章 374: First task!!!

Eventually the day of the first task rolled around, much to the chagrin of Harry who still wasn't assured of his own survival. Even though he'd learned more under Reima than he had any professor before, despite none of being exam worthy it was all useful stuff. That and he had finally learned a couple offensive spells that weren't "Expelliarmus". Harry was wearing an outfit with minimal protection in the red and gold colours of Gryffindor while Ciri wore a similar coloured jumper with tight leather pants and knee pads.

He and Ciri were led towards a hastily constructed stadium with a tent attached to it, once led inside the tent they could see the two other champions pacing back and forth or just sitting down in a corner with a grim look, clearly they already knew about the dragons.

Ciri takes a seat on a nearby table and goes over the plan she'd discussed with Reima, it was quite simple really. Enter, hide, Accio the Drake sword towards herself and smash it into the Dragons face. If the shockwave doesn't outright kill the it then it'd knock it out for a while. She also has a couple other plans just in case this one doesn't work but they are slightly less excited then fighting a dragon, something she'd be bragging to Geralt about when they next see each other.

Harry was stood next to a tent wall, fear exacerbating his twitching that he'd thought had all but disappeared. It seems the Cruciatus curse isn't so easily fixed however, hearing a ruffling behind him he sees the face of his best friend Hermione looking as she was about to cry along with him. She hugs him tightly only to suddenly hear a commotion behind them, turning they can see Rita Skeeta and Ciri arguing with each other, the latter being backed up by Krum who states "This is a place for friends! Not like you and your green quill." he scowls, causing Rita to back off a little, not wishing to offend one of the most famous young men around.

Rita "Nonsense, I was just wondering if I could get a couple photo's of the champions before their tasks." she says with a sweet smile, causing the champions to frown.

Ciri "We refuse, now piss off Rita. I've had enough of your bullshit journalism and lies, take your cunt camera man with you as well." she says loudly, causing the other champions to nod alongside her.

Rita "But I have a right to be here!"

She's interrupted by Barty Crouch who quickly enters alongside Ludo Bagman, Dumbledore and the foreign school headmasters.

Crouch "Indeed Rita you are allowed to attend but you were strictly forbidden from interacting with the champions in any way... Perhaps we'd be better off with another Journalist?" he says, the threat obvious.

Rita quickly shakes her head, "No need Barty, I'll behave myself..." she says through a false smile.

Ludo Bagman steps towards the champions and smiles brightly apparently trying to mimic his bright yellow Quidditch jersey. "It is almost time for the first task to start, I'm sure you are all wondering what it'll be?" he looks around but frowns slightly when he sees no interest on any of their faces. He coughs "Ahem, right. Well I am sure you will all be happy to know that the task is simply for you all to collect a single golden egg... Of course it is guarded by a dragon as it's placed amongst her original eggs but I am sure you will all accomplish this task easily enough." he says with as smile. As he's finished explaining he holds up a purple bag, "Inside you will find one of four varieties of dragons, some are more difficult to deal with than others but they're all still dragons... So, lets start with... Ladies first?" he says, eyes glazing over slightly as he almost stumbles up to Fleur. She plunges her hand inside and pulls out a green dragon that lazily lays down on her palm.

Ludo "Ah, a Welsh Green. It seems luck was with you today Miss Delacour... Now, lets be fair to the men shall we? Krum, you're next." he says, shaking the bag with an eager look.

Krum reaches his hand inside and pulls out a bright red dragon that shoots out small fires from it's mouth.

Ludo "A Chinese Fireball? Funny how it's not squinting ey?" he laughs and claps Krum on the shoulder who's still blankly staring at the dragon in his hand.

Ludo then glances at Ciri and Harry, "Hmm, shall we have Miss Rivia pull out this one?" he asks, presenting the bag to her.

Ciri remembers Reima's words and replies to Bagman, "I'd actually like to pick last, since someone is obviously trying to kill Harry I'd wager to bet the most dangerous dragon will be picked last, the position you happened to have Harry in..." she quickly says.

Ludo's brows furrow, "Are you trying to imply something Miss Rivia?"

Ciri shakes her head, "Not at all, but I'm wondering whether you'd take the bet on whether or not the most dangerous dragon will come last...

Ludo shakes his head, "Very well, if you don't wish to pick then... Harry! Please reach your hand inside and grab the first thing you feel."

Harry does so while glancing at Ciri, he feels something and pulls it out, revealing it to be a bluish grey dragon with a one written on it's neck.

Ludo scratches the back of his head, "The Swedish Shortsnout... It seems your hunch was right Miss Rivia, though whether you should be happy about facing this beat is up to your luck." he says presenting the bag. Ciri pulls out the Hungarian Horntail, it's spiky black scales looking menacing as it tries to bite her hand.