might even complain to Dumbledore or Prof. McGonagall about it. I had enough of losing House points last year because of the Time-Turner. Yeah, better to keep it to myself".
The next day, the four champions were summoned at the small stadium built around the edge of the Forbidden forest. While all of them were waiting in the tent, Ludo Bagman entered the tent and said, "good, all of you are here. When the audience has assembled, I'm going to be offering each of you this bag". He held up a small sack of purple silk and shook it at them.
Then, He continued, "from which you will each select a small model of the thing you are about to face! There are different varieties, you see. And your task is to collect the golden egg!". A frown appeared on Neal's face when he didn't understand Bagman's words and saw everyone else was tensed while nodding as if they understood.
Later, as the audience began to fill the stadium, Bagman said brightly, "okay, the time has come. Everyone, come here and stand before me". As the four champions stood before him, Bagman opens the silk bag, "ladies, first".
She put a shaking hand inside the bag and drew out a tiny, perfect model of a Welsh Green dragon. It had the number two around its neck. Neal was taken aback in surprise, "what! We are going to fight the dragons?". When everyone turned towards him and looked at him in silence, he frowned while seeing their calm expressions, he asked, "it seems all of you knew it. Did I miss something?".
Bagman who already expected something like this would happen cleared his throat and said, "ok, so, your task isn't to fight the dragon but to steal the golden egg it is protecting. Since all of them are nesting mothers, they are very protective of their eggs, please remember that before you act.
How you do it is none of our concern. The result only matters. Based on the injury suffered in the process, you might also get a reduction in the points. Ok, Krum, you are next".
Listening to his explanation, all of them sighed with relief as just like Neal, they too thought about fighting a dragon all this time. As Krum pulled out the scarlet Chinese Fireball, he saw it had a number three around its neck. He didn't even blink, just sat back down and stared at the ground calmly. Then, Bagman looked at Neal, "Slytherin, you are next".
As Neal put his hand and pulled a model figure out, he saw a bluish-gray Swedish Short-Snout, the number one tied around its neck. After Harry pulled out the Hungarian Horntail with a number four around its neck, Neal asked, "so, I'm the first one?". Bagman replied, "yes, the numbers refer to the order in which you are to take on the dragons, do you see? Now, I'm going to have to leave you in a moment, because I'm commentating. Mr. Slytherin, you're first, just go out into the enclosure when you hear a whistle, all right?".
A while later, as he heard the whistle, the crowd started to cheer Neal's name. While he's about to exit the tent, only Fleur wished him good luck, after thanking her, Neal exited the tent and started to walk towards the entrance of the stadium and entered the enclosure while looking at a 20ft Slivery blue dragon, which was at the other end of the enclosure, crouched low over her clutch of eggs.
As the audience sitting in the stands were cheering, "Slytherin. Slytherin..." Neal, on the other hand, was looking curiously at the Giant dragon without any fear. He mumbled, "fascinating creature indeed". The judges were surprised to see Neal walking towards the Dragon with an excited expression on his face as if he's in Hogsmeade trip or something.
When the Silvery blue dragon found a human walking towards it, it roared as if it's warning him to stay away. Neal immediately pulled out his Basilisk wand and pointed at it. Looking at him, Dumbledore and other teachers began to worry as they don't wish to have any accidents.
While Neal isn't stopping and continuing his way towards the Dragon without any tiny hint of fear on his face, The Dragon stood on its four legs and roared once again followed by breathing blue fire towards his direction.
As Neal pointed his wand towards the oncoming fire, a bluish-white light burst from the tip of his wand as the Ice began to conjure before him blocking the fire while melting in the process.
Meanwhile, The crowd erupted in cheers as Bagman is shouting in his commentary section, "wow, Ice magic? now that's a rare one. You would normally see Ice magic spells In Russia. Slytherin has a trick up his sleeve to counter Dragon's fire after all. But don't underestimate this Dragon based on its size. As you can see the fire it breathed isn't normal but the hottest blue fire.
Now, let's see how long will he be able to withstand the fire. As expected, the Dragon fire turned to be stronger as the chunk of ice he conjured is melting down quickly. Slytherin had to think of another plan soon..."
Coming back to Neal, his face didn't lose any calmness while the Fire is melting the Ice and he kept on conjuring it faster and stopped melting. A while later, Dragon got enraged seeing the human alive and fine as it stopped attacking.
As it again started to breathe fire with a greater force, Neal waved his wand in a swirl motion and shouted, "Evictenim Nethus", a bluish-white light burst from the tip of his wand like before but this time, instead of just a chunk of Ice, it was blocked by a large Ice Shield with a giant humanoid creature made of ice.
Bagman shouted, "wow, Slytherin once again blocked the Dragon fire successfully with a large Ice shield. Wait a second. It isn't just an ice shield. What is that? Is it a knight?". As the Fire cleared and the shield melted halfway, A Giant Ice Knight which was twice bigger than this Dragon stood up from behind the Ice shield lifting it. He brandished the Ice spear in his right hand like a Knight to protect his King.
While the judges and the other students were stupified to see how strong Neal was, Dumbledore stood up in shock and mumbled, "that's the Ice Knight, protector of the Cursed Vault of Ice. Did he found it by chance? Wait a second. Professor Orlando Slytherin, did he leave the clues to his son or his student, Scamander about it before he went missing?".
While Dumbledore's having various thoughts, Neal then looked at the Dragon and mumbled, "I certainly don't have the power to defeat you, yet, but..."
Suddenly, Neal changed into a 25ft long black-colored serpent. This giant snake has four white horns on its head, two large and two small, and four more small horns at its tail. With its large Hazel eyes which is the distinguishing feature of his that stayed when he transformed and a blue jewel on its forehead, Neal hissed at the Dragon, "give up that golden egg, Dragon".
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Snowstar
Snowstar Check out its appearance at
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Horned_Serpent
Just a larger version of it with hazel eyes instead of blue.
and its abilities at
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Horned_Serpent_(House)
you can read at the "behind the scenes" section while scrolling down.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone